On Computers

In case you’ve been wondering about the coming of “Google Glass,” let us clear the view. Google Glass is the latest in eyewear. Some call it “Google on your face.” So far the only users are a group of beta testers willing to pay $1500 for the privilege. We’re tempted to call this new product “Google Glasses,” but unlike a pair of glasses, there’s no glass, only a tiny viewer (very tiny) attached to one side of the frame. A small receiver (very small) attaches to the glasses frame and projects a display onto a tiny (still very tiny) screen in front of one eye. It not only displays incoming data, you can ask questions and send messages. Google Glass […]

Read more

Filed under: electronics, gadgets, Google | Comments Off on GOOGLE GLASS

Flash drives are cheap these days — around $15 for16 gigabytes — which is a lot of storage. We tend to back up everything on them. But what if something goes wrong with that drive and it just doesn’t “flash” anymore, so to speak? We better have it backed up somewhere else. The obvious way to go is to drag and drop files from one drive to another using Windows Explorer, (“File Explorer” in Windows 8). Or you can upload the files to your private storage space on the Internet usingGoogle Drive, Dropbox, iCloud, and any of several other services. But this is slow going if you have a lot of files to copy. A $212 hardware alternative is Startech’s […]

Read more

Filed under: backup, gadgets | Comments Off on FLASH DRIVE DUPLICATOR

A reader asked us if he should have his computer registry cleaned. A pop-up on a website wanted to charge him $129 for this service. Back away, we said.

Read more

Filed under: anti-virus, spyware, tech support, troubleshooting | 2 Comments »

Nextdoor.com is a site to help you keep up with what’s going on in your neighborhood. Information categories include “crime and safety,” “classifieds,” “free items,” and “lost and found.” They verify you are you by sending an automated phone call. We got welcomed by neighbors when we tried it. If there isn’t a category for gossip, there soon will be.

Read more

Filed under: Internuts, social networks | Comments Off on NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK

In ten years, the average home with two teenagers will have 50 devices connected to the Internet, according to a report by the Organization for Economic Cooperation. We counted 13 in our home. That’s only three more than the national average. But we’ve yet to connect our washer and dryer, our plants or our posture to an Internet app. (Some people have!)

Read more

Filed under: numbers, trends | Comments Off on THE NUMBERS REPORT

“Skit” from SkitApp.com for iPads (iPad 2 and up) makes it easy to create animations with your photos. Start with a friend’s photo or anybody’s — and use your finger to erase the body. Plop the head on an alien body and have another arrive by spaceship. Once you share the app, the recipient can edit the story to make it their own.

Read more

Filed under: apps, photos | Comments Off on FREE ANIMATION APP

“BlackJet,” a new app for iPhones, lists space-sharing opportunities in private jets. At present, it is available in ten major cities. Check the list at their web site, BlackJet.com. You need an invitation code to search for seats, but that’s easy to get. Enter the code “COOLBLACKJET100” at Blackjet.com. Unfortunately, there’s a membership fee of $2500; seats tend to cost around $2000 each, and that’s just one way. They give you a companion ticket worth $1750 when you book your first flight, to soften the blow. If you don’t have an iPhone you can just go to the web site.

Read more

Filed under: apps, Internuts | Comments Off on SHARE A RIDE ON A PRIVATE JET

A couple days ago, Joy found out her sister has been paying $40 a month for AOL’s dial-up service. What a rip-off. She already has a high-speed Internet connection, and has had it for 15 years. Yet the charges went on and on. And this is just the tip of the payout iceberg. According to the latest AOL quarterly report, payments for dial-up services accounted for 70 percent of AOL’s profit.

Read more

Filed under: email, Internet | Comments Off on AOL AND THE MONEY

We were surprised to see the photos we just took with our smartphone were immediately available on Google+, a social network much like Facebook. Google’s new “Instant Upload” saves your photos and videos in a private space on Google+. Click the “share” button in Google+ to make them available to anyone, or limit viewing to your friends. If you don’t already have Google+, you can get it at Plus.Google.com. Google+ lets you upload an unlimited number of photos in standard size (2048 pixels); at full resolution it limits you to five gigabytes of storage, which is free. Video storage is unlimited for videos of 15 minutes or less. The default for photos is full resolution, but you can change that […]

Read more

Filed under: Google, social networks | Comments Off on SNAP AND SEND

“Tropical Heat” reminds us of the video arcade days, when you feel as though you’re literally riding a jet ski. Dive under water, launch from ramps, combine extreme tricks. This summer’s new version will add volcanoes, tunnels, cliffs, sand dunes and cyclones and let you be a sea turtle or sting ray if you prefer. It’s $10, or PC and Mac from TropicalHeatGame.com.

Read more

Filed under: games | Comments Off on FUN AND GAMES