I'm reading about how these companies are building power plants to keep these things running. How long before they stop absorbing those costs and pass them on the customers, especially if they develop a habit of using them (and deciding to not use their own thinking to solve problems)? MS O365 is doing the same thing already. A group using it was asked to to purchase a "package" to allow the sending of a certain volume of email already.

Microsoft is no longer making money as an Software Company or OS developer in the traditional sense. That is not where the biggest profits are at. Subscriptions, baby, yeah! Pay in perpetuity for a services that is a commodity. Adobe went that way ages ago (and is reportedly still increasing their fees and graphic designers/artists in the digital field are all but held to ransom). Microsoft has gobbled up GitHub (sad that was allowed), LinkedIn (Biggest HR/Job site around the world) and probably a few hundred others I haven't heard of. Why pay money to maintain an app when there are no new features to justify people paying for another, when they can push people towards a web version, charge a monthly fee and/or collect data to see to various interests? Oh, and then push co-pilot AI at you using their web portal or any other product they want to bill you for. Brilliant. The product that keeps on profiting with minimal (if any) changes over time.Of course people could just stop using MS Windows in 90% of people's typical work day since everyone on the user side being pushed to web service subscriptions anyway (except in some gaming instances). Of course for the moment email is still email. Could always install: * Thunderbird ( https://https//www.thunderbird... ) * Claws ( https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.claws-mail.org%2F )

Feels like an AI grab. I wonder if Thunderbird is in trouble too. I used to recommend Firefox to people for better privacy but now I'm not so sure. Mozilla has already given a response: https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.medianama.com%2F2025... I'm not sure what this means but I'd prefer my browser did not use any AI. If Pages use an AI, that's one thing (DuckDuckGo has options in a chat), but the browser, that feels very M$ to me (as they push "Copilot" in everyone's face as much as possible. May need to update my list of trusted browsers (and email clients?)

It's about time! They been gouging people (plus connecting lots of data, plus see and avoid the AI tools for your Docs) for ages now.. I'll take this opportunity to suggest MasterPDF ( https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcode-industry.net%2F ) as a commercial alternative with the enterprise features. (I know it's Russian). Does an excellent job of covering even outdated Acrobat features/technologies. So far the best Adobe Acrobat alternative I've tested: (there some LiveCycle Dynamic XFA features not rendered perfectly but gets better with new releases and they respond to reports) Bonus for Linux users: it has native installers.

Apple machines have always had a rep for being expensive. And while their displays have always been top notch the rest is arguably overpriced for the power you ge compared to upper end laptops where you can get a near equivalent display, double the CPU power and triple the RAM (most of my laptops have 32 GB for running VMs). On many machines, including Desktop Linux Distros (like Linux Mint), 8 GB is enough for general office software/tasks. Word processing, Spreadsheet, Email, basic surfing to streamlined websites. That said, Apple users are typically not "average" users (since they are willing to spend the money on the hardware). Marketing of course wants to offset this rep of being over priced by having a lower priced option. A company had to pay $500 CAD just to get a 16 GB MacBook Pro from 16 GB to 24 GB. There is no way the RAM costs that much. And you have to do all or nothing with Apple laptops because that's "how it is". So you get locked in with your choice. Few other laptop manufacturers lock you in quite this hard.

Again, the question, is 8 GB enough? For LibreOffice or even MS Office 2016, absolutely. But..most "Entry level" Apple users will do at least some graphics and possibly music editing. The Adobe Cloud Suite is a memory hog like few I've ever seen: anything less than 16 GB and the Apple machine slows significantly. And that is just to run Adobe Acrobat for PDF writing. For the Internet, they could even argue that 8 GB is enough to run the Safari browser well. And that is true...but...Safari does not run Chrome optimized JavaScript web platforms properly. The JavaScirpt engine in Safari is not compatible with a lot of the features in the V8 JavaScript engine. That means a large portion of website optimized for Chrome don't work properly on Safari so if you need to run newer mainstream sites, Safari will not work. Several people had told me the default (Safari) browser would not work for booking airline reservations and were stuck until a friend told them to install/use Chrome. Chrome is the fastest for running JavaScript because it is a memory hog (plus it collects a large amount of data unless you turn the data collections off which is indicated in "fine print" upon installation). So to use Apple computers for real world websites, you really have to install a browser other than Safari. Firefox works for most sites but even it has trouble with some features in the web version of Teams or Zoom), so to run what are not "everyday" website/web apps you really do need a Chrome "compatible" browsers such as Vivaldi (it has a unique tag on all installs), Chromium (updates have to be done manually), are the top choices I know of.

So for real world web based applications (Google Docs, O365, Zoom, MS Teams) you need the full "bells and whistle" features. Chrome is the most well know/easiest to install, but will use up 8 GB of memory like a greedy kid in a bakery full of sweets and a credit card in their pocket.People wanting fancy effects, high end graphics, real time data exchange (and data collectors for the marketing sponsors) are going to consume memory. So for real world modern websites to work 100% the 8 GB is a bit short in my observations and personal experience. The Apple claim, like many claims in the world are based on test that are designed on ideal conditions for them, but not real world conditions, because that if course would fall flat. If they did those tests, they would be lying when the say "8 GB is enough for most entry level needs". Based on their "optimized" test 8 GB is enough. You can turn off certain "cool" visual features on your Apple computer to help:

Apple also collects data on you (surprise) but you can turn some of this off:
https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.makeuseof.com%2Fsett...

You can also turn off the fancy "transparency" features:
System Settings > Accessibility > Display, and switch the setting for “Reduce Transparency”

Also of course turning off unnecessary login items:
System Settings->General in the sidebar, then click Login Items on the right.

But what "average" user wants to go through all this?

Even with Linux Mint to get reasonable performance on 8 GB I need to use a slimmed Windows Manager (like Mate) instead of the Cinnamon windows manager which feels more like mac/MS windows. I won't even talk about sluggish performance on Windows 10 with 8 GB of RAM unless stop every data collection/call home process and special effects which again, no "average' user would even know how to do. In short, in THEORY 8 GB is fine, especially if you know what you are doing, especially if you only use Safari browser, but in the real world of tech/Internet that is like going through life with one hand tied behind your back and tying 2 fingers on the other hand. So I'd just use 16 GB as your comfortable user benchmark and if Apple is too expensive, get another machine, download an ISO from Linux Mint, make a usb bootable drive and be happy. You'll get much better performance and be a lot happier with more privacy..

Not sure about that leaving Python to university students. Teaching Python and even 'C" for robotics is increasingly common and Python is an easy language for children as young as 7. If we want our kids to be ready to be competitive, they should be at least familiar with these tools. MIT's Scratch ( https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fscratch.mit.edu%2F ) has been used to teach programming young children for over a decade now and Python seems the next logical step for basic computer knowledge. If kids are using web enabled gaming consoles and PC based MMO games they should probably know basic scripting and how to set up/secure basic computer networks. NoStarch press ( https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.manning.com%2Fbooks%2F... ) has some excellent books for young children on HTML/CSS, Swift, and Scratch.

This is of course not in the interest is M$, but what about LibreOffice Calc? It's free, no subscription fees, and can be used in similar ways to MS Excel. With corporations pushing of SaaS on tools/functionality we've had open-source (commercial or free) solutions for at least a decade it's important to know our options, especially on functionality that is not new.

It's interesting how people in power assume that they are immune to the negative consequences of the same mechanisms they create or force to subdue others. It will be interested to see what happens when all these backdoor backfire on Putin's regime and how they try to downplay it when it happens.

China's practices for using data are being used in large tech companies already and by our governments as well. These tools are basically the "all seeing eye" from Tolken and of course Orwell (other writers I'm sure). But this was also predicted by many movies and few noticed. Check out The Matrix, The Dark Night, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Spider-Man: Homecoming. The Circle talked about this more directly but less realistically. (The western government would never allow this monitoring on themselves anymore than the Russian or Chinese governments do). And China is not only tracking everyone through facial recognition glasses worn by police, not only are they keeping database with behavior scores to evaluate who is "disloyal" based on patterns (and past actions of course), but next month they are implementing a "Social Points" system to restrict access to travel for anyone who is considered disloyal based on that database and facial recognition. You are already required to show your ID card for virtually ANY transaction there now. (And is integrated in the WeChat Pay apps of course which is used widely).

If you are interested in stopping this abuse of data power, stop handing your data to them. Remove apps that are not open source (you can get open source apps for Android from F-Droid http://www.f-droid.org/ ). Install a firewall on your phone that can help manage what apps access (Droid Firewall is pretty good). Don't use default Google Android OS (you can't stop it from sending GPS data to them even if you turn it off...Google admitted this late last year, promising to stop using this hard wired phone home feature..sure..). LinageOS works on most Android phones. https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fdownload.lineageos.org...)

Stop using MS Windows, especially Windows 8-10 because not only are data transmitters for every file header and website you visit, but every update Microsoft seems to take more control of the OS away from you (an idea probably borrowed from the iOS updates which did this years ago). You can't stop the auto updates unless you take extreme measures and even they don't work all the time and recently Microsoft is going to force your email links to be opened using Edge rather than your default browser selection. had enough being rammed with a broomstick handle yet by MS? Perhaps you noticed al this Xbox nonsense preinsstalled as well. Have fun reading this summary (see the data separately on other tech sites but this is a nice summary): https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fitvision.altervista.or... . You can still buy Windows 7 legal licenses including from http://nerdsforless.com./ But better to just get off MS Windows. Linux can do virtually all the non-gaming things that MS Windows does (and MacOS as well). Linux Mint ( http://www.linuxmint.com/ ) is the easiest version of Linux for MS windows only users to get into. I've had kids as young as 7 years old run this with no assistance, and they all liked it MORE than MS Windows. "No crashes" I kept hearing. Using LibreOffice you can do all your office needs, (I've been on it for for 5 years and it keeps getting better), your favorite browsers (minus Edge but who uses that voluntarily these days) are all there, your email is easy peasy and will play all your videos and stuff. With no tracking from MS or the evil Cortana (that thing is horrible)

Keep any social media apps off your phone. Just...don't install them. You don't need them. Truth is anything that shares data over the web can be made as a mobile friendly website. The only reasons for an app is to take advantage of the data tracking tools on your phone and possibly install a local database there, generally for sending to a 3rd party later. That includes, GPS (in the vast majority of cases) and possibly accessing your contacts, browsing history, and let's not forget possibly your Microphone and Camera. If you want a phone that is more private look here: https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpuri.sm%2Fshop%2Flibrem-5%2F.

Browsers: Use one that has more respect for your privacy. Mozilla has unfortunately sold out it's user base to a group called "Pockets". As you can see from this article, https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fhelp.getpocket.com%2Fart... it's not that straightforward to remove, especially as they don't make it clear what is is when you start using it by default. (Shame on you Mozilla). Two other browsers that do respect your privacy more are Vivaldi (vivaldi.org) and Brave (brave.com). both are open source browsers from people from Opera and Mozilla respectfully. On your current browsers if you don't use one that is made to specifically protect your privacy, delete your cookies everytime you are done.

Search engines: Stop using Google and Amazon engines as much as possible. There are others. I actually find I get better results on many subjects on duckduckgo.com (which says it respects privacy). Others are startpage.com and ixquick.com. Other search engines that may not respect privacy as much but work and at least level the playing field in include qwant.com, yandex.com (yes, it's Russian but again, it spreads the data around) and baidu.com (Yes, it's run by China, but again spreads the data around).

The idea is to tell these giants they do not run our lives and to stop trying to. But if we want our privacy respect, we have to take steps, some inconvenient, to do so. But we all can do something..if we choose. And unless we do, we will find ourselves under the same yoke as the Russians and the Chinese. (Uk is heading in this direction to btw). If we take actions that reduce the data these giants get access to, they will being to understand that our data is not their right and unless they respect our privacy we are not giving it. Certainly not to be used to terrorize us (or their employees). To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, "Those who give up their essential civil liberties for all extra safety, deserve neither those liberities or safety". (Or convenience). Also remember that convenience comes at the price of security, and to a great extent, privacy.

Unfortunately the current presidential administration is likely to gives these sobs a medal for innovate business practices. (see latest tax bill for reference). We are coming just short of "let them eat cake"....

Password are terrible if they are used badly, like most things. Passwords are bad if one has say a 5 letter password out of the dictionary. (all too easy). Passwords without rotation, or are less then, say 12 characters, using at least 1 upper case, 1 lower case, 1 number and one special characters. Smart cards can be copied, stolen or hacked. (Perhaps in bypassed). Much harder to hack someone's memory and login limits, especially with 2-factor authentication are harder to break.

Okay, it's not the first time simple ways have been found to circumvent so-called "biometrics" especially the poor man's version of these tools. The Windows 10 version is mostly likely a low end version with very limited pixel resolution recognition on the camera (to be compatible with the low end cameras that come in most laptops and cameras), plus an routine to distinguish a live face (with facial movements/ticks as supposed to a 100% static picture) was probably never even considered because it would add to cost and time to development. So when you think about it, it's really a TERRIBLE idea. even with that taken into account, a camera with a high enough resolution to recognize a video would add costs too.

We tried finger print recognition which is also terrible because it is too easy to lift a fingerprint from a victim (or even bypass the finger print scanner in many cases). Anything that is easy to lift/take from the user is inherently insecure: Finger prints (scotch tape/talcum powder will get that from any surface including keyboards and coffee cups), facial recognition (just lift a picture from facebook or any social media site where people often publish high resolution photos, even easier than getting a finger print). Voice print is a LITTLE better but voice patterns have been successfully simulated/recorded from everyday conversation or even YouTube lectures. (techies often love to give these).

There is absolutely NO substitute for a good old fashion typed passwords (even better, in combination with typing sampling for speed/patterns). Even voice passwords are potentially easy to copy with a long or even short range microphone The password is proven most secure because it requires you to look into someone's memory or stand over them and watch them type it, unless of course they use the same password across but that requires more time/research than getting a facial picture or even a fingerprint if you know or work with the victim. Perhaps these could be used IN ADDITION to a password, but should NEVER be a substitute. The key to secure is the remember this old axiom: Security comes at the price of convenience. Without exception. Of course common sense rules like password rotation on a regular basis are essential. It is possible to lift a password I imagine using the amount of body oil on each key or even thermal patterns on a keyboard to lift a password, but look at all the effort/equipment required to do that. It feels like every new biometric security toy is less secure than the last.

in the long tradition of long reaching poor ideas like VBA (which had to be disabled in IE for security issues which finally happened in IE7), IIS with insecure settings on be default (for convenience), now comes DDE. Things that had to be changed or disabled because of things anyone thinking it through would realize, is a bad idea. Of course Windows defender is a bit of a joke in the security world as well. The fact the update was done for Word 2007 probably means this vulnerability was so bad they included it to avoid repercussions from lawsuits of the government worried about foreign exploitation. Windows 10 in general (or at least the spyware components) will probably be on this list before long because people will finally wake up and realize what is happening, or some foreign country will exploit it to collect data and we'll be like, "how could MS do this?" answer: because we sat back, and let them. Security comes at the price of convenience, and MS has historically been poor at finding this balance, making things that are neither convenient or secure (at least in comparison to MacOS and Linux) . I specifically say "foreign power" because governments love backdoors, and "telemetry data" to spy on it's entire population. But..they seem to be of the illusion that you can make a door that only one specific group can use and other cannot find and use themselves.

People buy early and low, speculation drives demand high with no real assets backing up the worth save pure speculation. people early sell to people buying later. More people later than earlier. People at the upper end of the pyramid make crazy profits, people who buy are left holding the bag (the larger number of masses at the base supporting the profits of the top) when this balloon pops. once upon a time we had the gold standard.

When we didn't have enough gold to back it up, so...we abandoned it for speculative currency. The one definite thing about technology, is enables us to accelerate what we normally do, making the flaws in our systems more visible. Samuel Clemens write about the stock market in Huckleberry Finn, and Sir Conan Doyle mentioned it in his writings of Sherlock Holmes as well. neither gave a pretty picture. If they could only see this...

To the person making the comment about the cell phone burning a hole in your pocket in your pocket if it was always recording, not at ALL true. Oh, and bandwidth allowance may not be an issue either if there was an understanding between, say, google/apple and ISPs, plus government monitors. There is a reason why many new phones are designed in such away it is surgery to remove the battery which is the only sure way to be sure it isn't monitoring. There was a reason Snowden had cell phones put into a microwave when the reporters were meeting him: he knew they can always be listening/watching, regardless of settings by the user. The limitations people HOPE there are on a cell phone in regards to limitations are an illusion. Don't believe me? Try using apps like WeChat for awhile. your battery would not be dead either (certainly not on the new phones with the non-removable battery). I know because I've had conversations using apps that have gone one for hours which barely put a dint in the charge and my phone did not require a recharge for several days after. But I digress.

Any device that can listen and has access to the Internet is probably listening. There is a project that claims to plug this hole called Purism ( https://ancillary-proxy.atarimworker.io?url=https%3A%2F%2Fpuri.sm%2Fproducts%2F ) with a hardware shutoff switch for the "holes" that are on by default on. And don't forget, Google was recently caught with their hand in the cookie jar, taking user location data even if you turn it "off" on your phone. The Cell phone, like these vocal response devices, are in essence trojan horses. No one should be having devices that listen 24/7 in their home. If we don't fight to protect our privacy, government and private business will assume permissions has been given. It used to be one had to break into your home, plant bugs, and monitor close by to do the kind of intrusive monitoring that can be done just by putting out devices people think are "cool" or convenient. It's like Mark Twain's whitewashing chapter in Tom Sawyer: We pay to let people into our home and take our data.