Michael Finney's Consumer Blog

Keep your data plan under control

Mobile providers have been ordered by the government to start warning their customers that they are about to go over their data plan limits. The order will save consumers millions! However, the data overage warnings don't have to be fully activated for months. So if you own an iPad or iPhone here's how to save right now: download DataMan. It is a free app that keeps track, in real time, of your data usage. It doesn't stop you from going over your prepaid limit but it does let you know how much you are using. For $4 dollars DataMan Pro tells you which apps are eating up all that data and much more. There similar apps available for Android devices, so don't overspend every month on data, instead keep track.

How to sell your old iPad

Want a new iPad? Here's how the New York Times says you can sell your old one for as much as $475.

 

Tips to make your smartphone battery last

Want your smartphone battery to last. Don't use the phone till it runs out of power. The new style batteries last much longer if you use a little, then charge a little, then use a little again. Here's the science behind charging and discharging, as explained by Battery University.  

Why you can't trust social media reviews

Ever notice that all the businesses reviewed by "people just like you and me" are all above average? How could that be? Many are made up, and now the problems is only going to get worse as business owners stop faking their own reviews and hire marketers to do it for them. 

>>The NY TImes lays all the dirty little details right here

Consumers turning down cheap credit

Credit is cheap, way cheap, but consumers aren't buying. The last time interest rates were this low consumers piled on debt, not this time. Look at us being so smart. Who knew? 

>>Get more details at nytimes.com

 

Do you like your iPhone more than sex?

I don't know how I missed this one. A survey from a local company says we'd rather give up sex than our smartphones. This, by the way, came out right before a survey showing we have more geeks per capita than anywhere else. Connection? You be the judge!  

Oslo tragedy used in scam on Facebook

Within hours of the Oslo bombing and gunman attack, Facebook scammers were using the tragedy to rip-off those looking for news. 

>>Here's a full report from the security firm Sophos

When to buy an Apple product

The brilliant researchers at dealnews have issued a study saying the worst time to get a discount on an Apple product is on the first day of release. Thanks Sherlock, we didn't really need your study to figure that out. However those dealnews detectives did find the retailers most likely to offer deals... and when. OK, now we are getting somewhere!

Should you change your password?

Here is a common question; "should I change my password"? Here is a simple way to check. Go to this website. Put in your email address. It is checked against a data base of known hacked email addresses. I found my email address there... and changed my password. It takes about 10 seconds.

Scam alert! Google's new service targeted!

Scam alert! Google's new service already targeted! The service itself is safe, these guys are swirling around out in the internet. Here's the guy who found the problem:
 http://blog.trendmicro.com/survey-scam-offers-google-invites/