It’s time for a quick August update of more new and notable tech offerings, from emerging vendors and new offerings from existing vendors – including beta testing.  Please let me know about others you know about and are not spotted via the Product Snapshots term on this site: >>> Read more . . .

Smaller, $139 Wi-Fi version, out August 27.
 

GrandCare Systems introduces the revolutionary HomeBase

GrandCare Systems introduces HomeBase, a new system that allows families to virtually communicate and chat with disabled or aging relatives.  Individuals with ZERO computer experience are now, for the first time, being VIRTUALLY and socially connected to family members and care partners across the world, without having to LEARN anything about computers or the Internet. >>> Read more . . .

LOS ALTOS, Calif. — June 7, 2010 — Presto Services Inc. announced today a new, free service that uses social media to connect generations becoming increasingly more separated by tech usage behavior. >>> Read more . . .

Line up to learn your longevity likelihood.  Aren't you just loving the opportunity we will soon have to download that free genetic marker test kit, the one that with 77% accuracy will tell whether we will live past 100?* Boston University scientists have 'no plans to profit' from the results, but they could make the kit available later this summer. (Warning: analysis of the results will be costly.) I am so struck by how the law of unintended consequences could play out, especially in areas of insurance -- as with a home test kit for Alzheimer's, people might be more likely to purchase long-term care insurance. With a longevity test on the market, how long will the term need to be in term insurance? Taking it a step further, should insurance companies offer free kits as a marketing device? Should your doctor know that you've taken such a test? Should a health insurer know? What happens to rates, deductibles and lifetime caps? What kind of housing and support systems would we want if we knew we could live to 100 or more (or if we knew we would suffer from Alzheimer's)? What would our families do with that information? >>> Read more . . .

Graphite Kindle DX price cut to $379.

Another week, this time a look at the future of healthy aging. Yesterday kicked off the first of a two-year Think Tank initiative sponsored by Philips through its Center for Health and Well-Being. The purpose of this Think Tank is to consider and flesh out ideas about what it means globally to age successfully -- with implications about future requirements for policy, health systems, and technology use. >>> Read more . . .

Boomers don't like the process of researching tech products.

Looking back to January -- the spectacular iPad success confounds skeptics.  It is always entertaining to look back at product reviewers and skeptic comments from way back, that is, end of January 2010, when the iPad launched and howls of pundit dismay -- even the WSJ's resident Apple swooner Walter Mossberg had reservations!!! -- were heard across the land. I particularly enjoy a re-read of this nasty CNET review that declared it to be a big disappointment. However, he and others at the time thought it might appeal to baby boomers. Of course, Apple will not tell anyone the age mix of buyers. But since baby boomers generally aren't divided into sub-segments, and the overall segment spends more money than various other generations, that wasn't tough. >>> Read more . . .

Hearing aids are upgraded to match baby boomer expectations.