Back in the day, there was a popular daytime soap opera called “As The World Turns.” I remember it as being all the rage in daytime television viewing and seeing my family, friends and everyone else spend an incredible amount of time discussing the events that took place on the show, each and every day.
I did catch the show, on occasion, during those days that I stayed home from school with a cold or the flu. I could never make the connection between it and the world. Yet, it was a hot topic and everyone had to know what was going on, with the show, each and every day.
But information technology and its rapid-fire changes does make the “world turn.” So I thought it would be cool to give you a rundown on the hot news coming out of the IT realm.
Let’s start at the top and look at our government and what it’s doing on the IT front. The White House is actively involved in seeking to increase its information technology budget by $1 billion, regardless of the fact that there is a national referendum to decrease government spending.
The aspect of asking for this new money is rooted in the area of net neutrality as well as national security on both the domestic and foreign side.
The government spent $77.9 billion on information technology in the 2010 fiscal year and will spend $78.5 billion in 2011. The expected 2012 budget on information technology will be $79.5 billion.
In case you didn’t know it, Microsoft has recently released its new Web browser, Internet Explorer 9, which has increased speed and performance along with increased functionalities.
The new browser has added some new things which cannot be found on other browsers and is being said to make it the best Internet Explorer to date. The new browser does run faster and has smoother transition features to include a definite improvement in its JavaScript engine when running Java content, which now loads its enhanced content extremely fast.
You will find that Internet Explorer 9, when activated and the search mode initiated, will allow you to have a top of the page tool bar with a list of tabs indicating your open sites. This allows the user to have more space dedicated to showing the website being looked for. IE 9’s lines are much nicer, cleaner and overall user friendly. IE 9 also allows the user to have complete access to what add-ons they may want to attach to the browser.
Internet Explorer 9 has another great feature, in that it integrates seamlessly with Microsoft’s current operating system, Windows 7. One of the benefits is that if you have Windows 7 and IE 9, you can tag a website as pinned and that site will then be added to the bottom of your screen task bar. This will give you a one-click ability to immediately launch your most used sites no matter what other programs you may have open.
AT&T has been in the news a lot lately as a result of its possible purchase of T-Mobile, but there is something else going on with AT&T that I think you will find more interesting and that, if you are using AT&T, will have a definite effect on your use of their service. AT&T is going to begin capping data use for all of its DSL and U-Verse customers.
This cap is expected to begin on May 2 and will affect those users that exceed a 150 GB data cap. If you do, you can expect to be charged $10 for every additional 50 GB of data used.
It is estimated that most AT&T DSL users consume roughly 18 GB a month, meaning that only 2 percent of its Internet users will feel the effects. Currently, U-Verse Internet users have a 250 GB cap on their data use.
The good news is that if you are affected by the data cap, AT&T has a plan in place to notify its customers when they exceed their monthly thresholds.
This is not the first time a broadband provider has put a data usage cap in place. Comcast did this several years ago and never even let its customers know, which is what brought about the whole issue of net neutrality and the FCC stepping in and that fight is still being waged in Congress and the courts.
We’ll take a look at the new iPad, iPhone, iFusion and more hot topics in the world of information technology next.
Andino Ward is vice president of marketing and operations of Bardissi Enterprises in Hatfield. Bardissi Enterprises welcomes your questions or comments. Questions you would like answered or topics you would like discussed should be sent to Andino R. Ward at award@bardissi.net. You can also visit www.bardissi.net, or call (215) 853-2266.
Archives of the Tech Talk column found in The Reporter and at TheReporterOnline.com each week, taking on all topics related to Internet technology, communications, computer software, hardware operating systems and security. Created by the staff of Bardissi Enterprises in Hatfield PA.
Monday, April 4, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Phones are vulnerable, too
As I have discussed in previous columns, the technology is moving so fast and upgrading with such incredible speed that it is hard to keep up with it and this is not going to change.It should also be very clear that with each new device thrust onto the market, there are new abilities and applications that the devices can perform as well.
Now when it comes to a cellphone, if you look at the number of them that exist and the features and abilities they contain, the “perks” if you will, it stands to reason that the once free from attack cellphone is now open to being invaded with viruses and other naughty illnesses, just like your PC and Laptop.
You see, all of the new features and abilities that are in cellphones are the result of new algorithms, which in mathematics and computer science is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-articulated instructions for calculating a function.
Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing and automated reasoning of all processes that are performed by and within your cellphone.
With all of the new phone technology to include information technology in general, there is a basic rule of thumb that should be followed: Do not blindly believe in the effectiveness of new algorithms that are finding their way into phones, simply because they have not been tested beyond a certain point in the actual environment we call everyday life.
In short, guard well your personal information when putting it into your phone and don’t be misled by the excitement of having a great new gadget that is loaded with new features and applications, because there may be hidden weaknesses and vulnerabilities that your phone will fall prey to, creating untold problems in your life.
Another highly ignored aspect of cellphone ownership is the fact that they are more compact and therefore easier to lose or to have stolen.
In this regard, it is important to make sure your phone is password protected and that the password you use is both complex and easy for you to remember.
You see, in having the phone password protected, you will ensure that whoever finds it or takes it will only have the hardware and not the information contained within it.
Did I just hear someone ask the question, “What about big brother?”
Great question! Well, just remember that when you’re making a call from your phone, that causes your phone to initiate the process of finding a local tower to establish the wireless connection needed to make the call happen.
Once this process is in place, it is easy for organizations that we all know of and usually have three letters in their names to become aware of your movements and, in many cases, even listen in on your conversations.
If you doubt this, just think about the obvious situation of calling 9-1-1 and the fact that if you are unable to give them your actual, physical coordinates, they can, by way of a triangulation process that involves the towers to include your phone’s built-in GPS, pinpoint your location.
You should also remember the past governmental involvement in tapping into the phones of U.S. citizens that were suspected of having possible ties to terrorist groups and listening to their ongoing conversations.
Now this should not be unsettling to you unless you’re doing something or involved in something that puts you on the radar of those security agencies that I spoke of earlier.
Next week we’ll look at the final array of issues that you should be aware of when dealing with your phone’s security and the information contained within it.
Oh, and by the way, I really hope that you’re not wrapping your head and phone with aluminum foil to keep the hackers out; but if you are, please send me a picture and I promise not to put it on Facebook.
Andino Ward is vice president of marketing and operations of Bardissi Enterprises in Hatfield. Bardissi Enterprises welcomes your questions or comments. Questions you would like answered or topics you would like discussed should be sent to Andino R. Ward at award@bardissi.net. You can also visit www.bardissi.net, or call (215) 853-2266.
Now when it comes to a cellphone, if you look at the number of them that exist and the features and abilities they contain, the “perks” if you will, it stands to reason that the once free from attack cellphone is now open to being invaded with viruses and other naughty illnesses, just like your PC and Laptop.
You see, all of the new features and abilities that are in cellphones are the result of new algorithms, which in mathematics and computer science is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-articulated instructions for calculating a function.
Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing and automated reasoning of all processes that are performed by and within your cellphone.
With all of the new phone technology to include information technology in general, there is a basic rule of thumb that should be followed: Do not blindly believe in the effectiveness of new algorithms that are finding their way into phones, simply because they have not been tested beyond a certain point in the actual environment we call everyday life.
In short, guard well your personal information when putting it into your phone and don’t be misled by the excitement of having a great new gadget that is loaded with new features and applications, because there may be hidden weaknesses and vulnerabilities that your phone will fall prey to, creating untold problems in your life.
Another highly ignored aspect of cellphone ownership is the fact that they are more compact and therefore easier to lose or to have stolen.
In this regard, it is important to make sure your phone is password protected and that the password you use is both complex and easy for you to remember.
You see, in having the phone password protected, you will ensure that whoever finds it or takes it will only have the hardware and not the information contained within it.
Did I just hear someone ask the question, “What about big brother?”
Great question! Well, just remember that when you’re making a call from your phone, that causes your phone to initiate the process of finding a local tower to establish the wireless connection needed to make the call happen.
Once this process is in place, it is easy for organizations that we all know of and usually have three letters in their names to become aware of your movements and, in many cases, even listen in on your conversations.
If you doubt this, just think about the obvious situation of calling 9-1-1 and the fact that if you are unable to give them your actual, physical coordinates, they can, by way of a triangulation process that involves the towers to include your phone’s built-in GPS, pinpoint your location.
You should also remember the past governmental involvement in tapping into the phones of U.S. citizens that were suspected of having possible ties to terrorist groups and listening to their ongoing conversations.
Now this should not be unsettling to you unless you’re doing something or involved in something that puts you on the radar of those security agencies that I spoke of earlier.
Next week we’ll look at the final array of issues that you should be aware of when dealing with your phone’s security and the information contained within it.
Oh, and by the way, I really hope that you’re not wrapping your head and phone with aluminum foil to keep the hackers out; but if you are, please send me a picture and I promise not to put it on Facebook.
Andino Ward is vice president of marketing and operations of Bardissi Enterprises in Hatfield. Bardissi Enterprises welcomes your questions or comments. Questions you would like answered or topics you would like discussed should be sent to Andino R. Ward at award@bardissi.net. You can also visit www.bardissi.net, or call (215) 853-2266.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Are cellphone viruses fact or fiction?
I was traveling through Amish country a week ago and I had the urge for some Amish baked goods. So I stopped at one of the local stores and never even got the sweet treat I went in for.
Instead, I was totally amazed at the fact that standing in front of me were several Amish gentlemen and they all had smartphones.
I was stunned and quite amazed as I thought that the Amish wanted nothing to do with the things of technology.
So, being the curious person that I am, I waited until one Amish gentleman was finished talking on the phone and I politely asked him about his use of the smartphone and when it became acceptable for the Amish to venture into the realm of technology.
I won’t bore you with the details of our conversation, which to me was very interesting. Maybe I’ll do a column on that another time.
During my conversation with the Amish gentleman I told him that I was in the information technology business. He asked a very interesting question, which was, “Can a cellphone be hacked and get a virus”?
Well, I tell you I was both amazed at his question and impressed, but I had no answer for him as I really didn’t know if either situation was possible.
So I told him that I would not only research the matter, but I would e-mail him the answer as well.
Thus, I am now taking you on a journey to answer the Amish gentleman’s question.
In order to answer the question of whether a cell phone can get a virus, one must first accept the fact that the cell phone, of today, also referred to as a smartphone is a very compact computer that has almost all of the abilities that your PC or laptop has and more, since you can dial and engage in conversation with anyone, anywhere, at any time provided you have five bars.
Now it should be very obvious that if the cell phone is a computer then it stands to reason that it can be afflicted with a virus.
We must also consider that the taste buds of the ominous hackers, out there in the world, have become tantalized with the thought of a whole new universe that is waiting to be plundered and pillaged by them.
A virtual hacker’s smorgasbord, the next frontier and you can best believe that they are on the hunt for big game.
In researching this subject, I was shocked to find that there are a tremendous amount of viruses designed specifically to attack a cell phone.
Yet, I personally have not encountered any of these viruses or I have and just didn’t realize that the problem was virus related.
One of the viruses that can infect your cell phone makes hidden phone calls to very expense phone lines, unbeknownst to you as the hacker is able to embed a hidden virus that will reveal when you are not using the phone allowing the hacker to initiate a call sequence without your knowledge.
There is another virus that can cause your cell phone to transmit very pricy SMS messages, again without your knowledge and consent.
This next virus is one that I think I might have experienced as well as a few of my friends and family members too.
This virus effects the cell phone battery and can cause it to drain faster than usual which can lead one to believe that the battery is defective when it really isn’t.
This has happened to me on several occasions, with brand-new batteries, making me replace them, only to find that the old battery was fine.
If this should ever happen to you, make sure that you take the battery out of your phone, recharge it and try it in another phone.
This will tell you if the battery is defective or if you are the possible victim of a hacker.
There are things that one can do to protect their cell phone from being hacked, as well as other areas of concern that cell phone users should be aware of and we will look at the solution and other concerns next week.
Andino Ward is vice president of marketing and operations of Bardissi Enterprises in Hatfield. Bardissi Enterprises welcomes your questions or comments. Questions you would like answered or topics you would like discussed should be sent to Andino R. Ward at award@bardissi.net. You can also visit www.bardissi.net, or call (215) 853-2266.
Instead, I was totally amazed at the fact that standing in front of me were several Amish gentlemen and they all had smartphones.
I was stunned and quite amazed as I thought that the Amish wanted nothing to do with the things of technology.
So, being the curious person that I am, I waited until one Amish gentleman was finished talking on the phone and I politely asked him about his use of the smartphone and when it became acceptable for the Amish to venture into the realm of technology.
I won’t bore you with the details of our conversation, which to me was very interesting. Maybe I’ll do a column on that another time.
During my conversation with the Amish gentleman I told him that I was in the information technology business. He asked a very interesting question, which was, “Can a cellphone be hacked and get a virus”?
Well, I tell you I was both amazed at his question and impressed, but I had no answer for him as I really didn’t know if either situation was possible.
So I told him that I would not only research the matter, but I would e-mail him the answer as well.
Thus, I am now taking you on a journey to answer the Amish gentleman’s question.
In order to answer the question of whether a cell phone can get a virus, one must first accept the fact that the cell phone, of today, also referred to as a smartphone is a very compact computer that has almost all of the abilities that your PC or laptop has and more, since you can dial and engage in conversation with anyone, anywhere, at any time provided you have five bars.
Now it should be very obvious that if the cell phone is a computer then it stands to reason that it can be afflicted with a virus.
We must also consider that the taste buds of the ominous hackers, out there in the world, have become tantalized with the thought of a whole new universe that is waiting to be plundered and pillaged by them.
A virtual hacker’s smorgasbord, the next frontier and you can best believe that they are on the hunt for big game.
In researching this subject, I was shocked to find that there are a tremendous amount of viruses designed specifically to attack a cell phone.
Yet, I personally have not encountered any of these viruses or I have and just didn’t realize that the problem was virus related.
One of the viruses that can infect your cell phone makes hidden phone calls to very expense phone lines, unbeknownst to you as the hacker is able to embed a hidden virus that will reveal when you are not using the phone allowing the hacker to initiate a call sequence without your knowledge.
There is another virus that can cause your cell phone to transmit very pricy SMS messages, again without your knowledge and consent.
This next virus is one that I think I might have experienced as well as a few of my friends and family members too.
This virus effects the cell phone battery and can cause it to drain faster than usual which can lead one to believe that the battery is defective when it really isn’t.
This has happened to me on several occasions, with brand-new batteries, making me replace them, only to find that the old battery was fine.
If this should ever happen to you, make sure that you take the battery out of your phone, recharge it and try it in another phone.
This will tell you if the battery is defective or if you are the possible victim of a hacker.
There are things that one can do to protect their cell phone from being hacked, as well as other areas of concern that cell phone users should be aware of and we will look at the solution and other concerns next week.
Andino Ward is vice president of marketing and operations of Bardissi Enterprises in Hatfield. Bardissi Enterprises welcomes your questions or comments. Questions you would like answered or topics you would like discussed should be sent to Andino R. Ward at award@bardissi.net. You can also visit www.bardissi.net, or call (215) 853-2266.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Tips for taming the IT monster
So how many of you, after reading the first part of this series, found a technology group to join, or invited your company’s IT person or persons over for a nice, home-cooked meal in an effort to solidify a new friendship?
Well, if neither of those was appealing to you, here are some more ways in which you can get a hold on the fast-paced, always changing world of information technology.
Another good source of help in understanding the technology is to find a good class or workshop that offers ongoing education in the area of the current and future technologies along with information on how to use it as well.
You can find these types of programs at your community high school if they offer adult education classes.
This is also something that you can find at the local community college as well.
If you looking at not really spending any money, then I would suggest you go to the Web, as you will find an incredible amount of free information and even video tutorials that are ongoing and informative in the area of new technology and how it works. A lot of the tutorials have online groups associated with them, which will connect you with others who have a wealth of knowledge and information that can be beneficial to you and help you stay up on what’s happening in the IT realm.
It is good to select a specific periodical that is all about information technology and read it, whenever you can. These publications are another great source of information that will keep you up to date on information technology and you can either subscribe to them or go online and visit their websites to read the latest trends and happenings in the IT world.
There are at least 10 very popular publications on the market and several of them have television shows to coincide with them. Some of my favorites are PC World, PC Magazine, MacWorld and CNET. The information that you will get from these magazines and their websites is not only informative, but cutting edge as well, since they are always featuring and discussing the next big thing or service that is going to hit the market.
Because of the rapid-fire creation and release of new technology, many people suffer from technology anxiety and overload as they are continually trying to figure out whether to keep their current device or application verses moving to the new technology that they are being bombarded with on a daily basis.
There is no place where this is more evident than in the smartphone market. The way to avoid overload and anxiety is simple. If you are a business owner or a company IT person, you need only ask yourself, “Is this new technology something that will help our users do their job better and will it cut cost and be compatible with our third party software and applications?”
If you’re a private citizen, it is a lot easier to answer the question as you are usually looking at new technology for personal use, which does not require the same level of scrutiny as does a business.
Most personally used technology is purchased more for its entertainment value and ability, all of which can be directed by asking the simple question, “What really floats my boat in the area of technology that I am looking for and are the features I want contained in the technology I am thinking of getting?”
Finally, get yourself or your organization involved in technology news groups, which can be found on the Web. Create your own information technology file and add any and all information that you come across on new technology so that you can go back and read about it or talk to others, who are in the know about it.
Try to attend technology conventions or shows to get familiar with the manufacturers of the technology and get on their e-mail list.
Whatever you do, don’t be afraid of or overwhelmed by the information technology juggernaut.
Remember, the technology should not control you, but instead you should control the technology and the way to do that is by being informed and understanding what you need versus what you may think you want.
Andino Ward is vice president of marketing and operations of Bardissi Enterprises in Hatfield. Bardissi Enterprises welcomes your questions or comments. Questions you would like answered or topics you would like discussed should be sent to Andino R. Ward at award@bardissi.net. You can also visit www.bardissi.net, or call (215) 853-2266.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Not easy to stay on top of IT
If you haven’t yet figured it out, it has become increasingly difficult to keep up with changes in information technology.
Even if you are a seasoned information technology professional, it is still not easy to keep up with the constant changes that take place in the information technology world on a daily basis and to figure out how those changes can be applied to your company, organization or home, for that matter.
The method, in technology, is very clear as it keeps us always moving to get the next great, just released device and software. Not to mention all the new applications that we can purchase, along with the new device, as seen with smartphones.
It is mind-boggling just how fast the technology changes and the overwhelming amount of information that exists relative to the technology.
So, with the speed of change and the awesome amount of information available, what is a company, organization and private citizen to do?
I talk with business people and private citizens every day about their technology and they all have the same issues and are asking the same question: “How do I know what the best technology is for my business or personal needs, because there is so much and I just don’t understand or have time to try and figure it out?”
My answer is always the same and very clear. It is that there are very simple ways and strategies that we all can utilize to both stay ahead of the technology and understand it as well, hopefully taking away our anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed.
Let’s face it, the innovations in information technology seem to come out on a daily basis. You get latest smartphone, laptop, PC, GPS unit, iPod and, before you get it home and out of the box, someone is on your television or radio touting the arrival of the next big device that is now on the market and, of course, it’s the next generation of the device you just brought, leaving you with that sinking feeling of, “Man, did I just waste my money; should I take it back?; Ahh!”
So, first take a deep breath, relax and get ready to gain a whole new perspective on this issue that will ease your stress and restore a state of tranquility when it comes to technology and you.
The first step in erasing technology stress is to accept that the technology is always going to move faster than you and I.
When you understand this and accept this, you will be taking the first step to separating yourself from the technology rat race.
Next, it is important to form a network of people that you can associate with and who are hunter-gatherers of technology and tend to be the proverbial geeks of the world.
I have found that groups of these folks are very helpful, as they enjoy investing time in looking at new technology and figuring out how it applies to everyday use and to various circumstances and disciplines.
I belong to several groups and the people are incredible, as they provide me with a constant source of concrete information that they have researched and developed on any information technology device or program currently on the market or that is some to be released onto the market.
We all work for organizations that have IT needs and, depending upon the size of your company, there is probably an IT person either internally or under contract from the outside.
Either way, whoever the IT person or persons are, they can be another good resource that you can use to help advise you on the issue of the technology, or programs that you are interested in using and need to know if they are right for your needs, both now and in the future.
There are several other means that you can use to gain the upper hand on the changing world of information technology and we will look at them next week.
Andino Ward is vice president of marketing and operations of Bardissi Enterprises in Hatfield. Bardissi Enterprises welcomes your questions or comments. Questions you would like answered or topics you would like discussed should be sent to Andino R. Ward at award@bardissi.net. You can also visit www.bardissi.net, or call (215) 853-2266.
Even if you are a seasoned information technology professional, it is still not easy to keep up with the constant changes that take place in the information technology world on a daily basis and to figure out how those changes can be applied to your company, organization or home, for that matter.
The method, in technology, is very clear as it keeps us always moving to get the next great, just released device and software. Not to mention all the new applications that we can purchase, along with the new device, as seen with smartphones.
It is mind-boggling just how fast the technology changes and the overwhelming amount of information that exists relative to the technology.
So, with the speed of change and the awesome amount of information available, what is a company, organization and private citizen to do?
I talk with business people and private citizens every day about their technology and they all have the same issues and are asking the same question: “How do I know what the best technology is for my business or personal needs, because there is so much and I just don’t understand or have time to try and figure it out?”
My answer is always the same and very clear. It is that there are very simple ways and strategies that we all can utilize to both stay ahead of the technology and understand it as well, hopefully taking away our anxiety and feelings of being overwhelmed.
Let’s face it, the innovations in information technology seem to come out on a daily basis. You get latest smartphone, laptop, PC, GPS unit, iPod and, before you get it home and out of the box, someone is on your television or radio touting the arrival of the next big device that is now on the market and, of course, it’s the next generation of the device you just brought, leaving you with that sinking feeling of, “Man, did I just waste my money; should I take it back?; Ahh!”
So, first take a deep breath, relax and get ready to gain a whole new perspective on this issue that will ease your stress and restore a state of tranquility when it comes to technology and you.
The first step in erasing technology stress is to accept that the technology is always going to move faster than you and I.
When you understand this and accept this, you will be taking the first step to separating yourself from the technology rat race.
Next, it is important to form a network of people that you can associate with and who are hunter-gatherers of technology and tend to be the proverbial geeks of the world.
I have found that groups of these folks are very helpful, as they enjoy investing time in looking at new technology and figuring out how it applies to everyday use and to various circumstances and disciplines.
I belong to several groups and the people are incredible, as they provide me with a constant source of concrete information that they have researched and developed on any information technology device or program currently on the market or that is some to be released onto the market.
We all work for organizations that have IT needs and, depending upon the size of your company, there is probably an IT person either internally or under contract from the outside.
Either way, whoever the IT person or persons are, they can be another good resource that you can use to help advise you on the issue of the technology, or programs that you are interested in using and need to know if they are right for your needs, both now and in the future.
There are several other means that you can use to gain the upper hand on the changing world of information technology and we will look at them next week.
Andino Ward is vice president of marketing and operations of Bardissi Enterprises in Hatfield. Bardissi Enterprises welcomes your questions or comments. Questions you would like answered or topics you would like discussed should be sent to Andino R. Ward at award@bardissi.net. You can also visit www.bardissi.net, or call (215) 853-2266.
Tips for a great laptop
The laptop is an incredible piece of technology, because of its ability to be used on the fly, wherever you are.
Although laptops are incredible, it should be understood that there are some disadvantages and they are mostly relative to the hardware side of the device.
One of the major issues is the inability to upgrade components in a laptop.
An example of this is the display screen on a laptop. Once the screen goes bad, the laptop is pretty much done.
Of course, you may be able to find a replacement display, if the laptop model is still available, which in most cases it will not be as a result of the age of the device and the fact that the manufacturer has moved on to producing new models.
The way to protect yourself, in the aforementioned situation of a bad display screen, is to ensure that you have the best warranty available on the laptop and be diligent in checking the warranty out before you purchase the device.
We’ll look at the warranty issue later.
Battery life is another big issue that you need to be aware of when purchasing a laptop from the big box stores or online, and it is a safe bet that any laptop you purchase will have a battery life of less than three hours and this information may not be listed in any of the materials relative to the laptop.
While researching laptops either in the store or online, you may see advertisements that indicate their laptop batteries have 10 hours of continuous power. Of course this sounds incredible and you will immediately think that you’re getting the battery to end all batteries.
Well, take a step back, because what you’re being led to believe is a gross exaggeration as it is widely known that there is no concrete, or bona fide standard in the industry for testing the life of batteries for laptops.
So, the rule of thumb, when dealing with battery life and your laptop purchase, should be to assume that you will realistically get about 75 percent of the battery life indicated and if you are going to be upping the ante by watching movies, downloading and playing music or anything else that will tax the processor, then you will probably cut the claimed battery life in half.
Depending upon your laptop use, you can get batteries with greater usage time. Be prepared to pay a hefty price, which is why I suggest you never leave home without your trusty power cord, as you can always find a plug to tap into. Or there are new solar-powered batteries that keep a nice charge as a result of normal and constant light energy feeding them from the environment.
Because there are so many batteries and new solar batteries on the market, I am not going to try and give you the details as it would take too long. All you need to do is conduct a Google search on batteries with true extended power and solar batteries, both for laptops, and you will see a host of solutions to choose from.
When looking at buying your next or first laptop, don’t be fooled by the attempted plot to get you to buy all kinds of accessories with your laptop.
It is a very common sales tactic that is deployed to make you spend more money than you should.
The tactic is more commonly referred to as bundling and I am sure you are familiar with it as it is very popular in the realm of information technology.
Without going into great detail, just remember that the stores will try to sell extras like USB cables, printers and external hard drives. Your best bet is to go online and I assure you that you will find the same item for at least 30 to 60 percent less.
We are now at the final consideration — the warranty.
A laptop, when purchased, will normally come with a manufacturer’s warranty of one year, which is great, but my experience is that a vast majority of laptop owners we provide service and support to normally seem to have problems after the first year, when the warranty is up.
This is why we always suggest that an extended warranty be purchased directly from the manufacturer, as it will probably cost less than it would getting it from the store.
The extended warranty should be a two-year one, as this will give you the protection that will go along with the life of your system.
Also purchase the accidental damage warranty, which is, in my opinion, very necessary when owning a laptop.
Andino Ward is vice president of marketing and operations of Bardissi Enterprises in Hatfield. Bardissi Enterprises welcomes your questions or comments. Questions you would like answered or topics you would like discussed should be sent to Andino R. Ward at award@bardissi.net. You can also visit www.bardissi.net, or call (215) 853-2266.
Although laptops are incredible, it should be understood that there are some disadvantages and they are mostly relative to the hardware side of the device.
One of the major issues is the inability to upgrade components in a laptop.
An example of this is the display screen on a laptop. Once the screen goes bad, the laptop is pretty much done.
Of course, you may be able to find a replacement display, if the laptop model is still available, which in most cases it will not be as a result of the age of the device and the fact that the manufacturer has moved on to producing new models.
The way to protect yourself, in the aforementioned situation of a bad display screen, is to ensure that you have the best warranty available on the laptop and be diligent in checking the warranty out before you purchase the device.
We’ll look at the warranty issue later.
Battery life is another big issue that you need to be aware of when purchasing a laptop from the big box stores or online, and it is a safe bet that any laptop you purchase will have a battery life of less than three hours and this information may not be listed in any of the materials relative to the laptop.
While researching laptops either in the store or online, you may see advertisements that indicate their laptop batteries have 10 hours of continuous power. Of course this sounds incredible and you will immediately think that you’re getting the battery to end all batteries.
Well, take a step back, because what you’re being led to believe is a gross exaggeration as it is widely known that there is no concrete, or bona fide standard in the industry for testing the life of batteries for laptops.
So, the rule of thumb, when dealing with battery life and your laptop purchase, should be to assume that you will realistically get about 75 percent of the battery life indicated and if you are going to be upping the ante by watching movies, downloading and playing music or anything else that will tax the processor, then you will probably cut the claimed battery life in half.
Depending upon your laptop use, you can get batteries with greater usage time. Be prepared to pay a hefty price, which is why I suggest you never leave home without your trusty power cord, as you can always find a plug to tap into. Or there are new solar-powered batteries that keep a nice charge as a result of normal and constant light energy feeding them from the environment.
Because there are so many batteries and new solar batteries on the market, I am not going to try and give you the details as it would take too long. All you need to do is conduct a Google search on batteries with true extended power and solar batteries, both for laptops, and you will see a host of solutions to choose from.
When looking at buying your next or first laptop, don’t be fooled by the attempted plot to get you to buy all kinds of accessories with your laptop.
It is a very common sales tactic that is deployed to make you spend more money than you should.
The tactic is more commonly referred to as bundling and I am sure you are familiar with it as it is very popular in the realm of information technology.
Without going into great detail, just remember that the stores will try to sell extras like USB cables, printers and external hard drives. Your best bet is to go online and I assure you that you will find the same item for at least 30 to 60 percent less.
We are now at the final consideration — the warranty.
A laptop, when purchased, will normally come with a manufacturer’s warranty of one year, which is great, but my experience is that a vast majority of laptop owners we provide service and support to normally seem to have problems after the first year, when the warranty is up.
This is why we always suggest that an extended warranty be purchased directly from the manufacturer, as it will probably cost less than it would getting it from the store.
The extended warranty should be a two-year one, as this will give you the protection that will go along with the life of your system.
Also purchase the accidental damage warranty, which is, in my opinion, very necessary when owning a laptop.
Andino Ward is vice president of marketing and operations of Bardissi Enterprises in Hatfield. Bardissi Enterprises welcomes your questions or comments. Questions you would like answered or topics you would like discussed should be sent to Andino R. Ward at award@bardissi.net. You can also visit www.bardissi.net, or call (215) 853-2266.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Gadgets and gizmos for the holidays
This is the final installment on the subject of new and exciting technology gadgets and gizmos for the holidays.
Although you are reading this after Christmas, it doesn't mean that can't get that special someone or yourself an after Christmas gift.
Let's begin with something for all the kids that is really cool and educational at the same time. The Fable is a new tablet that is totally interactive and designed specifically for kids. This device gives kids the ability to read, draw, play and establish a connection to a mobile broadband network.
The Fable has a kid-friendly, high-resolution, 7-inch LCD touch screen and it comes loaded with some of the best known kids stories that include color pictures as well.
Besides the e-books that are already loaded onto Fable, parents will have the ability to purchase more directly online, by way of VizitMe, which is an online bookstore that The Fable can connect to.
Kids will love The Fable even more because of the other features it has, like an artistic toolset with digital markers, paintbrushes, magic pens and different shapes used to draw and color on a blank page, coloring pages and photos. There are cool, interactive games that are based on numbers, reading, food, colors, shapes and a bunch of other themes.
And parents, if you're concerned about security protocols to protect your child against getting into digital content that they shouldn't, you can monitor and restrict your child's access through pin codes and a password-protected VizitMe account. The Fable is made by Isabella Products and can be purchased from most big box stores or online.
Now we are going to take a trip down memory lane. A lot of you won't remember this and I am really dating myself with the mention of this, but how many of you remember the Dick Tracy cartoon strip that was once in the newspaper and there was a comic book as well.
If you do recall the master detective, then you have to remember the cool watch that he wore and the fact that it was a walkie-talkie and also had two-way video.
You too can now be just like Dick Tracy. Behold the arrival of the Rebel sWaP Watch, which is not only a watch, but also a mobile phone with Bluetooth, camera, video player, recorder and MP3 player all combined into one sweet package.
The Rebel sWaP Watch has a 1.46-inch touch screen with a mini stylus and it supports WAP connection, enabling you to surf the web on the go. Even though the Rebel sWaP Watch has an incredible amount of varied functions, it is still a watch that does tell time accurately. To find out where to get this watch, just Google it.
I thought it would be only fitting to finish off with something from the green realm. Given that there is a big push to bring the electric car onto the automobile market in a bigger way, we should definitely review a device that, if you decide to move to the electric car, promises to turn your home into an electric car charging station.
This new technology is named the Coulomb CT500. This device is the brainchild of Coulomb Technologies and is being made available to residential consumers who own or will own electric vehicles.
The CT500 charging station is a 7.2 kw single output station intended for residential and light business applications. It features Level II (208/240 V @ 30 A) charging and is compatible with plug-in electric vehicles that meet the terms of SAE J1772 plug-in electric vehicle-charging standard.
CT500 charging station is available through Coulomb's OEM and distribution channels. Coulomb has already partnered with Ford and Chevy and has placed a significant number of the charging stations throughout the United States For more details on the device and how to get it, just go online.
From all of us at Bardissi Enterprises, we hope you enjoyed this year's holiday gadgets and gizmos and we hope that your Christmas was very merry and that you got some good gift suggestions from this series.
- Andino Ward
Although you are reading this after Christmas, it doesn't mean that can't get that special someone or yourself an after Christmas gift.
Let's begin with something for all the kids that is really cool and educational at the same time. The Fable is a new tablet that is totally interactive and designed specifically for kids. This device gives kids the ability to read, draw, play and establish a connection to a mobile broadband network.
The Fable has a kid-friendly, high-resolution, 7-inch LCD touch screen and it comes loaded with some of the best known kids stories that include color pictures as well.
Besides the e-books that are already loaded onto Fable, parents will have the ability to purchase more directly online, by way of VizitMe, which is an online bookstore that The Fable can connect to.
Kids will love The Fable even more because of the other features it has, like an artistic toolset with digital markers, paintbrushes, magic pens and different shapes used to draw and color on a blank page, coloring pages and photos. There are cool, interactive games that are based on numbers, reading, food, colors, shapes and a bunch of other themes.
And parents, if you're concerned about security protocols to protect your child against getting into digital content that they shouldn't, you can monitor and restrict your child's access through pin codes and a password-protected VizitMe account. The Fable is made by Isabella Products and can be purchased from most big box stores or online.
Now we are going to take a trip down memory lane. A lot of you won't remember this and I am really dating myself with the mention of this, but how many of you remember the Dick Tracy cartoon strip that was once in the newspaper and there was a comic book as well.
If you do recall the master detective, then you have to remember the cool watch that he wore and the fact that it was a walkie-talkie and also had two-way video.
You too can now be just like Dick Tracy. Behold the arrival of the Rebel sWaP Watch, which is not only a watch, but also a mobile phone with Bluetooth, camera, video player, recorder and MP3 player all combined into one sweet package.
The Rebel sWaP Watch has a 1.46-inch touch screen with a mini stylus and it supports WAP connection, enabling you to surf the web on the go. Even though the Rebel sWaP Watch has an incredible amount of varied functions, it is still a watch that does tell time accurately. To find out where to get this watch, just Google it.
I thought it would be only fitting to finish off with something from the green realm. Given that there is a big push to bring the electric car onto the automobile market in a bigger way, we should definitely review a device that, if you decide to move to the electric car, promises to turn your home into an electric car charging station.
This new technology is named the Coulomb CT500. This device is the brainchild of Coulomb Technologies and is being made available to residential consumers who own or will own electric vehicles.
The CT500 charging station is a 7.2 kw single output station intended for residential and light business applications. It features Level II (208/240 V @ 30 A) charging and is compatible with plug-in electric vehicles that meet the terms of SAE J1772 plug-in electric vehicle-charging standard.
CT500 charging station is available through Coulomb's OEM and distribution channels. Coulomb has already partnered with Ford and Chevy and has placed a significant number of the charging stations throughout the United States For more details on the device and how to get it, just go online.
From all of us at Bardissi Enterprises, we hope you enjoyed this year's holiday gadgets and gizmos and we hope that your Christmas was very merry and that you got some good gift suggestions from this series.
- Andino Ward
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