iTunes 11 is Here! All Praise to Apple. Just Kidding.

After a month-long delay from the original promised delivery date, iTunes 11 was released into the wild. I’ve downloaded it…and my initial impression is very favorable. It is a big improvement over Version 10, at least in usability and visibility. I’ve only been able to play with it for a short time, but so far, so good. iTunes has needed an update for a long time…and Apple has delivered.

In many ways its different from the last version. I especially like the “Album” mode as a way to display one’s music. Very handy. I will play with it some more and let you know. By the way, if you download it, be sure and watch the two included tutorials. Very helpful.

In the world of Microsoft, there are a couple of stories that caught my eye…one is how financial analysts have cut earnings estimates for the company (story #4). But in a conflicting story not published here, Microsoft says it has sold 40 million licenses for Windows 8. There are some folks who dispute those numbers. Still another story out of Taiwan is Microsoft has cut its orders for Surface Tablets in half. This story is also not published here. You might be tired of me beating up on Microsoft when there are so many more useful stories today.

So let’s get started. - JRC

Apple launches redesigned iTunes 11 after delay

The software went out as a free update to current iTunes users on Mac and Windows today, and later as a download from Apple's iTunes site.

Syria Completely Cut Off From the Internet

Syria is in the midst of civil war, with the opposition Free Syrian Army fighting the government of long-time leader Bashar al-Assad. The Internet has played a key role in the struggle as hackers aligned with both sides of the conflict have targeted websites owned by opposing forces.

Windows 8 off to an awkward start, Nomura says

Analyst cuts estimates for Microsoft's earnings growth in 2013, saying PC makers have been slow to introduce devices and there's confusion in the market about the new OS.

Windows Blue: Microsoft's plan to release a new version of Windows every year

If unnamed sources are to be believed, Windows Blue is both a major update to Windows 8, and also the beginning of a major shift that will result in a major release of Windows every 12 months - just like Apple's OS X.

Outlook.com Improves, Adds an Android App

Microsoft announced some coming improvements to my favorite email service today along with an unexpected bonus: An Outlook.com app for Android.

AT&T Is the Worst Carrier Again, Says Consumer Reports

Verizon was the highest-rated carrier in Consumer Reports, scoring well for voice and data service quality and "also for support attributes like staff knowledge and resolution of issues."

iPad Still Leads Tablet Market, but for How Much Longer?

The steady onslaught of Android tablets marching to market is winnowing down Apple’s lead in the space.

Google updates Chrome for Android and iOS, adds new features

The folks at Google have been having a busy week. Google has released Chrome updates for the browser on Android as well as iOS, bringing along with it a few bug fixes. A few new features are also being rolled out on iOS.

Before you buy a sound bar speaker, read this

Sound bars are an attractive solution for lots of buyers, but are there better-sounding alternatives?

Best Free Software to Cut or Merge Audio Files

Got some big mp3 or other audio files which you want to trim, splice, split or otherwise cut down to size, maybe for your mp3 player? Perhaps you want to extract one or more songs from a large audio file. Here is a list of the best programs to do this.

Tips and Tools to Make Your Life Better

A little news and a lot of good info, tools and tips…that is the best way to describe this edition of our tech blog. Of course, during the month-long holiday season, hot tech news is in short supply. But, that is probably a good thing, at least for this blog.

The Internet news feeds these days are filled with stories about great tech savings at brick and mortar stores and on the Net. And, there are some good buys out there at the present time. But I prefer to help you with using your current technology rather than promote the best place to buy a tablet.

So, that is my story, and I am sticking to it. Be sure and read the last story about ToolWiz Care. I started using it a couple of weeks ago and I really like it. My computer seems to be running better. Far fewer crashes and greater speed. I have used these kind of programs before and seen no visible improvement. But with ToolWiz, I definitely see the difference.

Also, if you use iTunes, the adjustments mentioned in story #8 do work. Give it a try. PS – Hey Apple: We are still waiting for iTunes 11.

OK…on with the show. -JRC

Black Friday Shoppers Flocked to iPad, Ignored Surface Tablet

Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year for retailers, but it may not have been such a good day for Microsoft store sales and the company’s new tablet, at least according to one analyst.

It's the final countdown: Microsoft will stop supporting Windows XP in less than 500 days

Windows XP, Microsoft's longest-running OS, will officially be put out to pasture on April 8, 2014, according to Computerworld. On that date, Microsoft will end support for the system after 12 years and five months. The time has clearly come for XP now that Microsoft is pushing harder than ever to get Windows 8 to take off.

Now You Can Send 10GB Files Right From Gmail

The Gmail team announced Tuesday that a wonderful new button is coming to Gmail's new compose window. You can now attach files to a message using Google Drive, meaning you can send files as large as 10GB over email. Remember when you couldn't send video or audio files because of attachment size limits? That's history.

Encode Messages - Decode Messages. Send secret emails.

With Top Secret Email now you can send secret emails to a "confidante" that no one can read or understand. The service is Highly Secure and FREE.

How to spot fake user reviews while shopping online

While the majority of those reviews do come from real users like yourself, who are passionate enough to share their opinions on a product, many of them could be fake, left by the vendors themselves to either promote their product or, in many cases, smear competitors.

How smartphones are slowly killing the camera industry

The art of photography may be booming as a hobby, but the humble camera is getting left behind in the fast-paced world of interconnected imaging.

Improve Listening to Music in iTunes with 3 Quick Preference Adjustments

Listening to music in iTunes can be improved significantly by taking a moment to make three quick adjustments to preferences. Enabling these options takes a few seconds and will be valid for both Mac OS X and Windows:

The 50 Free Apps We're Most Thankful For

We are thankful for all the free apps out there that improve our lives (and the developers that make them!). Here are 50 of our favorites.

ToolWiz Care, the Best Free-of-Charge Optimizer Speeds Up Your PC

ToolWiz Care is a set of free-of-charge tools designed to speed up your PC and give your system a full range of care. I've been using it for a couple of weeks and am very impressed. My computer is running better.

No Holiday Rest for Tech News

This is the time of year when tech news usually slows down a bit as tech companies celebrate the holidays and realize that no one is paying attention to what they are doing. Well, I am still here and looking for helpful news for you…except I am taking the next few days off to celebrate Thanksgiving (probably will just hang around the pool more and watch football when it gets too warm outside).

My favorite story today is #3, about Windows 8 sales being well below projections. This story is all over the tech Web pages these days. Why is it my favorite story? Because I get to say, “See, I told you so!!” One of the best feelings in the world.

All kidding aside, there is still some good information here that will help you with your computing needs…which, of course, is why I write this blog. Anyway, I wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving Holiday. Now, let’s get to it! -JRC

China cyber-espionage threatens U.S., advisory group warns

Released today, the 500-page annual report to Congress by the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission details various security issues concerning China. But the commission expressed particular fear over the country's ongoing cyberwarfare efforts.

Governments Still Present Biggest Threat to Open Internet

While the types of threats facing Internet users worldwide have diversified over the past few years, from targeted malware to distributed denial of service attacks, one thing has remained constant: governments seeking to exert control over their populations still remain the biggest threat to the open Internet.

Windows 8 Sales Well Below Projections, Plenty of Blame to Go Around

Sales of Windows 8 PCs are well below Microsoft's internal projections and have been described inside the company as disappointing. But here's the catch: The software giant blames the slow start on lackluster PC maker designs and availability.

Firefox 17 Launches With New Social AP

The Social API allows social services like Facebook, Twitter, blog networks or even news sites to easily add persistent social sidebars, toolbar notifications and chats to the browser, no matter which site a user is currently looking at.

Firefox for Android brings older smartphones into the fold

If you're still holding on to an older Android phone, Mozilla has an announcement for you: the mobile version of Firefox now officially supports a number of phones using processors based on the older ARMv6 instruction set

How to Find Out How Fast Your USB Flash Drives Are

USB Flash Benchmark is a small portable application that provides an easy way to test how fast a drive can read and write files of various sizes. It is mainly intended for flash drives.

How much storage do I really need on my smartphone?

Internal memory is probably one of the least sexy features of a smartphone. But as your smartphone replaces your point-and-shoot camera, MP3 music player, portable gaming device, GPS navigator, and in some cases your portable video player, it's something you have to think about when buying a new device.

Amazon brings “Send to Kindle” to Firefox, for all of that reading you're gonna get to later

This is an add-on for both Firefox and Chrome. Works very well as I have been using it for a couple of weeks now.

What's the Best Way to Save All the Useful Articles I Come Across Online?

I love finding different tips and tricks online, but I often find that many of them are most useful days, months, even years down the line. What's the best way to save and organize all this cool stuff so I can actually find it when I need it?

Best Free Game Sites

Many of the great games of the past, and some pretty cool new ones, are available for free on the Internet, but finding them is the issue. Here is a list of the best ones.

Focus on the New Age of TV

One area where the age of information and high speed communications is still old school is the TV content business. The business model used by cable and satellite TV providers was written many years ago when channels were fewer and choices were less.  But even though times have changed, content providers have not. They still want to make you pay for hundreds of channels you will never watch.

But times are-a-changin’. There’s Hulu and Fancast that have episodes of TV series on the Net. Then there’s devices like the Roku box that have hundreds of choices, but let you select the ones you want. Throw in Apple TV, Google TV, Netflix, and Amazon and you got more channels and choices than you can ever watch.

For me, I have a Roku box and free cable TV via Dish (it comes built-in to my apartment). But to be honest, I pretty much only watch sports events and PBS on my cable. On my Roku box I have Netflix, Amazon, CNET TV, TWIT TV (both those channels of shows dedicated to technology) and a few others, not to mention Pandora for my Music. I can watch episodes of TV shows (admittedly not the current episodes) as well as movies.

Admittedly, since I left Washington State, my movies and TV viewing has gone way down. There is so much to do here in Tucson that TV has lost some of its importance. There is just not that much time anymore for it. But that is me.

Still I am intrigued by the future of TV which is still cloudy, but I expect cable and satellite companies to put up one hell of a fight to keep things the way they are. But can they?

There is some non-TV stories in here also, so have at it! -JRC

Yes, the FBI and CIA can read your email. Here's how

"Petraeus-gate," some U.S. pundits are calling it. How significant is it that even the head of the CIA can have his emails read by an albeit friendly domestic intelligence agency, which can lead to his resignation and global, and very public humiliation? Here's how.

Windows 8 protected from 85% of malware detected in the past six months, right out the box

0-day vulnerabilities are already being claimed, but what about the malware that’s already out there? Windows 8 certainly isn’t perfect, but it’s definitely come a long way. (See? I can post nice things about Windows 8)

From Windows 8 to Windows 7: why I downgraded

Windows 8 is certainly an ambitious effort on the behalf of Microsoft, but it seems I'm missing something that's keeping me from enjoying it and I'm curious to see who feels the same.

Atty. Sues Microsoft Over Paltry Surface Storage

A consumer-rights lawyer in Los Angeles discovered a 32GB Surface tablet really only has about 16GB of space available for user storage. And Microsoft admits he is correct.

Over the top: the new war for TV is just beginning

There is a nation of potential cord cutters looking for an excuse to stop paying Comcast for 500 channels they don't really want

Living with Google TV: jack of all trades, master of none

I've spent nearly a month using Google TV as the primary way of getting entertainment to the television in my living room. Not once during that time did the experience delight me, it often managed to get the job done, and all too often it frustrated me and stymied my efforts to just watch something.

Living with Apple TV: you get what you pay for

Spending a week with only the Apple TV reminded me that it’s still largely lacking some crucial elements — gaming, live sports and news, and a variety of free entertainment apps.

Google Music vs iTunes vs Spotify vs Amazon vs Xbox Music vs Music Unlimited

This was written for the UK audience but it contains valuable information about the major music services.

Exploring Windows’ Administrative Tools: Part 5

The Services tool is one of Windows’ Administrative Tools, a suite of professional-quality, system-management utilities used to adjust and control many of the operating system’s essential functions and features. Note: links to the other 4 articles included.

5 Must Have Productivity Windows Apps

Achieving productivity is tough, but maintaining it is tougher. In this world full of stress and distractions even doing simple things can be very difficult. Thus having things which can help you enhance your productivity is a really wise idea.

Major Shakeup at Microsoft

Last week, we reported a story about a major leadership change at Apple. Now, its Microsoft’s turn. Steven Sinofsky, president of the Windows group, is gone…and I mean right now gone!

Sinofsky, one-time head of the Office group and once considered the heir apparent to Bill Gates, has moved on…apparently with the blessings (and encouragement) of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer. According to some speculation, Sinofsky did not work well as a team player. It was either his way or the highway. So is this internal politics or is he taking the fall for the apparent flop of Windows 8 and Surface 8 tablets (see story #2). Time will tell.

It reminds me of a couple of very recent NFL team moves. One team fired its defensive coordinator blaming him for the team’s bad record (is the coach next?). Another fired their general manager, as if the guy in the suit is responsible for the poor play of the team on the field. In both cases, both teams still stink.

Now, Sinofsky’s departure may not have anything to do with the products, but the timing is highly suspicious. Like the NFL coaches who fire subordinates during the season, is Ballmer trying to save his job? If Windows 8 adoption continues to flop, he will pay the ultimate price, no matter what. Microsoft stockholders as sick and tired of owning a stock that has not gone anywhere in 9 years. As the company continues to fade in importance in the tech world compared to Google, Apple, and even Amazon, heads will roll. Count on it.

I am sorry to bombard you with more Microsoft news (all bad, by the way), but I just cannot ignore these stories. But, as usual, I have included some very helpful information. -JRC

Microsoft Announces Leadership Change: Sinofsky Out!

In a stunning and unexpected move, Microsoft announced Monday evening that Windows president Steven Sinofsky, who had most recently lead the development of both Windows 8 and the Surface family of tablets, is leaving the company effective immediately.

Windows RT and 8 sales: Signs point to a major flop

Microsoft may be using creative accounting to paper over poor sales, but don't believe the hype that it'll lead to Ballmer's ouster

Microsoft Surface Touch Cover Splitting

A number of users on the Surface Forums site have reported the problem, which has also been experienced by Tom Warren, a writer on the Verge website and Matthew Baxter-Reynolds, a Windows developer.

Microsoft Cheapens Windows 8 with Ads

When Microsoft announced that virtually every single PC user on earth would be able to upgrade to Windows 8 for just $40, I cheered the company. But this low price is partially achieved by the bizarre addition of advertising in Windows 8, a move that I think cheapens the product.

Cybercriminals start spamvertising Xmas themed scams and malware campaigns

Security researchers from Symantec are warning about a recently intercepted flood of Xmas themed malicious and fraudulent campaigns.

New Google Mars gains detail and extra coverage

Google Mars has been available since 2009 as part of the free downloadable Google Earth. It allows viewers to zoom around the Red Planet in much higher resolution than the simpler browser version and will even render certain locations in 3D.

Internet Radio Closing in on Traditional Music Listening

A whopping 96 million individuals - or about 50 percent of the U.S. Internet population aged 13 and older - listened to an Internet radio or on-demand music service in the past three months.

Your complete guide to Google Drive

Google Docs has been retired and replaced by Drive, leaving you with one place to create and manage all your documents and files.

10 Tips for Troubleshooting Your Digital Camera

These tips address some of the more common issues that I've seen over the years—hopefully they'll help you get the most out of your camera, and to tame it when it misbehaves.

Tablets buying guide

The tablet market is crammed -- big and small, fun and functional, Android, iOS, and Windows. Our experts won't let you rely on ad campaigns to make up your mind. This is a good article if you are in the market for a new tablet.

Let’s Talk Mobile Apps

I’ve decided to devote a large portion of this edition to the best apps for the most popular mobile devices…namely iPad, iPhone, and Android smartphones and tablets (sorry Microsoft…your device apps are almost non-existent).

As a user of both mobile brands, I always look for the special apps that will be of help to me AND get rave reviews. And here they are…all in one place…waiting for your perusal. I’ve also made sure there a stories on the best free apps for both systems. You know me…I love free.

Also included is an article on the future of the iPad, and a comparison of the 3 best 7” tablets available now (and for your Christmas shopping pleasure). In addition, there are two reviews and two articles to help you get more out of your computers.

So, why don’t you stop listening to me and get started on your reading. -JRC

Digital storage basics: Internal storage vs. memory

Storage and Memory are not the same. In the inscrutable world of data-collection, you can be forgiven for not understanding the difference. But it's an important distinction.

Seven ways to make Gmail faster

Long time Gmail users may notice that their accounts have gotten sluggish over time. There are several ways to counteract this.

Angry Birds Star Wars review - Great shot, kid

Rovio has in Angry Birds Star Wars a respectable sequel, one that both incorporates the fiction of the brand, but also improves on previous games, progressing the franchise.

Google's new search page design: highly redundant, needlessly stark and sometimes useful

At first look, your first impression of Google's new (currently US-only) Search page may be positive. But then, as the new car smell wears off, strange design decisions start to blemish an otherwise successful step in the evolution of Search.

The future of the iPad

Microsoft has the Surface. Apple has the iPad Mini. Where do things go from here? The immediate future may look a lot like the present.

Tablet Showdown: iPad Mini vs. Nexus 7 vs Kindle Fire HD

How do the three highest-profile competitors — the mini, Google’s Asus-built Nexus 7 and Amazon’s Kindle Fire HD — compare? It’s not as obvious as you might think.

The 100 Best iPad Apps

The App Store contains some truly magnificent apps and some... that are not. So the vital question is this: How do you find the gems?

Top 60 best free iPad apps 2012

Among the not-so-great free apps lie rare gems – iPad apps that are so good you can't believe they're still free.

The 100 Best iPhone Apps

An iPhone without apps is like a computer without software. Here are the best 100 apps we know and love. If you have an iPhone, you should get to know them, too.

Top 200 best Android apps of 2012

Android is no longer the poor relation of iOS when it comes to apps - whether you've got the latest Android-powered tablet or an older Android phone, there's plenty of choices when it comes to loading your device with extra software.

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. Here are the best of the free ones.

Is Apple Losing its Grip?

Think I am exaggerating with my headline? Maybe…but then maybe not. There are warning signs all over the place that Apple is indeed starting to lose its grip in the mobile marketplace.

For instance, their stock prices has been slipping badly. In September, Apple stock peaked at $700. Today, as I write this, the stock is at $584.

In the smartphone market, only 15% of the phones out there are iPhones…75% are Android. And surveys of current iPhone owners seem to indicate more and more will not be buying Apple phones at contract renewal time. The reason may be a perceived lack of innovation. The press hammered Apple on the iPhone 5 as just being barely above boring with their new features.

As for tablets, 3rd quarter results show Apple slipped from 59% ownership of the market to just above 50%. Android tablets, especially the Nexus 7” and 10” tablets, are starting to gain strength. In some cases they have much higher resolution than similar iPads. The Apple iPad mini does not have the retinal resolution of its big brother nor of the iPhone 5. A dumb decision in the view of many.

There is no doubt that the Apple ecosystem is the best in the mobile market, but Android Smartphone apps are catching up rapidly (the same cannot be said yet of the Android Tablet apps). And now Microsoft is in that arena.

It will be interesting to see the results for the upcoming Christmas selling season and the first quarter of next year. Because Apple just did “refresh” of all their big products, they have 6 to 9 months of dead time ahead, when no new products will be introduced. We shall see. - JRC

iPhone Loyalty Is Waning - Are You Surprised?

2012 is shaping up to be the year when the glow surrounding Apple's mobile products suddenly got dimmer…

Microsoft's aggressive grand plan for merging Skype and Messenger

The Skype team is planning to replace the Messenger instant-messaging client with Skype messaging a lot sooner than many expected.

Amazon takes on Netflix and Hulu by testing $7.99 monthly Prime plan

Amazon Prime, which offers unlimited TV and movie streaming, Kindle book borrowing and free 2 day shipping is now available via a $7.99 per-month plan. The new pricing will set customers back a little more than the regular $79 annual subscription, but obviously there's a significantly lower initial cost.

Report: Amazon Lockers arriving at Staples stores

Amazon.com has struck a deal to put its new locker system — which allows customers to order products online and pick them up at physical locations — in Staples stores.

Google Nexus 10 review

The Nexus 10's display is every bit as high-res and retina-quality as the latest iPad. Add in promises of long battery life, a bleeding-edge processor promising class-leading performance, and plenty of content at your fingertips, and the Nexus 10 matches the iPad all the way down the spec sheet. It even bests its price tag, starting at just $399. But how does it do in the real world? Read on.

The ultimate Windows 8 upgrade FAQ

You've got questions about the Windows 8 upgrade. Can you burn the upgrade files to DVD or a USB flash drive? Is it possible to go from a 32-bit Windows PC to 64-bit? Who qualifies for cheap upgrades? Here are the answers you're looking for.

8 Hacks to Make Google Calendar More Useful

What if it wasn’t just a calendar, and “events” weren’t just places you had to be or items on your schedule? It turns out, Google Calendar can be useful for just about any task that is relevant to either days or times.

PC security: Your essential software toolbox

You should fully protect yourself to lessen the chance of cybercriminals infiltrating your computer and your online accounts, capturing your personal information, invading your privacy, and stealing your money and identity.

The Scale of the Universe 2

This Stunning Site Helps You Appreciate The Universe's Scale. The site is simple to operate, and takes the form of an image that you can zoom into, or out of, with a slider. 

Quick Cribbage for Windows Download (Free)

Challenge your computer to a one-on-one game of Cribbage. It teaches you how to count by displaying points during the play and at the end of each hand. Keeps score for you on a realistic crib board display.

No Windows 8 Stories Today…Well Almost None

I swore after the last edition that there would be no Windows 8 or Windows RT stories today. I’ve already saturated you with any number of stories about Microsoft’s newest products. And I would have kept that promise had I not read one review that really summed up how each of us should approach Windows 8 (I did keep my promise about Windows RT reviews…none here).

I’ve mentioned here before how much I enjoy reading Windows expert Paul Thurrott’s commentaries and books…as well as his podcast appearances. To me, he is the foremost writer/expert in Windows who will give you his honest feelings and opinions about Microsoft products.

He recently published over several days a complete review and how-to tutorial on using Windows 8. Today, he published Part 8, his conclusions. It is the most honest assessment of the new operating system as I have read. And, understand, he is a strong proponent of Windows 8. He loves it. But if you are thinking about upgrading or buying a new computer, you need to read this article. Actually, if you use any version of Windows, you should read it.

It’s not often I publish a non-tech article, but I thought an article I read about 99 ways to make everyday living easier was wonderful and very helpful, so I have included it here. Be sure and take a look.

OK, let’s get going. - JRC

Security Firm labels more than 290,000 Google Android apps as 'high-risk'

Security vendor Bit9 categorized these Android apps as "questionable" or "suspicious" because they could gain access to personal information to collect GPS data, phone calls, or phone numbers and much more after the user granted "permission" to the app.

Apple iOS 6.0.1 Update Now Available

Apple released an update to iOS 6.0, a fix that quashes a few bugs and gives the iPhone 5 the ability to receive wireless software updates.

iPad mini review round up: What the experts say about Apple's 7.9in tablet

A selection of tech journalist have got their hands on the iPad mini ahead of its release on Friday, and here's what they have to say about Apple's new 7.9in tablet.

iTunes 11 delayed into 'end of November'

Apple says it needs a little longer to finish up work on iTunes 11. The software, which adds a handful of new features and a facelift, was previewed at an event last month, and was originally due by the end of October.

Windows 8 Review, Part 8: The Verdict

I don’t honestly think that most people will dislike Windows 8 on traditional computers. But I also have a hard time believing that any normal person—that is, any non-enthusiast—would want to, or should, go through the time, effort, and potential disaster of upgrading a perfectly good Windows 7-based PC to Windows 8.

Office 2013 review: we go in-depth

Do you feel modern? The next version of Microsoft Office – Office 2013 – gets the Windows 8 treatment, with a touch-friendly interface as well as new features, and goes to the cloud, with subscription pricing, on-demand installation and automatic syncing of settings and documents you save in the cloud – if you want to pay for it that way.

99 Life Hacks to make your life easier!

Only a few of these are tech related, but there are some fabulous tips here that make you wonder why you didn't think of it. Definitely worth a look.

Free online tutorials can teach you almost anything

You can learn just about anything on the Internet these days, thanks to the broad availability of short, free, online video tutorials.

Why is an ebook ever riddled with typos?

Though I’ve only had the Kindle for three weeks, I’ve noticed that the book I’ve been reading, Foucault’s Pendulum, has many typos. This isn’t an out-of-copyright, cheaply made book from a fly-by-night press.

How to Get a Report of the Health of Your Windows 7 PC

Is your PC healthy? Or has it seemed a little under the weather lately? A little-known tool in Windows 7 can give you a report on what is ailing your system. It can also give you a wealth of information about what goes on in a perfectly healthy computer. It’s called the System Health Report. There are several ways to access it and here is one way to open it from the Control Panel:

Wise Disk Cleaner (Free)

Downloading files, installing and uninstalling software, and other daily activities create messes that take up space and impact performance. Wise Disk Cleaner is a housekeeper of sorts, making sure that things are tidy and functioning at their best.