SSK 2TB PORTABLE Storage, With Built-In Wi-Fi, For Backing Up Android Phones, E.G., Google Pixel 4.
Click to ENLARGE & study here.
Of course, from Amazon. Search ‘SSK 2TB’.
Click to ENLARGE.
What the SSK APP looks like.
This is when I am TRAVELLING & don’t have ready access to FAST Internet to backup my pictures on the cloud.
We, with our PHONES, take cloud backup for GRANTED but that is contingent on having decent Wi-Fi/Internet — especially when you take as many pictures as I do.
What happens if you don’t have Wi-Fi/Internet, the connection is patchy or it is just too slow. Your photos don’t get backed-up. That is OK UNTIL something BAD happens to your phone — lose it, drop it, break it or you accidently delete the photos.
That is where this little (& it is small enough) GIZMO steps in.
It has its own built-in Wi-Fi.
You connect your phone, Google Pixel 4, in my case, to that Wi-Fi. Yes, you have to type in the password each time.
Once you are connected & LOGGED IN (password AGAIN), Bob’s your uncle. It will automatically backup your pictures. Just what I wanted.
Why Wi-Fi rather than an USB connection.
Bloody Android 10! Clobbered USB-attached storage. I tried. I tried.
That is when I found this. This works.
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Android 10 (On Google Pixel 4) WILL NOT Support External USB Storage!
Click to ENLARGE.
I spent 10-hours today trying to get my Google Pixel 4 (running Android 10) to recognize USB attached storage.
WOW!
It is basically said to be a SECURITY improvement.
Yes, Yes, Yes. I went into ‘Developer Mode‘ & enabled USB Debugging & set the USB options. I did it multiple times. No joy.
Works find with my Google Pixel 2.
Yes, I looked at multiple posts & YouTubes. Yes, I tried with a PC too.
I want to be able to backup photos from my Pixel 4 when I do NOT have Wi-Fi — i.e., when I am travelling in the wilds. Was NOT really an issue when I used cameras. I would use multiple SD cards. That way I could minimize what I would lose if I lost/damaged a camera or card. Basically trying to duplicate that with the phone. IF I drop my phone from a cliff on my 2nd day hiking I would rather NOT also lose all my pictures from Day 1. Makes sense — right? There is always method to my madness.
Looks like USB attached doesn’t work.
So, now going to look at Wi-Fi storage — with a built-in ‘hotspot’. I will keep you posted. SMILE.
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We Now Have 9 USB Charging Ports In Our Kitchen!
Click to ENLARGE.
Yes, it is a fairly large kitchen (though I have been in others that are muh, much, much larger) and given that it was built in 2006 (when they were generous on this matter) it has 6 dual socket power outlets — as well as a phone jack and a 220V outlet for the stove.
Yes, I guess we have a few electronics between us, THOUGH I don’t charge many things in the kitchen. We basically have USB charging ports (maybe even stations) in every room — and, of course, on either side of the bed.
I though 5 was enough. I was overruled so right after Christmas I had to order the latest ‘outlet’ (the one shown on the left) with 4 USB ports. I think we will be OK for awhile. I won’t even mention how many charging ports/cables we carry in EACH car. You would think we were dependent on USB. SMILE.
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My Garmin ‘MARQ Expedition’ Is Now At Software Version 3.50.
Click images to ENLARGE.
Click to ENLARGE. From Garmin ‘Forums’.
I fired up ‘Garmin Express‘ (now at 6.16.0.0) on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, while I was charging up my MARQ Expedition. I did NOT see a message that said there was a new software version.
But, when I unplugged it from USB the MARQ asked when it could install the new version of software.
From what I can see this new software version doesn’t do ANYTHING for I. That is not to say that the MARQ is without bugs. It loses the installed watch face on a regular basis — for one. To be honest I am not thrilled with the MARQ. Just glad that I didn’t buy it per se. It was an upgrade and ‘goodwill’ (for work performed). SMILE.
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My Fitbit Ionic Software Updated To OS 1.2 With Firmware Version 27.31.1.29.
Click images to ENLARGE.
Click to ENLARGE and read here. Use link below to access original at Fitbit.
Click here to access original from Fitbit.
This update happened, over Wi-Fi, when I did a forced Sync around 12:05am on Wednesday, February 21, 2018.
I am not sure whether I was lucky or not. The above says that they just started the rollout to just 10% of the Ionic users. So, I was in that 10%.
The update downloaded and installed ‘OK’ though it took about 20 minutes in total. I much prefer the Garmin approach of doing updates over a USB-connection using Garmin Express.
Have not, as yet, noticed anything different or untoward. But, early minutes … let alone days.
That the Firmware is at 27.31.1.29 is disquieting! That is a LOT of updates.
But, let’s keep fingers crossed. I need the Ionic to work till around May 2018 — when I plan to upgrade to a Garmin Forerunner 645.
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Nikon P900 — Not Including A Battery Charger Is Crazy [+ Thumbs Up For “DOT-01” Batteries].
Click to ENLARGE and gaze in wonder. From the Nikon P900 “Quick Guide”.
Click to access Amazon product page.
Click to access Amazon product page.
For reasons that totally escape me Nikon does NOT provide a standalone battery charger with the Nikon P900. Yes, the P900 has an internal battery for its clock but that alone is not a good enough reason not to skim on a $4 charger.
I have never liked charging batteries INSIDE the camera. It is so limiting in that you can’t use the camera while the battery is being charged.
Given my penchant for taking upwards of 900 pictures on some days I can easily go through 3 charged batteries within 8 to 12 hours. So I tend to carry 3 to 4 charged batteries on me.
So, yes, I got chargers for the Nikon P900 even BEFORE I picked up the camera — and yes, that was in the plural.
I had never had one of these DUAL chargers and they make SO MUCH sense for me given the batteries I have to charge. Being USB only is not an issue since I have USB charging stations all over the house! So why do I need two chargers? One to go in the camera bag — of course.
Up until I got my now traded-in Fuji X-E2s, in May 2016, I used to be “Wasabi” only when it came to extra camera batteries. Then, with the Fuji, I saw posts for the “DOT-o1” batteries, with extra “charge”, on Amazon. There prices were good. I got a set of 3 for the Fuji and they did fine. No problems. Though I never counted the shots I think they gave me more shots per battery. Worst case, they were no different to the original Fuji battery or the two “Wasabi” batteries that I also bought.
With the Nikon P900 I did NOT bother getting any “Wasabi”. Just ordered the four “DOT-01” batteries. I have already used two of them. No issues.
So, for now, I have to say that the “dual charger” and the “DOT-01” batteries work just fine with the Nikon P900.
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++++ Check Categories ‘Nikon’ for other related posts >>>>
Lenovo Tab 2 10″ 16GB Android Tablet — Pretty Darn Impressive For $171.
I ordered the Lenovo 10″ Tab 2 last Thursday when the 10.6″ 8-Core Dragon Touch X10 Android Tablet which I had got from Amazon the day before proved to be a major disappointment in terms of screen resolution and USB-based battery charging.
The 1920 x 1200 screen on the Lenovo, as is mentioned in all the product reviews and many of the Amazon ‘feedback’, is pretty spiffy. Vastly superior to the Dragon X10. Crisp and vivid (and I do have it set to ‘vivid’). It is also surprisingly and pleasantly fast. That was a bonus. As I have stated before 96% of what is do on a pad is Web browsing — using Chrome. And it seems to be very adept at doing that. I am pleased.
Slightly more ‘bloatware’ than was in the Dragon. Most of it was easy enough to remove though I am still stuck with a few, such as ‘FM Radio’, which I will never use because it needs an earphone cord to act as an antenna and I don’t use (or like) earphones.
It upgraded, as part of a mandatory System Update, to Android 5.0.1. So I have only used it with Android 5. Works fine (so far). Haven’t found an APP that has not been compatible,
The only problem I have is I can’t get a magnetic compass APP to work. Yes, I know I about calibration but I still haven’t managed to crack that. GPS works. So not the end of the world.
Only has USB-charging (as opposed to also have a separate charger as was the case with the Dragon) and charging, so far, seems par for the course.
So bottom line, after (say) 28 hours and maybe 90 minutes of use is that ‘So Far So Good’, screen is impressive and performance, including Wi-Fi, more than acceptable. I am happy.
Hope this helps.
Click to access Amazon listing. Smaller and a (slower) Quad-Core as opposed to the 8 in the Dragon.
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Dragon Touch X10 Android Tablet — Screen Resolution & Battery Life Not Up To My Criteria.
The 10.6″ 8-Core Dragon Touch X10 Android Tablet which I ordered from Amazon over the weekend arrived yesterday. Definitely a nice, responsive unit with NO BLOATWARE — and it was fully charged when it arrived. It even came with fairly comprehensive instructions and a very cute, ‘clingy’ screen protector with additional guidance. I was able to get it up and running with my core set of APPs — Chrome, Bank of America, Fidelity, ‘GPS’, ‘Home Security’ etc. — very quickly and with NO issues. I was impressed.
But, I have already printed the paperwork from Amazon to return it! I used it for less than 2 hours!
There were two things that were not up to my requirements and those were such that I would never be happy with this tablet. These being: screen resolution not good enough when using Chrome and battery charging/battery life.
The screen resolution is 1366×768. In theory that should be good enough. It is OK when you are using APPs so to speak, but not when trying to read Webpages on Chrome — in particular ‘marketwatch.com‘ (in desktop mode). Deanna had a look and agreed. Resolution way below par. Also the case when watching video. Given that I HAVE to read at least 30 – 40 minutes of ‘marketwatch.com’ a day, in order to be I, this was NOT going to fly. I need a tablet where I can read Webpages without the screen resolution getting in the way.
The second issue proved to be worse that I had hoped, given that I had already read, on the Amazon reviews that this could be a stumbling block. Though it can be charged via USB it is NOT ‘happy’ being charged as such. It, appears, though I did not bother to try, that it prefers to be charged using its dedicated charger. I had hoped that this would not be as bigger an issue as it proved to be. It was NOT fully charged after 7.5 hours plugged into my standard USB charger! That is not acceptable. Every room in this house is set up, one way or another, for USB charging. Plus when we travel I carry a pouch of USB chargers. I am not going to take another dedicated charger. IF it is not going to charge, fast and adequately, via USB, it is NOT for I. Alos noticed that battery capacity was going down in front of my eyes. Wow.
It also appears that I can’t get the magnetic sensor, used by non-GPS compass APPs to work. Not a showstopper BUT annoying. I like an ‘analog’ non-GPS compass on my tablet. Also not convinced that it had the latest and greatest Wi-Fi chips.
So the Dragon, alas, is going back. Shame.Â
I have already ordered a 10″ Lenovo tablet:
Click to access Amazon listing. It has a higher resolution HD screen. Smaller and a (slower) Quad-Core as opposed to the 8 in the Dragon.
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Totally Hooked On Power Outlet Taps With Built-In USB Charging Ports.
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by Anura Guruge
Every once in awhile I run into a product that I immediately fall in love with because it is exactly what I needed — sometimes not even knowing that I so needed it till I saw the product.
That is the case with this 6-outlet wall mount tap with 2 built-in 2.4 amp USB charging ports. It is just what I wanted. I love it.
Yes, like so many other households our house is littered with charging devices — we even have them in the car and I have a bag of adapters and cords for when we travel.
With my two cameras, the Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 and the Sony RX100 M2, and Teischan’s Samsung, I have a charging station set-up in my office just for the batteries given that I have 8 batteries in total to deal with. For convenience I have it on the floor next to my reading chair since much of what I read when seated in that chair has to do with cameras. So I also need power for a reading light and a clock around that chair. Though I have an extension strip off the wall outlet I was running out of outlets.
So the other day I was thinking that it was time to get a wall ‘block’ with say 6 outlets. I was going to get around to ordering it. Then within 48-hours I get an e-mail, purely by coincidence, by a TV promotion company trying to sell me a tap with built-in USB charges. Eureka! That is what I wanted.
I checked Amazon. Their prices were better. They actually had the TV promotion product for CHEAPER. But it did not have very good reviews.
Then I found this, the ‘Cable Master‘ product, with better reviews and only fractionally more expensive. I ordered it. It arrived Friday.
It works. Works well. The USB chargers worked, in parallel, just fine. I know that 2.4 amp is good. That is what I use in the car. I charged my pad, Teischan’s Samsung camera and my phone. All worked fine. I am chuffed. I am going to get a FEW of these. I would like to have one in each room.
Yes, down the road, say 10 years from now, I visualize all new houses with power outlets with built-in USB charging ports.
Click to ENLARGE.
Google Nexus 7 Pad: Replacement, Activation, Transferring APPS & 3 Androids On The Same Google Account.
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.by Anura Guruge
Related posts:
>> Google Nexus 7 Charging & Battery Life … — Feb. 27, 2013.
>> 2 (Or More) Android Devices On The SAME Google Play Account
>> (Same e-Mail) — Oct. 12, 2012.
You have to hand it to Google. We had a new Nexus 7, delivered by UPS, at 1:30 pm on Thursday, February 28. So that was under 48 hours to get us a brand new replacement — albeit with $199, on hold, charged to my credit card. I have to say that that can’t be bettered, especially as they were not charging me anything for shipping.
I will give Google full-marks for the speed at which they replaced the unit. This would have been acceptable even for a business user, 48 hours.
The Nexus 7 units run straight out of the box. But, we charged it for about 6 hours.
As soon as I logged onto my Google account, we had immediate access to the ‘Google Play‘ store — and they knew exactly who I was, how much credits I had left etc. So that too was good, though that was to be expected.
What wasn’t good was that I could not see the new Nexus 7 when I was logged onto Google Play!
We could get new APPS from the store by initiating the download from the pad, but I could not queue up a stream of APPS to be downloaded to the new pad from my Google Play account. That was annoying. I knew it was just a timing and synching issue and that it would happen. I just could not find a way, either on the pad or on the store, to force this recognition.
But eventually after we had downloaded a few APPS and got the system software updated, the new device magically appeared on the store.
So we now had three Android devices, all Nexus 7s, on the account. It is easy enough to name them so that you know which one is which.
Click to ENLARGE.
Now I could download APPS from the store to the pad.
I only have one gripe and it is fairly major.
I could not find anyway to just transfer all the APPS that were in the old Nexus 7 to the new. Basically there is no bulk selection mechanism for APPS.
When I click on the icon for one of the pads, I get a display of all the APPS installed on that pad. That is nice and useful.
What I couldn’t do was to select a bunch of them and then just say download to ‘Teischan NEW’.
Instead I had to do it on an APP by by APP basis. Luckily there was only about 40. It still took me about 15 minutes.
Google amuses me. Obviously they know more about software that most, but they tend to miss basic stuff.
The need to replicate APPS between devices will grow — especially if they start experiencing more returns.
Providing a replication service is trivial. One of their software engineers could do it in less than 2 hours — and 90 minutes of that would be testing.
We returned the old unit to UPS, in Concord, on Friday. I hate that UPS does not deem it necessary to give you a receipt. Yes, I have the tracking number. I just tracked it. It is in the system. It has made it as far as Rhode Island. I guess going back, they use the 5-6 day service.
I will consider the return done when they take the $199 hold from my credit card. At this rate that might not happen until next Monday — most likely the start of the papal conclave.
I will keep you posted.
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