New Mac Mini, New iPad Air, New iPad Pro and More!

Tech News and Opinions

MacBook Air, Mac Mini and iPad Pro 2018: Everything Apple just announced

The Apple hardware event was clearly targeted at creative pros.

Apple debuts upgraded MacBook Air with Retina Display

The starting price is $1,199 with preorders starting today.

Windows 10’s October 2018 Update Is Probably Delayed Until November (And Here’s Why)

Microsoft stopped offering Windows 10’s October 2018 Update on October 6, as it was deleting some people’s files. Now, another ugly data loss bug has reared its head, and it won’t be fixed until November.

California strikes deal with FCC to delay state net neutrality law

California officials have agreed to wait until the courts have resolved any pending litigation over the Federal Communications Commission’s roll back of the federal rules late last year.

People are holding on to their smartphones longer, report says

In the United States, iPhones traded in between July 1 and Sept. 30 were 2.92 years old on average, up from 2.37 years old the same period two years earlier, according to data from Hyla Mobile Inc.

You Can Take These 600 Online Courses for Free

You no longer need to be a Harvard student or Princeton grad to benefit from instruction at these exclusive institutions.

Asus' new trio of Chromebooks promise not to break the bank

With more Chromebooks vying for the mid-tier segment of the market with prices to match, Asus decided to go much cheaper with its new trio of Chromebooks: the 11.6-inch Chromebook C223, 14-inch Chromebook C423, and C523.

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

The 8 Best Journal Apps for 2018

With the right journal app, you can make a journal or diary entry truly yours by adding images, tagging locations, setting reminders to write, enabling password protection, and so much more

Add Tabs to File Explorer and Other Applications Ahead of Windows 10's "Sets" Feature

While tabs have been a core part of web browsers for more than a decade (including Internet Explorer), Microsoft is finally in the process of introducing a tabbed interface to the Windows File Explorer and other applications.

How to get started with Sticky Notes 3.0 on Windows 10

Here's everything you need to know to start using and get the most out of Sticky Notes 3.0 on Windows 10.

Stop Using Microsoft Edge To Download Chrome -- Unless You Want Malware

For many people who purchase a new Windows 10 PC, Microsoft's built-in Edge browser has one purpose: to download an alternate browser like Google Chrome. Don't!

Windows Defender set to become more secure with sandbox mode

By running in a sandbox, Windows Defender will operate separately from the rest of your PC, so hackers and malicious files cannot gain access to your vital files via the software.

7 Tips and tricks to make the most of Google Photos Live Albums

In this article, I will explore a few of the intricacies of Live Albums and help you make the most out of the feature.

How to Use LastPass for More Than Just Managing Passwords

LastPass is more than just a password manager. It’s an encrypted vault where you can store secure notes, secret bookmarks, and even entire files. It can also save your address and credit card numbers and fill those into online forms.

Mobile Computing – iOS

iOS 12.1 is now available with group FaceTime, new emoji, and ‘beautygate’ fix

Apple’s first update to iOS 12 is now available to download. The iOS 12.1 update comes with the much anticipated fix for the front camera bug that was overly smoothing skin on the iPhone XS and XR, as well as new bagel emoji.

Here’s What’s New in iOS 12.1, Available Today

While iOS 12 is still fairly fresh, the first point release will be rolling out starting today. This brings a handful of new features, like Group Facetime, dual SIM support, camera improvements, new emoji, and more.

Use iOS 12's smart albums to clean up your photo library

Grab your iPhone, if you're not holding it already. Then open the Photos app, go to the Albums tab, and scroll down. On iOS 12, you'll see a list showing pretty much every kind of photo you have:

Siri Shortcuts in iOS 12: how to get your old iPhone to do new tricks

Beyond automating daily tasks, Shortcuts even enables some new possibilities — tasks that you previously couldn't get your phone to accomplish on its own. Some of these features could be programmed through third-party apps like IFTTT, but now they're baked into iOS 12.

New iPad Pro Arrives with No Home Button, Face ID, and Zero Notches

Today at Apple’s October event, the company has announced a new iPad Pro that brings it up to spec alongside the iPhone X, XS, and XR as far having Face ID, no home button, a rounded display, but thankfully no notch.

Mobile Computing – Android

Waze adds built-in audio player to spice up your commute

Pandora, TuneIn and others are available alongside Spotify.

Microsoft's To-Do app gains Planned smart lists on Android & Important list improvements on iOS

The iOS update added the ability to hide completed tasks and fixed some bugs while the Android update was more significant and finally added the Planned smart list feature which has been available on Windows for a while now.

Android Messages desktop client is now a Progressive Web App

Google has continued to improve the Android Messages desktop client, most recently with an updated Material Design look. Perhaps in an effort to make it work better with Chromebooks (as part of the 'Better Together' feature), the Messages site is now a Progressive Web App, so it can be installed as a 'native' application.

Download Bolt Music Plus - Mp3 Player, Audio Player for Android om

Bolt Music Player Plus is the powerful stylish and fast music player with awesome design. This app have lot of features and latest colorful theme

How to use Google Home Hub to control your entire smart home

Forget about switching between different apps to control your lights, thermostat and security cameras. Google Home Hub puts all of the controls at your fingertips.

You can now control your Roku from Google Assistant

You can now add Roku as a Home control service in Assistant or the Google Home app. But before you get started, you need to make sure you have a compatible model running Roku OS 8.1.

Google Pixel 3: Everything you need to know!

From specs, pricing, features, and more, here's the latest on the Pixel 3 and 3 XL.

Apple CEO Calls For Federal Laws To Protect Privacy

Tech News and Opinions

Apple's Tim Cook: Our personal data is 'weaponized against us' by you-know-who

Apple's Tim Cook calls on the US to introduce equivalent laws to Europe's GDPR privacy regulations.

100 Websites That Shaped the Internet as We Know It

The World Wide Web is officially old enough for us judge what it’s produced. That’s right, it’s time for the world to start building a canon of the most significant websites of all time.

TikTok, the Chinese app taking the social media world by storm

In the space of just two years, the app has amassed more than half a billion users — around 40% of them outside China — who share short videos of themselves lip-syncing, cooking, dancing or just being silly.

Do Apple products warrant their premium price in 2018?

Are Apple products a premium experience, or is it all about the Apple brand?

Hackers, trolls and the fight over your vote in the 2018 midterm elections

What’s old is new again as Election Day draws near. Here’s what you need to know.

Facebook's Portal video device launches amid privacy concerns

Will people trust the social network's new consumer device after all those data security problems?

Apple and Samsung fined for deliberately slowing down phones

Italian investigation found software updates ‘significantly reduced performance’, hastening new purchases

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

Google is making it easier to wipe out your search history

More privacy controls coming to Maps and other services in 2019

How to Back Up All of the Photos From All of Your Apps

Even if you’ve got new photos and videos taken with the camera synced to the cloud though, what about the pictures your family sends?

Google Photos app launches new editing features and Live Albums

The latest update makes sharing, editing, and organizing photos easier.

OneNote picking up cloud attachments, tag search, and more this month

Microsoft revealed a slew of new features coming to OneNote on Windows 10, Mac, and on the web over the next few weeks.

How to reset Windows 10, 8, and 7 password if you forgot it

Losing your Windows password can be a nightmare. Not only are you completely locked out of your system, but all of your data is still in there.

How to take a Windows 10 screenshot: The 7 best techniques

No matter the situation, Windows 10 have you covered with several easy ways to capture and save screenshots using keyboard shortcuts, and hardware keys,

Windows 10 Timeline: How to use Microsoft's new organizational tool

Windows 10’s Timeline feature helps answer the question: what was I working on? This handy, optional feature can track what documents and Web pages you’ve been working on over the past weeks and months, organizing them into a collection of documents you can quickly open to pick up where you left off.

Mobile Computing – iOS

Google Maps releases real-time location sharing for iPhone

Google released its "share your real-time location" feature for the Google Maps iOS app on Thursday. It lets you send ETAs to friends and family based on satellite data — not empty promises.

Microsoft launches Spend iOS app that automatically tracks and matches expenses

Spend is designed to make expense and receipt tracking easier than ever.

Best Stands for iPad Pro (10.5 and 12.9)

These are some of our all-time favorite iPad Pro stands for drawing and writing work at a desk. Take a gander and see if any of them fit your fancy.

How to Use Screen Time to Set Content Restrictions on Your iPhone & iPad

Apple makes it even easier to set content restrictions on your personal devices

How to download and read ebooks with Apple Books on iPhone and iPad

Read any good books lately? It's easy on your iPad or iPhone.

Siri shortcuts roll out to Microsoft Edge for iOS

Now you can use Siri to open Edge right from your lock screen.

How to get a refund for iTunes or App Store purchases

How you get a refund for iTunes or App Store purchases and in-app purchases isn't obvious, but it is possible!

Mobil Computing – Android

Meet the new Microsoft Phone, powered by Android (No Windows required)

Over the past few years, Microsoft has embraced the Android operating system with surprising enthusiasm. With a large collection of apps for business available in the Google Play Store, you now have everything you need to turn an Android device into a Microsoft phone.

Microsoft’s Android launcher now lets you track your kid’s location and app usage

The new family tracking feature lets Microsoft Launcher users track the last known location of their family members. The launcher also includes an activity report of what apps are being used on a device and for how long.

Google News app bug burns through gigabytes of user mobile data

Users are reporting sharp spikes in data usage via the app, sometimes leading to hundreds of dollars in mobile data fees.

Need a wide angle camera? Here are 8 smartphones that fit the bill

We gathered every phone featuring a wide-angle camera worth getting in one place for your convenience. It’s not just LG phones — there are plenty of options if you want go wide.

25 Best Android Tips to Make Your Phone More Useful

Google is always making tweaks and coming up with new features for Android, and OEMs like Samsung and LG can add their own stuff on top of that.

10 new Android apps worth checking out

New apps need lovin’ too, right? Every day there are thousands of additions to the Google Play store, but many go unnoticed and never receive the attention they deserve. These do.

Big Changes for this Blog…Beginning Now!

As the headline says, some adjustments are being made to this blog/newsletter/journal. I hope they will benefit you…and they begin with this edition.

First, the size is being expanded…meaning adding more stories in each section wherever possible. At various times during the year, the decent stories are in short supply. Other times, they are plentiful. So, I will not limit the size of each section to a specific number of stories…rather the size will be flexible so you get the information that is relevant to you, no matter how many or how few the number of stories.

Second, the Mobile Computing section will be split into two parts: One covering iOS, the other covering Android. That way, users of one system can skip over the stories that are not relevant to their device. Mobile computing has become the most exciting and most used computing platform of this time, so it deserves better coverage. 

While on vacation last month, you may recall I only published this blog once a week. Well, to be honest, I liked it and it allowed me more time to do other things. So starting with this edition, I will only publish Rants and Raves once a week. But, I think expanding the size of the blog more than offsets the change in the number of publications.

I love doing this blog and have been publishing a newsletter like this for over 20 years now. It started out as a written-on-paper publication and, over time,evolved into what you see today. It has always been a pleasure write it. But, in a couple of weeks, I will turn 73, so it is probably time I slow down a bit and quit putting pressure on myself to get a blog out twice a week.

As I make changes like this one, maybe it is time I restate what this blog is all about. I have always focused on making computing better for the average person…the non-techie who just wants their device to work for them with as little technical knowledge as possible. My goal is to give you enough new knowledge to make your experience even better.

The tech news I publish is part of that same goal…I look for stories that are relevant and informative for the average computer user. You should know what is happening in the tech world that might or will affect you. The same with the other sections, although they are more related to actually using your computing devices.

So that is everything in a nutshell. I hope you find these changes useful and that they add to your computing world. Thanks for being a reader. –JRC

Tech News and Opinions

Apple sets next event for Oct. 30

We'll likely see new tablets and computers from Apple that include some features already found in iPhones.

Stanford University study claims 99.7 percent of human-filed comments opposed FCC's net neutrality rollback

It seems FCC's decision wasn't popular after all. The FCC continues to prove it is the enemy of the people and champion of corporate interests.

Up to 9.5 million net neutrality comments were made with stolen identities

The New York attorney general's office is widening an investigation into fraudulent net neutrality comments, saying it estimates that up to 9.5 million comments were submitted using stolen identities.

Why it's hard to believe anything Google says

The reluctant admission of a privacy breach revealed that Google's "trust us" philosophy was as believable as "do no evil."

Apple to US users: Here's how you can now see what personal data we hold on you

Apple customers in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can now download a copy of all the personal data Apple holds on them that's linked to an Apple ID.

Microsoft co-founder and philanthropist Paul Allen dies at 65

Allen co-founded the future software giant in 1975 with high school classmate Bill Gates.

US voter records from 19 states sold on hacking forum

The voter information for approximately 35 million US citizens is being peddled on a popular hacking forum, two threat intelligence firms have discovered.

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

How To Reclaim Space On Your Windows 10 Hard Drive After the October Update

Windows updates always leave a lot of temporary files and other space-stealing junk on your PC. This can accumulate over time and eat up many wasted gigabytes, which you may not be able to spare.

How to Stop Annoying Apps from Loading When Windows Boots

You don’t need a bunch of unnecessary apps eating up your system’s resources for no reason. If you have an underpowered PC, you’re only making your situation worse.

Windows 10 October update's new public rollout nears as Microsoft fixes more bugs

The company will rerelease 1809 to the public once it's vetted feedback and diagnostic data from Windows Insiders and confirmed that the problem has been properly dealt with.

10 Writing Tips for Microsoft Word

Microsoft has added some excellent features to help improve your writing and productivity using Microsoft Word.

Here’s how to see if you’re among the 30 million compromised Facebook users

The bad news: Private data was stolen. The good: Fewer accounts were affected.

Chrome 70 now available with option to disable controversial login

The update sees Google reverse some of the controversial changes it made with the last version. The good news is that Progressive Web App support has been added to the Windows Version.

Vivaldi's massive update brings tab management and a refreshed UI to its privacy-focused browser

Vivaldi browser has launched its first major upgrade since its initial release in 2016. The company claims that Vivaldi 2.0 has more than 1,500 improvements over the first version.

Don’t Click “Check for Updates” Unless You Want Unstable Windows 10 Updates

As Microsoft revealed, only people who clicked “Check for Updates” got bitten by Windows 10’s file deletion bug. When you click the “Check for Updates” button, Microsoft gives you updates early, skipping a normal part of the testing process.

Mobile Computing – IOS

Opera Touch for iOS is great for people with small hands and big phones

Opera has announced the general availability of its newest mobile browser, Opera Touch for iOS. Its killer feature is the ability to surf the Internet on Apple’s latest big-screen phones.

Apple iOS 12.0.1 Continues iMessage's Embarrassing Problem

iOS 12.0.1 is here and it brings some crucial fixes. But, following a flurry of user complaints, we know now it also contains several new bugs

The easiest way to share iPhone photos and videos

iOS 12 has introduced a slew of new features and hidden gems. And one seemingly small addition to the Photos app can make a huge change to the way you share photos and videos.

Canon Launches New Digital Photo Express for iOS Devices

The best price of all is free and Canon’s new Digital Photo Express for Apple’s iOS devices, including smartphones and tablets, is not only the right combination of price and features but also gives Canon users some powerful on-the-go functionalities.

How to Sync Photos to iPhone

If you have a photo library stored elsewhere, or someone shares photos with you, there are a number of ways to sync those photos to your iPhone.

Best Camera Apps For iPhone: 14 Of The Best Camera Apps Compared

Are you still using your iPhone’s native camera app? If so, you could be missing out. In this article we’ll compare fourteen of the best camera apps for iPhone for you. Each offers something more than the native camera app, improved features or a more intuitive interface.

Mobile Computing – Android

Best apps for securing Android and managing privacy settings

Our picks for the best and safest VPNs, browsers, password managers, chat apps, and antivirus apps for Android are an easy way to help you stay private while online.

Nova Launcher 6.0 beta 5 can launch Google Assistant directly from the search widget

Nova Launcher 6.0 beta 5 just launched yesterday, and while not a major update, it does include a couple of notable features

Google News Gets a Dark Mode in Its Latest Android Update

Say goodbye to blinding yourself with the news every morning, as a Google News update is rolling out that introduces a dark mode to the service.

Gmail for Android now lets you customize swipe actions

Google’s been delivering a bunch of overdue updates to Gmail over the past few weeks, and one more arrived in the latest update on Android: the ability to customize what happens when you swipe an email to the left or right.

The Pixel Slate: first look at Google’s new tablet

Chrome OS replaces Android as Google’s tablet OS

Pixel 3 review: Google pairs an amazing camera with serious AI smarts

The Pixel 3's camera already makes it a standout -- but useful Google software elevates the phone even more.

See How Many Dollars You’ve Spent On Android Apps with This Free Tool

Most apps are cheap—a buck here, couple bucks there. But on a long enough timeline, that little bit can add up to some serious dollars. A new app called Purchased Apps for Android can show you just how much.

Microsoft Halts Autumn Update…Google Kills Google+

Tech News and Opinions

Microsoft pulls Windows 10 October 2018 Update due to major issues

A major bug has hit some Windows 10 users. Update: The problem is now fixed, according to MS. It is now being tested by Windows Insiders. No word on when it will be made public.

Microsoft needs to refocus on Windows 10 fundamentals, not just new features

Opinion: Microsoft needs to step off the new feature train, at least temporarily, and get Windows 10's reliability and fundamentals back on track.

Google shutting down Google+ after exposing data of up to 500,000 users

Google said it found no evidence of data misuse. Still, as part of the response to the incident, Google plans to shut down the social network permanently.

Broadband industry groups sue California over net neutrality bill

Four lobbying groups representing some of the largest telecom companies in the country filed a lawsuit Wednesday opposing California’s net neutrality law in an attempt to stop it from going into effect next year.

Pixel 3, Google Home Hub and Pixel Slate: Everything Google just announced

The company debuted its phones for 2018, a camera-free home control center and a new detachable Chrome OS tablet.

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

How to Use Microsoft Word’s Built-In Screenshot Tool

Taking screenshots is pretty easy; it’s a feature built into most operating systems. If you’re already working on a Word document, though, and want to add a screenshot to it, you can save yourself a few clicks by using Word’s built-in screenshot tool

What's new with Notepad in the Windows 10 October 2018 Update

In this Windows 10 guide, we highlight the most worthy improvements shipping with the Notepad app for the October 2018 Update.

How to disable video autoplay on Microsoft Edge

Microsoft Edge now includes an option to stop websites from playing media automatically. In this guide, we show you how to use it.

Set Up Your Financial Accounts Like You're Going to Be Hacked

It’s important to be on the defensive when it comes to your financial security, and set up your accounts as if you’re going to be hacked.

Best free email alternatives to Microsoft Outlook for Windows

These free alternatives to MS Outlook for Windows are worth messaging home about.

Mobile Computing

5 devices to help you stay entertained and fight boredom on trips

You won't regret bringing any of these 5 entertainment solutions with you the next time you travel.

Mirror your Android phone apps on Windows

The Android app mirroring feature will be available as a part of the Your Phone app for Windows 10. The app will be out with the Windows 10 October 2018 Update.

Google Assistant now helps you compare ride-hailing prices and summon an Uber or Lyft

But you still need your phone to complete the request

How to protect your Facebook privacy by removing unwanted apps

Apps can slurp up your profile data on Facebook. Here's how to review the ones you've installed and get rid of those you don't need.

New for iOS 12: How to Use a Filter on a FaceTime Call

There are lots of filters to choose from, so you'll always find something to fit your mood: a cartoon filter, a few black and white choices, and much more. Let's get started learning how to use FaceTime filters on iPhone or iPad.

How to download and install iOS 12.0.1 on your iPhone or iPad

Apple has released iOS 12, The next big OS for iPhone and iPad. Update now!

Windows 10 October 2018 Update Available Now!

Tech News and Opinions

The Trump administration is suing California to quash its new net neutrality law

The Trump administration said Sunday it will sue California in an effort to block what some experts have described as the toughest net neutrality law ever enacted in the United States, setting up a high-stakes legal showdown over the future of the Internet.

Why feds can’t block California’s net neutrality bill

Experts say the new lawsuit rests on shaky legal ground

50 million Facebook accounts were compromised. Was yours?

The social networking giant on Friday said "almost 50 million accounts" were compromised, a discovery its engineers made on Tuesday. Here's what you need to know.

Everything Microsoft announced at its October 2 Surface event

The Surface lineup got a new color and a whole lot more power today. Here's a look at everything Microsoft announced.

Arrest Warrants Issued for 17 People in $1M California Apple Store Theft Ring - Mac Rumors

The individuals involved robbed Apple retail stores in 19 different counties, including several in the Bay Area, where Apple's headquarters are located. More than $1 million worth of Apple goods were stolen.

Desktop and Laptop Tips and Tricks

Windows 10 October 2018 Update is available today

Windows 10 October 2018 Update will be available to all Windows 10 users today, and to update you’ll simply have to check for the new updates on Windows Update. Otherwise, Microsoft will start pushing this to existing machines next week with its monthly Patch Tuesday.

Windows 10 October 2018 update: everything you need to know

Latest Microsoft update comes with new emoji, smart keyboards, cloud-powered clipboards and faster, more considerate updates

Mozilla launches Firefox Monitor, its ‘Have I Been Pwned’ clone

Mozilla today announced the launch of Firefox Monitor. This free service, which Mozilla has been testing since this summer, informs individuals when their details have been part of a data breach.

4 ways to protect your home from Wi-Fi theft

If your network is slow or acting weird, it's possible someone is stealing your signal (and maybe more).

5 settings to change on your new router

Here are five basic settings to look at when configuring a Wi-Fi network router.

Mobile Computing

62 apps that work with Siri Shortcuts

Since there are so many Siri Suggestions available, we're creating an updating list of the best apps you can download to take advantage of Siri Shortcuts.

How to manage notifications in iOS 12

Curb your notifications in Apple's iOS 12 to ensure you only receive the notifications that matter. Learn how to customize notification settings in iOS 12.

9 Shortcuts for iOS 12 you should be using

It's time to make your iPhone work for you.

The best email app for iOS and Android

Whether on iOS or Android, a good email app has to make loading emails, refreshing your inbox, replying, archiving, deleting, unsubscribing, and more as quick and as seamless as possible.

The best Android smartphones you can buy right now (Fall 2018)

With all the choices available, trying to find the best smartphone an be like looking for a needle in a haystack. Here is a short list of the best Android phones you can buy, from low-end budget devices to expensive flagships.

Google Assistant: Everything you need to know

There's a lot going on with the Google Assistant — let's break down the important stuff.