NWA-PCUG Newsletter Article, December 2006
The Deals Column
by Bob (the Cheapskate)Click, The Dealsguy
Greater Orlando Computer Users Group
bobclick@mindspring.com
(click to email author)


Here Is Some Fast Food Technology
Technology is fast catching up with vending machines according to this article I read in Information Week. Soft drink machines are everywhere you go, also vending machines for candy, coffee and many other types of products, even machines that dispense ice cream bars and ice cream sandwiches. A technique has now been developed for an ice cream vending machine that does not need to be refrigerated full time. To quote from the article, “we pump the base mix, aerate it, flavor it, flash freeze it, scrape it up off a freezing surface, form it into a scoop and into the consumer’s cup in 45 seconds.” Also, no refrigeration is required for warehousing. You can read the article at http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=193004764 and it also mentions their use of Linux for the machine.

Have Your Medical Data With You!
Be medically prepared with all your medical records hanging around your neck (or in your possession) when you are away. Medistick makes a USB flash drive that is designed to hold up to five medical histories. It appears to be a self-extracting file that can also offer password protection. Medistick has medical emergency logo on the sides. Capacities are available from 128 MB to 4 gigs and costing $57.00 for the 128 mb size. http://www.medistick.ch Information is collected and entered by you, or your doctor, if his staff will help in that regard, and the document automatically converts to a pdf file.

I doubt I would use the password protection because what if you are incoherent and can’t give medics the password to open the file for your medical information? On the other hand, since some folks write their password on the side of their computer, you could do that with the Medistick. I am cramped for space here so be sure to check their Web site to get the best description of the product. It sure sounds great to me, and so is the deal. All your records are carried with you including all your doctors’ names and phones. If you see a new doctor, just give them your Medistick to get all your medical info. With my health, I will probably need the 4 gig model. Just a thought, but this might make a great Christmas gift for the person who already has everything, and for that person who has a serious medical history.

Medistick has offered the DealsGuy readers this deal: “1 128MB Medistick and software for 1 person for only $49.00 with shipping included. (MSRP is normally $57.00 plus $3.50 shipping) This deal is good until Jan. 31, 2007. Readers should click on http://www.medistick.ch/en/contact/ and mention the DealsGuy column in the ‘comments’ area. They will then get an online invoice from Medistick through PayPal for $49.00 as payment by credit card in advance.”

Reminder About the Laptop Discount by Dave Whittle
Don’t forget about Dave Whittle’s discount offer on the Lenova Thinkpad laptops that is still good. Simply call Lenovo's user group inside sales rep, Isaac Williams, directly for help in configuring your system, or to get answers to your questions. Call 1-877-338-4465, Option 1, Extension 6322.

Below are some new products that I received announcements for. I have edited the announcements so check their URL for better info.

How About A Backup With Security!
SoftOptima LLC announces the release of Backup Premium 2.5 backup software. The specially designed protocols SFTP and FTP SSL/TLS provide a high degree of security for data transferred via the Internet. Backup Premium offers the capability to backup user data using SFTP and FTP SSL/TLS and allows substantial safety of the backup process. You can backup all important files from a Windows profile, Microsoft Outlook, Outlook Express and ICQ; running certain programs before or after backup sessions; and the possibility to work with network drives under different accounts. It’s easy to configure the backup process and adjust it to the particular needs of a single user, or a whole company. Backup Premium has an ergonomically correct user interface and a high-quality graphic solution that makes the work with the program simple and yet pleasant.

A fully functional Backup Premium 2.5 trial version is available for a 30-day evaluation period. Registration costs $39 for a single user license. Users group members receive a special 25% discount at http://www.backup-premium.com/special-order.shtml until February 2007. Product Page: http://www.backup-premium.com Screenshots and graphics: http://www.backup-premium.com/screenshots.shtml Download: http://www.backup-premium.com/backuppremium25.exe

This Product Helps You Work With Your Pictures
Almalence Incorporated announces PhotoAcute Studio 2.0. PhotoAcute Studio processes sets of images taken in continuous mode. It utilizes super resolution algorithms to convert a sequence of photos into a single high-resolution and low-noise picture that could only be taken with a much better camera. PhotoAcute Studio operates with various camera and image types from mobile cameras to DSLR cameras supporting RAW format and 16-bit color.

Spatial resolution is limited by a camera's matrix and lens, but this limit can be exceeded by means of super resolution that can be done by either acquiring more graphic information (e.g. taking and merging several images of the same object) or by reconstructing the details lost due to the faultiness of the optical system. Noise is the most undesirable factor that degrades image quality. PhotoAcute Studio combines several photos of the same scene, separating the useful signal and the noise, thus providing strong noise reduction without losing the image details. By merging several images taken at different exposures, PhotoAcute Studio expands the dynamic range of the resultant image revealing the details usually clipped in the highlights and the shadows.

PhotoAcute Studio is a Windows based application. The Macintosh version will be released in 2007Q1. A detailed description of PhotoAcute Studio features, online help and an examples gallery are available at http://www.photoacute.com. You can download a free trial version. The price of the full version varies depending on supported camera types, ranging from $19 for mobile phone cameras to $119 for DSLR cameras with the support of RAW format and 16-bit color. Users group members get a 35% discount by going to the order page http://www.regnow.com/softsell/nph-softsell.cgi?items=13404-1&ss_coupon=DGY-8JQU which contains the discount code in the URL. The discount will be applied on the second page of the ordering procedure. This discount is good until January 31, 2007.

PhotoAcute Studio 2.0 can be downloaded at:
http://www.photoacute.com/studio/download.html

Product page URL: http://www.photoacute.com/studio"
Direct download link: http://www.photoacute.com/files/PhotoAcuteStudio_setup.exe

Got A Pocket PC? Now You Can Translate Languages!
LingvoSoft has released LingvoSoft Translator 2007 for Pocket PC featuring the ability to translate between English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. It provides full-text translation of business correspondence, e-mails, letters, documentation and even the words to your favorite song! If you choose the talking version, not only will you have the fastest translator available for Pocket PC but you'll also be able to use it to speak. With super fast and super smart search functions, a customizable interface and three different ways to enter text, it will even translate the contents of your device's clipboard automatically upon launching the dictionary application. http://www.lingvosoft.com/info/software/Translators/?refid=16179
http://www.lingvosoft.com

Users Group members get a 25% discount on any LingvoSoft software title at http://www.lingvosoft.com/info/software/Translators/. Simply enter your personal gift certificate code "MY8UZPF7M4" in the 'Add Gift' field of the shopping cart and click the "Add Gift" button. You should then see the discount deducted from your order's total in the shopping cart. This offer is good until December 31, 2006.

That's it for this month. I hope to post more new announcements without discounts on my Web site before long. Meet me here again next month if your editor permits. This column is written to make user group members aware of special offers or freebies I have found or arranged, and my comments should not be interpreted to encourage, or discourage, the purchase of any products, no matter how enthused I might sound. Bob (The Cheapskate) Click bobclick@mindspring.com. Visit my Web site at http://www.dealsguy.com

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