Novothink iPhone Solar Battery Charger

With the Novothink solar battery charger you can now power-up your iPhone literally anywhere under the sun. This means you more than double your iPhone’s existing battery capacity.

The solar panel technology enables you to take advantage of the sun’s power while walking, running, hiking, or biking, while on the beach, camping, or traveling anywhere.

It gives you complete freedom from the clumsy wall mounted chargers and messy cables. The solar charger fits on the back of a your iPhone phone and charges it without the need for cables. You still have full access to the iPhone’s touch screen.

The Novothink iPhone solar charger protects your phone from impact damage, scratching and even extends the life of the phone’s internal battery.

The USB connection allows you to charge or sync with iTunes without ever having to take your iPhone out of the case.

It has an integrated 4 LED battery status indicator.

The Solar charger is compatible with:

• Products with built-in Apple certified 30 pin connector
• iPhone 3G
• iPhone 3GS

The Novothink iPhone Solar battery charger is available for immediate purchase at Amazon.com for around $70 plus free shipping.

Card Cubby Review: Business, Loyalty, Gift Card Holder

When I opened up the box that contained my Card Cubby I said, “wow, this is so cool.” I saw the Card Cubby online but seeing it in person made all the difference.

I received the red croc Sweetheart Card Cubby. On the front it has a heart embellishment that has rhinestones in it. It makes my Cubby so much more fancy. The flap has a magnetic closer to make it easy to stay closed. My favorite handbag line is Brighton but I can rarely afford the price so I usually look for alternatives that have the Brighton look and feel. The Card Cubby looks just like it is from Brighton and it doesn’t have a high pricetag.

What is a Card Cubby?

Well, it is a unique card organizer that looks like a wallet but is actually designed to hold your business cards, credit and debit cards, gift cards, or store rewards or loyalty cards. It measures 5″ wide by 3″ high by 2″ deep when opened. It can be flattened for storage too. I can hold up to 80 cards. If you don’t fill it all of the way you can actually put your cell phone in it and use it like a wallet.

On the back it has a clear plastic pocket that can be used to put your license or maybe a business card so that when you are at a conference or networking event you can hold it with the window facing the person you are talking to.

I have several ways to use the Card Cubby. I will be using it to store many of my grocery store loyalty cards, other store rewards cards, and unneeded credit cards. I keep most of them in a bin on my desk and only pull them out if I am going shopping online or if I am entering a sweepstakes a grocery store is running that requires my card number. This is a much more organized way of storing them and more stylish too.

You could also use it just to store business cards and take it with you to your next conference or networking event.

Inside the Card Cubby there are alphabetical card dividers. Use these to organize all of your cards. If you are using it for storing business cards you could put the business cards from people you meet in the dividers and put yours behind the dividers. When you get home you will have them all organized.

Watch this short video that shows you exactly how the Card Cubby can be used. It explains it much better than I can and seeing is believing as they say.

The Card Cubby comes in 10 colors and designs plus 2 styles – with or without the heart embellishment. I suggest getting the one with the embellishment because it adds so much to the style of it.

You can make your Card Cubby purchase by visiting www.outofthebluedelivered.com/ecommerce/cardcubby.html

If you have red croc Brighton bag it will match perfectly. I don’t own a red croc Brighton bag but an inspired-by red croc Brighton bag and I was surprised to find that the Card Cubby was a perfect match. It looks like it was made for my bag.

You can buy a Card Cubby from Out of the Blue Delivered for $19.50 for the regular Card Cubbies and just add $1.00 more if you want the design with the heart embellishment on the front.

You can make your Card Cubby purchase by visiting www.outofthebluedelivered.com/ecommerce/cardcubby.html

Note: Out of the Blue Delivered sent me a Card Cubby to review. I was not paid to write this review and receiving this item in no way influenced what I thought of this item. It is definitely a good product and will comes in handy with organizing all of your cards.

Sony Cybershot DSC-H20 Digital Camera Review

I have been loyal to the Sony brand when buying digital cameras for at least 10 years now. I find that their digital cameras are intuitive enough for the beginner and have enough advanced features for those digital camera enthusiasts who like to play around with the settings.

This is my personal review of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20

FTC Compliance: This is my own personal Sony H20 camera that I purchased. I was not paid to write this review.

The last Sony digital camera I owned was the Sony Cybershot DSC-H1. I loved this camera and it worked perfectly until I dropped it on my deck one day. It still worked, minus the dial that allowed you to turn the settings on the top, but I managed to super glue that back on. However, somehow the battery holder must have gotten damaged because no matter what kin of rechargeable batteries I use I could never get it to hold a charge for more than a few minutes.

I still have this camera and am holding onto it in case something happens to my current Sony camera, the H20.

I also owned a Fuijfilm camera last year and being less than thrilled with it, I decided to sell it on Amazon and make enough money to cut a dent into buying the H20. I had considered purchasing another brand like Nikon but since I don’t have any experience with this brand, although I know it is a very good and solid brand, I thought it might be better to stick with what I know and Sony digital cameras have always treated me right.

This review is more about the features of the camera than how good or bad it takes digital pictures. Most digital cameras you get, especially Sony, will take great pictures. Most of the time how well the pictures comes out depends on the lighting you use, whether you have natural sunlight, whether you hold the camera still enough, or whether your subject holds still enough. Taking good digital pictures takes practice with any camera.

I do have to say that this Sony H20 model has a nice nighttime/twilight feature. I have been able to take nice night shots without flash that I couldn’t take with my previous camera.

What features I like about the Sony Cybershot Model DSC-H20

First, I like how well-made this camera is and how easy it is to carry around. It has a large zoom lens that comes out of it but unlike my older H1 model the lens actually retracts all of the way back into the body of the camera making it more compact to put in a handbag. It is still too large to carry in your pocket though but then again, you really don’t buy a model like this to carry in your pocket. You would want something else if that is your main requirement.

I also like how it has a cover for the lens. While the cover does dangle from a cord when you have it off of the lens that is fine with me. It fits snuggly on the lens and never just drops off.

As with most Sony digital cameras it has a dial on top that will allow you to rotate through the different settings. What I like about the H20 is that it has an Easy Setting, where you don’t have to think about a thing, or a Standard setting where you can play with the flash and a few other options. It also has the standard P (Program), M (Macro), and movie mode on the dial. My favorite setting is the SCN which stands for Scene. If I am taking a photo in low light at night I can put it on Twilight and it gives me great pictures. It has lots of scene settings like landscapes, twilight portrait, fireworks, twilight, high sensitivity, soft snap, sports shooting, snow, beach, and gourmet.

I used to try to learn how to use the custom features like Macro and Program but since I had no clue what I was doing having this new Scene selector options helps me take good pictures. My H1 had this option but most of the time it didn’t seem to help much. I am not a professional photographer and don’t want to spent my time learning how to use those custom features. If I am trying to get some detail in a product I am selling online or just want to show the snow on the window clearly I can put the camera right up to that item and it recognizes what I am doing and adjusts to show those details. That’s great in my book because I don’t want to figure out how to do it.

I really like the large, and bright, viewing screen. It makes it very easy to see what you are taking. It does not have a view finder window but for me that is okay. I never used it before anyhow. There are all kinds of indicators on the screen like battery life, how many pictures remain on the card, and whether the flash is on or not. Of course, as with all Sony digital cameras you can turn these indicators on or off in the Setup menu.

The Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20 handles well and has a nice rubber grip on the front right.

I like how it turns itself off within a certain amount of time when it is not being used and I can regulate this time in the menu to be shorter or longer.

The battery lasts a long time and like my other Sony it comes with a battery charger. I pop out the little battery, put it in the charger and plug it into the wall. There are no long cords to deal with and traveling with the charger is great because the plug folds and make the whole piece very tiny. The battery charges within a half hour.

As far as I know the battery for the Sony camera cannot be charged through the computer. I usually have to take the battery out and put it in the wall charger.

Another great feature I have always liked with the Sony, and what actually made me pick the Sony over the Fuji or Kodak cameras, was the fact that you can plug it into the USB cord and it will create a new drive in My Computer. I can use the Sony camera just like any drive I attach to the computer and grab individual pictures to view or work on in PhotoShop. Some digital cameras have their own software and you often have to wait until all of the photos are downloaded into your computer everytime you attach it to the computer. That is super annoying. I only want to see and work on the photos I just took so the Sony’s plug and play feature is perfect for me.

Really cool features of the Sony Cybershot Model DSC-H20

The Sony H20 has a really cool smile feature. It actually will let you set it so that it will pick up whether someone is smiling slight, normal, or even big. They call it the “Smile Detection Sensitivity” setting. You will find that under the Menu.

What features I don’t like about the Sony Cybershot Model DSC-H20

When you turn this camera on it takes a little longer than some of the cameras I have owned to move the lens out. This can be a little annoying if you want to take a picture of something quickly because it is not just going to come on instantly and be ready to go.

When in the SCN (Scene) mode I can’t easily move from one mode to another, unless I just don’t know how, until I rotate the wheel to another setting like Easy and then back to SCN to let it give me the selection screen again.

The on/off button is annoyingly small and recessed. It is hard to find it in the dark or when you are just reaching over on your desk after you plugged it into your omputer to turn it on to get the computer to recognize it. The other Sony Cyber-shot camera I had, the DSC-H1, did not have this problem.

I don’t like how it doesn’t turn itself off within a certain amount of time when it is not being used when the camera is plugged into the computer. Many times I will plug it in, grab a picture and edit it in Photoshop. Then I will go on Facebook or my website to upload the pictures. I might take a break and do something else and forget about the camera being on. My old Sony would turn itself off after 5 to 10 minutes when it was plugged into the computer. This model does not and I haven’t found a way to change the time in the menu to be shorter or longer.

Scrolling through the pictures is a little annoying. My old model has this nice wheel on the front that was in the perfect spot, right above the grib. That wheel has been removed in this model. Now I have to move from picture to picture with the left or right arrow on the button on the back. Yes, I can hold that button down and it will scroll faster but that wheel on the front was so convenient. I wish they hadn’t removed it on the H20.

Review Summary of the Sony Cyber-shotDSC-H20 Digital Camera

Overall I am happy that I purchased this model. It is more compact and easier to carry around than the DSC-H1 which was bulkier. It is a solid camera and has a nice feel when you hold it. I like how the lens retracts all of the way into the camera and there is a lens cap. I also like the wide screen and indicators. I love the Scene selector and the cool smile indicator. I really don’t like the on/off button but will deal with it. And, I guess I will have to read the manual to try to figure out if I can get the camera to shut off when it is connected to the computer for any length of time.

I purchased my Sony camera at . I use Amazon for all kinds of purchases these days, mainly because I can read reviews, like you are reading here, and I get free shipping most of the time. I have even returned things with no problem.

Proactiv Solution Acne Products Reviews

There is no cure for acne. Let me repeat that. There is no cure for acne! This is the biggest obstacle when you are trying to fight acne and want it to clear up. The misconception is that whatever I use on my skin to clear the acne will actually cure it. This is not going to happen. No matter if you use Proactiv or some other acne fighting treatment you will never cure your acne.

That said, then why do you want to use the acne treatment Proactiv if it isn’t going to solve my acne problem? One reason, it works! I have tried every over the counter acne treatment there is and also have used every prescription acne medication there is and Proactiv was the only acne treatment that every worked and worked completely.

If you stop using Proactiv your acne will come back, usually within a few days.

My story: I have had acne since I was 10 and know how humiliating it is and how your friends and the general public who don’t suffer from acne have no clue how much emotional pain it causes. I am almost 50 and my acne is just as bad as it was when I was 10. Those people who don’t have acne just don’t understand and you aren’t going to make them understand why acne cause you such stress. Stop trying to explain it to them and find a solution – Proactiv.

When I started using Proactiv a year or so ago I saw immediate results. It cleared my acne within a week or so. Proactiv can cause your skin to become extremely dry though, so you have to watch out for that. I have extremely oily skin and it still made my skin dry. If you are using the system twice a day as instructed your skin will become dried out and flaky. The way to solve this is you stop using it twice a day and go to once a day after your acne gets under control. This will keep the acne from reappearing and if it does come back strong then use it twice a day for several days until it is under control again. You have to play around with the system until you find the balance that works for your skin.

Why does Proactiv stop working? It doesn’t! You stop using it, plain and simple. The system doesn’t stop working you stop using it. This is what happened to me. I had the same misconception that acne can be cured so I thought, well, Proactiv cleared up my acne so I will stop using it. I got lazy. When you stop using the Proactiv system your acne WILL come back. You HAVE to keep using it – for the rest of your life if that is what it takes – for your acne to stay away. As mentioned, I am almost 50 and still have as much acne as when I was 10. You have to come to the realization that your acne is NOT going away if you stop using Proactiv. Once you realize this then you will be on your way to clear skin that stays clear.

The Proactiv Acne Solution System

Proactiv Solution Renewing Cleanser Review

Proactiv renewing cleanser is the one step in the acne treatment system I use everyday. I am now only using it once a day because I got my acne under control by using the entire system for two weeks. I find that the renewing cleanser is the only part of the Proactiv system I need to buy the most of because I use it the most.

When I am going out I will use the cleanser twice a day; once when I am getting ready and once before bed. Makeup tends to break out my skin so I really need it on those days.

I personally like the texture of the cleanser and how the grainy parts of the solution actually make my face feel smooth. Because those grainy parts are getting rid of dead skin cells my skin now can hold liquid makeup much better and I feel good about the look of my skin. It actually has a healthy glow.

Proactiv Revitalizing Toner Review

You definitely need the Proactiv revitalizing toner. Once you use the Proactiv Renewing Cleanser you need to use the refining toner to calm your skin.

I also use this toner during the day when I have oiliness on my skin. Like I said, I have extremely oily skin and if I don’t use the toner throughout the day – on those days I don’t wear makeup – my hair around my face will also get oily. Using the toner gets your face ready for makeup so all skin type should use it.

I also use the Proactiv refining toner at night instead of washing my face if I washed my face in the morning with the Proactiv cleanser. Like I said, once your acne is under control you might only need to use the cleanser once a day but that is my experience.

Proactiv Repairing Lotion Review

Okay, here is part of the Proactiv system that I find unnecessary. I never found that the Proactiv repairing lotion actually did anything at all. If you buy the Proactiv 3-part system I would suggest that you just change out the repairing treatment and get an extra cleanser. You will use more cleanser anyway so this way you aren’t getting a part of the system that you won’t use. I still have 3 bottles of the repairing treatment in my cabinet that I don’t use because I don’t see that it does anything.

Proactiv Green Tea Moisturizer Review

I believe Proactive just came out with the green tea moisturizer in 2009. I tried it for the first time at the end of 2009 and just love it. Once I wash my face and use the toner I put on the moisturizer and it has a great feeling to it. It refreshes my skin and makes me feel like I have just come from the spa. Unlike some peppermint moisturizers that are designed to wake you up, this one has a refreshing feeling without a heavy scent. I would definitely suggest that you try the Proactiv green tea moisturizer. It gets an A+ in my book.

Proactiv Refining Mask Review

The Proactiv refining mask is an optional part of the Proactiv system. I have used the mask many times and also suggest it as a part of your acne skin care regime. If you have breakouts because you forgot to use the Proactiv cleanser for a few days then you can put on the refining mask for 10 minutes and it will definitely help to clear up your acne quickly.

You can also put on a light layer before you go to bed and just leave it on to help clear up stubborn acne overnight. Don’t put too much on if you are using it at night because you don’t want it to get on your bed sheets and pillowcase. It dries quickly so that shouldn’t be a problem but I always use less if I am using it overnight.

While this is a great part of the Proactiv system you don’t need it right away if you are trying to save money. Just buy the basic cleanser, toner, and moisturizer to get started and then buy it later.

Proactiv Acne Spot Treatment Review

Once again, I believe the Proactiv acne spot treatment is a new item that came out from Proactiv in 2009. I purchase a tube of this spot treatment at the end of 2009. I really like this product because you can put it on just one or two acne spots on your face or body that are stubborn and it will definitely go the trick. It doesn’t dry out your face at all. I would suggest you get this to keep around for those times when you need to deal with a stubborn acne spot or two.

If you are just starting out and you don’t want to spend a lot to test out the system then don’t buy this treatment until later. The system will definitely work without it.

Proactiv Deep Cleansing Body Wash Review

The Proactiv deep cleansing wash is designed to use on your body when you take a shower to heal acne on your body. Instead of using your Proactiv renewing cleanser in the shower you can keep that for washing your face and use the cleansing wash in the shower or tub. The Proactive cleansing wash works just as good as the renewing cleanser. It is slightly different in that it is a lime green color and has a different fragrance. It has kind of a minty fragrance but is not strong and overpowering. The cleansing wash still has the gritty feeling and that helps clean your pore completely and slough off dead skin cells.

What is nice about the Proactiv cleansing wash is that you can use it on your body and not just your face. I found that it is cheaper and since you don’t want to waste Proactiv, because it is slightly more expensive than other kinds of acne treatments, you should just use enough of the wash on the parts of your body that get acne. I use it on my face, back, and legs. I don’t use it to wash my hair. Proactiv makes special acne shampoo to deal with acne on your scalp. I wouldn’t suggest using this on your hair because it might be too harsh.

The cleansing wash has the same ingredients as the renewing cleanser, Salicylic Acid and works just as good. It is thick and if you buy a larger bottle that comes with a pump it might take awhile to come out of the pump. If you have a hard time getting it out then either don’t use the pump or buy a smaller bottle without a pump.

Summary of the Proactiv Acne Fighting Treatment System

I am thrilled with Proactiv. I have never found an acne treatment system that ever worked. I am loyal to Proactiv now and will keep using it because it works. Remember, there is NO cure for acne. If you stop using Proactiv your acne will come back – and usually within a few days.

How to Buy Proactiv, Save Money, and Get Free Shipping

While I do use Proactive and am loyal to the brand I DO NOT buy it from the Proactiv website or through the phone. I did start out buying it this way but found that it got too expensive and many times I would get the system before I needed the individual items. Yes, you can schedule out your deliveries as far as 3-months but that still didn’t work for me. And then you also have to pay shipping so it was getting too expensive. That was one reason why I stopped using the product. I just couldn’t afford it. Now that I have started again I found a better solution that allows me to buy it cheaper and get free shipping.

I now buy all of my Proactiv from Amazon.com. Most of the time I am actually buying it from Proactiv themselves because they are a sellers on Amazon. The prices on Amazon are cheaper than what you will find on the Proactiv website too.

And, the best part? FREE SHIPPING! If you find that Proactiv isn’t selling it on Amazon right now you will find other legitimate sellers offering it for sale on Amazon. To save yourself the shipping fee then look for those sellers who are part of Amazon’s Super Saving Shipping deal. Your order must equal $24.95 or more to get the free shipping offer and you need to chose that option when you go to checkout.

While there are definitely cheaper alternatives out there to Proactiv I found that none of them worked. I tried Neutrogena, Burt’s Bees, Mary Kay, and Clinique and none did anything for my acne. I continue to use Proactiv daily and I can guarantee it works. It just doesn’t work if you stop using it. You have to discipline yourself to keep using it. Just remember that feeling you had when you have acne and that should be enough to keep you using it. Clear skin is worth the extra work.

I hope you enjoyed my review of the Proactiv Acne Treatment system. It works for me and I hope it works for you.

FTC Compliance: I was not paid to write this review. I reviewed the Proactiv system that I purchased for personal use.

FloTV Personal Mobile TV Review – Live TV On the Go

@flotv If you love high tech gadgets then you will want to read this review of the new FloTV handheld live television unit. FloTV has been out for awhile as an app for iPhones but until late last year it was not available as a standalone unit.

It seems that none of us has patience to just sit and do nothing with our idle time anymore. Even our kids want to be entertained when traveling with video units in the car. And, now you can get live, mobile TV wherever you go with FloTV. This standalone unit FloTV is a small, mobile television that gives you live TV access whenever you want it. Whether you are traveling and have to wait at the airport, are stuck in traffic (hopefully you aren’t the one driving), or are waiting at the doctor’s office for your appointment, you can use FloTV to keep you entertained and occupied. You can use it to keep the kids occupied as well.

FTC Disclaimer: This review is based off of the use and experience with my own personal unit and I was not paid to review it.

What areas of coverage does FloTV work in the best?

I find that the mobile FloTV unit works the best when I am in larger cities. When we were traveling to Virginia in December I noticed that it wouldn’t work too well when we drove through smaller towns. I have been told that they have their own network and it is strongest in larger cities but that they are going to expand in the future.

After using this mobile unit for awhile I found that was really the only thing that bugged me. I would be watching a TV show and it would just hang or cut off when I lost coverage. That can be very annoying. But, I do understand why it happens. You probably will want to check out the FloTV coverage map to see where it will work the best and if your area is covered.

About the FloTV Mobile Unit

The FloTV mobile unit has integrated speakers and a built-in adjustable stand. You get 5 hours of direct TV watching on a single charge or 300 hours on stand-by. It has a crystal clear 3.5-inch QVGA touchscreen display that works similar to the 3G phones that are on the market.

Just swipe the screen with your finger to move from one show to another and to check out the upcoming schedule. The swiping method is very similar to what you would do if you had an iPhone, Droid, or LG Touch phone. You can even set reminders so the next time you turn it on you will be immediately reminded about a show you wanted to watch.

You can attach headphones to the unit to make for a more personal experience and you don’t disturb the people who are around you.

Unfortunately the speakers are on the back. I am not sure why. When I was in the car I had to turn it up full-force to hear the sound over the car noise. I think they really should be on the front. But maybe FloTv assumed most people are going to use headphones with it which makes sense. I just didn’t have any headphones with me at the time and personally I hate using headphones.

This mobile unit doesn’t come with a cover and I suggest you get one or you might scratch the screen. The stand is built-in so it folds flat against the back. This unit is small enough to carry in your purse or even a pants pocket so it is very convenient to take with you anywhere.

So just how does the FloTV mobile, live television unit work?

Well, FloTV has their own satellite network and their own channels to pick up live TV signals. Mobile FloTV carries around 10 major TV networks like Fox, CBS, Food Network, Disney, CNN, CNBC, MSNBC, and MTV. FloTV you can watch news, Food shows, kids shows, soap operas, night dramas, comedies and more. I believe they will be adding more at some point too.

How Much Does FloTV cost? Where to Buy the FloTV Mobile Unit?

When you buy the FloTV mobile unit you will get 6 months of free service to test it out. That is a huge bargain and it will definitely let you know if this is something you will want to keep for the long term. After the initial 6 months it the FloTV subscription will cost you $14.95 each month.

If you are a traveler you will love it. If you are a teenager you will wow all of your friends with your live TV that fits in your back pocket.

FloTV is available at www.flotv.com or Amazon.com The unit itself sells for $249 but I am sure it will be coming down as it’s popularity grows. If you buy it at Amazon you can get free shipping as well and save some money.

photo credit: FloTV

Next Page »