Category Archives: Technology

Why I Own an Android Phone, But Still Love Apple

Posted on March 18, 2025 by ricbret

OK, stick with me, this starts off weird. I’m a big fan of the Pebble watch. It’s been gone for years, but recently announced a comeback. Pebble was a Kickstarter for a cool phone-connected watch that would last a week … Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2025 – The Dreamers and I

Posted on March 13, 2025 by ricbret

This documentary is praised for its unique storytelling, focusing on young entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley’s “hacker house” environment. Filmmaker Kenji Yamamoto captures their pursuit of the American dream, revealing their optimism amidst high failure rates. The film also intertwines personal struggles, offering an inspiring narrative worth viewing for aspiring developers. Continue reading →

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The Digital Dissolve…

Posted on July 1, 2019 by ricbret

Put another one on the list, and this time it’s significant. I’m talking about e-books. Particularly your rights and ownership of “your copy.” That’s confusing, I know, but bear with me. The short of it is that Microsoft will be … Continue reading →

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Sometimes, Always, AppleCare

Posted on June 20, 2019 by ricbret

I’m not typically one for extended warranties. AppleCare is the one exception. I always buy AppleCare. Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2018: Peaches

Posted on March 3, 2018 by ricbret

We all know the rules of time travel by now. Never travel to a time and place where you’re sure to meet yourself. Never do it twice at the same time. Three times is a very bad idea. And a dozen or so… well that could be real trouble. Continue reading →

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Cinequest 2018: How to Cinequest!

Posted on February 28, 2018 by ricbret

As regular listeners to the Fanboy Planet Podcast know, San Jose’s award-winning Cinequest film festival opened last night.  Opening night at Cinequest typically features an independent film that has or is expected to shortly gain general distribution, and last night’s … Continue reading →

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How Many PowerPoints in the World?

Posted on August 9, 2017 by ricbret

“How much PowerPoint is there in the world?” Does it matter? Should be bother trying to figure it out? And who does it help in the end? Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Geeking around, Graphics, Media, Organizations, Personal, PowerPoint, Presentations, Presenting, Random thoughts, Software, Technology, Thoughts, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Pointer Points for PowerPoint (And Keynote, and Excel, and…)

Posted on April 21, 2017 by ricbret

Innovating on a number of levels, Logitech brings us Spotlight Presentation Remote, packing some previously unseen pointer tricks. But is that a good thing? Continue reading →

Posted in Audience, Design, Geeking around, PowerPoint, Presentations, Presenting, Review, Software, Technology | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Introducing Neo / Ipsum for PowerPoint

Posted on February 18, 2016 by ricbret

Announcing a new, useful, fun and free utility for PowerPoint: Neo / Ipsum from 2D10 Development.
http://www.roll2d10.com Continue reading →

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PowerPoint Tip: Stacking Artistic Effects

Posted on January 11, 2016 by ricbret

Normally your photos can only have one Artistic Effect at a time, but with this very simple process, you can combine them to create whole new effects in your PowerPoint presentations. Continue reading →

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What does Bill Gates read?

Posted on December 7, 2015 by ricbret

I find Bill Gates fascinating because he’s always surprising me with some new way to think about something we all think we already know. Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Geeking around, Health and wellness, History, Media, PowerPoint, Presentations, Presenting, Technology, Thoughts, Writing | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Finally, I’m Sold on Microsoft Office Subscriptions

Posted on November 13, 2015 by ricbret

I’ve been looking forward to writing this article for a couple of weeks now, ever since I got a sneak preview of things to come in the PowerPoint program. It’s not particularly hard for me to keep a secret, but it’s much more fun to share…
Continue reading →

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Star Wars VII trailer: Storytelling & the invisible structure

Posted on September 25, 2015 by ricbret

Storytelling and structure from Presentation Zen master Garr Reynolds by way of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and a priest named Father Roderick… Continue reading →

Posted in Entertainment, Film, Geeking around, Media, Movies, PowerPoint, Presentations, Presenting, SciFi Fantasy, Technology | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Want to Request a New PowerPoint feature?

Posted on September 1, 2015 by ricbret

Stop yelling at PowerPoint and start yelling directly at the PowerPoint team!
Continue reading →

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Pebble Time Unboxing

Posted on June 3, 2015 by ricbret

I love the unboxing experience, even when it’s simply unzipping a package and unfolding the cover… Continue reading →

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Design vs. Fashion vs. User

Posted on October 24, 2014 by ricbret

I found myself rereading parts of Richard Saul Wurman’s Information Anxiety this afternoon. Last week at Presentation Summit I gave a talk on the Pecha Kucha format. Pecha Kucha is a form of presentation using exactly 20 slides, with each slide advancing automatically after 20 … Continue reading →

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Did I say there was confusion…?

Posted on September 22, 2014 by ricbret

New prank to get people to destroy their own brand new iPhones is apparently working, reinforcing my prior column about how marketing needs to better explain what wireless charging is really all about. Continue reading →

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Considering the Blue Pill…

Posted on September 19, 2014 by ricbret

Sure, and there’s stuff you can do with digital that you could never do with physical media. I travel with hundreds of books in my backpack. I can choose what movie I want to watch on the plane. Mix tape from 100’s of albums when and where I want? Sure, I’m future boy!

It’s all upside, right? What could be wrong? But about this time in any SyFy movie, you know the foreboding music is about to rise and everything you’ve been enjoying is about to turn on you. Continue reading →

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Wireless… Not Really.

Posted on September 6, 2014 by ricbret

Looking at the otherwise seductive Moto 360, I’m struck by the beauty of the watch and the confusion it represents. Its charger is labeled “wireless” which is mismanaged marketing of what is more correctly known as inductive charging.  Inductive charging means … Continue reading →

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Warning Wunderlist Users!

Posted on August 9, 2014 by ricbret

          UPDATE: Apparently @WunderlistHelp just tweeted the following. Wunderlist Support‏@WunderlistHelp If you’re missing lists, they are safe. Please sign out and back in again. So sorry for the trouble! I have not tried this, will check … Continue reading →

Posted in Geeking around, Personal, Technology, Thoughts, Uncategorized, Writing | 3 Comments