What I've been Up To Lately

Consistent with my blog, I haven't been acquiring new technology per se... More like using the same technology in a more secure computing environment. While I could say that Windows 8 and 8.1 were a complete bust, the Windows 10 idea is at least focused more on security.

The Day the iPod Died

Apple devices are pretty reliable. I was annoyed when my iPod sometimes disconnected or the speakers “cut out” while driving using the Infiniti audio connector. Infiniti Help to the rescue! I found that tech bulletin recommended to replace cable if iPod cuts out during playback intermittently. I looked carefully, in the user manual for your vehicle. I ordered a cable, but I should have double checked it for warnings and checked it after it arrived! The right one I intended to use was Nissan/Infiniti (2007 onwards) with the part "284H2-1BA0B" in the vehicle user manual, but it turned out to be the ordered one was the wrong one; it was a "284H2-ZT50A" and wiped my iPod. This was the original 6th Generation iPod classic 160 GB, originally purchased as a refurbished for $249 from apple after they lowered the price added a 1 yr warranty, and free shipping. The iPod wiped when wrong cable used! Bummer! It could cost me alot of money, depending on what it takes to fix it. They just discontinued making and selling them from Apple, so I'm buying a refurbished model and considered sending my busted iPod in for a refurbished one to spare. Moral of this story: If you are not sure or the user manual doesn't call anything, please check it with your local dealer. The Business: On September 9, 2014, Apple discontinued the iPod Classic. The sixth generation 160 GB iPod Classic was the last Apple product in the iPod line to use the original 30-pin iPod connector and the Click Wheel. According to Tim Cook speaking at WSJD Live, the iPod Classic was discontinued because the parts were unavailable and a redesign was unwarranted given the small amount of consumer interest in the product. According to speculation by Wired, the 6th generation was, as of 2014, expected to be the final form of the iPod Classic that helped Apple achieve its success in the 2000s. Ars Technica speculated in 2011 that the iPod Classic was nearing its end, and the site’s readers generally agreed it would not still be produced in 2013.The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in 2013 revealed no new iPod Classic and Apple was not expected to produce another one. Production of the iPod Classic continued in low volumes as a stop-gap measure to clear out and monetize inventory of unused stand-alone parts. However, three months after its discontinuation, the sixth generation iPod Classic has seen its price increase by up to four times its original retail price on eBay due to increased demand by music fans. iPod classic 6th generation 160GB model support requested from Apple Customer Care: It looks like your product is not covered for complimentary technical support. Pay us $29 just to chat with someone about repairing it at Apple. My thoughts--no way I'll do that. I guess the good news is I had to get a new iPod Classic 160 GB, so I purchased a refurbished for $275 on Amazon. Added a 3-year warranty from Square Trade, another $29. At least it's better than spending it on a chat with Apple Care. To me, it's worth it since just a Mainboard replacement for iPod Classic 7th Gen, costs $189.99. To get a replacement main board for the iPod classic 7th gen 160 GB model and has a moderate difficulty level to install. Now what to do about the "old one". I got a Ca$hPod Quote and they would buy this non-functional ipod for $50. I decided that I could accept it could be sold for more if fixed. Went for a diagnostic service. Order the diagnostic testing service from our website by adding to your cart. Only charged for return shipping. Sent the iPod device to aRepair Service Center using my own packaging for $8.A computer technician determined the problem with the iPod, a logic board and battery. The repair quote was 2-3 days after they received it. Other repairs to consider: Mainboard for iPod Classic A1238 costs $99. This has a moderate difficulty level to install. Get a replacement battery for the iPod classic $20, the 160Gb has a 850mAh package. This has a moderate difficulty level to install. More battery life on a maximum charge! 1-year warranty with a 30-day return policy, as Self-Installed part or for Professional installation. If I did not approve the repairs, they offered to buy the device for salvage value or send it back. In the Seventies, the Don McLean Album "American Pie" had a song, "The Day the Music Died" about some music artists Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper, the subjects of the song, who 56 Years ago, were killed in a Plane Crash. This was 1959, when Rock and roll was just getting started when it suffered its first tragedy. Three of the biggest and brighest stars — Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson, known as the Big Bopper — were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. As the story goes, on a package tour, Holly, after one of the shows on Feb. 3, 1959, Buddy Holly decided to charter a plane from nearby Mason City to Fargo, N.D., just across the state line from their next gig in Moorhead, MN. The plane, a Beechwood Bonanza, had room for only three passengers — Holly and his band — and the pilot, Roger Peterson. Holly’s bass player, future country legend Waylon Jennings, gave up his seat to Richardson, who was ill. According to Jennings’ autobiography, Holly teased his bass player by saying, “Well, I hope your ol’ bus freezes up.” Fatefully to which Jennings responded, “Well, I hope your ol’ plane crashes.” There are conflicting stories as to how Valens wound up in the third seat. Tommy Allsup, Holly’s guitarist, claimed that he lost a coin flip to Valens in the dressing room. Dion was one of the opening acts, and won the coin toss, but balked at paying the $36 for the flight — and gave Valens the seat. Then around 12:55AM on Feb. 3, the plane carrying Holly, Richardson and Valens took off in a snowstorm with strong winds. But the plane traveled only a few miles before crashing, killing all four men instantly. The federal investigation would rule that even though the weather played a large role it was due to pilot error.

All I want for Christmas...

Said many times. When I was young, it seemed that a new toy could keep me happy on Christmas Day. Then I grew older and wanted to have toys like my friends, so we could all play together. They made a lot of money doing exactly that. I wonder how true this was to the spirit of Christmas then, and if it's still true today?

A shiny new piece of Chrome

A new kind of operating system in a laptop form that brings together hardware, software, and a simple design inspired by innovation. Google claimed it’s A new type of computer with everything built-in. Curiosity got the best of me, so I acquired at awesomely low price, an Asus C300-EDU model with 4GB RAM and a 32GB SSD. The C300 Chromebook boots-up in seconds and stays fast, requires almost zero setup or maintenance, and comes with virus protection built-in. Best of all, it stays up to date with seamless updates every few weeks. I was impressed how easy it was to start using. It’s tight integration with the Chrome Web (using a PC) and Android Platforms (Tablet or Phone) makes this a very accessible and secure option for most users. No java allowed. If you don’t have a Google account, you may want to stop reading this here, because most of the functionality you have as a guest is limited to web and temporary storage using native apps during a one-time sand-boxed session. With a Google account on the chromebook, everything is awesome…and when using my new Chromebook for surfing and entertainment, I could do alot. I further enhanced my Chromebook with extra web applications (apps, for short) and features for the browser (also known as extensions). The apps are used like regular software programs for desktop computers. Native Google along with many other applications are fully functional, and when they get installed for use on a chromebook, they may have versions that can work offline (with offline documents, mail, or media) or if you have a Gigabit Ethernet or Wi-fi connection, they run entirely on the web. Extensions provide custom features and functionality for the Chrome browser. You can find both apps and extensions through the Chrome Web Store, a site dedicated to resources developed specifically for Chromebooks. You can use a Chrome cast device to easily display on a big screen inside the same wi-fi network or keep it connected without wi-fi to a local display using the HDMI port. Use a full-size secure digital (SD) card port for more storage or offline expansion, or you can sign up to get 15GB on Google Drive storage…and now through January 31, 2015, they are offering 1TB of Google Drive storage, for 2 years free, with the purchase of a new, eligible Chromebook. So I have taken quite a shine to this new little piece of chrome.

Is 8 enough?

Windows 8 is the current release of the Windows operating system, produced by Microsoft for use on personal computers, including home and business desktops, laptops, tablets, and home theater PCs. Windows 8 introduces significant changes to the operating system's platform, primarily focused towards improving its user experience on mobile devices such as tablets to rival other mobile operating systems, along with other changes and performance improvements. Windows 8 also introduces a new shell and user interface based on Microsoft's "Metro" design language, featuring a new Start screen with a grid of dynamically updating tiles to represent applications, a new app platform with an emphasis on touchscreen input, the new Windows Store to obtain and purchase applications for the system, and the ability to synchronize programs and settings between multiple devices. ..But is losing the desktop and the multiple views of applications in a real Windows environment along with a very attractive graphical user interface we had in Windows 7 really an improvement? I don't think so. I'll be trying out my free copy of Windows 8, but when, or if I consider it an upgrade remains to be seen.

Using the AT&T Skyrocket, a real blast for Independence Day

The Samsung Galaxy S™ II Skyrocket was provided for work to replace an aged Blackberry Tour 9630. The Office folks added the Good Messaging support to replace much of the mail and exchange server functions that our Blackberry smart-phones supported. The AT&T marketed version of the Skyrocket has a beautiful 4.5-inch Super AMOLED Plus display along with a dual-core 1.5GHz processor, an NFC chip, and support for AT&T's LTE network. It shipped with Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and has 16GB storage memory and 1GB RAM onboard, 8-megapixel auto-focus camera with LED flash with 1080p video capture that supports 1080p video recording. The 2-megapixel front facing video chat is only supported over a Wi-Fi connection. This model is a GSM-banded world phone with Bluetooth, microSD card support, and enhanced audio. Inside the box includes battery, SIM card, charger, headphones, USB cable. the office folks supplied an Otterbox Defender case with screen-protector and belt holster that doubles as a stand and can be used as a ballistic shield in hostage situations. You'll need to download the software from Samsung if you want to connect to a computer and copy files, but it supports and Over-the-Air (OTA) exchanges using Kies Air. I've heard some bad results from users who made the leap to "ICE-CREAM SANDWICH" the Android 4.0 Kernel provided as an upgrade to this phone. I have the Android Kernel version that was updated in April 2012 to 2.6.35.11, Build number GINGERBREAD.UCLA3. Listed enhancements for this update: Improved performance from several Qualcomm patches and other refinements, User interface updates such as the new screen unlock swipe, ability to reply all to MMS messages, Exchange ActiveSync wipe to remove all content from the device and microSD card, Improved battery indicator icon accuracy.

If the lower tax rates expire at the end of 2012, what are you waiting for?

Tax hikes ahead? A slew of tax breaks are expiring and some new taxes taking effect. See what’s in play. A Roth IRA The only thing certain about the tax code these days is, well, the uncertainty of it all. If Congress doesn’t take action before the end of the year, federal tax increases will go into effect next year, raising levies on income, capital gains, dividends, wages, gifts, estates, and more. Here’s an overview of some of the key tax policy issues to keep on your radar screen. Then for specific strategies to consider in preparation, read Viewpoints: Prepare for tax changes. 1. Lower tax rates are set expire at the end of 2012 -- Most observers agree that Congress is going to have a hard time addressing tax and budget issues before the November elections, says Shahira Knight, Fidelity’s vice president of government relations. "More likely, action will wait until a lame-duck session of Congress, or 2013, and that’s unsettling for investors and the markets,” she notes. “It may be a roller-coaster ride as key deadlines approach.” So where does that leave you as a taxpayer and investor? “A good approach is to be prepared for a range of possibilities, and to start now,” says Jim Buza, vice president of guidance and advice for Fidelity. “That’s really what you should do in any climate, but it’s especially critical now.” To get started, use our tax calculator to the right to estimate how you might be impacted. The tax cuts enacted by Congress in 2001 and 2003—often referred to as the Bush tax cuts—provided a broad range of tax relief, including lower tax rates on income, long-term capital gains, and qualified dividends. We dodged the expiration of these lower taxes back in 2010 when Congress extended the tax cuts for two years (through 2012). Now cuts are set to expire on December 31, 2012, and any action will likely come down to the wire as it did in 2010.