All posts by jhrogersii

If you are like me, you knew about the solar eclipse that is upon us today, but maybe you didn’t think ahead and prepare in advance….also like me, Oops. I had assumed that we would have a welding hood around with adequate protection, but it turns out that wasn’t the case, and it was too late for me to get any special “eclipse glasses.” However, you might be able to find some enterprising local kids out selling the ones they bought up on a street corner, like I saw this morning. I applaud their entrepreneurial spirit!

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iPad, iPad 2, iPad Air, iPad Air 2

The iPad as a Laptop Replacement- Part One

August 20, 2017 jhrogersii Leave a comment

This is certainly ground that has been covered in MANY articles, both before and after the release of the new 10.5” and 12.9” iPad Pros, and for plenty of reason. Apple’s marketing has placed the iPad Pro squarely in the conversation as a primary computing device, and encouraged this kind of examination. However, because the conversations tend to center around those of us in the Apple blogosphere and the tech community at large think, they usually focus on the iPad as a laptop replacement for US as “power users,” rather than more typical users.

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iPad Insight Deals

Deals: 1Voice 10,000 mAh Charging Backpacks

August 19, 2017 jhrogersii Leave a comment

I’ve personally preferred using a backpack to carry my laptop and other electronics around for a long time now. I love being able to keep my hands free while I am walking, and keep my load balanced across my back, rather than using a shoulder bag. I know I’m not alone, as there are laptop bags in all shapes, sizes, and styles available today.
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Apple Watch

Apple Watch in Action- Part 2

August 19, 2017 jhrogersii Leave a comment

In part one, I took a look at one promising new feature of the Apple Watch in the new Siri Watch Face. I also talked about one not so good area in the current app situation for the platform. As I continue to play with the watchOS 4 beta, and the rumors of a coming hardware refresh continue to swirl, now is a good time to jump back in and look at more good and bad of the Apple Watch.

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iPad Insight Deals

Deals: Private Internet Access VPN: 2 Year Subscription

August 16, 2017 jhrogersii Leave a comment

Internet security has never been more important and more prevalent than right now, as seemingly every day brings us fresh reports of new security breaches, cyber-attacks, and unpatched exploits. We also continue to be bombarded with stories of user tracking by ISPs, advertisers, Google, Facebook, and our own and other governments.

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Apple News

Wired or Wireless- Has the iPhone 7 Changed How You Listen?

August 15, 2017 jhrogersii 2 Comments

This time last year, we were being inundated with all of the reports and rumors of a new iPhone without a headphone jack. There was endless debate in tech blogs and on podcasts leading up to the release, then we had Phil Schiller telling us how “brave” Apple was. Then we had more hand-wringing and opinions after the new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus launched. It finally did die down after a while, but it was all anyone in tech was talking about for a LONG time.

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iPad Tips & Tricks, iPhone Tips & Tricks

Tips and Tricks: Lightning Not Striking?

August 14, 2017 jhrogersii 2 Comments

I share this tip this week because, for the third year in a row, I find myself having the same problem. It seems that the Lightning Port of the iPhones 6, 6S and 7 all have a particular attraction to lint. Since I wear jeans to work most days and keep my phone in my front pocket, this lint build-up is inevitable and always seems to pop up right about now. However, it is easily remedied if you know what to look for.

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iOS 11, iPad App Store, iPhone App Store

The App Store in iOS 11- More Than a Fresh Coat of Paint

August 13, 2017 jhrogersii Leave a comment

I’ve been using iOS 11 on my iPad Pro since I got my new 12.9” model, but I held off installing it on my iPhone until last week. I absolutely rely on my phone when I am in the field at work, and couldn’t afford outages, crashes, or widespread app incompatibility. I waited until I was sure that none of those issues would drag me down, and I’m glad that I did. I’ve had a good experience with 11 on my phone, so far.

iOS 11 is a far bigger and more wide-reaching upgrade on the iPad than the iPhone, so not too much jumped out at me at first beyond the new Control Center. However, once I started using it, the App Store quickly became the most notable difference for me between iOS 10 and 11 on the small screen. While I had looked through the App Store a bit on my iPad and updated my apps, I really didn’t notice how big a difference the new design made until I started using it on the iPhone, with its single-column layout.

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off topic

Off Topic: Streaming from the Wallet- Cord Cutting is Starting to Cost Everyone More

August 12, 2017 jhrogersii 2 Comments

If we aren’t at the tipping point yet, we are getting close

I’m probably not unlike many other American soccer fans, in that my introduction to European “football” was through EA Sports’ venerable FIFA franchise. I started playing years ago, after my interest in the more competitive side of the sport was piqued during the 1994 World Cup, which was hosted here in the United States.

A few years later, I bought my first copy of FIFA for the PC, and was introduced to the expansive world of European Club Football. There were hundreds of teams spread out in leagues all across the continent, loaded with some players who’s names I knew from my World Cup watching, but many more who I had never heard of.

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iPad Insight Deals

Deals: ARMOR-X One-Lock Air Vent Car Mount

August 11, 2017 jhrogersii Leave a comment

With increasingly strict (and justifiable) laws governing the use of smartphones within vehicles, and with distracted driving being such a problem on the road today, it is vital to have a reliable way to hold your phone in the car. Whether you are taking phone calls or using GPS and mapping apps for navigation, you need your phone to be held securely so you aren’t fumbling with it, and anchored in a place where you can see it without taking your eyes off the road.

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Apple Watch

Apple Watch In Action- Part 1

August 10, 2017 jhrogersii Leave a comment

I’ve been using an Apple Watch since release day, other than a very brief period after I sold my first gen and thought I was moving on. It seems that the Watch was a little stickier than I thought it would be, and I ended up buying another one soon after and have kept one on my wrist since. Even with the flaws of the Series 0 hardware and watchOS 1 and 2, I found myself missing the instant notifications on my wrist, music control, and the ability to triage messages. After two weeks, I just got tired of looking down at an empty wrist.

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