More Internet Doom and Gloom: Complete with F-Bombs

The Verge, a very highly respected tech journal, has published a story saying our beloved Internet is in deep trouble, thanks to Comcast, AT&T, Verizon and others.  They seek to control Internet access and set the prices for everyone…from big Internet companies like Netflix down to what you and I pay. (Warning, the story contains profanity to demonstrate the seriousness of the issue)

Worse, they have no plans to improve the Internet infrastructure because they don’t have to. They have a virtual monopoly guaranteed them by our own government.  In South Korea, the customers can expect 300 MBPS for a lot less money than we pay for average speeds of 15-20MBPS. And, according to the article, Americans pay more for these slower wireless speeds than anyone else in the world!

Of course, Washington could help by blocking the Comcast/Time Warner merger, but don’t count on it. Comcast has over 100 lobbyists in Washington to make sure Comcast’s wishes are followed. What we really need is a guarantee of Net Neutrality but don’t look for it from our government. They have sold their souls to the devils of greed.

Our second story relates how Netflix has succumbed to Comcast’s underhanded dealings and signed a new agreement with them to make sure there are no more Netflix service slow-downs that have become quite common at Comcast. Look for more agreements with other carriers coming soon. Also look for price increases at Netflix.

I urge you to read our first story to fully understand what is going on with our once-free and open Internet. -JRC

 

News and Opinions

The Internet is Really Messed Up (Profanity in Title Deleted by Editor)

(Warning...lots of "f-bombs" here) Massive companies like AT&T and Comcast have spent the first two months of 2014 boldly announcing plans to close and control the Internet through additional fees, pay-to-play schemes, and sheer brutal size...

Confirmed: Comcast and Netflix have signed a paid peering agreement

It’s officially confirmed. Comcast customers will likely have a better Netflix experience thanks to the Comcast and Netflix signing a direct interconnection agreement. Its proof that blackmail still works. Netflix customers should expect price increases.

MasterCard program will protect credit card purchases using your smartphone's location

With this system, the credit card company will simply check the location on your smartphone to see if you're in the same place as your card.

Microsoft to Cut Windows Licensing Price by 70% to Compete with Apple and Google

Microsoft is set to cut pricing of Windows 8.1 by 70 percent for computer and tablet manufacturers, according to Bloomberg, partly due to increased competition from both Apple and Google in the PC space.

Google Maps update finally goes live

The revamp features a cleaner new look, as well as tweaked search tools and improved directions tools, and lets users view locations in 3D using Google Earth.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

The 9 Best Browser-Based Photo Editing Tools

These editing tools are all free for basic edits, though some offer ad-free premium services for a reasonable price. Most rely on Flash, so be sure to first update your browser’s Flash plug-in for optimal functionality.

Google adds 'unsubscribe' button in Gmail for all users

Google has now provided a useful tool to get rid of those annoying subscriptions that you may or may have not signed up for, and even taking the trouble to locate an unsubscribe button in those unwanted promotional emails

Simple Guidelines for Protecting Your Gmail Account

Google offers quite a few tools to help you keep unwanted persons out of your account, but they only work if you activate them.

7 Free Things You Can Do On Amazon Without Spending A Single Dime

This is about diving into Amazon’s depths and coming up with useful free resources you can make use of.

One tweak can make your Windows PC virtually invulnerable

In its 2013 Microsoft Vulnerabilities Study, Avecto found that you could mitigate almost every single Critical vulnerability simply by removing administrator rights. The exact number was 92 percent.

 

Mobile Computing

Apple Fixed A Bug In iOS 7. It’s A Doozy

On Friday Apple announced a fix to a security bug in its iOS 7 system without much fanfare. Saturday, Web security experts parsed the patch to figure out what exactly the problem was… And apparently it’s very serious. If you haven't already downloaded it to your iPhone or iPad, do it NOW!

25 Tips for Mastering iPhone Photography

You can achieve higher quality photographs by attaining a basic understanding of photographic principles, learning to use some of the great photo apps available to you, and nurture a passion to succeed as a photographer and artist.

How to get your family photos onto your iPad

The iPad can make a great family photo album, provided it has your photos on it. This article will go over some of the best ways to put your favorite photos on to the iPad.

Mobile World Congress 2014

Here is all the latest news coming out of this year's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona including and in-depth look at the brand new Galaxy S5. This is the biggest mobile computing show in the world so take a look and see what is coming your way.

The 5 Commandments For Choosing The Right To-Do App For Productivity

Author: I have a confession to make. I’m an obsessive to-do list tester. In the past five years I think I’ve tested approximately 20 productivity management tools, and I’ve yet to stick with a single one.

Microsoft Admits Windows 8 Metro is for Tech Dummies

I am encouraged that the FCC is looking to rewrite the Net Neutrality Rules (see story #1). As you may recall, a court struck down their last set of regulations on a legal technicality. So now, companies like Verizon and Comcast can set their own regulations about which Web sites run at what speeds (like Netflix). I hope the FCC has the courage to complete this task as they will be fought every step of the way by the aforementioned companies as well as the lobbyists and Congressmen they control.

In our second story, Microsoft now says that Windows 8 was forced on us to satisfy the needs of non-tech savvy people and admitted it was not for power users or other folks who know how to run a computer. That is fine…but they did such a poor job implementing this system for dummies that it is virtually worthless for almost everybody. And the Metro part of Windows is for tablets, not for desktops. If you want to see how a tablet should work, just look at the iPad. It works for techies and dummies.

We do have some other interesting stories which should peak your interest…or at least I hope so. -JRC

 

News and Opinions

FCC to rewrite Net neutrality rules

The FCC's chairman says the agency won't challenge a federal appeals court decision to throw out its Open Internet rules and will instead take another crack at writing new regulations.

Windows 8 designer: Why Microsoft forced Metro on us all

Microsoft designed its Metro, aka Modern, interface for "your computer-illiterate little sister, for grandpas who don't know how to use that computer 'dofangle' thingy, and for mom who just wants to look up apple pie recipes."

Google Fiber chooses nine metro areas for possible expansion

Google is "hitting the road" to meet with these cities, and "conducting detailed studies of factors that affect construction plans in each place, like topography (e.g. hills, flood zones), housing density, and the condition of local infrastructure.

OneDrive Goes Live

A rebranding and expansion of SkyDrive, OneDrive provides some additional new features, and storage and payment options. But the bigger message here, perhaps, is the service's new stated focus on cross platform interoperability.

Microsoft relaunches Office Web Apps as Office Online

The rebranded online suite now offers its own startup Web page, a lineup of new templates, and easier ways to jump from one app to another.

Asus router vulnerabilities go unfixed despite reports

You may not think of your Wi-Fi router as a wide-open barn door between your computer and the Internet, but for many Asus router owners, it is.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Sorting out the revolution in PC backups: Part 2

In Part 1 of this two-part series, I gave an overview of the five major types of backup technologies available today for Windows PCs. Part 2 shows the enormous speed differences in backup methods; it also includes some real-life scenarios to help you pick the best method for your needs.

OneDrive, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Box: Which cloud storage service is right for you?

If you're ready to take the plunge into storing your files, photos, and more in the cloud, but need help deciding which service is right for your needs and wallet, we've got you covered.

Tips for Printing and Hanging Photos

"Why is decorating your walls with photos and artwork so difficult? It may tax your creative design abilities, but a few tech tips can make the project easier to accomplish. "

7 Secret Gmail Features You Didn't Know Existed

Even if you think you know everything there is to know about Gmail, the email service near and dear to our hearts, there's always a trick or two you may not have heard of.

How to Send Gmail Attachments to Google Drive

You neither have to install any browser extensions (the program uses Google Scripts) nor do you have to grant access to your Gmail or Google Drive accounts to a third-party.

 

Mobile Computing

Get more done with these 10 great Android business apps

Thanks to a lot of business-friendly smartphone apps, it’s becoming quite possible to make your primary computing device a smartphone.

Enable Private Browsing for Safari in iOS 7

Here is a refresher on how to enable this convenient little iPad surfing feature.

26 ways to improve your iPhone's battery life

Apple's latest iPhones still don't pack as much battery life as some of their nearest competitors. But by applying a few system tweaks, you can improve your iPhone's battery life considerably. Here's how you can conserve your mobile's power.

How to get your iTunes music onto Android

If you've been a long time user of an iPod, iPhone or iPad there's a good chance that the majority of your digital music collection is in iTunes. While there is no iTunes for Android, there are actually a few different ways for you to get your groove on.

Apple's smart magnet tech could spawn new class of connected iPad accessories

An Apple patent application describes an intelligent magnetic attachment system that provides an interface for an iPad to connect and communicate with a variety of accessory devices

Should You Be Nervous About Comcast Merger? Hell Yes!

I’ve been reading and listening to reports about the Comcast purchase of Time Warner Cable. And they make me very nervous. The bottom line is that one of the most hated companies in all of America will control not only what we see on TV, but more importantly, the will control the flow information on the Internet.

There are already reports that they are throttling the speed of Netflix across the Net, even though they have a written agreement that they will not do it. These folks already have a monopoly on cable in the areas they serve. It was given to them by our own government to help them protect their investment in equipment.

The problem is there equipment is already outdated when compared to fiber optic equipment. But, by having a monopoly, they have no need to invest in modern, up-to-date Internet equipment. That is why the US is falling further and further behind in Internet speeds. Monopolies kill any need for innovation in favor of lining their own pockets. 

Our hope is that the FCC will not approve the merger, but remember the chairman of the FCC is a former cable guy…and Comcast has enough money and power in DC that they just might get this through the system. Many experts are predicting that this exactly what will happen. I hope the folks in Washington have the guts to say no…but don’t count on it.

As always, there is more to this edition than just Comcast, so I hope you will find some good things here. -JRC

 

News and Opinions

Comcast takeover of Time Warner Cable 'will throttle choice on the web'

Angry consumer groups say proposed $45.2bn mega-deal will drive up costs for millions – and call on FCC to block takeover

Why you should be scared of Comcast and Time Warner Cable merging

If the move is approved by federal regulators, it could cement the kind of monolithic monopolies that have plagued cable subscribers all along, raising concerns over net neutrality and competition in the marketplace.

Google, Microsoft, others form group to expand Wi-Fi

A mission statement describes the coalition as "ad hoc, broad-based group of companies, organizations and public sector institutions working to alleviate the Wi-Fi spectrum crunch and to support making Wi-Fi even better by finding more unlicensed spectrum.

Passwords which cannot be hacked by hackers ever

A computer scientist in Dubai has managed to program a new way, “geographical passwords” in order to help and protect the online accounts so that hackers can’t be able to access.

Windows 7 to be Available on Consumer PCs Through October

Microsoft revealed today that it will allow PC makers to continue preinstalling Windows 7 on new consumer PCs through October 31, 2014. Left unsaid, however, is when it will cut off Windows 7 preinstalls on business PCs.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

How to protect your PC in the web's worst neighborhoods

Protect yourself by learning about the web’s most common dangers, and how to avoid them. Also, take some basic steps to make your PC more resistant to harm.

Cloud storage made simple: How to integrate it with your workflow

Many users still haven’t fully worked the cloud into the way they go about their daily business. Here's how to seamlessly integrate the cloud into your workflow, starting with the most crucial part: Choosing a service that plays nice with your PC.

15+ Awesome Google+ Tricks You Might Not Know About

Google is slowly but surely improving Google+ and trying to bring the social network to the masses. Yet some of Google+'s best features are less than obvious for those who are still wondering what the point of it is.

How to Fix a Computer that Keeps Waking Up

In this tip, I will describe several settings in your system that may keep waking up your PC. The discussion is for Windows Vista/7. You will generally need administrator privileges to make system changes.

Four Creative Uses for Your Old SD Cards

If you've been through a couple of smartphones by now, or have owned more than one digital camera in your lifetime, you probably have a few SD cards lying around that you don't know what to do with.

 

Portable Computing

5 Great Apps for Working Out at Home

If severe weather has you cooped up in the house, these five Android and iOS apps can keep your muscles from atrophying, no matter what your fitness level.

BattSaver For iOS 7 Released, Aims To Double Your iPhone’s Battery Life

BattSaver, a tweak which has just been updated for iOS 7 at the BigBoss repo, does exactly that, helping you save every last droplet of battery life wherever possible

Is Gmail sucking the life out of your Android smartphone?

This is a quick tip for all my fellow Android users. Have you noticed that your Android smartphone is always warm to the touch or that your battery life has taken a nose dive?

How to Remotely Install Apps to iPhone / iPad from iTunes on a Mac or PC

All you need is iTunes on OS X or Windows logged into the same Apple ID as what’s used on the iOS device, and the rest is easier than you’d probably expect.

Verizon Price Cuts and Two Giant Cable Companies Merge

It’s 82 degrees outside right now here in Tucson, and I don’t have a whole lot to say about technology. So I am going to let you read all the stories without my help…while I head back outside and enjoy this beautiful weather. -JRC

 

News and Opinions

Verizon confirms 'More Everything,' brings price cuts, more data, global texting

The nation's largest wireless carrier is finally responding to the cuts taken by T-Mobile, AT&T, and Sprint.

Comcast to buy Time Warner Cable for $45.2 billion

This deal combines the two largest U.S. cable operators. It immediately raises questions as to whether it will pass the scrutiny of anti-trust regulators.

Google brings Windows apps to Chrome OS in latest Microsoft attack

The approach of low-cost devices and a modern cloud-powered OS has left Microsoft a little nervous, but Google is now launching the next stage of its continued attack: the enterprise.

The US is switching from credit card signatures to PINs

US banks and merchants may finally shift to a more secure way of authorizing credit card transactions in which customers will enter a personal identification number (PIN) at checkout instead of signing a receipt. The US is the last major market in the world using the signature system, which is part of the reason why a disproportionate amount of credit card fraud happens here.

Firefox's new interface is almost here

You may have to wait a few more weeks to get it, but here is a sneak peak (video) of the new Firefox Web browser, code named Australis.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

13 tough questions about computer security

Security novices often ask great questions, and these student queries elicit responses worth a short security course. Some of their questions might be the same as yours.

Check Your Internet Security, Or Locate An IP Address

How can you test that your firewall is working? The answer is to perform a port scan. This means that you need to persuade another computer on the internet, outside of your own home or office network, to try connecting to your IP address on all the common ports (or channels). "

PhotoSift - A free utility to help you sort photos

PhotoSift can help you quickly organize unsorted images from one directory into multiple destination folders with the help of keyboard shortcuts.

Sorting out the revolution in PC backups

Over the past few years, backup technology has improved so much that you’re virtually guaranteed you’ll never lose important files or other data. But with so many good options available, it can be difficult to settle on the backup method — or methods — exactly right for you.

12 Most Efficient Ways To Use Evernote Beyond "Everything"

Deep down, Evernote is subtly whispering “productivity and efficiency” — if only everyone could hear it. Sometimes we need a recommendation or two for what’s best on the menu to get us started. Here are 12 of them

 

Portable Computing

iPad Tips: iOS 7 Gesture Guide

Gestures on the iPad can really speed things up on a productivity level. Here is a guide to all of the major gestures in iOS 7. Practice makes perfect here and the more you use these gestures, the more you will find yourself flying through your iPad.

30 iPhone and iPad tips and tricks to make you faster and more efficient

Here are a list of tip and tricks that will help you be more productive when using your iPad and iPhone, whether you use it for work or play.

How I learned to stop worrying and love my creepy smartphone

As our contextual information reaches the cloud, smartphones will get more personal and anticipate everything we want.

Best Free Radio Broadcasting for Android

TuneIn Radio wins this award and is undoubtedly one of the most popular apps giving you a great opportunity to tune in and listen to local and worldwide radio stations on your Android phones and tablets wherever you go.

Warning: Flappy Bird fakes are hatching Android malware

Security firms have found Flappy Bird-like applications running malware in a host of third-party Android app marketplaces

Just Another Bad Day for Windows 8

Our first story may look like one of the many stories published here and other places about the disaster that it Windows. But, in this case, it was written by one of Microsoft’s biggest supporters… Paul Thurrott. He has been writing and speaking about Microsoft and Windows for many years. He runs WinSuperSite.com and appears weekly on the Podcasts “Windows Weekly” and “What the Tech” is also the author of several books about Windows, one of which is on my desk (Windows 7 Secrets)…and I just downloaded his latest book on Windows 8 to try and help me figure out the mess on my laptop…called Windows 8.1.

So when he publishes and article like this one, everyone, including Microsoft, should listen carefully. I respect and enjoy what he writes and listen nearly every week to his podcasts. I have disagreed with him more than a few times, especially when he talks about Windows 8. Well, in our first article today, he is throwing in the towel and jumping over to my side. Needless to say I was shocked…and delighted. I can hardly wait to hear his podcasts in the next couple of days. 

Well, there is more to this blog that Windows 8, so let’s just move forward from here. -JRC

PS: Sorry for being late with this edition but our Internet connection has been down for 24 hours. – JRC

 

News and Opinions

What the Heck is Happening to Windows?

Windows 8 is not well-designed. It's a mess. But Windows 8 is a bigger problem than that. Windows 8 is a disaster in every sense of the word. This is not open to debate, is not part of some cute imaginary world where everyone's opinion is equally valid or whatever. Windows 8 is a disaster. Period.

Today We Fight Back Against Mass Surveillance

Since June, ongoing revelations about the NSA's activities have shown us the expanding scope of government surveillance. Today is the day people around the world are demanding an end to mass spying.

Tim Berners-Lee: We need a Web that's open and international

In an interview with Wired, the inventor of the World Wide Web stresses the importance of an open environment following efforts by certain countries to centralize the Web

Microsoft OneDrive to debut with Dropbox-like bonus storage

Microsoft announced its OneDrive rebranding of SkyDrive recently, and it appears the service will soon debut with some new additions.

Microsoft to patch Windows, Forefront this month

This Patch Tuesday will see just five updates and just two critical. Every version of Windows is affected

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Convert PDF To Word

Convertii (www.convertii.com) is a free online service that lets you convert a PDF file to an editable MS Word document. It's better than many such converters I've tried, in that the results it produces are pretty good. It's totally free to use.

Google Now notifications now in Chrome beta

Google Now notification cards are coming to desktop versions of Google Chrome, but if you're running the Chrome beta you can get them, well, now.

How to Stay Anonymous Online

Privacy is not just about government spying; it's also about how much big companies like Google, Facebook, and Microsoft have collected about you in order to serve up targeted ads.

Top 10 DIY Office Upgrades

So maybe your workspace isn't a cluttered mess, but maybe it just isn't the haven of productivity you wish it was. If you're looking to upgrade to something more impressive, here are 10 cheap DIY upgrades to make it a battlestation worthy of your time."

Windows XP: What to expect once Microsoft shuts down support

Even though the world won't end because of Microsoft's withdrawal of support for Windows XP, those left clinging to the OS after April's deadline still face a number of issues.

 

Portable Computing

MediaMonkey 4.1 Adds Wireless Syncing, iOS 7 Compatibility, and More

MediaMonkey, one of our favorite media players for Windows, updated to version 4.1 today, bringing a bunch of long-awaited features—especially for syncing Android and iOS devices.

Google Now gets Olympics cards and new commands

The Google Now app… Excuse me, that is to say, Google Now within the Google Search app received new functionality today, bringing options for event reminders, new voice commands and quick access to the Olympics

5 great Android apps that do amazing things the iPhone can’t

The simple truth is that there are still tons of amazingly useful things Android devices can do that the iPhone and other iOS devices simply cannot.

Game Over: You Can't Download 'Flappy Bird' Anymore

Creator Dong Nguyen officially pulled the app from Apple's App Store and Android's Google Play platform, saying he could no longer handle the pressure and stress following its instant success.

Candy Crush, Outlook among top battery-sucking Android apps?

"An analysis of which apps most suck the life out of your phone's battery claims that two well-known names are near the top."

Sochi Says Hello World…Sony VAIO Says Bye-Bye

Yes indeed, it is time for the Winter Olympics to begin. But apparently nobody told the city of Sochi. From all I have read, the city is nowhere near ready for the flood of reporters and tourists that are descending on this Russian city. Hotels are not finished, wild dogs roam the city streets, the water is bad, and corruption rules. And the Olympic Torch has gone out 44 times so far. So glad I am not there for this one. You should read the excellent Washington Post article, “15 signs that Russia is not very ready for the Olympics.”

Not a lot of earth shattering news in the tech world…the biggest being that Sony has sold their VAIO division to a local company. From this point on, their desktop and laptop computers will only be sold in Japan. I think very few consumers and businesses will miss them.

From this point on, you are on your own. Enjoy the read! -JRC

 

News and Opinions

Sony exits PC market with VAIO sale

Sony has quit the PC market, confirming the sale of its VAIO unit to a local private equity fund. Bottom line…Vaio computers will only be available in Japan.

A last reprieve for the enduring Windows XP?

By now, every Windows XP user and his third cousin should know that on April 8, the clock runs out on the venerable OS. But recent developments might give XP users a bit of a reprieve. When and how Microsoft will blink are the open questions.

Windows 8.1 Update 1 now looking like April

Microsoft's new ship target for its coming Windows 8.1 Update 1 may have shifted from March to April, according to sources.

Eight things CEO Nadella needs to do to jump-start Microsoft

It's hard to knock a company that last quarter generated $24.5 billion in revenue, but Nadella takes the reins at a time when there are increasing questions about Microsoft's direction and future source of growth.

Olympic Athletes Told To Cover Apple Logos On Devices So Apple Doesn't Get Any Free Promotion

Apparently, athletes are being told to cover the Apple logo on any electronics they have, because Samsung is the big consumer electronics sponsor for this Olympics, and the Olympic Committee can't let any brand possibly get free support.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

10 cool free Chrome extensions

There are extensions that stand alone, and others that add value to existing apps and web services. Some are so useful that Chrome users should take a look and see what they are missing.

How To Remove Yourself From The Internet

"If you’re serious about deleting your online profiles, you might be surprised: It’s more difficult than you'd think to completely erase yourself from the Internet. "

The truth about your PC: These benchmark tools tell all

Just how fast is your PC? Is your laptop's battery up to snuff? Benchmarking software can tell you this. Once the province of PC builders and tuners, the best packages available today are accessible to mainstream users as well

Automatically Make Continuous Backups of Personal Files with Windows 8/8.1 File History

If backing up your files always seems like the chore you never get around to and you have Windows 8.x, you will welcome a new feature called “File History”. It makes it very easy to set up frequent and automatic backups of your personal files and data. However, it is disabled by default. Here’s how to enable it.

Daily Todo Is a Simple To-Do Manager for Recurring Tasks

There are lots of awesome, simple web tools for your task lists, but Daily Todo focuses on helping you manage the items in your day-to-day routine. I am using it and it is quite good.

The Best Travel Sites

Looking to plan and book a bargain getaway? Traveling in a rush for an emergency? The best travel websites will help get you where you're going at a price you can afford.

 

Portable Computing

How to stream the Olympic Winter Games

Here's the rundown of how you can stream the Olympics to your computer and mobile devices-all 15 sports, and all 98 events.

Apple Says Fix Coming for iOS 7 Home Screen Crashes – It’s About Time

If you’ve been using iOS 7 for any length of time, then you’re likely aware that it’s prone to pretty frequent crashes at random times.

Facebook Paper (for iPhone) Review & Rating

While I personally find no value in Facebook's new app, other reviewers are quite giddy about it. This review might help you decide whether to add it to your iPhone.

Top Seven Picks For The Best New Android Apps Of January 2014

January is generally held as a gloomy month, a time when there's nothing but slush on the ground and crap in the movie theaters. But it gave us more than a few fine apps, which you should take the opportunity to peruse.

Amazon’s 100 Books to Read in a Lifetime

As with most lists like this, there will be a lot of debate. I’m surprised at what seems like a high number of recent books, but I perhaps shouldn’t be.

The Wait is Over! Microsoft Has a New CEO

The Steve Ballmer era at Microsoft is now officially over. Satya Nadella is the new CEO of Microsoft. Never heard of him? Me neither. But he well known inside the company and is responsible for many of the operations that have made Microsoft a great deal of money.

But wait…there is more! Bill Gates is stepping down as Chairman of the Board, to be replaced by board member John Thompson, the man who headed the search for the new CEO. Nadella asked Gates to serve as a "technology advisor" for new consumer products. According to Microsoft, this means Gates will be more involved with the company than he has in quite a while.

So, what this will mean for the Redmond-based company’s future is unknown at this time, but I suspect Windows will be de-emphasized in favor of more profitable ventures (see story #2). I look forward to good days ahead for Microsoft as I am sure many stockholders are also.

If you would like to read the new CEO’s first letter to Microsoft employees, click on this link. I found it very interesting and liked what he had to say.

So that is my big news of the day. But be sure and look at some of our other stories as well as tips and tricks. - JRC

 

News and Opinions

Microsoft Names Satya Nadella As Its New CEO

After a five-month search, Microsoft has named Satya Nadella its new CEO. He's the third CEO in the company's history. Bill Gates will step down as Chairman.

Microsoft De emphasize Windows

A report this week claims that an activist investor who will soon join Microsoft's board of directors will fight to convince the firm to lessen its reliance on Windows. As it turns out, that's actually a fine idea. More to the point, Microsoft is already moving in that direction anyway."

Windows XP rules, at Windows 7 and 8's expense

Internet usage for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 stagnate between December and January, even as XP's share grew

2013 most vulnerable systems & software: It's not just Internet Explorer

While unsurprisingly Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Java were very vulnerable, Google's Chrome operating system was listed as the third most vulnerable system in 2013.

Healthcare.gov appeals system not working

Tens of thousands of enrollment errors were made in the site's first months. Appeals of those errors are sitting unprocessed.

 

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Why We Use Email for Everything and How We Can Be Better Emailers

What began as a messaging service has now become a document exchange point and archive for 76 percent of people.

Publish and Manage Online Newsletters For Friends And Family

It's designed to allow you to send your regular or occasional newsletters to groups of people. You can add subscribers manually, by entering their email addresses, or point people at your web-based signup form so that they can sign themselves up.

9 free tools that make Windows much better

Windows is packed to the rafters with features, many of them great—and others, just meh. Luckily, there are free alternatives that are more powerful, more efficient, and take only minutes to install

Bigger, better, faster: LibreOffice 4.2

The leading open-source alternative to Microsoft Office is looking better than ever

Combine Pocket with Evernote for a Clutter-Free, Paperless System

Pocket may be our favorite read-it-later app, and Evernote is a great digital filing cabinet (if you make good use of it). Use them together, however, and you can have a more organized system for saving everything you want to read or refer to later.

 

Portable Computing

22 of the Best iOS Apps From January

With 2014 well and truly underway, here’s a quick snapshot of some of the best new iOS apps from January.

Which Android security apps are the most effective?

A recent test by the folks at AV-Test reveals the winners and losers among security software for Google's mobile OS.

The 25 Best Windows Phone Apps

Microsoft's mobile OS may not have caught up to iPhone or Android in sheer number of apps available, but the gap is shrinking when it comes to must-have apps.

Top Android tablets (February 2014 edition)

Want a tablet but don't want to buy a svelte iPad Air or the petite iPad mini because you want to stay away from the Apple walled garden? Not a problem! Here are my top Android tablets for February 2014 – and this month we have a couple of new entries. And for those of you with limited carry space, there's a phablet for you to lust over."

SwiftKey’s Predictive Keyboard Now Available on iPad

SwiftKey has come up with a solution for awkward typing on the iPad. The predictive keyboard app gives you suggestions on words while you type so you don’t have to worry about misspelled words, capitalizations, and switching between numbers and symbols as much. The app learns from your choices, as well. Eventually, you’ll be tapping more words than you are typing.

Facebook to Debut a News Reader Next Week (Yawn)

Apple and Microsoft both announced their earnings reports this week. And, to no one’s surprise, both made money…Microsoft made most of their money in the commercial division. Apple made their money in the iPhone arena. Interestingly Apple made more than double the bottom line profits of Microsoft. Microsoft touted their 1.9 million sales of the Surface tablet. Apple sold 26 million iPads. Go figure.

Google will shortly announce their earnings, but they just took a huge hit by selling its money-losing Motorola Mobility Division for $10 billion less than they paid for it.

Facebook did well in its earnings and today announced a News Reader premiering next weak on iOS (see story #1). I will take a look at it next week and let you know what I think.

So, why not just read on and see what else this edition holds. Enjoy your weekend and the Super Bowl.  - JRC

 

News and Opinions

Facebook Announces Paper, A Curated Visual News Reader Launching Feb. 3

You miss great content because you aren’t subscribed to the right sources. So Facebook wants to bring you that content. It launches to everyone in the U.S. on February 3rd, the day before Facebook’s 10th birthday

How the 'Netflix of books' won over the publishing industry

Oyster has grown its library of books available to its all-you-can-eat subscribers to more than 100,000 titles. CEO Eric Stromberg tells us how it happened, and how the company is changing the world of reading.

Apple's iPod: is the end nigh?

Few pieces of technology can genuinely claim to be iconic. But Apple's iPod, first launched in 2001, arguably fits the bill. But 12 years, and 26 devices later, the generation-defining iPod range looks like it's about to fade into history without so much as a whimper.

Google+ Is Getting Harder And Harder To Avoid

As Google continues its effort to tie all its services together in a neatly wrapped package, users are slowly feeling the pressure to conform to Google’s standards. Many don’t like it.

Target hackers may have exploited backdoor in widely used server software

The malware used the privileged insider access to temporarily stash payment card data siphoned out of the terminals used in checkout lines so it could then periodically be downloaded to a different service for permanent storage.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Going small(er): Trading spinning disks for SSDs

Solid-state drives can give a significant boost to system performance, but at the cost of storage space. Here’s how to sort out the data on a big spinning-platter drive and fit what you can onto a smaller SSD.

Top Free Software Picks: System Maintenance Utilities

It always comes as a bit of a surprise when—after months or years of use—the device that previously zipped along like a puppy on speed seems to have slowed, now a geriatric hound no longer interested in chasing the ball. Here is some software that might help bring the zip back.

How to get started with subscription music services

Need help getting starting on all-you-can-stream services like Spotify and Beats Music? This primer fills you in on the good and the bad of subscription music services, and how to choose between all the options out there.

The Best Password Managers

Passwords are most people's security Achilles heel; but that doesn't have to be the case if you use a service to manage your passwords.

Use OneNote anywhere with the OneNote Web App

With no download required, you can use it anywhere: at your friend’s house, at the airport, or even on a device that doesn’t have OneNote already installed.

 

Portable Computing

Android in 79 percent of smartphones sold

The report by the research firm Strategy Analytics confirms the ascendancy of Android, which has extended its lead over Apple's iOS, which is used on the iPhone.

Tablets with the best battery life

Battery life is the one metric that truly affects all other aspects of a tablet's functionality. Let's be real: if you run out of battery life, there's not much you can do with a dead slate.

Top 10 iOS Shortcuts and Gestures

Sometimes, the simplest way to do something isn't the most obvious way. A lot of gestures and shortcuts aren't exactly intuitive, but they can make certain tasks a lot faster. Here are 10 of our favorite shortcuts and gestures on iOS

Evernote 7.3 makes taking notes simpler, more colorful

Evernote for iOS has been updated to version 7.3, making some changes to the user interface, as well as other improvements, all in an effort to make Evernote simpler and more responsive.

Seed Mail (for iPhone) Review & Rating

After tinkering with an app called Seed Mail (free, App Store) for a few days, I'm ready to keep this one on my iPhone for good.

Another Giant Retailer Possibly Hacked!

Gosh I am getting tired of this recurring story. But you need to be up-to-date on the rolling credit card hijack that is enveloping our land. Today, its Michael’s art and craft stores that may join the ever-growing list of retailers whose customers may have had their credit card numbers stolen. An investigation is underway to verify that this has indeed happened. Target was the first retailer to find the breach, followed by Niemen-Marcus.

The FBI has warned retailers to expect more attacks and said the agency has reviewed 20 incidents over the past year that were similar to the recent breaches. This is getting very scary.

Today I read of a growing phone scam where criminals are phoning victims to trick them to give their PIN numbers on the back. They don’t need the credit card info on the front as they already have it. I read the script they use and they sound completely legitimate on the phone. So be careful.

In other news, Microsoft is changing the name of SkyDrive to OneDrive. If you remember back in August, British TV giant Sky threatened legal action because they own the name “Sky.”  Microsoft agreed to change the name.

Well, I am tired of typing so why don’t you just get started and see if there are any stories here that might be of interest. -JRC

 

Computer News and Opinions

Michaels Warns Customers of Possible Credit/Debit Card Leak

Here's hoping that the two top stores on your weekly shopping trip aren't Target and Michaels. If so, you might as well take out your credit cards and throw them into the nearest shredder.

A few security lessons from the Target breach

The Target breach points out some facts of life on the Web: We’re all targets (pun intended) of cyber thieves. Fortunately, there are steps we can take to protect ourselves. Here’s how to protect yourself from the next big breach.

SkyDrive Becomes OneDrive

The sky isn't falling, but the SkyDrive name is. Nothing else changes about the cloud-based storage service, Microsoft says, just the branding.

Windows 9: Can Microsoft pull off another miracle?

It may be a long time before Windows 9 becomes available, but computer makers have already started looking past Windows 8, as witnessed at CES 2014. Microsoft has a lot to do to put Windows 9 back in the win column.

Netflix To Carriers: Hands Off Our Service

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings has a blunt message for Internet providers: Don't mess with net neutrality.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Six clicks: Can your browser do these tricks?

All web browsers are not created equal. Each of the top six browsers has a unique killer feature.

Windows 8.1 Update 1 Preview: More Good News for PC Users

The big news: Mouse-style context menus everywhere in Metro. But wait, there is more!

Get Organized: Tips for Going Paperless

Kiss that filing cabinet goodbye. If you're ready to become truly paperless, these tips will help you do it right and in a way that will last.

tinySpell Adds Spell-Check to Notepad, Wordpad, and Other Windows Apps

Most office suites and word processors have spell-check built in, but if you're working in a tool like Notepad, Wordpad, a web browser, or another tool that won't automatically check your spelling, tinySpell is a Windows utility that'll cover your bases.

Here’s A New Way Facebook Is Pushing You To Share Your Contact Information

Facebook would always rather you share more, not less, on the social network. Its latest tweak now puts your friends to work to cajole you to part with personal information you may not have wanted to put out there.

 

Portable Computing

5 Useful Ways to Organize Photo Albums on Android

Digital photography has made us picture hoarders. We will snap a picture of anything just because we can. But then we end up with an unorganized mess of images. Sometimes you really need external help to properly organize photo

How to Organize Photos on Your iDevice

If you like to take photos with your iDevice, your Camera Roll is full of pictures. If you want to find one picture The best thing you can do is organize all the photos in your Camera Roll by creating Albums.

The 100 Best iPhone Apps

New year, new apps. This list of the 100 best iPhone apps will help you discover cutting-edge releases as well as tried-and-true favorites.

iPhone 5s gobbles up 'unprecedented' amounts of data, research finds

JDSU Research revealed this week the iPhone 5s, the high-end flagship device in Apple's tag-team smartphone line-up, gobbles up to seven times as much as the benchmark iPhone 3G.

How to personalize your listening experience with iTunes Radio

iTunes Radio is a great way to discover and enjoy music on the go with iPhone and iPad, or when you're in the office using iTunes. Even though you can always choose from featured stations that are constantly changing, it's always more fun to create your own stations.

Windows 7…Alive and Well

In the last edition, we reported the story of how HP is bringing back Windows 7 “by popular demand.” Well, that isn’t exactly the whole story. Windows 7 has never left us…and according to our third story, it is doing better than ever. What HP did was start marketing Windows 7 in a big way. No one has done that since Windows 8 appeared on the scene. But HP is doing it now! I am sure Microsoft is not happy about it.

In another surprising story, Microsoft, in its latest earnings report, said the Surface tablets did extremely well during the holiday season, racking up nearly $900 million in sales. But, don’t forget, Microsoft wrote off nearly $950 million dollars in Surface tablets earlier this year. So technically they did make money, but one can do almost anything with magical accounting tricks. When viewed as a single item over the last 6 months, Microsoft lost their behinds on the Surface.

At first when I read about the sales success of the Surface, I was surprised as I would not spend a dime on one. But, upon further review, I realize that Windows 8 and Windows RT were designed for tablets, so they could do better in that market. Where Microsoft ran into difficulty was trying to jam it down our throats in Windows 8 for the desktop and laptop. Metro is designed for touch, like the iPad. Since 99% of us don’t use touchable computers, it is a waste.

The moral of this story is if you are looking for a new desktop or laptop computer, you can still find lots of computers running Windows 7…and that is great news.

There are lots of good tips and tricks in this edition for computers, tablets and phones, so be sure and pay close attention. Onward and upward! - JRC 

 

News and Opinions

Microsoft reportedly planning Windows 9 release in April 2015

Windows "Threshold" plans will involve a release of Windows 9 around April 2015. Microsoft will allegedly unveil its vision for Windows 9 at the company’s Build 2014 developer conference in April, with a release planned for a year later.

Google poised to shake up airline ticket biz

RyanAir CEO says Google's project "blows the competition out of the water." This new project could go live in March.

Where can you still find a PC running Windows 7?

If you want a PC running Windows 7, where do you look? Skip your local office superstore or big-box retailer and go where the business buyers go. In those channels, you'll find that Windows 7 never went away. In fact, it's not just alive, it's thriving.

Windows 8.1 Update 1 Preview: Now with More Integration

A newly leaked set of shots from a prerelease version of Windows 8.1 Update 1 suggests that Microsoft is going to further integrate the Metro and desktop worlds in this important coming update.

Believe It: Microsoft Surface Is Turning Out to Be a Moneymaker

Those reports of Microsoft's Surface 2 being in short supply during the holiday season weren't apocryphal. The Surface sold well in the calendar fourth-quarter, racking up $893 million in revenues, according to Microsoft.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Make Your Laptop Easier to Use with Windows Mobility Center

Did you know that Windows 7 and 8.x have a special feature just for laptops and other portable platforms? It provides quick access to settings for brightness, volume, power, and other useful features. Here is how to use it

Five free Chrome tools for faster, easier searches

These free tools from the Chrome Web Store work with the Chrome browser to make searching easier, or help you tweak your search queries to minimize unwanted results.

Five Steps to Take Immediately If You're the Victim of Identity Theft

If you know or suspect that you are the victim of identity theft, there are steps you should take immediately to stop the theft and minimize the damage.

Keep a healthy PC: A routine-maintenance guide

As with all devices, regular maintenance will keep your Windows PC operating smoothly through the years. Here are the essential tasks that can help PC users — of all levels — maintain strong, secure, and stable systems

Download Over 250 Free Art Books From the Getty Museum

Getty Publications just announced the launch of its Virtual Library, where readers can freely browse and download over 250 art books from the publisher’s backlist catalogue.

 

Portable Computing

Thinnest (and lightest) large tablets

Thin tablets are usually sleeker, sexier, and easier to handle. Also, their relative girth does not necessarily preclude them from including plenty of useful connections. Being so thin, all the tablets listed here are also the lightest on the market.

T-Mobile Gets Into Mobile Banking With The New Mobile Money Service

T-Mobile is doing a lot of unconventional things for the mobile industry, and now it's branching out to banking as well

Watch the Super Bowl from Your iPad Thanks to Fox Sports Go

This year will be the first time that the Super Bowl will be available through an app. Fox Sports Go will include an English-language stream and a Spanish-language stream. According to Broadcasting Cable, Spanish simulating of the Super Bowl is another first.

The Best iPad Tips and Tricks

A virtual plethora of tips and tricks to help you use your iPad better. Whether you are new user or an iPad veteran, there is much to make your day.

How to Print from Your Android Tablet or Smartphone

Smartphones and tablets are very handy but what if you want to print something? What to do then? Printing from a mobile device is not as straightforward as from a standard PC but here is one method for Android platforms

Thanks CNet and Sweetpacks for trying to ruin my computer

A few months ago, I warned you about using CNet’s “Download.com” Web site. The reason, if you remember, is many of their downloadable files contain malware that can infect your machine so that ads are popping up all over the place. I know because I was infected by some of them, the worst of them being “Sweetpacks.” It took me four separate attempts to get rid of it. The last of it was cleaned by AVAST antivirus…or so I thought.

Just a few days ago, strange things started happening. Whenever I opened up Firefox and clicked on a link, I would get and AT&T ad. And I found words on my own Web site were being automatically linked with ad sites. This only happened in Firefox, not Internet Explorer of Chrome browsers.

After some deep investigations on my own part to see what was causing the problem, I ran SuperAntiSpyware software that I have used for a few years. It found nothing. Then after doing more research, one article I read suggested using Malwarebytes. So I downloaded it and ran a scan.

Not only did it find several pieces of malware that SuperAntiSpyware missed, but it found Sweetpacks had again invaded my system. It was buried deep in my browser, my hard drive, and my registry. It then removed every trace of it. My Firefox browser returned to normal and all trace of the links put on my site were gone.

You will find a link to Malwarebytes in one of the stories below. I can’t recommend it enough for what it did. It is free, but I am going to spend a one-time fee of $25 and have it for life. I wish I could charge it to CNet.

In other news, be sure and read the lead story about how HP is bringing back Windows 7 for its desktop and laptop computers. After using Windows 8, it makes perfect sense to do this. Wake up Microsoft and smell the coffee! Windows 8 stinks while Windows 7 is the best operating system you ever made.

Enough rambling. I leave the rest of the stories up to you. - JRC

News and Opinions

HP brings back Windows 7 'by popular demand'

HP woke up and figured out people are not buying their desktops because of Windows 8. So now, Windows 7 is their default choice for many computers. Smart move.

What to expect from Microsoft in 2014

2014 looks to be even bigger than 2013, with the company expected to ship a number of major updates to existing products as well as expanding into new product lines thanks to the Nokia acquisition.

Microsoft CEO search proves again it's still Gates' company

Microsoft's lack of progress suggests a board still deeply divided in terms of what it wants in a CEO.

New Pew Poll Finds That E-Books Are Booming but Print Holds Its Own

While the number of people reading e-books continues to climb (17 percent in 2011, 23 percent in 2012, and 28 percent in 2014), the figure for people who read printed books remained fairly constant for the same period.

We should be worrying about Google’s assimilation and consolidation, and here’s why

For Google, all this integration means better user profiling and more accurate ad targeting – never forget that Google is above all an advertising firm.

 

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

An Online Office Suite That's A Real Alternative To Microsoft Or Google

There's nothing to install, you're always running the latest version, and you can access your files from anywhere that has web access. Which is especially handy if you travel a lot, or like to work at both the office and at home, or if you collaborate on documents with other people.

Click this: All about mechanical keyboards and why you need one

Keyboards are of two kinds: (1) the cheapo, no-name slabs that are bundled by the millions with PCs, and (2) the ones that are actually worth using—and in most cases, that’s a mechanical keyboard.

Malwarebytes Anti-Malware FREE

You and your antivirus need a wingman. Malwarebytes Anti-Malware Free uses industry-leading technology to detect and remove all traces of malware, including worms, Trojans, rootkits, rogues, dialers, spyware, and more.

The Most (and Least) Reliable Hard Drive Brands

Backblaze uses 25,000 hard drives for its online backup service. This has provided some interesting information, such as how long hard drives are likely to last and the difference in reliability between enterprise and consumer drives.

Amazing! Create A Windows Font From Your Own Handwriting

Here is a new web-based service that will do the job instantly, and for free.

 

Portable Computing

Ripoff nation: How Verizon and AT&T stacked the deck against cellphone users

If you live in America, there’s a good chance you’ve not been overjoyed by your wireless plan. Simply by using a device essential to your daily life, you have been screwed. Let us count the ways.

Apple users hit with "Update using new SSL servers" phishing email

"Your online access has been blocked," says the fake email equipped with the Apple logo and color scheme.

6 apps you need to delete from your iPhone right this second

I bet there are some great apps on your iPhone. I mean, why else would you have downloaded them, right? But some apps just don't live up to their billing, and others lose their luster over time.

10 ways to pay without ever whipping out your wallet

The mobile wallet dream may still be a way off for the average consumer, but a cashless and cardless utopia is closer than ever before for the adventurous technophile.

Box rebuilt its iOS app and is offering 50GB of free storage for downloading it

Box's normal free storage limit is 10GB, so this special offer comes with a considerable boost in storage.

Microsoft Dumping Windows 8 As Fast As They Can

Windows 8 (and 8.1) just sucks! You have heard me repeat that phrase many times over the last 20 months. I said it for the first several months of its existence before I owned a copy. I said it even louder after I bought a new laptop with it installed on it.

Apparently enough other people said it too…so much so that it has been a sales disaster for Microsoft. Now, Microsoft finally awoke to the truth of it all and is now trumpeting Windows 9…even though it is at least 15 months away from release. Very little is known about it, although the first article here will give you a little insight. Microsoft will tell us all of its “Vision” for Windows 9 in April. Stay tuned for that.

Good news for all you XP users: Microsoft has reversed itself and will continue to provide security updates for it. However, that is all they will do for it. I still recommend you update your computers to Windows 7.

I am sure many of you are aware of Google’s Chrome Operating System (as opposed to the Chrome Web browser). It is available on many cheap laptops and has had some success in the market place. Its major problem is that it only works with an Internet connection…no local storage is available. Without a Net connection, it is a brick.

Well, Google has snuck the operating system into its latest version of the Chrome Web browser. If you use Windows 8 and make Chrome your default Web browser, you can see how it works. Who knows…you may like it better than the Metro interface. I will be trying it out on my laptop soon and will let you know.

OK, time for me to get on with other things, so I will let you read the rest of the stories on your own. Happy Computing to all!! -JRC

 

News and Opinions

"Threshold" to be Called Windows 9, Ship in April 2015

Microsoft tries to put Windows 8 in the rear-view mirror. Here is what we know so far. We will learn more about it at the "Build Conference" in April.

Microsoft extends security updates for XP

Microsoft has pledged to continue updating Windows XP's antivirus protection after the OS hits end of life in April. The ageing OS will no longer be officially supported by Microsoft from 8 April, despite hundreds of millions of people still running XP.

Google's latest Chrome release tries to replace the Windows 8 desktop

This week's Google Chrome update added some significant new features to its Windows 8 mode, effectively turning the browser into a stripped-down version of Chrome OS, with its own taskbar and window-management tools. But who's it for, really?

Light Patch Tuesday for Microsoft

There's only one interesting patch from Microsoft on the first Patch Tuesday of 2014: MS14-002. This patch from Microsoft should be at the top of everyone's priority list.

Why you should care about Net neutrality (FAQ)

Last time, we told you that a federal appeals court has thrown out the FCC's Net neutrality rules. CNET explains what the ruling means to the average consumer -- and why it really, really matters.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Five Places to Learn How to Use Windows 8.1 Better

Upgrading from an even older version of Windows? Then you have a truck-load of new features to learn. Either way, here are some places to go that will help make the transition to Windows 8.1 easier.

The Best Tuneup Utilities

Has your PC gotten slow, sluggish, buggy? Chances are, it's gotten gunked up through use; clean it up with these effective, ease-to-use tuneup utilities. PS: The winner of the Editor's Choice Award is free!

Get Organized: Scan Your Old Photos

If you have boxes of old photos you'd like to digitize, here are some tips for managing the project and preserving your memories the right way.

Outlook.com Gets Improved Sweep, Search and More

Microsoft announced some interesting changes coming to its Outlook.com email service, including a simpler version of the popular Sweep tool and improved Search. These features will begin rolling out to user inboxes over the next few weeks.

Everything You Didn't Know You Could Do with Google's Voice Commands

Voice search is one of those features that seems silly, but is awesome once you start using it. Not convinced? Here are a few ways to turn voice search from a silly gimmick into a useful productivity tool.

 

Portable Computing

The 10 Best Android Games

The advent of smartphones has changed the game, and now phones compete against consoles and PCs for your dollars and attention. The mobile game scene has exploded.

7 Tips for Better iPhone Photography

With all the benefits and fun that come with these new smartphones, people everywhere are starting to play with iPhone photography. Here are just a few tips to help make the most of your iPhone photos.

So who has the superior wireless network, anyway?

Verizon Wireless and AT&T both claim victory after the release of a recent study. This article breaks down who actually won. Or did they all?

BBB Warning: Smart Phone Apps May Share Your Information

The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to make sure the apps they download don’t take more information than they need to do the job.

Apple settles with FTC over in-app purchases, offering $32 million in refunds

As a result of insufficient parental controls, the company is required to refund customers who have been billed for faulty charges, paying out a total of $32.5 million to 37,000 different customers.

Federal Court Kills Net Neutrality

Lots of news this day, so I will forgo my usual opening comments and let you get right to the good stuff. Besides, I am pretty tired. -JRC

News and Opinions

Federal Court Strikes Down Net Neutrality Rules, Sides with Big Telecom

A U.S. Appeals Court just invalidated the FCC's net neutrality rules that would've made it illegal for telecom companies to favor certain types of traffic over others. The court ruled that the commission lacked the authority to implement and enforce such rules which were embedded in a complicated legal framework. This is not good for us normal Internet users.

What to expect from Microsoft in 2014

2014 looks to be even bigger than 2013, with the company expected to ship a number of major updates to existing products as well as expanding into new product lines thanks to the Nokia acquisition.

2013 PC Sales: Down But Not Out

It should come as no surprise to anyone that PC sales are down year over year, and that simpler, more mobile and personal devices like smart phones and tablets are a big part of the reason why. But it's not as bad as has been reported, for starters.

Credit card hackers hit Neiman Marcus

Its seems Target Stores were not the only target of credit card hackers. Neiman Marcus says that it's the latest victim of data thieves, who made off with the credit card information of an unknown number of customers

The Best of CES 2014

There were plenty of highlights at the show this year, along with some lowlights. Here is PC Magazines roundup of the Best of Show.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Cool and Interesting Websites to Visit When You're Bored

I have added these non-tech related websites in my “weekly” bookmarks folder. I don’t visit them every single day but on weekends or when I am feeling bored and they never disappoint.

Kill your data dead with these tips and tools

You can easily erase an entire hard drive or SSD by using any of the free utilities listed here. All invoke the secure-erase (sometimes called quick-erase) functions integrated into nearly every ATA/SATA drive produced since 2001

A Better Way to Share Web Pages by Email

Instead of putting raw URLs in your email messages that don’t convey anything, you can use Clip Better to effortlessly create a visual snippet of the page and send it through Gmail or any other mail client that supports HTML Mail.

It's Okay to Open More Than Nine Browser Tabs; Here's How to Easily Manage Them

It's okay to have a ton of tabs open, you just need a few tricks to keep them all organized.

Play Hundreds Of Retro Console Games For Free

At the following Website, you can find hundreds of retro console games, all playable for free in your browser. No downloads or installation are required.

 

Portable Computing

Free phone apps can help you lose weight, achieve your goals

Here are three free smartphone apps that can guide you in your quest for self improvement:

How To Speed Up iOS 7! Make Your Older iPhone Run Faster on iOS 7

Although badly written, this article will give you some good tips to make your iPhone run a little faster...especially old iPhones.

How to Activate and Customize iPad's ‘Do Not Disturb’

About a year ago, Apple decided to make it easier for us to continue to receive notifications, but not let them keep us awake all night. The feature is called “Do Not Disturb” and it allows you to silence your whenever you want it so that alerts and FaceTime calls will be silenced.

16 Best New Android Apps From The Last 2 Weeks (12/31/13 - 1/13/14)

Welcome to the roundup of the best new Android applications, games, and live wallpapers that went live in the Play Store or were spotted by us in the previous 2 weeks or so.

Biggest Android news of 2013

Android has enjoyed a very big year. The platform has been growing faster than the competition. A flurry of new smartphones and tablets has been launched. New form factors and innovations, from voice controls to curved displays, point the way to a brighter future.

Going Shopping at Target? Not Me

Normally, I would lead with all the new devices now showing at CES in Las Vegas. But, the latest stories about the Target Stores data breaches are just too important to ignore. Unless you have never shopped at Target or used your credit card there, I can almost guarantee your credit card information has been stolen. I am sure mine has as I used to shop there on a regular basis.

Notice I said, “used to.” Unless I am prepared to pay with cash only, you will not find me in one of their stores. Don’t get me wrong…I really like Target. But this kind of massive data breach in inexcusable. In fact, I may never go back into a Target for the sins they have committed. I have a feeling that many other people have come to the same conclusion.

Now, I have not forgotten CES. Our CES Roundup story contains many additional articles about what has happened in Las Vegas this week. I have also included a story on this year’s top trends.

And there is much more to this edition of Rants and Raves, so why don’t you get started. -JRC

 

News and Opinions

Target's data breach: It gets worse

Target said names, email addresses and other data was stolen and could affect up to 70 million customers. This disclosure comes on top of a payment card breach outlined in December.

CES Roundup

Here is a plethora of all the major stories that have emerged from the 2014 CES show in Las Vegas. Some interesting articles included here.

The Top Trends at CES 2014

The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is turning out to be a blockbuster-and with good reason. Find out what is hot and what is dead.

Microsoft forges ahead toward Windows 8.1 Update 1

An expected update to Microsoft's Windows 8.1 operating system is looking like it's going to make its projected 'spring' deadline.

Senate report explains how companies sell your data for marketing purposes

According to the document, companies like Equifax — generally known for its credit reports — are collecting details as intimate as whether an individual uses a laxative or has visited an OB/GYN doctor within the last twelve months.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

New Gmail Feature Allows Anyone On Google+ To Email You & Vice Versa, But Opt Out Is Provided

You’ will now be able to directly email your Google+ contacts from Gmail, even if you don’t know their email address. And by default, anyone on Google+ will be able to email you as well, thanks to this new option, if you don’t adjust your settings.

The Best Free Antivirus for 2013

Not using antivirus protection isn't just a personal choice, as your unprotected computer could be used as part of a botnet or DDoS attack. There are plenty of free antivirus tools, some quite good, so protect all of your computers now.

Something Microsoft has never fixed: why Windows is slow to start up

Windows today is generally stable, but it is applications that run at startup that cause your PC to start slowly, as well as having some impact on performance later.

Migrating to SSD: Get yourself a new computer without getting one

Here's how you can replace your computer's hard drive with a solid-state drive and be significantly happier with your life."

Chrome Brings Apps to Your Desktop: Are They Worth Using?

Do you use Windows, Mac, or Linux applications? Google wants you to replace them with Chrome apps in the future. Google Chrome is now an app platform, complete with a Chrome app launcher for Windows and Mac.

 

Portable Computing

Best camera apps for iPhone

Today's camera phones are modern wonders, and with more photos being taken on an iPhone every day than any other camera, there must be something that Apple is doing right

The Best Photography Apps for Android: 2014 Edition

The camera in your Android device can vary from exceptional to terrible, depending on the model of phone you have, and even the version of Android you're running. Luckily, there are tons of apps to help you make the most of the camera you have

Best eBook reader Android Apps

There are a couple of big names like Kindle and Nook, but a lot more smaller names that people don’t generally see unless they’re specifically in the eReader niche.

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.

Jailbreaking Explained: What You Need to Know About Jailbreaking iPhones and iPads

iPhones and iPads are locked-down devices. You can only install apps Apple has approved, and you can’t tweak the underlying system like you could on a Windows, Mac, or Linux system. Jailbreaking is the act of escaping this figurative “jail.”

CES Now Showing in Las Vegas. Hint: Don’t Go!

Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were as wonderful as mine. As always, Santa was good to me. But now its time to get back on track with tech news, tips and tricks. And we start off with a bang!

Today, the Consumer Electronic Show (CES) gets underway in Las Vegas. It’s the biggest trade show of the year where electronic manufacturers of all kinds show their latest wares for the coming year. The show is huge, big enough to wear out your body in just one day…and it’s big enough that you can’t see it all in just one day.

I used to go to these shows every year back in my younger days. First it was Comdex, followed later by CES. The crowds were enormous, the hotel rooms were extremely overpriced and if you were smart, you wore tennis shoes, even if the rest of your wardrobe was made by Armani. But, it was mostly worth it as you saw new and exciting products unveiled and for sale for the very first time.

The Internet changed all that. Now, there are few products that have not already been announced on the Net… and there seem to be more and more products shown that never even make it to market. Some of the bigger companies don’t even show up anymore…like Apple and Microsoft. And many tech journalists don’t even come anymore. Still, it is a very big show.

The only interesting product I’ve seen so far are huge curved screen TV’s by Samsung. No word on when they will be on the market or how much they will cost. But, that is the norm for CES. So, as my headline says, if you get a ticket to go…don’t. Your legs and feet will thank you.

Besides you can read all about it here and many other places if you really want to know all the dirt. And, speaking of this blog, there is a whole lot more to this edition than just CES, so read on.

PS: The next edition of this blog may be delayed a day or two as all new flooring is being installed in my home over the next 2 days. -JRC

News and Opinions

8 Trends to Look for at CES 2014

Yes, it is time for the biggest technology show of the year. In fact, it starts today. This year, technology will continue its creep into your car, your home, and you.

What to expect in 2014? Eric Schmidt fills us in

Google's executive chairman says that mobile has officially won the battle with traditional computing and will only strengthen its dominance in 2014.

Target Stores: Encrypted PINs stolen but not encryption key

Encrypted PINs were taken in the recent hack but Target says the data should be "safe and secure" since the actual encryption key was not obtained. PS: I just know I won’t be taking my credit cards to shop at Target. Cash only!

At year's end, XP usage plunges as Windows 7 and 8 take over

"It looks like PC owners are finally beginning to relax their grip on Windows XP. According to new worldwide usage share data, XP is down sharply, with Microsoft's two fully supported operating systems, Windows 7 and 8, picking up the slack."

Facing the Biggest Problem with Windows in 2014

After a disastrous Windows 8 launch in late 2012, Microsoft reorganized its entire corporate structure, sent its CEO packing, adopted a rapid release cycle, and quickly shipped a mulligan in the form of Windows 8.1 in 2013. Problem solved, right? Nope.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Automatic Warning If You're About To Install Unwanted Software

The "Unchecky "program sits silently in the background on your PC, waiting until you install new software. At which point it springs into action to check that you're not inadvertently about to install an additional unwanted module. If it thinks that you are, it pops up a warning.

Google's Picasa software backs up photos from PCs to Google+

In a new move to fold Google+ into people's lives, Google releases a tool that lets people automatically back up their photos to the social service.

Get Organized: 10 Digital Cleanup Projects for the New Year

New Year's Day is an ideal time to tackle organizational projects. Here are some great suggestions to get you started.

Five Things that Every Windows PC Owner Must Do

Making resolutions for the New Year? How about including some essential computer tasks that we all know we ought to do but often don’t.

The Top 100 Websites of 2013

This list casts a wide net, as it is meant to appeal to, and be useful to, just about every age group and demographic, no matter what your tech skill level or outside interests are.

 

Portable Computing

Best iPad Apps of 2013

From heavy-duty productivity and business apps to wonderful educational apps, to beautiful apps for working with photos and for creating art, music, videos, and more. And of course we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to great iPad games and entertainment apps.

The first 10 things to do with your new iPad

Here are the first things what I do when I take a new iPad out of its crisp white box before I put it through its paces for a review. I think you should do the same. At the least, these tips should help you get on your feet.

New Android device, new apps - 20 apps for your new Android device

This is in no way a definitive list of the best or most essential apps to download, but simply a collection of great titles to get you started with your new device.

The App-Driven Life: How To Stick To Your 2014 New Year's Resolutions

For any given resolution, there are a slew of desktop and mobile apps that can support you in reaching your goals. Here are a few to get you started.

How To Run Free Android Apps On the Kindle Fire

Even though you don't get Google Play, the Amazon Kindle Fire can run a wide range of Android apps. Here's how to load apps not sold by Amazon onto the tablet.