Podcast appearances and mentions of ken colburn

The IRS is warning Americans about tax scams. How can you protect yourself? Ken Colburn joins The Chris and Joe show to give us tips on internet security. 

Have you received an email recently from a friend or maybe even your boss asking for a small favor? Well, it may not really be your friend or boss after all. Scammers are posing as people you may know and they're asking for a little help. And of course, how can you refuse your boss or a good friend when they turn to you for support?  But be careful. Today, we're talking to Ken Colburn. He's been in the computer industry for decades and a specialist in technology and computer scams. He explains how the "Do Me A Favor Scam" works and how you can avoid getting conned.

No matter how technical you may or may not be, there is one thing that everyone knows: backup the data files you care about

.Because we specialize in data recovery, we've seen virtually every scenario over the past 30 years when it comes to critical data that has been lost.Beyond equipment failure and traditional data loss, we all now need to be concerned with the growing instances of ransomware.

Just having a local external backup drive isn't enough these days because everything from ransomware to a fire or flood could render that local backup useless.

We recommend the 3-2-1 backup philosophy which means that you have 3 copies of your data on two physical storage devices with one copy that exists off-site, such as an online backup service like Carbonite.

That means that your primary copy lives on your computer's hard drive, the second copy lives on an external hard drive connected to your computer and a third copy is stored in the cloud.If you do this, it covers every possible data loss scenario that we are aware of at this point in time.

When it comes to the holidays, some of the most popular gifts are without a doubt electronics.This invariably leads to the disposal of our older tech, which if done improperly, can be a very bad thing.Unfortunately, most consumers have no idea just how many toxins are used to manufacture our gadgets, so they just throw them in the trash.To keep these toxins from polluting our ground water, consider repurposing your old tech as someone else may be able to use it.Charities, homeless shelters and local schools are just the beginning of possibilities for repurposing your old tech.If that's not an option, finding a responsible electronic recycling program in your area will be your next search.E-waste is generated by the hundreds of millions of tons each year, so we all need to do our part to keep it our of our landfills.

It's no secret that as the weather gets colder, the number of people that get sick increases as a result.Being exposed to those that are sick is how most of us become sick ourselves, so knowing where a large number of people are sick can be helpful.An app called SickWeather acts as a forecasting tool that shows you where lots of people are saying that they are experiencing symptoms.It does this by scanning social media posts and other data sources to gather signals of areas that show hot zones in your area.Knowing about these areas can be helpful so you can avoid them as this app serves as an early warning system for outbreaks.Their ability to predict outbreaks is pretty impressive based on the technology they've developed.Get the info and the apps: https://www.sickweather.com

With virtually every interaction we have online, there's a good chance that you'll be asked for an email address as part of the process.For those interactions where you only need to have a valid email address to get something you want, but won't need to interact with them ever again, there's a clever and free option.A website that calls itself '10 Minute Mail' provides random email addresses that are only good for ten minutes.Start by visiting https://10minutemail.com which will publish a generic email address and a counter that starts at 10 minutes.You stay on this page to also receive the intended message and if you need to extend the time that you use the account, simply tap the button to add another 10 minutes.Keep in mind, this is a really bad option if you'll ever need to reuse the email address because no matter what address you use, all messages are deleted after 10 minutes and you can't request the same one again.

The days of manually searching through classified ads in the physical world was disrupted by a website we all know as Craigslist.Searching for those one of kind or used items has gotten easier via the Internet, but today's tip will take it to another level.If you spend lots of time searching for items on Amazon, eBay or Craigslist, today's tip is for you.An awesome all-in-one search tool exists for all three sites at Search Tempest https://www.searchtempest.com 
Instead of having to go to each site to search for the same item, switch to Search Tempest to make it much more efficient and eliminate some of the geographic issues that exist on Craigslist.Bargain shoppers will find this to be a power tool because of all the awesome filtering options that make it more efficient to do extensive item searches.

Those wonderful apps have turned what was once simply a voice communication device into miniature marvels in the palms of our hands.On top of that, how wonderful is it that there are so many free apps to choose from?As it turns out, free is not always free when you consider the big picture of these apps.Both your cellular data usage and battery usage can be impacted by the use of free apps on the regular.Researchers have actually studied this issue and published real data on the consumption of power and data which can be significant.They can also chew up valuable memory with the ads they deliver, which can impact everything you do on your smartphone.An additional consideration is the privacy implications of 'free' apps since they can only make money from tracking your usage.The next time you have to choose between a free app and one that might cost a buck or two, it may be a very good return on investment.

Computer hardware is pretty useless without useful software programs, which can end up costing as much, if not more, than your computer.While the big-name programs are what most people end up buying, there are alternative programs that can perform the same function at a much lower cost.There are many software programs that are known as 'open source' options that are available to anyone that wants to try them out.A great tool for finding this type of inexpensive software is located at: https://alternativeto.netNot only can it help you discover these new options, but the website also provides feedback and comments from others that have already tried each program.Just type the name of the expensive program into the search bar at the site and you'll get a list of alternatives that could be just what you're looking for.

If you have a young child in your extended family, it's a pretty safe bet that they are enamored with mobile technology such as a smartphone or tablet.Tablets in particular can actually be used for educational purposes instead of just becoming a digital babysitter.A platform designed to turn tablets into more of an educational tool is from a company called Osmo.Instead of creating an addictive app that keeps the child's eyes solely on the screen, Oslo creates interaction via the tablet with physical items as well.It does this through a special stand and mirror system that allow the camera on the front to see what's directly below the tablet.Your child can be encouraged to draw on a piece of paper in front of the tablet through items displayed on the screen that they can trace.It's a really interesting approach that you can learn more about at: https://PlayOsmo.com

Malicious hackers have refined their techniques via social engineering to trick unsuspecting victims into clicking on things they normally wouldn't.Phishing scams are one of the more common traps they setup and getting victims to those phishing websites has also evolved beyond phishing email messages.They know that the comments section is a great place to try to draw victims to their boobytrapped websites.Typical out of context posts that are clearly someone spamming the comments are pretty easy to spot, it's the more devious methods that you'll need to stay aware of.Posting a link along with a comment that appears to be a legitimate response to a previous comment is pretty common and where the danger lies.Clicking the link in the comment can be every bit as dangerous as clicking on a link in email, so it's best to avoid them.One way to see if the information they are referring to is legit is by doing a Google search using the title of the link, which should come up in the search results if they are.

Isn't always the case that just when we need to get something really important printed out at home, the 'out of ink' message pops up.I'm not sure how we got to the point in time that the cost of an ounce of printer ink is like buying a precious metal.The industry took the sell cheap razors to sell razor blades approach years ago but one of the companies decided to buck the trend.Epson created a line of printers that focused on an economical way to refill the ink in our printers.Their EcoTank line of printers provides both large ink reservoirs and inexpensive liquid refills that comes in bottles that anyone can manage themselves.For those that print lots of documents, paying a little more for the printer so that the ongoing consumables are cost effective makes a lot of sense.Learn all about it here: https://epson.com/ecotank

No matter what you may be in the market to purchase, it's a pretty good bet that you'll be doing various Google searches to help you make your decision.Critics and reviews of the products you're considering can be extremely helpful and the more comparative information, the better.It's also a good way to discover competitive products that may not have known about.There's a simple alteration to your search requests that can provide direct product comparisons and that's by using get the VS parameter.Let's say you're looking at a new phone that's comparable to a Samsung Galaxy model. Type Samsung XXX vs in the Google search bar and hit Enter.The results will be those sites that have specifically compared the Samsung device you're interested in to other smartphones.This simple addition to your research will make you aware of other products so you can actually make the best decision for any purchase in the future.

Keeping your computer's software updated is a critical part of staying safe from all of the threats online, but there are some items that you don't want to always update.
Someone asked us about a special program that was boasting that it can keep all your drivers updated automatically.While this may sound like a good idea, drivers which are small bits of code designed to control hardware components should never be updated just for the sake of updating.Updating them en masse would be even worse as the chances of creating a huge problem that never existed can be the results.Driver updates are best done only when there is a specific problem with a piece of hardware that you are trying to address.
Make sure you keep your operating system and security software updated but when it comes to driver updates, if it ain't broke, don't try to fix it!

A common obstacle to learning a new language is often the lack of confidence that you are saying something the right way.It's important to get as close to the proper pronunciation as you can so the person you're talking to doesn't get confused by what you are trying to say.Wouldn't it be great if you could ask a bi-lingual friend how to say something every time you needed some help?Well, there's a virtual pronunciation assistant standing by whenever you want help at a website called Forvo.Beyond getting to hear the proper way to say things, you can download the files to keep on your device in the event you need to use the audio when you aren't getting it right in person.A bonus tip is to use Google Translate to get any word translated from English first, then have Forvo show you the proper way to say it.https://forvo.com is an excellent language tool to keep in your arsenal, so bookmark it for your future needs!

For those times that you are working with chronological data and want to present it in a linear fashion, a graphical timeline is hard to beat.Making it from scratch would be a bit of a chore unless you use a special tool designed specifically for timelines like the one at Timetoast.comNot only is it free to use, but you also don't have to download and install special code to get started.Once completed, the timeline can be presented to others as a list or a graphical timeline.No need to download the timeline as a file to share it with others as all you need to send is the URL for your specific timeline.Students, business people or those interested in genealogy have all found this tools to be pretty useful.

While watching videos via the Internet has become very commonplace, there's a genre that also has become more popular online: documentaries.In many cases, you'll have to pay to watch documentaries, there are sites where these important films are more readily more accessible.You can spend hours discovering lots of documentaries at Documentary Heaven.This treasure chest of independent films is set up in categories to make it easier to find the kind of content you like.This alternative to expensive streaming services allows you to watch on your computer, smartphone or tablet whenever you want it.No matter what your interest is when it comes to movies, there's bound to be a category of films on this site that will capture your attention.Start your discovery at: https://documentaryheaven.com


Did you know that the space bar does a lot more than just create a single space when you tap it?There are actually other shortcuts hiding in your space bar that you may not have known about.Whether you using the keyboard on the screen of your phone or on your laptop or desktop, there are awesome ways to use the space bar.When you're typing something on your smartphone and want to start a new sentence, just tap the space bar twice and a period will magically appear!For those that spend all day on the internet via a desktop or laptop computer, you can keep your hands on the keyboard to scroll down a page by tapping the space bar.You can also scroll back up one page by holding the Shift key and tapping the space bar too.These tips are pretty basic but they can really make things more efficient for much of our daily interactions with our devices.


The social network for professionals known as LinkedIn has become a major networking and recruiting tool for virtually every industry.

But of course, when something becomes popular online, the bad guys take notice and create scams.

One of the most dangerous LinkedIn scams has them posing as a job recruiter with what appear to be amazing employment positions.

The aim is get you to fall for the 'opportunity' and give up personal info they can use to compromise you.

Watch for grammatical errors, strange wording and profiles with little activity and few connections.

Another way to sniff out scammers is through the profile image since so many of them use someone else's picture on these fake accounts.

One quick way to check the profile pic is to do an image search via Google images or the Tin Eye website https://tineye.com to see if it's actually someone different.

Unless you're an old-timer like us, you probably don't remember what it was like when not everyone had a website.Even those companies that did have one, looking back at what we thought was cool back then is kind of cringe-worthy.There's actually an easy way to see just how comical things looked back in the day thanks to an awesome archiving project at https://archive.orgIt's been grabbing snapshots of millions of websites for over 20 years as a massive archive of the web.This isn't a database of fully functional websites, in fact, many of the elements of the archived sites may not even load, but you can get the gist of what it was like back then.A cool way to use this tool is to look up the website for the company that you currently work for or for those that you worked for going back a coup of decades via this direct link:  https://archive.org/web

The Internet has become an integral component in the business world and it all begins with a website.

If you know what you're doing, choosing which tools and technology to use on your website isn't much of a task, but for non-technical decision-makers, it can become overwhelming.

A process that can help you make a more informed decision is simply examining what similar organizations are using for their websites which is easy to do with the Built With web tool.

You simply input the web address of any website you want to get some intel on and you'll be presented with a comprehensive written review of the tech being used.

This is a great way to see what technology is on the uptick with lots of other websites or to verify what you think is a good way to go.

Making great decisions before you get started can save you a lot of time, frustration and money, so do your homework with https://builtwith.com

Virtually any new project or product that you want to take to market starts with a search to see if the name you came up with is already being used.Once you have the name, you'll generally want to see if the website domain is available, which is where Picky Domains can be a huge time saver.This web resource uses crowdsourcing to generate ideas for those looking for a name and web address for their new project.It's not based on random suggestions as you provide the details of how long you want it to be, what words to use or not use, etc.You get to leverage the brainpower of a huge crowd of creative people at a very reasonable price because only one person will win your challenge.It's such an important step in improving your chances of being successful, so if you're ever in need of this unique service, make sure you bookmark it: https://www.pickydomains.com

Adding new programs and apps to your computer can make it more useful, but if you're not careful, it can have an irritating side effect.Subtle tweaks to your computer such as changing the search engine, start page or adding those useless toolbars can actually be changes that you approved.You see, the software companies know that very few of you are going to read the various screens while installing any new program, which is how this happens.The 'next, next, next, I agree' process is so common that especially free programs will use this sneaky approach to gain access to your desktop.From now on, always choose the expert, custom or advances options so you can actually see what they're trying to add before they do it.The software companies don't want you to change your behavior, but we do to help you keep your system clean!

As our use of both smartphones and computers converge, integrating information across our devices is becoming more of a need.Those that have an Apple computer and iPhone have seen lots of new options for this integration, but if you use Windows or macOS and an Android device, you'll need an app to do the same.A platform called Push Bullet will provide this interoperability for when you find things on your computer that you want to have access to on your smartphone.The communication is established via the combination of a browser-based web app and a mobile app which can both be downloaded here: https://www.pushbullet.comOnce set up, it's easy to share lots of different files, pictures and web links without having to sent them via email.And just like with the Apple combo, notifications that would normally only appear on your phone will start to appear on your computer.If you spend all day popping back and forth between your phone and your computer, this may reduce some of that wasted effort!

No matter how deep of a connection we have with our pets, they can't talk to us when they aren't feeling well.We can try to figure out what might be causing their discomfort and getting them to a qualified veterinarian may be a challenge, which is where PetMD.com can be of help.This very comprehensive online database of symptoms and pet health advice is second to none.It can help you with everything from general care to emergency situations and it can also be breed-specific.In those situations that appear urgent, their symptom checker and emergency guides can be very comforting.I'd suggest checking it out for non-urgent situations as it's packed with great advice and information.If you have a pet, you'll want to bookmark PetMD for that next time you really need a helping hand:  https://www.petmd.com

I can still remember all of the conversations that I had with older folks about how unsociable using text messaging appeared to them.Well, it's hard to find anyone that thinks that way anymore because of how efficient and useful text messaging has become.If you message using an iPhone, you're using Apple's own messaging app known as iMessage.Not only will it automatically secure every message you send, unlike other messaging platforms, but it can also be used when wifi is the only way to connect to the Internet.This makes it so much more useful when you are roaming around the world.What has become obvious to us is that users of iMessage have no idea how powerful it can be, so that's the focus of today's tip.We've posted a link to all of the amazing and lesser-known features of iMessage at: https://bit.ly/3gJ6DTZ

An essential task in fighting off the constant attempts by hackers to compromise your data is reviewing security settings regularly.We all have Google accounts, so this is a reminder to take a few minutes to look over your account settings and security reports.They've created a security dashboard that will provide everything you need to know about current activity, devices that have recently connected and any new options for making things more secure.The list of the devices that have successfully logged into your account will also include general location info to help you determine if it was you or not.If you see something strange, let Google know through this interface and change your password ASAP!Reviewing these settings every 30 days or so will help prevent major issues: https://bit.ly/2Z6FTVm The complete security interface is located here:https://myaccount.google.com/security

One of the daily tasks that those in the cybersecurity world do is to check for newly discovered breached passwords.The underworld is constantly posting these huge lists on the dark web because they know that so many people still use the same password on multiple sites.Your breached passwords are a big business for hackers, so it's a good idea to keep tabs when someone you've got an account with has been breached.One tool that will let you know whenever you want is called Breach Alarm https://breachalarm.comTheir database will cross-reference any of your email addresses to see if they have been included in any breaches.When you learn that an account you have has been breached, it becomes imperative to stop using that password anywhere online.Breaches are becoming so common that it's a safe bet to assume that any password that's more than 2 or 3 years old has most likely been acquired, so consider changing them to stay ahead of the hackers.

It goes without saying that we all want to be happy, but how often do you actually focus on your happiness?If you said rarely, there's an app that could be helpful in actually tracking your happiness.The Track Your Happiness app was specifically created to help you figure out what actually makes you happy.By tracking your state of mind, the app can learn the variables in your life that lead to being happier.The process is driven by pop-up questions that ask you how you're feeling at that moment so it can track the variables.Over time, it can provide some guidance to help you understand and focus on your mental health on a regular basis.Collectively, the data generated by the app helps the researchers that created it to better understand happiness as a whole.Whether it actually has an impact or not, the mere fact that you'll suddenly be focusing on your happiness has its appeal.For the iPhone app, go to https://www.trackyourhappiness.org There isn't an Android app yet, but their web interface works just as well: https://go.trackyourhappiness.org

One of the benefits of being a kid around technology is that you aren't afraid that you're going to break anything like most adults do.This is the perfect time to provide them with avenues to explore things like basic coding to see if it's something they enjoy.For younger kids, an app called Hopscotch could be the entry in discovering this creative skill based on things that a kid will enjoy creating.It's a visual tool that uses a graphical interface that eliminates the need to type anything to create games and animations.The key to learning is curiosity and Hopscotch could be a great starting point that might lead to an amazing career.Although it's designed for younger children any adult could learn the basics with it as well.Looking to raise an in-house coding geek? Check out https://www.gethopscotch.com

Technology that really helps people is always an amazing discovery, which is the focus of today's tech tip.An app and organization known as Be My Eyes was created for those with vision to help those with poor or no ability to see at all via their smartphones.Sighted users of the app act as volunteers for those in need of visual assistance using the visually impaired person's phone camera.This allows you to help with important daily tasks such as reading a sign on the street or the expiration date on a perishable item.It's a really simple but life-changing service that is fueled by volunteers all over the world.As you help users, your rating will go up, which will in turn provide you with more opportunities to help others.Learn more by visiting https://bemyeyes.com

If you have children, you know the challenge of teaching them how to do their laundry in a way that won't destroy the clothes.A well-meaning but small excuse for our kids not knowing how to clean their own clothes the that they don't know how to do it... but you can tell them, there are apps for that!These apps don't just show them how to clean their clothes, they also show them how to fold and iron them too.How about helping them understand the various symbols on clothing that explain proper care?Use their devotion to the smartphone to your favor when it comes to teaching them the fundamentals of laundry.Imagine how much money you can save when they go to college and don't ruin all their freshmen clothing.By the way, these apps don't just apply to young people as folks of all ages could use some assistance in this routine task!
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/complete-laundry-care/id833637165
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.isageek.dondochaka&feature=search_result
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.kloobi.laundry

If you use your computer at night on a regular basis, staring at the screen can lead to sleep issues.The unfiltered light, especially if it's bright, has a blue hue that has been shown to cause this problem.Just turning down the brightness won't help as much as changing the hue to a warmer color which can be done for free with a utility known as Flux.This easy-to-use tool is a one-trick pony that will automatically adjust your screen based on the time of day.It's also easy to override when you need to see things in a more natural hue at any time.It may seem a bit off at first, but once you see the difference at night, you'll understand why this small change can have a big impact.Get Flux for either of the major operating systems at:
https://justgetflux.com

Enjoying movies in a theater can get really expensive, so checking to see what the critics have to say before committing has become commonplace.Not that what a specific critic likes or dislikes is aligned to your tastes, but it can be a helpful barometer.The power of the Internet has made individual reviews less relevant as the collective is so easy to find.One of our favorite resources is to get the metascore from a website called Metacritic, because it's a compilation of a large number of reviews.Instead of a star rating or some form of up or down vote, it's a more nuanced number system that's more usefulNow you can search for the metascore on upcoming movies, TV shows and music based on the aggregate of lots of critics.Dig deeper into your entertainment content at: https://www.metacritic.com

Remember when you had to use the back button to visit websites that were previously opened?The introduction of tabs in browsers changed all that and made it easy to go back and forth between multiple websites, but this comes with some baggage.Getting carried away with the number of open tabs makes use of a lot of your working memory, which drags on your computer's performance.If you're a taboholic and want some help regaining valuable memory, check out the free Chrome add-on called The Great Suspender.It automatically suspends tabs that aren't being actively viewed to free up needed RAM.It will auto-reload any tab you click on, so it's as if nothing ever happened.If you need certain tabs to keep updating in the background, you can tell the utility not to suspend them via a whitelist.Give it a go at:https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/the-great-suspender-origi/ahmkjjgdligadogjedmnogbpbcpofeeo

The number of devices that are available to make your home a smart home is growing almost daily.The one fundamental service that makes all these devices work properly is generally a wireless Internet connection.This connectivity determines whether your devices function properly or not.The first step to getting things working again is always to restart the devices that provide access to the Internet, like your modem and router.Some of those devices can be set up to routinely reboot to help ensure a solid connection, but that only works if you're physically there.An option for taking control of the situation when you aren't there is with a remote power switch.These power devices allow you to remotely restart anything that's plugged in from anywhere in the world.If you're dealing with devices that need to be routinely rebooted, our long-time tips on how to improve or manage the situation is posted at:https://www.datadoctors.com/help/kenscolumns/22073

Whenever we fly, our go-to entertainment device has become our smartphones.Making sure that you have content that you want to consume before the flight allows you to avoid having to pay for slow wifi on the plane.A popular app called Pocket is my go-to for this task because it's easy to use and works across all of my devices.It's an efficient way to gather information for just about any need, but becomes very useful for those times when you know you won't have an Internet connection.There are some limitations, such as video, if you don't have an Internet connection, so consider this more of a highly personalized digital newspaper for your flights.To learn more about the free app or the premium options, visit https://getpocket.com

Today's tip is about something that can dramatically improve your quality of life - stretching.It helps your body in so many ways from better circulation to increased blood flows which distribute critical oxygen and nutrients to various parts of your body.One of the best ways to stretch every day is through yoga routines, but who wants to go to classes filled with others that are already limber?Don't let this uncomfortable scenario keep you from reaping the benefits of this age-old exercise.Yes, there's an app for that and it's named after one of the most useful positions - Down Dog.It's really a much more approachable way to learn how to benefit from this ancient but still relevant form of exercise.If you're ready to give it a go, check out the options at: https://www.downdogapp.com

Anyone born in the past 10 years was likely brought up with a small screen that often served as a way to pacify them when they were unruly.It's become the go-to solution for so many parents when they're dealing with a restless child in a public area because it's effective.But handing your smartphone phone over to a child that has complete access to everything the device can do is flat out dangerous for many reasons.If you're finding yourself using your own smartphone as a pacifier for a small child, it's critical to limit what they can do with it via the parental controls that are built right into the operating system.Disabling internet access, blocking the ability to make purchases or simply locking the smartphone to a single app are all options you'll have if you take the time to learn about them.Both Android and iOS users have lots of options to childproof their phones by using these settings:iOS: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201304Android: https://www.lifewire.com/childproof-android-4137048

The stories of businesses large and small becoming victimized by hackers demanding hefty ransoms continue to grow because it's become a relatively easy way to make money.What the hackers know that so many business owners don't is that instead of trying to penetrate sophisticated security layers, it's much more effective to go after the weakest link - the users.One of the most common tricks that hackers use to compromise individual employees is to send phishing emails that look very much like they came from an important person within the organization.Spoofing an email to make it look like it came from management or from the IT department is incredibly easy.That's why it's important to educate every employee about the methods used by clever tricksters that can lead to catastrophic breaches.One way to help them understand is by testing them with tools that are available from companies such as KnowBe4 https://KnowBe4.comThey offer a free test that can be used to test as many as 100 users in your organization to see if they fall for skillfully crafted phishing emails.Get your test setup today by going to the form at:https://www.knowbe4.com/phishing-security-test-offer

Virtual meetings are all the rage, but when you don't need to see each other, the traditional conference call is still relevant.Most conference call services require participants to jump through a bunch of hoops that generally include special codes or a long PIN, which is why prefer the Uberconference Platform: https://www.uberconference.com When you're trying to connect using your smartphone, having to manually input a long string of numbers is a big hassle that can be avoided with Uberconference.Another great feature is that each attendee is represented by an avatar, so all of the irritating beeps and bops when someone joins or leaves aren't necessary.The host controls everyone and the avatars move when that person is speaking or introducing unwanted noise to the meeting.It's free for up to 10 users at a time, so give it a try the next time you need to gather a group on a call  
https://www.uberconference.com

The heat of summer is upon us and depending upon where you live, it can be unbearable and make you irritable.Well, your technology feels the same way in the summer and it can dramatically impact your battery life.Excessive heat can impact batteries to the point that they become useless from just a single incident.Try to avoid leaving your tech in a hot car and whatever you do, don't allow them to be exposed to direct sunlight for an extended period either.If you find that your gadgets did get overly hot, it's best to let them return to room temperature if possible before turning them on.If you use your laptop while lying in bed, be aware of the small vents that can get blocked by placing it on a pillow or bedspread, which also insulates the heat.The key is to remember that when you're feeling overheated, so are you electronics so act accordingly.


A once-popular Internet event better known as the 'Ice Bucket Challenge' was created to help support people that were diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis better know as ALS.While that may have been the most visible thing connected with ALS, another amazing resource that was inspired by a family dealing with it is at https://patientslikeme.comThe primary goal of the website was to connect those experiencing the same medical issues since almost every ailment is common to others.Exchanging ideas and suggestions or your own experiences with others suffering from the same medical condition can be invaluable for both parties.It doesn't matter whether you have overcome your situation or not, finding others that could benefit from your treatments or tactics is meaningful.There's also a way to contribute to various research initiatives based on what you contracted as well.No need to suffer in silence when there are so many people available to share information and ideas to help you navigate virtually any serious medical issues at: https://www.patientslikeme.com

If you happen to be near someone that suddenly has a medical emergency, knowing what to do quickly could be the difference between life and death.We can't all be medical professionals, but it is helpful for as many of us as possible to know how to administer basic first aid and CPR.Knowing what to do and when is available via an app from the Red Cross can provide specific guidance for a variety of first aid situations.One of the great features of the app is that once you've installed it on your smartphone, you don't need any kind of connection to make use of it.With any luck, this is an app that you can have on your phone that you hope never to have to use, but having it when it's needed can be key.Learn all about it and download it to your smartphone at:https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps.html

Anyone looking to focus on overall fitness knows that paying attention to your caloric intake is an essential part of staying fit.If you're a nutritionist, you can probably look at all of the info on the product labels to determine what's good and what's counter-productive at the grocery store.Well, now you can bring the evaluation skills of a nutritionist with you to the grocery store with the Fooducate app.It uses the camera on your smartphone to scan the barcode on any common packaged product while your shopping to provide caloric and health info.Eating healthy goes well beyond simply counting calories as things like sugar and sodium also have a big impact.The app can also provide healthier alternatives as a suggestion when you scan an item that's just not that good for you to eat.This type of information is valuable to anyone, regardless of your current workout goals, so learn more at https://www.fooducate.com

One of the ongoing issues when it comes to rental properties is getting the rent paid in an efficient manner, especially if you're still doing everything manually.With all the integration of technology in our lives, it's now easy to move to a digital platform for both the landlord and the renters.A service called Cozy is one of the more popular options because it's easy to set up and use and it's free.If you're the landlord, getting the rent check couldn't be easier as it just notifies you when the tenant has paid.In situations where there are multiple tenants, Cozy makes it easy for each person to pay their share which eliminates the collecting from each other problem.Landlords don't pay a fee, but the funds will take a few days to get into your account - they make some of their money on the 'float'.They are hoping that landlords see the value of the rest of their platform for screening tenants and listing properties because of the free service.Hassle-free digital rent collection is waiting for everyone at https://cozy.co

The ubiquitous PDF file format is the de facto standard for official forms online or when transacting via email.Often times, you'll need to fill out and sign those forms and send them back to the source, which means printing, filling out, signing, scanning and sending or worse, licking stamps!If you interact with PDF forms on a daily basis, it makes sense to consider buying a special and often expensive program to edit forms.For those that rarely interact with PDF forms that want a more efficient way to sign and send them back, there's PDF Escape.Windows users can download their free program, but an easier option is to use their web interface to upload and edit the form.Their are lots of editing options like the text tool that lets you select an area in the form to start typing in.You can even create new forms from scratch and all of it can be saved to your computer for easy sending via email.Check it out at: https://www.pdfescape.com

The only thing separating your personal information and accounts from a hacker is your password, which is why you must use a unique password on every account.To help you manage all those unique passwords, you can't rely on your memory - you must use some form of password manager.There are lots of software options that are low-cost or even free, but some users are just too intimidated to use them.If that sounds like you, there's a simple alternative that anyone can manage and that is to simply write them down.I don't mean to use sticky notes on your screen, but some form of secure documentation on your laptop or phone.An additional security tip is to add some form of trickery, such as adding a couple of random characters that don't mean anything at the beginning or end.That will help protect them in the event someone discovers the document, which should never include 'password' on the file name when you save it.If you use the same password everywhere, any compromise of any of those sites exposes all of them, so find a password management system that works for you.

It should be obvious by now that Google can provide the answer to virtually any question anyone has, but that's just not obvious to everyone.Invariably, someone in your network ends up being the one that gets asked these questions and if that's you, have we got a suggestion for you! The next time you get those obviously Googleable questions, send them to LMGTFY!

It stands for Let Me Google That For You: http://lmgtfy.comType their question into the search box and click on the Get Link button to get started.Once you have the link, send it to the person that could use a gentle tutorial on how Google can easily provide the answers to the question that they asked much faster.The cool thing is that when they click on the link you sent them, the LMGTFY website will literally take them through the steps to ask the question on their own.This is one of the fun and educational tools that everyone can enjoy!

Knowing what your customers are saying about you online is a critical part of any business in the age of technology.User reviews are what many potential customers rely on to make a decision about where they spend their money and how your business responds will make a difference.One of the easiest ways to keep updated on what others are saying about you is to create automatic notifications using Google Alerts.In a matter of a minute or two by typing your business name into the Alerts form, you can start getting notifications whenever Google sees anything new.It's important to remember that negative comments are an excellent opportunity to show potential customers how you handle mistakes.Everyone knows that people make mistakes, so don't be afraid to publicly address negative reviews or comments online.

One of the most useful tools in business is something known as OCR or 'optical character recognition.It allows you to convert an image that has text into a document that can be edited with a word processor.Most scanners have this ability as long as you are successful in getting the software set up and understand how to use it.This also means that you can only perform this task wherever your scanner resides, which could be an issue in some cases.Once again the Internet has come to the rescue with a free OCR tool at http://OnlineOCR.net so you can get it done anywhere in the world.It can extract the text from PDF files as well as an assortment of common image files like JPGs and GIFs.You just upload the file, choose the language it's in and the output format for the editable file to be created.Free and easy is a combination that makes the Online OCR /service a winner!

We are all spending a lot more time in front of our computers, which is taking a toll in a very specific area: our posture.A variety of ailments can impact you when your posture is poor all day long, including the dreaded carpal tunnel syndrome.The worst-case scenario is having to have surgery to repair a chronic issue brought on by bad posture every day.Fortunately, we can all do simple things to avoid this pain, starting with how you sit in your chair while working.The position of your arms, specifically your wrists, plays a big role in good health.A 90-degree position of your knees so that your feet are flat on the floor is first.As for your arms, keeping them parallel to the floor provides the proper positioning for less stress on your wrists.Another option to help keep your wrists in the proper position, look into the physical aids available from IMAK: https://www.imakproducts.com

In the same early episode where I mentioned that Rkatsiteli was the viticultural equivalent of Goldberry, Co-host Gary had asked what grape would be the equivalent of Tom Bombadil. "Why, that would be Saperavi, of course," I replied. It's about time we meet this grape. Like Rkatsiteli, Saperavi originates from the cradle of viticulture, the Republic of Georgia.  This is also a varietal I've wanted to explore on this podcast for a long time, as it is a personal favorite of mine.  Years ago, before I started this podcast, two members of the wine club at the winery I once worked for, Anita and Ken Colburn, told me they were going to visit the Finger Lakes, and asked if I wanted them to bring back anything.  I said that I had heard very good things about Saperavi from that region, and if they found one, I'd happily trade something from my cellar for a chance to taste.  Lo and behold, they were kind enough to bring back with them the vintage which is the keystone of this podcast: the 2014 Standing Stone Vineyards Saperavi. It seems that currently, the Finger Lakes is the seat of Saperavi's throne in the United States, though there are plantings in other parts of New York, and Kansas. I have also heard rumors that there are vineyards with this grape growing in Virginia and Maryland, but have been unable to substantiate these rumors.   We compared the 2014 vintage from Standing Stone with the 2014 Saperavi from Merani Cellars in the Republic of Georgia sourced from Kakheti; the probable homeland of this ancient grape varietal.  Take a listen, and enjoy!

You probably take the ability to open various websites in their own tabs for granted, but if you were around for the early days, you know how the 'back' button was the way we used to switch pages.Tabbed browsing is very convenient but when you open too many tabs, it can chew up gobs of valuable working memory.The result can be very sluggish performance or even temporary freezing of your computer, so here's a suggestion: download the Great Suspender utility!It's a free add-on for the Chrome browser which will keep track of what you are and aren't using at any given moment so it can pause the tabs that you haven't clicked on for a while.Disabling the background activities saves memory and it could even extend battery life on your laptop if you typically have a lot of tabs open.The cool thing with this utility is that as soon as you click on a tab you haven't used in a while, it automatically restarts the activity.For those pages that you do want to have actively working in the background, such as a stock ticker, you can simply add them to a list in the utility so it's always left alone.Here's the link to download The Great Suspender: https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/the-great-suspender/klbibkeccnjlkjkiokjodocebajanakg

For the most part, we've come to rely on critics to a certain extend when it comes to choosing a movie or binging a tv series.This isn't to say that what a critic likes is what you'll like and vice versa as we've all disagreed with them many times.Rather than guessing whether a specific critic has the same tastes in creative work as you, wouldn't it be nice to get more reviews from a group of critics?That's exactly what you will find at a website called MetaCritic! It combines the ratings from a number of well-known critics and creates a single score based on them all called a metascore.It's much more sophisticated than a simple thumbs up or down or even your basic star rating system.This score is prominently displayed on movies, tv show and music throughout the site, so it's a really quick way to find highly reviewed content.Make good decision quicker from now on using the scores at https://www.metacritic.com

Plastic containers dominate the retail landscape and those really thick, hard to open ones can also be a hazard to your fingers!The more expensive the item being packaged, the more likely it's using a large, very hard to open plastic container to prevent theft and to make it easier to hang on some retail display.How bad has this problem become? Bad enough to deserve it's own rage wiki page railing against the use of it!It's impossible to get into the package without using scissors or a sharp knife, both of which can cause various injuries of their own.When you finally get a portion of the package opened, you can't help but try to pry the rest of the package apart with your hands, which can get easily cut or nicked as a result.This type of packaging isn't likely to go away any time soon, so here's a suggestion that can make it less of a risk... .try a can opener!Not only is it safer, but it's also so much easier to open packages because of the leverage that the can opener provides.Give it a try the next time you're facing down a big ugly plastic clam shell package!

There's a potential connection between the extended use of a computer screen at night and struggling to go to sleep afterward.It's been shown that the bright light with the blueish tint can actually cause people to have trouble going to sleep after staring at the screen.If you want to reduce the chances of this happening to you or just want to reduce the eye strain common when using a computer in a dark room, check out a free app called Flux.It's a simple utility that can automatically adjust your display at sunset to a warmer tint that's easier on the eyes. It does this based on the clock in your computer and where you live.You can adjust the level of warmth or turn it off if you need to see colors properly.At first use, you'll likely not be all that interested in continuing with this strange hue, but over time, you'll see how it can help cut down on the effects of a bright display.You can download the Flux utility for Windows or Mac computers at: 
https://justgetflux.com

Streaming music service like Spotify and Pandora are an excellent way to learn about new music groups or solo artists, but it's either put up with commercials or pay a monthly subscription.For anyone that loves to discover lesser-known bands and wants to do so for free without having to listen to commercials, there's an alternative to the majors called EarBits.Their approach is to spotlight independent artists from around the world that you aren't going to hear on the radio every 30 minutes.The apps and the website has tons of playlists or genres to choose from, so it's easy to find a bunch of new artists that fit your preferred type of music.I really love the Festival Guides they have because most of my best discoveries have been on smaller stages at big music festivals.Earbits makes it much easier to learn about all the great musicians that are working their way up the popularity ladder.Just search your app store for 'Earbits Music Discovery' or visit their web option at: https://earbits.com

If the 'middle of the week doldrums' has got you in its clutches, break out of it with this fun app!The 'Chatterpix' app will allow you to turn anything in your pictures into a talking animation.The way it works is you simply choose an image from your phone or iPad, drag your finger where you want the mouth to be, then record what you want your image to say.From there you can accentuate the image with filters, stickers and frames before you post it to social media or text it to someone.There is also a young child version called Chatterpix Kids that removes the sharing capabilities for kids from 5-12 years old.The apps are all free but only available for iOS devices.The company that makes the app, DuckDuckMoose has a number of kid-friendly apps that can also be educational, so check them all out at: http://www.duckduckmoose.com

No matter what age you are, it's likely that you have fond memories of comics and comic books.Most of us are not so immersed in the comic culture that we'll get dressed up and go to Comic-Con, but you can re-ignite the nostalgia with the Comic Studio app from Seedlings.This iPhone app makes it really simple to make yourself, your children or your friends and family the hero in their very own comic book..It can use any picture you already have on your phone to get things started by removing the background and adding costumes and props to the story.Just like in the comics, you use thought or speech bubbles along with words like POW and KABAAAM to create action effects.To complete the story, you add a cool background and the legend is born!You don't have to be a comic book fanatic to enjoy this app, as it's great for communicating lots of things in a really amusing fashion.Check it out at https://www.seedling.com/comic

There are so many electronic devices that can take a picture these days, but they aren't the same as a regular camera in so many ways, such as the flash.Despite what most people think, using your flash is not limited to low light situations.Light is one of the most important elements in picture taking and too much light in the wrong places can make people in your pictures appear to be overexposed.There are actually times when using your flash, especially if you have a stronger flash on a point and shoot camera can save the day.Smartphone flash strength is pretty low, so they tend to only have any impact if you are close to your subject, especially in daylight.The worse setup is when you have your subjects in direct sunlight, causing them to squint and be overexposed. Moving them to a shaded area can fix both problems!Using your flash indoors can also cause images to be overexposed, especially since most newer smartphones have low light sensitivity capabilities.As with most electronic devices, playing around with the settings well before you need them to work properly is the key. Spend some time experimenting with your cameras for the best results!

Your smartphone is still pretty safe from malicious apps as long as you haven't tampered with the built-in protection and stick to getting your apps from the associated app stores.The tampering is known as jailbreaking or rooting your phone because it opens the device up to load anything from anywhere.In the past, those users were the only ones that needed to be extremely careful about loading apps, but now everyone should.There are lots of scams that can appear as compelling text messages or emails that include a link to get the app the message is talking about.Those that fall for these clever messages, that may even be from people you trust, clicking the link can lead to trouble.That someone you trust could easily have been compromised so the bad guys can trick their friends and family.Just remember to only install apps that you specifically went looking for and not from links on websites, emails or texts.For some additional protection, you can download the free personal version of Lookout to watch over you as well:  https://www.lookout.com/products/personal

For those of us that spend a lot of time in nature away from any type of signal, the traditional mapping options aren't nearly as useful.In most cases, it's not that important, but when it is, there's an option for iPhone users that is much more useful called Anchor Pointer.It's an app that takes full advantage of the GPS in your iPhone to provide much more detailed navigation options.One of the coolest features is the ability to create 'anchors' which are the same as waypoints in a traditional expensive GPS device.It's great for marking points of interest for future hikes or to make sure you know how to get back to your starting point.It's a really great way to make sure you know how far you are from the nearest anchor, which can take all the stress out of being in an unfamiliar and unmarked area.If your friends also have the app on their iPhones, you can make it easy to meet up at a specific point.Learn all about the capabilities of this $4 app at:https://apple.co/2VKlB14

There is a critical task that every computer user knows about, regardless of how tech-savvy they are, but they still don't get around to it and that is creating a consistent backup process.

More than ever, having your data backed up is incredibly important because of all the threats to hold your computer hostage through the use of ransomware.

If you are unfortunate enough to become a victim of this sneaky attack, you'll be locked out of your own files until you pay a ransom that can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars.This is such a lucrative type of cybercrime that the thieves continue to evolve their tactics to thwart traditional forms of protection, such as anti-virus programs and firewalls.The encryption used by the thieves would take today's most powerful computers decades to crack, so your best form of protection is a protected off-site backup.
We install Carbonite for all of our clients and do so, because it's automatic, can't be touched by ransomware on your computer and bugs you if it's not able to perform its daily tasks.Home:http://partners.carbonite.com/datadoctors?product=Home Office:http://partners.carbonite.com/datadoctors?product=Office

We carry something with us every day that is constantly trying to make us sick... our smartphones!The data suggests that there's exponentially more bacteria living on your phone's surfaces than that of the door handle at a public restroom.Warm devices that get stored in dark places, like a purse or back pocket serve to enhance the chances of viral growth.Wiping your device regularly is a big help, but you need to be careful with what chemicals you use as they may cloud screen protectors or damage some touch screens.For another option that has proven to be effective, check out the devices available from a company called Phone Soap.Instead of using chemicals to disinfect the surfaces, they use power UV light while your smartphone is charging at night.How effective is this approach? Check out the lap results from this Discovery Channel video: https://bit.ly/3ekv9bQReady to soap up your smartphone? Learn more at: https://www.phonesoap.com

If you're the most tech-savvy person in your family or circle of friends, you'll likely be the one that most of them come to for virtually any type of tech question.It's not always so obvious to those that feel intimidated by technology that most often, the question that they are asking you could have been answered in seconds by doing a simple Google search.The problem is that they simply don't know what they should type to get the results that would provide the information they seek.Thankfully, there's a simple website that can both provide them with the information that they are looking and provide them with a subtle message on what they can do for themselves in the future.It's located at  https://LetMeGoogleThatForYou.com or https://lmgtfy.com for short and it's simply fantastic and fun.You start by typing the search condition you'd like them to understand and the site will create an animation that shows them how they could have done it themselves.It's the old saying of 'teach a man to fish... .'

There are generally pros and cons with virtually any type of technology, but once in a while something really amazing is created.Today's tip is one of those incredible creations called 'Be My Eyes' because of what it does to help other people.An app developer in Europe created this app to help those that are either blind or have low vision navigate the physical world with the help of the app and volunteers on the other end.When someone needs the help of a sighted person, they simply use the app to find a volunteer that can use the camera on their phone to help them see things, like expiration dates or street signs.If you'd like to do something that makes you feel good, download this app and get set up as a volunteer.The system has a rating system for volunteers so the best ones get the most opportunities too.This simple but incredibly helpful task is such a great gift to your fellow man, so if you're ready to help, go to: https://bemyeyes.org

It's no secret that kids aren't afraid of technology and take to it at a very early age, which could lead to much bigger things if they are given structured ways to learn.Teaching any child programming skills will have a dramatic impact on their future potential and you can get them started before they can even type!There is a free iPad app made specifically for children ages 9-15 that will get them started by creating games and animations.Typing skills aren't needed because Hopscotch is a visual programming language that they'll take to right away.The drag and drop interface allows your child to build programs with blocks of pre-written programming code.Developing a tech-savvy child in today's digital economy will result in so many more options as they enter the workforce.This may be aimed at children but any adult that wants to learn the basics can use it too.The best part is that mom and dad don't need to be computer geeks to raise a computer geek any more!Download this free app at: https://www.gethopscotch.com

It's nearly impossible to be in business today without spending time on social media as it's become just as important as answering the phone or responding to emails.The challenge for so many time-strapped businesses is that they just don't have the basic processes down but there is a way to learn how; taking a course!I'm not suggesting that you sign for some class that requires you to drive somewhere, I'm suggesting a free course that's designed to help in with just a few minutes each day.A social media management tool called Buffer has created a simple to follow course for learning more because each lesson gets emailed to you every day.This isn't designed to make you some kind of social guru, but it will take you to new levels of understanding that could benefit your business.It's just not something you can bury your head in the sand over, so if you know anyone that could use some help, send them here: https://buffer.com/email-courses/social-media-101

I've got an out of this world tip for anyone with a creative mind and an iPhone.Why put up with the limitations of this planet, when you can expand your horizons with the Alien Sky app.instead of being limited to filters and color correction, this app will make everyone that sees your images do a double-take.You can add effects like realistic-looking planets and m moon and combine them with lens flares to any picture on your iPhone.Imagine your friends seeing two moons or a comet streaking over your shoulder when you post to Instagram or Facebook.This app has an incredible collection of effects that will change the sky in any of your images with these amazing options.There's no shortage of creative options in this unique app, which you can learn more about at: http://www.brainfevermedia.com/alienSky.html

One of life's chores that will never go away is doing laundry, which is why it's something that every child should have a firm understanding of.Since the most likely excuse for doing their own laundry is that they don't know what to do, parents now have the perfect response: there's an app for that!This easy to use app provided the instructions they need not just for washing and drying clothes, but also folding and ironing as well.It also explains the symbols on clothing tags so they can't use that excuse either.Your kids will get step-by-step instructions for every aspect of laundry and it includes a timer so they'll know when it's time for the next step.This could save parents lots of money with a first-year college student that has to figure out what to do.So many people of all ages could use this type of help, so spread the word about the Complete Laundry Care iPhone app!
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/complete-laundry-care/id833637165Android apps:
Laundry Instructionshttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.isageek.dondochaka&feature=search_resultLaundry Pro - Care Symbols
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.kloobi.laundry

Google offers a wide assortment of incredibly powerful tools and most of them are free for either personal or business use.One of my favorites that seems to be lesser known by a lot of people is their Trends tool.Imagine being able to leverage Google's incredible database of what people search for every day; that's what this tool offers!Knowing what people are searching for as well as the related terms that are used are incredibly useful for everything from Search Engine Optimization to every facet of digital marketing.The tool allows you to narrow the data by country, state, or even a specific language for the results.You can see how certain search terms have trended over time going all the way back to 2004.This is really useful when looking at the seasonality of certain types of searches, which is essential for building a solid marketing strategy.If you've never used this tool, it really is something you should explore for a variety of reasons, especially those that are in business: https://trends.google.com

The tricky thing about aging is that the brain slows down a bit, which I can clearly attest to!I'm often times searching for the right words for something that I am thinking, which never happened in my youth.For this all too common situation, I turned to the Internet for help and found it via the Reverse Dictionary tool located at Onelook.comYou can type a general idea of what you are trying to say with a couple of words or even a sentence to get started.An example would be using "the constant desire to travel", which returned the word wanderlust amongst many others.It's also great for generating a lot of words related to a specific category, like large birds.This is one of those resources that is awesome when you are driving yourself crazy trying to remember a word, so it's a solid bookmark candidate.https://www.onelook.com/thesaurus

Technology expert Ken Colburn of Data Doctors

Ken Colburn, the original Data Doctor is interviewed by David Cogan founder of Eliances and host of the Eliances Heroes show broadcast on am and fm network channels, internet radio, and online syndication. www.datadoctors.com www.eliances.com  

Ken Colburn, the original Data Doctor is interviewed by David Cogan founder of Eliances and host of the Eliances Heroes show broadcast on am and fm network channels, internet radio, and online syndication. www.datadoctors.com www.eliances.com  

On Wednesday March 19th, Jack Monson will be joined by Ken Colburn, CEO Data Doctors and FranTech Task Force Chair. Along with Ken, Jack invited Alisa Harrison, Sr VP Communications and Marketing at International Franchise Association to join the show. Ken and Alisa will announce the amazing lineup of FranTech speakers. To register, visit: http://frantech.franchise.org Join the conversation on Facebook Follow #FranTech on Twitter      

Sadly the Boston Marathon ended in a tragic bombing at the finish line. This attack on American soil proved once again the resilience of the American spirit. It also further cemented the use of technology when it comes to breaking news. Within seconds, word of the attack spread across Twitter and Facebook. Now social media is being used to help solve the crime.It's the end of an era and the start of a new one. This show started in 1991 with the Michelangelo Virus, today 23 years later, we'll tell you what's next for the Data Doctors, in this our final 2 hour radio program.Before you send your PC in for repair, you need to back it up. What's the right way to backup all your data to make sure you can use it when you get it back?

Wednesday, Congress held a secret vote on CISPA, the modern government surveillance system that every website, including Google, Facebook, and Twitter could participate in, if it becomes law. The threat of CISPA moving forward in the House is very real. The bill passed out of Committee Wednesday and will be rushing to a floor vote next week. Learn more about CISPA and how you can help stop it.Aside from CISPA, what do you think are the biggest threats to your online privacy? We've got the top 5.If you lost your phone, it's too late. If you still have it, now is the time to use tracking software for when you do lose it.

Everyone has one attached to their ear these days, in front of their noses in the elevator or in their hands in the bathroom. The cellphone turned 40 this week. We'll look back to the brick and see how this device has forever changed our lives.Amazon rips it for vinyl lovers. Even if you prefer the warm, fuzzy sound of vinyl records, Amazon wants to give you some MP3s for the road.Blackberry wants to convert you iPhone and Android users. They are letting you get a glimpse of the new BB10 on your current device. Can the Blackberry 10 save Blackberry?

T-Mobile kicks contracts to the curb and announces the iPhone 5 in the same breath. Is it worth it to go without a contract, or should you stick with the subsidized plan? We'll break it down for you.Windows 8 has been around for a little while now, yet many still have avoided making the switch. We'll tell you what we think about this new Widows operating system and why you shouldn't fear it.Summer is just around the corner and when you take time off you like to read. What's the best device to read a book on the beach? We have the answer.

Less than a year from their last big product launch, Samsung announced the new Galaxy S4 smart phone. We'll talk about some of the cool new features of this next generation Android powered phone and the benefits to those of you who were waiting to buy one.Can you sing happy birthday in 140 characters or less? Twitter turned seven years old this week, we'll look back at the power of this microblogging platform and how it has changed the world.Attention Walmart shoppers... Walmart wants to change the way you shop, using your technology. We'll tell you about this smart new use of your smart phone.

What you like on Facebook says a lot about you as a person. The posts you like publicly, give away so much about you that people can accurately determine your gender, political affiliation, if you're a smoker and more. We'll tell you how to protect your info.Is it time to put Java back on your computer? We'll talk about the what it does, the safety of it, and why you shouldn't just jump back to Java.When SMART status warns you that your hard drive is failing, there are a few things you need to do. We'll walk you through a few things that can save you data and speed up your computer.

Facebook rolls out a news feed change to make your user experience more like that of a custom newspaper. We'll tell you why you'll love this new look.In App purchases. Those hidden virtual goodies in free apps that you can buy. We've talked about them before, but when a kid makes inadvertent purchases of $2,500 with an ipad, it's time to talk about them again. We'll tell you Android and iOS users how to prevent this from happening to you.Google plans on going head to head with Amazon Prime. Can the search giant become a retail giant?

The entertainment industry has finally put some teeth into copyright violations. Introducing the pirate police CAS or Copyright Alert System. How will this 6 strike warning system impact you?Bye, bye mouse, a new tech is leaping on to the scene and it's a better way to control your PC. Leap Motion turns your computer control into a gesture based swipe, not on the screen, in midair.Can your company read your texts sent at work? That question gained lots of traction on Facebook this week, we'll tell you what they can and can't do.

Hotmail just got a new Outlook! Microsoft is retiring the old Hotmail email service, and replacing it with the newer, more streamlined, and far better Outlook.com service.With the success of Apple retail stores, is it possible that the search giant Google will follow in Apple's footsteps? With sales of over $10 billion a year, we're betting yes.With Facebook Graph Search rolling out, now is the time to go through your privacy settings and lock down things you've forgotten to lock down. But what about your kids accounts? How can you protect their privacy?

Some lawmakers have reintroduced the Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA), a bill that would allow private companies to share a wide range of cyber threat information with U.S. government agencies. We'll tell you why is CISPA a bad law if it passes.The first ever real life zombie attack unfolded on live TV. How could this attack have been avoided?Intel is joining the world of cord cutters and will soon give you a way to watch TV on their TV.

It's that time of year when parents are preparing to send their students back to school! What technology should they carry in their pocket? What type of digital cameras, computers, smartphones should be on the shopping list for school, home or business use? To make sense of it all, Ken Colburn, CEO and founder of Data Doctors franchise and radio host will join us as we discuss what every student and business owner should have as part of their tech survival guide!

This week BJ and Deb will discuss on social technology plays a role in franchising today. They welcome friend and very special guest the Tech Media Ninja, Ken Colburn. Ken is founder and president of Data Doctors Franchise System based in Arizonia. You can hear Ken every Saturday as Talk Show Host of The Computer Corner on KTAR 92.3 News Radio in AZ. Ken is an active member of IFA (International Franchise Association) Technology Committee and presenter at the annual convention. Ken is a frequent guest on Good Morning AZ and CNN presenting the latest tech toys and discussing the social technology networks.

This week we welcome back one of our favorite guests.   Ken Colburn from Data Doctors joins us to talk about this year’s Consumer Electronics Show.   Ken was at the show in Las Vegas, covering it not only for his own newsletter but also for CNN!   He gives us the rundown on a […] The post Startup BizCast #78 – Small Biz Tech from CES 2009 (Ken Colburn) first appeared on EndGame Public Relations.

This week we welcome back one of our favorite guests.   Ken Colburn from Data Doctors joins us to talk about this year’s Consumer Electronics Show.   Ken was at the show in Las Vegas, covering it not only for his own newsletter but also for CNN!   He gives us the rundown on a […]

Free is good … free is great!   With times as rough as they are for small businesses, we need to save money wherever and whenever possible.   This week on Startup BizCast Ken Colburn from Data Doctors and I run down some of the best FREE resources on the `net for your small business! […] The post Startup BizCast #75 – Internet Freebies for your Small Business (Ken Colburn) first appeared on EndGame Public Relations.

Free is good … free is great!   With times as rough as they are for small businesses, we need to save money wherever and whenever possible.   This week on Startup BizCast Ken Colburn from Data Doctors and I run down some of the best FREE resources on the `net for your small business! […]

Are the worst enemies to your small office computer network banging on the gates, or walking around inside the castle?   Truly, there are plenty of people out there trying to harm your business, either by writing viruses or actively trying to gain access to your data.   You need to protect yourself from those […] The post Startup BizCast #65 – Small Business Computer Security (Ken Colburn) first appeared on EndGame Public Relations.

Are the worst enemies to your small office computer network banging on the gates, or walking around inside the castle?   Truly, there are plenty of people out there trying to harm your business, either by writing viruses or actively trying to gain access to your data.   You need to protect yourself from those […]