PC World columnist, David Coursey, writes this week that the hassle of upgrading a Windows XP computer to Windows 7 isn’t worth the time and price. It pretty much mimics the exact advice I gave to Windows XP users when Vista came out 2 1/2 years ago.
Software developers build software for the future, so older computer simply cannot run the newer software as efficiently. Especially when talking about operating systems like Windows.
Bottom line: If you are Continue reading →
photo credit: motti82
The Nintendo Wii, a gaming console you hook to your TV, became a runaway success since its release two years ago. About 9 months after its release, Nintendo released its wildly successful and popular Wii Fit with balance board. The balance board does a fantastic job of measuring balance, weight, center of gravity and more.
In the CNN article I linked below, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security may employ the Nintendo Wii to test how fidgety Continue reading →
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Ran across this interesting news story today. Scientists are starting to use small, 83 gram digital cameras capable of taking up to 10,000 pictures on animals. In this case, the camera was mounted on an albatross and they found that these albatross were feeding with killer whales…similar to buzzards and lions on the savanna. Following is the full article.
Phishing refers to the act of trying to get your personal information in order to use or steal your identity. Phishing can happen with snail mail, email, text messaging, social networking, phone, and more. Today, I learned of a new threat aimed at web based email systems like Gmail, Yahoo email, MSN/HotMail, and others.
You can read the entire article here:
Massive E-Mail Phishing Attack Hits Web – Enterprise Security Today
I’ve written many times about passwords and their importance in keeping you safe online. Search the site for passwords to read them and also take a look at this article from the Gmail Blog at Google.
photo credit: CarbonNYC
Microsoft released an updated and completely re-tooled version of their computer security product. It is now called Microsoft Security Essentials. I have not had a chance to try it out yet (wasn’t accepted into the beta testing this summer), but through my reading it is getting much better scores than their awful Live OneCare products they sold for a couple of years.
Overall, it supposedly runs much faster than OneCare and protects Continue reading →
photo credit: roland
The issue of net neutrality is rearing its head again lately. In a nutshell, net neutrality means that anyone who pays for access to the Internet should get full, unfettered access to the Internet. Opponents want to allow Internet providers to charge for priority access to the Internet. In other words, if you forward an email with a funny joke or pictures of your family, it would take longer (albeit not much longer) for it to reach its destination unless you paid extra to have priority treatment.
On one hand, some compare it to shipping or mail services. If you pay more, it can get there faster. However, we have that now already with Internet service. If you pay more, you can get a faster Continue reading →
photo credit: chelseagirl
I never watch news channels or evening news programs. Since I could read, I enjoyed reading newspapers. Although seriously lacking in substance, I still enjoy reading a morning newspaper with my breakfast. I enjoy holding the paper, hearing the crinkle and being able to rip out articles, circle ads, and even separate circulars from it before bringing it into the house. I will continue to subscribe and receive newspapers at my house as long as they are available.
When the web first started up, en masse, about 15 years ago, The New York Times, LA Times, and Wall Street Journal all came out Continue reading →
I just received a press release announcing that Quicken will buy Mint.com. Mint.com is an online financial manager that has received a lot of accolades the last few years. Quicken also offers an online version of their financial management software and this acquisition looks to strengthen that position.
Announcement: Mint.com to Join the Intuit Family – Official Quicken® Blog.
Google just announced that they have bought reCaptcha. reCaptcha has been a leading company in helping to thwart comment and account spam by requiring a human to decipher characters and words scanned from books before continuing on in a posting or sign up process. Check out the article here:
Official Google Blog: Teaching computers to read: Google acquires reCAPTCHA.
HelpMeRick.com started as a monthly tip site for beginners in 1996, and now supports our popular call-in computer show, and hosts thousands of useful computer tips and links.
Even if you are an experienced computer user, use our site as a resource to provide help to the friends, family members and co-workers you provide tech support for every day.
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