Mobile Carrier’s Greed Finally Gets Some Govt. Attention

It’s amazing how much the major cell phone carriers got away with over the years with no one but consumers raising shouts of anger. Of course consumers don’t have the money or the lobbying power to get the government to act.

But sometimes these phone companies go too far, even for Washington. So the lawmakers and government agencies must step in to raise some questions. But, whether they will do anything about it, remains to be seen. I think our first two stories explain the issues better than me, so I will just let you read it for yourself.

Finding good tech stories in summer months is difficult to say the least. You should see some of the stupid stories that on-line publications are putting out these days to fill up space. With that in mind, it is a good time for me to take a bit of a vacation.

I will shortly be heading north to the Bay Area once again to relax and housesit (and dog-sit) a beautiful home in the hills above Walnut Creek. I will be gone for about 45 days…but will not leave you in the lurch. I will still publish this blog about once a week instead of the normal two times. I have big plans for the time I will be gone.

For instance, I will attend the first football game ever in the new 49er’s stadium; then a Giants game in AT&T park, followed by my first ever Indy Car race up in Sonoma…and that is just part of the agenda. I think my vacation will be far more exciting than any summer tech news. But, don’t worry…I will still be watching and reporting.

So read on while I go pack up my stuff for the long journey. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

FCC 'deeply troubled' by Verizon's plan to slow down LTE for unlimited data customers

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler isn't happy about Verizon's plan to start slowing down customers on unlimited data plans this October. In fact, he seems really angry about it.

Senate committee: Mobile phone 'cramming' widespread, profits carriers

Mobile carriers have pulled in hundreds of millions in profits through third-party charges tacked onto customers’ bills without their consent, according to a report from a U.S. Senate committee. But will anyone do something about it?

There’s no longer any doubt that Microsoft is in China’s crosshairs

Almost a hundred investigators paid Microsoft’s offices in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Chengdu surprise visits yesterday, seizing financial statements, emails, contracts, and two working computers.

Microsoft OneNote iPhone, iPad, & Mac apps updated with new features

Microsoft updated its OneNote apps for iPhone, iPad, and Mac today with a number of highly requested features including the ability to insert files, lock and unlock protected sections, PDF printouts, and much more.

LibreOffice 4.3: The best open-source office suite gets better

Microsoft Office has a worthy competitor in the new LibreOffice, the best non-Microsoft Office Suite.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

I killed Facebook and left its body in the woods

Facebook is dead. I killed it. You'll find its remains somewhere on the eastern shore of Maryland, in the forest beside a creek. I'll never hear its notifications again, at least not over the chirping of birds and the rumbling crescendos of

Use Outlook's auto reply features to free your vacation from email

Here you will learn how to use Outlook’s Automatic Replies feature to do some of the heavy lifting while you’re away so you can take back your vacation. And avoid getting the stink-eye from friends and family while you’re at it.

Control your desktop, or Windows will control it for you

To gain control of your own desktop, right-click that desktop and select View. You'll find several options there for controlling how the desktop looks

Wonderful Browser Addon Lets You Search Text Of All Visited Pages

If such a feature sounds like something you'd appreciate, and if you use the Chrome browser, then your luck is in. A free extension called All Seeing Eye gives you precisely that functionality.

How to Find Drivers for Unknown Devices in the Device Manager

Windows can identify most devices and download drivers for them automatically. When this process fails — or if you disable automatic driver downloads — you’ll have to identify the device and hunt the driver down on your own.

 

Mobile Computing

How to perform a factory reset on your Android phone or tablet

As with every other smartphone operating system, Android gives you the option to wipe your phone or tablet within the settings menu.

iPhone gets first free app for encrypting voice calls

An open-source project has released the first free application for the iPhone that scrambles voice calls, which would thwart government surveillance or eavesdropping by hackers.

Facebook is about to make everyone use the standalone Messenger app

Facebook announced that the time is just about here...starting "over the next few days" everyone will need Messenger to chat directly with their Facebook friends on mobile devices (iOS, Android and Windows Phone).

Everything you need to know about Android launchers

Android launchers are apps that can spice up your phone's home screen or act as a personal assistant. Here's what you need to know about how they work and how to choose one that's right for you.

Best Mobile Finance Apps

Keep an eye on your budget while shopping, get alerts for upcoming bills, and pay back your friends here and now with some of these great mobile finance apps.

How Microsoft Got $10 a Month from Me

Well, I finally did something I swore I would never do…I subscribed to Office 365 Home User Edition. So, now I pay $10 a month for the privileges of using all Microsoft Office products…some of which I will never use.

So why did I do it? A couple of reasons. One: my son needed it for his two new computers and I bought it for him as a birthday present. Two: I wanted both of us to each have the one Terabyte of OneDrive cloud storage comes with the subscription. That alone is worth $10 a month when you compare cloud storage prices in other places. I don’t know about you, but I have become of big fan (and user) of cloud storage.

For my $10, I also get continuous Office upgrades without having to do a thing. And I get 5 user licenses, two of which went to my son. As for the products, there are more there than I need. These days, I only use Word and Excel on an occasional basis and these new versions are just fine. If I ever need them, I also get Access, Publisher, and PowerPoint.

But I did get a nice surprise when I downloaded Office 365: Outlook has been greatly improved over the last time I used it. In fact, it is so good, I made it my program of choice for e-mails, calendars, and to-do lists. It is fast and efficient and gives me additional features that no other program in its class can offer.

Over the years, I have had a love-hate relationship with Outlook. For now, it is all love and kisses. It is fast and extremely useful. So, I feel vindicated that I was willing to spent the $10 and am getting plenty for my money…and I made my son happy, which is everything.

As I said, the five license home edition is $10 a month. There is also a one license version for $6 that also gives you the one terabyte OneDrive cloud storage. You can also try some or all of the Office 365 products for free for 30 days. You might want to check it out.

It is time now to get to the business at hand. As you many know, there is very little happening this time of year as far as technology news goes. But, I think I have put together a pretty good newsletter this time full of tips and tricks…so have at it. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Microsoft explains quantum computing so even you can understand

Quantum computing may someday blow away today's smartest machines. It's weird and heavy on the physics, but Microsoft thinks you can handle it

Google granting majority of 'right to be forgotten' requests

The Internet search-engine giant unveils updated statistics on "right to be forgotten" requests in Europe, showing it has approved more than half the requests.

How Apple and Google plan to reinvent healthcare

The tech titans are about to throw their muscle behind big platforms for digital health and fitness

Apple refreshes MacBook Pro line with minor upgrades, no price rise

Apple has updated its Pro laptop line -- all 15-inch models will come with 16GB RAM but with no price increase, and the old 13-inch has even got cheaper.

Hilton Hotel To Let You Use Your Smartphone As Room Key

The Hilton Hotel chain, which already allows those staying to check in using their mobile devices, will soon permit guests to use them for purpose of entering and exiting a room during their stay, promoting the kind of seamlessness that already ought to be a feature at such a high-end chain.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

When your computer won't turn on

A lot of problems can keep a computer from booting Windows (or any other operating system). Fortunately, you can get a pretty good idea by noting how and when the PC fails

Free Windows 8.1 Apps To Work Smarter

While you can still install regular Windows software that runs with a more conventional keyboard and mouse, the Windows Store is slowly building up a great repository of Windows 8.1 apps.

Six clicks: Microsoft Word tricks to make you an instant expert

There's much more to Word than just pointing, clicking, typing, and spell-checking. In this gallery, I present six of my favorite hidden features to make you more productive when creating and editing Word documents.

See who is using your Wi-Fi on Windows

Whether it's a problem, or just a preventative measure, it's always a good idea to be aware of what devices are connecting to your home network.

This Site Lets You Check If A Hotel’s WiFi Sucks Before It’s Too Late

Bad WiFi might as well not exist, but most hotels don’t really seem to care about connectivity quality. As long as they can check that little “WiFi Available” box on the amenities list, they’re happy.

 

Mobile Computing

How to Shoot, Edit & Publish Videos From Your Android Phone

Here, we take a look at some of the tools and techniques beginners can use to shoot, edit and upload videos from their Android smartphone.

How to use Camera for iPhone and iPad: The ultimate guide

If the iPhone — or iPod touch or iPad — is the best camera you have with you, the the Camera app has to be one of the best, and most important apps on your device. It has a ton of functionality and perhaps you should spend a little time to learn how to use it.

Flight Tonight App Finds Last-Minute Airfare Deals

The best airfare prices are usually found more than three weeks before a flight departs. But travelers who have some flexibility could take advantage of falling prices the day of departure. iOS only for now

5 reasons my phablet is fabulous

The author of this article has been living with an awfully big phone for just over four months. His conclusion? Size really does matter."

The best new features coming in Apple's iOS 8 iPhone Camera

Apple’s iOS 8 update for iPhone, iPad will be a great plus for photographers – here's why.

The iPad is Too Damn Good for Corporate Profits

I normally don’t talk about earning reports for the various computer companies, but I found the recent Apple report quite interesting. No, it wasn’t about the all money and profit they made, but about the sales of their most important products.

To summarize: their iPhone sales were up but their iPad sales were down almost 10%. I understand their phone sales being up, even though we will see all new models in two months. As for the falloff in iPad sales, I think that is easy to explain.

I and many other analysts believe people love their iPads so much and they work so well that they don’t feel a need to upgrade. That was pretty much how I felt. I got lucky as a friend wanted to buy my iPad 3 as he had no computer and that was all he needed. So I gave him I great price, then bought myself the new iPad Air (#5 if your counting). I wanted it because it was so light…35% lighter than my old one...important as one gets older. But it runs almost exactly the same as my iPad 3, even with a better processor!

iPads are still selling well, make no mistake about that…and they should sell well as it is an excellent product. It is just that corporate culture demands more sales and profits, and quality is not as important. Sad.  But, I look for Apple to keep up their high quality as it is their greatest strength. That is why I am thinking of buying an Apple laptop sometime later this year. 

PS: Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted at the earnings call that we are going to see a lot of exciting new products at the next Apple Event, probably around 9/19. I am looking forward to it.

OK…enough about Apple. Let’s take a look at the important news and computer tips and tricks. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

What you need to know about 802.11ac Wi-Fi

The Wave 2 update for the relatively new 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard promises even faster and more efficient networks. Here’s what to expect — and why you might want to wait a bit before purchasing that new 802.11ac router.

What are the limits of Kindle Unlimited?

Amazon's new e-book subscription service gives members unrestricted access to an extensive library for a monthly fee, but here are five things to consider before signing up.

Amazon Boosts Prime Music Selection

The company announced it has added hundreds of thousands of songs and hundreds of new playlists to the Prime Music library.

How Google plans to lock you away from iOS and Windows

Google is now making the case that if you want the full Google experience, you need to use Android devices and Chromebooks together. In other words, Google is taking a page from the Apple playbook, and pushing users to lock themselves in.

What 'one Windows' really means (and doesn't)

The CEO of Microsoft said just a couple of days ago, "We will streamline the next version of Windows from three operating systems into one single converged operating system for screens of all sizes." Is Microsoft building a single version of Windows that will run on phones, tablets, PCs and gaming consoles? Nope. Here's a refresher as to what really is happening.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Google Docs: 3 incredibly useful tools for edits and revisions

Google's cloud productivity suite, whatever you want to call it, has been making inroads in the world of work and collaboration. And it's not just because there's no software to install, it auto-saves your work, and it's free.

How to Survive and Thrive on the New Google+

There have been big changes to Google+ recently, and there are a number of things you need to do consistently to get the most out of this social media community.

Do You Really Need to Defrag Your PC?

You don’t need to manually defragment a modern operating system. The longer answer: let’s go through a couple scenarios and explain so you can understand why you probably don’t need to defrag.

Get started with Facebook Save

On Monday Facebook announced a new link-saving service called Save. The feature, which will begin rolling out over the next few weeks, allows Facebook users to save a link found in the News Feed to his or her account. With the item saved, the user can then recall all saved items at a later time.

How to automatically set Bing daily image as Windows 7/8 Logon Screen

How would you like to be “greeted” by all-new image from Bing.com when you log into your computer every day? In this article, we will teach you on how to automatically set Bing’s daily background image as your Windows 7 or Windows 8/8.1 logon screen.

 

Mobile Computing

25 More Tips for Mastering iPhone Photography - 100 Tip Series

These are the final 25 tips. The first paragraph contains links to the other 75 tips. If you use your phone as a camera on a regular basis, whether its and iPhone or not, you should go through these tips.

iPad: Safer choice for many over Android

Those trying to decide on a tablet will find choosing the iPad (either size) to be a lower risk over Android.

Google will stop calling games 'free' when they offer in-app purchases

Google has agreed to add protections around games' in-app purchases to ensure that children won't rack up unwanted charges on their parents' credit cards.

Does iOS malware actually exist?

There actually has been some iOS malware, but it's shockingly rare. It's all thanks to Apple's rigid control over app distribution.

New Google Maps for Android and iOS Takes a Jab at Foursquare

Located in the bottom right corner of the app, the Explore button gives you an overview of what's nearby. It's not only location-sensitive — the feature also pays attention to the context, meaning you'll get different results depending on the time of day and the weather.

Kindle Unlimited: Last Week’s Rumor is this Week’s Fact

Disclosure: I’ve been a Kindle user for quite a number of years now and am an avid reader. Since my first Kindle, my reading has increased a thousand percent over when I just had printed books. I am a big fan.

Kindle now offers an unlimited reading service for books and audiobooks for $10 a month (first month is free). It’s like the Netflix of books. Whether it’s a good deal for you or not depends on your reading habits. At first glance it seemed like a good deal for me. Then, I started thinking about it.

Every day, I get a newsletter from Amazon called the Kindle Nation Daily and another independent newsletter called BookGorilla. Both offer books at substantial savings, often free for a short time. My Kindle device is loaded with books I obtained from Amazon because of those newsletters.

The other day I received a four volume fiction series for free. Not long ago, I got a 5-volume edition for the same price.  Over time, I found several good books that were also free…and also a few stinkers. Because they were free, I just deleted them.

Another example: There was a book I have been wanting for 2 years since I met the author at the Tucson Book Festival. Titled, “The Last Gunfight,” it centers around the gunfight at the OK Corral and how it changed the West. Since it happened around 70 miles southeast of where I live, it was a topic of interest to me. And author Jeff Guinn is an excellent writer who explores his topics in depth.

I had not purchased it as it was $11 for the Kindle and I had plenty of other books to keep me busy. Well, on Sunday, the book went on sale on the Kindle Nation Daily for one day for $1.99. I snapped it up and am voraciously reading it now. I also bought the audiobook version of it for $1.99. Thanks to Whispersync, I can read the book or listen to it in the car and the two stay in sync.

As an Amazon Prime member, I also get one free book a month to borrow and read, then return. And, still another benefit: Amazon gives me a free book at the beginning of each month that has not yet been published. So, I am already up to my ears in unread books…so Kindle Unlimited may not be the best deal for me.

And there are other places to get books for free. My favorite is the Open Library. There, it is possible to read six million e-texts at your convenience on a Kindle, or any other tablet. You can borrow up to five titles for two weeks at no cost.

My point is not to disparage Amazon for the Kindle Unlimited plan. For many, many people it may be just the ticket. I think it is a good addition to the Amazon line of products.

But let’s move forward. This edition is filled with interesting and thought provoking news stories as well as some handy-dandy tips for your computers and portable devices. So let’s get to it! -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Amazon Kindle Unlimited

We reported this as a likely rumor in the last edition...now it is a fact. Amazon this week launched a new subscription service for e-books and audiobooks. Dubbed Kindle Unlimited, the service lets readers consume content in a way that is similar to subscription music and video services.

The future of computing is a battle for your personal information

The organizations that are looking to invent, and dominate the next era of computing are, at their heart, based on advertising revenue, and in the process of owning the future, these companies and their device-based competitors will treat the personal information of consumers as a prized commodity.

Google created a team to stop the worst attacks on the Internet

Google has embarked on a series of efforts in recent months to bolster its internal security, as well as improve security across the entire internet. The latest and greatest of these to date is "Project Zero.”

Why Is Internet Still So Slow And Expensive In The U.S.?

Most people in the United States can't get a decent Internet connection. That seems like a simple enough problem, but there is no easy solution. A lot needs to be sorted out before we get decent connections at an affordable price.

Bing continues its gains against Google at the expense of Yahoo

The only metric that matters is usage share and for June, it looks like Bing is on the right path as it has increased to 19.2% of the search engine market, up from 18.8% in May and 18.7% in April for the US market.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Learning Windows Search: Stop Hunting and Start Finding!

Having all your stuff on your computer is great, until you can’t find it. You’ve probably got a ton of photos, documents, music, and even videos lurking on your hard drive Wouldn’t it be great if you could just type a few words into a search box and have your stuff magically appear? Actually, you can.

Why Aren't You Using a Password Manager Yet?

Want to keep your online accounts safer, and be quicker at all your Web activities? You need a password manager-and many of them are free. Here are some tips for getting started.

Get more out of the Windows Taskbar with these 3 shortcuts

As the go-to location for dealing with and switching between open programs, the Taskbar may be the most clickable location on your desktop. But there’s no reason you can’t spice it up with a few keyboard tricks to make things a little more efficient.

How to add Google Now reminders using your desktop browser

Phone not handy? Just type your reminder into a Google search box. Here's how.

17 Skype Tips to Help You Master Web Calling, Video Chat

Making a call can be as easy as a double-click on a name in your contacts list, but Skype can do much, much more than that. And that's where these tips can help.

 

Mobile Computing

13 ways to optimize your Android smartphone

Listen up, Android users: It's time for a smartphone tune up. Don't get me wrong, most Android devices work fine out of the box. But with a few minutes of manipulation and a few helpful apps, you can optimize your phone to make it more powerful, useful, and efficient.

Avoid the Android vampire apps

Some Android applications will drain your smartphone or tablet of battery life, storage or bandwidth like a blood-sucking fiend. Here's what's what with the worst of the worst.

New Garmin Viago Navigation Application Launches For iOS And Android

Garmin well-known for its GPS navigation hardware has this week announced the launch of a new Garmin Viago navigation application which is available to purchase with prices starting at just $1.99 for both Android and iOS devices

Why wait for iOS 8? Seven cloud-friendly apps for your photos

Big improvements to iCloud are coming which promise to make it easier to keep photos neatly organized and easily accessible in the cloud. But there are a number of iOS photo apps that have already embraced the cloud.

How to move your music and photo libraries from one iOS device to another

Apple has done a pretty good job of getting your various media and photo libraries on to your iPod or iOS device. Getting them off is another matter entirely.

A Few Rumors worth Reporting

I dislike dealing with rumors in this blog. I would rather report just facts. If and when rumors become reality, I will report them. But, today I will make a few exceptions as these rumors come from usually reliable sources.

First, from Apple. Rumor says the next big Apple announcement will come on or around Sept. 19. They will announce new iPhones…a 4.7” model and a 5.5” model. The current iPhones are 4”. So millions of people (including me) can hardly wait for the new larger models. But the current rumor is that the 5.5” model may not be available until early 2015. Seems there may be production problems.

There are also rumors that Apple will finally release its iWatch that has been in the works for quite some time. With their recent hiring's of watch marketing experts, I think we will almost assuredly see it in Sept. 

And speaking of watches, the very strong rumor is that the proposed Microsoft watch is not a watch…rather it's a Gear Fit-style health tracker that happens to deliver phone notifications and timekeeping. Also, I was going to tell you about a rumor that Microsoft was going to lay off up to 15,000 people, but just a short while ago, the boys from Redmond announced that 18,000 employees will be given their walking papers (see story #4).

There is one rumor out of Amazon that is close to becoming reality: they will shortly introduce an all-you-can-eat book rental program…for $10 a month you can borrow as many books as you want for your Kindle devices. They will put over 600,000 e-books and audio books into this library. 

As for Google, Nexus rumors are out again and this time include new Nexus tablets including 6”, 8” and 9” models. If true, we shall see them, probably around the holiday season.

OK, that is enough stuff from the rumor mill. Let’s move forward now to what reality hold for all of us. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Move over, Windows; Google and Apple are movin’ in

With nearly infinite and virtually free cloud storage available, and with archrivals Google and Apple offering big ecosystems of apps and media, Microsoft seems to have the short end of the stick. Will Windows be able to compete in this brave new world?

DDoS attacks intensified in first half of 2014

The volume and intensity of DDoS attacks in the first half of the year reached new heights, according to research.

Microsoft launches a price assault on Chromebooks

Microsoft is aiming straight for Google's Chromebooks this holiday season. At the company's partner conference today, Microsoft COO Kevin Turner revealed that HP is planning to release a $199 laptop running Windows for the holidays.

Microsoft lays off 18,000, including a third of Nokia

As expected, the axe fell at Microsoft on Thursday, but the depth of the cut is surprisingly brutal: 18,000 Microsoft employees will find themselves without jobs over the next year, and the company is "moving now" to eliminate the first 13,000 positions.

The FCC Is a Symbol for a Corrupt, Broken American Government

The FCC somehow publicly lost 500,000 public comments on a petition they were mandated to create. It might not matter, anyway. Telecoms are outlobbying net neutrality advocates 3:1. That's all that matters in all of American government.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

14 Mozilla Articles to Help Make You a Better and Safer User of the Firefox Browser

Do you use Firefox as your Internet browser? It turns out that even regular users are often unfamiliar with the rich resources available at Mozilla.

10 Simple, Time-Saving Computer Tricks

If you don't know these 10 basic tips, you could be wasting a lot of your time. They're easy to learn, and the payoffs are big.

What Keeps Waking My Computer Up?

Sleep mode is great for when you are not using your computer, but what do you do when ‘something’ is constantly waking it up? Today’s SuperUser Q&A post has some suggestions to help diagnose, and catch, the guilty culprit.

How to create an anonymous email account

This article is aimed at people who want anonymity, but the stakes if they’re found out aren’t at risk of death or imprisonment. Also keep in mind that no system is foolproof. But for most people, the instructions here should be good enough.

Chromebooks beyond the cloud: Everything Chromebooks can do offline

The basic complaint is that Chromebooks become nothing more than dumb, worthless, keyboard-equipped pieces of glass when your Internet is not working. Nothing could be further from the truth today.

 

Mobile Computing

Microsoft kills off its Nokia Android phones

Microsoft is planning to scrap its Nokia X Android efforts and replace them with Windows Phone in the future. The news comes as part of today's announcement that Microsoft is cutting 18,000 jobs in the next year. No surprise here.

The best calendar apps for iPad

We are big on making lists, organizing, and planning out our lives around here. One list is just not enough, especially if you use your iPad and iPhone for very different things. PS My favorite one is Calendars 5 by Readdle...it is fantastic and worth every penny.

The best weather app for Android

With smartphones, we can have insanely accurate weather reporting and predictions at our fingertips everywhere we go. Weather apps are a huge part of my daily routine

The best weather app for iPhone

Weather seems like a pretty mundane topic, so it may come as a surprise to some that the best weather apps are fun to play with and pretty to look at.

Lifehacker Pack for Android 2014: 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. In our annual Lifehacker Pack for Android, we chose the best, most useful and most essential apps you could ever need on your phone.

Apple Expects Lots of Upgrades When iPhone 6 is Released

Oops. I wrote most of this blog yesterday, but forgot to send it. Silly me. I won’t bore you with any additional comments since I am so late, so I will just send it as is. Sorry about the delay.

Tech News and Opinions

Apple's iPhone 6 upgrade cycle may be largest ever, say analysts

Pent up demand for a larger screen iPhone 6 is likely to drive a big upgrade cycle, but first Apple will have to deal with inevitable buying pause ahead of the launch.

How Apple and Google are merging the PC with the smartphone.

We are seeing the start of what I expect to be a long-term trend to make PCs look and act more like smartphones, and to bring to the PC some of the functions of the phone.

World Cup final sets records on Facebook, Twitter

Germany vs. Argentina proves to be the biggest sporting event in Facebook's history, while Twitter says the game generated the most tweets per minute.

Aereo keeps the legal war going despite Supreme Court loss

The streaming-TV startup's new legal tack embraces the ruling against it, arguing that the decision means Aereo deserves the same copyright license cable companies get.

Google Maps rolls out handy distance calculation tool

Rolled out Wednesday for desktop users of Google’s popular mapping tool, the feature allows you to see how many miles your planned road trip’s going to cover, or the distance you cover on your regular cycle trip around the neighborhood.

Computer Tips and Tricks

How to Install, Remove, and Manage Fonts on Windows, Mac, and Linux

Whether you want to use a new font in a Word or just change your operating system’s system font to give it a different look, you’ll first have to install the font on your operating system

AnyDesk Freeware

AnyDesk is a remote desktop software that makes it easy to connect to a remote computer and control the desktop as if you were sitting in front of it. Free!

Speed up your PC's boot time by finding the worst startup offenders

One of the pains of Windows is how long it takes for an older PC to start up. Sometimes this can be caused by hardware problems like a faulty hard drive, but more often than not the culprits are all those programs trying to activate at boot.

How to Bypass and Reset the Password on Every Operating System

On Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X, you can gain access to a computer’s unencrypted files after resetting the password — the password doesn’t actually prevent access to your files. On other devices where you can’t gain access to the files, you can still reset the device and gain access to it.

A Simple Guide to Indexing the Kindle Books You Read for Evernote

Today, I want to share with you how I index the Kindle books I read for Evernote.

 

Mobile Computing

Apple Is Dumping Old iPhones for Cheap on eBay

Unlocked iPhone 5 models are selling for $200 less than their original price

iOS: How to use iPhone, iPad earphones in 13 tips

There's 13 handy functions available from the earphones you get standard with iOS devices -- you can even speak to Siri. Not only this, but many third-party headsets offer the same functionality. It makes sense to know what you can do.

New Wi-Fi standard is coming. 802.11ax could reach 10Gbps

The aim of the new standard is to quadruple wireless speeds to individual clients and not just to increase the overall speed of the network.

Quick Tip: Use iTunes to Transfer Files to Compatible Apps On Your iPad

As long as you have a computer running a recent version of iTunes, it’s fairly easy to transfer files to an iPad using the USB cable (30-pin or Lightning, depending on your device)

Best photo editing apps for iPhone

As the cameras in our iPhones get better and better, so do the editing tools that are available to us on the App Store. But what photo editing apps for iPhone are the best of the best?

The End of Windows 7 Clarified

In the last issue, I published a story about support ending for Windows 7. I think I should clarify what that means and how it might affect you. Microsoft  generally offers mainstream support for five years after the release of an operating system. This includes feature updates, security updates, and performance enhancements.

On January 13, 2015, this so-called mainstream support comes to an end. That means they won’t be offering any updates and you cannot call Microsoft for support without paying. But don’t panic. Microsoft will continue to supply security patches until sometime in 2020. That is what most of us care about at this point anyway.

In April of 2015 (or thereabouts), Microsoft will release Windows 9 (or whatever they call it). Supposedly, it is designed to woo Windows 7 users back into the upgrade fold. And if true to form, it probably will. By that I mean every other operating system that the company releases is a dud…followed by a real winner. Windows 8 was the dud after the success of Windows 7.

And according to Gartner, 2015 will be a revival year for the desktop and laptop PC’s (see story #3), just because it is time for lots of people and companies to upgrade hardware. In spite of what you may have read here and in other places, the PC is not dead. It is alive and well on millions of desktops (maybe billions). And if Windows 9 is a good one, that will definitely spur desktop sales.

There: Now you have a complete picture of what to expect in the future. There is much more to this edition than the future of Windows, so read on and enjoy. Have a great weekend! -JRC  

 

Tech News and Opinions

'We help people get stuff done': New Microsoft CEO dumps device and services focus, embraces productivity

Microsoft's focus going forward is on anywhere, everywhere productivity, be it Office-style work or less traditional definitions of the word. And yes, Nadella says Microsoft will leverage its web of devices and services to enable that.

Roku beats Apple TV -- again -- on usage, purchases

Roku is No. 1 for set-top-box purchases and usage, and the gulf between it and No. 2 Apple is widening, a study says -- but opportunity may rouse the sleeping giant.

The PC isn't dead, and OEMs need to get ready for the coming upgrade superstorm

This week analysts at Gartner predicted that worldwide PC sales were set to grow, and that much of this increased demand will come from upgrades.

Trouble with the curve: What you need to know about curved TVs

After a month living with a curved TV at home, and more time in the lab comparing it to flat TVs, the author learned a few things. Here's the short version.

Firefox web browser popularity wanes

There was a time when Firefox was the number two web browser, but those days may never come back.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Cloud storage vs. external hard drives: Which really offers the best bang for your buck?

Assuming your data will not be hacked, stolen, or burnt to a crisp in a house fire, which solution—cloud storage or an external hard drive—is more cost effective, byte for byte?

Google Drive 2.0 reaching desktop users

The new and improved Google Drive brings forth a much more user-friendly interface, simulating that of a regular desktop file manager.

Five Computer Security Myths, Debunked by Experts

We're no strangers to helping you secure your computer, but there are some computer security myths and stories that keep getting passed around, even though they're clearly not true.

What is the System Reserved Partition and Can You Delete It?

Windows 7 and 8 create a special “System Reserved” partition when you install them on a clean disk. Windows doesn’t assign a drive letter to these partitions, so you’ll only see them when you use Disk Management or similar utility.

Clip the web with me@onenote.com

Microsoft just made it easier than ever to clip the web - now, when you send an email with a URL to me@onenote.com, they will clip a screenshot of the webpage along with the email's contents into your OneNote notebook.

 

Mobile Computing

Mobile security: Apps to protect Android devices

There are hundreds of free and paid security apps for Android phones and tablets. But many of those offerings are of uncertain quality. Here’s a sampling of some of the best software for keeping Android devices free of malware, managing passwords, locking up your data, and more

iPhone or Android: it's time to choose your religion

Life will surely be sweeter once every gadget you own relates intelligently to every other, but to get there, you'll have to decide where your loyalties lie. Your smartphone preference will dictate your choice of tablet, TV, car, watch, and even fitness tracker.

Reduce the time it takes to charge your device

This quick and simple tip will help you charge your Android, BlackBerry, iOS, or Windows Phone device faster.

The 10 iOS Apps You've Never Heard Of (But Should Use)

With 1.2 million apps in Apple’s iTunes store, there are plenty of unsung heroes—apps that are worth your while, but most likely have escaped your attention.

Best airport companion apps for iPhone

From terminal maps to flight delays to lounge and parking information, these are the very best airport companion apps for iPhone!

Harry Potter Magic Crashes Website

More news, tips and tricks for your computer enjoyment. -JRC

Tech News and Opinions

J.K. Rowling Publishes New Harry Potter Story, Crashing Website

Potter scribe J.K. Rowling made millions of wishes come true on Tuesday morning when she penned a new short Harry Potter tale and posted it on the Pottermore website. Too bad that act of kindness crashed the site.

Microsoft Is No Longer Windows First

Redmond is now strongly focused on making sure all your devices play nicely with one another, no matter where you are or what OS you're running.

Microsoft warns of pending support deadlines for Windows 7 and more

Microsoft officials are beginning to sound the end-of-support warning bell for customers running a number of its popular products, including Windows 7, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, and more.

Ordinary Web users reportedly snared in NSA surveillance

In 9 out of 10 cases, account holders in a cache of intercepted communications were not the intended targets, according to the Washington Post.

Windows XP users left high and dry as Oracle ends Java support

Windows XP hold-outs pay attention. If you run the Java runtime on XP, it looks as if the current version is about as good as it gets. The next version, 7u65 and 8u11, due to ship in the middle of July, will not support or run on XP.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Patch Tuesday for July 2014

Things are fairly straightforward this month, with six bulletins, two of which are critical patches dealing with remote code execution holes.

How to Unsend a Gmail Message, Plus More Great Google Tricks

If you hit 'Send' too soon, you can still stop that Gmail email from going through—but only if you take these steps first.

Find Out What Your PC's Been Doing, With This Event Log Explorer

If you're troubleshooting a computer, or you simply want to learn about all the things that go on in the background, a browse through the event logs can be very revealing. This program is free.

How to Completely Delete Facebook From Your Life

Whether it's to alleviate privacy concerns or avoid digital distractions, more people are trying to figure out how to fully disconnect themselves from the social network giant that we live and breathe.

Download a Treasure Trove of 130 Free Ebooks from Microsoft

It has happened before, and it is happening again. Microsoft's MSDN blog has released a whole new batch of free technical ebooks that cover everything from Windows 8, to Office 2013, to SQL Server, and more.

 

Mobile Computing

US bans uncharged cell phones, laptops from some flights

The Transportation Security Administration says that security has been stepped up on certain flights into the US. This includes asking passengers to power up their devices.

iPhone Gets Extra Lenses Courtesy of Olloclip

This device helps the iPhone’s camera improve great optical quality, and with this better than ever Olloclip camera attachment, it combines better software and makes it possible to take truly amazing and stunning pictures.

How to get the most from a tablet on vacation

The tablet can be a good companion on summer vacation. Here's how to do it right.

Google Aims to Defrag Android Universe

As any Android user knows, the version of the operating system you're using can vary widely because it depends on parties other than Google. That's why nearly two-thirds of users are running a version of Android introduced in 2012 or earlier.

The Cost of Continuously Checking Email

Multitasking, as many studies have shown, is a myth. A more accurate account of what happens when we tell ourselves we’re multitasking is that we’re rapidly switching between activities, degrading our clarity and depleting our mental energy.

This and That

A couple of weeks ago, I recommended you look at a new program called Advanced Uninstaller Pro. It looked pretty good, and after further testing, I can tell you that it is better than Revo Uninstaller…a decent program that I have used and recommended for years. Over time, I noticed Revo missed finding a few programs I wanted uninstalled. AUP doesn’t seem to miss any and has found some programs installed that I didn’t know I had.

It also adds addition features that make it a more complete program. One caveat: It offers a nice feature called “Daily Health Check.” It is easy to use and does a nice job getting rid of junk files. However, I did notice that a couple of my programs started acting twitchy after I used it. Nothing major and I was able to fix them. So if you use the health check, just be aware of that. But don’t let that deter you from using this fine program.

If you ever used the latest iterations of Microsoft’s Office, you are probably aware of the Ribbon. Frankly I never liked it. If you would like to use an exact replica of Office without a Ribbon, check out the free WPS Office Suite (see story #6). This software is so close to being Office I am surprised Microsoft has not sued them.

I recently joined the Adobe Creative Cloud for photographers. Which means for $10 a month, I always have the latest versions of Photoshop and Lightroom. If you use either or both of those programs, do the math…it is definitely worth the money.

I took myself completely out of the Android world when I sold my Nexus 7 tablet.  I am much happier and life is simpler. My mobile computing life is all Apple now and my desktop and laptop computers are all Windows. And believe it or not, they all talk to each other. Android phones are pretty good, but their tablets leave much to be desired.

I must admit that I still don’t like my Samsung laptop very much (the computer more than Windows 8.1) and am thinking I might replace it with an Apple MacBook Pro with Retina Screen. But I won’t do anything until after the next Apple event in August or September. Those computers are expensive so will have to think long and hard. And we will see if the promises of the next Mac and iOS systems are fulfilled. I will let you know.

So that’s all for me, so let’s get to the stuff you might find interesting. Have a great 4th of July weekend. -JRC

 

News and Opinions

Windows 8 usage declined in June while XP usage increased

Net Applications says overall use of Windows 8 declined from May to June, reversing a long-standing trend of tiny increases

Windows 9: The empire's last hope

Microsoft looks to reboot the franchise with a morphing Start-enabled take on the troubled two-faced Windows 8

Sheryl Sandberg Stops Short Of Apology For Facebook Mood Study

Facebook’s chief operating officer said Wednesday she was sorry a controversial study that manipulated nearly 700,000 people's Facebook accounts was “poorly communicated. But she stopped short of actually apologizing for the study itself.

Internet Connection Speeds Are Up Globally, Lag in the U.S.

Although the U.S. did see a quarter-over-quarter increase of 10% at 10.5 Mbps, its growth is not on pace with the rest of the world, and it now ranks 12th out of the 98 countries surveyed.

Hackers Infiltrated Power Grids in U.S., Spain

Hackers operating somewhere in Eastern Europe have penetrated the networks of energy companies in the U.S., Spain, France and several other countries and may have gained the ability to carry out cyber-sabotage attacks.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Best Free Office Suite: WPS

WPS is ideal for those familiar with Microsoft Office 2003 prior to the creation of the 'ribbon' feature in 2007. It will let you feel perfectly at home. To say that it is similar to Microsoft Office would be the understatement; they are practically identical.

Outlook ties in Office Web Apps for document collaboration

Beginning Friday, Microsoft's Outlook Web App integrates features that allow saving changes in documents attached to emails-all without the hassle of downloading the files, saving changes, and emailing them back.

Digital independence day: Your guide to DIY, open-source, anonymous free computing

The Founding Fathers may never have considered digital independence, but you can. Technology's marching toward smaller, non-upgradable devices and oodles of free cloud storage threatens to chain you to specific services or platforms. Fight back with our tips.

Share a hard drive with everyone on your Wi-Fi network

Take advantage of your router's USB port with a little trick that lets you share a hard drive with anyone on your Wi-Fi network.

Maximize your Wi-Fi

Does your home Wi-Fi need some help? Here are some great tips for squeezing your network connection for all it's worth.

 

Mobil Computing

Early Android L tests show serious battery life improvement

Under tightly controlled conditions, Ars Technica managed a whopping 36 percent better battery than KitKat, without even using the battery saver mode.

The Best Noise-Canceling Headphones

These top-rated headphones let you block out the world around you, and enjoy your music or the sweet sound of silence.

Make your Android Device Smarter with These Apps

The onset of powerful third-party apps spurred that progress into overdrive, so much so that most of what we do on our phones these days isn’t even possible on the full-size desktop computers they are derived from.

101 iPad Tips & Tricks

This list of over 100 iPad tips and tricks is broken down by tips to help you get started, use the keyboard better, surf the web on the iPad easier, sync your photos, data and calendars as well as get the most out of your iPad with entertainment apps and services

Find Saved Passwords on iPhone & iPad in Safari

The Autofill feature of Safari makes logging in to websites much easier in iOS, not having to remember and type in every single password for every website under the sun that you come across.

Facebook Crosses the Line: They are Now Just Plain Evil

The tech world and Facebook users are angry. The company crossed deep into the dark side of corporate greed and manipulation. Frankly, what they did was despicable. Briefly put, they tried to manipulate the emotions of nearly 700,000 of their users to see if it could be done. How?

For over 3 years, they manipulated their newsfeeds…half of the group got stories designed to make them feel good, while the other half got stories designed to depress. And they did it all without asking user’s permission. Those 700,000 people were just unwilling lab rats. Facebook quietly changed their terms of service after the experiment to include “research” to try and make what they did legal.

The scientists involved found, by rigging the users' news feeds, the ones who got less positive news were inclined to be more negative in their own posts while those who got less bad news were inclined to be happier. What a shock!

And to make matters worse, experts in psychology say the way they conducted their research makes the results nearly worthless with no real world meaning. In other words, people lives and emotions were toyed with for nothing! I truly hope that Facebook pays the ultimate price for this transgression.

Our first story covers their wrong-doings and contains links to other stories to give you the full picture. I hope you will read them. You need to know what these giant corporations are capable of (ie: all the large fast food places are adding wood pulp to their hamburger meat as filler).

The good news is that there are other stories here designed to be informative and helpful. So read on. -JRC

 

News and Opinions

Facebook: Unethical, untrustworthy, and now downright harmful

News of Facebook experimenting on its users' emotional states has rattled everyone. Worse, the tool used to perform the experiments is so flawed there's no way of knowing if users were harmed. What they did was dangerous.

Microsoft's new encryption makes it tougher to spy on your email

Microsoft said last year that it was tightening security to fend off the NSA and others who would scoop up your data, and today it fulfilled that promise with moves that should improve real-world security. The company now encrypts both incoming and outgoing Outlook.com email when it's in transit.

Windows 'Threshold': Microsoft's plan to win over Windows 7 users

One of Microsoft's main goals with 'Threshold,' (AKA) Windows 9) the next major version of Windows, is to win over Windows 7 hold-outs. Here's the latest on Microsoft's plan.

Twitter 'Buy Now' Button Appears for First Time

It looks like shopping within your Twitter Timeline isn't far off. A new "Buy now" button appeared on multiple tweets Monday, all of which included products that link back to a shopping site called Fancy.

Google kills off word-processor app Quickoffice

Mobile editing app Quickoffice, which lets you open and edit Google Docs and Microsoft Office files, is no more.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

How to reinstall Windows like a pro

By starting over with a clean copy of the operating system, you can remove bloatware, wipe out malware, and fix other system problems.

What You Need to Know About Creating System Image Backups

System images are complete backups of everything on your PC’s hard drive or a single partition. They allow you to take a snapshot of your entire drive, system files and all.

12 Advanced Tricks for Mastering iTunes

There was a time when iTunes was a simple little program for managing music and copying it over to iPod MP3 players. That was it, and it was good. Times have changed!

5 Ways to Access Your PC’s Files Over the Internet

Homegroups and network file sharing make it easy to access your PCs file from another PC on the same local network, but accessing your PC’s files over the Internet takes a bit more setup. There are many ways to make files available over the Internet. The real challenge here is finding a secure, easy-to-use solution.

The Demise of Aperture and iPhoto: What Does it Mean?

The shoe has finally dropped. Apple confirmed today that it’s ditching Aperture, its photo management tool, and iPhoto, its consumer photo editing app, in favor of Photos, a brand new desktop and iOS duo slated for debut in 2015.

 

Mobile Computing

Apple Releases iOS 7.1.2 With Mail Fixes, iBeacon Improvements

Apple today released iOS 7.1.2 to the public, more than two months after releasing iOS 7.1.1. It is a a minor update that focuses primarily on bug fixes and security improvements.

How to Manage Contacts for iPad and iPhone

The Contacts app and settings in iOS 7 make it easy to access and organize your address books. You can import details from various sources, then find people from any group, quickly create a correctly addressed email, and more. Getting it all organized can take some effort, however; but don't worry — we'll guide you through it.

10 iPhone Tweaks To Make Your Life Easier

You think you know your iPhone? Here are 10 iOS tips to optimize your experience you wish you knew about last year.

Android Simplelocker ransomware encrypts SD card files

Eset reports that the Trojan - called Simplelocker - targets SD cards slotted into tablets and handsets, electronically scrambling certain types of files on them before demanding cash to decrypt the data.

The Best Android Apps & Games: June 2014

Even though we had possibly the biggest Android related event in June, quite a few major apps and games were released on the Play Store.