Windows 10 update woes cont'd, Apple's update woes, Amazon Echo Dot

Arrrrgghhhh!  Microsoft, you killing me.

Sorry for the delayed response to my last post about upgrading my desktop to the latest version of Windows 10, Fall Creator's update, version 1709.  If you remember from my last post, after upgrading my PC I was presented with a black screen and flashing cursor with no available solution.  My only recourse after exhaustive searching for a solution was to restore my system to the previous version of Windows 10, version 1703.

Microsoft acknowledged the issue and released a couple of more updates that supposedly addressed the issue so last week I attempted to upgrade my system again.  This time was a complete disaster.  After the upgrade I once again was greeted with black screen and cursor.  Failing to resolve the issue  I tried to revert back to the previous version of Window 10 with no success.  I received a message stating that Windows encountered a problem and was unable to restore my previous version.

Great, right?  My only choices were to perform a recovery keeping my files and documents or recovery losing all my files.  Either way I was going to lose all my programs and settings.  Fortunately all my data/files are on a network drive and were safe.  I pulled the hard drive from my Core i7 desktop and connected it to a Core i5 desktop in hopes of it working there but the same black screen with cursor appeared on the new hardware.

Not wanting to be stuck with a machine that could not be upgraded, I downloaded the latest version Windows 10, Fall Creator's update, v1709, created a  USB boot installation drive and performed a fresh install of  Windows 10 successfully.

Windows 10 will notify you when the Fall Creators Update is available for your device. When the update is ready, you'll be asked to pick a time to install it if you're not ready.  To protect your data be sure to maintain a backup of your critical files in the event that something goes wrong.

If you are uncertain if the upgrade has occurred on PC yet, to check which version you are on please visit the following link,

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/4028685/windows-10-get-the-fall-creators-update

If your computer has already been upgraded your version should be;

The issue with Windows machines is that there are so many available programs and options that no 2 machines are ever alike.  I'm sure there was some program or device driver or some combination of the two that was causing my black screen problem since I was able to successfully perform a clean install on the same hardware.

a bright note in all this, I discovered a free screen snapshot utility, Snip.  It works great and it's free.  Get it at; https://mix.office.com/snip


and don't gloat Apple users...

Apple's had a shockingly bad week of software problems

In the past week a massive security vulnerability was discovered in the latest macOS upgrade.  Anyone with access, either direct or remote could bypass administrator authentication and login without a password.

To make matters worse Apple then released a patch, followed by another upgrade which broke the patch and reintroduced the vulnerability.

https://news.google.com/news/search/section/q/apple%20problems/apple%20problems?hl=en&ned=us

Amazon's Echo Dot and my week with Alexa.

On a good note I purchased an Echo Dot during the Thanksgiving sales and I must say I am very impressed by it.  I interfaced it with my smartphone and in addition to providing me weather, music and news I use it as a speaker phone to place calls.  It is so easy, "Alexa", call so and so and she places the call, the audio is very good.  I tell Alexa to pair with my BlueTooth devices and she accomplishes this with ease.  I am just beginning to explore how Alexa can assist me in automating my house and will try to post updates as I explore the Dot's capability.

I purchased the Dot, regular price $49.95 for $29.95 on sale during the holidays.

https://www.amazon.com/b/?ie=UTF8&node=9818047011&ref_=fs_ods_fs_aucc_cp

This push into home automation is being spear headed by Amazon with Goggle Home trying to play catch up.  Apple is also trying to move into this market but has missed the important holiday season with the release of their HomePod not schedule until 2018.  Of course in true Apple tradition it is priced at $349, much higher than Amazon Echo or Google Home.

https://www.cnet.com/products/apple-homepod/preview/


support your local blogger, buy a computer!  Happy Holidays!

Intel 7th generation processors, faster, smaller and less power hungry.

Intel 7th generation processors, faster, smaller and less power hungry.

How can I tell if my processor is any good?

The gain in speed isn't increasing as fast as it use to but what is happening with the newest generation of Intel processors is that you are finding power previously available only in desktops in smaller form factors.  The new processors smaller size and less power consumption mean they run cooler and battery life is longer.

There are differences within the generations?

I have clients who purchase new computers, especially notebooks and then complain that they are not as fast as they expected.  Intel has marketed their premium chips as Core i3/i5 and i7 since the first generation was introduced in 2009.  However there are differences that you need to know to make an informed purchase.

There have been cheap Intel Pentium chips that were faster than Core i7’s! Intel uses BMW-style branding, where the Core i3, i5 and i7 are marketed as good/better/best. 

Did you know that a Core i3-6100 (6th Gen) processor is faster than certain Core i5 chips.  It has become difficult to discern which is the best processor and which gives the most bang for your buck.  This is because of the confusion Intel created when branding their Core i3/i5/i7s in 2009 when first introduced.

Intel introduces variances of the same chip.  The newest, fastest Gen 7 processor use 15 watts of power.  In 2014 Intel introduced a new family of processor called the Core M.  This chip was supposed to bridge the gap between the power Core processors and the Atom processors which were good for battery life.  The Core M processor was not a success in the PC notebook market.  However Apple used it in the MacBook lineup which is the only reason for its survival today.

Unfortunately, with Kaby Lake (7th Gen), Intel changed its naming system by putting a Y in some chip numbers. The Core m5 became the Core i5-7Y54 and the Core m7 became the Core i7-7Y75. People who may think they are getting a full-power 15W Core chip will in fact be getting a slower 4.5W Core M. Caveat emptor.

The second-gen Core i5-2500 in my 2011-vintage desktop PC is still faster than most current Intel chips, but it runs at 95W. It’s slightly slower than a brand new Core i7-7600U, but that runs at only 15W.

The new Intel processor have 20% better performance than the previous generation, but you must choose wisely when making the purchase decision.

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/processors/core/core-i7-processor.html

All-New Experiences for Every Customer No matter the need, 7th Gen Intel® Core™ processors have the power to deliver. Content creators can achieve unprecedented levels of productivity with 5.5X faster 4K 360 video creation. Gamers can broadcast and maneuver seamlessly in worlds built by 3X faster graphics performance. Business users can roam freely and productively with 9.5 hours of battery life on new laptops.

Apple's iPhone turns 10. Where does it go from here?

Apple's iPhone turns 10. Where does it go from here?

It's been 10 years (actually June 29th) since Apple went into the phone business with it's revolutionary iPhone, destroying Blackberry's dominance and changing the way we watch entertainment, surf the web, socialize and do business.

Lots of competitors have jumped into the fray and introduced their own phones on an assortment of platforms, notably Android.  However the iPhone remains the standard that most strive to achieve.

https://www.cnet.com/news/apples-iphone-turns-10-where-does-it-go-from-here/?ftag=CAD1acfa04&bhid=21042726186831923270015874178287


Not everyone was a fan however.  This review from the AJC Business section, June 2007.  (previously published 11/17/15, dforceatl.blogspot.com 

iPhone, a crappy device?

The iPhone was introduced in the U.S. on June 29, 2007 to much fanfare but not everyone was impressed.  An article in the AJC Atlanta Journal Constitution opined that it was too trendy and consumer would not shell out the dough for the pricey novelty.  LOL, see below.

Another article that questioned if the iPhone was a crappy device quote Jon Stewart of Comedy Central fame who said on his show, “Why? That’s my question. You just end up with a crappy phone and a crappy camera.”

http://ries.typepad.com/ries_blog/2007/06/is_the_iphone_t.html

Intel's new 7th Generation Core processors deliver up to 12 percent faster productivity performance and up to 19 percent faster web performance over our previous generation from just a year ago.

https://newsroom.intel.com/editorials/new-7th-gen-intel-core-processor-built-immersive-internet/

Apple announces new Desktops on the way, Windows 10: The 10 biggest controversies and surprises in 2016.

Tim Cook says 'great desktops' are on the way for Apple

The death of the desktop computer has been touted for a number of years now with many people using tablets and smartphones for surfing the internet and email.  However for serious work you cannot accomplish (at least efficiently) the amount of work and creativity that you can with a desktop.  Now with iPad sales flagging Apple's Tim Cook recently told employees that new desktops are in Apple's future.  Read full article at following link;

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/tim-cook-says-great-desktops-are-on-the-way-for-apple/?ftag=TREb82e1fa&bhid=2219791

https://www.onsparks.com/flagging-ipad-sales-may-continue/


Windows 10: The 10 biggest controversies & surprises in 2016

Microsoft flagship OS has generated it's share of user backlash.  Some of the things Redmond has been accused of is tricking Windows 7 and 8 users into upgrading to Windows 10, forced updates, OS bugs and more bugs, spying on users.

Users who wanted to stick with Windows 7 & 8 were disappointed when they learned the legacy OSs would not be supported on new AMD and Intel processors.

Read more at;

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/windows-10-the-10-biggest-controversies-and-surprises-in-2016/?ftag=TREe09998f&bhid=2219791


Locky ransomware: How this malware menace evolved in just 12 months

As soon as Security companies add detection for known malware to their software and devices, the bad guys update their payload with new features to evade detection.  The Locky ransomware has received multiple updates in the past year.  Security company Check Point said that Locky is the second most prevalent malware worldwide and that several different groups customize the malware so there are multiple versions in use.  Read the article at;

http://www.zdnet.com/article/locky-ransomware-how-this-malware-menace-evolved-in-just-12-months/?loc=newsletter_large_thumb_related&ftag=TRE0fb9d06&bhid=2219791

http://www.zdnet.com/article/the-cost-of-ransomware-attacks-1-billion-this-year/



New 6th generation PCs available from DFS-Driving Force Software

Intel 7th Generation Notebooks