Are You Prepared for the Windows 10 Anniversary Update?

August 12, 2016 by Charles Edward

The update is so massive because, to mark the anniversary of the release of Windows 10 in July 2015, Microsoft is pushing out updates to what seems like every program and service in Windows 10.

If you are a Windows 10 user, or are thinking about downloading Windows 10, there is something you need to be aware of: the new Windows 10 Anniversary update is scheduled to be automatically downloaded onto your computer sometime in the next few days, and it’s going to be massive. Depending on the speed of your computer and your internet link, this Windows 10 update may slow everything down to a crawl.

So be warned!

Why is the August 2016 Windows Update So Big?

The update is so massive because, to mark the anniversary of the release of Windows 10 in July 2015, Microsoft is pushing out updates to what seems like every program and service in Windows 10:

Some changes are cosmetic, such as a new login screen.
Other updates this August will change how the system works: the Cortana assistant will now available on the lock screen.
Some updates are based on feedback Microsoft has received, such as a new way to save Favorites in the Microsoft Edge browser.

In short, there is something for everyone in the massive Windows 10 anniversary update.

Never a Better Time to Upgrade to Windows 10?

If you haven’t already updated your computer to Windows 10, the Anniversary update includes every update to Windows 10 over the past twelve months. This “one big update” saves not only valuable disk space, but also a lot of time. You don’t have to worry about downloading and installing every Windows patch from the last year.

Internet Explorer 11 as well as the new Microsoft Edge browsers have both been updated for reliability and security. Mobile devices receive updates to address issues found with them since the release of Windows 10.

If you want more information about the Windows 10 Anniversary update, ZDNet has an excellent summary. However, here are a few updates to Windows 10 that have caught our eye:

Potentially Confusing Changes to the Windows Start Menu

The Windows 10 Start menu is changed. This is the pre-Anniversary update version of the Windows 10 Start menu:

Following the update, the Windows 10 Start menu will look like this:

Basically, you now see the “All Apps” already selected, while the “File Explorer,” “Settings,” and “Power” are only shown as icons. The Most Used apps area is now at the top of the applications list.

This change could be a little confusing until you get used to it.

Virtual Assistant Cortana Becomes Even More Powerful

Just as iPhone users have Siri, and Android smartphone users have Google Now, Windows users can rely on their own virtual assistant, Cortana. Thanks to the Anniversary update, Cortana can now can communicate with your Windows device or even your Android phone. This means notifications from your phone can be displayed on your Windows PC—you can get notifications if your phone is running low on battery.

Microsoft Edge Gets Extensions

“Edge”, the new, stripped-down browser Microsoft introduced a couple of years ago, now has the ability to add extensions. Users of the Firefox and Chrome browsers have been able to add extensions such as AdBlock for years, so hopefully Edge will become more powerful thanks to this update.

The Anniversary update has also added Cortana to the Edge browser, much like Google’s Chrome browser supports voice commands and voice search.

“Windows Ink”

In terms of actual new functions added to Windows, Microsoft has added something called “Windows Ink.” This is an application for stylus users, and makes it much easier to sketch and take notes on any touchscreen device running Windows 10.

Biometrics Now a Part of Windows 10

Also new to Windows is “Hello,” a biometric agent that uses facial and fingerprint recognition to verify access to your computer. Of course, your computer will need to have a camera or fingerprint reader built into it to actually use Hello, so if you do not have these installed already, this is not something that will affect you.

However, the Windows 10 Anniversary Update Ignores Some Big Problems

The Anniversary update doesn’t address every problem Windows 10 users have been complaining about for the past year.

For example, if Windows 10 security issues were a concern, Microsoft has done nothing to address your fears. Notably, Windows 10 will still log what you do on the computer and send this usage information back to Microsoft.

Some Windows 10 Users Can’t Log Into Their Computers Following Anniversary Update

As well, the Anniversary update itself has some bugs that need to be updated: some users people have discovered they cannot log into their systems once the Anniversary update is installed. The solution? Roll back to a previous install point—which in some cases means a previous version of Windows! While the number of people reporting this disastrous issue is still pretty small, it’s a big deal if it happens to you.

To protect yourself, if you have not been updated Windows 10 yet, enable the System Restore to generate a save point you can return to should the update not work. Instructions on setting up System Restore in Windows 10 can be found here.

What’s the Verdict on the Windows 10 Anniversary Update?

It is a bit early to provide any meaningful insights about just how good this update is. The main thing we wanted to do was to give you a heads-up about what is being offered by this download, and give you that warning about backing up your system. We felt these tips were especially important, since Windows 10 updates are not optional—you have to install them.

Hopefully the items mentioned here are useful, and if you have any question, or want to let us know about your own experience with the Anniversary update, leave us a comment below.

Charles Edward frequently reports on the latest developments in Microsoft and Windows software products.

How to Choose a New Laptop

July 28, 2016 by Charles Edward

It can be tough to choose a new laptop. There is an endless variety of features to consider. Will the laptop you purchase end up being too basic, or too powerful for your needs and therefore too expensive? Here are some tips to help you choose the right one.

There’s never been a better time to buy a new computer. Prices are cheap and there is almost endless variety — almost too much variety. A dizzying combination of features can make it almost impossible to choose a new computer. Often we’ll buy a new desktop or laptop only to find it’s underpowered, has poor battery life, or is simply to big for our needs.

To help make things easy, we’ve created this short guide to buying a new laptop.

Why Choose a Laptop Over a Desktop?

This article is going to focus on choosing a new laptop. We think that for most casual users, laptops make a better choice than desktops when making a purchase. Laptops are lightweight and don’t take up much space. Also, since they don’t need peripherals such as a monitor, speakers or a computer desk, are generally cheaper than desktops.

Choosing Your “OS”: Mac or Microsoft?

The first choice what operating system, or “OS” will power your laptop. Currently Mac and Microsoft dominate the market for laptops. What’s the difference?

Macbooks: Expensive High-Performance Machines for Professionals

Macbooks, produced by just one company, Apple, have developed a reputation for quality, performance and for being easy to use. Macbooks can be used almost right out of the box, with no need to update drivers or security software.

The downside of Mac computers is that they are expensive — an entry-level Macbook sells for at least $1000. The truth is that Mac OS is really meant for professionals. Everyday users looking for a laptop to surf the internet, make Skype calls and send emails while staying on a budget likely do not need a high-performance machine like a Mac. It’s overkill.

Microsoft Windows 10: More Variety and Budget-Friendly

For years, Mac users looked down on Microsoft Windows users. Windows used to be considered complicated and prone to security vulnerabilities. But not anymore. With the release of Windows 10, Microsoft has finally created a beautiful OS that just works. What’s more, there is a wider variety of computers for every budget that run Windows 10. Only Apple makes the Mac, while dozens of companies produce a dizzying array of laptops that run on Windows.

The downside is that some Windows laptops are not always as shiny or high-powered as their Mac counterparts. But, once again, if all you need a computer for is to surf the internet, send emails and talk on Skype to relatives, is it really worth it to shell out a ton of money for a Mac?

Budget Laptops Vs. Ultrabooks: What’s the Difference?

If you have decided on Windows as your OS, the next challenge is sorting through the wide variety of laptops out there to find the one that’s right for you.

Budget Laptops: Affordability… For a Price

You’ll encounter “budget laptops” that just do the basics. The HP Stream Notebook is one such budget offering that retails for just under $300. While this may seem like an incredible deal, it’s important to take a look at the specs, first: the HP Stream is powered by a Celeron chip, which not only does not have the power of other more expensive CPU chips, but also is not nearly as efficient. This means lower battery life. The HP Stream also has a fairly small screen, not much onboard space for installing software programs, and just 2 GB of RAM, which makes a difference when it comes to performance.

Ultrabooks: More Performance, But More Costly

On the other end of the spectrum from budget laptops are “ultrabooks” such as the HP Probook, which retails for around $1300. These laptops feature a better design, longer battery life and superior performance that working professionals demand.

In many ways ultrabooks are mimicking their Mac cousins, except with a Windows OS. Once again, the question you have to ask is: do you really need all that power?

Most of us will choose a laptop somewhere between the low and the high end of the price and performance spectrum. The next question is, with so much variety, how do you choose a new laptop?

3 Rules for Choosing a New Laptop

It really comes down to just three rules with choosing a new laptop:

1) Look at RAM first

If you’re surfing the web and using Microsoft Word from time to time, RAM is generally what is going to determine the performance of your computer. Some sub-$250 laptops come with only 2GB of RAM, but ideally you want at least 4GB on even a budget system and 8GB if you can spend just a little more. For most users, 16GB or more is overkill.

2) Use the CPU to gauge battery life

While the CPU is the engine under the hood of your computer, it affects battery life as well as overall performance. A cheaper processor will use more power, which will drain battery life more quickly. What’s more, cheaper processors generate more heat, which in turn results in annoying fan noise.

The problem with CPU’s is that there is an almost endless variety to choose from. Here are the CPU’s you should be looking for in a new laptop:

AMD E Series or Intel Pentium/Celeron

These are basic processors that are typically found on budget laptops such as the HP Probook we mentioned above. These chips provide enough power for web surfing and watching YouTube, but that’s about it.

AMD A series or Intel Core i3 / i5

If you’re looking for a mainstream laptop with the best combination of price and performance, get a Core i5. Core i3 is a small step down — it’s not quite as energy-efficient, which means less battery time. AMD A series CPUs are less common, but promise similar performance.

What about the Intel Core i7?

The i7 chip is probably overkill for most of us. It’s an ultra-powerful CPU that powers video editing workstations and gaming computers. All of that performance comes at a significant price.

3) Pay attention to screen size

Once again, there is an endless variety of screen sizes to choose from. Here are a couple of tips:

13 to 14 inches: Provides the best balance of portability and usability, particularly if you get a laptop that weighs under 4 pounds.
15 inches: The most popular size, 15-inch laptops usually are uncomfortable to lug around for very long. Consider this size if you want a larger screen and you’re not planning to take your laptop on frequent trips.

Other Things to Look for When Buying a Laptop

Besides these 3 basic rules for choosing a laptop, there is seemingly a multitude of other decisions to make:

HDD vs. SSD

Compared to the traditional spinning HDD hard disk, a solid-state drive (SSD) is a popular choice for laptop users: SSD’s are lighter, increase performance and improve battery time. On top of that there is no annoying fan noise with an SSD. However, SSD’s are significantly more expensive than an HDD.

Touchscreen or No Touchscreen

Many laptops now come equipped with a touchscreen. This may seem like a cool, new way to use a computer, but, once again, ask yourself if you really need a touchscreen on a laptop. In reality, touchscreens work best with tablets and with convertible “2-in-1” laptops. With laptops, it’s easier just to use a mouse to click around the screen.

Dedicated Graphics Card

If you’re planning to use your laptop to play video games, you’re going to need a dedicated graphics card, or GPU. Budget laptops with a dedicated GPU are very difficult to find, so plan on spending more if this is something you need.

Build Quality

Budget laptops will typically have a no-frills “build quality” with poor design and plastic-like feel. However, some manufacturers do offer budget laptops that look and feel great. Besides looking good, laptops with a good build quality tend to be more durable and last longer.

Questions?

So, while it may seem almost impossible to figure out what kind of laptop to buy, there are really three rules you can use to help narrow down your choices. And, once again, when setting out to buy a new laptop it’s important to remember what you’re planning to use it for, and then make sure you’re not buying something either too powerful or, worse yet, not powerful enough to make you happy.

f.lux – How to Elinimate Digital Eye Strain

May 6, 2016 by Andy Thompson

We’re going to explore night and day and everything in between – as it applies to levels of light. There are natural lighting levels that we are exposed to as determined by the onset of sunset and sunrise. Of course night time we may choose to be in front of a monitor or screen but there may be tradeoffs with respect to eye strain, headaches, or improper sleep. The technology known as “f.lux” may help to alleviate this. We like the concept and we also like the company as they are dedicated to offering this technology for free.

The Technology

To put it simply, f.lux automatically changes the color of your screen depending on the time of the day, for the purpose of reducing blue light exposure. During the day time, your screen appears normal and as evening approaches it becomes pinker or rose colored. It works well with computers and laptops and it can be used to work with iPhones and iPads. There are also similar applications for Android devices.

Theory

PC screens, monitors, and mobile phones all emit full spectrum light to resemble full daylight conditions. The makers of f.lux state:

“Exposure to blue light at the wrong time of day can keep you awake later and interfere with the quality of your sleep. f.lux tries to help this by removing blue and green light to help you wind down in the evenings.”

Day time – we have bright sunlight to help stimulate wakefulness. Night time – lighting is dim and our brains secrete melatonin which causes us to feel sleepy. It’s a 24-hour rhythm based on an internal circadian clock that is affected by our exposure to light and dark cycles.

While some computers adjust the brightness levels based on sensors, the color temperature does not change. This is why you see more pink tones when using f.lux which help with melatonin levels and eye strain.

Research To Back It Up:

If you want to see the research behind any of this we encourage you to find independent online studies. You can also begin with the f.lux page which offers many links to reports and studies from trustworthy sources: https://justgetflux.com/research.html

f.lux – The Company

The f.lux site, like the application, is pretty easy to pick up and understand. Right up front they describe their technology as a “labor of love”. It’s free as they pay for the development based on donations received. They state that 100% of donated money goes to the ongoing development and operations related to f.lux.

In terms of the future of this technology, it appears as though major platform developers are beginning to include some form of night time mode in their operating system. There is NightShift for Mac and there is Blue Shade for Amazon Fire tablets and Night Mode for Android N. The makers of f.lux are working to make their technology available on a wide range of operating systems but they have had a hard time with mobile devices due to restrictions from the platform makers.

Before You Decide:

You can always get a preview of how your screen would look if you decide on trying out the f.lux software. Simply go to the fluxometer page. You can select your computer or device and try out different levels.

To Start:

If you are running Windows, Mac, or Linux… you can download and install f.lux from their website. There is also a version for Android devices but there are some limitations – we recommend using Twilight. Twilight is an Android app that offers similar functions to those of f.lux and we have used the free version of it and find it meets our use requirements and expectations.

For iPhone and iPad users, Mac has a similar feature called Night Shift (for more information on setting this up click here: Enable NightShift on Your iPhone).

When you have done downloading and installing the software, f.lux will attempt to detect your location. This may not work so well and we recommend that you click the Change button as seen below and set your location. As it says on their site: “f.lux works a lot better if it knows exactly where you are (we make a guess, but it’s not always good.)”

You also have the option of adjusting the lighting level for day or night as well as the transition speed.

When Not To Use It:

You may want to disable f.lux at certain times. For instance if you are working on graphics or images, you can choose to disable it for an hour using the disable option as seen above, or use the Alt-End key combination. There is a movie mode that disables f.lux for 2 ½ hours. As the company states on their website: “We designed Movie Mode to preserve sky colors and shadow detail, while still providing a warmer color tone. It’s not perfect on either count, but it strikes a balance.”

FAQ:

If you have questions or issues, start with the frequently asked questions page which has lots of useful information: https://justgetflux.com/faq.html

Final Words:

There are still shortcomings with this technology including a reduction of contrast (blacks turn to a dark shade of red), and with Android, certain buttons can be inaccessible.^[1] Overall, you will notice that it is easier on the eyes and decreases glare.

As for sleep… the American Medical Association’s Council on Science and Public Health states: “…exposure to excessive light at night, including extended use of various electronic media, can disrupt sleep or exacerbate sleep disorders”.^[2]

If you have to be in front of a monitor or device screen… it makes sense to try f.lux. We have enjoyed the benefits of this free technology and hope it will help you as well.

We will continue to provide story lines like this that benefit all of us and we will describe them in a manner that is within reach of everyday computer users. To view our archive of past articles, follow this link: Back Issues. If you have some ideas of topics you would like us to cover, email us at: newsletter@compuclever.com

[1] http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/get-good-nights-sleep-filtering-phones-blue-light/
[2] http://www.atmob.org/

How to Protect Your Computer from Ransomware

April 29, 2016 by Charles Edward

Ransomware is the latest threat to afflict millions of computer users worldwide. What’s really startling is that even police departments are being affected. Let’s take a look at what ransomware is, and how you can protect yourself against it.

Cyber-criminals have so far collected more than $200 million in the first three months of 2016, and are on track to steal $1 billion by the end of the year.

How?

By tricking regular people, as well as businesses and institutions, to download “ransomware” that takes control of computers and servers. If you want to unlock your computer data, you have to pay the crooks.

It’s a lucrative scam and no one is safe: hospitals, school boards and even police departments have all been blackmailed by ransomware criminals so far this year.

You Don’t Even Have to Download Ransomware to Infect Your Computer

Most recently, Game of Thrones fans were targeted by ransomware just by visiting the Pirate Bay video downloading site.

What’s most frightening about this example is that the visitors to the Pirate Bay didn’t actually download any malicious files.

Instead, all they did was get secretly redirected to a webpage that exploited common security holes in their Internet browser. Ransomware was “injected” into their computer before they knew what was happening.

What is “Ransomware”?

Ransomware is a type of malware—a malicious software program—that, once installed, takes over your computer. Ransomware may prevent your computer from working properly. It can also encrypt or lock away important data, including photos and music files.

The only way to regain control of your computer is to pay off the ransomers, usually by wire transfer or some other untraceable payment method.

How Does Ransomware Get Installed In the First Place?

Sometimes ransomware is downloaded and opened by accident. You may think you are downloading a video file or a useful software program, but in reality you are installing ransomware on your computer.

Sometimes people claiming to be “MS tech support” call you up, and persuade you to download what they claim is some sort of computer utility program.

They walk you through the process, step-by-step, over the phone, to download the ransomware.

Still, what is the most common ransomware “exploit”?

Your Internet browser. Thanks to weak coding, Internet browser security vulnerabilities are being found by cyber-crooks all the time. Visit the wrong web page by mistake and ransomware is downloaded automatically onto your computer.

Once downloaded, a common ruse to complete installation of the ransomware is for a pop-up screen with an “FBI warning” to appear on your computer. Push any button on the popup and the ransomware installation process gets finished, and your computer is hijacked.

Police departments and other government agencies can’t provide much help—they are overwhelmed by other problems and simply cannot track down the cyber-criminals.

So, to get rid of the ransomware and regain control of your computer, the only thing you can do is pay off your hijacker.

Or, you can take steps to avoid downloading the ransomware in the first place.

How to Protect Your Computer from Ransomware

1) Make sure you have antivirus installed

Make sure you have a current, legitimate antivirus program installed on your computer. Antivirus continuously scans for Internet attacks and malicious web pages that try to download ransomware without you knowing it.

Did you know CompuClever offers a comprehensive Internet security solution that continuously blocks Internet attacks and malicious web pages that try to download ransomware without you knowing it?

Check out CompuClever Antivirus PLUS, an innovative security software. CompuClever Antivirus PLUS has received a full mark with a rating of “SOLID” from the prestigious VB100 antivirus testing lab.

2) Hang up the phone on “Microsoft tech support”

Microsoft or any other software company never, ever phones (or emails), offering to help fix a problem they have identified on your computer. If someone claiming to be from tech support phones you up, hang up the phone immediately.

3) Backup your files on an external disk

Make sure important such as photos, music and videos are stored on an external backup drive. Backing up data is easy to do, thanks to cheap USB drives that now have more storage space than some laptops.

If you do download ransomware, before paying the cyber-crooks a single cent, ask a computer-savvy friend for help or obtain professional tech support.

There are many reputable programs and utilities that can help you gain control of your computer.

Have a request for Tech Corner? Email me at newsletter@compuclever.com.

Improve computer performance by tweaking printer settings

September 14, 2011 by Charles Edward

Sometimes it’s the little things that optimize your PC and improve Windows performance. Ideally, using the computer should be a painless, fluid experience, but even with all of the advances of Windows 7, it can still take time to get things just right.

Take printing, for example. Often the printer default is set to “color”. This can be kind of expensive (and ultimately annoying), especially if you’re printing out something for your records, or as a first draft that you intend to correct and then revise once again on the computer. When the default printer setting is color, every time you print a document from Windows, you need to manually set the printing preferences to black and white, to avoid wasting expensive color ink. Before you know it, your color ink cartridge is empty, which often means you won’t even be able to use your printer at all!

A good way to solve this problem is to have your printer default to black-and-white. That way, everything will print black and white unless you manually set it to color, which is much more convenient than the other way around.

How to set the printer default to black-and-white on Windows 7:

1. Click the “Start” menu button and double-click Control Panel.
2. Look for the icon that says Devices and Printers and double-click it.
3. You should now see a list of printers. Find your default printer (the one your computer uses when printing), right-click it, and select on Printer Properties.
4. When the multi-tabbed properties dialog box appears, click the “General” tab, then click the “Preferences” button. Look for a color setting and set your printer to default to Greyscale (or black-and-white) printing. When you are done press “OK”.

Now your printer will default to black and white instead of color, and that should save you time, ink and money!

– Nevin Thompson frequently blogs about how to improve computer performance