So in this tech and IT service era, headphones are no longer a luxury. They are a necessity. So many of us have a smartphone right? Retailers know this. That’s why we have so many headphones for sale; and headphones for cheap.
So how much will you pay for a noise cancelling wireless headphone? $500? $300? You’re in luck. Because now, you can get Treblab’s Quiet Comfort 35 wireless headphones for as little as around $80. They contain 40mm speakers that keeps your noise in. They also have noise-cancelling technology to keep the world’s noise out. Treblab is a new kid on the block. But at least you won’t be paying for a name, like Bose or Beats by Dr Dre. Here is more info and how to get the Quiet Comfort 35.
What is that you say? You’re more of an earbud person? You’re in luck too. Because JLab has wireless Bluetooth earbuds for as little as $50. Okay, it says $49, but personally, I hate when companies do that, just say $50 and keep it real! But these buds have 10 hours of battery life, a USB cable and they turn on themselves. It’s a great alternative to Apple’s Airpods. Those things will run you $149. And I wouldn’t trust the quality of Airpods, so JLab has the far better bargain.
But the truth of the matter is, nowadays, you can get headsets for under $10. However, they won’t last that long. Just trust me on this one. If you can get the better ones, then please do so. In our computer repair field, we’re even asked by our clients which headsets to get. That just goes to show you what a staple of life they are. That’s why so many companies have so many headphones for sale. And if they were smart, then they would keep the options many and the prices low. What are your favorite headsets?
So, do you ever wonder about the products big tech and big IT support disposes of? I’m talking about plans and/or products that never make it past Silicon Valley boardrooms. But now, there is a website that reports on Google on just that. These are the things Google killed.
So yes, there is a list out there. They call it, “Killed by Google”. This includes things like the Inbox email service. It also includes the Google+, that would challenge Facebook. But these ideas went nowhere. It’s simply a list of former Google ideas and products with a tombstone beside them.
According to many online sources, this is the brainchild of Cody Odgen. He is a web developer who lives in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN area. His list got so much social media buzz that it even shocked him. But it also reminded him of not just how much we use technology and IT service. We also bond with it. He even compares it to a loving relationship. This is the truth. I notice it myself. We’re coming to a point where we mourn the loss of a smartphone more intensely than we do a close human friend. Odgen backs up his point by highlighting comments about the now defunct Google devices and services. Right here is the list.
In fact, I’m reading some of the comments now. Some people still mourn the loss of Google Reader, a service that ended years ago. So why are we interested in the things Google killed? Maybe it’s a nostalgic trip. It’s a time when we could go back and say, “I remember when they tried that.” Or maybe it’s a reminder that even the best of us mess up sometimes. People often think Google can do no wrong. Yes they can. And here is proof they do wrong often. It’s proof Google leaders and employees are actually human, liable to make mistakes and bad creations. It also gives us a bunch of what ifs. What is these Google products did well?
So Apple fans, including some of our own computer repair clients, glued themselves to the press conference yesterday. Because at their Cupertino theater, they revealed new additions to their new Apple TV features. The new Apple TV: What will it do for me?
So here is a feature that strikes me. With the new Apple TV, you can get third party subscriptions with ease. For example, if you can’t live without Netflix, but you have Apple TV, then you’re now keeping your Netflx. So how is this going to happen? Because the Apple TV app is already available through smartphones. But soon, it’s going to be available through Mac and Apple laptops.
The new Apple TV app will come to smart TV’s. This will include Samsung’s, LG’s, Sony’s and Vizio’s. The app is even coming to the smart TV of their biggest arch rival, Amazon. We don’t know exactly what day, or even month. But they did say it would happen by the end of the year. Still not sure about this new venture? Then you can get a free trial. If you subscribe after that, then you can pay for it monthly through Apple pay. You’ll no longer have to go from app to app. At least that’s the way Apple advertises it.
One one hand, this looks like a genius move on Apple’s part. In fact, some leaders of these companies, were at the press conference and stood in agreement. To eliminate your competition by teaming up with them sounds like a genius move. But let’s talk about the fact it’s just now coming to Macs and Apple laptops. With all due respect Apple, you should have done that some time ago. Do they really want to embrace their IT support competition? Or are they just afraid of them? And what will the new Apple TV do your you?
So in 2010, I logged onto Facebook for the first time. Before long, I was excited to reunite with friends and classmates I haven’t heard from in years. Then, as the years dragged on, the excitement wore off and the misery began. Also, I read an article that begs the question. Is social media making us worse?
So this TechCrunch article says social media is changing, and not for the better. It uses a stat saying unhappier and lonelier people spend more time online, especially on social media. In fact, some argue it too much of it can lead to depression, even suicide. They say it is worse now than it was even five years ago. Or you could blame the social media algorithms.
Because these algorithms do their job keeping us on these sites as long as possible. The longer we’re on there, the more advertising. The more ads, the more profits. And the more profits, the more algorithms, because they measure the profits as success. See the cycle here? Also, there are more algorithms in control now than back in 2014.? Then again, that’s true for any IT support. But let’s look deeper. Back in the early-mid 2010s, most people, especially in IT service, would say social media made us happier. But now, we’re seeing it’s just not true.
Some would argue the world was a better place 5-10 years ago. People weren’t as divided then as they are now. I’m not sure. But since 2016, as the division grew, it added to the misery. For instance, I made a vow to fast off Facebook for the Lenten season, taking Sundays off. Sunday, yesterday, I posted something on Facebook wishing New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski a happy retirement. One man was so angry about it he not only questioned my integrity, but my humanity. Golly gee Wally, if we can’t even wish a football player a happy retirement, then we’re all in trouble. Is social media making us worse, instead of better?
So let me start off explaining what a defibrillator is. It’s a device that sends electric shocks to the heart. It’s an IT service that can literally mean life or death. They put it in the patient’s chest, and use it to correct things like irregular heartbeats. This sounds great, but Homeland Security issues a warning. Are Medtronic defibrillators dangerous?
So Medtronic is a company that manufacturers health devices.? In fact, Medtronic is the world’s most popular health device maker. But recently, Homeland Security warned their defibrillators don’t require any authority. Also, they don’t encrypt their radio protocol. What does this mean? It means hackers can break in. In fact, Homeland Security says it’s a ‘low skill level’ hack, meaning it’s fairly easy break into.
But don’t get too worried. Because you can’t just attack a stranger’s defibrillator by grabbing them in the street. However, it’s a different story if the patient is at a doctor’s office. When the doctor is checking this IT support device, then it’s at the most venerable. There, a hacker can erase and hijack the device and totally take it over, running any command on it. They say this potential danger affects 20 of Medtronic’s models. The company says they’re not aware of anybody that’s been hacked. But they insists they’re watching updates and promises a fix.
Let’s hope it comes soon. They’re not the only one sharing concerns. Did you know the medical industry will spend over $65 billion on cyber security by 2021? Lives are on the line, literally. In financial hacks, you lose money, financial and personal information. You can get all that back. It happened to me. But you can’t do that when it comes to someone’s physical life. I guess you could turn back time, but the time machine hasn’t been invented yet. So I guess prevention is the only way to stop this kind of hacking. You don’t think somebody is sick or psychopathic enough to do such a thing? Are you paying attention?
