A Really Smart Mouse Might Be In Our Future

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4z_DOsbm1X8

Mouse Box is being developed by some Polish engineers, and apparently they are seeking funding to take it into production and marketing.  But what is it?

It is an entire computer put inside a normal sized mouse – about the same as the mouse you probably use daily.  All you would need is a monitor (or screen) and a keyboard, and you are in business, no matter where you go.  Wireless, perhaps to the keyboard and the monitor.  Not much information is yet available.  But watch for this.  I could see this as good for such things as PowerPoint presentations on the road, where you just walk in the room, and use the mouse instead of your computer.  You would just run the entire show from the mouse device. 

 http://www.gizmag.com/mouse-box-pc-inside-mouse/35703/

It functions as a normal mouse too, so if you are working in a cubicle, using a corporate computer for a living, but would like to see your own stuff now and then, you can switch back and forth from the boss's computer to your own by just switching the mouse from passive (running the corporate issued computer) to active (using your own data).  On your lunch hour you could have your own computer stuff on the screen, for example.

I am not sure how this improves on just having a smart phone in your pocket, but, I pass this along as a potential future option.  

Life Clock: Life expectancy measured with fifteen questions

This is by far the best life expectancy website I have seen.  The questions are more detailed, and more cosmetic, and created an interest in answering them.  They are not superficial either, they are direct, with handsome slider bars to set the answers to the questions.  I give this website a solid  “A”.  Not many get an “A” from me.

http://www.poodwaddle.com/Life/

My life expectancy, in spite of a few issues, came out quite good. Probably based on many factors, including parents who lived a long time relatively free of disease.  Note that other sources have told me that once you reach a certain older age (over 70) your life expectancy actually improves a bit as you are past the normal ages for certain diseases that are life threatening. And perhaps your lifestyle is more measured (using seat belts, and so forth) at older ages, you are wiser, less risk taking. 

New Version of Free Google Translate Lets You Translate Using Camera

New Version of Free Google Translate Lets You Translate Using Camera

http://www.iphonelife.com/blog/5/new-version-free-google-translate-lets-you-translate-using-camera

There are several APP’s that will translate languages, but this is the first one I have seen that is supposed to skillfully read a sign using your phone's camera, and then translate it into English for your, right on your phone screen.  Will miracles never cease?

Along that same line (camera photo’s translating into text) I have enjoyed that feature of my favorite APP,  Evernot for 18 months.  I can take a photo of a sign, or anything text, and file it in Evernote as a “note”, usually with a label or "note title" I type in, but I guess that would not be essential. Then, a miracle happens.  Evernote’s computer in the cloud reads what’s on the sign, or business card, or whatever, and converts the photo of a word into a hidden text version, so that I can use word searches to find the photo.  Not unlike some business card apps, of course, but this one does many signs, even some handwritten cursive.   

Example, I took a photo of a tow-away warning sign with a phone number for the towing company (illegally parked cars would be towed).  Now, whenever I need to call that company to tow away an illegally parked car,  I can just put the word "Tow” or “Towing” in the search window, and it will immediately bring up the photo of that sign, with the word “tow” highlighted in yellow for me. 

Another example:  I shot a photo of a friend’s hand written passwords for her computer, some in cursive, some printed in pencil.  It finds those on a search also.

Now the new Google app takes it a step further – photograph a sign on a Paris street and then read, in English, what it says. That’s progress. 

Helping Protect Your G-Mail

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-make-sure-your-gmail-is-as-secure-as-possible-2015-1

Protecting your G-Mail could be a worthwhile thing. Security is never perfect, this information might help a bit. I did not realize this help was available.

Changes Coming in Mobile Phones

Check out these new options:

http://www.endaga.com/products/

Endaga – is own your own cell service.  Charge others to use it.  Install it in seconds, and you have your own cell service.  Great solution for rural areas that don’t have good towers to power your phone. And you can sell the service (from your device) to neighbors as well. If anyone tries this, let me know how it works.

Republic Wireless, a rather new company I discovered (met the former President)  recently is an interesting alternative to conventional mobile phone contracts. Located in Raleigh NC but nationwide.  Consumer Reports just rated them #1 or # 2 in the no contract category for high quality voice and low prices (nearly free).  A drawback, like Endaga, is the fact that you have to have Wi Fi signal to get the free part, but Republic does auto switch to Sprint network if you walk out of the house.  This switching benefits in several ways.  Many folks have poor cell signal in their home anyway, Republic gives them crystal clear voice, text, and internet no matter the signal from the "not-so-nearby-tower”.  To use it, however, you have to have a special phone that can do voice over internet, and switch back and forth. They sell those.  Mostly Motorola X .. a very good smart phone I have read in reviews.

https://republicwireless.com/  Pay once, and get much less monthly cost, no contract required. But there are monthly fees for it since it has to switch to Sprint when you leave a Wi Fi zone.  But at work, and at home, most people have Wi Fi, it will connect and make that your phone as well as your data link. Starbucks, wherever, you could get no-charge phone calls.  That is, it doesn’t drain your minutes allowed of air-time. 

This could be especially useful if your present mobile phone has low or no signal at work due to building construction, metal roofs and such. This would give you voice communication at work (provided the company has wi fi, which most do these days). 

Your Dedicated Customer Service Team Melissa & Doug

Once in awhile the words “customer service” is not an oxymoron. I contacted Melissa and Doug (children’s toys) about a Christmas gift that was less than perfect because we lost the instructions during unwrapping.  I made the inquiry by email on a Sunday and I got a response in a few hours (on Sunday) that was personalized, and obviously answered by a person in customer service.  They gave me a website address to print the missing instructions, and a phone number to call about a free replacement of a part we broke playing with the toy. 

While Melissa and Doug have sold out to a bigger company (I think) it appears that, for now, their customer service is still excellent.  For a $20 item (wooden magic tricks for age 6) their help seems commendable. 

Wish I could say I got that kind of service from Dick’s Sporting goods “on line” or some others on-line who (more or less) made it hard to communicate and took little responsibility for customer problems customer (self inflicted or not).  I have always advocated that “heroic recovery” was the only way to deal with a customer complaint.  It appears that Melissa and Doug have bought into that philosophy.  Thanks to Bruce Merrifield, an outstanding consultant, for teaching me the term “heroic recovery” and helping me understand what that means in the way of response, and the benefit that ultimately brings to a business. 

PS -- Amazon has been great with customer service, I have recently returned several items for credit, and got quick and very satisfactory credit and communication about the credit.  Gives me confidence in buying more, since I know the return is easy -- even if it didn't ship from Amazon's warehouses. Wal-Mart has been excellent "in store" with returns as well. With or without a receipt.