Sticker shock: Amazon is raising its price for Prime Membership to $99…a $20 increase (see story #3). It goes into effect for all new and renewal subscriptions starting on 4/17. I got a letter from Amazon today informing me of the price increase…but my renewal rate will be at the $79 price. Why? Because my renewal date is 4/14. How lucky is that?
I am not surprised they raised the price. They have not increased their rate since it started nine years ago and I am sure there have been some massive shipping increases. I use every benefit of Prime, including borrowing Kindle books every month and watching Amazon videos on my Roku box. There are thousands of free movies and TV shows available for free. So, I will be paying the $99 price…in 14 months.
But, I learned of a sneaky way that Prime Members can still get the $79 price. First disable the Amazon Prime auto-renew for your account…then purchase a gift membership at the current price (before 4/17) for Amazon Prime. But instead of having the gift card delivered the day you order it, schedule delivery for the day after your Amazon Prime subscription expires. Pretty cool, heh?
Our first two stories are a little more serious. In a detailed investigative report, the folks at First Look expose some of the dirty tricks the NSA is planning to infect millions and millions of computers around the world. These guys are getting nasty, especially to its own citizens. Unbelievable that all this is being allowed!
Our second story details how the idiots at Target stores were warned immediately by their own security system that they were being hacked and credit card numbers being stolen. They ignored it for two weeks until the feds stepped in to stop it. Target has definitely proven that they don’t deserve my business…or yours. I won’t go in there again, even with cash.
So that is my story and I am sticking to it. I hope you find something of interest in this edition. -JRC
News and Opinions
How the NSA Plans to Infect 'Millions' of Computers with Malware
Top-secret documents reveal that the National Security Agency is dramatically expanding its ability to covertly hack into computers on a mass scale by using automated systems that reduce the level of human oversight in the process.
Target's security system reportedly caught massive hack, but was ignored for weeks
According to a report from Bloomberg Businessweek, the company's state-of-the-art security system detected the hack as soon as it started — and did nothing. Instead, it took two weeks and a warning from federal investigators to plug the hole.
Amazon Prime price jumping to $99 in the US
Amazon is about to raise the price of its Prime membership service for the first time ever in the US, bringing the cost up to $99 per year, $20 above where it's been for nearly a decade. The price change goes into effect on April 17th, and those signing up or renewing their service before then will still be able to pay the original, less-expensive price for a final year.
Is OneNote Going to be Free for Everyone?
According to a reliable report from Mary Jo Foley, Microsoft is prepping a version of its OneNote note-taking solution for the Mac, and it will make that application available to Mac users for free. Even better: The full-featured Windows desktop application version of OneNote will be made available for free as well.
Tech giants have hundreds of billions in offshore accounts
Apple, Microsoft, Google and Cisco hold a large proportion of the $254.9 billion held in their foreign subsidiaries in US Treasuries, according to securities filings.
Computer Tips and Tricks
How to run Google’s Android OS on a Windows PC
Little-known fact: By using a virtual PC, you can set up and run a free, fully legitimate copy of Google’s Android on a standard Windows system. This gives you a way to safely experiment with the Android operating system — or to re-create the layout of an Android device you already have.
The Best Online Lectures and Talks to Boost Your Brain
"If you have a little time to spare, there are tons of interesting, informative, and actually useful talks and lectures all over the web that you can enjoy for free. The best can teach you a new skill, inspire you to do something new, or just expand your horizons.
12+ Tips and Tricks to Work Faster in Microsoft Outlook
Love it or hate it, Microsoft Outlook is still the de facto email client in many places. It's been a while since we took a look at good old Outlook, so here are some of our favorite tricks well worth revisiting to increase your productivity in this all-in-one email, calendar, tasks, and notes program
Finally, Download All Your Google Mail And Calendar Data Easily
Finally, Google recently introduced a feature that allows you to download all of your data from any of 16 separate Google services.
Google Drive Gets A Big Price Drop, 100GB Now Costs $1.99 A Month
Google today significantly dropped the prices for its Google Drive online storage service. The first 15GB of storage remain free, but 100GB now costs just $1.99 per month instead of $4.99.
Mobile Computing
What's New in Apple iOS 7.1?
It comes with several noticeable changes over the previous release, as well as a few differences that won't be apparent unless you know to enable them.
File your return from anywhere with these top tax apps
Save time and get that refund faster with these premier tax apps for iOS and Android.
Coursera Releases iPad App with 600+ Free Courses
Coursera has released a beautiful native iPad app that provides access for learners on the move. The internet continues to change education and freely available MOOCs are just one example of a thriving open community.
Best Free iPhone Apps
As usual, the writer seeks apps that make a real difference in how you use your phone.
How to set up your iCloud email account on Android
The good news is it is perfectly possible to get your iCloud email address up and running on your Android device. It's pretty straight forward but does involve a little effort on your part.
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