The Lökwest "Digital Life" - October 2019
Welcome to October! It's that time of the year when all of the technology manufacturers gear up for the holidays. That means new product announcements galore. This month, we've focused on getting you up to date with this year's cell phones, the latest mobile and desktop operating system updates, and more.
We're also including a look at some new technology, including vein based passwords, help for those in recovery, and assistance for seniors and the visually impaired.
And, you'll want to check out this month's tech history article about a female technologist you've never heard of!
Thanks for continuing to make us part of your Digital Life. We'll see you in November for a look at holiday deals!
Speaking of deals...
Our feature presentation
Is it time for a new phone? - Lökwest — www.lokwest.com
Our monthly Exploring Technology talk was all about this year's phones. If you're in the market for a new phone or on the fence on upgrading, check out this presentation. We've laid out or picks along with tons of useful links for further reading inside!
New device announcements
Made by Google Pixel 4 event set for October 15th in New York City — ow.ly
Carrying on with the theme of new phones, Google has formally revealed the previously rumored October 15th date for its Made by Google event. They're expected to reveal the new Pixel phones and other devices, so mark your calendar if you're a fan!
Amazon event 2019: Echo Buds, Echo Frames, Alexa privacy updates, Amazon Smart Oven and everything announced — ow.ly
Alexa is going to be in everything if Amazon has their way! This week, they made a ton of new announcements - improved Echo devices, new privacy features, Alexa powered glasses and earbuds, and more? (Did we mention Samuel L. Jackson's voice instead of Alexa's for 99 cents? We're SO IN! 🙂)
All the new features coming to Alexa, including a new voice, frustration mode, and Samuel L. Jackson — ow.ly
More on Alexa's new features - including better and smoother voices, celebrity voices generated by AI, privacy features, bi-lingual support, and 'frustration detection'. If you own an Echo, read this article and take advantage of what's new!
Everything Apple announced at the iPhone 11 event — ow.ly
Like clockwork, Apple has used its annual September event to announce a new generation of iPhones. But they also crammed a bunch of other stuff in there for good measure. New iPads! New Apple Watches! Launch dates for Apple Arcade and Apple TV+! If you need to catch up on Apple, check out Techcrunch's summary here!
New technology to marvel at
New Hand Gesture Technology Could Wave Goodbye To Passwords
This is a pretty cool application of biometric technology. Hitachi is using the patterns of veins in your hand vs. a fingerprint for authentication on any device with a camera, eliminating the need for special hardware.
Echo Show camera can identify items thanks to Alexa’s Show and Tell — ow.ly
We haven't seen this working in person, but if it does as advertised, it'll be a powerful tool around the house if you're visually impaired. Read about Alexa's new Show and Tell feature, which was designed with low vision and blind users in mind. Think holding up an object and saying "Alexa, what's this?"
LifePod could be your aging assistant — ow.ly
We read about this company and think they're on to something. Check out LifePod, which expands the capabilities of popular smart speakers with a unique, proactive-voice platform and Caregiver Portal. The result? An easy-to-use, 2-way voice service for older adults aging-in-place and chronically ill patients in their homes AND their caregivers!
A useful tip or two never hurts...
Google Maps update could help save millions, provides addiction recovery tools — ow.ly
Now anyone can pull up Google Maps and search for addiction recovery resources near them, as opposed to going to various disjointed places on the web. We think this is a great idea, and could help some break the stigma of "finding a meeting".
How to Take Screenshots in Windows 10 — ow.ly
It’s a basic task, but we get asked the question quite often! How do I take a picture of what's on the PC screen? You’d be surprised at how many options you have for taking screenshots in Windows 10, and they’ve gotten even better - so read on.
OS upgrades - what you need to know
MacOS Catalina: Here are all the upcoming features — ow.ly
MacOS Catalina is Apple’s newest Mac operating system. Here’s a run-down on the features, release date and much more.
Android 10: Cheat sheet — ow.ly
A great roundup of Android 10 from TechRepublic! Android 10's features will transform some phones into more user-friendly, customizable, and secure environments. Here's what developers, businesses, and users need to know about Google's Android 10.0.
13+ things you’ll want to try first when you upgrade to iOS 13 — ow.ly
Here are some of the first improvements you should try once you install iOS 13. (As a matter of fact, you should have iOS 13.1.1 as of publication time of this newsletter - they've already fixed a few bugs and added some features!) 😉
What about a streaming update?
What’s coming to Netflix in October: The 'Breaking Bad' movie — ow.ly
Spooky month is here, and that means checking the streaming lineup. Here's a peek at what's coming to the 'Flix next month. For October, Netflix is all about 'Breaking Bad,' seasonally-appropriate thrillers and big names.
In tech history...
The Woman Who Smashed Codes: The Untold Story of Cryptography Pioneer Elizebeth Friedman — ow.ly
Take a break and read about one of the bad@ss women in technology you never heard of! Check out the story of an unsung heroine who established a new field of science and helped defeat the Nazis with pencil, paper, and perseverance.
Free tech talk October 22nd!
Our monthly Exploring Technology talk is on October 22nd!
Join us for "Tips and treats". I'll be providing a great list of tips you need to know about in your digital life, and Sherry will bring the candy! 🙂🍬🍬🎃
Date/Time: Tuesday, the 22th at 1:30 PM!
Location: San Clemente Chamber of Commerce, 1231 Puerta Del Sol #200, San Clemente.
NOTE: The Chamber offices do not face the street. Kindly look around the right corner of the building as you pull in from the street!
In closing...
Don't go too nuts this Halloween! (and never play three-shell monte with a squirrel - they'll get you every time)