High-Tech Gadgets the Whole Family Can Enjoy

(MS) - On the surface, it may seem that technological gadgets and activities would hinder family interaction. Aren't the kids locking themselves in their rooms to log onto MySpace or battle real-time on video games? A study conducted last year by the ad agency OMD and Yahoo! determined that high-tech gadgets and new media services actually may be bringing families closer together - provided they're not fighting over the gadgets at hand.

The survey spanned 16 countries and 4,500 families with Internet access, asking questions about time spent together as a family and the number of gadgets in the household. The results showed that gadget-friendly households were just as concerned about family interaction and the importance of the nuclear family.

So what is it about being "wired" that promotes family interaction? The main reason may be time saved. Gadgets and technology in general have transformed multi-tasking. It's possible to do homework or complete a work report while watching streaming news stories online and keeping tabs on family and friends through instant messages. Being able to fit more of the necessities into a smaller window of time frees up quality time for the family to spend together.
Here are ways families can embrace technology to improve family interaction even more:

· Family calendar: The calendar scheduling features of business software are not exclusive to the boardroom. They can be used to keep a family organized and on time for all of the events - whether doctor appointments or sports practices - that fill the days. Simply setup a computer in a central location, like the kitchen or family room, and type in the appointment dates as they are received. Some software can also be programmed to give reminders days or hours in advance of an appointment. Many mobile phones and PDAs also feature a calendar/scheduling option. It sure beats scrambling around looking for those appointment cards.

· Talking translator: In this multi-cultural world the ability to communicate in multiple languages is beneficial, but not everyone has the time to learn several languages. The LINgo Voyager 12-Language Talking Translator can be an asset for any family. This portable, pocketsize talking interpreter translates, displays and correctly pronounces over 240,000 words and 27,000 typical phrases in 12 languages. It translates between and among English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Greek, Hebrew and Arabic. For languages with unique characters - such as, Arabic and Japanese - translations are clearly displayed in their own script (so locals can read it) in addition to being transliterated in our alphabet (so you can read it). The gadget also features a built-in currency and metric converter, clothes size converter, and world time clock. LINgo Voyager can be vital for business meetings, traveling or even for homework help. It is available atall Sharper Image stores and at sharperimage.com. For more information, call LINgo at 1-800-697-4825.

· Home entertainment system: Television screens are getting flatter and larger, and surround-sound components are offering lifelike and mesmerizing sound quality.What better reason to upgrade to a plasma or flat-panel television complete with quality theater system than the benefit of the entire family gathering for movie night? And with online movie services that ship DVDs or Blu-ray Discs right to your home from a list you've selected online, you'll never be at a loss for flicks to watch - ones that appeal to everyone in the house.

· MP3 players and accessories: The Apple Ipod was the pioneer in portable MP3 players, but today there are scores of brands that offer players that fit your budget - it'll be easy to get one for every member of the family. These handy devices can usually store dozens of songs. Some also feature voice-recording abilities, which can prove useful for recording lectures at school or dictating thoughts for a business proposal. And with the many accessories, like docking stations and plug-ins for the car, your music can be on the go, or stationary.

· Mobile phones - If you haven't hopped on the cell phone bandwagon just yet, it could be time. Cells make it a snap to keep in touch with kids on the go and give the heads up if you'll be late at work or while commuting. Providers offer family packages with reduced rates on multiple lines.

Keywords: gadget high-tech family myspace kids mp3 player mobile phone

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Access Your PC From Anywhere

(MS) - Ever wish that you could put in a day's work without going to the office? These days, it's easy for just about anyone to work remotely or telework - either from home or while traveling. You now have the ability to safely access your computer files, programs, e-mail and even your corporate network just as if you were at your office PC. Working remotely is particularly advantageous for many people (including employers), since employees can stay productive from virtually anywhere. Here's how:

· Working mothers: Women perhaps reap the biggest rewards from teleworking when they are trying to balance work and family. Working remotely can keep you productive during periods such as maternity leave and even all the way through to your kids' high school graduation. During maternity leave, you can access company networks, files and e-mail on your office PC, all without having to physically be in the office. This can come in especially handy during the later months of your pregnancy term when traveling becomes difficult. As the children age and school appointments, sports functions and illnesses start to crop up, that would normally require you to take time off of work or rush to find a sitter, you can get your work done simply by accessing your office computer while also attending to your children's needs. In addition, you don't necessarily have to maintain the "9 to 5" schedule of a traditional job. You can simply access your work PC and put in hours when it isconvenient for you, whether early in the morning or late into the evening.

· On the road again: While working on the go has become much easier since the advent of the laptop computer, sometimes you may prefer to travel light and leave the laptop at home. Plus, there still may be occasions when you haven't had time to sync up your laptop with your latest files, which are stored on your office PC. Imagine being able to connect to the Internet from an airport lobby or at your hotel room and access those files even though they are located hundreds of miles away. Should you be delayed out of town, you can still keep in touch and be productive.

· When Mother Nature steps in: Who hasn't been stranded or inconvenienced by a snowstorm, flooding or other weather conditions where staying at home would be the best option. Or there may be times when you cannot safely get to your place of work because of road closures or downed power lines. Being able to work from home by accessing your files eliminates the need to take a personal day. This way, you don't have to be concerned about driving in hazardous or inclement conditions.

Perhaps you're wondering how you can integrate teleworking into your job position. There are many services available, but you'll want to consider one that is reliable, convenient and secure. Consider GoToMyPC® (www.gotomypc.com), a service that allows you to access and work on your PC "on-the-fly" from any location connected to the Internet. You can get convenient access to files, programs, network resources, and e-mail in just seconds. What's more, you can drag and drop files between your remote location and the accessed PC and even print to any printer wherever you may be. And you needn't be working on the same computer platform as the machine you're accessing, meaning you can access your PC at work from a Mac at home.

GoToMyPC ensures subscribers that all data is protected with AES encryption using 128-bit keys. Dual passwords and end-to-end user authentication are also employed. What this boils down to is a maximum security connection to protect your files from hackers; your data is continually encrypted from the moment it leaves your office PC to when it reaches your remote location desktop. The service is cost-effective, automatically sets up on your PC and is a viable option for personal use or for a company looking into teleworking possibilities.

For more information on using this service and a free trial run, visit www.gotomypc.com.

CAPTION: Need to be home to watch the kids during work hours? You can still put in a full day's work when you access your files remotely.

Keywords: remote access teleworking working mothers

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Meet With the Click of a Button

(MS) - Today's global workforce is making satellite offices and teleworkers more common than ever before. In this changing employment landscape, easy-to-use technology has made communicating online much more convenient, accessible and secure.

Office employees who need to do business with fellow workers located around the globe or just down the hall can now do so with greater ease, courtesy of GoToMeeting®. This affordable, secure, and simple-to-use service allows you to conduct online meetings remote sales demonstrations or online training with just a few simple steps. GoToMeeting can be launched from the computer desktop, through e-mail programs such as Microsoft® Outlook, through existing instant messaging, or via the Web site -www.gotomeeting.com.

This online meeting service is as easy to use as e-mail. By clicking on a simple icon on the computer desktop, anyone can use GoToMeeting to start an online meeting in seconds. Attendees can instantly join online meetings by clicking simple links sent to them via e-mail. To make it easier to conduct online meetings more frequently, the flat-fee All You Can Meet® pricing model enables businesses to hold as many online meetings as they want, of any length, without any added cost.

There are a number of ways to put GoToMeeting to use in your organization to minimize travel while improving profitability, communication and time efficiency. Here are just a few options:

· Collaboration: Meet with others online to share, discuss and edit any document. Transfer presentation controls to other attendees. This opens the lines of communication whether fellow employees are on vacation, traveling on business or can't make it into the office due to weather or illness.

· Presentations: Give a slideshow to your online audience and reduce travel costs. This can be particularly advantageous to board members across the country who are meeting to discuss profits and other board-related issues.

· Demonstrations: Show prospects how your product works by inviting them to view an online sales demo in real time, whether they are across town or a thousand miles away.

· Training: Educate groups of employees on new software, company policies and other information in a time-efficient manner.

· Eco-friendly operations: Meeting and conducting business via the Web helps reduce environmental impacts as well as travel costs. It may also allow businesses to keep smaller office operations - with remote workers - limiting the need to power and run a large office.

With business needs ranging from sales, marketing and training to day-to-day meetings and collaboration, any organization can benefit from this service's simpler-is-better approach to time-saving, online meetings. To learn more, visit www.gotomeeting.com.

CAPTION: Now it's possible to conduct interactive meetings and presentations whether attendees are in the same room or across the globe.

Keywords: satellite teleworkers technology meeting online meeting

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Take Your Office With You, Wherever You Go

(MS) - Simple-to-use technology has done much to ease the load of workers across the globe. It's now possible for employees to access their office computer from just about anywhere, whether they're on vacation, attending a convention or seminar, or merely working from the comfort of home.

· Vacationers: What to do when you're out of town and your boss, colleague or customer needs a document or other information that's on your computer back at the office? With GoToMyPC® (www.gotomypc.com), all you need is an Internet browser to connect quickly and securely to your office PC - just as if you were sitting in front of it. You'll have full access to all of your own files, programs, network resources and e-mail in a matter of seconds. The resort you're staying at doesn't even need to be operating on the same computer platform as the one back in your office. So you can access your work PC from the Macintosh in your hotel's lobby or even from an airport computer cafe. Get the work done and then go back to enjoying your vacation.

· The road weary: While laptops were once the traveling professional's saving grace, there's no need to lug that bulky company laptop along for the ride on each and every trip. With GoToMyPC, you can drag and drop files between your remote location and your office or home PC and even print documents directly to the printer where you're working. This allows you to jot down a few ideas or proposals and have them ready and accessible for your boss or coworkers without even sending an e-mail or making as much as one phone call.

· Teleworkers: More and more, employers and employees alike are realizing the benefits of telecommuting or Web commuting. Employees can avoid morning and afternoon rush-hour traffic, while employers can save money by needing less office space and fewer supplies. Working parents are finding Web commuting especially beneficial. Whereas maternity leave used to cost companies time and money, working moms-to-be can now access company networks, their own files and e-mail without leaving the house, drastically reducing the overall toll maternity leave can take on a company's productivity. In addition, as kids get older, working parents don't have to miss recitals, ballgames or take days off because of a sick child. Working parents can meet the demands of work and family when they can easily access their office PC from home.

For more information on using this service and a free trial run, visit www.gotomypc.com.

CAPTION: Thanks to technology, "going to" the office has taken on a whole new meaning.

Keywords: technology vacationers gotomypc internet browser teleworkers

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Smartphones keep students on top of studies

(MS) - With the new school year now underway, there's no better way for college and university students to stay on top of their studies than with a new generation mobile device, like a BlackBerry smartphone.

Whether you're at home, on the way to school or on campus and between classes, a BlackBerry smartphone can help students keep in touch with the people and information that matter most.

The BlackBerry 8820 smartphone comes with a full QWERTY keyboard that makes corresponding by email, text and Instant Messaging with professors, classmates, friends and family easy, while the HTML browser and large color display make on the go web searches a breeze.

The BlackBerry 8820 also includes Wi-Fi, which can extend connectivity in weak cell coverage areas like lecture halls and dorm rooms, keep data charges in check and provide faster web access. If you're within range of a Wi-Fi network - at home, on campus or the late night coffee shop - the smartphone can automatically switch from cellular to Wi-Fi for data access.

The BlackBerry 8820 is also a great organizer supporting multiple calendars that can keep track of your class schedule and personal agenda, contacts, and a task list for upcoming assignments. The smartphone also comes with built-in GPS and mapping software so finding a building on a large campus or navigating a new city has never been easier.

And when you're ready to kick-back and relax, the BlackBerry 8820's media player will serve up your favorite tunes and videos.

For more information on BlackBerry smartphones visit: www.blackberry.com.

Keywords: smartphone students studies school blackberry blackberry 8820 wi-fi media player videos

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Smartphones: Students getting ahead of the curve

(MS) - With backpacks already bursting with binders and text books, having to carry multiple electronic devices can be a drag for students heading back to class, not to mention increasing the chances one might get left behind.

But the days of carrying a digital camera, MP3 player, mobile phone and a personal digital assistant (PDA) are quickly coming to an end. A new generation of mobile devices, like the BlackBerry Curve smart phone, can give students everything they need, all in one compact, convenient package.

For busy students, the BlackBerry Curve's industry-leading email and messaging capabilities make staying connected with family and friends a breeze. Whether emailing to arrange a ride to a baseball game, or instant messaging friends about upcoming assignments, the Curve's full QWERTY keyboard makes typing easy and familiar.

The BlackBerry Curve's enhanced media player makes songs and videos available anywhere, anytime. Music can be sorted by title, artist, album name or genre, while videos can be played in full screen mode. And with a microSD expandable memory card slot that can hold up to four gigabytes, the Curve has plenty of storage space. Its 3.5 mm headset jack also makes it possible to listen to music with your favorite headphones and Bluetooth stereo is supported for wireless listening.

The BlackBerry Curve also comes with a 2 mega pixel camera with 5x zoom, which is perfect for taking photos on the go, and sharing them has never been easier. The BlackBerry Curve also comes with a calendar that can keep track of classes and after school activities, as well as a task list for managing assignments.

And in addition to world-class email and organizational tools, BlackBerry smart phones are also excellent mobile phones - audio enhancements include noise cancellation technology that offsets background noise. There's no better way to keep in touch with an up and coming scholar.
For more information on BlackBerry smart phones visit: http://www.blackberry.com/.

Keywords: smart phone blackberry digital camera mobile phone mp3 player pda blackberry curve email

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