Author Archives: Phil Baker

Smartphones have matured to a point where it’s difficult to keep track of new models and the differences between their predecessors and their competition. While there are two main competitors for all practical purposes, Apple and Samsung, sometimes another model comes along that betters its competition. In this case it’s LG’s latest phone, the LG […]

Technology has benefit us with time saving products but has also encumbered our lives with annoyances that interrupt us, scam us and have aggravated us to no end. Think of all of the robocalls and the cascade of unwanted emails that are smothering us daily. If there was an argument for our government and corporations […]

(Originally appeared on www.techpinions.com) The new bestseller about Theranos, Bad Blood by John Carreyrou, is a must-read for anyone in the tech world, particularly those in Silicon Valley. Not only is it disturbing in its own right, but it’s a reflection on Silicon Valley and not in a positive way. How could its founder, Elizabeth […]

What’s the best notebook for traveling? I’ve always had an affinity for thin and light notebook computers. Maybe it was because of all the international business traveling I’ve done for the past several decades. I used to use Thinkpads, but eventually migrated to MacBooks when Microsoft Windows software became buggy, complex and failed to address […]

Como Audio’s Kickstarter campaign for it’s new product, SpeakEasy™ is coming to an end this week. Before it does, I highly recommend you give it a look. SpeakEasy is a true hi-fidelity music system with exceptional sound quality, stunning design, and multiple source options, including Bluetooth, Spotify, Tidal, and Internet & FM radio. Most exciting is the addition of […]

Check out the new Wine Art map of Paso Robles at my other site, www.wine-maps.com. It’s the third in a series of hand painted and drawn wine maps using watercolor and India ink printed using fade-resistant inks on heavy stock, suitable for framing.  

Waterfield makes some the best business bags and wallets for the price and quality. What’s more, they’re made in San Francisco by hand and not in some distant factory in China. By selling direct, you’re getting a great product at about half of what you’d pay elsewhere. But, you’ll be hard pressed to find a […]

Originally seen at Techpinions While recently shopping at Costco, I strolled by the notebook computer aisle displaying all Windows machines, and stopped in my tracks.  I was struck by how sleek and compact some of the new Windows machines had become, particularly the Lenovo X1 Carbon with its matte black carbon enclosure and the Dell […]

While conventional wisdom says that Marc Zuckerberg held his own in his appearances before the house and senate committees, I have a different opinion. Clearly he was well prepared and didn’t make any really significant errors in his answers. But after listening to him for two days, I thought he came across as evasive, scripted […]

If you own an iPhone X, read on. This is a very clever app that takes advantage of the 3D sensors built into the camera for face recognition. Bellus3D, Inc. a Silicon Valley startup formed by leading computer vision experts, announced today the Bellus3D FaceApp iPhone X application, a remarkable advancement in face scanning technology. […]

As an early adopter, I’ve been trying to find a good to access my phone safely while driving, particularly for one of it’s most important attributes, navigating. Unfortunately, the auto manufacturers, likely driven by their lawyers, don’t want us to even think of our phones while driving, and relegated them to slots and cubbyholes out […]

Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg are incapable of showing any understanding or empathy for what they have done to their users. Watching their performance during recent interviews, they looked like programmed robots or deers caught in the headlights, showing little human emotions. After their performance, a survey showed that Facebook is now trusted by only […]

Recode reports: Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has finally responded to the company’s ongoing privacy scandal involving Cambridge Analytica, the data firm with ties to Donald Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign. In a post to his Facebook page on Wednesday, Zuckerberg reiterated Facebook’s stance on this issue: That the company was hurt by a bad actor that didn’t follow the company’s […]

RapidX has developed a clever new car charger with 5 ports, capable of charging multiple devices at one time (dependent on the total current demands). 5 intelligent USB ports – detects your device and delivers the fastest possible charge (some devices may not support fast charging). It comes with a 5 foot cable to reach all […]

Apple has brought out a new model of its Watch, called Series 3. It replaces Series 2, while Series 1 is still available. The benefits of Series 3 is a longer battery life, faster performance, water resistance, and built in GPS. One version of Series 3 adds cellular capability. The new Series 3 is a […]

I’ve been using a backup external drive for about 6 months from iStorage and have found it to be the best possible solution for local backups. While I was initially put off by its price of about $300 for 500GB, two to three times the cost of other drives, there’s good reason I can recommend […]

First appeared at Techpinions.com When I first discovered Facebook I thought it was so clever and useful. The company created a new way to connect with friends and business associates, something that was less intrusive than a phone call or text and timelier than a holiday card. It enabled me to get an update from […]

If you’ve shopped around for an Apple watch, you likely know that the latest Series 3 models are not discounted and are sold at retail everywhere. But you can get a discount, essentially an effective 20% rebate from Kohl’s during the several times each month they offer Kohl’s Dollars, You will get $10 in Kohl […]

As frequent business travelers, we’re always looking for the ideal business briefcase bag. Many of us have used a wide assortment over the decades; bags and cases from companies such as Coach, Tumi, Targus, Glaser, Briggs & Riley, Samsonite, and Hartmann. Each promised to be the perfect solution, yet they never seemed to be our […]

QUANTITY −+ This inexpensive ($30) tech gadget combines a Bluetooth speaker with an LED lantern-shaped light. While at first it seemed a somewhat odd combination, it’s turns out to be surprisingly useful. Overall, it’s an attractive, lightweight package that radiates a fair amount of light over 360 degrees. But connected to my iPhone, using it’s […]