Category Archives: J&J Rant

Apple Maps, Google Maps, and Waze! They all need help, but some are better than others.

Everyone that knows me well, knows I love Apple products, and think that they do a great job in most areas (and no that doesn’t mean I don’t like Android or Microsoft, I use both also). Apple however drastically dropped the ball this past year when it comes to Apple Maps. They look good and all (big street names, 3D and satellite views), but they just plain don’t work well. After they did the update from ____, I kept getting bad directions, and gave up on it quickly. Other issues (as if bad directions weren’t bad enough) include lack of vocal turn by turn on older devices, no traffic knowledge, and depending on your current settings the map won’t move onto the next direction after you make a turn. Many people have had issues with the newer version and the news has reported about them at nausium. Apples solution so far has been to give a press release stating that there are alternative apps to use instead and to get rid of some executives that were in charge of the project.

After giving up on Apple Maps, I quickly turned to my tech friends for a new app that was more dependable. All of them suggested Waze, and after testing, a Waze I went. Waze is really a premium app that continues to work very well. It generally gives great direction including using traffic knowledge (have had a few issues with directions, but not many), vocal turn by turns, good estimates on of time of arrival, and a lot of other extras such as police reports, gas reports, and traffic conditions. They get most of this information from the mass of users openly giving the information from their devices in real time. It’s most impressive when your route and arrival time get adjusted in mid route because of traffic conditions. A local news station is even using Waze on their news casts for traffic information because of its unique accuracy.

Although I give Waze massive praise, the latest version does have a few issues. The first one is that the vocal directions appear to have gotten a slight downgrade. Instead of saying, “Please get ready to turn right on Pleasant Hill road in a half a mile.” It now says, “Turn right in .5 miles.” Sorry, but I like the more pleasant and full directions. It’s just plain more personal. The other issue that I think is pretty major is the initial mileage calculations. When you first plug in an address and Waze finds the correct location, it gives how many miles away it is. Unfortunately, the mileage it gives you is as- the- crow flies, and not by road directions. So it may originally tell you that where you are going is 3 miles away, but after telling it to get started, you actually have to drive 11 miles to get there. I really wish they would switch this to give a mileage based on the shortest or quickest route. At least this way you would get a better estimate of time needed. I found myself not giving enough time for travel due to this initial mileage report, and this caused some big issues.

As I mentioned above, I have had some issues with Waze giving me directions and I did like the original map apps that came on iOS devices (Google maps), so with Google recently coming out with their updated version for iOS, I decided to give it a try. To my surprise, it’s not half bad. In fact it’s much better than the original iOS app. It gives very personal vocal turn by turn directions, it normally gives good directions (again I have had some issues), and its initial route calculations do appear to take traffic into consideration. You also get Googles wealth of knowledge about where things are, such as the closest grocery store or gas station.

On a day by day or drive by drive basis, I will continue to rely on Waze because of its unique added advantages. However due to its occasional inability to find a location, I will always make sure that I have a copy of Google Maps as a backup. I do hope that Waze will fix the issues that it does have, because I would love to see this great community app get even better. I also hope for Apple’s sake, that they get their act together and do something about Apple Maps (hello…. buy Waze!)

Jason Thomas
J&J Computers 

Wired In While on Vacation! Being connected when trying to disconnect….

The services; Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Netflix, Huluplus, etc…… The devices; Cell Phones, Tablets, Laptops, etc…. Urrrrrggggg! Haven’t we had enough? Well, maybe not.

I recently got back from a camping trip and it got me thinking about some good reasons that come from being wired in (connected via cell phones, tablets, laptops, etc.) while on vacation. I’m a firm believer that while camping or on any vacation for that matter, you should limit the amount of connectivity that you have and focus on the experience you went for. However during this trip, there were some things that showed me why some connectivity is good, and although a lot of us now take this for granted, without it we could have been in a big mess!

The first thing that came up was the need to still be connected to work! Yes the dreaded working while on vacation. Now while I don’t recommend this at all, there are times that you have to decide to stay connected to work while on vacation or you may not get a vacation. Which would you decide, take a few phone calls or just plain not go on a vacation. This is a real option some corporate employees have to consider depending on their job. The other thought is, what you would have to go back to if you don’t take a few phone calls or answer a few e-mails. It could be a mess….. I have even seen people link tablets and laptops to cell phones to get projects done, but at least they were still able to be there.

The second thing I noticed was that not only do we have the ability to update others about our trips while we’re on them by being wired in, the people that read these status updates tend to relate, like, and comment on these updates more than most other posts. The pleasure of the experience is shared with those that aren’t able to be there themselves. These updates also let us make long lasting records of the experiences without having to go through long tedious tasks of old to preserve them. If you’re even close to my age, then you remember having to wait and get your film developed, put the pictures in a scrap book (if that ever happened), and then others would only enjoy that once a year when you tortured them to see everything at once.

Last but not least, I noticed (and all parents would agree) that there are times (waiting in long lines, travel time, etc.) that being wired in can help kids pass time in a more productive way when there aren’t other things to occupy them. Again, I don’t normally recommend this, but there are times that kids need to be kept engaged, and our new always connected devices can do just that. Without them we could have children running wild, screaming and crying, mad, or at best bored out of their minds. Heck, you could have them learning something by giving them a fun educational app. Being connected could even enhance a child’s experience by them being able to look up additional information about things they see or places they go.

The biggest thing to remember about all of these, is that it should be in moderation. If you are missing your vacation because you are wired in, or stopping every five minutes to post an update, or watching your kids pay more attention to a screen then what’s around them, then you and your family are wired in way to much! An example of this is the father talking on a business call, while mom is posting about him not really paying attention to the kids that are so busy playing video games that they don’t realize that the parade they’ve been waiting all day for at Disney just went by and they all missed it. Yes, this is a real example…….

So, if you’re one of those people that shuts off all electronics, gets mad at others that don’t, or just plain don’t believe in being connected while on vacation, remember that being wired in isn’t all bad, and can even improve or enhance the experience.

Jason Thomas
J&J Computers 

Cloud Storage? Why? Which?

Let’s start off by addressing the use of the word “Cloud” by saying that it is basically just a fancy marketing word used for the internet.  When you connect to “Cloud” storage, or a “Cloud” based application, you are simply connecting to a service on the internet.  There is little to no difference to what everyone has been doing for years, except that the services have become more robust and user friendly.  In fact some of the services are exactly the same with just new client interfaces or front ends on them.  A great example of this is the calendar systems that everyone is using to sync their Apple devices to.  They run on the iCal to WebDAV systems, and iCal was developed in 2002 and WebDAV was started back in 1996.  Even some of the file storage systems are using WebDAV, FTP, or SFTP which has also been around for a long time.  The point I’m trying to make, is that this technology really isn’t that new, and all the hype and worry about storing stuff in the “Cloud”/ internet shouldn’t make everyone worry so much.  Like anything in computers, have a backup, and think security.

Now on to storage…  You can now store basically any file type on the internet, but it depends on what you want to store and why you want to store it.  It makes no sense to go out and get a Carbonite account, if you want to stream media, how ever if you want a cheap but reliable backup service, then it makes perfect sense.  I like to break online storage up into a few categories:  Backup, Syncing of user files, and Calendars/Contacts.

Backups are a must….  You should always have at least two, and I always recommend one on site backup (for quick use) and one offsite backup (either removable drives or online).  There are several online backup sites such as Carbonite, Mozy, etc.  Check for pricing, privacy, and ease of use.  I currently recommend Carbonite for their price and ease of use.  I have also gotten really good feedback from clients on their service.  If you are looking for something more private then there are always local vendors doing backup services as well.  The big thing to remember about backup services is they are designed specifically for that, BACKUP….  Yes, some will let you access specific files remotely, but that is not what they are built for, nor do their interfaces make it easy.

Syncing of user files is something that everyone should get used to….  If you’re not doing it, you soon will be.  The major companies in the tech industry are pushing us there (personally I love it).  There are many different services to use, and yes most of the big ones are done by big tech companies.  Google has Google Drive, Apple has iCloud, and Microsoft has their Sky Drive.  Each of these services are built to revolve around their products, but also allow for others to make use of parts if not all of the storage.  This does not mean that you are stuck using their service if you are using their products. My personal favorite syncing service is DropBox.  It gives you a folder on your computer to drag and drop things into, and then these files are available online and on your other devices.  There are also other services such as SugarSync, Box, and Insync.

Simply put Calendars and Contacts are normally best stored on the platform that you use the most.  If you are a Google and Andriod type person then you should clearly be using Google.  If you are an Apple and iOS type person then you should be using iCloud.  And yes Microsoft, Blackberry, and many others have their systems for syncing as well.  The big issue is what happens if you use multiple platforms.  Just through trial and error (more like pulling teeth and hair) I have found that using Google as the main storage of Calendars and Contacts appears to be the most reliable and interchangeable when using multiple platforms.

There are many other reasons to store information online that we have not covered and many other services.  Just make sure that you choose the right service for your particular needs.  You will probably find out that you need several services to meet all your needs.  We currently use Drop Box, iCloud, and Google Drive, all for different reasons.  You may need a service like MediaFire that allows a large amount of data to be stored.  You may need a streaming media service like iTunes (yes you can upload media to iTunes to be played across other devices).  The point is to do your research, and ask opinions to find the best service for your needs.

The last thing to discuss is security and privacy.  There are very few, if any, services that have not yet been hacked or found a security hole.  So when you are putting things online, make sure that they are not things that would be detrimental if they got into the open.  You can also use software to encrypt files before uploading them, and decrypt them when you use them.  Protect yourself and your data, don’t rely on the service to do that for you……

Jason Thomas
J&J Computers 

Buyer beware of The Return Scam!  

This isn’t really a new scam, but it is newer for the tech industry and it’s becoming more prevalent every day.  The basics of the scam is that you buy a new high end tech toy (i.e. Table, Computer, etc.) and when your ready to unwrap and play with your great new device it’s a fake, dud, or maybe not even in the box.

What appears to be happening is that some very unworthy people are buying devices, taking them out and keeping them (or selling them to someone else for profit) and then returning the original wrapping / container for a full refund.  The retail stores are then putting them back on the shelf and reselling them, in-which others then buy.  These people / criminals are even going to the extent of putting in fake versions of the devices or re-shrink wrapping them so they look like they were never opened.  Unfortunately the end buyer then has to take up the issue with the retail store and try to prove that they didn’t take the original device and that they bought it that way from the store.  It also normally takes a lot to get the retail store to admit that they were originally had by the scammer and put the returned item back for sale.

For the purpose of this writing we are going to assume that everyone reading this agrees that the scammer is a low life thief,  and not worth anymore time typing about.  Our big issues is with the retail stores that are somewhat helping the scammer get away with it.  If I’m buying a new high end gadget, that is very expensive, I expect that device to have come from the factory and sold to me only.  Not to have been sold, returned, and then resold…..  Even if it looks like it hasn’t been opened.  Scamming aside, what if it was dropped after purchase, or left out in a hot car, etc….  Even these things can cause damage.

Retail stores have to take returns.  I get that!  However they have different outlets for dealing with those returns.  Some have the ability to return them to the manufacturer.  Some have outlet stores.  Some even sell their returns to companies that specifically resell returned items.  At the least, they can mark the item as a returned item and offer either a discount or a warranty with the product.  A great example of this is Fry’s Electronics.  They take items back all the time.  They open the packaging up, inspect it, mark it as a return (so everyone, including the next buyer knows it) and then place it back on the shelf with a small discount.  But other retailers shouldn’t be putting returns straight back on the shelf to sell to an unknowing customer.

WHAT CAN YOU DO?  This is a great question, and we have a few suggestions….

1.  When ever possible buy directly from the factory or company that makes the product.  An example of this is any Apple product.  Why would you buy an Apple product from a Target, Walmart, or Best Buy, when you can buy it directly from an Apple store for the same price?  They will know their products better and have less issues with returns than a general store that sells multiple companies products.

2.  When possible, open up the product in the store to inspect it.  No I don’t mean go around opening a bunch of boxes.  What I mean is that if the store allows it within their policies, open only the one you intend to buy.  If its not a store that would allow this, open it up and inspect it as soon as possible.  The less time between purchase and finding an issue, the less issues you will have if there is a problem.

3.  Always inspect the packaging of the item you intend to purchase.  If the shrink wrap, box, container, plastic security tab, or any thing doesn’t look right, pick out another one on the shelf.  Each one on the shelf should look identical, and if one stands out for any reason, don’t purchase that one.

At the end of the day retail stores are not trying to sell products that aren’t worthy of sale, but they should have better systems in place to track and stop return situations like these.  As consumers, we need to be aware of these situations and do what we can to protect ourselves when possible.

Recent related article:  CNN

Jason Thomas
J&J Computers 

A lot of people have written about which in their opinion is the better device to get as an eReader.  This short but sweet post will be the same, but yet possibly different.

All three devices can download ebooks and let you read them.  All three have their plusses and their minuses.  Let’s look at a few.

Readability:  If you are looking for ease on the eyes, then the iPad is not for you!  The Kindle and Nook do a much better job of being easy on the eyes due to their screen technology.  Instead of using a traditional screen style they use a black/white e-ink screen.  This type of screen is very easy to read and therefore makes it easier to read for a longer time.  This type of screen also makes it much easier to read in direct sunlight, where as the iPad has glare issues.

Speed:  The iPad is fairly fast at loading and page turns.  The Kindle does not seem to be as fast as the iPad, and the Nook about the same, if not a little slower.

Battery Life:  This all comes down to the model or generation that you buy.  Each newer version appears to be getting better at this.  Everything I have read does suggest however, that the Kindle and Nook have a better battery life than the iPad, and most likely this is due to the e-ink screen mentioned earlier.  This type of screen does not use backlighting as the iPad does, therefore uses less energy.

Connectivity:  This too differs from model to model.  All three have WiFi only versions, and all three have 3G + WiFi versions.  This just comes down to what you need and what price you are willing to pay for it.

Price:  Yep, this is a big one!  I’m not going to quote prices (mainly due to them always changing), but let’s sum it up as the iPad is a lot more!  The Kindle and Nook have very similar prices for very similar features.

Functions:  With the BIG price tag of the iPad also comes a lot of features….  It is not just an eReader!  And I don’t care what others are saying, it is a mini computer, and for some people can be a laptop replacement.  It has lots and lots of apps, and can do a lot of functions that laptops can do.  Now I will say that it is very limited as far as being a computer, but for those that mainly just surf the net and read, it is a great device.  The Kindle and the Nook however are just eReaders.

These are just a few things to think about before buying one of these devices.  As for which is the best one, well that depends on the person.  Each person needs to go and test each one, then make their own decision.  As for me, the iPad is the way to go!

One last food for thought….  Is it the right time to get one of these devices?  Well maybe not…  There are already rumors of another version of iPad being released, and the majority of people are speculating that it will now have at least one camera and even better screen.  There is also the possibility that the Kindle and Nook may go color in the next year with the invent of new color e-ink screens.  Well that’s the way technology is!  Wait a year and everything is smaller, thinner, faster, and better.

Jason Thomas
J&J Computers