At Home with Tech

If you feel like you’re divulging something secret when a guest asks for your home Wi-Fi password, well… you are. You may think you only have two choices in how to respond, but, in fact, there is a third option…

If you want to pay back a friend but you don’t have cash or a check, don’t despair. Here are a couple of ways to do it using a digital wallet in your iPhone….

I’m happy to report that my use of these tech devices has indeed improved my day-to-day life. Here’s why…

If you’re planning on figuring out your kid’s new RC vehicles and drones right after “Thank you, Daddy!” you may be delirious from all of your shopping. Here’s what you should do instead…

If you’re feeling a bit paralyzed about your next iPhone purchase, I’ve got a few tips that might help you finally pull out your credit card…

If you’re shopping for your special tech geek but don’t know where to start, I think I might have found the gift you want…

If you need an inexpensive way to upgrade your HDTV to be able to stream YouTube TV, I’ve got just the thing. And it’s hiding in plain sight…

Can you identify every status icon in this image? If not, you may find yourself in trouble the next time you play a video on your iPhone…

Why do video editing platforms offer the option to save a frame of video? Well, if you’re the family videographer who captured the video but missed the photo moment, a little video editing can generate the photo of your dreams. Here’s how…

If you didn’t know, this is the “wrong” way to hold your smartphone when shooting video. Or is it? Figuring it out doesn’t have to feel like you’re playing a game of Battleship…

If you want to pretend that you are a tourist visiting New York City for the very first time, where would you take your family? Well, you can’t go wrong starting with Lady Liberty. Here are my ‘Do’ and ‘Don’t’ notes from my recent weekend as a tourist in NYC.

If ordering your Lifetouch school photos feels a bit like the complexities of AP calculus, then I’ve got a few shortcuts to the best Portrait Looks…

Don’t fall for all of the extra data that weather stations offer. Here is what’s important to me…

The world has somehow gotten along until now without an iPhone with 512GB of storage. Do you really need this much in your iPhone Xs? Here’s one opinion…

I’ve enjoyed carrying my GoPro around in my pocket on vacation to capture the moments my other cameras wouldn’t be ready for. Here are a few tips I’ve discovered to help ensure your GoPro gets it done!

If you own a Nest Protect, you should pay attention to this picture. You’ll be needing to remember a particular detail to replicate in the future…

QuikStories is a GoPro video-editing app that you can download to your smartphone. It will independently edit together a slick movie from your GoPro’s vacation photos and videos. How quick and useful is it? Here’s my experience…

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My new GoPro was so much more than a little tank of a camera. It changed my whole view as the family photographer. Here’s how…

Do you ever feel like you’re in a science fiction movie? When I saw this at Grand Central Terminal, I felt like I had entered another dimension…

If you’re staring at your suitcase, it’s probably time for your next vacation. Here are my packing tips to help maintain your tech Zen…

If you’ve been doing your research to find the ‘best’ coffee maker, join the quest! Here we go…

You don’t need futuristic “Star Trek” solutions to properly sync to your partner’s schedule. Your smartphone already provides that connectivity…

We all know that navigation apps on your smartphone need to be online to function in your car. Or do they? Even with no bars, Waze can still get you where you’re going. Here’s how…

Irony is everywhere… especially when it comes to taking pictures. If you’re having a hard time managing and sharing all of your disorganized digital photos, you’re not alone. I’ve got a few tips to help you get back on track…

There’s nothing more classic than a perfect spring day in New York City at high noon.

This utility project on the warm streets of the Upper East Side in Manhattan has the feel of a picnic lunch being laid out.

Here is the moment when our one-year-old cat discovered these spring tulips. You can almost see the neurons in her brain going crazy.

I still have my toy ‘Robot’ from the original “Lost in Space.” So, you can imagine how excited I feel about Netflix reimagining the series. The big question I’ve tried to figure out is whether my second grader is old enough to watch it with me. If you’re a parent with similar concerns, here’s my take…

If your children are starting to read iMessages on your iPad or iPhone that aren’t meant for them, it’s probably time to change the settings in your device. Here’s how…

It’s hard not be inspired by this view from 102 stories up. But not all inspired visions can become reality…

When a computer on the other end of your phone call can’t move fast enough, is that good customer service? Well, it depends…

The use of an outdated kitchen tool can be an allegory for happiness in today’s technology-charged culture. My story illustrates why…

When your tenuous photo management process hits a wall, because your software gets glitchy, sometimes an obvious solution actually works. Let’s begin…

You can’t capture cool pictures of winter if your camera battery isn’t charged up. But if the power goes out, that may be the least of your tech problems…

Music playlists are everywhere. But what about photo playlists? Not sure what I’m talking about? Great! This is really how you can put your digital photos to work. And it involves using digital photo frames. Here’s how…

iCloud Photo Library makes it easy to sync and print your photos (like this New York City moment). But if you’re worried about maintaining image quality and DPI settings, it’s time to review a few facts…

Tick tock. That’s the sound of your day not being spent the way you want. Here are 7 ways to reverse that soul-sucking trend.

We snap birthday pictures to celebrate the passage of time. So why not string together all of those birthday photos to create a visual story of your ongoing life. And then how about creating a fast video sequence that captures it all in 10 seconds? Would that actually work? I decided to find out…

If our heroes from LEGO NInjago were video producers, I bet they would solve production obstacles differently than me. You can always learn a thing or two from Sensei Wu!

“They’ll fix it in post!” Have you ever heard this phrase? Well, you don’t have to be a video editor to understand how great editing works. If you’re at all curious, I’ve got a few strategies to share that you might want to check out…

Bright lights are shining, people are staring, and a video camera is pointed directly at you. How are you expected to pretend like it’s a typical day at the office? The good news is I’ve got a few strategies to use that will make all the difference!

Here’s my view earlier this week from Belvedere Castle in Manhattan. If you look closely, you can spot the warmth of a wedding in action. The cold can bring out the best in New Yorkers in more ways than one…

Putting your kids to sleep on the road can have its particular set of challenges. If being able to create dim lighting for the perfect sleeping conditions is important to you, then you no longer need to look beyond the moon for your solution…

You should think twice before sharing lots of digital photos with your peeps. Sure, it may be fun for the recipient to take a quick look. But guess what happens after that…?

If you’re like me and sometimes forget to take advantage of your perks from your rewards programs, here’s a crash course on the best deals when redeeming your Citi ThankYou points.

If you’re trying to figure out which Lifetouch photo package is the best one for you to purchase, you’ve come to the right place. Sure, individual needs will vary, but I’ve got ten tips to share that should lead to satisfaction.

I’ve been a Trekkie all of my life. Here’s a photo of me as a teenager sitting in a replica U.S.S. Enterprise captain’s chair at the 1976 New York City Star Trek Convention. Does this demonstration of core-level nerdiness qualify me decades later to offer my first impressions of “Star Trek: Discovery” and “The Orville?” You bet it does!

Video files are notoriously large. Now with HD and 4K… whoa! If you’re editing your home movies on your computer, you’ll quickly realize your final masterpiece is going to need some squeezing before you can share it. Here’s how…

How are you supposed to survive in a computerized world? If you’re seven years old, ask a computer… of course! If this gives you a little agita as an adult human being in the real world, you might want to read on…

As a parent, there are moments you’ll remember for the rest of your life. Some are big. Others are small. But you know when they’re happening…

How’s it going telling the story of your life? What? Not doing that? How about your story over the past year? No? Well, then you might want to take some advice from my father. He’s got lots of stories to tell you. Like the time he went to the top of Machu Picchu.

The good news is when something goes wrong with your dishwasher these days, if it’s got an LED display, it may try to tell you what the problem is. You just need to speak its language…

Does anyone else feel that having to stretch behind your iMac to reach the card reader is something of a drag? The same goes when you’re trying to connect a USB flash drive. I think it’s time to get ahead of the problem…

Thinking of going camping for the first time? On the fence? Here’s the good news: You don’t have to entirely ‘get away from it all’ if you don’t want to. Here’s how to keep your mobile tech alive and well…

If you’ve just purchased a new Mac, and you think you’re done… you’re not. Your computer needs some friends to play with!

Can you imagine a paperless world? Do you aspire to live in one? Are you already there? If not, please find a bit of solace in my flawed journey towards this elusive goal.

It’s not difficult to snap a picture. In fact, it’s never been easier. But if you don’t follow a photo library management plan, you’ll quickly be in a world of hurt. I’ve got seven steps that should help make your day…

When your email program suddenly chokes, it’s probably a good idea to first find out if your email provider has updated any of its policies that require you to take action.

Today’s story spans generations and species. And it all begins with a faulty memory card in my camera as I record an important video moment that foretells the arrival of our new kitten.

When your hot water at home goes on the fritz, life can get pretty wonky. On the other hand, life (and your dishwasher) might surprise you…

Say hello to our newest family member! Our plan is to make sure she stays an indoor cat. But what happens if she gets out one day and disappears…?

A loud movie sound track can really inhibit your enjoyment if you can’t watch the movie. Time to move into stealth mode and enter your own personal multimedia bubble…

What are you supposed to do when you wake, but your smartphone doesn’t? It’s that thin gray line… when good tech goes bad!

The last thing you want when you’re on vacation is frustration with your tech. Either you leave it all at home and go off the grid or do some easy prep…

Do you feel you’re paying too much for your monthly smartphone usage for what you’re getting? Maybe it’s time to more closely review your plan…

I am embarrassed to reveal what is supposed to be a box of ‘organization’ for my tech. And believe me, this is not the end of it. The good news is there are ways to beat back your digital mess. I’ve got some tips to keep your zeroes and ones in order…

If you don’t know what to do with all of those photos you snap, why not make some videos out of them with cool zooms. Don’t know how? Well, today is your lucky day!

Premium compact cameras are larger than you think. How you carry them can make all the difference in how you use them…

I won’t deny I was attracted to the few tech tricks it offers beyond heating up food fast. And it all starts with a little circular logic….

Why does it always seem that technology will fail you at the worst moment? Here’s a trick to help you the next time disaster strikes…

Your subconscious can really ruin your day. Especially when you’re typing away on your computer. Here are a couple of fixes to help set things straight…

As both media properties switch distribution platforms, it’s clear that change is coming. Properly communicating some of those details ahead of schedule is always critical. Otherwise, you’ve got worried fans writing posts like this…

Some business trips are more challenging than others. And cold weather never helps. So packing smart can make all the difference…

Is your iPhone having trouble holding a charge? If you’ve owned it for long enough, that’s inevitable. Now it’s time to take your phone on a little trip…

Behold… the power of time on the wrist of a child’s hand. That can be a big deal the first time it happens. The question is which watch should you buy your kid to handle that bold responsibility…?

If you’re looking to purchase a new point-and-shoot camera, you should consider upgrading to a premium compact camera. You’ll be able to snap superior pictures and successfully battle photo blur, but it’s going to cost you…

This toy police car was clearly one of my first favorite gifts. But I have no memory of it other than this picture. When you think about gifts that are going to last, you may need to break out the fortune cookies for direction…

This could very possibly be the worst list of gift ideas you’ll ever read. But I believe these five ugly ducklings will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

This could very possibly be the worst list of gift ideas you’ll ever read. But I believe these five ugly ducklings will bring a smile to anyone’s face

Is it too soon for a first grader to receive a personal robot? Perhaps he/she could just build one. On the other hand, how many humans today can construct their own toy android? So this daddy has taken a different road to introducing robotics at home…

Are you having trouble adding tech gifts to your shopping cart? I’ve got four winners at three different price points that can get you to the finish line!

Whipping up a batch of cranberry sauce from scratch is a quick and easy way to contribute to the holiday meal. But if you really want to make a bigger impact and don’t have the cooking chops, you might want to turn to your tech skills and use my recipe for success…

Much like many of your memories, old tech may be discarded, but not actually forgotten. Did you realize that yesterday’s tech can sometimes evolve into a time machine to help you rediscover joy from your past? Here’s how…

If you think your tech wastes more time than it’s worth, you’re not alone. But if you look around, you can find suggestions on how your tech can actually improve your day. I’ve gathered seven tips to share…

This is the story of the tragic, final mission of my trusty Canon S100 pocket camera. And I’ve even got the video to show. But after I heal, I must face a tough decision…? Should I get one of those wicked-expensive 1-inch sensor compact cameras? Or go it alone with just my iPhone?

goes for your tech… and your smartphone. If you can keep it going all day, that takes it a long way to “happy.” Can the Anker Astro E1 power stick do the job in a pinch? Let’s find out!

Behold! My new Sonos Play:1 wireless speaker. I’ve struggled with the choice to go Sonos for years. But it really boils down to five reasons….

Your closest Apple Store is never that far away. As you stare, it calls out like the Sirens…”Buy our new iPhone 7. What’s your move? Well, I’ll tell you what I did… I wrote another poem!

If you’re not into iTunes to help transfer a podcast from your computer to your iPhone, then you should think about moving that file up to the cloud where your phone can find it.

What a difference a week makes! If you think this is the same photo as last time, look again. This new GPS interface is sweet…

Prepare to be mystified… I don’t think you’ve heard of these words before. That’s because I’ve made them up. But before you immediately lunge to evaporate this web window, you might find something here you can use…

Bringing new tech to keep your old tech alive on a camping trip is a great idea, if not ironic. But actual results may vary. This is my story…

This new ‘Finally’ bulb promises to take you back to the future in a big way where LED bulbs have failed… finally. But is the LED bulb juggernaut already too far ahead?

Setting up your ‘android eye’ in the house when you’re not around certainly has its advantages. But getting your own personal HAL hooked into your smart-home’s ecosystem can sometimes be a challenge. Unless we’re talking about tech from the Nest family…

Are you married to a guy who’s also wedded to his tech? What did you get him for Father’s Day? To honor the ongoing quest, I wrote this little poem…

Once upon a time, my six-year-old son lived happily in a limited universe of video exposure. Now, he’s asking for more. What’s a parent to do…?

Where do all of these pictures come from? From the mind of my six year old. And how does he create them? Sometimes the most complex questions have the easiest answers…

You’re probably wondering, “What’s a Bluetooth clock?” Heck, I’m sure some of you are asking why would anyone even need a clock on a desk anymore. But hold on… The trick is this clock can connect to your smartphone…

Some questions find answers in the most unexpected places, and others lead you to right to your next challenge at home with your tech…

If you can stream more and more cable channels on your Apple TV or Roku, do you still need a cable subscription?

The secret weapon against the evil ink conspiracy is supposed to be ‘buying in bulk’ with ink-cartridge multipacks. But there’s a problem with this purchasing strategy…

Do you worry about dropping your smartphone in the toilet? You should if you often practice a one-handed grip. If you’re also using a stick-on ring for total security, you may want to rethink your plan…

When was the last time you had to remember someone’s phone number? These days, your smartphone is used to handling all that. Right? Did you know it can also dial the complex code at the right moment when you’re joining a conference call? As long as the human ‘leader’ remembers this lesser-known step…

Does your picture-taking style resemble throwing lots of pasta at the wall to see what sticks? That can help you nail the perfect photo, but what about the mess you’ve also created?

My friend Christopher Kubofcik in Atlanta in 1998

Traveling with kids is no walk in the clouds. Their bags had better be able to handle whatever bumps and bruises come their way. I say don’t skimp when it comes to buying their luggage…

Regularly switching around the cables behind your aging HDTV because you don’t have enough HDMI inputs can be hazardous to your health… if you’re prone to lower back pain. Instead, it’s time to get more HDMI inputs with a multi-input switch!

When was this picture of my grandmother taken? Good question. I’m not really sure. You shouldn’t let this partial answer cross over to future generations when it comes to your family’s history…

How do you create this imaginative screen saver for your TV? You just hand over your pictures and let your Apple TV do the rest…

You’ve probably noticed lately that replacement credit cards have been showing up in the mail containing new EMV chip technology. I certainly have…

This is my ticket to the hottest show on this planet. If you want to avoid any spoilers, don’t worry… I won’t be blogging from the movie theater.

Filament LED bulbs have brought us full circle to the day Thomas Edison invented his light bulb. These vintage-looking, LED bulbs can bring you back to the future. But it can also cost you…

From the wreckage of various failed radio-controlled toy cars gifted to my son, I have stepped into my rightful role to find a worthy replacement. To shamelessly steal a line from the most eagerly anticipated film of the year’s movie trailer- “I will finish… what you started!”

This Mickey balloon experienced the joy of Uber travel from the Magic Kingdom back to our hotel room. How unusual is that?

I’ve just realized that student book bags don’t need to carry so much anymore thanks to learning websites out there that are assigned as homework.

Incoming message from Starfleet: Cancel all of your plans for the beginning of 2017. There’s a new starship traveling at warp speed to a TV near you.

If this is how your PC displays a photo snapped with your iPhone, you know it’s time to determine the culprit. And you may be surprised what you find….

But before I do, I need to buy a new portable CD boombox, so my son can continue to listen to all of those near-abandoned discs I have yet to rip to my computer. The question is… which boombox should I get?

Have you had the time to figure out how to squeeze your PDF to the perfect size in OS X? Here’s the good news… Now, you can check this nagging challenge off your ‘boring-tech-fix’ to-do list!

Wouldn’t it be great to hold the power of postage decisions in the palm of your hand? And I’m not talking about using your hand as a scale. That’s so 1847…

For once, the rusted nut I found wasn’t the one in my head. Although my noggin did slide into vacation mode about six hours earlier than I would have preferred…

“Uninterruptable Power Supply Interrupted.” My APC UPS failed its own self-diagnostic… and my iMac began operating without a net. A power net, that is… Time to buy a replacement!

If you want the ability to take over any HDTV in the universe sporting an HDMI connection, your iPhone or iPad can actually do the trick directly without AirPlay mirroring through an Apple TV. Your portable Apple devices just need a little help….

I’m pretty sure I watered my vegetable garden last year using a garden hose and attachments that leeched lead and various chemicals of concern. If you’re like me, you need a different solution right now!

Are summer humidity levels getting you down and creating less than ideal sleeping conditions for your family? Knowing when to crank up the air conditioning at night can make all the difference, and a good indoor/outdoor home weather station can really help…

If your iPhone can’t hold a charge anymore, you might want to check out one more possible solution before you throw in the towel…

How many texts do you generate each month? How many of them are for work? If you can’t answer either of these questions, chances are you have an unlimited texting plan. If you don’t, you might want to reconsider…

Pop Quiz: Do you know the difference between Hulu and Hulu Plus? Well, it really doesn’t matter any more…

If you hear your Mac laughing at you, it’s probably a clue you’re doing something wrong. For example, the ‘Option’ key on your keyboard can really ruin your day if used accidentally…

Would you like to operate your home printer for free? As in not paying for another ink cartridge ever again? Well, you can… if you own a Discover credit card and you like to shop at Staples…

‘Fun in the sun’ is not a phrase fit for most of your gadgets. If you’re not careful, the punishing summertime elements can really do a doozy on your tech…

Your computer is infected. Now what? Don’t mess around! You need help… Perhaps it’s time to call upon ClamXav?

This is one of the many dead ends on our glorious world wide web. I’m pointing out this particular one, because it’s what’s left of my never-launched website from years back. It’s time to take this back to the future!

Is this mound of forgotten flash memory a sign of clutter or organization? Well, it depends on what you’ve previously done with the digital files. That’s where the battle to maintain some digital harmony in your life must be fought…

Why do people pop their spare batteries in the refrigerator or freezer? The myth is the cold helps keep them fresh. Fact or fiction…?

It’s time to redeem all your extra change and find a self-serve, coin-counting machine. The trick is to find one that does it without taking a bite out of your loot!

The end is near for this RadioShack store and many others. If you want to pay your respects, you’d better hurry…

What should you do when ‘Touch to Start’ doesn’t work? You can either pay the premium ticket price on the train or figure out a workaround…

Shooting action videos at 60 frames per second with your iPhone 6 can generate great shots. But there’s a price to pay…

It’s impossible to completely hedge against all technical meltdowns that might afflict your home and by association… you. By the way, have you double-checked your Nest Thermostat lately?

How much should you pay to fix your computer when it stops working? Should you just buy a new one if the repair costs too much? I found myself smack in the middle of this decision tree as I contemplated the future of my broken digital companion…

I’ve got a ghost in my iMac. This little digital demon likes to make my screen go black, especially when I’m writing this blog. It’s making my life feel a tad jaggy. Time for a trip to the Genius Bar…

All flashlights are not created equal. Especially, if you want to feel cool using one of them. And particularly if you’re my father. Move over MagLite, I’ve got some holiday shopping to do…

If you find yourself forced into an iPad upgrade, you’d better protect your investment with a cozy case. Especially if tiny hands will be using it…

Behold the premature end to my son’s first camera. Winston Churchill once said, “Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” In the spirit of the British Bulldog, I decided it was time to get my boy another camera…

Who has the time to process an endless avalanche of incoming emails? So a few are bound to fall through the cracks. The question is what to do when an important one gets lost.

iMovie on your iPhone can lock in that selected area of slow motion you want to keep from that otherwise boring slo-mo clip you just shot.

On our flight south, my new iPhone is about to confront its greatest challenge yet: How to slow down the best moments from our vacation…

If you can satisfy three conditions, you just might find a surprise in your Videos folder the next time you click on an iTunes movie.

Is this a camera on the new iPhone or a phone on a new camera? The answer: Yes. This ‘good enough’ camera lens attached the new iPhone 6 Plus is going to be a compact-camera killer.

Simply pointed out of my descending plane’s window, the camera on my iPhone 6 Plus was able to capture this cool nighttime moment over Manhattan as we broke through the clouds.

My new iPhone, sporting a black Tech21 case proudly displays how to increase its text size using iOS 8. (Yes, some of us can’t pick out every period in a paragraph as accurately as we used to…)

I opened up the box cradling my preordered iPhone 6 Plus, turned it on and then activated the giant monster. Finally, I put it in my front pocket (barely) and decided… It’s time to write some poetry!

If you’re thinking of running to CVS to grab some cigarettes, you’d better think again. The pharmacy chain has decided to start taking better care of its customers…

Say hello to my little friend. Well, he’s actually kind of a plus size. Wait a minute! Is that a piece of paper taped to cardboard?! The more important question is whether I’ve been able to successfully pre-order a real iPhone 6 Plus…

Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean your smartphone is. And even though you’re trying to get away from it all, you probably still want to receive that important phone call…

My love/sometimes-hate relationship with Apple has taken a recent happy twist. It’s not a universe-changing event, but for those of you who like to maintain your own personal collection of movie trailers, I’ve got some good news for you buried in iTunes…

If you’re thinking the future isn’t going to look anything like the fantastical scripts of your favorite sci-fi films, don’t be so sure. Maybe all it takes is a little tech breakthrough buried in today’s headlines…

Lots of folks hang pictures over their unsightly wall phone jacks to remove the evidence of this dated tech. I figured there’s got to be a better way… Couldn’t that wall plate serve another useful purpose?

Every second of your day counts. Especially when you want to collect additional minutes to do more of what really matters. Wait… did you hear that? Yes… technology to the rescue!

Getting a deal on a replacement battery for your camera is always nice. Finding a price that’s too good to be true probably mean it’s a counterfeit battery. And how bad is that? Canon says it can lead to incendiary results.

Sometimes a perfectly good-looking eye won’t reflect a camera’s flash like its twin. That can really ruin a picture. But with a little photo-editing voodoo, you can bring it back to life in seven easy steps!

Don’t let a future alien race be the first to enjoy those summer family videos you just shot. It’s your job to archive your digital content properly so your family gets a chance to watch them.

If you use LinkedIn, there are a few roadblocks to avoid. And remember, your profile represents you to the rest of the world. Feeling the pressure? Good. It’s time to get to work!

What should you do if you run across a digital echo of your career online? Don’t panic. Just put on your digital ghost-busting outfit and get to work. Sometimes the solution is easier than you think!

This disc shouldn’t greet you when you open up your new “Frozen Collector’s Edition” case. If there aren’t eleven alphanumeric characters slipped into the insert tab, you can’t get the digital download. But there is another way…

Is the dream of a TV-free life still a dream? Not according to your 296 million neighbors.

Surprise! My son shows me the latest picture he’s taken with my Canon Elph. I think this may be a sign it’s time for his own camera. But is he ready for the real thing?

Online at the post office beats waiting on line at the post office. But is that the best site to buy enough stamps to keep your bills paid?

I’ve listed a few tricks below to help jam everyone into a group picture, but it also doesn’t hurt to extend the arm’s reach of your camera.

Our son is hard at work training to become the 2022 National Spelling Bee Champion. (He doesn’t know that yet.) But I figured at least 2014 would be a great year to turn our iPad into more of an educational machine for his noggin.

Is Peapod’s $10 delivery fee worth the convenience of preventing Empty Cupboard Syndrome? It is, if you can get over your DNA-induced guilt trip to go out there and hunt down the five food groups yourself!

This little red sliver is what stands between you and radio silence with the rest of your world. You’ve got a thousand things to do when you get home. Flicking the switch back usually isn’t at the top of the list. Now what…?

Using your E-ZPass tag is mostly mindless as long as you don’t totally ignore it. Otherwise, years will pass by, and your E-ZPass will still think it’s living in the car you owned in a different decade.

If your furniture home delivery can’t make it through the front door, does that mean you automatically receive a credit? Not if you’re shopping in the Tech Twilight Zone!

Want to corner the market on your blog’s name? Is .com not good enough for you? Well, GoDaddy is there to help you buy up all the available matching top-level domains.

Recently I doubted the reliability of this new nixplay Cloud Frame. But shouldn’t a new tech product be given a second chance to make a good first impression? “Hello, tech support?”

This nixplay WiFi Cloud Frame is a digital photo frame with lots of tricks to help display your photos. Unfortunately, I’m not sure it’s ready for prime time.

Gas in the home doesn’t always look like this. If there’s a leak, and you don’t know it, your nose is your only defense. Or is it…?

If you don’t like running a cable from your phone to your car and your vehicle can’t talk ‘A2DP,’ it’s time to buy a Bluetooth receiver that can!

This is the magic “kiss” that you hope you’ll never have to perform with your Smart Key to revive your keyless car. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Exactly…

Is this what your smartphone’s battery icon displays at 3:30pm? You really need help from a Mophie battery case.

“Less than a minute remaining” is the most excruciating message ever invented by software developers. I think the phrase actually makes time slow down. In this moment, your Mavericks OS X upgrade is so close… yet still so far away. Here are three recommended steps to help you get your computer to the finish line…

How difficult is it to understand this? It’s only a problem if the smiley face shows up instead as the letter ‘J.’ But this could be the least of your smartphone problems when it comes to keeping you feeling comfortably connected to the rest of your life. Especially when you’re away on a trip…

Hitting the malls to purchase your favorite doorbusters is so yesteryear. This time, all I needed was my cup of Joe and my computer. Or so I thought…

The view from 30,000 feet isn’t the only distraction for a three year old. Technology in flight has its own lure…

If your Samsung microwave oven is bleeping in distress and displaying the spooky ‘SE’ code, you’re in trouble. Or are you? Your dead tech’s life may rest in the hands of your phone skills…

Which of these holds more value… a 32 GB memory card or 32 photos? The answer can change your entire perspective as the family documentarian.

You’ve got a movie studio waiting in your pocket. Think of all the videos you can create! You’ve just got to refocus when moving from your home to the workplace but the rules are still the same.

If you know who’s calling when the phone rings, why would you lie and say, “Hello?”

If you’re like me, I’m eager for September 10th to arrive to see what sweet tech has been growing in Apple’s garden. This annual fall spectacle is a spectator sport as much as an opportunity to upgrade your gadgets.

Do you feel like you’re playing Russian roulette whenever a message pops up to update your computer’s software? Here are six tips to keep the odds in your favor…

Your pocket camera is on the floor and now a useless brick. In our disposable society, do you just buy another? Or do you navigate a repair?

Those blinking lights on your broadband modem are a soothing reminder your home Internet service is up and running. Whether you’ve got enough bandwidth to handle your family’s needs is another question entirely!

Funny Faucet

Don’t let your view freeze up trying to keep track of your tech while on the road!

You don’t have to stash your personal tech in a barrel at Niagara Falls to risk losing it while traveling. If you’re not careful, there’s plenty of opportunity to part with your gadgets along the way.

I’m a Casio Man. And it’s been great. (Thanks for the memories.) iWatch? See you later, Casio! My wrist awaits!!

You may not know it, but some of your best photos are slipping through the cracks. Maybe they first struck you as flawed or you didn’t recognize their hidden value. Time to recognize your ugly ducklings!

This one is all about my son’s hair going twenty miles per hour down the slide!

After the big snowstorm last month, I wanted to get a head-on shot of my son climbing the snow. But he wouldn’t wait for me to get ahead of him. All I could get off was this one from the back. The summit shot works, right?

A proud member of the Silent Generation enjoys a Vietnamese coffee with his baby boomer son. What controversial topic will the boomer be defending today? Emails are better than faxes. (shocking!)

How about 50 Tech Tips for my 50th post? Let’s begin!

This photomosaic of my boy is better seen as a larger image. Then its groovy complex structure really stands out. But you get the picture.

What home tech do you have in your shopping cart? Here are nine winners that can get you to the finish line!

This memory card holds your precious family videos. Now what? Make a finished home movie in 8 steps in one day. Impossible? I took the challenge.

I was powerless in the days after stormy Sandy. But an army of flashlights wasn’t my only available weapon against the resulting digital darkness.

Do you recognize this cable? Of course you do. This mini-plug audio cable ruled your analog universe years ago. It’s time to find it in the back of your tech closet. Because you’re going to need it on your visual voicemail rescue mission!

Look at all the happy campers, young and old, holding the new iPhone 5 in the Apple Store at the big launch. But I dare not touch it. As a current 4S owner, it’s unattainable. What is one to do? Write poetry.

Say hi to HAL. Or you can call my BabyCam – Darth. Either way, this black Foscam Wireless IP camera represents the dark side of the Force until I can figure out how to get it hooked up. Join the resistance!

Behold my science experiment! This used to be the battery from my 2007 MacBook Pro laptop. But now, I believe I’ve discovered a new life form.

Getting bored with your area code? Feeling like you need to move to the Big City? Don’t bother. Just sign up for a Skype Online Number with the area code of your choice. Sacrilege? Nope. It’s just progress.

Your family vacation is over. Now, you’ve got hundreds of photos to organize after you track in sand to your bedroom. Still feeling relaxed? Don’t burst your vacation bubble. It’s time to rescue your best photo memories!

This is one need an online purchase may not satisfy. But there is plenty else to choose from after your mad dash to the 24/7 convenience store.

Is Final Cut Pro X sharp enough to erase that evil deal you made to shoot movies on your camera?

Can we have a moment of silence, please? Okay, now why doesn’t my email work anymore?

Boot up your computer, and it won’t be long till your past catches up with you. You’ve got some tough decisions to make!

Imagine if I were still figuring out a way to use my old Palm Pilot (shudder). Don’t try too hard….

Do I need to hold onto my Cable TV provider just to watch Avatar again for the fifth time? I just might want to, but not to see Pandora. Instead, I’ll be looking for CableWiFi.

Pop Quiz- It’s 8:37pm, and there are two fresh emails waiting on your work BlackBerry. What do you do? What do you do?!!

Another Amazon Prime box has arrived. It’s become a regular care package to keep the gears at home moving. Joy.

Will this cup of Joe greet your next sunrise or doom your computer to a gloppy death?

This is Doggie, my son’s favorite lovey. Doggie is with my old Canon Elph 960 (yes that’s scotch tape holding it together) and its Eye-Fi card, which wirelessly uploads photos of my son to my iPhone. Recently, my boy’s photo stream stopped flowing. Doggie was sad. He asked Dada for help.

Can nothing save this photo? Don’t be so sure.

My essential gear stands ready for the morning commute.

Old Shoebox Tech saved this 114-year-old photo of my great-grandfather.