Sunday, January 7, 2007

Show #11 - 01.07.2007



[Download Show #11 as MP3]


News
  • Turn off your cell phone in public ? (Bluetooth Security)
    • Most phones don't stay in discoverable mode.
    • Paired connections are required
    • Some people DO leave their Bluetooth password default (0000).
    • If you don't use Bluetooth, disable it, saves battery.
    • Replaces short cables and only works over a reasonably small distance.
    • There is something called 'automatic pairing' and that can be 'hacked' fairly easily .
  • Apple iPod brushes Zune aside
    • Most retail outlets are recommending iPods over Zunes to customers
    • I went to Best Buy and Circuit City and could not even find a display to mess with
    • Analysts predict cheaper Zune models early this year
    • Apple says "no comment" on next week's MacWorld plans
      • Rumors of iPod Phone and a "true" video iPod abound
      • iTV should be announced
        • Remote TV device to watch and listen to iTunes Store purchased content
        • Sneak Peeked back at WWDC (Worldwide Dev Confernce), Apple's developer conference
  • Baffled at HD quality?
    • Sold like hotcakes
    • Glossy marketing
    • Lack of tech support
    • The "plug and play" approach common on today's electronics didn't work out so well for HD, more like "plug and pray" leaving customers baffled that their TV wouldn't magically display the clean, crisp imagery they viewed on the in-store displays when making their purchase.
    • Consumer confusion over making HD "work" with HDTVs has gone on for quite some time, and even though some companies are making the leap and offering up that helping hand, it seems the majority of folks are still wandering around in the (heavily pixelated) dark.
      • Panasonic opened up the "Plasma Concierge"
      • No Panasonic device required
      • From "customized plasma profiles" to figuring out mounting they had it all...through December 31st
    • Matt Swanson, director of business analysis for Consumer Electronics, told Daily Variety that people don't realize a special antenna must be used when installing their set, or that they must subscribe to an HDTV service from their cable company to receive high-definition pictures, it's not just a matter of plugging in your television set and having high quality images right away.

Software / Hardware / Power Web Picks

Penny Pinchers

Security & Privacy
  • Safe Passwords
    • What are "safe" passwords
    • Why use "safer" passwords
    • Why use a different password for each service?
  • KeePass - The Open-Source Password Safe
    • Open Source, so you can see the code and know that nothing is happening with your password data
    • Multiple forms of security from a master password, password drive, or a combination of both
    • Password Generation
      • Uses mouse entropy to help generate a password
      • Select the kinds of characters you want in your password
      • Organize the passwords based on service
  • Lifehacker: Geek to Live - Choose (and remember) great passwords
    • Base password (example: ZYXW)
    • Service Based passwords (example yahoo: yhao)
    • Add some numbers (example: 67)
    • Resulting Yahoo Password: ZYXW67yhao

Gamer's Corner

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