Who's Listening

        In a letter dated July 10, 2015 the Electronic Privacy Information Center, EPIC.org goes into some interesting details about “Always On” consumer devices. Maybe you have one or more of these devices. 

        Mentioned and described are Google’s Chromium browser, Mattel’s “Hello Barbie,” Samsung’s “Smart TV,”  Microsoft’s Kinect in Xbox consoles,  Amazon’s voice-activated computer program “Alexa,” Google Nest Cam,  and Canary Connect. 

        EPIC ‘s letter was sent to Attorney General Loretta Lynch of the US Dept. of Justice and Chairwoman Edith Ramirez of the FTC, and requests workshop and investigation of these devices.  Here's the letter:  https://epic.org/privacy/internet/ftc/EPIC-Letter-FTC-AG-Always-On.pdf  

Where's Apple's Chromebook?

        According to David Passell there's a need for an Apple that isn't so expensive.  He suggests we read this.  "I think the Chromebook is going to give Apple a bit more competition than first assumed.  Consumers, schools, and businesses are buying Chromebooks instead of more expensive devices.  This could put new pressure on Apple to create a cheap device. 
        With his P.S. David reminds us he still has a 2008 Mini running Snow Leopard, and "I probably don't know what (hassles?) I am missing."  He signs off by calling himself the "browsing triceratops."

Banish Web Ads?

        "Here's an article about a new invention whose function is to banish web ads," declares Jim Hamm. He goes on to elaborate, "Now I don't enjoy obtrusive, flashing web ads either, but I wonder if we use something like this that blocks all web ads do we eventually lose free Internet websites? Web advertising provides financial support for many things we enjoy on the web now for free. For example: Google search, Gmail, etc.

        "What do you think? Is this a good or bad idea, all things considered?"  

Bypass This Vulnerability in iOS 7

        This is just in from Jim Hamm,  "Here is an article on how the lockscreen can be bypassed in iOS 7. Apple is aware of this vulnerability and said a fix will be coming in a future update. The article describes what one can do in the meantime."

Who Should Set the Price?

        "In case you didn't see it, here is a good article debating both sides of the question: 'who should set prices on books -- the publishers or retailers'?"  Jim Hamm sends this article from MacWorld.  He says, "Although there's arguments to be made for both sides, I'm for retailers setting the price they want to charge. To paraphrase a point in the article, do you want, say, a chicken producer in Iowa setting the price of what you pay to buy a chicken in a local Safeway store?"  Following the article find 33+ comments so far this morning.  What's yours?

How Best to Complain?

        Just suppose there’s something you don’t like. How best to complain and get something fixed? Here’s two issues we’re aware of now.
        First issue: David Passell comments on an article from NewYorkTimes, (their link does not come up unless you’re a subscriber), but the writer states “in China, human costs are built into an iPad.” David personally has often felt that “made in China” devalues everything, and he avoids those articles if possible.
        From C/Net a writer addresses an “open letter to Apple” admonishing them to force good working conditions across the consumer-electronics industry. She zeroes in on the working conditions at Chinese manufacturers. After detailing some of the concerns she challenges Apple, “We’ll be watching.”
        Second issue: Prez Art Gorski sent along a note from a Mac user in California who is irritated with Pages ’09 autocorrect for spelling, so he’s asking for others to write to Apple, with notation “Pages ’09 Complaint” on the envelope. Interested in more details on this, let us know soon.
        Making things better is always an interesting challenge!