Author Topic: The Technophobe Reader - Technology Help (Read 213641 times)

ginny · « **Reply #360 on:** January 02, 2012, 05:32:38 PM »

Welcome to The Technophobe Reader

Cartoon used by permission of the artist

Confused about Ihpones, Ipods, Ipads, Itouch, Androids, or anything else electronic? Don't know what a "text" message is? Don't have a Nook or a Kindle and don't know the benefits of an e reader? Feel left out of the rush of the new technology and wonder what all the shouting is about?

Have a new Iphone, Ipod, Ipad, Nook, Kindle, or I headache or are considering same?

Ask your question here! Other sufferers may be able to direct you to a source for help or help with their own experience.

This discussion has no "expert" moderator, we offer here no professional advice but we may be able to answer out of our own experiences, so ask or comment away!

ginny · « **Reply #361 on:** January 02, 2012, 05:36:16 PM »

Pedln, you're going to hate me. Mine did the same thing so I waited till 9 pm and turned it on, then hit the red record button till it showed two hours on the screen, in 30 minute increments, turned the TV off , and it got it.

Frybabe · « **Reply #362 on:** January 02, 2012, 05:52:12 PM »

I can't help you with that one Pedln. The timer controller likely will either have to be reset by a service technician or a new clock/timer board put in. Either way, it is probably not worth the cost of fixing considering the prices of the DVR recorders. I've been trying to find some info on the net, but so far no luck.

pedln · « **Reply #363 on:** January 03, 2012, 11:12:53 AM »

Yes, Ginny, you're right.

Frybabe, I think I would pay to have the clock reset, if possible. Have been looking at DVRs online, forget getting a VCR to record -- they are either megabucks or unavailable, or used -- with an expired clock, no doubt. Good reviews on DVRs are few and far between. It all sounds like you need a PhD in High-Fallutin Consumer Electronics. What has happened to SIMPLE?

LarryHanna · « **Reply #364 on:** January 04, 2012, 05:08:26 PM »

JoanK, when you are on the home page you should see on the second line at the top a search box and then several links like "books", "videos" and "apps". If you get lost in the navigation on the device you can always get back to the home screen. The settings are found in the little gear icon at the top line above the menu line on the home page.

JoanK · « **Reply #365 on:** January 05, 2012, 04:11:27 PM »

I assume by "the home page" you mean what my kindle calls "The storefront"? Mine doesn't look like that: we may have different versions of kindle. But mine does have a section "featured" and under that "Popular games and active content". Going there, I found a sale, and was able to get a dozen games at 0.99 apiece. My grandkids love them. So do I.

Unfortunately, it seems that my battery discharges even faster bsince I got them. Without the games, I had to be really careful to turn off the wireless and the kindle when not in use. to make my battery last a week, much shorter than others report. Now, I recharged yesterday, haven't used it today, except to check above, and the battery is already one quarter down.

Does this sound familiar?

Frybabe · « **Reply #366 on:** January 05, 2012, 04:39:30 PM »

JoanK, I removed the games from my Kindle because partly I was spending way too much time with them but mostly because my Kindle started to reboot itself excessively. I needed to recharge my battery much more often. Also, it started having trouble shutting off; instead, it would decide to go into standby mode or reboot. It is working much better now, although it still acts up now and again. I wonder if you can defrag the drive on these things or if you even need to. There is nothing in the manual about it. I ran a virus scan on it, once, just for the heck of it.

Frybabe · « **Reply #367 on:** January 06, 2012, 12:40:14 AM »

I suppose most of you have heard that B&N is looking to spin off or sell its Nook business. Will they survive without it? Here is something from the LATimes. http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2012/01/barnes-nobles-nook-news.html I am surprised to discover that they were looking to sell themselves before Borders went belly-up.

jane · « **Reply #368 on:** January 06, 2012, 09:47:26 AM »

Interesting development, Frybabe! I've become a dedicated convert to the digital book, but my husband is still liking his printed nonfictions. I know the bricks and mortar B&N have made serious changes to the locations I'm familiar with. There are far more educational games for kids, "stuff" like the lines from Vera Bradley and several others I don't recall at the moment...i.e., fancy gift type items...fancy pen and pencil sets, bookcovers, etc.

I would not want my "nest egg" invested solely in any bricks and mortar bookstores anymore or even the books industry, I guess. The future doesn't look good for the printed book industry, if two of the biggest retailers (Borders, now closed) and B&N wanting to be bought by someone else.

In the closest Borders to me, Books-a-Million has moved in to the same space and seemed like a nice store. Again, the content seemed diversified. In fact, I bought two toys...stuffed animal and a finger puppet set for babies in my family for Christmas...there.

If that leaves only places like the small independent book stores, which won't come within a 1/10 probably of carrying the inventory of the big B&N's, and places with used books or remainders, like Half-Priced Books (which is always busy, in the couple I've been in), then the future of the printed book is even dicier, I guess.

GeneJ · « **Reply #369 on:** January 06, 2012, 10:56:10 AM »

Quote from: JoanK on December 29, 2011, 03:59:54 PM

GENE: be sure to let us know how you like it when you get it.

Joan, I haven't bought it yet, but I will be purchasing the basic kindle in the next day or so. I definitely will share my experience. Just received a flyer from my local library touting their e-book and audio-book capabilities.

I've also been reading the posts here in Technophobe and the e-books sure seem to be on the march.

GeneJ · « **Reply #370 on:** January 06, 2012, 11:27:54 AM »

I placed my Kindle order and used the Amazon link here at Senior Learn. I guess I went into action while I was jabbering about it. So now I just wait till I get it.

The discussions here at Technophobe are extremely interesting. I give full weight to the opinions and experiences that I read.

Update in a few weeks.

Frybabe · « **Reply #371 on:** January 06, 2012, 02:45:37 PM »

Before I involuntarily left Fry Comm., they started and were busy increasing their on-demand printing business. This is mostly for small subscriber publications or members only publications. I have one that was printed for the American Geriatric Association. Very small inventories are kept, often not printed unless ordered, and Fry often mails them directly to the buyer from here. It may well be that the printing industry will be reduced to high-speed copier/collator/printers similar to Kinko's.

One of the biggest expenses in the printing industry is the cost of plates. So, as more and more presses are converted to a computer-to-press rather that a computer-to-plate format, prices of books and magazines should come down or at least not keep rising. Whether or not it is enough, now, to compete with totally digital offerings remains to be seen. BTW, I have noticed that some print books are actually less expensive than the same in e-book form. I thought the whole idea of the e-book was to by-pass the hard copy expenses, thus making it less expensive. Silly me!

jane · « **Reply #372 on:** January 06, 2012, 06:08:05 PM »

Frybabe...Interesting observation from you as an insider on the printing industry. I can see where the expense should be less, as you say.

I haven't yet found a book I was interested in that was more expensive as an ebook than as a new print book (paperback or hard cover)....the used ones, yes, can be less expensive, but once shipping and handling are figured in, I don't know. I have seen some odd pricing on both print and ebooks, though....and I can't understand some of those prices. However, I also saw some weird things when I tried a search at B&N on date and found some books with publication dates of the year 2059! I can't imagine any author is really planning NOW for a pub date then. I'm quite sure I won't be around to buy it, at any rate!! I about hurt myself laughing at that date.

jane

salan · « **Reply #373 on:** January 08, 2012, 07:14:12 AM »

I have a question about the IPad. Is in only available with AT&T or can you use other servers. I am with Verizon. Do they have an equivalent or can IPad be used with Verizon?
Can it be used like a Kindle or Nook for downloading books? Is it easy for a novice to use? I live in a small town and don't have access to stores to go to for help.
Sally

ginny · « **Reply #374 on:** January 08, 2012, 08:49:31 AM »

I have a question about the IPad. Is in only available with AT&T or can you use other servers. I am with Verizon.

I have Verizon for my IPad only. It's wonderful. Since I don't HAVE a Verizon account I pay monthly depending on what amount of Gigabytes I download. I barely download 1 G a month, so I'm changing my plan again, to less money. I've been paying $30 per month..

I don't know what they charge if you already have a Verizon account to add the IPad to it.

I bought my Ipad from Verizon over the phone. I absolutely love it and am obsessed with it. The plans and options are all online at Verizon.com.

Do they have an equivalent or can IPad be used with Verizon?

Verizon is better in my opinion in this area because ATT blacks out in some spots here, I'd ask and be sure of the coverage. If you have Verizon now and you have a mobile phone which does work you will be home free signal wise, but the salespeople will tell you all that.

Can it be used like a Kindle or Nook for downloading books?

Yes, but it also has its own bookstore, so you don't need them. You can install if you like an I Pad Amazon Kindle app, and an I Pad Nook app if you want a book only available on Amazon, say. It's quite easy to download books from any source, and I like the little bookshelf you get with Ipad when you download books, myself.

I hear the Nook app for I pad does not offer the same freebies, etc. you could get at B&N.

Is it easy for a novice to use?

Yes, amazingly so. The genius of Steve Jobs, I guess.

I live in a small town and don't have access to stores to go to for help.

You've got us, a lot of us have I Pads, and you've got Apple, too, once you get an Apple product you can call them toll free and they will help technically and they're very nice. I would ask how long this free technical advice will last. I actually took out a sort of service contract with Apple initially and so can talk on and on. I haven't talked to them in ages.

Also there are wonderful magazines and books ON the Ipad which will take you step by step thru each and every process with lots of photos. There is literally no question they won't answer. There is also a manual loaded on the IPad if you need it. I like books with lots of step by step photos. Are you looking for an IPad 2 or?

As one who just played an hour of games on it this morning through Verizon and read the London Sunday Times, I don't think I can recommend it more highly.

HaroldArnold · « **Reply #375 on:** January 08, 2012, 10:41:34 AM »

In general I agree With Ginny's rather favorable I-pad commentary above, however, as great as it is, it falls short of perfection. I'll mention two annoying annoying tendencys. First After taking some 20 minutes peckin out a post here or an e-mail, I am ready to hit the post or send button, suddenly it's GONE. In a flash it just disappears. Similarly on a seniorlearn board I scroll down to the bottom to read the last post. I start to read it. Flash, it suddenly scrolls back to the top.

I attribute both of these anoyances, to the way I am holding the I-pad. I tend to pinch it tightly from the upper left corner. Even though my fingers are on the edge ( on the black margin) not the screen, the unwanted action is initiated. To avoid the problem I have to be sure I hold it lightly on the edge, or better, as I am doing now no hands at all with the I-pad layin on my lap with no hand contact.

HaroldArnold · « **Reply #376 on:** January 08, 2012, 11:03:59 AM »

Would someone post here how to illustrate posts with jpg pictures? I don't have my home page any more. I do have a Facebook page but I am not active there since I find It rarther difficult to navigate and use.

jane · « **Reply #377 on:** January 08, 2012, 11:10:37 AM »

Harold...one idea...sign up for a free photobucket account. http://www.photobucket.com

You can then upload your illustrations to that account (as you probably did when you had server space with your webpage) and then you can link to that photobucket account to use the illustrations.

If they're illustrations for a heading for a book discussion you're doing, Ginny, Marcie or I can upload those illustrations to the SeniorLearn server.

jane

mabel1015j · « **Reply #378 on:** January 08, 2012, 11:58:59 AM »

We have Verizon as server for our phones and computers. It costs us nothing to add my ipad.

Harold, you may want to consider getting a cover for your ipad that will let you set it on your lap like an easel. You don't need to hold the tablet at all and i think it's easier to type on it that way.

Some web sites about seniors and ipads:

The one "error" he thinks has been made on the ipad, i never even noticed - my face reflected in the screen!?! Pshaw!

http://www.forbes.com/sites/joanlappin/2011/09/28/three-things-apple-ipads-do-well-for-seniors-and-the-one-huge-error-its-design-failed-to-consider/

Ten apps seniors must have, i don't agree that i need all ten, but i do love Pandora Radio

http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/the-best-life/2010/11/08/10-must-have-ipad-apps-for-seniors

http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/for-seniors-delete-appointments-in-ipads-calendar.html

Article
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2010/05/03/MNDT1D7JQP.DTL

mabel1015j · « **Reply #379 on:** January 08, 2012, 12:04:07 PM »

The page about removing appointments in itself is not important, but the site in general has good info and the article below that is interesting.

Jean

rosemarykaye · « **Reply #380 on:** January 08, 2012, 02:54:20 PM »

Harold, I have precisely the same issues with the Macbook - it is just too too sensitive, things jump about all over the place when I don't think I've "told" it to do anything at all. The built-in mouse seems to me to have far too many functions, so that you've only got to hit it in slightly the wrong place for all sorts of shennanigans to ensue.

Rosemary

mabel1015j · « **Reply #381 on:** January 08, 2012, 03:17:43 PM »

(i put this post in parentheses bcs it has NOTHING to do w/ what is being talked about, but if i don't post it now, i'll forget about it and it's so interesting i thoight you might enjoy it.......

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/opinion/sunday/steve-jobss-genius.html?_r=2&pagewanted=1&ref=todayspaper

An interesting article by Issacson, recent biographer of Steve Jobs, previous biographer of B Franklin and A Einstein, writes about intelligence and ingenuity. What are the different kinds of "smart"? My husband, a microbiologist, and i have had more than one conversation about that topic. - we have also had more then one conversation about the humanities vs science. Amazing that we've been together almost 50 yrs! Issacson also alludes to the simplicity of Apple products v IBM's pc. I started my computer life on an Apple IIE and when i went to work for Dept of Army, who were, of course, using pc's, i asked "why is this so complicated?")

Enjoy!

Jean

MaryPage · « **Reply #382 on:** January 08, 2012, 05:56:35 PM »

There are now SEVEN books on my I-Pad bookshelves! All were free. Selected poems of Oscar Wilde, Shakespeare's Sonnets, Verses by Rudyard Kipling, 3 volumes of Emily Dickenson's poems, and Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery. I am having SO much fun reading them this way! I will never need a Kindle or a Nook or any of those.

That bookshelf is so cute!

So is the magazine rack with 2 magazines on it. The latest edition automatically pops up on it!

JoanK · « **Reply #383 on:** January 08, 2012, 07:31:30 PM »

Exciting, isn't it?

MaryPage · « **Reply #384 on:** January 08, 2012, 07:36:40 PM »

Yes and no. Ups and downs like a roller coaster.

At the moment I am back into about to die of frustration. This time it is all about Senior Learn. I am trying to set it up on my new IPad and it does not even recognize my name. AND apparently I have forgotten my password, though I am having a hard time believing that. Has anyone else had trouble getting Senior Learn on their IPad?

Steph · « **Reply #385 on:** January 09, 2012, 06:18:52 AM »

I download books from several different apps.. Sometimes one will have a free book and the others wont, so I check.
I printed out the entire instruction book.. 144 pages , punched holes and put it in a three ring binder. I tend to like to follow along the written word to do new stuff.. I also got a little gadget form the original IPAD that allows me to download pictures from my camera direct to the IPAD..
I have dozens of fun apps.. google earth,, a wonderful space app, that is 3D and spectacular.

pedln · « **Reply #386 on:** January 09, 2012, 09:41:55 AM »

Smart ideas and good suggestions, Steph. It looks like you're going about the IPad with the right idea. IPads sound like so much fun, but with a Kindle and a laptop, I'm having a hard time justifying one for my needs. Maybe someday, but maybe need an Iphone first.

HaroldArnold · « **Reply #387 on:** January 09, 2012, 11:19:45 AM »

My goodness! What happene here.? I counted something like 14 poats yesterday and today.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #388 on:** January 09, 2012, 12:00:03 PM »

MaryPage, i have/had no trouble w/ Seniorlearn on my ipad other then the ipad is so fast it has spoiled me! Sometimes i am now too impatient.

Jean

pedln · « **Reply #389 on:** January 09, 2012, 11:44:46 PM »

No doubt you've seen list after list, ad nauseum. But this NY Times list of Best IPad apps has me wanting an IPad. That interactivity / interactiveness certainly sounds like fun.

Best IPad Apps of 2011

Recipes, photoediting, etc. For the uninitiated, like me, this whole Apps thing sounds very inviting. MaryPage, I bet you're going to just love your IPad.

mabel1015j · « **Reply #390 on:** January 13, 2012, 01:06:57 PM »

An enbarrassment of riches arrived in my email this morning. Learnoutloud has sent out their
"learning guide" of free materials. It will take me weeks to browse thru it, but i have excited anticipation of having something to do in these cold winter nights of tv re-runs. My only problem is that some of them won't run on my ipad, so i'll have to sit at the pc instead on in my lounge chair..........siiigghh, the trials of life

http://www.learnoutloud.com/content/blog/archives/2011/07/free_learning_guide.html?utm_source=FROTD&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Free%2BResource%20of%20the%20Day

Enjoy!!!

Jean

Steph · « **Reply #391 on:** January 19, 2012, 06:25:41 AM »

Pedlin, Funny I really dont want or need an iphone.. I love the IPAD though. I like my Garmin GPS in the car.. I can unhook it and take it with me if I am in a strange town and want to walk to somewhere. I do not like the GPS, I can access with my phone. Too darned small..
I love the App on myIPAD that gives me free Wifi sites where I am.. and I have another one that does the same thing with gas stations and restaurants.. Sort of fun. But my Garmin does gas stations as well.

maryz · « **Reply #392 on:** January 26, 2012, 06:29:35 PM »

Nothing to do with books, but....

I've been trying to skype with our daughter. The camera works, but it tells me that the microphone (built in) is muted. I've used it before with no problems, but somehow I've managed to mute the mike. I can't seem to figure out where to find it to "unmute" it.

I have a Dell Inspiron 14 (2 years old).

Steph · « **Reply #393 on:** January 27, 2012, 06:07:42 AM »

Wish i could help, but I dont skype..

LarryHanna · « **Reply #394 on:** January 27, 2012, 07:35:55 AM »

MaryZ, look in the lower left-hand corner of your monitor screen for a little speaker icon. If it is there it will probably have a slash across it. Just click on it and it should turn the mute off. If that doesn't work look at your keyboard to see if it has a mute button (mine does). You can also go to the control panel and click on the sound and see if your speakers are muted. Hope this helps.

maryz · « **Reply #395 on:** January 27, 2012, 01:19:17 PM »

Larry, I keep the computer muted almost all the time, but I do, of course, turn that back to sound when I skype. I can hear my daughter. She can't hear me.

Frybabe · « **Reply #396 on:** January 27, 2012, 02:25:33 PM »

Is there a little slide or button on the microphone itself that needs shifted? I don't mine, so it is packed in a box somewhere, but I seem to remember a little slide switch to turn the mike of and one. Also, did you check to see if the mike is plugged into the right slot on the computer? I've plugged into the wrong place several times over the years. All I can say is thank goodness for color coded plugs and slots these days.

maryz · « **Reply #397 on:** January 27, 2012, 03:28:50 PM »

Frye, the mike isn't separate - it's in the computer itself.

pedln · « **Reply #398 on:** January 27, 2012, 04:41:21 PM »

MaryZ, I hope you get your sound problem solved quickly. This is a little off-topic, but timely. IN the WSJ this week, Mossberg has a review of TelyHD, which is a foot-long gadget that's put on the top or your TV and allows the whole family or roomful of people to Skype at the same time. I assuming that the folks at the other end have the same piece of equipment.

Frybabe · « **Reply #399 on:** January 27, 2012, 05:52:37 PM »

Sorry, Mary. I'm not familiar with computers with mikes right in them. There is probably some software set-up program in there somewhere, then. Larry's suggestion to check the in the control panel is a good one, look in either hardware or devices when the control panel opens. You may be able to find it and open a settings window from there.

I do hope it isn't a problem with the computer itself. You could go into the help and support window and click on troubleshooting tools. There is a hardware diagnostics program you can run that might pick up a problem. However, considering you are getting a mike muted message it sounds like a software setting rather than a hardware problem.

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Author Topic: The Technophobe Reader - Technology Help (Read 213641 times)