Built-in tracking protection in IE10+

A simple trick to help you thwart attempts to track you on the web.

It's a little-known built-in feature that applies to Internet Explorer 10 and later users; yes, you should update any prior versions you may still have, even if you do not use IE - many system components are using its frames.

While in Internet Explorer, press Alt-X or click the Tools button on the toolbar (most right), select "Manage Add-Ons".

Click "Tracking Protection" on the left - you will see a pre-defined "Your Personalized List" on the right.

Click the list and then click "Enable" button below.

Click "Settings" button below and select "Automatically Block" on the dialog that opens.

"OK", "Close"

Now what happens is IE will detect tracking frames on all websites that you visit.
If there are more than 10 occurences (different sites) having embedded the same tracking scripts, it will be considered a tracking network and will be blocked from placing an identifying cookies on you.

Hopefully this helps stopping the trackers "profiling" you, i.e. gathering info on types of sites you visit, and placing you into certain categories.

Possible uses of tracking involve targeted advertisement, market research for correlated traffic, audience statistics etc.

Not bad for an un-advertised feature that is given for free to all.

Lost in phone, or another opportunity for iOS 7

Let me confess, I have been using Apple iPhone since 2008.
Back in 2010, my phone was stolen. A month later, we were moving to Australia and I did not buy a new one.

I have been using a Nokia phone for a year, it was a Symbian one.
Interestingly, I did not miss the iPhone. I was on the lookout for something new, something better.
It happened to be an hp pre3 powered by [ex Palm's] webOS operating system. But that's another story.

I tried to understand why I did not miss the iPhone, after all, I was a Mac user since 2001.
And I think I can explain why, at least to myself.

There are things in iPhone experience that simply make you bored.
The same old grid of same old icons, mostly static. Onerous App Switching functionality.

But now I also see things that actually enrage me, even if they used to do it subconsciously.

Let us talk about one.

Phones are many things to us now, but for me, they still must serve well as PHONES.

It seems that iPhone fell short on this, even compared to my first smartphone that I bought in 2004, the absolute flagman of the years and everything before the iPhone - Sony Ericsson P910i.

Consider unlocking your iPhone, you will see Phone and Contacts icons.
Inside the Phone icon, you will see Contacts tab.
Along the Phone app tabs, you will see "Favorites", "Recents", "Contacts".
As well as "Contacts" outside of the phone app, on the dock.
"Recents" tab is split in "All" and "Missed" categories.
Can you still follow me? :)

Guess what? THERE IS NO PEOPLE PHOTOS, NO USERPICS not in any of these multiple tabs. Huh?
All four tabs I have listed, have no people faces on them. Not even in Favorites!
To see a picture, you need to drill down to a particular contact! This is in 2013.

Many times we are trying to catch up with people on the go, while walking, some [unwise folks] even when driving.
No pictures does not help at all!
What is even worse, is getting stuck in "Recents"-"Missed" and trying to dial a number who you just talked to and said "I'll call you in a minute".

This is because Phone app remembers where you were last time, making navigation to where you want to be this time a process that takes more brain cells to coordinate their work, distracting from other things you're trying to do (unless you're sitting on a sofa playing the phone).

I took out my old SonyEricsson and checked the Phone application.

Always takes you to Favorites that have faces on them. Two-touch calls to Favorites are possible from wherever I am.


On the iPhone, if your favorite people are calling you then your Recents will look much like Favorites, but sometimes sans the guy you want to talk to now. Same-looking text in both tabs, no pictures. Frustration. No wonder they need Siri to help.

Finding yourself switching to less-often used tabs like Dialpad is OK.
Having to switch out of that rarely used functionality is not.

Another source of confusion is the double Contacts functionality.
Since there are two of the Contacts tab, and each remembers its own position, you will have to re-find (find again) the user that you have focused on, should you go to the "wrong" Contacts tab.

It took me some time to realize that in order to send an email, I have to touch the actual email address instead of reading all the button labels below in vain search for "Email" button, then trying to figure out whether "Send Message" button meant "email message".

There's simply not enough visual cues. Have a look at how it was done in the SonyEricsson.

One more thing about my ancient but greatly usable phone.
It seems to be the only 3rd party phone that Apple has written software for.


No kidding, Apple programmed for Symbian UIQ 2.1. Steve must have cared enough.

Here's a proof.

The iSync agent worked hand-in-hand with iSync Apple app for MacOS, making sure that bluetooth synchronization of Calendar, Contacts and such was impeccable. And it was, unlike my Nokia PC Suite experience.





Overall, with a couple of tweaks I hope that Apple will resolve these issues in upcoming iOS 7 - they just need more of that "attention to detail".
But maybe not - it does not seem to be about phone calls anymore...at least, this is not Apple's business.
Or is it?

WhoIs Microsoft

I have just downloaded WHOIS for Windows from Microsoft.
I have no idea why I have not done this before.
Microsoft were right when they bought SysInternals.

SHAZAM 6

Shazam will now listen to your music in background. How convenient.

Error Codes

"Hey Computer! Why don't YOU run that command?!?"

Product Creation

Why companies exist? To make money or to improve humanity?
...
The product creation process in some companies is broken.
Instead of creating the best possible product and letting others enjoy it, they deliver the absolute minimum and then only fix gaps where absolutely required by customers.

What's coming in Apple TV?

The word is out: "Apple have 'figured' TV".

What does it mean, what can it be?

Here's my idea. (Any likeness to the real Apple idea is coincidental, of course)

There are things that make TV what it is now - an industry on the wane.
While it is still relevant, the big question is for how long.

It won't be long, if Apple can make it.
If they can change another industry, that is.

And here's how.

What's wrong with current TV?
-----------------------------
Let's have a look at the current business model of a typical television channel.
They show news, to be relevant.
They run shows, to amuse and show you ads.
They run movies, again to amuse and show you ads.
They just show you ads ("sofa shops").
They do not get money from viewers.
They depend on advertisers.
Some get funding, and then pay off by running agendas.
It's a B2B enterprise, us consumers are bystanders.
They don't know individual tastes.
They have trouble fitting one to all tastes.
They don't know who, or how many are watching them at a given moment
(yes, there are aggregation methods but they are not precise because people just switch channels intead of switching off TV sets)
Viewers have a limited choice of dozens (sometimes hundreds) channels, have to wait for a content they want if it's not running.
Worst of all, TV channels have no way of taking money directly from customers.
Sure, you can "subscribe" to a block of channels but it 'happens so' that one block never contains everything you like, so you have to overpay. PLUS watch ads again!

There's lots of things historically wrong about TV, due to limitations of past technology.

What could be improved?
-----------------------
Let's not talk about boxes - everyone has them.
A better TV ecosystem would allow each channel for a fairer revenue collection and accounting.

Just Think:
Nowadays it's possible to have individual billing records for every second of the time you spent watching every IP-based TV channel.
Hence, it is possible to "vote" with your channel selection towards the program you're watching.
Your monthly subscription fee can be "split" per every channel, by time you spend watching IP TV.

If you watch a particular channel less often, they would get less revenue from you.

How would this change the business model?

"No Ads" - becomes possible! If channels can get enough watchers, by providing a higher quality entertainment, people come in droves and increase direct revenue.

Those channels that stay "free" or not popular enough, will still run ads and will be viewed as a lower-quality experience.
This will drive the quality up, and price - down, very similar to what happened in the applications business.

Is it an easy change to accomplish? By all means, not.

We have not been waiting for Apple to "finalize" their TV box, but more to make contact with parties who are ready for a significant and arguably the best change to TV since it became color.

Competing with the Internet is possible - if an industry follows the principle - "user first".
If it "listens" to each user. Not each 1M users. Here, money is the tool, not the goal.
A tool for users to have their say.

Driving up the experience quality and engagement with TV is possible by improving content and eliminating distractions. But only in the new model of business (channels get paid for their content, not their advertisers').

Once the new model becomes the norm, ads may become a rare and unexpected interventions into people's minds.
While advertisement is a necessary tool for some, it may as well become obsolete soon.

Crazy as the idea may seem, Apple might try...

[not really being a TV person] Is there anything fundametal I have missed?

What would you guys like in the new Apple TV solution?