This is fun for those who ever used Bulletin Board Systems (BBSes) in Trinidad and Tobago :

Google BBS Terminal.

 

 

 

According to the Adobe Security Bulletin dated November 12 2013,  Adobe has released updated versions of Adobe Flash Player for:

• Adobe Flash Player v11.9.900.117 and earlier versions for Windows and Macintosh,
• Adobe Flash Player v11.2.202.310 and earlier versions for Linux

to ” address vulnerabilities that could cause a crash and potentially allow an attacker to take control of the affected system.”

You can read the Adobe Security Bulletin at http://www.adobe.com/support/security/bulletins/apsb13-26.html but the vulnerabilities in versions of Adobe Flash before November 12 2013 could allow for execution of unwanted code (typically malware), without your consent just by visiting a website with malicious Flash applications or video (SWF). Therefore, you should update your Adobe Flash Player to the latest version to close this loophole.

To determine what version of the Adobe Flash player you have on your Windows, Macintosh or Linux system, visit http://www.adobe.com/software/flash/about/

To download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, visit http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html

Windows users should note that the Flash Player in v9 and earlier versions of Microsoft Internet Explorer v9 and the one in web browsers like Opera, Mozilla Firefox and Safari are separate installs. You should install and update both versions of Adobe Flash.

Internet Explorer v10 and Internet Explorer v11 (for users for Windows 7 Service Pack 1 and Windows 8) browsers have Adobe Flash Player built-in and users should update their Internet Explorer browser versions.

Google Chrome browser users has Adobe Flash Player built-in and users should update the Google Chrome browser to the latest version. See http://www.google.com/support/chrome/bin/answer.py?answer=95414 on how to do so.

Very Impressive. From the Microsoft Research page :

“A new research prototype from Microsoft Research Asia, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Beijing Union University uses Kinect technology to translate sign language into spoken language—and spoken language into sign language—in real time. It translates from one sign language to another (such as between American sign language and Chinese sign language), and helps people who can hear communicate with people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

The sign language translator uses computational and sensor technology—specifically Kinect’s ability to capture visual and articulation data simultaneously. Machine learning and pattern recognition enable the tool to interpret the meaning of the different gestures captured by the Kinect device. By reducing communication barriers and facilitating social interactions, this tool has the potential to help improve the quality of life for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.”

 

 

Opening new doors of communication for sign language users.

Ars Technica reviews and compares the 13″ Macbook Air and the 13 inch Retina MacBook Pro.

How to choose: 13-inch MacBook Air vs. 13-inch retina MacBook Pro | Ars Technica.

Laptop Magazine profiles what claimed to the be the most high tech cab in New York : Car Force One

Inside the Most High Tech Cab in New York: Car Force One.

As a FYI, the Faculty of Engineering at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus (UWI) will be hosting a 5 day “4G Technologies and Network Design Boot Camp” by CelPlan Technologies scheduled for December 2nd-6th, 2013 in Trinidad.

The Boot Camp will be delivered by Leonhard Korowajczuk, multiple author and CEO/ CTO of CelPlan. According to the announcement:

“This 5-day course provides an immersion into all the topics required by managers and engineers to deploy and optimize realistic 4G networks. Students are not only presented to the technology itself, but also to the added complexity of designing a data-centric network.  The 4G Technologies and Network Design Boot Camp is designed to give CEOs, CTOs, managers, engineers, and technical staff the practical knowledge and expertise to deploy and optimize 4G networks.

The topics covered include:

• Wireless Communications Fundamentals
• 4G Technologies in-depth Analysis (WLAN, WiMAX, LTE)
• Design and Optimization of 4G Networks
• 4G Certification”

The cost of the Boot Camp is around $2,450 US. Additional course-related information, including outline and in-depth description of the topics covered, benefits, costs, and a link to the registration can be found at http://www.celplan.com/training/4gbootcamp_trinidad.asp 

As a FYI, the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT) will be having a workshop titled “Cybercrimes: When Virtual Realities Become Real Life Nightmares” from November 14 2013 from 8am to 3pm at the UTT Chaguanas Campus (located at Lot#1 Off Munroe Road exit and Uriah Butler Highway).

According to the UTT:

“The main benefit of the workshop will be that it will provide an updated general view of cybercrimes as well as the laws that govern cybercrime and cyber security, existing ways of tackling threats and how it can all be applied and adopted in Trinidad and Tobago. The workshop will provide valuable direction towards identifying and dealing with cybercrimes. In addition to the guest speaker, the workshop will also include presenters from the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s Cyber Crime Unit”

To facilitate registration, we will require the attached PEU registration form to be completed and submitted (this can be done via email, fax #636-6326 or delivered to the Chaguanas campus) Once this is done we will have your registration on file pending payment which ensures enrolment and your subsequent participation in the workshop.

The cost of the workshop is $1000 TT.

Payment options are as follows:

• Linx or Credit card payments can be made at the Chaguanas campus located at Lot#1 Off Munroe Road exit and Uriah Butler Highway
• Direct Deposit to FCB account # 1429625. You will be required to submit the pink copy of the Direct deposit slip
• A cheque can be issued to The University of Trinidad and Tobago in the amount of the cost of the course

See the linked files supplied by UTT for more information and contact information:

• CyberCrimes Workshop Outline
• Attachment 2 Registration Form
• PEU Cybercrimes

 

 

 

According to the Sunday Guardian November 10 2013 article,  Columbus Communications, operators of Flow Trinidad and Tobago (Flow) will be upgrading its residential and business Internet customers  with faster downloads and newer pricing for some of its Internet packages.

A summary of the changes:

• 5 Mbps upgrade at no additional cost to its Turbo 5, Turbo 15 and Turbo 25 packages. (One expects the packages to be renamed to Turbo 10, Turbo 20 and Turbo 30 respectively)
• Flow customers who currently subscribe to Turbo 50 and Turbo 100 packages will see a reduction in the monthly cost by $100 TT and $150 TT respectively

If you have the Arris Touchstone Telephony modem TM502G, you will be contacted by Flow to schedule an appointment with their technicians to replace this modem.

The modem being installed by Flow to replace the TM502G is the Arris Touchtone Telephony modem Model TM822.

The pricing of Flow Residential Internet Services for November 2013 :

Package	Download / Upload Speed	Rate in TT dollars (VAT included)
Turbo 5 (soon to be Turbo 10?)	10Mbps (download) /1Mbps (upload)	$199.99
Turbo 15 (soon to be Turbo 20?)	20Mbps (download) / 2Mbps (upload)	$299.99
Turbo 25 (soon to be Turbo 30?)	30Mbps (download) / 2Mbps (upload)	$399.99
Turbo 50	50Mbps (download) / 2Mbps (upload)	$499.99 (was $599.99)
Turbo 100	100Mbps (download) / 2Mbps (upload)	$649.99 (was $799.99)

Google has announced several updates to Google Maps for the desktop in a blog post highlighting that it is easier to know where Street View imagery is available. Also, easier to specify and get driving directions. Here’s a screenshot of driving directions from the Hasely Crawford Stadium to the Port of Spain General Hospital.

 

Google has also said this will integrate traffic information from Waze (a popular map and community based traffic reporting app for mobile devices that works very well in Trinidad and Tobago) but I didn’t see this integration when trying to use directions in Trinidad.  If you haven’t used the Google Maps Preview for a while, there are a lot of visual improvements. Satellite imagery (from looking at the Port of Spain area) is still out of date, however.

Google Maps : http://www.google.com/maps/about/explore/

TechReport has updated its detailed system configurations just in time for Christmas shopping for yourself or for a friend.

Read the configurations and recommendations at TechReport’s fall 2013 system guide.