Author: Erica Manfred

Saturday, September 13, 2014

Gadgets for Us

A quest for well designed gadgets turned up a mixed bag – including some great finds for older gadget lovers. Four stood out from the bunch.

Friday, September 5, 2014

Apps for Us

We older folks don’t need ways to juggle three kids’ schedules or six spreadsheets – but we do like to play with our tablets and phones. Here’s a grab bag of 12 apps for you.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Aging Out of Place in Punta Gorda, Belize

At 65, Jill Cotter left Manhattan’s East Village for a coastal Belizean town with a friendly expat community, where she volunteers in a local school.

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Smartphones for Newbies

What’s Android? What’s a SIM? How abut GSM? And what exactly makes a smartphone so different than a “semi-intelligent” or “dumb” phone? Newbies, read on…

Friday, August 8, 2014

Gadget Designers Aren’t Thinking Past 40: Whatcha Gonna Do?

Designers of practical consumer electronics seem confused by the idea of over-60 users – but we can still dream…

Friday, July 25, 2014

How to Read Computer Specs

CPU, RAM, ROM, MB, GHz… What does it all mean and how much do you need of each? Here’s how to decode the alphabet soup of computer specs.

Friday, July 18, 2014

What I Learned from Browsing the Hearing Aid Forums

This grassroots community might be the best online source for practical, unbiased money-saving information about hearing aids.

Friday, July 11, 2014

Oops! How to Undo Mistakes on Computers & Mobile Devices

Did you hit send by mistake? Lose a document? Accidentally delete something you just typed? It turns out, you can undo your errors.

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Foot Loose and Fancy Free in Retirement

At 70, Lynne and Tim Martin sold up and started traveling the world, spawning a “home free” movement of retirees. We asked Lynne how they do it.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Best in Show: ReSound Linx

A smart hearing aid, earbuds that won’t fall out and the first truly wireless, truly stereo speakers.

Friday, June 13, 2014

Buying a Smartphone: How to Pick the Right Plan

3G? LTE? Prepaid or Plan? Locked/Unlocked? AT&T or Verizon or… Before you pick a smartphone, decide on a plan. Erica has the lowdown.

Friday, June 6, 2014

How to Buy a Used Smartphone

You can get a great deal on a good smartphone if you don’t need the very latest model – and you won’t have to commit to a contract, either.

Friday, May 30, 2014

On the Road: Apps, Sites, Gadgets & Tips

Recovering technophobe Erica takes a look at easy-to-use apps and gadgets for your next road trip.

Friday, May 23, 2014

How to Troubleshoot When You’re Manualphobic

Why can’t they make manuals we can actually use – and how can you get troubleshooting help for your devices and appliances when you’re manualphobic? Erica’s got tips – and a rant.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Health Gadgets I Didn’t Know I Needed

What’s brand new and intriguing in the senior health tech sphere? Take a look at these top picks from a recent “live pitch” event.