BRUCEB NEWS
DROP Promises Privacy But The River Still Flows
California has new rules – the DROP platform – that could interfere with the money being made by California data brokers. The data brokers will find ways around the rules . The profile they put together by spying on you is a tiny twig carried in a rushing river of…
Location Tracking: LA LA LA I DON’T WANT TO HEAR YOU
Previously: Location Tracking: They Know Where You Are Look, I get it. I don’t blame you for wanting to tune out. We’re assaulted by bad news. Our political system is in chaos,…
Location Tracking: They Know Where You Are
You carry a beacon twenty-four hours a day that broadcasts your location. We are being tracked wherever we go by dozens of companies, mostly unregulated. It is an unparalleled…
Request Files Using Dropbox Or OneDrive
I tingle with excitement when I discover a cool technology trick that no one knows about, which perhaps tells you more about me than I should be comfortable with. The only…
Prices And Algorithms: It’s A Game Of Cat And Mouse, And You’re Always The Mouse
You probably have the idea that you can use the power of the Internet to compare prices and find deals. Savvy travelers look for advice about the best time to buy airline tickets…
Windows Search Is Broken And It’s Bing’s Fault
Microsoft is mucking around with Windows Search. It might be better someday, although it’s not like anyone was screaming for changes. But hoo boy, is it obvious that the B team…
LastPass Is Slow
LastPass is slow. It’s hard to overlook. If you’re using LastPass, I want you to keep using it! You need a secure way to keep track of passwords and confidential information. For…
Google, Microsoft, And Unethical Behavior
Two weeks ago, Google changed its web search results to fool you into clicking on paid ads by mistake. Last week Microsoft announced that an upcoming update for Office will force…
Rules For Computer And Online Safety 2020
These are the rules for computer and online safety in 2020. You can download a copy here. Only your vigilance will protect you against bad guys. You will be safe if you are…
Google Real-Time Transcription Is The Coolest Technology Of 2019
You can record speech on a Pixel phone with Google’s new Recorder app, and it will transcribe the words into text in real time. You can save the text and search for words later….
R.I.P. Windows 7
Windows 7 has passed on. It is no more. It has ceased to be. Windows 7 has expired and gone to meet its maker. It’s a stiff. Bereft of life, it rests in peace. It’s off the twig….
Why You Should Be Skeptical About 5G In 2020
Previously: 5G Will Be Important, But Not In 2020 The carriers’ 5G upgrade will change our world over the next ten to fifteen years. That’s not the message you’ll get from the…
5G Will Be Important, But Not In 2020 (Despite What The Ads Say)
We are about to be assaulted. An overwhelming advertising blitz will begin in earnest in 2020, trying to convince you that you should upgrade your phone and your mobile service…
The 2019 Bruceb News Year In Review
(This will be the last Bruceb News article until I recover from an upcoming business conference trip to Hawaii. Happy holidays!) I think I accomplished two goals in 2019: writing…
Data Brokers: The Companies Hiding In The Shadows That Know Everything About You
Your personal information is being bought and sold by companies that lurk in the shadows. You’ve never heard of them. That’s the way they like it. This is the most important…
Spotify Unwrapped 2019: My Top Ten List Is 260% Better Than Last Year
Spotify has launched its annual Spotify Wrapped website, where you can look back on your year of music listening, including your top artists and top songs. You’ll find…