You might call the topic for our show this week: Browser Wars.  In the past, few people thought about choosing a browser for surfing the Internet because the majority of us used PC’s running Microsoft operating systems equipped with Internet Explorer.  Nowadays there are a lot of other options and depending on  your point of view, much better options.  This week join Gary Baker, Ed Rudel, Cal Carson and Foster Braun as they discuss the pro’s and con’s of the browsers you can use to surf the Internet.

We will start our open lines during the first hour for your computer questions and you will also enjoy our weekly The Mac Minute with Erik Anderson giving you the latest Apple news.

Podcast: July 31, 2010 – Hour 1
Podcast: July 31, 2010 – Hour 2

Apple has brought the magic of the touchpad from your laptop to your Mac desktop!  The Magic Trackpad uses the same gestures, and then some, as the touchpads on the MacBooks, such as pinching, scrolling and page turning.  The difference is that this is now all incorporated into a wireless device that can take the place of your mouse and give you so much more in return for a mere $69.  Can you tell what my next purchase is going to be?  Seriously, this looks like a wonderful Bluetooth device to put next to your wireless Apple keyboard that will give you mousing capabilities and so much more.   Apple also offers 6 Nicad batteries and a recharger for $29 to make this economically and ecologically a hit.  Foster Braun

A federal court has just ruled that iPhone users who decide to “jailbreak” their phones may do so with the blessing of the law.  Jailbreaking can mean either cracking the security features of the iPhone and allowing it to use non-Apple applications or allowing the owner to use other telecoms to make their calls.  Its a hacker holiday!  Full Story.

On the Internet Advisor 7/24 program Meaghan McCann mentioned a free seminar on helping to get your website advertising to work better for you.  Here is the information on the upcoming meeting.

The website is www.payperclickclub.com

Date: August 3, 2010

Time: 6:00 – 900 pm

Place: EMU-Livonia, Room 425

Who: Any small business owner who needs to create or improve the performance of their online ads.

What: Monthly meeting to give small business owners a place to learn online advertising, share their frustrations and celebrate their successes.

Why: 1. Because support is not readily available and 2. Advertisers make mistakes that are costing them big!

The world’s largest social networking site just logged its 500 millionth user.  Facebook has launched a site that lets people tell how it has impacted people’s lives.  Maybe your story should be told there.  Take a look at some of the other impressive statistics about Facebook.  Full story in eweek.com

Tune in this weekend for some special guest hosts and a whole bunch of unique topics.  Foster Braun is joined by a special crew of experts: Vince Chmielewski, owner of  VC Web Design, Kurt Hines, guest tech expert and IT specialist, Rachel Kelly, a specialist in Social Networking and Meaghan McCann who is an expert in AdWords/AdSense.  Guests include: Stephen Clark, news anchor for WXYZ-TV (ABC) to talk about tweeting during the newscasts and Brian Mefford, CEO of Connected Nation to talk about Connect Michigan their new interactive map of broadband coverage in Michigan.  And as always Erik Anderson brings us the latest Apple news with The Mac Minute.

The second hour of the program is all about finding answers to your computer questions.

Show Links: Irfanview:  Classic, free application (PC only) that handles just about every/or audio or video file type developed by Austrian Irfan Skiljian.  www.irfanview.com

Podcast: Stephen Clark, News anchorman, WXYZ-TV, Detroit
Podcast: Brian Mefford, Connected Nation
Podcast: July 24, 2010 – Hour 1
Podcast: July 24, 2010 – Hour 2

If Michigan is going to compete in a global marketplace, we need to have strong, available access to high speed internet connections.  Connect Michigan has just released its first interactive map that shows where high speed internet access has progressed in Michigan.  Connect Michigan was commissioned by the Michigan Public Service Commission in conjunction with Connected Nation to work with all broadband providers in the state of Michigan to create detailed maps of broadband coverage in order to accurately pinpoint remaining gaps in broadband availability in Michigan.

Steve Jobs stepped up to the platform on Friday with a fancy slide show and basically confirmed what we all knew: the iPhone 4 has some serious antenna problems.  The good news for iPhone 4 users is that Apple will give them a free wrap around guard that will solve the problem…if only they can find them.  Full Story

So are you going to fix your $200 iPhone 4 with duct tape?!?!  What a week for Apple but in the end they admitted they really do have problems with their shiny new phone.  Join Foster Braun, Ed Rudel, Cal Carson and Erik Anderson as we talk about this week’s big media story with Terry White, president of MacGroup Detroit.  Also joining  us: Jamie McCarthy (son of long time WJR host JP McCarthy) to talk about New Voices and Visions, a unique online program for WJR listeners with specially produced video features which he co-hosts along with Christianne Sims, Director of Fusion the Detroit Regional Chamber.  The program is a wildly creative mix of video and audio covering exciting events and personalities around Detroit.

Don’t forget that our second hour is dedicated solely to finding answers to your computer questions.  

Podcast: Jamie McCarthy
Podcast: Terry White
Podcast: July 17, 2010 – Hour 1
Podcast: July 17, 2010 – Hour 2

Consumer’s Report has recommended against the iPhone because of its antenna problems. Could it be that this is the PR disaster that may just knock Steve Jobs and Apple off their high horse the way that Toyota suffered when it repeatedly ignored or denied safety problems?  Verizon is delighted with Apple’s problems as it gets ready to launch the Droid X Android phone?  It has been estimated that it would cost Apple $1.35 billion to recall/replace all current iPhones.