In the last edition, I promised you a quick look at the new Office 2016, now available to almost all Windows users for free. So far, I’ve only looked at two programs: Outlook and Word.
First, Outlook. In short, don’t waste your time. There are no improvements to this old and broken software. To put it mildly, it is still a piece of junk. Why would Microsoft put together a calendar app that won’t even see Microsoft’s calendar, much anyone else's?
Want a better quote? Here is what tech journalist and Microsoft watcher Paul Thurrott had to say about it:
“I actually tried to use Outlook this morning so I could check out the attachment and clutter improvements and, my God is Outlook an old and tired application with zero understanding of Microsoft’s own services. What a disaster.”
As for Word, it looks good, but I don’t know how many more improvements they can pack into this excellent word processor. For more, I will let you read what Paul had to say about it in story #8.
Another Microsoft product that made news this week is OneDrive, the automated cloud backup program that can be good or bad, depending on your operating system. In the Windows World, it is excellent. But in the MAC world it is almost unusable. I’ve turned it off on my MAC as it is a resource hog and does very little. Microsoft has outlined improvements for it over the next several months (story #6) for both MAC and Windows. I will be watching closely.
There are some good stories in this edition as well as some good tips for your computing life. So, have at it! -JRC
Tech News and Opinions
Win10 Latest Build: What’s new, what’s unknown
With the recent release of build 10074, Windows 10 Technical Preview should be nearing the feature-complete phase. But while there’s lots to see in the latest build, there’s also much that’s still unknown. Here’s a look at what’s new, what’s been killed, what’s likely, and what’s still obscure.
One in 20 web users infected with ad injection software
More than one in 20 web users are infected with ad injectors, a type of malware that puts unwanted adverts on web pages, according to new research from Google.
Tom Wheeler tells cable industry to stop complaining, start competing
Federal Communications Commission Chairman Tom Wheeler spoke to cable companies at their annual conference today, telling them it's time to move beyond the net neutrality debate and start boosting competition.
Comcast vows to put customers first
Cable company is trying to shake its infamous reputation for providing the worst customer service on the planet with a new initiative it says will be focused on customer needs. JRC: If you believe that I have a bridge in Brooklyn that might suit your needs.
Next in Apple's crosshairs? Free music streaming at Spotify
A report says Apple's latest tactic to catch up in the streaming-music race is pushing labels to cut off free listening options at rivals like Spotify, which has the Department of Justice sniffing around.
Computer Tips and Tricks
Microsoft Outlines a Schedule for OneDrive Improvements
These changes will come after Windows 10 is completed mid-year, and some new features will likely not be implemented until 2016.
Need to Know: Microsoft Edge
Microsoft is getting a lot of attention for pushing Internet Explorer towards retirement and replacing it with a young upstart called Edge. So here’s a quick overview of what you can expect from Microsoft Edge, the new web browser in Windows 10.
Hands-on with Word 2016 Preview for Windows
So far, Word 2016 Preview seems stable enough for daily use—as does OneNote 2016 Preview, which I’m also using regularly—so I’ll keep going with the new and see how it goes.
3 free utilities to make your computing life easier
Get ready to work faster, smarter and better. These tools amp up your mouse, keyboard and clipboard.
How To Buy The Best SSD
Solid-state drives (SSDs) are speedy almost by definition. But how to choose the best one to buy? Check out the basics here and a list of recommendations.
Mobile Computing
AT&T finally ramps down throttling of unlimited LTE customers
Until now, AT&T customers who used 5GB of data in a single monthly billing period were throttled for the rest of the month at all times, receiving barely usable service, despite paying for "unlimited" data. The FTC is suing them over this practice.
12 Super-Useful iMessage Texting Tips for iPhone and iPad
The Messages app is probably one of the most frequently used apps on your iOS device. It's the most common place to send text and multimedia messages, and it’s also packed with advanced features for managing conversations.
Apple's new site shows how your life can change with an iPad
Apple has launched a new section of its website dedicated to showing off how to use the iPad in different aspects of everyday life.
3 alternative photo managers that are better than the one on your smartphone
Sure, your smartphone comes with its own photo management app–but that doesn’t mean it’s the best photo app for you.
Inside Firefox for Android
Mozilla's version of an open browser is one of your better options on Android, especially if you are into flexibility and choice.
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