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.