Techefficacy

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 10 Oct 2015 13:59:00 +0000

Verizon Wireless intends to increase the price of its grandfathered unlimited mobile data plan by $20 per month to a total of $49.99. The change affects only 1% of Verizon customers, who've held onto these unlimited plans for some time. Verizon doesn't offer unlimited plans to new customers any more, who instead need to purchase mobile data in buckets. Any customer who has an unlimited plan under contract will be able to keep the current pricing until the contract terms are fulfilled; however, the majority of people with unlimited data plans are off contract. The $49.99 includes unlimited data, but not voice/messaging services; those cost extra.

source: PhoneScoop

Dell And EMC In Merger Talks

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 11:08:00 +0000

From arstechnica:

Dell was taken private in 2013 in a $25 billion leveraged buyout by founder Michael Dell and private equity firm Silver Lake. Even before the buyout, it had been increasingly positioning itself as an enterprise-oriented firm, expanding its server, storage, and security offerings in a bid to move away from the slim margins of the PC business. Merging with some or all of EMC would be consistent with this shift.

source: arstechnica / Wall Street Journal

Now You Can Translate Languages Inside of Apps Thanks to Google Translate Update

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 12:35:00 +0000

To perform a translation of text from within an app, simply highlight the text you want translated, choose which language you would like it translated to, and that’s it. Once selected, the text will then be translated in a pop up window via the Translate app.

As noted in Google’s post, this feature should work in most applications once updated, unless the developer created a custom text selection behavior. If that’s the case, this feature will not work and the developer will need to implement the standard Android text selection behavior.

The update is rolling out now to Google Play, so be sure to grab it if you are in fact running Android 6.0 on your device.

Check out Google’s GIFs below to see it in action.

source: Droid-Life

US Cellular Lowers Prices On Its Data Plans

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 12:30:00 +0000

U.S. Cellular is streamlining and improving its data plan options to meet the wireless needs of consumers and businesses. To further back up its guarantee to beat Verizon and AT&T data plans, the company has lowered the cost of all of its Shared Connect plans and simplified its offerings to provide better value for customers.

U.S. Cellular now offers data buckets of 1, 3, 6, 10, 12, 15 and 20 GB, plans that have proved popular with consumers and businesses. With the reduced data pricing, the plans provide more high-speed data at lower prices, so customers can feel free to use their iPhone 6s or any other device and not worry about breaking the bank. Current customers are welcome to switch to these new plans.

source: US Cellular

Why Your iPhone May Feel Slower Than Usual

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 07 Oct 2015 12:26:00 +0000

When people know the new iPhone is coming out, the new stuff makes their current devices feel inadequate, bulky, and slow. It’s a way to justify to ourselves that we need a new one: “I need to get the new iPhone because mine has just been running really slow lately.” There’s nothing wrong with buying a new phone if that’s what you were planning, but consider that your phone probably isn’t running as slow as you think it is.

Nest Increases Nest Protect Hardware Safety Features

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 12:00:00 +0000

An all-new Nest Protect has been introduced by the company, bringing some new features and several safety improvements to the device. This time around Nest has included a new smoke sensor, new safety features, and the ability to hush the Protect right from your smartphone.

The Nest Protect can also now detect whether there is a fast or slow burning fire present, thanks to its new split-spectrum sensor. Priced at $100, the next-generation Nest Protect will be available starting in July 2015.

Original Nest Protect on Amazon

Best Cheap Smartphone

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 14 May 2015 15:03:00 +0000

The Verge recommends the Moto G and you get get it on Amazon for only $179.

From the Verge:

THE WINNER

MOTOROLA MOTO G

The smartphone with the best bang for your buck right now is Motorola’s Moto G. It has everything that matters for a good smartphone: great display, fast performance, easy software, and an attractive design. It’s sold unlocked, so you can use it with AT&T, T-Mobile, or a host of prepaid services, and you can use it with a local SIM card when you travel abroad to save on roaming fees.

The Moto G’s 5-inch, 720p display is bright, sharp, and has great viewing angles. It’s big enough to make video and gaming fun and engrossing, without being so large that you need two hands to use it. It runs the latest version of Android (5.0 Lollipop) and doesn’t come loaded up with a bunch of carrier apps or customized interfaces that slow it down and kill your battery life. The processor is fast enough for most things you want to do with a smartphone, and its battery is big enough to get most people through a full day. The G has access to all of the same apps and services a $700 Samsung Galaxy S6 does, so you don’t miss out on all the new stuff. Summoning an Uber with a $180 Moto G isn’t any different than doing so with an iPhone or S6 that cost three or four times as much.

The G is a comfortable phone to use, mostly because its design mimics Motorola’s higher-end Moto X. It’s curved to fit your hand, and slips into a pants pocket with ease. It comes in black or white and has customizable color shells, so you can personalize your phone quickly and attractively.

There are two speakers on the front of G to blast your tunes, and it has 8GB of internal storage to hold them. You can also expand that storage with a Micro SD card up to 32GB if you need more space.

So what don’t you get when you spend $500 less than an iPhone? Well, for starters, the camera on the Moto G is pretty bad. It’s an 8-megapixel camera with autofocus and LED flash, but it just doesn’t take great pictures, especially in low light. That’s the case for every phone we tested — if you’re looking to save money on a smartphone, the first thing you have to give up is a decent camera.

The Moto G also doesn’t work with LTE networks — the best you can do is AT&T and T-Mobile’s 3G service. That’s enough for browsing the web, checking email, using navigation, and even streaming music. But if you want to use your phone as a portable modem for your computer or for streaming video, you’ll probably need the speeds LTE offers. Fortunately, we have a second pick just for that scenario.

Source: The Verge

Avoid being hacked with these 7 easy steps

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 13:09:00 +0000

Technically, everything that connects to the Internet can get hacked. But there are several things you can do to protect yourself and your data from an attack.

Here are a few tips that will mitigate the risk of getting your personal data stolen.

1. Be suspicious of emails and triple check who they are coming from.

2. Check link locations to be sure it is going where you think. Also, avoid short links or use tools like URL X-ray that figure out the real destination before you click it.

3. Never open attachments unless you are very very sure where they came from.

4. Use two-factor authentication to reduce easy access to your account through password leaks.

5. Use advanced passwords, different passwords per site, and change them frequently. Use a password manager like 1Password or LastPass to manage them all.

6. Be aware of what "the cloud" means. To be safe if you don’t want people to access your information, don’t share it even with a "cloud" storage provider.

7. Never share personal data or sign into any website on public Wi-Fi. This includes hotels and conference centers.

via: World Economic Forum

Apple Watch Review Summary

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 08 Apr 2015 12:32:00 +0000

Quick Summary

If you’re going to buy an Apple Watch get the Sport model. Spending money on how it looks is a waste until Apple completes the task of figuring out what it does.

The Good

Best fit and finish of any current smartwatch
Taptic Engine is cool

The Bad

Performance issues, especially with apps and location services
Notifications need way more granular settings
Much more expensive than other smartwatches
Animated emojis are nightmare fue

Researchers Demonstrate iPhone Lock Screen Security Vunerability

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 14:08:00 +0000

Researchers at the security firm MDSec have demostrated a way to bypass the iPhone's lockscreen using just a few hundred dollars in equipment. The iPhone lockscreen security bricks the phone after 10 incorrect guesses, but the researchers have found a way to power off the phone before it registers an incorrect guess. This allows attackers to cycle through all 10,000 possible passcodes without locking the phone, effectively bypassing the iPhone's first line of security.

States sue FCC to stop city run internet

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 12:53:00 +0000

Legislators in Tennessee, North Carolina and 30-odd other states have tried to curb municipal internet expansion at the behest of private internet providers -- even if that means rural constituents have poor or non-existent service. In fact, the broadband industry actually drafted much of the state legislation used to curb city internet services.

Dropbox adds PDF Viewer and in document search

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:46:00 +0000

There is an update coming to Android Dropbox users. It includes a built-in PDF viewer and an in-document search feature. If you view a lot of PDFs on your phone or tablet, Dropbox now allows you to share the file straight from the viewer, which will automatically save it in a Sent folder. This will make sure you don’t lose track of those important documents.

The in-document search will allow you to find specific keywords within any document. This can seriously reduce the time it takes to find the section of text you are looking for in a document.

via: Dropbox

Google Giving Free Money to Chromecast owners for Valentine's Day

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 13 Feb 2015 20:42:00 +0000

Google's handing out $6 worth of Google Play credit to some Chromecast owners. It's not yet clear how widespread the promotion is — we've asked the company for clarification. Hopefully it's more than just a few. To check if the free money's available to you, head over to this website. You'll only see offers when connected to the same network your Chromecast runs on, so if you're at work right now, the link won't do you much good. Google is positioning its generosity as a good chance for couples to rent something from Google Play Movies for Valentine's Day.

(REPOSTED from The Verge)

Today, Wireless Carriers Have to Unlock Your Phone

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 14:27:00 +0000

Today is the deadline for United States wireless carriers to have an easy system in place to unlock customers' phones or tablets once they've paid off their contracts. This is the result of an agreement the carriers made with FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler in late 2013.

Review Summary: Samsung Galaxy S5

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Tue, 24 Jun 2014 14:43:00 +0000

As Samsung's 2014 flagship phone the Galaxy S5 is an evolutionary device that is great for current Samsung Galaxy S users with an available upgrade.

Engadget: a solid improvement, but don't rush to upgrade

PROS :: Fantastic display // Daylight images are on par with other flagship phones // Waterproof casing and improved design // Good battery life

CONS :: Fingerprint scanner can be frustrating // Selective focus doesn't always work as promised // Heart rate monitor isn't completely accurate // TouchWiz UI looks better, but is still confusing

Summary :: The S5 is a solid upgrade over last year's model, with improvements to the hardware, software and camera. However, certain headline features like the fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor are mediocre at best. Chances are, you'll be happy with the phone, but don't fork out the extra cash for an early upgrade.

CNET: Samsung's best phone gets better

The Good :: Samsung's Galaxy S5 excels at everything that matters -- Android 4.4 KitKat OS; a bright, beautiful display; blistering quad-core processor; and an excellent camera experience. In addition, Samsung's efforts to streamline its own custom interface and reduce pre-installed bloatware pay off.

The Bad :: The Galaxy S5 is a only small upgrade over the Galaxy S4. The fingerprint scanner can be confusing to use, and the heart-rate monitor is a niche feature at best. In some regions, the Galaxy S5 costs significantly more than rival top-rated handsets.

The Bottom Line :: Subtly improved and smartly refined, the Samsung Galaxy S5 is a superior superphone that hits every mark but the sharpest design.

Wired: Dazed and Confused

WIRED :: UNDERWATER INSTAGRAM BABY! Fingerprint sensor lets you unlock the phone flawlessly almost every time. Excellent camera took gorgeous shots, with a fast shutter and great focus. Removable back means you can pack an extra battery–but you probably won’t need it thanks to great battery performance.

TIRED :: Baffling interface and default set of applications. Flimsy dimpled plastic back feels like a cheap practice golf ball. Why do you keep giving me two apps when one will do?

AT&T Samsung Galaxy S5 $99

Sprint Samsung Galaxy S5 $99

Verizon Samsung Galaxy S5 $99

Wireless Streaming For Any HDMI Device

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 01 May 2014 13:49:00 +0000

Overview

The Nyrius Aries Pro is a wireless HD streaming solution for your laptop, PC, or gaming console, that uses the HDMI port on your device and wirelessly transmits it to your HDTV. The Nyrius Aries Pro comes with a transmitter to plug into your device's HDMI port and a receiver to plug into your HDTV of choice. Both items require power to work, but you can use USB to power the transmitter and either USB or a standard outlet to power the receiver. The transmitter isn't the smallest, but its size may help increase connectivity there by eliminating lag and artifacts.

Upside

Stream anything to your TV as if it were connected directly to your PC
Limited to no lag between source and endpoint

Downside

A bit bulky

Application
If you are looking to eliminate wires without spending a ton of money this streamer may be your best choice on the market today.

The Efficiency Of Entertainment

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 19:31:00 +0000

Studies have shown that the average monthly cost of entertainment for people in the United States is $58. While this metric is useful in determining what people are willing to spend it doesn't show what is best to spend your money on. For that we need to create a cost per hour metric.

To create a cost per hour metric the following variables were considered. First, does the entertainment require additional equipment to access. For instance, renting a movie may cost only $2, while attending the same movie at the theater might be closer to $10. In its simplest form this would mean that attending a movie in the theater would cost 5x the amount that it would at home. However, this is not the complete picture. Renting a movie means that you would also need a TV and DVD player in order to watch. On the other hand your couch and dwelling was not considered as part of the cost because it is assumed you would need those with or without your chosen form of entertainment. Lastly, it is assumed that these larger expenses cost would last longer than a month. With that being said here are the numbers from some of the more popular forms of entertainment:

Assumptions

Movie Theater: The average movie lasts 2 hours and the average cost is $10 sans snack or drink.
Movie Rental: The average movie rental cost $2 and is 2 hours in length. In order to watch a movie you must own an entertainment system which costs $1000 and lasts 10 years. Also, it is assumed that you would use your entertainment system a total of 1344 hours per year of which movie rentals would be 48 hours.

Quick Summary of Reality Is Broken by Jane McGonigal

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 20 Apr 2014 16:29:00 +0000

This book is great for anyone who is seeking to engage future generations because it provides deep understanding of foundations on which “gamification” is built. McGonigal simplifies engagement in games into 6 simple principles. She then provides practical examples of how Gamers often use this intrinsic knowledge to create new ways of engaging with tasks. Finally, McGonigal shows how Gamer's knowledge can be used on a grand scale by applying game theory to finding solutions for world wide problems.

Link: http://amzn.to/MYZCj9

Cold Brewed Coffee is Awesome!

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 12 Apr 2014 14:51:00 +0000

Overview

The Hario MCPN-14B Water Brew Coffee Pot is cold brewing coffee pot that results in a less bitter, smoother, more concentrated extraction of coffee.

Upside

Great coffee with the unique taste of being cold brewed
Fresh coffee every morning
Awesome for iced coffee

Downside

Less coffee smell

Need to brew in advance

Application

If you love iced coffee this is the pot for you!

Help Your Elders Learn in Their Preferred Manner

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sun, 23 Mar 2014 19:50:00 +0000

Buy this book for your elder to help them with their first iPad is a win win. They will love the book and you will save tons of time. The book explains everything in a way that your elders can understand and do what they want to. They will find tasks easy to do. This book does a fantastic job of explaining the iPad with instructions that are accurate and easy.

A Visual Guide to Men's Suits

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 00:46:00 +0000

Here's a handy graphic guide to help you answer the age old question: What color dress shoes go with a navy or gray suit?

Shop The Amazon Shoe Store - Men's Spring Shoes

Source: Reddit

7 Great Pairs of Headphones for Your Listening Pleasure

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 12 Mar 2014 17:25:00 +0000

My office building is being reconfigured with much shorter cubical wall panels. This has caused many of my colleagues to come to me asking for advice about purchasing headphones for themselves. The below information is a compilation of personal experience, amateur, and professional reviews that will help make your choice a bit easier. Remember, headphones are a very personal choice, the key is finding what feels and sounds great to you.

$0 - $49
There is no real consensus in this transient category. Most of what you find in this range is in ear or “ear-buds.” Ear-buds are extremely personal and fit is the most important aspect. Try various ear-bud ear pieces to find the one that fits your ear the best. Purchase these if you are on a budget, but want to improve sound quality of your iPod / iPhone / or other device default hardware.

Panasonic RP-TCM 125 :: Cost: $20 :: http://amzn.to/1cy5AD3

Experts say “nice balance with airy, mellow highs and present-but-not-dominating bass. They sound just as good listening to acoustic guitar as they do hip hop and rock. Nothing pierces, nothing muddies: every frequency plays well with the others.”

$50 - $249
This is the range for you if you are looking to make a first attempt at immersing yourself in the listening experience. Most of the choices here are over-ear headphones which should greatly reduce ambient noise. This price level provides you with a clear, balanced sound that accurately represents what the recording artist (be it music, movie or game sound designer) intended.

Sony MDR-7506 :: Cost: $90 :: http://amzn.to/N6BASJ

These headphones have tons of great reviews on sites like Amazon. They sound fantastic for the price range. Expert reviewers say “the bass sounds good and they have an even response. The highs attacking quickly and nimbly, and the lows having tone and good decay time.” They have been around forever and have lots of replacement parts / accessories.

Audio-Technica ATH-M50 :: Cost: $140 :: http://amzn.to/1g9g8DC

These headphone are the favorites among many technology culture websites and blogs. According to the experts they are a bit tinny and have a muddier bass response when compared to the Sony MDR-7506. However, I own a pair and love the way they sound because my background is with B&O equipment which also tends emphasize treble responsiveness. This just goes to show headphones are a very personal experience.

$250-$500
Sound quality improves in this price range. Additionally, this level of headphone will give you a great build quality with a high-end feel. If you are looking to make an investment in some of the best sound quality your can get, this is the level for you. In addition to over-ear headphones (passive noise reduction) it is in this price range that you find active noise cancelling headphones which excel at reducing low frequency noise like jet engines.

PSB M4U1 :: Cost: $300 :: http://amzn.to/1i6hGmi

Expert listeners ranked them either first or a close second in this price range. Their sound quality evoked such responses as “I could close my eyes and see the musicians playing,” and “I love the presence in the sound.” “Darned close to perfect, one of the best headphones made,” and “the naturalness of this headphone’s sound is almost impossible to beat at any price.” I felt that the more you listen to them, the more you like them. They just let the music through.

PSB M4U2 :: Cost:$400 :: http://amzn.to/1g9gABZ

If you are looking for Active Noise Cancelling you may also consider its sister the PSB M4U2 @ $400 which won Sound + Vision Magazine’s Product of the Year Award in 2012.

Sennheiser Momentum :: Cost: $300 :: Link: http://amzn.to/1fTWCRx

The Momentums are fantastic headphones. In expert opinions their warm sound doesn’t mask clear, detailed treble. They’re a little bass-heavy compared to the more neutral-sounding PSBs, and their smaller ear cups might not fit over some ears.

Beyerdynamic DT 990 :: Cost: $380 :: Link: http://amzn.to/1oMycc6

The DT990s are open-backed headphones which polarizes opinions. Experts say they have an open, clear sound, yet still offer decent bass, but the PSBs have a more balanced, natural sound and cost less.

Sources: Amazon, CNET, Forbes, The Wirecutter

Step Up Your Professional Image & Customize Your iOS Email Signature

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 19:00:00 +0000

While e-mail signatures should have been in iOS from day one, since the iOS 6 update this feature has been available. Before iOS 6, users would have to create a generic signature and then add any extra information for each email they were sending.

To set up your e-mail signatures:

Launch the Settings app and then select Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
Scroll down until you find the Signature option and tap on it.
You'll be presented with the option to set one e-mail address for all accounts, or to set a signature per account.
Use the latter option to customize the signature for each account.

Now iOS will automatically apply the proper signature based on the account you're using to send the e-mail and your work account emails will no longer be guerrilla marketing for Apple.

Source: CNET

Motorola Updates Touchless Control On Android Phones

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Thu, 06 Mar 2014 02:13:00 +0000

An update for Motorola's Touchless Control app rolled out this evening. It includes a new feature that allows you to ask your phone “What’s up?” In response your Moto X, or Droid will tell you the current time and then read you the list of your current notifications.

The update also fixed some bugs and enhanced end-of-speech detection to improve accuracy.

The update is available now on Google Play, so if you own a Moto X, or recent Verizon DROID, be sure to download it.

The Next Two Minutes Will Give You Three Extra Days This Year

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Wed, 05 Mar 2014 18:46:00 +0000

We are all inundated with email alerts 24/7/365. Each of these alerts has a hidden costs beyond the split second view time. While this limited form of multitasking seems efficient on the surface it actually takes more time in the end and increases the risk of error. "Meyer has said that even brief mental blocks created by shifting between tasks can cost as much as 40 percent of someone's productive time."

To Change Your Outlook Settings

Source: American Psychological Association