Edward Kiledjian

We have witnessed an onslaught of "smart" HDMI dongles from the Chromecast to the chromebit to Intel's PC on a stick. These are all very cool technologies but do they really improve your life in a measurable and tangible way?

Colorblindness isn't as serious as many other human afflictions but it's great to see a Kickstarter campaign trying to create a device to help improve their lives. The Eye2TV is an HDMI dongle that plugs into your TV an automatically (immediately) upgrades the image to compensate for the things colorblind people don't see. 

The promise is that normal sighted viewers will not notice the minute changes. They also said the device is adjustable to accomodate different types of colorblindness. 

ource: Kickstarter

LifeProof isn's a new company but interestingly I receive a handful of reader emails every week asking whether the $89.99 investment is justified. The questions I see the most are:

• Does the Lifeproof case work?
• Does the Lifeproof case leak?
• Will the Lifeproof case protect my iPhone from my toddler

Interestingly reviews on the the internet are split. There are large organizations and hard users that swear by Lifeproof cases and then there is a vibrant boisterous anti-Lifeproof community that tries to have its voice heard everywhere. 

So this review is my attempt to answer the simple question: Is the Lifeproof waterproof case for iphone/ipad/samsung/Motorola worth the $90 asking price?

The first rule of Lifeproof

Remember that you are asking the case to protect your $900 smartphone. For most, this is the most important piece of technology. So why do so many buyers avoid reading the manual then complain that something went wrong? I don't know but please... pretty please... read the damn manual.

The first thing the manual says is to test your case in the sink using a tissue paper inside the case to check for leaks. Lifeproof does test every case in their warehouse but considering it will be wrapped around you smartphone, invest the 30 minutes to test it with tissue paper (or using the fake cardboard iPhone provided in the packaging) first in the sink. 

The most popular version is the Nuud which basically seals around your devices glass screen itself. People choose this because it allows you to enjoy the wonderful retina display without looking at it through a cheap think plastic film. But in order for this to work, your phone should be relatively intact. Deep screen scratches or cracks could make your device non waterproof.

The internet is complaining

I read hundreds of comments from users and it seems the biggest complaint is that condensation forms on the inside of the speaker mesh. Most complainers said the phone continued to work but that they had to have Apple replace the speaker. 

I contacted 12 of the most vocal complainers about this issue asking if they had first sink tested their case before first use. 2 answered saying they had not.

Food for thought.

The warranty 

So Lifeproof provides 1 year of warranty from the date of purchase (link).  Buying it with some gold credit cards may allow you to extend this to 2 (your results may vary). I contacted their warranty support service (as a test) and the agent was extremely helpful and willing to quickly send out a replacement piece. [I claimed it was leaking]. 

Additionally many stores will offer you 30/60/90 days of in-store warranty.

I am a scuba diver and have scuba certified camera cases. For those cases, we typically apply a special silicon lube (link) to the O Rings before each day starts. You could use this same lube on the O Rings of the Lifeproof but it would likely invalidate your warranty so I wouldn't do it.

My field tests

I love my smartphone and it is with me 24x7x365. Subjecting my beloved iPhone to torture testing breaks my heart everytime. For these tests, I dropped the phone (in case of course) on jagged medium size rocks from 6 feet and all that happenned was some small case scratches. 

I then tested the phone in a 1 meter tank for 60 minutes and the phone worked great. 

Touchscreen's don't like water and therefore may not respond when wet. The traditional Lifeproof with cheap plastic screen protector allows you to use the phone in fairly wet conditions because ultimately the screen is dry. Not so for the Nuud. Because the original screen is exposed in the Lifeproof Nuud case, the touchscreen becomes unresponsive when wet. This is something you will have to think about before you get the screen wet. As an example if you want to take pics, start the camera app before the device get's wet and use the volume button to snap pics. The home button will work but screen presses will likely go unanswered by IOS.

Lifeproof Total Water Protection Program

Lifeproof has a program called the TWPP and describes it as:

the important point here is to register your TWPP warranty as soon as you buy your case from an authorized provider (link to register) , otherwise you forfeit this protection.

The accessories

There are now a bunch of accessories you can buy. The most interesting one, if you spend time around water, is the LifeJacket.

Basically it is designed to work with the Lifeproof case and make your device float and of course makes it super visible. I wouldn't walk with the Lifejacket on the beach but would use it while boating.

Verdict

It is not perfect. It makes the device just a bit bigger (not much but still noticeable). It basically covers the beautifully crafted aluminium smartphone in a much cheaper plastic case. You will need a special adapter to use headphones (link). Some IOS accessories won't work because of the added thickness around the lightning port which means you'll have to give up on those accessories or buy one of those third party lightning port extenders.(link)

I think this is a fantastic option for the right consumer. Who is the right consummer? It is someone that spends enough time around water or situations hazardous to their smartphone, to make this investment worthwhile. Someone that needs this protection once a year shouldn't spend $90 for this case.

It's cool using your smartphone for everything but I have taken a step back. For situations where I want to take pictures in wet or hazardous conditions, I use my though, waterproof, dropproof, freezeproof Olympus TG-2 (link). (they are up to TG-4 now). 

For situations where I am carrying my smartphone (or documents or other electronics) and just want to protect it against unintended splashes or water, I store it inside a reusable, extremely though and easily accessible AlokSak waterproof bag (link).

Having used many waterproof cases, I find them too clumsy to use and they distract from the beauty of my devices. Personally I would rather endanger a device made to be thrown or bathed like my Olympus TG-4 Though camera or a GoPro. If however you work in a job where you need your phone AND it is hazardous for the device then this is a fantastic option. It is one of the sleekest and most usable waterproof cases aroound. 

We have been hearing rumors that Google will be launching its own MVNO ( mobile virtual network operator) in the US. Now The Telegraph (link) is reporting that one of the goal's of this new (unannounced) MVNO will be free international roaming. 

The report claims that Google is talking to Hong Kong based Hutchison Whampoa (a diversified holding company). Hutchison Telecom Hong Kong Holdings'  customers already roam in many countries roaming-charge free (with the appropriate data plan).

During a Bloomberg interview at Mobile World Congress, Sundar Pichai, Google's Grand Poobah of mobile confirmed that it has ambitions of improving connectivity via an MVNO. All the rumors point to a Nexus 6 exclusive service at launch because they will likely do some kind of WIFI prefered service (where available) to save on data charges and therefore will need to develop very good handoff technology between WIFI and global cell phone networks.

If this is something that actually becomes available to a worldwide audience then this is the kind of tech that would make me leave the iPhone for Android.

When I write a blog article or am working on a long form document, I try to enter a writing zone where I remove all distractions and concentrate on my work. We have seen many writer apps that create these minimalist writer interfaces.

Mindfulness is the state writers are looking for with these tools and minimalist interfaces. It means concentrating on one thing and being fully aware of that thing (think of it as the anti-multitasking movement).

When Evernote launched its latest web interface update, they described it as 

But what does any of this have to do with the Chromebook? It has everything to do with it.

When the Chromebook first launched, many tech analysts laughed at it. Why would anyone want a computer that "just runs a web browser"? Many complained that even tablets did more than Chromebooks and most foresaw its quick and painful death. Years later, the Chromebook is thriving. Why?

Just as writers look for clean non cluttered interfaces that just fades away as they work, most users are looking for a device that just fades away as they use it. Most modern Chromebooks are SSD based and super fast. A $350 Acer C720P boots in just 7 seconds and doesn't slow down with use. It is not susceptible to malware infection and is always kept automatically up to date. There is nothing for you to think about. There is nothing special for you to do.

When using a Chromebook, you spend all your mental energy thinking about the task at hand and not how to optimize your device or install an update or scan it for malware. Like Apple's old street slogan "It just works" and it keeps working without slowing down.

The fact that it just works is the result of a lot of careful design by Google, but for users it provides mental relief. It means you can conduct online banking without worrying that malware will steal your credentials. It means all your data is stored in the Google cloud and there is nothing to backup on the local device. The Chromebook just is. It is my idea of mindful computing. It allows me to write without worrying that I may lose my work. It allows me to browse the web without worrying about a drive by infection and it means I can travel without worrying that a border inspection by an unscrupulous agent may expose my personal information.

All of the above translates to a simple understanding that the Chromebook isn't just a device but a computing paradigm. 

The Chromebook isn't my primary device yet and won't be the only device for power users but it could be for average Joe. 

Regardless of how many USB ports your devices seem to have, you are always short a couple of ports. Now the creators of the Infinite USB cable believe they have solved the problem once and for all. 

The promise is that you can keep connecting their nesting USB cables (plugging one cable into another cable over and over). The idea sounds incredible at first but... Remember that most USB ports have limited power which means you will quickly make become unable to power the USB devices you are plugging into them. This means that you wouldn't be able to keep chaining cables to your hearts content. At most you would be able to plug 2 maybe 3 of them (if you are lucky).

$12 get's you a MicroUSB while $14 get's you an Apple Lightning cable. There is a USB Type C cable in the works which may be the best option.

See it on Kickstarter (link)

When I first heard about the Google Chromebook, I couldn't understand why anybody would buy a computer that only "ran a browser". Sure you could buy one for $300-500 but then again, you can pickup a "cheap" windows based laptop for about the same price. 

Notes from my day job

My day job is being the Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) of a large multinational manufacturer. When our employees travel to high risk locations, they are equipped with a special laptop with a hardened image and they are instructed to only load the bare minimum amount of information needed during this trip. We ask that everything else be kept on our company servers.

Why do we do this? Because the risk of having your equipment hacked is higher in some countries. Add to that the fact that most countries and ask you to log into your computer so that it can be "inspected" at the border. 

Chromebook is the safest travel computer

So the Google Chromebook is designed to run a special operating system called the ChromeOS. It is basically a thin Linux operating system on which Google runs a customized version of their famous Chrome browser.

Because the entire system is the Chrome browser, you can't "install" typical applications. Sure this can be a pain but it is also one of the features that makes the Chromebook so secure. Even clicking on a malicious email or browsing a malicious website can't stealthily install malware. ChromeOS supports Flash but a malicious Flash attack using advertising networks can't infect your Chromebook. ChromeOS also doesn't run Java so you're safe from all of those attacks.

You can install a malicious Chrome extension or one that is made malicious later through an update but you should only be installing extensions from trusted brand name developers. 

So obviously Chrome is extremely difficult to hack which makes it a better option for high risk travel. Most Chromebooks come with a small token amount of storage because the entire premise of the Chromebook is that you should store your files in the cloud. 

Easy & automatic encryption

Upon initial setup of your Chromebook, Google creates a private encryption key for you using the eCryptfs encrypting file system. This means an unauthorized person cannot see your data even if they rip our the drive. 

Boot up secure check

Every time you boot a Chromebook, it runs a Verified boot process to ensure the software hasn't been tampered with. It checks every loaded component as it loads from Kernel to drivers (making sure they are the genuine unmodified Google provided versions).

This means that every time you log into a Chromebook, you can be assured you are logging into a secure login environment. This is much better than any Windows or Mac computer. 

Update your system to stay secure

Anytime a vulnerability is discovered, software manufacturers rush to push out updates to their products. Microsoft has automated the process as much as possible but Google's Chromebook once again wins this round. 

Google releases updates on an as needed basis or at least once every 6 weeks. Like the Chrome browser, the Chromebook automatically downloads and install the update with no user intervention. In the case of the Chromebook though, this process can update everything from the lowest level operating system function to how extensions are handled. 

Just to be safe, Chromebook keeps a copy of the last known good version onboard and can quickly boot to it if the unthinkable happens during an update.

Ultimate privacy 

We all know you can enable Incognito mode to browse privately and not leave too many trails. Google's Chromebook has a mode called Guest Mode which is Incognito on steroids. You can log into a Chromebook as a guest (without credentials) and everything you do during the session is ephemeral and wiped at the end of your session. 

Reinstallation takes minutes

If things aren't working just right or you want to ensure you are working with a fresh clean version of the operating system then you can enable a feature called PowerWash. PowerWash basically performs a complete factory reset of the device bringing it back to an original out of the box state (within minutes). My Acer C720P can perform a PowerWash and show me a login prompt within 5 minutes. 

Why would you want to perform a PowerWash? Because something isn't working  and you can't figure out what. Or you just visited a high risk country and even though a Chromebook is fairly secure, you want the additional piece of mind that comes from a fresh cleanly reinstalled operating environment. 

The Google security goodness

In addition to everything I wrote above, you get the extra security features Google has built into Chrome which means all transactions with Google are performed over a secure TLS connection. 

If anyone tries to spoof a google certificate to steal your credentials (man in the middle style attack), the browser will notify you and prevent the attack. 

You get GMAIL's perfect forward secrecy.

VPN your way to a more secure connection

The best security comes from multiple layers of protection. In addition to everything I mentioned above, you can use a VPN service to tunnel your way out of the badlands into a safer internet. 

Google's Chromebook supports 3 types of VPN connections:

1. L2TP over IPsec with PSK
2. L2TP over IPsec with certificate-based authentication
3. OpenVPN

The last one is the safest and should be your preferred option. Not only does establishing a VPN prevent someone from eavesdropping on your "internet discussion", it also means you can access sites that may be forbidden in your destination country (think Facebook from China or HULU from Canada). 

Conclusion

Yes the Chromebook is much more limiting than a traditional computer but the truth is many users have migrated from laptops or desktops to tablets. If you can live with a tablet then the Chromebook is a no brainer. 

Not only is it more secure but the fact that you have no maintenance to perform is a wonderful feeling. We use a Chromebook as a 3rd or 4th computing device in the house and my wife uses it to show websites to potential clients. It boots in 7 seconds and doesn't slow down with continued use (I'm looking at you Windows). 

Over the last 24 months I went from a Chromebook hater to a Chromebook lover. You can even splurge on Google's new and update Chromebook Pixel. It is a reference design by Google that costs $999 but offers everything you could ever want in a Chromebook. Incredibly responsive keyboard and trackpad. Super high resolution touch screen. 9-12 hours of battery life. Solid metal construction. 

When web placement was paid per click or per view, Twitter importance was measured by the number of followers you had. Those days are long gone because modern tech savvy social media users understand that engagement is the ultimate measure.

In some cases, people bought Twitter followers to make themselves look  better but there are times when those fake followers are added by bots. Why? Because many people automatically follow back all of their followers and these SPAM accounts get a decent following quickly.

Fakers App

The first tool is an online service called the Fakers App.  This app allows you to identify how many fake or empty accounts follow you. Better yet, they can perform this same magic on competitors or service providers trying to sell you on their HUGE social media following.

Head over to the webpage (link)

Click on the Connect to Twitter button

Authorize the app to connect to your twitter account. Then let it do its magic

In my case only 3% of my followers are fake. 46% are inactive which isn't surprising knowing how most registered Twitter users rarely tweet. You can use the search box to check this info for someone else

TwitterAudit

TwitterAudit (link)  is another interesting tool that takes a 5,000 follower sample from your account and then creates a follower value score by looking at the ratio of followers to following, number of tweets, date of last tweet, etc.

It creates some interesting graphs:

Conclusion

You'll notice that the stats provided by each site aren't perfectly aligned but they are close. The Inactive status of the Fakers App isn't too valuable for me considering most people sign up and spend most of their time on twitter lurking. 

Ultimately less than 3% (in both cases) of my followers are fake. What about you?

It has been a good week for IOS device owners. First we were gifted an official Google Calendar app and now Nokia has released its Nokia Here Maps for IOS. 

This is one of the Nokia units that was not acquired by Microsoft and it seems they take mapping very seriously. In addition to offering turn by turn navigation, voice guidance, real time traffic alerts and public transit routing, it offers users the ability to download maps locally for over 100 countries.  This means you can route even when travelling out of country or going through bad reception areas.

I have been using the android version since its beta release and overall I am very pleased with its performance. It provides much more accurate routing than the built in Apple Maps.

Why not download this little gem and keep it in your toolkit for a rainy day?

App Store link (link)