First malware app discovered in Apple’s IOS store

“Find and Call” was identified as the first iOS app to be malicious. Obviously it is already removed but this is a clear sign that Apple is going to soon become a target. Get ready Mac/iPad/iPhone users, anti virus, etc software will soon need to be installed on your devices. As I have written before, Apple products did not need antivirus software because people were not developing viruses for them – that is the only reason. However, with Apple’s popularity, closed system, and other things such as their patent hording, virus writers are going to find their products and users more enticing to harm.

Link to article: http://crave.cnet.co.uk/software/apple-ios-app-store-hit-by-first-malware-app-50008523/

Is your internet going to be shut off on July 8th? What is DNSChanger?

DNSChanger is a trojan horse that might currently be affecting your computers. If your computer is infected (and you will not know if it is unless you check with the site below), your computer will not connect to the internet as of July 8th because the FBI will shut it off. So please check to see if its affected and get rid of it.

To check if your infected: http://www.dns-ok.us/

For more info: http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-57467164-12/what-the-dnschanger-malware-is-and-why-you-should-care-faq/

Galaxy Nexus News

Two major things happened today:

Judge denies Samsung’s request to lift ban on GNex

Galaxy Nexus pulled from Google Play Store

What does this mean? The Gnex might not be for sale at carriers soon and my phone might be worth a lot of money. Apple really needs to stop with the patents. Already there is a call in the tech industry to boycott Apple. For instance here is the boycott apple facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boycott-Apple/350260026008 and here is the boycott on Google+ http://www.i-programmer.info/news/155-social-media/4440-boycottapple.html

Adobe: Web standards match 80 percent of Flash features

Not very informative but interesting nonetheless: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57464545-93/adobe-web-standards-match-80-percent-of-flash-features/

Essentially this is nothing new. HTML5 can do a lot of what Flash does but that 20% is big, because they are the high end interactions and gaming features which is what Flash is intended to do anyway. As I tell my students, at this point in time, you need to know Flash and its going to be long time before its gone so get used to developing in it and clients requesting it/needing it. I also tell them to start learning javascript because eventually it will be the future but at this point HTML5 is too new and its going to a long transition between Flash and HTML5. Additionally, Adobe appears to be the lead developer for HTML5 so you will more than likely continue to buy your authoring tools from them. Also remember that Adobe Air allows one to publish Flash Apps on iPhone and iPad.

How has the internet influenced your work habits?

Well it has increased mine. I probably work 60+ hours a week during the school and 40+ hours a week during the summer when I have ‘off’. Here is an article from Good.com:

Their study, shown here, revealed that:

  • 68 percent of people check their work emails before 8 a.m.
  • The average American first checks their phone around 7:09 a.m.
  • 50 percent check their work email while still in bed
  • The work day is growing – 40 percent still do work email after 10 p.m.
  • 69 percent will not go to sleep without checking their work email
  • 57 percent check work emails on family outings
  • 38 percent routinely check work emails while at the dinner table

Should instructional design programs include creating writing courses?

As an Instructional Designer we are expected to be a good technical writers because we will be designing curriculum for clients and good technical writing makes them happy. However, does technical writing make the employees happy? When was the last time you read a good book? Ask yourself, what was the writing in the book like? Then ask yourself, why isnt my training written this way? Training should be fun and motivating for employees and technical writing is not fun or motivating. Nonetheless, this is what clients usually want and it’s what instructional designers have been trained to do. However, with the push for more interactive-game like interactions in our training, there is a need for more creative writing to capture the readers’ attention. When I read technical writing, I want to go to sleep. Seriously, it just makes me cringe. When I read a great book, I can stay and read through the night and never put it down. Sure there are different purposes for each of these but why can the training not incorporate some elements from each? So we need to combine the creative writing style (with stories etc) from that fun book with our training in order to capture the readers attention. Now some companies are doing this, but for the most part (I think it would be safe to say 99%) its not fun or exciting. Employees should be excited to get training, not bothered by it. So, how do we do this? Well I believe it will start in ISD programs. We need to train our students to start writing this way from day 1. That means incorporating this kind of writing into our classes or even having our students take a creating writing course in the literature dept. I believe learning how to write stories will help training significantly more than purely focusing on technical writing.

Galaxy Nexus banned in the US?

According to reports it is being banned by the courts due to Apple suing over copyright violations. Apple I am a fan of yours and cannot stand your patent lawsuits. Stop it. You copied everything to get where you are, well not everything but a lot. Stop suing others because they are competing with you. The more I see of your company the less I want to use your products.

Articles on the lawsuit:

http://www.engadget.com/2012/06/29/apple-lands-preliminary-ban-against-samsung-galaxy-nexus/

http://mashable.com/2012/06/29/apple-samsung-galaxy-nexus-injunction/

http://www.droid-life.com/2012/06/29/u-s-judge-grants-motion-in-favor-of-apple-to-ban-galaxy-nexus/

http://phandroid.com/2012/06/29/galaxy-nexus-banned-us-court-grants-apple-temporary-injunction/

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57464191-94/judge-oks-apple-injunction-on-samsungs-nexus-phone/?tag=cnetRiver

Scientists Invent Mind-Reading System That Lets You Type With Your Brain

Looks like we are one step away from the Matrix. There are so many things that could be done with this and not just cool tech stuff but helping those with brain injuries or in comas and such. I really cannot wait until this is developed and widespread although I feel that this technology is many years away from being ready for prime time.

“Researchers have invented a mind-reading system that, for the first time in history, allows any person to type words and phrases letter by letter, just by thinking. It all occurs in real time, without moving a single muscle or uttering a single word. This is an amazing invention. Not only it will help anyone with serious motor disabilities, but it could potentially affect all of us in an amazing way. ”

Source: http://gizmodo.com/5922208/scientists-invent-mind+reading-system-that-lets-you-type-with-your-brain?tag=science