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Free first aid for a wide range of Windows ills

Free first aid for a wide range of Windows ills

June 14, 2015 | Comments Off on Free first aid for a wide range of Windows ills

Fred Langa

By Fred Langa on June 11, 2015

Did you know that Microsoft offers over 500 automated, online solutions for common problems you might encounter with Windows software and hardware?

And that’s on top of the dozens of always-available troubleshooting tools built into Windows 7 and Windows 8.

I’m sure most Windows users are unaware of the breadth and depth of fix-it apps and troubleshooters available for free from Microsoft. As the LangaList Plus columnist, I thought I was on top of that topic. But even I had no idea that there are now over 500 solutions at our fingertips. Wow!

Full article in Windows Secrets Newsletter

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Microsoft Scam Mail Sample

Microsoft Scam Mail Sample

June 5, 2015 | Comments Off on Microsoft Scam Mail Sample

Actual scam mail received by one of our staff

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Crawford County recognized for planning for broadband communication

Crawford County recognized for planning for broadband communication

June 5, 2015 | Comments Off on Crawford County recognized for planning for broadband communication

Avalanche

by Dan Sanderson-Staff Writer

Wednesday, June 3, 2015 9:55 AM EDT

Antennas on existing towers and tall structures, medium sized towers and more fiber optic cable could be coming to Crawford County to enhance access to broadband technology to assist with economic development, tourism and personal use.

Connect Michigan recognized Crawford County last week as a connected community for adopting a technology plan for increased access to broadband communication. The county was the 14th in the State of Michigan and 50th in the nation to obtain the certification.

As the designated entity for broadband mapping and planning in the state of Michigan, Connect Michigan is a public-private partnership formed between the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) and Connected Nation to work with local governments, businesses and citizens with the goal of increasing broadband service in the state’s underserved areas.

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Windows 10 Pre-registration Icon

Windows 10 Pre-registration Icon

June 5, 2015 | Comments Off on Windows 10 Pre-registration Icon

The Ghost Icon of Windows 10

Ghost_Icon_Screenshot

What in the world is this ghostly icon doing in my Launch Tray?

That is the question that millions of Windows users are asking themselves and Ed Rudel has the answer.  During the first hour of our podcast Ed is going to explain what this icon stands for, how it got there ane what that means for your computer.

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Thunderbolt 3 – One Port to Rule Them All

Thunderbolt 3 – One Port to Rule Them All

June 2, 2015 | Comments Off on Thunderbolt 3 – One Port to Rule Them All

CNET  by   June 2, 2015 12:01 AM PDT

TAIPEI — At Intel’s keynote address for Computex 2015 here, Kirk Skaugen, the chip maker’s senior vice president and general manager of the Client Computing Group, announced that Thunderbolt 3 is set to unify ports with the latest USB Type-C standard.

When built into a computer, the new Thunderbolt 3 acts as a “superset” host for USB 3.1 (at full 10Gbps speed), DisplayPort 1.2, PCI Express Gen 3 and its own Thunderbolt standard.

The USB Type-C connector.James Martin/CNET

 

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Royal Oak, MI Creates a Smart Park

Royal Oak, MI Creates a Smart Park

May 19, 2015 | Comments Off on Royal Oak, MI Creates a Smart Park

By Mike McConnell, mike.mcconnell@dailytribune.com, @mmcconnell01 on Twitter

POSTED:

Royal Oak has kicked off a crowdfunding effort to raise money to build a small “smart park” in a pedestrian plaza next to a downtown parking deck with public WiFi, solar-powered digital charging stations, covered bike parking, a children’s area and more.

The city’s Downtown Development Authority and the head of the annual Arts. Beats & Eats event have already contributed $10,000 each. Donations to the park can be made online at rosmartpark.com.

Royal Oak needs to raise $60,000 by the time the campaign ends June 16 in order to qualify for a matching grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. That would raise a total of $120,000 to build the park.

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Manage your passwords for free with Norton Identity Safe

Manage your passwords for free with Norton Identity Safe

May 18, 2015 | Comments Off on Manage your passwords for free with Norton Identity Safe

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rick broidaAs I’ve said many times before, a password manager is an absolutely essential tool. That’s why I routinely share deals on products like LastPass and RoboForm Everywhere.

Although many of them offer freebie versions, those are usually limited to a desktop client, with no syncing with the Web or mobile apps. And, trust me, syncing is something you really want. I can’t tell you how often I end up needing a password or other personal info when I’m out and about.

Typically you have to pay $20 to $40 per year for the privilege, but there’s an often-overlooked gem that will cost you nothing:Norton Identity Safe. Though once part of Norton’s paid security-suite offerings, this password manager is now a standalone product — and a free one at that.

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Emily Hay Wins Vanguard Award

Emily Hay Wins Vanguard Award

May 16, 2015 | Comments Off on Emily Hay Wins Vanguard Award

Emily award
L-R Keith Famie, Marilyn Trent, Denise Illich and Emily Hay

Our social media expert, Emily Hay was honored by the Detroit Chapter of Women in Communication for “innovatively using a communications medium during the past year.”  She shared the honors with famous chef Keith Famie and Marilyn Trent of Trent Creative.

Emily Hay of Hay There Social Media will be recognized with a Vanguard Award for innovatively using a communications medium during the past year. Hay is founder of Hay There Social Media and TweetTeam™, delivering social media marketing services to a variety consumer-focused clients. She also is the co-creator of “Saving Face for Parents and Schools,” an online video program helping parents and educators coach tweens to become smart digital citizens. A Birmingham resident, Hay is a public speaker, social media contributor to the Internet Advisor show on WJR 760 AM and a contributing professional on “Live in the D” airing on WDIV/NBC Detroit. She was named one of “30 in their 30s” by DBusiness magazine and one of “52 Empowering Women of 2013” by the WooHoo Radio Network. Hay is a volunteer with Challenge Detroit and a partner at Cornerstone Schools.

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4 new things we learned about Windows 10 from Microsoft Build 2015 – CNET

4 new things we learned about Windows 10 from Microsoft Build 2015 – CNET

May 4, 2015 | Comments Off on 4 new things we learned about Windows 10 from Microsoft Build 2015 – CNET

by   @jparkerCNET /April 29, 2015 11:18 AM PDT

As expected, Windows 10 got some face time at Microsoft’s Build 2015 event in San Francisco, and Joe Belfiore took the stage to go over several of its newest features.

Belfiore brought attention early to how Windows 10 is bringing back the Aero Glass theme fromWindows 7, showing that good ideas from the past have not been forgotten.

But what received a greater crowd reaction was the updated Windows 10 version of the Start menu. Removed in Windows 8, the new OS will bring back the Start Menu in the lower left corner, but will also show live tiles to the right of the regular functions as a way to keep both interfaces intact.

A new function dubbed Windows Spotlight gives your lock screen a dynamic, regularly updated background with personalized information and fancy wallpaper images. You can interact with elements in the background and it works as a reminder for Windows services you may not have tried. For example, Spotlight will identify apps and features you haven’t used yet, such as the Surface stylus, and offer up a lock screen advertisement of sorts for an app such …


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Tesla Powerwall: Game-changing batteries for homes and businesses, starting at $3,000

Tesla Powerwall: Game-changing batteries for homes and businesses, starting at $3,000

May 4, 2015 | Comments Off on Tesla Powerwall: Game-changing batteries for homes and businesses, starting at $3,000

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Michael Graham Richard (@Michael_GR) Technology / Clean Technology
May 1, 2015

Launching Tesla Energy

One of the main challenges of running a power grid is that supply and demand have to be in balance at all times. This means that electricity has to be consumed when it is generated. This makes it harder to integrate sources of energy over which you don’t have control, such as wind and solar power. What if there’s a high demand for electricity but the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining? What if it’s a sunny and windy day and supply far exceeds demand?

That’s the problem that having more energy storage connected to the power grid could solve.

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