Your internet connection, web sites and services.
Internet and Web
Can I stream from overseas using a VPN?
Episode 1670
David fromCaller has a son who is serving overseas and wants to watch Disney+ via VPN. But is VPN is really slow. Are there alternatives? And is it legal? Leo says that it is perfectly legal, but streaming services discourage the practice because a VPN can slow things down a lot. But Leo has tried VPN streaming all over the world and it works just fine. Leo recommends trying ExpressVPN. They area a sponsor and have been very consistent in their speeds. Tunnel Bear is another.
What happened to my bookmarks in Firefox?
Episode 1669
Dave fromDave uses Firefox and the favorites get lost from time to time. Leo says that can happen if you use Firefox Syncing. There is a bookmark management tool within Firefox. Open the sidebar and select bookmarks (CTRL+B). You can then search for the bookmark you're looking for. It's very easy to hide a folder or bookmark by accident. CTRL+B can help you find them again. It could also be that you accidentally deleted them. Dave also uses Time Machine to save to his Western Digital Passport. But now it won't let him backup to it unless he formats the drive.
Johnny Jet ... to Recline or Not to Recline
Episode 1669
The story this week of a woman who reclined in front of a man who's row was in the very back. He had no room and so he started shaking and punching her seat to get her attention and annoy her. She has since sued him. Johnny Jet says that when the person in front of you reclines, you pretty much have to recline as well, if you can. But he couldn't. To be polite, one should give notice that you're going to recline your seat. Be nice to the person behind you. But at the end of the day, the guy couldn't asked for another seat or selected a better seat when he booked.
Millions Use Borrowed Passwords to Stream
Episode 1669
According to a recent report, 11 million streamers are mooching off of other streamers by using their passwords. One in three share their log in with someone else. The report also saw that millenials are more likely to share, causing a billion in lost revenue.
Why Can't I Watch Netflix With a VPN?
Episode 1667
Mike fromMike watches Netflix with a VPN. Why is it slower? Leo says that a good VPN shouldn't slow him down all that much. So if the VPN is slow, and making it harder to stream Netflix, then try a different VPN or ISP. Also, if you're using a VPN to watch Netflix from the home computer, the upload speed may be the issue. Leo also recommends using PLEX. It uses a dedicated port and will enable him to media serve that Netflix stream, as well as movies. But again, it depends on the home upload speeds.
Where Can I Buy a Domain?
Episode 1667
Navy fromNavy wants to register a domain. What's a good site to do that? Leo says that (TWiT Sponsor) Hover is a good place. He has most of his domains registered there. One thing though, the pricing of domains has changed. They used to be about $10 a year, by the creators of domain extensions have started to charge more for their custom domains. Another good option is Google Domains. He can get a domain for about $12 a year. The chatroom says that Cloudflare has cost pricing for registration/renewal.
Johnny Jet ... Cancelled
Episode 1667
News has arrived that the Trump Administration is disallowing Global Entry into states that have sanctuary cities. And existing global entry residents in those states will not be able to renew unless those states revise their immigration policies. Many are using Mobile Passport now to bypass the lines. The $14.95 annual App stores your passport information on your phone.
Tip of the week - Briggs and Reilly bags will give you $100 credit towards a new bag if you trade in an old one or donate them for $50 off.
Netflix Finally Turns off Autoplay
Episode 1667
The big tech story this week is that Netflix finally gives viewers the option to turn off the annoying Autoplay feature within its app. There are several ways including a profile setting or with a checkbox on the show, you're watching. FINALLY!
What Antenna should I get for my house?
Episode 1666
Steve fromSteve has an AirBNB with an antenna to watch TV along with streaming. But his antenna is indoor and wants a better one for more options. Leo recommends visiting TVFool.com and AntennaWeb.org. You'll be able to enter your address, and it'll tell you what channels you get, where to aim the antenna, and what antenna is best for you. Steve is also having issues configuring his IoT devices. Leo says that most IoT devices prefer 2.4GHz over 5Ghz. So make sure you have the right band selected.
Why do I have to give AirBNB my ID?
Episode 1666
Gail fromGail is planning a trip for a family reunion using AirBnB. She ran into an issue where she needed to provide a copy of her ID in order to rent. Leo says that's due to issues of fraud and theft. Many online sites are now requiring proof of identity. And the information is public record. So it's not like they can't find out who you are. The question is, do you trust AirBNB to keep your information private. If you don't, then you shouldn't. But Airbnb doesn't want to damage their reputation. Then again, breaches of security happen often.
