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 →
Interesting article from a ZDNet author, Christopher Dawson, who also works full-time as a school district computer engineer. Despite locking down Windows computers with security software, tweaking firewalls, and making sure all Windows updates are up to snuff, threats still sneak into their computers. I understand the frustration he exhibits in the article regarding the time and effort spent fighting these threats…especially knowing how much more trouble free a Linux computer or Apple computer can be. Worth the read:
Give me one good reason not to just move them all to Linux | Education IT | ZDNet.com.
Senate Bill 773 provides for protecting the country’s tech infrastructure by declaring a cybersecurity emergency. This emergency would authorize the government to shut down Internet access to key non-governmental computers and networks. If passed, the bill would create a whole new government agency that trains and certifies cyber-security professionals to help manage and carry out the rules set forth in this proposed law.
Click the link below to read a complete news store from CNET and get links to other news stories on the subject.
Bill would give president emergency control of Internet | Politics and Law – CNET News.
photo credit: thoth92
This news story has flown mostly under the radar of most computer users for weeks. In a nutshell, it’s a patent infringement suit brought upon Microsoft by a Canadian company called i4i. The suit alleges that Microsoft knowingly used proprietary technologies in Microsoft Word 2003 and 2007. Last week, a judge in Texas, ruled in favor of i4i and ordered Microsoft to remove Microsoft Word from being sold and fined them nearly $300 million. Microsoft, of course, immediately filed an appeal that will draw the case out even longer.
While the appeal is being considered, Microsoft Word can still be purchased, but for how long? This case builds yet another argument for home and business computer users to consider using online based business applications like Zoho.com or Google Docs. If you want desktop software, look to OpenOffice.org.
Read more on the suit between i4i and Microsoft in the article below:
NewsFactor Network | Appeal Seeks To Keep Microsoft Word on Store Shelves.
The summer has kept me busy and I let a few too many question stack up (remember that you can make a small donation when asking your question to get priority). I answered all the questions you asked the last 2 weeks in these two videos.
The first video contains questions from Doris, Henry, Andrew, Jean, John, Rae Ann, Craig, Janet, Maurice, Leo, Ryan, Shirley, Jason, Donna, Jeannie, Dave, and Scott. They asked questions about CCleaner, Picasa, recovering photos from a corrupt flash disk, netbook shopping, recovering the Mac desktop hard drive icon, shutting down the Windows magnifier and more.
The second video (YouTube only allows 10 minute videos for free accounts) has questions from Dot, Tiffany, Kitty, Anne, Barbara, Peter, Len, Anne and Romero. Their questions ranged from Continue reading →
Wow, a digital camera with a built-in projector capable of producing a 40″ image to show off your pictures and video without having to huddle around the camera and hope everyone applied deodorant and brushed their teeth.
Read the whole story in this Endgadget.com article:
Nikon Coolpix S1000pj projector-cam beams into reality along with friends.
If you like working in coffee shops and book stores, you will be happy to know that soon, Barnes & Noble will offer free wi-fi in all their stores. They are hoping that it will encourage shoppers to buy more digital content for portable, digital readers.
Complete story from CIO Today here:
After Hours – Barnes & Noble Offers Free Wi-Fi To Sell E-Books.
No time frame or number of stores planned were released in Microsoft’s press release this week, but Microsoft did say they planned to open their stores close to existing Apple stores. Ex-management staffers from WalMart and Sam’s Club will be heading up this new direction for Microsoft.
You can read more details at the Daily Tech web site:
DailyTech – Microsoft Retail Stores to Open Near Apple Stores.
I left this note as a comment on a web site just now, but decided that it was good enough to be a post here at HelpMeRick.com. IT is the fancy word for computer technology.
The more I read about and talk with people about computers, I see there are three distinct “classes” of computer users.
In my business (computer consultant/trainer), reading and travels, I find that Continue reading →
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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