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.
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