Let’s face it, our phones are very important to our daily lives; not just to keep on contact, but sometimes as a point of reference for key information, for pictures, music and more. Losing a phone can be traumatic. So let’s take a moment to look at the steps to protect our phone and our information.
Right now, I want you to find and note your phone’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Number). If your phone is lost or stolen, this 15 digit number is needed for the report.
Next, remove any personal information that you want to keep ... personal. It’s very convenient to store private pictures, passwords, TRN, bank account and other relevant numbers on your phone, but it’s equally dangerous.
Watch out for viruses. Yes, phones have viruses as well. They can access your phone through Bluetooth connections, downloaded attachments or social networking malware. Some viruses simply drain your battery while searching for new victims; others steal your address book, call history and other data.
Treat your phone as you would your wallet. Keep concealed if not in use and be aware of your surroundings when using your phone. Don’t put down your phone in public places and never let it out of your sight unless it’s on your person.
Finally, lock your SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) card and your phone, separately. It can be a hassle to enter that code every time you turn on (or ever use) your phone, but well worth the effort if the phone gets stolen.
If all this fails, and your phone is actually lost or stolen, the first thing to do it to report the phone IMMEDIATELY. You are liable for ALL charges prior to being reported. Call your service provider to report the phone. If lost, request a temporary block. If you find the phone, the block can easily be lifted. If you are sure the phone is stolen, request a permanent block on the phone and the SIM.
Blocking the SIM card prevents the thief from making calls with that SIM card in any phone. Your phone number and relevant subscriber information is needed for this process. Blocking the phone prevents the thief from using that phone with any SIM card; your IMEI number is needed for this extra step.
Report your stolen phone to the police. As a citizen, you are required to report any and all criminal activity. Also, the police report may come in handy if you and your service provider get into a dispute over charges.
It will be possible to get back the same phone number, but your service provider cannot restore your data (including your contacts, images and files).
Tech tip: Use the security lock features on your phone to protect data.
Interface with us:
Online: trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 876-878-FAME (18768783263)
Next on Tech Time ... Mobile Phone Myths
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tech Time: Text Messaging
Trust me. Everyone is doing it, so why aren’t you?
Text messaging refers to using SMS (Short Message Service) to exchange short text messages between mobile phones. SMS text messaging is not network specific, meaning that you can send a message to virtually any mobile phone anywhere in the world ... as long as you know the number of the phone you want to send the message to.
SMS text messages are usually limited to 160 characters and that includes spaces.
If you don’t have a phone (or credit), you can still send text messages to phones using the ‘email to SMS gateway’ or through various online services (see www.techjamaica.com). The service is usually free, but has the same length restrictions. Also the protocol is different for each network, so you’ll have to know what network the receiver phone is on, unlike traditional SMS.
Now, when entering a text message on a ‘traditional’ phone key pad, there are two primary options, multi-tap and predictive text.
Using multi-tap, a key is pressed multiple times to access the list of letters on that key. For successive letters, you will have to pause or press next. Multi-tap is straight forward, so you can type without looking, but it’s not very efficient because many keystrokes are needed for virtually every letter.
In a perfect world, predictive text reduces the number of keystrokes. Predictive text may come up as T9 or SureType depending on your brand of phone. Predictive text uses a dictionary or user database to identify common words. Once you start typing, predictive text brings up a list of word options that match that keystroke combination. Sometimes, it brings up the wrong word. For example, the words good, home, gone, hoof and hood all use the same four letter keystroke combination. So read what you type before you send it.
Tech tip: Do not send or read text messages while driving.
Interface with us:
Online: trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 876-878-FAME (18768783263)
Next on Tech Time ... Mobile Phone Myths
Text messaging refers to using SMS (Short Message Service) to exchange short text messages between mobile phones. SMS text messaging is not network specific, meaning that you can send a message to virtually any mobile phone anywhere in the world ... as long as you know the number of the phone you want to send the message to.
SMS text messages are usually limited to 160 characters and that includes spaces.
If you don’t have a phone (or credit), you can still send text messages to phones using the ‘email to SMS gateway’ or through various online services (see www.techjamaica.com). The service is usually free, but has the same length restrictions. Also the protocol is different for each network, so you’ll have to know what network the receiver phone is on, unlike traditional SMS.
Now, when entering a text message on a ‘traditional’ phone key pad, there are two primary options, multi-tap and predictive text.
Using multi-tap, a key is pressed multiple times to access the list of letters on that key. For successive letters, you will have to pause or press next. Multi-tap is straight forward, so you can type without looking, but it’s not very efficient because many keystrokes are needed for virtually every letter.
In a perfect world, predictive text reduces the number of keystrokes. Predictive text may come up as T9 or SureType depending on your brand of phone. Predictive text uses a dictionary or user database to identify common words. Once you start typing, predictive text brings up a list of word options that match that keystroke combination. Sometimes, it brings up the wrong word. For example, the words good, home, gone, hoof and hood all use the same four letter keystroke combination. So read what you type before you send it.
Tech tip: Do not send or read text messages while driving.
Interface with us:
Online: trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 876-878-FAME (18768783263)
Next on Tech Time ... Mobile Phone Myths
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Tech Time: 3G Hype
Moving out of the 3G theatre to home, 3G posters where everywhere, promising faster speed and better features than my ‘old phone’. But is it all hype?
No and yes. Let’s start with the no. 3G promises and delivers on:
· Always on connectivity at LAN like speeds
· Hot multi-media services with streaming audio and video
· Powerful email and no problems with large attachments
· Cool instant messaging with audio and video clips
But everything has a price, for 3G the price is not cheep ... literally. 3G services are more expensive than their 2G counterparts. And you need newer, more sophisticated phones to take advantage of the benefits. That is just another way of saying ... more money.
Locally, two telecoms provide 3G services, Claro and LIME. Claro rolled out its 3G service first and in a big way with broad coverage outside of Kingston and the corporate area. LIME introduced the service to its customers recently with guaranteed service in Kinston, St. Andrew and parts of St. Catherine. Digicel plans to rollout 4G on a super secret timeline I have not yet been able to crack.
Business and high end users will relish in 3G. Real time office telecommuting becomes possible, even practical.
Let’s move to the yes. Most mobile phone users don’t need or want the speed and related features. Let’s face it, a large part of the population uses a mobile phone for exactly what it was intended to do, make phone calls. Most importantly, a large part of the population lives outside of Kingston and Corporate Area.
For these users, 3G has little or no practical application. No need to buy a new expensive phone, no need to spend more on network access. No need to have a shorter battery life.
Interface with us:
Online: trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 878-FAME
Next on Tech Time ... Event Tech
No and yes. Let’s start with the no. 3G promises and delivers on:
· Always on connectivity at LAN like speeds
· Hot multi-media services with streaming audio and video
· Powerful email and no problems with large attachments
· Cool instant messaging with audio and video clips
But everything has a price, for 3G the price is not cheep ... literally. 3G services are more expensive than their 2G counterparts. And you need newer, more sophisticated phones to take advantage of the benefits. That is just another way of saying ... more money.
Locally, two telecoms provide 3G services, Claro and LIME. Claro rolled out its 3G service first and in a big way with broad coverage outside of Kingston and the corporate area. LIME introduced the service to its customers recently with guaranteed service in Kinston, St. Andrew and parts of St. Catherine. Digicel plans to rollout 4G on a super secret timeline I have not yet been able to crack.
Business and high end users will relish in 3G. Real time office telecommuting becomes possible, even practical.
Let’s move to the yes. Most mobile phone users don’t need or want the speed and related features. Let’s face it, a large part of the population uses a mobile phone for exactly what it was intended to do, make phone calls. Most importantly, a large part of the population lives outside of Kingston and Corporate Area.
For these users, 3G has little or no practical application. No need to buy a new expensive phone, no need to spend more on network access. No need to have a shorter battery life.
Interface with us:
Online: trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 878-FAME
Next on Tech Time ... Event Tech
Monday, July 6, 2009
Tech Time: 3-D Movies
Digital 3-D Technology has arrived in Jamaica. 3-D is not new, the basic technology has been around since the 1930’s, but digital technology makes it practical. Seems like everything is going digital, movies included.
Let’s put digital in context, movies are generally shot on film, converted to digital for post production and then transferred back to celluloid to be distributed in theatres. Now, movies can be shot in a digital camera, digitally edited on a computer and transferred to a hard drive (or via internet) and displayed from a digital projector. This is great for theatres and by extension movies goers because:
· Production costs are lower, making movies cheaper
· Facilitates true, practical worldwide release (cause no film need be shared)
· Better, consistent quality (film deteriorates with each showing, digital does not)
· Greater piracy collection and
· Alternative content, like 3D
Palace Amusement spent upwards of $50 million (Jamaican dollars) to install the “latest, most innovative technology”, according to Douglas Graham, CEO of the nearly 100 year old theatre company.
With digital 3-D, movies can fool your eyes and brain into thinking that they're looking into a 3-D space rather than at a 2-D screen. Images appear to have depth, and in some cases seem to be coming right towards you. The technology requires the mingling of several components including special digital projectors, custom screens and high tech angled glasses.
Most Digital 3-D systems use polarization. Polarized lenses allow only light waves that are aligned in the right direction to pass through. In a pair of digital 3-D glasses, each lens is polarized differently. The screen is specially designed to maintain the correct polarization when light from the projectors bounces off of it. Without the glasses, the screen appears blurry leading to headaches it watched too long.
The Digital 3-D glasses only work in the theatre; they can’t be used as sun glasses or be worn for prolonged period of time. At Palace Amusement, the glasses are issued and returned to be washed and sterilized after each showing.
Palace Amusement is the first theatre chain in the English speaking Caribbean to invest in this technology. Ice Age 3-D is now showing, to be followed by G Force and the re-showing of Up in 3-D. There are over 50 3-D movies slated for release internationally.
Interface with us:
Online: trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 878-FAME
Next on Tech Time ... Online gaming
Let’s put digital in context, movies are generally shot on film, converted to digital for post production and then transferred back to celluloid to be distributed in theatres. Now, movies can be shot in a digital camera, digitally edited on a computer and transferred to a hard drive (or via internet) and displayed from a digital projector. This is great for theatres and by extension movies goers because:
· Production costs are lower, making movies cheaper
· Facilitates true, practical worldwide release (cause no film need be shared)
· Better, consistent quality (film deteriorates with each showing, digital does not)
· Greater piracy collection and
· Alternative content, like 3D
Palace Amusement spent upwards of $50 million (Jamaican dollars) to install the “latest, most innovative technology”, according to Douglas Graham, CEO of the nearly 100 year old theatre company.
With digital 3-D, movies can fool your eyes and brain into thinking that they're looking into a 3-D space rather than at a 2-D screen. Images appear to have depth, and in some cases seem to be coming right towards you. The technology requires the mingling of several components including special digital projectors, custom screens and high tech angled glasses.
Most Digital 3-D systems use polarization. Polarized lenses allow only light waves that are aligned in the right direction to pass through. In a pair of digital 3-D glasses, each lens is polarized differently. The screen is specially designed to maintain the correct polarization when light from the projectors bounces off of it. Without the glasses, the screen appears blurry leading to headaches it watched too long.
The Digital 3-D glasses only work in the theatre; they can’t be used as sun glasses or be worn for prolonged period of time. At Palace Amusement, the glasses are issued and returned to be washed and sterilized after each showing.
Palace Amusement is the first theatre chain in the English speaking Caribbean to invest in this technology. Ice Age 3-D is now showing, to be followed by G Force and the re-showing of Up in 3-D. There are over 50 3-D movies slated for release internationally.
Interface with us:
Online: trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 878-FAME
Next on Tech Time ... Online gaming
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tech Time: Handheld Game Consoles
Having now mastered the game console at home, its time to hit the road with portable game consoles, commonly called handhelds. Handhelds are lightweight, portable devices with a built-in screens, game controls and speakers; they are easy to carry and can be used virtually anywhere. Unlike video game consoles, the controls screen and speakers are all part of a single mobile unit.
In the market for handhelds, Nintendo was king. From their pioneering Game Boy, which revolutionised portable game place, to the current DS line, Nintendo captured the lion’s share of the gaming market with the worldwide introduction of Tetris.
The DSi is the current Nintendo to rule the roust and is an upgrade from the popular Game Boy Advance (GBA) series. The basic DS system sports two screens in a clam shell design. The lower screen is touch sensitive and can be operated by a stylus or in some cases, a finger. It has a built in microphone and wifi for multiplayer gaming and online browsing. With the upgraded DSi, you’ll lose backward compatibility with GBA games, but you’ll have access to the DSi shop for downloable games and SD card access that allows you to listen to stored music. The DSi will set you back about US$130.00.
The only handheld to rival the popularity of the Nintendo series is the Sony Playstation Portable (PSP). The PSP is more expensive than the DS line, but here is why ... The PSP offers rich graphics and amazing game play with a larger collection of games than the DS. It has an AV output that allows you to watch videos or games on a regular TV. You can browse the web, play music and watch movies, listen to internet radio, talk on Skype and enjoy multigame play with competitors in the room or across the world. It’s about US$40 more and with all that power, the games do load slower than the DS. Point to note, the PSPs uses the UMD (Universal Media Disc) format.
Some may classify the new iPod Touch and iPhone as handheld game devices. But, gaming is not the core function of either device. That said, the iTouch and the iPhone are two pretty cool handheld game consoles. There are over a 100 game titles available, some free, and they are easy to source online. The iPod Touch and iPhone are both great for ammeters and may be of some interest to game enthusiasts as well.
Interface with us:
Online: trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 878-FAME
Next on Tech Time ... Online gaming
In the market for handhelds, Nintendo was king. From their pioneering Game Boy, which revolutionised portable game place, to the current DS line, Nintendo captured the lion’s share of the gaming market with the worldwide introduction of Tetris.
The DSi is the current Nintendo to rule the roust and is an upgrade from the popular Game Boy Advance (GBA) series. The basic DS system sports two screens in a clam shell design. The lower screen is touch sensitive and can be operated by a stylus or in some cases, a finger. It has a built in microphone and wifi for multiplayer gaming and online browsing. With the upgraded DSi, you’ll lose backward compatibility with GBA games, but you’ll have access to the DSi shop for downloable games and SD card access that allows you to listen to stored music. The DSi will set you back about US$130.00.
The only handheld to rival the popularity of the Nintendo series is the Sony Playstation Portable (PSP). The PSP is more expensive than the DS line, but here is why ... The PSP offers rich graphics and amazing game play with a larger collection of games than the DS. It has an AV output that allows you to watch videos or games on a regular TV. You can browse the web, play music and watch movies, listen to internet radio, talk on Skype and enjoy multigame play with competitors in the room or across the world. It’s about US$40 more and with all that power, the games do load slower than the DS. Point to note, the PSPs uses the UMD (Universal Media Disc) format.
Some may classify the new iPod Touch and iPhone as handheld game devices. But, gaming is not the core function of either device. That said, the iTouch and the iPhone are two pretty cool handheld game consoles. There are over a 100 game titles available, some free, and they are easy to source online. The iPod Touch and iPhone are both great for ammeters and may be of some interest to game enthusiasts as well.
Interface with us:
Online: trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 878-FAME
Next on Tech Time ... Online gaming
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Tech Time: Game Consoles
Last week, we explored all the basics of video gaming, so now it’s time to “get in the game” and acquire a game console. A game console is the actual machine used exclusively for game play. When buying a new game console, the box will include the core unit (like a PC tower with the CPU, RAM and audiovisual coprocessor) and a controller (to input information and interact with the screen). Optionally, the console may also come with a game and a memory card.
Based on my informal research, four consoles are most popular in Jamaica.
Sony PlayStation 2 aka PS2
Though no longer in production, you can get a PS2 in stores for about US$50.00. There are lots of optional game accessories, 100’s of game titles available and the PS2 plays CD/DVD’s and had a built in broadband modem for online connectivity.
Sony PlayStation 3 aka PS3
For roughly US$400.00, the PS3 has a built-in hard drive (up to 80 GB) and a Blu-ray disc player with true HDMI output. The PS3 operates by wireless controllers using Bluetooth technology, has an interchangeable hard drive (2.5 sata drive), USB and has removable card support for multiple formats. The console has built-in Wi-Fi and broadband to support online gaming and shopping, but the interface is not nearly as good as the Xbox Live.
Microsoft Xbox 360
Like to PS3 the Xbox 360 has a superior selection of games and some impressive console exclusive games has well all in hi-def. It has an internal hard drive to save game and can play CD/DVD’s using Dolby surround sound, but has no Blu-ray compatibility. Truly impressive however is Xbox Live. Using the Xbox built in Wi-Fi or broadband modem, you can access an excellent, easy to use online services centre for gaming and commerce. Download whole games, movies and TV shows right to the console. Online game however requires an annual paid subscription. Purchase of the console itself will set you back about US$300.00
Nintendo Wii
Like a game console for non-gamers, the Wii is for everyone at US$250.00. It has no internal hard drive and only has SD card support, it has no high end graphics and it can’t play CD/DVD’s. But it does have a revolutionary game controller that uses a combination of infrared technology and accelerators to determine the position and movement of the controller in 3D space. This means that the game is controller with physical gestures in combination with traditional button pressing. The Wii comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and broadband modem connectivity, but it “eats” batteries and the nunchuck controller is sold separately. On the plus side, it does have free online services and game play.
Interface with us:
Online: trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 878-FAME
Next on Tech Time ... Portable game consoles aka handhelds
Based on my informal research, four consoles are most popular in Jamaica.
Sony PlayStation 2 aka PS2
Though no longer in production, you can get a PS2 in stores for about US$50.00. There are lots of optional game accessories, 100’s of game titles available and the PS2 plays CD/DVD’s and had a built in broadband modem for online connectivity.
Sony PlayStation 3 aka PS3
For roughly US$400.00, the PS3 has a built-in hard drive (up to 80 GB) and a Blu-ray disc player with true HDMI output. The PS3 operates by wireless controllers using Bluetooth technology, has an interchangeable hard drive (2.5 sata drive), USB and has removable card support for multiple formats. The console has built-in Wi-Fi and broadband to support online gaming and shopping, but the interface is not nearly as good as the Xbox Live.
Microsoft Xbox 360
Like to PS3 the Xbox 360 has a superior selection of games and some impressive console exclusive games has well all in hi-def. It has an internal hard drive to save game and can play CD/DVD’s using Dolby surround sound, but has no Blu-ray compatibility. Truly impressive however is Xbox Live. Using the Xbox built in Wi-Fi or broadband modem, you can access an excellent, easy to use online services centre for gaming and commerce. Download whole games, movies and TV shows right to the console. Online game however requires an annual paid subscription. Purchase of the console itself will set you back about US$300.00
Nintendo Wii
Like a game console for non-gamers, the Wii is for everyone at US$250.00. It has no internal hard drive and only has SD card support, it has no high end graphics and it can’t play CD/DVD’s. But it does have a revolutionary game controller that uses a combination of infrared technology and accelerators to determine the position and movement of the controller in 3D space. This means that the game is controller with physical gestures in combination with traditional button pressing. The Wii comes with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and broadband modem connectivity, but it “eats” batteries and the nunchuck controller is sold separately. On the plus side, it does have free online services and game play.
Interface with us:
Online: trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 878-FAME
Next on Tech Time ... Portable game consoles aka handhelds
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Tech Time: Personal Gaming
Though the first “video game” was introduced in 1947, many might agree that it was the Atari Game Console which truly spawned the video game phenomenon on the mid 70’s.
Modern day video games all incorporate audio and more sophisticated games also provide feedback such a vibration through peripherals.
Course, what sets video games apart from TV, is the level of interaction if affords the gamer through the use of various input device or game controller. This may range from a simple joystick, to a keyboard and mouse and many things in between.
Video games can be played on many platforms, including the now less popular arcade, very popular console, portable handheld, practical PC or non-game devices. Some games transcend several or all platforms. Consoles are specialised electronic devises that connect to an external TV screen or monitor, think the Sony Playstation, Nintendo Wii, X-Box 360.
The handheld is a self contained, dedicated device used in your hands. Think Nintendo DS and Playstation Portable.
The arcade game is highly specialised electronic device designed to play usually one game and is enclosed in a cabinet. Definitely not portable in any way and doesn’t typically support online gaming.
PC games are most versatile and can be played on standard computers, but a high resolution monitor is always an asset.
Then there are phones, PDA’s and calculators which are in a way the ultimate multi-purpose mobile gaming machines.
Video game genres are used to categorize video games based on their game play interaction rather than visual or narrative differences. They are classified independent of their setting or game-world content. Genres include: Action, Shooter, Action-adventure, Adventure, Construction and management simulation, Life simulation, Role-playing, Strategy, Vehicle simulation and Puzzle among others.
Jamaica is a popular market for video games, but North America, the UK and Japan take the biggest slice of the video game market cake. It is a multi-billion dollar industry.
More for us to talk about including:
Which are the best games and where to get cheats?
Which is the best platform and how to get locally?
In the mean time, get your Tech Time course credit by visiting:
www.str8gamesja.com
www.techjamaica.com
Buy a game at:
Watt’s New
Innovative Systems
Interface with us:
Online: trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 876-878-FAME
Next on Tech Time ... More on Personal Entertainment - Gaming
Modern day video games all incorporate audio and more sophisticated games also provide feedback such a vibration through peripherals.
Course, what sets video games apart from TV, is the level of interaction if affords the gamer through the use of various input device or game controller. This may range from a simple joystick, to a keyboard and mouse and many things in between.
Video games can be played on many platforms, including the now less popular arcade, very popular console, portable handheld, practical PC or non-game devices. Some games transcend several or all platforms. Consoles are specialised electronic devises that connect to an external TV screen or monitor, think the Sony Playstation, Nintendo Wii, X-Box 360.
The handheld is a self contained, dedicated device used in your hands. Think Nintendo DS and Playstation Portable.
The arcade game is highly specialised electronic device designed to play usually one game and is enclosed in a cabinet. Definitely not portable in any way and doesn’t typically support online gaming.
PC games are most versatile and can be played on standard computers, but a high resolution monitor is always an asset.
Then there are phones, PDA’s and calculators which are in a way the ultimate multi-purpose mobile gaming machines.
Video game genres are used to categorize video games based on their game play interaction rather than visual or narrative differences. They are classified independent of their setting or game-world content. Genres include: Action, Shooter, Action-adventure, Adventure, Construction and management simulation, Life simulation, Role-playing, Strategy, Vehicle simulation and Puzzle among others.
Jamaica is a popular market for video games, but North America, the UK and Japan take the biggest slice of the video game market cake. It is a multi-billion dollar industry.
More for us to talk about including:
Which are the best games and where to get cheats?
Which is the best platform and how to get locally?
In the mean time, get your Tech Time course credit by visiting:
www.str8gamesja.com
www.techjamaica.com
Buy a game at:
Watt’s New
Innovative Systems
Interface with us:
Online: trivialonfame.blogspot.com
On email: famefm@rjrgroup.com
On SMS: 876-878-FAME
Next on Tech Time ... More on Personal Entertainment - Gaming
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