Connected
Practical Computing Ideas, Opinions
and
Questions Answered
David's
Newspaper Columns (updated
weekly)
Some of my Innovations columns are called "Connected" in print. So if you can't find what you think is a Connected column here, look in Innovations -- especially if it's about a specific product.
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FCC should shine the light on telecoms' pricing policies
On June 20, the Federal Communications Commission, in a split decision, ruled that Verizon was unfairly marketing to customers who had decided to drop Verizon phone service in favor of service from competitors, such as Comcast, Time-Warner and VoIP services.
Although telecommunications vendors, Verizon included, often use questionable tactics to gain new customers, the FCC decison strikes me as incomplete -- depending on how this plays out in the marketplace.
First, let's look at the track record. Verizon (and its brethren) make strong... <more>
Marriott and Wal-Mart take eye off the technology ball -- in unusual circumstances
Over-reliance on technology can be a problem for both businesses and individuals -- at least if you don't take into account the repercussions of those technologies... <more>
Apple MacBook Air changes laptop scene
Forget the "computer expert" designation so many people have hung on me over the years. I recently blew my reputation to bits the first time I tried to open Apple's MacBook Air. Not having touched a Mac in years, I actually spent several minutes trying to open the lid -- tugging open the hinged edge instead of the free edge. (The hinges are hidden.) A Mac user opened it for me in milliseconds.
Once past my initial embarrassment, though, I could appreciate the MacBook Air -- its fine product design; its smooth software/user experience; and the attention to detail that went into every aspect of the product.
The MacBook Air is Apple's thin, lightweight laptop computer that should impact the PC world in the same way the iPhone... <more>
Postal Service technology can be helpful
Everybody complains about mail delivery. But it's amazing that the United States Postal Service can deliver billions of pieces of mail and have so many of them get to the proper destination in a couple of days or less.
Even with the rise of electronic bill pay services, USPS delivers checks daily to ensure that our payments get credited promptly to our creditors and banks. Sometimes that happens despite circumstances against them doing it... <more>
Wireless Internet easier with cell phone access
There's a certain joy to using cell-phone based Internet services, because you don't have to go searching for a coffee shop that is wired and ready for you.
I recently decided to take a look at two cellular Internet connections through similar devices. <more>
Sherry may be gone, but her number lives on
Poor Sherry. If only she knew her friends have been mistaking my daughter for her. Perhaps it was carelessness on her part when she canceled her phone number. Perhaps it was a mistake by the phone company. In either case, she's not getting her messages.
It started when... <more>
Banking tech glitch can take months to fix
The financial industry runs on technology, some quite entrenched, but it cannot always remove the problems related to running a bank or other company. A recent banking encounter illustrates this paradox quite well...<more>
Dancing through the numbers
A dozen years ago, our increasingly connected society was facing a crisis. We were running out of telephone numbers -- or so we thought. With the increase in fax machines, beepers, cellular phones and computer modems, we seemed to be skating on thin ice in our telecommunications endeavors. So the telecommunications companies (aka Baby Bells) were working with the federal government to do something about it -- creating new area codes.
As proof, the other day I dug up...<more>
Unique design makes Pearl easy to use
The BlackBerry Pearl is a deceiving cell phone. Your first look at its face could confuse you, because the keyboard does not lay out on the typical horizontal/vertical matrix like a tic tac toe board, and there are lots of extra characters on the 25 keys that face you. The unusual layout, though, once you take a few minutes to understand, becomes quite intuitive and productive, because the device's designers have made it possible to fit a full QWERTY keyboard on fewer keys.
The layout of the characters on the keyboard, though, amazes me at times, because... <more>
The Connected Addendum
The Radin family speaks out about cell phones - with David leading the charge.
LG Voyager cell phone has a corner on 'cool'
It's amazing how differently two teenagers can react to cell phones. When I gave my son a phone to review, he concentrated on the features. My daughter, Jacqueline, used the opportunity to gush about how cool the phone was.
A few weeks ago I handed her an LG Voyager so she could give me a teen's view of the product, and she was not able to contain her excitement. The minute she had the phone in her hands, she ran off to text her friends and share the news of her good fortune. She was now... <more>
Youth is served with new cell phone
Dan, was lucky enough to use the Rumor from LG. This snappy phone using the Sprint network impressed both of us -- sometimes for the same reason, sometimes for different reasons. To me, its durable white cover made a great first impression. It felt sturdy, which I knew would be important for anybody who drops his phone more than just occasionally (such as me), and the white case would make it easier to find in the dark than the usual black case on many cell phones.
Dan, on the other hand, first noticed the slide-out keyboard, which was not only cool, but functional. This was truly a texter's phone -- unlike the Razr that he had been carrying around.
But it was more than looks that impressed both of us. The Rumor is... <more>
New Gateway notebook computer stresses quality, not portability
At first glance the Gateway P-171XL FX Edition notebook computer is a surprise -- because it's so big. Carrying it is a shock -- because it's so heavy. At 9 pounds, it's three times heavier than the last notebook I reviewed. But once you get over the shock of a notebook computer being an elephant instead of a fly, you'll see the advantages that this gamer's system brings for business.
The full-size keyboard is as good as any... <more>
Microsoft Outlook 2007 is no prize, either
Based on the response I received from readers of my recent second look at Microsoft Office 2007, I should give you in-depth second looks on several of the Office applications. Today we start with Outlook 2007, again comparing it with the version found in the Office 2003 suite...<more>
Microsoft Office 2003 better than Office 2007
A review of Office 2007 could be considered doomed from the start. Its predecessor, Office 2003, is one of the best products Microsoft ever created; so the bar is raised high. After a year of using the newer product, I still see some features that are better than the older version; but on the whole, I'd rather be using Office 2003.
The biggest difference is... <more>
QuickBooks update a big improvement
QuickBooks is one of those live-or-die types of applications. Companies that use the product, can't see living without it. In fact, the product has become so ubiquitous that a whole set of support vendors has sprung up -- and most financial institutions interface with the product.
I've been using it for a decade to run several businesses. And every time I see something interesting that might replace it, I think of all the time, effort and dollars I have put into using QuickBooks to date -- and never get past that "the other product looks interesting, but ..." stage.
Intuit, the developer of QuickBooks, has released an updated product almost annually, and each time I take a look to see whether it's worth upgrading.
The 2008 version of QuickBooks adds some usability features that are slightly better than the 2007 version, but the real advantage is for new users and users of even older QuickBooks versions... <more>
Technology links fans to March Madness
Late March is one of the few times of year you'll actually find me glued to my television -- because that's when the NCAA basketball championship tournament gets into full-swing.
It's not unusual for me to concurrently watch games, jump on my cell phone to call fellow fans and send e-mails or text messages about various plays that I liked or hated. If my favorite teams are on the tube, I'll probably run home to watch or monitor the action on the Web. Yet next to some other people, I'm just a plain ol' fan... <more>
Be wary of what you get on airplane, hotel Web sites
It looks like I hit a sore spot with my recent column about how technology has reduced the risks for airlines and hotels, so they no longer have a reason to overbook flights or rooms.
In that column, I suggested that if somebody books a nonrefundable fare, the airline should have that seat available under any conditions -- and that Internet payments eliminate the need to overbook to make sure the airline gets paid.
The responses have been from several viewpoints. Reader Alan Schultz took my reasoning a step further with his response: "Overbooking by airlines amounts to fraud,...<more>
Overbooking by airlines is bait and switch
With instantaneous access to airline seat and hotel room information from virtually any computer in the world, and nonrefundable fares, there is no longer any reason for airlines to overbook flights and leave customers stranded at the airport or for hotels to overbook rooms. Yet it still happens. It makes fliers unhappy, and causes untold problems for families and businesses.
The problem is exacerbated by the way airlines and hotels selectively use technology to dissuade customers from using discount travel brokers. My recent trip to Florida demonstrates how the practice undermines confidence in the travel industry, even when the process works out in the end... <more>
Expensive home electronic system has everything
If you were designing your dream home, what would you put into it? Steve and Geri Recht, of Upper St. Clair PA, included an electronic system that brings to mind images of James Bond receiving a new device from Agent Q.
The Rechts' system is part stereo, part computer, part home control center. From various places in their home, they can push a button to turn on the sound, change stations, watch TV or even turn on the lights.
There are other control systems in the neighborhood but probably none as... <more>
Marriage of Microsoft, Yahoo would lead to...
Microsoft's courtship of Yahoo! almost seems scripted like a Rock Hudson-Doris Day movie -- with the players sharing their plans about the relationship with their buddies -- but never really talking to one another about it.
All this corporate romancing, with News Corp. now courting Yahoo as well, has filled my head with visions of future possibilities. What would I do if I were the king of a combined Yahoo-Microsoft empire?
First, I'd... <more>
After 8 years, I finally have reason to question Microsoft's "Advantage"
When Windows XP came out near the beginning of this century Microsoft introduced a concept called Windows Validation that many users (and journalists) felt was creepy. Whenever you installed or used Windows XP for the first time, the program would connect to Microsoft via the Internet to check your copy of the program against a database. In this way, the company could determine whether your copy was legitimate or a bootlegged (illegal) copy.
Over the years, Microsoft has officially dubbed the program Windows Genuine Advantage, and the company has...<more>
HP has details right in Compaq 2710p notebook
Once in a while I see a product that separates itself from the others -- even in product categories in which products are similar, such as computer systems.
The Compaq 2710p notebook computer stands out from the pack. Although it looks at first glance like just another notebook, closer looks show that Compaq engineers were paying attention to the details.
The 2710p is a lightweight (3.7 pounds) convertible notebook -- which means it allows you to either type on keys or use a stylus to write on its screen. Those two benefits are enough to make it worth considering. But there is more.
Power variations can fry your equipment
Short-term power problems seem to crop up in almost any neighborhood. Last year, lightning struck a transformer up the street from my home, causing a blaze that knocked out power for hours and needed local firefighters to control. In our previous neighborhood, a buried transformer blew out every time we had a major rainstorm. Our home lights often dim, and I notice similar phenomena elsewhere, although many people don't notice the signs, even in their own homes.
Since computer equipment and other electronic devices are vulnerable to variations in power, I've long been an advocate of ...<more>
FM MP3 transmitter fits into car's cup holder
Until the 1980s, you had almost nowhere to put your cup while you were driving. So the automakers started the cup holder wars, adding cup holders everywhere. Then, after the iPod was released, scores of companies started making accessories, with one of the most popular being the car FM transmitter, a device that would plug into the hole that used to be your cigarette lighter to send music from your iPod to your FM radio, so you can listen through your car speakers. In general, this means better sound, and it means everybody in your car can listen to the melodies.
So it would seem inevitable that a creative engineer would combine these two heavy desires and create
an FM transmitter that fits in a cup. <more>
Sprint Touch on par with iPhone in some features
Apple's popular iPhone is married to the AT&T cellular network. While we don't know whether the iPhone will go multinetwork some day, it's certain that AT&T's competitors are looking for good alternatives as intriguing as the iPhone. That's difficult.
Sprint is trying to do it with the htc Touch, a smartphone based on Microsoft's Windows Mobile 6 operating system. The phone has some elements that are iPhone-like in nature and some that feel more business-oriented -- in the Microsoft tradition.
The face of the Touch is sleek like...<more>
Identity theft not just one category anymore
How well do you understand identity theft? Until my recent discussion with Clint Kelley, I thought I had it down pretty well. That's when Mr. Kelley made me realize that I understand credit/financial ID theft fairly well -- but not the four other types of ID theft that he says make up 72 percent of the risk.
Mr. Kelley is a licensed practicing attorney and certified identity theft risk management specialist. He spends most of his time coaching other attorneys, businesses and organizations about identity theft and its liabilities, and giving tips about how to avoid it and deal with it when it happens.
Credit/financial ID theft accounts for... <more>
Credit card receipts can leave a paper trail
On a recent business trip to Albany, my associate and I decided to go to a restaurant to relax after a hard day. After our meal, I paid with my credit card, and in the usual manner, the waiter returned two copies of the receipt -- one for me as a record and one for the restaurant -- which needed to be signed.
I signed the receipt and, despite my associate's request to leave the restaurant, stayed until I could find an appropriate person to whom I could hand the restaurant's copy of the charge slip. Unlike most restaurants, this local establishment was still printing the full credit card number on the receipt, so I refused to leave it on our table for the next person to view -- and perhaps steal my credit card number.
It's not a new concern to me. I've refused to leave behind my charge receipts for years -- perhaps before most people even realized it was a threat. In one of... <more>
Solid phone has many cool features
When buying a cell phone, it's easy to be swayed by the cool features available in most models.
You could be looking for a simple phone; then see one with a screen that has great graphics or integrated music player or some other feature that interests you so much -- and you're a goner.
You forget you're really interested in buying a communications tool and buy the one that looks like fun.
In too many cases, you end up with an inferior phone.
Not so with the LG Muziq from Sprint. This one is a nice phone that happens to have some cool features.
Instead of the flimsy or hard-to-use keyboards in many sleekly designed cell phones, the Muziq has a standard-feel keyboard with...<more>
Never forget when buying a computer that memory is key
The Saturday after Thanksgiving, I couldn't help but shake my head as I read about the 17-year-old student who waited in the wee hours of the morning to grab that $229 laptop on sale. I was truly disappointed for the kid because he'll probably be disappointed by his purchase. The system he purchased undoubtedly was a loss leader -- an underpowered system meant only to draw people into the store.
Even if it has all the features, for that price it won't have the memory to operate optimally. And memory is key. So this year, instead of giving you a buying guide column, I'd like to help you not make the same mistake when buying your own computer.
In a typical computer, your programs and data are... <more>
Clock radios for viewing, listening, waking
Longtime readers know that I believe a clock radio is almost as important as one of your organs because you depend on it so heavily day in and day out. In recent years, the selection of clock radios has been dismal, not even close to what was available 20 years ago. This year's crop, though, features a couple that break through the clutter and are worth considering again.
The TunePro from Macally and the RCA RP5500i have a lot of features in common. They both have two alarms and built in AM/FM radios. They both allow you to plug in various types of iPods, other types of MP3 players and wake to either of them -- or to your radio or standard noise-maker alarm. Beyond that though, they are quite different.... <more>
Gateway One a computer you might love for its looks
For years, PC makers have been trying to create systems that consumers feel comfortable putting in their family rooms and bedrooms. They've tried replaceable front panels in your choice of colors, glowing lights and various stylings -- but with rare exceptions, they have not been able to break the barrier to become products you want for their good looks.
The Gateway One system may have a chance of being a system you actually want to show off in your family room. Like the iMac, the Gateway One... <more>
Avoid dangers of online shopping
Holding a phone conversation with Sara Yanari is like talking with Sgt. Joe Friday of "Dragnet." A Geek Squad mission specialist out of Richfield, Minn., Ms. Yanari speaks in antiseptic terms that would make Jack Webb proud. And she never goes out of character, even if I try to lighten the subject with seemingly humorous remarks.
Ms. Yanari, and two other mission specialists, are ready to help the more than 12,000 Geek Squad agents who fan out around the country to help consumers tackle their computer problems.
It sounds like a large job -- especially when Cyber Monday comes around. That's the day that thousands of holiday shoppers go online after Thanksgiving to buy their holiday gifts. During the past decade, it has become a tradition, almost as ubiquitous as shopping at your favorite retail store on the day after Thanksgiving. Cyber Monday helps kicks off a holiday shopping spree that JupiterResearch expects to reach $39 billion transacted by 126 million online shoppers.
Although shopping by computer (or cell phone) has become habit, it unfortunately is still not as safe as it should be -- because scoundrels are waiting to prey on innocent shoppers who take nonsafe actions.
The first rule in safely shopping online is... <more>
If you promise the moon, you might deliver green cheese
There is no such thing as perfection -- and it would be nice if vendors admit it. No matter how good a job they do, something, sometime will go wrong. They can do everything under their control to mitigate problems, but something not under their control will crop up to cause a problem they might not have anticipated.
Rackspace, a San Antonio-based company with data centers around the United States, allows other companies to use its data centers and systems to run Web sites and applications. It's a well-funded company with a seasoned management team, yet a recent incident shows how it may have overcommitted by guaranteeing 100 percent uptime to its clients.
The chain of events on Monday started with... <more>
Classic Menu provides a nice mix on Office
Classic Menu is an add-on for Office 2007 from Addintools, a small company based in Haikou City, China. It addresses one of the biggest problems with Office 2007: the extreme difference between its interface and those of older versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other Office components.
When I first installed Classic Menu for Office 2007, I was concerned that I might rely on it as a crutch. I had been using Office 2007 for months on my home systems, while using Office 2003 at the office; and despite some of the nice new features in Office 2007, I had been finding the older version to be more productive -- because I continually had to search for the functions on the newer version that I had been using for years in Office 2003...<more>
Senior citizens not necessarily tech-challenged
A few weeks ago, I wrote a column about how difficult it could be to install an Internet connection -- and made it known that I particularly feel for elderly people who don't know what questions to ask because the installation could be even more difficult for them. In another recent column, I talked about how my in-laws had trouble understanding the concept behind fuel awards and how to cash them in. In both cases, I used elderly people as the reference group -- as if senior citizens and the elderly are the only people who have these troubles.
After my article about Internet installation problems first ran, I received a thoughtful e-mail from Carol Moritz, an AOL user from Pittsburgh. This reader, in her 70s, was blunt in her message in defense of her demographic group:
"Do not confuse 'elderly' with senile, brain-dead, fuzzy headed, etc. They do not equate."
She's right. Getting older shouldn't be equated with being stupid. It actually should be... <more>
High-tech tricks to track the children on Halloween
This Halloween, will you know where your children are? Sprint Personal Locator and FamilyWatchDog, a couple of computer/cell phone data services, might help you feel more comfortable sending your offspring into the dark.
Start with FamilyWatchDog, a free service that lets you locate registered sex offenders in your neighborhood or elsewhere.
Once you've got the addresses from which you want to steer your child away, you're ready to map out your child's route and send him on his trick or treating mission.
That's where Sprint Personal Locator comes in. Using the global positioning (GPS) capabilities of various cell phones, Sprint Personal Locator can let you monitor the path that your child takes and know when he has reached certain positions... <more>
New phone makes VoIP even easier
If you're a Skype user, chances are you use your computer to make your phone calls, or you're among the growing numbers who use the new breed of Skype telephones to connect to Wi-Fi hotspots on the road. The benefit in both cases is lower long-distance rates (or even free connections to other Skype users).
Skype is the popular phone service that allows you to connect to other computers or telephones around the globe using the Internet via a technology called VoIP (voice-over Internet protocol).
Both paradigms are intriguing ways to save money on your phone bill; but a new phone from General Electric makes the concept even easier for home users. It's the 2 in 1 Internet & Standard Phone. OK, the name leaves much to be desired, but the concept is sound... <more>
Despite problems, Apple steps up when needed
Nobody is perfect -- although sometimes it seems as if certain people come close. Take Steve Jobs. He has created two billion-dollar companies (Apple and Pixar), made entire product categories popular (iPods, podcasting), and thrilled millions of people along the way.
That's why it surprised so many Apple enthusiasts when word got out that some of Apple's iPhones turned into iBricks (nonworking iPhones)... <more>
New device changes life of hearing-impaired
Don Selig used to sell consumer electronics, which exposed him to high sound volumes for many years. That may have contributed to his hearing problems -- problems which he has been solving with various types of hearing aids.
The audiologist, Dr. Catherine Palmer, introduced him to a new tech hearing aid, from a company called Phonak (www.phonak.com), which has changed Mr. Selig's life for the better. Although used primarily as a hearing aid, the $6,000 device also can be used as an iPod accessory and conference call device... <more>
Getting connected to the Internet will cost you time and money
For the past week, I've been traveling back and forth between home and work to meet various Comcast service techs who have been trying to figure out what's causing a problem with my Internet connection.
So far, I've had four on-site service calls and six phone conversations with various Comcast and Comcast subcontractor representatives -- probably spending more than 10 hours of my time. My children have been hampered from doing their homework (because so much of it involves connecting to the Internet), and my wife is ready to... <more>
Sometimes users also have to think outside the box
Think outside the box. We've been proposing that for years to inventors, entrepreneurs and managers so they can come up with unique ideas to solve vexing problems. And they've come through with flying colors.
Thomas Edison had to remove the air inside the light bulb to finally make it work. Dan Bricklin stopped doing plain old math equations to create the spreadsheet. They and other creative thinkers have given us scores of products we use daily.
But the onus of thinking outside the box is not just on the inventors. For us to take best advantage of the products and services they present to us, we also have to think outside the box in the way we use them.
My wife's parents are having trouble with the concept of fuel reward cards, and I would bet there's an entire generation of people who are having the same trouble -- because to understand these cards requires thinking outside the box... <more>
Special note: Dan Bricklin has his own website -- looks like a blog. I wonder what Edison's would look like.
BlackBerry World Edition has phone, Web, PDA
If you've ever wondered how BlackBerry got nicknamed "Crackberry" (to signify that it is addictive), you need look no farther than the BlackBerry World Edition, a combination cell phone, personal digital assistant and mobile Internet device.
The first time I placed the BlackBerry 8830 World Edition into its leather holster I was appalled by what I thought was poor design of the holster -- because it seemed to press up against the keyboard in a way that was certain to invoke unwanted key presses. But I quickly realized that the holster was set up to automatically turn off the BlackBerry when the device was inserted. Instead of being a detriment, it was an advantage.
That's the way it is with this BlackBerry. Almost every time you find a disadvantage, you learn about a unique design parameter that... <more>
No-receipt exchanges, refunds make patrons return
I have to get out of the house more often. Undoubtedly it will open a new world to me of things I haven't noticed but really should know about -- such as the way some retailers have advanced how they interact with customers.
A weekend shopping trip with my wife opened my eyes to just how many retailers have made great strides over the years making it easier for the customer. In this case, we weren't buying but returning several items to various retailers.
Before we went into Old Navy, my wife... <more>
Cell phones just high-tech security blankets
Changes have taken place around us that most of us don't realize. My wife just pointed one out to me that seems quite subtle, yet extremely important -- the way in which communications technology has affected how people deal with small risks.
Compare these two scenarios:
Scenario 1: A business executive goes on the road for days at a time. In each city, he transacts his business during the day; then retires to his hotel room in the evening, calls his wife and discusses... <more>
Convertible notebook PC light of weight, heavy on ability
Whenever I review a laptop computer, I think about the trade-offs that the designers had to make to ensure that the system is light enough to be truly portable, yet have the guts to make the system worth using.
With the C-120x convertible notebook computer, Gateway engineers have put together a very usable, durable system that can go almost anywhere and has extra touches that make it stand out.
As a convertible notebook, the C-120x is... <more>
New cameras boost narrowing market
Just when it looked as if the digital camera market was starting to narrow, along comes a new line of cameras with the GE label. These cameras are manufactured by General Imaging Co. using the brand licensed from General Electric.
According to company representatives, the products are meant to cover a full range of cameras, with each one representing a higher level of performance than similar cameras at the same price levels. Judging by the review units that I got to examine, they do offer significant features; although there are some inconsistencies... <more>
A tech-heavy back-to-school shopping list
Every year when we think about back-to-school technology, our thoughts might turn to which laptop to buy, or: "Does my child need a programmable calculator?" Those are important issues, but not the whole story.
Instead of forecasting myself this year, I turned to Cat Schwartz to see which tech products are the current sizzlers. She's been watching the market as the title character at hightechmommy.com and as the gadget director at eBay.
Ms. Schwartz has picked a few of her own back-to-school favorites...<more>
People skills complement tech men and women
According to a study by Robert Half Technology, a staffing firm, 25 percent of chief information officers ranked technical skills as the area in which their staff members could use the most improvement.
In the study, which sampled more than 1,400 tech executives in U.S. companies with 100 or more employees, technical abilities nosed out... <more>
Communication breakdowns can foul commuters' plans
I used to brag to my out-of-town friends about what a great mass transit system we have. I boasted that I could run down to the local light rail train and be Downtown in 20 minutes, ready to work, go to a restaurant or take in a ballgame. But those times have changed. I'm now more embarrassed by the local mass transit. Not because the train and bus schedules have been cut or because the prices have risen, but because... <more>
Convergence goes local with Verizon TV plan
In the midst of a decade-long media storm, the idea of local convergence hasn't had the same growth. It's been limited pretty much to local TV station Web sites and an occasional newspaper video blogs (vlogs).
It's this sparsity of local convergence that makes a recent announcement by Verizon worth a look. The company has launched... <more>
Airlines must work on keeping flying companions together
Confessions of a former road warrior: Years ago I traveled so much that my soon-to-be wife would brag to her friends that I rode on planes the way most commuters take a bus. But in recent years, I've been lucky enough to spend most of my time near home -- avoiding air travel.
On my now infrequent plane trips, I notice new technologies and the way they are presented. Still with all the new technology, one fact keeps standing out... <more>
NCAA says 'no' to blogging
The Internet has blurred lines before, but perhaps never as much as it did during a recent NCAA baseball playoff game between University of Louisville and Oklahoma State.
In this case, Brian Bennett, a reporter for the Louisville Courier-Journal, was ejected from an NCAA baseball playoff game for blogging. In the middle of the game, an NCAA representative approached Mr. Bennett, asked him... <more>
Faster flash memory speeds your photos... if you use it properly
A few weeks ago I told you I bought a fast flash memory card for my camera, and how I expected it to speed up my photo transfers from my camera to my personal computer. I also promised to do speed tests in a real world situation. Today, I report back that there are differences, but the differences may surprise you. <more>
Talk gets cheaper with new services
We've gone from emphasis on the computer to emphasis on the network. Yet the products and services being offered to us seem to be diverging, with many of the devices becoming ubiquitous and other devices serving a group that at first looks like a lunatic fringe.
The first set of products includes the ever-present cell phone. On the other end of the spectrum are the products that seem to be very specialized. The Vonage V-phone and Skype are among them... <more>
Hey, digital camera, take the picture already!
I've been frustrated since day one by the time lapse between pressing the shutter button on my digital camera and when the photo is finally snapped. The delay has caused me to ruin many a picture because it was blurry from moving the camera too soon. My wife actually refuses to use the digital camera most of the time -- in favor of her reliable film camera -- because the chance of a bad photo is so high.
One day, after shopping for... <more>
Office Live an entree to a broad set of tools
When I heard about Microsoft's Office Live, I figured it would be an online version of Microsoft Office, ready to do head-to-head battle with Google's ever-expanding online office suite. But I was wrong -- at least as it stands today.
Instead, Microsoft has put together a suite of online tools that, in some ways, like the Google suite, make it easier to be mobile, but, unlike the Google suite, extend the way a user can take advantage of the traditional Microsoft Office software applications... <more>
Talking on phone while driving has challenges
Windshield time (the time you spend while driving) is difficult time to use -- you can't type out a memo, create an artistic strategy on paper or give yourself a full body workout. It's just too tough -- OK, impossible -- to do. But you can think -- and, in some states, you can talk on your cell phone.
Some people like to use wireless "hands-free" headsets so they can keep their hands on their steering wheel instead of holding their telephones. That's a wise move -- although studies have shown that accidents often are caused by the mere distraction of what you're talking about, not just the lack of hands on the steering wheel. Those studies suggest... <more>
Song sites can have varying lyrics
Yahoo!'s announcement last week that it's posting the lyrics to 400,000 songs on Yahoo! Music should be considered good news by musicians, would-be musicians and those who simply want to sing in their showers... <more>
A more customer-friendly CompUSA might not be closing stores
Can an end to another era be upon us? CompUSA is closing more than half its stores as it tries once again to become profitable in the volatile electronics industry. To some, this may not seem like a shock.
CompUSA is the original big-box computer store -- the store that helped put ComputerLand, BusinessLand, and lots of other smaller computer retailers out of business in the then-rapidly expanding computer business. With its huge buying power, it was able to offer discounts on anything related to PCs. To many people, those discounts seem to disappear over the years -- but if you understood how to get them, you could get some very good bargains... <more>
The art of compatible appliance accessories
Product designers have to balance incompatible goals to achieve an optimal product for the consumer. Yet there are times that the outcome seems so senseless that you wonder what they were thinking.
Recently, my clock radio kicked the bucket after 20 wonderful years. This General Electric wonder had 2 alarms that could wake my wife or me with the sound of our favorite radio stations or to a buzzer. The display could be adjusted from near dark to penetrating light; and we could each wake to a different radio station. This early programmable model had lots of other features that made it the almost perfect appliance.
Finding a replacement has proven frustrating, despite the... <more>
Take me out to the ballgame -- please!
Another spring, another chance to buy baseball tickets for my hometown team. And another chance to be underwhelmed by the team's Web capabilities.
At 10 last Saturday morning, the Pittsburgh Pirates made tickets available to fans -- and I, like many other baseball enthusiasts, decided to get my Opening Day tickets quickly. A few minutes before 10, I jumped on my computer, connected to pirates.com, and got into the virtual waiting room -- that's Tickets.com's way of telling you that other people are in line before you.
Promptly on the hour, the waiting room opened up, allowing me to... <more>
'Wall of ears' eases work of headset designers
There's a huge discrepancy among the quality of the human-machine interfaces of various products we use. Some, like the Apple iPod, are so smooth that people are attracted in droves. Others, like various cell phones, evoke cries of displeasure -- even disdain. Why is there such a big discrepancy?
I recently brought up that question with Darrin Caddes, vice president of corporate design at Plantronics, a fast-growing producer of headsets. Mr. Caddes joined Plantronics two years ago after a successful career designing products for the automobile and motorcycle industries, including a stint at BMW...<more>
Spam and politics don't mix
I have trouble believing that the youngest major city mayor in the United States would resort to wholesale spamming to gain votes. Politicians of his generation, unlike older statesmen, are supposed to be savvy to the ways of the Web -- and that means knowledgeable of what turns people on and off about e-mail communications. But... <more>
Comcast wants your TV to be smarter
As telephone, satellite and cable companies have continued to play technological leapfrog, your service has been getting better.
Some of the enhancements have happened because of new technologies, some as companies buy other companies, thereby pushing existing technologies to new customers. So don't be surprised if this week or sometime in the near future, your television becomes smarter -- allowing you to gain access to more and better video-on-demand (VOD) programming. <more>
Curtain to rise on Microsoft's major upgrades
In the future, we may look back on next week, and call it one of Microsoft's biggest product announcements ever -- the retail introduction of Windows Vista and Microsoft Office. Microsoft's two most important product lines are being revamped -- and it's... <more>
Beatles for sale?
Hints abound that Apple (and Apple) might finally let it be
Steve Jobs playing the Beatles. Just the thought of it made me think of the lyric on the "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" album, in which John Lennon had to laugh while reading the news. Yet Mr. Jobs was right in front of my eyes -- playing a tune from the "Sgt. Pepper" album -- and showing off the cover of that same classic piece of vinyl. At first, I thought it was an inside joke. After all, haven't the Beatles been at... <more>
Observing workers leads to new products
Ever wonder how they come up with those great product ideas? I'm not talking about the next fast computer or the software design that makes the user experience easier. I'm talking about those everyday hardware products that just make life easier or better. I often see products that seem so sensible that I ask myself why somebody else hadn't thought of it before -- especially why I hadn't thought of it.
So I asked...<more>
RSS, podcasts will change the way you do business
Much the way many businesses discovered the Internet in 1995, 2007 is the likely tipping point for several new technologies that will change the way we do business. The first of ... <more>
Resolutions: Make 'em and break 'em
It seems like I've been here before. The year begins and I make resolutions that will revolutionize my life forevermore. You do the same thing? How well have you fared?
For as many years as I can remember, there is one resolution that... <more>
Playing Santa but running late? How about a nice power adapter?
Time is ticking away, and you still haven't purchased all your holiday gifts. Many of the popular gifts are sold out; but there are still plenty of great gifts that will bring a smile to the faces of the recipients.
Some in the "need-to-have but don't want to buy for myself" category are among the best gifts. Here is a sampling:...<more>
Check on later upgrades when buying computer system
This year, walking into the store to purchase a new system has been complicated by releases of Microsoft's Windows Vista and Office 2007 products -- because they are not being shipped yet, except to corporate accounts... <more>
'Podcasting basics' a nice part of PodCamp Pittsburgh
They descended upon Pittsburgh like media moguls -- each one with a different media asset. Some produce feature length videos; others create radiolike talk shows; and still others -- including Internet hosting companies and consultants -- deal in the businesses that empower these multimedia creators. But they all were there for the same reasons: to exchange ideas and network face-to-face at PodCamp Pittsburgh.
It was only the second such event in the world -- an un-conference dedicated to the art and business of podcasting, in which... <more>
Technology puts women in contact with world
Although many men might have a macho tendency to expect otherwise, 77 percent of women would prefer a plasma screen TV to a diamond solitaire necklace. This, according to a study by Oxygen Media.
The study, aptly titled Girls Gone Wired, presents some insights into the way women react with technology -- including... <more>
Grocery shopping goes high-tech
Rarely do we think of old-line retailers as being high tech -- especially not traditional grocery stores. But that could be a misperception.
The other night I found out just how high-tech a grocer can be, when I visited Giant Eagle headquarters with... <more>
It doesn't get better than functional and cool
Cool and good don't always come in the same package. There are too many times when a company makes a product cool, but forgets the functionality.
LG Electronics has done a pretty good job of combining both in its Chocolate cell phone. Verizon pushes the cool aspects in its TV commercials; but the real benefit of the product is... <more>
Programs help youths on hazards of the Net
This week, my daughter had the good fortune of participating in a program being developed by the Pennsylvania attorney general called Operation Safe Surf. Meant to help middle school and high school students understand the dangers of and precautions needed when using the Internet, the program was... <more>
The future has arrived with digital marketing
How many toes should companies stick into the digital advertising water? According to Google, all of them -- plus the leg, torso and entire body. Ted Souder, Midwest travel vertical manager for Google Midwest, speaking to a meeting of the Pittsburgh Advertising Federation, said dabbling in digital marketing isn't the way to go. His message, strong and clear, was to embrace... <more>
This desktop update is a winner
Microsoft is playing with the desktop again -- and this time, I hope they have it right. In previous versions of Windows, the company has tried to... <more>
The future has arrived with digital marketing
How many toes should companies stick into the digital advertising water? According to Google, all of them -- plus the leg, torso and entire body. Ted Souder, Midwest travel vertical manager for Google Midwest, speaking to a meeting of the Pittsburgh Advertising Federation, said dabbling in digital marketing isn't... <more>
How to get more music into your life
In the battle for your musical dollar, two models have emerged. The first, used by Apple's iPod and iTunes music store, is to buy your tunes as you go -- and keep them forever. In this model, you pay, say 99 cents for each song; then you own them outright. The good news is that you never have to go back to the well -- as long as your files are intact. The bad news is... <more>
Moving your phone number can bring problems
Thinking about changing phone companies? Whether you're considering moving between traditional phone companies, replacing your landline phone with a cell phone or moving to a feature-rich Internet telephone company (VoIP), you can take your number with you.
Yet, despite the fact that the process to move your number between carriers has been in place for years, it's still not a perfect science and is fraught with potential problems. I found out the hard way, when I tried... <more>
This week, my daughter had the good fortune of participating in a program being developed by the Pennsylvania attorney general called Operation Safe Surf. Meant to help middle school and high school students understand the dangers of and precautions needed when using... <more>
There are times when you can use technology to solve a problem and times when humans might be able to do it better. But what about those applications in which technologies can empower humans to get the job done?
Bob Fisher, of Mt. Lebanon-based DT Interpreting (formerly Deaf-talk), figured how to use technology to get an important human job done -- providing translation services for deaf patients who walk into hospitals with a problem...<more>
It's 11 in the morning, and you're just starting to notice that knot in your stomach as lunchtime approaches. But you're busily working, and you just happen to need to do a search. So you open a window with Google or MSN and search for your required information. Coincidently, you see an advertisement for a local pizza shop or sushi restaurant.
Actually it's probably not a coincidence...<more>
The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership should be congratulated for completing a deal to bring wireless Internet connectivity into the area. When the network is completed, consumers and business people will be able to wirelessly surf the Web, get e-mail and do other Internet tasks without being tethered to a wire or a coffee shop.
For two wonderful hours every day, they'll have the benefits of the network at their fingertips for free -- or they can get round-the-clock action for a small fee.
But as happy as we are for local residents -- and for similarly blessed residents of San Francisco, Philadelphia and other cities bound for Wi-Fi glory -- users and government officials must approach these impending connectivities with caution...<more>
Established retailers and manufacturers have an advantage over software companies, consultants and Web companies when it comes to accepting credit cards from customers.
Internet merchants often are considered by the companies that process the payments to be a risk. There is often no collateral, no inventory, no storefront to visit. So the largest processors -- called merchant services companies -- are hesitant to put up the cash in advance until they collect from the cardholder. For many of these smaller companies, the only visible, cost-effective option has been to accept payments by PayPal... <more>
Online voting ended on Thursday for the Major League Baseball All-Star Game -- a few days later than for those who voted at the ballparks. Yet, with all the articles and radio-talk show gabfests about the voting, I didn't hear anybody talk about how a small mistake while you're voting could make you do something you wouldn't ordinarily do -- sign up for spam lists...<more>
I've been playing with Google's new online spreadsheets -- and they are cool.
I didn't expect them to have the full capabilities of Excel, so the fact that many functions are not there didn't surprise me. I was surprised, though, by the speed. And the designers made some intriguing enhancements... <more>
Maybe I'm biased, but I think the sound of a movie or TV program has as much or more impact on your viewing experience than the picture does.
Imagine how uninteresting "Star Wars" would be without the swishing and "wonnnnk" sounds of clashing light sabers. Or the lack of suspense in "Jaws" without the music.
Even those of us who are visual thinkers can hum the old TV theme songs of "The Andy Griffith Show," "Laverne & Shirley" or "Dragnet" -- but nobody remembers exactly what the Dragnet badge looks like, or the Shotz brewery where Laverne and Shirley work, even though the images are on screen while we hear the theme. Sound is everything!
Yet, when we buy a TV, we compare visual features first...<more>
You may recognize the situation. You walk into a store to purchase some merchandise. The cashier waves her wand across the bar code. The price pops up on the screen -- only it's the wrong price.
It's a common occurrence -- at least for those of us who pay attention. Sometimes it's our fault. We may have read the price wrong at the shelf, looked at the wrong label or confused the size we're buying for the one that's on sale.
But not always. Sometimes the store is to blame. Maybe a sale just started (or just ended), and the price shown on the shelf is different than the price in the database. Whether it's a mistake or not, it always seems as if the cashier has the higher price -- and that it was done on purpose...<more>
I'm envious.
Not that you'd think I should be. Because I write and talk on the radio about new technology, I often get to see and use the latest and greatest devices before most people even know they exist. But I'm still not on the leading edge.
You'd recognize that if you saw Microsoft's Center for Information Work, a high-tech demo center on the company's corporate campus that shows upcoming technologies and how they combine with current technologies to produce what we'd call the office of the future.
I haven't even visited the place, but I'm salivating over what I've seen in pictures and videos... <more>
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For a guy who usually becomes enamored of the productivity features in electronics, I have to make an admission: The Xbox 360 is definitely cool. It has a modern look; it has some features that made me mutter "Wow!" under my breath; and the designers did a good job of making it fit into the emerging home entertainment/computing environment.
The graphics are sensational -- especially when you see them on a large screen high-definition television. I took some time to challenge my teenage son to some games...<more>
Once upon a time, when you heard the word Napster, you thought "free music." Those were the days of the wild Web, when technology ruled and legality took a back seat.
In the last few years, though, the Napster brand no longer meant free. It meant legal.. <more>
Tablet PCs have come a long way. The last time I reviewed one, I had a good experience with the software; but the hardware had its problems. Recently, though, I've been using a convertible laptop from Gateway -- and those hardware problems, so far, have been nowhere to be seen. Better yet, with the increase in hardware speed and large memory configurations, it has been fast and accurate...<more>
Posturing is important in the tech world, where "coopertition" -- cooperating with your competition -- is just as important and widely practiced as competition itself. That may explain why Apple suddenly is vocal about a Mac that runs Windows and Microsoft is silent about the same subject.
As we had predicted, in recent weeks the new Intel-based Macintosh computers have been shown to run Windows -- not just in one way, but in three different ways...<more>
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Just like most Pittsburghers love Steelers season, I'm in my glory when the NCAA has its annual March slugfest and Major League Baseball chimes in with the first pitches of the season.
It's not unusual for me to be constantly checking my TV set during the marathon early rounds of the NCAA Tournament -- and you certainly would see me glued to the set for the Final Four. Being able to do it in front of a large-screen high-definition TV set makes it that much better.
This year, I was able to watch much of the action on a 43-inch Pioneer Plasma HDTV... <more>
Maybe now, we'll all be able rest a little easier, knowing that the two greatest rivals of all time have a common interest.
No, I'm not talking about Yale and Harvard, Duke and the University of North Carolina, or your alma mater and its greatest rival. I'm talking Apple and Microsoft. This rivalry is so bitter, that every time I say a disparaging word about an Apple product, some overzealous Apple fan accuses me of favoring Microsoft -- and every time I point out a flaw in a Microsoft product, one of that company's zealous fans accuses me of favoring Apple.
The end of the tech rivalry was foreshadowed by Apple's recent announcement... <more>
The big computer and communications vendors finally are realizing how important those SOHO (small office/home office) customers are. Many of them are introducing new products or changing their older products to meet the different needs of the smaller users.
On Tuesday, Verizon Wireless introduced Field Force Manager, a service that allows small -- and large -- businesses to manage the people that are away from the main office... <more>
Whether you're a business person, engineer or entry level knowledge worker, chances are that in 2001 you were scared when Internet company after Internet company went down in flames -- taking the economy and many non-Internet companies with them.
But time heals all wounds; and in 2006, you're ready for the next big idea... <more>
Many experts are looking forward to the day when we can customize our systems to such an extent that we can take them along with us on a small drive, plug into an existing computer and have all of our files, records and even applications available.
To some, it means waiting until Windows Vista arrives later in the year. But Mark Leathem, director of Global Strategies for Kingston Technology, proved to me last week that it's something we can do today... <more>
We live in a high-tech world where it's difficult to exist without technology. For the few who do, it's difficult to not be affected by the technology of others.
Yet high-tech is nothing without "high touch." That's when somebody adds the human element -- using their personal touch to affect a situation. So when a company known for its high-tech uses high touch to make customers happy... <more>
The Geek's guidebook to being a fan of the Super Bowl champions:
Rule No. 1: Don't disconnect the Net.
Last weekend, like many others in Pittsburgh, we had a party to watch the Super Bowl. In preparation for a large crowd we expected in our home, we rearranged our family room so more people could see our TV. That included pushing our TV 8 feet farther from the telephone jack than it was earlier in the day.
Unfortunately, it also meant disconnecting our Internet connection... <more>
It may have been one of the first technology business events of 2006; but it felt like 1995 again -- that golden year in which the Internet first started attracting the attention of the masses. The room was filled with savvy business people, yet they didn't act savvy. They were acting like students trying to comprehend the subject and its implications.
The subject was blogging and podcasting -- or at least that's how it was billed... <more>
If you live in an area covered by 911 service, you probably take it for granted -- knowing that your call will be routed to somebody in your local area skilled in emergency handling if you simply press 9-1-1.
But that's not how it has been for the first few years of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service. If you use VoIP to connect your phone to the Internet instead of using a standard phone line, your call might have been forwarded to the 911 switchboard -- or it might have gone to an administrative number at a local police or public service department. If it went to the latter, you might have reached a voice mail box and your message might not have been heard for hours -- hardly a good solution for time-critical emergency situations.
Despite the warnings of the VoIP services -- which include Vonage, Verizon's VoiceWing, Comcast, AT&T's CallVantage and others -- that they didn't offer your father's 911 service, people didn't realize that there was a significant difference between their VoIP 911 and traditional 911. So problems have resulted. A woman in Deltona, Fla., blamed Vonage because her baby died after the woman was unable to reach 911 assistance. In Texas, a girl was unable to obtain emergency aid by dialing 911 after she saw her parents shot by an intruder... <more>
I was shocked when I turned on my computer last month only to find an e-mail telling me that my telephone service had been turned off. The notice was from the VoiceWing unit of Verizon -- the part of the company that provides Internet phone service, known as Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP -- and it had been sitting in my mail-stream for hours before I saw it.
According to the message, because it couldn't verify that my phone was within its 911 coverage, it had temporarily suspended my service due to a new 911 policy. It turned off all... <more>
Nights like last Monday remind me how complex technology is -- and why people so often want to chuck their tech devices. I wanted to throw mine away too.
The day started like many others -- jumping into the car to go to the office, turning on my computer, doing miscellaneous chores while it booted and finally... <more>
If you're looking for excellent information on getting the most from Windows XP or wireless networks -- if you're interested in buying & seller better on eBay -- or if you want to run a company better in today's environment, check out some of the books on my bookshelf. These 5 selections are all from experts in their fields -- and one of them is from one of the most notable business gurus of our time... <more>
after four months of putting it off a day at a time, I finally cancelled my AOL account -- by telephone. It reminded me just how good AOL is at... <more>
Are you still trying to decide what to buy for the person who has everything? There are many items that will bring a smile to the face of the recipient -- even if he already has all the cool electronic gear -- because these things make previous purchases even better... <more>
The impact of the Internet goes way beyond purchasing online. According to a January report by comScore Networks, 34 percent of shoppers say they look on the Web first before buying in a store.
In essence, they're taking advantage of the wealth of information to make better buying decisions. But what if you're already in the store with the item you want staring you in the face? Should you pick it up and take it to the cashier? Or should you wait to buy it online at a better price?
For many of us, that depends on how much better the price would be online. If it's only a buck or two, it may not be worth waiting. But if you can save $50 ... or $100? That's worth waiting for.
Smarter.com wants to make it easier for you to make those decisions on the spot. The Web site, which is known to most people as a shopping engine -- a resource to comparison shop online for the best prices -- can put the online price at your fingertips in the store. All you need is a cell phone that can...<more>
Didn't you hate it when you received an electronic gift but the giver forgot the batteries? While today's gifts may not always need AAA batteries, there's usually an accessory that makes it more enjoyable to use the gift...<more>
Recently, a friend told me she was about to embark on a business trip and needed some computer advice. She expected to spend the majority of her days away in a conference, listening to presentations, but didn't want to be out of touch. How could she do it without breaking the bank?
After a few nanoseconds of thought, I gave her my ideas -- most of which are based on...<more>
Can you record your iTunes-encrypted music into MP3 format to play on any music device of your choosing?
Yes.
May you do it?
That depends on who you listen to and how you do it.
Last week, I discussed HotRecorder For Media software, which streams the audio purchased from Apple's iTunes through your sound card and back onto your hard disk in MP3 format, thus allowing you to play it on any portable device -- iPod or non-iPod.
Apple doesn't want you to...<more>
Mookie Tenembaum is everything you want in an entrepreneur. He's as focused as a spotlight, as knowledgeable as a scholar and as engaging -- at least on the phone -- as one imagines Steve Jobs to be on his best days. And if this Argentine native is right, he may soon have as much of an impact on digital music as Mr. Jobs has had.
A self-professed inventor, Mr. Tenembaum has created HotRecorder for Media, a software package that records digital audio from other digital audio. It started as a product to record conversations on Internet telephone systems (computer-based VoIP). Then, as Mr. Tenembaum saw the market progress, he had his team program the product to take files from Apple's iTunes or Yahoo! Music files and turn them into MP3 files.
Illegal? Not according to...<more>
"Hey Dad, loan me some money, please, so I can buy a new iPod. I want to fund my college education."
Most parents would look skeptically on that type of request. But Kris Pepper's dad said OK, and the 16-year-old sophomore at Winchester Thurston School in Shadyside used the iPod to start Kokopelli Music (www.kokopellimusic.us), a business that replaces iPod batteries...<more>
This week as I was organizing some of my work, I found a bunch of old business cards in the back of a drawer. I wanted to save the info on the card but not the clutter. So I scanned them in to my computer.
While feeding them into my CardScan scanner one by one, I glanced at each card to make sure that I really wanted it, but quickly decided it was better to... <more>
In a world in which business motives often compete with social motives, it's good to see that there are still some places where the two can thrive together. This week, eBay is relaunching its Rethink Initiative, a program that helps dispose of used electronics in a way that... <more>
Wouldn't it be nice to have a couple weeks without news of a major security breach?
At Bank of America, it's not business as usual, because bank employees are busy sending notices to some customers that their accounts and | 
