Today I found myself, once again, on the phone with my mother saying her something-or-the-other didn't work.  But the big difference today is that I have a tool that worked wonders in solving the problem and in keeping our conversation civil. The call started with "My Google doesn't work."  As always, the...

"The Internet is Slow" is a common complaint in our household of three PCs and an occasional visitor.  I understand from the help desks of Comcast, Time Warner, and BellSouth that they always find this among the top complaints and often one they can do the least about so I though I'd give you a quick summary of the steps I take when it comes up. The first issue is to recognize t...

"I bought my music on iTunes and I can only play it on my iPod" - a common complaint among new iTunes customers (and by the way, the reason my total purchases of iTunes music has been $0.99).  For those who haven't figured out the issue, it's because contrary to most every other form of music you buy or get, the iTunes store is bound by contract to include a DRM (Digital Righ...

I have a TiVo HR10-250 for my DirecTV setup; have had it for a couple of years and have loved it.  Our family started running out of space on the DVR last October and I had the chance to consider my options: To upgrade the existing box or get a new one? Bottom line: I upgraded and added another drive but not without regrets. No secret that TiVo and DirecTV are parting ways, desp...

I love my iPod, my whole family has iPods; we don't use them all that much but when we want them we're counting on them working. I worry every time I see or hear about another Frozen iPod that goes on to iPod heaven. Yet recently I have been running into "Alternative Medicine" practice for iPods and I find myself wondering, what would I do? ...