Gail Eddy, Nederland. What a year it has been! Technology in this year of Covid is all about designing new ways to socialize, new ways to work, and new ways to go to school. We are spending more time online and demanding faster internet speeds and more bandwidth.

When I asked Chris what was new in Tech this year, he reminded me, while there have been a few new things, it has mostly been a year of learning how to better use the tech we have.  For example:

Conference Services

We’re using more face-to-face calling than ever. Between work and school and family we want to SEE the people we’re talking to. But, because the technology is so new to many of us, when something goes wrong, we think it’s our fault. Before you start tearing out your hair, check Downdetector.com to see if Zoom or Google Meet to see if they are the ones having a problem.

WiFi. It’s been a struggle this year getting adequate WiFi at home when everyone needs to use it at the same time! We’re using a lot more data for everything from Streaming to Gaming.

Some things you can do include

* Check with your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to make sure your home is getting the highest rated speed for your area. (Yes, your monthly fee will probably go up.)

* If your Smartphone comes with a personal hotspot, turn it on and tether your computer to it. That way you’re not competing for WiFi resources with the rest of your family. (Keep an eye on your usage though. When you reach certain thresholds, your cellular provider may start to throttle your coverage.

* Check into getting a separate hotspot. I have a Jetpack from Verizon that can connect up to 15 devices.

* If your home is large, consider a mesh router to reach every corner of your home. (Check out our Parts page for Chris’ recommendations.)

Streaming Movies. We’re watching more movies and TV series too. Some of the streaming services let you download a movie or several episodes to watch later. Do that downloading late at night for the next day. That way you’re not interrupting the workflow of someone else in your family.

New Technology in 2020

Battery Life. After five or six years with the iPhone 7, Chris and I decided it was time for an upgrade. We are THRILLED with the battery life on the iPhone 12. We can go a full day and still have 30-50% of battery life left – even without an external battery case! (We’re still trying to figure out the cameras.)

M1 Chip. Apple has developed a new chip for its MacBook. Reviews so far are mostly raves.

5G. The 5G network has been big in the news this year. It’s been touted as the next great thing. But right now, 5G is just a number. On my iPhone, I’m seeing “5GE” which is very similar to (and might be identical to) 4G LTE. According to macrumors.com, “Real 5G networks offer much faster connection speeds and better performance. … Actual 5G networks, when up and running with full coverage available, may be anywhere from 10 to 100 times faster than LTE networks …. 5G technology requires new modem hardware so until there is an iPhone with a 5G modem chip, no iPhones will work with 5G networks. Your current ‌iPhone‌ will not connect to 5G networks and will be limited to LTE.”

So it might be awhile before we actually get 5G service.

Information about Geek For Hire, Inc

Chris Eddy of Geek For Hire, Inc. has provided computer service to families and small businesses with Mac’s and PCs for the past eighteen years. Angie’s List and the BBB rate Geek For Hire very highly.  You can find more on our website or give us a call at 303-618-0154. Geek For Hire, Inc. provides onsite service (Tier 3 support) to the Denver / Boulder / Front Range area and remote service throughout North America.

Are you interested in how Geek For Hire is serving you during these “interesting” times? Here is a link to our Covid19 Policy. https://geekforhireinc.com/covid19-policy-or-is-tech-support-an-essential-service/

(Originally published in the December 24, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)