Entering the 21st Century

I've wanted a tablet from the first time I saw an iPad.  I thought it would be so great to have all that internet capability with me at all times.  Because iPads were and still so expensive I didn't buy one. 

Tablets by other manufacturers got cheaper and became tempting again.  Kim Komando said not to buy a cheap tablet because they didn't measure up to the iPad and most people would be disappointed.  So I continued to wait. 

The Samsung Galaxy became popular and also got Kim Komando's okay.  My neighbor has one and she likes it a lot.  I was unempressed with her internet speed so I continued to wait. 

Earlier this month Andrea and I went in to Best Buy Mobile in the mall.  They had a really good deal; buy a hot spot for a dollar and get a hundred dollars off certain tablets.  I was excited because the salesman told me I could use Google Voice or a third party app to use the tablet as a cell phone.  That clinched it for me, I could get rid of my cell phone and have a tablet to boot!.  I got the small Samsung Galaxy S3 or whatever it is. 

Andrea started setting it up while we were still shopping.  The hot spot worked great because our internet was fast.  I got the google voicy app put we couldn't get it to work.  I thought I needed to make some changes to my account on my computer or something like that.  I got the MARTA app that has all the bus and train schedules but the best part is it will show where the bus is along its route.  I was really excited about that one.  I had Andrea pull up coupons to show the cashier in JCPenney and Kohls so we could take advantage of discounts we didn't have paper coupons for.  I'm loving this thing and couldn't wait to get home to explore it more on my own.

I found it difficult to use.  Some was due to my sight problems and some was due to the size of the tablet.  I couldn't hold the tablet and magnifyer at the same time it tap the screen wery well.  It was combersome to use.  typing on the touch screen was a challenge for the same reasons.  I thought I could get used to enough of thses things to still make it worthwhile.  Then I discover Google Voice isn't set up for what I wanted to do.  I kept getting a message saying I can't forward to a Google voice number.  So we tried the third party phone apps.  They either didn't ring any phone or the delay was too annoying to deal with.  I was disappointed and decided to return everything. 

I got Andrea to show me her smartpone.  I played around with it and made an unexpected discovery.  The smaller size is better for me than even a small tablet.  I asked her lots of questions about when I needed the phones internet and when I could use WiFi.  I came to the conclusion I could use a cheap smartphone like the Virgin Mobile's Awe to do all my tablet use and have a phone if I wanted to. 

Between Ebates and a Virgin Mobile sale I got the Awe for $42.50.  I got the cheapest card to see how I like everything.  I still have Sprint because neither my billing cycle or minutes cycle is over.  I want to make sure I like the Awe before I cancel Sprint. 

I like the tablet features such as all kinds of apps.  I don't like the touchscreen keyboard but I don't text anyway.  Once I get my contacts in I won't need the keyboard much.  I need to call people and talk on it more.  I'm considering keeping Sprint and using the slow random WiFi when out and home WiFi at home. 

These are the apps I have: my favorite department store and grocery store apps, Domino's Pizza, LDS Library, apps for ringtones and wallpapers, flashlight, MARTA, and Smugmug.  I don't plan to do banking on my phone because I make too many mistakes on the keyboard and there's always the theft issue; but I do have my banks apps just in case, but I'm not logged in.  I didn't get the Facebook app because I waste too much time there already, plus the keyboard issue.  I don't like browsing for apps, too many things that look like games but when I hear about or come across something that sounds interesting I get it. 

Another Kick in the Pants

I posted this on my "Blind as Eye Look" Facebook page.  I think it's worth posting here in case there's a different audience.  

Getty just shop all stock photographers in the foot. they're offering 35 million stock photos online for free. They say because people used to copy and paste them anyway. So they think rewarding them is the answer? They should crack down the way the RIAA did with music a decade ago. I've never contributed to Getty thank goodness. They still have images for sale but they think offering all these free ones will enhance sales. Bull. People will get the free images and look for more. I don't think many will even take a look at the paid once. They say the free images are only for noncommercial use, yet right; if people stole in the past they'll steal in the future, but now with Getty's blessing. http://www.cnn.com/2014/03/06/tech/social-media/getty-free-pictures/

to add to the facebook post I'll give a personal experience.  Once I let Fotolia offer an image in their free section.  I had hundreds of downloads.  Was there an increase in sales of regular portfolio files? No.  Was there and increase in views of regular portfolie files?  The answer again is no>  

Each agency will offer a few free images voluntarily offered by the photographer.  I feel that is enough free material to offer.  We are already competing with everybody and his brother for pictures due to cameras being put on phones and tablets.  I say take your own pictures or pay for them.

A Little But.....

...prescriptions still went up.

I get my medical care and prescriptions through Grady Memorial Hospital.  Grady has a charity division which allows residents of Fulton and DeKalb counties to receive reduced priced medical care and prescriptions.  I've been going to Grady since I was diagnosed with glaucoma in 2011.  The prescription benefit has either been $3 a prescription or full price depending on income.  I ordered from a Canadian pharmacy when my income put me on the full price plan. 

Today, after I got my prescription, I was told, "Beginning April first prescriptions will be five dollars each".  I thanked her for the heads up.  Now I'll pay ten dollars for my eye drops instead of six.  It doesn't sound like a lot of money but it is a 66% increase.

I am glad they didn't skyrocket the way Beazle's medicine did.  She used to get a ninety-day supply of one of her medications for three dollars, according to her.  When she went to refill this particular prescription a couple weeks ago she said they wanted sixty dollars.  I told her it was because of obamacare.  She thinks the pharmacy is just being gready because obamacare is supposed to help people.  Yeah right!  Beazle had her doctor prescribe a different medication and she took it to a different pharmacy.  Now she pays twenty dollars for a ninety-day supply.  Again, it doesn't sound like a lot of money for a ninety-day supply but it's a 700% increase.  That kind of an increase is a lot for a retired person on a fixed income.

Remember Social Security gave a 1.5 cost of living increase this year.