Technical Pro

Got a gadget that needs fixed, a handle that’s rubbing you the wrong way, or just an urge to play with the adult equivalent of Play-doh? Get yourself some Sugru ($10-$20). This modeling clay/super glue/alien symbiote forms a lasting bond between a variety of materials, and cures to a tough silicone overnight, making it weatherproof, flexible, and generally indestructible. If only we could say the same about our gadgets.

By Laura Heller, dealnews writer

If it’s January, then it’s time for the Consumer Electronics Show. This is when the industry trots out the latest and greatest to whet our appetites for new TVs, mobile phones and portable computers.

CES is exciting and fun, to be sure, but it will end up costing you money if you fall for the hype. But if you know how to read between the lines, you’ll be able to easily plan upcoming purchases.

The most important distinction is between what’s being promoted as groundbreaking, cool new technology and what’s actually going to reach the mass market. At every show, companies debut examples of products in development or those meant for very limited production. In years past, we’ve seen 100-plus-inch plasma TVs (price upon request) still seen only in a handful of sports bars in places such as Las Vegas, where the industry goes to gather, and super-skinny LED TVs available for exorbitant sums relative to their tiny screen size.

Last year’s much-hyped 3D TVs are a great example. When the recession hit in 2008, many electronics companies halted expensive research and development, trimmed costs and scaled back new product releases. Some even stayed away from consumer shows like CES altogether, deeming them too expensive to attend. Those that came, had little to show.

Hence 3D TV.

As one veteran reporter quipped, “when you’ve got nothing else to show, bring out the 3D.” It’s not that the technology doesn’t have merit or isn’t fun, but rather is it compelling enough to get consumers to pay more for it, or buy new TVs to have it. Add to that a lack of content and glasses that have to be worn at home, and it’s hardly an easy sell. But 3D technology has been kicking around for a long time, so it was easy enough for companies to resurrect it and bring it out in lieu of more impressive new technology.

Don’t expect to see much talk about 3D TV coming out of CES this year, however.

“Connected TVs are the big focus this year,” says Jason Oxman, spokesman for the Consumer Electronics Association, sponsor of the show. “This year, it’s the range of apps and the TV will start to look a lot like a cell phone.”

Indeed, the TV is merging with computers. More and more can be connected to the Internet, with apps — or widgets — embedded into the TV. You might not have full Internet access, but the apps will take you to Netflix, Hulu and Yahoo! to download and watch content.

No, 3D TV isn’t dead, it’s just becoming part of a package of features you’ll see included in new TVs this year. “Literally every high-end TV will have 3D as a feature, but what manufacturers have discovered is that we’re looking for TVs that do a lot of things,” Oxman says.

We’ll see more tablet computers this year — dozens according to Oxman — to compete with Apple’s iPad in a variety of price points. There will be more 4G smartphones for faster data transfer, and connected home appliances that propose to help save consumers money by allowing remote diagnostics and monitoring peak times for power use to reduce energy costs.

All practical advancements meant to save us money. More use, less hype.

Once the show opens on January 6, stay tuned for more reports from the convention floor. Follow Laura Heller on Twitter for up-to-the-minute details.

The cost of technology goes down steadily, making HDTVs and Blu-ray players today a much better deal than they were a year ago. It’s too bad that most other things rise in price. Don’t say you weren’t forewarned! Here’s a list of 20 things that will most likely cost more in 2011, presented to you with plenty of time to stock up now.

1. car insurance — Rates are now at an average of $1,000 per year, but going up faster than inflation. That’s especially so because insurers are adding on new high-tech monitoring abilities and pass along the costs. So not only are you going to pay more, but your privacy controls are going to go down.
2. Chocolate — There is a veritable chocolate crisis going on in the world, and that has as much to do with global finance as it does to do with weather. Cocoa is at a 30-year high and demand is only growing. Expect to see fancier presentations even of basic chocolate — meaning smaller boxes for bigger prices.
3. VoIP services — Now that taxes have hit the voice-over-IP market, rates go up as fast — or faster — than the traditional telephone service providers. It doesn’t help that new free VoIP services over smartphones provide killer competition. Expect struggling companies, like Vonage, to keep raising rates directly, and or just tacking on extra fees.
4. Airfare — Even if you see an abundance of ads for $1 fares and the like, don’t believe the hype. The total cost for traveling on an airplane is going up, and will continue to go up in 2011. Airlines have had such success with added fees for baggage, seating, snacks and blankets, that they’re not yet done imagining other things to charge you extra.
5. Cars — The heavy discounting that was prevalent during the recession and crises among carmakers is past now, so expect to pay more if you want to buy a new or a used car in 2011. sales are up so far in 2010, and that means that carmakers are not as desperate as they once were. And don’t expect a bailout from the Feds.
6. Nintendo 3DS — The 3DS is coming, and it’s not going to be cheap! The price will likely be in the $300 range in the U.S., based on the pricing announced in Japan for the February release of the device. That’s a lot more than any other hand-held gaming device on the market. What will you get for your money? An 8-ounce hand-held game system with great resolution, three cameras, and wireless connectivity.
7. Health Insurance — It’s a no-brainer that health care costs are going up, so if you haven’t been paying attention through the last several elections, you’re going to have sticker shock come your next open enrollment period in 2011. Brace yourself, and review the recent changes to the law in the health care reform bill.
8. Breakfast — Grain prices have been skyrocketing, and that’s going to have an effect on your morning cereal, your milk, your eggs and your bacon. The cows, hogs, chickens and food processors are all competing for the same product and driving prices up.
9. Coffee — The world’s coffee supply is contracting, and prices are soaring. Coffee futures jumped 40% last year, and there’s no end in sight for the rise. Even the smallest coffee shops are being hit by the price increases, meaning a more expensive cup of Joe for you.
10. Music — In all the great excitement about the Beatles finally coming to iTunes, it probably escaped the notice of a lot of people that individual songs were priced at $1.29, not the typical 99-cents of the last few years. Don’t think that’s just because it’s the Beatles. Apple starting raising prices in 2009, and you’ll be seeing prices edge higher throughout 2011 on digital music-buying sites.
11. Dollar Menus — This change has been coming for a while, but the fast food chains have been reluctant to pull the trigger once and for all to up the cost of their value menus to more than a dollar. McDonald’s has already started to dismantle its dollar Menu, and it’s going to happen wholesale pretty soon.
12. Credit Cards — Thought credit card reform measures would mean it would cost less for you to use your credit cards? Think again. Just like the airline industry tacking on extra fees, credit card issuers are making up any deficit from the new rules in other fees that they’re still allowed to charge. And in some cases, they’re doubling-down, meaning it’s costing you more.
13. Refinancing — The dream of “no-cost” refinancing is a lost cause these days, when banks are clamoring for any fee they can possibly get and the housing market is still in the dumps. Coming up in 2011, you’re going to pay more upfront for refinancing, which may make it hard to fathom even though interest rates remain low.
14. Sports Ticket Prices — Almost every major league sports — and a lot of minor league ones too — are still passing along the costs of new stadiums and extras to their customers. For the Yankees, for example, that means tickets will be up 47% for non-premium seats in 2011. The most expensive field-level seats will be $260.
15. College Tuition — There is no end to the rise in college tuition, it’s one of those things that just keeps going up and up and up, way faster than inflation. That’s particularly daunting at time when savings accounts are depleted and so many parents are out of work. For the 2010-11 school year, tuitions are up almost 8% from the previous year for public 4-year colleges and 4.5% at private colleges. That will only go up again for the 2011-12 school year.
16. Water Rates — Check any municipality in the United States and you’ll likely find residents with higher water bills in 2011. It’s a factor of the economy, and cities having to squeeze money out of every stone.
17. Postage Rates — Even if the post office says there will be no more postal rate hikes soon, do you believe them? The USPS is actually fighting for a 5.6% increase in rates, which was denied by the Postal Regulatory Commission. Don’t bet on that ruling sticking for very long, so stock up now on Forever stamps.
18. Gold — You might have thought Cash4Gold sites were cheesy scams, but you might think about melting down some of your old jewelry if you’re watching this commodity. Prices per ounce just keep going up and up. It’s a bit of a roller coaster ride if you’re looking for an investment, but if you’re thinking about selling some gold, 2011 will be a good time.
19. Ammunition — You might not think of ammunition prices as something to worry about, but if you’re a hunter or if you’re concerned about the budget of your local police precinct or the nation’s miliary, you might want to pay attention. Ammo prices have been going up steadily over the past several years, and will rise again in 2011, all because the metals they’re made of are going up in price and the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan are increasing demand.
20. movie Ticket Prices — Movie ticket prices go up every year, but 2011 could be a time of major increases for two key reasons: online streaming and 3D. The popularity of streaming movies through subscription services like Netflix has cut deeply into movie studio profits from DVD sales and from cable OnDemand purchases, so they have to make up the difference somewhere. The advent of 3D means that studios can tack on extra fees for the experience, even if viewers would rather watch a regular 2D movie.

Beth Pinsker is dealnews’ Editorial Director. She was most recently the Editor of WalletPop.com, and has been a life-long bargain hunter. Follow her on Twitter — @bethpinsker. You can also sign up for an email alert for all dealnews features.

“Imagine a futuristic transparent touch screen in a club – it is an instant magnet for attention,” says Alan Smithson, co-founder and CEO of Smithson Martin Inc., the company that developed the Emulator system exclusively for the professional DJ scene. “At our launch party, everyone wanted to touch and play with it, there were 3 people deep trying to take photos of it.”

The technology was developed by Pablo Martin, an Argentinean-based DJ with a passion for technology and the CTO of Smithson Martin Inc. He partnered with Alan Smithson, a DJ in Toronto, to create fully functional multi-touch Emulator packages. Their company, Smithson Martin Inc., provides the first and only professional DJ application for multi-touch technology available in the world. And Smithson Martin is the exclusive global distributor of the Emulator Multi-Touch screens for the DJ and Music Production market.

Early buzz was created in August when a user released an Emulator YouTube video. DJ’s from around the world were amazed and were asking how they could get their hands on this technology. While that video showed only the pre-release software, it generated over 1.3 million views, making it obvious that the DJ community is ready for this technology.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVD_Lvv4UOI

Emulator is multi-touch MIDI software that presents everything the DJ needs on a high-resolution transparent multi-touch screen; the only screen accurate enough for professional use that doesn’t generate false or ghost touches. The current version of Emulator interfaces with Traktor pro, but future releases will include compatibility with Virtual DJ, Ableton, and Serato. Emulator currently runs on Windows 7, but Mac OS software is scheduled for release in 2011.

The applications for multi-touch technology are endless. A simplified version of this technology could easily be created for corporate or retail advertising applications.

The Emulator Multi-Touch Professional DJ System is now available for purchase at www.smithsonmartin.com. It is available in four packages featuring different size transparent touch screens; 32″ & 42″ with custom sizes also available by request.

Using 3D motion-capture technology to create uniform avatar figures, researchers have identified the key movement areas of the male dancer’s body that influence female perceptions of whether their dance skills are “good” or “bad”.

The study, led by psychologist Dr Nick Neave and researcher Kristofor McCarty, has for the first time identified potential biomechanical differences between “good” and “bad” male dancers. Its findings are published today in the Royal Society Journal Biology Letters.

Dr Neave believes that such dance movements may form honest signals of a man’s reproductive quality, in terms of health, vigour or strength, and will carry out further research to fully grasp the implications.

Researchers, at Northumbria’s School of Life Sciences, filmed 19 male volunteers, aged 18-35, with a 3-D camera system as they danced to a basic rhythm. Their real-life movements were mapped onto feature-less, white, gender-neutral humanoid characters, or avatars, so that 35 heterosexual women could rate their dance moves without being prejudiced by each male’s individual level of physical attractiveness.

The results showed that eight movement variables made the difference between a “good” and a “bad” dancer. These were the size of movement of the neck, trunk, left shoulder and wrist, the variability of movement size of the neck, trunk and left wrist, and the speed of movement of the right knee.

Female perceptions of good dance quality were influenced most greatly by large and varied movements involving the neck and trunk.

Dr Neave said: “This is the first study to show objectively what differentiates a good dancer from a bad one. Men all over the world will be interested to know what moves they can throw to attract women.

“We now know which area of the body females are looking at when they are making a judgement about male dance attractiveness. If a man knows what the key moves are, he can get some training and improve his chances of attracting a female through his dance style.”

Kristofor McCarty said: “The methods we have used here have allowed us to make some preliminary predictions as to why dance has evolved. Our results clearly show that there seems to be a strong general consensus as to what is seen as a good and bad dance, and that women appear to like and look for the same sort of moves.

“From this, we predict that those observations have underlying traits associated with them but further research must be conducted to support such claims.”

Dr Neave and Kristofor McCarty also worked with fellow Northumbria researchers Dr Nick Caplan and Dr Johannes Hönekopp, and Jeanette Freynik and Dr Bernhard Fink, from the University of Goettingen, on the landmark study.

See the videos below:

Good Dancer

Bad Dancer