No Kings!

Author: Mike Pihlman

  • Using Google’s Titan Security Key

    Using Google’s Titan Security Key

    I wanted to see how Google’s ($50) Titan Security Key could work to secure my online accounts. Based upon my past experiences at Lawrence Livermore National Lab, where we tested a separate physical key, I understand how well the security offered by an external physical device can work.

  • Pixel 3 XL: Using the Top Shot Photo Feature

    Pixel 3 XL: Using the Top Shot Photo Feature

    Playing with my new Pixel 3 XL. Using the Top Shot photo feature. It’s awesome!

  • Beta Testing Digital Wellbeing

    Beta Testing Digital Wellbeing

    I un-installed Digital Wellbeing and, in addition to my blood pressure normalizing, I had a stroke of creativity (instead of worrying about every freakin minute I was on my phone) and wrote this blog. 

  • “Grasshopper: Learn to Code in JavaScript” by Google’s Area 120

    “Grasshopper: Learn to Code in JavaScript” by Google’s Area 120

    UPDATE 5/6/2018: After working on Grasshopper for 16 days in a row…..I GRADUATED!  Yippeee! Tired of your kids, or grand-kids, having all the fun learning how to code?  Well…..here is an app for us “old” folks.  😉 Adult learners, using the Grasshopper app on your Android or IoS phones can now learn how to code…

  • Desktop Videoconferencing: History and Future

    Desktop Videoconferencing: History and Future

    UPDATE Sept 29, 2023: Consider this a history lesson on videoconferencing. 🙂 UPDATE April 12, 2020: The stay at home orders during the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic prove the worth of videoconferencing for staying connected with loved ones and for telecommuting. I gave my last presentation on videoconferencing in 2009.  Here are the slides. I remember…

  • Learn IT Support: Online Google Course

    Learn IT Support: Online Google Course

    Saw this a few days ago: Google is now providing an online Google IT Support Professional Certificate class that can get ANYONE (Hmm, but, I’m too old, right?) up to speed on becoming an IT Support Specialist in less than a year. Very cool! 🙂 Here is the blurb from the Google Blog announcing this…

  • Using the Netgear Arlo Pro Security Camera

    Using the Netgear Arlo Pro Security Camera

    UPDATE 1/3/2023: Just got notice from Arlo that they are ending the life of our cameras on April 1, 2023. Time to look for another security camera….stay tuned! Due to an overwhelming negative response….Arlo now knows they fucked up and extended the end of life for awhile. Hey, Arlo: I still have a rotary phone…

  • Google Pixel Augmented Reality: An Experiment with Blaze

    Google Pixel Augmented Reality: An Experiment with Blaze

    ‘Twas the week before Christmas…….and I was working with Blaze on his down-stays while also GEEK-ing out with the newly released Google Augmented Reality (see below the video for a definition) Stickers for my Pixel XL. As Blaze and I were training, I decided I needed help from the “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” crew,…

  • Using Android Pay on My Pixel XL

    Using Android Pay on My Pixel XL

    The never ending battle for truth justice and the…….. Oh well, you know the rest, and now that I have officially used Android Pay for the first time…..I will soon be able to save the world with my Justice League friends, starting with Wonder Woman! Makes me feel 10 again!  Love it…..:-) Paying by phone…

  • Cutting the Cord: YouTube TV

    Cutting the Cord: YouTube TV

    Read my Introduction to this Series. Click for my YouTube TV Tests: UPDATE: I am testing YouTube TV for the 5th time in Jan / Feb 2025. I will post the results in March 2025. Major Update March 6, 2025: YouTube TV is now our TV provider! After 8 years of testing, the $$ numbers…