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For more Leo and friends all week long, listen to the
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Sunday February 14, 2010
Show Audio
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Edited Audio | |
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Posted one week after broadcast… | |
Tech News
Google responds to the Buzz over privacy concerns
Some think that Google Buzz is so huge, that Facebook is now worth half what it was yesterday. Google has long been more than just a search engine. Google’s goal is to get you to use the Internet more through Google so you can see their ads and make them money. It’s also the reason they can give away all their products for free. The more you use the Net through Google, the more money they make. So Buzz makes a lot of sense when you look beyond search as their business model.
But others have been concerned about how Buzz affects privacy. When you first go to GMail, it initially would automatically add all your contacts make them visible to others. But Google has responded and made Buzz Opt IN, not Opt out. Now, today you can follow friends or turn off Buzz entirely.
But Buzz isn’t all they’re doing this week. Google is now planning to offer fiber optic networks with GIGABIT Internet speeds! WOW.
Kevin Smith, director of Clerks, uses Twitter to slam Southwest Airlines
Kevin Smith was at MacWorld Expo and on the way home he hopped on a Southwest Airline flight to head home to L.A. The Captain threw him from the flight because he was deemed a safety risk because he’s too fat. And in real time, Kevin Smith Twittered about it, much to Southwest’s embarrassment. He’s also podcasted about it.
Leo says that using Twitter to complain about poor customer service is really gaining traction, as more businesses are monitoring Twitter to be able to take action on such issues.
Guests
Scott Wilkinson, Home Theater Magazine
Scott says that if what Google wants to offer in ISP speeds would become common place, that alone would take movie downloads and streaming into a serious entertainment option. You could stream HD video with minimal compression. So it’s quite exciting.
Scott also recently blogged about a topic on Plasma aging and how a plasma TV can suddenly double black levels to compensate for age. This is covered in a forum discussion over at AVS forums. Scott has done some research and is waiting to hear back from plasma manufacturers about it. Panasonic says it’s designed that way. Still, Scott isn’t completely convinced that it isn’t anything but an isolated incident. He still likes Panny’s plasmas.
Chris Marquardt - Tips from the Top Floor
Reviewing the February Iron Photographer assignment for this month was a “heart,” “motion,” and NO RED! And although it was tough, here’s some noteworthy ones:
kasperhor’s Shadow Heart - using a ring and a book, and showing shadow to reveal a heart.
Bear Heart, uses an affect to create heart shaped lights floating thanks to a trick of the aperture and a tiny heart shaped hole.
Our next assignment - “Spring” and “no flowers”. Take some shots and upload to flickr. Tag with the Tech Guy group and maybe we’ll feature it on a future broadcast.
Hour 1
Q Ron, Arcadia, CA - Broadband battles - Cable vs. DSL
Ron is trying to decide which broadband company to get his Internet from. Which is better, Cable or DSL? Leo says you also have wireless broadband options. Which would be best? In theory, Cable is faster with it’s new DOCSIS 3 technology. But ADSL 2 is pretty fast as well. What it comes down to is how it’s implemented locally. Leo says the best thing to do is ask your neighbors what they have and if they’re happy with the service they receive. Ask them to go to speedtest.net and pingtest.net and test what their connection speed is and how good it’s rated. Another option is to go over to broadbandreports.com and read up on each one. In the end, a little research will help you one way or the other.
Q Matthew, Inola, PA - Hooking up his NAS to his TV
Matthew would like to hook up his HDTV to his PC and Network Attached Storage and play through his TIVO. Leo says what’s making the setup so complicated IS the TIVO! Hook up the media extender to the network, bypass the TIVO and you’ll be in business. You can also use your Playstation 3 to route Netflix to your TV the PS3 wireless connection.
Hour 2
Q Jeff, Murietta, CA - search optimization
Jeff has a website called Unlimited Stock Media, where he sells stock footage on HD video. He’s very frustrated in that he doesn’t get in search results. How can he improve his ratings? 1. Make sure Google is indexing you. Submit to their index. Read the Buzzle Article on how Google does what it does.
Also, in your title bar, you want to include all the information you want a search engine to pick up. Google reads the first 1500 words on your page and make sure you prominently display what you are in those first 1500 words. Having a site map also helps. Also, participating in communities where you can get others to cross link with you will help as well in getting that “Google Juice.” And the longer you register your domain name for, the better.
But avoid so called “search engine optimization” schemes. Leo says that most of them are snake oil. Some are legit, however, but they don’t make promises of some magical system or guarantees of rankings. And if Google thinks you’re trying to “game” their system, they could ban you, and that’s the kiss of death.
Q Rob, Santa Clarita, CA - New computer
Rob is looking to get a new computer and wants to know what Leo thinks of ZT Corp. Leo hasn’t heard of them. Leo says that PCs are a commodity product and as such, it really doesn’t matter how good they say their parts are. Either they will fail or not. The Internet is good for doing research on companies. But Leo says it doesn’t really matter who you get a computer from. The real difference isn’t so much the product, it’s if they stand behind them. And since, according to XP99 in the chatroom, CostCo sells them, you’ll be able to return it if it goes bad during the warranty. But from what he can see, it’ll be fine.
Q Dario, Alta Dena, CA - Backing up
Dario backed up his contacts, bookmarks, and favorites to Mobile Me. First off, Leo says that one backup isn’t enough. In addition to backing up off site, you should have at least two, or even three other backup options.
But Dario went to Mobile Me to restore them, and they’re gone! Leo says you probably didn’t backup the home folder. Dario also synced Mobile Me, but syncing is not a backup. Always, ALWAYS verify the backup worked before deleting your data.
Q Tony, Stevenson Ranch, CA - Windows Update issues
Tony has an HP PC and his Windows Update isn’t working. Leo says that chances are, an update has failed and until it finishes, Update won’t continue. If you go to the Microsoft Support Site, you’ll see the top issues are updating issues. You’ll probably need to go into the folder where updates are cached, delete them, and let Windows restart the update.
Hour 3
Q Ed, Santa Cruz, CA - Streaming video
Ed was watching a surfing contest on UStream for over three hours yesterday and it never stuttered. Leo says it’s amazing how much better video streaming has gotten of last and he’s convinced the future of communication and broadcasting is on the Internet. Thanks you uStream, iPhone users can now enjoy Leo’s show live on the iPhone!
Q Taylor, Idaho Falls, CA - Apple Care
Taylor just bought a 21″ iMac and wants to know what Leo thinks of Apple Care. Leo says that as a general rule, he’s against extended warranties and prefers to “self insure.” However, it really depends on what the extended warranty actually covers, and often it’s just an extension of the same warranty that comes with it originally. And usually, if a product is going to fail, it’ll do it within the first year. But some believe that the peace of mind to have an extended warranty makes it worth the money. But it’s a profit center for the manufacturer, to be sure.
Q Martin, San Diego, CA - Satellite phones
Martin is interested in getting a satellite phone. Leo says they’re very expensive. They use the Iridium satellite network (which has since gone bankrupt). Global Star, Blue Sky Network, etc. But it works everywhere. Go to Iridium.com for a list of those who provide phones and service. You have to buy package of minutes and it’s not cheap by a long shot.
Q Jan, Temecula, CA - Anti Virus software
Jan has been using AVG for a while and wants to know if it’s not good anymore? Leo says that AVG, while free, is more bloated and slow now. Leo now recommends Microsoft Security Essentials. It’s as good as anything else out there and it handles both viruses and spyware.
Jan can’t remove AVG. Leo says that AVS software is designed to burrow deep into the OS. Google AVG removal tool and download it in order to get rid of anything that may be lingering behind before you isntall the new AVS.
Q Raymond, Los Angeles, CA - Music Videos and iTunes
Raymond upgraded to Snow Leopard and now all the videos he bought on iTunes won’t run. Leo suspects that because of the new Quicktime, installing Snow Leopard on top of your old OS has called the issue. Download the previous version of QT (vs. 7, IIRC) and reinstall it. That should save the issue. This is why Leo prefers to archive data and favorites, then format and install, rather than upgrade on top of the old OS.
Pat has an HP Media Center PC. Should he get a full edition of Windows 7? Leo says you can save money and get the upgrade. You can put in the Win 7 upgrade disc for your version of XP, then place it in and go into the options and choose format and install. Leo likes to set up a separate parition for Windows and separate for data. Then choose to install Windows 7 clean. You’ll be good to go. In fact, you have to to a clean install anyway, according to the chatroom.
Thanks it gang! Have a great geek week!
