Monthly Archives January 2014

How to Work Around Straight Talk's Lack of Visual Voicemail

How to Work Around Straight Talk's Lack of Visual Voicemail

January 16, 2014 | Comments Off on How to Work Around Straight Talk's Lack of Visual Voicemail

 

As I mentioned in my recent post comparing no-contract iPhone options, last month I ditched AT&T in favor of Straight Talk, which gives me more or less the same exact service for considerably less money.

Just one problem: Straight Talk doesn’t support visual voice mail. In fact, on my iPhone 4S, I receive no notification whatsoever that new messages are waiting for me. It’s not often an issue, but the last thing I want is to miss an important message from a work contact or family member.

I immediately thought of YouMail, a visual voice mail service that’s actually more robust than what’s built into iOS. Alas, according to a YouMail support page, the service doesn’t work with Straight Talk (unless you’re willing to jailbreak your iPhone and monkey around with APN files).

Consequently, I’d just about written off any kind of voice mail for my iPhone. But it turns out there are two options, both of which work quite well. Here’s how to get set up with either of them:

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Double Robot – Your Virtual Self at Work

Double Robot – Your Virtual Self at Work

January 13, 2014 | Comments Off on Double Robot – Your Virtual Self at Work

What happens when you combine an iPad and a Segue type vehicle?  You…virtually in your office…perhaps.  Double Robot is a simple combination of an iPad mounted on a long pole attached to a mobile base that is self-propelled and controlled by the user on the other end of the line.  You can run the DR either through an iOS app on your phone or through a Chrome browser and propel it using the up, down and sideways keys on the keyboard.

Rick Broida was accosted by a disarmingly beautiful woman (virtual that is) in a Double Robot when he was at CES 2014 recently. He said that it was rather disconcerting to deal with a person inside the screen addressing him personally and requiring conversation.  The practical potential of the $2,500 machine (+ $200 charging station) is for telecommuters in office situations who want to have a presence in the company.

Fans of NCIS Los Angeles (CBS TV) will have already watched Heatie (the diminutive boss) rolling around the halls in a Double Robot.  Now, you heard it on the Internet and seen it on TV so it must be real!  ;-D …


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MacWorld Best of CES 2014

MacWorld Best of CES 2014

January 13, 2014 | Comments Off on MacWorld Best of CES 2014

The best of CES from the editors of TechHive and PC World Magazine.

Our 10 top CES 2014 products include:

  • Best Home Tech Product: Revolv
  • Best Car Tech: 2015 Hyundai Genesis
  • Best Entertainment Product: Samsung U9000 Curved Ultra UHD TV
  • Best Mobile Product: Filip
  • Best Laptop: Lenovo X1 Carbon Touch
  • Most Innovative Product: Origin ChronoS Steam Machine
  • Best Prototype: Razer’s Project Christine
  • Best Gaming Product: Nvidia Tegra K1
  • Best Health & Fitness Product: Basis Carbon Steel Edition
  • Best Wearable Tech: Voyce Wellness Monitor For Dogs

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CES 2014 Overview

CES 2014 Overview

January 13, 2014 | Comments Off on CES 2014 Overview

Digital Trends, Andrew Couts, Jan. 11, 2014

All in all, CES 2014 was a massive success – the year that the tech world’s biggest trade show shed its dead weight and started to look lively again – which answers one of our big questions about the show. Just as we expected, this year’s CES offered a healthy dose of innovation and straight-up awesomeness. And the whole team here at Digital Trends is more pumped than we’ve been in a long time about the year in tech to come.

But there’s some business to attend to before we get ahead of ourselves: Prior to CES 2014, Iidentified five questions about the future of tech that I hoped the show would answer. With the image of Las Vegas literally fading out of view beneath my flight out of this sordid town, here’s a rundown of what I found.

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iPhone Marketshare Shrinking

iPhone Marketshare Shrinking

January 13, 2014 | Comments Off on iPhone Marketshare Shrinking

Lawrence Whitney, CNet News

Apple’s smartphone sales have risen following the release of the iPhone 5S and 5C. But its rivals have chipped away at the company’s longer-term market share, according to market researcher Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.

Looking at the global smartphone market for the three months ending November 2013, Kantar found that Apple’s share had dropped in almost all regions compared with the same period in 2012. During that stretch, the iPhone’s market share fell by 9.9 percent in the US, by 6.5 percent in the European Union Five, and by 1.5 percent in China. …


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Podcast 1402 Jan. 11, 2014: CES 2014 Gadget Guy Review

Podcast 1402 Jan. 11, 2014: CES 2014 Gadget Guy Review

January 12, 2014 | Comments Off on Podcast 1402 Jan. 11, 2014: CES 2014 Gadget Guy Review

CES 2014 Logo

Show Notes:

Hour 1: Rick Broida, The Gadget Guy, Presents:

Best of CES:

  • DVR’s for Over-the-air TV: Tablo has started to take preorders for its DVR, which promises to record up to four shows of free over-the-air broadcast TV at the same time.
  • 3D Printers like 3 Doodler
  • Nanoport: When two devices with Nanoport connectors built into them link, they can transfer information, charge each other or even share their screens.

Worst of CES: Ideas we hope they don’t pursue!

MiTechNews Report

Mike Brennan

Weekly feature with Mike Brennan, editor and publisher of MiTechNews.com, highlighting technology headlines from Michigan and around the world that impact of our state’s growing high tech sector. This MiTechNews report with Mike Brennan is brought to you by  the Engineering Society of Detroit, representing 16,000 engineers in Southeast Michigan and Warner, Norcross & Judd attorneys at law: how well protected and capitalized is your intellectual property.

keep-calm-and-click-subscribe-2Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews Newsletter in collaboration with the Internet Advisor.

 

NAIAS 2014 LogoNorth American International Auto Show

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Podcast 1401: Jan. 4, 2014 First Things First & Roadtreking

Podcast 1401: Jan. 4, 2014 First Things First & Roadtreking

January 6, 2014 | Comments Off on Podcast 1401: Jan. 4, 2014 First Things First & Roadtreking

roadtreking_Blog_Banner_960x192-EDIT

Show Notes:

So you got a new computer. What are the first things you should do to ensure smooth sailing? How about that old computer or laptop, is it ready for 2014?Throughout this show we will be giving you tips on how to get your  new and old computers ready for the new year.

Hour 1

PC Mike Goes Roadtreking

Super Healthy Mike Wendland

Mike Wendland, a legend in Michigan TV and Radio is also  one of the most knowledgeable  commentators on technology. Mike shares his new pursuit, taking high tech on the road in his mobile home with his wife and dog.  Follow their travels at Roadtreking.

MiTechNews Report

Mike Brennan

Weekly feature with Mike Brennan, editor and publisher of MiTechNews.com, highlighting technology headlines from Michigan and around the world that impact of our state’s growing high tech sector. This MiTechNews report with Mike Brennan is brought to you by  the Engineering Society of Detroit, representing 16,000 engineers in Southeast Michigan and Warner, Norcross & Judd attorneys at law: how well protected and capitalized is your intellectual property. . 

keep-calm-and-click-subscribe-2Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews Newsletter in collaboration with the Internet Advisor.

 

Hour 2

First Things First

Gary, Cal and …


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