SXSW

Are any of our regular readers attending SXSW? We've thought about attending in the past and wonderif it will be worth while? Does anyone have any thoughts?

Japan tragedy

I lived in Japan in the late 1960s and found it to be one of the most beautiful and wonderful places on Earth. These links are thanks to our friend Steve Bass:

By now you've heard that Japan was hit by an 8.9 earthquake. The huge earthquake was incredibly destructive and there's definitely more bad news to come. I've watched YouTube videos to get a better handle on what happened. There's some from major news sources, but also lots of amateur footage. I've listed what I found the most compelling below. The latest news: NHK TV (English) [Go fullscreen] Yes, that's a building going into the water! At about one minute into the video, you see the tsunami roll on land and crush whatever's in its path, includes houses. Chilling. Aerial video from town closest to Japan's mega-quake epicenter Tsunami flood waters rush over town in Japan Stunning photos: Before and after the Japan earthquake. Japan earthquake caught on camera live (amateur video) Scenes from the airport Tsunami surge (news) Tsunami demolishes Japan's north coast CNN Video Street in Japan 'moving like an island' (amateur forage via CNN News) Whirlpool off the coast of Japan Images from CNBC Impact on California coast Santa Cruz video Crescent City, California amateur time lapse video (turn down the column) These three videos show how far out the water pulled back in Crescent City, California Video one Video two Video three Santa Cruz wave surge along docking area. Another from local news station. Surge in Brookings, Oregon If you're concerned about someone in Japan, look at the Google Crisis Response.

LensPen SideKick

One of the coolest products we saw at CES this year was the LensPen SideKick. Today we received an update on pricing and availability. Here's the news:

iPads and tablets are great, stylish products. Music, movies, the internet – all with a simple touch of the screen. But that simple touch-screen action leaves a trail of greasy fingerprints that soon cover the whole surface and reminds us that with every use it’s time for a cleaning. A rub on your shirtsleeve isn’t effective, and you quickly find that sprays, tissues and cloths are not convenient and only make the fingerprint mess even worse.

SideKick™ by LensPen^® is a new screen cleaning tool specially designed to remove fingerprints from iPads and tablet touch-screens. There are no tissues, no cloths, no sprays and no liquids. SideKick features the same carbon technology used in other LensPen products to remove fingerprints and greasy blemishes from camera lenses and other fine optics.

 “It’s not high tech, it’s old tech,” said Peter Meurrens, Vice President of Operations at Parkside Optical and inventor of SideKick. “My grandmother knew how to clean an iPad, she just didn’t know it.” SideKick’s carbon compound is similar to the one found in printer’s ink; why newspapers have been an effective way to clean windows for generations. 

“When you get a fingerprint on a lens or a computer screen, it’s a mistake,” Meurrens said. “But when you get fingerprints on an iPad, it means you’re using it! We cleaned the screens of hundreds of iPads and tablets when we introduced SideKick at CES and Macworld in January, and it removed the fingerprints every time.”

Suggested retail for SideKick is $14.95. A package of two replacement cleaning pads is $9.95. Each pad gives 150 cleanings.

For more information on SideKick, as well as other LensPen products, go to www.lenspen.com. Watch a SideKick product demonstration at www.youtube.com/lenspennews.

Smartphone numbers

I just read an interesting article on smartphones. Google's Android phones continue their steady climb and look like a real winner. Please take note that Apple remains stagnant at below 25%, a classic Apple niche market. It also looks like MSFTs phone efforts are failing already. Their share of the smartphone market is in decline and that's not good news for them. Considering how small their share was, it could spell disater. This can't be good news for Nokia.

Fruit news

This posting is for any of our readers who live under a rock and don't get their geek news from any other source.

Yesterday the Chief Fruit-monger of The Big Fruit Company (Apple) announced their latest hunk of produce. The iPad2 was announced to all of the usual hysteria.

If you want to know more just pick up any print publication or look at any of a gazillion web sites. As for me, I'm tired of the fan-boys and fan-girls already. 

New Pentax camera

We received information on a new Pentax digital camera today. Here's the announcement:

PENTAX Imaging Company announced the PENTAX Optio S1 digital compact camera with advanced, easy-to-use features and an eye-catching, gem-like finish. Available in striking Chrome or a glossy Black or Green, the Optio S1 is a fashionable and elegant digital camera with an ultralight body featuring:

• ·   A high resolution 14 megapixel sensor for exceptional image detail.
• ·   Wide angle 5X optical zoom lens (28-140mm) for flexible image framing.
• ·   Ample2.7 inch LCD for easy capture and playback of images and video.
• ·   Sensor-shift PENTAX Shake Reduction (SR) system for sharp low light and telephoto images.
• ·   Widescreen 720p HD video capture.
• ·   Powerful PENTAX Auto Picture modefor set-it-and-forget-it shooting convenience.
• ·   Fast Face Detection, Smile Capture, and Blink Detection for perfect portraits.
• ·   High Dynamic Range (HDR) mode for outstanding detail in wide exposure images (new to PENTAX digital compact cameras).
• ·   PENTAX infrared remote control (remote purchased separately).
   

With meticulous attention given to every design detail, the ultra-compact Optio S1 is the perfect choice for digital photographers who want a very capable, yet elegant and classy, digital camera.

The PENTAX Optio S1 is available for pre-order now on the www.pentaxwebstore.com

Tax information

We received this from TaxACT today:

March 1 was the first tax filing deadline set in 1913. Fast forward to 2011 and the deadline is almost 50 days later. Though tax day has changed, the fact that tax law changes a lot hasn't. Neither has taxpayer procrastination.

Whether your readers, listeners or viewers file today or on April 18, here's what they need to know about this year's tax law changes:

• New or increased tax breaks include the self-employed health insurance deduction, increased standard mileage rates and elimination of modified AGI limit for Roth IRA conversions.
• While there aren't as many new credits or deductions as last year, many were extended or will expire after this year, including:
  1. Children & dependents: expanded dependent care, increased child tax, employer expenses for child care assistance, and third-child earned income tax credits
  2. Education: educator expense deduction, tuition and fees deduction, American Opportunity Credit, student loan interest deduction, increased Coverdell Education Savings Account contribution amounts, and employer-provided educational assistance
  3. Homeowners: nonbusiness energy and first-time homebuyer credits
  4. Itemizers: option to itemize State and local sales taxes
  5. Others: Making Work Pay credit and alternative motor vehicle credits
• Taxpayers who claimed the First-time Homebuyer Credit on 2008 returns must start repaying the credit on this year's return.

Following a few simple preparation tips can save taxpayers time, money and headaches.

1. We have 3 extra days to file this year, but why wait? Previously delayed returns with the tuition fees deduction, the educator expense deduction or Schedule A are being processed by the IRS without issue now. Procrastination can lead to stress and increased chance for error. Those who owe taxes can file now and schedule an electronic payment anytime between now and April 18. The IRS has yet to release a few forms; however, those don't apply to the majority of taxpayers.
2. Double check spelling of names, birth dates, SSNs, bank account information, etc. The IRS rejects returns if data doesn't match their or the Social Security Administration's records.
3. E-file unless claiming the First-time Homebuyer and Adoption Credits (the IRS requires returns with those credits to be mailed with specific documentation).
4. Choose tax preparation software or online solutions wisely. Most free solutions, in particular, offer limited forms and features, and state prices widely vary. TaxACT Free Federal Edition is the most complete free solution, and it's NOT just for simple returns. Everyone can prepare and e-file their federal return free, whether they itemize, have business income, investments, are self-employed or have rental income. TaxACT Free Edition also includes free e-mail tax and technical help, maximum refund and accuracy guarantees, data import from a PDF of last year's return prepared by 11 software solutions, and audit assistance. Automatic 6-month filing extensions can also be filed free. Try it risk-free at www.taxact.com.
5. Adjust 2011 federal withholding to account for the Making Work Pay credit that expires this year and the 2011 payroll tax holiday.

Visit taxact.com to learn more about tax law changes and TaxACT products.