Update: Verizon MiFi4510L (LTE Hotspot) December 24, 2011
Posted by Muse in Blogroll.Tags: LTE hotspot, Verizon Mifi4510L
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The firmware update for the MiFi4520L improved device connectivity. I no longer experience the dropped connections.
I would highly recommend this device if you live in a Verizon 4G area because it is very fast.
The only caveat is that it seems to die after a a day of occasional use. I would turn it off with one less bar of a full charge and the next morning, the MiFi has no juice left.
Verizon MiFi4510L (LTE Hotspot) November 15, 2011
Posted by Muse in Business, Cell Phone, Computer.Tags: LTE hotspot, Verizon Mifi4510L, Verizon Wireless
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I’ve been using the Verizon MiFi4510L for the past 45 days and it’s been great… for the ten seconds it works before dropping the connection. Most of my usage entailed using my laptop not moving and once in a car (note: I wasn’t driving). I tried moving the MiFi next to a window, shaking it when it timed out (it worked once in a while), turning it on and off. I even wedged the MiFi between the car’s sunroof shade and closed sunroof. Nothing worked.
I was about to call Verizon Wireless to complain about the crappy hotspot connection when I stumbled upon a firmware update on their website. The update took about 15 minutes to install. I changed the default settings on the MiFi (ah-ha, instruction manuals are there for a reason!) Also, I made the hotspot backwards compatible to older Droids and to include the 802.12n for my computer. No Droids using the hotspot but I figured the setting would not hurt since I am experiencing connection issues.
I am typing this post using the MiFi and — knock on wood — it is working. The firmware update and/or change in WAN settings made a difference.
Only time will tell if this solved the MiFi’s dropping connection issue.
Update: Gingerbread for Droid 2 September 17, 2011
Posted by Muse in Blogroll, Cell Phone.Tags: Android 2.2, Android 2.3.3, Droid 2, Gingerbread
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All is not well with my Droid 2 after the updating to Android 2.3.3: it turns itself on a minute after I shut off the phone. I’m not touching it and sitting on my desk.
I did a factory reset and it would turn it self on about a minute after I turn the phone off (not in sleep mode, but OFF).
Other issues I’ve noticed after the factory reset:
- The screen and touch buttons became less responsive to unresponsive. It got so bad that I would hit the back key five times, then tried the home key and nothing happens. I pulled the battery and the phone reset. But the Droid 2 would randomly become unresponsive as the day progressed.
- Battery life was worse than before the factory reset. I went through all settings to prevent apps from “polling” to pull content for the app with the exception of my emails. My phone and app settings remained the same but my extended battery drained to 40% by 3 p.m. This is 3.5 hours premature compared to Android 2.2.
It’s really unfortunate I cannot “roll back” to Android 2.2. I am aware I could root the Droid 2 and most likely roll it back, but I do not have the time or inclination. I am waiting for my replacement phone, and hopefully, this works out.
Initial Thoughts: Droid 2 Running Android 2.3.3 September 2, 2011
Posted by Muse in Cell Phone.Tags: Android 2.3.3, Droid 2, Gingerbread, Initial thoughts, keyboard, Motorola, sms error, text messaging error
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- Battery life is the same.
- All black screen effect where there is no border on the top of screen.
- Smoother icons.
- Text messaging error where I could not type with the physical keyboard or screen keyboard. The “p” and other keys opened esoteric Android programs, preventing my ability to text. I had to pull the battery and it went away… for now.
Otherwise, I have not noticed much of a difference.
Gingerbread for Droid 2 September 1, 2011
Posted by Muse in Cell Phone.Tags: Android, Android 2.3.3, Droid 2, Gingerbread
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Gingerbread (Android 2.3.3) is now available for Droid 2 (not global).
Grab it by going to Settings … About Phone … System Updates.
First Impression: Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (Verizon, LTE) August 5, 2011
Posted by Muse in Uncategorized.Tags: Galaxy Tab 10.1, LTE, Samsung, Verizon
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With great curiosity, I went to a Verizon Wireless store to try the new Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (LTE). A store employee stated that the micro-SIM was installed on the display unit. I navigated through the various screens on the tablet, never had tried Android Gingerbread OS.
I hate to say it, but my first impression was that Gingerbread did not look much different than my Droid 2, running Android 2.2. I was impressed by the glossy HD screen.
Bored with just scrolling through the available apps, I decided to go online… and the tablet searched and searched. It had no signal. Yep, in a Verizon Wireless store.
A store representative tried to fix it but I could see that this was becoming a fruitless endeavor after standing there for a few minutes.
I left the store.
My initial impression of the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 (LTE) was: pretty screen with no signal. Or trouble finding a signal. Whichever the case may be, it was definitely an investment I will avoid.
Get Real, President Obama: Cut ObamaCare July 22, 2011
Posted by Muse in Off-Topic.Tags: budget talks, Congress, Loan Default, Raising Taxes, United States
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I’ve been mired in business phone problems that I rarely come up for air to see what is going on in news. The United States government could default on its debts in August if Congress does not raise the debt ceiling. Our government is broke. So are a bunch of people who were laid off after the 2008 mortgage debacle. And what about all the uncontrolled borrowing by people who took out exotic mortgages and cannot pay it back?
Let’s face it: the world is broke. The costs of operating a business has gone up since 2008. Fuel costs have affected the price of everything including groceries and transportation. The only thing that came down is residential real estate prices.
Raising taxes is insane: the Obama Administration is punishing businesses that have functioning businesses. Small businesses like the one I work for have a very small margin. The moment taxes go up, people will be let go. In a bad economy, I thought that is the last thing you want to do.
I really think the Obama Administration needs to GET REAL and start cutting “Obama Care” that was his first act to massively increase the US debt. I did not ask for nanny-government health care reform so I have to pay the federal and state government more money related to health care on top of my rising health care premiums.
Thanks for nothing President Obama: ObamaCare did nothing to help lower my health care costs. It increased them.
My message to the White House: you need a reality check. We do NOT need more taxes. You need to cut your precious health care reform to reduce government spending.
Hating Voice-Over-IP (VOIP) July 22, 2011
Posted by Muse in Business, Telephones.Tags: phones, telephones, Voice-Over-IP, VOIP
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I never though setting up an office with voice-over-IP would be so painful.
Originally, I hired a VOIP service that gave us poor voice quality and none of the phones worked correctly. Calls would go directly to certain people rather than through the reception, as programmed. Calls could not be transferred certain extensions. The phones would freeze after dialing the last number and needed to be constantly unplugged to reset the phones.
Unhappy with our VOIP service, we hired a company that promised to network our office and provide a better quality, hosted VOIP system, with technical support and training. They had more expensive Cisco phones with more bells and whistles than our original service provider.
So the phones are installed. They can make calls, with the proper caller ID listed when you call out.
But we have more problems.
We cannot record our names for our extensions. Or our voice mail recording. The VOIP web and voice mail interface are so complex that any misstep locks you out of the system. The “System Administrator” is a subcontractor to the VOIP consultant.
The VOIP consultant claims our networking equipment are faulty. So they had to put in new equipment. I discover the IT consultant recorded his own name on the head honcho’s extension and left it that way on our phone system.
I am ready to fire the VOIP consultant for incompetence, poor execution, and complete disregard of a client’s business needs.
I am ready to go back to folds of Baby Bell after a month of phone service hell.
After two disasters, massive phone interruptions, I see that VOIP is not ready for business use. It’s a joke. Overly complex and easy to break.
Sick of Royal Wedding! April 28, 2011
Posted by Muse in Off-Topic.add a comment
WHO CARES?
It’s highjacking news content everywhere.
Apple Subscription Service Ruffles Feathers February 17, 2011
Posted by Muse in Blogroll.Tags: Apple, subscription
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Apple’s announcement of their subscription service, requiring that all content providers on Apple’s platform must provide a 30% cut to Apple. Both Rhapsody and Last.fm responded negatively to the new subscription model. It’s interesting that Apple will require that the content provider use the same pricing scheme on their own websites and from what I understand (I could be wrong), that the provider must use the Apple App to pay for content rather than through the provider’s own website.
This smacks of monopolistic behavior but I have a feeling that not much will come of this: Apple has quite a strong evangelical aura among its users (most of them are in the media, therefore the multitudes of flattering press about Apple). They make good products. I use the iPod Touch for my multimedia needs and I like it. To me, that does not mean that they are the end-all-and-be-all of computers/electronic products. I guess I tried the Apple Kool-Aid and do not find it as intoxicating as others find it.
