On The Threshold of Two Major Events

Tomorrow, Microsoft releases “Windows 8, Consumer Preview” for all to see and download. We’ve known about this for a few weeks. But, not to be out done, Apple sent out invitations today to a major event it is holding in San Francisco on March 7. Besides the date and time, the invitation only says:

“We have something you really have to see. And touch.”

This probably means Apple will be introducing the long-awaited iPad 3…at least that’s what all tech journalist say will happen. I believe we are going to see some really big changes in the iPad, including the possibilities of an 8” model, a display that packs 4 times the number of pixels in the iPad 2, and a faster processor, to name a few. I look forward to this event as I am in the market for a tablet.

But, back to Windows 8. I also am anxious to see this (and download it) also as Windows is my operating system of choice. The biggest change in Windows is the so-called “Metro Interface.” From what I’ve seen, this interface is for tablet computers although a desktop/laptop computer user will supposedly have no problems with it as it is mouse-friendly. This is a big, big gamble for Microsoft. I will download Windows 8 on one of my computers in the next few days and see how it looks and operates.

Our first story will give you a good look at what you can expect to see tomorrow in Windows 8. More coverage of this new operating system along with my first impressions will be published here soon. – JRC

Windows 8 Consumer Preview: What should testers expect?

Microsoft is launching the Consumer Preview of Windows 8 on February 29. By going with the “Consumer Preview” name rather than the traditional “beta,” the Softies are emphasizing that the coming bits are ready for everyday users to try on their x86/x64 PCs and tablets. So what are those who download the Windows 8 CP likely to encounter?

The post-PC future: Where Microsoft and Apple are driving us

There's a dramatic change now under way in personal computing, and Microsoft, the traditional PC powerhouse, and Apple, the reborn-and-rising power in personal computing, are the ones driving it. Here's where they're taking IT and users

Best budget tablets

Sometimes "the best" just isn't in the budget. We've collected our favorites of the tablets priced substantially less than the iPad and its high-end competition.

Windows Live, R.I.P.

Windows Live appears to be on its last legs, with Windows 8 ushering in a new generation of monosyllabic, Metrofied analogs. Here's a scorecard of what's changing

The Best of Mobile World Congress 2012

This event is on-going as we speak. There's an absolute flood of new phones, tablets, and other gadgets being introduced this week at Mobile World Congress 2012 in Barcelona…and reporters are there to go through the show and bring you hands-on impressions of the best devices.

Google+ users spend increasingly less time on site

Despite a growing base of members, the search giant's social-networking effort is still in the minor leagues with users spending just 3.3 minutes per month on the site. Note: Me included. I am finding it less and less valuable.

So how much is a fair price to pay for an e-book?

This issue is going nuclear and a lot of people believe that charging $10 or more for the portability and convenience of an e-book is ridiculous. Remember how much money e-readers were supposed to save book buyers? It was among the big reasons why 20 million Americans decided to take the plunge.

The 10 Best Job Search Websites

There are dozens of sites designed to find you the perfect job. From them, we've picked our 10 favorites. Though we can't guarantee you'll find your dream job right away, you'll certainly have a panoramic view of what's out there. Who knows, you may even decide to explore a new career path.

Best Free PDF Tools

Why spend money on Adobe's outrageously expensive Acrobat Suite in order to manipulate PDF files when there are freebies available that will do just about anything you want? Whether you want to annotate PDF pages, edit pages, extract pages, append pages, merge pages or whatever there is free tool available to do it. And you can find them all here in this one huge annotated list.

President Says We Have Privacy Rights

Privacy is back in the news this day…with the announcement by the President that he is backing a so-called “Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights.” And, he may get the support of all the major Web browser manufacturers.

Now that is something when a company like Google, who knows most everything about you anyway, will support your right to privacy. Seems a bit ironic, that’s all. Anyway I look for the Congressional Hollywood Whores to try and attach riders to the bill to help out their entertainment friends…but of course, when it comes to Congress, I am the eternal pessimist. Sorry.

There are some other interesting things going on in this edition, so I will let you get right to it. -JRC

Obama unveils Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights

The Obama administration plans to work with Congress to enact legislation to protect peoples' online privacy based on a Consumer Privacy Bill of Rights being unveiled tomorrow. At the same time, Google, Yahoo, Microsoft, and AOL are committing to work with Do Not Track technology in most major Web browsers

Tech firms agree to privacy protections for mobile apps

In an effort led by California's attorney general, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and others have agreed to require developers to inform users about data usage policies before they download apps.

Google Planning Data-Display Glasses

You're in a new city, and, through a pair of thick-rimmed glasses, you view data Relevant Products/Services overlaid onto your view of buildings, streets, fellow travelers, and more. This vision of a Terminator-like accessory is looking more likely, following new reports that such a device Relevant Products/Services will be released by the end of this year by -- who else? -- Google.

Airwaves to Be Freed Up for Faster, Better Wireless

A bill to auction off pieces of the public airwaves currently used for broadcast television so that they can be freed up for wireless Relevant Products/Services Internet is making its way to President Obama's desk. Members of Congress are promoting it, in part, as a jobs bill. The President is expected to sign it.

Why the FBI thinks you (and I) may be terrorists

If you are concerned about your privacy and always pay cash, or use peroxide to dye your hair, you fall within the subjective category of being a suspicious person.

11 ways to make Gmail smarter

Gmail is great, but it's easy to make it even better. These tricks and add-ons can help you make the most of your e-mail. Gmail comes packed with plenty of smart, sleek features, and smart users are discovering (or building) new ones every day.

How to Remove Your Google Search History Before Google's New Privacy Policy Takes Effect

If you want to keep Google from combining your Web History with the data they have gathered about you in their other products, such as YouTube or Google Plus, you may want to remove all items from your Web History and stop your Web History from being recorded in the future.

The Windows Start menu super guide

Since the debut of Windows 95, the Start menu has offered an easily navigated and extensible haven for all the programs we don’t use every day. In Part 1 of a series of stories on getting the most out of Windows’ Start menu, we start with the basics: pinning applications, folders, and files.

Angry Birds Chrome

Why waste your phone's batteries when you can play Angry Birds on your browser? It's just as addictive and as fun as the mobile version. And that's why your productivity will end here.

Google Continues Tripping Over Privacy Issues

They are at it again. Poor Google…well not really. They are anything but poor. Not that long ago, they were accused of scanning wireless Web locations for web traffic while taking photos for Google Maps. All a big accident, according to them.

Now, they are being accused by Apple of side-stepping the privacy settings on Apple's Safari browser to track usage on iPhones and Macs without permission. Microsoft has made a similar charge regarding its Internet Explorer browser. Another inadvertent mistake? Hard to believe as that kind of behavior requires some heavy duty programming. Will be interested to see how Google wriggles out of this one…especially with Congress now getting involved.

And speaking of privacy, I have been using both “Do Not Track Plus” and “Ghostery” (both previously recommended here ) on my Firefox and Chrome browsers and they are shutting down tracking cookies before they get on to my computer. Both free, of course. Consider doing it yourself. - JRC

Google Accused of Tracking Safari Usage Without Permission

A Stanford University graduate student has released a report that accuses Google and three other ad networks of side-stepping the privacy settings on Apple's Safari browser to track usage on iPhones and Macs without permission.

Microsoft: Google bypassed IE privacy settings too

In the wake of reports that Google had sidestepped privacy settings in Safari, Microsoft announced today it had discovered the Web giant had done the same with Internet Explorer.

Google Privacy Fiasco Lesson: There Is No Privacy

Google is in some hot water for bypassing privacy controls on the Safari Web browser in iOS devices--and allegedly on Internet Explorer as well--to surreptitiously track users’ online activities. While Google deals with the backlash and regulatory scrutiny from the FTC, there is an important lesson to be learned: privacy is dead.

Apple settles class-action suit over iPhone 4 antenna problem

Nearly two years after tech blogs screamed "Antennagate!" over problems with the iPhone 4's reception, owners will be getting a little pocket change for their troubles. Apple over the weekend settled a class-action lawsuit filed about the issue, promising to pay $15 or give a free case to everyone in the United States who bought one of the wildly popular phones.

What you can expect from Windows 8

With the Windows 8 Consumer Preview beta edition just around the corner, now is a good time to examine what we know and don't know about Microsoft's forthcoming OS, and what IT should look for when the Consumer Preview hits as expected on Feb. 29.

SkyDrive Integration Coming Soon to Windows Vista, 7 and 8

Many Windows users who partake in Microsoft’s free cloud storage service, SkyDrive, have always found it odd that the software company did not make it easier to access those cloud-stored files directly from the desktop. There are third-party ways of doing this, but it has always seemed like integration that should be included from the box.

Shocker: Facebook Users Hate Surprise Photo Tagging

Facebook photo junkies, take note: Failing to consider the wishes of others before posting their picture on the social network might just get you in trouble. A new survey from computer security firm Sophos found that nearly all Facebook users think it's rude when someone posts a photo or video of them without asking their permission first.

How to Set Up Your Wireless Router for Skype

Every router features management software which has configuration options for the router. If you take the time to get familiar with those settings, you can maximize performance—whether it's a $50 router or a $200 router.

How to Get the Best Use from the 7-Zip File Archiver Program

Although 7-Zip is a very popular utility, many people probably just install it and use the default setup. However, 7-Zip can be configured in various ways and you may want to set it up so that it better fits the particular way that you work. Here is how to get the best use from 7-Zip.

Wish I Could Think of a Cutesy Headline

I must be running short of brain power today. I can’t think of one smart-ass headline for today’s blog. But I can tell you it is chock full of useful (and sometimes) important information. No doubt you will find at least a couple of useful stories today (I hope).  So since I can’t think of a good headline, let us just get one with the news” - JRC

Microsoft Fixes 21 Security Flaws

Did you update your Windows Computer? Microsoft on Tuesday issued nine security updates addressing 21 separate flaws in products such as Windows, Internet Explorer (IE), .NET, Silverlight, and SharePoint. Several of the fixes address critical flaws, including some that could aid in so-called drive-by attacks.

LibreOffice 3.5 released, introduces new grammar tool

The community behind the LibreOffice project has released version 3.5 of the increasingly popular open source office suite. The update introduces new features and improvements that were developed by the project's growing body of contributors.

New MSN Site Updates Users on Topics Trending on Twitter, Facebook

Microsoft's MSN launched its msnNow site that puts together brief summaries on topics that are trending on Facebook, Twitter, Bing, and news site BreakingNews.com on a website accessible on PCs, tablets, and mobile phones.

All the Google Search Tips in one Video

The search team at Google has created a short video that puts all the useful stuff you can do on Google.com, plus some related search tips and tricks, in one place.

Are your mobile apps spying on you?

The controversy over Path, a mobile social networking app that hoovered up its users' address books without telling them and got spanked for it, has just become a much bigger deal. How much do mobile apps really know about you? More than you might think.

Is your free Anti Virus tool a ‘resource pig?’

A reader’s complaint about Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) spurred head-to-head comparison tests of AV-software resource usage. I put six popular, free antivirus tools through their paces and measured their impact on startup and shutdown times, disk space, and RAM use.

Create Photo Collages Using Pictures of your Facebook Friends

The team behind Shape Collage, a popular photo collage software, have launched Loupe, an online tool that will help you create collages using Facebook photos. You can either use your own photo albums and turn them into collages or the app can also pull photos from the albums of your Facebook friends that are visible to you.

Get Organized: 25 Essential Keyboard Shortcuts

Organization and productivity go hand-in-hand. Learn even a few of these keyboard shortcuts for Windows PCs or Macs to improve your efficiency.

Top 15 free tools for every Windows desktop

Some people collect Windows utilities like windshields collect bugs. But for most of us, the word "utility" is key. If we find ourselves not using the tool a few times a week, we give it the heave-ho. Here are 15 utilities that belong in every Windows user's bag of tricks. They're all free for personal use.

Best Phone and iPad Apps

I normally don’t talk much about smartphones and tablet applications as there are so many different types of them on the market. This newsletter/blog has always been about Windows computing, either on the desktop or laptop. But, I cannot ignore the cellphones and tablets because so many of you have them…including me.

So, in this edition, I’ve included special articles on the best applications for iPad, iPhone, and Android Smart Phones. I’ve also included updates on the new Kindle Fire tablets and iPad tablets that will be coming out in the very near future. Of all the products mentioned, I only have an Android phone, which I like very much. Later this year, I hope to acquire a tablet of some type…am just waiting for the next generation to show up before I make up my mind.

But, I haven’t forgotten you mainstream computer users, as there are some interesting stories that may concern you. Pay close attention to the “Do Not Track Plus” add-on for all Web browsers. I‘ve installed it on Firefox and Chrome and it seems to work very well. Onward…-JCR 

Microsoft warns of dangerous IE browser vulnerabilities

These most severe vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution if a user simply views a specially crafted web page using Internet Explorer. Microsoft is warning all users of its Internet Explorer web browser to immediately apply the latest security patch as a precaution against malicious hacker attacks.

Terrific software and support ... for criminal botnet builders

Shadowy vendor of botnet construction kits based on Citadel Trojan provides platform with customer service that commercial software companies could learn from.

Windows 8 — streamlining the update process

It appears that Microsoft has heard our complaints about a tedious part of the Windows updating process. Changes in Windows 8 should make the never-ending task of installing patches a bit easier, by reducing mandatory system restarts.

Why Your MP3s Sound Bad: High-Resolution Audio Explained

There's more to digital music than MP3 and AAC files, as Neil Young recently reminded us. Here's why high-resolution audio is important.

Do Not Track Plus add-on stops the tracking paparazzi

If ad-blocking is the hacksaw of Internet-protecting add-ons, the overhauled add-on Do Not Track Plus bows today as a finely honed scalpel, excising tracking behaviors embedded in sites without destroying the modern Web. With video.

Amazon readying 9-inch Kindle Fire for 2012, analyst predicts

Bartley told investors in a research note this week that the 9-inch Kindle Fire could launch by the middle of the year. He didn't provide further details on the tablet, but did say that the 9-inch model should increase Kindle Fire sales this year from an expected 12.7 million units to 14.9 million.

Apple in 'crunch mode' preparing apps to demo iPad 3

Apple is expected to unveil its next-generation iPad at a event in San Francisco scheduled for the first week of March, according to a report.

Best Free iPad Apps

But here at Gizmo’s Freeware, we only select the best from the free ones running in full screen on your iPad, while iPhone apps running on the iPad in 1x or 2x mode are excluded from this list.

Best Free iPhone Apps

After using an iPhone for two years, I've learned that lots of things are just easier to do on the iPhone and it's great always having it near. If you are just starting to use an iPhone, I hope this list gets you up to speed with a lot of really great tools.

Best Free Android Apps

Android apps (short for applications) are mobile software designed for running on the Android operating system, which is one of the most popular platforms used in cellphones, tablets and other mobile devices. To help you get the best of the free ones, we have selected some gems in each category and added them here in a convenient list with clear and brief descriptions of each application item.

Eastman Kodak…Going…Going…

For me, it was a good day…and a bad day. The good: Microsoft announced Windows 8 Consumer Preview will be released on Feb. 29…and they introduced a version of OneNote for Android (they have already done it for iPads and iPhones). I love OneNote as it is my favorite and most used application. It is always running on my computer, and now I can access all the info on my Android Phone. As soon as I heard about it, I installed it and it is fantastic. Extremely readable and usable.

I was also happy to learn the exact release date of Windows 8 and am looking forward to installing it on one of my computers. I will keep you updated. Included here are more screenshots of the operating system and, as a bonus, some early photos of the new Office 15, which won’t be available for awhile.

The bad news, for me personally was that Eastman Kodak is slowly disappearing forever into the sunset. They filed bankruptcy a short time ago and today announced they will no longer make cameras. That saddens me personally as I grew up using Kodak cameras…from the little brownies all the way to higher end film cameras. For so many years, Eastman Kodak was the leader in all aspects of photography…from cameras to film to darkroom materials and more. I’ve used many of their products in the field and in the darkroom, so I hope you will pardon me as I feel a bit sad.

But life goes on and so does this newsletter. -JRC

Kodak to stop making cameras, digital frames

The Rochester, N.Y.-based company, which filed for bankruptcy protection last month, said it will phase out the product lines in the first half of this year and instead look for other companies to license its brand for those products. Once the products are phased out, Kodak said its consumer business will focus on photo printing and desktop inkjet printers.

Microsoft to launch Windows 8 Consumer Preview at MWC

The Windows 8 Consumer Preview is launching in Barcelona during the Mobile World Congress on February 29.

Screenshots: Windows 8 Consumer Preview + Office "15"

Thanks to an exhaustive blog post and video about the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, Microsoft's ARM plans, and Office 15, we now have our best peek yet at the future of Windows. Here are some shots from that video, which reveal the Windows 8 Consumer Preview and Office 15 Technical Preview.

Windows 8 bundled Metro apps revealed

The next beta of Windows 8 will apparently give us a healthy dose of Metro apps, whether we want them or not. Microsoft plans to release the Windows 8 Consumer Preview--basically, a pre-release version of the new OS available to anyone who wants to download it--on February 29. Microsoft is reportedly finalizing the Metro apps that will be bundled with the new OS.

The dark side of Apple's dominance

Apple may become the Microsoft of mobile -- for better or for worse -- as Android sales drop and leave the mobile industry fewer dollars to divvy up

Five Tips to Make Your Facebook Timeline Amazing

Facebook Timeline is coming. It's just a matter of, well, time. Here are five tips to make your Timeline pop (plus a bonus tip in case you don't like Timeline).

In world of copyright craziness, BitTorrent, Inc. soars to new heights

It's a turbulent time in the world of content distribution. Despite a successful protest against overly restrictive anti-piracy legislation, law enforcement has demonstrated its already considerable power to take copyright-infringing websites offline, and several hosting and torrent sites have gone dark voluntarily to evade prosecution.

OneNote Mobile for Android is now available worldwide

Mobile versions of OneNote are currently available on Windows Phone, iPhone, iPad, and now Android. No matter which platform you prefer, OneNote Mobile lets you easily capture and access all of your notes and ideas on the go.

The Best Android Phones

It was the introduction of Android that helped propel the app-based smartphone to what it is today. The thing Android offered, which Apple's iPhone couldn't, was choice. Since it was an open-source platform, several hardware manufacturers could use the OS on their handsets, and a variety of wireless carriers could offer those phones—and they did.

Get Organized: Clean Up iTunes (Part 2)

If your iTunes music collection is a mess, you might think it's too far gone to fix. It's not. You can clean up and reorganize your music, I promise! The trick is to do it in small chunks and in a way that ensures that your organization builds on itself.

Windows 8 Preview Closer Than You Think

We are probably only two weeks away from the release of Windows 8 Consumer Preview…as it is now being called. Will an upgrade be worth it? Hard to tell. Right now we know the biggest new feature is the so-called Metro Interface. It reminds me of a smartphone or tablet interface. Of course, those are both touch devices and my desktop and laptop are anything but touch devices.

Now, you can use your mouse to activate Metro buttons…or switch to the desktop interface you know enjoy with Windows 7. If that is the case, why pay for Windows 8? Well, I am sure there is more to it than that and I am going to try out the Windows 8 Consumer Preview on one of my laptops and let you know. If you would like to see the Metro Interface, check out our very first story.

I’ve also included a couple of interesting articles on photography in this edition, so be sure and check those out, if you are interested. As always, there are also other good stories here to keep you occupied, so enjoy. JRC   

Leaked Shots Reveal Windows 8 Consumer Preview

While we eagerly await the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, which is still expected to come sometime this month, two blogs have leaked numerous screenshots of what appears to be the release. And based on these shots, we can see some important differences between the current build, the Developer Preview, and the coming Consumer Preview.

Opinion: Five Reasons why Windows 8 will be dead on arrival

Some of the author's die-hard Windows friends are very excited by Windows 8 arrival later this year. Others fear that Windows 8 will be a repeat of Microsoft's Vista disaster. The author knows Windows 8 will be a Vista-sized fiasco.

Adobe Launches Sandboxed Flash Player for Firefox

In secure software development, sandboxing refers to the practice of isolating a process from the operating system in order to minimize the fallout of a potential exploit. This type of technology has gained popularity in recent years, primarily because of its use in Google Chrome, a browser that has never experienced a successful remote code execution attack so far.

Be everywhere: Google’s real social strategy

There has been a lot of talk about how Google+ is failing, going to fail, or is a waste of time for both individuals and brands. It would be foolhardy, however, to treat Google+ as down for the count so early in the match. After all, Google has a lock on key distribution channels that it can use to muscle Google+ into the forefront of the social media conversation.

New Malware Attacks Target Online Banking

A new online banking fraud scheme is on the loose. Users are tricked by an offer of training in a new "upgraded security system" after being logged into the bank's real site, after which money is moved out of the account but evidence of the theft is invisible. The scam involves what has been dubbed the Man in the Browser attack.

Your next computer could well be a tablet

Like it or not — and I know that some of you don’t — tablets are changing the way the world works and plays. Whether it’s an iPad, Kindle, Nook, or a tablet based on Google’s Android OS, mobile devices are swirling across the computing landscape. Here’s how to pick the right one.

12 Great Tips to Scan Your Family Pictures

In the age of digital photos, photo scanners are still around largely because most of us—or our parents and grandparents—have collections of old film-based photos. Most people would like to get those photos scanned, if they could only figure out how. If that's the boat you're in, here are some tips that can help.

10 Photography Tips for Enthusiasts

You don't have to be a pro to really love photography. If taking pictures is your passion, consider these tips and ideas to help expand your skills and bring new perspective to your work.

A Handy Tweaking Tool For Windows

I normally try to steer clear of system utility tools such as registry cleaners, generic Windows clean-up suites and so on, because in my experience they can do more harm than good. But a simple, free program called Tweak Me seems to work rather well, and it's easy to reverse any changes because you can keep track of the selections you make.

Great Tech Info To Occupy Your Mind…Until Sunday Anyway

While my last blog featured more news, this one features more good information, which is probably what you want the most anyway…and there is some good info here for sure.

And as Sunday is Super Bowl Sunday, I’ve included three stories that might be of interest…like how to watch the game for free on your computer. And, be sure and watch the preview of a Super Bowl commercial (see the very last story) that will air during the game. It may just make your day. Onward and Upward…JRC

Why Are Digital Cameras Disappearing?

Digital camera maker Canon is in a bit of a bind. Its high-end Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras are growing in popularity, but compact cameras -- the basic point-and-shoot variety -- are starting to tank except in "emerging markets."

What Actually Changed in Google's Privacy Policy

It shouldn't take a letter from Congress for Google to give straight answers about Privacy Policy changes. In fact, it took a letter from eight representatives to persuade them to provide straightforward answers to the public about their new policy. Here's what you need to know about the substantive changes in the new policy:

Looking ahead to Windows 8: five big questions for Microsoft

The beta release of Windows 8 is just a few weeks away. It should be nearly feature-complete, and expectations will be high. So what’s keeping managers in Redmond awake at night? Here are my top five questions.

What Tech Gear Sucks the Most Power?

We break down what tech gear costs you the most on your electric bill even when it's not actively being used.

Best Free Online Applications and Services

With online applications and services, you do not need to download and install them into your computer for using them—you just need to open up a browser and access them online. Not only that you can save hard disk space as they do not need to be installed, but also you can work with files that are saved online from any computer anywhere, without the need to carry a storage device even a USB stick around with you.

Probably the Best Free Security List in the World

This huge list of free computer security products and services has been compiled over several years and is continuously updated. The purpose of the list is to provide a comprehensive documentation of the security products available rather than specific recommendations.

Get Organized: Clean Up iTunes

Duplicate tracks, unnamed albums, a disarray of miscellaneous songs and audio files--if those words describe your iTunes music library, take these three easy and accessible steps to clean it up.

Watch the Super Bowl on Your Cell Phone or Computer

A Super Bowl phone-watching offering is being made possible through a collaboration involving the National Football League, Comcast's NBC and Verizon Wireless. That means you'll need service through Verizon Wireless to watch on an iPhone or an Android phone. Another option: You can watch for free on a computer instead at NBCSports.com.

Twitter Launches Ad Scrimmage Competition for Super Bowl

To help fuel the conversation this year, Twitter is sponsoring what it calls a first of its kind competition called Ad Scrimmage, where ads can compete to see which gets the most buzz in the week following the game.

VW tries to out-Vader its last Super Bowl ad

Bonus Story: I tweeted this link on Twitter and Facebook.  In case you didn’t see, here it is again. I will just say if all Super Bowl ads are half as great as this ad, we are in for a wonderful Sunday. Don't miss it!!