Moving On Up

Hey loyal readers! Just writing in for the last time *sniffle* to let you know we’re moving. But it is not goodbye -- think of this blog entry as our change of address form. We invite you to click over and get a taste of our new, fresh and flirty blog, CommJunkie.com.

We could spend a few paragraphs here telling you about how awesome our new, wonderful blog is, with its oodles of info and news all about the world of communication, but we’d rather you discover it for yourself. So just click on over to CommJunkie.com and let us know what you think. If our awesome-ness isn’t all we’ve made it out to be, shoot us an e-mail and let us know what we can do to bring it up a notch.

Tags: cable tv, home entertainment, home phone, internet

The TV of the Future

Can you imagine having a television schedule that you completely control? Sure there's the digital video recorder (DVR), but I'm talking about total and complete control. I'm talking about Internet television. 

Currently newer TV sets have a new jack in the back that will allow you to connect your set directly to the Internet. Once you establish that connection you can use your remote control to get updated local weather forecasts, personalized stock quotes and on-demand access to a handful of TV shows just to name a few.

But what if technology was developed to allow you to get rid of the set top box, the gaming console and stereo component so that the broadband Internet and the TV did it all? Since most television stations put their shows online, you could possibly be able to upload any show, movie, song or video at any time without needing local TV stations or cable subscriptions. This could be the wave of the future.

Sure the Internet would have to be faster and TVs would have to be more powerful but look what technology has done for us now. Did you ever think you could have a phone that acted like an MP3 player and let you surf the Web? I'm thinking this Internet TV could really take off. What do you think?

Tags: future of tv, high speed internet television, high-speed internet tv, internet television, internet tv

Starbucks Introduces AT&T Wi-Fi Partnership

There’s a new reason to visit your local Starbucks and it’s not just for the black nectar of the gods that gives you that ultimate pick me up. This new product will satisfy your craving for speed without the jitters of gulping down too much caffeine.

Starbucks has decided to revamp their current Wi-Fi service to make it more affordable and convenient for you, so they’ve begun a new partnership with AT&T. You’ll be able to sip your tall, skinny, no whip, no foam latte slowly as you zip through your e-mails, videos and chat for two free hours per day.

In case you need more time, you’ll be able to purchase an additional two-hour chunk of time for $3.99. Now that seems pretty cheap to me, but let’s say you are a Starbucks groupie and a Wi-Fi junkie, no problem, they have you covered too. For $19.99 a month you can have wireless access in any Starbucks plus other AT&T hot-spot locations.

All in all, to me this new partnership sound like a win win. I can get my afternoon jolt and wiz through the Internet for a reasonable amount of cash. What’s your opinion?

Tags: at&t, att, high speed internet, high-speed internet, internet, starbucks, wi-fi, wifi

Part III of III

Thank you for coming back to read my final part in my identity theft series. In part I, I identified the different types of I.D. theft and in the second part, I explained how to prevent such theft. In part III I’ll give you tips on what to do in case your I.D. has been stolen.

Taking action to clear your name:

• Contact your bank and explain the issue
• Call all your credit card companies to alert them of the problem
• Notify all three major credit bureaus of your situation
• File a police report immediately
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• Place a fraud alert on your credit report
• Order a credit report from the 3 major providers

Tags: id theft, identity theft, online id theft, online identity theft

Part II of III

Welcome back to Part II of my ID theft blog. In Part I I explained the five kinds of ID thefts, and this time I’ll give you tips to help prevent your identity from being stolen.

Safeguard your ID with the following 10 tips:

• Shred your mail with a cross shredder
• Protect your home computer with an antivirus and anti-spyware software
• Secure all personal information you have in your home
• Use reputable Web sites with secure servers when buying items online
• Report stolen or last cards as soon as possible
• Don not carry your social security card with you in case your wallet or purse gets stolen
• Don’t give personal information to a phone solicitor
• Check your bank statements and credit card statements each month
• Check your credit report every 12 months
• Select strong online passwords that use numbers and capital and lower case letters

Make sure to check back next week for my Part III of this ID theft blog to learn what to do if your identity has been stolen.

Continue reading "Identity Theft: Prevention" »

Tags: id theft, identity theft, online id theft, online identity theft

Part I of III

What do you think of when someone mentions identity theft? Most of us only think of credit card theft but did you know there are five types of ID theft? Knowing what those are is the first step in preventing anything from happening to your personal information.

Five Types of ID theft:

Credit Card – Credit card theft can happen anytime your card is out of your sight or when used on an unlock or unsafe Internet site. Never leave your credit card unattended and always use a Web site you trust to purchase items with your card.

Driver’s License – Thieves steal driver’s license information then commit driving violations in your name. By the time you find out, the cop is pulling you over and arresting you for a warrant in your name that was committed by someone else. Be careful with leaving your driver’s license information unattended.

Social Security Number – Most people don’t realize that they leave their social security number unattended on many papers. In the past, when it wasn’t dangerous to ask for your social security number, most forms did ask, but now-a-days you should leave that blank unless the company gives you a good reason why the number is needed. A good example is medical forms. If they already asked for your medical insurance information then they don’t need your social too.

Criminal Identity – Some thieves will steal your identity and commit crimes under your name. Again you will most likely not know until you find yourself being detained for a something you didn’t do. It boils down to being aware and protecting your personal information.

Medical Identity – This is quite possibly the most dangerous of all five offenses. Thieves will steal your identity to then get tests or procedures done in your name, so in your medical files it could show you are HIV positive or have had your appendix removed and neither could be correct. Incorrect information in your medial file can be dangerous in case you have an emergency.

Make sure to check back next week for my Part II of this ID theft blog to learn how to prevent your identity from being stolen.

Continue reading "Identity Theft: 5 Types of ID Theft" »

Tags: id theft, identity theft, online id theft, online identity theft

Affordable Internet Service for the New Year

If you want to save money in the New Year then begin by taking a look at your Internet bill. ConnectMyHighSpeed has a couple of tips to help you evaluate your Internet usage to save you money.

Take a look at how often you use the Internet at your home. Also, evaluate how much you download files or play games. If you don’t use the Internet much or you don’t download a lot of items then a dial-up connection might be good for you and it’s the cheapest. There is no sense in paying for a faster connection if you’re not going to use it to its capacity. No one buys the red sports car to only drive it 30 mph.

Another thing to keep in mind is that most telecommunications companies offer low cost bundled prices. It is cheaper to set up your Internet, home phone and television services with one company. Not to mention that one bill a month is more convenient.

Tags: affordable high-speed internet, affordable internet, cheap high-speed internet, cheap internet, low cost high-speed internet, low cost internet

Now how to keep your children safe on the Internet

Do you know what precautions as a parent you need to take to keep your kids safe while they are ever so vulnerable online? Do you know how many predators are out there seeking to destroy a young person's life? Having a high-speed Internet connection is a wonderful tool but you have to be aware of the dangers that lurk on the Web so you and your family can be safe.

Below are some tips to help you keep your children safe while they are online.

• Talk to Your Kids — Have a general online safety conversation with your children to explain what they should be leery of and let them know you are always there in case they get into trouble.


• Monitoring Computer Use — Monitor what your child does on the computer and don't just turn a blind eye.


• Monitoring Softeware — Install or see if your high-speed Internet company offers monitoring software that will allow you to see what your child is looking at on the net and will permit you to block certain content.


• Family Room Computer — Don't let your child have a computer in their bedroom. Instead have the computer in a family room where you can supervise their online usage.


• Child's Behavior — Watch for signs that your child is acting differently as they could be being bullied or stalked while online.


• Anti-Virus Software — Install anti-virus software on all home computers to keep hackers at bay.

How does your inner Santa purchase holiday gifts? Do you brave the crowded malls where shopping becomes a contact sport? Do you forgo the hassle and choose the convenience of shopping online using your high-speed Internet connection?

One of the leading consumer research companies, comScore, Inc., reports that online shopping from November 1 to December 16 has gone up by 19 percent compared to the same shopping days last year.

comScore research does show a choppy trend in online shopping with the heaviest being at the beginning and of the week. They aren't sure if the number will rise as some folks might be waiting for last minute bargains to complete their holiday spending, or if consumers are just not spending that much this season.

For now, it seems like consumers are choosing more and more to shop from the comfort of their home than to head out to the retail shops.

To read the study from comScore, see their press release.

Part II of II

In part I I wrote about the safety, and sometimes the lack there of, when we are online. Since most ISP's don't provide adequate security then who can we trust? Just when there appears to be no light at the end of the tunnel one provider stands out from the rest. Hughesnet, formerly known as DirecWay, protects its consumers in ways no other provider can. Hughes Network Systems is the global leader in the commercial transmission of data via satellite. They also contract with the U.S. military to connect our armed forces around the world. As you can imagine, the data being transmitted is of the most sensitive in nature and security is not a luxury but a necessity and to date the encryption has never been compromised. Hughes Network Systems owns this technology and extends its military-grade encryption algorithm to its residential customers at no additional charge. In fact, the basic residential system has the exact same hardware that is installed in the White House.

I will say that name recognition does play a role in my decisions when choosing products and services, and Hughesnet is not a name you see on billboards or in magazines. It may surprise you to know just how many times you have already used their services and not even known it. Ever shopped at Wal-Mart, ordered pizza from Pizza Hut or even used your credit card to pay for gas? All these establishments, just to name a few, are transmitting your data across the Hughes network and doing so at the speed of light. The Walton family, with over 3,800 Wal-Mart stores in the U.S. alone, actually attributes their success to the services they received from Hughes.

With their prices for high-speed Internet starting at $59, they position themselves way above the entry-level high-speed Internet packages. However, we have to ask ourselves two questions. How much would you pay to protect your family from the devastation of identity theft and how safe is your current ISP?