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HOUR 2:
Tech News & Commentary
Brian in Cleveland, Ohio listening on CKLW 800 asked: “I’ve noticed that the phones I purchased over the last few years have a lot of apps already installed on them that keep running in the background and cannot be deleted from the phone – at least not by any means I’ve tried. Is there a way to remove all these apps that were already on the phone when I bought it… or is there a phone I can buy, Android or iPhone, that will not come pre-loaded with all this garbage that eats up system resources?”
The easiest way to find an Android phone that doesn’t come with extra bloatware is to look for one with the word “Nexus” in the name. Nexus phones and “Google Phones” run a stock version of the Android OS and they come without extra apps built in.
By the way, iPhones come free of carrier bloatware, because Apple just doesn’t allow it.
Both stock Android phones and iPhones will still come with software you won’t be able to un-install even if you don’t use it, and some of it will perform some functions in the background, though nothing on either operating system is as bad as the apps carriers add onto the phones they customize.
You can always just root a phone and remove the apps you don’t like that way, but that does come with a certain amount of risk, it’s legal, but it will void your warranty and in some cases it may even violate the terms and conditions of your cell phone service, so it may be easier and safer to just stick to the route you chose and look for a phone that doesn’t come with a lot of bloatware to begin with.
For more information, tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast. Just click the red arrow in the upper right column on this page.
“This Week in Tech History” Weekly Feature with Chris Graveline
Robert in Grove City, Pennsylvania listening via the App asked: “I’m due for a phone upgrade with Verizon next month and I’m trying to decide which phone I want. I’m currently an Android user and I’ve been back and forth on several Android phones like the Droid RAZR Maxx, the Galaxy S3 and so forth. Any advice would be helpful.”
From our recent testing of the Samsung Galaxy S3, that would be our top choice. The Droid RAZR Maxx is not a bad option, but the hardware on the Galaxy S3 beats the RAZR.
RAZR MAXX vs. Samsung Galaxy S
– GS3 is slightly thinner than MAXX (8.6mm vs. 9mm)
– GS3 has a removable battery, MAXX does not
– MAXX has more battery power (3300mAh vs. 2100 mAh)
– GS3 has bigger screen (4.8-inch vs. 4.3-inch on MAXX)
– GS3 has a notably higher screen resolution: 720 x 1280 px vs. 540 x 960 px
– Smart Actions vs. Everything Else that’s cool on GS3 🙂
For more information, tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast. Just click the red arrow in the upper right column on this page.
Bill in Baton Rouge, Louisiana listening on 107.3 FM asked: “Is there a GPS system that will closely resemble OnStar with voice command requests for directions? Even better, one that would speak through my radio speakers. I don’t want to wire my cell phone to my radio to accomplish this though. My car is equipped with hands-free phone use.”
There are GPS systems with voice command recognition. In fact, all of the big manufacturers — TomTom, Garmin, Magellan — they all have models with voice recognition built-in. But, if you want the voice commands to come though your speakers, you’re either going to need to do that wiring you don’t want to do, or use your car’s hands-free phone system.
Your car’s system may support Bluetooth, and some GPS models will be able to connect via Bluetooth. But, if you choose to go that way, then you can revisit the option of connecting your phone to your car. You already have it and don’t have to pay for any extra equipment.
Google’s Voice Actions will let you give verbal instructions to your Android smartphone, including the direction “Navigate to such and such address.”
If your smartphone is connected via Bluetooth to your car’s soundsystem, the voice responses from Google Navigation will come through that. If you are using an iPhone, then you should look at Navigation by Telenav, a GPS app. We saw it in the iTunes App Store for 99 cents and it supports voice commands like “Drive to such and such address.” You can probably even talk Siri into opening the app for you, if you ask her real nice and polite-like.
For more information, tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast. Just click the red arrow in the upper right column on this page.
Rod in Bedford, Pennsylvania listens to the Podcast asked: “I have an HP Laptop and shortly after the warranty went out, I got a blue screen of death because a memory socket went bad. My question is: I used to let it sit around in a foam case. Did I inadvertently cause it to go bad because it heated up when it turned itself on in the middle of the night to defrag the disk or do some other test that was scheduled in the middle of the night?”
Well, that’s entirely possible. Electronics are prone to overheating if they are not well ventilated. Which can definitely be a reason why your memory failed. However, it may not be the only reason.
The best way to find out is to take your laptop to your nearest electronics store and have them run a diagnostics to find out what the cause was because of the memory failure. It very well could have been the overheating that caused it.
However, if you want to know for sure it’s best if you don’t assume anything, and get your laptop verified by a professional.
For more information, tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast. Just click the red arrow in the upper right column on this page.
Guests in this hour:
Lawrence Lerner, President – LLBC
What’s the real future of BYOD (Bring Your Own Devices) in the workplace?
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT with Rob: OS X Mountain Lion Upgrade
The latest version of OS 10 hit 3 million downloads in four days, making for the most successful OS 10 release in Apple’s history. Our iDork Rob Almanza shares some of the outstanding features and discusses if it’s worth upgrading.
Last Summer, the Lion OS X update brought 250-plus features to Mac computers for $29.99. This summer, Mountain Lion brings 200-plus features and a very affordable price of only $19.99.
It’s no secret that Apple is moving their computer operating system toward their mobile version. We saw that with Lion last year, bringing some features we love from iOS. So here are some of our favorite iOS-like apps…
Features we love (so far):
1) Messages
The “Messages” app has pretty much replaced iChat. For those who love iMessages on your iDevice – the ability to send free text messages and multimedia messages to other iOS devices – well, now you can do the same from your Mac … with other Mountain Lion and iOS users. And, you can also choose to FaceTime from the Messages window.
2) Dictation
Dictation was introduced with the latest iPad. Now, it’s on your Mac. You can dictate text anywhere typing is involved. For example, it works on instant messenger, Messages, emails, TextEdit, Notes and more. Dictation is triggered by hitting the “function” key twice. Keep in mind it connects to Apple’s servers, so of course, you will need an Internet connection to use it.
) Notification Center
Another iOS feature on Mountain Lion is the Notification Center. But, it’s actually hidden away – pushed to the side. There is a graphic added to the upper-right corner of your desktop’s toolbar: three bullet-point lines. When you click on it, it will shift the whole desktop to the left, revealing the Notification Center … and it works just like on iOS devices. The “NC” can also be accessed with a two-finger swipe, right-to-left, starting from off the trackpad.
4) Sharing Button
Apple has added a “share” button. It’s integrated into just about every first-party app in Mountain Lion. To save you a few extra steps when it comes to sharing content online, you can quickly share files with the following services: Email, Message, AirDrop, Twitter, Flickr and later this year – Facebook.
5) iCloud
With iCloud at the epicenter of Apple’s cross-device push, it’s the glue keeping OS X and iOS experiences together … syncing your contacts, notes, reminders, calendar appointments and Safari bookmarks. When you sign-in with your iCloud account, Apple gives you a chance to opt-out of syncing all the services just mentioned, as well as set up Find My Mac, for locating and remotely wiping a lost PC.
Joe in Laverne, Tennessee listens on WTN 99.7 FM and asked: “Are there any free good tethering apps for the iPhone?”
As far as we can tell, you can tether on the iPhone 4 and the iPhone 4S. However, this service is not free. Your wireless provider such as AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon will charge you as part of a separate data plan for the tethering service.
Now if you’re willing to jailbreak your iPhone, there are a couple of apps that will allow you to accomplish what you are trying to do. PDANET, allows you to Tether over Wi-Fi using two different methods, essentially turning your iPhone into a Wi-Fi hotspot, or tether over a USB. PDANet is free for the first 14 days, then they charge $16 dollars for continued access.
Another option is a MyWi. This apps also required your iPhone to be jailbroken. It has a few more features, and it will cost you about $20 dollars. However, this app does not provide you with a free trail.
There are a few free ways to tether your iPhone floating around online. However, you should be aware that carriers can easily track if you’re using a third-party tethering app. If they detect you, you may get a message asking you to switch to a tethering plan or be charged anyways. If you have any other questions feel free to call us anytime and we will be happy to help.
For more information, tune in to Hour 2 of our podcast. Just click the red arrow in the upper right column on this page.
This Week’s Prizes for Our Listeners
C.Crane: Senta Forty Premium Wooden Headphones
Microsoft: Copies of Microsoft Streets & Trips 2013 Software
NQ Mobile: Activation codes for NQ Mobile Vault (Premium Version) – An Android app that keeps your text messages, pictures, and videos safely hidden from prying eyes.
StrikeForce Technologies: Several Download Keys for GuardedID – anti-key logging software