“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 →June 15, 2010
Beer, Beer & More Beer (And Father’s Day Stuff) – Cast of Dads Podcast #23
Who says that we can't do a Podcast on a Monday? Well, I guess that I did last week but that was during the day. For our "Happy Father's Day" episode of Cast of Dads, we did our recording a bit later on a Monday, and lubed up our voices, creativity and topics with a few beers. And I recorded…
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June 15, 2010
The Sony Dash – Not Just a Fancy Clock Radio – An Internet Connected Appliance! (Sony Giveaway too!)
My wife now has a digital companion as she puts on her make-up or gets ready for the day in the bathroom. Carefully positioned on her makeup table is a small, digital screen that looks like a clock radio. But it is much more than that! The Sony Dash, formerly known as the "Chumby" is truly an Internet connected appliance…
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June 15, 2010
10 Father’s Day Shopping Tips – But First, Bring your Cell Phone!
With Father's Day right around the corner, how are you going to make your Dad (or husband) happy? For me, any type of gadget will make me grin, but that is probably not what each and every dad wants. The best bet is to develop a strategy with your siblings or kids in order to work together to get the…
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June 11, 2010
“Pitching the Tent Both Ways” – Pre-pre-Father’s Day Cast of Dads Podcast #22
It's really odd but for some reason, the Dads of Cast of Dads are much more talkative on the weekend. Perhaps because Episode #22 ("Pitching the Tent Both Ways") was recorded on a Monday, we were a bit punchy and off our game. Or were we? You will have to listen in to decide for yourself. One topic that we…
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June 10, 2010
A Microsoft Companion for the Apple iPad or iPhone? YES! The Bluetooth Mobile Keyboard 6000
When the iPad first came out, some of the biggest questions were "how well does the keyboard work?" or "is typing on the screen fairly easy?" In fact, I still get asked that question repeatedly. My answer is usually short and sweet, "Great!" I always say, and that is normally because I'm deep in note taking or writing a blog…
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June 10, 2010
10 Reasons Why You Need a Smartphone when you Shop
I'm not really sure how we did it in the past. Shopping without a cell phone, that is. To me, if I even leave the house for any reason and I don't have my cell phone, if I'm 10 minutes or less away from my house, I will turn around and go back and get it. The only exception is…
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June 8, 2010
Stream Your Family’s Media to the Big Screen TV using the Western Digital TV Live
Father's Day comes at almost the perfect time of the year. School is just ending and you are literally "gearing up" for the summer. If you are thinking about gifts for your Dad and he happens to be the resident audio/visual guy, I've got a great recommendation for a device that will easily allow you to play all of the…
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June 7, 2010
Laughs on a Plane – Some SkyMall Product just make you say “Really??!!”
I haven't been on a plane for quite a few years, but on my trip up to Oregon for the Intel Summit, "Upgrade Your Life," I has the pleasure of reacquainting myself with one of my favorite travel magazines, SkyMall. I guess that people actually buy the stuff in here because SkyMall has been around for many, many years. I…
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June 4, 2010
Summer Road Trip & Travel Essentials: Kids & Family TV Shows on iTunes
I'm not quite sure how any of us made it through any roadtrips alive when we were children. Many of us, like me, didn't have air conditioning or built-in DVD players. And we sure didn't have little personal electronic devices that could play movies and TV shows. My kids, on the other hand, each have iPods and they can fire…
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June 4, 2010
Cast of Dads “Memorial Day” Podcast #21 – Education, Family & More
On Memorial Weekend, the Cast of Dads got together to record Episode #21 and it was one of those shows where we were so into the subject matter that the 30 minutes just flew by before we knew it. We always seem to have lively conversations, sometimes we are a bit crazier than others, but this time around, we really…
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June 3, 2010
WINNER – Jawbone ICON Father’s Day GIVEAWAY & Review – Become a Hero!
I have always wanted a Jawbone ever since I read about the company and their Bluetooth headset products. It could be simply because I was sucked into their strong marketing, but I like to think it is because of the design and technology. Jawbone has been creating revolutionary, high-end Bluetooth headsets for several years, and they have just come out…
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May 28, 2010
Keep Track of your Kids through Social Media & a Cell Phone, But BE CAREFUL!
I have always been a big proponent against the use of Social Media by children, especially when they are in elementary school. Interacting with Social Media is not something you want your kids doing at an early age, at least not until they can really understand its implications. However, as they grow older and more independent, loosening up the reigns…
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