That makes a lot of sense, right? So, first my “environment”

• iPhone was “supposed” to be syncing contacts through iTunes
• Plaxo for Mac installed and syncing contacts (supposedly)
• New version of Plaxo installed recently
• MobileMe configured but not syncing anything
• Last.fm recently installed

Some weirdness that was happening:

• When syncing, I would get the error message about the bookmarks (above)
• For a time, when I tried to select or unselect my bookmark toggle on the iTunes Info tab (under the iPhone) and click Apply, the toggle wouldn’t stick
• The same thing would happen when I tried to select the “Sync Address Book Contacts”; the toggle wouldn’t stick
• Under the address book setting in iTunes, none of the groups that I have set up within my Address Book were showing
• None of my recently added Contacts in the iPhone had transferred over to my Address Book

Things that did NOT resolve my issue:

• I tried Resetting the data on my iPhone using the Settings > General > Reset > Reset All Settings –> FAIL
• Uninstalling Last.fm completely –> FAIL
• Reconfiguring MobileMe to sync my Contacts and Bookmarks (later unconfigured) –> FAIL
• Reboot Mac –> FAIL
• Reboot iPhone –> FAIL
• Rebuild permissions on Mac –> FAIL

What I DID do to resolve the issue (note, this worked for me and I’m not going to try to recreate the issue; I just wanted to document some steps that corrected the issue – it could have been a combination of things):

• Disabled the Plaxo Mac syncing of contact –> that ALONE did not resolve but I wanted to eliminate that as an issue
• Reset my iSync Sync History:
  

  
  Simply launch iSync and go to the Preferences for it and click the “Reset Sync History” –> I think this was causing some of the issues, however, it didn’t truly get my iPhone synching as expected until I ran the step below. This may work for some of you.

• What I think WORKED. Ran a manual reset of my iSync using instructions found here. These are:
  1. In the Finder, choose “Utilities” from the “Go” menu
  2. Open “Terminal”
  3. In the terminal, type in or paste (without quotes): “/System/Library/Frameworks/SyncServices.framework/Versions/A/Resources/resetsync.pl full“
  4. Press “Return”
  5. When complete, quit “Terminal”
• After resetting the Sync, try launching iTunes again and connect your iPhone. When I did that, I suddenly was able to see my Address Book groups and the selection boxes were working. NOTE: I had to restart iTunes a few times to be sure that this took.

I have not yet re-enabled Plaxo. I wanted to be sure that all of my new Contacts that I added to my iPhone were syncing across properly. They finally were. And, my Bookmarks were syncing as expected.

If any of you are having similar issues AND one or all of the tips above worked, please leave a comment so that others can track the solutions to this issue.

HTD says: Syncing is a pretty complex thing. When troubleshooting, just start eliminating other 3rd party items first, then go from there.

Related posts:

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2. Fix it: Cannot Sync iPhone with Any Computer Today I received an email with a plea for help...
3. Fix It: Outlook Calendar and iPhone Calendar Events Hours Not Synched Correctly Just a quick fix-it tip here. I have a co-worker...

They are, however, missing one thing (at least the ones that I used), the instructions on how to put things back together. Most of the guides end with phrases similar to “just follow the steps in reverse order to reassemble.” Usually, this is great. I use an egg carton to hold my screws. On each step in the instructions when screws are removed, I write a number down on the instructions and a corresponding number on the egg carton. Putting things back together is usually pretty straight forward.

With the MacBook Pro (and most likely with the PowerBook), when you are reattaching the Upper Case to the Lower Case, there is a trick. Usually the back and sides fall right back in place (be sure you guide it so that no little metal pieces or tabs are out), but when you get to the front of the computer, there is a bit of a challenge. There are several little snaps in the front part that take a lot of pressure to actually make “snap.” The first few times I tried this, I didn’t know that you actually had to make them snap so I just put it together and did the rest of the assembly instructions. For the most part, everything seemed fine without the full snapping but it just didn’t make sense. So I scoured around the Net and didn’t really find much that tells you that you actually MUST press firmly on the edge of the laptop (see illustration below) until you actually hear it SNAP.

But before you go madly snapping away, you MUST be careful when you try pushing down when you are over the DVD/CD ROM slot. That section is naturally weaker than other parts. But I have a solution for that which works very well. Simply get 4-6 business cards and slide them half-way into the slot. This will provide enough padding and resistance for you to snap above the DVD slot (see illustration below).

As with any DIY (do it yourself) repairs or upgrades, you may be voiding your warranty with Apple. These things are not for the weak-hearted, caffeinated (shaky) hand or novice user. Proceed with caution and be sure you read through the instructions carefully before you even attempt to do anything.

HTD Says: Be sure you hear that “snap” when you connect your MacBook Pro Upper Case to the Lower Case, otherwise, your job isn’t done!

Related posts:

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2. Slingbox PRO-HD: Unboxing and What’s Inside Unboxing is always the most fun when you get...
3. Powerbook unboxing - Part 3 So, I got my wonderful Powerbook back from Apple Care...

Have you ever been searching for a receipt for some sort of a gadget or tech device that you purchased? What about trying to remember what was covered under the warrantee? And if you are like me, you have manuals stored in random drawers or bookcases. Do you even know where that big screen TV manual is at? Nowadays, with the Internet, you can get documentation and warrantee information at the manufacturer’s site. However, if your device is quite a few years old, it might be a bit of a challenge to find them on those sites.

Here are some simple thing that you can do to keep track of all of your important manuals and documents of your tech devices. Unless you are incredibly well organized and have files for all of your appliances and devices, you probably have manuals floating around drawers and bookcases or in boxes in the garage. Here are a few  little tricks that I do that will save you from having to hunt for those pesky missing receipts and documents:

• Compile all of the various “important” documents related to your hardware
• Carefully go through what came from the manufacturer. Most of the time, you can discard 80% of the materials. Throw out all of the advertisements and keep the essentials: manual, warrantee, etc.
• Get a large Ziploc bag (e.g., 1 gallon). It helps to have a bag that is sealable and clear so you can keep things contained but still see what is inside.
• Grab a stapler and staple the receipt inside the front cover of the manual.
• Finally, put the Ziploc bag in a drawer near your device. For example, if you store remotes for your TV in a coffee table drawer, put the manuals et al there.

This way, if you start making this process a habit, you always know where to look for any documents related to your device.

Of course, if you really want to move to the digital age, you could find the PDF version of the manual and scan in all of your receipts and keep them stored on your computer in files somewhere. One gadget I would love to get my hands on is the Xambox which let’s you just scan thing in randomly into a box and then just organize it “chaotically.” This is something that I follow: Chaotic Filing where you put documents into small boxes after you scan them and then you search for the documents within a software program. Once you find what you are looking for, you learn the box number or ID and just find that box. Your search time is then drastically reduced. Another similar solution is provided by The Neat Company, called NeatDesk, but this doesn’t include the box filing that Xambox includes.

HTD Says: Whatever your organizational method is, just be sure you stick to it, otherwise things will remain chaotic and you will waste time searching for things.

Related posts:

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2. HTD Tech Tip #2 - Be nice to your IT resource! Being nice to someone should go without saying. So...
3. HTD Tech Tip #3: Security Programs Don’t Always Play Well Together It's always important, if not critical to have anti-virus...

Before you go into the setup, here are some quick recommendations. These aren’t critical and are things that you might want to consider.

• You will get better performance (potentially faster setup time) if your Slingbox and computer are on a wired network together.
• If you have a wifi connection to your devices, see if you can get at least one of them on a wired connection
• Be sure that you download the latest version of the SlingPlayer software. (Windows version & Mac version – note, Mac version does not yet support streaming HD as of this writing)

Let’s take a look at the steps that I had to follow when I was setting up.

1. Accept the Terms of Service – go ahead and read this…if you want.
   
   

   

2. Decide on the installation location – best bet is to just accept it and move on.
   

   

3. Start the Setup Assistant – Note, this Assistant may become your friend in the future as you will use to to reconfigure your Slingbox, Apply firmware update, set up additional components that you may add later and other items.
   

   

4. Check for Software Updates – at this point, if you Slingbox needs a firmware update, it will let you know. Note: you must have an internet connection for this.
   

   

5. Applying the Updates – this may take a bit of time as the software flashes the device. While you are waiting you can try to figure out the details of your TV service (e.g., the name of the area of coverage, etc.) as you will be asked that later. Best place for that is to go to your service providers website.
   

   

6. Set up your Slingbox Name  & Password – this is the primary account (administrator) that you will use to manage your Slingbox. The steps that follow are for a new user setup. You can optionally check the “View Only” box and then you can create a password for those types of users. Essentially, you have 2 users: 1) Administrator who controls everything about your Slingbox and 2) Viewers who can use your Slingbox but can’t make any changes to it. REMEMBER: you can have only 1 user total using a Slingbox at a time. As soon as someone tries to access it, any other users are bounced off. So, 1 at a time. Also, for the first time, you see a small video streaming from your new Slingbox on the left window.
   

   

7. Set up a Slingbox Account – Here is where you create an account with Slingbox. By doing this, you can set up program guides as well as store information about your Slingbox(s). This is particularly handy if you have multiple Slingboxes and want to view different ones at different times. You can also add Slingboxes from your friends or family here (later).
   

   

8. Name and Marketing Preferences – just some additional details captured about you for marketing purposes.
   

   

9. Configure Video Sources – this is where you hook up up to 3 Video source (e.g., Cable/Satellite box, DVD player, Game Console). The options are: Composite, S-Video, Component and Antenna In.
   

   

10. Selecting Components – In this screen, since I have only my Satellite box connected to the component input, I chose that.
    

    

11. Configuring Cable/Satellite – here you select what type of receiver you have (I chose Satellite Receiver) and you enter in your zip code in order to retrieve the appropriate Television Service for you area. Once the zip is entered, you will be presented with a dropdown selection of service providers for the particular device (e.g., for Satellite, Dish or DirecTV).
    

    

12. Drilling down on the device details – here you need to define the exact make and model of your device. Sometimes you can find this on the front of your receiver, other times, you may have to look on the back and view the manufacturer and model.
    

    

13. Channel Lineup – based on your previous selection, you will see the appropriate channels for your Service Provider in your area. I had a bit of trouble here in that I didn’t choose one with a City or Area name (e.g., San Francisco). When that happened, local channels didn’t show up. So be careful when you make your choice. It’s easy enough to change though.
    

    

14. Testing Remote Control/Power – When you were connecting your devices to the Slingbox, one of the items that you needed to carefully place is the IR blaster. This tiny cord basically controls all of the components plugged into your Slingbox. You need to be sure that the IR blaster is positioned so that it can send signals to your components. Some people have had to create “tents” to direct the signal properly. I simply positioned one above and below my Satellite receiver. In this test, you will push the power button within the Slingbox setup software to see if it turns your device off.
    

    

15. Configure Remote Control/Channel Test – this is one area where you may find yourself spending a bit of time. This part is a bit finicky so be patient. You will be setting how quickly numbers can be entered, the format for entering numbers (e.g., 5, 05, 005, 0005), if you use the Enter button normally or not and then testing changing channels based on your settings. Tivo does this as well when you are configuring their boxes and remotes so this may be familiar to some.
    

    

16. Configure More Devices? – if you have other devices you want to hook into the Slingbox, you can say “Yes” here and go through the process again. If you are done, just click No to move on.
    

    

17. Setting up Internet Viewing – This is an optional step, but come on, isn’t one of the reasons you got a Slingbox was to be able to watch from work or a hotel or somewhere away from home? If so, click the Next button. Otherwise, check off that you don’t want to set it up.
    

    

18. Setting up your Router – there are many different paths that you can take here. I decided to take the one less travelled (setting up my router connection manually) since I have a modified Linksys router with Tomato firmware running on it.
    

    

19. Router Network Details – the Slingbox will attempt to make a connection to your router. You should probably have UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) enabled within your router to have this work. Basically, you Slingbox will communicate with your Router to say, Hey, open up this port for me to use to transmit my media stream. Alternatively, you can manually configure your firewall port to be open for the Slingbox.
    

    

20. Internet Viewing Complete! – That’s all folks.
    

    

21. Slingbox Setup Complete – You are done! Start watching TV via you Slingbox!
    

    

Overall, the setup process is fairly quick (between 10-20 minutes depending if you know all of your required broadcast information and whether you have all of your firmware updated). SlingMedia has really thought this process out and made it almost an afterthought. The only part where it may get tricky (the Router setup process), they seemed to have planned for by including a Click to Chat icon (see #18 & #19 above). This wizard is pretty forgiving, and you can run it again at any time.

HTD says: Now that you are done setting up, let’s see the Slingbox PRO-HD in action!

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2. Slingbox PRO-HD: Unboxing and What’s Inside Unboxing is always the most fun when you get...
3. Slingbox PRO HD: Pre-Installation - setting up your network So, you are thinking about getting the new Slingbox...

It’s always important, if not critical to have anti-virus & security programs installed on your PC. I’m actually a big fan of the various Security Suites that you can get that come with all of the different types of protection packaged together (firewall, anti-virus, ant-spyware, anti-malware, anti-spam, etc.). With the all-in-one package, you don’t have to worry about compatibility. There are still some purists out there who piece together different programs (there are several great free firewall/anti-virus/anti-spyware programs out there), but those people who do opt for their own “security suite” run the risk of incompatibilities.

Every year, the Security Software companies update their protection programs to the next version (it seems like the next year’s version is always out in the 4th Quarter of the year before) and then start discounting these new versions right around the holidays (which I don’t quite get, “Look Honey, instead of that ring you wanted, here is a 3-seat anti-virus program. Who loves you!”). It is good to stay current with your security programs; I recommend upgrading to “next year’s version” when you can. Be sure to check the licensing to see if when you buy a 2-3 year license that it includes all future versions/upgrades as well.

If you decide to change software suppliers (e.g., move from AVG to Kaspersky or Norton to McAfee), you may run into some compatibility issues. Here are some tips to make the change-over process a bit easier:

• Fully uninstall the old software before attempting to install the new one using software’s uninstaller [OK method]
• Use a complete uninstaller (like Revo Uninstaller) that first runs the program’s uninstaller and then scours your computer to remove all left over traces of the old software [Better method]
• Search the old software provider’s site for their own uninstaller [Best method]

I recommend using the last method listed above because then you are guaranteed that the software is fully removed. Here are a couple of links to popular A/V uninstallers:

• Norton/Symantec – choose your version of Norton to uninstall
• AVG – look for the “AVG Remover”
• McAfee – be sure to read through the directions
• Nod32 – no software that I could find to help uninstall; just follow directions
• Kaspersky – seems like they want you to just use the uninstall function (but there are removal tools available based on the version you have)
• ZoneLabs/ZoneAlarm – they recommend you use the uninstall function; go to the KB and search for “uninstall”
• Avast – read the directions
• AntiVir – download and run the “Avira AntiVir Removal Tool“

Obviously, there are many different AntiVirus and Security Suites out there. Here are some more general tips:

• Use F8 to boot into safe mode on your computer and try the product’s uninstaller again. Simply hold F8 when your computer starts.
• Check out the various support forums for each of the products (yes, this is a pain)
• Look at sites like MajorGeeks or TuCows for 3rd party anti-virus products and uninstallers.
• Remember, Google is your friend. Just do a search for “[insert program name here] uninstaller”

Good luck! Have you encountered any issues regarding compatibility between Security software programs that you couldn’t resolve? If so, let me know!

HTD Says: When upgrading or changing security programs, just be patient and don’t panic!

Related posts:

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2. HTD Tech Tip #1 - Your hardware/software is always out of date As it seems to be taking some time for me...
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Unboxing is always the most fun when you get a new gadget. Since I just love getting new devices, I frequently find myself in the position of either being torn between ripping open the packaging and quickly setting up what ever the new technology (much like a kid), or that of being a more rational adult, one that realizes that I have to take box shots and product shots as I go so that I can carefully document the process.  For me, a sign of a product that interests me is one  where I just can’t wait to be the kid. In this case, I couldn’t wait to get my Slingbox going!

Packaging has become more and more important to manufacturers, it seems. The clear winner, in my opinion, of beauty in packaging is Apple. They have a simplicity and elegance that is often copied but usually these attempts are not equal to and definitely not better than what Apple has mastered. To me, product packages should have the following requirements:

1. Easy to open
2. Quickly see the product in a “good way”
3. Be able to access all of the “extra parts” quickly
4. Have a Quick Start Guide or the Instructions readily accessible
5. Not produce a lot of garbage
6. Use Recycled and post-consumer waste packaging
7. Have good product shots on the box along with key features and compatibility information

So this post will cover two unboxings and discussion of the items therein: the SlingLink and Slingbox PRO-HD.

My general opinion of the packaging is good. Elegant product shots. Black is great for technology products. Product placement is good.

The SlingLink product box shows how the product works on the back; for me, a definitely requirement in good product presentation. Technology can be daunting so it is important for potential buyers to be able to quickly understand what they are buying.

While not Apple in presentation, the box layout of the Slingbox PRO-HD once open was pretty well laid out. The user is presented with 3 compartments, 1 for the main Slingbox, 1 for the cables/connectors and 1 for the power and other items.

The SlingLink has a similarly compartmentalized approach. The focus there is on the the product itself. The SlingLink comes in a set of two devices.

The contents of the Slingbox PRO-HD are as follows:

• Slingbox PRO-HD
• User Guide
• FCC Digital Transmission Notice
• 1 Power Supply
• 1 S-Video Cable
• 1 Coaxial Cable
• 1 RCA/Composite Cable (Yellow/White/Red)
• 1 Component Cable (Red/Blue/Green)
• 1 InfraRed blaster
• 1 Stereo Audio/Phono Cable (Red/White)
• 1 Ethernet Cable

Slingmedia does provide you with a good set of connectors to get you going right away. No need to rush out to the store to get extra cables. Remember, you are simply inserting the Slingbox between your Component and your TV. It takes the signal, processes it for transmission via the internet/broadband connection/local network, and continues the signal to your TV.

The SlingLink box revealed the following:

• 2 SlingLink units
• 2 Power Cords
• 1 Ethernet Cable

Obviously, the boxes contain all that you need to physically hook up your various devices. Just remember, in order to make your Slingbox work, you must have the following 3 critical items:

1. A Windows or Macintosh Computer
2. A High-Speed internet connection (like Cable or DSL)
3. A Home Network Router

After that, you just need to set up your internet connection to your Slingbox. See my previous post for different ways to do that.

HTD Says: Now that the unboxing is complete, you are almost ready to go getting your Slingbox up and running!

Related posts:

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2. Slingbox PRO HD: Pre-Installation - setting up your network So, you are thinking about getting the new Slingbox...
3. Slingbox PRO-HD: Initial Setup So by now you have gone through the Slingbox Pre-installation...

So, you are thinking about getting the new Slingbox PRO HD. Trust me, it’s a great decision. The PRO HD transforms any computer in your network or even remotely an extension of your media center but more about the Slingbox PRO HD feature set later. There is something critical to having a Slingbox though that it cannot exist without, namely a good reliable network connection.

A Slingbox is a quite simple product conceptually. It basically sits between a component (e.g., Cable Box, Tivo, Dish or DirecTV receiver, DVD player, etc) and a TV. It also has an internet pipe where it sends the signal that is captured. The quality of the video signal coming from your Slingbox depends on the speed and quality of the connection to it. There are two connections to think about: LAN (Local Area Network) and WAN (Wide Area Network). If you are going to be viewing your Slingbox stream within the network of your home, you will be using the LAN. If you will be watching your Slingbox content remotely (e.g., from work), you will be using the WAN. The Slingbox software does the magic of connecting you whether you are 100 feet from your Slingbox or 100 miles. It just works.

In the back of the Slingbox PRO-HD is an Ethernet port or jack. What you need to connect to this is either a wired connection (e.g., Cat5/6 cable connected directly to your router or network), a wireless connection (still connected via a cable, but in this case, the cable is connected to some sort of a wireless device) or a Ethernet over Powerline connection.

Wired Connection

If your router is close to your Slingbox, then this is the recommended approach, in my opinion, as your throughput and transfer speeds will be faster and more reliable. Simply plug it in and away you go. In the end, this is the way that I hooked up my setup, but it did entail making a 50 foot Cat5 cable and running it under the house, complete with drilling holes in the floor and having my daughter feed me the cables while I was under the house. There are many tutorials on the web about making your own Cat5/5e/6 cable. My only advice, be sure that you fully crimp down on the RJ-45 connector, otherwise your cable will be useless. The disadvantage of this approach is the time that you have to invest in running/creating the cables.

Wireless Connection

If your router is too far away (and I’m assuming you have a wireless router) or you just don’t want to go through the trouble of running cable all over your house, then you could simple purchase a Wireless Bridge(e.g., a Linksys WET54G). You then establish an internet connection between your wireless router and your wireless bridge and then just plug the bridge into your Slingbox. The disadvantages of this the added cost of a wireless bridge. However, if you happen to have a spare one lying around (e.g., that you may have used for an Xbox or something), you can get up and running very quickly. Another disadvantage is, you will not have the same throughput and speeds that you might with a wired connection. The further your wireless bridge is from the wireless router, the lower the quality of the signal, and consequently, the poorer the speed of your connection. If you want to stream HD content in your house, the wired connection is preferred and the wireless connection will most likely be sufficient.

Ethernet over Power

Slingmedia seems to have thought of everything for you. I got my hands on their

SlingLink product which basically uses your power lines to transmit an Internet connection. The basic set  up is extremely straightforward. Plug your router into one SlingLink, plug that SlingLink into the wall, plug the 2nd SlingLink in near where you want your connection to be (e.g., near your Slingbox) and then plug in the Ethernet cable. You (should) now have a connection that passes all Ethernet traffic between the two SlingLinks all using your existing power lines in your home or business. Great concept! And it works, most of the time. I tried this as an option. First, let me explain my environment. I live in a house that was built in the 1940’s. It has had sections of it upgraded and sections still even have old knob and tube wiring and even fuses. How did it work out? Pretty well if you follow these guidelines:

1. DON’T use a surge protector. Plug this device directly into the wall. Surge protectors seem to filter out the networking spectrum. That means, that while you have all green lights showing that the two devices can see each other, they are not communicating properly.
2. DON’T connect to a Power Cleaner. A Power Cleaner is a device that regulates, evens out and cleans your power and is primarily used with high-end video components. It supposedly helps with video picture and sound quality and provides protection against spikes and dips in current. Well, it, like a surge protector, does a great job at filtering out a connection between SlingLinks.
3. Keep the SlingLinks within the same circuit. Here is what I mean by that. As I mentioned earlier, my house has some old wiring (knob and tube/fuses) and new wiring (Romex and circuit breakers). I had a hunch that the connection would not work between different wirings so I decided to test it out. Luckily testing is pretty easy, just plug the devices in to the wall and check to see if all the green lights on the front light up. When I spanned two different circuits (e.g., plug in via knob and tube wiring, down through fuses, back to circuit breaker and then out to ending plug), the lights did not even show a connection. (Note: you may get all green lights but not be able to have a network connection once you attach a device to your SlingLink. This happened to me with the surge protector tests.)

Once you have a good, reliable Internet connection set up directly to your Slingbox, you are ready to start streaming signals. Next up, Unboxing the Slingbox HD-PRO.

HTD says: It’s important to have connectivity that is fast in order to make your Slingbox really perform all of its features well.

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2. Extended Review: Slingbox PRO HD It is rare that I receive a gadget or...
3. Slingbox PRO-HD: Initial Setup So by now you have gone through the Slingbox Pre-installation...

Being nice to someone should go without saying. So why is it that people seem to forget this when they need technology help? Is it that people consider Tech Support to be a given, meaning IT help should be provided regardless of how it is asked for? I try to apply “being nice” to ANYONE who knows more about something than I do. This could be a plumber, a developer, a teacher and yes, the guy/gal who helps you with your technology needs. So why is it that so many people are rude on the phone when they talk to Tech Support? Is it because they are desperate? Or simply because they feel like those people “work for them” regardless of whether they do or not.

Here are some things you can do the next time you need the help from a technology-savvy person…and trust me, coming from the support-provider side, it really makes a difference:

• Be polite – the people who you need help from are people too. Get mad at the automated machines that provide support, but not with the live person.
• Be prepared – nothing is more annoying than when a person needing help hasn’t done a bit of leg-work prior to asking for help. If you even slightly appear that you have tried to resolve things yourself will get you higher marks with the Tech Support person. Be sure you can list out what you have or have not tried. It shows them that you are human too and not just demanding.
• Listen & Learn – don’t think that because you have done your research that you know everything. You don’t. You can learn new ways at troubleshooting or even new tips and tricks to make you more of an expert “the next time”
• Spend some time – don’t expect that your issue will be resolved immediately. It’s often difficult to troubleshoot things remotely or even on-site. A good support person will come at things from different angles. The first angle may not work, but other ones may.
• Personalize it – while some support people may not want to chat (because they are concentrating or getting paid on the number of resolutions they can provide within a short time period), others may actually like breaking from the monotony. If on the phone, ask them where their call center is. I often find that talking about kids helps to make things a bit more personal.
• Use Humor – getting someone to laugh or laughing with someone can really help. It puts you on a different level with them and they may be more willing to go the extra mile for you.
• Reward them – if, but the luck of the draw, you find someone who DOES go the extra mile, do the same thing for them. This is often hard to do, but many support organizations have feedback mechanisms in place for you to comment on their work. If someone is really good, give them high marks or even write a letter to their manager. It will definitely make their day!
• Escalations – if you are forced to escalate your case, try to keep your cool. This is many times, hard to do. I personally have been irate with people and their managers on the phone and done a bit of yelling. It doesn’t help (or if it does, it doesn’t often happen). If you escalate, be sure to tell the escalation manager that it had nothing to do with the lower level support person (unless it does, obviously). If you are rude or belligerent, it may be noted in your customer profile.
• Offer to help – this works great with people who are on-site. First, you should ask if they want a drink or something. You can also see if there is some menial task that you can do (e.g., move a ladder, hold a flashlight, etc.). If you are “investing” in the solution, you will get better mileage.

These are just a few tips that you can employ when getting help. Many of these can be applied to any type of service so be sure to try this out across the board. I just tried it today, in fact, so we will see if my own tips hold true!

Do you have any others? Leave a comment on things that have worked for you!

HTD Says: Above all, when asking for someone’s help, be nice and courteous!

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So, the first tip: Your hardware/software is always out of date

Being an early adopter of tech, I try to stay on top of new(er) software, gadgets or gizmos. However, it is often hard to do with minimal time and zero budget. So, if you want to be on the bleeding edge, what do you need to do?

Hardware

Just forget about it. Seriously though. You will never keep up unless you are a high profile blogger or press person. You CAN stay informed by just reading THEIR reviews. If you read a few on the same subject, you may even be able to form your own opinion without actually having the technology in your hands. Start writing about it and you may start to attract the interest of tech companies. The more you write, the better your chances are at getting the physical product some day (e.g., I’m in the process of reviewing the new SlingBox PRO-HD).

Upgrading your own hardware is another great thing that you can do too to breath life into your old(er) tech. PC’s and Macs are becoming easier to upgrade and is a nice form of hobby. DIY (Do It Yourself) upgrades are a great way to: 1) save money and 2) understand technology better. I just upgraded my MacBook Pro by putting in a new 320 GB Harddrive. Not easy to do but I found it a lot of fun.

Software

It’s a bit easier to stay on the cutting edge of software. And many times, very worth it. Here are some tips:

• Update your system software – use Windows Update, Apple’s Software Update or Linux Update programs. Be cautious though, sometimes even these updates can cause issues on your system. Do a tiny bit of research prior or be ready to look for fixes when things “break” due to a system update.
• Use Program Updaters – many new pieces of software now include automatic update checks. Be sure to enable those. You may even get “early access” to beta releases as well using this method.
• Use Program Updater Aggregators – there are sites and stand-alone software that will provide you with lists/links to updates to software, even software that you have installed. Some examples:
  • Windows – FileHippo – http://www.filehippo.com (FREE)
  • Macintosh – AppFresh - http://metaquark.de/appfresh/ (FREE – for now)
  • Linux – YUM and other RPM managers - (sorry I’m not really a Linux guy – suggestions?)
  • General – VersionTracker is a great web-based checker where you can put in your program name and see if there are updates
• Read Blogs – If you want to learn about new companies or products, be sure to bookmark LifeHacker and TechCrunch. Another interesting one is KillerStartups. There are many, just start reading blogs!

So much for a short post. Stay tuned for more!

HTD says: I have always loved Steve Martin, ever since I was a kid. Peter Sellers as inspector Clouseau, was also a favorite of mine, providing many laughs. The picture above is the perfect “mashup” of the two (grin)!

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It is rare that I receive a gadget or technology device that warrants me having to do multiple articles to cover it. However, when Sling Media released their new Slingbox PRO HD, I quickly realized that I would need to do so. What will follow over the next few days or so is an in-depth review of my efforts to intimately get to know this latest release in the Slingbox line (although, the SlingCatcher was released just a few weeks after the PRO HD.)

My review will consist of the following sections (obviously subject to change as I’m still in the process of reviewing the Slingbox’s performance in the real world):

• Pre-Installation – getting your environment ready for the Slingbox PRO HD [view here]
• Un-Boxing – What’s in the box [view here]
• Initial Installation – Initial setup of the Slingbox PRO HD [view here]
• Usage & Tweaking – Once you are connected, how do you use it? [coming soon]

My initial impressions of the Slingbox PRO HD are quite good, from install to some field tests that I have done. If you have any specific questions about any of the articles or the Slingbox PRO HD, please leave a comment on this or other related post(s).

HTD says: Stay tuned…your regularly scheduled program will resume momentarily

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