TechByter Worldwide (formerly Technology Corner) with Bill Blinn

Problems with Microsoft's OneNote synchronization finally drove me to Evernote. It's still not my preferred choice, but at least it synchronizes. When we visit websites, we encounter bits of code that often assist us, but may also track us. Some sites have only 2 or 3 of these, but others have dozens. In Short Circuits: Some older protocols are still active even in the latest editions of Windows 10. Let's consider how to turn them off. The former head of the National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency has harsh words for Edward Snowden and the Russians. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Some hardware and software manufacturers install annoying pop-up reminders, but these can be turned off. An examination of how Twitter is used to distribute disinformation. Kmart suffers another credit card breach, but mainly involving old-style credit cards. The story of a defense contractor that accidentally posted Top Secret information on a publicly accessible site.

A ransomware attack that crippled some 200,000 computers in 150 countries was a commercial failure for the crooks, but let's not get complacent. Libraries are more essential today than ever and many are stepping up to provide services that are needed in a digital age. In Short Circuits: Last week's program was canceled because of an unexpected medical emergency. (Are medical emergencies ever expected?) I'll explain what happened and you can listen or skip as you prefer. In Spare Parts (only on the website): The Weather Channel adds lots of non-weather components to its app and mindfulness is helpful for adults; maybe it can help children, too.

Because there is no program this week, the podcast is from last week.

If you're thinking about buying a new computer, perhaps you're also pondering the choice of operating systems. Windows, MacOS, and various flavors of Linux are the primary choices, but there are others. In Short Circuits: The Windows feature that minimizes all other windows when you move one back and forth rapidly may not be to your liking. There's a way to eliminate it. Fingerprint authentication, available on many smart phones and on some notebooks and tablets, may not be as secure as we'd like to believe. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Data as a service claims to improve business resiliency. A Dutch philosopher would like us to understand that we have entered what he calls a new evolutionary phase. And your smart phone can help when the weather turns nasty.

Under the guise of providing a look behind the scenes at TechByter, I found a way to play with some of the Adobe Audition features that don't get used on the podcast. In Short Circuits: We'll take a look at 3 separate frauds: A phony message that claims to be from Facebook, but wants me to visit a website in Russia; a ploy that's made to appear to be from Bluehost and wants only to steal my user name and password; and phony invitations to Google Docs. Microsoft seems to be competing with both high end and low end hardware manufacturers these days. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Microsoft says that the Windows 10 browser, Edge, is the best browser ever, but some security experts disagree. IBM says that it accidentally sent USB drives that were infected with malware to StoreWize customers. The adoption rate for Windows 10 is increasing in enterprises, but many IT departments are still dragging their heels.

The new version of Xara Pro X 365 brings powerful new features, on-line editing capabilities, and a forward-thinking approach to software provided on a rental basis. If you have a credit card -- and who doesn't these days -- does it offer reward points? Surprisingly, nearly a third of those who earn credits never use them. In Short Circuits: Maybe you already knew that Windows 10 can mount a disk image file without needing a utility of any sort. Now I do, too. Something else I didn't know until now: A utility exists to display thumbnail images of Photoshop, Illustrator, and Encapsulated Postscript files in the Windows Explorer. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Might Wells Fargo have spared its reputation and millions in fines if the company had paid more attention to what people were saying about it on-line? The Asus Tinker Board looks like it will be popular with hobbyists. Retailers are turning to bots and artificial intelligence to give customers a more personalized experience.

The latest version of Alien Skin's Exposure X2 adds powerful new layering capabilities, export functions, and support for for more camera raw versions. If you think rebooting a Windows computer is too complicated, what would you think of a single-click solution? In Short Circuits: The Hacker Group called Shadow Brokers recently released information about what it calls new Windows exploits, but Microsoft says patches were already in place for all of them. I have written the third (and, I hope, final) episode of the tale of the mouse. In Spare Parts (only on the website): A survey shows what information we're willing to share with companies to gain access to bargains or better customer support, and now it's possible to order a Sandwich from Subway using Facebook.

Security and privacy are important parts of the Windows Creators Edition update that started being delivered to computers this week. We'll discuss that with Microsoft's Nic Fillingham. Adobe's Sensei technology is already being used in some applications, more are on the way, and one that's intended for smart phones may amaze you. In Short Circuits: The end of the Windows Vista era is here. As of last Tuesday, the operating system is no longer supported. Microsoft's Patch Tuesday occurred last week, of course, but Adobe was the real standout with patches that fixed 59 vulnerabilities in 5 products. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Battling ransomware on Macs. Laptop Magazine has released ratings for the best laptops and, after 7 years in first place, Apple is now fifth. And where to go if your computer develops a problem in Ayr, Scotland.

Although you might have to buy a new phone if you switch to Google's Project Fi, the benefits could justify the cost. The Windows 10 Creators Update will be pushed out to computers starting on Tuesday. Maybe you'd like to delay the update or get it sooner. You may be able to do either and I'll explain how. In Short Circuits: Hackers say they have credentials for 300 Million ICloud accounts and, while that seems unlikely, it paves the way for other crooks. Intel has completed the spin-off of McAfee after buying the company for more than 7 and a half billion dollars 6 years ago. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Lithium-ion batteries pack more power than their predecessors, but they can burst into flame. Researchers are looking for a better option. Ratings firm Nielsen says it will be using artificial intelligence to give on-line advertisers clearer pictures of internet users. Would you buy your next car from a chatbot? One might be involved in the deal and you might not even notice.

Anybody who wants to edit home videos should take a look at the latest version of CyberLink's Power Director. Internet privacy, already questionable, is on the way to extinction. In Short Circuits: The Windows 10 Creators Update will start being pushed out to computers on April 11th. Alien Skin has released what looks like some powerful enhancements for Exposure X2. Last week I said that I had possibly found a solution to a problem with the mouse. It's still a "maybe". In Spare Parts (only on the website): Don't even think about the crash jokes that could come from Microsoft's licensing of technology to Toyota, chat-bots appear to be the future of customer service, and GoDaddy has acquired a provider of website security services.