APPLE VISION PRO: A HEAVY WEIGHT ON YOUR FACE

Everyone and his dog are saying how uncomfortable the new Apple Vision Pro headset is. But what else would you expect when you strap a pound-and-a-half object to your face? Apple hasn’t revealed the exact weight yet, but 1.5 pounds is a good estimate, says tech expert David Pogue. If the weight doesn’t get to you after 20 minutes, the motion sickness and eye strain will. Or so say the people who returned the $3500 product, according to theVerge. Newbies may be wondering exactly what the Vision Pro does. Basically, it combines both virtual reality and augmented reality. When in VR, you’re totally immersed in a setting other than the one you’re actually in. When in AR, you can still […]

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APP TURNS SELFIES INTO ART

Art Selfie 2 is a fun way to see how you’d look dressed for the Italian Renaissance, a Woodstock Festival and a Frida Kahlo portrait, among other settings. I discovered that I look ridiculous in a powdered wig. Start by downloading Google’s free “Arts & Culture” app for Android or iPhone, then tap on “Art Selfie 2.” The app prompts you to take a selfie, choose a style and save your portrait. I never pictured myself with flowers on top of my head or wearing a hippie’s outfit. Groovy, man. Far out. Be Real During a busy day the other day, I went all over town. But every time the “Be Real” app popped up to take a selfie of […]

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KARAOKE SAVES THE DAY

After trying a voice amplifier that screeched, I was on the lookout for something better. I needed to interview a soft-spoken author in front of a large audience. As I was wondering how I would accomplish this, the soft-spoken author dragged an ancient karaoke system out of her closet. Brilliant idea, I thought. Unfortunately, it was missing a crucial part. So I bought the Moyleaf “Karaoke Machine for Adults and Kids,” a portable public address system with colorful disco lights. It looks like a large black lunch box with a bright orange handle, but weighs only 6.65 pounds. It’s about the height of a piece of paper, not counting the handle. I just saw it for $99.99 on Amazon, though […]

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FREE TECH SUPPORT

No wonder my friend Kenny got out of the tech support business. He charged around $50 per call. Now you can get free tech support without bugging your neighbor. Engadget.com listed the three main services, starting with CyberSeniors.org, which offers free support from volunteers. After you fill out their form, a volunteer will call you. Later, you can ask for them by name. The site also offers “Tech Drop-Ins,” to allow questions via Zoom. SeniorPlanet.org, from AARP, is similar. It’s free even for non-AARP members and offers daily Zoom sessions. Alternatively, you can talk to a tech on the phone any time between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, by calling 888-713-3495. For adults of all ages, there’s […]

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$500 MIRROR GIVES ADVICE

“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the craziest of them all?” You are, that’s who, if you’re willing to spend $500 to $1000 on an artificially intelligent mirror. Or maybe not. A glance at the new Baracoda Bmind Smart Mirror could talk you out of yelling at your boss, saving your bacon. First it will size you up. Then it will offer encouraging words, guide you in meditation and bring you light therapy. It also gives you your weight, the weather, some food recommendations and Nature scenes. According to ZDnet, the smart mirror is one of the best AI gadgets from the recent Computer Electronics Show. But number one on the ZDnet list is the “Motion Pillow.” When the Motion […]

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DOCTOR AI WILL DIAGNOSE YOU

Would you be creeped out to hear the words “Doctor AI Will See You Now?” Probably. But chances are, a robot would be better in some ways than your own doctor. In a Ted talk by Eric Topol, an American cardiologist and scientist, I learned about several situations where artificial intelligence saved the day. A 6 year-old, for example, suffered from nonstop pain and stunted growth for three years. He dragged his left foot and had severe headaches. When 17 doctors failed to diagnose him, his mom turned to ChatGPT. The chatbot said he had a tethered spinal cord. After surgery, he became 100 percent normal. Similarly, when a female patient was told by a dozen doctors that she had […]

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GETTING FUNKY WITH PHOTOS

My brother sent me a picture of myself in a canoe. It looks like a lovely painting. He did it with “BeFunky,” a free app. The free version of BeFunky leaves a watermark, but I still like it. Unfortunately, there’s one other limitation. To save your creation, you need BeFunky Plus, which is $72 a year. But you can still have fun with the freebie, by taking screenshots to share stuff online or by email. I use the Windows Snipping Tool. BeFunky has literally dozens of artsy effects, including everything from charcoal to impressionism and “poly art.”  With the plus version, I could turn my creations into full-sized prints or photo gifts at a site like Mpix.com, where I’ve been […]

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DIGITAL ADVENT CALENDAR

A friend just gave me a delightful Christmas present. It’s the Jacquie Lawson Edwardian Advent Calendar, an $8 download from JacquieLawson.com. Besides something special on each day, it has other activities. In a beautiful living room with colorfully wrapped presents, for example, I found an undecorated Christmas tree. I clicked it to choose lights, ornaments and more. Then I clicked the presents to reveal games. One led me to fascinating versions of Solitaire, including one with cards of the same suit and color. I then solved a puzzle that turned into a beautiful painting, and clicked a music book to reveal the wondrous tunes I was listening to. When the program first opens, click the star on the outside of […]

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GETTING A GOOD INTERNET AND PHONE DEAL

I just got the phone and internet deal of a lifetime: $5 a month for internet service, $15 a month for cell. But first I embarked on a tortuous journey through the Xfinity labyrinth. Like a character in Kafka’s “The Castle,” I encountered nothing but friendly people, eager to speed me on my way while bogging me down in a bureaucratic slurry. For example, I had to call back after the first lengthy chat, and was told that an agent would call me in seven to 10 hours, which turned into 24. The second time, I chatted with an agent for 44 minutes just to correct the typo I’d made in my address and to find out if I were […]

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SWIMMING TO THE MUSIC

Nothing beats swimming while an orchestra plays in your head. I’m talking about the new Run Plus waterproof headphones sent to me from Mojawa. The headphones work well on land too. They’re like a thin cable that wraps lightly around the back of your head, with loops for your ears. I tried something similar from Shokz six months ago, but had trouble getting my long hair plus headphones inside my swim cap. A friend suggested I wear the headphones outside my cap. That works great. Thanks to bone conduction technology, I don’t have to line up the ear loops to my ears. The sound quality is excellent, even in water, though my splashing interferes with the tunes somewhat. To get […]

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