ACTA: A Hollywood Censorship Dream Come True

Today it’s time to talk about the new threat to the Internet as we know. SOPA and its companion bill in the Senate are dead. Thank the gods for that. But a new international treaty deal is about become the law of universe. And you need to understand what that means.

The treaty is being strongly opposed by citizens of European nations as they fear it as Carte Blanche for governments to shut down whatever sites they deem to be infringing the copyright laws…without due process. And that is exactly what it is. For instance, it will take non commercial, non criminal file sharing and turn it into a criminal act. Normal people will become criminals.

Even the signing parties don't agree on the purpose, scope and nature of ACTA. This may be the scariest part. Part of the debate in the US is over President Obama's claim that ACTA is not a binding treaty, but rather a sole executive agreement that doesn't need Congressional approval. Many believe that this is unconstitutional, and Senator Ron Wyden has asked the President to explain what certainly appears to be a violation of the Constitution. However, over in Europe, they're insisting that it is a binding treaty.

The sad part is that it will force us to keep our outdated copyright laws…And it may be too late to get out of this very bad treaty. It looks like a done deal. JRC

Thought SOPA Was Bad? 10 Reasons to Oppose ACTA

If you haven't heard much about ACTA, don't be surprised. You see, you really weren't supposed to hear anything about ACTA until well after it was ratified and far too late for the rabble to do anything about it.

What Is ACTA And Why Is It A Problem?

First off, ACTA, unlike SOPA/PIPA, is not "a law." It's a trade agreement, in which a variety of countries agree to deal with intellectual property infringement in a similar fashion. But why was it kept a deep dark secret until someone uncovered and published it on the Net? President Obama says he will sign it...but does he have the right to? Treaties are ratified by the Senate.

Angry Birds boss: Piracy helps us 'get more business'

"Piracy may not be a bad thing: it can get us more business at the end of the day...We took something from the music industry, which was to stop treating the customers as users, and start treating them as fans. We do that today: we talk about how many fans we have.

The death of online piracy: the end of the Internet as we know it

Piracy finds its way into just about every legitimate avenue on the Internet. As such, the death of online piracy via shutting down otherwise legitimate sites and services could mean the end of the Internet as we know it.

Mozilla Releases Firefox 10 With Better Extension Updating

The new Firefox will be released today. Chief among what's new for end users is how Firefox 10 handles extensions upon auto-updating to the new browser version. Now, instead of rejecting extensions not specifically updated for version 10, the browser will assume extensions are compatible unless specifically marked otherwise.

Google, Microsoft, Yahoo!, PayPal go after phishers with new e-mail authentication effort

Major e-mail providers, including Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo! are teaming up with PayPal, Facebook, LinkedIn, and more, to implement a new system for authenticating e-mail senders to try to prevent the sending of fradulent spam and phishing messages.

Microsoft Begins Office 15 Technical Preview

Microsoft today announced that it has begun the Technical Preview program for Office 15, the next version of its office productivity suite. While details are still sparse, the software giant did say, however, that Office 15 is the most ambitious undertaking yet for the Office Division. And that suggests some interesting changes ahead. A public beta is scheduled to be released this summer.

How tweet it isn't: Twitter's new censorship policies

Twitter has announced that it will allow governments to censor some (but not all) tweets. Did they really have any other choice?

12 Things You Should Know About Facebook Timeline

Until recently, users were able to opt-in to Timeline; now they will be automatically switched over. When you get Timeline, however, you'll have a seven-day preview period, during which you can delete the content that is on your profile and hide what you don't want displayed."

Swole.me Automatically Plans Your Meals Based on Your Dieting Goals

One of the hardest parts of dieting is figuring out what you can actually eat. Swole.me is an app that figures out your meals for you. You simply tell it your calorie goal, what meals you want to eat, and what foods you want to include in those meals and it'll generate a plan in seconds. Free.

AT&T Merger with T-Mobile Fails–You Get to Pay

A year ago, when AT&T announced its merger with T-Mobile, there was a small codicil in the agreement that said if AT&T could not go through with the deal, they would pay T-Mobile’s German parent company $4 billion. That’s with a “b”, not an “m”. Even though the feds nixed the deal, AT&T still has to pay…or should I say its customers have to pay. Prices are going up. For all of you AT&T customers, I am sad for you and you should raise a stink. Congress should step in also, but I am afraid they are too busy helping their Hollywood masters to do anything for you.

There are some other interesting stories included here, including Netflix recovery from near disaster…so I hope you will find something of interest. - JRC

AT&T punishes its customers for T-Mo merger’s failure

After blasting the Federal Communication Commission for “picking winners and losers” in the wireless industry by scrutinizing every deal, Stephenson claimed AT&T is now in a mobile capacity-constrained environment which has forced it to raise prices and manage connection speeds (aka throttle) for its highest volume subscribers.

Sprint vs. Verizon vs. AT&T Wireless Plans

Verizon, AT&T, and Sprint combined have over 60 percent market share of cellular providers, and the needs of nearly anyone can be met within the framework of one of these choices. When considering a smartphone, choosing the wrong plan, carrier, or features can leave users stuck with hidden fees or unnecessary monthly premiums. Customer service is also a key consideration when selecting service.

Ready or not, you’re getting IE 8 or 9

Microsoft is pushing the latest versions of Internet Explorer as part of its monthly updates. The main reason is to force you to stop using earlier versions which are open gates for malware infections. This blog post teaches you how to use the new IE and to make it look like the version you've been used to.

Netflix customers return in 4Q; stock soars 16%

Netflix has regained almost as many customers as it lost following an unpopular price increase, signaling that the video subscription service is healing from its self-inflicted wounds.

iPad dominates tablet market, but Android is closing fast

It wasn't long ago that Apple owned nearly 70 percent of the global tablet market. But now, the company is just barely holding on to half the space.

6 Google Chrome remixes worth trying

Chromium-based spinoff browsers bring privacy, security, social networking, and other interesting twists to Google's Chrome browser. Here are six of them to look at.

The Best Antivirus for 2012

PCMag has reviewed over a dozen antivirus tools explicitly identified as 2012 models, along with a number of others released during the same period.

Get Organized: File-Syncing Services to the Rescue

The purpose of a file-synchronization service is to give you access to all your most important, current files from any computer or Internet-connected device, like your smartphone or tablet, anytime, anywhere. Note: I use DropBox (mentioned in this article) and Windows Live Mesh (not mentioned). Both work great.

Crawler 3D Tropical Aquarium Screensaver

Download this 3D screensaver and liven up your desktop with a brand new 3D tropical aquarium full of colorful moving coral fishes that allows you to feed them and knock at the glass to make them move! You can also download and add new fishes & backgrounds.

Today: A Little News and Lots of Helpful Info

Not everyday can be filled with blockbuster news…and thank God for that. I would much rather publish good tips to help you understand technology and to make your computing much easier and faster. I hope that is OK with you. So read on and see what I dug up today. - JRC

Supreme Court holds warrantless GPS tracking unconstitutional

All nine justices of the Supreme Court ruled on Monday that police officers violated the Fourth Amendment rule against unreasonable search and seizure when they attached a GPS device to a suspect's car and tracked it for 28 days without a warrant. 

Internet now active with 2.1 billion users

Sweeping across the continents, Asia holds 922 million Internet users, Europe has 476 million, and North America is in third place with 271 million. Drilling down to individual countries, China is on top with 485 million people using the Internet, more than 36 percent of its total population.

ViewSonic launching Ice Cream Sandwich tablet for just $170

We don’t all need the latest and greatest Android tablets and ViewSonic is launching devices that meet those who want to save money without too much compromise.

Apple's mind-bogglingly greedy and evil license agreement

Over the years, I have read hundreds of license agreements, looking for little gotchas and clear descriptions of rights. But I have never, ever seen a legal document like the one Apple has attached to its new iBooks Author program.

Understanding The Windows 7 UAC

The User Account Control (UAC) was introduced as a security tool for Windows to help standard users perform admin tasks and to encourage users not to run as admin. When any program requires admin privileges, the UAC prompt asks users for permission to proceed. Potential malware can also be prevented due to the features of the UAC. The following tutorial will help you understand UAC prompts, enable a password protection setting and how it will help secure your system.

How the Kindle replaced my iPad...for book reading

There's a case to be made for convergence devices, and for merging every product down to just one. The iPad, in many ways, has been that device for me: I travel light, I read or watch movies or play games or surf the Web on it. It's a security blanket and a thin catchall. Still...I bought a Kindle.

10 must-have Google Chrome add-ons

From a session saver to a social media assistant to a simple in-browser image editor, these extensions provide a variety of useful tools for the growing legions of Chrome users.

How to start Windows 7 faster

High-performance PC hardware doesn't always deliver the speed users expect. But you probably shouldn't blame the hardware. The slowdown may be due to a software conflict.

How to try the Windows 8 Metro interface free

Windows 8 is still just a promise, except for a few folks with developer's builds. If you want to try out the fabled Metro interface on your computer, there's now a solution. The metro7 app changes the Windows 7 interface to make it look and feel like Metro.

Is SOPA Dead? I Hope So

It looks like Wednesday’s voluntary blackout of some major Websites had the desired affect…the SOPA bill may just have died. In this issue of Rants and Raves, I include a couple of articles about this highly controversial subject, plus a related confession by an on-line pirate that may help you understand why people pirate and how this relates to SOPA.

In other news, I am impressed by Apple’s new educational initiatives and think there are some real benefits for students of all ages if it comes to fruition. The only flaw I see is that students would be required to own an iPad. I hope this means that Apple’s new iPad 3 (announcement coming soon) will become more affordable.    

I think you will also find some other interesting articles and free software in this edition. So, let’s get started…JRC

Protests lead to weakening support for Protect IP, SOPA

An unprecedented online protest against a Hollywood-backed copyright bill may be working: some of its previous supporters in the U.S. Congress are backing down. The protest, which included a Wikipedia blackout and home page alerts at Google.com and Amazon.com, has prompted some senators contacted by CNET today to abandon their earlier enthusiasm for Protect IP and the Stop Online Piracy Act, or SOPA.

Why SOPA Is Dangerous

Wev'e talked a lot about this bill on this blog...now you can find out why Hollywood and Congress want this bill passed and how it will work to demolish our constitutional rights.

Why I Pirate

An on-line real life pirate explains his personal reasons for pirating software, music, and videos. Definitely worth a read.

Apple boldly reinvents the school textbook with iBooks 2 and iTunes U

Apple just held a press conference in New York detailing new strategies and software to turn the iPad into a complete textbook replacement for students of any age. After rattling off the many reasons why textbooks are not as good as computers (weight, lack of up-to-date material, cost, no search, etc), Apple announced iBooks 2, iBooks Author, and an improved iTunes U, all with the goal of completely melding the iPad into the education experience.

Kodak files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

The company, which hopes to emerge from bankruptcy in 2013, said it has secured $950 million in debtor-in-possession financing from Citigroup that will allow it to keep operating during restructuring.

32-bit and 64-bit explained

This tutorial should help you to understand the concepts of 32-bit and 64-bit computing. We'll look at your computer system as three parts: the hardware, the operating system and the application programs. At the end we'll look at some of the common questions people have.

How to Know If Your Computer Is Infected

Most of us believe our PCs are not infected but there is always that nagging doubt "What if my PC really has a malware infection but it has managed to hide itself from my security software?" Alas there is no 100% answer to this question, but here are some steps you can take to put your mind at rest.

Get The Metro UI On Windows 7 With Metro7

If you’re interested in trying out the new Metro User Interface and can’t be bothered to go through the hassle of downloading the Windows 8 developer preview, then Metro7 could be just the program you’re looking for.

TweetDeck 1.2 Free

TweetDeck is your personal browser for staying in touch with what's happening now, connecting you with your contacts across Twitter and Facebook.

Some of Your Favorite Sites Will Be Gone Tomorrow

I’ve lost track of how long I have been doing this newsletter/blog. I know that I started sometime back in the 1990’s on printed paper, then via e-mail, now via a blog that is seen all over the world. As I am retired, you have to know it is a labor of love.

At the beginning of every new year, I like to re-explain my goals for this newsletter. I write this blog/newsletter mainly for computer non-nerds…in other words, the rest of us that just want to get the most out of our computers without going into all the heavy-duty tech stuff. We just want them to work and be easy to use!

However, sometimes having a little background on what is happening in technology keeps your computing knowledge current so you can make informed decisions about the computers and equipment you buy and the best software to use to be productive…or important stories that affect all of us, like the protest blackout coming tomorrow.

I also recommend interesting Web sites, and software (usually free) that you may find handy.  Again, I hope you find this blog/newsletter to be interesting and of some use. And now…on with the show! JRC

This Internet blackout has been brought to you by the U.S. Congress

Parts of the Web will go dark tomorrow to protest SOPA and PIPA, legislation that will do little to thwart piracy but could make your favorite websites disappear

U.S. online piracy bill headed for major makeover

U.S. legislation aimed at curbing online piracy, which had appeared to be on a fast track for approval by Congress, appears likely to be scaled back or jettisoned entirely in the wake of critical comments over the weekend from the White House, people familiar with the matter said.

Symantec accused of using 'scareware' tactics to sell full-version products

The complaint alleges that misleading 'scare' tactics are being used by Symantec in its Norton Utilities, PC Tools Registry Mechanic, and PC Tools Performance Toolkit products. The claims also suggest the software range always report harmful errors, privacy risks and other issues that exist, regardless of whether they actually exist.

Hotmail Improves Yet Again, This Time with Newsletter Filtering

Hotmail has been on a rapid update cycle of late, and if you are using this service, I suspect you've noticed the improvements over the past year especially. This week's update concerns an improvement to Hotmail's SmartScreen feature, which is used to identify and separate junk email from legitimate email. But with this update, SmartScreen does even more: Now it also separates email newsletters from other email.

10 tips to make your Web browser less annoying

Regardless of which web browser you use, in all likelihood there are some things about it that you don't like. Some "features" you might have to learn to live with, but in other cases you can fix the problems and make the browser work more the way you want it to. This article provides ten tips for making IE, Chrome, Firefox and Safari less annoying.

Ten little things to secure your online presence

Here’s some basic advice on the tools and tricks you can implement immediately to secure your identity and online presence.

How to rip DVD movies using freeware HandBrake

Most countries allow you to make backup copies of DVD's you own. HandBrake is a free tool which comes with plenty of features for beginners and intermediate users alike. This free cross platform, open source program can *convert a DVD into formats such as MP4, MKV, AVI or OGM that can be played on your PC, Mac, Linux box, iPod, PSP, Apple TV, Television, iPhone, or mobile phone. Just follow this guide.

Calibre - A Must for All e-Book Readers - Free

You've finally bought that Kindle or Nook or Kobo that you've been dreaming about, and you've purchased dozens of e-book bestsellers. Then, delighting in libraries offering more than 1.5 million free, public domain works--plus thousands of magazines and newspapers. Now, how to get them from your computer to your reader? What if they are in a different format than your reader? You need Calibre.

Automate your DropBox operations and experience with DropBox Automator

Most of you may be aware of DropBox, the free cloud storage service that lets you upload and save your files in the cloud. You can sign up for the service and install DropBox on any of your device and instantly start sharing your files over the cloud. This article will tell you about one more free service called DropBox Automator, that will make your DropBox experience even better by completely automating your DropBox file operations.

The Best of CES

As CES ends it week-long run in Las Vegas, here are some highlights, including the Best-Of Awards. Plus, I have a few other stories that you may find of interest. Check out the new free Kindle add-on to send documents from your computer to your Kindle. It works very well. So have fun… JRC

Best of CES 2012 Awards

CNET once again presents the official awards program of CES. The awards recognize the best products at the show, including a Best of Show award and a People's Voice award, as voted by the CNET audience.

Ultrabook PCs and Tablets Dominate 2012 CES News Cycle

For the past few years, Apple's presence has hung over the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) like the dark shadow of Mordor in Tolkien's classic Lord of the Rings series. But not this year: The big news makers at the 2012 CES are product lines designed specifically to compete with two of Apple's most successful offerings. And unlike in years past, it seems that Apple's competitors have finally gotten it right.

Top Five Tablets of CES

At CES we spotted hordes of tablets this year, but only a few knocked our socks off with impressive specs, great value, and innovations that rival Apple's leading iPad 2. Instead of giving you the tablet laundry list of every single slate shown here at CES (and there were many) we are going to get right to the point.

Roundup of the Raddest New Camera Releases!

Because all the sensor sizes, f-stops and long-winded terminology* start to melt into a foggy photo haze, we rounded up and broke down the most noteworthy camera stories from CES!

Dish to shut more Blockbuster stores than planned

Dish Network will be closing more U.S. Blockbuster stores across than it had originally planned, and will turn the remaining outlets partly into Dish customer-service points.

Archive Your Old Mail and Start 2012 with a Clean and Tidy Inbox

If one of your new year's resolutions—or goals at least—is to keep a tidier inbox, get started now by archiving those old messages you know you'll never get around to.

Amazon's Send to Kindle App Makes Sending Documents to Your Kindle as Easy as Right-Clicking

Windows: Amazon's new Send to Kindle utility is a shell extension that allows you to quickly send one or multiple documents to your Kindle device or library to read on your e-reader, or just for safe keeping.

Facebook Now Lets You Listen to Music With Your Friends, Chat About It in Real Time

Facebook began rolling out a new feature today in which users can listen, using Spotify or other music streaming services, to the same songs as their friends and chat about it as they listen.

CES–The Big Week Ahead

The annual Consumer Electronics Show is underway in Las Vegas. Although somewhat misnamed (consumers are not allowed in), almost anyone who is anyone in the field of electronics is here. From computers to TV’s and anything that has electronics in it (even autos)…its all here. This is where retailers and the press get a peak at what is coming their way in 2012.

That is all well and good, except there are very few surprises any more, thanks to the Internet. We already know all about what is coming. And, because almost everything is future ware, there have been many instances where products shown here never make it to market…too many actually.

Frankly, I think the show is starting to lose its appeal. Apple pulled out several years ago and this year is Microsoft’s last appearance. And tech reporters consider it a badge of honor NOT to attend this show. Last year, the big buzz was about e-book readers and tablets. Most of those never made it to market or had a very short life, thanks to Kindle and the Nook’s market dominance.

And what is the buzz this year? It is Ultrabooks…those very thin and lightweight laptops with powerful processors. They are everywhere at the show, thanks to the big push being given by Intel. This is actually phase 2 of a 3 phase Intel program for Ultrabooks. Phase 3, sometime in the near future, will  have laptops with detachable screens that become tablets. But that is probably set for next year.

So in response to all this I have 2 stories in this edition that cover CES. The first is CNet’s complete coverage of the show. You can come come back to this page all week long to get updates. The second story gives you a little more information about Ultrabooks and the Intel Master Plan. As for the rest… well the headlines and synopsis’ will tell you what you need to know. Have fun! - JRC  

CES 2012 - So far

Here is look at some of the products unveiled at CES 2012. You can keep coming back to this comprehensive site to see more. If you are interested in the new Technology that might be coming your way, this is the best place to find it.

Intel's Ultrabook Plan: Cheaper, With Touch Screens, and Marketed Like Crazy

Intel created the ultrabook laptop category last fall, in response to Apple's Macbook Air and to the casual computing afforded by tablets. Intel wants ultrabooks, which emphasize slim design and long battery life over raw performance, to account for 40 percent of the laptop market by the end of this year.

Google makes searching more personal

Get ready to start seeing more Google+ in your searches. This week, the Mountain View Internet giant is rolling out a set of changes to its basic search function designed to drive more traffic to its nascent social network.

Google patches Chrome, beefs up malicious file blocking tech

Google last week patched Chrome 16 and improved the download warnings in the impending Chrome 17. The company updated Chrome 16 with a security update that quashed three bugs, all rated "high," the company's second-most-dire threat rating. Two of the bugs warranted bounties of $1,000 each, including one to a developer who works for rival Mozilla, maker of Firefox.

Barnes & Noble Considering Nook Spinoff

While Barnes & Noble touted strong holiday sales for Nook products, it noted that sales of the Nook Tablet and Nook Simple Touch fell short of expectations. Nine-week holiday retail sales were up 2.5 percent from last year to $1.2 billion and online sales increased 43 percent to $327 million.

Lost your Windows discs? How to get replacement media, legally

Did your most recent Windows PC come with reinstallation media? Many do, some don’t. But contrary to what you might have read, creating replacement Windows discs is easy, and every major PC maker will supply backup discs, sometimes for free. I have details.

Get Organized: Clean Up Your Desktop

If your virtual desktop, server, and email inbox are disorganized disaster zones, it's not too late to save them! By following a few simple steps, you can reclaim a sense of order. Here are 5 articles to get you started.

Windows Defender Offline — old name, new use

Microsoft’s newly released beta version of Windows Defender Offline, a rootkit-sniffing and Windows-rehabilitation tool, should be the latest addition to your bag of Windows-repair tricks. WDO should be able to catch a wide variety of nasties that evade detection by more traditional antivirus methods. Highly recommend you get this one and use it.

Some Great Information Here to Start the New Year

Happy New Year, everybody! I am back after an extended Christmas/New Year holiday. I’ve had an enjoyable holiday season and hope you did also. My son surprised me on Christmas Day with a brand new high speed computer system, including a beautiful 23” monitor. So, have spent a great deal of time getting it set up with all the software I use. This computer is so much faster than my last system. Photoshop, Lightroom, and Painter are all blazing fast and don’t crash. I am a happy camper.

Very little hot news occurs this time of year, but have found a couple of stories of interest. The rest of the stories here are packed with great information about computers and smartphones. I am sure you will find something here that will be of great value to your technology needs. Be sure and check out the the Technology Buying Guide story. Its filled with good tips for buying every kind technology.

I hope you enjoy this first blog of 2012. - JRC

Rumored three iPad model lineup could cut entry price to $299

The rumored expansion of iPad models this year may reduce the price of entry for owning an Apple tablet, if a new report is to be believed.

Verizon caves to public pressure and dumps $2 fee

Well, that was fast. Verizon Wireless caved to pressure from outraged consumers and a possible probe by the Federal Communications Commission and backed off of a plan to charge customers a $2 fee to pay their wireless bills online.

Android vs. iOS vs. Windows Phone 7: A mobile showdown

If you're a first-time smartphone shopper or a current smartphone shopper approaching an upgrade, you may be curious about the mobile platforms that are available. Everyone knows about the iPhone and iPad, and everyone knows about "Droids" (Android is the platform, Droid is one specific brand on Verizon). Often overlooked is the newcomer, Windows Phone. How do the three mobile operating systems stack up?

What is LTE?

So, what is LTE? Verizon Wireless, in its advertisements, will tell you that it is the fastest, most advanced network. AT&T will say it is the next generation of wireless technology. But that doesn’t say much, now does it?

Your New PC: What You Need to Know

There are programs on the hard drive you should get rid of, and other things you should add immediately. If you haven't yet been introduced to Windows 7, or it's been a while since you've set up a new machine, we'll walk you through it all in these 12 simple steps.

Best Downloads for Windows - Starter Kit

For your downloading pleasure, CNET has compiled its list of all the best applications for PCs. We offer up some classic big hitters, as well as a few lesser-known apps that we plucked from obscurity. Also, we did our best to cover the most commonly searched download categories such as utilities, security, image editing, and file sharing.

The Ultimate Guide to Technology Buying

Here you'll find links to all of the recent buying guides, telling you exactly what you need to look for when you shop for a particular type of product. All you need to find the right technology to start the new year is right here.

Disk Investigator 1.61 (Windows) Free

Disk Investigator helps you to discover all that is hidden on your computer hard disk. It can also help you to recover lost data. Display the true drive contents by bypassing the operating system and directly reading the raw drive sectors.