Techbyter Worldwide (formerly Technology Corner) With Bill Blinn

All of the apps in Adobe's $10-per-month photo plan received updates at this year's Adobe Max conference, and time-saving artificial intelligence tools continue to lead the way. In Short Circuits: Far too many people operate computers without any defined backup system in place. This is unwise, particularly when free backup applications exist. • Although health insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid cover the full cost of Covid tests, you may want the convenience of rapid in-home testing. Some organizations provide them for free, and costs are dropping if you have to pay for a kit. In Spare Parts (only on the website): According to Fakespot, more than 30% of online product reviews are phony. • People looking to stream episodes of the Netflix hit "Squid Game" often end up downloading malware instead. • Twenty years ago: I was cautiously optimistic about the future of big tech trade shows such as PC Expo. That optimism was largely misplaced.

Exposure X7 comes with several new ways to create and modify masks. Although that is clearly the most important enhancement in this version, there's lots more to like. In Short Circuits: Macros help computer users perform tasks easily and accurately, from complex activities that involve multiple applications to simply replacing what are essentially abbreviations with much longer sections of text. • The Vivaldi web browser continues to add customizations that make it even more versatile. In Spare Parts (only on the website): The old GM plant at Lordstown, Ohio, is being sold to Foxconn, the company that manufactures IPhones. The goal is still to build electric trucks there. • Adobe's most recent acquisition, Frame.io, is expected to speed the development of videos by providing cloud-based collaborative editing. • Twenty years ago: Apple announced the IPod in October and started selling them in November. Ten years later, they sold the 100 millionth device, and they're still selling IPods today.

If your computer isn't eligible for Windows 11 but you'd really like to have Windows 11, there are ways to install it on most computers that run Windows 10. Microsoft won't stop you, but they also won't help you. In Short Circuits: Because of privacy concerns, Facebook says it will no longer use facial recognition when users post photos and videos. • Scammers are sending email messages that tell people their antivirus subscriptions have been renewed for absurdly high prices. They're hoping recipients will call so they can be conned into handing over credit card information. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Microsoft's new Power Toys utility has just added a feature that helps users locate the mouse cursor. • Tesla had to push out emergency patches to about 12 thousand cars in late October after a previous update created a problem that could result in unexpected emergency braking. • Twenty years ago: Amazon and NBC had set up a system in which the TV network offered books and CDs related to their shows, a

For the second year in a row, the covid pandemic transformed Adobe MAX from an exciting in-person event to an exciting virtual event. We'll take a look at some of the updates released at Max. In Short Circuits: If you think you'll never be involved in a data breach, think again. It's entirely too easy to have your information stolen even if you do nothing wrong. • A small utility called TrayStatus can display the status of certain computer settings in the Tray. That much should be obvious, but it does a lot more. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Microsoft is introducing a new and better Store for Windows 10 and Windows 11 users, and it's better for consumers -- not just for Microsoft. • Social engineering continues to be one of the most successful tools that scammers can use. Caution continues to be the primary defense. • Twenty years ago: Digital camera manufacturers were rushing to create the perfect consumer camera -- one that would create two-megapixel images and cost no more than $1000. Today you co

The Windows 11 Start menu differs quite a bit in appearance from Windows 10. Those who want to manipulate Start in Windows 11 manually can use the same procedures that worked in Windows 10, but you don't have to. Windows 11 Start finally gets this operation right. In Short Circuits: Anyone who owns a Windows computer has at least one disk drive that's formatted as NTFS, but is this the right file system for other connected devices? • I'm a fan of utility applications. Recently I encountered System Ninja, which appears deceptively simple but comes with a lot of power even though it's free. In Spare Parts (only on the website): The governor of Missouri says he wants to sue the St. Louis Post-Dispatch because the newspaper alerted the state to a security problem and then printed the story. • Shoppers are worried that supply chain and delivery delays will create problems with holiday gifts this year, so some started shopping in early October. • Twenty years ago: Iomega's high-capacity backup disks were hot, but t

Software developers need text editors. These applications are also helpful for anyone who needs to look inside binary files. Even if you never perform any of those tasks, a text editor might still be useful. In Short Circuits: Windows 11 has been generally available for about four weeks. If it's already on your computer, there are some settings you may want to check. • How many people have uttered the words "I'm leaving Facebook" in the past few weeks? Most of them are probably still Facebook users because the service is really hard to leave. In Spare Parts (only on the website): According to a New York Times article, Facebook is moving to restrict access to some of its internal discussion groups. • Most malware, and ransomware in particular, come from the former Soviet countries. That's probably not a surprise, but The Guardian has a worthwhile report. • Twenty years ago: Windows XP and Apple's OSX 10.1 were both released about the same time.

Facebook is the service we love to hate, or maybe hate to love. There are ways to make Facebook work to your advantage, not Facebook's. We'll explore some of them. In Short Circuits: Sometimes an external disk that's connected to a computer may enter standby mode. Although a Windows setting should keep that from happening, it doesn't always work. There's an alternative that does. • Advertisers use certain key words to interest potential buyers. It's not too surprising that scammers have found words that help then run their cons. In Spare Parts (only on the website): First, a quick look at a transparent scam -- one that's beyond laughable. • A survey says that more than 80% of workers like the idea of automation. Do you buy that? • Twenty years ago: USB 2.0 had just been released, and it was considerably faster than the original.

Windows includes a Disk Management application that can be used to define partitions, create logical drives, format drives, change drive letters, and more. But that's not always enough. Let's take a look at AOMEI's Partition Assistant and see how even the free version offers more. In Short Circuits: Microsoft has been working to replace the Control Panel with a Settings app for the past nine years. Windows 11 brings that process much closer to completion. • Two months ago, I described the process of eliminating the television part of our home's cable service. Now it's time to review the results and see if the decision was a good one. In Spare Parts (only on the website): YouTube at last has decided to block anti-vaccine videos and ban accounts of the idiots who claim the vaccines that have saved lives for nearly a century are dangerous. • Holiday shopping for high-tech devices may be derailed this year by a shortage of computer chips, so maybe you'll have to go low-tech instead. • Twenty years ago: The Palm P

Security is becoming more important than ever. Using two-factor authentication is wise for any site that offers it. Microsoft enhances security by doing away with passwords, but password managers are still essential. In Short Circuits: If you have a slow internet connection, it might not be the service provider's fault. Modems, routers, cables, and even the computer's Ethernet adapter or Wi-Fi adapter can cause problems. • In addition to passwords as noted in this week's lead article, biometric authentication is being used more. That trend will continue. In Spare Parts (only on the website): How much time do you spend removing junk applications from a new computer? Probably more than you should, yet manufacturers insist on bundling unwanted bits with their new systems. • A bit less than 600 days ago, before we were aware of what would become the covid pandemic, government agencies at all levels had security problems. Today it's worse. • Twenty years ago: Many modem manufacturers had gone out of business, but

The central processing unit is the single most important component in a computer. That's not to denigrate all the other components because they're essential, too, but selecting the right CPU is a good first step when you're planning to buy or build a new computer. In Short Circuits: Internet service providers include a modem with the service, but you'll pay $10 to $15 per month to rent it. It's possible to save money by installing a modem that you own, but there's also a small risk involved. • Scammers use email, instant messages, and phone calls to steal your identity and your money, but some of the attempts are so poor that it's hard to believe anyone would fall for them. Let's listen to one. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Linux turned 30 in August, but I have stopped asking if this is the year of Linux. Anyone who uses the internet uses Linux every day, but don't expect it to take over the desktop anytime soon. Or ever. • After weeks of research, tinkering, and muttering, I have definitively found t

Online searching can be more productive with the right search engine for the current task, and query options can narrow the search to return more accurate results. In Short Circuits: Scammers demanding payment like to use email messages that they claim have come from your computer. They're lying, of course. Let's see how. • Microsoft Word comes with a lot of built-in annoyances. Most of them are easy to fix, but one requires a lot more effort than it should. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Microsoft has a function that tries to prevent users from installing unwanted apps, but now it's turned on by default. • Command line functions may seem like remnants of the ancient past, but several are handy and even those who have never used a command line can benefit from them. • Twenty years ago: I was ecstatic when thinking about replacing an old-style CRT monitor with a "huge" 18-inch flat-panel monitor.

Affinity applications from Serif continue to improve and are good alternatives to Adobe applications for users who don't need the video, audio, animation, and numerous other applications that are part of Adobe's Creative Cloud. In Short Circuits: Heat is death to computers, and high CPU temperatures have been causing my primary computer to halt without warning. Having determined that the problem was heat, not something else, I've been looking for a solution. • Maybe you're thinking about buying a new camera. The mirrorless types are selling well and even Canon and Nikon have mirrorless models. What makes them so popular? Let's look. In Spare Parts (only on the website): It's official: Windows 11 will start being deployed to eligible computers on 5 October, but the phased process won't be complete until the middle of next year. • Readers can choose ebooks or printed books. Each choice has certain advantages and a lot of people plan to stick with physical books. • Twenty years ago: I was in Boston on 11 Septemb

When a computer problem continues to re-emerge after each attempt to fix it, users have a couple of choices: Buy a new computer and all peripherals (a bit expensive) or keep looking for the cause of the issue (a bit time consuming). In Short Circuits: Heat kills electronics, but computer manufacturers keep cramming more components into smaller spaces and running them at faster speeds, so keeping a computer cool can be a challenge. • Are you looking forward to Windows 11 with anticipation or concern? Much remains the same, some changes appear to be based on the MacOS, and you'll undoubtedly find features you hate among those you like. In Spare Parts (only on the website): The dangers of supply chain attacks aren't limited to businesses; even home computer users can be caught in malware from scammers. • Virtual reality headsets. Facebook thinks users should wear them. Are you in or out? • Twenty years ago: Digital Equipment Corporation had been absorbed by Compaq in 1998, and I was wondering if anyone still rem

If you're frustrated with the current crop of browsers, how about giving Vivaldi a try? It may be the most customizable browser available, and it has a lot of features that make it easy to use. In Short Circuits: Scammers run the gamut from just plain stupid to brilliant. Most are somewhere in the middle, capable of producing scams with clever ways to separate people from their money or their data, but not quite smart enough to make their attempts entirely convincing. • Users of Backup and Sync from Google are already seeing alerts about the upcoming Drive for Desktop. The new version can be installed now, and there are good reasons for doing it sooner rather than later. In Spare Parts (only on the website): There are several ways to store your vaccination record on a smart phone, and any of the options will be better than carrying the CDC card around. • Companies want more and more of our personal data, but we consumers are beginning to push back. • Twenty years ago: It looked like the "new media" would be d

Many Microsoft processes start with Windows, some applications have settings to start them at boot time, and you may have added some of your own. Sometimes it's possible to decrease the time required to start the computer by delaying certain auto-start applications. There are apps for this. In Short Circuits: Using a search engine without looking carefully at the results can put your computer in danger, particularly when a "data void" exists. When only a few results are returned, beware. • Remember August 12, 1981? That's the day the IBM PC was released, and the process of changing just about everything began. Apple and others were selling home computers earlier, but IBM was the name that made it OK for businesses to welcome desktop computers into their offices. In Spare Parts (only on the website): The computer chip shortage that's affected automobile and computer manufacturing is now causing problems for smart phone makers. • I ordered a new computer in December 1988. It was a remarkable device, an 80286 co

This week's podcast is all about replacing cable television with streaming options, starting with a look at over-the-air options, streaming devices, and streaming services. In Short Circuits: We'll continue by considering what's involved in setting up a streaming device, adding a streaming service to it, and establishing your preferred channels. • Then let's think about the hoops you'll have to jump through to convince you cable provider that you no longer want their television offerings. In Spare Parts (only on the website): There are lots of hidden features that come with video streaming, so I'll mention a few that seem useful. • Trying to avoid what seemed like a difficult project kept me connected to cable television for too long. If you're wary of the work involved, let me refer you to a few websites that can help. • Twenty years ago: Egghead, which closed all of its stores in 1998 and became Egghead.com, went out of business in 2001 and sold assets to Fry's.

Spams and scams have been with us virtually from when the internet became available to the general public, but the threats are more severe than they've ever been and finding a way to reduce the volume has never been more important. In Short Circuits: Like the man who wasn't there (the 1983 film, not the 2001 motion picture of the same name) it's difficult to protect against something you can't detect, and that's a real threat on the internet. • The Windows PowerToys app was introduced with Windows 95, became dormant for more than a decade, and is now back with useful features for Windows 10. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Windows 11 might be released in October, or not. Bleeping Computer tries to read tea leaves in Microsoft messages. • If you ever need to find your Windows product key and can't locate the documentation or a label, there's an easy way to ask the computer for it. • Twenty years ago: High-speed internet without wires wasn't high speed by today's standards. Metricom's Ricochet service was

We've heard a lot about spyware recently because it's been found on phones owned by world leaders and journalists, but they're not the only targets. And it's not just phones that are at risk. In Short Circuits: Perhaps you know about medium-format digital cameras and think that you should upgrade to one. There are lots of technical benefits, but you might be surprised by the downsides. • We're drowning in disinformation, lies, misinformation, and deepfake videos. Technological safeguards are being developed, but the best protection is still critical thinking. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Solid-state disk drives are fast and small, but we shouldn't count mechanical drives out just yet. Some gigantic drives are on the horizon. • Those who have monitors and video subsystems that support high dynamic range will enjoy improved brightness, color, and contrast when they enable it in Windows. • Twenty years ago: The internet wasn't in every restaurant, store, and coffee shop, but McDonald's had started intro

Right-clicking a file, directory, or disk drive displays what Microsoft calls a context menu that offers actions you might want to take with the object. It's a relatively sparse list initially, but a lot of applications add actions that you might not want. It's possible to shorten an uncomfortably long list. In Short Circuits: The early preview of Windows 11 is now on one of my computers. Considering this is a "Dev Channel" version, it includes a surprisingly small number of nasty bugs. • Much of the promise of 5G cellular technology is based on the presumption that it will be ubiquitous. For that to happen, providers will need to install a huge number of what are called "small cells" -- maybe 45 million of them in the next decade. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Spyware is nasty stuff, but it's here to stay. • In the not too distant future, you might be able to order a hamburger that doesn't require a cow to be slaughtered and yet isn't made from plants. Say hello to "cultured meat". • Twenty years ago

In June, Microsoft announced that Windows 11 is on the way, and the first preview is out now for those in the Windows Insider Dev Channel. Not all computers that run Windows 10 will be able to run Windows 11, so let's take a look. In Short Circuits: 4G cellular systems became the dominant technology in just a few years, and it looks like adoption of 5G will be even faster. • Should software developers wait until the code is perfect before releasing operating systems or applications? Short answer: No. In Spare Parts (only on the website): An executive order from the president aims to make it easier for consumers to get faulty devices repaired, to re-establish Net Neutrality, and to address several other consumer issues. • If you feel like your company is demanding that you do more in less time, you're not alone. • Twenty years ago: Online grocer Webvan had just announced that it had laid off its remaining 2000 employees, shut down, and would file for bankruptcy. Nobody wanted to buy groceries online back then.