Computer Support Blog

Google Maps has expanded from just an online map system to an indispensible navigating system. In fact, newer Android phones come with their unique Google based GPS. Other uses, as you probably know, include getting directions, measuring distances, viewing satellite images, and, every once in a while, making a beautiful and creative short film like “Address is Approximate.” Still, if you’ve been a regular Google Maps user since the service’s inception, then you’re probably familiar with the occasional inaccuracies or glaring omissions that occur in some maps. Such problems used to be much more frequent in the early days of Google Maps, and are slowly becoming fewer as Google enhances the software. The cartographic data has been steadily improving since Google launched Google Map Maker in 2008.

Google Map Maker relies on a volunteer community to add features such as new locations, more venue details, and new or changed streets to its maps. This is especially helpful for Google because mapping information is not readily available everywhere. Map Maker is free, fairly simple to use, and open to the public.

Of course, though this may seem like an overtly philanthropic, egalitarian and democratizing act on Google’s part, by allowing the people who are most familiar with their own areas to contribute cartographic data, Google is saving itself a lot of time and resources. Instead of dedicating funds and advanced tech support to populate and repopulate maps with ever-changing local data ad infinitum, Google has chosen to let users do it themselves!

In many ways, this feature is almost like the Wikipedia side of Google, a side where everyone can contribute. One major difference between the two, though, is that Google is slightly stricter about its guidelines for editing. When users (called editors in the Map Maker sphere) make edits or suggestions, those changes need the approval of other members in the community. The more your edits get approved, the more merit you gain in the editing sphere, and the better your reputation, the easier it becomes for you to make changes. As you advance in the meritocracy of Google Map Maker, your edits will start to go live automatically.

The interface itself is very simple. You can tag buildings, create their outlines, and add roads. Ideally, you would do this based off the satellite image of the area you wish to edit. Next, you input some data about your newly added locale, and once you pass the approval process, you can celebrate your latest position as a Google cartographer.

If you are mainly interested in updating their own neighborhoods or specific areas, Google Map Maker allows you to subscribe to certain areas and monitor any edits that occur there. Overall, Google Map Maker is a great way to contribute your knowledge and have some fun on a rainy day. Be careful, though, it’s easy to spend endless hours editing once you’re hooked.

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

Yet again, big names in the technology world are getting heat for wandering into the still grey area of online privacy. As most of our communication rapidly shifts into the cyber medium, and as we continue abandoning communication methods that can’t keep up with the powerful, interconnected nature of smartphones, tablets, and computers, we might as well get used to constantly hearing about privacy and Internet security issues.

In a milestone step in the debate over data collection and transparency, Facebook recently reached an agreement with the Federal Trade Commission about how Facebook now has to clearly ask users to opt-in to its new programs, as opposed to changing privacy settings without anyone knowing. The move doesn’t affect the social network giant’s past actions, but it does threaten to fine the company $16,000 a day for future violations. Well, that’s a relief, at least partly. It’s good to know that someone in the government is looking out for us. Similarly, the Irish Data Protection Commissioner’s office is currently subjecting the company’s international headquarters in Ireland to an audit based on user concerns over the amount of information that the company stores on users. Once, again, good on you, Irish authorities.

Android developer Trevor Eckhart recently exposed an equally serious threat to user privacy. The threat comes in the form of a built-in app called CarrierIQ that runs on most Android, BlackBerry and Nokia devices. The app records immense amounts of data on smartphone users such as keystrokes and locations without asking permission first. The supposed aim of the app is to provide carriers and developers with data to better manufacture their products, according to The Atlantic Wire.

After an intense back-and-forth between Eckhart and the app’s developer in which the latter denied Eckhart’s claim and ordered him to cease-and-desist from discussing the app in the blogosphere, Eckhart finally showed in detail how the company was violating users’ privacy. So now we are faced with a new problem; not only are companies spying on people under the guise of product development, but they’re also denying it. This adds a whole new level of eeriness to the increasingly powerful technological big brother.

In many ways, the invasion of our Internet and technological privacy is necessary for the continued development of technology based on user trends and the likes. Atlantic Wire’s article presents a very interesting dilemma that we now face. The question, then, becomes, where do we draw the line? Do we stop now and slow down technological advancement, or should we let Facebook, Google, apps likes Carrier IQ, among many others to read us like open books, all in the name of progress? You see, there’s no easy answer.

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

Geek culture overlaps itself.  The relationship between computer geeks, comic book geeks and gaming geeks has become so intertwined in the last few years as to make it almost impossible to distinguish between the subspecies of geek.    This year for Christmas, why not celebrate your inner geek with a Computer Sitter?

Computer Sitters are the latest PVC accessory from Funko.  Funko, the U.S. company that popularized the bobblehead toy, created the Computer Sitters line off the Japanese distorted figure concept.  That concept promotes the recognizable aspects of the character as opposed to making a true representation of the original subject.  Thus, characters like Wonder Woman in the Computer Sitters line have disproportionately large heads and bodies that get progressively smaller.

The first line of Computer Sitters, available now, includes Wonder Woman, Batman, Spider-Man, Yoda, Darth Vader and, of course, Boba Fett.  Unlike action figures that might sit on your desk and take up space, the principle behind the Computer Sitters is that they attach to the top of your computer monitor or the edge of your tower computer.  Once you have found the perfect place for your Computer Sitter, you may attach the Computer Sitter to the top of your monitor through the use of the sticky pad that comes with it.  The adhesive connects the Computer Sitter to your monitor. Most of the Computer Sitters have additional molded features that hang over the edge of the monitor’s frame.  So, for example, Funko molded Yoda’s feet and robes to hang off the edge of the monitor frame, which provides him with additional stability on your monitor.

Each Computer Sitter is approximately 3” tall, so they make a noticeable statement.  Computer Sitters are good for alleviating boredom as well as displaying your interest in popular genre works.  Each Computer Sitter features a bobble head so the wobbling head may distract or amuse you while you type.

So, why not surprise the geek who helps you with minor computer repairs?  Why not brighten up your office with a Computer Sitter of your favorite DC Comics, Marvel Comics or Star Wars character?  Why not embrace your own inner geek with the growing fad that Funko is pioneering with their Computer Sitters?

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

Outside Kermit, Texas, there is an experiment in industrial batteries going on now that has the potential to change the computer world.  In fact, if the experiment is successful, it may well reduce the need for a major, common type of computer repair, as well as eliminate many consumers’ fears of failure to their data storage devices.  The Notrees Power Project is testing a new 36-megawatt battery and that should have computer users and manufacturers paying attention.

One of the most common forms of damage to computers comes from power surges.  Inadequate surge protection can lead to expensive computer repair bills.  Because power surges can damage hard drives, sometimes even a computer repair cannot recover data you were storing on the drive.  The threat of power surges has led many businesses and personal computer users to invest in online data storage or redundant data storage off-site.  However, if the off-site data storage and primary computer connect to the same power source, your data remains at risk.  There is little that is more frustrating than costly computer repair bills and the wasted investment in multiple data storage methods when you irrevocably lose your data from an extreme power surge.

Until the Notrees Windpower Project began to experiment with the massive 36-megawatt battery, wind power was notoriously unreliable for generating electricity and led to data storage problems from faulty power delivery.  Power surges and the erratic power supply that frequently comes from the generation of electricity using wind power has acted as a threat to computer users since U.S. power companies began to generate wind power.  The success of the battery would mean that whenever the wind was not generating enough electricity at the Notrees Windpower Project, the battery would discharge its stored electricity to keep the power supply constant.  That consistent energy delivery would eliminate many computer problems for computer users who receive electricity through wind power generation.

While surge protectors have prevented many computer problems and data storage errors, no type of power delivery reliably prevents the need for a computer repair like a clean power supply.  Until the Notrees Windpower Project battery experiment, wind power has not been able to deliver a clean, constant power supply, though the local nature of wind power generation has lessened many of the transmission difficulties other means of generating electricity still suffer.  A constant power supply that does not fluctuate, surge or collapse prevents damage that mandates a computer repair.  Only stable energy can alleviate power-based fears relative to data storage devices and that is the potential of the 36-megawatt battery.

For sure, the technology being developed at the Notrees Windpower Project is still experimental and may not protect the power supply from other environmental factors like solar flares. The promise of clean wind energy is enough to give hope to those who have had data storage failures as a result of power fall-outs.  If the Notrees battery is successful, it may encourage the generation of more wind farms to help consumers get more reliable, affordable, renewable electricity that will not harm their computers.

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

William Shatner tells a great story about trading cards.  He talks about how when he was a kid, he would put baseball cards in the spokes of the tires of his bike and cycle around, enjoying the “click click click” sound the card would make.  When Shatner first encountered a modern trading card with holographic technology, it surprised him.  One has to wonder how Shatner would react to seeing the new generation of trading cards, presented from Interactive DTC.  Interactive DTC has changed the trading card industry by creating Digital Trading Cards.

Digital Trading Cards are CD-ROM discs that are rectangular instead of the traditional circular disc.  Interactive DTC wanted to create a more permanent medium than the cardboard trading cards of yesteryear and with the Digital Trading Cards, they succeeded!  While the trading card industry had previously been preoccupied solely with condition and rarity, Digital Trading Cards drive trading card enthusiasts to prioritize content.

Interactive DTC obtained the license to many significant franchises that had been very popular with traditional trading card collectors.  As a result, there are Digital Trading Cards for The Lord Of The Rings, Stargate SG-1, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, as well as sports figures like Chad Muska, Brian Deegan, and Bruce Irons.

Using the Digital Trading Cards is very easy.  Each card-shaped CD-ROM features a silkscreened image emblematic of the disc’s content.  So, for example, a Digital Trading Card from Interactive DTC’s The Two Towers set might feature Frodo Baggins or King Theoden.  Placing the Digital Trading Card into your CD-ROM drive activates the card.  Each card contains a wealth of content that does not require any additional computer support; each disc features the Interactive DTC browser program.  The Digital Trading Card is a true multimedia experience.  In addition to having images, each card features movies, interviews and other data.  The NASCAR Digital Trading Card set featured music, interviews conducted by Interactive DTC, photo galleries of each featured driver, video footage, racing tips, games, statistics (just like old baseball cards!) and 3D model programs of each racer’s car and shop!  The Digital Trading Cards truly bridge the divide between card collectors and video game players by providing content both will appreciate.

You must connect to the Internet to get the full benefits of the Digital Trading Card. Interactive DTC provides Internet support for collectors through a platform on their website that allows registered collectors to trade cards with one another.  Interactive DTC wanted to continue the fun, social aspect, of collecting, so each physical disc contains multiple Digital Trading Cards.  Through the online platform, collectors may swap their duplicates!

The old adage in investing in the collectibles market is “collect what you love.”  For decades, trading card enthusiasts have been subject to a shifting market that prioritizes card rarity at the expense of card content.  With Interactive DTC’s Digital Trading Cards, fans of big media and sports franchises get to return to collecting what they love instead of chasing an almost unobtainable, expensive rare card.

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

The best engineers will tell you that if a device is designed properly, it will be intuitive to use.  That means if when a manufacturer makes a gadget in the most efficient way possible, how to operate it will be self-evident.  TASCAM seems to realize that with their new iM2 Stereo Microphone.

For audiophiles, though, the TASCAM iM2 Stereo Microphone is not only intuitive to use, its purpose it obvious.  The TASCAM iM2 Stereo Microphone is the ideal tool for creating high-quality recordings of live music presentations using your iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.  Without actually endorsing bootlegging, TASCAM creates the ideal equipment for recording stereo performances with your Apple mobile device.

Why else would TASCAM devote so much attention to quality and flexibility?  The three inch wide stereo microphone array plugs directly into the docking port on your Apple iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch.  From there, you may rotate the microphones up to 180 degrees, which gives you an impressive range for recording sounds with real auditory depth.  The TASCAM iM2 accommodates sounds up to 125 decibels without distortion, so your recording is true and vibrant.

While the hardware of the TASCAM iM2 Stereo Microphone is impressive, the software support it comes with truly sells the product.  The TASCAM iM2 Stereo Microphone includes an app for your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch.  The app provides you with graphic representations of the audio levels as you are recording them.  The indicators allow you to make adjustments to the iM2 Stereo Microphone to achieve the optimal location and sound levels for recording, without losing any of the material you wish to record.  Because you have access to second-by-second indicators of volume, channel and recording length, you may make adjustments to preserve the material in ways that you could not before.  In fact, in the hands of a skilled audio recorder, the iM2 may make a recording that fixes the problems often experienced by lousy sound engineers!

For recording interviews, conversations or mundane dialogue, users do not need a stereo microphone.  Those who love the depth of sound that comes from a stereo music performance, those who want to be able to listen to that performance with its entire nuance, need sophisticated equipment.  The TASCAM iM2 Stereo Microphone is exactly the right equipment for those recording music they want to play back with the proper stereo sound as the artists intended.

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

When you are in the market for a new computer monitor, you should consider one that is Energy Star compliant.

The Energy Star rating is a certification defined by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Department Of Energy, not computer support services, computer repair shops or computer manufacturers.  As it becomes more chic to be environment-conscious, computer manufacturers are chasing the Energy Star rating, just as consumers look for the rating when purchasing a new monitor.

What does the Energy Star rating on computer displays actually mean, though?  At this point, most computer monitors are plug-and-play, so there is no additional computer support required to install or run an Energy Star compliant monitor.  In order to get the Energy Star certification, a display must only use one Watt while off and two Watts while in a sleep mode.  The power consumption guide for Energy Star certification varies with the size of the monitor display, but in order to get the certification, a monitor must use about 20% less power than the non-compliant monitors.

What many consumers are unaware of when they purchase an Energy Star compliant monitor is that some require the computer to be set to make use of the energy-saving benefits of the display.  You may avoid a call for computer support simply by checking that the display’s Energy Star benefits are activated.  With a properly configured monitor, the display will conform to Energy Star qualifications with no need for ongoing computer support or maintenance.

The need for computer repair or monitor repair is much less likely when consumers purchase and properly use an Energy Star certified monitor.  By running the display with the Energy Star configuration active, the monitor runs cooler and last longer, especially when the monitor is turned off.

In addition to lowering computer repair bills and avoiding computer support calls for monitor-related problems, using an Energy Star compliant monitor properly lowers the electric bill.  Consumers who use multiple computers with Energy Star compliant monitors will likely see a noticeable drop in electric bills, as 20% off one of the larger power draws adds up!

Shopping for monitors with the Energy Star certification benefits the environment, saves you money on monitor power usage, prevents embarrassing computer support calls and costly computer repair bills, making it a smart investment for all computer users.

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

Among the many ways Google Maps has changed navigation is the introduction of Street View technology which provides users with panoramic images of streets and buildings in many areas. The technology first became available in the Unites States in 2007 and spread to other parts of the world soon after. Though for most people, the technology is a fun way to bring back memories or make arriving at a destination much easier, a recent online video shows a liberating and innovative new usage for the technology.

Using stop animation, director Tom Jenkins tells the story of a lonely desk toy who longs to get out of the dark office. One night, when his owner leaves, the toy decides to take a trip to the Pacific Coast. In the short film, his fellow office toys help him relocate a toy car in front of a large Mac screen and off they go! The result is a beautiful short animated clip called “Address is Approximate,” complete with music, lighting effects, and a heart-warming plot.

As the desk toy sits in the car, images of Manhattan reflecting on his sad face, a fellow desk toy continuously clicks the mouse to move from one screen shot to the next—and he does that all the way from Manhattan to the Pacific. Perhaps what makes the film so visually beautiful is the physical setting’s interactions with the on-screen journey. Rotating desk lamps give a real presence to the tunnel lights that appear on screen, desk plants complement the trip’s forestry, piled boxes move along the edges to imitate tall buildings, and another bright lamp floods the office with artificial sunlight.

The actual making of the film didn’t require complicated computer support on the digital end, but rather plenty of patience from its director. In one online interview, Jenkins says that it took him six nights to film and several months of production.

The film’s director and creator used a Canon 5d MkII to shoot the stills for the film then Dragon Stop Motion software to animate the images. Stop motion is an animation technique used to make objects look like they’re moving on their own by altering their position slightly between frames and then playing the frames rapidly and consecutively. The technology, though largely obsolete, still has uses in popular culture. Famous British show Wallace and Grommet, for example, uses stop motion as its animation method.

“Address is Approximate” is a reminder of how amazing tech support tools like Google Maps can be put to artistic use in even the most limited of settings.

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