Windows 8..Like it ‘Cause You Got No Choice

I was afraid this would happen. Microsoft is going forward with this all-new operating system concept…and you, me, and computer manufacturers are stuck with it. Your only choice is to stay with your current Windows system, or move to Apple or Linux.

Staying with Windows 7 is a good option for now (XP is already obsolete) and that is what I plan to do. But what happens when you or I need a new computer? Not only will our choice of operating systems be limited, but computer manufacturers are coming out with systems designed especially for Windows 8.

For instance, Samsung announced new computers that are both laptops and tablets (and boy, are the prices outrageous). Other manufacturers will be putting out desktop systems with touch screen interfaces. Our second story talks about what manufacturers are doing.

Meanwhile, our first story talks about where Microsoft is headed…and they will not be backing off their current track. And while we can stay with Windows 7 for now, it won’t be long before they start producing products that will only run in Windows 8 or later. So, in short, for all of us, its Microsoft’s way or the highway.

So while most of us may not upgrade to Windows 8, we are only a small piece of Microsoft’s income. The big bucks come from the sales of new computers where they may be no choice for an operating system. So, like it or lump it, most of us may be headed eventually for Windows 8 or its successor. Apple anyone?

Surprisingly, there are a few positive stories mixed in here, so let’s get going. -JRC 

Windows 8: Hate It Already? Why Waiting for Windows 9 Won't Help

Conventional Windows wisdom seems to hold that every other version of Windows is terrible and needs to be fixed by whatever version comes after that. Does this mantra sound familiar? Unless you're willing to embrace the changes Microsoft is making in Windows 8, be prepared to stick with your current version of Windows for a long time.

This Is Why Your Windows 8 Computer Will Be Unlike Anything You've Ever Used Before

It's pretty clear PC makers haven't quite figured out what to do with Windows 8 yet. It'll take some time. Meanwhile, we're going to see a lot of experimentation with hardware designs.

Windows 8 Tip: Dual-Boot with Windows 7

Here's a thought...since Windows 8 will only be $40, you could set up a dual-boot on your Windows 7 machine and have both. Just a thought...

Publishers to pay $69 million over e-book price-fixing allegations

The companies signed the agreement with 54 attorneys general across U.S. states, districts, and territories. Hope we start seeing price reductions soon.

Kindle Fire 'sold out' as new model looms

The tablet is no longer available through Amazon. And the timing of the news is intriguing, what with a new Kindle Fire reportedly to debut next week.

How Secure Are You Online: The Checklist

Everyone who uses a computer has a horse in the security race. For the purpose of this post, we're breaking down online security into four essential parts: passwords, browsers, at-home Wi-Fi and networking, and browsing on public Wi-Fi. Within those categories we'll give you a checklist of everything you should do.

How Secure Is the Cloud, Really?

The hack attack on journalist Mat Honan underscored some of the weak points infiltrators can use to slip past cloud systems' security. Those insecurities can effect companies as well as individuals.

ESPN delivers College Football companion app to iOS and Android

If you're a football fan, then we don't have to tell you that college football kicks off this Thursday. But perhaps you have yet to find the perfect app for your smart phone or tablet to keep you informed during the fifteen solid hours of football this Saturday.

Free Audio Converter

We've tried tons of freeware MP3 converters. They tend to fall somewhere in between Easy Enough for Beginners and Feature-Filled for Experts. DVDVideoSoft's Free Audio Converter definitely registers on the "Easy" end of the dial

Passwords Easier to Crack Than Ever

Here is a shock: all passwords, 8 characters or less, no matter how carefully crafted can be cracked. That’s how good cracking computers have become. Today’s cracking software running on a regular computer, can make 15.5 billion guesses per second!

Back in June, LinkedIn had their password database hijacked, loosing about 6.5 million passwords. Even though they were encrypted, an independent security expert, working with LinkedIn, took a shot at their database, seeing how many passwords he could unravel.

He cracked 20% of the passwords in their database in just 30 seconds! That is food for thought. In two hours, he had cracked a total of 53%.Of course, it got a little harder after that. But in 24 hours total, he had 64% cracked…and after 5 days, 88% of the passwords were completely hacked. And he was using a regular computer in his bedroom!

The software used to crack passwords is available for free on the Net, along with videos and tutorials. Have I scared you yet?

I hope so. All this info sure scares me. The easiest way to protect yourself is to use LastPass (free) in your browser and let it generate random passwords at least 12 characters long. Use a different password for each account. You will not be able to remember these passwords, but LastPass will do it for you.

In any case, I’ve included the original news story here that started all this. although it is long and technical in places, give it a read, then immediately start changing your passwords.

I’ve also included a story on Apple’s huge $1 billion dollar lawsuit victory over Samsung and what it means. And today’s software focus is on photography…specifically how best to organize you photos. So let’s get to it. -JRC 

Why passwords have never been weaker-and crackers have never been stronger

The ancient art of password cracking has advanced further in the past five years than it did in the previous several decades combined. At the same time, the dangerous practice of password reuse has surged. The result: security provided by the average password in 2012 has never been weaker.

The Apple vs. Samsung decision is a game-changer

Friday's record-breaking jury award of more than $1 billion to Apple in its patent lawsuit against rival smartphone-maker Samsung is a big deal, and pundits, analysts and lawyers have been scrambling since the jury verdict came down to figure out what it means for the future.

Kodak to Sell its Camera Film Business

It’s a sad day for film photographers: Kodak has announced that it will sell off its camera film business, one of the huge pillars of what made Kodak Kodak in the eyes of consumers around the world.

Firefox 15 offers fewer leaks, more frags

Another month, another Firefox update. But although Mozilla's breakneck release pace can be bewildering for some users, new Firefox versions continue to bring performance, stability, and security improvements – and in the case of the newly released Firefox 15, some nice goodies for gamers.

ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall Launches Today

With this move, ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall competes directly against Microsoft Security Essentials and the built-in Windows firewall. PCWorld has not yet tested this product's effectiveness, but I sat down with the software to evaluate its features.

Optimizing your Wi-Fi network

There are a few ways to make sure you get the best out of your Wi-Fi network. With some, you just need to do a little bit of tweaking; with others, depending on your home, you might need to get extra equipment.

Organize Those Digital Photos!

Clear out the closet, toss aside old shoe boxes, and put all your photos--digital and paper--into your computer.

Easy ways to organize your digital photos

We'll show you simple ways to organize your digital photos for easy image searching and sharing. (Ignore the HP commercial at the end)

Best Free Digital Photo Organizers

In the first group, my best in class list has four choices: FastStone Image Viewer, Zoner Photo Studio Free, XNView and, for those who use a Linux operating system, digiKam. In the second group Picasa and Windows Live Photo Gallery are my top picks.

Organize your digital photos with Picasa

Anyone with a digital camera knows it doesn't take much to wind up with a hard drive littered with thousands of files named things like IMG_1892.jpg. In my quest to organize all the stuff that's accumulated on my hard drive, I knew that sooner or later, my little digital photo problem would rear its ugly head.

Anticipation–Apple, Amazon Ready for Big Announcements

Ain’t technology wonderful? As I prepare this edition of Rants and Raves on my #1 monitor, I ‘m watching a football game in HD (Packers vs. Bengals) on monitor #2. If I chose, I can also watch it on my iPad. Gotta love it!

Hard tech news is hard to come by this week…but Amazon has finally scheduled its big announcement…on Sept. 6th, they will presumably show the next version of its Kindle Fire line of tablets, and maybe some new Kindle readers. Meanwhile Apple is officially keeping mum on it next big event, but many tech writers are reporting that it will be on Sept 12th where they will more-than-likely unveil the new iPhone 5 and maybe a new 7” iPad. I look forward to both events.

Meanwhile, in this edition I will focus on Windows RT, the special edition of Windows designed for tablets. Over the last few months, I’ve spent a lot of digital ink on Windows 8 for the desktop and laptop…but Windows 8 RT is for tablets and is very different from its big brother. Since tablets are the hottest computers on the market, you might want to consider a Windows RT tablet…or maybe not. But it’s best you be informed.

So, with so much information here, you need to get started. Enjoy. -JRC

Where we’re all headed with Windows RT

Last week, we got our first look at the final version of Windows 8. However, we’ve not seen much about its lighter compatriot — Windows RT. In short, Windows RT is the version of Windows 8 that doesn’t run Windows programs. Okay, so I’m being a little snarky — but not very.

The 15 Things You Need to Know About Windows RT

So for anyone trying to make sense of the differences between Windows 8 and Windows RT - these 15 questions will tell you everything there is to know - except maybe which new version of Windows is right for you.

Should You Buy Windows 8 or Windows RT?

As Windows 8’s October launch date approaches, potential buyers must begin to ask themselves this question: should you buy a full-fledged Windows 8 machine or consider a less-expensive Windows RT device?

Rethinking the viability of the Windows 8 tablet

Windows 8 is designed for tablets first according to the flood of reviews on the web since it was RTM. As excited as I am for the Windows 8 tablet, the more I think about it the harder a purchase is to justify.

Microsoft Changes Its Logo To Mimic Windows 8

For the first time in 25 years, Microsoft has changed its logo, the company announced Thursday. The new logo draws heavily from the look and feel of the typeface formerly referred to as “Metro” used in the company's upcoming Windows 8 operating system.

Amazon set to introduce new Kindles at September 6 event

Amazon has sent out invites for a press conference in Santa Monica, Calif., where it's expected the company will introduce new Kindle devices.

Apple reportedly to unveil iPhone 5, iPad Mini on Sept. 12

Citing "sources who have proven accurate in the past," blog site iMore says that Apple will announce the two devices at a special event on Wednesday, September 12. The iPhone 5 itself would then go on sale 9 days later on Friday, September 21.

Facebook’s Stock Dive Isn’t Over

Facebook’s stock hit a new low last week -- and it could be poised to plunge even further. The spiral that started last Thursday ended the next day at $19.05 a share, just shy of half of Facebook’s initial public offering price in May.

Six tips for managing your iTunes library

Delete duplicate files, ensure linked tracks play in sequence, join tracks when you rip a CD, change the playback volume of a single track, sync to fill your iPod, and use playback-control shortcuts.

Create one-click desktop shortcuts for Web sites in Chrome

Want quick access to your favorite sites or services on the Web? Here's how to add a shortcut you can click from the desktop or taskbar.

Follow-ups on Some Recently Reported Major Stories

10 days ago, I reported the first person story of the Wired Magazine reporter who had his digital life destroyed. My lead story today is part two of his epic journey to get his life back, as told by him. Definitely worth a read and learn the lessons so it does not happen to you.

In the last couple of editions I focused on a particular application (Outlook.com and Windows 8). Today, I want to focus a little attention on one of my favorite applications, Evernote. I use this on a daily basis and the best part is that it is completely free. I have it on my phone, my iPad, and all my computers…and they are all in sync. If you don’t use it, you should, and if you do use it, you should still read the two articles. The first is about figuring out the best use of the program to fit your needs. The next article is about six new applications that can help you use it better.

There is also a follow-up article on the very negative Windows 8 review I published last week. Also worth reading. In fact everything here is worth a read, so why don’t you just get right to it. -JRC

How I Got My Digital Life Back Again After An Epic Hacking

This is a continuation of the story we broke last week about the Wired Reporter whose digital life was stolen from him.

How to Harden Your Browser Against Malware and Privacy Concerns

This article is meant to help you to harden your browser against all types of problems. However, do note that I would strongly suggest that even if your main concern is only about privacy you should still read through the security sections as well.

Evernote: A 0-to-60 MPH Guide

Evernote is many things to many people because it’s so powerful. But for the same reason, Evernote’s purpose is vague enough that it can be hard to get started using it. First, you have to figure out what it can do for you. Here’s a guide to how to think about Evernote, so you can get better at using it.

6 Awesome Evernote Apps That We Guarantee You've Never Seen

For the Evernote users out there, here are six cool new apps to enhance your outboard brain. I really like the KustomNote app. Be aware that there are lots of other applications out there made specifically for Evernote.

Windows 8: Yes, it's that bad, part 2

My Windows 8 review drew an enormous number of comments, many well-considered. Here's my stab at informative responses

Windows RT Hardware: What to Expect, According to Microsoft

At least four PC makers plan to launch hardware -- not strictly tablets -- running Windows RT, Microsoft says. In a blog post, Microsoft named Asus, Dell, Lenovo, and Samsung as the first Windows RT hardware makers, joined, of course, by Microsoft and its own Surface tablet.

Exploring Windows’ Administrative Tools: Part 3

When the need arises to check system RAM, try the Windows Memory Diagnostic tool that comes with Vista and Windows 7 — and is a free download for XP. This app thoroughly exercises your system’s random-access memory, uncovering problems that can cause crashes, hangs, and other errors.

How to Block Websites from Appearing in Google Search Results

Google has been getting better at identifying and removing spam websites from their search results pages but sometimes not-so-useful sites do manage to slip through the Google filters. What can you do to prevent such sites from appearing in your Google results?

4 free Android alternatives to Google Maps Navigation

If you're not happy with the navigation app that came on your smartphone or tablet, check out these four free alternatives and leave your wallet in your pocket.

Registry Alert Download (Free)

Registry Alert is small security software for registry. It will give you alert for those software or spy-wares which start on startup and slow your computer.you can also create your alert and watch your registry. It run in background and takes very less memory.

The Almost Final Verdict on Windows 8–You Decide

The final version of Windows 8 for desktops and laptops is out and available for installation…well, sort of. If you are a TechNet ($199 a year) or MSDN (don’t ask) subscriber, you can get it today. Ordinary folks like you and me have to wait until October to get it…with one exception. You can download a free a 90 day trial version today.

I think you know where I stand on this…I am not upgrading. I’ve tried it and did not like it, even though I wanted to. Windows 7 still works incredibly well for me. But you make up your own mind. I have included two reviews here…one pretty good and one very bad. I say pretty good on the one review as it was the most positive one I could find…and I looked! Most reviews are not favorable. I hope you appreciate my attempt to be fair to the product…even though I think it sucks! Wait…I take that back…I should more properly say it is not for me at this time. You make up your own mind.

I really do appreciate what Microsoft is trying to do to stay competitive in the computer world. It is bold, daring and innovative and I hope they succeed. But, I think success will eventually come in Windows 9 or 10. Remember, Windows 8 is Version 1 of a whole new operating system concept. Companies rarely get it right the first time. And, in listening to some Microsoft insiders, I don’t think we will have to wait three years for the next version. I bet we see Windows 9 in a year. Microsoft has plans to greatly reduce production times. Meanwhile, I will sit back happily with Windows 7 and wait for all this to unfold.

There are some other stories here besides Windows 8, so I hope you find this issue informative. –JRC

Windows 8 Review: Incredibly Innovative, Incredibly Important, Not Quite Incredible

The ambition behind it admirable. And the execution? Not half bad. But not quite there yet, either.

Windows 8 review: Yes, it's that bad

A desktop OS for tablets and a tablet OS for desktops, Windows 8 is guaranteed to disappoint nearly everyone.

Surprise! What you can expect from Windows 8 RTM

Microsoft has officially made the final release of Windows 8 available to subscribers of its MSDN and TechNet services. You'll find a handful of small surprises, one very large change from Windows 7, and a momentous name change.

Take Windows 8 for a test drive

The 90-day "Windows 8 evaluation for developers" test version of the new OS is available for download now. But read the fine print, and don't expect tech support.

Microsoft's Windows 8: Will it breathe new life into older PCs?

I've heard from several readers that they believe Windows 8 includes enough under-the-hood improvements in security, reliability and performance to convince them it's worth putting on older, non-touch enabled hardware.

It's Google's Web, we just search in it

Late last week Google announced it would penalize sites accused of copyright violations by dropping them in search results. The primary beneficiaries of this move: music companies, Microsoft, and the porn industry. The primary victims? Torrent search engines and content sites not owned by Google.

Exploring Windows’ Administrative Tools: Part 2

Windows’ Performance Monitor is the key to understanding the details of your PC’s operation. This tool (built into XP, Vista, and Win7) lets you see, in real time and in collected data logs, how your PC reacts as different programs run — or fail to run!

Barnes & Noble cuts prices on Nook tablets

While the move better positions Barnes & Noble's tablets to compete with Google's Nexus 7, sells for $199 for the 8GB model and $249 for the 16GB version, the price cuts also come in the face of increased speculation that Amazon will soon release new Kindles.

Pulse…A New Way to Look at News

Pulse takes your favorite news websites and transforms them into a colorful and interactive mosaic. Sign up to personalize your experience. Special apps available for iPad and Android. I really like this new site.

Lost Photos Review (Free)

Like rummaging through a box of old photo albums, using Lost Photos shows you all of the forgotten picture attachments lying dormant in your e-mail account. What's more, it downloads them onto your machine, and offers tools for sharing them directly with your social-network services.

Outlook.com…Is it the Best E-mail App?

Amidst all the flap over Windows 8, Microsoft quietly introduced Outlook.com, a new cloud-based e-mail program that replaces Hotmail and Live.com mail. It’s received rave reviews from just about everyone, and it’s not even completed yet. Is it that good? I’ve spent the last several days trying it out…and I am here to tell you it is excellent.

It is so good, in fact, that I’ve switched almost all my mail accounts over to it. Some time ago, I abandoned the Outlook software program (not to be confused with Outlook.com) that comes with Office. It was too difficult to use with multiple e-mail accounts. Instead, I forwarded all my e-mail from my Corkrum.com addresses to Gmail. Doing this allowed my to see all my mail on my iPad, my Droid X, and all of my computers. But, I must say I was not overly pleased with the Gmail interface, but it worked.

Shortly thereafter, I abandoned the Gmail Calendar and switched to Hotmail’s Calendar and to-do lists as it worked so much better for me. Now, after experimenting with Outlook.com, I have abandoned Gmail and moved all but one of e-mail accounts over to Outlook.com. Gmail is still used, but on a much more limited basis.

Outlook.com is so much easier to use and a more intuitive program. For instance, I can now use the delete key to get rid of mail…just like I used to do in Outlook…instead of having to click the mouse on a delete button on the screen. There are other reasons I like it better, but no need to go into it here.

I strongly recommend reading the first article here by noted tech writer David Pogue of the New York Times to get an in-depth look at all the features. I suggest you try it. If you have a Hotmail or Live e-mail account, the change is easy. If not, just go to Outlook.com and create an account. PS. You can also get up to five Outlook.com e-mail accounts and use at least one for giving out to sites where you don’t want to use your real account.

There is a lot more in this edition that you will find interesting, so let’s get started. - JRC

Outlook.com, an E-Mail Service With Lots of Smarts

David Pogue of the New York Times takes an in-depth look at the new Outlook.com. He is impressed.

Five ways to organize your e-mail in Outlook.com

Microsoft's new Outlook.com e-mail offers a number of ways to keep your inbox neat and tidy. CNET walks you through five ways to manage your e-mail.

Outlook.com Tip: Import Your Old Email

If you’re moving to Outlook.com from Gmail, Hotmail, or any other email service, you may want to copy or move all of your old email into the new account. There are probably a number of ways to do this, including at least one that is automated.

Microsoft's SkyDrive storage service gets a facelift

A new, updated, more 'modern' version of Microsoft's SkyDrive storage service is rolling out over the next 24 hours.

Patch Tuesday: Microsoft to fix five critical security flaws

Plug everything in and prepare the systems: Patch Tuesday is here. Microsoft will release patches for nine security vulnerabilities, five of them considered 'critical.'

Apps, Desktop Apps and Windows 8 Apps

A few days ago Microsoft announced that it was dropping the name Metro for it's interface … then they came up with the ingenious name, Windows 8, as the replacement. (Wow … that is so bold.) Now it turns out that Windows 8 apps aren't Windows 8 apps after all. At least some of them aren't. Confused yet? Read on.

Phone companies lose broadband subscribers for first time

The flow of subscribers from phone companies to cable providers could lead to a de facto monopoly on broadband in many areas of the U.S., say industry watchers. That could mean a lack of choice and higher prices.

How to Organize Evernote for Maximum Efficiency

It all begins by establishing a solid organizational structure. Evernote doesn’t require one, but, based on my personal experience you won’t realize the full power of this tool without one. You need to give some thought to how you want to structure your notebooks, “stacks,” and tags.

Test-driving ‘free scan’ tune-up suites

Even on well-maintained systems, free system scanners might find hundreds of “problems,” as I discovered from a test of three products from well-known companies. These suites typically offer to fix system problems — for a fee — but are these problems real or just scare tactics to drum up sales?

Apps For Book Lovers

Whether you want to read books, organize them, or stay up to date on the latest best sellers, there’s an app to meet your needs. We’ve gathered some of the best e-readers, audiobook players, and book-related apps so that you don’t have to become overwhelmed and lose your love of books.

How a Technology Reporter was Digitally Destroyed

This issue focuses on security. Why? Because of what happened to a Wired Magazine reporter who was hacked and his major on-line accounts taken over by a hacker…with the unwitting help of both Amazon and Apple. It is gutsy of him to come out and tell his story to the whole world which I’m sure caused him no end of embarrassment.

Both Amazon and Apple are in the process of reviewing their procedures to prevent this from happening again. What I want to do is share the information with you so you don’t become the next victim. The first story here is Mat Honen’s own story about how it happened. Following that are more stories on cloud breaches and how to prevent them.

In other news, I am very impressed with Microsoft’s new Outlook.com e-mail site. I think it is very good and will only get better. I moved my live.com e-mail address over to Outlook.com. I think it surpasses Gmail.

I have just the opposite opinion (so far) about Amazon’s on-line music storage that is supposed to upgrade all your music to 256 kbps. I sent several songs up to Amazon and not one has been upgraded to 256. I will keep experimenting and let you know. -JRC

How Apple and Amazon Security Flaws Led to My Epic Hacking

In the space of one hour, my entire digital life was destroyed. First my Google account was taken over, then deleted. Next my Twitter account was compromised, and used as a platform to broadcast racist and homophobic messages. And worst of all, my AppleID account was broken into, and my hackers used it to remotely erase all of the data on my iPhone, iPad, and MacBook.

Apple iCloud breach proves Wozniak's point about cloud risks

This marks the second high-profile cloud-related snafu in the past week, the first being the the Dropbox fiasco where hackers pulled a list of Dropbox customer email addresses from a Dropbox employee's Dropbox account.

9 Things You Absolutely Must Do to Keep Your Online Identity Secure

We've been reeling a bit ever since Mat Honan was the victim of that ruthless social hack that wiped all his devices. Sure, that was an extreme case. But it's also one that could happen to anyone, at any time. So we put together a list of the best ways to make sure your internet self—your accounts, your cash, and your information—stays secure.

More Settings You Should Enable to Make Your LastPass Account More Secure

Popular password management tool, LastPass, offers a bunch of security options to keep your passwords safe. If you're not aware of all these options, though, such as using a dedicated security email address, it's a good time to review.

How cybercrime works - Money Behind Malware Threats

The point of nearly all malware is to make money. Cybercriminals have many methods to monetize their activity. Fortunately, the criminals must take many steps for the entire process to work. Every step along the way is another opportunity for us to break the chain needed for their efforts to be profitable.

Olympics-related malware goes on a global phishing trip

It seems that distributing and battling malware and phishing efforts disguised as Olympics apps and info are practically an exhibition sport this summer.

Apple breezes to PC sales' top spot as Windows share decays

U.K. research firm, which lumps tablets with desktops and notebooks, says Windows PCs accounted for record-low share of total sales

Traditional Publisher Ebook Pricing Harming Authors' Careers

Mark Coker, founder of Smashwords, breaks down exactly how traditional publishing houses are shooting their own authors in the foot with pricing "strategies" that run in direct opposition to how people purchase ebooks. With ebooks expected to compose nearly 30% of trade book sales (in total dollars) in 2012, authors may be doing serious damage to their careers by selling their ebooks through traditional publishers.

How to Recycle Your Tech Gear

Getting rid of old electronics in an environmentally friendly way is easier than you think. In fact, it may even be good for your pocketbook, because you may be able to get some ready cash for your electronics trash.

This $29.95 DVD Ripper is Currently Free

Digiarty are currently running one of their special promotions. For the next 3 weeks or so, one of the company's DVD ripping programs is available for free, instead of the normal $29.95.

I Go on Vacation…and Microsoft Goes Crazy

Hello to all my faithful readers…I have returned from my month-long vacation in the San Francisco Bay Area and am back at my tech news central headquarters. I am relaxed, rested, and ready to tackle all the tech news that’s fit to print.

Ironically, a couple of vacation days were spent in the Silicon Valley where I saw the headquarters of major players like Apple, Yahoo, Cisco, Samsung, Oracle, IBM, and others. But the best part was my visit to the Computer History Museum in Mountain View…a new facility where you walk through the very beginnings of computing to our current times. They call it a walk through the first 1,000 years of computing. Fascinating stuff for a nerd. More on that in the future. 

But, just because I went on vacation doesn’t mean the rest of the world did…especially in the tech world. In case you haven’t heard, Microsoft released the consumer preview of Office 2013, changing from a one-time purchase model to a monthly subscription. No word of pricing yet. They also announced the forthcoming death of Hotmail (to be replaced by Outlook.com). Still more from Microsoft…Windows 8 is finished and released to manufacturing…and the word “Metro”, so rampant in Windows 8, is being changed.

Meanwhile, the epic court battle between Apple and Samsung continues to unfold over patent issues…and the revelations are quite interesting. A few days ago, Amazon announced a major upgrade to their on-line music storage where your MP3 music can be upgraded to 256 kbps for free ($25 year).

So those are the highlights, so lets get down to the nitty gritty. – JRC 

Congress Goes On Recess Without Cybersecurity Law

This means that America’s 21st century national security strategy is likely delayed until after the election (along with immigration, corporate tax reform, and most other meaningful legislation). Is anyone surprised?

Apple and Samsung: You can't make this stuff up

The Apple v Samsung patent battle is the gift that keeps on giving.
My favorite trial moment so far: Apple VP Phil Schiller's admission that when the iPhone came out, Apple didn't need to spend any money on marketing because the press and blogosphere were doing such a fine job of promoting it all by themselves. Lots more revelations coming our way.

The New Microsoft Office: 20 Things to Like, Not Like and Worry About

When Steve Ballmer took the stage in San Francisco on Monday to reveal the next step in the evolution of Microsoft’s most important application, he gave the world’s 1 billion users of Microsoft Office plenty to look forward to - but also some things to worry about. Here’s a sampling of what to look for, what to avoid and what to be afraid of.

Microsoft Finishes Windows 8

Microsoft announced on Wednesday that it has completed the development of Windows 8, its next OS for PCs and tablets and the successor to Windows 7, which is the best-selling OS of all time. Manufacturers and tech insiders will get the final version later this month, but it will not be available to the general public until October 26.

Microsoft said to block ability to boot straight to desktop in Windows 8

Leaked builds of Microsoft's Windows 8 are providing more clues as to what kinds of user behaviors will and won't be permitted. Seems like another stupid move by Microsoft to anger their users.

Is 'Metro' now a banned word at Microsoft?

Why is Microsoft allegedly telling those inside and outside the company to stop playing up 'Metro' going forward when talking about the new wave of Microsoft products? Looks like they are going to change the name.

Microsoft to Replace Hotmail with Metro-Style Outlook.com

Microsoft announced that it will replace its aging webmail service Hotmail with a new service called Outlook.com that provides a more modern take on connected email, contacts, and calendar management. Available today in preview form, Outlook.com provides a new Metro-style UI similar to that of Windows 8 apps, as well as numerous new features. PS…I like it.

iTunes Match vs. Amazon Cloud Player: What's the better option?

This article compares Apple's iTunes Match cloud music service to Amazon's Cloud Player, recently updated with scan and match song identification and a paid tier with a 250,000-song limit. Some interesting differences.

Which streaming-media device is right for you?

There are more ways than ever to stream Netflix and other online services. But which device is best for you?

How to Find Out What is Causing Problems on Your Windows 7 PC

Are you experiencing problems on your PC such as hangs or crashes? Here is one possible way to see what is causing the trouble. Take a look at the Reliability Monitor that comes with Windows 7.