Add Color and Ghosts to Photos

Color Splash, $1.99
Android, iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch
Convert photos to black and white and choose which details you want in color. Adding a splash of unique!



Ghost Capture, Lite Version - FREE, Full Version $0.99 (Full Version has about 20 more ghosts)

iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad
Add a ghost to any photo! Change the transparency for real effect. Ghosts range from ridiculously not believable to holy crap there is a civil war dude with a rifle in my photo!

Combining Tech, Art and Fashion

It's easy to put a skin on a laptop - as a matter of fact there are thousands of designs you can pick from with sites like Gelaskins, MacStyles and even sweet options from users on Etsy. But truly integrating art, fashion and tech right into the hardware is a bit trickier.

I'm all about these new trendy options being released August 31st by Athena. The designs are actually a film-thermal transfer (not a stick-on graphic) and has the standard specs you would expect from a netbook; Intel Atom Processor (most), under 3.2lbs, 2GB RAM, 320GB HDD.

Athena is a Hong Kong based company and has been distributing internationally for the last three years- now breaking into the US market.

Art options include kids choices from Sweet Dream to Alice in Wonderland and women's choices with titles like Safari and Chic Cafe.

Allow Me to Make Your Day

I'd like to call this news of the day. Great find by a fellow geek!

Traveling Techie

Here is a link to my latest appearance on ABC. We talk travel gadgets.

Here are a few quick tips some you will see in the segment:

Renting Car? Don’t be a sucker for the insurance – check with your credit cars because you may automatically have rental insurance with your card. Just call and ask customer service.

Orbitz- Did you know they have a 24 hour cancellation policy with no penalty? This isn’t exactly a known thing but one that has saved me a ton of times!

GPS – quick tip (per segment) – save money by bringing your GPS with you when renting cars. Yes of course most of us have a GPS in our smart phones but you may have a cool new (or even older one) with more features and a larger screen that you prefer!

Storing files in the cloud (per segment) - Don't be afraid to use cloud based storage or even create your own personal cloud with a device like the PogoPlug so you can access files anywhere. Even if you are on vacation and cant get that one file your boss needs and of course this can be a lifesaver. I recently noticed the peeps at PogoPlug also created one for business owners. Its a bit pricey but at least there is not a monthly fee and its not pink!!

Geek out in style.

Its been a busy back to school week! Here are a few trendy recommendations I featured on LXTV today.

UrbanEars – $60 – Urban Outfitters
Vintage tech is very trendy right now. And we could always use a good pair of headphones – Urban ears comes in - 14 color options - has microphone and remote compatible with iPhone, Blackberry and a few other models – fabric cord has nice feel.

ModCloth.com Telegraph Hill Laptop bag - $54.99
A good laptop bag can be hard to find. Carry your gadgetry in style.


iHome mini speaker –$19.99
If you're looking for a powerful mini speaker this is it. Perfect for laptops, cell phones, iPhone, iPod and other MP3 players, any audio source. Includes carry bag.

Gelaskins.com Macstyles.com - Prices vary.
Customize your gadgetry.

Get Your Good Housekeeping On.

I had the pleasure of meeting a fabulous mechanical engineer at Good Housekeeping yesterday. It was a really cool experience.

In short, as you may or may not know, Good Housekeeping is known for product testing and even more so for its "Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval" which was established in 1909.

Any product that is advertised in the magazine and earns the seal are tested by the Good Housekeeping Research Institute and are backed by a two-year limited warranty. An honor for your product to be given the seal.

So, what was interesting? The Research Institute's test labs! The walls didn't taste like schnozberries but there was some serious tests being conducted on a number of products involving everything from Dyson Air Multipliers to ones with thread count to makeup. The process each product must go through is rigorous on a number of levels and GH's reputation is backed by its high standards.

It is noted that around 5,000 products have received the seal.

T-shirt Gun Insanity.

The bar has indeed been raised. Late nights with friends sometimes involve creative nerding and engineering - like how are we going to create our own t-shirt gun for Bills games?

After reviewing some tutorials on several websites we discovered this gem and realized we needed to spend $4,000 on a Gatling Gun. I mean just look at the intensity of this thing. 8 shots a second and a CO2 tank. The half time t-shirt launch would be over in like 2 seconds.

Also take a peek at the Deuce followed by the Pucker Chucker.

Got an app you heart?

Is there an app you cant live without? I am showcasing one app a week for The Early Show on CBS. And while I scour magazines, blogs, and random hunts on my iPad, iPod Touch and iPhone4 (yeesh! I just realized how ridiculous that sounds!) theres nothing I love more than hearing what other people like! This week I spotlighted Lucy.

Lucy Phone
iPhone (Coming to Android and Blackberry later this Summer)

Who wants to wait on hold for customer service? So passé! Get put on hold hit ** you will be disconnected but Lucy will stay connected. Once an agent is on the phone Lucy will call you back and connect you. It will also help you find any customer service number using its directory and let you know you how long you’ve been waiting. You also can hop back on the call at anytime. Sweet.

Back to School Gadgets

I always got bored with Back to School Segments. So, when I got to take matters into my own hands I promised I would try to make them wacky yet practical at the same time. Take a look at a few we showcased on CNN this evening.

Skull Alarm Clock
Brand new gadget in the SonicAlert.com lineup. Great for the early classes that are impossible to wake up for. The Skull has bright red flashing eye sockets and alert lites and the Bone Crusher bed shaker that you put between the mattress and the box spring. If that doesn’t wake you up 113 decibels of terrifying screaming will. (An average alarm clock has 80dcb)


Dragon Dictation

FREE app– records everything you say and converts it into text so you can copy it and put it into email or notes. Up to 5x faster than using a keyboard. This is going to save you a ton of time eliminating having to type on a smartphone or iPad (devices that dont have the best keypads). But know that there is also software available for any computer (for $). A lot of schools are using this especially with kids that have writing set backs. Its just a more natural way to communicate. Its REALLY accurate!

Fridge Locker
The perfect solution for roommates that steal food. The fridge locker is pretty self explanatory has a combination lock and ventilation so you can ensure everything stays put and everyone stays locked out especially those energy drinks that are pricey when you're in college!