15
Mar
2010
Friday night, I was invited to attend an open house to see a demo of a prototype product that a friend of mine has been working on for the past several months. This friend, owner and creator Derek Bartron, calls it Doggo – a fully loaded home theater system that also combines home automation and security into it’s interface.
The name comes from the British slang “lie doggo”, which means to keep out of site; a definition that is at the core of Doggo’s design. Derek and his team have bent the rules on some of the known limitations of technology to make Doggo appear as though a TV and a remote are all it takes to make this product run. In fact, a well designed server is tucked out of the way making the magic happen over 150 feet away. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: automation, entertainment, home, htpc, security, theater
Posted in Design, Technology
08
Mar
2010
As of today, I am officially no longer available for computer repair or consulting. I’ve been making a strong move into the web and graphic design field and I just don’t have the time to juggle the old with the new. I’ve got to move forward.
If you need any technical help in the future, let me make a few recommendations:
- Do NOT go to the Geek Squad. They are overpriced and mostly hire kids straight out of high school with an A+ Certification at best. That’s not to say that the employees don’t know what they’re doing or won’t do a good job. They do and they will but they only see a fraction of the price you’re going to pay for repair and you’ll pay way more than they’re worth.
- Ask around. More often than not, there is a someone you know who does this kind of work for a living and could use the extra cash. They will also typically charge about half as much as retail repair shops like Geek Squad or CompUSA. Check out Craigslist or mention that you need some work done within your circle of friends. Trust me, someone knows a nerd that needs some work.
- Do NOT expect free service or advice just because it’s a family member or friend. One of the things I’m really looking forward to putting behind me is the near constant onslaught of people wanting me to fix their computers for free! Really? You’d gladly pay a stranger but expect me to do it for free because we’ve spent Thanksgiving together? I really don’t mind helping people out unless it’s expected. Just keep in mind that this kind of work takes talent and time and both of those are worth something. I’m a big fan of the bartered lunch, a bag of my favorite candy, or homemade cookies, but that’s me. The point is to show appreciation beyond a thank you.
- Stop being a cheap skate. It just may be time to buy a new computer. Don’t hand off your 10 year Compaq Presario to a technician and expect a miracle. The average computer life span is between 3-5 years. Most manufacturers won’t even offer a warranty past 3 years because they know it’s bad business. Computers aren’t built to last forever. So if you’re having problems, maybe it’s because it’s time to invest in a new rig.
So that’s it. I’m pulling the plug. If you’d like some work done on your website or need a new logo or graphic work then shoot me an email.
Thanks everyone!
Tags: computer repair, geek squad, IT, PC, support, web design
Posted in News, Technology
20
Dec
2009
I’ve been using Google Voice for about a month now and it’s seriously the bee’s knees; fully loaded with an impressive array of features that make telecommunications a much different experience altogether for me. I do, however, have to keep in mind that it’s still in development because there are a few quirks and bugs in the works, but not one of them are as much fun as the voicemail transcription feature.
In theory, when someone leaves you a voicemail, Google Voice transcribes it so you can then read it via email or SMS text message. The problem is that the software behind it has a hard time translating everything properly due to many possible factors. Some people talk too fast or don’t enunciate clearly or maybe the quality of the call itself is bad. Under perfect circumstances the feature may work flawlessly, but it’s the flaws that I absolutely love. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: Google Voice, gvoice, hearing impaired, transcription, voicemail
Posted in Technology
18
Nov
2009
Note:This is NOT a sponsored post. I just really love this app.
If you’re anything like me, you probably have dozens of icons littering your desktop. Don’t worry, it’s normal.
People like you and I have a need for accessibility. We want quick and easy shortcuts to everything we regularly use and to some things we don’t. The only problem is that no matter how big computer monitors get they never seem to be big enough to effectively manage my desktop shortcuts.
I needed something but I wasn’t quite sure what, so I hit up Google for the answer. A few results into my first search introduced me to Fences by Stardock. This program is fantastic! After just a couple of minutes not only did I have it installed, but it had totally uncluttered and organized my desktop. Problem solved. Piece of cake! I’ve also shared the love. Several people at my office are now using it too. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: app, desktop, fences, icons, shortcuts, stardock, windows
Posted in Software Review, Technology
