In the Weeds with Dexter Johnson

It seems like every other day we are hearing about a company having a breach of client data. Protect yourself. Utilizing a password manager, whether online or offline can be a huge defense against attackers by differentiating your password across each site you use. Several options are LastPass, KeyPass, 1Password, Dashlane and more....each offering their own unique spins, yet each accomplishing th...

If you haven't listened to part 1 of my Apple Event coverage, please do so. In part 2, I take a look at what Apple could've done in terms of pricing and focus with this new iPad. The classroom management features seem to bring Apple's approach up to par with Google; however, the cost to deploy one iPad with Pencil and a case can be almost $450, while a Chromebook will cost one third of that. Did A...

Apple took to the stage in Chicago to focus on education and empower students and administration alike to utilize Apple hardware and services in the education realm. We've now got a $329 iPad with Apple Pencil support, proper classroom management apps and more. Be sure to tune in the part 2 to get my take on how this positions Apple in the education space and if they can truly rival Google. || Let...

iPhone X, Apple's $1000 baby, that's set to revolutionize the mobile space.....has falling demand -- and I'm glad. Here's why, there is no reason to charge this much for a smartphone, which places you into a small bubble and puts constraints on how you get work done. How much is a solid laptop these days? With lower demand, will this force Apple to see the error of it's ways? || Let's continue our...

Android P developer preview is here!! With updates for HEIF, higher security around Android backups and display cutout (notch) support -- this release will be one of those that'll tighten up the software experience from 8.0! Read more about it here: https://developer.android.com/preview/features.html || Let's continue our discussion! Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @dexter_johnson and visit...

Let's take a field trip!! The title of Apple's latest event has us buzzing. What will we see? New iPads, new Apple pencil devices or extended support? What about a low cost MacBook Air? For a company that's extremely behind in education, Apple hopes to right the ship -- we'll see. Stay tuned for coverage. || Let's continue our discussion! Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @dexter_johnson and v...

Facebook has a LOT of your data -- a lot. In fact, you don't even have to be signed in for them to track you and tie information to your personal profile because of Facebook Pixel. Did Facebook do anything wrong? Well, thanks to a whistleblower at Cambridge Analytica, we've found out that 50 million users had their data manipulated and modeled to target their "inner demons" -- can this happen with...

A database is an organized collection of data. And a relational database, more restrictively, is a collection of schemas, tables, queries, reports, views, and other elements. Many just think of a database as a box, but more importantly it is the backbone of any successful IT organization with many needs for management in the realms of security, performance and design. Let's continue our discussion...

Automation is defined as the automatic operation or control of equipment, a process, or a system. Many things, whether you realize it or not, are automated from payment processing, vending machines, traffic lights -- essentially all things electronic contain automation points to make our lives easier. Can autonomous vehicles help make for safer highways? On the wake of an unfortunate event involvi...

Does the government really want to help pioneer technology or does it simply want to make money off of creating fear from it's constituents? Let's continue our discussion! Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @dexter_johnson and visit http://DexJohnsPC.com to stay on top of my latest posts. Share this podcast with a friend!

How do us and our new found digital assistants interact? Do we just talk and get answers? Are we sometimes interrupted with a prompt to install a skill (meh)? What is the way of the future, who is doing what right and is who is doing what wrong? Let's continue our discussion! Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @dexter_johnson and visit http://DexJohnsPC.com to stay on top of my latest posts. Sh...

Apple fans (seemingly more so than others, but it also includes Google fans etc.) have a tendency to always offer praise while blindly overlooking aspects of their favorite company that are not up to par and simply lag behind it's competitors. Stop drinking the Kool aid guys and shout just as loudly when these conglomerates put out half baked tech -- instead of only doing so when they do something...

3D printing refers to processes in which material is joined or solidified under computer control to create a three-dimensional object,[1] with material being added together (such as liquid molecules or powder grains being fused together). (Source: Wikipedia) It's a very cool technology, which I believe will increase consumerism in the future and will help push society forward in medicine, electron...

Ever wonder how Facebook seems to know what you just searched for? How about Google and Amazon? All of these companies follow certain guidelines that let them and other aggregate information about you then show it to you in relevant ways -- but you can limit it because it's your data!! Take control with Privacy Badger and Ghostery! Let's continue our discussion! Follow me on Twitter and Instagram...

Set top boxes are everywhere, from Roku to Amazon Fire to Apple TV 4K....but where is Google and it's once proud creation of Android TV? Is this yet another ecosystem that Google will let die? Let's continue our discussion! Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @dexter_johnson and visit http://DexJohnsPC.com to stay on top of my latest posts. Share this podcast with a friend!

iPhone X started a horrible design trend. Notches on the display. Apple is heralded for their design, yet they release a rounded mess of a display and people swoon. Let me tell you why it's an issue and why Android OEMs shouldn't copy. Let's continue our discussion! Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @dexter_johnson and visit http://DexJohnsPC.com to stay on top of my latest posts. Share this p...

Tracking. We track all kinds of things, steps, sleep heart rate -- but for what? Adding numbers, graphs and statistics to these seemingly nominal parts of our life lets us focus on these aspects in order to improve this giving us a better life. Get more steps, better sleep simply by tracking and alalyzing -- it even adds a bit of competition. Let's continue our discussion! Follow me on Twitter and...

Women make up a huge demographic that is honestly ignored in many phases of technology. Whether it's coding, design or marketing -- women and men alike should play equal parts in each process because there isn't one type of person that the company wants to buy their end product so why should only one type of person be involved in the back end? Happy International Women's Day! Let's continue our di...

Smarthome products are everywhere, some of us have one light switch, while others enjoy multiple ecosystems with smart thermostats and automated heaters. Either way, having a smart item with a little automation can go a long way into making your life a little easier and more convenient and I've got a few friends with me to discuss. Hopefully you get some ideas! Let's continue our discussion! Follo...

Cord-cutting is a big deal! We no longer need to be tied to a cable subscription service with many channels we don't need. But there are necessities that you'll have to have in order to have a good experience. The set top box and proper internet infrastructure are vital. Let's continue our discussion! Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @dexter_johnson and visit http://DexJohnsPC.com to stay on...

The terminal is the most powerful, exciting and exhilarating tool that Linux has to offer and there are commands that I run every time I open it, perhaps you'll find them useful too. Let's continue our discussion! Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @dexter_johnson and visit http://DexJohnsPC.com to stay on top of my latest posts. Share this podcast with a friend!

White text on black backgrounds, the user staring and typing ferociously to get a task done. Is using the terminal necessary for the average user? No. However, your computer is running the commands in the background regardless and knowing some of these commands can help you remotely manage other systems and get things done more efficiently. Let's continue our discussion! Follow me on Twitter and I...

A part two from the previous episode regarding the terms of service. Clicking agree is completely voluntary and it's something you don't have to do. With so many apps that are similar in functionality, but dissimilar in business practice and moral values -- you can find an app that suits your privacy and data needs. Let's continue our discussion! Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @dexter_johns...

Terms of service (also known as terms of use and terms and conditions, commonly abbreviated as TOS or ToS and ToU) are rules by which one must agree to abide in order to use a service. (Source: Wikipedia). With that being said, these terms while arduous, are incredibly important for the end user and should always be something you parse through to ensure you understand what you're signing up for. L...

While the definition of a computer has not changed over the years, the form factor and specifications certainly have making it accessible to more people, at many price points and many look and feels. What is right perfect computer? You have to ask yourself what will you do with the machine first. Let's continue our discussion! Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at @dexter_johnson and visit DexJohn...