I’ve been reading and listening to reports about the Comcast purchase of Time Warner Cable. And they make me very nervous. The bottom line is that one of the most hated companies in all of America will control not only what we see on TV, but more importantly, the will control the flow information on the Internet.
There are already reports that they are throttling the speed of Netflix across the Net, even though they have a written agreement that they will not do it. These folks already have a monopoly on cable in the areas they serve. It was given to them by our own government to help them protect their investment in equipment.
The problem is there equipment is already outdated when compared to fiber optic equipment. But, by having a monopoly, they have no need to invest in modern, up-to-date Internet equipment. That is why the US is falling further and further behind in Internet speeds. Monopolies kill any need for innovation in favor of lining their own pockets.
Our hope is that the FCC will not approve the merger, but remember the chairman of the FCC is a former cable guy…and Comcast has enough money and power in DC that they just might get this through the system. Many experts are predicting that this exactly what will happen. I hope the folks in Washington have the guts to say no…but don’t count on it.
As always, there is more to this edition than just Comcast, so I hope you will find some good things here. -JRC
News and Opinions
Comcast takeover of Time Warner Cable 'will throttle choice on the web'
Angry consumer groups say proposed $45.2bn mega-deal will drive up costs for millions – and call on FCC to block takeover
Why you should be scared of Comcast and Time Warner Cable merging
If the move is approved by federal regulators, it could cement the kind of monolithic monopolies that have plagued cable subscribers all along, raising concerns over net neutrality and competition in the marketplace.
Google, Microsoft, others form group to expand Wi-Fi
A mission statement describes the coalition as "ad hoc, broad-based group of companies, organizations and public sector institutions working to alleviate the Wi-Fi spectrum crunch and to support making Wi-Fi even better by finding more unlicensed spectrum.
Passwords which cannot be hacked by hackers ever
A computer scientist in Dubai has managed to program a new way, “geographical passwords” in order to help and protect the online accounts so that hackers can’t be able to access.
Windows 7 to be Available on Consumer PCs Through October
Microsoft revealed today that it will allow PC makers to continue preinstalling Windows 7 on new consumer PCs through October 31, 2014. Left unsaid, however, is when it will cut off Windows 7 preinstalls on business PCs.
Computer Tips and Tricks
How to protect your PC in the web's worst neighborhoods
Protect yourself by learning about the web’s most common dangers, and how to avoid them. Also, take some basic steps to make your PC more resistant to harm.
Cloud storage made simple: How to integrate it with your workflow
Many users still haven’t fully worked the cloud into the way they go about their daily business. Here's how to seamlessly integrate the cloud into your workflow, starting with the most crucial part: Choosing a service that plays nice with your PC.
15+ Awesome Google+ Tricks You Might Not Know About
Google is slowly but surely improving Google+ and trying to bring the social network to the masses. Yet some of Google+'s best features are less than obvious for those who are still wondering what the point of it is.
How to Fix a Computer that Keeps Waking Up
In this tip, I will describe several settings in your system that may keep waking up your PC. The discussion is for Windows Vista/7. You will generally need administrator privileges to make system changes.
Four Creative Uses for Your Old SD Cards
If you've been through a couple of smartphones by now, or have owned more than one digital camera in your lifetime, you probably have a few SD cards lying around that you don't know what to do with.
Portable Computing
5 Great Apps for Working Out at Home
If severe weather has you cooped up in the house, these five Android and iOS apps can keep your muscles from atrophying, no matter what your fitness level.
BattSaver For iOS 7 Released, Aims To Double Your iPhone’s Battery Life
BattSaver, a tweak which has just been updated for iOS 7 at the BigBoss repo, does exactly that, helping you save every last droplet of battery life wherever possible
Is Gmail sucking the life out of your Android smartphone?
This is a quick tip for all my fellow Android users. Have you noticed that your Android smartphone is always warm to the touch or that your battery life has taken a nose dive?
How to Remotely Install Apps to iPhone / iPad from iTunes on a Mac or PC
All you need is iTunes on OS X or Windows logged into the same Apple ID as what’s used on the iOS device, and the rest is easier than you’d probably expect.
No comments:
Post a Comment