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  • Episode 43: Technology Bytes. . .Favorite

    My favorite tech of 2023.

    Transcript

    → 6:28 AM, Dec 31
  • Episode 42: Technology Bytes. . .Siri

    Siri, ugh! Need I say more?

    Transcript

    → 7:06 AM, Dec 24
  • Episode 41: Technology Bytes. . .Updates

    Important and useful increasing the life of devices.

    Transcript

    → 7:03 AM, Dec 17
  • Episode 40: Technology Bytes. . .Paper Pictures

    Not a technology I thought I would be discussing.

    Transcript

    → 8:15 AM, Dec 10
  • Episode 39: Technology Bytes. . .Christmas Lights

    Yay!!

    Transcript

    → 7:17 AM, Dec 3
  • Episode 38: Technology Bytes. . .HomeKit Struggles

    Sometimes it doesn’t work.

    → 6:49 AM, Nov 26
  • Episode 37: Technology Bytes. . .Apple Pencil

    Great tool for iPad users even if you don’t draw.

    Transcript

    → 6:39 AM, Nov 19
  • Episode 36: Technology Bytes. . .Journal App

    This week I discuss Apple’s new Journal App.

    Transcript

    → 6:46 AM, Nov 12
  • Episode 35: Technology Bytes. . .Scary Fast Post View

    After the thoughts on Apple’s Scary Fast video drop.

    Transcript

    → 6:51 AM, Nov 5
  • Episode 34: Technology Bytes. . .Scary Fast Preview

    Initial thoughts on the Scary Fast Apple Event.

    Transcript

    → 7:02 AM, Oct 29
  • Episode 33: Technology Bytes. . .New To Me

    First time, for me, smart home additions.

    Transcript

    → 6:42 AM, Oct 22
  • Episode 32: Technology Bytes. . .When It Doesn’t Work

    When technology doesn’t work it can be very frustrating. Maybe we should be amazed that it ever works.

    Transcript

    → 6:09 AM, Oct 15
  • Episode 31: Technology Bytes. . .Refoss

    The Refoss garage door add on turns any garage door opener into a smart appliance. Works great.

    Transcript

    → 6:56 AM, Oct 8
  • Episode 30: Technology Bytes. . .Level Lock

    So far so good.

    Transcript

    → 6:33 AM, Oct 1
  • Episode 29: Technology Bytes. . .Purchased

    The saga of purchasing products on release day at an Apple Store.

    Transcript

    → 4:51 AM, Sep 24
  • Episode 28: Technology Bytes. . .Wonderlust

    My thoughts on Apple’s latest hardware announcement.

    Transcript

    → 5:57 AM, Sep 17
  • Episode 27: Technology Bytes. . .Apple Event Preview

    Only tech news I’m talking about.

    Transcript

    → 4:08 AM, Sep 10
  • Episode 26: Technology Bytes. . .Electronic Document Signing

    Ramblings on electronic document signing.

    Transcript

    → 6:36 AM, Sep 3
  • Episode 25: Technology Bytes. . .Health

    Apple Watch and health.

    Transcript

    → 6:03 AM, Aug 27
  • Episode 24: Technology Bytes. . .Continuity

    Apple makes great products on their own. But the system continuity makes them all work together. Hard to beat.

    Transcript

    → 4:10 AM, Aug 20
  • Episode 23: Technology Bytes. . .iOS Keyboard Tricks

    A couple handful of iOS keyboard tricks.

    Transcript

    → 5:58 AM, Aug 13
  • Episode 22: Technology Bytes. . .Passwords

    The ugly necessity.

    Transcript

    → 6:11 AM, Aug 6
  • Episode 21: Technology Bytes. . .Tech Support

    Ask your techie friends for help. They will.

    Transcript

    → 6:51 AM, Jul 30
  • Episode 20: Technology Bytes. . .Technology

    What do I mean by technology?

    Transcript

    → 6:04 AM, Jul 23
  • Episode 19: Technology Bytes. . .macOS Sonoma

    WWDC 2023: macOS Sonoma Preview

    Transcript

    → 6:35 AM, Jul 16
  • Episode 18: Technology Bytes. . .iPadOS 17 Preview

    My thoughts on iPadOS 17.

    Transcript

    → 6:24 AM, Jul 9
  • Episode 17: Technology Bytes. . .iOS 17 Preview

    WWDC 2023 iOS 17 Preview

    Transcript

    → 5:46 AM, Jul 2
  • Episode 16: Technology Bytes. . .WatchOS 10

    WWDC 2023: My impressions of watchOS 10.

    Transcript

    → 5:47 AM, Jun 25
  • Episode 15: Technology Bytes. . .Commonality

    WWDC 2023 common OS updates across all.

    Transcript

    → 6:07 AM, Jun 18
  • Episode 14: Technology Bytes. . .WWDC 2023

    WWDC 2023 Overview

    Transcript

    → 6:08 AM, Jun 11
  • Episode 13: Technology Bytes. . .Apple Pay

    Use it!!

    Transcript

    → 6:50 AM, Jun 4
  • Episode 12: Technology Bytes. . .Car Seats

    Car seats have technology?

    Transcript

    → 6:18 AM, May 28
  • Episode 11: Technology Bytes. . .Pool Pump System

    The system for keeping a pool clean and inviting is neat technology.

    Transcript

    → 5:33 AM, May 21
  • Episode 10: Technology Bytes. . .HomeKit Locks And Sensors

    Third HomeKit installment covers door lock and sensors. Information on installation, use, and automation possibilities.

    Transcript

    → 6:46 AM, May 14
  • Episode 9: Technology Bytes. . .HomeKit Lights

    Easiest place to start smart home setup is lights.

    Transcript

    → 6:07 AM, May 7
  • Episode 8: Technology Bytes. . .HomeKit Introduction

    How to start a new home.

    Transcript

    → 6:01 AM, Apr 30
  • Episode 7: Technology Bytes. . .Apple Watch And Health

    Using the health functions of the Apple Watch.

    Transcript

    → 6:07 AM, Apr 23
  • Episode 6: Technology Bytes. . .Stage Manager

    Try it and you might like it.

    Transcript

    → 6:04 AM, Apr 16
  • Episode 5: Technology Bytes. . .Safari Tab Groups

    Safari Tab Groups - A great way to tame your Safari tabs.

    Transcript

    → 6:26 AM, Apr 9
  • Episode 4: Technology Bytes. . .Focus Mode

    Stay focused to accomplish.

    Transcript

    → 6:18 AM, Apr 2
  • Adaptive Cruise Control

    Today on my microcast, Technology Bytes, I discuss Adaptive Cruise Control.

    I drive a Honda Civic so I will be discussing Adaptive Cruise Control as implemented by Honda. Honda also includes what they call Low Speed Follow in their adaptation.

    Adaptive Cruise Control is a technology that allows a vehicle to set a cruise control speed that is met when no cars are in close proximity going slower than the set speed. If a vehicle is going slower in front of the one using Adaptive Cruise Control that car also slows. In other words, it adapts to the speed of traffic at the moment. It is very nice to have and make driving in traffic a much better experience.

    In the Honda world you can set the sensitivity (distance) you want to keep from the vehicle in front of you and it also will adjust speed all the way to stop if that is what happens. If the traffic starts moving within a couple of seconds of the stop Adaptive Cruise Control with Slow Speed Follow will start to move as well. It is almost magical. If the traffic stops for too long the driver must press the accelerator to get the vehicle moving but soon after Adaptive Cruise Control will re-activate.

    I believe this to be a great safety feature as the camera looking at traffic is never distracted. If the drive is distracted the vehicle will not collide with stopped traffic. The Adaptive Cruise Control also fights driver fatigue. Stop and go traffic is the worst driving condition and wears on the nerves of every driver. Adaptive Cruise Control minimizes this effort and fatigue.

    I believe that Adaptive Cruise Control should be a requirement for all vehicles driven on roads in the United States. I also believe that the government should require all drivers to activate Adaptive Cruise Control during any freeway driving (or distance driving on two lane roads). I have know idea how that could or would be inforced but if possible it would do much to eliminate accidents from distracted and fatigued drivers. Also the flow of traffic would not be reliant on a driver reacting in a timely manner to the traffic in front of them. All cars would react almost simultaneously and traffic jams would become a problem of the past.

    This may be wishful thinking on my part but I will always and continuously use Adaptive Cruise Control during all of my freeway or distance excursions.

    → 7:45 PM, Mar 26
  • Episode 3: Technology Bytes. . .Adaptive Cruise Control

    If you have it use it.

    Transcript

    → 6:27 AM, Mar 26
  • Apple’s Universal Control Technology

    Today on my microcast, Technology Bytes, I discuss Apple’s Universal Control.

    What is Universal Control? Universal Control is a combination software and hardware technology that Apple developed to make interoperability between their devices easier. Basically, Universal Control allows one mouse and keyboard to control multiple hardware devices simultaineously. In my situation Universal Control allows me to use my iMac’s mouse and keyboard to control my MacBook Air, my iMac and my iPad.

    How does it work? If I knew the answer to that question I would probably be working for Apple. I am sure software developers could explain the function but from my point of view it is pure magic. I just know that it works and makes me a more productive user. More on this later.

    What are the requirements? In order for one to use Universal Control their devices must be “fairly” modern and running one of Apple’s more modern operating systems. This link will take you to Apple’s definition of the requirements. In general you need a Mac running, at a minimum, macOS Monterey 12.4 and if you are using an iPad it must be running at least iPadOS 15.4. Hardware requirements are Macs from 2016 and on, all iPad Pros or an iPad from that same era. See the link above for more details.

    My setup is a 2023(purchased in) iMac 24” middle of the road model. A 2021 MacBook Air one step up from the base model and a 2022 iPad Pro. All of my devices have the same M1 chip with 8GB of RAM and 256GB harddrives. I am running the latest Beta version of the operating systems on all of my devices and I run stage manager on all my systems as well.

    Recently I decided to upgrade my monitor realestate at work. Work is all PC environment so I purchase my own hardware since I live in the Apple ecosystem. I went to the Apple Store and was looking at the Studio Display as an option. I hooked one to my iPad and was very excited to see it work. Stage manager allowed me to run 5 apps on my iPad and an additional 5 separate apps on the Studio Display. I also knew it would work with my MacBook Air. The one limitation was that I could only hook up one device at a time to the Studio Display.

    Then I saw the 24” iMac on the adjacent table and wondered if I could use that and Universal Control as an option. I couldn’t try to system in-store as they would not allow me to login on the iMac with my Apple ID, a requirement for Universal Control. The only option was to purchase and return if it didn’t work to my satisfaction. Although the screen is smaller, 24” versus 27”, the cost was about $400 less so I decided to give it a try.

    I have not returned the iMac. Universal Control works so well. I have significantly increased my screen realestate while adding another CPU to power my work operations. Controlling all three devices with one mouse and keyboard makes it work much like a second screen with universal copy and paste and the ability to drag and drop between devices. I also can use the iMac by itself when I don’t need a second screen. I am totally enjoying the experience.

    I have had a few connection issues but I am thinking that might be tied to the use of Beta operating systems. One drawback is the lack of troubleshooting that can be done to make Universal Control operation return. If always requires a reboot of one system or the other. The iPad always works and is a good test to help me determine which system needs a reboot, iMac or MacBook Air.

    Some might think that keeping multiple computers “synced” would be an issue. However, with iCloud and the requirement of the same Apple ID it works great. My systems are always synced. I also use Safari Tab Groups extensively and it is nice to have all three systems Safari synced in real time.

    I am a very happy customer. Try and you may be the same. Sold.

    → 1:23 PM, Mar 19
  • Episode 2: Technology Bytes. . .Universal Control

    Apple’s Universal Control is very slick and useful.

    → 7:08 AM, Mar 19
  • MVNOs and the Wearable

    Today on my microcast, Technology Bytes, I discuss the MVNO service as it relates to wearables.

    MVNOs stands for Mobile Virtual Network Operators. For the content of this post I am only discussing the MVNOs who offer cellular service in the United States as a business. These companies are able to use the backbone of the three main service providers to offer cellular service at a, most often, discount rate.

    The three main providers in the US are AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile. There are many MVNOs that offer service on top of these providers. I was surprised to learn that there are at least 139 companies offering this service. Some are well known (Mint, Cricket, Consumer Cellular) but I was unaware of the majority by name.

    Why do MVNOs exist? I am not sure. I didn’t go that deep in my research and was only interested in the fact that they exist. The reason they continue to exist is because the offer a cellular service that is unavailable through the main providers in terms of cost mostly. These providers don’t have the massive infrastructure cost or service cost of the main providers and most often do not have physical stores to maintain either. The reduced cost model is then passed on to the consumer in reasonably priced and quite good (speed and coverage) cellular service. Mint mobile is probably the most well known and the pricing on their service is quite good.

    I have often though of moving my family to this service to save money on my cellular bill. Here in lies the rub, wearables. I don’t understand the reason but MVNOs are unable to offer cellular service to wearable devices. If you want or need that type of service you must stay with the main providers.

    Many, including technology podcasts, that I hear advertise for these services do not mention this issue. I count on my Apple Watch to have cellular service everyday. I wear my watch in situations where it doesn’t make sense to carry a phone. The cost of the phone compared to the cost of the watch is the basis for the previous statement. It is not that I can’t carry the phone but why take the risk.

    Therefore, because I need to be able to stay in-touch with family and emergency services during these physical activities I like to have cellular service available on my wearable which precludes me from switching my service to an MVNO provider. I don’t hear this mentioned often, if ever, and wanted to take a minute to paint a more complete picture.

    → 8:05 AM, Mar 12
  • Episode 1: Technology Bytes. . .MVNOs

    Wearables and the Mobile Virtual Network Operator.

    → 6:22 AM, Mar 12
  • Episode 0: Technology Bytes Introduction

    A brief introduction to the Technology Bytes microcast.

    → 3:04 PM, Mar 5
  • Still waiting for Apple to approve my new podcast. I’m very impatient.

    → 8:25 PM, Feb 27
  • If I do this right this blog will be technology focused. The technology is all based on something I am using or have experienced. Much of the information will be focused on Apple Products but others will join as well.

    → 3:27 PM, Feb 20
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