Bad News For Cell Phone Carriers…and Microsoft

FCC takes aim at the wireless industry

The Federal Communications Commission, which has been taking a beating on proposed Net neutrality regulations, is lacing up the gloves again, this time to do battle with wireless carriers. While more than a few of the wireless carriers are the same companies going toe-to-toe with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski over Net neutrality, the latest scrap is over a very different issue: billing. More specifically, those shocking bills consumers say they get from time to time from their wireless providers.

Apple passes Microsoft in valuation

Apple has passed Microsoft in terms of market capitalization, with a value of roughly $222 billion--about $3 billion ahead of Microsoft. Apple had been flirting with the milestone for days and had already passed Microsoft by another measure--a valuation known as enterprise value, which adds in debt and other factors. The fact that Apple, not Microsoft, is the more valuable franchise represents a remarkable turn of events in the history of computing.

Going green with Win7 is harder than it looks

Trying to consume less energy in a home office by putting workstations to sleep automatically seemed like the right thing to do. But when two Windows 7 PCs developed insomnia, returning them to a greener state let me discover some interesting tricks and tips.

Why iPad owners need a Kindle, too

Got an iPad? Don't sell your Kindle. Each does what the other doesn't. Together, they're a total e-book solution

Google Chrome 5 - Full Review

The overriding philosophy of Google's Chrome browser can be summed up in one word: speed. I'm not just talking about its surfing speed (more on this later), but also the speed at which new versions come out.

Updates on Google and Facebook Privacy

Facebook unveils simpler privacy controls to spur sharing

Facebook simplified privacy settings on Wednesday in response to sustained criticism over previous changes that has reached a crescendo in recent weeks. The changes introduce a one-click control for content. Users can choose to share content on Facebook with friends, friends of friends, or everyone. The social network has retained granular controls for those who want to customise these settings, with controls moved over onto a single page.

A Matter of Trust: 10 Places Google Collects User Data From

By now, everyone in the tech world and beyond has heard about Google’s data collection from unsecured Wi-Fi networks in Germany. What you may not have known, however, is that Google has been collecting detailed user data since day one. Why? Essentially, as market research, which is then used to enhance their services. While the improvements that come as a result of Google’s data collection may benefit us all, it does come at a cost.

Why Windows 7 'slate' tablets won't happen

The quiet disappearance of the HP Slate -- Microsoft's great tablet hope -- shows that dream has died

16 Awesome Wi-Fi Devices for Your Network

Everybody loves the unfettered access to the Internet that they get from a wireless network. That said, if your Wi-Fi network consists of nothing more than a laptop and, maybe, a phone, you're really missing out. There are all kinds of cool tech devices that can take advantage of that connection—everything from Blu-ray players to digital photo frames to ebook readers.

IObit Uninstaller Removes Annoying Browser Toolbars

Windows only: Freeware software IObit Uninstaller removes multiple applications at once, scans the registry for leftovers, and also removes annoying browser toolbars with a single click.

Facebook Says - “We Screwed Up”

Facebook boss admits privacy 'errors' and promises revamp

Facebook boss Mark 'I'm CEO… bitch' Zuckerberg is seeking to soften user anger over privacy erosion with an admission that the social networking site has made some mistakes. Using an op-ed piece in Monday's Washington Post as a soapbox, Zuckerberg has promised to simplify the site's increasingly complex privacy controls and allow users to opt out of third-party services.

Deleting your Facebook account (FAQ)

Leaving Facebook can be almost as confusing as navigating the privacy backwaters on the site. This New York Times graphic shows that there are 50 settings and more than 170 options to managing the privacy of a Facebook account. Here are some tips on deleting your account and answers to questions about what that means for your data, and more.

AT&T, Verizon dominate wireless... Is it time to regulate?

The government's latest annual report on the state of mobile wireless competition is out, and its conclusions are not what the wireless sector wanted to hear. Over the last half-decade, concentration in the industry has gone up—way up, in fact.

Pandigital's new $200 Novel color e-reader is powered by Android and Barnes & Noble

If you know Pandigital, you probably know it for its photo frames. But now the company is moving into the hot e-reader market with a device that a lot of people have been waiting for: an affordable color screen e-reader that also has ties to a major bookseller.

FastStone Photo Resizer Free

Like its sibling Faststone Image Viewer (also free), FastStone Photo Resizer is modestly named: It does a lot more than just resize photos. Plug in a batch of image files and you can do any or all of the following: rename them, rotate them, convert them to different image formats, turn them all to black-and-white or sepia, add watermark images or text, add borders, tweak their colors, and of course resize them.

Google Keeping Busy

Google Wave: Now open to the public

Google Wave, a Web-based tool to let people chat and collaborate in real time, is now open to the public.

Google Unveils Google TV With Sony, Logitech, Intel as Partners

Google took a step into the world of television Thursday with the introduction of Google TV, an Internet-enabled TV platform that will be available this fall in devices from Sony and Logitech. Sony will sell HDTVs and Blu-ray players with Google TV capabilities, while Logitech will sell a companion box that can be hooked into existing hardware. It will also be integrated into the DISH network.

Google Docs (2010) - Full Review

Let's face it, Google Docs isn't nearly as powerful as Microsoft office 2010. When you think about it, why should it be? Many people don't need that kind of power. Instead, they need the ease of use and easy access found in Google's still young suite of cloud-based productivity apps. Google's made some significant updates so we thought it was time to take another close look. For the most part, we like what we see.

Checking in on Saturn

Some absolutely amazing photos of Saturn and its moons taken by the Cassini Spacecraft now orbiting Saturn. These are closeups of the Saturnian system and will amaze you with their depth and clarity.

TackyNotes 1.1 - Free

TackyNotes allows you to create sticky notes on any website in much the same manner as you might put a sticky note on a document.

Anger over Facebook Privacy Continues

Quit Facebook Day is May 31

Could a mass exodus of Facebook users be on the horizon? It’s no secret that there’s a growing contingent of Facebook users who are becoming increasingly fed up with the world’s largest social network’s approach to privacy and the way it safeguards the personal information of its 400 million users. Now, it appears that anger has boiled over for some users, resulting in an online campaign started by Toronto men Matthew Milan and Joseph Dee, imploring Facebook users to permanently delete their Facebook accounts.

Apps emerge to reset Facebook privacy settings

New third-party applications are trying to make it easier to reset Facebook privacy settings, following recent changes from the company that make a sizable chunk of profile content public by default when it was once under lock and key.

Windows Live Hotmail - Full Preview

Hotmail remains the second most popular webmail service after Yahoo Mail (with Gmail nipping at Microsoft's heels), according to the latest numbers from Hitwise. But Microsoft isn't content to maintain the status quo; Redmond has added a number of big changes aimed at giving Hotmail a competitive edge.

Android-based Google TV coming to living rooms this fall

Up front, Google TV will come either in the form of a set-top box or will be built into certain TVs (launch partners include Intel, Sony, and Logitech). The OS is based on Android and the built-in browser is a version of Google Chrome with the Flash 10.1 plugin.

Give Windows 7 a Facelift

You might like the look of Windows, but you can make it even snazzier with any or all of these software enhancements.

New Tech Stuff Coming Your Way Soon

Firefox 4 release plan: The need for speed

Mozilla hopes to release Firefox 4 in October or November, a new version that has speed among its top goals. Among other features planned for Firefox 4--and Mozilla emphatically cautions that plans can change--are support for high-speed graphics and text through Direct2D on Windows; a tidier user interface with more prominent and powerful tabs; support for several newer Web technologies; 64-bit versions; and compatibility with multi-touch interfaces. 

Microsoft's new Hotmail takes aim at Google

A key feature in the coming update to Windows Live Hotmail is an improved ability to share photos and Office documents using a combination of Web-based editing tools and cloud file storage. The new version, which will begin being offered to most users in July or August, aims to offer a better alternative to the standard attachment. Instead, Hotmail will offer the option of uploading a file or photo to Microsoft's SkyDrive service and e-mailing a link, as opposed to the file itself.

Borders Offers Kobo E-Reader

At $150, Kobo is the cheapest e-reader yet that’s backed by a big brand, and it will start shipping in June.

Peer inside Microsoft Office 2010

Microsoft Office 2010 is a breath away from hitting the shelves--and likely your computer. Here is a collection of screenshots showing the important new features in this productivity suite.

Clean Up Your Photo Collection with Free Tools

You've taken digital pictures for years across multiple systems and camera upgrades, and now your collection is a mess. These free tools and techniques will fix your photos' metadata, weed out duplicates, reorganize folders, and otherwise whip your digital photos into shape.

Everything You Need to Know About Tech – for Today Anyway

New findings update WS Security Baseline

Our monthly update of the Windows Secrets Security Baseline focuses on malware suites — all-in-one commercial packages that fight viruses, spam, spyware, and malware that's still unknown — plus suites you assemble yourself. If you want to know which might be the best malware package to use, here is a roundup of reviews of the best known ones. Decide for yourself.

How secure is Flash? Here's what Adobe won't tell you

One of the key issues in this discussion is security. Yesterday, I rattled off some disturbing statistics about vulnerabilities in Flash Player and asked Adobe, “So, how are you planning to convince us that you’ve gotten serious about security? No one from Adobe has gotten back to me on that one.

Office Live Workspace Accounts to Be Upgraded

Microsoft notified customers Friday  (including me) that it will soon be upgrading Microsoft Office Live Workspace accounts to its SkyDrive service (25Gb of free on-line backup).

Size of the data universe: 1.2 zettabytes and growing fast

IDC has just released estimates that this year, the Digital Universe — meaning every electronically stored piece of data or file out there — will reach 1.2 million petabytes, or 1.2 zettabytes, this year. That’s up from a measly 800,000 petabytes in 2009.

The Power User's Guide to the Windows 7 Taskbar

It seems like every week we learn about a new tip to enhance the Windows 7 taskbar, and it's hard to keep them all straight. Here's the complete power user's guide to tweaking and using your taskbar like a pro.

Can Blurry Photos be Saved?

Handheld Devices: Brace for a Torrent of Tablets

Apple's iPad may own almost all the tablet buzz for now, but look for competitors to come out swinging over the next few months. Intel has a project in the works; RIM is reportedly developing a tablet of its own, and the HP Slate we saw at CES this year may be reborn as a tablet touting webOS, the operating system made by Palm, which HP has agreed to buy.

Wal-Mart tries to close gadget gap with Best Buy

Sometime early next week when you walk into the electronics section of your local Wal-Mart, you're likely to notice some changes. More big name brands of TVs, Blu-ray players, smartphones, and other gadgets will begin to populate the store shelves as the retailing giant tries to expand its reach and customer base even further.

Facebook's follies: A brief history

Let's take a look at some of Facebook's notorious and not-so-notorious misfires over the years, and its subsequent attempts to patch them up. It all starts, really, even before Facebook itself did.

Google Editions Could Have 4 Million E-Books

OK, 4 million titles is impressive -- but am I the only one confused about what exactly Google Editions is?

Fix Blurred Photos with Free Software

Every photographer knows the disappointment of taking a great photograph only to find the picture was ruined by camera shake or the subject moving. Such photographs cannot be brought back to crisp focus but they can be improved using software that employs an advanced mathematical technique called deconvolution to try to undo the blur.

It’s Microsoft’s Turn to Shine

Microsoft unveils Office 2010

Microsoft is going after the corporate customer with its new Office 2010. But the company is also giving some goodies away for free to consumers and mobile users, who will gain a new level of access to its Office and Sharepoint products.

OpenOffice is dead

For users who don’t need Office, it’s a rare occasion that Google Docs doesn’t suffice. And yet for those who need Office, it’s rare that they’re happy with OpenOffice. Where does that leave OO.org?

All-new Hotmail to take on Gmail next Monday

Next week, Microsoft will unleash a new version of its category-leading Hotmail email service that carries the fight against Google from corporate IT departments onto the screens of the hundreds of millions of lone users and small teams who swear by Gmail.

Review: Droid Incredible Lives Up to Its Name

HTC's Droid Incredible offers some significant improvements over the Nexus One: The Incredible comes with HTC's Sense interface, which helps organize the phone's home screens. It also has an eight-megapixel camera, a respectable eight gigabytes of storage, and, perhaps most importantly, the Incredible runs on the Verizon network.

Yadis! Backup Freeware download and review

Yadis! Backup is an easy-to-use backup program that can perform automatic backups of your important files. The program will continuously monitor your selected folders and backup any files in real-time as soon as they are added or changed.

A New Faster Firefox Coming?

Mozilla Outlines Plans for Firefox 4 To Overtake Chrome

Mozilla has outlined ambitious plans for Firefox 4 to catch up to Google's speedy Chrome browser. As Microsoft's Internet Explorer loses market share, Chrome has been picking up the share that used to go to Firefox. Chrome has jumped to 6.7 percent of the browser market as IE hit a 12-month low of 59.95 percent and Firefox held steady at 23.8 percent.

UPDATE - New attack bypasses EVERY Windows security product

Are you a Windows user? Do you make sure that your antivirus program is updated regularly? Do you feel safe? You shouldn’t! Read on to find out why …

Major University Dumps Gmail Over Security Concerns

The University of California, Davis has stopped using Gmail for its 30,000-member staff and faculty body. The university was trying Gmail for faculty and staff with plans to roll out service to the entire campus. But school officials say the e-mail system isn’t secure or private enough to meet their standards.

Amid backlash, Facebook tries to save face

Facebook's latest modifications make it pretty clear that the company is eager to spread its brand even further across the Web--and that's left some privacy advocates a little freaked out as they look at the vast amount of personal information that Facebook has on hand.

Free remote access tools for Windows and Mac

The best free tools combine firewall friendliness with easy remote access and an amazing array of handy features

The Dangers of Using FaceBook and Solving Them

Five hidden dangers of Facebook (Q&A)

Facebook claims that it has 400 million users. But are they well-protected from prying eyes, scammers, and unwanted marketers? Not according to Joan Goodchild, senior editor of CSO (Chief Security Officer) Online. She says your privacy may be at far greater risk of being violated than you know, when you log onto the social-networking site, due to security gaffes or marketing efforts by the company.

Lock Down Your FaceBook Profile in 20 Minutes (Video)

Here is a 20 minute video which guides you through the process of locking down a typical FaceBook account for increased privacy and user security.

Sorry, But the iPad is Not 'Killing' Netbook Sales

Hopefully by now, most readers of this site understand how the tech world works: Apple releases a successful product (the iPad) but it suddenly becomes The Second Coming (tm). So much so that Fortune's web-based Mac blog, Apple 2.0, has suddenly decided that--get this--the iPad is "killing" the netbook. Only in the reality distortion field could such nonsense pass as truth. Here's the silliness:

Borders Enters Hot & Heavy E-Book Market with Kobo

The new Kobo e-book reader from Borders bookstores may be an attractive alternative for those scared off by the high price of Amazon's Kindle. But buyer beware: you'll need to hook up the Kobo to a PC each time you want to download more titles. That Kobo feature may be a turn-off for some.

This Free WiFi Network Finder is Easy to Use and Very Powerful

Is your WiFi running slowly? Do you sometimes lose your connection? In many cases, the problem arises because another nearby wireless LAN is configured to use the same channel as yours, and the signals are overlapping. Changing the channel is easy. Just log into your router, go to the WiFi setup screen, and pick a number. But what number to use? For that, you'll need to know which networks are already operating nearby, and what channel they're set to.

More on Keeping Safe in Facebook

How to Keep Your Privacy Safe(r) on Facebook

I'm not ready to give up on Facebook yet, like my friend Jason Perlow, but I can understand why he's sick to death of it. The simple truth is that Facebook takes lousy care of your personal information and is happy to sell it to advertisers at the drop of a hat.

FCC details plan to reassert authority over Internet

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday detailed plans for its so-called "third way" to reclassify broadband service as a telecommunications service, which would help the agency reassert its authority for regulating the Internet, after it lost an important legal battle last month.

Microsoft Readies for Light May Patch Tuesday

Microsoft recommends customers prepare for the testing and deployment of both bulletins as soon as possible. Microsoft expects that the patch for Windows will require a restart, and warned that the Office patch may potentially require one as well.

Voyager 2 stops making sense

Voyager 2, which has been traveling through the solar system since the late '70s, has suffered a data formatting glitch that is preventing NASA from interpreting the content of its scientific data transmissions. Control and diagnostic transmissions are unaffected, which should enable the engineers at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory to troubleshoot the problem, provided they're patient—it currently takes nearly 13 hours for transmissions from Earth to catch up with the probe.

VoxOx 2.0.6.2421 (Windows) Free

VoxOx by TelCentris is the only service that unifies all of your communication channels voice, video, IM, text, social media, e-mail, fax and content sharing into a single, intuitive interface, giving you full control of your interconnected lifestyle.

Is Facebook Endangering Your Privacy?

Does Facebook Show Contempt for User Privacy?

It's astonishing how much data Facebook considers "public." Facebook considers itself free to share with marketing partners not just your name and picture, but your city, gender, networks, complete list of friends, likes and interests, and profile information such as where you grew up, where you went to school and where you've worked.

Google's search results get much-needed makeover

Google is revamping its search results page in order to offer easier and clearer access to the different kinds of content searches turn up. Don't worry: it looks as if Google will remain clean and easy to navigate, but the tweaks will spruce up the look and feel while helping users find what they're looking for.

Browser Battle Between Microsoft and Google Intensifies

Having speed and support is great for consumers, but one major feature that is a must is browser security. Versions of Google Chrome have had great success so far, while several early versions of Internet Explorer have been taken down by hackers. Microsoft has stepped up its security efforts with more recent versions. On a personal note, I find myself using Chrome more and more every day. It is missing some key plug-ins that are in Firefox...but if they show up in Chrome, I might just switch.

The 120-day Microsoft security suite test drive

Four months ago, I decided to look into a new option: the recently released Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) — the company's first antivirus and anti-malware application. (MSE is available as a free download from the product's info page.) So far, my real-life test drive indicates that Microsoft may have finally got basic security right.

How to get Office 2010 at a rock-bottom price

If you’re considering an Office 2010 upgrade, be sure you learn the lesson of Windows 7. Microsoft offers its best prices to early adopters. Those who wait pay more.

Update on the World of E-Books + More

Customer service survey puts AT&T at bottom of carrier heap

The words "mobile carrier" and "customer satisfaction" aren't often used in the same sentence, and that's especially true when it comes to the iPhone. ChangeWave Research's latest consumer survey ranks AT&T, the exclusive carrier of the iPhone in the US, last of the four major US carriers for customer satisfaction and percentage of dropped calls.

Internet Explorer market share at all time low: Time to give up?

Internet Explorer’s market share has reached an all time low, falling below 60% in April with Firefox and Chrome steadily increasing their share.

Google plans summer launch for digital bookstore

Google's settlement with authors and publishers remains in limbo, but the company is planning to launch its digital bookstore this summer with titles it is clearly authorized to sell. Google Editions will offer digital books for sale through its Web site in late June or July, giving Amazon and Apple a new competitor in the emerging digital-book market.

Hands On: Barnes & Noble Nook Update 1.3

Barnes & Noble on Friday released version 1.3 of the software for its Nook e-reader, which includes a Web browser, faster page turning, and several games. The Android-based Nook now also lets users read books for free in Barnes & Noble retail stores, and fixes a few bugs.

Google Maps gets 3D view of the world

Google on Monday augmented Google Maps with a feature called Earth view that brings the Google Earth software's 3D perspective to the Web browser. Earth view is available through the installation of a browser plug-in Google originally issued in 2008. With it, people can see the contours of world--canyons and mountains, most dramatically--using the Google Earth fly-through interface.

Office 2010 – Is it Worth Upgrading?

Office 2010: a deeper dive

I've spent the last six months immersed in Office 2010, using all the core programs day in and day out, digging in to see what's new, what works, and what's still annoying. My wide-ranging overview could help you decide whether Office 2010 matters to you. by Ed Bott

Consumer groups: Online tracking at 'alarming levels

The tracking and targeting of consumers online has reached "alarming levels," warned a coalition of consumer and privacy groups in a letter to Congress. The collection of 11 groups, which includes Consumer Action, Consumers Union, and the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said that because the online industry has been unable to regulate itself in protecting the privacy of consumers, it's time for government to step in.

Apple sells 1 million iPads

Apple on Monday said it sold its 1 millionth iPad last Friday with the introduction of the iPad 3G model. The company didn't say how many iPads of each model were sold, but we do know that on April 8 during the iPhone OS 4 event, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said the company had sold 450,000 iPads.

Do not pay for security software

After the recent disaster of an antivirus app update from security vendor McAfee, I took a quick look at what the laptop and PC companies--from whom most people get their security software--were offering in the way of security software on new computers.

How to Stay Anonymous Online

Some might say that the Internet was built on anonymity. Without it, the Internet might not have become what it is today—a place where free speech reigns supreme (maybe to a fault). However, as social networks prevail—and über-companies like Google do all they can to market to you more effectively—your privacy on the Web becomes comes into question. The good news is that you can take back control of what others see and know of you online. Here's how.

I’m Back and Better than Ever

Thanks for waiting while I enjoyed my great little vacation in Chicago. I had a fabulous time, even better than I hoped, but I am back now ready to keep you informed of the latest happenings in the tech world. Let’s get started!  JRC

Why it's time to move away from McAfee

Last week, McAfee pushed out a virus definition file update the company now admits did not meet an acceptable level of quality assurance. Users found this out the hard way when the update crippled their computers. While the damage to individual computer systems has been repairable, I recommend that you look elsewhere for your computer's security.

Steve Jobs: Adobe's Flash "has major technical drawbacks"

In an open letter to, well, everyone, Apple tells the world what it thinks of the Flash platform. And it’s not pleasant reading for Adobe.

No surprise: no support for XP in Windows Live Wave 4

More bad news for Windows XP users: Microsoft has announced that the next version of Windows Live, which is called Wave 4, won't include XP in client application support. The problem is that graphics support in XP won't handle the new client, which requires the more sophisticated graphics platform in Vista and Windows 7. The good news is that the web based services will still work in XP. This didn't come as a big surprise, but many XP holdouts are annoyed by Microsoft's declining support for the ten year old OS.

Google kills 'http' URLs; about time to follow suit?

Google’s Chrome browser will no longer include http:// as part of the URL field. It was only six months ago that Sir Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web, admitted that the double slash punctuation in the URL was “a mistake”, and Google have seem to have acknowledged this revelation.

Seven utilities for Windows 7

This collection of free utilities great and small will give you tools to change a significant amount of Windows 7's behavior, from the look of the Start button to hulking out Windows Explorer with FTP powers.