Few purchasers of Mac OS 10.7 (Lion) experience multiple unauthorized PayPal charges from iTunes Store

For the few Mac App customers who purchased and downloaded the new Mac OS 10.7 (Lion), some may have woken up this morning to find out that they have received multiple charges on their PayPal account from iTunes Music Store for the purchase of the new OS.

It may be showing a refund on the purchase but… (read on)

Last night, I started receiving multiple e-mails from PayPal of iTunes charges and I was surprised to see it happening and then seeing the multiple refunds and then early this morning, another payment.

But unfortunately, for those who paid by PayPal, there is a problem.

PayPal security said that if you see the multiple charges, it would have to go through your bank account (you will be charged the full amount through your bank account) and then once you receive the refund (which takes anywhere between 1-3 days), then you can deposit it to your account (which then takes another 1-3 days).

There have been reports online through message boards and twitter of people charged anywhere from 7-15 times.  So, if you were charged 15 times at $29.99, your bank account will be minus $449.85 for a few days! Ouch!

PayPal first recommend contacting Apple.  Apple responded that it’s an iTunes Store problem and they do NOT have a direct contact #, but they do have a 24hr. e-mail that they check at.  Which can be access through apple.com/support/itunes.

Note: This was very surprising to find out there is no direct # for consumer support to handle this problem.

So, PayPal account security recommends contacting your bank to stop payment.  According to my bank, they said that once it starts showing up on your account, contact the bank immediately and then they can start to stop payment.  PayPal also recommends telling your bank that you contacted PayPal and they recommend stopping payment on the unauthorized multiple charges.

As an Apple user, I love my Mac products but I wish Apple addressed this problem and most of all have customer support number for their iTunes Music Store, especially if more and more people will be accessing the Mac Store.  Now, because of this, I have lost confidence of purchasing on the Mac App store and would rather wait until a physical disc or USB drive is available at the Apple store.

More reports of unauthorized charges for those who purchased Mac OS 10.7:

http://www.lifetimemoms.com/balance-work-life/partners/blog/apple-lion-os-x-and-multiple-paypal-charges

http://nexus404.com/Blog/2011/07/20/os-x-lion-upgrade-some-people-charged-multiple-times-for-mac-app-store-lion-purchase-apple-issues-refunds-for-multiple-lion-download-charges-how-many-copies-did-you-unwillingly-pay-for/

The One about Syncing your iCal with your iPad Calendar (Metro Media Complex)

As the convention season nears and appointments galore, the first thing that I needed to find out is if it was possible to sync my iCal on my Mac to the iPad.  Fortunately, there is a way!

The first step is to go on your iTunes on your Mac and while your iPad is sync’d, click on your iPad on devices to the left.

All you have to do is click on info on the top and you will get the following screen as shown above.  Where it shows “Sync iCal Calendars”, make sure it is clicked on and that “All Calendars” is selected.

Your iCal will now sync with your iPad Calendar and that’s it.

Everything is all set for you to manage your appointments!

The One About the Sling Adapter (Dish Network) (Metro Media Complex)

The Sling Adapter from Dish Network turned out to be more of a useful product that I expected.  Great for those who own an iPad or iPhone!

I was first offered the Sling Adapter from our local Dish Network when we upgraded to an HD DVR. What I liked was that you can be anywhere around the world and via Internet, access your Dish Network DVR and watch a program anywhere. And I figured, why would I need this? The last thing I needed, was to be busy at work and then having the TV play on our cell phone, iPad or device.

But the reason why I purchased it was for the main purpose of giving my wife and child access to the DVR when I’m busing watching something on the main TV (movie, playing video games, etc.) So, now they can watch Dish Network on her laptop, computer or iPad. So, no more kicking me off the TV or vice versa.

I. THE SLING ADAPTER

The Sling Adapter is quite thin. It just sits on top of our DVR but it’s a device as pictured…just plug it in to the back of your Dish Network DVR, connect to the Internet (I use a Logitech HD Powerline 200a, so one of the Powerline Adapters is connected to the router and the other one is connected to a wall socket that plugs into the Sling Adapter) and that’s it.

II. HOW IT WORKS

You then go on Dishnetwork.com and log in and go to my account and then to DISH Remote Access. And you can access what’s on your DVR, watch any program or schedule your DVR from your computer Laptop, iPhone or iPad. There is an app for iPhone and iPad. Very easy to use and lag depends on if you are doing many things on your computer. Note: Only one person can access the sling adapter at one time.

Aside from giving my wife and son another way to catch their shows when their father is hogging up the TV, I found it important during an emergency situation.

On March 10, 2011, the Sling Adapter had become so important in my life. On the day of the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan, while I was working and talking with a client from Japan late that night (afternoon, March 2011 in Japan), the earthquake hit and she had no idea what was going on and it was long. I was on Twitter and Japanese news trying to get updates of what was going on and I was able to access CNN from my iPad via the Sling Adapter and watching the US news, while utilizing my other work computers to watch the live Japanese news via Ustream.

The Sling Adapter was so useful as I was on the Internet working on the news of this disaster while watching both Japan and American news broadcasts. Although I was in the US at the time of the disaster, I realized, that if I was in Japan on business at the time and had access to the Internet, I could still watch the CNN broadcast or if you have NHK on your Dish Network service, I could have access that as well. Anything from Dish Network, I could access anywhere around the world from my iPad or iPhone through the use of my Dish Network service, DVR and Sling Adapter.

Also, I was recently at a relative’s place who had Internet access but wished he had access to a sports game. No problem, I told him that I can access it using his Wi-Fi and then connecting to Dish Network on my iPad and sure enough, we were able to catch the game.

Another an example recently was when I traveled with family members. My father had to take a stop to a Ham Radio event and we were left in the car for which seemed like over an hour or maybe even two. Fortunately, where the event was located, there was free access to Wi-Fi and once again we were able to access Dish Network via the iPad through the Sling Adapter and tada…the kids had access to programming.

Overall, At first, I thought this device was something I would never use but now I realized how awesome this device is. It was more useful in our lives than I would have expected and I saw the importance of it especially during emergency situations.

It’s only $99-$100+ and there is no extra cost from Dish Network to utilize this device.

I give this device my highest recommendation!

The One about the Demise of Flip Video (Metro Media Complex)

As for my Flip Video HD device, I will continue to use this device at our events and my personal interviews to record video or as a backup to record the audio for transcribing.  I trust it way more than my DV cameras and even my digital and mini-cassette audio recorder and it has done its job well.  RIP Flip Video.

You probably have read that Cisco has shut down their Flip Video Camera Business.

After purchasing Pure Digital for $590 million (in stock), the company has announced that “As part of the company’s comprehensive plan to align its operations, Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced that it will exit aspects of its consumer businesses and realign the remaining consumer business to support four of its five key company priorities — core routing, switching and services; collaboration; architectures; and video.”

That Cisco will “Close down its Flip business and support current FlipShare customers and partners with a transition plan.”

And also to add that 550 employees will receive a pink slip.

The fact is that video mobile phones did make the Flip somewhat irrelevant and digital cameras could do what these Flip Video phones can do as well.

But what I loved about the Flip Video was the fact that a) I can focus my battery power on my cell phone for strictly phone use  b) 8GB was a good storage space for my videos  c) Running of Eneloop rechargeable batteries, I never had to worry about the recharging issue some Flip owners have had and to say the least, the device has been part of our media arsenal for two years now (and just to note, the two original Eneloop AA batteries just ran out of juice without a recharge after a year and a half) and d) I can shoot in HD at 1280 x 720, worked with my Mac and easy to use (pre-installed with software each time you plug it in or you can use software like iPhoto to download the videos).

When Pure Digital released the Flip Video, other companies scoffed and look what happened, celebrities started using it at events, reporters were using for news coverage and for me, I used it for video interviews, transcribing interviews, to personal family use.

Sure, a new iPhone or Android phone has plenty of capabilities and people who own those phones will have no use for a Flip Video phone.  But if you are like me and you are constantly talking to clients and associates on your phone and you have to constantly recharge, the Flip Video does a great job of being a go-to-device whenever I just want to shoot video and knowing that I can use as many AA rechargeable Eneloop batteries (yes, I do feel that Eneloop brand rechargeable batteries are the best in the market) and not having to spend on rechargeable 2 hour batteries for my DV cameras.

In many ways, the Flip Video was one of the most cost efficient investments we have made here at nt2099 because we have always been plagued by dying batteries when capturing video for events since 1993.  I personally had to invest in various rechargeable batteries for multiple video cameras and at events, would have constantly search for outlets to recharge one camera while shooting with the other and sometimes having to make multiple trips to my hotel room to make sure that our cameras were ready to shoot video for the remainder of the day.  And then spending the night having to transfer the video to our laptops was quite tedious.

With the Flip Video, plug-it-in (I also recommend getting the USB connector wire to your Flip Video) and videos are downloaded and I could easily begin working on them on a video editing software program and have it ready on YouTube and Facebook.

So, I understand where today’s iPhones and Android phones may have made this device obsolete to some, for others who do not want to use their cell phone for primary video use, the Flip Video was an awesome device and it’s sad to see the demise of this product. Granted, you can’t do live streaming on a Flip Video device but that’s the beauty of the iPhone and Android phone and why they cost a bit more.  You’re paying a little more for that luxury.

But the fact is, if you couldn’t afford an iPhone or Android phone or simply wanted a device a small device to capture your family, at the beach, at the park, any place… because the Flip Video was economical and often would go on sale on Amazon or Best Buy, this was perfect for the budget-conscious consumer.

But when you come right down to it, the demise of Flip Video goes beyond what is good for the consumer, it is about business and the problem is longevity.  The Flip Video’s chances of survival with no unique upgrades would have hurt the company.  Today’s smartphones offer so much in features, the Flip Video was seen as a device that couldn’t connect to the Internet, can’t live stream, can’t be plugged in to a tablet like an iPad and needless to say, it faced many challenges if it was going to survive in this competitive technology jungle with devices coming out each year, better than its previous counterpart.

The Flip Video… was there something in development that would have shocked people and become a must buy device in the near future?  Or perhaps, would the technology or software be licensed to other companies?

Unfortunately, we will never know as April 12, 2011 will be the final nail in the coffin for Flip Video.

And as for the consumer, if these ultra HD devices go on sale at Amazon, I recommend picking one up. Especially if the device receives a significant price cut.

And as for my Flip Video HD device, I will continue to use this device at our events and my personal interviews to record video or as a backup to record the audio for transcribing.  I trust it way more than my DV cameras and even my digital and mini-cassette audio recorder and it has done its job well.

RIP Flip Video

 

The One about the Epson Workforce 635

Overall, the 635 is a wonderful printer.  The price is fantastic but if you just want a printer without the two-sided printing and you tend to only print mostly in black and white, go for the 630.  If you want the two-sided printing and larger ink cartridge capacity, then definitely go for the Epson WorkForce 635.

EPSON WORKFORCE 635 INFORMATION:

Superior Performance
Faster speeds that save you time
* Save time — with the world’s fastest all-in-one in both one-sided and two-sided printing1
* Speed through critical documents — ISO print speeds of 15 ISO ppm (black) and 7.2 ISO ppm (color), and two-sided print speeds of 7.5 ISO ppm (black) and 4.5 ISO ppm (color)
* High-speed faxing in black and color — as fast as 3 sec per page; speed dial storage up to 60 numbers; fax memory up to 180 pages
* Get more done — 30-page Auto Document Feeder to quickly copy, scan or fax stacks of one — or two-sided originals
* Connect to your wireless network in seconds2 — Easy Epson Wi-Fi makes connection to your network simple
Higher quality text and graphics that make you look your best
* Create professional looking documents — output from an ink jet that rivals that from a laser printer
* Print high quality color graphics and black text — DURABrite® Ultra pigment ink for smudge, fade and water resistant prints
Additional features that save you time and money
* Print twice as much — get about 2x more prints with 127 Extra High-capacity Black ink cartridges3
* Save paper — save up to 50% of your paper supply with automatic, two-sided printing
* Less hassle — built-in 250-sheet paper tray means you re-load paper less often

As many others have done wonderful reviews on the Epson WorkForce 635 Color Inkjet All-In-One, I’m going to approach this review much differently in which I will be comparing the Epson WorkForce 630 ($79.99) vs. 635 (which goes for $132).

When it comes to size, aesthetics even down to the box packaging (aside from the last single digit and that the 630 has French text included with the English on the packaging) but there are two major differences which may matter to you or may not (and I’ll go into this in the section titled differences), these two printers look very alike and share similar features.  But what makes the 635 much more expensive than the 630?  And is it better?

I.  EPSON WorkForce 635 Data

* Color: Up to 5760 x 1440 dpi
* Black & White: Up to 600 dpi

Display
* 2.5″

Print speed
* Color: 7.2 Pages/min
* Black & White: 15 Pages/min

Connectivity
* USB host
* IEEE 802.11n
* Ethernet 10 Base-T/100 Base-TX
* Hi-Speed USB
* IEEE 802.11b
* IEEE 802.11g

Paper size / Tray Capacity
* Letter A Size (8.5 in x 11 in)
* Legal (8.5 in x 14 in)
* A6 (4.13 in x 5.83 in)
* A5 (5.83 in x 8.25 in)
* B5 (6.93 in x 9.83 in)
* Executive (7.25 in x 10.5 in)
* A4 (8.25 in x 11.7 in)
* 250 sheets

Paper Formats:
The Epson WorkForce 635 can handle:  Plain Paper, Cards, Transparencies, Stickers, Photo Paper, Glossy Photo Paper, Envelopes, Matte Photo Paper.

Features
* SDHC Memory Card
* MultiMediaCard
* Memory Stick
* SD Memory Card
* USB flash drive
* xD-Picture Card Automatic Duplexing
* 48 bitColor Depth (Internal)
* PC Connection Availability
* ENERGY STAR Qualified

Dimensions 17.6 x 21.9 x 9.1 inches
Weight    16.8 lbs

What do you get inside the box?
* Printer
* Plug
* Installation CD and Instructions
* All four printer cartridges: Black, Cyan, Yellow, Magenta
* Free paper from CreativeZone

II.  INSTALLATION

Installation was quite easy.  Make sure to follow instructions of how to install the printer cartridge as there are two plastic pieces.  You only have to remove the one in yellow, do not remove the clear plastic.  When you open the top section of the printer, the cartridge holder goes to the middle and you can easily snap all four cartridges.  The next step for those using wireless is to select your wireless connection, enter your code and if it’s all good, you can then install the CD.  Installing was easy and on my iMac, it only took around 10 or less minutes to install everything.  It’s important to note that I used a custom install not manual and bypassed all third-party software and just installed the printer contents only and instruction guide only.

III.  TESTS

PRINTING:

The first test was printing documents and wow!  Printing was quick (especially compared to the Epson 440 I reviewed a few months ago).  In fact, right after that, I printed my magazine interview article from Adobe InDesign to the printer with hi-res graphics and high quality printing and the printer was just printing quickly.  I was amazed how full-color pages were just printing with ease.  Colors also looked exactly how my layout looked.

So, I did a third test.  This time, full color printing with images with darker colors to check on how deep the ink gets and if the claim of how dry the ink is, is true at all.  I did two types of pages, one with heavy black and it printed quickly.  The page was slightly damp but no ink run off, nor did it get on my fingers.

Fourth test and I printed a digital camera picture on photo paper and it looked very good, actually extremely good for an InkJet.

Final test for printing was using the automatic document feeder on the top of the printer which you can place 30 letter or A4 Sized sheets or 10 legal-sized sheets on the top.  There is a slide edge and it works perfectly.  I had no problems printing at all.

***********NOW, THIS IS MAJOR DIFFERENCE FROM THE 635 vs. the 630***************

A. TWO-SIDED PRINTING

The 635 can do two-siding printing.  In fact, the printer is exactly the same with the 2-sided printing button missing from under the LCD.  So, the big question is how important is 2-Side Printing for you?

Most people don’t utilize two-sided printing but I sure did back in college for spiral bounded presentation projects.  And in my former corporate job, I used the function a lot for presentations.  For my business, it helps to use it for events and test brochures.  Especially if you are a graphic designer and are doing two-sided projects.  No need for cutting and gluing both sides together.

But it all comes down to if you need this feature or not.

B. CARTRIDGE CAPACITY

The 635 has more capacity for Black and Color ink.  The 635 can print 385 b/w pages and 755 color pages.  The 630 can print 245 pages and 340 color pages.  So, the difference is quite substantial.  You will save money in the long run getting a 635 but that is if you do a lot of color printing.

COPYING:

Copying is easy as you can select the quantity, the quality and it copies and prints quickly.

SCANNING:

Unfortunately, while the printer is wireless, scanning is not and you need to use the scanner, you need to have it connected to the USB or you can have a flash card or USB Flash Drive in the front and save the image on that card.  While it works well for scanning, for the work I do, I still prefer having a flat bed scanner for larger objects but many people should find the scanner to be quite adequate.

FAXING:

Connect it to a phone line and you have a fax machine without having to worry about toner.  Very convenient to use and easy to setup.

IV.  JUDGMENT CALL:

I absolutely love this printer!  One because of it’s price and also two things that I always look for in a printer which are:

a)  Bottom feeding paper and not top loading (top loading will often eat paper up and mess up things inside your printer as opposed to bottom loading)
b)  The rear of the printer has an access panel to remove jammed paper.
c)  It’s wireless and allows for USB Flash and Compact flash Cards

And of course, the quality and speed that these 630 editions are known for.  This is a wonderful all-in-one printer but as you look into the price on Amazon, there is nearly a $60-$70 difference between both the 630 vs. the 635.

Both are exact machines with the exception that the 635 does two-sided printing.  It’s a very convenient feature and for college students or home offices that utilize that capability, it’s definitely worth it!  But if you notice that you have no need for two-sided printing, then definitely go for the cheaper 630 version.

And the other difference is the 635 has more cartridge capacity for ink, especially if you are printing color. 755 pages for the 635 and 340 pages for the color ink cartridge and because this takes four cartridges, in the long run, you will probably save more money getting the 635 over the 630 (that is if you print a lot of documents in color).

Now if your main purpose is to find a printer that holds more paper, then the Epson WorkForce 840 is what you need as that holds 500 pages as opposed to the 635 which holds 250.  (Note: The 840 also has a larger LCD screen by an inch, BUT the 635 has more color cartridge capacity and can print up to 755 pages as opposed to the 840′s 470 pages).

Overall, the 635 is a wonderful printer.  The price is fantastic but if you just want a printer without the two-sided printing and you tend to only print mostly in black and white, go for the 630.  If you want the two-sided printing and larger ink cartridge capacity, then definitely go for the Epson WorkForce 635.

In my opinion, I would go for the 635 because of the better ink cartridge capabilities and of course, the two-sided printing does help.  But for it’s price and features, the Epson WorkForce 635 is awesome.

This printer is highly recommended!

The One about the Augen Genbook 108

The Good – The Augen Genbook 108 can get you in the Internet and you can be reading a e-book in no time.  The Bad – Unless you are have the disposable income to test your fascination with an android netbook, even priced on sale at $99, prepare for continuous crashing, erratic mouse and spotty wi-fi.

Augen GenTouch Notebook 108 Stats

•1024×600 color 10.2” TFT screen

• CPU: 800 Mhz

• Ram: DDR2 256mb

• Internal Memory: 2GB

• Expansion Slots: SD/MMC card slot up to 16GB

• Wi-Fi Connectivity with Full Web Browsing Capability

• Supports Ebook Formats: Text, PDF, E-PUB, HTML

• Supports Media Formats: MP3, WMA, FLAC, AAC

• Supports most popular E-Book formats

• Picture Viewer in JPEG, BMP

• Video Player

• Rechargeable Lithium Battery

WEBSITE

AUGEN GENBOOK 108 INFORMATION:

 

Like many people who saw the “Augen Genbook 108″ netbook on sale for $99, I instantly jumped at the deal.  Granted, if you read the text from where you bought it, you notice the words “refurbished”.

Personally, I’m fine using my iPad as a portable device and I do have several portable devices to go on the Internet and when it comes to netbooks, I have used a Linux and a Windows netbook before but never an Android version.  So, I couldn’t wait to use an Android-powered netbook.

For starters, the model # for this Android device is Android for Telechips TCC8900 Evaluation Board (multi-language).

So, how did this Android netbook perform?  Read on…

I.  FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Upon opening the box, the genbook was nicely cased and you get a power adapter.  And you get a registration card with an Augen instruction manual.

After opening the box and turning it on (it had about 50% power), so I figured before recharging, I want to deplete it to 100% before giving it a full recharge.

Upon turning it on, I was bummed to see a single dead pixel.  Fortunately, it was on the far right.

Also, I noticed how light the Genbook 108 is and also how it uses plastic that may break easy.

You notice that it feels quite basic as it is light and the plastic casing for the netbook feels as one drop would shatter the netbook.  So, for those considering on bringing this genbook for travel or anywhere and you are prone to dropping things, like a cellphone, unlike a cellphone, I don’t think this Genbook would survive a fall.

I was happy to see three USB ports on its side, headphone and mic inputs plus an ethernet port on the left side.

II.  THE MAIN TEST

Turning it on, you get the Augen Genbook 108 screen and it goes to the main screen in which you see various icons.

The first thing I did was establish a wi-fi connection.

NOTE: Wi-Fi and Ethernet Connection must be set first as it may be automatically set at off.  For Wi-Fi, unlike other netbooks which will detect various incoming Wi-Fi sources, for the Genbook 108, you need to manually input your Wi-Fi settings.

Now, this is where things get a bit sketchy.  For Wi-Fi, it tends to fluctuate for this device.  Sometimes, it will just conk out on you for no reason and the only way to get everything back is my shutting down a browser or other applications and then it comes back up.  For the most part, it was stable 70% of the time but the wi-fi does get a bit spotty at times.  As for Ethernet, you need to make sure the settings are correct.

II.  THE MOUSE

This is probably the most frustrating mouse I have used.  You can be using the touchpad for the mouse and somehow it is so sensitive that tracking your finger on the pad may accidentally be misconstrued as a left click.  Also, when you are moving around, you find yourself zooming in and out at times. So, although it has a mouse and two buttons for left and right clicking, it’s erratic.   There is something about the bottom left corner of the track pad that registers as a click.

I recommend using a mouse or else you will find yourself getting frustrated.

It’s important to note that my experience with touchpads from PC or Mac laptops have never been the greatest and I always recommend purchasing a mouse for a laptop or a netbook.  I test a Logitech and Kensington mouse and it detected the mouse perfectly.  Tried a cheaper, no-name brand and while I was able to move around and right click, left-click was off.  So, I would stick with a good brand of mouse for the Genbook 108.

III.  GETTING STARTED

The first thing you want to do is update your App Store that comes with this device.  It’s important to note that this App Store is not the Google Android App Store.  In fact, I have tried to get the Google Android App Store to work with this device to no avail as it keeps saying “no device detected”.  So, you can use this App Store or Amazon’s Android App Store.  The problem with Amazon is that it utilizes one-click when it comes to purchasing things.  Because the erratic nature of this device, the last thing you want is seeing the mouse automatically clicking on an app while trying to move the cursor up or down and then purchasing an app accidentally.  So, I would stick with the App Store for now.

Updating the App Store on this device took about 15-20 minutes and when you get started, I highly recommend downloading the A+ Elite Task Killer.

The reason being is that because this device is prone to crashing or stalling, it helps to have the A+ Elite Task Killer to kill programs that may be on.  In fact, part of the problem of this device running sluggishly is that the device tries to open so many programs all at once and thus giving you sluggish performance.

IV. APPS

If you have a compact flash card, a lot of your documents, photos would best be on the flash card and not using it’s built-in 8GB flash.  In fact, it often looks for that flash card on your system, even when downloading an app.  Otherwise, if you don’t have one, you can use it’s internal 8GB flash.

As for downloading apps… for those not familiar with Android Apps is that you must be careful because unlike Apple which screens their Apps, nothing is screened for Android Apps and it may contain malicious software to steal information.   I would NOT use this device for purchasing items.

Using Augen’s own App Store that is included with this device, I was able to download the full versions of Angry Birds for FREE.  Problem was that the game may require much more memory on the Android because the backgrounds don’t show.  So, right away, I knew that this device is not good for gaming at all.  I noticed that when I downloaded Angry Birds Seasons from Rovio, unlike “Angry Birds” and “Angry Birds Rio”, “Angry Birds Seasons” featured a Chinese layout.

After looking at the many apps featured on the store, the good stuff that you want are on the Google Android App store and because you can’t download from the marketplace is a major caveat for this device.  You can’t download any major apps, watch YouTube, install Flash Player or anything because the marketplace does not detect the Android device.

In fact, I even tried downloading Mozilla Firefox for Android for this device directly and it wouldn’t install.

Also, it’s important to mention that the manual gives you three links to download apps but when you visit the sites, they are Chinese websites that are not in English.  So, unless you can read Chinese, if you can’t, you have to depend on the main app store that came with the Genbook.

V.  THE BROWSER

The browser for this device works.  You can go on any site but the more intensive that website is, their is a possibility that your Genbook will crash.  Forget accessing a site with video because if it uses Flash, it won’t work and because you can’t download from the Google Marketplace to download Flash Player, your out of luck.  So, while videos won’t work on CNN or YouTube, I was able to watch video from sites such as the Wall Street Journal.

For the majority of the time, I was able to get to the site with no problem.  But there are some sites which this browser or device does not like and it locks up and crashes on you.

Personally, I wish I could have gotten Firefox to install and I wish Opera would have a direct download instead of making a user go on the Marketplace (which you can’t access with this device).

VI.  E-BOOKS

I was able to read e-books fine with this device.  But as I mentioned, mouse can get erratic at times.  PDF’s opened fine as well.  Although, I found that using a tablet like a Kindle or Nook or even a cellphone much easier to use because you can easily increase the size with your fingers as opposed to using the mouse.

NOTE: There are several e-books you can download for free on the App Store and these do not work for some reason.

VII.  WHEN IT CRASHES

When it crashes, most of the time it restarts with the Green Android on the front (see photo above) but there are times when you get a screen that asks to restart computer or wipe everything out.  I’ve often thought about this, to see if I can install Windows or Linux to replace Android 2.1 but I believe that Android can’t be wiped out as its part of its memory.  And I’m guessing you can’t upgrade the Android OS to 2.2 or 2.3.

I tried to look on Augen’s support forums and online and haven’t read of anyone successfully installing any other OS on this device.

JUDGMENT CALL:

This device was primarily created for those to view e-Books and go on the Internet.  The positive is that the browser does load up quickly most of the time.

The negative is that an erratic onboard mouse and spotty wi-fi can make you even more frustrated.

The fact that you can’t access the Google Android Marketplace with this device (note: this is not the problem of the device as if you go on the marketplace, you will see others complaining that their Android cell phones are unable to be recognized as well) or some direct downloads will not install on this device.

This leaves you with few options and that is to use it’s own App center and again, I caution people that if you are going to mess around with the apps from app center, because there are hardly any reviews for them, I would not use this device for using important personal data.

In fact, if you were just going to use this for browsing on the Internet, reading e-books, the device works and if you purchased it for $99 or less, I guess you can’t complain. You can go on the Internet, read e-books, view photos and videos, listen to music.  But I wish it was more user friendly.

Like other e-book readers, it does a good job and going on the Internet is much faster than my color Nook.  Granted, I am able to go on the Internet with a Nook and not be worried it may crash or access Wi-Fi.

It’s not a device I would use to create Android apps but possibly one to test out apps.

But I would have not purchased this for $150 or $200.  If I was able to access the Google Android marketplace with ease, I would probably have loved this Genbook a bit more.  Because the majority of the apps I want to use are on there.  As for its erratic mouse problem, it’s erratic but it can easily be solved with a mouse.  And again, the erratic Wi-Fi really sucks.  You can by farther just using an Ethernet cable plugged in.

I would recommend purchasing a Linux or Windows Netbook and even recommending saving up for an iPad.  If your primary goal is for e-books, Augen sells its own e-book reader but you can also purchase a black and white nook with 3G and Wi-Fi capability for the same price.

But if you are able to get this device for $99 and lower, it does do its job for Internet browsing and e-book reading.  But if you can save up more to purchase a better netbook or tablet, I would do just that.  Otherwise, if money is an issue and if you need something under a $100, then the Augen Genbook 108 may be for you.

UPDATE:

We gave a few staff a chance to use the Augen Genbook 108 and here are their thoughts.

From junior reviewer, Crish:

This netbook is not cool!  I can’t even get the wireless to work in the living room and even when I’m a foot away from the wireless router, it would show a strong signal and then it would lose connection and say it can’t detect wi-fi.  I can’t go on the Internet easy, I can’t even play Angry Birds correctly.  This one is bad! Don’t buy!

From Usagi:

If there was an emergency and I needed to contact someone for help on Facebook or Twitter and Wi Fi was around, this device will not work when you need it.  It works sometimes and when it does work, your browser will crash or the netbook will crash.  Forget it!  I don’t need the frustration.

The One About the Digital Copies

Since you started buying Blu-rays, have you been installing those digital copies on your system or a portable device (iPad, iPhone, Sony PSP)?  Well, I know there is a large group that do, while there are some who are late adopters.

I am one of those late adopters.

For those who are not sure what a digital copy is, some Blu-ray releases come with a bonus digital copy to install to a portable device.  You get a code and when you enter that code, it will download on iTunes and you can watch that movie on that portable device or laptop (it won’t work anywhere else but the computer it was installed on).  Some digital copies have expiration dates and some companies allow you to watch it on their website via streaming, while some realize that they now have a coaster for their drinks because the digital copy expired within a year.

I’m going to be truthful, when it comes to digital copies, I haven’t bothered with them. And now I can’t believe that I’m coming so late to the game of installing these on my iPad and not knowing if they are expired or not.

I spent yesterday testing out digital copies as I was to lazy to fill them up on my iPad earlier and realized a few have expired. I’m actually going through everything today as I’m curious how much I can fill up my 64GB iPad.

But here are my experiences of having to install the following digital copies on my iPad as of March 2011.

WORKS

- 12 Rounds
- 500 Days of Summer
- Adventureland
- Alice in Wonderland
- Alvin & the Chipmunks: Squeakuel
- Amelia
- Armored
- A Bug’s Life
- Camp Rock 2
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
- Confessions of a Shopaholic
- Coraline
- The Dark Knight
- Death at a Funeral
- Dragonball Evolution
- Family Guy: Something, Something Darkside
- Fantastic Mr. Fox
- The Forbidden Kingdom
- G-Force
- Hanna Montana the Movie
- Hellboy II: The Golden Army
- Hero
- Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs
- Inglorious Basterds
- Jennifer’s Body
- Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience
- Legion
- Marley & Me
- Monsters, Inc.
- Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian
- No Country For Old Men: Collector’s Edition
- Notorious
- Old Dogs
- The Other Guys
- Pink Panther 2
- Planet 51
- Prince of Persia: Sands of Time
- The Princess and the Frog
- The Proposal
- Race to Witch Mountain
- Rambo
- Star Trek
- Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li
- Toy Story 3
- Up
- Whip It
- The X Files: I Want to Believe
- X-Men
- X2: X-Men United
- X-Men: The Last Stand
- X-Men Origins: Wolverine

EXPIRED

- 2012
- Angels & Demons
- Bedtime Stories
- Bolt
- Bruno
- District 9
- High School Musical 3
- The Incredible Hulk
- Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist
- Seven Pounds
- Sex and the City: The Movie
- Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
- Watchmen: Director’s Cut
- Wonder Woman

Personally, I wish there was no expiration dates or at least giving a user more than a year to install them.  Now that people are purchasing better iPods, iPads or iPhones, you would think that the companies would change the policy on these digital copy expiration dates.  But for now… the best thing to do is if you purchase a Blu-ray that does come with a digital copy, install it right away.  Otherwise, even if you delete it off your system, you can re-download it again later on iTunes.

The One about Buying a Used iPad and the iPad Unknown Error 1611

With the iPad 2 coming this Friday, many first generation iPad users are selling their iPad’s for a great price!

Late adopters or those who want to upgrade to a better first gen version of the iPad know that the the time to get the first gen iPad for a low price is now!

And of course, before they sell their iPad, the majority of these users are going to have do a hard reset and erase their original data and so the new buyer can start from scratch with their own information.

So, now you have received the iPad and the first thing you know when you turn on the iPad is the following screen (or similar to it) that you need to connect to iTunes.

Well, the first thing you need to do is make sure you have the latest version of iTunes.  Assuming that you do have the latest version on your Mac or PC, you then connect the plug via USB to your computer and it detects.

OPTION 1: NOTE: If it doesn’t detect, you need to do the following (Disclaimer: try at your own risk, we are not responsible if anything bad happens but this is what you will read on the Apple forums.):

Turn iPad off and turn it on again. Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button on top of iPad for a few seconds, until a red slider appears. Then slide the slider. Then press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.

OPTION 2 (DFU MODE):  If this doesn’t work, you will need to (Disclaimer: once again, try at your own risk, we are not responsible if anything bad happens but this is what you will read on many forums) do the DFU Mode:

Hold the Sleep/Wake Button on top of the iPad and the Home button on the bottom of the iPad for 10 seconds, then the screen will go blank.  Then you let go of the sleep button, while the home button is still pressed.

So, your iTunes will now detect your iPad and now you hit restore.  If it works perfectly, congratulations on your used but functional and awesome first gen iPad.

But if you are like many people and you get the following error….

I’m going to tell you right now… DO NOT STRESS!  You’re iPad is not bricked (it’s not broken)!

Unfortunately, many people have not figured out why this happens or how to fix it but people have deleted folders, re-installed iTunes, re-installed the update, etc.  Some people have figured that their iPad is broke and are using it as a reflective mirror because of this error.

But follow my steps and I hope this fixes the problem (Disclaimer: Again, try at your own risk, we’re not responsible if anything bad happens to your hardware).

I also had the Unknown Error 1611 problem and for five hours, I was trying to figure it out by using the DFU mode, multiple computers, recharge the iPad longer, using a Mac and PC to no avail.  It’s important to note that while doing the DFU mode, my iPad was plugged in at all times to my computer.  But this time, I figured why not try it without it plugged in at first.

Here is what I did:

1. I shut down iTunes (make sure it’s not activated).
2. I unplugged the iPad from the connector.
3. Did the DFU step by holding the top sleep button and home button for ten seconds and then the screen went black (looks like it turned off).
4. Keep the home button pressed but release the top button.
5. Now I plugged in the connector and suddenly iTunes activated on its own (you can let go of the home button at this time) to let me know that the iPad needs to be restored.
6. Hit the restore button.
7. And pray.  Seriously, I was shocked that after trying over and over for hours and trying multiple techniques, the software updated on its own and no more 1611 error.

The iPad works like a charm and I was able to beat the unknown error 1611 on my iPad.   If you are having the same problem, I hope this technique helps you as well!

But right now is a great time to purchase a used iPad as many first gen buyers will get the iPad 2.  If you are planning to buy one used, the 16GB cost around $350, the 32GB for $390-$400 and the 64GB at $450.  Just make sure you buy one with a case and it has the original box and adapters.  It’s best to find one with the case and other accessories which is a plus.

Oh, and one more thing.  If you are buying used, it’s important to let you know that there is no manual as it’s pretty much straightforward to most users of an iPhone or iPod.  Or most people have Apple’s employees set things up for them.  But for those buying used and want the manual, you can download the Apple iPad manual via PDF here.

Note: I have no idea if this technique will work on an iPhone with the 1611 error but try it and let us know if it worked!

 

The one about what I buy to get $25 for free shipping on Amazon.com (Metro Media Complex)

So, you just bought an item on Amazon and it cost about $20.99 and then when you check out, just for shipping and handling, you find out that it would cost you $26.99?  So, you realize that to get the free shipping on Amazon, you need to meet the $25 free shipping quota.

But then you go on the site and try to find anything that is under $5 that would be useful as Crayola crayons, stick-it notes, printer paper, rubber bands, thumb tacks or some doohickey which you have no use for at that moment of time or items which are not for you.

To make matters worse, when you do find something, you realize you can’t buy it for the free shipping because it’s sold by a third party and that person is not fulfilled by Amazon.  So, the purchase doesn’t count towards free shipping.

I feel your pain.  I’ve been there before, spending hours of my time trying to find what is good enough to meet that $25 free shipping quota.

Well, here are a few recommendations that I have if you need $3-$8 to achieve the free shipping on Amazon.

If you are needing only $2.99 or $3.99, for a pretty awesome price, you can order “Archie Bronze Age Series”, “Betty and Veronica Bronze Age Series” or “Jughead Bronze Age Series” for $2.99-$3.99 (price fluctuates daily but prices are exact or in-between).  But what I like about this series is that you get every comic published from 1970-1979.  Definitely a great deal for a full collection or if you grew up reading the series.

Are you into silent films?  Or have you been curious about Charlie Chaplin films?  If so, these DVD collections feature Charlie Chaplin shorts are $3.99 each and there are many volumes.  Many times I purchase something and it comes to $22.99  and so many times I add a volume of a Charlie Chaplin DVD (from Echo Bridge Entertainment) to my cart.  These are not the better Charlie Chaplin DVD’s (the better ones are more expensive) but still, for $3.99 and many of his shorts per volume, you can’t complain.

So, you bought a Blu-ray, DVD or video game that is about $16.99 and you need something for the free shipping.  Are you a watch buyer and hate paying the high prices that some jewelers charge to remove a link or caseback to replace a battery?  Buy yourself one of these 16 piece watch tool kits.  Pretty much, this is all you need to fix a watch.  And if anything, the spring bar and pin tool is probably my favorite piece in this set.  But want to adjust a watch bracelet or replace a battery, this watch tool kit is literally all you need.  And it only cost $8.20.

OK, so you’re not into any of the following above but you dig video games.  Amazon has a lot of video games under $9 but many of them tend to be titles that suck or are sports games that came out at launch for the consoles.  Well, fortunately, one game that is pretty cool (and takes patience) is Konami’s “New International Track and Field” for the Nintendo DS which goes up and down from $6.99-$7.38.  Still, a pretty cheap price for a long running series (for those who remember the Track and Field games for the NES).

Mighty Beanz.  The biggest collector’s toy (fad?) that kids and adults can’t stop purchasing.  And for any parent who has an addictive son or daughter who love them, they can get pricey but have no fear…Amazon often has deals galore on Mighty Beanz and you can purchase a six pack of the no-longer available Series 1 six packs for $3.69 and other sets.  So, if you need to spend anywhere from $3 bucks or more, you can always count on the Mighty Beanz.

So, there you have it, a few items to purchase in order to get free shipping from Amazon!

The One About the Steve Madden Men’s P-Tremon Dress Boot (Metro Media Complex/a J!-ENT Shoe Review)

Absolutely Comfortable, stylish and offered at a great price point, the Steve Madden’s P-Tremon Dress Boot is highly recommended!

SHOE: Steve Madden Men’s P-Tremon Dress Boot

MADE OF: Leather

COLOR: Black

SOLE: Rubber

OTHER MATERIALS: Elastic Band for easy stretching

MADE IN: China

WEBSITE

STEVE MADDEN HISTORY

Steve Madden is easily America’s most successful shoe designer. Considered the fashion footwear mogul of the 21st century, Madden has been responsible for the design and marketing of the company’s trendsetting shoes for the past two decades. His vision to give young, fashion forward women a unique way to express their individuality through style resulted in millions of customers worldwide and propelled his designs to the forefront of the fashion industry.

In 1990, with a mere $1,100 in his bank account, Madden started crafting shoe designs from his Queens-based factory and the Steve Madden brand was born. With sheer guts, years of experience in the footwear industry, and unique creative designs, Steve Madden formed his own successful enterprise.

A year later, Madden introduced a redefined version of platform shoes, resulting in one of the most spectacular success stories in the early 1990′s. Inspired by his favorite rock and roll stars of the 1970s, the thick, chunky heel became Steve Madden’s signature and a phenomenon in women’s shoes.

Madden’s footwear vision is continuously evolving. Steve once said, “What inspires me is what I see people wearing on the streets of the world from New York to London and beyond. I get my ideas and inspiration from pounding the pavement all over the world. Today, fashion is dictated by individual style. To me, the fashion of the future is anything that a young guy or girl feels good wearing as long as it’s put together in the right way.”

Today, the Steve Madden brand represents a lifestyle. It is about embracing fashion while still maintaining that funky independence that first defined the brand 20 years ago. Expanding now into apparel and other accessories such as dresses, handbags, belts, sunwear, cold weather, outerwear and hosiery, Steve Madden is always looking toward to the future. As 2011 begins, more exciting opportunities are on the horizon including re-packaging, new store design rollout and expansion in global markets.

Shoe Information

Add a polished sense of style with a dash of panache to your wardrobe wearing the P-Tremon boot from Steve Madden. This sleek dress boot is perfectly acceptable for work, but it’s after hours when this exercise in sophisticated footwear really comes into its own. With a lustrous leather upper, sleek elastic side panels and low-profile, your favorite night-out-on-the-town look gets a big boost in the cool department. This boot is also easy to wear thanks to a soft-leather lining and lightly cushioned leather footbed. A flexible outsole with a treaded heel also gives you stability out on the streets.

I have been looking for a dress boot that would work well with dress pants but also jeans but most importantly a shoe that can be used for a variety of occasions or even daily use (ie. the dress boots that work as a beater shoe). I have purchased Steve Madden-related clothing before but I have never purchased their shoes.

I have to admit that I was debating because when it comes to shoes, some makers tend are either exact on size, smaller or larger and when purchasing online, you really need to read the reviews from people how sizing goes. And noticed there were no reviews for this shoe. Well, the good news is that if you are 10.5 and you order 10.5, it fits perfectly.

Putting this shoe on was not difficult and what amazed me was the comfort of wearing the shoes and how it fit perfectly with dress pants and jeans.

There are a few things that I do want to comment on and I hope this helps some of you out:

* There is no zipper on this boot, but it does stretch with the elastic on the side, so you can fit your foot easily.

* The souls are rubber, if you are looking for wood on soles, there other dress boots on Amazon that offer that.

* The boots are not super shiny that sticks out or blind someone (I have had those type of shoes when I was younger and will never wear them again) but it does have that leather that shows off its sheen but not one that sticks out.

* Packaging – The shoe comes in a big white Steve Madden box and there is a lot of rolled up paper to keep the shoe from moving around the box. Also, paper inside the shoe as well. So, no worry about shoes being banged up during shipping.

As mentioned earlier, this boot was something that I want to use more often and that means looking for a shoe that will be walking in various conditions (ie. the beater shoe). Because its soles are rubber, it’s what I wanted. The shoe looks absolutely great for the guy who wants a shoe that looks great for business, great for going out and such. For those wanting more of a high-end look and don’t care for rubber on the soles, then I would look at other brands on Amazon.

But the shoe looks great, fits great and most of all, very comfortable. So, no need to worry of it being too large or too small, if you are a 10 or 10.5, you are going to get that size that you expect. No worrying at all.

Overall, I was very pleased with this boot. I have worn it with dress pants, jeans and tested it in variety of locations to see if my foot would ache and the shoe remained comfortable throughout the day. For under $55, the Steve Madden P-Tremon Dress Boot is highly recommended!

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