Christmas is here and in just a few days millions of people will begin opening their presents from one another. Many of us will unwrap gadgets and/or electronics, but very few of us will be prepared for the inevitable. Those flashy new gizmos and whatnots will eventually meet with mechanical malfunction, a fatal fall, a catastrophic crack or even theft. Stuff Breaks and People Steal!
iPads. iPods. Smart phones. Laptops. Desktops. You name it. There are hundreds, maybe thousands of expensive gadgets on the lists of “must have” Christmas gifts this year. If you, or a loved one, receive one of these gifts there are steps that you MUST take to protect your new gift from the inevitable. We’ve got you covered.
If you have ever taken your laptop with you on a trip, you’ve had this issue. If you’ve ever taken more than one gadget (iPod, PSP, GameBoy, Camera) to work, you’ve been frustrated by this issue. If you’ve ever used a laptop or messenger bag to transport your tech, you’ve fought this issue. Carrying any kind of electronic device(s) means carrying the power cable and any/all other accessories with you wherever you go. As soon as the second item hits your bag, things get complicated.
Cables tangle, screens get scratched and everything in your bag drops straight to the bottom. This makes finding any one item next to impossible (without dumping the contents of the entire bag) and, most likely, it is going to shorten the life and look of your gadgets and devices. For any tech/gadget nerd, this is just not acceptable and, if you are anything like me, you want to take care of the items that you paid so much for. There is a bit of pride in owning an iPod that is 2-years old, but looks like you just bought it. Throw-in the fact that “no scratches” and “like new” make great tag lines for any product you want to sell on eBay, and you’ve got yourself a good set of reasons for taking care of your gear.
This is NOT another article about the weaknesses of the AT&T network, but an open-letter to Apple and electronics manufacturers everywhere. When will the iPhone work in the place I really need it… the car? Sure, you can use the iPhone in your car, but when can I begin to use it as THE device in the car?
The iPhone and iPad seem to be everywhere. Try going out or turning on the TV without seeing a commercial, hearing a reference or actually seeing someone using one of these great devices. While the iPad is still very new and only 1,000,000 have been sold (there is a little sarcasm there), the iPhone has had years to make the rounds and find it’s way into the hands of over 50 million users (taken from TechCrunchies). The numbers are staggering, but the reasons are not. Apple has produced numerous solid products (multiple iPhones, iPod Touch, iPad) and made them easy enough for just about anyone to use. Add in the amazing list of applications available from the App Store and you have a product line that will be around for many years to come.
Several weeks ago, we brought you the article Your Keyboard is Dirtier Than a Toilet Seat. For some of you, cleaning that old keyboard became a top priority and the Clorox wipes probably made an appearance. For others, it might just have been easier to toss that old keyboard and purchase a new one. After all, if you’ve been using the same one that came with your computer 5 years ago, you may have other issues that needed attention, like broken or sticking keys. Or maybe you belong to another group of PC users completely. Maybe you are just looking for a change or upgrade. No matter which group you belong to, you should take a minute and read this guide for buying a new keyboard.
Buying a new keyboard my seem like a simple task, but you might be surprised to find that not all keyboards are created equal. In a recent trip to Micro Center here in Houston, I found myself on an aisle full of these necessary components and honestly, a little overwhelmed. There were close to 100 different options that ranged from $9.99 to almost $200.00. I needed a new keyboard to replace my aging, frustrating hunk-of-junk that required 40 pounds of force to press the “a” and “e” keys. Where should I start? Why hadn’t I already researched this? Oh, the choices!
Before stepping foot in an electronics superstore or hitting up Amazon.com, you should go through a checklist of needs and double-check your bank account balance. Determine what you want and how much you want to spend, then get in and get out. Here are some helpful topics to narrow down your choices and speed up your decision-making process:
Writing a blog is really a personal experience and so I often write about things, events and people that I interact with. This past weekend, I rode in the BP MS 150 (a bike ride from Houston to Austin that helps raise money for MS research) and had lots of time to think about things as I cycled through the Texas hill country. A recurring theme for this ride, my sixth trip for this great cause, was technology and how riders are finding ways to implement it into their cycling. Cell phones, GPS devices, ipods, stereo speakers, etc. It seemed that the majority of riders had found some way to enhance their 150+ mile ride with a bit of cycling tech.
As with any technology, one thing is required for any extended period of time…. power! Most riders carry extra batteries and I even saw some who attempted to use small solar panels to power their devices. Unfortunately, each of these solutions has their own set of problems, including a mostly-overcast ride this year. One possible solution that I have kept my eye on for some time was the use of “pedal power” for our gadgets and devices. Why not use the power of our own legs to generate the juice needed for our devices? Thankfully, the folks of Dahon were working on an answer to the same question. Their answer, released just a few months ago, was the BioLogic ReeCharge.
Computers have become a major part of our daily routine in the U.S. From the buzz of our alarm clock to the sleep timer on our television, we come in contact with dozens, maybe even hundreds, of electronic products every day. Cell phones, laptops, keyboards, mice, printers, telephones, VCRs, DVD players, game consoles, etc. There seems to be no end to the list. Many of us buy the new model as it comes out or simply replace our broken devices as needed. What then? What do we do with the old one?
Disposing of old and obsolete electronic products (at least the ones that didn’t sell on eBay or that garage sale you had) is a serious, often over-looked, issue in the U.S. and the problem is growing exponentially. Our country throws out about 400 million units per year and worldwide, about 4,000 tons of “e-waste” is discarded every hour. Many of these devices contain toxic, harmful chemicals and materials that can cause major damage to our environment. So the question is “how can I properly discard my old electronics legally and easily?”
JumpstartMyPC.com was started to help PC users get the most out of their computer and no product exemplifies this idea like Dropbox! Dropbox is a file-syncing, file sharing, online backup tool that you can access from just about anywhere and you can start using it for FREE! I have written about this product many times, shared it with clients, friends and family and I use it myself, every single day. If you aren’t using it yet, you are in for a real treat. If you are using it, read on to find out what’s new and how you can now access your files without even using a computer.
DropBox is a storage application and service operated by Evenflow, Inc. The service enables users to store and sync files online and between computers. There are many great features to this product, but best of all IT IS FREE. Click below and watch the video (created by the folks at CommonCraft) to see for yourself.
Have you ever used your television as a monitor for your computer? Have you wondered about the possibilities of connecting your PC to your home theater, for watching movies and surfing the web? These are examples of the natural progression of entertainment technology. Over the last decade, computers have become much more than word processors and televisions have evolved to sleek, high-definition devices capable of playing media from almost any device with a cable attached to it. The two are starting to merge into one device, but we are only beginning to see this in the newest displays.
If you have ventured down the “computer+television” path, or are thinking of doing so, one hurdle quickly prevents itself. How do you control the computer from the couch? You need an input device of some sort and a keyboard with a super-long cord is really not an option (safety hazard!) There have been some great wireless keyboard/mice combos released over the last few years, but they are often costly options and are only useful for that one purpose. At $100 or more, this is not the kind of cost-effective resolution that most are looking for. So, why not use a device you already have as the solution? Your smart phone is just the thing and we have a quick rundown on two applications that can get you up and running today!
Games and personal computers have been linked since the earliest days of computing. My earliest interactions with computers were the hours spent gaming on the Radio Shack Tandy Color Computer, the Atari , the Apple IIe and numerous other systems. Movies released during these groundbreaking years, like Tron, War Games and even Big made an entire generation aware of computer gaming. Today, the platforms are more advanced, the technology has improved like we only imagined it could and games are available everywhere. From Facebook to the XBOX360, you can kill 1 minute or thousands of hours trying to beat that high score or simply make the hours go by.
Today, we will look at a few of the most addictive games I have played in the last year. These are very basic, easily accessible games that you can play in just a few minutes, if you can walk away after you’ve started.
As we mentioned yesterday, the New Year is almost upon us and a few things are certain. 1) It is going to take some time to remember to write 2010, instead of 2009. 2) A boatload of people will start the year with a kiss and then a hangover. 3) Far too many people are going to make resolutions that they will abandon by the end of the month. While I know we will no be able to help you with the first two items, I think we can definitely provide a little assistance on the third. Well, at least we can help your PC help you.
As anyone who has tried before can attest, it is not easy to stick with a workout routine unless you have a bit of assistance. For most people, this is a friend or maybe a trainer. Unfortunately, friends can be unreliable and hiring a personal trainer can cost big bucks. That is why we bring you some of the top ways to use technology to help you stay on track with your New Year’s Resolutions.
Christmas is here and in just a few days millions of people will begin opening their presents from one another. Many of us will unwrap gadgets and/or electronics, but very few of us will be prepared for the inevitable. Those flashy new gizmos and whatnots will eventually meet with mechanical malfunction, a fatal fall, a catastrophic crack or even theft. Stuff Breaks and People Steal!
As we mentioned yesterday, the New Year is almost upon us and a few things are certain. 1) It is going to take some time to remember to write 2010, instead of 2009. 2) A boatload of people will start the year with a kiss and then a hangover. 3) Far too many people are going to make resolutions that they will abandon by the end of the month. While I know we will no be able to help you with the first two items, I think we can definitely provide a little assistance on the third. Well, at least we can help your PC help you.
