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.

Cars and Technology

Ever wonder what would happen if you put your computer in a car in a useful way? Well apparently technology has found some interesting ways to get behind the wheel. I just purchased an almost new Infiniti G Sedan, and with an impressive technology package, you could almost take your hands off the wheel and it would drive by itself. Almost.

I have a satellite radio with video display, 6 CD player with a built in iPod interface with a Bose studio on Wheels, a keyless entry system that remembers my steering, mirror and seat positions, hands-free blue tooth, and some of the nicest controls for comfort, safety, and operations that all use a very intuitive interface that doesn't get in the way of driving the car.

All the possible features in this model are listed below as an example, so you can easily see that machine and technology blend nicely in the models sold today.

Premium Package
Power sliding tinted glass moon roof with one-touch auto-open/close, tilt feature and sliding sunshade
Infiniti Studio on Wheels® by Bose® 10-speaker Premium Audio System, including 3-way component front door speakers with 10-inch sub woofers and a parcel shelf-mounted sub woofer, CD player with MP3 playback capability, Radio Data System (RDS) and speed-sensitive volume control
Rear Sonar System [*]
Driver’s Audio Stage
Dual occupant memory system for driver's seat, steering wheel and outside mirrors, linked to individual Intelligent Keys
Driver’s seat, steering wheel and outside mirror position synchronization
Power tilt and telescopic steering column


Navigation Package
Infiniti Hard Drive Navigation System with touch-screen, Lane Guidance and 3-D building graphics[*]
XM NavTraffic® with Real-Time Traffic information [*]
XM NavWeather™ with Real-Time Weather and 3-day forecast [*]
Zagat Survey® Restaurant Guide
Multimedia playback of DVD or digital file from a USB flash drive on 7-inch WVGA color display
Infiniti Voice Recognition for audio, navigation, and vehicle information systems


Requires Premium Package. Replaces compass in rear view mirror.



Technology Package
Intelligent Cruise Control [*]
Brake Assist with Preview Braking [*]
Advanced Climate Control System (ACCS) [*] with auto recirculation and Plasmacluster™ air purifier
Rain-sensing, variable intermittent front windshield wipers
Front-seat Pre-Crash Seat Belts.

Android's Dungeon

Like the title? It's also the name of the Comic Book Guy's store in The Simpsons TV Show.

Have you found any New Phone features that compel you to upgrade? If you have they are probably on the iPhone or Android Platform. I am a new user on the Android Platform with a T-Mobile G2 Smartphone. I like the flexibility to add as many applications to the phone as I need to, and this makes sense when you plan to own one of these phone for two years or more.

If you lose one of these phones, you may be really sorry. I use a service called stuffbak since many finders are reluctant to snoop through address books or dial from a stored phone log. Additionally, if the phone has been locked/wiped, or if the battery has died, the external physical label is the only remaining link for a finder. Smartphone replacement costs run $200 - $500 (phones are 'free' or subsidized only with new contract commitments), and handset insurance is expensive.

Share Files and Backup Online with Sugar Sync

Step 1: Install SugarSync on all your computers

Download the SugarSync client and let them know which folders that you want always backed up and synced.

Activate via e-mail and you'll have 5GB of online storage for free.

PS: Just for fun, they'll give you an extra 250MB for free after you complete a few easy tasks to help you learn about SugarSync.

Step 2: Get the SugarSync mobile app

They've got apps for most major platforms and devices, enabling you to access your photos, music, and docs on the go!

Office 2010 and Upgrades

What is compelling you to upgrade to a new version of Office? While we all use some type of word processor, I started in Corel 5 and made the leap to Microsoft with Office 1997 while I was using Windows 95.

My job requires me to use a Windows PC, and communicate in the typical office document formats, so I have kept pace as the technology changed. My friends in Redmond have been generous, so I always seem manage to get a free version as I participate in various activities.

This time, without exception, I recieved a free version of the Office 2010 Professional Suite for participating in the Office 2010 Beta. That was nice. I have loaded the product on a Windows 7 machine and just seeing the enhancements made to outlook would be the primary reason to update. They advertise the ability to create standout reports and presentations with tools that help you capture your ideas more creatively. To stay connected to your projects, even when you’re away from your computer, with access to Office files via Web browser or Windows phone. To work efficiently with others by sharing, editing, and reviewing files at the same time—even across geographies and time zones.

Sure, there are web app versions now. There are OneNote links to practically do everything. There are PowerPoint Briefs that can be shared using your Windows live environment, but generally, it's the integration of this product with the suite features that have always made me want to upgrade.

From what I've seen so far, the version I have is a considerable improvement and the first impression is very impressive.

How do you plan to get Windows 7?

Windows 7 may be Microsoft’s most anticipated product ever. It builds on Windows Vista’s positives, and eliminates many of that OS’s negatives. It adds new functionality, too—all in a package that is less resource-hungry than its predecessor. It always seems that you hear about the good deals on these products right after they are over. I purchased an Upgrade Version of Windows 7 Home Premium back in July from Amazon.com. Happy I did since it was tax free, with free shipping and a bargain at $49.99. It came with the 64-bit and 32-bit media, so I can still chose before install. The product arrived a week after the launch.

I attended a Developer/IT professional Microsoft Launch Event for Windows 7. It was held in a large Theater and at the end of the event we all got a copy of Windows 7 Ultimate- for free! I gave mine back right away since the 32-bit OS was not as desirable to me as the 64-bit OS. The Microsoft Team will ship a 64-bit version of Windows 7 Ultimate to me within the month.

I bought a new Dell Laptop and had it configured with Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit with an Windows XP Professional 32-bit downgrade. Since it was purchased after June 26, it came with a Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit Upgrade, that will ship free from Dell.

As you can see, there are many inexpensive ways to get the Windows 7 OS product if you alreday have a Windows PC. I’m sure in the coming weeks; I will lean all about the joys of upgrading to Windows 7. My 4 year old HP Laptop is running the Windows 7 Ultimate Release Candidate without issues and the “custom” upgrade-essentially a clean install-was really painless. It expires next June, so I should be ready by then to either retire the system or buy a full copy of the new OS. Or maybe install the Home Premium version on a Netbook and use it as a Media Center.

And whether or not you're upgrading from Vista or skipping it altogether and moving up from Windows XP, you'll need to know how to make the most of it in your environment.

1. Pick Your Edition. Most business users do not need the more expensive Ultimate Edition; stick with Professional unless you specifically need BitLocker. If you are not a business user, the Home Premium Edition will do fine.

2. Upgrading? Go 64-bit. As the second major Windows release to fully support 64-bit, the x64 architecture has definitely arrived on the desktop. Don't buy new 32-bit hardware unless it's a netbook. Now if they just could make applications for 64-bit, someday.

3. Use Windows XP Mode. Yes, it's only an embedded Virtual PC with a full copy of WinXP—but it's an embedded Virtual PC with a full copy of Windows XP! This is the first profoundly intelligent use of desktop virtualization we've seen—and a great way to move to Windows 7 without giving up full Windows XP compatibility.