gadget diary – The Gadgeteer https://the-gadgeteer.com Gadget news and reviews since 1997! Tue, 04 Jul 2023 21:21:07 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 https://the-gadgeteer.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/cropped-wp-icon-gadgeteer-logo-32x32.jpg gadget diary – The Gadgeteer https://the-gadgeteer.com 32 32 I’m switching back to Android. Probably! Maybe. I’m thinking about it. Ok, not sure yet. https://the-gadgeteer.com/2023/07/04/im-switching-back-to-android-probably-maybe-im-thinking-about-it-ok-not-sure-yet/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2023/07/04/im-switching-back-to-android-probably-maybe-im-thinking-about-it-ok-not-sure-yet/#comments Tue, 04 Jul 2023 21:21:07 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=397611 ARTICLE – Isn’t it funny how set in our ways we can become after using a certain platform for several years? I’m talking about computer platforms and more specifically mobile OS platforms. It took me 3 tries over a couple of years to switch from Windows to Mac OS and now that I’ve been using …

I’m switching back to Android. Probably! Maybe. I’m thinking about it. Ok, not sure yet. Read More

]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2023/07/04/im-switching-back-to-android-probably-maybe-im-thinking-about-it-ok-not-sure-yet/feed/ 18 I went a little crazy this morning! - Gadgeteer Podcast #17 nonadult 25 yrs ago today, Apple discontinued the Newton. What devices do you miss? https://the-gadgeteer.com/2023/02/27/25-yrs-ago-today-apple-discontinued-the-newton-what-devices-do-you-miss/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2023/02/27/25-yrs-ago-today-apple-discontinued-the-newton-what-devices-do-you-miss/#comments Tue, 28 Feb 2023 00:16:22 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=383052 ARTICLE – Twenty-five years ago today on 2/27/1998, Steve Jobs ended the production of the Apple Newton. Did you own the original Newton aka MessagePad or one of the later models like the MP100, MP110, MP120, MP130, MP2000, MP2100, or eMate 300? I had a MessagePad 2000 long enough to post several Newton accessory reviews …

25 yrs ago today, Apple discontinued the Newton. What devices do you miss? Read More

]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2023/02/27/25-yrs-ago-today-apple-discontinued-the-newton-what-devices-do-you-miss/feed/ 19 Reading and drawing comics on my iPad – Julie’s gadget diary https://the-gadgeteer.com/2023/01/17/reading-and-drawing-comics-on-my-ipad-julies-gadget-diary/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2023/01/17/reading-and-drawing-comics-on-my-ipad-julies-gadget-diary/#comments Tue, 17 Jan 2023 22:12:01 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=379410 ARTICLE – I’ve started reading comics again. But instead of buying them from a shop, I’m using the Hoopla app on my iPad Pro to check out digital copies from my library for free! Right now I’m reading two comic series. The first one is called Eight Million Genies by Charles Soule who has written …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2023/01/17/reading-and-drawing-comics-on-my-ipad-julies-gadget-diary/feed/ 1 Gadgeteer Podcast #12 Fun with comics! nonadult My 7 favorite minimalist EDC wallets – Julie’s gadget diary https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/11/07/my-7-favorite-minimalist-edc-wallets-julies-gadget-diary/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/11/07/my-7-favorite-minimalist-edc-wallets-julies-gadget-diary/#comments Tue, 08 Nov 2022 01:09:32 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=372387 ARTICLE – Today I posted episode #7 of the Gadgeteer Video Podcast and to go with lucky number 7, the topic of the podcast was my 7 favorite minimalist wallets. Let’s check them out. 1. IDENTITY Card wallet The IDENTITY Card wallet was my favorite for a very long time because it has the smallest …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/11/07/my-7-favorite-minimalist-edc-wallets-julies-gadget-diary/feed/ 17 Gadgeteer Video Podcast #7 - My favorite EDC wallets nonadult The gear I am (was) taking with me on vacation – Julie’s Gadget Diary https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/10/11/the-gear-i-am-was-taking-with-me-on-vacation-julies-gadget-diary/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/10/11/the-gear-i-am-was-taking-with-me-on-vacation-julies-gadget-diary/#respond Tue, 11 Oct 2022 18:16:08 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=368891 ARTICLE – This year we were very much looking forward to finally getting away for a real vacation by flying to Sanibel Island Florida (our favorite place on the planet). We usually go every fall but we haven’t been there since 2018 because in 2019 we were remodeling our house and had moved into an …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/10/11/the-gear-i-am-was-taking-with-me-on-vacation-julies-gadget-diary/feed/ 0 I just posted episode #1 of The Gadgeteer video podcast – Julie’s gadget diary https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/09/27/i-just-posted-episode-1-of-the-gadgeteer-video-podcast-julies-gadget-diary/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/09/27/i-just-posted-episode-1-of-the-gadgeteer-video-podcast-julies-gadget-diary/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2022 13:00:23 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=368022 ARTICLE – When I retired from my day job with Cummins Inc. after 34 years this past March, I made a list of all the new things, changes, and updates that I wanted to do with The Gadgeteer. One of the things on that list was to create a video podcast. It’s amazing that in …

I just posted episode #1 of The Gadgeteer video podcast – Julie’s gadget diary Read More

]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/09/27/i-just-posted-episode-1-of-the-gadgeteer-video-podcast-julies-gadget-diary/feed/ 14 gadget diary - The Gadgeteer nonadult I almost fell for a DirecTV phone scam! – Julie’s gadget diary https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/01/22/i-almost-fell-for-a-directv-phone-scam-julies-gadget-diary/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/01/22/i-almost-fell-for-a-directv-phone-scam-julies-gadget-diary/#comments Sat, 22 Jan 2022 16:57:24 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=346045 ARTICLE – In order for this story to make a little more sense (and so you won’t think I’m a complete moron), you first need to go read my DirecTV cord-cutting article from yesterday. But if you don’t want to read that article (it’s really good by the way…) here’s a quick summary… Once upon …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/01/22/i-almost-fell-for-a-directv-phone-scam-julies-gadget-diary/feed/ 29 I finally cut the cord with DirecTV! – Julie’s gadget diary https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/01/21/i-finally-cut-the-cord-with-directv-julies-gadget-diary/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/01/21/i-finally-cut-the-cord-with-directv-julies-gadget-diary/#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2022 22:10:33 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=345997 ARTICLE – I’ve been a DirecTV customer for close to 30 years but earlier this week I called them up and asked for a divorce. Why did I break up with DirecTV and what did I replace it with? Let me give you a little history before I answer those questions. First of all, I …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2022/01/21/i-finally-cut-the-cord-with-directv-julies-gadget-diary/feed/ 123 I’m all in with Apple – Julie’s gadget diary https://the-gadgeteer.com/2020/11/23/im-all-in-with-apple-julies-gadget-diary/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2020/11/23/im-all-in-with-apple-julies-gadget-diary/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2020 18:55:40 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=310353 ARTICLE – Multiple times over the years I’ve tried to switch from Android to an iPhone and it just never worked out. But recently I’ve made the switch in a big way and of all things, I have COVID to thank for it. How did a global pandemic make me switch back to an iPhone …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2020/11/23/im-all-in-with-apple-julies-gadget-diary/feed/ 9 Julie’s gadget diary – Now that home screen widgets are coming to iOS, I may finally switch to an iPhone https://the-gadgeteer.com/2020/06/23/julies-gadget-diary-now-that-home-screen-widgets-are-coming-to-ios-i-may-finally-switch-to-an-iphone/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2020/06/23/julies-gadget-diary-now-that-home-screen-widgets-are-coming-to-ios-i-may-finally-switch-to-an-iphone/#comments Tue, 23 Jun 2020 21:12:19 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=300188 ARTICLE – Did you watch Apple’s WWDC (World Wide Developers Conference) keynote yesterday? Even though the iPhone and iPad haven’t been my primary devices in several years, I am always interested in everything new with iOS, iPadOS, and macOS (since my main computer is a MacBook). I was overjoyed to see that with iOS version …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2020/06/23/julies-gadget-diary-now-that-home-screen-widgets-are-coming-to-ios-i-may-finally-switch-to-an-iphone/feed/ 8 Julie’s gadget diary – Android users now have a coveted iPhone feature https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/11/22/julies-gadget-diary-android-users-now-have-an-coveted-iphone-feature/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/11/22/julies-gadget-diary-android-users-now-have-an-coveted-iphone-feature/#comments Fri, 22 Nov 2019 18:40:01 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=287226 ARTICLE – See anything different in the screenshot above of the Google Messages app? It’s those 3 little dots at the bottom that bounce up and down when the person who you’re texting is replying to you. That’s right, iPhone snobs will no longer be able to gloat about how great their blue bubbles are …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/11/22/julies-gadget-diary-android-users-now-have-an-coveted-iphone-feature/feed/ 7 Julie’s gadget diary – The Pixel 4 XL makes me want to switch to an iPhone https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/11/05/julies-gadget-diary-the-pixel-4-xl-makes-me-want-to-switch-to-an-iphone/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/11/05/julies-gadget-diary-the-pixel-4-xl-makes-me-want-to-switch-to-an-iphone/#comments Tue, 05 Nov 2019 13:00:44 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=284121 ARTICLE – The Pixel 2 XL was my all-time favorite smartphone for a couple of years and I kept going back to it each time I’d try the newest flagship from various other phone makers. I purchased the Pixel 3 XL last year but promptly returned it because it felt almost identical to the 2 …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/11/05/julies-gadget-diary-the-pixel-4-xl-makes-me-want-to-switch-to-an-iphone/feed/ 8 Julie’s gadget diary – T-Mobile Home Internet part 2 https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/09/17/julies-gadget-diary-t-mobile-home-internet-part-2/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/09/17/julies-gadget-diary-t-mobile-home-internet-part-2/#comments Tue, 17 Sep 2019 21:29:02 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=280904 ARTICLE – It’s been a few weeks since I wrote a gadget diary post about being selected to join T-Mobile’s invite-only (right now) Home Internet pilot program and I thought it was time to post a follow up to let you all know how it’s been working out for me so far. What did they send …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/09/17/julies-gadget-diary-t-mobile-home-internet-part-2/feed/ 77 Julie’s gadget diary – I am now a T-Mobile Home Internet pilot tester https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/08/27/julies-gadget-diary-i-am-now-a-t-mobile-home-internet-pilot-tester/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/08/27/julies-gadget-diary-i-am-now-a-t-mobile-home-internet-pilot-tester/#comments Tue, 27 Aug 2019 23:49:31 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=280025 ARTICLE – I came home yesterday afternoon to find a postcard in my mailbox inviting me to join T-Mobile’s new Home Internet pilot test which started rolling out back in March. I remembered reading about their invite-only service for existing T-Mobile customers but forgot all about it until yesterday. For a little background, I live …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/08/27/julies-gadget-diary-i-am-now-a-t-mobile-home-internet-pilot-tester/feed/ 17 Julie’s gadget diary – I ordered the Huawei P30 Pro https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/04/12/julies-gadget-diary-i-ordered-the-huawei-p30-pro/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/04/12/julies-gadget-diary-i-ordered-the-huawei-p30-pro/#comments Fri, 12 Apr 2019 21:32:32 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=269165 ARTICLE – As Britney Spears would say, “oops, I did it again…” I ordered another phone. This time it’s the Huawei P30 Pro. I know that my score sheet for buying new phones and actually keeping them has been pretty embarrassing for the last year and a half. The last phone that I bought and …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/04/12/julies-gadget-diary-i-ordered-the-huawei-p30-pro/feed/ 7 Julie’s gadget diary – The Samsung Galaxy S10+ let me down and I’m sad https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/03/07/julies-gadget-diary-the-samsung-galaxy-s10-let-me-down-and-im-sad/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/03/07/julies-gadget-diary-the-samsung-galaxy-s10-let-me-down-and-im-sad/#comments Fri, 08 Mar 2019 01:59:42 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=265721 ARTICLE – I feel like I’m Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day. Every time I want to upgrade to a new phone, I get all those exciting newphonia feelings until I actually get the phone in my hand and something spoils it for me. That’s what’s happened with the Samsung Galaxy S10+ when I …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/03/07/julies-gadget-diary-the-samsung-galaxy-s10-let-me-down-and-im-sad/feed/ 49 Julie’s gadget diary – I’m finally upgrading to a new phone https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/02/21/julies-gadget-diary-im-finally-upgrading-to-a-new-phone/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/02/21/julies-gadget-diary-im-finally-upgrading-to-a-new-phone/#comments Thu, 21 Feb 2019 17:55:51 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=264316 ARTICLE – My track record for upgrading phones has been bad the past year and half but that’s finally going to change. Really, I promise this time guys! First some background… I bought the Pixel 2 XL back in the fall of 2017 which feels like forever ago, but I’ve been using that phone since …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2019/02/21/julies-gadget-diary-im-finally-upgrading-to-a-new-phone/feed/ 34 Julie’s gadget diary – The Pixel 3 XL is nice phone, but I sent it back https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/10/29/julies-gadget-diary-the-pixel-3-xl-is-nice-phone-but-i-sent-it-back/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/10/29/julies-gadget-diary-the-pixel-3-xl-is-nice-phone-but-i-sent-it-back/#comments Mon, 29 Oct 2018 16:00:23 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=255161 ARTICLE – After Google’s Pixel 3 XL unveiling a couple of weeks ago, I immediately ordered one because I’m a sucker for newphoneia, that feeling you get when you order a new phone and the anticipation that it will make your life easier, better, and more fun. At least I think that was what was …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/10/29/julies-gadget-diary-the-pixel-3-xl-is-nice-phone-but-i-sent-it-back/feed/ 25 Julie’s gadget diary – Yes, I’m going to order the new iPhone Xs MAX https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/09/13/julies-gadget-diary-yes-im-going-to-order-the-new-iphone-xs-max/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/09/13/julies-gadget-diary-yes-im-going-to-order-the-new-iphone-xs-max/#comments Thu, 13 Sep 2018 17:56:44 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=251301 ARTICLE – Like many of you, I watched yesterday’s live stream of Apple’s Gather Round event and I really have to hand it to Apple. They are masters at reeling me in with their dirty nerd talk of bionic processors, neural engines, advanced algorithms, and sensors. Those terms give me goosebumps. Or maybe Apple is …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/09/13/julies-gadget-diary-yes-im-going-to-order-the-new-iphone-xs-max/feed/ 15 Julie’s gadget diary – The Samsung Note9 is one step closer to my dream device https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/08/12/julies-gadget-diary-the-samsung-note-9-is-one-step-closer-to-my-dream-device/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/08/12/julies-gadget-diary-the-samsung-note-9-is-one-step-closer-to-my-dream-device/#comments Sun, 12 Aug 2018 20:26:59 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=248608 ARTICLE – Three days ago Samsung officially rolled out their newest device, the Galaxy Note9 at their Unpacked event in New York City. The Note line of devices has always been the most powerful, feature-rich smartphones of Samsung’s mobile line up and this year’s new Note does not deviate from that tradition. The Note9 boasts …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/08/12/julies-gadget-diary-the-samsung-note-9-is-one-step-closer-to-my-dream-device/feed/ 11 Julie’s gadget diary – The Huawei MateBook X Pro could actually replace my MacBook https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/08/10/julies-gadget-diary-the-huawei-matebook-x-pro-could-actually-replace-my-macbook/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/08/10/julies-gadget-diary-the-huawei-matebook-x-pro-could-actually-replace-my-macbook/#comments Fri, 10 Aug 2018 20:10:08 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=247625 ARTICLE – I have been using iMacs and MacBooks to do my Gadgeteer work for the past 13 years. I love the simplicity of macOS and although I use a Windows 10 laptop all day long at my day job, I’m always happy to go home and use my 12-inch MacBook. However, a few weeks …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/08/10/julies-gadget-diary-the-huawei-matebook-x-pro-could-actually-replace-my-macbook/feed/ 16 Julie’s gadget diary – I’m still MacBook-less https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/07/05/julies-gadget-diary-im-still-macbook-less/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/07/05/julies-gadget-diary-im-still-macbook-less/#comments Thu, 05 Jul 2018 21:20:47 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=245697 Last week I told you that my 12-inch MacBook had to be admitted into the hospital to get its keyboard fixed. It’s been at the MacExperience store in Bloomington, IN since Saturday. They told me that the turn around time would be 3-5 business days. With the July 4th holiday yesterday, I’ve been a little …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/07/05/julies-gadget-diary-im-still-macbook-less/feed/ 19 Julie’s gadget diary – My MacBook has to go to the hospital https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/06/29/julies-gadget-diary-my-macbook-has-to-go-to-the-hospital/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/06/29/julies-gadget-diary-my-macbook-has-to-go-to-the-hospital/#comments Fri, 29 Jun 2018 21:25:33 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=245333 ARTICLE – Sadly, my 12-inch MacBook is sick and needs surgery. It’s suffering from a debilitating SKD (Stuck Key Disease). Yes, it’s one of the 1000’s, maybe millions of Apple MacBooks with the newer generation keyboards that are obviously flawed due to their thinner mechanisms that are susceptible to breakage. I’ve been dealing with a …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/06/29/julies-gadget-diary-my-macbook-has-to-go-to-the-hospital/feed/ 2 Julie’s gadget diary – 5 lessons I learned from my last vacation https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/06/22/julies-gadget-diary-5-lessons-i-learned-from-my-last-vacation/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/06/22/julies-gadget-diary-5-lessons-i-learned-from-my-last-vacation/#comments Fri, 22 Jun 2018 21:09:56 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=243268   I recently returned from an epic vacation to California where Jeanne and I explored 3 different locations over the course of 7 days.  As with most trips, I always struggle with the gear that I want to take with me. I am a minimalist at heart, so I like to pack the least amount …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/06/22/julies-gadget-diary-5-lessons-i-learned-from-my-last-vacation/feed/ 9 Julie’s gadget diary – Gmail will be updated soon and I’m worried https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/04/11/julies-gadget-diary-gmail-will-be-updated-soon-and-im-worried/ https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/04/11/julies-gadget-diary-gmail-will-be-updated-soon-and-im-worried/#comments Wed, 11 Apr 2018 17:23:39 +0000 https://the-gadgeteer.com/?p=239264 I’ve been seeing a lot of headlines this afternoon about Google updating the web-based Gmail interface for the first time in years. I can’t remember any changes to Gmail since I switched to it as my only email client back in 2009. Software updates are usually something that I enjoy and look forward to, but …

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]]> https://the-gadgeteer.com/2018/04/11/julies-gadget-diary-gmail-will-be-updated-soon-and-im-worried/feed/ 16