More on SkyDrive vs. Google Drive

I have pounded on Microsoft a lot lately. Well, today, I come not to bury Microsoft (again), but to praise them (thanks, Shakespeare).  Finally, the boys from Redmond changed SkyDrive into something very useful and free to folks like you and me.

Prior to Monday, using SkyDrive was absurdly ridiculous…now, its easy and very useful. It continually syncs the files on your computer (you choose which ones) up into the cloud. But it’s not only a backup system, but also useful if you use more than one computer. So, you can work on a file on your laptop and it will automatically sync it to the cloud and to your desktop computer. Your updated files are available to you everywhere.

You can also share those files you choose with other folks. It’s very good, although I would look for a few additional tweaks in the future. I can also set it up to deliver those files I want for my iPad and Android Phone. And, as I mentioned last time, if you were an existing user of SkyDrive, you can get 25GB of storage space for free (new users get 7GB free). I have been testing it for the last two days and it works just fine.

As for Google Drive, their terms of service has opened up a firestorm of criticism, right out of the gate. Here is what is says:

“When you upload or otherwise submit content to our Services, you give Google (and those we work with) a worldwide license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes that we make so that your content works better with our Services), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content.”

What? You are joking!! My stuff belongs to me and Google has no right to use it. So I won’t be using Google Drive any time soon. Besides, SkyDrive works so much better, at least for me. Google Drive is too much like DropBox, which I stopped using a few months ago. But, its time you discover all this for yourself. Read on…-JRC 

Cloudbusting: SkyDrive vs. Live Mesh vs. Google Drive vs. Dropbox

In the wake of this week’s surprisingly similar releases of the SkyDrive and Google Drive applications for Windows, it’s now clearer that both companies have the same service, Dropbox, in their sights. This wasn’t obvious at first since Microsoft already had a service, Windows Live Mesh, which was in many ways superior to Dropbox.

Who owns your files on Google Drive?

Dropbox and Microsoft's SkyDrive allow you to retain your copyright and IP rights to the work you upload to the service, but Google Drive takes everything you own.

5 Reasons Microsoft SkyDrive is Better Than Google Drive

If you're looking for a new service to sync and store files across multiple devices and the cloud, you should give SkyDrive a serious look. Not only do you get more free storage, but you'll also have an easier time managing online documents and you get free remote access to your home PC while you're on the go. Google Drive may be the current media darling, but for people just looking to get some work done here's why you should give SkyDrive a try.

Security firm claims Mac security is "10 years behind" Microsoft

Not content to dispel the "myth" that Macs are impervious to malware last week, Kaspersky Lab CEO Eugene Kaspersky is sounding the Mac malware alarm again this week. During the Info Security 2012 conference, he claimed that Apple is 10 years behind Microsoft on the security front.

In Win for Amazon, Judge Rules Against Online Sales Tax

A judge in Illinois has ruled against a law that would enable the state to collect tax on online sales from out-of-state companies. The ruling is seen as a promising victory for marketing affiliates as well as ecommerce giant Amazon, which has been lobbying against online sales tax in several states for years.

Taking stock of the Windows 8 versions

Microsoft just released details on the versions of Windows 8 it'll offer when the OS ships - most likely sometime in October. The easiest way to understand Win8′s new SKUs is to compare them with Windows 7. Here’s the breakdown.

Microsoft Security Essentials 4.0

After almost 6 months in Beta, Microsoft Security Essentials 4.0 is ready for download. This is the latest version of Microsoft’s free anti-virus/anti-malware utility and what I use to protect my own PCs.

Choose the best cheap tablet

There are some great tablets to be found under $300, but there's also plenty of garbage. To make sense of it all, here are some tips for choosing a great low-cost tablet for your needs.

Where to Find Windows 7 Gadgets

Microsoft discontinued Windows 7 Gadgets, probably because they conflict with their new Metro Interface. But if you like Gadgets, like I do, here is where you can still get them.

Visual Thesaurus Helps You Think Of Ideas

Graphwords (www.graphwords.com) is a visual thesaurus that produces output which is a cross between a mindmap and a tag cloud. Just enter a word and, a couple of seconds later, you have a scrollable, zoomable diagram full of words and phrases related to your original word.

Free Storage Solutions from Microsoft and Google.

Within 24 hours of each other, bitter rivals Microsoft and Google each released their own versions of cloud storage…or, more accurately, Microsoft upgraded their existing solution to be far more useful. Microsoft drastically updated their user interface on SkyDrive, making it much easier to use and giving every user 7 GB of free synchronized storage…and if you are an existing SkyDrive user, such as myself, you can upgrade your space to 25 GB…which of course, I did. That’s a pretty good deal.

FYI, in case you did not know, synchronized storage means files created on any computer you own are instantaneously added to the cloud so that all your computers are always in sync with your data whenever they come on line. It’s a great solution for backups and for being able to access data from anywhere. Microsoft’s solution adds smartphones, and other portable devices (like the iPad) to the mix.

Google’s new and highly anticipated Google Drive also came to market today, offering users 5 GB of free synchronized storage. Google’s methodology is much like DropBox in that you assign one location on each computer where all your syncable files are stored. With SkyDrive, they can be anywhere.

As I received 25GB of free storage from Microsoft, that is the solution I am going with for now. But, I will be testing out both. I suggest you read both articles below and decide for yourself. I will let you know in the near future how I feel about both of them.  So, let’s get started…-JRC

Microsoft takes on DropBox with major SkyDrive update

Microsoft has rolled out a set of new SkyDrive apps and new online capabilities to make SkyDrive the one-stop shop for file syncing and remote file access.

Free storage for you: Google Drive Arrives Today

The rumors were true. Google's personal cloud-based storage service, Google Drive, has been released today with 5GB of free storage. It includes both free and commercial versions.

Desktop File Syncing Faceoff: Dropbox vs. Google Drive

Google's new file syncing service, Google Drive, is finally available and it looking pretty great. But how does it stack up against the current king of file syncing, Dropbox? Here's where each app shines (and falls short).

Firefox 12 released - can now update itself

Mozilla has announced the official release of Firefox 12. In the latest release, Mozilla has included the previously announced update service for Windows that spares users the User Account Control (UAC) pop-up.

Android Is Suddenly In A Lot Of Trouble

The mobile story for 2011 was the rise of Android. It looks like the mobile story for 2012 is not going to be so good for Android. It appears as though the operating system is in choppy waters, and is suddenly facing a lot of trouble.

20% of Macs CarryWindows Malware; 2.7% Have OS X Infections

The security firm Sophos said that, while some Mac users are beginning to realize that their platform is increasingly being targeted, cyber-criminals look at Macs as a "soft target" for malware because many owners don't have anti-virus software and often have higher levels of disposable income than typical Windows users.

How to cope with the Gmail redesign

Reports are coming in from around the Internet that the Gmail redesign, which we were previously able to stave off with “revert to the old look temporarily”, is now forcing itself upon us. I too have succumbed to the new design, and have been forced to find ways to cope. Here’s what I did to make it semi-bearable:

100 Tips from a Professional Photographer

Here's a list of tips, advice, rules and just things to know about photography from Eric Kim, a street photographer who also holds photography workshop classes. I think the gist of it is to keep taking pictures always.

iTunes tips and tricks

In this installment, I answer questions about some of the little things in iTunes, tips and tricks that every iTunes user should know.

TweakNow PowerPack 2011 4.1

TweakNow PowerPack is a fully-integrated suite of utilities that lets you fine-tune every aspect of your computer's operating system and Web browser.

How Apple “Helped” Us All with Higher Book Prices

Sometimes lawyers and their clients, whose hands have been caught in the cookie jar just absolutely amaze me.

Here is Apple’s stand on why it is innocent of of any wrongdoing in the e-book price fixing case: Apple said its iBookstore for the iPad "fostered innovation and competition, breaking Amazon’s monopolistic grip on the publishing industry, and that customers have only benefited from its offering.”

What? That is just total complete BS!! Do you hear me Apple? You are so full of S***T!  I am agog at this kind of rhetoric. (Apologies in advance for my language)

Please tell me how raising the price of an e-book from $9.99 to $14.99 or more is a benefit to me. Now, I like Apple for their innovation and I use both an iPad and an iPod, but forcing book prices higher and forcing Amazon to raise its book prices or be cut off from the supply chain is not innovation. It’s called collusion and price fixing and is designed to screw us all. They did, and now hopefully they will have to pay the piper. You need to stuff a gag in your lawyer’s mouth.

In better news, it looks like the long awaited Google Drive (G-Drive for short) is about to spring forth…and for a start, users will get 5 GB of cloud storage for free. Not bad, Google. And, back in 2006, I wrote a blog about using Yahoo Widgets on my PC. Well, it was great while it lasted, but Widgets are no more. Too bad.

Lots more to tell you about, so gather round friends and enjoy. - JRC

Apple prepared to go to trial in the US over e-book pricing

Apple is prepared to take its side of the e-book pricing fight all the way to court—and actually hopes it gets there. A lawyer for the company stated as much during a hearing on Wednesday, echoing similar statements made by the other two e-book publishers who are sticking by Apple's side: Macmillan and Penguin Group.

Google Drive to Launch Next Week With 5 GB of Free Storage

Citing a draft release from one of Google’s launch partners for the service, TNW claims the service will initially be free, giving out 5 GB of storage to every user.

How Google Drive will compare to Dropbox and Others

It seems that the long-rumored Google Drive is finally going to show up. From what we know now about it at this point, here’s how will it compare to Dropbox and other popular cloud storage services.

End Of The Road For Yahoo Desktop Widgets

Last week, Yahoo (or Troubled Internet Company Yahoo, as the press seems to be calling them at the moment) pulled the plug on its desktop widgets service and the Konfabulator engine. As of now, you can no longer download any new widgets. That is too bad!

Spoiler alert: Your TV will be hacked

With rising popularity of Internet-enabled TVs, the usual array of attacks and exploits will soon be coming to a screen near you

How Social Media Is Taking Over the News Industry

More than ever, people are using Twitter, Facebook and other social media sources to learn about what’s happening in the world as traditional news outlets become increasingly less relevant to the digital generation.

10 ways your phone camera sucks

Photo quality aside, there are plenty of other reasons to put down your smartphone and pick up a new point-and-shoot.

Improve Your Windows 7 Registry With 7 Easy Tweaks

Windows 7 is far more forgiving than its predecessors when it comes to modifying the Registry, if you use the built-in Windows 7 Registry Editor (Regedit). . This article from PC-World explains the purpose of the different registry keys and shows you a few handy tweaks.

Run your Android Apps on Your PC

BlueStacks App Player lets you run your Android apps fast and full screen on Windows PCs and tablets.

SlimCleaner (Free)

SlimCleaner packages a variety of cloud-based system-cleaning and -optimizing tools in one free utility. The new version comes with a Disk Summary, Disk Analyzer, Disk Wiper, and Shredder, all of which are easily accessible from the program's home screen.

So What Will Microsoft Call Windows 8?

Hello from the Southern Arizona desert where were are now in the 90’s. I was hoping for a few more days of mellow weather. But it is not to be.

And speaking of hot, the case against Apple and five major book publishers is heating up. Read the first story here and a get the real dirt on what these guys allegedly did. If true, it is definitely collusion and a clear violation of the anti-trust laws. It is one hell of a conspiracy story with secret meetings in hotels and expensive restaurants. I hope someone writes a book and puts it on Amazon for 99 cents.

As for Windows 8…prepare yourself for a shock. It will be called (drumroll please)…Windows 8. Wow…who knew? Anyway, enjoy today’s tantalizing tidbits - JRC 

Inside the DOJ's ebook price-fixing case against Apple: an analysis

The government alleges that the publishing industry openly colluded to raise ebook prices and end Amazon's dominance, and that Apple was a willing participant in the scheme. What's more, the alleged conspiracy sounds like it was actually quite a conspiracy, with secret CEO meetings in private New York dining rooms and promises made to bosses up and down the chain. It's all quite juicy, so let's dig in.

The next cyber security bill is even worse than SOPA

CISPA may sound like a good idea, but it's just another way for the feds to stomp all over our privacy

Microsoft Reveals Its Plan to Sell Windows 8

Microsoft just told the world what it’s going to call the next version of Windows, and — shocker — the official name will be “Windows 8.” It also revealed how many versions of Windows 8 there will be, and what the company will call them.

Facebook makes user addresses, e-mail identical

Company's move should make it easier for FB users to find people and e-mail those same folks from the social network.

How the PC of the future is closer than you think

Will your next PC be an Ultrabook, a tablet or something you control with blinks?

House Call 2012: Fixing a sluggish PC

This is the first in a new series of House Calls, an occasional project where I visit a reader’s home or business and attempt to diagnose and cure real-life PC problems. The idea behind House Calls is simple: selected Windows Secrets readers and I collaborate to learn new techniques for analyzing, maintaining, and improving personal computers — which we then share.

How to Find Stuff on Your Windows 7 PC

In Windows 7 something called Advanced Query Syntax (AQS) was introduced. It uses a set of operators and properties that allow searches to be narrowed down in a large variety of ways. The set of possibilities is far more than I can cover here but here are the basic parameters:

Barnes & Noble beats Amazon to the punch with lighted e-ink Nook

As rumors swirl that Amazon is developing a new Kindle with an integrated light, Barnes & Noble's new $139 Simple Touch with GlowLight is already a reality.

The ePub Format – It’s Not All About Kindle

Although the Kindle is the most popular selling e-reader, the ePub format is rapidly becoming the new standard in e-book publishing.e_reader. While Amazon seeks to protect its proprietary hold on the e-book market, other e-readers such as Barnes and Noble’s Nook, Apple’s iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch, Sony’s Reader and the Kobo range are collectively embracing the ePub format.

Scope Out Cheaper Gas Prices In Your Area

A recent survey of the two people next to my desk at work reveals that 100% of Americas prefer cheaper gas prices. With this in consideration, I gladly choose GasBuddy for the mobile app of this week. I love this app.

Nice to Know Book Publishers Will be Put in Their Place

A lot to cover today, so let’s get right too it.  - JRC

Justice Dept. files suit against Apple, publishers over e-book pricing

The Justice Department is alleging that Apple worked with publishers to raise e-book prices. Settlements are expected, according to multiple reports.

This is why DOJ accused Apple of fixing e-book prices

In 2010, Apple enabled some of the top book publishers to set their own prices for electronic books they made available on the iPad. Since then, prices that consumers pay for e-books have risen.

E-reader wars: does the iPad's retina display measure up to e-ink?

So we set out to answer the question: does the new retina display make the iPad the new must-have e-reader? Does the retina display trump e-ink when it comes to reading?

Iran expected to permanently cut off Internet by August

Millions of Internet users in Iran could soon be permanently cut off from the Web, social networks, and e-mail.

The Kindle Owners’ Lending Library is a little … odd

While it’s nice to be able to “borrow” books on the Kindle, our impressions are that the service is a little early for prime time, and — frankly — a little odd.

Amazon Will Now Buy Your CDs

To submit a CD in exchange for an Amazon gift card, go to the retailer's Trade-In site, select the "Music" category, and enter the artist and/or album name you'd like to trade.

Is Google+'s Facelift the Sincerest Form of Flattery?

Google on Wednesday announced new features for its Google+ social network. The Internet giant on Wednesday introduced what Google+ head honcho Vic Gundotra called a "more functional and flexible" version of the service.

The six best personal cloud storage choices for your stuff

Dropbox just added more free storage for their customers, so are they the best personal cloud storage? Or is its Google’s mish-mash of cloud services? Apple’s iCloud? Perhaps even Microsoft’s SkyDrive? Or, some other service entirely? Let’s take a look at today’s most popular choices.

Stupid tech support tricks: IT calls of shame

Pronoun problems, IT ghosts, the runaway mouse -- when it comes to computers, the customer isn't always right. Some funny stuff here.

Living Marine Aquarium ScreenSaver

Bring your computer to life with this 3D underwater screensaver. Free

Special Edition–Tablets and Smartphones

I figured it was about time I paid some special attention to the latest generation of computers: the tablets and the smartphones. So, it’s only proper that I write this special report on my almost-new iPad 3. Last week I purchased a Bluetooth Keyboard to turn my iPad from a consumption device into a full blown production device. Now, admittedly I am not quite used to this smaller keyboard, but I am getting there.

But back to the matter at hand. For about 13-15 years (I’ve lost track), I've written this newsletter/blog mainly for desktop and laptop PC's. But the times are-a-changin'. Many of you are using a tablet and/or a smartphone to enhance your computing and bring that computing power with you wherever you go. So it is time I paid this area more attention.

For this edition I will focus on the iPad, the iPhone, Android devices of both types, with a special hello to the Kindle Fire. Although the Fire is technically an Android device, it is its own master as many standard Android apps will not work on it. And as there are a few million Fires out there, I must include them. I am not including Windows Smartphones or any Windows 8 tablets. There market share is tiny, but I think they will grow in market share as time goes on.

For your information, I personally use an iPad 3 and an Android smartphone (Motorola Droid X). I like them both, but think I will get a iPhone when my contract expires next year. I love the iCloud feature that keeps all Apple devices synced instantaneously. If I had the money, I might even consider buying a new Apple desktop computer. The Windows 8 system and Microsoft's direction has turned me off, as readers of this blog know.

As for Android, I like my Android phone and use many of its apps on a regular basis. But Android itself is a mess. For instance, my phone uses Android 2.3. There are two updates above that version that I don't have and cannot get...Android 3 (called Gingerbread) and Android 4 (called "Ice Cream Sandwich). Why can't I get it? Because my cell carrier won't let me have it. They control the process of upgrades. That has contributed greatly to the mess that is today’s Android.

So, the bottom line is that the Android system itself is very fragmented. If you want to purchase a smartphone or an Android tablet,make sure you are getting one with the latest version installed. However, it's surprising that very few Android devices have the latest version. It was this ridiculous fragmentation of the system that made me finally decide on the iPad.

It is also a concern for Google, originators of the Android system, as there are strong hints they are moving away from the open source Android model into a different system that they control, called “Play.” You will see their new tablet in July. As for the Kindle Fire, it is Version 1 of that product and newer ones will be out this year. Although it is a good product now, it will definitely improve in value and capabilities.

All tablets and smartphones are about the applications. So I have compiled a list of the best rated applications for each environment. But, remember the following…almost all iPhone and iPad apps will work on each device, but if you have an iPad, there are apps that are best on it…and watch for updates that take advantage of the hi-res screen on the iPad 3. All Apple products (free or otherwise) are obtained through the iTunes store, which gives you great info about each product.

As for Android, you must absolutely know which version of the system you have and make sure the app you choose will work on your device. If you buy your apps from the Google Play Store and you have registered your device, the store will tell you whether the app will work on your device. Amazon also has an Android store, but it does not give you that information. But if you read the product description, it will usually tell you what you need to know.

As for the Kindle Fire…although it is basically an Android system, not all Android Apps work on the fire. You can only obtain Kindle Fire apps from the Amazon Store…but there are plenty of them.

So remember, when you look below at the applications listed below, not all Android Apps will work on your phone or tablet…be sure and check before you download.  I hope all this is of great use to you.

Apple Apps

Best iPad Apps

On this page, you will find the best 102 iPad apps for all your needs. We’ve taken the effort to categorize the apps and picked only those we believe to be the best ones and which will most likely be useful to you.

Best Free iPad Apps

In Apple’s App Store, there are now more than 500,000 commercial and free iOS apps available for download. But here at Gizmo’s Freeware, we only select the best from the free ones running in full screen on your iPad, while iPhone apps running on the iPad in 1x or 2x mode are excluded from this list.

iPad Apps Tracker: Top 200 for All iPad Apps

This web site shows you the most popular Apple iPad applications...both free and paids apps.

Seven 'must have' productivity apps for the iPad

These are all apps that I turn to on a daily basis and they transform my iPad from a content consumption device into a piece of kit that is capable of doing real work.

The Best iPad Tips and Tricks

A mobile device has changed the ways you interact with the computer. It neither needs a mouse nor a giant physical keyboard any more, but you still can find the ways to work around with it.

Top 200 best iPad apps 2012 from TechRadar

If you've just bought yourself a new iPad, you're going to want to start downloading the best apps straight away. It's the Apps that really set iOS apart from other platforms - there are far more apps available for the iPad than any other tablet. So which which ones are worth your cash? And which are the best free apps?

The 100 Best iPad Apps from PCMag.com

The iTunes App Store is packed to the brim with dozens upon dozens of quality apps. We'll help you wade through the slush to find them.

Best iPhone Apps

Here you will find the best 100+ iPhone apps for all your needs. We’ve taken the effort to categorize the apps and picked only those we believe to be the best ones and which will most likely be useful to you.

Android Apps

Best Free Android Apps

Since Android was introduced, more than 400,000 Android apps have been developed and most of them are available for download from Google Play—the online store hosted by Google—but not all are free. To help you get the best of the free ones, we have selected some gems in each category and added them here in a convenient list with clear and brief descriptions of each application item.

Best Tablet Apps for Android

Review of the Best Android Tablet Apps for your android tablets running on Honeycomb 3.0 and above. These best tablet applications will surely spice up the experience on your android tablet.

The top 50 Android tablet apps

Whether you've got a Samsung Galaxy Tab, Amazon's Kindle Fire or another Android tablet, you'll be looking for some great apps. We've picked some of the best.

Android Apps - 101 Best Android Apps

Another list of of the best Android Apps.

Best Android Apps

On this page, you will find the best 100 Android applications for all your needs. We’ve taken the effort to categorize the apps and picked only those we believe to be the best ones and which will most likely be useful to you.

11 awesome Android tablet widgets

Give your home screen a power boost with these 11 excellent widgets for Android tablets

Kindle Fire Apps

101 Best Amazon Kindle Fire Apps List

If you have bought an Amazon Kindle Fire. You might be surprised to know that you can't buy any application from Android market. You can only buy it from Amazon Appstore for Android.

The Best Kindle Fire Apps: A Starter Kit

If you're a new Kindle Fire owner, you need a starter kit.

Yahoo is in Deep Do-Do…Some Mac Owners Too!

Its sad to see Yahoo in trouble. They could have been as successful as Google…in fact, they were the Google of their time. But, they lost their way. One of our stories here details what happened. Sad.

And if you are an Apple Mac owner and you thought that Macs were safe from viruses and other such ilk…think again. They never were safe and still are not. More than 600,000 Macs have been infected with “Flashback,” a particularly nasty little bug that steals your personal information. Our first article talks all about it and how to detect it.

FYI, the reason Macs were deemed “safe” from virus attack was that their numbers were insignificant to the number of Windows-based machines. And, by the way, Apple never said they were invulnerable to malware attacks. They just never talked about it.

Despite all the bad news, there is some good useful information hidden below. So, just read on… - JRC

More Than 600,000 Macs Infected With Flashback Malware

Flashback was originally discovered in September 2011 and was designed to disguise itself as an Adobe Flash Player installer, using Flash player logos. After installing Flashback, the malware seeks out user names and passwords that are stored on your Mac.

Yahoo to lay off 2,000 workers to 'reshape' company future

The company today said that it will begin notifying about 2,000 employees of their "job elimination or phased transition." Yahoo currently employs about 14,000 people around the world.

Yahoo Then and Now: Diagnosing a Sad Decline

Two thousand people losing their jobs is just the worst kind of news and for Yahoo, it’s a culmination of years of decline. The company is not decimated. As of Q3 2011, it employed over 14,000 full-timers.

Google shows off long-secret glasses project in demo video

In a brief proof-of-concept video published this week, Google lifted the curtain on their forthcoming digital-overlay glasses, demonstrating how they work and the various ways people might use them. Video included.

Google’s Tablet Could Bring Order to Android Mess

Google isn’t talking, but there doesn’t seem to be much doubt the company plans to unveil its own branded tablet in the next few months, according to a slew of media reports.

Web filtering keeps you a little safer

Web-filtering services can provide additional security and protection from malware. Several vendors now provide this valuable service.

5 Ways to Keep Your Google Browsing Private

Two security experts give you a better idea of what you can do to keep your browsing history as private as possible.

All-You-Can-Read Magazine Stand Opens for Business

If you are hesitating about subscriptions to digital versions of popular magazines, there is an all-you-can-read subscription option. A joint effort of five major publishers, Next Issue Media is now open for business.

How to Make Sure Your PC Has the Right Time

Most PC users probably don’t pay a lot of attention to the date/time entry in the notification area. The time is supposed to be synchronized over the Internet once a week to keep it accurate. However, the default time server time.windows.com doesn’t always work very well and your time may not be as accurate as you think.

New Names–Same Stories…Sorry About That

Sometimes I despair when looking for stories that will interest my readers and fulfill my mission to you. And so often, it seem I keep reporting the same kinds of news stories over and over…just with different names.

Today, we have hackers stealing millions of credit cards, another retail technology store on the verge of extinction, and the good and the bad of the new Windows 8, etc. And sorry about that…but these were the most interesting stories I could find in the last few days. And, sadly, they are relevant to our tech world…so I publish them.

However, there is some good info in here, buried down towards the bottom…I pray you can find one good story that will help you out. I sure hope so. - JRC

Hackers Grab 1.5 Million Visa, MasterCard Numbers

It's no longer just a possibility. Visa and MasterCard are the latest victims of a security breach. Global Payments, an international credit card processor Relevant Products/Services, on Sunday confirmed that hackers had stolen credit card numbers of as many as 1.5 million customers.

Best Buy: Grasping At Straws

Nearly three months after a post-Christmas nightmare at my local Best Buy led me to conclude the company was in the early stages of going out of business, I still hear every day from customers, employees, and former executives with new horror stories.

Three Killer Problems That Threaten Windows 8

Windows 8 has a lot of features to recommend it. It's smaller. It's faster. It's smoother. However, it has three flaws that worry me a great deal.

Microsoft: Metro Not Just an Interface, It’s a Philosophy

Long-time Microsoft watchers like me are marveling at the company’s transformation. Slowly but surely, the siloed behemoth that once couldn’t get its desktop and mobile operating system teams to talk to each other is now starting to glide forward as one vast entity. The most visible refection of this sea change: design.

What is the Windows Store?

Windows Store is exactly what it sounds like, an app store for Windows 8. And even in this Consumer Preview version of Windows 8, where we can access only free apps, it's pretty clear that Microsoft has answered the needs of customers and provided a great apps platform that will extend the capabilities of the OS well into the future.

Google Claims Latest Chrome is Speedier

Google last week patched nine vulnerabilities in Chrome and boosted the speed and reach of the browser's hardware acceleration with the launch of version 18. According to the company, Chrome 18 enables accelerated Canvas 2D on Windows and Mac machines with compatible graphics processor units (GPUs), and expands support for the WebGL 3D standard to older systems.

Google's Art Project grows with 151 museums across 40 countries

It allows users to browse thousands of works of art in exceptional detail and uses technology like Picasa and App Engine along with technology that enables Street View to enter museums and collections.

Meet the new Ad-Aware, nothing like the old

Ad-Aware Free Antivirus Plus (download), Ad-Aware Personal Security (download), and Ad-Aware Pro Security (download) are substantially new programs. More so than any recent version of Ad-Aware, the suite is usable, lightweight, and worthy of your attention.

Most Popular Weather Site: Weather Underground

Last week, we asked you which sites you trusted for accurate, reliable weather forecasts, and then we took a look at the top five weather web sites. Now we're back to crown the champion, based on your votes.

Shocking News About Best Buy and Paul Allen

 

See…I too can write tabloid-style headlines. Actually, the two stories referred to in the headlines are a bit of a surprise. Regarding Best Buy, they seem to be continuing the downward trend of store closings by traditional brick and mortar stores. One can understand the continued demise of Blockbuster and other video stores with the rise of Netflix. And this year, Americans are projected to view more video from the Internet than via DVD’s of Blu-ray's. So, of course, video stores are doomed.

But don’t forget that once mighty retail store chains like The Good Guys, Circuit City and others also went bye-bye in the night. After all, it easier to buy stuff with your computer…the prices are almost always cheaper and the variety of products to choose from is overwhelming. And count me as one of those people who loves to shop with my keyboard. It is just so much easier and I don’t mind waiting a day or two. I guess I’ve acquired patience in my old age.

But enough of that. Again I have rounded up some good articles for this edition of Rants and Raves, so…have a good read. - JRC

Best Buy to close 50 big box US retail stores

Still driving to your local Best Buy to fondle all the latest gadgets before swiping your card, or hopping to the web to pull the trigger? That tradition could be short-lived, if you happen to live near one of 50 big box retail stores that the company plans to shutter in 2013.

Microsoft Co-Founder Paul Allen a Victim of Identity Theft

Federal authorities this month charged a US army deserter with identity theft. His victim? Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.

IE10 in Windows 8: Metro style vs. desktop style

Windows 8 packages Internet Explorer 10 in two different flavors--Metro and desktop, each with their own pros and cons. Which one is better, and how can you manage both?

How to decide: should you buy a new iPad or a Kindle Fire?

With all the buzz these days about tablets, it turns out some folks are still trying to understand which device to buy. Not everyone out there is steeped in the latest tech news, and to most civilians, a tablet is a tablet is a tablet. And that's why this article.

I'm sick to death of Android

I’ve spent over two years as an Android user. The next time around, I’m going elsewhere unless substantial changes take place in how Google manages its ecosystem and OEM/Carrier partners.

Review: 7 password managers for Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, and Android

To keep the list manageable, I've focused on programs that have both a desktop and a mobile version available, with the desktop taking precedence.

Harry Potter Adventures Go on Sale in E-Book Form

Harry Potter's adventures have finally gone digital, now available at author J.K. Rowling's Pottermore site. Rowling for years resisted making the books available in digital form. The books are available only through the Web site; they are compatible with major electronic e-readers, including Amazon's Kindle and Sony's Reader.

New Google tool lets you PROBE YOURSELF

Google may want to silently worm its way into everything people do online: but it's now offering a tool that allows users of its services to see some of what Google sees about them. The giant advertising company said in a blog post that it will now give users the opportunity to access detailed analysis of, for example, how much email they have sent and information about their top search queries.

These Short Videos from Microsoft Will Help You Do Useful Tasks in Windows 7

Microsoft has a set of short videos about many of the everyday things that anyone using Windows 7 needs to know how to do.

Speed Reading III - Free Download

Speed Reading III is a simple, free tool that tests your reading speed but not your comprehension. It's designed to help you increase your reading speed and concentration, which can boost comprehension.

Today…Half News…Half Tips and Downloads

I always try to find a balance between important tech news and useful tips and quality downloads. Well, I am not sure if you could call it balanced, but they are divided equally…and I think all of them have some relevance.

My balanced coverage of Windows 8 continues with some good info on the new operating system. Also, last week I mentioned my fear of the future for Android operating systems and tablets…well the not-so-good news on that subject continues to unfold. If you are like me and undecided between and iPad or an Android tablet, this article is well worth a read.

In the tips department, if you use G-Mail, be sure and check out the simple tip on making your e-mail better. I did it and it is quite good. And if you want to check out the new Photoshop 6, its free to download now (beta, of course). Whatever your interests, I am sure I have something here for you…-JRC

Richard Clarke: China has hacked every major US company

Cybersecurity advisor Richard Clarke is warning the U.S. that its major companies are being regularly infiltrated by Chinese hackers employed by the Chinese government to steal R&D.

Google Drive expected to launch in April: Is it too late?

Google is expected to launch an online storage service dubbed Google Drive, or GDrive, as soon as the first week of April, according to GigaOm. Considering how strong a leader Google is when it comes to cloud-based productivity solutions (Google Apps), it's a little surprising that the Goog hasn't introduced a bona fide cloud storage service yet.

Windows 8 Beats Windows 7 In Performance Tests

Windows 8 has been greeted with mixed reviews, some users just aren’t happy with the new Metro Start Menu, but one things for sure, they won’t be complaining about the performance increases. PCWorld have been carrying out some benchmark testing of their own and in all but one test, Windows 8 was quicker.

Windows 8 will support Retina-class displays

If manufacturers follow suit, Windows 8 tablets and hybrids will sport displays that rival, or exceed, the Retina Display on Apple's newest iPad. Writing in Microsoft's Building Windows 8 blog, Steven Sinofsky directly addressed the new iPad's screen and discussed upcoming tablets with dots-per-inch (DPI) densities of at least 135. "Much higher than many of us are used to," he wrote.

Survey: 'Ice Cream Sandwich' can't stop Android fragmentation

Despite Google's release of the Android 4.0 OS last year, which was supposed to provide a unified platform for both tablets and smartphones, developers are still throwing their hands up dealing with fragmentation in the Android realm

Mandela's vast personal archives brought online

Thousands of handwritten documents, photographs and videos of Nelson Mandela have been digitized and placed online Tuesday in a massive archive of the life of South Africa's first black president.

A Very Simple Gmail Tip

Here’s a dead simple way to make your life in Gmail much, much better.

Photoshop CS6 Beta is a Free Download Packed with Content-Aware Improvements, Video Editing, and More

Adobe has released a free public beta of Photoshop CS6. It comes packed with all the features of the potential retail program which include improvements to the handy content-aware system, an expanded video editing tool, and more.

Download the Audio Pronunciation of English Words from Google

Here’s a little tip that some educators and students may find useful. You can directly download the audio pronunciation files of English dictionary words from Google and practice pronunciation on the go.

Fresh wallpaper, updated automatically

It's back! Due to popular demand, Microsoft is relaunching this free Windows 7 theme that sends you two new photos from Bing every week, updated automatically through an RSS feed.

Great News!!!There is a New Angry Birds Game

The good news: Angry Birds in Space is the newest game of the genre and its available now. The bad new: it is only available on the iPhone, the iPad, and Android devices. But, I am sure you will be able to get it soon on computers. They can’t keep a good bird down!

And speaking of angry birds…I am done with all my rants about Windows 8. I have hammered it enough. I think you all understand my feelings by now. So, from here on, I will only report stories about Microsoft’s new operating system and will do my best to be fair….and trust me, there will be lots of stories between here and the October release date.

And speaking of predications, I said that someone would up with an add-on for Windows 8 that brings back the Start button. Well, it has already happened. The folks at Stardock have done it…so if you are running Windows 8 Consumer Preview, you can download it here. I have not tried it out as I no longer have Win 8 on any of my computers.

And be sure and check out the story on the Titanic Tweets in the #7 story below. I follow it and love it…very clever. April 15th is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the ship that was called unsinkable. Read on…JRC

Feds accuse AT&T of making millions from calls by Nigerian scam artists

The Justice Department on Thursday accused AT&T of defrauding a federal program out of millions of dollars and assisting Nigerian scammers. According to the lawsuit, AT&T knowingly billed the federal government for calls placed by international scammers through IP Relay services, a program for the hearing-impaired.

iPad 3 LTE comes to Verizon, and all hell breaks loose

The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that less than a week after being delivered to customers, Verizon iPad 3 users are already getting hit with large overage charges to the tune of $10 per gigabyte. This is a result of Apple's new HD+ tablet's ability to download data at broadband-like speeds (10Mbps+) and thus enabling bandwidth-intensive applications such as Netflix, Hulu+ and even large app downloads themselves to quickly consume a 5GB or 10GB monthly data plan allotment in a matter of days.

Report: Spam filters are getting worse

Industry stalwart Virus Bulletin released sobering report about state of commercial spam filters. Bottom line: We may be in for another round of problems

Microsoft Gives Office a Metro Makeover

Officially, Microsoft's Office 15 is in a hush-hush preview stage, available only to select testers sworn to secrecy. But at least one reviewer claims to have gotten hold of a copy, and he's reported that the next version of Microsoft's Office suite carries some obvious nods to tablet users and makes significant use of Windows 8's Metro interface.

Tech Buzz: Windows 8 and the Perception Game

For Windows 8 to succeed, buyers will have to see it as the best blend of the iPad and the MacBook Air, which is a compelling value. If they see it as an overly complex mess, it will be the next Vista. My peers are split on how this is likely to turn out.

Nokia Filed Patent To Link Mobile Devices To Tattoos

The Finnish firm's filing with the US Patent Office describes tattooing, stamping, or spraying "ferromagnetic" material onto skin—or a fingernail—and linking it to a mobile device

Tweets Chronicle Journey of the Titanic in Real Time

April 15, 2012 is the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. To recognize this event, The History Press opened a Twitter account that “live” tweets the journey of the Titanic. The account describes events up-to-the-minute as if it were 1912.

20 Free Photography eBooks

Actually there are more than that here.Whether you are a beginner, a dedicated enthusiast, or a pro, there are books and articles here for you.

Rovio brings Angry Birds into the next generation with Angry Birds Space

With Angry Birds Space for iPhone, Angry Birds Space HD for iPad, and Angry Birds Space for Android Rovio Mobile changes that, giving the game more than just a fresh coat of paint - in fact, it redefines the rules. With video.

How Windows 8 Drove Me To The Apple Store

Buying a tablet computer has been on my agenda for a few months now. I don’t move quickly on decisions like this as I like to investigate all the options to make the right choice…after all, we are talking a lot of dollars here.  I looked at the first generation of Kindle Fire and decided it looks good, but the second generation will be better…and a 7” screen is just a little too small for me.

Over the holidays, I looked at several Android-based tablets, but was not in love with any of them…except for the new Asus Transformer Prime which came out a few days before Christmas. That looked like a killer machine…except it was not available anywhere to see, much less purchase (and it still is not except if you want to wait a month to get one). But, while I would be buying a pig-in-a-poke, it was still on the list.  So, I postponed any decision till later. I knew Apple was going to release their 3rd Generation iPad in March…and knew it would be an excellent machine. So I waited.

Then came the announcement of Windows 8 operating system for both a tablet and desktop computers. I really bought into this concept and was willing to postpone my decision until Autumn (it was announced today it will be released in October) if the system was good. Well, you know from previous posts that I am severely disappointed in Windows 8…and the more I played with it, the bigger the disappointment became. Now, I am to the point where I would never put Win 8 on my desktop, much less buy one of their tablets. Microsoft had a good idea but executed it poorly. Frankly they made me mad with their shortsightedness…me, a long-time loyal and happy Windows user.

When the announcement came about the new iPad, it sounded impressive. The subsequent reviews have all been raves. My friend and photo buddy Dave from Wenatchee has the first iPad and loves it…and having played with his, I knew it was good…so #3 must be a killer. So, I made up my mind that sometime in the next two to three months I would make my purchase. The choices were down to the Apple iPad 3, the Asus Transformer Prime, or a new 2nd generation Kindle Fire with an unknown release date.

This weekend, Dave came into town on his way to do a show in Houston. We decided to visit the Apple Store on Sunday to get a good look…this coming after he tried playing with Windows 8 on my laptop. We got into a long discussion about how dumb Microsoft is to come out with a product like this. So my blood was up, as the saying goes.

With all this as a background, we went to our local Apple Store and took a look…a long look. The screen on this thing is unbelievable! Its just like a high definition TV, only better. I watched some movie clips and was blown away. And the installed applications on the demo units just amazed me...so easy to use. I was in love.  When I walked in the Apple Store, I had no intention of buying one and figured they would haven’t any in stock after the huge weekend of sales (see story below). But they did…and after a bit of an internal struggle I bought one! I still can’t believe I did it.

And you know what? I love it. It works well with all my most important applications, including Microsoft products. I’ve installed several applications and they all work well. I’ve even got my bookmarks from Firefox into the Apple browser. I know now I made the right decision about which tablet to buy.

In this arena, Apple just knows what it is doing…while Microsoft stumbles and fumbles to get their first tablets out. As for Android, they are so fragmented with so many versions, and it doesn’t have near the number of applications available as Apple. The iPad is so well executed and easy to operate. Thanks, Microsoft for making my decision so easy. 

Windows 8 Tablets: a Recipe for Confusion?

Is Microsoft headed for disaster later this year when Windows 8 debuts on tablet devices some of which will not be able to run Windows 7 desktop apps, despite supporting an optional desktop interface?

Microsoft to world: You will browse Metro-style, or else

True, IE10 for Windows 8 will come in both a streamlined "Metro" version and a desktop version. But Microsoft is clearly pushing the former, though it risks confusing the heck out of users.

Apple iPad Review

Here is a very in-depth review of the New Apple iPad, complete with video and examples.

New iPad Launch Numbers: Three Million Sold

"The new iPad is a blockbuster with three million sold--the strongest iPad launch yet," Apple's Senior VP of Worldwide Marketing, Philip Schiller, said in a statement.

Has Google lost its magic?

Google may still be raking in the profits, but the mojo behind Gmail, Chrome, News, Translate, and Docs has started to fade in the face of stiffer competition.

Review: Five Ways To Control Your Privacy on Google

A new privacy policy from Google is stirring debate and worry. With the new data Google is collecting, Google gets can tailor ads that align more precisely with your interests, and those personalized ads are among the most lucrative for the company. Users should know what's happening and heed five tips to guard privacy if they feel the need

Remember Obama's National Broadband Plan? Neither Does Anyone Else

When he came into office in 2009, one cornerstone of President Obama's technology policy concerned correcting this via grants included in the economic stimulus package. In 2010, Obama delivered the National Broadband Plan. And last year, the president talked to Congress about his hopes to bring broadband to 98 percent of the country, and using wireless technology to do it. Little has worked.

Internet accounts for 4.7% of U.S. economy

The Internet contributes more to the American economy than the entire federal government, according to a new study by the Boston Consulting Group.

Prospective Employees Now Being Asked for Facebook Login Details

It's no surprise that employers check out the Facebook profiles of prospective employees—after all, you can learn a lot from what people choose to broadcast. But reports are amassing of employers asking recruits for their login details—and that's a step too far.

Gmail now tells you why it flagged an e-mail as spam

Gmail users can select any message banished to the spam folder and see a "Why is this message in Spam?" notice near the top. The notice will display a brief explanation accompanied by a "Learn more" link to a page describing the many reasons certain messages are considered spam.

Outlook4Gmail Freeware

Outlook4Gmail enables you to synchronize your Outlook contacts with your Gmail contacts, including name, phone number, address and other contact details.

The Other Side of the Coin–iPad Bad…Windows 8-Good

In my last blog, I hammered Microsoft and Windows 8 pretty hard…and at the same time, implied good things about the new iPad. Well my feelings haven’t changed a lot, mostly because I have stayed away from Windows 8 in the last couple of days.

But in the interest of fairness, I thought I would publish a couple of articles about why you should not buy an iPad and why Windows 8 is what we need to get our work done. I have also included a new article how to safely install Windows 8, using a virtual system powered by Oracle’s VirtualBox (free). It is a safe way to try out Windows 8 without actually installing it as part of your computer system. I have not tried it yet, but am willing to give it a go, now that I’ve calmed down a bit.

In other news, Firefox has come out with a new version; Patch Tuesday has come and gone with some minor changes (except for one really big one); and a new search engine that looks very promising without all the screen garbage that Google uses. I will be checking that one out also.

So in the words of the immortal Jackie Gleason, “…and away we go!” – JCR

16 reasons NOT to buy a new iPad

Every other tech pundit and reviewer in the business will be out there trying to tell you why you should buy an iPad. Not me. I've had my fill of Apple PR reps, back when I headed up some Apple projects and later as a member of the press.

Why Windows 8 matters for real work, and so will Windows 9

The bottom line is this: to do real work with real computers you need a real operating system. You need Windows. Nothing else, really, will do.

Step by step: How to safely test-drive Win8

Using safe, free virtual PC software, you can set up and run the Windows 8 Consumer Preview inside your current PC without affecting your other programs or your installed version of Windows. This method lets you test-drive Windows 8 without having to make potentially risky changes to your current setup. There’s no need for dual-booting, special partitions, and so on.

40% of U.S. Government Web Sites Fail Security Test

Approximately 40% of federal government agencies are out of compliance with a regulation that requires them to deploy an extra layer of authentication on their Web sites to prevent hackers from hijacking Web traffic and redirecting it to bogus sites.

Microsoft Issues Scary Warning in Otherwise Light Patch Tuesday

Microsoft on Tuesday issued its standard monthly set of software patches, and by all accounts it was a relatively uneventful month, with six patches, only one of which is rated as Critical. But that Critical fix is a big one, a remote desktop flaw that the software giant essentially promised would result in attacks within the month.

Firefox 11 Adds Add-On Sync, Solves Add-On Compatibility Issues

Windows/Mac/Linux: The latest version of Firefox is available for download, and with it comes the ability to synchronize your extensions across desktops and operating systems with add-on sync

Get Organized: 11 Tips for Managing Email

With a few very simple organizational tricks, you can be more efficient with email. Some of these tips utilize functions found in most email programs, but many of them are ways that you can change your own habits to affect your email workflow.

A Promising Alternative Search Engine

Google has been my search engine of choice for years but I am growing less and less satisfied with its search results. They are full of search engine optimized chaff. I have tried a number of computer related searches lately and I like DuckDuckGo's results better. It is free of the clutter that Google now has and does not have all those paid ads masquerading as search results that Google displays.

How Can I Sync My Files Without Having To Store Them Online?

Thankfully, there are several tools you can use to sync your computers directly, bypassing the need for you to use an online server as a middleman. Here's an overview so you can choose the best one for your needs:

The Good: The New iPad…The Bad and Ugly: Windows 8

I’ve been playing with Windows 8 on and off for nearly a week now, and here is my preliminary opinion…it stinks. I don’t like it, I won’t buy it, and when I get around to purchasing a tablet computer, it won’t be running Windows 8…at least that is how I feel right now. Here is why:

It doesn’t work very well…plain and simple…and it makes no sense to run a Metro interface on a regular computer.  Several Metro apps just sit there and stare at me. After several days of trying, I got the Windows Mail App to finally work today...not sure how that happened. And that doesn’t mean it will work tomorrow. I‘ve had apps that worked one day, but not the next. Most are slow to load, although some are fine. For instance, I loaded the Kindle Metro-style app for Windows 8 and it worked well.

But last week, I loaded the Evernote Metro version and it is horrible…it works but is absolutely worthless! I’m sure they will make it better, but for now, don’t bother. The regular Evernote works normally when I switch from the Metro interface back to the desktop. I also created Metro interfaces to my favorite programs like Firefox and they work…but all they did was switch me back to my desktop interface…then run. So, Microsoft, please tell me why I need a Metro interface? The fact is I don’t. The so-called Metro tiles are nothing more than big square icons…and I’ve got plenty of those now.

The truth is that Windows 8 is made for a tablet…not a desktop. I really wanted to like it as I see what Microsoft is trying to do…and in theory it is a good idea. But it doesn’t work very well for a desktop or laptop computer user. So, I won’t be upgrading. But, all of us will have no choice later this year if we go out to buy a new computer…because that is what will be installed.

By the way, I tried to install it as a dual boot system on one of my Windows 7 computers on a newly created separate partition, but it refused to load. Said I didn’t have enough space…100GB is not enough? But they said it would run in 20GB. I tried and tried different options including a virtual drive…nothing worked…so I have officially given up that idea. There’s several hours of my life I won’t get back.

Want to see what its like for veteran Windows users trying out Windows 8 for the first time? Check out the videos included in our very first story. But there is more in here than just Windows 8, so read on. JRC

Windows 8 fails the 'dad test'

A couple of YouTube videos show 'normal' Windows users tackling Windows 8 for the first time. The results are sobering.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview: Does This Even Make Sense?

There are in fact, very serious issues to discuss around Windows 8. Very, very serious issues. And I have yet to really raise these issues in a meaningful way. So I'll do so now.

What you need to know about the third-generation iPad (FAQ)

The new tablet is set to hit store shelves on March 16. Apple has already outlined the basic new specs of the device. But there is still some confusion around what some of these new features are and how they can be used. In this FAQ, CNET answers some of these questions and provides a basic primer on what Apple is calling simply, the new iPad.

New iPad vs. Top Android Tablets: Specs Compared

The new iPad is finally here, but how does it stack up against the top Android tablets available right now? Check out our side-by-side comparison.

Go feds! E-books are way overpriced

For the last couple of years, electronic book buyers have paid a high price for one Apple CEO's ambition to make life miserable for Amazon.

Encyclopedia Britannica's 2010 edition to be its last

The company decided that the 2010 version (which costs $1,400) will be the final edition. Britannica will sell its remaining 4,000 copies of the encyclopedia, and then end its run.

Cell phone battery life charts

In the following charts, you'll find the tested talk-time battery life for hundreds of cell phones and smartphones, past and present. Models are grouped by manufacturer, so be sure to check your phone's corresponding chart to see our test results.

446 Places for Free Books and Audiobooks Online

Some time ago I went looking for some free eBooks and was surprised to find that there are many resources for this. I decided to put together this list of sites that offer free eBooks as a reference.

On the Web: The Khan Academy

With a library of over 3,000 videos covering everything from arithmetic to physics, finance, art and history and 315 practice exercises, this great site is on a mission to help you learn what you want, when you want, at your own pace. I’ve done 3 videos on art history and they were very interesting.

There is a New iPad in the World with a Killer Screen

Last Wednesday, it was Microsoft’s turn…yesterday was Apple’s big day in the sun. In San Francisco, the company introduced the newest version of it’s extremely popular tablet…the iPad. And no, before you ask, it is not called the iPad 3…not yet anyway. For now, it is “The New iPad.” Obviously, that name cannot last for long.

The newest and biggest feature is it’s retinal display…pretty much double the pixels of the iPad 2. In fact, it has a higher definition than any hi-definition TV. So, I imagine it must look incredible. I look forward to seeing it soon…it will be released for sale on March 16. It won’t be long after that I will head over to my local Apple store for a peak.

Apple also introduced a new version of its Apple TV. Not a whole lot new here except a better user interface. It looks very much like a Roku box. You can read more about the iPad and Apple TV and watch videos in our first two stories.

As for Windows 8, I have done nothing with it in the last two days, so nothing new to report there…I’ve had other projects going that took up most of my time. But, sometime in the next few days, I will install Windows 8 as a dual boot on my old Windows 7 desktop computer that I have reactivated for this test. So, more comments and impressions coming soon.

As for Windows 8 news, I have included a few new stories at the bottom of this blog. I realize many of you will not be trying out the Windows 8 consumer preview, so I expanded this edition so not to exclude stories that may be of more interest to you…and moved the Windows 8 stories to the bottom. And while I have two stories on using the new system preview, I’ve also included two stories on the important values and philosophies that Windows 8 is bringing to the world. I would urge you to read those two stories to get a better handle on what all this means.

Enjoy. JRC

Apple's new iPad: Hands-on

The iPad's new screen is a stunner. That's really all you need to know about the new iPad (yes, that's the name). That, and a reminder that pricing still starts at $499 for a 16GB Wi-Fi model, with 4G starting at $629. Also includes an informative video.

Apple Introduces New Apple TV - Review

As expected, a new Apple TV set-top box was announced at Apple's media event today. While the exterior hardware looks nearly identical to the old model's, several new features were announced. This story includes a video.

One-Third of U.S. Adults to Own a Tablet by 2016

The upwardly revised tablet sales estimates from Forrester Research are due in part to the introduction of the Kindle Fire by Amazon and the Nook Tablet from Barnes & Noble. "Both devices, in our view, expand the addressable market for tablets with their significantly lower-than-iPad price points."

Google Consolidates Entertainment Services into Google Play

Google on Tuesday announced a new online service called Google Play that consolidates previously separate entertainment-based online services into a single location that's easily accessible by users of the company's Android mobile OS. Ultimately, what we're looking at here is a rebranding of the Android Marketplace that better positions the service to compete with Apple's dominant iTunes Store.

Get Organized: Digitizing Personal Documents

Computers are very good at searching and retrieval. No matter how fast and efficiently you think you can find and retrieve information in your house from pieces of paper, rest assured, computers can do it faster. That is the A-number-one reason you should digitize many of your personal documents.

Connectify - Turn your Laptop into a Wi-Fi Hotspot

Transform your Windows laptop into a Wi-Fi hotspot at the click of a button so you can share a single Internet connection. Lets you share an Internet connection in a more user-friendly fashion than Windows’ built-in Internet Connection Sharing.

How to get more RAM: Add more memory to your computer

A good article from Microsoft on how to determine how much RAM you need, how much you can add to your computer, and how to do it.

A Windows veteran looks at Win8 Consumer Preview

If you download and install Windows 8 Consumer Preview, released late last week, I can almost guarantee that you won’t like it. Microsoft is not building Windows 8 for the garden-variety Windows expert. You and I aren’t being ignored, exactly, but we’re not at the top of the Win8 food chain. As perplexing as it might sound, aiming Windows 8 at a different demographic is probably a good decision. But it still might lead to Windows’ demise.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview: Does This Even Make Sense?

There are in fact, very serious issues to discuss around Windows 8. Very, very serious issues. And I have yet to really raise these issues in a meaningful way. So I'll do so now.

How to Dual boot Windows 7 and Windows 8

If you like to try Windows 8 but don't want to give up Windows 7. Here's how to dual boot Windows 8 with your current Windows 7 installation so you can run them both side by side. All you need to do is create a new partition for Windows 8, install it on that partition, and then edit your new boot menu so Windows 7 stays the default OS.

How to customize your Windows 8 Desktop

The Windows 8 Desktop starts off as a clean slate with no clear access to the applications and features you need. Here are some tips on how to create the familiar Desktop you know and sometimes love.

Windows 8–My First Experiences

When Windows 8 Consumer Preview was released last week, I immediately grasped what Microsoft was trying to do…connect the desktop to the tablet to the smartphone. I loved the idea, and I liked the Metro interface. I hoped for a great experience so I could recommend it highly.

Well, it is early days yet…but so far, not so good. I have had Windows 8 up and running on my Netbook computer for 3 days now…and I am not in love. Darn! I wanted to be, too. Now, I admit my Netbook is my slowest, least powerful computer in my arsenal, but Microsoft said it would work…and it does…partially.

First, it took almost 4 hours to download it and get it up and running. I thought Microsoft said it would be quicker. I installed it right on top of my Windows 7 system, so maybe that does take longer. But after it was up and running, some of the Metro buttons would do nothing. The mail, contacts, calendar and weather apps would not work. Later I got the weather to work by installing it from the Microsoft App Store. But even though I uninstalled and reinstalled the mail app (of which calendar and contacts are part), it still does not work.

So, bottom line is some of it works and some of it doesn’t. It isn’t an issue as I can still get to my desktop and work normally. And I don’t want to sound too negative as parts of the OS work just fine. But I feel like the author of our very first story here…there is no reason to change unless you are going to get a Windows 8 tablet.

But I am not done testing and am not willing to give up. I still like the concept and will keep on playing with it. Sometime in the next week, I will install it on a more powerful computer, this time using the dual boot method. It is early days yet, so stay tuned for more updates. I am not writing it off yet.

Oh, and by the way, if you go to Windows 8, there is a huge learning curve, as it is not like anything Microsoft has done before. With the start button now gone, you will struggle at first. Believe it or not, I had a devil of a time trying to turn the computer off. It took some experimentation and an article on the Net to help me out.

As for today’s updates, I tried to minimize the Windows 8 stories and give you info to help you right now. So let’s get going… JRC 

Windows 8: Something old, something awkward

Though Windows 8 introduces some nice new features, they're minimal. If you aren't planning to get a touch-enabled tablet any time soon, Windows 8 should be near the bottom of your wish list. But if you're considering a move to a Windows-based tablet, you'll want to dive into Windows 8 with both feet.

A Million Downloads for Windows 8 Preview on First Day

Whether or not Windows 8 will be a hit, the consumer preview released on Wednesday is flying off the virtual Relevant Products/Services shelves. Microsoft Relevant Products/Services tweeted Thursday that the consumer preview hit a million downloads within one day of its release.

Microsoft extends consumer support for Windows 7, Vista

Microsoft recently tacked on five additional years in the form of Extended support for all editions of both operating systems for individual users. Full support for every edition of each OS will now last for approximately 10 years from release date, pointing ahead to January 14, 2020, for Windows 7 and April 11, 2017, for Vista.

Office 365: Office in the Cloud still promising?

In a hardworking, digitized world, it’s hard to imagine tools more sought after than those that show up reliably on any portable device and work well — or at least as well as advertised. Whether Microsoft’s Cloud-based Office 365 is that tool — in fact or even in potential — is still an open question.

The Pirate Bay tosses all torrents

One of the Internet's largest torrent-downloading sites is no longer offering torrents, but that doesn't mean the site is being shuttered. Now users can access files with magnet links.

What is OLED TV? Why You Should be Excited

By now you've probably heard about OLED, or organic light-emitting diodes. LG and Samsung both revealed potential models at this year's CES, with the LG winning CNET's Best of CES Award. Make no mistake, this is the most important advancement in TV technology in over a decade, and a vast improvement over both LCD and plasma.

How to Manage Your USB Devices Better

Most of us probably have a number of USB devices for our PCs. In fact, the USB port has become almost a universal way to attach things. If you are like me, you could use a convenient way to manage and keep track of all those gadgets and devices. And that is just what a free utility called USBDeview from NirSoft provides. It is a device manager specifically for USB devices and has a number of quite useful functions.

Smithsonian turns to 3D to bring collection to the world

A new effort under way at the world's largest museum and research institution could eventually mean more of its 137 million objects will be publicly available, even if just via 3D digital models.

Best Free Microsoft Downloads

There are literally thousands of free utilities available from Microsoft but they are buried so deep in so many different sites that it is almost impossible to find them. In this list we've assembled the best freebies we could locate, all in one (very long) convenient list.

Special Edition– Shock!! Windows 8 May Change Everything

On Wednesday, Microsoft unveiled the beta version of its new Windows 8 operating system and released it for everyone to try. Instead of being called a beta, it was released as “Windows 8 Consumer Preview.”

It caught most tech writers, including me, completely off guard. Before the release, many journalists thought Windows 8 could be a major flop. Most have changed their tune. For example, USA today said, “we really are on the threshold of a whole new era of personal computing.”

Here is part of the reasons why: Windows 8 is designed to run both as a tablet and desktop operating system. It has both a touch interface and the standard desktop interface we are all used to. You choose which one you wish to use. And the “Metro” touch interface works equally well as a touch system or with a mouse. In other words, Windows standardizes everything in one operating system so a user can easily move from his or her desktop or lap environment to a Windows 8 tablet, with each having access to the other via Skydrive.

While Apple and Android tablets were built from smartphone operating systems, Windows tablets, when they appear, will be built from a computer operating system. What you run on your desktop will also run on your tablet. This makes so much more sense than any of the current tablets offer. As a user of an Android smartphone, I make many compromises and workarounds to get the important information from my desktop and on to my phone…not all successfully. I want simplification and Windows 8 maybe the answer…time will tell.

I was also surprised how much I like the Metro-style interface on the desktop. It makes so much sense in so many ways. I have something similar on my desktop now that continually shows me time and weather and links to my various apps, but Windows Metro goes beyond what I have done on Windows 7. I am excited to try it out.

I downloaded Windows 8 and will hopefully get it up and running on one of my computers this weekend. If you read the second article, you will find there are many ways to do an installation, including upgrading right on top of Windows 7. You can get Windows 8 from the Microsoft Web Site. Although Windows 8 final edition may not be available until late summer or fall, the Consumer Preview is good through January.

This edition of Rants and Raves is all about Windows 8, nothing else. I wasn’t planning to do that, but there is so much information about the operating system that I wanted to try and answer all your questions. Hopefully, you will be amazed as I am. - JRC

Welcome to the Windows 8 Consumer Preview

This article will serve as a high-level introduction of sorts, providing you with a basic overview of what's new and different in this second and most crucial milestone on the way to Windows 8. But scattered throughout the discussion below, you'll find links to numerous other articles about the Windows 8 Consumer Preview.

How to install the Windows 8 Consumer Preview

Believe it or not, it's a pretty easy thing to do. You don't need to look up an arcane command to access your BIOS, you don't need to partition a drive, and you don't need a blank DVD, a second PC or even a USB thumb drive... unless that's how you roll. With just an internet connection, you can perform the entire operation on any existing Windows 7 machine without any outside help, just so long as it fulfills the minimum requirements.

Windows 8 Beta: Hands-on with Microsoft's tablet-friendly OS

Microsoft pulled back much of the scaffolding and secrecy surrounding Windows 8 today at Mobile World Congress. I've been using the Windows 8 beta (download), officially known as the Windows 8 Consumer Preview, for the past week, and it's by far the most integrated and capable operating system Microsoft has ever put out. Includes a video.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview hands-on

Another in-depth look at all the new features of Windows 8, both as a tablet and desktop operating system.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview: The Windows 8 App Previews

A look at some of the new Metro-style apps that come with, or are available, with Windows 8 Consumer Preview. All apps in the Windows App Store are free during the preview period.

Windows 8 and bundling: What a difference a decade makes

Microsoft is taking some emboldened steps toward bundling formerly separate apps and services in Windows 8. For the longest time, bundling was a dirty word among Microsoft execs. It probably still is, given the trouble the Redmondians got into just a decade ago or so with U.S. antitrust authorities over “bundling Internet Explorer” with Windows.

Windows 8 Consumer Preview runs well on netbooks (mostly)

Windows 8 Consumer Preview may be optimized for computers with touchscreens and high resolution displays, but Microsoft’s latest operating system also runs reasonably well on netbooks and other older computers.

Windows 8 could leapfrog Android to be the true iPad competitor

The iPad isn't going anywhere: it has huge popularity, a massive app catalog, and dominating market share going for it. However, that spot at No. 2 seems wide open. Android tablets have been far from compelling thus far, leaving the doorway open for Windows 8 tablets to stake a claim that no other Windows tablets have previously been able to capture.

IE holds rival browsers at bay

This article includes a video showing off Internet Explorer 10. A preview edition of the new browser is included with Windows 8 Consumer Preview.