Category: Uncategorized

Charge your cell phone by walking or running around with the nPowerPEG!

by Mario Armstrong

This morning I appeared on HLN to talk about some new and innovative ways to keep your devices charged. Here’s some of the products I talked about:

– nPowerPEG: This amazing device turns your kinetic energy, whether thats from walking, running, biking, etc. into power for your cell phone or tablet. Even better, unlike the vast majority of tech devices on the market, the nPowerPEG isn’t made in China—their factory is actually in Cleveland, Ohio!
– Power Bag: This amazingly innovative line of backpacks, luggage, and messenger bags actually has a battery inside of it, along with the plugs you need to charge your tablets, eReaders, smartphones, tablets and more! So you charge the bag, and then the bag can charge your devices when you’re on the go! You can buy one from their website, mypowerbag.com, but also find them at Amazon, Best Buy, Macys, and other major retailers.

VIDEO: Apps to keep your kids learning this summer!

by Mario Armstrong

Here’s some of the apps I talked about on HLN to keep your kids’ brains active and healthy over this upcoming summer vacation.

1. Sushi Monster. This great math game lets you feed sushi to a monster to test your math abilities. Part of Scholastic’s FASTT Math program for grades 2-9+ English/Spanish program, FASTT Math promises to help students gain fast fluency of Common Core State Standards for math in just 10 minutes a day.  Only available for the iPad, you can download Sushi Monster in the App Store today.

2. For kids aged 3-7 who need help with their dexterity and recognizing words, the Build a Word app is based on the hit PBS show Word World.

3. Brain POP. The Brain POP Featured Movie app aren’t just videos your kid will passively watch on their iPad. No, these videos require your kids to pay close attention to what’s happening in the videos because there’s a quiz at the end! The app itself is free from the App Store, though additional modules will come at a cost.

Google’s glasses: How do they work, and what do they mean?

by Mario Armstrong

There’s been a ton of talk this past week about Google’s Glass, the augmented reality project that essentially puts a smartphone on your face! My appearance on HLN about Google’s augmented reality project generated a lot of interest, and even landed a clip of me on the Daily Show! Did you miss the hype and don’t know what this is all about? Then check out the video below.

The risks involved in giving apps permissions to login with your Facebook or Twitter accounts

by Mario Armstrong

Even when you get your privacy settings just right (assuming that’s even possible!) your personal info and data is still at risk every time you give an app permission, or sign in to an application using Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media service. In my latest on HLN, I look into the risks you take when associating your social media accounts with 3rd party applications.

Apple denies DOJ price fixing allegations – my take on @CNN

by Mario Armstrong

One story that’s been generating a lot of interest lately is the allegations the Department of Justice are making that Apple worked with major publishers to “fix” the prices of eBooks at higher prices. Amazon and others are hoping that an agreement can be reached so that eBook pricing can be set much lower than they are now, or even sold for a loss. Publishers, meanwhile, who are already operating on razor-thin margins and just trying to keep their businesses alive, assert that deals like the one they made with Apple are keeping them in business and don’t want to see their eBooks devalued. In my latest appearance on CNN, I break it all down and give you Apple’s response.

Identity Theft Tips on Tom Joyner Show

by Mario Armstrong

This morning I was on the Tom Joyner Morning show trying to help out Sybil and the team. Co-host Sybil recently found herself almost biting the bait on an internet scam via email called “phishing” these scams try to obtain your private information by posing as legitimate services. Roland as brought up the recent news about the Apple virus, if you need info on that look here.

Below are some ID theft tips! I WANT to make sure ALL the listeners are protected so here are the tips I shared on air:

  • Watch out for “phishy” emails. The most common form of phishing is emails pretending to be from a legitimate retailer, bank, organization, or government agency. The sender asks to “confirm” your personal information for some made-up reason: your account is about to be closed, an order for something has been placed in your name, or your information has been lost because of a computer problem. because they suspect you may be a victim of identity theft!
  • Don’t click on links within emails that ask for your personal information. Fraudsters use these links to lure people to phony Web sites that looks just like the real sites of the company, organization, or agency they’re impersonating. If you follow the instructions and enter your personal information on the Web site, you’ll deliver it directly into the hands of identity thieves. To check whether the message is really from the company or agency, call it directly or go to its Web site (use a search engine to find it).
  • Never enter your personal information in a pop-up screen.Sometimes a phisher will direct you to a real site, but then an unauthorized pop-up screen will appear, with blanks in which to provide your personal information. If you fill it in, your information will go to the phisher. Legitimate companies, agencies and organizations don’t ask for personal information via pop-up screens.
  • Protect your computer with spam filters, anti-virus and anti-spyware software, and a firewall, and keep them up to date. A spam filter can help reduce the number of phishing emails you get. Anti-virus software, which scans incoming messages for troublesome files, and anti-spyware software, which looks for programs that have been installed on your computer and track your online activities without your knowledge

Microsoft Internet Essentials is Free at: http://www.microsoft.com/security/pc-security/mse.aspx

  • Only open email attachments if you’re expecting them and know what they contain.
  • Job seekers should also be careful. Some phishers target people who list themselves on job search sites. Pretending to be potential employers, they ask for your social security number and other personal information.on the phone. But if you’re contacted out of the blue and asked for your personal information, it’s a warning sign that something is “phishy.” Legitimate companies and agencies don’t operate that way.
  • Act immediately if you’ve been hooked by a phisher. If you provided account numbers, PINS, or passwords to a phisher, notify the companies with whom you have the accounts right away. For information about how to put a “fraud alert” on your files at the credit reporting bureaus and other advice for ID theft victims, contact the Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft Clearinghouse,www.consumer.gov/idtheft or 877-438-4338, TDD 202-326-2502.
  • Report phishing, whether you’re a victim or not. Tell the company or agency that the phisher was impersonating. You can also report the problem to law enforcement agencies through NCL’s Fraud Center,www.fraud.org. The information you provide helps to stop identity theft.

Apps lend a hand to people with autism

by Mario Armstrong

With 1 in 88 children in the United States now born with autism, it’s more important than ever to find ways to use technology to help people out who have it. I did some research and came up with some apps and technology that can make a real difference for people affected by autism to help them be and feel more independent. In this piece for HLN, I take a look at a number of products and services, including:

– The Chester Creek VisionBoard Keyboard
– The Website: techinspecialed.com which has tons of great resources
– An App: Proloquo2Go which replicates a $7,000 system for helping people with autism communicate effectively using visual images and voice

Socialcam Show Episode 5 – “The Guest”

by Mario Armstrong

I was on vacation this past week with my family (Spring break! WOO!) so unfortunately I couldn’t fill my regular role on the Socialcam Show. That’s okay, Shy handled things fine while I was away and even managed to score an amazing special guest, none other than Mr. Teddy, the one man show behind Across America for Childhood Obesity. Mr. Teddy is currently in the process of biking 22,000 miles across the United States to bring his message of self-empowerment and exercise to school kids all across America. And be sure to check out part 2 below, where Teddy and Shy reveal a great new “feature” of the show. Simply make a video on Socialcam and add the hashtag #ineedhelp to the title. Whatever you need help with, Shy, Teddy and I will check out your video and figure out what we can do to help you achieve your dreams.