“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 →February 21, 2012
The “i” in iRadar from Cobra Means “Intelligence” – A Smartphone Radar Detector
Many years ago, I had a few radar detectors. That was back when I had a fast little Honda CRX-Si - BWAK (Before Wife and Kids) and I tended to race around, watching for speed traps, and keeping my eyes and ears glued to my radar detector as I sped around. Now, I'm a bit more conservative on how I…
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February 17, 2012
Extend Your iPhone 4/4S Power with the CasePower A4 Battery Case
I burn through batteries on my iPhones faster kids go through their Halloween candy. (Well, maybe not that fast but you get the point.) Just about every iPhone that I have owned, I have had to replace the battery in it (seem my iPhone 3GS & iPhone 4 posts on how to do this). But if you don't want to…
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February 13, 2012
The Casio Edifice – Form Following Function or Function Following Form? It’s Both!
Have I said that I love watches? I think that I have before. In fact, a year ago, I reviewed a Casio Pathfinder that had lots of technology baked into it (that's the other thing I really love). I actually have had a long-running affair with Casio, having owned various G-Shocks and Waveceptors. Now I'm going to talk about the…
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February 1, 2012
If Your Laptop is Jealous of your Ultrabook, Give it a Hybrid SSD from Seagate – the Momentus XT
I have an Ultrabook and a MacBook Air and my non-SSD traditional laptop is getting jealous. It told me that it wants to be more like them, faster booting up and able to launch applications more quickly. "Why can't I be like those super slim laptops you are always using?" it always asks me. Obviously there is no way for…
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January 31, 2012
A Cloud For All Seasons – Picking the Right Cloud
Cloud computing can be very confusing. It can be abstractly discussed but also detailed to intricate levels. A few years ago, part of the reason why people weren't adopting cloud computing was because they simply didn't understand it and what it could do for them. And, a few years ago, the technology and services were relatively new and not as…
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January 23, 2012
iOS 5 Tip: Using Siri As A Spell Checker and Spelling Assistant – Spelling Test Results!
For a few months now, I have been using the iPhone 4S and enjoying the wonders of Siri. There have been literally thousands of posts on tips and tricks that you can do with Siri (and I'm sure the one that I'm about to mention has been covered in some form or another). For those of you hiding under an…
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January 19, 2012
A Solid, Tech-Filled, All-Around Performer – 2011 Ford Explorer Test Drive
A few months ago, Sony and Ford Motors invited the Cast of Dads out to the East Coast to participate in a variety of events, one of them was driving a 2011 Ford Explorer (note, link is for the 2012 model) from Boston to NYC. Unfortunately, I was not able to attend the event, and boy was I jealous. Part…
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January 17, 2012
5 Ways To Make the Cloud Work for You
So you have heard about cloud computing but are not really sure what you can do with it. Or maybe, your only exposure to the cloud is what you have seen in ads or heard in the media. Let me tell you, what you see on TV is only a fraction of the cloud’s true power. I'm obviously a bit…
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January 10, 2012
Video: How To Wrap a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro MagSafe Power Adapter the NEW Way
I have been in search of a really good way to wrap up my MagSafe power adapter for both my MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. The reason being, if you simply wrap them up the "conventional" way, you run the risk of fraying the connections which increases the risks of electrical shocks or shorting out your power adapters. And to…
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January 9, 2012
I’m an Ultrabook Fan – the Speed, Weight, Performance & Design Convinced Me (An #UltrabookDads Video Production)
Remember when netbooks were the "next big thing"? A few years ago, everyone wanted one of these small, compact and seemingly essential computers. But after a few years, the fog lifted from people's eyes as they realized that the small form factor wasn't the only thing that people needed. They wanted the best of all worlds, a small, lightweight, portable…
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January 5, 2012
Custom Cases for Gadgets like Kindle Touch or Macbook Air, Hand-Crafted by Rickshaw Bagworks
A few years ago, I had the pleasure of visiting a local San Francisco business to see their craft in action. The company is Rickshaw Bagworks and they built, based on my choice of color and material, one of the best blogger backpacks that I have owned. My full review from back in 2009 goes into the details of materials…
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January 4, 2012
5 Cloud Myths Debunked – Understanding the Primary Layers of Cloud Computing
A few weeks ago, I laid out my predictions for 2012, casting seeds into the wind to see where clouds and businesses may crop up. But there are still skeptics out there, people who believe that cloud computing is just a passing phase or that it really isn't that much different than traditional infrastructure. Having lived and breathed cloud for…
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