Recent Comments
Comment by Shawn Rosvold on Will This Gadget Replace Your Landline? (December 8, 2023 04:36 PM)
Can a Canadian have a US number with MJ?...
Comment by Scott Brooks on Geekly Update - 29 Nov 2023 (has the robot apocalypse begun?) (December 7, 2023 04:57 PM)
Hi Bob, Maybe I looked at this incorrectly, but your Geekly Update email today pointed me to your prior November 15 update, rather than your newest No...
Comment by TN on Online College for Learning, Fun (and maybe Credit) (December 5, 2023 04:19 AM)
Bob, thank you for this informative article. A similar article for those of us interested in learning trade skills for DIY projects (e.g., electrical,...
Comment by Ford on Geekly Update - 29 Nov 2023 (has the robot apocalypse begun?) (December 1, 2023 08:29 PM)
I also agree. You even see tip jars at self-service counters. Who gets these tips, anyway?...
Comment by lisa g on New PC? You MUST Take These Steps Now... (November 30, 2023 10:58 PM)
Also, I do like the AI image that was generated for an old cartoon you once saw years ago. It's kinda funny. :)...
Comment by Lisa g on New PC? You MUST Take These Steps Now... (November 30, 2023 10:56 PM)
Thank you, Bob - I always enjoy your articles. I like to check myself and my practices to confirm I am doing a good job. You are one of my respected r...
Comment by Marlene on Geekly Update - 29 Nov 2023 (has the robot apocalypse begun?) (November 30, 2023 12:24 AM)
I heartily agree with you. ...
Comment by Ron on Geekly Update - 29 Nov 2023 (has the robot apocalypse begun?) (November 29, 2023 09:19 PM)
I resent the "Be sure to tip your driver." part. I've read several articles recently talking about how Americans are getting fed up with tipping gett...
Comment by GregC on New PC? You MUST Take These Steps Now... (November 29, 2023 03:50 PM)
PLEASE, make copies of your Bitlocker Key! Windows Home uses disk encryption although it does not call it Bitlocker. Those who have tried to recover k...
Comment by Rien snijder on New PC? You MUST Take These Steps Now... (November 29, 2023 12:47 PM)
Very useful information. About anti virus: I have always used the built in windows defender without any problems...
Auto Articles
Auto Insurance Online: Tips to Save You Money
If you get the feeling your car insurance premiums are getting higher all the time, you're probably right. According to Consumer Reports, the average premium increase over the past two years was about 18%. Auto insurance rates for drivers in Florida spiked by 88%, while those in Colorado, Nevada, and New York were up about 50%. Read on for my tips on how you can reduce your car insurance costs...
...Is This the Best Month to Buy a Car?
Do you know the best time of year to shop for a new or used car? And how is the global chip shortage affecting auto prices and inventory? Today I have some some tips for online auto buying that will help you save money and get the car you want. You may not even have to set foot in a dealer showroom. Read on...
...Which is the Best Month to Buy a Car?
Do you know the best time to shop for a car? And how is the global chip shortage affecting auto prices and inventory? Today I have some some tips for online auto buying that will help you save money and get the car you want. You may not even have to set foot in a dealer showroom. Read on...
...Are Carfax and Other Vehicle Reports Trustworthy?
If you've shopped for a used car in the past few years, you've probably heard of Carfax, Autocheck, and similar vehicle history reporting services. They purport to give you a reliable, independent look at a car’s major service records, title history, and other factors to help you gauge a used car’s value. But where does this data come from, and how complete is it? Here's the scoop...
...Is There a Big Red Bow in Your Future?
According to experts at Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds (two of the the most popular auto pricing websites), December is the best month of the year to buy a car. Non-stop TV ads touting car deals also attest to that fact. Find out why that's true, and pick up some tips for online auto buying that will help you save money and get the car you want now, or at any time of the year. You may not even have to set foot in a dealer showroom. Read on…
...[AUTO] Trading Privacy for an Insurance Discount?
Old-school car insurers are using new-fangled “connected car” technology to save drivers up to 30% on their auto insurance premiums, while making driving safer and more fun. Sounds good, right? But the devil is in the details. Read on for the scoop...
...[WARNING] Avoid These Car Selling Scams
Selling a car? The Better Business Bureau is warning sellers about a scam that can cost victims just a few dollars or all the hassles of identity theft. If you have bought or sold a used car, you’ve probably seen a “vehicle history report” from a service such as CarFax. Such a report may include information that can help you avoid buying a lemon, or help you get a higher price if you are selling. But it’s important to get vehicle history reports from reliable sources, to avoid being victimized. Whether you are buying or selling, here's what you need to know…
...Here's How to Sell Your Car Online
When it’s time sell your car, many people turn to the Web to sell theirs. Here is a cogent guide to finding out what your used car is worth, and selling a car online...
...[BIG RED BOW?] Online Car Buying Tips
According to both Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book (two of the the most popular auto pricing websites), December is the best month of the year to buy a car. Non-stop TV ads touting car deals also attest to that fact. Find out why that's true, and pick up some tips for online auto buying that will help you save money and get the car you want now, or at any time of the year. You may not even have to set foot in a dealer showroom. Read on...
...Is This the End of Red Lights?
The wait for a traffic signal to turn green can seem like eternity. Worse still is being stopped by a red light every half-mile. These seemingly minor annoyances can add up to make drivers anxious, irritable, and prone to take bigger risks that lead to accidents. If drivers had better information about traffic signals, the roads would be more tranquil and safer. Technology that enables this sort of thing is already available. Here's how to tap into those tools...
...[ALERT] Car Buying Scams
The Better Business Bureau is warning car sellers of a scam that can cost victims just a few dollars or all the hassles of identity theft. If you have bought or sold a used car, you’ve probably seen a “vehicle history report” from a service such as CarFax. Such a report may include information that can help you avoid buying a lemon, or help you get a higher price if you are selling. But it’s important to get vehicle history reports from reliable sources, to avoid being victimized. Whether you are buying or selling, here's what you need to know…
...[COMING SOON] Digital Driver Licenses
A few months ago, I asked if everyone was ready for a digital driver's license. I noted that limited trials of Digital Driver's Licenses (DDLs) were underway in Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Wyoming and the District of Columbia. Now, Louisiana emerges as the first State to offer a Digital Driver's License to the general public. Read on to see how it works and how it has been received...
...[AUTO] Are Carfax Reports Reliable?
If you've shopped for a used car in the past few years, you've probably heard of Carfax, Autocheck, and similar vehicle history reporting services. They purport to give you a reliable, independent look at a car’s major service records, title history, and other factors to help you gauge a used car’s value. But where does this data come from, and how complete is it? Here's the scoop...
5 Predictions for the Future of Automotive Technology
Cars as people know them have reached the end of their life cycle. In the past 100 years or so they’ve come an incredibly long way, but a new trend is just around the corner. It’s no longer going to be an evolution of already existing cars, but rather a complete wave of new and innovative automobiles that resemble the things people call cars. Read on to learn about the future of cars...
...Uber or Lyft: Which is Best?
Like it or not, ride-hailing services powered by smartphone apps are here to stay. It’s mainly taxi drivers who don’t like Uber, Lyft, and the many also-rans in competition with traditional taxi services. Passengers, by and large, are thrilled to get rides in minutes for far less than taxis charge. Let's compare the Big Two in the ride sharing revolution...
...Are Keyless Cars Hackable?
Does your car have an old-school key that opens the door, or a new-fangled electronic push-button key fob that opens the door and also starts the car? If it's the latter, then it's most likely trivial for a thief with some inexpensive gadgetry to unlock your car and drive away. Here's what you need to know, and one easy way to protect against this hack...
...Should You Buy a Connected Car?
Computer sales are moribund; tablet sales are tanking; even iPhone sales are slowing down. Hardware makers are desperate to find The Next Big Thing to reignite their revenue growth, and they think they have found it. They’re going to connect everything! But do you really want your car connected to the Internet? Read on...
...Are You Ready for Self-Driving Cars?
Questions abound concerning self-driving cars. For starters, who is the legal driver of the vehicle? Who's at fault in case of an accident? And how soon before the steering wheel, brake pedal and accelerator are considered optional features? Read on for answers, and some points to ponder…
...Ready For Driverless Cars?
The biggest hypefest of the 21st Century is “driverless cars.” Is there presently any car that can take you from Point A to Point B, in all kinds of conditions, without human help? How soon can we expect to see driverless cars at dealerships, and whose brand name will be on them? How will driverless cars reshape American society?
...GRANTED: Permission to Tinker, Copy and Explore
For the past several years, it's been illegal to tinker with or modify certain electronic gadgets you own, or even explore how they work. It's also been a big no-no to make personal copies of music, videos and games you own. But that's changing. Read on to learn the latest news about the laws that govern your car, mobile phone, medical devices, music, movies… and your John Deere Series 8000 farm tractor.
...Whose Car Is It Anyway?
Little by little, it’s become more difficult to tinker with your own car. Now automakers want to make it illegal for anyone to mess around with their creations without their permission. Actually, they’re claiming it’s already illegal, and consumer activists are lobbying the Copyright Office to restore our right to tune and tweak our cars, or simply study their inner workings. What the heck is going on?
...Tech That Stops Distracted Driving
As of 2014, “distracted driving” causes more accidents than drunk driving, according to U. S. government statistics. Some may point fingers at mobile makeup artists, rambunctious children, cheeseburgers, and other distractions. But we all know that mobile phones are the real problem. Read on for some solutions…
...Is Your Car Vulnerable to Hackers?
A speeding car slams to a halt. The same car refuses to stop when the driver hits the brakes. Then it turns left abruptly, all by itself. Just for fun, the horn honks and the windshield washers spray. What's going on…?
...Gas Prices Online
The price of gasoline is of major concern these days. Drivers will go out of their way to save a few cents per gallon. You can burn a lot of gas going from one service station to another looking for deals. But fortunately, you can check gas prices online before you get in the car. Here's how...
...Selling a Car Online
When it’s time sell your car, many people turn to the Web to sell their old clunker. Here is a cogent guide to finding out what your used car is worth, and selling a car online...
...Chevy Volt
I like the idea of electric cars, but the new Chevrolet Volt is so expensive. What's your opinion -- are electric cars ready for prime time, and are they really cost efficient when compared to gas-powered alternatives?
...Why I Hate My TomTom GPS
I've had nothing but trouble with my TomTom GO 720 GPS. And the TomTom customer service rep basically told me to go buy a Garmin. Read on!
...Gas Mileage Tips
High prices at the gas pump continue to put the squeeze on family budgets, recent fluctuations not withstanding. It seems like $3 per gallon gas is here to stay. While there’s no magic pill or bolt-on gizmo that will magically turn your gas guzzling car or truck into a 50 mile per gallon (MPG) wonder, there are a number of things that can help you to cut down on the amount you spend on fuel each month...
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