Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful.

There are some nice apps to help you enjoy Thanksgiving–from cooking to watching sports to playing trivia at the table.

Dr. Z went through the internet and he went across a web page on iMore.com. It had a nice list of several apps for Thanksgiving. Some are free and some are paid. Here’s the link.

Enjoy…here’s wishing you a happy Thanksgiving from Dr. Z.

Dr. Z cares about your Thanksgiving. Happy Feasting!

So easy so simple!

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

Sometimes when you go shopping in the store, you are not sure if the item you are buying is a good price. You won’t have time to browse on the internet to be sure.

The answer? Red Laser! It’s a great app. (link)

How does it work?

When you see a product you like, look for the bar code and click on it and you will get a list of prices for the same product at stores that sell it or online sites. At that point, you can decide whether to buy the product or ask the store to match the price.

When you compare–keep the following in mind:

– shipping costs
– sales tax (some online shipping does not add sales tax)

Dr. Z cares about your budget. Happy Shopping!

So easy so simple!

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

More and more people are shopping online these days.

Stores like Best Buy and Target sometimes lose customers due to “showrooming.” Showrooming means people go to stores, write the price down and go home and order via Amazon or other sites that offer lower prices.

Dr. Z went to Best Buy yesterday to buy a printer after his 7-year old printer decided to rest. Best Buy offered this printer for $149.99. But Best Buy has a price match policy that they match anything that is lower on the internet. Amazon happened to offer the same printer for $120.00 and Dr. Z was able to get the same printer on the spot from Best Buy! This is because Best Buy has a price match policy.

As far as Dr. Z knows, the following retailers have a price match policy:

– Target
– Best Buy
– Staples
– Toys R US

Be aware that there are some exceptions–such as Black Friday which do not apply to price matching. They suggest that you go to the customer service desk to do this.

Walmart does not match online (internet) prices, only by advertisements from other stores, but not online prices.

When you compare–keep the following in mind:

– shipping costs
– sales tax (some online shipping does not add sales tax)

Dr. Z cares about your budget. Happy Shopping!

So easy so simple!

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

The iPad and iPhone are so versatile. Some apps are becoming creative. One is Cardiograph which takes your pulse! You just start the app by pressing a button then put your index finger over the camera and in a few seconds your pulse reading comes up. It works pretty good but has to be in a bright room. The app is not free–it costs $1.99 (Dr. Z gets no commission for referring you to such apps.) There are similar apps out there but Dr. Z cannot vouch for them.

The link for Cardiograph in the iTunes store is as follows: Cardiograph Link

There are now apps that work with other monitors such as blood pressure, taking your weight, etc.

Remember those apps do not take place of your doctor! Dr. Z is a “doctor” only for VRS and video related applications.

Dr. Z cares about your health.

So easy so simple!

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

It’s Back to School time! And Back to Fall, Winter, etc…

Simplenote is a simple app. It allows you to take notes, that’s all–but it does something different. If you take notes on your iPad, the same note will show up on your Simplenote iPhone app, the same note will show up on your Simplenote Android app, the same note will show up on your Simplenote web site on your computer. If you make changes to your note on any of those devices, all the changes will appear on all other devices, simple as that! You can “share” the note with anyone you want and they can make changes to it and the changes will show up on all your devices with Simplenote on it!

Here are the links:

iPhone/iPad: Simplenote for iPhone/iPad
Android: Simplenote for Android
Web: Simplenote for Web

So easy so simple!

By the way, if you need video communication (VP or VRS), why not try Z5, you will like it! Click here to get it! (See if you qualify to get a FREE tablet with a stand!)

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

Radio? That’s the last thing that comes to mind for a deaf person. Text radio? Not a bad idea–it’s visible radio…how can this be done?

Dr. Z found a cool iOS app called TwitterTicker ($1.99 at the iTunes Store)

Set it up with your Twitter feeds–news, sports, weather, deaf community blogs, etc.

Select the feed with the app and the tweets will appear on a page by itself for several seconds before going on to the next one.

Presto! It’s a radio, sort of!

(DO NOT USE IT IF YOU ARE THE DRIVER–DR. Z ASSUMES NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE IRRESPONSIBLE USE OF TEXTING WHILE DRIVING.)

But it can keep you occupied as a passenger or while you are working in the kitchen. Try it–it will blow your mind!

By the way, if you need to make video calls, there’s Z5 Mobile…

Of course, this is the best video communication app. Dr. Z uses it with a 4G connection on the road and it works beautifully. Need I say more? Leave the Z5 Mobile on all the time and use it to make VRS calls, point to point, FaceTime and send text messages from just one contact list!

For more information on the Z5 Mobile for iPhone and iPad, click this link.

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Try Z5 Mobile and TwitterTicker, you will LOVE it, just like Dr. Z!

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

The best video communication software for VRS and point-to-point–Z5 Mobile for iPhone and iPad!

Making a video call using a remote? That’s really out of date and old-fashioned. Remotes are on their way out. Every home has several remotes and more and more people are using their smartphones or iPads to control their TV and using their smartphones or tablets to make voice or video calls. That leaves us deaf and hard of hearing people still using remotes! That’s the Dark Ages!

It’s time to be ahead of the game! Currently, our Z5 software runs on the iPad and the iPhone and you do not need a remote to make a call. Just press an icon or link once or twice with your index finger or thumb and you are on your way!

It’s time to go modern–throw away your remote and use your fingers on the Z5 Mobile!

Leave the Z5 Mobile on all the time and use it to make VRS calls, point to point, FaceTime and send text messages from just one contact list, without a REMOTE!

For more information on the Z5 Mobile for iPhone and iPad, click this link.

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Try Z5 Mobile, you will LOVE it, just like Dr. Z!

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development

The best video communication software for VRS and point-to-point–Z5 Mobile for iPhone and iPad!

Dr. Z usually travels from time to time–sometimes for business and sometimes for pleasure.

There are several apps that Dr. Z finds very useful in traveling–here’s a list:

      TripAdvisor                          Kayak                                      Booking.com                       iExit                                   Z5 Mobile

TripAdvisor-Dr. Z thinks this is the best app when you are going to a new place and want to know what sights are best and suggested hotels as a starting point. On a trip to Seattle last fall, TripAdvisor mentioned a little-known park that offered a great view of Mt. Rainier. This park was not mentioned in any of the pamphlets or guidebooks. Most of the comments in TripAdvisor are given by people like us, not travel professionals.

Kayak-this is a great app for checking fares and hotel prices. It helps you plan a trip and you can estimate costs so you can save for the trip. It also has a itinerary feature where you can send emails of the reservation confirmation to Kayak and they will put everything together form you!

Booking.com-this is an app to reserve hotels and bed and breakfasts. It is very reliable and you know what you will want. It has a nice ratings system and is more useful for travel overseas than in the United States. Anything with a rating of 8.0 or more usually is a good bed and a good room. Between 7.0 and 8.0 is ok–do not take anything below 7.0!

iExit This is a fantastic app when you are driving in the United States on an interstate. You want to pull off for a McDonalds or some gas–it lists all the restaurants, gas stations and hotels and MORE for every exit on an interstate. It is very easy to use and is reliable. I think it is underrated–try it–its a great app!

Z5 Mobile Of course, this is the best video communication app. Dr. Z uses it with a 4G connection on the road and it works beautifully. Need I say more? Leave the Z5 Mobile on all the time and use it to make VRS calls, point to point, FaceTime and send text messages from just one contact list!

For more information on the Z5 Mobile for iPhone and iPad, click this link.

Dr. Z is proud to be part of the team that understands and listens to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing community!

Dr. Z cares about your communication access.

Try Z5 Mobile, you will LOVE it, just like Dr. Z!

Disclosure: Dr. Z (Philip W. Bravin) is associated with CSDVRS, currently its Vice-President of Business Development