Need to Know Blog

Peek CEO offers to pay your next cellphone bill just for being nice to your mom/girlfriend :)

Written on November 26, 2008 – 8:39 am | by peconi | (No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...

Peek, a super simple email-only device has been generating a lot of buzz lately. To make this $79.95 (+$20/month for data) device even more interesting, if you buy one for your mom and your girlfriend, they will even pay your iPhone/Tmobile G1 monthly bill for November of 2008 (up to $150 USD). Not too shabby - in reality you are getting the two devices for free.

Check out more about this deal here. We’re hoping to get a review unit and let you know how it performs. From the looks of it - I think it’s perfect for the targeted, non-techie, audience.

More: www.getPeek.com

Share:

No Comments | Posted in » Gadgets

WALL•E is available: can cause cancer or birth defects, FTW?

Written on July 23, 2008 – 7:10 am | by peconi | (No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...

Disney has put a fully featured remote controlled WALL•E up for pre-orders today. This is definitely something I would LOVE to get, since it does contain some cool AI functions. You can tell it to follow you, or to go explore - and he will do just that making it not just as any other remotely controlled toy. My cat will love it for sure!

One thing bothers me, and that’s what’s written under Additional Information box:

WARNING: This product contains a chemical known to the State of California to cause cancer, or birth defects or other reproductive harm.

What a fart is all this about? What chemical is it? All these toys lately made in China are becoming way too dangerous, or in reality, they were always dangerous but lately we are at least (vaguely) informed of the dangers they bring.

I guess at least it is not Radioactive (or is it?), like the Glowing Lanyards a Japanese couple was arrested for selling… [read here]

If you still want it, it’s available now at Disney store for preorder for $249 bucks.

Does anyone know what the chemical is? It might be something miniscule but still I’d like to know

Share:

No Comments | Posted in » Advice, Gadgets, Toys

Posting from an iPhone via WordPress App

Written on July 22, 2008 – 7:54 am | by peconi | (No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...

Hey, this app may make blogging fun again
If you have an iPhone or an iPod touch, get yourself a free WordPress app and start blogging from your cell with style

Share:

No Comments | Posted in » Blah...

GateKeeper Card Pro - Security Mini-Computer!

Written on July 18, 2008 – 10:09 am | by peconi | (2 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
 Loading ...

Couple of hours ago, after a two and a half month wait, I finally received the GateKeeper Card Pro from Yoggie.

Some of you may have heard about it when Engadget mentioned it on April 23rd. That’s actually the first time I found out about it - and the good guys from Yoggie promised they’ll ship one out for a review as soon as they have them available.  I must mention - they’ve been more than kind

For those who do not know what it is: GateKeeper Card Pro is a Linux-based Mini-Computer integrated onto an Express Card. This little computer is a hardware-based security appliance in charge of your laptop’s security from the moment it is plugged in.

It comes with Anti-Virus, Anti-Spam, Anti-Spyware, Firewall, Intrusion Prevention, Anti-Phishing, Web Filtering / Parental Control, Transparent Email and Web Proxies, even a VPN Client, and more!

You might ask yourself WHY in the world you need this - when you can simply install all of these applications onto your computer and have it take care of itself?

There are many answers but one I like the best is - less bloating for your machine! All that software takes valuable resources from your laptop which could be used for giving you more performance.

This is the main reason why corporations do not use software-based firewalls and security systems, but rather, hardware devices which offer physical separation from network. This is exactly how the GateKeeper Card works.

Before any data is accepted for processing by [your] computer’s operating system, a low-level driver redirects it to the Gatekeeper Card Pro unit where a full security check is performed. Security breach attempts are identified and thwarted, and only safe, secure data is passed back to the computer.

GateKeeper simply sits between your network connection and your computer and intercepts all the data coming through - in either direction. It gets installed into your Network Adapter configuration right next to the “Client for Microsoft Networks” and “File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks”, as “Yoggie Personal Security Appliance” (see the picture in gallery).

Read the rest of this entry »

Share:

No Comments | Posted in » ExpressCard, Notebooks, Security

ClickaPost.com goes public beta! Check it out!

Written on June 18, 2008 – 11:49 am | by peconi | (3 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
 Loading ...

A couple of months ago I invited a bunch of people for an internal beta test of a new project I created for my clients called ClickaPost. Today I am proud to invite many more of you to our first Public Beta. Don’t let the “beta” in the name confuse you. The site is very much ready for public, beta only means a lot more cool things are coming very soon!

What is ClickaPost anyway?

It is an on-line classifieds system, similar to Craig’s List and in some ways to eBay, but with a twist. It is really pretty, free to use, and you may include both pictures and videos with your posts. People can leave comments about your post and if they wish to talk a bit more about it - we provide an integrated Forum for this! All forum posts can be easily linked to “ClickaPosts” so everyone always knows what you’re talking about.

While you can upload your own videos directly, if you already have them somewhere else on the Internet (say YouTube, Blip.TV, WellcomeMat, MetaCafe, etc.) you can easily embed them into your posts.

What can you post?

Pretty much anything! We separated over 400 different subcategories into the following 9 categories: For Sale, Vehicles, Services, Community Events, Real Estate, Personals, Jobs, Resumes and Wanted.

If you are selling a laptop or looking for one, getting rid of some old books, looking for a babysitter, organizing a community event, or simply looking for a job - ClickaPost.com is a place for you.

What now?

Head over to ClickaPost.com and register. If you already registered while we were in private beta - your account is still there so you may simply log in!

If you like what you see please tell your friends and family.

If you need help - just reply to this post and I’ll help you out with anything.

If you have any feedback - we’re all ears. Especially now

Note on web browser compatibility…

While in beta, ClickaPost is best viewed using either FireFox or Internet Explorer 7. Support for Internet Explorer 6 is coming very soon! If you do not have FireFox installed, you can get it for free. FireFox 3 has just launched today and it is by far the best and fastest web browser ever made!
You may download it at the following address:
http://download.mozilla.org/?product=firefox-3.0&os=win&lang=en-US

P.S>
ClickaPost.com is a project I developed for my clients from New York.
Need PHP development? Check out Peconi.com and give us a call!

Share:

No Comments | Posted in » Beta, Classifieds, ClickaPost, Invite, Websites

Forget jumper cables, get Porta-Jump now for $20 bucks!

Written on May 31, 2008 – 11:26 am | by peconi | (No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...

Ladies, this one is for you. Leave the messy and usually greasy jumper cables to the guys and be always safe knowing your car will start even if your car battery is not up to it’s fullest. After all, who really changes the car battery at recommended intervals, right?

Meet the Porta-Jump, your new best friend. He might not realize how good friend it really is, but at one point you are bound to find out

It easily fits in your car’s glove box, comes precharged and ready to use, and when you need it, it can refresh your car battery within 10 minutes. It also recharges itself while you drive as long as it is plugged in so it never has to leave a comfort of your car

Bear in mind, I never tested this so I have no idea how it performs, but at $20 USD it’s a bargain regardless!

Via: JCWHitney.com

Share:

No Comments | Posted in » Car accessories, Deals, Jump starter

Tired of the same old wallpaper? Get Desktoptopia - FREE!

Written on May 31, 2008 – 11:14 am | by peconi | (No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...

Before I sold my MacBook Pro I had one app over there which was off the hook. It’s called Desktoptopia and it does what it’s name says, it creates a Desktop Utopia for you by providing you with the best, high quality wallpapers you have ever seen.

What’s even better now, that I am back to my PCs, is that they just released a PC version too

Head over to: http://www.desktoptopia.com/ and get your new favorite app for either Mac or PC. I think you will like it!

Share:

No Comments | Posted in » Free, Software, Wallpapers

The World’s Fastest SATA Hard Disk: Meet WD’s VelociRaptor

Written on May 31, 2008 – 11:00 am | by peconi | (1 votes, average: 4 out of 5)
 Loading ...

This is not really "latest news" right now, since the drive came out about a month ago, but it’s definitely something you Need to Know if you are going to be buying any hard drives soon.

Western Digital has finally "retired" their Raptor hard drive by introducing the new VelociRaptor, a 35% faster, 10,000 RPM SATA Hard Drive. This monster packs a 3Gb/s interface, 16MB of cache, 300GB max capacity, and a cool new look. What’s even more amazing is that it’s actually a 2.5" hard drive, but the IcePack-dubbed cooler it has around it makes it fit into a 3.5" slot
I just wish I haven’t bought the 150GB Raptor just about 2 months ago

The drive is, as expected, freakishly fast (most likely faster than the prehistoric animal whose name it bears), with sustainable transfer speeds of about 125MB / second, acceptable operating temperature and noise levels.

If you need performance you know what to get. It can easily par with the SSD drives at a fraction of their cost. If you’re really into performance needs, get 2 while you’re at it and set them in RAID mode. I bet you will not need to get any other drive for years to come

Thanks: Engadget

Read — Tom’s Hardware
Read — MaximumPC
Read — PCPer
Read — HotHardware
Read — The Tech Report

Share:

No Comments | Posted in » HDD, SATA, VelociRaptor

StarTrek Enterprise NCC-1701 Bottle Opener

Written on May 31, 2008 – 10:39 am | by peconi | (No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...

I do not know why did I think the new StarTrek movie is coming out this year? Did they move the release date? Grrr…. I was really convinced it was this July, but as it turns out its release date is May 2009!

I guess I will just have to satisfy myself with this beautiful bottle opener, even though I really do not need one

It can be yours for about $23 bucks:
http://www.red5.co.uk/Star-Trek-Enterprise-Bottle-Opener-pr-534.html

Thanks: Gizmodo

Movie Teaser
QuickTime: Teaser, High Definition (1080p) (42.4MB)
QuickTime: Teaser, High Definition (720p) (50.3MB)
QuickTime: Teaser, High Definition (480p) (40.9MB)

Share:

No Comments | Posted in » Blah..., StarTrek

Pretty Hard Drives, look like a real book

Written on May 31, 2008 – 10:28 am | by peconi | (No Ratings Yet)
 Loading ...

Western Digital’s MyBook hard drives were always nice. They look simple and pretty, and I suppose they do resemble a plain old black book if you turn on your imagination.

Sarotech on the other hand went even further with their new 3.5" HDD Enclosures:

I must admit, they look hot and I rather have one of these on my desk, or bookshelf, than a WD MyBook. First, for the looks, and second, I can decide which hard drive goes in there. We all know buying an internal hard drive is a lot cheaper than getting an equivalent external drive so having a good enclosure that is fairly priced offers more bang for the buck when it comes to choosing a hard drive for it.

Furthermore they come with a software package for easy Backup, Restoration and data encryption. There is also a write-protect switch which I have no idea what it really does, and there’s a one click backup button on the back as well. One thing I really like is that this is the only external enclosure I know of which has a built-in power supply! Quite welcome change since behind my desk I have 10-too-many bulky adaptors and I really do not need one more.

The only downside of this product as I far as I can see is that it comes only with USB 2.0 port. Since some time ago I’ve installed FireWire 800 ports on my PC, and having a double speed than USB 2.0 really feels nice.

No info on pricing yet, so I hope it doesn’t end up being unreasonable. I really want a couple of these

Via: Sarotech.com

Share:

No Comments | Posted in » External enclosure, HDD