Update: Now Amazon has released their own cloud app.

Microsoft finally released the long promised revision of SkyDrive. It’s surprisingly well done. They’ve provided a new set of apps that makes it simple or access SkyDrive, and they’ve provided a well organized online interface as well.

Microsoft’s new SkyDrive is much like Dropbox, if you’ve used that service. SkyDrive offers more free space, and quite a bit less expensive additional space ($10 per year for 20 GB in addition to the 7 GB free allowance) than Dropbox. One of the main purposes of SkyDrive is to sync between PCs, and connect their Office and other web-apps to their PC-based applications. The SkyDrive app enables excellent cloud backup as well.

Just a day after Microsoft released their new version of SkyDrive, Google released the long rumored Google Drive, complete with app. Their new cloud service integrates Google Docs with storage and automatic syncing, which is similar to what SkyDrive does.

And Dropbox just released an improved version too. They don’t have a documents feature, but like Microsoft they have added capabilities for uploading, organizing and sharing digital photos via social networks such as Facebook.

All three of these services are easy to install. It takes a little more work to figure out just how to use them to best advantage. I’ve tried all three, and in fact they’re all running together smoothly on this Windows 8 machine right now.

[Learn more: Cloud Sync and Drive Services]

Photo processing at the scene

If I was the photo bug I used to be in a previous life, I’d find this book about using an iPad to process photos at home and in the field exciting. I imagine it would be like having an instant darkroom – a word from the distant past – whenever and wherever you wanted one. And in color too. What a concept.

A new way to tap Microsoft help

Microsoft offers tons of help on just about any question related to their products. If you can find the right page, you’ll get an excellent answer. Finding the page is the rub. They have a new page that makes a better gateway in many cases. And there is still the home page and other ways to access help (links at the top of the new guided help page).

Read this before you buy a laptop

A heads-up from Walt Mossberg:

If you’re thinking of buying a new laptop this spring, my advice is to think again. Unless your laptop is on its last legs and you have to move quickly, there are compelling reasons to wait until at least the summer, and probably the fall, to buy a new machine, especially if you are looking for a Windows PC, but even if you are in the market for a Mac.

One of the big factors is whether you want your new laptop to run Windows 8, or if you’ll be satisfied with Windows 7. If you would hate to have to learn how to use a greatly changed Windows interface, this timeframe will be your last, best chance to get a deal on a Windows 7 machine.

On the other hand, if you want to avoid obsolescence, wait for Windows 8. After all, crutches are already available to help you deal with the switch. Read Walt’s article to get the rest of the story.

Uncommon sense

“The only normal people are the ones you don’t know very well.” ~Joe Ancis

George named Photo Pos Pro the best all–round free photo editor. He selected it after trying a large number of other photo editors over the last couple of weeks. I’m not surprised, because until recently it was a fairly expensive and more user friendly alternative to Photoshop Pro.

If basic photo editing is all you need to do, then there are simpler editors that will do the job for you. George described many of those in his posts at our Yahoo! Group. There’s also a good rundown on photo editors and other image software at Gizmo’s Freeware.

Oh bother, more security updates

Adobe Flash: A while back, there was good news and bad news about Flash. If you haven’t done so in the last week or so, it’s urgent that you install yet another update to fix new critical vulnerabilities in Flash. but in the future Flash updates should be automatic. We’ll see later if that good news comes true. [more on updates for Flash]

Java: There’s grounds in this beverage too. It has also become a major target for malware writers. [more on updates for Java]

Things are getting better because things got worse: Browser plugins– e.g., Adobe Flash – and supplemental run times – e.g., Java – are major targets for attacks now that Windows and browsers are more secure. However as browsers evolve, there will be less need for these jury-rig adjuncts.

The need for Java has already nearly disappeared for ordinary users. Many enterprises still use Java heavily for legacy programs, but that doesn’t affect us.

Apple has already dropped support for Flash on the iPad, and browsers will soon have native abilities that eliminate the need for Flash. That doesn’t mean all websites will eliminate Flash immediately, but Flash is a dinosaur, and the efficiency demanded by mobile devices will drive it’s extinction.

Uncommon sense

“You see, wire telegraph is a kind of a very, very long cat. You pull his tail in New York and his head is meowing in Los Angeles. Do you understand this? And radio operates exactly the same way: you send signals here, they receive them there. The only difference is that there is no cat.” ~Albert Einstein, the early years

We’ll have two meetings in April, and then it’s “hasta la vista, baby.”

Paul Just found good interest in a group on iPad and other things Apple. He’ll work on getting it set up next season.

You can stay in contact with the club over the summer through our Yahoo! Group. If you’d like to ask questions that the group might have an answer for, send them in an email to HappyTrailsComputerClub@yahoogroups.com and they will be posted to the group. If you’d like to join the group, send a request to HappyTrailsCC@Yahoo.com.

PDF readers, creators, etc.

George gave us a rundown on the wide range of PDF software that is available to convert create and view PDF documents, and will publish the related links via our Yahoo! Group.

Urgent Adobe Flash updates, and other Adobe updates

This one need your attention. I’ve updated an old post on this topic, and published it as a page in the Security section of this blog.

TV Connectors

It used to be that all you needed to know to hook up your TV was the difference between twin-lead and coax. Now a TV is worse than a desktop PC back there. The New York Times has a pictorial guide to most of the connectors to help sort them out. But you’re on your own using the TV remote to get things all set up. These search results may help though. [more from Windows]

We learned all about iPads and iPhones today – well almost – from Marge Harris and Chuck Tomlinson. Both devices are great substitutes for PCs, especially if you’re on the road, or want something easier to use for email, Facebook, music, etc.

iTunes and the iCloud are an integral part of iDevices, and are central to syncing them with each other, Apple computers, and even PCs. You can probably find a way to sync everything from tunes to email contacts, although it may require a trip to an Apple store or your phone network supplier.

The difficulty of learning to use one of these devices is inversely proportional to your fear that you will break it. They are designed for intuitive use. If you keep your eyes open, and tap, swipe and try the other common gestures on anything that looks promising you’ll soon get the hang of them.

One of our members, Paul Just at justeagle1@msn.com, is looking for people who are interested in Apple computers and, I presume, iThings. Get in touch with Paul if you are interested.

Caller ID spoofing

Just when you’ve learned how to recognize and avoid bad user IDs on your phone, the bad guys – including politicians and telemarketers too – are learning how to disguise their caller IDs. Some of them are even spoofing them to look like legitimate callers to put you completely off your guard. Thought you’d like to know.

Syncdocs for Google Docs

If you’re using Google Docs, or thinking about it, you may want to look into Syncdocs. It’s good for both backup and syncing your documents and other files between PCs, iPads and smartfones. The offer free and paid accounts.

“Holy exploding stars, Batman”

Ethan Siegel – one of my favorite astrophysics – wrote an approachable discussion about this recent event in a galaxy far away known as M95. The last supernova in our galaxy appeared in 1604. Even though this one is immensely further away, it is still close enough for some good science.

The distance to this new supernova is 38 million light-years. Robert Campbell puts that distance/time in context: “…it [actually] happened 38 million years ago when Antarctica was ice-free and forested, the ice that covers it today had just started forming and the cow family of animals had just recently evolved!”

Uncommon sense

“The most incomprehensible thing about the world is that it is comprehensible.” ~Albert Einstein

Norbert (Bob) Gostischa gave us a nice overview of the ways the bad guys make a living (sometimes a fortune) by attacking surfers on the Web. He also discussed the free avast! security suite. Avast! has always been a good security solution, and they have recently added real-time signature updates and file reputation detection. They also offer an avast! mobile security app for Android smartphones.

File reputation detection is a powerful new way to intercept malicious files by checking them against a whitelist/blacklist database. If the file is bad, or not known to be good it is blocked until the user makes a decision about proceeding (or not).

By coincidence, Brian Krebs reported on a little kerfuffle with one form of avast! support earlier in the day. Avast! offers both a great support forum and telephone support, which is also free. Avast! has terminated their arrangement with iYogi, who has an interesting business model, but which is unfortunately vulnerable to conflict of interest.

Update: Ciprian Adrian Rusen at 7tutorials recently installed and reviewed avast!.

Next week

We’re going to have a presentation on iPads and iPhones aimed at new or potential users. I am really looking forward to this one.

That’s it for today

This post is short because I didn’t know the “stress test” I took before the meeting was going to affect me the way it did. I took the test to keep my cardiologist happy. You know how that is. I don’t expect any practical benefit from the procedure. There’s nothing to fix beyond what my current medication has controlled very nicely for ten years.

The test produces an image of total heart blood flow. It involves getting on a treadmill and raising your pulse rate up to 120 for a few minutes and then capturing an image with an expensive machine.

My medication suppresses my heart rate, so it takes much more effort to get it up to 120 than it would otherwise. I found it very hard. As a result, I was too wiped out to do much for the rest of the day. So I’ll invite you to view the following video if you feel shortchanged.

First we had a last look (see item below) at Windows 8 – Consumer Preview. Then two ladies that represent SendOutCards.com showed us how you can generate cards online, and have them mailed.

The cards are inexpensive, and you design them yourself using your own pictures, art, clip art, etc. You can even sign them. SendOutCards prints them (high quality), addresses the envelopes, stuffs them (along with gift cards if you want to include them) in the envelope, attaches the stamp, and mails them for you.

You can set up an account with SendOutCards online, or better yet, call Sandy LeBlanc – 623.606.8736 – or Judi Snow – 623.512.5791. They will “walk you through” the creation of a sample card, and get you signed up. They will also be at the next Vendors Fair on April 6th, if you’d like to talk with them in person.

Next week

The presentation on March 15th will be about internet security and Avast software. It will be geared to normal computer users – not “IT geeks.” Topics are: Security myths, Internet dos and don’ts, evolution of computer threats, etc. Bob Gostischa, will simplify, clarify, and demystify your computer for you, and tell you how to make your Internet experience a safe one.

Windows workshop

I’ve ended the current Windows workshop series because participation has dropped off. Many thanks to those who came to the early sessions. We will announce one-day workshops if topics come up that have widespread interest.

Follow-up on security

“Security is a journey, not a destination.” ~Somebody

Staying informed: Staying up-to-date on new threats is one of the best ways to maintain your security online. That’s why I created my “Stack” at Delicious.com, and now update it when I see interesting new examples. If you “Follow” this Stack (click the green button), you’ll get email notices when I ad new articles from time to time.

Secunia PSI: I mentioned before that I do not recommend installing the beta release (version 3.0) of Secunia PSI because it is not ready for prime time. Stick with 2.0.

The naming of 3.0 is confusing too – it’s not an update to 3.0. The intention of this new lite version is to provide automate updates, for users who are intimidated by update processes. That’s similar to the way Microsoft, Google Chrome, Firefox, and Adobe do it. Instead of the user downloading and then applying the update, it all happens in the background. [more]

Windows 8 wrap-up

This note summarizes what I’ve presented on Windows 8 to date. I won’t be saying or writing much more about Windows 8 again until it is released sometime next fall.

• I reported earlier that Windows 8 claims the old club notebook is unable to connect with an external display. But I discovered that the f_n control key still works to set up an external display. Yippee!
• The slides for my quick look at Windows 8 Consumer Preview are cryptic, but may serve as reminders.
• Woody Leonhard provides the most realistic perspective I’ve found on the rational behind this release of Windows 8.
• My two “Stacks” – Using Windows 8, and Windows 8 Consumer Preview should provide enough resources for you to learn more than you wanted to know about Windows 8. You really can’t get a feel for Windows 8 unless you’re actually using it live though.
• Paul Thurrott has been the prime Windows 8 blogger. His ongoing series is perhaps the best single source of Windows 8 information on the Internet. Even though Paul is very enthusiastic about 8, I think his phrase, “Fisher-Price Apps,” is going to stick.
• Keyboard shortcuts – Windows key + D to switch to the Desktop, Windows key + E to open Windows Explorer, etc. – have always been a convenient way to reach frequently used objects in Windows. Now there are new ones for Windows 8 that will be just as valuable. Some of the most important:
  • Windows key + C Open the Charms bar
  • Windows key + I Open the Settings pane
  • Windows key + Q Search for Apps
  • Windows key + F Search for Files
  • Windows key + W Search for Settings
  • Windows key + X Open the new “Desktop Tools” menu (or Right-click the Start tip at the lower-left corner).
• The long botched history of Windows Live gives an indication or where that menagerie of programs and services is headed. The ones that survive will be tightly integrated with Windows 8. Woody Leonhard has more in Windows Live, R.I.P.
• Restore the Start Menu in Windows 8: This solution and several others are not clean yet, but there is reason to hope there will be elegant third-party solutions soon. It’s not clear yet if Microsoft will try to block them or not.
• My own solution is dead simple: Replace the “Desktop tools” menu that appears when you right-click the Start tip (lower-left corner of the screen) with the classic Windows 7 Start menu.
  

Uncommon sense

“The all-too-human inclination to defend patent absurdities is what is sending the world to hell in a hand-basket.” ~Curmudgeon

You can download “Windows 8 Consumer Review” now. Not that I expect you to be in a rush to get it. This release is a well-polished “beta” in essence. It’s free to try, but you’ll only be able to run it for a year or so. You can probably buy a Windows 8 PC by November though. I’m hoping for a killer Windows 8 tablet myself.

I installed Windows 8 Consumer Review on the old (XP vintage) club notebook . It’s a little slow, which you’d expect (2.0 GHz CPU, and 1.0 GHz Memory), but Windows 8 runs as smooth as silk on it. Trouble is though, this version Windows 8 also tells me I need a new graphics card if I want to connect an external display. But I’ve decided there are no grave reasons I can’t try Windows 8 on the new notebook I’m using.

Windows 8 has severe Multiple Personality Disorder. I’ve discovered two personas (Microsoft calls them experiences):  Apps and Desktop. The 7 secrets of Windows 8 that I’ve extracted are listed below. These secrets build on the 7 secrets that I previously uncovered in Windows 7.

1. The Start Menu is now the entire Start Screen – complete with pinning, search, etc., and the Windows Logo key is the best substitute for the Start Orb (button).
2. The Apps persona is touch-inspired (swipe, tap, pinch, etc.), but there are secret mouse gestures that work almost as well.
3. The Taskbar is more essential to your success with the Desktop persona than it was for Windows 7. It’s the best place to pin your frequently used programs, and pinning  Control Panel and the Desktop Toolbar to the Taskbar adds new depth to the Desktop persona.
4. The best way to be effective and efficient in using Windows 8 is to know how to use the power of search that is available in just about any Windows 8 context.
5. Help is a rich source of information on using Windows 8.
6. Windows 8 is cloud-aware. Apps, SkyDrive, and the Windows Store add a whole new dimension to Windows 8.
7. Windows 8 is cloud-aware: Apps, SkyDrive, and the Windows Store add a whole new dimension to Windows 8.

There’s much more detail  available in my Windows 8 release stack at Delicious.com – articles that I’ve selected from Microsoft and couple of the best bloggers. I plan to conduct a 15 minute tour next week, highlighting the quirks and qualities of Windows 8.

Windows workshop

The Windows, et al. workshop continues on Wednesdays, 9:00 – 11:00 in the computer room. This week we focused on how to figure out what slows/freezes Windows with no apparent cause. Next week it could be your most nagging question, or something you’d like to learn more about.

Update on Secunia PSI

A new, simpler version of PSI (3.0 Beta) is available, but I suggest you wait a while to see how it settles out before you try it. To start with, 3.0 does not offer the features of the current version – 2.0 – and it froze in an unrecoverable state when I tried it. [Computerworld] [Krebs on Security]

Uncommon sense

“Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.” – Napoleon Bonaparte

By the time we meet next week, Microsoft will have released the “Consumer Preview” of Windows 8. (It’s like a “beta” release). Don’t succumb to buyer’s remorse just because you have a newer computer running Windows 7. You probably will be badly confused the first time you try to use one with Windows 8, and it won’t do a lot more in the short run. Interestingly, Windows 8 makes an old Windows XP machine run much better than Windows 7 did, but there isn’t much difference on a newer PC.

No doubt you’ll see Windows 8 PCs before Christmas, and Windows 8 tablets to go with them.

There are two significant things about Windows 8. First, it will run well on both low- and high-powered tablets as well as PCs. And second, Windows SkyDrive and Windows Mesh will be greatly improved for Windows 8 (and will work almost as well with Windows 7). They will make the “Cloud” attractive to ordinary users. You won’t even need to think (much).

Note to the curious

I’ve had questions about what I did to get a list of pages (tabs) at the left side of Firefox. They’re nice, especially on a wide-screen display because you can get more of them there, and no vertical space is wasted. You also get a tree-style, indented list. Click the small screenshot of Firefox to see an example.

So how do I do that? As they say on TV, “there’s an app for that.” Actually, it’s a Firefox extension called… Ta da… “Tree Style Tab.” You can drag the vertical bar between the tabs and the page to adjust the width of the list. You can also use it to collapse the whole tab list. One thing you need to know: Sometimes the only to restore the tab list is to click and drag the bar to the right..

The series on security

I’ll wrap up the series on “bulletproof” security next week with a quick look at working under a Standard User account, password managers, blocking invisible threats, and a peek at wifi security. I’ve finished the rough draft of the material available under “Security” in the menu at Cybercoyote.org. I will continue to revise and expand that section over time.

You’ll find “Link Stacks,” at various spots throughout the material that bring in additional information. Link Stack | Security Software Reviews is one example, and Link Stack | Threats and Attacks is one that will have occasional updates to keep you up to date on the ongoing battle between the forces of good and evil. You’ll see a “Follow” button at each stack that will give you regular updates if you’d like.

Uncommon sense

“Don’t let the fact that you are paranoid obscure the fact that they are out to get you.” ~Curmudgeon

Abby Stokes was here to talk about topics from the revised edition of her book, Is This Thing On?: A Computer Handbook for Late Bloomers, Technophobes, and the Kicking & Screaming. If you go to Amazon.com, you can “Look Inside” the book and get a good idea of what it’s about.

Windows 7 forum/workshop

Our series of workshops on “Windows” begins next Wednesday, February 22, 9:00 – 11:00. Windows is in quotes, because we want to observe truth in advertising, but we will take up congruent interests as well if there are some.

The people who come will set the agenda for each session. I don’t know where that will take us, but I wrote down some ideas that may strike a chord, and suggest more or better topics.

Come see if you like what we’re doing. There is no need to attend all sessions, you can get up and leave any time, and there is no charge.

Hacking old school

Here in the 20th Century, hacking for fun or fame is an every-day thing on the Internet. The first example of the same style of hacking may have been in 1903 when an inventive antagonist named Maskelyne hacked Marconi’s demonstrations of long-range radio telegraphy. Much like today’s hackers, Maskelyne showed that Marconi’s claim that he had invented secure wireless channels was not valid. Eat your heart out Kevin Mitnick.

New school defrag

Conventional wisdom once was that if you wanted to get your computer running like it used to, you should defrag the hard drive (and maybe get rid of some of that malware).

Windows 7 has changed that. And SSDs (solid state drives) add a new twist. Basically, you don’t need to, and in the case of SSDs don’t want to, defrag anymore.

Uncommon sense

“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” ~H. L. Mencken

Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:52 pm (PST)

Hi – announcing the start of a new class.
Windows 7 – Open Forum – Announcement – Starting Feb 22
.
Phil will be hosting a Windows 7 forum on Wednesdays, from 9 to 11, in the classroom behind the Chuckwagon. The first meeting will be Wednesday, Feb 22.
.
The attendees are encouraged to ask questions and/or bring up topics for discussion. We do not have a course outline as such – the forum will be driven by the subjects brought up by attendees.
.
Please do not bring your computer to this forum – there is just not enough room in the classroom for all those computers. (We want you to pay attention to Phil instead of hitting your keys.)
.
See you February 22.
George

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Comment: I’m reposting George’s announcement here because we do not know how much overlap there is between our Yahoo! Group and the CyberCoyote newsletter. 

Phil