Winding down and gearing up

Dear Reader,
Congratulations on surviving another year  — Goodbye, 2012!

Image courtesy of Easy Scraps

I hope all the changes you experience in the coming year (if any) are really, really nice.

(And please, let’s be reasonably safe in our celebrations.)

And.. here’s some tech:
* The 10 hottest 10 Things lists of 2012

“In 2012, the 10 Things blog covered everything from end-user support priorities to career strategies to decision factors around emerging technologies, new platforms, and proliferating mobile devices. Here’s our annual rundown of what sparked the most attention during the past year.” Read more..

[note: includes a Windows 7 speed tips article.]

* FCC Smartphone Security Checker (for Android/Apple/Blackberry/Windows Phone)

“This tool is designed to help the many smartphone owners who aren’t protected against mobile security threats. To use this tool, choose your mobile operating system below and then follow the 10 customized steps to secure your mobile device.” Read more..

My idea of fun: (a video) http://player.vimeo.com/video/40935850

Today’s quote: “Without computers, the government would be unable to function at the level of effectiveness and efficiency that we have come to expect. This is because the primary function of the government is — and here I am quoting directly from the U.S. Constitution — ‘to spew out paper.'” ~ Dave Barry

Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

Happy Holidays (and More)

Folks, I wish you all the happiest of holiday seasons.

eHow: How the Angel Became the Decoration on the Top of the Tree (click on image)

[Related: About.com’s The History of Christmas Tree Angels.]

A few tech items…

* Six awesome built-in Windows utilities no one knows about

“Windows 8 may not be the easiest operating system to use, but no one can accuse it of being stingy. If you poke deep inside the new OS, you’ll find a generous assortment of software tools, many of which make third-party utilities redundant.” Read more..

[Note: Many (most?) of these are also included in older versions of Windows, too.]

*** No, what Instagram just did to its users is not acceptable

“There is a tendency among tech watchers to think that, when it comes to free services, everyone should accept that they are the product and, as such, exploitable. This is a road we can and should avoid going down.” Read more..

* The 10 Biggest Cloud Outages Of 2012

“Just How Reliable Is The Cloud? In 2012, outages hit cloud hosting companies with regularity, creating a sense that they are no longer extraordinary events, but rather a normal part of the cloud computing business model.” Read more..

* FBI Memo Discloses Industrial Control Hack

“The target was an air conditioner system, but the FBI says that the source of the attack predicts further attacks against industrial systems.” Read more..

* Fake Email From Better Business Bureau Spreads Malware

“Victims receive an email notification suggesting there is a complaint against their business. An attachment that is supposed to carry the details actually carries a Trojan.” Read more..

* Let’s take the Internet back from the ISPs

“The next great American infrastructure investment should be fiber to the home.” Read more..

If you read just one, read the Instagram one..

Still shopping?

* HP Flash Sale Holiday deals and free 2-day shipping

* Holiday Gift Guide 2012: 25 Hot Ideas For Your Techie

“Looking for the perfect high-tech gift? Here are 25 hot suggestions from CRN, sure to complete any techie’s holiday wish list.” Read more..

* Vipre (antivirus) End of Days Sale

“This may be your last chance ever to save on VIPRE Internet Security 2013!” Read more..

Today’s quote: “Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale

Just me: Many of you will be traveling to be with your loved ones, and I hope your travels will be safe ones. Go forth and spread joy and ease pain, and enjoy the blessings of life during this special time of year.

Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

Tablet Comparison + More

Some items (two, for those still shopping) ..

* Head-To-Head: iPad Mini Vs. Amazon Kindle Fire HD Vs. Google Nexus 7

“Apple’s iPad mini packs a punch despite its scaled-down size, touting a number of robust features and specs that even the most fanatic Apple followers didn’t see coming. But, how does it shape up against the Google Nexus 7 and Amazon Kindle Fire HD, the two tablets that have traditionally set the standard in the 7-inch space?” See the slideshow here.

* OfficeMax Serves Up Final Black Friday Dish of Deals

“Black Friday is finally coming to a close at OfficeMax, which is hosting a final ‘Black Friday Every Friday’ discount event of the season today with up to 75 percent off on select items.” Read more..

non-shopping

* Infographic: The Dark Side of Teen Texting

“American teenagers are texting fools – quite literally, judging by the huge numbers of them who expose themselves with ‘sexting’ and worse, text while behind the wheel.” Read more..

* The 10 Best Mobile Apps Of 2012

“The year saw a diverse cross-section of apps for security, productivity, navigation and contact management. Here are the best apps of 2012.” Read more..

* Banks Gear Up For Highly Coordinated ‘Operation Blitzkrieg’ Cyberattack

“A Russian underworld figure is recruiting botmasters to conduct a coordinated attack on 30 financial institutions. While malware is used to steal the money, a Skype-based telephony DDoS attack is intended to shut down bank telephone systems used to validate the transfers.” Read more..

* Dangers to your bank account – how to perform online-banking securely

“Users of online-banking are generally more conscious of the risks they take when performing online transactions than with any other online service. This isn’t surprising, because if the wrong person gets their hands on your login details or in the worst case your TAN numbers as well, they can easily empty your account from anywhere in the world. Nevertheless, far too many users still bank online with little care, resulting in billions in damages every year.” Read more..

*     *     *

Today’s quote: “The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge.” ~ Elbert Hubbard

Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

Yes, You Can Still Buy/Order Windows 7 Computers

I have been asked if Santa can avoid Windows 8 at least a dozen times this week.. and the answer is, yes. You can still purchase a new computer that has Windows 7. (But be aware, this may not be the case for long.)

See: Tip: You can still buy a Windows 7 PC

“Choices will be more limited, but Windows 7 machines remain available.

Question: Do I have to get a new Windows computer with Windows 8? Can’t I just order up one with Windows 7 instead?” Read more..

*     *      *

Today’s quote: “People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered. Love them anyway. If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives. Do good anyway. If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies. Succeed anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow. Do good anyway. Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable. Be honest and transparent anyway. What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight. Build anyway. People who really want help may attack you if you help them. Help them anyway. Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt. Give the world your best anyway.” ~ Mother Teresa

Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

Foot In Mouth Disease

Man, sometimes I feel like such a jackass.

But in my own defense, I did not learn of yesterday’s tragic news until well after posting those frivolous videos.

Another school massacre …

I do not know what to say.

Derailed 2 (aka “Festive Friday Fun”)

I’m feeling generous, so how about a Two-for-the-Price-of-One special?

Fun video #1 Looking back, it’s kind of hard to believe they called this band “punk”..

Fun video #2 (a bit more in the Holiday spirit…)

Please be conscientious, and use good, healthy, “paranoid common sense” during this prime cybercrime season. (I.e., don’t open emails advertising extreme bargains on online stores you’ve never heard of before.) And, do the same while you’re in the malls, too (don’t leave your purse in the shopping cart, for instance).

Today’s tech reading:

* Google.com now ‘censors’ explicit content from image searches

“Google.com image search now restricts sexual or not-safe-for-work content, thanks to changes in the search engine’s SafeSearch settings. However, some are calling it “censorship.” Read more..

[How To Win Friends And Influence People: turn off their porn. Brilliant!]

* Team GhostShell leaks data (stolen) from 1.6 million accounts

“Team GhostShell, an Anonymous-related hacktivist group, has claimed that it leaked 1.6 million account details and records gleaned from dozens of organizations and businesses, including NASA, the FBI, the Credit Union National Association (CUNA) and the Institute of Makers of Explosives (IME).

The collective previously made headlines for posting online the data of 100 top-rated universities, as well as that of 100 websites for banks, consulting firms, government agencies and other institutions across various industries.” Read more..

[Yes, this is working out so well, let’s put even more info into databases! Better yet, let’s put it all into one or two giant databases, and let these same admins run them.]

Silly little poll (cont.)

Today’s quote: “Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.” ~ Mother Teresa

Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.

Derailed

Folks,
There have been some things happening here which are proving a major distraction, and my mind (and time) have not been on the tech and the blog. I ask for, and appreciate, your patience until I get things ‘back on track’.

And, please — be conscientious, and use good, healthy, “paranoid common sense” during this prime cybercrime season. (I.e., don’t open emails advertising extreme bargains on online stores you’ve never heard of before.) And, do the same while you’re in the malls, too (don’t leave your purse in the shopping cart, for instance).

It is the time of year to enjoy the best in life, not become crime victim, right?

Thanks.

Little White Xmas Tree

For those of you Windows 8 owners (or, if Santa brings you a new PC..) Two must-have downloads that make Windows 8 more bearable

“Rather than moaning about Windows 8, here are two downloads that make the user interface a lot more usable and bring back features that Microsoft decided to remove.” Read more..

For those seeking techy gift ideas be sure to check out the CNet Editors’ Holiday Gift Guides.

click me

Today’s quote: “Rings and jewels are not gifts but apologies for gifts. The only true gift is a portion of yourself.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Silly little poll (cont.)

Copyright 2007-2012 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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>> Folks, don’t miss an article! To get Tech – for Everyone articles delivered to your e-mail Inbox, click here, or to subscribe in your RSS reader, click here. <<

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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.