Techbyter Worldwide (formerly Technology Corner) With Bill Blinn

The 2019 version of Photoshop extends content-aware-fill's capabilities and makes several user interface modifications that may seem small but were met with enthusiastic applause at the Max conference in Los Angeles. In Short Circuits: Is your computer's hard disk full? If so, you might find hundreds of gigabytes of useless files, so we'll examine how to find them and then get rid of them. One of the least welcome sounds around a computer is that of squeaking bearings from a device that holds a bunch of disk drives. Last week, I said that I'd solved a problem with the computer's displays. Seems I was a bit premature and overly optimistic. Maybe you'll enjoy my frustration. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Outvote has released a nonpartaisan version of its app that's aimed at getting voters registered and out to vote. • We're right at the end of Cyber Security Awareness Month, but keeping security in mind should be a task for everyone all year. • Lots of changes are coming for connectivity and research su

Alien Skin's X4 version of Exposure makes it more capable as a standalone application, but Lightroom users will probably still want to use it as a Lightroom filter, where it adds several new features not otherwise available. In Short Circuits: Adobe's Max conference in Los Angeles introduced so many new and improved features that Adobe's presenters were unable to describe them all in a 2-hour presentation. Cybereason developed an exercise in conjunction with several Boston area police departments in which theoretical hackers attempted to create election problems without stealing voter lists, breaking into board of elections computers, or hijacking voting machines. The results were sobering. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Anyone with a hardware or software support problem that seems insoluble should check with Older Geeks because there's a good chance the problem can be solved. • FlightAware is now able to track airliners and business flights when they're on the ground and when they're in locations not

Updates to Adobe's Elements applications do what we've come to expect from updates: Add powerful new features in the form of guided edits. Those who want to create projects they can share without having to learn more complex applications such as Lightroom and Photoshop should take a look at the new Elements. In Short Circuits: Facebook went wild this week with persistent hoax messages about accounts being hacked, complete with a warning to share the information with all your friends. Facebook accounts can be cloned, of course, and there's no way to keep that from happening; there is a lot you can do to make your account a lot less attractive to crooks, though. Google will be shutting down its ill-conceived Google+ service over the next 10 months after admitting a data breach that the company had hidden for more than half a year. In Spare Parts (only on the website): If you purchased audio equalization software I recommended in September, I'll explain why I now consider it unacceptable and how you can get a re

Computers often seem to become slower as they age. The hardware doesn't really slow down and some of the problems can be resolved by eliminating unnecessary applications that are running, but new hardware can also help. In Short Circuits: No matter how many monitors you've attached to the computer, placement is important because a bad arrangement can leave you stiff and sore. Mozilla is now offering a free monitoring service that can alert you if a website you use has been compromised. A new law in California attempts to save net neutrality for residents of the state, but the US Department of Justice has filed suit to stop it. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Google plans to make changes over the next year to reduce the amount of malware distributed through the Play store. • Nearly all of our medical information is computerized now. That's convenient, but it's also another rich resource for crooks. • JLab Audio has announced new Bluetooth earbuds with a claim that they'll run for more than 12 hours on a

Open source software is secure and it isn't secure. There's no one-size-fits-all statement about security. Both open source and proprietary applications are like Schrödinger's cat, simultaneously secure and not. Let's visit a recent conference by the Linux Foundation and learn more about security. In Short Circuits: The Federal Communications Commission wants to fine an Arizona company more than $37 million for making fraudulent robocalls. The password has a lot of enemies and this week Microsoft, Google, and Yubi all announced ways to kill reliance on passwords. The next time you experience network problems, consider using Microsoft's PowerShell to investigate. In Spare Parts (only on the website): This week (39 years ago) CompuServe introduced email to the general public and they even trademarked the name "Email". • Hardware insurance company SquareTrade says the latest phones from Apple do survive being dropped into a vat of beer, but not being dropped onto the floor.

Let's take a look at Smart Photo Editor Studio from Anthropics. It's an application that features an unsual interface and thousands of presets that can be used to turn everyday images into something special. In Short Circuits: Apple introduced IOS version 12 for its mobile devices this week. Besides fixing some of the worst bugs in IOS 11, it adds some useful functions. Although I don't often use Microsoft's cloud-based OneDrive, I was surprised to discover that it was missing. Apparently this is a relatively common problem with an easy fix that I'll share. Research confirms that all of the nation's top 45 airports can be hazardous to your data and that many have unacceptable risks. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Two-factor authentication is more secure than just a user name and password, but the weak link is still the human. • If you're going to spend $1000 or more on a new Iphone, there are ways to save and WalletHub has the details.

Listening to music on a computer can be challenging because most computer audio systems have severely limited fidelity. An audio equalizer application can help. In Short Circuits: Maybe you've wondered from time to time if your antivirus application might have missed something. Getting a second opinion is good idea and it's easy. I've explained before how to use a Registry edit to turn off keys that you don't want -- Caps Lock, for example -- but there's another option if Registry edits make you nervous. Nearly 20 years ago, Microsoft made a stupid mistake by hiding file extensions in the Windows file explorer. This has never been corrected, but the workaround is easy. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Adobe will soon release a Photoshop update that includes some remarkable improvements for content-aware fill. • August set a new all-time record high for robo calls and nearly half of them are scams. • Maybe you'd like a Star Wars stormtrooper that obeys your every command. One can be yours for $230.

Those who have Microsoft's Office suite almost always use Word and Excel. PowerPoint and Outlook are lower on the usage scale. Access lower still. And then there's OneNote, an application that gets far less attention than it should, so I'll explain why it's been indispensable to me for more than a decade. In Short Circuits: User Access Control alerts can be bothersome. They can be disabled, but doing so can make your computer less safe. This week a caller told me that my computer was being attacked and that failing to act could make it obsolete. I yawned and hung up. Microsoft has made some changes to Office 365 licensing. The already liberal polices have been even further relaxed. In Spare Parts (only on the website): If you want to announce a security breach in a way that few will notice, the best time is Saturday evening in the middle of a 4-day weekend. • Companies that use email marketing perform a lot of research to find out what works best. Hidden persuaders can be powerful.

Lynda.com used to have two membership plans at $25 and $35 per month, but now it's available only to LinkedIn Pro subscribers for $30 per month unless you know the trick for obtaining free access. And you have access to a lot more from an organization with a presence near your home. In Short Circuits: Windows 95 was revolutionary. Every version of Windows since then has evolved from it. Those who would like to remember the old days (or who are too young to remember those days and wonder what the fuss was all about) can download a Windows 10 app that runs a Windows 95 virtual machine. It's never too early to start teaching your children about internet security and safety. While you're doing that, you might improve your own practices, too. In Spare Parts (only on the website): A new version of the Chrome browser will be released next week and it all but kills Flash. • There was a big US Army cyber-warfare exercise in Indiana this week. • Adobe has made the first grants from its $10 million Experience Design dev

If you use a computer or other mobile device with any connection other than your own private network, virtual private network software is essential. A VPN can be helpful on your private network, too, but it can be troublesome. In Short Circuits: Two free applications exist to help users sort out what starts when Windows boots up. Malware sometimes has auto-start components, but the most common use for these applications is to speed the boot process and remove needless apps. Apple's sales are off this year and the company is probably hoping for a boost from new MacBook Air and Mac Mini models that will begin shipping in October. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Disinformation is increasingly a problem for on-line services and Facebook this week took down more than 600 phony sites being operated from Russia and Iran. • It's beginning to look a lot like 2000 and I keep wondering if another dot-com crash like the one in 2002 is in our future. • Pre-orders for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 that I mentioned last w

If one of your Facebook friends says that you just sent a friend request, you'll probably think that your Facebook credentials have been compromised and that somebody has taken over your account. That's probably not the case and fixing the problem is easy. In Short Circuits: The latest phone from Samsung has some amazing features and an equally amazing price. Even if you don't use On1 Photo Raw, the company's helpful videos will show you how to get better images into your camera. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Blockchain is disrupting how business is conducted and it's also having a disrupting effect on accounting and finance functions. • The US legal system already says that corporations are people, so maybe you're wondering what legal challenges devices that use artificial intelligence bring to the law.

Although GoodSync isn't designed to create a disk image or to back up the computer's operating system, it's a most capable and adaptable tool for backing up or synchronizing files and folders. In Short Circuits: Microsoft appears to be preparing to charge enterprise clients a monthly fee for maintaining the Windows 10 operating system, so maybe you're wondering if this will someday apply to home users. There's no shortage of ebook readers, so people who are new to reading books on electronic devices should experiment with several readers. I'll tell you about my favorite and why I prefer it. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Anyone who still wears a watch might be interested in a new one from Casio. • The company that acquired the Rand McNally name makes GPS devices and recently added a line of headphones "for professional drivers".

Organizing a music library seems like it should be easy, but complications keep getting in the way. I've found some uncomplicators. In Short Circuits: Over the years, tiny computers have been novelties, but they haven't really gained widespread acceptance. Now there's a new one with some power. Are you tempted to buy some of those sale-priced $20 "RayBan" sunglasses you see ads for on the internet? If so, just drop a $20 bill in the trash and you'll be ahead of the game. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Canon is about to release a $400 camera with a spectacular zoom range and some significant shortcomings. • In addition to renting you an overpriced cable modem, your ISP may soon ask you to rent an overpriced mesh system. • A survey by a bank seems to suggest that users of bank apps place convenience ahead of security, and that's troubling.

Several ways exist to test your internet connection speed and it's a good idea to check at least occasionally to ensure that your internet service provider isn't shortchanging you. We'll take a look at five options. In Short Circuits: An app that allows employees to communicate anonymously with each other and with people in related businesses will probably be near the top of the HR department's list of apps to detest. If you think you've won the Facebook lottery, you have another think coming. The appeal of on-line grocery shopping has attracted few people so far, but the market segment is growing. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Popular health information site WebMD will soon be available in China. • Virtual reality is being tested as a way to help younger people understand the problems of aging. • Peripheral maker Kensington thinks you should use a base to raise your monitor and, while you're at it, place a fan under the monitor stand.

With a variety of free office suites available, is sticking with Microsoft's $100-per-year offering the right choice? Let's look at the history of suites and then consider what's available now. In Short Circuits: To avoid installing a virus accidentally, it's a good idea to do more than just depend on an antivirus application. Even Linux users need to start taking malware seriously. We'll examine why that is. In Spare Parts (only on the website): It's all too easy to give away our private information and companies that want that information make it even easier. • An email arrives with 3 attached purchase orders. Would you be curious enough to open them? • Not all virtual private networks are secure according to a report from TechPro Research. • Doubtless you already hold robocallers in low esteem and now there's another good reason to dislike them.

Data protection firm Cybereason says Macs are now one of the most serious security threats in businesses and other enterprises. That statement will surprise a lot of people and anger some, but it shouldn't be rejected. In Short Circuits: It's been 20 years since Apple introduced the IMac, a computer that was so different from previous Apple computers that it nearly caused a user revolt, but it also set the stage for Apple's current successes. If you ever need to help friends fix problems with their computers, you'll want to check out Aero Admin. It's a screen sharing support tool with an amazingly capable free version. In Spare Parts (only on the website): The monthly Microsoft patches that were released this week correct 50 flaws, of which 17 are critical. • Malwarebytes has just released a version of their protective application for IOS devices.

If you need to buy a new monitor, you'll have several questions to consider: The physical size and the number of pixesl are two of the key considerations. The number of options has increased a lot, so let's take a look. Also: A company with the ironic name Securus was hacked and thousands of accounts have been exposed. This is the 600th TechByter podcast. In Spare Parts: Virtual private network technology can reveal geographically blocked content. Travel industry sites are under attack and the torrent is increasing.

Anyone who needs to document on-screen applications will appreciate some of the new capabilities in the 2018 version of TechSmith's Camtasia that also brings the MacOS version closer to duplicating the Windows version. In Short Circuits: Browser security is more important every day. A new version of Firefox adds some safety features and Mozilla is developing a process that might be able to warn users when a site that has their credentials has been attacked. It's vacation season, so maybe now is a good time to think about how to improve selfies. Package non-delivery scams seemed to disappear from the face of the internet a year or more ago, but now they're back. In Spare Parts (only on the website): A company that offers one-hour delivery of beer, wine, and spirits has expanded to 100 markets. • Mobile payment systems continue to gain acceptance, but some of the big players are dealing with declines.

Last week we talked about the importance of updating your router's firmware to avoid a nasty flaw, but the files on your computer are vulnerable even with the latest firmware because no security system is perfect. That's why this week's topic is backup. In Short Circuits: TechSmith has a new version of Camtasia. Although I haven't yet had time to review it, the update appears to be a good one. A popular game is being advertised as available for Android devices even though it isn't. There's a profit motive behind the scam. Adobe is working on a new project called Rush that might make video editing more accessible to everyone. In Spare Parts (only on the website): Inventors are examining ways to allow highways to create the electricity needed for nearby devices. • Workers say that they're generally optimistic about artificial intelligence, but feel that the technology needs to be controlled by law. • Three-D printing has been around for a while and now the latest thing is 3D scanning.

A firmware update is available for most routers designed for home and small-office use. Firmware updates are easy to miss, but the current updates are important because they patch a security flaw that can give criminals access to the router and let them see any information sent to or from your network. In Short Circuits: This week Net Neutrality ended. There's still a possible way to reverse the Federal Communications Commission's decision, but it involves voters convincing Congress to act. Don't hold your breath. Adobe has patched another zero-day exploit in Flash. Apple has plans to improve MacOS security. Honda and GM are partnering for battery research and development. In Spare Parts (only on the website): This month's patches from Microsoft correct 11 critical flaws and another 49 that are rated as "important". • Acronis plans to establish a technology park. • Starting this week, you'll see some changes if you use Office.com or Office 365.