A Christmas Disaster in Tucson

My new iMac dropped dead! Or, to put it more accurately, the hard drive in my new iMac dropped dead. After working flawlessly for nearly a month, a fatal flaw reared its ugly head and sent my drive crashing to oblivion.

Of course, I did not know that had happened. I first contacted Apple Support on the phone, and when they could not resolve the problem, they sent me to the Genius Bar of my local Apple Store. Using a series of diagnostic tools, the iMac Genius discovered the hard drive was beyond redemption. The bottom line is my Mac will probably spend Christmas at the Apple Store, waiting for a new hard drive to be installed. It seems they did not have any extras on-hand.

Am I discouraged? Not really…although this will require me to redo all my work from scratch…loading programs and apps and data. I do have a backup that I did using Apple’s Time Machine, so will see if I can restore the computer without too much work.  But if I do have to begin all over, it will go much faster as I now have a better understanding how a MAC differs from a PC.

And speaking of that, I have included a story(#5) from another person like me who made the switch from Windows to MAC. You might find it interesting if you ever consider making the switch yourself. I look forward to getting my machine back so I can continue my education.

PS: This will be the last tech blog the first of the year, as I, and the rest of the tech world take the holidays off. I hope your Christmas and New Years celebrations will be memorable.

 

Tech News and Opinions

FBI blames North Korea for Sony hack

The FBI releases the findings of its four-week investigation into one of the most destructive cyberattacks of a company on US soil.

10 Tech Stories We Couldn't Stop Talking About in 2014

Which tech stories had the biggest impact in 2014, or laid the groundwork for innovation in the years to come?

Did the browser wars finally end in 2014?

After a decade, have the browser wars finally ended? My review of what's new for Chrome, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Opera says yes.

Defying Feds, MS tries to keep user data private

Microsoft is currently fighting a federal search warrant demanding that the company release emails stored in Ireland. Here’s why you should be extremely concerned by a U.S. court’s actions — and what you can do about it.

Observations from a new Mac user

So, a few weeks ago, I bought my first Mac. It’s a 13″ retina MacBook Pro, and it is without a doubt the finest computer I’ve ever owned. But, given that I’m coming from the Windows world a lot of things required just a bit of adjustment.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

How to keep your PC, smartphone, or tablet safe while traveling

When you travel, a whole fleet of electronics come with you. Smartphone and laptop are a given, but there’s a good chance you’re also toting a tablet, and maybe a cellular hotspot or dedicated GPS. All of them are juicy targets for bad guys.

The Best Firefox Add-ons

Firefox is famous for its add-ons, and for good reason: they can make your browser do just about anything. But which add-ons are the most useful? Here are the add-ons we think are best, what they do, and where you can find them.

How to attach real files to Gmail messages, not just links

A new Google Drive tweak lets you attach actual files to outbound email.

How to Make Windows Show File Extensions

If you’re a Windows power user you probably already know how to do this, but for everybody else, it can be useful to see file extensions so that you know for sure what type of file you are dealing with.

LastPass Can Now Automatically Change Your Passwords

LastPass just announced a new feature for the password manager that automatically changes your password for sites when a hack is reported.

 

Mobile Computing

Amazon’s Kindle for iOS app updated w/ Goodreads integration, Audible progressive play, more

The update also adds new ways for users to access information and details about Kindle books.

6 Best Music Streaming Apps for Android

Online music streaming and radio services are now becoming very popular with good internet connectivity on phone with 3G and 4G LTE. These services also have mobile apps which allows you to stream music directly from your phone.

Organize and listen to your own music on the cloud

Want to access your music collection wherever you go? Here's a guide on sorting your tunes and choosing a cloud streaming service to suit your needs.

Best iOS 8 Widgets (And How To Enable)

While widgets in iOS 8 share a lot in common with the ones on Android, the implementation and interactions are totally different.

Top 10 Awesome Features of Google Now

Google Now, the mind-reading personal assistant for iOS and Android, has gotten a ton of updates lately, making it the perfect smartphone companion for...well, anything. Here's a list of the coolest stuff it can do.

Never, but Never Give Your Personal Data to Sony

The most recent attack and data theft on Sony sites has had serious repercussions. But this is not the first time. Would you believe that attacks on Sony Websites goes back to 1999? Their almost complete lack of security is unbelievable! Don’t believe me? Check out this Website that gives a concise history of Sony Hacks. It will surprise and maybe even shock you. This company has no business storing sensitive data. Their Web security is a sick joke.

In an appearance before Congress, Tim Schaaff, President of Sony Network Entertainment International, told the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade that "Sony Network Entertainment and Sony Online Entertainment have always made concerted and substantial efforts to maintain and improve their data security systems." Looking at the history of Sony's hacks, this statement seems completely absurd.

Now, there are new ramifications from the most recent hack. In the last edition, I told you how Sony warned members of the press that if they possessed any stolen documents, they were in violation of the law. What a joke! Then, just yesterday, the major chains of movie houses refused to show the movie, “The Interview” because of terrorist threats. North Korea had declared that showing the movie was an act of war. Sony has now pulled the film from distribution. So, I guess terrorists now dictate what movies we can see.

The reaction to all this has been swift. Just read our first two stories. And Sony is not out of the woods. There are going to be a ton of lawsuits soon as people’s personal data was stolen and is now out there for everyone to see…the hackers posted much of it on the Web. Sony has been told on several occasions by experts that their servers were insecure.  Guess they didn’t believe them.

Sony sure knows how to kill the Spirit of Christmas. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Reaction to the Sony Hack Is 'Beyond the Realm of Stupid'

First, major movie chains announced that they would not be screening The Interview after ​​a nonspecific threat of violence from the hacking collective that attacked Sony. Then, ​the company ​announced it was canceling the release of the movie altogether. Now, the government ​is suggesting that it ​really is ​North Korea behind the attack.

Celebrities rage on Twitter after Sony cancels 'The Interview'

Actor Rob Lowe tweeted on Wednesday: "Saw @Sethrogen at JFK. Both of us have never seen or heard of anything like this. Hollywood has done Neville Chamberlain proud today.”

Apple not guilty in iPod antitrust trial

After less than four hours of deliberation, the jury in the class action antitrust case finds Apple not guilty of anticompetitive conduct almost a decade ago.

These Were The Top 10 Most Popular Searches On Google In 2014

Each year, Google releases a list of the topics we’ve collectively searched for the most over the past 12 months. Each year, I try and see how many I can guess beforehand. This year, I got about half. How many can you get?

Opinion: I'm still sick of Android

With no solid business productivity apps, as well as continually perpetuating the 'toxic hellstew', Google's mobile OS is still missing from my personal tech stable two years after I abandoned it. But there's some hope for it yet.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Five tips for managing your money with Mint.com

Ready to get into financial shape? Get to know some of Mint.com's most helpful features.

The Best Free Antivirus for 2015

No antivirus software? You aren't just risking your own data: Unprotected computers can be springboards for botnet and DDoS attacks. These free AV tools can help.

The Best Free Google Chrome Extensions

Picking the best from so many great browser add-ons was hard, but we did it. These are some of the greatest extensions you can and should add to your Google browser.

How to find images for Office documents now that Microsoft's killing Clip Art

Microsoft is sending its Office clip art to the digital beyond, where it shall rest in glory with Clippy, Zune, and the rest of the Redmond saints. But, don't give up hope. There are many solutions to getting graphics into your documents.

A few good reasons to partition your SSD or hard drive

So why would you want to make additional partitions? It’s not like making folders. Creating and resizing partitions is a hassle.

 

Mobile Computing

How to Use Apple's Health App in iOS 8

One of the marquee features of Apple iOS is the new Health app, a single place where you can keep all your health information, including data from activity trackers like the Fitbit. It's a great idea, but getting started can be tricky.

How to Fix Bad iOS 8.1.2 Battery Life

Some iPhone and iPad users are noticing bad iOS 8.1.2 battery life and today, we’re going to tell you how to go about fixing that.

Lifehacker Pack for Android Tablets: Our List of the Essential Apps

Android tablets are finally starting to develop a mature ecosystem. While there are still some key holdouts (looking at you Facebook), there are plenty of great apps you can install right now designed to work on the larger screen.

Lifehacker Pack for Android: Our List of the Essential Android Apps

In just a few short years, Android has grown from a small project within Google to the most prolific mobile operating system on the planet. The app ecosystem has grown right along with it.

How to Take Better Pictures with Your Smartphone's Camera

Camera phones have come a long way in the past few years, but they don't always take point-and-shoot quality pictures on the first try (let alone DSLR quality). Here's how to squeeze the best quality photos out of your smartphone's camera.

Holiday Shopping Deals: 99% of Them Are Not

Be sure and read our first story from the New York Times about the Black Friday scams. The story applies to both online and brick and mortar store shopping. Makes one think twice about rushing out on Thanksgiving evening or the following morning to get some of those deals.

By the way, if you want to know what is a good bargain both in tech and non-tech shopping check out The Wirecutter and The Sweethome Web sites.

Once again, I’ve packed this blog with good tech news and information…so read on and learn! -JRC

Tech News and Opinions

Online Deals for Holiday Shopping: Buyer Beware

So far this year, The Wirecutter and The Sweethome have researched 54,000 holiday deals. They’ve found that only a bit more than 300 of them — less than 1 percent — are worth your time.

Sony wants news organizations to delete data leaked after hack

The movie studio calls the leaked documents "stolen information" and threatened legal action if the files are not ignored and destroyed. Good luck with that.

Why Hackers Love Passwords

Unless you’ve got a cryptography background, your passwords probably offer no more resistance to a hacker than a $5 cable does to a bike thief.

Microsoft update blunders going out of control

We have had an absolute deluge of problem updates from Redmond recently and some have been serious. What's up at Microsoft?

Computers get faster processors, lower prices at CES 2015

What we expect, from new Intel CPUs to hints of Windows 10, in laptops, tablets, hybrids, and desktops at CES in January.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Windows 7 users urged to uninstall broken update that wreaks havoc on software

Windows 7 users may have automatically updated themselves into a pickle with a recent patch from Microsoft. Microsoft has confirmed that the KB3004394 update it issued on December 10 can cause various problems.

How to Use Tags to Organize Evernote

Here is one method that provides a clear example of how one user has successfully structured his Evernote account to help make the most impact in his work with an emphasis on tags.

Wi-Fi Security: Should You Use WPA2-AES, WPA2-TKIP, or Both?

Choose the wrong option and you’ll have a slower, less-secure network.

The hidden power of Windows Jump Lists

Windows is full of so many handy little features it's easy to forget some of them if you aren't using it every day. One such feature is Jump Lists, which is the app-specific menu that appears when you right-click a desktop app icon on the taskbar

How to access Microsoft Windows hidden function : God Mode

In Microsoft Windows, there is a hidden function which allows all system management tools to be Conveniently accessed from a single place. It is called as GodMode.

 

Mobile Computing

Diehard Microsoft fans abandon Windows Phone for iPhone

Veteran Microsoft journalists Ed Bott and Tom Warren both published essays this week in which they criticized Windows Phone for its shortcomings and announced that they’ve stopped using Windows Phones personally.

T-Mobile just launched a family plan with truly unlimited data

The “Un-carrier” has just launched a new family plan that includes unlimited talk, text, and full-speed LTE data. The plan is a great deal, starting at just $100 for two people.

How To Use Android

Android may require a little effort to learn and set up, but you get a tangible return on that investment: A properly configured Android phone can get you the stuff you want faster and with less work than any other mobile operating system.

Android: Does turning off Wifi save battery? Not really

It seems fairly straightforward. You're not using your Wifi, you should just turn it off to save battery. However, this question isn't as straightforward as it might've been in years past.

3 Ways to Close iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch Apps

Have you noticed your iPhone or iPad battery dying faster than normal? Follow this guide to close those unused programs.

50 Best Free iPhone Apps for 2014

Plenty of iPhone apps are worth paying for, but there are plenty of great free ones, too. Here are 50 of the best.

Windows 10 Consumer Event Planned for January

Since September, we have been given some interesting tidbits about the next version of Windows…and we will learn much more come January 21st. This is when Microsoft will unveil its plans for the consumer version. And we will probably get a downloadable preview edition. So far, their preview editions have been quite buggy and not really aimed at consumers.

I will probably download the January preview and install it on my MAC using Parallels. That fine program lets me load multiple operating systems, all running in their own environment. Then I can erase it at will. So far I have only run Windows 7 in Parallels and that is working out quite well.

The January event will also show off Windows 10 for tablets and phones. Microsoft’s plan is to unify all versions of Windows on all devices. Of course the desktop version will be different from the phone version, but they will have the same look and operating consistency…at least that is the plan. We shall see. Look for the final version of Windows 10 late next summer.

Not much else going on in the tech world, but I have dug up some good tips and tricks for both computers and mobile devices. So read on and see what you can find. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

FBI official calls Sony attackers 'organized,' 'persistent'

The FBI spills more details to US Senate on the hack that destroyed Sony's computers and leaked sensitive documents as well as unreleased movies

Microsoft announces Windows 10 event for January 21st

The company will mainly discuss consumer-focused features of the new operating system. Microsoft is expected to further detail its touch interface dubbed Continuum, alongside its plans for tablets and phones running Windows 10.

Instagram Hits 300 Million Monthly Users To Surpass Twitter

Instagram’s been going strong for four years now, and despite fears that the acquisition by Facebook would screw it up, there’s now 70 million photos shared each day, and over 30 billion total.

The Best Ebook Readers

Whether you're considering joining the digital book revolution, or just want a new device to replace an older one, here are the best ebook readers on the market today.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Gallery: Early look at Cortana in Windows 10

Last week, Cortana, which we have been talking about since July, was finally revealed in Windows 10. While this is a very early look at the feature and we know for a fact that the UI is updated in later builds of the OS, this is the best look we have for now.

Microsoft patches Windows, IE, Office and Exchange

Microsoft has released their December security updates addressing 24 vulnerabilities in Windows, Internet Explorer, Exchange and Office. Make sure you download and install them.

The Complete Guide to Avoiding (and Removing) Windows Crapware

Windows has a lot going for it, but it's also saddled with one of computing's biggest annoyances: crapware. Here's everything you need to know about identifying, avoiding, and removing unwanted software from your system.

The best (and worst) PC upgrades

What are the best 'bang for the buck' PC upgrades you can buy? What are the upgrades that are just a waste of money?

The SSD Endurance Experiment: Only two remain after 1.5PB

The ongoing SSD Endurance Experiment has demonstrated that some consumer-grade drives can withstand over a petabyte of writes before burning out. This means for a heavy user, an SSD will last for a few hundred years.

 

Mobile Computing

Apple Released iOS 8.1.2 Update With Bug Fixes

Almost a month after releasing the iOS 8.1.1 update, Apple is now seeding the latest iOS 8.1.2 which comes in with a few bug fixes on board. Its a free update for iPads and iPhones.

10 Tricks to Make Yourself an Apple Maps Master

After a less-than-stellar start, Apple Maps is starting to establish itself on the desktop and on iOS as well. Despite its sleek and minimal interface, there are a number of useful features hidden away behind the surface.

iPad keyboards: How to choose the right one for the way you work

Buyers face an overwhelming variety of keyboards available for Apple's tablet. Here's how to choose one that best fits your needs.

The best tablet you can buy

A good tablet should be lightweight and fast. It should have lots of apps available, and be easy to use. It should also easily last through a day of heavy use, or multiple days of lighter usage.

Shhh! 3 ways to keep your pre-Lollipop Android phone quiet

The good news is that there are plenty of ways to manage your sounds, notifications and alerts in a pre-Lollipop Android phone—at least three ways, by my count.

Microsoft launches MSN apps for Android

Microsoft may be a company that has plenty of its own projects out in the world, but that hasn’t stopped them from broadening the scope of their approach to a more multi-platform strategy.

I am Still in Shorts and a T-Shirt and Out by the Pool

Today is December 9 and I am still dressed like its summer. That is one of the benefits of living down here in Tucson. My normal daily routine includes sitting out by the pool with my iPad and finding stories for this blog. I did that again today. Of course I also do it in the summer, but a whole lot earlier in the day.

Enough about me. As I mentioned last time, we are in a slow time of the year, at least for tech journalism. But I have put together some interesting stories as well as some valuable tips and tricks. So read on and take advantage of my time at the pool. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

2014: The year everyone's security took a hit

The past year has shown that each and every person is less secure than they thought on January 1, 2014, and for popping that bubble, we should be thankful.

Pirate Bay knocked offline worldwide following police raid

Police in Sweden have raided The Pirate Bay, seizing servers, computers and other office equipment, citing violations of copyright law

Net neutrality: Five myths, and the real facts

Regardless of where you stand on the net neutrality debate, one thing doesn’t help: misleading or confusing statements. Unfortunately there are plenty of them.

How to Buy an HDTV

LCD, LED, HDMI, 3D, 1080p, 4K? Looking for a new television, but drowning in acronyms? Here's what you need to know when you shop for your next HDTV.

iPhone 6 Plus Won 41% of Phablet Market After One Month of Sales

The last couple of months have proven that the critics were right after all: Apple simply needed to make an iPhone with a bigger screen to storm the smartphone market.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Instant Expert: Secrets & Features of iTunes 12

While the design changes met with some negative reviews, particularly from long-time iTunes users, the changes were arguably put in place at least partially to make the application at least somewhat more approachable for new users.

Windows 7&8 Safe Modes: How to enter and when to use them

Safe Mode gives you a low-resolution, visually ugly, feature-limited Windows environment useful for diagnostic and repair purposes.

How to See Who’s Connected to Your Wi-Fi Network

Do you know who’s connected to your router’s Wi-Fi network? Take a look at the list devices connected to your Wi-Fi network from your router or computer to find out.

Why Does Every Camera Put Photos in a DCIM Folder?

The DCIM folder and its layout come from DCF, a standard created back in 2003. DCF is so valuable because it provides a standard layout.

How to Make Your Entire Internet Life More Secure in One Day

Here are a few of the most popular security and privacy measures, from chat encryption to secure backups, and find the easiest ways to make your online life secure without causing too much inconvenience.

 

Mobile Computing

Wireless charging for tablets is finally coming next year

The 15-watt system, which should hit the market early next year, offers three times as much electrical power as a rival phone charging solution. So it will charge tablets and other large gadgets.

The Best iPhone Apps Of The Year, According To Apple

Apple is known for being extremely selective, and this year’s list contains a mixture of everything — from helpful productivity apps to cutting-edge games with stunning graphics.

12 essential Microsoft business apps for the iPhone

As part of Microsoft's "mobile first, cloud first" mission, it has built up a large portfolio of consumer and business apps on every platform. In this roundup, I look at a dozen iOS apps that help IT pros and power users stay productive with an iPhone and Microsoft services.

How to clear a default app setting on Android

Made a mistake when selecting a default app for an action? No problem, follow these steps to clear the default setting and get your app choices back.

How to Make Text Larger and More Readable on Android

Let’s face it, no matter how good the screens are on our phones and tablets, the text is just too darn tiny if you have weak eyesight

Apple and the iPod…Trouble in Cupertino

I am a little late with this edition so will try to keep it short. The big (and only) major story coming out this week is about Apple vs. iPod owners in a court of law. The plaintiffs allege Apple kept iPod prices high by implementing needless software updates. The suite is for $350,000.

To make their case even stronger, a story has now surfaced that Steve Jobs and Apple actually deleted music from user’s iPods that was not purchased from the iTunes store. This supposedly happened between 2007 and 2009. You can read all about these two items in our first two stories.

As for me and Apple, I am still working to get my new iMac running the way I want. I am getting closer by the day. Most of the issues I have had are not Apple’s fault, but rather Microsoft issues. For instance the current release of Outlook for iMac will not sync up my calendar from Outlook.com. I subsequently found out that Microsoft just didn’t include this feature. Then, why would they even release it to the public if it can’t sink up to their own website?  I solved it all by discarding Outlook for iMac and returning to Google Calendar. PS: OneNote for the Mac also stinks as Microsoft left out some key features I use on a daily basis.

But the good news is I have Windows 7 up and running well on my Mac using Parallels. It actually runs much faster inside Parallels than it does on my PC. Go figure. So I can install all the Microsoft programs that work better on the PC. Just as a side note, I also am not very happy with either the Apple Keyboard and the Apple Mouse. More on my adventures in the Apple world in the future.

Anyway, take a look at some of the interesting stories and tips I have included below and see if you can find something interesting or of value to your computing skills. -JRC

Tech News and Opinions

Apple misled iPod owners, plaintiffs allege at class action trial

The trial kicks off to determine whether Apple illegally used iTunes software updates to keep consumers locked in its digital music ecosystem.

Apple scrubbed non-iTunes tracks from iPods

Tim Cook and U2 just got roasted for forcing music onto customers' iPhones, but from 2007 to 2009, Steve Jobs' Apple was allegedly playing a different tune, and deleted music off of iPods that was purchased on rival music services

From Aereo to 'Tor routers': The tech that died in 2014

Not all tech is created equally. Even when products or services meet their demise, they're not even killed off equally. Here's what we saw the end of this year.

Be Wary of ‘Order Confirmation’ Emails

Malware purveyors and spammers are blasting these missives by the millions each day in a bid to trick people into giving up control over their computers and identities.

AT&T still throttles “unlimited data”—even when network not congested

Half-megabit speeds force customers to abandon unlimited data.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Chromebooks take on cheap Windows laptops

With the tide of Yule rapidly approaching, I’ve been repeatedly asked about the relative merits of cheap Windows laptops, tablets — and Chromebooks. Choosing among the three platforms isn’t easy; depending on your needs, any one of them might be right.

How to remove Yahoo as Firefox's default search engine

Firefox has kicked Google to the curb and run into the arms of Yahoo as its default search engine. Learn how to switch your default back to Google, and about a new search feature.

Online Mind Mapper Makes Planning Easy

If you've never tried mind mapping software before, point your web browser at www.mindmeister.com to try it out. There's no software to install or download, and a basic account on the service is free.

11 Yahoo Mail Tips for Easier Emailing

Reportedly over 100 million people use Yahoo Mail every single day—that's second only to Google's Gmail. That means it's time to take a closer look at Yahoo Mail and see what tweaks and tricks are under the surface, waiting to be used.

The Beginner’s Guide to Microsoft Outlook 2013

Many of us crave organization and productivity. If you already use Microsoft Office, then you already have the ultimate tool to sate that craving: Outlook 2013.

 

Mobile Computing

Control Your Android Device with AirDroid's New Desktop App

The latest update brings a native desktop app for Mac and PC, with better notification handling and remote device control right on your screen.

10 of the Best New Travel Apps of 2014

If you've got a trip coming up, rather than wasting a week of your life downloading useless junk travel apps, start with these ten great travel apps instead. They were all released this year so there's no outdated information or old versions that haven't been updated in forever.

21 new Android 5.0 features you need to know about

Google recently released Android 5.0 Lollipop, the largest Android update to date. The updated version of the popular mobile operating system is slowly making its way to older devices. Here are the new features in Android 5.0 Lollipop that you need to know about

Tips and Tricks every iOS 8 user should know

While most of the changes are subtle, there are some interesting hidden features that can come in handy. Here's a look at some tips, tricks, and features that will help you out.

How to Fix the Most Common iMessage Problems

Apple's iMessage is a great way to get around text messaging fees and send messages to other Apple users for free, but it's not without its problems.

Thanksgiving Means the Beginning of a Tech News Drought

I hope your Thanksgiving was as good as mine. My son Eric and I had a great reunion, watching football and eating and drinking like pigs at a local sports bar. I know…it was not a typical Thanksgiving, but we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. Friday was just as much fun.

Now that Thanksgiving is over, we are now officially in the Christmas buying season. My inbox was full of Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals. Having just spent a bundle on my new iMac, I really didn’t spend much money on more discounted tech products. But there were definitely some amazing deals to be had in stores and on-line.

December also means a slow-down of high tech news, so will really have to scrounge to find interesting stories. However, there are still a ton of good tips and tricks out there for computers, laptops, tablets, and cell phones…and those tips are really the heart and soul of this tech blog. So stay tuned for lots more good info. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Is the PC losing its touch?

The industry’s response to the tablet has been to push touch in laptops. If the shelves of Best Buy are any indication, it seems to have worked. So why are there now reports that touchscreen laptops will be phased out?

It's 2014. Why is my battery stuck in the '90s

The devices we all rely on continue to evolve radically. So why has the battery industry failed?

NSA chief admits China could cripple U.S. power grid, financial networks

National Security Agency director Adm. Mike Rogers said in testimony to the U.S. House of Representatives' Intelligence Committee that hackers have performed "reconnaissance" missions in order to work out how networks function.

iCloud reportedly held back by 'deep organizational issues' within Apple

Steve Jobs had a particular interest in keeping photos, one of the most highly shared forms of media, in sync between devices. Yet, over three years later, Apple has not reached the full potential it envisioned with iCloud.

Destructive’ malware may have hit Sony Pictures, other companies warned

Sony Pictures was hit by unknown hackers last week who managed to steal various sensitive information, including high-quality digital versions of several unreleased Sony movies.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Faceoff: OneNote vs. Evernote

Now that Microsoft OneNote is free for Mac and Windows, the price and cross-platform barriers to this much beloved note-taking tool are gone. But how well does OneNote stack up to (the also awesome) Evernote. Let's take a look at where each app shines, and why you might want to use one over the other.

Working Without Wires: Setting Up a Wireless Printer

You don't need to go hunting for a USB cable to connect to a printer, and you don't need a printer for every PC.

Top 10 Underhyped Windows Apps

Some apps are fantastic, yet fly under the radar. Today, we look at our top 10 underhyped apps on Windows.

Personalize Windows Explorer navigation bar, libraries, and favorites

Two of the sections, Favorites and Libraries, are easily configurable. The other sections are not configurable for a good reason.

When to image a hard drive, and when to clone it

Cloning copies the complete contents of one drive—the files, the partition tables and the master boot record—to another: a simple, direct duplicate. Imaging copies all of that to a single, very large file on another drive.

 

Mobile Computing

Best Android Apps of 2014 According To Google

Included in Google’s best of 2014 list are some of your favorite apps, many of which are more than expected to make this list, including Link Bubble, IFTTT, SoundHound, Secret and Google Fit. But there are also some apps you never heard of.

Use This Clever Trick To See Your iPhone's True Signal Strength

Ever find yourself questioning how accurate those little signal strength dots are on your iPhone? Luckily, there's a trick to reveal your iPhone's true signal strength, and it takes less than a minute to enable.

How to move your receipts to the cloud

These three apps will help you preserve receipts so they don't fade away by the time you need them.

Twitter is now tracking the apps you download

Twitter has assured users that it will only track which applications you have installed, not any data from within the applications.

Split between iPhone 6 and Plus models settled down to 3-to-1 after initial 6-to-1 lead

While constrained supplies of the iPhone 6 Plus initially meant the 4.7-inch model was outselling its larger 5.5-inch brother by a ratio of 6-to-1, three different sources are now all reporting that the current ratio has settled down to 3-to-1.

I Pushed the Apple “Buy” Button

I did it! I bought the new Apple iPad with 5K Retina 27” screen. It is quite gorgeous…it had better be for $2,500. I actually wound up paying $2,300 as the retailer put it on sale two days after I bought it. They were kind enough to refund me the difference.

It arrive yesterday and I quickly set it up and started playing and learning. And boy, do I have a lot to learn! But I think I have accomplished a lot in the last 24 hours. I got all my music and playlists moved over to iTunes and am now syncing all my files from OneDrive. It is very, very fast…especially when you use a USB 3 portable drive to copy over to the MAC.

I also downloaded Office 365, Photoshop, and Lightroom then installed them. Firefox and Chrome are also installed and they are up and running just fine. Evernote and OneNote also installed quickly and easily…and their files downloaded automatically from the cloud.

Regardless, it is going to take a while to learn OS-X. Fortunately there are several videos on YouTube that have been of immense help.  I have not loaded Parallels onto the iMac yet, so my Windows apps are not on it yet. As I said, it will take some time…but boy is it fun!

Of course, there are some things I don’t like very much, like the Apple keyboard and a few of the native software apps…and while I am not crazy about the mouse, it is usable. But, all those problems are solvable, so I will just keep going. After all, I have only had it for 24 hours.

PS: There will be no Rants and Raves on Thursday as it is Thanksgiving. But we will be back next week. So until then, Happy Thanksgiving! - JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Global online population hits 3 billion

There are now more than 3 billion people online globally, with two-thirds of all people with internet access now living in the developing world, according to new research by the United Nations agency charged with improving the world's access to IT infrastructure.

Google unveils tools that track and secure your online life

With the enormous power that it wields over our Internet lives, Google is in the prime position to help mitigate the effects or sometimes even prevent incidents from happening in the first place.

Google, Netflix, Uber vs. France: Utterly ridiculous French revolt

The latest actions against American tech companies indicate that France has no intention of trying to emulate the American model and foster growth of its own IT industry. Instead, the country seems to be sliding towards perpetual guerrilla war against foreign tech powers.

Netflix Now Accounts for 35 Percent of US Internet Traffic

The report suggests that Netflix is using a whopping 20% more bandwidth than the nearest downstream competitor, YouTube.

The 12 scams of Christmas

This year, cybercrime has evolved to new and more sophisticated levels — far beyond the days of phishing emails by "lawyers" who need to transfer millions of dollars to your account on behalf of a long-lost African uncle. So, what do you need to keep an eye out for as Christmas approaches?

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

How to find free Internet for your laptop while traveling

Sure, you can do a lot on a smartphone, phablet, or slate, but there are times when only a laptop will do. Unfortunately, situations like this always seem to pop-up while I'm on the road with no obvious Internet access.

How to protect your credit card online

Keep your credit card details away from prying eyes and avoid fraudulent transactions with these tips for shopping online.

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. Fortunately, we can help.

How to use Firefox, Chrome, Opera as a Notepad

In case you did not know you could do this, then read on to find out how you can actually open a new tab in your browser and use it as a text editor to type just like you would do in a Notepad.

Freeware: Close All Windows

Close All Windows helps you to close all running applications with one click. It does not use system resources because it only flashes a 'close' signal to all open windows on the desktop and then ceases.

 

Mobile Computing

The 10 Best Shopping Apps to Compare Prices

These services let you know if the item before you is a deal or no deal before you make a costly mistake.

Best Buy's Black Friday 2014 features $1 Galaxy S5, $39 Android tablets

Those of you in the Android camp will have a multitude of great deals to choose from, with the biggest highlights being featured in the big doorbusters category: a $1 Samsung Galaxy S5 (AT&T, Verizon or Sprint with a two-year contract) or a $39.99 7-inch Android tablet that features a quad-core processor.

13 must-own apps for transforming your phone into the ultimate toolkit

The best utility apps are designed to make your hectic life a little bit easier, and maybe even more enjoyable.

The Best Android Phones

So as we head into the winter holiday shopping season, we're going to take a look at what's available now and simply say this: These are the best Android smartphones that are currently available.

How to Enable Phone Calls on iPad with iOS 8

In order to perform this convenient trick, you’ll need an iPhone using the same iCloud account as the iPad, both devices on the same Wi-Fi network, and both devices running iOS 8.1.

No Rants…No Raves…Just Good Info

I hate it when I don’t have anything to rant about…and not much to rave about either. Slow times, I guess. Everyone is getting ready for the holiday season, including me. I will be joined by my son who is coming over from Yuma for a couple of days. I won’t be cooking…we will find an open restaurant, hopefully one with big-screen TV’s so we can watch the 49er-Seahawk game on Thanksgiving night. Go Niners!!

We are still enjoying nice weather down here…low 70’s during the day. Nights have really cooled off, but I bet my coldest temps are warmer than many of your days. This is our reward for the hot and humid summers. Just be thankful that most of us don’t live in and around Buffalo. No football there this weekend.

Well, I have blabbed long enough…its time for you to get reading. Have an enjoyable weekend. If by chance you are looking for me, I am out by the pool.

-JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Microsoft Releases Emergency Security Update

Microsoft deviated from its regular pattern of releasing security updates on the second Tuesday of each month, pushing out an emergency patch to plug a security hole in all supported versions of Windows. The company urged Windows users to install the update as quickly as possible, noting that miscreants already are exploiting the weaknesses to launch targeted attacks.

Yahoo dethrones Google as default Firefox search tool

It’s not difficult to change the default search tool in a web browser, but many users don’t bother, especially non-tech savvy ones, so having the default position is valuable.

Touch Office for iPad/Android — but not Windows?

A touch version of Office is scheduled for release around the time when we’ll see a production Windows 10, but recent events strongly suggest that Microsoft no longer considers Windows the “first” platform.

Why App Store apps are now labeled 'Get' instead of 'Free'

If you're searching on either the Mac or iOS App Stores today, you might notice a little change in the way Apple labels free apps.

Human rights organizations launch free tool to detect spyware

Called Detekt, it scans a person's computer for traces of surveillance software, or spyware. A coalition of human rights organizations launched Detekt with the goal of equipping activists and journalists with a free tool to discover if they've been hacked.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Read Free Digital Art Catalogues from 9 World-Class Museums

Based on meticulous research, these catalogues make available detailed information about the individual works in a museum’s collection, ensuring the contents a place in art history.

10 Free Tools For Creating Your Own Maps

Sure, there’s Google Map and Google Earth to help you out but there are actually other tools to choose from as well. Here we’ve gathered 10 free amazing tools that you can use to create your own maps.

How to get rid of Firefox's new ads on the New Tab page

Once you make that one, simple change, ads are gone forever from Firefox’s New Tab page.

Excel Number Formatting Shortcuts

Don't waste time formatting data. These are the shortcuts you need to know along with an easy trick for remembering them. A short video that will be invaluable to you if you use Excel.

User-Friendly Bandwidth Detective Gets A Welcome Update

Glasswire is one of my favorite finds of the year. It shows you how much internet traffic your computer is producing, both inbound and outbound, and it shows you precisely which programs or services are generating it. (Free)

 

Mobile Computing

Verizon Wireless to hand out freebies on Nov. 26

Verizon is dubbing the day before Thanksgiving "Connection Day" and has a slate of gifts prepared for all wireless consumers -- not just Verizon customers.

iOS 8.1.1 on iPad gives back 500MB of storage space

iOS 8.1.1 not only provides bug fixes and performance improvements, especially for iPhone 4s and iPad 2, but it also comes with a nice surprise for all iPad owners - it returns about half a gigabyte of storage space.

Beats Music Coming To Your iPhone Next Year

The move could help Apple restore its relevance in music. iTunes has long been the top digital music store, but sales of downloaded music are dropping like a rock.

Hands-on with all things Android 5.0 Lollipop

The update is packed with exciting features, including a new design, revamped notifications, device sharing and more. Hopefully you own a device that will get the upgrade.

Android Lollipop users warn of 'unusable' devices after upgrading

Despite strong reviews from the tech community, early Android Lollipop device owners are warning their fellow Android users not to upgrade amid concerns of major problems.

Is it Time to Take a Serious Look at iMAC’s?

I ask that question for myself, not necessarily for you. To be honest, I am looking seriously at buying one soon. My faithful current computer is showing its age and it is time to get a new, more powerful one.

Why MAC, you ask, after all these years in the Windows world? Well, you know I work with photos and there is no better computer for graphics than the iMac. And Apple’s brand new iMac with 27” Retina 5K display is just stunning! I thought the previous versions were fantastic (and they still are), but this new one just knocks your socks off for photos and videos.

As for running Windows apps, the iMac can do that using a program called “Parallels.”  With that software installed, you can switch from the Mac operating system to Windows with just one click of the mouse. So, in a sense, I would be buying a new Windows computer that run’s OS-X also. The good news is that my most often-used programs like Office, Photoshop, and Lightroom have Mac versions that I can add at no cost as I pay a monthly subscription for Office and Adobe products.

The downside is that it is $2,500. That is a lot of moola for a computer…which explains why Windows PC’s are bigger sellers by far. I may still purchase the standard 27” MAC…which is $1,700. The big difference between the two is the number of pixels on the screen. Apple has a measurement that measures pixel density, called a “point.” On the regular iMac’s, there is one pixel per point. On the new one, there are 4 pixels per point…and you can see the difference when the two machines are side-by-side comparing the same photo. WOW!

By the way, if you are not familiar with iMac’s, the photo above shows you the whole computer (not including the wireless keyboard or mouse). They are an amazing piece of engineering. If there is another downside beside the price, it is, (except for adding more memory or external products) you can’t change or add anything in the computer. So you have to make sure you get the internal goodies you want in your computer right up front. 

I am still thinking about all this, and as I said above, I am not sure which model I will get, if at all. But, stay tuned and I will let you know. 

Tech News and Opinions

Feds Put Fake Cell Towers On Planes, Spied On Tons Of Innocent Americans

The Wall Street Journal broke the news that the DOJ has been spying on tons of innocent Americans by putting fake mobile phone towers on airplanes and scooping up all sorts of data from people who thought they were connecting to regular mobile phone towers.

Chips promise more security for credit cards, but signature still required

Safer, chip-enabled credit cards are coming to the US before the end of 2015, but it will be years before tougher, PIN-based security will be used nationwide.

With a new platform-neutral Microsoft, why go Windows?

The days of counting on Microsoft to deliver first and best on Windows are gone. Will Windows 10 bring them back next year?

Court agrees that Google’s search results qualify as free speech

In the past, courts and regulatory bodies in the US have generally agreed that Google's search results are considered free speech. That consensus was upheld last Thursday, when a San Francisco Superior Court judge ruled in favor of Google's right to order its search results as it sees fit.

iOS 8 upgrades grind to a halt

New data released by Apple suggests that users currently on iOS 7 are reluctant to upgrade to the latest iOS 8 release.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

How to decide between a $199 Windows notebook and a Chromebook

This is not an easy decision to make. There are some critical nuances you have to consider before you go one way or the other. In this article, we take a look at those factors.

When your Ethernet won't connect

If you've got working Wi-Fi and apparently dead ethernet, the first thing to do is turn off the Wi-Fi. Believe it or not, this might tell you that the ethernet is working.

Firefox users, get ready for ads in your browser

Mozilla says the new Firefox ad initiative takes a kinder, gentler approach to pitching you products.

How to automatically delete your cookies every time you close your browser

One way to defeat online tracking—at least a little bit—is to flush your cookies every time you shut down your browser. If you do that companies will still be able to track your habits during your browsing session. But every time you shut down your browser and start it back up, you'll be starting fresh again.

Why You Need To Install Windows Updates Automatically

Once again there are urgent security patches released for Windows, and this time the problems they fix are “potentially catastrophic” issues with the encryption stack. This is why you should have Windows install updates automatically.

 

Mobile Computing

Apple’s iOS 8.1.1 Update Is Pretty Minor—Unless You Have An iPhone 4S Or iPad 2

Apple promises to boost performance for the earliest gadgets with the A5 processor and iOS 8—specifically the iPhone 4S and iPad 2.

How to take dependable notes with the iPhone and iPad

Here is how to use OneNote, Evernote, and the built-in Notes app to take notes. As with most of your document requirements, you should want a cross-platform solution, or, at least something you can access on the web.

Conquer your inbox with the best email apps for iOS

Apple’s stock mail app got some nice upgrades with iOS 8, but it still lacks many of the more powerful features found in other third-party email apps.

Three apps to make your Android phone's battery last longer

To avoid how often you’re faced with the untimely death of your pocket computer, we rounded up three of our favorite apps that can help you get a little more time out of that lithium cell.

How to Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi Networks

Public Wi-Fi networks—like those in coffee shops or hotels—are not nearly as safe as you think. Even if they have a password, you're sharing a network with tons of other people, which means your data is at risk. Here's how to stay safe when you're out and about

Chinese Hackers Slice and Dice Government Websites

You have to hand it to them…these Chinese hackers are good…or our government security systems are pretty bad. This is not the first time stuff like this has happened…nor will it probably be the last.

In other news, Wal-Mart has vowed to match Amazon prices and other on-line retailers. But would you rather shop at Wal-Mart during the Christmas rush and fight with some clerk for price matching on some item…or just push the buy button on Amazon or some other Web retailer and get that price without leaving your home? I know what I would do.

We’ve a few other good stories and tips here so read on…and have a nice weekend. - JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Chinese hack U.S. weather systems, satellite network

Hackers from China breached the federal weather network recently, forcing cybersecurity teams to seal off data vital to disaster planning, aviation, shipping and scores of other crucial uses, officials said.

U.S. Postal Service Hacked Compromising Employee and Customer Data

The U.S. Postal Service confirmed today that they were the victim of a cyber attack that possibly compromised the personal data of over 800,000 employees in addition to the personal data of any customers who contacted the USPS call center during the first eight months of this year.

Wal-Mart Will Start Price-Matching Amazon at Its 5000 Stores

You'll now be able to get Amazon's bargain prices at your local Wal-mart, as the company embraces price-matching with online retailers.

CurrentC threatens to punish stores for adopting Apple Pay

MXC has been in full damage control mode ever since its partners began blocking Apple Pay at stores, and while the consortium behind CurrentC claims there aren’t any fees for supporting Apple Pay, its partners should think twice before defecting.

Opinion: Windows 8: Why Microsoft's giant gamble didn't pay off

Windows 8 was designed to bridge the gap between tablets and PCs, but left customers cold. What does this mean for Microsoft and Windows 10?

Computer Tips and Tricks

Microsoft fixes severe 19-year-old Windows bug found in everything since Windows 95

With help from IBM, Microsoft has patched a critical Windows vulnerability that flew under the radar for nearly two decades. I hope you patched your computer with the latest Patch Tuesday updates.

How to Buy a Laptop

We'll brief you on all the latest styles and features, and parse the latest buzzwords and trends, helping you figure out which features you want, and how to find the laptop that's right for you

Write! for Windows Is a Stylish Instrument for Inspiration

There are tools that inspire creative writing simply with its looks. One of such programs is Write!

How to Do a Clean Install of Windows Without Losing Your Files, Settings, and Tweaks

There's nothing like a fresh install of Windows to clear your mind, but it comes at a cost: you have to set everything up again, just the way you like it. Here's how to reinstall Windows, migrate your important settings, and leave the clutter behind.

How to Migrate to a Solid-State Drive Without Reinstalling Windows

Installing a solid-state drive is one of the best upgrades you can make to your computer, but migrating your Windows installation to a small drive can be tricky, because your data won't necessarily all fit on the drive.

 

Mobile Computing

The 10 Best Tablets

Looking for something to bridge the gap between laptop and smartphone? Or for a Christmas gift for someone special? With Android, Apple, and Windows options, these ten top-rated tablets fit the bill.

11 Instagram Tips for the Photo Obsessed

Are you snap happy? Then you probably have Instagram on your phone. The supersocial photo-sharing app has 200 million monthly active users, but there's a lot more to the service than just selecting a filter.

Mobile 4G LTE experiment: A month without Wi-Fi

For the past month I have relied solely upon 4G LTE connections, leaving the Wi-Fi turned off when working out of the office. The takeaways from this experiment have been surprising.

Redesigned Google Maps rolling out now to iPhones and iPads

The Google Maps app for iPhone and iPad has been bumped up to version 4.0, bringing a whole new "Material Design" look to the mapping, search, and navigation app.

Verizon 'Supercookies' could be a boon to advertisers, hackers

Supercookies could take a bigger bite out of your privacy than you think, say researchers. Here's what they're worried about.

WOW!! The President & I Actually Agree on Something

I was almost ready to crown Barrack Obama the worst President of the last 100 years…resting that title away from the last President who was pretty bad. Then President Obama does something that shocks the hell out of most of us…he comes out in favor of total Net Neutrality. Not only that, he wants the carriers classified as utilities so they can be regulated by the FCC…just like phone companies.

He not only shocked me, but also the FCC who were determined to shortly come out with their own rules regarding the Internet. Of course, he also surprised some Republican lawmakers (especially those who rely on large cable companies for political donations and other goodies) who immediately came out in condemnation of his initiative.

The good news (or bad, depending how you look at it) is neither the President nor Congress have any control over the FCC. All they can do is make recommendations. However, the public has overwhelmingly showed their support of Net Neutrality and has inundated the FCC with 4 million mail and messages.

The FCC was about to make their ruling, probably supporting some hybrid formula that would probably give large carriers like Comcast some additional income.  Remember, the Chairman of the FCC was a lobbyist for the cable and wireless industry, with positions including President of the National Cable & Telecommunications Association (NCTA) and CEO of the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association (CTIA). He should never have been nominated to the FCC (ironically by President Obama).

Is the President sincere in his quest or is this just some political machinations to improve his damaged standing with the American people? God only knows. Having once worked deep inside the political machinery, I distrust all politicians and their motives. However, in this case, the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

I encourage you to read the first story and watch the President’s short video on Net Neutrality. I sure hope he is sincere. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

President Obama Calls For A Free And Open Internet, Wants It Reclassified As A Utility

In a video and letter, he lays out in no uncertain terms that he believes no cable company or access provider should be able to put limits on access to the Internet.

FCC may delay release of Net neutrality rules until 2015

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, who had promised to deliver proposed new rules for managing Internet traffic, may be finding the task more complicated than anticipated, The Wall Street Journal reports.

Home Depot switches execs to iPhones, MacBooks as it blames Windows for massive breach

According to a report on the WSJ, hackers gained access via a Windows vulnerability, allowing them to target 7,500 self checkout terminals.

Microsoft pushes ahead with its quest to make apps more intelligent

Microsoft is attempting to redefine 'productivity' with new apps like Sway and the coming 'Revolve' contact-calendar app that embed more intelligence inside.

Amazon’s Echo and the smart TVs that are listening to and watching everything you do

Amazon’s Echo defies easy description. Actually, that’s not quite true: the easy way to describe it is “creepy as hell”. The Echo is a 20cm-tall black cylinder, that sits in your home and listens to everything you do.

President Obama Calls For A Free And Open Internet, Wants It Reclassified As A Utility

In a video and letter, he lays out in no uncertain terms that he believes no cable company or access provider should be able to put limits on access to the Internet.

FCC may delay release of Net neutrality rules until 2015

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, who had promised to deliver proposed new rules for managing Internet traffic, may be finding the task more complicated than anticipated, The Wall Street Journal reports.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

The 35 Best Google Search Tips and Tricks

The symbols and punctuation listed here are the ones that allow you to better refine your search results when used in conjunction with your desired search terms.

Download Free Excel Templates to Manage Time, Money or Productivity

You don't have to excel at Excel to make the most of the spreadsheet app. Download free templates to use Microsoft's program to manage your schedules, budget your money and much more.

How to Find and Remove Duplicate Files on Windows

Duplicate files waste precious space on your computer’s hard drive — especially if you have an SSD — and make your computer’s backups bigger for no good reason. Here’s how you can free up some disk space.

Ninite is the Only Safe Place to Get Windows Freeware

Ninite is a free tool that automatically downloads, installs, and updates various Windows programs for you, skipping past the evil toolbar offers. For Windows users, Ninite is arguably the only really safe place to get freeware.

Create Installation Media for Windows 8.1

The Windows Installation Media Creation Tool from Microsoft lets you choose the language, product edition, and architecture, and then can save the resulting install media to a USB flash drive or to an ISO file, which you can later burn to disc if needed.

 

Mobile Computing

Charge your iPhone faster

In this feature we’re going to look at how to charge up your iPhone, and some of the best ways to get better, and faster, iPhone charging.

Office for iPhone Apps: 3 Things to Know

The world's most widely used office programs, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, are finally standalone apps for iPhone.

Apple just made it easier to ditch your iPhone for Android: You can now 'deregister' iMessage online

Today Apple quietly released a new tool which makes it easier for iPhone owners to deregister and turn off iMessage — something you might want to do if you ever switch to Android and still want to receive text messages.

Google Android 5.0 Lollipop Review

Pro: Beautiful new design. Improved email app. New APIs will improve music and gaming apps. Awesome voice search. Cons: Hard to get. Still doesn't make clear which apps work well on tablets. Browser could use a refresh.

What's killing your battery? Android's top 10 performance-sapping apps

Is your phone or tablet battery constantly reduced to a sliver of red on the screen? New research has found the worst performance-draining apps on Android devices, and Facebook is the biggest culprit.

Shocker: MS Office is Now Free for iOS and Android Devices

It seems like Microsoft shocks us every week with some new change in direction. Last week, it surprised us with unlimited OneDrive cloud storage for all Office 365 subscribers. Today, Microsoft unveiled free Microsoft Office apps for all Apple iPad and iPhone users as well as all Android phones and tablets. So if you have one of those, go get your free Microsoft Office before they change their mind! 

Now, mind you this is not all the Office apps that you find in Office 365 on your desktop. This release only includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. But those are the most popular and most used apps in the Office Suite. Once caveat, the Android versions are currently preview only…and you must sign up to get it.

When I signed up for Office 365 for my regular computers, I automatically received Office for my iPad and iPhone, so I’ve been working with it for a while. And I can tell you it looks and works very well. It was redesigned for these devices and it shows. If you are an Office user and have an iPad or iPhone, you will love it.

As far as storage for your files, you don’t get the unlimited OneDrive storage like Office 365 offers, but Microsoft does give you 15GB of free OneDrive storage…and if you add it to your phone or iPad for photos, you get an addition 3GB. Good news if you use DropBox…you can also use it for storage with these new mobile Office apps.

Microsoft corporate vice president of Office John Case said in a prepared statement, "With over a billion Office customers worldwide, and over 40 million downloads on the iPad, it's clear that Office applications are what people want to use to get things done."

I can’t wait to see what Microsoft has up its sleeve next week. Hope you have a great weekend. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

The drought is over: You can easily find the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus almost everywhere

Reports have indicated that the Cupertino juggernaut is doing everything in its power to meet demand.

How businesses fail to protect customer info

Most Internet users should know by now that personal digital security is in large part our own choice and responsibility. But in truth, our electronic security is also in the hands of the companies we do business with — and they’re not all taking that fact seriously.

Dell, HP signal desktop reinvention ahead

Dell outlined its vision for reinventing the desktop with a smart desk concept that combines multi-touch LCD screens with a work surface that includes touch and a stylus.

Microsoft, Dropbox team up in mobile move

The aim is to improve integration between Dropbox and Microsoft Office. New capabilities will roll out to Dropbox users on iOS and Android "in the next few weeks.”

Google Wallet use grows after Apple Pay launch

Weekly transactions have increased by 50 percent, and in the recent couple of months, new users have nearly doubled compared to the previous month.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

herdProtect: Second-opinion anti-malware scanner with 68 scan engines

Since no single anti-malware software is perfect, herdProtect utilizes a ‘herd’ of multiple engines to guarantee the widest coverage and the earliest possible detection. As a second line of defense anti-malware solution, herdProtect is designed to run with any existing anti-virus program already installed on a user’s PC.

14 Tips to Help You Master Microsoft OneDrive

Lots of storage, you install the software to sync your files (or just turn it on in Windows 8), so you set it and forget it, right? You shouldn't. There's a lot more to OneDrive than that.

The top 10 keyboard shortcuts in Word and Excel

You may think you know all the Word and Excel keyboard shortcuts you need, but check this list first: These 10 will help everyone work faster.

Windows autoloading programs: You don't want too many, but you may want these

Which autoloaders should you not disable? The easy answer is those that really do need to run all of the time to do their jobs. I can’t tell you exactly what they are, because I don’t know your work habits or your hardware. But I can give you a pretty good idea.

32-bit and 64-bit explained

Will this 32-bit software run on my 64-bit operating system? Will this 64-bit software run on my computer? If you have asked these questions then this tutorial should help you to understand the concepts of 32-bit and 64-bit computing.

 

Mobile Computing

Microsoft's next surprise is free Office for iPad, iPhone, and Android

Microsoft's Office suite for iPad, iPhone, and Android is now free. In a surprise move, the software giant is shaking up its mobile Office strategy to keep consumers hooked to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents.

AT&T baits customers with new 24-month Next plan

Today AT&T announced a Next 24 plan that allows you to pay for your phone in small payments over the course of 30 months, with the option to upgrade after two years.

75 iOS 8 Tips and Tricks

iOS 8 isn’t quite the ground-up overhaul iOS 7 was, but it still packs in plenty of new goodies to play with. Some of the additions aren’t obvious at first glance, so we’ve taken it upon ourselves to compile this exhaustive list of 75 tips and tricks.

What "other storage" is, why it's taking up your iPhone space, and how to fix it!

What is "other storage"? Why does it keep building up? What can be done to clean it out? These are frequent questions, especially for anyone running low on storage.

Two new Google Wallet features you don't want to miss

Here's how to set up the new low-balance alerts and automatic transfers in Google Wallet.

Amazon Joins Unlimited Cloud Storage Club

Tech analysts guessed that as soon as Microsoft announced unlimited storage for their Office 365 customers that others would follow. Now, Amazon is on the bandwagon…at least for photos. Let’s see if Google and Apple follow soon.

There are catches for both company’s unlimited storage. For Microsoft, you have to be a Office 365 customer,  which costs as low as $6.95 per month. But that is a really good deal if you are an Office user such as myself. Hint: you can get a 5 license Office 365 for $10 a month. I gave two licenses to my son and I kept 3. Each of us has unlimited cloud storage now.  PS: Office 365 includes full versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook and Access.

The catch for Amazon’s new offer is that it only applies to photos and you have to be a Prime Member. I have been a Prime member for a few years and I like the benefits of it. Prime folks can now store unlimited photos of every kind (yes, including RAW). For non-photos, their normal storage fees apply (the first 5 GB is free).

I noticed today that Apple’s iCloud app for browsers finally includes your photos, if you choose to store them there (it must be activated on your iPhone or iPad). I always wondered why they didn’t do this sooner. But I still think Apple’s iCloud is a poor step-sister to other cloud storage companies.

Lots of good info again today, so be sure to read what I’ve selected for your edification and enlightenment. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Amazon Prime customers now get unlimited cloud storage for photos

It's good to have your photos in more than one place, and cloud storage is pretty cheap (or free) almost anywhere you look these days.

Google has 'outgrown' its 14-year old mission statement, says Larry Page

Google’s chief executive says that the company “probably does need” a new statement about its corporate ambitions, but is in uncharted territory and ‘trying to figure it out’

Windows 10 is 'Windows for the masses'

Microsoft isn't building Windows 10 specifically with you or me in mind. Microsoft is building it to cater for the billion or so people out there using PCs that aren't touch-enabled and who just want to get their job done.

Windows 8 finally comes of age as XP’s market share plunge

In case you were wondering, this means Windows 8/8.1 is now officially more successful than Vista, which is usually the yardstick for bad or failed Windows OSes.

You'll Never Not Know What To Watch On Netflix Again

What Is On Netflix is about to seriously streamline your selection process. The site lists streamables, ranked in descending order based on their respective Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB scores. Yay!

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Make Chrome's New Tab page beautiful and more productive with these extensions

Browser aesthetics are pretty clearly defined, with not a whole lot to improve—except when it comes to Chrome's New Tab page.

Google is revamping bookmarks in Chrome with a new extension

Your existing collection of links will be automatically grouped into to folders, and when you add a new item (by hitting the familiar star button as you browse), Google will suggest folders to help you organize your links as well.

The Internet Archive Now Lets You Play 900+ Classic Arcade Games In Your Browser

This weekend, the Internet Archive introduced a whole new category of throwback computing: The Internet Arcade. 900+ classic arcade games, no quarters required.

How To Use Evernote: The Unofficial Manual

There are so many advantages to Evernote. But basically it all comes down to this: we are all becoming digital packrats...and Evernote will help you keep organized.

Using Your Router for (Very) Basic Home Network Family Safety

Most people probably don’t think of themselves as an “administrator” but if you have computers all using the same access point, then that’s what you are. It’s important to understand how to ensure the safety of children using computers on your network.

 

Mobile Computing

How to Organize Photos on Your iDevice

Instead of searching endlessly for one photo, you can organize all the photos in your Camera Roll by creating Albums.

Top Things iPhone 5 Users Should Know About iOS 8.1

Almost two weeks ago, Apple has released a second major update for their iOS 8 named iOS 8.1. The new update comes with new features and, of course, bug fixes that needed to be fixed on the iOS 8.

How to Record a Phone Call or Voice Chat From Your Computer or Smartphone

You don’t need any specialized hardware to record a phone call, Skype conversation, or any sort of other voice chat. All you need is the right software and a few minutes setting it up ahead of time.

Get Gmail 5.0 for Android right now

Anticipating the Material makeover for one of Google's most beloved apps? The wait is over, and here's how to get a copy for your Android device.

Flipboard undergoes major redesign, launches curated daily news section

News magazine app Flipboard picked up a major update today, which brings forth a new design as well as the addition of over 30,000 topics. Also new is a curated daily news magazine called The Daily Edition, which features a list of general news stories from a variety of categories.