Sep 9, 2014 | Computer technology, Entertainment
Today is the big day for Apple. It could even be make or break for them. Today is their long awaited press conference, where they’re expected to reveal long awaited new products. But the products aren’t the only things that determine whether these things go great or go bust.
You see, these conferences have a lot to do with the speakers themselves and the format. Since 2007, there has been at least 27 such events. They average about an hour and a half, and they have slide demos, live presentations, and videos explaining the manufacturing process. The keynote speaker is usually the Apple CEO. In fact, When Steve Jobs was alive and well, he dominated most of the conferences, only inviting high ranking partners to add their insight. Eventually, he gave such officials more time behind the mic. So is current CEO Tim Cook. He gives others so much time Cook only takes 20 minutes, less than a fourth of the conference, talking.
Other verbal weapons Apple use are humor and confidence. During it’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June 2014, 50 outburst of laughter were recorded. That’s more outbursts than a sitcom taped before a live audience. Nobody is spared. They often make fun of rivals Google, Microsoft, and even their own people. History shows they’re not above playing a prank either. But if you listen closely, there’s a lot of swagger in these conferences. Today, listen to phrases like, “Only Apple…”. That phrase tells the consumer they are the only one that can deliver these goods; don’t even think about seeing our competitors. Whether that’s true or not, well…
It’s a very Smart move on Cook’s part to talk less and let other people talk more. You keep people more engaged and keep their interest up that way. It always helps to lure them in with humor. I applaud them for that part. But whatever they do, they better make sure the product works and delivers. What good is putting on a great show when the product is a major failure?
Sep 8, 2014 | internet
For around five years now, Twitter has helped lead the world in social media. It’s connected us with celebrities and other people who we wouldn’t even reach otherwise. But why stop there?
Twitter is announcing it’s first commercial product. They’ve brought in the big timers. Former Ticketmaster CEO Nathan Hubbard will lead this team. All summer long, ‘buy now’ buttons have been seen all over Twitter. Well, by a few people have anyway. Is this why? Twitter talked about this button in a blog today. You can believe the buy now button will be seen by more and more Twitter users over time. That’s right: If this thing is successful, you can literally buy from your Twitter account, from the ‘buy now’ button to the payment processing to the shipping. It will all be as easy as Ebay. They’re partnership roster is increasing in a hurry. This roster includes online shopping company Fancy, digital company Gumroad, and payment company Stripe. It’s got backing from celebs like Eminem, nonprofits like Donors Choose and retailers like Home Depot. Gumroad has been convincing Twitter to start this commercial product service for over a year. They’re not the only ones. Facebook is also developing a commercial product system.
Let’s see how this goes. It sounds like the right things are being done and the right connections are being made. We don’t have a date yet. We don’t even know if this is going to work. Let’s face it, Ebay and others could you some competition. But what will these commercial products be? Will they be electronics, or clothes, or food, or travel/vacation, or household products? Another question: Will people use Twitter as a shopping network? Or will people just hold on to Twitter as a social network? Will other social media networks even want to take this endeavor?
Sep 8, 2014 | Entertainment
Netflix, the friendly folks that brought you Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, and more movies than you can ever watch,? may be bringing you short videos for those little boring moments of every day life, light waiting in line or wating for a bus.
Netflix is considering adding two to five minute short video clips to add to it’s growing arsenal and further appease it’s growing fan base. They’re not looking for new content for these mini-videos. We don’t want to compete with You Tube, do we? But Netflix is more likely to take video pieces from movies, stand-up comic shows, and it’s original programming. They’re testing this on their mobile app called, ‘Got Five Minutes?’.? So far, according to Netflix design manager Dantley Davis, this experiment is getting very positive results. While the majority of Netflix is consumed in homes on big screen TV, mobile app use is rising fast. Stats show Netflix’s mobile app sessions is less than 10 minutes a pop 87% at the time. As of now, the entertainment giant don’t have any content that short.
Now yes, one could keep pausing movies and replay them when you get home. For example, you’re watching Orange is the New Black in line at the grocery store until it’s your turn. You could come back to it when you get home. But there’s something really neat about watching five to ten minute clips or your favorite movies or comedians while dallying around on your smartphone. But Netflix has the burden of convincing the American and global consumers of that. I would suggest show five minute nuggets of favorite movies or original programming, like they do in the movies right before the feature presentation. That way, you get the hook in the jaw, making them want more. Should Netflix have short videos?
Sep 6, 2014 | Computer technology, Software
Apple seems to be on the move lately. Not only are they expected to announce their iPhone 6 and/or iWatch (don’t hold me to that; that’s just what I’m hearing), but their coming up with a new mobile payment system. Two major shopping chains have linked up with them.
Pharmacy store kings CVS and Walgreens are expected to accept the iPhone payment system. Keep in mind there are over 15,000 of these stores. Keep in mind how often people go there not only for prescriptions, but for groceries, cosmetics, magazines, snacks, toiletries, household items. Many of it’s customers come by several times a week, especially if it’s in their neighborhoods. Walgreens and CVS aren’t talking (I think I know why). But soon, iPhone users can tap this app at checkout terminals using an NFC system. No, that’s not the National Football Conference. I’m talking about near field communication, technology allowing payment transfers form your phone to a store’s check out counter. This technology could even include fingerprint technology for added security.
So this is a great thing, right? Three major companies coming together to make life a little easier, right? Not so fast. So far, not too many Americans have embraced NFC technology. Look at what a flop Google Wallet is turning into. And there’s the celebrity hacking story that’s keeping people further on edge when it comes it this kind of technology. Like I said before, I don’t know what’s going to be said on September 9. This merger of sorts may or may not even be brought up. Maybe they’re talking about this technical opportunity to get people’s mind off the recent scandal. One must admit, this is an opportune time to do so.? So Apple, CVS and Walgreens better make a good, compelling story to the American consumers if they want this experiment to work. Will it?
Sep 5, 2014 | General, networking
You’ve invented a new product that has lots of potential. You know social media is a powerful force in advertising. So on what social media stage do you launch your product?
According to a study done by AOL Platforms, You Tube is the clear choice. It especially helps in introducing new products and demonstrating those products to win over customers. They studied over 500 million mouse cliques and 15 million social media conversations in Q1 2014. They studied which social media sites most affected online sales and when the purchasing power influences the customer. You Tube leads in both categories. Some believe You Tube being owned by search engine king Google is critical to this success. They also credit You Tube’s descriptive content.
This model uses three stages of social media advertising: purchasing decision, re-targeting, and research. The first stage, they’re introduced to a product for a decision. In the second stage, they see advertising for the same product over and over, driving it in the consumer’s head in hopes the customer gives in and purchases The third stage, the customers will research the product themselves, even compare and contrast rival companies before the purchase. Then the purchase is made. You Tube leads in all these categories. Google and Facebook came in second and Twitter came in last.
With Google, you can search and compare products, which is great for step three. With Facebook, every time you log in, you’re often bombarded with the same products and advertisements over and over. They’re good with the second stage. You Tube carries out all three stages beautifully. Their commercials introduce the product. These same commercials bombard you over and over again until you eventually cry uncle. You can use You Tube video to research, critique, compare and contrast products before making an informed decision whether to purchase. So again I ask, what social media stage do you launch your product?
Sep 4, 2014 | Computer technology
It’s almost here. Apple’s big day, September 9, 2014, is almost here. The rumor mill keeps on churning. It’s believed a new iPhone and a new iWatch will be revealed. But there seems to be a lot of trash talking already. Well, not a lot. But one phrase from one man is getting lots of attention.
According to Jony Ive, a top level Apple designer, “Switzerland is in trouble.” What does Switzerland have to do with Apple and this big announcement? Apparently, quite a bit. Apple teamed up with Swiss-based Swatch to make their revolutionary wrist device. They’re now fighting each other over trademark issues.? They’re some reports saying Ive used more colorful words, like ‘Switzerland is screwed’. From what I’ve seen, the iWatch is very easy on the eyes, just like most Swiss watches are. But unlike those expensive watches in Zurich and Geneva, Apple watches are expected to have a heavily based physical fitness presence. It’s expected to have a heart rate monitor, blood pressure measuring, calorie counter, hydration levels, and more available health resources through an app called Healthbook. I’m expecting to hear more about that on the 9th. They’ve even hired top medical experts and teamed up with mega corporations like Nike to bring this about.
I don’t whether Ive was calling out Swatch for their differences or challenging the Swiss watch industry altogether. But if I could say one thing to Swatch, it would be to put your pride aside. You’re on the verge on helping do something that’s potentially historic. Other nations have embraced the iWatch trademark. Why can’t Switzerland? Then there’s possible competition with Swiss watch companies. In this case, I really hope Apple is on their A-game. It would really be a shame if Apple hyped this all up and when consumers get the iWatch, it’s a total disaster. What’s the real meaning of the phrase, “Switzerland is in trouble?”
Sep 3, 2014 | Computer technology
Did you know there is an app that tells you which political party your favorite grocery products support? I wish I were joking. I wish this was a B movie plot. But unfortunately, it’s real life.
Yes there is an app called Buy Partisan. All one has to do is scan your favorite food or toiletry with this app. The app will tell you which political party the brand supports. For example, General Mills, the cereal company that gives us Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Wheaties and Lucky Charms gave 63.5 percent of it’s political funding to the Republican party and 24 percent to Democrats. And you can find that out with just one scan of this app. Then there’s Seventh Generation, the maker of environmentally conscious? household products from laundry detergent to diapers. That company gives 67% of it’s political funding to the Democrats. Not only that, their CEO gives 100% of political funding to the Democratic Party. Georgia Pacific’s Quilted Northern toilet paper sends 95% of it’s support to Republicans.
You can thank Matt Colbert for creating this app. And he knows not everyone will love it. But I regret to tell you many people are. Buy Partisan has only been out a few weeks, but it’s attracted over 100,000 users and is on iTunes Top 20 App list. The information is provided by a non-profit group called Sunlight Foundation. Now some people are so politically involved that they’ll really going to not buy certain things because of political parties. That’s exactly what I’m afraid of. Isn’t the political world divided enough? Do we really need technology to divide it some more? I can see multitudes of people snapping their smartphone in grocery aisles not because of price, but because of political party. It’s getting so bad people are changing their eating habits not because of health or financial reasons, but simply because they want to preserve some ‘conservative’ or ‘liberal’ image. I don’t get it.? Couldn’t apps be used to…I don’t know…bring Americans together?
Sep 2, 2014 | Computer technology, Entertainment, internet, Security, Software
Maybe you’ve been vacationing in a very remote place over the weekend. If so, the technology and celebrity world came together under some of the worst possible circumstances.
Over the weekend, revealing pictures of A-List celebrities like movie star Jennifer Lawrence were released into the Internet by a computer hacker. It’s reported these celebrities’ iCloud accounts were hacked into and their intimate pictures are stolen. The iCloud is supposed to help Apple product users move data between their devices. Ms. Lawrence reported the cyber attack to authorities as soon as she got wind of it. Now the FBI is involved, only claiming they know about the incident and are seeking the hackers behind this incident.
We’re only within a week Apple’s big announcement. Now, that announcement could be in jeopardy. They may have to turn their excitement about a new iPhone or iWatch into cleaning up this iCloud hacking mess. Looks like Tim Cook and company are going to have to keep the champagne on ice a little while longer. And see what happens when you let a cloud keep floating without proper security protection? Jennifer Lawrence herself tweeted a complaint about it’s complications months before this happened. What lesson can Apple learn from this to keep not only celebrities, but the general public at large safe?
And don’t even get me started on the perverts…ahem…hackers who perpetrated this crime. And that’s exactly what this is, a crime. What these hackers are doing aren’t cool, sexy or revolutionary. It’s just plain wrong and sick. Some will say, “You shouldn’t be putting that online.” Let’s not blame the victims here. The hackers shouldn’t be violating people’s privacy. So if anyone whose reading this getting some sinister ideas, think twice. One guy who thought it was fun to hack people’s accounts and put their risque photos online is now serving ten years in prison. So what can we do to keep ourselves safe?
Sep 2, 2014 | Backup, Computer Repair, General
Labor Day is a fun holiday for most people. You get a long weekend, spend time with your family, BBQ’s, you name it. It also marks the end of the summer for most people. Which means back to school for students and teachers. And on days like today, the end of vacation season and back to the grind for business people like lawyers and major corporations. Some of you are starting off your collegiate career today, and others are saying the final goodbye to their kids as they start their journey in life on their own.
With this comes issues in life, you write that first term paper, ya know the one that will set the tone for your entire academic career, and BOOM your drunk roommate spills his beer on your laptop. The world is ending, or is it? We here at Geek Choice can help you. First thing you want to do is make sure the machine is completely off and unplugged. Then call us up to go over your options. If you can wait a few days, then it is best to do so, leave your PC off and upside down for a few days so it can dry out, before we come out to assess the damage and clean it out. If your needs are more pressing, we can come out right away and extract the hard drive and attempt to do data recovery for you. As well as set you up with a data backup solution so you never have to worry again.
For you parents who just let your little genius go off to school, you all know he/she was your computer repairman. There for you whenever you clicked on something you shouldn’t have. Or whenever you downloaded your 5th toolbar, they fixed you up. Now who do you call in a pinch? Geek Choice 24/7 onsite computer repair service is here for you. Even though we can’t replace the hugs of your son/daughter, you don’t have to cook for us or do our laundry, so it all evens out in the end.
So, although Labor Day is now over, and it is back to business, know that someone is here for you when you have problems. Think you need Geek to help you? Click on the button below or give us a call at 617-262-2626 or feel free to visit us at our Beacon Hill office in Boston, MA
Aug 28, 2014 | Computer Repair, Law Blog
A federal judge has determined that an employee who failed to return her laptop after taking a job with a competitor, and then wiped the data on her laptop clean, can not be sued under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act.
The former employer who was the plaintiff ?maintained that the laptop was considered a ?protected? computer under the CFAA because the former employee had been using it in interstate commerce before she left. Therefore, the employer argued, her unauthorized use violated the CFAA.
But U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani disagreed.
?The Act requires ? that a computer, to be protected, ?is used in? interstate commerce,? Talwani wrote, granting the employee?s motion to dismiss. ?And at the time of her unauthorized use of the [l]aptop, the [l]aptop was not being used in interstate commerce. ? [T]he fact that the [l]aptop was formerly used in interstate commerce does not make the later deletion of files ? a crime that is ?interstate? in nature. Instead, such actions are appropriately addressed under state law.?
The seven-page decision is?Pine Environmental Services, LLC v. Carson, et al., Lawyers Weekly No. 02-417-14.?The full text of the ruling can be found by clicking here.
Being that we are a computer repair and service company, who services law firms and their clients, ?I would like to educate everyone about what the?Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) is. ?The?Computer Fraud and Abuse Act?(CFAA)?was enacted by Congress in 1986 as an amendment to existing computer fraud law (18 U.S.C.???1030), which had been included in the?Comprehensive Crime Control Act of 1984. It was written to clarify and increase the scope of the previous version of?18 U.S.C.???1030?while, in theory, limiting federal jurisdiction to cases “with a compelling federal interest-i.e., where computers of the federal government or certain financial institutions are involved or where the crime itself is interstate in nature.” (see “Protected Computer”, below). In addition to clarifying a number of the provisions in the original section 1030, the CFAA also criminalized additional computer-related acts. Provisions addressed the distribution of malicious code and denial of service attacks. Congress also included in the CFAA a provision criminalizing trafficking in passwords and similar items.
So if you are in a similar situation, and you need to make sure you are protected, remember, we here at Geek Choice can properly wipe and old work computer so that you are not violating any laws covered by the CFAA. This employee did it right and was protected and we can help you do it right too!
