ChimpKey converts PDFs for EDI

It's hard to recall how businesses functioned before the arrival of the PDF format in the early 1990s. Adobe's Portable Document Format allowed computer users to create and share formatted documents that could be viewed on a wide range of computer platforms and software. 

In today's business world, invoices, purchase orders and other documents are routinely generated  in PDF format because, like US dollars, PDFs are accepted anywhere and everywhere. 

But rivers of PDFs don't always flow smoothly between one computer system and another. Some companies want to extract the the information contained in a PDF document, like customer names, dates, products ordered and prices, and store that information in their own systems and databases.

Some unfortunate employee might be tasked to retype all that data. But a better solution would be using an automated service like ChimpKey. ChimpKey offers a conversion service designed for PDF to XML or PDF to EDI, a standardized format for electronic data interchange.

ChimpKey customers send their PDF documents to ChimpKey's servers where PDF data aid extracted and delivered in a manner that follows a customers's data maps. Documents can be sent manually or through an automated flow process. ChimpKey monitors the process to find documents that fail to to map. The process is adjusted until all documents can flow smoothly. 

For more details about ChimpKey and how the service works, visit the ChimpKey website where you can submit a sample PDF. 

By: Ric Manning On 7/02/2022

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FastComments powers online discussions

What's the most important online link between an organization and its members or customers? Don't overlook the "Comment" option on a blog or website.

A visitor or regular user who posts a comment is creating a personal link between themselves and an organization, whether it's a product seller, an educational institution or a neighborhood chat line. Making that link easy and responsive serves the interests on both sides of the connection.

That's primary goal of FastComments, a California company that creates high-quality discussion software for websites and other digital platforms.

FastComments' products include features that help create a rewarding experience for users. For example, FastComments supports SSO - single sign on authentication that lets users sign on once for access to multiple services. It's how Google users can sign in once to use Gmail, YouTube and other platforms.

FastComments users can also create a personal profile and use direct messaging to contact other users.

Organizations that install FastComments get support for notifications, reply emails and activity feeds. FastComments can also be deployed in high-volume discussion environments. The service offers plug-in for WordPress, APIs and migration from other discussion platforms.

FastComments pricing starts at $5.99 a month for three sites and one administrator.

For more details, pricing options and to read success stories, visit the FastComments website.

By: Ric Manning On 5/30/2022

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This service maps websites for free

A key element in the success of any website is getting it recognized by Google and other search engines. That's why an entire industry has blossomed around the concept of SEO: Search Engine Optimization. 

Most search services offer a submission process so the people behind new websites can announce their arrival to the online world. 

But for any chance of success, websites need to submit more than just their home page. Google and the other lords of search recommend submitting a full roadmap pointing to every page on the site.

Building a full sitemap sounds like a lot of work, and it can be. I built several sitemaps by hand back in the early days of the World Wide Web and I would never want to do that again. Today, I wouldn't have to because there's an online service that will create one for free.

At XML Sitemap Generator, site managers can fill out a simple form and get a full sitemap in a few hours or even minutes, depending on the size of the site. The free service includes a sitemap of up to 200 pages in XML, HTML or RSS format. The formats are compatible with major search engines including Google, Bing, Baidu, Yandex and others.   

For larger websites, customers can make a small donation or purchase a Windows download or a WordPress plugin.

For a closer look at the services, visit the XML Sitemap Generator website. You can also check out the service's Facebook page and @createsitemaps on Twitter. 

By: Ric Manning On 10/08/2021

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AgilityPortal connects remote work teams

Doing business on a global scale presents more than a few challenges and difficulties. While I'm sleeping, I get emails, orders and questions from clients who are starting their work day. And while my two sons live in the US, their employers are based in Europe with digital development teams in Asia. 

And these days, it seems like everyone is working from their homes.

Fortunately for all of us, there are new online tools like AgilityPortal to help far-flung teams connect, communicate, collaborate and succeed. The intranet software platform creates an intelligent workplace that employees can use in an office, from their homes or when they're on the road.

An employee experience component smoothes the onboarding process for new employees by delivering training programs and company information. It also helps employees and associates be successful once they are part of the team with knowledge libraries and training courses. A a social intranet spurs employee interaction and builds collaboration skills.  

 

Other components help employees manage customer needs, control their email and other communication tools and get quick access to sales reports, support materials and answers to their questions. The platform supports integration with a variety of cloud-based service such as DropBox, SharePoint and OneDrive.

AgilityPortal is designed for a remote workforce that uses different devices for different situations. The platform has versions for desktop and laptop computers, tablet devices and mobile phones. It  can be used from a central cloud computer or installed on a company server and secured with identity tools like Microsoft Azure Active Directory and two-factor authentication.

The most widely-used version of AgilityPortal costs $599 and includes up to 60 licenses. The company's pricing page has information about packages for large operations or a version small start-ups, non-profits and educational institutions.

  

For a closer look at AgilityPortal, watch the video below and visit the AgilityPortal website. AgilityPortal is also online at Facebook, LinkedIn and @AgilityPortal on Twitter.

By: Ric Manning On 9/04/2021

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Copyseeker finds online photo pirates

A couple of decades back, on one of the anniversaries of the Woodstock music festival, The New York Times asked readers to submit one of their personal photos taken at the festival. I had one that I always liked and I thought they would too. Apparently they did because the newspaper used it as the lead image for its reader gallery.

After sharing my photo with the Times, I uploaded it to the Wikimedia Commons, an online repository of more than 100 million images and sounds that are available for free use in Wikipedia entries and by its users. Today, Wikimedia lists about 25 Wikipedia articles where the image appears. They are in about a dozen languages and used to illustrate topics such as hippies and fashion as well as the festival itself.

But I wondered who else might be using my photo and that's when I turned to Copyseeker. It's an online website where users insert an image with a link or an upload. Copyseeker then uses reverse image search technology to discover other websites where the image appears. 

Copyseeker was created to help people find instances where their photos -- their intellectual property - are being used without their permission or compensation. Many people wrongly assume that anything posted online can be used without payment or attribution. According to Copyseeker, there are more than 2 billion instances of image theft on the Web.   

Reverse image technology uses sophisticated algorithms and artificial intelligence to match and identify images anywhere on the Internet, even when a user has cropped, filtered or blurred an image to disguise its origin. 

The service can use an uploaded image or a link to an entry on Instagram where some 100 million images are uploaded every day.  I used Copyseeker's drag-and-drop box to enter my Woodstock photo. Users can also enter a Web page address or select a photo from Instagram. 

After a few minutes, I was presented with a list of about 80 sites where my hippies appeared. The sites included a French blog about transit issues, US sites that write about vintage clothing, a Russian blog post about epic traffic jams (no surprise there) and other sites written in Polish, Dutch, Chinese and other languages. 

A few of sites that used my photo also used the credit line that Wikimedia suggests for giving image owners proper credit as the source. My use of Copyseeker was born out of curiosity. I had posted it in a free-use repository so I wasn't looking to find thieves and scofflaws. If that had been the case, I could use a form that lets users to file a copyright claim.    

Copyseeker is a free service, but it does suggest that you make a small donation and give it a nice review if you like the service. You can see if it works for you at the Copyseeker website. 

By: Ric Manning On 5/16/2021

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Ensellify has market data for eBay sellers

For more than 20 years, I've been selling things on eBay with a sales approach that could best be described as "winging it." If I had something to move - maybe a used phone or some other tech gear - I wrote it up a posted it. 

Then one of my customers told me I should time auctions to end on weekends because that's when potential buyers are more likely to be browsing for bargains. 

Now I've found Ensellify, an eBay-focused market research tool. It offers more tips and data to help sellers their approach and treat their eBay store more like the business that it is. 

For example, Ensellify helps eBay sellers identify popular products and discover opportunities in markets where demand is high but supply is low. Listings for watches, it seems, get more traction  in period just before Valentine's Day. 

The service also assists sellers with competitor research in a specific product niche. It provides data on product pricing and it suggest keywords to use in a listing title to help boost a listing's visibility. 

Ensellify is a subscription service with pricing that ranges from $15 for one month to $70 for six months. 

To get a closer look at the service, visit the Ensellify website.

By: Ric Manning On 11/18/2020

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CloudCat helps gamers build to win

If you're a gamer, CloudCat says “We understand what you are struggling with.” 

You love playing mobile strategy games like Clash of Clans or AFK Arena. But you don’t have time to do all the grinding background work like farming, building or adding to your meager stockpile of gold. 

It's a dilemma that CloudCat calls the vicious P2W cycle: 

Only way to win is to cough up your hard-earned cash. You need tons of gold and elixir just no way of getting it. So if you want to build up your village quickly you need to pay for resources, and that sure ain't cheap.

You may be a player who wants to get to the good stuff quickly but your life requires that you devote time to other things, like maybe work, studying or sleeping.

That's where CloudCat wants to help. It's a mobile game helper service that takes over much of the grunt work that online multiplayer games often require. Think of it as a robot that will plow your simulated farm fields while you're asleep.

The service is completely cloud-based, so there's nothing to install or configure on your gaming device. CloudCat is designed to be used on any device that has a browser - a mobile phone, a tablet or a desktop computer.

Cloud Cat currently supports Clash of Clans, Clash Royale, and AFK Arena. The company says it plans to support more games and it invites players to make suggestions through CloudCat's social media accounts.

To get a closer look at the service, visit the CloudCat website where you can watch an introductory video. CloudCat is also on Facebook.    

By: Ric Manning On 9/30/2020

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App supports workplace misconduct probes

In the wake of the MeToo and Black Lives Matter movements we've heard lots of promises to do better. Businesses, schools and government agencies are saying they want to do a better job of collecting and responding to misconduct complaints such as sexual harassment, discrimination and retaliation.

Some have have even given employees a mobile app that makes filing complains faster, easier and more confidential. The app is called Telli and it was created by Triangle Investigations, a group of lawyers and investigators that specializes in misconduct investigations.

Triangle's founder is Kia Roberts who was a former assistant district attorney in New York and the NFL's first Director of Investigations. At he NFL, it was her job to examine allegations of violations of the league's Personal Conduct Policy. Situations involving sexual harassment, workplace violence and criminal conduct landed on her desk.

The Telli app is available to Triangle's clients to distribute to their employees. Triangle promises to contact a reporting party within 24 hours after a submission is received through the app. Within 72 hours, Triangle provides the client with a framework showing how the investigation will be conducted. 

The Triangle website says the agency "conducts timely, sensitive, comprehensive investigations into allegations of misconduct. Triangle provides a conclusion of findings to the party who made the initial report and also to key organization stakeholders."

In addition to the the misconduct reporting app, Triangle also offers investigations under a long-term contract or on a case-by-case basis. It also provides employee training and human resources consulting service.

For pricing and more details about the Telli app, visit the Triangle website and follow @triangleinv on Twitter.

By: Ric Manning On 9/12/2020

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Snipe eBay auctions with Myibidder

If you occasionally buy items at eBay auctions, you've probably been here: you've stayed up well past your bedtime to keep an eye on the item you want. The end of the auction is just moments away and you're feeling good because you are the higher bidder. But then the bidding ends and eBay says some other bidder was the winner.

Congratulations, you've been sniped. Someone swooped in at the last second and slipped in a higher bid just before the door on the auction closed. Maybe they were up late watching the clock tick down or, just as likely, they were using sniping software like Myibidder Bid Sniper.

Sniping software automates bidding and focuses on the last minute or so before the sale ends when bidders sometimes scramble to get to the top. Automated sniping does not conflict with eBay's rules. And sniper software doesn't guarantee that you will win the auction. There may be other sniper apps doing automated bidding and not every robot can be a winner.

Myibidder lets you set your top price for an auction item. Then it checks the bidding near the end of the auction and will place a bid in the last few seconds if you aren't the high bidder. Users set up their snipe in advance by entering the sale they are targeting and the maximum amount they want to bid.

The app is free to download, but it operates on a credit system. You get free credits when you start using the app. Credits are used only when you win an auction. If you're an active bidder and buyer, you can purchase more credits or get them for free by watching video ads.

Myibidder Bid Sniper can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. To get a closer look at the app, visit the Myibidder website and check the video below.

By: Ric Manning On 9/02/2020

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Minecraft fan ranks Top 10 hosting servers

Count Jason Lawrence among the millions of fans of Minecraft, the hugely popular multiplayer game that lets players build and explore an infinite virtual world.

Serious players who want to take control of the Minecraft environment and play rules can install the game on their own server.

That server could reside on their own personal computer, but a more practical solution is to rent space through a commercial data hosting service that sells Minecraft hosting packages.

That's what Lawrence did, but not before taking a whole lot of test drives. In his quest to find the best package at the right price, he purchased and tested the offerings from 71 different Minecraft hosting providers.

Along the way, he charted and rated each service and posted profiles of his top 10 vendors on his Minecraft Hosting website.

Lawrence say his ratings are based on these factors:

• The total cost per month
• The ease of setting it up
• Performance of your server under load
• Adding mods to your server
• The support-ticket waiting time
• Extra features in control panel

In his profiles, Lawrence gives vendors high marks for having servers multiple regions, staff expertise in dealing with mods and responsive support. Slow support response or hidden fees turn up in the Negatives column. (See a sample profile below.)

In addition to his Top 10 list, Lawrence has written and posted detailed guides to help server managers choose a Minecraft provider, set up their server and promote its availability and advantages.

The profiles and guides are available for free on Lawrence's Minecraft Server website.

By: Ric Manning On 9/02/2020

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Time Captis bundles productivity tools

My computer is centerpiece of my personal and professional life, so of course it's loaded with software that is supposed to help me manage that life. Maybe overloaded is a better description.

I've got calendars and address books from both Apple and Google. For note taking, I have to choose among Evernote, Notes and a couple of others that I've picked up over the years.

And I could really use an application to record the time I spend on various freelance projects. Right now, I use a homemade spreadsheet.

What I need is a dashboard for my digital life. Maybe what I need is Time Captis.

Time Captis is a productivity app combines all of daily go-to tools into one application that works on all of my computing devices. It manages events, contacts, notes and to-do lists while also charting how you spend your time.

The app presents a well-organized menu scree and poses a direct question: "What do you want to do?" From there you can click to add a contact, take a note, book an appointment, send a message, create a team or start the clock running on a specific project.

Time Captis can be particularly valuable when you're working on a group project - and these days group members are likely to be working from home and scattered to far-flung locations.

The Pro version of Time Captis lets an administrator assign access and permission levels for all the team members.

Teams can also be assigned their own color to highlight shared events and a To-do list that assigns priorities to each task can help focus everyone on work that is most important.

Freelancers will be impressed with the time-tracking element that calculates hours and minutes spent on a project. And users who have the Pro version can turn time reports into invoices.

Time Captis is a subscription service that can be used on the Web as well as on Apple and Android phones or tablets.  A basic version is free with a limit of 10 notes, 100 events or To-dos and 1,000 contacts. For $20 per month, the Pro version drops the limits and adds features such as team messaging and permission management and provides a team dashboard with time reports and chart views.

For a closer look, visit the Time Captis website or download the mobile versions from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. You can also follow @timecaptis on Twitter.

By: Ric Manning On 9/01/2020

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App links users to psychic readings

I try to walk the path between being a skeptic and keeping an open mind.

Some years ago, a friend introduced me to Tarot cards. At first, I thought it was a bunch of hooey. But with each reading, I began thinking about different aspects of my life and seeing some of my decisions in a new light.

Maybe that's why people continue to consult with psychics. If they don't exactly predict the future, they might be a useful sounding board when you have a lot on your mind.

So these days, where do you find a professional psychic? On your mobile phone, of course.

The Free Psychic Reading App offers direct contact to more than 100 psychics and life coaches who specialize in a variety of topics. Categories include Love & Relationships, Spiritual Guidance, Mediums, Career Guidance, Psychic Predictions, Mediums, Numerology, Rune readings  and my old favorite, Tarot Readings.

Users get heir first reading for free, delivered online, via chat or by phone.

The Free Psychic Reading App is available as a free download -- with in-app purchases - in the Google Play Store.

By: Ric Manning On 8/22/2020

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Reputation manager says it fights back

The Internet is like a mammoth library that never runs out of shelves. The newspaper story about the time you scored a winning touchdown way back in high school? It's there for someone to find. But so is the report on your DWI arrest.

Individuals generally have scant success when they try to get negative online information removed. But professional services like SearchResults.Repair have built a thriving business making negative information either disappear or become much harder to find.

SearchResults.Repair focuses on the negative online information such as past criminal records, negative new articles and unfair reviews that can damage a business or prevent someone from getting hired.

The service was created by Wesley Upchurch, a web designer and Internet marketer who says he's "on a mission to make the web a more useful and more beautiful place." Here's how he describes his company's approach:

We seek to restore our clients online image through every available means. We believe that people’s past mistakes should not forever define their person.

SearchResults.Repair uses a direct approach to get data removed from widely-used background check sites such as Checkmate, TruthFinder, and US Search. The company says it also has success with more resistant databases like LexisNexis, Radaris, Spokeo and others.

When it runs into roadblocks, SearchResults.Repair can harness its publishing channels to pepper the Internet with articles that give a positive view of their clients. Those stories help rewrite a client's digital history while pushing negative items farther down in search results.

To get a closer look at SeachResults.Repair, visit the company's website, Facebook page, and Instagram portfolio and follow @searchresultsr on Twitter.

By: Ric Manning On 8/03/2020

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Texas company helps clients expand AV reach

When the Coronavirus arrived this spring, it thrust most schools and businesses into the unfamiliar territory on online communication with employees and students.

For many, that meant hunching over their laptops and tablets while they tried to quickly learn Zoom and other videoconferencing tools.

By now, organizations are exploring ways to broaden and improve their digital delivery platforms as they prepare for what looks like a long-term change in how they conduct business.

That's where vendors like  EIGPro enter the picture. The Texas-based company has spent years building and installing high-end commercial audiovisual systems for a wide range of clients.

For some, that means an upscale conference room with a video projector and integrated computer access. Others might be looking at equipment for an environment in which employees, customers, contractors, instructors and other groups are all working from home. 

Here are some examples from EIGPro's solutions list:

• Video Distribution
• Voice over IP
• AV over IP
• Interactive Smart Boards and Whiteboards
• Zoom Rooms
• Google Classrooms

This fall, many colleges and local school systems have said their students will get instruction in a  hybrid format. Some will attend live classes in school buildings while others will participate online from their homes or dormitories.

EIGPro has wired several educational facilities to support a variety of training and instructional formats. Classrooms and auditoriums can be set to support a teacher giving a live lecture while simultaneously streaming live video to remote locations. Students both on-site and off-site could ask questions and participate in discussions.

Businesses, hotels, entertainment venues and government agencies are also likely to explore new  AV options to let them extend their reach with electronic interaction. And EIGPro has extensive experience in wiring new construction for video and Internet access.

The EIGPro website has a portfolio of the company's projects and installations covering a variety of environments, with several jobs featured in video form on the company's YouTube channel. You can also contact follow the company on Facebook or Instagram and @eig_pro on Twitter.


  

By: Ric Manning On 8/01/2020

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Navo builds an online company directory

A few years ago when I was still a manager working for a global publishing company, I had a pretty good handle on where to go when I had a question about company policies and practices.

For instance, the administrative assistant on the fourth floor knew all the details about filing expense reports. People in the first floor Human Relations office could answer payroll questions and tell me how to do employee performance reviews.

I don’t know where the people who still work there go to answer those questions today, but I know it’s not to the elevator. These days, almost everyone in that company is working at home and companies are finding new ways to deliver information that managers and staff used to get through in-person conversations.

One of those ways is an online platform called Navo. It’s an Internet-based service that lets organizations organize and distribute a directory for their business and make it available to any of its stakeholders - including all those folks who are now working from their home office.

The people behind Navo compare their cloud-based service to the map kiosks that you see in a shopping mall. The map tells you where you are and how to get to what you need.

Destinations are grouped under the topics you would find in most businesses, from Sales, Marketing and Business Development to IT, Finance and Human Resources.

The service is designed to work smoothly with multiple platforms, including Microsoft Teams, Office 365 and SharePoint. There's a registration form on the Navo website to get updates and announcements.

 Information collections can also be accessed using a Web app or a browser extension. If a user bookmarks a critical piece of information, like a vendor contract, it’s accessible wherever and whenever they log in. Navo is also planning

Under a new pricing plan, the charge for Navo will be $1 per user per month. A free trial is available on the Navo website.

By: Ric Manning On 6/12/2020

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MacBack buys MacBooks while you keep your distance

Like many people in the US and UK, I’ve been spending the past few weeks hiding from Covid-19 by staying inside and seeking solace and comfort from my Mac. And after weeks of video conferences and many hours spent at the keyboard, I’m starting to think I deserve a new computer.

Upgrading to a new Mac would mean selling my current Mac. I have sold several computers before, using eBay and other platforms, but that game has changed now that a nasty virus is dictating the terms of our social and business interaction. I’m not enthused about meeting with strangers to show my computer or close a sale.

Now I think a service like MacBack offers a much more safe and secure way to sell my computer or other Apple device.

The process starts on the MacBack website where you fill out a short form with details about your computer’s age, condition and specifications.

After you submit the form, MacBack quickly gives you a price quote. If you accept the offer, MacBack will dispatch a courier to pick up your computer at no charge and at a time that you specify. The service uses shipping boxes that are specially designed to hold and protect your particular model.

MacBack checks to see that you have included all accessories, then it tests the computer to confirm its specs and condition. That process typically takes about 48 hours. If there are no issues, MacBack send your payment using either PayPal or a bank transfer.

Check the video below to see how the service works and visit the MacBack website to find out what you can get for your MacBook.

By: Ric Manning On 5/22/2020

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Mooloo builds specialized apps and web platforms

The Internet is loaded with software development companies offering to churn out your next website or mobile app. But very few could brag that they’ve created an SaaS platform to help caterers manage their business and a mobile game that encourages children to care about ocean conservation.

Mooloo is a UK-based development house that has completed projects for clients nearby and as far away as Saint Helena, a remote volcanic tropical island in the South Atlantic Ocean.

The agency says its specialties include web application development, mobile application development and systems integration.

In addition to the catering platform and the ocean game, Mooloo developed an enterprise resource planning system for a supplier or high-end trade signs and  a platform to help professional and amateur aromatherapists create oil formulations.

The company is currently working on an app that involves virtual gifting for a startup venture. Potential customers can arrange a closer look at Mooloo’s capabilities by filling out the contact form on Mooloo website. It's worth a visit just to see how Mooloo customized the site's mouse cursor.

By: Ric Manning On 5/18/2020

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CommBox manages omnichannel interaction

With millions of people spending more time at home during the coronavirus outbreak, it's not surprising to see businesses step up their online game and expand their digital engagement tools.

Online interaction used to mean offering an email address along with a company's phone number.

Now, more businesses are engaging in what has come to be called omnichannel communication. That means they can interact with customers, vendors and associates using a wide variety of channels, from sms and chat to Twitter and What'sApp.

How do they manage this explosion of communication options? CommBox is one of the leading companies that offer an omnichannel platform, a service that blends these diverse channels into a stream that can be managed from a one unified console.

In addition to handling email and social media channels, the CommBox platform also incorporates call logs, file sharing, audio and video conferencing, support ticketing, knowledge libraries and live chats.

CommBox says its system uses chatbots to instantly take specific actions based on customer requests and sets rules that are triggered by certain keywords or user behavior. Customers can also fill in and sign web forms while they are engaging with agents and staff. The CommBox system can integrate with Salesforce and other popular CRM systems.

For a closer look at CommBox, check out the video below and visit the CommBox website where the company offers free demos. CommBox is also accessible through a number of other channels including Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram.

By: Ric Manning On 4/22/2020

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Boxaid offers remote PC repairs

All computers have occasional problems. The challenge for the owner is finding the fastest, most convenient and most affordable way to get it fixed.

Over the years, I lugged my computers to various repair shops, including those guys in the white shirts and black ties. But the most satisfying repair experiences I've had occurred when I didn't leave the house. Instead, I connected online and on the phone with a skilled technician who takes control of my ailing computer.

That's how the people at Boxaid operate. Anyone with a PC problem can call the company's toll-free number and get connected to a technician based in the US. You can describe and discuss the problem to see if it's a software issue that can be repaired by remote and decide if you want to proceed.

If you agree to use the Boxaid service, the technician will have you download and install software that creates a secure encrypted connection between the tech and your PC. You can watch each step of the process.

The Boxaid techs will tackle simple problems such as an error message, printer connection or an application issue for $29.95. A 60-minute tune-up that covers sluggish PCs, network issues or email troubles costs $59.95 while a complex virus removal runs $89.95. I've paid considerably more for similar work done in repair shops.

In each case, the tech will provide a price quote before any work begins. And you're not asked for  a credit card until after the work is completed and you're satisfied with the outcome. When everything is finished, the tech will permanently disconnect from your computer.

The Boxaid website includes recording of audio reviews by Boxaid customers, links to reviews on Facebook and Yelp and a reprint of a Wall Street Journal article that tested Boxaid and three other similar remote repair services.

For more details, check out the video below and visit the Boxaid website. You can also follow @Boxaid on Twitter.

By: Ric Manning On 2/07/2020

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Buying a used phone? Check the IMEI

You won’t see me standing in line to buy the latest Apple or Samsung phone, but I do try to stay up to date with the latest mobile phone technology. That means I’m often either buying or selling a gently-used handset.

And whether I’m the buyer or the seller, I want to know the full story behind the phone in question. That means checking its IMEI.

IMEI is shorthand for the phone’s International Mobile Equipment Identity, a digital profile that contains contains critical information about the handset, including whether it has been reported as stolen.

A good place to get that information is IMEI Checker, a website and iOS mobile app that can look up the status of most phones by either entering or scanning the phone’s IMEI number.

For most popular phones, you can find the IMEI number by entering a code from the keypad or finding it under a system information menu.

When you the number it into the app or website, IMEI Checker responds with a list of information such as the phone’s model, serial number, warranty status, purchase date, it’s initial carrier and whether it is locked to any particular carrier.

IMEI Checker is a free download in the iTunes App store. The fees for reports vary depending on how much information you request. For more details, check the IMEI Checker website.

By: Ric Manning On 11/05/2019

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