Friday, February 26, 2016

Facebook, Google, Microsoft to join tech industry in supporting Apple in court | Computerworld

Facebook, Google, Microsoft to join tech industry in supporting Apple in court | Computerworld:

This is important and I believe that everyone should get behind Apple, Facebook, Google, and Microsoft in this. If the FBI convinces congress to force Apple to break their encryption  we will lose whatever is left of our Democracy.

The complete takeover of our lives is at steak! That is not an outlandish statement. All you have to do is look at history. You can lie back and say "it could never happen here", it will.

Support big tech in this case. Force the FBI, the NSA, and others, to do their own dirty work. Not to worry they will.

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Monday, February 15, 2016

Best Newsletter I Have Found - Inside Daily Brief

Over the years (20+) I have tried many different ways to get quick news via the Internet. I got over newspaper's in the late 90's and since then I have been searching for the best way to find news.

I have tried apps however some of them have cost me in the way the push data and then my data usage goes up. Some news sites have way too much information that has nothing to do with news. I like Flipboard and visit it most days however it is not a quick read and I save it for coffee breaks.

On the other hand Inside Daily Brief fits my requirement for news. First you get it in your inbox so I don't have to open anything else - I check my email first thing in the morning and there it is.

You get paragraphs, video's, and links to the news source. It is a quick, easy, read. Plenty of white-space and breaks between information. Not confusing.

This is my first choice. Sign up - it's free. https://newsletter.inside.com/

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Sunday, February 14, 2016

Gearing Up for the Cloud, AT&T Tells Its Workers: Adapt, or Else - The New York Times

Everyone should read this. "Gearing Up for the Cloud, AT&T Tells Its Workers: Adapt, or Else - The New York Times:" Actually it should be mandatory for all of management to understand what is happening here.

Sadly this could be subscription reading so you may have to search on the Internet for other links.

Every job we know today, including the car salesperson, will ultimately go away. Like the newspaper industry there will be a great deal of kicking and screaming however the jobs will still go away.

It is coming at us faster that we know.

The young are already living it. The people to get hurt will be 35 years plus. Those that have settled into their jobs as comfortable, raising a family, paying the mortgage. Those over 60 today will be retired when this hits hard. If you want to work into your later years because today's health is getting better, then you better take a class. Stick your next out and LEARN something.

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AI 'could leave half of world unemployed' | Technology | The Guardian

The complete article: "Would you bet against sex robots? AI 'could leave half of world unemployed' | Technology | The Guardian:" is a very interesting read.

Those that want to stop this may not have the understanding that it will not, or cannot, be stopped. In other words:  "The genie is already out of the bottle" and there is no going back.

Those that have the technology will continue to work on it and those that want to be devious will continue to be devious. We have to learn how to live with it and how to watch for the devious, the evil. This is not new.

I suggest you read the article.

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Saturday, February 13, 2016

Cruz app data collection helps campaign read minds of voters |AP

Unbelievable! You have to read this.
Cruz app data collection helps campaign read minds of voters:

Big Brother is in your pocket or purse.
His "Cruz Crew" mobile app is designed to gather detailed information from its users' phones — tracking their physical movements and mining the names and contact information for friends who might want nothing to do with his campaign.
This is an evil use of technology. And he is not the only one using these tools, there are others.

Questions:
  • Is this ethical?
  • Where does the line get drawn? 
  • Who will ultimately see or get this data? 
  • What is the value of this data?
  • Will this data be sold for campaign funds? 
  • Where will this form of data collection ultimately lead to? 
  • Are out politicians profiling the american people?
    • When thinking about the above question consider potential outcomes.
  • Do you really believe that these people are protecting your privacy?   
We could go on with question after question. 

If there is anything funny in this it's that these politician's call each other untrustworthy. 

Sunday, February 7, 2016

I agree with Robert Scoble; A job title I would be envious of.

Sci-Fi Author Neal Stephenson Joins Mystery Startup Magic Leap as 'Chief Futurist' | WIRED:

After reading this I would put Magic Leap on the list to watch however I am more inclined to follow Google and their connection. I would love to have a start up with Sundar Pichai on the board. He did not get to the position at Google without having some instinct for the future. That is almost as valuable as the money.

Interesting about Social Media. I was led to this link via a Tweet by Robert Scoble that had a link to his Facebook page. Now I follow Robert (@Scobleizer) on Twitter and then on Facebook. I know that he will find things I would be interested in reading/knowing.

Yes I connect with my family and friends on Facebook and although Robert Scoble does not know me personally I consider him worthy of being a friend.

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Wednesday, February 3, 2016

WONDERFUL - Microsoft confirms soft keyboard buy | Computerworld

Maybe, just maybe, Microsoft will catch up on the keyboard side of things. This, for me and many users, is a great move. There is a forum at Microsoft that talks about this but we are not getting much feedback from Microsoft. It is also one of my major complaints with Windows 10. On a tablet with a touch screen who want to be pecking and pecking when it is so much faster and easier to use a SwiftKey or Swype like keyboard.

Actually I have been using a Qwerty keyboard for over 60 years and at one time reached a very good keyboard speed. Now with Swype I can fly. The one thing I emphasize when teaching is the keys are in the same place on every keyboard, so once you learn where the letter A is it will always be there. Swyping is EASY and fast.

Microsoft confirms soft keyboard buy | Computerworld:

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Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Good news for Bluetooth users

The following article in Computerworld talks about advances upcoming in Bluetooth. My only hope would be that changes in distance (and timing) would work with prior items.

My biggest  issue is Bluetooth headsets in the home. I want from my room to the kitchen to get a drink and I lose connection. I cannot go into the basement without losing the sound. True wireless is better however most headsets are Bluetooth today. I think that all the headset manufacturers believe that the only people who use headsets are gamer's and always sitting at their computer. Not so....

Bluetooth wireless range and speed are getting better | Computerworld:

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