Scam of the Month
 This is an actual email that I received. It is purportedly from one of my clients. Even not knowing that the client was stateside at the time, I knew and you should know, just by looking at it, that it's a scam. What I found puzzling was that the email address listed in the header as the reply to was indeed that of my client. I did a little digging and sure enough the actual reply to, buried in the source code of the email was not the same as listed. Scarier yet, the "reply to" address was so similar to the true email address and the modification so minor, that I had to look closely to see that it was not right.
Here's what happens. A scammer gets hold of an email password, as mentioned before, preferably from an AOL, Hotmail, MSN or Yahoo account, where the tendency is to leave both your emails and your address book on line. The scammer steals all your email addresses and begins mailing this type of letter. The hope is that they'll hit some grandmother or another elderly friend or relative or someone not tech savvy. That person replies to the email which goes not to the actual relative and you can take it from there.
|
 If you've got kids in High School and possibly even in middle school, then you know (as I do) that there comes a time when they've outrun your ability to help them with their homework in some course or another. Here's some helpful outsource sights. Try HWpic, as in Homework Picture. As the name implies, your student takes a picture of the homework question he/she is having trouble with and in a very short (really very short) time the student gets back a solution. The site takes care to make sure they are not inadvertently answering a test question, though no amount of security is infallible. Free For Android and IOS.
PhotoMath is similar in function but limited to equation solving. You take a photo of the equation and you get back a solution. Free for Android and IOS.
|
Kiss your GPS Goodbye  If you're looking to improve upon your GPS routing, try WAZE. WAZE directions include real time traffic updates provided by people who are presently riding the same route and just a bit ahead of you. I have to admit it's great and appears to be extremely accurate. I need to comment that the way WAZE works is by getting input from all travelers on the same system. That's great except that someone, hopefully a passenger, but we know better, is texting back information about the route in real time. I know that I feel threatened when I see the person in the car next to me tapping at their phone, I can't imagine that this protocol isn't adding to the death and accident toll already growing by virtue of this attempt to multitask. Alternately, you can use Google Maps routing system. It's free and gathers traffic information using the same traffic cameras and reporting mechanisms that the TV and radio stations use. Free for Android and IOS (Sign into the Itunes store and search for Google Maps).
|
Synchronize your Contacts and Calendar
Between your phone and computer
over Wi-Fi
 If you're looking to synchronize your Outlook contacts, task and/or even email between your computer and your handheld then you're looking for Companion Link. It's what I use. Companion Link sits on your computer (MAC or Windows) and syncs with your phone through its sister app Deja Office. It's great, quick to set up and easy to use. It works with a variety of contact management clients (Palm, Outlook, etc. and a number of web based clients like Google) and will connect Android and IOS (apple) based phones. You can sync using a USB cable or by my preferred method, over Wi-Fi. Companion link cost $50 and Dejaoffice is free. More info Here!
|
Smart TV?
 Got a new smart TV? If it has a USB port, most of the new ones do, as do some of the new BLU-RAY players, then it will support an external keyboard and mouse. Try browsing the web using the TV's remote control and the on screen displayed keyboard and you know how important it is to find a better method. I recommend the Logitech KR400 combo (pictured). It's inexpensive ($30 or less), has a built in mouse (touch pad) and it's easy to use one handed on your lap. Configuring is pretty easy, you plug in the USB sender which comes with the keyboard and go to the system and setup section of your TV and just identify that you've added the device. 
|
Windows 10 (there will be no 9) is to be released at the end of 2015 and will bring back the start button, the most important missing feature (in my opinion) of Windows 8. Given Microsoft's penchant for getting it right every other time, 10 ought to be a hit. Read what you can expect here.
If you've been keeping track, it appears that Microsoft gets it right every other try, so hopefully 10 will be marvelous:Windows 98 - Right Millennium - Wrong Windows XP - Right Windows Vista - Wrong Windows 7 - Right Windows 8 - Wrong If you're brave and want to try out Windows 10 in beta (test mode) follow this link.
|
Quick Links
Try whatbrowser.org to see if you are using the most current browser, to get an idea of what a browser is and to see what other browsers might be available for the computer (platform) or handheld you are working with.
Interested in getting in on a bargain? Try Massdrop. Massdrop collects people who want to purchase a particular item and when they get enough people to buy said item, they purchase a "mass" quantity. You can save as much as 70% by joining in on a buy, assuming it's something you're interested in.
Hotel tonight has your room for tonight for up to 70% off.
The Israeli's have done it again! "Cicret" Coming soon, control your cell phone from an image superimposed on your hand. Read and see about it here.
|
If you're an "Angie's List" subscriber, would you add me to their list of favored service providers. Thanx.
|
I make DVD, BluRay, Chromecast and Roku connections for that Netflix account or to watch web content on your TV.
I also connect your Homelink and your garage door.
|
|
