FPCUG Notes for October 2019 Editor: Frank Fota ([email protected])

FPCUG Notes for October 2019 Editor: Frank Fota (Fotafm@Gmail.Com)

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (7:00 PM - Falmouth Firehouse, Butler Road): -- Tues, Oct 1: Technology Workshop (Josh Cockey) -- Tues, Oct 8: Board of Directors (BoD) Meeting (Patty Davis, Presiding) -- Thu, Oct 10: General Meeting. The FPCUG plans to facilitate a discussion following three TED Talks: TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, and Design. We will begin with computer scientist Supasorn Suwajanakorn, who will present “Fake videos of real people -- and how to spot them.” Artificial Intelligence and 3D modeling are used to create photorealistic fake videos of people synced to audio. Learn about the ethical implications and creative possibilities of this tech -- and the steps being taken to fight against its misuse. Next, we will hear from the professor of physics at TU Delft, Leo Kouwenhoven. Professor Kouwenhoven will discuss quantum computing, “Can we make quantum technology work?” His team at the QU Tech Lab designs experiments to place electrons in superpositions. Why? Because we need computers that can process information as quickly and efficiently as nature does (i.e., using quantum mechanics). Superposition is essentially being in two separate places and in both places at the same time. Electrons can circle different atoms at the same time and this is the glue that keeps molecules together and stops them from falling apart. It's the molecular machinery that allows a green leaf to "process" light into oxygen in the fastest and most efficient way possible. If a plant can process (i.e., “think”) that way, why can't a computer? Finally, Navin Reddy, CEO of the distance learning company Telusko, will discuss, “Blockchain: The Underrated Technology.” Blockchain is a buzzword that you may have heard about but don’t understand. Some people think it’s just a fad (e.g., cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin use it). Mr. Reddy suggests that blockchain can solve problems which we think have no solutions. He asks if blockchain will change the way we use the Internet. He asks if we are ready for such changes. The public is invited and refreshments will be served. -- Tues, Oct 15: All About Your Computer (Robert Monroe) – NEW !!! -- Thu, Oct 17: Experimac Workshop 1865-106 Carl D. Silver Parkway -- Thu, Oct 24: Windows All Workshop (Jim Hopkins)

SEPTEMBER GENERAL MEETING RECAP Caroline Family YMCA Health and Wellness Director, Angela Bush, discussed many of the ongoing family, fitness and educational programs at the Caroline Family YMCA and throughout the community. Ms. Bush said that the Caroline Family YMCA is more than a fitness center, they are a lifelong learning center focused on health, fitness and helping youth achieve their goals. https://family- ymca.org/

APPLE iOS 13 Apple released iOS 13 on September 19th to enthusiastic reviews. Tom’s Guide Editor-in- Chief Mark Spoonauer says, “The focus this time around is on much improved

1 performance, a new Dark Mode and overhauled apps including Maps, Photos and Reminders.” Mr. Spoonauer provided a long list of improvements and features including:  Loading apps up to 2x faster  A Dark Mode that improves the contrast in photos  A swipe typing option with a Quick Path keyboard  Smarter reminders that automatically recognize dates and times  A “Sign in With Apple” feature that’s more secure and makes it easier to sign into apps  An improved Maps app that has more detail and new features (e.g., frequently used locations)  Improved sorting options that make it easier to find photos  Improved text-to-speech ( Siri )  Memoji – A more personal, more customizable, more accessible emoji  Selectable Wi-Fi network in Control Center

iOS 13 will run on the iPhone 6s and later. If you haven’t upgraded to iOS 13, you may wish to wait as many bugs have been reported (see “Apple iOS 13 Warnings Issued For Millions Of iPhone Users” or “A New iOS Arrives, Along With a Few Bugs”). An update to iOS 13 is expected to address these bugs by the time you read this article .

THE iPhone 11 AND 11 PRO The iPhone 11 promises much and at $699, is actually $50 cheaper than the iPhone XR. Tom’s Guide Editor-in- Chief Mark Spoonauer provides an informative 5½ minute video review here. A “spatial audio” feature provides deeper and richer sound including support for Dolby Atmos. The iPhone 11 sports dual cameras that offer wide focus and improved low light photos. The A13 Bionic processor is the fastest offered in modern cell phones. Apple claims the glass used is more durable. Drop tests, however, are needed to verify this. Apple also claims that the phone is more water-resistant. The battery was tested to last over 11 hours on their web surfing test. A fast charger works with but is not included with the iPhone 11. The fast charger is part of the more expensive iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max packages. The differences between the phones are available on the Apple website.

Editor’s Note: September was a huge month for Apple, Inc. Apple released iOS 13, the iPhone 11, the seventh-generation iPad, and the Apple Watch Series 5. SEARCH ENGINE TIPS I am certain you have become as frustrated as me when an internet search results in hundreds of thousands of results that have little if anything to do with the item you were searching for. I often see meaningless returns when searching for computer parts (e.g., old laptop batteries) and find myself refining or excluding search terms. Bob Rankin (askbobrankin.com) provides useful tips for refining your search terms to improve results. Using quotation marks around keywords or phrases limits 2 search results to those with the exact words or phrases as quoted. Results are also limited to the phrase in the exact order specified (e.g., “Four score and seven years ago”). You can also exclude search terms by using a hyphen (e.g., -lithium batteries will return results for batteries that do not contain lithium). You can also exclude an exact phrase (e.g., -“Hewlett-Packard”). However, excluding the exact phrase -“Hewlett-Packard” would not exclude HP so you would need to add -HP (i.e., -“Hewlett-Packard” -HP). Bob also recommends using Wildcards when you are uncertain of the spelling. This is especially useful with regard to foreign names and places (e.g., George Steph*nop*l*s or Chernob*l*). You can also limit searches by time/date. In Google Chrome, perform the search and then select the tools button and Any time. You can then select current results from the drop-down menu or older results. You can also set a custom date range. To search within a specific website, Bob suggests, “you can search just that one site by specifying its name immediately after the operator site: – i.e., site:askbobrankin.com faxing will return only articles on my site that mention faxing. This is especially useful on sites that don't have an integrated search feature.” If you are searching for a spreadsheet template or a PDF document, you can specify the file type (e.g., batteries filetype:xls or batteries filetype:pdf).

QUANTUM SUPREMACY? Google claims to have attained quantum supremacy. In other words, their quantum computer has performed a task that the most powerful supercomputer could not. Since Google had an agreement with NASA to use its supercomputer as a benchmark, the claim initially appeared in a paper posted on NASA’s website. Google claimed its 72-qubit quantum computer performed a calculation in three minutes and 20 seconds that would take the most advanced supercomputer (i.e., Summit) approximately 10,000 years to complete. San Francisco bureau chief of MIT Technology Review Martin Giles describes the speed of quantum computers saying, “Quantum machines are so powerful because they harness quantum bits or qubits. Unlike classical bits, which represent either a 1 or a 0, qubits can be in a kind of combination of both at the same time. Thanks to other quantum phenomena, which are described in our explainer here, quantum computers can crunch large amounts of data in parallel that conventional machines have to work through sequentially.” It is not clear what calculation Google’s quantum computer performed. The achievement will spark additional research and development of quantum computers. At present, quantum processors are prone to errors. Minute changes in conditions (e.g., temperature or vibration) are typically to blame. Researchers believe that quantum computers will soon solve difficult problems that classical computers struggle to solve (e.g., designing drugs to treat disease, improving supply chain management, and advancing artificial intelligence). If you are desperate to solve the climate crisis, eradicate world hunger, cure cancer, or activate the neural network-based conscious group mind (i.e., Skynet), IBM will allow the public to use its 53-qubit quantum computer when it is brought online in October 2019.

ANDROID APPS (FLEECEWARE) OVERCHARGING USERS The cybersecurity company SophosLabs discovered a number of Android applications on Google’s Play Market that charge users high fees for services that can be obtained from free apps. Because these apps are not overtly malware or potentially unwanted apps, Sophos has coined them “fleeceware.” Sophos asked Google if such apps violate their terms and conditions. Writing for Sohos News, Jagadeesh Chandraiah says, “We have not received a response from Google representatives about whether high-value monthly subscriptions to apps with very basic functionality violates their in-app purchasing policies.” However, Google has removed 14 of 15 apps they were informed about. When the apps are run, they prompt users to sign up for a very short trial period. Payment information is needed before the app will run. What most users do not understand is that they must inform the app developer that they are canceling their trial period. Uninstalling the apps does not constitute a cancellation. App developers are not violating the law but such practices appear to be unethical and Google should consider ending the practice.

WEBSITE SHORTCUTS – COMPUTER TIP I found a useful tip on Dave’s Computer Tips (formerly Windows Secrets) for creating shortcuts on the desktop for the websites you visit most. The process varies from one browser to another and Dick Evans, writing for Dave’s Computer Tips, describes it using Google Chrome. First, open Chrome to the website you wish to create a shortcut for. Then click on the 3 vertical dots in the upper right corner of the browser. Click on “More Tools” and select “Create Shortcut.” You can then change the shortcut name to match the website (e.g., USAA Bank). The shortcut will be placed on the desktop using an appropriate icon. Adding an appropriate icon is a great feature as it makes it easier to identify the website you are looking for on your desktop. You can now create shortcuts with icons for other sites you frequently visit. If you do not use Google Chrome, you can create an internet shortcut on the desktop by right-clicking on an empty area of your desktop with your mouse. Select “New” and “Shortcut.”

You then need to enter the web address for the shortcut.

You can copy the address by right-clicking on the URL at the top of your browser and selecting “Copy.” You then need to enter a name for the shortcut. Select “Finish” to place the shortcut on your desktop.

AMAZON LAUNCHES 14 NEW DEVICES In a 90-minute long event held on September 25th, Amazon announced the availability of Writing for techradar, Gerald Lynch and John McCann list the new devices and pre-order links in the US, UK, and Australia: 1. Amazon Echo Dot with Clock ($59.99 / £59.99 / AU$99) 2. All-new Amazon Echo ($99.99 / £89.99 / AU$149) 3. Amazon Echo Studio ($199.99 / £189.99 / AU$329) 4. Amazon Echo Show 8 ($129.99 / £119.99) 5. Amazon Echo Buds ($129.99 / £119.99) 6. Amazon Echo Flex ($24.99 / £24.99) 7. Amazon eero (from $99 / £99) 8. Ring Stick-Up Cam ($99.99 / £89) 9. Ring Indoor Cam ($59.99) 10. Amazon Echo Glow ($29.99) 11. Amazon Smart Oven ($249.99) 12. Amazon Echo Frames ($179.99, invite only) 13. Amazon Echo Loop ($129.99, invite only) 14. Retrofit alarm kit (from $199)  Bonus: Samuel L. Jackson voice for Alexa ($0.99) Most of the new Amazon devices are Wifi/Alexa enabled so if you already use the Echo or Eero mesh router, these devices are likely appealing. If you don’t these devices may inspire you to take the plunge. The source techradar article has links to hands-on reviews, news, and analysis of the September 25th event, and the new Amazon devices.

GOOGLE’S PIXEL 4 AND PIXEL 4 XL Google sees itself as a contender in the smartphone market and they’ve taken aim at Apple iPhone 11 buyers. Google is set to announce the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL on October 15th. Writing for Android Community, Rei Padla says that the phones will be priced at $900 and $1,237 respectively. So what features can you expect to see on the new phones? A 5.7” and 6.3” OLED display, respectively. Both displays refresh at 90 Hz; Google calls this “Smooth Display.” Both phones will use Snapdragon 855 processors with 6GB of RAM. Storage will vary from 64 to 128 GB in both devices. The

5 battery in the Pixel 4 is rated at 2,800 mAh and the Pixel 4 XL at 3,700 mAh. The camera has always been Google’s strong point and the reason many choose the Pixel (Disclaimer, I use a Pixel 3 XL). Stephen Hall, Managing Editor for 9to5Google says, “We also have word on the Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL camera specs. There are two sensors on the rear, one of which is a 12MP shooter with phase-detect auto-focus. Also, confirming details that we unearthed in the Google Camera app, the other rear sensor on the Google Pixel 4 and Pixel 4 XL is a 16MP telephoto lens.” Google has a small but rising market share in North America (i.e., 2.34%). When looking at smartphone sales for 2018 (available here), Google was the third most successful in the North American and sixth in Western Europe. While smartphone sales dropped by 23% in the US, sales of the Google Pixel rose by 43%! This statistic is amazing when you consider that the Pixel is only offered in one carrier’s stores (i.e., Verizon’s) and is sold in only 12 countries. Additionally, the Pixel is the only smartphone model that Google sells. Globally, Google has yet to gain the support that Apple, Samsung, Huawei, and Xiaomi have. However, they have only been in the Smartphone business for three years and in that short time span, they have produced an impressive smartphone. It will be interesting to see what Pixel 4 sales look like as we approach the Christmas season.

EVENTS IN COMPUTER HISTORY (Paraphrase and additions to the Iceni Technology Blog by Iceni Technology Contributor Rebecca Coe and historical data from the website http://www.computerhistory.org/tdih/)

-- Oct 1 --

A Metrolink engineer at the helm of a commuter train in Los Angeles, CA, was found to have been text messaging seconds before colliding with a freight train (2008). 25 people were killed in the accident and numerous injured. Many states have passed laws enforcing hands-free only cellular use that restricts drivers from the distracted driving inherent in hands-on texting and cellular phone.

-- Oct 3 -- John Bardeen, Walter Brattain, and William Shockley patented the transistor (1950). The three AT&T Bell Laboratories researchers had successfully tested the first of their devices two years earlier. The transistor started a revolution in computer engineering that led to the development of the semiconductors, microprocessors, and integrated circuits common in modern computers.

-- Oct 5 -- The Linux Kernel (operating system) was released (1991). Twenty-one-year-old Linus Torvalds created the Linux Kernel while studying Computer Science at the

University of Helsinki. In 1991, Torvalds asked in a Usenet message for feedback and advice on an operating system he was developing as a hobby. Torvalds and thousands of programmers from all over the world collaborated to produce a General Public License for the Linux Kernel. Tux, the penguin, is an instantly recognizable icon of Linux. Tux is said to have been named by James Hughes as an abbreviation for Torvalds UniX, and was created by programmer Larry Ewing. -- Oct 6 -- Instagram launched in 2010. Prior to setting up Instagram with Mike Krieger, co-founder Kevin Systrom interned at Odeo, (i.e., Twitter). He worked for two years at Google; on Gmail and the Google Reader during his first year, and with the Corporate Development team during the second. Instagram has 30 million+ users, and following its launch, Instagram for Android was downloaded over 1 million times on the first day! A deal was struck with Facebook for the $1 billion purchase of Instagram in April 2012.

-- Oct 9 -- The first consumer use of home banking via computer by the United American Bank occurred in Knoxville, TN on October 9, 1980.

-- Oct 11 -- Microsoft Office 2013 was released on October 11, 2012. A product key was issued by Microsoft for this edition of Office, rather than the usual disc format, providing users with a quicker installation via Microsoft’s application streaming system. Changes to Microsoft’s licensing agreement for Office 2013 meant that transferring software from one machine to another was no longer permitted (i.e., digital download software restrictions applied).

-- Oct 11 -- Dorr E. Felt was granted a patent for the Comptometer (1887). He experimented with an adding device that he built in a "macaroni box." The Comptometer, an adder, displayed a single register of results. Subtraction was carried out by nines-complement arithmetic, and multiplication by repeated addition. The device was a commercial success for businesses, and "Comptometer schools" were established early in the 20th century to teach the efficient operation of this machine.

-- Oct 12 –

Steve Jobs Introduced the NeXT Computer he conceived of after moving on from Apple Computer Inc., which he co-founded with Steve Wozniak. Although the NeXT ultimately failed in the marketplace, it introduced several features new to personal computers, including an optical storage disc, a built-in digital signal processor that allowed voice recognition, and object-oriented languages that simplified

7 programming. The relatively high price of $6,500 limited sales. NeXT Computer Inc. eventually became NeXT Software Inc. and then was bought by Apple in 1997.

-- Oct 13 -- Ameritech Mobile Communications (now Cingular) launched the first US cellular network in Chicago, Illinois (1983).

-- Oct 14 -- October 14th is the anniversary of the British Computer Society (BCS), founded in 1957. BCS is one of the several international societies that have an affiliate membership relationship with the IEEE Computer Society. Since 1984 BCS has operated under a Royal Charter which requires it to: "...promote the study and practice of Computing and to advance knowledge therein for the benefit of the public."

-- Oct 16 -- Control Data Corp. released its model 1604 computer, the first in the line from the company formed by a group that left Sperry Rand Corp., led by William Norris (1959). The 1604 was the most powerful computer in its day, designed by Seymour Cray, who would go on to a career in super-computers. Applications of the CDC 1604 included real-time data processing, controlling weapons systems, solving large-scale scientific problems, and commercial applications.

-- Oct 17 -- Intel introduced the 32-bit 80386 CPU in 1985. The CPU was the first Intel/*86 chip to handle 32-bit data sets and was backward compatible with previous generations of 80×86 CPUs.

-- Oct 17 -- The Internet Movie Database (IMDb) launched on October 17, 1990. The IMDb was created by Col Needham, following an initial posting on Usenet, which listed actresses with beautiful eyes. The posting went viral and Actors and Directors lists were added. Needham developed a search function for the database to cope with millions of entries. In 1998, the IMDb was sold to Amazon.com for an undisclosed sum. Needham remained as Chief Executive and the IMDb continued to operate from his home in Bristol. The IMDb website attracts over 160 million visitors each month.

-- Oct 21 -- An Wang patented magnetic ferrite core memory (1949), calling it "pulse transfer controlling devices. " Computer designers wanted to record and read magnetically stored information without mechanical motion. Wang's magnetic core memory was key to later computer design. Wang Laboratories was founded

2-yrs later.

-- Oct 22 -- Microsoft Windows 7 was released worldwide for retail sale on October 22, 2009. The release occurred a short 3 years after Windows Vista.

-- Oct 23 –

Apple introduced the iPod (2001). Originally equipped with a miniature hard disk; future versions used flash memory. Apple said the iPod let users “put 1,000 songs in your pocket.” Although not the first handheld player for digital music, the iPod, in tandem with the iTunes music store, radically altered the way people bought, stored, shared, and listened to music. -- Oct 23 -- The Mac OS 9 was released on October 23, 1999. This was the final major release of Apple’s Classic Mac OS.

-- Oct 25 -- Windows XP was released (2001). Over 400 million copies were sold in the 5 years preceding the introduction of Windows Vista in 2007.

-- Oct 26 -- Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 was released on October 26, 2010. It provided seamless integration to 1 billion+ Mac users of MS Office. Office for Mac 2016 was released on September 1, 2015.

-- Oct 26 -- Microsoft released Windows 8 to mixed reviews (2012). Slowly accepted by users, between October 2012 and January 2013, 60 million licenses for Windows 8 were sold. Windows 8.1 was released in October 2013, returning a visible start button to the taskbar and the ability to boot to the desktop rather than the start screen.

-- Oct 26 -- The London Ambulance Service was thrown into chaos when a new Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system failed (1992).

-- Oct 27 -- The first major network crash (4 hours) occurred (1980). The crash of the Advanced Research Projects Agency Network resulted from a redundant single-error detecting code used for transmission but not storage, and a garbage-collection algorithm for removing old messages that were not resistant to the simultaneous existence of one message with several different time stamps. The system could not simultaneously cope with the events.

-- Oct 29 -- ARPA At 10:30 pm on October 29, 1969, the first message was sent on the ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network). The ARPANET was set up by the Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). ARPANET was recognized as a pioneering operational packet switching network and the first to implement TCP/IP. The modern internet is based on ARPANET technology. -- Oct 29 --

Willgodt T. Odhner was granted a patent for a calculating machine that performed multiplications by repeated additions (1878). The patent, a modified and compact version of Gottfried von Leibniz's stepped wheel, was acquired and embodied in Brunsviga calculators that sold into the 1950s.

-- Oct 29 -- Willgodt T. Odhner was granted a patent for a calculating machine that performed multiplications by repeated additions (1878). The patent, a modified and compact version of Gottfried von Leibniz's stepped wheel, was acquired and embodied in Brunsviga calculators that sold into the 1950s (an amazing product lifetime).

-- Oct 30 –

The last Multics installation was shut down at the Canadian Department of National Defense in Halifax (2000). Although the time-sharing operating system was not a huge commercial success, it had a significant impact on the industry.

Who's Who in the FPCUG

Officers Office Name Email Address President Patrice Davis [email protected] Vice President Roger Schirmer [email protected] Secretary Frank Fota [email protected] Treasurer Rick Neil [email protected]

Directors and Trustees Office Name Email Address Directors Josh Cockey [email protected] Ed Alexander Robert Monroe Trustees Johnny Creech [email protected] Kay Pollock Bill Williams "Agent of Record"

Chairmen & Representatives Office Name Email Address APCUG Representative Frank Fota [email protected] Newsletter Editor Frank Fota [email protected] Webmaster Josh Cockey [email protected] Publicity Representative Carolyn Fota

Special Interest Workshop Leaders Office Name Email Address Technology Josh Cockey [email protected] Windows Jim Hopkins [email protected] All About Your Computer Robert Monroe [email protected]