I realize that this is a very busy time of the year; nevertheless I have a suggestion that might save you countless hours of work and frustration. It will only take a few minutes and hopefully you will never need the product of your work.
With more and more of us using our computers and other digital devices for tasks once the province of paper and ink, we accumulate a tremendous amount of digital stuff. There are the electronic pay check stubs, tax reports, bank statements, electronic bills and bill payment documentation and let’s not forget all those names and addresses. Pictures from Johnny’s piano recital or Suzie’s soccer match are stored somewhere on your computer rather than in the shoe box on the top shelf of the closet.
It is great to have all these things available at the click of a mouse. It is disastrous when that doesn’t work…when your data storage fails.
The solution is to pay attention to the old saw “never put all your eggs in one basket.” Make sure you have more than one basket and make sure that all the “eggs” are in each. In other words, back up your data!
There are many ways to do this. There are services that literally back up everything you do by connecting your computer via the Internet to a secure, redundant data storage site. Most of these charge for the service and your computer has to be online. Rather than to try to cover all the features here you can go to PC Magazine’s web site, it has a good summary of these services at http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2288745,00.asp
There are other simpler and less expensive options. The easiest is to make copies of the important files on inexpensive CDs or DVDs. Most computers have drives that will “burn” CDs. Since they are so inexpensive I suggest making two copies and making sure that you don’t store them in the same place.
You can also use Flash Drives. These little devices plug into the USB port and can hold a tremendous amount of data. They do, however, have a finite number of read/write cycles (in the thousands).
You may wish to consider the purchase of a USB external hard drive. The prices of these devices have plummeted to a point that you can get a 1 terabyte drive for about $100. Unless you have lots of videos to save, a 1 terabyte drive will handle all your “digital stuff.” Remember that these are mechanical devices and as such can fail. So it is still a good idea to have the most important files also backed up in some more robust format like a CD or DVD.
Again, you may never need these back ups. I hope you don’t. If you do need them you will be happy you spent the time.
Monday, December 28, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
A Holiday Lament
Deck the halls with things electric
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Sony, Apple, Panasonic,
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Now they have some neat new features.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
But directions come from alien creatures.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Why are “E” things still not easy?
Fa La La La La, La La La La
All the problems make me wheezy.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Call the hot line with your issue.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Someone in India can talk to you.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
So when the season comes a knocking.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Put some coal in Sony’s Stocking.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Toss the batteries and the hard drive.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
No phone, no iPod you’ll survive.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Sony, Apple, Panasonic,
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Now they have some neat new features.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
But directions come from alien creatures.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Why are “E” things still not easy?
Fa La La La La, La La La La
All the problems make me wheezy.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Call the hot line with your issue.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Someone in India can talk to you.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
So when the season comes a knocking.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Put some coal in Sony’s Stocking.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Toss the batteries and the hard drive.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
No phone, no iPod you’ll survive.
Fa La La La La, La La La La
Monday, December 14, 2009
Stocking Stuffers of the High Tech Kind
For the last two weeks I have provided some suggestions for some high tech gift giving. This week I will continue, but will offer all suggestions under $15 making them great stocking stuffers.
Anyone who uses a computer or MP3 player will appreciate having extra storage for all those video, music or picture files. Consider buying a few SD cards or “Flash” drives. These small storage devices can plug into various digital devices and expand the amount of storage capacity. Flash drives require a USB port and as such are used primarily with computers while SD cards can be used with a variety of devices from small mobile phones to large flat screen TVs. SD cards come in several “sizes” from 1 gig to as large as 8 gig or more of capacity. (Figure that an average of 600 pictures or songs will fit on a 1 gig device) For MP3 players and mobile phones, you may need a “micro SD card.” These are about the size of the finger nail on your pinky finger. Locally Staples has a great selection.
Do you have someone that travels a lot with a laptop computer? Here is a neat addition to that road warrior’s armaments. Give them a laptop lamp. This small gooseneck plugs in the USB port of the laptop and casts a soft light on the keyboard. These are great for working in low light situations like planes or conference rooms during Power Point presentations. You can find them on-line and at many local computer stores.
Another cool device for someone who uses an MP3 music player is an FM transmitter that allows the car radio to serve as the speakers. It plugs into the MP3 player and car power port (nee cigarette lighter.) You can find them on line and at Best Buy.
For those who may have given up the desk top computer for a laptop, one of the things you will miss when doing financial stuff is a good numeric pad. How about a USB numeric keypad? It is about the size of a mouse and allows you to enter numbers just like you did with your desktop keyboard. You can find this on line for about $8.
Gift cards are also great. For the younger set a gift card for some iTunes will always be appreciated. You’ll find them where ever gift cards are sold.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Anyone who uses a computer or MP3 player will appreciate having extra storage for all those video, music or picture files. Consider buying a few SD cards or “Flash” drives. These small storage devices can plug into various digital devices and expand the amount of storage capacity. Flash drives require a USB port and as such are used primarily with computers while SD cards can be used with a variety of devices from small mobile phones to large flat screen TVs. SD cards come in several “sizes” from 1 gig to as large as 8 gig or more of capacity. (Figure that an average of 600 pictures or songs will fit on a 1 gig device) For MP3 players and mobile phones, you may need a “micro SD card.” These are about the size of the finger nail on your pinky finger. Locally Staples has a great selection.
Do you have someone that travels a lot with a laptop computer? Here is a neat addition to that road warrior’s armaments. Give them a laptop lamp. This small gooseneck plugs in the USB port of the laptop and casts a soft light on the keyboard. These are great for working in low light situations like planes or conference rooms during Power Point presentations. You can find them on-line and at many local computer stores.
Another cool device for someone who uses an MP3 music player is an FM transmitter that allows the car radio to serve as the speakers. It plugs into the MP3 player and car power port (nee cigarette lighter.) You can find them on line and at Best Buy.
For those who may have given up the desk top computer for a laptop, one of the things you will miss when doing financial stuff is a good numeric pad. How about a USB numeric keypad? It is about the size of a mouse and allows you to enter numbers just like you did with your desktop keyboard. You can find this on line for about $8.
Gift cards are also great. For the younger set a gift card for some iTunes will always be appreciated. You’ll find them where ever gift cards are sold.
Have a Merry Christmas!
Monday, December 7, 2009
More High Tech Gift Ideas
Last week I gave some suggestions for some high tech gift giving. This week and next we will continue to look at some items that are available from local retailers or on line. I am trying to cover a variety of items, and in keeping with the economic situation, I’ll concentrate on staying away from the budget breaking 70” flat screen TVs. The good news is that prices continue to be very affordable for most home electronics and there are some very cool products that have entered the market this year.
I know I have suggested a Flip video camera before (I am not getting a kick back) but the product just seems to get better and better and is a perfect item for those who want to capture video of family events or vacations without the hassles of bulky hard to use video cameras. The camera is about the size of a large pack of cigarettes and now comes in a high definition model.
The beauty of the Flip is that is has only a few control buttons and anyone can make very good, clear videos. You press one button to start recording and press the same button to stop. Videos are stored in the camera and can be easily transferred to a computer or emailed to a friend. It comes with a cable to connect to a TV so you can immediately play your videos right from the camera. You don’t need a VCR or a computer
It is self contained and fits in your pocket. Even better, it fits in your budget. I have seen Flips selling for about $150 on line and less the $200 in stores. You can by a standard definition model for as little as $89.00. If you get one, be sure to open it first on Christmas morning.
The TV commercials are filled with iPods and iPhones. For sure Apple has some very well designed products, but they remain pricey. For far less money there are some very good MP3 players. You may wish to look at the SanDisk Sansa Clip. This tiny player measures about 2” x 1.5”, can hold hundreds of songs and recordings and can easily be connected to a computer to transfer music from the Internet.
The Sansa Clip and a similar model, Sansa c250, have a very good FM radio receiver built in and allow you to listen live or record from the radio. Both also have a built in microphone for recording although the quality of the recordings is marginal at best. One other down side is that it is so small you can easily misplace it.
This is a perfect gift for a jogger or walker. The prices are right as well. Both the Sansa Clip and the Sansa c250 can be found for between $30 and $40 at most any local discount or electronics retailer. You can get even better deals at Amazon.com.
More “stocking stuffer” ideas next week.
I know I have suggested a Flip video camera before (I am not getting a kick back) but the product just seems to get better and better and is a perfect item for those who want to capture video of family events or vacations without the hassles of bulky hard to use video cameras. The camera is about the size of a large pack of cigarettes and now comes in a high definition model.
The beauty of the Flip is that is has only a few control buttons and anyone can make very good, clear videos. You press one button to start recording and press the same button to stop. Videos are stored in the camera and can be easily transferred to a computer or emailed to a friend. It comes with a cable to connect to a TV so you can immediately play your videos right from the camera. You don’t need a VCR or a computer
It is self contained and fits in your pocket. Even better, it fits in your budget. I have seen Flips selling for about $150 on line and less the $200 in stores. You can by a standard definition model for as little as $89.00. If you get one, be sure to open it first on Christmas morning.
The TV commercials are filled with iPods and iPhones. For sure Apple has some very well designed products, but they remain pricey. For far less money there are some very good MP3 players. You may wish to look at the SanDisk Sansa Clip. This tiny player measures about 2” x 1.5”, can hold hundreds of songs and recordings and can easily be connected to a computer to transfer music from the Internet.
The Sansa Clip and a similar model, Sansa c250, have a very good FM radio receiver built in and allow you to listen live or record from the radio. Both also have a built in microphone for recording although the quality of the recordings is marginal at best. One other down side is that it is so small you can easily misplace it.
This is a perfect gift for a jogger or walker. The prices are right as well. Both the Sansa Clip and the Sansa c250 can be found for between $30 and $40 at most any local discount or electronics retailer. You can get even better deals at Amazon.com.
More “stocking stuffer” ideas next week.
Monday, November 30, 2009
High Tech Gift Ideas
For the next three weeks I am going to provide some ideas for gift giving. I will try to give some suggestions for items that are available from local stores or on line. Also, I will try to cover a variety of items and be sure to offer a few suggestions that are inexpensive. The good news is that prices continue to be very affordable for home electronics and there are some very cool products that have entered the market this year.
Let’s start with an item that will be appreciated by your grandparents or your favorite aunt or uncle who may live far away. How about giving them an electronic picture frame? These frames come in various sizes from as small as 3” x 5” to as large as 11” x 17”. Essentially they consist of an LCD screen and an internal electronics that can store hundreds of digital pictures. These pictures can be displayed in several ways. You can set the frame to change the display of a different picture each minute or each day. Many will play short videos as well. Most look like traditional frames and can blend in with most any decor.
Rather than just sending the frame, take the time to load some of your family pictures that you shot over the past year. That way when it is plugged in, it will already be a very special gift. After all, your grandparents really don’t want the picture frame; they want to see pictures of your family. Each day, for years to come the frame will continue to keep giving. Most use small SD cards to store the photos. During the year you can mail some inexpensive SD cards already filled with Johnny’s Tee Ball Game and they can enjoy keeping up to date on what’s happening.
These frames are available starting at about $30 for a small frame and can be found in discount stores, electronics stores and online.
Here is another gift for the older set, but I have to admit it is an item that most everyone will love. Consider giving a GIANT remote control. That’s right; there are several universal remotes that can control your TV, cable box, stereo, DVD and most any other device found in your family room. When I say GIANT, I do mean big. These remotes can measure 12” x 4” and have labeled buttons the size of postage stamps. You don’t need glasses to see if you are changing channels or changing CDs. Many light up when you use them and all can be programmed to operate most any model TV or other device.
I have seen these for sale in many big box electronics stores and discount retailers. They cost about $15. I suggest that you read the label on the box and see how hard it is to “program” the remote before you buy it. The best ones use an “autosensing” circuit that will find the right codes for your devices rather than you needing to look them up. If you are going to give one to an older person you may wish to send a teenager along to set it up the first time.
More ideas next week.
Let’s start with an item that will be appreciated by your grandparents or your favorite aunt or uncle who may live far away. How about giving them an electronic picture frame? These frames come in various sizes from as small as 3” x 5” to as large as 11” x 17”. Essentially they consist of an LCD screen and an internal electronics that can store hundreds of digital pictures. These pictures can be displayed in several ways. You can set the frame to change the display of a different picture each minute or each day. Many will play short videos as well. Most look like traditional frames and can blend in with most any decor.
Rather than just sending the frame, take the time to load some of your family pictures that you shot over the past year. That way when it is plugged in, it will already be a very special gift. After all, your grandparents really don’t want the picture frame; they want to see pictures of your family. Each day, for years to come the frame will continue to keep giving. Most use small SD cards to store the photos. During the year you can mail some inexpensive SD cards already filled with Johnny’s Tee Ball Game and they can enjoy keeping up to date on what’s happening.
These frames are available starting at about $30 for a small frame and can be found in discount stores, electronics stores and online.
Here is another gift for the older set, but I have to admit it is an item that most everyone will love. Consider giving a GIANT remote control. That’s right; there are several universal remotes that can control your TV, cable box, stereo, DVD and most any other device found in your family room. When I say GIANT, I do mean big. These remotes can measure 12” x 4” and have labeled buttons the size of postage stamps. You don’t need glasses to see if you are changing channels or changing CDs. Many light up when you use them and all can be programmed to operate most any model TV or other device.
I have seen these for sale in many big box electronics stores and discount retailers. They cost about $15. I suggest that you read the label on the box and see how hard it is to “program” the remote before you buy it. The best ones use an “autosensing” circuit that will find the right codes for your devices rather than you needing to look them up. If you are going to give one to an older person you may wish to send a teenager along to set it up the first time.
More ideas next week.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Help for Hearing Impaired
You may have seen the commercials on local TV recently offering telephones that display in text form the other end of a phone conversation so that those with profound hearing loss can make and receive phone calls. The ads indicate that the phones can be free. This is only one of several similar offers aimed at older adults and just like the free cell phones and free scooters, the offer is true but the description may be a bit incomplete.
In this case, a company called CapTel markets a hard wired telephone that has a small LCD display. The phone uses the same wires and systems as any wired telephone and requires no additional fees to the telephone company. The phone is purchased from CapTel for about $100. The phone is only half of the required system. In order to display the captions, the incoming caller’s voice needs to be digitized for display on the phone. The CapTel phone does not do this.
What the advertisements don’t tell you is that when someone wants to call you and have their voice displayed on your phone in text, they need to go though a third party. Many states, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky included, have “relay” systems that provide this service. A person calling you dials a 800 number first and then, when prompted, enters your telephone number. The systems connects with your phone and displays the callers voice as text.
In most states, the service is free. It is in the case of our three neighboring states. Some individuals, depending on their income may be eligible for assistance in purchasing the phones as well. Information can be obtained in Ohio at (800) 973-4560 and in Indiana at (317) 334-1413.
This system should not be confused with the TTY services that have been around for years where special equipment on BOTH sides of the line allow two hearing impaired people to “talk” using text only.
The CapTel systems work well but they are not as hassle free as the smiling elderly man on the TV commercial might indicate. You do need to let your friends and relatives know that they need to go though the 800 number if their conversation is to be translated into text. For those with significant hearing loss it is worth looking into.
Next week I will begin the much anticipated, ever-popular two part Holiday Electronic Gizmo Shopping Guide.
In this case, a company called CapTel markets a hard wired telephone that has a small LCD display. The phone uses the same wires and systems as any wired telephone and requires no additional fees to the telephone company. The phone is purchased from CapTel for about $100. The phone is only half of the required system. In order to display the captions, the incoming caller’s voice needs to be digitized for display on the phone. The CapTel phone does not do this.
What the advertisements don’t tell you is that when someone wants to call you and have their voice displayed on your phone in text, they need to go though a third party. Many states, Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky included, have “relay” systems that provide this service. A person calling you dials a 800 number first and then, when prompted, enters your telephone number. The systems connects with your phone and displays the callers voice as text.
In most states, the service is free. It is in the case of our three neighboring states. Some individuals, depending on their income may be eligible for assistance in purchasing the phones as well. Information can be obtained in Ohio at (800) 973-4560 and in Indiana at (317) 334-1413.
This system should not be confused with the TTY services that have been around for years where special equipment on BOTH sides of the line allow two hearing impaired people to “talk” using text only.
The CapTel systems work well but they are not as hassle free as the smiling elderly man on the TV commercial might indicate. You do need to let your friends and relatives know that they need to go though the 800 number if their conversation is to be translated into text. For those with significant hearing loss it is worth looking into.
Next week I will begin the much anticipated, ever-popular two part Holiday Electronic Gizmo Shopping Guide.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Wireless Recharging
Wireless phones, wireless drills, wireless headphones - it seems that everything is going wireless. If that is the case, why do we have so many wires when it comes to keeping all these wireless devices powered up and ready to perform their marvelous tasks? Look around the kitchen counter. I bet there are more than a few chargers for the cell phones, iPods or Bluetooth headsets. How many more are squirreled away in the junk drawer no longer compatible with the new gizmos? Forget about any standardization allowing you to use the same charger for many different devices. While several European countries have agreed to develop a universal charger for all cell phones, in the US we are not even close to such an idea. Even if we adopt the same charger for all models of cell phones, we still will need to do the same for the myriad other devices.
Enter the “new kid on the block”: wireless battery charging. A few manufacturers now have products that can recharge all those electronic devices with no wires (or to tell the truth, only one wire). The system uses magnetic induction to transfer electricity. You can ask your high school Physics teacher to explain how this works, but you have to admit it sounds high tech.
One device is called a Power Mat. It is a thin pad that resembles a rubber door mat. You plug the mat into a standard AC power outlet and it is ready to charge most any battery powered rechargeable device. To be used with the Power Mat, each device must either be compatible with wireless charger technology or you need to add an adapter to each device. Once so modified you can forget about all those chargers. Instead of plugging in chargers for each device, you just place each device on the Power Mat. The charging is done wirelessly.
You can keep each device on the mat for as long as you wish as it will sense when each device is fully charged and stop charging. While there is a modest savings in electricity by using one Power Mat rather than two or three separate charges, the amount that is saved is miniscule. The convenience of having a single place to store all these devices when you are at home is a real plus. Many people will place a Power Mat on a table or counter near the door. When you walk in, you place your cell phone or MP3 player on the mat and when you leave again it will be charged.
Power Mat is available at most electronics retailers and will cost about $150 once you figure in the special adapters you will need for each of your devices. While this technology is somewhat new, look for other products that will use this wireless transfer of electricity. Oh yes, how cool will it be to tell your friends that you charge your cell phone with “magnetic induction transfer technology”?
Enter the “new kid on the block”: wireless battery charging. A few manufacturers now have products that can recharge all those electronic devices with no wires (or to tell the truth, only one wire). The system uses magnetic induction to transfer electricity. You can ask your high school Physics teacher to explain how this works, but you have to admit it sounds high tech.
One device is called a Power Mat. It is a thin pad that resembles a rubber door mat. You plug the mat into a standard AC power outlet and it is ready to charge most any battery powered rechargeable device. To be used with the Power Mat, each device must either be compatible with wireless charger technology or you need to add an adapter to each device. Once so modified you can forget about all those chargers. Instead of plugging in chargers for each device, you just place each device on the Power Mat. The charging is done wirelessly.
You can keep each device on the mat for as long as you wish as it will sense when each device is fully charged and stop charging. While there is a modest savings in electricity by using one Power Mat rather than two or three separate charges, the amount that is saved is miniscule. The convenience of having a single place to store all these devices when you are at home is a real plus. Many people will place a Power Mat on a table or counter near the door. When you walk in, you place your cell phone or MP3 player on the mat and when you leave again it will be charged.
Power Mat is available at most electronics retailers and will cost about $150 once you figure in the special adapters you will need for each of your devices. While this technology is somewhat new, look for other products that will use this wireless transfer of electricity. Oh yes, how cool will it be to tell your friends that you charge your cell phone with “magnetic induction transfer technology”?
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