Talking About Technology!
Get out and vote!
What a great idea. Our forefathers gave their lives so Americans can have the right to vote. Unfortunately, turnout at the polls is less than desirable in most elections, especially in elections that don’t involve electing a new President. It’s my opinion that our younger generations of people are the ones who don’t take full advantage of this precious right. I’m glad to see that www.MySpace.com is taking measures to help voter turnout. The popular web site has made it easy for people to register to vote directly through the social networking site. Jeff Berman, who is a senior vice president at MySpace, said "Young people in this country are really engaged in what's happening in their community and want to make a difference. The key is to make it easy for them to get engaged. By putting these tools on MySpace and putting it in front of their eyes, you make it far more likely they will use them."
Read More >
Web making college choices easier
One of the biggest decisions a young person and their family will make is choosing the right college. With so many options available for higher education, the task of choosing where to matriculate can be daunting. If you’re a parent and need help, read this article. It has some great tips on how to find the right fit for your college-bound teen. Whether you have questions about location, campus info, curriculum or financial aid information, this may help find some answers.
Read More >
Can you spare a few extra hours?
Is it possible to get some more daylight? Can we slow down how fast the world revolves so we can get all our work done? According to a new study families are cramming 43 hours worth of activity into a 24 hour day. Technology keeps making our lives better, right?
Read More >
Going once, going twice… Sold!
This three-year-old must have used Video Professor’s “Learn How to Buy and Sell on eBay®” tutorial. This young Londoner was able to purchase a pink convertible on the popular auction site before his parents realized what had happened. The mom was surfing around eBay and thought she had logged off. But after just a few clicks, the young buyer was able to purchase a $16,000 car. Fortunately for the family, the owner of the car had a sense of humor and did not make the family finalize the purchase.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
I describe last week as “what could have been.” I went 1-2 on the week, but it could have easily been 3-0. That is why today’s NFL is so compelling. You just never know what’s going to happen each week. Denver took care of business on the road at New England. The final was 17-7, but that was a complete domination by the Broncos. They had Tom Brady confused all night. Granted, Brady doesn’t exactly have an arsenal to throw to right now, but Denver’s D needs some credit. As for the other two games I picked: Jacksonville couldn’t get it done, even though they were in control for a good portion of the game. As for the Vikings, they’ll wish they had that game back later in the season. They had every opportunity to pull off the upset and get a leg up in the NFC North, but give Chicago credit for fighting back. Anyway, I’m 6-3 on the season (though I could easily be 8-1). Here are the games I like this week:
Carolina over New Orleans: Wow, what an emotional win for the Saints last Monday night. The crowd at the Superdome was the best it has been in years. Everything seemed to go right for the Saints. They are a much improved team this year, but I think their winning streak comes to an end this week. The Saints will have a hangover from last week, and they play in a very hostile environment, against a Carolina team that is hungry to get even at 2-2.
San Diego over Baltimore: If you like hard-nosed, smash-mouth, defensive football, this is the game for you. Both defenses have played great so far, and what a treat it will be to see two of the league’s best linebackers, San Diego’s Shawne Merriman and Baltimore’s Ray Lewis, playing in this game. It’s going to be a battle, that’s for sure, but I give the edge to the Chargers. Baltimore has a great defense, but their game against the Browns last week proved that their offense still needs a lot of work. San Diego, with LaDainian Tomlinson, should be able to score enough to get the road win.
New England over Cincinnati: I look at this as another “let down game.” Cincinnati is coming of a HUGE win against their most-hated rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers. They have had to deal with some distractions this week, as linebacker O’Dell Thurman was arrested for a DUI and subsequently suspended for the remainder of the season by the NFL. Two other players were in the car at the time, though they were not charged. Combine that with the fact New England should be chapped after last week’s home loss to Denver, and I think the Patriots will pull off the win.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Friday, September 22, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Sept. 22, 2006
Technology Today!
ID Theft playgrounds
Do you ever wish it was 1950 again? I know, the grass is always greener, but you have to think it was a much simpler time. I highly doubt that Ward and June had to deal with some of the same things we deal with today. As much as technology helps our lives, it often times makes it more of a hassle. More and more Americans use the Internet to bank, pay bills and manage their retirement accounts. For every person that signs up for these services, it gives hackers more fuel. Identity theft is rampant we all know that. Some studies show that ID theft cost the US economy more than $56 million last year. Read this story. It shows how easy it is for thieves to buy and sell our personal information in chat rooms. Chat rooms for thieves are what convenience stores are for us. You need a social security number and an address? No problem, that’ll be five bucks.
Read More >
Don’t leave anything behind
I am thankful, however, that there is plenty of good in the world. As the number of thieves rise, so does the number of things we can do to protect ourselves. Firefox is testing a new browser that will enable you to surf the Internet and leave little or no trace. As you surf, this new browser will automatically change your IP address, making it more difficult for hackers to find you. Click below to read more about this new browser.
Read More >
Get off your Soapbox
Do you YouTube? I bet you do. With more than 100 million downloads each day, I’m willing to wager that more people YouTube than we think. Well, Microsoft has taken notice and wants to jump on the horse. In the coming weeks, the software giant will begin testing a new site called Soapbox (http://soapbox.msn.com) in an effort to get their piece of the advertising pie. In business, if you can’t beat them, copy them!
Read More >
A significant Internet vote
I really wouldn’t be surprised if someday we begin casting our votes via the Internet. Yes, we have a very long way to go in terms of security, but with the advances we’ve already made in the past five years, the sky is the limit. A recent study shows that more and more Americans are turning to the Internet to gather information about the candidates they will support in the upcoming November election. It stands to reason that someday, we’ll no longer have to bear long lines at the polls to cast our votes.
Read More >
DSL use on the rise
It stands to reason that someday we’ll use the Internet for everything. We already use the Web to shop, gather info and stay in contact with friends and family. What next? High-speed Internet use continues to surge. According to recent findings, worldwide DSL use rose 38 percent in the past 12 months. The 56K modem better watch itself. I think it’s headed to the endangered species list.
Read More >
Be cautious of a new AOL IM worm
As you know, Video Professor teaches people how to use and get the most out of their computers. I feel it is my duty to pass along information I find about potential Internet threats. Here is a warning to all AOL Instant Messenger users. Apparently there is a new Trojan Horse on the loose that is masquerading as a JPEG file. If you open it, it can play havoc on your computer. Read the attached story for more information.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Ok, admittedly my three picks last week weren’t exactly shockers. Cincinnati was heavily favored, and they took care of business at home. Washington, with Mark Brunell as QB, isn’t off to the best start, and it’s no surprise that Dallas handled them. The only game I picked that could have been a stretch was taking Jacksonville over the defending Super Bowl Champion Steelers. But, after further review, Pittsburgh didn’t have much of a shot. Jacksonville is very, very tough at home, and nobody knew how Big Ben would play in his first game back. But, at the end of the day, I’m 5-1 on the season and confident heading into Week 3. And, just in case you think I made some easy picks last week, here are three games that go against the grain. Here are my picks.
Jacksonville over Indianapolis: The Jaguars treated me last week so I’m going to continue on this bandwagon. Jax has a potent defense and I think they can go in to the RCA Dome and come away with an upset. If any team can stifle Peyton and company, it’s the Jags.
Denver over New England: There will be a lot of people who will think I’m crazy for making this pick. Denver on the road vs. an undefeated team? Plus with Jake Plummer playing the way he’s playing, Denver should lose by two touchdowns. Right? That’s exactly why I think they’ll win. Coach Shanahan will have a great game plan, and Jake will surprise a lot of doubters.
Minnesota over Chicago: For a team that many experts wrote off well before training camp began, the Vikings are playing well. They are at home Sunday and play a very confident Bears team. Rex Grossman has the Bears playing well, but I think that comes to an end Sunday. Minnesota will win, improving to 3-0 on the year, and all the “experts” will have to eat crow.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
ID Theft playgrounds
Do you ever wish it was 1950 again? I know, the grass is always greener, but you have to think it was a much simpler time. I highly doubt that Ward and June had to deal with some of the same things we deal with today. As much as technology helps our lives, it often times makes it more of a hassle. More and more Americans use the Internet to bank, pay bills and manage their retirement accounts. For every person that signs up for these services, it gives hackers more fuel. Identity theft is rampant we all know that. Some studies show that ID theft cost the US economy more than $56 million last year. Read this story. It shows how easy it is for thieves to buy and sell our personal information in chat rooms. Chat rooms for thieves are what convenience stores are for us. You need a social security number and an address? No problem, that’ll be five bucks.
Read More >
Don’t leave anything behind
I am thankful, however, that there is plenty of good in the world. As the number of thieves rise, so does the number of things we can do to protect ourselves. Firefox is testing a new browser that will enable you to surf the Internet and leave little or no trace. As you surf, this new browser will automatically change your IP address, making it more difficult for hackers to find you. Click below to read more about this new browser.
Read More >
Get off your Soapbox
Do you YouTube? I bet you do. With more than 100 million downloads each day, I’m willing to wager that more people YouTube than we think. Well, Microsoft has taken notice and wants to jump on the horse. In the coming weeks, the software giant will begin testing a new site called Soapbox (http://soapbox.msn.com) in an effort to get their piece of the advertising pie. In business, if you can’t beat them, copy them!
Read More >
A significant Internet vote
I really wouldn’t be surprised if someday we begin casting our votes via the Internet. Yes, we have a very long way to go in terms of security, but with the advances we’ve already made in the past five years, the sky is the limit. A recent study shows that more and more Americans are turning to the Internet to gather information about the candidates they will support in the upcoming November election. It stands to reason that someday, we’ll no longer have to bear long lines at the polls to cast our votes.
Read More >
DSL use on the rise
It stands to reason that someday we’ll use the Internet for everything. We already use the Web to shop, gather info and stay in contact with friends and family. What next? High-speed Internet use continues to surge. According to recent findings, worldwide DSL use rose 38 percent in the past 12 months. The 56K modem better watch itself. I think it’s headed to the endangered species list.
Read More >
Be cautious of a new AOL IM worm
As you know, Video Professor teaches people how to use and get the most out of their computers. I feel it is my duty to pass along information I find about potential Internet threats. Here is a warning to all AOL Instant Messenger users. Apparently there is a new Trojan Horse on the loose that is masquerading as a JPEG file. If you open it, it can play havoc on your computer. Read the attached story for more information.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Ok, admittedly my three picks last week weren’t exactly shockers. Cincinnati was heavily favored, and they took care of business at home. Washington, with Mark Brunell as QB, isn’t off to the best start, and it’s no surprise that Dallas handled them. The only game I picked that could have been a stretch was taking Jacksonville over the defending Super Bowl Champion Steelers. But, after further review, Pittsburgh didn’t have much of a shot. Jacksonville is very, very tough at home, and nobody knew how Big Ben would play in his first game back. But, at the end of the day, I’m 5-1 on the season and confident heading into Week 3. And, just in case you think I made some easy picks last week, here are three games that go against the grain. Here are my picks.
Jacksonville over Indianapolis: The Jaguars treated me last week so I’m going to continue on this bandwagon. Jax has a potent defense and I think they can go in to the RCA Dome and come away with an upset. If any team can stifle Peyton and company, it’s the Jags.
Denver over New England: There will be a lot of people who will think I’m crazy for making this pick. Denver on the road vs. an undefeated team? Plus with Jake Plummer playing the way he’s playing, Denver should lose by two touchdowns. Right? That’s exactly why I think they’ll win. Coach Shanahan will have a great game plan, and Jake will surprise a lot of doubters.
Minnesota over Chicago: For a team that many experts wrote off well before training camp began, the Vikings are playing well. They are at home Sunday and play a very confident Bears team. Rex Grossman has the Bears playing well, but I think that comes to an end Sunday. Minnesota will win, improving to 3-0 on the year, and all the “experts” will have to eat crow.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, September 15, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Sept. 15, 2006
Tech, tech and more tech!!
Identity theft is no laughing matter
You can trust me when I say that ID theft is a problem. Last year, I was a victim of someone who stole a significant amount of money from me. There are many things you can do to protect yourself. Here is a helpful article that breaks down what ID theft is and how you can protect yourself. If you have more questions, Video Professor offers a tutorial on identity theft protection and recovery, and has many helpful resources on our web site, www.videoprofessor.com.
Read More >
Feel safe when you search the Net
One of the ways people can find out who you are, the first step toward them stealing your ID, is gathering the personal information you leave on search engines. Every time you Google something, you potentially leave behind little traces of who you are. There are things you can do to help eliminate traces of yourself on the Web. An advocacy group that helps raise awareness for net crimes released some tips on how to keep you safe when searching.
Read More >
Big Brother is watching himself
We all complain that the government spends way too much money and often times, what irritates us is how the money is spent. Well if you’ve ever wanted to keep tabs on how your tax dollars are being spent, the Government is now making it a little easier. By early 2008, a database will be open to the public that details how much Uncle Sam spends on projects, grants and other things. They’ve watched us for years, now we get to turn the tables.
Read More >
Is Apple finally getting in to our living rooms?
For years, computer companies have been trying to bridge the gap between our PCs and our TVs. Someday very soon these two pieces of equipment will merge. Multitasking is not just for busy people, but it is also for busy pieces of consumer electronic devices. Our cell phones, MP3 players, cameras and our home PCs will also be our TV receivers. Don’t you want to be able to surf the Web while watching CSI?
Read More >
Off topic:
Stab your friend in the back (or leg)
What happened to friendly competition? Teammates compete against each other for jobs on the gridiron, but at the end of the day, they’re supposed to support one another. Apparently the back-up punter at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley didn’t think so. Because he must have really wanted to be the No. 1 punter on the squad, he needed to take matters to the parking lot. Allegedly, Mitch Cozad attacked incumbent punter Rafael Mendoza in the parking lot and stabbed him in the kicking leg. Subsequently, Cozad has been suspended from the football team and kicked out of the dorms until the investigation is complete.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Well, I nearly pulled off the perfect weekend by picking three road teams. What happened to the Broncos? It is one thing to lose on the road, but to play as badly as they did, that was ridiculous. Jake “The Snake” Plummer did nothing to keep the finicky fans in Denver happy. He was responsible for four of Denver’s five turnovers, throwing three interceptions and fumbling once. It was not exactly a good start, especially after his performance in the AFC Championship game last year. There is a contingency of fans that are already clamoring for the rookie, Jay Cutler, to take over the reigns. With a few more performances like last week, maybe Coach Shanahan will pull the trigger. Any way, I’ll take a 2-1 record after Week 1. Here are the teams I like this week:
Cincinnati over Cleveland: After picking up an impressive win against the Chiefs in one of the league’s toughest stadiums, Arrowhead, the Bengals play their home opener against the Browns. Despite apparent improvement from the Browns, after a decent Week 1, the Bengals will just be too tough, especially at home.
Dallas over Washington: I know both teams have been down in recent years, but this is still one of the NFL’s best rivalries. The season series opens in The Big D this week and I look for the Cowboys to win. Both teams are coming off Week 1 losses, so motivation won’t be a problem. I think the boys, with T.O., will impress their home crowd.
Jacksonville over Pittsburgh: The defending Super Bowl champions, though they picked up a win to open the season, are faced with a tough, tough road trip this week. The status of Ben Roethlisberger is still in question. He says he’s ready to play, but Bill Cowher may have a different opinion.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Identity theft is no laughing matter
You can trust me when I say that ID theft is a problem. Last year, I was a victim of someone who stole a significant amount of money from me. There are many things you can do to protect yourself. Here is a helpful article that breaks down what ID theft is and how you can protect yourself. If you have more questions, Video Professor offers a tutorial on identity theft protection and recovery, and has many helpful resources on our web site, www.videoprofessor.com.
Read More >
Feel safe when you search the Net
One of the ways people can find out who you are, the first step toward them stealing your ID, is gathering the personal information you leave on search engines. Every time you Google something, you potentially leave behind little traces of who you are. There are things you can do to help eliminate traces of yourself on the Web. An advocacy group that helps raise awareness for net crimes released some tips on how to keep you safe when searching.
Read More >
Big Brother is watching himself
We all complain that the government spends way too much money and often times, what irritates us is how the money is spent. Well if you’ve ever wanted to keep tabs on how your tax dollars are being spent, the Government is now making it a little easier. By early 2008, a database will be open to the public that details how much Uncle Sam spends on projects, grants and other things. They’ve watched us for years, now we get to turn the tables.
Read More >
Is Apple finally getting in to our living rooms?
For years, computer companies have been trying to bridge the gap between our PCs and our TVs. Someday very soon these two pieces of equipment will merge. Multitasking is not just for busy people, but it is also for busy pieces of consumer electronic devices. Our cell phones, MP3 players, cameras and our home PCs will also be our TV receivers. Don’t you want to be able to surf the Web while watching CSI?
Read More >
Off topic:
Stab your friend in the back (or leg)
What happened to friendly competition? Teammates compete against each other for jobs on the gridiron, but at the end of the day, they’re supposed to support one another. Apparently the back-up punter at the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley didn’t think so. Because he must have really wanted to be the No. 1 punter on the squad, he needed to take matters to the parking lot. Allegedly, Mitch Cozad attacked incumbent punter Rafael Mendoza in the parking lot and stabbed him in the kicking leg. Subsequently, Cozad has been suspended from the football team and kicked out of the dorms until the investigation is complete.
Read More >
Picks o’ the week!
Well, I nearly pulled off the perfect weekend by picking three road teams. What happened to the Broncos? It is one thing to lose on the road, but to play as badly as they did, that was ridiculous. Jake “The Snake” Plummer did nothing to keep the finicky fans in Denver happy. He was responsible for four of Denver’s five turnovers, throwing three interceptions and fumbling once. It was not exactly a good start, especially after his performance in the AFC Championship game last year. There is a contingency of fans that are already clamoring for the rookie, Jay Cutler, to take over the reigns. With a few more performances like last week, maybe Coach Shanahan will pull the trigger. Any way, I’ll take a 2-1 record after Week 1. Here are the teams I like this week:
Cincinnati over Cleveland: After picking up an impressive win against the Chiefs in one of the league’s toughest stadiums, Arrowhead, the Bengals play their home opener against the Browns. Despite apparent improvement from the Browns, after a decent Week 1, the Bengals will just be too tough, especially at home.
Dallas over Washington: I know both teams have been down in recent years, but this is still one of the NFL’s best rivalries. The season series opens in The Big D this week and I look for the Cowboys to win. Both teams are coming off Week 1 losses, so motivation won’t be a problem. I think the boys, with T.O., will impress their home crowd.
Jacksonville over Pittsburgh: The defending Super Bowl champions, though they picked up a win to open the season, are faced with a tough, tough road trip this week. The status of Ben Roethlisberger is still in question. He says he’s ready to play, but Bill Cowher may have a different opinion.
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Friday, September 08, 2006
John W. Scherer Video Professor Blog Sept. 8, 2006
Talking Tech!!
Less talking, more driving!
We are all guilty of driving poorly from time to time. Some of us are guilty of this all the time. We all get distracted, but on the highways, it seems that we are too easily distracted. Nobody these days pay attention to the road. But can you blame us? There is too much going on. We have to fiddle with our iPods, text message a buddy, conduct a conference call on our cell phone and, oh by the way, DRIVE! Apparently the legislators in California are implementing some stricter laws regarding cell phone use in cars. The only way we are truly going to put an end to it is to ban all cell phones in cars. Is this possible? Probably not, but it can’t hurt.
Read More >
Microsoft sets Vista prices
We can see the Vista! Well, that’s if Microsoft doesn’t delay it again. Targeted for sometime early next year, Microsoft will release its new operating system, Vista. This week, pricing for the new operating system was leaked, though Microsoft would not confirm. To get a full version, you'll need to pony up $399 and $259 for an upgrade. If you want to upgrade your home version, it'll be about $100. Once you upgrade, make sure you visit http://www.videoprofessor.com/ if you have any questions or need help.
Read More >
Get your hard drive squeaky clean
Everyday it gets tougher and tougher to protect the private information we store on our home computers. Without the proper protection, hackers can invade your system and steal all your sensitive information. Even with the right protection, however, what do we do when the time comes to get a new computer? Check out this article for some tips on sanitizing your hard drive.
Read More >
Phishy, Phishy
If you’re worried that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer isn’t as safe as it could be, well, they are making some improvements. The software giant announced this week that more advanced anti-phishing technology is going to be included in IE 6 and IE 7. Working with Digital Resolve, Microsoft’s IE browser will do a much better job of detecting phishing and scam sites, keeping you much safer while surfing.
Read More >
Schools struggle with gadgets
Now that school is back in session, teachers and administrators will have it a little harder. In the past, it was tough to keep a kid’s attention anyway, but now, adding the latest gadgets to the mix, and keeping them straight is a full-time job. I hope teachers are doing more to limit cheating. What’s stopping a kid from text messaging a pal during a test to get all the answers? Or, what’s stopping a kid from storing answers and notes on their PDA? I hope that schools are making kids turn their gadgets off when they step foot into the classroom. Let them use their phones on their own time.
Read More >
Off topic:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Ok, that may be a little bit of a stretch, but the football season is here. The NFL officially kicks off this weekend and college football is in full swing. I love this time of year. Fall is just around the corner and the pigskins are flying. If you look up a few of the great match ups this weekend, how can you not love this time of year? On the college side, the two biggies are Penn State taking on Notre Dame and Ohio State traveling to Austin to face the Longhorns. We couldn’t have scripted a better week 2 game than No. 1 vs. No. 2. In addition, in Denver we all get entertained by the Rocky Mountain Showdown, pitting Colorado against in-state rival Colorado State. Now, before you bog me down with a ton of e-mails saying both teams aren’t worth the grass they play on, for the state of Colorado, it’s a great rivalry game. Plus, it’s being played at Invesco Field at Mile High, allowing 75,000+ rowdy fans to enjoy the game. I know, CU is coming off of a humiliating loss to Division I-AA Montana State, and CSU hasn’t seen the Top 25 in quite sometime. But when these teams hook up, it’s always an exciting game. Heck, in each of the last two years, CU has won on virtually the last play of each game.
Did I mention that the NFL is starting this week? I figured some of you might not have heard. Ok, I know that’s impossible, the way the NFL marketing machine works. There are some pretty intriguing NFL match ups this week. Cincinnati travels to KC, where Arrowhead is always one of the toughest stadiums in the league to play. We’ll see how Bengals QB Carson Palmer can do coming off that knee injury in the playoffs last year. Dallas plays at Jacksonville, which is normally a dog of a game, but we all get to see that circus named T.O. make his Cowboys debut. Finally, what I think will be a great game is Manning vs. Manning. The Colts and older brother Peyton travel to New York to battle baby brother Eli’s Giants. Denver is at St. Louis, by the way. The Broncos should really not have a problem with the Rams and first-year head coach Scott Linehan, but that’s what we all said about Denver last year when they lost to Miami with first-year head coach Nick Saban.
Picks o’ the week!
Because it’s football season, I’m changing the usual “Site o’ the week” post to “Picks o’ the week.” WARING: If you are using my vast football knowledge (wink, wink) to make picks in your office pool, you’ve come to the wrong place. If anything, do the opposite! Each week I’ll pick three NFL winners and will keep a season-long tally. Here are the teams I like this week.
Denver over St. Louis
Seattle over Detroit
Indianapolis over N.Y. Giants
(Oops, did I just pick three road teams?)
Have a good week!
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
Less talking, more driving!
We are all guilty of driving poorly from time to time. Some of us are guilty of this all the time. We all get distracted, but on the highways, it seems that we are too easily distracted. Nobody these days pay attention to the road. But can you blame us? There is too much going on. We have to fiddle with our iPods, text message a buddy, conduct a conference call on our cell phone and, oh by the way, DRIVE! Apparently the legislators in California are implementing some stricter laws regarding cell phone use in cars. The only way we are truly going to put an end to it is to ban all cell phones in cars. Is this possible? Probably not, but it can’t hurt.
Read More >
Microsoft sets Vista prices
We can see the Vista! Well, that’s if Microsoft doesn’t delay it again. Targeted for sometime early next year, Microsoft will release its new operating system, Vista. This week, pricing for the new operating system was leaked, though Microsoft would not confirm. To get a full version, you'll need to pony up $399 and $259 for an upgrade. If you want to upgrade your home version, it'll be about $100. Once you upgrade, make sure you visit http://www.videoprofessor.com/ if you have any questions or need help.
Read More >
Get your hard drive squeaky clean
Everyday it gets tougher and tougher to protect the private information we store on our home computers. Without the proper protection, hackers can invade your system and steal all your sensitive information. Even with the right protection, however, what do we do when the time comes to get a new computer? Check out this article for some tips on sanitizing your hard drive.
Read More >
Phishy, Phishy
If you’re worried that Microsoft’s Internet Explorer isn’t as safe as it could be, well, they are making some improvements. The software giant announced this week that more advanced anti-phishing technology is going to be included in IE 6 and IE 7. Working with Digital Resolve, Microsoft’s IE browser will do a much better job of detecting phishing and scam sites, keeping you much safer while surfing.
Read More >
Schools struggle with gadgets
Now that school is back in session, teachers and administrators will have it a little harder. In the past, it was tough to keep a kid’s attention anyway, but now, adding the latest gadgets to the mix, and keeping them straight is a full-time job. I hope teachers are doing more to limit cheating. What’s stopping a kid from text messaging a pal during a test to get all the answers? Or, what’s stopping a kid from storing answers and notes on their PDA? I hope that schools are making kids turn their gadgets off when they step foot into the classroom. Let them use their phones on their own time.
Read More >
Off topic:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year!
Ok, that may be a little bit of a stretch, but the football season is here. The NFL officially kicks off this weekend and college football is in full swing. I love this time of year. Fall is just around the corner and the pigskins are flying. If you look up a few of the great match ups this weekend, how can you not love this time of year? On the college side, the two biggies are Penn State taking on Notre Dame and Ohio State traveling to Austin to face the Longhorns. We couldn’t have scripted a better week 2 game than No. 1 vs. No. 2. In addition, in Denver we all get entertained by the Rocky Mountain Showdown, pitting Colorado against in-state rival Colorado State. Now, before you bog me down with a ton of e-mails saying both teams aren’t worth the grass they play on, for the state of Colorado, it’s a great rivalry game. Plus, it’s being played at Invesco Field at Mile High, allowing 75,000+ rowdy fans to enjoy the game. I know, CU is coming off of a humiliating loss to Division I-AA Montana State, and CSU hasn’t seen the Top 25 in quite sometime. But when these teams hook up, it’s always an exciting game. Heck, in each of the last two years, CU has won on virtually the last play of each game.
Did I mention that the NFL is starting this week? I figured some of you might not have heard. Ok, I know that’s impossible, the way the NFL marketing machine works. There are some pretty intriguing NFL match ups this week. Cincinnati travels to KC, where Arrowhead is always one of the toughest stadiums in the league to play. We’ll see how Bengals QB Carson Palmer can do coming off that knee injury in the playoffs last year. Dallas plays at Jacksonville, which is normally a dog of a game, but we all get to see that circus named T.O. make his Cowboys debut. Finally, what I think will be a great game is Manning vs. Manning. The Colts and older brother Peyton travel to New York to battle baby brother Eli’s Giants. Denver is at St. Louis, by the way. The Broncos should really not have a problem with the Rams and first-year head coach Scott Linehan, but that’s what we all said about Denver last year when they lost to Miami with first-year head coach Nick Saban.
Picks o’ the week!
Because it’s football season, I’m changing the usual “Site o’ the week” post to “Picks o’ the week.” WARING: If you are using my vast football knowledge (wink, wink) to make picks in your office pool, you’ve come to the wrong place. If anything, do the opposite! Each week I’ll pick three NFL winners and will keep a season-long tally. Here are the teams I like this week.
Denver over St. Louis
Seattle over Detroit
Indianapolis over N.Y. Giants
(Oops, did I just pick three road teams?)
Have a good week!
John W. Scherer
CEO and Founder
VIDEO PROFESSOR, Inc.
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