Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

Fact: I am glued to Google Reader all day long.  It contains all the technical and security items I like/need to be informed of for work.  I also get to read stories about what actress was in Florida wearing a bikini after eating a box of donuts, so you could say it’s all encompassing.  Since I picked up an iPad 2 a few months back, I’ve really gotten into Flipboard to parse and present all my reading options to me, as one of the big perks of having an iPad for your news consumption is to have it displayed in pretty, pretty pictures with nice formatting instead of text mode (my only dig on Reeder).

 

Enter Google Currents, Google’s attempt at a Flipboard killer.  However, Flipboard updates Google Reader, marking my posts read when I flip through them.  Google Currents, brought to you by Google, makers of Google Reader, does not.

 

Advantage: Flipboard.

Introduction

Yes, I drank the Kool-Aid and purchased an iPhone 4S yesterday, and I am very happy with the new video, photo and Siri features.  However, I have other interests this weekend where an iPhone 4 would be perfect for using Square to take credit cards, photos and videos with people that are fans of the Big Eagle Band.  I will not be at the event tonight, so giving my phone away is not an option.  So, I thought I’d try to convert my old phone into a general purpose iPod that can connect to Wifi and do

 

Step One: Connect Your iPhone to a Computer

Get out your trusty iPhone charging cable and connect it to your computer of choice.  Make sure the latest version of iTunes is installed.

 

Step Two: Backup (Optional)

For this I normally first choose to Transfer Purchases and then choose to Backup as a second step.  To do this you can just right click (or option-click)on your device listed in the left column and select the appropriate action.

 

Step Three: Restore

Now that you have a backup (if desired), you may now restore your phone to factory defaults.  Click on your device in the left column and you will see a screen with options to Check for Update or Restore.  Click on Restore.  You will be warned that you are about to restore your phone.  Click OK.  Then you may be warned of purchases being on your phone.  You backed up and transferred purchases, so click on Continue.

The next screen will be a note about the latest software update and all the new changes.  Click on Next.  Now the fascinating read that is the iPhone Software Update terms will be displayed.  Click Agree.

Now we wait.  How long?  Well, depending on your Internet Connection this could be a while.

iTunes will automate the entire restore process until you are greeted with a welcome screen to either setup your new iPhone or restore from a backup. Choose Setup a New iPhone and name it whatever you want.  Uncheck the options to automatically sync contacts, calendars… andapplications and click Done.

Finished!  Oh wait, we need to sync it!  Personally, I’m scared if I walk through the new iPhone setup on the phone it will reactivate my old phone, so I am just going to use iTunes.

 

Step Four: Sync!

On the screen that displays your iPhone information, Click on Info (located at the top).  This is where you choose what you want to do with this phone.  Since I don’t want to sync any mail, contacts or calendars, we will just move along to Apps.  Click on Apps at the top and check Sync Apps.  Choose the apps you want to sync and move along to Music.  If this is your iPod start selecting music to sync to the device.  When you have selected everything you want to sync to your new iPod click on Sync at the bottom of the iTunes window.

 

Step Five: Survive!

Now that everything is synced, wait, what’s this?  The iPhone still wants me to walk through the iOS5 setup.  I stepped through the process quite easily and added my Apple ID to the phone.  I opted to use iCloud and backup to iCloud, but we’ll get to that in a minute.  Keep working through the setup like its a new phone and click on Start Using iPhone.  Now that you are at the home screen, CONFIGURE!

 

Step Six: Cripple iCloud for Fun and Profit

You may have a different opinion, but I do not want all of my calendars, contacts and more added to this device.  To modify iCloud, tap Settings, selectiCloud and turn off Contacts, Calendars, Reminders and Bookmarks by default.  Keep Find My iPhone on if you have any hopes to finding this thing when it inevitably gets lost.

 

Step Seven: The FaceTime Conundrum

We learned this the hard way.  My dad tried to FaceTime me and my desk lit up like a Christmas tree.  The iPad, both laptops and my iPhone went off.  I don’t want FaceTime on my iPod, so, click back on Settings, go to FaceTime and turn it off.

 

Step Eight: No More Messaging

The same theory as FaceTime applies here.  Click back on Settings, go to Messages and turn off iMessage.

 

Step Nine: Let’s Get This Over With

Time to customize your new iPod.  I personally moved the Mail and Phone icons to a folder called “Apple” then put any unnecessary built-in app into that folder or the “Utilities” folder.

 

That’s all there is to it!  Enjoy!

So, after purchasing the only OS that might be a credible end-user tablet experience as an alternative to Apple’s iPad (sorry, Android.  I leave my hatred of you for another post), HP decided to dump their WebOS hardware and basically implode.  With that, the TouchPad tablet became a $99 portable web browser and I became interested in toying with it.

 

Strike One:

The first observation was a pretty basic one:  This is not an iPad.  I’m trying to keep an open mind about things and at least TRY the brussel sprouts of tablet devices, but when the first thing you have to do out of the box is update the system so it doesn’t lag to the point of rage that’s a BAD USER EXPERIENCE.  After the system update most of my complaints were resolved but still there was a noticeable lag.  I tried to brush it off with “Well, it’s $99″, but they were selling this for FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS.  You would think it would handle itself with the speed of an iPad for that price point.  Strike one, HP.

 

After a week of using the TouchPad I became so annoyed by the lag that I looked to the Internet for help.  Oh yeah, HP turns on detailed logging by default!  Cleaned that up and STILL lag.  Ultimately I had to go through a process of jail breaking the tablet and over clocking the processor to not have to wait 30-60 seconds for my email app to load.

 

Strike Two:

I installed a few apps and starting playing around with their App Catalog.  While the curated monthly Pivot magazine at the opening of the app store is a pleasant and unique idea, the lack of decent apps was irritating.  Add to that the “pre-installed” Kindle and Facebook apps.  When you launch them it just takes you to the App Catalog to download the actual apps.  What’s the point?  That aside, I downloaded and started using several applications, but found lag, freeze ups and bugs in ALL OF THEM.  The Time Magazine app, one which not only requires a paid subscription but comes from what you would think is a reputable source, freezes about 1/3rd of the way through this week’s issue.  So….can I have $1.99 back?

 

We’re still waiting on Strike Three at the moment, but it’s terribly frustrating that Apple is the only company that knows how to create a computing device that answers the “now what?” question that an end user will have after they go through the setup process.  It’s not rocket science, people.  I bought an extra TouchPad solely for my mother-in-law to use for Skype so she can have a little portability with her webcam.  I don’t know how I’m going to get this to work nicely for her without having to HACK the sum’ bitch.

 

Bottom line, even at $99 you get what you pay for.

 

 

 

 

This real life transcript from earlier today shows exactly why I cannot stand talking to customer service representatives:

 

jvillaruzBLD: Thanks for contacting Comcast! I look forward to helping you today.

jvillaruzBLD: Hello Matthew, how are you doing today?

Matthew: Hi

Matthew: I’ve been having some weird Internet issues. Started I think last Friday or over the weekend, but I kept seeing intermittent connectivity with my cable modem. We lost power a few times in the storm two days ago and since then I can’t re-establish a connection at all.

Matthew: I tried calling in prior to the storm to do a modem reset over the phone but it never came back online. I’m wondering if the modem is just fried.

jvillaruzBLD: Matthew I am very sorry to hear that Matthew.

jvillaruzBLD:  Matthew, I understand that you are having some issues with internet connection, is that correct?

Matthew: …yes

jvillaruzBLD: Matthew, I understand that you are having an issue with your comcast comcast internet connection. I apologize for the frustration.

jvillaruzBLD: Matthew, I am here to provide you with excellent customer service today. Please be assured I will do my best to help you with your concern.

jvillaruzBLD: Matthew, when did this problem started?

Matthew: …Last Friday or over the weekend.

jvillaruzBLD: I understand Matthew.

jvillaruzBLD: Matthew, For security purposes, would you please provide the following information: 1. Full Name of Account Holder 2. Complete Service Address 3. Complete account number

Matthew: Matthew Stone – XXXXXX, XXXXXX

jvillaruzBLD: Thank you for that information, Matthew.

jvillaruzBLD: Would you mind waiting for 2 minutes while I research some information in my system in order to better serve you?

Matthew: ok

jvillaruzBLD: Thank you Matthew,

jvillaruzBLD: By the way, later, to end this chat please do take the short question survey. This would mean so much to me! I hope you would consider me helpful today in the way we resolved the issue.

jvillaruzBLD: As of this time, since you cannot access your account the best thing to do is that I will be reseting the password for you, and later after this chat you can change it to your own preference, will that be ok with you?

Matthew: What? I can access my account.

jvillaruzBLD: I am sorry about that Matthew, that was a wrong typo.

jvillaruzBLD: First, Please allow me to do the troubleshooting on my End, I will do my best to get your modem and account reinitialize data exchange with the Comcast Server to make sure that everything works at optimal range.

jvillaruzBLD: While I am checking on your full account Details,Please make sure that all the cables are also secured.

jvillaruzBLD: Matthew are you still there?

Matthew: yes

jvillaruzBLD: Matthew, as of this time, there seems to be curcuit isseu on you modem, the best way to solve this problem, is buy bringing your modem to the local office and swpapping to a new modem, and that is for free.

Matthew: Will do. Thanks.

jvillaruzBLD: Before we finish up , I want to remind you that we have check the status of your modem.

jvillaruzBLD: Do you have any other questions or concerns I can

jvillaruzBLD: Do you have any other questions or concerns I can help you with today?

Matthew: No.

jvillaruzBLD: hank you for choosing Comcast for your entertainment needs! Our goal is to provide you with a consistently superior customer experience – that’s our guarantee. Learn more about the Comcast Customer Guarantee at http://www.comcast.com/corporate/Customers/CustomerGuarantee.html?fs

jvillaruzBLD: hank you for choosing Comcast for your entertainment needs! Our goal is to provide you with a consistently superior customer experience – that’s our guarantee. Learn more about the Comcast Customer Guarantee at http://www.comcast.com/corporate/Customers/CustomerGuarantee.html?fs

jvillaruzBLD:  Click the `EXIT CHAT` to end this chat session. I hope you take a moment to answer a quick survey.