Personal Technology Tips in Plain English
Ramblings
Steve Jobs.
Oct 6th
Steve Jobs was an icon, visionary, hero to many.
Pretty much anyone and everyone that is touched by tech understands what the loss of Steve Jobs is to the world today.
He was responsible for the first personal computer I used for hours on end in my bedroom from back when I was in 3rd grade.
I had the Apple II plus, IIe, IIgs, Mac TV, Mac. . . and iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch today.
Apple was the reason why I started programming in BASIC, C, COBAL, FORTRAN. . .ah, the memories.
The media is paying tribute with photo essays, interviews, blasts from the past, and more.
Here’s is one of Steve’s more memorable addresses from the stage. This time, it wasn’t at DevCon or other place where he was part of announcing revolutionary new products or technology.
It is just Steve, sharing his own life story and life plan with future leaders in the crowd.
Can You Tell What’s Wrong With This Product From BedBathAndBeyond.com?
Jun 13th
So this week, I ordered a simple clock for the house from bedbathandbeyond.com — it was on sale and had a clock with a clean design.
We got it in the mail yesterday.
Popped in a battery and set the time.
Next, we went out for the day.
When we came back, this is what we found. . .
We were completely stunned that a brand new clock would do THIS!
Have you ever seen a clock built like this?
Work like this? Keep time like this? I haven’t. At first, I thought, is this for real?
Check the video out yourself below and then LEAVE A COMMENT below if you can figure out what’s going on.
How To Create A Custom Mosaic Background for Twitter Profiles
Mar 26th
These days, you need to stand out in the crowd. On Twitter, that means showing others you know what you’re doing and fully embracing the Twittersphere.
But how do you do that?
One small way is to install a custom backdrop for your Twitter profile page. Some people use wallpapers, screenshots, photos, etc.
Then recently, I thought — Would it be cool if I could really tap into the social network and create an awesome mosaic image made up of all the connections I’ve made on Twitter itself?
I couldn’t find a decent way to do this easily, so I decided to make a free mosaic generator for Twitter myself.
Here’s a video walking through the quick 7-step process the free online mosiac generator takes you through to create and auto-install the background for you:
So what do you think? Will you take www.TweepBack.com for a twhirl (for free)?
Skype 3G and WiFi Calling on the iPhone for Regular & Video Calls
Dec 31st
I personally haven’t been pressed to figure out ways to get free calling on my iPhone 4. Largely since I’ve been slowly working away at an AT&T Wireless Rollover balance of over 3,500 minutes I currently have.
Plus, when you call anyone else with an iPhone, you’re basically going to get a free call since they are covered under the mobile-to-mobile free minutes part of the cell plan. (Although with the iPhone rolling out with Verizon this year, you won’t be as confident of your free minutes.)
So for free audio calls, Skype for iPhone just hasn’t been of interest to me thus far. I know others that are big Skypers on the pc too, so it makes sense for them to download and use it with their pre-existing Skype user network. But for me – for regular audio calling, I’d just as soon use my cell plan minutes.
Video calling is a different story — Apple’s Facetime has been a huge hit with me.
It is a great way to connect with the kids when we are away from each other. I’ve even most recently Facetimed home when I was in our local ShopRite grocery picking up some milk since there’s free WiFi in many parts of town. The novelty is still there for video calling with friends and family, even though I regularly video conference for business and with my social media network of associates.
But now, it looks like you don’t have to be connected to wifi at all. 3G video calling is a reality now, thanks to Skype. The only snag here is similar to Facetime – the other party needs the same thing on their phone or PC. Of course the network effect is in play here as more people within your network use Skype, the more useful and utilized it will become.
Overall, Skype is probably going to be a game changer, unless Apple begins to allow 3rd party apps to Facetime on devices other than the iPhone/iPod Touch and on Macs.
Check out the cheeky promo video that Skype just put out to announce their Skype Video Calling on the iPhone:
BTW, there *IS* a difference between Facetime and Skype Video on the iPhone/iPod Touch. You can see in this video comparison of the two, that Facetime is much clearer, less jumpy in video and overall a better experience. But Skype does two things that might let it become the default choice for many people — 1) It works over 3G, where Facetime requires WiFi on both sides. 2) You can make Skype video and audio calls with PC users in addition to Mac users. Facetime is Mac only at this point.
Go get Skype for iPhone now — and let me know what you think about the new video calling feature. Leave a comment below!
Wake Up And Remember By The Coffee
Sep 17th
So I was headed into Starbucks for my Grande Pike Hazelnut Cold Soy and plopped down onto one of the stuffy armchairs to take a load off my heels.
I cracked open my laptop and started to wince because I didn’t remember if I used my Starbucks registered gift card within the last 30 days or not and I just paid cash.
Why is this important? Because you get up to 2 free hours of WiFi daily at any Starbucks if you just use a registered Starbucks prepaid card within the last 30 days. Otherwise, pay up pal.
But then it hit me and I remembered!
And in fact, there was no real need to remember, because my browser screen told me everything I needed to know right then and there:
YUP, Starbucks finally got rid of that last forced-loyalty obstacle and is giving away free one-click WiFi to anyone that seeks it out.
The connection is still on the AT&T Wireless network — which means my iPhone gets free coverage anyway there. But my laptop can now jump on the net instantly without any authentication nonsense.
Whew. One less thing between me and my emails.
BONUS TIP: When you’re out and about, Starbucks isn’t the only national chain to offer completely free WiFi these days. Check out McDonald’s too — you now have access to free AT&T WiFi at those locations as well. That’s not enough? How about Barnes & Nobles? More you say? Ok, stop by any Office Depot or Staples or even Panera Bread nationwide. Heck, you don’t even have to go into a store many times — like when you’re in the NYC metro area, you might find yourself in a free wifi zone in town. Enjoy!
QUESTION: What other national chains are offering free WiFi?
Technology That’s Fit For A King (Sized Bed)
Aug 21st
Technology is a good thing, right?
Hey, I believe that technology should serve the master, not the other way around.
Yes, we all get frustrated when seeing how, say, Microsoft Windows or other really bad examples of technology are launched into the world out there.
But there are times — albeit rare moments in time — when we are simply awed by how technology is put into place.
Sometimes you just have to sit back and respect it for what it is. I mean, when you just sit back and think, “why didn’t I think of that?!” or better yet when you instantly just know for sure what you want for Christmas next year.
Case in point — check out the product in this video below where it really takes the title of “KING” (sized bed)…
Yup, that’s a 50″ plasma HDTV lift custom fitted to a king-size bed.
QUESTION: WHAT OTHER EXAMPLES OF TECHNOLOGY CAN YOU THINK OF THAT FUNCTION SOLELY TO SERVE THE OWNER?
How To Get Free Access to 3 WiFi Hotspot Networks
Aug 12th
Last time, I blogged about getting access to Comcast’s WiFi hotspot network for free. It’s a little known secret that the marketing department over at the cable internet company hasn’t really pushed for some reason.
But today, I found out that there’s more to the story!
Comcast customers now get free access to two other cable internet wifi networks, completely free…and vice versa.
If you are a Comcast Internet customer like me, all you have to do is log onto one of the three wifi networks: xfinitiwifi, optimumwifi or timewarnercablewifi with your comcast email address and password like you do with your own Comcast wifi network
If you like Free, this is like FREE TIMES THREE.
If you don’t believe me, just look-up the coverage map for Optimum Online’s WiFi network and Time Warner see for yourself!
This is a huge win especially those that live in the tri-state New York City area since each company dominates different geographies around the City. So now when you travel about the region, you are most probably near either a Starbucks or McDonalds — or one of the three major wifi cable company wifi networks — You’re covered!
Check out this quick video that shares the details of the wifi network collaboration, worthy of to be called the real triple-play deal!
I love tech, gadgets and the web. Hope you pick-up a useful tip or two here today that helps you use technology to your advantage! Better yet, why not share your own expertise in a comment on a post today to help the other readers that land here for answers!