Geekly Update - 17 September 2020
Why do Venusian aliens smell like rotten fish? How likely are you to be caught up in a geofence? Can you pick a lock with your smartphone? And is your UVC light wand going to give you skin cancer? 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
Scientists say the unexpected discovery of phosphine gas in the clouds of Venus hints at potential for alien life. The gas, which is said to be highly toxic and has the odor of decaying fish, is nonetheless a ‘legitimate candidate biosignature’ that could indicate the presence of life on Venus. Or not.
Geofence warrants are being used by law enforcement to find out who was near a crime scene. Here’s how they work: Police ask Google or other tech firms for data about which devices were in the area at a specific time. Police then narrow down the list, sometimes requesting the name or email address for a phone owner. Creepy?
School districts are spending hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on covid-19 screening measures, but an epidemiologist at the University of Chicago says it’s probably wasted money. Katelyn Gostic says "in the context of schools, fever screening is a particularly bad idea," because infrared temperature screening systems do little to detect people infected with the coronavirus and could give people a false sense of security.
Verizon acquires Tracfone in a deal worth more than $6 billion. How long will it take Verizon to ruin the newly-acquired company, by scaling back the plans and pricing that 21 million subscribers now enjoy?
If former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was an AskBob reader, he would have known that it was a bad idea to post a picture of his airline boarding pass on Instagram. A hacker was able to obtain his phone number, passport info, and the details of his conversations with Qantas airline reps.
This just in from the Too Much Time on My Hands department: Researchers at the National University of Singapore have found a way to pick locks by using a smartphone to listen to the sounds they make while being opened.
Google is working on separating the Chrome web browser from the Chrome OS operating system that
powers Chromebooks. This will make it possible to continue delivering security updates for the Chrome browser, even after the Chromebook devices reaches its “auto update expiration” date. By contrast, the latest version of Microsoft’s Edge browser is designed so that it cannot be removed from the Windows operating system.
Apple just announced Apple One plans, which bundle various combinations of Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, Apple Arcade, Apple News Plus, Apple Fitness Plus, and iCloud storage. ZDNet has a breakdown and comnparison of the Individual, Family and Premier Apple One plans and pricing.
The coronavirus pandemic has also produced a flood of unregulated handheld UVC light wands that can sanitize items and surfaces. But some safety experts are warning that UVC light is a known carcinogen, and can be hazardous to the eyes and skin.
Have you seen a lot more Amazon-branded delivery vehicles lately? Amazon has plans to open more than 1500 small warehouses in suburbs across the US, in an effort to expand one-day delivery for Prime customers. Amazon, which is fast reducing its reliance on UPS and the Postal Service, will deliver 67% of its own packages this year and will soon increase that to 85%.
The Verge’s headline says “Federal Prison Officers Are Worried Drones Could One Day Be Used To Airlift Inmates To Freedom.” I think those are called “helicopters.”
Your thoughts on these topics are welcome! Post your comment or question below...
This article was posted by Bob Rankin on 17 Sep 2020
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Most recent comments on "Geekly Update - 17 September 2020"
Posted by:
Laurie
17 Sep 2020
I’m looking forward to the Apple One plans. I currently subscribe to four Apple Services because I like them, and they are worth it to me. (Yes, I realize not everyone feels this way, but that’s not the point.) As I’m very interested in the new Fitness+ service they will soon be offering, it will be a savings for me to have the Apple One plan available.
Posted by:
John V
17 Sep 2020
Bob:
Re: "If former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was an AskBob reader..."
This statement is contrary to fact, therefore it should be, "If former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott WERE an AskBob reader...
You like to get things right. So do I. Loved your column and help for maybe ten years now.
Thank you.
Posted by:
Bob S
17 Sep 2020
Amazon now states around 10 days for Prime members. At least it does for me, a Prime member. Does anyone else have this same problem?
Posted by:
Emily Booth
17 Sep 2020
I am a Tracfone user. I am a retiree. I spend less than $15 a month on cell phone usage, not including the cost of a replacement phone every 2 years, which is $12 a month. I hope Verizon keeps it the same. It could be they'll drop their pay as you go plans which cost more. If you're an iPhone user, Straight Talk is a very good deal.
Posted by:
Lucy
17 Sep 2020
If Tracfone changes under Verizon, and it no longer works for you, check out TING, very affordable for low usage users. It is one of Bob's own recommendations.
Our highest bill has been $21 total for our two phones.
Posted by:
Walter
17 Sep 2020
Instead of balloons a la "Up," multiple drones could lift a prisoner out of a jail yard. I hope the guards have good aim for the drones.
Posted by:
Bobsie
17 Sep 2020
John V: Here is better wording (IMHO): "Had former Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbot, been an 'Ask Bob Rankin' reader ..."
Posted by:
Robert A.
17 Sep 2020
Bob S: I ordered a couple of items from Amazon with my Prime Membership in the past month and got one in the usual two day period, and the second item arrived after three days
Posted by:
Oliver
17 Sep 2020
How about "If former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot were to have been an 'Ask Bob Rankin' reader"?
Posted by:
Carol Y
18 Sep 2020
Re: Amazon Prime - Have you noticed how deliveries are taking longer than 2 days? And how the prices are frequently no longer the best deal around? Sam's Club, Walmart and even Costco can usually beat Amazon. Guess they have to pay for free shipping somehow.
Posted by:
Aussie Mike
18 Sep 2020
Never mind the "was", "were", or "had" an Australian Prime Minister etc, etc, the question being asked by Aussies is "How was he able to get out of the country, when other more worthy requests made by people wanting to see dying family members, in another country, were (was, had, etc - you choose)rejected.
Anyway, thanks Bob for your writings... it's always read and appreciated.
Posted by:
Robert T Deloyd
18 Sep 2020
I have laptops that are over ten years old or more running Windows 10 or Linux Mint. I also have ChromeBooks that have become basically useless after only 6 years and won't be updated and all that Google says is “This device is no longer supported” and to Get a newer ChromeBook. What's worse is you can buy one on sale and then find out it has only 1 or 2 years left (it's great that Google finally put a way to find out the EOL on a ChromeBook) But still that's a lot of electronics to end up in the environment. Hopefully they will put new life in some of the older laptops with this new browser project.
Oh, and putting any other OS on a ChromeBook is not so easy especially for non-techies because Google makes it so damn hard to do.
I like my ChromeBooks but I hate adding and seeing all this electronic trash going to 3rd world countries and polluting the world. If Google falls short on this new browser "Someone" should hold Google accountable for this environmental catastrophe they’ve created to sell newer ChromeBooks!
Posted by:
Robert A.
18 Sep 2020
Carol Y: With the pandemic situation happening, and a lot of shoppers now shopping on-line, rather than in brick-and-mortar stores, I believe Amazon has had record sales in the past six month, and they aren't able to fully staff all of their warehouses to meet the needs of the customer's orders. As far as Amazon's prices being about the same as the warehouse clubs and big-box stores, it's really the other way around - Amazon has been significantly beating the pants off the stores, price wise, for years, which is making them cut their margins and try to get as close as possible to Amazon's prices. The retailers have employees that watch Amazon's prices, on a daily basis, and will lower their prices an the top 200-500-1000 items that they sell in common with Amazon on a daily basis, or, often, permanently.
Posted by:
Dave
18 Sep 2020
Hey Bob, don't forget about us up here in Canada. Amazon is opening a warehouse just down the street from here in Ajax Ontario! I wonder how that will affect our shipping times.
Posted by:
RandiO
18 Sep 2020
“If former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott WERE an AskBob reader, he would...”
“If former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott was an AskBob reader, he would…”
“Had former Australian Prime Minister, Tony Abbot, been an 'Ask Bob Rankin' reader, he would...”
“If former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbot were to have been an 'Ask Bob Rankin' reader, he would…”
Anytime I hear iffy statements; my brain somehow always translates it to “IF the chicken had wings, s/he would… FLY”!
Posted by:
Robert T Deloyd
18 Sep 2020
Bob Rankin, don't you reply to any of your commenters anymore?
Posted by:
wrigleywrat
22 Sep 2020
Robert A.: Maybe if Moneybags Bezos would pay a decent wage to workers instead of trying to cut labor costs even more, Amazon would have more than enough warehouse staff. He could raise wages by 500% of every Amazon worker's pay and the starting pay for every new employee this instant with his own money, and it would barely make a dent in his wallet.