Author: Mike Pihlman

  • Music: Google Play and iTunes

    Music: Google Play and iTunes

    I realize that music CD’s are going the way of the dodo bird…..BUT…..we still have a great CD collection, and Lori keeps buying CD’s. As such, I have a TON of uploaded CD music on my Windows computer–in iTunes. But, I want to use Google Play as my cloud-based music storage location (I am Google-fied).…

  • Our Land Line Telephone: End of an Era

    Our Land Line Telephone: End of an Era

    On April 10, 2016 the unthinkable happened……we cancelled our land line telephone service.  209-836-2044 is now disconnected / out of service. Really quick history: Lori and I are both old time Bell Labs employees in Holmdel, NJ.  So land lines and telecommunications services are in our blood…. The passing of our beloved, battery operated via…

  • Cloud Based Computing: Confessions of an Early Adopter

    Cloud Based Computing: Confessions of an Early Adopter

    A few years ago (mainly because I was broke and could no longer afford high-priced PC centric programs like Word, Excel, etc) I decided to start moving my PC-centric “stuff” off of my computer and into the cloud (I happened to choose Google, but, the choice is yours where you end up. Click here to…

  • How Watching Movies Has Changed Over the Years

    How Watching Movies Has Changed Over the Years

    This is 2015, errrr 2019 , 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and the technology choices for us to watch movies is dizzying!  A bit of history…. I don’t want to start too far back, but, in the past 30 or 40 years there has been a remarkable technological shift in the way we watch movies…

  • Fun with Statistics: Do More Blog Posts Result in More Views?

    Fun with Statistics: Do More Blog Posts Result in More Views?

    My math skills are fading, but, I thought it would be interesting and fun(?) to look at some stats of my blogs while re-learning how to do some statistical analysis. I am using Google Sheets, and will add to this post as I figure out more analysis I can do…..while keeping it interesting and fun.…

  • Vidyo and Stampede Introduce Drone Based Video Conferencing

    Vidyo and Stampede Introduce Drone Based Video Conferencing

    OK, this video is COOL!   I was the Chief Technical Office for the TeleCon conference many years ago….these videos gave me MAJOR nostalgia.  Makes me want to get back in there and do it!  🙂 —- — Here is the Press Release: Stampede and Vidyo Introduce Drone Based Video Conferencing Solution at InfoComm 2015…

  • Coworking vs A Private Office with Doors

    Coworking vs A Private Office with Doors

    What is the first thing you do when you start a small business? Among other things…….you look for an office. Right? In 2022, you have choices to make….do you want a Private Office or do you want to join a Coworking location? Read on to help you make a decision. 🙂 Private Office Your vision…

  • Coworking = Life Balance for the Entrepreneur or Telecommuter

    Coworking = Life Balance for the Entrepreneur or Telecommuter

    In 1990, I was one of two people responsible for writing the “Telecommuting Plan” at Lawrence Livermore National Lab. Little did I know then how much “telecommuting” would change my life. In telecommuting I saw the perfect solution to many issues confronting society (and my own life).  Chief among them is what I always strove…

  • Tips for Starting a Small Business

    Tips for Starting a Small Business

    At AltamontCowork over the past 5 years, I have seen all sorts of small business owners / wannabes come and go.  Some have succeeded, most have not.  Here are a few tips for the serious small business start-up: Follow your PASSION. In a GOOD economy it takes 2 to 3 years to build your business.…

  • Cameras on Smartphones: Photography for Everyone

    Cameras on Smartphones: Photography for Everyone

    Call me old fashioned, but, this is the first year that I am really enjoying using the cameras (front and back facing) on my smartphone. My new Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has a camera that is every bit as good as our standalone Sony camera for utility, instant, use. Caveat: I am not a professional…