Terre Pruitt's Blog

In the realm of health, wellness, fitness, and the like, or whatever inspires me.

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Posts Tagged ‘bluetooth’

Deflated By My Technology Struggles

Posted by terrepruitt on June 24, 2020

Wow. My day did not go as I had planned. How about you? I am teaching classes via Zoom and I am borrowing an amazing microphone from my husband’s office, it is great. It picks up sound incredibly well. But as the days continue to be so hot, I cannot function without a fan blowing directly on me. That is one of the things I miss (aside from my students!) when teaching from home – AIR CONDITIONING! Whew! It is hot. There is no way I can teach without a fan. I think the way Zoom is and the way the microphone is, it picks up the fan noise, but not so much the motor noise from the fan, but the air. I think they both work to keep that noise from transmitting and so it cuts out. So while I am instructing, my voice cuts out. When we are dancing the music cuts outs. It makes it difficult for students to follow. So, I broke down and bought a wireless headset mic.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia online, Zoom meetings, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, Nia Technique, Yin Yoga, stretch classes, online exercise, Zoom classes, virtual yoga, City of San Jose online exerciseI was taking a class from a friend and she was using a wireless headset mic and she told me what it was so I did some research. I researched for a few days and then with free returns available, I decided to get it and try it. It arrived Friday evening and I played with it all weekend.

I did tests, of all types, on Zoom – tests with music, without music, with speakers, with iTunes, with CDs, with fans, without fans . . . just all types of tests.  It worked great. I was fully prepared and so excited to teach Nia today.

My students “arrived” and we said hello and then I pressed play and my sound kept cutting out. Now, to me it is very important for my students to have good sound, that is why I am doing all this – and they did, but if I don’t have sound, I have nothing to teach too . . . . or worse, my sound was out of sync – to them . . . so I was instructing “off music”. It is very difficult to dance with instruction that is “off”. Sigh.

It was so bad, we restarted and I ditched my new toy for the old way.

I have not given up yet, but I was pretty deflated today. I had been so excited, I had done so many tests, I had spent so much time, I was ready to wow my students and make it great and so (insert sound of air being pushed out of a balloon). But, my students are very kind and understanding, they always have been. So their kindness made me feel a lot better.

As I said, I have not given up. I think I may have found a way to keep my sound from cutting out, but we will see.

I just thought I would share a portion of my day with you because I know that sometimes I can write it out and it helps.  I typed this out, then “sat on it” debating about posting it . . . people like positive and people certainly don’t want to hear that a class they are being asked to pay for has sound problems.  But, I also feel it is ok to be “real” and share struggles.  And . . . I can get “over” it with the combination of sharing and my students being so understanding.  Also, this is not to say everything is bad, this is just me sharing a bump in my journey in this odd new reality.

How was your day? What did you do?  Care to share, whatever it was?

Posted in Online Classes, Zoom | Tagged: , , , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Single Has Its Advantages

Posted by terrepruitt on March 2, 2020

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFit, City of San Jose Exercise Classes, Cambrian Yoga & Cardio Dance, CYCD, Yin YogaSo, life has kept me away from my blog and yours.  I really like to keep to a schedule and I missed two days last week.  Being that today is a regular posting day, but as I mentioned . . . “life”, I didn’t really have a chance to write up a new post today.  But I have been thinking of an update on a former post that I wanted to share.  Some of you may know that I listen to audiobooks and in my Charge Fast And Lasts A Long Time post I shared how I was the lucky recipient of some AirPods.  I didn’t want them for a long time, but I ended up with a pair and I use them all the time.  Since I use them all the time I keep thinking I need to post an update about something I wrote in that post.

I was unable to use one at time.  Seriously, I tried several different times to figure out a way to just use one, but I couldn’t do it.  My husband couldn’t get them to work as a single either.  Then about a week or two after my post both of us turned to the other and said, “I can use one now.”  It was so weird.  One time when I was taking them out to put away the one that was in my ear kept playing.  So, they do work as a single AirPod.

This ends up being really great when they are at low power.  I don’t have to stop listening all together.  When the AirPods make their little noise notifying me they are at low power I just put one in the case and keep listening.  In about five minutes the one in the case can be charged up pretty high so then I can just switch.  No lost listening time.

So . . . amendment:  AirPods can be used as a single AirPod.

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Affordable Wireless Earbuds

Posted by terrepruitt on April 27, 2016

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, PiYo, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFitI teach a cardio dance exercise called Nia.  It is dance, it is exercise, it is a cardio workout.  It is done to music.  Nia teachers pay a licensing fee and included in that are routines.  The Nia Technique creates routines.  One part to learning a routine is to listen to the music.  I listen to it a lot.  Sometimes I have difficulty or I feel I do, if I don’t like the music.  But most of the time I like it.  But either way, I listen to it a lot.  Sometimes I listen to it while I am cleaning, but when I have the vacuum on I can’t hear it so I have been wanting some Bluetooth headphones.  I have had my earbuds in with my phone in my pocket or tucked in somewhere when the wire has gotten caught and the earbuds RIPPED out of my ears or out of the phone.  Neither one is good.  So I thought it would be cool to have a wireless pair.  Originally I was looking for headphones.  Everything I found was expensive.  I didn’t even realize they made wireless earbuds!  My husband found some that were affordable.  It turned out he liked them and they worked well.  Sometimes the affordable things don’t always work well, so it is nice that these did.  So I went looking and I found a pair that looked almost exactly like his but were even less expensive.  I’m only talking $4.00, but, $4.00 is $4.00.  So I got some.  And I like ’em.  I like mine better than his.

Both pair are over the ear type of wearables.  Both pair stick IN your ear.  On mine, the earbud part seems to be made of metal whereas his are plastic.  Also, the over-the-ear holder on mine seems a little softer more flexible.  I liked that a lot better.  It made them more comfortable.  When I tried his on, one of my ears started to hurt.  With the softer holder they might flex more and allow for better movement with my glasses.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia in the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Gentle Yoga, Group Ex classes, YMCA, Zumba, PiYo, Nia Technique, SJ City Fit, SJCityFitOf course, at $13.99 they are from a brand I have never heard of – Parasom.  But they work.  Who knows if they will keep working.  I have experienced many off-brand – or more accurately – not a name brand – product that has stopped working after a couple of months.  So we will see.

Mine also had a little clip, which I liked.  The control portion of the earbuds on mine is about an inch or so closer to the earbud than his, but that is ok for me.  I am not using mine while running like he is, so it is easy for me to stop what I am doing if I need to in order to work the controls.  Although they are pretty easy and pretty standard controls.

One button powers it on – and it says, “Power on” and off (it says “Power off”).  The same button starts the play of music and pauses it.  One button turns the volume up, goes to the previous song, and restarts the song.  Another button turns the volume down and advances the music to the next song.

I haven’t used it as a headset for phone calls because the first time I tried it with my hubby’s he said he didn’t like the quality of my voice, so I haven’t bothered trying mine.  I know when I am using my regular headset and driving I can’t be on the phone that long because the quality of the caller’s voice is distorted.  Probably has to do with the fact that it is only coming through one ear bud.

Anyway, I am always excited when I get a product that I think of as expensive at an affordable price AND it works.  So, I like to share.  So far, this was at an affordable price, it works, so I am sharing.  I would like to point out that I did NOT receive this product for free or at a discounted rate for my unbiased and impartial review.  But, hey, how do I do that?  I read A LOT of blogs and reviews where the people say that.  Sign me up for that!

Anyway . . . if you are looking for an affordable wireless headset the one my husband got is good or mine is – which I think is better.

Have you ever had your earbuds ripped out of your ears because the wire to the phone get caught on something?  Have you been thinking about a wireless pair?

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments »

Rockin’ The Block Or More Accurately My Nia Classes

Posted by terrepruitt on June 17, 2014

I teach Nia for the City of San Jose and the YMCA.  I have been teaching Gentle Yoga too, but that is different.  The Gentle Yoga classes are usually smaller both the actually room we are in and the number of people.  And with yoga we don’t need the music loud so often times my iPhone in the middle of the yoga mats serves us just fine.  But with Nia we need the music loud.  Not “Zumba-loud” because I still need to be heard over the music, but loud enough that I can hear my music cues and people can get a sense of the music.  With most of my classes the number of students is more than yoga and the venue is larger.  I actually have taught at some places where the audio system did not work so I tried using my phone and it did not have enough volume.  With Nia people follow my lead, but they also move their body in their own way so it helps them dance when there is music to dance too.  So since I teach in all different places and the audio system is not always the same I have a variety of speakers.  I had been looking at one for a couple of years, but never wanted to invest the money.  But one day my hubby and I were at Costco and we saw a device I had been looking at.  He wanted to get it.  I hemmed and hawed, but we came home with a Block Rocker.

I had almost bought one before but with every model they came out with something different so I was trying to decide which one to purchase.  Then they came out with a Bluetooth enabled version.  I wanted to know that I could still use an Aux cable because Bluetooth can be spotty.  I had not been able to determine that from my shopping online at first.  And then I forgot about it until I saw it in Costco.  We pulled it off the shelf and checked it out.  Read the box to make sure it would play music both ways — via Bluetooth or a cable.  And my hubby put it in the cart.  All the way around the store I kept thinking, “Yes.  No.  Yes.  No.”  and on and on.

Dance Exercise, Nia, Nia at the City of San Jose, Nia classes in the South Bay, Nia Teacher, Nia Class, San Jose Nia, Nia San Jose, Nia workout, Nia, Zumba, PiYo, Gentle YogaWe came home with it.  We plugged it in and hooked it up to our devices.  It was pretty cool.  Both my husband and I have used it around the house.  It does GREAT house sound.  Our house is an acoustical “weird-mare”, but it works great.  Both of us have used it out in the yard.  But none of that is in a big room with people in it.  And I am not complaining that the rooms I have been teaching in have sound systems.  That is GREAT.  I am very fortunate.  I have not had the opportunity to use my big speaker.

My Group Ex Nia Class with the City of San Jose on Tuesdays and Thursdays is normally held in the dance studio.  But this summer there is Summer Camp in there for the kids one week every month.  So at the beginning of the year my supervisor moved us from the dance studio to the Multipurpose room.  I didn’t know if this room had an audio system.  I have been telling my class for months that we were going to be in the MPR for a few classes this summer.  Then for the past two weeks I have been reminding them of the actual dates.  I would have been very upset with myself if I had shown up and not be prepared.  Here I have been preparing them for months and then I didn’t have music.  I am soooooooooo glad I thought about my Block Rocker.  This is EXACTLY what it is for.

I even remembered to charge it the night before.  Ya see it is a Bluetooth device and it has a rechargeable battery so it can be used totally cordless.  Squeeeee!

So I used it today and it worked GREAT.  I am super happy.  I love it when things work out.  I am so glad that Costco had it and it was such a good deal.  As I said, I had been shopping for them for a couple of years and was happy this one was priced lowest of them all.  Even though it was the newest model.

Here is some information copied from the ION website:

•Streams music wirelessly from any Bluetooth music-playing device or phone
•Works with iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, Android devices, and more
•Input for a microphone (came with a microphone), instruments and other audio sources
•High-quality microphone included
•Built-in digital AM/FM radio and retractable antenna
•USB port for charging iPad, iPhone, or other devices
•Built-in battery provides up to 50 hours of use
•Bluetooth range of up to 50 feet
•High-output powered 2-way speaker
•1/8-inch auxiliary input for amplifying other audio devices
•Recessed wheels and telescoping handle for portability
•Rugged design to withstand heavy use
•Projects high-fidelity sound up to 150 feet away
•Built-in cradle for your smartphone, iPad, or other device

It does not have an equalizer so it will not be “perfect” sound.  It is what it is.  It is great . . . in my opinon . . . for exercise classes.  Oooo, I am so excited.  You know me, I like to share when I am excited about things.  When I learn of something that helps make MY life easier I like to share.  I like to let you know so perhaps it can help one of you.

Can you see yourself owning one?  Do you think you could use one?  Do you like to have people over for outside grilling and/or BBQing?

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments »

iPad

Posted by terrepruitt on March 19, 2011

I have had the opportunity to actually use the iPad.  This is somewhat of an update from my iPad Coolness post in which I said, “Oooo!” but didn’t really get to use the iPad.  This time I inherited one so I have it set up for me.

This version of the iPad does not have a camera nor a phone.  I have a camera and a phone with a camera so I am covered.  But I could see if you carry your iPad around it would be nice to have all of that included.  I understand that you wouldn’t hold your iPad up to your face, as you would a phone, but headset or bluetooth device could make it nice.

I do love the beautiful display.  It is sooo pretty.  I know that might sound simple, but . . . c’mon . . . it IS pretty.  It is crisp, it is clean–well, except for all of the finger prints on it.  Because of its amazing touch-the-screen technology and the fact that the screen becomes the keyboard there is always finger prints and swipes on it.  So some of its clarity gets dulled under all of that.

I was intrigued by the calendar function on the iPad and I have to laugh because I haven’t even looked at the calendar on the iPad this time.  I have been using it to play a game (We Rule) my husband and I play.  Because the iPad is so much larger than the iPhone it is much easier.  I have also been using it to do a lot of my work on the internet.

I had mentioned in my last post that I really like the way the webpages show up.  As you can see in the picture it shows the webpages that are open or easily opened.  There can be up to nine webpages available.  I like that since I am always going to HelpYouWell.com, the NiaNow website, my blog, my e-mail, my Yelp page, Nia Class info, and so on.  It makes it really easy to sit and “watch” TV.  While I am sitting there I can do research for a post.  I do enjoy the ease at which I can quickly surf the web and read things, but I do not like typing on the iPad for any length of time.  I would not choose to write a blog post on it. Often times I turn on a computer to comment on blogs or Facebook.  I am keyboard person.  I need the SENSATION of the keys.  The touch screen has me typing gibberish.  I am still learning, so my next post regarding the iPad could be that I use it for everything.

The iPad is heavy though . . . and I don’t mean it is HEAVY as if I can’t hold it or lift it, but when you think of the position in which you hold it it is heavy.  Now the iPad2—but that is a whole other blog post.  Since I do find myself setting it down a lot I end up looking down at it.  With a monitor (when I am on a laptop or a “regular” computer) at least I am looking UP instead of down—that actually can be another blog post too (hump back)!

I suspect that as time goes on I will learn to use it more and appreciate it more.  Now I am just experiencing the amazingness of mobility.  I am not at the point where I can give up my tower.  I am having to do without my tower at the moment because it is being worked on.  But it is four years old, by the time I need a new tower/computer (I am getting a new one this month), I might be fully integrated into this iPad thing.  It is amazing.  It is fast.  It is pretty.  It is the future.

Do you have an iPad?  Or Tablet or something like it (if so please share information because I would love to hear.  Since we were gifted iPads I have never done any research on the products)?  Do you have a mobile device?  Do you have a smart phone?

Posted in Misc | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments »

TweetUps

Posted by terrepruitt on October 21, 2010

Tonight I went to a TweetUp, I love to be able to talk to people in person about Nia.  In our area there is a group of fabulous people (Michael Brito, Jennifer Leggio, and Gabriel Carrejo) that put together the SVTweetups.  Tonight it was in San Jose — I like them when they are super close.  I wrote about the Halloween event last year.  I posted a picture of my favorite costume of the night–last year.  Tonight there was not that many costumes.  Someone said he thought it was because Halloween was too far away.  But since so many people dressed up last year, both my husband and I dressed up this year, I was thinking that more people would dress up.  I was not original at all.  I had a meeting right before the event, so I wore some scrubs and went as a Medical Professional.  I figured that people at my meeting wouldn’t know if that was a costume or it was real. My hubby, bought a costume but came up with another one and pulled it off with ease.

He was Keith Stone.  You know that guy from the commercial that sells the beer?  Well, it was good.  Did I get a picture?  No, but I got a picture of his prize.  See the TweetUps–the Silicon Valley Tweetups, while they are social events, they are also networking events, and charity events.

So while we paid an entrance fee it was really a donation to the San Jose Family Shelter.  Which is a great shelter that helps families in need.  If a family is going through a rough patch they can live at the shelter for a bit and they help to get them on their feet.  Then there is usually a company that sponsors the event and tonight it was Plantronics.  Ya know the company that specializes in headsets.  I’ve always had a plantronics at my corporate jobs.  And now they are making Bluetooth devices too!  They were the costume contest sponsors and my hubby’s costume really was great and he won a prize.

Then there is the social aspect where I get to meet the people with whom I tweet.  It is awesome.  I have met more people at tweetups and I have a great time.

Here I am—just sharing again.  Do you tweet?  If you do what is your handle?  I want to follow you.  You can follow me if you want.  I’m @HelpYouWell on Twitter!

Posted in Just stuff | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments »