How Do You Keep Up With Tech?

[Midpack]

I like to think I keep up with tech, an early adopter in some cases, but I miss so much. Recent examples:

• AirDrop - just “discovered” it today, very useful to me, wish I’d known sooner.
• iOS Excel - just “discovered” a few days ago the free version includes a ton of features that it didn’t with iOS Excel 1.0 without a $ subscription to Office365.

How do you tech forward people stay abreast of new stuff?

 

[ERD50]

Good question. For me, I guess it's just kind of 'osmosis', I come across stuff as I wander the webs, or do a search when I figure there is some solution to a problem. But sometimes it's not a problem, you just don't know that xyz is available, and would enhance your life.

But there should be a better way, certain tech sites that would help. When I was using Apple computers, I'd visit those sites regularly. I should peek into ArsTechnica more often. Probably a bunch of other sites. But then you end up wading through a lot to find the few gems that appeal to the things that make a difference for you.

Looking forward to some good suggestions from others.

-ERD50

 

[Car-Guy]

I guess I had enough of leading (bleeding) edge technology when I worked. Had all the latest and greatest stuff at work often before it was really ready for everyday use. These days I lag a year or so behind and wait for others to work out the bugs and I don't just get something unless I find a need. Heck, I dumped my work smart phone when I retired and just used a flip phone until about a year ago.


That's is except for cars, I want the latest and greatest technical gadgets in my new cars.

 

[Hermit]

DS clues me in on all the latest and greatest tech stuff, most of which I forget about before the phone conversation has ended.

 

[audreyh1]

Seems to happen automatically. DH is usually but not always ahead of me.

We do tend to watch the announcements of new Apple products. And when I get a new device or upgrade I do occasionally review the new features. A lot I just seem to discover on my own.

We use fewer and fewer other gadgets now - no more separate GPSs, cameras haven't changed that much, TVs aren't that complex even upgrading to 4K was not big deal, and streaming has been straightforward. Can't really think of technology that I need to catch up with at the moment.

 

[easysurfer]

Youtube is a very good source (when I'm not busy watching cat videos ).

Always helps to have a video explanation on some things rather than reading text and still pictures.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

I guess I tend to keep up with tech that is useful, such as the examples you cited. OTOH, when it comes to the social media stuff I can't be bothered and the youngsters in the family treat me like a Luddite because not only do I not use Instagram, I'm only vaguely familiar with what the heck it even is.

To the original question, when it comes to keeping up I try to read up on "what's new" in each release of iOS or OS X, for example, by reading the release notes or surfing the tech blogs.

 

[Fedup]

My girls keep me in the loop. I’ve discovered airdrop a while now. But iOS Excell, where’s that? iPad?
But my oldest child say to google if I don’t know anything. It took us a while to find out how to turn the light off.

 

[Dawg52]

Youtube is a very good source (when I'm not busy watching cat videos ).

Always helps to have a video explanation on some things rather than reading text and still pictures.

That's my main source. Just upgraded cell phones and youtube was an easy way to compare all the features.

 

[davebarnes]

I read 25+ blogs/magazines every day.

Or, is the drugs and booze?

 

[Bamaman]

I prefer to keep life simple as possible, and I don't try to keep up with technology.

When I bought my new laptop, I made sure it had a CDR port. That way I could use my 2007 MS Office program again vs. buying a subscription.

I don't even have a cellphone. After 36 years on the telephone all day, I no longer speak to anyone on the phone but my sister once monthly.

 

[Jerry1]

I lean more to the “I don’t keep up” side. But it is nice when you stumble upon a gem. Unfortunately, it’s just not worth the effort. Had enough of keeping up while on the job.

Midpack, I wouldn’t mind hearing more about how the two you mentioned work for you and where you connect to them. Is this Excel you speak of the Numbers program on my iPad?

 

[W2R]

Good question. For me, I guess it's just kind of 'osmosis', I come across stuff as I wander the webs, or do a search when I figure there is some solution to a problem. But sometimes it's not a problem, you just don't know that xyz is available, and would enhance your life.

+1

Same here. I browse various technically oriented websites and forums when I am inclined to do so, and if none catch my interest that day, then Google is a great help in finding additional sites to peruse. If I come across something new or interesting that appeals to me, then I'll probably save a link to it in my browser "favorites", look through the internet to learn more about it, and think about buying it.

Not everything that is leading edge appeals to me, so if it doesn't then I ignore the link and eventually delete it. I have a folder in my favorites called "Maybe later" where these often end up while I am undecided.

 

[Floridatennisplayer]

Being in the medical device industry, working with specialists, very techy people always keep me in the loop.

 

[RobbieB]

Only when I have to.

I don't seek it out unless I have to. Hook up some new widget, update some software, fix some crap that used to work but doesn't anymore.

 

[Elbata]

Just got done watching a youtube video by "dottotech". He talked about lifelong learning. One of the interesting things he said was that he doesn't know if he'd be a lifelong learner if it wasn't for today's present technology.

I agree with that. When we can find out just about anything we want just by asking Google, it sure makes learning fun.

One video I just watched by Dottotech was on "Google Translation". What a hell of a useful app. Not only will I use it to translate menus, signs, speak to someone in a different language, but teach myself a different language.

I don't think there's any question I'm learning more now than any other time of my life.

 

[mountainsoft]

I follow several blogs and tech news feeds using the RSS-Owl newsreader. Even then there's a lot of stuff I miss, and a good portion I just don't care about. It seems every day there's an article about some new phone, video game, or TV on the market. I don't need any of those, so I tend to ignore them.

I discover many new gadgets by accident. For example, maybe I'm buying something on Amazon and they suggest something in their product list at the bottom.

In general though, I grew tired of always trying to keep up with the latest and greatest. There's very little tech I really "need" in my life. When I do, I'll go looking for it. Otherwise I see no reason to be tempted by something I don't need to spend money on anyway.

 

[cranberryjoe]

Twitter. I follow the Twitter accounts of a number of tech sites in areas that interest me. Ars Technica is the best all-around source for tech info IMHO, but there are plenty of other tech sites specializing in things like Android, iOS, Windows, computer security, cameras, etc. When I see an interesting headline in the Twitter feed I can click through to the article. Somewhat like an RSS feed.

 

[Scuba]

Just got done watching a youtube video by "dottotech". He talked about lifelong learning. One of the interesting things he said was that he doesn't know if he'd be a lifelong learner if it wasn't for today's present technology.

I agree with that. When we can find out just about anything we want just by asking Google, it sure makes learning fun.

One video I just watched by Dottotech was on "Google Translation". What a hell of a useful app. Not only will I use it to translate menus, signs, speak to someone in a different language, but teach myself a different language.

I don't think there's any question I'm learning more now than any other time of my life.

I agree, Google Translate is very cool. When we were in Amsterdam, we held our iPhone up to a street sign that was in Dutch, and it showed English words on the sign image. Amazing!

 

[TwoByFour]

I was in high tech for years but got burned out on the whole idea of chasing the latest and greatest. I actually think that we are over-tech'ed so I try to keep things simple and only grab apps and gizmos that I am sure will be a big plus in my life. I find out about those things mostly by word-of-mouth. Having people around who are in their 20's helps but I still only am interested in 10% of what they find intriguing.

 

[Midpack]

Youtube is a very good source (when I'm not busy watching cat videos ).

Always helps to have a video explanation on some things rather than reading text and still pictures.

I agree YouTube is a great resource, I watch YT more than network TV these days. But that’s usually where I learn to use new software/apps/features, not that they exist in the first place. Chicken and the egg...

 

[target2019]

I like to think I keep up with tech, an early adopter in some cases, but I miss so much. Recent examples:

• AirDrop - just “discovered” it today, very useful to me, wish I’d known sooner.
• iOS Excel - just “discovered” a few days ago the free version includes a ton of features that it didn’t with iOS Excel 1.0 without a $ subscription to Office365.

How do you tech forward people stay abreast of new stuff?

It's not so much the new stuff that that's important, but what works well and gives you good value.
I have a friend who has shared a lot of tech concepts with me, since early 1980's. Used to read many magazines too, and belonged to a computer society.
Now I mostly browse Google News technology section, and from there can read top articles popular on Techcrunch, etc.

 

[flintnational]

My DW knows how to operate our Betamax. As long as both of them keep working, I'm good!

 

[Ronstar]

I used to keep up with tech very well when I was working. It was my job to keep up on the latest CAD and GPS software and hardware. But i haven’t kept up much tech in the last 5 years. Now I get ideas from YouTube and then implement them. Or I get updated from my nephew the computer whiz.

 

[marko]

I've always been an early adopter; my company would pick up the tab for anything leading edge for me to play with. (anyone remember the 'Cue Cat' thing that would scan bar codes? Compuserve? CheckFree?)
I was on the internet back when it was C prompts via Darpanet.

But as DW observes, I tend not progress after a certain point with a technology.

What I've learned about myself is that I'm not interested in the technology as much as solving a problem I have. Once I've solved my problem--how to monitor my home temperature remotely--I have no need to go to the latest, greatest way to do it.

It's a bit harder now that I'm not working. I used to go to Wired Magazine advertisements for new ideas but they've gone off the rails.

I'm inherently curious so I tend to surf the net a lot and stumble upon things now for apps and such.