I Want to Shout It Out

Okay, so this is a mini post. I have a few rants I've been thinking about and ranting about with people. My next posts will be about those rants and they are definitely related to the economy. MyEconoBlog seems to be getting back on track and soon people will see the results.

New Stuff Coming Soon

I promise that new content is in the works. Many new projects both online and off are progressing and the results will be available soon!

Tablet Will Run iPhone OS!

Thanks to the CEO of McGraw-Hill, Apple is indeed announcing the Tablet tomorrow and it will be running a variation of the iPhone operating system. At about 2:58 in the video he lets the information slip. Awesome!

The Internet is Expanding Creativity

I am a big fan of art, innovation, technology and creativity in general. There are plenty of creative sites out there and the ability of artists to share their work with the entire world is pushing creativity in new directions. I love viewing what other people are doing and using that to try new things. There is so much inspiration out there. This site has been my favorite for a little while now. Check it out: www.visionwidget.com

Get Better Cell Service With Your Existing Carrier

Before you switch your wireless carrier because of coverage issues, consider this first. I'm usually not one to complain. I like to fix things on my own rather than waste my time being upset about something, but sometimes complaining is the only way to get something done. I have been a Sprint customer since 2004. I made the switch from Verizon for a couple reasons. Although Verizon gave me excellent service pretty much everywhere, there was one spot they didn't. My own home. Not having coverage at my house was a major problem for me. My other reason for switching is the widely known lack of style in Verizon's handsets. I must admit, Sprint has some sexy phones. After making the switch to Sprint I have been very happy with my service and what I pay for it.
A few years ago my wife and I were married. We moved in to her condo and she was added to my Sprint plan. Again I had the problem of poor coverage at home. This time the issue wasn't as bad so we lived with it until the problem got worse over this past summer. According to Sprint's coverage map, our home and my wife's job are in areas that have the best coverage. In those two specific spots we have little to no coverage. After a few calls to Sprint and promises of a solution, I heard nothing about the progress they were making with my problem. I was told the problem would be fixed within a few days and that they WILL fix it. After about 3 months I called back to see what had been done. Nothing.
At this point I was greatly considering using my tax return money to cancel my contract and switch carriers. That meant putting up with poor coverage for a few more months. The representative I was speaking to offered me a product to increase my signal at home; the Samsung Airave. It is basically a 3G cell tower for your home that runs off your high speed Internet. I knew what the product was and that it costs $100 for the unit and $5/ month to use it. I was in no way ready to spend more money on coverage I was already supposed to have.
I quickly declined the device and told them I would probably be cancelling my service sooner. That's when the representative told me that I would be receiving to the Airave and service for free for two years. When the two years are up, I just package the device up and send it back.
Now, throughout this whole process I was patient and polite. In the past I have used my temper to try and get my way ( when I had Nextel before the sprint merger) and it doesn't really pay off. Some of those customer service reps are willing to help if you let them. Simply making your problem known can result in a solution. Sometimes they won't give you an immediate solution like getting your own cell tower because it costs them. Keep calling back until your problem is fixed and remember to be patient. I didn't even have to tell them I wanted to cancel my service, they asked and the possibility of losing a customer sometimes makes them work harder.
Other carriers are starting to offer products similar to the Airave. To find out, go to your wireless provider's site and see what they have to offer. Currently, Sprint offers the Samsung Airave for $99.00 and $5/ month. Verizon also offers the Airave but for $249 and no monthly charge. At the time of this post, T-Moblile and AT&T do not offer such a device and it is unclear if they intend to in the future.

Useful Resources for Internet Newbies

The internet can be an overwhelming place, especially for those who are new to the whole idea. Here is a quick little guide to point you in the direction you may want to go. Here are some of the best resources and sites out there. Check them out and see for yourself.
News
Most home pages offer up the latest headlines for you, but there are plenty of other great news resources online. You have choices just like when you watch news on the TV. Here are 14 suggestions.
1) Digg
2) MSNBC
3) CNN
4) CBS
5) ABC
6) FOX
7) Google
8) Yahoo!
9) Reuters
10) USA Today
11) Gizmodo
12) Wired
13) Popular Science
14) Popular Mechanics

Help
Here are a few resources that can help you answer questions, discover the history behind people, places, and things, and teach you some new things.
1) ifixit.com
2) Wiki How
3) Wikipedia
4) Blurt It
5) Tech Source Guy

I hope these sources help. Another great tool, and one of my favorites, is StumbleUpon. Click on the above link, set up an account and select all of your interests from the provided list. Once you are all set up, StumbleUpon will take you to websites you may be interested in and probably would not find on your own.

CES Shows Us the Future

Last week's CES ( Consumer Electronics Show) in Las Vegas introduced the world to ultra-thin televisions, see-through computer displays, 3D television and the implementation of MIT's wireless electricity technology in consumer products. I wish I was a tech journalist for a big name publication instead of for myself. Myself doesn't pay me well enough or send me to trade shows.