TechByter Worldwide (formerly Technology Corner) with Bill Blinn

If you still need a replacement for the suddenly discontinued free version of LogMeIn, I have a suggestion. When a hard drive dies, recovery should be quick and easy. Sometimes it is. In Short Circuits: Microsoft renames SkyDrive, but the marketing department seems to have made another bad choice; the deal by Comcast to acquire TimeWarner seemes destined for approval; and malware called Careto sets its sights on high-value targets.

The Bat went through some tough times with version 5, but version 6 restores its position as a leader. You might imagine how surprised I was when I found more than 500 unexpected files on my computer. The latest trick by fraudsters seems to be fake coupons. In Short Circuits, changes are planned for broadband Internet in schools, Yahoo tries to recover from another hacker attack, and rumors of a new high-end Nexus tablet.

Snagit's latest free update raises the bar once again for screen capture programs. The cost of creating out-of-the-world desktop images is less than you might think. In Short Circuits, Google buys high and sells low, the US Justice Department says it's on the trail of the Target hackers, Facebook's profits astound just about everbody, and a malware author faces prison time, but you shouldn't feel any safer.

Many good ways exist to devise a good password, but there are lots of ways to create bad ones, too, and the crooks want you to do the latter. The Federal Communications Commission could appeal the recent Net neutrality ruling. Should it? And in Short Circuits: How to get more out of your cellular provider's data limit. Controlling a TV with your cell phone or tablet. Bank ATMs that run Windows XP (most of them) face a deadline. Goodbye to LogMeIn. And hello to a new music streaming service.

Some new features, including a bit of privacy for the latest version of Google Chrome. The New York Times hits a home run with its websiste update. The Nexus tablet listens when I talk. If you sometimes have trouble sending e-mail, maybe you need another server. In Short Circuits ... I rescind a program recommendation that I made a few weeks ago. (Oops!) And is Net neutrality dead or just wounded?

Have you ever wished you could create your own music? You can! Lifelong learning has been with us since sometime in the 1980s and it's becoming even more important. Fortunately, it's easier to accomplish now. In Short Circuits: The smallest of the 4 cellular providers, T-Mobile, seems to have AT and T quaking in its oversized boots. One well known anti-malware company has acquired another and the combination should worry thieves. Office supplies: The need for many formerly standard supplies has been all but eliminated. And when my network disappeared, restoring it turned out to be a challenge.

If Santa brought you a new camera, maybe you're looking for a way to improve your videos. Coming off a strong year for sales, tablet computers are expected to sell well again this year. So far, by biggest surprise is how useful small tablets are. The United States continues to fall further behind the rest of the world when it comes to Internet speeds, but we continue to pay far more for slower service. In Short Circuits: 2,000,000 websites went offline on New Years Eve, a German news magazine says the NSA plants bugs and malware, Netflix is testing a lower-priced streaming plan, and New York City has a clever way to let residents know where snow plows are.

A huge data breach at Target. For those who need just a little 4G, a solution. A White House panel recommends major NSA changes. And in Short Circuits: Facebook decides to be even more annoying, Delta says passengers won't be allowed to use phones during flight, a car that runs on hydrogen, and an example that shows not all Internet crooks are evil geniuses.

Some of the largest Internet companies say government surveillance has gone too far. If you're still using Windows XP, you should update before April. Microsoft wants to help you find a better password. In Short Circuits ... A new version of Firefox has lots of helpful security features. And Adobe has released updates of just about everything photographic.

Crooks from around the globe want your money. If you'd prefer to keep it, this week's program has some helpful suggestions. This is such an important topic that it's the only topic in the main section. In Short Circuits ... Jeff Bezos and the incredible Amazon drone, Microsoft's NokiaPhone is closer, and yet another music service.