Chet Davis Tech Tutor

07/31/2025

Imagine electronic price stickers on the shelves of your grocery store. This is already in pace in parts of Europe and may be coming to the US. This allows the proprietor to change prices instantly.

https://www.wsj.com/business/retail/surge-grocery-prices-electronic-shelf-labels-a3d47701?st=AuEKBa&mod=1440&user_id=678e6bf149acf1300902b641

02/15/2025

I know some people are praising this, saying something needed to be done with the federal budget and “waste”
I do agree that government spending does in fact need some major reform - to eliminate waste and true fraud.
And I believe addressing the part that lobbyists play in Washington is long overdue.

The concern about the work of DOGE team of 20-year old computer programmers (apart from the absence of being properly vetted and supervised) is that they have attached private hard drives to government computer systems (that would _never_ be allowed at any reputable company) and at least one of them was given access that allows him to write (program) government systems - instead of read only which was what we were told originally.

Given the leader of DOGE is a private businessman who has questionable intentions and has publicly stated “Regulations, basically, should be default gone,” There is an appropriate amount of concern of this team essentially muscling their way into our government systems.

While there are plenty of news stories about this private take-over of our federal government, there are tasks I would share to help do your best to protect your privacy and security.

- Freeze your credit thru the 3 credit bureaus. � A credit freeze is one major way to help prevent identity theft and fraud, even if someone has key information, such as your birthdate and Social Security number. � You’ll find the steps to do this here: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/how-to-freeze-credit

- Place Fraud and Large Activity alerts on your bank/s and credit card/s. So you are notified promptly if there is suspicious activity on one of your accounts. You can do this easily on there website for your bank/card, or you can call the number on the back of your card for assistance.

- Most consumer protection groups recommend checking your credit/credit report at least once a year. Here is more info on that: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/10/you-now-have-permanent-access-freeweekly-credit-reports

While there are groups and individuals doing the work to attempt to address the alleged illeagl work of DOGE these are things each of us can do to increase our personal financial security.

01/02/2025

New Year’s tech humor

09/20/2024

Friday Funny...

Message in a Bottle - 21st century version
I can't help but hear Sting singing the lyrics when I see this. Hmm, it is more waterproof than earlier versions?
And I would need an adapter to plug it into my current laptop (USB A> USB C)

09/16/2024

Amazing what some people knew back when computers were large and not in our homes or in our pockets 

08/16/2024

Flashback Friday
Tandy/RadioShack introduced the TRS – 80 pocket computer in July 1980.

It had 1.9 K of RAM, compare that with today’s iPhone, which has 8 GB of RAM. 

04/26/2024

Are you connected to someone on Facebook or another social media platform whose posts regularly irk you?
Whether it's politics or some other topic - there is a way to stay connected for social or professional reaseons, but avoid their rants or posts that cause you to think "look at them, being annoying again!"

You can mute or snooze them. “This can preserve your mental wellbeing while maintaining social or professional networks,” she says.

Read more in this article:

Experts say setting boundaries online creates a healthier digital environment and helps preserve your mental wellbeing

03/29/2024

Your Friday Funny -
Even the Easter Bunny says "there's an App for that!"

02/11/2024

Always fascinated by what's behind the scenes- here's the cameras and technology utilized to bring this years Superbowl game to your TV

12/23/2023

A great gift or stocking stuffer is the AirTag from Apple.
It’s one of my newer, favorite travel gadgets.

You likely have heard of these - small discs that you connect to your iPhone. You can identify their location from the “Find My” app. I have these on my keychains and put them in my luggage when I travel.

Recently I could not find my keys so I was glad I had this attached - I checked the FineMy app and discovered they were at my home (ok, good). I used the “find” option in the App and it led me to my closet. Then I used the “Play sound” option and it chirped. I had to click multiple times as I rifled through my closet and found the keys were in a pants pocket. Success!

You can see in the attached pic I also checked in the FindMy app while sitting on our planet at the Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand. We had just boarded and I wanted to confirm both bags made it out of the airport onto the flight and yes. I could rest comfortably knowing my luggage was with me.

I was talking with a friend whose luggage was lost while traveling. They went to the carrier’s luggage office at the airport (where the FindMy app showed their suitcase was) and were led into a room full of hundreds of bags. They used the “find” option to head straight to their bag and voila! They were reunited with their belongings. They said the airline staff were amazed.

There are all kinds of accessories for AirTags that allow you to attach them to a variety of items. I do have the keychain attachment but I don’t use the luggage straps. Instead just tuck an AirTag deep into your suitcase - if there’s a secret pocket that’s good. I put mine into a sock or one of my travel nylon bags that holds my tech goodies.

10/04/2023

Remember those Emergency Broadcast Alerts growing up? Well today you’ll get an updated version of that:

If you have a mobile phone and you live in the US you’ll receive an Emergency Alert today at 11”20AM Pacific Time (2:20PM Eastern)

The message that will appear on your phone will read: “THIS IS A TEST of the National Wireless Emergency Alert System. No action is needed.”

FEMA, in coordination with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), will conduct a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alerts (WEA).

The national test will consist of two portions, testing WEA and EAS capabilities. Both tests are scheduled to begin at approximately 2:20 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 4.

The WEA portion of the test will be directed to all consumer cell phones. This will be the third nationwide test, but the second test to all cellular devices. The test message will display in either English or in Spanish, depending on the language settings of the wireless handset.

if you’re watching TV (Broadcast TV, not cable channels) you’ll also receive an alert at the same time.
The EAS portion of the test will be sent to radios and televisions. This will be the seventh nationwide EAS test.

FEMA and the FCC are coordinating with EAS participants, wireless providers, emergency managers and other stakeholders in preparation for this national test to minimize confusion and to maximize the public safety value of the test.

The purpose of the Oct. 4 test is to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level.