Men want gadgets for Valentine's Day

Most men would prefer to receive a gadget rather than candy or flowers from their partners on Valentine's Day, a poll reports.

The poll was conducted by IOGEAR, a connectivity manufacturer.

Of the 607 male and female respondents, 61 percent of men said that tech gear would be their gift of choice, yet only 19 percent have ever received an IT gizmo on Valentine's Day. Surprisingly, the poll found that an increasing number of women, 23 percent, would rather receive a tech toy than bouquets or sweets on Valentine's Day.

The online survey also revealed consumers' dream tech presents this Feb. 14, including GPS systems, Bluetooth cell-phone headsets, portable music players and flat-screen TVs.

"Our poll shows that gadgets are now the way to a man's heart," said Miranda Su, vice president of sales and marketing at IOGEAR Inc. "With affordable, convenient tech tools now available and in demand, gift giving becomes a lot easier. Males and females alike are hoping to get an mp3 player over a dozen roses or heart-shaped chocolate."

Copyright 2006 by United Press International

Module eases wireless laptop service

A Belgian company has developed a wireless laptop module that connects to standard cell towers and is not limited to the proximity of WiFi hot spots.

Option NV said this week that its GTM351E includes a PCI card that should make wireless Internet activity an easier proposition for users who currently have to hunt around for a hot spot before they can log on.

The card is installed on the unit's motherboard and can handle third-generation HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) technology and as well as the UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service) that is widely used in Asia.

The first GTM351E modules will ship early next year and begin making it to consumers some time afterward.

"The business model between operators and IT manufacturers for commercializing embedded wireless modules is still in its early stages," Option CEO Jan Callewaert said in a statement. "We'll see a further maturing of this market in 2006."

Copyright 2005 by United Press International