The Digital Life from Lökwest - March 2019
March is here, and you know what that means? It's supposed to be getting warmer, and the clocks go forward! Most of the country is still freezing cold, but we'll warm things up with a some technology you can use.
This month - Don't miss our updated 2019 presentation on avoiding scams. There was a sweet update to Excel put out that we're sharing, along with articles about smart homes and mesh networking.
In future tech, see if you can pick out the real face from the fake face (it's creepy). Pick up your next date using your fridge (not a joke). Check out the latest in voice technology and why Grandma needs an Echo!
Lastly, if you like digital photos, check out the 1995 digital camera model we're featuring below!
Keep your March Madness to a minimum, and don't forget - the clocks go forward on Saturday night!
The Tech Talk - Don't Get Scammed!
Don’t Get Scammed in 2019! — ow.ly
[NEW FREE GUIDE] From the people you trust - Lökwest! Three ways you'll get hacked! How to stay safe when browsing the web and e-mail. Useful links you need to know. Get your complete guild to staying safe in 2019 now!
The stuff you need to know...
Microsoft Excel will now let you snap a picture of a spreadsheet and import it — ow.ly
[WOW] You've had this happen - someone hands you a piece of paper with a spreadsheet on it and you have to work with it. Say goodbye to retyping it all and hello to AI. On mobile Excel, snap and go!
What is a Smarthome? — ow.ly Any home can be a smarthome, whether it’s a studio apartment or a mansion. It’s the powerful connections that make it smart. Here’s what you need to know about smarthomes—and how to start putting your own together, if you’re interested.
What is a mesh network and how can it improve your home Wi-Fi? — ow.ly
Down with the mesh? We've covered it in our tech talks, and helped several clients solve WiFi issues with mesh networks. Get a quick education on improving your WiFi here! Mesh sounds more complicated, but it's REALLY NOT!
A look forward, a look back...
The future unfolds: All the folding smartphones you need to know about — ow.ly
Folding phones may be the next thing. Acting as tablet replacements or the new "flip" phone, you'll see a number of devices on the market this year if predictions are correct. We've already seen the Samsung Fold ($1500) and Huawai Mate X ($2000). Others will follow.
Engadget at 15: A look at how much tech has changed — ow.ly
A world with no smartphones, no Facebook, no streaming music. What olden times would we be talking about? This amazed me, startled me, made me feel old! 😮 Take yourself back to the ripe old year of.....2004. Now see what you didn't have. Technology has evolved at an exponential pace!
This Person Does Not Exist Is the Best One-Off Website of 2019 — ow.ly
Prepare to be amazed or creeped out, depending on your view. This is just how good AI has become. Using a generative adversarial network, this website shows people that you swear are real......only they aren't. Watch out for the terms "GAN" and "deepfakes" as they gain ground this year!
Grandma needs an Echo, and hospitals do too!
4 reasons to get an Amazon Echo for your grandparents — ow.ly
More and more seniors are getting on board with Alexa, once they realize how much she can help! From reminders to brain games to music and news to just plain old "companionship", there are a ton of things the Echo can do.
An LA hospital will put Alexa in over 100 patients' rooms — ow.ly
You're in the hospital - it's hard to move. You'd like a bathroom break, some news, some music or entertainment. There's a device for that! Assuming the privacy controls are in place, I think this is a good idea. What do you think - could Alexa make your hospital stay a little less awful?
A new meaning to "You are what you eat?"
Dating where the inside is all that counts – Refrigerdating — ow.ly
[NOT A JOKE!] This hit the newsletters recently. Everyone thought it was a joke, but Samsung really did hire a relationship expert to help develop it....wait for it....Refrigerdating. Would you date someone based on their fridge contents?
This month in tech history
March 28, 1995 - Kodak releases the DC40 digital camera, which is only the second digital camera for the consumer market. Apple’s QuickTake 100 was first to market in 1994. However, Kodak pulled out the marketing guns and convinced people to go digital with the DC40.
Photo buffs - check out these AMAZING specs! 0.38 Megapixel - 4 Megabytes (that's MB) of RAM. 6 x 5 x 2 inches, 1 pound, $1000 out the door. She takes beautiful 756 x504 pixel JPGS. 🙂🙂
Indicentally, that's $1678 in today's dollars, whereas the most expensive GoPro goes for $599 today (and it shoots 4k video).
Learn about the cloud March 26th!
Due to a scheduling mix up, last month we presented cyber scams at our monthly Tech Talk (see presentation above). This month, the CLOUD is BACK!
This month’s Exploring Technology takes us back to the clouds. We’re reviewing cloud storage and computing, a subject that still seems to confuse. What is the “cloud”? How many clouds do you have? What are the risks and benefits of using the cloud for data storage and applications?
Come and find out at the next Exploring Technology talk, held in conjunction with San Clemente Village.
The skinny: San Clemente Community Center, 100 N Calle Seville, San Clemente - Multi-Puropose Room. Tuesday, March 26th, 1:30 PM.
Non-Village members, please RSVP to this e-mail if you’re planning on attending.