NonSociety – Live Differently. Meghan Asha Tech Addict

WOULD YOU BUY MOBILE SPY SOFTWARE TO CATCH A CHEAT?

I’ve been trying to shake my obsession with spy technology, but can’t seem to stop searching for the ultimate spy gear that would make even James Bond drool. Recently, I came across Mobile Spy, which is a hybrid software/service that allows you to monitor a smartphone or Pocket PC in real time. This unique system claims to monitor:

• Calls Log - Each incoming and outgoing cell phone call number is logged along with duration of the call and time stamp.

• SMS (Text Messages) Log - Every text message is logged, even if the mobile phone’s logs are deleted. Includes full text of text messages.

• Web Site URLs Log - Each address entered into Internet Explorer Mobile is logged, so you can track web browsing activity.  This is a Windows Mobile feature only.

• Log Summary - A summary of all cell phone activities can be shown along with separate viewers for each type.

The application stays hidden on the phone and does not show up in the Task Manager. You can also view logs remotely by simply logging into the Online Control Panel from anywhere by entering your username and password.

Dumbbells for the Wii Remote

In case all you Wii workout fanatics want to continue to fool yourselves that it’s an actual calorie burning activity, I bring you the newest addition to delusion: Wii Dumbbells! The 2lb/ 1kg sleeves for your Nintendo remote will cradle both the Wii Remote and Wii Nunchuck. Burn some cash or better yet buy this useless fitness item now for $30.

Do’s and Don’ts: Keeping your computer clean & bacterium free

• Do check your owners’ manual before using any kind of liquid or chemical cleanser on television screens or electronics.
• Don’t let liquid seep into the working components. Excess liquid absorbed into the inner workings of a device can spell disaster.
• Do use rubbing alcohol to remove fingerprints from iPhone/ iPod screens and remove gunk from computer keyboards.
• Do use a canister of compressed air  to clean out small areas, such as CD or DVD drives, or the vents on stereos and TVs. You can also use a small vacuum to tackle dust.
• Don’t use paper towels, it’s far too abrasive.
• Don’t use cotton balls, they aren’t absorbent enough.
• Do use cotton swabs, cosmetic sponges, and a nonabrasive microfiber cloth.
• Do use cotton swabs dipped in rubbing alcohol or water to clean in between the keys on a keyboard or other small grooves of appliances.
• Do use makeup sponges to clean bigger stains without letting the item get soaked in cleaning fluid.
• Do use a microfiber cloth for daily maintenance because it won’t scratch screens or veneers.
• Don’t spray cleaning solution directly onto the device. Put the solution on a cloth first, to minimize risk of liquid damage.
• Do unplug your electronics before cleaning them and dry them thoroughly before turning it on again.
• Don’t try to repair liquid damage on your own, take the item directly to a repair shop.

The Bionic Ear

If you’re addicted to eavesdropping, then this Bionic Ear device may be a terrific way to listen to your neighbor’s conversation at a safe distance. Sure, it’s anything but discreet - you might as well have a sign on your head that says “big pervert”. In any case, the Bionic Ear does hear sounds from 20 to 100 meters away. It also records up to 12 seconds of audio, so you can listen to that juicy tidbit of gossip over and over. This $39 device that lets you improve the audio by adjusting its frequency is available here.

iPod Mini Spy Camcorder

This fake iPod plays no music, it instead spies on everyone around you. I’m not sure how subtle or discreet one would look walking around with a shady looking iPod with a hole in the center of the screen. But, nevertheless a harmless gadget to trick a Moran for $39, here are a couple of specs for those of you iSpying an iPod:

• Micro SD/SDHC memory card to store all the images
• Captures film at 25 frames per second
• Color video resolution of 640 by 480 pixels
• Image resolution of 1600 by 1200 pixels
• Rechargeable Li-ion battery

Nothing says “I love you” like spying on your mate…

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, rather than gushing about gifts I’ve decided to post on how to use technology to spy on your loved ones.

WARNING: These tips should be used only as a last resort to make sure your love’s wandering eye is staying put where it belongs.

I Spy A Camera!: Almost every object you can think of has the ability to be equipped with a spy camera. In researching just what types of devices were secretly equipped with spying lenses, I found spy cameras in iPods, pens, eyeglasses, belts, even in a hairclip (as seen with this backstage video at a Chanel fashion show). Spy cameras range from a couple hundred to thousands of dollars, which is a hefty price to pay for a little snoop session. A better option is to rent the camera through the Internet, so you can keep the price down while playing secret agent.

Tracking Online Activities: Do you need a better idea of what your significant other is doing on the Internet?  You can use software like keyloggers and spyware, these systems will monitor everything on the computer. Don’t forget that you can also visit his/her online mail accounts (Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, etc.). Many of these sites keep users logged in, and save the passwords. Look for multiple accounts, if you see your loved one has a couple of different email addresses then something shady just might be going on. Also, take a look at the days or weeks online website search history to get a more accurate account of what sites your significant other has visited. Be wary if you find the history is cleared, this may mean that your loved one is hiding something.

Capture Cellphone Data: Many companies have come up with a way to extract all of the data off a phone’s SIM card, so you can retrieve contacts, deleted texts, and numbers last dialed. Simply pull out the SIM and plug it into your computer’s USB. This is another way of retrieving any data you think your companion is trying to hide from you.

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!: Whether you’ve had suspicions of deceptive behavior in the car or office, you can easily place a digital recorder or a webcam with audio. Just make sure the device is small, silent, has a reliable battery and is legal!

GADGETS TO START YOUR DAY: RISE AND SHINE

Getting up and out the door can be made much easier with the addition of a few choice gadgets around the home.  From clocks to appliances to mp3 players, your life can be easier and your pad swanker.

Mornings made easier with the Moshi Voice Control Alarm Clock.  This clock “listens” to you and responds to your commands - you can ask for the time or temperature and set or turn off the alarm.  Talk to the clock to get info from bed, the closet or the bathroom while you’re getting ready.

GADGETS TO START YOUR DAY: SOME LIKE IT HOT!

Make shaving a more serene experience with a Conair’s Hot Lather Machine to give you a little transition time from bed to the morning rush. The Hot Lather Machine warms your shaving cream bottle in one minute, softening the hair for less skin irritation.

GADGETS TO START YOUR DAY: GEAR THAT FITS THE WAY WE HEAR

We all need a tad bit of instrumental inspiration to start the day. That’s why using Yurtopia’s Yurbuds will set your day in the right direction. Yurbuds are new ultra comfortable customized earbuds that actually stay in place no matter what you do. No two Yurbuds are the same, since you must take a photo of your ears in order to purchase a set. Once you’ve sent them a photo (I’m in the process right now), you’re set to use these earbuds for running or simply on the morning commute.

*I’m testing out yurbuds later this week and will have a massive giveaway for all NS readers.

GADGETS TO START YOUR DAY: GET MOVING!

Caff it up in style with a sleek stove top coffee and espresso maker.  The La Sorrentina Atomic coffee machine is more like a work of art than a kitchen appliance - always impresses, but you’ll still get your daily fix.  Not looking to spend in excess of $400 for your morning jolt?  Try the IMUSA Espresso Coffeemaker.  You’ll still get stove top brewed coffee with statement making style, but it’ll run you under $30.  Take it on the go with a MySigg aluminum, thermal water bottle.  The reusable bottle saves the money from not buying coffee out and is eco-friendly.

iPad Accessories

With the launch of the iPad at a price point that blew most of us away (starting at $499), I thought I’d go over some of the iPad’s accessories options:

• The iPad Dock: Just like most of Apple’s products, the iPad dock is used for charging and syncing the device. I don’t use the docks I have often, unless I’m using accessories like powered speakers.
• The iPad USB Power Adapter: I’ve never carried a dock on a trip with me, so I’m happy they included the USB Power Adapter that lets you charge your iPad directly through an electrical outlet.
• The iPad Keyboard Dock ($70): I’m still not sold on the iPad’s touchscreen typing, so I’m incredibly happy that you can purchase an iPad Keyboard Dock that also acts as a dock for charging your iPad. The dock features a rear 30-pin connector in addition to an audio jack.
• The iPad Camera Connection Kit ($30): I really expected the iPad to include a camera, but unfortunately I think we’ll have to wait for version 2.0 to include this feature. The only fix right now to get video and photos onto the iPad is with the Camera Connection Kit, which allows you to connect your digital camera to the iPad via USB or the SD Card Reader.
• The iPad Case ($40): Like most of Apple’s design, this case is modern and stylish.

FASHIONABLY FIT

Setting a workout routine and sticking to it can be tough, especially since unless you’re at the Biggest Loser ranch dropping double digits every week, there generally aren’t immediate results.  Focus.  Sticktoitiveness.  Willpower.  These are words often used to motivate people to keep at it.

Easier said than done.

Fortunately, there’s a whole industry of exercize accessories to help track your progress, make your workout easier and more enjoyable, and measure if you are acheiving your goals.  So, gear up and get going…

• Fitbit: The goal is 10,000 steps per day.  A pedometer counts your steps, as well as tracks distance walked, calories burned, speed and other stats.  Fitbit takes the pedometer a few steps further by also tracking your sleep quality and syncing with Fitbit’s fitness and nutrition tracking website.  The Fitbit tracks your motion in three dimensions and converts this into useful information about your daily activities.  Seeing the calories you’re burning and the increase in daily steps (try to increase by 2,000 steps per day unitl you hit 10,000) can be a great motivator.
• iPod Shuffle Stainless Steel Edition: No need to strap cumbersome mp3 players to your arm.  The iPod shuffle is the “world’s smallest music player,” yet it comes in 2GB or 4GB, holding up to 1000 songs.  The Apple Store exclusive in stainless steel is a sleek way to enjoy your favorite songs, well, shuffled.
• iLuv 1303 Sweat Proof In-ear Sports Ear Clips: These sports earphones are perfect for working out.  They’re compact and lightweight, and the ear-clip design prevents them from slipping out of the ear during an intense workout.  Most important?  They are splash proof for joggining in the rain or dripping with sweat during a fierce workout.
• Nike + iPod Sports Kit: Set your playlist and track your stats (ala pedometer) at the same time with the Nike + iPod Sports Kit.  Nike+ lets you play your mix while tracking your progress on an iPod nano. The transmitter fits in to the sole of a Nike+ shoe, records your running stats and transmits the information to your iPod for download.

THE APPLE TABLET IS ALMOST HERE!!!

What’s more exciting than waiting in line for an iPhone? Today’s Apple Tablet announcement! It’s like Christmas time with geeks all waiting on Santa Jobs’s big delivery. Some of my less enthusiastic friends have asked me if the tablet will simply be a bigger version of the iPod Touch. Judging from Apple’s innovation and the rumors, it seems Apple is aiming to create a product that will revitalize and redefine the publishing industry. Gizmodo’s Brian Lam is pretty on par with how Apple’s tablet could help change the industry:

“The eventual goal is to have publishers create hybridized content that draws from audio, video, interactive graphics in books, magazines and newspapers, where paper layouts would be static. And with release dates for Microsoft’s Courier set to be quite far away and Kindle stuck with relatively static e-ink, it appears that Apple is moving towards a pole position in distribution of this next-generation print content. First, it’ll get its feet wet with more basic repurposing of the stuff found on dead trees today.”

Will this new medium create a new form of expression? I really hope Apple continues to blow our minds with this new product launch.