Andy TaylorLeave a commentAutomotive, TechtalkRadio, , , , , , ,

Automatic – New Product We are Really Wanting to Look At!

Automatic Logo
Logo for Automatic

I just caught wind of a product that will tie your smartphone to your car! It’s from a company called Automatic and looks pretty promising. I took a look at the website and the device itself sells for about $99. It will tie to your phone and give you insights in your gas, driving habits, places visited and i am certain some other cool features.

Automatic Device with Smartphone
Automatic Device with Smartphone

Similar in look to the devices that Car Insurance companies have been using to report your driving habits and sometimes save money on your premiums (Thanks Flo…), the Automatic plugs in to your cars OBD (On Board Diagnostic Port) which you will find equipped on most vehicles starting around 1996 and can relate information on Where you Parked? Driving practices that could save you money and even engine diagnostics.

You’ll need to have a smartphone with Bluetooth, a cool idea! Hopefully we will get our hands on one but in the meantime, the folks at Automatic would like you to see this video

S!ickLeave a commentTTR Website, , , , , , , , , ,

Microsoft Office 365 University only $80!

If you are affiliated with a college, you may qualify for a four-year subscription to Office 365 University from Microsoft…

Though, it appears you must have an eddress that has an “edu” top-level domain.

It can be installed on two computers (Windows or Mac), and some mobile devices.

Office 365 University includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access.

“The Office 365 University plan allows you to install Office on up to two PCs or Macs and on up to two smartphones or tablets, for use by a single person.”

The supported operating systems include Windows 7, Windows 8 and Mac OS X 10.6 or later.  But:  “…you can install Office applications including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook on your Mac…”  (Based on that statement I assume there’s a chance OneNote, Publisher, and Access will not function on a Mac.)

I read:

“Office 365 University is a four-year subscription for full- and part-time enrolled university and college students, faculty, and staff in accredited institutions…”

“After purchasing Office 365 University at a participating retailer…Each eligible user can redeem Office 365 University product once in a three year period and can only activate a maximum of two.”

As I’m understanding it:  you can install it once on two different computers within three years.  What if a computer becomes unuseable?  Or a licensed user wants to remove the product from one computer, and install it onto another?

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The cost of the four-year subscription is only $79.99.  Overall, it seems like a great deal to me…

S!ickLeave a commentTTR Website, , , , , , , , ,

Review: “C6 Screen Cleaners”

So…I get an e-mail message…

“…The new carbon-based cleaning system won’t damage your expensive glass and revolutionizes the way people clean their lenses…”

Yeah. Whatever.

It arrived…and I am…impressed!

The Carson Optical “C6 Screen Cleaners” press release states: “…The dry compound bonds with the oils left behind by your skin, then simply wipes away leaving a sparkling clean surface.” I also received a pack of two of the CS-50. They look like USB flash drives that you can put on lanyards, but the pad is retractable into the casing.

I always carry clean handkerchiefs…in Arizona, you sweat (a lot). I also use them to clean my reading glasses, and sunglasses. And, I’ve been satisfied with using them to clean glass-like surfaces and screens. OK. Let me see how good this thing is…gone! I used one and ALL of the greasy, streaky, smudgy stuff on the touchscreen of my phone was gone! It’s clean…it’s clear…I’m shocked.

CS-50 – Screen Cleaners, 2-pack. Cleaning system for tablets & smart phones

(The CS-60 is designed to be used with tablet computers…at the time of this writing, I cannot find it on their website.)

The CS-10, CS-20, and CS-40 are similar to the shape and sizes of markers. CS-30, CS-70, and CS-80 are packages of disposable cleaners….the CS-70 also includes a brush for use with camera and binocular lenses.

Yep…this stuff works.  You might want to get a couple and keep in your pocket, purse, or bag…