Chet Davis - Your Technology Tutor

Free Print-able Calendars Online

I use Google Calendar regularly -- with the ability to pull up my schedule and future appointments from any computer, and even on my mobile phone.  But recently I needed to print out and send a hard-copy calendar - after a brief search online I found free Printable Calendars from Printfree.com.

 

They have a _huge_ selection of calendars to choose from and print. I greatly appreciate that they are, in fact, free.  Many websites that come up in searches suggest they have free this or that, but in fact require you to join their site or have some other requirement. These calendars can be printed for free, right away.  Thanks Printfree.com!  (I have not used any of their other print-able items but their main menu suggests they offer a great deal more - like greeting cards, etc).

Here's a screen-shot of their Calendar selection page (and yes they still have 2010 months available).  Visit their website to print your calendars or to check their other products: www.PrintFree.com

New Computer Security Risk for Windows & Mac OS X

Thanks to a heads-up from my friend & colleague Bob Skidmore - aka: The Gadgeteer -- I wanted to pass along a new computer security risk ('Boonana' Trojan horse) that is apparently spread initially through Facebook and then through email.

The short, simple solution is if you receive any questionable email message, check it out with the sender first -- then, if you run a video from an e-mail or Facebook site and it asks for a password, do not supply it with anything, quit the installer, and remove the video from your system.

The installer cannot do anything to your system if you do not supply your password, so unlike a virus that can self-propagate, this should be relatively easy to remove by just deleting the file.

 

This 'Trojan horse' appears as a link on people's Facebook pages that may have the text "Is this you in this video?" in the link. When the link is clicked, the Trojan will run a Java applet that will download other files to the computer and run an installer automatically.

The Trojan will run in the background and appears to report system information to servers on the Internet, which can be a big breach of personal information. The Trojan also will attempt to spread itself by sending messages from the user account to other people through spam e-mail messages.

You can read more here: CNET Review - Critical Security Risk

 

I would also recommend reading the post I made earlier this month: Stop. Think. Connect -- Great Tips for National Cyber Security Month

USPS Mobile - a Mobile Optimized Webiste & app for iPhone/iPod Touch

The United States Postal Service (USPS) has a great app for mobile phone / Smart Phone customers.  Ok, maybe I am behind the curve on this one as this was released back in January of this year -- but I recently came across this and used it the very next day!

There are actually two options for mobile users to access information about/from the USPS - first there is the USPS Mobile app for iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch.  I downloaded this earlier this week and while I was out of the office, in another city I needed to drop off a package at a Post Office branch and I remembered I had this new App! 

I opened it up and the first thing it asked was 'the USPS Mobile would like to use your location -- allow?'  I clicked OK and then clicked find 'Locations'.  I could select from 'Post Office Locations, Automated Postal Centers, or Collection Boxes.  I needed this to get out at the next pick-up time so I selected Post Office Locations.  It showed where I was (with a blue dot) and the locations of the nearby Post Office branches... perfect! 

Clicking on any of these red flags brings the address, distance and even directions to the location.  Also provided is the desk hours and last pick-up time.  And the App is free.  I highly recommend down-loading this one as it may serve you well -- especially with the winter holidays approaching (sending presents to family & friends near and far).  More info on this app is here: USPS Mobile for iPhone, iPod Touch & iPad 

If you are without an 'i-Product' (Apple mobile device) but have the capability to view a website on your SmartPhone, click on over to m.usps.com.

On this special USPS website - optimized for the Mobile Phone - you can

• Look up a ZIP Code
• Find a Postal location
• Get delivery information with Track & Confirm

 

You can find out more about these USPS Mobile services on the website here: USPS Mobile

 

Apple Introduces 2 New Models of the MacBook Air

Earlier this week (at Apple's Back to the Mac press conference) Steve Jobs announced  and demonstrated some sleek new Apple products... front and center were the two new computer models called Mac Book Air.

 

The MacBook Air is a Macintosh notebook computer designed by Apple, described as the "world's thinnest notebook." It is positioned as the ultraportable in Apple's MacBook family and was originally introduced at the Macworld Conference & Expo back in January 2008.

Here is the summary from Apple computer on the two new MacBook Air models:  A great portable computer needs great battery life. MacBook Air gives you up to 5 hours of power on the 11-inch model, up to 7 hours on the 13-inch model, and up to 30 days of standby time.

You can read more about the two new MadBook Air models on the Apple website here: Macbook Air: The Next Generation of MacBooks

There has been a fair amount of 'chatter' in the technology press in the few days since the new MBA (MacBook Air) computers were released by Apple.  I had the change to 'play' with one myself and found it amazing that this kind of computing power is housed inside a device that is so lightweight... very slick and well designed product.

For a comprehensive review of the first-hand experience with the new MacBook Air, I share with you a review from the folks at CNET:  Hands-on with the 11.6-inch MacBook Air 

Suggestions for dealing with Mobile Phone 'Bill Shock'

This week I came across an online column on CNET.com written by Marguerite Reardon titled 'Ask Maggie'  This is a weekly advice column that answers readers' wireless and broadband questions.

Her column this week deals with a particulary frightening prospect in the age of digital connections:

"Imagine opening your wireless bill and finding a charge for $8,000.

That's exactly what happened to one family, who wrote to Ask Maggie for some advice. These victims of "bill shock" are not alone. The Federal Communications Commission said earlier this week that it gets nearly 1,500 complaints every year about outrageous phone bills. To help curb this problem, the FCC this week voted to consider new regulation that would require operators to provide alerts when subscribers are about to go over their voice, text, or data limits.

In this week's Ask Maggie column she shares some tips for avoiding "bill shock," and provides information on where people affected by this issue can file their complaints or share their stories. Check out this on-line column here: CNET News - Ask Maggie

 

Dragon Dictation 2.0 -- Awesome Free App for iPhone, iPad

Just a few weeks back I came across the iPhone app 'Dragon Dictation'    by the company Nuance (who also produce the Dragon Naturally Speaking & Dragon Dictate speech recognition software.  The amazing fact about the Dragon Dictation (available for iPhone, Ipad and iPod Touch) is that it is free and it works very well! I have used it to update my Facebook status, created text messages and even wrote an email.  All this via dictation - me just talking into my iPhone.

Here's a short video that highlights the Dragon Dictation app

 

To read more about this free application - as well as to access the link to download it via your iTunes - visit this web page: Dragon Dictation By Nuance Communications

Verizon and AT&T to both sell iPad in Retail Stores

Yesterday, Verizon made the announcement that it will being selling the Wi-Fi version of the Apple iPad beginning on October 28th of this year.  This will be bundled with the Verizon portable hot-spot device, called the MiFi.

On the same day, AT&T announced that it will be selling both the WiFi and 3G versions of the Apple iPad Tablet computer in it's retail stores

The move to enable Verizon to sell the iPad and offer it on it's MiFi network is a sure sign that Apple & Verizon are truly working together (and has some folks interested in the future prospects for an iPhone for the Verizon network.

By the way, the reason Verizon is bundling the iPad with the Verizon MiFi portable hot-spot device is that the iPad's 3G internet connection will not work with the Verizon network - so it goes 'through' this connection device.

 

Stop. Think. Connect -- Great Tips for National Cyber Security Month

You _might_ be aware that October is 'National Cyber Security Awareness Month'.  As shared on a Google Blog post this month "Governments, industry and everyday people have been abuzz this year about online security to a larger extent than ever before. People are talking about their information, how they share it with others and how they secure it. With more information moving online, and with cyber attacks on the rise, we think it’s important that we keep the conversation about security flowing"

The issue of Cyber Security seems daunting enough if that's your full-time job, but for most of us 'digital citizens' the questions pop up -- what do we need to know?  What can we possibly do to protect ourselves, our family and to make the 'web' a safer place for everyone?  Actually we're in luck there - a consortium has created a website with a short list of helpful.  The website is Stop. Think. Connect.

Check out the well-written and easy to understand information here Tips & Advice.

The page provides a list of five distinct tips & advice to achieve each of these tips/goals:

• Keep a Clean Machine

• Protect Your Personal Information

• Connect with Care

• Be Web Wise

• Be a Good Online Citizen

Toshiba shows new 3DTV without special glasses

This past week Toshiba premiered 3DTV that does not require 3D glasses!  The required use of special 3D glasses has been one of the complaints consumers have with this new entertainment technology.

The firm unveiled the sets at the Ceatec electronics show in Tokyo - the two TV sets that were displayed are able to create 3D effects in real time from standard film and television pictures.The televisions use a special sheet to create an array of nine overlapping images.

A viewer sees different images with each eye, creating the illusion of a 3D picture. The system is similar to that used in the Nintendo 3DS handheld console. You can read the rest of the article, with more details on this new form of 3D TV along with the criticism of it here: BBC Technology News

In other 3D TV news this week, CEA (Consumer Electronics Association) released a report indicating that "eight in ten consumers who have seen 3DTV first-hand have a positive experience".   This is based on a polling of the 21% who had a demonstration or 'experience' with 3D TV in a retail setting.

You can read the entire article online here: What do Consumers Actually Think of 3D TV?

 

iPhone for the Verizon Wireless Networks

There is news this week that I know will make some of my friends happy, but make some executives at AT&T less happy. According to reports, Apple has plans to make a new iPhone model that is compatible with the Verizon Wirelss network. 

The reasons this would make some folks happy is they applaud the iPhone appliance but do/did not approve of or appreciate the AT&T wireless network.  They had complaints about technical issues relating to the service/s of AT&T.  As a former Sprint customer myself, I switched to AT&T a little more than 1 year ago when I moved to the iPhone 3Gs and have had largely positive experience with AT&T.  There _have_ been some dropped calls but not a significant number to me. Perhaps it has to do with my living in the greater SF Bay Area (where I understand AT&T network is fairly strong). 

It is my understanding that those already using an iPhone on the AT&T network would require the purchase of a new iPhone, that you could not simply switch providers (if that interests you). You can read more about the Apple/Verizon plans in today's Washington Post Online: Apple to make iPhone for Verizon Wireless

As a side note, I was catching up on my reading this past week and came across an article in the August 2010 issue of Wired Magazine, telling the story about the friction between Apple and AT&T.  It is an interesting read into the challenges between this rocky relationship.

You can read that article - written by Fred Vogelstein - here Bad Connection: Inside the iPhone Network Meltdown