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BJ Levitt
As a client of MicroWorks you have an easy and direct way to get answers to all your technology questions.
Just email me at bj@microworksfl.com
and I'll respond as soon as possible. MicroWorks doesn't charge clients for email support.
I look forward to your questions and comments.
To access previous newsletters, go to my website:
www.microworksfl.com
BJ Levitt
MicroWorks Consulting |
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The App of the Month | |
MotionX GPS Drive
This is what Santa uses when Rudolph is on the blink!
The first really full-featured door-to-door personal navigation device with clear audio directions and real-time traffic alerts. Works equally well in a car, biking, hiking or walking (and in a flying sleigh). Try it for a month for $0.99 with Voice Guidance. If you like it, you can order a year of Voice Guidance for $9.99. What a deal!
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And try these
terrific free Apps: | |
Amazon Mobile
amazon.com now sells practically everything. This App makes it even easier to shop Amazon anytime, anywhere. The App contains a barcode scanner and photo tool that lets you instantly compare the price of any store item to Amazon's. (Hint: most retailers will match the lower price rather than lose a sale.)
Dropbox
If your files are scattered all over -- office computer, home desktop, laptop -- having a dependable syncing program is a must. Yes, Dropbox is another Cloud, but this App is a simple interface and worth having. Can't beat the price!
Evernote
This is the best of the iPhone note taking Apps. Easy to use and, again, it uses a Cloud to sync all of your files. Make a change on your iPhone and it shows up when you log into Evernote on any other device. You can even snap pictures of whiteboards or PowerPoint slides for later reference.
GateGuru
Stuck in an airport waiting for a flight? This App rates best restaurants, retail stores, club facilities, and even where to find the cleanest restrooms. And it lets you know exactly how long it will take to get there and back to your gate. When life gives you lemons...
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If you have questions or comments, email, call or text me at:
bj@microworksfl.com
561-880-5566 |
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Still looking for the perfect tech gift
to light up the holidays?
Here are some suggestions from a notorious last minute shopper! And by the way, it's not too late to buy online. Most e-tailers are still promising delivery before Christmas and well before the last Chanukah candle is lit. (As an equal opportunity celebrant, Kwanzaa begins on 12/26 and "Festivus for the rest of us" is 12/23!)
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Kindle vs Nook | | |
Last month I promised a recommendation, after hands-on evaluation, of the popular Readers/Tablets from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. These are great gifts at the right price for the right person. I turned the job over to my Dad when I realized I was too spoiled by high tech expectations to overlook the compromises necessary to meet the attractive price points. I asked him which device he would like Santa to bring him. And which he would give to someone special on his own list. Here's what he came up with:
First of all, if you're hoping to find a $200 iPad clone, it's not going to happen. But, the good news is what you do get for $200 would have been a science fiction fantasy just a few years ago.
The two real competitors at this price are the Kindle Fire and the Nook Color (Barnes & Noble also offers a $250 Tablet which is identical to the Color but equipped with a faster processor). Each is a 7" full color touch screen device that does a decent job of accessing the internet and running the most popular apps. Both need a WI-FI connection to stream or download, but there's plenty of internal storage to keep you busy and entertained when no connection is available. One advantage both currently have over Apple devices is that they DO run the Adobe Flash Player for videos.
If aesthetics are important to you, there's really no contest. The Nooks are slim, sleek and look like they could have been designed by the Apple team. The Kindles are thick, clunky and look like they were designed by . . . well, by Jeff Bezos.
If battery life is important, again it's no contest. The Nook Color promises 9+ hours and the more expensive Tablet is a little better than that. Those are IPad numbers. The Kindle Fire is battery challenged. It's hard to make it through a day's use without recharging and it can take 4 hours to fully charge! (It does help a bit if you're careful to shut down the unit after each use.)
When it comes to touch-screen reactivity, however, the Nooks are very disappointing. Those of us used to Apple touch-screens may find the Kindle a little balky, but the Nook has a seriously annoying lag. This may be a deal breaker. If there's a Barnes & Noble nearby, stop in and check it out. They've set up a beautiful store within a store dedicated to the Nooks and the shopping experience is first rate.
It's important to remember, however, that the hardware is just a portal designed primarily to access the content-rich worlds of Amazon or Barnes & Noble.
Amazon has become THE internet giant. They provide 20% of all the video, music, consumer electronics, and cloud services sold on the web, along with 60% of all books! The Kindle Fire gives you seamless access to 100,000 movies and tv shows, 17 million songs, most major magazines and newspapers, and over a million books. If you become a Prime customer ($79 per year) a good selection from this library is then free.
Barnes & Noble, in the meantime, promises to "put the world's largest bookstore in your hands" and they deliver. You can sample over 2 million books, magazines, and newspapers free. And when you take your Nook inside any B&N store, you can read any title in the store for up to an hour while you sip your latte! The Nook is also great for kids with over 1,000 animated and "read to me" narrated favorites available.
The Bottom Line:
If you or your gift recipient is the kind of person who still enjoys the brick and mortar experience of a real retail bookstore, go to a Barnes & Noble and let them gift wrap one or more of their neat little Nooks for you.
If, on the other hand, you've abandoned parking lots and cash register lines for the ease and convenience of online shopping and shipping, go to amazon.com and light up the Holidays with a Kindle Fire or two.
Either way, you'll be getting your money's worth and you'll make someone on your gift list very happy!
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Just for Kids! | |
LeapFrog Pad
If you're going to play Santa for some lucky children or grandchildren, there are tablets designed just for the under-10 crowd. The best of them is the LeapPad from Leapfrog (shop it on the web for pricing from $99 to $189). It's got a durable 5" touchscreen and it plays all the very popular (and educational) Leapfrog downloadable apps, games, interactive e-books, flashcards, and videos. It comes pre-loaded with lots of fun apps and houses a camera, microphone, and videocorder. Pretty cool!
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And finally, the Ultimate Tech Toy! | |
Ever wonder what it feels like to be a killer whale? Well, Innespace has the answer: Its new Seabreacher Y is a 255 horsepower personal submarine/speedboat that would give James Bond goosebumps! Each one is custom built and you won't get delivery by Christmas, but for roughly $86,000 you'll be put on the waiting list. In the meantime, you can click here for a video preview. You know what they say about men and boys and the cost of their toys!
 | | New Seabreacher Y Video |
All of us at Microworks
wish you and your family a
wonderful Holiday and a healthy New Year!
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