It is easily portable, just 7 inch, designed to bring how-to titles to life.   It revolutionizes traditional cookbooks, travel guides, parenting primers, and home improvement books by bringing them to life with video clips, images, and sound. It’s never been easier or more fun to master the things you’ve dreamed of doing.

miBook has various titles such as Cooking, Decorate Garden, Build and Repair, Fun and Healthy Pregnancy, new born babies, travel, etc.

miBook Parenting Titles walk new Fathers through everyday tasks, such as changing a diaper and warming a bottle, with easy to follow visual instructions.

Cooking titles guide the viewer in planning a menu and fixing a complete meal, stopping after 3 minute vignettes in order to let the viewer keep up, perfect for new cooks.   It helps to move through recipes in a step-by-step, seeing exactly how your craeation should look every step of the way.

Don’t just read it – see it!

Hundreds of projects come alive with video clips, images & sound.  Move through each project step-by-step, seeing how it should look at every turn. miBook stops automatically after each step, letting you work with expert skill & confidence. Push play to move on whenever you’re ready. With a few button taps, you’re onto a world of possibilities. Pick a project & work like a pro!

Includes 2 home titles: Home Projects – 150 everyday projects – install light fixtures, TV’s, dimmers, PC networks, thermostats & more: refinish floors & organize. Home Repairs – 150 everyday repairs – - leaky faucets, wall cracks, lamps and much more.

Available in More Titles: Cooking, Decorating, Gardening, Parenting, Travel, Repair, Fun and Healthy Pregnancy & more.

Share your digital photos: You can also use miBook as a digital photo frame. You’ll be able to show off hundreds of photos at the touch of a button. The beautiful 7” LCD display makes your photos and videos look great-no matter the format. Control the show with the included remote or let photos run automatically in a slideshow.

Enjoy your favorite MP3 tunes through the two built-in speakers or the headphone jack. With just a couple of simple clicks, you can even put your slideshows to music.

You can keep track of time with the built-in calendar and clock. It adjusts brightness, contrast and color with ease. And switch between standard 4:3 and 16:9 widescreen display modes. These are some of the cool features of miBook

You can play home videos or videos you download from the internet. To enjoy your favorite images, simply plug in your camera’s memory card (SD/MS/MCC/XD).  If you want to transfer photos music and videos from your computer, use the USB cable which is provided with miBook. AC adapter and rechargeable lithium-ion battery pack included.

Its suggested retail price is $129.99 for a package with two titles, $19.99 for each additional title.  It is available at Bed Bath & Beyond, Linens-n-Things and at more than 800 The Source locations across
Canada.

Bruce
C.E.O.,
Photoco Inc.

Bruce Teicher -  A biography

Mr. Teicher is a graduate of Amherst College, Columbia Law School, and Columbia Graduate School of Journalism. After school, he worked briefly as an attorney, then founded a consumer magazine about law to help people with their everyday legal problems.

He joined CBS, where he helped fight for media access to courtrooms. He then moved to Viacom, where he structured television production deals with networks, actors, producers, and writers. After Viacom, he returned to his writing roots and worked as a television writer for numerous network TV shows.  Most recently, he’s worked as C.E.O. at Photoco, a consumer products company that specializes in consumer electronics.

About miBook:

miBook, a portable multimedia book designed for playing “how-to” titles. It’s 7 inches and launching with titles from Parents.tv (parenting titles cater to new dads and dads with toddlers), HGTV, Food Network and DIY Network. The titles take the viewer through a series of easy-to-follow steps and since the device is so small, it’s easy to tote from task to task.

Image via Wikipedia

LP DOCK is an innovative new USB turntable that fuses the convenience of the iPod with the easiest way to convert vinyl records to MP3.   It enables users to transfer their old vinyl collection directly to an iPod using any Mac or PC computer. It comes with a  USB cord and works with all docking iPod models when you use with iTunes.    Audacity recording software, which reduces any vinyl noise and pops inherent on some old vinyl recordings to ensure full quality.  LP DOCK is the first of its kind to deliver direct-to-iPod technology. EZ Vinyl Converter 2 software is included to automatically name songs.

VCR 2 PC is an innovative new VHS player with single-cable USB output. With VCR 2 PC you can save all of your favorite home movies and videos straight to your PC in pristine digital format.   EZ VHS Converter software is included and lets you burn your videos to DVD, watch on your PSP, iPod or laptop computer. Exported MPEG4 video is compatible with select mobile phones and portable multimedia devices!  You can connect your VHS, VHS-C, or 8MM camcorder to the front panel jacks to backup your camcorder videos.   When you’re finished archiving your videos to your computer, VCR 2 PC is the perfect VHS player for any room in the house.

If you have a lot of tape collection you can create MP3s from it.   Just plug the TAPE 2 PC into your computer using the USB cable, install the software and start converting your music.  It’ll easily transfer to your iPod or other MP3 player.  TAPE 2 PC is the world’s first USB dual cassette player/recorder with the ability to covert tapes to MP3. TAPE 2 PC includes EZ Tape Converter 2 for PC (EZTC2) and EZ Audio Converter for Mac (EZAC) software; the simplest way to record and convert tapes directly to iTunes. EZTC2 features Gracenote® MusicID technology, which analyzes your recordings and automatically retrieves album, artist and song information for you! EZAC lets you easily enter track information. You can now digitally archive your collection in just a few mouse clicks.     When you’re finished archiving your cassettes to your computer, TAPE 2 PC can connect to your stereo system using standard RCA cables for convenient cassette listening in your living room, garage, or wherever your stereo system resides.

These above products enable consumers to take their traditional media (vinyl records, cassette tapes and VHS tapes) and turn them into easily accessible digital media. The idea behind ION Audio‘s products is simplicity: just plug and download. You can also see their new products at http://www.ion-audio.com/products/new.php

ION Audio recently sold its one-millionth turntable.   Vinyl sales are actually increasing.  In 2007, according to Nielsen SoundScan, nearly 1 million LPs were bought, up from 858,000 in 2006.  Based on to-date sales for 2008, that figure could jump to 1.6 million by year’s end. (According to the Recording Industry Association of America, CD shipments dropped 17.5 percent during the same 2006-07 period.) Sales of turntables — which dropped from 1.8 million in 1989 to 275,000 in 2006, according to the Consumer Electronics Association — rebounded last year, when nearly half a million were sold.

Gregg Stein
Director of Marketing
ION Audio

Greg Stein – A biography

Greg is VP level marketing exec with broad experience in all aspects of global marketing planning and budgeting; including strategies for brand management, sustaining product portfolio management, new product development, pricing, distribution, promotion, trademark registrations, sales management, print and online advertising, public relations, interactive media, trade show exhibition/event marketing, merchandising, SKU management, inventory control, sourcing, and corporate and marketing communications.

Direct experience managing a wide range of staff as well as managing relationships with advertising/public relations agencies, artist management agencies, record labels, and media buys (direct mail, on line, print). Focus on fast-paced, innovative and lifestyle-oriented music, technology, entertainment and consumer electronics companies.

Currently, Director of Marketing Worldwide at Numark Industries, LLC. (Numark, Alesis, Akai Pro, MixMeister, Ion Audio)

He was the Director of Marketing Communications at Line 6.  Adjunct Professor at Northeastern University.  Also, worked as Product Marketing / Marcom Manager at Avedis Zildjian Company

Greg holds Masters in CSS Management/Administration from  Harvard University.  Also, holds a certification in Strategic Management from Boston University.  He has done his BA, Business Management & Drum Set Performance from Berklee College of Music.

About Ion Audio:

Ion Audio’s mission is to deliver a diverse and innovative range of digital audio and musical entertainment products that brings music to life.

Whether you are at a barbecue, out by the pool with friends, in front of your computer or just hanging out at home Ion Audio is here to help you listen, play and enjoy your music.

The company was established to fulfill the needs of the music enthusiasts, musicians and DJ’s of all levels looking for an affordable solution to digital music entertainment.

The product line includes award-winning innovations for home audio, digital audio and DJ technology, musical instruments and digital audio accessories.

From award-winning USB Turntable that turns your old LP’s into MP3’s to our state-of-the-art musical instruments such as the Electronic Drum Kit to battery-powered portable PA sound system for iPod, Ion Audio is here to make music more accessible and enjoyable than ever before.

Because, like you, Ion Audio love digital audio, are always looking for fresh ways to help you move music.  Be on the look out for many more revolutionary innovations from ION Audio coming to a retailer near you.

Related articles

• Ion Audio iCade arcade-style iPad cabinet (go.theregister.com)
• USB Turntable Puts a Digital Spin on Your Vinyl Collection (wired.com)
• Don’t Take My Vinyl Away (golibrarians.wordpress.com)

In years past, these interviews have been some of the most popular segments on our show, and we’re making sure we’ve got lots to air.

We’ve also got a new web site mostly built, with tons more features for our listeners.  Keep an eye out and we’ll let you know when everything’s ready for you to check out.

Related articles

• Top 10 Tech Highlights of 2010 — and What’s in Store for 2011 (dailyfinance.com)
• A roadmap to CES 2011: parties, gadgets, apps, and exhaustion (venturebeat.com)

Most everyone has one of the newer, digital cameras.  In fact, almost all cell phones now-a-days have a high-resolution phone and video camera built into them.  So the question has grown — why buy a dedicated camera?

Let me start out by saying that there is only one great camera made today on planet earth.  The best camera is the one you have with you, which means that most of the time we’ll be taking pictures with that new smart phone.

But… if you know that you’re likely to be taking photos, you’re much better off with a dedicated camera.  You’ll get much better optics, better digitizing arrays and a variety of features that’ll make those photos look much better than anything you’re likely to get from your cell phone.

Here’s a good article from USA Today about some of the best deals on cameras today along with their features.  Makes me wish I was spending a few bucks on another camera this year…

Camera prices are down, and many have cool new features.

It’s rare that I recommend something as a must-have, but this is one of those times.  If you are buying, or have recently bought, an electronic device such as a cell phone, iPod, iPad, MacBook Laptop or other electronic item you need to protect it now.

The manufacturer of ScreenGuardz and BodyGuardz have given Tech Talk Listeners a 55%-off Coupon for This Weekend Only! That’s better than their Black-Friday pricing!

During checkout from their website, use the Discount Code “TECHTALK” to get the 55% off!

Great stuff for a great price!  Thanks to NLU Products for making this offer to our listeners.

Related articles

• NLU Products Unveils Strongest, Clear Protection for HTC EVO 4G (eon.businesswire.com)

Now, developers are looking at including biometrics and cameras to monitor us even more.  This will let these devices provide us with what we need, when we need it — kind of like a butler of years past.

But, what does it mean to our privacy?  Do we really want a machine that can be monitored by who-knows-who to keep track of every part of our lives?

For more, read Smart gadgets may one day anticipate our needs.

Related articles by Zemanta

• Smart gadgets may anticipate our needs? (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• High-tech devices to help aged ‘a priority’ (theage.com.au)

If you could ask the CEOs and other execs of any of the Major Consumer Electronics Companies anything, what would it be?   Are you interested in their products, the direction of their industry, what pets they have, what?

This is your chance to ask them questions, an opportunity that may never happen again.  From Product Direction through Marketing, Sales and Distribution and even personal questions, they’re all fair game and this is your chance.

Since you’re following me, you probably already know that I’ve interviewed the top people at every major Consumer Electronics firm in the world.  I’ve interviewed more than 5,000 CEOs, CTOs and Marketing Officers over my past 535+ ClearChannel Radio shows in the Boston Market.

Next week, I’m going to be out at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and I’m going to be recording interviews, dozens of them.  I’ll be there with my official media credentials and recording equipment asking questions and putting together more radio shows.

Now, here’s the important part for you:  For the first time ever, I’m going to be asking them some of your questions.  I’ve never made this offer before, and I’m a little reluctant to do it — after all, we’ve all heard some people ask some pretty silly questions…  But I’m willing to give it a try.

I’m going to be using my Twitter account (@CraigPeterson) to post basic information about each guest I’m interviewing as it happens.  If you have a question for them (or for anyone), just go ahead and subscribe to my Tweets and reply when you see something interesting.  It’s that simple.

I’ll take the (reasonable) questions, ask them to the executives, record the interviews, tweet back and post the answers on my web site (http://CraigPeterson.com)  This will let you be part of the action on the floor of the largest conference and convention in the world!  Check it out at http://www.cesweb.org/

Don’t forget to follow my Tweets at http://twitter.com/craigpeterson and let me know what you think. Another milestone for social media.

I’ll personally be accepting donations tomorrow (Saturday, December 12th) from 3 to 6 in Manchester at Toys-R-Us.  I’d love to see you, and make sure you bring an unwrapped toy to drop off (or buy it there).

The Marines tell us that they’re particularly looking for gifts for teens.  For more information, visit:

Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

Some key features:

• 90 seconds to full charge
• runs for 120 minutes on a charge
• 1/2 the weight of other flashlights I’ve used
• lasts a lifetime – 50,000 charge/discharge cycles (you read that right!)  That’s a charge a day for 135 years!
• powered by three extremely bright LEDs that will last for 24 years when used 40 hours per week

The 135-year lifetime claim rings some alarms with me.  Running companies and helping with marketing for hundreds of them has got me a little jaded.  Ever read “All Marketers are Liars” by Seth Godin?  Let me put it this way: This company doesn’t lie.

The flashlight is using some of the most current technologies available, including LED “bulbs” and quick-charge capacitors in place of batteries.  This gives them the amazing charge time, the reasonable life-per-charge (about 2 hours of use) and the incredible lifetime estimates for the flashlight.

The flashlight comes with a 12 volt car adapter and you can keep it plugged in 24X7 so that it’s ready when you need it.  Remember, it’s aimed at emergency services personnel (how I could have used this flashlight when I was an EMT) — but still, I’d like to see it come with a 110VAC-based charger.  It’s easy enough, though, to keep the charger in the car where it’s meant to be used.

We’ll be giving away one of their flashlights soon, so keep an eye on our email subscribers list to find out when and where.

Speaking of marketing, the company started out providing clothing and accessories for rock climbers and took its name, 511Tactical, from that sport.  I’m also trying out a pair of pants and a shirt that are as rugged as the day is long and are even comfortable!  Just like 511Tactical’s flashlight the pants and shirt they sent along to try live up to every bit of “hype” surrounding them.

Great job guys!

Congratulations to Bob G. of Chester, NH who was the first to correctly identify the reasons why everyone should own the CarMD diagnostic kit. Our thanks go out to CarMD for providing this great diagnostic tool to one of our listeners.

Congratulations to Brian S. of Manchester and Todd E. of Nashua, our winners of the Klipsch S4 in-ear speakers. These high-end in-ear speakers will allow them to have a private concert experience anytime they listen. Thank you to Klipsch for providing these give-aways to our listeners.

Congratulations to Tucker L. of Manchester NH.  He was the winner of the $100.00 Gift Certificate from Gladiator GarageWorks.  We hope you enjoy it and get your Garage perfectly organized.

Gladiator GarageWorks has a complete line of Garage Organization Modules so that you too can have the perfectly organized garage.  These products are available locally at Sears, Sears Essentials and Lowes.

In March, we decided to have them on the show.  You can see the write-up on my show site here, and listen to the interview on my podcast site.  Matt Palma, the VP of Sales & Marketing over at iRobot, was pretty convincing.  We talked about some of the new technology embedded in the new 500 series of Roombas and it sounded impressive, but I’ve seen the Roombas before and since I wasn’t terribly impressed with them I knew that his talking points had been bravado.

Then the impossible happened.  They sent me one to try out.  And I tried it.  Things changed.

It took less than five minutes to get the Roomba set up.  We programmed it to start every morning at 8:30 and set up a couple of “Lighthouses” in rooms we wanted it to clean.  Then we hit the “Clean” button to send it on its way, and after playing a little tune on its internal speaker, off it went.

It uses a special pattern combined with numerous sensors to make passes on the floor and try and cover the problem areas, which is does quite effectivley.  It even monitors the stream of junk that it’s sucking in to see when it hits an area that deserves some additional attention, and will immediately go into an intense spot cleaning mode by spinning around and cleaning in some concentric circles.

The version we have, the 560, uses two brushes combined with the vacuum to do its job.  The first brush is a bristle brush not unlike those found in beater bars in regular vacuum cleaners, and the second is a four-bladed rubber brush that Roomba uses to clean tile, wood and conrete (non-carpeted) floors.  Actually they both run together in most, if not all, circumstances.

The results?  An excellent job of maintenance cleaning.  Roomba’s two trash compartments were full.  It had picked up everything from small pieces of paper and even sand all the way down to dust.  The pet hair that was on the carpet — even in corners — was gone, and the 560 isn’t even their pet hair model.

Then there’s the computer wires, power wires and tassels on the carpets.  We always have had to be careful when we’re vacuuming because the beater bars will rip up most of these wires.  Not a pretty picture.  I was concerned that the little Roomba would have some real trouble with all of these, so we spent some serious time cleaning before letting her go loose.

Of course, over the next few weeks, we stopped all of the preventative cleaning.  Wires were left laying around, the carpet tassels weren’t moved out of the way.  Things kind of got back to normal.  But how would Roomba do?

Amazingly enough, Roomba detects when it’s pulling on a wire, tassels or other obstructions and hasn’t damaged a single thing.  All of the wires have been left in-tact, all of the carpet materials are still in great shape an Roomba keeps going.

The robot takes about an hour and a half to clean our entire first floor, and it even remembers the layout of the room if it is started at the same point each time.  We use it’s “Spot” button when when take it to an area that needs cleaning and let it clean an approximately 3-foot square area, then we hit the “Dock” button and off it goes to find its dock and plugs its self in, recharges and is ready for the next vacuuming job.

My opinion of this little robot has come a long way since I first saw it cleaning a small spill at the retail vacuum store.  The Roomba is still not a complete replacement to getting out the big old vacuum and going to town, but it does do an absolutely acceptable job of keeping things fresh and clean, eliminating 6/7th of our vacuuming jobs as the old equipment (and out backs) get a break.

Good job, iRobot!

Visit http://www.deltaportercable.com/Products/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=21238 to find out more about the tool kit.

This kit contains: A PCL180D Compact Drill/Driver, PCL186CS 6-1/2″ Circular Saw, PCL180RS Reciprocating Saw, and a PC180FL Pivoting Head Flashlight, as well as(1) PC18BLEX Extended Run Time Battery, (1) PC18BLX Compact Lithium Battery, PCLMVC Lithium Ion Fast Charger, (1) Double Ended Bit Tip, (1) 18T Carbide Tip Circ Saw Blade, (1) 6″ Wood Cutting Recip Blade, and Soft Sided Carrying Case.