Posted on March 10th, 2024 by Joy Schwabach
Even home computers can get hit with ransomware. That’s when the bad guys ask you to pony up, if you want your files back. But Windows now offers free ransomware protection. To turn it on, type “Windows Security” into the search box on your computer, or find it in “Settings.” Now click “Virus & Threat Protection,” then “Ransomware Protection.” It safeguards your folders and files. Gamers will want to add their apps to an access list, however, or they might not be able to open saved files. Given the juicy targets out there, it must be rare for a home computer to be held for ransom. But two years ago, a ransomware attack targeted home users through a fake antivirus […]
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Posted on February 13th, 2024 by Joy Schwabach
Art Selfie 2 is a fun way to see how you’d look dressed for the Italian Renaissance, a Woodstock Festival and a Frida Kahlo portrait, among other settings. I discovered that I look ridiculous in a powdered wig. Start by downloading Google’s free “Arts & Culture” app for Android or iPhone, then tap on “Art Selfie 2.” The app prompts you to take a selfie, choose a style and save your portrait. I never pictured myself with flowers on top of my head or wearing a hippie’s outfit. Groovy, man. Far out. Be Real During a busy day the other day, I went all over town. But every time the “Be Real” app popped up to take a selfie of […]
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Filed under: AI, Amazon, apps, art, batteries, gadgets, Internuts, security | Comments Off on APP TURNS SELFIES INTO ART
Posted on December 25th, 2023 by Joy Schwabach
My brother sent me a picture of myself in a canoe. It looks like a lovely painting. He did it with “BeFunky,” a free app. The free version of BeFunky leaves a watermark, but I still like it. Unfortunately, there’s one other limitation. To save your creation, you need BeFunky Plus, which is $72 a year. But you can still have fun with the freebie, by taking screenshots to share stuff online or by email. I use the Windows Snipping Tool. BeFunky has literally dozens of artsy effects, including everything from charcoal to impressionism and “poly art.” With the plus version, I could turn my creations into full-sized prints or photo gifts at a site like Mpix.com, where I’ve been […]
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Filed under: AI, Amazon, art, gadgets, Internuts, photos, security | Comments Off on GETTING FUNKY WITH PHOTOS
Posted on November 28th, 2023 by Joy Schwabach
My Motorola-loving friend just got a new Samsung. Why? He wanted the latest security updates. He also wanted a faster processer and the latest operating system. But it’s not perfect. Compared to his old Moto G Power, the new Samsung A54 seemed to have a shorter battery life and lacks the headset jack needed for a wired headset, which he finds superior to the wireless kind. Also, he had to download the free Google phone app, which screens calls, after discovering that the Samsung app was letting in spam. I told him he should have stuck with his Motorola. But he disagrees and so do the experts at ZDNET. ZDNET calls the Samsung A54 “the best phone under $500.” Amazon […]
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Filed under: AI, Amazon, Internuts, kids, phones, security, Windows | Comments Off on USING YOUR PHONE PAST ITS EXPIRATION DATE
Posted on November 6th, 2023 by Joy Schwabach
At first I thought this game was too gross to tell you about. Then it made me laugh. “Hardhat Wombat,” stars a wombat construction worker whose primary building material is his own square poops. After I finished level one, I was congratulated on my “crappy job.” Wombats are the only animals in the world that produce cube-shaped scat, according to the National Geographic. But how and why do they do it? The lead poop researcher thought it was because they have a square anus. But later she discovered it’s the irregular shape of their intestines. The game was developed by George Fan, who created the wildly-successful “Plant Vs. Zombies.” Sadly, Fan cannot produce his own cube shaped excrement. But “it’s […]
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Filed under: games, Internuts, passwords, security | Comments Off on CRAPPY SCORES IN HARDHAT WOMBAT
Posted on October 23rd, 2023 by Joy Schwabach
I love my new, lightweight HP laptop 14, $289 from Amazon. But at first, I wasn’t so sure. I bought it quickly, seduced by the number of five- and four-star reviews and because I like HP. But I hadn’t thought to check the speed of its “Celeron N” processor. Later I read: “Celerons are extremely weak. They operate better in Chrome or other resource-light operating systems than in Windows.” Fortunately, my HP 14 came with “Windows 11 S mode.” It speeds up performance, mimicking a Chromebook. It also prevents non-verified programs from being installed, or sensitive documents from being examined. Before I realized all that, however, I considered returning it. My techy friend suggested the “HP 15-fc0047nr,” which is just […]
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Filed under: AI, Amazon, computers, security | Comments Off on GETTING A NEW COMPUTER
Posted on September 26th, 2023 by Joy Schwabach
I asked an artificially intelligent version of Elon Musk what his most embarrassing moment was. He said it was sending a message to the whole office about “naughty snacks.” If you want to talk to him too, he’s at the website Character.ai. Character.ai, also a free app, offers a range of AI celebrities and professionals. Winston Churchill told me how the war in Ukraine will end. Signmund Freud told me not to feel guilty. An AI Frenchman helped me practice my language skills. A librarian gave me a great book suggestion. It’s addicting. You can create your own AI character for free. I named mine “Health” and wrote a one-paragraph description on what it means to be a “Nutritarian.” After that, it […]
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Filed under: AI, apps, batteries, computers, Google, Internuts, passwords, photos, security, text messaging | Comments Off on AI CELEBRITIES TO CHAT WITH
Posted on September 6th, 2023 by Joy Schwabach
Artificially-intelligent bots are plagiarizing known authors. It happened to author Jane Friedman, who reports on the publishing industry. A copycat version of her work was reviewed on Goodreads. Friedman told ZDnet that an author she found on Twitter.com has been plagiarized by AI bots 29 times. It could be a growing problem. Suppose, for example, that you insert the text of a published novel into a site like ChatGPT, and ask for it to be rewritten in the bot’s own words. Next you run the result through an AI content detector. If it scores 100 percent, it’s 100 percent fakey-sounding. So you tweak it a bit before uploading to Kindle Direct Publishing. I decided to test this idea myself. I […]
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Filed under: AI, environment, games, Google, health, Internuts, kids, security, text messaging, video, word processing | Comments Off on PLAGIARISM BY CHATBOTS
Posted on August 28th, 2023 by Joy Schwabach
Sometimes, an artificially-intelligent search bot doesn’t know beans about beans. It can even confuse poison with food. ArsTechnica bloggers went to saveymeal-bot.co.nz, where a robot creates recipes from what you have on hand. When the bloggers typed “ammonia, bleach and water,” they got a recipe for “the perfect non-alcoholic beverage to quench your thirst.” To avoid disasters, the site now asks you to choose ingredients from a list. From my humorous choices, they created “Pickled Spaghetti Surprise.” It included jam, olives, pickles and mayo. Turning serious, I got a surprisingly tasty “Creamy Peanut Noodle Stir Fry.” To try it yourself, go to saveymeal-bot.co.nz, and click “Get Savey.” Then choose your ingredients. Happy cooking. Sharing Your Location I love sharing my […]
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Filed under: AI, Android, apps, cheap calls, Internuts, maps, photos, security, text messaging, virus | Comments Off on MORE PROOF THAT AI ISN’T ALWAYS INTELLIGENT
Posted on June 19th, 2023 by Joy Schwabach
Nothing beats swimming while an orchestra plays in your head. I’m talking about the new Run Plus waterproof headphones sent to me from Mojawa. The headphones work well on land too. They’re like a thin cable that wraps lightly around the back of your head, with loops for your ears. I tried something similar from Shokz six months ago, but had trouble getting my long hair plus headphones inside my swim cap. A friend suggested I wear the headphones outside my cap. That works great. Thanks to bone conduction technology, I don’t have to line up the ear loops to my ears. The sound quality is excellent, even in water, though my splashing interferes with the tunes somewhat. To get […]
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Filed under: AI, books, gadgets, iPad, music, phones, security | Comments Off on SWIMMING TO THE MUSIC