I am Still Here in Spite of the Earthquake

Yes, it was a humdinger of a quake and it really hit the city of Napa very hard…lots of structural damage. And yes, I did feel it here in Walnut Creek. I was laying in bed semi-awake when it hit. It didn’t bother me as I have been through many of them, being a California native. At first I thought one of the dogs I babysit was banging against the bed…then realized he wasn’t in the house. Then I knew it was a quake.

But I wouldn’t let an earthquake ruin my fun. This weekend I went to my first Indy car race in Sonoma and got to get close up with the drivers and their cars. Also got to see some of the great legends of the past including Johnny Rutherford and Mario Andretti. It was a 2 day event with lots of racing.

The climax was the Sonoma Grand Prix featuring 22 Indy cars racing over a 2.3 mile road course. A fun race to watch and photograph. The last ten laps were about exciting as you will ever see with cars running out of gas before the finish. Two cars ran out of gas right in front of me…they just barely crossed the finish line when the tanks went dry.

I was sitting high up on turn two and got to see the real chaos that ensues at the start of a race. There were spinouts and bumps and cars going off the track…and I photographed the whole thing. Fortunately every car got back on the track and continued racing. From my vantage point, I could see about 2/3 of the course and was able to see almost all the action.

Of course, we didn’t know if there would even be a Sunday race because of the earthquake. The epicenter was only a couple of miles from the race course. But, after a thorough inspection by race officials, the track was declared safe for racing. But there was still the problem was getting to the race track. The main road into it from the south was shut down. But, fortunately, after some inspection time, they opened the road in time for me to get on the road to the track. So all was well in the end.

The other event I attended a week ago was the first football game ever played in the new Levi Stadium, home of the 49ers. Bottom line: a great stadium but a lousy game. Still glad I went. I used the Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to get down to Fremont…then took a bus from there to the stadium. The BART train I was on had mechanical difficulties in a tunnel under Oakland. That was interesting sitting in the dark with all the power off. But we eventually limped into a station and got on another train.

So its been an exciting week for me, but not all that exciting in the tech world. But that is normal for August. The real action will be in September when Apple offers up its new iPhones and possibly some other goodies…and Microsoft gives us the first peak at Windows 9. I am excited for both…but, of course I am a nerd.

I hope you find some things of interest in this edition, so let’s get started. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Over 1,000 US businesses are affected by the attack that hit Target

The hack that cost Target and its partners more than $200 million may have caused even more damage than we thought. The New York Times is reporting that the same malware used in the attack also targeted more than a thousand other US businesses, based on a new assessment from the Secret Service.

Windows 9: Microsoft faces four daunting challenges

The rumor mill says a public preview of the next big Windows release will appear this fall. But don't get fixated by features. This release isn't a "big bang" but is actually just the starting gun for the next stage in a very long race.

How Apple took over the only segment of the PC market that still matters

Everyone knows the PC market has been in decline for the past few years. But one segment of that market is doing spectacularly well, and one company has managed to carve out enviable sales and profits by dominating that niche. Guess who?

The fight for net neutrality goes to round two

With 1.1 million (and counting) consumer comments to ponder and an alliance of tech companies nipping at its heels, the U.S. Federal Communications Commission enters round two of the fight for net neutrality.

Former Microsoft CEO Ballmer steps down from the board

In his note to current Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Ballmer noted he had become "very busy" in the six months since he left Microsoft. He is now the owner of the Los Angeles Clippers basketball team. He also said he would be "teaching" (at Stanford University, I've heard).

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Download 275 Free Resume Templates for Microsoft Word

The templates are spread across different categories, thus catering to different job types.

The Best Tune-Up Utilities

Is your PC getting slow, clunky, and generally run down? Fire up one of these programs and turn that old jalopy back into a streamlined sports car.

Windows 8.1 Update 2 is Here, But It’s a Big Letdown

Microsoft was hyping Update 2 at one point, promising it would bring the return of the Start menu to Windows 8.1 and make all those disaffected Windows users happy. That didn’t happen.

21 Flickr Tips for Photo Fanatics

Yahoo's photo service gives users access to one friggin' terabyte of storage. Here are 21 tips to help you make the most of it.

27 of the Best Chrome Extensions You Should Check out Today

Sometimes, achieving what you want is a little harder and takes a little longer than you’d really want. It’s for that reason that we’ve put together a list of 27 of the most useful extensions for Google’s Chrome browser.

 

Mobile Computing

Apple announces battery replacement program for the iPhone 5

If you purchased the iPhone 5 early in its life and your battery seems to need charging more often than usual, pay attention: Apple has just announced an iPhone 5 battery replacement program for phones that "may suddenly experience shorter battery life or need to be charged more frequently."

Are we in a mobile app glut? Report says most US phone owners aren’t downloading apps

Nearly 2 out of 3 U.S. smartphone owners don’t download a single app in a given month. Isn’t this the age of the mobile app economy? It is, but most of the growth is long over at this point in the cycle.

Over 90% of Apple Devices Run iOS 7 While only 20% of Android Devices use Latest OS

The report shows that, based on data gathered across 682,000 devices, Android fragmentation has quadrupled since 2012. This year, 18,796 distinct Android devices were tracked as compared to 3,997 two years ago.

10 Things You Didn't Know Your Android Phone Could Do

Whether you're rocking the latest Android device from Samsung, HTC, or LG, these tips will help you get the most out of your phone or tablet.

10 Things You Didn't Know Your iPhone Could Do

You may be missing out on some of the iPhone's most powerful features.

Comcast and Obamacare…Two Studies in Screwing America

As I am still on vacation and I don’t want to get upset, I will not do a rant on our #1 story…The Obama Health Care Website debacle. I will only say that if you think this was bad, wait till government-run health care kicks in.

This week I got to visit the big Apple Store in San Francisco…a two story elegant retail establishment on Market Street at Stockton. I continue to be wowed by the staff and customer service at all their stores. I am still thinking about a new Apple laptop or possibly a new iMac. I got a lot of questions answered on this visit.

They also performed some minor surgery on my iPhone for free even though the phone is long out of warranty. Every retail store in America should take lessons from these guys. By contrast, I also visited a Microsoft store across the street in a shopping mall. I was not even greeted, even though I sat down to play with a Surface 3. An interesting contrast.

Well it is time for me to continue my vacation so I will let you carry on from here. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

The billion dollar web site you paid for

Whoever heard of a pure IT project that cost a billion dollars to build (so far)? A GAO investigation goes deep into just how bad the process of building HealthCare.gov was.

Think Comcast’s service sucks now? Just wait until it merges with TWC

To get a sense of how bad things are getting for America’s most unloved cable company, consider some of the Comcast horror stories that have become hits at Reddit’s technology page over just the past three days:

Microsoft to deliver Windows 'Threshold' tech preview around late September

Microsoft is aiming to make available a technology preview of Windows Threshold (aka Windows 9) around late September or early October.

Meet the new, reversible USB

The official design for the next-generation, reversible USB has been finalised, and it can be plugged in upside down.

Email Is Still the Best Thing on the Internet

The gentle, dependable workhorse that everyone relies on and nobody owns

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

How Music Affects Your Productivity

Music has a way of expressing that which cannot be put into words.
It is for this reason (and many more) that music is regarded as one of the triumphs of human creativity-but does music itself help one to create?

The Windows Maintenance Challenge

Can commercial software maintain your PC better than Windows’ built-in and free tools? This article is the first in a series that will help you determine which tools — free or paid — yield the best results on your specific PC.

Google Expands Its Safe Browsing Service to Block PUAs

These threats typically take the form of helpful downloads, but they actually quietly switch your homepage, other browser settings, and in general modify operating system defaults.

How to kill unwanted processes and applications that slow down Windows

I know something better than free software for this job: software that comes with Windows. All current versions of Windows come with a tool to help you trim back what's running at the moment.

9 things you should know about surge protectors

Surge protectors are an inexpensive way to protect your gear against random power spike damage. They're not all the same. Here are a few tips before you start shopping.

 

Mobile Computing

What Does Airplane Mode Do, and Is It Really Necessary?

Airplane mode disables a device’s cellular radio, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth — the wireless transmission functions. But many airplanes now offer in-flight Wi-Fi, and cellular access may be coming to planes soon — so where does that leave airplane mode?

The 10 Best Tablets

Looking for something to bridge the gap between laptop and smartphone? Android, Apple, and Windows, these ten top-rated tablets fit the bill.

How to find your parked car with an Android phone

One of the most annoying things about owning a car is parking. First you have to find somewhere to park, which can be very difficult in big cities or at popular events. Once you finally find a spot you’re just dying to get out of the car. Oops! You forgot to take note of where you parked. Now you’re ready to go home, but you have no idea where to find your car.

Tom Hanks Releases Manual Typewriter App for iPad

Actor Tom Hanks has released his first iPad app which is an accurate recreation of three manual typewriters. It could have easily been a gimmicky app that is used once or twice, but this is something different. The attention to detail and the overall aesthetic of Hanx Writer makes this an app you’ll enjoy typing with for hours on end.

Popular paid Android keyboard SwiftKey goes free for all

SwiftKey is taking the freemium route, where the app itself is free, but you spend money on new themes.

Microsoft Gives Up on Win 8. Is the Surface Tablet Next?

I arrived safely in Walnut Creek and am firmly ensconced on the patio for this week’s tech blog. It’s been a while since I have been able to sit outside and write on my computer. Summers in Arizona aren’t conducive to outdoor activities.  Although it can be very warm here also, this week has been wonderful. The fog has come in from San Francisco almost every morning, guaranteeing a nice day.

Some interesting news out of Redmond these days. Microsoft has scaled back its updates for Windows 8.1…meaning all the fancy updates like a Start Menu will be held back and used in Windows 9. You can read all about that in story #2. There will be an update to Windows 8.1 this next week, but Microsoft is not calling it Update 2. It appears Microsoft is just giving up on 8.1 and hopes to recapture its fan base with Windows 9 next year.

You can also read about the huge losses that Microsoft has sustained with its Surface line of tablets (story #1). There is strong speculation that the new Microsoft CEO will pull the plug on it. I am betting he won’t.

The company has released a new Windows laptop for around $250 to compete with the cheap Google Chrome laptops. If I was looking for a cheap laptop, I would rather have the Microsoft one than the Google one.

PS: The latest rumor is that the big Apple event to announce the new iPhones and new wrist wear products is scheduled for September 9. I look forward to that. OK, while I prepare the BBQ for tonight’s dinner, why don’t you read the rest of this blog. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

The Surface Damage Is Mounting At Microsoft

With close to $2 billion down the tubes and a new CEO more interested in operating systems than devices, the days of the Microsoft Surface tablet could be numbered.

Microsoft Scraps Windows 8 Major Updates. Bets The Farm On Win 9

It's official, Windows 8 is a write-off. Sales for the operating system have been poor and now it is even starting to lose market share to Windows 7.

Microsoft's Windows 'Threshold' expected to add virtual desktops, drop charms

Microsoft is going to do more than reintroduce a Start menu as part of its plan to make Windows 9, a k a 'Threshold,' more appealing to Windows XP, Vista and Windows 7 users.

Why you shouldn't be scared by the 'largest data breach' ever

Experts say the reported heist of 1.2 billion account credentials is legit, but caution that for most people there's little they can do -- or should be worried about.

America's Weather-Tracking Satellites Are in Trouble

The sats we use to predict the paths of snowstorms and hurricanes are nearing the end of their lives, and a replacement won’t be fully operational until 2018. Which is a problem.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Here's the easiest way to unsubscribe from annoying emails

Gmail and Outlook step in to make it easy to unsubscribe from newsletters and mailing lists.

Are bad email habits wasting your time?

Making a few simple changes to the way you handle email will help you improve focus, save time, and communicate more effectively.

Underused tools hiding in Windows 7 and 8

Back in Windows’ younger and simpler days, its coders hid small programs and features — called Easter eggs — in the OS for others to find. Microsoft eventually banned those unofficial applets, but there are still some relatively hidden features in Win7/8 that users find helpful. Here are my favorites.

A minor Microsoft Windows 8.1 Update 2 still on tap for August 12

Microsoft is still on track to deliver a second update to Windows 8.1 in August. But don't expect it to include any major features or to be mandatory.

Why Are Most Programs Still 32-bit on a 64-bit Version of Windows?

Your computer is probably running a 64-bit version of Windows. But take a look at the Task Manager and you’ll see most programs on your system are still 32-bit. Is this a problem?

 

Mobile Computing

What is “Other” Storage on an iPhone or iPad?

Connect your iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch to your computer, open iTunes, and you’ll see a large amount of space used by “Other” storage. iTunes won’t let you delete any of this “Other” data to free up space.

How to troubleshoot and fix common issues with your iPhone and iPad

When you experience poor network connections, slow or sluggish performance, or even times when the device simply won't respond, there are a wide range of symptoms that may have one thing in common, a simple solution.

The best Siri feature you're not using

In an informal survey of iPhone users, a grand total of zero knew about this insanely handy Siri trick -- which, bonus, might save your life.

Why you should wait for Android L before buying a new smartphone

The new version will be launched by the end of the year and you would do much better with a smartphone that has been tailored to run on Android L than one that is getting the update.

The State of Android & Audio

Over the past several years, mobile has become the go-to platform for most people’s media consumption. From audio playback to movie streaming, there is a growing amount of content available in your pocket and on your tablet, and the market is still expanding.