http://thenetconsumer.com Just another WordPress weblog Thu, 31 Aug 2006 06:08:12 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Keyspan, a computer peripheral maker announced on Monday that it will be shipping its $79 cordless VoIP Phone Service starting this month. The phone is designed to untether users from their PCs. And yes, you can still call a landline without missing a beat. [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/722 As cable companies make strong moves into the arena phone companies have been playing for a long time, DirecTV has finally figured out that it will not be wise for them to stand on the side lines for too long and watch this multibillion dollar industry go to the agile ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/721 I am from the tinsel town of Los Angeles. I am successful in all aspects of life except my love life. I know it hurts but can't help it. My friend wanted to change my world around by trying to fix me up with his cousin, the beautiful, Catherine Zeta ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/720 The government of Australia has received some intelligence that there is a high probability of an attack on Westerners traveling to Pakistan. Australians are being advised to reconsider or cancel any trips to Pakistan until further notice.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/719 The class action lawsuit against Wyeth will go through the jury selection phase on Monday. The lawsuit alleges that Prempro, a hormone replacement therapy causes cancer.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/718 Due to the exorbitant healthcare costs Americans incur some creative minds have come up with a solution. Open up walk-in clinics in retail store chains that are run by Nurse Practitioners and Physicians Assistants.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/717 Foreign and domestic car manufacturers are lobbying the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to relax proposed rules to make car roofs stronger to prevent deaths from rollovers.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/716 The signature edition of the Tesla Roadster just launched in Los Angeles and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was there to watch the action. The Silicon-based maker of the roadster was offering 100 of its cars for $100,000 each. [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/715 It seems that the bigger companies get the less agile they get. Dell is known for pioneering the direct-to-customer sales model that cuts out the costs associated with running a retail outlets and sharing profits with computer hardware retailers.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/714 Eighty five percent of Vonage’s subscriber lines now have Enhanced 911 – a feature that automatically allows emergency operators to identify a person’s phone number with a physical address.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/713 Global IP Sound (GIPS) has just announced that they will be extending their partnership with Skype so that hardware manufacturers will be able to offer Skype-compatible phones which will use GIPS' Voice Engine.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/712 It is very easy these days for fraudsters to set up a website that looks like the legitimate ones that the average person, including yours truly, need to do some due diligence to ensure that the online site they are paying their funds to is not a criminal hiding behind ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/711 Blackboard has just been issued a patent on the technology that is used to deliver online education. If their recent lawsuit against a Canadian competitor is anything to go by, the e-learning industry may be in for a shocker.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/710 Findings from a study that involved thousands of participants showed that women with cosmetic breast implants have a lower risk of dying from breast cancer and heart disease, than they of dying by committing suicide. The results of the study were published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/709 A recent medical study conducted by Dr. Koon K. Theo, MB, PhD, of the University of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, that involved 27,000 participants from 52 countries, showed that the use of tobacco can affect one’s heart attack risk.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/708 The stock market has been greatly impacted by the sky high prices of oil and the turmoil in the Middle East. Sure there are short term lows in the market, with the NASDAQ being down by 14% from its mid-April high, but that is no reason to be shy about ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/707 If you are a real estate investor and want to know where to buy your next investment property, it will only be wise for you to do some digging to find where property values are rising. This kind of information is equally important to those that are in the market ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/706 Palm just launched a GPS solution for Treo users. The kit is preloaded with maps and a GPS receiver that communicates via Bluetooth with Palm Treo 650, 700w and the 700p. It looks like you don't have to pay the high price auto manufactures charge to get the optional navigation ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/705 Yahoo and AT&T have joined hands to launch a Photo sharing service that will tap into the burgeoning online photo service users that is estimated to grow to 2009, according to InfoTrends.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/704 It looks like Apple's iPod is going to have to work a lot harder to retain its market share with Microsoft's Media Player soon to launch later this month. Just this Thursday, EMI Group Plc, the worlds, third largest music company, announced that...[Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/703 The Trendnet ClearSky Bluetooth VoIP Phone Kit enables you to make your Skype and SkypeOut calls without being tethered to your computer or internet connection – within reason of course.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/702 The Nokia N90 is packed with every possible feature you can imagine to the point where the line between cell phone and PDA is starting to get real thin. The N90 is a Bluetooth phone that is equipped with...  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/701 As part of Ford Motor Company's plans to trim inventory to match consumer demand, which has been lagging behind lately, it announced that it will be cutting its fourth quarter production by 21%, much lower than it previously planned.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/700 Tanning at spas has become one of the beauty regimens of young adult females who have essentially been led to believe that the tanned skin is the most beautiful. They see how society worships the likes of Paris Hilton, and the bone-skinny and tanned Hollywood stars that are supposedly the ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/698 If you are not getting some sort of aerobic exercise three times a week, your brain may just be aging at a much faster rate than the brains of those that make the time to exercise. A recent study has shown that there are tremendous benefits to be derived from ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/697 The Electronic Gaming Summit is held every year in Northern California open only to top industry decision makers by invitation only. How many people do you think are usually invited? If you guessed 100 people, you are right.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/696 If carrying your Laptop through the airport or at conferences is getting a bit much for you, or perhaps you just want to travel light and still be able to keep track of your business, happenings on the net, email, etc., then you may want to look into the Sony ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/695 General Motor’s CEO, Rick Wagoner announced today that GM will be cutting down on the production of their big SUVs due to excess inventory and rising gasoline costs that is leading customers to buy more fuel efficient vehicles.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/694 Three companies that manufacture inhalants used by people suffering from some breathing disease such as asthma, emphysema, bronchitis and cystic fibrosis, were told to stop manufacturing their inhalants.  The companies affected were, Rotech Healthcare Inc, CCS Medical and Reliant Pharmacy Services.  Apparently the drugs the sold in large quantities throughout ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/693 Do you eat late at night after dinnertime? You tell yourself you need to finish everything you have on your to do list before you settle down in front of the TV to eat your favorite food or snack and top it off with desert. How much weight have you ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/692 My younger sister has decided to go on a diet. She has set a goal to lose 10 pounds by the end of the summer. I know it will be a daunting task for her. I am giving her all the moral support she needs. I love her so much ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/688 Just recently, I did some research on the net about digital cameras and decided to go to the mall in my town to purchase one. I asked the salesman for one that was easy to operate and would give me good pictures, and he quickly showed me the Canon Powershot ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/691 Hunkering down in a bunker in the hostile terrain of Afghanistan, loneliness and anxiety fill my entire being. I try to overcome my sadness by looking at photographs of wife Jenny and my ten year old son Roger. I remember how excited he was when I gave him a Canon ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/690 The best birthday gift I have ever received is the Casio Exilim S3 I got from grandma. I know I’ll cherish it for a long time because I needed to purchase one to get my career in the field of photography off the ground.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/689 Things couldn’t have been better with the arrival of our Canon Powershot A530. You see we've been planning a dayout with the whole family, but just couldn’t find the time to get together. The new camera turned out to be a reason and we settled for Central Park.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/687 It was a grand day for me, infact more than my son who was going to represent his team in the Hartley football cup. Michael, my son had been an ardent football player since his childhood, and I never knew that he was going to take it up as his ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/686 Grandma at 80 is still young at heart and healthy. What makes grandma so very special is her cheerful and radiant presence. Her grandchildren love her, her children adore her and so do her neighbors who get a kick out of her tickling sense of humor. But do you know ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/685 Denis is a mischievous boy to say the least. To make matters worse he is also in the habit of shoplifting. What a nightmare it was when his mom accidentally discovered the truth. Denis' mom tried her level best to free him from what seemed to be an inate need ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/684 If you have aspirations of one day becoming a school administrator, you may want to consider obtaining a Master of Education in Educational Leadership from the University of Cincinnati's online University program. In just two years, you get you degree - one that is as respected as the one obtained ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/683 So you think you know all there is to know about Real Estate Rip Offs? Well think again. If you are renting now and a mortgage lender or Real Estate Agent has presented you with a proposal that will put you and your family in a home, and the deal ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/682 A new study conducted at Texas A & M has uncovered what may not be very obvious to those that drink and smoke. Certainly both habits are not healthy and could lead to health complications later in life. Definitely not all smokers drink, and not all drinkers smoke. But if ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/681 Josh owns quite a few digital cameras. But for some reason he seems to crave more digital cameras. He is very picky and always finds some flaw in the cameras he owns, hence his need to find that one that has all the features he'd like to see in his ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/680 When summer vacation sets in my students want to go somewhere fun to celebrate. After working hard for a whole year they get restless when summer rolls around. And I don't blame them - college is tough. Anyway, for this summer they have invited me to Cancun Mexico to hang ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/679 Do you think it is good to spy on your friends? I believe that as long as their is a very good reason for doing it, then it is perfectly ok. Amber my friend loves to spy on her friends for kicks as a way of seeing what they are ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/678 We all needed a vacation - a chance to really reconnect with each other. Deciding where we would all have some fun was a daunting task, until Jim our eight-year old suggested that we all go to the Yellow stone national park. My son just loves nature and the great ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/676 Rover will be participating in his first dog show in about a month from now, and everybody in the family is very excited. Mom has got him a new collar, dad bought a variety of nourishing dog food to keep him fit, and my brother purchased a grooming kit to ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/675 The school concert is an annual event my daughter Pam eagerly looks forward to. Every year she plays some major role in it, but this time, because of a sprained ankle she sustained from a bicycle fall she will be a reluctant spectator. [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/674 This is a machine for those that want a laptop that is equipped to handle your day to day computing needs as well as play games, DVDs or even editing your own video. It comes in a slick silver-and-black metallic color. It features a full keyboard, Altec Lansing speakers, buttons ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/673 Belkin has announced that they are getting ready to launch a Wi-Fi phone for Skype that will enable Skype users to make domestic and international calls, and low-cost calls to land lines without being connected to their computer.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/672 If you don't know about the tax rebate that you get when you purchase a Toyota Prius, then this is how it works. When you buy a Toyota Prius before October of this year, you will be entitled to a $3,150 tax rebate from Uncle Sam. And if you buy ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/671 Adventure sports is Nelly’s passion. She has been looking for a camera that will help her get some power shots when she goes scuba diving, snow skiing, water skiing and whitewater rafting.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/670 Nina had saved all her odd-job money for a gift for her sick brother John. “I know the doctors have given up hope and I want to give him something that he would cherish during his last days. I thought I would get him a professional’s camera, since photography is ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/669 “Next week is our neighborhood picnic,” said an excited Mary. “But this time we also have a lot of guests attending. It's summer vacations and most families have relatives coming over,” said Nancy. “That would make it more fun,” said Ned, who was one of the main organizers.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/668 We plan to have a photo and camera exhibition organized by the students of our photography institute. There will be photos of great masters alongside those taken by our budding lensman. In the camera display section there will be various models of the latest gadgets and digital cameras.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/667 Microsoft is finally jumping in to adopt the vast opportunities that exist in the VoIP world. It just recently announced that it will be upgrading its Microsoft Office Communications server 2007 to include support for Session Initiation Protocol (SIP). [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/662 Technology has finally made it possible for you to use your credit or debit card to buy a drink from a vending machine. The days of using quarters, dimes and nickels to buy drinks from a vending machine may be numbered. I guess my concern here is, will someone figure ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/661 If you are taking Tylenol for your pains and aches you must take the time to read this article. The study that revealed this disturbing news was sponsored by Purdue Pharma while they were working on developing a pill that combined acetaminophen and an opiod. As a result of their ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/660 Sightspeed makes it possible for you to turn you PC or Mac into a video phone that you can use to call your friends and family members. And the good news is you can download their patented software free of charge. But if you want to do more, like shoot ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/659 In spite of all the trouble GM is having with overall slump in automobile sales, the GM's Corvette division is holding its own. In fact, Corvette sales seem to be going up. Surely, GM is not making piles of cash from selling corvettes, but the sports car is doing exactly ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/658 Mark had been thinking for the past few days as to what birthday present he should buy for his grandson. It probably becomes even harder as one grows old, and run out of ideas.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/657 Have you come across anyone who is extremely choosy about everything? If not, then you should meet me. There aren't too many things that I do not find fault with. Yes, I'll say it now, I am hard to please, especially when it comes to gadgets. But I must say ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/656 Sarah excitedly told me how eager she is to get her hands on her next pay check so that she can by a Samsung Digimax V6 digital camera. I asked her what the big deal was about the digital camera?  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/655 Do you have any friend of yours who is ostentatious and boastful? I am asking because I have one and I am paying the price. He is none other than Ricardo who gleefully flaunts everything he owns including his shabby dressing. His latest crush is the Samsung Digimax V5, a ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/654 Wildlife photography has been my daughter Sonia's childhood passion. Now she has added a new dimension to it. She has been studying insects and wants to create an archive of the images of the various species of insects she's been studying. [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/652 Mary and I met for coffee after not seeing each other for a few years. "How's your work going? I asked, a bit curious about what she's been up to since she is a friend I admire so much for her numberous accomplishments.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/653 The things that really grab the attention of Mariah, the coolest lady in our neighborhood, are real cool and stylish gadgets and fast convertibles. That is what her cousin, John, told me once. That is why she sports a sleek Mercedes convertible, a razor thin cell phone, stilettos, and only ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/651 “I wanted to send some images of our college excursion to Susan, my sis. When I told her so over the phone, she said, “I am bored of still photos. So don’t send me any.” Though I debated with her about it for sometime, I too wanted to find a ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/650 Chrysler is gearing up to offer employee discounts to consumers this summer in an effort to reduce their 2006 inventory and make room for 2007 models. Chrysler has been having a lot of problems moving their trucks and SUVs because of fierce competition from imports as well as the popular ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/649 My business partner Mary came up with the idea of creating an image album on our travelogue website. “I want to find an easy way to create a photo album on our site,” she told me and my wife Martha, the other day. Martha, a shutterbug by passion, came up ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/648 Grandmother is going globetrotting, and everyone in the family is busy helping her gear up for her big flight. Dad is planning her trip, Moms packing her bags, Sis is readying her safety kit, and uncle is getting her passport and visa details. So what am I to do?  [Read ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/647 Are you just paying your mortgage and other home equity lines of credit without looking into how you can manage your debt to put money in your pocket? This article is perfect for you if you have multiple Home-equity lines of credit, have up to 20% equity in your home, ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/646 There is a boom in online education especially among professionals who would like to improve their careers by learning new skills or a higher university degree. Aferall it has been proven that professionals with higher levels of education generally earn more than their counterparts who do not have the same ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/645 Business executives are finding out that an extensive business experience does not necessarily mean that they have all the skills they need to fully understand all aspects of their business. Surely, there is division of labor in most corporate settings, but knowledge of how various aspects of business operate is ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/644 Sure you may wind down your window when you smoking and driving. Sure you go outside to smoke a few sticks after dinner and junior comes outside to hand out with you and catch that cool breeze. Sure you bark at him when he tries to pick up your cigarette ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/643 One of the eye diseases that strike people as they age is cataracts - the clouding of the lens of the eye. Studies show that if you have more antioxidants in your diet, your chances of developing cataracts as you get older significantly diminishes.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/642 “Rosalene, your assignment is aimed at getting the best images of the places you are visiting. I want the presentation to be perfect when you are back,” said Robert, my boss. “Yes, boss. Don’t worry I'll get the job done with my Sanyo VPC-J1 Xacti.”  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/641 Travelling light is very important for my dad. A few weeks ago he said, “Hey Jenny, can you find out about a handy digital camera I could carry for my summer trip to the hills. I am too old to carry too much.” So yesterday, I told him about the ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/640 Finally, Sony Ericsson has made a move that has proven to everyone that they understand mobile telephone trends. The K610im is equipped to handle iMail, Web browsing, iMMS. The phone is also equipped with a 2 Megapixel camera.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/639 DVD Player buffs and video editing ethusiasts will love the new Sony Vaio AR Premium, but not its $3,500 price tag. The video quality on this Sony laptop is yet to be matched by any other laptop in its category. It is loaded with the latest technology, and a lot ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/638 Educators will be the first to test the $100 Laptop that only needs cranking to generate the electricity that powers it. And the testing will take place at the National Educational Computing Conference scheduled to take place in San Diego, July 5 through the 7th.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/637 Getting four people on a conference call using one Skpe Account is now a cinch. The SSP-M4SV Multi Conference device is your ticket to reducing the cost of conference calls. Chatting with friends, family members, and business associates has just been made much easier. [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/635 It seems Vonage is having a hard time these days. The same week it announces its IPO, Skype declares that it is offering a free phone calls to U.S. and Canada. And now this - Verizon claiming in a lawsuit filed on June 12 in U.S. District Court for the ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/634 Susan, my sweet wife, and I agreed when we were about to have our first baby, that Special moments must be captured forever. "But I would love to be get ready for when our baby comes so that we never miss one precious moment. And I'm afraid the clunker we ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/633 My Friend and colleague, Peter, had a distant look in his eyes. I knew what he was daydreaming about: the Alps. After a hectic year, he was finally taking a summer trip to the Alps. "It's the mountains that you are gazing at?" I nudged him. Peter smiled and said, ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/632 The most recent car crash tests conducted by the private car crash testing organization, Insurance Institute of Highway safety, have declared Toyota Avalon and Chevy Impala their best cars for side impact safety. The test conduct by the institute is different from the side impact safety test conducted by the ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/631 Is it a matter of time before the Repo man becomes extinct? It certainly looks like it, especially if the rate at which auto dealerships adopt a new high tech gadget that lets them sell cars to customers with poor credit scores. The new device, known as a Starter-Interrupter...  [Read ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/630 Ecommerce is a relatively new and untamed arena that keeps changing by the day. New laws, policies and regulations from multiple regions of the world have made online business quite a minefield to navigate for most well-established companies. This is where E-commerce University has carved its own niche. [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/629 Camera X enters the room, looking smug and nose high up in the air. Nikon Coolpix 7900 is sitting by the window, a petite frame with sleek looks. Camera X pokes Nikon in the ribs and says haughtily: Hey you! Move out of my way.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/628 Rick: Don't you think you are too hung up on the Nikon Coolpix 5900? I simply cannot understand what the hullabaloo is all about? And why can't we buy any other model?  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/627 Miranda did not attend Eminem's live concert, but she is not that upset about missing out on the chance of a lifetime to watch Eminem up close and personal. You see she has just got hold of the pictures and video clips that her brother shot on his Nikon Coolpix ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/626 Bob Gatting has set out to teach his high school-going son, Roby, the basics of digital photography. And he has chosen the Nikon Coolpix 2200 for the job. A 2.0-megapixel resolution means that pictures come out with quite impressive colors and detailing while Roby gets the pleasure of blowing them ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/625 Coffee is at it again - dispelling that old notion that it is bad for you. If there are so many benefits to be derived from drinking coffee, why are decaffeinated beverages being hyped up so much? A study conducted by the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, in Oakland, California, ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/624 It was once thought that caffeine was bad for you, which then led to the explosion of decaffeinated beverage evangelists, and a windfall for beverage manufacturers who flooded grocery store shelves with everything decaffeinated, except water. Well, could it be that researchers did not look real deep into how caffeine ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/623 Yale University researchers have presented some evidence in the Journal of American College of Surgeons that seems to indicate that there could be a link between a healthy heart and lower cancer rates in Asian countries in spite of their higher smoking rate.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/622 Car crash scams account for an estimated $14 billion in bogus insurance claims, and a tremendous increase in insurance premiums for the rest of us. According to Los Angeles Times, LA ranks second to Miami in staging fake accidents. At the rate it is occurring in major cities, the police ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/621 Have you read lately about concerns of what hackers and spammers will do with your VoIP if nothing is done to secure it? VoIP certainly has some shortcomings which of course include the fact that it is using the same platform - the internet - that hackers and spammers use ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/620 The MusicGremlin is a digital music player that seems to snatch music out of thin air and play it on your MP3 player - MusicGremlin's MG1000. How do they do it you ask? Well, it is called WiFi. Yes, this baby uses WiFi to download music and allow you to ... http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/619 If you don't know about Klegg Surround Sound Systems, then you are not in tune with the coolest sound systems in the market today. Klegg is running a limited time offer. The offer is simple. All you need to do to get your free Klegg Mini is...  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/618 Dear Jay,Seen the snaps? Do I need to tell you that I am having the time of my life at the Alps! I am skiing, snowboarding, gorging and merrily clicking away with my Casio Exilim EX S600. And honey, you have to try it out. [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/617 We were dead set against taking the Casio Exilim EX Z600 for our beach trip but our son, Will was adamant. Back from out trip, all brown and plump, we are glad that we gave in to his wishes.  [Read more] http://thenetconsumer.com/archives/616