Great Tips and Advice Are the Stars of This Issue

The tech news is not very exciting right now and I don’t have much to say, but be aware there are some good tips for computers and mobile devices in this edition. So with that said, I will let you take over and read away. -JRC

Tech News and Opinions

Microsoft updates support policy: New CPUs will require Windows 10

In a change to its longstanding support policy, Microsoft says PCs based on new CPU architectures, including Intel's Skylake chips, will require Windows 10. A list of preferred systems will support older Windows versions on new hardware, but only for 18 months.

 

Microsoft's 2016: More Hardware, Software and Cloud

t’s hard to believe that 2015 is now behind us, which means that with a new year, it’s time to take a look at what Microsoft is planning for 2016.

Apple Watch grabs half of smartwatch market, Android Wear just 10 percent

But smartwatches are still waiting for that big breakthrough to make them must-haves says analysts.

 

Top software trends of 2015

This last year we wanted to take control of our app and online experience. Here are the top 10 ways we did, including ad blocking, music and video streaming, mobile-desktop handoff, messaging, and more.

New zero-day flaw hits millions of Linux servers, and affects most Android devices

Because some of the code is shared, the zero-day flaw also affects more than two-thirds of all Android devices.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

How to Get Outlook Notifications for Important Emails Only

Microsoft thought they were being helpful when they set up notifications for new email. However, a constant barrage of notifications can also disrupt your train of thought. You can turn the notifications off completely, or–better yet–you can set up Outlook to only notify you about important emails.

 

How to build the best free PC security suite

Take some time this weekend to secure your PC without spending a dime.

 

7 steps to speed up Google Chrome

The other day I realized that Google Chrome had begun to get slow and bloated, and since there's no new streamlined browser I can switch to, I decided to see if I could speed things up a bit. Here's what I did.

 

13 Microsoft Word Tips You Need to Learn Now

Old veteran Word users like yourself probably think there's nothing left to learn. Oh, but there's always room for more knowledge

 

These are the 25 worst passwords of 2015

Look on the bright side! There’s one good thing that comes out of all those website breaches every year: Security researchers get to comb through all those lists of usernames and passwords to remind us just how bad most of our passwords are.

 

Mobile Computing

Burner Accounts 101: How to Get Extra Numbers for Your Smartphone

When you don't want to hand out your own phone number, you have plenty of options to still get communications.

 

What's the best phone to have when dumping your carrier?

Carriers have eliminated contracts and device subsidies, and we're all now paying full price for expensive phones. Does that mean we're free to move among operators?

 

How to Maximize Your Kindle’s Battery (and Really Get a Month of Reading)

Amazon advertises that their ebook readers only need to be charged once a month, but heavy readers will probably find that they need charge more often. Not anymore: read on as we show you how to blaze through your book collection without constant recharging.

 

7 Weight Loss Apps to Help You Shed the Pounds

Unfortunately, apps alone won't help you lose weight, but if you can't afford a personal trainer, fancy gym membership, or even a simple fitness tracker, they can definitely help you stay on track.

 

Your Android phone is too damn nosy

If given the choice, people say they would deny nearly one-third of all permissions currently required to download apps to their Android phones.