First of all, '07 gems is the name given to those apps, gadgets, or sites that I was too lazy to write about in '07. Plus, I can see myself using these items more in the future and I wanted to make sure I put the word out before I started to do so. See how that works out? Good.

Pando.com is a way to send and/or share large files (up to 1GB) to people via email, IM, or the web (more on this later). Given the file size limitations of most email clients, you can see where this can be a cool deal. Let's say you are working on some music project and the person or people you are working with are scattered around the country. You want to send the latest version of a track to everyone in the group easily. You just find the file on your PC, right-click on it, choose send with Pando, choose to send via email, IM, or web, address it and hit send. You could also go though a similar process from Pando itself, but it just as easy. The file gets uploaded in what the company calls a package (get it?). The people sent to get a small (.Pando) file that will open up in Pando and start downloading instantly, provided they have it installed on their PC. It works with Outlook, Gmail, and pretty much any other web based email client.

I mentioned that in addition to sending by email, you could could send files through IM and the web. Pando works with all of the major IM clients along with Trillian, ICQ(anybody still using this?), and the VoIP darling, Skype. I'm guessing that Pidgin, the new kid Digsby(still playing around with it), and the web based Meebo won't have any issues with it either. For anyone wanting to, you can also publish to the web. Pando can be used to publish video, audio or whatever else on websites, blogs, forums, and by RSS. Once posted, the file can be shared with others just as easily with no real cost to you. Pando even gives you the code to copy and paste onto your site for distribution.

Now comes the inner workings part. Pando works on a P2P type protocol similar to Bittorent, if you've ever heard of it.The more people with the file and have Pando running, the faster that someone downloading said file will be able to get it. The person's connection still plays the part in this, mind you. Basically, you have the file on your PC. As soon as you send it to wherever, a copy goes to Pando's servers and a small file, if sending by email or IM, goes to the recipient. The recipient opens the file in Pando and starts downloading just like that. The cool part is that once you are finished uploading the file, the recipient can still get it because, as I've said, it's on Pando's servers and will stay there depending on how it was sent. If sent by email or IM, it lasts for 7 days after the last time it was shared or downloaded. If by web, 30 days from the last download. If someone downloaded the file within 30 days, the count starts over. I could have saved you so much trouble by pointing you here.

Oh, I forgot, they also have a service where you can subscribe to and download HD quality videocasts. They already have channels that you can subscribe to from the likes of ESPN, CNN, Geekbrief.tv, Epic-Fu, and others. You can also use Pando to download Bittorent files, but I haven't used that option much. I believe that I have just heard that they are partnering with NBC for a direct download service for their shows (for pay, no doubt). That might be pretty neat, if it works.

By now, you have either clicked away from this post or are wondering how much this is. If you've stuck it out, here's the answer: For the low, low price of free you can have all of this functionality. There is also a paid version that boasts a bigger file size limit, no ads, more hosting time, etc. That's about it. I'm guessing that's enough, though. If you were interested, you'd be downloading it by now. If you care for a sample of the goods, try this little offering out.



Something funny. I was going to do screen capture on how to send a a package, but I realized the irony of it. Hope you enjoy what I did send and I hope the people who made what I sent won't be upset.

Technorati Tags: web, file sharing

If you are in the market for a new cell phone (like me), you'd want to be able to eventually pick up the phone and play with it without having to deal with the annoying salespeople at the various kiosks or stores where you plan to get said phone. This is also after going to the various carriers and checking out the service and also hitting up Phonescoop.com for news and reviews on the carriers and phones, right? Right! So after doing all of that and now dreading going to the store before you actually want to make a purchase (assuming you don't purchase online anywhere), why not test out the phone from the comfort of your own web browser, eh? "But Roddy", you ask, "you can't do that that from a web browser. You need to pick up, press button, flush it down the toilet, or whatnot." Um, ok. All but that last part with the toilet might have truth to it. There is also the notion that you don't always need to touch something to look at it. That's what Mama used to say. She also said, "Don't you rush to get old." Mama used to say....

Anyway, this brings us, finally, to the point of this shindig: TryPhone.com

I saw this on MSN earlier. Here, you can try out the features of certain phones and check out reviews, buy, and in cases, look at a demo of features on the phones right from the site. It's pretty neat. It's in Beta, so it's not fully baked yet, but you can go check it out. They don't have but a handful of phones on there either, but if you were in the market for what they do have, go right on in. Some phone manufacturers like HTC (T-Mobile Dash, AT&T's 8925, Verizon's XV6800, etc) sometimes have little demos of there phones features on their site. This one rolls on that notion for different brands of phones. I like it even though the phone I want, the aforementioned XV6800, is not on here. But hopefully, they will at least get to all of the newer phones.


Try it out. It's cool.

Sometime last week, my wife tells me that she wants to start blogging. Normally I would encourage the thought to anyone asking about it, but this was funny to me because whenever she has seen me blogging or even looking at forums (both are synonymous with blogging to her), she look down on it. Yet, I've seen her go on Soap Opera forums and either raise cane or laugh at, out loud not on the board, on what was being said there. Heck, I've seen her yelling at the the TV because of something she saw or heard on The View, Oprah, Rachael Ray, Meet The Press, the news, or whatever. I'm saying all of this because, obviously, she's a natural fit to blog yet never wanted to do it. She could probably take on a tag teamed Bill O'Reilly / Rush Limbaugh all by herself...and probably win! She's not that big in stature, but she makes up for it vocally. :)

Maybe that is about to change. When she asked me about it, ,I poo pooed the notion because I thought she wasn't serious. She recently brought it up again and while I still kind of poo pooed it, it piqued me interest. She definitely has a lot to say and it would do so much better in a public forum than just laying around the house with me. So this is where we are right now. One of two things are about to happen: 1) I'm going to set her up with a Wordpress page and let her have at it, or 2) I may set her up to guest post here, and she takes off running, we spin her off on her own. The first, I'd be doing that for my own curiosity on Wordpress than anything else. The second scenario would be easier for me and it would bring something different to the table. Win win for me either way. I will definitely let you all know, so you can check her out. Let me know what you think about it.

Possibly because it was kind of disappointing, personally. If you don't know what I'm talking about, check last post. Caught up? Cool.

I'm hurt, because I look forward to CES coverage every year to gauge the coming gadget year. This year, there was a bigger biggest TV that NO one will ever buy (unless they own a stadium), and set top box that might be cool, but other than that, nada. Sorry, T, I tried. And people covering the show said the same thing, so I'm not alone. Now, that doesn't mean that there won't be anything coming around that might be cool, but it wasn't announced there. So, my year is starting kind of on a down note gadget wise. However, I remain undaunted. I'm sure there will be some gadget I can't afford that I will want. I'm already saving up for a couple of things I've been wanting for a minute now. It's not the Apple Air that mac fans have been drooling over, that's for sure.

On that, What's the deal. It's thin, whoopie? It's a Mac, hooray? It's not really heavy. It's got ONE USB port, no user replaceable battery or hard drive? What is that about? I'm sure there are plenty of other Envelope thin, light, more functioning laptops out there. Probably cost way less, too. I'm looking for a laptop, if it was apparent.For now, I'll just K.I.M. And If I couldn't get further from the original point, I'm in the market for a Cellphone, too. Had one before they became popular, now I could stand to have one. Especially with this upcoming trip I have, but more on that later.

Anyway, back to the point. CES was meh. I'm disappointed, but I'll be alright. That's not why you came here, or maybe it is. At either case, you might be happy to know that while I have no real upcoming gadget goodies to gush about right, I do have some goodies to pass along. Think you're going to like them (assuming that you haven't already heard about them). And I shall. Proceed. and continue to rock them out...

After these messages... ;)

Yes folks, it's that time again. The Consumer Electronics Show (January 7-10) comes to Sin City bringing joy, merriment, (A Porn convention across the street), all types of gadgety goodness upon the land. I believe last year I called it a geeks Second Christmas or something like that, not that we needed one. The good part is that the show brings with it all of the tech goodies that will possibly come out during the year. The bad parts, I probably can't afford some of the stuff I would no doubt drool over if I was there and , oh yeah, I'M NOT THERE! But I can't let that stop me from watching the no doubt extensive coverage from CNET and Engadget (among other places) that will be going on. There will be announcements and products big and small and during the course of the week (because I do have to work and won't have a heck of a lot of time to sift through 3 days worth of stuff), I will bring you what I will probably drool over for months to come(in the form of my Want List). It could be this years entries for the worlds biggest TVs or perhaps some gaming peripherals or cellphones or whatnots. Things have already started being announced so I'm already behind. So hopefully, I will through up some stuff i find later on today if not tomorrow. Stick around if you hadn't clicked away already. If you haven't, you're a braver soul than I thought.

Oh, there are also discussion panels that go on during CES so if you like that kind of stuff, there are podcast (audio and video) feeds that can be subscribed to from here. I haven't checked any of it out yet, but there is plenty to go through.

Later!


Technorati Tags: ces

And how, but with a new year comes new chances for new opportunities. At least that's the goal. That however doesn't mean that we leave behind ALL old things.If I get off of my but, you'll see what I mean in as short of time as this very week.

Twas the week of Thanksgiving and all over the place,everybody's waiting for Friday, like it was a damn race!

Yep, the day that people all over the U.S. braces for in anticipation. The one Holiday to rule them all, for retail stores. Yes, I'm talking about the first official shopping day of Christmas. Forget the day before and the turkey that is eaten on that day. that day is to give thanks for the two days off and the the shopping therein. Sounds snarky? Maybe a bit, but let's get to the reason of the post. Black Friday is the day in question, and though I don't know why it's called that and don't put much stock in it, but there is a purpose for those who do. The purpose, there are deals to be had and here is where to do a couple of them. The sales are usually out before the actually day and here are a couple of places to find them.

Dealnews.com
Mild mannered deal and (online) coupon site by day, early Black Friday sales poster by Thanksgiving. I've not used this site before, but I may come here more often for coupons to online stores and such.

Black Friday.info
The original (well, at least the first one that I've come across) site for Black Friday deals. Just like Dealnews, they have the ads the week or more before the day. They also have coupons and apparently a shopping list that you can access should you sign up with them (that's at your discretion).

One note: Walmart has been having sales for the last few Fridays to try to siphon off the madness that is Black Friday. One of these said sale was a $99 HD DVD player from Toshiba. I missed out on that, but it doesn't matter because I'm not trying to get into this HD Format war. That's another story. Wally world had also banned sites such as these from posting their ads before this week for reasons of selfishness and sales, I'm sure.

Anyway, I'm sure there are more sites with other stuff, but really, I have a feeling they will be repeating the same ads. So, you have your ammo, go give 'em hell. I'm not trying to be out in that mess. That's what the internet is for. And Cyber Monday, as stupid as that sounds.

P.S.

I almost forgot, there is also one of my favorite sites out there, Woot.com. They have one thing on sale every day. Mostly something electronic in nature, but worth a look. Sometimes, they have side deals that are ironically on the top of the page and you get a song if nothing else. There is also there sister sites, wine.woot and shirt.woot for...those items.

(EDIT)
And I TOTALLY forgot about Fatwallet.com. They've been doing their thing for a while now. possibly longer than Dealnews. I don't know. Check them out also. OUT!

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