Tools Toys and Technology

About the Tools You Use and the Toys That Make Life Interesting

Tools Toys and Technology - About the Tools You Use and the Toys That Make Life Interesting

The New Face of Computers

Once Upon a Time…

There used to be two types of PCs: desktops and laptops.

Desktops consisted of a hefty case that housed the electronic brains of the machine. To that you added a monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and possibly other things. This collection of hardware took up a major portion of your desk, and the thing wasn’t particularly stylish.

Laptops combined all the components into one clam shell-like package, in the name of portability. But even that was a pretty utilitarian and kind of clunky device.

Those were the good old days when computer buying decisions were relatively easy to make. You just decided on a desktop or laptop, picked your favorite components and brand, and pulled out your credit card.

That was Then … This is Now …

Now you have:

  1. Classical desktops
  2. All-in-one desktops
  3. All-in-one/tablet hybrids
  4. Laptops
  5. Ultrabooks
  6. Ultrabook/tablet hybrids that swivel, slide, fold, dock, whatever…

And I’m not sure I covered everything. The evaluation process has become far more complicated.

In this and a followup article, I’m going to try to clarify the increasingly confusing PC landscape. I’ll have more to say about the portable computing options later. Today, I’m concentrating on the latest desktop developments.

Continue reading →

Tech Shortcuts You Should Know… but Probably Don’t

  • So, you know you can page down a Web page by just pressing the space bar, right? Go ahead, try it now. Hold down shift and hit the space bar to page back up.
  • A special tip for SaddleBrookers… Text too small on a Web page? Just press CTRL + as many times as you need to make the text readable. To make it smaller … you guessed it … CTRL –
  • Need to look up the spelling or the definition of a word? Go to Google and type: define anyword

These tips (and many more) all came from a TED talk by David Pogue. Watch 10 tech tips on TED now.

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By the way, if you’re not familiar with TED, it’s one of my favorite places on the Web. TED features short talks of almost every genre: educational, humor, technology, business, politics, you name it. Check out TED here.

Could YouTube Become the Next Netflix?

It’s been exactly a year since I first announced a rumor that YouTube was looking into offering paid subscriptions (see Paid YouTube Subscriptions? It Could Happen). Now it has come to pass.

No, YouTube is not undergoing a major shift in its character. It still lets users upload their own videos. And the major source of YouTube revenue is still advertising.

The paid subscription option is currently limited to 53 channels, with subscription rates from $1 to $10 per month. You can sign up for a 14-day free trial for each channel. One look at the paid offerings tells you that Netflix is not in any immediate danger of being impacted by a new YouTube competitor. But this is just the beginning, and it remains to be seen where this goes.

Will this move by YouTube migrate to other popular shows, which up to now have been free? And will viewers actually pull out their credit cards to pay for programming that they are used to getting for free? Time will tell.

It’s safe to say, this is another signpost along “Streaming Video Road.” A signpost to where? Give it a year and we’ll know. My guess … YouTube paid subscription channels are here to stay, and we’ll see a lot more of it in the not too distant future.

Homeland Security Employee Database Breached

Okay. Is it just me, or is this the ultimate in irony?

The Department of Homeland Security has notified employees and others with DHS clearance that their sensitive information may have been compromised due to a vulnerability in the database software. Potentially affected parties were just notified that their names, social security numbers, birth dates and other sensitive information has been exposed for almost 4 years. The potential impact is widespread, affecting current and past employees, contractors and applicants.

The Department of Homeland Security! Why do I feel a little less safe right now?

Roku gets PBS channel

If you’ve been following my Internet TV articles and posts, you know that of all the devices that can play streaming TV on your living room set, my personal preference is Roku. Actually that’s an understatement. In my humble opinion, it has no competition for its diversity in free and paid programming.

They’ve just given me one more reason to say that … PBS. This last week, the PBS channel was added to the extensive Roku channel list. That brings programming such as Antiques Roadshow, Great Performances, History Detectives, Masterpiece, Nature, and the venerable Nova to your streaming entertainment menu. And there’s much more besides that.

If you have a Roku, be sure to add this channel to your My Channels list. If you don’t have Roku, check out the Roku page here and read about the latest Roku 3.

Tablet PC = Streaming TV Receiver

I’ve talked about a number of streaming TV receivers in the past: Roku (my favorite by far), smart TVs (with streaming built-in), game consoles, Blu-ray players.

But there is another one that I’ve neglected to mention. It’s obvious, really, but I just never thought of it before.

If you have a Tablet PC, you have a streaming TV receiver

When I refer to “tablet PC” I’m speaking in the generic sense. I include every tablet I know of, whether it’s Android, iPad, Windows RT or Windows 8. They all have apps for Netflix, Hulu Plus and other streaming TV sources. If you have one of these devices, then all you need to enjoy streaming programs on your living room big screen is an HDMI adapter for your tablet. Then connect your tablet to an HDMI input for your TV, and there you have it. You can watch anything that Netflix or any other streaming app offers in all its 60-inch widescreen glory.

How does this differ from connecting a laptop to your TV?

I have discussed connecting a laptop to a TV before. Connecting your tablet to your TV via HDMI is just a special case of connecting any computer to your TV. Hardware-wise that’s true. But programming-wise, it may not be. You may have some streaming sources available to you as tablet apps that will not function on a computer.

It’s also a little neater from a footprint sense to sit a tablet by your TV, as opposed to a laptop or, heaven forbid, a desktop.

What do you need?

HDMI adapter for Galaxy Tab 2

Well, first you need your favorite tablet. Then you need a means of connecting it to HDMI.

I bought an adapter for my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 10.1; and I know iPad has one. There are so many tablet options these days, you’ll have to check your specific manufacturer. But, probably most if not all current tablets have some kind of HDMI capability.

So, chalk up one more application for these marvelously versatile devices.

KeePass – Great Product – Some NASTY Download Sites

Let me be clear about this. I love KeePass, a free password management tool that gets great reviews, and with good reason. I started using it a few months ago, and I now rely on it more than ever. I’ll be reviewing it soon, but I wanted to get this posted without delay, because you must…

Be Careful Where You Download It

Now for the warning. There are some review articles that reference download sites that, as far as I’m concerned, deliver malware along with the KeePass program. In fact I have in the past referenced one of them as a valid download site. But some time between when I last downloaded from there and now, things changed. They now dump a lot of other things on you when you think you’re getting only KeePass. In fact, both AVG and Malware Bytes identifies a Trojan in the download. I’m not going to identify the bogus download site here, as I don’t want to refer anybody to it.

Here’s the ONLY Place to Download KeePass

The official Website for KeePass Password Safe is KeePass.info. That’s the only place you should go to get it. If you get it from anywhere else, it could come with a surprise inside.

I say again. I love KeePass. The problem is not with KeePass. The problem is with disreputable download sites.

Freeware Best Practices

Generally speaking, you should go only to the official Website to download any product, especially freeware. They’re less likely to pawn off extra stuff on you.

And also generally speaking, only download software that you are sure what it is and what you are getting. “Free software” is frequently a carrot offered to get you to download malware. Used cautiously, it’s a great resource. But it can also jump up and bite you if you’re not careful.

Security Breaches On the Rise

Not a day goes by where I don’t see another warning…

  • Brute Force Attack on WordPress Underway. Details >>>
  • Breakin at Streaming Media company Vudu Compromises Customer Info. Details >>> 
  • Dropbox Used as Conduit Into Your Computer. Details >>>
  • Hacker Can Hijack a Plane in Flight using an Android App. Details >>>
  • Professional Canon Cameras Breached – Used for Clandestine Surveilance. Details >>>

What? Planes in Flight!? Bad guys can take control of the airplane I’m riding in and change the flight plan?

Yes, they can.

My own camera? They can even turn my own camera against me!?

Yes, they can.

I suppose one could become completely paranoid over this security thing. But I’d rather go overboard in protecting myself than become the proverbial sitting duck.

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