This week, Microsoft is holding a conference in Chicago for Enterprise users. Most of what came out of it doesn’t really affect us common folk. But there were four special announcements, two of which caught everyone off guard.
First, there will be no more Patch Tuesdays for Windows 10. This is not a big surprise as Microsoft plans continual upgrades and fixes to its latest operating system. That does not preclude the monthly patches for Windows 7 and 8 users.
Next, came the official announcement that Windows Media Center was officially dead. It is still being used in Windows 7, but was never included as part of Windows 8. You could get it for 8 in a special package but it was the Windows 7 version. So this official announcement came as no surprise at all.
The next announcement was a surprise and, after reading about it, I am still not sure I understand what is going on. Microsoft will kill off Outlook.com and replace it with Office 365. Outlook.com is a web-based e-mail program much like Google Mail. I will let you read the story below. Maybe you can make more sense of it than me.
The big surprise is that everyone who uses Windows 7, 8 or 10, can now get Office 16 public preview for free. I downloaded it today into my Windows 10 Preview Build and it downloaded and installed quite easily. I’ve only had a a few minutes to play, but it looks quite good. I will have more in the next edition.
But, before you install it, make sure you read the article below on how to get it and install it. It is very important that you do this right!
Well, I have talked enough. Time for you to do some reading. -JRC
Tech News and Opinions
Microsoft Is Sporting a New Attitude - It's Called Innovation
I try not to drink any company’s particular brand of Kool-Aid but it was tough not to be impressed by the direction underfoot at Microsoft as I watched its Build 2015 Keynote.
Microsoft kills off Windows Media Center
Microsoft stopped actively developing Windows Media Center in 2009. The software giant is planning to kill off Media Center in Windows 10, meaning any PCs upgraded from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1 will lose the feature.
Apple Pay Rival CurrentC is circling down the drain
Best Buy broke ranks with fellow MCX members and announced it would start accepting Apple Pay at its stores. JRC: CurrentC is one company that should disappear. Sorry Wal-Mart. This was just a bad idea poorly executed.
Tesla Energy Launches With 'Powerwall' Home Batteries
Tesla wants to get the world's consumption of power "down to zero carbon levels," Musk told the assembled crowd of press and Tesla enthusiasts. "With Powerwall, you can be totally free of the grid if you want."
Entire broadband industry seeks immediate halt to Title II classification
The petitions were filed with the FCC, which is unlikely to approve them, but the providers are required to petition the FCC before they can ask for a stay in court.
Computer Tips and Tricks
Microsoft delivers public preview of Office 2016 for Windows desktops
A new test build of Microsoft's Office 2016 suite for Windows 7, 8 and 10 users is available, ahead of this fall's final release.
How to download and install the Office 2016 Preview
Want to get an early look at the future of Office? Here’s how to install the Office 2016 Preview today. It’s dead simple—though note that you’ll need to be running Windows 7, 8, or 10 to use the new Office suite.
Microsoft's Outlook.com is being replaced by Office 365
The company is migrating all Outlook.com users over to Office 365 this year. Microsoft’s Office 365 service includes Outlook Web Access, and we’re told Outlook.com will start to align with this user interface and feature set.
6 Reasons to Try Microsoft's Edge Browser
Perhaps Edge's greatest asset is that it's not Internet Explorer, which, even after lots of improvements in speed and tightened design, was one of the most reviled pieces of software in history.
5 things you can do with a second internal drive
Hard drives and SSDs fall easily into the category of two is better than one. Not only do you have more room for storage, but you can use that extra room to speed up your PC or protect your system from a hard drive crash. Here are a few things you can do with a second internal drive:
Mobile Computing
The Best Android Tablets
For a long while, it was a challenge to find decent Android tablets to test. But as Google continues to refine its mobile operating system, we're seeing a steady flow of high-quality Android tablets.
Free Apps May Be Tracking Your Phone Without Your Consent
Free Android apps are getting a bit promiscuous. That, at least, is the conclusion of a group of security researchers, who find that poorly vetted apps on Google Play are connecting to a massive number of ad and tracking sites—without user being any the wiser.
Why you should avoid hotel Wi-Fi like the plague
The bottom line is this: use hotel Wi-Fi and you may be open to scams, hacks, viruses and malicious software attacks.
iPad or iPhone battery draining fast? Could be the Amazon Kindle app
Battery life on the latest iPads and iPhones is pretty good, but if you've recently noticed that yours isn't lasting as long as before, Amazon might be to blame.
T-Mobile tempts Verizon customers by lending them phones for free trials
T-Mobile will pay up to $650 in cancellation fees if you switch. Once again, T-Mobile is mounting direct assaults on its carrier competitors, and once again, reliably brash CEO John Legere is calling them out in public.
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