Geekly Update - 20 October 2021
If you had to pick a new name for Facebook, what would it be? How does the new Pixel 6 smartphone compare to the iPhone 13 and Samsung's Galaxy S21? Why are the FBI and Secret Service buying high-tech gadgets that have been deemed a potential threat to national security? And will transcranial photobiomodulation therapy help you understand what transcranial photobiomodulation therapy is? 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
When corporations run into trouble with their brand reputation, their typical go-to trick is to rename a product, or the entire company. The Verge reports that Facebook is planning to rebrand the company with a new name, perhaps as soon as next week, to reflect its focus on building the metaverse. Or maybe, to distract from lawsuits, privacy concerns, Senate hearings, and accusations of harm caused by its services.
My friend Chuck, who operates Cord Cutters Plus, has found a great deal that can save you hundreds of dollars each year. This inexpensive antenna installation service provides "over-the-air" access to TV networks you can legally watch for free with a one-time investment of $99 to $149 in an HDTV antenna. This setup allows you to wirelessly stream TV programming to every television in your home. You can also pause, rewind, or fast forward live over-the-air TV programming, record individual programs or every episode of a TV series, and in some cases automatically skip commercials in programs you record.
Have you ever wondered, what’s the difference between a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) and a Solid State Drive (SSD)? Which drive is best to use? What kind of drive is more likely to fail? The folks from Backblaze answer those questions in Hard Disk Drive (HDD) vs. Solid-state Drive (SSD): What’s the Diff?
Google announced their new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro smartphones yesterday. The new models start at $599 and $899, and use Tensor, Google’s custom-made processor chip. Also new is an improved camera system, and an extra layer of hardware security. Here's how the Pixel 6 lineup compares to the flagship models from Samsung and Apple.
This just in from the "Ooh It Makes Me Wonder" Department: The Secret Service purchased eight commercial DJI-made drones just three days after the Department of Defense released a statement affirming its position that that “systems produced by DJI pose potential threats to national security.” The FBI bought a bunch, too.
A study by researchers at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis found that too much or too little sleep could lead to greater cognitive decline in older adults, as compared to those who slept a moderate amount. The research indicated a "sweet spot" for sleep, somewhere between 5.5 to 7.5 hours of self-reported sleep.
In related news, a study at UK's Durham University found that infrared light therapy might help people living with dementia. Transcranial photobiomodulation therapy, or infrared light delivered to the brain via a headset, might spur improvements in memory, motor function, and processing skills.
If you're hoping to score a great deal on a new TV this Black Friday, you might be in for some sticker shock. Stephen Baker, an analyst at NPD group, says TV prices are the highest they've been since 2012. The higher average selling prices will will be most common for the smaller, cheaper models. Blame it on issues with the global supply chain, and rising prices of components, shipping, and probably cheese.
It might not be a good time to buy Bitcoin, either. The price of the ubiquitous cryptocoin is approaching US$67,000. Compare to a year ago, when the price was just under US$12,000. Or five years ago, when it was sitting at about US$700. What's in YOUR cryptowallet?
Denial of service attacks are getting more common, but it's not always hackers to blame. First it was the Tuscaloosa squirrels. Now, apparently rats have an appetite for high-speed internet too. The BBC reports that about 1,800 customers of internet provider Openreach were experiencing an outage due to cables damaged by rodents.
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 20 Oct 2021
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Most recent comments on "Geekly Update - 20 October 2021"
(See all 22 comments for this article.)Posted by:
Brian
20 Oct 2021
I’m thinking FascistBook would be a good new name for FB.
Posted by:
Willie
20 Oct 2021
FAIL-book
Posted by:
Steve
20 Oct 2021
S**tbook
Posted by:
Wolf
20 Oct 2021
Having the company, Facebook, change its name to something else, is like giving a piece of wood that is infested and rotten with termites a new coat of paint. Thank you for your informative articles!
Posted by:
Philip
20 Oct 2021
I've never quite understood why prices were rising. But now that you mention cheese, it all makes sense.
Posted by:
RandiO
20 Oct 2021
Thank you for the Geekly (weekly) updates.
This news is finally the one that makes the MOST sense to me about sleep >> It always has been "YOU HAVE TO GET AT LEAST 8 HOURS" (as if etched in stone) that I never believed...
Indeed, make it a multiple choice: and I would tick the 5.5Hour/day checkbox.
Facebook = FecalBok
(In Turkish, the last 3 letters translate to the first 5, requiring no addition to the current letters count but only a change from letter "O" to letter "L")
Posted by:
Wild Bill
20 Oct 2021
Not enough data to draw a hard conclusion, but it would appear Bob's readers are not Facebook fans. Maybe its the cheese.
Posted by:
Brian B
20 Oct 2021
Tracebook
Posted by:
Ed Price
20 Oct 2021
Fake Book
Posted by:
muggy
20 Oct 2021
The ".. Click here to see OTA-DVR's Compared.. " link within the Linked Cordcutters Plus article actually links to itself. Not to any "Comparison" information. Drat!! Kinda wanted to see that.
Posted by:
Brian B
21 Oct 2021
Suckerbook
Posted by:
Jay B
21 Oct 2021
There are those who believe that squirrels are just bushy tailed rats. A friend of mine who teaches Chinese told me that the word for squirrel in Chinese translates literally to 'tree rat' in English. Given that why would anyone be surprised that rats like high-speed internet cables.
Posted by:
Leah
21 Oct 2021
Facebook should be renamed FaceCrack because of the addiction and damage it does.
Posted by:
Phixer
21 Oct 2021
Farcebook or F*c*book
Posted by:
Phixer
21 Oct 2021
"You can also .... fast forward live over-the-air TV programming" Oh, really? That'll never catch on!
EDITOR'S NOTE: This DVR has not yet implemented the Space-Time Continuum Modification (STCM) feature. So for now, you'll have to rewind first, then fast forward. But "stay tuned" for future updates.
Posted by:
Robert Quance
21 Oct 2021
Since Facebook edits everything that is posted it should relate to Curated anti-social networking.
Posted by:
BDD
23 Oct 2021
When someone asks me if I'm on Facebook I say "I'm not that lonely"
Posted by:
Michael Lavoie
24 Oct 2021
Hey Bob
Love the Geeky update, have been reading it for quite a while. I was wondering if you and your readers are familiar with the Tablo. I find it interesting that if you click on the link for OTA/DVR on Chuck's site, it takes you to the Tablo site. I'm sure the antenna sold on the site is good, and the installation charge is reasonable. If you want to watch local broadcast on one TV, it is all you would need. However, if you want to watch on more than one TV, record shows, or do the rewind you will have to add an OTA/DVR and perhaps an external hard drive depending on the unit purchased.
Posted by:
GregC
24 Oct 2021
USB Devices Capture Free Digital TV with a computer
I just became aware of these devices yesterday.
https://www.lifewire.com/best-usb-tv-tuner-cards-1130675
The good news is if you live in a large city Free Digital TV is widely available and hi quality. Those of us in low population centers might get one channel at best. I have found that the process of switching a TV from cable to free over the air is an onerous and challenging process. It seems that manufacturers do not want us switching to free TV! I have no experience with SMART TVs, maybe someone can comment.
Another bit of bad news is that these USB devices work only with a computer. Maybe someone somewhere will integrate this functionality into a USB stick computer. Of course you can output computer to a TV, but that is another layer of complexity. It would be OK for a dedicated Media Center Computer.
Posted by:
Rob
24 Oct 2021
FaceCrook is my appropriate new name for Facebook.