Forever Online

Here’s a sentence you would have never heard in earnest just 10 years ago: have you ever wondered what happens to your social media accounts after your final post?

Not to be morbid, but the fact that our digital lifespans will long surpass our physical ones is something that has to be contended with at this point.

In my opinion not enough people have taken the time to consider the concept, particularly in businesses like ours where almost everything we do will be online and accessible until the end of civilization.

This Lifehacker piece goes into detail about how and why to write your Amazon Prime account into your will among other pertinent processes.

A Worthwhile Windows Update

Archway doesn’t sell computers–even though we will be happy to find you the best price on one–but we always suggest that anyone in the market for a new PC purchase one with Windows 10 preloaded. One of the updated standard features that I’m really coming to like is the “Shake” function, which makes managing multiple screens easier than ever before.

All you have to do with this convenient new tool is “grab” the top of the current window with your cursor and give it a quick back and forth shake with your keyboard or trackpad, and Shake clears the clutter by minimizing every other open program on the current screen. Get a bit of shakers’ remorse? Just shake it again to pull everything back up.

It’s pretty slick, actually…I admit to giggling just a little bit the first time it worked.

Free Money*

If you’re not taking advantage of cash back on your credit cards, you’re not getting nearly the value you could from your everyday purchases. This one I just started usinggives you a tidy 3 percent cash back on every swipe for the first year, and 2.5 percent every year afterward. There’s no initial fee and you could probably more than cover the $59 second year charge by only using it for gas…it really adds up fast.

Crank Up the Hype Machine

The debut of iOS 12 is nigh, and as usual CNET is here to give us all the early details on the latest bells and whistles. One I find myself intrigued by is the integration of voice shortcuts with Siri, so you can preprogram her with tasks such as “order my coffee” and “call my lawyer,” depending on what your lifestyle typically deems necessary.

The Last Word

All right, that’ll do it for the first week of June. Summer is in full effect, so I just want to take some time to thank all of you for shunning the invigorating appeal of the outside world in favor of another enthralling edition of “Brad’s Blog.” I trust you know by now when to expect me next, but until then don’t forget we only get about 28,000 days to love this life…and that’s if we’re lucky.

The post The Enduring Internet and the Latest on iOS 12 first appeared on Archway Computer.

If you’re on the fence about selling your house this year, maybe you should consider making up you mind by the end of the month. According to Zillow, May is the best time of the year to have your property on the market, as on average homes sell two weeks faster and at a $2,400 premium as compared with other times of year.

Apparently May 2018 is an especially opportune time to sell your home, as late spring marks peak selling season in 14 of the 24 major regional markets and there has a documented shortage of listings for sale this year. That means means buyers are looking to close before the summer months hit, and their impatience could be your gain so quit stalling and pack it on up.

Airfare, More Fair

By now it’s not exactly a secret that airfare prices can seemingly change with the wind, so timing can also be key to scoring great deals on travel as well.

This comprehensive guide for tip-hungry travelers breaks down the best time frame to buy your tickets depending on the region you plan to visit…for example, if you have your sights set on a trip to the Caribbean, the best time to buy a ticket is about 200 days before your date of departure, and you can save substantially by flying out on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

Obviously, events taking place at the locale such as festivals and holidays can have an effect on the price of travel, so don’t expect to score a rock-bottom rate for a trip to Brazil during Carnival.

Still, shopping smart can earn you funding for a few extra perks during your vacation, so it’s well worth taking into account. Don’t forget to use Incognito Mode so the system won’t see that you’re too interested and jack up the price…they do that, you know.

Pod People

It’s not just hype…Apple AirPods are amazing, and the way they’re integrated into the features of the phone is nothing short of stunning.

I love mine, but if you want to read the review of a more widely recognized authority on Apple, this piece breaks down what makes them so great…for starters, the Charging Case delivers up to 3 hours of music time on a 15 minute charge…wow!

You may also be wondering how to keep a small white accessory that you jam into your ear and wear around the world clean, and the site was insightful enough to also provide a guide to keeping your AirPods looking and sounding factory fresh in this filthy modern world.

Community Connection

If you’re not on NextDoor yet, you should be.

This convenient community resource is designed as a social network for your neighborhood, and you can use it for marketing to local buyers just as easily as you can invite the entire neighborhood to a backyard barbeque with the service.

I sold my old workhorse truck with over 220k miles of experience within just a few days after trying a range of selling sources…I suppose it’s sort of like Craigslist without all the Craigslist.

The Last Word

Well, as nice as it was to chat with you fine folks again that’s about all the time we have for this edition of Brad’s Blog! If I have my way I’ll be right back in your inbox within a week, and if you stumble onto any sweet sales this week I’m always looking for ways to save money for the more important things in life like my Amazon wish list, so don’t be shy about shooting me an email!

The post Brilliant Buys and Savvy Sales first appeared on Archway Computer.

One Day at a Time (for 279 Years)

I’ve started looking into retirement options before it’s too late–or at least, that’s what I set out to do recently. Apparently if I want to maintain my standard of living after I punch the digital clock for the last time, I’ll be putting in full shifts on the job until the year 2,300.

Okayfine, it was only 2297 AD according the the online calculator at Wealthfront, but still…point is, my financial plan could use some fine tuning.

On a more encouraging note I’ve been talking to some of the younger members of Team Archway and some of my kids’ friends about maybe not waiting until the wrong side of 30 to start caring about retirement, and I was pleasantly surprised to learn they’re a little ahead of the game.

One name that kept coming up in these discussions is Acorns, an investment resource that not only enables the account holder to build up their nest egg with the money they haven’t dedicated to designer streetwear and DLC, but rewards their friends with monetary bonuses for every new sign-up. It’s a great way to be passively responsible, which can be just as good as the other kind.

Another popular tool among financially savvy teens and twentysomethings is next-generation brokerage Robin Hood, which promises all of the benefits of a professional investing firm with almost none of the associated overhead. Manage your portfolio from your smartphone in minutes, close the app, then check your notifications or get some swiping in…convenient enough for sure.

It seems like an intriguing prospect, but over the years I’ve found that brokerage fees don’t always deliver the bang for your buck and I’ve also come across some advice that actively managed portfolios actually tend to underperform, but I’m by no means an expert so if you want to educate me or just compare notes, you’re more than welcome.

Eyes on the Road

Ever see those crazy Russian dashcam videos with footage of collisions, incidents of road rage, and insurance fraudsters caught on candid camera? Well, the open road is a crazy place whether the traffic signs are in metric or imperial units, and so mounted cameras are fast becoming a necessity for the conscious motorist.

Owl takes the concept a step further, combining a high definition camera with an integrated smartphone app so you can monitor your vehicle whether you’re driving it or not. It can send an alert directly to you in case of a break in or even just a rogue shopping cart, and can transmit live video to your screen wherever you are.

As an added bonus, the camera is on even when your car isn’t, so if there’s a spectacular sunset or a streaker near your vehicle you can be the first to know (and share it online, as is Internet Law).

Methodical Management

In my experience, most commonly used agency management systems are well suited to keeping a handle on everyday operations such as processing, commission tracking, and of course, paying the bills. With that typed, they’re not always robustly equipped for the more directly sales related aspects of the game, and that can be problematic since studies show sales are correlated with profits.

That’s why we’ve scoured the marketplace to identify the best tools for agencies who want to sell more insurance and do it right–which I assume is most of yours. If you’d like to check out a few of the apps that we find indispensable to our work and most frequently recommend, click here to let me know and I’ll send you a list. Don’t worry, I won’t sell your info, what we have is more special than that.

Home is Where the Art Is

Scrolling through an album on your phone or posting it on your social media account is one thing, but I know I’m not the only one who misses physical photos…the allure of a moment in time made tangible. There’s just something so much more substantial about holding a picture in your hands, and although I guess you can just print it on paper. don’t you want to take a little more advantage of the future in which we live than that?

Enter Fracture. Fracture is a cool new service that enables you to have pictures printed on glass as a wall or stand mount, adding vibrant warmth and visual interest to your most frequently visited spaces. Being immortalized in a stained-glass window once required approval from the Pope and usually took place after your final birthday, but now all you need is a major credit card and you can enjoy it during your life. Isn’t technology great?

The Last Word

Well, that’s certainly a ripe and relevant installment of “Brad’s Blog,” wouldn’t you say? Thanks as always for joining me for this periodic presentation, I express my gratitude for not being sent to the spam folder often and I do mean it every time. I’ll be back on schedule next week, but until then if you want to chat or suggest a new topic, you know where to find me. Have a great week!

The post Brad’s 23rd Century Retirement Plan first appeared on Archway Computer.

…and we’re back!

First things first: Happy New Year 2018 to all my readers! By now just about everyone is settling back into their everyday routines, which have hopefully been amended to reflect all those ambitious resolutions made just last week.

A simple alteration that has made a tangible impact on my quality of life was deciding to make stretching a priority. As the song says, “be kind to your knees, you’ll miss them when they’re gone,” and regular stretching goes a long way toward keeping all your flexy parts in good condition.

For full disclosure, I didn’t just start this on the 1st, but hey…it’s not too late to make a change and you might need some easy ideas.

A New Challenger Appears!

Getting to Know Alexa

The post New Year, Same Geek first appeared on Archway Computer.

If you’re wondering where I’ve been for the past few weeks, I’d love to tell you about my recent trip to Argentina…heck, even if you haven’t been wondering, I’m always excited to share. South America is known for its dizzying array of picturesque panoramas, and Iguazu Falls in Argentina is near the top of the list for me.

The locale is one of the “7 Wonders of the World”–well, one of the one of the “7 Wonders of the World,” turns out there are quite a few separate lists–but this one definitely made my personal rankings. This YouTube video doesn’t quite do it justice unless you happen to be in in one of those 4D theatres, but it can give you an idea of the sheer majesty involved. Breathtaking.

All Together Now

Our team seems to be growing with each passing month, and so our collaboration needs are starting to move beyond personal communication tools such as Skype. Getting everyone on the same page when they may not be on the same continent isn’t always easy, but I’m finding that Slack at least makes it feasible.

Slack can bring all of your correspondence together in one convenient, easy to navigate package, giving each team member the power to contribute in an organized fashion. Slack lets you build a searchable archive of your communications along with providing a suite of project management tools, so it feels like you’re all under one roof, just with less required office space.

WiFi Warning

Have you ever heard of WiFi hacking? It’s a lot less innocuous than trying to finagle a free Internet connection at a hotel…cybercrooks can access passwords, credit card information, emails, and even those photos you swore you’d keep a secret.

They call it a “reinstallation attack vulnerability” in the biz, but you can just call it “trouble” if the security of your data is a priority…which I’m sure it is if you’re reading this. Arm yourself with knowledge by checking out this TechCrunch article…otherwise, the consequences could be dire.

Stranger than (Science) Fiction

Fun fact about me: I actually started out my college career with dreams of becoming an astronomer. My teachers always said I was something of a space cadet growing up, and I wanted to fulfill the promise they so clearly saw in me at the time.

Sadly, my limited grasp of advanced theoretical physics outweighed my extensive knowledge of Star Trek, so my dream of becoming the new millenium’s Galileo remains unfulfilled–so far–but the passion for all things cosmic remains, and so I’m really excited about a major discovery made just this week.

You see, after centuries of observation, astronomers have discovered yet another unfathomable wonder hanging tantalizingly in the Universe all around us…they’ve dubbed it a “kilanova,” which sounds a lot less impressive than what it actually is: two collapsing stars fusing together to create a celestial explosion of precious metals and pure energy.

If it sounds too amazing to actually exist, just listen to some of the other mind-blowing aspects of this newly observed deep space phenomenon:

-The material within the construct is so dense that a teaspoon of the substance weighs about one billion tons. One. Billion. Tons.

-The colossal collision also generated a gamma ray burst, an eruption of energy so powerful that it could end life on Earth from clear across the galaxy.

-The actual explosion took place a while back–130 million years, give or take a few millenia–and only now reached out instrumentation after traveling at the speed of light the entire time. Dinosaurs on Earth missed the whole thing.

It is important to note here that none of my typical embellishment is at play…the facts are profoundly astounding on their own merit. I’ll quit nerding out over it here, but only so you have a chance to be awestruck on your own.

The Last Word

All right, that’ll about do it for this go-round…at this point I have to save something for the following episode. Thanks as always for taking time out of your Mon–Tu–um, day to indulge me…my inbox is open if you want to chat. I’ll try to be back on schedule next time, here’s to finishing strong this week!

The post Wonders of the Universe and IT for Insurance Agents first appeared on Archway Computer.

What Do I Think I’m Doing?

In case you didn’t know, this newsletter is a labor of love…any extra exposure or new clients we pull in by rambling about the wonders of the modern world are just a bonus.

Another thing we love doing that more directly keeps the lights on around there is developing tech insights for agencies, which is why we’ve been at it for the last 31 years.

You see, I’m just a tinkerer at heart…Erector sets were some of my favorite toys coming up because it was always a challenge to see if I could build exactly what I needed…a moon tank for the Green Army’s latest mission, a steel cage for Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em grudge matches…and I apply that same mindset to everything we do here at Archway.

I won’t lie, it can be something a tall task keeping the networks and digital resources of today stable and secure, especially when more people than ever are committed to doing the opposite.

That’s why we’re committed to delivering targeted tech services that our clients rely on to serve their clients. I envision it sort of like being Q to your James Bond.

Anyway, I suppose that’s enough about my childhood fantasies for one segment, so you can read more about what we do here, and if you want to take advantage of our free system review, you’re certainly invited to do that as well.

Mixed Messages

Be honest…your email isn’t anywhere near as efficient as it should be. How much time do you waste every morning scrolling through your 79 new messages to find the 4 you actually need to read or clicking refresh on your Facebook feed waiting on a reply to one you’ve sent?

If you’re like most, it’s more than you’ll admit to so let’s just skip to the solutions.

YesWare is a powerful email tracking tool that lets you know when your email was opened and where the recipient was on the globe, as well as what kind of device was used to open it. Great tool for measuring the impact of your outreach if you’re doing, say, a weekly newsletter.

Outlook is notorious for email overload since odds are you have, did, or will use it at work, and Sanebox is an option for keeping things tight.

Sanebox learns your reading habits over time and organizes emails by importance, “fate of the world” messages displayed prominently and staff summer vacation schedules and the like separated so you can just get to them whenever.

For later versions of Outlook,there’s Clutter, which  is a native Office utility that similarly prioritizes messages so you can spend less time reading email and more time browsing Amazon doing your job.

Smarter Suitcases

I’m always interested in smart luggage, and if you haven’t been sold on them yet, Bluesmart Series 2 is here to make its case, do you see what I did there.

In any event, this smart luggage is packed with features you didn’t know you needed, like a handle that automatically weighs the contents when lifted, an internal GPS for when the airline flies you to Phoenix and your bags to Portland, remote locking feature and a distance alert that ensures you never leave your stuff on a shuttle again.

Oh, and it’ll also charge your devices up to 6 times, because it wasn’t cool enough already. If you’re interested in the luggage I imagine Elon Musk carries, you can get a discount in the prelaunch by putting your email in here.

Alternate AppleID Access

Did you know you can manage your AppleID online? Not many people do, I like to bring it up at parties. You can change the email addresses and phone numbers linked with your account, add or change your trusted phone number for two factor authentication, change your password, shipping info and more…it’s true, I swear.

The Last Word

Seems like a good place to wrap things up, so I want to take some time as always to thank you for making time for the latest installment of “Brad’s Blog” today. I’ll be back on schedule next week as you doubtless know, so if you’re going to take any of those email filtration tips be sure to put this one on the highest priority.

The post Secretly Saving the World first appeared on Archway Computer.

It’s Not Stalking, It’s Market Research!

If you’ve ever wondered how those ads on websites get so suspiciously specific, it probably won’t surprise you to learn that it’s based on tracking your web history.

It’s somewhere in the chasm between creepy and convenient, and if it falls closer to the former for you, Incognito Mode might be the answer. Incognito Mode is good for everything from lowering the number of really weird ads you get after googling something for research purposes to bypassing paywalls at sites like the LA Times without a subscription.

I’m sure you can think of other uses for a secret untracked browsing session as well, and all you have to do is hit (Ctrl+Shift+N) to access it..um, not that I have it on speed dial or anything. This article at Gizmodo goes into more detail about covering your tracks online, just in case you’re feeling stealthy today.

Honeymoon’s Over

Does it seem like a while since a new iPhone debuted? I know it does to me, especially since my “old” 7-series doesn’t seem to hold a charge like it did in ancient times over 6 months ago. If you’re like me and are keen for the next generation of iOS devices, here’s a nice bundle of juicy rumors to make you hate your outdated smartphone even more.

Scouting the Surface

I continue to be impressed with the enduring popularity of the MS Surface after the product line’s fairly inauspicious start. They’re everywhere at the various conventions I find myself at, and I even find myself coveting the latest version for my own from time to time.

Microsoft is doing something pretty interesting for lovers of the Surface platform, rolling out a subscription service that allows owners to pay for their device on a monthly basis as well as upgrading to the latest model periodically.

My Surface fever is definitely getting worse, especially with more info coming out about the newest version of the hybrid laptop-tablet. Do I need another computer? Probably not, but half the reason I got into tech was to justify the constant purchase of shiny new gadgets.

An Infinite Attic

Of course, that means that I have a lot of dusty old obsoletes lying around, and lack of storage space is a pretty common issue for those of us who do not own warehouses.

That’s why I think a service like Clutter is a great idea…they’ll come pick up all your junk and store at a facility near you, then when you decide you want it back, they’ll deliver it to your door. Perfect.

The Last Word

Well, that seems like a good place to put a bookmark in things for the week. Thanks again for taking the time on this idle Tuesday for another riveting episode of “Brad’s Blog.” You can expect to hear from me again in six days’ time, but don’t be shy about shooting me an email if you want to chat before then!

The post Super Internet Safe Mode first appeared on Archway Computer.

Blank Space

Is there anything more annoying than running out of storage space on your phone? Of course there is, but I’m doing A Thing here, come on.

That seemingly uninhibited ability to draw any digital resources from any source of your choosing—automatic data backup, streaming music, videos, email, scheduling, games and a map of our entire spherical Earth among other things—suddenly about as powerful as Superman during a kryptonite parade all due to an offensively minor issue like “storage space.”

It’s almost obscene.

Okayfine, I’ll drop the theatrics…but still, it’s a totally avoidable issue, and the Wall Street Journal recently ran a pretty informative piece with  a few tricks for keeping things clean in there.

Master of One

You know, the thing about Swiss Army knives is that they can be incredibly useful if you need access to a wide range of tools in a pinch…but very few of the actual tools are really all that good.

Think about it…you’re not going to clear brush with the knife the way you would with a machete.

The new ones with the USB storage are kinda cool, but I don’t really see a scenario where I’d need a 5GB data drive in a survival situation,

If you’re thinking about doing any elaborate scissor work using only the pair equipped to a multitool, I hope you’re at least going to make a YouTube video about it.

I riff thusly to illustrate why I’m not a big fan of those giant honking printer/scanner/fax stations. Besides being the approximate size of New Zealand, they just don’t tend to have all the features you would want in a dedicated version of any of the above.

For example, find me one of those paper fortresses with one-button searchable PDF creation, wireless scanning to devices from PC and Mac to Android and iOS and streamlined scanning to the cloud.

Again, you can, but it’s probably the price of a ride on SpaceX. (Can you tell I’m in a superlative mood today?)

That’s why I’m a big fan of the Fujitsu ScanSnap Document Scanner I got on Amazon. It has all those features along with fast double sided scanning of up to 25 pages per minute through its 50 page feeding system.

It also does not weigh several metric tons like those pachydermic paper processing printing presses.

As Young As You Feel…

Despite how old my kids go out of their way to make me feel sometimes, I’m not quite the traditional retirement age yet. In fact, whatever number just came to mind for you may be a little low according to the resultsof a recent study spotlighted  in a New York Times article.

The researchers involved made some pretty surprising discoveries, including that there is a direct connection between the percentage of people working at age 60 to 64 and their performance on memory tests as they got older.

Apparently on the whole, the longer people in a country lived their lives in a way they considered productive, the better they did on the tests. It’s certainly an interesting idea…even more so if I can get that gig as a professional barbecue contest judge in my later years.

…Maybe Younger.

Still, it’s no secret that I’m not as young as I used to be. (Few of us are that lucky.) In the uncertain times of today, it’s easy to slip into the mindset that it’s all downhill from a certain point.

Of course we’re all headed for the same destination so it’s best to just make the ride as enjoyable as possible, and a book I read a while back does an excellent job reminding me of that when I’m sick of hearing it from myself.

“Younger Next Year” is a book written for men of the age where “taking care of oneself” actually becomes more complicated than “don’t die” and “try to eat a vegetable from time to time.”

The text is filled with helpful insights about getting the most out of your decades of adult experience, and “Younger Next Year” also  has a female-focused companion text I haven’t read yet but that I’m willing to wager is equally illuminating.

The Last Word

Well, that’s pretty much everything on the ledger for this week, but before I go I want to say I’ve noticed that the newsletter seems to have a few dedicated fans.

Not just “oh, look, it’s Tuesday morning again and Brad is going to ramble about some bundle of wires or configuration of code, that’s fine.” More like “a single anonymous reader opened this blog 60 times this week.”

Is your dedication that deep? Do you have nothing better to do?

Dare I say it…do we have superfans?

Well, the first thing I’m going to do this summer is find out. Shoot me an email  with a picture showing off your undying devotion to this weekly technology digest and Team Archway will choose the winner of a $100 Amazon gift card because of course that’s the prize.

Looking forward to seeing how great people think I am…thanks for reading!

The post ATTN: Both Brad’s Blog Superfans first appeared on Archway Computer.

Salute the Season

Can you feel summer coming? That’s right, Memorial Day is traditionally thought of as the season’s unofficial kickoff, and for good reason most of our minds go to BBQ’s and good times with family and friends on one of the few days of leisure guaranteed virtually the entire American workforce.

Still, this national holiday is particularly meaningful in our culture because of the deeper meaning behind all the mattress sales and barbecue sauce. The Washington Examiner did an excellent job spotlighting the significance of Memorial Day, putting together this great little collection of videos that show why respect for this day is so integral to the fabric of our nation. Check it out, you know you did nothing productive yesterday.

Restful Recharge

I talk about the importance of a good night’s sleep in this space from time to time, as I’m sure it’s common knowledge that the vast majority of people aren’t getting enough quality rest on a nightly basis.

Unfortunately, having a life can often prevent one from clearing out 8-10 uninterrupted hours  in which to be safely unconscious, and so I try to get the least amount of sleep possible while still remaining well-rested. It’s not a perfect plan, but at least I’m not a zombie in the morning any more.

Home, Away from Home

I installed a Ring video doorbell over the weekend…really, as in with my own two hands. I’ll skip the part where I gush about how it makes me feel like I live in an inaccessible secret lair and tell you that the project was surprisingly simple and the iPhone app works really well. Now I can see packages being delivered to my home when I’m away, which I hope is less…um, um, entertaining…than this.

Picturesque Peru

I go on a lot of trips, so I can always justify some new luggage to myself…Bluetooth-enabled suitcases with internal power supplies and password protection are great and all, but when you’re making an international haul for a week or three, one feature in particular becomes indispensable—packing space.

That’s why I’m getting full use out of one of my latest luggage purchases, the Expandable International Carry-on from  Briggs-Riley. This beast of an upright bag is the ideal solution for folks like me who prefer to travel with one bag, expanding 34 percent to essentially give me one of those old-school steamer trunks from “Titanic,” except it fits in the overhead compartment.

The Last Word

All right everyone, that’s about all for this week. Thanks as always for allowing this weekly fireside chat into your “good” inbox, even if it’s because you keep forgetting to unsubscribe. I’ll be back on schedule next week, but until then I’ll be staring at my phone…have some Amazon deliveries coming in this week, you see.

The post I’m Watching You, UPS first appeared on Archway Computer.

Gotta Be In It to Win It

NetVU is tomorrow and I have to say, I’m pretty excited. We’ll be at the event meeting and geeting for the duration, and if you’re feeling friendly you can stop by our booth for a free entry into the big gadget giveaway that will see some of you fine people walk away with great stuff like Apple AirPods and the Muse focus headband.

What if I’m not feeling friendly? Well, first of all, cheer up…I get it, it’s early in the week, but still. Maybe the fact that you can enter the contest online by filling out this form might help. It’s all the potential benefit and almost none of the legwork. Sure, you won’t get the chance to enter into the drawing a second time by coming to the booth and yelling “I love Archway,” but I have to reward effort somehow.

Rebate Revolution

Oh yeah, did I mention that even if you don’t win any of my tech toys, you can win a bit of extra cash for your online purchases by listening to me? It’s not part of my giveaway, but it’s still just as spendable. Earny is an app that connects your email and searches through for order info, then automatically searches for any available research. No more intending to fill out a rebate application for 6 months and then forgetting about it, now manufacturers are going to have to find a different way to hide savings.

Breaking Bracket

It’s March Madness time, and even though I was pleased to see my UCLA Bruins make the Sweet 16 after defeating Cincinatti in game action yesterday afternoon, my bracket wasn’t nearly as successful…it never advanced past the first round. I’m not alone, though…the chances of filling out a perfect bracket are only slightly higher than being hit by a flying ice cream truck, and here’s the science to prove it so there.

Uber Conference Answers the Call

Uber Conference continues to impress, with the free conference calling app seeming to get new features every day…or maybe I’m just slow to discover them. In either case, it provides reliable call quality and texts me if someone calls when I’m away from my computer. You can record and play back calls for accurate note-taking, and just for fun they also have pretty hilarious on hold music.

Archway Nation

Espatial does a neat trick as well. Just add a spreadsheet of addresses to the generation with a pinch of client information, stir well, and out pops a great little map showing their respective locations. It’s always cool to see what kind of reach your company has, and if you want to see where all of Archway’s clients are located check out this map we made with the service. We’re coast to coast, baby.

The Last Word

All right, that’ll just about do it for this week. Thanks as always for making time for your weekly installment of “Brad’s Blog,” and earlier than usual at that! I hope to see some of you at NetVU Nashville starting tomorrow, but if you can’t make it we will certainly meet again next week!

The post Countdown to NetVU Nashville first appeared on Archway Computer.

Music City Meetup

Team Archway is coming to Music City for NetVU this year, and if you’ll be in Nashville for the big event, now is your chance to win one of those fabulous whatchamacallits I’m always giving out.

Just stop by the booth to enter, and you can even visit with us a second time to double your chances of winning a Muse meditation headband, Apple AirPods  and other tech toys I use and think more people should have.

Also, because I’m just such a gadget philanthropist, I’m opening the contest up to online entries as well…just fill out the form here, maybe play some country music while you do.

Home Sweet Office

More people than ever are working from home, and why not? The dress code is more relaxed, lunch is cheaper and the commute can’t be beat. Still, when you work at home, the fact is that you work at home…and funny things can happen when every day is “bring your family to work day,” as a BBC news reporter was reminded  in a hilarious clip that’s  circling the web this week.

What makes that globally televised moment so relatable is that everybody who has an office at home has probably experienced something similar,and this article from LifeHacker has some insightful things to say about minimizing these everyday disaster. I myself prefer the “ignore all of existence around me” method, and  these Bose QuietComfort headphones are amazing for the purpose.

Your Device, Tagged

If you’ve ever lost a smartphone, you know how much of a hassle teaching a new one to do its’ best imitation of your departed device can be.

That’s why I think this idea is pretty slick…since most people use a lock screen to greet anyone who isn’t the device owner, why not use the space for your emergency contact info?

It’s basically a return address for your phone. If you’ve left your phone in more train seats and coffee shops than you can count, think about it.

The Flying Library

Okay, so looking at the itinerary I’m going to be spending a lot of time in the air over the next few months.

Not only does that mean a couple of cran-vodkas to calm my nerves about the whole “5 miles off the ground in a flexible metal tube” thing, it also means I need a good selection of audiobooks to make those famous LAX delays a bit shorter.

I like Audible as a service, they give you three free audio books when you sign up and then one every month, which could come in handy for you frequent flyers. Best of all, if you don’t like a book, just return it…nice.

The Last Word

All right, that’s about all I have in the bag this week. Thanks as always for making time early in your day to check out this week of wonders…I’ll be back in your inbox in 6 days’ time, but until then I hope to see some of you at NetVU Nashville and don’t forget to enter the contest!

The post NetVU Nashville Goodies Giveaway first appeared on Archway Computer.

Better Meditation through Technology

Okay, if you’ve been with us for a while you know that I’m a big proponent of meditation. I’m not looking to manifest myself on the astral plane or anything—at least during the week—but it’s pretty hard to argue with the obvious benefits of taking a few minutes on a daily basis to clear your mind and exist in the moment.

Still, how can you possibly know if you’re doing it right or just sitting around trying not to think about thinking?

Well, our longtime readers may also know I’m a fan of gadgets as well, and a new digital doodad I recently discovered on Amazon is an interesting marriage of thetwo. Muse is  what the ad copy calls a “personal meditation assistant,” but what it actually does is a lot more impressive.

The thing essentially reads your mind during meditation, rewarding you with the relaxing sounds of pleasant weather when you’re calm and soundtracking your unwanted brainstorms with more inclement audio. The system is designed to guide your mind toward peaceful relaxation through positive reinforcement, which is an intriguing idea whether you own a yoga mat or not. Pretty sure I’m going to pull the trigger on a purchase, and you’ll surely hear more when I do.

Getting Loose

If we’re playing “Family Feud” and the category is “everyday things people generally understand are good but not enough people do,” “stretching” is right up on the big board with “meditation,” right?

It’s a really simple thing that has benefits from increased mobility to pain management with a range of conditions, and in light of the new health consciousness initiative here at Archway (fine, mostly just in my office), we’ll be giving away these great little stretching mats I  stumbled across you-know-where!

Visit our company camp at NetVU for a chance to get your hands on one, and since I’m a swell guy, I’ll even give out a few to people who can’t be there in person.

Unconventional Wisdom

Have you ever thought about what makes the inventor of Spanx tick? The real world implications of a lifetime commitment to the ways of the Jedi Order? How our ancestors from 70,000 years ago were smarter than us…because they had to be?

Maybe not, but if you find yourself as fascinated as I was with this broad range of open-ended topics, you might want to  give the James Altucher podcast a listen. A friend of mine turned me on to it a few weeks back and I’ve been hooked ever since.

The Smartest Printer

Smart technology is kind of my thing. I love the idea of living in a home straight out of the Jetsons, and that’s why I’m loving this intelligent printer from Brother.

It sits in my home office quietly improving my life, scanning printed documents directly to Google Drive and featuring integration with Amazon Replenish so when I’m low on ink or toner, it can be set to automatically order more. Basically, I never have to think about it, which is pretty much the point of technology.

Cable Providers: An Endangered Species

Streaming services like Netflix and Hulu have permanently changed the way people consume media content, and the days of gathering around the old wood paneled floor set to choose from three channels seem like ancient history.

That being the case, it was only a matter of time before YouTube got into the live television game, and their product, known as YouTube TV, might be the service that cuts the cable cord for good.

Here are the basics: YouTube TV is a monthly subscription service, that much I’m sure you’ve deduced. As for what you get, the service delivers live streaming from major networks including ABC,CBS, FOX, ESPN (yes, ESPN!) and dozens of others. You also get unlimited cloud-based DVR storage, and you can record as many programs as you want simultaneously.

YouTube TV works on all your screens from the living room to the airport terminal, and in addition to the network streaming content, YouTube plans to introduce its own original movies and TV shows in the vein of the phenomenally successful Netflix Originals. You get six accounts for one monthly price…oh, and that price is $35 monthly, no commitment.

Basically, YouTube TV means business, and it’ll be fascinating to see if it takes hold.

The Last Word

Well, that’s all for this week! Thanks as always for making time in your day for this periodic potpourri of gadgets and geekdom. I’ll be back on schedule in 6 days’ time, but if you want to chat before then don’t be shy about shooting me an email!

The post YouTube TV Throws Down the Gauntlet first appeared on Archway Computer.

To Err is Human

I’m sure by now even those who weren’t participating in any drinking games or office pools involved with this year’s Oscars have heard of the awkward snafu that ensued when the wrong winner was announced for the biggest prize of the night.

Jokes about “La-La Land” winning the popular vote and “Moonlight” winning the general election quickly abounded on the streets of social media, but what the whole thing highlighted for me is just how many things we do the old fashioned way just for the sake of ceremony.Think about it…this could have all been avoided if we took upgradable components such as envelopes and human beings out of the equation as much as possible.

Here’s my suggestion: next time instead of trying to keep track of 54 individual pieces of paper specifying the winners of each category, just read the winners from a screen or something incorporated into the platform. It works in pretty much every other forum…not even Alex Trebek reads from cards any more, and doing what he does 5 days a week for the last ever, I’m sure he knows a good system when he sees one.

Give it Away

If you’re reading this, you know I’m obsessed with shiny new gadgets, and I love sharing them with others almost as much as I love the moment where the latest smiling box brings me another toy. That’s why I’ve scoured the Internet to find some of the coolest tech giveaways for our next NetVU event, because I know my readers could always use something new to plug in.

For example, you might think you’re happy with a home full of standard picture frames, but that’s because you don’t know about Iris Frames yet. These next gen display devices allow you to manage and add pictures to its screen from anywhere in the world, which is great for making people jealous with vacation pictures remotely.

Another great little product is the Boombit, a  Bluetooth speaker you can actually wear with modern Earth clothing…I mean, sure, there have been speakers that have claimed you can wear them around before, but you’d need one of these giant Shakespeare collars or a stiff-necked Dracula cape to hold it up for longer than it took to get a picture for the ad.

Boombit finally delivers on the ultra-portable Bluetooth promise, so stay tuned for more information about winning one or getting your hands on a free Iris Frame just for caring.

I <3 Warren Buffett

No, not just because his nephew is the legendary Jimmy Buffett (although it certainly doesn’t hurt his overall appeal). I dig his perspective because he has a unique way of looking at the world that I have to assume has driven his success throughout his career in big-time finance.

For instance, he—more specifically his wife—decides what to order at the Mickey D’s drive-thru based on how the market is performing at the time. If growth is slow or down he’ll keep it to the dollar menu, but things are looking bullish he’ll lay out for the Biscuit, Egg and Cheese sandwich for a little over 3 bucks.

Is it a bit eccentric for a billionaire to be counting pennies at a fast-food joint? That’s up for debate…but the guy is one of the foremost minds in the industry, so who the heck am I to argue with his economic choices?

Besides, he’s also a compelling character overall, donating his entire 40 billion+ fortune to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation among other philanthropic works that are less publicized. As you might expect, the movie on the man is a pretty fascinating watch, and anybody with an appreciation for uncommonly wired people should make an effort to check it out.

Your Filthy Phone

When’s the last time you cleaned your smartphone? I can’t think of anything else in most people’s possession that we expose to more germ-filled environments and then happily put on the sides of our faces.

I’m glad smartphones didn’t exist when I was a teenager, I’m sure my acne would have been way worse and it would have killed my chances on 80s’ Tinder.

Anyway, if I successfully made you give your soiled smartphone a sideways glance with this segment, here’s a Wall Street Journal article about making it clean again.

The Last Word

Another fun week of “Brad’s Blog” in the books…life is good. Thanks as always to everyone who continues to make time for my weekly dose of unbridled and unapologetic geekiness disguised as corporate outreach. I’ll be back in your inbox before half a fortnight, but until then feel free to shoot me an email if you want to chat, complain or connect!

The post Gadget Giveaway and Upgrading the Oscars first appeared on Archway Computer.

Even More Amazon

If you’re looking for yet another way that Amazon Prime account besides free two day shipping on a countably infinite range of products and a free six-month subscription to the totally-not-failing Washington  Post (no, seriously!), Amazon Prime Music is pretty easy to fall in love with.

The music streaming service is free to use for all Prime members, and it has a pretty intuitive interface with no ads, and that’s about all you can ask out of an invisible digital jukebox. It doesn’t have quite the comprehensive library that Spotify does, but for $120 less per year I’ll take it.

Application Analysis for Google Accounts

If you have a Google account—and who doesn’t, it’s kind of quaint to think of the days where people were on a waiting list for a shiny new Gmail inbox—you might want to take a few minutes to run this security checkup. It gives you a clear picture of what applications have access to the data in your Google profile…I know I was pretty shocked to see how many of them did.

The Blackberry Resistance

They say what’s old is new again, and that seems particularly true in the world of mobile devices. I’ve heard people talk about the triumphant return of the nigh-indestructible Nokia 3310,the humble brick that allowed people of all walks of life to Snake and T9-text their way through the early 2000s, but I have fond memories of the Blackberry for its unmistakable air of polished professionalism.

Well, it seems like I’m not alone in my fond memories of the official smartphone of looking important ten years ago.  Although this article talks  about how the once great line of devices now has a market share of zero percent, that cold, empty figure does a poor job of highlighting the over 200,000 people worldwide that are still working through their addiction to their Crackberries.

Kindred spirits, all. Stay strong. Resist.

You Have (1) New Job Offer

In the latest phase of social media permeating every phase of our lives, Facebook is now allowing businesses to post job listings online to its hundreds of millions of users. The implied importance of separate personal and professional accounts aside, it’ll definitely be interesting to see the effects this will have on recruiting practices as well as the continuing viability of resources like LinkedIn.

The Last Word

All right, that’s about all we have time for this week, but thanks as always for finding valuable real estate in your inbox for another installment of “Brad’s Blog.” I’ll be right back on schedule next week, but until then did you know you can restrict access to your status updates and pictures on Facebook to friends only or even certain groups of with the site’s privacy settings? Just thought I’d mention that for no real reason.

The post Blackberry Smartphones: In Loving Memory first appeared on Archway Computer.

Head In the Clouds

You know, flying commercial is often an experience in and of itself, but I’ve always secretly fantasized about owning a private jet.

It just seems like the most convenient way to go about one’s travels…think about it. No cramped seats. No spending an entire flight with my carry-on under my feet because some tiny regional puddle-hopper ran out of headroom. No more terminal confrontations with airline CEOs (at least, I think not).

As far as that dream goes, I’m still a couple bucks short on the down payment on that Learjet 60, but thanks to Jetsmarter, I can at least get a little of the private jet experience. Jetsmarter is a pretty cool new service that connects its users with unused seats on private flights and idle jets traveling all over the world.

It’s another cool optimization of resources driven by technology and a great option for trips where I’d rather not start out by spending 5 hours in LAX.

Dazzling Data

Okay, so we all love infographics, right? Right. They’re the ideal combination of form, functionality and flash.

It’s like taking scores of vegetable-flavored numbers that no one really wants to digest and turning it into sweet, addictive data candy. Even the name reflects the confident efficiency of the concept…it’s an informative graphic.

I know I think infographics are just great, and if you’ve always wanted to impress friends and colleagues alike with your own slick and stylish information presentation, then check out venngage.com.

A Little Airtime

That podcast I talked about a bit ago is still in the works—believe me, nobody will let me forget—but for now if you want to hear my unparalleled brilliance instead of reading it, check out this interview I recently did with Michael Jans, founder and executive chair over at Agency Revolution.

We had a good conversation about the kind of technology solutions agents and brokers should be using and other meandering wisdoms…it was interesting, thanks again for having me guys.

The Last Word

All right, that’s about all I’ve got for this week but before I go…it’s Valentine’s Day! You thought I forgot, didn’t you? Your Edible Arrangements fruit flowers should be on their way to your office, but I used USPS so who knows. As always, I appreciate you taking time early in your week for another exciting edition, hope to be in your inbox next time around!

The post Remember When Flying Was Fun? first appeared on Archway Computer.

Thanks, Tommy

Just in case there are any Atlanta Falcons supporters in my readership, don’t take this personally…I even waited a day to say this out of respect. Still, I have to say, seeing the Patriots rally from a 25 point deficit to win their 5th Super Bowl was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever seen.

Now, I wouldn’t exactly call myself a Patriots fan…it’s hard not to respect their legacy overall, but pro sports as a whole really don’t do it for me. As Jerry Seinfeld observed, we are just rooting for laundry. I did, however, have money on the game, and that certainly made things interesting.

Imagine my excitement as what I had written off the price of a good time around the time of Lady Gaga’s halftime show slowly became a nice little reward for sitting through 4 hours of commercials. Speaking of which, there weren’t many real gems this year, but if you want a recap of the standouts, check out this video.

So, How’s that Resolution Going?

They say it takes 21 days to form a new habit, which means reshaping your behavior is really just about sticking to your commitment. Of course, that’s not as easy as it sounds, as anyone who has been losing that extra 15 pounds for almost as many years can attest. Still, the fact remains that tracking your efforts and progress is a reliable source of motivation, and a habit tracker app can go a long way toward forcing yourself to be a better person.

Fight for Your Right

At Archway, we don’t do hardware…we’re strictly about what goes on inside your computer. Still, we take pride in our comprehensive network services, which means we certainly understand the importance of having the right computer components.

We always encourage our clients to take advantage of any available extended warranties on their parts, because even though HP does offer onsite repair, getting replacement parts in a timely fashion can be a real challenge.

A lot of the reason the whole thing is more complicated than it has to be is because of a concept called “right to repair,” which doesn’t exist in every state. What can I say, short sighted as it was, the founding fathers weren’t really thinking about your laptop fan.

“Right to repair” laws essentially force manufacturers to supply their parts to independent service providers and regular folks like us instead of monopolizing the process, and I have to say it’s a step in the right direction for the industry. I’m really not sure how they managed that deal in the first place.

Rendering Unto Ceasar

Tax season is well upon us, and one of the few things I don’t procrastinate on is getting them done and out of my hair. Of course, I use the services of an accountant—combination of complicated entrepreneurial tax code and all-American laziness—but if you prepare your own  taxes, this article highlights some useful programs that can help.

The Last Word

That’s good for one edition, wouldn’t you say? If I haven’t worn out my weekly welcome in your inbox, feel free to shoot me an email, but in  any event thanks so much for making time early in your week for me. I’ll be back on schedule next week, which is about enough time for you to start picking up a positive new habit, isn’t it?

The post This Email May Be Habit-Forming first appeared on Archway Computer.

Bearing Down

After coming out red-hot to start the season, my Bruins have been on a bit of a slide lately. It’s not the greatest time to be working through a slump with March and its madness quickly approaching, but I’m hoping to see them bounce back this week in their stretch of games up in the Pacific Northwest, including 2 in-conference games.

Of course, it remains to be seen whether those games against teams from Washington State and Oregon might soon be known as international games. That’s right, the so-called “Calexit” is actually picking up steam, with actual secession documents being delivered to the Secretary of State’s office proposing to establish it as a sovereign nation or bust it up into several states.

As a Californian, I can say this isn’t the first I’ve heard of this, but it is the first I can remember the movement being this mainstream…it was always pretty much treated as a joke. Now, here we are. Interesting times we’re living in, but you already knew that.

The World is Calling

While we’re on the topic of departures, I want to congratulate my son on his successful exit. He’s in the process of leaving for school in Italy, and naturally the topic of mobile phone plans came up. He had an unlocked phone so I just switched him over to T-Mobile, who has a really great international setup.

Deals like the Simple Choice and T-Mobile One plan include unlimited texting and 2G data in almost 150 countries, and his plan only costs 20 cents per minute for international calling, which sounds a bit pricey until you look at some of the alternatives. They even have high-speed data packs available in case you just have to post your travel pics on Instagram in real time.

Another good mobile option for frequent globetrotters is Sprint’s Open World plan, which can be added to your existing line at no charge. Unlike most others, the carrier provides a full network of coverage throughout South America and the Caribbean excluding places like Cuba, but then again if you’re headed there your concerns are probably different.

Old Scam, New Trick

It seems like the cybercriminal community is always coming up with new ways to trick folks into giving up their personal information, and the newest popular method is particularly sneaky.

Reports of attacks involving emails that mimic the appearance and content of other emails in your inbox are becoming more widespread, and some are so sophisticated as to include functional Gmail login pages to steal your information.

This article goes into detail about how to spot authentic Google emails, but the fact that it’s more difficult than ever before is honestly kind of disturbing.

iOS First Aid

If you’re a fellow owner of an iOS device, you know they can have little issues from time to time. Screen glitches, volume problems, apps gone awry, that sort of thing. Our ancestors used to solve everyday malfunctions like these with their smartphones by popping the battery out for a breath of fresh air, but Uncle Leo has the home remedies for your slightly sick iOS device today.

The Last Word

Well, that about does it for this week. Thanks as always for making time early in your week to share with me, I always appreciate it. Be sure to send plenty of postcards from the United States if this whole thing doesn’t blow over!

The post Greetings from the Republic of California! first appeared on Archway Computer.

Serenity Now

You know, I try to avoid discussions on the subject, but it seems every possible human interaction leads to an open forum on politics these days. I can’t get through so much as a supermarket checkout line without the clerk relaying the latest memes from Twitter, and I get it…I do. It is quite the remarkable time in American history…it’ll certainly be interesting to read the history books one day, and this is just a glimpse of how real everything is now.

All I have to say on the matter is continuing to act like the world has ended is pointless at best and a self-fulfilling prophecy at worst. We all want to see a positive direction for our country, and that can’t happen if we don’t just calm down and start talking realistic solutions to the issues that face us as a nation instead of running in circles screaming. Obviously it’s not an ideal situation for everyone, but we have to make it work for the children…or something.

High Security, Low Price

If you’ve ever considered adding an inexpensive wireless camera to your security setup, this is a pretty good option. It captures 720p video as well as audio, and has a wide-angle viewing range so you can cover the majority of a large space with a single camera, and also includes a motion detector that streams video live to your known when activated. For under 40 bucks you really can’t beat it, so if you want to feel more omniscient in 2017, head over to Amazon.

Smartphone Photography 102

Let’s face it…most of us suck at taking smartphone pics.

We’ve just collectively figured out that many images and all videos are best shot in landscape mode and not portrait mode because there are few televisions shaped like doors, and now we’re all working our way through basic photography concepts such as lighting and focus.

Don’t take any of this the wrong way, I was definitely in that boat as well…that is, until I came across this piece detailing how  to take professional quality pictures with your favorite lifestyle device.

Upgraded Underwear

I travel a lot, and one day recently I was trying to close yet another overstuffed duffel bag when I realized just how much of my cargo was simple undergarments like boxers and t-shirts. Think about it: if you’re traveling elsewhere for a week, you want 7 pairs of these things at the very least…more if you’re going somewhere warm, doing something active, or lack access to a washer.
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That’s why this product I’ve recently discovered has been a real lifesaver during those times where I’m sleeping in hotels for the better part of a month or so. ExOfficio underwear is designed for folks on the go, constructed with a lightweight, breathable and odor-resistant fiber that just needs a quick sink wash and air dry to becomes as good as new. A few pairs of these replaces over a week’s worth of standard skivvies,and I absolutely love it. Try ‘em.

The Last Word

All right, that just about does it for this week, but thanks as always for making yourself available for another enthralling edition of “Brad’s Blog!” I recognize that you have many choices in Tuesday morning entertainment, and appreciate you making this newsletter yours today. I’ll be back on schedule next week, but until then, remember that people are people too.

The post Underwear And Politics first appeared on Archway Computer.