TechByter Worldwide (formerly Technology Corner) with Bill Blinn

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. Navigator was discontinued in 2008.

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 the first time.

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 phones.

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.