Windows Blue Details - What to expect

Windows Blue - Big Changes to 8 Ahead?

If you’re using Windows 8, you’re about to get a big upgrade. In June, Microsoft will roll out some big changes (Windows Blue) to their operating system that will significantly help the user. While it’s not available for download yet, a development version was leaked on the internet and us Nerds have had the time to check it out and analyze the features.

Refined Metro UI:  The first improvements come on the surface. Most of the tweaks to the operating system are refining the metro UI, and not the base of the operating system itself. The upgrade, nicknamed Windows Blue, adds the ability to make the home screen tiles smaller. It also allows you to change color options, including primary and accent colors.


IE 11:  Internet Explorer 11 is getting a new download manager as well as the ability to sync your tabs across all your devices, a feature pioneered and standardized by Mozilla and Google. However, Microsoft has expanded this experience to the start screen as well as your paired devices, like headsets or mice.  That means if you have a Windows 8 desktop, tablet, and phone, you can keep your experience the same.

Quiet Hours:  You’ll also have the ability to set quiet hours for the notification center, a feature common on Android phones. Many of Microsoft’s improvements to this operating system focus on making a unified user experience – that is, people using Windows 8 will be able to recognize their content no matter which device they are using.

In A Snap:  On the desktop and tablet side, Windows Blue is also getting improved snapping options. You’ll be able to snap at ¼, ¾, as well as ½ in both directions. Previous versions only had two snapping options. This upgrade allows for more efficient multi-tasking.

Aside from cosmetics, Windows Blue offers mostly security updates, but also adds four new apps: an alarm, a sound recorder, a calculator, and a video trimmer. All have very basic functionality but will likely evolve with the operating system, as this version is a very early test version.

When the final upgrade rolls out in June, expect to see a lot more features!  Which makes us computer repair Nerds very happy!

 

About Facebook Home - The Next Big Thing

All About Facebook Home

Facebook has taken one of the requisite steps to becoming an established software company – their first into the world of hardware.

While it isn’t the Facebook phone that had been rumored for a few months, it’s close. It’s called “Facebook Home” and it’s a piece of software that comes on a phone manufactured by HTC, called the “First.” The app will also be available to download on other android phones.


The app itself is essentially a Facebook operating system that provides a suite of apps and new features to the android operating system. The most touted feature of the app is the cover feed, which sets itself as your device’s “screen saver.” It displays things such as photos and statuses that your friends have posted whenever you glance at your phone. Whenever you receive a notification while using your phone, a message pops up on the screen in the form of a floating box. You can respond to the notification without leaving the app you’re using. The same feature applies to chats: when you receive a message from a friend, a bubble with their face on it and a message appears. You’ll be able to turn Home off at any time though, in case you’re lending your phone or don’t want to be disturbed.

In addition, the software will connect to apps that also connect to Facebook. The apps Spotify, Pandora, and Instagram are some of the most popular apps used by Facebook users.

In Canada, Facebook is testing free calls through its messenger app when the phone is connected to wifi, and can already send SMS messages through the service. No word as if to these will be available upon release.

The HTC First is sold exclusively through AT&T for $450 or $99 with a contract and ships on April 10. The Facebook Home app will be available to download on April 12.  There’s no tablet version, but Facebook has said that it’s working on a version for android tablets. Facebook Home is not compatible with iOS devices.

This announcement comes shortly after another in which the company revealed a new visual direction for their flagship website. Facebook appears to be taking on some of Google’s territory with this move, reflecting more thought put into design as well as the push towards totalitarian app networks.

According to a study commissioned for this project, 70 percent of smartphone users use them to browse Facebook. According to their marketing for the software, they hope to see people using their phones solely through Facebook. This move is one step toward Facebook becoming the “Windows” of smartphone. We’ll see on April 10^th.

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Looking for a Weather Site? Try Forecast.io

Great New Weather Site: Forecast.io

If you’re not a Nerd constantly combing the web for new info, you’ve probably missed the release of yet another app in the sea that seems to surge in daily. But those of us who spend our days wading in that briny ocean occasionally find a pearl worth bringing back to land to show off. Today’s pearl is called forecast.io.
Forecast.io is a new way to get your weather. Rather than go through a major corporation like weather.com for your weather, forecast.io gives you real-time coverage of the weather in your area as well as minute-by-minute forecasts for the next week.

And…when we say minute-by-minute, that’s what we mean. You can use the site to track down to the minute when it will start raining or snowing and how long it will last. Now you can plan around those surprise storms!


Now this already is pretty impressive – but there’s more. Forecast.io allows you to play an animation of current weather trends, just like on TV. The site plays smoothly on any modern browser, thanks to the HTML5 technologies in use. Translated from Nerd-speak, this means that if you’re using Chrome or a similar modern browser, you’ll be able to keep up on the weather just like your local news station. The site can also be used on your Smartphone, which will automatically detect your location.

In addition, it includes a “time machine” feature. This allows you to look at historical data from various locations. You can check what the weather was in hundreds of places over the globe for any date back almost a hundred years! The impressive part about that data though, is that the website creates a model of how particular dates in the future might occur. This means that if you’re planning an outdoor even in six months, you’ll be able to make a much more educated guess on what weather conditions will be like then.

Forecast.io is made by the same developers as Dark Sky, a popular app for Apple devices that includes the basic functionality of predicting and displaying weather patterns, but this makes the data available to all, not just iPhone and iPad users. The company is planning to expand the product’s features in the coming months.

How much does it cost to subscribe to this service? Nothing at all. Just visit Forecast.io on your web-enabled device to get started!

Maintain Public WiFi Safety: Some tips

Tips for Public WiFi Safety

It seems every shop and gathering place proclaims “Free WiFi,” but is it safe to check your email at the airport, library or McDonalds?  There are risks to accessing private data while connected to an unsecured, community network.  Here’s how to surf safely when you’re on public WiFi.

When you access the Internet on a public network, your computer or Smartphone is at risk of being accessed by other users on the same network.  It’s surprisingly easy for the person sipping the macchiato next to you to run simple programs to collect passwords and information entered by fellow patrons.  Most WiFi “hotspots” are unencrypted since it’s a hassle to make every customer find out the day’s WiFi password, meaning even if you’re alone in the store someone sitting in the parking lot could be connected to the network.


It may seem unlikely that your data will be hacked, and that’s probably true.  But just like you might be able to leave your car unlocked and never suffer a beak-in, is it worth the risk?  Anyone who’s had their Facebook account hacked or banking password compromised can attest that it can take months or more to put your online identity back in order.

Luckily there are some easy steps you can take to protect yourself on public WiFi.  Since logging on to a network gives other users on that network access to your shared folders, the first thing to do when you’re on a public network is to turn off sharing.  Windows users should navigate to the Control Panel, then Network and Internet.  Select the option to “Choose homegroup and sharing options” and then select “Change advanced sharing settings…” Turn off file and printer sharing and public folder sharing.  If you’re using a Mac, go to System Preferences and then Sharing.  Make sure all boxes are unchecked.

Consider also disabling network discovery as it prevents others from seeing your machine on the network.  You can re-enable it when you’re no longer logged on to a public network.

Next, enable your system’s internal firewall.  Windows users should go to Control Panel and then System and Security.  Select Windows Firewall and choose “Turn Windows Firewall on or off” from the list of options on the left.  Mac users can turn on their firewall via System Preferences.  Choose Security and then Firewall to activate.  This won’t keep out a skilled hacker, but it can deter a casual snooper.

Make sure that websites that contain private data (like your email or bank) have https:// preceding the web address.  This denotes a secure (i.e. encrypted) connection which makes it more difficult for someone who gets a hold of the data sent or received by your computer to decode it into usable material.  If you’re just catching up on your celebrity gossip, surfing http sites isn’t a big deal; just make sure to look for the https before entering any passwords.  If the web address changes from https to http while you’re navigating between pages, log out immediately and wait to check your bank balance when you’re on a secure network.

Instruct Gmail to automatically connect over https by logging into your email account and selecting the icon on the upper right that looks like a cog.  Choose settings, then General and under “Browser connection:” choose “Always use https.”

HTTPS Everywhere (https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere) is a browser extension for Firefox or Chrome that encrypts your communication with sites like Google Search, Facebook, Twitter and more.  It can even redirect you to the secure version of a page you access via another person’s or site’s link.

If you still turn off WiFi when in range of a public network, drop me a note for more advanced protection options.

For April Fools': Best of the Web

April Fools Online: Best Online Tech Spoofs

Last year, I completely forgot about April Fool's Day until I was listening to a news story on the radio and thought, "That's odd.  Is that really true?"  Two seconds later, I remembered "Oh, that's right, it's April Fools!"

The big day is right around the corner.  Love it or hate it, the tricks will be out there.  If, like us, you’re looking forward to some of the best spoofs the Internet has to offer, here are some of our favorites from last year.  These sites are sure to offer some gems you won’t want to miss this April Fools.


Google went to quite a lot of trouble with their major prank.  They introduced an 8-bit version of Google Maps, called "Quest" (www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=rznYifPHxDg#!), referring to it as "our first product for Nintendo Entertainment System."  Quest was designed to generate all maps in 8-bit format (think early 1980s Donkey Kong or Frogger).  The gag provided instructions for inserting the cartridge into your old NES game system, hooking it up to the Internet (complete with the old dial-up phone connection sound), then searching for your hometown.  You could even find a route to your destination and watch the tiny character follow the blue line, Legend of Zelda style, anywhere in the world.  "Blow on the cartridge to fix bugs!"

All in all, Google kept people guessing with at least sixteen pranks last year.  They introduced the Google Really Advanced Search which let you filter your Internet searches by everything from "rhyming slang" to font size.  Chrome Multitask Mode allowed you to browse the web using two mice at the same time.  Gmail Tap turned your overly-cumbersome keyboard into just two keys and a spacebar, bringing Morse code back into the mainstream.  Google Voice for Pets revolutionized pet communications, complete with a collar designed to record audio from your dog or cat and translate it into human speech. Brilliant!

Pet spoofs were all the rave.  Kodak LivePrint technology claimed to have created the first kitten printer, promised to be "Fast, fun and easy!"  Select your favorite breed, wait 90 seconds and voila, your own live kitten.  Ads went on to state that select locations would be offering a limited Easter promotion: “Buy 2 bunnies and get 10 free!”  Nationwide "Bring a Puppy Home for the Holidays" was slated for Christmas.

Adblock, the software that allows you to surf the Internet without all those ads blocking your viewing space introduced CatBlock (http://adblockforchrome.blogspot.com/2012/03/inturdusing-catblock.html).  Supposedly designed by Adblock's developer's cat, the offending ads were replaced with pictures of adorable cats instead.  It actually proved to be so popular (really!) that people were begging for it to be real.  This led to the designer creating a standalone version he would send to users that supported Adblock with a monthly payment.

Lynx introduced the “Lynx Spray App” (www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PM5bCgP479c) which promised that guys on the prowl could select the body spray scent of their choice on the go via the app and then spray themselves down using their Smartphone.  If only phones and liquids were more compatible.

New electronics were introduced, too.  Toshiba announced a new line of tablets called Oblong, Amoré and Rhombus offered in, you guessed it, oval, heart and rhombus shapes: "more than a convex quadrilateral."  Sony unveiled their Vaio Q, the world's most portable Ultrabook.  Available in full HD with “exceptional picture quality and 2D and 3D graphics support”, all on the super tiny 0.75 x 1.25 inches screen.

Skype promised to simplify itself for users who don't like to use a computer, mobile device or Internet connection with Skype for String.  Simply give friends and family members a cup that's connected to yours for unlimited calling.  To make a video call, you must be within eyesight of your friend.  It was promised to work with any cup and string, but Skype recommended their certified set for best results.

Every year one of our favorite sites for tech toys and fan gear, Think Geek (www.thinkgeek.com), brings out their best for April Fools.  My favorite from last year was Electronic Hungry Hungry Hippos iPad Game.  Simply attach the four plastic hippos to your iPad and use it as the game board.  Multiple electronic game boards are offered with several marble styles.  Scoring modes come in standard, Vegas and Regulation Tournament.  Coming soon, Hungry Hungry Hippos: Space!

 

Google Keep Launches, Offers Tough Competition to Evernote

Google Keep – A Preview of “Keep What You Are Thinking”

In its carefully-plotted quest to take over the entire internet, Google yesterday released their “Keep” service. It had been previously rumored and “accidentally leaked” a short while beforehand, but now that it’s out, how good of a job does it do at what it claims?

Keep is clearly taking shots at Evernote, which is currently the most-popular note-taking service available right now. For those of you who haven’t used either, both services are intended to be used primarily on your smartphone, for taking notes, capturing images and sound bytes for later, and basically keeping track of your life. They can be accessed from anywhere, whether it’s your tablet, phone, or desktop.


Keep has Interesting Features:  Google Keep comes with fewer features than Evernote, which is loaded with things like tags, categories, and more efficient organization. Keep allows you to categorize your notes by color only.

Although, Keep has some features that Evernote doesn’t, most notably the ability to create checklists, which can be very helpful for to-do lists and other everyday organization tasks.

Upwardly Mobile:  Keep is obviously created to be mobile-first, and on smartphones, the interface is great. You can clip things from your mobile browser, take snapshots on the fly, and record voice notes. On the desktop however, you can only create checklists, basic notes, and attach files that are already on your computer.

Simple is Best:  The best part about Keep though, and the way in which it most distinctly distinguishes itself from Evernote, is its simplicity. While Evernote’s features are great, they all hit you at once. Keep has none of that. When loading the desktop site at drive.google.com/keep, there is simply a blank box for a new note and your previous notes lined up beneath it. In line with Google’s minimalistic visual style, the notes are organized by a few simple colors and there are no extra frills. While Evernote may be good for those who compulsively take and organize notes digitally, Keep is great for the rest of us. It offers a simple way to ‘keep’ what we’re thinking and have it available to us wherever we are.

Like all Google services, starting out basic signifies nothing in relation to its eventual evolution. Google consistently starts out with a simple, solid product and adds features as people use and discuss it. So while it may not satisfy everyone’s needs in a note keeping app, it will evolve and grow over its lifetime. It may not have killed Evernote yet, but it has certainly sounded what may well be the death knell for any other note-taking software.

 

Options on the Internet for Kids

Finding Media and Apps on the Internet for Kids

My two kids can't keep their hands off Daddy's iPad, so it's important that I find age appropriate applications, movies and TV shows that I consider to be educational, or at least a valuable use of their time.  While I love recommendations from other parents with kids the same age, I also have a couple resources at my disposal to track down the gems in the sea of available media.

Common Sense Media (www.commonsensemedia.org) provides ratings for every category of media: books, movies, TV shows, games, applications, websites and music.  But it's more than just a simple ratings website.  Their rating system is based upon recommendations from child development experts nationwide who provide criteria for what content and activities are suited for each age range.  Their ratings are multi-layered, giving you guidelines for age-appropriate content while also evaluating the "messages" provided by the game and whether or not the application or website has a good "learning potential" for your child.


Browse by the type of media you're trying to find (such as "movie reviews"), or keep up to date with what's hot with their "New This Week" and "Editor's Picks" features.  Reviews are sorted by age range, and you can click on multiple ages simultaneously if you have a couple different ages in your household.  They even have a section for children with special-needs or learning-differences.  Lastly, suggestions are provided for parents to enhance the media experience, explaining how to explore, discuss and enjoy the content, even providing sample questions to get your kids talking about lessons and themes.

OK (www.ok.com) covers all-things movies.  Movies are rated by users, so the data is pooled into the rating system that then gives an age range (OK for 6+, for example) and also a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down," denoting if the movie is worth your time.  Users post detailed movie reviews, much like you see when you use Netflix, but they're generally family-oriented reviews that contain details to help you decide if the movie is right for your family.

Search for movies based on MPAA rating (G, PG, etc.), where the movie is available for viewing (Theater, Redbox, Netflix Streaming or Netflix DVD) and look for the genre you're interested in.  Connect through Facebook to share when you rate movies or write your own reviews.  Follow other reviewers that share your taste and standards, allowing you to build a community of movie reviewers to suit your own family.

Cool Mom Tech (www.coolmomtech.com) provides reviews and recommendations for tech and applications.  Their tagline: "We're not techies who parent, we're moms who use tech in our everyday lives."  Follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, or simply click on "Best Kids' Apps" and you're greeted with pages of suggestions laid out in a blog-like fashion with pictures and links to more detailed reviews.

Mashable (www.mashable.com) has a nice weekly feature called "Top 5 Apps for Kids This Week," found under Lifestyle --> Family & Parenting.  Ratings are given for ease of use, educational benefits and entertainment value of the application, and age appropriateness levels are given as well.  Keep in mind some of their recommended applications are not free.

Children's Technology Review (www.childrenstech.com) has been studying children's interactive media products since 1985.  They provide ratings on products and applications in a similar way to Consumer Reports - extensive road testing and set criteria is used to evaluate each product they review.  Like Consumer Reports, it's a fee-for-service: $30 per year for a monthly PDF newsletter emailed to you.  Each issue contains about 50 reviews of tech toys, websites, apps, video games and more.

Every child is different and learns at a different pace, so not all rating systems will be perfect.  They're intended as a guideline to help you in your decision-making with regards to what content your kids are exposed to.  Ultimately, you know your child best and you will be the best determinant of what he/she is ready for.  Remember, always screen content before you hand over the iPad or turn on the TV.