Saturday, September 24, 2011

Yahoo Messenger : I like using Yahoo Messenger on my iPhone to minimize ATT overpriced TXT messages; and often conversations are continued later from my PC using the Desktop version, now at Version 11. However I hate Yahoo's installer, which by default installs Yahoo Toolbar in your browser, which is a waste of Browser space, and its been many years now that Google is a better search engine than Yahoo. If you uncheck "Install Yahoo Tool Bar" the Installer will Install it anyway, unless you first select "Custom Install", and then uncheck Yahoo Tool Bar AGAIN.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Bye Bye Netflix: NETFLIX - I quit due to increasing prices, and too many defective DVDs. Today I receive in my USPS junk mail, an insert from Blockbuster inviting to join with a free month. They offer"Unlimited exchanges for free in-store movie rentals". Too bad every store I know of in Houston, TX has closed. Then buried in the fine print of their Terms of Service, they freely admit to doing what Neflix got sued over:

Blockbuster reserves the right to determine product allocation among members in its sole discretion.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Weather Radio: Now that my Weather Radio with built in 5" analog B&W TV is obsolete, it's been discarded, and I've been looking for a new unit w1th 2 requirements.

1. It had to send Warning alarms of impending events: Tornados, etc.
2. It had to run off batteries. Since, comes a weather emergency, loss of power is common.

I had a hard time finding a unit that did both, and finally settled for the
Midland WR-300, which I bought through Amazon.

http://midlandradio.com/Desktops-Weather.OCS/WR-300


I was disappointed that it wouldn't use and recharge rechargeable batteries, like my old,
5 pound hulk with its TV; but it runs off AC, and automatically swiches to its 4 AA batteries if it loses power.
I'll stuff it with Lithium Batteries that run far longer than alkalines,
likely 3 or 4 days, but once it loses power, the thing loses all its settings.

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Norton nastyness: I like to have all my Monitor screen available to me, or as much as possible, thus I am VERY ANNOYED that Norton Internet Security 2012 Secretly, without giving one a choice during its installation, Installs, a Norton Tool Bar in your Browser, and a Norton Widget in top right hand corner of the screen.

Both of them have been deactivated and removed from my system.

Friday, September 09, 2011

Norton for 2012: If you're running a legal copy of Norton AntiVirus, Norton Internet Security, or Norton 360; you may download and install a free update to the 2012 version here.

Thursday, September 08, 2011

DirecTv and TiVo : September 3 marked the 3 year anniversary of DirecTv signing an agreement with TiVo (so they wouldn't be sued for DVR patent infringement) and promising a new HD DVR with TiVo. 2008 story here. Since then its always just 6 months off; and as far as I'm concerned DirecTv has zero credibility regarding a new TiVo unit.