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.