Apparently a goodly number of people aren’t quite sure how you use a Web browser to navigate to a Web site without first going through a search engine.
Hitwise has released its annual list of the top 10 searched on terms for the year, and somehow people still seem to think they need to go through a search engine to even get to Web sites they already know the address for.
As you can see in the graph below from Hitwise comparing 2008 to 2009, many things haven’t changed much in the past year beyond the top social network changing from MySpace in 2008 to Facebook in 2009. Seeing as Facebook was #10 in 2008, that’s fairly impressive.
What I find interesting is when people search for a domain name with its extension, i.e. MySpace.com. All one needs to do is go to the address bar of their browser and enter the Web address to get there, but for some reason a considerable number of users out there insist on going to a search engine first. Why, I doubt anyone knows, but we’re here to tell you that you can save a step if you want.
Apparently some people still have not learned how to create a good password.
Popular micro-blogging service Twitter has now come out with a list of 370 passwords you are now allowed to use when creating your account. Apparently more people need to learn how to pick a password. TechCrunch discovered how to see all of the banned, but ValleyWag listed all 370, and … well … they’re an interesting mix of stupidity and oddballs.
In this day and age you have got to pick tougher passwords. Remember to mix numbers, letters and symbols. For instance, say I wanted to use “StarterTech” as a password (which I would never do), I could write it out as “$t^rt3rt3ch”. It still spells out the word, but I have mixed all the symbols and numbers in so it wouldn’t be easy to hack in a brute force password hacking attempt. Don’t just use “password123″ for crying out loud.
Have you followed Drew Carey on Twitter yet like we suggested to you back in October? If not, why haven’t you?
Back in October of this year we wrote up how Drew Carey was working to drum up charity donations for the Livestrong Foundation to further cancer research. At that time he was aiming to raise $100,000 by getting 100,000 followers. Well, he reached that goal, so he upped it to $1,000,000 for 1,000,000 followers and … well … here is some of what I wrote on my personal blog:
This was all inspired by Drew Olanoff, a well-known individual in the social media scene, auction off his Twitter username, @drew, to raise money for cancer research. Mr. Olanoff recently had a fight with cancer himself, which it thankfully appears he has won, and he felt auctioning off a desirable four-letter Twitter username was a way to go. His minimum bid was $10,000, but Drew Carey was the first to bid, and he went right for $25,000. See, Mr. Carey got stuck with the username@DrewFromTV, so of course he wants @drew. Well, the problem was that it appeared he scared off other potential bidders, so he said if he had 100,000 followers by Nov. 9th, the end of the auction, he would pay $100,000 for the name. When he easily beat that goal, he extended it to Dec. 31st and $1,000,000 for one million followers.
As I write this, Mr. Carey is at 307,212 followers with a week to go.
… what is wrong with you people?
That was a few days ago, and with less than 48 hours to go, he is up to just over 320,000.
Please folks, please go and follow Mr. Carey. He doesn’t care if you unfollow him on Jan. 1st, all he is doing is trying to raise awareness of cancer research and to peg his donation to something. As I also said on my personal blog:
I normally don’t believe in guilting people in to doing things, but come on folks: You click a button, and someone else gives a $1 to charity. All you have to do is click a button. That’s it. Nothing else is required of you. If you’re a Twitter user, please do it.
It is so simple, and as I said, you just click a button, and someone else donates the dollar. Just follow the man!
And if you think this deviates from the normal tone of StarterTech, it does somewhat, but it is also about the power of social media to affect change in the world and … oh, forget it, just go follow the man … please. Again, it is @DrewFromTV, just click the “Follow” button and you’re done!
There is no doubt that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s failed terror attack has changed thing for travelers yet again, but it took a leaked document to let passengers know exactly what the new rules are.
Yesterday we told you that the Transportation Security Authority’s (TSA) new rules in the wake of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s failed bombing on Christmas Day. Confusion has been the order of the day since these new rules came to be enacted, but now, thanks to a leaked document to Gizmodo, we have a bit of a clearer picture as to what is going on exactly.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Transportation Security Administration
Aviation Security Directive
Subject: Security Directive
Number: SD 1544-09-06 Date: December 25, 2009 EXPIRATION: 0200Z on December 30, 2009
This Security Directive (SD) must be implemented immediately. The measures contained in this SD are in addition to all other SDs currently in effect for your operations.
INFORMATION: On December 25, 2009, a terrorist attack was attempted against a flight traveling to the United States. TSA has identified security measures to be implemented by airports, aircraft operators, and foreign air carriers to mitigate potential threats to flights.
APPLICABILITY: THIS SD APPLIES TO AIRCRAFT OPERATORS THAT CARRY OUT A SECURITY PROGRAM REGULATED UNDER 49 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR)1544.101(a).
ACTIONS REQUIRED: If you conduct scheduled and/or public charter flight operations under a Full Program under 49 CFR 1544.101(a) departing from any foreign location to the United States (including its territories and possessions), you must immediately implement all measures in this SD for each such flight.
1. BOARDING GATE
1. The aircraft operator or authorized air carrier representative must ensure all passengers are screened at the boarding gate during the boarding process using the following procedures. These procedures are in addition to the screening of all passengers at the screening checkpoint.
1. Perform thorough pat-down of all passengers at boarding gate prior to boarding,concentrating on upper legs and torso.
2. Physically inspect 100 percent of all passenger accessible property at the boarding gate prior to boarding, with focus on syringes being transported along with powders and/or liquids.
3. Ensure the liquids, aerosols, and gels restrictions are strictly adhered to in accordance with SD 1544-06-02E.
2. During the boarding process, the air carrier may exempt passengers who are Heads of State or Heads of Government from the measures outlined in Section I.A. of this SD, including the following who are traveling with the Head of State or Head of Government:
1. Spouse and children, or
2. One other individual (chosen by the Head of State or Head of Government)
3. For the purposes of Section I.B., the following definitions apply:
1. Head of State: An individual serving as the chief public representative of a monarchic or republican nation-state, federation, commonwealth, or any other political state (for example, King, Queen, and President).
2. Head of Government: The chief officer of the executive branch of a government presiding over a cabinet (for example, Prime Minister, Premier, President, and Monarch).
2. IN FLIGHT
1. During flight, the aircraft operator must ensure that the following procedures are followed: 1. Passengers must remain in seats beginning 1 hour prior to arrival at destination. 2. Passenger access to carry-on baggage is prohibited beginning 1 hour prior to arrival at destination. 3. Disable aircraft-integrated passenger communications systems and services (phone, internet access services, live television programming, global positioning systems) prior to boarding and during all phases of flight. 4. While over U.S. airspace, flight crew may not make any announcement to passengers concerning flight path or position over cities or landmarks.
5. Passengers may not have any blankets, pillows, or personal belongings on the lap beginning 1 hour prior to arrival at destination.
AIRCRAFT OPERATOR ACKNOWLEDGMENT: The aircraft operator must immediately provide written confirmation to its assigned PSI indicating receipt of this SD.
AIRCRAFT OPERATOR dissemination required: The aircraft operator must immediately pass the information and directives set forth in this SD to all stations affected, and provide written confirmation to its PSI, indicating that all stations affected have acknowledged receipt of the information and directives set forth in this SD. The aircraft operator must disseminate this information to its senior management personnel, ground security coordinators, and supervisory security personnel at all affected locations. All aircraft operator personnel implementing this SD must be briefed by the aircraft operator on its content and the restrictions governing dissemination. No other dissemination may be made without prior approval of the Assistant Secretary for the Transportation Security Administration. Unauthorized dissemination of this document or information contained herein is prohibited by 49 CFR Part 1520 (see 69 Fed. Reg. 28066 (May 18, 2004).
APPROVAL OF ALTERNATIVE MEASURES: With respect to the provisions of this SD, as stated in 49 CFR 1544.305(d), the aircraft operator may submit in writing to its PSI proposed alternative measures and the basis for submitting the alternative measures for approval by the Assistant Administrator for Transportation Sector Network Management. The aircraft operator must immediately notify its PSI whenever any procedure in this SD cannot be carried out by a government authority charged with performing security procedures.
FOR TSA ACTION ONLY: The TSA must issue this SD immediately to the corporate security element of all affected U.S. aircraft operators.
FOR STATE DEPARTMENT: Retransmittal to appropriate foreign posts is authorized. Post must refer to STATE 162917, 201826Z Sep 01, Subject: FAA Security Directives and Information Circulars: Definitions and Handling, for specific guidance and dissemination.
Gale Rossides
Acting Administrator
For now it appears the rules are set to expire on Dec. 30th, but don’t be surprised if these get extended in at least some sort of modified version beyond that date.
As we said yesterday, travel as light as possible for now, folks.
While the rules for travel inside the United States seem unchanged at this time, the amount of security checking at the security checkpoints is definitely up. The amount of electronics you have with you is going to definitely increase that time even more, and putting gadgets in your checked luggage is never desirable.
Those of you going on international trips will be fine leaving the United States, but your return trip will be a different matter all together. While the Transportation Security Authority (TSA) has yet to make a formal announcement, some international airlines have posted comments on their sites. This one come from Air Canada:
New rules imposed by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration also limit on-board activities by customers and crew in U.S. airspace that may adversely impact on-board service. Among other things, during the final hour of flight customers must remain seated, will not be allowed to access carry-on baggage, or have personal belongings or other items on their laps.
There is also a statement from British Airways you can read, but it says essentially the same thing.
If you are traveling outside of the U.S. any time in the near future, you need plan ahead for your return trip, or if you are a resident of another country coming to the United States, plan for your arrival.
Hopefully these rules will get more formalized soon, and perhaps they won’t sound quite so scary, but for now you need to reduce how much you are carrying with you period.
Evidence is mounting that not only is the Apple Tablet real, but that it will be named the iSlate.
Christmas has been a busy time for those in the Apple rumor game. First, MacRumors did some digging and discovered that Apple owns a site domain name called “iSlate.com”. (which currently does not point to a page) This was followed up by TechCrunch doing some massive trademark digging, and finding overwhelming evidence that Apple does indeed own the iSlate trademark, albeit through a shell company. This was followed up by even more digging by MacRumors and … yeah … Apple is totally behind the iSlate name.
You add up the domain name, the trademarks and the booking of the YBCA, and it looks like the iSlate (still not liking this name), and it looks like we will find out around Jan. 26th (it’s a Tuesday … Apple loves Tuesday announcements) if this thing is real. Our money is on “yes”, and also on the tablet costing far more than we can afford.
A lot of companies now let you do the warranty information online, but you still need information that sometimes appears only on the box. Model numbers, serial numbers, part numbers, etc are quite often printed on a label that is only found on the outside of the box. Did you remember to keep it all?
Companies are actually hoping you will forget to fill this stuff out so that when you need service you won’t be able to claim it. Also, if sending in by postcard, they can conveniently say they never got it, as happened to me once. Always make sure the warranty information gets registered before you need it unless you want to go through a ton of hassles.
While warranties can be a pain, they are well worth registering, and we highly recommend it. Just make sure you do it as soon as possible and don’t hold off as some companies have a time limit on how long after you receive the item for registering. Get on it tonight if at all possible … you know, while not enjoying your new gadgets.
Got that new gadget you wanted for Christmas? GREAT! … don’t throw out the packaging too quickly!
I remember when I was younger my family always wanted the living room cleaned out of the wrapping paper, boxes and so on as soon as were done opening gifts. Inevitably there was always a toy piece or some little part of an item tossed out that we would then have to go dig through the trash for. Good times …
So as you are opening up all your iPods, smart phones, video game systems and so on, just make sure you keep all the packaging for at least a few days. Sure you can throw out the wrapping paper, just make sure to shake it out before you put it int he trash bag so you can be certain no little pieces got caught up in it.
This is also a good plan as you never know when a gadget may fail and you want to return it. I always keep all of the packaging for my gadgets for at least a few months with all of the corresponding backup discs, cables I don’t necessarily need to use and so on. I store them all in the garage and after about six months or so I toss them out. I then take all of the extra items stored in them, put it in a zip lock baggie, label the bag as to which item it came from and keep them in a filing drawer. Overly anal retentive? Probably, but having lost cables before that I thought, “Oh, I’ll never need this one …”, you know exactly what I ended up needing down the road.
Most of all have fun with your gifts, but try to control your excitement long enough that you don’t end up losing that all important sync cable!
For all of the talking all of the tech bloggers have done about the Nexus One phone from Google, we were severely lacking in technical details. At long last, we have them.
Thanks to Engadget, the technical specifications for the Nexus One phone from Google have finally surfaced.
Android 2.1
11.5mm thick
512MB RAM, 512MB ROM, 4GB microSD in-box expandable to 32GB
5 megapixel camera with mechanical AF and LED flash
HSPA 900 / 1700 / 2100, 7.2Mbps down and 2Mbps up (this means it will work with T-Mobile’s 3G network, but not AT&T’s)
1GHz Qualcomm chip
Wi-Fi A/B//G/N
Bluetooth 2.1
GPS
Cell tower & Wi-Fi positioning
Accelerometer
3.7-inch diagonal widescreen
Simply put, this sounds like it is going to be a great phone, but we still haven’t heard anything about pricing, release date, how it will be sold, will it be offered with a subsidy … in short, we are still missing a huge portion of the puzzle pieces. It is believed a formal announcement will be made at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas during the first week of January, but even that is just speculation at this time.
Mr. Stout and the underage girl met on X-box Live in April 2008, and in Jan. 2009 he drove non-stop for 30-hours to California to meet the girl. Upon meeting they engaged in a sexual encounter. There is no indication of how the relationship was discovered, but Mr. Stout plead guilty to an “illicit relationship” and will now spend ten years in prison.
We have said many times here on StarterTech that you need to keep computers where they can be monitored for usage by your children, but that goes for any device that allows them to communicate with the world. We’re all for them being online, but would you let them hang out with adult strangers in person? Then why should you let them do it online?
Apparently a goodly number of people aren’t quite sure how you use a Web browser to navigate to a Web site without first going through a search engine.
Apparently some people still have not learned how to create a good password.
Have you followed Drew Carey on Twitter yet like we suggested to you back in October? If not, why haven’t you?
There is no doubt that Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s failed terror attack has changed thing for travelers yet again, but it took a leaked document to let passengers know exactly what the new rules are.
Evidence is mounting that not only is the Apple Tablet real, but that it will be named the iSlate.
Did you remember to fill out the warranty for your new gadget?
For all of the talking all of the tech bloggers have done about the Nexus One phone from Google, we were severely lacking in technical details. At long last, we have them.
It isn’t just computers any more that is leading to children being molested by strangers they meet online.
