Coming soon to a home near you, 66X faster internet.
June 24, 2010 by Dominik Toepfer · Leave a Comment
It takes a lot for me to be wowed by a headline. However, this article on Virgin Media’s superfast internet testing did it. I’m not sure how soon we can begin expecting this kind of technology here in the US since we’ve just begun receiving 50Mbps internet, but it could certainly be sooner than you think. Virgin Media in the UK is currently testing 400Mbps internet! Read more here.
Chilling Satellite Images of Oil Spill
June 22, 2010 by Byron Williams · Leave a Comment
I just came across something that reminded me how much technology has afforded us to do more than we ever have been able to do. NASA recently released satellite images of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, arranged in chronological order. Simply put, the images are chilling. Yes, technology has allowed us to advance but the spill has demonstrated to me that we yet have a long way to go.
April 25, 2010
May 17, 2010
Is AT&T prepared for the iPhone 4?
June 17, 2010 by Jamie Stanislav · Leave a Comment
Excitement and buzz are building around the release of the iPhone 4 next week. However, many users are wondering how AT&T plans to pull it off.
As AT&T’s network must improve to handle the advanced technology, it remains to be seen if current issues will be also be able to be resolved. AT&T has instated a capped data plan that allows users 2 gigabytes of data usage a month. AT&T hopes this helps improve their network by discouraging “data hogs” from clogging up the network.
On Tuesday, as iPhone 4 pre-orders began, AT&T was hit with so much traffic on their website with users upgrading their plans and pre-ordering the device, that it caused serious delays and errors during account sessions. Many users reported their pre-orders canceled as well as others who encountered login issues allowing them to see other user’s account information. AT&T and Apple both underestimated the amount of pre-orders that would be coming in this week. AT&T’s web site just couldn’t take it.
Despite these set backs, Apple reported that it sold over 600,000 phones on Tuesday and AT&T reported that over 13 million visitors accessed their website. Certainly these difficulties are not curbing the phone’s popularity.
As the iPhone 4 is available in stores next week, it will be interesting to see if chaos ensues on the retail front as well.
Tabnabbing: a new security exploit
June 15, 2010 by Scott Kerr · Leave a Comment
One of the latest phishing vessels to set sail has been christened “Tabnabbing” by web designer Aza Raskin. Here’s how they catch you: Let’s say you visit an infected website. The malicious agent will wait, biding its time until you open a new tab or minimize your browser window. When you’re not looking your window will then be redirected to a carefully crafted copy of say, Bank of America, Facebook, Hotmail, etc. Unwittingly, you think you’ve just left a tab open, you enter your credentials and just like that they have your info. The truly alarming part is it’s possible to detect the sites you frequent (even sites you’re currently logged into), making the threat far more targeted and potentially successful. Raskin’s article is actually a working example of this technique, though the user name and password fields on the fake phishing page will not let you enter any information.
Since the attack comes from compromised websites the virus needs not infect your own computer. It uses javascript on the web page itself to redirect your browser. This renders your anti-virus useless in this scenario. The forthcoming Account Manager for Firefox promises to prevent this and other phishing threats, but it is still in beta testing. For now your best bet is to always start with a new browser tab/window when you’re about to enter sensitive information and close any windows/tabs you’re finished with.
iPhone 4 vs. HTC Evo
June 10, 2010 by Dominik Toepfer · Leave a Comment
I was thinking it would be great to compare the iPhone 4 (just making it’s debut) to the HTC Evo and wouldn’t you know it, someone has already beat me to it!
http://mashable.com/2010/06/07/iphone-evo-droid-infographic/
A couple things I’d like to mention. I’ve seen a couple sources that state battery life on the HTC isn’t very good. iPhones have traditionally done fairly well here and chances are, the iPhone 4 battery life is even more improved.
One area that I think just might make the iPhone 4 a winner is Apple’s great implementation of multi-tasking. This will allow users a complete pause of a program in the background or only the basic tasks that need to be done. This will includes things like small data updates – maybe an incoming email or updated weather stats are coming in. This will be great to use with programs like Pandora, an online music streaming service. The iPhone’s improved multi-tasking features will allow you to listen to music while emailing or working an application and the only thing taking use of the system is the small audio stream. On the HTC EVO, each program will dettermine what it will do while in background mode – this could be a huge oversight as defaults may not fit your usage preference. As always, it’s best to find a device that fits your style, technology needs and preferences. I hope this link helps you determine the pros and costs of of these cutting-edge devices.
Greystone is hiring in Denver and Fort Collins
June 8, 2010 by Peter Melby · Leave a Comment
We are looking to add to our support teams in both Denver and Fort Collins. The Support Team role involves working with our small business clients to resolve computer, server, and network issues and working closely with the users to make sure they can do everything they need to be able to do with their computers and other technology. We are looking for people with a couple of years of basic business IT support experience – specifically with Windows Server products (Server 2003/2008, Exchange 2003/2007).
Fort Collins Job Posting / Denver Job Posting
Greystone isn’t your typical company and certainly not your typical IT support company. We have very deep relationships with our clients and we employ real people with real personalities. Our clients enjoy working with us because we care about more than just computers and we don’t all play video games in our spare time. We’re excited to bring a few more people into this culture. Spread the word.
Apple iPhone unveiling mishap. Remind you of anything?
June 8, 2010 by Byron Williams · Leave a Comment
During the unveiling of the new iPhone 4, Steve Jobs had an embarrassing few seconds as he unsuccessfully tried to connect to a Wi-Fi source. It reminded me of an even more embarrassing unveiling given by Bill Gates.
Apple really is the new Microsoft . . .
Smart Dust: changing the way we see the earth
June 3, 2010 by Jamie Stanislav · Leave a Comment
The “green” movement and the advancement of technology don’t always mesh well, but with HP’s newest research project, the two are coming together in a phenomenal way. “Smart dust” was a vision of a 1990′s researcher, Kris Pister. He imagined a dusting the surface of the earth with millions of tiny sensors that would monitor the environment. From weather, architectural soundness, chemicals in the air, the possibilities for use are endless.
HP’s website presents this project, titled CeNSE (Central Nervous System for the Earth), as countless sensors that are “stuck to bridges and buildings to warn of structural strains or weather conditions. They might be scattered along roadsides to monitor traffic, weather and road conditions. Embedded in everyday electronics, CeNSE nodes might track hospital equipment, sniff out pesticides and pathogens in food, or even “recognize” the person using them and adapt.”
To read more about the project, CNN Labs has written a comprehensive article on the progress of CeNSE as well as how it could change the way we see the earth. It’s worth a read!
Google Tips
June 1, 2010 by Scott Kerr · Leave a Comment
I don’t know about you, but when I’m looking for information I like to get it in as few clicks as possible. What I don’t like is first having to find the website with my desired data, then hunt through a myriad of befuddling fly-out menus and web forms, all the while closing those annoying ads that somehow skulked past my pop-up blocker. There’s a simpler way to search for a lot of handy information all from the same place. Google. Here are my personal favorites:
- Track packages – Enter a tracking number for FedEx, UPS, or USPS and you’ll get a link to the results.
- Weather – Enter “weather” and then your zip code. Who needs Kathy Sabine?
- Definitions – Enter “define” and then the word in question. For example, by entering “define uproarious” you’ll find out that it means “marked by or causing boisterous merriment or convulsive laughter”. Now all you have to do is casually drop it into conversation.
- Flight Info – Enter the airline followed by the flight number. Never again show up to the airport only to find out the flight has been delayed 5 hours.
- Calculator – Enter “267 * 5642” and, you guessed it, Google will promptly tell you “1,506,414”. There are many cool functions of this calculator that I won’t delve into here. I suggest you read this to find out how to take full advantage of all its features.
