Martin's Senior Tech Site (snrtech.org)

Kindle vs. iPad for eTextBooks (& Courses)

2012-01-24T11:44:00.000-08:00

With Apple's new textbook feature, if you want textbooks, or even university courses, the iPad may become a better choice than Kindle Fire. The availability of etextbooks at $14.99 from the major textbook publishers suggests that Apple for the moment has cornered the textbook market. Libraries are also sources of textbooks, of course, but the Apple textbooks are greatly enhanced textbooks. Apple had previously provided the largely unrecognized but huge college course resource (all courses free).. For both, install the iBooks and iTunes U apps. You will have the world of American education on call.

Getting Library Books to the KindleFire

2012-01-18T13:01:00.000-08:00

(There has been an explosion of interest in the Kindle Fire, and especilly in getting library books. I have not been able to find a good tutorial and therefore offer mine here. It would be too bad if users felt cut off from library books. Please let me know of anything confusing so that I can improve this procedure.)

Update: For textbooks the iPad may soon have the edge, delivering them for about $14.99 with many features not available in paper editions.

Library eBooks and audiobooks can be loaded direct quickly to the Kindle Fire. How do we get library ebooks to our Kindle Fire? Two ways. (1) the old way: Get them first to Fire via PC or Mac. Or,  (2) the new way: get them direct from the Fire itself, a huge simplification from the old way. Also works on iPad and iPod Touch.

For most books, the easiest way is to install and use Overdrive, instead of Kindle Books, by tapping here.   Follow instructions. This works for most library ebooks, so do this first.

Kindle's Proprietary Formatted Books:

Kindle Books uses its own digital "format".   Books formatted for the Kindle Fire reader, AZW, are proprietary, for Kindle Books only. With a little effort, these, too, can be loaded the new way.

Here is an example of the procedure for borrowing such AZW books from Lancaster Library. (Most other libraries also use the same procedure, called Overdrive.)

the old way: As earlier, on any PC or Mac, including your library's, click on Lancaster Libraries, or your library's similar eBook or digital book webpage.    In the left column tap or click "View all eBooks to show Kindle books. Click on "only show titles with copies available" unless you want to HOLD a book already checked out. Select the Kindle version of the book you want. Tap to add it to your cart. Enter your library card number. Download it. Done. The book will go to Amazon and to your Kindle, even an old Kindle.

Click for an older video with a little more detail.

the new way: Now, the same procedure can work directly on the Kindle Fire by going to this website on the Fire browser, tapping here:   For easy visibility, display the screen horizontally and zoom to full screen with the new button at bottom right of screen (per the 6.22 update).

Sidenote: Just recently Amazon is also offering (click for info->) a new easy way to send Documents to Kindle from PC. and directly, on the Kindle Fire. This does just require a simple setup.

The More Universal Formats:

The majority of books are in the more universal, and not proprietary, EPUB format, but there is also the PDF universal document format for books. To access EPUBS and PDFs on Kindle Fire, click here for a more detailed alternative procedure (from New Hampshire DBS).

(Note that the Nook uses the universal EPUB book format. The Kindle Fire actually also can pretend to be a Nook by adding the Nook app. A book on using the Nook, and the Nook "app" which runs on the Fire is Your Library Book in Seconds.

Though not at all necessary, I installed Documents to Go and other Kindle-like reader apps (Aldiko, Nook, Mantano, Bluefire---all worked well). To open a book I go to Docs to Go, locate the downloaded book, tap on it, and Fire displays compatible readers to select. I like Mantano's ability to read the book aloud.   Click for Mantano.

Note that the Splashtop app makes it possible to run your PC from Kindle Fire and read Kindle books remotely from your PC.

Access to Music

2012-01-14T08:47:00.000-08:00

Access to music is changing.

Time was when you had to go where it was performed Now virtually all of it is available where you are Great for seniors.

Back then, music came on piano rolls, then records, then CDs, then flash drives, then your PC, and then your iPod. Now, simply, the cloud.

Before, you would buy something physical, like an LP or CD and you would own it. Then, with Apple's iTunes you could buy permanent access to just a track. It would be kept on your PC or Mac. And for now, anyway, you can have access without any of these, such as thru Spotify (beta) and other services now springing up.

So, marketing may be fundamentally changing. Earlier, you would have bought a physical product. Now you can buy the rights to hear. You get access to huge sources of music either free or for a small regular fee. Instead of buying a CD a month, you pay, in cash or advertising, for access to nearly any music during that time.

I hope it continues and extends to books, too. Already, this wider access is working for TV. And, on YouTube you can find nearly any music.

Where To?

2012-01-14T08:24:00.000-08:00

As I work with those who expand their use of computers, and as I learn their problems, and seek solutions, I also ponder where our society is going. Others also ponder and call my attention to where we may be headed.

So, often discussions come back to education, the need and the effects. Few larger problems can be solved without education. The connection of computers to education is central.

It was Steve Jobs of Apple Computer who initiated a resource which is hardly tapped: iTunes University. Another resource is Kahn Academy. These show the way.

iTunes U is now available as an app for iPad/iPhone/Touch. This makes it all easy. You are presented with a bookshelf to which you click to add add courses. Simple Actually the courses can be added to the Kindle Fire with an application called iSyncr. What next?

For Seniors Just Learning to Use Computers

2012-01-13T09:36:00.000-08:00

In my enthusiasm for the Kindle Fire I have neglected seniors new to computers.

Here at WV Kindle Fires are multiplying. As this happens, I get the question "What should I get for a computer? Depends on what you want to do, of course.

At this point, if you do much writing, you will still need a laptop. For "newbies" I favor the Apple MacBook Air, even though I am too cheap to get one. Also, I have simply put up with the too frequent problems of PCs. Apple has outstanding support, especially at their stores. New users need that.

Next is Dell, which offers good hardware support.

Here at Willow Valley, you could also just use the computers in the Kiosks throughout the campuses. WiFi in the public areas is also a service provided to all residents without added cost.

However, if you want to access media, such as books and media, the Kindle Fire is the smart choice. Whatever it lacks, such as phoning, can be provided by a no-contract prepaid $30 a month smartphone phone from Walmart, with full text and data access.

(Note that, in this technically advanced community, wireless access is provided from overhead access points tthroughout it so that you can "keep connected". These have been upgraded in the last month for easy use for eBook Readers.)

In a year or less, more options will appear, so when you buy now, also plan for later.

Modded Spotify for Kindle Fire

2012-01-07T10:56:00.000-08:00

For Kindle + Spotify, click below..

(If you have already installed Spotify, delete it before installing the fully working version below.)

Modded Spotify for Kindle Fire:

'via Blog this'

also, note that te Spoton app makes Spotify work like Pandora

Note that Spotify costs $10 a month for small devices.

Making the Fire into a Tablet

2011-12-24T08:07:00.000-08:00

To expand the Kindle Fire into a tablet, you will need apps. To get apps from Amazon, you will need an account. If you bought your Kindle Fire from Amazon, that will already have been done. If not, register by clicking on the gear icon at top right of the home screen, then "more...", then "account".

Click to read the Amazon support videos.

The Kindle Fire comes with some built-in apps, plus more that can be installed direct from Amazon once you have an account. Most are free. An additional number of apps can be obtained from Amazon's broader android "Market". Some of these will work and others will not.

The main source of apps, however is Android Market, and these apps cannot be installed to the Fire, at least not from Android Market (yet).

However, there are many other sources and ways to install apps. Many more online "app markets" have sprung up Note that there is no guarantee that there will not be malware; however I have found none, even using antivirus software. (However, the AVG anti-virus apk software has warned against Google Chrome apk from AndroidZoom.)

Apps which can be installed have the ".apk" (filetype) suffix. When loaded direct into the Fire, clicking on them will start the installation process, if compatible. I have found most apps compatible Sometimes the file must first be downloaded, then located and installed

For now, apk files may be widely found by simply Googling for them, which will also turn up many sources in addition to the originator of the app.

But then, there are still some apps for which apk files cannot be found online. Many of these do exist on cellphones. From a cellphone these apks can be "sideloaded". That means installed on the cell phone, then transferred to the Fire via PC.

To sideload an app, you need the app "Appmanager" on your cellphone, which will list the cellphone's apps and provide the ability to back them up on the sd drive. Then the phone can be connected to a PC and files can be copied to the PC, where files can be, in turn, EMailed as an attachment to your own EMail address. They will then appear as an attachment in the Kindle Fire EMail. where they may be saved and installed.

Programs like Astro, Explorer, and Documents to GO all help in locating, managing, and installing files.

Happy searching for apks!!

Some apk source links (click below):

getjar,1market.Slideme,appbrain,filecrop,4shared, pandaapp, androlib,AndroidCommunity,Handango

In the worst case, here is a way to run almost ANY app on the Fire.

Firing Up for Exercise

2011-12-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

For years I have used an mp3 player to take the monotony out of exercise. A little $30 player holds my old LPs and CDs, 50 of each. It is nice to have them all when I want. But by now I have heard them hundreds of times.

Suppose I could listen to almost anything at any time, in stereo, without wires, and with the best possible sound. Suppose I could read nearly any book with the same device. Suppose I could do all of it...anywhere. Suppose I could access almost any radio station in the world.

I would need wifi, which WV has supplied throughout this community. The access points are in the ceiling in central areas such as the library and lobby. There is also access in the Vitality Center exercise room, although it never worked for my wifi equipped cell phone

I looked at the Kindle Fire wistfully. It has no bluetooth, but I remembered I had an old Jabra headphone bluetooth adapter I had used with an old Nokia N800, now obsolete...

If you need to make it all work, let me know in comments below. There are a few tricks to get it all working.

The Fire makes better use of time when exercising. I put the Fire where convenient and exercise with wifi wireless headphones. Now all that old music comes to life again that I have not heard for so many years.

Fire away, Kindle Fire. Does the Fire suggest the computer of the future, albeit the addition of mic, camera, and keyboard. Do most of us need anything else than this perfect size?

Getting that eBook for Kindle Fire

2011-12-19T13:15:00.000-08:00

(I had not seen a thorough guide to eBooks, so here goes.... This is a long post, so just scroll down for earlier posts.)

(update 1-13-2012: KIndle released today a PC app to send documents to Kindle simply: Click for "Send to" Kindle Tool

(Synopsis: Covering the Kindle Way, Google Books, LuLu, openlibrary, internet archive, your local library, Nook, feedreader, gutenberg, Aldiko, Stanza, Bluefire, Cool Reader, formats, Calibre conversion, apps, bookmarks, browser downloading, Overdrive)

Before we read that book we need to get it.

To get a book, we first need to FIND it.

It should be possible to go to one site for any book, find it, and read it.    That is not possible yet.

(To find WHATyou want to read, (for heavy readers) join goodreads)

The Kindle Way to Find Kindle Books

If the book is an Amazon book, the process is simple. Click on Books.    Search for the book.      Click on the cover to read it.    Of course, you need an Amazon account to get it, even if free.

Many readers will need to do no more, though Amazon offers much more:     We can search by genre.   We can buy a dead-tree copy of the book. We can borrow it.    We can read an Amazon library book.   On the Amazon book website there are reader comments about books.

But suppose Amazon does not have the book we are seeking. The Kindle software does use a proprietary format of its own and also excludes some other major formats. So then we need to find that book elsewhere. The Kindle Fire makes that easier by offering a browser which accesses more than just Kindle accessible books and media.

We can, for example, do a simple Google search.     Generally, though, there are better places to look. For that we go to our browser.

The Browser Way to Find Books

The first place to look is Google Books.   Not Google, not Google eBooks, but just plain Google Books.    Click here: http://books.google.com/googlebooks/mobile/ YThen you will need to sign up (register).   Here Google has been creating a massive listing and electronically readable source of: the Library of Congress, the British libraries and the German equivalents (with huge numbers of English books in the last).

A search of Google books will not only find books.   If it has a book listed, it will show your where and how to get it or read it.     Importantly, it will let you read it on screen or get it elsewhere.

That comes close to the being the simplest way to find and read an ebook.

Reading the book from Google Books’ webpage is easy.   We do need to be connected to the web to get it.    The book can be read on either Kindle Fire or ANY other computer, either streamed from the cloud or downloaded to read away from the cloud and/or transferred to Kindle Fire.    To read on the Fire from Google books, you only need to access the mobile webpage above. Create a Fire bookmark for it.

Other Website Access to the World's Books

Thus, this latest new way to read a book is from a website which in turn works as an eBook reader..   A new such reader is Bookworm: http://bookworm.oreilly.com/library/.

Nowadays, though, not every book is available from Google or Bookworm. It may not have been scanned yet.    It so easy to publish a book that all books are not available from the major libraries.

There is, for example, Lulu books, where you can self publish your book.   Indeed, major publishers also use Lulu, which prints on demand, one copy at a time   You can go to the Lulu website and download it from there.

Open Library

There are other sites than Google books.

A major one is is openlibrary. org (20,000,000 books).      This source works like Google Books.   Here you may also borrow a book.    You may find it in a nearby library.    You may read it online, if available.   It is possible to read the book online on the Kindle Fire, but easier on a larger computer.     It is helpful to make another bookmark for openlibrary.

Fortunately, openlibrary will send books direct to Kindles from its website on PC or KIndle Fire itself. Another major archive is archive.org, the mother "ship" of openlibrary.

Here is Amazon's guide to these: http://www.amazon.com/b?ie=UTF8&node=2245146011

That brings to mind the fact that all books are not in text electronically readable format.    Google Books and openlibrary also have many photocopies of books, and still also readable online and by Kindle if available that way.

You may want to obtain the dead tree book version.   You may find a paperphotocopy to read either online or buy.    Older books can even be photocopied at a price if available.

When faced with a choice of paper or eBook, I find that if I know what I want, I prefer to be able to read it by eBook reader or online.   If not I prefer to access the paper copy.    For example, I read the daily paper online.   I read the Sunday paper in print, where I can be exposed to much that is otherwise unknown to me.

However, the Fire can also look for areas of interest and aggregate these into magazine or newspaper-like format online, such as with the Pulse app for Fire.

Back to libraries.

Libraries and Formats

You local library is probably accessible from the Fire by Overdrive.     You will need to obtain Overdrive and install it on the Fire, then use it to findbooks in your library, and check it out or reserve it for Fire.   Like Pulse, Overdrive is an installable app.

But let us finish with other libraries first.

Not only does Amazon have its own library.   There is Nook’s library for the Nook reader, and many other such libraries such as Sony’s

Fortunately, the Fire can operate AS the Nook, for example, and access the Nook library.     It can operate as other readers and access other libraries.     Popular libraries are manybooks and feedreader and gutenberg.   A reader such as Aldiko turns the Kindle Fire into the Aldiko reader to access such librares.    The Kindle can turn into other readers, such as Stanza and Bluefire and Cool Reader just by installing apps for them.

These libraries are not always readable on another eBook reader.    Amazon has its own format, AZW.     The books in each of these libraries may need conversion, treated again below.

Here are some of the main: formats for the newer readers

AZW, CBZ, CBR, CBC, CHM, DJVU, EPUB, FB2, HTML, HTMLZ, LIT, LRF, MOBI, ODT, PDF, PRC, PDB, PML, RB, RTF, SNB, TCR, TXT, TXTZ

Kindle now handles: TXT, MOBI, AXW, PDF, HTML. BUT PDF files may be emailed to your unique Kindle email address (yourname@ kindle,com) with the word Convert in the subject line. This is important.

Nook handles: TXT, PDF, EPUB Sony: BBeB, TXT, PDF, RTF

What a mess. The AZW and The ePubs are the popular eReader popuar formats. The pdfs are widely used public documents.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_e-book_formats

To date, it has required a conversion tool called Calibre to access and convert books to read in a particular source’s format. http://calibre-ebook.com/.

The trend, though has been for each library to access more and more formats, as described below.   For example, you can send a converted book easily from openbooks.

Therefore, with the Fire, the easiest way is simply to avoid conversion and simply install the so-called “app” which makes the Fire work as a Nook or some other reader.

"APP" Readers

So far, I might note that some other Kindles may be able to read book aloud as well as receive pdf format books and converted books.      The mantano reader app offers this capability for the Fire.

All this means finding and installing the app. There is a procedure for that, too, described below.

Now if all this seems complicated, you do not need to do it all at once.    The Kindle store alone will work until you cannot find the book you want.

Downloading

Now, to downloading a book.   That is necessary to read it away from wireless.   The Fire does that quite automatically.    You can download books when connected simply by touching the book cover picture and selecting it for download.     The book cover has a little arrow which identifies it as not downloaded yet
.

This process works for Nook, and most others readers, too.

Downloading will also get you a book directly from many other sources, such as Google Books, openlibrary, Lulu, and Overdrive.   Once that has happened, you may need either to download it on Kindle, or on PC and then transfer it to Kindle..

Downloading is usually an option shown by for source sites right on their webpage.     From PC the books need to be either transferred or converted, or both.   In Windows 7 the books go to the download directory or to a shared directory.

From PC books can be converted (to pdf for Kindles) with Calibre http://calibre-ebook.com/ and easily sent to Kindles or Apple readers.    For the Fire, you can Email pdf files as an attachment and send them to your own primary email address.   (In the Subject box type Convert).   Then from Fire, you bring up your email, click on the attachment, and save them.

It is also possible to access and convert formats of books and documents into the cloud (Dropbox) where accessible by the Fire. In the Fire, if you click on the downloaded file, it will opened by the available readers, such as Kindle, of course, but also Nook, etc., can read them.

But how do you get to see the downloaded and saved files?   You need to see the files and click on them so that the ereaders will appear and you can make a choice.

Reading Downloaded Books

You need one of several file tools.     A file tool displays local files. I use Documents to Go app from Amazon Fire Market.   This app shows local files, (also files shared with your main computer via a supporting app there).    There are other such file management apps, such as ES.

If you want other eReaders, such as Aldiko, you also need an apk file. There are many sources for them. To get the Fire to accept them, you must go to Settings and allow it.

The app file is downloaded or, from a PC, it is eMailed like a book above. Using apps makes the Fire into a fully functional computer and is worth the effort.

(Now, there are those who warn about viruses, worse those wanting to sell you antivirus. Consumer Reports says the exposure is unlikely for cell phones---the Fire has the same system as a cell phone, just no mic or camera.)

Now, with all this, you access the libraries of the world anywhere.

In a small book-sized device you have the world of media of all kinds as opposed to needing a big computer, record player, cd player, tv recorder and player, movie theatre.   All in the palm of your hand.

But to do all these things take them in the following order over time:

Read an Amazon pre-loaded book.    Find and get a free Kindle book.      Explore Google Books and openlibrary. As you get comfortable, try Calibre.

Notes:

Bookmarks

Bookmarks are added by tapping on the menu at the bottom of the browser screen and adding the bookmark.

Browsers

An alternative browser can be added.   Such a browser as the Dolphin browser does not go to Amazon’s site to work.   By sliding a finger to the right on the main browser page, the bookmarks appear. Search for Dolphin apk download.

Downloading

Downloading transfers a file from elsewhere to your computer or Fire.    You can search the web with Google using the word download, then click on download to send it. For an app, use the words download app, such as "download mantano app".

Spotify

2011-12-10T10:22:00.001-08:00

Spotify is a legitimate music service with a vast streaming music library which plays high quality sound instantly. You need to use it to believe it. I listen to it it all the time.

In telling others about it, I neglected to mention that I was successful installing it only by putting it on a PC before using it on iPad, Touch, or Fire My PC is connected to a sound system. I pay the monthly fee of $10 for the non-PC devices.

You may need to sign in via Facebook. If that bothers, keep only information on Facebook which you wan public.

The Amazon Kindle (a) Fire

2011-11-18T03:36:00.001-08:00

Note: You must have easy access to WiFi for this device!!

This is it. The best device yet for lots of seniors. I can say that after only a few hours with it.

It is so good that it is hard to concentrate on the shortcomings, and there are some..

But for many seniors, either traveling or confined, this is it, especially if they are fairly new or green to computers.

Now, I know, I will see it in better perspective once the newness has worn off. But I also expect its utility to grow with more apps and more user input. The browser will speed up as its remote supercomputer gathers data from us.

This is the most advanced media access device yet. It is the right size It is fast. It you hands it transforms itself instantly into a book, library, radio, tv, victrola, computer, EMailer, and internet browser.

It leaves phoning and camera to the cell phone, wisely I think. It has no microphone. You cannot dictate to it and have it transcribe for you. Otherwise it is a jack of all trades.

This product is worthy of Apple, Microsoft, and Google. It makes the fact that it is a computer drop into the background a it should. It is a no-nonsense appliance.

Of course, the iPhone does it all, and iPod Touch nearly all, even GPS, if you don't mind a very small screen. Click here to compare to iPad

Shortcomings? It does not begin to offer the choices of any other computer. The good side is that you do not need to choose which of 300,000 iPad apps to use. The bad side is that the choice is limited. That is a benefit for the inexperienced user. The experienced computer user gains from size. speed, mobility. AND LOW PRICE!!!

The bad side may also be that access to functions can be controlled by Amazon You may become a captive user. The techie will find many limitations too constricting. The Fire did not run Google eBooks. It did run Google Books, just not eBooks.

The browser needs some work to be smooth. It took some patience to use it. Pages got scrambled. (I was able to install another browserwhich does not go through Amazons super cloud computer.)

However, the device has potential to overcome most such limits. The basic logic is public domain and that can be altered or replaced. Also, so far Amazon has done nothing to restrict others from adapting it, as all of its competitors have indeed done.*

So, Merry Christmas with your new Amazon Kindle.

My initial app choices:

AK Notepad
Accuweather
Adobe Reader
Audible Books
NOOK
CNET News
Contacts
Documents To Go
Dolphin Browser
Dropbox
EasyRSS
Easy PDF Reader
Enhanced EMail
Evernote
ES File Explorer
FaceBoog
German Newspapers
Getjar
GMail
HULU
iHeart Radio
MapQuest
Meet the Press
Notepad
On Air Mediafly
PandoraPhoneklone
Printershare
Public Radio International
Pulse
Quick Office
Read it Later
Reader; Digest
Spotify
Stitcher Podcast
Stumbleupon
TechCrunch
TextPlus
The New Yorker
TIME
The Weather Channel
TuneIn Radio
TWIT
Twitter
US Newspapers
Volume Master
Washiungton Post
LangtoLang Translator
WiFi Analyzer (signal sniffer)
World News
Words with Friends
Wunderlist
Yahoo

Click for Kindle Fire Users Guide

EBooks and Apps

2011-11-13T10:44:00.001-08:00

More and more, seniors would like to have the functions of a computer without all the fuss. They would like the device to accommodate to them rather than require them to accommodate to the device. More are therefore adopting easy-to-use tablets like the iPad and Fire. These are, in a way, chameleons which can pretend to be a book, or a library, a guitar, a radio, a tv, a museum, a photo album, and so on. but the key to how to use them is choosing the right app. The best app makes it easy, but which app to use? For example, there are dozens of ebook apps, each covering a particular "library". There are many more apps for media. Then there are many tools. And so on. Hundreds of thousands, but you need only a few dozen.

I should get together a senior's guide to apps, which would be, in fact, a guide to how to use a tablet. Identify the best app to access broadcasts, podcasts, download versus streamed, and so on. Comments and suggestions will be much appreciated.

Meanwhile, until then, how do more computer literate users access the particular book or media they want, for example? For now, I have come across an ebook search engine which I have added at right. Or, search the Google eBookstore, or Kindle, or Nook, or Kobo, or Stanza, or iBooks----you get the idea! Or go to ManyBooks, Gutenberg, MobiPocket, etc.

When Things Go Wrong

2011-11-11T12:47:00.001-08:00

This website was originally started to supplement one-to-one help sessions. When an issue comes up with a user, it often is of interest to others. The website helps me cover more ground with users.

So here goes with the latest fixes.

First, if a wired device, pull the plug from the wall and plug it back in after a few minutes

Next, try the process of elimination. If you have a problem with a peripheral, try it with another computer. Or try another like peripheral with your computer.

Search for a solution from internet---just Google it. Someone else may have had the same problem. Change that "may" to "will".

"FaceBook" it. Though targeted for privacy problems, FaceBook can air your problems so that they are seen. They can be posted wiith complete privacy (anonimity) for you and read by the world without giving up privacy on either end.

Another unsuspected source of help..if a device gives trouble, is to search and read Amazon comments. Lots of help there.

Read the instructions. Google for a manual. Keep solutions on Evernote---you may need them later.

Sleep on the problem. Present all the facts to your mind and let your mind work on it free of your mental micromanagement. Give your subconscious mind a chance. It is smarter than your conscious mind.

Try online support. It is better to chat on-screen than try to understand someone unintelligible. But if you do need to phone, use Skype. Better sound.

Newly, Google offers a program to remotely operate your computer so that an expert can deal with the problem from afar, such as your kid(s).

Then, try prevention. Use the internet "cloud" next time you create content or need storage. Backup your files online. Automatically, if possible, as via Carbonite.

Once, carrying an old 1992 H-P printer, I lost control of it and it went bouncing down the stairs at Lumberton. Never had any trouble with it since. But DO NOT TRY THIS. With another one I took all 1,000 parts apart and replaced the scanner motor. Still works. Don't try this either, though. Get a cheap new all-in-one or laser.

If totally frustrated with your PC, go buy a MacBook Air. No mechanical parts and great for toting around, but make sure someone does not steal it. If the price bothers you, consider it artwork, which it is. You get Apple help and training with it. Look at an iPad first, though, and maybe an Amazon Fire when it is available. Use the latest technology. Keep informed and use the best equipment for your needs. The lowest cost new equipment may be far better than the best expensive old stuff.

From a cable company, you might rent your internet router and access point initially and use the provider's equipment until you have configured your own. Configuring these devices yourself can be a challenge. Read Amazon comments before buying equipment.

Fix HDTV Sound for Senior Ears

2011-10-10T10:27:00.001-07:00

HDTV televisions have technology built into them to deliver stunning sound. Unfortunately most of them have cheap speakers, which produce bad sound. There is no room to include good speakers, so that cheap 3” speakers are usually what you get, no better than one of the early radios in the 20s and 30s, in other words, awful.

With more and more concert productions coming over Internet and devices like TIVO, I wanted to hear the good sound. There are two main approaches: obtain a remote headset, or add external speakers.

Here are some headsets.

Click for the Sennheiser RS120 926 MHz Wireless RF Headphones with Charging Cradle, which are are well-rated. I like them, but if you do not like the large ear pads, there are stethoscope types, such as these Click for TV Ears Headsets. Or you could go for wired earbud earbuds like those for the MP3 and iPod players. Some of these have a volume control on them.

Click for Philips-SHE2850-37-Earbuds-Control/dp/B000G33V6G with volume control. You just plug them in to the earphone jack.

You could go out and buy a theater sound system for hundreds of dollars but those systems often take up a lot of space.

A few of the newest hearing aids have bluetooth technology which delivers sound directly into the ear and not out thru a speaker and back in through the hearing aids microphone, eliminating ambient sounds which interfere. Click for Bluetooth Hearing Aids. Normal hearing aids will just give you the bad sound from the set's internal speakers.

For seniors who may not have the space or want big speakers, this is a problem. The average senior also has hearing loss. Half of men have a 40% hearing loss, concentrated mostly in the upper registers (see my earlier post on hearing aids).

Yet with some hearing loss, I still love music and and good sound.

One option was to plug in computer speakers into the headphone jack. Dell has some good such speakers.

I realized that all I needed was an amplifier and good speakers. I had an old set ot KLH speakers, 20 years old. They were designed by the legendary Henry Kloss. Could they still be available?

These speakers are used with a ancient amplifier and my PC to deliver sound from Spotify which are stunningly beautiful, even to my old ears. Spotify provides sound using better technology than most computer sound. I boost the weak upper frequencies with the computer’s equalizer.

The old speakers deliver as good sound as I have ever heard. They are small, well made, and cheap.

I wrote the KLH company in Santa Inez California, a beautiful coastal town in California. Sure enough, they still had a pair of 970as, shipped for $30. Click here for KLH. In BestBuy I saw what looked like the same speakers for about the same price, but under a different brand name, maybe a knock-off

Looking thru Amazon for a cheap amplifier, I found a well-rated one for $30 with lots of good comments on it from those who bought one. The amplifier was from Pyle, a PCA1. Click here for the Pyle amplifier.

Like most HDTVs, ours has the ability to provide great sounds thru the amp and speakers. The HDTVs usually have equalizers which adjust the sound to your hearing. Add to that the wonderful technical sound cspabilities of the HDTV, and you have a concert home theater system for almost a pittance (less than $65 as opposed to hundreds of dollars.

Note that the first set of speakers from KLH included one bad speaker, which was replaced at no cost by KLH.

Other well-commented bookshelf speakers from Amazon include a Sony pair, Sony SS-B1000 5 1/8-Inch Bookshelf Speakers, Click here for the Sonys, plus speakers from the amplifier people, Pyle Home PDWR50B 6.5-Inch Indoor/Outdoor Click here for the Pyles. Dual and BIC also offer very inexpensive well-rated bookshelf speakers.

I also got a switch to switch between headset and speakers, a RCA DT902AV 2-Way A/V Switcher Click here for the switch.

It is a good idea to check that the speaker “impedance” specs in ohms match those of the amplifier. Also, read the many comments of Amazon buyers, including the bad comments. If the bad comments are over-fussy, you are on to a good buy.

There is no reason for seniors to deny themselves good TV sound, if only to use earbuds with a long earbud extension. Click for earbud extension cords

Review Your Subscriptions

2011-10-08T10:47:00.001-07:00

You might review your subscriptions, paper and otherwise.

I switched from Comcast to SeniorTV to save $40 month---I was paying for more than one HDTV/computer.     Then, when the price went up, I cut off NetFlix online, but kept the mail version which has more movies,   Then I cut that off, too.      I can resume for a month when movies come up that I like.

I started up HULU, which offers a wealth of recorded TV, and subscribed to Spotify with its virtually unlimited music anywhere for iPad and iTouch.    HULU is $5.99 a month but it comes on a free trial with TIVO.    I then subscribed to TIME, paper plus Kindle, at $30 a year---works beautifully on iPad.

I do subscribe to the local Lancaster Sunday edition in paper form (it’s fun to spread it out and sit down with it), but discontinued the online daily until they offer it for the Kindle.     We get the Kindle edition of the Inquirer for $5.99 a month, and the New York Times latest news for Kindle for $1.99 a month, updated every 4 hours, a bargain.

All in all, much better choices.     With all media, including paper, you want it so that it is available wnen YOU want it.   With libraries all over WV, it is fun to see what others are reading, like Grogan’s autobiography I browsed thru up at Spring Run but then checked out of the Lancaster library online for the Bookmobile   Some books just don’t come in eBook form yet, or are already checked out online by someone else.

The books I have published come both ways---don’t know why anyone would do it any other way.   I get the cheapest way when I buy one, lots of time an overun like TIVO for Dummies at a few dollars. My Lulu books are free online.   Be sure to publish the stuff you are creating.

So far, Flipboard on Ipad brings me the New Yorker, The Atlantic Wire, the Economist, not to mention Facebook, and even this website, all in magazine form, all free, for now.   I get the Wall Street Journal online “TV” channel on iPad. I read both the WSJ and NYT and LA Times on the browser..

I should add that I read the online Lifehacker website and enjoy it immensely. Try it!

Old or New Hardware with the Cloud??

2011-10-08T10:04:00.001-07:00

With cloud computing, and with the computer acting largely as a terminal to other powerful computers in the internet cloud, you would think an old computer would do fine.

Yes and No.

There are trade-offs.   There are pros and cons.

Battery, speed, multitasking, software, proprietariness, ease of use, cost, and so on.

I got out an abandoned 7” EEE PC to see what it could do.   It runs Ubuntu 9.10 very well indeed, so it has access to internet.     It is fast enough if you are doing only one thing at a time.

(Available now is a slimmed-down fast version of Ubuntu for old netbooks, called Lunbuntu (light Ubuntu).     Click to download Lubuntu, then follow the simple instructions.   You download two files--starting one sets up a flash drive which, when will start up a live version.) Ran live on my 10" EEE PC without incident---runs lightning fast. hmmm.

It lacks a Kindle reader for now, but it does have Lucidor, a very capable reader.    It also accesses most cloud music, and Hulu recorded TV..     It runs Chrome browser and apps generally.

It has no spinning drive, a big advantage for portability.   But its battery life is low.    It is fussy to connect to wifi.     Otherwise good.

Newer devices are proprietary to some extent.   They do not access everything. The new Kindle Fire is nice and small, easily carried in a big picket.     The unknown is to what extent browsing will be limited by having Amazon mediate everything.

Now I don’t mind that mediation.    If I subscribe to Spotify (nearly all) music for a fixed fee for anything, it is OK with me for Spotify to see what I am listening to, and pay royalties accordingly. However, if mediation restricts my access too much, that will be a no-no, and a farewell to that system.

Whether the Spotify marketing scheme will come to eBooks is still unknown.   This scheme offers broad access at a fixed fee (or free with advertising). I would welcome it.    In the meantime, I am stuck with the Fire’s library or the iPad/Touch libraries.

I would do the same for TV, pay a fixed fee for my choice of content, a little like cable or satellite.

The selection of device, therefore is contingent on content availability and content cost.

There is also the choice of apps, with Apple way out in front.     Old equipment will handle most Google apps, though.

We will see what apps are coming with Windows 8.
  Each provider has a unique marketing stance.

Apple sells content in order to sell devices.    Amazon sells devices in order to sell content.     Google provides device and content in order to sell advertising.     Microsoft sells Windows software for nearly any computer.   Ubuntu gives it away free.

They all have a role.   They all need to do what it takes to compete with each other. I don’t see a “winner”. I see development until all media is available at the least cost.

Keep your old computer for generation of documents (what more do you need, unless it is too slow?) and try a new device for consumption of media.     Minimally, have a Kindle, iTouch, or iPad.     In not too long most of us will have shifted from paper to device for a lot of reading (I still read the Sunday paper; I get some stuff BOTH ways--does not cost any more for TIME, for example ($30 a year).)

Then, with a cheap cellphone and GPS you have it all on the cheap.     The iTouch even has a GPS adapter.

Check out eBooks from (Lancaster,etc) Library

2011-10-08T09:56:00.000-07:00

As of this month, eBooks may be checked out of your local library for Kindle (available earlier for some other devices):

Click here for the Lancaster Library Check-out Page

Check Out a Public Library Book for Kindle

You can borrow Kindle books from your local library's website, and, with the click of a button, have them delivered to your Kindle device or free reading app.
Instructions:

Visit the website of a U.S. library that offers digital services from OverDrive.
Check out a Kindle book (library card required).
Click on "Get for Kindle." You will then be directed to Amazon.com to redeem your public library loan. You may be required to login to your Amazon.com account -- or create a new account -- if you're not already logged in.
Choose to read the book on your Kindle device, free reading app, or Kindle Cloud Reader.

Note: Public library books require an active Wi-Fi connection for wireless delivery to a Kindle device. Library books will not be delivered via your Kindle's 3G connection. If trying to send to a Kindle device and do not have an active Wi-Fi connection, you may instead choose to load your library book via USB. Both Mac and Windows users can manage Kindle content through a USB connection.

You may also check out audio books.

Cloud Begets Kindle Fire and Weebly Website Maker

2011-09-28T12:33:00.000-07:00

BANG!! Something good for seriors. Coming out of nowhere, Amazon has come out with the Kindle Fire, a mid-sized color touch Pad/eReader halfway between iPad and smartphone. The eBook comes of age.

(Voltaire: The instruction we find in books is like fire. We fetch It from our neighbors, kindle it at home, communicate it to others and it becomes property of all.)

To deal with its 7"screen, in between smartphone and iPad, they have employed cloud tech The cloud is used simply to mediate websites to fit the screen, and refresh quickly using powerful cloud computers to "feed" the Fire. I don't think Amazon would dare risk its reputation to fail on this---I ordered one immediately. Does this start to render operating systems obsolete? Think so.

I also tested out the Weebly web page which creates a website quickly online from the cloud. Could it possibly work? Indeed, it did, a new website with blog included in about an hour. Another creator is Webnode. Click for Weebly Howto Video

So, more and more goes to the cloud, unrelentingly. The combination of small mobile computers with cloud supercomputers is a winning combination, and to use a hackneyed phrase, certainly a game changer. The same goes for migration of apps to the cloud. What came before will soon become obsolete. I will need to rewrite parts of my November talk---we are entering on a new phase of computing!!

Note: the Fire is $200; the existing $114 Kindle is now $79.

Recording SeniorTV Local HD with TIVO

2011-09-21T19:55:00.000-07:00

Recording Local HDTV with TIVO

(for Willow Valley Retirement Community residents who need to watch TV, and the wealth of online media, from SeniorTV (like lectures) at their convenience by recording it with the TIVO.)

(In short, do a manual scan of channels so that "dot" channels appear; get the program, time and non-HD channel information; then set up a manual recording for the corresponding "dot" HD channel.)

Basic Set Up (does not need to be repeated):

1. Do a manual scan: (just one time)
Settings & Messages > Settings > Channels > Channel Scan > Scan.
Then, go to the Channel List and make sure the HD channels do appear: i. e. 8.1, 21.1, etc.

2. Go to the Program Guide. To make things easier, if not already set up as a Grid, hit <enter> to then select Grid mode from the selection. Go to Tivo Live Guide and hit <enter> to change to Grid.

3. Record an Episode

Important below: to get the program information for the HD channels, you must go to the corresponding SD or standard definition channels in the program guide. The HD channels do not show the program information. So...

Find the time and channel for the program for the standard definition channel, i.e. look at channel 6 (or 33-PBS), 7 or (27-ABC), 8 for NBC, 9 or (21-CBS), and 11 for Fox. Or from the online guides or newspaper.

Note the corresponding HD "dot" channels you will be scheduling:

6, PBS – 33.1
7, ABC – 27.1
8, NBC – 8.1
9, CBS – 21.1

Set up a manual TiVo recording for these HD channels:
(Find Shows > Record by Time or Channel > Set UP Manual Recording)
for the time and appropriate "dot" channel.

/MK, with appreciation for the work of T. Poulos to solve this vexing problem for senior TV viewers.

What is a Computer?

2011-09-11T09:43:00.001-07:00

What is a computer? The question comes up from time to time.

I sometimes get described as a computer/PC user/teacher with a missionary zeal. Thanks, but no.

Actually I am a tech guy who is always looking for the most appropriate tools, whatever they may be. It is not so much the tool that interests me as the problem and solution. I often do not recommend a PC. One resident here says the ONLY device a senior should use is an iPad.

That comes from working with individuals users directly, one-on-one. The biggest complaint from users: why does it need to be so complicated? What will WORK for me?

It doesn't need to be complicated to be a computer. New devices, both more specialized and more converging, work better. So often I see a senior trying to use a cast-off device under a great handicap.

I don't classify devices by type at all, I look for the best tool. I don't care what people call it Kindles, smartphones, TIVOs, and so on, are all computers, just with a specialized function. All the devices with processors are computers if you look up definitions in any dictionary or encyclopedia. . No definition confines computers to PCs and/or Macs, which are an older type of computer with a keyboard. Newer are smartphones, getting bigger all the time.

Check out the definitions. Look for the best tool for the job. Also, the best all-round computer for some might be a ChromeBook. Then, there is that new color Kindle 7" Android device. For seniors, the Telikin.

How to Set Up Your TIVO

2011-09-02T09:38:00.001-07:00

To watch TV at your convenience your need to record it. Your choices are limited. I have found the TIVO to be the best bet with Comcast.

The TIVO is by far the most versatile box apart from a computer. It accesses pre-recorded shows from such sources as HULU.

Browse these videos to get the idea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xopAAx_vaiA

http://www.youtube.com/user/TiVo#g/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tqHY7cYuETw&feature=related

Here is a video on how to do the basic setup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XLAdAshMcU

Now, the TIVO needs to be connected to your TV provider and to your phone or internet. I connected mine to internet with TIVO’s wireless adapter, which just plugs into the back of the TIVO.

I have Windstream as my internet provider, which installed a way to connect my computer wirelessly. I like the fact that Windstream did the installation and provided a simple and reliable combo “box”.

For those who want to know the details, the Windstream DSL router, which plugs into a telephone jack, is uniquely a DSL combo modem/router and has wireless built-in. It could not be simpler to use.

The Windstream internet service is a sustained speed of 3 mbps, just enough to handle TIVO, movies, and all the rest.

http://www.windstream.com/

Alternatives to Windstream:

maybe...Clear Communications - I have had this service for a year now.. It could not be simpler to use: Just a small device which needs only power. A computer with wireless picks up internet from it wirelessly. With Clear it is important to make sure it will work at your location---easily done by borrowing someone else’s device. Works well with Netflix. BUT, there may be setup issues with TIVO---I have it only for use with my iPad. Try at your own risk.

http://www.clear.com/plans/details/id/375

Comcast internet service offers faster “burst” speeds but no sustained guarantee. Not only must the user pay for a modem but also a wireless router, and here, have Comcast cable, too. For every HDTV device attached, you pay more. However, you CAN use TIVO with Comcast; it works well. Even a Comcast service tech recommended it over the Comcast box. A cable card from Comcast is also required. Comcast is starting to provide these from its stores for self installation into the TIVO box

This brings me to a key point. To get full use of TIVO, such as Netflix, movies, and pre-recorded TV from YouTube and HULU---like 50 past shows of NOVA, a few more things need to be done. I would not have it any other way, as major TIVO functions would be lost. This requires internet service as described, and wireless, unless you have internet service at your TV.

TIVO takes you thru the steps to activate all the wealth of TV and video online. What is happening is that you are connecting TIVO to internet via your internet service. These are described in the documentation and on the website.

What needs to be done is to set up networking. This is done at the TIVO. Anyone with computer savvy will find it a smooth process. For wireless, TIVO will ask the name of your wireless and the password.

Connecting to computer makes it easy to access photos and music. TIVO guides you through that. At this point others who do not have or use a computer will have TIVO access to internet, where most of the action is nowadays. (It should not be necessary to be computer literate to use TIVO and access online stuff, but computer literacy helps with installation.)

Then, another optional step. TIVO offers a way to transfer recorded shows to a computer and reverse (the latter costs another $25 or so). Since my computer is where I exercise, I view TV on computer while exercising, when I have time. I don’t need the reverse function---everything is already accessible on TIVO.

I had trouble finding a complete setup video on YouTube. Here is a “wordy” but thorough setup.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDrbGMveoAM

Another resource is “TIVO for Dummies”. I found it quite useful and available on Amazon new as a remainder for less than $2 but with $3.99 media shipping. Also for Kindle, etc.

Note: SeniorTV will be offering ISP service here at WV, but we will not know how it will perform until installed. We need to learn if it will provide the needed bandwidth or speed in mbps locally and, especially, under load for video. The TIVO channelguide may or may not work, or work well, with SeniorTV.

Some Cloud Computing Resources

2011-08-29T18:29:00.000-07:00

Cloud Computing is the natural evolution of the Web as envisioned by Tim Berners-Lee, its founder, using many technologies, starting with peer-to-peer networking as he first conceived Web interconnection, to today's increasingly web-based computer. Click links below for more...

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud Computing Short and Sweet - with more good information about computing securely

A Short (Free Downloadable) Book on Cloud Computing - more technical about the cloud concept

For iPad, just download and drag the downloaded pdf file to iTunes Books, then select for transfer; for Kindle EMail as described at right; or just download and click on the file to read on your computer.

Security

2011-08-23T08:12:00.000-07:00

Working with users, I am never at a loss for subjects for new posts, and will welcome comments on this one: Security.

At the outset, let me say I don't even trust the so-called experts, and conspiracy theorists, on security. If there were that many true experts on security, we would have few failures. So, what to do! Simple:

NEVER EXPOSE ANY OF YOUR SENSITIVE DATA IN THE FIRST PLACE!!

That might not be entirely possible, but it is a good objective for computers and everything else. The big exposures are credit cards, Social Security numbers, and the like, and not computers per se. Shopping in stores is where you need to be careful.

However, as always with changes and with what is new, there are always new fears. Also, it is not just us seniors who resist change. Yet changes are making things a lot better for all of us. If you work individually with users, as I do, you have experienced the need for newer simpler and safer systems and have seen them develop.

The "cloud" is really just a new name for internet, but with programs and data in a safer place than your home computer connected to internet, especially wirelessly. Rapidly adopting cloud computing: Microsoft, Apple, Walmart, EMI Industries, (music), Sony, Amazon, Intel, oh, and IBM---you get the idea!!

To be considered protected, data from one user must be segregated from that of another, it must be stored securely at rest and it must be able to more securely from place place. Newly cloud providers have systems in place to prevent against data leaks or access. These safeties too often did not exist heretofore.

I believe cloud computing to be a great resource to improve security. Cloud computers minimize the threat from viruses, keep data more safely, eliminate failure to update, and are free from crashes. With data in the "cloud", in fewer places,exposure to risk is also minimized. I keep backup data in more than one place, though. Suffice it to say that if the cloud computer I am using quits, it is of little concern to me---I just go to another one: all my stuff is there. I cannot think of why anyone would want to hack into it.

The latest cloud computer apps, which use the web page for an application in the cloud, can be a great step ahead in security. The new Kindle app is a wonder. It is in one place, and not on your computer at all. Way to go, Amazon!! Better that program and data be in one well-policed central place where quickly updated than exposed to millions of computers.

We all have our money in a bank computer if not under our bed. Our bank account is just numbers in some computer somewhere. You can, however, keep accessibility limited. You should keep paper records somewhere, such as a safe deposit box. I therefore use computers for transactions in a very limited way. Obviously, it is nearly impossible not to use them nowadays, especially if you are not so mobile.

In theory there is always a loophole somewhere for security, however remote. There are ways to protect further, thru tunneling and VPN. You could run a complete virtual operating In system like EyeOS, and so on. You could route thru a second router. You could use a Linux computer. By all means, use these measures if you are concerned. BUT, wherever possible, just

NEVER EXPOSE ANY OF YOUR SENSITIVE DATA IN THE FIRST PLACE!!

References:

Why the Cloud is Safer - (Click) - by Simon Crosby, (taught at Cambridge University, England before going into the private sector)

Even Safer with a new dedicated "cloud computer" - (Click).

Safer with an older computer:

Some old tried and true rules for safer computing from Leo Laporte:

1. Don’t open email attachments; even if it’s from someone you know. If you do get something from someone you know, make sure that they really sent it to you. Email attachments are the number one way viruses and trojan horses get into your email. You might also want to turn off HTML email in Outlook and other programs. HTML emails are just as dangerous as rogue web sites, and can spread infections just by previewing them.

2. Don’t click links in email. That link could lead you to a phishing site, or the link may lead you to install malicious software. Copy and paste links into your browser, or type them in by hand instead. Another reason to disable HTML email – the HTML hides the real destination of that seemingly innocuous link.

3. Don’t download files from places you aren’t absolutely sure are safe. Stick with the well known sites. Teeneagers who use filesharing software like BitTorrent, Azureus, Kazaa, Morpheus, Grokster, and Limewire, often unwittingly download spyware and trojans. If you must, quarantine all downloads then scan them a few days later with an updated anti-virus.

4. Update your OS regularly! Turn on automatic updates in OS X and Windows. Apply all critical updates immediately. Criminals often create hacks within 24 hours of Microsoft’s patches (these are called zero day exploits), so you need to protect yourself the day the patches appear.

5. Use a firewall. The best firewall is a hardware router – the kind you use to share an internet connection. Even if they’re not billed as firewalls, they are, and they’re quite effective. I also recommend turning on your operating system’s firewall – even if you have a router – but I don’t recommend third-party software firewalls. They cause more problems than they solve.

6. Never run as an administrator in any operating system. Administrators have way too many priveleges that malicious people/code can take advantage of. Run as a limited user as much as possible. Windows Vista, Linux, and Mac OSX allow you to run a majority of features, but with some additional safety, as a limited user.

...and from Microsoft, if you are paranoid... - (Click)

...and a video on security from Google... - (Click)

The Google Cloud

2011-08-15T12:09:00.001-07:00

Google is not only by far the most universal search engine---it is the magic door to the internet “cloud” and its wonders. None of the wonders costs us anything.

Gmail, first of all, is the EMail service most people nowadays use. For seniors, it is important because it is the easiest to use: See how here:

http://mail.google.com/mail/help/benefits.html

Once you have it, the Gmail login and password open up the magic door, though not all Google “apps” even require that.

The necessity of setting up the GMail account puts off some seniors who want to keep their old Email address.     The idea, though, is to go ahead and sign up and keep your old Email until ready to use GMail for its Email benefits.      Mail can be forwarded to Gmail without changing your old Email address!

Gmail searches your past Email and keeps it in folders.   Old mail is never lost.

When you do change to Gmail later, just Email your new address from the old one in a single group mailing to everybody and make sure your critical Email partners, such as your doctor, confirm it.     First, make sure that all your contacts are up to date.

What else does Google then do?

Even without GMail, the Google Chrome browser is now dominant.    The browser, remember, is your window to internet, like IE Explorer, but better.   Chrome offers voice searching of Google, and Chrome also searches as you type and offers suggestions along the way to save typing.   If you need a microphone, they can be found on Amazon for as little as $5.

http://www.google.com/chrome

Chrome offers a simplified screen. Bookmarks or favorites appear across the top of the screen for easy access to all favorite and commonly used sites. Tabs also appear above them across the screen to make it easy to go back without losing your place.

Within Chrome, Google Voice can be added to make and receive phone calls in Gmail, also send and receive text messages.

Though you need to wait in line for it, Google+ offers a more rational alternative to FaceBook. It is growing quickly.

More basic, Google offers Picasa, the easiest photo organizer and editor. When signed up, all photos are automatically organized. Clicking on a photo makes touchup simple. Picasa is known for its polish and simplicity.

A single click can send your photos for safekeeping on the web. From there they are accessible with slide shows, anywhere, including HDTV sets with AppleTV, TIVO, etc.

As if the Picasa photo editor were not enough, Google also offers Piknik. a superb professional photo editor Google bought for the purpose.

If you are changing computers, Picasa Web is the place to put your photos during the changeover and also a safe place to keep a backup of them.

Another major Google app is the “cloud” word processor, Google Docs. Documents are kept there safely and shared or accessed from anywhere, also important when changing computers or working from somewhere else than your home computer. Documents can be kept in MSWord format. Spreadsheets may also be done, and presentations.

Music is kept on Google Music beta, a new service and another place accessible everywhere, desirable when changing computers.

Google’s “Web Store” offers mostly free bookmarks and apps accessible from Chrome browser home screens, with icons for easy use. Tiny bookmarklets can also be added to Chrome without taking much space. One bookmarks hold all my “cloud items”. One bookmark is to eHow website (for help in how to do things), and, another to YouTube (for “how to” videos and music).

Another bookmark holds a folder for all accounts such as doctors, finances, etc. Still another, quick ways to send a web page, Gmail, or notes to Evernotes, my indexed and searchable notebook). Others bring up CNN, Amazon, Google calendar.

Google calendar keeps your appointments for access when you need it, and for sharing with others such as on smartphones, where Google contacts from GMail may also be shared.

Google Reader sifts through media to assemble items of special interest in one place, up to date. It also gives easy access to radio and video podcasts (recorded broadcasts).

Google Books brings up a place to search and read books directly on the webpage, online and onscreen, without further ado. Kindle has just recently opened up a similar “cloud website”. Google News brings news with one click.

How paid for? You already paid for them in advertising for almost anything you buy. For years advertising supported media, and it is no different with computer media. Free.

Big EMail Improvement (Click Gmail Below)

2011-08-05T06:39:00.000-07:00

Enable Gmail's Great New Preview Pane in Gmail Labs

How to Get Started with GMail (Click Below):

2011-08-02T12:55:00.000-07:00

How to Get Started with Gmail

Cloud Captures Far More Music (click Spotify below)

2011-08-01T04:42:00.000-07:00

Spotify Unshackles Online Music - David Pogue - NYTimes.com

TIVO Set Top Box, Recorder, and Online Player - Evaluation

2011-07-31T18:59:00.000-07:00

Many of us are looking forward to big improvements and changes in TV and internet: Medford Leas Lumberton campus with fiberoptics, and Willow Valley with SeniorTV, and elsewhere as more and more programming media moves online.

So, with new choices and TV changes coming everywhere, it is time to evaluate the TIVO set-top box. The reason is that more and more TV, even recorded network TV, is coming to us online.

The TIVO box has been around for 10 years as a TV recorder. The latest box is far more than a recorder. With the latest TIVO box, it does not matter where your TV is, cable, satellite, or online. The TIVO accesses it. The TIVO merges cable and internet. Really, to many, it does not matter where the program is coming from---you just need to be able to access it.

What sets TIVO apart from other recorders is ease of use and a search capability, A slide remote (optional) includes a keyboard, but if you have an iPad, TIVO is controllable from the iPad’s screen keyboard, also from iPhone, Touch..

It is over the recent year, especially, that much more video programming media has become available online, far more than on TV. You could ask whether this is really appropriate. Isn’t the TV a better access device for many? Well, the TIVO box simply brings online media to TV, and that makes a lot of sense, especially for those not so computer-literate yet.

The basic TIVO costs $100 plus $20 a month. As always, the device records TV so that you can play it back at any time. Installation is a snap---just plug it in.

Used with Comcast cable, and other such coax cable services, you probably will need a so-called cable card which lets you plug your TV into the service without any other set-top box, just like an antenna.. Service providers are required by law to provide the card to you. It looks like an old PC card.

Now, to the major benefits...

TIVO accesses services like Netflix, Amazon, and others. It access the internet “cloud” newly for your music and photos. It accesses iTunes libraries on your computer, using your computer as a holding tank, though Apple is now starting to shift activity to the “cloud” with its huge billion dollar cloud data center in North Carolina.

For this access you need a router, and probably a wireless adapter such as used for computers. TIVO offers its own adapter at about $80. I found an old adapter worked well, but was challenging to set up (it was listed as incompatible, though it was compatible once configured).

All this brings far greater choices. HULU newly brings network recorded TV to your television, even in HD up to 720p: NOVA, Nightly News, etc. With NOVA, 50 past shows are accessible. Typically, you must watch a short commercial at the start, and pay about $7.99 a month.

Amazon and Netflix offer similar network programs, usually free or at $.99 per episode. NBC Nightly News is free.

To activate some of these services, you may need to login with your TIVO account information or login name, or simply access a code from TIVO and use a computer to activate that code.

TIVO makes it easy to access podcasts (pre-recorded broadcasts and telecasts, or recorded audio and TV). Anyone can create a podcast, so that there are a huge number out there as compared with bTV programming. TIVO accesses the massive classical music videos of YouTube.

To access the cloud and your computer takes a little effort. To pick out standard “channels” with HULU you will want to go to a computer for that and choose them---that’s all.

There are more capabilities for computer users.

To access your computer’s iTunes (iPod) library, TIVO gets them currently directly from your computer. There is a simple TIVO option to create a network connection automatically.

Once this network connection is set up, (automatic) all items set up for iTunes can appear on TIVO, both video and audio broadcasts. Also, of course, yout MP3 music converted from CDs

I wanted to record radio broadcasts. (Why not have ALL media available on TV?) Newly, then, The DAR.FM service (Google it) is newly recording radio broadcasts for you online to access later. They will also stream the those broadcasts to your computer via iTunes, so that they, too, are also available on TIVO.

DAR.FM is downloaded and installed and offers a check-box to send broadcasts to your computer and thus to TIVO.

TIVO also has capabilities to transfer from TIVO to computer and the reverse. TIVO has a straightforward downloadable TIVO desktop for the purpose. Thus, TV recordings can be sent to devices such as the iPad. Hulu is also directly accessible on iPad.

iPad is, of course, starting to cut into laptop sales, and even, unexpectedly, TV sales. The iPad will even send selecte videos to your TV!!

One more thing. Your internet “pipeline” needs to be wide (fastflowing) enough to handle TIVO if you use TIVO for more than just recording. This capability is measured in mbps (just remember the mbps number (---forget what mbps is--just a speed measurement). For HD 1080i you will probably need more than 3 of these “mbpses”. Older non-HD TV requires .6 to 1 mpbs. Internet 720p 2 mbps. For safety it is better to have 6 mbps. Telephone-based DSL services have fairly constant speeds; Windstream 3 mbps, cable variable and are rated “up to” but with no guarantees!! HULU lets you adjust to your needs.

Google TIVO for the full story.

Useful Health Videos from NIH

2011-07-26T13:13:00.001-07:00

NIHSeniorHealth: List of Videos

The Internet "Pipeline"

2011-07-19T09:08:00.000-07:00

Today it came out that Comcast was starting live online TV of cable offerings via Internet, (CNN first).   The Philadelphia Inquirer then announced introduction of cheap Android devices to read the paper as opposed to the paper editions which cost them more.   Borders announced its closing altogether.

The trend is thus uniformly towards Internet, and away from paper and older technology.

Now, there are those who say they don’t use Internet and are not affected, but they said that about HD TV, too. This time more is at stake. Vastly more is available on internet than on books, TV, and newspapers!

That is why the choice of internet service, and the size of your “pipeline” is important. That pipeline is measured in mbps.     For any TV you need up to 3 mbps or more.    That is a hundred times that of not long ago.

Then, the choice is set top box is critical.    Such a box, which addresses both TV and Internet almost transparently together, is desirable, even without a computer.    The TIVO box is that device, and I will have an evaluation of it shortly.

Meanwhile, consider that the choice of internet service can be even more important than your TV service in the future.

As all this progresses, I have, of course, been evaluating TIVO and of services in the WV community.    So far, CNN comes in well to iPad from Clear’s hotbox and Windstream DSL, also quite well in the public areas such as the dining room areas via iPod Touch.

HD, however, both 720p and 1080i have had the hiccups on Windstream.   Comcast promises far faster internet of 12 mpbs, as compared with 3 and 5, but Comcast is variable and last week fell to 1.5 for one resident, though quickly corrected.

Of course, channel choices and costs are important in selecting TV service, but internet service will become increasingly important even to those who never though they would want HD a few years ago, and don’t know yet what Internet offers today.

Footnote: This morning CNN was fine via Clear but halting via Windstream compared to steady last night.

TV Changes

2011-07-06T10:38:00.000-07:00

With more and more TV on internet, and big TV service changes coming, I am evaluating all the options. So far, use of the TIVO set-top box to access internet TV, as well as cable, with one remote is cheap and really impressive. I will have more about it as time goes on. The bottom line is that the TIVO vastly increases what is available on TV. I will have a detailed posting on how to set the TIVO up, covering any hassles. Pretty straighforward, though. For now, I only needed to boost the power on my wireless router, (simple, with the help of DSL provider Windstream). So far, using the cheapest internet service at a mere 3mbps (7-7-2011: but with hiccups on full HDTV, which suggests that more speed is needed).

The Cloud Insures Against Past PC Disasters

2011-06-22T18:49:00.000-07:00

In the old days (including right up until now) it could be a nightmare when a PC failed. Not so much in the future, with cloud computing.

In the past, when a computer slowed up and finally quit, documents, often EMail contacts, drivers, and applications were lost or needed to be reclaimed IF they had been backed up, and after a lengthy reinstallation of of Windows applications and documents. You needed an external drive if you did back up files and it took a long time to transfer them back.

No more with the cloud. My documents are saved on the web in Dropbox. My music is newly stored on Amazon. Pictures on Picasa Web. Contacts and appointment calendar in GMail. When I start up anywhere most of my apps (word processor, presentation apps, etc.) are available on the web.

My bookmarks are synchronized so that wherever I log in to GMail, I have my bookmarks. Much is also synchronized with the Apple + iPad and iPod Touch (an iPhone without the contract).

So, when my old computer gives trouble, I just go to another computer and everything is there for me. Nothing is lost.

With my prototype laptop from Google, if it fails, I don’t even need to reload the OS, just restart it. The basic software is always up to date, since it runs on a distant server. A very cheap computer thus does the job, since everything runs remotely anyway.

Using the computer is also getting simpler. Wherever I have a microphone (really almost anywhere) I do voice searches now with Google Chrome or Dragon Search. My voice goes up to the cloud and comes back rendered into text. There is less of a need for a CD or DVD Drive or extra memory any more.

New laptops with solid state drives are now about to make laptops really portable without risk to the drive, and with the cloud, most of the data is not on the drive anyway.

TV or not TV - HD Recording

2011-06-22T03:42:00.000-07:00

There are three main ways of recording TV or watching recorded TV now that HD reigns. VCRs and DVD recorders are a thing of the past and cannot handle HDTV, which is now the norm.

. renting a DVR digital video recorder from a cable provider like Comcast

. buying and renting a recorder from TIVO

. recording on PC with Windows Media Center (the Mac also records HDTV and the iPad plays some TV, though not HD)

You could also more and more just rely on online recorded TV, such as HULU and PBS.

The benefits of recording are that you can watch when you want. You may not want to watch commercials. (In the case of prescribed medicine commercials, I choose to let my doctor make my prescription choices and not watch them.) Or you may want to stop and start live TV to answer a phone call, etc.

The Comcast option is simple. Your simply pay about $15 a month for their very capable HD capable DVR box. Comcast also has on demand TV. You need Comcast service, of course, which can be expensive for full HDTV and a full assortment of HD basic channels.

The TIVO box costs $100+ up front, plus $20 a month for TIVO service. TIVO also now offers access to online TV, and more and more “TV” is moving online, much already pre-recorded. You do not need a computer, though. With TIVO just an internet connection is needed. If that connection is not close to your TV, a $60 wireless box may be needed.

For cheap online TV only, the inexpensive Roku and AppleTV boxes also offer much, online only, most already recorded but usually not in HD yet. The boxes cost $60-100 and there is no blanket monthly fee for the box. There are instead fees for Netflix and other such services, and for some programming, but much is free. You do not need a PC for thse either, but you do need an internet connection at about $25 a month or more. If you have a computer, you probably have that already.

Viewing online on a newer PC also requires internet. To view regular TV channels on a PC you need a box to connect the PC to cable or such a service as cable or SeniorTV or satellite TV. I have found the HDHomerun device at $70+ to be reliable. This device can stream to multiple PCs and even stream multiple channels. (Tech readers: the box even works with Ubuntu 11.4.) Most digital and HDTVs can accept input from a PC.

A fast newer PC can also record HDTV. The recording time is likely to be 10-20 hours as opposed to 35-up for the DVR boxes.

I will be evaluating the new TIVO Premiere box. Meanwhile, I will be using a PC with Windows Media Center for recording without either the upfront or monthly costs. My newer PC also sends to my HDTV.

Choices, again:

Your PC and SeniortTV service, plus internet ($$)

PC or Roku or AppleTV for online only, plus internet ($)

Senior TV and TIVO, with or without internet online TV ($$)

Comcast or Cable ($$$)

When to Upgrade Your Computer

2011-06-20T04:16:00.001-07:00

When my old 2002 Dell 4550 PC Tower started hiccuping with repeated problems. I knew it was time to replace it. I had tried the usual “fixes” and was facing reinstallation of the operating system, a sort of heart transplant. I decided to try the latter anyway, for “fun”, and I learned something surprising which changes my approach to old computers, I think, but wait and see...

And, if this is all gobbledegook to you, read on anyway. It does not matter. You will get general idea on when to upgrade.

I needed a tower which could record HDTV, and hold my iTunes music library and otherwise support my iPod Touch hand-held music player, really a handy tiny computer because it does so much wherever I need it. I also needed a MUCH faster computer to keep up to date with the new.

Basically the tower is therefore a “server”, (that’s a holding tank), though wherever possible more and more of my storage is going to the cloud, in which case my tower is also a backup for the cloud. I wanted Windows 7 and its easy search, document preview, and document management capabilities. I do like Windows 7---it is just Microsoft I hate (not really). though I like Apple a bit better--a lot less to go wrong.

I had found a new powerhouse Dell Inspiron 560 for $279 upgraded to a 3.2 processor for $40 more. Consumer Reports recommended a similar computer from Dell, the 580.

Click for Dell details.

But how much could I have done with the old computer? I decided to find out.

When all else fails with an old computer, you are up against about a day’s work with uncertain outcome. You first need to find the old installation cds or get them from the provider. Now where were they, plus all the other “app” CDs? In the case of the Dell, I found them and downloaded updated new utilities from Dell’s site. Dell has guides and manuals, too. Dell is a big help, with clear instructions for the do-it-yourselfer. (Just “Google” Dell manuals.)

I actually had an early-adopter $50 Windows 7 upgrade CD to replace the old XP. It loaded quite easily to my surprise. However, it did not recognize the graphics card, and so on. Worse, I could not find drivers for Windows 7 on Internet. The new Windows 7 just does not support all old peripherals. I could not even get to internet to proceed. The old internet card was shot, and an old wireless adapter was not recognized.

The next step would be to load all the upgrades which were needed since Windows 7 was originally issued. After that I would need to install all applications. I might avoid other apps by using cloud apps like Google Docs as opposed to Word Perfect. Still, a lot more work.

I gave up. The old computer had a bad network card, an incompatible graphics board, no more XP support and upgrades, and no ability to provide what I needed above. It also had a loud whirring and irritating wining noise, but that did not bother me that much due to my loss of hearing. It now took three or four tries to get started after being shut down, but I had just been leaving it on.

But was there a way to use it somehow?

I tried something I had tried for years without success. As a server, or just to use internet, I could maybe use Linux, a free alternative to Windows. Now Linux always had failed me in one way or another, but in recent years a philanthropist, and Google, too, have both been supporting it and Google has adopted it for its nifty Chrome computer. What if I tried the Google Chrome OS installer? An alternative would be something called Ubuntu. I downloaded both to CD with my laptop. Then I booted the old tower with the CD.

Click here to get Ubuntu...

WOW!! In ten minutes both worked, including basic apps!! TEN MINUTES. Free, too! I might have needed only a network connection for internet.

Well, the old computer is going to be laid to rest anyway, because it does not support my iPod Touch* nor record HDTV, but I do have a new way to help others stave off buying new. Just try Ubuntu at least until completely exasperated with the old computer's shortcomings. Might be OK if you wanted nothing but browsing internet.

Footnote: the old computer may not be laid to rest right away---it runs internet browsing faster than the others, probably becuase it is not bogged down with Windows or Mac.

TV or not TV

2011-06-13T09:38:00.001-07:00

I watch more and of my TV and video online, either at the computer or on TV or with Roku (or AppleTV). Most is not live but recorded. The day may come when I do not need cable or satellite, nor its cost, though there is now a charge for some online offerings. The $60 Roku box Click here for Roku delivers much recorded TV and even some overseas live TV, plus recorded broadcasts and my CDs. I recommend it for anybody.

The offerings online are increasing daily, with much PBS Click here for PBS, and with university lectures available via Apple iTunes via computer (free).

For example, a consultant to this retirement community (Willow Valley) has turned my attention to the stimulating offerings of TED online Click here for TED .

Recently Willow Valley Click here for WV, my retirement community, has offered us a choice: Comcast TV or low-cost in-house SeniorTV, a satellite-based provider like DirectTV or DishTV, but using the pre-existing cables.

Which to choose?

In the past, those with a choice have often asked for help in their decision. The answer will depend on their needs and wants and pocketbook.

To cut to the chase, the choice has often been made simply on channels offered or cost. There were those who wanted the Phillies if offered only on Comcast and those who alternatively wanted a lower price. The sports channels may now become more generally available now.

SeniorTV offers 40 HD channels in its basic price and HD to all TVs without added cost to the basic service, a bargain at $25 a month.

There is then the issue of whether you want to record or watch recorded TV.

Comcast offers a very good set top box for recording at a monthly cost. Other services may rely on such a box or you may buy one yourself, such as from TIVO Click here for TIVO at an initial one-time cost of $100-300 plus $20 a month.

Or you may may simply watch on your newer computer, or stream pre-recorded TV from your internet service, directly or through the Roku or AppleTV box ($60-80 and $100) Click here for AppleTV. You might not want or need TV service at all, yet have plenty of programming to watch online.

How confusing!

Basically I plan to have almost all the options and at low cost. Here is how.

I don’t need the sports channels and I will take the low-cost community coverage and use a $100 TIVO Premiere set top box.

I will be using an old computer to play recorded PBS, not HD but thru our large-screen HDTV---the local PBS offerings are otherwise very limited with a single channel as compared with eight in Philadelphia! Separately a $320 newer Dell 560s computer Click here for Dell will have the capability of recording about ten hours of HDTV, using a $130 HDHomerun HDTV tuner box Click here for HDHomerun (search my older posts).

I will save $180 annually by giving up the Comcast recorder and another $336 annually by not continuing Comcast service.

Also, consider the internet service itself and its bandwidth or speed. Comcast offers high-speed internet and others DSL or mobile hotspot service (Clear Communications). Clear covers the whole campus plus much of Lancaster, for example, with no wires or cables.

I would recommend Clear, Click here for Clear which I do have, and which delivers access to me in most places BUT I am not sure if it can handle the use by many in a small area for popular TV, or will be forced to "Cap" service I have it anyway.

So I have Clear but also Windstream DSL Click here for Windstream

Write down your needs and consider your pocketbook. All options are worth considering. All have some downsides.

Let me know if you find some better alternatives, especially for recording TV.

Bookmarks - Key to Organizing Your Browsing

2011-05-14T08:38:00.000-07:00

Bookmarks get you there fast.

Bookmarks are pointers to pages or websites or even programs like word processors. Bookmarks lead the way to easier computing. They can also direct documents to EMail, Facebook, Evernotes, for future reading, and newly to Kindle, iPhone, and iPad.

The idea is to get into your computer, do your stuff, and get out, quickly.

Originally they were hidden and you needed to click to have them listed. That was like hiding the dial of a radio.

More recently bookmarks have jumped to the fore, first in an an icon bar across the top of the screen, then bookmarklets taking much less space, and now, from Google, as large icons filling the entire home screen. Indeed, they have become the “face of the browser” on the home page.

Bookmarks are the key to easy use. I have these:

GMail, Yahoo,FaceBook, Calendar, Google Reader, YouTube, BookSearch, Amazon, EBay, Fancast (Cable TV), Mobile, Internet TV. The Mobile is for bookmarks which fit mobile device screens---all the bookmarks are available on my mobile devices.

I also have bookmarks to add a new bookmark, and send pages to FaceBook, Evernotes, Read Later via Instapaper, and Kindle, and to forward via EMail (GMail includes sending to KIndle). I should add Dropbox and Twitter, both for access and forwarding. Search Google for them.

As I mentioned, the bookmarks are shared and accessible anywhere I log in to GMail, another compelling reason to use GMail from Google. I used the latest beta test version of Chrome browser. It is supposed to allow me to print anywhere, but works so far only on my cloud prototype computer from Google and iPad/iPhone/iTouch. (5-19: now working for my other computers, and for iPod Touch for all printers using special software).

However, with the latest Chrome beta, I now have a main page which has icons for dozens more, such as the NYT, Picasa, Netflix, Pandora, NPR, weather, and so on. Clicking takes me to them instantly, and to Chrome Market for apps.

Soooo. In the morning I check mail and news, Calendar, weather and Reader. Later, with a mobile device, the same again. I use mSpot for music if near Wifi or 4g wireless access to internet. (Otherwise, for music and recorded broadcasts, I keep that right in the mobile device.)

Writing this, I thought of new bookmarks for podcasts and found Rocket-in-bottle.

Then, I designed a new homepage with iGoogle, which gives me snapshots of the main site with many sites on one page. Amazon also came out with a cloud storage place and I put all my music there, too.

It happens that all these changes put into older computers those similar icons and bookmarks found in smartphones. They bring the same ease of use to our older and bigger computers, laptops and netbooks. Also to Google’s new Windows-free and Mac-free ChromeOS system for future cheap computers. And to the whole Linux world. Linux is free software which works like W & M but at no costs. Finally it is quite stable.

With all this, I expect to see super cheap and easy computers and tablets within the year. (5:19: to be out June 15).

Google is probably the largest advertising operation in the world and they are practically willing to give you a computer to get access.. Indeed, they gave 60,000 “cloud” computers away recently, including mine. It is reviewed below.

But you do not need to wait. You existing computer can be shaped up to run like a rocket, thanks to Google Chrome browser beta version. Just download it.

Using an iPod Touch

2011-04-28T17:03:00.000-07:00

After writing my last blog posting about getting the benefits of a smartphone on the cheap below, I remembered I had written a presentation for a talk at Medford Leas a year ago about using an iPod Touch. The talk was never given due to lack of interest at the time. Click below to run through it. (Please excuse the squashed appearance, and open the slide show in the full window---I had to convert from the old PowerPoint file to the Google Presentations I use now.)

Smart Phone on the Cheap

2011-04-20T11:46:00.000-07:00

I think every senior should carry a smart cell phone but not need to pay the exorbitant monthly fees for way less than satisfactory digital service.

High fees do not guarantee good performance. Very often I cannot find a nearby 3g or 4g tower or even service at all. Two Android phones (a Motorola Cliq and a Samsung Behold) have been just plain terribly sluggish as compared to the iPhone, which has had poor service from ATT). All in all, a complete waste of time and money,

So, what to do? I don’t shy away from what talking about what seniors can do to avoid problems when they need help. Here goes.

A way to avoid expense and trouble is to have a cheap throw away phone and an iPod Touch with no monthly fee and the new Talkatone app.

The Apple iTouch is just like an iPhone except no monthly fee. The latest 4g Touch will work best but there are work-arounds for older Touches. The new Touch costs about $230.

Talkatone works over Wifi only, which is generally available in built-up areas. The throwaway is for when you need help out in the country, away from Wifi, or for 911 calls.

Talkatone is free.

I have it configured so that my wife Doris has my old Touch, which cannot stay on all the time to receive calls but gets messages when she starts Talkatone.

You need Google Voice to use Talkatone, also free. With Google Voice, your free phone numbers are not only way of routing calls to ANY phone, but simply a free way to receive and initiate calls to other phones or computers.

For an older Touch, I have it so that calling the new number reaches computer, home phone and Touch all at once. Messages can be text or voice phone and are automatically transcribed from voice to text and emailed.

I will be working on auto announcing EMails on the old Touch. The Pushmail app is said to accomplish that for $4.99.

Here is how to do the above:

Set up Google chat. Get new phone numbers from Google Voice (search).

Forward calls to Google Chat (in GV settings), along with any other phones you would like to ring. My calls simultaneously ring on all my phones from Google Voice.

Download Talkatone app (search) on Touch(es). Log in as instructed. That’s it.

Why Cloud Computing?

2011-02-19T09:53:00.000-08:00

(Scroll down for previous posts such as WV presentation slides)

Why is cloud computing the buzz word these days, and why should we care?

Cloud computing is running your applications, such as word processing, from afar, the cloud. The cloud consists of all those other computers out there and their interconnections.

In cloud computing you, and many others, run your work from a single distant computer which holds the intelligence to do your work and your documents, too.

But isn’t that what we escaped when microcomputers first freed us from mainframes and control which excluded us from access, usually by accounting entities, which considered computers for accounting only.

Some critics have even pointed out that cloud computing does not do even as much as before.

Yes, but times have changed.

Instead of having millions of computers running many versions of programs on millions of computers, all subject to problems, would it not be better for us all to run from a single remote computer at the same time, always up to date, and protected from data loss, viruses, frequent interruptions from updates, and breakdowns?

And, best of all, with all that processing power somewhere else, then with our very cheap computer?

Just two days ago a power surge crashed my computer and nearly completed tax return. I did have a backup of my data, but the tax preparing software was gone. I had to reinstall the operating system.

Would not have happened with the cloud. Remote computers are much more reliable.

Next time my taxes will be done from the cloud. Much of the data I need is there already. Mint accounting already gets my info and even budgets my expenses directs from banks without any input from me!!

Cloud computing is simply the future. Does not mean your laptop is obsolete---it can use cloud computing. But no more installation discs and big hard drives.

My prototype cloud computer from Google is elegant and small and does not need Microsoft, Apple, or any other support. It is lightweight and connects from anywhere, even a cornfield. It has no easily damaged parts such as a spinning hard drive. In anything happens to it, any other computer can bring up the same stuff, and in an instant.

The promise of cloud computing is to do away with many of the problems of the past, always be up to date, and bring down costs. Best of all, cheap cloud computers are coming. They are starting production in China.

A Future Computer for Seniors

2011-02-14T10:45:00.000-08:00

There arrived the other day a prototype computer of the future (below). Evaluating the very nice MacBook-Air-like Google CR-48 prototype laptop got me thinking. What would the computer of the future for seniors look like?

Well, it would simply address many of the concerns I deal with in helping seniors use computers. Seniors, by the way, are the biggest untapped market for computers. They also need to keep connected. And they can afford to.

The future senior computer would be a tried and true shape: a book. The size and shape of a book has proved itself practical over centuries. Thin computers are beautiful but the thinness places too much unwieldy weight in the center of the senior grip. Thickness is better for older grips.

There needs also to be a handle on the thing. Simple.

The keyboard would have full-size keys but shortened in width only from q to p. The same keyboard needs to toggle to an alternative keyboard in alphabetical order for those who never learned to type.

Within the added thickness there needs to be space inside for a small auxiliary mouse, tiny but loud speaker, earphones, mp3 player, maybe things like a hearing aid. Seniors need all this with them. Of course, the computer could serve as a hearing aid.

The touch screen would be the matt glareless KIndle screen but oolor. The down-to-earth ChromeOs with the simple app buttons would be the default. There might be be a dual boot with Ubuntu for those who need a heavy duty word processor (seniors do a lot of writing). There needs to be a hierarchical tree screen directory of app buttons to make it easy to find the app you want.

There would be a quick and simple way to load up your mp3 player. One window with the computer files at left and the player files at right. The device needs to serve as a cell phone. The ChromeOs was probably actually inspired by smart phones. Let it be one.

No reason not to include Google’s GPS navigator. Cloud printing would work directly with wireless printers.

The integral case would protect the device without another redundant outer case as well.

Now, that would WORK for seniors!! Maybe everybody else, too!

Your thoughts???

EVAL of Google ChromeOS Test Computer

2011-02-09T09:25:00.000-08:00

Here are my initial impressions of the new Google ChromeOS in Google's ChromeOS Beta test computer I received from Google Monday, Feb. 7, 2011:

(Scroll down for previous posts such as WV presentation slides)

From: Martin Klaver at martin.a.klaver@gmail.com
February 9, 2011

First Impressions after two days exclusive use:

As a senior techie who helps seniors use computers to keep connected---as mobility, vision and hearing diminish---the following is my view. (Seniors stand stand to benefit from computers more from this OS and laptop more than any other segment of the population IF designed for them.)

Senior Needs:

support for reading, hearing, communicating, buying, handling finances, getting help, easy access to media

Impressions:

After two days with no other computer than the CR-48, here are my impressions.

Pros:

webos “tuning” via icon bookmarks is great,most like a radio, and therefore more to the point than the alternatives of searching and finding
long battery life is great and essential---the user should not always be looking for an outlet
zoom of text is essential for most seniors
a loud internal speaker is essential for half of those 75 and older
chicklet keys are fine
exclusive cloud access is sufficient and really a benefit
cloud use avoids many os confusion problems for seniors, data loss, viruses, and so on
no printer setup needed

Cons:

touchpad a bit too sensitive---I adjusted it and added a mouse
a dozen basic web apps should be preloaded
need a closer to kindle or book size (seniors love the Kindle)
therefore, keyboard should be full size but only q-p width
keyboard should toggle to alphabetical layout for nontypists
the weight needs to be less
Google Docs response is a bit slow, a bit too sensitive
need less gingerbread at top of screen except when cursor moves to top of screen
documents need iPad GMail feature to list EMails at left and display selected EMails at right
printing setup still a bit awkward

Wishlist:

toggle to alphabet keyboard from qwerty for those who cannot type and don't know qwerty
bluetooth (hearing benefits to seniors)
GPS (seniors use GPS more than any other tech)
cell phoning
use tmobile unlimited data
low price for seniors
senior “tips” easily displayed
no fingerprints on keytops
delet key

Puzzled About:

webcam purpose and use
internal memory access
data plans

Simplified Definitions of Terms from Talk

2011-01-08T09:35:00.000-08:00

Some Simple Definitions in Response to Questions from 1-13-2011 Talk

(but don't forget to "Google" for other definitions)

technology - tools

Google - search engine, advertising company with many free computer resources

Internet Cloud - Interconnected computers, similar to interconnected phones

Wifi - Wireless Access to Internet from nearby wired connections (cable or phone)

Hotspot - portable wireless internet access device

eBook - device and computer readable digital book

audible books - recorded audio book

3g, 4g - 3rd and 4th (current) faster wireless cell tower speeds

Kindle - original electronic book reader, uses WiFi or 3G (charges only for non-free books)

iPad - larger book-sized computer/reader with touch screen mainly for access to internet - WiFi or 3G

iTouch - like iPad but cell-phoned sized

Skype - free phoning for most computers and smaller cell-phone sized devices; clear sound and also video

app - a computer application to do a very specific app, such as Weather

AppleTV - a device to access internet media from TV

iTunes - media player and organizer which supports and loads iPods, iPad, and TV via AppleTV

netbook - small laptop with keyboard, generates and accesses media

YouTube - video and sound search engine for entertainment, music, howtos, video clips

GPS - navigation device, shows position and routes

Arranging Computers

2010-11-10T12:45:00.000-08:00

Moving, as many of you can imagine, I needed to rearrange our computers for new smaller spaces.

I decided to have computers double as TVs and vice-versa to save space. That convergence is now available, home-made or from the store.

Unfortunately I used the saved space for more devices, but I did cut the need for space in half. Each TV is also a computer. Each computer is also a TV. Also computers and TVs are far more conveniently located.

Also, it is much more convenient to sit in an easy chair and watch TV, read a book, or use a computer.---computers need such access that way, too.

To get that convenience, I had to use WiFi, which now streams HDTV to computers and also streams to HDTVs thru Apple TV. I also needed some long cables to get things where needed, up to 50 feet---existing outlet jacks were not always well placed.

What would the ideal setup be?

It is handy to watch TV and even computer screens, reclining, as TV in hotel rooms. HDTV requires half the distance from the viewer as the old analog, so that I needed to get computers and TVs half as far from old TV for the same size screen. That was arranged for chairs, sofas and beds, so that all can be used for computer or TV either sitting or reclining. I needed remote keyboards and meece (hi Herb), plus also special controllers.

I also wanted to be able to access eBooks and internet anywhere in the surroundings and further away.

In the building, TV and eBooks are accessed thru my WiFi network using HDHomeRun, the box that connects between cable and computer, and using Kindle eBooks software on the computers.

Then, the iPad works anywhere from Clear Communications pocketable WiFi “hotspot”. Initially this device worked sporadically, but now perfectly as towers and power have been upgraded. My smartphone also accesses most things from anywhere there is 3g or 4g (but not as widely available as claimed).

An electronic piano needed to be integrated for sheet music onscreen and composition. My CDs and converted LPs are accessible anywhere.

All this took some mind-bending and head-scratching.

Remote keyboards and meece from Microsoft are great. Small tables near chairs and sofas accommodate them and also remotes, such as for cable and Apple TV. Apple TV brings access to TV, Movies, YouTube, Podcasts, MP3s, and so forth. The tiny box can be moved about. Reviewers tend to overlook what this thing can do---the Apple TV, like the iPad, is a game changer.

It all finally worked, after some hurdles. My older TV devices were obsolete, and Windows 7 rejected them anyway. HDHomerun was a godsend, cheap, and paid for by selling my old stuff on EBay. I found that old monitors could not display HD.

It was a shock to learn that much cable HDTV cable is being encrypted for use only with cable boxes from Comcast, but I learned that basic cable is NOT to be affected.

The final result is access anywhere, regardless of mobility and vision problems, in minimal space, worth the struggle. The cost was low to do-it-myself.

Most will not want to do it themselves but simply to use the new combo TV/computers or boxes to use your HDTV as a computer. HDHomeRun is the best bet just to get HD on your ( newer) computer(s). But first figure out the best place(s) where you use a computer, read and watch TV.

Don't Put Up with it!

2010-10-10T12:41:00.000-07:00

Often I find users, old and new, struggling with a computer unnecessarily.

The most common reason is a bad mouse. The mouse should move and focus almost effortlessly. If your mouse does not do that, a new one is cheap. The best I have found is the Microsoft Wireless Optical Mouse---no cord and no ball.

Next is fighting computer slowups. Unfortunately most computers slow up over time. The only solution is to reinstall the operating system from disks provided by the computer manufacturer. First, though, all your computer documents must be saved to reinstall later. But that is unnecessary if you keep all documents online, This column is being kept in Google Documents, which is free. If my computer quits, I can go to another computer and work on it, and then go back later and reinstall the OS on the original machine. Also, I use DropBox for online storage..

Then there is bucking an old system whereas the newest computers are the simplest to use. Windows 7 is very nice, especially for adding printers and other add-ons. Apple’s iPad may be a nice choice for many in November when it adds wireless printing, but get a keyboard for it..

Printers are an everlasting itch and cost. The usual problem is nothing more than an expired ink cartridge. Printers seldom get completely obsolete, so that an old one will do. However, many newer printers are also copiers and scanners and can be wireless. They are also fast. Some operate independently of computer, such as to copy to a flash drive. I like the idea of putting one anywhere I have space. Some even print CDs (Epson).

Too many cables create the potential for poor connections. Laptops eliminate many such problems, but laptops also cause problems.

Some laptop keyboards are just plain too small. There is no reason to put up with that. I use a full-size Microsoft wireless remote keyboard with my laptop when it is being used at my main computer station.

Use of old software is frequently a curse. The latest online software is usually the easiest and safest to use and is often free, especially Google software and iPad “apps”. Are you still typing out your full searches or letting Google new “instant search” anticipate suggest them to save typing?

Browsers are getting faster and faster all the time, so update to latest versions. IE Explorer just came out with its latest for the Vista and Windows 7. I use all the major browsers at one time or another. Chrome has unique features which speed up my particular activity.

Small monitors (displays) are also annoying. I use a 22” but sometimes even my full 42” HDTV. I also set my display for larger print. It is even possible to use most cheap $300 netbooks or laptops with a huge display and large keyboard

Another problem is failure to use the computer for those things which ease and enhance llife. The MLRA website is underused, and in time most senior communities will handle most communications with residents online, as some already do. Among my frequently used helpful software: probably Evernotes, but also Google Reader, bookmarks, and even Amazon for its product reviews, which often contain help.

Any reader (of books) might consider, in addition to their computer, a Kindle at $139, although all books are not digital yet.. The screen is better than computer screen for books. The Kindle also plays MP3s and recorded broadcasts (podcasts). Kindle’s experimental browser is unreadable to use for most webpages, but that will change in time---CleanPage shows how this could happen through conversion of web pages to small screen. The Kindle zooms small book print and even reads out loud to you.

If you are comfortable with computers, and XP is still OK with you, now and then give yourself a fresh start by re-installing the operating system and even adding memory. I still have two towers. I’ll explain how and why in the future. But for everyday use I have a fast 64-bit laptop. Cost about $350 with free super Canon all-in-one printer.

You don’t need to put up with more inconveniences than necessary.

What's New

2010-09-23T07:29:00.001-07:00

What’s New

Almost every day there is something new in technology. Often long expected. But sometimes a welcome surprise.

Like Amazon’s Kindle eBook reader which came down to $139 last month, a huge price drop This is the price which will drive eBooks into wide use. Sold out in two days after being a announced. Nook followed rt $139.

Newly, WiMax provides wide-area WiFi that you access with a handheld “hotspot”. which connects you to internet wirelessly. The hotspot replaces your wired router with a portable wireless router. Simply, you carry WiFi with you in your pocket. like a cell phone. The device looks like a bar of soap and connects your laptop anywhere..

I found the Clear Communications WiFi hotspot to work both on Lumberton campus and at Willow Valley. It takes a few minutes for it to connect. Clear’s website has maps showing coverage.

With everything going to the web, including applications, I now have most files in the “cloud”--- Documents on Google Docs. Pictures on Google Picasa. Other stuff on Dropbox. And newly music on mSpot. The last was a lifesaver.

I had been converting LPs to mp3s and putting the files on a thumb drive---which unexpectedly disappeared and caused a momentary panic (it slid under the LP player). When I learned that mSpot file storage had become available I therefore shifted the files there. This wonderful program automatically saves music files from a directory, and plays them from an Internet web page. Simple. Free under 2 gigs.

I used a self-standing Ion Profile USB turntable and recorder for the LP conversions

mSpot was in the welcome surprise category. Now my old LPps are playable anywhere: in the car, on smartphone, or any computer anywhere.

The new Apple iPad tablet app FlipBoard converts FaceBook into a wonderful magazine format, and the iPad will get wireless printing in November, making it a serious all-round computer now for generating documents.

Let me know what you would like discussed in Tech Notes in the future. Keep connected!!

Access

2010-07-24T11:06:00.001-07:00

Much talk today is about easy and efficient access to information and services. Innovation is centered around getting you what you need as efficiently as possible, and when and where you want it. The economy is driven by it. Those who find new and better ways are rewarded for finding them.

Access does not necessarily mean providing the services, just making access easier.

In technology the new Apple iPad is an example. The time and effort to get information and services is slashed.

Earlier, EMail pointed the way. Email slashes mail delay. EMail also does away with the annoyances of telephone queues and interruptions, and allows us to address needs more efficiently. Your communications are there when you want them.

Access is not all about computers, though. Years ago, there was a trend towards pretty shopping malls. Nowadays it is towards ugly strip malls. Why? You drive right up to where you need to go and get done with it. Or you go to a single "box" store that has nearly anything. Also more efficient than a mall. Many more stores have restrooms right there, now often easily accessible at the front. More have a place to grab a bite to eat. More stores deliver, often with online ordering, even delivering groceries.

This is a change in culture from the past, good or bad. But it gives a social insight into what computing, and life, is nowadays, for many, especially busy younger people. Yet it could not be more beneficial for us seniors, too, as our mobility decreases.

Skype brings your grandchildren to you at home. The smartphone brings access wherever you are. With a netbook you can connect to internet even from fast foods like McDonald's.

Development is not done, though. The new iPad only accesses information best when another computer is used to channel information to it. Apple pretty much controlled that process, and clones of the iPhone lacked that capability. Of course, it should not be necessary at all to depend on a another computer to use the iPad. To improve access that dependence must disappear. That will happen. (As I was writing this, a program called doubleTwist appeared, a step in the right direction.)

Now that competitors have gotten over the initial shock of iPad innovation, there is much stirring to compete with cheaper and even more advanced alternatives, using Google's open and free Android operating system, already in wide use on smartphones. We will see tablet or book-like products everywhere at $200 and used as matter-of-factly as books, which they really are. EBooks are more accessible than hardcovers and paperbacks, and now outsell them on Amazon.

Years ago, computing was all about calculating or spreadsheets or word processing. The direction has completely changed. Now it is all about access and easing your everyday life.

All this is a boon for seniors who stand to benefit if they can only see what is newly available to them, and its merits, and adapt to new the improvements. All we need to do is learn how to use the new tech. Successful businesses of the future will be those who bring their senior services closer to us than ever thought possible before.

In retirement communities, too, the future is all about bringing access to services closer to residents, or residents closer to services.

What I Do with Computers

2010-07-03T07:53:00.001-07:00

Whatever do You DO at the computer? I get that question sometimes, though less and less nowadays.

I know that the person asking the question is often either thinking that I am using it as a calculator or that I am busy with spreadsheets and databases and programming. Never mind that I do not use it for any of those things, nor have I in ten years. They may be thinking I am using a Radio Shack TRS-80 from the 70s.

It is still a legitimate question. Some of us retired long before I began to do most of then things I do now. And many of the things I am doing, I have only just begun to do.

So what ARE they?:

Here are some of my favorite applications!! (Nowadays done mostly online and accessible almost anywhere.)

I do my news reading, now mostly on the iPad. I use Yahoo, Google News, AP, NYT and WSJ.

I listen to the radio, especially PBS, nearly any program at any time, and from any station in the country as it is broadcast.

I watch TV news (ABC, CNN and newspaper videos, YouTube).

I keep my datebook calendar and notes with Google Calendar.

I write my letters, and keep my address, contacts, and phone book, on GMail, where available anywhere on my cellphone.

I keep indexed notes on things I don't want to forget, or keep forgetting, via Evernote.

I get the papers screened according to my interests, using Google Reader as a selector.

I do my shopping. Amazon sells everything; JCPenney has a great online catalog, as does Target.

I get rid of old stuff (and tech) around the house thru Craigslist (classified) and EBay.

I get answers to health questions thru Mayo and the National Institute of Health (NIH).

I arrange for travel with Southwest, Tripadvisor, and Travelocity, checking hotel and restaurant reviews first.

I find low prices by just searching for items on Google.

I phone with speaker and free calling, using Skype, though EMail takes much less time.

I get solutions to computer problems. I just describe them for Google to solve.

I print stuff out, like maps, directions, instructions, recipes, cats. I send my photos to Walgreen's.

I check out books from the library and even for online reading.

I keep up with technology via NYT thenTechnology page, WSJ, and others like TWIT.

I get facts to support my political opinions, and vice-versa, get facts to develop my political opinions, though the latter is passe nowadays.

I enjoy the challenge of problem solving of all kinds, and internet helps me out a lot. eHow is a favorites site, but YouTube shows how, too.

I voice dictate brief notes and searches with Dragon Dictate and Search.

I maintain my blog: (snrtech), write Tech Notes, and submit comments and items of common interest to share with others on the wider world of Amazon and FaceBook..

Generally, Internet and networking not only service computers, but also our two iinternet bedside world clock-radios, Skype connected phones, Netflix, and even network my DISH TV to wherever I am. Internet lets me use my CD music library anywhere.

The cellphone connects to internet and also gives us driving guidance and traffic reports. Through it my music collection, and world radio stations, play in the car and in the fitness room through smartphone or iPod. Smartphones have their pros and cons. Mine contains about 100 CDs of music, all on a chip the size of a pencil eraser. I suppose they will soon be able to put them on a head of a pin. (I don't really care--I must getting older.) I am about to get the phone to find our car in parking lots---the car doesn't see to know where I am, or is it the reverse?

I published two books, one with an ISBN and available anywhere in the world. (I preserved a wonderful old autobiography by my great grandfather.)

That would just about encompass it? Right?

Not at all. Residents here are using computers to do all sorts of other things: voice recognition, designing web pages, planning social events, preparing slide shows, photos, archiving, converting slides, managing finances, tracking stocks, bird watching, and all the rest of the many activities of our busy lives. How could we otherwise get it all done and still enjoy retirement?

The Wonderful iPad

2010-04-27T12:04:00.001-07:00

Tech Notes for May:

Since when was a computer ever elegant, even beautiful, and a joy to use? Not to say slim, slick, sleek and slippery. Well, since April 2, when Apple gave us the iPad.

The Apple iPad is a media device the size of a pad of paper and simply the best computer yet to come. Or maybe not a computer at all, but a successor to the computer of the past, not so much in size and shape as in HOW, how well, and how fast, it uses Internet.

I think the iPad is a a game changer, a leap ahead in technology. So does Walt Mossberg, the dean of tech columnists. The iPad is a device to access any media without fuss or bother or computer knowledge. Books, journals, broadcasts, music, Email, college courses, phone, movies, personal event calendar, address list, recipes, and all the rest. The new iPad is the model for the future. It reads and works easily from an easy chair.

Speaking of leaps, the best prop for it in your lap is a medium-sized housecat, if you have one.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/earlysound/4490601295/

Full of unexpected benefits and a few shortcomings, this is a computer seniors should consider, housecat or not.

First, the shortcomings:

The device is bigger than a standard book. It might have been a bit smaller and lighter. The screen is (tempered) glass and without a case potentially breakable if it is dropped. . You need Apple's nice rubbery protective "dust jacket" case to make it less slippery to hold. The case works also as a stand. You will NEED wifi OR cell phone G3 service, or both. The device needs to be set up initially, and very occasionally updated, and /or backed up, by someone nearby with a computer, using iTunes.

This is not a replacement for your laptop or desktop to generate content such as webpages. There is probably not enough functionality for an expert user. The iPad does not run older tech (Adobe) video, though it runs most video, anyway, such as playing netflix movies.

The benefits:

T\he iPad is FAR better than a laptop or desktop at what it does to access content, plenty for a light user. Lightning fast, it is super simple to use. Just touch the screen---there is no mouse. No computer know-how is needed for anyone who really wants to use some simple new and better ways of doing things. It is more like a TV of the future than an old PC.

Discussion

The small touch keyboard is good, even for touch typists. Yet the Apple "Pages" word processor cannot print. WHAT were they thinking? ( There are workarounds for that, and this will change.)

You can add a normal keyboard with optional add-ons. Actually, my old foldup wireless keyboard worked fine, but I am typing this one-handed on the touch screen, and going fast on it.

For seniors, easy portability is especially useful. Zooming to very large text with finger motions is a big benefit. Searching internet by voice is nice. Such intuitive use, and the quick speed of response, is new, welcome, and overdue.

Here is the Mossberg review:

http://ptech.allthingsd.com/20100331/apple-ipad-review/

When you choose a computer it is always best, of course, to decide first what you want to do and then select the best match. With 150,000 apps the iPad offers a lot of choices. For heavy duty work you will still need an old fossil computer. Actually, the precision of the old mouse arrow is sometimes welcome, too.

Even with its limitations, I don't think many will be disappointed with the iPad just as it is now. If you want a computer which will give you most of what you want with the least amount of trouble, this is plain and simply IT. There a guided tour here:

http://www.apple.com/ipad/guided-tours/

One note: This is a proprietary device of a single company, and only just as open and adaptable as Apple sees fit to make it, for good or ill. It does not work with everything. It will be maybe as much as a year or so before open systems catch up and give competition, though Google has already announced its such device. There will also be much rapid development of applications for this and other new devices.

Traveling and Computers

2009-10-04T00:23:00.001-07:00

There are lots of options for computer access while traveling. The benefits are many, from EMail to travel help and assistance, including using the computer as a guide, even in a museum.

Simplest, course, is not to take along a computer at all, but to use computers along the way where available. Hotels without free computer use can be avoided in favor of those with a free available computer. Libraries enroute often have computers and access.

It is a help to have all your applications on Google, so that you can access personal EMail, phone and EMail list, bookmarks, calendar, itinerary, and so on , anywhere there is a computer. For that, set up a GMail account, and Google Calendar, Docs, etc. so that you can get to all phone numbers, addresses, and EMail anywhere.

The next simplest and most useful thing to do is take along a tiny $10 USB flash drive with such information on it, even along with applications like a browser. Use it, again, wherever a computer is available.

With a little more heft you could take along a smartphone with wireless and internet, such as an iPhone, or a cheap handheld equivalent without cell contract, such as an iPod Touch or Zune. Skype should be installed on the device. The iPhone is the most versatile of all cell phones, and also smallest, but there are new ones in the Palm Pre and MyTouch. The iPhone/iTouch are full computers and can record messages, read ebooks and audible books as you travel, even take notes. The latter device needs wireless for some functions.

Free wireless access is available in many hotels and even in airports such as St. Louis and Phoenix, via a few airlines on the plane, and in places like Panera's. Find out before your trip. Newly, there are pocketable "hotspot" devices, such as the Verizon MiFi, which give you internet anywhere at all, even out walking.

If you want something bigger, and especially, if you want to originate documents anywhere, you may want at least a netbook, preferably one with solid state hard drive, (nearly indestructible), and/or, with a USB drive or SD card for backup of documents, so as not to lose your travel notes.

These come for as little as $200, up to $400, and from 7" diag screen to 10", the latter having a comfortable keyboard. They are a target for theft, so keep one locked up or in the small pack you carry with you at all times. The smaller iTouch above fits into a tiny beltpack, of which there are excellent ones under $10 on Amazon.

You must show your netbook or laptop to airport security. You can put your computer into a very small case with charger cables, pills, and even overnight essentials, and check everything else weighty. Case Logic and Targus make bags which get rave ratings on Amazon.

A surprising number of travelers take along a larger MacBook laptop, often seen in airports and planes. Next most often seen is a smartphone or iTouch.

The cheapest way to have everything with you is to carry your internet device, smallest camera (preferably including video), and GPS. Instead of all three, a netbook, though, can handle Skype where there is WiFi, and even GPS. The last, GPS, is invaluable in traveling, even just to safely find the correct route and lane, nearest rest stop, gas, or, restaurant.

I travel light and take along a small Nokia device which already has camera, Skype, GPS, and satellite TV access, but I carry a tiny camera and gps, too, and I use hotel computers. I carry a cell phone. An iPhone alone would handle it all, even without wireless, all in one tiny device, which can also serve as an ebook or audible book reader wherever you are.

Simpler Tech for Seniors

2009-09-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

Useful Newer Technology for Seniors

Seniors benefit from technology once they know what is available and do it themselves, with maybe just a little help from a neighbor.

Here is some of what is both useful AND easy to use.

As many already know, Skype ranks high and offers easy phoning. Skype is a technology which puts free phoning through your computer. For seniors its biggest benefit is far better sound, either through speakers or normal-looking phones. Skype is free, but anyone can call out to phone numbers nationwide for about $3 a month. Skype has video phoning, too.

Next for seniors might be Netflix, which simply mails movies to them at a small monthly fee for use with just a DVD player, or with a small online device called a Roku wherever there is free wireless service. The Roku device is a small box which plugs in between computer and TV and actually makes things simpler than a remote once it is connected. Movies are chosen from Netflix's website. Computer users, search Google for Netflix.

Again, even without computer knowledge, for those who drive much, or navigate next to the driver, portable automobile GPS navigators are quite easy to use and help get where you are going. These small cigarette-pack sized devices guide by voice to any destination. They alert which lane to use for a turn, a safety factor for seniors or anyone else. These devices are among the simplest of all computer-based devices to use and make it easy and safer to find your way.

Similarly, Amazon now has a book-sized reader (Kindle) which lets the reader buy or access a book by just pushing a button. Designed for non-computer users, the Kindle delivers the book magically "over-the-air", so that a book can be delivered anywhere instantly, even reads it out loud. It holds a lot of books and can automatically receive magazines and papers like the New York Times. Books are about half-price normally but millions (literally) are available free. The Kindle is almost tailor-made for, and in wide use by seniors. Text of any size can be enlarged, a huge benefit No internet service or computer knowledge is needed. There is no monthly cost.

If you can put up with a small screen, the Apple iTouch has a brighter screen and is cheaper. The iPod Touch does not read books aloud from print but does access recorded audible books and play them aloud. Handy and easy to use.

New large combination TV and computer displays help seniors as vision fades. Wireless headsets nowadays help a lot to hear TV sound clearly if your TV has jacks to accept them. Worth looking into.

Here is more new technology to help more computer literate seniors, and for those willing to make the effort...

Cell phones are often still not entirely easy to use. Whereas a small wireless headset might seem a complication, it actually saves pulling out the phone when a call comes in. There are cell phone users everywhere to help.

If you are computer literate, if you can read the mini display and handle the mini keyboard, the wallet sized Apple iPod Touch offers Skype wireless phoning without a monthly fee. You also need a computer, wireless, and computer literacy, though. Much simpler iPods are just portable radios which play only recordings transferred from computer. Once set up, the iPod Touch makes up-to-date recorded broadcasts and PBS available automatically whenever wanted.

One of the big benefits of this technology is the ability to check out audio books (read aloud) from local Library. There is no need to read the book or to go to the library to get one.

With the wireless technology, no connection is needed in most hotels, and in some airports and restaurants Or you can plug wireless devices into your internet service at home, if you have it (GPS and Netflix and Kindle do not need it.) Anyone can phone thru Skype where there is free wireless.

Computers nowadays are being made smaller and handier with the latest software. The little "netbooks" can be used with older large displays, and some have nearly full-size keyboards. The biggest benefit is that anyone can carry them like a book and use them that way.

Google Voice simplifies phoning, once set up. Google provides a new phone number, free, with calls invisibly forwarded to any phone, including cell phones. Voice messages are translated to written messages and EMailed to recipients wherever they are. This is especially nice if hearing is a problem.

Google also has a simplified computer browser (Chrome), word processor, book finder, and reader (many free books), news, Email, and much else, if you have a computer. All are very useful. More ambitious, but worth teaching yourself how to use.

Speeding Up Windows

2009-07-24T07:43:00.000-07:00

As time goes on, Windows runs slower, and there are things that drag it down from the start.

Recently one computer in our community had two antivirus programs, each one fighting the other. The computer had slowed down to a crawl. Already this month, removing an antivirus restored two slow computers to normal speed. Anti-virus programs look at every bit and byte, a heavy job which takes its toll on speed.

You could even do without an antivirus program if you are careful not to access questionable EMail links and suspect websites. Also, Microsoft's free Windows Defender alerts and avoids slowing things up. Alerted, you would remove any malicious software with Microsoft Malicious Software Removal Tool, also downloadable. A recent Consumer Reports has recommendations on choice of antivirus software. Additionally, Microsoft has just released its own free full antivirus program, Morro.

Often what is ultimately needed to speed up an old computer is reinstalling the system from the original CDs (after backing up your files first, of course).

Even when new, though, or with the system reinstalled, a computer can be speeded up. There are lots of things that slow Windows down right from the start, or as time goes by.

There is Microsoft's restore program which slows down the computer by keeping bigger and bigger "restore" records in order to return to an earlier stage if there is trouble. That can actually be turned off or restricted.

There is "indexing" which also looks at more and more bits and bytes over time. It can simply be turned off. Click on c:\ , then right click on Properties, etc.

There are a lot of unnecessary formatting tools. Go to Control Panel/SystemProperties/Advanced. You can turn them all off.

And there are startup programs which run all the time. They can all be turned off. "Run" command, then msconfig, click on "start" programs, uncheck as many as all.

Some manufacturers themselves have advised to turn all the above off. The result is that their particular computers run faster, such as with the nifty and quick Asus 10" sold at Target recently for as little as $250.

Then, defragmenting can speed things up, too. Go to Accessories\System Tools. Defragment.

The new fast browser, Chrome, can speed up internet. Downloadable. Another browser, Opera, accomplishes a similar result. Or try DING from Microsoft itself (new).

It is a good idea to keep your documents file cleaned out. This can speed things up. And use your XP file cleanup utility.

There are also internet updates which can be scheduled so as not to interrupt your work, or prolong startup. Have this work scheduled overnight; default is 3 a.m.

Note that Apple and Linux do not have many of these slowups. Yet Microsoft sometimes offers the tool to get a particular job done, and at a low price.

One idea: have XP, Mac, and Linux. The mini Mac can run them all.

As for the simplest and fastest new or second PC, as an alternative to Dell, you might indeed look at an Asus netbook at Target, along with a 20-24" external display. That would be the most portable unit with the most readable display. The netbook can also be had with a solid state and nearly indestructible hard drive. It comes without a CD/DVD but with a tiny removable "chip" SD drive.

When it is introduced in October, Microsoft's new Windows 7 upgrade runs fairly fast and also much eases computer use (that speeds things up, too), available on advance order from Amazon and BestBuy at $50. I am impressed with it.

As for phones, the iPhone/IPod Touch are actually also very quick computers, mainly just to quickly access information once you learn how, and if you can deal with the small screen/keyboard. It takes just seconds to check weather, mail, news, calendar, and almost anything else, like YouTube and music. That speeds things up, too.

AAXA Mini Projector

2009-05-31T07:12:00.000-07:00

This is a review of the AAXA Pico mini projector, based on use over a month.

Brightness: The Pico offers adequate brightness at short range in daylight at normal monitor size of 15-22". In a completely dark room, the image is bright at 24" and adequate at 42" The picture is low-resolution but certainly adequate for videos.

Convenience: The size of a pack of cigarettes, the projector is easily pocketed. Use with an iPhone/iTouch, however, is inconvenient, especially with the short cord supplied as an extra.

The device, however, can also be used alone or with iPhone/iTouch or periferals such as a digital TV tuner or the Netflix TV device. These items worked well. Use alone is most convenient.

Comparison: Since the device is marketed for use with the iPhone/iTouch, an evaluation is needed here. Does the iPhone expand the usefulness of the projector? The short answer is no.

The iPhone iTouch small screens are themselves mostly preferable for individual viewing. More important, iPhone/iTouch AV does not provide a picture to the Pico at all much of the time, for example, the desktop/springboard, Safari browser, the weather channel. The latter limitation greatly diminishes usefulness of the Pico.

Based on all the above, then, the best use of the AAXA Pico is in the dark without any other auxiliary equipment, such as for viewing a movie downloaded to it. The Pico is put to its best advantage in projecting a large picture to the ceiling in the dark, for example in a hotel room or hospital. For such use a vertical bracket would be desirable to hold it in place. A bracket is also really needed for horizontal projection.

The device looks substantial except possibly for the light rubber lens cap and the plastic battery cover. External headphones or speaker(s) are mandatory; the speaker volume is extremely low.

Summary: The Pico excels at use without other equipment in the dark, especially for overhead projection. It is not recommended here for use with the iPhone/iTouch. However, use with Netflix box might be handy. Use with a digital TV tuner worked but requires an antenna for good reception.

For seniors, such as with wheelchair and small attached screen, use is impractcial. Hopefully such uses will be developed for the handicapped..

All About Links

2009-05-19T17:40:00.001-07:00

Some of you have asked about those techspeak "links" that appear in my columns and are a mystery to some of you.

Here is one:

http://www.livinginternet.com/w/wi_lee.htm

What is it, and why is it there?

Well, links are simply places to go for more information. You click on them and another document appears on your computer. Or you search for a page (a link) which has some of the key words in it that you expect to find in a document.

But is there a spook which will come out from them and jump at you, worse a virus, or someone who will steal your identity, or cause physical harm? Maybe. Neither you nor the computer may know exactly what you will find until you find it. Even after you find it, it may change.

But relax, links are basically our friends. There is no danger unless you respond to a questionable link.

Links are the building blocks of the WorldWideWeb. They are the spiderweb threads which connect the web together.

So how did they came about?

Back in the early days, some 20 years ago (wasn't that a long time ago?), the tech people at CERN, the nuclear accelerator in Switzerland, and (boy is that tech) had a problem.

Some tech people were doing things that other tech people knew nothing about. Or duplicating work. Very inefficient. CERN tried indexes and table of contents, but the information problem was so great that these solutions did not work. There was just too much information to handle and no efficient way to get what you wanted.

The problem was handed to Tim Berners-Lee.

Tim tried everything and finally came up with a nontech idea. Why not let the computer goes through ALL the information in all the computers and check it out. After all a computer can go through huge amounts of information in seconds. An absolutely enormous amount of info was called a "google"---(no, there was no Google then).

The computer would then come back with links to information of POSSIBLE interest. Was this like a footnote? Absolutely not. No, the computer had no idea what was relevant or not, but it could narrow down to a very few possibilities. We call the computer capability nowadays a search engine. We call the place to ask this question a "browser". The computer browses the "library" of information.

The links would link to other links and these to yet others. That was the idea.

Well, curiously possibly nobody had thought of this before. A browser (reader) was then created to look at information.

The first browser was actually called "Lynx". Get the idea? The WorldWideWeb is simply a totally unorganized database connected by links. A new kind of library or database or encyclopedia. The browser browses links just like a reader browses books in a library.

Crucially, Sir Tim found a way to build links into documents themselves, so that information could be connected together, rather than viewed as separate and distinct pieces of data. Goodbye to tables of contents and indexes. You could almost instantly go anywhere, find anything.

All this solved the problem at CERN. Done. An unbelievably simple idea worked, and Tim was knighted for it by the Queen of England. Tim is still quite a young man; all this was less than 20 years ago.

In a word, my links here are to sources of information of possible interest. That's all.

Here is a link:

http://www.w3.org/DesignIssues/LinkMyths.html

from the creator of the WWW, Tim Berners-Lee in the early days.

Here is another, Tim's basic proposal from 1990

http://www.w3.org/Proposal.html

Then, way back (??) in 1945 Vanevar Bush almost foresaw what was needed, though he did not know how to get it.

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/194507/bush/4

Links are a way to keep us connected. Just the thing for seniors. A good way for all of us to keep connected.

Can you get a virus from links? No. But you can get a virus if you respond to anything foreign and unknown and invite them in, just like letting a stranger in your front door.

The iPod Touch

2009-04-10T17:37:00.001-07:00

I like to keep up with technology, but when a new resident arrived on campus with his Apple iPhone, I was caught by surprise when the iPhone could measure sound and reverberation in the Great Room and work as a carpenter's level in adjusting the speakers. What do we have here?, I asked to myself. A phone???

After all, when the iPhone came out, it had just a few proprietary "pda" computer-like applications. Also, it was very, very small, and very thin. You had to buy a phone plan. We already had a contract cell family plan with t-Mobile.

With a great display and touch screen, this phone was still a lightyear ahead of the competition. It was a super MP3 player and even could serve as an external hard drive for your computer, with plenty of computer memory, and you could even stream some movies to it and play computer games. This was actually a very powerful tiny but full--blown computer. It could connect with wifi. Still, even so, its full potential was locked up.

But something has happened in the meantime. Competition and foresight has led Apple to open up the phone to development of new computer uses or "apps" by others. When there was a huge response and uses exploded, Apple went even further and offered developers new tools to do more. Thousands of so-called "apps" appeared. The price of apps was slashed. The Apple store was opened to nearly all. Then, the "iTouch" (iPod Touch) twin of iPhone was offered as a tiny computer without phoning, billed as a tiny computer and not a phone at all.

Everywhere I go I now am more aware of younger people pulling one or the other of these things out of their pockets. You need them for everything. Pictures, prices, directions, Email, reading, eBooks, audible books, texting, appointment calendar, contact and phone list, restaurant guide, recipes, grocery list, latest news, music and recorded broadcasts and telecasts (podcasts), the weather, translations, sports, exercise programs, maps and directions, and bird-identification. Even reading a little of the latest news on screen directly from the good old-fashioned newspaper or magazine, automatically delivered to it. Oh yeah.

Then recently Apple announced iPhone #3, coming in June.

There has been some scoffing about the fact that the phone is mainly physically unchanged in Version 3.0, although video recording is rumored.. Well...

The scoffers missed the point. This is all about software and new uses. About new things you can do with it. The phone is truly a computer, and is so well designed that it is easy to use. The screen is bright. It takes up little space in pocket or purse.. Applications are often free, usually no more than a few dollars, and frequently offer simply to make things easier. Usage is intuitive. Microsoft should be so smart. (They're trying now, though it is hard to teach the old dog new tricks.) The upgrade software is free for iPhone and $10 for iTouch.

The screen seems small only until you realize that most of your life you read newspaper columns even smaller, eight to a page, eight-point type, and without backlighting. And here the type enlarges with a single two-finger or double-tap motion. The device even works as a mouse for your regular computer or as a TV guide. The device can serve as a super remote for DirectTV. For Dish TV,the other satellite system, greatly simplified remote access to satellite and internet TV is in final testing. You also get access to your main computer.

That explains why I walked into the Apple store to see what was going on and came out five minutes later with an iTouch, the iPhone without the phone plan, and without GPS, navigation, or camera. The iTouch looks just like the phone and, as of a few days ago, even now does Skype wifi phoning, such as at our main campus, or our Community Center, where even our cell phone sometimes doesn't work. The iTouch, again, is without a plan, without a contract, and without cell-tower phoning, but with Wifi phoning.

The main iPhone itself is for high-speed internet ANYWHERE, even out identifying flowers, or birding, whereas the iTouch is high-speed only near wifi.

The keyboard is great for small children with small hands. This was not meant for writing novels. Besides, all this is changing in June, when 3.0 comes along. The keyboard will be enlarged to landscape mode. I hope one day for an external keyboard, maybe a tiny flex-rollup or laser unit. This device is mainly for access, not for creation of media (yet), though there is now even a blog editor.

The concept is so good that it is hard to imagine anyone doing better. Apple paid attention to the user, and it will be a while until someone betters them., though all the major cell phone makers are furiously working on other devices, Google among them with something called Android. A weak point in the Apple iTouch is the inability to date to run so-called flash video, one of the the main standard engines for video for PCs, plus it has some small remaining restrictions on content. Still, it runs a lot of video.

So, now to keep learning yet a still different way of doing things. I was getting nearsighted from squinting at it, but more and more, websites are designed or converted to the mobile scrolling of newspaper column format for easy reading. There is actually a developing app that sends the iTouch's screen to a big computer and TV, with or without cable. For sound, who needs anything better?

If you do happen to walk into the Apple store and come out with one, the case is slippery as a clam and you need a protective skin around it, also to cushion its glass touch-screen, though many do just keep it loose it in their pocket or purse. You might even come out with a cell iPhone complete with GPS and camera, and access to internet from anywhere at all.

Look for this item on Google: "Review: iPhone apps for nearly every waking minute"

Search for cheap iTouch skins and cases on Amazon. LIke $8 shipped.

Old Computers and New Media

2009-02-25T18:53:00.001-08:00

Old computers can sometimes be brought back to life again to work as they did when new. That depends a lot on whether those system CDs are still available that came with the computer. To reinstall the operating system, you also need the unique Windows proof of ownership code which came with the system. Then you need the so-called device drivers, such as for the network or wireless "card". Personal files need to be backed up before reinstallation. (Microsoft's SyncToy automatically keeps such files on an external drive or flash drive).

Go here and search for "synctoy".

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads

In the last months two old systems could not be returned to use because device drivers could no longer be found, nor even downloaded from internet, (even though all Dell drivers were still available for download). When you get a new computer or peripheral, it is good to keep all the documentation and CDs in a box and place restore disks in your safe deposit box.

Of course, by the time systems get ten years old, they no longer can do many of the things we want to do. Especially, it takes a newer system to support an internet browser, mainly because webpages put more of a burden on the system due to format and a language called Java, employed to make them more interactive, for example. What happens is that old systems may run too slow to be useful. The Dell towers from five or six years ago are still capable, but may need memory (cheap).

Each successive new version of Windows bas demanded more of a computer, though it is rumored that the new Windows 7 will reverse that trend. Recently, also, XP has been trimmed down to run better in the new small "netbooks".

Older computers also are more difficult to set up to return to network use. The older software was not as good. It was difficult to set up for Internet, whereas now that same setup is entirely automatic. Also, new software and peripherals may not be compatible with the older hardware.

If there is anything at all physically wrong with the old equipment, the problems are compounded. It is often not worth the expense and time to put the old computer back in working condition, even if you are a do-it-yourselfer, though that makes it an interesting challenge and sometimes produces results. There is an efficient internet browser software in development designed to work better on older computers. It is called "Cloud". Here's hoping.

Additionally, though, the prices are really coming down for new equipment. New netbooks can be bought for $350 or less. Of course they have small screens, but your old big display can usually be plugged right into them. The screen compatibility has not changed, and now you have a three pound computer you can move all around. The keyboards run from small to 92% normal.

The little computer also comes with wireless. There is not so much a need to upgrade software as in the past, since more and more is free on internet Add a wireless router and you can also get additionally an internet clock radio which will receive thousands of radio stations, even podcasts, your music library, and maybe even FM, too. .

The old tower, with all its unsightly wires, can then be discarded, or, if still working, hidden away as a "server" for music and podcasts.

The media center and server are newer concepts. With iTunes, it takes one click now convert a CD to mp3 which can be accessed easily from an internet radio, where you can quickly locate and play it. I use Apple's iTunes to move a CD to a server, and then a few clicks on Windows Media Center to make it available wirelessly. It is really not practical to convert your old LPs to computer, though there is hardware to do so.

For those who prefer books to electronic media, Amazon now has a lightweight device the size of pocket book, which reads like a book, holds many books, downloads a new book in seconds, and enlarges the type as desired. Lightweight, it carries along what you are reading as you travel and adds magazines as they are published. The screen looks like a paper page in a book, and you do need to read it as a book. Anybody got one to report on?

This device downloads a book anywhere for about half the cost of a paper book without paying for wireless, and keeps your larger library of books elsewhere and easy accessible. You get to read first a chapter of a new book free. Bestsellers are $10. EMail is available. Newspaper subscriptions. Audible books, too. The unique white screen looks like a paper book page. Just introduced, the Kindle2 will also read text documents out loud to you.

Not for everybody, the Kindle above is especially nice for those with weak vision and/or limited mobility and/or who travel a lot, also for those not comfortable with a full computer.

For the rest of us, there is another wonderful new and free book reading program from Google:

http://books.google.com/m

Just released, this one works on your old computer. It has a fairly exhaustive selection of books, too: 1.5 million. Just enter the URL above into your browser, type the title of the book or author in the top space, and push Enter/Return. There is the book, or books, if available in the public domain, or some of it, even if not. You can easily magnify text, or by clicking somewhere in the text, bring up the original photocopied page.

Some other EBook mostly free access resources to Search for...:

VIRTUALimprint Catalog of FREE ebooks

PressDisplay.com - Newspapers From Around the World

Etext Center: Collections

Microsoft Reader

Gutenberg

Remember, if you do need a new computer, the cheapest new Dell will be all you will need nowadays, or you can get a netbook, radio, and a Kindle2 book reader for the price of a single more expensive tower.

New Ways to Make Things Easy

2009-01-27T04:03:00.000-08:00

I have made a lot of changes over the past year in just how I use computers, especially to accommodate small mobile computers (even cell phones) and travel, and above all to make things easier for myself.

The idea has been to make it so that I could work anywhere quickly from any computer, large or small, and without risking my data from a computer crash. Here is how.

I switched to the simplified Google Chrome for browsing on PCs, and to Opera for some very small screen browsing. I still use IE Explorer for online Netflix movies. I use both Windows and Linux machines, depending upon the computer I am using and what I want to do.

My EMail is Google Gmail, which is kept on Google's server and is accessible anywhere. Get it here:

http://mail.google.com/mail/signup

Once signed up for Google, I have access to the rest of Google's armada of applications which run anywhere: Docs, Reader, iGoogle, and the like. Here is a video on these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJT3pagjd8s

And here is how to add them:

http://iac.missouri.edu/tools/Google_Tutorial.pdf

Docs is a word processor which can also edited by others with permission. Docs is compatible with Microsoft Word. Here is a video on Docs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eRqUE6IHTEA

Reader summarizes from media so that you do not need to go to many websites to get updated on the news in all sorts of subjects. Other software updates podcasts or "feeds" to me to access when ready. iGoogle puts all kinds of web activity on a single page, such as my calendar, todo list, bookmarks, and so forth, even Picasa to show pictures on the handheld. Here are explanations of Google Reader:

http://www.youtube.com/GoogleReaderHelp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSPZ2Uu_X3Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0klgLsSxGsU

Bookmarks provide a simple way of accessing webpages frequently. Bookmarks (also called Favorites) can also be kept on a server. I have the ones I use all the time on Google's server, and also on Delicious, and Mobilicious. More info is here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x66lV7GOcNU&feature=related

Very often there are two web addresses for the same website, one for large screens, and one for handhelds. The small screens best display information in newspaper column format, in a single column scrolled vertically. That helps ease of use with a small screen. You scroll up and down a newspaper column width screen.

My computers also now use Skype for telephoning, so that I do not need a cell phone where there is WiFi. Plus I have a speaker phone and conferencing thru Skype.

My bookmarks give me access to internet radio and TV, and to my music library, such as Orb, which accesses my home computer for music. There are bookmarks for Amazon, YouTube, and Google search features. The latter reminds me how to use Google for definitions, calculations, and the like, I use Youtube to find out how to do things and access music. not just video.

With my handheld, I can access music or podcasts thru a wireless bluetooth headset while exercising. For more on such tech, check my blog here:

http://snrtech.blogspot.com/

I recently moved my mail list to Gmail, so that I can get anybody's EMail address and phone number wherever I am.

If I don't have access to a computer, I can phone Jott to leave a message by voice which later is accessible from text on any computer. I am just starting to use Jott.

The bottom line is that I am no longer dependent upon any single computer for most things, and not dependent on any operating system, such as Windows. I need for the computer to help me do things, not to become focus of my activity.

If you want to try some of these, a quick search on internet will find where to download and install them. If all this is too complex, try this site for more help:

http://www.commoncraft.com/show

Here is some advice on passwords

http://www.wikihow.com/Remember-Your-Password

Internet Radio

2009-01-19T03:02:00.000-08:00

Internet Radio is still quirky, even though there are a huge number of stations broadcasting across internet, certainly most of those broadcasting over the airwaves, plus many exclusive internet stations, usually dedicated to a genre.

Access is best through a "clearinghouse" website such as Reciva or vTuner or Shoutcast websites, which find and connect most quickly, although you can connect with a bit more trouble through the station's website.

You don't need a computer, just internet service and an access point, and a dedicated internet radio, or mobile wifi device. A number of radios are out there, mostly off brand units. All have their strong points and weak points. Amazon's reviews help you compare.

It is a strong point and benefit to be able to access your computer as a media server, not just to access your mp3 library, but also podcasts, so that you can listen to a broadcast when you want.

Judging from Amazon's reviews of internet radios, not many listeners use this capability. To provide access, you need to make sure the radio can get through the firewall, on PCs easily done with the Windows Media Player 11 by adding a library (such as the iTunes Folder) and giving access.

Then, to add specific podcasts, best is to use iTunes on the server (your main computer) and simply subscribe. It is desirable to set iTunes settings to update frequently, such as every hour, probably for the 2-3 most recent podcasts, then make sure iTunes is "on" to receive the most current podcasts.

Podcasts can be handled in different ways, but easiest with iTunes, which is a "catcher" which actually downloads, as opposed to just listing the latest podcasts and streaming then when played.

The Aluratek internet radio accesses your media server and plays podcasts well. You can skip ahead or skip back. Not all internet radios do that.

At the top is a flowchart showing how the Aluratek is tuned.

With it you can play podcast radio shows, such as talk shows, like "The Dolans", whenever you want, and skip ahead or back at will.

Some radios are limited to the clearinghouses (above), while others allow you to access through URLs. Those URLs may be hard to find. A search of internet can provide the tricks of finding internet radio audio sites.

With Aluratek you can add many stations outside of the vTuner "clearinghouse" through the vTuner website. I make the point because reviews have stated otherwise.

All this may sound a bit complicated, which it is without a few cautions, but really not technical. It is not complicated to listen to access what comes from the "clearinghouse", only to extend beyond that to other stations and podcasts, which greatly broadens the usefulness of internet radio to you.

The end result is to have an easy to use radio which accesses almost any broadcast whenever you want it, quickly and easily. You get to hear what you want when you want it. If you want it where you want it, the altenative is a portable or mobile wifi device, such as a few new mobile phones.

The latter devices work best with "podcatcher" software and players which can keep your place. Since most are not either Windows or Mac based, and are often Linux or other operating system, it is desirable to check that out before purchase.

With my mobile device, a Nokia n800, my latest podcasts of interest are automatically downloaded with an n800 podcatcher and I can stop and resume playing whenever I like. I also use bluetooth, so that all I need for listening is a bluetooth earphone or a bluetooth stereo headset. The stereo is not always supported with such bluetooth equipped mobile devices. Also, bluetooth stereo is not of the quality of a wired headset, but fine for talk and Ok for much music.

Portable Computer and Internet Access

2008-07-27T07:18:00.000-07:00

More and more of us want computer access wherever we are. Cell phones have gotten us accustomed to phone access; we now want mobile internet computer access. Some cell phones have limited internet access.

Other small internet devices are in the works, some already on the market. None approaches the full benefit of a PC or Mac or Linux tower.

The iPhone has shown the way. The iPhone is proprietary and limited. Another important device is the Nokia n800.

These new devices need an underlying technology to work. Google has just announced Android; Symbian is already available, such as for Nokia devices, the iPhone has its own proprietary system, and Windows also has a system. These are operating systems.

All that just means that things have not quite settled down yet.

However, more and more small PCs or "netbooks" are becoming available, and a few even small PC tablets are out there.

The Nokia N810 demonstrates what is coming in a very small device.

You should be very comfortable with computers to use it, however, and very comfortable with a small keyboard. Most of all you should have good enough eyesight to use its small 4" screen.

With that in mind, wherever there is wireless internet you have all the functions of computer and phone. This includes even the ability to watch and remotely operate TV, remotely operate your tower, access its files, access FM and internet radio. The last requires tinkering, though. The device has limited GPS.

The device is primarily an access device. Although it has a keyboard, input such as word processing is demanding. There is also no printing and no external screen, capability. You could print remotely through your tower and your tower could display its screen, however.

Additionally, more and more software, much of it from Google, runs from the website and not from the device. A powerful computer is no longer needed to run more and more applications. In addition, Google has more and more applications designed especially for the small screen.

The device software is extremely reliable.

You can explore applications here which are automatically downloaded and installed from the site:

Click here: http://maemo.org/downloads/OS2008/

A larger, but still small, PC is the EEEPC.

The Nokia N810 is 8 ounces; the EEEPC two pounds.

Expect more devices to follow.

The newest Apple iTouch is now much expanded in its capabilities.

Hearing Loss & Hearing Aids

2008-07-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

Most men and many women have difficulty hearing by 75. Frequently their hearing loss is mainly in the higher pitches. The brain is said then to forget how to distinguish speech sounds. Any loss of hearing may be a safety hazard.

That means that most seniors will need hearing aids, way more than get them.

The impediment is often the cost or appearance of an aid, or just the plain inconvenience or difficulty in using them.

Although hearing aids do not correct hearing as glasses do for vision, there is no need to put up with many hearing aid problems of the past

There is no need to put up with: high cost, replacing batteries, whistling. Newer hearing aids can be tuned by the user to adjust sounds and pitch. Noise canceling can cut out background noise. Hearing aids can be out of sight behind your ear, if you like. They need not be molded, to save cost. The built-in mikes can be adjusted to surroundings or sound direction

It still does take a while to get accustomed to hearing aids. They need to fit in the ear with the ability to shut out unfiltered sound, yet allow enough airflow to cut out barrel noise or occlusion. There may be noise-reducing sleeves. It may take a while to find the right fit, which then will work well.

You still will not hear well in some environments.

If higher pitches are not being heard, you can find a place close to musical instruments or speaker. The high pitches, being shorter sound waves, just do not travel far.

Often the big enemy of hearing is low pitched noises which override higher pitch sounds or create high reverberation (echoing) in a room. There is no hearing aid yet which shuts out reverberation, although it would appear that this could be done via computer.

The heart of a hearing aid is the signal processor. When purchasing a hearing aid, check how recent the one is in the hearing aid. When I asked that question about an expensive aid the seller immediately admitted that a much cheaper competitor had a newer processor and she could not compete with it!!

Without a hearing aid, you can still adjust a newer television or MP3 player to your hearing with its equalizer. The equalizer can boost the ranges you do not hear well. You can also use noise-reducing wireless headphones, now extremely cheap.

Since most hearing loss is in the higher pitches, in a public room with a sound system it is simple enough to cut the bass and reverberation simply by adjusting the bass down and treble controls up, too often forgotten.

About TV Changes and HDTV

2008-07-27T07:13:00.000-07:00

On Feb. 17, 2009, (may be extended to June), your old TV set may not work any more with an antenna. However, a converter will keep it running and will probably produce a better picture with an antenna. If you have only basic cable or satellite, you may not need that service in the future. It is worth the price of an antenna to find out.

The government pays you $40 towards a converter, which come at $50-60. Click https://www.dtv2009.gov

The choice of programming will increase for both old and new sets by adding more channels, even with only an antenna.

HDTV, which is also available, was developed mainly for only one purpose: to provide a clear picture on large screens.

Despite all the hype, there is little reason to obtain a new set unless you want a larger picture. That being the case, it makes little sense to obtain less than the maximum pixels or dots, and best resolution, 1080p.

That information counters the hype.

HDTV programs so far are limited, usually to 8-10 at night, some news, sports, cooking, gardening, travel. The old cameras are still out there, and they do not provide HDTV programs, even on HDTV channels.

However, a large picture in HDTV is a treat to behold, and the offerings on public television alone, are quite wonderful.

Also, even with your old DVDs an HDTV set offers a far better DVD picture with a n inexpensive so-called “uploading” player.

The cheapest way to enjoy near-HDTV is Netflix, which has 100,000 movies, available cheaply by mail,

Netflix also offers TV shows.

For sports especially you may want cable or satellite, but it will cost you extra for HDTV. Let programming choices and cost determine your selection of antenna, cable or satellite.

There will be a future benefit to connecting your HDTV to your PC, including online movies, already available from Netflix free with your DVD-by-mail subscription.

In an HDTV set, you need to be sure you have all the connectors needed in an easily reached place,