A word of thanks to everyone

Although I am dead tired, taking classes and chasing a three year old, you guys and gals keep calling with your computer problems.  Thank you.  As tiring as it can be, it's still a lot of fun and satisfying to help everyone use their technology.  Thanks again.  I would offer a coupon of some sort, but I need sleep....

Never judge a book by it's cover....

Well maybe you can.  Found a fun website where the author does just that.  He looks at the cover of a book and writes a complete review of the site based solely on the contents of the cover.  Silly, yes, but that is the intent, a fun website to blow some time off on.

National Broadband Map

Did you know the government publishes a national broadband map?  The map details what kind of Internet coverage exists throughout the country.  Very Interesting to see, click here for it.

Apple Malware, finally an admission from Apple

For years, Apple has always held one advantage over Windows computers, not having to worry about about getting a virus.  It is not that Apple computers were not vulnerable to getting malware, just that since they held such a small portion of the market, malware authors just did not bother making any for Apple operating systems.  Well, no longer, Apple has officially acknowledged a malware problem.  A rogue malware program called Mac Defender has gone viral and many Apple users are getting pinched by it.  Apple vows to issue an update to get rid of the program. 

FCC asked to weigh in on broadband data caps

Several consumer groups are pressing the FCC to investigate the wireless companies (AT&T in particular) for their recent decisions to institute data caps on their networks for users.   The worry is that the data caps are only being put into place to generate a profit center.  As more and more of us use more and more of the Internet, data caps are a way for ISP's to pocket additional revenue in the future.  You like Netflix, well using it regularly will take you over your cap.  Given the story I have about how AT&T are overstating data usage on their network, we have a problem in the making.  I think an investigation is needed.  Consumers will be using more and more of the Internet in the future, the ISP's are just trying to figure out a way to suck more money out of our pockets.  ISP's argue that they are needed to manage their networks more efficiently.  Who do you trust on that one?

Shocking!... a wireless carrier overcharging us?

A recent lawsuit was just filed asserting that AT&T systmatically overstates data usage on iPhones and iPads to their obvious benefit.  My only reaction is to wonder why it took this long for this claim to surface.  I challenge anyone to read their cell phone bill and figure out the data usage section.  They could put anything on that bill and we would never know.  In the lawsuit, a computer firm hired to confirm the claim states that, as an example, they purchased a new iPhone, turned off any and all features that would consume data, let it sit for 10 days and found that AT&T listed 35 instances of data consumption for that time period.  It may turn into a class action suit, which means that nobody will get anything other than that annoying postcard in the mail informing you of the .35 cents you will get in the mail after the plaintiffs win.