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.