Chet Davis - Your Technology Tutor

Flashback Botnet - Check to Ensure Your Mac Computer is Not Infected

Anyone with a Mac computer running Mac OS X would be wise to check to ensure your computer is not infected with the latest Malware that has been confirmed in some 600,000 Mac computers (with 50% of them in North America). You can do so with fairly easy to follow instructions on this page on the Digital Trends Website

Scroll down to the section 'Am I Infected?' (beneath the world map) and follow the few steps. They even tell you where to find the 'Terminal' application which you'll use.  I checked our 3 Mac computers and we're clean in this household!

The above article also recommends you disable Java. You may find that even though they suggest that Java should be disabled.  But if you find you need/want Java, Apple this week also released a Java patch (update) that is secure.  You will find this update here: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1516

A Few Facebook Keyboard Shortcuts

You may know of a few favorite keyboard short-cuts for a software application you use regularly.  Many of us use the cut, copy, and paste commands ('command'+'x', 'command'+'c', 'command'+'v') for word processing and other applications.

If you have a Facebook account, you may be pleased to know that there are a few keyboard shortcuts you can use while on the Social site.

I read this at first and was anticipating some really cool short-cuts but honestly I was not _that_ thrilled to see the list.

And the key combinations you use depends on the web browser you are using -- if you're one of the folks in the majority and use Internet Explorer, sorry but your browser does not work with these... if you are on a Windows computer - you can use these with Firefox or Chrome, and on a Mac you can use Firefox, Chrome, or Safari.

You can read the entire (short) list of these keyboard short-cuts on this CNET article byEd Rhee: How to use Facebook with keyboard shortcuts

My favorite shortcut which must be newer as it does not appear on the lists that have been circulaiting for a few weeks now - is only applicable when you have a photo in the viewer (after you click on a photo). Simply click the 'L' key and it will Like the photo for you! Pressing 'L' a second time will 'un-like' the photo.

Free Webinar: Intro to Timeline Profile for Facebook Fan Pages

In this FREE on-line classroom Your Technology Tutor Chet Davis will provide an introduction to the new Timeline profiles on Facebook Fan Pages (for business & organizations).

You'll get an overview of why your entity should have a Facebook Page (or maybe why it doesn't matter to you), what the new features of Timeline are, and how a business/organization can take full advantage of the new changes.
Chet will be offering a complete on-line class to help folks start and embellish a fully customized Facebook Fan Page later in April 2012.
This 45-minute session is an introduction to this new Facebook Fan Page Profile View.

The recording of our session will be available to those who sign-up in case you cannot make the live session or if you wish to review the information.

Register for the session below that suits your schedule:
Wed, Apr 4, 2012 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM Pacific / 12:00Noon Eastern
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/519020026

Thu, Apr 5, 2012 6:00 PM - 6:45 PM PDT / 9:00PM Eastern
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/589146474

Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration
with information you need to join the Webinar.

Facebook Timeline Assistance for You - and Your Business / Organization

I have had a request from several Facebook Friends to re-post my 12-minute introduction to help you set-up your Facebook Timeline, and so I happily share the link here: Facebook Timeline is Here.

The Facebook Timeline view also was applied by Facebook yesterday to the Facebook 'Fan' Pages - pages by businesses and organizations.  You can check out my new Timeline view on my Facebook Page for Your Technology Tutor here: https://www.facebook.com/YourTechnologyTutor (if you visit please 'like' my page).

Here's a screen capture of my new Tech Tutor Facebook Page

You will note the Cover Photo and the customized 'Apps', the icons just beneath the Cover photo at upper right. Cool stuff! I will be presenting an on-line workshop this next week for businesses who wish to maximize their Facebook presence. I will post details for this special on-line workshop here early next week.

Driverless Car... See One of Google's Cars in Action

Amazing but true... I believe there are so many amazing revolutionary developments in technology happening all around us.  Sometimes it's difficult to 'stay on top' of all the happenings.  Some are small steps that lead to a very useful future product or service - others are grandiose by themselves. 

This is one I believe quite amazing -- Google released a video this week.  That by itself is nothing at all new. This video highlighted a test run with the Self Driving Car being developed by Google.  The person behind the wheel in the video is a sightless person - he's what many of us would call blind!

Check out the video while Steve Mahan takes a trip to Taco Bell

Here's a great article by Peter Valdes-Dapena at CNN who provides a summary of the development, acceptance and future of the Driverless Car.

Cloud Based Data Storage... What's The Best Plan?

A client today asked me if I know anything about a cloud basec company called OpenDrive. 

 

I believe my reply may be of interest to others as well... what do you think? Share your thoughts and experience in the comments below.

 

A quick look, it appears to be a good solution. I do not know anything about the company, it's longevity, etc.

As you likely know there are a number of solutions similar to this company.
I believe what sets companies apart is perhaps their history, their ability to stay in business (with your precious data), and what features they offer that would be important to you (remote access, sharing across devices, etc).  If it were me I would also select a service that is platform independent... in other words that works on both Mac and Windows comptuers.

With the recent government crackdown on Megaupload, the provider in New Zealand accused of internet piracy - a lot of other innocent, law abiding folks had their data become unavailable , if only for a few days.  I am afraid to say that the best option is to not only store precious data in the cloud with a reputable firm but also locally, on an external HDD (Hard Disk Drive) in perhaps a safe deposit box.

Anyway, that's my 2-cents -- what's your opinion, or experience with cloud-based storage?

Helpful video from Consumer Report: Fine Tune Your TV settings

If you have a big-screen TV it is possible your display is not giving you the best picture. There are a host of menu options that can be easily set to provide you with optimum colors, etc. Here is a helpful short video (by the folks at Consumer Reports) to help you set your own display.

"When watching the Big Game—or anything else on your TV, for that matter—you'll want to optimize the TV's settings: fix the color, contrast, brightness, and so on, to make your picture as realistic as possible. With today's televisions, that can be an intimidating prospect! In this video, our lab expert Chris Andrade goes through the steps to make it easy for you to set up your TV yourself. Your Super Bowl party guests will thank you."

Want to watch the SuperBowl 2012 via your Computer? Mashable has the details

For those who are fed up with expensive bills from their cable TV provider and choose to view TV and videos from the internet via a PC, her  e is a good article with the info you'll need to view the Super Bowl live at on your computer.

I'll be connecting my PC up to our big screen TV and watching the event myself via the link at NFL.com. You can read the details on the Mashable website: Super Bowl 2012: Everything You Need to Know About Watching It Online

As Mashable pointed out in an earlier article "This is a huge move for major sports... Offering a simulcast online opens up the game to fans who may have decided to cut the cord (or who don’t even have TVs anymore). This is great news for advertisers, who get additional eyeballs as well."

A Day Made of Glass 2: An Intriguing Look Into Our Possible Near Future with Technology

Wow! This afternoon I saw a video that was very cool, intriguing and exciting. I honestly never thought how a glass company (Corning) was so heavily involved in technology implementation but with all the touch-screen tools, it's obvious to me now!

It was one year ago that Corning released a video on YouTube called A Day Made of Glass showing off future technological innovations that revolved around high-tech glass surfaces, etc.

And they're just released a follow-up video called A Day Made of Glass 2. If you're ready for an exploration in how technology might play out in our near future... this 11-minute video will open your mind.

And here is the video that Corning released in January 2011 - A Day Made of Glass (1)

Consumer Reports validates there IS a benefit to using premium batteries

I saw an interesting post on the Consumer Reports on-line blog - it addressed a conversation we have every now and then in my household.... how about those generic, cheapo batteries?

I had heard in the past that the inexpensive batteries at the Dollar Store or drug-store perform as well as the much more expensive name brand premium batteries. 

Turns out - according to both the Consumer Reports tests and recent tests by a  professor of physics at Southeastern Louisiana University - that there is a definite difference. 

Summary: for energy draining devices like digital cameras - use the premium quality batteries.  For living room remote controls, etc. use the cost efficient bulk batteries.  Read the entire post: Are no-name batteries a good value?