Walmart App Saves You Money

        Jim Hamm gets our attention with "If you occasionally shop at Wally World, a blogger wrote the the following about an app that is available. It might be worth checking out."  
        "If you shop at Walmart you might want to check out their Savings Catcher Program.  Just download the Walmart app for your phone and then use it to scan your Walmart receipts.  There is a QR code at the bottom of every Walmart receipt that looks like this:  

        "Just use the Walmart app to scan the code and then WM will compare what you paid to prices at other stores in the area.  If they find a lower price, they credit you with the difference.  
        "So far in the last several months, we've gotten a little over $17 back.  You can collect it by printing out an e-card at home and then use it at the checkout.  So, check it out." 

A "Supercookie" is on Your Smartphone

        "If you use Verizon on your smartphone you may have read about Verizon placing a 'super cookie' on your phone. Here is an article explaining more about this issue, and how to opt out of the 'super cookie,'"  and with that we can envision Jim Hamm with a serious look, followed by his grin.  

Your Smartphone is Spying on You

         In an article dated 3-25 the question is asked, how much is your smartphone spying on you?  It discusses app permission managers.  Read it here http://www.cultofmac.com/317087/your-location-has-been-shared-over-5000-times-in-the-last-two-weeks/

Why Your Smartphone Records Everything You Say to It

        A friend sent this to us, and it deserves our attention.  The article starts out, "After controversy earlier this month over televisions recording owners and sending the clips to third parties, smartphone owners are now discovering that companies like Google, Apple and Microsoft are also recording voice commands and storing them for up to two years."  This article from the UK dated 2-25-15 also declares, ". . . and you agreed to it via the terms and conditions."
See http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/11434754/Why-your-smartphone-records-everything-you-say-to-it.html   and notice the comments that are posted.  

Maybe a Pain in Your Neck

        Your smartphone is a pain in the neck, declares this article.  Jim Hamm found this info and said, "I'd guess the people I'm sending this article to don't spend much, if any, time texting. I don't. But if your children or grandchildren do, you might forward forward this article to them."  http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/20/health/mobile-society-neck-pain/

Flashlight App Alert

     "If you've installed a flashlight app on your smartphone you might want to take a look at the following video," declares Jim Hamm.  He continues, "And here are the Android apps SnoopWall.com checked.  No apps listed for iOS as yet, but if you have a flashlight app installed on an iPhone you might check the size of the app, as mentioned in the video.  The cyber crooks are getting ever more devious in their malware." A Cybersecurity Threat That Could Be Lurking On Your Phone

Protect Your Mobile Phone

       "Protect your mobile phone from an accidental dunking in water? Take a look at this video. https://www.facebook.com/video/embed?video_id=10152954190850201
A demo on how to water-protect the iPhone is towards the end of the video. Although conceptually intriguing, I wouldn't want to use this product, say, on my clothes. How would you wash them? I don't think NeverWet is something I'd want to use. How about you?" asks Jim Hamm.  

Warning About Smartphone Photos

        If you take photos with your smart phone and post them online you face a real risk of trouble.  This 4 minute video is a must for you, your kids, your grandkids.  Ginger Carlson found this website http://www.youtube.com/embed/N2vARzvWxwY?rel=0   and comments, "Everyone needs to see it."

Watch Out for Roaming Charges

        The article about unexpected charges to smartphone users caught my attention.  An email to Jim Hamm gives us his take on this potential problem.  "Years ago when we first got a cell phone and had to be aware of possible roaming charges while traveling in the US. Now we are on AT&T and roaming may be a thing of the past -- at least for us. If AT&T doesn't have a signal in a particular area, then we just don't get service and can't make a call. I'm not sure what the situation may be for Verizon."  See the article here. 

Smart Phone Vulnerability

        The smart phone is vulnerable to malware, as they're becoming (or already are) more like a computer than a phone.  Helping keep us informed of problems Jim Hamm sends us several links.  He points out there are a couple of apps for the iPhone: AntiVirus Lite and Virus Barrier.  Jim says at this point he hasn't researched either to see if they would be worthwhile to run.
        Here's an article from Gizmodo discussing the VirusBarrier.  An article from the NewYorkTimes (1-25-12) writer Kate Murphy claims that an engineer at the Georgia Tech Research Institute can hack into your cellphone just by dialing the number.  He can remotely listen to your calls, read your text messages, snap pictures with your phone's camera and track your movements around town -- not to mention, access the password to your online bank account.  The engineer told her it was trivial to hack into a cellphone and that the instructions on how to do it are available online.
        Keep up with this sensitive topic.  We'll be hearing more . . .