Jim’s Gifts for Computer Users

It’s become an annual tradition that I distribute free gifts for all my readers…and 2011 is no exception. I’ve gather a collection of FREE computer, tablet, and smart phone applications that I use and have found exceptionally handy. Be sure and go through the list as I am sure there is something here for you.

One of my new favorites is “Feedly” that turns Google Reader into a magazine format. So much easier to read and spot what’s important to you. I’ve got it on my computers and smart phone.

A similar program is “Currents” from Google. It’s a magazine reader using your favorite sites. Sadly, it only works on Android devices, iPads, and iPhones. But don’t lose heart. There are lots of computer applications below.

Another favorite is new, but I can’t imaging browsing without it. It’s called “Clearly” and is made by the folks at Evernote. There is a version for both Firefox and Chrome browsers. It takes a Web page, cleans out all the extraneous garbage and gives you and easily readable article with no distractions. I really love this one!

I’ve also includes some summaries of Top Downloads and Websites of 2011 that you can look for more tools. I hope you enjoy your gifts. (Note like most of the tech world, I am taking next week off to enjoy the holidays. I will return, of course in January. Until then…Happy Holidays to one an all!!)

Firefox Add-On Feedly Corrals Your RSS and Twitter Feeds

(Note: this link is for the Firefox version only. But, Feedly is available for all browsers and smartphones.) If you want to follow too much news, but have too little time? Then you want the free Firefox add-in Feedly, which lets you assemble your own personalized online newspaper from countless information sources across the Web. To get the latest info all you need to do is head to your personal Feedly page, and it's all there, waiting for you, gathered via RSS and Twitter feeds.

Google Currents

(Note: This app is for all Android devices, iPhones, and iPads) From leading publications, to blogs you follow, you can browse, read, and share favorite content, presented in a swipable magazine format.

Simplify Web Page Viewing on Firefox with Evernote's Clearly Add-On

This is my favorite add-on for both Firefox and Chrome. Clearly is a browser add-on that strips the junk from web pages so they're easier to read has been brought to Firefox by the popular stash site Evernote. Previously available only for Google's Chrome browser, the add-on, Clearly, was released Wednesday for Mozilla's Firefox browser.

PC Shower 2011 - Free

It's a free bundle of useful tools for cleaning and tuning your PC. Unlike many free versions of premium tools, it actually cleans what it finds without requiring paid upgrades. Add in a variety of tweaks, tune-ups, and other system utilities and you have a versatile PC toolkit. That's what you get with Arafasoft's PC Shower 2011.

Google Earth

The latest version of Google Earth continues to set the mapping paradigm. Accessible enough for casual users, Google has added features that make it a necessity for those whose topographic desires are more serious. Although Google Ocean is the big newsmaker in version 5, you can also check out the surface of our nearest neighbor, Mars, as well as incorporating historical Earth maps.

Avast boards Android to protect your booty

Simply called Avast Mobile Security (download), this free app is based on the Theft Aware app that it acquired when Avast purchased ITAgents in September contains a robust suite of Android-specific security features, including malicious app scanning, premium SMS blocking, link scanning, anti-theft measures, and two features that only work on rooted devices.

Firefox 9: Faster on PCs, all-new on tablets

Mozilla is laying claim to big performance improvements for Firefox 9, while Firefox for Android goes in for a shave and a haircut as it gets an entirely different look. Both desktop and Android updates are being released today.

The Top 100 Websites of 2011

With plenty of favorites and new sites to explore, here's our annual look at the best the Web has to offer.

Top 10 tech breakthroughs of 2011

If your relationship with technology is anything more than the most fleeting of acquaintances, you have no doubt realized that technological advances are accelerating at an exponential rate.

Announcing the Top 11 Downloads of 2011

In 2011, we've taken the honors up the proverbial notch with the Top 11 Downloads of 2011, featuring the 11 most popular software apps each for the Windows and Mac platforms, along with the 11 most popular programs in each of the 11 most popular categories in Windows and in Mac.

What to do when your smartphone craps out before the contract ends

Ask Maggie offers some advice for how to protect yourself.

Facebook Timelines: How to Get Started

Facebook Timelines are now available worldwide, allowing users to tell their entire life stories through the social network. Facebook announced Timelines in September, but rolled the feature out slowly. If you're just getting Timelines now, or want to speed up the switch from your existing profile, here's what you need to know.

Congress and Hollywood Team Up to Destroy the Net

Anti-piracy laws will smash internet, US constitution

Legal experts are warning that the proposed PROTECT IP and the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) legislation, currently working their way through Congress, will damage the world's DNS system, cripple attempts to get better online security and violate free speech rights in the US constitution…and all this for the folks in Hollywood.

AT&T abandons bid for T-Mobile

AT&T said today that it has withdrawn its bid to acquire T-Mobile USA in a deal worth $39 billion. The company said it would take a $4 billion charge in the fourth quarter as part of the break-up fee with Deutsche Telekom.

Sprint disabling Carrier IQ on phones

Sprint, which for weeks has defended its use of Carrier IQ software on mobile phones, is now disabling the software, a Sprint spokeswoman confirmed today.

Facebook Kept 1,200 Page File On 24-Year-Old

Facebook retains tons of data on its users, but exactly how much? Apparently, more than enough to fill a volume of "Atlas Shrugged." A 24-year-old Austrian law student asked Facebook to send him all the personal data it had on him. (Anyone with a residence outside North America has the right to see all the personal data a company has on him or her.) Here’s what Facebook sent Schrems: a CD filled with 1,222 PDF pages of data.

Steve Jobs: 20 Life Lessons

Having finished the 600-plus page Steve Jobs biography by Walter Isaacson, I think I finally understand Steve Jobs. Like most of us, his personality had many sides. He could be aloof, super-intense, odd, gross, passionate, creative, driven, unfair, conciliatory and deeply introspective. He lived a rich and unique life.

How to Protect Your Online Privacy

These days it often feels like online privacy is an unattainable illusion. While it is true that it’s impossible to be entirely anonymous while online there are many things you can do to greatly increase your privacy.

12 Great Tips to Scan Your Family Pictures

Get that shoebox of old photos from grandma's closet and turn them into digital files. We have 12 great tips to scan your family pictures.

To-Do Manager Astrid Updates Android and iOS Apps with a New UI and Featured Lists

Popular mobile to-do manager Astrid took the wraps off of its new Android and iPhone apps recently, completely overhauling the interface to make it easier to get right to the items you're working on, see all of the related information around a specific item, and featured lists from some of the developers' favorite sites to help you add some fun and time-saving projects to your list.

With ‘Google Earth’ for Mars, Explore the Red Planet From Home

A new software tool developed by the HiRISE team in the UA's Lunar and Planetary Lab allows members of the public to download high-resolution images of the Martian landscape almost instantaneously and explore the surface of the Red Planet from their own desktops.

Microsoft Drops Gadgets and a Possible Cell Phone Ban

The holidays have traditionally been a slow time for technology news…but not this year. We are full to the brim with tech stories that folks like you and me (the non-nerds)will find interesting.

There is one item I found that is not in the news this week…probably because it is old news and I just missed it. Microsoft has stopped putting out “Gadgets” for the Windows 7 Desktop. There is still a one page listing of a few Gadgets, but the vast majority are not longer available. That is too bad as I have 4 gadgets on my desktop now that are most useful…time, date, weather, and a menu of my most used programs. Too bad, because if I get a new computer, I may be screwed.

For the rest of the today’s news in tech, read on from here. - JRC

Regulators Call for National Cell-Phone Ban While Driving

The National Transportation Safety Board voted unanimously Tuesday to recommend a first-ever nationwide ban on the use of cell phones and other personal electronic devices while driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 35 states have already banned text messaging by all drivers and nine states now prohibit all hand-held cell phone use while driving.

Federal authorities open Carrier IQ investigation into phone tracking

U.S. federal authorities, including the FTC and the FCC, are investigating Carrier IQ to see whether consumer rights or privacy was invaded.

Microsoft to begin automatic Internet Explorer upgrades in 2012

In a major policy change, Microsoft plans to deliver IE upgrades automatically to Windows users. That moves IE incrementally closer to its fast-paced competitors, although there are still enough exceptions to keep enterprise users happy.

Microsoft Shows Security Improvements with 2011 Patch Tuesdays

Microsoft Relevant Products/Services on Tuesday issued 13 security Relevant Products/Services bulletins. Only three were rated critical. That's a small reprieve since IT Relevant Products/Services admins expected 14 bulletins -- the fix for the so-called Beast attack did not make it into this release.

New Hotmail Version Now Fully Deployed

To say that Microsoft has been on a torrid release schedule when it comes to upgrading its cloud-based services is a bit of an understatement. Today, the company revealed that it has completed deploying the latest version of its Hotmail email service, so all customers are now on the new version. As a bonus, there is also a new Android App for Hotmail.

Amazon selling more than a million Kindles per week

It's going to be a Kindle kind of holiday for many folks around the globe. Amazon.com today said that it is selling Kindles at a rate of more than one million per week - marking the third consecutive week that it has topped that milestone.

From Netflix to iTunes: What to expect in 2012

The best stories in digital media are ending the year with some compelling cliffhangers.

Setting up a temporary ‘ad hoc’ network

When you need a quick way to share files between two Windows PCs that aren’t normally connected, an ad hoc wireless network is the way to go. Everything you need is already built into Windows 7, Vista, and XP. Here’s how to set up an ad hoc network on wireless PCs.

Top 100 Free Apps For Your Phone

No matter which smartphone you own or are choosing to buy, the apps that are available for it can have an enormous influence on whether you're ultimately happy with your phone.

Pirates Everywhere Inside Hollywood Studios

Ever wonder if the Hollywood entertainment industry holds itself to the same standards it expects from us? Guess what…the biz is rife with in-house pirates. So before they demand Congress to pass borderline unconstitutional laws to stops piracy, they need to look at their own piracy. Love it when we catch hypocrites.

In other stories, the FBI may be investigating Carrier IQ for illegal wiretaps; a report on the hard disk shortage; a look at Microsoft’s newest tool that scans for all bad things on your computer before the system boots up; and much much more. Enjoy! -JRC

Busted: BitTorrent Pirates at Sony, Universal and Fox

After some initial skimming we’ve discovered BitTorrent pirates at nearly every major entertainment industry company in the US, including Sony Pictures Entertainment, Fox Entertainment and NBC Universal. Busted.

FBI May Be Gathering String on Carrier IQ

A Freedom of Information request asking for the FBI's records and info regarding embattled cellphone software maker Carrier IQ has been rejected. Why would the FBI refuse to say what it knows about the company? It's also possible the FBI is investigating Carrier IQ, which has drawn accusations of violating the Wiretap Act.

How bad is the hard disk shortage?

A report last week from IHS-iSuppli said it's pretty bad--a preview of what Intel said today. That is, the flooding in Thailand will hit PC shipments in the first quarter. iSuppli says the shortfall will be about 3.8 million PCs.

FCC (finally) cracks down on BLARING! TV! ADS!

The US Federal Communications Commission has issued rules requiring television broadcasters and cable and satellite providers to maintain constant volume levels for programs and commercials.

Twitter Trades Simplicity for Sophistication

Twitter's site redesign may cause a bit of consternation among users who already liked what the website had going for it, but the company hopes its base will grow more accepting as they use the new tools -- and that the new interface will encourage holdouts to join.

What’s the Most Secure Web Browser?

A new Google-funded study of browser security by security research firm Accuvant Labs crowned Chrome the champion of security features, and ranked Firefox below Internet Explorer in terms of protection available from web-borne threats. Keep in mind when you read this that Google funded this study.

Speed up Windows 7 and make it more beautiful

These tweaks may not be enough to convince Mac owners to switch from Mac OS X, but they sure do make Windows a lot more fun and eye-catching!

Windows Defender Offline beta tool removes malware before startup

Microsoft has released a new beta tool called Windows Defender Offline that's designed to scan for spyware and viruses prior to Windows startup, which could make it effective against malicious software, like rootkits, that can be difficult to remove while the OS is running. Free, of course.

Apple and Book Publishers Collusion Under Investigation

It’s taken longer than I expected but finally Apple’s and the major book publishers are under investigation for price fixing and driving up prices on e-books. It was so obvious what they did when the first iPad was released that I am surprised it took so long. I truly hope some good can come out of this and that consumers can benefit.

In other stories, there is more news on Carrier IQ, an update on the release date of the Windows 8 Beta…and, no surprise here, AT&T is voted the worst cell phone carrier again. I was also intrigued by the story on what we can expect in the coming year for tablet computers. I am currently looking into getting one of these critters myself. There is also some good information on making your life better with technology…or something like that. So read on…-JRC  

DOJ, state AGs also investigating possible e-book collusion

Following a similar announcement by the European Commission on Tuesday, the Department of Justice confirmed on Wednesday that it is also conducting an investigation into allegations that e-book publishers conspired with Apple to keep e-book prices from bottoming out. The DOJ has reportedly been investigating the situation for possible antitrust violations since publishers successfully pressured Amazon into adopting an agency model last year.

Carrier IQ: Not so invasive after all

A second researcher concludes that Carrier IQ isn't so evil -- but smartphone makers/carriers should better respect user privacy

AT&T rated worst cell phone carrier for second year in a row

For the second year in a row, AT&T was ranked last in Consumer Reports' annual customer satisfaction survey. The company was hit especially hard by complaints over poor voice service and phone-based customer care. Even worse for AT&T, the company's 2011 rating is slightly lower than last year's.

Microsoft slates Windows 8 beta for late February 2012

Microsoft has confirmed that it will release a public beta of Windows 8 in late February, 2012. The company broke the news at a San Francisco developers event Tuesday, where the vice president of Windows Web services, touted Windows Store, the app market that will be the sole distribution channel for applications designed to run in Windows 8's new "Metro" interface.

Tablets in 2012: What to Expect

What will tablets look like in the coming year? Tablets are out of their infancy and moving into adolescence--which means that we can expect big changes ahead as tablets' design and components improve.

Ten tricks every Windows 7 power user should know

Are you a Windows 7 power user? Do you want to be? I've scoured my archive of tips, shortcuts, and secrets to find the hidden gems even some Windows experts don't know about. These aren't esoteric tweaks - they're honest-to-goodness productivity boosters that will save you time and keystrokes.

12 tips for better holiday photos

Before you start immortalizing your holiday gatherings of friends and family, learn to use your camera. Celebrate the new year by taking it off auto. Party in a priority mode.

Free Image Convert and Resize

Free Image Convert and Resize is a compact yet powerful program for batch mode image processing. The program easily converts separate images as well as file folders containing images into different graphic formats, renames, reorders them and changes their size in accordance with the set parameters

Carrier IQ Continuing Coverage…and Much Much More

Hard technology news stories are hard to come by in the holiday season. And this year is no exception…except for biggest story of the year about how our cell phones are bugged by Carrier IQ. It may not turn out to be so big, but it also could be the #1 story of the year that may involve criminal activities. Congress is now involved and lawsuits are just beginning…so we are still in the early stages of this possible scandal.

Rather than bog this newsletter down with lots of stories covering all the angles, the first story is a gathering of many stories about Carrier IQ and what it means to you. Doing that allows me to publish other stories that also may be of interest. But, be sure and check out this out, then read the inside stories that you find of interest. - JRC

Carrier IQ: How big a threat is it?

The maker of the software that monitors smartphone performance is facing increasing scrutiny, following a security researcher's report on Carrier IQ. Here is a large collection of stories about Carrier IQ covering all aspects of this extremely controversial subject.

Firefox may be down, but it's not out

Don't cue the funeral dirge yet. Firefox has redeeming values, including its non-alignment with online advertising -- unlike Microsoft and Google

Windows 8 will be 'largely irrelevant' to traditional PC users

“Windows 8 will be largely irrelevant to the users of traditional PCs, and we expect effectively no upgrade activity from Windows 7 to Windows 8 in that form factor...” according to IDC predictions for this coming new year.

Pointless Internet Surfing: It's the American Way

Got nothing better to do? Go online! According to Pew Research, that's what more than half of America already does

Password Protection: How to Create Strong Passwords

The problem is that passwords should be different everywhere you use them, and that can make it difficult to remember them all. And, if a password is truly strong, that makes it even more difficult.

iTunes Match vs. Google Music vs. Amazon Cloud Drive

which system do you want to live with? It's a choice you can't make lightly because these companies don't play nice with each other. Once you've adopted one, it's hard to switch. If this were the Music Cloud Wars, then Apple's iTunes Match would be winning – but not by much. Here's a quick primer, along with a few ways to get in and around their digital barriers.

Roku 2 XS Review - Watch CNET's Video Review

Thanks to a varied range of content offerings--including Netflix, Amazon, Hulu Plus, Crackle, and Pandora--that beats the Apple TV, the Roku 2 XS is the best all-around streaming-media box you can get for less than $100. I believe that as I own one.

EssentialPIM - Probably the Best Personal Information Manager

I've been relying on Microsoft Outlook for my email, calendaring and contacts management for many years, but some folks can't afford to pay the hundred bucks or so that it costs. Or you might use web mail and have no need for an email client, but still want a way to manage appointments and contacts with the look and functionality of Outlook. If so, Essential PIM is a viable, free alternative that lets you color-code appointments, create tasks and notes, link contacts to appointments and link email messages to notes.

WinUtilities Free Edition

WinUtilities (Free) is a multi-functional system performance and optimization suite for Microsoft Windows. This collection of tools lets you supercharge your PC's performance, enhance its security, tweak and optimize its settings, and customize and personalize your screens.

Your Cell Phone May be Recording Everything You Do

The biggest scandal to hit the tech world in a long time is unfolding as we speak. It was discovered this week that 142 million cell phones are infected with spying software called “Carrier IQ,” manufactured by a company of the same name. It records and transmits every phone call you make, every keystroke, every text message and maybe even every photograph you take. It is hidden in the operating system of the phone using rootkit technology, making it virtually impossible to find unless you are an expert using special tools. You will not find it as an installed application, even if it is present.

Here is what we know so far: Most Apple iPhones contain the spyware; cell carriers AT&T and Sprint, both admit they install it in phones; Verizon says they do not install it in any of their phones…ditto for Microsoft in their Windows Phones. It has been found in Blackberry phones, but the company denies ever putting it in. It is very prevalent in most Android phones, except perhaps those from Verizon, although that has not been verified yet. The bottom line is there is a very good chance your cell phone is infected with this spying software, even though you never gave your permission.

Every day, new revelations about Carrier IQ are forthcoming. The company itself says the software helps phone carriers monitor what is happening on their networks to help make improvements. At this point, we are not exactly sure the extent of the data the company has and how they use it. When the fellow who uncovered the spyware went public, Carrier IQ threatened immediate legal action if he didn’t stop publishing his articles. When the Electronic Frontier Foundation entered the picture, Carrier IQ immediately backpedaled on their threats and began their public relations campaign to look saintly. 

Members of Congress are now involved and are speculating that the software may be in violation of privacy laws, making Carrier IQ open for criminal prosecution. 

I plan to keep you informed of new revelations as they come forth. And, just so you know its not all gloom and doom out there, I have included a few other stories with more positive content.  -JRC

So, there's a rootkit hidden in millions of cellphones

So, it seems that there is a rootkit hidden in millions of Android, Symbian, BlackBerry, webOS and even iOS handset that logs everything we do. You have to be kidding, but its true. How dare they do this!!!!

Carrier IQ: The Sony rootkit all over again

Can someone legally record almost everything you do on your phone without telling you? Yes. Meet Carrier IQ, whose software is installed on nearly 142 million handsets

Julian Assange to iPhone, Blackberry users: you're screwed

If the Carrier IQ scandal disturbed you, then prepare to be truly spooked: a Bureau of Investigative Journalism panel, headed by Wikileaks founder Julian Assange, says that surveillance companies are selling software that turns your smartphone into a spying tool. The software allegedly allows intelligence operations to take pictures without your knowledge, read and alter messages, and track your location.

Finding and cleaning out your smartphone’s Carrier IQ poison

Millions of iPhones, Android and other smartphones have the Carrier IQ spyware rootkit in them. Here’s how to find it and try to zap it.

Google future-proofs your e-mail, documents from spies

Google is strengthening the encryption on Gmail and other services so that messages stored today can't easily be decrypted later by faster computers using brute force methods.

Hands On with iTunes Match

The iTunes Match is a piece of Apple's iCloud online storage service that backs up all music in your iTunes library, whether you bought it from the iTunes Store (before or after DRM), ripped it from a disc, or acquired it from another online source.

Chrome usage within striking distance of Firefox

According to Net Applications' November browser usage measurements, Chrome is now within 4 percentage points of Firefox. With a 2 percentage-point increase in one and a 2 percentage-point decrease in the other, Google comes out on top.

Five Best Recipe Organization Tools

Keeping digital copies of all of your hand-written recipes, favorite recipes from cookbooks, and other dishes you find on the web can be a difficult task, and there are plenty of tools to help you do it. We asked you which tools you used to manage your collection of hand-me-down recipes and favorite recent finds. Here's a look at the top five, based on your nominations.

Is the T-Mobile/AT&T Merger Dead?

AT&T, T-Mobile Aren't Giving Up on Merger

The AT&T Relevant Products/Services move to merge with T-Mobile is entering a new phase. Even with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman and the Department of Justice opposed to the deal, the companies are not giving up.

Google's new ad space: Chrome

Google just found another digital billboard for online ads: its Chrome Web browser. I just started noticing the ads on one of my computers yesterday, and I'm not the only one to see them. The ads don't interrupt ordinary Web browsing by pushing aside Web page content and don't compete with regular Web page ads. Rather, they appear in a yellow-tinted box at the top of the new-tab page in Chrome.

Consumers' interest in Windows tablets plummets

Just a couple months after one study claimed the majority of tablet-buying users wanted a device based on Windows, another research outfit is reporting that consumers are sick of waiting for a true iPad competitor from Microsoft. Consumers’ interest in buying a Windows tablet has plummeted in the past six months, according to a new Forrester Research report on November 29.

Amazon's Black Friday Kindle Sales Quadruple

Amazon reported its best-ever Black Friday sales for the company's Kindle family of e-readers and media tablets, the online retail giant said Monday. Unit sales quadrupled across the board in comparison with Kindle sales the same day last year.

Amazon Kindle Fire: Much more open than I thought

Amazon has been known for locking down the Kindle ebook readers, but all that caution has been thrown to the wind with the Kindle Fire.

Buying an HDTV: Online or in-store?

Every year there are fewer "brick-and-mortar" retailers. Not coincidentally, there are ever more online retailers. The question is: where's the best place to buy an HDTV?

How to buy the right cell phone

Buying a cell phone as a holiday gift is a bit more complicated than buying a television or a camera. It's not that shopping for those products is easy--indeed, one TV can present you with a mind-boggling array of specs--but a cell phone also requires you to select a carrier and choose a service plan.

British Library newspaper archive puts 300 years of history online

The launch of the archive is the first time people will be able to digitally access and search through millions of newspaper articles from the comfort of their homes. Up until now, people have had to travel to the British Library newspaper depository in Colindale, North London, to access the entire collection of 200 local and regional newspapers.

Special Edition–Kindle Fire vs. The Nook Tablet

The hottest new products on the market hit the streets while I was on vacation…the Kindle Fire at $199 and the Nook Tablet at $249. These two products usher in a new product category of sub-$250 tablets. Which is best and how do they compare with the more expensive Apple iPad?

I am going to let you decide by reading some of the best and most in-depth reviews I could find. Trust me, there are many more than are listed here. Because of the interest in this new line of low priced tablets, everyone and their brother has written a review. Do a Google search and see what I mean. The reviews I include here are by experts I respect. I’ve included stand alone reviews of each product and a comparison review. To be honest, it is early days yet and a thorough comparison review is difficult as both products are adding new features and apps, even as we speak.

What is my opinion? Again, difficult for me to objectively analyze for a couple of reasons…one, I don’t own either yet…and two, I am thoroughly involved with the Kindle/Amazon universe as I‘ve owned and loved a Kindle for two years.

Your own decision may be heavily influenced by whether you already own a Kindle or Nook e-reader…which is only to be expected and should be a strong consideration. But, as Kindle user, I am leaning heavily toward the Fire, for more reasons than you might think.

First, the Fire universe is far larger than the Nook. By that I mean that most Android apps are available for the Fire…but not the Nook. There are thousands and thousands of those applications out there…I have some of the best ones on my Android phone and use them regularly. So having access to additional apps is critical to my way of thinking.

Second, the Fire has 8GB of memory and the Nook 16GB. But that number is very, very deceptive. Barnes and Noble reserves 15 of the 16GB for their products, leaving only 1GB available for your apps. The Fire has no such restrictions…so, in fact, you may have more useable memory in the Fire.

Third, the Fire can do most of the same things as an Apple iPad, for about $300 less. It’s nearly 3” smaller than the iPad, but still an extremely usable size at 7”.

On my recent photo expedition, my friend Dave brought his iPad while I brought my small netbook computer. So, I had a chance to use the iPad along side a computer and decide if I wanted or needed a tablet. While I loved what I could do with the iPad, I found it just a little too big for me. But darn…the information we could access was amazing.

As photographers, weather and light conditions are very important to both of us, and we had those kind of applications on the tablet. Yes, those things are available on a computer as well, but harder to get at in the field. Tablets are up and running the instant you turn them on, not so with a computer. So, the functionality of a tablet became very apparent to me on this trip.

As for reading, I still prefer the e-ink screen of a regular Kindle, but I don’t have any of the other functions a tablet offers. I look forward to reading a book on a tablet.

The other thing to remember when buying a tablet is they are a consumption device and not very useful for production. In other words, I would find it extremely difficult to write this blog very easily on any tablet…unless I had a plug-in keyboard. But I can read books, watch movies and surf the Internet quite easily.

I hope I ‘ve given you something to think about if you are considering a tablet, but I encourage you to read the articles below to see which might be right for you…or you might want to wait a bit as tablet computing is still in its early days. I’m sure the best is yet to come. -JRC

Amazon Kindle Fire Review & Rating

The Amazon Kindle Fire puts the Apple iPad on notice. The Fire is the first small tablet that average users can pick up and immediately use, with a simple, clear interface. Then there's the price: Android along with amazing specs for just $199.

Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet Review & Rating

PCMag got our Kindle Fire review unit a few days before we got the Nook Tablet, so it was tough to do side-by-side comparisons. We ended up giving the Kindle Fire our Editors' Choice for 7- inch tablets and I will confess I was a little worried that the Nook may come out as the superior device. In the end, I think we got the call right. The Nook tablet is a fantastic reading device, but the Fire makes a better overall media tablet.

Amazon Kindle Fire vs. B&N Nook Tablet: Is there a clear winner?

If you want a low cost tablet for media consumption (music and videos), games, web browsing, and more with the ability to also read books then the Amazon Kindle Fire and Barnes & Noble Nook Tablet are two solid devices to consider. I have been using both for a couple days and am having a tough time choosing just one.

Amazon Kindle Fire Review

The Kindle Fire is not an "iPad killer" because it's not a 1:1 replacement for Apple's far more expensive and complex device. But it is in fact an excellent iPad alternative, because it does exactly what most people want and it does so at a price that is ridiculously low. But price aside, the Kindle Fire is an excellent piece of hardware.

Nook Tablet review

With a new dual-core processor, 16GB of memory, improved app store, and a few more multimedia features, this year Barnes & Noble is hoping that the Tablet can capture the hearts of those out there looking for an iPad alternative that's more than just a color e-reader. But will it? Does the Tablet live up to its name? Can it extinguish the Fire? Read on to find out.

Kindle Fire first impressions: Wow!

I have the new Kindle Fire from Amazon in my hot little hands and I’m not letting go. It’s going to take the tablet market by storm.

Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet: Not quite as open as we thought

Amazon and Barnes & Noble want you to buy only their content on the Kindle Fire and Nook Tablet respectively, and new owners are finding out the companies are serious about that.

Bigger Kindle Fires may be coming in 2012

Amazon may be launching at least one larger version of the Kindle Fire in the first half of 2012. According to DigiTimes, the Taiwanese blog with deep connections in manufacturer supply chains, Amazon is preparing to release the device in new 8.9-inch and 10.1-inch screen sizes. The 8.9-inch size is said to be prepping for launch first.

I’m Back and Better than Ever

Hello again from beautiful and warm Tucson, AZ. I am back from my photographic adventures in southern Utah and ready to resume my blog editor duties. It was a great adventure and I took several hundred photos in Bryce and Zion National Parks as well as side trips to the Escalante and Red Cliffs wilderness areas. You can see some of these photos on both my Postcards blog and up on Flickr. I only have a few up so far but am working my way through them. I am really pleased with what I took. The Autumn colors in Zion were spectacular and I got my first ever snow photos of Bryce Canyon. It was a great, but exhausting time.

Back to technology…the biggest events that took place were the rollouts of both the new Kindle Fire and Nook tablets. There are so many stories and reviews on the subject that I am putting out a special edition of this blog, hopefully by tomorrow. There you will get tons of info on which one you may wish to buy. Be sure and stay tuned.

But, for today, I have some interesting news and features which you hopefully will find of interest. –JRC

Chase Rolls Out Credit Card with Chip Technology

Chip-based credit cards are already used throughout most of the industrialized world, but the U.S. still primarily uses credit cards with magnetic strips. Now, Chase is offering a card with smart-chip technology that aims to reduce fraud and traveler hassle. Increasing concerns over fraud could mean chip-based cards soon become more common.

Microsoft Looks to the Future of SkyDrive

While Google and Apple are getting a lot of press these days about their respective cloud services initiatives, Microsoft of course has its own cloud solutions, some of which are surprisingly low profile despite their usefulness. One such service is SkyDrive, Microsoft's cloud storage solution, which has undergone a number of important improvements in recent months. But today, the company announced plans to address users' changing needs and, I think, offer something that is more compelling.

What you can do about soaring hard-drive prices

Floods in Thailand — and an ensuing worldwide purchasing panic — have pushed the price of hard drives to nosebleed heights and left us all with fewer choices. Here’s what you need to know about the crisis, the fallout, and what you can do about it.

Everything you need to know about buying a smartphone

Smartphones are like cars - there's no single "best car" for everybody, and there's no "best smartphone" for everyone, either. Just like walking into a car dealership without doing your research on prices and features is a recipe for getting overcharged, walking into your local Verizon or Sprint store without knowing what you need is a recipe for future unhappiness.

Google Music debuts, letting users share tunes via Google+

The service takes advantage of Google search technology as well as its ability to tap the tastes of a user's friends to recommend songs. With three of the four major record labels now participating in the service, users will also be able to buy music.

Which music service should you use?

At this point, music lovers and listeners now have 10 scrillion ways to listen to music online. But where to start? Do you patiently upload all your music to Google Music? Do you check out what your friends are listening to on Spotify? Rdio? Mog? Pandora? Which ones are free, and which ones cost money?

Browser Wars: Chrome vs. IE9 vs. Firefox

You really can't go wrong with any Web browser choice these days. Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, and Safari, all are fast, standards compliant, and feature rich. A lot boils down to what you're comfortable with and which features are most important to you.

Tech Turkeys of 2011 (Video)

It's time to talk turkeys. No, not what you're cooking for dinner Thursday; we're talking tech turkeys today. In this video, CNET counts down the biggest fails in tech this year. Who gave us 12 long months of meh? Whose strategy was so bad it will be studied in business school for years to come? A fun video to watch.

MediaMonkey Standard 4.0.0.1459 (Windows-Free)

MediaMonkey is the media manager for serious collectors. It catalogs audio and video files and can be customized to the needs of different 'collections' (e.g. contemporary, classical music, audiobooks, home movies, tv, videos), whether they're located on a hard drive or a network.

US Internet Security Threatened–Outside and Inside

Our first two stories explain this headline…the first is how cyber crooks are threatening us from both hostile and friendly countries. The second story is about our Internet and First Amendment rights are being threatened by our own Congress.

There are also two interesting stories on e-books, one of which is when digital books will surpass printed books. As an avid e-book reader, I found both stories very interesting. While I still do read the occasional paper book, I actually prefer reading on my Kindle…and the number of books I have read has skyrocketed since I got my first Kindle.

Finally, this will be my last tech blog for a couple of weeks. I am leaving in a couple of days on one of my photo expeditions…this time to photograph the autumn colors in Zion National Park and the Escalante region of Southern Utah. But have no fear, I will be back and continue on with my computer tech stories for all us non-nerds.  Until then…JRC

Cybersecurity: The Cybermugging of America

A recent report from the U.S. National Counterintelligence Agency warns that cyber crooks in all corners of the globe are increasingly targeting U.S. Interests. The perpetrators are intelligence services, private sector companies, academic and research institutions and private citizens in dozens of foreign countries, some of which are our allies, the report claims.

New House of Representatives bill may strangle the Internet or nerf the First Amendment

Let me be clear. If you love your Internet, you must read this article. Congress is once again mucking around with our rights, and it ain’t good.

How to find out if your email address has been compromised

An enterprising group of security researchers has created a massive list of 'pwned' email addresses and user names. Take a minute to see if you're on it. I hope you are not.

Amazon launches free e-book borrowing for Prime members

In an interesting twist on e-book lending that's sure to rile competitors, Amazon has launched the Kindle Owners' Lending Library, which allows Amazon Prime members to check out up to one e-book a month for free with no due date.

eBooks vs. Print Books

The question about ebooks is not if they will pass print, but when. The short answer is ... not yet, but we'll have a much better idea in January.

Two Tips to Help Find What You Are Looking For in a Web Search

Do you ever do a search with Google or other search engine that turns up a promising (but long) page where you can’t seem to find a mention of your search terms? The page looks like it might be what you are looking for but you don't see where your particular subject is discussed. Here are two ways to deal with this common frustration.

Clip, crop, wow: 7 tips on using photography in PowerPoint

We put together a series of free, short, training videos to help you. Lesson 1 deals almost exclusively with adding and manipulating photos in PowerPoint.

How to Buy an MP3 Player

Even though many of us have ditched our MP3 players in favor of cell phones or tablets that can play our digital music, the dedicated portable media player (PMP) market does still exist.

How To Reduce Memory Usage in Firefox with MemoryFox

Do you use Firefox? Most of our readers do and we all know that 10 open tabs can be highly problematic for our system memory. There have been times I have seen my Firefox get close to 1.5 gigs of memory. That is just unacceptable!

Hollywood’s Attempt to Control the Internet

News stories about Hollywood interests trying to control our lives through their bought-and-sold lackeys in Congress always pushes my buttons. As always, Hollywood wants to change our fundamental rights to suite their purposes.  This bill is so controversial (the Electronic Frontier Foundation calls it "disastrous") because it would force changes to the Domain Name System and effectively create a blacklist of Internet domains suspected of intellectual property violations. Read the story and you decide.

Another interesting article in this edition is on the history of Microsoft’s major mistakes and how they have changed how the giant corporation operates. It is one of the most read articles on ZDNET in quite a while and was written by a man who knows all about the Redmond giant, Ed Bott. When he writes, I read.

There are also some helpful tools in this edition so read on and enjoy. JRC

Copyright bill controversy grows as rhetoric sharpens

The Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA, introduced last week in the House of Representatives to the applause of lobbyists for Hollywood and other large content holders, is designed to make allegedly copyright-infringing Web sites, sometimes called "rogue" Web sites, virtually disappear from the Internet.

Google Presents Gmail, Redesigned

Gmail is getting a makeover. On Tuesday, Google announced updates to its popular e-mail service, which will be rolled out to all users but can be optionally chosen now. The changes include streamlined conversations, displays that adapt better to the screen size and type, new high-definition themes, and better navigation and search. A link in the bottom right of Gmail allows users to "switch to the new

iPhone 4S owners report dramatic battery drain

Apple's new iPhone 4S is running through its battery at a prodigious rate, according to reports on the company's own support forum. A long thread dedicated to the problem now has more than 2,300 messages, runs 160 pages and has been accessed more than 160,000 times, all huge numbers for an Apple support discussion.

A decade's worth of Windows mistakes that changed Microsoft (for better and worse)

As a longtime Microsoft-watcher, I’m as fascinated by the company’s missteps as I am by its successes. Anyone who worked at Microsoft in the first decade of the 21st Century knows the impact that those wrong turns had on the company and its culture. How the company responded to those mistakes had an indelible impact on products that are on the market today and those that are planned for the future. (A Great Article!)

How to Find Help at Microsoft for Your Computer Problems

f you want help with a Windows problem, the ultimate source is Microsoft. There is a vast accumulation of information on the Microsoft website. Unfortunately, the site is huge and keeps changing. Finding anything can be like the proverbial hunt for a needle in a haystack. To help find things on Microsoft, I have put together a short list of some Microsoft links that may make it easier to get answers when help is wanted.

Run Check Disk from Windows Explorer

Run Check Disk from Windows Explorer to Check for and fix Disk Errors. Data Corruption, no matter how up to date your OS or your hard drive is, can still occur. So you should not be one to believe that data corruption is a thing of the past. It isn’t. To address that you should use the Check Disk tool periodically to check the integrity of disks.

The 10 Best Digital Cameras

The problem with buying a digital camera is not only that there are hundreds of models for sale at any given point in time, but you also need to figure out which type of camera is right for you. The good news is that we review lots of cameras—and these 10 are among the best we've tested.

7stacks - A Free Grouping App for Your Taskbar

7stacks is an easy to use, free app that lets Windows 7 (and Vista and XP) users have “stacks” of icons in their Taskbar (in 7) or QuickLaunch Toolbar (in Vista and XP). By using stacks, users can reduce icon clutter, and combine a group of related icons into a single icon.

HP Decides to Stay in PC Business

After drama, HP to keep its PC business after all

Hewlett-Packard isn't going out of the PC business after all. Today, CEO Meg Whitman announced the company would continue to make and sell PCs, reversing a decision made by her predecessor Léo Apotheker in August -- a decision that riled investors and employees and led to his ouster in late September.

BitTorrent and Netflix Dominate America’s Internet Traffic

New data published by the Canadian broadband management company Sandvine reveals that on the average day Netflix and BitTorrent are responsible for 40 percent of all Internet traffic in North America. During peak hours Netflix accounts for a third of all download traffic, while BitTorrent is credited for nearly half of all upload traffic during the busiest time of the day.

What Netflix effect? Redbox will raise rates instead

Redbox was expected to be one of the big beneficiaries of Netflix’s most recent price change. But the effect of that change wasn’t entirely apparent in Redbox’s numbers, as parent Coinstar reported revenues Thursday just slightly above Wall Street consensus. Even worse, Redbox announced it is raising its discount $1 a night rental prices by 20 percent.

Intel lost the tablet war -- is the desktop next?

Intel is losing the multi-billion-dollar tablet war. Tied to Microsoft and its second-rate mobile architecture (currently Windows Phone "Mango"), it's way behind the transformation sweeping the computing world. I'd never count Intel out, but the ARM architecture and its related ecosystem are ideally positioned to win a major share of the desktop of tomorrow.

How to Get a Personalized Financial Plan Without Spending a Fortune

Money management site LearnVest offers an inexpensive alternative to and expensive financial planner: unlimited email access for a year to a CFP for less than what you might pay for just one hour with an in-person visit. Here's how it works.

Device & Conquer: Is your phone spying on you?

In this episode of Device & Conquer, I'll lay out how your phone can track you, dispel a few myths about that, and about GPS satellites, and give you a few tips for taking back what privacy you still have. (Video)

The Best Tuneup Utilities

PC tune up utilities are applications designed to fix the wear and tear that computers suffer over time by repairing hard drive fragmentation, fixing the registry, and deleting useless files. While all of the tools listed here perform these basic actions, a few go the extra mile by implementing unique features.

Turn A Digital Photo Into An Amazing Painting

Here's a novel twist on those web sites that offer to turn your digital photo into something that looks like an oil painting. Psykopaint (www.psykopaint.com) offers similar features, but instead of an automatic conversion you have control of a magic paintbrush.

Netflix Screwed Up and Now it Shows

800K fewer subscribers humbles Netflix

Netflix reported earnings today and the company was made to feel the full force of subscriber dissatisfaction. Leading up to the third quarter this year, the Web's top video-rental service had added a minimum of 1 million subscribers in each of the prior seven quarters. But for the three months ending September 30, Netflix lost 810,000 subscribers. Stock price has fallen from a high of $300 down to just under $87.

U.S. Tablet Users Slow To Adopt Newspaper Subscriptions

One potential barrier to the adoption of digital subscriptions by U.S. tablet owners is screen size. Amazon, Dell, Samsung and other tablet vendors offer models featuring a 7-inch screen, which is less than ideal when viewing newspapers and magazines in a digital format.

Malware loves Windows Task Scheduler

More malware is using Windows Task Scheduler to do its dirty work. Here's how to mitigate this surprising attack vector

Android Ice Cream Sandwich versus iOS 5: Killer features

Google and Apple have both recently unveiled huge changes that respectively make their mobile operating systems far more powerful, and in some ways more similar to each other. Weighing the pros and cons of each platform against the other is a scenario that's played out daily among many people who are deciding which phone to buy.

A Look at Apple's iCloud

iCloud is a synchronizing service. It keeps your calendar, address book, documents updated and identical on all your gadgets: Macs, PCs, iPhones, iPads, iPod Touches. In other words, pretty much what MobileMe was.

Five tips for a better HDTV picture

Everyone wants the best performance out of any product they buy. HDTVs can look great in a store, and then terrible at home. If you're not satisfied with how your TV looks, or want to check to make sure you're getting the best out of it, here are five easy steps for better picture quality.

The Three Best Windows Productivity Tips

We've featured hundreds of Windows productivity tips on this site over the years but three stand out as having near perfect ratings as judged by our readers. I've supplemented these with my personal picks and for good measure, I've asked our readers to tell us what's their all-time favorite Windows productivity tip. Now this WILL be interesting.

Find Junk Files

Find Junk Files may not be an imaginative software name, but it's an accurate one. This free tool finds junk files on your PC, mostly temporary files and folders. It scans for more than 100 file types, even obscure stuff like DOS and Windows 3.1 files, but you can choose what to scan and what to exclude.

Browse Safely on the Kindle Fire.

The more I read about the new Kindle Fire Tablet, the more intrigued I become. This week, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a guardian of our privacy rights, gave tacit approval to the revolutionary new Silk Browser that will be an important part of the Fire. One thing I learned this week is that all web browsing done on Silk will be encrypted, meaning you never have to worry about being spied upon at public Wi-Fi spots.

We’ve got lots of good news and information in this edition, just for you. So I hope you find something you can use. Be sure and check out the Hubble Wallpaper in our last story. Have a good weekend.  -JRC

Amazon Silk Web browser given green light by EFF

Amazon's Kindle Fire is off the hook with one important group when it comes to privacy worries about Silk, the specially created Web browser for the new e-reader/tablet due out next month. Representatives from the non-profit Electronic Frontier Foundation have talked with Amazon officials about the speedy, new cloud-based browser, focusing on what user information will be transmitted via the cloud and shared by the company.

Exclusive: Nasdaq hackers spied on directors

Hackers who infiltrated the Nasdaq's computer systems installed malicious software on the exchange's computers that allowed them to spy on scores of directors of publicly held companies.

Even the BlackBerry faithful are abandoning RIM

The BlackBerry may not be dead, but it's dying. New research from Enterprise Management Associates says that 30 percent of BlackBerry users in companies with more than 10,000 users will move to a different mobile platform in the next year.

A deeper dive into Windows 8: can Microsoft's big bet pay off?

Windows 8 is, without a doubt, the most controversial Windows version the company has ever designed. After a month of using and dissecting the Windows Developer Preview, I offer a deeper look at what’s inside and some predictions about what you can expect in the future.

Android 4.0: The stakes for Google are huge

Google unveiled Android 4.0, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich, and to say the search giant has a lot riding on the mobile operating system would be an understatement.

Making the most of Really Simple Syndication (RSS)

Almost all sufficiently advanced websites these days use RSS — Really Simple Syndication — to keep you notified of the latest information posted on the site. If you’ve never used an RSS feed — or if you use RSS but don’t know how it works — you’re in for a pleasant surprise. RSS feeds bring information to you. Instead of making you scour the Web, checking on the latest and greatest news, most established websites feed you short synopses of what they posted.

Apple launches Steve Jobs tribute page

Apple has launched a Steve Jobs tribute page displaying messages it has received from Apple customers and employees to remember the death of the company's co-founder.

Wallpaper of the Week

This weeks wallpaper is a collection of images from the Hubble telescope presented as wallpaper for your desktop. All the images have a caption that identifies what's in the picture.

The Best To-Do Application for Windows

Wireless companies will finally warn customers before they get large phone bills

Earlier this year the FCC requested that the wireless companies do something about warning customers so they do not get “bill shock” when they get a bill for $5,000 or more. The wireless companies could offer some reasonably priced data plans, but they have opted to do something else. They are going to text you! Don’t worry; you will not have to pay for this text message.

Stuxnet 2.0? Researchers find new 'cyber-surveillance' malware threat

Symantec warns of a new high-end Trojan that’s “nearly identical to Stuxnet” but notes that the malware has a completely different goal.

U.S. Apple Stores to Close Wednesday for Steve Jobs Tribute

Apple reportedly will shut its U.S. retail stores for a few hours on Wednesday to allow its employees to participate in a staff celebration of the life of co-founder Steve Jobs.

Apple sells 4 million iPhone 4S units in first weekend

The new iPhone 4S had a huge weekend on store shelves--or more precisely, leaping off store shelves.

Amazon Cuts Publishers Out of the Mix, Makes Deals With Writers

The Internet was bound to change the old publishing odel eventually, but Amazon has just accelerated the process by starting its own flagship publishing line, effectively cutting its largest suppliers out of part of the mix and making its own deals with writers.

Facebook's Wall of Shame - Facebook Failures

Facebook's Failures, Criticisms and Missteps Revealed in New Research Report.

10 insider's shortcuts for Outlook

Shortcuts are generally good...and Outlook has a bevy of really great, really easy to remember keyboard shortcuts that you should know if you want to speed up your work.

2011 tech industry graveyard

WebOS, Cisco Flip camera, Google Labs, and the rest: A list of IT companies, technologies, and ideas killed off or headed for the end of life

The Best To-Do App for Windows

Windows has a few good to-do apps up its sleeve, not to mention more webapps than you can shake a stick at. Our favorite of the bunch is Wunderlist, a syncing, full-featured, and free app for multiple platforms.

Kindle Fire and 8-Core Processor Making Headlines

Lots of good information and tips in this edition of Rants and Raves…so let’s get right to it. Have a great weekend, everybody. JRC

Early Signs Suggest Strong Holiday Sales for Kindle Fire

Early evidence suggests that Amazon’s $199 touchscreen Android tablet, the Kindle Fire, will be a strong seller this holiday season. The tablet, which goes on full sale Nov. 15, is currently the bestselling and “Most Wished For” device in the electronics category on amazon.com, followed by Amazon’s lower-priced line of ereaders.

The World's First 8-Core Desktop CPU Detailed

Last month, AMD earned a Guinness World Record for highest clocking speed ever recorded with its forthcoming 8-core CPU, code-named Bulldozer. Now, however, the company has pulled back the curtain on the new multicore processor line, which will come in four varieties, ranging from a $115 entry-level model to a $245 high-end configuration.

Mobile deathmatch: Apple iOS 5 vs. Google Android OS

After months of hype, Apple has released iOS 5 for current iPhone 3G S and 4 owners, for iPad and iPad 2 owners, and for third- and fourth-generation iPod Touch owners. The fact is that iOS doesn't exist in isolation. It competes with Google's Android OS, and the group of smartphones running Android now significantly outsells the iPhone.

Apple publishes guide on how to set up iCloud

Those of you trying to figure out to how to tap into Apple's iCloud now that the service is officially up and running can turn to the company's setup guide. The newly released guide explains how to get the online service working on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch, as well as on a Mac or PC, a process that apparently can be confusing.

Only you can prevent phishing attacks

I wondered what would make someone fall for a message that appeared to me like an obvious phishing attempt. Well, people respond to sales receipts even if they haven't bought anything online recently--nobody wants to be charged for something they didn't buy.

Sneaky App Masquerades as Netflix in Latest Android Malware Scare

A newly discovered malicious app in an Android user forum sneaks in by assuming the name of a trusted brand: Netflix. Once downloaded, the app will take the user's log-in and password info, then report that the app isn't compatible with the user's phone. One's Netflix credentials may not be particularly sensitive information, but it's possible the malware's authors have larger plans.

Take your PC’s temperature — for free!

Overheating in PCs can cause unexpected hangs and shutdowns — and even shorten the life of your computer. Fortunately, it’s easy to monitor your system’s temperature and to correct the most common causes of overheating.

Nail your writing without the hammer: Choosing words with Word tools

Repeating words or phrases can add emphasis, but repetition can also start to sound like a hammer. It can be a distraction to readers. I like to avoid using the same words too many times--and here's how Word helps me avoid verbal ruts...

Neiio Consolidates All Your Online Contacts for You to Import Anywhere

Most of us have contacts scattered across various social networks and mailboxes. Until now, getting them all in one convenient place required awkward manual importing/exporting or using services that are only partially free. Webapp Neiio is an elegant, smart, and free solution.

Netflix Wakes Up…and Smells the Coffee

Finally, someone at Netflix realized how stupid it was to spin their DVD business off to a new company called Qwikster. So, for now (and hopefully forever), DVD’s and videos-on-demand will be housed under the same roof, as it has always been. Of course, this new move required yet another apology from Netflix to its customers, but it just had to be done.

In other news, today is Patch Tuesday, Microsoft’s monthly update to your Windows operating system…so make sure you either get it or set your computer to get it automatically.

And there are lots of other interesting stories, including the first review I’ve seen about the Amazon Fire Tablet. So read on and get informed… JRC

Netflix drops unpopular Qwikster DVD plan

Hastings' earlier plan to put movie and television DVD rentals on a different website, which never went into effect, was one of several missteps in recent months that have helped drive shares of the one-time Wall Street darling down about 60 percent since July.

Microsoft Fixes Internet Explorer, Windows Flaws in October Patch Tuesday

Microsoft's October Patch Tuesday release addressed flaws in Internet Explorer, .NET Framework and Silverlight, Windows, Forefront UAG and Host Integration Server. Microsoft fixed 23 vulnerabilities across eight security bulletins as part of its October Patch Tuesday release.

Uncle Sam wants you -- and your e-mail

Due to an ancient law, the feds could eavesdrop on your electronic communications, and you'd be the last to find out

8 piles of paper replaced by iPads

Pilots, preachers, politicians and football teams among those taking the plunge with the Apple iPad tablet computer. An interesting article on the increasing use of digital pads.

Amazon Kindle Fire Review

In the world of tablets, there are great products and there are cheap products, but very few great, cheap products. For those of you unwilling to shell out $500 for an Apple iPad 2, and who are wary of buying a piece of junk, Amazon.com's $199 Kindle Fire tablet should be at the top of your wish list.

Walmart Launches Local Deals Facebook Page

Walmart is taking advantage of the local deals fad by launching its own Groupon-clone. However, Walmart's service has a few distinguishing traits that set it apart from the throngs of other daily deals services.

Cloud-savvy iTunes is Here Now

The big new feature in iTunes 10.5, which you can download for Windows and Mac, is support for iCloud, Apple's service for syncing data wirelessly.

How to Bring Back the Games to Windows 7 Professional

Here’s a quick tip for those who might be new to Windows 7 and have the Professional version. Are you wondering where the usual Windows games went? A first look at a new Windows 7 Professional computer seems to show that the games that we have all come to expect as a part of Windows are missing. Actually, they are just disabled and are easily restored.

Run Android Apps On Windows 7 With BlueStacks

The basic player lets you run several preloaded Android apps and then install up to 26 others, as well as sync apps from an Android phone to your PC.

Steve Jobs is Dead

It’s a sad day when I have to lead with a story like this. Steve Jobs was one of the most influential technology creators of our time. The best comment I heard today about him was that he was the Thomas Edison of our generation. I believe that to be absolutely true.

He created so many devices that have become a staple in our everyday technological lives. His iPod is a daily part of my life…I basically don’t go anywhere without it. He inaugurated the smart phone era with his iPhone…and he created the era of the tablet that is only just beginning, even though Microsoft had a similar product years ago that was a dud. With the exception of the iPod (and iTunes, of course), I personally am not a user of Apple Products. But that in no way diminishes my respect and admiration for one of the most innovative creators of our time.

For this edition, I included three of the best stories about Steve Jobs: The first is about his death; the second is about his special talent for innovation and how he made it work; and the third is about what will happen to Apple from here on in. I also have included other interesting stories that might be of interest to you…but their importance seems to be diminished, at least for this day. - JRC

Apple's Steve Jobs has passed away

Jobs had been suffering from various health issues following the seven-year anniversary of his surgery for a rare form of pancreatic cancer in August 2004. Apple announced in January that he would be taking an indeterminate medical leave of absence, with Jobs then stepping down from his role as CEO in late August.

Steve Jobs's special talent

The real reason he was revered, rather than just respected, was his ability to completely inhabit the mind of the user and to design products from that perspective -- then propel that vision through every stage of the process without compromise. Users sensed he was their passionate advocate.

An Apple without Steve Jobs

When Apple co-founder Steve Jobs stepped down from his role as CEO two months ago, the immediate question "was what happens to Apple next?" With Jobs' passing yesterday, the company now faces that scenario.

Amazon Silk brings super fast, cloud-powered web browsing to Kindle Fire

Buried in most reports about Amazon's five new Kindles, was the news that it is also releasing a new mobile Web browser called Silk. The browser is based on Webkit, but employees Amazon's vast Cloud-based resources to offload a lot of browser functions. According to Amazin, this makes it a LOT faster. We weren't able to test it, but Geek.com has the details on how this new hybrid browser works.

Firefox 7: Better Memory Management (Review)

I was hoping that Mozilla would do a better job with Firefox 7 than it had with the rather disappointing Firefox 6. They have. While it’s not as good as Google’s latest Chrome 14 Web browser, it is better. The real question: “Is it good enough?”

Getting the most from Windows Search

Here’s how most experienced Windows users get turned off by Windows 7′s search: they click the Win7 Start orb, type something into the Search box, and wait while Windows comes back with results — first in bushels, then in barrels, and finally an avalanche. “Whooooa!” (or something slightly less printable) they say, “I only wanted to find files with this text in the filename …. Windows 7 is useless; they’ve even included spam messages in here.”

Hotspot Shield - Free

The Internet connection protector Hotspot Shield encrypts your traffic to protect you from all kinds of spying while your computer communicates with the rest of the world. It's a must-have utility for anybody who uses public Wi-Fi networks.

Apple’s Big Day a Dud

Everyone in the tech world thought today was the day Apple introduced its new and improved iPhone 5…and everyone was wrong. Today, Apple introduced a moderately modified version of the iPhone 4 and called it the 4S. You could hear the air come out of all the Apple Fan-Boys all over the world.  Well, that might be a bit of an exaggeration. But, the stock market was disappointed as Apple stock dropped 3.7%.  You can read more about the new phone in our first story.

If you would like to experience the new Windows 8 User Interface without loading up the Developer Version of the new operating system, check out the last story. It will tell you how to get the so-called “Metro” interface on your Windows 7 computer. Easy to install…and uninstall if you don’t like it.

That’s all for me today…have fun! - JRC

iPhone 4S First Take

As expected, Apple introduced the iPhone 4S today. The news was underwhelming and disappointing to many who were also expecting an iPhone 5. There's also the fact that the iPhone 4S looks almost identical to the iPhone 4. However, there's more than meets the eye, as Apple made a number of changes under the hood to improve on performance, including a faster processor, a more advanced camera, and a new antenna design. In addition, Apple expanded its family to include Sprint and a 64GB model.

Microsoft Tries to Make Hotmail Cool Again With Overhaul

Microsoft is trying to overhaul Hotmail in an attempt to make its free email service cool again. The company on Monday announced several new automatic features aimed at cleaning up Hotmail accounts and helping users organize piles of so-called graymail.

Microsoft falsely labels Chrome as malware

Google has released a new version of Chrome after Microsoft's antivirus software flagged the browser as malware and removed it from about 3,000 people's computers on Friday. Microsoft apologized for the problem and updated its virus definition file to correct the false-positive problem.

Yahoo, ABC partner for news alliance

Yahoo and ABC News are teaming up to share news content, reporting resources and original videos. The "alliance," announced Monday on "Good Morning America" and at a press conference in New York City, is expected to reach 100 million people per month. Both GMA anchors and executives at the events called the deal "game-changing" several times.

How to stop Facebook, Google+, and Twitter from tracking you

Yes, it's true -- but not for every site. Those of us who know how the Web works know that every time you visit a page with a Facebook, Google+, or Twitter link, the code behind that link actually comes from Facebook or Twitter servers, so if you're surfing to that page with the same browser that you're currently logged into Facebook or Twitter with, then they know you're on that site. They know how long you spent on that site, how often you visit, and so forth. It's all very simple to do. Yet most people are cheerfully oblivious to this fact.

Windows 8 security: Stronger but gentler

Microsoft's next operating system incorporates more security than Windows Vista, with fewer annoying upfront notifications

Probably the Best Free Security List in the World

This huge list of computer security products and services has been compiled over several years and is continuously updated. The products listed are almost exclusively free with a few exceptions. These include useful products without a free alternative that offer lifetime licenses and products of outstanding merit.

Windows 8 UX Pack for Windows 7

For those of you who want to try out the new Windows 8 UI, but don’t fancy installing the developer preview, here is another option for you. This free Windows 8 UX Pack will bring the Windows 8 UI experience to your desktop without any modifications to your registry or system files.

Amazon Changes the Game for Tablets

As I mentioned last time, Wednesday was all about the new products from Amazon. And believe me, the products they introduced are game changers…especially their new “Fire” Tablet. Interestingly they brought their new tablet in at an even lower price than was predicted…$199. Now that is a game changer! As one writer predicted, there is the Apple iPad at $449 and the Amazon Fire at $199. All tablets priced in between are dead. Not sure I agree with that, but it could very possibly be the case.

But the Fire was not all they introduced. They showed three new Kindles, with prices now starting at $79. This is the first e-reader priced below the $100 mark. But not only that, they will be offering a touch screen Kindle for $99. As a long-time Kindle user, trust me when I say Kindles are the best e-readers on the market today…and now they better and more affordable. Bravo Amazon.

There are a ton of new features in both the Kindle and the Fire. And for that reason, our first story is actually a roundup of several stories and videos about the new Amazon products. Make sure you read about the new Web browser included with the Fire…it is a mind blower.

So without further ado, let’s get to it. – JRC

Kindle Fire leads Amazon onslaught (roundup)

Here is a roundup of several stories about what Amazon released on the world yesterday. It included the new Fire 7" tablet and three new Kindle e-readers, starting at $79.

BlackBerry PlayBooks get $200 price cut in wake of Kindle Fire

The BlackBerry PlayBook price cuts have arrived in the US, without any messing around with gift cards: the tablets now start at $299.99 for 16GB at Best Buy, a $200 discount. The question is whether anyone will care, with the imminent arrival of the new Kindle Fire.

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Using Windows 7′s XP Mode — step by step

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The 25 Best Android Apps

Smartphone owners running Google's OS need more than just a top ten list to stock their devices with the best programs for entertainment, productivity, reference, and more.

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