New product reviews coming soon - Check out www.NEICL.com

May 21, 2010 by admin.

I received an email from a sales representative from a Chinese company named NEI New Energy. The representative, Tony, sent me a picture of their new waterproof HD video camera watch. Yes, waterproof.

As if a watch that shoots both stills and moving video at 1280 X 960 was not enough, this watch is also waterproof to 30 meters (90+ feet). Thats very deep. Many normal inexpensive waterproof watches (without cameras) are just waterproof to 50 feet or so. Generally “waterproof” cameras are limited to 30 feet, unless you get into pro diving equipment.

 So when I saw this nice looking watch/camera with HD, I was intrigued. But I found one flaw with the NEI website: no prices. I am also not sure if they sell to retail users or just wholesale buyers. But in an upcoming article I will share what I learned about NEI. I will also write a full article about buying from China, my experiences and my feelings about buying from other countries.

Now with America in an economic slump and many Americans out of work, should we buy from overseas? I’m doing my research on this one and I promise a great article with a good amount of information.

 In the meantime, I await “Tony’s” reply from NEI. Check out their website, there are some James Bond style items and a ton of just cool toys. Thanks for reading my blog, I appreciate the support. I don’t make any money writing this but it’s nice to know some people read it. I had to suspend registrations due to people uploading viruses in the form fields, but we had over 15,000 subscribers before I disabled that database to eliminate viruses.

Oh, to the goofballs that upload viruses, I win. My blog is still here and your efforts were wasted.

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Motorola Droid - the 90 day Review

April 9, 2010 by admin.

It’s now been a few months since I bought my Motorola Droid. I will recommend it to everyone that can program their DVR or knows the difference between HD television formats. If you are even the slightest bit techno-challenged, get a Blackberry or one of the Palm smart phones. I would say get an I-Phone, but that would be insulting to many people that were not part of the Mac cult. But if you are so inclined, an I-Phone is fine.

 The Droid has something to do with Google.  I know they did not make it, but they are involved in some level. Since I feel most people have no interest in the how or why of the Google connection I will just step over that pile.

 I think if you are reading this article and you have gotten this far, you are seriously considering buying a Droid phone. Good for you. I think it’s a good hobby. No, really, I like the little computer that also is a phone. Basically that’s what I think of the Droid, it’s a pocket computer with full featured telephone capability. It’s a lot faster than the old dial-up. It feels almost as fast as the 1997 era DSL from the telephone company. Not like my cable connection, but it’s fast enough that I use it to look up stuff on the internet while I’m on the couch watching TV.

 It’s awesome for watching movie trailers, Youtube and a lot of video on the internet. Loads in a few seconds and the picture is great. That means a lot coming from me, I’m a motion picture Director and a trained broadcast engineer. It does not play Flash videos or Flash websites, which sucks from time to time. But most websites with Flash have the “download” option in .wmv or .mpg formats for videos.

I use the Droid standard software/hardware for the following tasks:

• Telephone
• Text & Picture Messaging
• Gmail
• Google Calendar
• Google Searches
• Google Maps
• 5 Megapixel Camera
• Video Camera
• Photo Gallery
• Full keyboard to type
• Virtual Keyboard to type
• Touch Screen with zoom
• Speakerphone
• Alarm Clock
• Google Browser
• Settings
• Calculator
• Ringtones
• Contacts
• Phone book
• Phone Log
• Wallpaper
• Bluetooth
• Wi-Fi
• I have opened .PDF, .XLS, .DOC and .RTF documents
• The GPS Navigation for finding places my 2009 Cadillac DTS Nav. System cannot find
• Sending and Receiving Email from 6 accounts with attachments
• Marketplace to download programs (looks like tens of thousands - many free!)
• 16 GB micro-SD card to store music/pictures/documents

As far as I am concerned, all of the above programs and features are fairly well designed and work fine. I use them all frequently.

 Here is a list of programs that I downloaded from the “Marketplace” for free that I use often: (all free versions)

• Advanced Task killer (you have to have this to save battery time)
• Auto Ring
• Skydeck Caller ID
• Barcode Scanner (works part oof the time)
• Google Goggles (more for fun than useful)
• Bubble Level
• Ebay mobile
• Paypal Mobile
• DGaway (text message answering machine - cool!)
• Face Trasher (photo tool to squish faces)
• Facebook mobile
• Myspace mobile
• Ghost Commander file manager
• MotoTorch LED (uses your flash as flashlight)
• News Pro
• Weather Channel mobile
• Radar Now (real time weather Radar)
• SMS Pack
• Stopwatch
• Tricorder (yes, the Star Trek tricorder that really works for audio engineering uses)
• Voice Recorder
• Youtube  mobile
• Mabilo ringtones (ton of free ringtones)
• Helix Launcher (gives a better desktop and an I-phone type Photo Gallery)
• Matrix Live Wallpaper (has “live” moving wallpapers to impress snoops looking at your phone)

I did install a few games for the time I spend in waiting rooms or at the airport:

• Missle Intercept
• Wave Blazer Lite
• Trap!
• Titres (Tetris)
• Real Blackjack
• Ballistic Defense

There are thousands of FREE apps and games in the Marketplace. Usually the paid versions are only slightly better. In many cases there are similar free apps or games to use. I really love the Marketplace. I had the Motorola Q9h smartphone before and apps were severely lacking due to the non-open source nature of that phone’s software.

 If I had to pick one reason I love the Droid it would be for the many free apps. Then the other reasons I like it are as follows (in order of importance)

1. Good handling of email and contact database
2. Browser reads almost all non-flash webpages
3. Telephone
4. Screen size and resolution
5. Full Keyboard
6. Connectivity - WiFi, 3G, Analog, Bluetooth, USB, Mini-SD
7. Battery life (once I learned to turn off apps with Task Killer)
8. Camera with 5MP Resolution
9. Video Camera (I’m a filmmaker and I GOTTA have a way to shoot video)
10. GPS with turn by turn voice (I have a portable GPS and a built-in Nav system in my car, so it’s not urgent)

So, the Droid gets my high marks for flexibility and quality in almost all areas. It does have a crappy speaker due to size limitations (especially compared to my old Q9h which had a great speaker sound).  But I got really close to  joining the I-phone cult… it was the full keyboard that  made the final decision to go Droid.

 I see Droids on Craigslist brand new for around $200 locally. I don’t know the pitfalls of buying from private party, but that’s half what I paid with a 2-year commitment. It’s worth thinking about, especially if you are currently a Verizon customer and have a penchant for changing your mind.

 So, that’s my two cents. I hope it helps. Until next time, you can always email with questions.

Posted in Computer Tech Stuff | Print | No Comments »

A moment of my non-tech life

March 25, 2010 by admin.

Romeo never liked being picked up. Even when we saw him in the mall pet store, he squirmed to break free and dance on the floor. He was this tiny little fluffy snowball with a little black nose. You could hardly see his tiny eyes.

 It was a trait uncommon to Lhasa Apsos, they all had big eyes and puppy-like faces. But the pure white puppy with the jet black nose was more like a stuffed animal on a teens bed than a real life dog. It was Christmas 1994 and we were shopping for gifts. As we passed the pet store my wife and I saw many puppies that people were playing with inside. Even though we already owned a darling little female Lhasa Apso puppy, we still were drawn to the happy, wiggly little fur-balls.

 When my wife held the little white Lhasa her face melted into a loving smile. Hundreds of doggie kisses were planted on her face by this squirming pile of happiness. Without thinking I asked, “Do you want him for Christmas?”. Instantaneously  she said “yes” but then followed with ”isn’t he too expensive?”. He was $600, and 17 years ago that was a lot for a pet store dog. I knew I should not perpetuate the terrible puppy mill problem by buying from a pet store, but this little guy was there and it was inevitable that somebody would buy him, puppy mill or not. I knew he was destined to be happy with us as a companion to Peaches our other Lhasa.

 My wife was in her late 30’s at that time and the empty nest was about to happen. Our daughter would be out on her own soon and it could be a chance for another child. I never wore the hat of “dad” very well. It was a very hard job and not something that came naturally to me. The whole baby thing scared me to death. I knew I would have to do 50% of the work and I was just not going to sign up for that willingly.

So, the new puppy could bring some babies into our life. Doggie babies. To me that meant I was off the hook. No lifetime commitment to another child. Dogs live 7-9 years and then they die. It was common knowledge.

Since he would be “Peaches” lover and companion, we named the new puppy “Romeo”. The next day we took him home. 

At first the stress on Peaches was too much. She was two years old and used to ruling the house. She was in charge of barking at the door to ward off strangers (she had a great record - everyone she barked at would eventually go away). Peaches was also my other “wife” and companion. She would insist on sitting at my right thigh on any chairs, at my feet in bed or on top of my chest when I would lay on the floor to watch TV. She was tiny with huge brown eyes and golden hair. Peaches was whip smart and agile enough to be called “circus dog” as she jumped from the backs of couches to the window seat.

 Peaches was frazzled for the first month. She hated the new puppy that always wanted to play. Very possessive, she growled as Romeo came near me. I was her territory and she was going to defend her ground. We kept them apart for the first few months and gradually Peaches came to accept the hundreds of doggie kisses bestowed upon her by Romeo.

Romeo was so different from Peaches in may ways. It was almost as if he was a different breed. When we first got him we put him in the soft green grass under the big shade trees of our front yard. There he was a ball of white fluff almost dancing in celebrating his freedom in the wide open spaces of our single family home yard. Dogs can’t smile, but if he could, he seemed to be grinning from ear to ear as he rolled in the grass. He yearned to be a free dog. He was nobody’s lapdog. He wanted to be on the ground and would fight to be there. He was willful and disobedient. A real handful. He immediately bonded with Lora and took dislike to my directions. We had a fenced yard and a doggie door, so Romeo would love to go outside.  As a puppy he took great pleasure in finding things to play with. Although we had many “approved toys” for Romeo and Peaches, Romeo wuld choose his own playthings. Sometimes it was a stick or a bit of wood, other times something less desireable, apiece of dried dog poo or a small dead lizard. He would bring them into the house and throw them into the air with great enthusiasm. Sometimes he seemed to throw them on me or Lora. He always seemed to want to be “his own dog” in those years.

Then one day Peaches came into heat and Romeo and her were bonded. Where Peaches was, Romeo had to be. They were inseparable. Peaches still liked to sit near me. Romeo would sit on the floor and Peaches would growl softly if he stood too close. Peaches stopped barking at the door. It was now Romeos Job. The order of our home “pack” had changed and Peaches accepted her new role with the calmness and satisfaction of a mother to be.

There would be 13 puppies born over four or five litters. A couple of weak small pups would not make it through the first few days. Our house would go crazy accommodating the babies, but it was fun to have the scampering, wrestling, jumping bunch of pups to roll on the floor with. Romeo would not play with the pups, but they would play with him. He would move away and hide in another room.

Then one day when Peaches was 11 the vet suggested it was enough. He said that Peaches should be fixed because she was too old to have any more babies. We agreed. The operation was quick and successful. But Peaches changed toward Romeo. They would not be the same inseparable couple. Romeo would want to be with Peaches, but Peaches wanted her own “space”. Romeo never understood and was unfaltering in his guardianship of his mate. But the operation changed peaches more than we knew. Although she was healthy she changed dramatically in personality. She would sleep and stay without moving for hours at end. Before the operation Peaches and Romeo would make daily trips outside through the Doggie Door to patrol the backyard. They would walk the same route every day, along the fence and in all the corners. Checking for intruders or new dogs in the next door neighbors yards. They enjoyed the sun and the seasons together, lifting their noses into the air to catch the spring breeze. They smelled many smells and chewed the grass as dogs sometimes do. Often they would catch many small plants into their hair and require a good brushing, but they enjoyed it so much that we put up with the inconvenience.

So now Romeo patrolled the grounds on his own. Making shorter rounds to get back to his lifelong companion.

But Peaches spent less and less time walking.  She had contracted arthritis. In just a few short weeks she went from walking painfully to being totally rigid in her joints. We had tried herbal remedies and prescriptions, but nothing helped.

We loved her so. We did not want to let her go. So we dutifully carried her out to the soft green grass to allow her to relieve herself. She would give appreciative doggie kisses to us, on our hands or arms. Where ever she could reach us, she would give the most soft and delicate kisses. We fed her in her bed. Diapered her when we had to go out for more than  an hour. Romeo would stay nearby. He watched and understood that she was in pain.

We however had lost sight of our duty. We were selfish and wanted to keep this dear little dog that had brought so many beautiful puppies into the world. It was Romeo that made me understand. As I sat on the couch with Peaches paralyzed by arthritis in her bed at my side, Romeo sat before me and looked at the both of us. Much like the RCA Victor dog from the phonograph records, he sat unblinkingly before me. He looked at Peaches and then at me. Then he let out a low growl almost like the sound of a hungry stomach and turned and walked away. I never told Lora, but I knew why he was upset. I was holding Peaches because I was selfish. I was keeping her for my own personal needs and without regard for her happiness.

That day I began to dig the hole in the front yard in the soft grass just beyond the porch swing. The same swing I had sat on with Peaches hundreds of times. Romeo wandered around as I dug a deep hole. He enjoyed the yard but never strayed. I was about five feet into the ground when I realized that it was far beyond the depth needed. My hands had blistered but I was pleased that I had given myself pain. I felt the need to be punished for doing such a dastardly thing. To dig a hole to bury our dear friend while she sat just a few feet inside the house. Romeo came to me as I climbed out of the hole. He was  playful and happy, unaware of my plans. I snatched him away from the edge of the hole, fearful that he would fall inside. He growled with displeasure, not happy to be picked up.

 That day I bought a decorated wooden box from a home accessory store and we lined it with a soft blanket. The box was yellow with hand painted pictures of fruit. They were peaches on a branch with leaves and flowers. It seemed to have been made especially for our dear friend. The next day the vet gave us a pill to make Peaches sleep and when she was soundly adrift the doctor came to our home and injected her with the painless poison. Even though she was asleep,  the instant the needle went into Peaches little leg she must have felt a sting. She tried to bite at the area of the injection and I put my hand in front of the vet’s needle to fend her off. Her mouth found my hand and she briefly bit down, but not enough to puncture the skin. It was the only time Peaches had ever bitten me. In some odd way I felt I deserved it and I apologized to her for the moment of pain.

Lora and I placed Peaches lifeless body into the the burial box. In the lid we wrote a note about Peaches, her life and offspring. I know the box will rot in the moist soil long before anyone ever could unearth it, but it just seemed right to eulogize her in that way. Lots of tears flowed that day.

Romeo continued to look for his mate for about a year after she was gone. He would sniff the areas she had sat and walk from spot to spot glancing around corners as if he could catch her hiding.

About a year ago we moved to a new home without a fence. We take Romeo outside for his bathroom breaks. It is easier to carry him than wait for his uneasy steps.  For the first few weeks Romeo would groan when I picked him up. As careful as I was, Romeo did not like me picking him up. Then, over time, he changed. From being stiff as a board when I held him those first few times, he has become comfortable with me. He now lets his body relax and often looks up to lick my face. I have learned how he likes to be carried and he has learned to trust me.

 Now more than 17 years after we first held Romeo in our arms in the mall we were faced with the same decision that had to be made for Peaches. A series of strokes had hit Romeo over the last year. Each stroke would leave him unable to walk for several days. Then Romeo suffered another one of those strokes. This time it was different. Romeo completely lost the use of his left rear leg. Unable to walk, Romeo was brought outside in our arms. He was fed on a plate and ate lying down. Lora massaged his legs and back to keep the muscles flexible. I constructed a makeshift sling to help him practice walking. But after four days he was no better. The doctor said to wait a few days. He gave us the pill in case Romeo did not recover. Letting our dear friend go was so very sad, but I always remembered this prayer written years ago: 

Treat me kindly, my beloved master, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick, for though I should lick your hand between the blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me do.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world’s sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footsteps falls upon my waiting ear.

When it is cold and wet, please take me inside, for I am now a domesticated animal, no longer used to bitter elements. And I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth. Though had you no home, I would rather follow you through ice and snow than rest upon the softest pillow in the warmest home in all the land, for you are my god and I am your devoted worshiper.

Keep my pan filled with fresh water, for although I should not reproach you were it dry, I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst. Feed me clean food, that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding, to walk by your side, and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life should your life be in danger.

And, beloved master, should the great Master see fit to deprive me of my health or sight, do not turn me away from you. Rather hold me gently in your arms as skilled hands grant me the merciful boon of eternal rest - and I will leave you knowing with the last breath I drew, my fate was ever safest in your hands.

The day came and went and now Romeo is lying next to his beloved mate. It was difficult for me because I was there holding him at his last breath. He did not go without pain as Peaches had, and that will haunt me forever. Even though you do your best, it never seems to be enough in your own mind. I don’t think I can put another dog to sleep, so that means being without another pet again. But I had many great years from two wonderful friends and that should last me forever.

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Common Telemarketing Scams - Knowledge is power, share with a friend.

February 5, 2010 by admin.

Here is a great article I found on recent phone scams: 

I had no idea that telemarketing fraud comes in so many flavors. The variations include ‘cramming’, ’slamming’, credit card scams, calls from telemarketers pretending to be IRS, sweepstakes and lotteries scams, advance fee  loan scams, phone toner scams, fat finger dialing scams, and area code phone scams.

Typically the goal is to get you to reveal personal, bank account information, or to make you do something that will result in unwanted charges on your account. Individuals and businesses are equally affected by these scams although the schemes might be different.

In this article I will outline the 16 most popular phone scams. I am sure there are more, so if you have been a victim of a phone scam, or you know of a phone scam not mentioned here, please share it with me and the readers in the comments.

Send this article to your family members, co-workers, and employees. Give it to your teenage kids and elderly parents (studies show they are the most vulnerable to the scams). As the old saying goes, “Forewarned is Forearmed”.

1. One of the ‘hottest’ scams in the telemarketing industry these days involves companies that sell Auto-Warranties. It’s usually a robo-call. The recording starts with: “This is your final notice! The warranty on your car is about to expire…” Of course, the caller has no idea whether you even have a car, not to mention its warranty. After the recording is played you are connected to a live operator who often refuses to send anything in the mail until you make your first payment. The experienced salesman will use high-pressure tactics rushing you into making a payment.

   Victims, who fell for the scam and “extended their warranties” report that the companies often fail to send any paperwork and routinely deny policy payments.

   Tracing the calls to the companies is difficult. The calls often come from telemarketing centers located overseas. Also, the companies often spoof their caller ID information to display someone’s else’s real number. When people receive these calls they dial the number they see on Caller ID and leave angry messages for an unsuspecting victim. Two-three days later the telemarketers change the Caller ID number and the scam continues.

2. Another phone scam involves calls from “Prize Distribution Centers” that claim that you are the winner in sweepstakes or a lottery. Of course, you are not the only “winner” in the lottery and tens of thousands of people received the same call. The goal of the scheme is to entice you to make a relatively small payment (for example, shipping and handling fee, a sales tax) promising that a much bigger prize will be sent your way. Once the payment is sent, you will most likely not hear from the company again, and a promised “Lincoln Navigator” will not find its way to your driveway.
3. Offers to Lower Your Interest Rates: The calls begin with a recording that makes a tempting offer to lower your credit-card interest rates. Then you are switched to a live agent who collects from you the credit card number and its expiration, name, address, and in some cases even your social security number. The telemarketers have no intention of giving consumers better interest rates on their cards and instead use the information to commit identity theft and run up unwanted charges.

   Again, tracing these scam artists is difficult: they spoof the caller ID information and use numerous VOIP accounts set up using stolen credit cards. The best thing to do is hang up, report the call to FTC and warn others through 800notes.com.

4. Fake Bank Alert Messages: A fake message from a local bank says that your card is being suspended and that you need to call this toll free number to activate it. Of course, the toll free number does not belong to the bank and when you call they ask to verify your account information, which includes your name, date of birth, SSN, address, credit card number, etc. Once they have your personal information, they can use it to commit identity theft charging your existing credit cards, opening new credit card, checking, or savings accounts, writing fraudulent checks, or taking out loans in your name.
5. Advanced Fee Loan Scams: In this scenario a telemarketer promises a consumer a loan or a credit card on very attractive terms. All the consumer has to do is just send a processing fee, or provide checking account info, and the offer was guaranteed. To make the offer sound even more attractive the scammers might throw in a free laptop, an iPod, or any other ‘hot item’. After the payment is made the company disappears, and the victim is often left with an empty checking account and NSF (Non-sufficient funds) bank fees.
6. Fat Finger Dialing Scam: A simple mistake in dialing - or writing down - a phone number can be costly. The type of con it plays into is called a “fat finger dialing” scam. Consumers make a mistake dialing a number and end up connected to someone who leads them down a rip-off path. Almost any frequently called number is likely to be a target for the “fat finger” approach. Take the national number for the Do Not Call list run by the Federal Trade Commission. The correct number is (888) 382-1222. But if you are off by just one digit, you can end up calling a number that tells you the number has been changed. The number it directs you to call will charge you $5.49 plus an “administrative recovery fee,” for “a new national directory assistance service.”
7. Free Listing at Yellow Pages:  This scam targets businesses. The caller says that he is from Yellow Pages and is calling to update their records. He proceeds by asking to confirm some basic information such as owner’s name, business phone number, address, and company name. Then they start billing the victim and only then the business owner realizes that it’s not a free listing and it was not Yellow Pages directory that called.

   The victims report that when they call to complain, the company plays the recorded conversation with the victim saying ‘Yes’ except that the caller is reading from a completely different script. The scammers replace one side of the conversation, making it sound as if the business owner agreed to a paid listing and a monthly fee.

8. Bogus Fund-Raising Operations: 800Notes.com users report getting calls from scam artists posing as a charity and asking for donations. However, the charity is either non-existent or unaware of the solicitation.

   When it comes to donations, it’s best to never make donations over the phone and donate directly to the beneficiary not the solicitor. This way 100% of your money will go to the charity not 10-15% as it often happens when donations are made through a telemarketer or even 0% if the money goes to a bogus charity.

9. International Phone Calls Scam: It’s not always easy to tell if you’re dialing an international telephone number. In most cases, you have to dial 011 to begin a call to a foreign country. However, there are locations outside the U.S. where telephone numbers may look like domestic long-distance calls, but are actually international calls and international rates will apply.

   For example, 284 (British Virgin Islands), 242(Bahamas), 246(Barbados), 268(Antigua/Barbuda), 345(Cayman Islands), 664(Montserrat), 670 (U.S. commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands), 758(St. Lucia), 787(Puerto Rico), 767(Dominica), 809(Dominican Republic), 869(St. Kitts & Nevis), 868(Trinidad & Tobago), and 876(Jamaica) are all area codes in the Caribbean.

   The scheme: the scammer often leaves a message typically asking consumers to call what appears to be an ordinary long-distance telephone number to confirm a lottery prize, or to get information about a relative who has been injured in an accident. In each case, you are told to call the number right away. Since there are so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return the calls. Once the number is dialed, the scam artist will try to keep you on the phone as long as possible to increase the charges. Unfortunately, when you get your phone bill, you might find that you’ve been charged $2500 per minute.

   If you are asked to call unknown number, google the area code to check if it’s local. Also, ask your cell phone and land line companies to put a block on international calls. This way you will hear an error message when you try to call an international number.

10. Phone Toner Scam: The scam artist poses as a warehouse representative or vendor and makes contact with a targeted company. He will say “This is (first name), I need the model number off your copier”. If the person who answers gives this info, the scammers will try to set up a shipment of toner. Of course, the deal is so good that the offer is based on a limited supply or limited time, pressuring the employee to act fast and get their money’s worth. Upon delivery, both the employee and the company are usually in for a big surprise. The price of the invoiced toner is 2-3 times higher than expected, and the scam artist threatens with legal fines if the company fails to pay.
11. “Cramming“: When monthly charges pop up on your telephone bill for optional services that you never authorized such as voice mail, paging, or club membership, it’s called “cramming.” You may be asked to return a missed call because it’s ‘Your lucky day’ and you’ve won a trip to Las Vegas. When the call is made, an automated system is activated and you are unknowingly enrolled in a club or program, and the charge is placed on your phone bill. The crammer might not even need to do anything except simply pick your phone number out of the blue and place charges on your bill through your local telephone company, claiming that you agreed to purchase some services.

    Look at your bill closely every month. Charges for optional services should be itemized and show the name of the company providing them and its phone number. If you did not authorize the services, call that number and insist that they be canceled and the charges removed from your bill.

    Also, consider putting a third party block on your phone service. It’s often free and it does not let any third party add charges to your phone bill.

12. “Slamming“: Slamming occurs when customers have their telephone service switched to a new carrier without their permission. You may receive a call from a telemarketer asking you to switch your long distance provider. Although you say you are not interested in switching, your long distance provider is changed anyway.
13. Caller ID Spoofing: Generally, the scam works like this - you receive a call where total strangers pretend to be someone else and they back up their claims with spoofed Caller ID. The scam artists might then ask for money, demand a payment, request your personal information, addresses, or banking info. People report getting calls from ‘Secretary of State’, grandchildren, law firms, IRS, and government officials.
    • For example, in one scheme the caller identified himself as a court official and informed the victim that she is being prosecuted for failing to show up for Jury Duty. When the victim replies that this is the first time she hears that she was summoned for jury duty, the caller suggests that this may be a clerical error in the court system, and he asks for her full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number to check the official summons files. The scam artist informs the victim that this data will be kept confidential, but it is required for cancellation of the outstanding arrest warrant.
    • In another variation of this scam ‘government officials’ call to offer a ‘Government Grant‘: ‘Because you pay your income taxes on time, you have been awarded a $12,500 government grant! To get your free grant, simply give us your checking account information, and we will deposit the grant into your bank account!’  You may receive a message like this, where the caller claims to be from a government agency or some other organization with an official sounding name. The caller might claim that you will qualify to receive a “free grant” to pay for education costs, home repairs, home business expenses, or bills. In any case, the claim is the same: your application for a grant is guaranteed to be accepted, and you’ll never have to pay the money back.
    • Scam IRS calls: In this scheme people receive phone calls from a caller who impersonates an IRS employee. The caller asks the taxpayer for their Social Security and bank account numbers, claiming that the IRS needs the information to complete the processing of the taxayer’s payment. In another variation of the scheme, ‘an IRS employee’ states that the check issued by IRS has not been cashed, and the IRS is calling to verify the individual’s bank account number.

    Hang up, find the official number of the organization and call to report the incident. Also, don’t send money - cash, check or money order - by courier, overnight delivery or wire to anyone who insists on immediate payment.

14. Call Forwarding Scam: You may receive a call or message where the caller, requests you to dial a 2-digit code preceded or followed by the * or # key (such as *79 or 72#), and then another phone number to claim some prize. This procedure programs your telephone to forward your calls to another number, possibly a toll or long distance number. Scammers can then call your number, be forwarded to the number you dialed and place calls that are billed to your home telephone number.
15. Telemarketing Travel Fraud: These scams have many variations and often involve travel packages that sound legitimate. You get a phone call and the caller is saying that you have been selected to receive a free trip. Skilled salespeople will tell you, to be eligible for the free trip, you must join their travel club. Later, you may find another fee is required to make your reservation. In the end, you may never get your “free” trip because your reservations are never confirmed or you must pay different fees, or comply with hard-to-meet or expensive conditions.

    Check out the company with your state, provincial and local consumer protection office before you buy any product or service. Also, be wary of “great deals” and free offers. Few legitimate businesses can afford to give away products and services of real value or substantially undercut other companies’ prices.

16. Get Rich Quick Schemes: Scam artists lure both would-be entrepreneurs and people looking for home-based work with false promises of big earnings for little effort. The schemes often require an initial investment and involve selling items on Ebay or making sales calls. However, once the payment is sent the companies often disappear.

The truth is everyone is susceptible to phone scams. Scam artists will devise a highly believable story to solicit information from their victims. That’s why it is important to never give out any personal information over the phone if you are not the one who initiated the call even if that person claims to be a law enforcement official or someone from your financial institution. If you are returning a missed call, research the caller first.

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Motorola Droid - my first few days

February 4, 2010 by admin.

WTF? I really mean that. This really cool phone is baffling me and making me want to dash it against the wall. Here is what is happening:

• The battery lasts about 4 hours
• The phone dial screen disappears between button presses
• the screen shuts off even though it is set to 30-minutes
• the phone charges soooo sloowww
• Using the phone while charging is difficult because of the power plug position
• the audio quality of the speakerphone is terrible
• I can’t get the stupid thing to SEND email (it receives)

So I am NOT happy with the Droid. I am a bit of a techno junkie so I like to learn and use new equipment. But this thing seems to be poorly designed.

 I will do a full report next week, but for now I would NOT recommend the DROID to anyone I like…  maybe to people I want to be miserable.

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Magellan Roadmate 1700 - bigger screen is better

January 4, 2010 by admin.

My Cadillac’s GPS changed my life. My wife is great at lots of stuff, but she is a lousy co-pilot. When we are traveling my wife and I would often fight about the directions she offers as I drive. Sometimes I travel outside of the USA, but in most cases there is so much I have not seen here in the States that we travel America. My wife’s driving directions often include such wise advice as “just circle while I figure out where North is” and “it’s probably back behind us a few miles”. Neither of those statements make me very happy.

When I got my Caddy in 2008 it came with a Nav system. From that minute forward I swore I would NEVER travel without a GPS in my car if I left Lee County. I have become so reliant on the Nav system that I use it everywhere. I find locations, restaurants, public facilities and more.

Naturally when we bought our used recreational vehicle (RV) I had to have a GPS before we took a trip to any unknown parts. I was looking around and comparing features when I discovered the Magellan Roadmate 1700.  I  immediately stopped looking when I saw the 1700. Features like Bluetooth, multiple accents/dialects of English or MP3 meant nothing when I gazed at the gigantic SEVEN inch screen!

 Smaller is better with some stuff, but bigger is absolutely better when it comes to screen size of a GPS. Especially for 50+ eyeballs that squint at roadsigns at night.

I read all the reviews online about GPS devices. I read all the reviews I could find about the 1700, which were slim since it was new. Most of the nay sayers mentioned the lack of features like Mp3 or Bluetooth. The only features that mattered to me were mapping, text to speech and the big honking seven inch screen! After all, what I was buying was a device to help me find my way, not an entertainment device. Every car already has a radio.

So, on to the thousand mile road-test. I first used the 1700 in my Scion Xb to find an address in Lehigh Acres, FL. It found the location perfectly, in spite of the fact that the address was on a dirt road in an area of new homes. Then I unplugged the unit and re-installed it into my RV for a trip to Charleston, SC.

This would be a real test. The device would have to find rural campgrounds, restaurants, historic sites, shopping, parks, detours and more. The most disconcerting feature was the way the 1700 rotated the screen image to show your destination directly in front of you. This seems to be automatic and not manually controlled. Since I was leaving Florida, I was used to seeing the State in its usual position, aimed downward from Jacksonville to the Southernmost point  Key West. But when I was headed East, the map rotated, placing Key West to my right and Jacksonville to my left. It was a little disorienting. On my Caddys Nav System the rotation can be manually overridden. I did not see where the 1700 could  be set manually. Any manual adjustments would disappear after a few moments. This means if you zoom in or out on your map it will  return to the default position after 30 seconds of not touching the screen. But the map does zoom into any location automatically that would  be requiring a turn or navigation.

 I liked the way the screen showed highway signs and spoke the road names. I also like the way the GPS would remind you to stay in the proper lane when the road split. My Caddys Nav System just assumes you will stay on track until the next turn. Sometimes the road signs are very confusing and I found these little reminders very helpful. The only strange thing about the “voice” is the way “she” describes the type of turn. “She” will call turns either “soft”, “slight” or “hard”. The difference between the two is random as far as I can see. I have heard 90-degree turns called “slight right turn” and I have heard a curve in the road called a “hard right turn”. But, I can ignore those little foibles.

So, out of 100 different turns and direction changes the system was 95% accurate. This is roughly the same as my Cadillac Nav System. The biggest problems were always in areas with locations on the opposite side of divided parkways. Those areas would often cause both units to suggest U-turn after U-turn, circling the boulevards near destinations.

Now the other stuff. The Magellan 1700 has two types of directories, the AAA and its own Magellan directory. I liked the triple A ratings on restaurants. The Magellan Directory sometimes provided more returns on searches. But neither was flawless, they missed some very good places. But, overall, they were a BIG help on my trip finding campgrounds, restaurants, drug stores, tires and just about anything I sought.

So, overall, I would take the larger screen on the Magellan over all the little bells and whistles any day. After all, it’s a navigation system, NOT an entertainment system. Buy one, you’l like it and use it.

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Keychain Remote Car Alarm & Door Open Gizmo is actually VIDEO CAM!

November 11, 2009 by admin.

I LOVE gadgets! This new one is so cool I can’t get over it! I bought it on eBay for $.01 plus $13.99 shipping from Hong Kong.  Total = $14.  This is even cooler than my watch video camera. It looks just like a regular car key-fob but shoots 720X480 30 frames per second video with audio. The gadget shoots up to 2 hours of video per charge. It uses a micro SD card for memory. I bought an 8 gig card for $20 at BJs Wholesale Club store. The 8 gig card will hold 16 hours of video. Nice thing is you can swap out the cards fast if you suspect someone will be checking you out. Pull the micro card and hide it just about anywhere, it’s the size of a quarter of a postage stamp. Even if they find the recorder they will never find the recording.

 The video is really clear. Low light performance suffers a bit. If you wave it around, the video gets a bit skewed while it records. The sound is automatic and will clip a little if very loud sounds are suddenly recorded. White balance is based on the first frame of video, so if you move into different lighting you may see strange orange or blue tinting. The unit also takes 2 Mega-pixel still pics as well.

Imagine always having a video camera and still camera with you… that is actually clearer than  your cell phone. Awesome! I highly advise getting this gadget.

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Softbox Light Kit by PBL useless for most video production

August 18, 2009 by admin.

I was looking for a portable softbox light kit for the field. The latest trend seems to be using the new compact fluorescent bulbs to draw low voltage and emit less light.  I bought a set of those (I will review them later) CFL softbox lights and they did not meet my needs. So I scoured many sources and found a set of 1000W tungsten lights that had built-in dimmers.

The seller had  a rating over 20,000 on ebay and the price was $349 shipped to my door. It seemed there was little to lose with a kit at such a low price. I already owned stands, so if the stands were junk I could use my own. I already owned many carrying bags and cases, so if the case was junk I would use one I already have. If the dimmers worked poorly I could always use my own light controller… well, you get the picture. Here’s the description from the seller on ebay:

“This is a  new professional (SIC)  PBL VL-1000 halogen quartz continuous  2000 watt 2 light kit with variable output. This lighting kit is designed to give professional results.  Each PBL VL-1000 light has variable output from 50 watts to a full 1000 watts of power, just turn the knob. Now you can have just the right amount of light when you need it. This kit will add new dimension to your photography. Perfect for independent video productions, digital and chromakey studios. These lights can do it all.  Leave them on all day, since they are cooled by a whisper soft fan. The fan increases the life of the bulb. You will be amazed at the difference this light will make in your images. When used with the included 32″x 32″ softboxes you will get shadowless light that will wrap around your subject. No more hot spots. You will be amazed at the difference these lights will make in your images.  They will add magic to every shot. Also included are  reflectors and barndoors so that you can get variation in your lighting set-up. Use the barndoor for direct, hard lighting effects, and the softbox for soft lighting. The possibilities are only up to you. Compatible with all video and digital cameras. Nikon, Canon, Hitachi, Panasonic and JVC.”  

That last part about compatibility was just too cool! To think that there would be some light that would not work with a specific camera was just crazy. I should have told the seller I was using a Sony camera and the listing did not include Sony as being compatible.  But, dispite the temptation, I did not ask. The pictures from the seller showed a lot of promise. There were three bulbs included, which was really nice. The set even had barn doors just in case you wanted to use them as open face lights. I hardly ever use open face lights, but in a pinch they are better than nothing. The dimmer was a clincher. Built-in dimming? That was way cool.

 So I looked through the sellers feedback for hints that the light kit was acceptable to buyers. A few buyers wrote that the kit was very good and well made. Now that sold me. Somebody bought them, used the lights and said they were good. I was happy. I paid the $349 and eagerly awaited the delivery. About a week later the kit arrived. I like getting stuff in the mail or by UPS. It’s like a surprise gift. The UPS guy walks in and for just a minute or so, I forget what I ordered. I sign the UPS-O-Meter and look at the label. Cool! It’s my light kit! I rip off the tape and peer into the large box. There are several boxes and bags wrapped in  plastic and everything looks nice and new. I hate it when people send me items that  were returned by a previous purchaser. It’s always obvious and casts aspersions on the item since it was unwanted by the last buyer. These boxes and bags were sealed and new. 

At first glance it struck me that there were way too many carrying bags. Each stand had a bag, each softbox had a bag and they all fit into yet another bag. But what the heck, no harm. The stands were a bit cheap (as expected) and the lights were plastic, but I had another set of soft lights from JTL that were similarly constructed and lasted for years. It took a few minutes to set up one light. Soft boxes all have their own way of assembling and these were slightly different than Chimera and the JTL lights.  

Once I got a light set up I hit the power button. The light was very even and soft. The dimmer was smooth from about 100 watts up to 1000W. but wait. What was that sound? The lights were equipped with “whisper quiet” fans. Well, if someone was whispering in your ear maybe…  or if they whispered real real loud. So I set up the second light. Together the two lights sounded like a small microwave oven whirring in an adjoining room.

There is no way that you could record audio on camera in an enclosed room with these lights. They are not “whisper quiet” or even close. You should not use the word “quiet” in any description of these lights. So, if you need soft lights (softboxes) for a video shoot where you will not record audio, these are perfect. But if you demand more than one type of use from your lights like I do, then avoid the PBL VL-1000 soft light kit. 

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How to Select a Commercial Painting Contractor

August 11, 2009 by admin.

As the owner or owner’s representative, you should evaluate the experience level of any painting contractor that you are considering. Painting a large commercial building or complex is much different than painting smaller structures. This type of painting requires experience in various application techniques, addressing safety issues, knowledge of materials, paints, required licensing, permits and proper insurance.

There are numerous application techniques for painting commercial buildings. New technology and extensive research have created superior hi-tech coatings for commercial structures.  In example: many owners of commercial buildings are using knock-down on interior walls. knock-down is joint compound which has been specially formulated to be sprayed directly on walls to give the surface a “stipple” effect. This technique has a very nice look and has become very popular. Exteriors of commercial buildings are often painted with an elastromeric coating. This is a very durable coating that expands and contracts as the temperature changes and lasts longer than ordinary paint. Using this technique on split faced block helps to seal the block from water damage. Knock-down interiors and elastomeric coated exteriors are best done by painting contractors who have past experience in using those methods.When interviewing, be sure to check for proper insurance. All commercial  contractors should carry a minimum of two million dollars liability insurance and workers compensation insurance on all of their employees. This is a minimum and more may be required by the size of the project. A certificate of insurance from the painting contractors insurance agent should be provided with his estimate. Another common way to verify insurance is to have the agent fax you a copy prior to hiring the contractor.

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Review of the new MVIX Ultio Device Coming Up Next.

August 6, 2009 by admin.

About a month ago I received notification from MVIX USA that their new Ultio device was available. I was extremely disappointed to learn that the units were sold out within hours. About a week later I was allowed to place a pre-order for units that will be shipped out in August. Naturally I was dismayed at their requirement for pre-paying any orders, but I really liked the first “media tank” I bought from them. It’s now August 6th and there is no word from MVIX, but I’ll post my review as soon as I get the unit.

The only fault in the original unit is the need to re-boot occasionally. It’s a small problem, but persistent. The unit will refuse to turn “off” by the remote or operate and must be disconnected from the power source. This happens once a week. I have yet to figure out how to use the features allowing access to internet based files and videos. All attempts I have made simply allow me to view a few promotional videos from MVIX. But the small inconveniences are well worth the benefits of the player. It plays .ISO files flawlessly, just like a DVD was just inserted. The menus, special features and options work just fine. For me it is great, and allows me to archive my extensive 500 DVD collection safely in boxes and still watch the movies.

Stay tuned for an update on the MVIX Ultio!

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