Computer and Library Learning

File Sharing Securely on Facebook: a Pipe Dream?

Facebook is now jumping into the cloud computing fray with file sharing capabilities being built into Facebook Groups, according to Mashable in an exclusive report. Facebook users will be able to upload files up to 25 MB in size, including music videos, small movies, comics and e-books but excluding music files and executable (.exe) files. Facebook’s Groups for Schools has already started using the file sharing feature with other Facebook users being added over the next few days.

Facebook’s file sharing service is becoming part of the Facebook experience. Consequently, Facebook users do not have to sign up for a separate file sharing service which could dampen interest in file sharing services such as Dropbox or Box. However, security is a concern for several reasons: Facebook is not policing file swapping but is relying on users to report dangerous and pirated content; No security controls exist to allow for full or limited access as is the case with Dropbox; and, Facebook Groups are rather easy to start so cybercriminals would be able to upload PDF files or Word documents that are infected with malware. Businesses and organizations should be concerned about security if they have their own Facebook Groups or their employees access Facebook during mealtime on company equipment or even on their own devices.

 

 

A German company named Pipe has developed a Facebook app that allows users to transfer files of up to 1 GB in size in a P2P (peer-to-peer) fashion by using Adobe’s Real Time Media Protocol Flow by placing the file into the recipient’s browser cache (provided that there is sufficient memory) without using server space on either Facebook or Pipe. All Pipe file transfers use the 128-bit advanced encryption standard so no record exists of a file transfer. The amount of bandwidth accessible to users will affect the speed of downloading and uploading files. A Facebook user can install the application on their Facebook account. The user can choose the recipient of a shared file but the recipient must also be online and have the Pipe application activated on his/her web browser.

 

The encryption standard does not prevent someone from determining which users had uploaded Pipe on their Facebook profilesand who communicated with whom on a regular basis. Proposed communications legislation in the United Kingdom will permit the following of online activity and interactions but not content on email, Skype, and closed conversations.

The jury is out as to how much that internet service providers will identify and possibly throttle (or regulate) P2P data activity by slowing connection speeds. Stay tuned…

 

Competing Cloud Computing Options for the Individual (Part 2)

Much of the media attention directed towards free cloud computing storage has emphasized several options especially Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft Skydrive. This time, let us spend some time on Box, Dropbox and Minus as examples of free cloud computing services.

 

 

 

For the individual, Box offers 5 GB of free online storage (with a maximum file limit of 100 MB) with the option to upgrade to 25 GB (1 GB maximum file limit) or 50 GB (1 GB maximum file limit) for US$9.99 per month or US$19.99 per month respectively. Individual account holders also have the ability to edit documents online, obtain a mobile app, and make use of secure transfer and access notifications. Box is regarded as a good option for business as the Box for Business option (US$15/user/month) provides the means to synchronize desktop files to a Box account and to share edited files within a team.

 

 

 

Free Dropbox accounts provide individual users with 2 GB of storage space with the incentive of earning more storage space (up to 18 GB in total at the rate of 500 MB per referral) by referring other people to Dropbox. Users can upgrade to 50 GB or 100 GB for US$99/year ($9.99 monthly) or US$199/year ($19.99 monthly) with the ability to earn up to 32 GB of additional storage space at the rate of 1 GB per referral.

Dropbox retains a one-month history of one’s file work with the ability to undo changes and undelete files. Dropbox files are protected with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and AES-256 bit encryption. Mobile apps are available for iPhone, iPad, Android, and Blackberry. Users can invite family and friends to access a folder and share its contents. Dropbox can be used offline. Dropbox saves useful bandwidth by uploading/downloading only those parts of a file that have been changed. Earlier versions of files are maintained in My Dropbox. Synchronized files can be access from the cloud on any workstation that has Dropbox installed thereon.

 

 

 

Minus offers a free user account with 10 GB of free space and a maximum file size of 2 GB. Minus allows the user to create public and private folders, create and share files as well as following friends to determine what they are sharing. Additional storage space can be earned by referring friends to join Minus. Mobile apps exist for Android and iPhone. Browser extensions are available for Mozilla Firefox and Google Chrome. Files are kept indefinitely until the user decides to delete them. Minus uses Amazon’s EC2 and S3 cloud storage service. However, Minus does not provide encrypted SSL access for uploading files. Files marked private are simply hidden from Minus’ searching capability.

 

See also: Competing Cloud Computing Options for the Individual (Part 1)

I've taken all the classes. Now what?

At the end of Computer Training classes, people often ask me for suggestions on ways that they can continue to learn more about computers and the Internet.    When it comes to computers, the only things that never changes is that there is always something more to learn!

Here are some suggested resources to keep you learning:

Books

Print Books

I'm sure you are not surprised to find books as the first suggestion.  Books are a great source for learning about computers - and anything else for that matter.  Here are a few of the many computer-related print books that may interest you:

eBooks

The best resource for technology-related eBooks in the library is Safari Tech Books Online. This collection contains technology-related eBooks for the novice through to the expert user.  For more information on this resource, please read the Safari Tech Books Online blog post on the Career and Job Search Help Blog.  Here is a small sample of the eBooks available:

 

 

Online Tutorial Videos

Safari Tech Books Online

Safari Tech Books Online also offers training videos that can be streamed to your computer.  Here is a selection:

LearnOntario

Online software video tutorials are available to all Ontario residents through the LearnOntario portal of Knowlege Ontario.   This is a great collection of video tutorials and includes software such as Adobe Photoshop Elements, Camtasia Studio, Flash CS4, Flickr, LinkedIn,  Microsoft Access 2007, Picasa, Skype and many more. 

 

Magazines

Toronto Public Library subscribes to many magazines (both in print and 'e'versions) on behalf of library users.  The electronic version of magazines are found in our collection of databases.  Below is a selection of the technology-related magazines that are available.  The electronic versions can be accessed from home with a valid library card.

• PC World (both print and e)
• MacWorld (both print and e)
• Smart Computing in Plain English (print format only)

 

@Your Fingertips  

Each @ Your Fingertips class focuses on a specific topic about the Internet.   The subjects range from using the library website and catalogue to uploading photos, Facebook, and Job Searching. 

 

Finally, keep checking back to this Computer and Library Learning blog for more information on the world of computers and the Internet.

Competing Cloud Computing Options for the Individual (Part 1)

 

Individuals seeking no-cost or low-cost cloud computing options have several options available to them. Microsoft’s SkyDrive service now offers 7 GB (gigabytes) of free online storage space for those who have a live.com or hotmail.com email account; this was recently downgraded from 25 GB to 7 GB for new registrants after April 22, 2012 but longer term users of SkyDrive can regain this additional storage space by signing in here to SkyDrive. SkyDrive is available for Windows, Macintosh, iPad and mobile platforms.

Microsoft published a chart that compared Skydrive with other cloud computing services Apple iCloud, Google Documents, and Dropbox on the basis of: files available across computers (i.e. Windows, Macintosh, Web, Remote access); accessing files by mobile devices (i.e. iPhone and iPad, Windows Phone, Android, and Mobile web); ability to work together collaboratively online; free note-taking apps for one’s phone; simple file sharing (including large file support); and free storage limit for any file type (7 GB for SkyDrive, 5 GB for Apple iCloud, 1 GB for Google Documents, and 2 GB for Dropbox). The free storage limits were correct for Google Documents as listed until earlier today (April 24, 2012) when Google increased the free storage limit on Google Documents to 5 GB as a precursor to its introduction this afternoon of Google Drive with 5 GB of free storage capacity. Google is also increasing the storage capacity in Gmail email accounts from 7.5 GB to 10 GB over a 24-hour period.

 

 

Google Drive gives the holders of Google accounts access to Google Documents with the ability to work on/collaborate with others on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations. Files can be safely stored online and accessed from a PC or Mac with Google Drive installed or from an Android phone or tablet using the downloaded Drive app. Google account holders also have the benefit of searching files by keyword and limiting by owner, file type etc. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology facilitates textual recognition in scanned documents.

Google is collaborating with third-party developers to develop apps and tools to carry out tasks within Google Drive such as  sending faxes, editing videos and creating website mockups .

Next time, we will take a closer look at how some of the cloud computing options stack up against one another...

See also: Competing Cloud Computing Options for the Individual (Part 2)

Snapshot of Canadians’ Mobile Device Usage

 

More and more Canadians have demonstrated a growing interest in a variety of mobile devices, including eReaders, smartphones and tablets, according to the recent Ipsos Reid Mobilology study conducted In January 2012. The Canadian people’s ownership of eReaders, smartphones, and tablets increased by 43%, 13%, and 66% respectively over the results of the previous study in August 2011. Overall Canadian ownership of these devices increased to 34% of the population for smartphones (compared to 24% in August 2011), 10% for eReaders (compared to 4% in August 2011), and 10% for tablets (compared to 3% in August 2011).

The study also showed some swings in terms of brand loyalty. In the case of smartphones, Canadian company Research in Motion’s market share for the BlackBerry dropped from 41% in January 2011 to 33% in January 2012. Apple’s iPhone moved up to 28% from 23% of market share and Google’s Android system increased to 31% from 26%. Intentions to purchase smartphones by brand changed markedly with BlackBerry declining from 58% in January 2011 to 40% in January 2012, while intentions to purchase a Samsung smartphone increased to 32% in January 2012 from 21% in January 2011. With eReaders, the Kobo moved from second place in January 2011 (27%) to clear first place in January 2012 (46%), while Amazon’s Kindle moved from third place (25%) to second place (24%) and the Sony Reader dropped from first place (28%) to third place (18%). As for tablets, Apple’s iPad continues to lead with 47% of market share in January 2012, albeit down considerably from 78% in January 2011 on account of new tablet competitors Samsung Galaxy and BlackBerry Playbook.

Farewell Jack Tramiel (1928-2012)…Remember the Commodore 64?

 

Some of you using microcomputers in the 1980s may well remember the Commodore 64 as the best selling single personal computer in history. Others may remember the founder of Commodore International, Holocaust survivor Jack Tramiel (formerly Jacek Trzmiel) who passed away on April 8, 2012 at the age of 83. After learning to repair office equipment in New York City, Tramiel moved to Toronto in 1955 and founded Commodore Business Machines International which initially imported and then manufactured typewriters as well as adding machines. His company went public in 1962 and Tramiel moved to Silicon Valley in 1968 and began developing electronic calculators.

Some writers have contrasted Mr. Tramiel with the recently-deceased Steve Jobs of Apple fame. Tramiel was concerned with making microcomputers inexpensive and practical for the general public. For example, a Commodore 64 with 64 kilobytes of memory sold for US$595 in 1982 in comparison to the least expensive IBM PC with 16 kilobytes of memory costing US$1,565 at that time.

In 1984, two years after the Commodore 64 was introduced, Tramiel’s company achieved US$1 billion per year in sales and captured 42% of the domestic American personal computer market. However, Tramiel left Commodore after disputes with shareholders and company executives and founded Tramel Technology in 1984 which purchased Atari Inc. from Warner Communications following the 1983 crash of the video game market. Tramel Technology became Atari Corporation which manufactured computers and video game consoles from 1984 to 1996.

 

The Atari ST personal computer was released in the summer of 1985 and competed directly with Apple’s Macintosh and Commodore’s Amiga. The Atari ST was the first personal computer to have MIDI capability which facilitated the running of music sequencer software and ensured its popularity amongst musical bands and performers by relating digital musical instruments, computers and other devices to connect and communicate smoothly with one another.

How to Search for Library Materials

The Toronto Public Library website allows you to search for books, CDs, DVDs, programs, blog posts and more, all through one handy search box. Below is a video tutorial that will help you search for library materials on the Toronto Public Library website. For more information, see the Help with Searching page on our website. The video tutorial can also be accessed directly from Youtube.

 

 

You can also follow along with this script or download it to help with your future searches: How to Search for Library Materials.pdf

 Check out our other posts with video tutorials: Finding Computer and Library Training Programs and Finding Graphic Novels.

Bye Bye Britannica

Editors at Encyclopaedia Britannica announced that 2012 will be the final year hard copy editions will be printed.  Major news outlets and social media have heralded the death of Britannica’s print version death to Wikipedia’s popularity. Since 1768, Encyclopaedia Britannica has continued a tradition of providing general knowledge, factual information that is reviewed and checked for accuracy and reliability by a staff of more than 100 fulltime editors.¹  Wikipedia, on the other hand, offers results instantly, by a democratic process, where registered users can contribute to articles.

eb.com has a few advantages over Wikipedia, namely built-in citation features for MLA & APA formatting [styles]. In 2005, Nature magazine commissioned a peer reviewed study between the ‘paedias to evaluate the margin of errors between sources. A blind-test determined that from 42 entries reviewed, Wikipedia contained four errors, Britannica contained three inaccuracies.²

So, which is better? Perhaps the answer is to look at multiple sources: Wikipedia, Britannica, books, the Web, and more.

Around 30% of Britannica’s content is available for free on the Web; the other 70% requires a subscription. ³ TPL offers free access to the complete edition, as well as free access to the ad-free Kids edition for elementary students from the logo above.

by The Main Event

Concerns over Google’s Privacy Policy Changing on March 1, 2012

Jennifer Stoddart, Privacy Commissioner of Canada, addressed a letter on February 23, 2012 to Colin MacKay, Manager of Global Public Policy at Google, in order to request additional information from Google over its plans to streamline its privacy policy on March 1, 2012 to one general policy from over 70 distinct ones. Ms. Stoddart acknowledged Google’s attempt to streamline its privacy policy but expressed concern over a lack of specific information related to data retention and disposal in its new consolidated policy.

The Privacy Commissioner’s concern was directed towards the impact on logged-in Google account holders and increased data sharing across more Google products including Google Search and YouTube. In the case of Android phone users, Stoddart expressed concern that those users would be limited in what they could do without signing into Google, such as making phone calls and sending text messages. Downloading or updating applications won’t be possible on an Android phone without signing into Google, nor will the ability to synchronize an Android phone with Gmail or Google Calendar. Google will retain several product-related policies such as Google Wallet that enables Android users to tap their phones and pay for products in stores.

 

 

 

 

 

Various media sources have been offering tips to Google users on removing search history, clearing one’s YouTube history, making Gmail Chat “off-the-record”, checking the dashboard, opting out of personalized advertisements on the Ads Preferences page, using Google Takeout for data liberation of selected information, and so on. Some Google users might choose to terminate their Google account by visiting the Google account settings page.

France’s Commission Nationale de l'Informatique et des Libertés (CNIL) will be launching an investigation into Google’s privacy policy with the interim view that Google’s policy would not conform to European laws that protect the privacy of individuals. Google announced that it would continue with the policy change as it has informed over 350 million authenticated (logged-in) users, has provided notifications on its home page, and has informed non-authenticated (not logged in) users through their search results.

(See also: Changes to Google’s Privacy Policy Attract Attention )

Playbooks are now Library Friendly

 Last Week Research in Motion unveiled the new operating system (OS 2) for the Blackberry PlayBook    Reviews have been mixed.  The biggest story seems to be the new native email and calendar feature which allows users to access their email and calendar without having to tether to their blackberries.  There is also access to a larger number of apps thanks to Playbooks new compatibility with select Android apps.

  What's of greater interest to those of us in library land however is the new access to Overdrive Media Console because what it means is that the Playbook is now able to support library e-book and e-audiobook downloads. 

  What's more is that these items can be downloaded directly onto the PlayBook Tablet without the need to transfer them from your computer.

  This can cause some confusion if you're used to using the web browser to check out and download books. 

  The Playbook browser will let you select and check out books as well. But to actually download the item for use on the Playbook, you need to do it via the Overdrive app.

  You will also have to go to the app store and download Overdrive as this app is not built in.  Luckily it's free.

  Here are the main steps in making your Playbook a library compatible e-reader

1. Make Sure your Playbook is updated to the new OS. If it's not, the next time you connect it to the Internet it will tell you the new OS is available.

2.  Go to Blackberry App World search select and download Overdrive Media Console. (It's free!)

3.  Open the Console, swipe down from black perimeter at top.  Select "Get Books".

4.  You need to tell the app which library you want to borrow from. Search for  Toronto Public Library or, if you prefer browsing, select Canada , then Ontario and finally your branch.   

5.Tap the star to add the selected Library to your  “Get Books” list.

6.Log in  with your library card and PIN.

7.You can check out and download library books from within the app.

With the Audiobooks, that's all you need to do.  With your first ebooks however, you will need to enter your Adobe Digital editions ID and Password (or create them) to authorize the Playbook. Once you have done that, you will not need to repeat this step.

 

Happy reading and listening!