Hardware

Giveaway! Your First Smartphone Could Be the HTC First!

by Michael Sheehan on May 21, 2013

in Android, Cellular, Consumer Electronics, Gadgets, General, Giveaway, Hardware, Mobile, Technology

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It’s been a while since I hosted a giveaway, so I thought that I would start out the Memorial Day Holidays with a giveaway holiday! If you don’t have a smartphone yet, this giveaway is for you! Or, if your child is ready for their first smartphone, you better enter. Or if you simply want a back up phone, you may want to enter as well. Regardless, courtesy of AT&T, I’m doing an HTC First Giveaway!

HTC First

As I actually haven’t had any hands-on with the HTC First (because I’m giving it away), I’m just going to speak to HTC in general. I have had several HTC phones (some for Windows and I’m currently evaluating the HTC One). HTC is known for its solid design and the First is no different. Here are some quick specs on the HTC First:

  • Facebook Home – this device is MADE for Facebook addicts!
  • 4.3″ Touchscreen – not too big nor too small
  • 4G LTE – you want a fast network? AT&T’s got it!
  • 5MP Camera – snap those great photos!
  • 1.6MP – great for seeing how your look or for some video chats
  • 1080p HD video capture – get that HD video!
  • Music Player – take advantage of the new Google All Access Music service!
  • Text Messaging – text to your heart’s content, just DON’T do it while you drive!
  • Email/Calendar/Contacts – keep up to date with all of your activities and contacts
  • World Phone – you only need one phone if you go overseas
  • Android OS – currently supporting Jelly Bean (v. 4.1) with upgrade possibilities
  • Storage/RAM – Up to 16 GB internal storage and 1 GB RAM
  • Wifi/BT enabled – 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 GHz)/ BT v 4.0

Oh, and one more thing, if you win this smartphone, you can get it contract-free. Sure, you could buy this phone at a discount, but then you are also locked into an extended contract potentially. The winner of this giveaway gets it contract-free!

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Remote, Programmatic Home Automation at its Best – the Belkin WeMo

by Michael Sheehan on May 17, 2013

in Application, Consumer Electronics, Gadgets, General, Hardware, Opinion, Review, Software

Post image for Remote, Programmatic Home Automation at its Best – the Belkin WeMo

Home Automation and Remote Controls are cool. Really cool. Think back to the days of The Clapper (which you can still buy, by the way). Clap on, clap off. We have come a long way though. Now we have Internet-connected gadgets, gizmos, appliances and devices, hopefully all designed to make our lives easier, safer or simply better. The Belkin WeMo is a perfect example of how this Home Automation technology has evolved to become mobile and programmatic.

Belkin WeMo Switch

Recently I hooked up a Belkin WeMo Switch and Motion Detector in my home. Before I go into the details of that process, I have to say that I’m a guy who hated when I saw a VCR (remember those?) with a blinking clock. I’m all about programming and using technology ahead of time or setting it up to make what you are currently doing better. I have placed wireless remotes for lamps around the house. I obviously set up shows to record on my DVR. I even automate a little bit of my social media sharing (not much, mind you). There are tasks that you can automate that can save you a few minutes during your hectic day here and there. That is what automation (and remote controls) are all about. And with all of this different technology, it allows us to be a bit more lazy (in a good way, hopefully).

Belkin WeMo Motion & iPhone

Let’s start with what the WeMo is. It’s a device that you connect to your home WiFi network and to an electrical device that you want to control whether it is on or off. Once you set up your connection (which I will go into later), you use your mobile phone with the WeMo app, to turn on or off that electrical device. Let’s say you have a lamp connected to the WeMo plug, from another room or across the globe, once you have everything connected, you can turn that lamp on or off at will. Pretty handy, right?

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Using the Sun to Power your Gadgets & Light the Way – WAKAWAKA POWER

by Michael Sheehan on May 15, 2013

in Cellular, Consumer Electronics, Gadgets, General, Hardware, Mobile, Opinion, Review

Post image for Using the Sun to Power your Gadgets & Light the Way – WAKAWAKA POWER

If you look up into the sky, assuming it’s sunny and daytime, you will see a vast energy source that is incredibly untapped – the sun. Solar power technologies have been evolving a break-neck speeds and the size and costs have been reduced dramatically to the point where you can throw a solar panel, charger and battery into your backpack and never worry about plugging your smartphone or tablet into the wall again. The WakaWaka Power, is no exception. This small device, in my opinion, is critical to have for camping trips or in your emergency kit or just quietly charging in a sunny windows somewhere.

WakaWaka Power - Lights on

WakaWaka Power – Lights on

I actually really like this little “gadget helper” for a variety of reasons. Let’s start with the name, “WakaWaka” which means “shine bright” in Swahili. WakaWaka is created by Off-Grid Solutions (OGS) which is a company that develops and manufactures solar-based portable charging and lighting solutions. They got their start via a Kickstarter.com initiative (which raised over $419,000 – 838% over their initial $50,000 funding request) and are now a global brand. In fact, in 2012 they made it their mission to deliver 1 million WakaWaka’s worldwide as part of a pledge to the Clinton Global Initiative.

WakaWaka Power - packaging

WakaWaka Power – packaging

But OGS and WakaWaka haven’t stopped there. For every WakaWaka Power charger that they sell, they are donating $10 to the WakaWaka Foundation which has been set up to finance entrepreneurial education, micro-loans to women energy entrepreneurs and also subsidies for poor countries like Haiti, Nepal, Nigeria, India and others. One of their goals is to replace dangerous, expensive and polluting kerosene lamps with their solar-powered solutions. You can read more about their mission here. With initiatives and dreams like this, what is there NOT to like?!

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How To Easily Remove, Install & Replace an Apple iPhone 4S Battery (Video)

by Michael Sheehan on May 7, 2013

in Apple, Cellular, Consumer Electronics, Fix It, Gadgets, General, Hardware, How To, HTD Tech Tip, iPhone, Mobile, Video

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I’m such a heavy user of my Apple iPhones that it really seems like about a year after I get one, I’m doing a how-to article on replacing the iPhone’s battery. I now have an iPhone 4S and this past weekend, I replaced the battery. Other smartphone users may scoff at the fact that Apple has made their hardware quite proprietary (e.g., a closed design). Actually, it seems to me that Apple has actually now made it much easier to replace the iPhone 4S battery, especially in comparison to the iPhone 4 and iPhone 3GS process. This article (and video) shows you how to replace an Apple iPhone 4S Battery.

iPhone 4S Back Case Off

iPhone 4S Back Case Off

WARNING: Before I go into this How-to, I do need to emphasize that this processes is risky. For starters, it WILL void your warranty, especially if you mess something up in the process. Also, there are lots and lots of tiny screws and pieces that are incredibly easy to lose, break or knock loose. If you don’t take time reviewing the installation process, you could seriously damage to your iPhone 4S. You should only undertake this process if you feel like you know what you are doing and promise to not hold me responsible for anything bad that may happen to your device. Anything good that does happen, I’m happy to be responsible for that! And don’t drink any coffee before trying any repairs!

With all the disclaimers aside now, let’s take a look at the process. It is, actually, quite easy but be sure to watch the video below as I did actually almost screw something up. But as of this writing, my iPhone 4S is quite happy with its replacement battery.

The Tools

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Wii U – Will U? I Will! Why I like the Nintendo Wii U

April 15, 2013
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I’m not a hard core gamer. I do have an Xbox (original & 360), a PS3 and the original Wii. Now I have the Nintendo Wii U. I’m more of a social family gamer, that is to say, I only game with my kids (or occasionally when I have a free moment at night and [...]

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The Jabra Speak 510 Bluetooth & USB Connected Speakerphone Truly Speaks Great for Itself

March 28, 2013
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As workforces become more distributed to satellite offices, home offices, client locations and even roaming within an organization, technology needs to be adaptable to any scenario. Mobile devices like laptops, smartphones and tablets have untethered our dependence on corded locations, meaning that the worker (or parent) on the go often is not always at the [...]

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How To Fix a Broken iPhone Home Button – A Free & Easy Software Fix

March 13, 2013
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Yesterday I received a panicked call from one of my daughters – “Daddy, my iPhone’s home button is broken!” Tears and wailing ensued. But, as with any broken gadget, I was up for the challenge, knowing that I could either replace the iPhone home button myself or figure out some other way to breath a [...]

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Can You Have a Love Affair with a Gadget?

February 8, 2013
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“I’m in love with the iPad Mini” I proclaimed proudly to my wife. I didn’t expect the response (well, I did in a way). “You cannot be in love with a gadget.” That was that. End of discussion. I had been hoping to start a conversation about why I like the iPad Mini so much [...]

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