Jun 20, 2013 | Computer technology, News
Recently Microsoft’s Xbox One, yet to be released,?has come under fire. One issue?has been the 24-hour check for offline?games to work. Also, while accounts can be used for other consoles, a once an hour Internet check?was required for that to happen.
Now, they’re calling off that 24-four hour check. A representative stated, ?”After a one-time system set-up with a new Xbox One, you can play any disc-based game without ever connecting online again.” They’re changing their used game policy; they’re now no limits when it comes to using and sharing used games. There were even issues with users buying discs. Now, due to restrictions being lifted, consumers will have no problem playing a disc on any Xbox One console. What changed their tune? The first thing is customer outrage. The people spoke up, forcing Microsoft to do something. Competition played a huge role. They know rival Playstation 4 is coming out, and they called out Xbox one on these issues, also forcing Xbox One to change.
The chains are being lifted. However, I’m still hearing rumors that Xbox can record you playing the game by sound and sight. I’m also hearing rumors this data can be stored for years. So yes, other restrictions has been lifted, thanks to alert and vocal consumers like you. Plus, competition works! That’s why it scares me when I read about all these buyouts and takeovers. What if Xbox one was the only video game system around? Then they’ll be able to do what they want and charge what they want. Why we don’t know what the cost will be, I’m sure Play Station will make it very competitive. But we can’t just go back to business as usual. We as consumers must stay on top of Microsoft about issues of privacy and decency, if they want our dollars. That’s why I’m hoping these rumors about Xbox One spying on it’s own customers and storing data are just rumors. Have these revelations warmed you toward Xbox One?
Jun 19, 2013 | internet, Wireless
Ever hear of Fab? It’s a retail store site where you can get lots of alternative stuff. I get a lot of artwork, like this cool bull’s head (don’t worry animal lovers, it’s just a piece of art, not a real bull) off Fab. I even got an old school record player there. You can even get food and clothes from Fab. It turns out Fab is getting something too, and I’m not talking business from the consumer.
Fab announced it raised an additional $150 million, bringing investments?over $300 million. Even before these investments, Fab was worth over a billion dollars. And the Fab spokesperson expects more investments to come. Who is making the investment? One player is Tencent, China’s largest Internet portal. Tencent owns online messaging, gaming outlets, and a whole hosts of other Internet services. ?As of January 2013, Tencent has around 800 million users. Another cast member is the Japanese trading company Itochu. Many car companies and the food company Dole have their hand in Itochu. Andreessen Horowitz and Atomico are also involved. An obvious reason Tencent will play as a great investor is because it will open door to reach Chinese consumers. Fab CEO Jason Goldberg says it will help bring customers around the world.
But is this too much? I agree, any business needs investors in order to survive, much less thrive. Many believe Fab is growing too fast and raising too much money. But I always thought investors would reserve this kind of help if businesses were in trouble. According to Fab’s own website, in it’s 2-year existence, it has more than 11 million in 26 countries, grew 5 times over in 2012, and has won many an award. Does this sound like a business in trouble? It doesn’t to me. Then why does Fab need to raise all this money in a short time? Goldberg says it’s for improvements and expansions. But can’t he use his own capitol for that? By giving a successful company all this money, what about those companies that are struggling? Do we just let them die a slow death?? That’s my concern. But what’s yours? Do you give a successful young company more money for better success, or should we give it to a small business that just needs that extra financial push?
Jun 18, 2013 | Computer technology, Wireless
Have you ever used the Apple app Fifty Three? I’ve used it on several occasions to improve my woeful drawing skills an do other creative things? With this new money raised, we may be able to do a lot of other things.
Due to venture capitalists like Andreessen Horowitz, Jack Dorsey and Chris Dixon, this paper drawing app has raised approximately $15 million dollars. With this money, Fifty Three hopes to expand, build new apps and get new hardware. Fifty Three has been used as a powerful business tool. Since it’s beginning, the app has been responsible for over 80 million projects. It’s already won Apple App of the Year award. It’s also expected this funding will help social collaboration to create new projects and better existing ones. Also, this funding will help hire more engineers in their headquarters in New York and Seattle.
I’ve used the Fifty Three app for fun and self-improvement purposes, but it’s becoming a powerful tool in the business world. They said they don’t even need this money, and it sounds like they don’t. So I like this innovation, and I’m glad this money is being used to make a good thing better. But shouldn’t they be spending that money on apps that need more help to survive? Or am I being crazy?
Jun 17, 2013 | Computer technology, internet
Instagram is the social media app where photos can be shared. Effective June 20, they will be known for something else. It’s speculated that on this day Facebook will reveal people can now make and share videos through Instagram.
But experts and reporters are skeptical. This event has been so guarded from leaking it the date could be a rouge. Last month, a story broke saying this Vine?style?video technology?was in testing phase. Instagram has over 100 million users. The Vine app allows users to take six second videos with their?Apple or Droid device and share it on their network. Since early May, Vine’s links and popularity has almost doubled.
So I say to Facebook and Instagram: it’s about time you take this next step. Plus, videos through Instagram are expected to be 10 seconds long, which would be another plus. While links to Vine are skyrocketing, likes to ‘gram are steady at best if not stagnant.?In October 2012, Facebook?bought Instagram for over $700 million?dollars. So now they’re just doing something with it? I know it takes time to test certain things, but for it to take this long raises questions. Yes, FB usage has increased since last October, but what’s there to show for it? I hope Instagram can make this happen. Will you be using them to make and share your 10 second video?
Jun 16, 2013 | News, Security
So far in 2013, we’ve seen more than our fair share of cyber attacks. In May, eight were charged in heisting?over $40 million dollars from? banks?worldwide. That same month, a report came out about Islamic extremist hacking American banks and government entities.?Now, U.S. officials are talking of? steps of action.
They’re calling for banks to prepare and arm themselves against future cyber attacks. No bank big or small is immune. In the last several years, J.P. Morgan, Bank of America, and Capitol One have all been hit. In 2011, the SEC required banks to tell investors when their computers were hacked. There’s a ‘war game’ being played with banks and Homeland Security, a ‘what if” factor, and what’s to be done in worse case scenario. The?U.S. Treasury Department are collaborating with?the banking industry ?for better government responses in case of an emergency.
These are all great steps, but what about prevention? Not too many people have an answer to prevent this stuff before it happen. These aren’t just people who take money, but we’re talking about people who can and will destroy whole countries. There was an episode of Iranian hackers who weren’t just interested in getting money, but in total destruction. It’s scary of how destructive a push of a button can be today. Shouldn’t prevention be the key topic here?
Jun 15, 2013 | News, Security
In the past couple weeks, acronyms like PRISM, NSA and FISA have become household names, for not so good reasons. News of the US Government ordering companies from Verizon to Microsoft to gather data on us, whether we did anything wrong or not, has dominated conversation. Facebook and Microsoft weigh in.
Facebook and Microsoft become the first two companies to tell the public just how many people they were to get data on, due to orders from the National Security Advisor. Facebook’s count was 18,000. Microsoft’s count was 31,000. Keep in mind this less than one tenth of a percent of Americans that use these online services regularly. They did this to put consumer minds at ease and put to rest PRISM rumors and conspiracy theories. While Google CEO Larry Page blatantly denies spying.
I think Facebook and Microsoft did the right thing. First off, they came out and admitted their role in the NSA info gathering. Then they gave concrete numbers and other hard facts. Instead of denial, they went into great detail. While these numbers look big, keep the context in mind: billions use Facebook and Microsoft. I applaud Facebook and Microsoft for this move.?I just hope they’re telling the truth. Has this confession put your trust back in online corporations?
Jun 14, 2013 | Entertainment
We’ve looked at movies, now let’s look at some top TV shows techies love so far this century.
10. Life On Mars: Though it only lasted one season, this was pretty compelling. A cop gets run over in 2007, wakes up in 1973, and we don’t know how he got there. Then we find out it was a tech/scientific experiment gone haywire, and they’re really in 2035 Mars.
9. Futurama: This cartoon features a young geek?falling in a cryogenic pod and ends?up in the 31st century.?And there’s the hot one-eyed captain. But?nothing speaks tech like?a drunk, obnoxious robot.
8. Chuck: Chuck is a computer geek and slacker who becomes a spy who fights terrorists and other adventures. During?Chuck’s five year run, his life as a spy and computer repair man gets more and more intertwined.
7. Stargate SG1: A military?squad is sent outer space to fight alien threats to the US. Not exactly a revolutionary plot, but?it’s one of the longest running sci-fi TV shows of all time. Plus, I feel totally safe with Richard ‘MacGyver’ Anderson as the captain!
6. Lost: I can’t believe I’m putting this one in here, but it sucked America in. Even the time travel and flashbacks were great. But in the last couple of seasons, it just got confusing, and don’t even get me started on that 2010 finale!
5. House MD: This is a very technology based show. Dr. House and his colleagues turn to scanners, iMacs, you name it to treat diseases rarely even heard of. And?at?least they do it without those mushy?plot lines you see on other medical shows.
4.??Dark Angel: It only lasted a couple of seasons.?But Jessica Alba portrays a genetic superhuman who tries to live a normal life in a post-apocalyptic world. Only thing is, the people who built her won’t let that happen, so she’s always on the run. This show should have lasted a lot longer than it did.
3. Big Bang Theory: This show proves geeks come with diversity. Yes, there’s the stereotypical anti-social Sheldon, but you have Raj, Johnny, and Simon, who sometimes gets razzed for not having a Ph.D.? Then we have Penny, who helps keep them all grounded. These are the ingredients of the greatest comedy around today.
2.?Twenty-Four: Who doesn’t love to see Jack?Bauer fight terrorism, corruption and?other bad guys one hour an episode,?one day a season. But if were not for the CTU division having Bauer’s back, he would’ve been done in the first hour.
1. CSI: This crime show demonstrates the tech chops needed to solve 21st century crimes, from DNA analysis, device tracking, even facial recognition. It sure makes me think before breaking the law. It’s been on for all 13 years for the century, spun several spin-offs, and has almost always stayed on top of the ratings.
But that’s just my humble opinion. What’s yours?
Jun 13, 2013 | Wireless
To better compete with their rival Samsung, Apple is now debating making iPhones with bigger screens. Cheaper models and diverse colors have come up in the conversation.
Apple is looking at 4.7 and 5.7 inch screens for next year’s new iPhones. There is a movement within Apple walls to make ‘phablets’, bigger smartphones in sizes, but they still aren’t tablets. They want to move away from the standard 3.5 inch screen used in every Apple phone since 2007. Keep in mind the very successful Samsung Galaxy S4 is Galaxy Note 2 screens?are 5 and 5 1/2 inches. But wait, there’s more. They’re ?planning to launch iPhone 5S next year, which is rumored to used fingerprints to identify the user. There are plans to give cheaper versions different colors, while keeping the more expensive ones black and/or white. These cheaper version if iPhone 5S is rumored to go as low as $99. I’ll believe it when I see it.
So what do you think? You know Apple is trying to get back to it’s heyday of being number one in the technology game. Remember when their stocks were?nearly $700 a share? Remember when they thought they were unstoppable? Now Samsumg is taking over that role, especially in rising markets like China, which now has the world’s largest smartphone market. It’s obvious to me the bigger screens?are a?way for Apple to compete and take the #1 spot, especially in China. Do you think it will work?
Jun 12, 2013 | Computer technology
The Apple MacBook Air 13 has a lot of highs and some lows to it, but more highs. First off, it’s less than it’s predecessor, but what am I getting here?
I’m getting great battery life. Test say the battery can last up to 9 1/2 hours. Keep in mind some 13 inch notebooks don’t even last six hours. The screen has great contrast and color and makes you feel like you’re there. I can give a great report about the auto. I played a Nirvana (sorry if I’m dating myself) song, and the song made it feel I was at an MTV Unplugged taping. Another plus is the Air 13 comes with Mountain Lion OS, software great for app support and sharing content. This fall, Apple will ship OS X Maverick, which will help create tags for files. But I do have two strikes against it. The design is plain. When are they going to add some colors to their designs? Also, I’ve noticed while playing Combat Wings, the fan got a little loud. Just an observation.
Overall, I would get this Mac Book. It’s a rarity the updated version of something cost less than the original, and proves to be better than the original. I don’t use the webcam that much, but that’s pretty good, too. Say what you want, but Apple does it again. Have I tempted you to get an Apple MacBook Air 13 yet?
Jun 11, 2013 | News, Security
We’re starting to know how the American public found out about the National Security Advisor collecting data?about our phones and Internet. A 29-year-old contractor and NSA system administrator named Edward Snowden is the center of this growing story.
Snowden, who was also a CIA agent, claimed to have leaked the report to the Washington Post and U.K.’s Guardian. ?Now, the NSA is panicking, wondering how Snowden got that kind of access to these secret documents and aired this info out to the world. He got a highly classified document from FISA. Authorities are working to build a case against him. They’re even looking into Snowden’s personal life. The media hounded his parents so much that his mom had to put something of a ‘Go Away’ sign on the door. It’s believed that more info will be released about the NSA and their cell phone and Internet listening activities.
One thing that isn’t going away is this case. Even Wiki Leaks founder Julian Assange called him a hero, and urged him to go to Latin America. The Feds are building a case against Snowden, but he’s in Hong Kong. Will he be extradited from HK or will he seek asylum there, or in a country like Iceland? And how do the American people feel about this? I read one poll where 56% of Americans feel phone and online tracking is an acceptable way to fight terrorism. Where do you stand? Do you think Snowden is a hero or villain?
