Smartphone Viruses, Social Media Dangers, Ghosts in bottles, and more…

Click here to listen to Episode 27

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

Stories:

HTC Android phones with pre-installed malware

Man sells bottled ghosts in online auction

Hundreds of Twitter accounts hacked

McKinney,TX wants to be a “Google Test Community”

MP3 players for less than $100

How To: Tips to using Dropbox

• shares between your computers (and the cloud)
• 2 GB “free” storage
• You may need to manually enter proxy settings
• Can share specific folders with others
• Remember which folders are share with whom
• Check the ownership on their website

PHOTO Tips:

• Talking RAW–HDR Redoux

Picks of the Week:

Steve: ZAGG Screen Protector.

Tony: Aerospace 303 Protectant - Armor All on Steroids

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

websites to visit:

http://getthenext.com

http://theprofessornotes.com

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

Motorola Droid, United Airlines breaks Guitars, The future of Tivo….

Click here to listen to Episode 26

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

Stories:

The Motorola Droid – one user’s view.

“United Broke my Guitar” – how Viral can Change and airline.

Apple/AT&T allow sling player streaming via 3G on iPhone

Is TiVO dead? (Or should it be?)

Photo Highlight HDR:

• What is HDR? High Dynamic Range
• A tutorial is at http://www.thewindypixel.com/?page_id=887
• How can I do it?
• Various tools. A free one is: Qtpfsgui http://qtpfsgui.sourceforge.net/
• Photomatix

Picks of the Week:

Steve: Photomatix

Tony: Ustream Viewer

Josh: Last Pass http://lastpass.com

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

websites to visit:

http://getthenext.com

http://theprofessornotes.com

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

Alternative power options. Schools spying on kids, and more…

Click here to listen to Episode 25

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

NEWS:

THON: $7.8 million raised–and the CV THON is this weekend.

Stories:

Bloom Box– Clean Energy’s “Holy Grail”?

• Ideally one in every home (Backyard or basement)
• Google has already “gone there”

Google spokeswoman Niki Fenwick said in an e-mail to Computerworld that an undisclosed number of Bloom Boxes installed at the company are already supplying a “portion” of the energy needs at its Mountain View campus.

“This is just another on-site renewable energy source that we’re exploring to help power our facilities,” she added. “We have a 400 kilowatt [Bloom Box] installation on Google’s main campus that delivers clean and affordable power. Over the first 18 months, the project has had 98% availability and delivered 3.8 million kilowatts of electricity.”

MORE ENERGY NEWS: Google to become an Energy Company

• The move lets them become “carbon neutral”
• May be move to give away power management services, in exchange for buying their “green” energy.
• Worth watching.

Spying on Students? (time for Steve to talk like “No Agenda”)

• Talk about creepy–right here in PA.
• They say they only acfivated 42 times–for lost or missing computers. Hmmm….
• Worried? Some simple protective measures:
• Use tape
• Check the light. According to one article from Slate ‘That said, almost all laptops have a light that turns on whenever the camera is on—a feature that hackers can’t disable since it’s controlled electronically, not programmatically.”
• Disconnect it, or turn it (if not built in)
• http://yro.slashdot.org/story/10/02/23/2030207/Federal-Judge-Orders-Schools-To-Stop-Laptop-Spying?from=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot+%28Slashdot%29&utm_content=Google+Feedfetcher

BlueAnt S1 Visor Speaker Phone review:

• Entry-level unit
• Good quality audio
• Can “voice answer” (say “answer call”)
• price is competitive

Upgrade Updates

• (Steve) Helped my in-laws upgrade
• Key points: always check your connection types/sizes/compatibility
• Be sure to ground yourself. Touch something to release static charge.

PICKS of the WEEK:

Steve: Cumberland Valley THON

Tony: CyberPower Battery Backup

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

websites to visit:

http://getthenext.com

http://theprofessornotes.com

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

Keep that old computer running.  Best online tax filing options.

Click here to listen to Episode 24

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

NEWS:

• Ways to extend the life of existing computers
• Memory upgrades? How do I find out what I can use? Crucial.com – The problem is that as computers get older, the older memory is more expensive.
• Hard drive upgrade?
• Is my processor “strong enough”?
• Josh : Big question, do you need to upgrade? I find that most computers do the basic tasks, even older ones.

• HP Lightscribe–Do any of you use it?
• What do you think?
• Josh : I have one and when I saw what a pain it was to use I stopped trying to use it. Have to flip over the disk. Need special, more expensive media.. Not worth it.

PICKS of the WEEK:

Steve: Zoom H2 recorder

Tony: Netgear Desktop Gigabit Switch

Josh: Amazon Prime

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

websites to visit:

http://getthenext.com

http://theprofessornotes.com

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

Kodak Zi8 update, Three Strikes with your ISP, Photo Tips, and more

Click here to listen to Episode 23

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

NEWS:

• ISP Cuts off User for Copyright Infringement–could everyone be next, due to treaty?

• InfoWorld Gripe Line: Trend toward charging for support, replacment, and repair.

• Windows Mobile 7 Might Not Multitask

• Nexus One: First phone Linus Torvalds “doesn’t hate”.

• Jailbroken iPhones. Thievery?

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Steve: Gurulib.com – create and manage your virtual library.

Tony: Fry’s Electronics. Yes, the whole chain! (Arizona, California, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington) Maybe more!

Josh : Tixit Beta : They work with promoters that have unused tickets and you get a discount on events. Still in beta but looks cool.

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

websites to visit:

http://getthenext.com

http://theprofessornotes.com

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

]]> http://getthenext.com/archives/444/feed 0 http://getthenext.com/archives/440 http://getthenext.com/archives/440#comments Sun, 07 Feb 2010 01:56:27 +0000 Tony http://getthenext.com/?p=440

iPad panel discussion, Kodak Zi8, Weekly picks, and  more

Click here to listen to Episode 22

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

• Steve, Tony, Josh, and Chris share thoughts on the iPad (for the first hour!)
• Josh got a Kodak Zi8. What did he think?

Picks:

Josh : Jabra Cruiser Bluetooth Car Kit, PDF XChange

Tony: Cradlepoint PHS 300 – Battery powered mobile 3G/4G hotspot.

Steve: SD to Compact Flash Adapter

Chris: Classics eBook Reader for iPhone:  http://www.classicsapp.com/

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

websites to visit:

http://getthenext.com

http://theprofessornotes.com

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

(Image courtesy of www.redmondpie.com)

No matter what you think of the recently announced Apple iPad, it’s clear that no other company gets the attention Apple gets when announcing a new product.  For Apple, this is generally a good thing.  But, they need to make sure they get everything right: the product itself as well as the product positioning.

When it comes to the iPad, they got the product right, but they botched the positioning a bit.

The iPad is a Kindle killer, no doubt about it.  In June, 2009, I paid $489 for my Kindle Dx.  The Kindle Dx is roughly the same formfactor as the iPad, which starts at $499 .  However, the Kindle Dx can’t hold a candle to the iPad.  The Kindle can’t play video, doesn’t have a color screen, can’t run apps, and can barely (and I mean BARELY) browse the web. No bones about it, Apple did just as Steve jobs said in his presentation. They stood on Amazon’s shoulders and took the Kindle Dx form factor to much higher heights.  Had Apple stuck with this positioning, is there any way the iPad could lose? Now, the Kindle does come with always-on 3G and no monthly fee.  But, for $629 and $14.99/month, most prospective iPad users would still say there is no competition; the iPad is the better play.

The mistake Apple made: asserting that geeks will be able to replace their netbooks with iPads.  This is clearly not going to happen. This assertion reminded me of when Steve said he replaced his high-end audio system with the failed Apple Hi-Fi.  No way.  Netbooks are cheaper, they run Windows, Linux, and some even run Max OSX illegally.  Users can choose what apps run on them, and they can multi-task, though usually to their detriment.  Why fight this battle?  Let the netbooks run their course.

So, the bottom line is pretty clear.  Apple should have positioned the iPad as a revolutionary device that builds in the initial success of the base eReader.  It adds rich multi-media capabilities, gaming, app-store access, and it can even help you get work done in a pinch.  For some, with the added keyboard dock, it can even serve as their complete mobile computing solution.

Strangely, I have not heard anyone complain about the fact that the Kindle Dx can not multi-task, has a worthless browser, and can only run apps that Amazon allows it to run.  Apple is re-discovering that it’s tough to be on top.  Shouldn’t they have learned this from their 1980’s experience?

]]> http://getthenext.com/archives/425/feed 1 http://getthenext.com/archives/419 http://getthenext.com/archives/419#comments Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:33:30 +0000 Tony http://getthenext.com/?p=419

Reduce noise in your photos, Should information be free?, What is Apple up to?  Weekly Picks, and more…

Click here to listen to Real Tech 21

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

Stories/Topics:

Should all information just be “Free”?

Photo Tip of the Week: What is “noise” in a digital image? Can we avoid it? Can we correct it?

DIAMOND OCEANS POSSIBLE ON URANUS, NEPTUNE

McGraw Hill CEO Confirms the Tablet

Picks

Tony: Mint.com

Steve: Spybot Search and Destroy (http://www.safer-networking.org/)

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

websites to visit:

http://getthenext.com

http://theprofessornotes.com

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

]]> http://getthenext.com/archives/419/feed 2 http://getthenext.com/archives/409 http://getthenext.com/archives/409#comments Wed, 20 Jan 2010 04:47:28 +0000 Tony http://getthenext.com/?p=409

Tech Tutoring, Apple Ruminations, Google Nexus, Weekly Picks, and more…

Click here to listen to Real Tech 20

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

Stories:

• Initial sales of Google Nexus 1 Phone: 20k in first week….shocking, or not?
• Rumors of 4G iphones circulating.
• Magic Jack uses “femtocell” technology.
• Nintendo finally gets NetFlix on the Wii.
• Matt Brady joins to discuss how Cumberland Valley HS is teaming with Microsoft.

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Steve: Blueant z9i BT earpiece

Tony: Mirafiber Ultimate Cloth:  http://www.southerncarparts.com/ultimate-cloth-p-712.html

Courtney: http://blog.louisgray.com/2010/01/abuzz-launches-social-media-search.html (techie) & a bit easier http://www.dimdim.com/

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

websites to visit:

http://getthenext.com

http://theprofessornotes.com

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

Guest, Courtney Engel is http://courtneyengle.com and @courtneyengle on Twitter

CES 2010, MagicJack, New iPhone possible, Google Nexus miscalculation, The eReader boom, Our weekly picks.

Click here to listen to Real Tech 19

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

STORIES:

• CES: Is the Consumer Electronics Show still relevant?
  • http://www.engadget.com/tag/ces/
• Magic Jack uses “femtocell” technology
• Hot off the rumor mill: New iPhone by April?
• More Phone Conversations. Google Nexus leaves customers “sour”
• Ereader boom “kindles” a variety of options

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Steve: Keurig Coffee Maker

Tony: Google Voice + POTS = low cost home office solution.

Chris: iPhone Explorer

Stevier: Nike+iPod Nike+iPod

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

What gives?

Click here to listen to Real Tech 18

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

These items, and more, on Real Tech 18

• The Big Announcement: Google Nexus.
• Google’s Chrome tops Apple’s Safari. at least in use.
• What is the best microphone and headset setup for podcasting?
• Social Networking! – For you, and for businesses

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• Tony : Tweetdeck
• Steve: gurulib.com
• Josh : Life Rocks 2.0 Web Site
• Jay: Who’s talking. Animoto.

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

Click here to listen to Real Tech 17

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

These items, and more, on Real Tech 17

• Demystifying Apple’s Mobile Me?
• iPhone and Android users are “the same” Or at least, their usage patterns are.
• Alternatives to iPhone/Android? What is out there?
• Why is the iPod Touch (not “iTouch!”) so popular? Article
• Is a tablet device (Apple’s?) in your future?  Chris Brady thinks so.
• What is the Best File System for external drives ?

Book Mentions:

• Freakonomics Steven Levitt,
• Super Freakonomics Steven Levitt,
• Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly about security in an Uncertain World by Bruce Schneier

PICKS of the WEEK:

• STEVE: Scosche passPORT for home docks and Car Adapter
• TONY: ATEQ VT 10 TPMS Trigger Tool
• Logitech Harmony Remote : Remote
• CHRIS: MacSpeech Dictate, OliveTree BibleReader (why not? it’s my schtick) http://www.olivetree.com/ Their software runs on most smart phones, including Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone/iPod Touch.
• Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

Click here to listen to Real Tech 16

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

These items, and more, on Real Tech 16

• The Kodak Zi8 pick from Episode 11? Sold out–nationwide!
• Batteries Plus will (or can) replace iPhone and iPod batteries, according to Jason
• Can I (Should I) set up two separate networks in my house? Go with 802.11 N, B, or G?

• Microsoft Tag “Linking Real Life to the Digital World”

• Microsoft ordered to pay $290M, stop selling Word.
• Microsoft Losing the Fight For Consumers, says analyst.

• Facebook masks worse privacy with new interface / Wired.com – How to Unfacebook yourself

Picks of the week:

Steve: Red Laser : What if your iPhone could read barcodes?

Tony:  HP Bluetooth Noise Canceling Headphones

Joe Tillman: TextFree Unlimited for iPod Touch and iPhone.

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

Click here to listen to Real Tech 15

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

These items, and more, on Real Tech 15

• Saving Electricity
• AT&T to “incentivize” iPhone owners to reduce usage?
• Google about to launch “un-locked” phone at a GREAT price?
• Apple to launch tablet in Spring 2010:  Link to article
• Scosche adapter for charging iPhone 3G and 3Gs with older devices

Picks:

Josh : Website Pick : Knowem – Allows you to check for your username across multiple sites at one time.

Tony: iGoogle: http://google.com/ig – Using the iGoogle home page to organize content.

Chris: Lose It! iPhone app to track eating habits; Dragon Dictation, iPhone app. So impressive it has me going to order the desktop version. {This just in! Dragon Search [iTunes link] has just gone live on the App Store for the iPhone. You can set what you want to search, apparently, including Bing!}

Stevie Rocco: Posterous.com manage your social networking stuff.-

Steve: mSecure, for iPhone, Windows and Mac.

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

Our websites to visit:

• http://theprofessornotes.com – Steve Brady
• http://targuman.org/blog/ [or http://engage.shc.psu.edu/] – Chris Brady

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor

iPhone 3G and 3GS Scosche Charging Adapters

Click here to listen to Real Tech 14

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

Waze: Real-time maps and traffic information based on the wisdom of the crowd

• http://www.waze.com/homepage/

What to do when printers cost less than ink?

• Article is here

Could Google’s Chrome reshape PC experience?

• Link to article is here.

Reinstalling Windows using Restore disks

• Many computers come with a small partition with the restore/recovery information on them for reinstalling Windows.
• For HP follow these instructions:
• http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=c00809678&product=18703#WhenCreate
• Sony is similar procedure

Picks of the Week:

Steve: Jing by TechSmith, at http://www.jingproject.com/ see a video about Jing: http://video.techsmith.com/jing/2.1/overview/default.html

Tony: Acronis True Image: http://www.acronis.com/homecomputing/products/trueimage/

Contact Us:

Tony Pittman  - tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve Brady – scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor

Voicemail feedback / questions: 814-808-JOE1  [814.808.5631]

Click HERE for episode 13

Click HERE to subscribe via iTunes

COMPUTER NEWS:

Early Adopters give Windows “Thumbs Up” Survey Says but…

XP users less thrilled than Vista upgraders… ?

The “researchers” suspect that VIsta users were happy to leave the problems of Vista. Steve has a different theory…

On the other hand, “Mac owners and users, however, gave Windows 7 mixed reviews when asked to pit Microsoft’s newest operating system against Apple’s Snow Leopard. About a third thought Windows 7 was better than Mac OS X 10.6, a third thought the two were neck-and-neck, and a third gave the nod to Snow Leopard.”

The HP Envy eclipses the Apple Macbook:

HP Envy 13 is more advanced

than the MacBook in some important respects.

PHONE / MOBILE NEWS:

AT&T/APPLE Ask Verizon: Can your network do that?

http://blogs.zdnet.com/gadgetreviews/?p=9658

AT&T service survey

AUTOMOTIVE NEWS:

What your Car Says about You (oh really now?)

Really? What does this really tell us? Perhaps more about price points than cars?

Web Use (the article actually references the inverse “don’t use”)

Honda >97%

Chevy 87%

Ford 88%

College Degree?

Honda 70%

Chevy 35%

Ford 45%

TOPIC from Listener:

Jason Terosky suggests we discuss best way to convert old VHS home videos to DVD?

For large qunatities of VHS to convert, I personally recommend finding a combination VHS/DVD player/recorder. They can range in price from $150-$500 but worth it. NewEgg.com sells 10 models right now.

Why this suggestion? Convenience mostly. All in one solution, and can create a more complete package. Once you get a DVD of the video, you can then easily “rip” the video back to your computer for editing.

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

JOSH: Amazon Universal Wishlist : Allows you to not only have items from Amazon show up but once but put a shortcut in the Toolbar you can bookmark items from any website and they show up.

STEVE: Sportacular iphone App. Great app for following most major sports scores and up-to-date action on the field of play.

TONY: VirtualBox : http://www.virtualbox.org VirtualBox is a powerful x86 and AMD64/Intel64 virtualization product for enterprise as well as home use. Not only is VirtualBox an extremely feature rich, high performance product for enterprise customers, it is also the only professional solution that is freely available as Open Source Software under the terms of the GNU General Public License (GPL). VirtualBox 3.1.0 (released 2009-11-30)

How to contact us:

Tony: tony.pittman@gmail.com twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve: scmprofessor@gmail.com twitter.com/scmprofessor

Josh: josh.finkelstein@gmail.com

Phone feedback: (814) 808-5631 [ (814) 808-JOE1)]

]]> http://getthenext.com/archives/343/feed 1 http://getthenext.com/archives/325 http://getthenext.com/archives/325#comments Wed, 25 Nov 2009 17:01:29 +0000 Tony http://getthenext.com/?p=325 These topics and more on Real Tech 12

Subscribe via iTunes

The Coca Cola Freestyle Jet : Amazing high-tech vending machine.

Photography: How to pick a camera.

• How do you want to use the camera? Snap shots? Quick “snaps?” or more professional? Sports? (indoor/night?)
• How much control do you want to have?
• Pay no attention to “gimmicks” like the “smile finder” features. Bah, we can do that!
• Shopping tip:
• Decide what category/type camera you want.
• Take your own memory card into the store
• Put your card each of the cameras you are considering.
• Take a series of pictures (close up, zoom across the store, people pictures) with each camera.
• Take the pictures home, and using your favorite photo viewer (I recommend Picasa) decide which pictures have the best clarity resolution and color balance.
• Look at the EXIF information for the photos you like, and see which camera(s) those were.
• THAT is your decision: The best camera for YOU
• Be sure to visit DPReview.com for additional information about the cameras you are interested in.

Back-up (online/offsite) solutions

Five best online backup tools.

• Carbonite – www.carbonite.com
• $55 per year per computer
• No Scheduling

• CrashPlan Central – www.crashplan.com ** Josh’s Pick
• $54 per year for 1 computer or $100 for all your computers
• Multiple Destinations – Online, Local to a NAS or similar or Peer to Peer (store at a friend encrypted)
• Seeding the initial backup : http://support.crashplan.com/doku.php/feature/seed_service?redirect=1
• No Multiple Back up sets

• Jungle Disk – www.jungledisk.com
• $2 per months plus 15 cents per gb for storage
• Ability to select individual files and folders, multiple backup sets, can mount volumes

• Mozy Home – www.mozy.com
• More expensive if you have more than one computer, they don’t support network drives
• $60 per year per computer
• Nice initial backup set selections.
• Fine grained control

• DropBox – www.dropbox.com
• Free up to 2GB
• Ability to create public links for files
• Too easily to delete all your files
• 50GB for $120 a year , doesn’t seem to be any price between 2GB and 50GB

Our Picks:

Steve: Yubico key A really cool way of logging on securely to your websites and other things that require passwords.

Josh: Input Director A Keyboard and Video over IP program. 

Tony: Accu dial: automatically dial into conference calls and entire your conference code with one touch.

How to contact us:

Tony: tony.pittman@gmail.com twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve: scmprofessor@gmail.com twitter.com/scmprofessor

Josh: josh.finkelstein@gmail.com

Phone feedback: (814) 808-5631 [ (814) 808-JOE1)]

These stories and more on Real Tech 11

Click Here to subscriba via iTunes.

Google Stepping Up Attack on MS Office.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10397215-92.html

Is a Boxee set top box coming?

http://hothardware.com/News/Boxee-SetTop-Box-Is-On-The-Way-Watch-Out-Cable-Companies

Is BING a bust? Or is 10% share a solid win?

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/11/16/bing-10-percent-search-shar/

PICKS OF THE WEEK (software/hardware?):

Steve’s Pick: Kodak Zi8 Kodak Zi8 digital HD video recorder

• Friend bought it
• GREAT video and when combined with an external mic (it has a jack) a powerful combo.
• So nice his daughter wanted to take it–instead of a Flip that she had access to.
• Weakness? Digital zoom (always a weakness)
• small memory card comes with it, but it is SD so buy a big one!

Josh’s Pick : Connectify

• This allows you to make your Windows 7 PC into a hotspot
• The technology was originally slated to be included in the GA version of Win 7 but Microsoft scrapped it but left the code still in.. Someone finished it off

Tony’s Pick: SendOutCards.com

• Friend sent me a card using it
• I often forget to buy cards for holidays/occasions
• SOC allows you to go online and send physical cards easily.
• You can even send them your handwriting, and it becomes a font.
• Also opportunity to make $ if you choose to go that route.

• Real Tech – Episode 10.
• Click here to listen.
• Click here to subscribe via iTunes.
• SHOUTOUTS/Listener Feedback
• SECURITY HEADS UP:
• Jailbroken iPhones at risk if you don’t change the default SSH password.
• The fix is really simple: CHANGE the PASSWORD. CHANGE the PASSWORD
• Article” Windows 7 isn’t Only Fall Update: Lighter, Ditch DVD and embrace Multitouch.
• Do you use DVD/CD drives?
• Also: 77 Win 7 Tips
• Upgrade Challenges
• How to get pictures off your camera (and onto your computer)
• And more…on Real Tech 10

Tony Pittman – tony.pittman@gmail.com

Steve Brady – scmprofessor@gmail.com

Feedback: 814-808-JOE1

Real Tech 9 – Click Here To Listen

• Shout Outs
• Jason Leisure’s list of topics (we will get to them)
• Paul’s Testimonial “yeah so I listened to most of this pod cast last night… thanks for the recommendation this is was really helpful”

• LISTENERS: First 5 to email me (scmprofessor@gmail.com) will get Google Wave Invites (and can help us shape our show!)

• LISTENERS: Help us share our show with those that don’t have podcasts! Burn an episode to CD and give it to a friend. Tony will give 4 people who gives out 5 copies–and we hear from those people. Email Tony at tony.pittman@gmail.com

• Verizon and Sprint have the Network Extender (for creating cell sites in your own home) that uses “Femtocell Technology“
• Does not support DATA/3G (i.e. voice only)
• $249 purchase from Verizon with no fees (avail since Jan)
• SPRINT was first, is $100, and has monthly fees (they charge $5 to let you use minutes you already pay for!)
• DIRECTV DEBACLE
• FedEx advertises their relationship with DirectTV
• Apple’s new products: Multi-touch Magic Mouse
• Reviewers don’t seem too impressed, but
• I (Tony) have tried it. Let’s just say this. I haven’t ordered one yet!
• My (Steve’s) mom got it, and loves it! (Real Tech/Real Person?)
• Is the iMac 27″ the first move to the Computer/TV? It’s “wall mountable” –and they released a wireless keyboard
• We bought Matt’s (Steve’s son) computer. “Ate our own dog food” (i.e. how we reached our decision)
• The (HP Pavilion DV6 dv6-1375dx)
• iPhone App pick
• TWIT. AM app (Tony’s Pick)
• Mophie — some “differences” took a bit to deal with (USB) (Steve’s Pick)

Questions/Comments

Tony Pittman – tony.pittman@gmail.com  twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve Brady – scmprofessor@gmail.com  twitter.com/stevebrady

In this episode, Tony and Steve discuss what you should look for when buying a new computer.  What about Windows 7?  Should you get a new machine to run this new operating system, or just try it out in a virtual machine?

We also discuss must-have iPhone apps, personal backup strategies, tips, and your feedback on Real Tech 8.

Tony Pittman – tony.pittman@gmail.com (Twitter @tonypittman)

Steve Brady – scmprofessor@gmail.com  (Twitter @scmprofessor)

Call in with feedback and questions: (814) 808-JOE1  [814 808 5631]

So, here is a new phrase: “too big and too poor to ignore”. I use it to describe big companies that are on their way toward joining the “too big to fail” club if something isn’t done. Basically, we can’t continue to avoid companies that are this bad, or else we will pay a much bigger price down the road. As consumers, we have a responsibility to stand up. One of those companies is: DIRECTV.

Certainly you have heard of DIRECTV.  It’s a big company.  You can look up the facts.  Their main competitors are DISH Network and your local cable company (Comcast or Time Warner, most likely).  With 2008 revenues approaching $20B, DIRECTV is nearly twice the size of DISH, it’s other competitor in the satellite entertainment space. Clearly, DIRECTV is big.  But, what makes them too poor to ignore?  The answer, customer service.  Quite frankly, their customer service is just plain horrible.  Bad.  Really bad.

I have been a DIRECTV customer for the last 7+ years.  I subscribe to all of their big pay packages, including the premium movie channels and their flagship product, NFL Sunday Ticket.  When I call in for help, they review my file and always thank me for being a loyal, long-time customer.  That is, after I spend about 10 minutes ducking and dodging the many voice prompts, verifications, and “did you know about directv.com” messages designed to keep me from getting to talk to an actual human.

So, what happens when one of my DIRECTV High Definition Digital Video Recorders goes bad over the weekend?  Well, I call them on Monday, of course. I expect them to either give me a technical solution over the phone or have a replacement receiver in my hands ASAP (24-48 hours seems reasonable, right?).  Well, after I give the technical service rep the error code produced by the receiver (code 15-369), I am told that I should have a replacement receiver by Friday.  Yes, FRIDAY!

Are you kidding me?

An entire business week to get me a receiver?  My goodness! I recently had a washing machine go bad and Sears got me a replacement within 2 days.  Now, DIRECTV is telling me it will take them until the end of the week to get me a @#! @!@# satellite receiver?  How can this be?

Well, here’s how that can be.  DIRECTV is so big that they just no longer care about customers.  Heck, maybe they never did.  But, I’ve had DVRs go bad before – happens all of the time.  But, it’s never been so difficult to get service.  But, consider the fact that DIRECTV does none of the following:

• Make arrangements with their shipper, FedEx, to allow for immediate, priority delivery of replacement receivers for top tier customers for a fee.
• Make arrangements with local chain retailers to allow customers to pick up a retail replacement without signing a new service contract or incurring a fee.
• Stock their large, contracted installer base with a small number of replacement units that can be hand-delivered in case of device failure.

These are all reasonable things to expect from a $20B company.  So, why don’t they change their ways?  The answer is simple.  They don’t change because consumers let them get away with such poor practices.  Well, not me…not this time.  That’s why I am writing this post. Yeah, they did offer me a $15 credit for the days I would be expected to go without service.  When I escalated the issue, the next rep gave me a $10/month discount for the next 6 months.  Ok, thanks.  But, this isn’t about the $75.  It’s about poor service and a business model that someone in a DIRECTV boardroom somehow deemed “good enough”.

How can this be acceptable to DIRECTV management?  How can you justify keeping my family without service for a week, while at the same time DIRECTV installers are all over our area installing services for new customers, and likely returning to home base each day with several working receivers in their trucks that we could be making use of?  Why would nobody enable either the installers or the local retailers to become part of the needed solution?  The answer – they just plain DO NOT CARE, and if we don’t demand that they change their ways, they never will.  Then, in 20-25 years, our kids will be called on to bail them out.  Difficult to believe?  Well, consider how American car companies and legacy air carriers have failed to respond to fundamental customer complaints in the past. It’s worked out well for them, hasn’t it?    No way.

So, please pass this message on.  If you share these views about DIRECTV, go here and submit a question asking DIRECTV why they don’t do more to provide customers with reasonable service.  Or, call 1-800-531-5000 if you want to speak to someone directly. Or, write DIRECTV at:

DIRECTV Inc.

PO Box 6550

Greenwood Village, CO 80155-6550

LATEST UPDATE: When I got my DVR replacement order confirmation, I discovered that my account was being charged a $19.95 “handling fee” as part of the replacement process. Seriously?  I was never told about that fee during my support calls with three different representatives, including the supervisor. Very broken service model.

Thanks for reading.

Feedback: email: tony@getthenext.com or twitter: @tonypittman  (twitter.com/tonypittman).

Stop the madness, DIRECTV!!!

Click here to Subscribe using iTunes

Tony and Steve discuss how to get real answers online.  Also, listener questions and feedback from you.

Tony – tony.pittman@gmail.com   or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve – scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor

Call us at 814-808-JOE1.  Leave us an audio message with feedback and/or questions, and we’ll address on the next show.

Be sure to check out http://www.mahalo.com

Real Tech 7

Click here to listen. Click here to subscribe via iTunes.

Tony Pittman – tony.pittman@gmail.com – twitter.com/tonypittman – facebook.com/tonypittman
Steve Brady – scmprofessor@gmail.com – twitter.com/scmprofessor

GET CONNECTED
Should carriers be obligated to offer services is more areas, especially rural areas?
Is the Verizon MiFi a baked solution?
…and more on connectivity and other tech topics. Check out Real Tech 6!

This episode is all about real security for real life. Steve and Tony cover many aspects of keeping your data, identity and your entire digital life safe and secure.

Tony Pittman – tony.pittman@gmail.com – twitter.com/tonypittman
Steve Brady – scmprofessor@gmail.com – twitter.com/scmprofessor

Select topics:

Soldiers’ Data Still Being Downloaded Overseas, Firm Says

Seventy percent of financial institutions in the past 12 months have had cases of insider fraud, new survey says

AT&T now to allow VOiP calling via 3G

Tony and Steve want to hear from you. What tech topics do you want to hear about?

Tony – tony.pittman@gmail.com

Steve – scmprofessor@gmail.com

Some topics from Episode 4:

The Deadly Silence of the Electric Car

INTEL chips get thinner

Apple: The king of the closed ecosystem

Bad PC Sales Tactics  (and bad PC buying strategies)

Tony Pittman – tony.pittman@gmail.com – twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve Brady – scmprofessor@gmail.com – twitter.com/scmprofessor

Please send us your feedback and requests.

]]> http://getthenext.com/archives/239/feed 0 http://getthenext.com/archives/235 http://getthenext.com/archives/235#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 04:00:43 +0000 Tony http://getthenext.com/?p=235 Real Tech  Episode 2

Oz Eleonora joins hosts Tony Pittman and Steve Brady to discuss trends and challenges in the wireless handset arena.  Also, in the world of tech, can Free really ever mean Free?  Have a listen and let us know what you think.

Tony Pittman  tony.pittman@gmail.com

Steve Brady  scmprofessor@gmail.com

In my area there are often stories about one neighbor cutting another neighbor’s tree down and cat owners getting angry about dog attacks in a certain part of town. News flash! Dogs chase cats! I’m glad I have a local news team primed and ready to report this.

My conclusion is that with 24-hour news channels and the internet, local news reports are desperately trying to remain relevant. In my opinion, they are failing miserably. When I see the local news on in my house, I find myself almost immediately reaching for my remote so that I can change the channel. If they are not using inane teases to keep me watching commercials, they are reporting on the most trivial “news” items one can imagine. It is actually very sad.

For example, consider what happens with the weather reports. The weather anchor spends five minutes covering information that I can get almost instantly on my PC or phone. Then he says “stay tuned for your extended local forecast” and I am supposed to sit patiently and listen to a local used-car salesman yell at me about how my trade-in is worth more than ever. “Get in here now!”, he says. Then finally I get to hear my local forecast. Of course, all of this is information that I’ve already gotten to in seconds using the phone in my pocket. Why would I watch this?

Lately, this has become a popular question.  What is going on with Microsoft?  One could argue that it’s been all down hill for Microsoft since Windows 95.  Windows 95 was truly a landmark product.  It vaulted Microsoft to the top of the heap, and the Wintel (Windows/Intel) PC platform still remains dominant.  However, Microsoft may now be in its weakest position since its infancy, with Google and Apple pressing them hard.

The Windows platform has stagnated.  Very few non-Microsoftees would debate this.  More and more, the difficult-to-manage platform relationships (between Microsoft, software developers, and hardware developers) are making PCs too difficult for average users to deal with.  Apple has certainly taken advantage of this dynamic, as they entice users to switch over to their more integrated platform – Apple controls the hardware, operating system, and many other key components of their landscape.

With Bill Gates now gone, Microsoft appears to be somewhat rudderless. They’re inway too many areas, in my opinion – XBOX, Windows, Office, BING, Zune, browsers, etc…  They appear to lack focus, and many are confused with what their strategy really is.  What are they trying to be?

No doubt, Microsoft will not disappear from the landscape any time soon.  They are here to stay.  But, in what form?  Only time will tell.

Perhaps the most troubling issue is that Microsoft may not even know what’s coming.  For example, consider the commentary from noted Windows-ologist Paul Thurrott during this week’s episode of Windows Weekly. During the podcast, host Leo Laporte suggest that Microsoft is headed down the same road as IBM – the once dominant technology leader that still exists as a large company with a known brand, but no longer as a tech platform leader.

Paul’s response – “…but Microsoft is not the same as IBM…IBM didn’t even try.”

This is plainly inaccurate.  IBM certainly did try to stay on top once they had realized they missed the PC boat.  Have we forgotten about the colossal failure of the micro-channel architecture, the PC Junior, and OS2?  IBM certainly did try.  I was there in the mid-1990’s as well as the early 2000’s, and for sure, IBM did try.  But, after a near-death experience, IBM bailed out and morphed itself in to the #1 technology services player on the planet.  So, they still exist, but in not nearly the same form and function that brought them to dominance.  If you ask me, I see Microsoft destined to follow a similar path…which, by the way, isn’t all bad.

What some may fail to realize is that even if Microsoft suddenly wakes up and “gets it”, much of the damage is already done.  They probably can’t recover.  The Microsoft brand is so heavily connected to client-heavy Windows and Office, that it will be difficult for them to overtake Google in the cloud or Apple in creative media integration, just to name a couple of areas.

While Microsoft may emerge as a large player in the business world, their days as the Microsoft we remember may be numbered.

]]> http://getthenext.com/archives/189/feed 1 http://getthenext.com/archives/174 http://getthenext.com/archives/174#comments Tue, 11 Aug 2009 03:20:08 +0000 Tony http://getthenext.com/?p=174

Google Voice Mobile (GV Mobile) is the perfect iPhone companion app for Google Voice.   But wait…you can’t get it anymore?  Nice move, Apple.

Luckily, I got my copy of GV Mobile before Apple banned it from the App Store.  Their claim: GV Mobile duplicates existing phone functionality.  Well, so does the Skype app.  What’s the real reason, Apple?  This is lame.

On July 7, 2009, Google announced its plan to to get into the PC operating system game.  It’s about time!

It’s very clear who Google is aiming at.

Google says that people “… want their computers to always run as fast as when they first bought them.”  Imagine that, Microsoft!

Google also says that people “…don’t want to spend hours configuring their computers to work with every new piece of hardware, or have to worry about constant software updates.”  Again, imagine that!

It’s about time a major technology player took the bull by the horns and addressed many of the Wintel platform shortcomings.  Sure, Apple has made a dent in the Wintel near-monopoly, but now Google is entering the battle as a another pure-play software alternative to Microsoft and the many (failed) Linux-based desktop alternatives.

Can anyone truly make computing easy without having to own the hardware and software platforms together?  Well, if anyone can, maybe it’s Google.  We’ll see.

]]> http://getthenext.com/archives/158/feed 0 http://getthenext.com/archives/149 http://getthenext.com/archives/149#comments Fri, 19 Jun 2009 02:22:20 +0000 Tony http://getthenext.com/?p=149

Amazon recently started shipping the 3rd version of its Kindle book reader, the DX.  The draw: the HUGE 9.7″ screen.  Compared to both the original Kindle and the Kindle 2, the reading experience on the DX is…..”WOW!”.  The DX natively supports .pdf files and it can even read out loud to you using its built in text-to-speech function.  At $489 it’s a bit pricey, but if you love to read, the DX is by far the best Kindle yet.

Battery life is great, and the native .pdf support is a nice feature.  However, I’ve seen the DX behave a little strangely when paging through .pdf files.  In some cases, the device will crash and automatically re-start.  In order to prevent this, I’ve had to remove the problem .pdf.  I hope that this is something Amazon wil be addressing with a soon-to-come software update.

Skype for iPhone is less of a big deal for domestic-to-domestic users in the US because AT&T already allows those calls to take place without depleting minutes (since all US iPhones are running on AT&T’s network – unless you’ve been breaking the rules!).

I tried it out and was able to have an iPhone to PC conversation with a relative, no problem.  The connection was clear and it sounded just as if I had made  a phone call using the normal dialing method.  So, there is some potential here.  Try it out.  It’s free, after all.

This post by Tony Pittman – tony@getthenext.com

Well, in the world of technology, is it reasonable to expect otherwise?  Real, unbiased news? I don’t think so.

For example, I love what the guys at TWIT.tv are doing.  The TWIT network is probably the biggest, most impactful next-generation “network” online.  But can we say it is unbiased?  Not in my opinion.  But, is that all bad?

Here is one example of why I make this assertion:

In a recent LA Times news post, TWIT founder Leo Laporte shared his thoughts about Twitter, the social media phenomenon.  Author David Sarno writes “The more he [Leo] talked about Twitter on his show, the more followers he accrued — and the more publicity he gave his brand rival.”  Then he quotes Leo as saying ” ‘I thought, jeez, I’m building value in this company that is ultimately vying for my trademark,’ he said recently via phone. ‘So I left.’ ”

So, here is the point.  When we listen to or read news, even tech news, is it reasonable to think we can be getting an unbiased view?  I’m not picking on Leo and TWIT - his position makes a lot of business sense.  But, given such a position, there is clearly bias involved.  In fact, one of the reasons I like TWIT is because I like hearing the contributors voice their biases and have good, solid debate on the tech issues.  Without bias, it would just be boring!

Comments?

This post by Tony Pittman – tony@getthenext.com

On February 26, 2009, I posted about the Twitter uprising here.  Well, as a result of that post, several people  signed up and began using Twitter.  That’s good.  But, because they don’t have many followers, the experience is not what it could be.  Therefore, TweeterGetter becomes essential.

If you are new to Twitter and want to increase the reach of your network, check out this link and follow the instructions.  Once you have a viable list of followers, you should begin to see the value and power of Twitter.  

This post by Tony Pittman – tony@getthenext.com

Today, there is a lot of buzz around Apple’s pending announcement of it’s upcoming iPhone Version 3.0 software.  Some of the rumored new features are long overdue – cut-and-paste for example.  My 3-year-old Blackberry already has cut-and-paste, but only Apple could figure out a way to get positive buzz for finally adding a long overdue feature!

But, other rumors hint at other features that should further distance the iPhone from it’s competition.  For details, you can follow the live action on TUAW at 1PM EASTERN.  Also, check back here post-announce for more on what’s coming for the iPhone.

This post by Tony Pittman  - tony@getthenext.com

Posted with permission from Steve Brady – twitter.com/scmprofessor – http://www.theprofessornotes.com

I have been a user of Grand Central for about a year now, and have loved it. It lets me give out one number, and route calls to any, or all, or my phones simultaneously.  When I answer one phone, it connects the call to that number.

It provided not only a voicemail system, but an opportunity to record a call, and even download the voicemail or recording for later use (even as podcasts!)   Oh, and just like a regular answering machine in your house, there is an option to screen the call, listen as it records the voicemail, and jump in if it is “critical.”

Well, Google bought them (a while ago) and just today announced they are remaking it as “Google Voice.”

I have just converted to the new account, and Aaron over on Twitter (@aaronaiken) politely tested it with me.  He called, and I let it go to voice mail.  

I watched as it first delivered the mail to the webpage inbox, and was immediately available to listen to, and download.

Then, after 2 minutes, provided the coolest new feature:

VOICEMAIL CONVERTED TO TEXT.

Yup, you read that right.  His voicemail was converted to text.  The darker the text in the display, the more confident the automated conversion system was of the words.  Here is a graphic of the actual voicemail.

As you can see it was pretty confident.  And honestly, it should be.  It got most of the grey words correct as well.  I am sure “your mileage may vary” but it was quite good!  Perhaps most interesting, it deleted out all the “verbal pauses.”

I hope to be testing out other features later today–so be on the lookout for a podcast, recorded using Google Voice, and the new “conference Call” feature!

One more thing:  If you haven’t yet, please consider helping my son get to water polo camp.  Even a simple one, or two, dollar donation would be great!

This Post by Steve Brady - Prof @ theprofessornotes.com

Apple just released the third generation of it’s iPod Shuffle.  The iPod Shuffle has always been a bit of a hard sell because it lacks a display.  For some, this means a frustrating experience – how do you know what song you are listening to?  What’s coming next?

Well, for this generation, Apple has taken steps to address this major drawback.  This new iPod Shuffle has the ability to TALK to you.  Using the controls integrated into the headphones, you can ask the Shuffle to tell you what song you are listening to or what playlist you are listening to.  Does this completely make up for the fact that there is no display? No, of course not.  But it does make the iPod Shuffle a more compelling product.  For $79, it’s not a bad deal, and you get 4GB of memory – about 1,000 songs.  

And, last of all, it is SMALL, very small.  Your biggest issue might be figuring out how to not lose it!

This post by Tony Pittman – tony@getthenext.com

Stop paying your phone service provider for 411 information! With Google’s new 411 service, you can access directory assistance for free.  And, it’s probably better than what your current provider offers for a fee.  You just dial 1-800-GOOG-411.  Then, you can either say the city & state you need help with, or use your keypad to enter a ZIPcode.  The service can then connect you to the business or individual you are looking to, for free.  Or, you can have the results sent to your phone via text message.  You can EVEN have a Google Map layout of your result sent to you.  Very nice.  Leave it to Google to reinvent yet another stale servicee.  411.  Check it out here.

This post by Tony Pittman – tony@getthenext.com

The Kindle 2 is here.  And, now another great ingredient gets added to the Kindle recipe – Kindle for iPhone.  If you already have Kindle and an iPhone, this free application is a must.  If you have either a Kindle or an iPhone, but not both, you may want to now complete the pairing.  

Kindle for iPhone allows you to buy readable content from the Amazon Kindle store right from your phone.  If you have a Kindle, the app allows you to synch your content across both devices.  Amazon calls it Whispersynch.  And, even better, both devices keep track of pages you have read in your books.  So, if you are standing in line somewhere and have a few minutes to get some reading done on your phone, the next time you fire up your Kindle, it will know what page you left off on.  The reading experience spans both devices very well.  I’ve actually tried it.  It works!

Amazon made a great move allowing the Kindle experience to make it onto the iPhone.  The Kindle is CLEARLY the better device for reading books.  But, adding the iPhone capability to the pie will allow avid readers to enjoy their content even more.  So, in the end, this should give the Kindle even more momentum.  Reading is fundamental…again!

This post by Tony Pittman – tony@getthenext.com