Archive for the ‘Editorials’ Category
Thanks ADT Pulse!
I reviewed the ADT Pulse system on my YouTube channel over a year and a half ago. I’m still loving the features but can lie, I do wish they’d add more. Their adoption of addition Z-Wave components seems slow. One of the features we do find ourselves using all the time is the ability to set our thermostats from our iPhones wherever we are. Yesterday, while my wife was traveling on business and I was at work, we had a baby sitter over to watch the kids. She couldn’t seem to figure out how to set the thermostats a little warmer – it’s all of a sudden become winter again on the east coast – and sent me a text message asking how she was supposed to do so. I quickly responded back not to worry, that I’d pump up the heat right from my phone. I logged into the ADT Pulse iOS app, checked the current temperature and increased it a few degrees. I then sent a text back to the baby sitter letting her know warmth was on the way. Sure enough when I logged back into the ADT Pulse app. a short time later the heat had increased and the thermostats were sitting idly warm.
Thanks Pulse.
Cheated by Verizon Again?
Oh Verizon FIOS, you make it hard to love you. Remember last week when I shared my disappointment over Verizon wanting to charge me to upgrade my router? This morning I heard a beeping coming from my basement. Upon investigating I came to the conclusion that the battery backup for my FIOS system had expired. A “replace battery” light was illuminated on the control box. A quick 40 minute phone call to Verizon support confirmed this. I was told that if I wanted to replace the battery it would cost me $28 plus shipping. I asked the representative who owned the equipment in my basement and he answered Verizon. When I inquired as to why I had to replace a battery in equipment I didn’t own I did not get much a response other than $28 plus shipping or I was free to find a similar battery elsewhere and replace it myself.
I can’t help but feel cheated. For all the money I pay Verizon for all four of it’s services (home phone, TV, internet, wireless) should I really have to fork over $28 for a battery in equipment that isn’t mine yet I pay to run?
I love Verizon FIOS for it’s speed but boy does the company not make it easy.
Verizon Doesn’t Rewards Their Loyal Customers?
I’ve been a loyal Verizon customer for over 7 years. When we moved into our current home we had the choice of providers for our internet, television and phone service. We choose “big-red” for all three. At that time Verizon gave us a modem to use with their FIOS internet and we also chose a DVR for our family room. Recently I’ve been having issues with both. I called Verizon hoping for an easy fix for both my issues. What I got was far from it.
Read on for more.
Who’s at Fault for the “New iPad” Case Fiasco?
Notice anything different on the packaging in the two cases pictured above? One case works with the iPad’s sleeper function and one does not. The case on the right has a sticker conveniently placed over a message saying that this case works with the sleeper function. It seems some iPad cases work with the sleep awake function on the iPad and others do not. It all depends on how a magnet was placed inside the case. Apparently in the past this did not matter but now does. This left many iPad case companies scrambling. Some found that their cases did not work with the iPad’s sleepret function why others found that there’s did. Others still found that some of their cases did and others did not in the same line of cases.
My question is who is at fault? Did Apple let case manufacturers know about a change in the iPad specifications? Or did they forget to do so. Speculation is that when Apple discontinued the orange smart cover they made a change to the requirements for magnets in cases to work with the sleeper function of the iPad. The question remains did Apple communicate this change to case companies or not? And even if they chose not to shouldn’t the case companies themselves have checked?
The iPhone has a Trash Can? On Blue Bloods it Does
The CBS crime drama Blue Bloods is one of my favorite TV shows. While watching this week’s episode during my morning treadmill workout I noticed something interesting. It’s not the first time a TV show has taken certain liberties with gadgets, making them do things we all know they simply can not, but here goes nonetheless. This week’s offender was the iPhone 4. One of the plots to this week’s show involved a gun turn in program where the city of NYC let citizens turn in illegal guns no questions asked for $200. One such gun was recognized as being involved in a crime by a cop working the event. Instead of arresting the person on the spot she discretely snapped a photo of him using her iPhone. When questioned about it later the cop showed her phone to her superior and there was no photo to be found?
Where did the photo go? Into the iPhone’s mysterious trash can of course!. After showing her boss an iPhoto photo library which contained on images of landscapes she immediately moved the picture of the suspect back into her photo library. I know I’m naive but if TV shows and movies want to feature certain products in their broadcasts (most often the iPhone) I’d rather they use them exactly how they operate in real life instead of inventing features which suit their story line.
iOS Tip: Changing Your Safari Search Defaults
As you are probably aware Google is the default search provider in mobile Safari on all of your iOS devices, something that surprises me given their love for each other or lack there of.
I’ve found a few issues with Google search on my iPhone whereby the search button became unresponsive so as a test I thought I would change over to Bing and I’m glad I did. I have found it to be rock solid and brings some nice UI elements of Windows Phone 7 over to Safari.
Here’s how to change yours.
My Take: iOS vs. Android
It seems like every time I’m reading an article on a new handset on any tech site there’s always a war going on in the comments between iOS users and Android users about which one is best. Each side lists their own various reasons as to why their choice is better. I’ve used both operating system plenty and have had both as daily drivers. Personally speaking, I really like both of them and also what they bring to the table. So what are my thoughts as to which one is better?
Read on to find out.
iOS Tip: Enable Emoji keyboard
I’ve got another iOS tip for you today, this time it’s how you can enable the emoji keyboard on your device.
Come on who doesn’t like being sent a smiley to cheer up your day? Here is how you can do this:
Why SIRI isn’t on the New iPad
There’s been a lot of talk about why SIRI hasn’t been included on the new iPad so I thought I would post my thoughts on why this might be the case.
You may be thinking that you saw something about voice dictation and you would be right. Think of it like a small part of SIRI made it over but not the full blown version we see on the iPhone 4S.
Here are some of the reason that I think we might not have seen the inclusion.
Listen: Run Around Tech Live: Episode 1
Well, our live podcast didn’t exactly go as planned. So much for free podcasting services. We’re still learning I guess. However, Roger and I still managed to record the very first episode of “Run Around Tech Live.” Since there was no way for you to listen to it live this is now the place to stream or download it instead. In this inaugural episode we focused much of our attention on Apple’s keynote address and specifically the new iPad, Apple TV, AppleCare+ and iOS 5.1. We also each discussed our favorite accessory of the week as well as a weekly iOS app pick (you’ve gotta listen to the end to see mine and see if it really works!)
Hit the link below to begin playing the podcast or you can choose to download it for listening offline later.
Be sure to check back throughout the week for updates on our next podcast. We’ll be sure to post it here as soon as it’s been recorded.
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