Geekly Update - 15 February 2017

Category: Tech-News

Is your antivirus software employing magic and witchcraft to protect your computer? Can posting doggie pics on your Facebook page get you canned by your insurance company? And would you order consider ordering your next new car from a vending machine? Get answers... in today's Geekly Update -- it's jam-packed with the latest tech news. This issue is guaranteed to make you 146% smarter -- you'll see why. Read, think, and, comment!

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

Nationwide Insurance cancelled a North Carolina homeowner's insurance policy. The reason: they poked around on her Facebook page and found a picture of an "ineligible dog."

Queue the “Y’don’t say” meme. Dr Ian Levy, technical director of the UK's National Cyber Security Centre revealed in a recent speech that security firms often overstate the abilities of hackers to sell more security software and services. He likened security hardware to “a magic amulet” and said the security industry’s business model is “medieval witchcraft.”

Google Home’s Super Bowl ad made Google Home devices in many homes do what the ad said after “OK, Google.” Imagine a commercial that sends your self-driving car off on a pizza run.

Geekly Update 02-15-2017

Carvana, a startup that lets you buy a car online and pick it up from a vending machine without ever seeing a sales person, has opened its third location. Seems to be working. "OK, Google… order me a Mercedes AMG C43 Coupe from Carvana."

A French man used his wife's iPhone to summon a ride with the Uber app. Now he's suing Uber for $47 million because the app outed his infidelity and led to his divorce.

Facebook is closing 200 Oculus Rift “pop-up stores” in Best Buy stores, citing poor sales. Sales reps reported that a week often went by without any customer requests for demos. Maybe real reality is all people can handle.

A wonderful new feature coming to Windows 10: Cortana will keep track of your commitments and nag you to fulfill them. Is this what Microsoft thinks consumers want instead of spouses?

A Florida man is suing a school district that would not stop robo-calling him about the absence of a child he doesn’t have, despite his repeated requests to correct the phone number in the school district’s database. He’s seeking $500 per erroneous call under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, asking for a total of $25,000. His suit will likely be dismissed because the TCPA applies only to “solicitation” calls, but he’ll surely get that phone number changed now.

Mouse Pad Armrest
Mouse Pad Armrest

Walmart.com is taking on Amazon Prime with free 2-day shipping, and it won’t cost you $99 per year. Minimum order is $35.

Ever wonder what elevators have to say? Elevator manufacturer KONE will let you read live conversations between some of its installed elevators and its maintenance department.

Your thoughts on these topics are welcome. Post your comment or question below...

 
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Most recent comments on "Geekly Update - 15 February 2017"

Posted by:

Chip
15 Feb 2017

That guy ,who is suing Uber, should have his lawsuit thrown out. He wrongs his wife and sues because he says he was wronged. I guess he thinks it is okay to screw someone else, but if he, unintentionally, gets wronged it is the end of the world. I say too bad. The lawsuit should be thrown out. if not, all his winnings should go to his wife for having him as a husband.


Posted by:

Clairvaux
15 Feb 2017

Elevators phoning home, and the conversation being played out on the Internet ? That looks like an invitation to hackers.


Posted by:

RichF
16 Feb 2017

Pretty stupid to order an Uber for him and his girl friend using his wife's phone. Don't know how he could think that was a good idea.


Posted by:

Old Man
16 Feb 2017

"A wonderful new feature coming to Windows 10: Cortana will keep track of your commitments and nag you to fulfill them. Is this what Microsoft thinks consumers want instead of spouses?"
I think this is for singles who want to see what married life is like without all the extra expense.


Posted by:

Egbok
16 Feb 2017

The elevator maintenance system by Kone is nothing new. Otis has been using a similar system for near on to forty years using the telephone system and radio signals. An elevator maintenance man in California invented a box that retrofits onto older elevators and notifies the maintenance service when a failure is imminent. All in all it is a benefit for the riding public to have the extra measure of safety.


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