Windows 8 Release Candidate is Released…OMG

It’s here, it’s hot, and it’s ready for your computer now. Microsoft surprised us all today by delivering Windows 8 Release Candidate ahead of schedule. Most reports had it pegged for June 8. The release candidate is the final beta version before the product is released for manufacturing. According to everything I read today, the product is much improved over the Consumer Preview Version. I wait to hear more on that. You can download it for free at the Microsoft Web site. I have included two stories here that give you an in-depth look at the latest iteration of Microsoft’s operating system.

On a sad note, it looks like the days of RIM, manufacturers of Blackberry phones, are coming to a close. Its operating losses far exceed their ability to continue in business. Too bad…for a long time it was the industry leader in Smart Phones, especially in the business world.

And be sure you read the story about the UN trying to take over the Internet. For once, Republicans and Democrats agree that this would be a very bad thing. We will hear more about this one in the coming months.

So without further ado, lets get started…-JRC

Windows 8 Release Preview: Microsoft gets its apps together

Microsoft’s carefully timed unveiling of Windows 8 has been frustratingly incomplete. Today’s launch of the Release Preview fills in many of the missing pieces, with the biggest surprise being a rich and polished collection of Metro style apps.

Windows 8 Release Preview: The Ultimate Delta Guide

You’ve waited, you’ve wondered, you’ve suspected … and now it’s finally here: The Windows 8 Release Preview, Microsoft’s new, near-final look at its next operating system. As expected, the Release Candidate represents a major new milestone towards the release of Windows 8. And if you’ve got questions about what’s changed, good news: I have the answers. And I like to share.

Microsoft Updates SkyDrive Application for Windows

No, it’s not the Live Mesh-like controllable folder sync we’re all looking for, but Microsoft says its pushing out an update to its SkyDrive application for Windows that enables some interesting new functionality.

U.N. takeover of the Internet must be stopped, U.S. warns

A U.N. summit later this year in Dubai could lead to a new international regime of censorship, taxes, and surveillance, warn Democrats, Republicans, the Internet Society, and father of the Internet Vint Cerf.

Behind the 'Flame' malware spying on Mideast computers (FAQ)

Lurking on computers for at least five years, the malware has the ability to steal data, eavesdrop on conversations, and take screen captures of instant message exchanges, making it dangerous to any victim. Experts say it's got to be the work of a nation-state.

White House launches coordinated effort to battle botnets

The new effort to fight the large networks of compromised computers will involve a range of activities, including plans to share information about botnets among government and private organizations and a nationwide consumer education campaign, members of President Barack Obama's administration announced. I feel safer already.

RIM's impending collapse: By the numbers

RIM is in dire straits. The makers of the Blackberry phone system announced it would suffer an operating loss and suspended its shares on the Nasdaq. Here’s what you need to know.

Burn Note Web App Allows Your Messages To Erase Automatically

Want to have an email message get destroyed as soon as its read?
Try out Burn Note an online message system we first heard about from CNET.

DVD Shrink Freeware

DVD Shrink enables you to fit a DVD-Video disc onto a single, standard DVD disc. The program supports re-authoring and re-encoding the movie, and features an intuitive user interface which makes it easy to choose what to keep, and what not.

Office 15…Looking Good

It looks like another slow week for tech news. I really had to scramble to get enough quality stories for this edition…the operative word here is “quality”… stories that you will find useful.

Many of today’s nuggets are focused upon Microsoft…some about Windows 8 surprises…but my favorite story is about what to expect in the forthcoming release of Office 15. We have all been so focused on the pluses and minuses of Windows 8, we forgot that a new version of Office is also coming out this year. If you are an Office user, I encourage you to read about this new version.

You will notice there are no stories today about the price of Facebook stock…I don’t want to turn this journal into a stock market tip sheet. But, for your information, the stock continued its slide, closing today at $28.84…down over $3 from Friday’s close and over $9 from its opening price of $38. The stock market itself had a good day.

So, let’s just move beyond Facebook and hope you can find something useful in today’s stories. – JRC

Four signs America’s broadband policy is failing

Where's the robust broadband competition we were promised?

Office 15: The Mile-High View

Overall, Office 15 is compelling and forward-leaning. Microsoft’s embrace of cloud computing and virtualization technologies, in particular, is well done and make supporting and using this suite easier than ever.

Why Microsoft Killed Windows Live

Windows Live has been Microsoft's online branding since it was unveiled back in November 2005. But Windows Live never worked, mainly because the brand was applied to Microsoft products inconsistently and seemingly at random.

Windows 8 Release Preview: RIP, Aero (2003-2012)

This change isn’t just about obfuscation. It’s about the Windows team abandoning the very market that drove Windows’s success for over 25 years in order to chase a coming and potentially illusory market for tablet devices.

Microsoft forbids class actions in new Windows license

Microsoft will make it harder for customers to club together with lawyers to file lawsuits against its products. The company is rolling out new End User License Agreements (EULAs) that forbid punters from joining class-action proceedings.

Did Microsoft Just Give Up on Windows 8 for Businesses?

Despite my recent attempt to categorize what’s coming in Windows 8 for businesses -- and, seriously, it’s not a bad list -- it’s become increasingly clear to me that Microsoft doesn’t actually expect businesses to upgrade to this new system in any meaningful way.

Browser choice: A thing of the past?

Devices using iOS and the future Windows RT hobble third-party browsers. Despite some good reasons for doing so, the change could undermine browser competition.

10 ways to make Android better than the iPhone

These tweaks and apps will let your Android smartphone outshine your friends' iPhones

Set Your Notifications to Stop Your Phone from Constantly Bugging You

If you're anything like me, your phone buzzes all day long, alerting you to completely useless things like app updates, Facebook likes, and chain emails from your grandma. Here's how to keep your phone from bugging you all day without turning your notifications off entirely—but still staying on top of what matters.

Eraser - Free Download

Eraser is an advanced security tool for Windows that allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns.

A Tale of Two Troubled Companies

Facebook continues to dominate the tech news with stories about its IPO and falling stock prices. Today, it closed $2 higher than it was on Tuesday, but still $5 below its initial public offering of $38 per share. I think it will hover around this price for a while…but who knows. Our first story tells you why this story isn’t going away any time soon.

In another story about a a different troubled tech company, Yahoo has released its first attempt at a Web browser. And like many of their latest ventures, it may flop. I will give the company credit for trying, but releasing a Web browser, of all things, doesn’t seem real smart…and it may have some serious security issues right out of the gate. I won’t be getting it any time soon…if for no other reason than I don’t need it. Who does?

Well, I will let you read the rest on your own. - JRC

Fury Over Facebook IPO Grows, Lawsuits Mount

With lawsuits literally mounting by the hour, it seems anyone within an arms reach of this deal is going to have some serious explaining to do.

'Privacy Is Awesome' Campaign Aims to Kill CISPA

Fight for the Future, a nonprofit with the self-described goal of protecting the Internet, has launched an informational campaign designed to kill off the Cyber Information Sharing and Protection Act (CISPA) once and for all.

President Obama orders federal agencies to optimize sites for smartphones and tablets

In a note issued by The White House this week, Obama says "it is time for the Federal Government to do more" to assist American people using Government services on smartphones or tablets.

Google takes down 1.2 million search links a month over piracy, copyright issues

In a reflection of the evolving nature of anti-piracy enforcement, the company revealed that it takes down 250,000 search links each week over copyright concerns, a figure that exceeds the total number it removed in all of 2009.

The truth about Google+: The social network without passion

While usage is low, it's not quite the ghost town some claim, and there's a deeper story behind the numbers

Google Chrome: Keeping tabs on your tabs

When you’re signed in to Chrome, your open tabs are synced across all your devices, so you can quickly access them from the “Other devices” menu on the New Tab page.

Here comes Yahoo's own Web browser -- Axis

Yahoo's search group attempts to take control of its destiny by launching its own browser. Surprise: It's good. However, others have pointed out there may some security issues.

Unusual photo and video effects from Microsoft

Digital photography gives us the freedom to take hundreds of photos and videos of places and people, at very little expense — so many images, that family and friends might be blasé at best about your latest efforts. But three little-known apps from Microsoft can put some unexpected novelty back into your images.

Best Free Mobile Apps

Here is a list of the best mobile apps for Android, iPhone, and iPad.

102 Places For Free Science Fiction & Fantasy eBooks Online

This is a listing of sites that legally offer free books, for reading (83) and listening (audio 19), for Science Fiction-Fantasy works. All of these sites listed have content that is legal for them to distribute and for you to read and/or download.

Facebook Stock Going South - Here’s Why

Another bad day on the stock market for Facebook. It closed today at $31 per share, down $7 from its first day opening price on Friday. On that first day, it actually got up to around $45, then closed at 31 cents above its opening Friday. On Monday, it went down nearly $4 in value and today, it dropped again. Not good. I heard several analysts saying before Friday that it was priced too high. But one never knows about IPO’s. I had a feeling it would drop, but I am definitely no expert. Our first story explains it all.

On a normal day, Microsoft and Windows would have been our lead story…with CEO Steve Ballmer’s outlandish predictions about the success of Windows 8. Problem is, if it doesn’t come true, he has backed himself into a corner.

It is pretty obvious that Microsoft is gearing Windows 8 toward consumers as many businesses are now just making the jump from XP to Windows 7. I doubt seriously most would be willing to jump into Windows 8, given the massive amount of retraining it would take for their users.

As for Windows 8 itself, you know my feelings. But our third story gives you another view as to why it will fail. In case you don’t get a chance to read it, the last paragraph makes a bold prediction that Windows 9 will look very much like Windows 7. And away we go…-JRC

Why Facebook's stock is tanking

Reality has taken hold. The company's valuation is still out of whack, despite its massive user base.

Ballmer: 500 Million Windows 8 Users by End of 2013

Talk about a bold prediction! Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer says that Windows 8 represented a “rebirth” of his company’s core operating system that would trigger sales of 500 million units between its release later this year and the end of 2013.

Microsoft's big bet: Windows 8's 'too many cooks' problem

Windows 8 has already had too many hands in the mix and spoons in the pot. Microsoft wanted different and its staff all thought “different”. Instead of reaching compromise, Microsoft put everything in to please everyone — but will likely please very few.

Microsoft Launched the So.cl Social Media Program

Microsoft launched a new social network program So.cl last week. But unlike Facebook, or Twitter, this program is geared towards students and academics as a way of helping students learn.

A Newbie's Guide to Publishing: Pricing Books and Ebooks

Some authors still seem to be confused about Agency pricing, what it means, and how does it compare to wholesale pricing on ebooks and paper books. They somehow think Amazon is a bad guy for trying to lower ebook prices. Here's a deeper explanation.

Technology News: Internet: Chrome Snatches IE's Browser Crown

Google's Chrome is now the most popular Web browser, having overtaken Microsoft's Internet Explorer worldwide, according to the latest figures from StatCounter.

Comcast, Cox, Time Warner partner on metro Wi-Fi

About 50,000 hotspots will carry the network name “CableWiFi” and allow cable customers to access wireless broadband Internet outside their home markets.

How Amazon is changing the rules for books and movies

The online retail giant is tapping its huge customer base and vast technical underpinnings to reshape the way books, movies, and television programs are made.

What Specs Actually Matter in a Digital Camera?

Megapixel rating don't really matter for image quality. What specs will tell me if a camera shoots great images or not?

Readlists, from the makers of Readability, creates ebooks from URLs

Readlists, a new website/web app that lets you create your own ebooks from your favorite articles online.

Two More Rants and One Good Rave

It will be fun tomorrow to watch Facebook’s first day on the stock market. The grand opening price, as outlined in story #4, is $38 per share. Of course, the likes of you and me will never get to see that price…oh, no, no, no. Opening prices are reserved for the super-rich with friends on the inside. Now you know why there is an “Occupy Wall Street” movement.  But, don’t forget, the stock market can be fickle and it might wind up the day for less than $38, although I don’t expect it will.

Want some more news to piss you off? How about Verizon rewriting customer’s contracts to screw them out of their unlimited data plans? Even if you have an existing contract, they are cancelling it and will charge you their structured data rates. And that is the dirty little secret about cell phone contracts…only you have to honor your end…cell phone companies can do anything they want. Read your contract carefully, it is right in there.

But here is some good news…one of my favorite companies, OpenDNS.com, the company I use and recommend for your Internet DNS service, is now offering a free program that will encrypt all your data from your computer to the DNS server. No more worrying about being hijacked at open Wi-Fi places. Can’t happen when your data is encrypted.  Everyone with a laptop computer should be using this free program (see last story). Heck…I am going to use it at home. Never can be too secure.

OK, let’s get on with the show…-JRC

First Look: ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall Launches Today

ZoneAlarm is an old and trusted name in the field of computer security. Its free personal firewall has been popular for years, and now, it has decided to step up its game: Its latest product takes the solid foundation of the free firewall, and adds a free antivirus on top

Technology News: Android: Android: What, Me Fragmented?

There are nearly 4,000 different types of devices running Android, OpenSignalMaps has found. More than 1,300 of them have custom ROMs that tweak the android.build model.

Seeing ads on Wikipedia? Then you're infected

Wikipedia relies on donations to fund its work, resisting the temptation to put ads on its pages. So internet users who see commercial ads when they visit the encyclopedia are been served content via cybercrime affiliates, a blog post by Wikipedia explains.

Windows 8: Does Metro actually work?

Using Microsoft’s Metro technology in Windows 8 is like going to a flashy restaurant where your plate is delivered with a tiny morsel of food in the middle, but the rest of the plate is unused, says one tester.

Verizon to kill unlimited data plans for existing subscribers

Verizon Wireless subscribers who have held onto their $30-a-month unlimited data plans will soon be forced to upgrade to a new tiered offering the company plans to launch this summer.

Facebook sets IPO price at $38 a share

Facebook has set the price of tomorrow's IPO at $38 a share, after phenomenally strong demand from big money managers to get in on the biggest Internet IPO in history. Should be quite a show tomorrow.

The best blogs for hobby astronomers

If one of your geek hobbies is stargazing and reading about celestial events, you’ll want to check out these 14 blogs and one podcast.

Best practices for trouble-free Windows patching

For Windows users who manage their own system updates, the patching process is a bit like going to the dentist — you really hope it’ll be pain-free. For making that twice-monthly chore a little easier, here are some simple tips and tricks to avoid patching woes.

Introducing DNSCrypt

In the same way the SSL turns HTTP web traffic into HTTPS encrypted Web traffic, DNSCrypt turns regular DNS traffic into encrypted DNS traffic that is secure from eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. Just what you need for all open Wi-Fi connections.

I'm Mad as Hell etc.

I am in a bad mood and this episode of Rants and Raves will reflect just that. Why? Not 100% sure. Maybe because a local restaurant gave me Salmonella poisoning a few days ago and I was violently ill like never before and am still recovering.  There are probably a few more reasons. But what set me off was a headline I saw while putting together stories for this blog.

The headline was, “Half of All People Surveyed Believe Facebook is a Passing Fad.” Duh! Of course it is…most of life these days is a passing fad. Technology is filled with passing fads. Life itself is filled with passing fads. Music, art, education, marriage, relationships, careers, diets, restaurants…they are all passing fads. We are a society of passing fads headed toward oblivion on so many levels. 

So, add Facebook to that list. All those social Websites like Twitter, Facebook, Google+…it’s everybody shouting at once and no one is listening. I am about to bail on all of them. What’s the point? 

But enough of that…check out today’s stories. In one story, Microsoft is supposedly going to give you a $15 coupon for Windows 8 when you buy a Windows 7 computer before the release of 8. I don’t give a damn if it was free…I am not upgrading any computer to that piece of crap. And as far as buying a Windows 8 Tablet running on ARM (see the story on Windows RT), why would I buy anything that gives me computing power so much less than what I have now.  And what a stupid name…Windows RT! Even Microsoft doesn’t know what it means. 

And now Firefox is releasing a beta version of Firefox for my Android phone. I am glad about that. I will download it shortly. But what about releasing a version for my iPad? Safari sucks.  Now, I love most everything about my iPad, but not the browser.  Even a Chrome browser would be welcome.

As for the story about Twitter sending me highlights for this week’s best Tweets, what a joke. Most were stories about people I consider human garbage. You bet I am going to shut that down.  Screw the Kardashians, the Kutchers, and other people of their ilk who have nothing to offer humanity.  To follow them is to lower your IQ to dangerous levels. And please, for God’s sake, shut down reality TV...for the sake of our children.

OK, I think that is it for now. Thanks for letting me rant. I feel a little better, but then I realize that no one is going to read this, and I get depressed again. Why do I continue to write when nobody gives a damn? It's only me shouting again. – JRC

Windows 8 Pro PC Upgrade Cost is Just $15

 

A coming Microsoft promotion will provide Windows 8 Pro to buyers of Windows 7-based PCs for just $14.99, according to my sources. The promotion begins June 2.

Windows RT 'isn't Windows'

It appears to me that Microsoft's caught between a rock and a hard place. If it keeps the "Windows" name in Windows RT they'll not only confuse the living daylights out of hundreds of millions of consumers, Microsoft will also have to explain to a jury someday why it allows competitors' products into all of Windows 8 but doesn't allow access to all of Windows RT.

Intel Windows 8 tablets to hit retail stores in November

And don't expect just tablets. "More than 50 percent" of the "more than a dozen" designs will be hybrids, aka convertibles, the source said. Those designs combine aspects of a traditional physical keyboard-based laptop and tablet.

Microsoft quietly rolls out Silverlight 5.1

Microsoft made available for download Silverlight 5.1 on May 8. Here’s what’s included in this minor update.

Mozilla Releases Firefox for Android Beta

Firefox for Android supports more than 70 devices running different versions of the operating system--from Android 2.2 ("Froyo") to Android 4.0 ("Ice Cream Sandwich"). The beta is only available for phones (not tablets).

Twitter Is Now Sending You Weekly Email Digests; Here's How to Turn Them Off

 

Twitter just added a new feature that sends you a weekly email with the most popular tweets and links from people you follow.

Hate commercials? Dish Network launches automatic ad-skipping feature

As more consumers turn to the DVR to fast-forward through annoying commercials, Dish Network has advanced this feature even further by eliminating the fast-forwarding step.

Filtering emails in Outlook

Outlook offers several ways to filter emails. A filter lets you see only those messages that meet certain criteria. For example, you could pick a filter that lets you see only emails that have attachments or are unread. Here's how it works.

MultiMon Taskbar - Free

MultiMon Taskbar Free is an application that places a simple, basic taskbar on your secondary monitor, or even on two secondary monitors if you have a triple-monitor setup.

 

Harry Potter Books For Free on Amazon

Not being a Harry Potter fan, I really don’t care that I can now get those books for free with my Amazon Prime membership. But some of you just might be interested. I was actually more interested in the two stories about tablets…what to expect from the three big names in tablets in the next few months…and the story the Microsoft will ban Firefox from its ARM-based tablets running Windows 8.

Now that is just dumb! I guess that means you will be forced to use IE when using a Windows 8 tablet. To me that is just another nail in the coffin of Windows 8 computers. Why would I upgrade to an operating system that gives me less than what I have now? As I said in the last edition, Microsoft seems to have lost its way. Of course, time will tell if I am right or wrong…but whatever happens, I am sticking with my Windows 7 computer and my Apple iPad tablet.

Of course, there is more to this edition than those two stories, so let’s get to it. - JRC

Microsoft bans Firefox on ARM-based Windows, Mozilla says

Raising the specter of last-generation browser battles, Mozilla launches a publicity campaign to seek a place for browsers besides IE on Windows devices using ARM chips.

Every Single Harry Potter Book Will Be Free on Amazon Prime

Do you have an Amazon Prime account? Then you have all seven books of the Harry Potter adolescent warfare odyssey. Amazon just told us the entire series will be made free as part of its Kindle Lending Library.

Bing's Major Overhaul

Over the next few weeks, Microsoft will roll out a brand new three-column version of Bing that incorporates a social sidebar filled with related info from your social networks and a new center column with supplemental information related to your search.

Tablet Outlook 2012: What's Expected from Apple, Google, Microsoft

Just about every tablet maker, including Apple, is rumored (or expected) to announce (or launch) a new tablet version within roughly the next four months. The devices are likely to be smaller in the case of Apple and bigger in the case of Amazon.

Facebook to launch its own app store in the coming weeks

Facebook on Wednesday announced it will be launching a new App Center in the coming weeks on the Web, iOS and Android. The company hopes the center will give developers a way to more effectively distribute apps and create new opportunities for more types of apps to be successful.

Camera megapixels: Why more isn't always better

It's time to forget megapixels as the measure of smartphone camera performance and pick a new yardstick.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

In this week’s webinar, you’ll learn about nifty keyboard shortcuts in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. There’s a lot more than Ctrl+X for Cut and Ctrl+V for Paste. A 16 minute video

Exploring Windows’ Administrative Tools: Part 1

Windows has a long and honorable history of including advanced tools and options that help unlock the operating system’s full potential. In this first installment of a series of articles on these tools, you’ll see how a few easy tweaks can give you two-click access to hundreds of Windows’ most powerful features.

100 best ever free PC system tools

There's a tool for just about anything you can think of in Windows. And if you look hard enough, you'll find a freebie is more than capable of doing the job you want – in some cases, free tools outclass their shareware or commercial rivals.

What? No DVD Playback in Windows 8?

Has the leadership at Microsoft gone completely off its rocker? If and when you get a computer running Windows 8 in the future, just try and play a DVD. It won't work. There is no way to do it. Can you believe this new nonsensical move by the boys from Redmond? I can't. Why in the hell would anybody buy Windows 8 when some of the best features of Windows will be gone.

Now there is a caveat to this. You can still get get DVD playback if you buy Windows 8 Pro version for more money...then spend even more and buy the Windows Media Player add-on. But, there is no doubt enterprising folk will provide a DVD player app to work in Windows 8...just like someone will provide a Start Button to replace the one Microsoft removed.

I predict here and now that Windows 8 will be a flop. Businesses will not adopt it and folks running Windows 7 will not upgrade. There is no doubt in my mind that Microsoft has lost its way. New leadership with vision is needed from the top on down or they will continue to flounder. Just my opinion, folks. -JRC 

FBI Aims to Pry Open New Channels for Web Surveillance

The FBI is pushing for a change in 1994's CALEA law that would make social networking websites and online chat services more easily accessed by law enforcement surveillance teams. The bureau has asserted that a change in the way people communicate has lessened its wiretapping ability, a problem it refers to as "going dark."

Osama bin Laden didn't use encryption: 17 documents released

Osama bin Laden didn’t use encryption to protect the thousands of files stored in the Pakistani compound where he was killed. 17 of the 6,000 documents have now been publicly released.

The real story behind the big Microsoft and B&N deal

How could Microsoft and Barnes & Noble launch a historic joint venture when they were at each others' throats a few month ago? Read on

Microsoft goes green: data centers, offices to be carbon neutral come July

The program will begin in July, at the start of Microsoft's 2013 fiscal year, and includes a company-wide carbon fee, whereby various divisions will be held accountable for their own energy usage.

No Windows 8 DVD playback will mean increased costs, and consumer confusion

Windows 8 users who want out-of-the-box DVD playback capability will not only have to purchase the higher-priced Pro edition, but also the optional Media Center Pack. This is bad news for consumers because it means increased costs, more confusion, and the potential for more 'crapware' to be installed on new PCs.

 The iPad Has Killed The Netbook

While we can debate how much the iPad cannibalizes Apple’s MacBook sales, there’s no doubt that the device is continuing to kill of the entire netbook industry. While iPad sales are literally selling as fast as Apple can make them, netbook sales continue to plummet

New ZoneAlarm antivirus-firewall combo competes for free

For years, the firewall has been a feature restricted to paid upgrades in comprehensive security suites. ZoneAlarm just upended that paradigm with its new ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus+Firewall.

Manage multiple online storage accounts from one place with Otixo

Otixo is a free online service that will connect with multiple cloud storage accounts and present them to you in a single, easy to use dialog.

Versatile Free Program for Saving or Printing a List of Your Windows Files and Folders

One of the features lacking in Windows Explorer is a way to create a list of the files in a folder. A new program called Karen’s Directory Printer solves this problem and comes with a selection of features that are quite useful.