On Computers

My 91-year-old neighbor almost lost $100,000. She would have been wiped out completely if she hadn’t run to the bank. The scam started when she clicked on a message that appeared to be from PayPal. It told her she owed $500 and asked her to call. Unfortunately, she let the person who answered the phone take control of her computer. It didn’t seem odd to her, because Apple tech support often does that, with great results. But this was not Apple.  When her web browser automatically filled in the password for her online bank account, the scammer was able to initiate a funds transfer. But something he said reminded her of a previous scam. So she hung up and called […]

Read more

Filed under: AI, GPS, robots, science, security, virus | Comments Off on ALMOST SCAMMED

You’re out hiking when an earthquake strikes. You’re covered in rubble and there’s no signal on your smartphone. What to do? Take out your satellite phone. The “Zoleo Satellite Communicator,” which sells for $200, uses the Iridium network when a cellular or WiFi connection is unavailable. It’s about the size of a bar of soap– about four inches by three inches. It’s so rugged that one user said he could drop-kick it down a mountain without harming it. It weighs five ounces and has a battery life of more than eight days. There’s a button on it that lets you send an SOS to the company’s emergency monitoring and dispatch partner. Press another button to let others know you’re OK, […]

Read more

Filed under: apps, gadgets, GPS, graphics, Internuts | Comments Off on SATELLITE PHONE FOR HIKERS

A reader got upset when I said Chrome was my favorite web browser. He wrote: “You do realize that Chrome keeps track of everything you do on the internet–  browsing, searches, and anything you write? I switched to Microsoft Edge after being a Chrome user for many years. I finally realized how data naked I really am.” It could be worse. According to Google’s privacy policy, your personal info is not for sale to anyone. Google uses it to show you ads for products from Google partners or Google itself. If you’re worried about privacy, go to myaccount.google.com and click on “data and personalization” to automatically turn off tracking and delete every trace of everything you’ve done on the web […]

Read more

Filed under: apps, browsers, computers, GPS, kids, web | Comments Off on DATA NAKED

We had a gizmo attack. A gizmo attack is when some new gizmo comes out and you feel you have to have it. Normally you should lie down and wait for this feeling to pass. But not always. So we went for it. We spent $500 for a driving aid called “Navdy.” This is a hamburger-sized device that sits on your car’s dashboard and projects a head-up display that brings you directions, text messages, phone calls and many other now necessary aspects of the modern world. Think of it as the same kind of display fighter pilots see — at least while there still are fighter pilots. In our case, we fitted this device in our 17 year-old Honda minivan […]

Read more

Filed under: electronics, gadgets, GPS, phones, photos | Comments Off on CAR TECH

“Waze” is a free alternative to Google Maps (also free). It calls out turn-by-turn directions, just as Google Maps does. Just tap the microphone and speak your destination, or type it in. Then tap “navigate.”  For those who want more, Waze keeps you up to date on traffic conditions and can even tell you when your friends arrived at the destination. (If five minutes have gone by and they still haven’t got out of the car and wrung the bell, they’re probably arguing about whether to see you at all.)

Read more

Filed under: apps, GPS, maps | Comments Off on GETTING THERE

Fitness trackers are a hot topic right now. It’s hard to pick the one you might like, but here’s a novel way to choose: try them all.

Read more

Filed under: apps, GPS, health | Comments Off on LUMOID LETS YOU TRY LOTS OF FITNESS TRACKERS AT ONCE

A glass of water destroyed Joy’s smart phone. It happened during lunch. We don’t care if we miss calls, it’s the turn-by-turn directions from Google Maps that we miss. So while we’re without a smart phone, we’re using “CoPilot GPS.” It brings turn-by-turn directions even when you can’t connect to the Internet.

Read more

Filed under: GPS, maps | Comments Off on COPILOT GPS BRINGS YOU DIRECTIONS OFFLINE

There are several makers of cellphone holders for bicycles and motorcycles. We got one from Satechi, $30, because it was beautifully engineered and we couldn’t res

Read more

Filed under: gadgets, GPS, humor | Comments Off on A PHONE ON YOUR BIKE

There’s a new version of “PawTrack,” for monitoring your kitty. It’s a GPS collar that keeps tabs on tabby. The collar is $125 and the service is $10 a month. It lets you know when your furry purry returns home, when it sleeps and where it goes when it roams the neighborhood. The new version is due in November.

Read more

Filed under: GPS, security, wearables | 1 Comment »

“Trakdot” is a palm-sized device and an app that tracks your luggage. You get an alert when it’s 30 feet away. If your luggage gets on the wrong flight anywhere in the world, at least you’ll know where it is. The $90 device recently won an Edison Innovation award.  

Read more

Filed under: apps, GPS | Comments Off on TRACK YOUR LUGGAGE