Retirement Lifestyle: New Computer Requirements

I have always had an Mac computer...since the beginning of Steve Job's computer life we have owned a Mac or Apple or iMac or an iPad or an iPhone, an iWatch, etc. (Is there more?) I don't think it is a religion but it might be. I do feel compelled to scoff at PC users as they do me. But that is not a religion is it?

Anyway, times they are a-changing for me. I am not that fired up about change most of the time and it is not necessarily welcome. So that "changing" did not happen overnight. There was a big bang that started it all. The chain of events went like this:

My computer (the big iMac) was smashed on the way home of Arizona and now has a big ouchy on it's upper right hand corner. In this particular case, the Gorilla glass just couldn't take the punch it received. In hide-site, I think that the security people at the airport opened my bag, unpacked my bag and then repacked my bag and did not secure the computer the way it was secured when we packed it. There was a note inside telling me they had taken a look but I think they did more than that. The suitcases shifted in the back of the van so when we arrived home and my grandson opened the back hatch door, the suitcase fell out. Thankfully it did not hit and kill the grandson. It did hit the concrete on it's corner. The suitcase was just fine but the computer was not. The suitcase cost less than $100 but the computer was well over $1000.


Yes, I called everyone imaginable but no one could/would help. Sooooo. I was in the market for a new computer. That was on April 25.

I have been thinking about this since. Because the really broken Mac still works fine, I had the luxury of time. But, my husband and I both knew that the Mac could not take another trip on the airplane. If I was going to write for the six months we spend in the desert in the winter, I was going to need something to write on.

Yesterday, we went to the local mall and we visited the Apple Store. It wasn't until I stood in front of the computers that I realized I did NOT want another computer. I wanted more.  I wanted the luxury and portability of an iPad and its touch screen plus the functions of my computer.

Bottom line, we bought a 12 inch iPad Pro and a keyboard that attaches. It is absolutely beautiful and will do just what I want it to do. When I opened the online Blogger App it was exactly the same as my computer. I felt right at home.

I did struggle a little bit setting it up. I forgot the passcode, had to learn to restore the device, forgot to write down the passcode a second time but I finally landed on my feet. We are set to go. So here I am writing on an iPad and not noticing any difference. Isn’t that wonderful?

Have your needs changed at all? Are you still using the same computer as always? How old is it? Is it a PC or a Mac? Keep me posted.

Have a beautiful day!

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9 Ways to Deal With (annoying?) Cell Phone Calls or Why Don't They Answer?

English: Phone box A rare sight these days, an old fashioned red phone box outside the Old Stores in Yarpole village. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I have three email addresses, an iPhone with text messaging and Whatsapp. I have an iPad too. Skype is loaded and ready to go. I seldom use any of them because everyone I know is very busy. It is very difficult to get a response from anyone. Does anyone else have this problem?

It hasn't been that many years ago that we wrote a letter on a piece of paper and put it in the mail. We were willing to wait for an answer and, if the answer did not come, the other person could always claim that it had never arrive..."darned postal service messed up again," they would say. No one's feelings were hurt.

But now...now we need a whole new list of excuses for not responding. My phone battery is dead, I didn't hear the beep and so on when the truth is the person on the other end of the phone probably did not feel like answering you. Remember, with caller ID on phones, everyone knows who is calling if the number is in their contacts list. No excuse can change that.

I think you would agree that there is probably a need for some clarification for intended use by the cell phone owner. Everyone needs to be very up front about how they are going to use that device and honest with themselves about what they are doing. Do you...

1. Never answer the phone but leave instruction on voice mail telling people that you do not answer your phone but will respond to messages then erase the ones that annoy you?
2. Block all those people you never intend to respond to ever no matter who they are?
3. Make excuses that are not true when people ask you about a call or text?
4. Give out your cell number and then blow everyone off? 
5. TELL EVERYONE WITHIN EARSHOT THAT YOU DON'T WANT THEM TO BOTHER YOU? 

If you are doing those things, ask yourself "why" and make an effort to let your contacts know about your attitude. (I would be curious to hear how you did that in a nice way.) Or rethink your actions.

If you are the one struggling with cell phone using friends or family you might consider these suggestions:

1. Take the hint and quit calling!
2. If you want to communicate with them, write a letter and mail it.
3. Always fill in the subject line when you send a text or email. Abbreviate the information so they will at least know why your are trying to contact them. If you don't hear back, so be it!
4. Do not call family at work unless you are bleeding or in the ambulance.

I heard a man talking on his phone recently. He was telling his daughter to never call him on his cell phone. He told her he was the only one that could use the phone. Wow! This technology really has us confused it seems. 

Does anyone have any ideas? Please share.

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It is just a thought!

My 6 Secret Semi-important iPad Hints

My friend Jack just bought himself his very first Apple iPad. He is like an older brother to me so I need to make sure that he has the benefit of my advice. He has been a PC user up until now. He had to let us know because he had been holding out for about 6 years. I suppose that in some weird parallel universe we had won...we have never owned anything but an Apple computer. I did own a Nokia cell phone once but that doesn't count...the iPhone had not been invented yet. Apple is kind of a religion with us I suppose. Anyway...

Water droplet Screen Saver

He is not the first of our friends to relent and every time someone buys one they beat a hot little path to our door. It just seems so confusing to them. But I will have to admit that the iPad is a bit of a mystery to me too. I haven't ever really taken full advantage of what it can do for me. I learn something new all the time, especially when I am teaching them. There are a few simple things that I need to point out to Jack so I thought I would make a small list right here on my blog.

1. Remember your iPad comes with a screen saver. It used to be droplets of water and they looked very real. Do not take the iPad to the Apple store and ask for a refund. There is no water and your iPad is not broken. It is all a mirage.
2. Your iPad can be used for mail, texting, skype and even taking pictures. It will not however add your contact list by magic. You will have to do that yourself. While computers are very cool they cannot really talk to each other unless you help them out.
3. Email and text messaging is wonderful even though young people do disdain it. You can talk to your iPad by touching the microphone on the keyboard. However, it does not make grammatical corrections and will often add goobledy gook when you want grandma's gone. It does not read your mind. You will have to make corrections. Read the directions telling you how to drag the cursor around in the text using your finger.
4. I love the new system 8 that allows you to send a voice text message. I don't know how to screw that up yet...I will let you know.
5. Don't get rid of your computer until you have figured out how to set up your email. I am still fuzzy about ip addresses and that kind of stuff but I do know it is on your computer somewhere...I wish that magic could happen there too but it just doesn't.
6. While your iPad is very cool it is always necessary to write your passwords down someplace with a pencil on a piece of paper, especially your Apple ID. You will use your email address as your user name and then a password that is yours alone. If you cannot remember your password please try to remember your address...both your home and email. It is sorta important. Refer back to the "magic" advice.

Welcome to the land of oz Jack. You know that Earl got his very own iPhone last year...I have not heard from him since. Talk to you soon.

Barbara

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• The Snugg Case Gives iPhone 5c a Masculine Look
• 10 Things I Cannot Live Without...all available online!

The Snugg Case Gives iPhone 5c a Masculine Look

The perfect iPhone case...simple, practical and masculine.
Snugg 5c phone case  

How many choices do you suppose there are in the world of iPhone cases? I would hazard to guess that there is a unique case for EVERYONE! As a result, deciding what to use is very confusing.  Let me make it easy for you...especially if you are a male that just wants the case to be a protection and not make you look like a dufus!  I think I have the perfect choice for you.

I am a big fan of The Snugg brand because they are reasonably priced and do what they are suppose to do without a bunch of needless bells and whistles. It's a cell phone case people! So the Snugg people sent my husband a simple black case that protects his 5c and actually makes the colored case a little more grown-up and masculine. AND the sale price right now is a paltry $9.00 on their website.  

The surface of the iPhone 5c is slick and shiny. It looks pretty but when I handle it but I always feel like it might slide out of my hand. The Snugg case has a slight texture that makes the phone feel more secure in my hand. I think Apple was marketing to a very young, hip group of people so the colors are neon. The black case tones the phone color down and leaves just a few edges visible so the owner can distinguish their phone from everyone elses in the room. I also liked that I could put it on my husbands phone is less than a second. So I ask you...what's not to like?  It is absolutely perfect.

Thank you Snugg...this is another winner. 

Note: I have an Executive Ipad Cover and Stand that Snugg sent me last summer.  I would not give it up...it is perfect! Snugg products are also available on Amazon and if you have a Prime account, in many cases, 2 day shipping is free.

How to make life easier with a Zooka Wireless Speaker?

When you are a senior with a hearing loss, technology and social networking can help you stay in touch with the world. We find that the use of a Zoola wireless bluetooth speaker can help us communicate with our family thus keeping the social part of our life active.

When we spend months away from our family, Skype keeps us connected with their lives. For example, on Christmas Day we shared the opening of our gifts with our daughter and her family via Skype. We set the iPads so we could see the whole room but then, when we wanted a close-up or to move to another room, we just picked up the iPad and did a little walk around.

However, there are a few problems with that plan. First of all, most iPads or laptops don't have speakers that can put out enough volume so you can hear across a room and if you have your device connected to a large speaker system, it cannot move around with you. While we like to see the people, we also want to hear what they are saying and carry on a conversation with them.

Note: This is not a sponsored post...I just want you to know
about the Zooka Wireless Speaker. I do however sell it with
 my Amazon associate account. Just click on the link if you are interested.

Screen Shot ls.

That is when we reach for our Zooka Wireless Speaker.
This little Carbon Audio device is only about 10 inches long so we can store it in the end table drawer, easy enough we can enable it in just a few seconds and it is very, very portable. Now we can set the iPad or laptop across the room so everyone can be seen and heard. It is designed so the iPad can use it as a stand or we could put it on the top of a thin laptop screen. We can also set it next to us if necessary. Carbon Audio says:

Each Zooka comes with one removable metal stand which raises the iPad/iPhone to the perfect viewing angle for any movie or media experience.

Zooka has a built-in microphone that enhances the use of Skype, FaceTime, and is perfect for incoming and outgoing phone calls

We use this little device ALL THE TIME! In fact, when we set it up, our family will say "Oh I remember that. You brought it to the brewpub so we could listen to music when we were sitting outside!" We can connect it to our computers, our iPhones and our iPad! I can listen to music on my porch linking with the computer indoors. I absolutely love this little device. It comes in lots of colors too. I wish I had an orange one but until I wear out the one I have or give it away to someone, I am stuck with black!

Coming up soon: A list of my favorites for 2013...pictures, books, opening paragraphs and more.  Keep watching.

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If you buy this little sound bar be sure to read this post for instructions on how to set it up. If the company has not printed better instructions, you will be confused. It is not hard but they just don't use enough words.

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5 Techie Gift Ideas for College Age Student

iClover - Bundle of 9 PCS SHORT Colorful Stylus Pen Set 

It has occurred to me that we need to talk to our older grandchildren more.  They really are very nice people. And when it comes to gift giving they know what they want...that is a good thing.

One of my teen grandsons asked for a longer cord for his iPad...who knew there even was such a thing.  That made me realize that maybe I was missing out by not just asking.  What do you think?

Here are a few ideas that my conversation with Sam sparked:

(1) 10 ft. iPad Charger Cable

(2) iPad Cover

1. 10 foot charger cords for iPhone and iPad
2. Updated ipad covers
3. Design Your Own Cell Phone Cases
4. Stylus Pen Bundle - Three 3 in 1 Laser Pointer, LED Flashlight, and Stylus Pens - Compatible with All Touchscreen Devices including iPhone, iPad, Android Phones and Tablets / plus 1 ECO-FUSED Microfiber Cleaning Cloth (Black, Red and Silver)
5. Anker Astro Mini 3000mAh Ultra-Compact Portable Charger Lipstick-Sized External Battery Power Bank Pack for most Smartphones and other USB-charged devices (Apple Adapters- 30 pin and Lightning, NOT Included) - Black




Portable Charge Stick 




(3) Design Your Own Cell Phone Cases...I have done this and it is easy,
fun and functional. No one has one just like it!

Children Speak: When the cartoon "sucks their brains out"!

Illustration of Peter Rabbit eating radishes, from The Tale of Peter Rabbit (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I was going to let my grandsons watch a cartoon when they visited last week. We had set up the iPad on their bed with the Zooka speaker. What did they want they want to watch? Well, it turns out there are rules. They take them very seriously and even obey them when their mother and father are not watching. Here is what I learned.

• Sponge Bob Square Pants sucks their brains out so they cannot watch that.
• Anything with policemen or guns is banned unless it is on the Learning Channel so their sister can find out about being a policeman. Guns are a very bad thing they tell me.
• Peter Rabbit Christmas Show is scary and they don't watch it because they cannot sleep.
• Grown up TV is not allowed because it is about bad stuff.
• They love Dino Dan...it is not a rule but if they had their way the rule would be that it is on 24/7.

They had me at "sucks my brains out".  Wow!

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p.s. The two year old is having a Scooby Doo party for his third birthday. Doesn't that have ghosts and dark closets? It even scares me a little bit. I really don't know how that fits in the plan!

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Internet Tendency: This is what Perfect Blog Posts looks like.

Poor man was having a bad day!

note: A special thanks goes out to Timothy McSweeney's Internet Tendency...really funny stuff!
 

I read about a guy today that had just bought a new iPad and wondered why he was not happy, content and filled with the Christmas Spirit. Actually he kinda hated his life! Poor man.

His name was Sam Weiner and the article title was Something is wrong with my iPad. I still hate my life. Now I wish I had thought of that title yesterday when I was writing the daily blog post. I have a long way to go before I actually know what I am doing. When I read Weiner's article, I knew that in the writing business there are some people that simply shine.

I stumbled on the website at StumbleUpon. Someone had recommended The Ultimate Guide to Writing Better.

So, if you want to see what REAL writers have to say go Internet Tendency. Bookmark the link and start learning!

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How to set up your Zooka (wireless speakers)...the puzzle is solved!

Note: Make this little device work for you...see this information!

Zooka Wireless Speaker for iPad and Bluetooth Devices (Black)
(or pink if you prefer)

I wrote yesterday about my friend Jo. She doesn't own a computer and uses the good old fashioned mail to communicate with her friends. I love that she does what she does.

I, on the other hand, will never be going back to the old fashioned way of doing things. My dad taught me very early on that life and creativity is very exiting. We talked about the newest inventions and could hardly wait to see what it would be like when we could actually hold it in our hands. TV, transistor radios, satellites in space and rocket ships to the moon filled our heads.
I only regret that he did not see the computer age. Oh how he would have loved that.

Now I am trying not the the "gadget of the week" kind of person but it is really hard. I love to try things out. I decided I wanted a wireless speaker for my iPad and Zooka was calling my name. It is just the kind of minor toy that happens to make me very happy.

The little egg shaped bar is produced by Carbon Audio. I found it online and ordered it from Amazon.  The advertisement talked about how easy and wonderful it was. According to them, you might be able to just open the package and have tunes right away.

I love a puzzle better than the average bear. But when I opened the  little box there was only the speaker, a cord and a little card with a few pictures.  No words, no verbal instruction in any language. No information on a link to look for more information. They had taken the "quick start" method to extremes.

HMMMMMM! Common sense told me that all I needed to do was plug it in and wait. I know that my iPhone said that I needed to charge it before I could use it. But the card didn't say that and did not have a picture of my Zooka plugged in. There was a picture of the sound bar with a little rod that would support the Zooka but the rod was not in the box. I was a little miffed. I thought they had forgotten my stand. What was up with that? And what was that little piece of metal sticking out of the end? Darn.

I slept on it...well didn't sleep exactly...but I thought about it all night. I wanted to figure this out on my own because I had learned at my father's knee was that it was more fun to put something together without the directions. We did laugh a lot but in this particular case, I was not laughing though. Now was the time to get smart.

I turned on my computer and found PC Magazine had posted an article about the device. They said it is a "Treasure Hunt" to set it up. This is what was is NOT on the card:

1. Hold the power button in for about a second.
2. Hold the Bluetooth button in for three seconds to activate it. Zooka will emit a tone at the end of that time to confirm Bluetooth activation.
3. The passcode needed to pair Zooka with a Bluetooth device. It's 0000. (I do not need with with my apple devices.)
4. The information missing from the card can be found in an excellent quick start guide for the device prepared by Carbon Audio. All you have to do is go online and get it, not a route taken by many enthusiastic purchasers until forced to resort to it. (I wasn't the only one!)
5. Oh, and that little metal piece sticking out the end is the rod that serves as the stand. I gave it a little tug and there it was. All I needed to do was screw it in the back of the sound bar.

I do check my iPad, iPhone or computer to make sure it is paired with Zooka when I want to use it. If you are like us you will have three or four bluetooth devices in the same room. I don't know if it is necessary but I turn bluetooth off on the ones I am not using. 

Oh by the way, Zooka was funded using KickStarter. The developer lives right here in Portland, Oregon. That is a good story all by itself. Take a look at their KickStarter website.

Rating: I love this Zooka thing. It does just what I want it to do. It is not surround sound but I do not want that. I wanted portable, small, easy to use and black. I got all of those and more...the box contained an invisible story!

Have a wonderful day.

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Note: Be sure to notice the Amazon Store at the top left hand corner under the header. That is my new store. If you don't find what you want there, go to the Amazon search on the left sidebar:).

Magazines on iPad...some for free! Goody Goody!

I am loving my iPad more now that when I first was given it as a gift. This is my latest discovery...magazines for my iPad! We only have one TV and it is football season. My husband loves football. I love it in small doses. I cannot write or work all of the time. I need my iPad magazines so I can pass the ever darkening evenings that come with Fall. It turns out that it is true:  Necessity is the mother of invention (or discovery in my case). Here is what I have learned...iPad has MAGAZINES...LOTS OF MAGAZINES!

The iPad allows me the option of reading and storing my magazines. Paper is kind of precious or that is what I think. Now I can read my magazines and not have piles under the table and on the table and in the drawer of the table. It is all good.

However, there are a few things I have noticed. While there are many magazines that can be downloaded using the magazine App, not all the magazine for the iPad are created equal.

• Take Country Living for example. This magazine has been one of my favorites for many years. I love the pictures and inspiration for country decor. However......this App gives you just a magazine and nothing more. You can turn the pages, enlarge the pictures to a point but that is about all.  There is no scrolling the print down at all. If you enlarge a picture, you cannot see the print because it is not in a separate sidebar type of location.  I had this experience with Oprah on my computer.
• On the other hand, I downloaded Real Simple Magazine this morning and I was delighted. The ability to see menus from each section of the magazine and pick which pages I wanted to actually view just blew me away. I know I am behind the curve here but still, I was impressed.

Be aware that, while the App is free, most magazines are not. You can get each issue separately or you can subscribe for a year. The cost is considerably less and if you buy a particular magazine every month you might want to go that way. I suggest you look at each magazine before you purchase a years worth. Don't waste your money. The iPad version may not live up to the real magazine experience.

4 Free Magazine 
Fat Wallet listed a few free iPad app magazines you may be interested in. I am downloading all of these.

• Slate  Slate is a news provider of the sorts. It is not liberal or conservative...it is contrarian! That might be fun. 
• Flipboard  News feed
• Discover for Ipad A wiki magazine that could come in handy
• Website Magazine for Ipad If you are a techie or are in a small online business, this is may be what you need.
• Net-a-Porter  Free magazine about style + shopping. (I like this one.)
• More...MacRumors forum has a wonderful list of free magazines you might check out.

Honestly speaking, I have struggled with my iPad. It did not seem to me that it was very useful for anything but going online with a bigger screen than my iphone gave me. My father taught me that if all else fails, read the directions. I need to apologize to the iPad makers. Reading the directions would have been useful. But I am now beginning to understand how the device works! I still haven't read the directions...for that I am sorry. I will do that soon...I promise. Oh and my piece of advice is don't always follow your father's advice!

I thought if I was expanding my horizons, you might as well join in.  What do you know about my iPad that I should know?

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Making your ipad pay for itself or free is good!

Source: google.com via OLS on Pinterest

Apple iPad 2 MC979LL/A Tablet (16GB, Wifi, White) 2nd Generation

Yup! You heard me! That ipad of yours is a very cool little device...an multi-machine in one box kind of machine.  I am no expert...there are people that can tell you everything.  But this is what I do know!  You can get along without some of those devices when you buy your ipad!

I was visiting with a friend a couple of weeks ago. She had gotten an ipad and was busy taking pictures of the group at my class reunion. (No extra camera!) We were talking about how wonderful the ipad was and sharing our love for it. Then I asked her about using the Kindle app. to read books.  The look of amazement on her face caught me off guard. "You can buy a Kindle to use on your ipad?" came out of her mouth before I could tell her more about her ipad choices. The truth of the matter is Kindle App IS FREE on your ipad!

Good stuff on your ipad:

1. Kindle is free.  Amazon wants you to buy books from them.
2. Nook is free.  Barnes and Noble wants you to buy books from them.
3. Libraries also have books that they will loan you using both Kindle and Nook.  You save gas and trips to the library
4. You ipad also can be your telephone if you use Skype. Video chatting is free or you can buy minutes from them and use your ipad as a phone when you are on wireless. If you used this device wisely I can see a way that you would not even need cell phone service. If you need to be very frugal it may be something worth looking into.
5. You can text message on your ipad just like your phone...handy, included and free.  
6. If you have an ipad and do not have a Internet service in your home, you can still go to the local coffee shop and go online to check email and even do a little writing.  Internet can be free.
7. Map apps can help you with navigation and can make your gps useless but if you are to do this you must either be on a wireless service or have your ipad tethered to your phone.
8. I have high hopes that one day the ipad will become more like the iphone and allow us to use it anywhere.  I have not checked on cost with the tethered ipad.  It may be worth purchasing it for travel.  Some hotels charge a lot for Internet service and provide nothing! 
9. If you own one of these, your family is going to love you because books bought in ebook form are a lot cheaper than the paper versions.  $$$$ for more gifts...for you maybe.
10. You can buy magazine subscriptions and have those magazine available no matter where you go.  Imagine carrying all those magazines on the plane or buying a second copy at the airport because you don't have the one you want with you.  It just makes good sense. 

I am finding more and more uses for the device. It just takes a while to change the way I think of it.  But then it has taken ME a while of read the newspaper on my computer.  I am a computer nerd but I am not easily convinces when it comes to new toys.  I love that ipad a lot!

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10 Things I Cannot Live Without...all available online!

Somethings cannot be purchased online
...family, friends, sunshine! :)

I am inviting you to think about this...10 things that you could not live without.  I am retired, 69 and live in a small space.  If you were wanting to shop for my favorite things this is what you would look for:

1. My microroplane zester...I yearned for one of these for years but just could not make myself buy one.  I even used a rasp from my husband's shop for a while.
2. The exfoliating gloves I use in my shower.  
3. My Kindle reader...this device has made it possible for me to read again.
4. My Apple iPad 2.
5. Girly shoes.  I love shoes.
6. The Pendleton blanket that belonged to my parents.
7. My NeckPillow by Tempur-Pedic 
8. Apple iMac 7-Inch Desktop 
9. Dyson Vacuum Cleaner  Really, I will never own another brand.  It is the best.
10. My iphone (4s is coming next)...I even take most of my pictures for this blog with it.

There you have it.  If I were to go shopping for all your favorite things was would you suggest?

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