Android 4.2 is not Key Lime Pie, sticks with the Jellybean name

I'm sorry to say that the latest version of Android is not Key Lime Pie. Version 4.2 is staying with the Jellybean name, most likely because it is a smaller update that adds only a few new features. Speaking of features. Let's take a look at the upcoming features that you can expect in the new version.

Multiple user accounts
In this new version, users can make multiple log in accounts for children, a spouse, or anyone else they would like. Each user can customize their home screens, apps, and email addresses. Changing accounts is easy, it is done from the lock screen very similar to a Windows log in screen. This will allow parents to control what apps the child has access to and keeps contacts, emails and other important information away from them. As a parent this is a huge feature. My son has bought apps on more than one occasion, but those issues are a thing of the past.

Google Now updated
Google Now is a virtual assistant that can give you reminders of appointments, weather conditions, traffic, and many other things. It is by far a much better solution than Apple's Siri virtual assistant. However, it isn't perfect. It's getting closer with the new updates in the form of more cards. Now you will receive flight reminders, dinner reservations, local events, movie times and locations, and you can track your shipments all in one place. I personally loved Google Now before the update (it is my favorite thing about Android by far) and now it's just gotten even sweeter.

New camera app
The camera app has been stripped of all the confusing menus opting for another confusing, ring style menu. Just hold the viewfinder to bring up a circle of options and drag your finger over an option to select it. That's not the only thing that has changed, though. A new feature called PhotoSphere has been added. It's like a panoramic photo on steroids. It allows you to take a full 360 degree photo of your surroundings as well as taking vertical panoramic shots. It's a pretty cool feature, but I personally have had access to panoramic photos and I almost never use them.

New keyboard with gesture typing
It seems like Google is never happy with the stock keyboard because every minor update seems to modify it in some way. This is a major update to the keyboard as it adds gesture typing natively. My favorite alternative keyboard is Swype. I use it all the time and I find it much faster and more accurate than the stock keyboard. However, Swype seems to crash...A LOT. It's nice to have the same style of typing integrated into the stock keyboard experience. One improvement over Swype and other gesture based keyboards is that a word bubble pops up showing you what word the keyboard is predicting that you want to type. Neat, but you'll be too busy typing quickly to really make good use of it.

New screen saver
This feature is called Daydream and is totally pointless on a phone, almost pointless on a tablet. Daydream is an old school style, desktop screen saver for your device. It will cycle through random pictures in your camera roll. I have an iPad which has a similar feature but I barely ever use it. Now imagine putting that on a small 4.5" display that is meant to be in your pocket when you aren't using it. Sound very useful? I don't think so.

Miracast, aka Airplay for Android
I don't care what people say, copying Apple is almost always a good thing. Google's latest Xerox is called Miracast. It operates almost the exact same way as Airplay for iOS. It will mirror what is on your display wirelessly to your HDTV, assuming your HDTV is compatible. This makes gaming and sharing photos and videos much more enjoyable on your phone or tablet.

So those are most of the features you can expect in the next release of Android. No news on when it will be released for specific devices but you can expect to wait about a year or so. It is heading to the Nexus 10 and 7 tablets, as well as the Nexus 4 on November 13, 2012. Current Nexus 7 owners should expect the update around the same time. No news yet on Galaxy Nexus or any other Nexus phones receiving the update just yet. As soon as I hear about specific device updates I will let you know.

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new group* - Windows Phone 7 app

Windows Phone is a great operating system, I don't care what other people say. Everyone I know who has used it is a big fan of it. One thing that needs improvement is the start screen. Windows Phone 7.8 and Windows Phone 8 will add a new start screen. But until the upgrade to 7.8 is available or you buy a new Windows Phone 8 device, I have a great app that will help you organize your apps a little better. The app is called new group* and essentially creates headers to organize your apps into groups. Check out the video to see how to set it up.

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Pictures from the Halo 4 midnight launch!

It's been a couple of days, but I finally got pictures from a local Halo 4 midnight launch. It was crazy to see all the people in line. My friend Sam was there and took some great photos. Here are some photos from the festivities.

Not the best spot in line...

Perfect companion

Awesome box art

Fun times, but it's time to go home and play!

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My favorite Android launchers

When I used to work in retail selling phones about half of my customers had no idea what Android was and the other half thought they knew what Android was. I would ask them basic questions like, "Why do you like Android?" and they would say something like, "Because it's customizable." Then I would take a look at their old Android phone and it would be completely stock with widgets thrown all over the place with a terrible background of their dog or significant other. That is what customizing meant to them. But the true test to see if anyone knows anything about Android is to ask them what their favorite launcher is. I would bet that if anyone here asked a friend or family member who owns and Android phone what a launcher is for Android that they would have no idea what you are talking about.

So what is a launcher and why is it important?

Let's answer the first question. What is an Android launcher? A launcher is simply the main home screen and app drawer for your phone. It will display all of your apps, widgets, wallpapers, etc. so you can interact with it. Android is set up in a way that if you don't like how the stock launcher looks, is organized, whatever, you can download an alternative launcher to the native one. For example, the Galaxy S3 uses Samsung's Touchwiz launcher. If you were to look in the manage apps list you would find TWLauncher, that's the stock launcher. This is what it looks like:

homescreens

app drawer

All of the icons and widgets are completely stock and haven't been changed. However, you can really customize the way your phone looks and operates by changing your launcher. Here are some examples:

You can change quite a bit with new launchers. This is what customizing Android is and it can be very beneficial. So why would you want to change your launcher?

One of my favorite reasons is performance. Using a different launcher generally increases the speed of your device. The reason is that most stock launchers use much more memory than ones you can download from the Play Store. By decreasing the amount of memory needed to run the launcher, your other apps and games can use the extra memory. Another reason why you would want to do this is to adjust the way your phone behaves. Additional gestures and customized docks and notification bars can really help you do more things faster than with a stock launcher.

There are some things you need to watch out for when downloading a new launcher. Make sure the launcher is compatible with your version of Android. Some launchers require that your phone be rooted for features to work. Make sure you read the description of each launcher to find out if it requires root access. Also, you will want to download icon packs for certain launchers to customize the look even further. Don't be afraid of messing up your phone. You can always restore your original, stock launcher through the "Manage Apps" settings panel.

Experiment with a new launcher and see what works for you. My personal favorites are Nova Launcher, Go Launcher EX, Launcher 7, and Apex Launcher. Just know that any stock widgets will most likely be disabled in the new launcher so you might have to find replacements in the Play Store. Check out all these great launchers in the Play Store and don't forget to check out my How To videos for more tips and tricks.

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Best Halo ever? - Halo 4 midnight launch

I remember back in 2004 I was working at Gamestop for the Halo 2 launch. It was my first retail job and I was excited and nervous at the same time. I hadn't worked there long and this was my first ever midnight launch. It seemed like hundreds of people lined up to get the game, but little did they know that we had been playing it all day and had already had our own personal copies of the game. Ahh, memories...

Well, it's that time again! Halo 4 is set to release tonight at midnight. It is sure to be one of the biggest launch titles for the Xbox 360 this year and people will be lining up for it once again. Since I've been working retail for a while I figured I would share some tips for finding copies of the game if you didn't have a pre-order.

If you weren't smart enough to pre-order the game (don't think you didn't have the money because you could have put only $5 down to reserve a copy) then here's what I suggest. Go to the lesser known stores for video games like Sam's Club or Costco. These stores require a membership but people almost never think to buy games at a wholesale store. Not only that but you'll get the game at a little bit below retail. Use craigslist.org to find one. I'm sure people will beat the game in the wee hours of the morning and will then want to get rid of it. Craig's list is great because it is completely free to post for sale ads. Just be careful to make sure you test the game first to make sure it's a legit copy and not a blank disc with the label printed on it.

Have fun out there guys and make sure to send me your pictures and videos. I'll be posting them tomorrow for you guys to enjoy! Oh, and here's the trailer for the game to get you guys pumped up for it.

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*Update* Evernote - PC/Mac/iOS/Android/WP7

Ok, so I finally finished the video and got it uploaded. This week we are taking a look at Evernote, a note taking app that syncs all of your text, picture, and voice notes across all of you devices. It's a completely free service and can help with remembering basic things, collaborating on projects, or planning events. Check out Evernote's website to sign up for your account to get things started.

I'm working on this week's video tutorial for you guys. It will be up in about an hour or so. Thanks for your patience and check back in bit!

*Update*
I'm using a new video program and it is taking a lot longer than I thought it would. I will have it up as soon as I can.

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Movies on the cheap! - Redbox

Redbox at a local Walmart

Going to the movies is expensive and taking a date just doubles the cost. A new release movie can cost upwards of $20 for a pair of tickets, and then add on the concessions which cost about four times as much at the theater than the grocery store. You can easily spend $40 for a few hours of entertainment! That's ludicrous! For $40 the movie better be good. If you are like me and have very little money to spend on entertainment then I have good news for you.

If you have ever seen the red kiosk pictured above in a store but never bothered to figure out what is was for, you are missing out. That is a Redbox kiosk which allows you to rent DVDs and BluRays for cheap. For as little as $1.20 you can take home a very recent movie for one night and since you are at the store you may as well grab some popcorn and drinks. For the same night of entertainment you can spend less than $5. Sometimes you can save even more with promo codes inside boxes of popcorn for free Redbox rentals.

Christmas is coming up and that usually means spending a lot of money on gifts. By using services like Redbox you can keep yourself entertained and still have plenty of money left for your gifts. Download the Redbox app or head over to Redbox's website to see what's available and have a date night tonight!

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Best games for the new iPad mini

With over 275,000 apps and games specifically designed for the iPad finding the right one can be daunting. Even with Apple's design, it can be hard to find the best of the best, the cream of the crop, the bees' knees, add your own cliche here. So I've come up with a list of the best games for the upcoming iPad mini, in no particular order, they're just awesome. Let's go!

World of Goo
World of Goo is a puzzle game in which you connect drops of goo to build a bridge reach toward the goal. This physics based game originated on the PC and Wii where they became massive hits. It is no less of a hit on the iPad as it make the list for the best games.

Bejeweled Blitz

If you've never played Bejeweled on the PC or Facebook before, you're in for a treat. This match 3  game is the most popular of it's kind. Made by casual gaming giant, Popcap games, this free version has one simple goal: make as many matches as you can in one minute. You can use your virtual money to buy power-ups to rack up those points. Share your high score with your friends on Facebook and see if you can get the high score for the week.

N.O.V.A. 3

The best first person shooter on the iPad mini has to be N.O.V.A. 3. With intense acions, beautiful graphics, tight controls, and great multiplayer with voice chat you can't go wrong if you like first-person shooters. These types of game are difficult to play on larger tablet because your fingers can't reach all the controls, but the iPad mini is the perfect size for this type of game.

Let's Golf 3
Who doesn't like a classic arcade-style golf game? This game has tons of courses to play, quirky characters, and lot's of upgrades and gear. You can unlock four different game modes. Play against up to 3 of your friends online with online multiplayer. If you don't feel like shooting a full round, then you can also play some mini games. The graphics are gorgeous and the controls are simple. This is definitely worth a spot in this list.

SketchParty TV
This game is designed to be a social game bringing you together with friends and family, hence "Party" in the title. The game goes like this: draw a picture of the word on the iPad mini and it displays on your TV, your team tries to guess the word, once the word is guessed the iPad mini is passed to the next team member, 2 teams of up to 8 people compete to be the first to score 8 points. You will need an Apple TV to connect it to your television. Passing the iPad mini will be a breeze thanks to its smaller size. If you like Draw Something, you will love this game. Disclaimer: REQUIRES APPLE TV

Infinity Blade 2

The original Infinity Blade was a groundbreaking game in the graphics department. It was rather short and very repetitive. Infinity Blade 2 is just a better version with a more in-depth story. Gameplay is virtually the same. It's definitely worth a look.

Angry Birds HD

This list wouldn't be complete without the most popular and possibly the most addicting game on iOS, Angry Birds. When I sold cell phones, I would just have to say, "You can play angry birds" and I would close the sale. This game has hundreds of levels to complete and more are added every year.

Cut The Rope HD
This is one of the more popular games recently. It has great physics puzzles and a cute little reptile. The premise is simple, the puzzles are not: just cut the ropes in a specific order with the correct timing and feed your pet the candy. Tons of fun to be had with this title and they keep adding more.

Where's My Water
Another puzzle game that will have you playing for hours. This is probably my favorite puzzle game on a mobile device. Dig tunnels in the dirt to funnel the water to the drain so the gator can have a nice shower. Collect the ducks and treasures along the way to rack up the points and beat your friends.

And that's my list for the must have games on the new iPad mini. I hope you enjoy my recommendations and feel free to let me know what your favorite games are! Send me your comments or post on my wall on Facebook.

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iPad mini released tomorrow!

Tomorrow is the big day for Apple's small tablet, the iPad mini. Hopefully you put in your pre-order so you won't have to wait in line. If you didn't pre-order the iPad mini, then shame on you and you deserve to wait in line. However, I'm going to give you a list of some things to help you pass the time more comfortably. Let's go!

Warm coat
You will more than likely be waiting outside in the cold. Bring a warm coat so you don't catch a cold. In fact, you might want a nice pair of gloves so you can feel your hands when you try to use your new iPad mini.

Energy drink/shot
Grab a favorite energy drink or energy shot to help you stay awake, since you will probably be in line all night or getting up early in the morning. Check with your doctor first to make sure that an energy drink won't have any negative effects on your health.

A book you will put in iBooks
Take a favorite book to help pass the time. When you get your new iPad mini head over to the iBookstore and get started with your new iBooks library.

Fold up chair
You may make fun of people who sit in chairs when they wait in line for movies or huge product launches like the iPad mini, however, standing for hours in a single spot without being able to move is awful. Having a chair to sit in will save your feet and back from days of soreness.

Credit or debit card
For your safety you should not bring cash to pay for your iPad mini. Having worked for Gamestop and AT&T I have experience with several product launches in which there were lines. Thankfully I haven't experienced anyone getting robbed in line, but I have heard of them from other stores. Bring a credit or debit card to pay for your purchase and leave your cash at home.

Expect a great time
Waiting for something you want right now can be annoying. When I say annoying, I mean for the people around you not for yourself. Just take a look at any 7 year old waiting for Christmas day and you'll understand what I'm talking about. Bring a sense of excitement with you and share that with your comrades waiting in line. Have fun and enjoy the event!

So that's a short list of things I recommend you have with you when you go to this event tonight or tomorrow morning. And yes, it is an event. If you have never been a part of an Apple launch then you will understand what I'm talking about tomorrow. Have fun guys and let me know what you think of the whole experience and definitely let me know how you like your new iPad mini.

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Updated Google Search for iOS brings improved voice search and voice results

I haven't used an iPhone since the iPhone 4. I have an iPad 2 and I love it. Neither of them have Siri available as an option so I've never used Siri in my everyday life. I can't speak personally to how well Siri works but I've heard a lot of people give me their thoughts. From, "It gives you really funny responses" to "It's completely useless" and "I love the hands free text messaging" there are a bunch of differing opinions about the virtual assistant. But, the one thing I have been able to try out fairly extensively is the search function. I found it slow and inaccurate. It wasn't very useful for me.

That's where the Google search app comes in. I never used it much mainly because it is built into my browser.and the voice search was slow and inaccurate just like Siri. However, Google just updated its voice functionality. It is almost instantaneous in the speech recognition and will actually talk back to you with the results. Now, it doesn't always speak back to you, but it did more times than not during my use. I used it on the iPad 2 so I don't know what to expect on the iPhone version. Now, these are just my first impressions so I don't know what you can expect with your experience. For me it was very fluid and super fast. Tell me your experiences with the new update. Will you use the improved voice functionality? Do you already use the voice functionality? Let me know in the comments, post something on my Facebook, tweet me, or send me an email.

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Get Windows 8 For Dummies E-book free from Dell

If you have Windows 8 and were just as confused as I was when I tried Windows 8 yesterday, then I have good news for you. Dell is giving away one free copy of the E-book Windows 8 For Dummies if you fill out a basic form. I've already got my copy saved to my hard drive ready to send to my Kindle app. If you want to get your hands on it too, then head to Dell's website and grab it.

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I tried Windows 8...

I've read a lot about how much people hate Windows 8 but I have never read much about how it actually works. I've seen screen shots and promo videos, but those never tell the true story. I read how Valve hates Windows 8 calling it a "disaster" but I've never seen videos from games played on Windows 8. Honestly I haven't even used Windows 7 that much. I primarily use Macs but I did buy a Windows 7 laptop last year for my wife and I have been using it more and more recently. I am not a fan of Windows...at least on the desktop platform. I love Windows Phone and currently use a Nokia Lumia 900 so I'm not a total hater of Microsoft nor am I a fanboy of Apple and Macs. So I decided to try out Windows again because the newest OS is so radically different.

So my experience with Windows 8 was disappointing. Not because I didn't like the operating system. In fact, I spent less than a day with it so I can't even say I have much right to judge it. The reason I spent less than a day with it is because I was running it on my MacBook Pro. Windows 8 doesn't currently support my graphics card on my MacBook Pro so everything was laggy and stuttered through all the animations. I'm not saying that the OS was slow, just the graphics and animations. I couldn't even tell you if the OS was fast or slow because the graphics card couldn't keep up. For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, just imagine trying to do an everyday task while opening and closing your eyes every second. It would be incredibly slow to try and type this blog if I did that. That's how my experience was with Windows 8.

For all the things I experienced, I actually really liked it. I loved the new keyboard shortcuts and the hybrid legacy Windows desktop and the new Start screen. The fact that you can run almost any program from previous version of Windows and you get the great atmosphere of tablets and smartphones in the new Windows Store and the apps. Now you can download almost anything you want from the Windows Store. Having a central location for finding the best that Windows 8 has to offer is huge and I believe that will have a huge part of the success of this new operating system. Even if you hate the new look and feel, you can't ignore that.

Now I haven't given up on Windows 8. I will be installing it on the laptop I mentioned earlier, my wife's computer. I will use it almost exclusively for about a week or two and then I will write a proper review (at least my thoughts) on the latest Microsoft has to offer. Until then you can visit my YouTube page at chucklesthetechie.

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Monday is video tutorial day!

This week's video tutorial will show you step by step how to back up your Windows 7 PC using Windows Backup and Restore. Before watching it you will need a few things.

Things you will need:

1. PC running Windows 7
2. External hard drive
3. Approximately 1-2 hours

Once you have everything in the list you can get started. If you are backing up a laptop, make sure you have the power plugged in.

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Pre-orders for black/white iPad mini sold out.

Both the white and black versions of the iPad mini are sold out. Apple has them listed on their site as shipping in two weeks. Hopefully you guys got your pre-orders in!

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White iPad mini first shipment sold out - shipping 1-2 weeks

If you haven't heard yet, Apple is releasing a smaller version of it's massively popular iPad called the iPad mini. You might find that if you want to get one you can head over to The Apple Store and pre-order one. However, you will notice the white one is listed as "Available to ship: 2 weeks" which means the first wave of them is already sold out. The black one is still showing "Delivers 11/2" which means you still have time to get this hot new device. If you have already ordered yours and are anxiously waiting by the door for it to arrive I will be writing about the 15 must have apps and games for the iPad mini. For starters, check out SketchParty TV from Magnate Interactive.

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Windows 8 now available

Microsoft's newest version of their desktop operating system, Windows 8, is available for download or you can have it shipped to your home or office. If you are upgrading and choose to download the OS you will pay only $39.99. If you want a physical copy of the OS then it will cost you $69.99 to have it shipped to you. If you are unfamiliar with what's new in Windows 8 head over to their website.

Tablet running Windows 8

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Hurry up and pre-order the iPad mini!

Pre-orders started today for Apple's newest iPad, the iPad mini. In the past pre-orders for the iPad have been shut down in about 24 hours. So if you want to be in on the first batch of iPad minis then head over the Apple's website and reserve yours! Why are you still reading this?!

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Google Chrome is my browser of choice

Internet Explorer has been a dominant force in web browsers for over a decade. It is the only web browser bundled with the most widely used OS in the world, Windows. The fact that people don't have to download it makes it the obvious choice for most people. Many websites require that you be on a certain version of Internet Explorer in order for them to display properly. Corporations use it almost exclusively because network administrators don't need to download and install it on thousands of computers. It is just convenient! However, convenience doesn't make it the best web browser and since the introduction of HTML 5 the need to have IE for certain sites is almost gone. So I decided to check out the different browsers available, try them out, and see which one I like best.

I have two laptops: a PC and a MacBook Pro. On both of them I have replaced the built in web browser with Chrome. There are three main reasons why I use Chrome: speed, simplicity, and security.

Speed
Chrome is the fastest browser, period. It has hardware acceleration which helps render graphics in webpages much faster than a standard browser. Internet Explorer 9 is a huge improvement over previous versions when it comes to speed. In fact, it beats Chrome in several speed tests. However, Chrome still has the edge, but IE 9 comes close. Chrome will load web pages considerably faster than other browsers regardless of how fast your internet connection is.

Simplicity
The most convenient thing about Chrome is the simple user interface. There is no fluff and the menus are straightforward. If you want to expand the functionality of Chrome, you can download extensions which give you new features. One of my favorites is AdBlock which can remove ads from web pages. The extensions are automatically added to the browser window next to URL bar. Speaking of the URL bar, now it is also the search bar. Google eliminated the search bar and consolidated it into the URL bar. Now you can just start typing and it will automatically search using the Google search engine. You can change your default search engine if you prefer something different.

Security
Until recently, Chrome was the most secure web browser. However, IE 9 does beat Chrome in this category. But, with the advent of extensions you can help your security by downloading web page ratings and more. The security for Chrome is very tight and it serves my purposes just fine. I use online banking and use online shopping sites like Amazon.com and Ebay. You should feel comfortable doing the same with this browser.

So there you have it. My reasons for why I love Google Chrome. IE 9 is a great browser and I will probably switch to using IE 10 when it is released, but until then I will speedily surf the internet from Chrome.

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Post pictures to your blog from you WP7 using updatemyfeed

Remember MySpace? Looks like they redesigned it to resemble Windows 7. I don't know how long ago they did it. I mean, I haven't checked my profile on MySpace for years. Anyhow, it looks like Microsoft doesn't mind, unlike another computer company. I'm looking at you Apple.

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Updatemyfeed is a Blogger client for WP7

I'm posting this from my Nokia Lumia 900 right now from the app. This is my first attempt so we will see how it goes. You are able to post with pictures, but I will test that feature in my next post. Leave comments about this app if you have used it before and tell me what you think.

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Is the new iPad mini worth it?

Just one day after the announcement of Apple's latest gadget, the iPad mini, the dust is beginning to settle but the excitement is still fresh. Is the iPad mini worth the trouble? I'm not sure, but I am sure of one thing and that is no matter if the iPad mini is worth the money, people will buy them...lots of them. Before we start getting into why I think the iPad mini is or is not worth your time and money, let's review a little bit about it.

iPad mini Mail App

The iPad mini is essentially a smaller iPad 2. The screen size measures in at 7.9" compared to the iPad 2's at 9.7". It's lighter and thinner and has a smaller bezel on the long sides of the display. It comes in both black and white variations like the iPad 2 and has the same screen resolution of 1024 x 768. The same resolution allows the apps to run exactly as they would on the larger iPad 2 which is a good thing. Developers (the people who make the apps and games) will not have to do anything to their existing apps which means that all 275,000+ apps will work right out of the box on the iPad mini. You can expect about 10 hours of use before the battery needs to be recharged. One new thing to the iPad family (besides the change in size) is the substitution of the 8 pin Lightning dock connector for the older 30 pin Apple dock connector. Even with the new connector the iPad mini is only capable of USB 2.0 standards instead of the newer USB 3.0. So now that we have an understanding of what the specs are, let's see if we can translate them into practical application for your everyday use.

First I want to start off with the size. The smaller size makes it easier to take with you, but it also makes things harder to read. By keeping the same resolution of the larger iPad 2 this shouldn't be a problem unless you have poor eye sight. It is also going to be more comfortable to hold for extended periods of time because it is considerably lighter. I believe the biggest benefit of the smaller size is with gaming. The larger 9.7" touchscreen is just not ideal. The buttons are hard to reach and you need to remove one of your hands to reach certain areas of the screen. The 7.9" display will almost eliminate this issue. Games will become much more enjoyable on the iPad mini for this reason.

Second, the iPad mini is just as capable as the new iPad for $170 less. The cheaper price is a huge value for Apple customers. Apple will be able to reach a new demographic now with this price point and we will see even more people carrying iPads. One major drawback about this price is that this upcoming Christmas season is going to be a nightmare trying to find one without a pre-order. If you decide that the iPad mini is for you then I highly recommend making a pre-order for the iPad mini. I usually don't suggest pre-ordering anything that doesn't give you some added benefit like free accessories or downloads, but I have experience working for a cellular carrier and I've experienced several Apple releases including all previous versions of the iPad. Let me tell you, it will be absolutely crazy on iPad mini day.

Third, the new connectivity options are a decent improvement over the previous iPads. The new Lightning connector is used for charging and syncing your device to the computer. Although you don't get faster transfer speeds or quicker charging times, the connector is reversible which means you won't need to figure out which way to connect it. Apple also added a new wifi chipset to include a technology called MIMO (Multiple In, Multiple Out). This is basically a faster wifi chipset for quicker transfer speeds wirelessly. These improvements are marginal but welcomed nonetheless.

Finally, the OS is still the same old iOS. Nothing new here which can be a good thing or a bad thing. There is no doubt that the interface is showing it's age. Not to say that it looks bad, in fact it is one of the best looking mobile OSes out there. It just feels kind of stale after 5 years of virtually no changes to how you interact with the device. It is very fast opening apps and switching between them and there are very few bugs. The lack of customization is sometimes frustrating. And I don't mean customization like Android necessarily. I just mean that you can't change your default apps like Safari and that irritates me. I would like to be able to change which app is opened by default when it is associated with a specific type of file or action. That being said I believe that this will be the best 7"-8" tablet on the market. It's not perfect, but how can you screw up the iPad by adding all the benefits of a smaller package? The answer is, you can't, unless you're the Detroit Lions. In that case you can.

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I love YouTube!

My YouTube channel is up and running. Head on over and search for "Chuckles the Techie" and check it out. I will be posting my tutorials here so please subscribe so you can get the latest advice on how to make technology work for you.

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Check Out The New iPad Mini!

Apple just announced the new iPad Mini today. It's basically an iPad 2 but in a smaller package. It starts at $329 and pre-orders start on October 26. Tell me what you think about the new iPad Mini.

Head over to Apple's iPad Mini page to check it out.

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Tips For Creating Better Passwords

More and more websites are requiring more complex passwords to create an account. Your cat's name is no longer a good option (it wasn't a good one in the first place) for a password to create an account. Google requires a password that is at least 8 characters long with at least 1 number and 1 upper case letter. For example "newyorkjets15" is not a good password, but "NewYorkJets15" is a good password.

The reason websites are requesting more complex passwords is that it is much harder to use "brute force" to get into an account. "Brute force" is simply a term of using a program to try every possible password containing a certain amount of characters. The simpler the password, the less time it takes for the program or "bot" to figure it out. If you add a capital letter to an existing password it effectively doubles the difficulty at guessing the password.

So how can you create a more complex password and still remember what it is? Well, one trick I use is to mover the position of one of your hands to the left or right by one letter. So "Pickles123" becomes "Oucjkes123". I moved my right hand over one letter to the left, so P becomes O, I becomes U, K becomes J, and L becomes K. This allows your mind to remember your old password of "Pickles123" but makes it unique and complex. Another trick is to use what is called a passphrase. A passphrase is just what it sounds like, a phrase you will remember like without any spaces. For example, "Ilovemywife09" is a simple to remember password but it is long enough to be complex. The "09" being the year you were married adding a little more complexity to the passphrase. Make the numbers something you can remember but try not to use things that can easily be researched online or in a library, such as a birthdate or part of your SSN.

There is more and more identity theft occurring and you should take your online presence very seriously. My friends just recently had their identities stolen on their tax returns and up until this past week they still hadn't filed their taxes. Protecting yourself can be simple and I hope that this post has helped you realize that creating passwords are easy.

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The Best Games For iPhone and iPad

Bejeweled Blitz (Free)

This game is probably the most popular match three game ever. You are given one minute to create as many matches of at least three like colored gems and get the highest score. Compete against your friends on Facebook to add the fun.












Angry Birds ($.99 iPhone, $2.99 iPad)

If you haven't heard of Angry Birds then you probably just got your new iPhone or iPad recently. Trust me, just download it. There are hundreds of challenges and more are added all the time which makes this one of the best investments you'll make for your iDevice.



Fruit Ninja ($.99 iPhone, $2.99 iPad)

Fruit Ninja is probably the easiest game to learn to play. Just simply "cut" the flying fruit by sliding your finger across them and the appear. Beware of the bombs though! There are plenty of challenges and unlockable content to keep you busy for a while.





Infinity Blade 2 ($6.99)

Infinity Blade 2 has some of the best graphics you'll see on a mobile device. A sequel to the first game, Infinity Blade 2 has similar gameplay with more weapons and armor to collect. This game will appeal to more "hardcore" gamers.




Dead Space ($6.99 iPhone, $9.99 iPad)

Dead Space is a horror game. If you don't like horror games or being scared, don't download this game. However, it is the best horror game in the app store which is why I put it in this list. Great sound and graphics really pull you into the creepy environment.




Temple Run (Free)

This casual game is one of those games that the more you play, the more you are rewarded. You will earn score multipliers for completing challenges. There are plenty of things to unlock as well. How far can you run?









Asphalt 7: Heat ($.99)

This is the best racing game, period. It has the best controls and the best graphics for only $.99! Drive dozens of cars at break-neck speeds. Plus this game works with the Duo Gamer controller for more precision.






Chrono Trigger ($.99)

This is a remake of a classic Super Nintendo game that has been optimized for the iPhone. The original Chrono Trigger was released in 1995 but is so good that it still plays great even to this day. 





There are many more great games, but these seem to stand above the rest in terms of quality and value. Let me know what you think and tell me what your favorite games are for the iPhone and iPad.

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3 Reasons to Sign Up For a Google Account

If you have an Android device you have probably noticed that your phone asks you to sign up for a Google account. If you haven't already I'm going to give you 3 reasons to get one. I'll also tell you how to get the most from your Android device and Google account.

1. Automatic backup of contacts

With your new Google account on your Android device, you can backup your contacts automatically to Google's secure servers. This is especially helpful if you upgrade your device in the future or if you happen to misplace it. It takes just seconds to sync all of your contacts to your new device. Even if you don't get a new Android device and go for say a Windows Phone device, you can still sync all your contacts. You can also sign into your Gmail account from a computer to manage your contacts more easily.

2. Download those apps!

Without a Google account you will not be able to access the Google Play store. Creating an account allows you to download your favorite apps and games like Where's My Water and Pandora Internet Radio. Best of all your Google account will keep track of any apps you purchase so if you move to a new Android device you can re-download any apps you purchased from your old device for free.

3. Google Drive

Google drive is the best way to keep all of your files on all of your device all of the time. With 5GB of free storage you can keep your important files easily accessible from your phone, tablet, and computer. It keeps everything stored on Google's servers so it doesn't take up space on your phone. That means if you want to download the latest game to your device but your are out of room, you can keep your files in your Google Drive to free up space.

To sign up for a Google account is free and there are many more things you can do with it, but these are the best features for Android phones and tablets. So pull up your settings and navigate to the Accounts section and add a Gmail account to get started.

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Jellybean!

When I say jellybean do you think of candy or cell phones? I'm talking about the latest version of the mobile OS Android. The latest version is 4.1 codenamed "Jellybean". My problem with this latest version is that it was released when only about 10% of all Android devices were running the previous version, 4.0. In fact, even now the most common version is two years old, version 2.3 or Gingerbread. This is ridiculous! Apple releases a new version of iOS every year and with the latest version 6.0, more than 50% of all devices have it. Even with Windows Phone the updates are all rolled out within about 60 days. I hate Android because you can buy a brand new phone with a 2 year old OS. Talk about a waste of money. Let me know what you think. Do you like Android? Are you still running version 2.3? Did you even know that 2.3 is over 2 years old?

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5 Reasons to Buy A Smartphone and 5 Reasons to Keep Your Dumbphone

5 Reasons to Buy a Smartphone

1. Save time and money

With the ability to stay connected to the internet wherever you go you have tremendous money and time saving tools in your hand. If you need to get gas, you can use your phone to find the cheapest gas nearest you. Forgot to clip coupons? There are plenty of websites and apps that you can use to digitally clip coupons and add them to your discount card. If you have lost your way to an event that is out of town and you need directions, a smartphone has GPS built right in so you can find your way again. You can even scan barcodes at stores to comparison shop on the fly!

2. Get rid of your devices!

Consolidate your devices into one smartphone and save yourself a lot of headaches keeping track of them all. Let's list all the devices a smartphone can replace: watch, calculator, calendar, organizer, GPS, mp3 player, digital camera, digital camcorder, TV, digital voice recorder, torpedo level, gaming device, compass, flashlight, oh and let's not forget our regular cell phone. I'm sure there is more, but I just listed off 15 devices that do the same thing a smartphone does.

3. The purchase price is about the same as a dumbphone

With many dumbphones running $50-$150, you can get mid-range to high-end smartphone for the same price and sometimes cheaper! Why not get a better phone if you can get it for a better price?

4. Trade up for a better phone

More and more retailers are taking trades for new phones. A smartphone is far more valuable than a dumbphone when trying to trade them in. If you take a dumbphone that cost $50 on contract and a smartphone that cost the same, you can get between $30-$100 more for your trade even though the purchase price was the same. Let your money work for you by trading in your old smartphone.

5. Get with the times!

Everyone has a smartphone! That is if you consider about 46% of cell phone owners everybody. But a smartphone can really increase your status socially and professionally. Carrying the right device can make you appear to have a higher status than you might actually have.

5 Reasons to Keep Your Dumbphone

1. Extra monthly charges

I'm not even going to go into the fact that some companies are eliminating unlimited internet usage because the fact is that most people do not approach their limits. Instead, I'm going to focus on the guaranteed cost added to your bill to own a smartphone. You can add anywhere from $20-$50 per phone or $50-$150 per family plan. That's every month! If you don't utilize the money saving features of a smartphone then it's probably not worth it.

2. More complicated

Smartphones generally have a large learning curve if you have never owned one before. The operation is going to be totally foreign if you haven't had one in the past. Gone are the physical buttons and tiny screens. The new smartphones of today have large, glass displays and hardly any physical buttons. With the displays being so big there is no room for anything else, which means that all those physical buttons are moved to the touch screen. That might be a little hard for you to get used to.

3. More expensive to maintain

In order to insure a smartphone, expect to pay about $2 more per month than your old dumbphone. On top of that, the deductible is more than twice that in some cases reaching up to $150-$200 to fix or replace a lost, stolen, or damaged phone!

4. Longevity

With all the extra functions and features these new smartphones have, the battery life is generally expected to last only a full day with moderate use. If you get better battery life than a full day that is considered exceptional battery life for a smartphone. Most dumbphones can last several days without needing to be charged.

5. Carrying around extra devices isn't a big deal

Maybe you are the type of person that doesn't mind carrying several devices around. I mean, who needs to carry a nice digital camera with them to the grocery store? Or a gps to work? Sometimes a smartphone is just too much even though you have fewer devices with you.

I love my smartphone and I would have a hard time living without it. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it sure would be difficult. I find value in my phone everyday that makes the extra monthly cost worthwhile. If you are contemplating upgrading to a smartphone then I believe that should be your measure for deciding on if you should get one or not. If you just recently upgraded from a dumbphone to a smartphone, let me know what you think of it! Do you find more value in the daily use of your smartphone or is it too expensive for what you use it for?

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5 Must Have Free Windows 7 Programs

If you just bought a computer or you just don't want to spend money on quality programs to get you started then this is the list for you. Let's go!

Open Office (Productivity Suite)

If you don't want to drop $130 for Microsoft Office, Open Office is a great substitute. It comes with its own variations of PowerPoint, Word, Excel, Access and more. It's everything you need for school or work without spending a dime! How is this possible? Well, Open Office is...um...open. It is open source which means anyone can input their ideas into the software to make improvements. It's all managed by Apache Software so it is very professional.

Cost: $0

Gimp (Photos)

Photoshop can cost you hundreds of dollars. If you are just a recreational photographer or a professional, Gimp is the best free image manipulation program out there. It is laid out very similarly to Photoshop but is completely free.

Cost: $0

VideoPad (Video Editor)

I just recently discovered this one and so far it is the best I can find for free. It has many powerful features but my favorite is that you can save your video in a variety of formats without downloading extra stuff. It's relatively slow, but it's free! Look at spending at least $60 for something similar or hundreds of dollars for professional quality video production software. I prefer free.

Cost: $0

Audacity (Audio Editor)

Being a huge sound guy myself, I love using ProTools for recording and editing any type of audio. The problem is that ProTools costs at least $300 to get started. This is where Audacity comes in. Audacity allows you to record and edit multiple audio tracks in many different types of formats. It's easy to use interface and powerful features make this a no brainer for editing the audio from your home movies or recording voice-overs and adding that extra flare to your videos.

Cost: $0

avast! (Anti-Virus)

I didn't forget to capitalize the title of the software, that's just how it's spelled. Anyway, I mentioned in a previous post that I personally use avast! for my anti-virus needs. Why? Because it the best, free anti-virus you can find. 

Cost: $0

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The New iPhone Sucks!

I have a lot of friends in the technology industry. Friends that work for cell phone carriers, friends that build apps for cell phones and tablets, computer science engineers, IT professionals, etc. On the other hand I have just as many if not more friends in other industries that utilize technology for their businesses and professions. I hear opinions from all areas of the spectrum so I would say I have a great idea of what type of people would like and what would work best for them. So let's get to it!

The new iPhone just came out and the experts and bloggers are ranting and raving over it. Many people are criticizing the lack of changes to the form factor. Others are praising it's build quality and engineering genius. But let's be honest, the experts are experts on technology and not on what people want in their devices. So let's take a closer look at what the device actually offers you as a consumer.

Operation

This new phone runs the latest version of iOS, 6.0, which is to say that the main look and feel of the way we interact with phone has been updated. New settings and functionality have been added like Facebook integration and Guided Access. Overall the operation of the device is the same. If you are coming from a previous iPhone then there isn't much new here. Just look for things that have been added or removed. If this is your first iPhone then I'll highlight some great features of iOS 6.

Maps
Google maps is out and Apple maps are in. This is the biggest change in iOS 6 and has drawn the most attention. Whether it's good or bad attention, I'll let you decide. The best added benefit of having Apple maps is the 3D turn by turn navigation free of charge which was not in any of the previous versions of Google maps. I have heard some people say this new addition is great. However, the map data isn't nearly as complete as Google maps and there are some weird graphical bugs with the 3D satellite views. If all you are looking for is a basic navigation app to get you from place to place, this might not be an issue. But, it definitely lacks the polish we have come to love Apple for.

Siri
If you don't know, Siri is Apple's virtual assistant app built into iPhone 5. It is designed to give you greater control over your phone using only your voice. You can send text messages and emails, post to facebook, make calls, search for a good restaurant and much more. With iOS 6 they have added sports scores and statistics to Siri. It's a pretty cool feature, but I don't know of very many iPhone owners that use Siri. If you have Siri and use it, post in the comments below and let us know!

Passbook 
This is an app designed by Apple with one specific purpose, and that is to digitize all of the things you would normally keep in a wallet or purse. There are many things your can keep in your passbook such as travel and event tickets, membership cards, coupons and soon credit cards (maybe). This can be very useful if you have a lot of membership cards or if you clip coupons a lot. It will even notify you of any delays your flight has so you don't have any unexpected surprises.

There are other features that have been added to iOS 6 but if you would like, head over to Apple's Website and check out more features.

Design
The iPhone 5's design hasn't changed much since the last version. However, it is by far the best iPhone design yet. The iPhone has a great design and the best build quality of any phone on the market, period. But some changes that have been made are rather significant over previous models even though the look hasn't changed much.

Screen
Previous models of the iPhone had a 3.5" display with a high pixel density of 326 pixels per inch (referred to as ppi from here on out). That is rather small in size compared to the second most popular phone on the market, the Galaxy S 3 which measures in at 4.8". At 326 ppi the last iPhone's display is incredibly sharp. Unless you are holding the phone only inches from your face you will not be able to see any pixelation.

The iPhone 5 did quite a bit for the display making it a 4" display while keeping the same 326 ppi. What they did was added more screen real estate to the top (or bottom) of the phone. The width stayed the same. That changes the aspect ratio quite a bit. Basically, your videos won't have those annoying black bars on the top and bottom and you can see much more in your favorite apps and web sites. Overall the display is fantastic. Oh, and don't listen to those people who mock the iPhone 5 for being "taller". Who complains about getting a better display? Cynics, that's who.

Body
Obviously with a bigger screen comes a bigger phone, but the phone is also smaller...wait, what? Ok, Apple's new commercial is pretty silly because they play on the fact that the iPhone is a three dimensional object. One of the dimensions is greater than the previous iPhone while one of them is smaller. The phone is taller and thinner than previous versions. There you go, it's bigger and smaller at the same time. But that's not the only thing that has changed in the design of the body. Also, the glass on the back has almost been completely removed. Apple opted to go back to aluminum for the first time since the original iPhone. This makes the device incredibly strong and light, in fact it's the lightest iPhone ever made.

iPhone 4S (left) iPhone 5 (right)

Connectors
They moved the headphone jack from the top of the phone to the bottom. In my opinion this is a HUGE improvement. Personally I place my phone in my pocket top-down which is annoying when you have headphones plugged in. Having the jack on the bottom removes the annoyance of ruining many pairs of headphones. They also did away with the original iPod connector which has been used since the first iPod to connect your device to a computer for syncing and connecting to accessories. They opted for an 8 pin Lightning connection. The only thing that is better about it, in my opinion, is that it doesn't matter which way you plug it in. It is a reversible connector. Otherwise, you'll be shelling out more money for either new accessories or an adapter so you can use your old ones.

iPhone 4S (top) iPhone 5 (bottom)

Conclusion
This iPhone is the best iPhone yet. Without a doubt iPhone users will love this phone. If you have never owned a smartphone, I would highly recommend you get an iPhone for it's ease of use, optional accessories, and huge library of media available on iTunes. If you are coming from another smart phone, then you might want to consider what you like about your phone and see if the iPhone matches up. For me, I would love to have an iPhone, but I'm currently in a love affair with my Lumia 900. Please, leave me your thoughts in the comments section. Do you love the iPhone? Would you not be caught dead with an iPhone? Let me know!

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