iOS 9.3 Available now for download. Here are a few of the features.
Night Shift-The blue light emitted by your device screens inhibits production of melatonin which s essentially what tells our brains to go to sleep. iOS9.3 has a fix for this. Android has had one for years in the form of an app called Twilight.
Password Protected Notes
There’s a new news app tailored to your needs
New 3D Touch shortcuts for the Weather, Settings, Health, App Store, iTunes Store and Compass apps
Copy photos in the Photos app so you can keep one edited and keep original.
Siri now supports Hebrew, Finish and Malay
New 9.7 Inch iPad Pro
Less expensive SE edition iPhone 4-March 31st release
Samsung
Galaxy Note 6 rumored to release in the fall. There’s a possibility Samsung might finally stretch the Note 6’s resolution to 4K.
Samsung also has a neat patent as seen in the photo below, We don’t yet know if this will be ready for the Note 6. Android when a phone, Windows when docked.
Samsung Patented Laptop/Tablet dock
Galaxy Tab Pro S Windows device that looks like the Windows Surface device.
In Other News
Waze App for Navigation will now tell you when you should leave to get somewhere on time based on driving time.
Dominos Self Driving Delivery Vehicle
Dominos is coming out with a self driving delivery car.
Programmers must have to make life exciting by hiding little treasures in the software. These little treasures come in the form of games or flashy extras. Here are a ew that you can expect to find hidden in the iOS of your iPhone or MacBook.
If your MacBook detects a PC on your network, it will give you the blue screen of death
Mac Blue Screen of Death
Here are a few more Easter Eggs programmed into your iOS devices.
Play Mini Games Inside Applications
go to the Utilities folder
Open Terminal
type “emacs” (without the quotes)
hit enter.
Press the esc key and the X key at the same time.
At prompts type “tetris” and get ready to spend hours playing this very addictive game.
You can also type in “pong” or “snake.”
Slo Mo Effects When minimizing windows hold the shift key and you’ll see a genie effect.
Therapist Using the same directions for mini games above you can get a typed version of “Siri.”
Type in Doctor and it will ask what your problem is and you can carry on a conversation.
Funny things to ask Siri: Siri has some thoughts on movies. Ask what Inception is about.
Here are more movies she has interesting answers for.
Terminator
BladeRunner
Star Trek
The Matrix
Alien
2001: A Space Odyssey
Wizard of Oz
More funny things to ask Siri:
http://www.cheatsheet.com/gear-style/20-questions-to-ask-siri-for-a-hilarious-response.html/?a=viewall
To load the Google Earth flight simulator, go to Google Earth, type Ctrl-Alt A on PC or Cmd-Opt A on a Mac. You’ll have your choice of an F-16 or an SR-22. As far as controlling your flight, you can figure it out from there or use Google Earth keyboard controls help page.
CREDIT: CNET/Google
Here are a few more Google Tricks
Type “Do a Barrel Roll” into search field in Google
Type “Askew” into search field in Google
Google Gravity
http://mrdoob.com/projects/chromeexperiments/google-gravity/
YouTube Snakey
If you open a YouTube video, click in the frame right after the video starts loading, then immediately type one of the keyboard’s arrow keys, you can start playing a game of snakey on the video as it plays. Don’t run into the walls!
Android-Google Now
Ever hear the song by Ylvis’ smash hit “The Fox.” If you ask Google Now, “What does the fox say?” it will reply with a “Hatee-hatee-hatee-ho!” Ask it again and you’ll get a “Wa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pa-pow!”
Are you still looking for tech gifts for the geeks you love this Holiday? Here it is, the Gadgetista’s official list.
Here is an “under $25” list of stuff that I would kill for!
Tile
This is great for anyone that is constantly losing their keys. For only $25, you’ll never again hear, “Have you seen my keys?” You can use it on laptops, portable gaming devices, backpack or purse or anything else you might regularly misplace. $25.00
“Tile” to keep track of your stuff
Belkin Swivel Charger
This is great for anyone that travels or uses a ton of devices and doesn’t have a lot of outlets.If you truly listen to your friends complain, you’ll get some great gift ideas! Good for 3 AC and 2 USB and it swivels so you don’t need to worry about something else being plugged in above or below it. $20.00
Belkin Swivel charger
TP-Link
Do you have that one friend when you go to their house, their WiFi signal is lousy? Give the router that keeps on giving. This won’t set speed records and it’s not ideal for large homes.but it is less than $20. and it’s backward compatible with 802.11b or 802.11g routers. $19.20
Anker Battery Bank
When is the last time you heard someone say, “Oh my phone was dead?” Probably last night! Get everyone you know one of these and you’ll never hear it again! This comes with a micro USB cord and it’s 3350mAh so it’ll get you out of a bind. Buy it with an Amazon Basic Apple approved lightning cord for Apple users and they’ll be set!
Anker 3350mAh battery charger
“Under $50”
Creative Sound Blaster Jam
Creative Sound Blaster Jam
These are awesome for an over-the-ear Wireless headset and they are only $34.99 on Amazon.
Misfit Flash
Misfit Flash
This will be the only real fitness trackers you’ll find for $30 or less. It works with Android phones and iPhones, for tracking your steps.
THE SKY’S THE LIMIT
Samsung VR
Samsung Gear VR
Okay, The Samsung Gear VR is not for everyone! You have to have a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 but if you do…it’s very cool at 96 degrees to see a type of virtual reality. It plugs onto the front of your phone and you are in a different reality! $199.99
Here are a few fun ways to incorporate some tech into your Halloween.
MorphSuits.com
This is a sure fire way to freak out anyone with a pretty easy costume. Go to morphsuits.com and pick from a cyclopse mask or someone with an open heart wound in the form of a T-Shirt. Then download the app Digital Dudz and insert your smartphone into the pocket provided in the costume for a freaky life-like effect.
Hi-RezDesigns.com
Want to dress up your door to freak out the trick or treaters? This full size video panel is available for $149 or you can go the 3-D effect and get an arm that will extend past for about $349. They have several versions available including an axe killer, zombies or a psychiatric nurse.
Wicked Lasers
You know you always wanted to be a Jedi! At Wicked Lasers you can get the real light saber for $199. They also have some other portable lasers that have a 1 watt beam for $299.
This crazy site has everything you need to scare the heck out of someone with noise, lights, chain saw sounds, whatever you fancy. The site doesn’t offer great pics of their products so you have to use your “Scaremagination.”
The Passport Pet Access Smart System™ uses advanced entry and exit technology to provide freedom and peace of mind like no other pet door. Using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, the Passport reads the Passport Key™ worn on your pet’s collar. This lets only pets with programmed IDs to enter and exit the home, while keeping out other pets, wild animals, and strays. Choose from advanced selective entry and exit by pet, multiple access options (such as in-only access and out-only access), and access only at specific times of the day. Programming is easy using the LCD screen and 5-button navigation or by connecting to your computer with the included USB cable. The Passport gives you complete control of each pet’s access. http://store.petsafe.net/passport-pet-door
Don’t take a chance on losing your pet. You can find them using gps if they are taken or get out if their area. You set up parameters and your smartphone does the rest, All you have to do is keep it charged.
$100 + first 3 mos, $8 after http://www.pettracker.com/
Litter Tech
Litter Robot
This device will give your pet enough time to do their business them grab the poop or clump of pee and drop it into a receptacle and all you have to do is empty it.
THINGS TO ASK SIRI
Are you feeling a wee bit bored and/or silly? Perhaps you’d like to know more about Siri. There is a website full of funny things to say to Siri. My fav is the first which enables you to make Siri curse at you. Or you could have her call you something outrageous when she addresses you. My co-worker had Siri addressing her as Goddess of Evil.
HOW OLD AM I
Here another silly thing to do, perhaps you have nothing better to do than see how old Microsoft thinks you and your friends are. I tried it and the first time it thought I was 31…so I’ll take it! Have a look! This is my sister and I. She is 3 years older than me but we just might be a few years older than that!
Fell free to insert yourself! http://how-old.net/#results
Want more?
CRAFTING GONE WRONG
Pinstrosity is a pinterest blog dedicated to projects that went awry!
http://pinstrosity.blogspot.com/
BAD THINGS HAPPEN TO GOOD CUPCAKES
How about baking projects that didn’t quite hit the mark?
Did you get a shiny new device for Christmas, Hanukah, Qwanza or whatever you celebrate? Here are 5 resources for getting your tech savviness in check!
1. Go to your carriers’ website.
There you will find a plethora of good info about your device. For example, if you just got a brandy new Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and you have it through Verizon you can simply type www.verizonwireless.com/support and here are the things you can do there:
Verizon’s website supporting their devices
Download a user manual
Ask questions in a forum
Check FAQ’s
Watch videos
Complete interactive tutorials
All the carriers have great info it’s just a matter of navigating around to find it.
2. Go to the Manufacturer’s Website
Lo and behold look what I find when I got to Samsung’s website (I got there by Googling the device + support)
Find device support on the Manufacturer’s website
3. Google It
Again, using the Note 4 as an example, look at all the good stuff the world wide web has to offer when I goggle it.
Search results for device support
Here are some terms you can use:
Galaxy Note 4 help
Galaxy Note 4 support
Galaxy Note 4 how to
Galaxy Note 4 manual
4. CNET
CNET is a great resource for all things Gadget!
Here’s what you’ll see if you type in your device: Articles, Videos, Galleries (Photos) and Reviews Oh my! There are 4281 articles on the Note 4 alone and you’ll see many of them are “How-tos.”
CNET device support
5. Amazon Kindle or iTunes
If all else fails and you are the type that likes to curl up ad read a manual, if you haven’t already downloaded it from the Carrier or Manufacturer’s website, you can find some great tips & tricks manuals on all devices on Amazon that you can download right to your device. Hopefully a device you already know how to use!
These are fantastic guides that will school you on basic use and the other 90% of the phone/device features that most of the world never uses! The prices are pretty reasonable. You can typically find a CNET branded book for $3.99-$5.99. Well worth it to get the most out of your device!
One hint, when you search on Amazon, be sure to select “books” as the category or you’ll spend some time shopping for the millions of available accessories!
We live in an age where people either want to share what they are doing or thinking or know what their peeps are doing or thinking. For this reason, naturally, social media is all the rage but there is a new black and it’s called “crowdsourcing.” It’s rather brilliant, really!
crowd·sourc·ing (as defined by merriam-webster.com)
noun\ˈkrau̇d-ˌsȯr-siŋ\: the practice of obtaining needed services, ideas, or content by soliciting contributions from a large group of people and especially from the online community rather than from traditional employees or suppliers
Now that you know what Crowdsourcing is, there are the traditional ways to crowdsource like asking your Facebook friends where is a good place to: eat, sleep, camp, drink, get your haircut, or do anything for that matter. Or you can search using Pinterest
WAZE
As far as I am concerned, this is the best possible use of your “crowd.” Use them to avoid traffic and speeding tickets!
Waze Navigation app
Waze is one of the world’s largest community based traffic and navigation apps. Join drivers in your area who share real-time traffic & road info to save time, gas money, and improve daily commuting for all.
Have you ever been to an event, then checked Facebook or Googled it to see what other pictures/videos might be available or what other people thought about it? Crowd Flik is the ultimate app for people who like to do this. CrowdFlik is the mobile video APP that allows you to share, view and edit mobile video footage captured by the crowd. CrowdFlik automatically synchronizes and organizes multiple video streams and gives you the power to easily create multi-angle, shareable video compilations of your favorite moments at your favorite events.
This is a solo several people videotaped to illustrate the point of using it for different camera angles but imagine using this to videotape your favorite band or a school concert or recital your kids were in and you forgot to charge the camcorder.
CrowdFlik
The best part is maybe you will see pix or footage of yourself! Talk about reinventing the selfie!
Got a great idea you need funded and you’re at the end of the friends and family list? If it’s a great idea, why not have it sourced by the masses?
This is a great way to do just that. Try Techfunder, which is made up of Kickstarter and others.
Reach out to your peeps (and the rest of the world), isn’t that what they’re there for?!
When you are packing for vacation, chances are you are concentrating on clothes. You may want to give some thought to the mobile devices you are going to bring and what you may need to support it. Here are some ways to prepare your devices and accessories so you can be connected when you need to be.
Research Global Plans
Contact your carrier to see if switching to a global plan would benefit you based on the locations you are traveling to. Charges while roaming can quickly become astronomical. Without a global plan, data transferred will cost approximately $1.99/MB. Texts are $.50 for outgoing and incoming. Verizon has a fantastic Trip Planner that can help you decide if you need to ammend your plan for vacation. T-Mobile Global info | AT&T Global | Sprint
Download What You Won’t be Able to Access
Download books, music, games, apps, and movies ahead of time. Even if you switch to a global plan for the duration of your trip, it is still going to cost you per MB of data transferred. For this reason, it is a good idea to download anything you think you might need prior to sailing into a roaming area or worse, an area that completely lacks service.
Waterproof Your Devices
Get a waterproof case for your phone (or tablet) if you plan to take it with you on any excursions that might involve the water or the beach. If you have a good camera on your smartphone, there is really no reason to bring an extra camera if you can waterproof it. If you have an older phone, basic phone or a phone that isn’t compatible with a LifeProof or OtterBox case, you can get a waterproof box that will fit one or two phones and perhaps some cash and credit cards. Just be careful not to let your smartphone and credit cards touch as the phone could render magnetic strip on the card useless. Also, keep your room key or cruise access passes away from your smartphone.
Use Airplane Mode
When you are traveling by plane, most airplines will allow you to keep cell phones and tablets on for the whole flight but they must be in airplane mode. When you are on a cruise out of cell phone range, if put your device(s) in Airplane Mode. you will keep your device from constantly searching for signal. That process consumes a great deal of battery and you’ll find it draining rapidly without even using any of the voice or data services.
Set Date and Time Manually
While you are at sea or in another country using a different radio signal and you plan to use your phone for a watch or an alarm clock, you’ll need to set the date and time manually. When you put the device in airplane mode, it will no longer keep the correct time. Do this by turning off the network provided time and time zone and set it yourself. That way you can still use your phone for a watch and you’ll always have a camera on hand. Be aware, of any times changes if you are traveling across time zones.
A little preparation before you head on vacation will make for a better trip, especially if you are the type that is used to being “connected” at all times. The first few times you pick up your device to Google something and realize it’s either not possible or going to cost you a bundle will make you rethink being connected. You’ll be happy you downloaded what you may need and prepared your technology for it’s own vacation.
Check back next week for Part 2 of this series. I will tell you about some FANTASTIC accessories that will make your life and vacation easier, where your mobile devices are concerned, I have no control over air traffic!
