Category Archives: TechNews

#nowyouknow: The Etymology of Some Common Tech Terms

January 28, 2015TechNews2015, 201501Randolph Pfaff

What does a canned meat brand name have to do with unwanted email? Do hackers solve computer problems or create them? When did # stop meaning pound ornumber?

The popular tech blog Gizmodo has the answers to these questions and more inThe Mysterious Origins of 21 Tech Terms. Of course, like anything you find online that claims to be definitive, there is room for debate on the etymology of many of the terms included in this article. At least, that’s what quite a few commenters seem to think. This might be one of the few times to break a cardinal rule of the Internet that needs no explanation: never read the comments.

Apple and HP Product Recalls

January 28, 2015TechNews2014, 201412, Apple, HP, Product RecallRandolph Pfaff

Simmons Technology would like to highlight two recent large-scale product recalls that could have a significant impact on our customers’ personally-owned devices:

HP has recalled certain laptop power cords sold between 2010 and 2012
Apple has issued a recall for 1st generation iPod nano models sold between 2005 and 2006

If you believe that you might be affected by either recall, we encourage you to follow the process to return your item and have it replaced. Neither recall should affect any devices currently in the Simmons-owned fleet.

Get Tech Tutorials on the Go at Lynda.com

December 4, 2014TechNews2014, 201412, Lynda.comRandolph Pfaff

It’s crunch time. The semester is almost over. Papers are due. Projects are piling up. Finals are just around the corner. The last thing you need is to figure out how to use new technology.

Luckily, all students have access to thousands of video tutorials on lynda.com. The videos are created by experts and cover a wide range of topics. They’re also fully searchable, so you can quickly pinpoint the information you need.

Not that searching through hundreds of screencasts on YouTube hoping that someone covers that one thing you’re not sure how to do in PowerPoint isn’t fun, but trust us, this will be easier.

You can access lynda.com at any time by logging in with your Simmons username and password. If you need help, you can get more info here or call the Service Desk at 617-521-2222.

Here are some searchable courses and playlists that cover common tech tools: