Congress Finally Does Something for Us

I know you think I am joking with that headline, but it is for real. The US Senate and the House have passed a bill that permanently removes any possibility for Internet Access Taxes. Now, this does not remove state sales taxes on products you buy from on-line retailers. I wish it did. But no provider of Internet access can ever charge a tax for selling you access to the Web or any other Internet service for that matter.

This tax-free access has been going on for years, but only with temporary bills that needed to be renewed every so often. Now it is a permanent ban. Hooray for that!

In other news, our first story is about some serious black hat hackers who have shut down a hospital for over a week now, demanding $3.6 million ransom to restore computer services. This is life-threatening hacking. If someone dies as a result of this, the hackers, if caught, could be charged with Murder One. And California still has the death penalty.

Well, not much else for me to say. So I will shut up and let you read on. -JRC

Tech News and Opinions

Hackers take hospital offline, demand $3.6m ransom

For more than a week, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center has been in a state of emergency after a malware attack shut down the network unless a ransom of $3.6 million was paid.

 

Senate passes permanent ban on Internet access taxes

Congress had extended the moratorium several times since 1998, but supporters weren't able to pass a permanent ban until now.

 

Google is finally shutting down Picasa

Picasa is a photo-sharing and storing website that’s been in Google’s lineup since 2004. Ultimately, Google stopped rolling out any notable updates to the service, so it was only a matter of time until the photo website was shut down

 

Russia Dials Up the Crazy, Wants to "Ban" Windows

Following in the august footsteps of China, Russia is the latest totalitarian state that is publicly seeking to “ban” Microsoft Windows and replace it with less U.S.-centric technologies

 

Microsoft continues its pivot to being all about cloud services |

It's not over for Windows and devices. But Microsoft's future is increasingly about the cloud and subscriptions, as its financials and corporate priorities show.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

How to make Windows 10 faster: 5 ways to speed up your PC

Try these methods to make your machine zippier and less prone to performance problems.

 

How to Stop Windows 10 Apps From Running in the Background

Those new Windows 10 apps have permission to run in the background so they can update their live tiles, fetch new data, and receive notifications. They may drain some battery power. But you can control which apps are allowed to run in the background.

How to change the look of Windows 10's desktop with native settings or Aero Glass

When it comes to visual aesthetics, Windows 10 is reasonably configurable. You can adjust color schemes and backgrounds easily with these tools.

 

You Should Upgrade to 64-bit Chrome. It’s More Secure, Stable, and Speedy

Using Chrome on Windows? There’s a good chance you’re still using the 32-bit version. You should upgrade to the 64-bit version. It’s more secure–not to mention faster and more stable.

 

Move your Windows 10 libraries to a separate drive or partition

Physically separating programs and data protects them both and makes for easier backups. Its an idea worth considering.

 

Mobile Computing

Best new apps for iOS, Android and Windows: Serato Pyro, Fetch, and more

There's a whole fleet of great new apps that have dropped over the past seven days, many of which are more than capable of providing your ageing handset with a new lease of life.

 

The best news apps for Android

Android has a plethora of great apps to choose from thanks to the massive selection in the Google Play Store. But if you're looking to get your daily news fix, we recommend you check out this little lot.

 

Amazon Updates Its Kindle App With Interactive Magazines for iPad, Support for iPad Pro

Choose from a wide selection of books, newspapers, and magazines from Wall Street Journal, New York Times to Reader’s Digest.

 

Apple screen protector installation program now rolling out to Apple Stores

The program allows customers to get a Belkin screen protector carefully applied to their iPhone in store. At Apple Stores across America, customers can purchase a Belkin screen protector and have it applied in store by an Apple Store employee for free.

 

Every iPhone User Can Now Broadcast Live Video on Facebook

Facebook users can access the new feature by tapping the “Update Status” box at the top of their News Feed, which will reveal a new icon for live video.

Is Amazon’s Echo a Big Deal? It Just May Be

If you watched the Super Bowl last Sunday, you probably noticed that Amazon had a few ads during the game. There were five of them, I believe…all promoting the Amazon Echo. This was the first time ever that Amazon advertised during the “Big Game”…and since each ad cost $5 million, you have to believe Amazon is serious about promoting and selling the Echo.

Now, I do not own one and do not see myself getting one in the near future. But listening to people I know rave about it…well there has to be something to it. It is a revolutionary product and has a good chance of being a major success…especially as Amazon keeps adding to its capabilities on a nearly daily basis. I suggest you read our first article to learn more about it. PS: Click on this link to see all five ads and some hilarious outakes.

In other news, you will notice that there are three stories today about hacking and security. If you are a Windows user, be sure and read the first story in the Computer Tips section and update your computers ASAP.

Well I am off to start my weekend. Our temps here in Tucson are in the low 80’s now. I hope your weather is improving also. Have a great weekend! -JRC

Tech News and Opinions

How to use the Amazon Echo and why you should get one

As Amazon regularly adds new functionality, the Echo continues to grow more useful. In fact, it's now the most-used gadget in my home.

Hackers are trying to steal our tax refunds...again

Online thieves were recently able to get their hands on taxpayer identification numbers before the Internal Revenue Service detected the attack and shut it down.

 

Sorry, But Your Facebook Friends Don't Care About You

You can only count on four of them in a real "emotional crisis.

 

Opinion: We Need to Kill Voicemail...Now

Voicemail needs to die. It's an archaic time-waster and nobody likes it. But it hangs on, undead, with bits and pieces falling off but still ready to bite your ear off and chew on the gristle.

 

Hacker leaks thousands of FBI, DHS employees' details

A hacker has gained access to a database containing names, job titles, email addresses, and phone numbers of tens of thousands of government workers.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Every version of Windows hit by 'critical' security vulnerability

Microsoft said in its latest monthly security bulletin that users of Windows Vista and later, including Windows 10, should patch immediately to prevent a serious flaw in how the operating system handles certain files.

 

6 tips to keep your Facebook clean, secure and private

Review your security and privacy settings, and get rid of acquaintances cluttering your friends’ list.

 

10 Ways to Boost Your Wi-Fi Signal

You want the strongest wireless signal you can get from your router, wherever you are in your home. Here are some quick tips for achieving optimal reception.

 

Microsoft starts providing release notes for Windows 10 updates

Microsoft is starting to provide users with information about what is in the updates it's delivering for Windows 10, as oficials promised last Fall.

 

Yes, Windows 10 runs great on old hardware

Can you run Windows 10 on a PC that's eight years old? Oh yes, and it runs spectacularly well.

 

Mobile Computing

Microsoft now has 74 hardware partners pre-installing its apps on Android devices

Apps included in this arrangement include Word, Excel, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, and Skype.

 

Almost no one is using Android Marshmallow, still

Launched in early October, Android 6.0 Marshmallow is on 1.2 percent of Android devices, according to the latest stats offered up by Google's Android Developer Dashboard. Of course, the fault lies with phone companies who don’t send out updates to their customers…the biggest reasons why the Marshmellow numbers are so pathetic.

 

The Best Earphones (In-Ear Headphones) of 2016

If you're a music lover, chances are you're not happy with your phone or media player's bundled earphones. Most of the time, they sound pretty dismal. Here some that sound better.

 

9 Best iPhone Apps that must have on your iPhone

Download these apps for iphone 4, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S and iPhone 6. These are the best apps and they are very useful in your day to day applications.

 

13 tips for getting the best results from your iPhone camera

The iPhone takes great pictures. Here are some great tips to make you photos even better.

White House W-Fi Sucks

I’ve come to the conclusion that the tech guys running the government computer systems don’t have a clue about running secure computer systems, much less setting up a simple Wi-Fi network for the President of the United States (see our first story). Government computer experts verge on idiocy.

Look how many government servers have been hacked. The vital information about every government worker and everyone who has ever applied for a government job have all been stolen…much of that information can be found on the Internet for anyone to see. And remember the Obama Care computer fiasco? Government computer jockeys and their immediate superiors are morons!

Now we have the President of the United States saying on network television, just before the Super Bowl that he can’t get a decent signal in many places in the White House. That is absurd! Think about it.

I spend a fair amount of time on the campus of the University of Arizona. It is huge…392 acres to be exact. And I can get a secure Wi-Fi signal anywhere I go on campus. The UofA is a whole lot bigger than the White House. Maybe we should send some of the undergrads in the computer school who run the UofA networks to DC to help out our poor President. I bet they would be shocked to see how the system is run.

We trust so much of our lives to the government and most of our most private information is stored in their computer systems. And very few of their tech geniuses know how to run such systems properly. Of course, they are caught up in the bureaucracy also, so their hands may be tied by stupid rules and regulations. So, do you have faith in our government and their bureaucratic nonsense? Just moronic.

All right…time for you to take over. So have fun. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Crappy Wi-Fi signal? The White House has that problem too

The pre-Super Bowl interview on CBS confirmed that it isn’t just President Obama who is disrupted by insufficient coverage; his daughters are also “irritated by it.”

 

Twitter clips wings on terror tweets

The San Francisco-based social network said Friday that since the middle of the year it has suspended more than 125,000 accounts with suspected links to the terrorist group Islamic State.

 

Steve Ballmer Comments on Microsoft today

Former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer stepped down two years ago this week, but as the company's largest individual shareholder, he still keeps a close watch on what is going on.

 

The Technology Behind Hillary Clinton's Email Scandal, Explained

The Hillary Clinton email scandal has seemingly everything that can bring down a presidential candidacy. Here is how it worked.

 

Researchers are a step closer to creating an untraceable 'quantum Internet'

Scientists are figuring out how to create a 'quantum Internet' that will be totally secure and virtually unhackable. So secure, in fact, that even if someone did manage to listen in to your private communications, you'd immediately know about it.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

How much RAM do you need, should you upgrade it, and will it speed up your PC?

This article takes you through all the ins and outs of RAM, including how much you really need and how to know when it's time to upgrade.

 

Most Windows security flaws mitigated by 'removing admin rights'

Almost nine-out-of-ten vulnerabilities targeting Windows last year could have been prevented by removing accounts with administrative rights.

 

Google search is about to get a lot smarter

The company's go-to guy for artificial intelligence is taking over its biggest business as its current search boss retires.

 

OneNote—what’s new in January 2016

When writing our New Year’s resolutions, we challenged ourselves to answer just one question: How do we make 2016 the best year yet for OneNote users? To that end, we’re thrilled to announce the number of features we’ve released in the past few weeks.

 

How I Finally Organized My Messy Inbox with Sortd

I’ve tried dozens of solutions to clean up my inbox, and so far, the Sortd Chrome extension comes closest to helping me use and organize email the way I work.

 

Mobile Computing

What's killing your battery? Android's top 10 performance-sapping apps

Is your phone or tablet battery constantly reduced to a sliver of red on the screen? New research has found the worst performance-draining apps on Android devices, and Facebook is the biggest culprit.

 

Uninstalling Facebook app saves up to 15% of iPhone battery life

Testing reveals Facebook iOS app drains battery life, even when it isn’t being used, and that using Safari instead will make an iPhone last longer

 

Best Email Apps For iPhone: The only 5 iOS email apps you should try

There are a few cases where a pre-installed iPhone app made by Apple is the best tool for a particular job, but the Mail app certainly isn't one of them. JRC: I use the Outlook app on my iOS devices. If the PC and MAC version were only this good!

 

5 upcoming Android phones that are worth waiting for

There are some amazing phones coming out in the next few weeks and months. The last thing you want is to drop hundreds on a new device only to feel behind the times a few days later.

 

2016 Guide: Android Tablets With the Longest Battery Life

Looking for an Android tablet that can go the distance? These eight models lasted more than 12 hours on our battery test.

Stuff…or Much Ado About Nothing…Well, Almost Nothing

Sunday, as you know, is the grand and glorious climax to the football season. But, in watching some tech TV today, I found out you will see the game covered like never before. New technical devices and software will give you amazing views of each play. Not only you, but replay officials can watch any play from almost unlimited points of view. This should be exciting.

And speaking of the Super Bowl, Microsoft released their concept of watching football in the future with the help of their HoloLens headset. It is probably a few years off, but be sure and watch the short video. It gives you a good idea what augmented reality is all about. I hope I am still around when this concept becomes reality. Wow!

And speaking of Microsoft, they are now sending Windows 10 to millions of computers running Windows 7 and 8.1. They announced they were going to do this in October. It won’t necessarily install on your computer, but it will be there. There are mixed opinions on this move and I don’t like the idea of anyone putting anything on my computer that I don’t know about. Of course it won’t happen to me since I already have it on all my current PC’s. But, forewarned is forearmed. It may already be on your computer as we speak.

I’ve included an extra story (for no additional charge) about the newest version of Linux called “Mint.” Now I have fooled around with older versions of Linux over the years and never really cared for it…much less recommended it for the average computer user. It was difficult to set up and use. But the demo I saw today says this new version is quite good and easy to use and set up…it deserves an in-depth look. I am going to try it out on my MAC (running inside Parallels). Will let you know what I find.

Well, that is all for my comments today, but do continue reading as there are some good articles here. If you are going to watch the game on Sunday, I hope you enjoy it. If not, have fun doing something you like. -JRC

Tech News and Opinions

Microsoft is about to start automatically downloading Windows 10 onto PCs

Microsoft announced in October last year that Windows 10 would download automatically onto PCs, and has now started the process.

 

Opinion: Ad companies are the biggest privacy problem today, not governments

The adblocker dispute is going to become one of the fundamental battles on privacy. It's going to be a lot of fun to watch.

 

Amazon’s Retail Store Plans Go Beyond Books

The man behind the Kindle is leading Amazon’s project to create the retail stores of the future. And bookstores are just the beginning.

 

By 2020, more people will own a mobile phone than have electricity

The proliferation of mobile phones will continue as mobile data traffic jumps tenfold over the next four years, according to a study by Cisco.

 

Marissa Mayer unveils make-or-break plan for Yahoo

The beleaguered CEO of the struggling Internet pioneer delivers a "bold" strategic plan. She is cutting jobs, selling patents and real estate, and inviting would-be acquirers to speak up.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

10 Tips for Troubleshooting Your Internet Connection

Before you schedule a service call with your cable company, check out our tips for troubleshooting your Internet connection

 

How to Open Certain Workbooks Automatically When You Start Excel

If you use a few Excel spreadsheets daily, it would be handy if you could open those spreadsheets automatically every time you start Excel. Thankfully, Excel has this feature built-in–if you know where to look.

5 ways to troubleshoot Windows 10 update problems

When your update stalls, it's time for some detective work. Try these fixes until one of them works.

 

29 Hidden Chrome Features That Will Make Your Life Easier

While there is plenty of debate out there as to which browser is best, for my money it's the sleek, minimalist package known as Google Chrome. And the data shows that most users agree. JRC: I completely disagree with that statement, but there are some good tips here if you use the Chrome Browser

 

The Best Online Tax Preparation Software for 2016

If you're doing your own taxes, picking the right tax prep program is essential. Here's how the top services stack up.

 

Why switch to Windows 10 or a Mac when you can use Linux Mint 17.3 instead?

Linux Mint 17.3 is the best Linux desktop operating system and it might be the best PC operating system, period, for you.

 

Mobile Computing

The Amazon Kindle Gets a Design Refresh with a New Home Screen, Better Access to Settings

Amazon is rolling out an update to the Kindle Paperwhite and Voyage this month that’ll change the way your home screen looks. Alongside the new home screen, it’ll also give you better access to common settings and recommendations for books.

 

This is the fastest wireless carrier in the US

A new study taps data supplied by everyday phone users just like you. The winner might not be who you were expecting.

 

7 Android shortcuts for doing things faster

Many of Android's most oft-used features-everything from taking a picture to silencing alerts-are only a few taps, swipes or button-presses away.

 

11 of the best apps for iPhone from January 2016

January moved fast, but a whole lot happened last month, so we’ve whittled through the iOS app updates and new launches to bring you a more highly-curated list than ever before.

Quick Tips to Protect Your New (and old) Apple Devices

The one thing that most people believe is that there is no need to worry about security for their beloved Apple devices, which is a bit over inflated. So here are a few security tips for iOS and OSX.

The Techiest Super Bowl Ever…Live from Silicon Valley

Well it is Super Bowl Week…the week-long extravaganza that ends on Sunday afternoon with the big game between Denver Broncos and the Carolina Panthers. I must admit I am not overly excited about this game, but rest assured I will be watching. All the other hype that is going on now will not get any attention from this football fan. My feeling about the Super Bowl is, “Just play the damned game!”

Regardless of my feelings, this is definitely going to be the highest hi-tech game ever…for us TV viewers and especially for those folks in attendance at Levi Stadium. You know that this stadium sits in the heart of Silicon Valley. Within a mile of the stadium are some of the biggest tech company headquarters….names like Yahoo, Intel, PayPal, Cisco, MacAfee, Oracle, and more. And you can probably guess many of Silicon Valley’s finest companies played a role in making this the most hi-tech arena in the world.

About 1.5 years ago, I had the privilege of being at this stadium for the very first football game ever played here…Denver vs. 49ers. True, it was a preseason game and the 49ers were massacred. But, I still had fun and my iPhone apps worked just great. I think it is a wonderful stadium and I learned a lot more about all the hi-tech stuff in this stadium by reading our first story. If you are like me and love football and hi-tech, this is the place to be. Let’s hope the game matches the quality of the stadium.

As for the rest of today’s blog, there are some interesting stories here and well as valuable tips, tricks and software recommendations. So, enjoy. -JRC

Tech News and Opinions

Techiest Super Bowl ever: Silicon Valley's stadium girds for the big game

Levi's Stadium is one of the most high-powered venues in sports. On Super Bowl Sunday, we'll see if its network can handle the data-storm caused by throngs of smartphone-wielding fanatics. JRC: Be sure and look at all 12 photos on the bottom of the page for a real in-depth look at the technoly.

 

Windows 10 Overtakes Windows XP In Market Share

"Even though Windows XP is no longer supported by Microsoft and its market share is quickly shrinking, for many years, it was the most widely used operating system on the planet.

 

Microsoft’s abysmal phone sales may mean the death of Windows 10 Mobile

Microsoft’s latest quarterly results show such abysmal phone sales, it’s hard to believe that the Windows 10 Mobile ecosystem can recover.

 

Feds say 'Oops!' in anti-hacking deal

An update to an international accord potentially opens everyone to attacks, something the US government didn't figure out until after it was signed.

 

Circuit City is coming back

Watch out, Best Buy. Circuit City is coming back this year, but it may look a little different.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

The Best Chrome Extensions for Gmail

Here is a collection of our favorites, many of them free, and all worth a try if you're a serious Gmail-er using Chrome on almost any platform, be it Windows, Mac, Linux, or even a Chromebook.

 

How to Build Your Smart Home: A Beginner's Guide

The Internet of Things lets you automate your home and monitor it from afar. Ready to dive in? Start here.

 

Everything you need to know about mechanical keyboards before you buy

Any substantial amount of typing or gaming demands something more robust, and a mechanical keyboard is indeed that. The switches on a mechanical keyboard will last longer, remain more consistent, and be more comfortable than a cheaper board.

 

Top 11 Security resolutions for the New Year

2015 has been the worst year so far for security breaches. Although the state of online security reminds me of that scene in Office Space where Peter says that every day you see him is the worst day of his life, there’s a few things you can do to protect yourself against getting your data and online identity stolen.

 

CNET's guide to keeping your information private online

Between Facebook, your email and your browsing history, you're putting, and leaving, a lot of your personal information online. Here's how to get a handle on keeping it private.

 

Mobil Computing

68 best iPhone and iPad apps of 2016

To help you decide what truly deserves a place on your iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch we’ve whittled down the array of colourful tiles to the very best. Here’s our choice of the greatest apps on iOS for 2016.

 

The Best Android Apps to Make Driving Safer, Easier, and More Fun

The very last place you should spend long amounts of time on your phone is behind the wheel of a car. Fortunately, plenty of apps are designed to help you find information and deal with distractions on the road safely.

 

Chrome for iOS is much faster and more stable, but Google hasn't solved its biggest problem

What Google doesn’t seem to have fixed is Chrome’s drain on your phone’s battery.

 

Samsung update allows ad blockers on default mobile web browser

Mobile ad blocking is thought to reduce web-page loading times and mobile data usage.

 

Secret Siri commands: Cool questions you can ask right now!

Siri can help you stay connected, organize your life, and get thing done both professional and personal. It can also do a lot of cool tricks... all you have to do is know what to ask!

Windows and Apple…Some Good, Some Bad, Some Ugly

Our first story is a 6 month report card for Windows 10. Is it worth doing? I say yes it is. Read the story and see why Windows 10 is way better than its predecessors. One example…you may have read here about evil persons hijacking computer data, then demanding a ransom or it is destroyed. That cannot happen in Windows10. But there is more…some good and some not necessaril so. Still, in all, Windows 10 is worth doing. After all, it is free! And if you are so in love with the Windows 7 interface, read the story I published last week about how to make Windows 10 look like 7.

In the last edition, in the story about the failure of Windows Surface tablets on the Patriot sidelines (not the fault of the tablets) I gave some small praise to the devices as being quite good. Well I have to tone that down a bit. The device has some problems that are driving people crazy (some, not all). If you read article #5 below, you will get an in-depth report by one reporter who is experiencing those problems.

In other stories, Apple had another record revenue quarter, but tech reporters keep pounding the fact that iPhone sales have nearly ground to a halt. I hate that kind of reporting. In fact, they are selling millions of them and might remind you that 92% of all mobil profits are made by Apple. Other phone manufacturers can only wish that they had these kinds of sales and profits.

The stock market is so whacked out. It freaks out on some of the most ridiculous stories, like the Greek economy. In Apple’s case, common sense tells you that high volume sales can’t continue unabated. They have to decrease some time. They are still doing pretty good, but watch their stock price drop. Ridiculous!

All right, I am done with my rant. Time for you to take over. -JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Windows 10 at six months: Ready for primetime?

Windows 10 has been available to the public for six months this week. By the numbers, it's been a hit, with 200 million active users as of the first of the year. Here's my midterm report.

 

The FCC is going to war over set-top boxes

The commission is hoping to implement the long-delayed AllVid rules to open up the cable market.

 

Apple has another record quarter, but iPhone sales growth slows to a halt

The iPhone 6S and 6S Plus didn't move the needle like their predecessors. But they are still selling millions of them.

 

Hate your cable company? Superfast, wireless Internet is coming

A startup called Starry hopes to roll out a nationwide wireless broadband network to compete with local cable and phone companies

 

Welcome to Surfacegate

Rather than publicly face the problems head-on, the software giant has retreated behind a veil of silence. This is a huge mistake, and it is undermining the credibility and viability of its hardware offerings.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

How to Make Outlook Display the Total Number of Messages in a Folder

By default, Outlook displays the number of unread messages on most Mail folders. That’s handy on the “Inbox” folder, but what if you want to know how many total messages (unread and read) there are in other folders, such as the “Deleted Items” folder or custom folders?

 

9 Much-Hyped Tech Features That Aren't Worth the Money

Tech companies are not in this for the love. They are not your family. They are not your friends. They are amoral, for-profit entities whose whole raison d'etre is to part you from your money.

 

Digital Detox: How to Break Your Bad Tech Habits

If you find that a fear of missing out (otherwise known as FOMO) is making you miss out

on more important things, perhaps it’s time for a little digital detox.

Brave new browser: Eich returns with Chromium browser that replaces ads

The former head of Mozilla has returned to the browser game with Brave, a Chromium-based browser paired with a private cloud that replaces ads found on websites.

How to really erase any drive -- even SSDs -- in 2016

You may already know that "deleting" a file does nothing of the sort. Securely erasing drives before you sell a computer keeps your personal information from falling into the wrong hands. Good news: it's easier than ever to fully erase data.

 

Mobile Computing

Outlook for iOS gets a calendar widget as the end Sunrise's life approaches

Microsoft added another calendar feature to Outlook, after promising the end of Sunrise.

 

10 tips and tricks to make Siri work better

Apple's Siri is probably under-used on your iPhone and iPad even though it's a capable tool. These tips can easily improve what Siri can do for you.

 

Forget the Facebook App: Use the Mobile Site for a Less Annoying Experience

The iPhone app has had bugs that cause it to drain battery in the background, and Facebook once reportedly made its Android app crash on purpose, and even. And don’t even get us started on the Android app’s permissions.

 

Android users will be able to install apps directly from search

Simply type in a query and tap on the top result. Instead of taking you to the Play Store, a new windows pops up. When you click Accept, the Install window replaces it still within the search results.

 

How to sell, recycle, or donate your old Android phone

Protect and clear your data—and then sell, donate, or recycle your old phone.

Did Microsoft Cost the Patriots the AFC Championship?

If you watched the AFC Championship Game on Sunday, you may recall that the Microsoft Surfaces used by both teams, had a problem…at least for one of the teams. The Microsoft Surface tablets on the visitors sidelined briefly stopped working, which meant the Patriot coaches and key players could not review plays and formations. Oh-Oh!

It didn’t take long for the problems to be solved. The network feeding the info to the tablets had a glitch. Of course, the TV announcers kept announcing that the Surface tablets were having problems, implying indirectly that the Microsoft product was faulty…and they said it 3 or 4 times, if memory serves.

Well, it was not Microsoft’s fault. But they took the indirect hit for faulty tablets. They spent millions of dollars to have these tablets on the sidelines of every NFL game for the last two years, only to suffer the slings and arrows of TV scorn. But it is not the first time the company has taken a hit of some sort.

Last year, several TV announcers kept calling them iPad’s…providing Apple a lot of free advertising on Microsoft’s dollar. But they sure didn’t call them iPad’s at Sundays’s game. Oh no! They were clearly identified as Microsft Surface Tablets. It’s sad for Microsoft, especially since the Surface is an excellent product. Oh well. Still in all, the Denver/New England game was the best game of the day.

There are other excellent and informative news stories here as well as good tips for all your computing needs. So read on and enjoy. -JRC 

Tech News and Opinions

Microsoft Surface (Wrongly) Blamed for Failure During NFL Playoff Game

On paper, the Patriots were the losers in this game. But Microsoft was the real loser: Its Surface tablet was repeatedly called out as the culprit during a technical glitch during which the Patriots could not review plays and formations.

 

Google Paid Apple $1 Billion to Keep Search Bar on iPhone

Apple received $1 billion from its rival in 2014, according to a transcript of court proceedings from Oracle Corp.’s copyright lawsuit against Google.

 

Facebook's Sandberg says a 'like' attack can help fight ISIS

Counter-speech, she said, is an effective method at fighting hate.

 

Ad blockers: Google reveals it now has over 1,000 staff just fighting bad ads

Blocking 780 million bad ads last year, Google has been detailing the scale of the human effort that goes into cleaning up desktop-browser and in-app advertising.

 

Firefox 44 arrives with push notifications that sites can send even after users close the page

Mozilla today launched Firefox 44 for Windows, Mac, Linux, and Android. Notable additions to the browser include push notifications, the removal of RC4 encryption, and new powerful developer tools

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

How to enter Windows 10 Safe Mode

Safe mode is like your bomb shelter when Windows 10 explodes, but it takes a few extra steps to get into it. We'll show you how it's done. (Video)

 

18 Things You May Not Have Known Google Photos Can Do

Google Photos bridges the gap between cloud storage, image hosting, and image sharing services, giving stiff competition to Flickr, iCloud, Dropbox, and OneDrive.

 

When replacing your Windows 7 PC: Should you switch to Windows 10 -- or a Mac?

If you're going to make a big operating system jump, should you stick with Windows, or move over to the Mac? Here are the factors to consider.

 

How to really erase any drive -- even SSDs -- in 2016

You may already know that "deleting" a file does nothing of the sort. Securely erasing drives before you sell a computer keeps your personal information from falling into the wrong hands. Good news: it's easier than ever to fully erase data.

 

How to make a Windows 10 recovery drive

The time to make a Windows 10 recovery drive is before your PC dies. Grab a USB drive—you might need a big one!—and we'll show you how it's done. (Video)

 

Mobile Computing

The Best (and Worst) Free Android Weather Apps

You can't control the weather, but these free apps, many of which have capable iOS counterparts, can help you prepare for it.

 

Cubes organizes all your cloud-based files into one simple app

I didn’t think I had that many files living in the cloud.That is until I started testing Cubes, a new app that aims to organize all your cloud-based stuff into a series of navigable lists and tiles. For iOS Now...Android soon.

 

7 Android shortcuts for doing things faster

Many of Android's most oft-used features—everything from taking a picture to silencing alerts—are only a few taps, swipes or button-presses away.

 

Microsoft Garage Introduces News Pro for iOS

News Pro helps you search for news around your work every day. Fuel your unique interests with over a million topics to choose from.

 

Cool New App: Forevery Photo for iPhone and iPad

Forevery Photo wants to help you organize your library of precious pictures. It does so by automatically collecting your photos into themed groups.

How to Make Windows 10 Look Like Windows 7

In the last edition, I published a story about Microsoft only supporting Windows 10 on the newest high speed chips from Intel and others. That story needs some clarification. The original press release confused almost every tech journalist as it raised more questions than it answered. It wasn’t really clear what it all meant.

Well, thanks to Paul Thurrott and Mary Jo Foley on the Windows Weekly podcast, I can now clear it  up. This press release was really meant for businesses and enterprise users. It is these folks that often will not want Windows 10 (yet) because all their current computers all run Windows 7. What Microsoft really meant was businesses that buy the latest computers equiped with the latest processors have no guarentees in the future that they can install Windows 7 and have it run correctly.

When you and I, normal consumers, head out to buy a new computer, it will come with Windows 10…and we have no desire to wipe out the new computer and go back to Windows 7. It is only businesses that will do that.

However, if you really want to make Windows 10 look like 7, be sure and read the first story in the “Computer Tips and Tricks” Section. It can be done.  So you then have the latest version of Windows with all their under-the-hood improvements with an interface you like.So now you have no excuse not to upgrade. Hey, its free for 6 more months.

Well that is it for this week. I hope you all have a great weekend. I will be back next week, as usual. –JRC

 

Tech News and Opinions

Apple will start charging for iTunes Radio on January 28th

Apple just sent out an email alerting customers that iTunes Radio, the company's answer to Pandora, will no longer be free as of January 28th. Only Beats 1 station will continue to be free.

 

What's the best Windows 10 web browser? The benchmarks are in

In our tests of Chrome, Edge, Firefox, IE and Opera, the worst web browser for Windows 10 was easy to spot: Internet Explorer 11. But the best choice? That depends.

 

Facebook launches Sports Stadium, a hub for chatting about the game in real time

It’s a virtual area where you, your friends, and 650 million sports fans on the social network can talk about games, teams, stats, and more. It’ll also feature live play-by-play action

 

9 Amazon Prime Video Features You May Not Know

It may have started as a perk, but with the help of some award-winning content, Amazon's streaming video service is becoming a true Netflix competitor.

 

In Memoriam: Tech That Died in 2015

There's an old Buddhist proverb about the transitory nature of existence that goes "Everything is changeable, everything appears and disappears; there is no blissful peace until one passes beyond the agony of life and death."

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

How to Make Windows 10 Look and Feel Like Windows 7

But what if you like the improved performance and features of Windows 10, but you prefer the look and feel of Windows 7? While you can't make everything look identical to Win 7, you can change many key elements, including the Start Menu, wallpaper and task bar.

 

Monitor PC Health Right On The Desktop

Rainmeter is a useful program which displays tabs on items such as free disk space, free memory, programs that are using up all your CPU time, and so on.

 

Why you need a cloud backup service, and how to use one

Cloud backup is the easiest way to get the security of off-site backup for your important files. Here's how to choose and use one of these services.

 

How to Win 2016 with Calendars, Checklists, and Note Links

You’re already using Evernote on every device (if not, you should be) and it’s a tool that is flexible and incredibly powerful to structure all your goals this year.

How to Customize and Filter Your Address Book in Windows 10

Thankfully, the People app lets you search, edit, and link different contacts to keep it all straight.

 

Mobile Computing

Don't let your iPhone turn against you

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Installing Apple's latest patch will help you keep attackers out of your phone and your life.

 

10 new Android apps worth checking out

Every day there are thousands of additions to the Google Play store, but many go unnoticed and never receive the attention they deserve. Here are some new ones that do deserve some attention.

 

Organize your Android phone's home screen

Your Android phone is just as useful as you make it. Organize the tiles on your phone's screens so you can stop hunting for your favorite apps and find them just a tap or two away.

 

The Best Free GPS Apps for Your iPhone

If you have an iPhone, you also have a handheld GPS. Here are some of the best free navigation apps we've tested, many of which have equally capable Android versions.

 

5 steps to easy reading on your iPhone

Is your iPhone text too big or too small, the screen too dark or too bright? Find the Goldilocks settings that make your screen just right.

Great Tips and Advice Are the Stars of This Issue

The tech news is not very exciting right now and I don’t have much to say, but be aware there are some good tips for computers and mobile devices in this edition. So with that said, I will let you take over and read away. -JRC

Tech News and Opinions

Microsoft updates support policy: New CPUs will require Windows 10

In a change to its longstanding support policy, Microsoft says PCs based on new CPU architectures, including Intel's Skylake chips, will require Windows 10. A list of preferred systems will support older Windows versions on new hardware, but only for 18 months.

 

Microsoft's 2016: More Hardware, Software and Cloud

t’s hard to believe that 2015 is now behind us, which means that with a new year, it’s time to take a look at what Microsoft is planning for 2016.

Apple Watch grabs half of smartwatch market, Android Wear just 10 percent

But smartwatches are still waiting for that big breakthrough to make them must-haves says analysts.

 

Top software trends of 2015

This last year we wanted to take control of our app and online experience. Here are the top 10 ways we did, including ad blocking, music and video streaming, mobile-desktop handoff, messaging, and more.

New zero-day flaw hits millions of Linux servers, and affects most Android devices

Because some of the code is shared, the zero-day flaw also affects more than two-thirds of all Android devices.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

How to Get Outlook Notifications for Important Emails Only

Microsoft thought they were being helpful when they set up notifications for new email. However, a constant barrage of notifications can also disrupt your train of thought. You can turn the notifications off completely, or–better yet–you can set up Outlook to only notify you about important emails.

 

How to build the best free PC security suite

Take some time this weekend to secure your PC without spending a dime.

 

7 steps to speed up Google Chrome

The other day I realized that Google Chrome had begun to get slow and bloated, and since there's no new streamlined browser I can switch to, I decided to see if I could speed things up a bit. Here's what I did.

 

13 Microsoft Word Tips You Need to Learn Now

Old veteran Word users like yourself probably think there's nothing left to learn. Oh, but there's always room for more knowledge

 

These are the 25 worst passwords of 2015

Look on the bright side! There’s one good thing that comes out of all those website breaches every year: Security researchers get to comb through all those lists of usernames and passwords to remind us just how bad most of our passwords are.

 

Mobile Computing

Burner Accounts 101: How to Get Extra Numbers for Your Smartphone

When you don't want to hand out your own phone number, you have plenty of options to still get communications.

 

What's the best phone to have when dumping your carrier?

Carriers have eliminated contracts and device subsidies, and we're all now paying full price for expensive phones. Does that mean we're free to move among operators?

 

How to Maximize Your Kindle’s Battery (and Really Get a Month of Reading)

Amazon advertises that their ebook readers only need to be charged once a month, but heavy readers will probably find that they need charge more often. Not anymore: read on as we show you how to blaze through your book collection without constant recharging.

 

7 Weight Loss Apps to Help You Shed the Pounds

Unfortunately, apps alone won't help you lose weight, but if you can't afford a personal trainer, fancy gym membership, or even a simple fitness tracker, they can definitely help you stay on track.

 

Your Android phone is too damn nosy

If given the choice, people say they would deny nearly one-third of all permissions currently required to download apps to their Android phones.

PC Sales Down Again…Here is Why

Computer sales may be down, but there is much more to the story. First of all, the industry did sell around 300 million PC’s. That is no small number to sneeze at. There are billions of PC around the world in use. So the desktop PC is a long way from being dead. Here are some other reasons for slower sales.

With the introduction of Windows 10, the life of current PC’s has been extended. Even though I use a MAC for much of my work, my PC running Windows 10 gets a lot of work…evidenced by this blog. My blogging software is Live Writer, which only works in Windows and I have found no MAC blog software anywhere near as good.

And as I wrote in my last blog, my Samsung laptop has new life thanks to Windows 10. Many folks don’t need to update their computers. As I said, Windoiws 10 has brought new life to them. It is the best Windows Operating System.

Now I did buy a new MAC and a new MacBook Pro last year mainly because of Windows 8. And maybe that reason is why MAC sales continue to outpace Windows PC’s in terms of percentages (You might want to read story #4 about the writer who switched to a MAC and stopped buying a Windows computer every 18 months).

The desktop computer also gets tough competition from smartphones and tablets. Now I have all those devices but the desktop still gets 90% of all my work. But look for PC sales to pick up next year.

There is a good collection of tech news and great tips for all you computing needs. So read on and enjoy your weekend. -JRC  

Tech News and Opinions

Windows 10 hasn't stopped the PC sales decline yet

With sales falling 10.6 percent this past quarter, the PC industry experienced the biggest drop in sales in its history, according to the market research firm IDC.

 

Apple boss Tim Cook clashes with US government over encryption

White House tech summit reportedly saw Apple’s CEO call for a ‘no backdoors’ policy when it comes to communications encryption

 

US intelligence director's accounts next on the hacking block

Personal email and phone accounts associated with James Clapper were hijacked, hackers tell Motherboard.

 

How the iMac broke my 18-month PC upgrade cycle

David Gewirtz eats PCs for breakfast. Every 18 months or so, he's needed to upgrade his main machine to handle his ever-increasing workload. But not now. This time, a mere iMac has broken the cycle. Read on to learn how.

 

The Weirdest Tech Stories of 2015

In 2015, we were never in short supply of the odd, astonishing, and just plain weird tech stories. Here are a few of our favorites.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Just Delete Me: How To Delete Your Accounts From 350+ Web Services

Just Delete Me makes removing yourself (or an account) from the internet a whole lot easier. It's a directory of links to delete your account from the web services it lists - at the moment, over 350 web services

 

3 email apps that will help you get to inbox zero

Fortunately, there a few mobile apps that can help you clean out the clutter morass of messages and reach the hallowed inbox zero. They don’t all use productivity methods to get there, but your inbox will be empty by the end of the day.

 

How to Add Contacts from Gmail, Outlook, and More to Windows 10’s Address Book

Instead of managing multiple separate address books, you can use Windows 10’s People app to bring together all your contacts into a single, centralized interface.

 

How to set up your new PC

But a new PC isn’t like a new car; you can’t just turn a key and put the pedal to the metal. Okay, maybe you can—but you shouldn’t. Performing just a few simple activities when you first fire it up can help it be safer, faster, and better poised for the future.

 

Manage your time, tasks, and life goals with these Evernote apps

Three third-party web apps leverage the power of Evernote to organize all facets of your busy life.

 

Mobile Computing

It’s 2016, and high time for Google to fix Android tablet apps

Android has been out for 8 years, a serious player for 6 years, and on tablets for 5 years. So why do Android tablet apps still suck?

 

Unclutter your iPhone's home screen

Find the apps you need on your iPhone or iPad and ditch (or hide) the ones you don't.

 

iOS 9 adoption rate continues to pick up steam

Apple’s iOS 9 has been adopted by users at a pretty rapid rate, one that’s faster than even iOS 8 enjoyed.

 

13 Malicious Android Apps Removed From Play Store, Check If You've Installed Any

At this point, Android and security problems tend to go hand in hand, which is a real shame for those that live on the platform. Check this list to see if you have any installed

 

Google Now Launcher update adds landscape mode

The Google Now Launcher received quite a few updates in version 5.8.45.19 of the Google app. The launcher, which resides within the Google app, now has landscape orientation and normalizes the size of app icons.

Last Warning!! Upgrade Windows 8 and IE 8-10…NOW!!!

This is no joke! Today is the last day Microsoft will issue patches for Windows 8 and Internet Explorer 8, 9, 10. After this patch, those programs will no longer be fixed and you leave yourself vulnerable for every new kind of malware and viruses that come along. And believe me they will. The bad guys are already writing code to break into computers that use these old programs as many, many people will not head the message and leave them on their computers.

As for Windows 8, this warning only applies to V 8.0. If you have a computer running Windows 8.1, you are OK for now. But you really should upgrade to 10. As you may remember, my laptop was running 8.1 and I cursed it every time I used it. Since installing Windows 10, my laptop runs like a dream. I can’t believe the difference. It is finally useable. Hooray for that!

So upgrade to Windows 10 and upgrade to Internet Explorer 11. Its your final warning. As a footnote, the new Microsoft Edge browser that replaces Internet Explorer is installed in Windows 10 and it is very good…much better than IE. It is not quite a finished product, but I find it quite good…the best browser Microsoft ever built. Give it a try.

On another note, I hope this is the last time I run any stories about CES. It is over now and it was a very active show. Story #4 is an in-depth wrap-up that you may enjoy reading. You can easily skip over stories or products that are of no interest. I have also included an opinion piece that explains why CES will soon pass on to a distant memory.

Alright…that is enough from me. Time for you to move on down to the stories contained herein. -JRC

Tech News and Opinions

Microsoft Patch Tuesday kills off Windows 8 and Internet Explorer 8, 9, and 10

Support for Windows 8 is over, as is most support for Internet Explorer 8, 9, and 10. If you haven't done so already now is the time to upgrade.

 

Windows 10 activation accelerates past 200 million devices

Microsoft has been tracking user activity with Windows 10, so it knows how many devices are running the OS now--and how fast the adoption rate is growing

 

The Last CES: Gadget fatigue will be its undoing

Opinion: By the end of the decade the Consumer Electronics Show will be no more.

 

The Top Tech from CES 2016

After a full week in Las Vegas living and breathing the CES 2016 show, here's everything we discovered about the future of technology. This is a very comprehensive article divided into catagories.

 

Forbes forces readers to turn off ad blockers, promptly serves malware

What sets Forbes apart, in this case, is that it didn’t just force visitors to disable ad blocking — it actively served them malware as soon as they did.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Looking for a Laptop? What you Need to Know

Here's everything you need to know when shopping for your next laptop, along with our top-rated models in a range of form factors and prices.

 

How to Check for Dangerous, Superfish-Like Certificates on Your Windows PC

Dangerous root certificates are a serious problem. From Lenovo’s Superfish to Dell’s eDellRoot and a number of other certificates installed by adware programs, your computer’s manufacturer or a program you installed may have added a certificate that opens you to attack. Here’s how to check if your certificates are clean.

 

The Best Antivirus Utilities for 2016

In 2016, resolve to keep your PC safe from viruses, malware, and other threats. These are the top-rated antivirus packages we've tested.

 

Three ways to fix Windows 10 password problems

Change from your Microsoft login to another password, or set up a PIN or a local account.

 

Revealed! The crucial detail that Windows 10 privacy critics are missing

The usual suspects are trying to turn routine diagnostic information into another manufactured privacy controversy over Windows 10. Don't fall for it.

 

Mobile Computing

iOS 9.3 will turn down the blue light on your iPad to help you sleep

Apple has just unveiled all the features it's adding to iOS 9.3, and though the headliner might be the beginnings of multiple user support (at least for students), there's another feature that's going to please everybody else.

 

AT&T reintroduces unlimited data plan, but with a catch

You can only apply for the unlimited data plan if you already subscribe to – or are willing to subscribe to – AT&T’s DirecTV or U-Verse TV packages.

 

Best Android apps of 2016: 26 apps you must try

Searching for the best Android apps is a daunting task. Whether you're looking for a great weather app or perhaps a new browser, there are always dozens available. Here are the best of them.

 

Looking for a solid 7-inch tablet? Good luck; large phones have killed them off

The very devices that kicked off the small-slate category are now a second thought at best by most major hardware makers. I blame the phablet phenomenon.

 

iPhone Battery Life Tips, Speed Boosting Tricks For iPhone 6s And More

There are a number of different ways users try to speed up their phones and extend their battery life, and some things work better than others. In this post, however, we’re going to tell you about a few hidden tricks that might be just what the doctor ordered.

CES Rolls On…and on…and on…and on…

CES rolls on in Vegas and all I can say is I am so happy I am not there. And every reporter or commentator I’ve read or listened to who is not in Vegas says exactly the same thing. It used to be fun, now its just tiring. When will it end?

What about the show itself. Have I seen anything that truly excites me? Not really. The show emphasis seems to be on cars (including self-driving vehicles), wearable technology (but will anyone really wear them?), hi-tech refigerators (that few will ever buy), and the release of Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets ($599). Yes, there are some new computers on display, some interesting, most just rehashes of last year’s models (but .0001 thinner than last year). I will admit I am intruiged by the Razer Blade Stealth Laptop.

I think if you read the first article here, you will learn most of what you need to now about the highlights of the show. Just skip over the stuff you don’t care about. I do wonder if these trade shows are a dying breed as there really is no need to go. Everything there is already on the Internet.

One quick note: the first article in Mobile Computing section is about apps to help you keep your New Year’s resolution. But it missed a very good one. It’s called “Strides” and is available in the iOS app store. I don’t think it is available yet in an Android version. I am using it on my iPad. You set your own resolutions and your target goals so that it keeps you on track. I am told that after 30 days or so, your new resolutions, if kept up, become habits. Strides helps you do that.

See, you didn’t have to go to CES to get that tip. Enjoy. -JRC 

Tech News and Opinions

All that matters on the first Public Day of CES 2016

CES is open for business in Las Vegas and the news is coming fast. Here is what you need to know.

 

CES 2016 Day 4: Highlights from the show floor

With the news onslaught finally winding down, it's time to focus on the best, worst, and weirdest finds from the CES 2016 show floor.

 

Time Warner Cable says 320,000 customers may have been breached

The company said there are "no indications" its systems were breached, but pointed the finger at third-party firms that may have stored customer information.

 

Hackers shut down power grid in Ukraine

It's thought to be the first cyber attack to cause a blackout. The attackers gained access through malware-laden Office documents

 

Apple ad-blocking software scares publishers but Google is target

Apps that prevent ads making it to the screens of mobile phones topped the charts this year. What will the consequences be in 2016?

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Start 2016 right with a clean Windows PC

The old saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure was never so true as when applied to computing. It’s time for our annual PC checkup. Taking an hour or so now to run through the following steps could save you many hours or even days of troubleshooting down the road.

 

New privacy-focused search engine promises to never sell or store your data

Oscobo, founded by Fred Cornell (ex-Yahoo) and Rob Perin (ex-BlackBerry), aims to capitalize on the growing concerns around how data is shared between services, particularly by advertisers

 

Can Unplugging a Portable USB Hard Drive Damage a Computer?

While many of us are familiar with the concept of improperly unplugging a portable hard drive causing potential data loss, is it also possible that your computer could be damaged as well?

 

How to Turn Off Recent Items and Frequent Places in Windows 10

All over Windows, you’ll see menus with the most recently used items for a given application. Here’s how to turn off recent items and frequent places in Windows 10.

 

10 Quick Tips to Fix Your Bad Photos

You don't have to be a professional to take top-notch photos. Follow these simple pointers to improve the quality of your snapshots.

 

Mobile Computing

13 Apps to Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

Whether you're the type who makes and breaks resolutions quickly or has steadily improved your life year after year, you're probably resolving to resolve something.

 

How to set up your new iPad the right way

Congratulations — you got a new iPad this holiday season! Whether it’s a beast of an iPad Pro, a perfectly capable iPad Air 2 or an iPad mini 4, you’ll want to set it up with the least amount of fuss.

 

50 best iOS apps of 2015

2015 saw a whole load of new apps hit the iOS app store. With standouts like Periscope, livestreaming became one of the biggest trends, as well as GIFs and of course, emoji.

 

10 best Android themes

One of the best things about Android is the ability to customize your experience. You can do so by downloading one of the many, many apps from the Google Play Store. You could also go another route and theme your device. We’re not talking about just changing your background, but real, awesome theming that makes your device look totally different.

 

How to hide app icons on iOS 9.2

Apple has said it's looking at ways to give users the option of removing preinstalled apps from iOS devices. In the meantime, Here is how to hide Apple's preinstalled apps that you may not want.

It’s That Time of Year: CES is Underway…Sort of

Unless you like huge crowds and overpriced hotel rooms, stay out of Las Vegas this week. The biggest electronic show in the world, CES) is on now. Actually, the show doesn’t officially open until tomorrow (Wednesday), but there are a ton of previews, press conferences and keynote speeches today (see story #1).

This is a big show…and I mean a really big show. It takes place in 3 large facilities in Vegas with show floor space totalling 1.87 Million square feet. It can cost a vendor up to $150,000 to rent an average sized space. The big booths can cost a lot more. Is it worth it?

Well, about 170,000 people from around the world are expected to attend. The technology press is covering the event in depth. Actually, the coverage is so great that there is no reason to attend. These days, products are announced or leaked over the Internet, so there are few surprises at the show.

Although I have never been to CES, I used to go every year to the Comdex show about this same time of year. It was just as big, if not bigger than CES. One year, the show was in five different locations. Some years ago, Comdex merged with CES so that computers and all electronic devices are now under one roof.

At Comdex, I saw thousands of businessmen and women nicely dressed, but mostly wearing sneakers. Early on, I found out why. Your feet will hurt bigtime without proper shoes as the show is so big. Even with sneakers, your are happy to get back to your over-priced hotel room to soak your feet. 

While I don’t miss these tech shows, and definitely don’t miss Las Vegas, I have many happy memories of my time at Comdex and I always learned a great deal. But, of course, that is before the Internet started announcing neat new products in advance of the show. Whatever, I will be covering more of the show (while happily ensconsed in my Tucson home) in the next edition. There are some interesting products be shown for the first time. But for now, you can get  a good overview from our first two stories. -JRC

Tech News and Opinions

 

Everything you need to know from CES so far

Though most Consumer Electronic Show attendees are still arriving in Las Vegas and the city's Convention Center remains a construction zone, CES Unveiled kicked off tonight to show us a taste of what the giant tech show has in store.

 

What to Expect at CES 2016

Ready or not, the annual Consumer Electronics Show kicks off next week. So what can we expect from CES 2016? Here are a few trends to look out for.

 

Windows 10 budges a bit as masses cling to Windows 7

Microsoft crows that its new software now has 200 million monthly users. Still, that hasn't moved the needle much when it comes to displacing older versions.

 

US internet speeds triple, but lag behind other countries

The US ranked 25th out of 39 countries in 2013, trailing behind the likes of Canada, Luxembourg and Japan.

 

The Tech Stories That Surprised, Shocked, and Amused Us in 2015

Every day, thousands of tech stories make headlines, but only a select few stir up a prolonged frenzy or keep our attention for weeks at a time.

 

Computer Tips and Tricks

Last chance to upgrade IE or switch browsers as Microsoft's mandate looms

Nearly 340 million people who run Microsoft's Internet Explorer have just a week to upgrade or switch browsers, or face a shutoff of the security patch spigot.

 

This gadget makes your $10 headphones sound like $200 headphones

What if those lame EarPods that Apple included with your iPhone could sound like top-of-the-line headphones?

 

How to Talk to a Live Person: All the Customer Support Numbers You Need

Websites may bury the 800 number, automated systems at the other end of the phone mishear words, and you spend most of your time either pressing buttons or shouting "Yes" and "No" at the phone. All this keeps you from doing the only thing you really want to do: talk to an actual human being who can solve your problem.

 

How to use Windows 10's Reliability Monitor to fix and fine-tune your PC

Whether you're troubleshooting issues or trying to push a Windows 10 machine to its highest level of performance, Windows Reliability Monitor can help in a big way.

 

Top Ten Chrome Apps for Windows, Mac OS and Linux

Chrome apps can launch directly from the desktop or taskbar and run offline with access to the local file system and storage. They run straightforward without opening up the browser and therefore not confined to the regular browser interface, no unwanted address bar and tabs.

 

Mobile Computing

13 Apps to Help You Keep Your New Year's Resolutions

Whether you're the type who makes and breaks resolutions quickly or has steadily improved your life year after year, you're probably resolving to resolve something.

 

AT&T to ditch most two-year phone contracts on January 8th

Goodbye subsidy; you'll have to pay upfront or in installments for a new phone.

 

The 100 Best Android Apps of 2016

Got a new Android phone or tablet as a holiday gift this year? Let us help you pick the right apps to make your new hardware shine

Microsoft's new photo app lets you edit your selfies like a professional

Microsoft has released a new photo app designed to feel better about your selfies. It’s a simple service, really: you snap or choose a photo from your iPhone’s camera roll and then process it right in the app.

 

7 Must-Read Tips For Taking Amazing iPhone Photos

While it’s easy to use with a selfie mode and point-and-click capabilities, the iPhone’s camera also can be complex, yielding rich color and great detail. To get the best shots, you need to know how to use it right.