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How to Set Up & Sync your iTunes Playlist using iCloud Music Library

In Apple, Fix It, General, How To, HTD Tech Tip, iOS, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Software, Technology by Michael SheehanLeave a Comment

Just the other day, my wife asked me a tech question that I really didn’t know. And I should have. It was: “how can I get my iTunes playlist onto my iPhone?” It seemed relatively straight forward. She had created several iTunes playlists on her PC but she just couldn’t sync it over to her iPhone. I quickly tried a few things that had worked in the past, like trying to check off playlists to sync via a manual sync, but I too, couldn’t seem to get it to work. So I got to thinking, maybe there were others struggling to get their iTunes Playlists to sync as well. I decided to dive into it a bit deeper and figured I would document the process that worked for me.

HTD Set Up & Sync iTunes Playlist - how to

What I discovered is that it is actually quite easy to do, once you know how to do it. And with the magic of the iCloud Music Library, you can update and sync all of your iTunes playlists across all Apple devices. But getting this is the challenge. But have no fear, here’s how I did it. Hopefully this will work for you but it does have some prerequisites and requirements.

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NETGEAR’s Arlo Q Rounds Out Video Security with Wired-power HD Camera Offering [Review]

In Consumer Electronics, Gadgets, General, Hardware, Review, Safety, Security, Sponsored, Technology by Michael SheehanLeave a Comment

Currently the exterior of various portions of my home are monitored by NETGEAR’s Arlo which is a wires-free (both power and connectivity are without cords) day & night-time HD security camera. About a year ago, I wrote about how extremely easy it is to set up and configure the NETGEAR Arlo. This year, they added a sibling to the group, namely the Arlo Q. Briefly, the Arlo Q is an HD security camera that connects to your WiFi network, can do two-way audio, has night-vision and is powered by plugging it into the wall (the Arlo, conversely, is battery-powered and requires the Arlo base station for connectivity). But, like the original Arlo, the set-up is easy and quick and the management equally so.

   NETGEAR Badge
Disclaimer: I am a NETGEAR Ambassador and I received this product in exchange for my honest, unbiased opinion and review.

Being a NETGEAR Ambassador, I was lucky enough to get my hands on the original Arlo System. I have it set up around the outside of my home, capturing nocturnal creatures, family members arriving and leaving, gardeners cleaning up, delivery people dropping off packages – basic family activity. While the original Arlo is designed to be both inside and outside capable and can be mounted just about anywhere the signal reaches, the Arlo Q is designed to be inside only and needs to be near a power plug (since it is wired) and a good WiFi signal. So, I was excited to test out the new Arlo Q which I recently received from NETGEAR.

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Online, It’s Really All about “Me” So Protect It – #MentorME

In General, Opinion, Parenting, Safety, Social Media, Social Networking, Sponsored by Michael SheehanLeave a Comment

When first I started blogging, over a decade ago, I had the goal of trying to help people. As I travelled this digital writing journey, I realized that as I produced digital content, I was also creating my own online brand or digital persona, that of “HighTechDad.” And, hopefully, my digital persona and online reputation has remained intact over the years. Nowadays, more and more people are online, sharing one thing or another and setting up a digital basecamp if you will, and, having 3 daughters who are venturing online, I feel it is important to talk about the importance of maintaining one’s online or digital reputation. And, to have as much control over it as possible. This is the idea behind a campaign that I’m participating in called #MentorME which is all about understanding online reputations as well as getting a .ME domain on the Internet and making it “yours.” Let me explain.

#MentorME - Millennials infographic

Domain.ME, who provides domains that end in .ME, sponsored a survey which was conducted by Wakefield research in October 2015 of 1000 nationally represented US adults over the age of 18 who regularly use social media and the Internet. They found some interesting results:Read More

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How to Set Up a Portable Camping Theater with the AAXA P5 Pico Projector

In Consumer Electronics, Gadgets, General, Hardware, How To, iOS, Opinion, Review, Technology, Travel by Michael SheehanLeave a Comment

Camping is all about returning to nature, friends and family, and “roughing it,” right? Ideally yes, and it is often a great way to detach ourselves from technology and the daily digital addiction our device provide. It’s good to disconnect from time to time. Lord knows, I barely ever do it and having to pry my daughters’ phones from their hands is like trying to remove a limpet from a wet rock. But there may be an occasional instance when being able to show a movie or stream a broadcast (provided you have a good data plan and connectivity) is ok within a camping environment. This article is NOT about the good or the bad of bringing and using technology while camping (although many camp sites are starting to have free WiFi for better or worse). It is more about setting up a small portable camping theater, with the primary device being the AAXA P5 Pico Projector.

HTD Camping Theater with AAXA P5 Pico Projector - tent setup

When you go camping, especially if you have to hike to a campsite where you pack in all of your gear, you need to be very concerned about weight and the size of the things you bring. If you are car camping, you still need to think about space. Either way, if you do decide to bring technology to a camping environment, make sure it is small and lightweight.

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“His” or “Her” Cross Pens – A Valentine’s Day Dilemma

In Consumer Electronics, Gadgets, General, Hardware, Opinion, Review by Michael SheehanLeave a Comment

In my mind, Valentine’s Day is pretty stereo-typical from the red roses to the box of chocolates or a nice romantic dinner. You have heard it all. And it brings up the gender stereotypes as well. What do women want? And what do men want? It’s kind of a loaded question. I have even heard this played out over a radio ad campaign – done in fun of course – where a man is going to buy a vacuum cleaner or blender or lingerie for his significant other, only to be “saved” by the jeweler who says that a diamond is a better choice – talk about one stereotype piled on top of another. I started thinking about my own situation, and, realizing that my wife and I are both writers, doing something related to writing might be quite appropriate. So I started thinking about Cross pens.

HTD Cross Pens - two unique pens, classic and modern

Cross pens have been around for ages. I remember as a high school graduation gift (ugh, almost 30 years ago), I received a Classic Century 10 Karat Gold Ballpoint pen (or whatever it was called way back then “in the ancient days” as my kids say). I still have it somewhere…I think my wife may have taken it actually. Or perhaps I just misplaced it somewhere over the years. Regardless, these are timeless gifts.

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ASAP Dash Portable Battery – 0 to 100 Percent in Minutes, Not Hours

In Consumer Electronics, Gadgets, General, Hardware, Mobile, Review, Technology by Michael Sheehan1 Comment

The problem with portable smart devices like smartphones and tablets is that they don’t sip power, they gulp it down! Often, after only a few hours of usage, battery levels start to dive well below the comfort level of the end-user. There is nothing worse than being out and about away from that wall charger of sustenance for your device. If you are like me, whenever possible, you keep your smartphone fully charged and plugged in, but sometimes you know that you will be on-the-go for hours, away from the ability to charge. But you can be proactive. You can bring a portable battery charger. But that poses another potential problem – remembering to charge your portable battery. And that takes time to do as well. This is where the ASAP Dash, a portable, pocket-sized battery charger, professes that it can come to the rescue. And I will tell you why.

HTD ASAP Dash - back

The ASAP Dash, currently an Indegogo campaign, has some pretty bold claims – that it will charge “up to 16x faster than standard chargers on the market today.” This is something that actually is important to understand. First though, let me clarify that being a gadget freak, I typically don’t support Crowd Funding campaigns. There are just too many really cool ideas out there and I really don’t have deep pockets. In this case, the ASAP Dash team sent me out a late prototype of their battery charger, one that is very close to what will eventually be released. So, my disclaimer – my observations and results may be different from what end users of the final ASAP Dash provides.Read More

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CottonBrew: A Personal, On-Demand, Online Tailor for Men Who Hate Going to the Store

In Clothing, General, Review by Michael SheehanLeave a Comment

I have one suit. One that serves three purposes: weddings, funerals and other important occasions. I have had it for many years, over a decade in fact. It still seems to fit despite middle-age taking over my body. I don’t really think about what is fashionable nor even stepping foot into a department store unless I’m put in a headlock. So when CottonBrew approached me to find out if I was interested in trying out their custom and personalized tailoring service for a new suit, I was intrigued by the fact that I didn’t have to go get measured in a store and just choose something off the rack. What CottonBrew professes is a quick, easy and personalized suit-buying experience without the hassle of stepping foot in a store.

I’m sure there are other dads out there who feel the same way I do. Their wives or significant others do much of their shopping for them. I am no different. I can’t remember the last time I went looking for a shirt or pants, shoes maybe, but something as significant as a suit? Forgetaboutit! CottonBrew changed my mind, however, about “shopping” especially since I could do the measurements myself (actually with the help of my wife) and it only took a few minutes. And you don’t even need to provide the additional measurements, you can just take three selfies and send them in as well.

HTD CottonBrew - tailor

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See a Doctor if You’re Sick; See ACDelco if your Car’s Sick

In Auto, General, Sponsored by Michael Sheehan

It’s the winter and you have a cold. You feel run down and you aren’t performing at your peak efficiency. So what do you do? You bundle up, take vitamins and try to get as much rest as you can. Guess what? Your car may have a cold as well. As it sits in the garage or in the driveway or transports you here or there, it too might not be running at peak efficiency. In order to keep your vehicle healthy, you should treat it with the attention it needs. You wouldn’t give your body bad food when you are sick, so why would you do that with your car? The folks at ACDelco feel the same way, especially when it comes to winter car care and preventative maintenance.

ACDelco - diagnostics

When you are born, hopefully you arrive happy and healthy. In much the same way, when a GM car rolls out of the factory, it is outfitted with original and authentic ACDelco parts. From batteries to spark plugs to windshield wipers, GM vehicles have GM Original Equipment from ACDelco. But obviously over time, things age – cars and people alike. As you age as a person, you need to start paying closer attention on your “preventative maintenances.” Hopefully, you eat healthy food, exercise regularly and engage in an otherwise healthy lifestyle. But, we all know that things go bad and you may need to visit the doctor, either for an ailment or just for a check up. Your car shouldn’t be much different. It, too, doesn’t often age gracefully, especially if you treat it badly, so in order to extend your vehicle’s life, you need to take care of it.

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