PC Community Main Meeting
7:30 - 10 pm July 1, 2016
Calvary Baptist Church 28924 Ruus Road, Hayward California
President Chuck Horner called the meeting to order at 7:32 pm. Get at least one $5 raffle ticket for this month’s raffle prize, a Logitech USB desk microphone.
Sally Holt has several coupons from Costco.
Presentation: Andrew Tews announced that the free release of Windows 10 is good through July 29. The first major update (formerly known as “Service Pack”) is promised for August 2.
Sally Holt has read that several commercial antivirus products are not so secure. Panda, AVG, and Trend Micro were named as examples of anti-virus software that tracks user activity. Andrew suggested using a router to make your computer invisible on the internet.
Michael Wong though that CCleaner Pro might be a good raffle prize.
Chuck brought up Ring.Com. This is an internet-enabled doorbell. Activity at your front door can be monitored on your phone from anywhere in the world where you have internet access.
Chuck introduced his son, Aaron Horner, who is a part time pastor and director of a youth employment center. Aaron brought some fettuccine to supplement the refreshments.
Sally reported hearing that smart TV’s watch the watcher. Andrew clarified that the viewing history of the watcher is reported. Chuck reported that the childcare center at this church has a number of cameras that allows parents to watch their children on their phones. Parents are given access only to the cameras in the classroom of their child. The cameras also protect both staff and children in case of questionable activity.
Chuck reported on the variety of infringements that can be reported at AccessHayward. If a vehicle is involved, get the license and VIN number if you can safely. Report patterns of behavior with time and date of repeated problems.
If anyone is spraying lacquer at your house, be sure ALL pilot lights and flames are turned off. Otherwise you risk an explosion.
The Nixle site reports local hazards. The Nextdoor.com app functions like a local version of Facebook. You can communicate with people and those in nearby neighborhoods.
CrimeMapping reports crimes around the address connected with the email address in the account.
Speech to text has improved over the years. Yorkman Lowe reported on how well his phone “learns” and predicts phrases he uses frequently. He got a Samsung tablet from Sprint for the cost of the data plan. Andrew buys a pre-paid package for less than $100 a year. He gets 1,000 minutes a year. The leftovers roll over into next year as long as he renews before the plan before it expires.
Chuck reported that we have 3 kinds of members: those who barely know what an operating system is, those who try every beta as it comes out, and the rest of us.
If you get an unsolicited offer to update, don’t click on it. Power off if possible. Holding the power button will force most computers to turn off. Microsoft will now help you revert from Windows 10 if you are automatically upgraded.
Door Prizes
Sun glasses Mimi Tse
CD case Sally Holt
Tripit trial membership Michael Wong
Tripit trial membership Mary Huston
Pepcom beverage holder Alex Korzuchin
Scoche USB to mini/micro adapter John Codorniz
Pepcom bag Yorkman Lowe
Raffle Prize
Logitech USB desk microphone Michael Wong
Thank you to George Kornbluth for coordinating refreshments and to both Yorkman Lowe and Mimi Tse for the special contributions to the refreshment table.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:22 pm.
The next meeting will be August 5, 2016.
Respectfully submitted,
Bayle Emlein, Secretary
