On Computers

Move over e-bikes. A new kind of stroller drives itself. If your toddler wants to walk with you for a while, “Ella” can follow alongside. Made by Gluxkind, Ella was the hit of the recent Consumer Electronics Show. It automatically brakes if it starts to go too fast and uses the same technology as driverless cars. But for safety’s sake, it won’t drive itself with a baby inside. Self-driving mode is limited to situations where there’s nothing in the stroller, but you need it to move along with you as you carry your baby or walk with your toddler. On YouTube I watched Ella go downhill on its own while the mom carried her child. It stopped when she stopped. […]

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Filed under: Amazon, apps, gadgets, Internuts, kids, MP3, music, Uncategorized | Comments Off on SMART STROLLER DRIVES ITSELF

Three of my friends have books they want to self-publish. It sure beats sending your manuscript to the slush file of some harried, overworked agent. But another way to go is called “hybrid publishing.” With the hybrid approach, you team up with a publisher who lends an air of credibility to your book. As with Amazon’s “Kindle Direct Publishing,” you do the whole thing online. To find out more, I chatted with the author Samuel M. Goodman, a PhD chemical engineer. He took the hybrid route for his new book “Beyond Carbon Neutral,” by using an outfit called “New Degree Press.” What’s nice about New Degree is that you can refer readers to an actual publisher instead of a vanity […]

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Filed under: books, environment, Internuts, kids, music, text messaging | Comments Off on ONLINE TOOLS FOR PUBLISHING YOUR BOOK

Years ago, my mediocre piano teacher failed to show up for my lesson, even though we were meeting at her house. I heard she did it to others too.  Phooey on her. I can get the best teachers in America online, and they’re cheaper. According to a 2020 report from Thumbtack, the average in-person piano teacher charges between $40 to $100 an hour. I just got 36 lessons for $25 from TheGreatCourses.com during one of their major sales. By using the free Chrome extension from CapitalOneShopping.com, the price dropped to $18. The equivalent from a live teacher would have cost $1440 to $3600. My online teacher, Pamela Pike, won the “Outstanding Teacher Award” from Louisiana State University, among other honors. […]

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Filed under: apps, education, environment, facebook, how-to, Internuts, music, Windows | Comments Off on ONLINE PIANO LESSONS ROCK

I just made a will using free online tools. I didn’t need a lawyer. I did it all at LawDepot.com during their one-week free trial. LegalDepot has hundreds of templates for legal documents, including power-of-attorney forms. After the free trial, it costs $35 a month or $108 a year if paid annually. I easily finished mine within the freebie period. I was motivated by my local women’s club, which has a special “pinning ceremony” for those who name the club in their wills, even for a small amount. I’m looking forward to getting my pin. Another group I support gave me a free paperweight. When I told the ladies that I was naming the club in my will, they assumed […]

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Filed under: apps, batteries, business, music | Comments Off on WHERE THERE’S A WILL, THERE’S A WAY

Recently, my neighbor went into assisted living. The first thing she noticed was the lack of TV channels. Gone were her favorites, like Hallmark. I suggested YouTube TV. YouTube TV has over 85 channels for $65 a month. Its chief rival, Hulu, is $80 a month if you include the ability to skip ads and record 200 hours worth of shows. YouTube TV gives you unlimited recordings and ad skipping for no extra charge. You also get a $10 discount on the first three months after a free trial. CNET tested six streaming services. They agree with me that YouTube TV is the best. However, you might prefer Hulu if you’re a fan of Disney Plus, the History Channel and […]

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Filed under: apps, batteries, Internuts, music, YouTube | Comments Off on YOUTUBE BEATS HULU

I never thought I’d want music coming out of my glasses. Then Anker sent me their “Soundcore Frames.” Sweet. I love being able to hear all the sounds swirling around me while listening to music on my walk, including birds chirping, friends talking or cars coming. I wish others would wear the Frames too. At my old apartment building, which is 95% students, I’d have to wait while they pulled out their earbuds whenever I started a conversation in the elevator. With the Frames, they would be able to hear me easily.  Setup is minimal.  Connect the Frames to your phone wirelessly by going into Bluetooth settings on your phone, and you’re done. They’ll turn on automatically when you put […]

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Filed under: art, gadgets, music, security, spam, video | Comments Off on MUSICAL FRAMES

My friend Nancy just bought her first smartphone. But when I tried to help her transfer her number to Consumer Cellular, AT&T gave us the complete runaround. The trouble started because an AT&T guy had pasted a yellow sticker on her router with the wrong network name and password. It got worse from there. When Nancy told AT&T she wanted to transfer her service, they asked for her account number. But after she logged onto their website, she got a different one than the one they wanted. That was just the beginning. Over the next 90 minutes, AT&T asked for a four-digit passcode, a four-digit PIN and a six-digit number. We had difficulty finding all of those. AT&T also asked […]

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Filed under: gadgets, music, trends, virus | Comments Off on AT&T RUNAROUND

What if smiling at your phone triggered a slew of actions? It can do that in Android 12, coming in September. To try it out now, do a web search on “Android beta,” then click to enroll. The list of eligible phones includes the Pixel 3 on up, as well as OnePlus, Xiaomi and a few others, but not Samsung, Motorola, or LG.  I tried smiling, opening my mouth, and looking right and left to trigger an action. The first few times were OK, then my phone went berserk. Just looking at it set off a mad dash through flashing menus. I could barely tap fast enough to regain normalcy. Despite the facial fiasco, I’m enjoying Android 12. For starters, […]

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Filed under: Android, gadgets, Google, music, wearables, Windows | Comments Off on TRYING OUT ANDROID 12

​It’s hard to resist exercise tech. I’m talking about a $1,495 vibrating machine called “Power Plate.” My sister uses one with her personal trainer to help reverse her osteoporosis. It’s become my personal go-go-dancing platform and a fun way to exercise. The app offers a ton of workout videos and so does YouTube. But it’s so powerful, you’re not supposed to  use it more than three times a week.  The first time I stepped onto it, my whole body vibrated, even my head. To avoid head vibration, I now keep my knees bent. It’s a lot more powerful than the vintage vibrating belt my aunt used. Back in the day, my sister and I cracked up when the belt vibrated […]

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Filed under: apps, health, Internuts, music, security | Comments Off on POWER PLATE EXERCISE SHAKES UP ROUTINE

I was strolling in Chicago when my phone fell out of my bag somewhere along the river walk. I was notified by email right away. Wow. “I hope you get this,” the email said. “My wife found your phone downtown. We left it with the front desk person at Boeing.” I was mystified. How did he get my email address? It was simple. I’d allowed notifications for important messages to be displayed on my Android phone’s lock screen. My email address was listed at the top. I was lucky the phone hadn’t run out of juice and was still showing notifications. The couple who found it had tried calling me first, only to discover I hadn’t entered any contact info […]

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Filed under: Amazon, cheap calls, Internuts, music, tech support, troubleshooting | Comments Off on PLAN TO LOSE YOUR PHONE