Roam Mobility now has US 4G LTE Service
I have written a lot about Roam Mobility and love the fact I can freely use my smartphone without having to pay huge fees to my canadian carrier.
Related Articles:
Roam Mobility just announced that it will have access to the T-Mobile US LTE network as of July 7 2014. T-Mobiles new LTE network cover over most major US metropolitan area and will greatly increase your connectivity speed when in the US.
If you have a Roam Mobility SIM card, you will automatically get registered for the new faster network and be notified via email.
“Our 4G LTE Network doesn’t just bring faster data speeds. It’s the first of many new services we’ll be announcing in the coming weeks that we expect to have a big impact on Canadian roaming services.”
I know Roam Mobility has much bigger ambitions than just US roaming services and I expect them to launch some type of global roaming service in the next 12-24 months. Time will tell but it's great to see a canadian company innovating.
Google bought Songza
It seems the rumours we had all heard were true and Google has finally snapped up Songza. Deal details were are not known but media believes the deal is worth 15M$.
Some said this was done to improve Google Play Music All Access service others say it was a jab at Apple's 3B$ acquisition of Beats.
Google issued a statement calming existing users by confirming that the service will continue as is (for the immediate future). Unfortunately I'm convinced they will kill the Songza service we know and love moving users to the Google paid monthly service.
goodbye Songza... It was a fantastic ride while it lasted
Apple releases iOS 7.1.2 for iPhone and iPad
Apple has just released a minor update to IOS bringing the version to 7.1.2. Don't expect any major changes, this fixes an iBeacon bug, a data transfer bug from some 3rd party accessories and protects mail attachments with proper encryption.
It's a 30 MB Over-the-Air (OTA) update for the iPad and 32MB for the iPhone.
To get it, go to Settings > Software Update and voila.
Amazon App store offers 31 Android apps worth $100 for free
Amazon a running a fantastic promotion in their Amazon App store (link) right now (for 2 days). They are offering 31 decent popular apps and games for free. Outside of this promo, these would cost you $100 to buy. So this is definitely a download it now type of promo.
Some other promos typically include 1 good app and 20 horribly designed crap but this is a decent list worth looking at.
Apps like : Pinball Deluxe, Splashtop Remote HD, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Plex, Informant 3, and many more
Dell Chromebook 11 is the best chromebook you can buy
There are about a dozen different Chromebook models (from different manufacturers) each offering something a little but different. After comparing all the current models, I believe the Dell Chromebook 11 is the best bang for the buck. Unfortunately this model isn't offered in all regions (as an example it is not listed on Dell's Canadian site).
“An important note is that Google will be updating ChromeOS to allow the execution of Android app in ChromeOS which means you may need a touchscreen device eventually. At this point Google did not provide any timelines. The Dell Chromebook does not have a touchscreen but is still the best buy today based on the current version of ChromeOS.”
What is a Chromebook
Many of you found this page knowing what a chromebook is, so you can skip to the next section. For everyone wanting to know what a chromebook is, read on.
A typically Windows computer requires a Windows license, malware protection and constant updates. A couple of years ago, Google realized that many users had migrated from a traditional PC use model, where everything was running locally, to a web-centric model, where everything is running on the web.
When I switched from a Windows machine to a Mac last year, I realized just how much of my day to day computing is actually done in the cloud (Evernote, Google Gmail, Google Docs, Google Photos, etc).
To support this new computing paradigm, Google created a brand new operating system called ChromeOS. It is a specially designed Operating System built on Linux specifically to run the Chrome browser. There are many benefits to this new computing model but the first one most people think about is cost. And yes, ChromeOS Chromebooks are cheap but:
- ChromeOS is lightning fast - Because ChromeOS is stripped down minimalist and small footprint OS, many manufacturers use small solid state drives in their chromebooks which means boot time is incredibly fast. Fast because of the SSD (solid state drive) and fast because the operating system is small and lightweight. It is very common to see a Chromebook book completely from a shutdown state in under 10 seconds.
- No user maintenance - Most people want their computers to be like their toaster... They want it to "just work", A traditional PC (Mac or Windows) requires maintenance to keep in tip top shape but ChromeOS does not. ChromeOS is as maintenance free as a device can be. In an extreme case where things have gone awry, just use the built in "Powerwash" feature and your device will perform like new. All your data is in the cloud, there is nothing to backup, nothing to save and nothing to lose. Updates to ChromeOS are automatic and pushed by Google without any user intervention.
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ChromeOS is more secure - A Windows or Mac computer requires a slew of security oriented applications to keep you safe and to protect your data. Google designed ChromeOS with a "Defense in Depth" approach which means there are multiple layers of security built-in.
- Google keeps your device constantly patched which means any vulnerabilities are automatically and very quickly patched
- Each webpage or web-app is sandboxed (meaning it is logically separated from every other instance which means one webpage or web-app cannot attack or steal data from another webpage or web-app).
- If malware somehow manages to get installed and modifies ChromeOS to steal information, it will be detected and removed. Everytime a ChromeOS device is booted, there is a "Verified Boot" checker that verifies the integrity of the installation. If anything is modified, the device will automatically PowerWash itself and bring itself back to a known good state without any user intervention
Who shouldn't use ChromeOS
As amazing as ChromeOS is, it isnt the magic bullet and not everyone will want it. ChromeOS is designed for an always connected world. Google is making many of the functionality offline compatible (like Google Movies, Google Docs, Google Sheets, etc) but a ChromeOS device will always be happiest when it is connected to the big beautiful internet.
Chromebooks are internet terminals and as much most devices come with super fast but small SSD drives (16/32GB). You won't keep your entire photo collection locally.
Some always on the move people may need to buy a 3G/4G capable Chromebook which costs more and requires a carrier data plan.
ChromeOS was built as an internet access device and as such doesn't run apps locally (I know you can hack a version of Linux on most devices but that isn't something the average user will do). As a result, you won't be able to use your "normal" desktop apps like Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, etc. The truth is most users can get along just fine with the free web alternatives but they just need a kick in the pants to try them. I switched from Microsoft office to Google Docs at home and haven't looked back. It does everything I need for home use, is free, fast and always available from any browser. I also like Apple's new web-based Pages wordprocessor (which does work on a Chromebook).
Google Free Chromebook googies
Google is always offering free goodies to make your Chromebook experience better like Free Google Drive storage, Free Gogo in-flight WIFI vouchers, Free Google Play Movie vouchers, etc
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Google has setup an interesting page entitled "How to get Chrome Goodies for your Chromebook" that you can checkout for current offers (link).
What to look for
When shopping for a Google ChromeOS compatible Chromebook, you should be evaluating these different elements:
- Build quality and durability
- High quality and responsive keyboard & mouse
- Connectivity options and stability
- Longest battery life possible
- Large, bright and sharp display
- Light and easy to carry
I've listed the elements in the order of importance (according to me). The Dell Chromebook meets everyone of the above elements. It has a one of the best Chromebook keyboard currently available. The keys keep solid and clean when you press them. The keyboard layout is reasonable and the trackpad responsive.
Even though the device is all plastic, it feel solid and well built. It doesn't flex or crack when you use it.
The Dell Chromebook 11 supports 802.11 a/b/g/n for WIFI and Bluetooth 4.0. In my testing, the WIFI connection never dropped and WIFI performance was comparable to other much more expensive Dell laptops. The Dell Chromebook does not have 3G/4G connectivity options but I would rather tether my cell phone anyway instead of buying an additional dataline from my almost monopolistic always expensive carrier.
Dell claims battery life of 10 hours and my tests came up just shy of that number with very active use. I was typically getting 6-8 hours of solid use but this may be because of a ChromeOS bug rather than hardware issues. Every other Chromebook also performed well under the manufacturer stated limit. Dell was actually one of the best battery life performers. Hopefully Google will improve battery life through future software updates.
All of this in a reasonably small package weighing in at a mere 2.9 lbs.
Dell markets this Chromebook as a student device but don't let that fool you, this is currently the best general purpose Chromebook in the market.
Whereas some lesser Chromebooks are noticeably and sometimes annoyingly slow, the Dell Chromebook 11 always felt zippy. My wife is a perfect example of a typical web user and always keeps dozens of tabs open (I typically have 3-4 at any given time). On most Chromebooks (HP, Toshiba, Acer, etc) switching tabs (when 20-30 are open) take 30-45 seconds and older tabs have to be redrawn. The Dell Chromebook 11 never suffered any of these issues. Switching tabs is fast and pleasant. For webpages with active content like Java, the Dell Chromebook 11 was almost twice as fast as the slowest models (Samsung and HP). This speed is directly attributable to the hardware specifications (Intel Haswell based Celeron 2955U processor, 16GB of very fast SSD storage and 4GB of RAM). Dell chose an excellent configuration for this device making it snappy and responsive like a device should be.
From an expandability perspective, the Dell Chromebook 11 has 2 USB 3.0 ports and an SD-card slot. The SD-card slot means you can load content and use while disconnected (pictures, music, etc). Great addition for a 16GB device.
So the Dell's screen is good but not the best. The screen itself is respectable and outperforms most other Chromebooks but the IPS one on the HP is just that much better. The Dell's screen is also glossy which means it has smaller viewing angles and reduced visibility in bright sunlight.
Like anything else in this price range, you will need to hookup an external Bluetooth speaker to get anything worth writing home about. I have this same complaint for traditional laptops even some costs close to $2000. The Dell Chromebook 11's speakers are weak but so are those in most laptops anyway (except those in my beloved Macbook pro which rock).
Eventually we may need a touch enabled Chromebook once Google allows Android apps to run in ChromeOS but at about $300 a pop, that future requirement shouldn't influence your decision to buy today.
Cliris cleans your glasses for you
I know cleaning your glasses is a lot of hard arduous sweat inducing work. You probably ask yourself all the time "there must be a better way". Why hasn't technology solved this age old problem already?
Cliris is a new Kickstarter project that want to make your life just a little easier and make you just a little more lazy. In just four minutes, it will clean, disinfect, anti-fog treat and dry your glasses for you.
Cliris uses ultrasonic technology (the same one used to clean jewelry for years) along with a biodegradable cleaning solution. The solution comes in special pods that cost about $US25 each and last for 30 cleanings. Add to that the $US269 cost of the device and this is something for a very specific subset of lazy individuals with tones of disposable income burning a hole in their pockets.
You've got 25 days to fund this project (link).
Smartphone charging pants
We live in a world that is repulsed by wires. We want everything wireless. Wireless headsets. Wireless networking. Wireless Qi based charging. Wireless, wireless, wireless.
Now the world is a slightly better place because we finally have wireless smartphone charging pants (or as they call them in Europe Trousers). These pants have 2,400mAh of smartphone life giving energy coupled with a DC-50 induction charging plate.
Place a compatible phone in the pocket and voila. This is the brainchild of British designer Adrien Sauvage working in collaboration with Nokia. These pants will be available for sale on Amazon for only $US350.
The one downside is that this adds one more thing to your list to charge. Somehow charging my pants just doesn't seem right.
<img src="uploads/2025/50368401b6.jpg" alt="">
Source: Nokia
De-stressing transforming tea bags
These specially designed teabags start off in a "stressed out shape" and then slowly transform into a more relaxed version of that shape when dunked in hot water. This creative idea was hatched by the bright minds at M&C Saatchi (link) for the BOH tea company (link).
It's a great visual reminder to just take a minute and relax.
Google IO Attendees get cardboard and a watch
Google IO 2014 was clearly a love-fest for developers and Sundar thanked them for making the Android platform great. He acknowledged that many developers come to Google IO for the latest and greatest swag.
Attendees to the 2014 edition of Google IO will each get a carefully designed piece of cardboard that turns into a smartphone cradling Virtual Reality headset. They also get the choice of the LG G Watch or the Samsung Gear Live.
<img src="uploads/2025/e2c50c8b2f.jpg" alt="">
Attendees will be eligible to receive a free Moto 360 when it becomes available later this year or as they said "as soon as it's available".
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Google Play a success for developers
Obviously Apple is the 800 lb gorilla in the app store room so developers often wonder if the Google Play store is worth the investment. Sundar Pichai revealed that Google has now paid out 5B$ to developers from its Google Play AppStore since the last Google IO. Which is 2.5X year over year growth.
In Contrast Apple has paid out 15B$ to developers from AppStore sales so far
“Apple’s incredible developers have now earned $15 billion on the App Store.”
It is still great to see all these hardworking devs get some payback.
Video showing Google's Android Everywhere vision
Google is clearly pitching an Android Everywhere strategy. They want it to run on your wrist, in your car, on your TV, phone, tablet and laptop. Google has put all the pieces together in this short video illustrating their vision.
When travelling, should you use cash, credit card or debit card?
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Image by Steven Depolo under Creative Commons License [/caption]
The question I get asked the most is "When travelling, should I use cash, credit card or debit card?"
Cash is accepted everywhere
It's important to remember that regardless of where you travel, the surest most certain form of value exchange is the US dollar. For every trip, I always make sure I have a comfortable amount of US dollars in various denominations spread out throughout me (you never want to pull out a wad of cash in the middle of the street in a foreign country. In many countries cash is the only way to pay for basic commodity services (like taxi, tipping and even some non-hotel restaurants).
Often times cash is the surest way to negotiate the best price on items you want to buy (from a store or street vendor).
Carry or withdraw cash
The next question is "should I convert all the cash in my home country or withdraw once there?" First make sure your debit card is part of one of the larger worldwide networks. Once you've validated this, make sure the location you are visiting has internationally connected ATMs. On one of my trips (to the Philippines) the only internationally connected ATMs where at the airport. Once you travelled to the other cities, you could no longer withdraw money from any of the available ATMs (because those banks where not connected to the international networks), It would have been a huge inconvenience if I hadn't planned and was stuck without money and couldn't withdraw. So plan, plan, plan.
In some cases, hotels may be willing to charge your credit card and give you cash (for a fee) so this may be your only choice if your stuck because of bad planning.
Safety first so only use ATMs in public highly visible areas ideally inside a national bank. Thieves are everywhere and they love stealing from cash rich, security unconscious foreign travellers.
I find that I get the best rates when I withdraw local currency in-country using a big national bank connected to the international banking network. Remember that your bank will also charge you a per transaction fee plus an additional fee for use of the international banking network so make sure you pull out enough money to get you through your trip (don't make small withdrawals).
“If something goes wrong with the transaction and the foreign banks ATM “eats” your card, you will be out of luck and won’t be able to get a replacement until you get back home.”
The second best rates can be obtained from your own bank in country but most banks require that you "order" the foreign currency ahead of time.
Credit Cards are safe
The shortcoming of cash is that it can be easily stollen and once taken cannot be easily recovered. This is where credit cards come in. If you stick with Mastercard or Visa, you have a very good chance your credit cards will be accepted in major developed countries.
Remember though that not all cities in all countries will accept credit cards. As an example the major cities in China will accept credit cards but many of the smaller villages won't. So plan your trip and check ahead of time.
The advantage of using credit cards is that it offers a decent amount of fraud protection, you can have a replacement sent if your card is stollen and you are less at risk of getting robbed.
“Some issuers refuse to send replacement cards to any address except the one listed on your account. I find American Express to be the most travel friendly but has limited acceptance overseas,”
In addition to the limited acceptance, you may also be subject to high currency conversion fees. Make sure you check the terms of your card before using it overseas.
Don't forget to notify the issuer that you will be travelling so that their fraud tools don't automatically cancel your card leaving you stranded.
Know the exchange rate
Before you head out, make sure you check out what the currency exchange rates are for your destination currency versus your home currency. I like Oanda.com because their currency converter also provides typically conversion premiums
<img src="uploads/2025/76ad7de6b6.jpg" alt="">
Oanda also provides a little traveller cheat sheet (based on the spot market rate plus the extra % you choose for the charge drop down list) that you can print and carry in your wallet for quick conversions. For this example I generated a USD/EUR cheat sheet using the +/- 3% rate
<img src="uploads/2025/7912bd8083.jpg" alt="">
Security Security Security
Always plan to be safe and secure. Nothing ruins a trip like having your money, credit cards or passport stollen. Sure they are replaceable but you may end up spending your entire trip running between police stations, the embassy and banks.
I strongly recommend that you travel with a security minded travel bad (handbag, sling, backpack, etc). My favourite security minded travel gear manufacturer has been (for over 4 years) and is still PacSafe (link).
Then read my articles on staying safe in hotels. You can start your reading with part 1 (link), part 2 (link), part 3 (link) and part 4 (link).
Read my article about Travel Tips when Travelling Alone (link).
The best Travel backpack
Travelling is a wonderful experience filled with new emotions, experiences and memories. Unfortunately travelling unprepared may mean these turn out to be negative emotions, horrible experiences and terrible memories. Typically a wonderful experience turns bad when a traveller has his/her most important items stollen (think passport credit cards, traveller checks, money, etc).
Unfortunately tourists are targets for theft in too many countries and they have to take special precautions. Over the years I have tried several dozen products to keep my valuables safe but the one I keep coming back to is my PacSafe (link) backpack.
Why should you buy a PacSafe product?
Every PacSafe product I have bought or tested has been engineered with security in mind. Regardless of which product you choose, most of them share some key protection features:
- ExoMesh SlashGuard - PacSafe recognizes that the most common technique to steal items in the field is for bad actors to slash your bag while you walk and allow the contents to fall-out. Regardless of how "aware" you are, you are unlikely to feel them cut your bag.PacSafe has designed a special metallic mesh that is sandwiched between the different layers of the bag to ensure valuables don't fall out if your bag is slashed. I have travelled with my PacSafe backpack to all four corners of the globe and have never had issues of theft or at an airport security checkpoint (think TSA in the US or CATSA in Canada).
- ThoughZip Zipper protection - We have all seen the news clips on national news or Youtube showing how easily someone can pop open a zipper using a sharp object like a pen. The PacSafe ThoughZip is designed specifically to withstand this type of forced entry. Why is this important? Not only can your content be stollen but bad actors can also add contraband to your bag without you mowing. You lock your bag with a travel lock and leave your hotel room or check in your luggage. Someone adds contraband to your bad for which you get accused. This is particularly worrisome on countries that have the death penalty for drug trafficking.
- RFIDSafe - Most modern passports and credit cards contain a chip called an RFID chip. This chip allows authorities or merchants to quickly read content stored on this chip for fast processing (passport number, name, address, credit card number, expiry date, etc).The problem is that hackers read this same information from up to 12 feet away. Sure some of these products contain minimal encryption but I would still prefer this info to stay private. PacSafe has built a pocket into many of its newer bags lined with a special material that blocks RFID signals from leaking out from that special pocket. This means anything placed in it, during your trip, is safe and protection from prying eyes.
- Zipper Security - Many of their backpacks have a special zipper locking mechanism that prevents pickpockets from opening your backpack pockets without you knowing. It is like a tight carabiner that is reasonably easy for you to open but almost impossible for a pickpocketing their in the field.
Secure and comfortable
In addition to being secure, PacSafe products are comfortable to use. The backpacks have well padded shoulder straps and sternum straps. The back is very padded to maximize comfort even with a heavy load.
The outer material on most bags is a thick resistant Nylon material with RipStop.
I have comfortably carried a full load for hours with minimal fatigue and no pain-points. Really well designed comfortable gear.
Durability
My out of production PacSafe backpack has seen over 500,000 miles travelling from China to Cuba and Thailand to Floria. Even with everything it has been through, it still looks clean and new. There are no loose strings, ripped stitches or ripped outer material.
Few travellers will log as many miles as me so if it's survived my travels, it will survive yours.
Verdict
Regardless of what PacSafe product you choose, I know you will be satisfied. Some will question the price when compared to cheap $99 travel gear sold in your local Walmart or Costco but realize it is not the same thing. Consider the extra money an insurance policy that is worth every penny.
Watch the Google IO Keynote Live
How to Watch the Google IO keynote live stream today
Google IO (I/O) starts today at 9:00am PDT and you can watch the keynote live. We expect the introduction of the next major Android Release (release L) which should be a major visual overhaul. Google understands that it must innovate to stay ahead of the curve, now that Apple's IOS8 brings many of Android's customization to the IOS world (third party keyboard, rich notifications and inter-app communication).
Many sites will try to capture you and force you to watch the live stream to an imbed in their own site, not me. Here is the link to watch the live original Google originated feed (link).
What to expect at today's keynote
Let us not forget that this is a developer conference and as such most of it is geared to their particular needs. This is likely a launchpad for :
- the next version of Android (Android L)
- the implementation of ART as the main runtime (instead of Dalvic)
- the next line of Nexus devices (probably the last batch)
- the launch of a thriving wearable line
What will Android be called?
Every version of Android is typically given a desert name and the next one will start with L. We can start betting what the name will be... Licorice, lollipop, Lemon tart, etc... Let the guesses begin. You have a couple of hours until Google makes its announcement.
Darklight is a great free iphone photo editor
There are hundreds upon hundreds of photo editing apps on the Apple AppStore. Each one with its own twist on photo editing. Any given month, I test several dozen new apps and most get installed, tested then quickly deleted but I recently stumbled on the DarkLight (link) iphone photo editor and its found a permanent home in my iPhone.
Not only has DarkLight earned the status of permanent app on my phone but it has also become my (usually) go-to photo editing app on my iPhone. The key feature which really sets this app apart (besides being free) is the Enhance feature.
<img src="uploads/2025/9d4ae00890.jpg" alt="">
It has 3 automatic photo improvement modes that typically work better than most other automatic photo improvement apps (including Apple's very own iPhoto iPhone app). If you use Google Plus Photos then this feature closely resembles AutoAwesome except everything is processed on your phone.
You then have access to 12 Scene modes that perform minute improvements to make your photo the best it can be.
<img src="uploads/2025/3e8d71a017.jpg" alt="">
What impressed me most is that none of the modes over-modified the any the photos I tested the app with (over-modification is a bad thing).
Then you have the most basic, most standard controls. They include these because every photo editing app has to include them but typically you don't need them after using Enhance and Scene
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Then they include nice features which are typically add-ons in other apps like adding text, stickers or frames.
<img src="uploads/2025/976b8fae15.jpg" alt="">
The app is free and contains no in-app purchases, which makes me very very happy. I absolutely abhor in app purchases. The developer presents an ad every time you save a picture. I wish he gave me the option to buy an ad-free version.
<img src="uploads/2025/9bfe58e2c8.jpg" alt="">
Overall I really like this app and recommend it. It contains almost every feature I want except 2. HDR mode. I would like:
- HDR Mode : This should allow me to to merge multiple bracketed shots into one glorious wide dynamic range photo or to artificially generate a "fake" HDR from a single image like Snapseed does.
- Collage Feature : The ability to merge multiple pictures to create one photo (great for parents and pet owners).
It is a universal app which means it works on iPhone, iPad mini and iPad. I have been testing the app for weeks now and it hadn't crashed once.
Overall this has turned out to be a little gem that you definitely should download.
Halfbrick Studios games are temporarily free
Halfbrick is a popular IOS game development house whose most popular creation is Fruit Ninja. Halfbrick has made this game completely free [for now] for the first time ever : saving you $1 on iphone and $3 on the ipad. Not stopping there, other Halfbrick games have also been priced at FREE temporarily.
Get them while the getting is good.
25% coupon code for all Nomad products
There is a saying in photography
“The Best Camera Is The One That’s With You”
A $5,000 super sophisticated camera doesn't help you capture that special moment if it isn't with you. This is why smartphone photography has really taken the world by storm (since our smartphones are always with us).
I have the same issue with charging cables. Over the years I have bought hundreds of cables ranging from cheap chinese knockoffs to expensive high quality manufacturer sold ones. Regardless of the cable, they never seemed to be with me when I really needed them or were a hassle when travelling.
NOMAD HAS BOTH LIGHTNING AND MICRO-USB TIPS
That is until I met the ChargeKey (pictures above). This thing is always with me ready to charge my iPhone. You should read my review of the ChargeKey (link).
Nomad also has a ChargeCard which offers the same convenience in an easily walletable card format.
<img src="uploads/2025/06d86dee54.jpg" alt="">
“The Nomad ChargeKey has been on my keychain getting beaten up in my pocket for 4 months now and it works perfectly and looks like new.”
SAVE 25% off Any Hello NOMAD product this week
Order any product from helloNomad.com and use code "LIVESIMPLE" (without quotation marks) to save 25% off your order. It's a great time to stock up.
All Nomad Lightning cables are Apple MFI certified so they are guaranteed to perform.
Shipping is free for the US, Canada, United Kingdom and Australia. It's $5 anywhere else.
Apple European USB chargers may be dangerous
Apple has announced a USB Adapter replacement program for Europe. This recall affects both in box and sold-separately USB adapters. Apple says they may "overheat" and "pose a safety risk".
These adapters were sold or delivered with iPhones from 2009 until 2012.
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="350"]<img src="uploads/2025/5af4e16b81.jpg" alt=" Model A1300 - affected model "> Model A1300 - affected model [/caption]
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="350"]<img src="uploads/2025/7740bbe382.jpg" alt=" Model A1400 - New unaffected model "> Model A1400 - New unaffected model [/caption]
You can access Apple's information page here (link)
Every project manager should be performing a pre-mortem
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Image by StockMonkeys.com [/caption]
As a business leader, I have participated in and managed hundreds of post-mortem reviews for projects and deals. It is a sound strategy to identify the elements that failed or that could be optimized/
“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
But what if you could gain all of the benefits of this activity before the initiative fails thus potentially saving it? A pre-mortem (or premortem) basically is a role playing game where participants assume the project has already failed and then determine why it failed and how failure could have been prevented.
Why this works
Issues rarely "just happen". Typically there are warning signals that show up prior to any failure. Typically these are:
- You know you are not undertaking the required maintenance which will likely lead to failure (project monitoring, follow-ups, etc)
- You can "feel" the project deviating from its core purpose
- You start noticing "out of the ordinary" or unexpected results
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure
Instead of retrospectively looking at why the project failed, why not take the time to foresee what could go wrong and fix it?
The best way is to invite a core group of knowledgeable experts and ask them to imagine the project failing then lead the group to identify possible preventative measures. It sounds easy because it is.
The Pre-Mortem Process
Step 1 - Doom and Gloom
Lock up your key people in a room and ask them to imagine every possible way the project could fail. Big or small it should be written down individually on a sheet of paper. Remind the team that no failure is too big or too small. Every issue should be started with "what if"
- What if the supplier doesn't deliver the part
- What if the supplier goes out of business
- What if the price of the part shoots up significantly
- What if...
- what if...
- what if...
As a moderator, your role is to ensure everyone spends this time thinking about problems and not solutions. No judgement and no logical thought. We don't want participants making risk judgements to eliminate possible failures.
Step 2 - Prioritization
Share all of the failure possibilities with the participants and narrow down the list to the top 10, top 20 or whatever other number you are comfortable with. For most projects, I typically like top 10 lists. For more critical or larger projects, I may go to a top 25 list.
When reviewing the list (collectively), remind the participants that there are really 3 things to consider in this step
- Choose failures whose realization will have a severe and catastrophic impact on the project.
- Choose failures who are likely to happen. There could be some debate but the threat of a comet hitting your datacenter could probably be crossed off the list.
- Choose failures that are in your span of control. Some failures are outside of your control and cannot be mitigated by you. Chuck those out.
Step 3 - Solutioning
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.
”
If the first 2 steps where done properly and diligently then this last step should be fairly easy and straightforward. Assigned the final problems to owners and each owner must:
- Come up with a plan to prevent the failure from occurring
- Come up with a backup plan in case prevention doesn't work
The final step is to ensure every action item is given an owner and a due date. These should be tracked as part of the master project plan and reported on weekly.