Demo conference intrigues, but doesn't electrify
PALM DESERT, Calif. -- The Demo tech conference I'm attending has lived off its well-known alumni for years. If history is any judge, just a few of the 77 new products and services showcased here have a chance to become as famous as the PalmPilot or TiVo. Some start-ups (or their technologies) will get gobbled up by bigger enterprises. Some won't see the light of day.
Still, many potentially useful products were on display, though none knocked my socks off. Continuing a trend in recent Demos, most are not physical gadgets, but rather services delivered in cyberspace or on phones. Standouts: a better cellphone browser and an instant-messaging translation service. Among intriguing demonstrators:
Tap into your PC from your cellphone
You may know such services as GoToMyPC or LogMeIn. They let you remotely access your home computer from another PC connected to the Web. The PCMobilizr service from Rove lets you access and control your computer desktop through a BlackBerry or Windows Mobile smartphone. You download software onto your PC or phone, then enter a user name and password to log in remotely.
Rove says that the connection is secure and that you need not muck with your PC's firewall or router settings. Rove charges $9.50 a month after a 30-day trial. Major constraint: the cellphone's screen size.
Getting paid for a job interview
I've seen several online job sites. Only none quite like NotchUp. It can match you up with a company that will pony up cash just to interview you. Qualified candidates set the price at which they'll agree to an interview; NotchUp says $300 to $600 is typical, but you'll be paid only if you take the job opportunity seriously.
Texting shopping tips
You're buying a book, digital camera or bottle of wine but aren't sure what to buy or how much to pay. Review2Buy can send shopping recommendations on the fly to your cellphone via text message. You text the product name or shopping code — and your location — to 738439 (review). Moments later, a message arrives with a brief review of the product from Amazon.com and a sample of prices. You have an instant bargaining chip to show the salesperson.
Related Stories
ABC News Live