tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56308411173495790612024-02-19T02:16:22.275-04:00great big geeknews, products, websites, gadgets, and other geeky thoughtsgreatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comBlogger1777125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-46937138812641129172021-12-23T11:27:00.000-04:002021-12-27T12:30:39.903-04:00My Tech Recommendation for 2022 - Wyze Cam v3<p>It's a little close to Christmas to make this a gift suggestion, though if you're lucky your local Home Depot may have one in stock, but if you are looking for a cost effective solution to home monitoring / security then the Wyze Cam v3 is tough to beat.</p><p>This little 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi enabled indoor / outdoor camera sells for just $33 US or $44 Canadian and has a terrific set of features:</p><p></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Starlight CMOS Sensor for ultra low-light conditions</li><li>IP65-rated weatherproof with "extreme" temperature tolerance from -4°F to 113°F (-20°C to 45°C)</li><li>Local Storage (microSD card required) or store in the Cloud (limited to 14 second clips unless subscribed to Cam Plus)</li><li>1920x1080p Full HD</li><li>20 frames per second (fps) day time and 15 fps night time</li><li>3 mounting options</li><li>Simultaneous 2-way communication via the Wyze app and camera speaker / microphone</li><li>Speaker can emit mini siren when triggered by the Wyze app</li><li>Near-IR and Far-IR lights for indoor and outdoor night vision</li></ul><p></p><div><span style="color: rgba(18, 18, 18, 0.749019607843137); font-family: Gilroy;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipNrNhvNckQbLVo9rEUMJuVQeP1NSChiEPGRxu5qf0QDFa-xZolp95_WDNsvsyDEEl7stfvTXSV52fDzgUAmnVwKGVETVeWAgFVjWzyCZmSxHnpKsAKIzVaPzPPGusPHUZx5Yebf2xoKHDa_W2ImkVkt8Oa0iUtwL03foSI1ybP_nLexLUNruIFP_DAg=s800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEipNrNhvNckQbLVo9rEUMJuVQeP1NSChiEPGRxu5qf0QDFa-xZolp95_WDNsvsyDEEl7stfvTXSV52fDzgUAmnVwKGVETVeWAgFVjWzyCZmSxHnpKsAKIzVaPzPPGusPHUZx5Yebf2xoKHDa_W2ImkVkt8Oa0iUtwL03foSI1ybP_nLexLUNruIFP_DAg=w200-h200" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Wyze Cam v3</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The object recognition is quite good with the Wyze Cam v3 and Wyze app, they're able to send alerts when recognizing simple motion or sounds (you set the threshold) but also can distinguish between vehicles, persons, pets, and packages and send specific alerts for each.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV7OYOJuumyQKHjtEToG_wwJ46nIFYevBlv5S9ejK9VQOrsX47MKa0VPF9_EF3f7Rcx_mipVuOuNjxG1utgOQuWzoPsabeAKIJGWS29U_q5ReE4iABYjpLCxbY4KzyfBXVyQUSQ843xojCMLS-WsqaA7hjRmh0zQVhYlu1w0SEQpss4fXzWLFTCVRvAQ=s2048" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1023" data-original-width="2048" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgV7OYOJuumyQKHjtEToG_wwJ46nIFYevBlv5S9ejK9VQOrsX47MKa0VPF9_EF3f7Rcx_mipVuOuNjxG1utgOQuWzoPsabeAKIJGWS29U_q5ReE4iABYjpLCxbY4KzyfBXVyQUSQ843xojCMLS-WsqaA7hjRmh0zQVhYlu1w0SEQpss4fXzWLFTCVRvAQ=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>Wyze app vehicle detection</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have a Google Nest Hub and Wyze has made it simple to connect to that device, a single "Stream living room camera" command and the two work great together to act as a real time monitoring solution. You can also monitor through the Wyze app on your Android 5.0+ or iOS 9.0+ mobile device.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4cO_vrg6kRa5xrpDAs_WPEi238qfmU4gqQZXOSfd4bYq9SKJuq5EN3mGa1P7E9UkUfjG9VBevG7t5cCSJ3xWYdn4lmZP7DXkqzH0crod7BatsTArwXUDut0zXPVRunoPDJ4hipRZ5N7mskJFE6cvHT6aAwLHQq2QViKTDSaWXfYEp3dqEcf-8LXqf2A=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg4cO_vrg6kRa5xrpDAs_WPEi238qfmU4gqQZXOSfd4bYq9SKJuq5EN3mGa1P7E9UkUfjG9VBevG7t5cCSJ3xWYdn4lmZP7DXkqzH0crod7BatsTArwXUDut0zXPVRunoPDJ4hipRZ5N7mskJFE6cvHT6aAwLHQq2QViKTDSaWXfYEp3dqEcf-8LXqf2A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span>Google Nest Hub streaming camera video</span><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If there is a knock on the Wyze Cam v3 it's fairly minor, in my case, but there are no battery options. It's USB powered via an included 6' micro USB cable / AC block which means you are limited to where you can place it based on proximity to an AC outlet and you'll have to provide your own backup power solution incase of power disruption. Of course your internet connection will also have to have a backup option or you'll need a microSD to save locally, but alerts will be affected without internet connectivity.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: #fafafa;"><br /></span></span></div><p></p>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-87508809853847082992020-05-06T11:09:00.001-03:002020-05-06T11:43:26.614-03:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOAb35odFIiGF7zljHWymF70IYX3vNwDlcrgIlFqYwG0y8oyPHmCmu0xq2suz1HWDXE7w8PEjXYBTT57NW2phNDxOK70Io9Mf7V96amUk_kKBjYuahbYpbG3ZhHEjD-x7lMhCz6y8mgZb/s1600/SnowBirds.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1123" data-original-width="1600" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOAb35odFIiGF7zljHWymF70IYX3vNwDlcrgIlFqYwG0y8oyPHmCmu0xq2suz1HWDXE7w8PEjXYBTT57NW2phNDxOK70Io9Mf7V96amUk_kKBjYuahbYpbG3ZhHEjD-x7lMhCz6y8mgZb/s200/SnowBirds.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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Snowbirds Fly By 05/06/2020</div>
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Operation Inspiration</div>
greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-49769408723412656172019-07-25T18:00:00.000-03:002019-07-25T18:00:04.056-03:00Apollo 11 Guidance Computer Restored<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being that we are all celebrating the Apollo 11 mission to the moon, I found this to be one of the more interesting things happening from a geek's perspective. Head on over to the YouTube channel "CuriousMarc" where he's gotten his hands on and restored the Apollo 11 Guidance Computer!</span></div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2zXfO571Tio" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also, if you've not already done so... check out the website "<a href="https://apolloinrealtime.org/11/" target="_blank">Apollo 11 in Real-time</a>" where you can experience the mission as if it were happening at this moment.</span><br />
<br />greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-2749485647245964442019-07-22T14:21:00.002-03:002019-07-22T14:21:58.715-03:00Minelab continues to tease new metal detector<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Back in May <a href="https://www.minelab.com/" target="_blank">Minelab</a> teased a new metal detector named <a href="https://www.minelab.com/usa/vanquish" target="_blank">Vanquish</a>. While nothing but the video was released, and much has been speculated, we still know nothing about the new machine specs, price or availability.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week another video surfaced, this one longer but still a teaser, that again seems to be taking aim at <a href="https://www.garrett.com/" target="_blank">Garrett</a> another big company in the space.</span></div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/a6l9T01d3uY" width="560"></iframe>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-15910771456974380442019-07-22T13:37:00.000-03:002019-07-22T13:37:52.554-03:00Why the US refuses to go metric<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Verge provides us with 3 reasons why the United States has been a hold out regarding the adoption of the metric system.</span></div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qbdx2nOQKKo" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having experienced the transition to metric by Canada in the 1970's I can tell you it's not that scary, but I'll be honest I still convert in my head. I have also never referred to my height in meters or my weight in kilograms.</span>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-86771856441106517202019-07-19T18:30:00.000-03:002019-07-19T18:30:05.345-03:00Windows 10 Emoji Picker<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here's a pro tip:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Windows 10 machines, use the Windows key + period to open the emoji picker!</span><br />
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🐱👤 </h2>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lF_gc6yb01l9G74VRA2kifH6SnsPRWkisFXM-exbdmV058zQjccfOcXzrr7ctAdK71o64rjjJaGP3aadaWH8t-uy_TWPo2WovfPnsNuxZjh4vhepr2XburkVYuznSJ4x_j92YK8wFZz1/s1600/emoji-picker.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="706" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9lF_gc6yb01l9G74VRA2kifH6SnsPRWkisFXM-exbdmV058zQjccfOcXzrr7ctAdK71o64rjjJaGP3aadaWH8t-uy_TWPo2WovfPnsNuxZjh4vhepr2XburkVYuznSJ4x_j92YK8wFZz1/s320/emoji-picker.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-77246975003719610342018-11-06T19:13:00.000-04:002018-11-06T19:16:52.112-04:00Google Docs Shortcut That You'll Thank Me For<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Okay, so here's a little trick that's worth coming out of blogging retirement for! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It seems that Google purchased the top level domain (TLD) .new some time ago. So what? Well they've just made life a little easier if you are a Google docs, sheets, or slides user (maybe more). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You'll love this: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">When in the Chrome browser and signed into your Google account type one of the following in the address bar - <a href="https://doc.new">doc.new</a>, <a href="https://sheet.new">sheet.new</a>, or <a href="https://slide.new">slide.new</a>
The result is you'll be directed to... a new Google doc, sheets, or slides page saving you 4 clicks (Google apps, Drive, New, Docs). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You're welcome.</span></div>
greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-56763893859469673672018-06-03T13:01:00.000-03:002018-06-03T14:01:22.663-03:00I 💘 Cats, Robots and Neural Networks<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm a cat guy, I've had more than a couple Roombas (Roombai?), and I know a little about Neural Networks so when I saw this it was like the whole <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93hxKtd4CdA" target="_blank">peanut butter meets chocolate thing</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255 , 255 , 255 , 0.1); color: white; font-family: "sfuitext" , sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><script async src="//player-backend.cnevids.com/script/video/5aa1ca0c841c4b472d000012.js?iu=/3379/conde.wired/partner"></script></span></span>
greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-17750574798220927662018-06-02T17:18:00.002-03:002018-06-03T11:32:50.231-03:00A year of Wired and a YubiKey 4 for $21<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As a long time fan of <a href="https://www.wired.com/" target="_blank">Wired</a> magazine and a former subscriber I was a little bummed a while back when wired.com had gone to a paywall model. That is, I was bummed until I visited the site this morning and learned that I could get a year of Wired, access behind the paywall, and a <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Brandon-Grotesque-Regular; font-size: 16px;">limited-edition WIRED branded YubiKey 4 for $10 Canadian + $10 shipping and tax. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Brandon-Grotesque-Regular; font-size: 16px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Brandon-Grotesque-Regular; font-size: 16px;">When you consider that a YubiKey 4 is being offered on <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Yubico-YUBIKEY4-YubiKey-4/dp/B018Y1Q71M/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1527969925&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=YubiKey+4&psc=1">Amazon.ca</a> for $53.00 that's a heck of a deal! What does a YubiKey 4 do for you?</span></span><br />
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<ul class="a-unordered-list a-vertical a-spacing-none" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #949494; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 0px 18px; padding: 0px;">
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px rgb(225 , 225 , 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Strong two-factor hardware based authentication</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px rgb(225 , 225 , 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Easy and fast authentication with a single touch</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px rgb(225 , 225 , 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Reduces IT operational costs</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px rgb(225 , 225 , 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Multiprotocol support on a single key</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px rgb(225 , 225 , 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Crush-resistant and waterproof</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px rgb(225 , 225 , 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Choice of USB-A and USB-C form factors</span></li>
<li style="border: 0px rgb(225, 225, 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: HelveticaNeue, "Helvetica Neue", "Open Sans", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif !important; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="border: 0px rgb(225 , 225 , 225); box-sizing: border-box; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Made in the USA & Sweden</span></li>
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<span style="color: #111111; font-family: "amazon ember" , "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Brandon-Grotesque-Regular;">Basically, it's a small USB dongle that you insert into your PC and use to login to websites. It provides you with the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multi-factor_authentication" style="font-family: Brandon-Grotesque-Regular; font-size: 16px;" target="_blank">2 factor authentication</a><span style="font-family: Brandon-Grotesque-Regular;"> that security experts have been urging you to use for years! </span></span></div>
greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-1707141294385468322016-04-23T12:49:00.000-03:002016-04-23T12:57:23.671-03:00Should all locks have keys? Phones, Castles, Encryption, and You.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It has been a very long time since I've posted anything to the blog, I guess once you get out of the habit it's really tough to get back to it. However this is one of those times where I felt particularly compelled to share something. "Grey" over at <a href="http://www.cgpgrey.com/">http://www.cgpgrey.com/</a> has put together a great video discussing the difference between physical and digital locks... or encryption. It's 5 minutes worthy of your attention. There is a difference between the rules that govern our physical properties and those that govern our digital ones, or at least there had been. A debate is on, most notably in the U.S., that has some law makers asking for the golden key to your, and everybody else's data. in nearly all cases.</span><br />
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The proposed Burr-Feinstein Encryption Bill requires that all companies providing any kind communications or data service be able to give information to the government in an ''intelligible format.'' If the company made the data unintelligible, it must provide ''technical assistance'' to undo it. In case there is any question about the aim, the bill defines intelligible as ''decrypted, deciphered, decoded, demodulated, or deobfuscated to its original form.'' </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Being a Canadian citizen I was appalled to learn, but not really surprised, of the recent disclosure in a Quebec court case that the <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/john-chen-blackberry-encryption-1.3541169" target="_blank">RCMP had Blackberry's global encryption key</a> since 2010 giving them access to all communications between consumer Blackberry devices. The RCMP have effectively implemented a "<a href="https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiGsK7uhKXMAhWLuIMKHZGoCMsQFgglMAI&url=https%3A%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FMan-in-the-middle_attack&usg=AFQjCNEcj63guxukczuv0x8-32z40gavuQ&sig2=zSAfBemVxu_zncBx7gckKQ&bvm=bv.119745492,d.amc" target="_blank">man in the middle</a>" attack, with Blackberry's consent, on all non Government or Enterprise Blackberry communication and fought hard to keep this information from becoming public.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Blackberry Executive Chairman and CEO John Chen responded with this <a href="http://blogs.blackberry.com/2016/04/lawful-access-corporate-citizenship-and-doing-whats-right/" target="_blank">blog post</a> full of vague catch phrases like "do what is right for the citizenry" and "comply with reasonable lawful access requests". To this I ask is it reasonable to provide access to the communications of millions of users to target the communications of a few? Who makes Blackberry or it's CEO the arbiter of what is "right for the citizenry"?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If you haven't already you should assume that your communications are accessible unless you've taken care, beyond what you are told by your service provider, in protecting it. Governments globally are using the naivety of the general public and scaremongering tactics to influence our acceptance of their excessive use of powers and are seeking the power to circumvent our security in the name of what is "right for the citizenry". One of the few methods of ensuring some measure of privacy is encryption and granting Governments the keys to this kingdom is extremely dangerous. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/VPBH1eW28mo" width="480"></iframe><br />
<br />
</span><br />
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 24px;">Please also have a quick read of this <a href="https://www.eff.org/" target="_blank">Electronic Frontier Foundation</a> document on "the crypto wars".</span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="pdf" data-src="https://www.eff.org/files/2014/01/03/cryptowarsonepagers-1_cac.pdf" frameborder="no" height="700" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://www.eff.org/sites/all/libraries/pdf.js/web/viewer.html?file=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eff.org%2Ffiles%2F2014%2F01%2F03%2Fcryptowarsonepagers-1_cac.pdf" webkitallowfullscreen="">https://www.eff.org/files/2014/01/03/cryptowarsonepagers-1_cac.pdf</iframe><br />
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greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-44105593882747768902014-11-20T21:23:00.000-04:002014-11-20T21:23:22.506-04:00The 5 Best Things About Android 5.0 Lollipop on Nexus 5<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A little background info:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">In February my last Nexus device gave up, it was under contract with <a href="http://www.rogers.com/web/Rogers.portal" target="_blank">Rogers</a> with nearly a year remaining so I decided to pick up a <a href="https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_5_black_16gb" target="_blank">Nexus 5 from the Play store</a> in order to have the freedom to move to another carrier if I so choose. I love the Nexus 5, it's every bit the phone that I came to expect from the official line of Google phones.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">From the original un-boxing battery life has been good, for my usage, but not great. I purchased the <a href="https://play.google.com/store/devices/details/Nexus_Wireless_Charger?id=nexus_wireless_charger" target="_blank">Nexus Wireless Charger</a> with the device, because it was the micro USB port on the old Nexus that gave way, and because I fully expected to be charging the device on a daily basis.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I have to say that I've been blown away with the battery performance I now get with the Nexus 5 and the new <a href="http://www.android.com/versions/lollipop-5-0/" target="_blank">Android Lollipop</a>, so much so that I've come out of a 2 year blogging hiatus to let you know about it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">While I'm at it, I might as well let you know some of the other things I'm liking about Lollipop. So here is my top 5:</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<ol>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Battery usage. We've already established this. While I do not have scientific data to back my claim I can assure you that it is greatly improved. A typical day on my smart phone includes texting, emails, twitter, and a Google search or two. I use Google Now to catch up on tech news and sports scores. I use Google Fit. GPS, WiFi, and Bluetooth are generally enabled. With Kit-Kat I would typically leave the house with a full charge and return it to the Wireless Charger when I arrived at home or at least when I headed off to bed. I would get roughly 18 hours worth of use, that's about all that I was comfortable with as it seemed like the top half of the tank lasted much longer than the bottom half. Probably just me, but that's how it appeared. I just set my Nexus on the charger after 36 hours with 20% battery remaining. Android does a great job of tracking which app or service is using battery and also graphs usage over it's current cycle.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Performance. Again no scientific evidence but the apps I use, even 3rd party apps, are quicker to launch and more responsive. Feels like it's fresh out of the box.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Smart notifications. Beyond the flashing LED, Lollipop now allows you to view messages on the login screen before unlocking the device. This means that you can tell if there is a text message or an email just by hitting the power button. I've set mine so that no detailed information is displayed, which is also a nice feature.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> Guest Mode. Now you can put your device in "guest mode" which allows you to hand it over to someone and lock down what they can do. Let's say someone asks to make a call, change the user to Guest and they'll not be able to access email, texts, photos, etc. They get access to the phone function and some apps but all of your data is secured to your account.</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Multitasking. While previous versions of Android allowed you to view all open apps, Lollipop's scrolling cards makes it much easier to jump between applications. At first I thought this was just eye candy, pun intended, but the more I use it the more I realize that it truly just works better.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I've only just begun to explore Lollipop so I may find other features to love, or hate, I'll be sure to post my thoughts again once I've used it for a while.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Please comment if you have your own favourite features or helpful tips to share.</span></div>
greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-3074388739660739792012-11-15T19:14:00.001-04:002012-11-15T19:14:44.100-04:00John McAfee's life on the run<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If you have not been following the saga of John McAfee, of McAfee Antivirus fame, here are some conversations that he's had with Wired writer Joshua Davis with whom he's been speaking to for months. On the lamb hiding from the Police in Belise, wanted for questioning in the murder investigation of a neighbour and accused of trafficking of drugs. It's an interesting tale of intrigue. </span></div>
<br />
<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" height="436" id="flashObj" width="404"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=1967060387001&playerID=1813626064&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAF1BIQQ~,g5cZB_aGkYZXG-DCZXT7a-c4jcGaSdDQ&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" /><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com" /><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9?isVid=1" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashVars="videoId=1967060387001&playerID=1813626064&playerKey=AQ~~,AAAAAF1BIQQ~,g5cZB_aGkYZXG-DCZXT7a-c4jcGaSdDQ&domain=embed&dynamicStreaming=true" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" width="404" height="436" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowFullScreen="true" swLiveConnect="true" allowScriptAccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash"></embed></object>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-6115370303716261432012-10-04T19:15:00.002-03:002012-10-04T19:15:33.899-03:00In The Not Too Distant Future?<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Not yet... but when?</span><br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="189" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/46304267" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="315"></iframe>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-4849374071253003612012-09-13T19:31:00.002-03:002012-09-13T19:31:24.596-03:00Google's Bacon Number<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Check this out.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Google's search engine will provide you with a celebrity's degree of separation from Kevin Bacon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">For example:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Type: "William Shatner bacon number" (quotes not necessary) into google and it returns:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="answer_predicate" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-weight: bold; line-height: 30px; overflow: hidden; padding-bottom: 6px; text-overflow: ellipsis;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">William Shatner's Bacon number is 2</span></div>
<div class="answer_subject" style="background-color: white; color: #777777; line-height: 18px;">
<div style="padding-bottom: 8px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=william+shatner" style="color: #1122cc; cursor: pointer;">William Shatner</a> and <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=denise+richards" style="color: #1122cc; cursor: pointer;">Denise Richards</a> appeared in <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=loaded+weapon+1" style="color: #1122cc; cursor: pointer;">Loaded Weapon 1</a>.</span></div>
<div style="padding-bottom: 8px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=denise+richards" style="color: #1122cc; cursor: pointer;">Denise Richards</a> and <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=kevin+bacon" style="color: #1122cc; cursor: pointer;">Kevin Bacon</a> appeared in <a href="https://www.google.ca/search?q=wild+things+1998" style="color: #1122cc; cursor: pointer;">Wild Things</a>.</span></div>
<div style="padding-bottom: 8px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-76301243792493341762012-08-09T07:59:00.000-03:002012-08-09T07:59:08.771-03:00Google's Death Benefits<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Google is famous around the tech world, and beyond, for the many perks that it offers it's employees. Free meals, haircuts, bikes on campus, etc. but did you know that Google also offers death benefits? Not the kind that you get through your paid group insurance policy...</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">According to Forbes writer <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2012/08/08/heres-what-happens-to-google-employees-when-they-die/">Meghan Casserly</a> "Should a Googler pass away while under the employ of the 14-year old
search giant, their surviving spouse or domestic partner will receive a
check for 50% of their salary every year for the next decade." in addition any surviving child receives a monthly allowance of $1000 until their 19th birthday or their 23rd birthday if they are a fulltime student.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Chief People Officer Laszlo Bock says “But it turns out that the reason we’re doing these things for employees
is not because it’s important to the business, but simply because it’s
the right thing to do. When it comes down to it, it’s better to work for
a company who cares about you than a company who doesn’t. And from a
company standpoint, that makes it better to care than not to care.”</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I completely understand that we should not expect such benefits from all companies, yet there is a lot of room out there for doing things because "...it's the right thing to do." I feel extremely fortunate to be working for a company that also thinks along these lines, while we are 1000th the size of Google, we are very much a family.</span></div>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-20385436546566964982012-07-09T12:30:00.003-03:002012-07-09T12:30:50.064-03:00Askew<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here's one to get your Monday off to a good start... google the word "Askew". Can't take credit for finding this, it's making the rounds on plus.google.com</span><br />
<div style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If you like that one be sure to also google "where is chuck norris" and click on the first item in the results list.</span>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-40840705973606415412012-05-01T07:15:00.000-03:002012-05-01T07:15:26.349-03:00Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Great Blue Heron Nestcam<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here is a rare live look into the nest of a Great Blue Heron as provided by <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;">the </span><a href="http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1478" style="background-color: white; color: #007ca5; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Cornell Lab of Ornithology</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> live webcam. So far 4 of 5 eggs have hatched and viewers have witnessed the family </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yykbo8uDEM&list=PLB31A7BAB1B114C48&index=1&feature=plpp_video" style="background-color: white; color: #007ca5; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">fend off great horned owls</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: left;"> on multiple attacks of the nest. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><iframe frameborder="0" height="295" scrolling="no" src="http://cdn.livestream.com/embed/cornellherons?layout=4&color=0xe7e7e7&autoPlay=false&mute=false&iconColorOver=0x888888&iconColor=0x777777&allowchat=true&height=295&width=480" style="border: 0; outline: 0;" width="480"></iframe></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 11px; padding-top: 10px; text-align: center; width: 480px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Watch <a href="http://www.livestream.com/?utm_source=lsplayer&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=footerlinks" streaming="" title="live" video="">live streaming video</a> from <a at="" cornellherons="" href="http://www.livestream.com/cornellherons?utm_source=lsplayer&utm_medium=embed&utm_campaign=footerlinks" livestream.com="" title="Watch">cornellherons</a> at livestream.com</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here's the hatching of no. 3 as shared on Youtube:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rHGce_1dodA" width="420"></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The only thing more fun than technology is nature.</span>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-37491916651915206572012-04-29T09:28:00.000-03:002012-04-29T09:28:28.075-03:00Wrap Your Mind Around This 1 Percent Scenario<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson leaves us with something to ponder about Earth and it's relevance in the grand scheme of things...</span></span><br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="348" id="viddler-edb8e7c7" src="//www.viddler.com/embed/edb8e7c7/?f=1&autoplay=0&player=simple&secret=93497877&loop=false&nologo=false&hd=false" width="437"></iframe>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-14477091232974490052012-04-15T10:52:00.000-03:002012-04-15T10:52:52.524-03:00Robot Prison Guard Undergoes Trials in South Korea<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Equipped with 3D cameras and behavioral recognition software, a robotic prison guard is undergoing field trials in South Korea. The robot is autonomous but can also yield control to an operator via an iPad application. The purpose is not to physically interact with the inmates but rather observe and report, for now. It's no robocop, more like a pimped out roomba, but I think it's an interesting use of technology none the less. </span></div>
<br />
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<embed src='http://www.reuters.com/resources_v2/flash/video_embed.swf?videoId=233213268&edition=BETAUS' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' allowfullscreen='true' allowScriptAccess='always' width='460' height='259' wmode='transparent'></embed> </object>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-87899332739667846172012-04-06T11:19:00.002-03:002012-04-06T12:07:30.654-03:00Project Glass - Am I Missing Something?<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Yesterday I, like many others, brought you the story of <a href="https://plus.google.com/111626127367496192147/posts">Google's Project Glass</a>. Since then I've viewed a television news cast, <a href="http://www.globalnational.com/google+aims+to+meld+human+and+goggle+with+futuristic+project+glass++-++just+dont+trip/6442615980/story.html">Global National</a>'s nightly news, and this <a href="http://whatsnext.blogs.cnn.com/2012/04/05/do-we-really-need-digitally-enhanced-google-glasses/?hpt=hp_bn9">CNN story about Glass</a> in which there seems to be the opinion that what was announced was a "prototype" (</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 15px;">A first or preliminary model of something, esp. a machine, from which other forms are developed or copied.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">). My understanding is that there is no claim to be a prototype but more of a concept, an idea. Quoting the Project Glass team, "</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 18px;">So we took a few design photos to show what this technology could look like and created a video to demonstrate what it might enable you to do." </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So, is it me who is mistaken into thinking that Glass does not yet exist but is only a concept or is it big media who is mistaken into thinking that this video was actually taken using the device in it's prototype form?</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Thoughts anyone?</span></span></div>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-78166865539864865222012-04-05T04:00:00.000-03:002012-04-05T04:00:10.053-03:00Google's Project Glass<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I can talk to my Samsung Nexus (Google) phone and have it convert my speech to text. I have Google Goggles app which allows me to point my phone's camera at objects and returns relevant information about those objects. It has Google Maps and turn by turn navigation... however, I have to carry it in my pocket or walk around with my head down risking life and limb. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Today some <a href="https://plus.google.com/111626127367496192147/posts">Googlers posted Project Glass to Google+</a> "<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">So we took a few design photos to show what this technology could look like and created a video to demonstrate what it might enable you to do." </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">I'm loving it! While it's not yet real, that I know of, it's everything that I carry around today in a stylish heads up display. My only concern is that I wear prescription glasses that don't look quite as cool as the Project Glass concept, I hope they come out with a version that is equally as cool for those of us who are optically challenged.</span></span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/9c6W4CCU9M4" width="560"></iframe>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-2717817266121293322012-04-04T04:00:00.000-03:002012-04-04T04:00:07.162-03:00Catalyst Powers Robo Jellyfish<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/U2OSJQhHQp8" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Researchers from several Universities including Virginia Tech and the University of Texas at Dallas have combined forces to create a robotic jelly fish that uses a coating on it's skin in reaction with sea water to propel itself. "<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">using a combination of oxygen and hydrogen gases to contract its "muscles," or "nano-platinum catalyst-coated multi-wall carbon nanotube sheets, wrapped on the surface of nickel—titanium shape memory alloy," I'll be honest, I have little idea what that means but it's cool none the less.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">The schools are working on behalf of the US Navy and </span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">their findings could have a "broad range of applications for both military and civilian uses."</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 22px;">Source: <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/robot-jellyfish-u-navy-backed-researchers-developing-robojelly-152601359.html">Yahoo!</a></span></span></div>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-54024319071650150462012-04-03T04:00:00.000-03:002012-04-03T04:00:09.811-03:00Assassin's Creed Fan VideoAssassin's Creed is a great game franchise and it definitely has it's fans among gamers. Microsoft Kinect also has it's fans, so why not make a Kinect version of Assassin's Creed? or at least a fan video parody?<div>
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"also available for Wii... definitely not available for Wii!" </div>
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I love it. Well done. </div>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-80686075964761698722012-04-02T05:00:00.000-03:002012-04-02T05:00:06.718-03:00A New Car Fit For This Geek<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We picked up our new Toyota Prius c on Friday. The c, for city, is a new vehicle in what is becoming the Prius line of vehicles. Along with the Prius c, Toyota has produced a larger Prius v and a plugin version of the traditional Pruis.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Our little Prius is based on the Yaris hatchback chassis but has some nice lines to optimize aerodynamics and assist in the expected 53 mpg city rating. I chose the "technology" version (go figure) which is the middle tier of 3 versions available here in Canada. Drivers in the US have their choice of 4 models and from what I can tell the "technology" package is equivalent of the Prius c 3. The technology package buys me:</span></div>
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<li style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0081c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 430px;"><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">XM Satellite Radio;</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0081c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 430px;"><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">6.1" Display Audio with Navigation;</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0081c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 430px;"><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Touch Tracer Steering Wheel Controls;</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0081c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 430px;"><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">15" Aluminum Alloy Wheels;</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0081c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 430px;"><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Smart Entry System; and</span></li>
<li style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #0081c6; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; line-height: 17px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 15px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: baseline; width: 430px;"><span style="-webkit-user-select: text !important; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; color: #444444; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Push Button Start.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I'll let you know what I'm using, what I'm not using and what I love or hate about this car in a future post however if first impressions are any indication I'll have nothing but glowing reports. With 53 mpg city and the great attention to detail that I come to love from this manufacturer, I expect that this will be a big seller for Toyota.</span></div>
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<br />greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.com100 Park Roadway, Charlottetown, PE C1A 1V1, Canada46.228303029037882 -63.14426422119140646.222811029037885 -63.154134721191404 46.233795029037879 -63.134393721191408tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5630841117349579061.post-74902113418557777082012-04-01T06:37:00.002-03:002012-04-01T06:37:54.752-03:00It's That Time Again<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Google has been a pioneer since it's existence and as far as I can tell they have lead the way with their annual April Fools day announcements that seem almost plausible and have left more than a few people doing double takes. This years pranks are no exception to the list of far out ideas, though I think the Google </span><a href="http://www.google.com/jobs/lunar_job.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Moon base job opportunity</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> of 2004 is probably my favorite. This year it's, amongst other things, an 8-bit map and an autonomous Nascar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">For the yearly wrap-up check out <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Google's_hoaxes_and_easter_eggs">this wikipedia</a> entry. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Oh, and not to be out done, Sir Richard Branson just announced via twitter (<a href="https://twitter.com/#!/richardbranson">@richardbranson</a>) that Virgin is launching the <a href="http://www.blogger.com/launch%20first%20entirely%20naked%20workout%20session%20http://virg.co/nt">UK's first naked workout sessions</a> and trips to the earth's core via the 5 most active volcanos "<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">Introducing </span><a class=" twitter-hashtag pretty-link" data-query-source="hashtag_click" href="https://twitter.com/#!/search/%23VirginVolcanic" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: initial; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="#VirginVolcanic"><s style="text-decoration: none;">#</s><b style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; font: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">VirginVolcanic</b></a><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18px;">, journeying to the centre of the earth thru the world’s 5 most active volcanoes! "</span>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Please leave a comment if you've discovered any others that you'd like to share!</span></div>greatbiggeekhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00449195284388847659noreply@blogger.com