Monthly Archives: August 2005

Move Over SupraKey! Latest in Security for Real Estate in Japan? Vein Scanning for Identification

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While developers are busy with a chip in your cell phone which will permit you to leave your credit card behind (it’s in there), your keys at home (an electronic key’s in there) and all your personal data, contacts, files, music, movies, books (it’s all in there too with products like the Treo 650) — a new product launch in Japan uses the veins in your hands as an electronic “house key.”

So you use what you carry naturally to verify your identity before allowing condo access. More accurate than fingerprinting and iris scanning, this marks the first residential use of this type of technology.

This new device is a “touch free” model for germaphobes, is difficult to dupe (vein structure is subdermal, so it’s hard to fake) and has an incredible success rate (less than .0008% false acceptance rate and .01% false rejection rate).

Due to be used in a new residential condominium scheduled for construction completion in early 2006, Fujitsu’s security tool has already been used in financial institutions, hospitals and universities in Japan.

To read “all about it” visit www.Japancorp.net.

Personally, scanning body parts has always given me the wiggins. I have even declined to be fingerprinted when my kids were born and I won’t bank in any location that requires such things. I love technology, but I like my privacy more.

For those of you unfettered with such hangups — its a “Brave New World” out there! ;O)

Wow, What a Popular Article – Treo Info in TechMagic Column on Epowernews Draws Questions

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My monthly columns (WordMagic and TechMagic) on Epowernews.com usually bring in a few questions, but this month’s article on using the Treo for Real Estate Agents really brought in a lot of questions, emails and calls.

Apparently there are MANY real estate agents, brokers, Realtors (and even virtual assistants, offsite contractors and remote professional outsourcers for this group) interested and asking questions about how to get started with the Treo.

My first recommendation is that you begin with the “Treo: The Basics” Topic in the upper left hand corner of this site.

I’ve answered as many of these questions personally as I can today — and I thought today would be a slow day to catch up!! Ha!

There are several other questions that have been asked that aren’t covered in the basic information there. Some of it may be covered in the “Treo: All Business” section or in the “Treo: Just for Fun” section.

If you are advanced, you may want to check out the “Tech Tips and Tricks” section.

Some quick answers to a few of the questions I got today are below:

Do you really use your Treo for everything like you say?

Well, lets just say that my MOTHER called me to see how I was doing without my Treo the other day, while I was awaiting the new one to be shipped. My MOTHER! So, you know it’s a serious thing. LOL. The new one arrived yesterday, but I’ve spent my “tweaking” time today answering questions on the Treo, rather than getting mine up and going. Maybe tomorrow…

What are the bare essential additional products for a new Treo, in your opinion?

Well, this site is dedicated to helping answer that question as a whole, but a quick, off the top of my head list of my “dirty dozen” would include: NoteStudio, Snappermail, TCPMP, SuperUtility, Audible, Card Export, BackupBuddy, iSilo, HiLauncher, Think Outside’s Stowaway Keyboard, Mundu IM 3, and eWallet. You can use the site search to read full writeups on these from previous posts here on WickedTreo. Or, if you read the newsletter at www.epowernews.com, you will see my article on the best of the best next month in my Tech Magic column.

I’d also highly recommend a good document program (I use Documents to Go right now, but am always looking for a better option), an excellent, protective case (I’m researching this again now — and will report my findings soon), and a great security program (Again, I’m still looking for that little gem myself).

And for goodness sakes — USE a SCREENPROTECTOR!!!

What Contact Database is the best?

That’s the million dollar question for any real estate agent, broker or Realtor — using any device, isn’t it? The Treo is no exception. I use the Palm desktop, but am looking for a nicer option. I’ve read so many bad reviews about the programs currently on the market, that I’m awaiting a newer, better version on some of the existing programs, or a new program altogether before I consider a change.

Some agents use palm-friendly versions of their online contact database programs and their website database programs. There are more of these out there than you might imagine at this point. None of them are “golden” according to the agent’s I’ve asked.

The main issue and concern here is to be sure what you use works — for the way you work. If you are carrying an outdated contact list in your palm, or if it doesn’t sync without fail to your computer or your online database — you have a big problem. Be sure you can export to a universal format when you are considering a contact database (tab or comma delimited files) so you can ensure that it’s portable without hand-keying everything, should you decide to change systems in the future.

There are programs that will make the Treo sync with Act! (I had the Palm version of Act! didn’t care for it much) and Outlook (several of these get good reviews, but I refuse to use Outlook on my computer due to security issues. It may work fine for you, the sync between Outlook and palm programs has improved recently).

So, what’s the best contact database? One that you use, that’s simple and makes it easy to find the information you need when you need it. One that synch with your data back at the office or online.

If the one you use isn’t easy and readily available you WILL lose data. That’s why a palm conduit is so important. If you wait “until I get back to the office” — the info will be lost as often as it’s recorded.

Now, it’s time for me to call it a day, I hope this helps.

How Useful is the Treo 650 Camera? You Judge!

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I’ve had a few questions from Realtors and agents this morning about the usefulness of the Treo’s camera for daily applications. It made me realize that, although I blogged and illustrated with photos on my www.WickedBlog.com site, I’d not done it here. So, if you want to see how the photos look, bear with a couple examples from my personal collection — taken while I was on vacation.Below are a few examples of some of the photos I took, one both sizes available when using the Treo. I should also mention that there is a black and white and a sepia option on the camera as well. The photos have not be adjusted or changed in any way. This is the way they look immediately after taking them with the Treo. So, depending on how large you want the image, or how small you need it to be for those working without the mega-expansion cards I carry, I offer the following examples containing my daughter and some of the Colorado landscape:

You will note that the photo taker here wasn’t exactly steady — these were quick shots and some required quick responses — like the one that captured the butterfly in flight. Others had movement — like the mountain stream.

It’s not the quality I’d recommend for showcasing houses, but it’s great for sending quick pictures of a new listing by email, capturing an image on short notice and recording some moments that would be lost forever if they depended on carrying and unpacking a digital wherever you go. (And, between you and me, the grandparents LOVE the emails of the grandkids sent the second they do something cute… but I digress.)

We all carry our phones, now you can carry a camera too — without any additional devices, weight or hassles. Personally, I’ll be downloading and trying the program that permits taking pictures with the side buttons, instead of a screen press, before my next trip out and about.

Google Makes Another Step in the Mobile Direction – Buys Android Mobile Software Company

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Andriod, a secrecy-cloaked startup company headed by former Danger, Inc founder, was just purchased by Google, according to a report in Business Week Online.

The Android website, www.android.com, gives little information about the company, and consists of three maps with office locations and a hardhitting track of synthesized music for visitors. That’s it.

To read the whole story, visit the

Business Week article online.

Personally, I can’t wait to see what Goggle is up to next. I love Google.

Although many have lost the rosy view of Google since they became the leading SE online, I still can’t shake the feeling that this “superpower” in the world of the Internet will continue it’s historical pattern of cutting edge betas and expanding the way the masses use the information on the Internet — both wired and mobile!

Latest Beta Version of The Core Pocket Media Player Has Been Released!

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As you know, I’ve raved about the “unstable” version 0.65 version of TCPMP player for video files on the Treo 650.

Yesterday, I learned that they had released the latest version, beta version 0.66.

The SECOND I get my new Treo up to snuff on the basics, this will be my first “new” download to the new handheld.

It really saved my sanity, and increased my comfort level, during the long ride to Colorado and the even LONGER ride home earlier this month.

I find the old “unstable” version to be one of the most stable programs I use. I can’t wait to learn what’s new in this version. They do not guarantee anything, and I’ve not tried the new version yet, but I’ll let you know how it goes. I’d love to be able to play music using this in the “background” — that’s one of the reasons I still have another music player (realplayer) still on my Treo — because I like listening to music on my headphones while doing other things like surfing the web, sending email, typing on a document, or even playing a game!

It’s built under GNU public license, which means it free (although they do offer a contribution option).

I contribute to a few software companies and a few websites that offer exceptional services. I think this one will make my list this year too.

So, if you haven’t checked it out, now is the time. Visit them at http://tcpmp.corecodec.org/about (Update 4/2011 – this link is now defunct) to download your own copy.

And look in my archives for information on how to get the program to “rip” DVDs from your own collection to view while out mobile.

I completed the entire first season of Dead Like Me while on the road to Colorado, and when I stayed awake a bit longer than everyone else in the RV — so I didn’t disturb their sleep.

Try it, you’ll like it! :O)