Sep 19, 2018 | News
So by now, we all have seen the footage of Hurricane Florence’s devastation. The damage is especially bad in the Carolina’s. But IT support companies are stepping up to the plate. Google donates to Hurricane Florence Victims.
For some users, they will see a banner on top of their Gmail account. Also, you may see a donation link on the bottom of your Google home page. This isn’t their first time. Because last year, in the wake of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, they matched donations. They raised tens of millions of dollars on their pages from generous, kind-hearted people like you. Then they matched that. These donations went on to help a lot of people last year. And I am confident it will do so this year.
But that’s not all. Google is partnering with other non-profits, like Network for God and American Red Cross. They choose these because they have a great track record everywhere, especially in the region. Google isn’t the only IT support company helping out. Amazon is sending trucks full of food and trucks to flood zones. For almost a week now, Comcast offers Wi-Fi hotspots to customers in the hardest hit area, while Apple donated a million dollars. Airbnb put up victims for free. This is true for evacuees and those whose homes were either harmed or destroyed.
I know mega tech companies get a bad rep. And in some cases, it’s rightfully so. But not in this case. I applaud these companies for helping out people in time of need. Not only that, but there are other Silicon Valley individuals that are helping out. They’re too many to name, it’s the right thing to do. There are many ways you can help and many ways the tech industry is helping out. Google donates to hurricane Florence victims. So what are you doing?
Sep 18, 2018 | News
So everyone knows about Elon Musk and his Space X program. It’s one of the more controversial things going on in IT support today. But now, they stepped it up. Space X plans to take civilian to the moon.
Yusaku Maezawa, a billionaire from Japan, will be the first civilian man to go in space. Also, he’ll riding in the Space X’s Big Falcon Rocket. He could fly as early as 2023. This would be a tremendous feat, if Musk and Maezawa can pull it off. Because only 24 people have even been to the moon since 1972. And no non-NASA person has ever been to the moon.
As you can imagine, Zaezawa is very excited. In fact, he says going to the moon is his lifelong dream. However, this isn’t going to be a cheap flight. This project will cost $5 billion…with a B! They won’t share how much Maezawa and Musk will share. They’re still building the BFR (Big Falcon Rocket). They hope to complete building it sometime in 2020. But here is what is interesting. They say this BFR can hold at least 100 people. Maezawa says he wants to take seven or eight different artist with him. So if they go with him, then how much are they going to put up?
This is how Space X plans to take civilian to the moon. But? you know, I know, and everyone in computer repair know it won’t stop at this. Because Musk says he wants to build colonies on the moon and on Mars. He fears that great evils are overtaking this world, like climate change, nuclear war and AI/robot technology. From what I’m seeing on the news, and with my own two eyes, he might be right. I give Maezawa tons of credit for his bravery and willingness to be the first. Somebody has to. Would you fly to the moon as a civilian?
Sep 17, 2018 | General
So Amazon has a new store. But I’m not talking about a new Whole Foods. I’m talking about an Amazon Go store, where there are no cashiers. This is Amazon Go Store opens in Chicago.
But wait? Did you say a store without cashiers? That sounds almost as silly as cars without drivers , or restaurants without waiters (see where I’m going?). However yes, this store has no cashiers and no check-out lines. It opened in the heart of downtown Chicago, just a few blocks from sites like Millennium Park and Navy Pier. It’s only the fourth Amazon Go store to open up, but here what makes this one special. It’s the first Go store to open up outside of Seattle, Amazon’s headquarter city.
However, this won’t be your typical ‘milk, eggs, bread, sugar’ grocery store. This Amazon Go store will sale mostly ready to eat, high end meals. This includes salads, deli-style sandwiches, hot foods, and high end beverages. But wait. If they’re no cashiers and check out stations, then how will we pay? Does this mean we can just take everything for free? Well, not exactly. Camera will follow your every move and your every purchase. After you walk out, Amazon will bill you. So no cash, debit/credit cards, checks, or anything else will be needed.
The only thing about this Amazon Go store opens in Chicago. This particular store will close on weekends. The others don’t. Plus, we may see other Amazon Go stores coming out. They got big plans for San Francisco and New York City. Who knows? They could be coming to Boston, near our computer service shop. But these stores are coming. How fast they’re coming, well, that depends on consumers like you and me. Could you see yourself shopping in a store where you pay nothing immediately, but yet see a bill later?
Sep 14, 2018 | Software
So around 10 years ago, Windows/IE was the top website browser. But in the last decade or so, Firefox and Google Chrome took over that role. In fact, over 60% of all Internet users prefer Chrome. Then I read about Windows 10 fights off competition.
As many in the computer repair and IT service industry know, Windows 10 will come out with their October 2018 Update. However, something catches the eye of experts. When somebody gets to a rival browser, a message comes up saying, “You already have Microsoft Edge-the safer, faster browser for Windows 10. But there’s more. It gives you a choice to ‘Open Microsoft Edge’ or ‘Install Anyway’. At the screen bottom, it said. “Don’t be warned in the future? Open Settings>”. What does this mean?
It means that if somebody sees something is ‘unsafe’ then they’ll heed that warning. Cyber crimes and hacking over the years conditioned us to think that way. So that means the user will continue to use Microsoft Edge as their main browser. That also means they’ll cut of their competition, Firefox and Chrome, because of this warning. Some may just ignore it. But think about how much anxiety there is in the computer world nowadays. Is this how Windows 10 fights off competition?
Now that they exposed this, they won’t be able to. Because now, they’re not going to include this in the Windows 10 October 2018 update. Let’s hope it stays that way. Because I must confess, this sounds more like a bully tactic than anything else. Yes, the goal of any company is to make a profit, and make a better one than your competition. And yes, commercials and politicians often exploit their competition’s weakness to make themselves look better. That’s the nature of things. But to suggest somebody’s computer may be hit with viruses or worse, that’s a little below the belt. How should?Windows 10 compete?
Sep 13, 2018 | Smartphone
So guess what? It’s Apple’s favorite time a year, and once again, it sounds like they delivered. Apple announces new iPhones: Class of 2018.
So the three iPhones they announced are the XS, XR, and XS Max. We’ll startp with the XS, what they call the normal one. This normal one will cost you at least $999. Your storage options are 64GB, 256GB, and 512GB. In fact, all three of those models come with these three storage options. Obviously, only the 64GB will cost you the lowest one. But the XS comes with a thin 5.5 inch screen, and a 12 megapixel camera. The XS is waterproof? for up to two meters deep and come in silver, gold and space grey. You can start pre-ordering on September 14. They will be available in stores starting September 21.
Then there are the XR and XS Max. The XS Max is the high end. It has most of the same IT support XS does. But this one is a little bigger…and more expensive. The price will start at $1,099. It too will start pre-orders on Sept. 14 and will begin on Sept. 21. Then there is the iPhone XR. This is the low end of the three new iPhones. This cost will start at $749. This one is much cheaper because it comes with fewer pixels and no HDR (high dynamic range) display. It has one 12 MP camera. It can only go one meter under water. The iPhone XR won’t take pre-orders until October 19. Gee, I wonder why they would do that.
If I were an Apple guy, which I am not, I would wait for the iPhone XR. I know many who come in our computer service shop, they swear by Apple. That’s part of the reason I’m writing this. Plus, Apple is losing ground on that stock market, just after making it to a trillion dollars. So Apple announces new iPhones. Will it bring up stocks?
