Links for Year End Review

Chromecast

Family Tech: Chromebooks might be valuable for some

Have family members needing a lot more hand holding on their PCs than you want to give?  A Chromebook might be a good gift this Christmas.

The latest Family Tech is up.

Links for Chromebook

Google Chromebook

Google Chromebooks at Amazon (Affiliate Link)

Links for Media in Presentations

Prezi

Fair Use at Wikipedia

Creative Commons

Flickr Creative Commons

Comic Strip Licensing at Universal Syndication

iStockPhoto

Shutterstock

My Ford Tri-Motor Video

Links for Customizable Gifts

Google Hangouts

Personalized Books

Toymail

Links for Pet Tech column

DogVacay.com

Rover.com

Whistle

Petcube

Pintofeed

Google Hotel Finder

Loc8tor on Amazon

Links for Web 2.0

Go2Web20

Pretzi

Creately

Wolfram Alpha - Examples

Family Tech : There's a scary new virus, and another reason to backup

Be sure what attachments you are opening.  Otherwise, it could cost you big.

The new Family Tech is available.

Links for CryptoLocker

Link to Reddit post about CryptoLocker

ArsTechnica article about CryptoLocker

Snopes verification of the threat

Links for New from Apple

New iPads

New Macs

Chromebook from HP

Family Tech: Tips for the traveler, or how to be a Road Warrior

Once upon a time I was a Road Warrior.

Lessons learned about using tech while travelling.

The latest Family Tech is online.

Links post is here.

Links for Travelling with Tech

The Ultimate Packing List

QuickOffice for IOS and Android

TripIt for IOS and Android


The links below are Amazon Affiliate Links.  If you purchase from one of these links, I receive a tiny commission.

Example Power Squid and Extenders at Amazon.com

Zipper Bags

Grid-It Organizers

Link to the column.

Links for Go Bags

Flickr Group of Go Bags

ScottEVest

ScottEVest accessories for your Go Bag

Red Cross tools

Grid It Organizers

Links for Journaling

Journaling for Mental Health

Journaling for Stress Reduction

100 benefits of journaling

Seven reasons for keeping a journal

Six Ways Journaling will change your life

Digital Journaling Methods

Formats for Journaling

Five steps to start journaling

Narrative Clip

Evernote

Google Search on benefits of keeping a journal

Net Neutrality

What is it?  Why we should worry about?  And how it is being imperiled.

Latest Family Tech is online.

Links for Network Neutrality

I did not mention any links in this column.

Family Tech; New iPhones, and a new Apple Store in Woodbridge, Virginia

Apple introduced two new iPhones, and our town now has an Apple Store.  Open today!

New Family Tech posted.

Links for Apple

Apple iPhone page

Apple 5c and 5s comparison

IOS 7 Video

Apple Stores

Links for Google Voice

Google Voice

Links for Online Weddings

Share and Collaborate with Google Drive

Google Forms

Google Hangouts on the Air

Google Sites

Family Tech : Cord cutting, again

I revisit cord cutting with a discussion of some new trends, the Google Chromecast, and some comments on Comcast.

A new Family Tech column

Links for Cord Cutting - Part Two

Chromecast

Back to School: Hardware

What hardware should new Freshman wield?

The latest Family Tech online.

Links for Back to School - Hardware

There are no links for this column.

Family Tech: Preparing High school Seniors for College

What should today's high school seniors do to ready themselves for college, tech wise?

This is the topic of this Family Tech column.

Links for Family Tech : Preparing High School Seniors for College

Dropbox

Google Drive

Evernote

Story Bird

Quicken

Family Tech: Arm those College Freshman with Software

What software will a incoming college freshman need?

This is the topic of this Family Tech column.

Links for August 8, 2013 - Software for College Freshman

Microsoft Office for Students

Adobe Student Software

Evernote

My book "Get Productive Fast with Evernote"

Setup a new Google Account

Family Tech: My Initial time with Glass

I was one of the chosen in Google's #IfIHadGlass program.  I went to New York and bought them.

This Family Tech talks about my initial experience with Glass.

Family Tech : Device Recycling

Do you have old tech laying around?

This Family Tech will tell you how to make some money from it, reuses it, or at least dispose of it separately.

Links for July 18, 2013 - Victorian Internet

If you want to read the book, "Victorian Internet", it is in the collection of the Prince William County Library, or you can purchase it from Amazon and others.

Links for July 18, 2013 - Google Glass

To find out more about Glass and to get on the list of possible future Explorers, visit http://www.google.com/glass/start/

While Google Glass is not yet available to the public, they have announced they may make them available to another round of Glass Explorers.  If chosen, you would pay $1500 and have to travel to New York, L.A.  or San Francisco to pick them up; if they follow they same rules they had in place for the latest round of Explorers.

Family Tech: Geek Museums

I went on a Geek Quest a week ago to New York City to pickup Google Glass.  Along the way I thought about other Geeky places I've visited, and places to visit in this part of the country.

That is the topic of this Family Tech column.

Links for July 4, 2013 - Geeky Places to Visit

Some of the places mentioned in the column :


Parent Magazine's Ten Best Science Museums

Science Museum of Virginia

Virginia Aquarium

Virginia Aviation Museum

National Aquarium

Virginia Museum of Transportation

Fairfax Station Railroad Museum

Richmond Railroad Museum

Links for June 27, 2013 - Gadget Recycling

Using an old cell phone as a wi-fi only phone

Prince William County Landfill Electronics Recycling

Gazelle.com

Follow Mark on his Geek Quest Thursday, June 27, 2013

I'm going on a all day Geek Quest.

Follow along on Google+ using this link.  You do not have to be a Google+ member.

It will get most interesting about 6 PM, but there will be updates all day.

Family Tech: New toys from Apple, Microsoft, and Sony

Family Tech for June 20, made it to the web as well today.  There are new toys coming from Apple, Microsoft and Sony.  If you like Mac's, iPhones or game consoles, this is worth a read.

Links for Family Tech June 20, 2013

Apple Mac Pro

Apple Mac Book Air

IOS7

Xbox One

On June 19, 2013, after the column was already submitted to the paper, Microsoft altered their plans for the Xbox One.  Bowing to public criticism, they no longer require a once daily internet connection to play non-connected games.  And they removed control of playing older games.

Sony PlayStation 4

Links for June 13, 2013 - Monthly Services

There are no links relevant for this column.

Family Tech: The All Day Cell Battery

In the latest Family Tech to go online, I discuss ways to make your cell phone battery last all day.

Family Tech: Cutting the Cord

Ever thought about cutting your cable's cable?  This Family Tech discusses letting go of everything but your internet.

Links for June 6, 2013 - Cell Phone Charging

ZeroLemon Batteries

Battery Cases

External Batteries

Solar Batteries

Crank Chargers


These are all Amazon affiliate links.

If you purchase using one of these links, I get a small commission, but there is no added cost to the purchaser.

Family Tech: Google reemphasizes search

This year at their development conference, Google reemphasized and made over search.

Family Tech is online.

Links for May 30, 2013 - Cord Cutting

Aereo

Netflix

Amazon Instant Video

Roku devices on Amazon [Amazon Affiliate Link]

Note: On Amazon Affiliate links, I get a tiny commission if you buy the device from Amazon.  There is no extra cost to you.

Family Tech: Programming for Beginners

Want to encourage your kids to program?  Why should you?  How can you?  How can you program too?

This is covered in the Family Tech column posted today.

Links for May 23, 2013 - Google I/O

Links about Google I/O 2013

Videos on Youtube

Unlimited Music

Family Tech: Shopping Apps Make Life Easier

Shopping apps make life easier, for you and often for the retailer.

Family Tech column

Links for May 16, 2013 - Programming by Kids

There are a lot of great tools out there to help kids get excited about and learn programming.

Scratch

Alice

Code Academy

MIT App Inventor

Snap Circuits

Lego Mindstorms

Family Tech: Planning for your digital afterlife

What happens to your Facebook, email, and other online content when you die?

The most recent Family Tech column is about planning for your digital afterlife.

Links for Family Tech for May 9, 2013 - Business Apps

I mentioned so many apps that I think there is little use to put in links for the ones I mentioned.  And there are so many more apps I did not mention,

To find useful apps, simply go to the app store for your phone, Apple App Store, or Google Play Store, and search for businesses you use.

Look to  make sure the app is produced by the actual business.  I once encountered an app for a grocery chain and didn't notice at first it was not published by the grocery chain.  All it was, was links to their website.

Family Tech: Your Wi-Fi Router needs love too

Your wi-fi router needs love too.

Another Family Tech is online.

Links for May 2, 2013 - Web after Death

Links for Family Tech regarding managing our digital assets after we pass.


Having a Facebook account memorialized.

Google Inactive Account Manager

Dropbox Help

Google Glass is trickling out to non-Googlers who are part of the Glass Explorers group.  Just before that began, I wrote this column explaining Glass.

Links for April 25, 2013 - Wifi

Links for Family Tech first published April 25, 2013 - WiFi

WiFi extenders [Amazon Affiliate Link]


To create a QR Code for guests in your home to scan to use your wifi, go this page.'

In the "Select ode Action" chose "WiFi Action".  Note: you may have to scroll down.

For SSID, enter the name of your WiFi.

Password, enter the password for your Wifi.

Network Type: choose from the drop down list the same security you set up on your Wifi routers Admin pages.

Finally, click the "Generate Code" button.  Up pops a graphic.  Right click on it to save it to your PC so you can print it out for your guests.

Here is an article about this process.

 [Amazon Associate Link] = If you buy during this session, you pay the same price as you would at Amazon, but I receive a small commission.

Family Tech: Get Fit with Tech

Technology can help us get fit, lose weight, manage what we eat, or just distract us while we exercise.

Family Tech from April 11, 2013 is online.

Links for April 18, 2013 - Google Glass

Since I wrote the column, some members of the public have been able to purchase Glass.  Starting Tuesday, April 16, some who ordered in May of 2012 were able to pick up their Google Glass in Mountain View, California at Google Headquarters.

So much more is known now about Glass.

A good resource for information about Glass is Google+ Glass Explorer's community.

Google published several web sites about Glass Monday night.

• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
• Technical Specifications
• Help for Glass Owners

Google has said Glass will be sold to the public later this year for less than the $1500 the Explores are paying.  More specific information is not yet available.

Family Tech: Scan those documents now for next tax season

The Family Tech for April 4, 2013 hopes to take some of the drama out of your tax efforts next year by discussing ways to digitize this year's documents so you have them at hand next year.

Be sure to see the links post further down, for links pertinent to this column.

Links for April 11, 2013 - Workout apps

Links for Family Tech column first published April 11, 2013 about Workout Apps

Runkeeper for IOS and Android

Nike+ Running for IOS and Android

Ingress for Android [closed beta - requires invites - I do not have any, nor do I play]

Field Trip for Android

AudioBooks

Audible

Calorie Counter and Weight Tracker from MyNetDiary on IOS

My Net Diary Calorie Counter on Android

Fitness Buddy for Android

Move! Bike Computer

Be sure too to search in either iTunes App Store, or the Android Play Store for terms like "fitness", "diet", "biking", etc. to see other apps.

Family Tech: Regaining Control of a Hijacked Email Account

One of the scariest things that can happen in our online lives, is to lose control of our email account.  

What do you do if it happens to you?

That is the topic of the Family Tech just published to the web.

Links for April 4, 2013 - Scanning Documents

Links for Family Tech for April 4, 2013 - Scanning Documents

NeatDesk at Amazon.com [Amazon Associate Link]

Other Sheet Fed Scanners at Amazon.com  [Amazon Associate Link]

Shoeboxed.com

Document Scanner Apps for Android

Document Scanner Apps for IOS [iTunes Links]

• Camscanner Free
• Scanner Pro
• Fast Scanner
  There are others.  Search for "Document Scanner" in iTunes.

Evernote

Springpad

Catch

OneNote

 [Amazon Associate Link] = If you buy during this session, you pay the same price as you would at Amazon, but I receive a small commission.

Family Tech: Tech Support Scam

Alert your less tech savvy family and friends that Microsoft will never call them to tell them there is a virus on their PC.

There's a scam apparently that's been going around for a few years that could cost users money, control of their PC and time.

The Family Tech for March 21, 2013 covers it.

How To regain control of your hacked email account

In my Family Tech column that appeared March 28, 2013, I wrote :

One of the scariest things that can happen in our online lives, is to lose control of our email account.

With our email account controlled by another, they may get information about your banking, your bills, and many facets of your digital life.

A nefarious person can ask for password resets on other accounts you have, and those resets are sent to the email they control.

Note:  To send a link to this page to a friend, 
use this shortened link :  http://bit.ly/10o8Xl1

This How-To is designed to help a person regain control of an email account that has been taken over by someone else.

The intent is to provide a resource we can send friend's who have had their accounts taken over.

And by taken over, we mean had their email account's password discovered by someone else.  That person then logs into the email account, changes the password and other details to prevent the true owner to easily regain control of the account.

That nefarious person then uses the email account to attempt to defraud the users friends, or use the email account to send out Spam that will not be blocked by Spam Filters initially since the account was not previously known for sending spam.

More details about how account passwords are obtained are in the column.  It should be available online around April 4, 2013.

After this break, we'll discuss how to know if an email account has been hacked, how to get control back, and what to after you have regained control.

Free Amateur Radio Course

The Woodbridge Wireless Ham Radio Club is holding a free technical training course May 11 for anyone interested in learning about amateur radio and perhaps even sitting for a Technician test.

There is no minimum age, although the material can be technical.  Even motivated teens have passed the test, and some even younger.

Check out this flyer for details, times, location and web sites to review before attending.

Links to March 21, 2013 - Support Scam

For more information about the Tech Support scam, see Microsoft's page about it, and the FTC's page.

The FTC's site, OnGuardOnline.gov alerts us to a variety of online scams, and ways to educate ourselves and our children.

Family Tech: Many Cameras at one event

Many cameras in the family, all taking photos of the same event.  How do you consolidate the photos?

One method is discussed in this Family Tech column.

How to : Consolidate Photos from Several Cameras using Dropbox

Update 4/21/2016 : This solution using Dropbox is being superseded by a new process using Google Photos. 

See the updated How-to.



In the Family Tech column published March 14, 2013 we discuss how several family members using their camera phones might take pictures of the same event, and how the family might want to consolidate those photos into one place.

For example, a family of four might go on vacation.  Both parents, and both teenage children, have smart phones and are taking photos during the entire vacation.

How can we easily get all of these photos into one place so we can share them as a family, then publish them to friends and family and finally back them up for long term safe keeping?

There are any number of methods, but the one outlined in the column has each person creating their own free Dropbox account.

Be sure to test this setup on your system extensively to be sure it works for you and does not put your photos at risk.  Be sure also
to use this method with another backup system to insure the 
safety of your photos.

The entire process is outlined here step-by-step :

1.  Create Dropbox accounts for each member of the family

     a.  Go to the dropbox.com website
              (if you use this link, the size of your box should be 2 gigabytes + 256 megabytes bonus)

     b.  Create a new account for primary user.
             Be sure to record the email address and password you use to create the account.

    c.  Be sure to log out of Dropbox when you are done creating the account.

    d.  For every other member of the family, repeat steps a, b & c.

Family Tech: Your ISP is watching

Your ISP may have started watching your downloads, and if they feel you are downloading copyrighted material, they might cut your internet speed down, yet charge you full price.

This is the topic of Family Tech for March 7, 2013.  

Family Tech: Beyond Facebook

Everyone knows Facebook.  What about other useful social sites?

Family Tech for February 28, 2013 has been posted.

Links for March 7, 2013 - Six Strikes

There are no links for the March 7, 2013 column.

Update 03-12-13:  Column posted here

Incredible iPad Case

Today I saw a child take his iPad and repeatedly slam it against a table.

I don't mean once or twice, but probably ten or more time this ten year old raised his iPad above his head and with all his might, slammed the iPad down against the table.

Afterwards, the iPad screen was intact, and the iPad worked.  I had to ask the mother the name of the case on their iPad.

It was a Kidbox. [Amazon Affliate Link]

They run about $35 for a full sized iPad, and about $30 for the mini.

I can't guarantee that it will perform for everyone this well, but today, it was amazing!

Evernote Alert

Security Notice: Service-wide Password Reset | Evernote

Family Tech: Have you thought about your PC lately?

Family Tech for February 21, 2013 asks if you have worried about your PC lately?  Have you checked your anti-virus?  What about backup.

Links for February 28, 2013 - Social Media

This week we talk about some websites besides the well known Facebook and Twitter.

They are Quora and Reddit and Google+

Update March 9, 2013: Column posted.

Family Tech: Commute Tech

Let technology make you more productive, or at least less bored, during your long commute.

This week's Family Tech.

Links for February 21, 2013 - PC Maintenance

Links mentioned in this week's column :

AV Test of Security Software

Free Anti-Virus Software

• AVG
• Avast
• Microsoft Security Essentials

PC Magazine profile of Security Software

Update 3/1/2013 : Column posted here

Family Tech: Customizing Android

Why I like Android:  customization.

This week's Family Tech.

Links for February 14, 2013 - Commute Tech

Links mentioned in Family Tech for February 14, 2013

NPR Podcasts

Podcasts on iTunes


History podcasts

• BBC History
• Hardcore History
• China History Project

Tech Podcasts

• The TWIT Network (This Week in Tech, This Week in Google and many more)
• Engadget Podcast
• The Verge Podcast

Car Blackbox type apps

• An Android App
• An IOS App

Flipboard

• Android
• IOS

Update 02/22/2013 - link to the column

Links for February 7, 2013 - Ways to Automate your Android phone or tablets

There are simple automation apps like AutomateIt.

The most powerful program of this type is Tasker.  It has a pretty steep learning curve, but it also can control more aspects of the phone than any other app I have found.

Locale is another fairly sophisticated app, but I have not played with it.

Update 07-15-2013 : Column is online here.

Family Tech: Free wireless phone. Sort of.

If you have an old Android or iPhone sitting around, you can set it up with free wireless service.  Sort of.

This week's Family Tech column.

Links for January 31, 2013 - Wifi Phones

Here are links to items mentioned in this week's Family Tech column.

Talkatone for iPhone

Android Apps:

• SipDroid
• Groove IP Lite
• Talkatone

Update 02-05-2013 : the column is now online.

Family Tech: Subscription Software

Don't want to shell out huge bucks at one time for software?  Now Microsoft and Adobe will sell you a monthly subscription.  This week's Family Tech is online.

Be sure to see the link post for some more information.

Links for January 24, 2013 Family Tech

Here are some links to topics mentioned in Family Tech for January 24,2013 :

Adobe Creative Cloud

I have no links yet from Microsoft for Office 2013 since it has not yet been release.

Release is expected in the next few weeks.

Update : 1/29/2013  Microsoft released Office 2013 today!

Link to this column is here.

Family Tech: What's New at CES?

Family Tech:  New TVs, new tablets and more fun new things shown at the Consumer Electronics Show this year.

Links for January 17, 2013 Family Tech

Here are some links to topics mentioned in Family Tech for January 17,2013 :

• Roundup of Ultra HD TV sets
• Samsung Evolution Kit
• Archos TV Connect
• Some interesting Tablets
• Vuzix M100 Smart Glasses
• Recon smart goggles

Update 01-19-2013 :  The column is online.

Family Tech: Tech Changes our Lives

The first Family Tech column to appear in the brand new Prince William Today newspaper, is now available online at InsideNova.com.

In it, we look at how technology continues to change our lives, and what the column hopes to bring readers of the new paper.

Advanced Google Search Class

In 2012, I wrote about an online Google Search class.  Now they are offering an Advanced Search Class.

Registration closes February 8, so hurry.

Prince William Today available today

The initial edition of Prince William Today is being delivered to subscribers, and hitting some local 711s today.

Family Tech is not yet online at InsideNova.com, but I'll post when it is.

You can subscribe to home delivery at http://www.princewilliamtoday.com/

Family Tech from 2009-2012 no longer online

With the closing of the News & Messenger on December 30, 2012, the Family Tech columns from September 2009 through December 2012 are no longer online.

I am asking the owner of the News & Messenger to grant me the copyright to those columns so that I can reproduce them here.

I'll update here if I am successful.

Links for January 10, 2013 column

Tomorrow sees the first Family Tech for 2013, and the first in the new paper, Prince William Today.  I'll post a link to the column when it appears on InsideNova.com.

Every week if there are links mentioned in the column, I'll put them in a post on this website.

As it turns out, there were no relevant links for this week's column.

Update 1/12/2013 :    The column is now online.

One great mom's rules for her son with a new phone.

Teenager Gets New iPhone For Christmas… Along With 18-Point Contract From Mom | Cult of Mac Mobile