How to Turn Off Facebook Facial Recognition
from the desk of Rich on Tech
Greetings!
This weekend it’s all about resting up for next week’s big Apple event! It’s happening Tuesday and we’ll get a look at new iPhones and learn when iOS 13 will hit devices.
I’m also putting the finishing touches on the next edition of my book, which will feature useful tips for navigating the new features in iOS 13. Stay tuned for more on that, or follow my Amazon author page to be alerted when it’s released.
Now, let’s get to it!
A Look at Warehouse Robots
I visited with a Westlake Village, CA startup called inVia Robotics to see the fleet of warehouse robots they’re building.
I love any story that involves robots because it’s inevitable that they will impact the future. Yes, jobs are at stake, but new jobs are also created. It’s been happening since the beginning of our economy. I bet there were horse fleet owners mad when the first car came along.
At any rate, what inVia’s doing is building robots that can work in warehouses to “pick” the items that people order online. They buzz around to collect them, then drop them off at a shipping station. Watch:
https://ktla.com/2019/09/06/invia-robotics-automated-warehouse-robots-video/
Hands on With Samsung’s Watch, Tablet and Laptop
Next week is all about Apple, so here’s some news for you Android fans out there.
It’s all about the ecosystem, and Samsung is doing a good job at building a family of products that all work together. They have a new smartwatch arriving later this month, as well as a laptop and tablet.
I like the watch and the laptop (which has LTE, so less hunting for WiFi) but I’d skip the tablet. I think you can do better with the iPad, which has better apps. Watch:
https://ktla.com/2019/09/04/hands-on-with-samsungs-galaxy-watch-active-2-galaxy-book-s-and-tab-s6/
I’ve tried a lot of these meal kit delivery services, but the one I keep coming back to is Hello Fresh. We have been subscribers for a while now and I love the selection, the taste and the fun of crafting home made dinners twice a week. We usually do one of the meals on a Friday night, which is way cheaper than going out to eat and way more inspired than your typical takeout. The flavors are on point, the food is fresh and they give you everything you need to create restaurant-worthy meals in about a half an hour or so. Use my link to sign up and you’ll get $40 off your first box. [REFERRAL]
https://www.hellofresh.com?c=RICH118
Got Spectrum Internet? Your Connection Might Be Faster
Spectrum is doubling the base speed of its internet connection for subscribers in the LA area and other major metros around the U.S.
I only found out through a TV commercial I saw. When I chatted with a customer service rep, they said the speed boost is being applied automatically. After a quick restart of my modem, voila: my speed went from 100 to 200!
This has caused a lot of chatter on my Facebook page, with people doing speed tests to see if their connection is faster. Two ways to check: make sure you’re on your home WiFi network and go to the website fast.com. Alternatively, download an app I like called Meteor for iOS or Android and do a speed test there.
If you don’t have the faster speed, you might want to check with Spectrum to make sure you get it!
https://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/speed-increase-frequently-asked-questions/
Turn Off Facebook Facial Recognition
Facebook has been using facial recognition for a while, but the company now has a specific privacy setting for you to fully opt out.
You’ve probably seen face recognition in action: upload a picture and next thing you know, Facebook is suggesting some friends to tag in it. Previously, you could turn off “tag suggestions,” but now Facebook is being more clear with the new option.
Here is the direct link to turn it on or off:
https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=facerec§ion=face_recognition&view
Here’s my video explaining how to do it on mobile:
facebook.com/watch/?v=482995269144932
Rich on Tech Podcast
My podcast is where I talk about the tech news that affects you and answer the questions that you send me.
On this week’s show:
Facebook introduces a dating feature
Google adds a useful feature to the iPhone Gmail app
Roku unveils a new soundbar
Sonos has a portable outdoor speaker
Notable Android 10 features
Spectrum upgrades customers’ internet speeds for free
Listeners ask about getting rid of spam email, a good online backup service, the security of fingerprint passcodes, whether Sony Android TV’s spy on them and video chatting from an Android to an iPhone.
Just hit the link below and press play to listen, or search “rich on tech” in your favorite podcast app.
https://ktla.com/2019/09/06/rich-on-tech-an-internet-provider-upgrades-speeds-for-free/
Pancake Hack
Quite the debate on Facebook about this pancake hack I learned about. You slice the pancakes with an X in the middle, then fill them up with syrup. This way it doesn’t drip all over the plate and into the rest of your food (works especially well for breakfast buffets). But the bites of pancakes still have a bunch of syrup in them. It worked for me! Let me know what you think on my Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/RichOnTech/photos/a.214770941873966/3205068889510808/?type=3&theater
That’s going to do it!
I will be up in Cupertino for the Apple Event Tuesday morning, if you are really interested in the play by play, I will be live Tweeting the presentation, so follow me on Twitter for that @richdemuro.
Otherwise, see you right here next week.
Rich