Local DC area

iPad launch

/ Apple, Local DC area

iPads Available

The iPad WiFi model is here. At the Clarendon Apple Retail store in Arlington, Virginia, there was a line for the opening. But by mid-morning, you could walk right up and buy one, even without a reservation.

My informal survey shows that nearly half the people are waiting for the 3G version instead of buying the WiFi-only model available today. The 3G model costs $130 more, allows the option to connect to AT&T’s 3G data network, and includes GPS.

These launch events appear to be our generation’s version of Woodstock, which doesn’t say good things about society. Still, the gadget lover in me feels like a kid in a brand new candy store.

Biking Directions with Google Maps

/ Google, Internet, Local DC area, Search

Google recently added biking directions with Google Maps. See Bicycling as a drop-down option when looking for directions.

Google Biking

Beta Warning

The yellow note at the bottom to use caution isn’t just for legal reasons. Many have reported mistakes, such as directions to bike through Arlington Cemetery.

But, like everything Google, it seems to get better over time. People report these mistakes to Google by either clicking the here link at the bottom of the Beta warning or clicking Report a Problem at the bottom right of any Google Map.

Report Biking Direction Problem to Google

With the snow melting away in DC, it should be fun to bike again soon. Give Google Maps biking directions a try.

iMac 27 Screen Problems

/ Apple, Computer Hardware, Local DC area

Screen Busted

There has been a lot of concern online about screen problems with the late 2009 27 inch model of iMacs. Gizmodo has covered this extensively. I recently saw an Arlington, Virginia customer’s 27″ iMac that had developed screen problems. I used PiXel Check to change the screen to one color to see the problem more clearly. I took the photograph below which shows the streaks and smudges that have formed in the top right corner of the monitor. (Note: The fading at the bottom of the screen is only a camera effect of photographing the screen.)

imac_27_screen_smudgeResolution, We Think

Happily, Apple dealt with this well. An Apple representative needs to see the screen problem in person, so a phone call to Apple Care doesn’t help. The customer made a reservation with an Apple Genius at the Clarendon, Virginia store. After looking at the screen, the Apple Genius immediately said that the LCD screen would be replaced free-of-charge.

Unfortunately, the Apple store needed to order the part so the iMac will not be fixed for a few days. The customer opted to bring the iMac back when the part arrived so that he could still use it.

The Apple Genius said that they had seen this problem many times before. So check your screen, especially if you have a 27″ iMac.

Some online reports suggest that Apple has fixed the problem. We hope that’s true and that the replacement will work long term.

Online Travel Sites

/ Internet, Local DC area, Shopping, Uncategorized

Reagan National Airport

Online travel booking is easier than ever. And for us lucky folk in Washington DC with three airports (Dulles, Reagan, and BWI) there are flights everywhere and lots of deals. Below are some useful travel sites.

Travel Reservations

Travelocity – early leader in online reservations with roots back to CompuServe and AOL. Now known for the gnome commercials.

Orbitz – developed by airlines in response to Expedia and Travelocity.

ITA – uses the search system that powers Orbitz, but allows far more complex trips.

Priceline – offers standard purchases or allows you to name your own price for flights, hotels, and car rentals. Pitchman is now William Shatner.

Expedia – started by Microsoft, bought by Ticketmaster, now independent.

Hotwire – owned by Expedia. Unique in that you purchase hotels based on location and star rating. You only find out the name of your hotel after the purchase.

Kayak – travel search aggregator. Kayak does not directly sell tickets, but links to all the sites that do and makes a small amount of money on click throughs.

Bing Travel– recently renamed from Forecast.com, now owned by Microsoft. This site has flight price trends and predictions to help you decide if you should buy or wait for a better fare. It’s not perfect has helped me on a couple of occasions with suggestions to wait for a better price.

Special Airlines

JetBlue and Southwest airlines are not part of the above travel reservation sites. You can only book with them directly.

Other Resources

The Savvy Traveler Blog – deals and news by Rudy Maxa who often discusses travel on WAMU’s Kojo Nnamdi Show on NPR in DC.

Flyertalk – forum for frequent flyers to discuss deals and reward programs. This is where serious deal seekers go to discuss optimizing their points and airline status.

Liftopia – discount ski lift tickets and ski hotel deals.

TripBuzz – find local activities.

Have other travel resource recommendations? Email me to let me know.

6/12/16 UPDATES: Updated ITA Link and added TripBuzz, thanks to Phoebe.

Online Resources for H1N1 Flu

/ Google, Local DC area

Here are some resources to inform/panic you about the H1N1 Swine Flu that was just declared a national emergency.

Washington D.C. area residents should visit:

The CDC’s H1N1 Resource Page is the one stop for all H1N1 information and latest news. It has recommendations on how to prevent getting the flu.

The CDC’s list of high risk groups include:

  • Children younger than 5, but especially children younger than 2 years old
  • Adults 65 years of age and older
  • Pregnant women
  • People who have:
    • Cancer
    • Blood disorders (including sickle cell disease)
    • Chronic lung disease [such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease  (COPD)]
    • Diabetes
    • Heart disease
    • Kidney disorders
    • Liver disorders
    • Neurological disorders (such as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, brain or spinal cord injuries,  moderate to profound intellectual disability [mental retardation] or developmental delay)
    • Neuromuscular disorders (such as muscular dystrophy and multiple sclerosis)
    • Weakened immune systems (such as people with HIV or AIDS or who are on medications that weaken the immune system )

The ECDC’s (for Europe) site covers the Swine Flu in Europe and worldwide.

Google Flu Trends is an innovative project to track flu activity based on their user’s search queries. It now also has a Worldwide Map.  See how it works in this video:

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