Category: tech culture

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tech culture

What has Facebook replaced?

Email? No
texting? No  Alternative instant messaging? Got rid of Some, but not a replacement.
Other Website? It has reduced the time people spend on them, but No.
What is it? The white pages. yes that is right. But of course that isn’t just facebook.  It is also your Contacts stored on your phone and computer. The use of mobile phones, and unlisted numbers has also risen dramatically. To a small extent also online white pages have replaced it.
Example: I know someone “always uses the phone book.” However that relative of mine would never call my home phone that was listed in the phone book.
What about yellow pages? they are still used some, but Google is the main company taking that away (even though yellow page companies partner with them).
 

Categories
computer learning computer tips tech culture

About my secretary

Who is my secretary?
It is myself and some robots.
What are the robots?
I can’t name them all but I can give some information on it.
My phone is either answered by me or by my voicemail.
It is forwarded to my mobile phone during the day (I usually answer if available), then to voicemail.
early 2015 update: one problem I have is when I answer callers hangup since they think I am the voicemail, another is I get callers that don’t leave a message. If they don’t leave a message I usually don’t call back since I get scam and solicitation calls often. A good thing now, is I can sometimes answer the phone (connecting with my iPhone or with Google voice/gmail) from my computer which helps reduce my ear and back pain, as well as making it easier as well as answer text messages from my computer
My email doesn’t always need an immediate response, but I can answer from any computer or my iPhone.
Siri can both do voice recognition and text to speech as well as do certain things. I have a similar program I use on my computer.
I use Neat for digital file storage and is just one part of the paperless solution.
November 2015 update on Neat
My carpet is cleaned by iRobot Roomba.
 
There are more things I will explain in my upcoming ebook. I’m slow so it might not come out until after this summer.

Categories
computer learning Going Green tech culture

Why do tech people downplay what Apple does?

That is a good question. Many tech people, are just that technicians. They are not computer scientist, engineers, information analyst, or marketers.
I have training in computer science, information systems, and some marketing as well.
The reason why some tech people don’t like it, is it is not what they are use to, or they think it needs to have all the “bells and whistles”. Technicians are trained for specific things. They may want to “fix” or “upgrade” something.
Technology however is always changing – but can follow some basic principles.
Here is a possible explanation why Apple does what it is doing and possibly an explanation of what any company could do.

  1. Keep It Simple Simply (KISS): They keep a minimal product line: this reduces cost, reduces confusion and complaints among consumers. IBM cut out its PC line to bring their company to a focus. Apple cut out printers and floppy drives and simplified.
  2. Eliminating moving parts, extra connectors, expansion slots, and rarely used items does the following: reduces failure, reduces cost of product, improves energy efficiency and reduces physical space/size.
  3. Leaving room for improvement: not going with the latest technologies gives time for cost to come down, time to put it in the design and perfect it – and even see if there is an actual need for the technology or if it is just hype (ie: Blue-Ray).
  4. They focus on what the customer would want (not necessarily what customers tell the company they want but what they would actually want)
  5. They focus first on what the product would or could be used for, then specs.  That is a marketing focused approached, rather than a tech or accounting approach. (ie: use it for entertainment, for taking and sharing photo and video, for getting business done, will it fit in your pocket?, will it fit in your hand?, able to use the product a whole working day without recharging)
  6. Environmental criticism: I do understand some environmental criticism- but the other technology companies aren’t much better.  Do you want a product that is fixable easily or a product that needs to be fixed less, made of recyclable material, less packaging, and less transportation cost, and energy efficient?  Do  USB (and airport) ports on Macintosh allow upgrading? Definitely. On my Macintosh I use a EyeTV tuner, have external storage, and scanning. I even use the network, the Internet and software for upgrading.
  7. Near Field Technology: I think it would be great if they added that to let me unlock my door or pay for my groceries, but I do have some concerns as far as security.
  8. Physical Keyboard as an add on (not standard) to the touch screen devices, this is where voice recognition and video comes in.
Categories
computer tips tech culture

Data value

Did you ever think of how much the data on your computer is worth?

  • how much are your family photos worth?
  • how much is your records worth?
  • how much is the information needed to run your business worth?
    • For certain things you can put a price on, for data some things a price can be estimated, some things are priceless.
      Unless you have nothing unique stored on your computer, hard drive, server or device the data is almost always worth much more than the device itself.

What would happen if you lost it?

  • If you have it backed up some place, and can easily access the back up and recover the data, that is what you would do.
  • If you have some of the information stored online such as in a web based email service, you would recover that from there.
  • You may be able to get some receipts, and statements directly from the business, banks and other organizations you deal with.
  • you may be able to recover some items from paper copies (it will be a lot of work and they won’t be as good of quality) or things saved on disks IF you don’t have a disaster.
  • You may be able to get some things from friends, and family you have shared with.
  • If you have a second computer, device, or your own web site that is still working you may be able to recover some things from there.
  • You may be able to recover some items from original media such as camera, SD card, or camera phone.
  • If you have iTunes, and purchased directly from them you now may be able to recover those items from iTunes as long as you can remember the information you need to access your account. (this was not the case, until November of 2011)
  • You may be able to recover certain things from a hard drive if it hasn’t been written over enough or severely damaged, with special hardware or software or sending it to a recovery specialist.

Of course I would recommend backing up everything, both locally and off site.
Full Disclosure: I do offer online backup which I may benefit financially from.
What to do about not letting people access your computer.
First require an operating password, finger print, facial recognition or some other method to access the computer.
If you save passwords on your computer, use an easy to remember, yet hard for others to know, master password that protects all of them.
For even deeper protection, limit the information you share online, that is not secure in both in encrypted transfer and secure on the other end. Have backup transferred over a secure, encrypted connection and also securely stored (and backed even elsewhere). You can set a system password for your computer and you can also encrypt the data on your computer.
You can have your computer physically locked down.
You can require a secure entry system. Building security. Firewalls (networking hardware), Firewalls (software), and Firewalls (actual building firewall)
Remember sometimes you have to balance the right amount of security, with ease of use, and costs.
The online backup that I offer does have the encrypted transfer, as well as securely stored on the server at more than one location and is accessible from most computers and Internet connected devices.
Striving to make your technology experience better,
Nathan Steffenson
Nate’s Computer Services

Categories
computer tips Going Green My Site updates tech culture

Why Nate's Computer Services doesn't do repair

 
Why doesn’t Nate’s Computer Services do repair?

  1. It is extremely time consuming, even when working on more than one system at a time and even when using Frequently Replaced Units (FRU)
  2. If it is on-site that adds additional time, driving expense, logistics, and safety hazards for the technician and/or company doing repair.
  3. with cut rate computer prices, the pricing for computer repair is hard to judge,  the main good reason would be to save the data(which our organization does help with), or to cut on waste (which our organization advocates), cost is not a good reason.
  4. Broken down computer typically are problems caused by the end user’s misuse, abuse, neglect, or lack of knowledge, whether its primary user or a second user(including kids) that also uses the computer.  Also the environment in which the computer is in may cause damage-such as but not limited to smoke, pet dander, and bugs.  In any of these cases it is typical policy of most companies these days to deny warranties or deny working on the computer.  With the exception, of lack of knowledge, it is our policy as well. (Do not bring your bug or smoke filled computers here! 🙂
  5. Sometimes equipment is heavy and can be hard on my back.  I worked 3 summers moving things in a school (non computer work) and never hurt my back.  I hurt my back doing contract work for 3 different companies. That is the primary reason I don’t do contract work anymore, unless dealing directly with small businesses. (That is why we do not allow customers to bring in CRT monitors or laser printers to our business, if you want to get rid of it we will refer you to someone that recycles them)
  6. I have never liked computer repair.
  7. Computer repair, outside of warranty periods, typically is not necessary since the computer (or device) needs to be upgraded anyway.
  8. With a click of a couple buttons and a confirmation the computer can be easily wiped out and started fresh.  It is expected that you have all your data(information) backed up or use a server for data storage. Sometimes if the computer has been preconfigured, a technician can do this remotely.
  9. For non-hardware problems, many times it is not necessary for the technician to come on-site or for users to bring in or ship their computers. It can all be done remotely, via networks or Internet.
  10. Sometimes it just isn’t necessary anymore for non-warranty repair. If you take good care of a well built system, chances are it won’t break or if it is, it’s covered under warranty. Or if it isn’t built well, but it’s cheap, you just get a new one and recycle the old. One long lasting computer hardware theory, is more apparent than ever today, and that is avoid moveable parts. You can definitely see that with tablets and smartphones, very evident in the company Apple‘s design.
  11. Any contract work with some of the major IT repair and installation companies are very hard to deal with and are on an ethically slippery slope.
  12. The provider -customer relationship typically is not good.
  13. It is looked down upon in the general technology industry
  14. It isn’t my specialty. Although I have a worthless, as far as obtaining a good job for me, grandfathered in A+ Certified Professional certification from CompTIA, which deals somewhat with repair (Although, notice neither computer or repair is in the title of it anywhere). Although, a class requirement of 2 of them,  of my 5 college degrees none of my majors have the word repair in them. 4 majors do have the word computer.
  15. It is not profitable for our business. (It may be for other businesses)
  16. We do other things better.

What do we do?
We offer web design, web hosting domains & online storage,  email, and digital photography and Digital Computer Help (often times called support as a general generic industry term).
In September of 2007 or possibly before we quit doing computer repair. We started doing On-Site Computer Help. It was done both to avoid confusion with another provider in the area, as well as to really do something different.
Sometimes both the term and the actual doing of computer repair has crept back to haunt the business.  Sometimes it has been because of advertising companies, with incorrect information, they all had errors with the exception of the printed business advertising section (called “Yellow Advantage” at the time) of the Brainerd Dispatch, which quickly updated the advertising correctly. Most advertising companies sold my info to other advertisers. It was hard to find a correct category in the phone directory.  It could be called computer training, but it isn’t necessarily that, it can be a little more urgent.  We could just put it under computers, but then people will call us asking for computers or computer parts. So sometimes, I have been stuck.
Also when money is tight I didn’t always wait for the right customer and I would do just about anything (legitamate), for any customer, to make money. As you may know, that does not work well in about anyway. I lost good customers because of it.
Digital Computer Help has the ability to allow the individual user or small business to really get at the root of the problem and come up with solutions that can sometimes be long lasting.
Not only can it solve problems, but we can find new uses of technology and ways of doing things to improve the computer users’ or businesses’ experience. For businesses and even individuals,  we have sometimes even found ways for them to generate more revenue and decrease costs – not necessarily typically, but on occasion.
Why don’t your customers use the free or low cost support they already get with their computer, internet service provider, or other technology product/service?
Sometimes they do and it works for them.
Sometimes they do not know it is available, and I help them with that.
Sometimes it inadequate for their problem or not covered by what they do because the intermingling of systems or it is beyond what is necessary for them to support.
Sometimes users cannot understand a person with an accent. (although with my disability sometimes my own speech can be at times hard to understand)
Sometimes they cannot understand the technical terms, also called technical (computer) lingo, geek speak, or techno jargon.
At times we may assist them with talking to a company.
How is it working out doing Digital Computer Help?
We have had to discontinue the on-site portion of computer help for home customers, and limit it for businesses. We still offer In Business Help.  Most that have used remote Digital Computer Help  enjoyed it as well (after figuring out how to get it set up).
The future is looking good.
Companies, other than Nate’s Computer Services, mentioned are of their respecful owners, are linked for your convenience, and are not affilated with us, besides us being a customer of theirs.

Categories
beware of scams computer tips tech culture

Email Addresses Not to Trust

Sometimes, you can trust major free email providers addresses, if they are personal friends.  However, receiving business offers, or conducting business with these addresses should be avoided. Major free email providers include, but are not limited to – Yahoo.com, Hotmail.com, Msn.com, Aol.com, and Gmail.com.
You should avoid doing any business with business people with these addresses, and business people shouldn’t use them.  They are sometimes OK for a personal account.
Another downfall with these addresses is that the are stolen quite often, especially Yahoo, Hotmail, and MSN.
You should also avoid contacting people who send emails from one address and want you to send it to a different one.
Internet service provider (ISP) addresses are a little more reliable, and own domain addresses are even more reliable.  However addresses can be spoofed, and businesses with a domain are not necessarily trustworthy.
You may also want to avoid businesses that only have social media pages and not a regular web site. Especially if you don’t know them and the business doesn’t have an actual location.
As far as offers (email, phone, mail, magazine, newspaper) go, you may want to avoid them entirely.  There are legitimate offers of course, that may help you.  Be careful.
Update: There may be some people that use free email addresses that are legitimate emailing. However if they are soliciting you, it is still probably best to ignore. There have been complaints to agencies that have been legitimate, using free email addresses, and that is somewhat different than the point I’m trying to make in this post.

Categories
computer tips photo tech culture

I get by with one computer and no TV, no watch (Kind of)

Back in 2008 & 2009  I sold 3 computers to get the one computer I have now.
The computer I use both at home and my business.  It is mostly used for business, but some personal use as well.  It’s a notebook (Apple Macbook pro 17 inch)
I have an external 24″ monitor (Apple LED Display) I use along with the built in display at home.  I use a 19″ widescreen display at my business (Asus LED). both have built in audio.  The 24″ display also has a  charger, usb hub, microphone, and camera built in.  So I use the charger that came with the computer at my business. I also have an external optical mouse both places because I am sometimes more comfortable with that than the track pad.
For TV if I really want to watch it, I hook up a USB tv tuner(Elgato Eye TV Hybrid).
Even though I have one main computer, I do have other computing devices.  I have an iPod Touch which can browse the web, take photo/video, and run apps among other things.  I also have an Android phone which can besides doing phone calls, browse the web, run apps, gps, take photo/video and more. I also use either my computer, phone or iPod instead of a watch.
I also have an stand alone gps navigation system, and fm radios in the car, home.  And 3 dedicated cameras that can do both video and still – besides the other devices that have cameras.
For viewing photos – It can be done with my computer and monitor, my iPod, on the camera itself, with another person’s  TV connected with a cable to my camera, my printer has a viewing screen, or on my phone. I also have a key chain photo viewer which I rarely use since my phone can perform that function better.  So a digital photo frame is not necessary for me.
I use external hard drive for video storage and local backup.
In addition I use outsourced providers for doing online backup and web hosting.
So maybe I have one computer, maybe more depending how its counted.
2015 Update: I took a couple of computers of my customers hands, just in case they wouldn’t dispose of them properly since they no longer wanted the computers. I will be keeping one of them (iMac) and I also have a laptop now a macbook air. So I’ll have 2 PC(Macintosh computers) and plus a smartphone(my iPhone which is now also my iPod).  I no longer have the iPod, dedicated gps, android phone, mouse, keychain photo viewer, car. Only 1 combination fm/radio/weather radio.

Categories
beware of scams photo tech culture

My issues with Photo Piracy

Back in April 5, 2008 I took a photo of an overpass and its landscaping work in Onamia MN since a customer recommended me to take it because of the good landscaping example (erosion control).  At the time, I was trying to take photos almost daily and pick out the best photo of the day and post it on Flickr.
Later on I found out it was used in propaganda by Senators Tom Coburn and John McCain without my permission.  They used it on a report against bike trails.  They did credit the photo, but not properly. It was an insult to my hometown,  and a transportation option I and many others enjoy.  It had misleading information including information about our representative in congress. Also At the same time I found out about an inline skater killed crossing a road while on a trail near me.
The whole situation bothered me quite a bit, but I am not getting a lawyer for it since I cannot afford one.   I am glad for the Flickr user who pointed this out, I’m sure there are many others that have misused my photos but not to this extent.  Later, I never renewed my Flickr pro account (there wasn’t much pro about it).
It has not stopped me from taking photos, but I have been slower to post them on the web.

Copyright Nathan Steffenson

Categories
computer tips tech culture

Letter to Parents (or other family member)

Some Google employees made a site where you can send a form letter email with links to videos to help your parents or other family member learn how to use computers.
A lot of the stuff is pretty basic. Your parents may already know it. I think my grandparents know quite a bit of it. But, who knows? maybe you’ll learn something yourself.
Here is the link http://www.teachparentstech.org/
I learned about this watching Tekzilla

Categories
beware of scams tech culture

Thoughts on Forwards

There is one thing that bothers me more than junk email (spam) when it comes to email. Misuse of forwards FWD FW.

  • Email Forwards are usually sent by people you know and trust.  However many times the information in forwards is not trustworthy and may not even be what your friend or relative actually thinks.
  • Many forwards I get have completely made up information, that can be easily be found to be false or partially false with just a little fact checking.
  • I have found an interesting and useful urban legends web site that deals with some of these http://www.snopes.com
  • Even though an email may be true at one time, parts can be changed to make it at least partially untrue.
  • Some forwards have very controversial information or opinions – many anonymous or miscredited.
  • Some forwards say you have to forward to so many people or say that you have to give it back to show you’re really a friend.   This can be a good way to spread annoying emails.  Do you really have to reply to a forward, that they didn’t write, to show you are a friend?   Some of these emails say you’ll get something free for sending so many – I have never found that to be true.
  • Some forwards are fill in the blank and forward.  This might be giving too much information out.
  • Some forwards have copyrighted text and images that might be illegally redistributed.
  • One misuse of forwards is redistributing a private conversation.  This can be very hurtful to some people.
  • Another misuse related to forwarding is telling everyone to write to one particular person, which can overwhelm someone.
  • Many forwards are basically chain letters.  Chain letters are of course illegal to send in the US Mail.  Email is still fairly unregulated (or hard to regulate) and unsecured.  I would advise people to avoid sending these forwarded emails.
  • After a while the people that send me forwards, I usually ask them to stop sending it.
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