Tuesday Items

Folks, here are a few headlines and articles I found worthy of recommendation:

* Despite security flaws, legal failures: How to fight revenge porn

“The celebrity stolen nudes scandal has shined an uncomfortable light on everything from cloud security to sexual privacy. Now there’s finally a very public conversation happening about how hard it is for women to fight online attacks such as this.

I think it’s time to talk about fighting back.” Read more..

[ The article provides tips and advice for getting your stuff {i.e. embarrassing photos} removed {“taken down”} from the Internet. It’s not really about porn. ]

This article has me seriously re-interested in ditching Android and switching to a Windows phone; but what it says about Google is worth the read, too: Nokia 925: My first Windows phone

“What’s it like for a lifetime Apple and Android user to begin using a Windows phone? Violet Blue found out.” Read more..

And the follow-up article: The Windows phone: One month later

“It’s been just over one month since Violet Blue switched from being a lifetime Apple and Android user to trying out a Nokia 925. Our newest Windows Phone user has a few things to say.” Read more..

For those anxious for Windows 10 (and/or the new “Spartan” browser):

This is Spartan! Windows 10 Technical Preview, Build 10049

“With Build 10049 of Windows 10 Technical Preview, Greg Shultz gets his hands on the Project Spartan browser. Take a look at some of the changes you can expect to see.” Read more..

And.. I’ve said it before: Heads up people: Tech neck is crimpin’ my style and your skin

“That’s because people on BART and buses and in public places don’t talk to each other so much anymore. Heck, some of them can hardly lift up their heads to look away from the tiny screens they hold in their hands.” Read more..

Well, that’s enough for today. If you read only one, read the first one; it’ll make you more aware of how tech (and the Internet) really work. Have a good one, everybody.

Today’s quotable quote: “When we treat people merely as they are, they will remain as they are. When we treat them as if they were what they should be, they will become what they should be.” ~ Thomas S. Monson

Copyright 2007-2015 © “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.

Things Change (And Heartbleed)

The fact that “tech” has changed our lives is patently obvious. And talking with people, it’s pretty clear that the rate of that change has not always been .. a comfortable thing.
(The “Average Joe” really doesn’t understand geometric growth, and/or Moore’s Law.)

I came of age back in the days when there were only 4 – 6 television stations (which were tuned in by moving “rabbit ears” antennas); before there were ATM machines or cell phones, and a bicycle with TEN speeds was kinda a new idea, so, yeah, I know. Things change.

So the following items do not surprise me, really.

* Aereo signals cloudy future for broadcast TV

“Whether the New York-based streaming remote DVR service lives or dies at the hand of the Supreme Court, the future for television programming is firmly seated in the Cloud.” Read more..

No more (free) over-the-air TV?

Maybe not a bad thing.. they’re called “idiot boxes” for a reason.

* The price of popularity: Cloud security threats near on-premise levels

“Hackers are now targeting cloud-based apps and systems almost as much as on-premise environments, particularly with so-called brute force attacks and vulnerability scans.” Read more..

[The line I found most interesting.. “found that 14 percent of malware collected through the honeypots was considered “undetectable” by 51 percent of the leading antivirus software providers“.. Not good.]

What can you do about Heartbleed? By now, the Poindexters in the basement should have ‘patched’ their ‘servers’. So we can now do the one thing to try to protect our ‘identities’ – change our login passwords at the sites that collect PII (Social networking sites, ecommerce sites, and online banking sites, for example.)
But first, verify the patches have been applied by visiting safeweb.norton.com/heartbleed and enter the URL of the website in question.

Today’s quote: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” ~ Winston Churchill

Copyright 2007-2014 © “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.
And please, never forget – one person can make a difference.
Find a way to make someone’s day today.
(Best advice I ever heard? Don’t sweat the small stuff.)

Tuesday Tidbits and Rude People

I found these recent items interesting and/or important.

* Not quite sure what this spells for the future of IT, but here’s an Android 4.0 7″ tablet for $80 (can you say “disposable tech”?)

SVP Android 4.0 ICS 7″ Tablet PC w/ Google Play Store, Capacitive Touch Screen, WiFi, A13 & 1.3GHz

“Introducing SVP 7-inch Android 4.0 ICS Tablet PC with Google Play Store; Smart Pad with Capacitive Touch Screen, A13 1.3GHz CPU, WiFi Capability, Camera, 4GB Internal Memory. This is a recommended Tablet Computer in the market with superior design, easy application and top performance.“

* CISPA pits privacy against security: A closer look at the issues

“The United States Congress is once again considering a bill that could forever change how we as individuals use the internet. Michael P. Kassner looks at what those changes are.” Read more..

* 8 basic options for mobile printing

“Want to print something out using your tablet or smartphone? Although many mobile printing applications are still rather rudimentary, here are some applications you might want to research.” Read more..

* I find this funny. China’s foreign minister: Cyber space needs rules, not war

“A Chinese government official, who called mounting claims about the country’s cyber spying on the United States “shaky,” charged governing bodies to devise global hacking rules – a feat much easier said than done, history has proven.” Read more..

(That’s a bit like Hitler saying we need to give peace a chance..) (Oh. Wait. He did say that.. )

* Have people gotten ruder? You bet. Here’s an interesting article: Disruptions: Digital Era Redefining Etiquette

“Some people are so rude. Really, who sends an e-mail or text message that just says “Thank you”? Who leaves a voice mail message when you don’t answer, rather than texting you? Who asks for a fact easily found on Google?

Don’t these people realize that they’re wasting your time?” Read more..

* They said this tech would free us up from menial labor, and give us all a life of ease. I think it has resulted in job loss (replaced by a robot!) .. but ease? Four Steps to the Cloud: Start By Firing Your Sales Team

“Looking to get into the cloud business? Then fire your sales people.” Read more..

Well, that’s enough for today. Hope you found something interesting in that assortment. (The bold emphasis were mine.)

Today’s quote: “Let us tenderly and kindly cherish, therefore, the means of knowledge. Let us dare to read, think, speak, and write.” ~ John Adams

Copyright 2007-2013 © “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.

Better Than Dropbox and RapidShare (?)

Winners Announced And Some Friday Fun

Free Online File Storage/Sync/Share Sites You May Not Know About

Almost everyone, it seems, has heard of (and may already be using) Dropbox. And probably/maybe, at some point you have downloaded someone’s file from RapidShare.

Online file “sync”-ing services let you “upload” (to “the cloud”) files you select – such as MP3 songs, for example -where they are available to you (or, anyone you give access) from any Internet-connected device. This often is a better way to share than trying to send things by email – certainly is for large files.
People also use such services for keeping files “synced” between their work and home computers.
(BTW, I am told that no one uses email anymore..)

Intrepid Tech – for Everyone undercover operatives (you know who you are) have recently made me aware of two services I think you’ll want to know about. (I have not yet had time to personally test them out…)

• (WWW.CX.COM) Relaunched Cloud Storage App Still Offering 10 GB of Free Space

“Back in September I told you about www.cx.com, a Dropbox-like startup that was offering 10 GB of free storage space for new accounts, rather than the 2 GB offered by Dropbox. 

CX has recently undergone a major revamp.” Read more..

• Fyels Upload and share unlimited files up to 11GB each, for FREE

This (second) one does not even require you join, or give an email.. and there are no ads.. amazing.

Giveaway Winners Announced

The folks at Novosoft have generously donated 3 licenses for Office Backup 4.0 to me, to award to my readers. I sincerely thank thank them for that.

“Office Backup is an easy-to-use backup software designed to perform automated backup of your computer. If you are looking for a simple yet powerful backup utility, you have just found it – Novosoft Office Backup.“

Without further ado, the lucky winners are

Congratulations! My thanks to all who participated. (Winners, check your Inbox [and maybe your Junk folder] for the Subject Office Backup Winner)

Just plain fun:

Today’s quotable quote: “I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught.” ~ Winston Churchill

Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.

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Web to PDF – Quick Reading Reco

Fellow tech blogger Rick Robinette has discovered a free service I think you, Dear Reader, might like to know about..

Easily Convert Web Pages to a PDF File

“I have always been one where I try to find ways to avoid using the printer by electronically converting and storing my documents on my PC so that they can easily be retrieved later. As a result, I very, very seldom go to the printer to print anything. One example is when I need to print a web page…”

PDFmyURL is a new tool that lets you convert any url / webpage to a .pdf and download it instantly. The online tool is free and easy to use – simply enter the url you want converted, click the button, and receive the .pdf on your desktop.

Please read the rest of Rick’s article, here, and find out more. While you’re there, explore his site a little bit. Discover why What’s On My PC.. is one of my daily reads.