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11/19/2006 Sponsored by the Beth Aaron Men’s Club Avi Greengart Principal Analyst Mobile Devices, Current Analysis Edito

Tech Talk 2. 11/19/2006 Sponsored by the Beth Aaron Men’s Club Avi Greengart Principal Analyst Mobile Devices, Current Analysis Editor, Home Theater View. Agenda. FAQs How to use technology to improve your avodas HaShem Disclaimer What’s the Best… SWAG Raffle Q&A.

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11/19/2006 Sponsored by the Beth Aaron Men’s Club Avi Greengart Principal Analyst Mobile Devices, Current Analysis Edito

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  1. Tech Talk 2 11/19/2006 Sponsored by the Beth Aaron Men’s Club Avi Greengart Principal Analyst Mobile Devices, Current Analysis Editor, Home Theater View

  2. Agenda • FAQs • How to use technology to improve your avodas HaShem • Disclaimer • What’s the Best… • SWAG Raffle • Q&A Note: this presentation was created for the Internet. I sincerely hope I never create PowerPoint presentations with this much text in them.

  3. Technology & Avodas HaShem • Tefillah • Finding a minyan: http://www.godaven.com • Improving your kavanah (see godaven.com) • Davening on your gadget: • PalmOS: EshSiddur • BlackBerry: JewBerry • Checking Your Tefillin position: Cingular 3125 • Limud Torah • Web, Mobile Web • iShas • MP3 shiurim

  4. Tech & Avodas Hashem, II • Finding kosher food • http://www.shamash.org • Hashkafa (Mind what you watch) • TiVo can help avoid ZWS (Zombie Watching Syndrome) • Tzedaka • “Planning/Savings accounts” in Quicken or Microsoft Money for ma’aser separate out your tzedaka from general funds, so that when you give it away, it’s not “yours” • Supporting Israel • Nike sports clothing, iPod armbands are made in Israel • Morel home theater speakers. Similar in size and cost to Bose Lifestyle systems, but look and sound better.

  5. FAQs • Is this really your job? • Yes. Part of my job is to play with gadgets. There is a lot of actual work involved (I write hundreds of reports a year) but, yes, part of my job is to play with gadgets. • Home theater, too? • Not any more – I used to run a home theater research service. But I still write for http://www.HomeTheaterView.com to stay up to date. • Do people send you these things for free? • Yes. • And you get paid for this? • Yes. • Do you have to send them back? • Yes. I send most things back even when the companies don’t ask for them back just to get them out of my house. I NEVER sell things on eBay. This is my job, and access to the products is sacrosanct, because it gives me unique insights. I do not profit from the toys themselves. • Can I have one? • No.

  6. Disclaimer While home theater equipment, converged cellphones, and wireless watches are cool: • Nobody needs this stuff • Your wife’s priorities are correct • I’m going to win this game anyway

  7. What’s the Best…

  8. Cellphone • There is no such thing as the “best” cellphone • Smartphones with/without QWERTY keyboards vs. music phones vs. phones that just make phone calls • Everyone has their own needs • The best values in the market right now: • Motorola RAZR V3m at Verizon Wireless • Motorola RAZR V3m at Sprint • Samsung SYNC at Cingular • All include megapixel cameras (2 MP on the Samsung), MP3 players with removable memory, and high speed wireless networking. All are just $49 after rebates with a 2 year commitment.

  9. Best Wireless Carriers for Teaneck • Everyone has gotten better over the past 3 years • Cingular and T-Mobile have gotten a LOT better • Verizon Wireless is NOT the best Spreadsheet with details available on http://www.greengart.com/TeaneckShuls.htm

  10. Best Wireless Carriers for Teaneck • Cingular – works everywhere, including Glatt Express! • T-Mobile – works everywhere but Glatt Express! • Sprint – EV-DO almost everywhere! • Verizon Wireless – phone calls in most places, EV-DO in half • Nextel – Same good coverage as Sprint, but iffy quality for now • Yes, you should update your phone already • Your reception will improve • You’ll be safer (lower radiation levels) • Cingular works inside Glatt Express! Spreadsheet with details available on http://www.greengart.com/TeaneckShuls.htm

  11. Digital Cameras • 1st Digital camera • Kodak 5 MP (any model) • 2nd Digital camera • Canon 5 MP (any model), Kodak 2 lens, Panasonic super-zoom • 3rd Digital camera • Canon Rebel Digital SLR or Nikon Digital SLR • Note: nobody needs more than 6 megapixels (even to crop relatives you don’t like out of your photos). Above 6 megapixels, picture quality tends to suffer.

  12. What’s the Best… • Digital camcorder • First decide if you really need one • Then decide if you want to record on DVD • Then any miniDV (Canon, Panasonic…) • MP3 player • iPod nano • iPod 30/80 GB • …for subscription use: SanDisk Sansa • …for gym use: new iPod shuffle

  13. What’s the Best… • PDA • Basic: Palm Zire • Anything more than that: Get a smartphone • Gaming device • Nintendo DS Lite • Game Console • Nintendo Wii is the most innovative (and fun) of the new consoles. XBOX 360 and PS3 really require HDTV for the full effect, and you aren’t getting a PS3 any time soon anyway.

  14. What’s the Best… • Bang for Buck HDTV • 50” Samsung DLP • Plasma or LCD? • Depends on what size you need • Plasma has the better picture except in direct sunlight • You definitely get what you pay for • If you must economize, reconsider • If that didn’t dissuade you, go with Vizio at Costco

  15. What’s the Best… • Front projector • You measure your screen in inches? How quaint. • $2,000 - $4,500 = 10’ stunning picture in 720p or 1080p optimized for home theater • Business projectors are cheaper, but different. Don’t go there. • Need room light control • For recommendations, see http://www.projectorcentral.com • Is TiVo worth paying extra for? • Yes • Microsoft Media Center PCs are also excellent, but wait for Vista • Cablevision’s box is better than nothing

  16. What’s the Best… • Surround sound system • Anything is better than what you have now • Need to spend $1,500 - $3,000 for good sound • Brands to look for: M&K, B&W, Paradigm, Klipsch (the higher end of their range), Polk (the higher end of their range), Atlantic Technology • Bose is not a good surround sound value (though they make excellent headphones and car audio systems) • Best entertainment system upgrade: • Logitech Harmony self-programming universal remote control

  17. In-ear (passive noise reduction) headphones Shure e3c etymotic er6i Logitech MX Revolution laser mouse Sonos audio system Netflix subscription PowerSquid surge protector Logitech Harmony 880 universal remote CardScan 8.0 Business Card Scanner SlingBox Dymo or Royal label maker Westinghouse digital photo frame DP-0801 2006 Non-Obvious Gift Guide This list does not contain any recommendations for flat panel televisions, iPods, automobiles, game consoles, or cell phones.

  18. Q & A • Email: askavi@greengart.com • Home Theater View: http://www.hometheaterview.com • DO NOT CALL ME. (I will get annoyed.) • DO NOT TALK TO ME IN SHUL. (It’s assur. Plus, everyone will get annoyed.)

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