Your internet connection, web sites and services.
Internet and Web
What is a Good Online Community for Photography?
Episode 1603
Steve fromSteve is amazed at how GPS mapping apps can know what the best and fastest route is. Leo says that WAZE is crowd sourced, so it gets real time traffic data from Waze users themselves, and it can work to route you around it.
Steve is also a photographer and wants to know what are good online sources to share and get feedback. Leo says that while it has changed recently, Flickr is a good place to post for community input.
Is YouTube Legit?
Episode 1603
Al fromAl says he's been watching Smarter Every Day on YouTube and he has learned about click farms that are designed to create bogus views and clicks on YouTube to not only earn ad revenue but to skew the recommendation engine to drive videos that wouldn't normally be recommended. Leo says that YouTube really needs to address this by 1) getting rid of comments, and 2) getting rid of the recommendation engine.
Signify Creates LiFi LightBulbs Which Transmit Data Over Light
Episode 1603
Signify has created a new light bulb that has light-emitted wifi, called Trulifi, which can transmit data at speeds up to 150 megabits using light waves.
YouTube Is Under Federal Investigation for Violation of Child Privacy Act
Episode 1603
The latest news about YouTube is that the federal government is investigating the streaming video portal for violation of provisions of the Child Online Privacy Act. The problems are in the recommendation engine, which veers to strange videos, even in the YouTube Kids channel. Numerous complaints to the Federal Trade Commission questions if YouTube is collecting data on kids under 13.
Should I Register a Domain with GoDaddy?
Episode 1602
Benny fromBenny wants to create a website and wants to know if he should register a domain with GoDaddy. Leo says NO. He hates GoDaddy and their questionable business practices. And there are plenty of other domain registrars out there. Leo recommends HOVER.
What about web hosts? Leo says that Blogger is free, as is Wix. Leo also recommends Squarespace.
What is a Good Database App?
Episode 1602
Greg fromGreg is part of an RV club and they'd like a good web-based database to manage contacts, offer invoices, and get out information. Leo says that Capterra is a directory of business software. A really good resource to find the right app for the need. Also, check out Monday.com
What's an Alternative to Evernote?
Episode 1602
Ruben fromRuben is looking for an alternative to Evernote. They've raised prices for the Premium version. Leo says that he can still do the free version, and he may be able to get by, but it's not encrypted. Leo's alternative is Microsoft's ONENOTE. Leo says it's free on everything and he won't have to have an Office subscription to use it. Another good one is Google Keep. Keep is interesting because it's like a bulletin board.
Johnny Jet ...Check your Equipment
Episode 1602
Johnny Jet says that before you book your flight, always look at what birds they're using for that flight. You can find that out online as you book. Not all planes are created equal. Johnny Jet uses Google Flights but also goes to the airline website to find out what plane is flying on his flight. You want a wide body whenever possible.
And if you fly American, when you fly, you can get free upgrades in the offseason.
Why Does YouTubeTV Have Much Better Image Quality Than Other Digital Broadcast Signals?
Episode 1602
Tom fromTom is watching TV and he gets pixelation while streaming. When he switches to an antenna, he gets the same problem. What gives? Leo says that's due to the digital broadcast. Digital signals don't degrade gracefully. It just gets bad. And it could be a host of things from the antenna, to bandwidth, to the streaming box. Leo has a hunch it's the service that's streaming the programming to him.
How is YouTube getting such a clean signal? Leo says they may be using fiber directly from a network.
Facebook launches Libra Coin Crypto Currency and Everyone hates it
Episode 1602
Facebook has launched Libra Coin, and already many countries have banned its use. The US will investigate Facebook over it, and banks will refuse to accept it. But companies like MasterCard, Paypal (of course) and others will be accepting it. Leo says that if governments hate it, it's a maybe a good thing. But only time will tell. The real problem is, Facebook wants to tie your account to your banking information, and even though Facebook says all transactions will be private, with Facebook's fantastic record of security and privacy, what could possibly go wrong?
