Techbyter Worldwide (formerly Technology Corner) With Bill Blinn

Zoom was poised to sweep all other online meeting applications away, and then security concerns surfaced. Big ones. Zoom has moved quickly to resolve the issues, but now the company is facing an up-hill battle against competitors. In Short Circuits: If you'd like to download videos from YouTube and other services, you may have noticed that it's not a straightforward process. Downloads are legal as long as you're downloading for your private use, and several applications make the process easier. We'll look at some. • In a post-COVID-19 world, commerce will look a lot different. Apple is one organization that's preparing to lead the way. In Spare Parts (only on the website): About one third of workers feel that a machine might take their job. Let's look at some of the details. • COVID-19 misinformation and disinformation abound, but it's easy to find honest information, too. I'll list eight reliable resources. • Twenty years ago: After selling WebObject Java for $50,000, Apple suddenly cut the price to $700. Th

Apple and Google plan to allow their smart phones to talk to each other. The goal is to help with contact tracing for those who may have been exposed to COVID-19. It seems like a good idea, but it also seems doomed to fail. In Short Circuits: The creeps among us on the internet have shifted into high gear with links to bad websites and malware-laden downloads. If you've ever wished that you had a backup for your computer's protective applications, I have a suggestion. • Microsoft continues to work on the new Chromium-based version of the Edge browser. Now might be a good time to take a look. In Spare Parts (only on the website): The lowly Windows File Explorer has some hidden tricks that can make file management easier. • The market for wearable health devices is seeing explosive growth that isn't expected to end anytime soon. • Twenty years ago: Kodak was desperately seeking relevance in a world where film was becoming irrelevant.

For almost 20 years, TechSmith's Camtasia has been the go-to application for instructional videos. The 2020 version of Camtasia strengthens its capabilities for that market and also adds more powerful video editing functions. In Short Circuits: Depending on how often you send images from Lightroom to Photoshop for pixel-level editing, making a small change in the workflow could save a substantial amount of disk space. • Scammers have spotted a big opening because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but many of the old subject lines still attract mouse clicks that lead to trouble. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Google and Apple say they want to work together to provide technical assistance for identifying people who may have been exposed to COVID-19. • If you lose access to your Google account, there are automated recovery procedures that are easy. That's good because recovering an account manually isn't easy or fast. • Twenty years ago: Many of us might have been excited by a $180 device that played CDs and DVDs

Although Google is the most used search engine and Bing is a distant second, an even more distant Duck Duck Go has several advantages. In Short Circuits: Research that shows company security is more at risk when employees work from home is no surprise to security experts. The risk to corporate data is substantial. • A lot of applications start with Windows. The operating system needs some processes and you've probably added some, but there may be others that you didn't request and may not even know are running. Needless applications can cause problems, and we'll consider how to find them and remove the ones you don't want. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Improvements for Firefox's search function makes finding something faster and easier. • The COVID-19 pandemic continues and will likely worsen as states begin to loosen regulations. Now's a good time so surveil yourself. • Twenty years ago: I loaded a virus onto the office computer -- the first and only time I made that mistake. It taught me a most impo

If you think Windows users need the VLC Media Player to view DVDs, you're right, but that's only part of the story. VLC does a lot more and it's an open-source application. In Short Circuits: High-resolution screens are great, but users often say the tiny text and icons are hard to see. If that describes you, I have good news: These are easy fixes. • Mac users are sometimes distressed by the lack of ports on Macbook Pro machines. A cleverly designed dock not only provides more ports, but also adds a lot of disk space. And it can be used on any computer or portable device that has a USB-C port. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Technology may be able to help track new COVID-19 cases as states relax some of the restrictions we've been dealing with. • If you're trying to find out when your stimulus check will arrive from the IRS, the IRS website may be able to help; beware of rogue sites, though, because more than 4000 new domains exist and they all want to "help" you. • Twenty years ago: The MP3 revolution

Facebook can be useful, but the unremitting flood of advertisements and other "improvements" that are forced onto users can be maddening. There are ways to fix the problems. In Short Circuits: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought conspiracy nuts, crooks, and liars out from wherever they normally spend their time. We need honest information and facts. Fortunately, they exist and they're not hard to find. • When I described my experience with a Google Nest Mini in January, I said the device appeared to have some defects. It took far too long to convince Google, but now the problem has been resolved. • In Spare Parts (only on the website): Some applications that are installed on computers have started asking the user to log in. This is a good trend. • This month's Microsoft Patch Tuesday includes a lot of security fixes, so it's not one to delay. • Twenty years ago: Netscape was excited about the release of Navigator 6. Netscape was already feeling pressure from Microsoft and, a few years later from Firefox. Naviga

Computer performance tests aren't only for those who want to brag about having the fastest computer on the planet. They can pinpoint bottlenecks for those who need to improve their computer's operation, but don't know where to start. In Short Circuits: Last week I described museum tours and other things you can do virtually when you can't go out, so this week we'll take a look at books, music, and other entertainment that can help you avoid climbing the walls. • COVID-19 scammers are out in force with a wide variety of ways to steal money and credentials. Protection doesn't differ from what you should already be doing, so I may get a bit snarky. In Spare Parts (only on the website): We'll review virtual private networks and video conferencing. VPN usage has seen a significant increase in the past decade and many video conferencing applications are far less secure than they should be, even for personal use. • Twenty years ago: Macromedia had just introduced version 3 of Dreamweaver and included Fireworks for t

I described the Launchy program launcher for Windows three weeks ago, and said I'd soon have information about a competitor. This week we'll take a look at Executor. In Short Circuits: Fixing network problems is difficult unless you have a spray can of magic Network Pixie Dust, so let's review some of the quick and easy steps that can get your computer back online. • If you've ever wished that you could give someone or some company a temporary email address to avoid spam, it's easy and you have a choice of several services. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Museum tours, theme parks, Broadway plays, and more are available online and many are free. They're good options in this time of "social distancing" and staying at home. • Researchers at Harvard say that a financial data bill of rights is long past due. • Twenty years ago: Star Office was being promoted as the application that would wrest domination of the desktop away from Microsoft.

Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers have the greatest market share, but now is a good time to take another look at Firefox if you value privacy and security. In Short Circuits: Although using Malwarebytes as the only protective application on a Windows computer seems not to be the best protection, running a copy of the free version is a great way to backstop the primary antivirus application. • Too many applications install unwanted "gifts" under the guise of being helpful. A small utility program called Unchecky can expose them before they've been installed so you can avoid them. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Crooks view the sudden shift to having employees work from home as an outstanding opportunity to plant malware and steal corporate data. • Freelance editors work from home almost exclusively and many of them have neat, tidy offices. Then there's my office. • Twenty years ago: A new service called Amadeus had just been created to give Scandinavians a way to book airline flights using their p

Those who argue that Illustrator is better than Photoshop or that Photoshop is better than Illustrator are missing the point: Adobe makes each for specific purposes. In Short Circuits: Ohio is essentially shut down in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus and, as other states follow Ohio's lead, technology is filling the gaps where possible. • If you've ever wondered what the WinSxS directory is and whether you can delete it to save space, don't! I'll explain why. In Spare Parts (only on the website): The expected coronavirus scams are spreading across the internet and it's wise to avoid them. • Some healthcare providers are bringing telemedicine online sooner than expected for what would have been basic office visits. • Twenty years ago: Intel was looking 20 years ahead. How accurate was the company in looking ahead to 2020?

Using the Start screen or pinning icons to the Task bar works, but it's also possible to start applications with a keyboard-based launcher. Sometimes that's a faster and easier way to work. In Short Circuits: If you've ever been grossed out by your computer's keyboard, maybe now's a good time to clean it. Let's see what's involved. • British software publisher Serif has released updates for its line of Affinity products -- Designer, Photo, and Publisher. If you own the applications, the updates are free. In Spare Parts (only on the website): More resources for Adobe Stock users who can now obtain images from two new providers. • Given the source of many computer components, it's probably no surprise that the new coronavirus is having an adverse effect on computer shipments. • Twenty years ago: Several organizations started providing dial-up internet access for free.

Graphics tablets without screens are difficult to master and graphics tablets with screens are prohibitively expensive. The Wacom One changes all that. In Short Circuits: Photoshop is 30 years old and it predated widespread use of digital cameras by more than a decade. Photoshop continues to be an essential tool for designers and photographers. • Some companies are going on the offensive to fight scams by sending warnings to customers. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Some tech conferences, including Facebook's big F8 event have been cancelled because of coronavirus fears. • Crooks and scammers are capitalizing on those fears, too, so beware of messages from people you don't know. • Twenty years ago: Theaters were beginning to offer tickets online with a test in five movie houses in Dallas.

Solid-state disk drives still cost more that comparably sized mechanical drives, but prices have dropped enough that upgrading a computer's boot drive to a solid-state device is now the fastest and easiest way to accelerate the machine. In Short Circuits: A new point-and-shoot Nikon camera that costs $800 and has an 83-times zoom lens was a big hit at the consumer electronics show. There are good reasons to want one and a couple of reasons not to. • Used carefully, PC Decrapifier is a handy tool, but it's all too easy to use the wrong way. • No matter what camera you own, every photograph that it makes can be improved and the process may take only a few minutes. In Spare Parts (only on the website): How much of your personal data are you willing to surrender to get better service from companies? • This may be a surprise, but it seems that crooks take vacations, too. • Twenty years ago: I didn't use Audition because it didn't yet exist. Instead, I used Cool Edit Pro, and later it became Audition.

Windows 10 has a handy tool for finding misplaced files. When you need something more powerful, Agent Ransack is waiting. We'll look at both methods. In Short Circuits: Microsoft's Storage Sense gives users a way to get rid of unneeded files. • Have you ever wanted to just turn off those User Account Control warnings? One word is appropriate here: Don't! I'll explain why. • Firefox users should check to be sure that they're running version 72.0.1 or later. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Cyber threats continue to evolve and so do protective measures. • Crooks are using the cornonavirus scare to spread malware and Russians are using it to spread disinformation. • Twenty years ago: Microsoft introduced Windows 2000, Microsoft's first "industrial strength" operating system.

Windows 7 reached its end of life recently, and Microsoft will end support for Office 2010 in mid-October. Let's look at your options for when the time comes. In Short Circuits: If you’ve ever tried to delete or rename a file only to have Windows refuse, LockHunter can save the day. • Microsoft has two utilities that keep system files in good shape. Using them occasionally is wise. • One of the easiest ways to share information is with a PDF document and Windows 10 makes the process even easier. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Russian and Japanese scientists say a new material can extend the life of solid-state devices in high-use applications. • What do people do at the Super Bowl? Most of them used their phones a lot. • Twenty years ago: Corel Corporation had previewed a Linux version of its graphics applications. The effort was not exactly a big success.

Blue light is beneficial, but it can also cause problems. Computer screens, televisions, tablets, and smart phones emit a lot of blue light and the result may be insomnia and other health issues. In Short Circuits: Microsoft's new Chromium-based Edge browser continues to evolve, and it offers some advantages compared to Chrome and Firefox, maybe even enough to attract users. • It's beginning to look like entropy will win on the internet and the term "splinternet" has gained a following. In Spare Parts (only on the website): The National PTA tries to identify ways to help families make the best use of online resources. • Older adults are increasingly adopting smart phones and computers, but are less receptive to wearable devices and tablets. • Twenty years ago: Digital cameras were about to reach the magic ONE megapixel level for the unheard-of low price of just $1000.

Password managers have become essential tools for those who want to protect their data, and other actions can improve your odds of surviving. In Short Circuits: Website pop-up messages asking to send notifications are annoying and now browser publishers are making it easier for those of us who detest the messages to get rid of them. • Sometimes you might want Windows to believe that you're not in the location where the operating system thinks you are. It's an easy fix. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Facebook claims to have ways to protect your privacy, or at least to control more of what Zuckerberg and crew know about you; so let's take a look. • A man who claimed to protect organizations from distributed-denial-of-service attacks will be sentenced in May for staging such attacks himself. • Twenty years ago: Apple was well on the way to the great turnaround and Apple's board of directors presented Steve Jobs with a new airplane.

Those who need help with spelling, grammar, and style might be inclined to use spelling checkers and grammar checkers. Although these tools can be helpful, it's essential to avoid having them lead you astray. In Short Circuits: Microsoft's January patches include one that's designed to repair a major security flaw in Windows 10. Installing this patch should be a priority for everyone. • If the account you use with Windows 10 is a local account instead of a Microsoft account, you may want to reconsider. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Malwarebytes Labs says a company that provides mobile phones for low-income individuals under a federal program has been packing those phones with malware. • Responding to threats from do-it-yourself home security system providers, ADT has launched its own brand of user-installable devices. • Twenty years ago: We were so concerned with battery life on notebook computers that a company attempted to create a super-low-power system.

Several years after the first smart speakers were released, I have one. It wasn't my idea, but it was free and it seems to be useful. In Short Circuits: You hear my spiel about the importance of backup occasionally. This time I have a story that illustrates clearly why it is so important. • Lies are endemic on the internet and particularly in social media. Those who are interested in truth can find it. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Windows 7 is no longer viable, but you might not have to pay for an update to Windows 10. • A school district in suburban Austin has lost more than $2 million to scammers. • Twenty years ago: The MP3 music format, which had been invented 3 years earlier, was beginning to take off.

If you've wondered whether Linux would be right for you, you're not alone. I've asked myself that question just about every year since the early 1990s. In Short Circuits: Some PDF documents have restrictions on copying data or printing the file, and sometimes even passwords that prohibit opening the file. There are workarounds. • Remember when you could get to Safe mode in Windows by pressing F8 during the boot process? Microsoft removed that capability starting with Windows 8, but you can restore it if you don't might a slightly slower boot. In Spare Parts (only on the website): When Windows doesn't work right, you might be tempted to wipe the disk and start over. Before using the big hammer, you can often save time and effort by repairing Windows instead. • The Federal Communications Commission wants cellular providers to block fraudulent calls, but don't expect change anytime soon. In the meantime, it's up to us. • Twenty years ago: A small but growing group of Linux fans predicted that Linux would take ov