Microsoft to Dump Windows RT? That’s a Good Bet

Here we go! It’s the holidays. Time for turkey, stuffing, family time, and mad dashes to all the stores to get their best deals of the year (maybe). You will find some good articles on Black Friday shopping here including apps to help you find all the deals without going to the mall…and even a story on what not to buy this coming weekend.

There is an interesting story out of Redmond that Microsoft will be cutting out one of its operating systems…and it looks like it will be Windows RT. I think that is a good one to kill off. So that leaves Windows and Windows Phone 8. Look for Windows Phone 8 operating system to eventually show up on tablets. All sources tell me it is a good one.

I will be taking the next several days off to be with family in Yuma. So no blog until next week. But the stories here and some great tips and tricks here should keep you occupied until then. Here’s a tip for all readers east of the Mississippi: Stay Home!!! Happy Thanksgiving!

 

News and Opinions

Microsoft: We aren't going to have three different versions of Windows

A Microsoft official confirms the company is planning to trim the number of different versions of Windows in its portfolio...and odds-on its Windows RT that goes bye-bye.

Twitter upping security to thwart government hacking

The microblogging site adds a new security measure designed to make it harder for organizations like the National Security Agency to uncover its data.

The cable industry is imploding: What providers must do to stay alive

Cable is dying of a slow, drawn out death. It’s not at the hands of Netflix, nor at the hands of fiber optic technology. It’s not even at the hands of the Internet. Cable is strangling itself with its own wires.

The Slow Roll Toward Talking Cars

A combination of embedded and cloud-based voice-recognition software will help drivers better communicate with their cars.

Here's how Walmart will fight off Amazon on Black Friday

The retailing giant is pulling out all stops, from free shipping to price match guarantees. And for Walmart, Cyber Monday starts on Saturday.

Price, set, match: Target's new weapon to beat 'key online retailers'

It looks like Target is going to try to beat Amazon at its own game.

 

Tips and Tricks

13 Things Not to Buy on Black Friday

Even though many product categories will see new all-time low prices, not everything is at its lowest price on Black Friday. In fact, there are 13 items you definitely shouldn't buy on November 29

The absurdly simple guide to backing up your PC

The first rule of PC Club is: Always, always back up. Thankfully, backing up your most important data is a cinch. It’s the getting off your rear to actually do it that stymies most people.

Everything You Can Do with Adblock Plus (That Isn’t Just Blocking Ads)

Adblock Plus is one of the most robust browser extensions out there, and while its namesake is its most-used feature, it's not just about blocking ads. You can do all sorts of things with it, including cleaning up Facebook's interface and making sure web sites aren't tracking you.

Streak Tracks Your Email, Lets You Know Who Read It, When, and Where

Streak, is an email organization suite for Gmail, unveiled message tracking today. It pops up a message to let you know when a message has been read, and offers a timeline view so you can see who's read it, when, and on what devices. Best of all, it's free.

Make Your Windows 8/8.1 Computer Act Like New with the Refresh Feature

Windows 8 introduced a new feature called “Refresh your PC” that provides a quick and easy way to clean things up and restore the operating system to factory-fresh condition. It can also be a lifesaver if your computer develops severe problems.

 

Portable Computing

14 Free Apps to Help You Snag All the Black Friday Bargains

Fortunately, your smartphone is all you need to make sure you get the very best prices on everything on your holiday shopping list. Download these essential apps while the turkey is in the oven and prepare to save. Best of all, none of them will cost you a cent.

myMail- A Beautiful Email App for Android and iOS

myMail brings all your email accounts into one simple, bright, and friendly interface and supports almost all popular email services including Gmail, Yahoo!, AOL, iCloud, Hotmail and Outlook. So you can have all your emails in one place.

Infinity Blade goes free for Black Friday week

Even though it's now three years old, if you're looking for a great game to play on your iPhone or iPad then the original Infinity Blade title is still well worth a look. Fantastic graphics

Favorite iPad Apps of 2013

What truly makes the iPad great is its use of apps. It offers plenty of customization, allowing the user to customize his or her own iPad experience. Here are my favorite iPad apps of 2013.

Gas Buddy - Find the cheapest gas when you are traveling

Find the cheapest gas when you are on the road. An app is available for all smartphone brands. Everyone with a car and smartphone should have this app.

All Quiet on the Western Front

As we slowly approach the two biggest holidays of the year, the news stories get thinner and thinner. But I have managed to cobble together a few stories that may be of interest.

For those of you following my adventures with my Windows 8.1 tablet…nothing new to report. That is because I haven’t looked at it once since my last blog. Too many other good things to work on. And if you are wondering if Android 4.4 has arrived on my Nexus 7 Tablet…NOPE! 9 Nine days and counting.

By the way, I read where Amazon, Best Buy and a couple of other stores will be selling the Nexus 7 for $199 on Black Friday (currently $239). Why not buy one and join me in our update watch. Misery loves company. Maybe you can figure out why the battery keeps draining when not in use.

Nothing else to bitch about so I will let you read on. Thanks for your support.    -JRC

 

News and Opinion

List of Airlines Allowing Personal Electronics Below 10,000 Feet

Southwest joined the gate-to-gate club, but found a way to set itself apart from the rest of the carriers by offering WiFi service from the time passengers get on their flight until the time the get off.

Vint Cerf: 'Privacy may be an anomaly'

The so-dubbed father of the Internet believes privacy will be increasingly harder to achieve given our desire to tell all via social media.

Google finishes 2,048-bit security upgrade for Web privacy

This means two things. First, traffic will be harder to decrypt since 1,024-bit keys aren't in use at Google anymore. Second, retiring the 1,024-bit keys means the computing industry can retire the technology altogether by declaring such keys untrustworthy.

Never Forget That Wireless Carriers Are Evil

This is a look at the latest in how carriers and the CTIA are protecting valuable revenue streams by blocking features that would curb smartphone theft.

Three signs you’re drinking the Microsoft Kool-Aid

Have you been drinking the Microsoft Kool-Aid? Here are three sure signs you need to step back, take a deep breath, and re-examine marketplace realities.

 

Tips and Tricks

10 Ways to Boost Your Wireless Signal

Dropped Wi-Fi signals, dead zones that receive no wireless signal at all, and slow performance are the biggest complaints about wireless networks. These tips can give your wireless performance a boost.

How to find free Wi-Fi during your holiday travels

Finding Wi-Fi on the road has become a lot easier over the past ten years. You just have to know where to look for it.

Best budget laptops

The era of the $300 Netbook maybe long gone, but you can still find basic Atom-powered hybrids or Core i3 touch screen laptops for between $500-$600, and step-up versions for a little more

Which Companies Are Encrypting Your Data Properly?

These service providers have taken a critical step towards protecting their users from warrantless seizure of their information off of fiber-optic cables.

Botnet innovation: Resistance is (nearly) futile

Botnets are not a new threat, but they are a serious one. Amassing the resources of possibly millions of compromised PCs, attackers use that combined power for all sorts of nefarious activities. Since their inception, botnets have been one of the more difficult threats to neutralize, and new and innovative techniques are making this malware even more difficult to stop.

 

Portable Computing

Black Friday Apps

Ever wish you could take on Black Friday with a secret weapon? One that would help you brave the crowds and come out victorious? Well we've got, not one, but five of 'em to help you out!

The 100 Best iPhone Apps

Want the best apps for your iPhone? Explore our list of the top 100 iPhone apps, and discover cutting-edge releases as well as tried-and-true favorites.

Google Now vs. Siri: The rematch (Video)

Watch us test the two most powerful virtual assistants to find out which one is smarter, faster, and most helpful.

Popular Email App 'Boxer' Now Finally Available on iPad

"Boxer has been around for about half a year, and it has proven to be very successful for iPhone users. Today, the company announced that their email client for Gmail, Yahoo, and Outlook has finally been upgraded to universal status. Not only that, but you can also send important emails to Evernote and keep your correspondences organized with Sanebox."

I’m Mad As Hell…Etc., Etc.!

These are the times that try men’s souls…or at least mine. Seems like everything goes wrong these day and my anger level rises another notch.

Of course, it all starts with my laptop and Windows 8. Back when they first introduced it, I hated it. Now that I own a new laptop with it (no choice these days), I hate it more and more. For me, it is a total piece of #$%#$ that should have never been put on the market.  One of these days, I will tell you about all my attempts to experiment with it and make it useful. It is anything but. Most of their so-called Metro apps are terrible and nearly useless.

For now, I will just mention my recent attempt to make a backup image copy before I deleted it forever and installed Windows 7. First, the image backup software in Windows 8.1 that works so well in Windows 7 does not work. It said I didn’t have enough room on my 500GB USB hard drive to back up 72GB from my laptop. What? That is nuts. Turns out the Microsoft knows it does not work but released it anyway…and they have not fixed it yet. Unbelievable!

I used another piece of software to back it up so I could erase the damn thing and install Windows 7. But, then I found out it is nearly impossible to get rid of it. Microsoft has done some extra little things including inside the BIOS so that only a bona fide computer nerd can get rid of it. I read the instructions and it is way over my head.

Even trying to do a dual boot is a nearly impossible task. I might be able to accomplish that one, but am a little scared to try. One wrong step and I have a completely worthless laptop. We shall see. PS: Upgrading to Windows 8.1 wiped out some of my useful desktop apps.

Just remember all this when you go shopping for a Windows 8 desktop computer or laptop.

I am also angry about the so-called upgrade on my Nexus 7 tablet to Android 4.4. Its been a week now since Google announced it was being delivered to users. Not here yet and from what I read on the Net, no one has received it (see story below). Then why did they bother to announce it? 

And I won’t even go into the terrible football season…at least for me. All my teams are losing and the officiating has become so bad it is hard to watch. Frustrating.

So that is my story and it is definitely not a pretty one. But there are some other less anger provoking stories stories included here, so why don’t you get started. – JRC

 

News and Opinions

Steve Ballmer: Here's The Real Reason I'm Leaving Microsoft

Steve Ballmer has given his exit interview to The Wall Street Journal. In it, he gives his fullest explanation for why he's stepping down as CEO of Microsoft.

TPP Leak Confirms the Worst: US Negotiators Still Trying to Trade Away Internet Freedoms

For those of us who care about free speech and a balanced intellectual property system that encourages innovation, creativity, and access to knowledge, it’s not a pretty picture.

Microsoft unveils state-of-the-art Cybercrime Center

The Cybercrime Center in Redmond, WA combines Microsoft’s legal and technical expertise as well as cutting-edge tools and technology with cross-industry expertise, marking a new era in effectively fighting crime on the Internet.

Gmail is boiling the frog - and we are the frog

As we continue to enjoy Gmail's benefits - and compare them, usually favorably, with the alternatives, we must face the unavoidable reality that we have sold our souls for free email.... Not only can we no longer live without it - but we are beginning to struggle imagining why we would even want to.

Amazon Plans to Offer Desktops in the Cloud

In theory, a user could access Windows-based applications from many kinds of devices, including Apple Macs or iPads, Android or Amazon Kindle Fire tablets, Google Chromebooks or conventional laptops.

 

Tips and Tricks

Laptop buying guide

The most important things to know when shopping for a new laptop, hybrid, or Windows tablet

A Free App to Make Your New PC Cleaner and Faster

Your new computer will probably come with a ton of junkware. Decrap will help you get rid of all this junk.

Navigate Files Like a Pro with These Windows Explorer Tips and Tricks

Thinking about Windows Explorer may make you yawn, but you spend a lot of time in it every day. It's your hub for everything on your system, and it has a lot of cool stuff built-in you probably haven't noticed. Here are a few tips and tricks for getting more out of it.

PCs fail. Be ready with the best boot-drive programs

When your PC stops booting, a boot drive is the electronic version of a defibrillator. If you can boot your PC, you can detect bad memory, chase bad sectors, change passwords, and recover data ... all the things you need to get the machine back to normal. I'll show you how to make the boot drives you need.

Beyond Dropbox: Shopping the cloud

Is it time to drop Dropbox? My subscription is nearly up, so I'm re-evaluating four major alternatives - Copy.com, Google Drive, Microsoft Skydrive, and SugarSync - for price and features. Which is the best, and which is the best for me?

 

Portable Computing

Google Mum on Delayed Android 4.4 KitKat Software Update for Nexus Tablets

Google isn’t talking about why the Android 4.4 software update it announced last week for Nexus tablet owners still isn’t available, but whatever the reason, the situation spotlights a clear difference between Apple’s iOS and Android.

Tablet Choices for Photographers

Download, edit and shape your images on the go with one of these popular mobile devices

13 highly productive Android apps that play nice with your PC

Getting things done on disparate devices doesn't mean you have to abandon a cohesive workflow. These 13 Android apps sync, link, connect, or just plain play nice with your computer in ways that make it easier to stay productive no matter where you are.

Four privacy settings you should enable in iOS 7 immediately

If you downloaded and installed iOS 7, there are a few privacy settings that are turned off by default that you should enable right away.

iPhone Sells For Double The Price Than Your Average Android Smartphone

For devices sold in the third quarter of 2013 and purchased without a contract, iPhones cost on average $635 whereas during the same period of time Android phones sold for $268 on average.

Gmail for iPad Updated & Looks Great

The Gmail iPad app was updated last week, to Version 2.7182. As you can clearly tell from the version number it’s quite a nice update for Gmail on the iPad. It brings a ‘visual update’ for iOS 7 and a handful of cool new features.

The President and Microsoft Screw Up Again

President Obama said he didn’t know the Healthcare Web Site was a giant screw-up…and apologized to all the good folks out their who had their health insurance cancelled. I recently read an article that our President has a history of not knowing things until it was too late. Meanwhile Congress on both sides of the aisle continue to play the Blame Game. Where have all the real leaders gone?

Meanwhile, Microsoft goofed once again with one their monthly updates…a particular nasty vulnerability was supposed to be patched…but wasn’t.  At least this time they didn’t screw up people’s computers. Look for something next week.

And speaking of updates, I am still waiting for Google to send me the latest version of Android (KitKat) for my Nexus 7. They started rolling it out on Tuesday. However, Apple delivered new iOS7 updates starting today (see story below) and I got it immediately. I wonder what Apple knows the Google doesn’t?

OK, I am done bitching until next week. I hope your weekend will be great and that you find a few articles here that will be of interest. Take care. -JRC 

 

News and Opinions

Judge Permits Google To Continue To Make Books Relevant Online

Today, a U.S circuit judge declared that Google provides enormous benefit to society and authors, and denied the Author’s Guild’s copyright suit to block the massive book-scanning project

Google: We're bombarded by gov't requests on user data

Requests from governments worldwide for user information have more than doubled since three years ago. Worse still, says Google, is what the US won't let us tell you.

Surprise: Apple Maps Is a Hit, Google Maps Loses Ground

The Google Maps mobile apps, on both iOS and Android, were used by 81 million people in September 2012. By September 2013, according to ComScore, that number had fallen to 58.7 million. In just one year, Apple Maps has gained 35 million regular users.

Microsoft: One of the Patch Tuesday vulnerabilities not actually patched

One of the Internet Explorer vulnerabilities supposedly fixed in Tuesday's cumulative update was not in fact fixed.

Obama: I would not have launched Healthcare.gov if I had known it wasn't going to work

President Barack Obama says he had no idea how bad the problems were with the online insurance marketplace Healthcare.gov even a week after launch. If he had known, he would not have allowed it to open on October 1st, he said during a press conference today.

 

Tips and Tricks

‘PC settings’ gets major makeover in Win8.1

Microsoft made a host of changes to the commands and options on Windows 8.1′s PC settings page, adding new functions and moving or renaming others. The result is a better user experience — but one that’s undeniably confusing at first. Here’s a guide to the most important changes."

6 Ways to Boost Productivity With iCloud

Although iCloud is often compared to other cloud services such as Microsoft's SkyDrive, Dropbox and Google Drive, its deep integration with iOS and OS X gives it some unique features.

Ten Steps You Can Take Right Now Against Internet Surveillance

This isn't a complete list, and it won't make you completely safe from spying. But every step you take will make you a little bit safer than average.

How to Manage Internet Explorer Favorites the Easy Way

Internet Explorer (IE) comes with a function called “Organize Favorites” but it is pretty primitive and I find it a pain to use. So I use a better way.

Five 802.11ac Wi-Fi routers not to pick for your home

Following is a list of five AC routers that you want to avoid, for one reason or another. This list is sorted by the review order with the latest review on top, and will be updated when more lemons are found

PCs fail. Be ready with the best boot-drive programs

When your PC stops booting, a boot drive is the electronic version of a defibrillator. If you can boot your PC, you can detect bad memory, chase bad sectors, change passwords, and recover data ... all the things you need to get the machine back to normal. I'll show you how to make the boot drives you need.

 

Portable Computing

The iPad finally gets a great productivity suite — and it’s not from Microsoft

A new, free productivity app for iPad enables you to create and edit Microsoft Word and Excel documents with a gorgeous user interface rebuilt for the iPad (with video).

iOS 7.0.4 Download For iPhone 5s, 5c, 5, 4s, 4, iPad, iPod touch Is Out!

After a couple of minor updates amending a couple of early teething issues and security holes, Apple has today delivered yet another update.

Everything you need to know about buying a smartphone

Everything you need to know about carriers, plans, and finding your perfect phone

Massive Google Search 3.1.8 Update Rolling Out

Brings Google Experience Launcher To All 4.1+ Devices, New Cards, Completely Fixes GEL On Tablets, And More. This one is a big deal!

Retailers to slash prices of Apple, Microsoft tablets on Black Friday

According to leaked and published advertisements of the sales, which will begin on the evening of Thursday, Nov. 28, Best Buy, Target and Walmart will all sell brand-name tablets at steep discounts.

Post Office to Deliver on Sunday? Yep…But Only For Amazon

Amazon has stepped in to save the Postal Service’s bacon. Amazon has paid gobs of money to the US Postal Service to deliver their packages on Sunday. It will only be in New York and LA for now, but lots more cities will be added next year. It wasn’t that long ago that USPS wanted to shut down Saturday delivery. Go figure.

Today is Microsoft’s Patch Tuesday (always the second Tuesday of the month). Several important updates are included so make sure you either have your Windows computer set for auto updates or you download them yourself. Either way, just do it!

If you’ve been waiting for the new iPad Mini, they just went on sale today on-line or in Apple Stores. Hot-diggity-dog!

OK, enough out of me. Now take a look at today’s stories and see which ones might be of interest to you. -JRC

 

News and Opinion

Netflix, YouTube gobble up half of Internet traffic

Netflix and YouTube together make up half of peak Internet traffic in North America while their main rivals barely register, a study says. At the same time, file sharing is a sliver of its former self.

Amazon, Postal Service cut deal to deliver packages on Sundays

The online retail giant plans to deliver packages seven days a week, now in New York and Los Angeles, and in much of the country next year.

A New Firefox Design is Coming in 2014

"Mozilla has been preparing a new look for Firefox, one that takes its cues from both mobile and touch screens, but it will be difficult to reverse course once implemented."

Bletchley Park vows to upload secret World War II code-cracking archives

Bletchley Park, the British wartime code-breaking center that housed computing legends such as Alan Turing and Tommy Flowers, will put its paper archives online after HP provided the scanning hardware to get the job done

Why I've all but given up on Windows

These are words I never thought I'd be writing. After more than two decades of being a dedicated Windows power user, someone who over that time has installed and supported countless systems running versions of Windows spanning from 3.0 to 8.1, I've now all but given up on the platform.

 

Tips and Tricks

How long do disk drives really last?

It is one of the mysteries of storage: how long do disk drives last? An online backup vendor with 75 petabytes spills the beans.

Gmail Users No Longer Need To Download Attachments

Now users will be able to skip the whole process involved with downloading email attachments, and instead view and save their files directly to Google Drive – without leaving their inbox.

15 Ways to Prevent Your Facebook Page From Getting Hacked

The following tips will help you keep your Facebook account, and your online reputation, secure. If you use Facebook on a regular basis, you might want to read this.

Patch first, ask questions later

Security research firms helped me realize that unpatched software is to blame for the majority of successful exploits.

Microsoft to issue 8 updates, 3 critical, on Patch Tuesday (Today)

All supported versions of Microsoft Windows, Office and Internet Explorer are affected by at least one of the eight bulletins. Microsoft also clarified the impact of this week's disclosure of another vulnerability in Windows, Office and Lync.

How to set up two monitors

Chances are that your graphics subsystem can handle two screens. But the issues are different with desktops and laptops. PS: I use two screens and can't live without them.

 

Portable Computing

It’s Here, iPad mini with Retina Display is Now On Sale

As of today, the new iPad mini with Retina display is available for online and in-store purchase. The 7.9-inch tablet features the same pixel resolution as the full sized iPad, the same 64-bit A7 processor chip and M7 coprocessor chip, and offers all of the same iPad optimized apps and games.

5 good office apps for the iPad

Much has been written about the lack of Microsoft Office on the iPad but there are good office apps to fill the void. These five apps, actually seven apps, go a long way to provide all the productivity functions most iPad owners need.

How To Save Battery Power On Android Devices

Android Phone’s battery life is a pain. To Save Battery Power On Android Devices we have some suggestions and tips following which you can make sure that your android phone’s battery lasts longer.

24 Best New Android Games From The Last 2 Weeks

All kinds of new games to help you waste more time with your phone or tablet. My favorite: Romans from Mars

Camera Awesome Comes To Android After More Than 20M Downloads On iOS

It’s packed full with a ton of great features that help you get creative and take better pictures and videos with your smartphone or tablet.

My iPad vs. My Nexus 7

It’s a beautiful time of year here in Tucson. Temps in the high 70’s and low 80’s. I am loving it, to be sure. What has all this to do with tech? Absolutely nothing. So let’s move forward with the tech news.

A quick update on my new Nexus 7 tablet vs. my iPad 3. I do like my Nexus 7 as it is a pure Android/Google experience and not tainted by any other manufacturer’s biases and not dependent on any carrier’s whims on upgrades. I current have version 4.3 of Android, but will shortly be upgraded to 4.4 (KitKat). Some of the built-in Android apps are just wonderful while others are just so-so.

But, if I had the choice to own a Nexus 7” tablet or an Apple iPad 7” tablet and money was no object, I would choose the iPad. It is just easier to use and I find myself using my iPad 10” tablet more than the Nexus 7. But, of course, the iPad Mini tablet is nearly twice the price of the Nexus. In my opinion, it is not worth twice the price.

I like the Nexus for its size and weight and the screen is beautiful. The iPad is heavier (which is why I find the new iPad Air so appealing), but also has a wonderful retina screen. The Nexus seems to have a battery draining problem that I have yet to fully solve. The battery drains a fair amount while its not in use. Not long ago, I didn’t use it for 24 hours and it was dead when I tried to activate it. That is not an issue with the iPad.

Also, most of the Android apps are made for smart phones and not tablets, while Apple clearly distinguishes between iPhone and iPad apps. But, in all fairness, most phone-base Android apps look fine on  the tablet (but not all).

I hope this helps you if you are thinking about purchasing a tablet for yourself or as a Christmas gift. I will update again after I receive the new Android 4.4. So, onward and upward…now its time for you to peruse all the stories I have gather for you in this edition. Enjoy your weekend. -JCR

 

News

Blockbuster throws in the towel

The DVD-rental chain will close down its remaining US stores and curtail its DVD-by-mail rental service.

Google bans Windows Chrome extensions found outside the Chrome Web Store

Google says the decision to transform Chrome into a gated community stems from security concerns, in an echo of the official reason that Microsoft moved to the Windows Store model to distribute modern UI apps.

Microsoft improves its free online Office

Where's Office for the iPad? Maybe you're looking in the wrong place. Today, Microsoft released its latest batch of Office Web App updates, pushing its free offering well past the feature set offered by its rivals.

IE11 for Windows 7 Globally Available for Consumers and Businesses

Microsoft says this new version is about 30 percent faster than its nearest competitive browser on Windows 7 and in terms of raw JavaScript performance, it’s 9 percent faster than IE10.

 

Tips

15 Free Google Helpouts to Get Expert Tips for Your Everyday Problems

Google Helpouts is a new service that connects you live to real experts who can help you with a variety of problems. Here's a look at some of the best and most useful Helpouts we could find.

How to Harden Your Browser Against Malware and Privacy Concerns

Preventing your computer from communicating with potentially dangerous sites, and helping to avoid malware, plays a very important role in increasing your online privacy. Thus, protecting your privacy really does require that you also increase your security.

Get Organized: Managing Digital Family Documents

Going paperless takes some forethought, especially in deciding how to manage household paperwork, from bills and monthly statements to deeds and titles. Here are some of the best services that help you do it right.

Fake Chrome, Adobe Flash updates

Be on the lookout for fake updates to Chrome and Adobe Flash using high-quality techniques.

Top 10 Clever Google Search Tricks

Google is a more powerful tool than most people realize. You can get much more refined searches with Google's built-in tools, advanced operators, and third-party extensions.

Help Guard Your Online Privacy with this Nifty Firefox Add-On

"Although you can take various measures to block trackers, it isn’t always clear who you have or haven’t blocked. There is a new Firefox add-on called Lightbeam that makes it easier to see just who is tracking you."

 

Portable Computing

10 Tips to Conserve iPad Battery Life

Apple claims a pretty impressive battery life for the iPad - up to 10 hours of use on a full charge. Here are a few tips to make that number even larger.

The 100 Best iPad Apps

Fill your iPad or iPad mini with the best software available in the Apple App Store

Google Now updated for iOS

Google Now's been bringing all kinds of handy new features to Android in recent months, and now its time for iDevice users to get a slew of new functions too. Included are notifications, reminders, new cards and hands-free voice controls

The five things you need to know about Android 4.4: KitKat

The latest version of Google's Android Linux-based operating system is out (sort of). Here's what you need to know about it today.

Amazon Prime members can now get new Kindle books for free

With its new Kindle First program, the retail giant has come up with another way to lure people to Prime.

Microsoft Updates Its Outlook.com Android App With Better Syncing, Storage, Colors And More

If you are an Outlook,com and Android user, this update will contain at least a few things that you like. You can now sync all your mail to your device, plus more.

The Case Against Gmail and Healthcare.gov

Sorry about not publishing last week. I went out of town for a few days and wound up staying much longer than I anticipated. I hope you forgive me.

But, I am back and have collected some good articles to improve your computer knowledge. You may have noticed I changed the layout of this blog. Instead of running the occasional special editions on portable computing, I am now including them and regular computing articles in every edition. Too many of us are using desktop, laptops, tablets and smartphones every day so I decided to put the most interesting articles for all devices in one place. And, to be clear, you will not be cheated on the number of stories. More work for me, but, what the hell! I’m retired.

Like many of you I’ve been following the news on Obamacare and its disastrous Web site. I normally ignore most news stories since I retired, but I’ve always had a fascination with stupidity, especially on such a monumental scale…and that is what the Obamacare Web fiasco is. I won’t go into the non-web related stories on this subject…except to say if they can’t create a Web site that works, what makes you think they can handle the medical insurance needs for a whole nation?

There are two interesting stories I will call your attention to by ZDNet writer Ed Bott…a reporter I greatly respect. He wrote two pieces on the problems with Gmail and why he has left their services. The second article is a how-to in case you wish to do it also. Both articles are worth the read…as are the rest of the articles here.

Well, enough of me…its time for you to get started. Thanks again for reading this blog. -JRC

News

HealthCare.gov costs show that feds have literally no idea how to build a big web site

Could you build a working website for $300 million?

The so-called 'death of the PC'

Is the PC dying? Not really. It's more to do with that users now have choice about which tools they use

FAA green-lights gadget use during entire flight

Agency expects airlines to begin letting you use your electronic devices -- in airplane mode -- from departure to arrival by the end of the year.

Adobe security breach actually affected closer to 38 million users

That hack attack on Adobe's user base has turned out to be a lot more serious than originally revealed. The original announcement said only 3 million users were affected.

Desktop and Laptop Computing

The case against Gmail

Gmail was a breath of fresh air when it debuted. But this onetime alternative is showing signs that it's past its prime, especially if you want to use the service with a third-party client. That's the way Google wants it, which is why I've given up on Gmail after almost a decade.

How I switched from Gmail to Outlook.com (and how you can too)

So long, Gmail, it was nice knowing you. After nearly a decade, I've finally moved my personal email away from Google's service. If you're considering doing the same, here's a step-by-step guide to help you set things up the right way.

Microsoft: Productivity Web apps improve with IE11

Pasting a photo or a formatted list into a browser-based word processor isn't as fun as playing Hover online, but Microsoft still made the mundane chores a little better in its browser.

How to Erase Yourself From the Internet

If your growing weariness of being constantly tethered to the internet has become overwhelming, it might be time to scrub yourself from the social media sphere altogether.

Browser Care: All-In-One Maintenance Tool For Chrome, Firefox & IE

Auslogics Browser Care is yet another great tool that aims to mark its name in this genre by letting you get rid of unwanted add-ons and toolbars, reset your browser home page and search engine, and clean up temporary browser data. Even better, it supports Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer all in a single package.

How to Fix an Annoying Windows USB Problem

Do you ever find that sometimes one of your USB ports won’t work? You might have a bad USB port but there is another possible cause of USB problems and here is an easy way to fix it."

Portable Computing

iPad Air benchmarks show 80 percent speed bump over iPad 4

The new iPad comes close to doubling the performance of its predecessor, according to Primate Labs.

Introducing Kindle First—Exclusive Early Access to New Books

Customers can read one of next month’s new releases today. Choose one title to read early for $1.99; Prime members choose one title for free

Just How Bad Are Android Tablet Apps?

It’s clear that Apple’s iPad is way ahead when it comes to the sheer quantity of tablet-optimized apps. It’s also clear that some popular apps — particularly touch-optimized games — only show up on iPad. But that’s not the whole story.

Get ready for the $50 Android tablet Black Friday 2013 deal

Specials from Walmart and Toys "R" Us list no-name 7-inch slates for cut-rate prices coming for the holiday shopping season. Will you be buying one?

Android 4.4 gives apps vastly better Web technology

Apps that draw upon the browser engine now have modern options like video chat and 3D graphics in Google's new KitKat release of Android.

Let go of that laptop: the ultimate guide to making a tablet your main computer

With the tablet’s lighter weight, longer battery life, and near-instant boot-up, the building blocks of a productivity engine are already there