Do you remember Nokia’s heyday of the late 1990s and early 2000s? I say this because Nokia’s dream might come back. Hence, meet the company HMD Global. They want to sell Nokia smartphones in the next decade. And lots of them. So Nokia’s dream may come true.
However, don’t expect the phones of yesteryear. At a press conference, Nokia leaders talked about a different kind of phone. This new phone will run clean and popular versions of Android technology. This includes vanilla Android, or something like it. Google’s involvement is critical. In fact, one leader says this is critical to making Nokia great again (no pun intended). But they hint about giving Nokia the kind of updates that will make the competition envy. I’ll believe Nokia’s dream when I see it.
However, Nokia executives may be onto something. They admit most smartphones don’t offer the latest versions of OS. Furthermore, they say this has to change. Could the new Nokia provide that change? They say they want to put the right kind of apps and systems in this new phone. This includes things like Google Assistant. The first new Nokia phones could go on sale as early as May or June 2016. But how will it go? And you know we got your back if you need a screen replacement on this new Nokia, right? I know, cheap plug, but what can you do?
Well, it depends on who you ask? Some in the IT service game say it’s about time. Others are skeptical. Some say Android/Google isn’t capable of running a pure OS system anymore. But I say let’s give it a try. However, there’s something nobody is talking about. That is the cost. How much will it cost to make Nokia’s dream come true. Will they go on the cheap and sell basic smartphones? Or will they go $700-$800 to compete with Apple 8 and Samsung Galaxy 8? Or will they do the smart thing and do both and cater to both markets? How much would you pay to see Nokia’s dream come true?
Imagination Tech deals in semiconductors, chips, cloud, and other computer software and hardware. But they’re dealing with an Apple bombshell. Apple is their biggest customer. However, Apple announced they are going to stop using Imagination Tech. Apple stock causes Imagination Tech downfall.
So, how low are their stocks? As of today, their stock points are down around 70%. But why are they this low? Because Apple brings in over half Imagination Tech’s business. That is what is causing the Imagination Tech downfall. Apple said it will no longer use Imagination Tech’s graphics or software for any of Apple’s products. Hence, this will be a slow phase, around 18 months or two years. Also, Imagination Technologies will no longer get royalties from Apple.
So why is Apple doing this? Because they now have their own graphics people. Furthermore, Apple wants more control of their own technology. It’s obvious shareholders hate this change. Because the stock price plunged to it’s lowest level since summer 2009. On March 31, 2017, their stock points were over $250 a share. But now, those same stocks are worth around $76 a share. Last year, Apple thought about buying Imagination Tech. But that deal went sour at the last minute. This only adds to the Imagination Tech downfall?
So what does Imagination Tech do now? Furthermore, what’s the lesson we in IT support can learn from this? Here is one: Don’t be too dependent on one client or one business! This is true for computer repair, laptops fixed, or any other computer tech business. This is a dangerous way to do business. Because that one client can leave you, take all your potential business, and leave you with almost nothing. I think the best thing Imagination Tech can do now is look for bigger clients, and several of them. At least they can say, “We supplied Apple with software and hardware.” When you can honestly say that, that’s one heck of a selling point. Will Imagination tech bounce back and overcome this downfall?
Cookies aren’t the biggest threat to your computer or device. But they can be annoying. Not only that, they can compromise your privacy. So, do you want to say goodbye cookies? Well, your friendly Boston computer service shop is here to do that (they sent me to write this article). Goodbye cookies: Delete cookies from web browsers.
But first, I should explain what cookies are. They’re small data files that track online activity. Sounds evasive, doesn’t it? Then that’s why you want to get rid of them. Google Chrome is the most popular web browser out there today. So here’s how you do it there. Click on ‘Menu’ in the upper right hand corner. Then, click ‘Settings’. After that, click ‘Show advanced settings’, then ‘content settings’. It will shock you what this will reveal. From there, click on, ‘all cookies and site data…”. Then, you can either delete certain files one at or time. You can also delete them all by clicking, ‘remove all’.
Firefox is also a popular web browser. You can say goodbye cookies with them as well. Start with the ‘tools’ menu. From there, select ‘options’, then ‘privacy’, then ‘history’, then click, ‘use custom setting for history’. This will show you your browsing history. If you want to delete cookies, click on ‘show cookies’. It will show you a list of cookies you built up over time. Like with Chrome, you can either delete one at a time, or delete all of them with one swoop.
Most of us in the computer repair business know how important your privacy is. We also know how fleeting it is, and how many threats there are to it. So deleting cookies is just one way to do that. Other web browsers have other methods to say goodbye cookies. Feel free to use them. Isn’t saying goodbye cookies just one battle in fighting the war against privacy invasion?
Some time ago, I wrote an article about how Samsung TV spies on it’s users. But apparently, I was just scratching the surface. According to WkiLeaks documents, the CIA (Central Intelligence Agency) can turn most electronics into spying devices. Hence, the CIA listens: big brother era arrives!
So, these phones and other devices have microphones. WikiLeaks reports the CIA exploits these microphones. Also, they seem to have documents to prove it. But wait. There’s more. There’s a program the CIA calls ‘Weeping Angel’. Their hackers get access to Samsung TVs. Furthermore, while the TV is off, the microphone remains on. But that’s not all.
Wikileaks obtained over 8,000 documents. None paint the CIA in a good light. In fact, documents show this kind of hacking done to iPhones, Androids and Windows Phones. Nobody ever reports these cyber attacks to parent companies, like Apple, Google, or Microsoft. And let’s call them what they are: cyber attacks. They’re not even trying to hide it anymore. In fact, one article from The Guardian gave a disturbing report. They said one intelligence leader bragged how it was spies’ priority to breach smart devices. He said they’ll use the ‘internet of things’ for monitoring and surveillance. When they said the ‘internet of things’, that means all things internet, from desktops to smartphones.
Yesterday, I had an interesting conversation with a tech at our Boston computer service shop. He won’t even buy a Google Home system. There is a story out that they can record everything in your home, and take it over, too. When I read this article, his concerns, and the story, ate not that far-fetched. Maybe this is what Edward Snowden has been warning about for years. Remember that song by Rockwell, called “Somebody’s Watching Me” back in the 1980s? It’s almost like he predicted the future. Because in 2017, they are watching, and they’re using our technology to do it. And what can we do about it?
Millions tune to You Tube every day. It’s almost as popular as television and/or streaming networks. But can you imagine You Tube cable TV? Consequently, you don’t have to imagine it anymore. You Tube cable TV becomes reality.
So Tuesday, You Tube introduced You Tube TV. For $35 a month, they will package and deliver streaming channels to your Internet. Then there’s the cloud that lets you skip ads. I’m sure that’s a selling point. But here’s good news and bad news. Good news: You’ll get the big four: NBC, CBS, ABC, and FOX. You’ll also get 40 other channels, including ESPN (sports lovers rejoice!) However, there’s bad news. We may or may not have HBO, TBS, Discovery, or Comedy Central. Negotiations are ongoing.
Furthermore, there’s a lot of competition out there. Hence, you have Verizon and Comcast and Dish Satellite. But you also have Sony’s Vue and Hulu. Plus, some streaming services aren’t looking so good. They’re having technical difficulties. And they’re not the only ones. Meanwhile, You Tube seems to have it’s act together. Their technical difficulties are usually minor and minimum. Also, they’re good at videos, online and live ones. The 12-year-old record speaks for itself. I don’t know when You Tube cable TV’s debut will be.
But I do know it faces an uphill battle: price. I doubt $35 a month will make that much of a profit. But then again, that will be another huge selling point. People are tired of paying expensive amounts and getting mediocre service. That’s why some networks are among some of the most hated companies in America. I don’t think that will be a problem for You Tube. If You Tube plays their cards right, they will be the most popular streaming service of them all. Just like sports lovers, laptops can now rejoice! And if you need laptops fixed, we can do that for you (I know. It’s a shameless promo, but hey…). So what do you think of You Tube cable TV?
I read an interesting statistic. Around 77% of Americans now own a smartphone in 2017. In 2011, just 35% of Americans of Americans had smartphones. But some say this isn’t good. Furthermore, others say the smartphone will be dead in five years. Is the smartphone dying? Some experts think so.
So, some argue smartphone makers are running out of new ideas. Hence, in five years, there will be no more innovation. Think about it. Smartphones can do almost everything today. We can watch TV. We can also listen to radio and take pictures. Furthermore we depend on smartphones to work, rest, and play. So is the smartphone dying?
Some believe voice technology and AI will replace the smartphone, at least in innovation. Over one in four Americans use voice technology at least once a week. Also, voice is the top way to control many tech devices, from smartphones to big screen TVs. Look at how popular items like Google Home and Amazon Echo are. I predict that in the years to come, they will integrate voice in all things technology. I can see how critical it would be to VR machines. So if voice technology is the next big thing, then why would we need a smartphone?
Um…not so fast. In the 1950s, when TV came out, they said the radio was dead. Yet we still listen to radio today. In the 2000s, as Internet entered the social media era, many believed it was the death of TV. But that’s not right, either. Is the smartphone dying? I doubt it. I believe just like radio and TV, people will need their phones for decades to come. If anything, they will use smartphones in a different capacity. But voice technology can only do so much. So in decades to come, at our Boston computer service shop, we’ll still be fixing smartphones. Sorry, but I don’t see the smartphone going anywhere anytime soon. But I’ll ask you…Is the smartphone dying?
