Computer Support Blog

According to the IFPI Digital Music Report from 2011, the music industry is a 15.8 billion dollar industry.  In 2010, legal digital music downloads generated $4.6 billion.  That number, which represents 29% of the music industry, has a vast number of analysts reaching very different conclusions.  The report, which notes that the music industry suffered a 31% loss between 2004 and 2010, is enough to give audiophiles pause.

Digital music in the form of digital downloads – audio files traditionally found online – have been on the market for over fifteen years.  However, the music industry started more carefully tracking the market share of digital downloads in 2004, following the collapse of Napster.  The influence of digital music in the marketplace has only increased; since 2004 the value of the digital music market increased 1000%!

Even with the convenient access to music that digital music affords its listeners and the lower production cost digital music offers producers, the music industry has seen widespread revenue losses.  Most in the music industry want to attribute the loss of revenue to pirated digital downloads.  Trends of pirating of digital music vary with every country, but some areas with less stringent intellectual property protections contribute more to the loss of revenue from pirating.  In the UK, 76% of music obtained online in 2010 was obtained illegally.  Industry experts estimate that digital music sales would be 131% greater if all piracy ended.

But the industry analysts may be making too many stretches in blaming digital music piracy for the industry’s woes.  The Digital Music Report attributes the 12% drop in global Top 50 concert revenues to pirating.  That connection may be a false one.  There is no evidence to suggest that those who pirate music either were attending concerts before they became music pirates or are less inclined to attend concerts once they begin pirating.  A much more likely factor contributing to lower concert attendance is the global financial crisis which has left many without the disposable income to spend on attending concerts.

Moreover, the report acknowledges that at 30% of their revenues, the music industry invests more heavily than any other entertainment sector in marketing and A&R (artists and repertoire, which is essentially talent scouting and artist development).  The report and analysts are quick to blame music piracy as the overwhelming cause of 31% drop in the value of the music industry since 2004.  Again, this is a simplistic view.  In that same time frame, pop music has all but died, replaced by rap, hip-hop and R&B on most Top 40 stations.  It is just as likely that the A&R sector of the music industry radically misjudged what music customers would pay for as it is that the piracy of digital music has precipitated the loss of revenues.

New services like Google Music continue to bolster the legal propagation of digital music downloads; there is no corresponding A&R avenue to so vigorously promote new, quality artists.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Recently, we explored the growing phenomenon of digital comic books.  One of the coolest products for digital comic books is the Comixology Guided View digital comic reader.  Available for free through Comixology.com, the Guided View digital comic book reader is an easy-to-use application that comic book readers use to buy and read digital comic books on any or all computer devices they own.

Guided View is a reader, much like the well-known Adobe readers, but to date Guided View is exclusively for digital comic books.  Guided View has two distinct advantages other digital comic book readers do not have.  The first is that because Digital View is through Comixology and not an individual publisher, readers may easily and inexpensively purchase digital comic books from various publishers with a consistent platform.  It is a huge advantage for readers who have favorite characters from DC Comics, Marvel and the independents to not have to switch platforms or create multiple accounts just to read the comic books they love.

The other serious advantage of Guided View is that the Comixology-created platform is fully transferable.  When you create an account with Comixology.com, that account is accessible from all of your computers, smartphones or other mobile devices.  That universal account access provides you with the ability to read your digital comic books with whatever device you have on you at the time.  If your laptop computer runs out of battery power, that is not a problem!  Simply continue reading your digital comic book on your tablet computer or smartphone.  That access is a convenience that allows readers to be assured they will only pay for their digital comic book once, but have the ability to read it in perpetuity.

Guided View has two reading modes: full page and guided.  The full page reading option provides the most true comic book experience, as readers are able to see the full two-pages of panels and may easily follow the movement and depth of the panels the way the artist originally intended readers to experience it.  The full page option is ideal for larger devices, like reading the digital comic books on your widescreen television through your Internet-connected game console.

The second reading mode is the guided view option from the Guided View reader.  The guided view option transforms every digital comic book into a panel by panel movie.  Readers see a panel; they click “Forward” and Guided View slides to the next panel or does a wipe into the next panel.  The guided view is ideal for smaller devices, like reading digital comics on a smartphone.  Serious readers are likely to miss the way the artwork connects, but the simple sense of motion the guided view provides will engage children.

Guided View requires no computer support to install or operate.  Comixology is doing a real service to the environment and independent comic books by advancing digital comic books.  At the forefront with their Guided View, Comixology is undeniably cool.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

The Internet has the capacity to be many things from an entertainment source to an off-site data storage facility to a powerful tool for education.  The Internet remains one of the most powerful resources for communication and understanding from people of all ways of life, all around the world.  But the Protect IP Act threatens that freedom, and it does so under the guise of improving Internet security to intellectual property owners.

Right now, the United States Senate is considering S. 968, the Protect IP (Intellectual Property) Act.  The Protect IP Act bolsters Internet security by creating new punishments for Internet providers who have any pirated material pass through their servers.  This means that the United States government would begin policing the Internet and making online data storage sites of material it believes are pirated inaccessible before prosecuting those accused of pirating.

The Protect IP Act empowers the United States Federal Government to punish service providers who may not know about the contents of their data storage units.  In fact, the more popular a site is, the less likely the service provider is to know about all of what is on the servers.  Given the vague language of the bill, the U.S. Government potentially becomes the biggest threat to Internet security by assuming a Big Brother type role.

But the Protect IP Act version of Big Brother comes armed.  Sites that welcome photo sharing or other online data storage are particularly vulnerable.  Hypothetically, the Protect IP Act could allow the U.S. Government to shut down Facebook because a photo a user posted infringed upon the copyright.  Given that copyright laws, data storage agreements and Internet security protocols are not uniform throughout the world, the Protect IP Act could easily force the U.S. government into a police action in a place where it has no jurisdiction.  Perhaps the Senate has forgotten that the first two “w’s” in “www” stands for “World-wide.”

For sure, Internet security is important and due vigilance must be maintained in defending intellectual property rights.  Unfortunately, the Protect IP Act is a dramatic overkill, analogous to chopping a person in half to remove a tick on their arm.  The bill commits the U.S. to wield such a large machete to the world and with such flimsy language in the bill and the lack of a reasonable way to enforce it overseas or where the data storage hardware is inaccessible or dangerous to reach, it is hard to see the passage of the bill as anything but disastrous.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

It will come as a surprise to no one that there has long been a strong connection between computers and comic books.  Since the early 1990s, artists have used  digitally-rendered, computer generated artwork to enhance their comic books.  A novelty at the time, computer artwork was used for backgrounds or conceptual points within a story.  Now, comic books and computers are intertwining in a different way through Cloud-based platforms and portable devices with extensive data storage.  Computers have become the display medium for comics through digital comic books.

Digital comic books are not new, though they have become more accessible to readers with recent advances in data storage capacity and Cloud-based storage.  Before data storage improvements, it was tough to get comic book readers to commit the hard drive space to the large files digital comic books occupied.   With Cloud technology and hard drives with greater data storage capacity, digital comics are coming into their own.

While Marvel Comics has had digital comics and a large computer support network for its users in place for years, DC Comics has been slower to adapt the technology.  With the reboot of DC Comics with their “New 52” strategy this year, DC Comics invested heavily in the digital comics market.  DC Comics sells digital comics on their “first look” nature.  New comics come out on Wednesdays and DC releases both the print and digital comic books on the same day.  Because most comic book shops do not open at 12:01 A.M. on Wednesday, digital comic readers may read the stories a few hours earlier than their friends.

As a business plan, digital comics are brilliant for both the manufacturer and the consumer.  For a limited investment in computer support personnel to transfer the printed images to a digital format, comic book publishers create a product with no materials cost.  Digital comic books replace the expense of publishing with vastly more affordable fees for data storage devices.

On the consumer end, digital comic books offer readers increased portability without risking their valuable collectible.  Collectors may keep the printed comic book in mint condition, but upload the digital comic book to enjoy the story.  Because of the Cloud-based distribution of digital comic books, readers need not have extensive data storage space to enjoy them.  Setting up the readers and apps may require some computer support to get the programs and subscriptions to run properly.

Despite the inherent benefits to the environment and the collectible value of comic books, digital comic books may not be doing a service to the medium.  The best graphic novels and comic books feature big artwork, sprawling panels that must breathe on the page.  That level of artistry is not represented well on a smartphone screen and the transitions between pages and panels may still be choppy on tablet computers.

Even so, the relationship between comic books and computers is now cemented and the future of comic books may well depend on the next technological leaps in portable electronics.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Regular Wikipedia users have probably noticed the large banner at the top of each page that says, “Please Read: a personal appeal from Wikipedia programmer Brandon Harris.” Naturally, given our curious nature, many of us have clicked on the banner—probably even knowing in the back of our minds what was coming. And sure enough, Wikipedia then proceeds to ask for money.

Oddly enough, many people actually take the time to read the appeal, and many even think about contributing some money. What ends up happening, though, is that despite the sincere desire to help donate, we either put it off or fall prey to the false notion that other people will do it.

However, if you actually are interested in donating, don’t wait to contribute what you can to the website. Because Wikipedia’s annual fundraiser is not just an attempt to raise extra funds and is, instead, absolutely essential to the website’s survival, it is important to take the appeal seriously.

The organization raises money to cover its basic operating costs, not to give CEOs massive raises. The donated money goes to pay for basic website maintenance and computer support for Wikipedia’s 679 servers. Unlike Google or Yahoo, Wikipedia is run by a staff of 95. It’s also ad-free, something which the organization has pledged to try to continue. As such, if we don’t continue to support Wikipedia financially, we might soon find ourselves without the website.

It’s hard to imagine what life was like before Wikipedia. Where did people get their background knowledge on little-know authors or historical figures? Where did readers find out how parliamentary elections worked in Egypt or how NATO came to be? There’s no doubt that the relatively simple concept of Wikipedia has become a staple in almost everyone’s online activity.

Of course, over the years, Wikipedia has had many critics. In academia, especially, citing Wikipedia remains a huge faux pas. Nonetheless, the free online encyclopedia is often a helpful tool in gaining some background knowledge, and it often contains links to other resources that students can cite. Sure, some of the information on Wikipedia is wrong or misleading, but that’s merely a fraction of the millions of pages of its data on.

Wikipedia brings together everything in one place. Imagine how difficult life would be if we had to search in dozens or hundreds of databanks for scattered information.

According to the website, over 400 million users visit the site each month, and it’s the fifth biggest website online. So if you’d like to see Wikipedia continue growing and serving millions of users with its billions of page views, donate today. The little money you provide will go a long way towards website tech support and enhancement. Ultimately, it is we, the readers, who gain.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

For some people, taking notes in class or a meeting is pure joy. We’ve all seen people like that (maybe you’re even one of them). Others, like journalists, can note entire conversations with no pause using sophisticated shorthand that only they understand. These are the lucky note-takers of the world. Sadly, many others just can’t keep up with a lecture’s speed or catch every word during an interview. Perhaps you’ve experienced this: you sit through a lengthy interview or meetings, take three pages of notes, get home and start to organize your thoughts to write that report, paper, or article, only to realize that you can’t read your own handwriting!

Fortunately, advances in computer support have recently proliferated the use of highly sophisticated technologies even on a small scale like that of the pen! So if you’ve been waiting for that pen that practically does most of the work for you, look no further than the Livescribe Echo Smartpen. Livescribe pens are a series of digital note-taking pens that take that hassle out of recording and organizing notes. The essence of the Livescribe smartpen is a light pen that also functions as a voice recorded and an infrared reader that digitalizes what you write down and later on allows you to turn it into a PDF or text file.

Yes, it is amazing, and we haven’t gotten to the really good part yet. Not only does the smartpen record the audio of a conversation, class, interview, or meeting it also links it to the physical notes you take. So, for example, if you write down “alienation…labor” in a history or philosophy class as a professor lectures on nineteenth century figures, you can come back to that exact section of the lecture by simply tapping any part of “alienation…”

The pen itself can playback audio, but you can also easily translate the recordings to your computer where you can digitalize your notes or share them online. As to the feel of the pen, many online reviewers state that despite its seemingly clunky size, the pen still feels comfortable to hold and use.

The smartpen require a certain kind of lined paper to work, though. The paper is a little more expensive that standard lined paper, but in the end, it might be worth the effort. Replacement ink cartridges are readily available online, and websites like Amazon offer them at a discount.

Of course, using smartpens, as well as similar devices, can bring up ethical issues. Many people feel that using the pen, even in casual situations, is intrusive. Some journalists, for example, might use the pen to record an interview without the other person realizing it. Though in some states such a practice is not illegal, it is still tacky and insincere. Even the smartpen’s manufacturer says, don’t record without permission!

Livescribe Echo Smartpen was recently featured as the number 1 item on Yahoo’s list of holiday gifts under $100. If you find yourself suffering from bad note-taking, now may be the time to call Santa up.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

With so much new technology bombarding us left and right, it’s hard to decide on the right time to upgrade to a newer model of a product or even try out something new. Many people are aware of the fact that brand new technology often needs quite a bit of initial tweaking to fix production glitches that are missed in the testing phase. It’s often the case that a few days into a new product’s debut, problems start to emerge, as was the case with Apple’s iPhone 4S, where Siri and battery problems began to show.

For many enthusiasts, this is hardly a problem—many enjoy being an indirect contributor to the success of gadgets by testing them out. If you’re so eager to try out a new product that you’re willing to work through any initial limitations, then by all means, go for it. Certainly, if you’re an experienced technology lab rat, you probably know what to expect. You might be such a loyal Apple or Android user that you actively push your new smartphone or tablet to its limits in the attempt to discover its strengths and weaknesses. Still, dropping your device or trying every single app you can get your hands on aren’t exactly the best approaches. Trying out too many apps, especially, can clog-up your device, not to mention pose security threats. Over the last four months, for example, the number of apps with malware in the Android market went up by over 400 percent!

On the other hand, if you’re just getting into the tech market and are thinking of standing in line for the new Windows phones, Nokia Lumia 800, for example, keep in mind that as cool as the latest technology is, it often costs more than just big bucks. You could find yourself waiting anywhere from a few weeks to a few months for software upgrades and security patches, which could limit your new device’s initial functionality.

Another thing to keep in mind is supply and demand. As more manufacturers push their products onto the market, competition will grow. The heightened competition will benefit consumers in more ways than just lowering prices. Companies will face each other in the OS battlefield, each trying to beat the others in quality and elegance.

Manufacturers learn from their mistakes, which is a good thing in the end, but it also means that consumers willing to buy the latest gadgets have to agree to be technology lab rats, for a short while, at least.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

It is hard to think of water pressure as cool, until there is a problem with yours and you need a device to monitor or test water flow and that is what the Telog HPR-31 Hydrant Pressure Recorder does. The Telog HPR-31 Hydrant Pressure Recorder is available in one of two kits for home or industrial use and the specificity of the design is most impressive.  In the kit, the Telog HPR-31 Hydrant Pressure Recorder has the connectors and relevant computer services needed to make the data collection easy and versatile along a number of consumer and municipal needs.

The Telog HPR-31 Hydrant Pressure Recorder is a durable gadget that screws onto the 2 ½” nozzle outlet on a fire hydrant or the end of a garden hose.  For private citizens, the Telog HPR-31 Hydrant Pressure Recorder collects data to reveal water pressure problems to a landlord or service provider.  The Telog HPR-31 Hydrant Pressure Recorder protects the data because each unit is durable with a battery that lasts about seven years.

Of course, most people should not need seven or more years of testing their water pressure.  The Telog HPR-31 Hydrant Pressure Recorder is ideal for monitoring industrial water flow and while that may seem boring or lame, when the fire department comes and attaches their lines to the fire hydrant nearest your house, it becomes a very different matter!  The Telog HPR-31 Hydrant Pressure Recorder allows cities or towns to test fire hydrant pressure easily.  Crews outfitted with the Telog HPR-31 Hydrant Pressure Recorder from the Flow Test Kit II-D can travel hydrant to hydrant to check pressure to find leaks, cracks, or other pressure problems resulting from environmental factors like changes in temperature.  Workers simply open the fire hydrant, attach the Telog HPR-31 Hydrant Pressure Recorder with the diffuser and they get an accurate model of the flow from each hydrant.  Through those tests, the Telog HPR-31 Hydrant Pressure Recorder ensures that every citizen has equal access, not just to the water, but to water delivered at a great enough pressure and volume to make a difference in any building fire.

One need not worry about retesting or data recovery with the HPR-31, as the raw data captured by the HPR-31 is uploaded to the Palm Pilot in the HPR Kit II-D and the Flow Test Kit II-D.  The easy-to-use connectors have no exposed electronics which is ideal when one is working with a lot of forceful water!

Far too often, we take for granted essential services or aspects of daily life.  Some of the coolest gadgets are designed simply to make sure those services work properly or make sure service is delivered uninterrupted.  The Telog HPR-31 Hydrant Pressure Recorder is an essential part of making sure water gets where it needs to be, in a useful way.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

There’s plenty of exciting technology out there. There’s so much of it, in fact, that it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Laptops, MP3 players, Smartphones, e-readers, digital cameras, and of course, tablets. Technology addicts should inform themselves well before buying new gadgets.

The golden rule, here, is that you get what you pay for. The more expensive the device, the more reliable it’ll probably be. More money spent upfront often means less money spent on tech support and computer repairs. For example, even though Apple’s iPad comes with a hefty price tag, it’s still by far one of the most reliable tablets on the market. A cheaper tablet that claims to function in the same way as an iPad will probably require more computer repair down the road. Cheaper tablets are usually less sturdy and less powerful. This difference doesn’t necessarily apply to tablets like Amazon’s new Kindle Fire, for example, because even though that tablet is a lot cheaper, it targets a different audience and functions differently from computing tablets like the iPad.

Buying cool gadgets can be costly, but that’s a onetime cost. What can really break the bank is the occasional need for computer repairs and tech support. There are several things you should keep in mind when it comes to computer repair costs, as well as tech support.

When you buy a fancy gadget, be it a tablet or a smartphone, remember that prevention is the best cure. Take care of the device’s physical structure to delay the need for computer repairs. For example, avoid placing your smartphone in your back pocket, which might cause you to accidentally damage it by sitting on it; keep your tablet away from water; protect your e-reader from scratches. You’d be surprised at how effective simple practices can be in offsetting expensive computer repairs.

Also, get your gadgets regular tech support when that’s applicable. Tech support can take the form of regular security updates or software patches and upgrades. Smartphones and tablets that operate using a version of Google’s Android OS are especially susceptible to viruses and hacking efforts, which is why such devices require regular tech support. Providing regular tech support is an essential practice to offset computer repair costs.

Ultimately, you get what you pay for. But with time, what you have to pay will become less. You’ll find that resisting the urge to buy the latest gadgets as soon as they come out can save you higher initial costs, the need for lots of tech support, and computer repair expenses.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

The debate over turning computers off or leaving them on continues to come up every once in a while. Regardless of which side of the debate you fall on, everyone involved is merely trying to provide the best kind of computer support and avoid the need for costly laptop repairs. Leaving a laptop on all the time isn’t a great practice, but it’s also not a bad one. How you should approach the issue depends on your needs and work habits.

One of the most commonly cited reasons for keeping computers on all the time is a fear of the effects of internal temperature fluctuations. Some people fear that frequent temperature changes can damage parts or cause connections to break, requiring professional laptop repair. So in the attempt to provide better computer support, people think it’s beneficial to always leave computers running. Sure, rapidly and consecutively turning a computer on and off can create long-term damage to some internal circuits which eventually requires professional laptop repair, but powering down your device once at the end of the day is not only harmless, but it also provides indirect computer support.

Leaving a computer running all the time means that its fan is constantly sucking in air dust. Eventually, the accumulation of dust and other dirt can coat a computer’s internal components and require professional laptop repair. Therefore, always leaving a computer on can create laptop repair issues related to overheating. By turning your computer off at night, at least, you are providing a precautionary form of computer support.

Turning a computer off at the end of the day is also an easy way to provide software computer support. Constantly running Windows allows poorly written software to clog up the RAM and system resources. Turning off your machine clears out the memory every day and starts up again with a fresh windows boot.

So for the most part, it’s not a bad idea to power down your device at night. There are some exceptions to this, though. If your computer is part of a work network, you might find it necessary to leave it on all the time in order to get network computer support that includes updates and security patches. Especially when a device is part of a network, it’s important to get strong anti-virus computer support to avoid threats to other devices in the network. Home laptops or computers also need the occasional computer support that comes from regular Microsoft and anti-virus software upgrades, which can delay the need to get professional laptop repairs.

In the end, a happy medium is the best approach. Leaving your laptop on all the time can waste energy, overheat it, and fill it with dust, eventually requiring professional laptop repair. At the same time, it may be necessary to leave a computer running through the night if it’s part of a network in order to get network computer support.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com