Google Chromecast

While the final frontier of technology dominance has been the TV in the living room, companies very rarely make a splash. Even the hyped Apple can't crack the code, as their Apple TV turned out to be a blundering failure. Enter Google and their Chromecast. As of the last year, Google released the product called Chromecast. It isn't a set-top box or a whole TV, instead, its an HDMI device with a Wi-Fi chip in it. The entire function of this tiny widget is to bridge the content and apps from your phone, tablet and PC over to your TV. The cost is a tiny $35 and is available everywhere [Staples, Best Buy, RadioShack and all over online].

Setup is a breeze. The hardest part is connecting it to your TV, just plug it in and change the input. If its wall mounted, it can take a little longer since you aren't taking your TV off the wall to connect it quicker. Takes 5-7 minutes after you have the app installed. During the setup from your mobile device, the widget has the Wi-Fi profile configured, gets the latest firmware update and configures itself for the format of your TV.

What you need

• TV with available HDMI and USB port
• if you dont have USB, thats OK the kit comes with a Wall Adapter for it
• Mobile device with access to an App Store/Google Play to download the Chromecast app
• Wi-Fi network coverage that reaches the TV
• the stronger the signal, the smoother the experience will be

Picture quality was outstanding, worked with my Droid Razr Maxx HD, Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Samsung Galaxy S4 without a hitch. At times, I've noticed the device doesnt want to connect, but turning the TV on/off does the trick. It could be the USB port on my TV not putting out enough power to drive the Chromecast which using the supplied AC Adapter would potentially resolve that, but I didn't want to run any wires and it happens very rarely. Netflix, YouTube, Revision 3 channels looked great on my TV in 1080p and I could multi-task on my device while the chromecast was streaming either browsing the web, looking for the next video to cast or adding something to the playback queue. All in all, easy and it doesnt require its own interface to interact with, just adds a button that lets you Cast to the TV of your choice if you have multiple Chromecasts on the same network.

All in all, I would totally recommend these. They're a steal at $35, a breeze to setup and for about $100 you can add online content to 3 TV's in your home/office without additional subscriptions.

Summertime Danger

Did you know…the summer months are the most dangerous for devices connected to wall outlets?

Here's why: In the summer, the electric grid experiences significant burdens from increased demand from fans and air conditioners. Why you may be comfy and cool in the office, your PC and network equipment is being battered by wild power variations at the outlet. It’s a problem because it can lead to unstable performance, shortened hardware lifespan, but worst of all...total system failure.

So how can we protect valuable equipment that your business depends on every day? Its simple. Any device that is critical to keeping your network and communications running should have a UPS (Uninterruptable Power Supply, aka battery backup) connected between the wall outlet and your equipment. This is the most important detail; it MUST have the following features:

• Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR)
• It helps by correcting low and high voltage conditions without using the battery (ie. brownouts)
• Power conditioning 
• This protects connected equipment from "Dirty Power" (surges, spikes, lightning, noise, etc)
• Accurate run-time needs
• Don't use a UPS that's smaller than your normal power requirement.
• Make sure you will have enough battery time to shut down the equipment and still have some charge left
• Remember,  batteries lose their charge over time

The good news is that protecting yourself from stable power is cheap! You may ask yourself "Why do I need this, everything is working fine", and it may be OK...for now. The cost incurred AFTER a power related failure is typically between 4 and 10 times more expensive than protecting yourself before it happened! Penny Wise, Dollar Foolish, it just doesn't pay.

We can help you stay protected so you don't need to sweat it.

Will Kutzler
F1 Networx Inc
http://www.f1networx.com

Check Out My New Credit Card Terminal !!!

We're used to things getting smaller, but usually the price doesn't follow. That is until you look at credit card processing...

I recently got the Square Card Reader over the weekend. Like all new technology, we have to take a grain of salt with it. This product though has blown away my expectations. Since spotting this a few months back, I was waiting to take the leap, and I'm glad I did!

Here's how it works....
Using your smartphone or tablet (Android / iOS), download the Square App and connect the FREE reader which they sent by mail. Plug the reader into the headphone jack, launch the app and you now have a credit card terminal! Punch in the amount to charge, swipe the card, hit the process transaction icon, done. You can even do manual card entry. You can even issue a refund right from your transaction history register on the device!

This is all great but how much does it cost? Simple: 2.75% per transaction (3.5% + 15cents for manual entry). Thats it. No minimums, no terminal fee or merchant fees, no tiered pricing, no guessing. I LOVE IT.

So what about the receipt and signature? No worries. The receipt gets emailed or text messaged to them on the spot! And the signature is entered right on the screen with their finger or a stylus.

Process the payment over 2G, 3G, 4G or WiFi, all the data is encrypted. They adhere to the highest industry standards (PCI Level 1).

The money is transferred within 1 business day via ACH, unlike PayPal which holds it in their account until you  initiate the transfer.

So what are you waiting for? Ditch the terminals from 1990 and get Square today! Available at Radioshack and Online at https://squareup.com/

You will need the following:

1. A Smartphone or Tablet
• Apple device running iOS 4.1 or higher (iPad iOS 5.0+ for register version)
• Android running 2.1 or higher 
2. A 3.5mm headset jack with microphone (audio jack adaptors are not supported)
3. A screen size specified as Normal or Large (Small screen sizes are not supported)
4. GPS enabled
5.  A data connection

This is a solid solution for anyone on the Go or even at a fixed location. They will provide you with multiple readers if you have several devices to swipe from, for free.

Sound ID SM100 Bluetooth Headset Review

The Sound ID SM100 Bluetooth Headset Review

Brand - Sound ID
Model - SM100
Hanging Style - In Ear and Ear Loop
Sizes - small, medium and large rubber ear pieces
Weight - .4 ounces (11 grams)
Ear Orientation - Left or Right
Battery Life - 8 Hours in Phone mode
Rechargers Included - USB Power plug charger, wall charger, car charger
Warranty - 1 year
Price - $65

Phone Used in Testing the Unit - Blackberry 8130 on the Sprint Network

1 - First Impression

It is a very small unit, not the smallest on the market but small enough to not extend past your ear. Feels light and sturdy in the hand. Buttons are small but seem to be easy enough to access once you get used to its layout. There is a call control button on the face of the unit, volume up/down are paired close to the boom mic and the environmental control near the outer part of the headset.

2 - Usage

Pairing the phone was easy and worked on the first try. Hold down the call toggle button until th e light flashes red and green. Put your phone/PC into search mode. Once they find eachother, enter code 0000 (zero x 4) on the phone and your all set! As with other phones, be sure to charge the headset before initiating a pair up.

When first using the device, it took some time to figure out which ear piece size fits most comfortable. The medium size was already installed when we unpacked it. At first it seems too large but after some adjusting it securely fits in my ear. My ears are slightly smaller than most but there is a smaller ear piece in case I needed to change down. Changing the ear pieces was very easy to do. To adjust the ear orientation, there is a left/right indicator that tells you which way to turn the rubber ear piece. Once in your ear, it sits securely no matter how much I tried to shake it out. Additionally I was not using the included ear loop.

The rubber ear piece sits securely in your ear, blocking off most of the sound coming in that ear. To solve that, there is an environmental mode which is toggled by the solitary button. It acts like a hearing aid mode that takes in the ambient noise and amplifies to (4 levels of amplification - off, low, medium and high). This feature really works which I was quite impressed by. Other in-ear headsets cut off the ambient noise, effectively making you deaf in one ear which was the problem I had with the Plantronics Voyager 815 (the worst headset I have ever used).

The environmental mode is also activated during a call. It uses dual microphones to sort your voice from the environmental noise. Depending on how much noise there is, you can toggle the filtering level. When adjusting the environmental levels it does take a few seconds to compensate in the new level.

Keeping the unit charged up is a non issue with this device. Whether by a computer, car or wall outlet, you can keep it charged up when not in use. One thing that is common with all other headsets is that when in charge mode, it disconnects from the phone. Pressing the call toggle button reconnects the headset to the phone.

Battery Life is claimed at 8 hours and falls very close to it. I managed to go 2 solid days on the phone without needing to charge. When the device was going dead, a tone rang in the headset and a red LED flashed as well. I was able to charge it up while in the car and most conveniently while near my PC. One thing that was a trivial but obvious need is having a USB extension cable. They supply you with a USB to barrel plug charger but it may be difficult, like when using a laptop, to charge the unit. I strongly suggest getting a USB extension cable if you will be charging from a computer frequently.

Distance was marginally better than most other headsets I have used. It may be the bluetooth capabilities of the Blackberry 8130 that may be the main limit to the headset's distance but still was able to perform solidly in the day to day use.

A bonus feature that is unique to the SM100 is a 2 way radio mode. A peer-to-peer 2 way communication link with another SM100. This feature was not tested but we found it an interesting way to use a collection of these headsets with other staff members.

Switching between environmental mode (hearing aid mode) and phone mode occurs seamlessly as calls are connected and ended. Voice command/redial (depending on what your phone supports) is initiated by holding the volume up button for 3 seconds. The button is on the small side but easy to reach once you get used to the layout and ear orientation.

3 - Conclusion

This a solid performer at a good price. Battery, comfort and value are this unit's strong points. One thing that I found as a downside is that a USB extension cable was not included. Not a big deal since such a cable is available online for about $10. Since they give you a wall and car charger, the USB charge is not such a big deal. The 3 rubber ear pieces should work for just about everyone and the included ear clip is a nice touch for those of us who use in rough environments or smaller ears.

8.8 out of 10

Thanks for reading our blog review. If you have any questions, visit us online and send us your questions through our contact form at http://www.f1networx.net/contactus.html or respond back right on the blog.

Will Kutzler
F1 Networx Inc.