Geekly Update - 10 March 2022
Did a podcaster prove that Mark Zuckerberg is a robot? Can your car pull you over if it doesn't think you're a good driver? Add did you download an app that's actually a dirty data-stealing RAT? 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
An podcaster thought it would be fun to require Facebook/Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to circle traffic lights on a piece of paper to prove he isn't a robot. Surprisingly, Zuckerberg passed the CAPTCHA test.
Mazda and Volkswagen are working on new car tech that can watch drivers and pull them over if the AI thinks they’re asleep or experiencing a medical emergency. What could possibly go wrong?
Apple this week announced a new budget iPhone SE ($429), an updated iPad Air tablet, and a powerful new M1 Ultra chip, slated for use in the Mac Studio computer.
Google is updating the Messages app, in an effort to make it less annoying. Currently, if an Android user Bob sends a message "Let's do lunch" to an iPhone user Alice, and the Alice clicks the "like" or "love" emoji, it sends a complete copy of the message back to the sender, indicating that "Alice liked 'Let's do lunch'". It can get pretty annoying when you have a larger group of people in a conversation, responding with Likes, Loves, or Laughs. The update will simply add the emoji reaction to the original message.
The Raspberry Pi is a tiny computer, about the size of a credit card, and sells for between $4 and $35. What can you do with a Raspberry Pi? CEO Eben Upton talks about it in an interview with The Verge.
An app for Android phones that was downloaded more than 10,000 times has actually a dirty data-stealing RAT. That's RAT, as in Remote Access Trojan malware. One security firm has collected data that will tell you if you were infected.
Slashgear says the popular Audacity audio editor has become spyware. That may be a bit overstated, though. Audacity was bought by the Muse Group, which introduced a new privacy policy that allows it to collect unspecified user data, and banned pre-teens from using it.
A new technology called Adsorb could store heat collected on warm or sunny days and release it months later. It draws heat from a heat pump or solar collector to dehydrate and "charge" an active material. When moisture is reintroduced, the heat is released.
It should come as no surprise that Jacques Cousteau’s grandson Fabien Cousteau is building a network of ocean floor research stations. He envisions specialized underwater habitats enabling long-term stays on the ocean floor.
And finally, this week's Just Here For The Headline: Attackers Can Force Amazon Echos To Hack Themselves With Self-Issued Commands.
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 Mar 2022
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Most recent comments on "Geekly Update - 10 March 2022"
Posted by:
Norman Salsen
10 Mar 2022
If my car has that rubbish in it's ecu I would definitely reprogram or destroy that option, cars are getting far too intrusive, and even more environmentally dangerous with there battery powered "things" that are going to ruin this planet for our grandchildren when they start burying the dead batteries
Posted by:
Bill
10 Mar 2022
"The Raspberry Pi is a tiny computer, about the size of a credit card, and sells for between $4 and $35."
If you can find one. They're in short supply due to the chip shortage and apparently available on places like eBay for the bargain(?) price of $200 each.
Posted by:
D. Morris
10 Mar 2022
Hey Google, Here's an idea. How about updating your Messages app to display contacts by last name instead of first name so when I'm starting a text I can easily find the one person named Rankin instead of the 200 Bobs.
Posted by:
David Lorenz
10 Mar 2022
But if that "intrusive" car Norman mentioned saved money on a car insurance policy, a person may want to KEEP the option.
Tesla is already using data (with permission) in several states to present lower rates with the Tesla Insurance company. They are "cherry picking" the better drivers to cut down on potential claims. These better drivers no longer have to pay extra to cover the other, excluded drivers. So, everyone with the company saves money.
It's a game changer for the insurance industry.
By the way, EV car batteries are 100% recyclable. Let's not bury them for the grandchildren.
https://www.tesla.com/support/sustainability-recycling
Posted by:
Brian B
11 Mar 2022
@Norman "battery powered "things" in a car are all powered from the one 12v battery under the hood, and/or alternator, unless the vehicle is an EV. My 2019 VW has lane keeping assist which when wandering towards the white line, with no indicator selected, gives the steering wheel the gentlest of tugs in the opposite direction to alert the the driver to the situation. If no input is then noted from the driver, the car will steer away from the line. If it goes too far in the opposite direction, the same thing happens in reverse. If it happens again, the vehicle concludes the driver is asleep/unconscious or has had a medical episode and brings the vehicle to a gentle stop with the hazard lights activated. It might not save my life after a heart attack, but it would certainly save the lives of a family in an oncoming vehicle. There are half a dozen gizmos like that on the vehicle, radars/cameras/parking assist, all operating for the one battery. Also, if you consider all these assists to be intrusive, you have the option of turning them all off and playing roulette with your life and that of others.
Posted by:
SBorau
05 Apr 2022
@Norman -- 100% agree. Car makers seem to be moving towards being able to take control of our cars. Who was asking for self-driving cars in the first place? It's presented as save money on your insurance or help to avoid human error accidents, but you can see where this could lead to. Once driverless cars are normalized then all cars sold will be driverless or able to be controlled by the company/the state.
Posted by:
PgmrDude
12 Apr 2022
RE: Fabien Cousteau is building a network of ocean floor research stations:
I think it would be SAFER to sign up for the Mars missions. If I'm gonna DIE in an experiment, I'd rather it be on Another Planet than at the bottom of the ocean. LOL!