Are you ready for a ransomware attack? Ransomware – Part 2 Well the guys go over some of the basics on air for you! In short: Patch, patch, patch. Backup! Be careful! For those interested: https://www.acronis.com/en-us/articles/backup-rule/ https://www.zdnet.com/article/pc-and-mac-backup-how-to-protect-your-data-from-disaster/
More Apple! Privacy, new iMacs, and more! (4/24/21 Part 2)
Apple is a big company, and a tech giant. But they are, first and foremost, a hardware company. Apple Enhances Privacy? So, making moves to make privacy a feature of their products makes sense since advertising and data sales aren’t their #1 business. But, it could grow! So, let’s talk about that! https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/01/app-makers-explore-desperate-measures-to-dodge-apple-privacy-rules/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/04/apple-to-boost-ads-business-as-iphone-changes-hurt-facebook/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/04/everybody-hates-floc-googles-tracking-plan-for-chrome-ads/ https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/04/apple-announces-new-m1-based-imac-and-imac-pro-in-seven-fancy-colors/ https://www.theverge.com/2020/11/10/21559200/apple-m1-macbook-pro-mac-mini-16gb-ram-memory-limit https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/04/ipad-pro-upgraded-from-a-series-cpu-to-full-m1/
Backing up! Don’t do it just once a year! (3/27/21 Part 2)
Did you know that your computer might have its own built-in backup program! World Backup Day 2021 – Part 2 Its true! Back up your PC! Backup your Mac! Back up your Android device! Back up your iPhone or iPad! Also, do you need a more robust backup plan? Hey, call Q&A about that!
Sold out! Out of Stock! D’oh! (3/20/21 Part 1)
Ready to make or buy a new gaming computer? Or content creation workstation? The PC Market, or Why Do These Cost So Much?!? Sorry to hear that, but right now STINKS for that! Thanks to a shortage of high-end chip manufacturing capacity, crypto-currency miners, and a lot more folks at home? Now is a HORRIBLE time to try buying a new, high performing video card. Eeek! We talk about that!
Got photos? You need Photoshop Alternatives! (3/6/21 Part 1)
Photos! We’re taking more of them now than ever before! We can keep them, share them, and even print them onto a variety of things. But one thing that hasn’t changed is people often want to use Photoshop to do simple changes like resizing, touching up, and more. Photoshop Alternatives Frankly, you don’t need a bulldozer when you want to make a sand castle, right? So, when considering an alternative consider how easy/simple it is to do what you need, how often you want to use it, and how much you’re willing to spend. Full-fledged Photoshop is $20.99 a month, so unless you’re making money? Best to find something cheaper! Windows Photos and MacOS Preview can do all the basics many folks need. GIMP is a free program, but has a bit of a learning curve behind it. https://www.gimp.org/ Paintshop Pro is a longtime alternative. https://www.paintshoppro.com/ Affinity Photo is the total overhaul of Serif Photo Plus aimed at professionals at a steal of a price! https://affinity.serif.com/en-us/photo/ And how could we forget Photoshop Elements? https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html
NAS! NAS! NAS! What are they? (3/6/21 Part 2)
NAS, or Network Attached Storage, are a useful thing to have if you’ve got a lot of data being used and stored at home or the office. All About that NAS Got smartphones, tablets, desktop computers and laptops? Hey, you should listen in!
Local Retail: Its kind of rough! (2/27/21 Part 1)
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