Call Me a Hypocrite, if You Must

So how long have I been ranting against Windows 8? Well, how long has it been out? I was one of the first persons to download the the first public release of the new operating system. And within a day or two, or less, I hated it. 10 days later, I went to the Apple Store and bought my iPad. I had nothing but contempt for the Metro operating system that was forced on me on the desktop. And remember, until that time, I was all in on Windows.

This weekend, I bought a new laptop computer…and, as they almost all do, it came with Windows 8. Nothing I could do about it. If Apple computers were not so expensive, I would have bought one of them. But, my new Samsung laptop came equipped with the devil’s own operating system. So what am I to do?

So like a good little tech writer and explorer that I am, I decided to give Windows 8 another chance. So I played with it for a day…right as it comes comes out of the box. And guess what…I still hate it. I hate it even more than I did that first time. I wouldn’t want it on a tablet, much less a laptop. 

It is a total waste of space. Big huge colorful squares of wasted space that are not helpful and don’t help me get things done. The Metro interface (now called “Modern’) is not contained on one screen…oh no…you have to continually scroll across looking for the one square that launches the one program you want. What a waste!

Try opening IE…you get a different IE than the one on the desktop…and the two don’t talk to each other. This is a first release of an unfinished product that should have never been released.

The best analogy I heard compares Windows 8 to cars. We have been driving cars with steering wheels on the left side for over 100 years. Suppose Ford would have come out with steering wheels in the center of the car for all its new models. Think they would sell? Of course not. They would be trying to change the way we do things all these many years. Same with Windows 8.

For me, I strongly considered grabbing one of my unused Windows 7 disks and wiping out Windows 8. But, despite its terrible Metro interface, it does have a better-built desktop than Windows 7. It is more secure and has many under-the-hood improvements. Could I still use it without having to resort to installing Windows 7? Or is it a lost cause?

What did I do? Stay tuned for the next edition and I will tell you how it all turned out. Hint…I am pretty much a happy camper now.

As for this edition, we have some good stories here that you might find useful, including all the new features that will be added to Windows 8.1. Plus a boatload of great tips…even some I hadn’t thought of. Anyway, enjoy what the tech gods have brought forth. -JRC

Windows 8.1 unveiled: will it change your mind about Windows 8?

The Start button is back. But that's just one of a very long list of changes you'll find in Windows 8.1, which will be available as a preview in a few weeks and will be released before the end of the year. Don't let the name fool you: this is a major update. Here's what's inside.

Microsoft's Surface tablet fire sale now under way

With various discounts on Microsoft Surface tablets now in play, it looks like Microsoft is trying to clear out old stock

10 shocking lessons from using only Google products

For three weeks, an Apple fan used only a Chromebook Pixel, Nexus 10, Nexus 4, and all-Google software and services. Here is what he found.

Ending the headaches of Wi-Fi

New standards will soon make getting from a carrier's 3G or 4G network onto a Wi-Fi network a seamless and easy process. But carriers large and small still have to get comfortable with that.

Get Organized: How to Cut Down on Unwanted Email

Do you receive dozens of emails from co-workers that you just don't need? Are you inundated with messages that you'd rather put off reading until the end of the day? These four tips will help you cut down on unwanted email.

New Gmail look blings up your inbox with tabs

Google refreshes Gmail for the Web, Android, and iOS with new default categories and tabs to organize your e-mail.

8 Things We Love About the New Flickr

Yahoo has gone big with its latest Flickr update: Big in storage allotment for free accounts and in the display of photos themselves. But there's more: Here are our favorite new features.

How to Use Flickr as a Photo Backup Service

Armed with 1 TB of space, Flickr is now a good candidate to house your entire collection of digital photographs. You may set the default privacy of your online photo albums as private and and search visibility as “hidden” and thus no one else will be able to search or view your pictures stored on to Flickr."

How to Clean Out Your Overflowing Hard Drive and Get Your Space Back

Hard drives get messy. You save files and forget them, download huge chunks of data that pile up, and change your naming schemes a hundred times. It's spring, though, so why not do a little tidying up?

Five steps to ultimate Firefox security

Fend off malware, phishers, and their ilk by exercising Firefox's built-in security features and picking some useful add-ons

Shrink photos and clear up some hard drive space with JPEGmini

PEGmini can help you shrink popular JPEG images to almost a fifth of their original size, potentially clearing up to 80 percent of hard drive space

Hold on Tight…There’s a Lot of Goo, Goo, Google Here

Believe me I didn’t plan it this way, but there was a lot of relevant info about Google products this week. I didn’t realize how much I had until I started to put this edition together.

The ramifications of last week’s Google I/O conference are still being felt by the tech media and users. They made a lot of changes and unified some products into a cohesive unit. This was never so evident in the makeover of Google+.

Now I have been somewhat negative about Google+ since it came out. I tried it and couldn’t decide what the point of it was. I still used it to post links to my blogs, but not much more than that.

Last week’s announcement caused me to take a second look, and I must say I like it better…although I still haven’t quite got the point yet. They definitely made it easier on the eyes and their total revamp and addition of user’s photos was a great move.

I have set up my iPhone to automatically send photos to Google+ immediately after I take them. They go into a private file and I can easily choose to share one or more whenever I want. And I can quite improve my photos quickly and easily using their built-in post processing tools. I like that simplicity for my simple iPhone snapshots.

I have been storing my photos on Picasa for years and those photos are now in albums on Google+. Google has obviously put a lot of time and effort into Google+, but they still have a long way to go to overtake Facebook in the social media world. But they keep plugging away (see story #5).

I also like what they have done with voice activated search, both in Google Search and in Google Now. The latter is available on iPhone and Android Phones…and critics are saying the iPhone app is kicking Siri’s bottom. I know I said in a previous edition that I wasn’t interested in Now, but I think I will give it a try just to see what all the shouting is about. I’ve included a guide to setting up Now if you are interested (story #4).

There’s more to the world than Google, and we have got some other interesting tidbits for you…including a story about Twitter security and a new feature added to Evernote. So, let’s get ‘er done! - JRC

And the study says: Windows 8 users rarely touch Metro apps

Windows 8's very future hinges on the success of its apps. This new report digs into how often people really use those apps on a daily basis...and its not pretty.

How Google plans to rule the computing world through Chrome

Are you ready for Google to take over the desktop? You’d better be if you use Chrome. With it, Google is making a play to rule the computing world as a back door to a new app economy.

Google's conversational search arrives with new Chrome

The company is taking a step closer to natural-language questions and answers and farther from search boxes and hyperlinks.

A Great Guide to Google Now

You won’t get great results unless you set Google Now up with all the information it needs. Here is a guide to help you get started with this amazing software.

If Google+ Is Good, Why Does Google Force It On Us?

Google really, really wants us to like Google+. Google is embedding Google+ into each of its products, making it increasingly difficult to use its services without embracing the Google+ borg, whether you want to or not.

Twitter Finally Adds Two-Factor Authentication to Secure Your Account

Two-factor authentication uses your password and an additional method to verify your identity. Google's two-factor authentication, launched in 2010, texts a code to your mobile number when a new device or app initially accesses your account.

Grownups speak to startups: We're not into technology just because it's cool

While the 50-and-over population and doctors appear to be dissimilar markets, selling to either requires a deep understanding of customer needs rather than just a sense of having "the next big thing.

Evernote adds Reminders to Mac, iOS and web applications (video)

Today Evernote introduces Evernote's Reminders feature for Mac, iOS and web applications.

Get Organized: 5 Tips for Microsoft Outlook

When it comes to email overload, Microsoft Outlook sometimes feels like part of the problem, but with these five essential features, it will once again be part of the solution.

Top social photo sites for browsing and sharing

Whether you enjoy the artistry of photography or the social aspects of photo sharing, choosing the right service is important.

Nifty Way to Find Out What Your Windows Computer Has Been Doing

Have you ever wondered what has been going on in your PC? Has there ever been some strange computer activity and you wanted to know what it meant? Here’s a quick and easy way to find out.

Too Much, Too Soon…Where to Begin

It’s been a busy time since we last spoke on Thursday. Here is a quick synopsis: Microsoft shows off its new Xbox; Yahoo Buys Tumblr; Chinese Hackers resume their attacks; and Flickr users (including me) are surprised, shocked, and even angered by the site changes. Wow!

But for me, the last few days were even busier. First, I started getting messages from Avast that Outlook.com, my mail provider was sending me a some sort of Trojan Horse script to infect my computer. It shut down my access to my mail in Firefox, Chrome, and IE. Later, I was able to gain access via IE, so I deleted all the mail I received that day. Well, that wasn’t it. I could only believe that it was Outlook.com itself that was trying to send the dangerous script. Later in the day, Avast stopped sending warning, so whatever the problem was got fixed.

That was the last straw. I was already having problems with the Outlook.com junk mail filters. It was taking out mail specifically marked as being safe. Nothing I did worked. Even mail from me was marked as junk. It all started the day Microsoft upgraded their Outlook.com calendar…and you know what I thought about that. Too bad, I still like the Outlook.com interface.

I immediately started switching all my mail back over to Gmail. I am not happy with the Gmail interface, but the application itself (and the junk mail filters) are very good. I decided to find an e-mail interface that would work like I do…and I found one. It’s called eM Client (see the last story)  and it works like a dream. It is exactly what I need for my desktop and it works seamlessly with Gmail and Apple Mail (on my iPad and iPhone). Problem solved.

Next problem…my LastPass would log off every time I turned off Firefox and would not come back when I went back in to the program. I had to enter the rather long password every time. It took a few days of digging and swearing, but I finally solved the problem this morning. Whew.

Next problem…my Diigo button stopped working and would not let me reconnect. Diigo is the program I use to bookmark save stories for this blog on a daily basis. It has worked seamlessly for years and seemed to stop working when I upgraded to the latest version of Firefox. However it didn’t work in Chrome either…but worked fine in IE. I suspect they made some changes that did not work out right.

I solved that problem first by switching to Delicious.com…then installing a Diigo Toolbar. I hate toolbars, but this one does work. The good news is with Firefox, I can remove and show the toolbar at will. So fear not, good friends, this blog will continue unabated.

So that is my story and am sticking too it. Too bad about Outlook.com, but I can’t be messing around with an iffy e-mail program. Another black mark in my book for Microsoft.

Well all the good stories of the day and some new information and tips are all here in this edition…so have at it. -JRC

Microsoft unveils Xbox One

The Xbox One includes games, TV, movies, music, the Web, and apps. It has Skype and live TV capabilities, as well as voice recognition to switch between programs

Yahoo Buys Tumblr and Promises "Not to Screw It Up"

With more than 300 million monthly unique visitors and 120,000 signups every day, Tumblr is one of the fastest-growing media networks in the world. Tumblr sees 900 posts per second (!) and 24 billion minutes spent on site each month.

Chinese Hackers Resume Attacks on U.S. Targets

Three months after hackers working for a cyberunit of China’s People’s Liberation Army went silent amid evidence that they had stolen data from scores of American companies and government agencies, they appear to have resumed their attacks using different techniques,

Flickr users: We hate the new site

Flickr's parent Yahoo unveiled a slew of changes to the photo-sharing site, revamping the familiar style of the home page, photo page, and photo stream page. The company also increased the free storage space per user to a hefty 1TB and updated its Android app. So, what's the problem?

SkyDrive, Google+ Photos and Flickr, Oh My!

Recent updates to several photo services have me rethinking my plans

Top 5 Android Camera Apps

As the geek world drools over the first 13-megapixel smartphone camera -- the Android-driven Samsung Galaxy S4 -- TechNewsWorld takes a look at the current state-of-play in the must-have camera app genre for Android.

Amazon Cloud Drive Photos Syncs Your iPhone's Camera Roll

iPhone: Apple's Photo Stream, which automatically backs up and syncs your last 1000 photos for up to 30 days, is a boon for iPhone photographers, but Amazon just rolled out an app that tops it with lots of free storage.

Easier Way to Use and Manage Libraries in Windows 7 and 8

Windows 7 introduced a new way to organize files called “Libraries”. Libraries are virtual folders that can centralize related items from multiple locations. However, their benefits are lost on many PC users If you would like an easier way to take advantage of Libraries, here is something to try."

How to keep the feds from snooping on your cloud data

A cottage industry is growing up around virtual padlocks that consumers can place on cloud services so that the vendors themselves can't get to the information -- even if the government requests access.

15 killer apps for Google Chrome - InfoWorld

These browser-based apps can compete with their desktop counterparts

eM Client - Excellent desktop mail client for Gmail and Others.

eM Client is super fast replacement for MS Outlook or Thunderbird that can fully synchronize with Gmail, Hotmail and other services. eM Client is Free for Home

Google Hits a Home Run (Well, at Least a Triple)

30 hours later and I am still trying to digest all that Google revealed at the Google I/O Conference. A keynote address that went 3.5 hours was filled with so many upgraded applications, changes, and unifications of existing projects that it is hard to take them all in. Unlike last year’s conference, hardware products were barely discussed. This show was about new and improved Google services…and speaking for myself, they did one heck of a job.

What impressed me the most? I loved how they improved Google+, a much better visual presentation, 41 new features added including photo post processing.  Google is now serious about photos again. It wants users to manage, store, and share photos on Google. They offer some interesting services, including an automated service that finds your best photos and presents them as a highlight reel and photo auto-enhance.

Google Hangouts is being rolled out as a standalone app on Android and iOS, and via the Web. I will be trying it out shortly. It has to be better than Skype which just sucks! (More on that in a future edition).

Google Search is in the process of some major enhancements including searches by voice, and anticipating your next question after the search is completed.

Google Maps is being updated over the next couple of months. The web version of Google Maps is going all vector and is beautiful.

And that is just is the beginning. Our first story gives you a thumbnail view of all that was presented. The second story is an in-depth look at all the features. You can pick and choose the features you wish to learn more about.

So let’s get started. You will thank me someday. -JRC

Google I/O 2013, Day One: A Flood of New and Improved Google Services

Google turns on the fire hose. This is how you hold a tech conference, folks. This is a quick summary of all the new services and devices coming our way.

Google I/O 2013: everything you need to know

Google used its biggest event of the year to reveal a major overhaul to Google Maps, an ambitious messaging initiative called Hangouts, and a redesigned Google+ filled with new features. Plus much, much more.

Larry Page Reminded Us Why We Love Google Today

Larry Page, Google's CEO and co-founder, closed out the Google I/O keynote today with a sentimental, almost subdued speech. He didn't sound like a CEO. He sounded like a guy in charge of a company he genuinely thought could change the world.

New photo tools in Google+ show promise (hands-on)

A closer look at the new photo tools now in Google+. Many of them are amazing. They may not replace Photoshop, but they are awfully good for snapshots.

DOJ: Apple colluded with publishers to raise e-book prices

A new document filed in the e-book price-fixing suit accuses Apple of conspiring to hike prices, but the tech giant denies these claims, saying it was actually partaking in constant one-on-one negotiations.

Internet Explorer 10 beats Chrome and Firefox at blocking malware downloads

NSS Labs finds that IE10 spots nearly all malware, while Safari, Firefox, and Opera prove particularly unsafe

Apple deluged by police demands to decrypt iPhones

Apple receives so many police demands to decrypt seized iPhones that it has created a "waiting list" to handle the deluge of requests.

Android is crushing Apple and Microsoft in the mobile device market

In five and a half years, Android has come from nowhere to crush Apple and Microsoft in the mobile device market. How long until PC OEMs decide to take a gamble on the winning mobile OS and load Android onto PCs?

iTunes gets updated, check out the new MiniPlayer!

Also getting the visual makeover treatment is the songs view. With this latest update you can enjoy all your album artwork whilst in songs view.

Get Organized: How to Manage Your Work with Spreadsheets

In this edition of Get Organized, I'll share a few of the spreadsheets I currently keep and explain what they do for me.

A Gallery of Free Invoice Templates

A Gallery of 42 Free Invoice Templates for a variety of business types and requirements. All templates work with Excel, or Excel compatible, spreadsheet programs.

8 Billion-Dollar Mistakes Microsoft Made That Killed Windows 8 And Led To Windows 8.1

On the eve of this Microsoft OS refresh, I thought it might be interesting to look back and reflect on how we all got to this point. For your viewing pleasure, here are the 8 billion-dollar mistakes Microsoft made that killed Windows 8 and led to Windows 8.1

Lots of New Toys for Us Nerds

It’s about time we started getting some new updates and freebees for our computers. Not that I am greedy or anything. First, Microsoft announced that the new Windows 8.1 upgrade will be free to existing users. I thought it would be, but you never know with Microsoft. Of course, it should be free…that’s their penalty for shipping an incomplete products.

What else is new? How about a new Amazon cloud service for photos…or Google increasing its Google Drive free space from 5GB to 15GB…or a brand new Firefox browser that gives you health reports…or my favorite of the day, Bing now translating English into Klingon for free. Wow! Who knew?

But wait…there’s more! Except I can’t tell you about it. The reason? I don’t know what Google has in mind. We have to wait until tomorrow and the Google I/O Conference. This is when they announce a lot of new products. The keynote address is scheduled to be 3 hours long! So expect a lot of new goodies. We will give you the highlights of the conference in our Thursday edition.

Until then, be satisfied with what I have included here. Please? -JRC

Microsoft confirms Windows 8.1 (a.k.a "Blue") will be free

It's official: The Windows Blue update will be dubbed Windows 8.1, it'll be available for Windows 8 and Windows RT devices alike, and it will cost you the low, low price of zip, nada, zilch.

Microsoft struggles to re-start Windows 8

With an upcoming fix for Windows 8, Microsoft finds itself in a strange position: It has to make the faithful happy by shaping the experience to be more like the respected Windows 7 while, it must continue to support the modern "Metro" interface.

May's Patch Tuesday to fix two critical flaws in Internet Explorer

Starting today, Microsoft will issue fixes for 33 vulnerabilities in total, including two critical flaws relating to Internet Explorer, affecting all versions of Windows.

Microsoft improves photo management in SkyDrive

Microsoft is rolling out changes to SkyDrive to enhance management of photos in the cloud storage service. The improvements include a new “all photos” view that displays thumbnails of all the pictures, organized in a monthly timeline grid.

Amazon releases Amazon Cloud Drive Photos to compete with Apple Photo Stream

The free app allows you to upload all your iPhone or iPod touch photos to the cloud. The images can be accessed from your iOS device, from your Mac, or from any web browser.

Google Drive triples free storage to 15GB

Google announces just ahead of its I/O conference that free storage across Google services -- Gmail, Google+, and Drive -- is leaping from 5GB to 15GB. But why?

Firefox 21 lands with "health report" and Android update

Firefox Health Report tracks "health information" about the browser, such as boot time and the number of crashes, helping to highlight any problems needing attention.

Maj! Bing adds Klingon language translation

Go galactic with the newest addition to Bing Translator, an automated Klingon translation service that has you covered whether you're translating tribbles (yIHmey) or "Star Trek" (Hov trek).

When tech titans fall from grace

Here are 14 once-elite tech companies that fell off their pedestals due to unforeseen circumstances, arrogance, ineptitude, or all of the above

Google's Schmidt: The Internet needs a delete button

Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt says mistakes people make when young can haunt them forever.

XnSketch (Desktop version)

XnSketch enables you to convert your photos into cartoons or sketches by applying different image effects that mimic various sketching techniques. Free!

Very Little News this Day…Just Real Good Stuff

I love it when there is little news and I can focus on bringing you free apps, good Web sites and some how-to’s. That is what is happening here.

Let me just point out a couple of things…check out how Google is showing us how the earth has changed over the last 25 years…good or bad…you decide.

My favorite is the new Microsoft Website where you can browse and download hundreds of themes and wallpapers for Windows 7 or 8. I’ve been using themes since Windows 7 first came out, but this new site offers some new, beautiful themes. I‘ve already downloaded a couple. I love the one on London Architecture.

But wait…there’s more. Find out who makes the best free antivirus software and how to buy some great smartphones for under $100. As the headline says, this edition is packed with good stuff. So why don’t you get started. -JRC

FBI says it doesn't need a warrant to snoop on private email, social network messages

An FBI guidance manual says the law enforcement agency is able to access U.S. residents' email, Facebook and Twitter messages, and private documents, without breaching the Fourth Amendment.

Windows 8.1 “Blue” Public Preview to Arrive in June

As expected, Microsoft will issue a public preview of Windows 8.1 “Blue” in late June at its annual BUILD developer conference, giving enthusiasts and other users an early peek at the coming update to Windows 8.

Google's Timelapse project shows how the Earth has changed over a quarter of a century

Google has expanded its mapping platform to launch a new project called Timelapse, taking you back through time to see how our planet has changed over the last 25 years.

Avast targets Facebook and VPN

One of the most popular anti-virus software products adds a new VPN service to their entire line, a day after acquiring Secure.Me.

Going Google (apps) Part 3: Share/collaborate

If you’ve ever tried to share documents or struggled with merging edits from multiple collaborators, Google’s productivity apps make the process easy. Here’s how to share and collaborate with Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides — three apps that are both capable and free.

How to Get a Big Collection of Free Windows Themes and Wallpaper from Microsoft

There have always been a lot of Windows themes and desktop wallpapers scattered around the giant Microsoft website. But the site is not always easy to navigate and finding things there can be problematical. So, if you wanted a new theme or desktop background, it could be quite a search. Fortunately, Microsoft has finally consolidated its many such offerings at a single site. It is called the Personalization Gallery

How hackable is your password? McAfee offers password tips

How do you create a password that's strong yet easy to remember? That's the challenge we all face, and one that's prompted a few words of wisdom from McAfee.

The Best Free Antivirus for 2013

Clearly there are plenty of choices for free antivirus protection, some of them quite good. The nicest part is, if you're not fond of the free antivirus you've installed, you're free to replace it. You'll definitely find something to like from among these products.

How to Add Your Favorite Folder or Program to (My) Computer in Windows 7 and 8

Would you like to have that favorite folder or program that you use all the time listed in Computer along with all your drives so it is really easy to access?

Creating complex smart playlists in iTunes

Creating playlists in iTunes can be as simple as dragging a few songs, or as complex as creating smart playlists that refer to other playlists and use nested conditions to pick songs that meet specific criteria.

Best smartphones for $100 or less

Whether they're on sale or just naturally affordable, here are CNET's top picks for on-contract phones that won't break the bank.

Microsoft Acknowledges They Might Fix Windows 8…Maybe

The folks at Microsoft have finally admitted there is a Windows Blue coming this summer and that it will included changes that many Windows users are screaming for. That’s a big admission for a super-secret company like Microsoft…but in fact they didn’t let much else out of the bag…yet.

They did promise to slowly tell us over the next few weeks what changes are coming…guess they want to heighten our expectations. For more information be sure and read our first story.

In other news, the Senate approves an Internet sales tax. But it may not be smooth sailing for the bill in the contentious house.

Google Now (story #5) looks like an interesting product. It may be the next evolution of search. I probably won’t get it as I am retired and I don’t think it would be of much use to me. But you younger folk should take a long, hard look at it.

Besides all that, there is some good info here, especially for Windows users. Well, I found it interesting. So why don’t you stop listening to me and start reading. -JRC

What Microsoft is now saying (and not) about Windows Blue

Microsoft is ready to fire up the Windows Blue disclosure machine. Here's what to expect and when, according to company officials.

Small Windows tablets on the way to satisfy no existing market

The tech world reacted with buzz to leaked information about a small tablet in the works that runs Windows 8. I understand the knee-jerk excitement, but I'm not sure who small tablets might be aimed to please.

U.S. Senate approves Internet sales tax

The Senate's vote of 69-27 for the Marketplace Fairness Act late Monday sends the bill to the House of Representatives, where it may face opposition from many antitax Republicans. U.S. President Barack Obama has voiced support for the bill, meaning he would sign it into law if the House passed it.

Camera megapixels: Why more isn't always better

A 16-megapixel smartphone camera sounds great, but an 8-megapixel shooter could still produce better pics.

Google: The future of search is Now

Google Now is the company's big bet to maintain market share as people leave the desktop and search on mobile and wearable devices.

Outlook.com Tip: Send Email from Another Account

With "Send Email" option, and you can now safely aggregate all of your other email accounts through Outlook.com and send mail from any one of them.

Get Organized: 5 Tips for Microsoft Outlook

hen it comes to email overload, Microsoft Outlook sometimes feels like part of the problem, but with these five essential features, it will once again be part of the solution.

Easy Way to Download and Install Free Fonts from the Google Collection

Google has just made its collection available for download with an app called "SkyFonts" from Monotype. The app installs fonts that you select from the collection and comes in both 32- and 64-bit versions.

Create Free Ringtones for iPhone, Android and Windows Phone

Fried Cookie’s Ringtone Maker, it allows you to turn full-length song into a 30-second ringtone and works fine on all your iPhone, android and windows mobile devices.

10 Essential Windows Apps for Novices

We've all got a tech-challenged relative or friend who nevertheless wants a computer. Here's what software you'll need to install for them--inexpensively.

How to Make an Atom a Movie Star

Be sure and read our first story and watch the short movie. All the actors are atoms…that’s right…atoms. Those tiny,tiny little particles that make up our universe. IBM had wowed us all with this short film. They even show you how they did it.

But wait…there’s more. Want to know more about Google Glasses…like what they heck they are? It’s all explained here. Plus the latest results in the on-going browser war…and which point and shoot camera should you buy. We are a fountain of information here, so let’s get started! -JRC

World's Smallest Movie Is IBM's Science Blockbuster

Scientists precisely pushed atoms into place to create a stick figure and his pet atom, but the real story is about pushing the physics envelope for future technological advances. Amazing movie.

Hotmail is dead, Outlook.com has 400 million users

Microsoft has been actively migrating customers from Hotmail to its Outlook.com service over the past six weeks. That migration ends today, as Microsoft announces completion of, not only the big move, but also that the company now has instant success from the latest web-based email offering.

Windows 8 inches up in desktop OS market

Microsoft's latest OS is creeping up in popularity but lags behind the milestone that Windows 7 had reached at this stage, according to new numbers from Net Applications.

Windows RT: Who loves ya, baby?

Microsoft insists that Windows RT has a grand and glorious future. But if the accumulated Web usage statistics from the past six months can be trusted (always a dicey proposition), the operating system doesn't even have a pulse.

IE10 doubles share in April; Chrome continues decline as Firefox leads in second

Internet Explorer 10 has seen a recent bump in users, thanks to Microsoft's move to make the browser available on Windows 7. Meanwhile, when will Chrome gets its mojo back?

Hands on with Google Glass

The very first question we at CNET get about Google Glass is: "What is it?" The next two are "What's it like to wear?" and "Why would you want to?"

How to Get Breaking News on Twitter

Twitter is arguably the fastest way to get the latest breaking news, but it requires a little know-how to take full advantage of this tool.

26 Free Cross-Platform Productivity Apps to Help You Get Things Done

You can essentially become a productivity machine without spending a penny. Here are 26 free productivity apps to help you get things done and will work on a wide range of computing machines.

Eight Tips on How to Make Your Smartphone Battery Last Longer

If there is one thing that can be annoying about a smartphone, it's a battery that runs down too soon. Here are some tips on how to keep that battery power flowing. The details of configuring settings vary somewhat among the different platforms but these items are worth looking at.

The Best Point-and-Shoot Cameras

Thankfully, it is possible to find a camera that's highly capable of capturing the important moments in your life that you can slide into your pocket—and won't cost you a fortune.

First ever website brought back to life at its original URL

The World Wide Web entered the public domain exactly 20 years ago

The Good Side of Microsoft…that Doesn’t Help Us Consumers

Although I have spent a great deal of space here blasting Microsoft for their bungled attempts to put out a useful operating system (and a few other products), I was reminded by a couple of articles this week that Microsoft is indeed making lots of money. Most of their serious revenues are coming from the Enterprise side.

Microsoft is thriving in the business environment with some of their forward thinking products. Most of us have never heard of Windows Azure, SharePoint, Office 365, PowerShell, and Hadoop. These are for large and small businesses…and they continue to do very well with these and other Enterprise products.

Most of us are consumer users so these products mean nothing to us…but Windows 8 is only a small part of the Microsoft machine. So, those of us who would like to see some management changes to get Microsoft back on track in the consumer division, don’t look for anything soon. Microsoft is still very profitable. To read more, check out story #6.

There are a lot of news and information here for us poor, lowly consumers, so let’s get to it. -JRC

T-Mobile comes clean about 'uncarrier' service plan

T-Mobile USA's "radical" service plans promising no annual contracts aren't quite as radical as consumers might think, and the mobile operator will change its advertising and offer refunds in a settlement with the state of Washington.

Google Now 'talks' its way onto iOS

The mashup of personal assistant and predictive search known as Google Now gets approved for iOS (iPad’s and iPhones). But will it take attention away from Siri?

Which Tech Companies Protect Your Data From the Government?

The Electronic Frontier Foundation just released its annual "Who Has Your Back" report card, detailing the privacy policies of tech companies. Here's the rundown of who fights for your privacy in the face of government requests for your data—and who doesn't even bother.

Skype + Outlook.com

Here’s question I’ve received many times: When will Microsoft integrate Skype with its Outlook.com web email platform? Well, this week I’ve got good news to share: It’s happening in preview form, starting today.

Windows 8: A Six-Month Report Card

I don’t believe that Microsoft has ever shipped a version of Windows as incomplete/undone as is Windows 8 and yet the firm is not moving as quickly as I’d like to fix the very glaring issues with this release.

Apple versus Microsoft: the ticker tape tells the tale

If all you ever read is the tech press, you probably think Microsoft is doomed, and you probably can't understand why Apple's stock has plunged over the last six months. Maybe it's because the press is only seeing a tiny slice of the pie.

Apple’s iOS 7 Said to Be ‘Very, Very Flat’

iOS 7 is in for a major UI overhaul courtesy of the man himself, Jony Ive. While it may prove to be irritating for existing customers, the new “flat” UI apart of Apple’s next major iOS iteration will be attractive to those new to the platform.

50 Apps That Can Make You More Productive

Get the most out of yourself and your time with these productivity and efficiency apps for mobile devices, desktop computers, and the Web.

The Best Antivirus for 2013

Three products share the Editors' Choice honor for best overall antivirus...and one of them is free!

How to Use Pinterest for Beginners

Everyone's talking about Pinterest but not everyone 'gets' it. You will after following these seven steps to Pinterest fluency.

Online security: Your two-factor authorization checklist

As Twitter gets ready to roll out two-factor authentication, here's a rundown of how other major online services use the security feature

Chrome Has Become a Big Fat Memory Hog

Steve Gibson, on his weekly “Security Now” podcast, pointed out that Google’s Chrome Browser has become a bloated memory hog. At startup, with only one blank web page open, Chrome used up 250 MB of RAM. By contrast, he said Opera used only 50. I did my own experiment with the new Internet Explorer 10. My results showed around 48 MB of memory used.

Not long ago, I started using IE10 for the heck of it. I found it fast, responsive and much better than it used to be. It is become my second browser of choice behind Firefox. I run it sandboxed as I do Chrome (although that it seldom used anymore).

In this edition, I included part 2 of the articles on “Going Google.” As I said last week, I will publish them as they come out.

I was dismayed to see my e-mail choice, Outlook.com, will start including ads soon (see story #4). That doesn’t make me very happy, but that is their prerogative…as it is my prerogative to look for a new e-mail host. Not an easy thing to do…Gmail is out as I don’t like it very much. I might just continue to use Outlook.com as it has so many excellent features, but I may have close my right eye to ignore the ads.

I am also experimenting with different calendar options since Microsoft screwed up Outlook.com calendar app. In working with it lately to enter new events, I found I have to take a very unnecessary additional step to enter a location. That is just plain dumb as all my calendar entries have locations.

As for to-do lists and reminders, I’ve settled on Wunderlist as I can use it on all my computers, phones, and tablets. It is a terrific cross-platform app with several nice features.

But enough of my needs and wants, let’s move on with stories that might interest you. -JRC

Microsoft expects cheaper Windows 8 PCs and tablets this fall

Using Intel's new 'Haswell' Core and 'Bay Trail' Atom processors could lower prices dramatically and boost battery life

Microsoft issues new version of patch pulled on Patch Tuesday

Microsoft has issued a new version of a patch after an earlier version caused some users' machines to suffer the blue screen of death.

Apple fans face a big iWait on new product categories, services

Apple teased new products and services in the year ahead, but it's unclear whether a better dividend and shareholder cash will buy the company more patience.

Ads coming soon to your Outlook.com inbox

Since Outlook.com is a free service, used by 60 million people at the last count, ads in the interface were deemed to arrive in your inbox sooner or later.

Want the most reliable Windows PC? Buy a Mac (or maybe a Dell)

A new report from Soluto uses data from its massive online database of PC crashes, hangs, and performance metrics to identify the 10 most reliable Windows PCs you can buy today. Surprisingly, a MacBook Pro is at the top of the list. Hilarious.

How to set up two-factor authentication for Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and more

No more excuses! Microsoft, Google, and Facebook make it easy to improve your account security with two-factor authentication. Here's how.

Going Google (apps), Part 2: Move your docs

In Part 1 of this series on Google apps, I covered the relatively simple process of moving all your mail to Gmail. Part 2 covers why and how you move Microsoft Office documents to the cloud and to Google apps.

15 Best Free Add-ins to Make Outlook Better

There are hundreds of add-ins available for Outlook, but in this post we are covering the best free add-ins to get the best out of Outlook.

The Massive Digital Library of the Future Just Opened Its 'Doors'

After two and a half years of development, the Digital Public Library of America finally flipped the switch on and opened its website at DP.LA. Collecting items from institutions cross the country, the library has already collected more than two million items in its searchable database. And that's just the beginning.

Retro Sci-Fi Screensaver

Turn your normally useful PC into a meaninglessly busy display
like those in old sci-fi movies and TV shows. Fun.

I’ll Take Congress for $84 Million, Alex

Our lead story is how much money it took to buy House yes votes for CISPA. In terms of today’s dollars, these Congress Persons are really cheap buys. The House of Representatives…aka…the Parliament of Whores, sold their votes for a mere $84 million. Even the smallest tech companies up for sale would laugh at a cheap offer like that.

Meanwhile, our friends in Redmond continue to surprise, then disappoint us. Last week I told you about the return of the Start Button rumor for Windows 8.1. While that is looking more and more like a possibility, what may not return is the Start Menu that pops up when you hit the Start Button.

So what will you get? You guessed it…the Metro screen in all its glory. They seem to want to stick this down our throats any way they can. But, of course, third party developers have found ways around the Microsoft blunder…and I have included a list of the best free ones in this edition. The boys in Redmond just don’t get it.

Some tech pundits are complaining that Apple has lost their magic mojo. And while their products haven’t changed much lately, that is what people apparently want. In the first 3 months of this year, Apple sold 37.4 million iPhones and 19.5 million iPads, compared to 35.1 million iPhones and 11.8 million iPads in the year-ago quarter. I would say they are doing some things right. Their profit margin did drop to a cool $9.5 billion. I could live with that.

But, there is some great info here, as usual. If you use a router for your Internet Connections, you definitely need to read the latest installment of “Home Networking Explained.” OK…let’s go! - JRC

Somewhere Everywhere, Big Brother Is Smiling: Congress Sells Your Privacy For A Cool $84 Million

In case you were wondering why so many Democrats switched sides during the most recent CISPA vote, the answer is exactly what you think it is: $$$. And lots of it.

Leaked Windows 8.1 Build 9374 disappoints Start button fans

Those of us who are waiting with bated breath for signs of the Start menu's resurrection found a lump of coal in our stockings. Click the Start Button and it opens up Metro.

Google Glass mysteries revealed

After long list of announcements and revelations about Google's cyborg eyewear, here's what we've learned and what it means

How a Webcam Pointed at a Police Radio Won the Internet Friday

A quarter of a million people tuned in to the streaming video image of Uniden Bearcat scanner radio picking up publicly available police communications traffic in Boston.

Home networking explained, part 6: Keep your network secure

f you were concerned after reading CNET's recent report that most home routers can be easily hacked, I don't blame you. The study did sound ominous, but the good news is that your network is likely far less susceptible than the report suggests. And more importantly, there are things you can do to make sure it's secure.

Final arrangements: Hitting the digital dead man's switch

Go beyond Google -- here's how to automatically wrap up your online affairs and ensure a proper digital burial after you die

When Mobile Photography Beats Traditional Photography

There are 9 benefits of mobile cameras over traditional cameras. They include accessibility; integrated capture, edit and share functions; simplicity; access to the work of other photographers; reduced clutter; the focus on composition; and fun.

How to minimize noise in digital photos

Film grain was every photographer’s nemesis. Instead of smooth, natural textures, grain put ugly blotches all over a photo. And though the days of grainy photos are far behind us, digital photos have a similar problem: digital noise.

Best Free Windows 8 Start Menu Replacement

If you use Windows 8, here are three free programs to bring back the desktop. The best of the free applications is Classic Shell. If you are using Windows 8 and wish you had the familiar desktop back, give it a try.

Need To Trim An MP3 File? Do It Online.

Do you need to download and install an audio file editor, just to trim the ends of an MP3 track? Thankfully, no. You can do it all online, for free.

Final arrangements: Hitting the digital dead man's switch

Go beyond Google -- here's how to automatically wrap up your online affairs and ensure a proper digital burial after you die

Controversial Privacy Bill Passes The House

While it is a long way from being passed into law and the President is already threatening a veto, the controversial Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (or CISPA) has been passed by the House.

CISPA is designed to let the federal government work with private companies to fight hackers and cybercriminals in and outside of the United States. As part of the effort to detect cyber threats, private companies could voluntarily share with the government data about Internet users, without a warrant.

While the intention of the bill is honorable, we all know that the road to hell is paved with good intentions…and governments throughout history have all wanted to know more about us than is necessary. Still a long way to go on this bill, so stay tuned.

There is a new series starting on “Going Google”…the first installment on moving to Gmail is our story #6. While I am becoming less and less enchanted with Google, you might be feeling different. So beginning in this edition, I will post links to the upcoming articles as they appear.

Well, with all this said and done, let’s take a look at all that is new. -JRC

CISPA passes U.S. House: Death of the Fourth Amendment?

The controversial cybersecurity bill has passed the U.S. House and is now on its way to the Senate chamber. Privacy groups believe this tramples on the Fourth Amendment.

Top Wi-Fi routers easy to hack, says study

The most popular home wireless routers are easily hacked and there's little you can do to stop it, says a new study by research firm Independent Security Evaluators. But there are some things you can do to make them safer.

Finally, Twitter Music is available to all

Weeks after CNET first reported on the new service, Twitter has finally let the public in on its new #music app through the Web and iOS.

Two free, full-blown alternatives to MS Office

As Microsoft’s Office has grown in size and complexity, more than a few users have wondered whether there’s a viable alternative — especially when it comes time to pay for an upgrade or new copy. There are very few alternatives. Two — Open Office and LibreOffice — provide the core functionality of classic versions of Microsoft Office and are completely free!

Now That We Have All These Devices, It's Time For Them To Truly Work Together

It's time for someone to take the next step, and bring our devices together in ways that maximize the truly amazing potential they have as a collective, which dwarfs even the impressive things they can now all do on their own.

Going Google (apps), Part 1: Move your mail

Are you getting tired of struggling with Microsoft’s increasingly complex, sometimes arcane, and always expensive versions of Office? This article, the first in a series, will show you how easy it is to move from bloated and pricey desktop programs to fast, free — though somewhat less capable — Google apps.

Get Organized: 5 Handy Tricks in Microsoft Word

That pesky line in the middle of your document is back! And what's up with all that unwanted formatting from pasted text? Learn how to fix these problems, as well as master three other productivity tricks in Microsoft Word.

Become an Evernote power user: 10 must-know tips

Evernote is friendly when you’re getting started with it, but the more you use it, the more your notes can pile up, threatening your productivity.

The techiest cars of 2013

Edmunds.com and PCWorld/TechHive collaborated to identify and review the ten 2013 automobiles that are doing the most interesting things with in-car technology, and doing them well.

Microsoft’s six free desktop security tools

Whether you’re keeping your PC free from malware or cleaning up a PC that’s already infected, one or more of these tools should get the job done! Most Windows users probably don’t know that Microsoft offers an array of free security tools. Some are included with Windows, others available by download.

Holy Rumors, Batman!! Microsoft May Restore Start Button

I think you know by now I hate publishing rumors. Too many rumors are published as fact as many never happen. But this latest Windows rumors comes from two very reliable sources.

Mary Jo Foley, a ZDNet reporter and blogger, is reporting Microsoft is strongly considering restoring the Start Button to Windows 8.1 (Microsoft Blue) AND giving users the option to bypass the Metro Start Screen and go right to the desktop.

The Verge, another excellent technology Web site, says they confirmed that Microsoft is testing the bypass to boot directly to the Desktop. But they stop short of saying it will be implemented and make no reference to the Start Button.

These two missing items are the biggest complaints against Windows 8. I’ve said from the beginning that if those two things were included in Windows 8, it may not have been such a horrible flop. Again, remember these are just rumors right now…but good ones. We will keep you updated.

On another subject, last week we actively reported that PC sales are the worst they have been in many years and that Windows 8 is the main reason why. While that may be true, the story needs to be put in perspective.

Stories like this use percentages for comparisons…to me the real story is actual numbers. In the last fiscal quarter, around 75 million desktop computers were sold. Now, compare that to Apple iPad sales…they’ve sold 100 million iPad in 3 years! An excellent number…but that is 3 years worth of sales compared to 3 months of PC sales. So, the PC computer is a long way from being dead. A good OS could bring it back to life. For more, check out story #5.

Lots of other interesting stories, information, and software tips. So you best get started. -JRC

Dish launches $25B bid for Sprint

Dish Network is offering Sprint shareholders a total consideration of $25.5 billion, consisting of $17.3 billion in cash and $8.2 billion in stock.

Verizon unveils $35 prepaid mobile phone plan

The new plan offers 500 monthly minutes of talk time and unlimited texting and Internet but is available only for feature phones.

Guantanamo legal files mysteriously disappear from PCs

Legal documents by lawyers representing detainees charged with plotting 9/11 vanish, while hundreds of thousands of e-mails also land on the computers of prosecuting attorneys.

Microsoft pulls Patch Tuesday security fix

Tech giant Microsoft has recommended that an update released in the latest Patch Tuesday be removed, after users reported incidents of the "blue screen of death" after installation.

'Post-PC' does not mean 'no PC'

The accelerating decline of PC sales doesn't mean they'll disappear, but it means computing will change dramatically

Microsoft is Ending Support for Windows XP in 2014: What You Need to Know

Starting on April 8, 2014, no new security patches for Windows XP will be produced. Windows XP will remain vulnerable as new patches are found, and Microsoft will advise you upgrade your operating system. Microsoft will also no longer offer any technical support for Windows XP.

Facebook Home gets SMACKDOWN from irate users

Facebook's app that takes over mobile phones has been met with a flurry of negative reviews, as people complain at just how much Facebook Zuck & Co. have put into their phones.

Who needs MS Office for iOS and Android? CloudOn's here now

Microsoft's much-rumored Office app for iOS and Android may not pop up until later next year. But CloudOn's Office app fills the bill quite nicely.

Get Organized: Tidy Up Your Camera Bag

What should hobbyist photographers carry besides their cameras, and how can you organize all this stuff to keep all your equipment safe?

The 100 Best iPhone Apps

An iPhone without apps is like a computer without software. Here are the best 100 apps we know and love. If you have an iPhone, you should get to know them, too.

Best Free Android Apps

This list of Best Free Android Apps now includes 213 apps in 117 categories.

Damn! I Really Wanted a Microsoft-Free Day

I was reminded today just how far tech has come in my lifetime. I sat at the pool on another glorious Tucson day alternately watching the Giants/Cubs game and Round 1 of the Masters…both in hi-def on my iPad. I was also playing Angry Birds Rio on my iPhone and had my Kindle at-hand in case I got bored.

I thought to myself that all these tech tools that keep me entertained and informed are only a few years old. Not that long ago, all I could do was bring a book to the pool, or a portable radio to listen to a baseball game. I see college kids at the pool doing their homework and takings tests on their laptops and tablets. I am told many college courses require a computer and a connection to the Internet…or you can’t take the class. When I went to college, all I had was a typewriter.

Believe me, I am not saying those were the good old days…far from it. I love most of the tech innovations that are now so ingrained in our lives. It’s just that every so often I remember where we were and where we are now. It’s a form of nostalgia, but in reverse. Can’t wait to see what I will take to the pool next year.

I don’t mean to continually beat-up on Microsoft, but things just keep happening that make news for Microsoft…mostly bad. I will be the first to admit I am angry at Microsoft. Not because I want to be…far from it.

I have been using Microsoft products since the 1980’s to get things done on computers. Most of what I do in business, photography and writing could not have been done without the forward thinking of Microsoft and their products…from DOS to Windows to Office and more. In fact, this blog is written using Microsoft Writer…the best blogging tool out there. Microsoft has been my champions…and for years I looked forward to their next set of innovations.

Then along comes Windows 8. Was I looking forward to it? You bet. I even installed the first test version on one of my computers. But, they let me (and you) down…big time. What they are trying to foist on us now just gets in the way of productivity. They’ve changed everything…and not for the better. They changed it for the sake of change. And they keep moving forward with it, saying this is their future…whether we like it or not…and we don’t.

I don’t know what happened to common sense in Redmond. Its like the company is being run by drunken sailors, making changes that make no sense. It makes me angry and also sad. It’s why I now have an iPad and an iPhone. They work and they work well.

I pray to God some changes are made at Microsoft soon to get them back on the right track. My desktop computer is still my most used tech tool. I want it to have a workable future.

Besides the bad news about Microsoft, there are good stories and informative articles here that just might help you out. Thanks for reading. -JRC

IRS claims it can read your e-mail without a warrant

The ACLU has obtained internal IRS documents that say Americans enjoy "generally no privacy" in their e-mail messages, Facebook chats, and other electronic communications.

IDC shows Windows 8 is actively destroying PC sales

Windows 8 is an unimaginably bad OS but you know that. How bad is it? According to no less than IDC’s VP of Clients and Displays it flat-out killed the market.

The death of the PC: Invented by Apple, accelerated by Microsoft

Apple's iPad was designed to change computing, but Microsoft's bungling of Windows dramatically hastened the progress

Five operating system alternatives to Windows 8 and XP

Windows XP's end of life-support is in sight and not everybody wants Windows 8. So, what are your other choices?

Google launches an Inactive Account Manager to help users plan their ‘digital afterlife'

Google launched a new tool called Inactive Account Manger today, which is designed to help users protect or delete their data in the event that they pass away or can no longer access their account.

Surprise: Rep. Bob Goodlatte Thinks The Justice Department Is Too Cozy With Hollywood

Based on his past record, it is interesting to see Goodlatte less-than-happy about some aspect of the DOJ and Hollywood's close and personal relationship.

How to Take Better Photos With Your Smartphone

It won't replace a dedicated digital camera, but that smartphone in your pocket probably has a pretty capable camera. Here's how to up the quality of your cell phone snaps—without relying on Instagram-type filters.

Free Amazon Web Services -- and how to make the most of them

If you avoid some gotchas and keep a close eye on resource usage, you can have a handy server in the Amazon cloud for free.

Get Organized: 15 Productivity Tips From Experts

Who knows productivity practices better than the people who make productivity and task-management apps? Four experts share some advice on how they stay productive.

A dozen tools for removing almost any malware

Need to get a system clean of malware and/or verify that it’s completely malware-free? Use one or more of these free tools to clean up even the worst malware infections — and keep PCs clean.

MusicZen - Freeware download

MusicZen is an easy to use MP3 organizer that enables you to organize your MP3 collection into folders named after the artist, album and year information.

OK, Google. It’s Your Turn Under the Microscope

Google is still taking heat for cancelling its popular Google Reader. And last week, we mentioned how Arthur Frommer reacquired his well known travel book brand from Google because they ceased publication of his long-running travel books. 

But, upon further review, it turns out Google has cancelled many apps and programs over the last 18 months. In fact, over 70 of them have been cancelled. Our second story does a great job of listing them…some probably deserved the guillotine, but others were popular and quite good. In their own way, Google is following in the Microsoft tradition of “my way or the highway.”

It gives one pause before opting in to a Google application. Personally, I am slowly moving away from them whenever I can…when it makes sense, of course. I doubt Google Search or Gmail are going away, but I can assure you others will…for example the newly-announced note taking application, Google Keep. It is trying to compete with Evernote…good luck with that. So I bet a dollar to a donut it will be gone in the next couple of years.

All I am saying is “buyer beware,” when choosing a free Google app. Always have a backup plan. We do have some other good stories and information here, so let’s move forward. -JRC

Facebook wrestles Google for control of your phone

The social-networking giant is inserting itself between consumers and Android, and that should make Google a little nervous.

Google grim reaper: 18 months of killed projects

By my count, Google has discontinued more than 70 free-standing apps and major sets of APIs in eight different "spring cleanings" over the past 18 months. This might make you nervous about adopting Google products for your use.

Hey! You! Get off of Google’s cloud!

Another lesson learned is that no software is forever, whether it comes advertiser-supported, free, or with a price tag.

Vudu resets user passwords after hard drives lost in office burglary

Video service says burglars stole hard drives containing sensitive personal information, including names, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, and some credit card information.

Windows 8 laptops can't command Windows 7 prices

Many of the Windows 7 laptops still available are priced higher than their Windows 8 equivalents, an examination of several online retailers reveals.

Samsung to open mini-stores inside Best Buy

Samsung gets retail space in North America to help it compete with Apple in the race for dominance of the U.S. smartphone market, and Best Buy dedicates more of its space to profitable products like Samsung smartphones, TVs and tablets.

Steve Jobs Worked on Upcoming iPhones, Exec Says

According to a report in the San Francisco Examiner, Apple's Michael Foulkes said during testimony about device kill switch technology that development of the next two generations iPhones preceded current CEO Tim Cook.

Best Android tablets (April 2013 edition)

Don't want to give your money to Apple in exchange for an iPad or iPad mini? No problem! Here are my top 5 Android tablets for April 2013.

Hands on with Outlook.com's new calendar

Just like with Google Calendar, Outlook lets you create new calendars, import them from a file, subscribe to a calendar URL, and share calendars or events with contacts.

What's the Difference Between Ethernet Cables, and Will They Make My Network Faster?

The differences between each type of cable can get very complicated and have a lot to do with network standards, but we'll tell you just what you need to know: how they'll practically affect the speed of your home network.

The Promised Facebook Phone? You May Be Holding It.

For a few years, there have been any number of rumors about a "Facebook phone." Finally today, the big rumor came to fruition. Well, sort of. In fact, there is no Facebook Phone. Instead there is an application called “Home” that will run on Android phones (some new ones, anyway).

Facebook Home, is a home screen interface (or "a family of apps") that can be installed by users on top of Android. Facebook says that the purpose of Home is to shift attention away from tasks and apps to their friends instead. OK. Let’s see if people buy into this. You can read more about “Home” in our first story.

In the last edition, I blasted Microsoft for their update of Outlook.com’s calendar app. It seems I am in the minority. Most critics gave it decent praise. They loved the modern Metro colors that replace the pastel colors of the old Hotmail calendar. I must be getting old. Oh, wait, I am.

I liked the old pastel colors. I also liked the tabs on top where I could easily move the views from  year, to month, to week, to day, and even to tasks. Now, I have to use a drop down menu to choose. In effect, an extra step. The tasks menu, which was never really great, is even worse.

I am not going to stop using Outlook.com. First, there is nothing better for me. Second, I really like the e-mail and contacts interface. They did a really outstanding job here. And the mail, calendar and contacts still sync well with the corresponding Apple apps on my iPhone and iPad. Oh yea…Apple still uses pastel colors…for senior citizens like me.

I have a word of advice for all the folks out their younger than me…just because something is a few years old, it doesn’t mean it needs to be changed. If it works well, don’t change it. If it doesn’t, by all means, change it. And changing colors doesn’t make it better.

I am now off my soapbox…and I hope you find today’s stories to be useful. Yes, there are once again stories that put Microsoft in a bad light. But, they are just the facts. Be sure and check out the story on how to get 100 GB of free cloud storage. I signed up. Let’s go!! - JRC

Facebook unveils 'Home' for Android mobile gadgets

With its new "Home" on Android gadgets, Facebook aims make its social network the hub of people's mobile experiences. The question, now, is whether people want all their Facebook content greeting them every time they look at their phones.

Prices Of Windows 8 Machines Are Falling. Wow, Demand Must Be Red Hot!

Notebook manufacturers appear to be lowering the prices of some Windows 8 notebooks and tablets. Six out of the fourteen Windows 8 notebooks or tablets sold by Microsoft via its Windows Store now come with discounts attached...one of them dropped 30%!

A Not-So-Warm Welcome for Windows 8.1

We now know that Windows Blue will be called Windows 8.1 and is expected to be distributed in August. But we still don't know why Microsoft seems to be pushing the "Metro" aspects of the OS rather than backing off when it is clear nobody likes it.

Analysts say Windows RT tablets price drop means OS has failed

Though Microsoft has not publicly acknowledged the failure of Windows RT, there is already growing concern about the fate of the OS. IDC earlier this month said that Windows RT tablet shipments have been poor, and that consumers have not bought into "Windows RT's value proposition."

Microsoft's next Patch Tuesday to include critical IE and Windows 7 updates

Nine security bulletins will be issued on that day, and two of them will be labeled as "Critical".

Where can you find a PC running Windows 7?

Some of my readers are complaining that they want to avoid Windows 8, but they can't find Windows 7 PCs. Really? I just surveyed the market and found plenty of Windows 7 choices. The secret is knowing where to look.

Why some U.S. homes and businesses still don't have cellular service

While large portions of the U.S. are looking forward to faster wireless broadband, some regions don't have even simple cell phone service. What is being done to help?

Arthur Frommer reacquires travel book brand from Google

Travel expert plans to resume publishing of the travel books, which the Web giant acquired but killed last month.

What to Do with a Hung or Unresponsive Windows 7 Program

Sooner or later it happens to all of us – a Windows program gets hung up and just sits there frozen. You can open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and try to close the hung program or use the command line to kill it. But there is more to this story.

Want 100GB Of Free Cloud-Based Storage?

A new player in the cloud storage market is offering 100 GB of space to the first million people to sign up to its service. However, there's clearly a waiting list for the service, so you won't get your free space right away.

Freeware Chess

Do you like to play chess? Would you play chess against your computer? Here is a simple free chess application. The handling of this program is easy. There is no need to read a manual.

April Fools–Microsoft’s Latest Joke on us

April Fools Day is always a fun day in the tech world. Major tech companies all over the US create April Fools jokes by releasing fake stories that have some sense of believability. If you are a tech writer like myself, you always must be aware of the date when scanning the latest tech stories.

Someone, and I can’t remember who, almost got me last year with a story that was so believable and fantastic I almost posted it here in this blog. Then it hit me what day it was. Saved by my brain.

This year produced a plethora of fake stories…my favorite being Google’s latest update to Gmail…the so-called “Gmail Blue.” They even put out a video announcing this new product. Of course, it didn’t take much to figure out it was a fake…but one has to laugh at Google’s attempt to make fun of Microsoft Blue.

But Microsoft returned the favor by making their Bing search page look identical to Google’s search page. That was cute. My top two stories relate the best of this year’s jokes as well as the best jokes from the past. Just enjoy them for what they are.

However, today, April 2, I thought Microsoft continued the joke with the release of their Outlook.com calendar…after 8 months of waiting. I was looking for something new and exciting in their calendar program. Turns out all they really did was change the colors on my color-coded entries. Now, I have those god-awful Metro colors on my calendar.

We waited eight months for this? Oh, they did change a few things on their entry screen, but nothing worth writing about. And PS: Since they made their change, I have not received one e-mail in the last 7 hours. Not good, especially as I did send myself 3 messages with stories for this edition. If I could afford it, I would go all Apple right now. AGRHHHHH!  

(see follow-up on my adventures with MY Outlook.com account below)

There are some other interesting stories here as well as some good tips…so let’s get to it. –JCR

The Best April Fools' Day 2013 Tech Pranks

From Gmail Blue to the Toshiba Shibasphere, here are some of tech's best April Fools' gags.

10 best techy April Fools' pranks through the ages

Don't worry, you won't see any April Fools' jokes here, but there have been some crackers over the years. Here's just a few.

The genie is out of the bottle: Aereo's court victory and what it means for the TV business

A major appeals court ruling says that Aereo - which lets users watch and record live TV to mobile devices - doesn't violate copyright law. The decision is the biggest blow yet to the existing TV business.

Outlook.com Finally Gets a Modern Calendar Experience

We may never know what took so long, but Microsoft today finally announced that it is transitioning the Outlook.com Calendar to the modern experience that has graced the service’s other components—Mail, People, and SkyDrive—since last year.

Five reasons why the Windows desktop isn't going away

The speculation on the next version of Windows (code-named Blue) is getting out of hand. Based on a few screenshots and one offhand remark from a prominent Windows blogger, one of my colleagues is convinced that the Windows desktop is an endangered species. Nope. Not gonna happen.

Storage wars heat up, as Amazon syncs Cloud Drive

Amazon offers 5GB of free Cloud Drive storage with additional storage available at tiered price plans that start at 20GB for $10 a year.

This Is Not The Cloud Computing We Should Have

Even though I was never a big Google Reader user, its death has got me thinking about online services quite a bit lately -- and really reminded me that we've done the cloud wrong. Rather than build true cloud computing, we've built a bunch of lockboxes.

Get Organized: Change Your Wi-Fi Name and Password

When guests arrive, do you fumble to find that secret slip of paper with random numbers and letters that is your Wi-Fi password? Get organized, and change your Wi-Fi network name and password.

The malware wars: How you can fight it

Malware most often embeds itself with our unwitting help, but even when we have our defenses fully up, malware can still climb aboard. Nevertheless, there are practical and effective ways to defeat it — or clean it out after the fact.

As Mozilla turns 15, Firefox 20 debuts with new privacy

Firefox includes a new enhancement to private browsing that allows you to open a new private browsing window without closing or changing your current browsing session

Tax time! We name the best PC-based solutions for filing your returns

The race is on. As procrastinators gather their W-2 forms and receipts, small-fry tax sites and apps battle with three full-fledged software programs—H&R Block at Home, TaxAct, and TurboTax—for your last-minute filing business.

 

PS: A follow-up on my Outlook.com mail account. Just as I finished this blog, I got one e-mail. Then I started checking…I found out I did get all my e-mail for the last 7 hours, including mail from me to me…it all came in as trash and was sent to the junk mail box. Must be a new Metro feature.