Fool me once shame on me. Fool me twice?

I am what you might call an early adopter.  If it has anything to do with technology, I'll be first in line to give it a try.  In doing so, I occasionally experience a bit of frustration as I suffer through premature, buggy products.  But that's to be expected.  What's not to be expected is experiencing this with a mature product, one that's in mass release and being widely accepted.  Yeah, I'm looking at YOU Windows 10.

I strayed away from windows a LONG time ago.  For the last 8-10 years, I've used a Macbook Pro as my main business computer and an Android tablet for my off hours.  But, as the years passed, I started using my tablets for more and more work-related things.  For better or worse, I found myself leaving my laptop at my office in favor of carrying a lighter, more portable tablet.  The only issue was that, while many of the apps could mimic the real programs I used at work, they were always gimped in one way or another.  In a last ditch effort to span the gap between computer and tablet, I bought a Samsung Note Pro.  It was a 12.2" behemoth of a device (as far as tablets go), that ran a steroid-enhanced version of Android.  It got me closer to the functionality that I craved, but at the end of the day, it wasn't a "real" computer.

Enter the Asus T-100 convertible laptop, which I bought refurbished from WOOT.  This device was an eye-opener to me.  After a decade away, I started to fall in love with Windows again.  The Windows 8.1 OS was a dream to operate.  The gestures on the touchscreen were SO intuitive, I wondered why Android never adopted them.  I was convinced I would never get rid of the Asus...And then the Surface 3 came out.

I figured if I liked Win 8.1 on the Asus so much, I'd absolutely love it on the Surface.  And I was right. I happily used that S3 for months, and despite the fact that it wasn't a "pro" model, it handled all I could throw at it with aplomb.  And then Windows 10 came out, heralded as the ONE OS you could use across all of your devices, and the upgrade was free! Let me say this, I held out for as long as I could.  But, being an early adopter, that amounted to about three days.

The installation itself should've been my first clue to the upcoming grief-fest.  I started the install in the afternoon and had to let it run overnight.  OVERNIGHT!  Wow, it took forever.  But, once it was done, I was really excited to see this incredible new OS, and experience all of its device spanning features. But guess what?  I couldn't hate it enough.  Gone were all of my swipes and gestures for navigation.  Gone were the nice big icons that made the 10" screen on the S3 usable.  In short, gone were all of the things I feel in love with.  So, I reverted back to Win 8.1.

Several months passed, and every time I powered up my Surface, there would be that pesky icon reminding me that a FREE copy of Win 10 was waiting for me.  And then the pop-ups started appearing, telling me that time was running out to get my free copy of Win 10.  Running out?!?!  I couldn't let that happen, so I decided to try it again.

They say that those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.  I repeated it.  Well, that's not entirely true.  This time I knew what I was getting myself into.  What I didn't know, was that Windows had a surprise in store for me.  After installing Win 10, after months of flawless service, my S3 couldn't maintain a WiFi connection to save it's life.  Nothing.  Nada.  No WiFi.  And since the Surface line has no way to connect through a wired connection... I was screwed.   So, I jumped on another device, and searched for a solution.  Turns out that my issue was actually fairly common.  I read post after post from Surface owners who were experiencing the same issue.  Apparently, some drivers were either missing or needed to be updated, including the WiFi.  Of course, not having WiFi was going to make upgrading the WiFi nearly impossible, a real catch 22, so... still screwed.  And then it dawned on me.  The Surface was made by Microsoft.  Windows 10 is made by (spoiler alert). MICROSOFT!  Well shiver me timbers!  You mean to tell me that MS couldn't even be bothered to include the necessary drivers for their OWN devices?  Really?!?!  Talk about lazy.  Talk about disappointing.

I wish this story had a happy ending for Win 10, but it doesn't, not for me.  As I write this on my Surface 3 using Windows 8.1, I'm happy.  I don't need Windows 10.  Sure, one day I'll be cajoled into trying it again, but for now, I'll maintain the status quo.  BUT, the minute Google adds multi-windows to Android on the Pixel C...I'm outta here!

Naked, But Not Afraid...Mostly.

Do you like to go naked, or do you prefer something with more coverage?  No, not YOU personally, I'm talking about your cell phone!  Do you like to carry your phone naked and feel it's high-tech goodness, or are you more cautious and prefer the safety of a case?  Me?  Well, I've done it both ways, and quite frankly, I like it naked.  Don't get me wrong, I've used protection when I've had to, but there's something about feeling your phone the way the designer meant it to feel... now that's the good stuff.  And what about letting people see your baby in all it's glory?  Can't do that when it's all covered up, nope!  And that's where I find myself now, on the horns of this dilemma... to cover or not to cover, that IS the question.

All kidding aside though, I really am trying to decide whether or not I should carry my new Nexus 6P in a case.  It's a gorgeous phone, and I went for the big daddy 128gb version, so I dropped some coin buying it outright. On the one hand, I love the way it looks and feels raw, with nothing on it. One the other hand, I'm scared sh$%tless that I'm going to drop it and hurt my investment.  Ordinarily, that fear is always somewhere in the back of your mind, but in the case of the 6P, it's a very real possibility.  Why? Well, the same thing that makes it so slim and lightweight, also makes it slippery as heck.  I'm talking about it's beautiful, slim aluminum back, which, combined with that Gorilla Glass screen, leaves very little grippy material.  Fortunately though, the very shape of the phone makes it fit well in the hand, but it's those precious few seconds when you're taking it out of a pocket, that's when tragedy is most likely to strike.  So, we have to take precautions...like insurance.

I hate insurance.  No matter what kind, home, auto, boat, health...hate, hate, hate, and hate.  And yet, I bought insurance for my 6P. Well not insurance, but Google Protection. I mean, sure, they don't call it insurance, but c'mon, we know better.  So with that, I should be covered right?  And yet, I'm still fiddling around with cases.  I've been trying a clear MoKo Hybrid case, which fits well and still allows me to see the phone, but I can't feel that aluminum finish anymore.  Every time I take it out of the case, I'm reminded of how much I love it.  So, I ordered bumpers instead.  Yeah, bumpers, literally a rubber gasket that just covers the edges of the phone.  Risky?  Perhaps.  But, I'm playing the odds here.  I figure best case scenario, I drop the phone and it lands on an edge.  Worst case, I drop the phone and it lands on the screen.  But you know what? If it shatters, it shatters. Afterall, I have insurance....I mean protection, um, you know what I mean.

The Shape of Things to Come.

The thing about having a blog is that you need to churn out a lot of content.  The things about having multiple jobs is that you have precious little time sometimes to do anything else...like churn out a lot of content for a blog.  So, we're going to be doing things a little bit differently around here in the coming weeks/months.  Being that I already work in TV, we're going to further embrace the video component of Great Gadgets & Gizmos (GG&G) and start posting those pieces here in addition to our written content.  Furthermore, we'll be starting a podcast that will focus on the more ethereal topics we explore, like which OS do you prefer, and what constitutes a fanboi.  In other words, podcasts for those things that require little demonstration or image support.  None of it is new or revolutionary, but organizationally, we think it makes a lot more sense and will be easier to manage.

iPad Pro...It's Like Deja Vu All Over Again!

Well, the wait is over and the iPad Pro is available for sale.  The accessories like the keyboard and Pencil (why can't they just call it a pen?) however, are not.  So if you're picking up one of these beasts,  you're only getting the iPad at this point.  But, what better way to enjoy it in it's purest form, no?  Now, while I have NO intentions on getting one of these, I am finding it fascinating reading and listening to people who might get it talk about it.  What's particularly interesting to me is how this new product is causing a rift in the church of Apple.  Of course, there are those who love very Apple product no matter what, but their numbers seem to be shrinking.  Many of the faithful seem to be leaving the fold, openly criticizing the iPad Pro on the interwebs.  It seems the naysayers are becoming increasingly disenfranchised by the lack of innovation coming out of Cupertino, and who can blame them.  In some ways, it seems like Apple is moving backwards.  Case in point, my 2014 Macbook Pro has two USB ports, the 2015 version?  One.  Want to plug in an external drive and a memory stick?  Better have a hub!  With the new iPad,  they give it the PRO moniker, but don't give it the ability to use 3D touch?!?  Backwards thinking.  And really, what about the Pro is new anyway?  A bigger tablet with a keyboard and pen (sorry, pencil)?  Not new.  Remember the Samsung Galaxy Note Pro 12.2?  It has a big screen, comes with a pen, and they sell a Bluetooth keyboard designed specifically for it.  Sound familiar?  And what about the Surface line from Microsoft.  Their first effort, the Surface RT was universally derided for not using a full-blown OS.  Microsoft learned from that mistake and has put the full version of Windows on every Surface since.  Did Apple learn from that?  Not so much.  And maybe that's what's bothering those folks who were once proud to go by the title of fanboy. Not only has Apple stopped leading the pack...they're following. 

iPad Pro? Hard Pass.

Like many of you, I was quite curious to see what Apple was going to concoct when they announced their iPad Pro.  AND, like many of you I was profoundly disappointed.  Somehow they managed to take the mistakes Microsoft made with their original Surface RT, and compound them by making the Pro larger, more unwieldy, and far more costly.  In short, the iPad Pro has all the earmarks of a massive misfire.  Now, I could sit here and spend the next twenty minutes putting my thoughts down on paper (so to speak), but why do that when it was done so much better by PC Magazine?  Seriously, this guy nails it.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2491038,00.asp

I'm Back, and Better Than Ever!

Wow, it's been a while since my last post, which is odd, because I've been buying tech like crazy!  Let's see what I've gotten that could qualify is a great gadget or gizmo...

• Pebble Smart Watch
• OnePlus phone
• DJI Phantom 2 Vision Plus Quad copter
• Blue Win HD LTE phone
• Microsoft Lumina XL phone
• Moto 360 Smart Watch
• Microsoft Band
• Asus T-100
• Samsung Note 12.2" Pro tablet
• Microsoft Surface 3

And those are just the things I can remember!  And yes, if you're wondering, I do have a sickness when it comes to new technology.  So, in the coming months, I will be doing my reviews on some of my latest toys to help you decide whether it's tech you need or not.

Before I post any new videos though, I want to offer a few thoughts on the just announced iPad Pro.  Now, I am by no means, an Apple hater.  Far from it.  I own no less than six Macs (I own a video production company), one of which is my weapon of choice when I need to do some serious computing.  However, what has always bothered me about Apple is the way they announce a revolutionary, new product, which is just old tech wrapped in billet aluminum. Like what? 

Well, the new "Pencil" for the Apple iPad Pro for instance.  They made it sound like something so inspired, so unique, so original..and yet, it's not.  Samsung has had the S Pen for their Galaxy Note products for YEARS, and Microsoft has had a pen for the Surface line for YEARS.  And the S Pen comes with your Galaxy Note, and the Surface Pen is cheaper.

And what about that keyboard?  Remind anyone of the keyboard cover for the Surface line?  Magnetic clasps anyone?  But, from what I understand Apple is paying a licensing fee to Microsoft for the patented aspects of the keyboard... so hardly revolutionary, right?

Ok, rant over.  We'll see what that tablet is like once it hits the shelves at your local Apple store.

Enjoy your tech!

I am Robot...almost.

Wow, Christmas was really good to me on the gadget front. I got some awesome toys to play with, and I'm finding a few of them to be indispensable.  Like what?  Well, on a whim my lovely wife bought me a SONY Smartwatch, which becomes an extension of your smartphone on your wrist.  Using your phone's Bluetooth connection, the watch subtly vibrates and displays Facebook and Twitter notifications, Gmail alerts, weather, traffic, text messages, and incoming call information.  You can control your music player, AND even reject calls, and all without ever taking your phone out of your pocket.  Plus, there are more apps in the Google Play store for almost anything you'd want to do. It is truly awesome, and highly addictive.

Another great gift was a pair of Beats soloHD headphones. I've worked in radio, and I work in television now, so I've played with my fair share of high-tech headphones.  For the money, these puppies are a force to reckoned with to be sure.  The sound quality is exceptional and unlike many of their professional counterparts, they're lightweight and downright comfortable.  I particularly like the inline microphone and controls on the supplied cord, which allows me to control my music player (iPhone or Android) AND accept or reject calls (just like my watch).  Sure, we've all seen these features before, but the integration on these is really well done.  Plus, the sound quality of the mic is just better...

The final piece of my cyber triumvirate is my Nike+ Fuelband,  which was a gift from my mother (okay, I asked for it, but it was still cool she bought it for me).  If you're unfamiliar with this device, it's a wristband that keeps track of your movement throughout the day using built-in accelerometers.  It plugs into your computer's USB port for programming and charging, which makes it very convenient. By just supplying a few bits of personal information (weight, height), you can set an activity goal for the day and your fuelband will monitor your progress. I'm now obsessed with seeing how many steps I've taken for the day and how many calories I've burned.  If nothing else, it's made me more conscious of my activity level (or lack thereof).  And if you're worried about people staring at the LED display on your wrist all day, have no fears.  The display only activates when you press the discrete single button that walks you through the bands various display screens.  Make your goal for the day, and you're rewarded by a fun "GOAL" animation on your wrist.

So now, thanks to Christmas, I am a technological wonder walking down the street, with my smartwatch supplying me with a constant connection to the web, my fuelband on the other wrist monitoring my internal systems, and my Beats headphones filtering out the world and optimizing my mood through music.  At this point, I'm just a few government funded surgeries away from being a darn cyborg...and I'm actually okay with that.