A Windows 8 Start Menu

Windows 8.1 may or may not fix the Start Button ...
If Microsoft doesn't fix the problem to your liking then this free software and thorough How-To article might really help!


The Windows 8 Start Menu reimagined and reinvigorated | TechRepublic:

Scan-to-Google Drive

Google Drive not turns your smartphone into a scanner ...
There has been a number of good Android apps around to scan documents using your smartphone's camera but now Google has built this functionality directly into their Google Drive app. This is a great How-To article!


Scan-to-Google Drive: The scanner in your pocket | TechRepublic:

Windows XP's demise

Windows XP's departure will boost new PC sales ...
With still 30 to 40% of business PCs running Windows XP there should definitely be a boost to new PC sales between now and April 2014! Probably these businesses are waiting to see how Microsoft fixes the User Interface in Windows 8.1.

Windows XP's demise will do more for PC sales than Win 8, HP says - Computerworld:

Google unveils Project Loon

Whatever next you might ask ...

OK, so these balloons are at twice the height that commercial jetliners fly and they stay up for 100 days. What happens to them on day 101? Do they fall back to Earth and the jetliners just fly between them as they fall?


Google unveils Project Loon, aims to use balloons to provide internet to the world - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation):

Wi-Fi connected lightbulbs

Now here is a bright idea out of a pub conversation ...
The "Internet of Things" gathers pace as we now have light bulbs controlled by smartphone apps over Wi-Fi!


IoT: Aussies prepare to ship Wi-Fi connected lightbulbs - Internet of Things, Networking - Computerworld:

Google changing way we think

A must see video on the power of Google Glass ...
Thought provoking article and an excellent video demonstrating the combination of Google Glass and Google Search.


Will Google Glass change the way we think? - Crave:

iOS7 and iTunes Radio

Good overview of the Apple iOS7 enhancements ...
A major upgrade to the operating system is almost as good as getting a new iPhone of iPad - well that's the argument anyway!


Apple still 'innovators' at Worldwide Developers Conference, launching iOS7 and iTunes Radio | Information, Gadgets, Mobile Phones News & Reviews | News.com.au:

Intel 4th Generation

Even more computing power and ...
Longer battery life (up to 50%) and much lower heat generation are the main benefits from the 4th Generation Intel processors.


Intel 4th Generation Core processors to usher in new era of computing:

Google's Chrome OS

Google Chromebooks are here to stay ...

Personally my aim is to be independent of any particular computing device - yes, that means that all my information would be in the "cloud". Moderately priced Chromebook devices are all I need to access my information. If the device fails - get another! This is a great article that gives you plenty to think about.


Why Google's Chrome OS will be a success | News | TechRadar:

Google Play's 50bn app

What would we do without "apps"? ...
I want to know what happens when this graph is a vertical line - straight up - in about 2015 or 2016!


Google Play's 50bn app downloads imminent - Crave:

Internet traffic growth

Internet traffic of 12,000 GB per second now ...
Some good statistics for the next dinner party or trivia night!

A perspective on IP traffic growth - Network World:

Asus Transformer Book Trio

Certainly have every device combination available ...
The abstract at the head of this article infers that it is "a tablet, smartphone and desktop PC". I am not sure where they got the "smartphone" bit from! It is, however, a full tablet and desktop PC (when combined with a monitor) that can operate independently and on two different Operating Systems!


Asus Transformer Book Trio is tablet, laptop and desktop rolled into one - Computerworld:

Five video converter apps

Useful video format converters ...
This is the sort of software that you can never find when you need one!


Five video converter apps | TechRepublic:

Quick Tip: Gmail Offline

Great tutorial for setting up Gmail Offline ...

Google services are cloud based therefore dependent on an Internet connection. Gmail Offline is good insurance if you must be able to get to recent emails even if your Internet connection is temporarily down.


Quick Tip: Set up Gmail Offline in Chrome | TechRepublic:

Microsoft's Surface Pro

Eventually Microsoft Surface Pro available in Australia ...
$1,100 and I think the keyboard is extra on top; a lot to pay for fancy tablet. You can buy a very good Intel Core i7 laptop with all the usual connectivity and 500GB hard drive for about $800!


Microsoft's Surface Pro tablet is now available:

Feedly wins expat crown?

Google's Reader demise has made Feedly very happy ...
I am a Google RSS Reader expat that has made a new home at Feedly! Nearly all the articles in this blog have come via Feedly - not that you would know it!

Looks like Feedly wins the Google Reader expat crown - Computerworld:

Windows 8.1 details?

Windows 8.1 details are starting to become clearer ...
The changes to re-introduce the Start button and the option to "boot to desktop" are still not completely clear but many other changes seem to be consistently reported!


Windows 8.1 detailed: 12 key changes coming in the Windows 8 update | News | TechRadar:

Google taming email overload

Desktop Gmail gets tabbed email categorisation ...
The Android Gmail app was not the only one to get the new email categorisation treatment. Both have had mixed reaction from users. The desktop version can still be turned off if you really don't like it!

Google takes yet another crack at taming email overload - Computerworld:

Microsoft: It's the apps!

Windows 8.1 may not help app development ...
This is an interesting possible outcome from the Windows 8.1 update. The Modern (Tile ) interface of Windows 8 may get completely left behind once users have the option of booting straight to the traditional desktop.

Hey, Microsoft: It's the apps, stupid - Computerworld:

Tablets thrive while PCs dive

Data creation versus data consumption ...
Mobility, price and fun would be my 3 reasons why tablets are thriving in the consumer market. This article uses plenty of IDC figures to support their 3 not dissimilar reasons! Certainly the traditional PC scene is changing dramatically - never to be the same again!

3 reasons why tablets thrive while PCs dive - Computerworld:

Smart TVs never go online

Smart TVs have a long way to go with consumers ...
This is such a fast changing environment at the moment; consumers are not being shown the benefits of connecting their Smart TVs to the Internet. And those that attempt it often find that it is not as easy as it should be!


Over half of smart TVs never go online - TVs:

Google Drive potholes?

A must read for those migrating to Google Drive ...
I use Google Drive and Dropbox. With only one exception, I use Google Drive for documents in Google Docs format and use Dropbox for those legacy Microsoft documents. This article would be very useful for anyone planning to upload GBs of data to Google Drive. Unfortunately until we all have the NBN this will be a time consuming task!


Steering around the potholes with Google Drive | TechRepublic:

Scanadu checks your vitals

There is a whole new market just waiting out there ...
The Scanadu Scout device seems to have amazing capability for a very reasonable price! The video is well worth a look!


Check your vitals with a real-life Tricorder - Crave:

Lenovo bucks trend

Lenovo has "fingers in all pies" ...
I have to admit that I have always been a fan of Lenovo products and it is good to see that they are bucking the trend in the diminishing PC market. However, I was unaware that they were such a large smartphone manufacturer.

Lenovo bucks trend of crumbling PC market with record results | News | TechRadar:

Sign in to Windows 8

An excellent Windows 8 Sign-In tutorial ...

All the pros and cons of signing into Windows 8 with a Local Account versus a valid Microsoft Account are detailed here.


Sign in to Windows 8: Microsoft account versus Local account | TechRepublic:

Windows 8.1 upgrade process

Some pitfalls with Windows 8 upgrade to Windows 8.1 ...
Some things to consider if you want to jump in early with the Windows 8.1 Preview that will be available later this month.

Microsoft goes public with Windows 8.1 upgrade policies - Operating Systems:

Google’s stock keyboard

Google's own keyboard available for free ...
Nexus users will be very familiar with this keyboard! Now you can install it on any Android 4.0 and above device for free. Very clean and uncluttered. I am giving it a try on my HTC One XL smartphone.


Google’s stock keyboard now available to all for free - Gadget Guy Australia:

New Gmail app adds color

Gmail has now updated the Android UI as well ...
The new Gmail categorisation of emails seems to have been met with mixed reaction from users. Personally, I like it! Google has now applied the same changes to the Android app.


New Gmail app adds a touch of color -- and frustration - Computerworld:

Windows 8.1 first look video

Microsoft video - but what about the Start button ...  
All the nice touch-friendly features in Windows 8.1 but nothing about the "Return of the Start button". Is this most important inclusion still on the drawing board!


Windows 8.1 first look video shows off touch-friendly features | News | TechRadar:

Google Drive updates Android

Google seems to be updating everything at the moment ....
In the last few weeks we have had updates to Gmail, Google+, Google Maps, Google Keep, Google Chat/Voice, Google Play Music and now Google Drive ... (did I miss any?) This update to the Android UI is quite significant and now allows you to scan directly to a PDF in Google Drive.


Google Drive updates Android UI, adds document scanning - Computerworld:

Windows 8.1 update

The pressure is on Microsoft to deliver the Windows 8.1 goods ...
The PC market is already suffering significantly, Microsoft has probably only one chance to turn around the discontent with Windows 8.


Microsoft aims to simplify with Windows 8.1 update | Information, Gadgets, Mobile Phones News & Reviews | News.com.au:

Cheat Sheet: Chromebooks

Chromebooks - a relatively new kid on the block ...
A good article about Chromebooks and why they are different to a traditional laptop. 

Cheat Sheet: Chromebooks | TechRepublic:

Microsoft Windows 8 'U-turn'

And slowly the Start button details start to emerge ...
Microsoft seems to be leaking the details of the new Windows 8(.1) Start button to test reaction!

BBC News - Microsoft 'U-turn' sees Start button back on Windows 8:

Block in-app purchases

Worthwhile precaution on tablets and smartphones ...

I checked my HTC One XL smartphone and this was already set by default but it is worth checking!


How to block in-app purchases on your Android tablet | TechRepublic:

No face recognition for now

Google Glass plots a steady course on privacy issues ...
Seems like a wise move to slow things down a bit in all the hype surrounding Google Glass.

Google Glass not to allow face recognition for now - Internet-based applications and services, consumer electronics, Google, internet - Computerworld:

New Windows 8 Start button

Rumours fly on new Windows 8 Start Button ...
All will be revealed shortly but, at this stage, Microsoft refuses to comment as to the exact way the new Start button will work in Windows 8.


How the new Windows Blue Start button may work - Operating Systems:

Windows 8 users snub 'Modern'

Has Microsoft delivered another 'Vista' ...
Whilst Vista had definite problems with the Operating System performance, the trouble with Windows 8 is the User Interface (UI). Trying to combine a desktop and tablet interface was always going to be difficult but forcing desktop users to use a tablet interface Start screen was dangerous approach. Will Microsoft be able to recover this in Windows 8.1?

Windows 8 users snub 'Modern' apps, stick to desktop - Computerworld:

Teens leaving Facebook

This was bound to happen sooner or later ...
It is interesting that teens are saying there are too many adults on Facebook! They are moving to where they are not under adult, relatives or parental scrutiny. I guess they are becoming a split personality - posting on Facebook what they want the family to see and then carry on their own peer discussions on Twitter or Instagram!

Teens growing cool on Facebook but warming to Twitter, Pew study finds - Computerworld:

Google Glass experiences

Google Glass user first impressions ...
Sounds interesting but with a long way to go! I really think future commercial applications are likely to be more significant than the personal applications. Individuals may use Google Glass as they currently use a digital camera or smartphone but there are occupations where Google Glass could change the whole way they work.

See where Google Glass is going | GulfNews.com:

Google Translates for all

This is the really quiet Google achiever ...
Quote: "The amount of text that Google translates daily is more than what's in 1 million books, and surpasses what professional translators handle in a full year"! If you haven't played with the Android Translate app you should! It is really great that you can speak to the app, it recognises (in text) what you said then translates and speaks back in one of 71 chosen languages. You can download language files so that you don't have to use mobile data. 

Google Translate now serves 200 million people daily - Internet Applications & Software:

MS Office 365 alternatives

Plenty of MS Office alternatives ...
Five alternative on-line office suites are reviewed in this article. Along with Apache Open Office and Libre Office that are downloadable Office Suites there are plenty of FREE alternatives to Microsoft!

Five alternatives to Microsoft Office 365 | TechRepublic: