Tag: Geek Squad

WTAM 1100 – Disney Movies Anywhere Crossing Platforms

Play Audio – WTAM 1100 Newsradio – Tech Tuesday – November 18th, 2014

WTAM 1100 Newsradio Cleveland OhioDigital content stores like Apple’s iTunes or Google’s Play have allowed us to buy and play movies on our mobile platform for some time. But those purchases have generally been limited to the platform they were purchased on. If you bought Frozen on iTunes, it’d play on your iPhone, but not the cheap Android tablet you bought for your kids to use.

One of the larger players in movie content has a new service that seeks to change this. Disney Movies Anywhere allows you to connect your iTunes, Google Play, or VUDU accounts so that any purchase on one unlocks that purchase on the others. So buy on your iPad and share with your Android phone and vice-versa. If you’re still a collector of physical media, look for Blu-ray Combo Packs that include the movie on disc, as well as a code to unlock the digital version for use on your mobile devices.

For a limited time, Disney is even offering those who sign up for the no cost, no contract account a free copy of Wreck-It Ralph.

Disney already has a wide range of releases beyond the typical movies we associate them with, which includes Pixar and Marvel movies like Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Muppets Most Wanted. If Disney can prove this to be a successful move, expect to see other players, like Sony and Warner-Brothers follow suit.

WTAM 1100 – AT&T and Verizon Looking at Data Plan Changes

Play Audio – WTAM 1100 Newsradio – Tech Tuesday – Novemner 11th, 2014

WTAM 1100 Newsradio Cleveland OhioIt’s no secret that most of us are spending more of our “online time” on mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. This is only going to increase over time, and ?one study suggests mobile data use will grow 325% by 2018. The carriers seem to be responding to this by focusing on their data plans more as smartphones become more common than regular phones.

Sprint and T-Mobile have had some success in drawing new customers with their broad data plans, and now AT&T and Verizon are in a new battle over increasing the data on some plans or offering the same data at a cheaper rate.

Another driver of data versus voice plans is a feature called “Voice over LTE” (VoLTE) which allows voice calls to be placed across the much faster LTE data networks if the hardware (and carrier) supports it. This use of mobile Internet access promises higher quality audio on voice calls, and the potential future integration of video and other voice services.

Verizon and AT&T have announced they will look at allowing interoperability of this feature on each other’s networks in 2015, increasing the availability (and adoption) for customers of both carriers.

It continues to be a highly mobile, always connected world!

WTAM 1100 – Protect Windows XP, Look Forward to 10

Play Audio – WTAM 1100 Newsradio – Tech Tuesday – November 4th, 2014

WTAM 1100 Newsradio Cleveland OhioWhile Microsoft support for Windows XP ended on April 8th, there are still some owners who are holding onto their Windows XP systems for a while longer. Either they have a proprietary business app that’s only designed for the older operating system, or they simply don’t want to move onto Windows 8 quite yet, those systems still need protecting in an online world full of malicious software.

For tips on helping keep Windows XP, here’s the Geek Squad guide on what to do if you want to keep Windows XP after support ends.

Eventually, even the most stalwart Windows XP users will need to upgrade as 3rd-party software support wanes and old hardware begins to fail. Fortunately, Microsoft is be making their next operating system more inviting to those users.

Find our more in Meet Windows 10, a Geek Squad UK guide to the features Windows users will most be interested in when it arrives in the latter half of 2015.

WTAM 1100 – Smartphone Emergency Alert Settings

Play Audio – WTAM 1100 Newsradio – Tech Tuesday – October 21st, 2014

WTAM 1100 Newsradio Cleveland OhioEmergency alerts on your smartphone often surprise people when they go off, but often they’re one of the quickest ways to get rapidly changing news out to a local public. Enabled by default, these settings can be checked or changed within the settings of your device.

Android: Open your Settings app, then look for the Wireless & Networks heading. Tap More… and scroll to the bottom. Finally, tap Cell Broadcasts.

iPhone: Tap your Settings app, then scroll to select Notifications. Look for Government Alerts at the bottom of the list.

Windows Phone: Open Settings, then Applications. Select Messaging, then Emergency Alerts.

These emergency alerts will help provide early warning about imminent danger, but what if you want more information about potentially hazardous weather in your area? The Red Cross Mobile Apps provide can help with everything from tornadoes, hurricanes, floods and wildfires. They also include general safety apps for first aid for you and your pets.