RIP Aquila Mouzone

One of my students from Passaic, Aquila Mouzone, passed away last week.  I have had former students die before, but this was especially sad because she was still in my class...I still had one of her tests to give back to her.  I went to the wake last evening, and it was so sad to see.  I am glad that the family had so much support.

RIP Aquila...

Free Stuff Contest - $100 Google AdSense Credit

People always seem to wonder how Web sites make money.  Much like television, much of the money comes from advertising.  Large companies have enough staff to set up and maintain advertising relationships, but most small companies and one-person Web sites do not have the staff to do all that work.  This is an excellent way for people to make money on the Internet, without needing a huge infrastructure.

One of the companies that does this type of advertising is Google.  People who want to advertise with Google sign up through Google AdWords, and those advertisers pay for the services they want.

The other half of the equation is Google AdSense.  Google AdSense is the site where people who have content (bloggers, small Web sites, etc.) can sign up.  Google gives them the HTML code, and all the person needs to do is add that code to their site and ads show up.

Google, by being the "middle man", makes money connecting the two.

I participate in the Google AdSense system, in large part because when I teach these concepts, I can say that I know how to do them from experience.  I don't have the traffic to make any real money off of it.

Anyway, Google recently sent me a letter that included a free $100 worth of Google AdWords advertising credit.  I could advertise my blog, but I don't really see the sense in it, so I figured it might be nicer to give this advertising credit to someone who might actually have a use for it.  This credit starts losing value after 3/5/10 and expires completely on 3/31/10, so you have to sign  up and apply it to your account before that point.

This is open to students and non-students alike.  To enter, just email me and tell me why you want it.  Anyone with a Web site to advertise is eligible.

Since this is a limited time offer from Google, email me as soon as possible.    Again, all I want is to see it go to good use.

Using Technology to Save Money

Among other things, I like saving money.  I brought this up in both of my CIS 101 courses, but when I look to buy things, I use the Internet to help me find some deals.
For example, rather than simply going to Staples to buy something, I check prices online.  It's not worth my time to go visit 20 sites to get the best price, so my time is also a consideration.  The best solution is to use one of the sites that do the work for me.  Two such sites are PriceGrabber.com and Google Products (formerly called Froogle).  Let's say I wanted toner for my home printer - a Samsung SCX 4100.  If I go to PriceGrabber, I see the price on Staples is $95.39.  However, if I were willing to go with another company, I could get it as low as $68.70.  Not bad for a few minutes work!  Now, in this case, the vendor with the low price is one I don't know, so I could also read merchant reviews on the site, and make a decision on how safe I want to be.

They also offer generic toner, so if I were willing to do that, I could get a generic cartridge for this device for $30.99.  That is a savings of almost $65 from the original retail price, if I am willing to go with a generic cartridge.  As a bonus, the retailer with the lowest price is one I am familiar with and one who has excellent reviews.  If I needed toner, I'd go with the generic cartridge for that price.

I used toner as an example here, but you can try anything and see the results...a Nintendo Wii...a Panasonic VIERA 50" Plasma TV...an LG Refrigerator...Acqua Di Gio Cologne...a Fellowes Intellishred SB-99Ci Shredder...Note that not everything on the site has multiple vendors listed, but it is a good site to do some initial research.  Remember - if there is a site you are not sure if you trust, read reviews, and feel free to make a decision from there.  These sites do not discriminate between big sites (Dell, Staples, etc) and small sites, so all will be listed.

There are other places I go for other deals, but if there is something specific I am looking for, I usually start on PriceGrabber or Froogle.

PCCC Emergency Alert System

School was canceled today (Saturday 2/6) due to the predicted snow.  It's always interesting when they cancel school and that predicted snow never materializes.  I am reposting information about the school's emergency alert system, the "Panther Alert". 

Basically (and of course, this was partially in response to the shootings at Virginia Tech a few years back), the school has an automated system that will alert you to school closings and other emergencies via phone, email, and text. You can specify up to 6 phone numbers (cell, home, work), two email addresses, and a cell phone for text messages.

Link to Full Instructions

Short version of instructions: if you log in to your school portal account in Campus Cruiser, you would click on the tab at the top labeled "Panther Alert". Click on that. Log in using your school email address - username@pccc.mailcruiser.com and your student ID number.

PS - remember your email is @pccc.mailcruiser.com - not @pccc.edu.

Ultimate Steal

Every semester, I try to bring this up in my classes.  Microsoft has made available a number of programs available at a low cost for students.

For example, the Microsoft Office 2007 Home Edition would cost you around $125 - $150 to purchase.  This would include Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.  However, as a student at certain schools, you are eligible to receive a copy of Office 2007 "Ultimate" for $59.95.  This version includes not only the programs listed above, but also Access and Publisher.  The nice part is that this is not only inexpensive, but also legal.  I can understand why people take a risk and download illegal software, but when you have the chance to legally acquire the software at this price, why take the risk?

They also have made available Windows 7 for $64.95. 

Note you will have to register with your school email address (username@pccc.mailcruiser.com).  Also note that they don't mail you an installation CD - the install is done through the Internet.

Note that even though this is not a Microsoft.com site, it does redirect there and I can confirm this is legitimate.
www.ultimatesteal.com

Welcome iPad

There are a number of devices that seem to have a market that overlaps.  For example, the Amazon Kindle (the eBook reader) will read books...but we also have seen a market develop for Netbooks...and another market for smart phones...and another market for laptops.

Apple has introduced even more confusion in to the marketplace with the introduction of their new tablet computer, the iPad.  The media described it as a larger looking iPhone.  Now, you may read the description and say "hey, this sounds a lot like a Tablet PC, and those didn't work out that well for Microsoft!"...if you did, you have a lot in common with me because I said that.  Then again, there are times when technologies come before their time.  Perhaps Apple will be the company that bring this type of machine mainstream!

I worry that all these varied options may eventually harm consumers.  With all the different options out there, something is going to become obsolete.  If you invest $300 in an Amazon Kindle, and they lose the battle to Apple in the eBook market, what happens to you?  It's like the people who invested in the HD-DVD format (which was a format of high-definition DVD that was made obsolete by the competing Blu-Ray format).


I am always interested in the inter-battles going on between big Internet and technology companies.  Google is battling Microsoft ...who is battling Apple...who is now battling Amazon.

Only time will tell....

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100128/bs_nm/us_apple_tablet

When Good People Get Taken Advantage of...

There are a lot of opportunists in this world, and that is a sad thing to see.

For example, take the recent tragedy in Haiti.  The Red Cross and other humanitarian efforts have been taking legitimate donations, and I think that is awesome.  In an excellent use of technology, the Red Cross is using a new service called "Text 2Help" - this service allows you to send a text message to a special number and donate $10 (this will appear as a charge on your cell phone bill).  This is the first major catastrophe that I can remember seeing this used, and it's apparently worked.  This text donation plan has raised over $21 million dollars, according to CNN. 

However, as I said before, the opportunism is shocking.  Thomson Reuters reports that there are a number of reports of people taking advantage of this situation.  For example, people are using the same spam mailing lists that they use to try to sell you Viagra and say your bank accounts have been hacked to send out emailing claiming to be important people in Haiti who need YOUR help moving money...or advertising false charities and taking donations on behalf of the victims of the earthquakes...or setting up Web sites inviting people to enter their email address for more information on how to help...it's just a little disheartening.  It's not like this didn't happen before computers; people would call up and do this over the phone years ago and use it as a pretense to get people to give out credit card information.

It always seems so sad that people resort to things like that.

Windows 7 "God Mode"

One cool thing about new software is that there are all sorts of things that are built in there that will be found.  Most of the time, you are looking at bugs or other problems in the software, but recently a Windows 7 feature has come out called "God Mode".

This feature is basically a secret warp zone to most of the common tasks that you typically find in different areas of Windows.  For example, display settings are in one spot, adding printers is somewhere else, and things like "Set up ODBC sources" ... well, I couldn't even tell you where that is normally.

Anyway, this is an interesting feature...my only question is why was it so deeply hidden?

Link to Article

Spring 2010 Schedule Change

I just wanted to mention this.  I will be teaching CIS 125 M02 in the Spring semester.  One of my other classes did not run, so my department chair switched me in to this course.  This course meets Tuesday/Thursday from 10:20 am to 11:35 am in Paterson.

Late Registration Date and Times

For those of you who are current students, the late registration times and dates.  If you have not registered yet, these will be the last dates you can register for the Spring 2010 semester and not miss any classes.

Main Campus, Wanaque and Passaic
Jan 14, 15        1:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Jan 16              9:00 am – 12 noon
Jan 19             11:00 am - 7:00 pm

If anyone wants to see me for advisement in person, I will be at the PASSAIC campus during the following times:
Thursday, January 14 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Friday, January 15 from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM

10 for 2010 (Technology Predictions)

I was thinking about what we are going to see in 2010, and here are some things that came to mind.

1. Standard DVD Format Gets Phased Out - Blu-Ray will become the dominant DVD media, and as a result prices will fall on these devices.  I wouldn't be surprised to see some low end Blu-Ray players going for $100 this Black Friday.  Since Blu-Ray players can play your old DVDs, people will be less resistant than they were when VHS was replaced by DVD players.
   
2. Standard Internet Sales Tax - Some smart politician somewhere will author a bill that will come up with a solution to the whole Internet sales tax issue.  Too many states (Rhode Island, North Carolina) are fighting legal battles with vendors (Amazon) over laws that were originally written in 1887 (really), and e-commerce has become so large that someone is going to fight this battle.
   
3. Office 2010 Will Disappoint - If one looks at the specifications, Office 2010 seems to do some clever things.  Microsoft Works is being phased out and there will be new tools "Word Starter" and "Excel Starter".  These will be the cheaper versions of the tools, and this is great because no one seems to be able to differentiate between "Works" and "Word".  The Ribbon interface will find its way in to Publisher, Visio, and the rest of the tools that it wasn't integrated into previously.  Microsoft will also introduce Web-based versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint that will allow people to use the tools online for free, much like Google Docs.  With all that said, I just wonder if Microsoft may be overly ambitious, and cut some corners with the release of Office 2010.  I also feel like the operating system release followed by the Office release will split the focus of the company, and they are more likely to pour resources in to any Windows 7 problems that arise, following the debacle that was Windows Vista.  This would obviously take away from other projects in the company (such as Office 2010).
   
4. eBooks Take Off - eBook readers (such as the Amazon Kindle) will become more popular.  As demand goes up, prices will fall, and this will make these devices available to many people.  College students will be driven by lower prices (for example, my Internet/E-Commerce class textbook goes for $113 new, but the eBook version is $57 for a 6 month subscription), and the ability to electronically mark up your book without having to worry about ruining the resale value.
5. Netbooks Emerge - Netbooks will take off and become a popular alternative to a laptop for people that just want a basic portable machine.  As we see with cell phones, people don't always want all the stuff you get with a PC, they just want something to do the basics on, and Netbooks will fill that void. 
   
6. eNews - More newspapers and magazines will work towards making a digital model work.  According to an article linked from Magazine Death Pool, 367 magazines ceased printing in 2009 (and another 64 went online only).  This industry HAS to adapt, because times are changing.  To be quite honest, the only reason I get my paper is for the Sunday coupons, and the rest of the paper is immediately recycled.  If advertisers decide that online is where the money is, print media will have to follow.  They are also competing for advertising dollars with radio stations (both local stations like 1010 Wins and national stations like NPR) and with TV stations (again, both local news outlets like News 12 and global stations such as CNN). 
   
7. New Careers - Careers with titles like "Medical Informatics" will start to arise.  There is a need for people who have knowledge of both medical and technological concepts, and this seems like an area that will start to grow.  For example, insurance companies may not want to pay for a full-time nurse for someone, but instead have someone monitor remotely.  That person would need to interpret the results and know things like blood pressure and O2 saturation...but also be able to troubleshoot the technology if there are problems.  NJIT is one local institution that has already created a degree program for this.
8. Bing Takes Off - Bing will start to do what Microsoft Live Search didn't do: take away market share from Google.  Not a huge percentage, mind you, but it will start to make headway that other search engines could not.
   
9. Skype Makes a Comeback - Free from eBay's control, Skype will find direction and challenge VoIP providers.  Technology like a Wireless Bluetooth Headset for the PC (i.e. this one: AmbiCom SKYHS-KIT) will attract people who want the freedom to roam their apartment while making calls. 
10. The Mets Win! - The Mets will win the World Series.  (Hey, a guy can dream, right?)  I doubt even the guys at metsblog.com will be predicting this one.
    

I hope you are enjoying your 2010.

CNN Tech: The Top 10 Technology Fails of 2009

It has been an interesting year for technology failures, and part of the reason (I believe, anyway) is that technology is now considered important enough to get the media coverage to make it news.  Five years ago, it was not something that was noticed, and now it is.

It's always interesting for me to go back and see what sort of things happened this year, and see what sort of stories were big.  For example, you may have heard a lot of hype about a virus called Conficker (around April Fool's Day 2009).  This was supposed to be a big virus, but no major destruction and doom ever materialized.

Also, who can forget the Sidekick crash in October, where many users lost personal data - ALL of it.  Some users were able to recover it, but many were not.  This was one of those things that I don't understand.  This is why backups are so important, and I don't see how companies lose data these days.

Anyway, here's the article from CNN:
Link to Article

Facebook group hacking

I always love it when the words "hacking" and "protest" show up in the same article.

Recently, people on Facebook were annoyed with a feature of the Facebook "groups".  Basically, this feature said that if someone who had created a group left it, and there was no longer an administrator, ANYONE in the group could take the group over.  You can see why this was put in place - you wouldn't want someone to abandon a group and have it just disappear, after all.  However, you can also see the potential problem.  Anyone can take over a group!

In protest, a group of people "hijacked" administrator privileges in around 300 groups in November, just to show that Facebook has a major issue with security.

Link to article

Photoshop Trickery

Image editing is not something new.  The Soviet Union did this back in the 1920's and 1930's, famously editing people out of photos who had become enemies of the government.

This has been made a lot easier nowadays with the invention of tools like Photoshop, and has been used in a lot of situations.  For example, Time Magazine darkened a picture of O.J. Simpson in 1994, which Newsweek ran without changes.  Many people felt that Time Magazine's portrayal was in poor taste, if not racist.

In a more amusing twist, the Buffalo Bills recently fired their head coach, Dick Jauron.  They gave out team photos to fans at a recent game, and edited the former coach out, even as they left players there who had been cut from the team.  Viewing the high-resolution version of the picture, you can see a lot of things that aren't quite right, for example, look at the size of #31 Jairus Byrd's right arm.  There is a complete discussion of this on a Bills message board, and this also appeared on ESPN's Web site.

From Trotsy to O.J. to Jauron, image editing has many forms, and you can see why a simple photograph isn't evidence enough nowadays.

Time Saving Google Tips

There are many ways that you can save yourself some time on Google.  I always am amazed at how they update the search engine and add features as time goes on.

Some of the features have also been there for years, and there are a number of them that are documented on the site below.

Link to Site