Oct 12, 2018 | Computer technology
So what if you could jump into a photo? It kind of reminds me of the 1980s A-Ha’s “Take On Me” video. This new photo technology won’t let you do that, but it could be getting close. Facebook, AI, and 3D photos: Oh my!
So Facebook now rolls out 3D photos for you. This piece of IT service should add realism to your photos. In fact, it’s so real you can feel like you can almost jump in them. All one does is ‘3D Photos’ in status update, then select a portrait made photo. Then, users from their regular News Feed, or the VR/Oculus? features can tap it to see their in-depth photo. This photo option should be available a few weeks from now. Also, the combo of Facebook, AI , and 3D photos is available to all Facebook users.
Plus, this is just a part of Facebook’s new creations to stay fresh. For instance, a lot of people are using the Stories feature now. Instead of writing a post to express themselves, many a Facebook user tell ‘Stories’ through a series of photos. Then there is Facebook Live. Many a Facebook friends use videos to post their story instead of words. Some are good, some are really powerful. Other new feature include, GIF’s and 360 photos are doing well, too.
So how will the combination of Facebook, AI, and 3D photos do? Well, many people won’t know anytime soon. Because in order to get 3D photos, you must have either an iPhone 7, 8, X or XS. I know a lot of people have those devices. But a lot more don’t have them, and don’t plan on getting them. Many in PC repairs don’t plan on getting them.? Of course, if you do have these, then the rest of the service is free of charge. But doesn’t other features Facebook have already enhance your experience? Would you use Facebook 3D Photos?
Oct 11, 2018 | Smartphone
So many of us know Pocket as the ‘article app. In fact, some of us in computer repair call it ‘the media app’. That’s because it gives and manages your Internet news articles. It’s now growing up because Pocket’s app reads for you.
So you find an article. But you don’t have time to read it right now and save it in Pocket to read later. But now, Pocket’s app reads for you. However, you have to get Pocket’s latest app, the Pocket 7.0. With this, you can listen to your favorite articles, news, and other audio things without even looking at your smartphone. How does this work?
All you have to do is tap ‘Listen’. Then, listen to spoken versions of your articles. Are you tired of voice technology sounding like robots? Then Pocket 7.0 will accommodate you. Because it add what they call ‘a more human voice’. This way, it actually feels like a human being, not a computer, is reading you your articles. The Pocket 7.0 also includes less clutter on your view. It also has new fonts and texts and lights, so you can read in the dark. The Pocket 7.0 is available on Android and Apple devices. You can also get it on your desktop.
I think this would be a good app for Pocket users. But I do have a few quite a few questions. What will this human voice sound like? Or will there be different versions of voices for people to choose from? With the way IT support is going, they can do that now. Imagine driving in your car listening to your favorite articles in 7.0 instead of looking at them. You learn a lot faster, and of course, it’s never safe to drive and look at your device. Unfortunately, some people still have to learn that the hard way. Will you be getting the Pocket 7.0 app?
Oct 9, 2018 | Smartphone
So the Apple vs Android/Google rivalry is probably the most famous business rivalry since Pepsi vs Coke. However, from our computer repair experience, some people take that a little too seriously. But one You Tube channel shows that. In fact, this You Tube channel exploits smartphone rivalry.
The You Tuber’s name is Jonathan Morrison. First, he took selfies with what he said was a Google Pixel 2. Then, he revealed the lie. He really took the pictures with an Apple iPhone XS. Morrison is a popular You Tube tech/IT service reviewer with over 2.5 million subscribers. But he used his platform to teach a lesson: Don’t give into the smartphone loyalty hype.
Some people call what he did trolling his own audience. But Morrison made a statement that explains his actions. “Don’t let a preconceived notion or headline skew your judgment…” he said. He said this because when he said his Google took the pictures, Google/Droid fans rejoiced. Then you had Apple apps booing and hissing. This is the point he’s trying to prove. This isn’t the first time he’s been through this. It probably won’t be his last either. Because for eight years, Morrison played peacemaker of sorts between Android fans and Apple fans. Oh, there are also the Samsung fans, the Boost Mobile fans, etc, but we’re focusing on Apple and Android/Google.
I’ll give you my personal experience. My first smartphone was an Apple. But years later, an incident happened. Then I needed a battery. The battery was so expensive that I switched to an Android phone. I’ve been an Android customer ever since. But that’s just me. I’m sure there are people who have powerful testimonies as Apple fans. I’m kind of glad this You Tube channel exploits smartphone rivalry. Because we take this rivalry even more seriously even than the Pepsi vs Coke rivalry ever did. Are you still on anybody’s side?
Oct 8, 2018 | Computer technology, News
So, how many of you know about the ‘spy chip’? It’s a chip that can read and compromise data on motherboards all over the world. But that’s just the beginning of it. It’s US government and corporations vs spy chip.
So last week, a scathing report came out of Bloomberg. This magazine claims China built these spy chips on motherboards. Also, SuperMicro owns and builds these motherboards, so they share some blame as well. However, the allegations don’t stop there. Because this article accuses Amazon and Apple of using this kind of equipment in their super data centers. Then, this would let China spy on these mega IT support and IT service?companies, and their many, many customers. Too many to count, in fact. Bloomberg say that they used over a dozen sources to confirm this.
But these companies aren’t letting their name get dragged around.? Because Apple, Amazon and SuperMicro released statements on their respective websites. They all deny it. In fact, even Homeland Security is getting in the mix. They’re siding with the three companies. They say they have no reason to doubt these three companies are telling the truth when they deny this spy chip. If anything, they doubt Bloomberg’s articles.
Lets look at this US government and corporations vs spy chip thing. Do you realize how rare it is for Homeland Security to issue a statement like this? Yes, they fight cyber terrorism and other threats. But rarely do they side with corporations over journalists. However, neither side is going to back down. This really is a case of they said vs they said. Then add on the China factor. First, you have this tariff fight. Then, you have Vice-President Pence calling out China’s intense censorship laws, and Pence asking Google to stop enabling this kind of censorship. Do you think there is more to this story?
Oct 5, 2018 | Computer technology, News
So most people know about the trade tariff war between President Trump and China. But now, Vice-President Mike Pence gets involved. Pence asks Google and China to break up.
He said this to the Hudson Institute yesterday. Yes, the trade conflict is a factor. However, Pence talked about China’s oppressive censorship issues, especially online. Google plans on making a mobile Google just for China. Also, they’re even working with China on this. That doesn’t sit well with Pence. Because Pence openly criticized China about? their Internet restrictions. But he didn’t stop there.
In his speech, he named names. He praised other companies for skipping over the Chinese market and, “abetting Beijing’s oppression”. Then he called on other major corporations to do the same. That’s when he literally called out Google. Specifically, Pence asks Google to end anymore development of the Dragonfly app. Because the Vice-President worries will strengthen China’s Communist Party’s already strict censorship. His concerns also include privacy rights of Chinese citizens. If you don’t know what Dragonfly does, it’s their version of the search engine that bans Twitter and Facebook. But why would any engine want to ban Twitter and Facebook? They’re two of the most popular websites in the globe.
That’s because Twitter and Facebook are banned in China. But of course, many in that nation find a way to get it anyway. To that, I say good for them. China also blocks historic tragedies like the?Tiananmen Square massacre (I wonder why). I must say. On the surface, these motives look good. IT support and IT services like social media should be open and free by all governments. I wouldn’t want any company to help anybody nation who is pushing censorship. So I like the message. But what worries me here is motive. Does Pence really care about censorship in China? Or is this a way to fight the trade war on China?
Oct 4, 2018 | News
So yesterday evening, my social media page went crazy. But it wasn’t over the baseball playoffs or the Brett Kavanaugh scandal. Because this was more like: Did you get that presidential alert yesterday?
At around 2:13 EST yesterday, a ‘Presidential Alert’ went out to millions of smartphones across the USA. The agency FEMA did the test. Also, keep in mind this was just a test. It’s part of the WEA (Wireless Emergency Alerts) system. The WEA is a system that goes to all wireless devices, kind of like the EAS does with radio and TV. Why do they do this? They say it’s in case of an emergency, like natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and even nuclear war.
But this isn’t the first time time alerts went out on cell phones. Because as early as 2006, George W. Bush’s administration came out with WEA system. The goal was to alert people on their cellphones (we didn’t have smartphones until late 2007) on a local level. The alerts included things like weather watches/warnings, and Amber alerts for missing children. But this is different. This time, the White House sent alerts to smartphones all across America. Even our clients in our computer repair shops caught that. In fact, people from here to my Facebook post say, “How did they get my number?”.
So for those who ask that, let’s not forget. It’s not 1987 anymore. It’s 2018. Our IT support and computer information are so intertwined. If they want to alert you, find you, or call you, then they can and will. This isn’t conspiracy theory. This is truth. Some people didn’t get the alert. For instance, I didn’t get the alert. Then again, I have a prepaid phone. So maybe that had something to do with it. But the majority of the people I talked with aren’t happy with this alert. Many say it seems more like an intrusion than a safety practice. Did you get that presidential alert yesterday?
Oct 3, 2018 | General
So for years, many people from fast food to retail, protest a $15 minimum wage. So far, they made little headway. In fact, some found their jobs replaced by robots and AI technology. But it sounds like one company hears this protest and is doing something about it. Amazon increases minimum wage.
This includes all Amazon employees, including those from Whole Foods. This also includes the 100,000 seasonal employees that will come. In fact, the holiday shopping season is almost upon us (I know it comes sooner, but that’s another subject). Obviously, this wage increase cover the 250,000 full time Amazon employees as well. This new rule will start on November 1, 2018.
It’s already winning praise outside the IT service and support community. Senator Bernie Sanders urges other CEO’s to follow Jeff Bezos’ example. Then there is Dave Clark, the VP of Amazon. He took a picture, then tweeted it. That picture is of him announcing the wage increase to happy employees. Bezos wants people to know that other benefits will not change. Bezos himself also encouraged other CEO’s to follow his lead. Also, Bezos and other Amazon leaders promise to lobby for a federal minimum wage increase. They say $7.25 is too low. However, they didn’t say how much the national minimum wage should be.
Not too long ago, a customer came in our computer service shop. An Amazon employee, she complained about how her wage was low, despite Amazon being an almost trillion dollar company. I think of hard working Americans like her when I read Amazon increases minimum wage. But keep this in mind. Amazon is a trillion dollar company. They can afford to give their 250,000 employees minimum wage! Some companies can’t. In fact, some retail corporations are hanging by a thread as it is. If you can afford to pay your people $15 minimum, then do it. But some can’t. Also, the cynic in me asks: Will there be any layoffs or other repercussions before they increase their minimum wage?
Oct 2, 2018 | Computer technology
So over the last several years, we read about robots taking over certain job markets. For example, I saw one where a robot made pizza. But now, robots do your construction jobs.
They call this the HRP-5P. It’s funny they didn’t give it a proper name. A company in Japan they call Japan’s Advanced Industrial Science and Technology Institute. In this video, the robot installs drywall. First, it picks up the drywall. Then, it lines up the drywall with the wall’s size and shape. It goes on to drive the nails into the wall and stabilizing the drywall. It only installed one piece of drywall. But the video lasts 35 seconds. Then, imagine what HRP-5P can do in minutes, or hours or even a day.
The creators actually want to send robots like HRP-5 to construction sites all over Japan. Furthermore, they say such robots will be necessary in the near future. They may be already necessary, or so they want us to think. The creators, and their supporters, blame a low birth rate and aging population for this. Somone…or something…needs to fill the gap.? They also worry about workers carrying large pieces of equipment, and say robots are better off doing this. Are these legit reasons or are these excuses?
Meanwhile, here in America, there are millions of contractors and tens of millions of construction workers. Obviously, they use machines to lift heavy equipment; the even use IT support? for other tasks. But let’s dig deeper. They’re already replacing humans with robots in other industries from food service to nursing. Here is where it hits home for us. There is even talk of using robots for computer repair. This means millions of techs will be out of work. This also means millions of construction laborers will be out of work if robots do your construction jobs. Now are you concerned?
Oct 1, 2018 | News, Security
So a few days ago, Facebook faced yet another crisis. In fact, this is even bigger than the Cambridge Analytica scandal they dealt with for months. Let’s talk about Facebook’s massive security breach.
So late last week, Facebook’s massive security breach happened. This breach impacted over 50 million Facebook users. That has to be a record. But wait…there’s more. This attack lets hackers take any piece of information they wanted. This means everything you posted. This also means your profile. Keep in mind what’s in your profile: names, addresses, phone numbers, emails, even info of family and your past. The one good thing is they don’t think this breach can get to your private messages.
However, there is more good news. Facebook leaders said they fixed the bugs that let this security breach happened. But in order to do that, they had to log out of over 90 million user accounts. But wait…I thought this breached impacted only 50 million users (I can’t believe I say only 50 million users). However, it turns out that 40 million more users may have been affected. You do the math. The FBI is now taking action. Although there are some suspects from Taiwan, but there’s not enough evidence yet. In fact, both Facebook and the Feds say they may never know who is behind Facebook’s massive security breach.
Here is the scary thing. I’m watching news shows address this. Even IT support experts say, “There’s nothing you can do”. Isn’t that something? We usually say stuff like ‘change your password’ or set up a verification system. But in this case, they can’t even say that. Because these hackers didn’t see, and didn’t even need to see your password. In all my 13 years in computer repair, this is the first time I ever heard an expert say, “There’s nothing you can do”! Wow! Could this be the future of the very systems we depend on for mere survival?
Sep 28, 2018 | Computer technology
So what if you ran a major IT service corporation? Then, what if a group of people ran a theft ring, in your own hometown? That’s what happened to Apple. Police bust an Apple theft ring in Silicon Valley.
Local and state police arrested many who stole from Apple stores in Oakland and San Luis Obispo. The law accuses them of stealing over a million dollars worth of Apple merchandise. So according to authorities, they came in wearing baggy clothes in hoodies. Then,? swiped away the display items, stuck them in their pockets and baggy clothes, and walked out of there casually. It was simple as that.
It wasn’t just in these two cities. Because this theft ring operated in 19 California counties. So far, police arrested only seven people. They’re looking for at least nine more. I say ‘only’ and ‘at least’ because I think it takes way more than 16 people to pull of jobs like this. We’re talking millions of dollars worth of Apple goods here. California Attorney General Xavier Becarra addressed the case. As we expect, he assured they would be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. However, Becarra addressed another concern: copycat criminals.
So come to think of it, I share Attorney General Becarra’s concern. I think most of know that Apple products don’t come cheap nowadays. Furthermore, some items, like these new batch of phones, are really popular. Look at how easy it was for them to pull this off.? Then add to the fact that not everybody is enjoying this…ahem…’economic boom’ the news and stock market hypes up.? All these things just breed temptation. But I tell you what. Police bust an Apple theft ring in Silicon Valley. That’s what. If you do this, then they will find you. Then you will be looking at years in prison. Believe me, Apple has the backing to make it happen. So my advice to you is…don’t even try it!
