We’ve all had to type a paper or report using Microsoft’s word processing program at one time or another. Well, Yardena Arar over at pcworld.com offers nine tips and tricks for spicing these documents up. No longer will you have to turn in the same boring report to your teacher, gone are the statistical analysis documents that drone on and on.

The newest version of Microsoft’s Office software hits the shelves today. You can get the basic version for $150, the $280 version adds Outlook  or the $500 package that has Publisher and Access, a database program. If any of these are too expensive, you can download the four core programs for free from the internet, just be prepared for some features to be missing.

Well, it seems that the biggest thing about the new iPhone, other than it won’t be available for Verizon, is the new video chat feature. A camera on the front allows users of the new iPhone to see each other while they talk.  Video talking is not new, but many think that now since Apple is endorsing it, it will go through the roof.

What you’re looking at is the Computex computer fair in Taipei. This massive collection of the biggest names in IT runs from June 1-5 and is where companies introduce their newest toys. While I haven’t gone personally, I’ve seen pictures of some of the new gadgets coming out in the near future. I was surprised by how e-readers coming out, as well as more tablet computers and computers that are trying to include everything from 3-D to touch screen functionality. I even saw a company reveal a computer capable of working underwater. If your passport is in order and you have some money burning a whole in your pocket, I would definitely recommend going. It looks like it would be a very interesting, eye opening experience.

I can see the need for YouTube videos on a smartphone. Lord knows, I’ve taken advantage of my wife’s iPhone during long trips in the car or endless waiting in a doctor’s office. But sunglasses with video capability? I can’t see where that would be an advantage. First, the screen is going to be right by your eye. I remember Mom telling me not to sit too close to the TV since it would wreak havoc on my vision. Video sunglasses would be the equivalent of pasting your face to the TV screen. Plus, how distracting would it be to try and walk down the street with these things on? You’d be lucky to make it 10 feet without tripping or bumping into something.

Nokia and Opera, a cell phone producer and internet browser company, respectively, have publicly stated support for Adobe’s Flash software. Adobe and Flash have gotten into a heated spat through the media concerning Adobe’s Flash software. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has called the program a buggy battery hog while Adobe has lashed out at Apple over its refusal to support Flash on the iPhone and iPad. The reason this is such an issue is that a lot of casual gaming on the internet uses Flash for its gameplay.  Second, since people like to have these mobile devices for casual gaming in addition to other functions, they can’t play on the internet because of Apple’s lack of support. This to me seems real simple. If Jobs is correct that the software is buggy and sucks a lot of energy from the battery, prove it. Put your results where your mouth is. Find a way to test the battery drain from using the Flash software. To say something without proof to back it up is unethical and is sometimes a diversion from a larger problem. On the other hand, Adobe can stamp its foot in the ground and pout all it wants to, but Apple has the right to support or not support various software for their devices.

Amazon plans to line the pockets of chiropractors and opthamologists by releasing a version of it popular Kindle e-reader for the Android operating system. That’s right, you can now hunch over your Android smart phone and squint as you try to read a few chapters in your current book. Then, when you get home, you can continue where you left off on you regular sized Kindle reader. This is not really a smart idea. I have enough trouble looking at my wife’s iPhone when I want to watch a YouTube clip in the car. I cannot even begin to imagine what trying to read on that size screen would be like. My eyes and posture is bad enough without Amazon helping.

Depending on your outlook of the world and the current state of technology, you may look at this story as either the glass being haf full or half empty. A decade long study on the connection between cell phone use and brain tumors has proven to be inconclusive. Part of the problem lies in the method for collecting data. Participants were asked to try and remember how much time they had spent using their cell phone. I’ll be quite honest, if someone were to ask me the same question, I would be unable to give an accurate number. The other problem lies in the study subjects. Some of these people probably already thought they had a problem and may have exaggerated their answers. One thing I’ve learned is that the thoughts we have follow a general trend. If we think we are sick all the time, then invariably we end up being sick. If we think we are healthy, generally we are healthier. That doesn’t mean that you can do all the things that are bad for you and expect to live to be 95 just by thinkinh you’re healthy. Mindset, however, does affect your body and its longevity.

I’m finding more tablet computers that are on par with the iPad from a spec sheet point of view, and in some key ways, are actually better. Like this one. This Eken M001 has an SD memory card in addition to USB ports. It can also hold 32 GB of info. I think it might even be lighter than the iPad. I can’t remember what the iPad weighs, but this thing clocks in at 0.77 pounds, so it should be easy to carry. Here’s the best part; you can own this piece of technology for only $140. The deal breaker is that you can only buy it if you live in China. Hopefully we’ll see this or something similar to it in the near future.

If you’ve ever wanted to share with your friends the book you are currently reading, now you can do so instantly with the help of Amazon’s e-reader. They just released an update that will allow users to access Twitter and Facebook. Again, I still want to make sure I can highlight passage for later reference before I buy one of these things.