RESCUECOM Tips on Traveling with Technology Covered on NorthJersey.com

You know a technology has really come of age when you find it in a Christmas decoration.

LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, have been on a long, slow path to the mainstream, in part because the tiny lights are nowhere near as simple as traditional incandescent. LEDs are essentially semiconductors that emit light, and scientists have spent decades trying to develop a variety of colors and boost their intensity. For years, the only LEDs in widespread use were the tiny red diodes found on stereo equipment.

But LEDs have come a long way. By some estimates, every traffic light in the United States will soon use LED technology, replacing incandescent bulbs. And LEDs are used increasingly in all sorts of lighting applications. That's because they save energy and last much longer than regular bulbs.

About 18 months ago, a company began to sell LED holiday light strings -- and they are nifty. Tennessee-based Inirgee has a wide selection of patented LED light strings that are 80 to 90 percent more energy efficient than traditional holiday light strings.

Prices range from $17 to $35, depending on the style, said Liana Tsao, who co-owns the business with her husband, Tom. Check them out at ledstrings.com.

You can also see, on inirgee.com/tornadowatch.htm, some amazing photos the Tsaos posted after an April tornado destroyed their house and business.

Business travel tech tips

Business travel is tough enough without all the flying restrictions these days. But new rules and regulations have made it even more difficult.

This week, Rescuecom in Syracuse, N.Y., put out a list of technology tips for travelers. The company claims to be the only national computer repair company that offers emergency computer fixes, on site, in less than an hour if necessary.

The company points out that "for a business traveler working on a critical presentation, getting someone to help at 4 a.m. can be the difference between a successful meeting ... and a disaster."

Here are a few of Rescuecom's best tips:

• Make sure you fully charge your laptop before traveling. Bring all your chargers and adapters, and if you have a spare battery, charge and pack it as well.
• Check whether your laptop battery is allowed on the plane. Some airlines have banned certain Dell and Apple batteries due to concerns about overheating and explosions.
• Encrypt and password-protect sensitive files. Don't conduct any confidential business via a wi-fi connection in the airport or at your hotel. Make sure your IT department or computer support consultant has set up a Virtual Private Network for you to conduct e-mail activity on the road.
• Don't assume that your hotel has high-speed or Wi-Fi access. Visit the hotel Web site or call ahead. Across town at the University of Washington, many students suffer the same problems, mainly with new computers that use Microsoft Windows.

Fiber update

Verizon continues to pour money into building a new communications network, replacing existing copper wires with high-capacity fiber cables directly into customer homes. On Wednesday, the phone giant said it plans to spend $18 billion to rewire half its existing copper network. So far, of the 1.8 million homes where Verizon FiOS service is available, about 500,000 have purchased Internet service. The company has about 100,000 TV subscribers.

In New Jersey, Verizon is expected to apply to state regulators in November for permission to begin selling TV service statewide. The company is on track to offer FiOS in more than 200 towns by the end of the year. Bergen is expected to be among the first counties in the state where the network is fully deployed, said Verizon spokesman Rich Young.