Dropbox and Printing From Your Smart Phone

I'm always on the look out for a better opportunity (Read: Job) and I like to keep a lot of my documents synchronized between my phone and my computers and have found Dropbox an invaluable tool for getting this done, but Dropbox can also do more than just keep your files Synchronized.
Using Dropbox, you can also send documents, attachments, spreadsheets, and naked pictures of your co-workers to be printed at home for perusal at a later time.  All you need is is this VBS Script, a Dropbox account, a computer and a printer and you are good to go.  Just download and run the VBS Script on the computer with Dropbox installed and it will create a Print Queue folder that you can drop files in which will then send them to your printer (or queue them up to be printed when you get home and turn on your computer).

There are other programs out there like PrinterShare that you can use for a nominal fee, but why bother adding another one-trick-pony background process when you can use Dropbox to do both?

The only downside I have found to Dropbox is that large files seem to time out a lot when downloading to your phone, but hopefully a resume feature will be added at some point to resolve this issue.

If you don't already have a Dropbox account you can sign up for one right here and also boost my storage space by 250 megabytes in the process.  Don't worry, Dropbox is free.

Verizon Wireless Customers: Beware the iPhone 4

The mostly glass iPhone 4 may not be as strong as Apple contends.  Recently, California resident Donald LeBuhn filed a class action lawsuit against Apple, claiming that the iPhone 4 is not as strong as Apple claims it to be.

Popular smart phone insurer Square Trade has also released a report that the iPhone 4 is 68% more likely to be damaged in an accident than the iPhone 3GS, and they also report an 82% higher rate of damaged screens.

Start saving your pennies now, as not only do the apps tend to cost more, it looks like the cost of insuring the iPhone (and the high deductible) may be in your future as well.   It is a steep price to pay to have a phone with an Apple on the back of it.

According to Apple, the glass found on the iPhone 4 is '20 times stiffer and 30 times harder than plastic.' Apparently none of this matters when you drop the device from about 3 feet up as the glass tends to shatter on impact.  Something my wife's plastic Blackberry Bold has managed to avoid (and she drops it about 2-3 times a week) for the last several months.

It's no secret that my wife is hard on her phones, and she likes the cool factor of the iPhone 4, however she will be the first to admit that the iPhone 4 would not stand up to her abuse, and she is now looking to a more durable Android phone to use her upgrade on.

IRS2GO App let's you check your refund status using your Android smart phone.

Apparently the Internal Revenue Service has decided to get into the app game for Android by offering the IRS2Go mobile app. For the first time ever you can check out your tax refund status using nothing more than your smart phone.

Not only can you get updates on your filing status, but you can also sign up for email updates and follow the IRS on Twitter as well. (why you would really want to, I have no idea).  I guess all we need now is Turbo Tax for our phones....

While I am a little skeptical about the security implemented for this app, I know most iPhone users and a good portion of Android users won't really care, so for Android users I've created and posted the QR code.  Have fun...



*Non-Electronic filers need not download, as it will take 3-4 weeks for your filing status to be updated.

**Apple users can also grab it from the App store.

IRS2Go Official Website

has the white iPhone 4 finally arrived?

Not yet, but the latest app store update has it listed. So if you were waiting for that fabled white iPhone, it appears as if the wait may be almost over. If I had to guess, I would say that this might drop in February or possibly March.

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