Ordered the current Google Pixel tablets to replace these 2018 6th generation iPads. The Pixel tablets are $399 each, but Google is offering a $399 trade-in for each iPad, with free shipping. The only cost is sales tax (6.875% Minnesota, 0.65% Hennepin County, and 0.5% Minneapolis), which comes out to $36.01 per tablet. We already…… Continue reading An Irresistible Upgrade
Category: IT
Cheap Insurance
Downloaded files from our cloud service to an encrypted 256GB thumb drive which we will keep permanently. Doing this periodically is some protection from worst-case scenarios like being permanently locked out of the cloud service.
Death of a Dial Tone
Our VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) adapter decided to brick itself, and no amount of coaxing could bring it back to life. It had saved us a bundle on phone calls over the past 11 years but it was time to order a new adapter.
Limits of Technology
Me: “OK Google, add toothpaste to the shopping list.” We’d like to change the wakeup words to “OK Janet”—a kind and wise Scottish housekeeper for two doctors in a 1960’s BBC TV series. Unlike with Google Assistant, Janet would offer to pour a “wee dram” and toothpaste would never run out.
Migrating Our Digital Recipe Box
Converted our digital recipe box from Evernote to a folder of .docx recipe files in Google Drive. Evernote is changing ownership, with substantial layoffs, which makes me want to secure our recipes in a standard, open, Web-accessible format that is not dependent on a single company.
Pulling a Cable
Recently I managed to destroy a video cable, so today I replaced it. This was easier said than done, as I had to remove wall plates and thread it down a conduit inside the wall. The computer is 13 years old, but with some simple hardware upgrades Windows 10 performs well.
Data Insurance
Took a snapshot of our cloud data, almost filling an encrypted 256GB thumb drive. If all goes well I’ll never use the $20 thumb drive again.
Like Watching Paint Dry
A moment of boredom motivated me to update the software in various devices, including the TV. Automatic updates are disallowed because if an update introduces a problem, I’ll want to know it’s the culprit.
Belt And Suspenders
Saved our files to two thumb drives. All our data is continuously backed up off-site, but about once a year I save an encrypted snapshot of the data to be retained indefinitely. At about $24 for 256GB, thumb drives are inexpensive insurance.
“OK Google, Play Pink”
Today’s morning shower: “OK Google, play Pink.” Sometimes I summon Lady Gaga or Cher.