“Application” collection
Optimize your digital experience with in-depth evaluations of the latest software and mobile applications. From productivity suites to family organization tools, these reviews focus on functional utility and user experience across various digital platforms.
HTD Tech Briefs
View all →September 2, 2011
“Weird But True” iOS App Educates in a Fun Way
Who doesn't like National Geographic? They have been enriching our lives for over a hundred years with photos and quality content from around the globe. And they have brought this content to children of all ages as well. My daughters got copies of National Geographic Kids at school and have saved them in piles on their desks and bookcases. And…
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July 21, 2011
How To Re-Download Mac OS X “Lion” & Create a Bootable Install DVD
In my excitement yesterday about the release of the new Macintosh operating system called "Lion", I downloaded and installed the new OS without thinking about creating a bootable DVD since Lion is the first Apple OS to NOT come on DVD but rather be distributed via the App Store. You will also be able to order a USB stick from…
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July 20, 2011
I Wish I Had the ContourGPS HD Video Camera about 15 Years, When I Was REALLY Active
Long before I had kids, I did quite a bit of mountain bike riding. Northern California has a ton of really great trails and I was regularly riding 3-4 times a week. There is something to be said about not having technology with you when you are out riding (I would say that a cell phone is probably one exception…
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June 9, 2011
How To Get the UDID/UUID of your iOS Device – Even In A Panic
Most iOS developers know that in order to "activate" your iOS device (e.g., iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) to use the latest beta of iOS 5, you need to have your UDID/UUID officially registered with Apple in their Development center. I learned this the hard way as I had not recorded it and had installed the iOS beta 1 and was…
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June 8, 2011
Tips for Improving your Child’s Safety Online – An Interview with AVG Internet Security
Last week I spent some time speaking about Internet Security for your kids with Tony Ascombe, "Ambassador" of Free Products for AVG, an Internet Security firm specializing in keeping your business and home safe from Internet threats. My feeling is that these types of discussions should take place regularly, and not just with security experts, but also in the home…
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May 25, 2011
WARNING: Mac Malware Variant “MAC Defender” Even More Crafty – No Password Install Required
And you thought that Macs and Apple products were immune to virus and malware threats? Think again! At the beginning of May, Intego, a developer for internet security and privacy software for Macs, identified a pretty scary piece of malware, dubbed the "MAC Defender" (also now has names like "MacSecurity" and "MacProtector" and "MacDefender"). What is malware? It's essentially a…
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May 13, 2011
How to Write & Blog Efficiently with Free Tools like Evernote, DropBox, Picasa & Live Writer
A while ago, I wrote a blog post about how I do blogging. That was over a year ago. Times have changed, tools have evolved and processes have gotten better, at least for me. I still believe that how your blog or write is extremely personal in nature and what may work for me, might not for others. I would,…
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May 2, 2011
10 Ways to Use FaceTime with the iPad 2, iPhone 4, iPod Touch or Mac That You Might Not Have Thought Of
If you have a Mac, or an iPhone or now an iPad 2, you probably have heard of FaceTime. This is Apple's foray into video conferencing but with a heavy consumer focus. FaceTime was first launched with the iPhone 4 and the iPod Touch, and then rolled out to the Mac as a beta. Then the Mac version made it…
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April 20, 2011
iMovie & the iPad 2 = Fun Afternoon Creativity With the Kids
What do you get when you put together 2 kids, a dad, some stuffed animals, an iPad 2, iMovie and a bunch of pent up creativity? Well, I found out this past weekend as my kids and I created an entire movie (albeit short) in just a few hours using only an iPad 2 and iMovie on it for the…
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March 24, 2011
A Great iPhone 5 Rumors Infographic & My Thoughts On It and What Apple Will Really Do
I absolutely LOVE infographics! I almost view them as a form of art (coupled with some marketing spin). And, I love the iPhone (being pretty much an Apple "fan boy"), ok, well, I love technology in general, obviously. The folks over at NowhereElse.fr (a French technology blog) put together a really GREAT infographic that rounds up all of the iPhone…
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March 22, 2011
Is Your Life Fragmented? Mine Is! But My Hard Drive ISN’T with the new Diskeeper 2011
Just yesterday I was thinking how nice it would be to be able to split myself into multiple fragments, each part commissioned to do something else. One would go to work, one would help get my kids to school, one would catch up on all of the "honey do" items around the house, one would spend time with my wife…
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March 10, 2011
Woah! “Tiger Blood, Puke & Other Body Fluids” – Cast of Dads Podcast #40
Hope that our Cast of Dads podcast title grabbed you! Yeah, being a dad, we get to experience all types of fluids coming from our kids. That is just the facts of life…and you really get used to it. I'm not sure if that is a good thing or not, but it is a reality. In Episode 40 (yep, the…
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