Thursday, December 11, 2014

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.

No comments: