From fixing your car with your PC to keeping your beverages cold without a fridge

Compiled by the staff of the Digital Home Advisor

CarMD.

Wouldn’t it be nice to have a mechanic along every time you get in the car… just in case? CarMD is the closest you’re bound to get. It’s a handheld tool + website that provides easy-to-use tools, professional knowledge, and valuable resources to help you monitor and maintain the health of your vehicle. It gives real world vehicle diagnostic information on any 1996 and newer car, light truck, SUV and minivan – foreign & domestic. With it, you can learn how to catch hidden engine problems early with a regular maintenance program, solve “Check Engine” light problems, give your vehicle a clean bill of health before a road trip, conduct a pre-“smog” emissions test to see if you’re likely to pass or fail, avoid buying a used car “lemon” and possibly save hundreds of dollars on mechanic bills.

Use the tester to read your vehicle’s computer for a quick checkup. Then use your PC or MAC to upload the information and tap into the CarMD online database for a specific report about what’s ailing your vehicle. These easy-to-understand reports empower you to:

• Determine why your vehicle’s “check engine” light is on – Are you among the 10% of U.S. drivers with a “check engine” light on? Find out how severe the problem is and how much parts and labor should cost.
• Get a second opinion on your repair estimate – Compare your CarMD report with your mechanic’s to ensure they located the true source of your car’s pain and bill you fairly.
• Tap into tens of thousands of technicians – The CarMD database has real-life fixes from thousands of ASE certified technicians across the country and a range of resources to help you decide to attempt repairs yourself or refer to a qualified mechanic.

PHILIPS DIRECTLIFE, A NEW PERSONAL FITNESS PROGRAM

When it comes to keeping (or getting) fit, most of us need all the help we can get. The Philips Activity Monitor is an amazing little gadget, small enough to fit in your pocket, that measures your movement throughout the day and converts it into calories burned, allowing you to track your activity on a daily basis. Then simply plug it into the computer, and it transmits your data to the website where you can track your progress.
The DirectLife Activity Program includes the activity monitor along with a necklace, pouch and USB adapter, membership to a personalized web page to chart your progress, regular feedback on your progress and your own personal coach. The site includes an extensive help section and you can also email your personal coach with questions.

The first 4 months of your membership are included in the price of the monitor. After that, membership is $12.50 a month. There is also a free month to month service also available for basic monitoring assistance.

Countertop Convection Oven

We loved our old Black and Decker toaster oven. It worked great for, believe it or not, 15 years. But, alas, nothing lasts forever. Very sad. But I must admit this new one is great too.

You can bake, broil and reheat your favorite foods as well as toast up to 6 slices of bread at a time. With convection baking, meals are done to perfection as an even airflow circulates the food for faster and consistent baking every time.

Also broil, toast and keep warm your favorite meals as the 60-minute timer lets you know when it’s done. With the extra-deep curved interior you can make pizzas and enjoy your favorite casseroles. Do it all with the nonstick interior surface and removable crumb tray that makes cleaning and effortless task.

Philips Norelco Arcitec 1090 Men’s Shaving System

While we were a little disappointed at recent Norelco shavers, this one makes up for it. We love love love it. Arcitec has a 360 degree swiveling shaving head, new flex & pivot technology, which delivers an exceptionally close shave, a more aerodynamic design, and an advanced tube trimmer. Triple Track Shaving Heads: with up to 50% more shaving surface for a faster, smoother, closer shave. The Philips Arcitec has more blades than traditional single-track shaving heads for more chances to catch and cut hair on every stroke. So you don’t have to go over the same area to get a really close shave. Three individually flexing shaving heads are connected by a ball joint system making them swivel, rotate, and pivot with a full range of motion. The maneuverability allows Arcitec to adjust to the contours of your face ensuring optimum skin contact and a closer shave — even on the neck. For those sideburns, goatees and moustaches, the new patented precision tube trimmer cuts hairs closer to the skin.

Cutting edge innovation doesn’t stop with the shaver. You can recharge your razor while you store it, with the Power Pod travel case that plugs into the wall and protects your investment. While at home, you can recharge your shaver in its sleek stand and show off this modern addition to your bathroom shelf.

DXG-SPORTSTER HD CAMCORDER

Hey, life is full of adventures, so why not take your camera everywhere you go? The new DXG-Sportster features a rugged waterproof design that captures 1080p HD video underwater with the push of a button. So go on, take it snorkeling (you can film up to 10 feet for one hour). In or out of the water, the DXG-Sportster captures HD video and vibrant 12-megapixel still images on a 3-inch LCD display. So it also likes snowboarding, mountain biking, or exploring a new city. DXG, which has grown so quickly that it’s more than challenging Flip as the budget camcorder of choice at many retailers, is also promising to beef up its tech and customer support, with its surge in sales.

DXG Pro Gear™ 1080p High Definition Digital Camcorder with Built-in 10mp Digital

Looking for a small, lightweight, high-definition camcorder you can take, well, just about anywhere? Look no further.

The DXG- A85VHD Camcorder features plenty of advanced features normally found in professional camcorders but without the matching price. With a 10-megapixel image sensor and 12x optical zoom, this high-definition camcorder will capture in great detail wildlife and other nature scenes even at 200 feet away. And with a 60fps high-definition video available, the DXG-A85V is perfect for sports and other action shots.

This compact and rugged camcorder records full 1080p HD video, and features high-speed sequential shot, dual-capture mode recording video and taking pictures at then same time!

• Records full 1082p HD video
• 12x optical zoom, 10x digital zoom
• 10-megaoixel image sensor
• 3.0″ touch screen display
• Dual-capture mode
• High-speed sequential shooting mode
• Electronic image stabilization

Linksys Valet Plus http://home.cisco.com/en-US/wireless/

Valet™ is a new product line that makes home wireless simple and accessible. Valet is designed to transform how you use the Internet in your home so you can enjoy the freedom of wireless access without the traditional frustration and complexity of setting up a home network. Think of Valet as home wireless made easy.

You simply insert the included Easy Setup Key right into a USB port in your PC or Mac and the Cisco Connect software takes over. Unlike other wireless products that require 20 to 30 complicated steps to set up a single computer, Cisco Connect takes you through three steps from start to finish. The Easy Setup Key retains all setup information and can be easily inserted into additional home computers to seamlessly add them to the home’s wireless network. Cisco could have improved its tech support with this relatively easy to use Router since it is still aimed at the average consumer.

www.eyefi.com

Sounds too good to be true, but we’ve tested it and it really works. Simply load the Eye-Fi disc into your camera and bingo! your photos and videos are wirelessly uploaded to your computer and to your favorite site – they’ll just land there already organized. Choose from 25 websites, including Flickr, Facebook, Picasa and more. There are different models… the Connect X2 (pictured here) includes Class 6 read/write speeds, wireless photo & video uploads to your computer and favorite sharing site, Endless Memory Mode. Please make sure that your old or new digital camera or camcorder is compatible with this wonderful and easy to use device by going to their website www. Eye.fi.com

FLIP SLIDEHD http://store.theflip.com/en-us/

Now it’s even more fun to capture, watch and share HD videos anytime, anywhere. With Flip SlideHD, active consumers and families can record up to four hours of HD video, or store up to 12 hours of HD content, and then view it instantly with a stunning slide-up full widescreen. Our only issue with the latest of the best selling Flip cameras is that while it says it can import almost any older video file and all Flip files, it doesn’t always do that. On the other hand it seems to be able ti import many still digital images, which it says it doesn’t do.

SMART PHONE APPS

WWW.DRIVESAFE.LY

DriveSafe.ly™ is a mobile application that reads text (SMS) messages and emails aloud in real time and automatically responds without drivers touching the mobile phone. This free, easy-to-use application was designed specifically to help combat the dangerous, often deadly trend of “texting while driving (http://www.DriveSafe.ly).”

DriveSafe.ly utilizes iSpeech.org software as a service (SaaS) to convert text into the highest quality speech available and automatically reads incoming text and email messages aloud through a mobile phone’s speaker or Bluetooth. In addition, DriveSafe.ly can automatically send a response to every incoming email and text message, letting senders know that the recipient is driving and will respond upon arrival at his or her destination. Users can customize or disable their auto-response message and change it as often as desired.

WWW.POYNT.COM

Finally – relevant, accurate local search results – available instantly on your mobile device! Poynt is a free*, all-in-one local search application for your iPhone or BlackBerry® smartphone.

Move beyond discovering your local area and begin connecting with the local businesses, retailers and events that are important to you. View your search results on an interactive map, get driving directions, see show times, watch movie trailers and buy tickets – all in one application.
* Wireless charges may apply. Please check with your wireless service provider.

WWW.BITBOP.COM

Watch full-length TV shows from your favorite networks on demand on your phone. Anytime. Available for the Blackberry now, it should be available for other smart phones soon.

TRAVEL MUGS, WATER BOTTLES, & KIDS CUPS
WITH AUTOSEAL® FROM CONTIGO®

It happens to everybody; it happened to me yesterday. I gave my husband my water bottle to put in the car, he thought the top was closed, it wasn’t, it spilled all over the car.

Which is why, I was so happy to learn about these new bottles from Contigo seal themselves automatically. Imagine, no more spills! Billed as the world’s first 100% spill-proof travel mugs, water bottles, and kids’ cups, the AUTOSEAL® lid automatically seals between sips. Use one hand to drink while the other hand is free. Press the AUTOSEAL® button to sip, release the AUTOSEAL® button and viola! the bottle is automatically sealed. Th stainless steel model is supposed to keep hot drinks hot for more than four hours and cold drinks cold for more than 8 hours. Choose from the KIDS TREKKER MUG, the TRITAN™ HYDRATION BOTTLE or the STAINLESS STEEL MUG.