ANDROID PHONES BECOME TOM TOM TOMS
Posted on September 12th, 2012 by Joy Schwabach
RABBIT EARS, ANYONE?
Posted on September 11th, 2012 by Joy Schwabach
Last year, 1.5 million Americans used antennas to get free over-the-air TV programs, according to Nielsen Research. We decided to try it ourselves. We tested a TiVo box for recording shows with an antenna from Antennas Direct. This is like a pumped-up set of rabbit ears.
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SMALL JOBS
Posted on September 10th, 2012 by Joy Schwabach
After we wrote about smartphone apps for small jobs, a reader living on a retirement income asked about apps that don’t require a smartphone. He was especially interested in “mystery shopper” jobs at retirement communities, because they pay well, and only ask that you pretend to be a customer.
Filed under: career | Comments Off on SMALL JOBS
PROGRAMMING FROM SCRATCH
Posted on September 9th, 2012 by Joy Schwabach
Super Scratch Programming Adventure,” by the Learning Through Engineering, Art and Design (LEAD) Project; $25, also from nostarch.com.
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A BOOK FOR THE KID IN YOU: LEGO HEAVY WEAPONS
Posted on September 8th, 2012 by Joy Schwabach
“LEGO Heavy Weapons,” by Jack Streat; $25 from nostarch.com
The instructions show you how to make Lego block replicas of the world’s most iconic firearms, including a massive Desert Eagle handgun, with working blowback action, a compact but deadly AKS-74U assault rifle with folding stock, a “Jungle Carbine” rifle, and a pump action shotgun. Each set of instructions lists the LEGO blocks you need.
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AT LEAST THE MAIL WORKS
Posted on September 7th, 2012 by Joy Schwabach
We gave our 89 year-old aunt an iPad recently, her first ever computer of any kind. It not only baffles her, what’s worse is none of her senior friends and neighbors can figure it out either. They all live in Palm Desert, where last week it was 114 in the shade – and there is no shade. The sun kind of bakes your brain.
Filed under: iPad, Windows | Comments Off on AT LEAST THE MAIL WORKS
CHEAP EQUIPMENT
Posted on September 6th, 2012 by Joy Schwabach
When Marcin Jakubowski’s tractor broke down, the physics-trained PhD in fusion energy didn’t go out and buy a new one, he built one. Then he decided to put together simple plans for 50 machines any group might need.
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GROUP CHATS
Posted on September 5th, 2012 by Joy Schwabach
Skype video chats just got some competition from Zoom.us, a free service that lets up to 15 people chat at once, on phones, tablets and computers, or a mix of all three. When one person is talking, their face dominates the screen and the rest are seen in thumbnail images. To add someone to a chat, just send them a link.
Filed under: apps, cheap calls, video | 1 Comment »
APP HAPPY
Posted on September 4th, 2012 by Joy Schwabach
CoinKeeper, is one of our favorite iPhone and Android apps and it’s now out in a version for the iPad. It’s an easy to use budgeting program that keeps track of your expenses and income. In fact, it’s so simple that Joy is keeping track for the first time in her life. (You learn some interesting things about where your money goes.)
IPAD OWNERS ARE RICH
Posted on September 3rd, 2012 by Joy Schwabach
We’ve read many times that iPad owners tend to be affluent, but a recent survey nailed down the numbers: According to ComScore.com, forty-six percent of iPad owners make more than $100,00 a year, compared with 32 percent of Android owners. So there!
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