Another Reason NOT to Use Internet Explorer!

Other than the sucking sound, that is! It isn’t safe… no, more so than usual!

Serious security flaw found in IE

“Users of Microsoft’s Internet Explorer are being urged by experts to switch to a rival until a serious security flaw has been fixed. The flaw in Microsoft’s Internet Explorer could allow criminals to take control of people’s computers and steal their passwords, internet experts say. Microsoft urged people to be vigilant while it investigated and prepared an emergency patch to resolve it. Internet Explorer is used by the vast majority of the world’s computer users.”

Need I say… Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome? Here are the links:

Firefox Browser

Google Chrome

Mac Sales Were Flat in November

Seems the economic downturn is hurting Mac sales!

Mac Sales Flat in November 2008

“Apple, Inc. witnessed flat year-over-year overall sales in the United States for its Macs in November, while sales of rival Microsoft Corp’s Windows PCs were up 7 percent, according to research firm NPD Group Inc, which tracks retail sales. Sales of desktops were down 20 percent overall, with Windows desktops sales falling 15 percent and Macs down 38 percent. Apple’s notebook sales, however, were up 22 percent in November, while Windows sales rose 15 percent. ‘For notebooks, there is a little extra value to consumers (to buy Apple). For desktops I’m not so sure,’ NPD analyst Stephen Barker told Reuters. ‘To me the real story is the iMacs need a refresh.’ IDC, which tracks sales of technology products, said earlier this month that it expects global PC sales to fall 5.3 percent next year to $267 billion. Apple and Microsoft could not be immediately reached for comment.”

Predictions for 2009

Jeffrey Powers from www.geekazine.com asked us Techpodcast Network folks to give our predictions for 2009. Well, here’s my two cents for 2009:

Linux will continue to make in-roads on the desktop as “netbooks” become more popular.

Video via the Internet, or “IPTV,” will continue to increase, and set-top boxes for Internet viewing will increase in general acceptance instead of just being a “geek toy.”

Smart-phones will become many people’s platform of choice for Internet surfing as phones like the iPhone and Blackberry Storm become more “the norm.”

We’ll see how I do next year!