When Should My Kid Get a Cell Phone?

As fewer people have land line home phones, we're also seeing an increase in the number of people who have cell phones. Among those people are younger and younger children. Many parents are getting their kids cell phones so they can easily keep in contact with them when everyone has busy schedules. Others are for emergency purposes, but there are plenty of parents who are now getting their kids cell phones just because "everyone else has them."

When should a child get a cell phone? Most people agree nowadays that teenagers are ok with cell phones, though you need to monitor their use. What about younger kids though? Does your ten year old need an iPhone? There is obviously no exact answer to this, but here are a few things to consider before you make (or don't make) the purchase:

1.  Is your child responsible? If your child still looses their toys, needs reminders to feed their pets , or in general shows a lack of forethought and responsibility, do you really want to buy them a cell phone with an expensive plan and a two-year contract? A good option for an irresponsible child who needs a cell phone for whatever reason is to get a cheap "burner phone" (a phone that costs $20 or less) that just makes calls, texting if they're lucky, and is on a pre-paid plan.
2. Why does your child want the phone? Is it because they constantly need to borrow their friend's phone to get ahold of you or is it because "everyone else has one?" Make sure your child has a valid reason to want a phone. You can also use this question to find out what kind of phone they need. Parents sometimes want to spend the extra money to get their kid the nicest phone even if the child never uses many of the options.
3. What's their school's policy on cell phones? Ask any teacher or school staff member, and they'll all agree- they see lots of kids bring in cell phones their parents gave them for emergencies, but the kids are showing them off to their friends as toys instead. This means that in a short while, the phone is likely to either be taken away from a teacher, stolen, or broke. Some schools are stricter about their cell phone policy than others, but you always want to make sure you're not sending your child to school with something that will be taken away shortly thereafter.

Practical Tip of the Day:

No matter what age, gender or grade level your child is, I always recommend getting their cell phone in a durable case as soon as you buy the phone. This will help phone stay undamaged and in working order for as long as possible. Far too often, a child will accidentally drop theirs or another friend's phone, and then they will be looking for you to get them another one (newer model, of course).

Hidden Winter Hazards for Your Electronics

Well, Christmas is over and if you're like many people, you may have received a new electronic device. Kindles, laptops, iPods, Androids, the list goes on and on. In my time helping people with their devices,  I've never gotten used to the number of people who have their new devices ruined days or just weeks after receiving them. Here are a few common hazards for these colder winter months that I hope you'll be able to avoid.

1. Dropping from Gloves- With gloves or mittens on, you have much less feeling in your hands and therefor the likelihood of dropping your device (especially cellphones) goes up significantly. If you have a smartphone in particular, dropping and shattering your screen is a big deal since most smartphone screens are not replaceable. Whether you drop it on the kitchen tile or the snow covered driveway, the results are rarely favorable.
2. Speaking of snow, you'd be amazed how many people will drop their devices in the snow. Not only will the snow melt and therefor give the device liquid damage, but some people are unable to find it and will only recover it when the snow melts or it goes through the snow blower- yikes!
3. If it's left in the snow, or sometimes even just left in the car, the device can freeze. This will damage the battery and can even break the screen. If a touch screen or LCD screen gets too cold, it can freeze and then crack when it thaws. For this reason, I generally recommend people keep their electronics in environments they'd normally keep their pet or child-- not too hot or too cold.

Practical Tip of the Day:
If you live in a cold climate, you've probably already run into the issue of your touch screen not working when you have gloves on. If you don't already have a pair, I recommend touch-screen sensitive gloves for all my smartphone and tablet-using friends. They allow the user to keep their gloves on while using their touch-screen devices.

Should I Update to iTunes 11?

Apple recently sent out a new update to iTunes that made many changes, and not everyone is enjoying them. As with most software updates by any company, there are always people wondering if the update is worth doing and if they should update now or wait. Unfortunately for Apple, iTunes updates have put a sour taste in the mouths of many Windows users that have made them doubly skeptical of doing updates. Let's take a look at what the update changed and from there you can decide for yourself whether it's worth doing:

First thing you'll notice is an all-new look and feel of the program. In true Apple fashion, the new iTunes is even sleeker and more minimalist than before. While this is very eye-catching, some people have been complaining about needing to "re-learn" where everything is located. Personally, I don't think this is a major issue. You move to different areas of your iTunes library using a drop-down now instead of using a left-side navigation bar.

The thing I enjoy most is the new "Up Next" option for the Mini Player. The mini player is the miniaturized iTunes player you can use to play music instead of having the large program window open and taking up space on your computer screen. Apple's updated that (again, making it more minimalist), but also added the Up Next feature that allows you to see what song is slated to play after the one currently playing. From there you can rearrange the order they play in, remove them from the to-be-played list, rate them, or get more information about them.

Lastly, more iCloud updates. This one is actually quite handy for people with multiple Apple devices that access iTunes. Now you can access all of your content from any of your devices. While Apple had a version of this previously through their paid iTunes Match program, it is now offered free and means that that song you bought on your iPhone instantly appears on your Mac (or PC) at home without having to plug your phone in to sync.

Practical Tip of the Day:

Still not sure if you want to update? It's not uncommon for a smaller bug-fixing update to be released within a few weeks of a major update to a program (this rule of thumb is true for most programs regardless of who makes it). If you're concerned that the new update will mess something up on your computer, wait for the next update and down both of them at the same time. This will make the updating process take longer, but it'll mean you're also minimizing the chance for something to get lost-in-translation during the update process, and as always, I recommend backing up your data before any major software update.


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Can I Access My Computer From My Smartphone or Tablet?

Ever have a file on your computer at home that you really wish you had with you? Maybe it's a resume and you just ran into a prospective employer, a photo you don't have on your phone, or maybe you need to do some work on your computer and won't be home for hours or days. Because of these exact reasons, there are apps you can get for your Apple or Android devices that allow you to remotely access your home or office computer. That means that you can open this app and actually see and control your computer as if you were there. How cool is that? Here are the most popular apps in the marketplace right now:

• GoToMyPC- This is a premium app made by Citrix so I usually recommend it for people who will either be accessing their computer a lot or for business people who need something more streamlined. Designed for either iOS (Apple) or Android, this slick app is free, but does require a subscription to the GoToMyPC service. ($20/month)
• LogMeIn- This app is iOS only, and is a simplified remote access app, which works out nicely for the occasional user. The other nice thing about it is the price tag; The app is free and there is no subscription. Simply download the app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch and then the program onto your Mac or PC.
• Ignition- This is the Android version of LogMeIn, and as such is going to be nearly identical. Still able to access both Macs and PCs, still free, and made by the same company as LogMeIn (LogMeIn, Inc.), I'm not sure why they gave it a different name, but nonetheless, here it is.

Keep in mind that these are just the top apps for remotely controlling your computer and there are others out there, but I will caution you when you go searching for other options. Make sure you only download apps directly from the iTunes Store or Android Marketplace and the computer program part directly from the manufacturer's website. This is important as the Store and Marketplace verify the authenticity and safety of the apps and programs before allowing them on the store. That way you know you're not downloading something that will allow anyone else into you devices without your permission.

Practical Tip of the Day:

When you go to look at the apps before downloading them, check the features. You'll often be pleasantly surprised. The ones I've listed often have added features allowing you to do things like transfer files between devices, linking to cloud based storage, and accessing multiple computers.


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How Does a Square Reader Work?

You may have heard that the Girl Scouts are accepting credit cards  now, or maybe you've just overheard an excited friend with a small business talking about finally being able to accept credit cards while they're out and about. While there are many products and services that allow people to do this, the most popular option by far is the Square reader and Square Register app. Made by the Square Up company, they have a great business plan that allows people to start accepting credit card payments with no startup costs. Here are the three easy- and free- steps to getting started with a Square reader:

1. Get the app- Available for iOS devices (iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch) as well as Android devices, the app is called Square Register and yes, it's free. Just download onto your device like you normally do.

2. Set up account- Once you have the app, you can create your account right from it or from Square Inc.'s website. (https://squareup.com) This is also free to do. Once you have your account, you can log onto the app and customize your settings.

3. Get reader- This can be done before or after you get the app, but it doesn't do you much good to have the reader without the app to use it with. When you signed up for your account on Square's website, they also asked for your address so they could mail you your- you guessed it- FREE reader. Now that you have it you're ready to go! Now, what if you decide you need it now? Last minute bake sale at school maybe? You can purchase the readers at various electronics stores and departments like Sam's Club, Apple, etc.

Only an inch in size, this little guy can make a big impact for portable businesses.

What's the catch, you ask? How are they making any money? Square keeps 2.75% of all credit card transactions made with their app. That means that if you charge someone $10 for a dozen cupcakes, Square will keep 27.5 cents of it. That's it! No other fees or charges. That's why Square has become such a staple to many small businesses around the world.

Practical Tip of the Day:
One of the nice things about the Square Register app is that it also helps you keep your transactions accounted for. What then should you do if someone chooses to pay with cash? No worries! The Square Register can also help you track your cash transactions. Once you enter the price on the main screen, simply tap the $ icon on the top right corner to change it from a credit card transaction to a cash one.

What Are the Best Apps for Expectant Parents?

I'm happy to announce that after my long hiatus, I'll finally be able to get back to my regular Tuesday/Thursday schedule for blog posts since I've had my baby and have taken some time to recover and readjust. Thank you all for your patience! Because of this, I thought I'd share the apps that my husband and I found most helpful during my pregnancy:

1. "My Pregnancy Today" from BabyCenter was definitely the most used pregnancy app of the bunch as it links directly to BabyCenter's week-by-week updates on how your baby and your body are growing and changing as well as their numerous articles that are absolutely invaluable to expectant parents. It also gives you a checklist of things to do so nothing slips your mind like finding a pediatrician, taking your vitamins, or writing up your birth plan. This is the single "must have" app of the bunch in my opinion.

2. "My Baby's Beat" by Matis Inc. wins the award for coolest pregnancy app for sure. This $3.99 app super-sensitizes your iPhone's microphone so you can use it to listen to your baby's heartbeat in utero. Yes, you read that right. A $3.99 app lets you hear your baby's heartbeat. Now, a bit of a disclaimer here. It's not perfect and by no means replaces the dopplers you can buy to do this same thing, but if you're like me and don't want to spend $40 for something you'll only use a half dozen times, this is a great app, and if nothing else it impresses your friends and family.

3. "Full Term - Labor Contraction Timer" by Mustansir Golawala is the app I used to time my contractions for obvious reasons. It's simple, free and a great way to time contractions when you have to be on the move and can't be carrying around a pen and paper to write down the times. It was made by a husband looking for a way for his wife to time her contractions and he's subsequently released it for free for everyone else as a gift. How sweet is that?

Practical Tip of the Day:
Now, in theory, if you're reading this, you're looking to have a baby sometime in the near future. If that's the case, "iBabyLog: Baby Tracker" from the Palanati Group, LLC would be my recommendation for the brand-new parents. While you're in the hospital and for a few weeks afterwards, you'll be asked to track your baby's diapers, feedings, and other things. Instead of keeping a physical journal, this handy, free app lets you and all the baby's caregivers track these things easily and let it sync between everyone.

Best iOS Apps for Stay at Home Parents

Often times people think of business people and college kids when they think of smartphones like the iPhone, but there are plenty of stay-at-home/work-from-home parents who own iPhones and iPod Touches as well. That's why I've decided to share my top three app recommendations for the the home:

Grocery iQ- This is one of my favorite apps because it allows my husband and I to share a single grocery list. It syncs between our phones so he can add something to the list from work, it'll automatically add it to my phone, and when I purchase the item and mark it off, it automatically removes it from the list on his phone so he knows he doesn't have to stop at the store. This app also has lots of coupons, a favorites list for commonly purchased items, a store locator and it can save your savings cards so you don't have to carry them with you.

Betty Crocker- The Betty Crocker app is one of my favorites for those "I need to use this up before it goes bad" times. You can search through recipes by ingredients ("I have kielbasa and black beans..."), browse by main ingredient "What can I make with chickpeas?" or search recipes by name "Lets make chicken enchiladas." Once you find a recipe you like, you can save it right in the app so you don't have to search for it all over again.

Mint- There's a reason stay-at-home parents are also called home economists. Mint is a financial app that ties into a website that helps you manage and track your finances with ease and sans jargon. It's easy to make a budget, link your credit cards and bank accounts, and then track how you're doing on your budget right from the app. Considering ordering dinner out? Open the app and see if it's in your budget to eat out this month. The website also allows you to track your loans and credit card balances so you have one place to see how far you've come in paying them off.

Practical Tip of the Day:
Have kids that like to play with your iPhone, but sometimes leave it in... odd places? Sign up for iCloud for free using your Apple ID (the log in you use to purchase apps) and then turn on "Find My iPhone" in your iPhone's settings. Lost phone? Go to icloud.com, log in, and click "Find My iPhone." It'll use the GPS to locate your phone ("Oh good, it's not at the daycare center!") and from there you can send it a message (if maybe it IS at the daycare center) or make it ring, even if you left it on silent! The last part is particularly helpful if you're like me and often leave your phone silenced, and tend to find it between couch cushions or under a pile of stuffed animals.

How Do I Make a Ringtone in Garageband?

Apple’s been enjoying a nice “halo effect” with their iPhones and iPads. With all the people purchasing those devices, many of them are also making the switch to using Macs as their primary computer. One of my favorite things to show new Mac owners who started with an iPhone is how to make a ringtone in GarageBand, Apple’s audio program that comes on every Mac.

The first step is to find a sound that you want to use that is non-copyrighted. Once you have the sound you want, open GarageBand and select iPhone Ringtone from the menu on the lefthand side of the screen that pops up. To the right of that menu, you’ll see three icons that say “Example Ringtone,” “Loops,” and “Voice,” respectively. Select “Loops” and then click the “Choose” button in the lower-righthand side of the screen.

Once you’ve done that, you should be prompted to name the ringtone, asked where you want to keep it, set the tempo, signature, beats-per-minute and key. The only thing you need to change from the default is the name. Give it a name descriptive enough that you’ll be able to find it in a list. “Ringtone 1,” for example, isn’t descriptive, but “Fluffy Barking” is (if, in fact, the sound is your dog Fluffy barking).

Once you hit “Create” the main GarageBand window will open up and you’ll see four instruments listed on the lefthand side and their respective loops (small segments of their sounds) to the right. Click on the instrument on the right and click on “Track” from the menu bar and then click “Delete Track.” This can also be accomplished by selecting the instrument on the right, holding the command key and tapping the delete key.

After that, simply drag and drop your audio file into the GarageBand window and use the yellow bar towards the top of the screen (below the ruler-looking  bar) to adjust which part of the audio file you wish to use as your ringtone. You do this by clicking-and-dragging the ends of the bar to mark the beginning and end of the click you want. Hitting the play button on the bottom of the screen (the triangle pointing to the right) will play the part of the clip you’ve selected. This will help you fine-tune your timing. Remember, you only have 13 seconds for your ringtone length!

Once you’re happy with how your ringtone sounds, click on “Share” in the menu bar at the top of the screen, then select “Send Ringtone to iTunes.” GarageBand will work its magic, iTunes will open up, and the ringtone will be added to your library! Sync your iPhone and your ringtone will be added to the list of options.

Practical Tip of the Day:

Forgot how to change your iPhone’s ringtone? Tap on “Settings” (the icon that has grey gears on it) and then “Sounds.” You’ll be able to change all your sound settings there, including when you want a particular ringtone to be used.

iPhone Camera Tips

Have an iPhone and love the fact that you have a camera at the ready almost always now? Here are some short tips to make taking an excellent photo even easier:

Tap to focus- Yes, the iPhone does auto-focus, but what if you just can't get it to focus where you want? Often times, I use it to adjust where it's adjusting for the light. Photo too dark? Tap on an area of the photo that's particularly bright. Too bright? Just the opposite. Need to focus on a something far away or particularly close? Simply tap on it and the iPhone will adjust the focus on it.

Grid- When you have the camera opened on your iPhone, under "Options" you'll see the choice to turn on a grid. This can help you make sure your horizon line is straight or that the walls in your photo aren't distractingly lopsided. It's also used for what art students refer to as the "rule of thirds." The idea is pretty simple- a piece of art is more interesting to the eye if the main contents of the photo are in fact NOT centered, but rather slightly off-center. Look at the example below. The man is laying along the bottom line and the upper limit of the items in the yard is along the top line.

HDR- The other option in the "Options" section is HDR. HDR stands for "high dynamic range," but don't worry if you forget that shortly- I doubt anyone will quiz you on this. What HDR does is take three photos right after another. One is over-exposed (too bright), one under-exposed (too dark) and one is normal. Then, the iPhone lays the photos over each other and the result is a photo that shows more detail in areas that would otherwise be too dark or too bright to see them in. See the photo below as an example.

Practical Tip of the Day:
Tired of just missing the perfect moment? You can actually hold down the camera icon, adjust the position of the camera as you'd like and then let up on the icon. The iPhone won't actually take the photo until your finger comes up from the icon.

What iOS Apps Should All Small Business Owners Have?

It seems nearly impossible to run a small business without technology nowadays, and smartphones and tablets have gained a firm foothold in this market. When speaking with small business owners, they almost always ask which apps I consider “must haves.” Here are the top three iOS (meaning for Apple products) apps I recommend for people either running or looking to start a small business:

iWork/Quickoffice Pro- Every small business owner needs to look at and sometimes edit documents. Be it text documents, spreadsheets or presentations, being able to view and change them on the go is very helpful. If you own a Mac and use iWork, using the iWork apps will make for a seamless document transition between your iPhone/iPad and your Mac. If you use Microsoft Office either on the Mac or Windows machine, Quickoffice Pro will offer a similar experience for your Office documents.

TurboScan- Are you currently using your device’s camera to take pictures of documents? With TurboScan, you can turn those photos into multipage PDFs that you can then either save or email. That means you could take pictures of your receipts while you’re away on a business trip,  turn them into a single PDF and email them to your secretary or simply keep them on your device for your records.

Square Card Reader- If you do any sales, either products or services, the Square Card Reader is highly recommended because it allows you scan credit cards and have the funds transferred right into your account. Now, as a quick side note here, Square makes their money on the 2.75% fee on every charge you make on their app, but they do also give you a free credit card scanner when you download their free app. Yes, a free scanner for downloading their free app.

Practical Tip of the Day:

Looking to connect with other professionals you know in a forum more formal than Facebook or Twitter? LinkedIn is a website that allows professionals to connect, keep in contact with each other and even offer referrals to each other. LinkedIn, in addition to their website also have a free app. 

If you'd like more information about these apps and how to utilize them in your business, feel free to contact me at www.TechKNOWLEDGEyToday.com and I'd be more than happy to help walk you through the decision. You can also follow me on Facebook and Twitter for updates and periodic tips and tricks to help you with the technology you use daily.

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TechKNOWLEDGEy Today was founded on the idea that through better understanding of technology you can empower people to better their lives more than they ever thought possible. It is with this in mind that we strive to better our communities through the services we offer.

We provide personalized group or individual training on technology in your home or office. Specializing in Apple products like the iPhone, iPad and Mac, we offer purchasing and implementation consultations, software training and instruction on computing basics like the Internet, email and smartphones.

Help! My iPhone's Frozen!

You're going along, using your iPhone, when suddenly it stops. It doesn't respond to any of your touches or button pushes. You can't even turn the screen off! What should you do?

Modern phones are really just mini computers, and like computers, sometimes they lock-up. Unlike computers, they don't have a power cable you can pull if it locks up really bad though. In cases like these, the cellphone manufacturer usually has a set of troubleshooting steps to help get your phone back to normal. While there are lots of different kinds of cell phones out there, I'm going to focus on the iPhone today.

Basic Troubleshooting Steps:

1. Press the Home button (the round button on the front of the screen).
2. Press the Screen Lock button (the button on the top of the phone).
3. Hold the Screen Lock button down for 15-20 seconds. (This is how you would normally shut your phone off.)
4. Hold down the Home and Screen Lock buttons at the same time for 20-30 seconds. This forces the iPhone to reboot, much like forcing your computer to turn off and then turning it back on again.

If you make it all the way to step four, the screen should go black within that 20-30 second time frame, and then display the Apple logo. Your phone is in the process of rebooting. It can take up to a few minutes for it to fully reboot, so be patient.

If you experience this once, don't worry. If it becomes a regular occurrence (once a month or more) I would recommend restoring your iPhone and/or speaking to Apple about it.

Practical Tip of the Day:
Should you have problems with any of your Apple devices, contacting Apple or an Apple repair facility is the best option. If you live near an Apple store, making an appointment online for the Genius Bar and speaking to a technician in person is my recommended method. If you don't live near a store, or if it would be inconvenient to go to it, Apple also offers phone support at 1-800-APL-CARE.

What Are eBooks?

We all (hopefully) know what books are. You know, those things with ink on paper all collected together? They used to be the bee's knees, but now it seems like you can hardly find them. Even when you can find a book store, they seem more interested in showing you their new eReaders for their eBooks. First of all what's with "e"? The beginning "e" simply means electronic. It's the same "e" as in "email".

Knowing that we can now establish that eBooks are electronic books. Why would someone want an electronic book? Well, have you ever tried to carry around a copy of War and Peace with you to read when you have some free time? On the other hand, you can have that and dozens of other books on one eReader (the thing that lets you read the eBooks) that weighs almost nothing and fits easily into a purse, backpack or breifcase. Waiting for your oil change? Read a few pages. Child FINALLY went down for a nap? Read a few pages. You catch my drift.

So why aren't people buying these things up? Well, they kind of are, but some people are die hard paper-books-only people. There's nothing wrong with physical books. I enjoy having them, and you can't beat that book smell! I'll go over some of the benefits of eBooks here, but by no means think that I'm saying eBooks are better the paper books. You already know (hopefully) the benefits of paper books.

My favorite thing about eBooks besides the size and ease of transportion is how easily you can interact with the book. Have you ever been reading and run into a word you don't know? Most eReaders allow you to select a word and look it up in the built-in dictionary. (You have to admit that's pretty cool!) I also like that you can usually highlight text you want to remember or set bookmarks to help you get back to important parts. I never mark up my real books (it's heresy to me), but throwing a fake highlight onto a line I want to tell a friend about makes me share my reading experience a lot more. I also love that you can increase the size of the text on the book. I wear glasses so if I'm reading a paper book I have to hold the book away from me, but if I have my glasses off I have to have the book three inches from my face. With an eBook, I can increase the text so I can hold it a comfortable distance away.

Now for the downsides. eBooks have batteries. Real books never need to be charged. Cost- eReaders are usually $100 or more. That'll buy you a lot of real books! Screens- Some people complain about reading on a screen. The majority of popular eReaders use eInk (I think you can figure out what that is) which simulates the look of real ink on real paper. Most people find that this doesn't bother their eyes, but some do. (I'm one of them that can't stand it for some reason.)

Before you go out and buy a Kindle or a Nook though, I do have to point something out first though. You may already have an eReader! There are programs you can put on your computer if you felt like reading a book on your computer screen, and most "smart phones" and tablets can also display eBooks. I personally read primarily on my iPhone for example. So, if you already have an electronic device, check and see if it has eReader capability first.

Practical Tip of the Day:
If you have a device that can read eBooks, check out classical books first. Most older books like Dracula are free, so you can catch up on those books-you-don't-want-to-admit-you've-never-actually-read without spending any extra money!