Nerds On Call: Complaints about Windows 8 lead Microsoft to Deploy Fixes

If you've used Windows 8 yet, chances are you have your fair share of frustrations with the operating system. Perhaps it's the lack of the start button, the way that snapping works, or otherwise it's just too confusing. In a welcome move, the maker of the operating system, the software giant Microsoft announced that it would be fixing a number of these problems in an update to Windows 8 that will be available on June 26. It will certainly be a welcome upgrade at Nerds On Call Computer Repair. Complaints about some of its more frustrating features have become commonplace among our Nerds. So what exactly does this promising update provide?


Return of the Start Menu: So far Microsoft has announced a few key features for Windows 8.1, promising more to come. The first and most exciting announcement is the return of the start menu. It will appear on the taskbar as a windows logo in the same position that the lower-left icon now occupies. According to Microsoft, this change comes because "we also recognize there are many non-touch devices in use today – especially in the commercial setting. As such we’ve focused on a number of improvements to ensure easier navigation for people using a mouse and keyboard."

Search for Everything: Another new feature that Microsoft is including in the Windows 8.1 update is an improved search experience. The new version will integrate much more with Bing and will provide contextual information from the web based on your search. The previous, Windows 8, version of this feature only allowed searches for local files, settings, or apps. The new search bar promises to be more powerful. According to Microsoft, "It is the modern version of the command line!" Those who have been using the command line for years welcome an upgrade, like those of us at Nerds On Call Computer Repair. Complaints about the limited functionality of the search bar seem to have been fixed, although time will tell how users adapt to Bing's search engine. The move could gain Microsoft ground in their battle against Google's search superiority.

Make it Yours: Windows 8.1 will also be including more personalization options, including the ability to choose your own background for the start screen - including animated backgrounds. Windows 8.1 also provides the option to keep your start screen and desktop background the same, "creating a greater sense of unity and familiarity." The lock screen can now also be used as a slideshow so that Windows 8.1 running on a tablet device can serve as a picture frame.

Control Everything: Among the tech types like us at Nerds On Call Computer Repair, complaints have been high about the way that the control panel is set up in Windows 8. Windows 8.1 promises to "give[] you access to all your settings on your device without having to go to the Control Panel on the desktop. You can do things like change your display resolution, set your power options, see the make and model of your PC, change the product key, let you run Windows Update, and even join a domain – all from PC Settings."

There are a number of other minor updates to Windows 8.1 apps like SkyDrive, Internet Explorer, and the Windows Store and more changes are promised. This Windows 8 update looks to be a step in the right direction for Microsoft. If they keep this up, Nerds On Call complaints about Windows 8 will surely decrease. The release date of June 26 can't come soon enough!

Quotes from: http://blogs.windows.com/windows/b/bloggingwindows/archive/2013/05/30/continuing-the-windows-8-vision-with-windows-8-1.aspx

Cyber Attacks Increasing Around the World

Cyber Attacks on the Rise around World

There's a new type of war being waged in the metropolitan areas of the digital world.  Just like the "war on terror," this war is also composed of highly unpredictable attacks by an unseen and unknown enemy. These attacks are called "cyber attacks," and they're carried out not just by the traditional "bad guy," but by anyone ambitious enough to learn how to get started in cyber crime.


Cyber attacks can be carried out in one of a few ways. The first is a DDOS attack. DDOS stands for Dynamic Denial-Of-Service. A DDOS attack is not an attack meant to damage the affected system, but to slow it down by increasing the strain put on the computer. It's the digital equivalent of causing a scene to distract a store's security while the perpetrator can scope out vulnerable areas for later entrance.

There have been a rash of DDOS attacks on American banks http://www.informationweek.com/security/attacks/fbi-briefs-bank-executives-on-ddos-attac/240154858 but they appear to have ceased for the time being. This could mean that a more vicious cyber attack could be in the works - one like the recent $45 million ATM heist http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/13/4326336/cyber-caper-behind-the-scenes-of-the-45-million-atm-heist in which cyber thieves made off with a record amount of cash through careful coordination between hackers and criminals in the physical world.

In addition to these private cyber attacks, countries may be starting to wage even colder wars in the world of cyberspace. There have been recent allegations that China and Russia have been stealing weapons and tech from the United States through cyber attacks, although this may just be the ritual stoking of the fire following even more news about cyber warfare from the Pentagon.
The Pentagon this week launched "Plan X," which is a five-year cyber warfare research project. The goal of Plan X is to create technology that allows the military to fight cyber attacks in cyberspace under the command of generals and other non-technically-competent military personnel. The "Plan X app" is reported to be a large touch-screen table that commanders can interact with to send virtual warriors into cyber warfare. According to DARPA's website http://www.darpa.mil/Our_Work/I2O/Programs/Plan_X.aspx "Cyberspace is now recognized as a critical domain of operations by the U.S. military and its protection is a national security issue."

So where does this leave the rest of us who aren’t multi-national banks, governments, huge businesses, or hackers? For the most part not much has changed – the threat is just growing stronger. That means it’s more important than ever to install and update your anti-virus software. If you don’t have one, download Microsoft Security Essentials. Hackers are able to pull off such large-scale attacks because they use computers infected with their viruses. If you don’t give them a foothold, there’s one less computer they can leverage for their nefarious purposes.

Xbox One Controversy Has Begun

Xbox One Controversy Starts Over Internet Connectivity

by Andrea Eldridge

On May 21, 2013, Microsoft revealed details of their highly anticipated new game console, the Xbox One, scheduled to be available for sale near the end of the year.  The first major hardware overhaul for the Xbox in over seven years, gamers have been eagerly awaiting details since rumors of the new console began to circulate last year.  Yet in the end, it’s what Microsoft isn’t saying that has many gamers up in arms.


With its new console, Microsoft aims to give users a more complete media experience.  It communicates with cable and satellite, allowing users to watch live TV on their Xbox.  At first this seemed a little strange – you use your gaming console to play games, right?  Actually, Xbox 360 users currently stream movies (though apps like Netflix or Amazon Prime) and TV (thorough apps like Hulu and HBO Go), they just can’t access content stored on their DVR or see live TV without navigating out of the Xbox console and to their cable or satellite menus.  The Xbox One eliminates this, allowing users to access TV and even watch their favorite shows waiting for a game to load or to be matched in a multiplayer game.

The Xbox One will ship with a Kinect sensor and the voice and motion control features were heavily touted in Microsoft’s live press demos.  The idea is that with its integration with your home theater, you can control your entertainment experience without a remote and without ever leaving the Xbox One interface.  Simply speak to turn on and navigate to games, Internet, TV, etc.  Facial recognition will automatically load your saved content so you can pick up where you left off.

However, there were some finer details that Microsoft has been less clear about.  They announced that game play will be tied to your online profile.  When you buy a game and load it in your Xbox, the game will be installed on your device and you’ll register with your Xbox Live profile, making the disk no longer necessary for game play.  If you take your disk to a friend’s house, you can install the content on his/her Xbox and log in with your Xbox Live profile to play.  How about when you’re done with the game and want to hand the disk off to your buddy?  No dice.  Your friend will be prompted to pay “a fee” (the amount remains undisclosed) to register and play, even if the game is loaded on their console.

Microsoft’s Larry Hryb has since clarified that they do plan to allow gamers to “trade in and resell games at retail,” presumably through partnerships with large second hand game distributors such as GameStop (and its affiliates).  Yet concerns linger for gamers who rent titles through services such as Gamefly or Blockbuster, or those who prefer to sell or trade games directly between friends and family.

Many are upset by rumors that the console will require near constant access to the Internet to enable gameplay.  While Microsoft has yet to clearly confirm or deny, one can assume that playing a game – even one you’ve installed on your hard drive – may require online authentication of your Xbox Live profile to play.  This will make gaming more challenging for users without stable broadband Internet.

Hot on Microsoft’s heels, Sony held a press conference on May 20^th to announce sparse details of its anticipated new console, the PS4.  While showing only the controller, they have not disclosed any information about the hardware or what it will be capable of.  Perhaps Sony will use the controversy stirred up by Xbox One to fine tune the details of its own device.

Get the Most out of Travel Booking Websites - Part 2

Tips for Using Travel Booking Websites - Part 2

by Andrea Eldridge

Over the last few weeks we’ve been exploring online tools to plan a great summer vacation.  From finding the best deals to doing Disney to cruising, the Internet offers a wealth of resources to get you where you want to go with fewer headaches.  Now that we’ve covered deciding where and when to go, we wrap up our travel series with sites that can help stretch your travel dollars.

Twitter (https://twitter.com/) has become the place for travel companies to announce insider sales that seem too good to be true.  Followers receive first-dibs on fare cuts before they hit the web, most often for last-minute getaways.  For example, Spirit Airlines (@SpiritAirlines) recently offered tickets from Washington, D.C. to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for $54 each way.  JetBlue (@JetBlueCheeps) is known to offer noteworthy deals on its airfare.  Hotel specialist Quickbook (@Quickbook) informs followers of discounts on hotel stays in major cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago.  Follow your favorite airline or hotel to get first crack at special offers.


Wondering if the best time to book your getaway is now or if you should wait a few weeks?  Nothing saps the glee from finally booking your trip like seeing the price drop significantly a week later.  Bing (www.bing.com/travel) search results include a "price predictor" that tells you whether the price is likely to increase, stay the same, or decrease depending on how fares are trending.  Keep in mind that the hotel "rate indicator," which tells you whether a rate you've been quoted is typical for the hotel, is limited to certain cities in the U.S.

After hours of scouring the net for the best flight deal, there are few things more frustrating than discovering that the flight that saves you $40 adds six hours to your travel time.  Hipmunk (www.hipmunk.com) searches return a list of air and train travel options by cost, duration, departure and arrival times, showing results on a quick-scan graph.  But we love the included "agony factor."  Hipmunk sorts trips so the best options for both price and your sanity appear at the top of the list, moving the most painful flights (like red-eyes and those with multiple or long layovers) to the bottom.

Car rental prices fluctuate constantly, but who has the time to keep searching for deals in the weeks leading up to your trip?  Reserve your rental through AutoSlash (www.autoslash.com) and they'll continuously check prices after you book.  If the price drops, your rental will be automatically re-booked for free, with the confirmation details sent to your email.  Sometimes you can even garner a free upgrade from a smaller to a larger car.

If you're trying to decide whether to fly or drive, or determine if it’s worth it to drive farther to an airport with a cheaper flight, AAA can help.  Before you try to calculate the combination of distance + fuel costs + number of people driving (and possibly hurt your brain with the higher math), check out their "cost to drive" calculator at http://fuelcostcalculator.aaa.com/.  Simply enter the starting and ending cities and some details about your car, and it'll do the math for you.

A few notes about bundle deals and consolidators:

Shop each component separately so you can price compare with the combined price.  Some hotels and airlines save the best deals for those who book directly with their site and making changes to reservations can be easier than when you’ve booked through a third party.

Some airlines (like Southwest) don't list their tickets with the big bundle sites like Travelocity and Orbitz, so make sure you check “discount airlines” separately.

Don't forget to include those pesky baggage fees when comparing prices.  The $100 you save on a cheap ticket may be outweighed by the charge for checking bags.

Flights by low-cost foreign airlines such as EasyJet (based in the UK) don't show up on Expedia either.  Book a ticket to a hub like Paris or Rome on a major carrier, then use Skyscanner (www.skyscanner.com) or Momondo (www.momondo.com) to reserve the low-fare airline to a smaller city abroad.  You can save a bundle flying like the locals.

If you’re buying airline tickets for the whole family, consider purchasing tickets individually.  When you buy tickets together, the airline reservation system sells everyone in your party the same highest price tickets, even if there are individual tickets available for less.  If you end up seated separately you may be able to call ahead to consolidate seats or rearrange seating when you get to the airport.

Happy trails!

Don't Trash it: Use a Monitor to Watch TV

Use a Monitor to Watch TV

by Andrea Eldridge

Anyone with a monitor in their closet gathering dust has probably thought the same thing: “Why can’t I just use this to watch TV?”  You can!  As more people transition to mobile devices or upgrade their screen when replacing their PC, there are decent monitors taking up room in storage cabinets everywhere.  Before you retire your old monitor to the landfill, consider repurposing it.

You don't need a computer for the monitor to work; it can connect to a cable or satellite receiver, tuner box or movie player using the same inputs as a standard TV.  A decently sized LCD monitor (24”-32”) can make a great option for the bedroom or the kids’ play area.  Repurposing it will save you money and a trip to the local recycling depot (monitors contain toxic chemicals that are bad for the environment so they must be properly disposed of).  Even an old CRT or flat-panel monitor can be converted to receive TV signal; the age and quality of the monitor just may make the modification cost-prohibitive for the picture quality (see below for tuner box cost).

When shopping for a new monitor to use as a TV, look for one that supports HDMI input.   If you want to be able to watch HD content received over-the-air or Blu-Ray, make sure it’s HDCP Compliant.  High Definition Content Protection is like the DRM encoded into digital music.  High definition video content has similar protocols to deter piracy and your screen needs to be capable of decoding the content protection for you to be able to view it on a monitor.

Satellite and cable receiver boxes act as tuners, receiving signal, decoding HD content protections, putting video in a format that your monitor can process and sending audio to your home theater.  Users without a satellite or cable box will need an external TV tuner box in order to change channels – look for one that includes a remote control.  A TV tuner box also sends audio to external speakers or your home theater system and offers additional connection options if your monitor’s inputs don’t match your cable, satellite, antennae or DVD player’s output.

There are two basic types of TV tuner boxes on the market: digital and analog. Check the connections available on your monitor because that determines the type you need.  If you have an older CRT monitor or don’t intend to watch HD content, check out Sabrent’s Stand Alone TV Tuner (www.sabrent.com/category/video-converters/TV-LCDHR/ , about $35).  It supports a VGA connection (which most older monitors require) and is fairly easy to install.

If you have a newer monitor that is HDCP Compliant with HDMI input but don’t have a cable or satellite tuner box, consider the Channel Master CM-7001 HDTV Antenna and Cable Tuner (www.channelmasterstore.com/HD_Antenna_Tuner_CM_7001_p/cm-7001.htm, about $130).  Those who live in an area that broadcasts HD channels over-air may even save some money on cable or satellite by using the built-in HDTV antenna.

There are several ways to connect a TV tuner box to the video output from your cable, satellite, DVD player or antennae, in descending order of preference: HDMI (if available), S-Video connection, composite video or RF coaxial cable.  You could plug the raw feed from your analog cable TV or antennae directly into the RF coaxial input on the TV tuner, but you likely won't receive as many channels.  Most TV tuner boxes allow you to connect to multiple sources, so you could connect to a source for TV, a source for movies (DVD or BluRay), and perhaps a game console.

For a thorough walk through detailing how to connect an external TV tuner to your monitor, review CNet’s Digital Home DIY “Turn a computer monitor into a TV”: http://www.cnet.com/computer-monitor-to-tv/

The Next Xbox: Xbox One

Microsoft's Xbox One Introduces Impressive Technology

Microsoft today announced the release of the newest version of the flagship video game console, the Xbox. The new version is christened the Xbox One, and it boasts the usual regimen of hardware upgrades along with a fair measure of new features that send the game back to their competition, the Sony Playstation 4 and the Nintendo Wii U.


Microsoft's singularity-focused approach to the Xbox One featured advanced computer systems including artificial intelligence and better cloud connectivity. In addition, the Kinect sensor can now track 3D rotations and users' heartbeats. The Xbox One uses the upgraded sensor to personalize your gestures, meaning it learns how you use it and responds. If you don't want to even have to move to use your Xbox, the Xbox One has natural-language voice commands to switch from watching the new Halo television series to playing the new Halo game. The design of the Xbox One dashboard also features Microsoft's Metro interface, introduced in Windows 8.

After shelving their Zune brand, Microsoft has also re-purposed the Xbox One to be a full-featured home entertainment center, including Skype calls and DVR functionality. Users can use the Xbox One to make phone calls while watching television or playing video games, and can use the device's 500 gigabyte hard drive to store their favorite TV shows.

One somewhat embarrassing announcement was the addition of a Blu-Ray drive, after the Microsoft-backed HD-DVD failure of a few years ago. However, the Xbox One promises to rely less on optical disks for games and more for cloud storage and retrieval.

The new controller features an upgraded rumble system, which allows for more precise tactile feedback when players are affected in the video games.

In addition, video game nerds were excited to learn that Microsoft is producing a live-action Halo Television show created by Steven Spielberg.

Image from Microsoft

Get the Most out of Travel Booking Websites

Tips for Using Travel Booking Websites

Hopefully you've set aside time this summer for a nice vacation in between summer school and the kids’ band camp.  Many of us have already started perusing various travel sites, on the lookout for the perfect get-away.  How do you know you're getting the best deal on the vacation of your dreams?  This week we'll explore ways to stretch your travel dollars and avoid some of the common pitfalls to booking travel online.

A few years ago, my sister and I were looking up flights on Hawaiian Airlines together, planning a family vacation.  We found a flight we were interested in, but weren't ready to book the tickets yet.  The next day when we logged in, we saw that the price had jumped by $40 per ticket.  Whoa!


At first we thought the cheaper tickets for that flight were simply selling out, until we logged in from a different computer and discovered that the lower price was back.  Hmmm.  Turns out, some travel sites (even Travelocity) will store a cookie on your machine to track your browsing history.  Then, they raise the prices on the particular trip you've been keeping your eye on.  You think tickets are selling out fast and you rush to buy them quickly before the price goes up even further.  Meanwhile, the airline's just made a few extra bucks.

Has the price of your trip increased while you shopped around?  After completing your research and just before you book, clear your browser history and delete your cookies.  If that doesn't work, try booking your travel from another computer – one that you haven’t used to peruse travel deals.

Take advantage of the "flexible dates" option when you're searching for flights.  Often, flying a day before or a day after your goal dates can save you a bundle since certain days of the week are less popular travel days.  According to a study done by Fare Compare (www.farecompare.com), the cheapest days to fly domestically are Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday (with Friday and Sunday being the most expensive).  Internationally, Monday through Thursday is cheaper than Friday through Sunday.  The cheapest time to fly is the first flight out in the morning.  Yes, this means waking up at 4 AM or catching the red-eye, but it may be worth it if you save a couple hundred dollars on your flight.

Don’t overlook the "search surrounding airports" option.  I've found some serious deals when I was willing to fly into a larger airport an hour or two away from my ultimate destination. Adjusting your travel itinerary to fly through an airline's "hub" airport can also make your flight less expensive due to the larger number of flights going in and out of that airport.  Wikipedia has a list (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline_hub) of all major airline hubs around the world.  If your departure or final destination isn't near a hub, you can still garner some savings by flying through one, or driving to or from the hub.

When you buy is also pivotal.  You may think buying your airline tickets a year in advance is a good idea, but you may actually pay more than booking closer to your departure date.  Additionally, tickets bought within 14 days of travel are typically the most expensive because the travel industry gets to gouge business travelers flying last minute.  Airlines don't begin actively "managing" their prices until three or four months prior to a departure for domestic flights and five to six months for international.  Buy tickets sooner than that and you'll likely pay too much.

Most travel experts agree that booking airline tickets early in the week will yield the best fares.  Specifically, Tuesday at 3 PM Eastern time is your best bet.  Why?  Major airlines announce their fare sales late Monday, other airlines scramble to join them so they stay competitive and the price matching and fare wars are generally complete by Tuesday afternoon.  These fares tend to be removed by Thursday night in preparation for the price-gouging that generally occurs over the weekend (a really bad time to buy).

Stay tuned for next week when we discuss the nitty-gritty details of booking your trip.