Technology | The Apheus Blog

Start Shopping Now for the Best Tech Gifts this Christmas

16Nov

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Tech Talk, Technology

Start Shopping Now for the Best Tech Gifts this Christmas

The big shopping season is nearly upon us and this Christmas is sure to be a challenge for gift-givers wanting to wrap us some tech. Supply chain issues and chip shortages continue to plague the technology world, which could make the availability of some items sporadic. Still, here's my list of the best tech gifts for 2021. Apple AirPods Pro I just purchased the Apple AirPods Pro for myself last week. I was able to buy them at Target saving $60 off the going price of $249. The audio quality and noise-canceling features are shockingly good. It's definitely a step up from the older AirPods I kept in my pocket. They're available on Amazon right now for $200. Apple HomePod mini If you haven't heard the sound quality of the Apple HomePod mini, then you're missing out. You can p...

13Sep

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Tech Talk, Technology

Apple Wallet is Underappreciated

I've learned to love Apple Wallet over the last several months. Combined with my Apple Watch, it's a powerful duo that is really becoming an indispensable part of my daily activities. I have to admit that I really learned to love Apple Wallet when I took my trip to Florida this past June. When I went to Disney World, I used my Apple Watch and the Wallet almost exclusively. I can't say that the experience was without its minor problems, but it was still very useful. Disney created the Disney MagicMobile Pass that replaces the Magic Band by using your Apple Watch and Wallet instead. For the most part, it worked well. But I've also found other ways to use my Wallet in combination with my Apple Watch. I use it all the time to make purchases large and small. It's a convenience I've l...

Using to TikTok to Expand Your Understanding of Technology

30Mar

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Tech Talk, Technology

Using to TikTok to Expand Your Understanding of Technology

I love TikTok. TikTok is a place for creators. I've been a fan for a long time, but did you know you can actually utilize it to expand your understanding of technology? There are a lot of creators on the TikTok platform that produce some amazingly simple and useful content. Here are a few examples. Microsoft Office Tips & Tricks I follow Mike Tholfsen on TikTok. He also has a YouTube channel. He has some amazingly simple and useful Microsoft Office tips and tricks. I'm not even sure how he packs so much information into a video only a minute long. As he says, he keeps his videos "short and sweet." From what I can tell, Mike does work for Microsoft, and his tips are spot-on. And with more than 242,000 followers as of this blog post, he definitely has an audience. iPhone Tips &...

22Dec

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Computers, Tech News, Tech Talk, Technology

Monitors are in Short Supply

I think we can all agree that 2020 has been a difficult year. Especially for those of us who work in the information technology field. In late 2019 we were facing a shortage of processors. That was quickly followed by a shortage of desktop computer systems in early 2020 that lasted nearly half the year. That was followed by a shortage of laptops and webcams. And that was just the hardware difficulties. Now that we're finishing out the year, we're faced with another hardware shortage - this time with monitors. If you can get a monitor, it's probably more expensive. There's no doubt about it, we are in the midst of a monitor shortage and it's not going to get any better anytime soon. The most recent round of problems (they say) is due to a strong earthquake in Taiwan and a power o...

The New Apple M1 Processor Set to Change Everything

17Nov

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Computers, Tech News, Tech Talk, Technology

The New Apple M1 Processor Set to Change Everything

At Apple's event on November 10th, they unveiled the new M1 processor - a chip designed to replace the Intel processors previously used in their desktop and laptop computer products. The new M1 chip is debuting in new versions of the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. The first of these products are set to start arriving today. You can watch the whole video event below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AwdkGKmZ0I&ab_channel=Apple I have some take-aways from the event... First of all, you could tell that Apple was excited. In fact, it almost seemed like they were surprised by the power of their first Apple Silicon processor. These processors are fast, packed with features, and a step above anything else Apple has ever offered. Indeed, it may be one of the most...

How COVID-19 Has Changed the World of Technology

27Oct

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Computers, Internet, Tech News, Tech Talk, Technology

How COVID-19 Has Changed the World of Technology

You can listen to Tech Talk on WTCA AM 1050 and FM 106.1 in Plymouth, Indiana, every Tuesday morning at 8:30 am. Join Bob and Rusty and they discuss the latest technology news and whatever else comes to mind. It's been less than a year since COVID-19 hit the United States and it has left lasting effects on almost everyone. Those of us who work in the information technology fields know how difficult it has been to adjust, innovate, and deploy. In fact, our industry has changed so quickly it has been difficult to come up with solutions that meet the needs of our customers. The biggest change has been how most customers now realize how important technology is to their daily operations. Remote Work Many of our customers, particularly local municipalities, have never given remote ...

What do you do with all of those pictures on your phone?

20Oct

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Tech Talk, Technology

What do you do with all of those pictures on your phone?

You can listen to Tech Talk on WTCA AM 1050 and FM 106.1 in Plymouth, Indiana, every Tuesday morning at 8:30 am. Join Bob and Rusty and they discuss the latest technology news and whatever else comes to mind. Everybody has a cell phone on them, right? That also means that you're carrying a camera in your pocket. Which means that you're probably taking a lot more photos that you realize. But what do you do with all of those pictures once they're taken? Back Up Your Pictures If you have pictures of your friends and loved ones, the first thing you should do is back up those pictures! Use a cloud service like Apple iCloud or Google Photos. If you lose your phone or somehow destroy your device, you'll be sorry that you didn't back up those photos. Sharing Pictures Online You...

29Sep

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Tech News, Tech Talk, Technology

Amazon to Release Several New Products

Amazon has announced the release of several new products for home automation, gaming, and entertainment. Some of these new products are just down-right creepy. Perfect for their October release dates (and just in time for Christmas). Luna Plus Luna is a cloud-based gaming service that promises easy-to-play games that can be played on any device. Luna is available on PC, Mac, Fire TV, and web apps for iPhone and iPad. The game platform is still invite-only, but I'm sure that it will be made available in the not-so-distant future. The monthly subscription to Luna Plus is $5.99. Amazon has also released a Luna controller for $50. New Spherical Echo Speakers Arriving in October, a new fourth-generation Echo speaker is sure to be on a number of Christmas wish lists. Availabl...

The New Apple Watch Series 6 is Here… and It’s Glorious!

23Sep

By Bob BarcusNo Comments

Tech News, Tech Talk, Technology

The New Apple Watch Series 6 is Here… and It’s Glorious!

I'm no Apple fanboy... But full disclosure: I do have an iPhone X, still have my iPhone 5S in a drawer, and purchased by first (and only) Mac in 1993. So it's safe to say that I have been an arms-length fan of Apple products since back in the day. My first experience with Apple was in elementary school. I made my first program on an Apple IIe and spent an entire semester my senior year of high school in front of an Apple Performa 400. This eventually led to my purchase of an Apple Performa 450. Needless to say, I loved my Mac. But that didn't make me an Apple fanboy. I built my first Windows PC in 1996 and never looked back. But then I received my new Apple Watch Series 6 on Monday... This is my first Apple Watch, so I'm new to everything about it. I even had to look up how t...