Internet Browsers, MS Edge, Google Chrome's new User Interface UGLY, Bent iPads and lower iPhone sales

Microsoft Edge Retains Its Battery Life Advantage in Windows 10 Version 1809

I had never really thought about this much but in this day of online streaming, if one is using a notebook or tablet, Microsoft's Edge browser has a 24 percent battery life advantage over Chrome and 94 percent advantage over Firefox when streaming HTML5 video in full screen.

On average, Microsoft Edge provided a 24 percent battery life advantage over Google Chrome and a 94 percent advantage over Firefox. Edge lasted over 16 hours on average, compared to almost 13 hours for Chrome and 8 hours and 16 minutes for Firefox.

As reported previously on this blog, Microsoft is switching the underlying code for Edge to Chromium, an open source engine from Google.  Why Microsoft never touted this Edge advantage before I can't say.  It will be interesting to see if the advantage persists after the switch to Chromium.  Microsoft is making the switch to Chromium because of the large number of add-ons available for Chrome and lack of add-ons or interest in writing add-ons for Edge.

https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/196141/microsoft-edge-retains-its-battery-life-advantage-in-windows-10-version-1809

and while we are talking browsers...

Google Chrome's new UI is ugly, and people are very angry
The new UI is trash, users say.

Anytime you start changing things most people don't like it.  Let's face it, people don't like change.  Microsoft hopefully learned a lesson from Windows 8.  People couldn't get things done because of the difficulty Windows users had in learning the new user interface.

Now Google apparently learned nothing from Microsoft's mistake.  Starting back in September with Chrome version 69, a new user interface was rolled out with mobile devices in mind.  Some users voiced their discontent with the interface so Chrome allowed an option to modify a setting and continue to use the older user interface.  The new version, 71 released earlier this month has removed that option.  The lighter color and rounded tabs are difficult to distinguish on laptops and desktops especially when using multiple tabs.  The ability to mute websites has also disappeared with the new version.

The change has prompted a social media storm on sites like Reddit and Twitter with complaints being legitimate and no sympathy from Google engineers who have stepped in on the sites and told users to switch to other browsers.  Wow!

https://www.zdnet.com/article/google-chromes-new-ui-is-ugly-and-people-are-very-angry/

Apple's gaslighting over bent iPads is a stunning response to a serious problem

Starting in mid-December, people started complaining that their new iPad Pros were bent.  Photos started circulating online that clearly showed one side of the iPad perceptively higher than the other when lying on a flat surface and you know what?  Apple has announced that it isn't going to repair, replace or reimburse for affected models.

Apple wants you to believe that this iPad is normal.

https://www.macworld.com/article/3330576/apple/apples-gaslighting-ipad-pro.html

Massive iPhone Discounts Continue As Apple Risks Status For Sales

The days of Apple being able to dictate the price to consumers may be over.  Hell, I predicted a $2000 iPhone in an earlier blog.  Apparently, that's not going to be the case since Apple's latest models are not selling.  The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max are being discounted in the UK and the US and that practice is now spreading to other territories.

Analysts watching the supply line, the earnings reports from parts suppliers, and consumer reaction and interactions, are all estimating lower sales for this generation of iPhone.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ewanspence/2018/12/26/apple-iphone-xr-iphone-xs-iphone-xs-max-sale-discount-bargain/#6e50463344dc

and finally,

Apple may start building the iPhone XS and XR in India next year

Apple controls 13 percent of the smartphone marke worldwide, however, in India it's share is only 2 percent selling fewer than a million devices in the first half of 2018.

https://www.engadget.com/2018/12/27/apple-iphone-x-assembled-in-india-2019/

Intel Generation 8 and 9 based computers

Buy a new Driving Force Computer before Year End for Tax year 2018.

 

Report: Microsoft Will Scrap Edge for Chromium-Based Browser

Microsoft's Edge browser which was meant to supplant Internet Explorer as the default built-in browser in Windows 10 is in for a major overhaul.  While very innovative with new features, Microsoft tried to push it on users by making it not only the default browser but the default for documents, PDFs and many other applications that users did not want.  The final death knell for Edge 1.0 was the dearth of extensions (add-ons) for Edge.  Extensions are small add-ons that bring extra features, such as adblocking, VPN, password management and more.  While Edge did have some extensions available the number is small when compared to Chrome.  Many developers ignored Edge and concentrated on Chrome due to its popularity.

Microsoft plans to recreate Edge using Chromium.  Chromium is the open source project behind Google Chrome and Chrome OS.  This will allow Edge to use Chromium extensions.

Given Google's demonstrably shown penchant toward censorship of information available based upon its own beliefs and biases, is this a good thing?  Google's attempt to move into the Chinese market has led to bending to the whim of the Chinese government.  The search engine being developed for use in China allows for restrictive access to information and the ability of the government to track individuals locations and searches.  Some Chinese Google employees are raising alarm bells risking the ire of higher-ups and job security.

Is this who you trust to keep your info safe?

https://www.extremetech.com/internet/281715-report-microsoft-to-scrap-edge-for-chromium-based-browser

https://www.techradar.com/news/microsoft-confirms-edge-will-be-able-to-use-google-chrome-extensions

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/sep/18/google-china-dragonfly-search-engine

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/exclusive-3-chinese-google-employees-202114194.html

Browser Alternatives and the future of Internet Explorer

On my desktop I use Edge, IE, Chrome and Firefox.  I use them all since I have to maintain multiple sessions of Office 365, LogMeIn and other programs concurrently which preempts multiple logins within the same browser.  I use Internet Explorer a lot because of compatibility issues with some websites.  I use Chrome because of the balkiness and performance issues with IE and I use Firefox more often than I use to because of Google's privacy issues and upper management's continued contempt and arrogance on certain issues.

Originally Microsoft committed to continued support of Internet 11 throughout the life of Windows 10.  However Microsoft has not hidden its attempt to push users toward Edge and even if Microsoft continues with security patches, I don't believe it will continue to add improvements or features found in Edge and other browsers.

Opera browser - https://www.opera.com/

Firefox by Mozilla - https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=firefox-com

Facebook has its own issues.

Facebook too is under increased pressure about how it uses information collected by tracking you.  Did you know that before Facebook, Mark Zuckerburg originally wrote FaceMash which purpose was to rank women at Harvard?  FaceMash would pull photos of Harvard students off of Harvard's Web sites.  When people visited Facemash.com they would see pictures of two Harvard students and be asked to vote on which was more attractive. The site also maintained a list of Harvard students, ranked by attractiveness.

In the fall of 2003, Harvard seniors Cameron Winklevoss, Tyler Winklevoss, and Divya Narendra were on the lookout for a web developer who could bring to life an idea the three say Divya first had in 2002: a social network for Harvard students and alumni. The three had been paying Victor Gao, another Harvard student, to do coding for the site, but at the beginning of the fall term Victor begged off the project. Victor suggested his own replacement: Mark Zuckerberg, a Harvard sophomore from Dobbs Ferry, New York.

The rest is history and the remake of the future.

https://www.businessinsider.com/how-facebook-was-founded-2010-3

Doom: 25 years of a gaming legend

Hard to believe it has been 25 years since the release of Doom.  I had been playing Star Wars and Wolfenstein, another ID software 1st person shooter game about infiltrating Hitler's castle full of Nazi, SS soldiers and shooting them up.  That was in the day of Novell networks, 386 and 486 computers.  Enter Doom... after the 3rd time of being destroyed by the fireball throwing Imps of Doom I had to kick back, tell myself "relax"  it's only a game, WOW!  We were entertaining a friend's you son Chase that day.  Chase was only about 5 but he stayed in the office with me while I was on the computer.  Come here, watch this Chase I said...  I started another Doom episode and when I rounded the corner and the hellish Imps appeared throwing fireballs quickly killing my character.  I exclaimed, you see that Chase?!!!  I turned around, Chase was gone, hahaha!  25 years ago.

I recently got an update on Chase.  He is into the gaming industry and is now being paid to play and evaluate games.  Wow again.

https://www.techradar.com/news/gaming/doom-20-years-of-influencing-gaming-1205980

INTEL Gaming Systems by Driving Force

beginning with the Generation 8 processors, Intel unveiled a new design for Desktop processors including more cores, threads, and features not found or supported with prior generations.  These processors, platforms coupled with Intel Optane memory offer unparalleled performance compared with prior offerings.

read this comment from a satisfied customer using an entry level Intel Core i3 8300,

12-10-18, J.Griffin:  Man!! My computer is so fast , THANK YOU!!  and I put a new roller in my scanner and it’s scanning multiple pages again. Feels like Christmas!! 😊

Now the ultimate platforms for gaming and graphics featuring Intel Gen 9  Core i5, i7 and the most powerful desktop processor ever, Intel Core i9 9900K.

Too late for some users but finally something is being done about the fake Tech Support scammers online.  Microsoft is on the attack!

Maybe you've encountered these warnings before.  You are in the middle of searching for content online, allegedly legit links off Google News and a pop-up warning that your computer is infected.  You need to call a 1-800 number for help.  I've seen these warning and often I have to use Task Manager to kill the process.  I also know of some users who fell victim to these underhanded tactics.  Microsoft will never contact you directly about internet or email issues, however, Microsoft is proactively working against these malicious operators.  In fact, Microsoft brought down the Russian "Fancy Bear" plot to attack the midterm elections.  You go Microsoft!

After Microsoft complaints, Indian police arrest tech support scammers at 26 call centers

Indian police raid 26 call centers, make 63 arrests

https://www.zdnet.com/article/after-microsoft-complaints-indian-police-arrest-tech-support-scammers-at-26-call-centers/

Get ready Microsoft Office users, Office 2019 is just around the corner and Microsoft is redesigning the icons.

If you don't have a subscription to Office 365, why not?  I don't understand the resistance of some users to buy the subscription model of the software.  Now I have clients who harbor an extreme disdain for Bill Gates and all things Microsoft but they still use Microsoft Office over the myriad of imitators and alternative office suites.

When you purchase the "I own forever version", you are limited to 1 machine and never receive any new versions.  However, if you have the Office 365 subscription, you are allowed to install it on up to 5 devices (business) or share with 6 users (home version) and as long as your subscription is current you will always receive the latest version of Microsoft Office!

The monthly subscription is cheaper than hosted email in some cases.  Home users can purchase all the premium applications for $99.99/year for 6 users.  If you are really miserly and live alone with 1 computer, $69.99/year.  There is always the Office Home and Student 2019 edition for $149.99, one-time purchase, 1 device, no updates.

Backup:  if you are paying for a backup service or do not have a backup, the OneDrive application provides 1 TB of cloud space.  Once installed OneDrive synchronizes everything in the OneDrive folder on your computer with the cloud.  OneDrive can store multiple versions of the same document in the event of a crypto attack or if a user overwrites critical information accidentally.  In addition, when traveling you can access your data via the Office portal from any computer in the world.

If all the above doesn't convince you then you will want to hear this.  It used to be that when a new version of Office came out it was way superior to the previous version.  That is no longer true for the one time buyer.

"Office 2019 is considerably less powerful than Office 365. There’s nothing new in Office 2019 that hasn’t already been available for quite some time to millions of Office 365 subscribers (the company says it has more than 31 million subscribers to consumer editions), and in fact, Microsoft left several features out of Office 2019 that it had introduced in Office 365 over the past few years."

Only Office 365 subscription users get all the enhancements.

Oh, and by the way, they're changing the icons too!

https://www.computerworld.com/article/3261024/microsoft-office/review-office-2019-is-the-best-advertisement-yet-for-office-365.html

Office 365 for business.

The subscriptions available for business come in 3 flavors on a per-user basis start at $5.00/user/month for business email, $8.25/month for Office applications only to $12.50/month for businesses that need email, Office apps, and other business services.

Driving Force is a CSP, Cloud Solution Provider.  We can provide help and guidance in making your decision and afterward assist in the implementation of your Office 365 experience.  Call us at 404-728-0353 or contact us at DForce.

https://products.office.com/en-us/compare-all-microsoft-office-products?tab=2

AD-(shameless plug.)

Intel introduces Generation 9 CPUs including the most powerful desktop processor yet, Core i9 9900K.

I have clients who contact tech support at a name brand computer maker and after hashing out their latest technical glitch are told, "find yourself a good system builder".  Don't buy a computer that is no longer performing as expected after 6 months.  Buy a custom system with quality, high-performance components.

https://cpu.userbenchmark.com/Compare/Intel-Core-i7-9700K-vs-Intel-Core-i7-8700K/4030vs3937