"An Apple Turnover, A Samsung Challenger and Android Wear"

"An Apple Turnover, A Samsung Challenger and Android Wear."

by John S LES

Yes, yes, yes...I normally have some kind of picture to "eye please" your reading.  However, not with this quick article.  This is Summer 2014 and ohhh what an interesting two months it has been so far in the gadget world!

First, for a couple of months now, Apple has "leaked" that they will be making some sort of announcement of a new iPhone 6 by next month - this August - which is unusual in their pattern of new announcements for the past 8 or 9 years.  They usually wait until September or late in the spring to do such.  For those of you who have read my earlier articles on the reasons why Apple is making such a deviant change of their Standard Operating Procedure - let me just say it's because Apple has finally "blinked"!  In spite of what most Americans and other countries think, Apple is still not the most popular smart phone in the world, Android, namely Samsung still is.  If you want percentages in the world, still think Apple about 17 % and Samsung about 69%.

Long story short, it appears that Apple has finally blinked.  I remember reading comments from iPhone users a year ago rejoicing that their phone wasn't as big as the Android phones ever growing size.  Now it looks like they won't have a choice anymore after this August.  Apple finally has given into the demands of the market.  Consumers want bigger phones because as as users grow older, our eyes can see easier on the bigger screens.  Again, I wrote about this back in October 2013.  So that's twice in less than a year that Apple conceded on two major issues.  I actually believed that had Apple conceded on these issues two years ago, they would be holding a 40% stake in the world wide market instead of 17%.  Their 5s, released this last October, which had superseded their original iPhone 5 (the shortest lifespan in Apple's iPhone history) is now going to be superseded in just a mere 10 months time.

So goes the pace of the high tech smart phone world.  

Next, there's a new gunslinger in town...well, he's not so new.  But he has bellied up to the bar and is ready to take on the monster that is now Samsung.  LG's new G3 phone already seems to have the specs to knockout Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 from last fall.  LG has always trailed Samsung in the mostly battery life, but has always held up strong in their specs.  Now after a couple of years of close calls, they finally have a bemoth of a challenger.  Samsung will have no choice but to come out with a Galaxy Note 4 pretty soon in order to dwarf this new arrival.  I have a friend who owns the LG G2, and all I can say is that it too is a monster of a phone.  To now know that the G3, dwarf's the G3 is mind boggling.  These aren't phones anymore.  These are handheld, HD television clarity mobile devices.  Here's a review from TechnoBuffalo:  The LG G3 review

Lastly, the two new Android Wear watches.  One made by LG and the other made by Samsung.  Both watches appear to be nice for what they do, however, both are watered down versions of both the Samsung Gear, Neo and Gear 2.  Yes you can now get the blessings of wearing a watch that will work with any Android phone across the board.  Yes you will also get waterproof watches that work well with all Android applications.  However, you do not get a camera.  You do not get any new innovations.  You still have to charge these phones at least once a day.  Check out this video review from The Verge:  Android Wear review

I'll keep my original Galaxy Gear watches for now.  

I'm Back!: The Pebble or Galaxy Gear? The Argument for Both!

So...what took me so long?  It's been five months since my last post on here.  Well, I was enjoying some blogging duties on my other blogs these past few months.  In addition, I've been playing with some gadgets too.  And that's what's finally pushed me into this new post:

Which wearable technology should YOU gadget lovers buy - the Pebble watch or the Samsung Galaxy Gear?

I've had a few months of play time.  Shall I begin?

First, let me say that I originally posted waaaay back in December that I believed that the original Samsung Gear and now it's two subsequent additions were overpriced.  I still do believe that.  I have no idea of what the making of the watch cost the Samsung giant, but for what you're getting out of it - it's overpriced.  That being said, I LOVE my Samsung Gear watch so much, I've now purchased two of them.  That's right, two.  But not at the price that was being asked for this past Christmas.  $299.99?  Are you crazy?  Nope.  Try $99.99 and $124.99 respectively.  I bought them on Ebay via Geek Squad (think Best Buy) "refurbish" and another retailer selling fully functional, but little used store display models.  Both watches work perfectly and do exactly what they were designed to do.  Well for the most part they do.  The Gear does have it's limitations.  Had I paid a full $300 plus tax - I bet that I too would have been highly upset that these watches didn't toast bread, print documents, sing me a lullaby, or make video calls.

Well...if you had read my recommendations here back in December - you would have known that they were overpriced from jump street.

And what about the Pebble you ask?  Well...they were selling for $149.99 last Christmas.  I purchased not just one, but two of those as well too!  I got one from Amazon for $125 and the other $110 on Ebay.  Both purchased as "new" and sealed.  What do I have to say about the Pebble watch?  Well, they do just about everything that they were designed to do too!  In addition to giving you the same notification alerts that the Galaxy Gear promised you, the Pebble also has many more additional application choices to fine tune the watch to do exactly what you want it to do: that is to alert you for email and text messages that are going to your phone.

I love both the Galaxy Gear and the Pebble.  As you can see, I could not chose between one or the other as I purchased both watches - twice!  I wear my Gear when I go home and want to dress up nice and wear a watch that looks like it has some "class" to it.  With the Gear's brushed steel body and glass, sharp color screen really make it look and feel like one of my regular high end, stainless steel, men's sporty watches.  Can it take a splash?  Look below.  I took pictures of me wearing my Gear watch while washing my outdoor patio chairs. Even though I wore gloves to go up my wrist, an unexpected light splash or two did go through the top of the glove, yet my Gear watch came out unscathed.

The next picture is of my other wrist and me wearing my Jawbone Up 2 band, which also took some light splashes.  It too came out unscathed.

And what about the Pebble?  Well, the Pebble is a fantastic wearable technology watch.  Like I mentioned earlier, they have a high number of developer apps.  In contrast, Samsung's app solutions still seems limited in both the Android operating system in the the original Gear watch, and now apparently in the Samsung Gear Neo and Gear 2 "Tizen" operating system.  By paying more customers expect more - more of everything.  So Samsung deserves a slap on the hand for this error.  I think that they are planning for software updates to help satisfy first and second round customers forking up $200 to $350 for the newer models.

In conclusion, I wear my Pebble at work.  It's mostly plastic body (Pebble came out with a few all steel body models which perform the same but are vastly more expensive) is great for me at my day job.  I could be working in wet weather outdoors, exercising in the rain, or doing any type of work that might require a more rugged, everyday watch.  My Gear watch clearly is not made for that same type of wear and tear, but that's okay.  It's beautiful color screen and finish is perfect for a date night to the movie theater.  The Pebble, with it's complete waterproof body, is great for when I go fishing, hiking, long bike rides.  It's simple black and white screen is clearly visible under all light conditions, whereas the Gear watch can be a little bit of a hassle in really bright sunlight.  But generally speaking - both work superbly as far as visibility is concerned.

Recharging?  Yep, well, the Pebble is king here.  I recharge mine once every few days.  I recharge my Gear about once every day and a half of pretty constant use.  But I knew that going in.  Both devices can sometimes miss email notifications or a text message here and there.  However, the Pebble is much more accurate and versatile as far as customizing your notifications.  The Gear may improve as the updates continue.  But it is such a beauty to look at, even if you have to flick your wrist or tap the power button to turn the screen back on, as it reverts back to sleep mode after 30 seconds.  Not so with the Pebble which looks like a time piece without the wrist flick to turn on the screen.  It's always on.  It only "lights" up when you flick your wrist, but you can see the display pretty well in just about any normal light conditions.

So, if you're a gadget guy like me, you now live in a perfect world of fashionable wearable technology and functional wearable technology.  Which will you choose?  Style, function or both?  I chose both.  That's why I write this blog!  I'm a gadget guy.  Good luck in your choice and feel free to share your thoughts once you do.  :-)

*PS - in the first picture above, not only am I wearing both watches, but both watches have screen protectors on them.  I put the screen protectors on without incident and both give me additional confidence that the watches can take more knocking around.  

Christmas 2013: The Gear, The Pebble, Amazon Prime Air And A Look Into Our Future!

Hi Folks,

I know some of you are wondering where have I been?  Some of you who have been following me, know exactly where I have been.  You've been following my other blogs and know exactly what I'm doing.  Well, I'm here to drop in and talk about some of this Christmas season gadgets as well as to talk about our future and one of my new blogs.

I've spent some time looking at what might be the hottest gadget out there.  Quite honestly, there isn't anything out there that is "hot".  But there are numerous things out there that are interesting.  I want to just remind some of my readers looking at the Bluetooth watches that are out there - there is a ton of them this year.  Some of my friends and coworkers keep asking me about these watches.  Samsung has done a magnificent marketing campaign on their Galaxy Gear watch, in spite of it's initial weaknesses.  The bottom line is that people are talking about the Samsung Gear as if it is the first Bluetooth watch ever invented.  It is not.

For those folks who keep asking, I will repeat again - this is the second round for Bluetooth watches for most of these manufacturers.  The first round was about 18 months ago and was mostly a dismal failure.  So before you go running to plop down $300 dollars, please take a look at Amazon.com customer reviews, or cnet.com  or Engadget.com on these various Bluetooth items before you buy them.  The reviews from the techies and consumers are still lukewarm overall for a reason.  The full potential of the present Bluetooth watches and what they are offering hasn't been completely realized as of yet.  We may not see that realization until maybe a 3rd or 4th generation.

However, if you're going for just the basic potential that these Bluetooth watches purport to do, then in my opinion your best bet is the Pebble Smartwatch.  It's a watch that can take a splash of water, stay charged for at least two or more days and really seems to function quite well as....a watch?  Not only that - it  also works with all Androids and iPhones!!??  How about that?  Pebble brand Bluetooth watch was a leader in the first round and to me is still one of the top threes in this second round of Bluetooth smartwatches.  It also cost about half the price of the Galaxy Gear.  It's only drawback is that it's monochrome and it doesn't take pictures.  Boohoo.  Neither does my Casio or Timex watches.  If anyone differs in their opinion, feel free to drop me a note.  Take a look at this video review of the Pebble vs The Gear for more information.

Moving right along.  We are definitely in a consumer market folks.  There's tons of leftover, overstocked electronics out there to buy.  Keep shopping for what you want and definitely buy it, if and when you can.  Anything from laptops, desktops, tablets and Playstation 4.  Yes, it is the rise of the Geeks!  Not Zombies!  We have more electronic and rechargeable this or that, wireless this or that - than ever before.

That being said, us middle age folks should not be running for the hills.  Nor should we surrender our intelligence over to electronics manufacturers and our kids.  Trust me, our kids don't know any more about electronics than we do.  We have just surrendered learning about electronics over to them, because our generation went through the tougher learning phases during our schooling in the '70's, '80's and '90's.  No longer does the average high school or college student need to learn computer language like DOS, FORTRAN or COBALT.  When I watch a modern physicist state that the average smart phone has more computing power than what NASA had in it's entire complex in the early 1960's - I respect and realize the brave and bold new age that we have entered.  Why?  Because I have mastered my smartphones, tablets, laptops and desktops all on my own.   And so can you.

It is predicted that over the next 15 years, our world and the influence of technology will increase even more.  There are useful, human interface devices being developed that will change our everyday functions and interactions, as well as improve our health.  All of these changes will be centered around technology.  Our older and more experienced brains do better with these changes than our younger generation, who inexperience makes them not appreciate these impending changes.  I don't know about you, but I eagerly await these changes and I am keeping myself sharp so that I can embrace them.

Still don't believe me?  Well...take a look at this new Amazon video on how they will be making half hour deliveries to their Prime Membership customers:  Amazon Prime Air.  Yep.  Times are a changing.  This air delivery is only the beginning.  The Google Goggles are around the corner.  Here is a link to a 50 minute lecture on what is in store for our future just 10 or 15 years from now, from the esteemed physics professor, Dr.Michiro Kaku.  If you have the time to listen to it, please do!  It is about the world that we and our grandchildren will be experiencing.  Click here:  The future is here.

Lastly, I will be addressing some of these future issues in my fictional blog action adventure story EscapeFromTheOrionOffworld.blogspot.com.  Be sure to tune in.  Until I post again - which will be soon - enjoy this Christmas season!  Shop well, and shop wisely.

The Return Of BBM! The New Samsung Galaxy Gear and iPad Air? (updated 10/31/13)

Several months back, I downloaded a Blackberry Messenger app in Google Play store on my Samsung Galaxy 4. The app basically told me that the app wasn't the real "BBM" that I had grown to love during the four Blackberry phones that I once used.  This app was like a showcase of BBM that allowed me to leave my email address so that when a proper BBM app had been developed for Android, I would be one of the first people to be notified.

Well 48 hrs ago, I received that notice and downloaded the brand new BBM app for Android.  I sent out a text message invite to family, neighbors and coworkers who I knew used to own Blackberries.  I figured that everyone would be ecstatic to see the rebirth of the messenging app that we all once loved and used.  48 hours later, I finally received my first (and only) response back, and it was lukewarm.  It came from a neighbor who just gave up her 3 1/2 year old Blackberry in July - long after most of her friends, had long since left Blackberry within the last two years.  She now owns a Samsung Galaxy S3 and is quite happy with it.

I remember when Blackberry or the former Research In Motion's company motto used to be "We think three years ahead of the competition."  Seems like even with one of their longest holdouts, they are three months too late.  No one I know has offered me their new BBM pin number, or asked for mine.  And I know hundreds of people.  Blackberry waited too long to roll out its messaging service.  By now, unfortunately, people have found BBM like substitutes.  The new revised BBM app looks great too.  Anyone out there want to chat with me on it?  7abe050b   Yep, it's that bad folks.

Moving right along, the Samsung Galaxy Gear...man ohhh man.  How tech nerdy can we get?  Now I started this blog because I am a gadget guy.  Actually, I still think that buying a decent cellular phone "watch" is a very gadgety thing and actually more useful than any of these new Bluetooth watches that are coming out from Samsung, LG, Sony and Apple.  When you make a watch that I can actually make phone calls with, or see email and text messages with at a glance - way cool!  However, when you make a watch that tells me what my phone has received via phone calls, text messages (and maybe eventually email notifications) umm - why?   Especially when it involves rechargeable batteries and is costing me $300 and up??  Wow.

That's really having disposable cash.  That's really taking "convenience" to an extreme.  If I want to ignore a call or notification on my phone, I can just do so - for free!  Why do I need to flip my wrist 3 inches to look at my watch?  Is reaching down to my waste and glancing at my phone when I hear a beep or feel a vibration really going to interrupt a conversation I might be having with someone?  Ehh...nope.  Not for me.  Especially at $300 plus.

Not all rechargeable items are made the same off of the production line.  In this tech world you can end up with a $300 lemon real quick!  And let's not forget that this is the second round of Bluetooth watches that the aforementioned manufacturers have created (with exception to Apple).  That first round produced more duds than the original sales of the DeLorean back in '75 (you'll have to be over 40 to remember that debacle).  You can find those Bluetooth watches on Amazon for as low as 1/3 the price of these newer, second round models.  I'm going to wait until round three of Blue tooth watches...if there is even a third round...to see what better offerings they come up with on the watch's actual function and performance.

Folks there are numerous bloggers and tech sites that have reviewed the Samsung Gear.  I'm just rendering an opinion here.  And while I'm rendering such opinion, did you notice how anti-climatic the new Apple iPad Air announcement was?  I went into work the day after the announcement and not a single person was talking about it at the water cooler.  Not even the college kids who work in my office.  I remember just two years ago when someone said the words "Blackberry, iPhone or iPad" the whole office would stop and listen, or even just eavesdrop.  Now both companies have managed to fall into the mundane and uneventful.  The only company who still seems to have that water cooler talk factor is Samsung.  People were talking about the Gear.  Maybe not so favorably (because of the price), but at least they were talking about Samsung.  So Samsung wins that battle.

Personally, for me, I might just wait until the "fad" of the Samsung Gear wears off.  When the price drops down to somewhere near $100, I might just go for it.  If not, I can spend about the same and buy a watch that actually makes the call itself, and not just tell me what my phone is doing.

As for the iPad Air...I actually think that this is the iPad we've all been waiting for.  Even though it basically has all the same technology as the iPhone 5s (64 bit technology, A7 processor), this is actually the true "forward" thinking iPad that probably should have came out a year ago.  My guess is that there's going to be a lag and slower sales with this iPad, as there will be a natural resistance from returning Apple consumers, who probably feel that they got bilked during the jump from iPad 3 to the iPad 4, which occurred within 10 months.  The same with the 11 month jump from iPhone 5 to the 5s.  The normal tech jump has been about 18 months.  Apple has broken this jump twice.  Most of the people around me who own Apple mobile products are refusing to jump to the newer Apple offerings and are swearing to "stick to the Apple product that they already own...as long as it still works."

All of that being said, I honestly do think that the iPad Air is probably the best "actual" iPad upgrade - by far.  No other tablet or prior iPad even close.

However, like I said before, most people will say, the older iPads I have at home are working great, so I'll stick with them for now.  But if you're starting out in the tablet market, the iPad Air is going to put you in a whole new atmosphere of tech performance.

In summary, the tech world has a lot of good things in it folks...it also has a lot of junk and redundancy products.  We are all buyers and consumers and so we must beware.  We shouldn't pay a premium price for convenience for something that you really don't need...or has yet proven to be a reliable product.  Well...not just yet.

Now All Those In Favor Say "iPhone 5s"! (pin drop) (updated 10/31/13)

This article is dedicated to my friend Hailey...who's is adjusting to her "new" iPhone 4...

A couple weeks ago...Apple announced it's much anticipated iPhone 5c and 5s.  In the same breath they also put an "obsolete" label on their much vaunted iPhone 5.  This has been the most short lived iPhone in the company's history.  It was only in production for a little less than 12 full months.  Now this obsoleted iPhone 5 is disappearing off the store stock shelves like bottled water 24hrs before a hurricane hits land.

I delayed in blogging here because I wanted to read, observe, and privately debate with friends how this whole thing is playing out.  At this point in time I think it's safe to say that even among iPhone users that I know, this new iOS7 and iPhone 5c and 5s - are duds.  Apple may be touting "sellouts" and "highest selling" numbers in their history, but the truth to those facts are that they simply opened this phone to a bigger market on day 1 - China - as well as the US and Europe.  In the past they had never opened in China the same time they opened in Europe and the United States.  Therefore, it only makes sense that they would sell more phones in the first couple of weeks of this huge opening??

However, I don't think that they will gain any new ground in the Smartphone Wars.  I haven't seen much more added to this phone that going to drastically increase Apple's 15% stake in the world wide smartphone market.  I see Google (read that as predominantly Samsung) maintaining it's smidgen under a 70% stake in the world wide smartphone market.  After 7 years of badmouthing Android phone makers for making cheap plastic phones, Apple has now bit the "lower our production cost" bullet and jumped into "make your phone with plastic" production line with the iPhone 5c.  The 5s still has the classic aluminum and glass body.

Now don't get me wrong here.  When I said that the phones were duds, I didn't mean that the phones themselves are poorly made or lacking sophisticated software.  Nope.  Not at all.  What I'm saying here is that these devices didn't spur the imaginations of people.  They just appear (superficially) to be simple rehashes of the same thing.  

Apple/iPhone fanatics - stop where you are.  Read no further.  You like what you like and there's no telling you any different.  Okay.  So why read any further?  I'm writing an unbiased commentary here based on conversations with friends, coworkers and family who are also iPhone users.  Most of you will not see things with an open mind, so just click to the next blog.

Externally on the two new iPhones, there's the new colors, the plastic case on the 5c and the typical aluminum backing on the 5s, which comes in the hot selling gold color among other nice new choices.  I even watched six minutes the presentation given by the person in charge of showing these two new iPhones - especially the iPhone 5s.  His name is not important and I certainly do respect his professional and company success.  However, during the six minutes or so of the video that I watched, and as he kept explaining and talking about the new, groundbreaking 64 bit architecture and the unbelievable new speeds of this advance system - I kept asking myself "how does everything he's talking about sound to the average, non computer literate, non advance tech caring crowd that Apple would now like to attract away from Android and the leftovers from Blackberry and Windows?"  At that exact moment, I wanted to gather such people and put them all in a room.  I'm sure you could hear a pin drop in such an imaginary room, as soon as you started asking them about 64 bit technology.

Let me simply put it this way.  I have three video links.  First is the introduction of the iPhone 5s.  Next is the introduction of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (just skip to the 1:34 spot to see it's practical use).  And then Lastly, last spring's introduction of the Samsung Galaxy S4.

If you take the time to watch the 3 videos, you too will see the difference in company approaches to the consumer, ie potential new iPhone buyers, as well as previous owners.  Isn't a commercial video on new high end technology suppose to wow people with it's practical uses and not try to beat them over the head with tidbit information on 64 bit this or 64 that, and fingerprint this or that?  Frankly speaking there aren't even any apps yet developed that can even maximize the 64 bit technology right now anyway.  And by the time there is in a few months to a year down the road, the phone will be halfway through it's life cycle and well on it's way to becoming obsolete, right Apple?  Most soccer moms and sports dads could care less about 64 this or that.  They just wanna know - does it work?

Check this out:  the battery on the new 5s, is the same size battery of the original iPhone 5.  Huh??  Every smartphone maker has been steadily increasing the size and energy capacity of their batteries.  What gives Apple?  Thanks for the half a billions apps Apple...but they tend to use up the battery power that you will not increase for me.  Where is the love?

Now as far as the iOS7 is concerned, I've had two college males tell me that it looks very "girlie" or "kid like".  I've had one businesswoman/friend tell me that some of the icons are now harder to read on iOS7.  But it's otherwise pretty much the same old iPhone.  One Apple criticism of Android, was that it was a fractured market.  That the software operated differently from one phone manufacturer to another, and one software update to the next.  Well guess what folks...iOS7 now operates differently from one iPhone to the next because of hardware capacity.  Starting with the iPhone 4, then 4s, and 5, 5c, 5s, certain functionalities of the operating system will be lost on all phones prior to the 5 line.  That also includes iPads.  If you're still using an iPad 1 and 2 or iPhone 3g or prior - good luck!  Though it is nice that folks can still use some of their old iPads and iPhones with this iOS7, this now sounds like the beginnings of a "fractured" Applesphere to me?

To the captains at the iPhone steering wheel...if you wanted to make an audience capturing phone...you should have stepped away from your surveys and polls.  You are not truthfully addressing the concerns of the "willing to buy an iPhone" masses.  Here are their issues:

1. People would like a replaceable battery or a larger battery - so that they don't have to run from wall socket to wall socket at school, home and work.

2. People would like a little variety in screen size.  4 inch screens - no matter how "clear" are still harder to view for people over 40.  There are people who actually like larger screens and aren't afraid to use two hands to text.

3. Lastly, stop boring people to death about the minutiae details inside the technology.  People who buy a Mercedes don't care about the mechanical details under the hood.  They just want to enjoy the pleasure of the smooth ride and gossip about the new "ahead of the pack" bells and whistles.

Apple, it's time to turn the tables and jump on the Samsung ""variety and practical use" bandwagon and make a couple devices that everyday people, feel that functions around their less than "tech smart" everyday lives.  If you learn to do that...you will see a more avaricious increase in your buyers and take a big bite out of the Android giant's market share.

Just saying.

10/31/13 Update:  Just as I've predicted, the iPhone 5c and 5s sales have tapered off and haven't really broken any new ground for Apple.  Just read for yourselves.

Helping People Over 50

I know that in the past I've posted some writings about helping people that I work with, as well as friends and family, get into the mobile technology world.  It continues to be both a spiritually rewarding as well as a community strengthening process.  My friends, co-workers become more engaged in their devices and use better security measures on all of their devices.  From much stronger passwords, improved browsing habits - it's nice to see people engaged more.

What's amazing is that the people who are most fearful to learn any of it turn out to be the best at learning it.  They seem to learn to take control and run off with it.  It's nice to see.  Age 50 and up isn't just a number, it's an indication of someone's level of concentration.  I think older adults who are used to tooling around with things, actually have longer attention spans.  Once they "get" the tricks, so to speak, I think they just dive right in and take control.

What's surprising is to see "younger" people who work with computers every day, who have no idea of how to set up their iPhones, Androids, Windows or Blackberry phones.  I deal with plenty of 40 and 30 something people between work, home and my social settings.  When I converse with them, I would say that better than 50% of them have no idea of their email passwords, antivirus applications or how to use Phone Finder type functions.  With all the hacking going on, I find that quite amazing.

Perhaps that's where I'll start writing information towards.  We need a group remedial mobile device set up session.  I'm chuckling as I wrote that.  Actually, what we need is simply some extra focus and attention on what we're doing with our technology.  Otherwise we may find ourselves victims of hackers.  Keep reading...my thoughts on the "new" iPhone C are next.

It Was the Bottom Of The 9th And Virus Was Up 4 To 1 Over Computer...

Yes, yes, yes.  I wrote last week or so about a neighbor's laptop that was filled with viruses and nearly impossible to fix.  Well...my neighbor brought that laptop over to my house early last week...and I went back to work.

With the help of several antivirus and anti malware programs, I was able to clean out the laptop.  It is about 98 % totally clean.  Only it's browser settings remain tied up.  It's hard drive disk, and various programs and files have been thoroughly cleaned.

It was touch and go for a while.  I even thought that the hard drive was going to fail, but it held up.

Even after this malware removal program did it's job thoroughly, there were still many more problems buried deep within files on the machine.  It would take a 4th software, a more restrictive and thorough anti virus to really dig in and find the various infections and start cleaning them out.  Here's what that software discovered:

So it's the bottom of the 9th, Computer at bat...and they have hit a grand slam against the Viruses.  Now it's just up to the home run hitter to round third base and step on home plate to make it official.

Thanks to my neighbor for trusting me with their machine.  I learned a lot.  Once I fix this browser issue, I hope that all will be better for them and this machine.

Best Places To Buy Tech

Some of my friends, neighbors and coworkers are always asking me "Where do you get all of your gadgetry from?"  And I tell them from reputable retailers on the Internet.  "You do?"  "Yes, I do."

Now I don't always buy everything from the Internet.  Sometimes I do like to see things hands on.  However, by and large, I don't shop at local stores anymore.  Not unless it's a mom and pop neighborhood establishment.  I love to support those guys for local business economy.  But there aren't any stores like that selling electronic gadgets.

I have some of my favorite Internet retailers right here on this blog.  Newegg and Amazon.  But I cannot forget Ebay as well.  I think I need to get them advertised on here as well.  Oddly enough, one retailer that I've purchased from is Apple themselves.  I had carefully chosen two items from their refurbished department, which carry FULL ONE YEAR APPLE WARRANTIES just as if you bought them off the shelf in the store.  I purchased two iPad 1's from there which saved me $400 at the time that I got them.  I put them in Otterbox cases and have never looked back.  They have worked flawlessly the past 2 years and have now been handed off from me and my wife to our two youngest kids, 6 and 10.

My wife now has an iPad 3 and the rest of us are using Android Tablets alongside our Android phones.  I also recycled a few phones in the past couple of weeks.  I have quite a few more to go.  But it's nice to be able to know that I'm doing something (recycling) that may actually help our environment in the long run.  You should always look at the different opportunities to trade back old technology gadgets and get some sort of trade value for your next purchase, or at the very least to help protect our environment.

I'll be writing some more information on ways to save with your tech purchases very soon.

A Virus Attack Right Before My Eyes

Last night (7/14/13) I went to neighbors house to try to fix a multitude of problems. It appeared as if the Machine had not been updated in quite sometime.  In addition it had a lot of excessive software installed.

The virus basically takes a photo of you and uses some official FBI looking logo, freezes your computer and tells you that you have been caught downloading child pornography.  Yep.  A rather disgusting and very sick thing to say or do to someone who's trying to erase a virus from a computer.

Needless to say, I was unable to get rid of that virus off the computer.  We did figure out that the virus warning was a hoax.  We tried one of the online solutions, but the virus is too persistent to allow you to get to take it off.  I'm suppose to give this computer another try this week.  It's going to either be me or a much superior techie.  All of this happened because they handed over their computer to their kids, teenagers, who downloaded everything - including a virus onto this machine.

But this does bring me to this point, we are the adults, we spend a lot of money to purchase these tech items for ourselves and our families.  If we really took say...15 minutes here and there to learn about the devices we use everyday.  Don't start bellyaching that it's too hard to learn this stuff to me.  I personally think that learning about today's computer's is 1000 times more easier than it was 5 or 10 years ago.  With just a little time spent, anyone can get a good working knowledge of the machines that we use in our everyday life.  Had my neighbors taken some simple steps in regards to their laptop use, they would not have this problem today.  Sit down and learn a little something folks...because the computer age is here.

Busy Gadget Summer So Far

Hellooo!

It's been a busy three weeks.  First, I broke my samsung Galaxy Note2. I dropped it from my waist at Dave and Busters and the screen broke. Luckily I had a phone contract renewal coming up. So I use the renewal to purchase a galaxy 4 and it is great. I am actually using it to dictate and type this post. At the same time friends have come to me for advice on cell phones.

Getting them to look at Androids is usually the same process. At first they are overwhelmed. Then they learn what to do. They see that it is much easier than I thought earlier. And then you can't stop them. They literally fly through the phone.

IPhones are great.  Androids are extremely flexible. Windows Phones and Blackberries are nice follow ups. I have used them all and in my humble opinion I still believe the Android to be a superior machine to the competition.  Each his or her own.  Let us consumers enjoy this high-tech battle in front of us.  The world around us has clearly changed.

End dictation.

Me And My Smart TV

Within the last month, I have purchased a "smart" TV.  It's a 60 inch plasma TV made by Panasonic.  I had searched extensively for the right TV to replace my 2002, HD ready projection TV.  That TV worked fine and held it's own for well over a decade.  But it was time.

Now there has been extensive talk about the LCD and LED televisions.  They use less electricity, are thinner and are much lighter in weight than plasma TV's.  However, the plasma TV's still produce an excellent picture, cost less and their life spans are equal to most LED/LCD televisions - at over 100,000 hours of use. One added bonus - they have faster refreshing rates and therefore capture action motions much, much better than the lower and mid-level LED/LCD's.  For those of you who already own and LCD TV, like  I do in my upstairs bedroom, then you know what I'm talking about, when you have a slight picture breakup on action scenes.

As far as power consumption goes, I have florescent lights all over my house.  I have energy saving appliances, fixtures and electronic devices everywhere.  I just got rid of a projection style TV, which used a lot more power.  So no matter what - I know that I will still be seeing less electricity use with this energy star rated plasma TV.  The picture on it is nothing short of spectacular.  Deep blacks and bright contrasts.  I feel sorry for the modern actor or actress who skin blemishes can now be clearly seen...even past some of the makeup attempts to cover it.  Nothing like the TV I grew up watching movies and TV shows on.

The "smart" part of the TV comes in when I can watch Netflix, Hulu Plus, or Amazon Prime on it.  In addition, it has Internet based games and about 2 dozen other apps (and growing) that I can fiddle around with.  I can also synchronize my smart phone with the TV screen and watch my favorite YouTube videos, or wirelessly share my pictures or videos from my phone to the TV screen.  Amazing.

When I was growing up, being the youngest person in the house, I was always drafted to go stand by the television and move the "rabbit eared" portable TV antenna around to get better reception.  Today such family sacrifice has long been a thing of the past.  I guess there's nothing wrong with smartening up with modern times?

"Samsung Galaxy 4 Active IS NOT A Sony Xperia ZR Ripoff" (update 10/31/13)

Okay...I have a short comment for yet a new Samsung Galaxy that has entered the smartphone competition. That phone is - the Samsung Galaxy 4 Active.  I saw it being advertised on AT&T and wanted to look up some information on it.  But as soon as I did that, I began reading some negative commentary by potential buyers who dropped their thoughts in the comment section of various tech blogs.  I honestly think that this rise in arguing in comment sections of blogs, videos and news articles has gotten out of hand.  But that's a discussion for another day.  My thoughts here will pertain strictly to the new Galaxy 4 in the Samsung Galaxy family.

First off, I read someone's criticism of the phone as a knock off of the Sony Xperia ZR, an Android phone that is waterproof for up to five feet of water.  The Samsung Galaxy 4 Active that shows it submersed in a glass of water and is "IP67-certified" and can stay submerged "in a meter of water for up to 30 minutes".  Well, immediately the negative comments start in the comment section.  "It's a Sony ripoff" "It's this, it's that."  It's crazy!  Quiet honestly, who cares "if" Sony came out with the first waterproof phone?  Does it really matter?  It's NOT for consumers/users to judge whether or not something is a ripoff or not.  It's up to us to reap the benefits of advancing technology.  These companies have very well paid lawyers and attorneys who are quite capable of representing their clients best interests.  I feel quite secure in letting a judge and jury DECIDE on who's ripping off who.

Second, this Galaxy 4 Active, is just the latest in a line of water and dust proof, shock proof phones that Samsung has been building on for several years.  Long BEFORE the Sony Xperia line even started.  Apparently those online commentators had no idea that Samsung has been developing their "Rugby" phone line for the past few years.  Those phones include three flip models and now two Android models.  The Rugby 1, 2, 3 and now the Rubgy Smart and Rugby Smart Pro, have evolved a line up of phones that could take falls, water splashes and submersion.  This latest Samsung Galaxy 4 Active, is simply now the apex in that evolution of this particular lineup of rugged phones.  It's built for those people who want the high tech app level of a Galaxy 4 in a phone as rugged (if not more so) than the Rugby Smart Pro (which is technically slightly inferior to the SG4).  Some folks need to read a little first, before they burst out with comments about a company.

Third and last, I can see the other side of the coin.  I can see how Samsung appears to be knocking off some subtle ideas from the other competitors.  Hmm...I wonder if during the automobile booms of this past century and the tech boom of this century OTHER companies aren't sort of feeding off of one another?  Hmm...I wonder?  Some of Microsoft's and Blackberry's (formally Research in Motion) histories are filled with complaints about tech ripoff.  Hey...there aren't any angels anywhere in the tech industry.  They've either been bought up, ripped off, or crushed, or a combination of all three.  Doesn't make it right, but it's been happening since the Industrial Revolution.

We as consumers BENEFIT from this tech competition.  It drives prices down and allows us all to be able to embrace the advantages of the technology while enhancing our lives.  It doesn't really matter whether you use an iPhone, Android, Windows or Blackberry.  Just learn to use the devices properly and secure your private information and identity.  We are the audience in attendance   Let the giants fight it out in the ring with their high tech breakthroughs.  When both sluggers fail to answer the bell for the next round, then we get to go in and reap the rewards!

Don't fight folks.  Just...enjoy...

Update:  Sales for the Samsung Galaxy 4 Active have drastically fallen off due to the negative testimony of some purchasers.  It appears that the phone does not have equal the performance of the Galaxy 4 and has had complaints about it's camera, water leaks and overall function dysfunction.  Who knew?

"Another Smart Phone Convert"

I know, I know, this "news" is starting to actually get old, but yet another person at my job has purchased a smartphone.  He's another older guy - that is he's in his 50's - has purchased an Android phone.  More specifically, he's purchased a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 (just like mine) after he has observed me working with my phone the past few months.  What's so funny is that he gave up his old flip phone that he swore that he would never give up.  He couldn't see himself spending a few dollars more a month on a smartphone, while he had his flip phone and netbook.   He was happier than a pig in mud with his simple flip phone to make a phone call.  I told him that once he had a smart phone, he would drop his netbook like a bad habit.  Lo and behold, he now admits that I was right.  He leaves his netbook home now.  Instead he sits on his breaks and doodles on his phone.  He is absolutely marveled at all the apps, maps and information that he has access to now at the tips of his fingers and in the blink of an eye.

Well, it appears that he too has joined the Smartphone Darkside.  He stopped by and asked me to do some initial set up for him since the salesman in the store didn't do much to set him up, other than sell him the phone and upgrade his phone plan <snicker>.  The screen time out was still at 30 seconds, hardly enough time for an older man trying to learn a new trick to operate his phone.  I set that to several minutes and stopped the battery wasting "ripple" effect on his wallpaper.  I told him that wasting his battery on something like that will come back to bite him one day when he wants to make a phone call and can't because he wanted a special effect running on his cell phone.  Me and another coworker (who also has a smartphone) assured him that no matter how fast or brilliant the smartphone is - it will be as useful to him as a paperweight if the battery runs out of power while he's just driving/walking around.  He looked at us all (three of us) and said "Okay, take that off then". <we all cracked up>

I hope that what I put out here is helping you - or helps you steer a loved one to this blog and that this information here will help them.  Please do feel free to write a comment or question if you have one.

This smartphone evolution is pretty amazing. Whether you chose Android, iPhone, or Windows 7 (and yes, Blackberry is finally back in the game) I hope you do choose according to what not only works, but what also helps you in your life.

There it is...the 21st century...right out there in front of us.  Up, up and away...

UPDATE:

This post was originally written two months ago but not published.  Since it was written three other coworkers have purchased Android smartphones and one an iPhone.  Many others have already have Androids or iPhones.  Very few are holding onto their old Blackberries and the newer Blackberries have yet to be seen.  I've seen several Windows phones show up too, being used by people who I never would have even imagined would have even wanted a smartphone.  So the only debate here isn't if smartphones are here to stay.  The only debate is which one works for you?  That debate still continues as the smartphones and their user interface platforms evolve. 

Goodbye Apple! Hello Windows!

I made the switch!  From my iPhone 4 phone to my Nokia Lumina 920 Windows 8 phone.  I also have an Android.  Gone is the over pricing of Apple products and their developer apps, and I'm still getting an incredible device.  I don't need 500,000 apps to run my phone.  The apps I that it came with and the additional that I've installed work perfectly on my Nokia.  It is a "quick" phone by it's OS set up and hardware (1.5 ghz dual core).  Although you couldn't tell here, the picture quality is sharp and bright.  It's hard to believe that I use to get happy over a monochrome flip phone just 10 years ago, when compared to this.  This is a perfect phone for people who want a smartphone, but do not want to deal with the complications of setting up your Apple or Android screen/folders/access to applications.  Quick and easy is the Window phone motto.  Well done MS!

A Windows Phone Is On The Way

It's taken me a couple years now, but I've finally caved in and purchased a Windows Nokia 920 cellular phone.  I bought one for my sister two summers ago, a phone that was already 9 months old itself.  She loved it.  But it would only update to the Windows 6.5.  So I got her a Samsung Android phone as an upgrade.  She loves having more apps with the Android, but does miss the quick in and out access to her old Windows phone..  The older Windows platform was a little bit limited in terms of applications.  That world seems to be expanding.  With the big Windows 8 push a few months ago, I think my Windows phone will do well once it arrives and I set it up.  It seems to have access to most of the applications that I will need it for.  The prices on the Apple phones, when compared to the other phones available is outrageous.  I like Apple's concept and all, but not at the expense of my wallet and good sense.  These phones, as great as they are, are not timepieces that will sit on display at a museum.  No more than 4 months after they are released, they are "old" technology.  Sorry Apple, I guess I don't get a second bite?

Another Day Another Java Attack - This Time It's Facebook Techs!

As I rolled over in my sick bed this morning and read my usual incoming daily news messages, one messages immediately stood out: A handful of Facebook engineers had their machines hacked after simply visiting a website that itself had been compromised.  In this case, the engineers had no idea that merely visiting the site, (not even downloading anything from the site) they had infected their machines.  Here is a recent quote from Facebook on the matter:

"Last month, Facebook Security discovered that our systems had been targeted in a sophisticated attack. This attack occurred when a handful of employees visited a mobile developer website that was compromised. The compromised website hosted an exploit which then allowed malware to be installed on these employee laptops. The laptops were fully-patched and running up-to-date anti-virus software. As soon as we discovered the presence of the malware, we remediated all infected machines, informed law enforcement, and began a significant investigation that continues to this day."

Now I hope this will really get people's attention.  I posted about this over a month ago (just scroll back) and even though fixes in the form of "patches" have been made, the fixes haven't fixed all loopholes.  Millions of people, billions of computers are open and subject to the security loopholes in Java.  Since I posted about this, I've deleted ALL Java from my computers and haven't missed it.  Yet Java is freely installed in most machines and we get weekly if not daily messages to update it.  Java is built into our browsers (phones, tablets and pc's) and basically helps us view certain websites.  Java is an old, old code, that in today's world has a lot of security loopholes.  Steven Jobs hated Java for this very reason.  Most websites use other code (HTML) now for viewing.  Even if you happen upon a site that needs Java to open properly, you won't even need it, because it will open just enough for you to understand what you're seeing.  For those of you who will argue "Oh but there are patches to fix that" and I argue back "Don't you think those Facebook engineers knew that, and had patches installed on their machines?  And look at what happened to them?  If you're as smart as a Facebook engineer, then you probably don't need to be reading this blog."  

Today visiting websites is like going to a watering hole in the wild outdoors in the jungle.  If the water is tainted everyone drinking from it can get sick.  You don't even need to download anything.  My antivirus warned me about a certain tech website that had been temporarily compromised.  Thank goodness!  Had I landed on that site, just by merely visiting I too could have been infected.  I value my machines.  I try to take care of them as often as possible.  I'm sure that many of you out there value your smartphones, tablets and pc's too as well.  We are compelled to protect our personal information, contacts and identity.  Well, today's tech world demands that you'll need to read up and become a little more vigilant about avoiding any mistaken steps into the world of computer hacking and identity theft.  Good luck!  Feel free to write me back.  Now back to sleep I go.

Read the link below from a fellow blogger with more detailed, technical information.

www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2013/01/14/java_zero_day_exploit_don_t_patch_just_disable_java_in_your_browser.html

A New Member of the Smartphone Darkside

I know, I know, this "news" is starting to actually get old, but yet another person at my job has purchased a Smartphone.  He's another older guy - that is he's in his 50's - has purchased an Android phone.  More specifically, he's purchased a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 just like mine after he has observed me working with my phone the past few weeks.  What's so funny is that he gave up an old flip phone that he has had for at least six years.  He actually swore and argued with me that he would never, ever "waste" his money on some crazy phone like mine.  He was happier than a pig in mud with his simple flip phone to make a simple phone call.

Well, it appears that he too has joined the Smartphone Darkside.  He stopped by and asked me to do some initial set up for him since the salesman in the store didn't do much for him other than sell him the phone and upgrade his phone plan.  The screen time out was still at 30 seconds, hardly enough time for an older man trying to learn a new trick to operate his phone.  I set that to several minutes and stopped the battery wasting "ripple" effect on his wallpaper.  I told him that wasting his battery on something like that will come back to bite him one day when he wants to make a phone call and can't because he wanted a special effect running on his cell phone.  Me and another coworker who also has a Smartphone assured him that no matter how fast or brilliant the Smartphone is - it will be as usuful to him as a paperweight if the battery runs out of power while he's just driving/walking around.  He looked at us all (three of us) and said "Okay, take that off then". <we all cracked up>

Now I know that there aren't a lot of people really following this blog too tough, and that's okay.  But for those that are following, I hope that what I put out here is helping you - or helps you steer a loved one to this blog and that this information here will help them.  Please do feel free to write a comment or question if you have one.

This Smartphone evolution is pretty amazing. Whether you chose Android, iPhone, or Windows 7 (and yes, Blackberry is finally back in the game) I hope you do choose according to what not only works, but what also helps you in your life.

There it is...the 21st century...right out there in front of us.  Up, up and away...


 

Another Run To The Windows 7 Border!

Last weekend I helped another coworker shop and find the dwindling stock of Windows 7 computers. Yes Microsoft is forcing their will upon us with Windows 8. I am advising friends and all that if you are not one who can withstand too much change, then go pick up a decent Windows 7 PC while you still can...because sooner or later...the resistance to Windows 8...will eventually be...futile.

Upgrading From Vista To Windows 7 - To Avoid Windows 8"

 

So an older coworker of mine wanted to upgrade his quad core desktop from Windows Vista to Windows 7 operating system.  A computer guy he knows was going to charge him $100 to help him do it.  I told him to not worry about that and to just buy the software and bring it into work.

 

 

 

Once he purchased the software (which is now going up in price to force consumers to turn to Windows 8 instead of going back to Windows 7) he brought in both his desktop and the Windows 7 disk and I proceeded to help him upgrade.

 

Honestly, I love loading up a new software onto a machine for a clean install. 

 

The machine was placed in a back office on a quiet day.  All the initial "clicks" were made to get the software going.  It took around 6 1/2 hours to simply monitor from time to time, but my co-worker went home with a brand "new" computer.  All it cost him was buying both of us lunch.  48 hours later, he reported to me that the Windows 7 upgrade was a success.  It was less buggy than the Vista, as most of us who endured Vista already knew.  He couldn't be happier.  He had taken a look at the Windows 8 and just couldn't get too warm about it.  So upgrading to Windows 7 was his next best option and he did.

VERY IMPORTANT - MAJOR HACK WARNING ISSUED!

Hi folks, today I opened up my emails and read a big time hack warning being issued by the computer tech people that I look up to.  This warning is without a doubt the sternest warning I've ever received about a "possible" virus attack or hacker vulnerability.  And it's easy to know why...because it happens to be a vulnerability left on every computer and software platform including PC, Mac and Linux based machines.  So whether you have a Windows, iOS X or Linux as a software system on your machine - your computer vulnerability is as wide open as French doors on a mansion on a breezy, warm day.

Why?  Because this hack vulnerability has been left on our machines via Java (not Java Script), a good guy software, that has been a mainstay in millions of machines...in the tune of over 850 million machines world wide.  Java is a programming language that is commonly used by websites.  It's a good guy software.  However, the developers have made several missteps in recent years which have opened back doors for hackers to run software via Java, that's built right into a legitimate looking website.  This malicious software easily installs on its own and hacks right into your computer.

Two years ago a simple Java update for Apple computers, left a backdoor open that allowed some 200, 000 Macs to be hacked before a fix was rushed into place.  Today it appears that yet another update by Java Script has left some 850 million computers across all operating platforms open to yet a new hack.

I'm going to attach another blog link to this blog.  My best advice, based on what the experts are saying is to simply disable or get rid of Java on your machine all together.  Java is sot of becoming a thing of the past and may not be as useful as they used to be.  We can't afford for their software updates to constantly leave our machines open for major attacks.

I'll be working on my home computers as soon as possible.  Read the link below for further information.

http://www.techlicious.com/blog/critical-java-security-risk-requires-immediate-action/