Advertise with Googlier.com Casual Tech User | Basic Tech / News / Tips / Tutorials / Training / Education - Ron Stephenson casualtechuser techuser casualuser Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:27:19 +0000 Fri, 31 Oct 2025 15:27:19 +0000 Libsyn RSSgen 1.0 http://casualtechuser.libsyn.com http://casualtechuser.libsyn.com https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/a/b/a/a/abaaaa96cc916cf6/CTU_Cover_6-13.jpeg Casual Tech User | Basic Tech / News / Tips / Tutorials / Training / Education - Ron Stephenson casualtechuser techuser casualuser false episodic no Casual Tech User 11: Mobile Photography | Lessons Learned Using iPad and iPhone Cameras (Part 2) | 3 Minutes to Better Photography Casual Tech User 11: Mobile Photography | Lessons Learned Using iPad and iPhone Cameras (Part 2) | 3 Minutes to Better Photography Mon, 26 Aug 2013 23:00:35 +0000 Vacationing with an iPad as your only camera. You have got to be kidding! No, leaving my DSLR camera at home, I primarily used my iPad during a two-week vacation last summer. Here are a few mobile photography lessons I have learned.

]]> Vacationing with an iPad as your only camera. You have got to be kidding! No, leaving my DSLR camera at home, I primarily used my iPad during a two-week vacation last summer. Here are a few mobile photography lessons I have learned.

]]> 03:01 false full Casual Tech User 10: Mobile Photography | Lessons Learned Using iPad/iPhone Camera (Part 1) Casual Tech User 10: Mobile Photography | Lessons Learned Using iPad/iPhone Camera (Part 1) Thu, 15 Aug 2013 21:28:25 +0000 During a two-week vacation, I decided to leave my DSLR camera at home and use only my iPad and iPhone. At first, I really felt awkward standing in a crowd shooting with my iPad. Almost everyone else is using DSLR, point-and-shoot or cellphone cameras. And, here I am holding this giant tablet in front of my face. In this episode I share some mobile photography lessons I have learned since my trip.

]]> During a two-week vacation, I decided to leave my DSLR camera at home and use only my iPad and iPhone. At first, I really felt awkward standing in a crowd shooting with my iPad. Almost everyone else is using DSLR, point-and-shoot or cellphone cameras. And, here I am holding this giant tablet in front of my face. In this episode I share some mobile photography lessons I have learned since my trip.

]]> 09:39 false full Casual Tech User 9: Create Smarter TV | Apple TV, Roku, Google Chromecast Casual Tech User 9: Create Smarter TV | Apple TV, Roku, Google Chromecast Sun, 04 Aug 2013 21:49:00 +0000 Adding smart TV features such as Netflx and YouTube to your existing television can be as simple as 1, 2 or 3. In this episode, Ron discusses his impressions of the positive and negative aspects of the Apple TV, Google Chromecast and Roku units.

]]> Adding smart TV features such as Netflx and YouTube to your existing television can be as simple as 1, 2 or 3. In this episode, Ron discusses his impressions of the positive and negative aspects of the Apple TV, Google Chromecast and Roku units.

]]> 09:26 false full Casual Tech User 8: Podcasts | Find, Subscribe and Listen Casual Tech User 8: Podcasts | Find, Subscribe and Listen Tue, 16 Jul 2013 22:04:37 +0000 Here’s a simple, painless, productive way to use leisure time to enhance your hobbies, activities or interests by joining the millions of podcast listeners who are enriching their professional, as well as personal, endeavors. If you aren’t an active podcast subscriber, this episode provides a simplified podcast definition, discusses its benefits, explains using iTunes to find interesting topics, and offers a few podcast apps to get you started.

]]> Here’s a simple, painless, productive way to use leisure time to enhance your hobbies, activities or interests by joining the millions of podcast listeners who are enriching their professional, as well as personal, endeavors. If you aren’t an active podcast subscriber, this episode provides a simplified podcast definition, discusses its benefits, explains using iTunes to find interesting topics, and offers a few podcast apps to get you started.

]]> 12:00 false full Casual Tech User 7: Soft-serve ice cream, feature phones, smartphones, smart TVs | Vanilla evolves into multitude of features and toppings Casual Tech User 7: Soft-serve ice cream, feature phones, smartphones, smart TVs | Vanilla evolves into multitude of features and toppings Fri, 28 Jun 2013 20:35:08 +0000 Cell phones, televisions and soft-serve ice cream are paralleled during this discussion highlighting the differences between a feature phone and smartphone, along with the evolution of the smart TV. Today, ice cream, phones and TVs come in many varieties, but that wasn’t always the case considering that it hasn’t been that long ago that “vanilla” was the flavor of necessity for all three.

]]> Cell phones, televisions and soft-serve ice cream are paralleled during this discussion highlighting the differences between a feature phone and smartphone, along with the evolution of the smart TV. Today, ice cream, phones and TVs come in many varieties, but that wasn’t always the case considering that it hasn’t been that long ago that “vanilla” was the flavor of necessity for all three.

]]> false full Casual Tech User 6: (Part 5) Avoid Mistakes, Plan Before You Buy New TV; 10 Criteria to Compare LCD, LED, Plasma TVs Casual Tech User 6: (Part 5) Avoid Mistakes, Plan Before You Buy New TV; 10 Criteria to Compare LCD, LED, Plasma TVs Tue, 18 Jun 2013 21:04:32 +0000 Learn the differences between LCD and LED TV technology and review a list of 10 criteria you might want to consider before deciding on the perfect plasma, LCD or LED flat-screen for your situation and viewing habits. This episode begins with a brief explanation of the similarities and differences between the LCD and LED TVs in today’s marketplace, followed by a list of 10 criteria you might want to consider when deciding between LCD, LED or Plasma flat panels

]]> Learn the differences between LCD and LED TV technology and review a list of 10 criteria you might want to consider before deciding on the perfect plasma, LCD or LED flat-screen for your situation and viewing habits. This episode begins with a brief explanation of the similarities and differences between the LCD and LED TVs in today’s marketplace, followed by a list of 10 criteria you might want to consider when deciding between LCD, LED or Plasma flat panels

]]> 10:31 false full Casual Tech User 5: (Part 4) Avoid Mistakes, Plan Before You Buy New TV; Soundbars, Theater-in-a-Box, or Home Theater Surround Sound Experience Casual Tech User 5: (Part 4) Avoid Mistakes, Plan Before You Buy New TV; Soundbars, Theater-in-a-Box, or Home Theater Surround Sound Experience Sat, 08 Jun 2013 20:33:39 +0000 Many of today’s flat screen TVs don’t offer the type of sound quality you will be expecting from that new purchase. After bringing home that new TV, you may realize your system’s quality is only as good as the weakest link. And, for many of today’s TVs the weakest link will be the sound quality.

In this episode Ron continues his discussion on purchasing that new TV with a review of three methods to improve the sound quality.

Topics include:

  • Soundbars
  • Theater-in-a-Box
  • Home Theater Surround Sound Experience
]]> Many of today’s flat screen TVs don’t offer the type of sound quality you will be expecting from that new purchase. After bringing home that new TV, you may realize your system’s quality is only as good as the weakest link. And, for many of today’s TVs the weakest link will be the sound quality.

In this episode Ron continues his discussion on purchasing that new TV with a review of three methods to improve the sound quality.

Topics include:

  • Soundbars
  • Theater-in-a-Box
  • Home Theater Surround Sound Experience
]]> 09:14 false full Casual Tech User 4: (Part 3) Avoid Mistakes, Plan Before You Buy New TV; Cheap Solution to Improve Sound Quality Casual Tech User 4: (Part 3) Avoid Mistakes, Plan Before You Buy New TV; Cheap Solution to Improve Sound Quality Sun, 02 Jun 2013 23:44:16 +0000

Bringing home that new TV can be an exciting experience, but the setup will only be as good as the weakest link. While the video quality may be excellent, the sound quality may not be sufficient to meet your expectations.

In this episode Ron discusses one way he solved a sound quality and clarity deficiencies he and his wife were experiencing by adding a pair of simple, cheap external speakers to a plasma TV.

Topics include:

  • Internal speakers on today’s TVs
  • Check to determine the type of audio out on the TV
    • Headphone jack
    • R and L channel RCA jacks
    • Digital audio
    • Optical audio
  • How to add a pair of computer speakers to a TV
  • Sound check of the internal and external speakers
]]> Bringing home that new TV can be an exciting experience, but the setup will only be as good as the weakest link. While the video quality may be excellent, the sound quality may not be sufficient to meet your expectations.

In this episode Ron discusses one way he solved a sound quality and clarity deficiencies he and his wife were experiencing by adding a pair of simple, cheap external speakers to a plasma TV.

Topics include:

  • Internal speakers on today’s TVs
  • Check to determine the type of audio out on the TV
    • Headphone jack
    • R and L channel RCA jacks
    • Digital audio
    • Optical audio
  • How to add a pair of computer speakers to a TV
  • Sound check of the internal and external speakers
]]> 09:09 false full Casual Tech User 3: (Part 2) Avoid Mistakes, Plan Before You Buy New TV; Simple TV vs. Home Theater Setup Casual Tech User 3: (Part 2) Avoid Mistakes, Plan Before You Buy New TV; Simple TV vs. Home Theater Setup Sun, 19 May 2013 20:10:00 +0000 This is the second episode in a series discussing many of the unexpected problems that might develop throughout the process of purchasing a new TV.

Topics in this episode include:

  • Simple TV setup vs. home theater environment
  • Terrestrial antennae for local channels
  • Basic cable/satellite service
  • Additional cable/satellite costs;
    • HD channel package
    • DVR equipment
    • Premium movie package
  • Internet service
    • Wired connection
    • Wi-Fi equipment
  • Additional equipment
    • Blu-ray DVD
    • Cable/Satellite box
    • Gaming console
    • Apple TV or Roku
]]> This is the second episode in a series discussing many of the unexpected problems that might develop throughout the process of purchasing a new TV.

Topics in this episode include:

  • Simple TV setup vs. home theater environment
  • Terrestrial antennae for local channels
  • Basic cable/satellite service
  • Additional cable/satellite costs;
    • HD channel package
    • DVR equipment
    • Premium movie package
  • Internet service
    • Wired connection
    • Wi-Fi equipment
  • Additional equipment
    • Blu-ray DVD
    • Cable/Satellite box
    • Gaming console
    • Apple TV or Roku
]]> 10:50 false full Casual Tech User 2: Avoid Mistakes, Plan Before You Buy New TV Casual Tech User 2: Avoid Mistakes, Plan Before You Buy New TV Wed, 08 May 2013 22:40:00 +0000

This is the first episode in a series discussing many of the unexpected problems that might develop throughout the process of purchasing a new TV.


In this episode of the Casual Tech User, I begin to discuss how planning can help you avoid unexpected costs.

Taking the time to understand your needs vs. wants and developing criteria any purchase must meet will help to save frustration and unexpected, budget-busting surprises. 

Cost factors included in this episode include:

  • Delivery and setup charges
  • Installation, electrical and cabling charges
  • Furniture issues and added expenses
  • Ambient light problems
  • Recycling the old TV
]]> This is the first episode in a series discussing many of the unexpected problems that might develop throughout the process of purchasing a new TV.

In this episode of the Casual Tech User, I begin to discuss how planning can help you avoid unexpected costs.

Taking the time to understand your needs vs. wants and developing criteria any purchase must meet will help to save frustration and unexpected, budget-busting surprises. 

Cost factors included in this episode include:

  • Delivery and setup charges
  • Installation, electrical and cabling charges
  • Furniture issues and added expenses
  • Ambient light problems
  • Recycling the old TV
]]> 10:01 false full Casual Tech User 1: Flipboard, lower monthly bills, tech prices drop, iOS App Store links Casual Tech User 1: Flipboard, lower monthly bills, tech prices drop, iOS App Store links Sun, 14 Apr 2013 03:14:00 +0000 This is the first episode of the Casual Tech User Podcast, presenting news, tips, tutorials and more for the beginning or intermediate tech consumer.

]]> This is the first episode of the Casual Tech User Podcast, presenting news, tips, tutorials and more for the beginning or intermediate tech consumer.

]]> 11:19 false full