Author Archives: autocreate740

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About autocreate740

I am a senior citizen retired after working for 50 years in various professions. I find social media intriguing, blogging uplifting, and technology in general a welcomed challenge. My newest interests are Aromatherapy and Essential Oils. I have recently acquired an Aromatherapist Certification from the New York Institute of Aromatics. I write about all of these interests as topics on my various blogs. I am hopeful that the posts I create bring information that is useful and moves my readers to explore more.

A Tribute to Steve Jobs

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I should not  write my post this week without first acknowledging the passing of Steve Jobs.  I have often expressed my delight with the ‘i‘ devices. However, what I believe is most extraordinary about Steve Jobs  is that he connected an entire universe with his inventions. All over the world people enjoy Apple products.  He was Apple’s Rock Star.  Every time he brought us something new, the response was phenomenal!  We couldn’t wait to buy it, learn to use and enjoy it.  And, the newest invention was immediately at the top of the computer charts! 🙂

Steve Jobs infused his creations with love and care, and we were the recipients of that love, and care.  So, as I think about Steve Jobs, I’m feeling thankful that I have experienced his passion, his genius, his drive for perfection through his inventions.  Yes, there are other inventions, but the way I see it he was the first to take the computer experience and convert it to personal entertainment with a business component.
He engendered diversity on a grand scale:  young, old, various cultures, languages, professions.  The list goes on and on. His influences and his footprints will remain forever on our universe.

Thank you, Steve Jobs, for helping us to connect worldwide through your visions!

Some people positively change the Universe !

Why I Blog

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Thoughts from: @autocreate740

I invited someone to look at my Blog recently, just to tell him that I am doing something new.  He happens to be somewhat computer literate. When I heard back from him, he wanted to know what he was looking for.

Ha!

After receiving that response, I wondered how many Bloggers are out there, who are feeling lonely, and become discouraged about blogging because NO One is reading, or viewing, let alone, commenting, or ‘liking’ their Blogs.

I’ve been blogging since May 2011.  As of October 1, I will have started my 6th month, so it seems right to check what I am doing at Tech4Boomers.com, and to confirm for myself what I think I’m doing.

♦ I have been interested in technology, after leaving a career in film and television, for about 25 years now.  My true ‘likes’ are Outlook Email, and oddly enough,  Word Processing.  I am an iPhone/iPad ‘groupie’. I also dabble in PowerPoint. I Love Apps!

♦ Blogging is my newest avocation; I enjoy learning about this new (for me) technology. It’s a wonderful challenge to acquire a new computer skill, and it seems to be very popular with young people, and that’s always good.  I mean staying in touch with the young people; they are our future. 🙂

♦ I am a Baby Boomer.  Most of my friends are trying to get away from the computer, and would rather not learn yet another thing that involves a computer challenge.  I truly like WordPress.com. And, that I was able to start blogging for free! was truly a treat.  🙂

♦ Blogging provides a way for creativity on my own terms.  I can cover the topics I find interesting, put my artwork in, say it the way I feel I want to, and that gives me a wonderful feeling of freedom.

♦ Blogging keeps me informed and connected with an outside world.  I find it intriguing to read what others are thinking.  Blogging is a universal ‘connection’ tool.

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What is Tech4Boomers designed to do?  Here’s what I think briefly:

♦ It’s an electronic newsletter, where, once a week I post something I think  is worthwhile knowing. It’s also a reference guide for me 🙂

♦ It attempts to simplify technical issues for my generation, and younger people who want to learn something about Twitter, Linkedin, WiFi, 3G, iPhones, iPads,  Blackberry phones, Apps, and various other computer related topics.

♦ It’s designed to give a knowledge  level to those who are not ‘computer savvy’, but would like to know more.

♦ It’s designed to help others when possible.

♦ It’s fun for me!

In addition to providing a platform for me to improve my skills overall, and blogging skills in particular, this activity allows me to introduce friends and family to the blogging experience:  What is it? How does it work? What is its reach, and knowing is it a worthwhile undertaking.

So here’s the conclusion: I’ve decided to continue! 🙂  I hope this was helpful in further clarifying what Tech4Boomers is about.

See you at the next post !

ZAAG Keyboard Function Keys Defined

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Hmm ZAAG Keyboard Function (F) Keys

I trust those ZAAG Keyboard demonstrations that were in last week’s Post were helpful.

Now that you have had an opportunity to see the ZAAG  keyboard YouTube demonstrations, I thought I would give you a short description of the function keys for your reference.  These shortcuts can save you a lot of time when you are working on your iPad.



I hope this is helpful 🙂

Do you know how to use your ZAAG/Logitech iPad Keyboard ?

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How is that ZAAG keyboard working for you?

How many of us have those wonderful keyboards for our iPad, but haven’t a clue what some of the keys are for? Well, I am here to confess that I was one of that great grey number. However, you know me by now, I am ALWAYS searching for  HELP!, and  in my recent ‘cyber-travels‘ I discovered a few demos on YouTube, which I would like to  share with you.  I hope you will enjoy learning about all the things these ZAAG keyboards are capable of doing.

Although some of  these are iPad2 demos, I think they will be helpful  for all iPad users 🙂

Click here to learn about the function keys on the top row:  ZAGGmate™ Setup – How To Pair & Function Keys Explained – YouTube.

This one has music, so you may want to turn your volume on (and low). Click  here: Hands On Demo With the Logitech Keyboard Case for iPad 2 by ZAGG – YouTube.

See how you like this one 🙂

Stick with the demo.  There may be a commercial before it begins.  Click here for  demo: Logitech Keyboard Case for iPad 2 Unboxing & Overview – YouTube.

I hope this is useful.  See you at the next post 🙂

Twitter for Android Phone Users

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As I searched for the best Mobile Twitter App for Android, what I discovered is the best app to use is the one endorsed by Twitter itself.  This app is free of charge, and can be found at the Android Market. Just click the link below.

  Twitter – Android Market


After you install the Twitter app, I suggest that you use the guidelines I found written by Dan Gookin, which explain how the program works for the Android phone.  These guidelines will be least confusing, and give illustrations, which explain the various parts of the screens (please don’t take the name of the article personally).  I have found articles by Dan Gookin, and by other authors in the ‘Dummies” book series, very helpful. Click the line after the word via.

How to Use Twitter on Your Droid X

By Dan Gookin

You can use Twitter through your Droid X to share your existence with others or simply to follow what others are up to or thinking. You can create a Twitter account by using your Droid, but it’s a lot more work that just using a computer. After you create a Twitter account, use the Twitter app on your phone to view Twitter updates or to tweet.

A good Twitter app was developed by the Twitter people themselves. The Twitter app is free and available at the Android Market.

The Twitter application provides an excellent interface to many Twitter tasks. The two most basic tasks, however, are reading and writing tweets.

via How to Use Twitter on Your Droid X – For Dummies.

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For those of you who want to do a bit more research, check out the article below by TechShout, posted August 2011.

8 Best Twitter apps for Android phones to download – TechShout.

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This post completes the sessions for using Twitter on your cell phones.  I hope this is helpful 🙂

Wow, I miss those good old phone days!

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The Good Old Phone Days!

BOOMER Trivia

I was just thinking about how much I miss the good old phone days. Don’t you?  I remember those cute phone booths, and waiting in line to use one. Wasn’t that so much fun? How about the other great things we no longer get to experience with the older phones.

Cheap Calls !

Let’s just think of a few: Remember those 10 cent calls, and the ‘friendly operator’ who would come on the line and tell you a nickel was due if you wanted to continue the call.  Who reminds you that you’ve gone over your limit these days before it’s too late?

Party Lines !

What about: ‘Party Lines’?   You could get a phone and share the cost with a neighbor.  It’s possible that some  of us did not even know who the other party person was we were sharing the line with. And guess what, mostly people did not eavesdrop on your conversations!

What a good workout!

And those phones never broke! They were so heavy, you could get a workout and talk at the same time.

  What do you miss about the good old phone days ?
See you at the next Post 😉

How to use Twitter from your BlackBerry – Simple Help

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How do I find a Twitter mobile app?

As I mentioned in last week’s post, Twitter mobile apps are probably among the more widely used for sending Tweets, and for keeping up-to-date with what’s happening on Twitter.  This week we cover how to use one of the most popular Twitter mobile apps recommended by Simple Help, a blog I often go to for information about various Social Media guidelines.  Simple Help provides easy to follow  illustrations, which I expect you will find useful in loading a Twitter app on your Blackberry phone.    Be aware:  these guidelines assume that you understand how find the web browser on your Blackberry device.  If you are not familiar with these techniques, now would be a good time to check out the manual for your phone.  You can find  Blackberry manuals at this link –  BlackBerry Smartphones – Manuals and Guides.

Twitter for Blackberry Users

Loading Twitterberry

This tutorial will guide you through every step of installing and using TwitterBerry, arguably the most popular Twitter client for BlackBerry devices.

1. First up, launch whatever web browser you use on your BlackBerry. Head over to http://orangatame.com/ota/twitterberry (or http://bit.ly/jE4rM – which is just a shortened version of the same link). After scrolling through the text, select the Download Now button. Then when prompted, click the Download button on your BlackBerry screen.

via How to use Twitter from your BlackBerry – Simple Help

I hope this is  helpful ! 

Twitter via Smartphones: An Introduction

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How do you network socialize?

In this week’s post we are focusing on Twitter Mobile Apps. As we discussed in a earlier post, mobile apps allow you to use the Internet and social media environments.


Here is a description I found, written by Amy Gahran, which explains mobile apps.  Please click on the link to her website for a more detailed description.

What are mobile apps?

A mobile app is software that runs on a handheld device (phone, tablet, e-reader, iPod, etc.) than can connect to wifi or wireless carrier networks, and has an operating system that supports standalone software.  via What’s a mobile app? – contentious.com.

Please note:

In upcoming weeks I will continue to provide  you with links to sources that  I rely on to bring you technology information.
In computing, a hyperlink (or link) is a reference to a document that the reader can directly follow, or that is followed automatically.
via Hyperlink – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

How to use Twitter on your smartphones will have links to  Twitter Help, and  Simple Help. These are sources that I use for information frequently. However,  due to the popularity of the Simple Help site, there may be numerous advertisements on the page.  Nevertheless, the illustrations will be very easy to follow.

Also, don’t be discouraged with the new techniques required to view the information. These built-in transitions  will give you some ‘hands-on” training in navigating back and forth to more than one blog.. That’s part of what it’s all about, right?

Remember: tech4boomers is focused on helping you acquire, and familiarize yourself, with  the skill sets necessary to operate in a social media environment.. Enjoy the transitions…. Here we go…

Twitter for iPhone: An Introduction

Users who are getting started with Twitter for iPhone often have concerns about the following:

1. Where do I find the Twitter for iPhone application?

2. Will Twitter for iPhone work with my iPhone OS?

3. What’s new in the current version of Twitter for iPhone?

4. I need help with Twitter for iPhone!

5. I’m having trouble with an older version of Twitter for iPhone.

6. I want to know more!

Where do I find the Twitter for iPhone Application?

From your iPhone, click the App Store icon, type ‘Twitter’ into the search, and select Twitter for iPhone from the results.

♦ Ok folks take the next step. Click the link below for detailed illustrations and guidelines.  🙂

via Twitter Help Center | Twitter for iPhone: An Introduction.

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In coming weeks we will focus on how to use Twitter on the Blackberry, and Android Smartphones.

See you next week 🙂 !

5 Great Twitter Apps For the iPad – Simple Help

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FYI

For Boomers who use an iPad ..♦.. FREE TWITTER APPS !

  • Tech4Boomers Intro to Twitter Sessions 1-4 illustrated how to use Twitter on your PC.
  • Twitter for iPad  is  a ‘mobile app‘.
    {It is a term used to describe Internet applications that run on smartphones and other mobile devices. Mobile applications usually help users by connecting them to Internet services more commonly accessed on desktop or notebook computers, or help them by making it easier to use the Internet on their portable devices.}via What is mobile application? – A Word Definition From the Webopedia Computer Dictionary.
  • I visited a website recently that has some of the best instructions I have seen on-line. Take a look at the suggestions made for iPad Twitter. The illustrations are very clearly presented for iPad users to understand. The instructions are brief, and easy to follow. 🙂

To view the illustrations, click on the link below.

Twitter is quickly becoming one of the main social media services to promote your brand, sharing interesting links, and keeping in touch with others. Here we’ll take a look at 5 free Twitter apps for the iPad so you can tweet while on the go. Official Twitter iPad . The first one we’ll look at is the official Twitter app for iPad. It works great, but the user interface is unique compared to using Twitter on your site.

via 5 Great Twitter Apps For the iPad – Simple Help.