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Reflections on the Goal of Invisible Computing
Computing seems to be everywhere. But where exactly are all the computers doing that computing? They are hidden away, just out of sight, within films, games, cars, clouds, mobile phones, and much more. Getting computers to be hidden and stay hidden is a major design challenge. It took many years to get to our current point, and will undoubtedly take many more years to perfect and refine. In May 2005, Arun Tripathi reflected on this challenge. His words are as relevant today as they were then. -- ACM Ubiquity
Be Alert! Bogus Holiday eCards May Bring Bad Tidings
Cyber criminals take advantage of the increased number of legitimate e-cards sent during the holiday season to send out their own fraudulent, and potentially damaging, e-cards. These spammed messages may try to lure you into clicking on malicious links in order to compromise your PC with a Trojan horse or virus.
Be extra vigilant in the weeks ahead when you get an e-mail claiming, "You've received an e-card," unless you're certain it's from a trusted friend or family member. It only takes a moment to check out an e-card, and it could save you hours of headaches:- Examine the e-card notification closely before clicking on any links contained within it. Are there typos in the message? Does it lack a personalized greeting that identifies you by name? Those are warning signs.
- Look at the link you're asked to click on in order to receive the e-card. If it ends in ".exe," it's an executable file—a file that automatically executes code to install and run programs and routines. A legitimate e-card will not have an executable file, so seeing one is evidence of a scam. Do not click on the link.
- Check the headers of the e-mail to see if the Web address is different from the one displayed in your Inbox. If it is, this is another warning sign.
Should you receive an e-card notification containing one or more of these "red flags," do not click on the link. Simply delete the e-mail from your Inbox. In addition, continue to follow these basic security precautions:
- Use a firewall.
- Use antivirus and antispyware software and keep it up to date.
- Never download or click on anything from any unknown source.
- Don't accept an end-user agreement without reading the fine print first; you might inadvertently agree to install spyware or something else you don't want.
Exchanging holiday e-cards can be a wonderful part of the season. Just make sure you keep your eyes open before you open those e-card links.
[Source: Cornerstone Publishing Group Inc., SkyBest Communications, eNewsletter of Skyline Telephone Membership Corporation]
What's good for you is good for me
My business, KM Authorized, provides small businesses and individuals with dedicated Information Technology (IT) support. This includes computers, peripherals, and nearly every device that deals with storage or communication of information.
I call this service Guilt-free ITTM, which is a fixed-fee support model designed to make it less stressful for people to call or email me with questions or support issues.
A consequence, or reward depending on how you look at it, of not billing hourly is that what's bad for my business is also bad for my client's business.
For example, if I do a poor job of recommending a new computer to fill a certain function in a business, and that computer is overloaded, freezing, or otherwise not doing it's job, then that computer recommendation can end up having consequences for both businesses. My business is affected because I have to put in extra hour s of work to keep the darn thing working, and the added downtime or lost productivity is expensive for any business.
On the other hand, if I recommend a computer with components designed to meet or exceed the workload that will be placed on it and a warranty that includes next business day repair/replacement from the manufacturer, then my business (and my client's business) will benefit from a reliable, efficient computer system that requires less support.
Since it is the tendency of business to do what ultimately serves to benefit our own business, Guilt-free IT is designed from the start to align the benefit of those tendencies in favor of both parties.
Review: NetGear AV85 Power Line Networking | Just Another Mobile Monday
Earlier this year, I wrote a review on a power line networking product called HomeNet by Corinex over at Gear Diary. You can see the review here. I generally liked the product; but since the review posted, I’ve had a number of problems with the products...
Check out my latest review on JAMM...
Google's “Less Than Free” Business Model
This is an interesting article on how Google is changing the marketplace. More traditional companies like Microsoft and Garmin that sell their products for a profit to consumers are going to have to change the way they do business if they want to survive!
Certainly there is a benefit to consumers who love to get free stuff, but there is also something given up...privacy. Google makes money by knowing everything about our preferences. By knowing what we want, when we want it, they can sell that information to other businesses at a premium.
Google has been gathering data about consumer preferences through searches on google.com for the last ten years, and now they are expanding into mobile phones, Internet browsers, just recently maps with turn-by-turn directions, and soon operating systems!
Many of these products are growing in popularity and quality, making them even more competitive in the marketplace. Additionally, companies are choosing to incorporate these Google products into their own products, like Android and Google Maps Navigation in the new Droid by Motorola, because Google pays manufacturers part of the ad revenue generated from consumer use of the phones (searches done on the phone and location aware ads). This is what Bill Gurley from abovethecrowed.com calls the "less than free" business model that will revolutionize many industries affected by Google's new products.
Should we trade some privacy for free, useful, ever improving products and services from Google? I think it's a fair trade so as long as Google uses the data they collect to better serve us what we need, when we need it, and not to spam us or bombard us with advertising.
My Adventure With Cloud Computing
I presented my seminar on Cloud Computing yesterday.I was a bit nervous about how it would go and whether i would be able change their (college profs) opinions about me.The Dept of Mathematics,which i am a part of as a student, was crowded with students of the department.And then there were these two Maths guys (read Maths profs) who have not liked me for years, as i enjoy not attending their classes for reasons you have to meet them in person to know.Set-up complete,room gone dark and projector started.All eyes staring at me with huge expectations as i was the first who had submitted his seminar topic quite confidently and who had seemed promising to the fellow classmates from the beginning.The opening slide of my presentation projected onto the wall.But me still a bit nervous.
I took a dip breath and i finally started my seminar topic presentation before those curious eyes.I was going fine enough but seeing the encouraging support of my friends and the response of others including the two profs i got more confident about my performance and went on for straight thirty minutes before reaching the interactively interesting conclusive part.
"The best so far.Highly informative,interactive and inspiring",complimented the HOD of our department.He continued,"Everything about the seminar i.e. presentation skills,slideshow and the ambiance during the seminar was upto the mark.The only thing i can possibly complain about is that the level of seminar was so high that some of the people present here may not have grasped everything but one thing i can very confidently say is all have enjoyed and learned something significant from the presentation for sure."
It was enough to send me on cloud 9.To add to this, one curious junior boy came up to me after the seminar was over and asked for my phone number.And then my fellow classmates too complimented me which really felt great.
I would like to thank my fellow classmates who encouraged me and had belief in me throughout the seminar.In particular,my heartfelt thanks to Annu,Jayant,Pankaj,Ravikant and Pinaki.You won my heart guys.Hugs.
I have split my slideshow into screensnaps.Tell me if you liked it.
Atmosphere Videos
Atmosphere was a cloud event in London featuring Nick Carr, Werner Vogels, etc
Windows 7 features - Aero Shake - Microsoft Windows
This is freakn' AWESOME. If you have Windows 7 Home Premium, Professional, Enterprise or Ultimate, then you're in luck. Shake is a new feaure in Windows 7 that helps uncluter your desktop. The video above demos the feature. You just have to make sure you really SHAKE and pause after the shake so that the OS recogizes it.
