Feb 29, 2016 | Computer technology, Software
Remember when you had to go to a tech fair, convention or other public gathering to experience virtual reality? Starting March 30,2016, you can have virtual reality at you doorstep…for a price.
Microsoft’s HoloLens kit is taking pre-orders. These kits will ship to the US and Canada starting March 30. The holographic headset will set you back $3,000. This is only for the HoloLens, charger, Bluetooth 4.1 clicker, carrying case, microfiber cloth, and replacement nose pieces. The software will require a PC, Windows 10 and Visual Studio 2015. The headset alone has four cameras to capture the environment, one to build world maps and one 2MP camera for photography and video camera. The HoloLens has four microphones, ambient light sensor, and an internal measurement system that uses?accelerometers and gyroscopes to detect movement. It has two USB connections. It’s battery life can go for about three active hours without went charges. How much do you expect it to weigh: twenty pounds? ten pounds? Nope. This portable virtual reality kit weighs 1.37 lbs. Apps will include HoloStudio (see this link for explanation) and Skype. Both are Microsoft creations. An app called HoloTour shall provide the HoloLens consumer with trips and sights around the world…without even leaving his/her own home.
The future of virtual reality is here. That’s what Microsoft hopes. Microsoft has invested a lot of time and resources on this. But I think about the potential social ramifications of HoloLens. Could home virtual reality be addictive? Could it be so addictive people abandon their responsibilities, family, and friendships in the real world? I know HoloLens can be a great escapism tool, but sometimes you got to come back down to Earth. Try to imagine a parent forsaking a child’s needs or a boss/manager forsaking their co-workers because they can’t put HoloLens down. This could lead to the breakdown of family, households, workplaces, schools, relationships, and societies. I’m not too crazy about the price either. Is $3,000 worth the price of virtual reality?
Feb 10, 2016 | Computer technology
The self-driving Google car has been talked about several times on this website. Like all cars, it must be approved by the federal government before it hits one US street, highway, freeway, avenue, drive, road boulevard or parkway. Google just got a letter bringing their revolutionary car one step closer to that approval.
That letter came from the National Highway Traffic Safety Agency (NHTSA). The letter confirmed the computer driving the self-driving car can legally be the driver (sorry if that sounds confusing). Here is that letter in it’s entirety. I should warn you, reading War and Peace in Russian is easier to understand. ?The current fleet is still being tested at Google headquarters in Mountain Valley, CA. California law restricts them to maximum speed of 25 MPH. The state law also requires a human driver be present at all testings in case something goes wrong. However, there are some guidelines in the NHTSA’s letter. The letter stated that brake pedals need to be accessible to the driver. But since the computer is the driver, then the brake is accessible through electronic means. Therefore, they comply with this rule. The letter shows some conflicts about rear view mirrors. Unlike human driven cars, the Google car has no need for rear view mirrors. It has a full sensor array, so they can skip that rule.
This is where tensions may come between regular and Google cars. I am glad the US government is making sure Google has some accountability. But the fact they can already skip one rule might throw things into whack. What about other car parts humans might need but Google doesn’t? Now let’s say Google goes out on roads all over America, then the world. How do car manufacturers adjust? How will consumers adjust? This car is coming along nicely, and we can’t delay this conversation any longer. Is America ready for the Google self-driving car?
Feb 9, 2016 | Computer technology, internet, scam, Security
Do you know what today is? Yes, it’s Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras. Yes, it’s voting day in New Hampshire. But it’s also Safer Internet Day.
Safer Internet Day began in 2002 and is celebrated every 2nd Tuesday in February. It’s now observed in 120 countries. It was first observed to help keep children and teens safe online. But over the years, issues like hacking and identity theft became so prevalent the day takes on another meaning. That meaning is keeping you safe from hackers, malware, cyber criminals, even national agencies and world governments. Safer Internet Day is observed by giving tips to keep you and your family safe. We at Geek Choice honor that tradition.
Be careful of what you post and the pictures you upload to social media. Don’t give out your too much information or let the pictures become too risque. Hackers have been known get risque photos and threaten to blast them globally if they don’t get what they want. They’ll use your posts against you too. I’ve read stories where social media posts have gotten people fired, arrested, and even worse.
Change your passwords and change them often. Don’t use easy passwords either. Use passwords that you and only you would know like the name of your elementary school, your first car, or first pet, and the year these things happened (it’s always good to mix alphabetical and numerical signs together).
Get and update anti-virus software. With free anti-virus services like Avast, there’s no excuse not to.
If an email or social media post sounds too good to be true, it probably is. If you get one saying something like, “We have money waiting for you. But we need some information…”, don’t give in. Too many people had been had.
If someone calls you and claim they’re from a legit corporation, like Microsoft , and say you need to pay to get a virus removed, or need your credit card information, don’t do it! Some scammers have put up viruses, then call you claiming to be a Microsoft rep and demand money. Microsoft doesn’t operate like that. If a virus is holding your computer hostage, call Geek Choice.
Parents, monitor your children and teenagers’ computer activities. They’re too many cyberbullies, pedophiles, trolls, con-artists, even terrorists out there to be too relaxed about your kid’s online safety. Talk with your kids and warn them about the dangers out there. Remember, you’re their parent, not their friend. What other tips would you offer to keep innocent people safe online?
Feb 5, 2016 | Computer technology, Wireless
When you think of Nintendo, what do you think of? You probably think of video games, Super Mario Brothers, Wii, Zelda, Game Boy, etc. Do you think of a sleep tracking device?
In 2014, Nintendo planned to get into the very competitive fitness/sleep tracker movement. The plan was to give you this device only the way Nintendo can. This mystery device was going to be released sometime in March 2016. Note the key word in that last sentence…WAS. Nintendo president Tatsumi Kimishima said this Quality of Life device is not only delayed, but delayed indefinitely. But Nintendo’s plan was to go beyond the traditional smartwatch, health tracker, or other wearable technology versions. With Quality of Life, it would know when you’re sleeping. It would process your data, and give you suggestions when you seek them. For example, if you weren’t getting enough sleep, Quality of Life would tell you to eat better, lower your stress level, quit smoking, or give other health advice. The late Satoru Iwata, Nintendo’s last president, showed great confidence in Quality of Life in 2014, when it was in it’s newborn stages. Iwata showed great excitement about visualizing sleep plans. And to Nintendo’s defense, they had reasons to be optimistic. Their first health based product, Wii Fit, sold over 40 million copies by January 2016.
But this isn’t Wii Fit. This is Quality of Life. This is, or should I say this was, Nintendo’s version of wearable technology. Wearable technology is one of the most competitive tech gadgets around today. In the last couple weeks, I’ve talked about wearable technology. So why did Nintendo suspend Quality of Life? Did they not think it was good enough for the extremely competitive market? If they’re going to continue on with this device, they need to be different and stand out. I would suggest find a way to incorporate some of the beloved Nintendo characters in this device. Or is it a good idea for Nintendo to be competing in the sleep tracking game at all?
Feb 2, 2016 | Computer technology
Are you an lover of all things Apple? Do you wait in line at all hours of the night for the big thing from Apple (and if you do, then why!?)? Then mark the week of March 14th on your calendar.
Experts and insiders believe this is the week Apple will unveil new products such as the iPhone 5se, iPad Air 3, and Apple Watch products. Some say the specific date will be March 15th, but that could still change. It’s almost certain it will be the week of March 14. One new product many look forward to is the 4-inch iPhone called iPhone 5se. It’s supposed to have the A9 Chip, Apple Pay, and slightly curved edges. The iPhone 5se will run you $450 for 16GB. The iPad Air 3 is expected to be the first 9.7 inch iPad upgrade since iPad Air 2 was launched back in October 2014. New features should include better speakers and a Smart Connector. Rumor has it a smaller Smart Keyboard will accompany the iPad Air 3. The cost of the iPad Air 3, so far, is unannounced. Sources say the upcoming batch of iWatch products will focus on new bands. We’re talking about new colors, and new bands like Sports bands and Hermes bands. The price on these new watches are also unknown.
I’m sure millions will be tuning in. So will I. For Apple’s sake, I hope this press conference goes will. I just read an article where Google/Alphabet is about to surpass Apple as the top company in America today. ?In the past, sometimes Apple gets it right. But there have been times where Apple has fallen way short. They really need to step up their A game in the smart watch market. It’s been written before, this market is getting more and more competitive every day. Don’t forget Apple might surprise us as well. What do you expect from Apple’s week of March 14th press conference?
Jan 13, 2016 | Computer technology
In 2015, just about every technology machine or device increased in sales and shipping. Just about all of them, except the PC.
The PC ended last year in negative numbers. According to Gartner News, 75.7 million personal desktop computers were sold around the world Q4 2015. That may sound like a lot, but actually, PC shipments fell over 8% that quarter from last year. These stats come from the five largest PC manufacturers: ?Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Lenovo, Asus, and Apple. Lenovo did lead the PC market share with ?(20%), and HP placed in a close second (19%). But Apple, the company who placed last in PC shares (7 1/2%) is the only company that saw it’s PC shipments do better than Q4 2014. Another tech research company, IDC, paints an even gloomier picture. They have PC sales falling over nearly 11%. But IDC also said Apple was the only maker to improve Q4 2015 sales. One Gartner analysts stated this was the fifth year the PC has declined in shipments and sales. The Christmas season didn’t help matters much. Neither did the Chinese stock market dip and shaky global markets so far this month. But there is one light that can shine out the PC darkness: Windows 10. It’s gotten good reviews so far. Will it help the PC?
I know what some of you are thinking: By the 2020s, the PC will be about as dead as the VCR. Hardly! Today’s consumers have laptops, smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, and other devices to ?work and play on. That’s obvious. That’s why the PC has been in decline over the years. But people will need their PCs for decades to come. Offices need somewhat of a ‘home base’ for business. The PC provide that. At home, people want a ‘home base’ for their computer needs. The PC provides that. The TVs are going nowhere. Neither are the PCs. People have more computer tech options to choose from and are using them. That’s why PCs are in the slight decline. And whose to say the PC shipments won’t increase in 2016?
