Information about the physical gadgets you use.
I recently replaced my two-and-a-half year old iPhone with a new iPhone. This reminded me that it’s typically not a good value to hold onto your iPhone for many years. Here are two reasons for this belief:
Read moreUpdate April 2025: PhoneView has been discontinued and is no longer available from the developer. Have you ever wanted to permanently save a voicemail message that you received on your iPhone? Or maybe a text message or iMessage? While all of these messages are backed up to your Mac when you sync your iPhone, Apple … Read more
If you use Keynote to give slideshow presentations, you might want to consider carrying a wireless remote with you to free yourself from your Macintosh’s keyboard. Instead of using the keyboard or mouse to advance the slides, use a remote. Previously, I wrote about controlling Microsoft PowerPoint using an Apple Remote. This Tech Tip is … Read more
Are you interested in mounting your iMac or a monitor on an articulated arm connected to either your desk or a wall? I have been pleasantly surprised by the number of requests I’ve had about this topic over the past year. Here’s a primer on what you should know. When you start to look into mounting … Read more
Were you annoyed with Apple when they introduced a new connector for the iPhone 5, 4th generation iPad and iPad mini in Oct 2012? Did you wonder why they did this? Here’s some information to help you understand why Apple did this and the implications for you.
Read moreDo you have an older, magnetically attached laptop power cord that you’d like to connect to your new Mac laptop which requires a thinner connector? If so, you could buy Apple’s MagSafe to MagSafe 2 Converter ($10). In 2006, Apple introduced magnetically attached laptop power cords, called the MagSafe Power Adapter, on their MacBook Pro. Since then, … Read more
Do you want to know the age of your Mac? Do want to gather the technical specs of your Mac so you can sell it on Craigslist? Do you want to find your Mac’s serial number so you can determine if it is still covered by its warranty? If so, you could use Micromat’s free … Read more
Hard drives are the component of a computer that fail most often. Every hard drive will eventually fail. This is why it’s so important to backup your Mac’s hard drive. It’s also prudent to periodically check the health of your Mac’s internal hard drive. I recommend two applications for this purpose: Onyx (free) and SMARTUtility (free … Read more
Do you get your Internet service from Comcast? If so, do you know if you’re renting your cable modem or own it out-right? If a Comcast tech set it up then there’s a good chance that you’re paying a monthly rental fee of about $10. If this is the case, you might want to buy … Read more
Have you noticed how dirty the screen of your iPhone or iPad gets? Finger smudges and other stuff accumulate quickly. Even though we don’t touch our Macintosh laptop screens as much as an iPhone, the screen still gets dirty. I recommend using a microfiber cleaning cloth for quick cleanings. Additionally, use a cleaning spray like … Read more
Would you prefer to type on your iPad using a real keyboard instead of the on-screen, virtual keyboard? This week’s tech tip gives you an overview of some iPad cases that include keyboards.
Read moreDo you dislike the keyboard that came with your Mac? For the past few years, Apple’s primary keyboard has been the Apple Wireless Keyboard. It’s a good keyboard, but it’s not perfect for everybody. Some people lament the lack of a keypad. Others dislike having to replace the batteries that power the keyboard. Some folks don’t like … Read more
Do you wish your Mac had a 10-key numeric keypad? Yes, some people actually use them! For the past couple of years, Apple’s primary keyboard has been the Apple Wireless Keyboard. It’s a very nice keyboard, but it’s not perfect for everybody. Some people lament the lack of a numeric keypad. Others dislike having to … Read more
Does your iPhone have a cracked screen, a broken camera or need to have its battery replaced? If so, you might want to consider JCD Repair. JCD Repair offers affordable, quality repairs for iPhones, iPad and iPod Touches as well as some Verizon Droid phones.
Read moreIf you connect your Mac to your TV, you might need to deal with TV Overscan. Explaining what it is and why TVs do it is complicated, but recognizing it is easy. If your TV screen cuts off the outer edges of your Mac’s image then you’re suffering from TV overscan. For example, you might … Read more
Would you like to stream a movie from Netflix to your computer and watch it on your TV? Would you like to show iPhoto pictures on your TV? If so, you’ll want to read about how to connect your Mac to your flat panel TV to send both audio and video to it. [Nov 2014 … Read more
There are a number of instances when it could be really useful to know exactly which model of Macintosh computer you own. Here are instructions to identify which model you have.
Read moreHere are some products which can make it easier to sync your iPhone or connect it to other accessories.
Read moreIn previous tech tips, I’ve talked about ways to donate your computer and peripherals to groups that will reuse or recycle them. In some instances your used electronics may still have some value. Here’s an overview of options you have to resell your used electronics to a company, which, in turn, will refurbish and resell … Read more
In 2011, a client presented me with a new problem. I devised a solution and wanted to share what I learned. My client bought a new Panasonic 55 inch flat panel TV, model Viera TVP55VT30. After he’d set up the TV in his home, he looked for a headphone jack and was surprised that he couldn’t … Read more