GPS takes to cycling
If you’re an avid cycler, then don’t miss the latest bit of gear designed to give you every possible advantage in training and racing. First seen on Team Garmin’s handlebars at the 2008 Tour de France, the Edge 705 GPS-enabled cycling computer is now available to the public. The device comes bundled with a heart-rate monitor, speed and cadence sensor and City Navigator mapping, which provides turn-by-turn directions and millions of preloaded points of interest. See it at www.garmin.com. Recreational cyclists can join Team Garmin and its coaches in tracking their progress, sharing workouts and participating in an online community — even sharing recent rides with fellow riders around the world. Information on the rides is shown through charts, illustrations, reports and a variety of map representations including street, photo, topographic and elevation maps as well as the popular Google Earth application. Check out the team at www.garmin.com/teamgarmin and www.garmin.blogs.com.
Accounting for Mac
Mac users are generally more likely to rave about their computers’ great graphical capability than the business software they can use, but a new online accounting package called Xero (www.xero.com) is out to change all that. Xero not only works on Safari but it delivers an intuitive experience. Key financial data is presented in a dashboard format. The accounting software is as simple to use as a computer game, but also has enough sophistication to prepare a business’ end of year financials. As well as running on Safari, Xero also runs on Internet Explorer and Firefox, making collaboration with people using PC-based systems hassle free. Test drive Xero at www.xero.com/signup/.
Language knowledge for free
Transparent Language has released the 4.0 version of its popular Byki language learning software. Byki is available in over 70 languages including Arabic, Chinese-Mandarin, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Pashto, Tagalog, Urdu and Zulu. With Intelligent Refresh, Byki 4.0 is the only language learning solution expressly designed to refresh and maintain the learner's permanent memory. Byki Express 4.0 is available as a free software download at www.byki.com. Byki Express is a full working version of the software, not a demo, and comes with Intelligent Refresh and a starter set of language content.
US economic quagmire
Have you figured out how the US economy got to be in such bad shape? Few people have a clue about what’s really happening. The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania has published “A Knowledge@Wharton Special Report: The Credit Crisis,” a deeply layered analysis of the crisis facing the US economy. Filled with helpful glossary definitions, an elaborate timeline, faculty insights and video interviews, the report is extremely interactive. The report is available online through: http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/special_sections/subprime/.
Polaroid reinvents instant photos
It was announced earlier this year that Polariod would no longer be selling cameras that printed instant photos. Now the company has decided to join the digital photo revolution by introducing a new line of digital instant photo products. Using an inkless printing process, known as “ZINK,” Zero Ink Printing Technology, the Polaroid PoGo Digital Instant Mobile Photo Printer unlocks the images trapped in a mobile phone or digital camera. Roughly the size of a deck of cards, the digital instant printer uses a Bluetooth or USB connection to receive pictures and creates full-color 2" x 3" borderless digital photos without ink cartridges or ribbons.
