RESQBug.com – Geek Speak to English

Is GMail the new skype? Now you are able to use your GMail account to make phone calls through-out North America for free to any land line.  Want to call somebody outside of North America?  Not a problem. To call outside of North America isn’t free, but the rates are crazy low.

Employers in Germany may soon have one less source for finding new employees.  A possible new law would outlaw an employer from checking out job candidates on Facebook.  Oddly it would still be legal to “google” the candidate or use social networks designed for professional purposes like LinkedIn.

Have you seen the “Kill List” on Facebook? You might think that it’s a list of companies competing against Facebook, but you would be wrong.  The kill list had 66 names of residents in a southwestern Colombian town. At first police thought it was a joke, but when 3 people on the list were killed – they started investigating.  While gang violence isn’t uncommon in Puerto Asis, the use of Facebook to warn the victims is highly unusual… talk about social outcasts!

Remember, that the only dumb question is the one never asked. If you have any questions or comments, I look forward to them, please email or call me.

Cheers.

Allan

RESQBug.com Technical Services and PRAD Enterprise

“Managing Your Technology for Improved Workplace Performance”

c: 416.464.1508

e: allan@resqbug.com

t: http://twitter.com/resqbug

Visit us on the Web at http://www.resqbug.com

This article is for information purposes only.  It is recommended that individuals consult with an IT professional before acting on any information contained in this article. The opinions stated are those of Allan Waddington and not a reflection of any company he currently works with or has in the past.

“If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.” -Red Adair

Do you have a jailbroken Apple iPod or iPhone?  Apple has applied for a patent called the “Systems and Electronics Methods for Identifying Unauthorized  Users of an Electronic Device”. Let’s skip the boring technical details and zoom in on the main issue… Apple wants to CONTROL what applications you choose to run on “their” products. While I understand the need to identify “suspicious behavior” and to send warnings to owners via email or text message, the patent shouldn’t (but does) include a user hacking, jailbreaking, unlocking, or removing SIM card from his/her own phone.

I realize that bypassing a manufacturer’s protection mechanisms isn’t covered by federal copyright laws;  what I don’t understand is WHY some companies feel that they need to stop you from using their products for uses that they never planned for.  Can you image what would have happened if Kleenex (which was first introduced as a makeup remover) had done the same thing?  They would have missed out on the product’s current, and MORE successful use as a general-purpose tissue.

If you use Chrome (the web browser from Google), you should upgrade to the latest version/release.  Did you know that if you find a bug in the browser, that has not as yet been found, Google will pay you between $1,000 to $3,000? So far, there have been 11 vulnerabilities addressed in this release; 3 critical, 7 high-risk and 1 medium.  Of the bugs, 1 addressed a Windows system bug, the balance deal with issues with the browser itself.  The most that anyone has earned from “seeking out” bugs in Google’s programs, so far, is $8,011 dollars.  Not too bad!

Think anybody will give Apple’s iPad a run for its money?  There are a number of players…  Google (gPad via HTC), LG’s Optimus Tablet, RIM’s Blackberry “Black Pad”, Motorola and maybe even Dell.  While the unending raves around the iPad are justifiable, I think that Motorola will get it right and deliver an appealing and high functionality device that will prove that there is room of an alternative to the iPad.  Don’t think so? Don’t forget that Motorola’s Droid put up a formidable challenge for the iPhone.

Remember, that the only dumb question is the one never asked. If you have any questions or comments, I look forward to them, please email or call me.

Cheers.

Allan

RESQBug.com Technical Services and PRAD Enterprise

“Managing Your Technology for Improved Workplace Performance”

c: 416.464.1508

e: allan@resqbug.com

t: http://twitter.com/resqbug

Visit us on the Web at http://www.resqbug.com

This article is for information purposes only.  It is recommended that individuals consult with an IT professional before acting on any information contained in this article. The opinions stated are those of Allan Waddington and not a reflection of any company he currently works with or has in the past.

“If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur.” -Red Adair