Category: General Tech Info

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Comcast Internet Essentials Now Connects 6 Million!

Comcast announced it has now connected more than six million low-income Americans to the Internet through its Internet Essentials program, which is the largest home internet program for low-income families in the U.S. The company connected more than two million people in the last year alone, which is the largest annual increase in the program’s history.  Comcast says it will expand eligibility to low-income veterans. According to the United States Census Bureau, about a third of low-income veterans do not have Internet service at home, and only about 60 percent own a computer.

“This program has had an enormous impact on millions of families and children who now have high-speed Internet at home, many for the first time in their lives,” said David L. Cohen, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer. “We’re excited to extend that same opportunity to more than one million, low-income veterans. Veterans have stood up for our country; now it’s time for us to stand up for them by providing access to life-changing digital tools and resources.”

Also of note, the company has sold more than 85,000 heavily subsidized computers.

Comcast attributes some of the recent growth of this program to an enrollment smartphone application, which now accounts for more than a third of all enrollments. The company has also redesigned its Internet Essentials Learning Center with new content from Common Sense Media and ConnectSafely.org. The site now includes a variety of tools to help users learn vital computer skills.

Works Cited

B. (2018, August 24). CORRECTING and REPLACING Comcast Has Now Helped Connect More Than Six Million Low-Income Americans to the Internet Through Its Internet Essentials Program. Retrieved August 24, 2018, from https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/correcting-and-replacing-comcast-has-now-helped-connect-more-than-six-million-low-income-americans-to-the-internet-through-its-internet-essentials-program-2018-08-24
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Verizon Accused of throttling fire department internet

Santa Clara County firefighters were critically hindered by slow internet service during the massive Mendocino Complex fire in July after Verizon slowed the speed of their wireless data, the county’s fire chief wrote.

While the agency believed it had paid for an unlimited data plan, the Santa Clara County Fire Department discovered its data connection had been slowed down by well over 98% as it fought the blaze. Verizon Wireless representatives told the department it had exceeded its plan limit for data and suggested the agency purchase a plan at more than double the cost, according to court documents.

Verizon said, “This customer purchased a government contract plan for a high-speed wireless data allotment at a set monthly cost.  Under this plan, users get an unlimited amount of data but speeds are reduced when they exceed their allotment until the next billing cycle.  Verizon wrote that the company has a practice to remove data speed restrictions for emergency responders regardless of the plan they have chosen in emergency situations. In this situation, we should have lifted the speed restriction when our customer reached out to us.  We are reviewing the situation and will fix any issues going forward.

Electronic Frontier Foundation said, “the situation undercuts the argument that net neutrality rules hindered emergency services by not allowing internet service providers to prioritize their data.  They’ve often said if we’re allowed to throttle some and not others then we can give better service to emergency responders. We’re seeing here that’s not true.  It wasn’t net neutrality that prevented them from doing it. It’s clearly their own policies.”

Unlimited with a throttle is not the same as Unlimited Throttled!  Learn the easy way and pay for a good data plan.

Works Cited

Fry, H. (2018, August 22). Verizon ‘throttled’ critical internet service during wildfire battle, fire chief says. Retrieved August 23, 2018, from http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-data-throttling-20180822-story.html#
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Netflix to skirt on paying Apple Computers

Netflix is reportedly looking to become the latest tech firm to avoid paying out fees to Apple. Normally, Apple handles all the billing for apps itself, but at a cost to the developers in the form of high commissions.  If you’re unable to access Netflix through the app on an Apple device, you may need get back in using a browser since Netflix is attempting to take control of billing away from Apple. For Apple’s cash cow service, this is bad news.  The App Store generated about $11.5 billion in revenue for Apple last year. That money comes from the commission Apple takes from developers. Of the millions of apps available in the App Store, Netflix currently ranks number three on the highest-grossing charts.

But according to a report, Netflix is testing a way to avoid sharing those huge profits.

Until recently, if a user downloaded the Netflix app on their Apple device and signed up for the service on that Apple device, billing was handled by Apple and was by and large quite simple.  Now after the initial charges for the first month, developers are trying to break people out of the Apple ecosystem and keep more for themselves; and rightfully so too.

That minor inconvenience is a big part of Apple’s business plan since, Apple touts itself as the company of convenience. But is a bit too controlling for third party developers and Apple should share more with them since they are harder to code for than windows or android due to the very secretive nature of their code-bases.

Works Cited

Jones, R. (2018, August 21). Netflix Tests New System That Lets It Avoid Paying Apple. Retrieved August 21, 2018, from https://gizmodo.com/netflix-tests-new-system-that-lets-it-avoid-paying-appl-1828488485
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Data Sovereignty and India

Data sovereignty is on the rise across the world. Laws and regulations increasingly require that citizen data be stored in local data centers, and restrict the flow of that data across the internet. The European Union’s GDPR policy is one example, although it’s relatively porous. China’s relatively new cloud computing law is much more strict, and forced Apple to turn over iCloud data of Chinese users.  Now, it appears that India will join this policy movement.

According to sources at Reuters, an influential cloud policy panel has recommended that India mandate data localization in the country in the name of security.  That panel is headed by well-known local entrepreneur Kris Gopalakrishnan, who founded Infosys, the IT staffing giant in the region and quite honestly the bane of IT professionals across the world.

That report would match other policy statements from the Indian political establishment in recent months. The government’s draft National Digital Communications Policy this year said that data sovereignty is very important to the Indian Government.

The report called for the government by 2022 to “Establish a comprehensive data protection regime for digital communications that safeguards the privacy, autonomy and choice of individuals and facilitates India’s effective participation in the global digital economy.”

It’s that last line that is increasingly the objective of governments around the world. While privacy and security are certainly top priorities, governments now recognize that the economics of data are going to be crucial for future innovation.  Maintaining local control of data through whatever means necessary ensures that cloud providers and other services have to spend locally and thus reverses or at least attempts to correct the unintended fallout of globalization and bad deals.

Works Cited

Crichton, D. (2018, August 04). India may become next restricted market for U.S. cloud providers. Retrieved August 20, 2018, from https://techcrunch.com/2018/08/04/india-may-become-next-restricted-market-for-u-s-cloud-providers/

 

 

 

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GPS without a signal

And by signal, we mean a cell signal.  Many people use their phone to get around, but what if you’re so far from civilization that you have no internet?

Google Maps is installed on almost every Android device and can also be installed on iOS ones. It offers the option of storing maps and information for offline use on your phone.  Just select offline maps in the main sidebar menu.  It’s even possible to search within this selected area without mobile reception. However, the offline map doesn’t contain as much information as its internet connected brother.

Of course there are alternatives to Google Maps like Waze, but they aren’t as polished or as tested by your local Uber driver as Google Maps.  All you need is a smartphone, storage, and the ability to download the maps ahead of time. Maps downloaded for offline use can be several hundred megabytes in size; it’s best to download them over a WiFi connection so as not to consume your data allowance.  For the apps to work, they have to be given permission to access the smartphone’s location and GPS has to be enabled. GPS doesn’t need an Internet connection or even phone reception, but it does consume a lot of energy, so it makes sense to bring a power cord.

If you need help, we offer remote support, and offer competitive pricing for customers who meet us at an Enoch Pratt Library Branch.

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5G aimed at those pesky cord cutters

It’s been the bane of any TV lover. They get frustrated with their provider and want to switch but have few options.  For residents of four select markets this year, 5G could be change that. There are the four markets Verizon will be testing 5G in later this year.

The 5G networks have been touted as the next big thing for wireless consumers, a way for them to get lower latency, with videos that will open immediately and downloads that will take seconds instead of minutes. But no true 5G phones are available now, and iPhones expected in September probably won’t be able to access 5G signals either.

Where will we see 5G first? In our living rooms, with 4 gigabit per second speeds.  Many times faster than most americans are used to.  Speeds usually reserved for data centers, the government, academia, and internet backbones.  From the same companies that have been providing broadband in the home for years.

This week, Verizon touted home broadband for its 5G tests and said it would partner with Apple TV for the set-top box and YouTubeTV, the cable TV alternative, when it launches later this year. ATT is set to test 5G as well later, but in nine markets instead of four.

We saw many other 5G announcements this week, but few had much going for them. Motorola released what it says is the first 5G-capable phone, the MotoZ3, but there’s a catch. It won’t work with 5G until service starts, and consumers will need an adapter to bring in 5G signals. Sprint said it would release a phone from LG that worked with 5G,  but not until 2019.

Cord-cutting has become a worldwide phenomenon as consumers tired of spending countless sums of money for the few things they actually want and a bunch of stuff they don’t.  ATT, which owns DirecTV, is currently the No. 1 broadband provider, and Verizon is still a major cable tv provider.  Connectivity might get a little cheaper, but the cost of video will rise as greedy entertainment and sports companies jack up their rates, and consumers are urged to order more monthly streaming services.  It’s not likely to see wireless 5G happening until 2019 at the earliest, becoming more widespread in 2020.

Works Cited
Graham, J. (2018, August 18). New 5G networks aimed at cord cutters. Retrieved August 18, 2018, from https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2018/08/18/new-5-g-networks-verizon-and-t-aimed-cord-cutters-and-cable-alternatives/1025250002/
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ACM Hippocratic Oath For Computing Professionals

This code was just released a few months ago, but since we were not aware of it, we’ll adapt our bill of rights, policies, and procedures to it.  Honestly were were ahead of the game 3 years ago, and we still are, but here’s a summary of it.

1.1 Contribute to society and to human well-being, acknowledging that all people are stakeholders in computing.

1.2 Avoid harm.

1.3 Be honest and trustworthy.

1.3 Be honest and trustworthy.

1.5 Respect the work required to produce new ideas, inventions, creative works, and computing artifacts.

1.6 Respect privacy.

1.7 Honor confidentiality.

Works Cited

Garcia, S. E. (2018, August 15). For 9 Hours, Cubans Got Internet in an Unusual Place: Everywhere. Retrieved August 16, 2018, from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/15/world/americas/cuba-internet-mobile-phones.html
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9 hours of Cuban Mobile Internet

If you walk through Cuba, you’ll  see groups of people huddled around places with their cellphones held up to their faces. These people are online.

In order to use any internet, Cubans must buy an internet access card for about a dollar from Etecsa, the state-run telecommunications company, and then find a public hot spot.  But this is changing allegedly.  Tuesday, the Cuban government tested internet directly on mobile phones nationwide. The internet was free for the test, but Etecsa plans to sell mobile phone plans that include internet service.

The test started at 11 a.m. and concluded at 8 p.m., according to Ms. Sánchez.  “The connection was very slow, with a lot of problems for stretches of time,” she said in an interview on Wednesday. “At one point the connection was dropped, but even so, it felt like a tiny window had been opened.”

Cubans could use only basic services, and it was very difficult to connect to Facebook, she said.  Sources reported that privileged users, including official journalists, businessmen and diplomats, have been enjoying free internet from their cellphones for the last couple of weeks.

For now, most people stand around at the government hotspots paying a dollar for a sliver of internet and risk their phones and lives.

Works Cited

Garcia, S. E. (2018, August 15). For 9 Hours, Cubans Got Internet in an Unusual Place: Everywhere. Retrieved August 16, 2018, from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/15/world/americas/cuba-internet-mobile-phones.html

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Fortnite for Android Scams PSA

When Fortnite developer Epic Games decided to skip the Google Play Store and asked players to install from its website instead, the decision made sense for Epic Games. By cutting out Google, Epic could retain 100 keep all of the games revenues and retain more control over the game as a whole.  However, the decision to sidestep the trusted way to download Android apps has also opened up Fortnite fans to getting exploited.

Really, it was only a matter of time until hackers tried to take advantage of the situation to spread malware. And according to multiple sources, it seems that in less than a week after Fortnite’s debut on Android, at least seven unauthorized sites have already popped up disguised as sources for people to download Fortnite.

So here’s a bit of common sense: Stop trying to download Fortnite from false sources. There’s only one place you can go to officially get Fortnite for Android—It’s here: Fortnite.com/android—directly from Epic Games. Anyone who says differently is trying to mess you up big-time.  Even Google has a message on the Play Store when you search for Fortnite, explaining that the game isn’t available there. So if you happen to see something in the Play Store that looks like the popular game, don’t fall for it.

Works Cited
Rutherford, S. (2018, August 16). Please Don’t Download Fortnite for Android From Sketchy Places. Retrieved August 16, 2018, from https://gizmodo.com/please-dont-download-fortnite-for-android-from-sketchy-1828385489
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New four figure iPhones

Apple’s gamble on higher-priced iPhones is working, with the iPhone X showing that plenty of people are willing to spend multiple car payments on a delicate and feature rich phone.

There have been reports of Apple Pencil support for future iPhones, encouraged by Tim Cook, in which he talked of having used the two together. Offering iPhone compatibility could significantly boost sales of the accessory.

Additionally, sources expect both OLED models to offer three storage tiers rather than the two of the iPhone X. Sources suggest that in addition to the existing 64GB and 256GB tiers, Apple will also offer a 512GB option. If even a relatively small percentage of buyers opt for this, it will still help apple maintain its status as a trillion dollar company.  Just to give you an idea of how much storage 512GB is, that is over 100 DVD Movies in 720p resolution, which most people are ok with.

For the LCD model, expected to offer something like the iPhone X design at a more affordable price, tech reporters expect Apple to offer 64GB and 256GB tiers, and for the phone to have 3GB RAM in contrast with 4GB for the OLED models.

They say that the LCD model is a low $600, but when you could get: a PC with games and all the fix ins from a custom builder, or a few months of car payments and car insurance, that seems steep to us.  In short, along with the t-mobile and sprint merger, I’d say it’s for the best to skip this round of iPhones, wait until the big four carriers merge into the big 3. Wait for your phone to completely die, and maybe switch to a nicer android that you can modify to your needs like the Motorola mods phones.

Works Cited

Lovejoy, B., & EU. (2018, August 14). 2018 OLED iPhones to support Apple Pencil, with 512GB top tier – Trendforce. Retrieved August 14, 2018, from https://9to5mac.com/2018/08/14/2018-iphone-specs/