Online retailer Amazon.com announced today that it had dropped the price of its standard Kindle electronic reader by 17 percent to $299. For months, I have heard my friends raved about how they loved their kindles. I have seen it in person, and I have to admit that it’s a very useful device to carry around. For its most basic functions, the Kindle allows you to purchase and download book from Amazon in just about everywhere. The fonts are extremely easy on the eyes. It feels just like reading from a book. But, I bet most people didn’t know that there are other hidden features the Amazon didn’t tell you about your Kindle.

Web Browser
Turns out that Kindles comes with a functioning experimental browser. The Kindles user guides states that

Your Kindle comes with an Experimental application called Basic Web which is a Web browser that is optimized to read text-centric Web sites. It supports JavaScript, SSL and cookies but does not support media plug-ins (Flash, Shockwave, etc.) or Java applets.

Yes, it’s rather slow and clumsy, but it’s unlimited use free of charge.

Read RSS Feeds
You can use the browser to access online RSS readers such as http://m.bloglines.com and http://mowser.com to access any RSS feed. Or, you can use third-party tool such as KindleFeeder which can aggregate your favorite feeds, convert them into easy-to-navigate format and deliver wirelessly onto your Kindle device at scheduled times for free.

Gmail
The Kindle’s web browser allows you to access webmails such as Gmail or Yahoo. However reading email on Kindle can be slow and awkward. Since there’s no scrolling function on Kindle, you have to read your emails in pages. The best choice is to use Google’s “mobile” version of Gmail by access http://m.gmail.com from your Kindle browser.

Yahoo Messenger
You can access Yahoo mobile messenger site to IM on Kindle. However, I don’t recommend it as it drains battery and you have to manually refresh the page periodically to check for new message.

GPS
the Kindle allows you to plot your current location on Google Maps. It’s not really turn-by-turn GPS, but it’s still a useful feature. To access Google Maps, use the following shortcuts when you are in Browser Mode:

Alt-1 Show current location in Google Maps
Alt-2 Find gas station nearby
Alt-3 Find restaurants nearby
Alt-5 Find custom keyword nearby

MP3 Player
Since the Kindle is also an audio book reader, it comes with speaker and headphone jack. This means you can turn it into a MP3 player and play your favorite music in the background while you are reading!

Picture Viewer
Even though it’s black and white and the quality is not the greatest, nevertheless you can use Kindle to view your favorite pictures. You can also set your own picture as the screensaver.

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Soon you maybe able to use different fingers to control your iPod to play, fast-forward, rewind, or pause… Apple had filed with the US Patent and Trademark Office it new technology invention titled “Control of electronic device by using a person’s fingerprints”. The new design describes a new user interface controlled by fingerprints.

The new technology invention embeds a fingerprint reader to a gadget such as iPod. By placing your index finger on the reader, you may be able to fast-forward the content. By placing your middle finger on the reader, you may be able to pause the device. The reader would also take into consideration of how long the finger is placed on the device, therefore triggering another behavior.

This seems to be similar to the touch pad controls Apple currently has in its MacBooks. But, it’s still unclear on what specific use Apple has planned. However, this new technology invention would allow Apple to keep the size of its iPods small. A fingerprint sensor could potentially replace all buttons and dials that’s currently employed in the iPods. Then again, the design may simply be a biometric locking mechanism built into future Apple devices.

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Most small business owners and home-based business operators cannot afford to hire full-time receptionists, nor can them afford to waste their valuable time on answering phone calls all-day. This is where the concept of virtual receptionist becomes increasingly popular.

Why Virtual Receptionist?

To attract clients, you need to make your business appear professional. The biggest turn-off when some potential clients calls your business is being greeted by some recorded message and voicemail. In fact, majority of the people said that they would not leave a message in the voicemail and would rather take their business else where. For a small business, that represents a big loss in potential clients.

Virtual Receptionists service eliminates overhead costs and saves your business money. Best of all, it makes a good impression for your business by presenting every caller with a live processional receptionist who can screen telephone calls before transfer the call to you or your employees. A virtual receptionist can also answer basic question about your business as well as gather client contact information for your sales leads.

To your clients, a virtual receptionist solution appears integrated into your business. Most of the times, your clients will get the impression that they are speaking to someone right in the office.

With a virtual receptionist, you would not need to deal with employee overhead and you don’t need to hire IT to build and maintain your phone network. You are provided with a toll-free business phone number that is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Virtual Receptionist Providers

When shopping for virtual receptionist service, consider the following features that are offered by most providers:

Music/message on Hold
Multiple Line Phone Systems
Live Call Screen, Transfer and Forwarding
Calendar/Appointment Scheduling
Order Processing and Customer Service
Live Outbound and Sales Calling
Toll Free Or Local Phone/Fax Number
Unlimited Voicemail and Voicemail to Email
Fax to Email and Professional Email Address
Live Answering Minutes Plans
Real-Time Online Call Reporting
After Hours Support
Call Queueing

Please note that not all advertised virtual receptionist service is run by live personnel. Some companies provide virtual receptionist through customizable virtual PBX phone system. The ones providing live service are:

Davinci Virtual
virtualreceptionists.biz
Appletree Answering Service
Concorder Communications
Ruby Receptionists

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Even though the 2010 Toyota Prius is the third generation of its kind, it received a 90% makeover in terms of its functional components. The car now boasts many new technologies that usually only appears on the more luxurious models. Before we get to the new technologies, it’s equally important to mention that the engine is now increased to 1.8-liters and the batter pack has been upgraded for more capacity. The air conditioning, water pump, and power steering systems are all electrically-powered now. The new Prius gets 51/48 fuel efficiency with a 10-year, 150,000-mile warranty.

In addition, three new modes of driving now exists in the new Prius: “Eco” - fuel saving mode which translates to 12% less throttle when the gas engine is running. “Power” - more power-assist when you need the extra HP. “EV” - pure eletric power only that allows you to drive up to 25 MPH for one mile.

The following features comes with the Advance Technology Package:

Safety Connect - Toyota’s version of OnStar.
Dynamic Cruise Control - The car will automatically adjust your speed based on surrounding traffic.
Lane Keep Assist - Under low speed, the car will beep if you drift out of your lane. Under highway speed, the car will take control of the steering wheel and move you back to the center of the lane.
Automatic Parallel Parking - The car uses radar to detect available parking space. If you approves the selection, it then grabs the steering wheel and parks itself in the spot.
Solar Panel - The solar panel in the moonroof will power a second battery that runs a fan to move fresh air through the car. This feature is especially helpful when parked under the sun. But there’s more, hit a button on your remote key and the car will turn on the AC for three minutes to cool down the temperature inside your Prius before you get in!

The MSRP on the new Prius with the Advance Technology Package is around $33,000. That’s still a bargain compares to what you would be paying for models from other automakers. Not to mention you would be driving a cool and recognizable car.

For more information on the new Prius, check out here.

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PBX which stands for private branch exchange, is a telephone exchange system. Originally a PBX was designed to control phone systems through in-house operators within a company. Today, a PBX has expanded functionalities to connect fax machines, computer modems, and other types of technology that route through the phone lines.

As businesses of all sizes begin to look into VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol), virtual PBX suddenly became an attractive option. A virtual PBX arrangement, in which a telephony system is provided through an Internet download and then managed by an outside service, offers a low-cost and easy-to-set-up means without having to maintain a staff. Now, the telephone exchange system is hosted at an outside VoIP provider.

A virtual PBX is capable of providing many services such as messaging, call-forwarding, call-waiting, automatic dialing, and other advanced calling features. But, it can also provide Outlook integration, host video, voice, and data conferencing, and tracking call data for billing and budgeting purposes.

If you are looking for a virtual PBX provider, the search can be daunting. Many providers offer a diverse range of calling features but make it difficult to combine those features without increasing the cost of the calling plan significantly. Other providers may offer basic services but are unable to scale to business’s need for enhanced calling features. For starters, there are some websites out there which helps you compare plans from different virtual PBX providers, such as pbxcompare.com and virtualpbxcompare.info. Currently there are five top providers: GotVMail, Packet8, RingCentral, Vocalocity, and VoiceNation. Start off by assessing your calling needs and then search for the one providers that offer combination of features you desire. The important thing is to put priority on the feature(s) that you definite will require rather than features which you may or may not use. Once you decided on a virtual PBX provider, check out their calling plans based on your estimated usage. It’s also important to factor in the costs of calls that exceed the limits set in the plan.

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Apple is long rumored to be working on a tablet-like device that’s bigger than iPod Touch, but smaller than its MacBook. Most likely, Apple has observed the success Amazon had with its Kindle device that it decided to jump in. There is clearly a market for these mid-size PCs as some projected 20 million devices will be shipped this year, doubling last year’s output.

Let’s say if Apple is indeed working on such device, its dream features would be

Thin and Light - It must be comparable to the Kindle in terms of its weight and size.
Built-in wireless 3G - This was a critical feature in the Kindle which allows its users to download new books from anywhere. Better yet, the new Apple tablet should also have WiFi capabilities when such connection is available.
Clear Display - The display quality must match other Apple devices. After all, the Apple tablet should be used for viewing pictures, browsing the internet, and watching movies. Furthermore, the device should have Kindle-like fonts that functions as an e-book reader.
Innovative Keyboard - Please, get rid of the virtual keyboard used in iPhones. I never liked them, and hopefully Apple will come out with something new.
Cool Factor - Just like all Apple devices, it must appear cool to be carrying one.
Price - The Kindle sells for $359. I can see the prices goes somewhere between the Kindle and the cheapest MacBook. Anything over $1000 is too expensive.

Most likely such a device won’t be unveiled until 2010. But, maybe a prototype will be presented upon Steve Job’s return.

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Sony has joined in the video game race by unveiling its new technology inventions last week - a prototype of a motion-sensing system with a controller that can be wielded as a sword, a baseball bat, a gun and even a bow and arrow. Creator Richard Marks told an audience at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) in Los Angeles, California. that the new system will hit stores in the spring of 2010.

Obviously Sony’s news is a direct response to Microsoft’s announcement of Project Natal - Microsoft’s motion-sensing controller. Nintendo also announced technological improvements to its popular Wii system. All three gaming companies seem to have agreed that the future of gaming lies in motion-sensing game play.

During the live presentation, Sony presented a man wielded a hand-held remote with a small, glowing globe on its end. As the man swung the controller, a disembodied sword moved back and forth on a giant video screen above.

Nintendo’s new technology invention is called Wii Motion Plus, which is a add-on to its Wii remote to make the games feel more natural and intuitive. The company’s president, Satoru Iwata, also debuted a new device called the Wii Vitality Sensor, which is intended to help players visualize and control their pulses.

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Today’s the day which Microsoft officially replaces its unsuccessful Live Search with a new technology invention: Bing. How is Bing different from Google? For starters, Bing is also set up to organize search results in relevant groups rather than as a series of links. It uses technology from Powerset (a search technology company Microsoft acquired) for its search presentation.

What that means is that Bing simply displays search results in a more elegant way than Google. While Google is proud of its unique and simple design, users often had to follow through a series of links to find the results they are search for. Bing does a better job in group the search results into different categories. In fact, Microsoft has put up a sponsored ad in Google. Type in Bing in the Google and you will find the following phrases at the top of the page:

Lost in the Links?
It’s Time to Try Bing ™ - The New Decision Engine from Microsoft.

Bing and Decide
It’s Time to Turn Key Words into Key Decisions. Search on Bing Now!

Look at the following search for “Kobe Bryant”:

Notice the small box at the upper left corner? It provides quick navigation to different categories of search results for “Kobe Bryant”. Within the search results, notice how the results are grouped into different categories:

After playing around with different search keywords, the Bing seems to provide reasonably accurate search results. This was a big improvement over the old Live search engine. Just maybe, Bing is the new technology invention worthy of challenging Google’s mighty throne. Or maybe Bing isn’t aimed directly at Google as Microsoft is formally calling it a decision engine rather than search engine.

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This month, Hyundai is launching a system that warns motorists when they drift out of the lane they’re traveling in. Another manufacturer has developed pedestrian-detection software that works with heat-seeking cameras to alert drivers when someone is in their path.

In March, Ford will release a fully functional, dashboard computer — complete with keyboard — geared to contractors and other business folks who want to access the Web, review documents and log inventory while on the go. In the spring, AT&T will launch an in-car entertainment service with 22 satellite TV channels.

“Consumers want a vehicle that’s always on and always connected,” said Kieran O’Sullivan, vice president at Continental Automotive Systems, which supplies parts and technology to automakers. In the near future, he said, “consumers and carmakers will be able to customize the [dashboard] instrument panel to their individual tastes the same way that people customize their mobile phones.”

As consumers are growing accustomed to having mobile Internet through their smart phones, more car buyers are seeking connectivity in their vehicles that will allow them to move seamlessly between their digital lives at work and home, panelists said.

Half of the new vehicles sold in the United States are now compatible with MP3 players and 80 percent can connect with wireless Bluetooth headsets, said automotive technology expert John Waraniak, who served as the panel’s moderator.

Ford will begin installing its Works Solutions package on its full-size pickups and E-series vans this spring. The dashboard computing system costs $1,195 plus a monthly Web access fee, has a 6-inch touch screen and runs on Windows. It will allow electricians and other contractors to create Excel spreadsheets, print invoices and even access other computers.

Personally, I don’t believe in-car computing is more than just a buzz word right now. It’s not designed for safety and practicality reasons. As a consumer, I would rather carry around a mobile device that allows me to stay connected anywhere. I wouldn’t be interested in paying thousands of dollars just so I can stay connected in one car. Even though I may spend more than 2 hours in my car each day, I will be driving most of the time. Safety will be my priority while I am driving. During the times I am not driving, I would rather not spend more than I have to in the car, even the cars offers me entertainment TV, mustic, internet…

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Yahoo and Intel built their success upon widespread use of personal computers, but the two companies hope products to be shown at the Consumer Electronics Show next week will mark the beginning of their Internet-fueled expansion to the world of TV as well.

The two companies have attracted several significant manufacturing and content allies in the attempt to bring new smarts and interactivity to a part of the electronics world that has remained a more passive part of people’s digital lives.

What exactly are they trying to achieve? For Yahoo, it’s establishment of the Widget Channel, a software foundation that can house programs for browsing photos, using the Internet’s abundant socially connected services, watching YouTube videos, or digging deeper into TV shows — and through which Yahoo will be able to show advertisements.

For Intel, it’s a foothold in an industry whose microprocessors have typically been cheaper, less powerful, and less power-hungry.

Yahoo is confident the products will catch on, in part because it’s set “very low” licensing requirements, said Patrick Barry, vice president of Yahoo’s Connected TV initiative.

Internet TV is becoming more popular now that most families have broadband access at home. However, the internet infrastructure in US still lags behind in bandwidth compare to some other countries. I believe as long as they prove Internet TV to be a cheaper alternative to Cable or Satellite TV, Yahoo should have no problem to promote it.

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