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.
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