Friday, December 05, 2014

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.

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