$100 Credit for Early iPhone Owners
Apple is offering a $100 credit to iPhone owners who purchased their iPhone before August 22nd. For more information, visit http://www.apple.com/iphone/storecredit/
Digital Photo 101
One of the more common topics I get questions about is digital photography. Beginning with the purchase of a camera, I often get asked how many megapixels should their camera have. I also see many people confused about card readers. Finally, the biggest problems usually revolve around the organization and editing of their photos. In an attempt to help everyone avoid trouble, here are my tips to simplify digital photography.
1. When purchasing a digital camera, more megapixels is not always better. 4 megapixels will produce nice 4×6 and 5×7 prints. 5 megapixels will produce good quality 8×10 prints. Unless you plan on making larger prints, more megapixels simply waste space on your memory cards. This means your memory cards will hold fewer photos, requiring you to purchase larger memory cards. In addition, more megapixels usually means a more expensive camera.
2. Purchase and use a card reader. It is generally much easier to transfer photos from your digital camera by taking out the memory card and putting it in a card reader. This avoids the hassle of making sure your camera is charged and in the right mode. There are many inexpensive card readers available that can read a wide variety of memory cards. Just make sure the card reader you choose works with the memory card your camera uses.
3. Don’t even think of installing the software that comes with your digital camera. Most of the software that comes with digital cameras are bloated, inefficient, and unnecessary. If you have a Mac, it already comes with iPhoto. It will easily import your photos from your card reader with no additional software. If you have Windows, download the free program Picasa (http://picasa.google.com/). Picasa is small, efficient, and easy to use. And again, by using a card reader, Picasa will import your photos regardless of what kind of camera you have. Both iPhoto and Picasa make organizing and editing your photos very easy. They also make the process of e-mailing your photos simple since they can automatically reduce your photos and send them to your e-mail software.
If you follow my three tips, working with digital photos will become a whole lot easier for you.
Contact Marcel if you have questions about digital photography or other digital media technologies.
Finally! A Macintosh Expert That Comes To You!
Those of you that use Macintosh computers (or know someone who does) are all too familiar with the problem of finding a qualified Mac expert. Most Windows technicians cringe (often literally) at working with a Macintosh. The Genius Bar at the Apple Stores can be helpful, but you must bring your computer to the store, wait times are often long, and the “genius” often doesn’t live up to their moniker. And good luck trying to find someone who understands BOTH Macs and Windows along with the ins and outs of making them work together. Wouldn’t it be great if you had access to a true technology professional with over 13 years of experience on Macintosh computers – in addition to Windows and UNIX? Certainly, it would just be a dream if that expert would come to your home or business, right?
Wake up from your dream and give Marcel Brown Technology Services a call today! Marcel Brown celebrated his 5th year in business as an independent technology consultant this year, but he has been in the technology industry for over 13 years. For all of those years, he has always worked with Macs as well as Windows and UNIX. This unique combination of expertise along with his focus on the small business and individual makes Marcel Brown an indispensable resource. No one else in the St. Louis area can offer you this level of expertise with all computing platforms, not to mention the fact that he will come to your home or business. Whether your need is service, support, consulting, or advice, Marcel Brown can do it all.
To contact Marcel Brown Technology Services:
800-797-8714
618-580-6256
marcel@marcelbrown.com
For more information about Marcel Brown Technology Services, please visit:
https://www.marcelbrown.com
Tech Toy of the Month: WildCharge Wireless Charging Pad
Imagine being able to charge devices such as cell phones or iPods simply by laying them down on a pad. You would not need to connect any wires to the device – you simply lay it down on a pad and it charges. On top of that, you could charge multiple devices on the same pad. If the WildCharge (http://www.wildcharge.com) wireless charging pad delivers as promised, you will soon be able to stop imagining and start doing.
As with many great technologies, the idea is simple and so is the way you use it. In fact, just a few paragraphs from WildCharge’s web site pretty much explain the technology:
The WildCharger pad is flat and thin with a conductive surface. Once a cell phone or other electronic device that is enabled with WildCharge technology is placed on the pad anywhere on the pad and at any orientation it will instantaneously receive power from the pad. It is that simple. And charging speed is the same as if the device is plugged to the wall!
Enabling a portable electronic device with WildCharge technology is also simple. A WildCharge adapter attaches to or outright replaces the device’s back cover. This adapter has tiny external bumps (contact-points) that come in physical contact with the pad.
Once a compatible electronic device is placed on the WildCharger pad, power is transferred from the pad’s surface through the contact-points to the WildCharge adapter and into the device. The geometries of the charging surface and the contact-points guaranty that regardless of where the device is placed on the pad’s surface, a closed electrical circuit is formed between the surface and the device. Such direct contact allows for a very efficient and safe power transfer without generating harmful radiation or magnetic fields.
One catch to their technology is that the device you want to charge must be “enabled”, which as explained above, requires an adapter made for that specific device. Since the product is on the verge of being released, only adapters for the Motorola Razor phone and the iPod Nano are being released right away. Obviously, if WildCharge releases a substantial number of adapters for various devices, this won’t be such a problem. This will be especially true if WildCharge works with device manufacturers to ensure that devices are WildCharge compatible out of the box.
Another potential drawback I can foresee is that users who have devices in cases or protective covers will need to take their devices out to charge them. Naturally, this can be quite inconvenient and limit acceptance of the WildCharge product. Potentially, I can imagine that cases could also be made WildCharge compatible, so we will see how the market develops.
I could see myself using this technology at home on a regular basis. But I’m not so sure I would use it on the go. There are already so many gadgets and accessories to lug around when going international, and I’m not convinced an additional charger would make the cut. It took me long enough to come up with my 10 picks for travel power adapters before choosing the most versatile one. I could not bring an extra charger that doesn’t even work on all my devices.
The products seem reasonably priced, as a WildCharger pad and a device adapter bundle is listed for $89.99 on WildCharge’s web site. So if you don’t like plugging in your devices to charge them, keep an eye out for WildCharge’s products to be released soon.
Q: Can I run Windows software on a Mac?
– submitted by many readers
A: The answer is always yes. What differs is the way you can do this, depending on what kind of Macintosh you have and how you want to run Windows. The first order of business is to identify what kind of processor your Macintosh has.
The older Macintosh processor technology still in common use today is the PowerPC. You can often identify Macs that use the PowerPC processor by name. Look for “Power Mac”, “PowerBook”, G3, G4, or G5. The newer processor technology Macs use today is the Intel processor. Yes, this is the same processor that most Windows computers use, which as I will explain later, is very beneficial to those who want to run Windows software on a Mac. Intel-based Macs do not include the “Power” moniker, so look for names such as “MacBook”, “MacBook Pro”, or “Mac Pro”. Some Macs, such as the iMac or Mac Mini do not reveal what kind of processor they use by name. To identify the processor in these Macs, choose “About this Mac” from the Apple Menu in the upper left corner. The informational window that follows will identify the processor.
If you have an older PowerPC-based Mac, your choices for running Windows software are somewhat limited. Your only real choice is emulation software, such as Virtual PC (http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/virtualpc/virtualpc.aspx?pid=virtualpc). Emulation software basically runs a virtual Windows computer inside the Mac OS. Almost all Windows software will run in emulation, with a few exceptions, such as 3D games. While emulation software often gets a bad rap for being slow, it can be extremely useful for Windows software that is not particularly processor intensive.
If you have an Intel-based Mac, you have two main choices. The first option is the ability to boot your Mac directly into Windows. This is done with a technology from Apple called Boot Camp (http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/). With Boot Camp, your Mac becomes a full-fledged Windows machine, bypassing the Mac OS altogether. Since Windows is running “natively” on an Intel processor, just like in a regular Windows computer, it runs at full-speed, again just like a regular Windows computer. Boot Camp is useful for users who need to spend a significant amount of time in Windows, such as a user who uses Windows at work, but prefers the Mac OS at home or otherwise. Boot Camp is also useful for people who want to run Windows games on a Mac, since there is no performance penalty for running Windows in this way. The main drawback to Boot Camp is that because the Mac must be rebooted to switch between the Mac OS and Windows, it’s not particularly convenient for users who want to use both operating systems at the same time.
The second option for Intel-based Macs is ideal for users who want to use Windows software without rebooting the Mac. “Virtual machine” software, such as Parallels (http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/) or VMWare Fusion (http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/), run a virtual Windows computer inside the Mac OS. This is a similar idea to the emulation software for PowerPC processors. However, with these “virtual machine” products, only a small performance penalty is incurred, since Windows is running “natively” on the same Intel processors it would be on a regular Windows computer. Virtual machine products are useful for users who occasionally need to run Windows software on their Mac, or who want to use both Mac OS software and Windows software at the same time. The main drawback to virtual machine products is that more RAM is required since the Mac will be running two operating systems simultaneously. Also, compared to Boot Camp, the small performance penalty for running Windows in a virtual machine may be a minor drawback to some users.
The bottom line is that you shouldn’t feel that a Macintosh is not compatible with the Windows world. In fact, if you look at the Mac’s ability to run Mac, Windows, and UNIX software, it can actually run MORE software than any regular Windows computer. For users buying a new Mac, given the ability to run Windows, it is actually like getting two computers in one.
For all things Macintosh, Marcel is your expert.
Possible E-mail Problem Looms for DSL Users
If you know someone who uses AT&T/Yahoo DSL service (formerly SBC/Yahoo or Ameritech DSL), you may want to make them aware of a potential problem looming on the horizon. AT&T is making changes to their e-mail servers to make them more secure. However, these changes require that users modify the configuration of their e-mail software to continue to use e-mail properly. A partial list of software that is affected includes Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Outlook Express, Eudora, Apple Mail, and Thunderbird. Users who only use AT&T/Yahoo’s webmail feature are not affected.
More information on these changes can be found here http://helpme.att.net/article.php?item=10918. However, be aware that the instructions on this page are not entirely accurate! I have found that a setting called SMTP authentication must also be enabled. The exact way to set this differs between e-mail programs, but it usually is referred to as SMTP AUTH, authentication, or authorization.
It appears that for some users the changes have already started causing problems. AT&T has been sending their customers e-mails warning of the required changes. However, many users ignore the e-mail, or do not feel comfortable making the required changes. So if you know anyone with AT&T (or SBC or Ameritech) DSL service, usually identifiable if their e-mail address ends in att.net, sbcglobal.net, or ameritech.net, please point them to this article.
Usually, a call to AT&T support will help resolve this issue. But oftentimes a call to AT&T support will result in long wait times or talking with a difficult to understand support technician. If you or someone you know would like help getting this issue resolved, let them know that I will identify and fix this problem as part of my Computer Tune-Up service.
Tech Toy of the Month: Apple iPhone, part II
In last month’s Tech Toy article, I previewed the Apple iPhone. Now that the iPhone has been released, I have had a chance to read reviews and spend some time with one myself.
One of my main concerns with the iPhone was the interface. Since there are no hard buttons on the iPhone, I figured Apple would need to hit the proverbial home run with their touchscreen interface. So I started reading reviews. I can sum up what I read with the following few quotes:
It’s fast, beautiful, menu-free, and dead simple to operate.
… it works like magic.
The lure of the iPhone is that it makes you want to use it. It’s actually fun. Do we say that about any phones? Hardly.
It’s also the best phone that anybody has ever made.
… every moment of user interaction has been quietly stage-managed and orchestrated, with such overwhelming attention to detail that when the history of digital interface design is written, whoever managed this project at Apple will be hailed as a Michelangelo, and the iPhone his or her Sistine Chapel.
Given this build-up, when I had a chance to use the iPhone, it was sort of a let-down. Not that I found any serious problems with the iPhone. To the contrary, the iPhone basically did everything it was supposed to do, exactly as I’d been reading about it. Having used and researched Apple products for so many years, perhaps I’ve become a little jaded to such breakthroughs. I expect this level of excellence from Apple, so it’s not a surprise to me when they release products like this. However, when I “step back” and put everything into perspective, it is very uncommon in the technology industry to create a breakthrough product that delivers everything it promises. And given the long lead time and the unprecedented hype surrounding the iPhone, this is all the more impressive.
To be fair, the biggest nit I have to pick with the iPhone is the virtual keyboard interface. In trying to type with my thumbs like I do with Blackberries or Treos, I had a small bit of difficulty. Perhaps I would get better with practice, so I won’t call this a big problem yet. However, I can see that people with larger thumbs or with longer fingernails will have problems. While people like this will have problems with any mobile keyboard, the lack of tactile response combined with the possibility of accidental “key” presses on the iPhone’s touchscreen will probably aggravate the situation.
To sum up, the iPhone lives up to the hype. If you see the iPhone in action on Apple’s web site, you should expect that you will get exactly what you see if you purchase one for yourself.
For all things Apple, Marcel is your expert.
Q: All the stores I shop at only have computers with Windows Vista. How can I get a computer WITHOUT Vista?
– submitted by Susan Young, Glen Carbon, IL
A: One simple answer many people overlook is to buy an Apple Macintosh. Macs, of course, come with the Mac operating system, not Windows Vista. (Side note: modern Macs can run Windows Vista or XP as well – Macs are like 2 computers in one). However, most people asking this question are wanting to get a computer with Windows XP. For those people, here is the advice I’ve been giving.
The first thing to do is to stop shopping at “big box” stores for your computers. Without going into too much detail, the quality of computer you can purchase at your average retail store is suspect, and the level of service and support you can expect to receive is usually quite low. Step out of the mindset that computers can be bought and sold like paper clips or toothpaste. With the importance of computers in our everyday lives or businesses, a computer purchase should be done with care and planning, not browsing and impulse.
For most computer purchases, I recommend that you establish a relationship with a quality and reputable vendor local to you. Local vendors can customize your computer to your needs, including the choice of operating system that your computer will run. Quality vendors should use more reliable components, increasing your odds of trouble-free operation over the years. Finally, quality vendors should also provide responsive and hassle-free support policies, so if you do have problems with your hardware, they will rectify the situation quickly.
If for some reason a local vendor is not an option, Dell is the only large on-line vendor to actively offer the choice of Windows XP with most of their computers (at the time of this writing). Dell gives you this choice easily through their on-line store. Gateway and HP do have some models available with Windows XP, but you must call them and ask for this option. They do not publicize this or give you the option through their on-line stores. The last time I checked, there was often an additional charge from Gateway or HP to customize your computer with Windows XP. So Dell is the easy choice, but if you prefer another vendor, you will probably need to talk to them on the phone and be prepared to pay extra.
A few words of advice: if you do purchase a computer from a large on-line vendor, stay away from the cheapest models. They are cheap for a reason. Also, make sure you get at least 1 GB of RAM.
E-mail me your technology questions and have them answered in a future issue!
Read Your Voicemail
I’ve been doing a lot of research lately on phones and related accessories and services, in no small part due to the recent release of the Apple iPhone. One of the more interesting services I’ve come across is from a company called SimulScribe. Simply put, SimulScribe offers a voicemail service that uses voice recognition technology to convert all voice messages into text and immediately send them to your cell phone or e-mail. This allows you read your voice messages right away, without needing to actively listen to them. This is a simple but powerful idea. Being able to read your messages should save a lot of time, especially if you’ve got a lot of messages in your voicemail box. You can quickly see which messages are important or urgent and be able to take action, rather than spending the time required to listen to entire messages.
SimulScribe’s basic plan costs $9.95 per month for up to 40 messages, then 25 cents for each message after 40. This seems like a reasonable cost, unless you receive a lot more than 40 voicemail messages per month. Calls where no messages are left do not get counted toward your bill. SimulScribe claims that their service will work with any wireless carrier and most landline or corporate voicemail systems.
While the point of the service is to send your voice messages as text, you always have the option to actually listen to any voicemail, which is useful in situations where significant background noise may prevent the voice recognition from working. Perhaps the most useful aspect of SimulScribe is that once the messages are in text, you don’t need to write down the important information from the message. As long as you keep your text messages around, you can easily find names, address, or other important information. You can also go to SimulScribe’s web site to search, sort, and archive converted messages as you do with e-mail. This is just not possible with regular voicemail.
The most impressive thing about SimulScribe, however, is the numerous awards and testimonials the service has received. Personally, I saw enough recognizable names and awards to convince me to give SimulScribe’s service a try, at the very least for their free 1 week trial. I’ll be starting their service soon, so If you’re interested in finding out how the service worked for me, feel free to contact me and I’ll let you know.
Tech Toy of the Month: Apple iPhone, part I
It is perhaps the most anticipated technology gadget in history. It promises to change cell phones in the way the iPod changed mobile music players. It is the Apple iPhone (http://www.apple.com/iphone). While it has not yet been released as of this writing, I will attempt to explain what the iPhone will be in as simple terms as possible.
The iPhone is of course a cell phone. It will only be available on the AT&T network (formerly Cingular) at least through the year 2009 (barring any changes in contract between AT&T and Apple). So if you are with any other wireless provider (Sprint, T-Mobile, US Cellular, Verizon), you will NOT be able to get an iPhone unless you switch to AT&T. To be released on June 29th, the iPhone will cost $499 for a 4GB version or $599 for a 8GB version (both prices require a 2-year contract).
The iPhone will also be a fully-functional iPod, playing music, photos, and videos. For many people, the integration of a phone with an iPod will be very compelling. However, the initial cost may be prohibitive for those casually considering a phone/iPod combo.
The main feature most people will immediately notice about the iPhone is the large touchscreen display, along with the fact that there are no hard buttons. While the touchscreen feature looks very nice, the lack of hard buttons may be a concern to some people. Time will tell if the touchscreen interface will be intuitive enough to make up for the lack of hard buttons. One feature that people will notice is the fact that the iPhone can sense when it is rotated and will rotate the display accordingly. In other words, if you want to view the display in widescreen mode, you simply need to rotate the iPhone in your hand. Words really don’t do this feature justice, so make sure to see this feature in action on Apple’s web site.
Apple is touting that the iPhone will be the most advanced mobile Internet device to date. Apple is using the Mac OS X operating system from its Macintosh computers, along with its Safari web browser, as the operating system for the iPhone. Apple is promising a fully-featured web browser on a phone, the same one in use on desktop computers. This feature, along with the rotating display, should allow users to see web pages the way they were designed to be seen. Other mobile devices must reformat web pages for display on their screens.
The iPhone has Wi-Fi wireless networking for fast Internet speeds in public hotspots or other Wi-Fi networks. The iPhone can also connect to AT&T’s data network for Internet access. Basically, this should allow users to be able to get on the Internet almost anywhere, as long as they are in Wi-Fi network or within AT&T’s cellular network.
Since the iPhone is not yet available, I will do another article on it sometime after it released and I have the opportunity to read reviews and have had a chance to test the device myself.
For all things Apple, Marcel is your expert.