Chuck La Tournous

Forget warp drive, Mr. Fission and flying cars. For a real glimpse of tomorrow's technology today, it's hard to imagine anything cooler than charging your iPhone with a tablespoon of water. Contributing Editor Chuck La Tournous looks at the PowerTrekk -- a hydrogen fuel cell that's barely indistiguishable from magic.

As any good scout will tell you, the best way out of a bad situation is to be prepared. But how do you call for help if your adventures take you beyond the reach of the nearest cell tower? As Contributing Editor Chuck La Tournous discovered, a company called SPOT offers a clever way of combining the reach of a satellite communicator with the power of your smartphone. And it might just save your life.

One can have rugged protection for an iPhone — if you don’t mind carrying around a brick. That is, until Scosche’s RAILkase came along. With thoughtful features and a stylish attention to detail, it’s serious protection you won’t mind carrying around every day.

The new Mac commercials aren’t cool; they’re not “Steve” ads; and Chuck La Tournous doesn’t like them. But they may be appeal to “non-Apple” folks, and if that works, that’s fine. They’re also the first Mac-rather-than-iOS-device-ads he’s seen since the “I’m a Mac” spots, and he thinks that makes them a good thing.

Consider: an earbud set perfectly paired to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch? You know it’s not the pair Apple gave you. With a tangle-resistant cord, great sound quality and accents to match your i-device, a-JAYS Four just may have out-Appled Apple.

Two Macworld|iWorld exhibitors offer cases that keep your iDevices dry and usable in the Great Outdoors. And if you’re at the show, you can get discounts that keep your budget from getting all wet too.

A funny thing happened on the way to Macworld|iWorld. Without pending Apple announcements to speculate about, the media have come back in full force to cover what’s actually going on at the conference — and that’s a lot.

Looking for something to do after your Macworld|iWorld sessions? The Hess Memorial Party List is updated for this year’s event, with a comprehensive look at where the Mac elite meet and greet.

Can high tech and high adventure coexist? TMO Contributing Editor Chuck La Tournous speaks geek (camping geek, that is) in his upcoming session at Macworld|iWorld. Get a sneak peak now, and a discount on an iFan pass to hear the rest next week in San Francisco.