May 11, 2013 | Computer technology
Television shows and football teams aren’t the only ones gearing up for the fall. Apple Care, the hardware and software support service, are getting in the act. A town hall meeting led by Apple V.P. Tara Bunch laid out, or at least started to lay out, plans for business changes.
One of the changes has to do with iPhone repair. During most damages, they simply give the customer a new one. Now, they want to fix the damages and give the customer the old one. Now, Apple stores can replace things from speakers to batteries. By summers’ end, stores can replace cameras and logic boards. In the months to come, Apple techs will have better tools to diagnose hardware issues, in hopes to save the company a billion dollars and cut wait time.
They’re looking to expand their home advisory team, almost double it, to create jobs and serve people better. Apple plans to include support through I-messages and support pages website. We can expect discussion boards and other threads to improve maintenance, and even provide preventative tips.
So how is this going to affect Apple customers? From the looks of it, pretty good. It would save Apple money to fix an old device rather than replace one. Plus, you reduce the risk of being exposed it you just get the old one back. I’m glad techs will have the better tools and training to better diagnose problems. Just like any good doctor, that’s totally needed. I’m down for anything that will cut time and create jobs. Not everybody can get to an Apple store, and some people live far away from one, so the discussion boards are needed. I can’t find a thing wrong with these changes. Oh, wait, I just found it. Will these changes actually be ready by this fall? Or will something happen that we’ll have to wait until fall 2014?
May 10, 2013 | Computer technology, Entertainment
This week, I’ve been reporting a lot about other countries, like China and Israel. That got me thinking; which are the most Technologically Advanced Countries?as of May 2013? So here we go the top 10 as seen by Geek Choice
10. The Netherlands: Over 33 percent of her residents have a computer in their home, one of the highest ratios in the world.
9. China: Many tech products are made there. They’re known for hacking into US systems. They’re perhaps the biggest technological consumers. They’d be ranked higher if there was more online freedom.
8. Finland: It’s where Nokia, the world’s biggest cell?phone provider was founded. ?Eighty-four percent of her citizens use the Internet regularly. During the last several years,?Finland has helped?lead the world in tech innovation.
7. United Kingdom: Online access and smartphones are easily accessible. It has Microsoft’s second highest market. And notice how often those Brits get the latest smartphones before us Yanks do!
6. India: Now before you laugh, keep in mind how much software comes from there. Like China, they’re booming and their consumer power for computer related products will only get bigger. When you call customer service for that broken machine, guess whose probably going to answer?
5. Israel: Their Waze could merger with Facebook. Their Tel Aviv tech startups rival those of the Silicon Valley.?Did you know?35% of their exports are tech related?
4. Singapore: They have perhaps the highest Internet speed in the world. Not only that, the majority of her citizens have more than one smartphone and they have the highest mobile phone ownership in the world.
3. South Korea: Samsung headquarters are here; that should be?enough ! But?they also have the highest Wifi speed in the world. They’re fast catching up with Japan as the east Asia powerhouse.
2. U.S.A.: The companies that started here: Google, Yahoo, Apple, Microsoft, Dell,?AT&T,?Facebook, You Tube; I can go on and on. The Silicon Valley is the tech capital of the world. Americans are on their smartphones so much it’s starting to get annoying. Say what you want, but without the United States, there would be no technological revolution.
1. Japan: Isn’t it enough to give the world Nintendo, Toshiba, Sony, NTT, Hitachi, etc.? They’re coming up with more stuff, like holograms, transporters, even technology to keep us safe from tsunamis and nuclear war. Have you seen their robots and toilets?
I know I left some countries out. I can’t wait to hear from you guys about it.
May 9, 2013 | internet, networking, Wireless
Facebook is now very much in the mobile race. In recent months they’ve released Facebook Home, an Android based service that makes sure you’re never Facebook-free. If you’ve read my earlier blogs, you know how I feel about that one. But FB isn’t stopping there.
Facebook is now partnering with Waze, an Israel based traffic and navigation app, for the sake of integration. It’s rumored Waze has been offered around a billion dollars for their services. There’s even talk of bringing all Waze offices to the USA. If this deal comes to past, it would be Facebook’s biggest purchase since Instagram, which cost around $750 million. Was the deal worth it? That depends on who you ask. As of April 2013, Facebook has 750+ million mobile users. I access it on my?Apple device.?In 2012, Facebook surpassed one billion users. ?They say the next billion users will come from countries like India and China, with their booming economies and population growths.
Let’s look at Waze. They have 47 million users, more than twice the users they had last year. The majority of those users are outside the US. Both companies are keeping hush about this possible merger. But this makes perfect sense to me. But Facebook, let’s do this right. Learn a lesson from Apple maps, and what a fiasco that was. And if FB and Waze can come together and reach out to rising economies like China and India, that would be an economic dream for both companies. Plus, let’s say someone using FB gets lost in a foreign land. They can just go on Waze and find their way. What other ways can both companies benefit? Or is this merger a bad idea?
May 8, 2013 | internet
I’m beginning to call CEO Melissa Mayer the savior of Yahoo. A year ago at this time, the online company was on the brink of failure. But thanks to a workplace culture change and new innovations, Yahoo has found it’s stride again. But she’s not yet satisfied.
At the 2013 WIRED Business Conference, Mayer stated she wants Yahoo on every PC, laptop, tablet and smartphone. She wants Yahoo on wearable computers, like watches and glasses. ?As of today’s blog, there are 700 million Yahoo users. Over 300 million are mobile users. She’s anxious to cross that billion mark, although Ms. Mayer admits that will be easier said than done.
Let’s look at what they’d done in the past nine months. They have an outstanding weather app. Mine has a picture of the great Fenway Park. Their stock has grown almost 50 percent since last summer, and this growth has no end in sight. Yahoo is partnering with Microsoft so both powerhouses can serve the public better.
You know, some people just come around and do the right thing at the right time. Marissa Mayer seems to be one of those people. By her own admission, it will take years to build the company to grow at a rate she wants it. I’m not saying give her the Nobel Prize, but it’s wonderful to see a CEO take the company from death’s doorstep back to an online powerhouse. Not many American CEO’s can see that these days. How can Yahoo, or any online company, strive for the next level?
May 7, 2013 | News, Security
China is the world’s fastest growing world powerhouse. Some say it will even surpass the US one day. In 2013, China is expected to have 600 million citizens online. So they’re already a force to be reckoned with. Let’s see how that’s going.
Their largest Internet firm Alibaba is going public. This move would easily make Alibaba the most prosperous and powerful online company in the world, if it isn’t already. Tencent, a Hong Kong based online company, is worth almost as much as Facebook, and has vowed not the make the same mistakes Facebook has. Mobile Internet use is growing too, thanks to cheap smartphones. I saw one chart saying by Christmas 2015, China’s e-commerce sales will be 50% greater than US e-commerce sales.Then there’s the Chinese government and military. There are accusations of targeting the Pentagon in a cyber espionage plot.
Why do I even talk about China? Whether we like it or not, what China does will impact us. Many of our daily goods are made there. Back in 2008, when their markets crashed, so did ours. If something happens and they have to stop their goods and services, ours are going to stop. And now they’re studying our military, to put it diplomatically. Our relationship is that intertwined.?So when Alibaba and Tencent are doing this well, we’re going to feel it. Will the feeling be positive or negative?
May 6, 2013 | Entertainment, News
What do you mean we have to pay for You Tube channels?! If some You Tube suits and ties have their way, we’ll be paying for certain channels sooner than later.
They’re already talking to producers about charging users for channels.?As many as 50 video channels are ready to charge anywhere from $2-$5 a month for service, even if you look at one of their videos. Note You Tube execs didn’t say when this service will take place . When asked, they just gave a bunch of legal jumbo; “…[We’re] looking into creating a subscription platform that could bring even more great content to You Tube for our users…”. Not only that, Android You Tube users are seeing codes suggesting paid channels are closer than we think.
I’m going to be giving away my age here. I remember when cable was becoming popular around the country and in my neighborhood. My mom said, “Nobody is going to pay for something they can watch for free!” Then, Lifetime network came out.?And when kids at school talked about all the cool MTV videos, I pleaded with her to get cable. A?little while later, the cable man was at our house hooking up?this?magic box giving us 30 channels, instead of?four (CBS, NBC, ABC, PBS).?What I’m saying is?while?paying for?You Tube channels seem absolutely scandalous now,?if producers come up with a great?reason for us to pay for channels, this can open up the flood gates.??It happened with TV in the ’80s. What would a You Tube channel have to give in order for you to open your wallet or pocketbook?
May 5, 2013 | Computer technology, Wireless
Aren’t Google Glasses supposed to be the big technological breakthrough of the 2010s? Couldn’t this compare to the Internet, or the smartphone? According to most critics and users, apparently not.
Security measures are mediocre at best. ?While I don’t have these glasses myself, I’ve read and heard this may as well be a hacker’s dream. They’re going to cost you $1,500, if you qualify. Those who are lucky to get them, you must abide by a bunch of rules, or they will cut them off without refund. Critics say battery?life is?five hours, but some users say it’s less than three hours. Other users said it gives them?literal headaches. ?It’s so close to your face you can’t help but feel that burden. If you give them a voice command, it may or may not obey you. Other infrequencies include?bad response to messages,?needing a smartphone to use them, and the difficulties to take them off.
So let’s break this down. You?have to pay a lot to get them if you qualify, and the strict rules. That reminds me of this club where they only let a few people in, and those who did get in?got hit with a $30 cover charge and 5 drink minimum, and?they won’t let you dance with strangers. The short?battery life is going to?be really bad for?people walking around. These headaches are lawsuits waiting for?to happen. I know Google Glass is in it’s infancy, but from the looks of things, they better grow up real quick! Do you still want to get this so called technological breakthrough?
May 4, 2013 | Entertainment, Wireless
And you though mudslinging was just in politics. Or maybe the success of new Samsung Galaxy?S4 got to their heads. But they’re launching a scathing attack on?Apple ‘s iPhone.
There’s a commercial out suggesting only the cool and hip use Samsung Galaxy 4 while only the old and the square use iPhone. Lately, Samsung has worked ceaselessly to be the cool popular kid on the block. After a brief hiatus from this image setting, they’re back at it. This commercial takes place at a high school graduation party, and the kids are celebrating with their Galaxy S4. Their parents, still using their iPhones, realize how behind the times they are. These kids aren’t shy about rubbing it in either. Since you can use Galaxy 4 as a remote control, I’m surprised they didn’t use it to check out their favorite reality TV shows.
We shouldn’t be surprised at this attack. A few months ago, Apple launched a massive boasting attack when competitors like Samsung. They even posted a website showing how good they are. But Galaxy S4 better look out: somebody’s going to be cooler and more popular than you one day. You know Apple will come fighting back. How will they do so?
May 3, 2013 | Entertainment, networking
I’ve reported about social media security issues several times this week. Let’s look at some major media hoaxes since 2010:
10. 83 and Tired: Bill Cosby allegedly posted a Facebook rant claiming he was 83 and tired of the nation’s problems. Not only did Dr. Cosby not write it, they didn’t even get his age right (he’s really 76). He went on national TV to clear his name.
9. Bald For Bieber: When a false report leaked that heartthrob Justin Bieber was diagnosed with cancer, a tweet?urging his?fans to go bald launched. Sadly, some did.
8. Facebook’s Gold Package: A couple of years ago, Facebook was to start charging $9.99 a month for Gold membership. Guess what? Facebook is still free, and that gold package was a golden egg.
7. Back to the Future:?So far this decade, Back to?the Future Day was in 2010, then in 2012. Both are wrong. According to Back to?the Future?II, the travel date was?October 21, 2015. Sorry Doc and Marty fans, you have to wait another?two 1/2 years.
6. Fake Celebrity Deaths:?What do Jackie Chan, Taylor Swift, Morgan Freeman and Eddie Murphy have in common? According to false Facebook posts, they all died this decade! So the next time you hear a celeb passing away, check a more trusted source!
5. Mante T’eo Girlfriend: He went from a promising Notre Dame Linebacker to America’s joke. This bizarre hoax involving a fake girlfriend even landed him on Dr. Phil.?Was he that na?ve or was he?even playing?along with the hoax?
4. Facebook?Shutting Down: An Internet rumor went around saying Facebook was going to shut down because founder Mark Zuckerburg wanted normalcy. You know they stopped that rumor real quick!
3. Hurricane Sandy Photos: Some of these look like?the Day After Tomorrow movie. They?even had sharks swimming in malls. Many of these pictures look more like Revelation’s apocalypse than a super storm. I’m sure if they would’ve stuck with real pictures of this?natural disaster, the meaning would’ve been even more powerful.
2. You Tube Shuts Down: According to the April Fools?joke in 2013, You Tube?was just a big video competition that was going to end on April 1. Good one!
1. Twitter Hoax Nearly Shuts Down Wall St.: To this point, these hoaxes have been cute, funny, and generally harmless. This was?everything but a laughing matter.?This hoax lied about President Obama’s security, sent stocks crashing, and in the wake of the Boston Marathon tragedy, could have sent America into chaos. I shutter?to think?what would have happened if?this social?media hoax continued.
Can you think of any social media hoaxes, since 2010, that top these?
May 2, 2013 | internet, News
Technology isn’t just for geeks anymore. It effects everything we do. Like Facebook, which has 1.1 billion monthly?users, up from approximately 900,000 monthly users in early 2012. Let’s see and contrast other numbers.
Facebook just posted it’s earnings for Q1 2013. They made 1.46 billion dollars in revenue, up 38% from 12 months earlier. This even exceeded Wall St. standards. Despite these expectations being beaten, stocks are only up slightly. Ad revenue was up 41% from the year before. They’re even stepping up their mobile game. Mobile revenues are up 23%. Their next venture, Parse, is a mobile development platform. It was purchased by FB at 85 million dollars, so they might or might not profit off it any time soon. App install ads are expected to be another of FB’s money makers.
So how do I process all this? At least Facebook is going in the right direction, at least on paper. Look at the kind of quarter, or year, Apple has had. One thing that strikes me: while monthly, daily and mobile users are growing, year-over-year users have decreased. Should Facebook be alarmed? I think constant and experienced users are great, especially for new ventures like Parse and these app install ads. Then again, they’re getting enough new users to sell these ventures. Maybe Facebook can do a better job holding users, and these ventures can help that. Will new FB users trust the social media site enough to use Parse and the app install ads?
