Yahoo Messenger : I like using Yahoo Messenger on my iPhone to minimize ATT overpriced TXT messages; and often conversations are continued later from my PC using the Desktop version, now at Version 11. However I hate Yahoo's installer, which by default installs Yahoo Toolbar in your browser, which is a waste of Browser space, and its been many years now that Google is a better search engine than Yahoo. If you uncheck "Install Yahoo Tool Bar" the Installer will Install it anyway, unless you first select "Custom Install", and then uncheck Yahoo Tool Bar AGAIN.

Bye Bye Netflix: NETFLIX - I quit due to increasing prices, and too many defective DVDs. Today I receive in my USPS junk mail, an insert from Blockbuster inviting to join with a free month. They offer"Unlimited exchanges for free in-store movie rentals". Too bad every store I know of in Houston, TX has closed. Then buried in the fine print of their Terms of Service, they freely admit to doing what Neflix got sued over:

Blockbuster reserves the right to determine product allocation among members in its sole discretion.

Weather Radio: Now that my Weather Radio with built in 5" analog B&W TV is obsolete, it's been discarded, and I've been looking for a new unit w1th 2 requirements.

1. It had to send Warning alarms of impending events: Tornados, etc.
2. It had to run off batteries. Since, comes a weather emergency, loss of power is common.

I had a hard time finding a unit that did both, and finally settled for the
Midland WR-300, which I bought through Amazon.

http://midlandradio.com/Desktops-Weather.OCS/WR-300

I was disappointed that it wouldn't use and recharge rechargeable batteries, like my old,
5 pound hulk with its TV; but it runs off AC, and automatically swiches to its 4 AA batteries if it loses power.
I'll stuff it with Lithium Batteries that run far longer than alkalines,
likely 3 or 4 days, but once it loses power, the thing loses all its settings.

Norton nastyness: I like to have all my Monitor screen available to me, or as much as possible, thus I am VERY ANNOYED that Norton Internet Security 2012 Secretly, without giving one a choice during its installation, Installs, a Norton Tool Bar in your Browser, and a Norton Widget in top right hand corner of the screen.

Both of them have been deactivated and removed from my system.

Norton for 2012: If you're running a legal copy of Norton AntiVirus, Norton Internet Security, or Norton 360; you may download and install a free update to the 2012 version here.

DirecTv and TiVo : September 3 marked the 3 year anniversary of DirecTv signing an agreement with TiVo (so they wouldn't be sued for DVR patent infringement) and promising a new HD DVR with TiVo. 2008 story here. Since then its always just 6 months off; and as far as I'm concerned DirecTv has zero credibility regarding a new TiVo unit.

Firefox 5 - Released today June 22, 2011. It's Fast You can download it here.

Major Breakthrough in photography !! I want one. The New York Times carries the story here.

The company's website is here.

..

Dell does a good thing: Not as good as if they came with the computer (like they used to), but:

Dell Customers can now request a set of backup discs containing the factory-installed operating system as well as the device drivers and utilities specific to your system.

One just needs to visit the web site:

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/backupcd_form?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd

I requested mine today: 6/15/2011, I'll give a followup if/when they arrive.
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
FOLLOWUP: 6/16 : I get an email from India where they refuse to do anything since the system is more than 1 year old, and only refer to me a phone number that one uses to get For Fee support from India.

I wrote a complaint to M.Dell@dell.com; and we'll see what happens now.

Symantec: Disgraceful the way things are sold with rebates, and then the rebates specifications make you jump through hoops, so maybe they'll have an excuse to deny you. Then they may take 3 months to send you your rebate payment. iOmega was famous for taking the longest back in 2001. Symantec at least it's 4 weeks exactly between mailing in for rebate and receiving Debit cards for ones' rebate. Not especially good, but better than most everybody else.

ATT iPhone moves data faster than the Verizon iPhone does: That's what PC World concluded. Story is here:

US BANKING CRAZINESS : Some time back I got a US MAIL letter from Capital One saying: ..."your Sony Card account is now with Capital One..." Turns out that is totally untrue. Capital One is taking over the Chase Account (likely hacked at Epsilon) on June 1; but no one at Capital One knows about it, and no one at Chase knows about it. Calling either Bank will give you a different answer for every person you talk to.

Could get worse. If were to call a normal CapitalOne CC 800 number, you'd get connected to a Third World Call Center where you'd be incorrectly told that all CapitalOne priviledges now apply; i.e. No 3% transaction fee for foreign currency transactions.

So a Chase Sony Card holder who unexpectedly was still charged Chase fees might call his cousin the lawyer who'd start a major class action law suit against Chase and CapitalOne.

Microsoft Money: For unknown reasons, Microsoft discontinued Microsoft Money, with the 2008 Version being the last one released. Now however Microsoft has made available a FREE "Sunset" Version that does not require Activation. Get it here :DOWNLOAD MS MONEY

AT&T caps Internet useage for dsl and Uverse: Buried in an email received from AT&T is the following:

As of May 2, 2011, AT&T's residential DSL High Speed Internet plans will have a usage allowance of 150 Gigabytes ("GB") per month, and its residential U-verse High Speed Internet plans will have a usage allowance of 250 Gigabytes ("GB") per month. The usage allowance is the amount of data you can send and receive each month

and

What will happen if I exceed my monthly usage allowance?
You will receive a notice the first time your usage exceeds the applicable monthly allowance.

In the following months, we will send you additional notices each month when your usage exceeds 65%, 90% and 100% of your monthly usage allowance. If you exceed your monthly allowance a second time, AT&T will send you a notice advising you that the next time you exceed your allowance - the third time - you will be billed $10 for each 50 GB of data over your allowance.

We will continue to send you courtesy notifications when your usage exceeds 65%, 90% and 100% of your monthly usage allowance to keep you informed about your usage patterns. All of these notices will remind you of what your monthly usage allowance is, provide you with information to help you understand broadband data usage, offer you tips on how to effectively control your usage to stay below your monthly allowance, and explain what your options are if you exceed your allowance in future billing periods. For example, you can modify your usage patterns to stay below your monthly usage allowance; continue your normal usage patterns and pay $10 for each additional 50 GB of data over your monthly allowance; or terminate your service, consistent with the terms of any special pricing offer that you previously accepted.

Importantly, if you do not receive a notice from AT&T, it means that you have not exceeded your monthly usage allowance. In some cases, it may mean that we cannot measure your usage yet. Either way, you should not be concerned about your usage patterns for billing purposes.

Amazon.com : Get free 5 Gigs of "Cloud" storage for music or data files.

FIREFOX 4.0 Just go to http://www.mozilla.com to download the new Firefox 4.0. And I'm pleased my favorite add-in for my favorite Browser is compatible with the new version. Ghostery can block all spyware.

Ghostery is now available in versions for Safari and Internet Explorer. Ghostery is a free download at http://www.ghostery.com

In contrast is a poor employer that still thinks it's a monopoly:

If you write to AT&T, what ever lame boilerplate they respond to you with is followed up with:

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are the property of AT&T, are confidential, and are intended solely for the use of the individual or entity to which this e-mail is addressed. If you are not one of the named recipient(s) or otherwise have reason to believe that you have received this message in error, please notify the sender and delete this message immediately from your computer. Any other use, retention, dissemination, forwarding, printing, or copying of this e-mail is strictly prohibited.

Apple proves what a good employer it is to its employees: I still think they practice age discrimination, but if you're employed, they treat you better than any employer I ever had, witness this letter to their employees in Japan (as found on MacRumors.com today)

To Our Team in Japan,

We have all been following the unfolding disaster in Japan. Our hearts go out to you and your families, as well as all of your countrymen who have been touched by this tragedy.

If you need time or resources to visit or care for your families, please see HR and we will help you. If you are aware of any supplies that are needed, please also tell HR and we will do what we can to arrange delivery.

Again, our hearts go out to you during this unimaginable crisis.
Please stay safe.
Steve and the entire Executive Team:

and then more on the EdibleApple.com website:

Kevin Rose relayed a story from an Apple employee in Japan who detailed Apple’s efforts at one of their retail stores to provide the masses with free wifi and unfettered use of Apple products so that folks could keep up with the news and contact loved ones and relatives.

You know how in disaster movies, people on the street gather around electronic shops that have TVs in the display windows so they can stay informed with what is going on? In this digital age, that’s what the Tokyo Apple stores became. Staff brought out surge protectors and extension cords with 10s of iOS device adapters so people could charge their phones & pads and contact their loved ones. Even after we finally had to close 10pm, crowds of people huddled in front of our stores to use the wifi into the night, as it was still the only way to get access to the outside world.

Apple also let employees and executives sleep in the Apple Store in addition to offering to cover any incurred expenses employees generated staying at hotels and paying for taxis in order to get where they needed to go.

“We want to help our customers connect with loved ones in Japan in anyway we can,” senior AT&T Vice President Mark Collins explained. “Connecting with family and friends is most important at times like this- we want to make it as easy and worry free as possible for our customers.”

AT&T comes Through: As stated in my February 14 posting; my AT&T Mobility account is now reflecting an extra 1000 rollover minutes. I had thought it'd appear with a new billing cycle, but no, it just appeared 3 weeks after submitting for them. In 5 years with Cingular, and now AT&T Mobility, I've never used one rollover minute, but it's nice never to have to worry about going over my allotted minutes and paying 45 cents a minute for each extra minute.

More on my Ooma: I love being able to block any telemarketer even those who use loopholes in DO NOT CALL law, i.e. Huckabee. I just split the output for phones on the Ooma, and ran a line to my legacy phone wiring. Now I can put a phone in any of my old outlets, and by running a line to my DirecTv I have Caller ID showing up on TV when phone rings. GREAT.