Computer Support Blog

Learning to speak a foreign language can be especially difficult for adults.  After all, adults have years, decades, of word associations to overcome when learning a foreign language.  With many other languages having different word orders and verb tenses that are not used in English, adult learners are not only tasked with learning a new language, but with thinking an entirely new way.  Fortunately, not every language is as difficult as learning Chinese and there are some great programs for those who want to rise to the challenge of learning a foreign language.  For learning German, there is arguably no better resource than Fluenz German 1+2+3. Read more »

There are so many specialized companies within the tech sector that it is unsurprising that umbrella companies form.  Umbrella companies are large corporate entities that usually do not manufacture or sell anything of their own; their sole purpose is usually to manage the many component companies.  In other words, an umbrella company is company that owns smaller companies.  One of the most intriguing umbrella companies is Sanmina-SCI, a tech company that has interests in medical systems, computer components, plastics manufacturing, clean technology and even defense technology!  One of the most intriguing individuals at Sanmina-SCI is Jackie Ward! Read more »

Fans of digital photography – especially amateurs and those who do not have a lot of money for expensive, professional photo manipulation software – have been mourning the demise of Picnik.  Picnik is no longer an independent photo manipulation website, though its tools have been absorbed into Google+.  For those who might not want to join yet another social network, but enjoyed the look and feel of Picnik, there is now iPiccy. Read more »

With all of the advances in digital music technology, it is unsurprising that consumers today are constantly looking for better audio equipment.  While an inexpensive mp3 player may play audio files with equal precision as the most expensive players, serious audiophiles know that the quality of the speakers, headphones or earbuds make all the difference with digital music.  Harmon Kardon is an industry leader in the manufacture of quality audio equipment.  Harmon Kardon relies upon the talents of Sean Olive. Read more »

When it comes to cool products, it is hard not to think of outer space.  After all, what is cooler than space exploration?  Unfortunately for space-loving consumers everywhere nothing, yet, has come from space.  In fact, the cool items most associated with the space program have merely been popularized by their use in the space program, not developed for it or by humanity’s exploration of space. Read more »

With improvements to the Internet and the rise of Internet social networks, it is becoming easier than ever to connect and stay connected with members of your family.  At the same time, social mobility in the United States has made it commonplace for families to move around a lot and keeping track of how members of your family relate to one another can be a full time job.  To make genealogy simple, comprehensive and fun, Ancestry.com has now released Family Tree Maker Deluxe 2012. Read more »

No matter how good your product or service is, if you do not have the right team of people promoting it, the marketplace may never know the true genius of your work.  In the tech sector, especially on the Internet, this is especially true; the Internet is so cluttered with information and services, you need to make yours stand out.  Even an established and successful Internet-based company like Salesforce must continue to find new clients in order to keep growing.  For Salesforce, the person in charge of finding those new clients is Hilarie Koplow-McAdams!

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Environmentalism is becoming chic again and the technology sector is adapting remarkably quickly to the trend.  In fact, with technology improving and making access to educational tools easier, computer and electronics manufacturers must adapt to environmentalist policies or be left behind.  Apple is, unsurprisingly, the computer company leading the charge toward more transparent environmental policy.  While most of Apple’s manufacturing is done in China, a country with little regard to reducing the carbon footprint of companies there, independent auditors have found that even the Chinese facilities are better complying with Apple’s requests to reduce carbon emissions. Read more »

Sometimes, it takes time for people to realize just how cool an idea or device actually is.  When Dr. Michael Schuette developed the Neural Impulse Actuator for OCZ Technologies, he thought he was taking the first step toward thought-activated and thought-controlled computers.  Schuette was introducing consumers to the first logical step toward a new way of controlling computers, but the commercial release of the OCZ NIA focused on gaming.  Unfortunately for Schuette, OCZ and those who wanted to see radical technological improvement, OCZ Technologies released the NIA right when the video game market took an especially drastic hit due to the worldwide economic downturn.  Recently, though, consumers are discovering and rediscovering the incredibly cool OCZ NIA. Read more »

The rise of the Internet social network has happened with such a speed that it is often difficult to say what the real enduring impact of the Internet social network has been and will be.  To understand what Twitter is trying to convey, as far as what the service might mean to communications and history, a very specific analytic tool had to be built.  That tool was TagWalk and the inventor of TagWalk is Tim Hastings! Read more »