Tag Archives | Technology

Google Hangs Up On GOOG-411

As of today, Google’s free telephone directory assistance service, GOOG-411, is no more.  Launched in 2007, the voice-recognition service allowed for free directory assistance calls for business listings by calling 1-800-GOOG-411.  Just say the name of the business you’re looking for, and the city and state where it’s located, and the service would connect you […]

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Which Batteries Are Best

If you use a lot of batteries, you know how they can drain your wallet.  So it pays to know which ones to buy for which devices.  Consumer Reports (CR) recently put AA batteries to the test. For devices that need bursts of power such as digital cameras and frequently used toys, CR recommended taking […]

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Saving On Your Cell Phone Bill

Do you have the most cost-effective cell phone plan?  There are two ways to find out.  As noted by personal finance writer Gregory Karp in the Chicago Tribune recently, Validas will analyze one of your actual cell phone bills and recommend a less expensive plan for a charge of $5, or you can enter some […]

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Text to Save

Texting is usually seen as a high cost item, with teens sending their families off the financial cliff with their constant missives about what to wear and who said what. However, a new study reported on by the Wall Street Journal found that texting can be an effective way to foster increased savings. In three […]

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Energy Saving Facts and Fiction

When it comes to saving energy, there are some confusing and conflicting ideas out there. A recent Associated Press story sought to sort out fact from fiction. For example, do computer screen savers save energy? No. Sleep mode, which uses about 70 percent less energy, is a better choice if you’re not going to be […]

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Moving Forward by Backing Up

How’s this for a subtle reminder of the importance of backing up the data on our computers? “You have a 100% chance of the data on your hard drive becoming corrupting, degrading, or disappearing.” That wake up call comes courtesy of the Suburban Dollar blog. I bought an external hard drive a couple of years […]

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Another Solution for Old Electronics

I’ve written in the past about how to dispose of old cell phones, TVs, and other electronics. A recent post on ChristianPF.com highlighted a program I hadn’t heard of before called Flipswap, which enables you to exchange an old cell phone or iPod for an Amazon.com gift card. Devices received by the company are either […]

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Where Old TVs Go To Die

It’s spring-cleaning time, and with television stations switching to digital signals many people are getting rid of old analog TV sets. However, a Chicago Tribune article noted that it’s not so easy. Many thrift stores are no longer accepting analog sets or other older electronics, so there’s concern that a lot of electronic gear will […]

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