Security: Evernote Warning Should Mean Changing Our Online Behavior and Complacency (And Passwords Often)

If you don't know by now, Evernote has warned that everyone change their passwords because "Evernote's Operations & Security team has discovered and blocked suspicious activity on the Evernote network that appears to have been a coordinated attempt to access secure areas of the Evernote Service". (Evernote blog)

A couple of observations about this.  Before I start, I want to say that this is not specific to Evernote.  In fact, various media outlets, like the New York Times, Washington Post, and WSJ, along with tech giants like Yahoo and Google in the past and, more recently, Apple, Facebook, Twitter, and Microsoft were all victims of coordinated and sophisticated hacking attacks.

And with more of us putting our data in the cloud, through various services and webapps and apps, we have to assume that one or more of them is always under cyberattacks and threats.  Furthermore, we may even have to assume that some of our data has already been compromised.

So, constantly changing passwords becomes all the more important than ever.  Backing up your data is also very important - not just stuff on your PC hard drive.  This goes for any banking or online purchases you might undertake - while you probably cannot back up your all your data, you might be able to download some data or take screen shots.

Also, don't think just because we spend more time on our mobile devices and less on PCs means that we are any safer.  Complacency is going to be a big killer.

Regardless of what Apple, Facebook, Google, Microsoft, or your online bankers say, we cannot assume that they will be able to protect us thoroughly.  I reckon we are just one major attack away from really putting the fear of God into all of us.  And I think such a major attack is likely to happen sooner rather than later.

I've got a lot of my Evernote, e-mails, and other online docs backed up as are my passwords on a mobile backup drive.  I'm not sure that's even enough.  And it does take discipline to do all that I've mentioned.

It's like credit card frauds.  I've had it happened a couple of time to me already.  It happens even though I thought I've done everything I can to be careful.  It happens.

Just like a cloud attack.

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Disrupting Television and Radio: Apple Will Use Podcasts To Revolutionize How We Consume Media (It Has Already Started)

Source: Yahoo.

Recently, there have been some chatters out what iTunes and the App Store means to Apple's growing ecosystem. What folks are not talking about is podcasting and what it could truly mean not only for Apple's future but for media in general.
The problem with podcasting is how it started and how folks have since come to see what it means.

I've listened to podcasts long beside Apple made it a household name. They were everywhere. Not like today but if you google audio broadcast for the Internet, you would have found something. Of course, things have changed. iTunes is very easy place to find a podcast on just about everything and every subject you want to listen too.

Tons on mobile tech, politics, entertainment. And now, video podcasting seems to be taking off. But the misnomer that this is amateur is still sticking. Obviously,for those I'd is who listen to them judiciously, we know that quality various. You've got TV broadcasts that are provided by networks as podcasts like CNN or MSNBC to broadcasts from NPR and other public radio apparatuses. Then you've got stuff that are produced cheaply out of out of people's apartments via Skype.

If you examine Apple's decision to pull podcasts out of iTunes and create a dedicated app for it, you can come to the conclusion that perhaps, there is a different media channel that Apple wants isolated from the rest of iTunes.

I suspect that Apple will eventually offer an iTunes model that will allow podcast producers to monetize their work not unlike what they've done for the TV show models, allowing users to purchase individual podcasts or subscribe to a set or season of podcasts.

This will be a whole different boom for entertainers, content providers, and individuals that the old media model that we are familiar with. This is simply a new shift that broadcast and cable/satellite providers will not be able to provide or keep up.

Suppose a band produces a series of performances, audio/video contents, and even exclusive music via a podcast subscription. This would allow them to connect with its fans in ways that music labels or even the iTunes Store can do.
Or even radio drama or NPR can release podcasts but for a little extra content, listens would be able to paid for a subscription for an extra hour of interviews or video.

And let's not forget ad-supported podcasts that I am sure you're already familiar with. Audible.com is a frequent sponsor of podcasts I listen to. I am sure free but audio supported podcasts will still exist when Apple moves the monetization of podcasting along.

And why not? We are likely talking about billions of dollars that are currently being left on the table for both Apple and podcast providers.

I get the feeling that this may be in part to what Steve Jobs was referring to when he said he cracked television. He's not necessarily talking about getting media owners to liberalize their content and unbundle their channels but empowering producers and other media providers to distribute their audio or video shows directly to consumers.

When this new podcasting dynamics take off, watch out. This will totally disrupt Hollywood in a big way and utterly destroy the current notions we hold about television and radio.

Social: POTUS Likely Lost Space Geek Votes (Not That He Needs Them Anymore)

Source:  Politico.

I have never seen a Star Wars fanboy agree with a Star Trek ensign agree on anything regarding their respective space saga.  Have you?  My guess is you probably never had both in the same room before.

I think it would take Starfleet armada to take on a Death Star but you never want to discount anything when guys like Kirk or Solo gets into the mix.  This is not about SW versus ST.  I know better than to go down that road.

This is about President Barack Obama’s “Jedi mind meld” in his sequester speech.

Wacom To Release Real Tablet (Probably With A Pen)

Source:  The Loop.

Wacom, the folks who made drawing pads, is looking to enter the tablet market.  I like to say that it'll probably be Android-based but we'll see if they surprise us with a Windows 8 version.

One this is for sure:  it'll have a pen.

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What if Pixel Was $999? Would You Buy It?

I’ve read a few blogs about how Google’s Chrome OS 12” netbook with “Apple-beating Retina” display that it was an awesome notebook except it was still more expensive than a fully equipped Macbook Air.  First, let’s get this out of the way.  No one is going to mistaken the Pixel for a Macbook in terms of features or apps.

Rather, Pixel is about the future when Web standards are so robust that webapps can do pretty much what standalone apps for OS X, Windows, Linux, iOS, and, heck, even Android are capable of.

Again, this is about the future.  For now, I have to agree with a lot of people who suggests that even if a price cut to $999, they still would not buy a Pixel.  I simply don’t have a grand to throw around and I’m very content with my Macbook Air.

However, who knows in a few years when Google’s innovative energy can allow a Web-based OS and laptop to begin to challenge the status quo in the PC market.

But note this.  I expect those who would buy a Pixel to be very innovative and resourceful people.  I can't help but feel that some kind of jailbreak or hack could allow the Pixel to do much, much more that may make it more enticing to mobile warriors.

For now, it's a pretty netbook with a lot of power but not much else.

Sounds Fishy: $330 4.5" iPhone in 2014? Sounds Like A Plant

Source:  Appleinsider.

There's an iPHone rumor going around today that I want to address.  Before, I get into it, again, I don't like traffic in rumors but I think it's okay to discuss in the context of what it truly means to me.

The rumor is that there will be an iPhone that will cost $330 that has a polycarbonate body.  If true, this is what I think the specs will be like.  It's likely a unibody with a 3.5" Retina Display like the current iPhone 4/4S.  It could have a body very similar to the iPhone 3G/3GS but less angular along the side.  The camera could be well be only 5MP because Apple like won't give anything more than that because if you want 8MP or more, you'll have to shell out money for the iPhone 5 or better.

When An Apple Product Goes Out of Stock, It Makes A Lot of Sound Even If No One Is Around

Source:  Appleinsider.

Every time something that Apple sells goes out of stock or low in inventory, it’s news.  The reason is because it’s cause for belief that something new is around the corner.  This time, it’s Apple’s Thunderbolt display.

It may well be just an update to the display is coming so it’s nothing to get excited about.  After all, it is just a display.  A FCC finding earlier revealed that a minor update to the Apple TV which was largely met with a “meh”.

You never want to discount anything though.  Yesterday, I talked about the lack of news about the next OS X version as well as anything new on iOS and iPad.

Still, keep your fingers crossed until we know more.