Senior Correspondent Arnold Woodworth with the Weekend Wrapup

What Happened To The First 10 Apple Employees

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-first-10-apple-employees-2014-4





These 12 Tips Will Help You Get The Most Out Of Your iPhone

http://www.businessinsider.com/iphone-tips-and-tricks-2014-4





Free OS X Mavericks now powers half of all Macs

Mavericks, which carries the numerical designation of OS X 10.9, accounted for 49.5% of all Mac operating systems

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9247788/Free_OS_X_Mavericks_now_powers_half_of_all_Macs





Apple patches Secure Transport, but not because of Heartbleed
'Triple-handshake attack' threat quashed in update for OS X Mavericks and Mountain Lion, and iOS 7

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9247825/Apple_patches_Secure_Transport_but_not_because_of_Heartbleed





Apple defies PC downturn again, boosts Mac sales
Mac sales climb 5% year-over-year during a quarter when industry contracts 4%

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9247860/Apple_defies_PC_downturn_again_boosts_Mac_sales





Apple releases Heartbleed fix for AirPort Base Stations

If you’re using new AirPort hardware and have Back to My Mac turned on, you should run the update immediately. Older models are unaffected, as are current models with Back to My Mac disabled.

http://www.macworld.com/article/2146391/apple-releases-heartbleed-fix-for-airport-base-stations.html





I’m no fan of stock splits, as it does nothing to create value for shareholders, but a full on 7-for-1 split for Apple does make it more tempting for retail investors to buy, and the nice beat on bottom and top lines will do exactly what I’ve been saying was likely to happen soon: Get the momentum traders and growth investors coming back to this name and spiking it $50 to $100 in a straight line.

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/cody/2014/04/24/rating-apple-and-facebook/





Finally, An Explanation For The Apple Stock Split That Makes Sense:  The difficulty of trading in small lot sizes, or odd lot sizes.

The protection we all get as investors, those guarantees that our orders will be handled at best market price and so on, only apply if we’re dealing in standard lot sizes. Which means, in effect, 100 shares or more in any one transaction. And 100 shares in Apple at $500 each or more isn’t something that the average individual investor is going to do. Whereas 100 Apple at $80 is still a weighty purchase for an individual but one that’s going to have rather more people willing to consider it.

I agree, it’s not the strongest of arguments but it’s the only one I’ve seen so far that really makes sense.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/timworstall/2014/04/26/finally-an-explanation-for-the-apple-stock-split-that-makes-sense/





Apple to Fix iPhone 5 Sleep/Wake Button Issues for Free

Some kind of issue with the iPhone 5 has caused some users' sleep/wake buttons to not work anymore.  Apple has just launched a new program that will allow the "small percentage" of those affected by this issue to have their phones repaired by Apple free of charge.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2457171,00.asp

http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-will-replace-the-faulty-power-button-on-your-iphone-5-2014-4





Book says Apple without Steve Jobs an empire without an emperor 

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/software/kanes-haunted-empire-book-says-apple-without-steve-jobs-an-empire-without-an-emperor/articleshow/34262058.cms





Active malware campaign steals Apple passwords from jailbroken iPhones

Security researchers have uncovered an active malware campaign in the wild that steals the Apple ID credentials from jailbroken iPhones and iPads.

http://arstechnica.com/security/2014/04/active-malware-campaign-steals-apple-passwords-from-jailbroken-iphones/

http://guardianlv.com/2014/04/apple-passwords-stolen-by-active-malware/





How Apple’s Mid-Course Corrections Drive Professionals Crazy

Apple has never felt, deep in its bones, that it has an iron-clad obligation to support certain niche markets because doing so ties its hands with respect to growth in broader markets. I've seen that very process over and over, going all the way back to the (infamous) abandonment of OpenDoc in 1997.

The bottom line, is that when Apple does go its own way, creating a palpable sense of betrayal, it's always fodder for criticism that gets blown out of proportion by those whose business it is to criticize Apple.

http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/how-apples-mid-course-corrections-drive-professionals-crazy





How Apple eventually delivered on Gil Amelio's promise

http://www.tuaw.com/2014/04/25/how-apple-eventually-delivered-on-gil-amelios-promise/





Hackers do it for fun, not profit
Study finds just a third of Web attacks are for financial gain

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/hackers-do-it-for-fun-not-profit-2014-04-23





New rules could kill net neutrality and the Internet as we've known it

net neutrality is the principle that Internet service providers should treat all legal data on their wires equally without showing preference. The intent of such rules is to bar providers from blocking or slowing access to certain websites or services -- or providing priority access to them.

Under the guise of restoring rules governing net neutrality, Tom Wheeler appears to be gutting them -- much to the benefit of the big broadband providers.

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_25632420/wolverton-new-rules-could-kill-net-neutrality-and





Net Neutrality: A Guide to (and History of) a Contested Idea
If net neutrality is so important, why is it so controversial? It’s complicated.

Net Neutrality.  End to end. The core of the Internet, the core value that defined its power, the core truth that made innovation around it possible.

The network was stupid; it processed packets blindly.  It could no more decide what packets were 'competitors' than the post office can determine which letters criticize it.

This was not just a nice thing, it was the very nature of the Internet. Without it, the Internet will become, as Tim Wu put it, "just like everything else in American society: unequal in a way that deeply threatens our long-term prosperity."

If it is so obvious, though, that net neutrality is a good thing, then why has it remained a contested idea?


http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/04/the-best-writing-on-net-neutrality/361237/





This Guy Knows Why People 'Unfriend' You on Facebook

The most common reason for unfriending someone from high school is that the person posted polarizing comments often about religion or politics. The other big reason for unfriending was frequent, uninteresting posts.

http://www.theatlanticcities.com/technology/2014/04/guy-knows-why-people-unfriend-you-facebook/8958/

Reader Response:
The number one reason I unfriend high school "friends' is that they never were "friends", they were acquaintances and Facebook put us together quite artificially, and after the novelty wore off I trimmed the fat from my friends list…….





10 things con artists won’t tell you
Your information is less secure than ever

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-con-artists-wont-tell-you-2014-04-25





Who Is at Fault When a Driverless Car Gets in an Accident?  We already have the laws we need for dealing with this inevitable situation.

we already have a legal framework that is basically up to the task.

http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/04/who-is-at-fault-when-a-driverless-car-gets-in-an-accident/361250/

The Lukewarm Case for going with Windows 7 or 8.1 if you can't afford a Mac

Okay, your budget is $500 and you’re weighing your choices. At this point, you may have to settle for a Windows 7 or 8.1 machine.

If you use your home machine for work-related stuff, the IT department may require you to have a current version of  Windows on your machine. As much as I like Macs, I can understand the necessity in this case of choosing Windows.

Microsoft would really, really, Really like you to switch to Windows 8.1. Their latest update to Windows 8.1 finally acknowledges that some users have found fault with their precious baby.

If you run the latest version of Windows 8.1 on a desktop with a mouse and keyboard and a non-touch enabled monitor; Windows 8.1 boots you into a familiar screen with a task bar at the bottom, icons on the desktop, and even your choice of desktop wallpaper.

But What Is That  in the lower left-hand corner? That doesn’t look like the stock Microsoft Start Screen icon!

Indeed, it doesn’t. I have incorporated a couple of programs from Stardock.com to enhance my Windows 8.1 experience.

To keep  Windows 8.1 from driving me up with the wall with that whole Tile business, I added the Start8 substitute Start menu

And to keep the Windows 8 full-screen apps in their place, I also got Stardock’s ModernMix for $4.99. Best $4.99 I’ve spent lately!

Here you see the iHeart Radio app and the Microsoft Calendar app confined to windows

 

 

 

Of course, the fact that Microsoft didn’t immediately snap these programs up and make their programmers instant gazillionaires is proof that corporations are people. People are often complete fools! (You with the mad Photoshop skills? How about a picture of Ballmer dressed in motley?)

Well, I’ll end this with the same things I ended my OS X post with:

If you deal with oddball formats, look into downloading LibreOffice 4. If you find yourself with a bunch of old Clarisworks/Appleworks word processing files and you’re a Windows person, this program can save your (tofu) bacon

Perform regular maintenance on your computer. Computers, like closets, need periodic clearing and cleaning.. 

And Back UP your computer regularly. Hard Drives and SSD’s have finite lives. Regret is cross-platform.

 

Tom Briant

Editor, MacValley Blog

 

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Senior Correspondent Arnold Woodworth has another group of articles for your attention

Mac Pro shortage sets record as worst Mac production debacle
Four months into sales and the backlog's still 4 to 6 weeks

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9247698/Mac_Pro_shortage_sets_record_as_worst_Mac_production_debacle




This Woman's MacBook Was Stolen, So She's Posting These Photos Of The Alleged Thief All Over The Web

http://www.businessinsider.com/womans-macbook-air-stolen-2014-4




Apple's iOS is playing catch up to Android

The next iPhone and especially Apple's (AAPL) next iOS operating system better be a huge leap forward if they want to catch up with where Samsung's Android products already are. I'll be doing a full article about this topic next week.

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/cody/2014/04/16/apples-ios-is-playing-catch-up-to-android/




In the Battle for Best Smartphone, Apple Still Beats Samsung

I’ve been using the new Samsung for about three weeks, and while I do think it is the best Android phone you can buy, it sure isn’t the best phone on the market.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/04/18/in-the-battle-for-best-smartphone-apple-still-beats-samsung/




How to Switch From iPhone 5S to BlackBerry Z30 (and Why)

The company's flagship BlackBerry Z30, launched at the end of 2013, also comes with a host of features not found in the Apple iPhone: A large 5-inch touchscreen, an expansion slot for adding flash memory, native HDMI out, the capability to function as an external USB storage drive and 25 hours of battery life.

the Z30 impressed me so much that my iPhone 5S lost its appeal.

here are the nine steps you need to follow to make the switch to a BlackBerry 10 smartphone.

http://www.cio.com/article/751485/How_to_Switch_From_iPhone_5S_to_BlackBerry_Z30_and_Why_




How Apple dodged the Heartbleed bullet

Apple and its Mac and iOS users weren't affected by Heartbleed, but just weeks before, the company had been hit by a similar vulnerability related to a flaw in Apple's own code, which just happened to also be related to SSL certificate based security.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/04/18/how-apple-dodged-the-heartbleed-bullet




The Heartbleed Bug Is Mostly Fixed, But There Are Still More Than 20,000 Websites Vulnerable

http://www.businessinsider.com/heartbleed-bug-fixed-2014-4




Does Heartbleed Disprove the Claim that 'Open Source is Safer'?

one take-away for FOSS is that all the eyes in the world cannot be counted on to catch basic design problems.

Heartbleed is forcing another look at one of FOSS' basic beliefs, but the reaction to it is proving FOSS' ability to respond in a crisis. In the short run, FOSS will face ridicule because of its failure to detect Heartbleed earlier. Yet, already, the challenge to FOSS' basic beliefs is proving the ability of its developers to learn from their mistakes and improve.

http://www.datamation.com/open-source/does-heartbleed-disprove-open-source-is-safer-1.html

Reader Responses:

Which of the following two lapses is worse: Open source guy forgets to put in a length check on input. (Heartbleed) Closed source treats a string of all spaces as a valid password. (Microsoft) Both are security lapses. The former can be spotted by anyone who is looking. The only problem with the open source argument is that it needs to stop assuming that there are many eyeballs looking.

Proprietary software is far more dangerous, because it's considerably more difficult and expensive for researchers to obtain access to the code and discover problems like Heartbleed. While this is newsworthy because it surprised everyone, when compared to the mass of widespread, equally dangerous proprietary defects, it's a drop in a very large bucket.




Heartbleed: Security experts reality-check the 3 most hysterical fears

The hype: The entire Internet has been compromised and it's open season for hackers.
The reality: You're probably not a target.

The hype: You're at great risk of being hacked.
The reality: Your risk is minimal ** if ** you're taking basic security measures.

The hype: You must change all of your passwords
The reality: You should, but not yet -- it's pointless to change your password on a vulnerable site before it has confirmed that the service is patched.

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2144840/heartbleed-3-hysterical-fears-and-what-you-really-need-to-know.html




The U.S. National Security Agency knew for at least two years about a flaw in the way that many websites send sensitive information, now dubbed the Heartbleed bug, and regularly used it to gather critical intelligence, two people familiar with the matter said.

Putting the Heartbleed bug in its arsenal, the NSA was able to obtain passwords and other basic data that are the building blocks of the sophisticated hacking operations at the core of its mission, but at a cost. Millions of ordinary users were left vulnerable to attack from other nations’ intelligence arms and criminal hackers.

http://www.market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=228928

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-04-11/nsa-said-to-have-used-heartbleed-bug-exposing-consumers.html




Pop Quiz: What fits in your pocket, annoys others not partaking, is addictive, and costs more every day?
If you answered cigarettes, you're right. But another correct answer is smartphones.

in a subtle yet very real way, wireless providers are taking market share. This was made brilliantly apparent by blogger Steve Cichon . In a post this past January, Mr. Cichon pointed out that almost everything found in a 1991 newspaper ad from Radio Shack had been absorbed into a modern smartphone and contemporary wireless service.

Answering machine. CB radio. Alarm clock. Video camcorder. Calculator. CD player. Personal computer. And, of course the land-line and "Mobile Cellular" phones themselves.

Amazing. The wireless industry isn't swapping much market share among its players, but overall, they're taking “dollar” share from other industries.

the "thing" about technology is our devices change, but our needs don't. We need to communicate, so it used to be smoke signals, the telegraph and CB radios. Now it's mobile phones.

So as investments, wireless service providers seem like a sweet deal: pricing power leading to plenty of cash flow and taking share from seemingly unrelated businesses. Oh, and customers displaying clear signs of addiction.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/smartphones-like-cigarettes-only-better-2014-04-10




Here's a very intelligent discussion of how much privacy we give up to use our iPhones (or other smart phones).
Basically, we give up ALL of our privacy.

http://www.computerconsultantsforum.com/forum/discussions/problem-with-smartphones-security/




LinkedIn May Not Be The Coolest Social Network, But It's Only Becoming More Valuable To Businesses

http://www.businessinsider.com/demographic-data-and-social-media-2014-2




How to spot credit-card skimmers
If wires are sticking out of the ATM, swipe elsewhere

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-to-spot-credit-card-skimmers-2014-04-11




IBM mainframe, tech's 'dinosaur,' turns 50
Big Blue still dominates high-end server market, but it's a shrinking space

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/ibm-mainframe-techs-dinosaur-turns-50-2014-04-11




Games That Make Players Feel Incompetent Lead To Aggression — Not Game Violence Itself

“Players have a psychological need to come out on top when playing,” said Dr. Andrew Przybylski

http://www.businessinsider.com/video-game-aggression-2014-4




A St. Louis Fed Official Made A Presentation About Bitcoin That Bitcoin Fans Are Going To Love

Very educational.

http://www.businessinsider.com/bitcoin-presentation-2014-4




Bitcoin basics: What you need to know

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/bitcoin-basics-what-you-need-to-know-2014-04-09




St. Louis Fed Vice President: Bitcoin Could Be A Good Threat To Central Banks

http://www.businessinsider.com/interview-with-david-andolfatto-2014-4




Regulators line up to crack down on bitcoin

Part of the problem is that few know which agency or agencies should regulate bitcoin. And many federal government agencies have taken a pass on proposing regulations, for one reason or another.

state regulators are moving forward faster than federal regulators

Why was bitcoin created?" Mark T. Williams (Boston University professor and critic of bitcoin) asked. "Number one was to get away from regulation, number two, to avoid bankers, and number three, to have the anonymous coin as a feature. Now if those three things are taken away, will bitcoin be adopted? Will the original believers in bitcoin say it's a sellout? So there's lots of uncertainty here." 

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/regulators-line-up-to-crack-down-on-bitcoin-2014-04-09

Can I afford a Macintosh now that Windows XP has reached the end? Yes, Yes, and Yes!

You've reached the end of the road with Windows XP? Should You buy a Mac? Or What Else?

By now your Windows XP machine should have told you that Microsoft will no long support Windows XP. You may have felt a surge of panic at this point.  

Does this mean that your computer will stop working due to Microsoft? Will it contract a virus or other malware? Will I lose my Buffy and Harry Potter fan fiction to hackers?

Here are the answers:

No, your computer will not stop working due to Microsoft. It just means that Microsoft would like you to get Windows 8.1 and probably a new computer, too. They will help you move your programs and data over to the new computer.

But you're on your own concerning computer security and maintenance on your old computer.

Your Windows XP computer will probably not contract a virus or other malware if you stay away from Web sites promising “Hot Lesbian Three-Ways!”or “Make Money from Home the Easy Way! Just send us $19.95 with your credit card and we'll send you the details!” I would advise you to get an anti-virus program for your Windows XP computer right away. On my Windows XP partition, I'm using AVG Free Anti-virus. PC Magazine gave it its highest recommendation for a free anti-virus. For $55 you can buy the full package direct from AVG.

And, no, hackers will not steal your precious fan fiction. You will lose them to a failing hard disk if you don't regularly back up your hard drive. So go get a multi-terabyte USB hard drive from Costco, Best Buy, Staples, or Frys, and BACK UP YOUR DOCUMENTS AND SETTINGS FOLDER! They 're cheap. $100 for 2 Tb? What are you waiting for? Costco closes at 8:30 PM on weeknights, 6:00 PM on weekends!

 SHOULD I GET A MAC?

Well, this is the MacValley Blog, so if you've got the cash on hand, buy a new Mac or recent vintage used Mac. I'm not advising putting off dental work to get a Mac. I'll deal with the El Cheapo solution to your computer issues when I get to Linux. Your ultimate answer, though, is a Mac running OS X 10.9.2.

A Mac combines the time-tested industrial-strength underpinnings of UNIX with the Mac graphic user interface. The Mac operating system, OS X, has built-in defenses against intruders. It will ask a program that wants to install, “So, have you been cleared by Apple for cyber cleanliness?”  

You can install anti-virus software on a Mac. In most cases, though, the anti-virus catches Windows viruses and malware and keeps you from passing them along to your Windows-using friends and co-workers.  

Malware can use Java and Flash, two programming environments that are vulnerable. Apple doesn't install them by default.

BUT WHAT ABOUT THE “APPLE TAX”?

Right, the lowest-priced Mac, the Mac Mini, costs $599. You can buy a Windows 8.1 machine for $300 or less. What makes a Mac worth twice as much as a Windows 8.1 machine?

Well, to begin with, the Mac Mini runs on an Intel Core I5 processor. That $300 bargain box runs on an Intel Pentium or an AMD chip. They're fine chips, but not as powerful as the Core i5.

Look at the ads closely. The cost of a comparable Windows 8.1 box with Core i5 processor, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, two video-out ports (HDMI and Mini-DisplayPort on the Mini) is at least $600. True, the Mini doesn't include a keyboard and mouse. But you can use the keyboard and mouse from your current Windows setup or buy a cheap USB keyboard and mouse.  

The Mac Mini will also take up less space than a Windows mini-tower and give you 4 USB 3.0 ports in the back. No, they don't give you mostly the old technology USB 2.0 ports and a measly 1 or 2 USB 3.0 ports. It's all USB 3.0.  

Go ahead, test drive a Mac Mini. True, the Apple Store hooks it up to a gorgeous 27” Cinema Display, but still...isn't it the best computer experience you've ever had?

 And if you try out a Retina MacBook Pro, they'll have to pry you away from it with the Jaws of Life. But I digress...

ZOMG, I WANT A MAC, I WANT A MAC SO BAAAAD! BUT I HAVE ONLY $1,000 TO SPEND ON IT...

 So have a seat, drink some bottled water and relax. Let's see what you need to fulfill your Mac urges.

 First, a Mac Mini. Now, if you can wait until June, they're due for a refresh. Better Intel processor, better graphics. But still...you want it now, you can have it.

Second, video display. At home, you've got a behemoth of a Viewsonic CRT. You've grown sentimentally attached to it, considering how much you paid for it. And due to a couple of soda spills, it is stuck to your desk. So let's leave it alone.

Hmmm, you can get 1280 x 1024 resolution out of it. Sufficient for your needs. You'll need either an HDMI to VGA adaptor or a MiniDisplayPort to VGA adaptor. Let's seee....hmm.

At Apple, a MiniDisplay Port to VGA adaptor costs $19.00. At Monoprice.com, $15.71. Let me clue you in on an insider's deal. Go to Monoprice.com for great prices on stuff. I'm using their USB keyboard and their over-the-head DJ headphones. On the headphones alone, you could save hundreds of dollars. Dr. Dre headphones at $399? With only a B.S. in Accounting, I found these Monoprice headphones for less than $30.00. And they include two pairs of headphone cables.  Read what Macworld said about them!

 So, you'll need the MiniDisplay Port to VGA adaptor for $16.00. The headphones for $30.00. A new keyboard and mouse for $15.00.  

How to Save on Software for your new Mac and not pay hand over fist

Now about software, the great worry about Apple. You've got presentations, spreadsheets, and word processing to process. Don't worry, your new Mac comes with Apple's Pages, Numbers, and Keynote. They'll open Microsoft Office documents and can save them back in Office format.

If you need to open them someplace where your Mac isn't available, save them to iCloud, Apple's cloud storage service that comes free with your Mac. When you set up your Mac, you can set up your iCloud user name and password. From a Windows PC Web browser such as Internet Explorer or Chrome or Firefox, you can open up the Web versions of Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.  

 As for Microsoft Office for Mac, ask if your company can use the Microsoft Home User Program. I got MS Office for Mac 2011 for $9.95 through work..  

If you use Google Drive, log right onto it. Macs work great with Google Drive.

And now for the insider secret. If you want a standalone desktop office suite for next to nothing, look into LibreOffice. It opens an amazing range of file formats. Just as a file conversion tool, it's worth looking into.

The Hardware that you bring to the Mac will work just fine with it

Now about your printer...okay, it's an inkjet or laser printer with a USB connection and/or an Ethernet connection. Plug it into your new Mac and it should automatically recognize it, install printer drivers, and you're ready to go. No fumbling around for lost CDs.

Oh, CDs and DVDs. Your new Mac doesn't come with a DVD drive. Now the Apple Store will sell you the Super Drive for $80, but you can do just as well for half the cost with a USB drive for a Windows Ultrabook. Me, I'm using a 10 year old LaCie DVD drive that's built like a tank. Still works great.  

Now for other peripherals. Your Web cam should work as is with the Mac. I bought a cheap Web cam at Big Lots! I plugged it in and I've got video.

Some words about External Hard Drives

External hard drives. Okay, this is the deal. If your external hard drive works with your Windows XP box, it probably came formatted in the Windows NTFS disk format. Now a Mac can read a NTFS hard drive as is, but it can't write to it unless you get some 3^rd party software.  

Now USB flash drives come formatted in the FAT32 disk format, which is an older Windows format used in Windows 95/98. Your Mac can read and write to it and also format flash drives and hard drives in this format. So if you need a hard drive that your Windows XP/7/8 box AND your Mac can read and write to, reformat a hard drive in FAT32.  

Now a Mac uses its own hard disk format, known as HFS+ Journaled. You can get 3^rd party software for a Windows computer to read and write to an HFS+ disk. You'll need to reformat an NTFS hard drive if you want to use it with the Mac's own backup software called Time Machine.  

Remember, reformatting a hard drive erases the contents. So if you want to use a Windows formatted external hard drive with your Mac for backup duty, make sure you copy the contents to another hard drive. Better yet, just buy a new one and don't worry about wiping out precious photos. Just plug it into the Mac. The Mac will ask you if you want to use it for your Time Machine backup. If you agree, it will automatically reformat the drive and set it up as your backup.  

ZOMG! I STILL WANT A MAC SO BAAAD! BUT IT'S STILL A LITTLE STEEP? WHAT ABOUT A USED ONE?

Well, Macs, like BMWs, keep their value and don't depreciate as much as a Windows machine. But still...

You can go to PowerMax.com and MacSales.com and Smalldog.com for used Macs. You can also go to eBay. 

WHAT USED MACS TO BUY AND WHICH TO AVOID

You want a Mac that you can upgrade to 10.9. It may come with 10.6 Snow Leopard as the original operating system, so ask “Can I upgrade this to 10.9 Mavericks?” Don't be shy, there's no point in settling for a Mac that can only run 10.6 Snow Leopard.

As for the cost of Mavericks, it's free. All you pay for is the Internet connection from your house to Apple's servers.

 Now you will see some Macs for $200 and under. Check to see if those Macs use the PowerPC G4 and G5 processor. Apple stopped using those in 2005 and switched over to Intel processors. The PowerPC Macs can  only use OS X 10.5.8 as the most advanced OS.

 You don't want a PowerPC Mac unless you have specific needs for one. You may have a trove of old Mac games that run on Classic OS. That's another can of worms that I'll deal with later.

 You may have read the Mac Tuts+ article on how to turn an old G4 Mac Mini into an iTunes server. Read the article first before committing to buying a G4 Mac Mini! It’s an excellent article, but don’t spend any money on a G4 Mac Mini in the hopes of getting a super-cheap Mac that can run 10.9.2.

BUT I STILL HAVE WINDOWS STUFF THAT THE MAC DOESN'T HAVE! LIKE GAMES!

The answer for that situation is this. You want to dedicate part of your Mac to run as a full-bore Windows system. This is done using the BootCamp software that Apple provides with OS X. You, in turn, have to provide a Windows installation disk. A real Windows installation disk, not that emergency disk that came with your PC. Prepare to spend $100 or more.  

Alternatively, if you don't need to run heavy-duty games, you can buy a Windows installation disk and use it with a virtual machine. Your choices include Parallels Desktop (which I use happily), VMWare for OS X, and the free VirtualBox software.  

So, what’s my price tag so far?

New Mac Mini $599

MiniDisplayPort to VGA $16

Keyboard $9

Mouse $5

Headphones $30

External USB hard drive $100

USB DVD-RW drive $40

That comes to $799 before sales tax. Figure 10% sales tax in Los Angeles and your total is $879. Still enough left for a Windows installation disk so you can play some zombie shoot-up game.  

 

So Remember!

 You pay as much for the equivalent PC as you would for a Mac Mini

You can run Windows on a Mac with ease; but you can't run OS X on a PC without a lot of effort.

You won't worry that some Godawful malware will get your computer

 

Tom Briant

Editor, MacValley Blog

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heartbleed Special! Read At Once!

"Heartbleed" bug warning:  Time to change passwords everywhere

"Heartbleed," the software bug uncovered Monday, has caused serious security headaches this week as companies scramble to fix a major flaw that has left most of the world's active websites vulnerable to attack.

The threat comes from a bug that's able to exploit a problem in a free set of encryption tools called OpenSSL. Heartbleed would let a hacker grab chunks of data from a server, including passwords and other sensitive information. And this involves even so-called secure sites, those with the little lock icon on top.

the little lock icon (HTTPS) we all trusted to keep our passwords, personal emails, and credit cards safe, was actually making all that private information accessible to anyone who knew about the exploit.

Thankfully the major banks, Apple, Google and Microsoft have used their own front end security architecture and are not impacted by this, but most web sites just use OpenSSL "as is" for their security encryption.

It is really surprising that this seems to have been in place for close to two years and we are just now finding out about it."

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/thetell/2014/04/09/heartbleed-bug-warning-time-to-change-passwords-everywhere/




Heartbleed: Change Your Passwords—Carefully

http://live.wsj.com/video/heartbleed-change-your-passwordscarefully-2014-04-09/F3DDAE69-31C7-4E8D-B7C0-306A6E3CD680.html




The 5 Things To Do About the New Heartbleed Bug

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/04/the-5-things-to-do-about-the-new-heartbleed-bug/360395/




5 rules for using the Internet after Heartbleed

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/5-rules-for-using-the-internet-after-heartbleed-2014-04-09




'Heartbleed' bug forces Canada tax agency to shut down online access

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/heartbleed-bug-forces-canada-tax-agency-to-shut-down-online-access-2014-04-09




How to Check if a Site Is Safe From 'Heartbleed'

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/04/how-to-check-if-a-site-is-safe-from-heartbleed/360417/




Heartbleed: Why websites were caught unprepared

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/heartbleed-why-websites-were-caught-unprepared-2014-04-10




Here's How To Protect Yourself From The Massive Security Flaw That's Taken Over The Internet

http://www.businessinsider.com/heartbleed-bug-explainer-2014-4

http://heartbleed.com

http://www.market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=228919

Senior Correspondent Arnold Woodworth with his weekend roundup

Apple's Greed Is Making My iPhone Worse

Does Apple understand that its greedy "30% cut" policy is making my iPhone worse?

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-you-cant-buy-kindle-books-on-iphone-2014-4




Apple Inc. Buys Its Biggest Critic, iFixit

A critic of hard-to-repair electronics is purchased by the biggest target of its criticism.

http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2014/04/01/apple-buys-ifixit/




Here’s Why Developers Keep Favoring Apple Over Android

The recurring theme: Android users are less lucrative than iPhone users, and designers are iPhone users. It’s a socioeconomic split along class lines, in favor of iPhone over Android.

An Android User Is Worth One-Fourth of an iOS User

http://www.businessinsider.com/android-is-for-poor-people-maps-2014-4?utm_source=slate&utm_medium=referral&utm_term=partner




Apple v Samsung Case Highlights The New Innovator's Dilemma

The real paradigm change initiated by Apple is the transition to a platform and ecosystem strategy as distinct from a pure hardware or software one. Jobs though didn’t seem to see it.

In his internal memos he was very focused on technology – on Siri and other ways to counter the innovations of the Android platform. But what both companies were sitting on was a new way of doing business – the vast ecosystem of developers and content providers that create downstream revenues independent of hardware sales.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/haydnshaughnessy/2014/04/03/apple-v-samsung-and-the-new-innovators-dilemma/




The difference between apps and applications

Apps are pretty great. You can get an app to unlock your car, an app to manage your to-do list, an app to hold onto all the articles you plan to read (someday when you have time) and more. All of these one-off capabilities are useful, but in order to do real, productive work from mobile phones and tablets, professionals need full-fledged, multi-faceted applications. An application, as opposed to a mere app, comes with an expansive range of features that help knowledge workers do their jobs as well on mobile devices as standard computers.

http://qz.com/193343/the-biggest-productivity-killer-is-that-theres-an-app-for-that-and-that-and-that-too/




The 13 Hottest iPhone And Android Apps Of The Month — RANKED

http://www.businessinsider.com/best-new-apps-for-month-march-2014-3#!CintM




Is BlackBerry Z30 worth a look?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/personal/2014/03/28/blackberry-z30-review-tech-now/7020345/




Why You’re Overpaying for Ebooks…And How to Pay Less

http://bookworm-tips.tumblr.com/post/72893424288/why-youre-overpaying-for-ebooks-and-how-to-pay-less




Teaching Revolution: Online, Accredited, Free; Start Learning Now!

MOOCs – massive open online courses – which promise to revolutionise the world of higher education.

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2014/03/teaching-revolution-online-accredited.html




This Adorable Video From Google Shows When It Hands Over Your Personal Data

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-google-responds-to-search-warrants-2014-3#!CiU7E




Search Engine DuckDuckGo Is Taking On Google By Doing The One Thing They Won't Do

http://www.businessinsider.com/search-engine-duckduckgo-is-taking-on-google-by-doing-the-one-thing-they-wont-do-2014-4




Tax identity theft: Why you're vulnerable

we live in a world where breaches - and the resulting cases of identity theft - are rapidly becoming the third certainty in life. Doing everything we can do is no longer good enough: too many organizations have too much of your information in databases that are too easily accessed by the wrong people.

once you resolve your case with the IRS, don't assume that you're safe: if identity thieves have your name and Social Security number, they have a permanent option on your life that they can use at their convenience. Even if they are arrested and prosecuted, the nightmare isn't necessarily over. They may well have sold your information to others who will do more of the same.

This article has a list of things you should do to protect yourself.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tax-identity-theft-why-youre-vulnerable-2014-04-03




Federal Agencies Fail To Protect Personal Data

Federal agencies need to do a better job handling data breaches. The number of security incidents involving personally identifiable information has more than doubled just in the past four years, a new report by the Government Accountability Office says.

despite agencies' efforts to secure this information, incidents involving personal data -- both cyber and non-cyber -- have skyrocketed from 10,481 in 2009 to 25,566 in 2013, said the federal watchdog agency.

http://www.informationweek.com/government/cybersecurity/federal-agencies-fail-to-protect-personal-data/d/d-id/1174113