Geekly Update - 03 January 2019

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

A new study reveals what Facebook is worth to the average American. It would take $1000 to get one to give up Facebook for a year.

Good old-fashioned carpal tunnel syndrome is so 2018, according to a San Francisco doctor. "Selfie wrist," a condition which causes tingling or pain in the wrist is associated with taking too many selfie photos with the wrist held at an awkward angle.

But selfie takers with painful wrists might consider themselves lucky. A study by the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care found 259 selfie-related deaths were reported from 2011 to 2017. The average age of those who died was 23 years. The study recommends “no selfie zones” in certain tourist areas to reduce the number of selfie-related deaths.

A Texas man shot his wife's laptop because her music was too loud. Perhaps we need "volume control" laws.

Back in September 2018, Google Chrome underwent a dramatic redesign that some people hate. Google allowed users to roll back to the old design, but now with Chrome 71 that ability is gone. It’s important not to use old versions of any software that lack the latest security updates.

The top-selling app-based products this holiday season were Alexa, Google Home, and Fitbit based on new downloads of setup apps.

2019 is the year Windows comes to Chromebooks in dual-boot form. You won’t be able to run the two OSes simultaneously, but you can switch between them with a reboot.

Samsung wants your PC to become a peripheral device wirelessly connected to its next-generation smart TV. My advice: Do not give low-security devices like TV sets remote access to your PC.

Hold that thought... We all agree that the exponentially growing Internet of Things poses a multitude of security vulnerabilities. A new study by computer scientists at the College of William and Mary attempts to enumerate the hazards of smart home products.

A full-sized replica of the Commodore 64 PC is coming from the maker of the C64 Mini, a charming but toylike gadget whose keys don’t even work.

The FTC issued a consumer alert about a phishing scam in which Netflix purportedly asks users to update their payment details.

How much does computer security depend on physical security? Watch this mesmerizing video and you will become an adept lockpick and burglar.

It's a copy, right? Video game companies are facing copyright lawsuits from the owners of tattoos on professional sports stars. Often, the rights owners are not the players or the tattoo artists.

Fully driverless vehicles are delivering groceries in Scottsdale, Arizona. The autonomous vehicles look a lot like the golf carts they are going to bump into.

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