Mar 2, 2015 | internet, networking, News
ISIS: It’s a name that strikes terror in the hearts of freedom loving people around the world. They murder, torture, rape, and pillage innocent human beings wherever they go. Now they target social media.
Terrorist group Isis and their sympathizers are threatening Twitter, their employees and even co-founder Jack Dorsey. The social media giant has received hate email and death threats because they block accounts with ties to Isis. They released a post on website JustPaste.it telling Twitter, “…your virtual war on us will cause a real war on you.” They cursed Twitter for closing their accounts. ?They claim by taking this act, Twitter became targets for their supporters scattered among them, even hinting their might be Isis supporters close to them. But Twitter’s policy clearly states direct, specific threats of violence will not be tolerated on their site. So the extremist group decided to get around that by using Twitter as a recruitment tool. Twitter soon caught on and blocked them, despite the extremist group trying to get back on. It’s been a cat and mouse game for months, because every time Twitter shut an account down, an Isis sympathizer would restart one. A Twitter spokesperson said their security and law enforcement are investigating such threats.
Hurrah for Twitter! I’m glad Twitter is taking a stand to such brutality and tyranny. I encourage Jack Dorsey and other Twitter leaders to stay strong. The bully picks on those who can’t and don’t fight back, and thank goodness for Twitter fighting back. To say Isis and their supporters are bullies is a major, major understatement. These extremists often use social media to lure people to their sadistic cause. They lure men, even from Europe and the US to fight for them. They lure women and teenage girls to marry into their group. They even put up a vlog of them serving ice cream to children. We’re not dealing with barbarians eating rats living in mountains. Isis is a well organized, sophisticated organization led by very educated and charismatic sociopaths who will do anything to grow their twisted cause. Thank goodness Twitter is putting a stop to it. Shouldn’t we encourage other social media conglomerates to do the same?
Mar 1, 2015 | Wireless
Smartphone and tablet maker HTC is ready to release it’s first wearable technology device. But it won’t be a smartwatch, as many suspected.
HTC’s first wearable device will come in the form of a GPS and fitness tracker. It will be called HTC Grip. It’s black on the outside, yellow on the inside, and has a digital clock on the outside. It has five senors to track workouts. The GPS will help runners track their location, especially those training for marathons or other sanctioned events. The HTC Grip will count your burned calories as well as measure your distance and stamina during your workout. But it will not have a heart rate monitor. These days, you can get a heart rate monitor almost anywhere. But it does have a multi-sports feature that helps you keep track on various activities and it even gives fitness advice. Well, fitness experts give information through Grip and you get the experts’ advice. I don’t know what the cost of Grip will be, but Grip is expected to be released to the public in Spring 2015.
I’m looking forward to see how this device will sell?and?how this device will work, especially without a heart rate monitor. I’m looking to see how much Grip will cost. I know there are tech junkies who will pay anything just to be the first on their block to have the latest big thing. But any good business knows to keep the price moderate so more people can enjoy your product. This will be a gem for hard core and professional athletes. But what about the person whose only workout includes the gym, walking with a friend, midnight basketball, or summer softball leagues? Will HTC Grip work for them? Should HTC Grip cater to the casual physically active person? And if so, how?
Feb 28, 2015 | internet, networking, News
In China, a major censorship crackdown is underway. Here in America, Google found itself in hot water and reversed a controversial decision. Is online censorship near?
Earlier this week, it was announced Google would ban sexually explicit content from their Blogger site. Days later, they reversed that decision, claiming it would have negative effects on those who express themselves with nudity and adult content. This ban would affect those with Blogger accounts for 10 years. Instead, Google’s Blogger will crack down on commercial porn. I wonder did Google reverse this decision because they know Blogger users could easily go to Tumblr and other social media sites.
Then there’s the latest Chinese crackdown on the Internet. New laws are being passed to further tighten their government control over the Web. To make way, more than 60,000 online accounts are being deleted. But it’s Chinese Internet conglomerates that lead this censorship charge, such as Alibaba Group Holdings and Tencent Holdings. But they’re telling the Chinese people the crackdown is to combat terrorism, porn, ID theft and other social ills. Effective March 1, laws will go up throughout China to prohibit ‘deceitful’ identity and demand online users to submit personal information while registering for online services. If you’re approved by the registry, then you’ll be able to use the Internet…under a watchful eye.
These are just two reasons I wonder if online censorship is closer than we think. I’m thankful Google reversed their original decision. I’m convinced they did it because a lot of Blogger users cried foul and some probably even threatened to take their business elsewhere. But China has one of the strictest online policies in the world. I’m concerned about social online ills as much as anybody, but forcing the people to register is hardly going to change anything. Whose to say an online hacker or predator won’t slip through the cracks even after he/she registers? Can China’s strict online policies come to the US? Or is that too far-fetched?
Feb 27, 2015 | Entertainment, News, youtube
Iconic actor Leonard Nimoy passed away earlier today at the age of 83, after a courageous battle with the lung disorder chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Nimoy will forever be known for his role as Spock on the historic TV and movie franchise Star Trek. Spock was a half-man half-alien character with pointy ears, V finger salute, and a logical tone. Though the original TV show Star Trek only lasted three years (1966-69), Spock will go down as one of the most beloved TV characters of all time, thanks to cartoons, movies, spin-offs, and Star Trek festivals that go on to this day. But Nimoy was so much more multi-talented and versatile than Spock. Let’s honor Mr. Nimoy’s legacy by looking at five ways he blessed us through his talent.
1. He Appeared in Many Guest Roles: He was born in Boston and attended Boston College before moving to Hollywood in the early 1950s. In the years that followed, he won guest roles on Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Outer Limits, and The Twilight Zone.
2. He Was Proud To Be in a Groundbreaking Show: Nimoy took pride in the fact that Star Trek broke so much ground in the 1960s. It was one of the first shows to regularly feature African-Americans as equals. Star Trek gave us the first interracial kiss in TV history.
3. He Narrated TV Documentaries: He narrated In Search Of (1976-82), a weekly showcase of mysteries and history. He also narrated History Channel’s Ancient Mysteries (1995-2003).
4. He Was An Accomplished Director: Nimoy directed two of the six Star Trek movies. Those were Star Trek III: In Search of Spock (1984) and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986). He went on to direct Three Men And A Baby (1987), one of the highest grossing films of that year.
5. He Was A Best Selling Author: In the 1970s, he published an autobiography called I Am Not Spock. In the ’90s, he published a second one called I Am Spock.
Leonard Nimoy is survived by two children, six grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
From us at Geek Choice, “Live long and prosper.”
Feb 26, 2015 | Computer technology, Entertainment, Security
In recent weeks, Samsung released the smart TV. I believe it’s the first of it’s kind. Off the bat, this smart TV is having not so smart problems.
It wasn’t long before it was discovered the Samsung Smart TV can spy on us. These TVs can pick up everything we say and everything we watch. They watch every move we make in our living room, or even scarier, our bedroom, if your smart TV is in the bedroom. Don’t take my word for it: Samsung even has the warning in small print! They’re even marketing this Smart TV to children, and yes, their voices and movements can be tracked as well. Even US federal agencies are concerned. Privacy groups are filing complaints to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC), claiming this TV violates many privacy acts, such as the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. A privacy advocacy group asked the FTC to investigate Samsung altogether, and stop them from collecting unapproved data for a third party. The South Korean technology conglomerate defends it’s TV. They claim the TV can collect voice data only when the user commands the TV, but not before clicking the activation button, then speak through the remote microphone.
Ever since the 1950s, American families, friends, and tavern partrons have gathered around to watch television. Never could I ever imagine a time when the TV would be watching me. When I was a kid, I thought this kind of technology would exist in a fictional sci-fi section, or in George Orwell’s 1984. But here we are. No TV should be watching and recording our every move. And they definitely have no right to record what our children are saying. Thank goodness privacy rights advocates are speaking out and getting the ear of our government and elected officials. But we have to keep the pressure up. We must tell them this kind of violation is uncalled for. And here’s what will get Samsung’s attention: When not a single American buys this monstrosity of a TV. Can you hear us now, Samsung?
Feb 25, 2015 | Uncategorized
In the 1990s, Japanese computer engineers invented Emojis. These are small cartoon like symbols that help express emotions. These symbols include happy faces and thumbs up. But there was one problem.
These emojis seriously lacked diversity. That is, until now. Included in the Apple iOS 8.3 are around 300 more emoji symbols. This will include both genders and more ethnicity and more skin tones. These new images will have different professions. One can even create their own emojis; celebrities like Seth Rogen have done so. And it’s not just races and skin color that’s diversifying. Family dynamics are, too. For example, some of these new emojis include families with two mothers and two fathers as well as the more traditional family. Thirty-two more national flags are in this batch. Despite these changes, there are still some complaints and concerns. Some are saying the yellow emojis may be interpreted as racist and offensive to the Asian community, though it’s believed the yellow images were never meant to represent them. Whether consumers embrace or shun these new images, the people at Apple are standing by this change. One spokesperson says, “Apple cares and supports deeply about diversity…[we’re working] to update the standard so that it better represent diversity for all of us.”
In principal, I think they’re doing the right thing. Obviously, our world is diversifying, and that needs to be better represented through all aspects of culture, not just through emojis. That’s what Apple is trying to do here. But this could backfire. Some may take the images the wrong way. I’ve read on my Facebook page a comment like, “What are they trying to do? Bring back blackface comedy?” But I’m convinced in this hyper uber-correct 2010s world, some people are going to get offended no?matter what. That’s the risk Apple is willing to take. Will you be using these new emojis??
Feb 24, 2015 | Entertainment
There is a movie coming out about infamous whistle blower Edward Snowden. This isn’t the Academy Award winning documentary that came out last year; this is an all-out Hollywood film with a legendary director and ensemble cast. This is Edward Snowden: The Movie.
This upcoming movie is directed by Oliver Stone. Joseph Gordon-Levitt will play Snowden, the former CIA systems administrator who told the world about the NSA spying on Americans through their computers and smartphones. In late 2013, Snowden was charged with espionage, then fled to Russia, where he’s been staying ever since. That same year, he was first runner-up to Pope Francis as Time Magazine’s Person of the Year. To this day, many debate whether Snowden is a hero or a traitor. Nicolas Cage signed on to play a US intelligence officer. This film will simply be called, ‘Snowden’. It’s currently in shooting around the world and should finish in May 2015. The film is expected to be released Christmas Day 2015. Open Door Films and Pathe Films, both independent movie houses, are backing and producing this film.
Oliver Stone is the perfect director for a movie like this. For over a quarter of a century, Stone has tacked controversial subjects like JFK, Natural Born Killers and Platoon. Joseph Gordon-Levitt has come a long way since 1990s sitcom Third Rock From The Sun. Levitt has starred in masterpieces like 500 Days of Summer, Inception, and The Dark Knight Rises. Adding Nicolas Cage to the pot and you have a great pot of gumbo brewing, and a great heap of controversy. To those who call Snowden a traitor, they’re going to be some open wounds. To those who hail Snowden as a hero, I’m sure they’re going to flock to this film. And how is the Federal government going to respond to this film? Can we expect a sudden hacking attack to delay or cancel this film, like a sudden hack attack delayed and cancelled The Interview last Christmas?
Feb 23, 2015 | Computer technology, General
The days of the server notepad is starting to become a thing of the past. Now with the technology of tablets and phones, not only can a waiter or waitress take your order with a mobile device. In some places you can place your order from the table without having to wait for anyone!
Companies like Aloha and MICROS are the major players in the restaurant point of sale (POS) market but now there are a lot of new players to game that could more cost effective than those big boys. Square is one of those players and they have a retail POS terminal and has strong foothold in the mobile POS market setting up deals with companies such as Starbucks, Whole Foods, Godiva and Uniqlo all from 2012-2014. Square isn?t the main POS but having the mobile part integrated into some major players says a lot.
Another player is an eCommerce site called Shopify which had a system launch in 2013. The new players are coming into the market and with good reason a study from Adil Consulting which is a POS consultancy, saw that 52% of small merchants now use a mobile POS for the majority of their payment processing which is a major change just a few years before.
Just to show you how powerful the mobile payment is becoming Starbucks reported that 14% of its US business was actually completed using its mobile app in 2014. Then you have Apple Pay, a payment industry guru Mike Dudas calculated close to 1% of the Wholes Foods transactions were happening on Apple Pay. Even at 1% it is amazing growth for a new technology that wasn?t even around six months ago.
So have you experienced this mobile revolution yet? Gone to Starbucks and used your phone or gone to a restaurant and ordered on an iPad or even seen your waiter or waitress put your order in? This new way to order food and pay is great and please don?t forget that Geek Choice can help with any restaurant IT needs that may come up.
Feb 23, 2015 | Computer technology, internet, youtube
Today, You Tube launched a spin-off called You Tube Kids. This app is meant to educate and entertain young children. It’s also meant to shelter them from adult oriented content found on regular You Tube.
Parents can download this child friendly app through Google Play or Apple Store. As of right now, You Tube Kids is only available in the USA. It’s simpler for kids to manage this app than it would be to manage the original You Tube, thanks to larger images, voice commands, and other tools designed for child usage and attention. You can either search videos or browse four categories: shows, music, learning, exploring. There is a heavy basis on educating the youngest of minds, with focus on early literacy, math tutorials and science tutorials. Shows and companies contributing content include Sesame Street, Reading Rainbow, National Geographic for Kids, Mother Goose Club, and Thomas the Tank Engine. You Tube Kids is designed for kids under 10 years of age. Even infants can benefits from You Tube Kids.
You Tube and Google did it again, this time making better lives for children. How many times have you got on You Tube and stumbled onto an ‘age restricted website’? Do you want young children stumbling onto that? There are even some channels and videos that aren’t age restricted I would not allow anybody under 10 to see. I think this would be a powerful safe haven from that. Look at the crisis of education in America today. Do you want yet another generation of American children to place last in every subject, except for obesity and drop outs? I think You Tube Kids can help our children get interested in learning early, as in the first 2 years of their lives. So by the time they start school, they will want to learn and do well, and that yearning for knowledge will carry on throughout their education, even through high school, college and beyond. I’d like to see more character building channels on this new app. Let’s teach kids to be kind to each other and love each other. I’m tired of reading about kids literally getting bullied to death. How do you feel about You Tube Kids?
Feb 23, 2015 | Computer Repair, Computer technology, Error, General, News, Security, Software
Computer users have been on the hunt for the most secure and stable apps and operating systems out there, and the shocking truth about which Apps and Operating Systems are actually the most stable may surprise you.
As far as operating systems go, sorry all you MAC lovers, the award for the most vulnerabilities no longer goes to Microsoft, but to Apple Mac OS X, followed by Apple iOS and then Linux kernel. The numbers to date show Mac OS X had 147 vulnerabilities – 64 being rated as high severity. Numbers also show there were 127 in iOS – 32 of those rated as high. And lastly, Linux kernel had 119 security vulnerabilities – 24 being rated as high severity.
As far as Apps go, Microsoft cannot gloat too much about being the most secure, as Internet Explorer had nearly twice as many flaws as the second most flawed app on the list ? which was Chrome. This comes as a shocking truth, as many people have viewed Chrome as the most stable and secure App. Internet explorer had 242 security flaws – 220 of those being high severity. Chrome had 124 total bugs with 86 of those rated as high.
So, as you can see users need to be aware, and choose carefully when installing Apps and Operating Systems on their computers. There are always going to be bugs out there, because nothing out there will ever be ?perfect?, but if you run into some trouble with your computer, know Geek Choice is always there to help. Some good news is that that the percentage of vulnerabilities rated as ?high severity? dropped to 24% in 2014. So at least there is some hope going forward!
