Like many others in the tech community, I applaud Apple’s efforts to encrypt the iPhone to protect our privacy. But there’s been noticeably little attention given to the impact of apps on that same privacy. I’ve always been surprised at how many permissions some apps requests before they can be installed. They typically request access […]
Author Archives: Phil Baker
03
Mar
Mar
The 2016 Mobile World Congress (MWC), the mobile industry’s yearly show in Barcelona, just concluded. That’s where manufacturers – all but Apple – rolled out their new phones. And based on what was shown, there are few reasons to upgrade. Smartphones have approached a level where, with few exceptions, improvements are modest and provide few […]
25
Feb
Feb
For those of us that use Macs, it sometimes feels like Apple is abandoning us. iPhones and iPads are a much more lucrative business for them than their notebooks and desktops computers. Apple’s CEO Tim Cook even touted the iPad Pro as a notebook replacement. And it shows in other ways: some of the […]
24
Feb
Feb
I’ve been fortunate to travel with my family to many exciting vacation spots, but rarely have I enjoyed a vacation as much as the one we just experienced. My wife, son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons visited Tulum on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. While we always expected to enjoy the beautiful beaches and tropical weather, […]
18
Feb
Feb
With all of the technology advances taking place, just how good are today’s radar detectors? The devices that attach to our car’s windshield were once were commonly used to detect police hiding along the side of the road trying to catch us speeding by. It became a back and forth game with police adding more […]
09
Feb
Feb
I’ve always had a moderate weight problem, being 20 to 30 pounds overweight, and have tried a myriad of diets over the years. There was the protein diet, Dr. Atkins, Weight Watchers, and many fad diets. Over the past three months I’ve been trying something new that has worked better than anything else, using technology […]
08
Feb
Feb
Briggs & Riley makes some of the best luggage available. I’ve used many of their products over the years traveling all over the world, and they provide some of the best designed, highest quality products in the business. (I also love Tumi, but comparable models are often as much as twice the cost of Briggs & […]
04
Feb
Feb
If you are discerning about the coffee you drink and grind your own beans, you may want to consider roasting your own coffee beans at home. When a friend first suggested it to me, I dismissed it, since I can buy freshly roasted beans from a number of local coffee shops. But I took the […]
03
Feb
Feb
There are three cars in my family, A Toyota Highlander, a Chevy Volt, and a Mazda3. My wife, who drives the Highlander, and we use our respective iPhones (5 and 6) paired to our cars. What are the odds of each of phones suddenly experiencing problems connecting to the cars in the same week? Apparently […]
30
Jan
Jan
While certainly not a world-class problem, it’s one that likely impacts more and more of us as we age. And it’s such a simple problem to fix: Credit card issuers, Make the phone number of the back of the credit card larger! For some reason the phone numbers are always printed so small, that some […]
28
Jan
Jan
Two weeks ago I reviewed security cameras and the Ring video doorbell, all products in the category called Internet of Things (IoT) that connect to the cloud through your WiFi network. While they provide useful benefits, they can also bring some risks. That became evident for many of those using a Nest connected thermostat, one of […]
25
Jan
Jan
Why? Because they could, I suppose. Read the press release: Digitsole, the connected footwear specialist, announces that its newest creation – the Warm Sneaker – has won an award at the 2016 ISPO. ISPO is an international trade-fair gathering the whole sport industry and honoring exhibitors in different categories every year. The Warm Sneaker has […]
21
Jan
Jan
Tonight my wife wanted a glass of white wine and I wanted a red with our dinner. I was able to pour a glass of each from unopened bottles and then put the bottles back in my wine cabinet to use another time. I was using the Coravin wine device that lets you enjoy a […]
20
Jan
Jan
Leica Camera has unveiled its first camera designed specifically for outdoor and underwater photography – the Leica X-U (Typ 113). Incorporating a fixed focal length Leica Summilux 23mm f/1.7 ASPH. lens (equivalent to 35mm) with underwater protection filter, and a large APS-C CMOS sensor, this fully waterproofed member of the Leica X family delivers images […]
15
Jan
Jan
One of the highlights of this year’s CES was, literally, carloads of new technology shown by the automotive companies from Detroit, Europe, Korea, and Japan. Everything from self-driving vehicles to tablet-sized displays to 20 speaker audio systems. The automotive industry seems to have embraced new technology, with many of the companies opening research and development […]
12
Jan
Jan
One of my hobbies is pen and ink drawing and water color painting. In my struggles to make copies of my pieces for friends, I’ve been experimenting with a variety of techniques and devices. Photo copies are generally the most inexpensive way to print in large format. Large color prints can cost just a few […]
12
Jan
Jan
San Francisco manufacturer and designer, WaterField Designs, has introduced the Staad Attache´ with a padded compartment for the iPad Pro or Apple 13-inch laptops. Constructed of ballistic nylon, waxed canvas and full-grain leather in classic, muted colors, the Staad Attache´ bridges the gap between the casual messenger bag and formal briefcase for style-conscious professionals. Cost is […]
11
Jan
Jan
Fitbit introduced their new activity tracker, called the Blaze, at CES last week. And since then, the company’s stock has dropped by nearly 30 percent.. The product was panned as being ugly and under-featured, particularly for its $200 price. Even if you assume what they showed was a prototype, the product looks much like an “As […]
07
Jan
Jan
Awarded to Harman International and Microsoft. Harman announced that it’s bringing Microsoft Office—including Word, Excel and Powerpoint—to your car. It will operate via voice-activation, using Microsoft’s Cortana, meaning you’ll be able to work on spreadsheets and file your taxes while driving. “By ensuring that Office 365 services are seamlessly integrated with car and driver telematics and […]
07
Jan
Jan
The Consumer Show is now underway and, while many are reporting on the exciting new products, I decided to focus on the Worst of CES just to be contrary. Actually, that’s probably an easier task since they are much easier to find. Each day I’ve added an item here on www.bakerontech.com . This entry summarizes […]