Category Archives: Gadgets & Apps

All posts that don’t obviously fit in one of the sub-categories go here.

Photos: Box ’em up and scan ’em

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I shudder to think of the hours I’ve spent scanning photos. In the early days, I scanned one image at a time and was so clueless I scanned at very low resolution. A lot of those poor scans are still on line, but I just don’t have the time (or will) to re-scan.

So I sent about 120 prints off to ScanCafe. I believe the prints wind up somewhere in India where they are “scanned by hand.” Costs 29 cents an image. About $40 by the time I was done. I could not have scanned and cleaned them for that price.

When they’re done they send you a link to a web page where you can review and pick the images you want (or don’t). They they send you a DVD.

I’ll probably try another service, just to compare. Watch this space.

Google Voice now for everyone

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Google Voice was “invitation only” for a long time but now they’ve opened it up so I’m going to start using the number I’ve had for a while. Only way I’m going to get the hang of it. Video above runs about 90 sec. The link in the sidebar will probably take you to my voice-mail, at least until I learn the ropes.

Image above is the Google Voice in-box. Google Voice does a fair job of transcribing the voice mail message (close enough). I can also play the message, of course.

I also received an email that had pretty much the same thing. You can also set it up for a text alert.

Google voice does a lot more but I’m not going to try to explain it until I have a better grasp. And the video at the top of this post really has all you need.

While I might not wan to give out my mobile number to everyone, I can safely give out my Google Voice number (573-200-6776) and rely on Google to help me manage it all. For example, I can have Barb’s calls come straight to my iPhone… while sending calls from her sister right into voice-mail.

Pandora

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I really, really hope small town radio stations figure out how to survive and thrive in this new media world in which they find themselves. If I had The Secret Nazi Formula, I send guys out on motorcycles (with sidecars) to each and every station. But I don’t.

I’m taking a vacation day, sitting in the Coffee Zone fine-tuning one of my Pandora channels (“stations?”). I’d like to share just a couple of features:

For those unfamiliar with Pandora, it’s a streaming music service. You start by picking a song or artist and Pandora starts playing songs based on that information. You vote thumbs up or thumbs down on each song, and Pandora just keeps refining the music you hear.

If it all starts sounding a bit too similar, you can “Add Variety” (see image above). For example, I added Paul Simon and Brandi Carlile to my Pomplamoose channel. The result is so finely tuned to my musical tastes, I don’t see how any radio station could match it. They could not. And with every song I listen to (or don’t) my channel gets better.

Pandora also gives me the option to share my creation and find others who like the same music.

So. What’s missing? Commercials? Weather? Sports? News about the oil gushing into the Gulf? A funny guy to talk over the beginning of my songs? Weekly specials from my local supermarket? Maybe.

iPhone 4

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I knew I’d upgrade but I didn’t expect to be excited by the new iPhone 4. The front-facing camera and video chat didnt seem like something I’d use that much (I believe I said that about the original iPhone). But after watching the FaceTime video I’ve changed my mind. Once again, Mr. Jobs knows what I want before I do.