Plantronics Bluetooth on Sale

Newegg.com has the Plantronics In-The-Ear Bluetooth Headset (Discovery 925) for only $34.99 now. This Bluetooth is listed normally for $129.99, so this is an amazing limited time offer.

The Discovery 925 is one of the sleekest, most stylish Bluetooth headsets that I have ever seen. It's designed in the form of a long narrow triangle that is hollow in the middle and features a diamond-shaped earpiece that comes in black, pink, and gold. The piece is extremely light, only weighing 0.3 ounces. The device features two buttons. One button on the outside of the piece turns the device on and off, triggers voice dialing, kicks the headset into pairing mode, or dials and releases calls. The other button on the bottom of the Bluetooth cycles through the volume levels.

You can use the earpiece up to 30 feet away from your mobile device, but it begins to crackle a bit when you get 15 feet away or further. The microphone is very good. It allows for improved voice quality and noise reduction. Wind is a bit of an issue if you are using the piece outside, but it isn’t horrible.

The Discovery 925 has about 4 hours of battery life, but if you choose to store the device in it’s charging case which houses an additional battery, you can have about another 5 hours of talk time.

The Discovery 925 is not the best Bluetooth headset available right now, but for the greatly discounted price of $34.99, I would definitely say that it is worth it. If you’re looking for a cheap, quality Bluetooth headset, then the Plantronics Discovery 925 is the best bet for you.

If you aren't sure what you should be looking for in a Bluetooth, check out our guide to choosing a Bluetooth.

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Keep Your Smartphone Secure

There's a lot to be said about computer security these days, but what about your cell phone? With more and more people using their smartphones to do things they would have done on a laptop just a year or two ago, it's important to take extra precautions just as you would with your computer. If you're conducting business on the go, you don't want your sensitive information to end up in the wrong hands. Below are a few things to keep in mind when using your smartphone.

1. Don't save your passwords. I know it's tempting to click that little "remember me" option when signing into a website you use frequently. Typing out your password every time you check your email or bank account can be annoying, but imagine your cell phone getting lost, or worse, stolen, and the thief is able to sign in to all of your accounts with just the click of a button. Your lost cell phone would be the least of your worries.

2. Watch What You Download. Using your phone to download is still sort of a new concept, as downloading on a PC once was. Because of this, your phone is susceptible to malware, well, much like your PC once was (and may still be). Download with care. If it seem suspect, don't do it and if you're not sure, exercise caution. Also, make sure your apps and smartphone operating systems are up-to-date, which can help keep some harm away from your phone.

3. Make sure websites are secure when necessary. Just as you would online, make sure any website where you are accessing sensitive data starts with "https." The extra "s" is for "secure." If your phone has an option for a secure connection, always choose it, especially when using a public Wi-Fi network.

4. Don't invite intruders with your Bluetooth. If you're not using Bluetooth, turn it off and make sure your phone asks your permission to pair up with other Bluetooth devices. This is an easy way to allow the wrong person to access your phone and information.

5. Reset your phone. If you're no longer planning to use your phone, especially if you plan to sell or donate it, make sure you've wiped it clean. Remove your SIM card and any memory cards. Also, make sure you restore it to the original factory settings.

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Looking for help with travel and technology? Then call a Tech Travel Agent at 800-736-8772. Or see this link for a Laptop Rental on your next trip.

Cell Phone Radiation Concerns

There are many people that have expressed their concern for cell phone radiation, and there has actually been quite a bit of debate over it. Honestly, the thought of my cell phone emitting some sort of radiation has never once crossed my mind until I was reading about why some people feel that their could be some danger with constant cell phone usage.

It is known fact that cell phones do emit a tiny amount of radiation with their cellular radios turned on. Even with hundreds of cell phone calls, the amount of radiation is well within the human limits of tolerance. The thing with radiation though is that it has a cumulative effect over time. There is a theoretical possibility that a small number of people who constantly use a cell phone over a long period of time are more at risk to develop certain kinds of neck and brain cancer, but as of now nothing has been proven.

There have been a few studies done this past year that have raised some questions and caused some concerns. A new analysis of 23 unconnected epidemiological studies were unable to find any indication of a connection between cell phones and tumor development. Unfortunately when those studies were looked at more closely, eight of the cases discovered that there was a 10 to 30 percent increased risk of tumors next to those who do not use cell phones, and the increased risk was directly proportionate to the amount of use.

The Environmental Working Group, who released an online guide to cell phone radiation in September, stated that they believed that with the current standard of cell phones there is an increased risk of a long term user (which they define as someone who has used a cell phone for over 10 years) developing a brain tumor from the radiation of the cell phone.

Most everyone believes that more research is needed before any kind of final statement is made about the consequences of the radiation. There have been numerous independent studies that have failed to link cancer to cell phone usage, but since no study will be able to come out and say that cell phone use is 100 percent safe, there will always be worry in the back of some people’s minds.

So the easiest way to avoid any possible harm from the radiation or maybe just to put your mind at ease is to use your cell phone hands free. If the cell phone is not up to your ear, than you avoid all possible risks from the radiation emissions. This is easy enough to do with the use of speaker phone and Bluetooth. Hopefully you aren’t too paranoid about the small radiation possibilities, but if they have worried you, I hope that you now understand that there is no proof of cell phone radiation causing any forms of cancer. Soon there should be more research on this topic that will hopefully put all these accusations to rest.

inPulse Smartwatch for BlackBerry Smartphones

Its a watch and may be one of the coolest BlackBerry accessories around. Its not a BlackBerry on your wrist, rather its a watch which connects to your BlackBerry via Bluetooth to alert you to emails, SMS messages, and calls. This watch isn't made by RIM (the makers of BlackBerry) and its not designed to operate like a phone, but it is handy for when you're walking down the street and don't hear or can't reach your phone, you can get an update right to your wrist.

When you get an incoming phone call, the watch lets you know who's calling. So you can decide if you want to answer without even picking up your phone. It also has a vibrate option on the watch so even if you're busy or can't hear your phone, you won't miss your call.

If you're waiting for an email or SMS message, your BlackBerry will automatically push the messages to your inPulse watch, so even if you're in a meeting you won't have to keep picking up your phone to check to see if you've received what you're waiting for.





Some specs:
* 1.3" full color organic light-emitting-diode (OLED) display
* Bluetooth® v2.0+EDR
* 150 mAh lithium-ion polymer battery
* Glass lens and full metal body
* 22mm interchangeable wrist band
* Vibrating motor
* Micro-USB port (for charging)
* Over-the-air firmware updates
* Dimensions: 51mm height x 38mm width x 12mm depth

According to the inPulse website here are a few more need-to-know facts about the inPulse:

*inPulse has a rechargeable lithium-ion polymer battery inside. Under normal use, i.e. paired with a BlackBerry, receiving and displaying 20-30 updates per day, the battery should last approximately 4 days. Since inPulse is highly configurable, the battery life will vary from user to user

*inPulse charges via a built-in micro-USB jack. If you have a fairly new BlackBerry smartphone (such as a BlackBerry Storm, Tour, 8520, 8900 or Bold 9700) then inPulse can be charged using the same charger as your BlackBerry. A micro-USB cable is also included. Charging is also very quick and usually takes less than 30 minutes.


While you cannot actually send messages or make calls with the device, it still seems like a fairly handy device to have. It will be available February 2010 and will retail for $149, you can pre-order at the inPulse site. It works with every BlackBerry with the OS 4.3 and above. It may not be a necessary gadget, but it is pretty cool for those on the go.