Monthly Archives: March 2012
Recall Roundup: NHTSA recalls BMWs, Honda CR-Vs, Toyota 4Runner
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced vehicle recalls in late March including overheating BMWs, Hondas with steering issues, and loss of brake stability in certain Toyota models. BMW of North America announced recalls across several models that sound almost as complicated as German engineering, but ultimately could lead to overheating. They are recalling nearly [...] Continue reading
Scammers Target Aspiring Draw Something Artists
As smartphone users flock to social games like Draw Something to test their artistic skills and relive their Pictionary days of youth, scam artists have inevitably found a way to cash in on the game’s popularity. MSNBC reported that the security company Sophos spotted more than 30 Twitter accounts with Draw Something scams that entice [...] Continue reading
Obamacare Watch: Supreme Court Begins Its Closed Door Deliberations
The Supreme Court finished hearing the challenge of the American Healthcare Act on Wednesday, but the long journey to a decision is just beginning. Chief Justice John Roberts will call all eight Supreme Court judges together to begin making decisions about expanding health insurance to approximately 30 million Americans. There will be a secret vote [...] Continue reading
It’s Probably a Scam: FTC Hangs Up on Robocaller Operation Pitching Phony Products
With all the consumer warnings out there, it’s hard to believe anyone would fall for telemarketer offers these days. But a recent Federal Trade Commission settlement revealed that in just one robocalling operation, there were 2.6 billion automated phone call recipients with 12.8 million taking the bait. The settlement was reached with SBN Peripherals, which [...] Continue reading
Roiding Up: Run Your Android Apps on Your PC
If you can’t get enough of your favorite Android apps on your smartphone, the Blue Stack App Player, released in beta on Tuesday, will enable you to run Android apps on your PC for free. The app emulator runs on Windows 7, XP, and Vista and lets you choose from apps on the Android Market, [...] Continue reading
Glass Half Full: Dept. of Labor, Commerce Reveal Positive Economic Numbers
The Department of Labor released its weekly unemployment insurance claims today for the week ending on March 24. The adjusted UI claims dropped to 359,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week. The four-week average is also showing a positive trend, dropping to 365,000 – a decrease of 3,500 from the previous week. The [...] Continue reading
Watch This! Epson Releases New Visual Media Device
Epson America, Inc. released its EPSON Moverio BT-100, the first Android-based see-through wearable display, yesterday, which looks like an odd pair of sunglasses wired to a controller. But it may be the next stage in visual media at a $699.99 price point. The Moverio uses micro-projection technology and an Android-powered controller to allow for streaming [...] Continue reading
Granny Scam: FTC Slams Two-Time Offenders for Gold Investment Scheme Targeting Elderly
The precious metals market is more visible than ever with the proliferation of “cash for gold” advertisements and costumed, sign-spinning “marketing professionals” on street corners. This market has also spawned a whole new breed of scammers waiting to cash in on the trend. A Federal Trade Commission complaint alleges that a bogus precious metals telemarketing [...] Continue reading
Guide for the Lazy Prankster: Android April Fool’s Apps
Some pranksters wait all year for April 1, devising the perfect scheme to fool their friends and loved ones. The best April Fool’s Day pranks are usually those that require meticulous planning, detail and often co-conspirators, but who has the time for that? For the rest of us who are keen to prank their friends, [...] Continue reading
Going Viral: Sickweather’s Tracking System Maps Outbreaks
Sickweather is changing the way people fight sickness by asking one simple question: “How are you feeling today?” The company crowdsources illness reports and combs through social feeds looking for status updates that mention flu or chickenpox, then maps the results, when possible. The company sprang from a stomach virus Graham Dodge had in the [...] Continue reading