Review of the Venturi Mini: an in-car Bluetooth gadget for your phone and tunes

In case you missed it, this week I reviewed the Venturi Mini, a wireless in-car music connector and hands-free phone device... which basically means it plays music and takes phone calls in the car, without you having to pick up your phone.

When I tested it, I took it for a spin around my neighborhood and it worked great. But after the review was published, a reader asked me how it handles on long drives. It transmits sounds to an FM station, and a strong signal is needed to avoid interference when you go through different cities.

Yesterday I drove from West Palm Beach to Miami via I-95, which was about 70 miles. The biggest problem came when I would change counties. The device only works on a station with no signal. So a station that was empty in Palm Beach County would have static or have a signal when I got closer to Broward County. That meant I had to change stations to hear my music.

Throughout the trip I had to switch stations three times. And it's easy to do while driving -- although it is probably not safe to mess with this thing while you are supposed to be paying attention to the road. Just a roll of a wheel on the Venturi Mini changed the stations, so it didn't feel like too much of a hassle.

But if you're the kind of person who doesn't have the patience to switch stations on long drives, you'll get irked with it since it costs $130. And when you pay $130 for something, you want it to be flawless. But you can't expect an FM transmitter to be perfect when you travel long distances, since station signals are weaker and stronger in different areas.

But on the other hand, I normally commute 25 miles to get to work, and I didn't have to change the station once. I just had to put up with some static blips for a few blocks midway through the drive. It lasted about two minutes.

Click the video below to hear more of my thoughts on the Venturi and to learn how it works. You can find out if your phone is compatible at myventuri.com.

Comcast improves Video on Demand, ups Internet speed for Business Class

Comcast has made improvements to it's Channel 1 Video On Demand for South Florida, adding more content for customers to choose from.

Comcast spokesman Spero Canton said customers could notice more local and high-definition On Demand choices on the menu in the coming days. The upgrade to Comcast's equipment was designed to have expanded capacity for additions in the future. Currently, Comcast offers more than 4,000 hours of separate Channel 1 On demand programming for anyone who has signed up for digital cable.

Also, Comcast announced Wednesday that it is increasing the basic and advanced Internet speeds for its Comcast Business Class customers. The basic package was increased from 4Mbps downstream to 6Mbps downstream. The enhanced package doubled it's downstream speed from 8Mbps to 16Mbps, and upstream went from 1Mbps to 2Mbps.

The higher speeds will automatically be added for existing customers. To activate the new speed tiers, customers need to power off their modem for a minute, then power it back on.

Review of the IRIScan Executive 2 portable scanner

Are you in a Spring cleaning mood and want to get organized? I got the scanner for you organiz-aholics out there. It's the IRIScan 2, a lightweight portable scanner. The Executive 2 package I tested has software to take the text that was scanned and translate it into an editable word document. It also does this with business cards and exports them into a program like your Outlook contacts list.

It's not perfect in recognizing text, so you always have to fix some character here and there that it misinterpreted. But it still is faster than typing in every field on your own into your Outlook contacts list. And you can scan your receipts to digitally organize your records. The max width of paper that can fit through the scanner is 8.5-inches.

Click here to read my full review online, or watch the video below to see the scanner in action.

Happy Webmaster's Day!

Happy Made-Up-By-GoDaddy.com Webmaster's Day! The domain name registration, hosting and web site design company has declared April 29th to be Webmaster's Day, to honor those people that make the World Wide Web a better place.

You can send free e-cards to the webmasters in your life at GoDaddy.com/WebmastersDay.

Aside from the fact that is is a marketing stunt by GoDaddy.com, I support having a day to appreciate the hard work of webmasters and webmistresses. And if you don't want to send an e-card, take a few minutes to send a random thanks for their work. I'm sure they'll remember your appreciation the next time you call them at 2 a.m. to fix something on the site.

First to get GTA IV at Hialeah Best Buy

Gotta love hardcore Grand Theft Auto fans. Deiven Gil, center, with his cousin, Andres Gil, holding the poster, was first in line at Best Buy's Hialeah store to buy three copies of Grand Theft Auto IV. They arrived at the store at 8:30 p.m. to wait for the midnight opening to be first to own the new game.

I wonder if they ever went to bed, or if they are still playing as I write this post...

Did you also wait in line for the midnight release? Did you reserve a copy to avoid the line? Post a comment and tell me about it.

[Photo by Marice Cohn Band/Miami Herald Staff]

South Florida gears up for Grand Theft Auto IV at midnight

It's here. Grand Theft Auto IV comes out at midnight tonight, and several GameStop and Best Buy stores are having midnight releases for the game. I've already spoken to several excited folks outside of GameStop stores today -- not waiting yet, just doing extra shopping before they come back at midnight.

If you want to be part of the hype, the following stores are open at midnight. Or if you want to wait, Circuit City is giving a $10 gift card for every GTA IV preorder purchase.

Here are the Best Buy stores that will be opening at midnight tonight:

Boca Raton [map]
Dadeland [map]
Hialeah [map]
Pembroke Pines [map]
Sawgrass [map]
West Kendall [map]

And here's a list of Broward and Miami-Dade County GameStop stores with midnight openings:

Aventura
20533 Biscayne Blvd, Ste E6 Aventura FL (305) 466-3606

Coral Springs
9160-A Wiles Rd. Coral Springs FL (954) 340-6504
9469 West Atlantic Blvd. Space #9145 Coral Springs FL (954) 757-3300
6067 Coral Ridge Drive Coral Springs FL (954) 341-3779
1158 N University Dr Coral Springs FL (954) 575-5622

Davie
2140 S.University Drive Davie FL (954) 452-2993
5810 S. University Dr., Bay 118-119 Davie FL (954) 252-1531
15641 Sheridan St., Unit 400 Davie FL (954) 680-3018

Doral
8684 NW 13 Terrace Doral FL (305) 513-4112

Florida City
33521 S Dixie Hwy., Suite 6 Florida City FL (786) 243-9123

Fort Lauderdale
1935 Cordova Rd Fort Lauderdale FL (954) 779-2225

Hialeah
961 E. 8th Ave. Hialeah FL (305) 805-1881
2451 W. 68th St. Bay 1 Hialeah FL (305) 556-1163
18486 Nw 67th Ave Hialeah FL (305) 817-9796
17742 Nw 57th Ave Hialeah FL (305) 558-7750
1001 West 49th St. Bay #7 Hialeah FL (786) 313-0303
1645 West 49th Street, Space 1348 Hialeah FL (305) 827-4440
585a W 49th St, Ste A Hialeah FL (305) 556-8893

Hollywood
4905 Sheridan St. Hollywood FL (954) 894-0533
3251 Hollywood Blvd Suite 270 Hollywood FL (954) 985-6506

Homestead
927 N Homestead Blvd Homestead FL (305) 248-0263

Lauderhill
5405 N. University Lauderhill FL (954) 747-6691
7550 W Commercial Blvd Lauderhill FL (954) 746-8400

Margate
5584 W. Sample Rd. Margate FL (954) 917-8717
5499 W Atlantic Blvd Margate FL (954) 968-2088

Miami
265 SW 8th Street Miami FL (305) 854-3072
401 Biscayne Blvd, S-139 Miami FL (305) 358-7725
581 Ne 79th St, Ste 219 Miami FL (305) 758-7373
6520 NW 186th St. Miami FL (305) 821-7883
1060 SW 67th Avenue Miami FL (305) 269-0334
11401 NW 12th St. Unit E-416 Miami FL (786) 331-8080
8321 W. Flagler St. Miami FL (305) 267-9997
8743 SW 24th St. Suite J Miami FL (305) 227-3795
11401 Nw 12th St., Space 122 Miami FL (305) 591-0858
5709 Nw 7th St Miami FL (305) 264-6404
14140 Sw 8th St Miami FL (305) 552-5992
8314 Mills Drive Miami FL (305) 270-8831
9338 SW 56th St. Miami FL (305) 598-5152
13125 SW 89th Place Miami FL (305) 238-3488
9540 SW 160th St Miami FL (305) 232-0412
15781 Southwest 152nd, Space C-4 Miami FL (786) 293-9134
8888 Howard Drive, Sw 136th St. Sp 434 Miami FL (305) 251-5517
13925 Sw 88th St Miami FL (305) 752-1330
7086 Sw 117th Ave Miami FL (305) 275-8024
12538 Sw 120th St Miami FL (305) 233-3000

Miami Gardens
19807 Northwest 2nd Ave Miami Gardens FL (305) 249-0470

Miami Beach
13631 Biscayne Blvd. Bay #8 N. Miami Beach FL (305) 354-7112

Miramar
16383 Miramar Pkwy Miramar FL (954) 436-8011

North Miami
12121 Biscayne Blvd North Miami FL (305) 899-8032
1453 NE 163rd Street North Miami Beach FL (305) 945-4146

Oakland Park
821 E. Commercial Blvd. Oakland Park FL (954) 491-8550

Parkland
7031 N State Road 7, Ste 3b Parkland FL (954) 575-5656

Pembroke Pines
11401 Pines Boulevard Space 806 Pembroke Pines FL (954) 433-9332
612 N. University Dr. Pembroke Pines FL (954) 392-4043
10900 Pines Blvd. Pembroke Pines FL (954) 392-3838
15707 Pines Blvd. Pembroke Pines FL (954) 435-3413
11401 Pines Blvd., Suite 442 Pembroke Pines FL (954) 392-6040

Pinecrest
9065 S Dixie Hwy Pinecrest Postal Store FL (305) 667-1688

Plantation
6973 W Broward Blvd Plantation FL (954) 584-4776
8227 W. Sunrise Blvd. Plantation FL (954) 236-9746

Pompano Beach
2223 SW 2nd St Pompano Beach FL (954) 984-8144
2101 N Federal Hwy, Ste D-105 Pompano Beach FL (954) 782-2525

Sunrise
13775 W. Sunrise Blvd., Sunrise Blvd & NW 136 Avenue Sunrise FL (954) 838-9670

Weston
143 Weston Rd Weston FL (954) 762-6800
4509 Weston Rd Weston FL (954) 349-2434

The AeA pushes businesses to let employees telework

Work from home, says the American Electronics Association. Not only is it good for the environment to cut back on gas and pollution, but apparently studies show that you are a slightly more productive worker when not in the office.

Really? People are more productive with the temptations of television and a full fridge and no boss looking over their shoulder?

Well I'm not going to argue. The report states that about 22 percent of people commute more than 40 miles a day, and I'm certainly in that bracket.

The association also cites research that 1.35 billion gallons of fuel -- worth $4.5 billion when it costs $3.33 per gallon -- could be saved if everyone that could telework did so on 1.6 days a week. The Environmental Protection Agency calculates that would prevent 26 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from being released in the atmosphere.

It also cited that more than 45 million U.S. workers telecommute at least once a week.

Go to aeanet.org/cs to read the full report.

Seeing Green: Tech tips to be environmentally friendly -- and save money, too!

I'm flooded with "go green" tech tips from several different sources. So in honor of Earth Day, here is a digest of the best tips and stats that I have come across:

• Recycle your no-longer-used phones. Many cell phone providers have ways you can drop off your old phone in the store, which goes to a good cause. Phones are often refurbished for resale and reuse, with proceeds going to charities. Or if there is no way to salvage the device, it'll be thrown away in the proper manner.
  • This Saturday, April 26, you can drop off your phone at the Fort Lauderdale Green Living Expo. AT&T will collect old wireless devices for the Cell Phones for Soldiers program. The charity collects and recycles mobile phones to provide U.S. military families with free phone cards. AT&T has donated 60,000 prepaid phone cards to CPFS since 2007.
  • In 2007, Verizon Wireless's HopeLine donation program in Florida collected nearly 30,000 no-longer-used phones. Phones can be dropped off at any of its retail stores.
  • Some cellphone makers, like Nokia and LG, offer free recycling regardless of the manufacturer. Visit www.nokiausa.com/recycle or us.lge.com/recycle for a postage-paid label to mail the used phone.
• Unplug your charger. If you keep your charger plugged into the wall -- even if the device is not being charged -- it is still using energy. A simple solution is to use a power strip to plug in your chargers, and then just turn the power strip off when not using the charger -- then you won't have to keep pulling plugs out of wall sockets.
  • According to Nokia, if only 10 percent of the world's mobile phone users unplugged their chargers from the power supply once the battery is full, we could save enough energy to power 65,000 homes a year.
• Optimize your home PC energy use. Norton says most computer users lose $25 to $75 a year and waste nearly a half ton of CO2 because they don't optimize their computer's power settings. Norton normally charges $15 for a green assessment, but now it is free! Go to www.norton.com/gogreen to evaluate your computer's energy use and get a "Green Report Card."
• Don't just toss that computer in the can. Computers can be refurbished and donated to people in need. There are disk-cleaning utilities available online that can totally wipe out your Internet history, data, e-mails and passwords.
  • If you are going to donate the computer, include the accessories.
  • Keep a record of your donation for tax purposes
  • The National Cristina Foundation is one organization that provides donated computers to people in need and can help you find a local recipient
  • Check if your PC manufacturers has a recycle program. For example, Dell will take in old non-Dell computers when new customers make a purchase, and it will accept its own products all the time.
• Pay bills electronically and avoid paper bills. Go to PayitGreen.org to use the Green Calculator and learn how much of a positive environmental impact you can have by switching to electronic bills.

How to get rid of your electronics the green way

Happy Earth Day! In today's print Miami Herald, the Tech Tuesday page features a graphic full of useful tips on how to dispose of your e-waste in an environmentally friendly way. But if you missed it, I've copied and pasted the text below:

By Samantha Riepe, Miami Herald Staff

Have you sent a VCR, computer or television to the electronics graveyard? You're not alone. The Environmental Protection agency estimated electronic waste, or "e-waste," at about two million tons in 2005, the most recent year data is available. Only 12.6 percent of this e-waste load was recycled. Most frightening -- electronics can contain several pounds of chromium, cadmium, mercury, beryllium and other compounds that are considered hazardous materials in some states (keyword: some). The solution? Donate, recycle, or safely dispose of your next out-of-date electronics.

CELLPHONES

Trash stat:
• More than 150 million phones enter the U.S. waste stream every year, where they have the potential to leak mercury, cadmium, arsenic and more into water streams. These compounds may also enter the air when municipalities burn the phones. Can you hear me now?
Recycling:
• Best Buy and Office Depot store offers free recycling kiosks near the front door, for cellphones, batteries, and chargers.
Charity:
• Cellular companies have free, charitable drop-off or mail-back programs for recycling old phones. Motorola's program, at www.racetorecycle.com, distributes the proceeds among participating K-12 schools. Nokia and LG also take in used phones, regardless of the manufacturer. Visit www.Nokiausa.com/recycle or us.lge.com/recycle to download a postage-paid label to return the device.
• AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile have programs where you can drop off your old wireless equipment at their stores to be refurbished for resale and reuse, with proceeds going to charity. Sprint's program donates all proceeds to 4NetSafety children's online safety group; go to www.sprint.com/recycle for a postage-paid mailing label, or to see if your model is eligible to be exchanged for an account credit.
• The Wireless Foundation's Call to Protect program collects working cell phones for distribution to victims of domestic violence. Learn more at wirelessfoundation.org.

iPODS, MP3 PLAYERS

Waste stream:
• In April 2007, Apple announced the 100th million sale of its ubiquitous iPod, which first hit the market in 2001. iPods and other players have spawned an entire industry of related accessories, from cases to speakers to car chargers -- an eventual mother lode of trash.
Recycling:
• Bring iPods, functioning or not, to any Apple store for recycling and receive a 10% discount on your next iPod purchase. Also, Staples stores have recycling bins for any type of MP3 player or hand-held electronic.
Charity:
• The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation works with flipswap.com to turn donated iPods into a cash contribution. Simply assess your iPod's condition to find out the estimated cash value, then send it in to have that amount donated to the Komen Foundation. Visit www.cellphonetradeins.com.
• Donating your working MP3 player to local nonprofits is music to needy ears. List your player on eBay with eBay Giving Works, and designate all or a percentage of the profits from its sale to Miami charities like Adopt-a-Classroom, CareResource, and Zo's Fund for Life. Go to givingworks.ebay.com.
For profit:
• iPod has spawned more than 10 generations since its inception, and newer models like iPod Touch, iPod Video or the most recent iPod Nano have good resale value. On eBay, a used 30 gigabyte iPod Video can currently fetch about $150.

TVs, DVD PLAYERS, STEREOS

Heavy facts:
• Analog televisions, VCRs, and bulky stereos -- these retirees can contain all the same harmful compounds as smaller gadgets, and then some (a 27-inch television can contain up to eight pounds of lead). Dispose of them responsibly at Miami-Dade Trash & Recycling Centers; visit www.miamidade.gov/dswm for locations.
Charity:
• Miami Rescue Mission accepts working electronics in good condition for resale at their Bargain Barn Thrift Store in downtown Miami. All proceeds benefit the organization's homeless assistance programs. Bring items to 2133 NW 21 Court, Miami or arrange for pickup by visiting www.miamirescuemission.com.
• Find a new home for dejected electronics by joining the Miami Freecycle email group. Submit your free item to the group, and a daily email to all 4300+ members tells what stuff is up for grabs. Go to www.freecyle.org and type in 'Miami' to get started.

COMPUTERS & PERIPHERALS

Trash stat:
• In the past ten years, over 500 million personal computers became obsolete. Computer monitors use cathode ray tubes that contain of two to four pounds of lead, and are even classified as hazardous waste in some states.
Recycling
• The manufacturer of your PC or laptop may offer a recycling or trade-in program. Dell offers free recycling for all its products at any time, and also allows new customers to trade-in old non-Dell computers with purchase. Visit www.dell.com/recycle for more information, and check out a similar program by Hewlett-Packard (www.hp.com).
Charity:
• The National Cristina Foundation works to provide newer, working computers and peripheral equipment to the disabled or economically disadvantaged. Go to www.cristina.org to determine if your PC is an accepted model. If so, Cristina will work to find an appropriate recipient for your computer in the South Florida area.

TOXIC TRASH

Besides e-waste, plenty of other toxic household materials require special disposal. At earth911.org, you can enter the type of trash and your zip code to find places nearby that either recycle the material or dispose of it safely. These services are usually free.

Hazardous household trash can include:
• Used motor oil
• Antifreeze
• Car batteries, regular batteries
• Tires
• Paint
• Cleaners
• Fluorescent bulbs
• Asbestos
• Fertilizer
• Pesticide, fungicide

*Note: Remember to remove any personal information from computers, cellphones, PDAs, or any other storage devices before donating or recycling.

Sources: United States Environmental Protection Agency, CollectiveGood Foundation, Scientific American, earth911.org

Getting chummy with the Chumby

If you love online widgets, Wi-Fi and wacky gadgets, you'll love the Chumby. Using your home's wireless network, it sits on your counter and scrolls through all sorts of neat things on the Internet. You go on the Chumby.com site to tell it which widgets (aka web applications) you want to show up on the screen - and it can be anything: check weather, get Facebook status updates, watch YouTube videos, play games, listen to music, get alerts when you have e-mail, show off photos... there are more than 500 widgets for this. Check out some of the features in the video below, or read my review in today's Miami Herald.

The fact that people are making new widgets for this is what makes it great, because there's always something new you can put on the screen. It's easy to use and understand, even for the non-techy person, and it's not too pricey at $180. It makes more sense to put this in a room where the computer isn't in, like a kitchen or in the living room.

Click here to read the full review or see what it looks like in the video below.