Christmas Gifts For Guy With Almost Everything

 
 
 
By: Andrea Eldridge.

I’d wager that just about everyone has a video game lover on their holiday list this year. From the armchair commando hunting down fellow players on Xbox live to the dedicated World of Warcraft dwarf, gaming has become a recreation activity for at least one or two members of most American households. As one of the few holdouts in my family that is not active in this virtual community, it can be challenging to find the perfect gift for the gamers in my life. After much polling and research, here are my suggestions to please just about any gamer, no game strategy guide book required.

Apparently the path to gaming nirvana for most console (Xbox, PS3, etc) and PC gamers is paved with discarded sub-par audio equipment. To truly immerse in the game, without disturbing the rest of your house (or neighbors, for that matter), a gamer is constantly searching for a great pair of headphones. One of the very best Christmas game gifts is a great pair of headphones. As a devoted WoW player, Heather (Nerd researcher) has tried out her fair share of headphones and settled on the Turtle Beach Ear Force X11 ( $60) which works with both PC and Xbox. While not wireless, the sound quality is constantly reviewed as outstanding and their lightweight design allows for hours of comfortable game play. Players that want to ditch the wires and hear every stealth footstep approaching from behind them in 7.1 surround sound may be happier with the pricier Turtle Beach Ear Force X41 (available at Amazon for $140). They are heavier and some users complain that there is occasional audio breakup (likely due to WiFi router interference). They also require two AAA batteries, which heavy gamers will blow through quickly. However, you won’t find a better wireless headset for under $150, at least according to the wealth of rave reviews.

Like Netflix for console gamers, GameFLY offers over 8,000 games for Xbox, PS3, Wii, PSP and more, delivered to your door with no late fees. For less than the cost of a typical new release, you can gift the gamer in your life three months of two games out at a time (which will run you about $50) so they can try out all the games on their wish list without shelling out $60 or so per game. Gift certificates are available in one, two, three, six, or twelve month increments, and plans can be for one or two games out at a time. Games in a member’s queue are automatically shipped out upon receipt of a returned game, so you can gift a constant supply of new games without having to puzzle over whether they’d prefer Assassin’s Creed Revelations or Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.

Instead of heading to the store for the must-have game, expansion pack, or strategy guide on your PC gamer’s list, consider gifting through Steam Powerd. Gift recipients must have an active Steam account, but if you suggest that they create a free account online and set up a “wishlist”, you won’t be left guessing which version of Call of Duty they want. Over 1,100 games and expansion packs are available for instant download and once installed Steam will keep them up to date with automatic patch and game updates, all with no monthly fee. Games purchased through Steam never expire and can be downloaded as often as needed to any computer with an internet connection. Members can take advantage of pre-release discounts, free play weekends, and a network of other gamers in the Steam community that they can group with, set up tournaments, or just strategize about how to overcome that nasty boss battle.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Links to all my holiday gift recommendations can be found at www.nerdsecret.com. If you’re still struggling to narrow down the perfect gift for your gamer, email us at nerdchick@callnerds.com. The sea of gamers that surrounds us has a virtually never-ending wish list of gamer delights for any platform.

 

Christmas Gift Ideas For Her.

One of the sweetest parts of giving a gift to someone you care about is that excited, “I love it!” response, especially when you know that it’s genuine. Sadly, it can be surprisingly elusive this time of year. With so many gadgets on your loved one’s must-have lists, how’s a holiday shopper to find the perfect gift that won’t get added to the return or exchange pile? Don’t resign yourself to that tired gift card. I humbly offer for your consideration my “Buy This, Not That” picks for the women in your life. Not to worry if your husband is harder to buy for than your mailman, next week will be dedicated to the gentlemen.

If your lady loves to curl up on the couch with her TIVO and surround sound, but curses when she’s trying remember that the stereo needs to be set to Video 1, don’t pick up just any universal remote. Make her love you more every time she turns on the TV and get her the Logitech Harmony 700 universal remote ( $90). Push the button labeled "Watch a Movie" and the remote turns on your TV, stereo and DVD player. Even better, it turns them all to the right channels and inputs. If something isn’t working correctly, press the "Help" button for a series of easy questions to solve the problem. The remote buttons also automatically control the correct device. For example, if you press the volume button it will adjust the stereo, not the TV. Press "channel up" while watching TV and it knows to change the channel on your DVR, not the TV. Switch from watching a movie to watching TV by pressing one button. The Logitech Harmony 700 Remote is simply the best universal remote you can buy for under $100. It recognizes up to six devices, has rechargeable batteries, and a sleek ergonomic design.

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Every year her New Year's Resolution is to shave off those "last 5 pounds," but short of taking the doughnut out of her hand (and possibly getting bitten in the process) is there any way to help her meet her goal? Instead of sessions with a personal trainer, consider the Fitbit Ultra ($100). The small, 3D clip-on exercise monitor tracks all of your daily activities, from steps taken to distance travelled, even number of floors climbed. The data is converted into an activity score based on goals you set, and seeing your score is surprisingly motivating. Wear it to bed to track sleep patterns, or use the Smartphone app to quickly record what you ate for lunch, and your overall health is translated into charts and graphs, including calories burned vs. calories consumed. Your data uploads wirelessly so you can track your progress over time and compare your stats with friends or the Fitbit Online community. I tested it out last year and found that it really did encourage me to take the stairs instead of the elevator, just to see my improved stats at the end of the day.

For the woman who has a bevy of gadgets (and these days, who doesn’t?), don’t just grab a universal charger at the electronic store check-out counter. The XeMilo ( $100) and perfect for anyone needing reliable power for an iPad (or other tablet), Smartphone, MP3 player, or any of more than 3,000 other gadgets. Charge up to two devices at once using an outlet, car, computer or even the sun. Smaller than the average paperback, it will likely fit in her purse. Need something beefier? Revolve is promising the release of the XeMax any day now, which will be the smallest universal battery charger capable of boosting a laptop (a rare find) and will retail at about $130. Never running out of power on a car trip with a cranky toddler may just be the best gift she gets this year.

Andrea Eldridge is CEO of Nerds on Call, which offers on-site computer and home theater set-up and repair. Based in Redding, Calif., it has locations in five states. Contact Eldridge at www.callnerds.com/andrea

 photo by:APM Alex

 

 

Holiday shopping for electronics? Nook vs Fire

 
 
 

One of the hottest items on many a gadget lover's holiday list is a tablet PC, often the iPad. Just in time to muddy the waters, two more budget-friendly tablet e-readers have arrived on the market. I'll review their pros and cons.

The primary draw of Amazon's Kindle Fire and Barnes and Noble's Nook tablet is undoubtedly price. The Kindle Fire starts at $199 and the Nook starts at $249 -- both considerably less than Apple's iPad2, which this week could be found online for $541 and up.

Both e-readers offer ultra-clear, 7-inch, full-color touch screens and weigh about 14 ounces.

Both devices have limitations. They're meant primarily for entertainment: reading e-books, streaming videos or music, and surfing the Internet. Unlike some versions of Apple's iPad, neither can access the Internet over 3G, so users will need an open WiFi network to take advantage of the device's full capabilities.

The Kindle Fire packs some impressive benefits at the lowest price on the market for a tablet alternative. Users can purchase virtually any media content -- music, movies, books -- from Amazon Marketplace, which has a broad selection comparable to the iTunes store. The Amazon Appstore for Android, an established alternative to the Android Market, offers most of the popular apps, including free daily downloads.

The Fire's main drawback is limited onboard storage -- a mere 8GB, of which only 6GB is available to the user. But Amazon-purchased content can be stored for free in the Amazon Cloud.

The Nook, costs $50 more than the Kindle Fire, carries some added benefits for the investment. It boasts twice the RAM (1GB vs. Kindle Fire's 512MB) and twice the onboard storage (16GB). Even better, it has a micro SD card slot, so users can expand the storage capability up to 32GB. Its USB slot lets users upload their own video, music, photo and text files. The device supports PDF and Word, so there's some added work-friendly functionality.

The Nook's main drawback is its lack of access to a large content source other than for e-books. Music and video have to be streamed through Netflix, Hulu or Pandora, or uploaded from your own library.

In choosing among tablets, your decision will come down to what you want to do with the device and whether you already have an established content library with Amazon or Barnes and Noble. To watch videos and hear music you already own, go with the Nook. However, the Kindle Fire makes it far easier to purchase new music and video content, and its app store has a huge selection of games and applications.

I'd put my money on the Kindle Fire, for the simple fact that tablets are entertainment-driven and Amazon offers a great selection at reasonable prices.

 

Windows 8 Preview

 
 
 
I’m not a big fan of change. It took me five years with the same haircut to finally try bangs. When Microsoft announced at their developer’s conference on September 13th that they are releasing a new version of Windows, I received the news less enthusiastically than my nerdy cohorts. However, just as my Keurig coffeemaker took some getting used to before I discovered its awesomeness, change can sometimes be well worth it. I took Windows 8 developer’s preview out for a spin to see if it’s something I can drag my stubborn self on board for.

Windows 8 is significantly different from Windows 7, in layout, appearance, navigation and performance. It was built with tablet computing in mind and it feels more on par with the iPad’s operating system than the Window’s desktop version we’re used to. It sports a significantly faster load time, booting up in just under 20 seconds while your current Windows machine likely takes one to two minutes. The login screen is prettier and more functional, displaying useful information such as date, time, WiFi signal strength, and battery life (if applicable) where user accounts used to be listed.

When I discovered that the desktop screen I’m used to (you know, background image, icons for programs and files saved to my desktop, and start bar) is nowhere to be found, I realized that I wasn’t in Kansas anymore. The Windows 8 interface is called Metro, and it’s based on the type of navigation you find on a Windows phone or tablet. There are tiles instead of icons and each tile represents an application such as Internet Explorer, a news reader, or games. These tiles aren’t shortcuts; they give you instant information, like desktop widgets, about the weather, stocks, email, etc. You can customize tile groups by category or resize them to make important ones stand out. You can add apps and programs to your heart’s content, but this can quickly make finding an app difficult. Microsoft anticipated this by making searching for items easier: instead of hunting down a search box, you just start typing.

I discovered that the desktop I’m used to is still there, it’s just another tile. Selecting it brings up the comfy old start button and desktop icons. Yet even the page meant to be familiar is different. “Start” returns you to the Metro tiles. The way files and programs display when you launch applications or open folders (Windows Explorer) has also received a makeover. I was expecting to see the usual file, edit, and search options, but instead there is a new ribbon menu, similar to the one in Microsoft Office. Often used functions like copy and paste are placed in the menu bar for quick access. Less used functions are smaller or grayed out depending on the type of file. Microsoft insists this system highlights functions people didn’t know they had, increasing productivity.

Just as Apple supports synching and integration of all your various i-devices, Windows 8 is designed to seamlessly sync all devices running Windows 8, such as your Windows phone and/or tablet. Your Windows Live user ID will link all the data across all of your devices that are running Windows 8 so you’ll no longer need to sync by hand. Microsoft is even introducing a Windows app store, allowing users to purchase small widget-like apps or larger programs like Office or Quicken.

The developer’s preview isn’t a complete version, so there are lots of bugs that will likely be fixed before it comes to market. There’s no release date yet and it will likely be at least a year before it’s available for purchase. In the meantime, I will keep reminding myself that change can be good.

If you’re eager to check out your Windows future, leave us a comment and ask for a link to the developer’s preview.

Andrea Eldridge is CEO of Nerds on Call, which offers on-site computer and home theater set-up and repair. Based in Redding, Calif., it has locations in five states. Contact Eldridge at www.callnerds.com/andrea

The Best Free Downloads In The World

Though my job is to discover new things technology can do to make life easier, I am a creature of habit. I rarely deviate from using the same few programs and applications. Just like when I was 7 and my mom finally convinced me to try broccoli again, sometimes branching out from a comfort zone can lead to wonderful discoveries. This week and next, I'm suggesting some downloadable programs that are worth taste testing. In my opinion, these are the best free downloads in the world.

#1 Download: Google Chrome.  If you're still surfing the net using the old, familiar Internet Explorer that came loaded on your Windows machine, it's time to graduate to Google Chrome. It's fast and less vulnerable to virus attacks than Internet Explorer (and websites look better on Google Chrome, so you will actually enjoy a higher quality internet experience). Chrome will import your settings from the browser you're using now, and it's intuitive, so it won't take long to get used to. If you rely on the login info and passwords you've saved in your browser to get into sites you frequent, it will even import cookies, temporary Internet files and saved passwords. Google Chrome is our favorite browser, and it definitely deserves to rank first place on our list of the world's best downloads!

#2 Download: Crash Plan. (disclaimer, Crash Plan offers a one month free trial, and after the trial is over, you will have to pay. So, why did we add it to our list of the World's Best FREE Downloads? Mostly because it's prices are so low, it's almost free, keep reading to find out more) We all know we should have an automatic data backup process to protect data that would be hard or impossible to replace in the event of system failure, but most of us figure we'll take care of it tomorrow -- just like flossing. If tomorrow has turned into never, Code 42's CrashPlan is a super-easy system to set up, I promise. You can schedule automatic backups to another computer, external hard drive, or -- for prices starting at $1.50 a month per computer -- to its remote server. Though you may hesitate to consider the cloud backup option, keep in mind that fire or theft could imperil your computer and backup simultaneously if they are in the same location. Downloading Crash Plan can save you a lot of heart ache in a "worst case senario" situation.

#3 Download: VLC Player.  If you've seethed about compatibility issues while trying to get a video to play with Windows Media Player, you may love me for introducing you to VLC, a free multimedia player that will handle just about any type of video or audio file. It's from VideoLAN Project, part of the open-source community, so fixes and improvements are released quickly and regularly. In my opinion, VLC is the best media free media player you can download.

#4 Download: Skype.  Even if you've never checked out the video-chat capabilities of Skype, I'd bet you know someone who uses it. Since it's free, consider installing it to cut back on your long-distance or cell-minute use for those long calls to your friend in London or grandma in Des Moines. If you have kids, try video chat. You'll be amazed by how much easier it is for them to connect with the person on the other end of the call when they can see them. This is especially great if you ever have to travel without the kids.

#5 Download: Recuva. There's nothing like the flood of panic when you realize you've accidentally deleted the most up-to-date version of the report you need to turn in to your boss tomorrow. If you've already installed Recuva, from Piriform, the software often can recover the missing document for you. You don't have anything to lose with this free application. It's a great tool in case of emergency, and your stomach will thank you.

Stay tuned next week for more of the world's best free downloads. If you have any questions about our list of free downloads, send me a note through my contact form.

5 Easy Steps To A Clean Computer

A Clean Computer In 5 Easy Steps

Long summer days with the kids downloading all manner of Internet sludge has likely left your computer with the technology equivalent of a hangover. Before you give in to your kids' pleas to replace your old reliable, try a few simple things to help you get back to a clean computer. After all, your computer needs to run smoothly for schoolwork (at least until winter break).

Clean Computer Tip #1 Run your antivirus and antispyware:

I know, I know, you're probably tired of me saying it. However, when the kids have been wreaking havoc on your system all summer, it's highly likely that viruses and spyware are slowing it down.One of the best suggestions to help your computer is to run regular and through virus scans, bu before you click "Run Scan" and assume all is good, make sure you download the most current updates. If your protection programs have expired, consider downloading Microsoft's free all-in-one solution, Microsoft Security Essentials (www.microsoft.com/en-us/security_essentials/). Once you've installed it, it will automatically update itself and run regular scans without much more interaction from you. The best protection is the one you can forget you have.

Clean Computer Tip #2 Remove unwanted programs:

Your teenager may think the program he installed to download and share music with his friends is imperative, but I bet you don't need it running in the background slowing down your system. Go to your control panel's "Add or Remove Programs" option to remove programs that have mysteriously popped up over the summer.

Clean Computer Tip #4 Activate parental controls:

Both Windows 7 & Windows Vista operating systems have embedded parental control options that will allow you to limit your child's screen time and control Internet access and downloads.

Clean Computer Tip #5 Install a Firewall:

One of the most reliable ways to help your computer, is to install a hardware firewall. Most users access the Internet through some sort of broadband connection (cable and DSL are the most common). While they're far speedier than dial-up Internet access, the lines also let malicious software more easily access and attack your system if you don't install some sort of firewall on the connection. Windows has a software firewall you can (and should) activate. But a better line of defense is to also install a hardware version.

Installing a basic router will adequately protect most home-based users. Make sure that it's configured per the manufacturer's recommendations, that you change the router's default password settings and that you keep the firmware updated.

If your kids protest these measures, tell them they'll have to make it through high school without Internet access. I would love to hear any other clean computer suggestions that you have tried. Drop a note in the comments below.


[transcript]
Hi, I'm Ryan from Nerds on Call, and today we're going to talk about securing your PC.

I've said it a million times, run your anti-virus and your anti-spyware. If you don't have one, go to Microsoft.com and download Microsoft Security Essentials. It's free, it's easy to use, and it'll run in the background and not take up a lot of resources.

Next, you're going to want to remove unwanted programs. Now, they do more than just take up space on your hard drive. A lot of times, different programs have security risks. For example, you ever wonder why Microsoft Office always needs an update? It's because people find different ways to exploit problems in their code in order to attack your system. So, you want to go through and clean out programs you don't ever use.

Next, you're going to want to set up user accounts. Don't ever run as an administrator. Set up one administrator account, and then set up a different account for everyone else that's a limited user. The reason you want to so this is, one, you can customize your experience. Have different desktops, different program for every single user without anybody having to cross-infect anybody else if one person happens to download a virus.

Next, you want to activate parental controls in Windows 7. The reason you want to do this is because there's no reason why you want your kids going to some of those unwanted websites. And a lot of times, those are infected with all kinds of stuff, and all of a sudden your computer is running slow and not working right.

Last, you want to install a hardware firewall. Now, an unsecured connection like DSL or cable, that is perfect for hacker to use to attack other computers, and a lot of times you won't even know it's happening. Go down to the store and buy a cheap hardware firewall or a wireless router, and attach that to your system and you'll stay more protected.
[/transcript]

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Google+ Saved The World From Facebook

 
What's the difference between Google+ and Facebook?

Imagine you’re at a party. In attendance are friends, family, co-workers, celebrities, and maybe even a politician or two. As you mingle with the crowd, you selectively share information with certain groups of people. For example you’d only want your friends to hear, “I drank too much last night, maybe I should call in sick,” not your boss or co-workers. On the other hand your friends don’t want to hear about your plan to optimize profits in the social media sector. Your conservative friends don’t want to hear your liberal rants on the budget, and your liberal friends don’t want to hear about your thoughts on Gay Marriage. At the same time you want to listen in on Brad Pitt’s conversation and even watch Obama work the room.

Facebook stinks when it comes to filtering your conversations. If you post photos of your kids playing Batman & Robin before bed, every “friend” sees it. Anyone who has been stopped in a hallway at work by someone and asked “Why haven't you accepted my friend request?” knows the limitations of Facebook. Google+ may have fixed a problem you didn’t even know you had.

Google+ Circles
With Google+ you create circles of people. As you post photos, comments, or links about the happenings in your life you can choose what content to share with which circle. You can add your mom to a family circle, your boss to a work circle, old high school friends to a circle, and your close friends to yet another. You can even add people to multiple circles. After all your cube-mate is a co-worker and a friend right?

Google+ Hangouts
Along with Circles, you also have a fun feature called Hangout. Back to the party idea, when you’re chatting with someone, it’s nice to have friends flutter in and out of your conversation. Imagine doing this online. With Hangout you simply start a video chat that people can join. You can designate certain circles, all of your circles, or even the public at large, a la chatroulette, up to ten people. This is great for meetings, book clubs, or just old friends reconnecting.

Google+ Followers
Forget about fan pages and like buttons, now you can use Sparks to track subjects, companies, just about anything, and it’ll show up in your Stream (Google’s version of a Facebook News Feed.) Using this feature is a lot like Trends on Twitter, but for the whole internet. Speaking of Twitter, you know how you can follow celebrities and politicians? With Google+ you can follow anyone you want, even without them adding you as a friend. So you can see what people share with the public and they won’t be limited to only 140 characters. I can’t wait to see what Ashton Kutcher does with this.

I rarely look at Facebook from my computer. I usually catch up in my friends’ updates while in line at Starbucks, or while watching TV on the couch. Google has built Google+ with the mobile user in mind. A couple features where this is really obvious is with Huddle and Instant Upload.

Google+ Huddles
Huddle is a feature I misunderstood at first. It’s like a chat room, and a group text all at once. On Facebook if I want to chat, it’s with everyone or one on one. But have you ever tried to coordinate a dinner with five or six people and then have a last minute change in venue? You could group text everyone, but if Tim wants greek food and Sally wants mexican, it quickly breaks down into having to call everyone, it’s not unlike herding cats. Huddle will let you create a simple chat room on the fly where everyone can text the group all at once. When you’re done the room is closed, nice and easy.

Google+ Instant Upload
Once you start using Instant Upload you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. I take a lot of pictures with my phone. The process of taking the picture, then uploading it to Facebook is a pain. Google simply uploads every photo you take to a folder in your profile. Once it’s there you can choose who to share it with, if anyone.

I’m not ready to say Facebook is about to head down the Myspace path, but after spending sometime with Google+ I can easily see myself making the switch as my friends do. There is enough innovation here that when I switched back to Facebook after a couple of hours, I felt like I was in an older clunkier version of Google+. It seems I am not alone, being an invite only service at the moment certainly hasn’t hurt Google in any way. At the time of this writing over 10 million people have already signed up, and now that they are allowing users to send unlimited invites, it should clear 20 million by the time you read this.

Are you ready to take a look at Google+, but don’t want to buy an invite on Ebay? Send me a note at www.callnerds.com/andrea and I’ll invite you to the party.

 

 

Understanding Verizon's Tiered Data Plans

 
 
[caption id="attachment_3613" align="alignright" width="473" caption="Verizon's Tiered Data Plans Start at $20.00 for 2gb and go up to $80.00 for 10gbs"][/caption]

When I was little, one of my favorite cartoons was the Jetsons. I would watch George video chatting with his boss, and proclaim to my sister, “The future is going to be awesome!” With every generation of portable technology, from walkmans to cell phones, it seemed my childhood dreams would soon be realized. As I watch my two year old video chat with his cousin on my iPhone, I can’t help but smile: this future is pretty awesome. Then the news broke that Verizon is joining the ranks of AT&T in eliminating unlimited data on mobile devices, and my cozy little reverie was broken.

First, I had a little moment of panic. I travel a lot for work and use my Smartphone for just about everything. I stream music with Pandora, access my Gmail and surf the web. I even use my phone as a WiFi hotspot to access the internet on my laptop. While current Verizon customers will retain their existing unlimited access, I fear it’s only a matter of time until all customers are moved to the new packages. Under the new “tiered plans”, but we'll just have to wait and see.
How Much Do Verizon's New Data Plans Cost?

Verizon customers can choose one of the following:
2GB of data for $30/month,
5GB for $50/month.
10GB for $80/month.
Exceeding the limit will cost $10 per GB.

Rates are very similar at AT&T, the only other mobile service provider to support iPhones. When I saw these plans, I was sure I’d be stuck in the top bracket. What is a self-professed data addict to do?
How Many Hours Of Video Can You Stream on a 2GB Data Plan?

Before I retrieved my old Motorola flip phone and resigned myself to a future of no mobile Facebook, I pulled up my account online. I was shocked to discover that last month I used just over 1.7GB, which keeps me in the lowest tier for Verizon. If you also fear that you’ll need to take out a loan to afford your mobile data, review your last few bills or check with your wireless provider to see how much you’re currently using. You may be pleasantly surprised.

However, with every new amazing app I download, my usage is sure to increase. I reviewed some of the estimators and discovered that I could stream two hours of music every day for a month and only use about 2GB of data. Streaming videos for thirty minutes every day for a month would use about the same. What a relief to discover, there’s no way I have time to stream that much! You can check out your estimated future use with one of the online data use estimators at Verizon or AT&T.

Finally, if you are more addicted to data than to your iPhone, there are still service providers that will let you stream and surf to your heart’s content. Sprint and T-Mobile currently offer unlimited plans, and while T-Mobile will slow your connection after you pass certain thresholds, they won’t charge you extra fees. If you leave your phone’s WiFi enabled, it will drain your battery but reduce your cell network usage. Movie lovers can change Netflix account settings to view movies in a lower resolution which will decrease the quality of the video, but also lower your bandwidth use. There are even apps that can compress data sent to and from your phone, such as Onavo, a free app for iOS devices like iPhones and iPads.

If you’re still considering selling a limb to finance your streaming habits, you can ask for specific suggestions in the comments below, we can tell you less drastic ways to keep your data costs under control.

Andrea Eldridge is CEO of Nerds on Call, a company started in Redding, California., that offers on-site computer and home theater set-up and repair. Contact her at www.callnerds.com/andrea.

 

They War Over The Future Of Music

Everyone has a summer anthem. I’m partial to Will Smith’s “Summertime,” but please don’t look up when that was popular. These days, getting access to your favorite tunes is easier than ever with services that allow you to stream music to Internet-capable and mobile devices. There are even options for families like mine that cross over between Apple, Android and Windows devices. Finally, we can all just get along — and share our music again. While Google Music Beta , Apple iCloud and even Amazon Cloudduel for your loyalty, we have delved into the trenches and reviewed the 3 best Music Clouds that let you access music from anywhere in the world.

APPLE iCLOUD: If all of your mobile devices are stamped with an Apple logo, check out iCloud, launching this fall. Apple’s iCloud finally removes the requirement that all your devices at some point plug into a common computer to sync files. The service is free for any songs you’ve downloaded through iTunes music store. If your library is more extensive, pay $25 a year and Apple will “match” your library online, no matter where your music files originated.

This means songs you purchase or have stored on your iPhone can instantly sync with little Jimmy’s iPod, without having to connect each device to a common computer, upload from one and download to the other — assuming little Jimmy is interested in Neil Diamond’s “Greatest Hits.” The downside of iCloud is that it only works with devices using iTunes to sync music, and streaming is limited to content purchased through iTunes music store. Otherwise, you can only listen to songs you’ve downloaded to each device.

GOOGLE MUSIC BETA: Music lovers who have held out against the Apple tide should consider Google Music or Amazon Cloud Player. Both allow you to store your music library on their cloud server and stream to any Android device or computer. The catch is that you need to first upload your entire music library, which can be a long, arduous task. While Google will sync new content automatically with your library from that point on, Amazon will only auto-sync music you purchase through its MP3 store. Everything else will have to be manually uploaded to its server which is a big downside.

Both services allow you to tag songs to be available offline, so you can still listen to your favorite tunes on your next road trip or flight. Google allows you to store 80GB (about 20,000 songs), which should accommodate all but the professional DJ. Google Music Beta is currently available by invite only, so if you want to try it send a request to music.google.com and cross your fingers. It’s free now, but there’s no promise it will remain so once the service is out of beta. Amazon Music gives you 5GB of storage free (about 1,250 songs). Purchase an album through the Amazon MP3 Store, and the company will throw in another 15GB for free. If you need more space, it gets costly: roughly $1 per GB/year.

Grooveshark: Are you still lamenting the loss of Napster? Grooveshark may be your new best friend. Grooveshark is an online music search engine that offers free on-demand streaming. If you choose, you can purchase one of their subscription services. Our favorite of the two available services is a downloadable desktop app. Upon installing the program on your computer, Grooveshark will scan your system for music files and create a personalized music library. The magical part is that Grooveshark merges all of its user’s content into one giant library that you can stream to any Internet-capable device on which you’ve installed Grooveshark. This means that even if you don’t own the Foo Fighters’ new album, you can stream it online from Grooveshark’s library. Create playlists with your favorites, or choose a genre for an endless music stream. Upgrading to “Grooveshark Anywhere” to use the mobile app costs $9 a month, available only at mobile.grooveshark.com and it is not available for iPhones or other mobile Apple devices at this time.

 

5 Backyard gadgets for the 4th of July 2011

 

The Fourth of July is almost here. This year, make the 4th of July a time to gather friends and family, aat lots of food, play with fire(works). Of course, Nerd Chicks are always looking for ways to add some sparkle to any get-together, and your backyard barbecue is no exception. Pick up one or two of these cool tech gadgets for your upcoming party and your bash is sure to be the talk of the town!


MUSIC
No party is complete without a soundtrack of great tunes, but who has time to DJ while you’re manning the barbecue? Use your iPod or MP3 player to create a playlist of your coolest dance party mix and plug in to the iHome iP29 Portable Speaker Case, retailing for about $80. These compact speakers produce impressive stereo sound and will play music from your iPod, iPhone or any device with a headphone jack. The unit runs off an A/C adapter or four AAA batteries, so you can easily take it with you to the pool. The splash resistant case will even offer some protection from your cannonball contest. While plugged in, the docking station will charge your iPod or iPhone so you’ll be rocking out even after your party is long over.



LIGHTS
Who needs to fly to Vegas when you can create your own music and light display in your backyard pool using the, Light Show Fountain for about $70. You can drop this floating, LED-lit disc in your pool, spa or pond to create a lighted, multi-color fountain water show. The separate wireless base station connects to your iPod or MP3 player and speakers so that the water and lights “dance” in time to your music. It can be used without a music source as well, resulting in a random flashing light show for after-dark ambience. There’s a video on the Solutions website to see it in action. While you probably won’t get away with charging admission, you will be the coolest kid on the block.



CAMERA

While sitting through Uncle Bob’s last family photo slide show, did you secretly ponder whether there could be a better use for his projector? Now you have a reason to borrow it. The Airblown Inflatable Movie Screen allows you to create an outdoor movie theater in your own backyard. Available at Target for about $170, the unit comes with stakes, tethers and fan to quickly self-inflate the approximately 9′ x 12′ screen. You’ll need a projector to get an image large enough to fill the screen, but you won’t worry about keeping your guests entertained. Project movies from your laptop, or connect your Wii for a rousing Wii boxing tournament. Just make sure you invite the neighbors, or you’ll be scrambling to feed your extra guests when they crash your party.

ACTION

A July 4th celebration isn’t complete without fireworks, so what do you do if there aren’t any viewable in your area? Consider the Uchiage Hanabi Fireworks Projector, sold for $125. Bring the fireworks display indoors with four sounds, five display modes and 55 different designs. You can even allow your younger party guests to create unique firework designs with an included template. Fireworks appear to launch from the ground to explode up the wall or on the ceiling. The unit runs off three AAA batteries and can run for about three hours; plenty of time to satiate even your most fireworks-obsessed little ones.

ALWAYS REMEMBER!

If the photos just don’t seem to live up to the excitement of your July 4th bash, add some pizzazz with photo modification applications. Android users can download Vignette for approximately $4, and iPhone users can get Instagram for free. Both applications allow you to quickly add effects, modify color or make shots sepia, black-and-white, or retro before easily uploading to Facebook or Twitter. If you didn’t get any worthy shots with your phone, never fear. Google’s Picasa is a great free photo modification program that will allow you to crop, eliminate red eye, modify color, add effects, frames or stickers to any photo on your computer. Your friends will wonder, “Where was the professional photographer?” We won’t divulge your secret.

Still pondering more ways to electrify your summer get-together? Drop us a note on Facebook.www.facebook.com/nerdsoncall or email us at nerdchick@callnerds.com

Photo by: plaskota , Ed Yourdon , David Gallagher .

Andrea Eldridge is CEO and Co-Founder of Nerds on Call, offering on-site computer & home theater set up and repair since 2004. For additional information or to contact her, go to www.callnerds.com/andrea

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10 Free Ways To Clean Up Your PC

Does it feel like you can make a pot of coffee and clean the kitchen all in the time it takes for your computer system to boot up? Do you find yourself daydreaming of dropping it off the top of your office building while you’re waiting for web pages to load? If it seems like your computer is running slower every day, here are some things to do to get your “old reliable” running in tip-top shape. Of course, budget-savvy Nerd Chicks are always looking for ways to save some dough, so we’ve made sure they are all free.

1. Get Rid of the Nasties. Removing viruses and spyware can do wonders to speed up your computer. Viruses don’t always completely break your computer, but they do always slow it down, among other things. They’re more common than you may think, and can hang out in your system - gumming up the works - without you even knowing it. Microsoft Security Essentials is a great, easy, all-in-one solution to keep your computer healthy and running in top form. Download it here.

2. Update Your OS Windows issues updates all the time. These can patch holes in the software, closing vulnerabilities that viruses and spyware exploit, and generally make Windows run better. If you’re running Windows XP, right click on the My Computer icon on the desktop, select Properties and click on the Automatic Updates tab. Make sure you set them to download and install automatically.

3. Purge “Bloatware" Still have that Norton Trial software installed from when you bought your machine three years ago? Get rid of it! Every time it pops up a window “reminding” you to buy it, I’m guessing a little voice in your head mutters unpleasant things. It’s also slowing down your system as the antiquated software runs in the background. Search for “Norton Removal Tool” (or “McAfee Removal Tool”) to make sure that you get the software fully uninstalled.

4. Speed Your Startup MSConfig is a tool built in to most versions of Windows. Even novice computer surfers can use this tool to stop programs from starting automatically every time you boot up. While certain things are necessary for Windows to function, if your system is trying to turn on iTunes, your printer, and Adobe every time it boots up, the poor thing’s got a lot of things to get going before it can launch your Sudoku. Click the "Start" button. If you have a search option, type “msconfig” into the search field. If you don’t have a search option, but have a “Run” button on the startup menu, click that instead. When you do this, a window will appear on screen with the word "Run:" next to a blank text field. Type "msconfig" in the blank text field and press "Enter". Click the "Startup" tab at the top of the menu. Uncheck the boxes next to programs that you don't need during startup – but only programs you recognize! Click the "Apply" button, then select "OK", and restart your computer. I can almost hear your computer sighing in relief from here. You will be amazed at how much this can actually speed up your computer.

5. Defrag Your Hard Drive Every time you save a file, or update software, your hard drive stores each new thing in chronological order. This means that when you launch Word, your system has to search all over your hard drive to find all the pieces that have been stored over the months, or years. Defragging simply means that your hard drive will take all the “like” things and put them together, allowing programs to launch and work faster. Windows 7 comes configured to defrag automatically, however Windows XP users will need to start the process manually. From the Start menu, right-click the “My Computer” option. Select “Manage” and choose disk defragmenter under the Storage section. Keep in mind that the process can take several hours, so set it to run at night. Also, remember to disable your system’s hibernate mode & screen saver before starting. When the process is complete, restart your PC.

6. Repair the Registry Your system’s registry is like your hard drive’s table of contents. If there are incorrect entries, it can take your drive longer to find all the pieces of data it needs to launch and run programs. Glary Utilities is a great free application that you can install to quickly and easily fix registry errors and optimize your system’s performance. Download the free version Here.

7. Clear Out the Cookies You can definitely speed up your computer by deleting all of your old internet cookies.  Every time you visit a website, it stores little pieces of itself, or programs, on your system. The idea is that the next time you visit the site it will load that content faster. The problem is that it’s rare that we return to the same sites and see the same things over and over again. Instead, the process of digging through several MBs of temporary internet files will lead all websites to load more slowly. Clear out your cache with CCleaner , a top rated free software program for cleaning out temporary files and making your system run at its best. One tip: use the cookies tab to select cookies you want to keep from sites you visit often and/or want to continue to login to automatically (like your email, or your bank).

8. Clean it, No Really! Your computer has a fan in it that draws in air to cool the CPU and components. If this fan or vent becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, or other nasties, your system can overheat, causing it to run more sluggishly and eventually break. Grab a can of air and take your PC outside for a field trip. Don’t just blow into the intake vent: open the case, don’t blow air too closely at the components, and blow dust away from the case.

9. Ditch Internet Explorer There are many alternative browsers you can use to access the Internet. Most techies agree that Google’s Chrome is the fastest option that doesn’t compromise compatibility. For an experiment, go to your favorite websites in Internet Explorer, and then revisit them in Google Chrome. You should notice that, not only are the websites fasters, but they look better in a new browser. Internet Explorer is considered one of the slowest and most "incompatible" browsers, they just don't like to keep up with the rest of the world even though the Internet Explorer browser is installed on every windows computer.

10. If all else fails… A surefire way to ensure speed up your computer and make sure your system is running as good-as-new is to do a reinstall. To do a safe reinstall you will need to back up your data, format your hard drive, and reinstall Windows. Keep in mind that you will need to reinstall all of your software, including office. Don’t forget to install your anti-virus and anti-spyware before surfing the net! Getting on a regular maintenance schedule will save you, and your trusty computer, much pain and suffering. Especially if these tips keep you from drop kicking your PC off the roof!

5 Free Tips On How To Speed Up Your Mac

 

There are a few basic rules in the tech world that are NEVER questioned. First, never type “Google” into Google, or you’ll break the Internet. Second, you’re only one great idea from launching the greatest tech company in the world and becoming as rich as Bill Gates. Finally, Macs are better than PCs. Macs don’t crash, they don’t slow down, they run forever, and every Mac user’s worth is based on the first Mac they’ve ever owned. I still have an original Apple II hidden in a closest.

What most Mac users would never admit, buried deep in their subconscious, is a suspicion that this isn’t really true. We’ve all stared, with shock and frustration, at the spinning beach ball of death, or have seen hours of work go down the drain because of an inexplicable error. The truth is, Macs do slow down and even crash, (we know, we are a computer repair company) they just crash differently. They also (gasp!) get viruses… well, sort of.

Before all you techies bombard me with corrections, please let me assure you that adding RAM and upgrading your system’s hardware will undoubtedly make more of a difference than any free solutions. However, knowing that everyone is looking to save a few bucks these days, here are my top five free tips to optimize your Mac, and prevent the beach ball from visiting you.

 

 

Remove Start Up Items: Programmers are a narcissistic bunch. They believe their program is more important than any other app on your system, so they add their wonderful code to your start up items. Get enough of these programs and your system will slow down over time. To remove them click System Preferences, then click Accounts, then click Login Items. Highlight the app and click the minus button at the bottom of the list. You’ll still be able to use the program, but now you’ll only run it when you need it.

3 Easy Ways To Keep Kids Safe Online

As the days get longer and warmer, they herald the coming of summer vacation. Who doesn't remember the joy of lazy days spent roaming the neighborhood with your buddies, swimming in the pool or lake, or inventing games to play in the backyard?

Yet these days our kids are more likely to spend the summer roaming the Internet, swimming in a sea of media, and inventing stories for their Facebook page. How do you get your kids to unplug and see the sun? When they are online, how do you keep your kids safe when they're home free and you're not? Nerd Chicks have scoured the Internet for the best tips and tools to bring the relaxation back to summer vacation.

Most parents struggle with limiting screen time for their kids. From TV and video games, to computers and cell phones, our kids are constantly "plugged in." How can you ensure your kids don't spend all summer glued to the tube? Check out the Mikko Que, a time management system for all of your home media devices. Connect the Mikko box to your TV, gaming unit and Internet connection, then set limits for each of your kids. Everyone gets their own USB thumb drive that stores the time they're allowed. If Sally wants to watch TV, she plugs her thumb drive into the Mikko box, which activates input to the TV for however much time she has remaining in her allotment. If she reaches the end of her allowed time or the time of day that you've decided TV is not allowed (for example, bedtime), the box will warn her that her time is ending, then cut the video and audio feed to the TV, disabling the device. You can set personalized limits for Internet usage, video game play, TV and computer use. Access to the cables is locked in the box, so even your more techno savvy teens would have to break the box to get to the cables. Now if only it could be programmed to remind them to pick up their room!

Limiting the time your kids spend with technology is only the first step. The Internet is a scary place, where your kids will see and learn things you probably don't want them exposed to. They can also unintentionally expose themselves to danger by posting personal information about themselves to public sites such as Facebook and Twitter. While the safest answer is to limit online time to when you are home or with your kids, sometimes that's not realistic. Net Nanny is a great resource to limit the things your children find online, post to the Internet, even install on the computer. More than a list of blocked websites, Net Nanny uses a unique filter that reviews the content of the website before displaying it. Net Nanny uses the site's content to categorize it, and you can allow or block categories for each of your users individually. If you want to allow your older child to see content related to drugs or alcohol, but not your second-grader, you can customize access for everyone in your house. Net Nanny allows you to block image upload, even block your child's ability to post to online forums or blogs. You can set it up to capture where your kids are going online, view a log of IM chat sessions, even review their Facebook profiles so you can see their friends, wall posts and what they are sharing with the world. You can block the installation of games based on their ESRB rating, and set limits to amount and time of day that you want to allow your kids to be on the computer.

Now that so many of our children have cell phones, it seems that they are never without unfiltered access to technology. The safest route is to get in touch with your service provider to disable web access on your child's phone and handheld devices, and limit their texting. Limiting access on a portable device is otherwise quite challenging. While there are some mobile applications (Net Nanny has a mobile application for Android phones), it's harder to keep your child from disabling a third-party application than it is to use parental control features provided by your cell carrier. Call your provider to see what ways they offer to control your child's usage.

Finally, a word of advice: talk to your kids about the limits you're setting and why. If you impose restrictions without a constructive conversation, your techno-savvy kids are likely to spend the summer finding ways around the things you implement to keep them safe. Still stumped about how to keep your kids cyber-safe this summer?

 

Drop the Nerds a note on FACEBOOK or email us at nerdchick@callnerds.com.

5 Spring Cleaning Tips You've Overlooked.

So now that you've untangled the rats nest of wires, and you're down to one remote, you look over at your keyboard and it looks like you've got a crumb factory EEK! Well DON'T put your keyboard in the dishwasher (like some suggest) use these neat tips and tricks to make your tech sparkling clean again! One word of caution though before trying any of these tricks please make sure to have your tech turned off. Better safe than sorry!

1. Silly Putty: See your toddler had it right! That silly putty is a great way to lift up all of those loose crumbs in the keyboard. Just lightly press into the keys, lift up and voila! A clean Keyboard! Plus it's a lot more fun than that canned, air and it doesn't just blow the debris and dust somewhere else. We really like Cyber Clean http://www.cyberclean.tv/. This silly putty is especially made for cleaning out your tech.

2. Tape: So you're at your desk and you look down at your smartphone and GASP! There are fingerprints all over your screen! Fear not just take some tape and press it lightly onto the screen and then remove. Lifts your prints right away. Whew, crisis averted.

3. Rubber Eraser: Get those smudges off of your keyboard, or anywhere else on your computer (besides the screen). The eraser will lightly buff the surface so smudges be gone! We even tried this ourselves, and it worked like a charm!

4. Q-Tips: From cleaning those hard to reach corners of your monitor to dusting in those little crevices that you normally just cant reach, Q-Tips are the best multipurpose cleaning tool out there for tech!

5. Toothpick: Ok ladies this one is for you, do you have that "makeup ring" in the tiny space between your screen on your smartphone and the sides? Just run a toothpick along that tiny crack and the makeup residue doesn't stand a chance!

So get out there and clean up your computers! Just for fun send us some before and after pictures. nerdchick@callnerds.com .

Photo by: rosefirerising

Conquer your tech clutter for spring

Nothing makes a Nerd Chick question her dedication to gadgets more than seeing six remote controls lined up on the edge of the couch.While it may be mildly amusing to pretend you're Indiana Jones conquering the tangle of cables to wrestle out your iPod charger, it's really more annoying than anything else. Spring heralds a desire to get rid of the clutter, and we've found some great gizmos to clean up your most unruly tech toys.

nerds on call

If you have had to resort to labeling your remote controls, or if you have a shelf dedicated to them in your entertainment center, allow us to introduce you to your new best friend. We know, we know, you've heard plenty of promises about universal remotes. The one that came with your new TV claimed to be an all-in-one, but only a rocket scientist could remember the combination of buttons to press to get a DVD to play successfully. Trust us when we say, the Harmony Remote from Logitech is a remote control like no other. With many versions to choose from depending on the number of devices you want to control, whether you want it to be rechargeable (highly recommended if you don't want to have to establish a battery savings plan), and the size of touch screen, there's a model for everyone. The best part is that to set it up you just connect it to your computer, enter the make and model numbers of your devices, and it does the rest. Once configured, you need only press one button, easily labeled "Watch TV" or "Watch Movie," etc., and the remote magically turns on all the devices and sets them to the right inputs. If you are one of the many home theater victims relegated to calling your spouse into the room to get your MP3 player to work on your stereo, this remote will change the way you look at your TV.

 

With all the gadgets and techno toys in the house, we are always at a shortage of outlets. When we break down and add a power strip, it creates an unsightly mess of cords that we try (unsuccessfully) to hide under the bed or desk. Allow us to introduce you to the "Bluelounge Mini Cablebox," a nifty box designed to house, and hide, your power strip and tangle of cables www.bluelounge.com/products/cableboxmini. It comes in lots of colors, even yellow, orange or green, so you don't have to trade style for function. For less than $30 you can compartmentalize like a pro.

 

Almost as frustrating is the inability to fit all the chargers for our handheld devices on one power strip. One great alternative is the Belkin Conserve Valet www.belkin.com/. About the size of a paperback book, the Conserve Valet will charge up to four USB powered devices with only one AC adapter, leaving your outlets free for hmmm lighting? Heck, you may be able to ditch the bedside power strip all together. One of the best parts is that you'll never again waste 30 minutes scouring the house for your cell phone or your MP3 player if they are all at one handy charging station.

 

Finally, when it comes to controlling the mass of wires that seem to mysteriously multiply, there are many options. Our favorite is blissfully simple and low-tech: Velcro cable ties. For about $8 at any number of retailers (we got ours through Amazon), you can get 100 reusable Velcro strips to bundle the cables of your home theater, office, bedside, even replace the frayed or missing one for your laptop power cord. More versatile than plastic zip ties, you can easily adjust or remove them over and over, no scissors required. If you are looking for a more colorful option to keep your cable exactly where you want it, Blue Lounge also has "cable drops" www.bluelounge.com/products/cabledrop/. Simply expose the adhesive to attach the colorful dot, about the size of a quarter, to your desk, wall, or bedside table, and say goodbye to wayward cables. Who says getting organized has to happen in black and white?

 

There are as many solutions for getting your gadgets under control as there are gadgets themselves. If you are still struggling to dig out from the tangle of cords and cables under your desk, or if we didn't address your technological organization issue, drop us a note on Facebook facebook.com/nerdsoncall or email us at nerdchick@callnerds.com.

Photo by kreep