“General” collection
Access a diverse collection of miscellaneous technology reviews, specialized DIY tool assessments, and unique lifestyle articles. From niche electrical equipment to general digital organization tips, this section covers the broad spectrum of a tech-focused life.
HTD Tech Briefs
View all →December 11, 2012
Saving the Environment & your Wallet – Review the Spacious 2012 Toyota Prius V
Living in the San Francisco Bay Area, it seems like almost every third car on the road is a hybrid of some type, and of those hybrids, a huge majority of those are Toyota Prius's. Californians are obsessed with the environment and with driving and many times, the two don't really go hand-in-hand. About 10+ years ago, before gas prices…
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December 10, 2012
Hmmm, What Wine to Choose? The Kendall Jackson App Can Help You Decide
I love drinking wine...but I'm not in any way an expert. (Well, I am an expert at drinking, just not choosing!) My wife is actually the one who is part of numerous wine clubs and is often the one who gets our wine. Or, I get some recommendations and bottles from my dad who actually has a wine refrigerator and…
Read more →December 5, 2012
Honeywell’s WiFi-Enabled Thermostat is Hot, Cool, Controlled Remotely & Easy to Install
Here is the scenario. It's the early morning in the winter. You are snuggled warm in your bed but outside of the comfort of your blankets, your house is cold. The last thing you want to do it to have to get out of bed and turn on the thermostat to heat the house. So you just hope for someone…
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December 4, 2012
7 Essential Windows Hotkey Keyboard Combinations You Should Know and Use
I'm all about working efficiently when I'm on my computers whether they are Macs or PCs. And, for some reason, I simply hate having to drag my mouse over to an application or button to do something that should be quick. Luckily, both Apple and Microsoft have built in a series of hotkey commands or keyboard commands to save you…
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December 3, 2012
Bring a Cool or Warm Mist to those Rooms in Need with The Sharper Image Ultrasonic Humidifier
If you have kids or suffer from dry noses at night, you probably need or have a humidifier. These devices are pretty much required in my family because the little noses in our household seem to get dried up. In fact, my youngest daughter had to have her nostrils cauterized because she suffered from nose bleeds at night because of…
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November 29, 2012
As a Blogger or Brand, Why is Continuity Important?
Having just completed my 7th year of blogging, I have learned quite a lot. What started for me as simply a way to both help people and provide insights on a variety of topics, now has become part of my life and my persona. As my website has matured, I have uncovered nuances and patterns along the way, but I…
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November 27, 2012
Klutz Teaches Kids About Basic Electronics While Setting Up Booby Traps Around the House
As part of my ongoing effort to remain as much like a child as possible, I was intrigued to set up some "Gotcha Gadgets" that would allow me to play 20 tricks on my kids. I wanted to set up trip alarms and motion sensors that would fart when someone opened a door, or set up a push-button applause machine…
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November 26, 2012
Forget About Giving this Sharper Image Shiatsu Massager as a Gift, Keep It For Yourself!
Over the past few weeks, I have been evaluating a few Sharper Image products that I believe would be worthy of giving as gifts (see the Smartphone Telephoto Lens and Charging Valet). However, I need to be a little bit selfish here on this next product, specifically The Sharper Image Air & Shiatsu Massage Cushion. In fact, as I write…
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November 25, 2012
How Safe is Online Shopping? Tips to Get Ready for Cyber Monday and Beyond
Personally, I hate shopping. I do though, like the act of giving gifts. There is something always great about spreading joy to friends and family during the holiday seasons. My wife is a bargain hunter and loves the "sport" of the deal hunt. She went missing on Black Friday only to reappear a few hours later with lots of great…
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November 21, 2012
And We’re Back! Thanksgiving Episode #54 of the Cast of Dads Podcast
It seems like life got the better of us Cast of Dads. We have been on a bit of a hiatus as we get our crazy lives in order...well, who's to say that our lives will ever be less hectic or in order for that matter. But we wanted to get together to record an episode right before Thanksgiving. So…
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November 20, 2012
Add a 10X Physical Zoom to your iPhone or Smartphone
Camera phone technology has gotten pretty good over the past few years with some of the cameras on smartphones rivaling digital cameras. In fact, on the photo-sharing site Flickr, the iPhone was the number one camera source. It's much more convenient to carry one device around (a smartphone) than two (smartphone and digital camera). But sometimes, you really wish that…
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November 19, 2012
Silent but Effective – ESET Cybersecurity for Macintosh
I don't know how many different types of Anti-Virus or security software I have tested over the years. I would guess that it's in the 20's. There are a lot of great providers out there, some paid and some free. Those people who have computers but don't have ANY anti-virus software are destined to a severe, brutal and ugly day…
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