Techbyter Worldwide (formerly Technology Corner) With Bill Blinn

Photoshop has 2 features, one new and one improved, that come to the aid of blurry pictures. For amusement, I thought I'd look through a computer manual from 1979. Yes, 34 years ago. In Short Circuits: Chrome can save your passwords, but you might not want it to. Microsoft drops the price of the Surface Pro. A newspaper for Bezos and fine art for his store. And Yahoo plans a month of many logos.

Two researchers showed this week that the various computers in a car can be taken over wirelessly. Itunes has never worked well on Windows computers (or Apple computers, for that matter) and, if you're looking for a replacement, I have some suggestions. In Short Circuits: Microsoft wanted to call the Windows 8 interface Metro, but ran into legal trouble with the name. Now the same thing has happened to SkyDrive. A class-action suit says that Apple failed to pay employees for time they spent in Apple stores. And Google boots AT&T out of Starbucks stores.

Anyone who needs to create occasional small pulblished documents should take a look at Xara Page and Layout Designer. A small company in Poland specializes in fixing Microsoft Outlook blunders. We'll take a look at one of their applications. In Short Circuits: I found something that will be popular with tablet owners, Intel is working on new CPUs that will power smaller, ultra-thin devices, former Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood takes on distracted drivers, and Google aims at your TV set with Chromecast.

With the potential for minute-by-minute changes, Adobe Creative Cloud poses a challenge for reviewers. If you want to be able to receive an e-mail message from someone without giving them your e-mail address, I'll explain how. In Short Circuits, Microsoft drops prices on its most basic tablets, the Surface RT, Japan's SoftBank acquires Sprint Nextel and prices drop (more on the way), and universities are dealing with increasing numbers of electronic break-ins.

Harry Potter bought his first wand in Diagon Alley and Google Maps can take you there. A federal judge finds Apple guilty of antitrust violations. Some see social media as a business booster while others think it's just a time killer. Which is right? In Short Circuits, PC sales still decline, but not as fast. Windows 8.1 will be sent to manufacturers before September, and a Google researcher is in hot water because of a private blog post that made it possible for thieves to target Windows PCs.

The latest version of Xara Photo and Graphic Designer tries to do everything and fails at nothing. The first big search engine, AltaVista, died many years ago and now even the name is being retired. In Short Circuits: Facebook says that it will shield ads from controversial content, but is less adamant about users. Apple is a step closer to creating a watch and has now applied in Japan for a trademark of Iwatch. The tech sector moves toward using more renewable power sources.

I've changed my mind about Adobe's Creative Cloud. Although I like it, Adobe should reconsider its policies. If you want your own website, there are lots of options. In Short Circuits: Office intrigue is rumored in Redmond. better Wi-Fi in your home may require new hardware, the FTC says search engine advertisements need to be more identifiable, and shaping up as the year of the tablet, 2013 may be the end of the color e-book reader.

Windows XP continues, despite its age, to be a very popular operating system but if you're using Internet Explorer on XP, there are serious shortcomings. Microsoft will soon release a public preview of Windows 8.1. If you're thinking about downloading it, I have some cautions. In Short Circuits: Racing to release information about government data requests, digging up E.T., playing with computer relics, and now from Instagram, videos.

If you're a photographer, just wait until you see what Adobe Lightroom did this week. It's probably a safe bet that your files aren't as safe as you think they are, especially if you own a business. In Short Circuits: What's this spy doing on my phone? Google finds its Waze. Unintended consequences of hands-free devices, and radio killer Pandora buys a radio station.

Windows 8.1, due out this fall, will bring back the Start button, but without the Start menu. Which is right for you -- Google Apps, Zoho, Office 365, Office Suite, or Libre Office? In Short Circuits: Samsung might have out-sold Apple in May, hacking into an Iphone in one minute. and more videos for Amazon Prime members.

Security isn't something that only large commercial websites need. If you're looking for a powerful video editing application at a reasonable price, I have a suggestion. In short circuits: Did Adobe perform any market research before launching Creative Cloud? 2013 looks like the year of the tablet. And Facebook can't find a way to rid itself of hate speech.

If you're planning to give away or sell a computer, hard drive, thumb drive, or any kind of flash memory, here's how to delete your personal data. Ouch! WTOP and Federal News Radio were hit by malware this month. Did it affect you? In Short Circuits: Grilled Apples in Washington, PayPal to be in 2 million stores soon, and lots of changes for online music services.

How to spot obvious clues in even an astonishingly good fraudulent e-mail. A tale of two cities and what happens when a cell phone is stolen. In Short Circuits: Dance to the Google, RIM continues to survive, if nobody has coined the word yet: cybertage, and and an audio note.

A new version of Windows is in the works. Adobe's latest applications won't come in boxes. And in Short Circuits ... Sony reports a profit (yes, this is news), a spammer in the slammer, a senate bill proposes placing a spy watch on suspect nations, and Star Wars on your computer.

Why you might want to download the Lightroom 5 beta version, Ben Long's discussion of lenses could be a challenge to your budget, and in Short Circuits ... Apple and Samsung continue to battle in court; newspaper readership isn't exactly up, but it's declining more slowly because of online readership; and Apple, with $145 billion in cash, borrows money.

Some e-mail programs are versatile; others are usable. After more than a decade, I've switched from versatility to usability. Facebook continues to be a place where scams are rampant. In Short Circuits ... an alarming improvement in malware-laden spam, Twitter needs to establish a security perimeter, and another magazine heads for online only.

What's the easiest way to make your computer faster? No, the answer is no longer "Add RAM." Is Windows 8 causing a slump in PC sales? Not guilty! And in Short Circuits ... Microsoft opens its campaign against Amazon, Oracle says 42 Java security issues have been resolved, and who turned off the Google?

Thinking about buying some fake followers for your Twitter account? Think again! Before buying a tablet computer, consider the total cost of ownership. This week's patch Tuesday brought only a few critcal updates. And in Short Circuits, the IRS appears to be ready to tell tech companies that there is no such thing as a free lunch and you can't roller skate in a buffalo herd.

It isn't just e-mail and websites; fraud is heading your way from every possible location. If you have older programs that won't work on Windows 7 or 8, there might be a way. But sometimes you need to know when it's time to give up. In Short Circuits: Apple apologizes to Chinese consumers but retains the same policies in the US. Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop users will want to download some updates. TechByter Twitters. And Santa Clara leads the way in ubiquitous Wi-Fi thought the power grid.

Electronic versions of magazines cost less to produce but the subscription fee is higher. Why? Files that some large and important companies have put in the cloud turned out not to be protected. State governments are doing better when it comes to providing information about how your tax dollars are spent. In Short Circuits, software that could crash your car, an annoyed spammer nearly takes down the Internet, and good news for readers.