OSI Tips: Infared Photos  
In case you ever wanted to take Infrared photos with your digital camera, here is a handy how-to video we found on a tech geek blog.

Ask Tech Reporter
Go ahead… you know you want to … Send your questions here, for quick, anonymous answers.

Dear Tech:
What is Bluetooth technology anyway?
Signed, Y. B. Blue

DDear Y.B.,

Bluetooth is a technology (invented by Ericsson in the 90s) intended to replace short cables that are often used to connect various little electronic gadgets together for the purpose of exchanging just a little bit of information. Examples would be connecting your cell phone to a hands free earpiece, a handheld PC to a printer and so on.

The technology came about because providing all of the necessary cables to connect the small mobile devices to all of the other devices they could connect to is impractical.

Incredibly, Bluetooth operates on the same frequency as WiFi (2.4 GHz to 2.4835 GHz), probably because there are few frequencies left that can be used without a license, but on a much, much lower power level. Bluetooth’s maximum range is about 15 feet whereas WiFi’s maximum range is about 30 feet. Bluetooth’s max data transfer rate is about 0.2 to 2.0 MB/s whereas Wifi reaches 55MB/s. Bluetooth also has a few security loopholes wherein an intruder could break into the signal, whereas WiFi can be pretty secure. So if you are using Bluetooth, be on the lookout for a hacker within 10 feet of you using a laptop to eavesdrop on your conversation.

And as an added bonus to our faithful readers, Bluetooth trivia! The name Bluetooth is commonly believed to be a reference to Harold Bluetooth King of Denmark and Norway (c.935). He unified some warring tribes in the region and he liked blueberries so much that his teeth where blue, hence the nickname. Today, the Bluetooth protocol unifies electronic devices and has nothing to do with teeth.

Add-in for MSN Search Toolbar
Microsoft Phishing Filter

Those of you upgrading to Internet Explorer 7.0 may have noticed the prompt asking you whether you would like to install the Microsoft Phishing Filter. By all means, please install it.

Phishing (pronounced "Fishing") is an Internet scam wherein miscreants create realistic looking emails and associated web sites in an attempt to trick you into giving them your personal, often financial, information such as user names, passwords, credit card numbers, and Social Security numbers.

Typically, a phishing scam starts with an e-mail sent to you containing a link to a fraudulent Web site made up to look like a well known bank or financial institution. The site will then ask you enter your personal information.

The Microsoft Phishing Filter is an online service that is managed and continually updated by Microsoft. If you install it, it will monitor the Web sites that you visit and provide warning if they seem suspicious. In addition, Microsoft will check the names of the web sites that you visit against a list of known phishing web sites. If there is a match, the filter will warn you.

We think it is a worthwhile addition to your toolbar. If you have any questions about phishing, email us at: info@ositechnologies.com.

OSI Fun: Technology in the Land of Make Believe
Fun ways technology is used in television and movies, without any connection to reality!

High-tech computers, such as those used by NASA, the CIA, or some such governmental institution, will have easy-to-understand graphical interfaces.

You can gain access to any information you want by simply typing "ACCESS ALL OF THE SECRET FILES" on any keyboard.

You can infect a computer with a destructive virus by simply typing "UPLOAD VIRUS."

All computers are connected. You can access the information on the villain's desktop computer, even if it's turned off.

A hacker can get into the most sensitive computer in the world before intermission and guess the secret password in two tries.

Any PERMISSION DENIED has an OVERRIDE function.

When the scene location (missile plant, control center etc.) overheats, all the computerized control panels will explode, as will the entire building.

No matter what kind of computer disk it is, it'll be readable by any system you put it into.