For years, Facebook has been criticized for the damage it creates because of its basic design that uses a set of rules and algorithms to bring people of like interests together. Originally it was intended to be used for advertisers, serving up ads to their most likely customers, based on their members’ interests. So, much […]
Many are reassessing our priorities after living through the pandemic the past year and a half – everything from changing jobs to appreciating the simpler things and figuring out what’s important and what’s not. As a frequent traveler, air travel, something I did a few times each month, has lost its luster. Many trips can […]
The time has come when we need to stop trying to coax the unvaccinated to get their shots. They’ve been given endless explanations about the benefit of being vaccinated yet refuse to comply. Their refusal is causing the continued spreading of the pandemic and putting innocent people in danger. Enough is enough. We’ve past the […]
At last we’re catching up with China and other countries and moving towards a form of electronic ID. China residents have had digital ID cards that identify themselves when they check into hotels or register for government services. It’s a replacement for a physical ID card. (Of course, China has also used these digital identity […]
I came across this terrific article republished in the Guardian a number of years ago, but its’ even more relevant today. It’s a subject I wanted to write about, but could not have said anything better than what Mr. Dobelli wrote. This is an edited extract from an essay first published at dobelli.com. The Art […]
Audio quality is finally getting more attention from the streaming services and now it’s time for the car manufacturers to pay attention. With Apple, Amazon and Qobuz now offering hi resolution audio, we need to improve the hardware in the cars to hear the music at its best. Streaming has become the default source in […]
If you’re a normal sane human being, you’ may be as frustrated as I am about how people are reacting to protecting themselves and their neighbors against Covid. We see so many exhibiting a total lack of logic and common sense. What seems obvious to us, wearing a mask and getting vaccinated, is not to […]
What’s the best case for an iPhone? Like most things, it depends. Do you want something slim, something rugged, a case with a cover? After trying many cases for a variety of iPhone models, I return to one case over and over again that I consider the very best. It’s the wallet case made by […]
New Travel Bags The new WaterField Air Travel Backpack is a new type of carry-on travel bag designed for these times where our office might be most anywhere – a coffee shop, a backyard, or a park. It’s a large bag, 22.5 x 16 x 7.5 inches, with a dedicated office compartment for two laptops and other work necessities, […]
My wife and I just returned from our first vacation since 2019- a 1200 mile driving trip in the Northeast- bookended with flights on Southwest and United from and to our home in southern CA. Bottom line: I’d rather be driving than flying, even with the costly rental cars. The trip was to visit friends […]
Here are some gadgets that are worthwhile taking with you on your next trip. Many of them relate to keeping your devices charged in as simple and efficient manner possible. iWalk Portable watch charger – This pocket size battery is designed to charge an iPhone and Apple Watch without the need for any cables. The […]
This is the 14th anniversary of the iPhone, a product that has had more impact on the consumer than most any other product in the last three decades. Who would have imagined a device with so much impact? But the brilliant engineers that work on successive generations of the iPhones must be far removed from […]
This week we were barraged with promotions for Prime Days, an event created by Amazon for their Prime members, but now adopted by other online and physical retailers. Prime Days is one of the special times of the year when products go on sale for a few hours or a few days at deep discounts – […]
This week, Amazon removed products from RavPower, an online manufacturer of electronic chargers and backup batteries, citing violations of its review policy. RavPower was accused of offering customers gift cards for those leaving positive reviews of its products. Enclosed with the product was a card with instructions to submit their review once it appeared on […]
Not being able to travel for the past year was something I missed a lot, second only to not being with our family. Just prior to the shutdown of travel in early 2020 we had visited Portugal, New Zealand and Taiwan. We commented at the time on how much international travel we did and need […]
When Amazon first sent me their Echo product in early 2015, I was impressed. The Echo is the speaker that’s listens to verbal requests and provides intelligent answers, much like an audio version of Google search. I’d ask it for the traffic report, the local news, or requested that it play some favorite songs, and, […]
Apple is being sued by Epic Games for levying a 30% charge on its app sold in its App Store. Epic wants to be able to sell directly to its customers, while Apple insists only it should provide software for its iPhones and iPads. The issue is one with strong arguments on both sides. Apple […]
Neil Young’s multi-decade effort to bring high resolution music to music fans scored a major victory this week when Apple announced it would be converting its streaming music service to hi res. One of the major holdouts, Apple finally joins Amazon and Qobuz in offering their music at the same quality as it was recorded, […]
The Internet is built on ads. Everything we do and everywhere we go we see ads. Google and Facebook are built on delivering ads that are intended to be more interesting and relevant than just presenting us with random offerings. From an advertiser’s perspective that makes good sense, because it allows them to target their […]
When Facebook indefinitely suspended ex-President Trump after the January 6 attack on the capitol, its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, got no thanks from either side. Why did he wait so long, considering how Trump and his campaign had used Facebook to perpetuate lies, many complained. And Trump supporters complained that the suspension was a violation of […]
