Fry’s Electronics closed down in its entirety. Best Buy is closing stores and laying people off. Queen Ka’ahumanu Shopping Center is waaaaay behind on payments to creditors. Fun times for retail, right? Retail in the current climes… Lets talk about that! https://www.shiptohawaii.com/ https://www.rubicon.com/blog/shop-local-reasons/ https://www.huffpost.com/entry/why-buying-local-is-worth_b_4310520
Net Neutrality Update! (2/27/21 Part 2)
Net Neutrality! Is it coming back? Net Neutrality Redux If not Federally (probably not Federally) then what about at the state level? Seems like that’s a possibility. https://www.wired.com/story/guide-net-neutrality/ https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/02/california-can-enforce-net-neutrality-law-judge-rules-in-loss-for-isps/ https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2021/02/biden-doj-halts-trump-admin-lawsuit-against-calif-net-neutrality-rules/ And, let’s not forget about privacy in all of this (from 2017 and not yet overturned!): https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2017/03/senate-votes-to-let-isps-sell-your-web-browsing-history-to-advertisers/
Need Office Software? We’re talking about it! (2/13/21 Part 1)
For work, volunteering, and school there’s no more a ubiquitous kind of software than office productivity. Office Suites! Word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, its all common and useful stuff! Compare All Microsoft 365 Plans (Formerly Office 365) – Microsoft Store Home | LibreOffice – Free Office Suite – Based on OpenOffice – Compatible with Microsoft Apache OpenOffice – Official Site – The Free and Open Productivity Suite Corel Wordperfect – Home and Office We talk about it a little!
Printers 101: Supertanks! No, they don’t wear capes (2/6/21 Part 1)
For the longest time there were two kinds of printers you could get: inkjet printers and laser printers. Printer Updates! Inkjet printers were generally inexpensive but the ink would cost you an arm and a leg, get used up quickly, and would print fairly slowly. Laser printers would cost you an arm and a leg, and while getting toner would be pretty expensive up front it would last a long time. A few years ago printer companies came out with a new type of inkjet sometimes called a “supertank” printer. Rather than having to go out and buy ink regularly, you’d get a large tank for each ink color that would only need refilling once in a great while. And the refills are cheap! But, these new printers are not. We take a look at these supertank printers! Are they right for you? Supertank printers – Wikipedia Inkjet vs. Laser: Which Printer Technology Is Better? | PCMag Canon MegaTank & Epson EcoTank Supertank Printers – Consumer Reports Supertank Printers – Office Depot Supertank reviews at PCMag
Scam Season is Year Round! (1/30/21 Part 1)
Scams, Scams, Scams! Its one of the constants of modern life. 2021 Scams! – Part 1 Whether its trying to scam you regarding taxes, Adobe Flash, some piece of software you use, or tried and true “we’ve got money for you!”, scammers are still out there! Heck, they’re calling by phone and faxing even! Good grief! Listen in to Jonathan, LD, and Sam as they chat it up!
More on Scams! Don’t go nuts! (1/30/21 Part 2)
We’re talking about SCAMS! 2021 Scams – Part 2 Still. Because, frankly? Hey, the bad guys don’t rest. So, we’re keeping you updated! Phone scams, fax scams (people do still get faxes!), email, “watch this for free online!” scams, and more! Bah!
Cord Cutting: Keeping It Organized (1/23/21 Part 1)
So, you’ve decided to do it. You’re cutting the cord. Good for you! Cutting the T.V. Cord! But now what? Well, you’ve got some options! JustWatch – The Streaming Guide for Movies and TV Shows (Thanks Alert Internet Surfer Perry!) Best indoor TV antennas 2020: 6 great digital TV antennas for inside your home | TechRadar The Best HDTV Antennas | Digital Trends How to gift Netflix, Disney Plus, and every streaming service subscriptions – Polygon Create a recurring event – Computer – Calendar Help (google.com)
Have you backed up this year? Don’t forget! (1/23/21 Part 2)
Do you back up? No? Backing Up in 2021! Let’s change that today! Back up and restore your PC (microsoft.com) Back up your Mac with Time Machine – Apple Support Back up or restore data on your Android device – Android Help (google.com) How to back up your iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch – Apple Support The Best Online Backup Services for 2020 | PCMag World Backup Day: The 3-2-1 Rule (trendmicro.com)
It was a crap week. Here’s why. (1/9/21 Part 1)
So, its been a helluva week. Are We Sure that 2020 is Over? And as such, we need to talk politics and tech for a bit. We sort of hate that. But here we are! 1st Amendment, options for platforms, the importance of Section 230 of the Telecommunications Act… we get it in a concise manner!
Anti-Trust and Facebook! Its a big deal! (12/12/20 Part 2)
There’s always a rush to find the next big thing. The problem is when everyone flocks to it, they inadvertently create a monster. The Facebook Monopoly Facebook was the next big thing years ago, and yep, there’s now a monster. Facebook is now looking at the Federal Trade Commission and 47 states wanting to break them up. Facebook should be broken up, FTC and states allege in pair of lawsuits – CNET Explained: The antitrust suit against Facebook | Explained News,The Indian Express But why? Well, glad you asked. We get into that this hour!