Category: Technology Today

January 2020 Update #2

There’s a new podcast available! (finally) … and, as promised on that podcast, I will provide links (here) to the CES (Consumer Electronics Show) products I mentioned during the podcast and others I alluded to during the podcast!

This new podcast is a brief (14 minute) talk about some of my favorite CES introductions. For those of you who don’t follow the happenings in the electronics world(s), that’s what I’m here for: to provide you with a source of all-things-tech-related to us (Boomers & Seniors). CES is an annual trade show during which EVERY developer and manufacturer (worth their salt) displays their newest, latest and greatest. This year there were more than 4,500 exhibitors. Yes, you read that correctly: more than four thousand, five hundred product producers. I suggest it is impossible for any  one person to cover that amount of real estate during the four days CES convenes and yet there were more than 175,000 attendees who tried (at least to cover some of it.

I made life easier: i read about it, did NOT attend, curated a list, culled form the 4,500, that are relative to us … and I know I did NOT cover them all. I’ll continue!

As promised during the podcast, below are links to the home sites of the folks I found most relevant and interesting. Please, bear in mind, these are O’Keeffe-isms / preferences. I have NO STAKE in any of the products or applications. I have no financial interest and no one I know will benefit from my recommendations (except possibly YOU if I touch upon something that might be of benefit to you. THAT’S what I try to do !

Drum-roll, please … (in alphabetical order) …

Adok: (Turns “any” surface into a touch screen) https://www.getadok.com/

CamTouch: (Also turns “any” surface into a touch screen) https://camtouch.com.ua/en/

Centers for Age Control, Inc.: (“AgeMeter” measures at what age you function vs. your actual age) Hmmm, doe that mean I can act anything other than my physical age and get away with it – scientifically! http://centersforagecontrol.com/agemeter/

Connected Garden: (Guarantees its recommended plant list is 100% going to grow in your soil … after their device and app evaluate your growing conditions.) https://www.connected-garden.com/homeen

Cubii: (designs fitness products … for the market that cites lacking time. motivation or ability to be active … makes fitness approachable for people of all ages, abilities and lifestyles … ) https://www.cubii.com/collections/ellipticals?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=branded&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI14vH7fuV5wIVkfhkCh2iSg97EAAYAiAAEgL8NfD_BwE

DabKick, Inc: (Dabby – radically new home entertainment device that brings a revolutionary way of watching media. Dabby uses AI to search and display content from verbally issued instructions: by genre, star(s), or title and its browser-based not device dependent.) https://www.dabkick.com/

Envision Technologies: (smartphone app for blind and low vision users that uses AI to help users read all kinds of text, recognize faces, find objects, describe images and more.) https://www.letsenvision.com/

Fingertips: (“Promotes social links between elderly and their friends and family. Connected to their TV, “Viktor” enables them to receive video calls, photos and messages while offering a range of entertainment content. It’s touch sensitive interface makes it very simple to use.”) http://spin-off.biz/?lang=en

HeyHerbie: (A digital platform that keeps older adults safe, connected and happy. HeyHerbie augments older adults TV to allow access to virtual workout and hobby classes, video-chat and even set up reminders.) https://www.heyherbie.com/

Nuheara: ( “Multi-award winning Nuheara IQbuds MAX with Active Noise Cancellation+ and Ear ID™ personalization that automatically calibrates the buds to your unique hearing profile. Enjoy unparalleled noise control and sound fidelity from the world’s most advanced hearing bud. Pre-order now for delivery commencing in March 2020.” Word: these things retail @ $399. On sale: $319.00) https://www.nuheara.com/usa/products/iqbuds-max/

January 2020: Update #1

Whew! Where’d it go? (The year … the decade …)

Apologies for being away for soooooo long. Life gets in the way (wouldn’t have it any other way and besides, the alternative isn’t pretty!)

So, we’re off – on our way into a New Year (Have a Happy, Healthy One, BTW!!) … And, it’s the beginning of a New Decade. (Does that make any difference, REALLY?)

And what about resolutions? Have you made any? Me neither. I could make a resolution to post more frequently and, well … do you really think that would work? (Sigh, without making it a resolution, i WILL post more ofter this year, I promise!)

And then there are my podcasts … 🙁 been off that wagon a while also. I need to get out the ol’ can of “air”, dust off the control board and microphone, and spread some BoomerLife.Live updates. Got it! Will do!

Probably later today.

Stay healthy! Stay happy! And enjoy our BoomerLife, Live!!

May Update

Hmmm, since May is nearly gone, perhaps I should have titled this post “June Update” … oh well, it IS May and this is my latest Update, so May Update it is!

BoomerLife (dot) Live, my podcast, is gaining traction (albeit on a slippery slope). I have listeners “reminding” me that the interval between my last post and an update has been, ummmmm, too long. (I appreciate that feedback! It tells me that there ARE people listening! Thank you!!)

For those of you new here, BoomerLife.Live (this site) and BoomerLife (dot) Live, my podcast, offer useful information about technology specifically designed, developed or proven useful, for us Baby Boomers/Senior Citizens. Both this site and my podcast are based upon seminars I conduct (meetings I convene) with groups of my peers to explore the digital world around us. I call one of those meetings “TechTalk” and the other “Computers Made Easy” – combined, they convene five times each month.

TechTalk topics run the gamut of today’s technology: apps to laptops, tablets to smartphones, WiFi and mesh WiFi, keyboarding to voice input and so very much more! While Computers Made Easy attempts to stay close to topic: using a computer! (Some of the participants have computer “exposure” and less everyday experience.) My goal is to help them get comfortable using their device(s) in order to help them become more involved with today’s technology. It’s fun for me and extremely rewarding! When someone tells a story about a “new” experience they had using their computer (or other tech device), I feel a sense of pride!

My work with these groups is pro bono. One of the benefits of retirement: the time and ability to teach a subject about I am passionate!

There was a time I referred to the meeting as “Digital Literacy Group” – They weren’t very fond of that identification. It was tooooooo technical and nobody really wants to learn digital literacy. “How about some plain ol’ tech talk to bring us up to speed on what’s new?!”

That worked: TechTalk it became! If you want a brief sample, visit my podcast: BoomerLife (dot) Live and have a listen!

Stay healthy! Have fun! Enjoy your BoomerLife – Live!

More soon!

PodCast #7 Links:

During Episode #7 of my podcast BoomerLife.Live I mentioned a number of SmartWatch developers (in order to provide listeners with a broader range of choices … er, more exposure to the W I D E array of SmartWatches available. Below is a list of those SmartWatches and links to their respective websites. Enjoy!

Apple Watch 4: www.apple.com

Asus WI503Q-SL-BG Zenwatch: https://goo.gl/XJLvZr

FitBit Versa: https://goo.gl/Qctw7X

Fitbit Ionic: https://goo.gl/VwJDp1

Misfit Vapor 2: https://goo.gl/qKy8Dd

Fossil Men’s Gen 4 Explorist https://goo.gl/qKy8Dd

Fossil Q Venture HR: https://goo.gl/qKy8Dd

Kate Spade Scallop: https://goo.gl/R4ayJi

Michael Kors Access Sofie: https://goo.gl/poebm9

Garmin Vivoactive 3 https://goo.gl/6LDKHe

Garmin Vivomive HR: https://goo.gl/6LDKHe

Garmin Forerunner 645 Music: https://goo.gl/6LDKHe

Garmin Fenix 5 https://goo.gl/6LDKHe

Garmin Approach S20 Golf watch https://goo.gl/6LDKHe

Google Pixel Watch https://goo.gl/B1FeBp

Huawei Watch GT: https://goo.gl/CoFKSp

Huawei Watch 2 LTE: https://goo.gl/CoFKSp

LG W270.AUSATN https://goo.gl/Y4hj8T

LG Sport: https://goo.gl/Y4hj8T

Motorola Moro 360 Sport: https://goo.gl/sydLB2

PowerWatch 2: https://goo.gl/3wqe7W

Samsung Galaxy Watch Active: https://goo.gl/yk9JtG

Samsung Galaxy Sport https://goo.gl/yk9JtG

Skagen Falster 2 Wear https://www.skagen.com/en-us/wearable-technology/smartwatches

Skagen Holst hybrid https://www.skagen.com/en-us/wearable-technology/smartwatches

Tag Heuer Smartwatch https://www.tagheuer.com/en-us/watches/smartwatch

TicWatch Pro: https://goo.gl/gHJXmN

TicWatch S2: https://goo.gl/gHJXmN

TicWatch C2: https://goo.gl/gHJXmN

Withings Move ECG https://goo.gl/F8xFCA

Withings Move (absent the ECG) https://goo.gl/F8xFCA https://goo.gl/tScg2d

Withings Activite Steel https://goo.gl/tScg2d

Withings Activite Pop https://goo.gl/tScg2d

Ocvember Update

I can’t believe tomorrow is November (already). The signs are everywhere: the holidays are coming. (Cheeses, the local grocery [chain] put out Christmas displays during the first week of October – that’s JUST WRONG… wasn’t the “thing” to wait, at least, until AFTER Halloween?

I am stuck in tradition. Like putting up Christmas decorations AFTER Thanksgiving. Traditions: like using turning signals while driving… Continue reading “Ocvember Update” →

iPhone X Review

OK, so I’m not the first person to offer a review of the iPhone X and I doubt that I’ll be the last!

I believe I’m becoming a bit jaded: I received my “X” on Friday, the first day it shipped. I did NOT set it up (or even open the box) until Saturday. Yawn.

Out-of-the-box set-up was crazy simple. The device seemed to anticipate EACH step from getting facial recognition set to restoring apps from my old “7+” … except … (and this is B-I-G!) Once set-up was complete, the “X” seemed operational. Note: I said “seemed” … It was NOT until the following Monday, after dropping my wife off at the commuter train (BART, for those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area), and driving home that I realized the “X” didn’t “bing” my wife’s usual message that she was “on board and rolling.”

Hmmm…???

When I arrived home, I checked the phone. The Message app indicated “awaiting authorization” (?!) SO did the Phone app ?!

Apparently, I had been carrying around a “brick”. The final step in the set-up was contacting the carrier (in this instance Sprint) and telling them to authorize the device.

Would have been nice to read that I must contact the carrier to authorize the device somewhere in the set-up instructions (I don’t remember reading any set-up instructions!)

I’m still adjusting to the subtle and not-so-subtle differences between the “X” and the “7+”. So far, so good. The facial recognition is excellent! Swipping up in lieu of the double press on the Home button to “Close” apps is taking a while to adjust to and switching among apps is easy and fast!

I’ll use it more and add to this brief review at a later date.

Isn’t it a GREAT time to be alive?!!

August Update

“TechTalk” is a bi-monthly gathering that I host to discuss all things techie that might be of value to the Baby Boomer generation. Today was our first August meeting and it was a winner!! We were introduced to “ELLI-Q” from Intuition Robotics.

“ELLI-Q™ is an active aging companion that keeps older adults active and engaged.”

Although NOT available to the public as yet, the company appears to have an excellent outreach program that introduces the concept and one of the original working prototypes to groups of older adults. These presentations take the form of a focus group. Our presenter, Danielle Ishak – User Experience Researcher – provided us with company background and then dove right into the gist of ELLI-Q stopping along the way to ask for questions and suggestions, likes and dislikes.

It’s a clever device that “emotes” with easily-interpreted gestures and sounds. She speaks, similar to Amazon’s Echo and Google’s Assistant, however she’s much more. Once “on-boarded”, ELLI-Q begins to “learn” her owner’s likes and dislikes and begins to – proactively – make suggestions for anything from playing music (“Shall I play Iron Butterfly’s In a gadda da vida?”) to playing games (“Hey! You’re going to be playing bridge with the girls this afternoon, would you like to practice for awhile?”).

She’ll also do all the routine things like reminding you to take your medications and to go for a walk and she’ll monitor your environment and your activity to be sure you’re safe. If she detects that something’s not right, she’ll alert whomever you have on her call list.

ELLI-Q is still in beta and the developers are working through kinks while adding new behaviors. And, they’re seeking the input of the folks they want ELLI-Q to live with: us!

Check ELLI-Q out: I’ve included the link above and another here.

June Update #

The Matrix is out of align! I haven’t found any “new” tech worth writing about and THAT’S troublesome.

Hmmm, well, maybe … Apple recently held its annual World Wide Developers Conference (WWDC) whereupon 5600(±) developers descended upon Cupertino, CA to learn about all the new “stuff” Apple is soon to release. I can write about this here because I doubt any of my readers watched the event. My peeps dip a toe in the technological waters and most, infrequently (at first). So, while this is old news to the enthusiast, it’s NEW news to my peeps.

This year Apple presented a few surprises, the highlight of which (IMHO) was “HomePod”: a cylindrical speaker that pushes (reportedly) extraordinary sound into your space. Oh, and it has a built-in “musicologist” to assist you building playlists and providing information about artists, songs, albums, and collections. Oh, this “musicologist” just happens to be Siri, Apple’s voice-assistant a la Amazon Echo and Google Home Assistant. But, it’s a speaker first, musicologist second, and voice-activated computer third.

Interesting concept: rather than go head-to-head with Amazon or Google on the voice-interface of a smart device, go toe-to-toe with Sonos and bring wonderful wireless sound to and throughout your home. Apple wants to automate your home and that’s NOT necessarily a bad thing. HomePod will work with iHome and that’s developing nicely, thank you.

Unfortunately, Apple is late to that game and is playing catch-up HOWEVER, Apple IS Apple and that matters. They CAN COME LATE and still win (again, IMHO) simply because they ARE Apple. We love their devices. We pay their prices. And they know it.

All that being said, it IS a great looking device and reports indicate it sounds great as well! Release is announced as “sometime in December” (Merry Christmas everyone!)

Another interesting introduction was the iMac Pro. Apple finally took a shot at Microsoft’s Surface Studio and it just might get back some who left the fold of cult Mac and jumped to Surface Studio because of its great looks and specs. HOWEVER, the iMac Pro is enough to bring the lost souls back into the fold! Sleek, powerful and aimed squarely at the high-end graphics professional, this iMac hits all the right notes, checks all the right boxes, rings all the right bells … (OK, enough already…)

Finally, an undercurrent of technology that cannot be ignored: AI and machine learning. Apple seems to be doubling-down on AI development and it shows in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. For example, the camera app that, after snapping a photo of a Broadway musical ad in some magazine, will summon the Apple Pay app and ask if you want to purchase tickets and, if you do, for what date(s). Then it will open the calendar app and schedule the event for you. Siri might inquire whether or not you have transportation arranged to attend the event and, if not, ask if you;d like it to arrange some for you.

Extrapolate that interconnectedness … as apps begin to learn your routines and proactively schedule, inquire, and remind, Siri and your device(s) will become increasingly helpful. What a GREAT time to be alive. The technology just keeps getting better and better and more and more helpful!

More on all this later!