The Professor's Notes

I continue to post the “Back catalog” of our Real Tech for Real People podcasts. Last night we recorded episode 60, so if you want to get the LATEST episodes, either subscribe through iTunes (or your favorite podcatching software) or visit http://rtfrp.com

Remember, you can save 20% on ANY product you buy from ZAGG.com simply by typing RTFRP into the discount code at checkout.

Click Here to listen to Real Tech 56

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

PLAY ON: Jason Leisure has convinced me to go back to it. Rocking–and even has iPad app (Steve) It works inside the house, and gives access to a wide range of video sources, including NHL, MLB, HULU, CBS and others. It supposedly supports streaming out to the iDevices through 3G and other wifis, like AirVideo but I can’t get that to work… more to come…

Josh recommends SquareTrade for your electronic warranties, and honestly, so do I! Why? This LifeHacker article says it best–They are less expensive AND cover more things, including glass breaking (see next story). Apple Care doesn’t cover broken glass/screens.

PICKS of the WEEK:

Tony: Jason O – http://www.jasonomusic.com/home.html

Steve: Overdrive Media Console THE Software to listen to audio books from your library–for free! Check to make sure your library supports online electronic books, and you are in! (Runs on Android, iPhone/iPad, Blackberry and Windows Mobile. Also, Windows and Mac. (and they have free audiobook samplers!)

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Steve’s info:  [blog] http://theprofessornotes.com[twitter] @scmprofessor

Tony’s info: [blog] http://getthenext.com [twitter] @tonypittman

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In the effort to continue to “catch up” here at The Professor Notes I am posting episode 55 from Real Tech for Real People.  If you enjoy listening, go check out the most RECENT episodes over at Real Tech for Real People.  Over there you will learn in Episode 57 how YOU can win two tickets to the Penn State football game against Michigan.

Also, listen regularly to learn how you can win prizes that you can use daily!

Let us know what YOU want us to talk about.

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Click Here to listen to Real Tech 55

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

NEWS:

Bloomberg predicts Apple’s moves in TV.  Bloomberg expects Apple’s next conquest will be  the TV industry, comparing its early moves to its first steps in the mobile phone market. The article analyzes the technology of Apple TV, noting potential methods through which Apple may approach the TV business.

Bloomberg

Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac – Assuming I can make the podcast, I have 2011 (enterprise have it now, the broader public will have to wait to 10/26) and can make some preliminary comments. Read the rest of this entry »

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This week Tony and I tackle the big issue:  Should broadband pricing obey the law?  Yes, some have argued that broadband pricing is in violation of the law–and we rip that idea apart.

In addition, Tony shares his thoughts comparing his iPhone 4 to his newly purchased Samsung Captivate.  It’s Android vs iOS.  Certainly a don’t miss episode!

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Click Here to listen to Real Tech 53

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

LISTENER QUESTION: Sgt Slade asks…

NEWS:
Amazon takes aim at iPad in the sun. Snarky?

HP Announces an Android Based Tablet (but it seems rather hamstrung)

“Why isn’t the pricing of Broadband obeying Moore’s Law?” The article title is a bit OTT, but the bottom line is quite interesting: Since the buildout is nearly complete, they author(s) argue that the revenue now is almost “pure profit.” Should we expect prices to come down? Or are they displaying a common misperception of economics, assuming that there is a relationship between “cost” and “Price” (there isn’t.)

TIPS

Photo: Just for fun (or is it Phun?) you can get make an overlay to put on your (i)Phone to make it look like a camera. So now, it really CAN be a camera! (or just go to step 7 and download one…) http://content.photojojo.com/diy/make-your-phone-look-like-a-camera/

PICKS:

Steve: TuneIn Radio for the Android
Tony:  TWIT for iPad

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Steve’s info:  [blog] http://theprofessornotes.com[twitter] @scmprofessor

Tony’s info: [blog] http://getthenext.com [twitter] @tonypittman

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For Episode 52 we had a special event–Tony was in PA, so we recorded our first episode together.  I drove up to University Park, dragging the equipment with me, and Tony and I sat down with my brother in front of a “live audience” and talked tech.

Sadly, one of the problems with moving the equipment around, and doing something for “the first time” is that I make “first time mistakes” and this was no different.  I tried to use the Zoom H4 recorder, but ran out of room.  Luckily we caught it early, but sadly you will hear the difference.

Let us know what you think of the podcast, though, and please, share it with your friends!

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Live From Penn State

Click Here to listen to Real Tech 52

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

Boxing Great Mayweather arrested for stealing iphone:
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/boxing/news/story?id=5554683

WINDOWS TIP: Spread a Windows desktop image across two monitors:

• Follow these steps in to display a large image across multiple monitors:
• Right click on the background and select Personalization.
• Click on Desktop Background
• Select a background image that is at least as wide as the combined resolution of both of your monitors. For Example, I have two 19â€� monitors that have a resolution of 1280×1024. I need an image of 2560×1024 or greater so that it can be displayed across both monitors.
• Next, this is the step that most users would never even think about trying: Select the Tile picture positioning option as shown below. This is the only option that will display your background image across multiple monitors.

GOOGLE VOICE AND SKYPE Read the rest of this entry »

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I am slowly working to catch up on posting some of our recent “Real Tech for Real People” podcasts.  Episode 51 was where I revealed that I had made the switch to an Android phone, having decided to purchase the Samsung Captivate.  This of course, also meant that I was staying with AT&T.  I will have a review on the website here soon with my thoughts about the phone and the OS, but my initial thoughts were in the podcast.

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ANDROID – Will the Google Android OS take over?

Click Here to listen to Real Tech 51

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

NEWS:Amazon has amazing prices on Cell Phones. Especially if you are wanting to get a new contract, but great prices even on renewing. A Captivate ($249 for 2 yr contract at ATT store) will sell for $40 with a new contract, or only $99 to renew (Addendum:  that’s $99 for a renewal for an individual plan.  It is $149 for a family plan phone)! Other great deals as well. Just go to wireless.amazon.com and check them out.

SECURITY ALWAYS:

• Steve was visiting his grandmother’s and found an unsecured WiFi. Not a problem–necessarily, EXCEPT the Router had NO PASSWORD.
• Tip to listeners: at least enter a password for the router (especially DLink routers that have as their default “NO” password)

PICKS of the Week:Steve: Paper.li Build your own online newspaper based on your friends on Facebook or Twitter. Works from any OS on any browser.

Chris: iPad Twitter App

Tony: eCamm Skype Recorder

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Steve’s info:  [blog] http://theprofessornotes.com[twitter] @scmprofessor

Tony’s info: [blog] http://getthenext.com [twitter] @tonypittman

Chris’ info: [blog] http://targuman.org/blog [twitter] @targumanJosh’s info: [twitter] @joshfink

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My apologies, I have fallen behind on cross-posting the podcast.  To be sure to get the LATEST podcast episodes of “Real Tech for Real People” visit http://getthenext.com, or simply click on the subscribe link below.

Tech Tutoring, Apple Ruminations, Google Nexus, Weekly Picks, and more…

Click here to listen to Real Tech 20

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

Stories:

• Initial sales of Google Nexus 1 Phone: 20k in first week….shocking, or not?
• Rumors of 4G iphones circulating.
• Magic Jack uses “femtocell” technology.
• Nintendo finally gets NetFlix on the Wii.
• Matt Brady joins to discuss how Cumberland Valley HS is teaming with Microsoft.

PHOTO TIP:  With DSLR (and most digital cameras) changing your resolution can change your photo speed.

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Steve: Blueant z9i BT earpiece

Tony: Mirafiber Ultimate Cloth:  http://www.southerncarparts.com/ultimate-cloth-p-712.html

Courtney: http://blog.louisgray.com/2010/01/abuzz-launches-social-media-search.html (techie) & a bit easier http://www.dimdim.com/

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

websites to visit:

http://getthenext.com

http://theprofessornotes.com

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

Guest, Courtney Engel is http://courtneyengle.com and @courtneyengle on Twitter

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My apologies, I have fallen behind on cross-posting the podcast.  To be sure to get the LATEST podcast episodes of “Real Tech for Real People” visit http://getthenext.com, or simply click on the subscribe link below.

CES 2010, MagicJack, New iPhone possible, Google Nexus miscalculation, The eReader boom, Our weekly picks.

Click here to listen to Real Tech 19

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

STORIES:

• CES: Is the Consumer Electronics Show still relevant?
  • http://www.engadget.com/tag/ces/
• Magic Jack uses “femtocell” technology
• Hot off the rumor mill: New iPhone by April?
• More Phone Conversations. Google Nexus leaves customers “sour”
• Ereader boom “kindles” a variety of options

PICKS OF THE WEEK:

Steve: Keurig Coffee Maker

Tony: Google Voice + POTS = low cost home office solution.

Chris: iPhone Explorer

Stevier: Nike+iPod Nike+iPod

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.5631)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

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Click here to listen to Real Tech 18

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

These items, and more, on Real Tech 18

• The Big Announcement: Google Nexus.
• Google’s Chrome tops Apple’s Safari. at least in use.
• What is the best microphone and headset setup for podcasting?
• Social Networking! – For you, and for businesses

PICKS OF THE WEEK

• Tony : Tweetdeck
• Steve: gurulib.com
• Josh : Life Rocks 2.0 Web Site
• Jay: Who’s talking. Animoto.

Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.531)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

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Click here to listen to Real Tech 17

Click here to subscribe via iTunes

These items, and more, on Real Tech 17

• Demystifying Apple’s Mobile Me?
• iPhone and Android users are “the same” Or at least, their usage patterns are.
• Alternatives to iPhone/Android? What is out there?
• Why is the iPod Touch (not “iTouch!”) so popular? Article
• Is a tablet device (Apple’s?) in your future?  Chris Brady thinks so.
• What is the Best File System for external drives ?

Book Mentions:

• Freakonomics Steven Levitt,
• Super Freakonomics Steven Levitt,
• Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly about security in an Uncertain World by Bruce Schneier

PICKS of the WEEK:

• STEVE: Scosche passPORT for home docks and Car Adapter
• TONY: ATEQ VT 10 TPMS Trigger Tool
• Logitech Harmony Remote : Remote
• CHRIS: MacSpeech Dictate, OliveTree BibleReader (why not? it’s my schtick) http://www.olivetree.com/ Their software runs on most smart phones, including Android, BlackBerry, and iPhone/iPod Touch.
• Past Picks of the Week now available at: http://tinyurl.com/RTPicks

Show Voicemail: 814.808-JOE1  (814.808.531)

Tony is: tony.pittman@gmail.com  or twitter.com/tonypittman

Steve is: scmprofessor@gmail.com or twitter.com/scmprofessor and he blogs at http://theprofessornotes.com

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In episode 10 of “Real Tech for Real People” Tony Pittman and I talk about iPhone security problems (currently only a problem for jailbroken iPhones) as well as the move to “DVD/CD-less computers” and we ask the question “Do you use the DVD or CD player on your computer?”

That is really an interesting question.  Whether the desktop or a notebook/netbook computer, we were curious just how often those drives are used.  I use mine fairly regularly, but it is generally to create DVDs of the slideshows that I make for the HS Swim and Water Polo teams.  Other than that, the occasional file backup, and I too join the ranks of those who aren’t using them very often.

We also talked a bout about Windows 7 highlighting the 77 Windows 7 tips, and the challenges I had with the installation.  Of course, I had to later admit that some (um, most?) of the later problems were due to my failing to fully install one of the DDR3 memory sticks.

We had fun, and continue to enjoy talking about the technology that real people like to use.

We would love it if you would listen, and leave us feedback.

• Click here to listen.
• Click here to subscribe via iTunes.

Write us at:

Tony Pittman:  tony.pittman@gmail.com

Steve Brady: scmprofessor@gmail.com

Or call and leave us a voicemail at:

814-808-JOE1 (yes, we are both Joe Paterno fans.  Of course, Tony also played for Paterno!)

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