Microsoft has announced that the Anniversary Update to Windows 10 will be released, as the headline says, August 2. This is a major update (originally codenamed Redstone 1) and will have many new features.One of the biggest features will be the addition of extensions (AKA Plugins) to the Edge Browser, finally making it usable. I look forward to trying that one out. Also there will be new enhancements to Cortana, the voice assistant now in Windows 10.
Microsoft plans are to update Windows twice a year, although this will be the only one for this year. The next update, AKA Redstone 2, will be in the Spring of next year. Beginning in 2017, Microsoft hopes to stick to its 2 upgrades per year schedule. Of course, these upgrades will all be free to Windows 10 users.
The Anniversary edition will arrive 4 days after the scheduled end of the free Windows 10 upgrade plan which ends on July 29. That is only one month away. So this news might give you pause to think about upgrading to Windows 10 before the free upgrade period ends…if you have not already done so. Microsoft has made it abundantly clear that it will not extend the free upgrade offer after July 29.
Another big announcement this week comes from Evernote (see story #2). This wonderful note-taking and note collection software will limit the free service users to only using two devices to run the software. As it is cross-platform, I currently have mine on 6 devices, so will have to make a decision as to which devices to use. I admit I was a little miffed when I read that announcement, but then realized all my Evernote notes are also on the Web so I will still be able to access them from every device.
I can’t get real mad at them like some users as their service has been free for all these years. But, they also raised the prices of their monthly paid services, which has ticked off some other folks. But remember, you can move all your notes to Microsoft’s OneNote which is free for everybody and performs the same services as Evernote on almost every platform.
I use OneNote for almost everything except saving Web pages as I think Evernote does a better job…and I will continue to do that. By the way, the cost of unlimited access to Evernote is now $70 a year. For that exact same money, you can get Office 365 which has all the office programs (including the deluxe OneNote) and one terabyte of free OneDrive storage. That seems like a no-brainer to me.
Let’s now see what else is in store for you in this edition of Rants and Raves. -JRC
Tech News and Opinions
Microsoft's Windows 10: Anniversary Update to hit August 2
Microsoft will release the next big update to Windows 10 on August 2 across the more than 350 million active devices where it is now running, and on other coming new PCs, phones, and more. That is 4 days after the end of the current free upgrade program.
Evernote Announces Price Hikes and Two-Device Limit for Free Users
Users of Evernote's free Basic plan will soon be limited to using the service on no more than two devices, such as a computer and a phone, two computers, or a phone and a tablet.
Microsoft Eases Transition from Evernote to OneNote
Microsoft now has a OneNote Importer utility that will import your Evernote-based notes into the software giant’s completely free Office-based solution.
IBM's Watson may provide a shortcut to treating cancer
The tech giant's cognitive computer system will help oncologists with the data-intensive work of identifying mutations in DNA and finding specific treatments.
Amazon Prime Day 2016 announced: 100,000 deals and “dramatically increased inventory”
It’s Black Friday in July all over again. Amazon just announced the second edition of Prime Day, its massive shopping event open exclusively to Prime subscribers.
Computer Tips and Tricks
The Best Cheap Laptops of 2016
Your next PC doesn't have to cost a small fortune. Some of our favorite laptops ring up for well under $500.
Google's My Activity reveals just how much it knows about you
The addition to Google’s account settings, called My Activity, allows users to review everything that Google has tracked about their behaviour – across search, YouTube, Chrome, Android and everything else – and edit or delete it at each step.
Windows 10 Tutorial: How to reset your PC and keep your files
Windows 10 makes it easy to start over by letting you reset the operating system but keep your files and programs intact. Here is how to find and start this feature.
How to Make Windows Troubleshoot Your PC Problems for You
The Windows Control Panel includes a variety of “troubleshooters” designed to quickly diagnose and automatically solve various computer problems. Troubleshooters can’t fix everything, but they’re a great place to start if you encounter a problem with your computer.
How to Test Your Computer’s RAM for Problems
Is your computer unstable? There may be a problem with its RAM. To check, you can either use a hidden system tool included with Windows or download and boot a more advanced tool.
Mobile Computing
The Best Mobile Hotspots of 2016
Why rely on public hotspots for Wi-Fi when you can bring your own with you, wherever you go? Here's what you need to know to choose the right hotspot, along with the top-rated models available now.
Best free Android VPN
Last time we told you what to look for in Android VPN; today we have our top recommendation. Find out which free VPN offers the best combination of data cap, connection options, and user-friendly privacy policy.
How to update Android apps
So you've got loads of apps downloaded and installed on your Android smartphone or tablet but can't see how to update them. Find out in our how to update Android apps guide.
How to find out if you have the latest Android security patch
Software updates don't always guarantee you're up to speed with security. Here's where to look.
Disable three iOS features you likely use only by accident
Some features only get in the way. Learn how to disable two iPhone features and one iPad feature that you probably can do without.
How to set up and use the News app for iPhone and iPad
If you don't feel like getting the newspaper every day and prefer your news on the go, the News app for iPhone and iPad is there to keep you up-to-date on all the news that's important to you. Here's how to get started!
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