I Know (and Saw) What You Did Last Night


I like to tell people that my tombstone will say: “He always wanted to be somewhere else.” That’s my way of making it known that I like to travel. Like the Ringling Brothers, I take my show state to state and country to country. I may be able to do both depending on the state. Don’t judge me. Some states just have a very diverse population and others seem to not have gotten the memo that the Constitution has been ratified. But, I digress.
When I do travel, I like to be “productive.” Now, what that means depends on the nature of my excursion. Most people only think of work when they think of productivity. I also consider being properly entertained as being productive. Since my veins are made of copper wire and my heart is really a battery, productivity usually involves some type of technology gadget or application. I maintain a mobile office and entertainment center, so I can set up shop at a moments notice almost anywhere I go. You may not be as wired and juiced as me but you most certainly have a heavy dependency on keyboards, LCD screens, blinking lights and earphones.
Now, let’s say you have your productivity “fly-away kit” all ready and optimized for your business or personal trip across the border or overseas. What would you do or, better yet, how would your trip or life be affected if your sexy toy box (not that one) was taken from you for 15-30 days? The Department of Homeland Security has the legal right to seize and search any electronic data storing device that you take in or out of the country. This can include a laptop, cell phone, flash drive, or smartphone. That means not only will you be without your toys, a complete stranger could be peeping in on (or making unauthorized copies of) your personal & business documents, videos, music and photos. You know how you get down so think about that for a second. All you need to do is hop on Facebook to see how incriminating, literally and figuratively, electronic media can be.
I’m not saying this to scare you or to take a political stance. I’m not into politics (remember what I said about healthcare). I just want you to be prepared. “You’re the quarterback, I’m just hear to protect you.” Besides the borrowed advice below, I highly recommend you maintain backups of all important electronic files that you may travel with and also put in place a means to access them if needed. Depending on your needs and the types of files, this may or may not be a sophisticated task. You should consider consulting a technology professional if this is a major concern for you (I know a really good one.)
Remember:
- No evidence is needed to take your devices.
- Anything can be searched.
- Your device might not be returned right away.
- Don’t take anything you don’t want to share.
- Be cooperative.
I highly recommend that you do your own research. Do a web search on “laptop border rules”. Laptops are the main point of focus but the rules apply to much more.
“A hug is a smile with arms, a laugh with a stronger grip.” -The Quote Garden
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denity… a premier technology concierge
“technology expertise for your everyday lifestyle”
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You Can Take The Friend
Video Intro:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMo6o0BtFG8
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Back in the day, last month, the other day or last night, you and a friend probably had to come to an agreement. Who’s going to “talk to” the friend? For men, the guy that talks to the friend is called the “wingman.” I have no idea if there is an equivalent for women. Regardless, if there is or isn’t, decisions have to made. Some times they have to be made on a moment’s notice with little or no information.
Upon first glance, it may appear that the “wing” (man or woman) is getting a raw deal. But, there are a lot factors like individual tastes, needs, number of drinks, lighting, etc., that can flip things all around. The same can be said about buying technology products or services. Everything isn’t for everybody. You need to know what everything means, what your preferences are and what’s really important in the long run.
Here are a few quick morsels to munch on, some new and some refreshers:
- Internet Speed: Megabytes per second (MBps) and Megabits per second (Mbps) aren’t the same. It will take 8 Megabits (Mb) to equal 1 Megabyte (MB). Hard drives and RAM are sold in MB’s but your internet speed is sold in Mb’s (per second). Nowadays, shoot for at least 5 Mbps (download).
- TV: Which is better cable or satellite? There’s no clear winner. As I have said before, it depends on your preferences. Each has it’s pros and cons.
- Plasma or LCD: First consider the size you would like. Plasmas usually don’t go lower than 37″ and LCD’s usually get relatively expensive above 50″. Then, consider your budget. If your budget and size requirements fall into the overlap between the LCD & plasma, you now need to consider the type of room it will be in and what you will be using it for.
- 720p or 1080p: Yes, 1080p is “better” than 720p. However, 720p produces a great picture. 1080p is much more common since I wrote “Should You Potty Train Your New HDTV?” If it is an option, you can get a great deal on a great HDTV.
- iPhone or BlackBerry: If you hate AT&T, the decision is easy. The iPhone is only on AT&T. So, the iPhone is out. Otherwise, go play with an iPhone and see if you can handle not having a physical keyboard. If it’s for business, talk to your company’s IT department (that could be you) and see which do they support.
- Palm Pre: The Pre is Palm’s last ditch effort to become relevant again in the smartphone game. The Treo had a good run but Palm rode that horse too long. They got squashed by the iPhone and BlackBerry. Fortunately, Palm finally came back strong! It’s only on Sprint but it’s worth a look.
- Netbooks: “Netbook” is nothing but a marketing term. It’s still a computer, a small computer. Just like a golf cart is just a small car. A golf cart can get you around but it’s not built for heavy lifting or being you primary vehicle. You make significant sacrifices. The same applies for netbooks.
- Megapixels: If “netbook” is a marketing term, “megapixels” is a marketing campaign. Do you remember what I said about megapixels?
- Mac or Windows: I’ll make this simple. Go with what you’re comfortable with. If you know nothing about computers, go with a Mac. If you know what you’re doing or have IT support, go with Windows. Generally, Mac for Home. Windows for work.
- Coke or Pepsi: I don’t drink soda so I can’t help you on this one.
“A hug is a great gift – one size fits all, and it’s easy to exchange.”
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Subscribe and follow on Twitter (@DenityConcierge)
denity… a premier technology concierge
“for when you need to choose & usesm technology”
serving the washington, dc metro area
Fifty Percent of Professionals Needlessly Duplicate Personal and Professional Technology Tools
Press Release:
Denity Technology Solutions’ Unique New Service Offers Solutions That End Frustration and Lower Costs
August 5, 2009, Fairfax, Virginia – Half of working professionals make redundant purchases when it comes to their personal and professional technology tools, estimates Terrance Whitehead, owner and techLife™ concierge and advisor of Denity Technology Solutions, an area concierge specializing in technology related lifestyle services and product recommendations. These repetitive purchases can cost the average busy professional in cost, unnecessary implementation time and added frustration.
Most people, especially small business owners, complicate their technology tools— what Whitehead refers to as their “techLife portfolio”— on a daily basis. These tools include cell phones, PDA’s and smart phones; computers, software, and online service providers including email and contact management.
“This results in needless ‘technology stress’ for the average professional, especially in a tough economy,” Whitehead says. “The reality is that by performing a technology assessment, then carefully selecting technology hardware, applications and providers, personal and professional technology can integrate seamlessly, saving time, money and aggravation.” Whitehead believes that a “technology portfolio” can be well balanced and well managed like a financial portfolio.
Whitehead recommends consulting a personal technology consultant before making personal or professional technology purchases to replace an item one currently owns. “Newer is not always better, and in many cases you can adapt hardware or software you already own to accommodate changing needs. Oftentimes, less expensive options are available even when a new item or service is recommended. Most people spend about three weeks simply deciding on what they should buy. An experienced professional should be able to reduce that to two to three hours.”
For more information on integrating effective personal and professional technology lifestyle solutions, contact Denity Technology Solutions at 703.829.0370 or visit www.denity.com.
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About Denity Technology Solutions
Denity Technology Solutions is a technology lifestyle and personal concierge company in Fairfax, Virginia. The company offers personal information technology and other executive services for companies that work with executives and executive relocation, including law firms, recruiting and relocation service providers, real estate agents, and human resources departments who want to attract C level professionals. Premier techLife™ and Choose & Use™ services include home office and small office planning, home entertainment purchase recommendations, and technology audits for small businesses. For more information, visit www.denity.com.
A Mouse, Viagra and A Dream
“I love mankind, it’s people I can’t stand.”
Linus Van Pelt, Peanuts
Linus pretty much summed up how I feel at times. There are some things about human nature that really annoy me at times. For example, why does an accident on the southbound lane on the highway cause a traffic jam on the northbound side. Human nature! We like to observe the problems of others.
Why is there a new season of Bridezilla? Human nature. We like to see people act foolish for the camera and a few bucks. Also, former brides like to say “I’m glad that wasn’t me.” Keep telling yourself that. It was you. In a 2 year stretch I went to about 2000 weddings so I probably was there to see you acting up.
The creativity to capitalize on the flaws of people is amazing but not surprising. All you need to do is check your email Inbox and Junk Mail folders. You can find an “ad” to see a nude picture of anyone you want or to enlarge/shrink any part of your body. A few mouse clicks and you can get all the Viagra you and your partner can handle. You can also make obscene amounts of money by helping out a few lost cousins from Nigeria. Your dreams can come true overnight.
The reason why you see these scams over and over is because THEY WORK! Human nature at work again. We have a natural disposition for curiosity, generosity and greed. We are always under attack, especially electronically. The internet is a huge battlefield and your computer is a fort. Here are 5 ways to help protect your fort:
- Make sure your computer is set to download and install operating system updates automatically. Most of these updates are not to give you cool new features. They are to sure up weak points in your fort. The enemy is always discovering news ways to get you. This even applies to Macs.
- Don’t use Microsoft’s Internet Explorer (IE), especially not version 6. If most people in the world spoke Spanish and you were planning a world tour, what Rosetta Stone would you buy? Spanish! Most of the people in the world use IE so that’s what the hackers plot to attack. They can sell more Viagra that way. I prefer Mozilla’s Firefox. Don’t get me wrong, IE 7 & 8 are solid browsers. IE is just a big target.
- Wrap it up. Get and use protection. There are various no or low cost antivirus software applications. I recommend AVG, Avast and NOD32. I don’t care which one you use. The key is that you only download one when you actively go to their website. NEVER respond to any pop ups that tell you have a virus or that they will scan your computer for you. Those are bad guys playing off human nature.
- Never connect your computer directly to the modem that your Internet Service Provider (ISP) gives you, unless it has a built in router. If it doesn’t, buy yourself a simple $30 router (doesn’t have to be wireless). Most routers have a built-in firewall (a protective fence between you and the Internet) but plain modems don’t. It should work out of the box so you shouldn’t have to configure anything. Worst case, install a firewall on your computer. There are free versions that work very well.
- Finally, stop being complacent, arrogant and/or foolish. All of the things I mentioned can’t protect you from yourself. You need to check your Internet behavior. Don’t click on links in email. It’s easy to make a link look like it goes somewhere else (Click on the ESPN link to see what I mean: www.espn.com). Don’t download software from sites you don’t trust. Use strong passwords that don’t have the word “password” in it. Actually, don’t use real words. Be very wary of HTML formatted emails. I personally don’t use it. I don’t need to see smiley faces with winking eyes. Remember: Trust should be earned on the internet.
“A hug is a smile with arms, a laugh with a stronger grip.” -The Quote Garden
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Subscribe and follow on Twitter (@TechHugger)
denity technology solutions
the premier technology concierge
“for when you need to choose & usesm technology”
www.denity.com
serving the washington, dc metro area
The Tale of Two G’s
To say that I’m a big college basketball fan may be an understatement. Insatiable infatuation with NCAA round ball might be a better way of saying it. Taking place this week is the NBA draft. This is when the college youngsters find out if they will be balling or falling. Sadly, a lot will be falling. Historically, the number of draft hopefuls far outnumber the 60+ available picks.
Outside of the draft and the hilarious LeBron & Kobe puppets, I have no interest in the NBA. So thinking of the NBA draft actually makes me think of the NFL draft with which I have a serious issue.
My issue: Teams spend more money beer and hotdog revenue on unproven rookies and less on proven veterans.
I strongly believe that you should “dance with who brung you” even if they are a little older with a couple of dings. A lot of people are in the same situation now that the new Apple iPhone 3GS has been released and the iPhone 3G (no “S”, 2nd generation) has been dropped to $99. (Note: Don’t get it twisted. The “G” is for the cellular network, not for “Generation”) They are deciding if and how to upgrade their iPhone 1st generation: Spend $99 on the proven veteran (iPhone 3G) or at least $199 on the rookie (iPhone 3GS).
If you are a regular “hug” reader, you know that I usually shun new release products. I recommend staying one model behind. You usually get a solid & stable product at a substantially discounted price. The iPhone 3GS is a device that legitimately challenges my rule. I reserve the right to break my own rules every now and then. Don’t go judging me, either. “I’m just here to protect you.“
Consider the following when making your upgrade decision:
- If taking photos is important for you and you’re unhappy with 1st gen’s camera, you won’t feel better about the 3G. Consider the 3GS.
- In addition to the better camera, you can record video with the 3GS. If you like to make home videos of the things you do at home (I won’t ask. I’ll just see you on YouTube). Again, draft the rookie (3GS).
- If you are happy with your 1st Gen and use the internet heavily and/or drive a lot, go with the 3G. The 3G provides substantial performance upgrades, most notably faster cellular network speed (3G vs EDGE) and built-in GPS. Go with the vet (3G).
- If you use your 1st Gen mostly as a phone and/or iPod, stick with what you already got. In other words, don’t be like the Redskins and waste your money on pointless “upgrades.” I had to sneak that in there since football is the theme.
- On a side note, if you are a diehard BlackBerry user, you should stay a BlackBerry user. The iPhone still is not a replacement for the BlackBerry.
Full disclosure: I put my money where my mouth is. I waited in line for an hour to upgrade from the 1st Gen to the 3GS. I loved the 1st gen but I put up with the poor camera, the lack of GPS and the lack of 3G for 2 years. I did my time. I’m very happy so far. Who would have thought that adding a simple thing like “Cut & Paste” could change the way I do business?
“You can’t wrap love in a box, but you can wrap a person in a hug.” -Unknown
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denity technology solutions
for when you need to choose & usesm technology
www.denity.com
serving the washington, dc metro area
Hail to the… NO!
I really love living in the Washington, DC area, except for one thing. I hate the Redskins. First, let me say that I’m not a Dallas Cowboys fan. In this area, you are typically one or the other. I was born and raised up the block in Baltimore and I’m a die-hard Ravens fan.
Redskins fans do however provide a good source of entertainment. It’s always their year. Every year, they spend more money and just like their political neighbors on the Hill, it never works out the way they planned it. This annual punching-in-the-gut performance really keeps my spirits high and makes me appreciate the Ravens more and more. And before you say it, this is all relevant.
I’m constantly asked: “Which is better, Satellite TV or Cable TV? Which should I get?” And I always ask three questions, in this order:
- Do you have the option for both where you live? Cable is not always available and some homeowners associations ban satellite dishes. However, this prohibitive practice has been recently ruled illegal in many areas. In other words, the haters have been defeated.
- Have you looked at the programming (channel) options for all the available providers? It’s not a given that all the channels you want will be available on all the providers.
- How sensitive are you to monthly and overall costs? This may be number one for most people but I like to know what people want before I consider costs.
My shoot-from-the-hip response is go with cable (Note: I’m deliberately leaving out Verizon FiOS, AT&T U-Verse and other options because they aren’t as readily available). Cable usually has enough channels for the average consumer and installation is usually much more straight forward. Many homes are already wired for it and almost all TV’s are cable ready. There’s nothing special here, just simplicity.
All things not being equal and you aren’t just looking for simplicity, here’s what you should consider:
- The NFL Sunday Ticket is not available on cable. DirecTV has the contract until 2014. This means that if you go with cable you may be stuck watching the local NFL team, like the Redskins, and having to listen to stupid songs, like “Hail to the Redskins.” The song isn’t that bad because they only sing it when they score.
- Satellite requires a set top box for every television. I don’t know of any satellite ready TV’s. That can equal added cost and/or clutter.
- Satellite typically can provide more dollar-for-dollar programming and the picture quality of their High Def programming is typically superior.
- How can I say this? Cable DVR’s suck! Tivo is the platinum standard and satellite providers typically come the closest.
- Depending on which and how many channels you want, you may have to pay more monthly for satellite. Also, you may still need an antenna to get your local channels.
So, it’s not a clear cut winner. You have to consider who you want to bump with. Just be careful, Joe Tex warned you. Don’t bump “with no big fat woman.” When in doubt, Denity Technology Solutions can help.
“You can’t give a hug without getting a hug.” – Author Unknown
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Denity Technology Solutions
Making Technology Personal, Not Technical
www.Denity.com
The Junk In Your Trunk
“There is luxury in self reproach. When we blame ourselves, we feel no one else has a right to blame us.” - Oscar Wilde
(DID YOU MISS ME? Welcome me home)
I’m not known for my poetic deepness. I prefer simplicity over complexity. I believe the solution to most of life’s problems is to “suck it up, walk it off and put ice on it.” Ironically, my “natural” simplicity is often mistaken as complexity. The Oscar Wilde quote above encompasses that concept. It’s complex in it’s simplicity. Allow me to translate it: “Stop blaming others for your mistakes and life will be much better.” In the spirit of O-Dub, I’m going to “self reproach” myself and talk about the junk in my trunk, not yours.
If you’ve been in my car over the past few months, you probably noticed a loud rattle or thud when I take a turn with some quickness. Before you call Horatio Cane and his sunglasses, IT’S NOT A BODY! It’s a computer that I got from a client and I couldn’t bring myself to just throw in the trash. There’s nothing special about the computer. I just know that it’s not socially responsible to recklessly toss electronics in the trash. Why, you ask? I present the video below as Exhibit #1 (It’s child and HR Department friendly):
Even though I’m a lover of the “power plug,” I have to admit that it has not been the best environmental neighbor. I have secretly developed a little adulterous crush on Mother Nature over the years. Most people thinks she’s a little on the big side and can be somewhat cruel. I think she’s tiny and just needs a hug. The link below is to Mother Nature’s “Myspace” page. She talks about some of the ways you can treat her right when it comes to disposing of your tech products. As Maya Angelou said: “When you know better, you do better.” Now, you know better. Go out and do better.
http://www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/materials/ecycling/donate.htm
“Be a love pharmacist: Dispense hugs like medicine; They are!” – The Quote Garden
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Denity Technology Solutions
Making Technology Personal, Not Technical
www.Denity.com