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Polycom Video Conferencing Report and InfoGraphic
In the old days, we (ESnet, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab) used to visit Polycom HQ (when they were in Pleasanton, CA) to either: Get an update on the latest and greatest videoconferencing technology, or, prod them for one reason or another. History Lesson: We (ESnet, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab) were pioneering cloud-based “ad-hoc” videoconferencing between 1999…
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Using Google Maps While Driving
Normally I am one of the first to try a technology. There have been a few exceptions over the years, but, overall, I am more than happy to jump in and experience something new. Not this time…. Paper Maps In the old days (before 2012), I used to go to the gas station, or AAA,…
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Home Security & Surveillance Cameras
I am starting a new series looking at home security & surveillance monitoring cameras. My fist blog in this series will be on the Uniden Guardian which we have been using at home (the G755) for a few years now, and I installed a newer version in the office building where I used to have…
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2015 International CES
GEEK heaven. TechyMike will plan on going next year! — — The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) runs this year, in Las Vegas, from Jan 5 (for Keynotes and such) while the exhibit floor will be open Jan 6 thru 9. The CES traditionally is THE place for consumer facing vendors (see, I still…
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Playing with Smilies
I just found this in the DRAFT posts from 7 years ago!!!!!! I wonder why I never posted it? Anyway, here it is…..fun with smilies (now known as emoticons or emoji). UPDATE January 2023: Consider the below a HISTORY LESSON. 🙂 Animated Hug Go Girl Wink Happy Sad Laugh Animated Confused Question Mark Animated Love…
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Small Business How-To: Free Websites Using WordPress.com
As a small business owner every penny counts! Don’t spend gobs of money building a super duper fancy schmancy web site until you can afford it. Luckily, WordPress.com offers FREE web sites (with embedded blogging capability). They are EASY to set up and administer and save you lots of money while providing you the exposure…
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Reviewing Remote Work Locations (in Tracy, CA)
In August 2007 (several lifetimes ago in the technology world), I went around to three locations in Tracy, CA to see how the new fangled WiFi hot spots worked, and, if they also worked with videoconferencing. The experiment went rather well. Fast forward 7.5 years to 2015 and videoconferencing is ubiquitous, there are remote workers EVERYWHERE, and…
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Adding an Audio Track to Your YouTube Video
In the old days I took my chances adding country songs to my YouTube videos. And I always got caught. Fast forward a bunch of years and now you can add royalty free music / audio tracks to your videos. Here is how you do it: Once you upload the video, go to “Creator Studio” and…
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Free Alternatives to Microsoft Office
As a small business owner, purchasing office productivity software from Microsoft can be painful. Luckily, there are free options available that work REALLY well. I will look at two here: Open Office and Google Docs. But first, here is a list of what I think the free options need to fulfill to be a viable option…
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Build Your Own App for Android or IOS
Originally published on ForCarol.com one year ago. I will be publishing new stuff soon, life has just gotten in the way. I bought a book on programming a few months back. But….I decided I was just too damn old to learn all this stuff again. I wished they had an app maker that was easy…
TechyMike: Technology Made Easy 