Thursday, May 05, 2016

Free Windows 10 Upgrade Will End…For Sure, for Sure

Microsoft has made it very clear now that the free upgrade to Windows 10 will come to and end on July 29, exactly one year to the day that it was released. In a press release announcing that 300 million devices are now running Windows 10, the company took the opportunity to declare unequivocally that the free update program will end on that date. There were hopes that Microsoft would extend the offer, or perhaps make it permanent. It appears that neither is going to happen.

So now it is up to you, owners of Windows 7 and 8 machines, to upgrade to the latest and greatest for free, or just go on living with what you have. Windows 10 offers some great improvements over the old versions, especially in the area of security. Plus it is a pleasure to use.

I will say that both my computers now upgraded to Windows 10 (not counting my MAC running Windows 10 via Parallels), are running far better than they did on on Windows 7 and 8. My one desktop is almost 6 years old and it running just fine, proving that most computers will be improved by updating. I know I sound like a Microsoft shill, but I am not. All I am saying is that you give serious consideration to upgrading if you have not already done so.

In other news, as reported here, the sales of PC’s continue to slow down to their lowest levels in many a year. However the sales of MAC’s have gone up to nearly 10% of the market. Now while there is no way they will ever dominate the desktop market, they are making great strides. As a MAC user, I can understand completely while people switch. But be aware, Apple Macs are expensive and they are not perfect. To be honest, I use my MAC about 75% of the time and my Windows 10 PC about 25%. Each has strengths and weaknesses, which is why I use both.

There is a lot more news and tips you might find interesting, so I suggest you scan the stories I’ve included here and see if any might help you. –JRC

Tech News and Opinions

Windows 10 Hits 300 Million Active Devices, Free Upgrade Still Ends July 29

Windows 10 is now in use on over 300 million active devices. Microsoft also reiterated that the free upgrade will expire on July 29, dashing hopes that the offer would be extended.

 

Everything Google knows about you

By using Google products, you agree to share information about yourself that Google can share with advertisers so their ads are more effective.

 

India has shot down Apple's plan to sell refurbished iPhones

India reportedly has rejected Apple's plan to sell refurbished iPhones in the country, a blow to the company's hopes for growth there.

 

Mac Nears 10 Percent Usage Share

While Windows is in no danger of losing its lock on the PC market, the Apple Mac is closing in on an important milestone:

 

No one wants yearly Android releases

After a year, Android Marshmallow has barely managed to hit 7.5 percent, and in a few weeks Google will unveil the next release that no one will want…or be able to get.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

How much RAM does your PC really need?

Is there a case for more than 8GB of RAM? Sure there is, but the bang for the buck trails off.

 

This is why your laptop battery dies fast

A simple change can help your laptop die less often.

 

Six Windows 10 annoyances: How to make them go away for good

From my mailbox, these are the top gripes about Microsoft's new OS, with instructions to help you make those problems vanish.

 

Microsoft's Windows Defender May Not Keep You Safe

If you have Windows 8 or Windows 10, Microsoft's Windows Defender is ready and waiting to protect you against malware. However, our tests show that you're better off with a free add-on antivirus solution.

 

Why don't I have the new Outlook.com yet?

Microsoft announced plans to bring its existing Outlook mail and Outlook.com mail clients closer together a year ago. Fewer than half of Outlook.com users have the new experience. Why?

 

Mobil Computing

The complete list of 'OK, Google' commands

If you can't get enough of talking to your phone (or your Android Wear watch), we put together a long list of OK, Google commands to help you get more done with just your voice.

 

The complete list of Siri commands

"Apple hasn't published a complete list of Siri commands, though you can find a fairly comprehensive guide to Siri's abilities inside Siri herself (open up Siri and say "Help" to see what she can do). So here's our unofficial guide to Siri commands and questions.

 

Ransomware's growing threat to Android

How to avoid ransomware, and what to do if your Android phone is under attack

 

5 settings every new Android owner should change

Whether you're a newcomer to Android or just upgrading to a newer model, consider tweaking these settings to improve performance and battery life.

 

5 quick ways to recover storage space on an overstuffed iPhone or iPad

Find a few gigs of breathing room by taming bloated apps, culling podcasts, trimming attachments, and more.

 

How to Browse the Web Privately on Your iPhone

If you’re planning to do some Internet scouring but want to keep your history private, there’s an easy way to do that in Safari.

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