May is here! Time for interesting techology! - Lökwest
Thanks for tuning in for another edition of the technology news you need to know! This month we've got iPhone tips, details on a Gmail update, security notices, Netflix updates, and more.
If you want to put your thinking cap on, read about paint that turns your wall into a touchpad. Or, check out a fascinating piece on how your brain works and how it's different than a computer.
Plus, you can download our Guide to Facebook Privacy, which we presented at our Exploring Technology talk last month.
We're always looking to keep you entertained and informed.
Without further delay, let's get this party started!
See our latest presentation
Your Guide to Facebook Privacy
Take a look at last month's Exploring Technology presentation. You may have missed the presentation in person, but you can still download the PDF and get all of the great tips and links!
Grab some news and tips you can use
Gmail’s biggest redesign is now live — ow.ly
Snoozing, nudging, hover actions, and a new sidebar — The first redesign from Google in many years ads a lot of new features. Read the summary here.
Fake ad blockers in the Chrome store had over 20 million installs — ow.ly
Be careful if you install Adblockers or other web browser extensions. Some of them ARE FAKE! Google has removed five fake ad blockers that have been downloaded over 20 million times from the Chrome Web Store after AdGuard revealed their existence.
Every single setting in iOS Control Center and how each one works — ow.ly
It’s your all-in-one iPhone settings screen, accessible with a swipe up from the bottom of the display (or a swipe down from the top-right corner on an iPhone X or a double-tap of the Home button on an iPad). But do you know what all the Control Center options and switches actually do?
Get ready for May streaming
Here's everything coming to and Leaving Netflix in May — www.thewrap.com
Get ready for streaming TV in May! Among other hits, you'll be able to get up and dance to the Oscar-winning song "Remember Me" in your own living room when Disney's "Coco" drops on Netflix on May 29.
Stay safe and private
What's NOT included in Facebook's 'Download Your Data' — ow.ly
Facebook says users own their data and touts its "download your data" tool. But the download doesn't include everything Facebook knows about you. You'll be surprised what it does.
BREAKING NEWS: At the Facebook F8 developers conference, Facebook just announced the ability to delete your ENTIRE Facebook history. Stay tuned for more developments.
Facebook launches bulk app removal tool to clean up your privacy settings — ow.ly
Facebook has made it easier for you to see what apps have access to your data. Take a look at your list and disconnect any application you're not using. Keep your data safe amid the Cambridge Analytica scandal!
Delete your Google search history in 4 easy steps — ow.ly
You can download a file of your entire search history and delete it here. This should be a regular maintenance task if you're concerned about Google tracking and privacy!
Ponder some far out technology
Conductive paint can transform regular walls into giant touchpads — ow.ly Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and Disney Research have found a way to use conductive paint and some low-cost electronics, they’ve found a way to transform regular, boring internal walls into smart infrastructure that are able to detect human touch. Here's why that's exciting.
Why Is the human brain So efficient? — ow.ly
The brain is complex; in humans it consists of about 100 billion neurons, making on the order of 100 trillion connections. It is also nothing like a computer, and this article explains why.
Look back in tech history
May 28, 1987: GIF Standard Released
Compuserve releases the Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) standard. Using 256 colors, it could greatly reduce pictures for the web. Photos in the GIF format would look pixelated and posturized, though (as opposed to a larger JPEG).
So how do you say it? According to the creator Steve Wilhite, it's pronounced "JIF" like the peanut butter. But linguists have disagreed for years, saying it should be "GIF" like "gift". The Oxford Dictionary accepts both! :)
Here's what the Official text of the GIF standard says:
“‘GIF’ ™ is CompuServe’s standard for defining generalized color raster images. This ‘Graphics Interchange Format’ ™ allows high-quality, high-resolution graphics to be displayed on a variety of graphics hardware and is intended as an exchange and display mechanism for graphics images. The image format described in this document is designed to support current and future image technology and will, in addition, serve as a basis for future CompuServe graphics products.”
GIF files are used to this day, mostly for animation purposes, which was really an afterthought to the standard. By "for animation purposes", we really mean annoying all of your friends and family on social media with dancing cats! The rise of GIF sharing sites like Giphy has created a resurgence in the format's popularity in recent years.
Join me for Exploring Technology - May 22nd
Join me on Tuesday, May 22nd, 1:30 PM at the conference room at F&M Bank in San Clemente. I’ll be giving a tech talk, in combination with the San Clemente Village.
This month, we’re continuing our series on Technology Scams. Are you aware of the common e-mail, phone, and web scams circulating today? Would you know a scam if you saw it? Do you know how to protect yourself from common scams?
Join us for an hour to find out. If you’re not a San Clemente Village member, please join as my guest!