August 2010
1 post
Removing spyware & viruses -- as requested
I have started this post several times, and then allowed myself to get caught up in the minutiae of different complications that arise during this procedure only to have my post derailed by a long tangent. So, for the sake of both brevity and getting things done, here is the basic procedure. This is the simplified version which will hopefully go smoothly.
This works most of the time. Windows...
March 2010
1 post
A primer on the new TiVo's, released last week →
TiVo recently started shipping their fourth-generation DVRs, which they are calling the Premiere line.
If you have never used a TiVo, you will not believe how much different your TV experience is with it. A few key advantages:
An easier to use, better looking interface, miles ahead of Comcast’s very dated (practically unusable) system
Much more storage for recorded shows (150 hours in HD...
February 2010
2 posts
4 tags
Comcast’s Meter Spreads Like a Virus Across the... →
On the heels of my last post, here is some further reading.
I know, I know, it seems boring, and is not going to be the sole point of the blog in the future. But at the same time, this is an important issue which will affect us all increasingly in the future, unless we nip it in the bud.
The blog this link comes from is packed with information on the sneaky things the communication companies are...
5 tags
Comcast Rolls Out ‘Data Usage Meter’ to Broadband... →
Another step in the wrong direction.
While on the surface this looks like a useful tool, is really an excuse for Comcast to charge you “overage” fees we have all come to know and dread from our cell phone bills.
Comcast is playing dirty by capping the amount of data you are allowed to download on what they advertise as “unlimited” high-speed Internet access. There is, in...
January 2010
3 posts
3 tags
5 reasons to wait for the iPad 2.0 →
Verizon will get the iPhone in June →
Since it’s announcement a month or two ago, I’ve been eagerly waiting for the Nexus One to arrive at Verizon. Now, I’m torn as to whether or not to wait for the iPhone.
I’ve had a iTouch since they came out, and it is an essential tool for my business (calendaring, billing, etc), in addition to being a book reader (Kindle AND Barnes/Noble), Google Voice/Skype device, and a...
Google closing shop in China - finally →
I have always disagreed with their agreement to censor search results and help the—arguably evil—Chinese government to supress free information exchange among its citizens.
Now it looks like they may be getting out of the censorship business. I, for one, am glad.
November 2009
2 posts
1 tag
Home automation project...update coming soon
The upgrade is almost complete. The results so far are terriffic. The new update will have lots of details on what was done, what I gained (and lost), the costs, etc.
Basically everything involved, so you can know what to expect if/when you decide to get into one of these projects, or better yet, hire my company to do it for you. Yes, I plan to add this to my bag of professional tricks.
...
4 tags
Streaming Netflix on a PS3: I'm liking it →
I recently got around to ordering the (free) disc from Netflix which allows you to stream “Watch Instantly” movies on your PS3. I’m glad I did, and recommend anyone who owns one and subscribes to Netflix do the same.
With my 16 megabit Comcast connection, the service works great. I grabbed “The Black Dahlia” in HD and it started playing in less than 10 seconds while...
October 2009
2 posts
Home automation...for everyone
HA has finally become within reach of all of us, not just those who can afford $10,000+ for a Crestron system.
The price for a quality, reliable HA system has come down so far that everyone should have one installed. For a few hundred bucks, you can control everything in your house by remote control, including your A/C, lights, and even your window shades (though the motors for shades are still a...
The new Samsung TVs →
These raise the bar for all TV’s, setting a new standard. Once the price comes down to $1500 for the 55”, I will recommend one of these for all my clients looking for new flat screens.
Several of my clients have picked them up, and they are, for all intents, close to perfect. Their thinness, lightness, and most importantly, beautiful, blazing bright picture make them amazing to see.
...
September 2009
2 posts
MiFi...finally.
Back in May when the Mifi was announced, I immediately called Verizon to see how I could get my hands on one. I was told I’d have to pay full price—roughly $500—and as insane as it is I momentarily considered it. My next question was when I’d be available for an upgrade, and they told me sometime around October.
I started counting the days.
Today, I finally got one. The...
iTunes 9.0 - my favorite feature (hint: app...
Like you, I’ve been playing with the new iTunes for about a week now. The verdict: a big improvement, in several departments. Less of a freezing memory hog, better podcast features, and most importantly my favorite feature:
APP ORGANIZATION IN ITUNES
While they did a good job hiding it, Apple has included the ability to organize your apps in iTunes (finally!). To access this feature, your...
August 2009
3 posts
Online while in-flight: the return trip (GoGo...
Several things to note:
There was a Gogo rep handing out free trial cards for this flight. I was able to use the same card to log on first with my iPod Touch and then for my laptop. Note: getting on with my laptop (at the same time as my iPod) caused my iPod connection to be closed.
Apparently you can only use one device at a time on a given account.
Other notes:
Firefox does not seem to work...
Online while in-flight: my first impressions →
Cruising from FLL to ATL on AirTran, heading up to 32,000 feet. For $9.95, am able to get online.
Take a look at the link, and you’ll see the speeds are pretty good. 2 megs down, .25 megs up. I’m running Multiping and it hasn’t dropped a single packet at 1 second ping intervals to 3 different sites. Pretty damn impressive, in my opinion.
Side note: If you take this flight, buy...
Notebook tech support showdown 2009 →
An objective summary of tech support for the major manufacturers.
As I would have guessed, Dell has fallen to a C- (really an F in my book).
Solid performers - best to worst: Apple (the best, you get what you pay for), Lenovo & Sony, Toshiba.
Check it out.
July 2009
7 posts
Netbooks and DVD's
A friend of mine recently sent me the following question:
“I’m heading overseas in a few weeks and was hoping to watch a few movies on my netbook (no DVD drive). Is it possible to put movies onto a USB flash drive and watch them that way?”
Short answer: yes, anthough there are easier/better ways to do it.
I’ll start with my method. On my main laptop, which has a DVD...
Add a Google Tasks sidebar in Firefox →
Yes another great find from Lifehacker:
If you are like me, you are relying more and more on GT to keep to-do lists.
Add a link to your Firefox toolbar which, when clicked, will open your Google Tasks list as a sidebar. I find it tremendously useful.
Got my Google Voice invite. Stoked.
I’ve been waiting for months for it and I’m finally in. Now I can set different greetings for all of my friends, block people I don’t want calling, get all my voicemails in my email (as text), and send TXT’s from my iPod touch. And more.
Google Voice is amazing. Can’t wait to get it all set up.
4 tags
Google Chrome OS announced! →
Finally, a company with the resources to pull it off will challenge Microsoft.
While there will be a learning curve, and there will be the issue of major programs (like Adobe CS Suite and AutoDesk/AutoCAD) not being compatible—at least at first—which will prevent serious business users from adopting it, I strongly believe the consumer market is ready for an alternative to Windows.
...
3 tags
Firefox 3.5 released
Just grabbed it. Has some neat new features, especially in the privacy department.
Unfortunately, Google Gears—which allows one to use Google Docs & Gmail offline—isn’t compatible yet. Since I rarely use it anyway, it’s not a big deal.
I’ll try to remember to come back in a few days to provide a short review. In the meantime, go get it and see for yourself.
The article behind the chart below. →
Proof of my suspicions - AT&T's network is... →
June 2009
3 posts
6 tags
Another note about the 3.0 update...Locate My...
If I had an iPhone, I would also now have a compelling reason to sign up for MobileMe.
Although I tried it once and it was too buggy to justify its expense (a year ago), iPhone users who use MobileMe can now do two key things—locate their phone if they lose it (on Google Maps!) and remote wipe their data.
Very, very useful features which will may go a long way towards getting the...
5 tags
iPhone/iTouch 3.0 Update! →
Been waiting for this one for several months, ever since it was announced back in March. Got my Touch updated (for $9.95) at exactly 1:05pm yesterday.
So far I’m liking the improvements, the most immediately useful (since I listen to a lot of podcasts) being the ability to scrub through podcasts & music at different rates. Strangely, this isn’t mentioned by the team at Gizmodo,...
May 2009
3 posts
Put a fork in this one
Just put the finishing touches on Bill’s home theater. One of the things we did was to raise the plasma 4”, which made a huge difference aesthetically. Now I can officially call it complete.
He is a very happy client with his new Panasonic 65” plasma.
Migrate from Hotmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL Mail to... →
A very long awaited feature for Gmail. Now you have no excuse for staying with AOL.
Best Buy Employee: ‘High School Kids’ Will Replace... →
In yet another example of the big box companies’ going in the wrong direction, Best Buy is now cutting the salaries of their Magnolia home theater people.
Buying a home theater from Best Buy is bad for a number of reasons, not the least of which is poor pricing and terrible installation quality.
AnyTech continues to expand our A/V business. If you are thinking about a new flat screen or a...
March 2009
2 posts
Two big new apps
Many of us have been waiting for two apps i just installed: Skype and the DirecTv app that lets me program my DVR using my iTouch.
I just ordered a pair of headphones with a mic to use with Skype, which opens up a whole bunch of other apps to use with my touch; those of you with iPhones can use Skype as is.
Facebook - the new layout + privacy tips
Seems like almost everyone I’ve ever known is on Facebook. Love it or hate it, here are two things you should know about it if you’re on it.
New layout: A lot of people are complaining about the new layout. It takes some getting used to, but once you figure it out, it has some nice features. I like the ability to create lists of friends and then having the ability see updates only...
February 2009
4 posts
Google Redesigned →
A Firefox extension which changes the look and feel of Google’s services. It makes GCal and GMail look much, much better, but doesn’t change the functionality.
I’ve been using it for a couple weeks now and an very happy with it.
Google Sync, post install thoughts
Just finished the setup, and while it works as advertised, there is one thing it doesn’t do which the other method I was using does: mark different calendar’s appointments with different colors. While it doesn’t seem like a big deal, I have gotten used to seeing my different calendar (work, personal, bills, etc) appointments in their respective colors.
So, I’m uninstalling...
Google Sync
As usual, Google is on the ball.
They’ve come up with ther own version of the calendar syncing, which was the subject of my first post.
I’m in the process of installing it now, and after I get some use out of it I’ll post a short review.
You can find it here.
3 tags
Now I can move my taskbar buttons around
For as long as I can remember, Windows (95, 98, ME, XP, now even Vista) has lacked one essential, basic, simple feature: the ability to drag and drop taskbar buttons. For whatever reason, I have found many occasions which I wanted to re-order the programs on the taskbar. Now, finally, I can.
Thanks to the genuises at the Nerd Cave, I am running a program called Taskbar Shuffle which will not only...
January 2009
1 post
4 tags
1st up: How to Sync Google Calendars To Your iPod... →
Via Digital Frontier.
A very effective system which allows you to use the built in iTouch/iPhone calendar to sync directly to Google Calendars.
Allows two-way sync: when you add an appointment on the Google Calendar web page or on the iTouch/iPhone, it appears immediately on the opposite device, using an Exchange server to push appointments to the iTouch/iPhone.
This is hugely helpful for me....