Monthly Archives May 2014

Lumia 1520: A Phine Phablet

May 31, 2014 | Comments Off

Foster Braun, May 31, 2014

Is bigger always better? As the bard of Avon might have said, “Aye there’s the rub!” The fact of the matter is that it is hard to evaluate what may be one of the best Windows 8 Phones in the Microsoft lineup with out answering the perennial size question. So, without pretending to be all “high-geek” in my analysis, here are my impressions of the impressive Lumia 1520.

Excellent Hardware

Just in terms of its hardware, the Lumia 1520 (Sold by AT&T in the US for $199) is the first Windows 8.1 Phone with a quad-core chipset (a 2.2GHZ Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 to be exact) The Nokia Lumia 1520 also has the distinction of being one of the company’s first two supersize phones. This premium handset also features: a 6-inch 1080p HD display and a 2-megapixel front camera, 20 MP Pure View rear camera to name just a few outstanding specs. (Full Specs) The device comes in 16 and 32 GB sizes but you should note that it has a Micro SD slot for expansion up to 32 GB. (But who is counting with all the free cloud space being offered by various sites? All …

Malware authors target Android phones

May 31, 2014 | Comments Off

by Dennis O’Reilly May 13, 2014 12:32 PM PDT

Researchers report the number of malicious apps available on the Google Play store continues to grow. Your best defense is a security app, a cautious approach to downloads, and a close eye on your bank and credit card statements. Suddenly the cost of being the most popular platform for smartphones is rising.

Full Article

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Apple's WWDC kicks off June 2: What to expect

May 31, 2014 | Comments Off

It’s that time of year again, when the Apple faithful descend on San Francisco’s Moscone Center for the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference.

The Cupertino, Calif., electronics giant from June 2 to 6 will give the world a glimpse of what’s coming this year. Apple has used its WWDC keynote as a chance to introduce new products in the past, but more recently has focused on software, saving new mobile device announcements for separate events. This year’s conference — and the two-hour keynote at 10 a.m. PT on June 2 — likely won’t be any different.

Full Article on CNet

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Podcast 1422 May 31, 2014 : The Frugal Computer Guy and a Fine Phablet

May 31, 2014 | Comments Off

Show Notes:

The Frugal Computer Guy

Who doesn’t like free? One of our listeners, Michael Rommety, has set up his own site The Frugal Computer Guy for free software and video tutorials to help you use them.

Listen to Mike Rometty, the Frugal Computer Guy

Apple WWDC June 2, 2014: What is Apple’s Next Big Thing?

Is this the year we see an Apple iWatch? Will software or hardware dominate the gathering in San Francisco next Monday? Has Apple still got its “mojo”?

Cal Carson’s Predictions for WWDC 2014

A Mighty Fine Phablet

After a month of hands on use, Foster has a review of the giant 6″ Nokia Lumia 1520. Could this be the “bridge” device between the phone and the laptop for the busy, on-the-go information hound?

Click Here to Listen to Foster’s Lumia 1520 Review

Read Foster’s Full Review of Lumia 1520

MiTechNews Report

Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews Newsletter in collaboration with the Internet Advisor.

Click Here to Listen to MiTechNews 5-31-14

Hour 2 Answering Listener Questions:

800-859-0957

Join the conversation with your questions during this live segment and benefit from years of tech troubleshooting expertise. REMEMBER: The only dumb question….is the one …

Surface Pro 3 review: Is the third time the charm?

May 24, 2014 | Comments Off

Peter Bright – May 23 2014, 5:43pm EDT (Ara Tecnica)

It’s often been said (though it probably isn’t true) that Microsoft gets things right on the third try—version one sucks, version two is barely adequate, and version three is the one that finally makes a mainstream splash. Does the Surface Pro 3 have what it takes to define a market and hit the big time?

Unlike the Surface Pro 2, which essentially stuck a new processor in an old system, the Surface Pro 3 is all-new. Unlike the Surface Pro 2, the Surface Pro 3 is a reaction to and acknowledgement of at least some of the criticisms leveled at the Surface product range.

And unlike the Surface Pro 2, the Surface Pro 3 is squarely and unambiguously aimed at laptop users. Introducing the new system, Microsoft cited “proprietary Microsoft research” asserting that 96 percent of iPad users also carry laptops. Not necessarily the most credible source—we asked the company if it could provide any information on how it arrived at this figure, but none was forthcoming. Still, we feel it does capture an essential truth. The exact proportion may vary, but many tablet users are also laptop users.

Full …

Senator Leahy Kills Patent Reform (For Now) EFF

May 24, 2014 | Comments Off

MAY 21, 2014 | BY ADI KAMDAR AND DANIEL NAZER AND VERA RANIERI

Patent reform suffered a massive setback when Senator Patrick Leahy, as chair of the Judiciary Committee, announced that he is taking patent reform “off the agenda.” We understand that other senators—particularly Sens. Chuck Schumer and John Cornyn—were still working hard to reach a bipartisan deal. Just as they were ready to release a new bill, Leahy stepped in to kill the process.

The Senate’s failure is especially galling given that the House overwhelmingly passed theInnovation Act in December. The strong patent reform bill passed with a 325-91 vote that included a majority of both Republicans and Democrats. Meanwhile, President Barack Obama was slated to be the “great slayer of patent trolls.” This is an issue that crosses both sides of the aisle; when small businesses are facing extortionate patent threats, politics must be set aside. And Leahy has gone ahead and thrown that all away.

Full Article

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Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 Has Critical Flax Unfixed Since October 2013

May 24, 2014 | Comments Off

REDMOND – A critical security flaw in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 8 has gone unfixed since October 2013, according to a new report from the Zero-Day Initiative.

The report, which was issued because of ZDI’s policy to reveal zero-day flaws that go unfixed for more than 180 days, says that the vulnerability allows an attacker to run malicious code in IE 8 when you visit a website designed to infect your computer, CNET News.Com reported.

Microsoft learned of the zero-day — the term given to a previously unknown, unpatched flaw — in October but has been unable to fix it. Whether that’s because IE 8 is the last version of the browser to support Windows XP, which Microsoft officially no longer supports, or because the flaw itself is hard to fix, Microsoft would not say.

Full Article …

Podcast 1421 May 24, 2014 : Patent Wars & Walk to End Blindness

May 24, 2014 | Comments Off

History of Decoration Day

Show Notes:

Patent Wars Over?

Are patents choking out innovation or are they are necessary protection for innovation. Randy Peck, Patent Lawyer of Warner, Norcross and Judd Southfield joins the team as co-host to discuss key rulings this week in Apple/Samsung and Google.

Click Here to Listen to Randy Peck on Patents

Click Here to Listen to Randy Peck Troll Story

Click Here to Listen to Extended Interview with Randy Peck about Apple/Samsung Patents Wars and Coming Supreme Court Decision

Walk to End Blindness

John Whitacre, Mary Kumer, and Jesse Lowe present the work of iChallenged and promote the upcoming Walk to End Blindness

Walk to End Blindness: June 7-8, 2014 – 7:00 am Shiawassee Park: Farmington, MI 48336

Click Here to Listen to iChallenged Walk to End Blindness

Videos about iChallenged.org and their clients

MiTechNews Report

Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews Newsletter in collaboration with the Internet Advisor.

Click Here to Listen to MiTechNews 5-24-14

Click Here to Listen to Randy Peck Warner Norcross and Judd Expansion

Hour 2 Answering Listener Questions:

800-859-0957

Join the conversation with your questions during this live segment and benefit from years of tech troubleshooting expertise. REMEMBER: The …

Ebay Hacked!

May 21, 2014 | Comments Off

(Reuters) – E-commerce company eBay Inc said hackers stole email addresses, birthdays and other identity information between late February and early March in a data breach that may have affected a “large number” of accounts.

In the latest major cyber attack at a U.S. company, eBay said it had found no evidence of unauthorized access to financial or credit card information, which is stored separately in encrypted formats.

Full Article

Thanks to Ed Rudel for lead

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Google Offers a Life Line to XP Users: Chrome OS

May 18, 2014 | Comments Off

An interesting support option for XP users Paul Thurrott Oct 16, 2013

Well, give them credit for an interesting ploy: Google announced today that it would extend support for its Chrome browser on Windows XP through at least April 2015. That’s a full year after Microsoft plans to end support of the operating system, opening up the remaining tens of millions of users to potential new security threats.

This is a big deal because IT is collectively scrambling now to meet the April 2014 deadline. According to the latest usage share figures, there are still 400-500 million Windows XP users out there, mostly in corporations. And while that number is dropping rapidly each month, it’s pretty clear that April 2014 is going to come and go and leave many of those users—and the companies that control their PCs—in the lurch.

What does the Google support offer mean?

Read Full Article

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Monthly Archives May 2014

Excellent Hardware

Show Notes:

Apple WWDC June 2, 2014: What is Apple’s Next Big Thing?

A Mighty Fine Phablet

Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews Newsletter in collaboration with the Internet Advisor.

Hour 2 Answering Listener Questions:

800-859-0957

Show Notes:

Patent Wars Over?

Walk to End Blindness

Subscribe to our co-branded MiTechNews Newsletter in collaboration with the Internet Advisor.

Hour 2 Answering Listener Questions:

800-859-0957

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