Burglars Say Apple Stuff is Better Than Microsoft’s

I swear to God this is a true story! Over the Christmas holidays, thieves broke into Microsoft’s Silicon Valley Research Center in Mountain View, CA. But, all they stole were 5 iPads, worth about $3,000…they did not steal one Microsoft item. And the place was filled with them! Microsoft reported the theft to police, but I bet now they wished they hadn’t as this story was plastered all over the Web.

The black market had spoken…the Surface Tablet is not worth stealing.

And speaking of the Surface, as our first headline indicates, the Surface Pro tablet will be released for sale in February…with a price of nearly one thousand dollars. And although the price is ridiculous, I agree with other tech writers that it has more of a chance to be successful than the Surface RT. The reason? It runs regular Windows programs. But, who ever thought that Microsoft tablets would be almost double the price of Apple iPads?

Today’s blog is a good mixture of news and tech tips, so let’s get started. -JRC

It's official: Intel-based Microsoft Surface Pro to ship Feb. 9

For nearly $1,000, you get something more than an iPad but less than a laptop. It will run most of your Windows software, but the price...

Microsoft's Surface Pro Will Be A Success

The Surface Pro is more-or-less the same thing as a Surface RT. Same screen size, slightly thicker, and with -- unfortunately -- substantially worse battery life (4-5 hours v.s. 8-9). However, the advantages are clear: More power, more memory and it runs real Windows software. Of course, it is way overpriced...at least for now. But I suspect it will get better in everything eventually.

Windows 8 price to soar on 1 February

Microsoft says the Windows 8 Pro upgrade price will rise by five times from $39 to $199 on 1 February, an increase of 400 percent. So if your are thinking of upgrading, better do it soon.

Dish said to shutter 300 U.S. Blockbuster stores

As the brick-and-mortar video rental chain struggles to keep up with today's digital landscape, it's forced to close hundreds of stores and possibly lay off thousands of workers.

Pen and Paper Find a Place in the Digital World

For the past week, I've tried using a tool from Targus that breathes digital life into good old handwriting. It's the iNotebook, a $180 gadget that digitizes and saves words written on regular paper to the iPad.

A refresher course on Facebook privacy controls

With over a billion active users recording the minutiae of their activities, purchases, travel plans, and other personal information, Facebook is a potential treasure trove for hackers and marketers trolling for data. Facebook’s privacy settings seem to be a constantly moving target, so it’s important to review them from time to time. Here’s what you need to know.

Five ways to hack a better Netflix experience

There are some best practices and little-known tools that will quickly improve your Netflix experience.

14 Ways to Improve Your Photography in a Few Days

There are ways to quickly improve your photography and impact your creative vision. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

Get Organized: Migrating From One Computer to Another

Before you start to transfer everything, think about whether you really need it all. Setting up a brand new machine marks an ideal moment to ditch old files by archiving them, and thus cleaning up your files and folder structures.

America's first bookless public library will look 'like an Apple Store'

Bexar County, Texas says that it will open the first 100 percent digital public library system in the country, unveiling plans for its first location this past week. The plan has been in the works for a while, headed up by Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff, who says he was inspired to create a digitally native library while reading Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs.

Get Creative With Evernote: 10 Unique Uses You Haven't Thought Of

Whether it’s taking advantage of Evernote’s checklist feature, or the fact that you can save photos in the app on the go, using the mobile app, don’t be afraid to get creative with your Evernote use

Government Says Dump Java…Now!

The flaws in Java must be serious as the Department of Homeland Security is warning everyone to disable or remove Java from their computers. I did that several weeks ago after writing about all the security issues here in this blog. And guess what? I have not missed it.

Oracle says they fixed the flaws. But, security experts say that many security holes are still there…and that it might take years to get rid of them all. It’s a complex program. So, my advice is to get rid of it completely. I doubt you will miss it. Firefox has disabled it in your Firefox browser for you, but best check (see our #2 story).

Today’s hot story in the sports world is about Notre Dame’s football linebacker Manti Te'o's fake girlfriend…a hoax perpetrated on the Internet. I’ve included a thought provoking article about how such things can be accomplished…and how the Net can also help expose them. And I‘ve included one last look at the best products at this year’s CES. So let’s go! -JRC

Homeland Security warns to disable Java amid zero-day flaw

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has warned users to disable or uninstall Java software on their computers, amid continuing fears and an escalation in warnings from security experts that hundreds of millions of business and consumer users are vulnerable to a serious flaw.

How to Disable Java in Three Common Browsers

The ongoing security problems with Java mean that many people will want to disable the Java plug-in for their web browsers. Here is how to do it for the most common browsers.

'It's About Time': Facebook Reveals New Search Feature

Facebook has launched a new feature that will let its users search for more detailed information across the social network. Soon, you'll be able to find the restaurants and TV shows your friends like or see every picture they've taken at the Grand Canyon.

The Best of CES 2013

As another Consumer Electronics Show fades into the Las Vegas sunset, we take a final look back at the most important products unveiled at the show.

How to get a new PC without Windows 8

To say that Windows 8 frightens a lot of people is an understatement. The good news is that the major PC makers are in fact selling Windows 7 PCs -- and not just a couple outdated models.

Manti Te'o's fake girlfriend was born and died on social media

The hoax about the death of the famous football player's girlfriend was wholly constructed on the Internet, but it was those same online tools that left a trail that also revealed the truth.

10 Tips For Improving Your Google+ Status

There are mixed reviews about the growing popularity of Google+. However, if you’re looking to enhance your presence on Google+, now’s a good time to get started.

Phablets Are The New Normal

As trends go, it’s been hard to miss this one: Smartphones are getting bigger. Much bigger. And they are selling well.

7 Tech Essentials for Any Kind of Travel

This may be a little over the top for many people, but there are some good things to think about for people who travel.

Get Organized: Managing a Family Calendar

Getting your family's schedules to sync up can be its own chore. Using digital calendars, however, makes much of the challenges easier.

Noom Weight Loss Coach Download (Free)

The Coach gives you daily tasks to help create positive lifestyle changes for long-term weight loss. These tasks guide you through a scientifically-backed weight loss plan.

CES 2013-AKA:The Big Bore Theory

Well, its still January and I am in Northern California enjoying the cold, fog and rain. Meanwhile, other tech reporters and bloggers with more money than me are in Las Vegas, soaking up all the new goodies on display at the annual Consumer Electronics Show.

From what I’ve seen so far, it is show with no big breath-taking products…it is an evolutionary show rather than a revolutionary one. The big winner for wow-ness was a gaming tablet…a cross between a tablet and a gaming console. Whoopee! So I‘ve only included one story here on CES…a round-up story on all the “hot” products at the show. You can read and decide for yourself if the show is a winner or loser.

But I have included some interesting stories as well as tips and good how-to’s. So let’s get started. -JRC

Consumer Electronic Show Roundup - 2013

Here is a list of stories explaining the newest and hottest tech items at CES

Iran said to be responsible for cyberattacks on U.S. banks

The massive wave of DDoS attacks that hit U.S. banks recently was thought to have been done by a fringe hacker group, however government officials now believe it was the work of Iran.

Google Earth helps put North Korea gulag system on map

Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt's visit to North Korea this week has been met with sharp criticism and low expectations, but the global Internet search giant indirectly is helping to make history by revealing one of the reclusive country's darkest secrets, say human rights activists.

150 Best Windows Apps Of Year 2012

Here is a list of the top 150 free applications that we have cherry-picked from the countless we covered through the entire year.

Let your PC start the new year right!

A little time spent now on preventive maintenance can save hours of PC troubleshooting later — and provide better computing all year long. Use the following steps to give your PC an annual checkup — and ensure it starts 2013 as healthy as possible.

Phablets the New Hotness in Mobile Devices? Not So Fast

It looks like something that belongs in a “Saturday Night Live” skit. A phone the size of steno notebook that you can barely wrap your hand around (unless you’re a basketball player) and looks ridiculous when used to make calls or jammed into a pants pocket.

Microsoft Surface Pro hands-on impressions

PCWorld spent a solid 30 minutes with Microsoft's upcoming Surface Pro tablet. Can it atone for the sins of Surface RT?

How to Connect Evernote With Google Calendar & Gmail

With the recent massive Evernote 5 update for Mac and iOS, Evernote has proven itself once again to the productivity app to keep. What would make it even greater is integration with external services; heavily used services like Gmail or Google Calendar. We found an app called Powerbot that will do that for you.

Amazon to launch auto rip, an effort to sex up CDs

It's the biggest news involving the compact disc in years: Amazon is expected to reward CD buyers by automatically storing the songs in their digital lockers free of charge...and it may do the same for past CD purchases.

Six things every new iPad (or iPhone) owner should do immediately

So you got a new iPad (or iPhone) as a holiday gift huh? Here's some things that you should do right now to keep your new gadget safe.

Troublesome Numbers for Microsoft

Happy New Year from me to you. I hope you enjoyed your holiday…I know I sure did. I went and visited my son and his new lady friend over in Yuma. Had a great time…and the Yuma Clause was very good to me.

I now have an iPhone 5 which I really like and a new Blu-Ray player to go with the new hi-def TV I game myself for Christmas. It was so great to see football this week in hi-def for the first time in my own home. Wow!

I’ve been back home from Yuma for a few days, but tomorrow I head out again…this time for a month in the Bay Area again. I will be house sitting and dog sitting for my friends the Millers while they try to have a good time in Hawaii. I will try to keep my blogs going, but I figure I can only do one a week until I get back home in February. But I promise to keep it interesting.

What did you miss while I was on Christmas break? Not much…that is why I took it off. Nothing going on in the tech world. But I have gathered some interesting stories here along with some good info for your new devices. Microsoft continues to have problems with Windows 8 as there adoption numbers are even worse than they predicted. No surprise there. And I am glad Google continues their free phone service for 2013.

So with all that said, let’s move on!! - JRC

Windows 8 adoption rate is slower than Vista and way behind than Windows 7

This is shocking. Despite a blockbuster launch and a whole new range of products it seems that the consumers aren’t feeling the need to upgrade to Windows 8 after all.

Win8 share reached 1.72% in December

In case you're wondering, Win7 was the most popular version of Windows last December with a 45.11% usage share. Windows XP was second with 39.08%, and Vista was a distant third with a puny 5.67% share, according to Net Applications.

150 Best Windows Apps Of Year 2012

Here is a list of the top 150 free applications that we have cherry-picked from the countless we covered through the entire year.

Free Calling for Gmail Users Extended through 2013

Users with Internet connection and a microphone can make calls to any phone from within the email client. An option to "Call phone," indicated by a phone-receiver icon, is part of Google Chat's menu; when clicked, a pop-up with a dial pad appears.

2013: The best guesstimates for the year ahead

Will machine-to-machine connections be the next cloud and big data (at least in terms of tech marketing)? Will cloud finally kill server sales? And Windows 8 and RIM's fate remain the wild cards of 2013.

Is your TV watching you? Latest models raise concerns

The devices themselves, similar than ever to a personal computer, may allow hackers or even Samsung to see and hear you and your family, and collect extremely personal data.

You have a new TV. Now what?

A new TV is a great thing. A new TV, right after it's taken out of the box, is not. To get the most out of your TV you need to adjust the settings, use the right cables, adjust your sources (like your cable box) and more.

5 Best Note Taking Apps That Sync Across All Devices

I love apps that can be seen on all your devices. Note-taking apps are a dime a dozen, and picking the right service isn't really easy and can be quite a task. Here are some hand-picked best note taking apps that sync across all your devices including PC, mobile and tablets and are available for free.

Six things every new iPad (or iPhone) owner should do immediately

So you got a new iPad (or iPhone) as a holiday gift huh? Here's some things that you should do right now to keep your new gadget safe.

12 Tips for Troubleshooting Your Internet Connection

Even though your router is one of the most useful tech devices you own, it can also be one of the most troublesome.