Emerging Technologies

        "Want to stretch your mind a bit?"  (That counts as exercise, Jim?)   

        "If so, take a read on this article from Scientific American on the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2015."
        Jim Hamm outlines his opinion: "My thoughts: #3 is really needed to help reduce the amount of plastic going into landfills, etc.; in theory, #4 may prove to be OK, but I'm not a fan of GMO's, in any fashion; I don't think # 7 is realistic at all -- at least for the majority of people; #10 could be very helpful in determining potential illnesses in people, and perhaps taking preventive measures.       
         "One thing for sure: whether it is these potential technologies, or others, there will continue to be dramatic technological changes in our lives."  And so, thanks to Jim for this little jaunt into the future. 

Discussing iPad Features

        Maybe you saw the latest from Apple's page: http://www.apple.com/ipad/change-everything/    and maybe you even looked at the drone you'll be drooling over?  Costs a mere $499.95.   http://store.apple.com/us/product/HH4W2/parrot-bebop-drone   
        But, hold it.  Jim Hamm has some thoughts to pass on. "If you use the iPad then you might have an interest in the following comments. It was posted to a Forum I subscribe to. I hadn't read any of this previously, so have no idea of its veracity. 
        "One thought I have is with this increased screen size it will be heavy. One advantage of the present iPad -- for me, anyway -- is its light weight. Looking at the other comments, I don't see any feature that excites me. And it all may just be a rumor anyway."
        Here's the comments Jim found: 
"Don’t get a new iPad (yet)… Details about the next-generation iPad have leaked out.  So, if you were planning on buying a new iPad any time soon, you may want to hold off until the Fall.
         Apple will be releasing the "iPad Pro", which is larger than the current iPad (12.9 inch display instead of the current 9.7 inch display.)
         If the larger display isn’t that interesting to you. You may also want to consider the added features that the next iPad is rumored to have, including…
* Force Touch technology that was introduced on the Apple Watch. This feature will allow you to press a little harder on the screen to bring up extra sets of options. While this might not sound that interesting now, it may be a critical technology to have with certain apps in the future.
* A new USB-C port for charging, transferring files and video output to monitors or your TV.
* Near Field Communication which will enable Apple Pay on the iPad.
* A Bluetooth stylus may be included with increased sensitivity to make drawing and handwriting on the iPad more accurate.
        I’m going to hold off until the fall for my next iPad. Maybe I’ll get myself the new Apple Watch to hold me over until then :-)"

Hackers, Technology, Etc.

     A PC friend alerted us to the February issue of Popular Mechanics.  Look at their articles on hackers, technology, terror.  Keep informed. 

A Tablet at Every Table

       Order drink refills and desserts, play interactive games, pay your bill at Chili's with a device called Ziosk, a tablet on every table.  Ah, technology rolls on.  Look here.
        Jim Hamm found out, via their email club, that Prescott Valley's restaurant has this feature.  He comments, "Take a look at what Chili's restaurant in Prescott Valley is now doing. Is this pretty slick or what? Do waiters and waitresses feel the cold wind of technology breathing down their back? Somewhat similar, I suspect, to the carriage maker in 1904 looking up from his work and wondering what that car sound was all about." 

Interesting Possibilities: Past, Present, Future

        David Passell found this title in a BBC article and sent it on.  But there was another link there that is also thought-provoking for the future. Here's what David sent:  "The title of the link caught my eye,  'Mac and the Micro.' 

      "So I went to it expecting to see something about what our beloved Macs or their iPod, iPhone, iPad offspring had to do with an early computer pioneer named Ian McNaught-Davis and a BBC programme of the 80s. However; much of his work has found its way into our everyday computing so I thought i would send it."

      With interest piqued, we went on to what’s happening with computing education and technology in Britain?  A controversy has brought out several articles from the BBC.  Interesting to see about the Year of Code and how they (we) got to where we are in computer technology.  

        Where does the future lead?  See the link to “The Internet Through a Light Bulb” which describes what will be demonstrated next week in Barcelona’s Mobile World Congress.  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-26245544 

Apple is a Worldwide Leader

        "Here is an article which graphically summarizes what an impact the iPad -- and other tablets -- have had on the computer industry," is how Jim Hamm begins.  "I can remember when the iPad first came out and reading about all the snickering of the name, the cost, the lack of being a 'real' computer, etc, of a tablet. But people sure buy tablets -- to the detriment of PC shipments."
       Jim goes on to comment, "I can also recall Microsoft's Ballmer's derision of the iPhone when it first came out. Now just look how smart phones have taken off. I bet a high % of the population in the U.S. owns one."

       And here's Jim's conclusion, "Like it or not -- technology moves on and leaders of successful companies need to recognize that or fade away. The Blackberry phone comes to mind as I type this statement. Then I look at the stagnation in growth of HP and Dell and think hmmmm?"

Obsolescence by Smartphone

        Maybe you grew up with a telephone on the wall?  A party line?  A "dial"phone?  
        Look what Jim Hamm found. " Here's an interesting article about how technology moves along and replaces a variety of devices. In this article the author shows how a smartphone replaces 20 gadgets one could buy at Radio Shack about 20 years ago -- and carry their replacement in a shirt pocket or purse.

        "As another example, the mobile phone has virtually replaced public telephones -- the ones you used to see on street corners around town, but are now practically gone."

        And Jim's pronouncement:  "Technology is wonderful, unless you happen to be on the receiving end of technological obsolescence."

Let's Look at Safari

What's new in Safari : 

http://www.apple.com/safari/

Describes SmartSearch Field, Tab View, iCloud Tabs, Sharing, More New Features such as better privacy, offline reading list, developer features and improvements for Chinese Users.  What is Safari : http://www.apple.com/safari/what-is.html 

Describes HTML5 and CSS3 for integrated audio and video tags, animations, special effects, filters.  Scroll half-way down the page to View demos that illustrate the capabilities of HTML5 and web standards.  

Describes the “worry-free web.”  Privacy pane, protection against cross-site scripting, phishing, and malware attacks.  Gives EV (Extended Validation) Certificate support.  

Features : http://www.apple.com/safari/features.html  describes 250+ innovative features available.  It’s a 17 page long list that explains these features.  

The Safari Extensions Gallery :  https://extensions.apple.com    

Safari Extensions are a great way for you to add new features to Safari. Built by developers, Safari Extensions use the latest HTML5, CSS3, and JavaScript web technologies. And they’re digitally signed for improved security. You can install extensions with one click — no need to restart Safari.

1. Categories
2. Most Popular
3. Most Recent
4. Bookmarking
5. Developer
6. Email
7. Entertainment
8. News
9. Photos
10. Productivity
11. RSS Tools
12. Search Tools
13. Security
14. Shopping
15. Social Networking
16. Translation
17. Twitter Tools
18. URL Shorteners
19. Other

Take a look at some of these possibilities:  

AdBlock, Social Fixer for Facebook fixes,  Exposer, Facebook Photo Zoom, 1-click weather for Safari from the Weather Channel,  Gmail Counter, Awesome Screenshot, clea.nr Videos for YouTube, Facebook Cleaner, ClickToFlash, Turn off the Lights, Translate, My eBay Manager, New York Times Updates, YouTube Wide, Duplicate Tab Button, Reload Button, WIT (know which websites you can trust with the Web of Trust WOT),  Ultimate Status Bar “which embiggens shortened URLs,”  SafariRestore,  Add to Amazon Wish List, Firebug Lite for Safari, Cloudy.

Interesting:  under Most Recent you can click to install Coupons at Checkout which you click the code to apply to your favorite retail websites from e-commerce websites across US, UK, Canada, and Australia 

Under Email:  Enlocked gives mail encryption on all your devices and works with Gmail, Yahoo Mail, AOL and Microsoft Live

Under Mail you can get toolbar extension The Moscow Times and get recent and top English-language news from Russia.  Others:  breaking news from New York Times, Fox News Ticker. 

Under Other:  you can choose to install HelveticaTheWorld which allows you to make Helvetica the primary font on every web page.  

Want to develop your own extensions?  Click to join Safari Developer Program. 

Here’s the official notification to consider before adding Extensions: 

Extensions can modify the appearance and behavior of Safari, and access your private information at websites. Apple is providing links to these extensions as a courtesy, and makes no representations regarding the extensions or any information related thereto. When you download and install an extension, the file is delivered by the developer, not by Apple. Some of the extensions listed here may require payment to the developer for use of the extension; this transaction is between the user and the developer. Any questions, complaints, claims, or support requests regarding an extension must be directed to the appropriate software developer.  

        On the Safari menu bar go to File > Share.  You can choose to email this page, message, Twitter, or Facebook.  Go to Safari Help and note the categories there for additional ways to use Safari.          In Help note some useful tips:  have you used Reader?  You can print an article without all the ads in the sidebars.  Do you bookmark and then organize those bookmarks.  Read about this under Help, too.  

        Have you used any of the Safari features and extensions? Improvements can be both challenging and rewarding.  Want to share ideas with PMUG?  Write me at editor@pmug.us  

         Learning with Mac is fun!  And productive!    

This was today's handout at PMUG,  9-21-13 by Elaine Hardt 

Electronic Pen Coming Soon

        David Passell sends this link to a description of an electronic pen that replaces much more expensive interactive white boards, an "interesting idea for presentations."  The BBC site says Penveu will soon be tried out in the Los Angeles Unified School District.  Cost?  $499, but read what all it can do!

Free Digital Magazine App

Just released yesterday was a brand new app for the magazine "Distro."  It's FREE.  Jim Hamm tells us it's for iPhone or iPad, but later will be available as a PDF download for any platform.  He comments, "I just downloaded and tried it, and I think I'm gonna like it."  Take a look here.

Decisions Due on Domain Names

        The article begins, "Decisions made this week in the meeting rooms of a San Francisco hotel could dramatically change how the world experiences the internet."  The writer advances the idea that more top-level domain names means more openings for cybercrime. Not a pretty story, but a topic to follow in the news.  Thanks to Jim Hamm for alerting us to this issue.
        Not one to procrastinate, we've already heard from John Carter this morning who offers a blow-by-blow rebuttal. His comments have already been posted on globalpublicsquare, (same link as above). After opening that site do Command + F and enter "John" in the Search box to quickly find John Carter's comments.
         Here's John's assessment:
        "A quote from the article:   Right now, there are 21 top-level domains. If ICANN’s new policy is implemented, we will see top-level domains such as .car, .newyorkcity, .hotels and hundreds more. Internet real estate will grow exponentially, creating a more complex experience for every user.
        "That part about this being a more complex experience for every user is really unnecessary. It sounds like negative press, and for what purpose? I don’t get it. This would be like saying, “If 5,000 new words were added to the English dictionary, people will have a more difficult time trying to communicate.”
        "The addition of the new top-level domains actually simplifies a user’s experience because it aids in identifying the nature of the connection. Just because we are all familiar with and got used to .com and .org doesn’t mean we can’t change and expand our horizons. I think a Republican wrote that article.
        "The author goes on to give a more negative meaning to the decision by inferring that only certain people stand to gain financially from the decision (emphasis mine):   Those in the business of making money by selling domain names agree, and, unfortunately, they have inserted themselves into ICANN’s policy-making process. For example, the Generic Names Supporting Organization (GNSO) in ICANN's multistakeholder operational model is responsible for introducing and developing the top-level domain policy at hand. The GNSO, however, is largely composed of the same registries and registrars that stand to gain financially by the proposed massive introduction of new top-level domains.
        "So what? Is the author complaining that the financial gain isn’t being spread around to everyone? Now I think the author is a Democrat!
        "Oops! Wait a minute! Here’s more doom and gloom:   This new policy will have great social, economic and security costs. If these new top-level domains are introduced, opportunities for cybercrime and fraud would be increased substantially.
        "His question:   How would you determine which are fraudulent sites actively misinforming the public?
        "The answer simply is: call the supposed owner of the site and get confirmation. What’s so difficult about that? People get scammed every day simply because they don’t bother to verify the source of the so-called official email or URL. The courts have a saying for this: Caveat emptor.
        "The author goes on.   A massive introduction of top-level domains will overwhelm the existing framework for combating cybercrime, putting millions of internet users at unnecessary risk.
        "No more than what is already happening. Just because the 400 new top-level domains introduces more opportunities for scamming doesn’t mean that scamming will increase anymore than it is already. It doesn’t even mean that it will add to the workload of authorities trying to pin down and stop scammers. It only means what you and I and the author want it to mean. If the public gets swayed by this article to join some movement to stop this decision, it would be like asking Webster to stop adding new words to the dictionary.
        "More:  In addition, consumers will be forced to take extensive measures to protect themselves from fraud and other malicious activities on the internet.
        "Extensive measures? What? Name them! Yes, I can make up a lot of scenarios wherein the Internet Public has to protect themselves from nefarious activities. That list won’t increase one iota by adding 400 new top-level domains. The number of directions from where one can get scammed doesn’t change how one avoids being scammed. Where is there any sanity in this author’s comments? Doom and Gloom seems to be his favorite perspective. Who taught this guy to see things objectively? That lesson obviously failed.
        "The final blow:   ICANN’s original mission – as a domain name regulator with a policy-making process inclusive of all internet users – was well-intentioned, but it has been polluted by constituents primarily concerned with financial gain, leaving the rest of us bearing the cost.
        "What cost? Where’s the facts behind this statement? Is it the potential cost of being scammed? I can’t see that there is any out-of-pocket cost to the Internet Public for adding new top-level domains!
        "The variety of comments on this article seems to indicate that there are about as many people who agree with the author as disagree with him. Some people are clearly confused by saying they don’t like the idea of a small group of people making decisions like this. To get a Democratic version of this decision would require a majority of the world’s population to know as much about the Internet as that small group of people - good luck on that one!"
        And so concludes John's comments.  Anyone else want to jump in?

Slick Way to Pay

        Imagine this: you’re shopping in a store and every employee has a small iPod touch and is capable of checking you out from anywhere in the store. Old Navy stores are reportedly using a form of Apple technology called ZipCheck. See the article here.  Jim Hamm passes this info along, mentioning he used this checkout system recently at an Apple store. "It is a bit difficult to sign in the small space with no place to rest your hand. On the plus side, there's no waiting in line to checkout. I'm not sure what happens, though, if one wants to pay by cash?"