Thursday, March 03, 2016

Not Much to Get Excited About…But Some Good Tips

Sometimes the tech news is just plain boring. You would think it was December, but it is March. The only interesting thing going on is, of course, the battle between Apple and the FBI. But I’ve said all I am going to say on it for now…and you are probably sick of hearing it. And here is the bad new…it will probably go on for some time…all the way to the Supreme Court, I would imagine. Realistically, in the end, it will be the Congress that will make the final decision. That should make you cringe.

So enough of that. I am just going to say adios for this day and let you read the rest. Have a great weekend. -JRC

Tech News and Opinions

 

Apple vs. the FBI: Catch up on the iPhone encryption hearing

Everything you need to know about Apple's big congressional hearing.

Apple scores iPhone legal victory that may help in FBI fight

A judge's ruling in a trial in New York may give Apple ammunition in its fight against the FBI to keep a security "back door" out of your iPhone.

 

AT&T will launch online-only packages for DirecTV this year

In an effort to appeal to cord cutters, AT&T will launch three new services that allow users to stream DirecTV online without an annual contract, satellite dish, or set-top box.

 

Do You Need a Digital Detox?

Want to increase your overall productivity and well-being? With The National Day of Unplugging coming up, here's what you need to know to take a technology break the right way.

 

DOD to invite security experts to Hack the Pentagon

The cyber bug bounty program is a first for the federal government, but you'll need to undergo a background check

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

 

The Best Free Antivirus Utilities for 2016

Malware and hackers are more sophisticated and more dangerous than ever, and it's up to you to protect yourself. Our top free antivirus utilities can help.

 

Windows 10 tip: Access symbols, emojis, and other special characters

Entering special characters, including foreign currency symbols, fractions, and emoji, is a cumbersome task on most physical keyboards. Use this hidden Windows 10 option to open an on-screen keyboard that puts all those options at your fingertips.

 

The Best Online Backup Services for 2016 - The Best Online Backup Services

You never know when your hard drive is going to crash, or when you're going to accidentally overwrite a key file. Use an online backup service to automatically and securely protect your documents, photos, and other media.

 

The Pros and Cons of Windows 10’s “Fast Startup” Mode

Windows 10’s Fast Startup (called Fast Boot in Windows 8) works similarly to the hybrid sleep mode of previous versions of Windows. By saving the operating system state to a hibernation file, it can make your computer boot up even faster, saving valuable seconds every time you turn your machine on.

 

Windows 10 May Delete Your Programs Without Asking

When you install a major Windows 10 update, you may reboot to find some of your programs missing. Yes, Windows 10 may remove your programs without asking you–but you can get them back pretty easily.

 

Mobile Computing

 

Make a pit stop, take a detour with Google Maps for iOS

Google Maps now makes it easier to add a pit stop or detour to your trip. Google Maps for Android added this ability last fall, and now the feature has arrived for iOS.

 

iOS 9.3 will tell you loud and clear if your employer is monitoring your iPhone

In the next iteration of its smartphone operating system, iOS 9.3, Apple is looking to make this an easier task. Tthe latest beta of iOS 9.3 has a message telling users their iPhone is being supervised.

 

How to quickly enable Low Power mode on your iPhone or iPad

Apple's Low Power Mode is one of my favorite iOS 9 features: It automatically offers to turn itself on when your battery hits 20 percent, and disables some of your iPhone's more processor-and-battery-intensive tasks.

 

Top 20 Android apps and games of the month

Android a bigger priority than it used to be for many more app developers: in 2016, lots of prominent new apps debut simultaneously on Android and iOS, with some even appearing on Android first.

 

The Best Cheap Cell Phone Plans You've Never Heard Of

There are a lot of smartphone options beyond the big four carriers in the US. If you're looking to save money, these lesser-known plans might be the ticket.

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