Pissed at Apple Computer? Reuse your i-device as a remote camera

I was pissed at Apple Computer when they told me my iPad was not going to be supported any longer. Like in Mission Impossible when their iPad support disintegrates into white smoke if I don’t comply. But I complied when I chose to buy an Apple iPad and not a competitor brand like Samsung or Acer.

Ok enough bitching about a device that is no longer being supported. It was a matter of time. Wait until the first generation Apple iWatch goes unsupported. I’m sure a lot of you will be screaming. Unsupported. What does that mean? Simply said, there will no longer be any iOS updates to my iPad which means an eventual death to the use of my device. No iOS updates means fewer downloads of apps that I depend on using. Eventually there will be no apps to download because they will no longer be compatible to an older version of iOS.

I think you’ve seen those humorous articles on the web about old and retired iPads. For instance, your obsolete iPad can serve as a serving tray for drinks. Or be used as a paperweight so that your papers don’t fly away.

Here’s where my iSave blog comes to save the day. Before your old and retired i-devices parish from non-use, download a free app called ‘Presence‘ by People Power Company. This app’s purpose is to “recreate and reimagine devices that many people don’t think have value anymore.” according to the app’s FAQ. With this app, you can convert your old i-devices to remote cameras that you can control remotely from anywhere in the world. It is like having a remote camera in your house to keep an eye on your house when you’re away on vacation or out of the house for an extended period of time.

After you’ve downloaded this app on your old device, go ahead and download the same app on your current (or new) device. You will be asked to sign in or if this is your first time then go ahead and create a new account. With a new account, you can now sign on using your old device. It’s really easy to setup and the app is intuitive so I trust that you can figure it out yourself.

If you own any of Apple’s i-devices, I’m sure there will come a time when your device enters a non-support period. When it does, convert it to a remote camera using Presence and have it do something for you, rather than let it collect dust.

 

Free Furnace

It’s that time of year when the furnace kicks on and stays on until Spring. It’s also a good time to get the furnace people in for an annual tune-up or to clean the ducts. Did you know you need a furnace tune-up every year if you have had a Lennox high-efficiency furnace installed recently? If you don’t, you can void your 10-year warranty just like that.

I had a furnace guy in last week from Direct Energy to perform their annual tune-up. He told me a tip that could save me $40 off a $100 furnace filter. If you drove down to Direct Energy on 32nd Avenue in Calgary, you pay just $65. A furnace filter from a service guy would cost $101, only because they have to stock it and drive it over to you. A tune-up of this sort will cost $70 or so which is a small price to pay to keep your warranty alive.

Would you like a brand new furnace? Can you write a sob story? If the answers to both question is yes then head on over to Action Furnace website and sign up to win a free furnace. It looks every Friday, they give away a free furnace.

 

Shopping for a GPS

With built-in navigation in most new cars and GPS on board most smart phones, portable GPS devices aren’t as popular anymore. If you’re still in the market for one because you drive an older vehicle or you don’t want to use the GPS on your smart phone then here’s a blog for you.

There has been many advances and features added to GPS devices since the last time I looked. To compete with iPhone 4S, namely the phones with Siri on it, some devices can now respond to voice commands. It’s almost like talking to KITT, the car from the old TV series Knight Rider. You can tell your GPS device where you want to go or that you need directions to the nearest gas station or golf course. This feature can be found in some of the high end GPS devices but remember, it’s in the early stages right now meaning that like Siri, it only responds to select voice commands. It doesn’t take your order and it may not respond to certain words, especially if you have an accent. Some people become more agitated trying to talk to their device than to use the touchscreen but if they can perfect this, I think it is great when you are driving alone. You wouldn’t have to take your hands off the wheel to adjust your GPS.

Another great feature to look for is the Lane Assist. This feature is not new and has been around for a number of years. The GPS draws you a view of a highway or freeway with overhead signs, giving you an indication of the lane that you need to get onto. No more guessing on whether the lane exits left, right or in the center.

Other great features to look out for, are free lifetime maps and free traffic subscriptions. These two features will keep your GPS updated to the latest road conditions and route information. Most of the GPS devices have this including some on the low end but watch out for those that displays ads. The ads take up screen real estate and it is annoying at times. GPS devices with traffic capability will recalculate your route if there is an accident or construction ahead. This will help save you time but on the other hand, some alternate routes can get you lost too. It’s fantastic to get free lifetime maps, as long as you are diligent in getting the updates from the internet and updating your device.

Aside from features, it’s good if you can test drive the devices or read up on reviews. I’ve heard from a few sources that the Garmin is easier to input addresses and finding points of interest faster than with a TomTom. Also Garmin’s display is more snappier than a TomTom but lacks in graphics depicting complex interchanges and freeway exits. For instance the TomTom VIA 1535TM has most of these features that I wrote about, including bluetooth support and does not display ads with traffic information but it doesn’t power down automatically when you shut the car off. It does tell you which side of the road your destination is at when you arrive which is nicety that most other devices lack.

One last item that might help travellers renting a car when they arrive is a home charger. If you can charge up the device then enter your points of interest while on the plane then you are all ready to go when you pick up your rental car. Some devices have an optional solar charger that you can place on the car’s dashboard but it’s already troublesome having the GPS device affixed to your windshield or sitting in a sand bag.

 

Up to 80% off

Have you shopped at XS Cargo lately? If you have, you probably bought something that was really a good deal because everything they sell there has been discounted up to 80% off retail. One of the things to be careful about is consumer electronics. Remember that all sales are final which means if you brought something home that is electronic and it doesn’t work, you are entitled to return it for an exchange as long as there is another unit in stock. If none exists then you will get a credit. At XS Cargo, they usually don’t stock a lot of inventory so if you are going to buy something electronic, try it out as soon as you get it home and return it within a few days if it doesn’t work. Don’t let it sit around for a couple of weeks. Take it out of the box and plug it in. Try out all the buttons and functions and make sure everything works. Otherwise it is a return.

XS Cargo used to carry a lot more refurbished or recertified items, and now they don’t. A lot of people don’t like buying refurbished items but what the heck? Most of these people don’t know that these items are brand new and fixed up. They just lack the pristine packaging of a untested unit. Wouldn’t you rather have a unit that was checked, tested and certified than a unit that is fresh from the factory? Remember that any untested unit may fail to work.

Refurbished items are not for everyone. For instance, don’t give a refurbished item as a wedding gift. That is not kosher. Instead, give your child a refurbished Apple iPod Touch that works and is going to save you some money. Refurbished Panasonic Lumix cameras are a deal. They are great digital cameras and are very durable.

Where do you find refurbished brand name items such as Apple, HP, Fuji cameras, Sony, SanDisk, etc.? A great place online that sells refurbished and recertified items is eCost. Be sure to check out my sister site for the links and promo codes to save additional money. I hope I have shed some light on refurbished or recertified items and that it’s ok for you to save money buying them.

Richmond Night Market

The night market kicks off this weekend in Richmond, BC and goes until September. Night markets are popular in most Asian cities such as Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. The Richmond night market is usually well stocked with cellphones accessories, apparel, socks, gadgets, toys, books and food. The food section is a lively collection of dim sum dishes, drinks, dinner entrees and snacks from Thailand, China, Korea and Vietnam.

Some of the items that caught my eye include a R/C helicopter that can be manipulated with your iPhone, iPod or iPad. Instead of using a remote controller with paddles, you can navigate the helicopter with an app. The price was under $33. At the Vancouver airport, the iStore boutique sells this for $69.95.

Other items that caught my eye were iPad accessories. A popular item is the 360 degree stand and case. It stands up and can be rotated 360 degrees. It went for under $20. Regular non-rotating stands costs more than $45.
Another item was the 5-in-1 connection kit that sold for a fraction of what the Apple store charges. A similar card reader sells for $49 at the iStore boutique.

Tired of putting the iPhone against your ear? Try the retro phone handset. Simply plug it in to the headphone jack and talk away. The handset sells for $17. At Stein Mart in California, the same handset sells for $29.

Zoom in on your friends with the 6X zoom lens for your iPhone. Only $23. I couldn’t find this anywhere.

Transmit your music on your iPhone to a FM radio for only $10. A Belkin model at Fry’s Electronics in Ventura sells for $29.99.

If you’re interested in any of these items, click on the image to buy. They offer free worldwide shipping and free gifts too when you buy over a set limit.

R/C Helicopter controlled by iPad

5-in-1 Connection Kit for iPad

Purple iPad 360 degree Stand and Case

Retro Phone for iPad

6X Zoom Lens for iPhone

FM Transmitter

Siesta Time

After another hard week at work, have a drink on me. Print this coupon and get a free limeade sparkler from Taco Bell.

I’ve been shopping online again. Last week, I gave in and bought myself a Blu-Ray player. I watched Avatar on it tonight and loved it all over again. The colors were spectacular and the clarity was incredible. Ok, it was well worth the $19 that I paid for the dvd and blu-ray disc. By the way, my blu-ray player also plays dvd.

If you haven’t been sold on switching your dvd collection to blu-ray then don’t. But if you have a HDTV, you owe it to yourself to keep up with technology. For under $100, you can pick yourself up a Magnavox, Sylvania or Citizen. I spent a little more and went for a Panasonic player from eCost. With shipping, it was alittle more $120 and was worth it.

With a limeade and a good movie, I’m ready for siesta.

Mini and Free Software

If I was in the market for a small, compact notebook computer to carry around on my travels, I would choose the HP Mini 1010NR Atom Notebook. With its built-in 802.11b/g, I can connect to the internet via a hotspot or wi-fi connection. It has a full-size keyboard and a 8.9 inch display, not to shabby for a quick email on the road or to watch a dvd movie on a plane. The best thing when travelling is its weight. Coming in at 2.23 pounds, the HP Mini is perfect for school and for carrying around. Its small footprint runs at 1.66 GHz and has a 8GB hard drive. At eCost, you can pick one up for $406.99. 

These days, memory is cheap. You can get 1 terrabyte external hard drives for under $120. What’s not cheap is software. Microsoft Office is roughly $110 to $170, depending on if you are a student or not. With Microsoft Office, you have a word processor, spreadsheet and a presentation tool. The good thing about MS Office is that you can run it on a Windows PC or on a Mac. The bad thing is that you cannot readily share documents created in MS Office with your friends unless they have MS Office. Until now…

Check out ZOHO. On this website, you have access to a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool, email, public repository, notebook taker, planner, database application, web conferencing, report writer, human resource tracker and more. The price? For an individual, it’s free. For a business, fees will vary but compare that to multi-user or site licences and you will find ZOHO to be competitively priced. The nice thing about ZOHO is that you don’t need to install anything on your PC and you don’t need to worry about upgrading the software which usually results to compatibility issues or increased costs.

Wii Scuba Dive

Some of us can’t swim and refuse to learn. Others embrace it. If you have always wondered what’s it like, scuba diving that is, take a lesson from Adventures in Scuba. Most establishments in this area offer an introductory lesson in scuba that teaches you the basics of submerging yourself into the sport. You learn about breathing through the apparatus, air mixture and safety. In all, it’s a good experience to at least try out. And even if you don’t swim, or know how, the introductory lesson does not require any swimming. As long as you can squat and not get nervous in water, you will be fine. Next time you visit a tropical location, you might want to check out the activities at the pool. Most resorts offer the introductory lesson for free or a small nominal charge.

If you are still curious about scuba and want to learn more about the creatures underwater, you might want to pick yourself up Endless Oceans for the Wii. With the remote, you guide your diver through caves, past corals and into the deep. Along the way, you encounter fascinating creatures such as moray eels and sea snakes. The occasional manta ray flies by and watch out for the tail on the stingray. Endless Oceans currently sells for under $29 at Wal-Mart and if you’re in the market for a Wii console, the Wal-Mart at WestBrook Mall has a new shipment. As of yesterday, they had over 8 units in the showcase. The Wii console comes with Wii Sports which is still my favorite game disc.

As for the Wii Fit balance board, I haven’t seen any in town. The only place I see has any stock on it is eCost and if you’re lucky to be on their site at the right time, you can pick up the Wii console for $99.

Eyeing it

They say when a recession hits, people flock to movie theatres. With the release of James Bond and the highly anticipated next installment of Harry Potter, I don’t think there will be a lack of people in line. Both Cineplex and Empire theatres offer gift cards that you can pick up from your local drugstore such as Rexall. But if you want to buy discount movie tickets, you will have to buy them from BCAA or AMA (in Alberta) or if you work for a large corporation (eg. Encana), check with your social club for discount tickets. Tickets can go as low as $8 for an adult admission.

For the gadget lovers, try the iTheatre wireless eyewear for $139.95. Plug it into your iPod or dvd player then put on a pair of  iTheatre eyewear to enjoy a 50″ virtual viewing screen. It almost feels like you are sitting in a theatre with a wraparound screen. It is so cool. You are totally immersed in the picture as though you are right in the movie.

Imagine plugging it into your Wii and playing a game like Mario Kart. I did and I felt like I was on the track with Bowser and Luigi, racing around Sherbet Land in real life. It was bizarre but incredibly fun. With Tiger Woods PGA Tour, I felt I was really playing Pebble Beach. And with Rapala Fishing, I was on the lake, fishing for bass.

If you are interested in getting a pair, I can help you get it for under $120. Check with us for the special coupon code to use.

Britney’s in the house

They say rewards will come to those who wait. If you have been patient and not buy any escape tickets then you are in luck because there’s a special from Calgary to Las Vegas from December 14-18 for only $375 with taxes. This includes roundtrip air and 4-nights accomodation at Circus, Circus. And talk about the Circus, ticket buyers were snapping up pre-sale tickets to Britney Spears concert in Edmonton last night. She is playing in Edmonton in April and the Pussycat Dolls are the warm up band.

Have you noticed all the Wii consoles on store shelves this year? Last year at the same time, there were none. The one thing you won’t find in any stores is the Wii balance board. If you want one, I recommend that you go to our site and click on eCost. Under the Bargain Countdown, look for the Outrageous icon before midnight tonight. If you see it, click on one to buy because you get it for a ridiculous price, at only $49.

Need new coupons for Gigagolf? If you do decide on getting the Gx2 square driver then be sure to use the coupon code: 0801 to save yourself 35% off. Or if you want the P2 hybrid, save 35% when you use the code: 0802 and lastly, save 25% off the Relevation set by using the code: 0803.

Looking for golf shirts and free shipping? If so then check out the line up at GolfBalls.com where they have a line up for $29.95 including Nike, Callaway and Adidas. Use the coupon: GIFTIDEA to get free domestic shipping over $75.