TechByter Worldwide (formerly Technology Corner) with Bill Blinn

Lynda.com is an excellent resource for learning about photography, programming, marketing and search engine optimization, and a lot more. But $35 per month might not fit into your budget. How about free? To avoid malware, we have to be smarter than the average scammer. They're getting smarter, so we need to be more adept at spotting signs of fraud. In Short Circuits: You can get into the malware business these days for less than $15. Microsoft's patch Tuesday this month was huge and included a lot of critical updates. In Spare Parts (only on the website): How about a back-to-school computer for less than $200? Windows or Android. Detachable keyboard. Not much power or memory, but it might be just right if you don't need much power or memory. Robocalls in July increased by 3% from June and more than 7% over July of last year. Makes you want to reach out and touch someone. Violently.

If you use your scanner more than a few times a week, the application that the manufacturer provided is probably disappointing you. There's a better way. The University of Waterloo in Canada is working on research that people may eventually find on their phones to improve selfie photos. In Short Circuits: The end is near for Adobe Flash; please hold your applause until 2020. Microsoft has hiked the amount it's willing to pay for information about serious bugs in its software. Expect the latest update for Windows 10 this Fall. We'll take a quick look at some of the features that are coming. In Spare Parts (only on the website): It looks like some of the top security firms in the computer industry have more than a little work to do on their own security. A quick look at my older daughter's progress following the medical event that resulted in cancellation of the mid May TechByter program. And AnchorFree says that it has an application that can be used to protect users if the Federal Communications Commission kills net neutrality.

Smart phones are handy devices. They help us find where we're going, remind us when we have to be there, keep track of our acquaintances, take pictures, send and receive email, and occasionally even allow us to make phone calls. But they can also be security hazards. Computer experts tell users not to apply a BIOS update unless they're sure it will solve a problem they're experiencing. I know this. Nonetheless, I reminded myself the hard way why computer experts say that. In Short Circuits: Remember the old Nigerian scam that depended on poorly written messages from people who wanted to send you millions if only you'd send them a bit of "expense" money? Well, it's back -- but with a twist. There's further proof, if you need it, that Macs aren't quite as secure as Mac owners might like to believe. Mean old Microsoft is going to kill Paint! At least that's what the hysterical rumor mill says. Let's check out the real story. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Could Adobe's next frontier be virtual reality? This appears to be likely. Desktop computers and tablets are declining in sales, but tablet-like 2-in-1 devices could take over as the primary business computer soon.

It's all about photography this week, starting with how you can identify the best camera in the world. Then we'll take a look at some of the questionable tactics used by crooks who pose as legitimate camera sellers. In Short Circuits: The photography theme continues as we consider some additional factors when choosing a camera. And then why a camera with more megapixels might not be as good as one with fewer megapixels. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Yes, the camera theme continues here with a camera comparison chart and then we'll move on after I mention a special deal from Alien Skin and some improvements from Adobe for mobile editing. Research suggests that blockchain technology will save financial institutions lots of money. And if you buy snacks from food kiosks that are found in many corporate locations, crooks may have your credit card information and more.

Do you have an in-car GPS system that you need to buy annual updates for? If so, that system is obsolete. The Federal Communications Commission is working to eliminate "net neutrality". Let's consider opinions from conservatives and liberals who say that this is a technology issue, not a political issue. In Short Circuits: Is it time to upgrade to a solid-state drive? If you're concerned about cost or reliability, your concerns are outdated. Nuclear power plants are the latest targets of malware creators. This is not a comforting thought. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Wi-Fi will be present on more than half of all commercial airliners within 5 years. 4D printing is the future even if you have no idea how something could be printed in 4 dimensions. This may sound like a repeat (and maybe it is) but we are facing the final showdown on net neutrality and it's time to speak up.

Things start to get complicated when students enter middle school and even more so as they progress to high school. A student who starts college this fall may have some help. XP seems to be the operating system that cannot be thrown off the island. It's no longer thriving, but it's still surviving. In Short Circuits: Have you received an urgent message saying that someone is trying to register your domain name in China? There's a good reason to ignore these messages. Research by PwC (formerly Price Waterhouse Coopers) in Moscow rates some of the world's largest cities in terms of their readiness to adapt to new technology. Most of the cities are not in the United States, but the Pacific Rim is well represented. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Technology could save fuel, money, and time for airlines. Destroying some myths about cyber-bulling. And Angry Birds seem to be been multiplying with abandon.

Something new to beware of: Destruction-ware came calling this week, disguised as ransomware. Upcoming targets are likely to be power grids and other essential services. In Short Circuits: Sometimes it seems that we're standing at the base of a mountain, watching an avalanche begin far above us. Now what? The rapid spread of malware can be slowed, but only if we all work together. Think of it as vaccinations for computers. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Two big graphics providers are merging. Shutterstock will acquire Flashstock. And will we ever fully embrace paperless money? Some nations are moving faster than others.

Because of some special needs, I've developed an appreciation for Google Drive and some of the Google Apps -- Sheets in particular. We haven't seen a lot of zero-day exploits recently, but they are still a serious threat and those who develop them can expect big financial rewards. In Short Circuits: What does Amazon want with Whole Foods? What Amazon did to book stores won't work in the fresh food market, but expect disruption. If you haven't contacted the Federal Communications Commission to argue in favor of Net Neutrality, now would be a good time to do so. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Sony says it has sold more than 60 million Play Station units worldwide. And this week I have an update on my older daughter's recent medical emergency, along with a lot of gratitude for the Ohio State University Medical Center.

Sometimes panic serves a good purpose. For me, it's one of the reasons that I keep backups of backups of backups so that when something goes wrong, I can panic just a little. Adobe Stock has been an outstanding resource for professionals, but now the company is making it easier to use and making it available to users of Microsoft Powerpoint. In Short Circuits: Windows XP is no longer a supported operating system, but Microsoft has resumed security updates, at least for now. More malware is being aimed at users of the MacOS, so be careful even if you own a Mac. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Security and ease of use. JD Power says their survey shows we want both even though they're generally considered to be opposites. Microsoft is proudly promoting its new X-Box One X, even though it won't be available to buy until November.

Have you ever thought about abandoning Windows or MacOS? For most people, Linux would be a viable option, but there's a lot of inertia. Even the most casual photographers generally recognize the need to edit images and, while Adobe is a good choice for most people, it's not the only choice. In Short Circuits: If your new Wi-Fi router isn't giving you the performance boost you expected, I have some suggestions to improve it. Apple has disappointed graphics professionals with some of their recent computers. The new IMac Pro is a powerhouse, but at a price. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Waze, a highway information sharing application is partnering with an emergency call clearinghouse to provide more timely information to motorists and emergency personnel. Talent Unleashed is looking for outstanding technology start-ups. Microsoft has announced the winners and finalists for its enormous annual partner of the year program.