PATACS Posts Newsletterofthe PotomacAreaTechnology and ComputerSociety May 201 6 www.patacs.org Page 1

Musings of an Apple Tyro 4. Time to install anti-virus software… or not. For by Lorrin R. Garson Windows systems, it’s essential. Windows Potomac Area Technology and Computer Defender comes with new Windows machines, Society but sometimes PC makers turn it off and install newslettercolumnist (at) patacs.org trialware for a premium security product like Setting Up a New Computer Norton or McAfee. Turn on Defender or the trialware and, if you think appropriate, buy the Buying a new computer isn’t like buying a new premium package soon. For Apple computers, car—turn on the engine and go. No! No! This most home users don’t install anti-malware applies to any type of computer, Apple, Windows software, but this is a somewhat controversial or Linux. That new computer out of the box is issue. There is numerous free anti-malware quite vulnerable. Here are some suggestions to software for Windows, Apple and Linux protect your new machine and you. systems. 1. Be sure your new system is connected to the 5. Clean out the bloatware. This applies to Internet. machines from big-name PC makers but not 2. You need to install the latest Apple or Linux computers. PC operating system updates. Decrapifier (“…it’s like TP for your PC”) Depending on how long your new has good reviews and is available from machine sat on the store’s shelf https://www.pcdecrapifier.com/. this can take just a few or many CCleaner is another respected tool minutes. (see http://www.piriform.com). 3. Install a second Web browser. Be sure to create a restore point Computers come with a before running these program, browser (Safari for Apple, Internet Explorer or just in case. Microsoft Edge for Windows), but you need at 6. If appropriate, transfer your from the old least two browsers. Why? If a single browser computer to the new machine. If you have gets badly corrupted or deleted, how are you switched operating systems this will be more going to recover the browser without a challenging, although ordinary files (Microsoft browser?1 Firefox, Chrome and Opera are good choices and there are numerous others. (Continued on page 2) 1 It can be done, but not easily. See http://bit.ly/1o1I2gt for “How to Get Online Without Using a Browser”.

Musings of an Apple Tyro: Disk Drives, WiFi, Mactracker, Swift...... 1 Upcoming Meetings...... 3 March Fairfax Meeting Recap: Education Apps, Cultural Heritage...... 4 Open Source Software of the Month: FreeBASIC, SportsTracker...... 7 Cutting the Cable?...... 9 Virtual Tours...... 12 PATACS Opportunities...... 13 APCUG Resources...... 13 JCA SeniorTech Training...... 14 Page 2 PATACS Posts May 201 6

(Continued from page 1) diagnostic tool most users don’t know about. To Office, pictures, etc.) are generally access this tool, hold down the “option” key and straightforward to move2. left-click on the wireless icon ( ) on the Finder 7. Implement backup. Hopefully before menu. This will display the panel shown in Figure purchasing your new machine you decided on 13. a backup plan and acquired the necessary Two particularly telling values will often indicate software and an external storage device or two. if you are having a problem, specifically: Remember, disk drives have a significantly higher failure rate the first Tx Rate (878 Mbps in this case), year than in the 2-3 years. which is the actual speed at which data is being transmitted 8. Acquire and install your “must between your access point and have” software. Hopefully here your computer. also you have planned ahead for what you need. Don’t forget RSSI (25 dBm). This is the a password manager. “Received Signal Strength Indication,” which shows the At this point you should be good strength of your signal. The to go, but you’ll spend the next closer to zero the better. several weeks fine tuning your new computer environment. Left-clicking on “Create Diagnostics Report On Desktop…” Gargantuan Disk Drives and “Open Wireless Diagnostics…” will generate Perhaps with your new computer much detailed analytical you need a lot of storage. information. Consider buying Seagate’s 8 TB hard drive for $385. See It is suggested you experiment http://bit.ly/1Q2AjrO. If that with this tool when not isn’t enough you can plunk down experiencing a problem to an estimated $13,000 for a 13 TB understand what values are SSD drive from Fixstars. See associated with normal http://bit.ly/1nnnwXS. Very few operation. people are going to need Also see http://bit.ly/1SiQcOF anything like this capacity, but Figure 1 and http://bit.ly/1SiQxRr this shows how storage capacity is growing. Mactracker Troubleshooting Wi-Fi On occasion it can be challenging to find information for a specific Apple product. Occasionally we all experience Wi-Fi problems. Mactracker, free from the Apple’s App Store, to Frequently just turning off the power to routers the rescue. This Application can provide detailed and switches, waiting a bit, then turning devices information on every Mac computer ever made back on solves the problem. But when this doesn’t do the trick, OS X on Macs has a nifty (Continued on page 3) 2 If you are moving from one operating system to another, careful planning is essential. Although generally for most applications there will be a functional equivalent on your new machine, the software on your old computer may not be available on the new. Transferring data from one application to another can be challenging and sometimes unworkable, even if a different operating system isn’t involved. 3 For security and privacy, IP address and other sensitive information has been obliterated. www.patacs.org May 201 6 PATACS Posts Page 3

(Continued from page 2) Presentation: An Overview of the Federal as well as information on Apple mice, keyboards Agencies Digitization Guidelines Initiative , etc. For example, in Figure 2 is the Presented by Tom Rieger information an iMac 21.5-inch, late 2013 under The Still Image Working Group is a cooperative the “General” tab. effort to develop common digitization guidelines Swift Available for Linux for historical and cultural materials that can be reproduced as still images, such as textual Apple made its Swift content, maps, programming language photographic prints and open-source some time negatives. The overall ago, but now has made it goal is to enhance the available for Linux exchange of research (Ubuntu 15.10 and 14.4). results and development, This won’t have a direct encourage collaborative impact on 99.9+% of digitization practices and home users. This move is projects among Federal aimed toward the Linux agencies, and provide the server market. Many public with a product of servers use Linux as their uniform quality. It will OS. Apple benefits by also serve to establish a getting developers to common set of improve Swift with their benchmarks for suggestions and by digitization service enticing developers to providers and adopt Swift aims to get manufacturers. developers to create Tom Rieger is a graduate of software for OS X and the Rochester Institute of iOS. Who knows, Swift Technology, and has worked may be available for Figure 2 in the imaging field for over 40 Windows and Android years, beginning with chemical some day. See http://bit.ly/20qmXsE. photography and transitioning to digital imaging in the early 1980’s. He has worked in the commercial, non-profit Upcoming Meetings and government sectors and has consulted on digital imaging technology for over 30 years. He is a member of Refer to the PATACS Event Calendar on the back the Technology Policy Directorate at the Library of cover or http://patacs.org/mtgdetpat.html for Congress, where he is manager of Conversion Support Services. meeting time and location. May 25, 2016 (Arlington) May 21, 2016 (Fairfax) Technology & PC Help Desk Learn 30: Presented by Geof Goodrum Extended Question and Answer session; discuss topics of interest, share knowledge and get help Geof will demonstrate the features and discuss with technology issues. the limitations of Google’s cloud-based word processor. Can it replace your desktop word June 18, 2016 (Fairfax) processing application? Presentation: Windows 10 – To Upgrade or Not to Upgrade Presented by Tom Gutnick

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IfYou Missed It Bubenhofer accepted the donation, which will be by Geof Goodrum used for audiovisual and videoconferencing Director, Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society enhancements in classrooms to the benefit of Director1(at)patacs.org both organizations (see the OLLI E-News article If you can’t make a meeting in person, remember at http://goo.gl/lGJAJE). that members can participate in meetings Stan Schretter said he would like to see more remotely and for free via Zoom teleconferencing coverage of Apple computers. Lorrin Garson’s (see http://zoom.us/, for Apple® OS X® and iOS, column in this newsletter covers Apple GNU/Linux®, Google Android™ and Microsoft® technology, but also includes general interest Windows®). Details are provided in e-mailed technology topics. If you would like to see more meeting announcements. newsletter articles and meeting presentations Remember: you must be physically present at the about a topic, remember that PATACS depends end of the meeting to be eligible for door prizes. upon its members to provide them or identify volunteers who can. March 19, 2016 (Fairfax) Q&A Session Paul Howard welcomed guests and members of the OLLI PC Users Group (OPCUG) and PATACS to The following is an exchange during the meeting, including four members who the Questions and Answers session. participated via Zoom web conference. Bill Walsh Q: An audience member was unable to sign into traced chronic technical problems we [Google?] Maps, then tried to re-register. The experienced with presentation video to HDMI service sent a verification code via SMS (i.e., cables. With new cables and access to cable mobile text message), but the member did not testing equipment, we believe that these recall providing a cell phone number. How do problems won’t recur in future presentations. you recover an account? Member Linda Soady announced completion of A: Use of SMS is a form of Two Factor her genealogy book, which she self-published for Authentication to ensure the registered account her family through a company in Maryland holder initiated the action. The service must (Gasch Printing, http://www.gaschprinting have had a cell phone number registered on the .com/, $1,239 for sixty hardcover copies, account at some point. If you don’t have a cell including processing, a proof, and commercial phone, some services (e.g., ) forward photo for the cover). SMS text to an email address. [Obviously, don’t set account recovery to use a service that requires access to that account. Remember to update account recovery settings if you change your cell phone number or email address. Presuming this is a , there is a troubleshooter for help logging in at https://support.google.com/accounts/troublesh ooter/2402620?hl=en&ref_topic=3382297.] Learn 30: Education Apps for iOS and Android by Stan Schretter PATACS celebrated its eighth year of partnership with OLLI by presenting a $250 gift to the Friends Stan gave an overview of educational of OLLI. OLLI President Glenn Kamber and apps available for Android and iOS Development Committee chair Lesley devices. (Continued on page 5) www.patacs.org May 201 6 PATACS Posts Page 5

(Continued from page 4) downloadable reading material in addition to Stan said that he needs structured teaching such video. The course descriptions include the actual as videos or instructor-led. He also prefers using University classroom schedule and time estimate a tablet over a PC, and apps that allow to complete. Stan recommended taking a course downloading lessons and videos to the tablet so simultaneous with the classroom schedule to they can be used without a network connection. allow interaction with other students and the Stan also prefers to use dedicated apps versus a professor. Stan found an entire class about the mobile browser, as the latter usually includes a Raspberry Pi microcomputer, a topic of the lot of advertising. previous Learn 30. Other courses that Stan referenced included “Seeing Through YouTube is a very nice app for informative Photographs” from The Museum of Modern Art videos, but it can be difficult to sift through the and “Understanding Media by Understanding search results, and there isn’t a useful rating Google” from Northwestern University. Courses system. Stan said that he uses an AirStash WiFi about programming languages are big. Stan USB device (http://www.airstash.com/) to observed that Coursera is popular with students capture videos from services such as YouTube in ; US students are in the minority. that do not provide a video download option. Asked about language classes, Stan said that Stan recommended the EverNote app some of these are on Apple’s iTunesU (https://evernote.com/) at a previous Learn 30, (https://itunesu.itunes.apple.com/ which he uses to capture classroom material, PDF coursemanager/), but there are not many files and course notes. university language classes. iTunesU is for Apple Lynda.com is a commercial service iOS devices only, and courses are mostly science (http://www.lynda.com/plans) with educational academic material. Rosetta Stone videos, but OLLI members have access at no (http://www.rosettastone.com/) accounts are additional charge (use George Mason University free, as is basic language training. It is a good login). Lynda.com covers many topics including place to start learning a language. Stan uses a photography and business, but not a lot of license through his university alumni academic material. Features include a playlist to organization for full course access (check with save videos, a list of suggested courses and new your academic institution). courses, a list of all segments of each course, and Stan mentioned the Khan Academy app videos for each segment are downloadable. Stan (https://www.khanacademy.org/), which has commented that the videos are professional free course content aimed at grade school and quality. high school students. The Great Courses app Presentation: Satellite Documentation of (http://www.thegreatcourses.com/) is valuable for history, art and science courses, but takes an Cultural Heritage Destruction in Syria and a la carte approach wherein each lesson is Iraq by Jonathan Drake purchased individually and added to a personal Steven Wertime introduced guest presenter digital library. Jonathan Drake of the American Association for Coursera (https://www.coursera.org/) is the Advancement of Science (AAAS, becoming a popular online service for http://www.aaas.org/person/jonathan-drake). Universities to post course materials. The online AAAS, the largest multidisciplinary scientific courses are free to audit with options to pay for a membership organization, publishes Science and course completion certificate. The courses are other journals, and has many wonderful organized as training modules with programs open to the public. (Continued on page 6) www.patacs.org Page 6 PATACS Posts May 201 6

(Continued from page 5) • exclave: An Armenian cemetery Mr. Drake spoke about his use of commercial being used as basis for a territorial claim was high-resolution satellite imagery to monitor graded flat between 2003 and 2009, evidence remote locations, particularly those in conflict, that the cemetery was demolished. as part of the AAAS Geospatial Technologies • Near Infrared composite imagery showed Project (http://www.aaas.org/program/ death of vegetation after an oil spill occurred geospatial-technologies-project). He reviewed at a Shell Oil operation site. The area was used the objectives of AAAS and explained that the for subsistence farming, and showed little right to cultural heritage is a human right recovery in a 2011 follow-up. The evidence was recognized by the UN. used against Shell Oil to assist with recovery. The Geospatial Technologies Project applies • Comparison of 2011 and 2014 imagery of geospatial technologies to issues of human rights Aleppo (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ documentation and litigation using funding from Aleppo), the largest city in Syria, showed private and public sources. The project works extensive destruction, mostly in opposition- with partners in the non-governmental controlled areas. The entire old city was a organization (NGO) community. Partners may UNESCO World Heritage site. approach AAAS to request help in documenting • Ebla, Syria (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ human rights violations. The project uses Ebla) showed damage and military sources of commercial satellite imagery encampments. Imagery from August 2014 including DigitalGlobe shows earthen berms were added, and a (http://www.digitalglobe.com/), which is revetment with possible artillery piece. licensed by the US Department of Images taken at on-site confirmed Commerce. The image quality is similar satellite imagery, showing “terrain to , though Google uses JPEG softening” from looter diggings. lossy tiles and does not update imagery • Imagery of the Dura-Europos archaeological as often. The current imagery resolution (i.e., site (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dura- size of a ) is thirty square centimeters. The Europos) in Syria shows methodical looting, project performs an objective analysis and evaluated to be 76% of the site. Selling loot is a publishes a science-based public report online, major source of funding for the Islamic State. which the sponsoring NGOs can cite. This Removing objects from the context of a site symbiotic relationship is very fruitful. The and association with other objects constitutes a project also provides geospatial imagery training loss of archaeological information. during human rights conferences. • October 2009 imagery of the archaelogical site At the time of the talk, the Geospatial of Palmyra (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Technologies Project had an exhibit open for the Palmyra), Syria showed that military public at the AAAS Headquarters, 1200 New York equipment moved in and earthern berms were Ave, Washington DC NW, 9a-5p, Monday-Friday. added. The Islamic State later occupied the Mr Drake provided numerous examples of area and intentionally damaged the site. satellite imagery analyses: • The Ma’arra Mosaic Museum in Syria • During hostilities in (2009) there was effectively ceased to exist after bombardment a designated civilian safe zone along a beach with barrel bombs. Fortunately, the that was reportedly shelled. Satellite imagery Smithsonian Institution trained the Museum’s showed mortar craters, and analysis of the conservators on how to protect mosaics before pattern of impact led to detection of the the damage, and the mosaics remained intact launchers, also visible in imagery. (Continued on page 7) www.patacs.org May 201 6 PATACS Posts Page 7

(Continued from page 6) tasking from other customers and meteorological (http://newsdesk.si.edu/releases/emergency- conditions. preservation-activities-completed-syria-s-ma- Mr. Drake expressed some interest in satellite arra-mosaic-museum). radar imagery [which can “see” the earth’s • The Islamic State destroyed the Shi’ite Mosque surface through clouds], but this has its own of Nebi Yunis in Mosul, Iraq in an attempt to issues. Commercial satellite imagery started with erase the site (http://www.aaas.org/report/ IKONOS in 1999 with a resolution of 80 square cm mosul-iraq-destruction-nebi-yunis-tomb- per pixel, then QuickBird at 60 cm, with really prophet-jonah). high-resolution later. Google Skybox (https://terrabella.google.com/) and Planet Labs An audience member commented that the provide lower resolution imagery but more company Planet Labs (https://www.planet.com/) coverage. Mr. Drake also expressed interest in plans to use satellites to image the entire globe uses for inexpensive Unmanned Aerial Vehicles every day. Mr. Drake responded that there is a (UAVs) in areas threatened by natural disasters. trade-off between temporal coverage versus imagery resolution (i.e., global coverage is at a Q: Is the project working on any MesoAmerican lower image resolution), but agreed that this is sites? an exciting development. A: The project is working with Guatemalans on excavation of mass graves from earlier in the Mr. Drake answered questions from the 20th century. UAVs may be useful in this work. audience. Open Source Software of the Month Q: Is AAAS involved in legal action about Darfur, Sudan in human rights courts? by Geof Goodrum A: Although he couldn’t comment on current Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society linux(at)patacs.org litigation, the Geospatial Technologies Project explains what geospatial imagery can and can’t FreeBASIC – v1.05.0. http://www.freebasic.net/. do. Free GNU General Public License source code and executables for Microsoft® Windows® and Q: Do you get assistance from the US GNU/Linux® by The FreeBASIC Development Government? Team. Open-source, free, multi-platform BASIC A: The information on Aleppo came from the US compiler, with syntax similar to MS-QuickBASIC Government, with some imagery from the US (including the GFX statements), that adds new Department of State. However, the project does features such as pointers, unsigned data types, not have access to imagery from the intelligence inline assembly, a pre-processor and many community. others. Q: Is higher resolution imagery useful? FreeCol – v0.11.6. http://www.freecol.org/. Free A: Yes, more resolution is better. It takes more GNU General Public License source code and resources to analyze the imagery but the project executables for Microsoft® Windows®, Apple® OS can benefit from more detail. X® and GNU/Linux® by Stian Grenborgen, Q: Is the Google Earth timeline control to view Michael Pope, Pedro Rodrigues, Michael Vehrs et imagery over time useful? al. FreeCol is a turn-based strategy game based A: This can be a very helpful feature [but the on the old game Colonization, and similar to resolution may be limited]. Civilization. The objective of the game is to Q: What are the satellite orbits? create an independent nation. You start with A: The satellite repeat cycle over a given area is only a few colonists defying the stormy seas in about sixteen days, but this depends upon (Continued on page 8)

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SportsTracker (OS X version) (Continued from page 7) sporting activities. It is not bound to a specific their search for new land. Will you guide them kind of sport; the user can create categories for on the Colonization of a New World? all sport types such as cycling, running, swimming or tennis. Kernel Source – v4.5. http://www.kernel.org/. Free GNU General Public License source code for The main advantage is a good overview of your all platforms by the Linux community. exercises. You can easily create diagrams and statistics for specific date ranges and sport types. Snappy Driver Installer – vR439. https://sdi- In the calendar you can also track your body tool.org/. Free GNU General Public License weight or create note entries, e.g. the training source code and executable for Microsoft® plan or upcoming sport events. Windows® by BadPointer. Snappy Driver Installer is an application for installing/updating drivers All the application data is stored in XML files so it on PCs running Microsoft Windows using is very easy to access them with other tools or to driverpacks or included folders with drivers. It write importers and exporters for other can be used to install drivers on newly assembled applications. PCs at places where Internet access isn’t If you are using a heartrate monitor with a available. Users can also use the software to keep computer interface you can display the recorded their drivers up to date. exercise files and evaluate the diagrams with the SportsTracker – v7.2.0. http://www.saring.de/ integrated ExerciseViewer application. You can sportstracker/index.html. Free GNU General organize them by attaching the recorded files to Public License source code and executables for the exercise entries. When adding new exercises Microsoft® Windows®, Apple® OS X® and you can import the data from the recorded GNU/Linux® by Stefan Saring. SportsTracker is exercise files. ExerciseViewer supports Polar, an application for people who want to track their CicloSport, Garmin, Timex, Suunto, Oregon, HOLUX and Kalenji heart rate monitors. www.patacs.org May 201 6 PATACS Posts Page 9

Cutting the Cable? Alternatives to their cable or satellite TV subscriptions. With the Cable and Satellite TV ready availability of fast broadband internet service, and a variety of devices that can be used by Ira Wilsker to effectively and economically replace the cable [Ed. Ira Wilsker published his last newspaper article in or satellite feeds along with their corresponding January. Ira has been gracious to sharing his articles monthly bills, one or more internet connected with user group newsletters. Thanks, Ira!] devices can provide the entertainment. WEBSITES: Over the recent holidays, I spent some time with http://www.tomsguide.com/us/cord-cutting- one of my daughters who is a Dallas area guide,news-17928.html resident; early in 2015 she intentionally “cut the http://www.amazon.com/Amazon-W87CUN- cable” service that she had subscribed to for Fire-TV-Stick/dp/B00GDQ0RMG several years, replacing the cable feed with an internet feed and an inexpensive digital TV http://www.wired.com/2014/10/amazon-fire- antenna. By her own accounting, she is saving tv-stick-comparison-chart/ over $100 a month in cable fees, but believes that http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2456300 she is not missing much on cable, but instead has ,00.asp a much larger selection of channels to choose from. Last week, while at a professional meeting, https://www.google.com/chromecast/tv/ one of my compatriots was talking about the http://lifehacker.com/chrome-unveils-the- “smart TV” which his family bought itself as a -an-hdmi-stick-for-stream-897062318 Christmas present, but has no idea about how to use it, other than connect it to his existing https://www.roku.com satellite box. Last year, I purchased an https://www.roku.com/products/compare inexpensive Google Chromecast and a similarly http://www.apple.com/tv/ priced Amazon Fire TV Stick, which were each very easy to plug into my flat screen TVs. To join http://www.rokuguide.com/articles/the-best- the 21st century, I also now have a large screen roku-channels-most-watched-channels-in-all- smart TV internally running the Roku smart TV categories system. http://www.rokuguide.com/articles/the-best- At the already mentioned professional meeting news-channels-on-roku last week, we tangentially spent about 20 https://www.netflix.com minutes talking about smart TVs and cable cutting, and apparently there is potentially a http://www.hulu.com/welcome great deal of interest in the subject. The decision https://channelstore.roku.com/browse/new/by- to cut the cable or satellite service is a strictly popular personal decision which should incorporate cost considerations as well as channel availability. http://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-tv- antennas,review-2354.html As you have likely seen advertised on several of the local TV channels, there is an abundance of https://store.google.com/product/_chromecast_ relatively low cost digital so-called HD TV 2015_coral antennas which have a common coax connection Based on my own recent experiences, it is which connects directly to a modern TV. Locally, becoming more apparent that many people are using a $10 indoor digital antenna, with no choosing to do what is generically referred to as monthly fees (free), I get a good quality signal “cutting the cable” by intentionally dropping from all of the mainstream local TV stations and (Continued on page 10) www.patacs.org Page 1 0 PATACS Posts May 201 6

(Continued from page 9) enter his Wi-Fi password, and instantly countless networks, as well as several other less known, new channels appear. Using either the included but still entertaining TV stations; people living remote control, or a smart phone or tablet app as farther from the TV transmitters may need a a remote control, exploring what may potentially better, more powerful or amplified antenna be over a thousand new TV channels may be a (around $40) to get good signal. While helping daunting, but pleasing task. my Dallas area daughter replace the cable feed I have experimented with three of the several on her guest bedroom flat screen TV with available TV devices, specifically a Google another $10 digital antenna, I was amazed to see Chromecast, an Amazon Fire TV Stick, and a how many Dallas area stations that were Roku device, but have not yet tried the new available. In addition to the major networks of Apple TV device. While each of the devices CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, and others, there were also accesses some proprietary content, almost all of about 50 other lesser known stations that had a them access popular services such as Netflix, decent digital signal which we picked up from Hulu, Amazon Video, YouTube, and other media her house, all without a monthly fee. The process sources, as well as a huge selection of interactive was simple; simply set up the antenna as games; be aware that channels such as Netflix instructed (near a window is often a good and Hulu Plus have a monthly subscription fee choice), and connect its attached cable to the typically starting at about $8 per month, for coax connector on the back of the TV. Using the almost unlimited access; users who have an TV’s remote control, go to the menu, select Amazon Prime account (typically $99 per year) “Antenna”, and then allow the TV to scan for can access tens of thousands of free movies and channels; within a few minutes, her guest TV shows, as well as get free shipping and several bedroom TV had about 50 free TV channels with other “Prime” services from Amazon under that all of the major network shows and news being subscription. All of them offer a huge selection of freely available. both free and paid full length movies, TV shows, If going to the “Free TV” option of using an interactive gaming, and other content, as well as antenna, we could obviously not access the provide the interface to stream Netflix, Hulu, and popular cable and satellite exclusive channels other media sources directly to the TV without such as CNN, FOX News, AMC, History Channel, having to connect to a computer. All of these HBO, and others, but technology has provided us devices have a search capability along with an with some reasonably priced alternatives to the easy to comprehend menu system to assist in cable and satellite provided stations, many of locating desired content. which are now becoming available on these Many of the major domestic and international alternative devices. The basic versions of these news services offer free access to live and alternative devices typically sell in the $25 to $50 recorded news broadcasts; several financial news range with more sophisticated units available at services also offer free access to their live higher prices. These devices plug directly into an broadcasts. There are thousands of independent available HDMI port on the back of the TV, and TV stations, both domestic and international, require a good broadband internet connection and of every genre, that stream free to these which can be Wi-Fi or in some cases wired devices. The number and availability of these Ethernet. Newer TVs immediately recognize channels is increasing at a rapid rate; I subscribe these devices as input much the same way that to the free email newsletter from one of these they would have recognized a cable or satellite companies, Roku, which always includes a listing connection. If the internet connection of the of the newly added free and paid channels. In the device is via Wi-Fi (the most commonly used January 9, 2016, newsletter from Roku method of connection), all the user has to do is (Continued on page 11) www.patacs.org May 201 6 PATACS Posts Page 1 1

(Continued from page 10) entertainment on a big screen. Chromecast (RokuGuide.com Weekly Update), 31 new works with the apps you love, like Netflix, channels were added in the previous week alone. YouTube, , Pandora, and thousands In an earlier weekly guide, it said that over a more. Choose from over 200,000 movies and TV thousand new channels were added to the Roku shows, 30 million songs, sports events, and streaming service in 2015, many of them totally games.” The Chromecast being my first venture free, but some requiring a nominal subscription. into the realm of the “Smart TV” was very Not unique in the industry, the competitive impressive. products from Amazon, Google, Apple, and lesser Several months after purchasing the Chromecast, known third party device makers are adding new Amazon announced a competing product, the channels, both free and paid, at about the same “Fire TV Stick”, with an introductory price of rate. Many of the premium cable movie services, only $19 à la carte such as HBO, are now available on an (now about subscription basis on most of the streaming $35). Since I services. already had The basic streaming devices themselves are an Amazon somewhat similar in size and cost, with more Prime powerful and sophisticated devices available at account in higher prices. The order to get first device that I free shipping on my Amazon purchases, users of purchased for the Fire TV Stick with a Prime account also get about $25 was a instant free access to thousands of free movies Google Chromecast, and TV shows, as well as other content. which was about according to Amazon, “Fire TV Stick connects the size and shape your HDTV to a world of online entertainment. of a common USB With a huge selection of movies and TV episodes, flash drive with a rounded end, but had an HDMI voice search that actually works, and exclusive plug on the end instead of a USB sized plug. The features like ASAP and Prime Music, Fire TV Stick newer version of the Chromecast device is more is an easy way to enjoy Netflix, Amazon Video, “lollipop” shaped, has increased capabilities, Hulu, HBO NOW, low-cost movie rentals, live and available in several colors, and retails for $35. on-demand sports, music, photos, games, and The total installation was plugging the more. ... With over 3,000 channels, apps, and Chromecast into an empty HDMI port on the games, Amazon Fire TV Stick gives you access to back of the TV, and plugging in the included all your favorite subscriptions and streaming power adapter, and my Toshiba flat screen services. Watch over 250,000 TV episodes and immediately identified the Chromecast device. movies, including live TV. Kick back with sports, Selecting the Chromecast from the “Source” news, music, and games.” Also about the size of a menu using the Toshiba remote control, common USB flash drive, with an HDMI plug on displayed the setup for the Chromecast. I entered the end instead of a USB plug, the Amazon Fire my address and password (Google uses a TV Stick also included a dedicated remote single sign on for all of its services), and the control. As with the Chromecast, there is a free password for my Wi-Fi, and I was connected. A app for smart phones and tablets that is a fully simple menu displayed all of the available functional remote control for the Fire TV Stick, choices. I downloaded the Chromecast app to my plus the app also provides for real voice control, smart phone, and used it as my remote control. allowing the remote control to function on the Google describes Chromecast as, “Unlimited (Continued on page 12) www.patacs.org Page 1 2 PATACS Posts May 201 6

(Continued from page 11) that even with her inexpensive Netflix user’s voice to search for content. Installing and subscription, she is saving well over $100 per configuring the Fire TV Stick took under two month compared to her prior cable service. She minutes, simply plugging it into an HDMI port, is one of the millions of cable and satellite users connecting the power supply, using the TV who have “cut the cable”, and taken advantage of remote to select the Fire TV Stick as an input (it the new technologies that compete with cable showed up by name on the Toshiba TV screen), and satellite TV services. This is very parallel to entering my Wi-Fi password, and entering my the millions of former hardwired telephone Amazon account information allowed for instant subscribers who cut the wire, and now use cost access to Amazon’s extensive free and paid effective digital or wireless services rather than library. the often more expensive hardwired phone service. My latest addition is from Roku, and is very similar in size, cost, and functionality as the With our rapidly changing technological other devices. Installation was similar to the environment, I wonder what we would “cut” other devices, very fast and easy. I did have to next, as new technologies become available. We create a live in interesting times. Roku Google Virtual Tours account through by Geof Goodrum the device, Potomac Area Technology and Computer Society Director1(at)patacs.org or the account Explore and plan travel with Google Street View! can be https://www.google.com/maps/streetview/ created online. The quality and selection of content under Roku is excellent, with thousands Lenoir, NC Data Center of channels of content, both free and paid, Google provides a guided video tour and Street including movies, TV shows, news, weather, View virtual access to its data center in Lenoir, games, and other content. There is no monthly North Carolina. fee to use Roku, but some of the content does have a rental fee (mostly recent movies), or a https://www.google.com/about/datacenters/ins monthly subscription fee, much the same as the ide/streetview/ other devices. McMurdo Station, Antarctica My daughter in Dallas uses an over-the-air digital Take a walk inside the Crary Science Center. HDTV antenna, as well as a Chromecast, to access her digital content. She chose to subscribe to https://www.google.com/maps/streetview/#ant Netflix for about $8 per month. She has a arctica/crary-science-center separate fiber optic broadband internet Yosemite National Park connection, which she would have regardless of her entertainment needs, as she uses that fast Hike the steep and well-named Mist Trail. broadband internet access for her job. Between https://www.google.com/maps/streetview/#us- the free local TV stations for news and weather, national-parks-and-historic-sites/yosemite- as well as the few network TV shows that she national-park-mist-trail likes, and Netflix and other extensive content on her Chromecast, she claims to actually have more The Bluebird Cafe, Nashville, TN channels available than she previously had on https://goo.gl/maps/a7u7yE36RKK2 her far more expensive cable service. She claims www.patacs.org May 201 6 PATACS Posts Page 1 3

Help Wanted: Meeting Speakers defined as someone who has not been a member in the thirty-six months prior to month of Finding presenters for our meeting programs is received application. The new member should difficult—your help in the effort to enhance the list your name as the ‘source’ of their value we all receive from PATACS membership membership on the application form (pick up at would be greatly appreciated! meetings or download from Please consider speaking to your friends at an http://patacs.org/membershippat.html). Arlington or Fairfax meeting. We’d love to feature your take on a smart phone or tablet app. APCUG Resources A presentation on these or other topics of The Association of Personal Computer User interest to you would undoubtedly be welcomed Groups (APCUG) is a worldwide organization that by your PATACS colleagues. We have space in our helps groups devoted to the world of technology schedule for 15, 30, 60 and 75 minute including computers, tablets, , discussions—what are you waiting for? digital photography, genealogy, etc. by We also have ready-made paragraphs you could facilitating communications between member use in e-mail communications to help us find groups and industry vendors. speakers. Contact: director2(at)patacs.org Spring 2016 Virtual Technology Conference Shopping on Amazon.com? (VTC) Don’t Forget PATACS! APCUG’s FREE 2016 Spring VTC (via ZOOM teleconference) will be held on Saturday, May 7, If you shop online at Amazon.com, don’t forget 1 to 4pm ET. For more information and to start each session by clicking the Amazon link registration, visit http://apcug2.org/apcug-2016- on the PATACS home page, then continue spring-virtual-technology-conference-vtc20/. shopping on Amazon as usual. Doing so earns TECHNOLOGY FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE PATACS a 4 to 6.5% commission on your purchase Bob Gostischa, Avast Evangelist at no additional cost to you. SETUP & CONFIGURE A HOME NETWORK Thank you for supporting your user group! Ken Rogers, IT Business Analyst for PNC Bank PATACS Email Discussion List IOS 9.3 FOR IPADS AND Join the PATACS members-only email Jere Minich, Program Chair, Lake Sumter list to discuss topics of mutual interest, ask and Computer Society; APCUG Advisor, Region 5; answer questions, share resources, convey news, Member of APCUG’s Speakers Bureau and increase our sense of shared community UPGRADING YOUR , PART 2 with fellow members. Greg Skalka, President, Under the Computer Visit https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ Hood User Group PATACS-b/info for more information. WHY I RECOMMEND A Special Membership Stew Bottorf, Teacher & SIG Leader, Tampa Bay Computer Society Promotion USING THE “TASK MANAGER” IN A “WINDOWS” Current members who bring COMPUTER a new member to the Francis Chao, Member, APCUG OLS (Online organization will receive a six Services) committee; WINNERS “WINdows month extension of their usERS” and Greater South Bay PCUG; and the membership. New member is Tucson Computer Society www.patacs.org Page 1 4 PATACS Posts May 201 6

JCA SeniorTech Training Micro Center® In Store Clinics This information is reproduced with the permission of JCA SeniorTech Computer Centers offer diverse Micro Electronics, Inc. PATACS does not receive senior-friendly (50+) technology classes (personal compensation nor consideration for this material. computers, tablets, smartphones, online security, Micro Center stores host free events called “In etc.). Offerings include beginner and Store Clinics.” The clinics cover a wide range of intermediate computer classes in Windows 7, topics. All Micro Center store locations follow the Windows 8, Excel, iPad and iPhone, email, same schedule of topics. photos, and social media. A link for store locations is at the top center of SeniorTech is a service of the Jewish Council for the home page, www.microcenter.com. For those the Aging (JCA). Within the limits of its in the Washington, D.C. area, the only store in resources, JCA serves people of all faiths and Virginia is in the Pan Am Plaza at 3089 Nutley from all walks of life. Street, Fairfax, VA 22031, phone (703) 204-8400, For additional information about SeniorTech and the only store in Maryland is in the Federal courses, call 240-395-0916 or 703-652-1512. A Plaza at 1776 E. Jefferson #203, Rockville, MD course catalog is available for download at 20852, phone (301) 692-2130. http://www.accessjca.org/programs/technology Micro Center Clinics are held on most weekends, -training/. except during holidays. The same topic is usually Washington DC Area Training Locations presented on both Saturday and Sunday. Topics may change and clinics may be cancelled without Asbury Methodist Village, 409 Russell Ave, notice. Please verify the schedule with the store Gaithersburg, MD, 301-987-6291 before leaving and register online for e-mail JCA Bronfman Center, 12320 Parklawn Drive, updates (http://www.microcenter.com/site/ Rockville, MD, 301-255-4200 stores/instore-clinics.aspx). Microsoft at Westfield Montgomery Mall, 7101 Signing up in advance reserves a seat, Democracy Blvd, Bethesda, MD, 301-765-3080 recommended as space is limited. This can only be done at a store, either at the Tech Support or Microsoft at Tysons Corner, 1961 Chain Bridge Customer Support area. Rd, McLean, VA 22102, 703-336-8480 May 2016 Schedule Crystal City Shops, 1750 Crystal Drive, Suite 1638B, Arlington, VA, 703-941-1007 Apr 30 & May 01: Raspberry Pi http://va-seniortech.org/ May 07 & 08: 3D Printers May 14 & 15: Build Your Own May 21 & 22: Windows® 10 Basics May 28 & 29: Word & Excel – What’s New

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President:...... Jim Rhodes, 703-931-7854, president(at)patacs.org 1st Vice President:...... Ron Schmidt, 301-577-7899, director11(at)patacs.org 2nd Vice President, Membership Chair:...... Mel Mikosinski, 703-978-9158, director4(at)patacs.org Secretary, Meeting Setup:...... Bill Walsh, 703-241-8141, director14(at)patacs.org Treasurer, Registered Agent, Internet Services:...... Paul Howard, 703-860-9246, director2(at)patacs.org APCUG Liaison, Director:...... Gabe Goldberg, director10(at)patacs.org Publicity:...... Henry Winokur, director5(at)patacs.org Linux Support, Director:...... Geof Goodrum, 703-370-7649, linux(at)patacs.org Directors:...... Roger Fujii, Mel Goldfarb, Charles Throneburg, Nick Wenri, Steven Wertime Windows Support:...... Jim Brueggeman, 703-450-1384, windows(at)patacs.org Newsletter Editors:...... Geof Goodrum & Kathy Perrin, editor(at)patacs.org Columnist:...... Lorrin Garson, newslettercolumnist(at)patacs.org

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