Cutting the Cord …

Most of us probably remember watching TV with rabbit ears and later when a cable connection was first introduced into our homes.  The cable channel selection was pretty good, the reception was excellent and the prices were reasonable. However as more channels offerings were added, the price of connecting to a cable system continued to rise. According to a September 16,2016 article in Fortune Magazine, the average household cable bill in 2016 was $103.10. For many of us, it is confusing to determine exactly how much we pay for television viewing, because TV service is often bundled with internet and landline telephone service. However we slice it, we pay a substantial amount to watch television, and as snowbirds, it often means paying year-round for a service we use less than half a year. 

The term “cord cutting” has come to define cancelling traditional cable television and watching television offerings over the internet. There are many ways to cut the cord, and the method you chose depends on what you watch and how much you watch it.

If you want access to live programming, there are three viable options currently on the market — Sling TV, PlayStation Vue, and AT&T Direct Now — and several more on the horizon. All are available to stream through the devices covered last week — Apple TV (4th Generation), Roku, Chromecast and Amazon Fire, as well as some Smart TVs.

Sling TV was the first service to offer live streaming without a cable subscription. It also has the lowest base prices, but there are drawbacks, including some channels available only in a limited number of metropolitan areas. For example, in our zip code 33523, live streaming of NBC is not available and ABC is not available either live or delayed viewing. Subscriptions start at $20 a month for a 30+ channel offering that includes ESPN, but not NBC or FOX. For $25 a month you get over 40 channels, including all NBC channels and FOX, but not ESPN. For $40 a month you get a complete lineup of both packages and other channels are available as add-on packages (some $5, some $10). HBO, Cinemax and STARZ can also be added for $15, $10, and $9 respectively. Sling TV is reported to be developing a cloud-based DVR function, but it is not yet operational. 

Playstation Vue, which despite its name does not require a Playstation device for viewing, is more expensive, but has a more extensive lineup of channels in the Tampa area. For $30 a month you receive over 40 channels, including FOX, CNN, CNBC, ESPN, and NBCSN, as well as ABC and NBC on-demand. For an additional $5 you get Fox Sports channels, BEIN Sports, and NBA. There is also a $45 package with even more channels, including the Cooking Channel and BBC World, and for $65 HBO and Showtime are included. HBO and Showtime can also be added to any of the less expensive packages for $15 and $11 respectively. Playstation Vue includes a cloud-based DVR function that lets you record, pause and rewind live TV, and fast-forward through commercials on recorded shows.

The newest live streaming service, DirectTV Now, offers 60+ channels for $35, 80+ channels for $50, 100+ channels for $60 and 120+ channels for $70 per month. The $35 plan includes ABC, NBC, CNN, CNBC, ESPN, FOX, and MSNBC. The service does not currently offer a DVR, but it is reported to be coming soon.

As if researching these three service isn’t enough, several new entrants are poised to become available in 2017. Hulu is set to offer live-streaming early this year. The service promises to include all of the current Hulu offerings plus access to live TV and cloud-based DVR for under $40. A channel lineup has yet to be announced. Finally, Google is rumored to be ready to unveil YouTube Unplugged sometime in early 2017. The pricing and channel lineup are not yet know, but it is expected to cost between $24 to $40 a month.

If you are contemplating cutting the cord, make sure you do your homework. You want to be sure that the service you choose offers the channels you enjoy watching. On the plus side, all the services offer a 7-day free-trial and can be cancelled at any time without penalty. 

Find out more at Sling TV, PlayStation Vue and AT&T Direct Now.

Online Streaming, Revisited …

I had requests from a few OnMouseClick readers to revisit the topic of steaming media. I wrote about this last season and, as with just about everything in technology, there has been changes and advancements since then. The choices available have become exciting but also sometimes complicated and confusing. We no longer have to settle for what the cable or satellite providers decides will be available to us. As informed consumers, we are slowly taking control of our media choices and viewing. In our own household at TR, Eddie and I receive all our entertainment and information streaming from the internet via apple tv, Sonos, and Samsung smart TV’s.

For decades broadcast television was limited to a small number of networks, restricted by localities, captured by an antenna and stopped broadcasting at midnight. Most of us probably remember having a television set with rabbit-ear antennas. All that changed with the introduction of cable in the mid-1980s. Although initially very expensive and slow to catch on, by the start of the new century, most televisions were connected to either a cable or satellite system which offered hundreds of channels. How many channels you received was no longer determined by where you lived, but by how much you were willing to pay. 

Change is once more upon us — television content can be streamed over the internet watched on computers, mobile phones, tablets, and wifi enabled television sets. Until recently, most of this content was prerecorded, but that too is changing.

The most popular streaming services are Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video. The first two are monthly subscription services. Netflix subscriptions range from $8 to $12 a month, depending on quality of the video and how many screens you want to be able to watch simultaneously. Hulu subscriptions are $8 a month with commercials and $12 commercial free. Amazon Prime Video is included in a yearly Amazon Prime membership of $99, or monthly for $11. Both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video are commercial free. 

There are differences in the offering of each service. Netflix streams television shows (from past seasons), original content, and movies. The previous season of prime time American shows generally becomes available when the new season premiers on broadcast TV. Eddie and I have been Netflix subscribers since the beginning, and over the years we have watched many excellent, under-the-radar shows we would never have known about, many of them from the UK, Canada and Australia. 

While Hulu does not feature the quantity of television shows and original content offered by Netflix, it streams most television shows from NBC, ABC, FOX and several cable channels the day after they debut on broadcast TV. When we are at home in New York, we DVR the shows we enjoy watching and then view them at our convenience while fast forwarding through the commercials. At TR we just wait a day, or more, and watch the shows without commercial interruption on Hulu.

Amazon Prime Video features a more limited offering of television shows, but they do feature a wide variety of movies and some quality original content. While not as comprehensive, it is an inexpensive choice if you have an Amazon Prime membership. 

In order to stream these services on a television set, you need a reasonably fast wifi connection and either a wifi enabled Smart TV or a steaming device connected to a TV. It is worth noting that most of the so-called “smart” television sets are limited in how much content they can actually stream, and even if you have one of these televisions, you may desire a streaming device. The most popular devices are Apple TV, Roku, Chromecast and Amazon Fire. They range in price from $30 for the lowest end Chromecast to $199 for the most expensive version of Apple TV. Before making a purchase I recommend doing a Google search for reviews of streaming devices. Reputable reviews can be found at PCMag.com, ZDNet and CNET. Direct links to reviews will be available in the online version of the column.

Eddie and I have an older model Apple TV (3rd Generation) and an Amazon Fire. The Amazon device is the size of a USB thumb drive and plugs directly into an HDMI port on the back of the TV. It is more limited in scope than our Apple TV, but works for us when traveling.

At home we use the Apple TV, and have been happy with it, although most reviewers favor Roku devices. We are currently considering upgrading to the newest model of the Apple TV (4th Generation), mainly because some of the newer streaming offerings are not accessible on the older model. One reason for sticking with Apple over another device is that CNBC, which Eddie watches regularly, streams live on Apple TV and prerecorded on Roku. Before making a purchase, it is important to be certain that the device you choose will deliver the content you want.

All of the steaming devices and Smart TVs feature a variety of channel offering, some featuring live broadcasts such as CNN, NBC, TBS, ESPN and PBS to name a few. However the live broadcast offerings are not free. To view the content you must be a cable subscriber and need to sign in with your cable username and password. Generally this only has to be done once a season but it is usually necessary to do this for each channel you wish to view.

You may have heard the phrase "cutting the cord" in reference to discontinuing cable TV service and relying solely on streaming. Next week OnMouseClick will look at several new services that will allow you to actually “cut the cord." Some of these services even offer, or are promising to offer, cloud-based DVR. To quote Bob Dylan, "the times they are a-changin’.”

Reviews from CNET — 

Best Media Streamers of 2017

Which Steamer Should You Buy?

Reviews from PCMag.com —

The Best Media Streaming Devices of 2017

Reviews from ZDNet —

2016's five best internet media streaming devices

The Camera in My Phone …

All mobile phones come with a built in camera — and a camera app to make it work. In addition to the native apps that come with the phones, there are a many third-party iPhone and Android camera apps that include a variety of extra features not found in the native apps. Today’s column will cover a few techniques for getting the best possible images with your mobile phone camera, and for ease of understanding I will limit my coverage to the native iPhone Camera app. Android users should do a Google search to locate camera apps with equivalent features.

iPhone users might not be aware that Apple introduced Live Photos in 2015, a type of image that combines a three-second movie file and a still image file when you take a picture. Live Photos offers a brief moment in time including a short animation of the image — a nice feature when you want it. Unfortunately the feature is turned on by default, and for most users it is not something you want to see all the time. To turn Live Photos off, tap the circle with concentric rings at the top center of the Camera app screen (see image). The icon is yellow if the feature is active, white if it is turned off. Tapping the icon switches between active and off. Whichever setting you choose remains set next time you open the app.

 The following are a few features and tips that will help improve your mobile phone photography.

• Focus – All camera apps have an auto focus feature, but you can change the focal point (point of interest in the image) by tapping on a specific area of your screen. On the iPhone a yellow box appears when you select a new focal point. If you keep your finger on the screen until the letters AE/AF appear at the top of the screen, the focal point is locked in place, even if the camera is moved to recompose the image. 

• Exposure – Lighting plays an important role in taking good photos, but sometimes we find ourselves taking photos in less than perfect lighting conditions. On an iPhone you adjust the overall exposure of your image by selecting a focal point and moving the small sun icon that appears next to the yellow box — move it up to increase or down to decrease the exposure. The exposure also remains locked when the focal point is locked.

• HDR – Another way of solving lighting problems is by using a process known as HDR, which stands for high dynamic range. It is a process that has long been used by photographers to create balanced exposures, closer to what the eye actually sees. The iPhone Camera app includes an HDR feature that takes three shots every time you tap the shutter button — one at the correct exposure, one slightly under exposed and one slightly over exposed. The camera app combines all three exposures into one image with color and detail in both the light and dark areas. The HDR feature can be set to on, off, or auto by tapping the HDR icon at the top of the screen. If you set it to auto the Camera app detects when lighting conditions warrant using the HDR feature. One caveat is that by default both the HDR photo and the normal exposure photo will be saved, taking up additional space on your phone. If you want to save only the HDR you need to go to Photos & Camera under Settings and turn off “HDR Keep Normal Photo”.

• Burst Mode – It is difficult to capture moving objects, be they NASCAR race cars or grandchildren playing tag on the front lawn. Apple has made it easier with Burst Mode. Simply keep holding your finger on the shutter button and the camera will continue to take pictures until you lift your finger. When finished, touch the image in the lower left corner of the screen to see the of image the Camera app selected as the best. Touch the word Select…, appearing in blue below the photo, and scroll through the photos to select the ones you want to keep. 

• Fast Access – When you want instant access to your camera it can be opened directly from the lock screen. With iOS 9 or earlier swipe up on the camera icon in the lower right corner, with iOS 10 swipe left from the right side of the screen. 

• A Few Additional Tips – For stability hold the phone with both hands and keep elbows close to your body. As an alternative to using the virtual shutter button, press the iPhone's physical volume control or plug in the earbud cable and use its volume control to take a picture. When your finger is not touching the phone there is less chance of camera shake and blurry images.

Phone-ograhy has come of age …

Our generation has witnessed major changes in photography over the decades. I’m sure most of you remember using Brownie Instamatic or Polaroid cameras. We now live in the age of digital photography; Kodak and Polaroid cameras are only memories and it is almost impossible to buy film cameras or film. For most of us the go-to camera is the one in our mobile phone, something we probably never envisioned even ten years ago.

By the late-1990s digital cameras were starting to become mainstream, and by 2010 just about everyone had replaced their film cameras with digital. The more serious among us used DSLR cameras (digital single-lens reflex), the digital equivalent of a 35mm single-lens reflex camera, and most snapshot cameras, know as point & shoot cameras,  were digital as well. I carried a small point & shoot in my purse so that I would never be without a camera. In 2011 I bought my first iPhone, an iPhone 4, but I didn’t use the camera much because the quality of the photos it captured did not match the quality of my point & shoot. Over the next few years as I upgraded my phone, first to an iPhone 5 and then an iPhone 6, the quality of the photos kept improving. I often found myself taking a photo with my DSLR or point & shoot, and then taking the same photo with my iPhone as well. Eventually I stopped using the point & shoot, because the iPhone 6 photos were just that good. What really surprised me is how infrequently I found myself using my DSLR.

As some of you might know, I consider myself a fine art photographer, and photographs of mine have been accepted for exhibit in a variety of juried art shows. Last summer I was privileged to have a photograph accepted in the 2nd International Phone-ography Exhibition. What made that exhibition unique is that all of the displayed photographs were taken with a mobile phone (the majority iPhones), and the quality of the work was outstanding. Over three hundred photographers submitted entries and thirty were chosen by the juror to be printed and displayed. At the show’s opening, the other 270 photographs were available for viewing on a computer screen, and the quality of the images easily rivaled photographs taken with single-lens reflex cameras.

In September Apple introduced the iPhone 7 and I was excited to buy one — specifically the iPhone 7 Plus which features dual lenses. The main lens is the same lens found on the previous model, the iPhone 6s(28mm), a moderately wide-angle lens which is similar to lenses found on most point & shoot cameras. (Note: the wider the angle of the lens, the wider the field of vision.) The second lens is a telephoto lens(56mm) that brings objects closer to the viewer. In September I traded in my iPhone 6 for an iPhone 7 Plus and I couldn’t be happier with the camera.The photo quality is better than that of the iPhone 6, and I love having a telephoto lens available immediately.

Last season I wrote about wide-angle, telephoto, and macro Moment Lenses that attach to my iPhone (also available for Android phones). The lenses are made of high quality glass and work flawlessly. The Moment wide-angle is an 18mm lens that offers an even wider field of vision than the native lens, (the photo that was selected for inclusion in the Phone-ography exhibition was taken with a Moment wide-angle lens) and the macro lens is designed for extreme close-ups. I still use both of these lenses, but the Moment telephoto lens is roughly equivalent to the built-in telephoto on the iPhone 7 plus, and has become superfluous.

In an in depth comparison of images from a high-end DSLR camera and a mobile phone camera, the DSLR image is superior, but only marginally. I still use my DSLR and its 300 mm telephoto lens to bring distant objects closer than I could ever get with my iPhone. But for most of my day to day shooting I need nothing more than my iPhone. As the now popular saying goes, the best camera is the one you have with you when you. 

Next week I’ll cover some tips on how to shoot the best photos possible with a mobile phone camera. Until then, the online version of OnMouseClick can be found at onmouseclick.blogspot.com.

Keep it Private …

Earlier this season a OnMouseClick reader told me that every time he connects to the TRRWIFI wifi network, he receives a message informing him of “security recommendations”. He uses both an iPad and MacBook online, and all Apple devices deliver this same warning when connecting to an unsecured wifi network. He had heard that a VPN might be able to protect his network connection, but wasn’t sure what it was and how it worked, and suggested a column on the topic. This column attempts to address, and simplify the issue. 

We know that the TRRWIFI network is an open, unsecured network, but what exactly does that mean? In simplified terms, a data signal initially travels over a wired network to a routing device called a router. For TR that means that fiber optic cables deliver the signal to a main router in the park. The signal is then “routed” to other locations, either through additional wires connected to the router, or it is broadcast over the air as wifi signal. 

A router that broadcasts a wifi signal is known as a hotspot. A hotspot is considered protected if users must enter a password on their device before gaining access. If the router is unprotected, or open, anyone in range of the wifi signal has access to everything sent over the network. When you use an open network, you are vulnerable to anyone with a malicious intent. The chances of a so called “cyber attack” happening at Traveler Rest are relatively low, but not impossible, and it is important to protect your sensitive data, especially if you do online banking, shopping or investing.

If you purchased an antenna to connect to TRRWIFI, the signal the antennas captures from the nearest hotspot is sent to a router inside your house or RV and, assuming your router is password protected, unauthorized users are prevented from accessing your data and devices. But if you connect directly to TRRWIFI, you should consider taking steps to keep your data, and devices, secure. 

The answer to protecting your data is to use a VPN, or Virtual Privacy Network. A VPN encrypts the data sent to and from your devices, allowing you to connect to the internet safely and privately. You can compare a VPN to a home security system — it keeps your valuables safe and everything else outside. 

How does this work? To use the internet we all must have an ISP, or Internet Service Provider, which for TRRWIFI is Brighthouse Networks. When you connect to the internet you are actually connecting to a server at your ISP, and from there you connect to the internet. When you use an VPN service, everything you send from your computer is encrypted and sent to a server at the VPN to be unencrypted before it goes to your ISP.  Data leaves and enters your computer covered in a virtual cloak of invisibility.

To use a VPN you need to subscribe to a VPN provider; some are free and most charge a monthly or yearly fee. The encryption used by free services is generally weaker than the paid services, and free services are most often accompanied by ads. Monthly fees ranges from $5 to $12 a month and yearly plans range from $40 to $100. The advantage to paying monthly is that you are not locked into a plan for a full year and you can cancel at any time.

As with everything, there is and upside and downside to using a VPN. The upside is that a VPN keeps your data and devices, secure from hacking and malicious intent. The downside is that using a VPN will slow down your internet connection. The first reason for the slowdown is that encrypting and decrypting data takes time. The stronger the encryption the slower the internet access, although considering the current state of computing power, this slowdown is relatively minor. Of more concern is the distance the data has to travel to the VPN server and back to your ISP server. The further it has to travel, the longer it takes. If the VPN server you use is located near you and your ISP, the process takes less time than if the VPN server is located halfway around the world (many VPN servers are located in Europe and Asia). 

If you are serious about using a VPN, I recommend reading reviews and comparisons before making a decision, and give special attention to the results of speed tests. I recommend reading the reviews published by PC Magazine (http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2403388,00.asp) and CNET (https://www.cnet.com/news/best-vpn-services-2016-directory).

More of the Future From CES …

Alan Kay, a legendary computer scientist, once said, “Technology is anything that wasn’t around when you were born.”  As a member of the older generation, I have a difficult time trying to recall all of the technological advances that have been made since I was born. Every year new marvels are introduced, some which will make a positive difference in our lives and many that will quickly fade away. The annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas is where many of these innovations first see the light of day. 

Last week I wrote about several innovative products that make use of Amazon’s Alexa technology, a voice-activated digital assistant that can follow simple commands. While Alexa was the obvious star of this year’s CES, there were many other products of note. Smart home products, which are gaining in popularity, can turn lights on and off by voice command, lock doors remotely from a smartphone app, and transmits video to your smartphone when someone rings your doorbell. Among this year’s more interesting, and sometimes humorous smart-home products are an under $100 home security camera, a home security drone, an adorable home security robot, and an automated cat feeder

Dlink introduced an affordably priced home security camera that includes night vision, sound and motion detection, a built-in microphone and a 120-degree field of view. Live footage can be viewed on smart-phone apps for both iOS and Android. The camera, the DCS-8000 LH, is scheduled to debut this spring with a list price of $70.

For those of you who want completely state-of-the-art home security might want to wait for the release of camera-equipped drones from alarm.com. The autonomous drones are designed to fly through the house if alerted by tripped motion sensor or an unexpected noise. The drones capture video that is then sent directly to your smartphone. There is no set release date or pricing for these drones.

The home security robot, Kuri, measuring just under two feet tall is reminiscent of R2-D2 from the original Star Wars movie. The first iteration of Kuri is designed to patrol the home using a predetermined route and can send alerts when anything is out of the ordinary. It can alert a homeowner when the dog jumps on the couch, and the homeowner can command the dog to get down through the robot’s speakers. Kuri has motion and sound sensors for detecting unusual activities and send video and sound recordings to a smart phone. It is also designed to recognize family members and can follow them around the house playing podcasts or reading ebooks. It is promised to ship by next Christmas with a suggested list price of $699.

Finally in the smart-home category is the Catpad, a device that is billed as an automated cat feeder. It has a water reservoir that pumps out fresh water, dispenses dry food at meal times, and communicates with an app to give the owner feedback on the cat’s eating habits. The device is equipped with an RFID sensor that communicates with a vet-implanted microchip, or a fob on the cat’s collar, to determine when the cat is at the feeder, and if there are multiple cats in the house, which cat is eating when. The Catpad will be available in June for $250, costing a bit more than asking your neighbor to feed your cat while you are away.

In the wearables category, the most interesting product is the Linx, a bicycle helmet from Coros. Wearing a bicycle helmet while wearing headphones to listen to audio can be very uncomfortable, not to mention illegal and dangerous. The Linx has two bone conducting speakers that play music through your cheekbones, bypassing the ear drum. The audio is linked from a mobile device and transmitted to the speakers without blocking outside noise. The helmet comes with a remote that straps to the handlebars and has a companion app that can track fitness, plan routes, and alert an emergency contact if the helmet detects a fall. The Linx helmet is available now for $200.

Healthcare is another area of interest, featuring products that can monitor vital signs, glucose, fitness levels, daily activities and even sleep patterns. This category of products has been around for several years, and each year they get more sophisticated and easier to manage and use. One new entry is something I don’t think any of us would label as a “must have,” but it is certainly unique. L’Oreal has teamed up with a technology company to create a smart hairbrush that analyzes your hair and your hair brushing patterns. The findings are relayed to an app that gives you tips on how best to take care of your tresses. The brush will be available later this year and is set to sell for $200. A representative of L’Oreal admitted that this device is not for everyone, but is marketed to the younger generation of “ … time-poor millennials.” 

If you try any of these new technologies, or anything else that is on the cutting edge, please be sure to let me know! I can be reached at onmouseclick@digitalquinn.com and on Twitter at @LindaQPhotos.

Links:

Dlink Camera 

https://www.cnet.com/products/d-link-hd-wi-fi-camera-dcs-8000/preview/

Drone

https://www.cnet.com/news/at-ces-flying-drones-are-alarm-com-home-security-moonshot-ces-2017/

KURI Robot

https://www.cnet.com/products/mayfield-robotics-kuri/preview/

Catpad

https://www.cnet.com/news/catspad-smart-pet-feeder-ces-2017/

Bike Helmet

https://www.cnet.com/products/coros-linx-smart-cycling-helmet/preview/

Smart Hairbrush

https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/03/withings-and-loreal-made-a-smart-hairbrush/

What the future holds …

Every year, during the first week in January, major players in the tech world gather in Las Vegas for the annual CES (Consumer Electronics Show). Tech companies from around the globe show off their newest gadgets and designs, giving consumers a peak into the future — both near and far off. I couldn't make it to Las Vegas, but I did visit some of the websites that cover the tech industry to find out what's "hot" and what's not. 

According to Wired Magazine, the unequivocal star of this year’s CES was Amazon Alexa. Last May Amazon introduced the Amazon Echo, a 9.25-inch cylinder that acts as a music playback speaker and connects to a voice-controlled, cloud based “intelligent personal assistant” service known as Alexa. Say “Alexa,” followed by a command that it has been programmed to understand, and Alexa makes it happen. When first introduced Alexa, and the Echo, were seen as something of a toy device, only good for playing audio (“Alexa, play the Bloomberg podcast.”) and ordering from Amazon (Alexa, reorder Tom’s toothpaste.”). Since then, Amazon has made Alexa technology available to third party developers, and the results have been phenomenal. There were dozens of Alexa-enabled devices at CES, from Smart-Home applications that control devices in our home and automobiles.

Ford Motors showed off a car that connects to Alexa by pushing a button on the steering wheel. According to the Ford Media website, the onboard Alexa can check the weather, play audiobooks, search and transfer local destinations to navigation, request news and add items to Amazon shopping lists. Vehicle owners can even control Alexa enabled devices in our homes, including garage door openers, lighting and security systems, and heating and air conditioning systems.  Say a command while sitting in your car, such as “Alexa, set the air conditioner to 72º,” and when you arrive home, your house will be at just the right temperature.

Ford’s in-car Alexa integration is scheduled to debut this summer, but owners of some Ford vehicles will be able to take advantage of some Alexa features next month. Owners of electric vehicles — the Ford Focus Electric, Fusion Energi and C-MAX Energi — will be able to use an Echo to preform certain automobile related tasks from home. Command include starting and stopping the car (not a good idea if someone else is driving it), locking and unlocking doors and monitoring vehicle readings such as fuel level and battery range. Say “Alexa, ask my FordMobile to lock my car,” or “Alexa, ask my FordMobile to start my car,” and it is done.

In the home, Alexa has been integrated with 21 new Whirlpool appliances, slated for release in 2017. As with the Ford vehicles, users must have an Echo in their home to take advantage of these unique features. A Whirlpool oven will let owners set cooking times and temperatures with a spoken command, and during cooking they can ask how much cooking time remains. Washers and dryers will also be able to give time remaining, or enable a quiet mode. Whirlpool refrigerators will allow you to change the internal temperature with voice commands. 

Last year LG introduced a line of refrigerators with an “Insta-View” screen on the door that was capable of showing images of the products inside the appliance. This year LG is adding Alexa integration. The “Insta-View” screen is voice controlled and promises to have the ability to set timers, tell you how many teaspoons are in a cup, play music, check weather, show an image of what is inside and order food from Amazon Prime Pantry. There is also an app that allows you to access the information on your smart-phone when you are away from home. If you are grocery shopping and can’t remember if you need milk, just take out your smart-phone and take a look at the inside of your refrigerator. LG has not announced when the appliance will be available.

Neither Ford, Whirlpool or LG have announce pricing on their Alexa compatible devices, but the list price of last year’s “Insta-View” refrigerator started at over $4,000. 

A note on the Amazon Echo — Since the Echo was first released, Amazon has introduced two new models. The original Echo sells for $180, the slightly smaller Echo Tap sells for $130 and the disk shaped Echo Dot sells for $50. Visit the Amazon website to compare the three devices. 

Next week’s column will cover more innovations from CES 2017.

What follows are links that provide more information on products mentioned in today's column.

Alexa:

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/why-amazons-alexa-ran-away-with-ces

http://www.marketwatch.com/video/how-amazon-alexa-won-ces-2017/D78E4A45-A287-4CC6-A5DD-B0F5776A274A.html

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/01/06/ces-2017-amazon-alexa-stole-the-show-a-bid-to-become-the-iot-operating-system.html

https://www.wired.com/2017/01/ces-alexa-in-everything/

Whirlpool

http://www.techhive.com/article/3154275/consumer-electronics/whirlpools-smart-appliances-will-be-amazon-alexa-compatible-this-year.html

https://ces.whirlpool.com

http://www.techtimes.com/articles/191204/20170104/ces-2017-whirlpool-and-amazon-partner-up-to-integrate-alexa-with-smart-appliances.htm

Ford

http://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-alexa-coming-to-ford-cars-2017-1

http://www.geekwire.com/2016/ford-working-on-amazon-echo-integration-connecting-cars-to-homes/

https://media.ford.com/content/fordmedia/fna/us/en/news/2017/01/04/alexa-car-ford-amazon-shop-search-home.html

LG

https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/04/lg-refrigerator-with-amazons-alexia/

https://www.engadget.com/2017/01/06/lg-smart-instaview-refrigerator-hands-on/

http://www.lg.com/us/refrigerators/lg-LMXC23796D-french-4-door-refrigerator

Twitter 101

The original intent of this week’s OnMouseClick was to serve as a how-to guide on using Twitter. However, the more I wrote, the more it became apparent that explaining how to use Twitter is not an easy task, and the column slowly devolved into a stew of confusion, necessitating a re-write. 

Twitter is a powerful, time-saving tool, providing a fast and efficient way to relay information. It is not as simple as sending email and can at times seem counterintuitive — at least for those of us schooled in the last century. Twitter can be used through the website, twitter.com, or with a mobile app. It has its own vocabulary, and before beginning to use Twitter you should understand a few crucial terms: timeline, at sign (@), username, tweet, mention, hashtag (#), and follow.

Timeline

Log in to Twitter and you land on your home timeline. The timeline appears on both the website and mobile apps, and tweets sent to you appear on your timeline.

At Sign (@)

The @ sign is how a tweet is directed to a specific user.

Username

A username is how everyone identified on Twitter, and is always preceded immediately by the @ symbol. Usernames can be your name or anything else you wish to be known as. For example, the username of Southwest Airlines is “southwestair.” Note — with millions of Twitter users there is a chance that the name you want is taken.www.socialfresh.com/twitter-handle-hacks offers a  list of creative username examples and suggestions on how you can make adaptations.  

Tweet

A tweet is a message of up to 140 characters and may also contain photos, videos, and links. A tweet can be read by anyone with a Twitter account unless it begins with an @, followed directly by a username. Example: “@southwestair what is the departure time of flight 23?” can only be read by Southwest Airlines, while “Flight delay on the tarmac @southwestair flight 23” can be read by anyone.

Mention

A mention is a tweet that includes the @ sign followed directly by a username in the text of a tweet. Mentions can be read by all Twitter users and will appear on the Twitter page of the person mentioned. In the second example in the previous paragraph, @southwestair is considered a mention.

Hashtag (#)

A hashtag is any word or phrase immediately preceded by the # symbol denotes specific topic. Clicking on a hashtag links to other tweets with the same keyword or topic. Make “Flight delay” one word and add a hashtag and it links to other tweets about flight delays  — “#Flightdelay on the tarmac @southwestair flight 23.”

Follow

Subscribing to a Twitter account is called “following.”  Start following someone by clicking the Follow button next to their username and there tweets will post to your timeline. You choose to follow other Twitter accounts and others can choose to follow you. For more information on who can read and receive tweets visit https://support.twitter.com/articles/119138

The complete The Twitter Glossary can be found at support.twitter.com/articles/166337).

Rather than go into details on how to actually create a Twitter account, I recommend visiting the Twitter support website at support.twitter.com/articles/100990. This webpage takes you through the steps of creating a Twitter account online; the steps are basically the same if you sign up through the mobile app.

Once your account is activated you are ready begin using the service. The following are ideas on how and why to use Twitter: 

1. Customer Support — It is often possible to get a faster response by tweeting than by phoning customer service. To find the appropriate Twitter handle use the search box at the top of your home timeline. Some organizations have a username specifically for customer service. Our cable company in New York is Optimum. The results for a search of OPTIMUM shows both @optimum, and @optimumhelp for 24/7service.
2. Breaking News — Read up-to-the-minute reports about a breaking news event by using the search box to find tweets about the event. If something major is occurring, you can be certain there are people tweeting about it in real time, often before the news media.
3. Notice of Software and Hardware Updates — Choose to follow the manufacturer of your favorite software or mobile device. Search for the name of the company, and then click on the little icon of a person with a plus next to it and you will be subscribed to their tweets —  an excellent way to learn about updates and new product offerings. 

It wasn't long ago that Facebook, text messaging, email and cell phones were a mystery to many of us, but over time we've learned to use and embrace them. Learning Twitter is an investment in time and brainpower, but the reward is worth it. Just think how cool it would be to have your grandchildren following you on Twitter. 

You can send me a tweet @LindaQPhotos.

For more information on learning to use Twitter, visit  https://support.twitter.com/articles/215585 and https://www.wired.com/2016/05/twitter-onboarding-tips-for-new-users/.

Tweet Tweet

If someone asked you a year ago your thoughts on Twitter, I am pretty certain many of you wouldn't know what I was talking about. That changed when a presidential candidate began tweeting (yes, when you use Twitter the results are tweets). That candidate is now our president elect, and he continues to use Twitter as his primary means of communication with the American public. We will probably hear a lot more about Twitter, and presidential tweets, over the next four years, and I thought TR Times readers might be interested in learning more about Twitter, and how and when to use it.

To begin with, Wikipedia defines Twitter as

 "…an online news and social networking service where users post and read short … messages called 'tweets'." 

Twitter can be accessed through its website, twitter.com, or by the Twitter app on a smartphone or tablet. To effectively use Twitter, users must register with a user name and password — more about that in next week’s column. Twitter users, estimated at over one billion worldwide, utilize the service to post short messages, capped at 140 characters, that can be read by anyone. 

According to an article that appeared in the Los Angeles Times in 2009, Jack Dorsey, one of the original developers of Twitter and its current CEO, explained the origin of the name:

 ...we came across the word 'twitter' and it was just perfect. The definition was 'a short burst of inconsequential information,' and 'chirps from birds'. And that's exactly what the product was.

Twitter users can read almost everything that is posted on the service, and by selecting subjects they are most interested — such as: news and politics; sports; pop culture; celebrities and people of influence — Twitter will begin delivering tweets in the specific areas of interest. A Twitter user can choose to follow a particular individual or institution, and receive all relevant tweets. As of Thursday, December 29, singer Katy Perry has 95 million Twitter followers, President Barak Obama has over 80.3 million, LeBron James has 33.5 million, and President-elect Trump has 18.1 million. Institutions also have followers. The New York Times has 32.5 million, Fox News has 12.3 million, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have 557,000.

From the beginning, Twitter seemed like a platform for people to share their stream-of-conscience thoughts with the world, hoping that someone, somewhere, would find them interesting.This idea is given validity when you read news reports of a public figure’s late night tweets complaining that they did not like the manner in which they were portrayed on a comedy show. Personally, I have never understood the desire to follow every pronouncement made by any one individual, and for this reason, I have made very little use of Twitter since I registered with the service a few years ago. However, I have recently found Twitter to be a useful vehicle for contacting, and getting quick results, from customer service representatives. 

Last month Eddie and I had an early morning flight out of San Diego on our return trip to Florida. I wanted to find out how early Southwest Airlines and the TSA checkpoints opened at the airport, and I could not find the information online. I sent a tweet to the San Diego International Airport, and within minutes a representative tweeted me an answer. The representative even went so far as to double check her information and send me an update about an hour later. Rarely have I had such outstanding, and personal, customer service.

In next week’s OnMouseClick I will discuss some of the other ways that Twitter can be a useful tool, outline the procedure for creating a Twitter account, sending and receive tweets. You can read more about Twitter here.

Where do you get your news?

Note: I forgot to post the first column of the season before we left for Hawaii. Sorry, readers!

It is a new season at TR, and we, the residents, have fully embraced the digital age. When I began writing this column in the early part of the century, my focus was on helping my readers learn to use their computers. Today most TR residents are not only competent in using computers, but they also use mobile devices for phone calls, video chats, texting, and connecting to the internet. It is internet based social media platforms that consume a large chunk of time in the average American's day. 

Last May the New York Times reported that users spend an average of 50 minutes a day on Facebook, Instagram and Messenger platforms, with Facebook in the lead. While I spend less than 50 minutes a day on Facebook, I do check in regularly, and over the past year I have noticed a substantial increase in so called "news items" added to my timeline. 

We've all heard someone say "It must be true because I read it on the internet." In fact as recently as last month, a presidential candidate recommended that his followers should rely on the internet as a main source of news. But how can we know what we read on the internet is true? Anyone can post, and unlike mainstream news media, there  is not a structure of checks and balances in place to root out false stories. On November 14 the New York Times published a story titled "Google and Facebook Take Aim at Fake News Sites." These fake news sites, which are not to be confused with comedy news sites like The Onion, are created for the sole purpose of making money by generating false news and in turn increasing traffic on their websites and advertising revenue. 

The news generated by these websites look genuine, and are most often posted for viewing by people who agree with the philosophical leanings of the "news." People who have been identified by Facebook, or Google, as conservative (and believe me Facebook and Google know a lot about you) will see very different news than those identified as liberals. With the ease of sharing on Facebook, these news stories quickly go "viral" — everyone who clicks on the SHARE button sends the story to everyone of their friends

Vladimir Lenin once said "A lie told often enough becomes the truth," and John F. Kennedy stated “No matter how big the lie; repeat it often enough and the masses will regard it as the truth." Journalist Carl Bernstein recently wrote, "The lowest form of popular culture - lack of information, misinformation, disinformation, and a contempt for the truth or the reality of most people's lives - has overrun real journalism. Today, ordinary Americans are being stuffed with garbage."

As citizens of this digital age, it is our responsibility to weed out the garbage from the facts. FactCheck.org, a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center, and politifact.com, a Pulitzer Prize winning website published by the Tampa Bay Times, are two excellent sources for culling the facts from the lies. Another excellent source, snopes.com, makes fact checking easy for the average person. Visit the site and type a phrase into the search box and find out if you are reading rumors, innuendos, outright lies or facts. The website, which began in 1995 as a vehicle for researching urban legends (are there really alligators living in the sewers of Manhattan?), has evolved into one of the most trusted websites for dispelling false news. 

An assistant professor of communications at Merrimack College in Massachusetts has put together a list of "False, misleading, clickbait-y and satirical 'news' sources," and made the list publicly available as a Google doc. It includes websites on all sides of the political spectrum and is definitely worth a look.  The web address is very long, and a link will be available in the online version of OnMouseClick. 

Eddie and I will be traveling until shortly before Christmas — another trip to Hawaii to see our beautiful granddaughters. When OnMouseClick returns in January I will focus on enhancing our lives through the use of our digital devices. Until then, I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving (even our Canadian friends) and a joyous holiday season. T