Geekly Update - 15 January 2020

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

The NSA says they'll no longer hold on to software hacks that can be used for nefarious purposes. Now, they want to be known as the good guys in the cyberwars. They recently alerted Microsoft to a serious Windows security vulnerability that could allow hackers to inject malware that appears to be legitimate software on a Windows 10 computer. Microsoft has issued a patch, so be sure to update ASAP.

The 2020 Consumer Electronic Show (CES) was awash with robots, and some of them were downright adorable.

A few weeks ago, I published Here's Why Desktop PCs Just Won’t Die. And a new report from industry analyst IDC says I was right -- PC shipments are increasing. The worldwide market for PCs finished 2019 with a gain of 2.7% in global shipments. Fourth quarter 2019 sales totaled 71.8 million units, the highest single quarter shipment volume in four years.

Savvy AskBob readers understand that two-factor authentication (2FA) provides an additional layer of security, in addition to the username and password. And physical security keys are the best way to implement 2FA. So iPhone users are happy that Google’s updated Smart Lock app now lets them use their iPhone as a physical 2FA security key for logging into Google services. Android phones already have this capability, so now anyone with a smartphone has a physical security key.

Google is working on machine learning models to generate highly localized weather predictions that apply to the immediate future. The nowcasting technique can generate 0-6 hour local forecasts, in minutes instead of several hours required by existing tech.

Got old tech gadgets cluttering up your junk drawer? Here's how to get rid of your electronic devices without polluting the environment, and maybe even put some cash in your pocket in the process.

This just in from the Honey Versus Vinegar Department: In November, PayPal agreed to purchase Honey, a web browser extension that helps buyers find low prices, for $4 billion. In December, Amazon warned its shoppers that Honey was a “security risk,” even though it's been around for years. Amazon's claim sounds mighty suspicious, coming from an online payments competitor.

iRobot, the company that makes the Roomba robo-vac, announced that they've found some practical domestic uses for the robotic-arm technology they developed for the military. Future products won't just clean your floors, they'll have arms that could load the dishwasher, help with laundry, or bring dinner to the table.

The Hydrofoiler XE-1 is an electric bike that you can pedal on water. Pedaling "jump starts" an electric motor that turns a propeller, and hydrofoils underneath act like wings to provide lift. With practice, riders can "sail" at speeds up to 12mph.

Juno is a "reverse microwave" that can cool your beer, soda, and wine bottles in minutes. But wait, there's more! "Juno can do so much more than just chill wine," the maker says. "It can turn your freshly brewed coffee cold, or transform your hot tea into iced tea." The gadget uses a "thermoelectric cooling engine" to transfer heat from liquids.

Popular Mechanics has good news for those who have trouble texting in frigid conditions, and for soldiers who need to reload a weapon without wearing cumbersome gloves. The U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine has developed a device that warms your hands by heating your forearms to increase blood circulation to the fingertips. No gloves required!

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