Droid Defenders -- Important Forbes Story This Month

http://www.forbes.com/sites/andygreenberg/2013/02/13/lookout-conquered-the-consumer-mobile-security-industry-now-it-just-has-to-prove-one-exists/

This story in Forbes Mag, March 4, 2013 issue is worth a read if you have an Android smart phone.  Impressive story (though better in the print version than in this on-line version).  A new company called Lookout has, I think, the high ground in protecting Android phones from invasive malware or virus.  Spy ware, if you want to call it that.

If you would like my summation of the story, just email me and I will send it to you via email.  I have decided not to put it directly on the Blog post.

This Year Flu Shot Only 9 % Effective For Over 65

Today’s newspaper says that this year the Flu vaccine is only 9 % effective for those over 65.  Which is unusual.  Normally it is 56% effective.  I got a double sized shot this year, since Walgreens offered that as an option – but only for those over 65.  They told me that it was more potent, don’t know if by quantity or it covered more types of Flu. But she said they were required to ask those over 65 if they wanted to step up to the new recommended dose.

Many older people are getting the Flu this year, and it is, as we know, much more serious for those over 65.  I read all the preventative stories, and washing your hands often and getting a Flu shot are about the only defenses – other than “staying away from other people”. 

I think I have truly only had the Flu once, 10 years ago, but it was a mess.  Very high fever, and grounded me in bed for a long time.  I didn’t go to the hospital, and I don’t think the doctor even recommended my coming into his office (for fear of exposing others?).  He treated it over the phone with call in prescriptions.  But not many things work against it. 

IPad Operating System and YouTube

I upgraded my iPad operating system to iOS 6, and, as per the magazine stories, the standard YouTube icon was no longer standard. You must download it from the APP store, and it has a new icon look.  I tried it, and was a bit surprised that I actually liked the new look and feel.  It has many more options and also picks up your channels and favorites from the more normal YouTube website. I found it to run smooth, and fast, no matter the customer complaints in the comment section in the APP store.  I was having the opposite, balks and stops with the old version and old APP.  I noticed that a few children’s cartoon/music posts were full screen whereas many other posts were ¾ screen more like letter box. There is no option to improve the viewing from “auto” quality up to HD (assuming the posting person put it up in HD).  I can do that adjustment on the website, and often do. But the excellent iPad screen makes most of my favorite music videos looks quite acceptable. Perhaps the best new feature is my ability to instantly find and play my own uploads, even though they are all private listings. I could not do that with the old, standard YouTube icon in the old operating system. Of course I am logged in permanently with my password, so there is a closeness there. It appears that Google and Apple are cooperating again in making the iPad and other Apple products a cross-the-aisle compatible experience.

Tip For Buying Quickbooks Type Checks On-Line

Tech Checks (www.techchecks.net)  is an excellent source of computer type checks for Quickbooks.  They are fast shipping, very secure looking on the back, have nice free logo printing options. In my opinion this is the least expensive source.  Sometimes I can reorder for only $15.00.   If you are using other brands like Quick Books brand, or Costco brand, or Wal Mart brand, or Deluxe brand, you might want to give this website a look.  I have tried most of the others, and settled on this one as my favorite.  Price and overall acceptable quality, maybe even superior quality, made the decision for me.

New APP's For Your Pad or Smart Phone

Apps just keep getting better and better.  I recently added eBay and Amazon to my phone, and these two Apps are very user friendly, even more so than the website. They have obviously spent serious programming dollars to make these stand-outs.

Zillow, the amazing real estate site, just added these features – you can now choose to see just the foreclosures.  And if you previously viewed a house, there’s a visual indication on the house.  Photo gallery also enhanced.

Flight tracking is fun, even if you are not actually flying.  Several sites serve interested persons, one new to me is www.Flightradar24.com  it has an App as well as a website.  It shows all planes in flight on a map, and you can click on any plane to see details such as plane type, flight number, and so forth.  Red color means the plane is 5 minutes late (so says one reviewer).  Choose an area, like your town or region, or some other region, and you can even see with a click the “view from the cockpit” on some planes.  What hath technology wrought?  In the military we could do this, crudely, now anyone can do it even on a pocket device.  Reviewers either love or hate this site, there is a free and a paid version.  Competitor sites exist, post a comment if there's another you like. I have used FlightTrack Pro for a long time, but it is not good with small airlines like Allegiant. And sometimes it is hard to enter a flight IMO. A pilot told the cabin on one delayed flight for all of us passengers to use the App to see when we would take off, as it was just as accurate as any information he had in the cockpit.  It was all real time.

"AP mobile" is the App for Associated Press.  I don’t know why I was stuck in neutral with the older version, which was not very functional, but finally found the right version yesterday. This new update is awesome to say the least.  And the reviews are among the most consistently praising that I have seen in a long time.  I agree.  Many photos, fast loading,  has local news as well, right from your local newspaper.  And it is free. Navigation is a breeze, and you can email stories to friends if you like. This one gives competitor news sties a run for their money.  USA today isn’t keeping up, it used to be great, but now is more and more limited and not very cosmetic IMO.  I don’t like white text on black.  Pulse App is also excellent, and BBC news as well, but AP might be the most useful.  Fluent News was great for awhile, but now I am using it less and less.  Our local State Paper site is primitive, but somewhat better than it used to be, and only works well on the iPhone, there is no real iPad version (and there needs to be).

As everyone ramps up their game, App competition will yield more and more usual services to the convenience of us all.  Please comment about any favorites you have.