Saturday, December 03, 2011

Buy This-Travel Power Strip

It’s obviously a serious gift-buying time around the world.  And a countless number of “bad” gifts will be purchased and gifted only to be tossed aside to join the museum of bad gifts.  Unfortunately well-meaning tech-centric gifts often end this way.  I’m here to change all of that starting with another simple accessory, the travel power strip.

Option #1:  Belkin Mini Surge Protector/Dual USB Charger – this handy little travel power brick comes in at 6.1 x 5.2 x 2.3 inches.  It isn’t tiny, but still fairly compact and weighs only 9.6 ounces.  It also has two USB ports that will charge 5V / 500mA at each port.  Before you iPhone users get too excited about these USB ports understand the iPhone's chargers puts out 5V @ 1A – not the 5V @ 500mA that you get with this one.  You can charge your apple devices with the USB ports on this thing, but it will be slower and only one of the two USB ports at a time as it’s limited to 1A at a time total.

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I like that the plug end of this power brick rotates 180 degrees so that it fits the position of most outlets.  I’ve used this device in many airports and have shared the power from it with others hovering around the power outlets.

Note:  Thanks David & Scott for the recommendation on this one!

The Belkin Mini Surge Protector/Power Strip is currently available on Amazon for $18.43

Option #2: Monster 4 Outlet Travel Power Strip – I purchased the Monster Outlets To Go 4-outlet power strip about a year ago as I was attempting to lighten my travel load even more.  This compact power strip is even lighter and smaller than the Belkin.  It doesn’t have the USB ports, but it fits wall outlets even better and it includes four plugs!  This is my go-to power strip for travelling.  It measures a tiny 2.2 x 6.2 x 1.8 inches and weighs only 2.4 ounces!  I highly recommend this power strip if you travel much or need a power strip to carry in your laptop bag.

Notice in the photo below (next to the iPhone for size comparison) the cord neatly wraps around the power strip and plugs into one of the four outlets – genius!

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This photo shows the power strip “unplugged”.  There are two outlets on each side which should be enough for most of us power-hungry tech travelers.

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The Monster 4-outlet travel power strip is currently available at Amazon for $9.15

 

For another great, inexpensive gift idea, check out the blueLounch Cable Drops

Thursday, December 01, 2011

Buy This–blueLounge CableDrop

It’s obviously a serious gift-buying time around the world.  And a countless number of “bad” gifts will be purchased and gifted only to be tossed aside to join the museum of bad gifts.  Unfortunately well-meaning tech-centric gifts often end this way.  I’m here to change all of that starting with a simple accessory, the blueLounge CableDrop

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These are simple, flexible cable management clips for your desk and other locations you need to keep those cords under control.  There’s an peel-off adhesive on the bottom of these so you can place them anywhere.  I use them at my home office, bedside table and at work.  The look nice, don’t cost much and they work.  These are an easy, useful gift that could be used as a stocking stuffer for your favorite geek or pretty much anyone who deals with cords – read: anyone!

Purchase at blueLounge or Amazon

Monday, November 28, 2011

TV This Week-Premieres & Finales 11/29/2011

Thanksgiving is over here in the U.S. so it’s time to get back to TV series.  Read on for the GeekTonic weekly TV update highlighting all the new premieres, finales and specials coming up this week.

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I Hate My Teenage Daughter starring Jaime Pressly premieres on Fox Wednesday

 

NOTE: All Times are Listed for EST – TV schedules subject to change

 

Tuesday, November 29

America’s Supernanny (9pm on Life) New reality series

One Born Every Minute (10pm on Lifetime) Season 2 premiere

Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood (10pm on Oxygen) Season 6 premiere

 

Wednesday, November 30

I Hate My Teenage Daughter (9:30pm on Fox) New comedy series where two women have daughters who act exactly like girls who made fun of them in high school.

Full Throttle Saloon (9pm on Tru) Season 3 premiere

Black Gold (10pm on Tru) Season 4 premiere

 

Thursday, December 1

D.U.I. (9pm on TLC) New reality series

Weed Wars (10pm on Discovery) New reality series.  Yes, they just did that – a reality show focused on cannabis.

 

Friday, December 2

America’s Most Wanted (9pm on Lifetime) Season 25 premiere

Starving Secrets With Tracey Gold (10pm on Lifetime) New reality series focused on anorexia sufferers hosted by expert on the subject, Tracey Gold.

Hairy Bikers (10pm on History) Season 1 finale of an excellent example of the pitiful state of the “history” channel.

 

Saturday, December 3

The Ultimate Fighter (8pm on Spike) Season 14 finale

Welcome to Sweetie Pie’s (9pm on OWN) Season 1 finale

 

Sunday, December 4

Austin & Ally (8pm on Disney) New teen music/comedy series

Cupcake Wars (8pm on Food) Season 4 premiere

Chef Roble’ & Co. (10pm on Bravo) New cooking series

Hung (10pm on HBO) Season 3 finale

Around the World in 80n Ways (11pm on History) Season 1 finale

 

Monday, December 5

The Mortified Sessions (8pm on Sundance) New talk series

T.J. and Tiny: The Family Hustle (9pm on VH1) New reality series

Candy Queen (10pm on TLC) New cooking/reality series

Lizard Lick Towing (10pm on Tru) Season 2 premiere

 

Tuesday, December 6

Covert Affairs (10pm on USA) Season 2 finale

Sons of Anarchy (10pm on FX) Season 4 finale

Moonshiners (10pm on Discovery) New reality series with moonshiners.

Hidden City (10pm on Travel) New travel series

Mad Fashion (10pm on Bravo) Season 1 finale

Storage Wars Texas (10:30pm on A&E) New reality knockoff series

Fashion Hunters (11pm on Bravo) Season 1 finale

 

Wednesday, December 7

Ace of Cakes (9:30pm on Food) Season 6 finale

America’s Next Top Model (9pm on CW) Season 17 finale

 

Thursday, December 8

Dawn of the Nazis (8pm on National Geographic) New Documentary/History series

Beyond Scared Straight (10pm on A&E) Season 2 premiere

Gigolos (11pm on Showtime) Season 2 finale

 

Friday, December 9

Planet of the Ape Man (7pm on Science) New nature/science series

Invention USA (10pm on History) New history series

 

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