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For more Leo and friends all week long, listen to the
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Sunday December 13, 2009
Show Audio
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Edited Audio | |
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Posted one week after broadcast… | |
Tech News
Google Phone Sightings confirmed
Google has so far partnered with other wireless companies to get Android phones out to the world. But now, Leo says that confirmation has come that there is a native Google Phone out in the Wild. Called, Nexus and made by HTC, the phone has Google apps including “Google Goggles.” Though a funny name, Goggles let’s you take a picture and search by it. What’s interesting is that it also can do face detection but citing privacy concerns, Google has turned that feature off.
Leo says that the face detection feature would certainly be useful, but understands the potential invasion of privacy, especially with law enforcement. Then again, government already has this capability and has for a few years now. So shouldn’t we? Leo wants that feature.
And it worries Leo that Google’s CEO Eric Schmidt says we shouldn’t worry about privacy, and if we are, then maybe we shouldn’t be doing whatever we are doing. What?!
Hour 1
Q Aaron, Los Angeles - Helmet mounted camera recommendation
Aaron is going on a motorcycle trip and needs a recommendation for a helmet mounted camera. Are lipstick cameras a good idea? Leo says that they are easy to use, but the quality isn’t all that great. Our Board Op Luiz tells Leo that the GoPro Helmet Camera is the best option.
From the ChatRoom, there’s the VHoldr lipstick cam - shoots in HD. Our buddy Patrick
Q Andy, Redondo Beach, CA - setting up a home server
Andy wants to create a home server that would allow his clients to log on an view pictures and videos he takes (he’s a private eye). Leo says running a server from home is going to have bandwidth challenges. You also have to be an expert on security. Then there’s privacy issues. Using a professionally managed server may be a better option. It may be a tad expensive, but they provide services that would protect both you and your clients.
What about using GoToMyPC? Leo says that’s an option for one client at a time. But for more than one, you’d have to have dedicated access. But it’s possible. From the Chatroom, there’s DropBox. With DropBox, you create a folder on your computer and have a restrictive login for each client. Dropbox is gentle on your bandwidth and can handle large files. $10 for 50GB. Another choice is drop.io. Good for one at a time, case by case basis. It’s free.
There’s also a great article from Maximum PC on cool hacks using DropBox. There’s also MemoPal and SugarSync.
Andy is also going to get a large screen LCD HDTV. Should he wait until after CES? Leo says yes. Word on the street is that after CES there’s going to be some amazing new TVs coming out of that. But they may take awhile to tricle out. Leo says the LCD of choice is the Samsung 8500. The Pioneer Kuro is being discontinued and is a fantastic plasma.
Q Kwami, Scottsdale, AZ - DVD Presentations
Kwami is creating a DVD product for exercise. How can he do it? Leo says that there’s two ways he likes. First, go to lulu.com to create your DVDs. They’ll take a cut and you set the price. But if you want to give them away, Leo recommends using your own rig and if you have a Lightscribe burner, you can create some really nice lables right on the disc with no stick on lables required. Adobe Premiere Elements will be great for what you’re doing because you can edit and burn from a single application.
Hour 2
Q Nina, Hacienda Heights, CA - Netbooks for Christmas
Nina wants to get her sister a Netbook for Christmas. Recommendations? Leo says that all the netbooks out there will do surfing, video chat, movie watching, etc. HP just released the HP Mini 311, which has an improved video card. Bigger screen - Samsung NC20. It’s a bigger screen and keyboard. The Dell Mini is excellent. Acer’s iEEEPC 1080 Seashell is pretty thin, great for taking to Europe. And right now Amazon has a $50 rebate going on it. The MSI Wind is also a good one, and it comes in pink!
Q Ken, Fairfield, CA - Protecting passwords
Ken wants to know if he should pay for RoboForms or is the free version good enough? Is there a limit to passwords? What’s a passcard? USB loaded? Roboform does allow you to install it’s “Roboform ToGo” version on a USB Key. That’s a great option if you work on different computers. Downside, it’s Windows only, so you can’t go cross platform. The free version has a limited number of passwords. KeyPass is free, open source, and works on both Mac and Windows. For MAC only, Leo likes 1Password.
Ken is also wanting to know about a Corel help screen issue he gets in Windows 7. The font is so tiny, it’s illegible. Corel says to go into Internet Explorer and change the font size. But it doesn’t work. Microsoft says to go into Internet Options, Accessibility tab, and make sure to check the box “ignore font size in web pages.” This will enable you to change the font size and not have it impacted by the sites. Will it automatically select Internet Explorer when using Corel? Leo says that it won’t matter. Internet explorer is just an engine, no worries and it won’t affect you using Firefox.
Q Able, San Leandro, CA - Virtual PBX recommendation
Able runs a small company and he doesn’t have the budget for an operator. They use a voice service. What is the best optimal connection speed over VOIP? Leo says that all you really need for a good quality phone call is 64kbps-200kbps. But when someone jumps online and starts surfing, the call can get degraded or even drop outs or latency. QOS will prioritize packets. Using Vonage, use the Vonage device in to improve your VOIP. You can also turn up your bandwidth. Skype does a great job as well.
Free, open source PBX is called ASTERIX. Answering service, Leo recommends Grasshopper.
Q John, Lake Forest, CA - Thinking about making “the Switch.”
John is thinking about getting a 27″ iMac, but is hearing that there’s problems. Leo says that the problems are mostly shipping issues as the computer is so huge, that the shipping may be inadequate. But Apple is always good at replacing anything computer that arrives DOA. If you’re concerned, don’t buy mail order, buy at the Apple Store.
Do you need AntiVirus and Spyware on an iMac? Leo says no. Hackers simply don’t write for the Mac. OSX is based on BSD and is inherently more secure. But it’s also not a target because it doesn’t enjoy as large a market share as Windows does. Does Apple eMail work good? Leo says it works great. Leo also doesn’t recommend putting MS Office on the Mac. Open Office works just fine. But also think about Google Docs through your browser.
Hour 3
Q William, West City, PA - Code creator for kids
William wants to write his own programs. What is out there that’s kid friendly? Leo recommends Alice. Great for kids, fun to learn and free! Created by Randy Pausch, famous for his “Last Lecture.”
Q Jan, Alta Loma, CA - Ubuntu Linux issues.
Jan installed Linux Ubuntu 9.10 and now she can’t run her webcam. Leo says it was brave to take the Linux leap. The reason though, why she can’t get her webcam is because there probably aren’t any drivers for it by the webcam manufacturer. You’ll have to look to the Linux community for any missing drivers, unfortunately. The community will write new drivers, but it’ll take a few weeks. Just keep checking for updates. Meanwhile, you can go to help.ubuntu.com/community/webcam for information on the issue.
Q Ann, San Diego, CA - Issues with Quickbooks
Ann has been having issues with Quickbooks and has found an online version called “Yodalie.” But it’s “in the cloud.” How safe is that? Leo originally waited over a year before starting with MINT. But he found out that both Yodlee and Mint use the same back end as your bank, so they already have all that information anyway. And in fact, Quickbooks also uses Yodlee! So why not?
Ann has a blog on writing called aboutfreelancewriting.com
Q Chris, Sunland, CA - Windows won’t boot
Chris gets a Windows application error at Bootup. LSASS - Leo says that’s the dreaded SASSER virus that has bitten you. If you’re rebooting, that means that Sasser is active. LSASS modifies your LSASS file and it causes the issue. Course, your LSASS file may be faulty as well if your AVS removed Sasser, but the damage was done to your LSASS file. Run your Windows install disc and choose repair. It’ll repair any messed up files and that could solve the issue. If not, NewerTek has a bare hard drive connector which you can then get your data off and then just reformat and re-install Windows.
Q Mike, Detroit, MI - Multi Monitor/Multi Video card control
Mike wants to connect multiple monitors across a variety of video cards. The easiest way is to get a multi-head video card which will divide it. Leo recommends Matrox and the NVidia 5800 will split across multiple monitors. Multiple cards? Leo doesn’t know of one.
Have a great geek week, everybody!
