Shopping Product Reviews

5 Ways Signage Can Boost Your Business

Physical signage, such as awnings and pole signs, is an aspect of traditional branding and marketing that is here to stay. Even if your physical establishment has some serious online advertising, that’s a supplement to your marketing efforts, not a replacement. Even 100 percent online businesses can benefit from physical signage. Think billboards, car wraps, and other forms of high-impact and/or mobile marketing.

However, you might be surprised at how much of an impact a signal really has. According to Signs.org, the international non-profit organization dedicated to sign data collection, support and services, this is a numbers game with the odds clearly in your favor. If you’re on the fence about signage, check out these figures:

1. Signage puts newspaper advertising to shame

Advertising in the local newspaper can still be a great way to get your name out there. However, keep in mind that the signage on the site is monetarily equivalent to 24 full-page newspaper ads each year. If you’ve recently researched the cost of newspaper ads, you know they’re not cheap. A single investment in signage can last for years. Save newspaper ads for special events and leave daily advertising for your signs.

2. It’s a dumb change for you

How much does a single sign on the site cost you per view? According to Sign.org, it’s two cents per 1,000 visits. Of course, this figure can change a bit, depending on your location and population, but it’s a pretty solid number no matter how you look at it. Do you think your sign is worth 1,000 people seeing? Also, compare that to the $2.81 per 1,000 visits with newspaper ads and it’s an easy pick.

3. Locals see your log twice a day

The vast majority of your customers live within five miles of your establishment. This means that the average person (not just your customers!) sees your signage 50-60 times a month. That’s a lot of free publicity and a way to snuggle into your psyche. They may not need your services right now, but as soon as they need dog daycare, a wedding cake, or a yoga class, your name (ahem, sign) will be the first thing they think of.

4. More than a third of people walk past businesses without signs

Here’s a scary stat: 35 percent of people have no idea a business is there if it doesn’t have signage. What would you think of a building without signs? It was probably privately owned and has nothing to offer you. People aren’t going to dig to find information about your business, it’s your job to provide it.

5. Bigger store signs equal bigger profits

If you replace your store sign with a larger one, you’ll see an average 7.7 percent increase in profit. It’s true: size matters. Make sure your sign is a sizable mermaid.

Signage can either help a business succeed or drag it to the ground. Whether you’re a startup, small business, franchise, or large corporation, make sure people know who you are, where you are, and have a general idea of ​​what you do. You don’t want to miss out on the merchandising, impulse buyers, or making a claim in your neighborhood – sign up!

Shopping Product Reviews

Digital pianos: 7 steps to get one now

When it comes to buying any product, information can be limited. Because of this, you may be buying the wrong item. You may even buy what you initially wanted, but soon become dissatisfied with it. It’s just hard for people to buy something when they don’t have all the necessary information.

Then one day I decided I just wanted to help people like Superman, but not really. I’ve been in the piano business for a long time, so I can give you some basic advice when buying a digital piano. There are literally hundreds of digital piano models out there now, so I can understand why some people don’t even know where to start.

I’m sure you’ve googled “digital piano” only to find over 5 million results. You may have even resorted to going to a local store only to find dozens of models. Hey, it’s an improvement, but when they have names like P95 or MP6, you’re still as confused as ever. Finally, you probably asked a salesperson for advice before realizing quickly that he is trying to sell you something instead of helping you.

Now, with the help of this guide, you’ll know where to start and what you want.

Step one: the who

Before you buy anything, you must first decide who it is for. Is it for yourself? Is it for his wife, who loves pianos? Is it for a 7 year old? All of these decisions are important when choosing a digital piano. Before you do anything, keep this in mind. You could even have multiple users for this piano. In that case, you’ll want to meet the expectations of the more advanced player. For example, with a basic digital piano, a beginner won’t care, but an advanced player will. With a high-end digital piano, both the beginner and the expert will be satisfied. Therefore, it is important to meet the expectations of the more advanced player.

Everything else will revolve around this first step.

Step Two: The Feel

In my opinion, after deciding who it will be for, the feel of the piano is the next most important part when it comes to buying a piano. To clarify, play a note at one end of the acoustic piano. Now play another note at the opposite end. What you will notice is that the lowest note is slightly heavier than the highest note. What happens is that when you press a key on a piano, you are actually lifting a hammer to hit the string and cause it to vibrate. This makes sound (source: my amazing knowledge of physics). The lower note hammers are a bit heavier than the higher note hammers, which explains why those keys feel heavier. Also, when you press the key too slowly (or lightly), the hammer never reaches the string, so you never hear a sound.

That said, digital pianos emulate this weighted feel. There are many variations, and the best ones feel like a real acoustic piano, while the cheap ones just don’t. For example, Yamaha brands have the GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) and the GH/GHE (Graded Hammer Effect). The GHS is typically found on entry level digital pianos. It feels lighter than GH. Most beginners don’t realize it, but more advanced players tend to prefer GH action keyboards.

I think this step is the most important step in choosing your piano. If you don’t like the way you feel, your own digital piano will continually annoy you. Sometimes the keys feel too plastic. You wouldn’t want that now, would you? Some people argue that the sound is more important than the feel. Anyway, everyone will agree that these two aspects are crucial when buying a digital piano. This brings us to our next step…

Step three: the sound

The sound of the music is potentially as important as the feel of the keyboard. It is important that the digital piano feels like a real piano. That must happen.

All piano companies strive to duplicate the sound of a grand piano. For example, when you play a key, it will sound different depending on how hard you press it. Most basic digital pianos do not have this feature. These pianos are not velocity sensitive. Most expensive pianos are velocity sensitive and it differs from piano to piano. Some digital pianos may have only one velocity layer. Some may have 10 speed layers. Of course, more layers generally mean more expressiveness in your performances. You can really bring your composition to life because these digital pianos pick up on all the nuances and subtleties in your playing.

You need to make sure that the piano sounds the way you want it to. Sometimes you can listen to them online or watch YouTube videos. I recommend going to a real store with headphones.

Unlike acoustic pianos, digital pianos can also sound like any other possible instrument. Yeah, it’s that cool. Some digital pianos have 535 instruments! Others may only have 10. You’re usually buying the digital piano for its actual piano sounds, so these other instruments may not matter too much.

Another thing to keep in mind is that some people may complain about how the piano sounds when it really isn’t bad. A common mistake is to confuse the sound of the piano and the speakers. Some pianos play very well, but their speakers are bad. In this case, simply using headphones or external speakers will greatly improve sound quality. On the other hand, some pianos are just plain bad. No matter what kind of tool you use to listen to music, it won’t sound like a real piano. That’s why I recommend bringing headphones to a store to listen to the piano.

In general, both the touch of the keys and the sound of the pianos are vital aspects when choosing a digital piano for that or those special person.

Step four: the features

“Voices”, “tones” and “sounds” are just another way of saying instruments. With a digital piano, you can play guitar, drums, or any other possible instrument. It allows even beginners to create beautiful-sounding music with basic piano skills.

Generally, entry level digital pianos will only have a few voices. However, it still offers you a variety of instruments. If you like other instruments (and I know many of you are), you’ll want to know exactly what sounds are included and what they sound like.

“Polyphony” represents how many notes can be played simultaneously. For example, the Casio PX-130 has a polyphony of 128. That means you can play up to 128 different notes at the same time. If you exceed that number, the first note you played disappears. Therefore, higher is generally better.

A polyphony of 128 notes is more than enough for most. For beginners, a polyphony of 32 notes should be enough. Although higher is better, having a lower polyphony does not mean that the piano is bad. After all, it’s just function overloading if you’re not going to use it. Beginners most likely won’t need as much, so keep this in mind if you’re a beginner.

“Reverb” is a feature that can make you feel like you are in a concert hall. For example, if you tried to play a digital piano with external speakers in your room, the sound will bounce off the walls and give a kind of natural reverberation. The reverb function creates that effect without having external speakers or being in a concert hall.

“Chorus” is almost self-explanatory. This feature gives off the feeling that the note is being played as a group. If you use this effect, it’s more like 20 pianos playing at the same time.

As you can see, digital pianos have many other features. I only mentioned a very small percentage of features. Some digital pianos can be split into two. Others allow you to customize your own sound. The functions can be infinite. Consider what features you would want before purchasing a digital piano.

Step five: portability

I like portable digital pianos because I travel a lot. By “travel,” I don’t mean across countries. I’m not usually at home because I can’t stay in one place. I have to be on the move. Wouldn’t a portable digital piano like the Yamaha NP30 be nice? I know many people who have two digital pianos. They keep one at home, usually the most expensive digital piano. They then have a second, lighter digital piano that they use when they travel.

Plus, even if you don’t care about portability, you might care about weight. Some digital pianos can be very heavy, so if you’re a small child, you may need help assembling and transporting the piano to your desired location.

Step Six: Sustainability

You should also think about how long you plan to own this piano. For example, let’s say you’re still a beginner but are approaching the intermediate level. It is better to buy something like the Roland FP7 or the Yamaha YPG635 than the Yamaha NP30.

Also, there is no definitive way to determine durability, but you can read reviews online. Some companies like Yamaha are known for making pianos that last.

Step seven: the cost

Now. Music is good for the soul. When it comes to purifying your soul and getting the digital piano of your dreams, cost should be the last thing on your mind. Okay. It was a joke. I guess anyone thinking of buying something already has cost in mind.

Now, go buy that digital piano!

There you go! This is my very simple guide to buying the right digital piano. With these 7 steps, you should be able to find the digital pianos you want.

Shopping Product Reviews

Appmakr – Create your own smartphone app!

A custom app and mobile website are not just for business. It’s perfect for associations, organizations, families and yes, even to stay in touch with your friends instantly. With a professional application, you can use this powerful tool in many ways.

The smartphone industry is rapidly replacing PCs and laptops as the communication method of choice. Whether you’re marketing something or just building a brand for your own personal services, you’ll want to get your custom app on as many phones as possible.

Creating an app also acts as a mini website with up to 6 pages to fill with the content of your choice, including images. Included within the mobile app is the ability to send text messages to your customers. Text messaging is central to your mobile marketing strategy. Right now, and the stats are there to prove it, 95% of all text messages are read within five minutes if received.

You can even let people subscribe to your text messages without having to download your app by using free QR (quick response) codes. With a mobile app you have access to a free qr code generator to help you advertise your product or service. All your customer does is “scan” the QR code with their smartphone… no need to type in an address or write a text message to sign up for your service! Imagine having a simple QR graphic on your business cards, in a store window, or in all of your print advertising… even on your stationery, inviting your customers to scan it for immediate access! This way you can integrate all your offline marketing and promotion with your Mobile Marketing strategies!

The best part of a mobile app is the ability to customize it. Once your phone app is created, you will be given special access to your own control panel and it’s really simple. This program has not been designed for technogeeks, but for everyone.. Most mobile app builders can create an app in minutes. All you have to do is submit content, graphics, and images and you’re good to go. Promote your app and earn money.

Your personalized phone app will set you apart from the rest. It has a “Wow!” factor. It has a sizzle factor. You simply need to be part of the ‘in’ crowd, and with our unique program, you’ll be way ahead of the curve.

Shopping Product Reviews

Does it renew your resume or does it renew you? Great steps to obtain labor results

The job seeker’s typical “rush to resume” hanger continues to baffle this executive job coach because it leaves out absolutely necessary work on real issues. He often sees new job seekers rush to renew resumes and send them out before assessing their situation and creating an effective plan.

Evaluation and Planning

If you’ve gone through the assessment of your situation, the work of building your marketing plan, only then can you think about building the key components of that plan, which are the resume, cover letter, bio, and online visibility program. Internet.

Think of you

Hold everything before launching yourself forward. No manager, professional, or top executive can afford to conduct a job search without considering how they communicate. He will need to carefully analyze his own personal renovation before beginning to build the key components. Remember that YOU are really the key component! It is an often overlooked but important part of a total job search evaluation and program. Your renewal effort must consider every aspect of how YOU communicate:

oWords- Sharpen and clarify your thoughts and responses. Modify the words you speak, and in your resume and letters. Record yourself speaking and you’ll probably want to pick up the pace and change the language.

oPresence- Here the videotape is invaluable. Try to practice difficult questions and check your posture, as it is usually too stiff or too relaxed. If you seem forced or unnatural, it can create a very negative impression. Practice improving with your job coach.

oAppearance- Make the new model look new but appropriate. Dress one level above the position you seek. Throw away those old glasses and combine them with being in better physical shape. These will have a powerful impact in enhancing your presence.

oTechnology- Upgrade your technology and start using iPods and portable devices, and get your email on a handheld while you’re on the go. Take advantage of the Internet to learn about current trends, the industry
activity and more connections.

oActivities-Interests- Take up some new activities. The ones that seem to work for job seekers who build personal energy are: exercise, two-day seminars, cutting-edge talks, and exposure to new thoughts and ideas. Read More Downloading business speaker podcasts is one of the newest, most valuable and affordable steps you can take.

Now the new version of YOU is forming, you are on your way to a crystalline YOU, and your new model is attractive to today’s market of buyers. Words, presence, appearance, technology, and activities—interests help prepare you to challenge new opportunities. Address them at the same time you start building your other marketing components. Now YOU are ready… to break down the barriers to a great job offer.

Shopping Product Reviews

SIM cards for mobile phones with integrated WiFi access points, applications and business models

The mobile telecommunications industry recently announced an exciting development: the integration of a WiFi hotspot within a standard GSM SIM card. The entire WiFi hotspot including the antenna has been integrated into the small 25x15x1mm SIM card. When inserted into a normal GSM phone, the SIM card uses the SIMtoolkit to access the data carriers (such as GPRS, EDGE, HSDPA, etc.) available in the phone. Therefore, create a WiFi hotspot around the phone. In my experience, the range of such a setup would be limited (meters instead of a hundred meters), but this technology offers the potential to access the Internet from your WiFi-enabled netbook using a standard mobile phone.

This technology was originally conceived by Telenor, which at the time was investigating solutions to locate mobile phones with a high degree of resolution inside buildings. They used a WiFi access node embedded within a SIM card to report WiFi cells within range, thus determining the approximate position of the mobile phone. This, in my opinion, is an innovative solution to an old problem. Telefónica, in collaboration with SIM card provider Sagem Orga (Morpho), recently launched SIMfi as a commercial product.

The question that remains unanswered is, “is this technology for the sake of technologies?” Or is there a real business model underlying this technology? There are a number of potential applications, for example the effective use of the WiFi link to replace a cable (tethered connectivity) to allow laptops to access the Internet. For a precise location inside the building. However, for the creation of millions of WiFi hotspots on the move to provide a retroactive data network using the mobile network.

In my experience, mobile network operators try to move traffic from their cellular networks (such as EDGE or HSDPA) to fixed WiFi networks whenever possible. This is to alleviate the quality of service issues you are currently experiencing. Therefore, any Wi-Fi device embedded within a SIM card is most likely to be used as an access node and not as a HotStop. Aside from government mandate, there are few highly successful paid location apps.

2014 Update: It appears that integrating WiFi into an SD memory card has proven to be a much more popular option with consumers. WiFi or GPS supported location updating within a mobile device has become a very popular feature. Although many innovative location-aware apps have emerged, and many have been successful, mobile operators are still on the hunt for location-aware apps that represent a significant revenue stream.

(c) Andrew White 2014. Reproduction permitted without change and links remain intact. All rights reserved internationally.

Shopping Product Reviews

The ransomware epidemic and what it can do

What is ransomware

Ransomware is a current epidemic based on an insidious piece of malware that cybercriminals use to extort money from you by holding your computer or computer files for ransom and demanding you pay to get them back. Unfortunately, Ransomware is quickly becoming an increasingly popular way for malware authors to extort money from businesses and consumers alike. If this trend is allowed to continue, Ransomware will soon affect IoT devices, automobiles, and ICS and SCADA systems, as well as computer terminals. There are several ways that ransomware can enter someone’s computer, but most are the result of a social engineering tactic or the use of software vulnerabilities to silently install itself on a victim’s machine.

Since last year and even before, malware authors have been sending waves of targeted spam emails to various groups. There is no geographical limit on who can be affected, and while the emails were initially targeted at individual end users, then at small and medium-sized businesses, now the enterprise is the mature target.

In addition to social engineering phishing and spear-phishing, ransomware also spreads through remote desktop ports. The ransomware also affects files that can be accessed on mapped drives, including external hard drives such as USB sticks, external drives, or folders on the network or in the cloud. If you have a OneDrive folder on your computer, those files may be affected and then synced to cloud versions.

No one can say with exact certainty how much malware of this type exists. Since much of it exists in unopened emails and many infections go unreported, it’s hard to tell.

The impact for those who were affected is that the data files were encrypted and the end user is forced to decide, based on a clock, whether to pay the ransom or lose the data forever. Affected files are usually popular data formats such as Office files, Music, PDF and other popular data files. More sophisticated strains remove “shadow copies” from the computer that would otherwise allow the user to return to an earlier point in time. In addition, the “restore points” of the computer are being destroyed, as well as the backup files that can be accessed. The way the criminal manages the process is that he has a command and control server that contains the private key of the user’s files. They apply a timer to the destruction of the private key, and the demands and countdown timer are displayed on the user’s screen with a warning that the private key will be destroyed at the end of the countdown unless the ransom is paid . The files themselves continue to exist on the computer, but they are encrypted, inaccessible even to brute force.

In many cases, the end user simply pays the ransom and sees no way out. The FBI recommends against paying the ransom. By paying the ransom, you are funding further such activities and there is no guarantee that you will get any of your files back. Also, the cyber security industry is getting better at handling Ransomware. At least one major anti-malware vendor released a “decryptor” product last week. It remains to be seen, however, how effective this tool will be.

What to do now

There are multiple perspectives to consider. The individual wants to recover the files from him. At the company level, they want to recover files and protect assets. At the enterprise level, they want all of the above and must be able to demonstrate performance of due diligence to prevent others from being infected by anything that is deployed or shipped from the enterprise to protect them from the mass grievances that will inevitably occur in the future. so far.

Generally speaking, once encrypted, files are unlikely to be decryptable. The best tactic, therefore, is prevention.

Make a backup of your data

The best thing to do is make regular backups to offline media, keeping multiple versions of the files. With offline media, such as a backup service, tape, or other media that allows monthly backups, you can always go back to previous versions of your files. Also, be sure to back up all your data files; some may be on USB drives, mapped drives, or USB keys. As long as files with write-level access can be accessed by malware, they can be encrypted and held for ransom.

Education and Awareness

A critical component in the Ransomware infection prevention process is making end users and staff aware of attack vectors, specifically SPAM, phishing, and spear-phishing. Almost all Ransomware attacks are successful because an end user clicked on a link that seemed innocuous or opened an attachment that appeared to come from a known person. By raising awareness and educating staff about these risks, they can become a critical line of defense against this insidious threat.

Show hidden file extensions

Windows usually hides known file extensions. If you enable the ability to see all file extensions in email and in your file system, you can more easily detect files of suspicious malware code masquerading as friendly documents.

Filter executable files in email

If your gateway mail scanner has the ability to filter files by extension, you may want to reject emails sent with *.exe attachments. Use a trusted cloud service to send or receive *.exe files.

Disable running files from temporary file folders

First, you need to allow hidden files and folders to show in explorer so that you can see the app data and program data folders.

Your antimalware software allows you to create rules to prevent executables from running from your profile’s local and application data folders, as well as from the computer’s program data folder. Exclusions can be set for legitimate programs.

Disable RDP

If it’s practical to do so, disable RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) on mature targets, such as servers, or block them from Internet access by forcing them to use a VPN or other secure route. Some versions of Ransomware take advantage of vulnerabilities that can deploy Ransomware on an RDP-enabled target system. There are several technet articles detailing how to disable RDP.

Patch and update everything

It is critical that you stay current with Windows updates as well as antivirus updates to avoid a Ransomware exploit. Not so obvious is that it is just as important to stay up to date with all Adobe and Java software. Remember, your security is only as good as its weakest link.

Use a layered approach to endpoint protection

It is not the intent of this article to endorse any one endpoint product over another, but rather to recommend a methodology that is rapidly being adopted by the industry. You need to understand that ransomware, as a form of malware, feeds on weak endpoint security. If you strengthen endpoint security, Ransomware will not proliferate as easily. A report published last week by the Institute for Critical Infrastructure Technology (ICIT) recommends a layered approach, focusing on behavior-based heuristic monitoring to prevent the act of non-interactive file encryption (which is what Ransomware does). , and at the same time, run an endpoint anti-malware or security suite that is known to detect and stop the Ransomware. It is important to understand that both are necessary because while many antivirus programs will detect known strains of this nasty Trojan, it will be necessary to stop unknown zero-day strains by recognizing their encryption behavior, changing the wallpaper, and communicating through the firewall for their detection. command and control center.

What to do if you think you are infected

Disconnect from any WiFi or corporate network immediately. You may be able to stop communication with the command and control server before it finishes encrypting your files. You can also prevent Ransomware on your computer from encrypting files on network drives.

Use System Restore to return to a known clean state

If you have System Restore enabled on your Windows machine, you might be able to take your system to a previous restore point. This will only work if the Ransomware strain you have has not already destroyed your restore points.

Boot to a bootable disk and run your antivirus software

If you boot from a boot disk, none of the services in the registry will be able to start, including the Ransomware agent. You may be able to use your antivirus program to remove the agent.

Advanced users can do more

The ransomware embeds executables in the Appdata folder of your profile. In addition, the entries in the Run and Runonce keys in the registry automatically start the ransomware agent when the operating system boots. An advanced user should be able to

a) Run a thorough antivirus scan to remove the Ransomware installer

b) Start the computer in safe mode without running Ransomware or end the service.

c) Remove encryption programs

d) Restore encrypted files from offline backups.

e) Install layered endpoint protection, including signature and behavior-based protection to prevent reinfection.

Shopping Product Reviews

Fitbit, fun, forensics and enemies

Did you track your 10,000 steps today? Has anyone else tracked them down?

Fitness trackers are big business, helping people get and stay fit and helping them share their progress with friends and sometimes strangers.

Probably the best known of these devices (and apps) are FitBit and the Apple Watch bundled apps, but they also include Moov Now, Samsung Gear Fit, Huawei Band, Tom Tom Spark, and around 350 more. The ability to map your movements is one of the most fun and attractive features of these devices.

FitBit data helps catch a would-be killer.

Fitness trackers in less joyful circumstances can provide evidence in the most serious cases. In late 2015, Richard Dabate told Connecticut police a story of a break-in in which the thief killed his wife while he was fighting the intruder. The problem was that the records requested from his FitBit showed that she was active an hour after the murder was said to have taken place, and that she walked ten times further than it would have taken her in full view of the now fictitious criminal. . Along with other computer, Facebook and cell phone evidence, and the fact that Dabate had a pregnant girlfriend, he was arrested for the crime. As of this writing, Mr. Dabate is still free on $1 million bail.

FitBit data helps an innocent man walk free

In May 2016, Nicole Vander Heyder left for the city of Green Bay, Wisconsin, but never returned home. Her bloodied and naked body was found in a nearby agricultural field. Signs initially pointed to her boyfriend, Doug Detrie, who was arrested but nonetheless seemed shocked by the news and protested his innocence. Detrie was held on $1 million bail, but the apparent evidence (blood in the car, in the garage, and a suspicious stain on the sole of his shoe) did not hold up (the blood in the car was not the victim’s). ). , the blood in the garage was not human, and the suspicious stain was not blood) so he was released. Data from Doug’s FitBit showed that he only took a dozen steps during the time period in which Nicole died.

DNA evidence from Nicole’s clothing pointed to another man, George Burch. Burch’s Android phone had Google Dashboard data associated with his Gmail account showing GPS location data leading directly to Nicole’s home. Ultimately, he was charged, found guilty of first degree murder and sentenced to life in prison where he still insists he is innocent.

FitBit data used to try to find a missing person

In July 2018, Iowa student Mollie Tibbett went for a run and hasn’t been seen since. Police received her FitBit data from her in an attempt to locate her, but have not disclosed to the public what they found in that data. It seems that the geolocation information there was not enough to find it. Additional data from her cell phone and social media accounts were analyzed for clues to her, but as of August 6, 2018, there are no reports that she has been found, although there appear to be persons of interest. . Hopefully, her FitBit’s location data will eventually help investigators pinpoint her current location.

FitBit data banned by the military

You may have heard news lately that the Army has raised concerns about military movements and security being compromised by data from fitness trackers and devices like the Apple Watch. One military official was quoted as saying, “The moment a soldier puts on a device that can record high-definition audio and video, take photos, and process and transmit data, they are very likely to be tracked or reveal military information.” secrets… The use of portable devices with Internet access, location information and voice calling functions should be considered a violation of national security regulations when used by military personnel.” But did you know that this news is from May 2015? And did you know he was a Chinese military officer in the Chinese army newspaper, Liberation Army Daily?

That’s right, some foreign governments have been banning these types of devices for years.

FitBit geolocation data banned by the US military.

In 2013, the DOD distributed 2,500 FitBits to military personnel; In 2015, the Navy planned to run a pilot program to help enlisted men and their superiors track fitness goals and “allow Army leaders to track the fitness of their Soldiers in real time.” .

Aside from military members, Fitbit has a user base of more than 10 million people. Information can be viewed online, on a mobile device, or through the desktop app. Fitbit tracks movement and allows users to record other health information in the app. Fitbit then uses this information to show your progress over time.

A companion app manager, called Strava, helps map and display subscribers’ movement maps using FitBit and other fitness tracking devices. In November 2017, Strava published its Global Heat Map of 3 billion individual global GPS data points uploaded in the previous two years. Zooming in on the maps, as Australian security student Nathan Ruser did, revealed favorite trails used on previously undisclosed bases by military exercise buffs. Traces of heat maps around and in Mogadishu could have provided potential targets of places frequented by military personnel for Somali dissidents.

As you can imagine, on August 7, 2018, the Army banned the use of geolocation features on iPhones, Apple Watch, FitBit, and other fitness trackers with the following directive: “Sure enough, immediately, Department of Defense is prohibited from using geolocation features and functionality on and non-government issued devices, applications and services while in locations designated as operational areas.” It has not banned the use or possession of the devices entirely.

The (FitBit) Law of Unintended Consequences

There are three types of unintended consequences (according to Wikipedia)

A Windfall: A positive windfall, such as an accused murderer going free and proven innocent of charges because of your FitBit. Instead of showing the achievement of athletic effort, he showed inaction when the crime would have required a lot of movement, as with Doug Detrie and Nicole Vander Heyder.

An unexpected inconvenience: An unexpected harm that occurs in addition to the intended effect of the policy, such as a FitBit showing an alleged victim of a crime instead of being the perpetrator as with Richard Dabate and his wife.

A perverse result: A perverse effect contrary to what was originally intended, such as when military personnel using a FitBit to track their physical progress are revealed as potential targets for an adversary.

With any luck, none of these occasions will fall in the lives of any of my readers.

Stay fit, follow up, but be aware that you may be revealing more than you intend.

Shopping Product Reviews

How to protect smartphones from wet winter weather?

The cold and humidity of winter not only affects our skin, but also electronic devices. The most affected by climate change are smartphones and iPhone. The internal components and screen of phones become more fragile than normal during cold weather, so any bump or drop can seriously damage your device. Not only this, smartphones even stop working beyond a certain temperature.

Check out some of the tips that can help you protect your devices during bad weather.

1. The first and most important remedy is to keep your phones warm and away from the cold of winter. Keep them protected in your bags or in the pocket of your jeans. Holding them in your hands will expose them to the moisture that prevails in the air. So keeping them covered when you’re out and about is the best idea.

2. Protecting it with a phone case. The available Apple Cat Phone cases are cute and protective. This is a perfect option for all girls who like to wear fashionable things. Cat prints on phone cases are so cute that they can add pizza to your phone effortlessly. Also, they prevent moisture from entering your phone and thus keep it dry during the rainy season. Phone accessories are important to give your phone a colorful update, but during the winter they serve a functional role.

3. In case the phone is freezing and the battery is dead, please avoid restarting the phone until it is warm. This will shorten battery life and may damage all software. Let it warm up and then turn it on.

4. The phone cases cover the whole body of the smartphone, but not the earphone jack. Therefore, there is a possibility of moisture getting into the cat. To prevent this damage, you can use plugins. Cat Phone Pluggies feature playful felines and can be plugged into jacks. This will even keep the phone jack covered. Cat phone accessories are not only to complement your phones, but even act as a waterproof protection for the device during harsh winter weather.

5. Avoid touching the phone screen with wet hands. Even tempered glass can protect the device to some extent. Dry your hands first or wear woolen gloves before using your phone. The touch screen is the most affected by humidity. The best way to protect them is to use the Touch Bar instead of your hands.

You have nothing to fear in the frigid temperatures this time of year if you take a little precaution. In particular, you need to be more careful if you are exposed to the cold for a longer period of time.

Shopping Product Reviews

Why do many people adopt SharePoint?

The disappointment comes down to the issue of simplicity, and simplicity is something SharePoint is definitely not.

One particular problem with the focus on content management is that it’s not really one of the powerful features of SharePoint. “SharePoint takes a lot of risks as an ECM system, it gets the job done, but it doesn’t do it all the time

Here are some things we know. It is a successful product of more than a billion dollars for Microsoft. SharePoint is a data repository, collaboration system, publishing tool, enterprise content management system, and development platform. It has enough features to be just about everything for every organization, but this is rarely the case.

SharePoint is a document management and collaboration tool developed by Microsoft. It is essentially an intranet and content management system used for internal purposes to help bring an organization together.

How is SharePoint used?

SharePoint 2013 remains the most widely used edition, although more than a quarter of respondents still use SharePoint 2007.

Only two percent are online with SharePoint 2016, while 19 percent have adopted SharePoint Office 365. The latter is likely to grow significantly in the future, with a focus on Microsoft, which aims to offer companies that use it they want.

But it’s not clear that the new version provides a solution to SharePoint adoption issues, hybrid approach or not. In fact, 29% of respondents said they didn’t know what SharePoint 2016 had to offer.

4 SIGNS THAT USERS ARE ADOPTING SharePoint:

Have you ever been in an organization, large or small, where SharePoint has been running for months or years, but when you look around you realize that it’s not fully used? I’m not talking big, since they don’t use InfoPath for their form automation, or they don’t use Business Connectivity Services to expose their data through external content types. I am referring to organizations that simply store old archived documents in a library that is still called Shared Documents and whose most elaborate web part is the one that shows current weather forecasts. I’m talking about the organization that has SharePoint installed, but obviously I’ve never heard a good talk about how SharePoint can be used effectively to make your work more productive.

1. They use SharePoint version control instead of renaming a file:

Well, you convinced me to store all my documents in SharePoint document libraries. Good. I will put my FinanceReport.doc file in SharePoint. And next week, when I add the new financial data to the document, I will also store it in SharePoint – FinanceReport-v02.doc. And oh Bruce just reminded me of another change I need no problem go to FinanceReport-v03.doc. Or maybe even Finance Report-2011-05-28.doc. Enable version control for your document library. Never rename the file, just update the file and let SharePoint manage all the versions for you. But how will people see previous versions? They’ll click on Version History and get a list of all previous versions, who changed them when they did it, and most of the comments describing the changes they made. Go one step further by using Office integration to view and compare previous versions of documents stored in SharePoint.

2. They use hyperlinks to SharePoint documents in their emails:

you have SharePoint, you should use this button much less in your emails. Why send one copy of this huge document to all 20 of your team members, creating 20 copies for your mail server, and creating isolated documents that have no idea what changes other team members might want to make to this document? Save the document once to SharePoint, and then send a link to the document in your email. Not only have your email files been reduced to a fraction of their size (your mobile team members will thank you), but now your team feels comfortable knowing you’re reviewing the copy. accurate and up-to-date document. Are you worried that the link may change in the future, making your email link obsolete? See document IDs in SharePoint 2010.

3. They abandon spreadsheets for SharePoint lists as much as possible:

Excel can certainly create monsters of wide spreadsheets generated by macros. But in most cases, most of the worksheets we use are just basic tabular representations of some of the data we need to track. If this is true, most of the time a SharePoint list is the best option using an Excel spreadsheet. In addition to being able to collaborate more on data, list features such as views, sorting/filtering, and exposing your spreadsheet data for search are very valuable selling points. important. Does anyone complain that they don’t like the look of the SharePoint list? Make sure the default view is Datasheet view. Now what to complain about? Does anyone complain about having already filled out a huge spreadsheet in Excel? Tell them about the Import Spreadsheet feature. Soon, every time someone sees words in a document placed in something that even looks like a table, they’ll start to wonder why it’s not in a SharePoint list?

4. They use SharePoint search:

People tend to browse and click through SharePoint sites and libraries looking for documents, instead of using the clever little search box at the top of every SharePoint site. In some ways, this is understandable: in the past, the main information operator experience in searching for documents in his office was the old-school search option of Windows XP and earlier versions, with a little puppy for our help. computer will scan each document in search of what we are looking for. But what people need to understand now is that their SharePoint portal includes indexed search, which means you’ll get near-instant search results, even when searching tons of documents across the company. And when you add SharePoint 2010 search features, such as enhancements, metadata-driven navigation and search experience, or even .

Shopping Product Reviews

camping supplies

When going camping, there are quite a few absolutely essential supplies that need to be taken with you. The type and amount of supplies needed depends on the nature of the camping trip and the duration.

Tents are extremely essential as places that provide sleep and shelter.

Sleeping bags are necessary, especially as it can get quite cold in the wild. A sleeping pad or air mattress to place under your sleeping bag for cushioning is also necessary.

If the campsite prohibits campfires, then a portable stove is necessary to prepare food.

A flashlight (preferably with extra batteries) is also a must. Axes, saws, or axes for chopping wood, either for a campfire (if allowed) or for other minor construction or repair purposes. The rope is also essential as it can be very useful.

Other essential camping equipment can be brought mainly from home. These include plates, pots, pans, utensils, etc.

For serious backpackers and wilderness campers, the above list is pretty basic.

Here are some other absolute essentials to bring on a camping trip:

A map in an airtight case, a compass (a GPS system will be even better), extra clothes, extra food and water, a first aid kit, and a knife.

Other supplies include matches (also in an airtight container), a fire starter, sunglasses and sunscreen (to protect your eyes and skin respectively), a water treatment method (such as a water filter, for example), a food storage device (for places where bears are common, a bear pot is a must) and a whistle.

The whistle can be used in situations where you get stuck and want to ask someone for help. The whistle will almost always outlast your vocal cords.

All of the supplies mentioned above will be pretty useless if not used properly. The most essential of all camping supplies is knowledge and experience.