Geekly Update - 10 April 2019
Are reports of new photos of a black hole real, or just an April Fools prank? Why are robotic space bees buzzing around the International Space Station? Will deactivating your Facebook account stop them from collecting your data as you move about the Internet? And in the wake of massive data breaches, should you trust a credit reporting agency with access to your online bank account? 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
Robot bees in space? It's no longer science fiction, and these are the friendly type. NASA's Astrobees are designed to help astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS), performing system inspections and basic housekeeping.
Zee Business, an Indian news site, reports that "Facebook cops" have visited users' homes to verify posts with political content, ahead of upcoming elections in India.
Experian Boost is promising to improve your credit score, but at what cost? If you pay your utility and phone bills on time, Experian will factor that into your credit file, and "instantly" boost your credit score? The catch: Consumers must grant Experian permission to access their online bank accounts for verification. If that's not scary enough, Experian warns that "results may vary" because not all lenders use the Experian FICO Score.
The European Southern Observatory announced today that the Event Horizon Telescope has captured first ever image of a black hole.
A C|Net report claims that Facebook continues to track and collect data about you even after you delete the app from your phone and deactivate account. The social media giant will only remove all of your data if you permanently delete your account.
Can your voiceprint be used against you? One psychiatrist at NYU has found “vocal biomarkers” top indicate post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of mental illness. Another program called Companion uses AI to analyze your voice and deduce if you’re likely to default on a loan.
A 3-year-old boy locked up his father's iPad with a message that read "Try again in 25,536,442 minutes." The child repeatedly entered the wrong password, locking the device until the year 2067.
The year was 1993 -- fourteen years before the iPhone, and two years before Internet Explorer version 1.0. Apple had created W.A.L.T (the Wizzy Active Lifestyle Telephone) which was a telephone and fax machine combo. The prototype device was demonstrated at Macworld Boston in 1993, and still works!
Twitter says it automatically removes 6 to 7.5 million accounts per week (over 300 million a year) in efforts to combat social media algorithmic manipulation. Simple Twitter bot accounts can post over five thousand tweets before they get taken down.
The good news about 5G is that AT&T has rolled out 5G service in 19 cities, but there’s still no phone that can use it. Verizon has 5G service in selected areas but the only 5G smartphones (Samsung Galaxy S10 and LG V50) are not available yet.
Your thoughts on these topics are welcome. Post your comment or question below...
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This article was posted by Bob Rankin on 10 Apr 2019
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Most recent comments on "Geekly Update - 10 April 2019"
Posted by:
David
10 Apr 2019
I love the e-mails I get a couple of times a week from Experian, offering to protect my data for a price. I guess they really don't understand the word irony.
Posted by:
SysOp404
10 Apr 2019
W.A.L.T. [We Actually Like Technology] A bright blip in the bad-old-days of computing, that didn't make it into our homes or businesses.
Sci-fi continues to become science-fact, as fans of Mystery Science Theater 3000 will recognize NASA's new Astrobee, as a real life mash-up of Gypsy, (who was in charge of running the Satellite of Love's operations) and Cambot, (the silent recorder of the experiments) - in the Mad's quest to screen B-movies bad enough to drive test subjects insane.
Looks like these new Astrobees too, will serve aboard a space station, doing pretty much the same things... maintenance, video cam functions and helping with experiments (sans the insane thang)...
Posted by:
Bill C
10 Apr 2019
Twitter shouldn't be removing ANYTHING !!
It gets a free pass because it claims to be a "platform".
George Orwell was worried about the wrong thing.
It isn't big government, it's big business watching your every move.
Posted by:
Keith Flaming
10 Apr 2019
Of course neither AT&T's 5GE nor Verizon's 5G home service is really 5G. Another marketing fiasco like their 4G rollouts. I'm awaiting HTC's 5G U13+ later this year.
Posted by:
Richard
11 Apr 2019
Damn Bob, I keep trying to empty my inbox but whenever I see an email from you, I consider it too valuable to toss! Half my keepers are from you!
Keep up the good work.
--Richard
Posted by:
top squirrel
11 Apr 2019
Re Facebook still tracking you after you have deactivated your account and continuing until you have permanently deactivated your account. I have NEVER had a Facebook account nor visited their website yet I am always deleting Facebook cookies. Delete 'em and they always come back. Like kudzu. Who knows how they got there?!
Bob?
Posted by:
-JimP
12 Apr 2019
From Verizon (the link in your article)
"Sorry, 5G Home is not yet available or this address already has 5G service"
Duh!
Posted by:
HowardL
15 Apr 2019
Bob, I'm still getting online ads for VoIP service, including one that came to me embedded in this issue of your very fine newsletter.
Sure, an Internet phone service is an inexpensive alternative to landlines. But the link in the ad did not mention the fact that keeps me from relying exclusively on an Internet phone:
VoIP doesn't work in blackouts. When the computer goes down so does VoIP, whereas landlines usually work just fine.
Howard