So, a miracle is taking place in the IT support world. After years of scandal and scrutiny, from Russia hacking allegations to Cambridge Analytica, Facebook vows to do something about it. Now, Facebook cares about your privacy.
So on Wednesday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg shared his plan to make Facebook more secure for all. This includes encrypting messages. This also could include combining Facebook services. I’m talking about things like WhatsApp and Instagram. Also, soon you can send messages using SMS (short message service). But this will be an optional service. There’s a reason why Facebook would merger it’s big 3 services. It’s because by combining the 3, you can send encrypted messages.
As of now, you can’t do that. Zuckerberg himself said the three fastest features have to do with privacy. They are small chat, private messaging and diapering content. Then there is the Stories feature. You tell your story in moving still pictures. But these stories disappear? in 24 hours after you put them up. With post you write, they can stay up there forever. Maybe that’s why 500 million are using the Instagram Stories app. He also stated that people should feel comfortable about posting. They shouldn’t have to fear what might happen later.
But some people are still skeptical. One senator from Hawaii tweeted his praise for the encryption, he was cynical about the privacy. But I say let’s give this a try. It’s a start, and a good one. The conference I saw Wednesday was a good one. Zuckerberg said the right things and made good promises. Can he keep them? IT service companies have let us down before. That’s why so many are so cynical. Maybe recent hackings and scandals woke him up. Who knows, maybe it will wake up other Silicon Valley leaders as well. Now, Facebook cares about your privacy. But is it because they have to now?
So in January, some people took the Dry January challenge. People agreed to quit alcohol for one month for various reasons. But what does this have to do with IT support and tech? Because maybe we should do a Facebook-free February challenge. Does laying off Facebook make us happier?
So they did researches at Stamford and New York Universities. They took nearly 2,500 Facebook users who used the social media site at least four hours a day. Then these users agreed to not use Facebook at all for a month. The researchers checked on their non-Facebook pledge by checking on their Facebook profiles to see if they’re making good on it.
However, the researchers measured emotions, one of them being happiness. Many took that time doing real world things, like spending more time with friends and family. Some spent that time in front of the TV. But most said when they laid off Facebook, they also laid off other social media sites and Internet altogether. In fact, quitting Facebook limited their news intake. Overall, they participants enjoyed life without Facebook more than they thought they would. It revealed and made people take stock of their own lifestyle choices. Also, in some cases, this study changed them. So does laying off Facebook make us happier?
These 2,500 people seem to think so. I can agree to that. Because last year, I gave up Facebook for the Lenten season (the period between Mardi Gras and Easter Sunday). I only looked at it on Sunday. It made quite a bit of difference. For one, I was more tolerant of other people’s ideas that didn’t agree with mine. It reminded me how divisive Facebook can be, with every other post hyping up his/her own side and condemning the other side. Some of my computer repair colleagues and clients were so inspired that they took a little time off Facebook. They talked about the difference it made in their lives. Does laying off Facebook make us happier?
So for years, IT service Petcube allowed owners to see their pets while the owners are away. In fact, they can even play with toys through this piece of IT support. But now, they came out with two devices to take it further. Petcube enhances the Pet/Owner relationship.
So now, Petcube comes out with two new items. They are Petcube Bites 2 and Petcube Play 2. They both offer Alexa voice commands, a 180 degree camera, and better sound. Furthermore, they include a 4-microphone piece and can support up to 5GHz as well. Oh, and Alexa will work alone with these two devices. There will be no more adding other voice technologies just to get Alexa to work with Petcube. Because they already did that for you. That’s a huge relief for just about anybody.
But wait…there’s more. These new Petcube devices can play music, check weather, turn on lights and other appliances, even give you a news reports. It can also do other things I know I’m leaving out. Yes, these devices use AI tech. They use it to study barks and other pet sounds to see if the pet is distressed. It also tries to predict the pet’s behavior before the pet even behaves. They come in Matte Silver and Carbon Black. The Petcube Bite 2 will cost you around $250. The Petcube Play 2 will cost you around $200. As of right now, you will only find them on Petcube.com. However, if sales are that good, I can see them moving them to retail stores. Or at least I hope so.
So this is how Petcube enhances the pet/owner relationship. I think it’s great that they play music. Studies show that pets react to music almost as good as humans do. That’s a huge plus. The 180 degree camera is also a huge plus. And the price is right. But I’m not a fan of how AI wants to predict the pets’ behavior. What if they’re wrong? Are these new Petcube devices good investments?
So we all know the Christmas carol ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’. Well, Amazon is getting in the spirit…well, whatever that means to them. The #1 IT service and #1 retail site in the world has Amazon’s twelve days of Christmas.
So today is Amazon’s twelve days of Christmas. But I must tell you…it started yesterday. However, it will go on until December 13. Each day will feature gift themes and items. Each day, they will give deep discounts on certain items for the daily category. For example, yesterday was home improvement day. So if you needed a deep discount on home improvement items, then that day is gone.
So today is gaming day. That’s going to excite a lot of us in the computer repair industry. Today, there will be deep discounts on all things gaming. Another exciting day for us computer servicing folks will be Thursday the 6th. That’s PC day. That’s when you can get all things PC: desktops, monitors, Windows gear, and everything else. So to all our Computer Geeks customers, mark Thursday, December 6 to get your supplies. And obviously, give us a call to help you set it up. Other themed days include toys (that’s tomorrow, parents), electronics, sports, kitchen, and fashion.
This is a way to keep the magic of Black Friday alive. This is also a way to keep the competition at bay. If Amazon sets a certain day for certain items, then people are more likely to target that day for this group of items. But did you miss home improvement day? You’re still in luck. Because you can go to your local home improvement store and still get that tool set for that loved one. Okay, that’s a little nudge about supporting local businesses. But yes, I can see how these 12 days of Christmas can be successful. Will you be celebrating Amazon’s twelve days of Christmas?
So we hear about how cryptocurrency will be the savior of the future economy. It could be. However, hackers must know it as well. Because they hacked cryptocurrency…again.
So this time, Zaif is the victim. Zaif is a Japanese digital exchange company. They are part of the family of Tech Bureau Corp. Well, earlier this week, hackers stole over $60 million worth of Bitcoin from them. The hackers did the job on Friday September 14. But it wasn’t until the 17th when they found server problems. Then they discovered the cyber crime and reported it, to the media as well as the authorities. Also, they hacked two other of their cryptocurrencies.
Somehow, the hackers broke into their ‘online wallet’. Before they could steal anything else, they shut the system down. We don’t know when they’ll put it back up, in fact, it may be up again now. There’s a reason why I say they hacked cryptocurrency…again. Because last year, another company in Tokyo lost a whopping $547 million worth of cyrptocurrency. They believe this was a cyber theft. The name of this company is Coincheck. You may have heard of them. In fact, they hit Manacoin as well. They also lost millions on cryptocurrency.
So why are hackers hitting Japan so often and for so much? Because Japan is a leader in the cryptocurrency market game. It’s been that way since 2012. In fact, they pride themselves on IT support digital licences to regulate these markets and protect consumers from incidents like this. But even with these extra layers of protection, they still get hacked. Yes, I, along with many in computer repair believe this will be a powerful tool in future world economics. But it’s obvious they have a long, long way to go. This currency is a good way to go and hackers know it. What can be done to keep Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies safe?
So who knows what Instacart is? If you don’t, then it’s a grocery delivery app and service. Late last year, they made a deal with major grocer Kroger’s and their sub-chain, Ralph’s. But recently, they made a deal that topped the previous one. Let’s look at this Instacart expansion.
Today, they announced Instacart will now open for up nearly half of all Kroger grocery stores. Basically, this means by November 2018, Instacart delivery will be available for over 1,600 Kroger stores. However, Kroger isn’t the only one benefiting from the Instacart expansion. Other chains like Sam’s Club and Albertsons also have Instacart deliver their groceries to customers.
They want to reach 80% of Americans by the end of 2018. They just might. Because as of now, they can reach 70% of the people. They’re getting plenty of backup too. In one month alone, they raised $200 million worth of capital. In fact, Instacart is now worth around $4 billion. Now let’s talk about the competition. Because there’s plenty of it. Amazon and Whole Foods have their own delivery services and apps. And they’re worth a combined $14 billion. Then you have Target. Obviously, there’s a clothing and accessories retail store. But they’re doing their own online delivery.
Then again, maybe such competition is a good thing. Grocers like Sam’s Club sees how Amazon is trying to turn the world into their own monopoly. Maybe that’s why Sam’s Club ran to Instacart’s arms. This is interesting because less and less people are going to grocery stores…well, traditionally. Now, they’re shopping for their foods and other supplies online. Then, they go pick them up or have a driver deliver them. So IT support and IT service even affects the way we grocery shop, something that people have done since the beginning of time. The grocery store app race is on. Who do you think will win?
