Nov 2, 2017 | Computer technology
Ah, traveling in the IT service era. It sure ain’t what it used to be. Because now, people are plugging in and tuning out more than ever before. Then there are the security rules and baggage fees. Ever feel your luggage is? in the 1980s? Then G-Ro might be for you. G-Ro introduces smart luggage: A good buy?
So why should I call it smart luggage? Because it does cater to at least some of our tech needs. For instance, all G-Ro luggage includes a built-in rechargeable battery. That way, we can charge our smart devices anytime. The traveler needs that right now, whether we want it or not.
This luggage also has ‘The Office’. The Office has a laptop case. In addition to a laptop case, it has a document filing system and has a little room to spare. Most, if not all of them, have extra pockets to separate your devices from the rest of your luggage. This prevents screen cracking (but if you do mess up your screen, we specialize in laptops fixed). You can also inflate and deflate this bag by as much as 10 inches. These G-Ro bags vary in price. Kickstarter offers a promotion for as low as $129.
Then there is the Backpack XV, perhaps G-Ro’s best creation. This one includes a 13 backpack specifically for a laptop. But that one will cost you $269. Other than these things, it’s just your typical luggage. I don’t own a G-Ro luggage set. And for this amount of money, I probably won’t get one. Look at the price. For a fraction of $269, I can get good luggage that can hold devices, or get accessories, or something. I can probably pull this off for less than $129. G-Ro has a great concept, and a needy concept. However, they need to do one of two things. They need to offer more or lower their prices. So I ask you about the G-Ro smart luggage: Is it a good buy?
Nov 1, 2017 | Computer technology
We all know computer repair is here to stay. We also know we need to pass this skill onto the next generation. This is where startup tech company Kano comes in. Kano creates kid friendly coding.
So one way Kano teaches coding is by self-building hardware kits. Furthermore, just in time for the Christmas shopping season, Kano got over $28 million in funding. Kano plans to use this for retail and promotion. They also want to build future products that teach tech skills, even robots. Since September 2014, Kano’s coding machines produced 227,000 apps. These apps come from 86 countries, including the USA. But what’s most admirable, kids as young as 6 years old are developing apps through Kano’s coding. That’s a powerful start.
So now that their foundation is secure, they’re pushing hardware like self building laptops. They start as low as $249. Before long, there will be in most major retailers, and online stores. However, their emphasis is still hardware. Kano does this because it wants to help build future businesses around software. Then, they learned from other companies that focus so much on hardware. Plus, they want to be one of the top companies in self-building computer systems. Kano’s fund raisers include Thames Trust and Brayer Capitol, and Mark Benioff, and Barclays.
All of these things lead to Kano creates kid friendly coding. We need it. Computer servicing is growing, and it’s not going anywhere. I read too many reports about tech jobs not having enough trained workers to fill jobs. This is a huge problem. And the only way to fix this problem is to help our kids be tech savvy at an early age. Teaching them to code, and other aspects of software, is a great start. The price of $249 is a great start. Just think, the Apple iPhone X cost four times as much. So would you rather invest in your kids’ education, or have the next biggest thing?
Oct 31, 2017 | General
Around ten years ago, Amazon introduced Kindle. This changed the book and IT service game forever. Then, Kobo and Barnes stepped up the game. This stepped up the game with app stores and color screens. But now, they’re introducing Kindle Oasis.
Actually, it came out last year. However, they insists on tooting their own horn as the premier e-reader. They may be right . Because their high resolutions and larger screen and a very first for Amazon Kindle, a waterproof e-reader. But that’s just the beginning. The Oasis has an aluminum backing. Keep in mind only high-cost top of the line smartphones have that. Yes, it looks nice, but in my experiences, aluminum backing proves more durable.
Also, after years of scorn, the Oasis has physical page-turn buttons. They went this way because touchscreens are, well, very complex. For example, physical buttons are a lot better for traveling, or being in public. It’s a little bigger. Some may complain about that, but when you read your next book, you get more words per page. When they say waterproof, they kinda mean it. The Kindle Oasis will still work under under 9 feet under water. Ever try reading an e-reader while swimming in an Olympic size pool? It would be fun to try.
Now there is another side to introducing Kindle Oasis…introducing the price. The cheaper version costs $270. However, the more expensive ones cost around $350. And for the sake of a cheap promotion, we have done screen replacements on Kindles before. But the Amazon Kindle system has come a long way in the last 10 years. Yes, that’s because of hard work and innovation. But maybe it’s also because they have very little competition. This is where I should encourage other tech leaders to please, give Amazon from competition. With all they are into, couldn’t they use some competition right now?
Oct 30, 2017 | News
We all know IT service and online retail giant Amazon is trying to take over the world. They have newspapers, food delivery, and also grocery store. That’s to name a few. But now they could be in pharmacy. Amazon big pharma: Could it happen?
So according to several news reports, Amazon won approval from 12 states. This approval allows them to distribute wholesale pharma drugs. These states cross all regional and political lines. So far, they include Idaho, Alabama, Connecticut, North Dakota, Nevada. Maine will probably be next. But Massachusetts, home of our computer service shop, it’s not one of them. At least not yet.
However, don’t go looking for your pharmacy drugs on Amazon yet. Because they still need the proper licencing, which they don’t have. Of course, nobody at Amazon is talking. However, the sources of this info are credible enough. One source is healthcare and bank firm Leernik Partners. Some of their leaders say Amazon does plan to enter big pharma. They could do so by partnering or merging with another big pharma company.? Amazon big pharma could even go on their own. One way they can do this is through mail order pharmacy delivery. We all know they have the power and know how to do so. Look at their online and grocery delivery.
You can best believe, rivals are freaking out about this. For example, pharmacy giant CVS is now talking about merging with healthcare giant Aetna. I wish I were a fly in the wall to hear what other big pharma and healthcare leaders say about this. Obviously, Amazon can’t wholesale pharma drugs now. But this is Amazon. Why are they successful in taking over the world? Because when they want to do something, they do it. It matters not the time nor the cost, so long as they meet their ultimate goal: WORLD DOMINATION! We learned that with this Whole Foods deal. I don’t think Amazon will ever be satisfied until all 7.5 billion people are totally dependent on Amazon. And that is scary, especially for those of us in small business; the backbone of the American economy, well, at least it was. What about the rest of us?
Oct 29, 2017 | General
Some call Elon Musk the Leonardo of tech and??IT support. However, some others call him the mad scientist. Now, he’s building a tunnel series to help companies transport goods. So let’s look at the Elon Musk tunnel.
The city of Los Angeles gave Musk and his company, Boring Co. backing to build the tunnel, near his SpaceX headquarters. He wasted little time because one tube already stretches so far you can’t see it with human eyes. This tunnel also includes tracks, wall panel, cables, and lighting. But apparently,? the Elon Musk tunnel in LA is just the beginning. They got approval to build a second underground tunnel in Maryland. In fact, these two tunnels will be part of Musk’s underground Hyperloop.
So why is the Boring Co. doing this? Because he believes these tunnels are a better way for corporations to transport their goods. Furthermore, he wants to build him at a lower cost than other tunnel builders. Musk hopes to provide American cities and states with alternative ways to deliver goods and services. But don’t go making plans to use this tunnel yet. Because this project is very much in the beginning stages. Musk also has even bigger ideas for this tunnel.
Eventually, the Elon Musk tunnel could even transport people. I’m not sure if this will be for local commutes, or transcontinental travel. If Musk can pull this off, I’m sure it will cut down on road travel pretty well, especially in the major cities. I know what traffic looks like. Our Boston computer service shop is in the middle of one of the worst traffic cities in America. And Musk can probably pull it off. Let’s not forget; this is a man that wants to send people to the moon and Mars. He wants to build colonies so people can live there. So if his Moon and Mars dream eventually comes true, will his dream of a tunnel?
Oct 27, 2017 | Smartphone
Some probably think the USA sales and consumes more smartphones than any nation in the world. But they are wrong. In fact, we’re not even second…anymore. Because recent numbers put India second in smartphone sales…beating the USA.
In Q3 2017, India sold over 40 million smartphones. Furthermore, in that quarter alone, smartphone sales went up 23%. This is enough to surpass the USA as second in the world in smartphone sales. But it’s still not enough to be China, which leads the world in this area. So what kind of smartphones India buying? Samsung is leading the way. However, Chinese phone maker Xiaomi is closing in.
Also, some in the US may take this as a, “We’re slacking off again,” moment. Don’t be so hard on yourselves. Keep in mind India has over 1.3 billion people. China’s population has over 1.35 billion people. Then you have the USA’s population, which only has 323 million people. So population numbers alone have a lot to do with this IT service trend. Believe or not, smartphone companies are happy with this trend. Many worried India wouldn’t make it to second in smartphone consumption. Issues like poor GDP, poor online quality, censorship issues, high taxes and wealth inequality could have stopped the process. It may have slowed it some, but not stopped it.
This puts India second in smartphone shipping. Will India take China’s spot as #1 in smartphone sales? I doubt it will happen anytime soon. Because in Q3 2017, China outsold India by over 110 million smart devices. But then again, China seems to be headed to for an economic downtown. For instance, people complain of the US jobs heading for China. But now, China is getting too expensive for some companies; note most of these are American companies (aren’t you glad we’re a local computer repair firm?). So now, they’re losing some jobs. Now those who lost jobs probably won’t be able to buy that new smartphone. Could this be India’s opportunity to steal the #1 spot?
Oct 26, 2017 | Security
There’s a bad rabbit running loose. I ain’t talking about Bugs Bunny either. So there? is a ransomware they call Bad Rabbit. Ramsomware is back: But it never really left.
Early this week, Kaspersky Labs said there are around 200 cases of the Bad Rabbit virus. These cases are all in Turkey, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine. Kapersky and other cyber security groups also say hackers used a fake Adobe Flash update. So the first victim was Russian media. Then Bad Rabbit moved to Ukraine’s Odyssey Airport, that country’s largest airport. They also attacked Ukraine’s ground transit systems. Yes, police say the Bad Rabbit virus is the main suspect.
So far, the ransomware hit Germany and Turkey too. But the impact was far less severe. However, The Russian Central Bank said they recorded Bad Rabbit ransomware on some of their franchises. But thankfully, no bank, or customer, was compromised. This virus demands 0.5 Bitcoin. That’s almost $300 in cash. And if the victim doesn’t pay on their time, then the ransom goes up.? Furthermore, one researcher put up a telling picture. His picture shows the virus creating tasks in Windows, using Game of Thrones character names as aliases. So far, Bad Rabbit affected nobody in the USA. Obviously, nobody came to our computer service shop about this.
But in computer repair, we see this too many times. So we all need to be on our guard. Let’s not forget all we saw in 2017 so far. First, there was WannaCry. Then, there was Petya. Yes, Ransomware is back. But then again, it never left. Now for my other question: Who is responsible this time? We never got any real answers about who did it. Many suggest North Korea. That is very plausible. Look at the tensions between us and N. Korea, and the world for that matter? Could they do it? Or was it another nation, or was it somebody else?
Oct 25, 2017 | Smartphone
As many of you know, Apple X is coming out next month. So one of the biggest features if Face ID: Apple X only unlocks if it matches your facial features. But this…ahem…selling point could be it’s downfall. Apple Face ID causes problems right before release.
So now, reports say Apple has to change their manufacturing and promotion game. They need to produce more senors quicker. They’re panicking because they may not have enough iPhone X’s even for the first weekend. In fact, such shortages can last for months. That’s not good for the IT support/smartphone giant.
So you must understand, making such cutting edge technology for millions of phone isn’t as easy as it looks. Not even for Apple. Take the dot projector, which is a critical part of the Face ID sensor. They need certain components to to come up with a 3D map of your face. The other problem is Apple’s strict requirements for such tools. If they don’t meet standards, they can’t be used in the device. End of discussion. However, combine it with rigorous iPhone X production. This is not a good combo. In order to increase production, Apple is lowering standards, testing less modules. So basically, there could be more iPhone X’s to go out, but it will the Apple Face ID feature may not live up to the hype.
I wonder will it even matter. Here in our Boston computer service shop, not too many customers or staff members are excited about the iPhone X. This is especially true compared to previous iPhone releases.? Now they’re forcing iPhone X customers to choose. Do you want more phones with less quality, or do you want more quality, with less phone to choose from? It sounds to me the mighty Apple bit off more than they could chew this time. They underestimated how difficult this kind of technology can be. Do you even want an iPhone X at all?
Oct 24, 2017 | Computer technology
When people think of tech and IT service leading nations, which nations come to mind? So I’m guessing the United States, China, Germany, India, or Israel. But what about United Arab Eremites, and the city of Dubai? Dubai start-up invests in AI (artificial intelligence) to save lives.
The company is called Derq.? They also got $1.5 million in funding from tech investors Techstarts Mobility in Detroit. Part of Derq’s goal is to reduce accidents. They even want to help cars talk to each other. Furthermore, they invest in vehicle to vehicle communication. It sounds like an old TV show, but it’s very real. They hope this predicts car crashes before they happen, then notify nearby drivers to avoid the potential accident.
This Dubai start-up is years in the making. It started in 2011 at MIT, just miles from our Boston computer service shop. In fact, Derq CEO Georges Aoude graduate from MIT with a Ph.D in aerospace engineering.? Derq and Dubai leaders signed a deal to test and demonstrate connected vehicle technology. They want to show off and lead the path to safety. They believe Dubai is at the forefront of technology as well as car improvements. That could be right.
But I love the fact Derq, this Dubai start-up, is starting an office in downtown Detroit. It’s because they want to build relationships and pedal this AI technology to car makers. Keep in mind Detroit had been in the economic ditch for many years. The city that used to lead the nation in jobs and economic prosperity now leads the nation in crime, poverty, and people leaving their city. I hope Derq can employ Americans and help get Detroit back on it’s feet again. To me, that would be a feat even better than AI tech or improving car communication. What do you think of this Dubai start-up?
Oct 23, 2017 | Computer Repair
Over the last few years, controversy arise over police body cameras. But how would you like your own body camera? So Google could make it happen. However, how would you use it? Google Clips: Memory maker or big brother tool?
Google Clips is a camera you can wear at any time. In fact, I don’t want to encourage anybody, but you can wear it all the time. Not only that, but you can clip it on objects. I saw one video where a family clipped it to a bag of flour! Think about that. Yes, you can transfer the footage to any computer or smartphone. It uses ‘motion photos’, a tactic Apple Live Photos use.
But it has no audio, at least not yet. It doesn’t have network connection, either. That means it doesn’t just broadcast everything out in the open. They use a computer servicing tactic called machine learning. They use machine learning so Google Clips can focus on what the footage the computer wants. Furthermore, it contains 16GB of storage. It also has a 130-degree field view and can use Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. To prevent this camera’s glass from breaking, it has Gorilla Glass 3. It can shoot up to 15 frames per second. Google Clips will cost on average $249. It will come out at a later date.
I saw some ads for this. They spin it as a way to capture precious memories with family and friends. Use it for those holiday moments with family. Or use it for birthday parties or nights out with friends. So you can relive these precious moments for life. Maybe this is why Google made Google Clips. But there is the cynic in me that knows the dark side of IT support and human nature. I fear people will use this camera to capture less heartwarming aspects of humanity: blackmail, corruption, bribery, sexual misbehavior, invasion of privacy. I don’t even want to say it aloud because it might encourage somebody. This is what worries me about Clips. Will it be used for making memories or will it be used for a big brother tool?
