Tek4.ME My New Technology Blog

A few weeks ago I quit my normal crummy job that wasn’t helping me with my goal of working with computers, technology, or the internet. I had gotten my degree as an Information System Administrator but the job market for IT workers is very hard because there aren’t that many jobs where I live, but I had a few ideas on how I can still have an income.

First I have done some service calls for a company installing Internet, and those pay good for the work, I also have some friends that has been offering to get me doing the service calls they do but in my area. Because these calls aren’t consistent I plan to do some other stuff with my time when I’m not just taking care of my kids.

So my plan is to write on my Technology and Gadget blog Tek4.ME as much as I can. It will have topics such as news about upcoming Apple, Microsoft, Google, and other Companies new products and services. The blog will also have tips and tricks for best using your technology and online services. Some of the articles already up include my Hands on Review of the Nexus 7, information on why YouTube won’t be part of iOS 6, and what’s new in Windows Essentials 2012.

Finally I would also like to start building a few websites a month; this would be things like setting up and building a site using WordPress or Drupal for any type of business or organization. If interested check out more information at Grand Junction Computers web site.

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CES 2012 Pre-Thoughts

CES is coming for 2012 and I like to see what comes from the show. Last year it was all about 3D TVs and Android Tablets. This year it looks like tablets and apps on TVs will be some of the big things. I’m sure they will have more 3D TV but some without glasses but I don’t care because I can’t see the 3D.

Android Tablets were big last year but the ones that did come out in 2011 were flops and the main reason was that they were trying to do the old computer trick of having spec wars and charging too much. The iPad dose so good because it is not that expensive and is somewhat of a good device that has a sexy or prestige factor that the Android tablets lack because of marketing by Apple.

If they can make new tablets with Android 4.0 that are good specs and don’t cost over $500-600 then they may work out but if they want to sell lots they need to have it be good spec, Android 4.0 and cost less than $350.

As for the TVs with apps, it looks like they will be running Google TV aka Android TV, but the mistake that the companies are going to make is putting skins on them, they need to look and feel the same. Also Google and the TV companies will need to make deals to get the content producers to make apps to put their content on the system.

With Microsoft also pulling out I don’t see much coming from them, probably some new looks at Windows 8 and a recap of the new video options on Xbox 360. And I’m sure Sony and Nintendo will save most of their big things for games for E3 were I’m sure Microsoft will still have a big setup to pimp there Xbox stuff.

This year I will probably keep looking over some of the blog sites, and check out Twit.tv they have the most raw unorganized look from the floor as if you were there. CNet has some good stuff but it is more organized and almost too setup only with big names.

Google Music Beta

Just got home from getting my car fix and I found a nice email waiting for me from Google saying that I have been invited to their music beta. They announced the service less than a month ago at the Google IO conference, and I signed up to be added when they had more space for people. I also have the new music app on my Nexus One and it’s kind of nice but I don’t listen to music I have on my phone all that much.

I did try out the Amazon Cloud Player a week or so ago and it was kind of cool to just have the app on my phone and be playing the songs I got without adding them to my phone. Before that I was trying a server app combo that worked ok but it was running all the time on my computer and wanted me to donate to keep it working after a month, it was called Subsonic and works the same why that both Google Music and Amazon Cloud Player do.

So far I just clicked the link in the email (I know you shouldn’t click email links but I trust and saw who it was from,) on the page it had me accept some terms and conditions (that I didn’t read much of) and then asked if I wanted some free music, I took everything just to see what there was nothing all that amazing but whatever. Then it asked to download the Music Manager and then skip on to the player.

The Music Manager was a web installer like the Chrome installer, after a user email and password it was setup very fast. On first load it asks if you want to import music from iTunes, Windows Media, My Music, or a Other folder. Because I don’t have iTunes installed and wont install it because its garbage and none of my music is in one place I did Other folders and added a few folders to the program. It then looked at the files and after the scanning of over 1,000 files it asked if I want to upload my files. It changes over to a new window showing progress and from there you can add folders and what not.

It did have an error uploading a file and it was shown in a separate window, I wouldn’t be surprised of an error because some of my music has come from years of collecting, computer wipes, and different sources. Back on the website I was seeing new songs show up and are organized kind of nice.

So far it plays good on a computer, pages load fast and the music streams like it was playing right on the computer. As for the Android app it took a second to load up the listing in the app after setting up the account to use. When you would play a track that was not cashed to the phone a few second later it would start playing over WIFI and you can see a tinted progress bar where it shows the play progress. But it all plays very nice ill have to see how 3G works some other time.

I think that Google has it working the best, but it is almost the same thing as Amazon, one difference is that Google counts the number of tracks and Amazon counts gigabytes giving you 5GB free on Amazon and 20GB if you buy an album. Where Google gives you 20,000 tracks at this point, who knows what they will do, if it’s like Picasa they will give a usable amount then sell you a yearly amount for a good price.

If you go over to http://music.google.com it looks like they are opening it up to anyone right now for there “free for a limited time” so go check it out. Below is a few screen shots of the service. Have fun with this, it might just get me to listen to more music or ill just stick with http://di.fm 😀