Tech Talk

For generations, the North American Aerospace Defense Command has kept millions of people around the world abreast of Santa Claus’ precise location each Christmas Eve. The dissemination began via the telephone began in 1955, the Web in 1998 and now is available through social media.

Beginning on Dec. 24 and running through Christmas Day, NORAD will share the latest location of Kriss Kringle.

Folks can follow the man in red through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Google, Flickr and TroopTube — as well as on mobile devices, Time reported.

If you prefer to call NORAD, you still may: 1-877-Hi-NORAD from within the United States. Folks can also send Santa a letter at noradtrackssanta@gmail.com.

You may read more about how NORAD tracks Santa in the Tech Talk archives.

One of the smartest people I know and Stamford’s own Matthew T. Comer once hypothesized that if time travel will ever be possible, it has already happened. He went on to explain that chances are a time traveler from the future would likely want to explore history hence going to a time earlier than today. Logical. So is time travel possible? Comer believes so.

If he is right, and he almost always is, then why hasn’t a time traveler been identified yet? Perhaps at least one has.

The Web is alive in talk about a man captured talking on what appears to be a cell phone during the filming of Charlie Chaplin’s 1928 silent movie, “The Circus.” You can read more about it in this New York Daily News article.

Of course, if it is a cell phone, Tech Talk would have to believe it is far from the distant future as there would not be the satellites or towers to allow for conversation and it would need to have technology within it to do without them. And one would think it would transcend transcontinental communication. It would very likely be transtime chat — and just imagine the possibility of that.

Above all, it is a fun idea to think about. Similarly seemingly irrational ideas have been proven possible. So why not this?

Social media often shines the brightest during the darkest times — particularly in terms of Twitter.

Of course, it’s always nice to use the network to learn the latest sports scores, headlines, menu options and weather patterns, but that information could be easily gathered in other places.

The place Twitter really stands out is in terms of breaking news and, as some exceptional Connecticut journalists are demonstrating this week, riveting trials. Tech Talk highlighted another moment of social media triumph last year during the violence following the Iranian presidential election.

Reporters from across the state converged Tuesday in New Haven Superior Court to hear Dr. William Petit’s heart-wrenching testimony of his family’s final hours together and what it was like during and following the brutal attacks that would leave his wife and two young daughters dead.

Among the tweeters of note:

• Diana Perez, of NBC Connecticut
• Helen Ubinas, of the Hartford Courant
• The New Haven Register
• News 8, Connecticut
• Alaine Griffin deserves credit for feverishly updating the Courant’s story more quickly than any other known outlet.

Tech Talk encourages you to follow these talented journalists, but know that some of the details being shared may be difficult to read given the nature of the brutality of the slayings.

Steven Hayes and Joshua Komisarjevsky are charged with murder, sexual assault and other crimes stemming from the July 2007 killings of Jennifer Hawke-Petit, 17-year-old Hayley and 11-year-old Michaela. Hayes is currently on trial. Both men face the possibility of being executed, if convicted.

A century ago, the public would have to wait for the next day’s newspaper to learn what was said in court.Three quarters of a century ago, the public could hear a news update on the radio — after the reporter was able to leave the courthouse during breaks in testimony. Even as recently as a decade ago, the majority of the public would have to wait for the evening news to learn the latest. Today that has all changed.

Now, thanks to our forward-thinking state press, anyone could follow the trial in real time — and read what they have missed by simply scrolling down. It’s as incredible as it is heart-breaking. The press ought to be commended for their efforts.

Of course, wired justice isn’t blind. The judge must make clear that jurors must sign off of social networks, like Twitter, until the conclusion of their service. Avoiding traditional media is no longer enough, as Tech Talk stressed late last year.

Apple’s chief executive officer tried to extinguish the fire raging around its newest device.

Although Steve Jobs acknowledged that the company’s iPhone 4 has some antenna problems, he contended the issues afflict all smart phones.

“This has been blown so out of proportion that it is incredible,” the New York Times quoted Jobs as saying.

In an attempt to put the issue behind the company, Apple promised free bumpers, or cases that wrap around the edge of the phone but does not cover the phone’s screen or back, to all iPhone 4 buyers who want one.  Anyone who had already purchased a case would be eligible a full $29 refund, the Times reported.

Customers still unhappy will receive a full refund upon return of the device.

The CEO acknowledged that the iPhone 4 dropped more calls than the iPhone 3GS, but contended that the wrap-around case would solve the problem.

Tech Talk commends the technology giant for trying to make peace with its customers — and is confident that the worst press is behind Apple, a company that is not used to such wide-spread criticism.

In terms of call quality and reliability, however, Tech Talk still recommends the iPhone 3GS or the HTC Incredible over the iPhone 4.

However a mistake was made, sort of acknowledged and the company is trying to make right with its customers.

The entire entire episode should serve as a powerful warning to Apple and other manufacters that it is important to think of the consumer first. Apple, a company that prides itself in telling the world what gadgets they did not know they could not live without, incorrectly assumed its customers would know how to hold its newest phone — and arrogantly decided not to offer any guidance. It backfired — and the customer ought not to be blamed for this failure.

Let’s hope it doesn’t happen again.

Is your contract about to expire? Is it time to decide to sign on to another two years with your current carrier or jump ship? The decision is easy — go with Verizon and the HTC Incredible.

Tech Talk previously told you how the Incredible lives up to its name. And then the iPhone 4 came out on AT&T’s network.

Don’t get the iPhone 4. Your Tech Talk editor has been using the smart phone since shortly after its release and has been disappointed — and is not alone.

While the device is great, particularly the screen’s impressive resolution and forward- and rear-facing cameras, the phone is not so hot.

Dropped calls and substantially reduced reception are common — making it difficult to even send text messages at times.

While the ability to multitask is great, as is the ability to lock the rotation of photos, the advancements are available for the iPhone 3GS, as well. If you have the iPhone 3GS — do not downgrade to the iPhone 4.

The Incredible, in addition to having a dropping substantially fewer calls, allows users to easily upload multimedia to a number of services in very few strokes.

While the iPhone 3GS and the HTC Incredible compete valiantly, the Incredible blows the iPhone 4 out of the water — and should be avoided.

We are pleased to welcome contributor Nancy Hall to the Tech Talk community.

She has written the following piece exclusively for the Hearst Connecticut publication.

By Nancy Hall
Special to Tech Talk

How many people would agree that their cell phone is their life? It’s certainly true for me. With no home phone line, my cell is my lone vocal connection to the outside world (aside from Skype, iChat and Google video chat, of course).

I’ve had the same phone number since I was a senior in high school. All of my friends and family know this number, and my 917 area code makes me feel a little closer to home wherever I may be.

As much as I love my number, it can pose an issue for freelance jobs. Some businesses and individuals may not feel comfortable calling a long distance number to get in touch with me, even though I may only live a few miles away.

Enter Google Voice.

On Monday, Tech Talk’s editor Jamie DeLoma introduced me to this incredible, free technology. I began to think of awkward exchanges I’ve had with clients, asking where my number was from and how long I had been in the state. Did they question my abilities because I didn’t seem to have local ties?

I signed up Tuesday, and am already impressed. You can search for a new number based on an area code, a word you’d like to spell out, or both. Once you’ve selected a number, you can decide to which phone line(s) you’d like your calls forwarded, select different voicemail greetings for different contacts, and much more. You can get emails with voicemail transcriptions as well as audio, and even reply to texts to your Google Voice number for free.

While I have yet to play around with all of the features, I highly recommend Google Voice to people with out-of-state cell phone numbers. With my personalized, local number, I hope clients will view me as more established, professional and reliable.

Google, you’ve done it again!

Nancy Hall is a media production specialist for Quinnipiac University’s School of Communications in Hamden, Conn. She is also a freelance writer, blogger and videographer, as well as an avid crafter. The Queens, N.Y.-native currently resides in Meriden, Conn. Check out her blog or e-mail her at NancyHall1@gmail.com.

Sometimes the simplest solutions are right in front of us.

Take, for example, the iPhone. Many users utilize their computer’s USB ports to charge their Apple communications device. But what happens if the computer dies? There’s no need to fret.

As an increasing number of devices in our lives incorporate USB ports, it is increasingly simple to find a place to charge our phones, including:

• On a modern television set
• On a game consoles, including the Wii and XBox
• In some new cars
• On routers

Of course, it also wouldn’t hurt to invest a $3 plus shipping for a USB power adapter.

Is the $199 price tag the only thing stopping you from upgrading to the iPhone 4?

If so, Radio Shack may have solved your problem.

The iPhone 3GS could reportedly be traded in to the gadget retailer for a $200 credit toward the new iPhone, according to reports on the Web and compiled by MacRumors.com.

This means if you still have last year’s model and are eligible for an AT&T phone upgrade this year, you could essentially get the new iPhone at no cost.

The retailer appears to confirm the reports on its Twitter account.

And, according to Radio Shack’s Twitter account, the iPhone trade-in prices are good from June 24 through July 25.

Please click here to check out Tech Talk’s iPhone archives.

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