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Technically Speaking - Helping you survive and thrive in the Digital Age
Hello Friend,
I had a great reaction/interaction at my new iPad 101 class. It turns out a lot of people have them but guess what - most people know little about the power of these "real computers". Questions kept coming and the class went way over schedule!
The problem is these devices don't come with user manuals and most people have no formal training in their use. It's like putting someone in a 747 or nuclear submarine and saying "you can figure it out" - well not exactly like that but you get the point! Tablets and smartphones are deceptively easy to use and play with but you do have to work to really benefit from their potential. Drop me a note here if your business or association might be interested in iPad 101 or a dozen other tech topics.

We hear all the time about the "generation gap" and that hit home in my recent "What's up with Branson" survey. One respondent said she felt out of the loop and suggested next time I ask about The Partridge Family or Pet Rocks! Claimed she couldn't sit in front of TV all day since she had three teen age sons - some excuse! Because the first fun survey turned out so well, I've posted a more serious one described below and you dear reader can pitch in!
                          - Gary
Sharing is good - but not always easy
To paraphrase the late Carl Sagen - there seem to be billions and billions of ways to share files on the Internet! I use Dropbox every day for personal and small group document sharing. With the increasing number of iPhone and iPad users, iCloud and its companion iCloud Drive are a must have. Like Google Drive and Microsoft One Drive these Apple services help you share and modify files among your own devices or with others including PCs. But as we often hear - it's complicated. This article will help you sort through the intricacies of Apple's iCloud sharing service.
Answer just three questions to help us understand what devices we are all using
My test survey in March worked well so now it's time to get serious. It would help us all to know what devices our fellow readers are using so I've created a new three question survey to find out what type of gadgets you have and if you don't have one I'd like to know that also.
Too often people who don't have something hold back and that makes it looks like everyone has one! In addition to clicking three boxes, you'll have an opportunity to comment or rant about technology - that part is likely to be the most fun - and this new tech era really can be fun. So, please take the anonymous survey and I'll report the results next month.
If this goes well, next month we'll look at how we use all these gadgets.
New Google search policy is disturbing
Google recently changed it's approach to ranking of search results to include how good the sites look on smartphones. It bothers me that the search results I get on a PC or tablet could be different from the results of the same search on a smartphone. Of course well-healed organizations will do better than their poorer competitors - not because of the quality or accuracy of their content - but how "pretty" they are judged to be by Google.
The company has always made judgements about the order of search results based on content but I believe they should leave it up to users to judge appearance. Let me know what you think and you can read more details in this article.
Warning
Privacy concerns expand into healthcare
As privacy concerns grow, more companies are getting into the data collection act and what they have in mind may surprise you. This recent article discusses issues we've never contemplated before. More and more companies want your information but what will they do with it?
Picture This - how to use the latest iPhone camera and top Android photo editing apps
If you are among the 80% of iPhone users who have updated to iOS 8, you have great new features in the camera - it's all in the app.  This article will help you understand the new features. I still cannot stand the auto burst mode - you know what I mean if you take a picture and get ten pictures instead :(
Here's a list of what Android Authority claims to be the top 16 Android photo editing apps.

May 2015
Issue 67
Who I am and what I do
My lifetime passion has been explaining technology to non-technical audiences. I've been a programmer, project manager, system designer and independent consultant. I've taught at the high school and university level, published numerous articles and given hundreds of lectures across the US and abroad. In my spare time I volunteer for several social service organizations and enjoy my photography hobby.

How I can help you
I will work with you to develop an educational program suited to your association, business or other group - long or short, basic or advanced. Popular topics include:
• Small group roundtables
• Mobile Tech 101
• Mobile devices in business
• How mobile payments are changing the way we do business
• iPad tips and tricks
• Apps, apps and more apps
• Technologies and companies to watch
• Why good cameras take bad pictures
• How things work - from your PC to the Internet

Click here for more information on these topics.


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