Geekly Update - 17 July 2024

The AskBobRankin Geekly Update

The annual Amazon Prime Day is running July 16-17, and features discounts on everything from must-have tech and gadgets, to popular styles and beauty brands, to essentials for your home and beyond. This LG 17-inch Laptop, discounted by $350 looks very tempting...

Kaspersky Lab, maker of Kaspersky antivirus products, has announced it will shut down its operations in the United States following a ban by the U.S. Department of Commerce. Kaspersky's software was deemed a national security risk due to concerns about potential ties to the Russian government. As of July 20, 2024, Kaspersky will no longer be able to sell its products in the U.S. Existing users can continue to use Kaspersky products, but they are advised to switch to alternative security solutions to avoid potential risks from unpatched software. The company will provide updates and security patches only through September 29th. If you're looking for an Internet security product made in the USA, check out PC Matic.

A PCWorld article says Microsoft has activated a feature in Windows 11 without notifying users. This feature, related to OneDrive, automatically backs up documents, pictures, and desktop folders to the cloud. Many users discovered the change when they noticed that their files were being uploaded to OneDrive without their consent, leading to concerns about privacy and data usage. The automatic backup can be disabled through OneDrive settings, but the lack of prior notification from Microsoft has frustrated many users.

Japanese scientists have developed a robot with a "living" skin made from human cells, capable of mimicking realistic facial expressions, including smiles. This advancement aims to create more human-like androids and improve understanding of facial expression physiology. The skin, created using a cell-laden gel, can be attached to complex surfaces and is inspired by human skin ligaments. While the goal is to achieve self-healing capabilities, the technology is not yet at that stage. (We're still is the icky, sticky, creepy stage.)

Google is enhancing its security features by making it easier for users to check if their personal information is on the dark web. This new "Dark Web Report" feature allows users to run a dark web scan to see if their name, address, phone number, email, username, or passwords have been compromised. If any information is found, Google provides steps on how to secure accounts and protect data. This initiative aims to improve user awareness and security in the face of increasing online threats.

The Solar Hyperion is a new electric scooter that can reach speeds "up to a thrilling 65 mph," with a range of 70 miles per charge. The company says the $3300 scooter's screen will project your phone, so "no more messy wires or phone holders." What about the mess that happens when you lose control and hit the asphalt at 65 mph?

Merlin Bird ID is a nifty app that helps you identify the birds you see or hear. I love that it can listen to the birds around me and accurately tell who’s singing. You can also take a photo of a bird, the app will offer a list of possible matches. Both features work completely offline. Bird ID is available for birds in the US, Canada, Europe, with some common birds of Central and South America, and India.

Here's an interesting (and not overly geekly) article on why we need random numbers, and some of the interesting methods employed to generate them.

The Enduring Power of Radio

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I'm a sucker for dog stories, so I came across this article from SciTechDaily titled "How man’s best friend is unlocking the secrets to beat e. coli superbugs." Go, dog go!

And finally, this week's Just Here for the Headline item: An article on Wired.com says you can Get Rich From Peeping Inside People’s Fridges.

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