“Tech Companies” collection
Follow the innovations and strategic directions of the giants that define our digital world, including Apple, Microsoft, Google, and more. This section offers an expert look at the product ecosystems and corporate shifts of the world’s leading technology brands.
HTD Tech Briefs
View all →July 10, 2010
Apple’s iTunes App Store Hits the “Terrible 2?s” – On to the “Thirsty 3?s”
Being a parent of 3 daughters, I well remember the "terrible two's". Well, another child that many people play with daily has hit that milestone, the iTunes App Store. As Apple blows out the candles, I thought it important to recognize this event, especially as we move towards the "thirsty three's". The iTunes App Store is just starting to assert…
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July 1, 2010
Do You Know About iTunes U? For Me, It’s Personal!
I received an interesting piece of news this week from Apple. No it wasn't about the iPhone 4 nor the iPad. It wasn't a software or hardware release even. It had to do with iTunes U and it was about passing a milestone. Have you heard of iTunes U? It's a section within iTunes that is devoted to Education and…
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June 24, 2010
Dads, Have You Done “The Big Snip”? – Cast of Dads Podcast #24
As all 5 of the us on the Cast of Dads have recently recovered from Father's Day, with a variety of good times and adventures, we spent some time discussing something that "cuts close" to our Dad-dom, that of "The Big Snip". Can you guess how many of us on COD have actually had the procedure done? It's an obviously…
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June 22, 2010
How To Get 48 Applications in the iPhone Dock using iOS4
Quite possibly my favorite new feature coming out of Apple's iOS4 iPhone software update is that of folders. I had maxed out the number of screens on my iPhone and every time I added new applications, I either had to delete one that I didn't use much or had to use the Search functionality to launch it. It was a…
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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 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 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 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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May 24, 2010
My 10 Essential iPad Applications Thus Far
Ok, this is another one of "those lists." And for many people, this list of my top iPad applications is very subjective in nature. What I feel to be a hot application, others may find to be a yawner. And I only have a couple of weeks of experience and a limited budget to form my opinion. But here goes…
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May 20, 2010
The Ripple Effect of Social Media – Get Mobile for More Waves!
We all know the well used imagery of throwing a stone into a pond and watching the ripples spread out from the center. The same imagery can be applied to social media, I believe. But there are different ways choose the rocks and throw them. Most of the time, I stand in the same place, casting similarly shaped rocks into…
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May 18, 2010
Is “Touching” Ok? Hey, I’m Talking about Writing! Cast of Dads Podcast #19
Hope that title grabbed you! The latest episode of the Cast of Dads podcast #19 is now live and is titled "Why Write It When You Can Touch It?" The Cast of Dads discuss the future of the written letter, keyboards and the types of devices our kids and grand kids will have. We all agree that we are at…
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