Well, I am back after a great Christmas vacation in the Bay Area. Sorry I didn’t get a blog out last week…I tried but I was having software issues on my new laptop that I will have to figure out. I didn’t get home until around 2:30 this morning thanks to airplane issues such as flight delays and on-board maintenance issues. Was supposed to land in Phoenix at 3:30 pm but didn’t arrive there until after 10:00 pm. Then there was the drive back to Tucson. A long, long, frustrating day. But, at least I am back home where I belong.
As the headline hints, this issue is mostly about what happened, tech-wise, in 2016, and what we have to look forward to this year. The annual Computer Electronics Show is now underway in Las Vegas and we will have more on that in the next issue. The show floor opened today. The first two days were about press conferences announcing new products and keynote addresses.
One surprising thing this year is the number of desktop and laptop announcements and displays. New computers have been few and far between at the show in the last few years, but they are making a comeback in 2017. The emphasis is on high-end laptops…those costing more than $1,000. Microsoft set the stage with there new surface computers (including a laptop) but they let their hardware partners know they can follow suit even if they beat Microsoft pricing…and they are.
My new HP Spectre laptop was priced at $1,400 but I got it for $1,000 on Black Friday…and I love it! The high-end laptops are the main focus now, although lower price laptops are still available. I get ads from several sources offering laptops anywhere from $200 to $1,000 and every price point in between. As for desktops, Microsoft broke new ground with there $3,000 28” Surface Studio computer that folds down to a desktop. Look for more copycats at reasonable prices. We will have much more on the new computers and other electronic devices in the next edition.
Tech News and Opinions
15 technologies that died in 2016
2016 was brutal year in the tech business. Ambitious projects sputtered out, beloved niche products became unsustainable, and there was at least one colossal corporate embarrassment.
The Tech Stories That Awed, Disturbed, and Excited Us in 2016
Check out the slideshow for the stories that raised eyebrows, riled us up, and otherwise pushed the tech industry forward in 2016.
The Best Products of 2016
We've tested close to 2,500 products in PC Labs over the past 12 months, and these 100 are the top dogs—the ones you'll want to buy.
2016's Biggest Tech Fails
So sit back, get that mouse-clicking finger ready, and enjoy our pick of the biggest tech fails of the year. Surely, 2017 can't be any worse...right?
The year that wasn't: 2016 as told by 120 fake news stories
This year, nearly everyone met an untimely end. Fortunately they had clones or body doubles -- or a new sitcom in the case of the Dalai Lama.
The 4 tech trends that will shape 2017
The real story behind AI is automation, the Internet of Things platform eludes us, the smartphone holds out for the big one, and virtual reality becomes less virtual and more reality.
Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks
10 of the best Windows 10 apps for 2016
After a few bumpy updates and a lot of spit and polish, Windows 10 has shaped up to be a pretty solid OS: fast, stable and delightful to use.
Best News Apps for Windows 10
We have scoured the Store shelves, looked at several possibilities and these are our best news apps for Windows 10. It's time to read all about it!
The 2017 ultimate guide to Gmail backup
Want to make sure you have a local or backup copy of all that mission-critical business and personal history in your Gmail archives? David Gewirtz takes you through an array of options.
Here's how you can still get a free Windows 10 upgrade
Microsoft's much-hyped free upgrade offer for Windows 10 ended months ago, right? Maybe not. The GWX tool may be gone, but all the other upgrade tools still work, and the end result is an apparently valid digital license. Here's how to get yours.
Windows 10 tip: More hibernation secrets to save time and disk space
Hibernation is a great alternative to sleep, allowing you to cut your PC's power use to zero while still being able to quickly get back to work. Here's how to configure this feature and manage the size of the hibernation file.
Office.com Picks Up Its First Major Update
Office 365 received an unprecedented number of functional updates this past year. But now it’s closing out the year with the first major update to its home page experience, which is found at Office.com.
Mobile Computing
Smartphones in 2016: What worked, what didn't
While not everything smartphone makers announced in 2016 was a hit, seemingly small features became must-haves throughout the year.
The 100 Best iPhone Apps of 2017
Whether you received a new iPhone for the holidays or you just want to breathe new life into an older one, these are the apps you need.
The Best iPad Apps of 2017
These 50 apps will transform your iPad, iPad mini, or iPad Pro into the ultimate slate computer for work and play.
The 100 Best Android Apps of 2017
Whether you have a brand-new Pixel phone or an older tablet you want to spruce up, these are the apps that will help you get the most from your Android.
40 of the best Android apps of 2016
This year saw a great crop of new and updated apps to make your Android device more useful, productive and entertaining.
10 awesome iOS 10 tips that will make you an iPhone power user
Now that iOS 10 has been out for a few months, we’ve gone back over scores and scores of iOS tips and tricks in order to extract a list of the best hidden iOS 10 features lurking beneath the surface.
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