Monday 9 November 2015

Upcoming Windows 10 Update

What to expect in this week's Windows 10 update ...
Windows 10 Threshold 2 is being delivered this week and this article points out what it contains. Interesting change to installation procedure if you want a clean Windows 10 install.

New Windows 10 Insider build today expected to roll out to everyone next week | Ars Technica:

Booming crypto ransomware

Ransomware - a booming industry we don't want ...
Be very careful to NOT click on links or open attachments on emails from supposedly Fedex, Australia Post etc. If in doubt as to its origin just delete! Never leave you backup hard drive connected to your PC!!

Booming crypto ransomware industry employs new tricks to befuddle victims | Ars Technica:

Sunday 8 November 2015

Chrome OS and Android

Interesting perspective of Chrome OS vs Android ...
This is an interesting summary of the controversy over Chrome OS and Android's future.

Why Google is committed to Chrome OS - Computerworld:

Chromebook sales up & away

Google's Chromebook allows diversification for OEMs ...
Pixel3Other Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) have been looking for an alternative Operating System to offset the decline in the PC sales over the last couple of years. Chrome OS offered that opportunity with most now offering a Chromebook product.

Google and PC makers are teaming up to take on Microsoft and Apple | Business Insider:

Unlimited OneDrive gone

Microsoft pulls back on unlimited OneDrive storage ...
It is not just the unlimited offer to Office 365 users will be pulled back to 1 TB but that users with the free 15 GB will be pulled back to just 5 GB. Google Drive is now the clear leader!

Microsoft drops unlimited OneDrive storage after people use it for unlimited storage | Ars Technica:

Chrome OS Is Here To Stay

Despite reports Google says Chrome OS here to stay ...
Can't help thinking the reports of Android taking over Chrome OS may have been extrapolated thinking based on some chance remarks! Google would be stupid to kill off Chrome OS when it is doing so well!

Google: Chrome OS Is Here To Stay | TechCrunch:

Microsoft pushes Windows 10

Microsoft to get more aggressive with Windows 10 ...
There is a fine line between encouraging users to upgrade to Windows 10 and downright bullying! The latter may well steer consumers away from Windows permanently!

Microsoft planning to automatically offer Windows 10 to existing PCs | The Verge:

No Edge extensions till 2016

Microsoft Edge is still only a very basic application ...
Microsoft is still delivering Windows 10 and this continue well into 2016. After that we can look forward to continuous feature enhancements!

Microsoft Edge won’t get Chrome-like extensions until 2016 | Ars Technica:

Next Windows 10 update

Threshold 2 Update for Windows 10 in early November ...
Microsoft Surface Book with Windows 10Possibly a really big update to Windows 10 coming in the November Patch Tuesday (Wednesday for Australia). 

The next major Windows 10 update could arrive this week | TechRadar:

Google Photos 100 M users

Google really hit the jackpot with this product ...
This photo storage product from Google has really taken the lead with unlimited storage for photos up to 16 megapixels in size.

Google Photos hits 100 million monthly users after five months | The Verge:

Google Calendar A Trash Can

Time saver for those deleted calendar entries that ...
Google Calendar now has a Bin (Trash) that holds deleted calendar entries for 30 days! It works very well!

Google Calendar For The Web Gets A Trash Can | TechCrunch:

Chrome mutes individual tabs

A useful new Feature in Google Chrome ...
Auto playing adverts are a real pain when you have multiple tabs open but Chrome is making it easier to handle.

Chrome now lets you mute individual tabs | The Verge:

Windows 10 Optional Update

Microsoft admits error making Windows 10 an optional update ...
Is this just because they got caught and the backlash was doing them too much damage?

Windows 10 upgrade installing automatically on some Windows 7, 8 systems | Ars Technica:

Dropbox Announces Paper

Coming soon to your Dropbox account ...
Looks like Dropbox is trying to muscle in on Google Docs and Office Online!

Dropbox Announces Paper, A Google Docs Competitor | TechCrunch:

“USB Killer” flash drive

Now here's something to put you off flash drives ...
Watch those flash drives that you get for free and not in a packet from a reputable manufacturer. Another reason to use the 'Cloud' for backing up and transferring data!

“USB Killer” flash drive can fry your computer’s innards in seconds | Ars Technica:

Best free video converters

A worthwhile collection of free video converters ...
Seems strange that a very popular one called Handbrake is not included in this collection!

7 of the best free video converters | TechRadar:

HTTP-HTTPS mixed content

A worth noting change to Chrome Browser ...
Seems that more and more websites are going https but it is a long process!

Chrome finally kills off the HTTP-HTTPS “mixed content” warning | Ars Technica:

Saturday 7 November 2015

Apple most valuable company?

Interesting comparison with some other giants ...
Apple has certainly got the lead at the moment (largely dependent on the iPhone) but it needs to check in its rear vision mirror more often! Blackberry, Nokia and Kodak know how it feels!

Apple is the world’s most valuable company, but for how long?:

Why does Microsoft exist?

An interview with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella ...
Undoubtedly, Satya Nadella is the best thing to happen at Microsoft for years! Microsoft is now climbing right into Apple's space with its own hardware (laptops, tablets, phones, wrist bands, HoloLens, XBox and Azure Cloud) BUT with all devices running the one Operating System Windows 10, not two (OS X and iOS). Hardware prices will be similar, but Apple can't turn an iPhone into a desktop (yet)!

Why does Microsoft exist? An interview with CEO Satya Nadella | The Verge:

Microsoft Launch - 9 minutes

Now this is a very different Microsoft ...
There is some real innovation coming out of Microsoft these days! Just watch this 9 minute video! You had better start moving Apple!

Take 9 minutes to watch Microsoft's best product unveiling in years | The Verge:

Monday 2 November 2015

Microsoft Surface Pro 4

Microsoft is getting serious about innovation ...
At last Microsoft is out of the doldrums and starting to be seriously innovative again!

Microsoft has warmed my cold cynical heart with hot new hardware | The Verge:

Surface Book's crazy hinge

Lots of fuss over Surface Book's crazy hinge ...
 It is pretty good all the same! Microsoft is certainly getting its mojo back! Apple better start getting a move on or its going to playing catchup!

This is how Surface Book's crazy hinge works | The Verge:

Chromecast is a Trojan Horse

Couldn't resist this Chromecast article from Verge ...
chrome cast 2015 gifInteresting interview with a Mario Queiroz, VP Product management at Google, explaining the Chromecast 2 and Chromecast Audio devices. Chromecast Audio is certainly going to give Sonos a run for its money! Just amazes me that Australia is one of the world's leading countries for new technology deployment but is not one of the initial 17 countries in which Chromecast Audio will be launched! I guess we will just have to wait! Grrr!

Chromecast is Google's hugely successful Trojan Horse into your home | The Verge:

Sunday 1 November 2015

Desktop may not be dead

Desktops seem to be still popular for business ...
Small but powerfulI have always advocated that desktops have a longer average lifetime and a lower cost of ownership. This is what you trade for the portability of a laptop.

The desktop may not be dead after all | TechRadar:

Google's Pixel C Android

Google's Pixel Chromebook(?) goes Android ...
DSC_0028The Google top-of-the-line Pixel which runs Chrome OS now has a Pixel C cousin that is running Android! The rumours are increasing that Google is going to roll Chrome OS into Android but Google is denying it, saying that the two will run side by side!

Google Announces Pixel C Android Tablet With Magnetic Keyboard Add-on | TechCrunch:

Google’s Android Marshmallow

Here comes Android Marshmallow 6.0 ...
New features include Doze Mode (which apparently reduces battery drain significantly), Google Now on Tap and a new Permissions system.

Google’s Android Marshmallow Will Officially Launch Next Week | TechCrunch:

Microsoft antagonizes users

Microsoft is getting really pushy with Windows 10 ...
Upgrade to windows 10 part 1A comprehensive article on Microsoft's various attempts to force Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 users to upgrade to Windows 10. Microsoft seems to backed off a little for the time being, probably because of the bad reports. Who knows what they will try next? After all, they are trying to get to a billion devices running Windows 10 within 2 to 3 years!

Microsoft antagonizes users with intrusive new Windows 10 upgrade tactics - Computerworld:

Chromecast 2 And Audio

Chromecast gets upgraded plus Chromecast Audio ...
Google Announces Chromecast 2 And Chromecast Audio To Bring Intelligence To Your Living RoomChromecast is so good but I am really looking forward to getting a Chromecast Audio so that I can stream music to my traditional Hi-Fi via Wi-Fi!

Google Announces Chromecast 2 And Chromecast Audio To Bring Intelligence To Your Living Room | TechCrunch:

Block Annoying Senders

A very useful new facility in Gmail ...
BlockGreat addition for blocking annoying people! You can ever remove the block later if you want!

Gmail Now Lets You Easily Block Annoying Senders | TechCrunch: