Geek in the Forest - Insights and anecdotes from a technology addict living in the country

The Best Way to Hold the iPad

By Sue • April 23, 2013 • 3 Comments

Ever since I got my first iPad two years ago, I've been grappling with… well, the iPad! Specifically, holding it comfortably and using it in a variety of positions. The Apple Smart Cover is great, but it doesn't let you use the iPad in the portrait orientation, it doesn't help you hold the iPad with one hand, and the two landscape propped positions just aren't enough. I've been through a number of holders and stands for my iPad and have recently found the holy grail. What follows is a summary of all the holders I've tried, what's good and bad about them, leading up to my current holder, the fabulous Gripster. See the rest →

DOK CR15 Power Station Review

By Sue • March 8, 2013 • Take the Lead: Add a Comment

When my bedside cord clutter got out of control, I knew I needed to find a solution. The DOK CR15 is a small power station with a speaker and USB ports for charging up to three devices at the same time. This charging station serves my needs quite well, has reduced my bedside cord clutter, and does not occupy a lot of space on my crowded bedside table. See the rest →

Marvin: The Best eBook Reading App for iOS

By Sue • January 9, 2013 • 1 Comment

I am very excited about a new iOS eBook reader app called Marvin that has recently arrived on the scene. Even without auto-scroll, the young app Marvin is already vastly superior to every eBook reading app for iOS that I have tried, which is most of them! Learn more about what's so great about Marvin in this article. See the rest →

uBooks xl App Review (iOS)

By Sue • November 26, 2012 • 3 Comments

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uBooks xl is another one of the very few auto-scroll eBook reading apps for iOS. uBooks xl is a universal app, so it works on all iOS devices including the iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and iPad mini. This review covers version 2.4.3 of uBooks xl. See the rest →

iCloud Round 2: Outlook Sync Improved in iCloud 2.0

By Sue • November 13, 2012 • 12 Comments

This is a follow up post regarding the issues and problems encountered when syncing Outlook data with iOS using both iCloud and Microsoft Exchange. After a month of trying Microsoft Exchange to sync with iOS, I am back to using iCloud, now that version 2.0 has resolved many of the problems in the first version. See the rest →

Tomes App Review (iOS)

By Sue • October 22, 2012 • Take the Lead: Add a Comment

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If you are an iOS user who enjoys reading eBooks with auto-scroll, there aren't a lot of apps offering this feature. This review explores Tomes, one of the few auto-scroll reading apps for iOS. I have used Tomes regularly for more than a year, and while it has some quirks and annoying behavior, it's gotten much better with recent updates, and I prefer reading books with Tomes over any non-auto-scroll eReader app. See the rest →

iShower Wireless Shower Speaker Review

By Sue • October 13, 2012 • 10 Comments

Do you take showers? Do you enjoy listening to music? Have you ever wanted to combine the two? If so, the iShower by iDevices just might be the thing for you! iShower is a water-resistant wireless speaker which works with any Bluetooth-enabled portable such as a smart phone, mp3 player, or tablet. It's also great for other damp environments such as poolside, at the beach, or in the spa. Learn more about the iShower speaker in this detailed review. See the rest →

DIY iPad Speaker Volume Booster

By Sue • October 7, 2012 • Take the Lead: Add a Comment

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If you've got an iPad, you know that the built-in speaker is not very loud. The speaker faces to the rear and slightly to the side of the device so the sound is not aimed directly toward you. I'm going to show you a simple speaker volume booster that works similarly to these accessories, but which is easy to carry with your iPad at all times, won't get lost, and won't take up any extra space. Best of all, you can make it yourself and it will cost next to nothing! See the rest →

A Smart Phone Decision: iPhone on Page Plus Cellular

By Sue • October 2, 2012 • 121 Comments

This is a continuation of my dumbphone chronicles which began with my article on why (as a geek) I still have a dumb phone and continued in a dumbphone dilemma. In my last post, I concluded that I was ruling out the iPhone on Page Plus due to the risk and the cost. Well, all that has changed and I am now using an iPhone 4s on Page Plus Cellular and I am thrilled with it! This post will explain the thought process that led me to this decision and tell you how I made it happen. See the rest →

Outlook Users: How to Dump iCloud and Sync with Microsoft Instead

By Sue • September 22, 2012 • 31 Comments

If you are an Outlook user who wants to sync your contacts, tasks and calendars with your iOS devices using iCloud, you may have been frustrated with some of its… um, deficiencies. The primary issue is that iCloud moves all your contacts and calendar data into a special iCloud data folder which is not fully compatible with Outlook, resulting in a slew of difficulties. This article will explain how to switch from using the troublesome iCloud to using Microsoft Exchange for syncing Outlook data with iOS. See the rest →