Not much going on out there today. Hope y’all have a great weekend!
[Read more…] about Friday Random Stuff…
Thursday Random Stuff…
≥ EVO?
Western Digital has a new SSD that reviewers are raving over. Anandtech says the “EVO Meets Its Match“.
“The MSRPs for the WD Black roughly match current street prices for the Samsung 960 EVO, which is exactly what the WD Black should be competing against. Neither drive has a clear overall performance advantage in the 1TB capacity we’ve analyzed with this review, though the WD Black has a modest power efficiency advantage (our idle power problems notwithstanding).”
Good to see competition but with no clear advantage and similar price points, why should I switch?
Cellphone Spying
Someone is intercepting cellphone communications around DC. Homeland Security “said it had not determined the type of devices in use or who might have been operating them. Nor did it say how many it detected or where…DHS official Christopher Krebs noted that DHS had observed “anomalous activity” consistent with Stingrays in the Washington area.”
That Thing I Said I Wasn’t Gonna Talk About
Kinda hard to keep my yap shut. So much news, and the CEO is gonna get grilled by Congress. Well, unless he threatens to show their IMs to their significant others.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
RPG for your phone coming April 25th.
Harry Potter: Hogwarts Mystery
Win10 SCU Is Out Next Week
Windows 10 Spring Creators Update is going to be released next week.
In My Humble Opinion:
– There is no reason to upgrade within 30 days of release. (Or at least until the following Patch Tuesday.)
– There are no new features worth upgrading for.
You can stick with the current release you are on and still get updates for at least 18 months:
1709 (Fall Creators Update) Expires April 9, 2109
1703 (Creators Update) Expires October 9, 2018
1607 (Anniversary Update) Expires April 10, 2018
I recommend blocking/delaying feature updates:
– You need to be running Win10 Pro, Enterprise, or Education.
There is no way to stop a feature update in Win10 Home without stopping security updates. You can officially upgrade from Home to Pro for $99 but there are MUCH, MUCH cheaper legit keys to be had out there. If you can’t find them, email me.
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced options
Optional – Use the > Semi-Annual Channel ( NOT Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted) )
This channel used to be Current Branch for Business. This delays feature updates until they are ready for business, i.e. all the bugs are worked out. This was about 3 months for FCU (approx. Oct 17 – Jan. 11).
Go to Settings > Update & Security > Advanced options >
In the box under A feature update includes new capabilities and improvements. It can be deferred for this many days:
Change days to desired amount. I recommend at least 31 but since SCU offers me nothing then up to 365 will not hurt. You can re-evaluate when the next feature update comes out and it looks to be a big one.
Intel Isn’t Going To Patch Your Old CPU
Intel has microcode patches available for newer CPUs.
They are not going to patch: Bloomfield, Clarksfield, Gulftown, Penryn, Wolfdale, Yorkfield…
AFAICS this is basically Intel Core 2 through the early i5/7 and the Xeons from those eras.
Intel – Microcode Revision Guidance, April 2, 2018 (PDF)
Windows Defender Vulnerability
I’m in front of the boob tube last night and I get this email entitled “Microsoft Security Update Releases” (full email posted below).
CVE-2018-0986 | Microsoft Malware Protection Engine Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
The gist of the alert is that all versions of Windows Defender have a vulnerability.
If Windows Defender scans an infected file then a hacker could own your system.
Rephrased…
If the product that is supposed to protect your system just SCANS a bad file you could be OWNED.
Fortunately this has been patched. Windows Defender should update automatically but you can force an update.
Press the Windows + R keys > copy paste the following: “%ProgramFiles%\Windows Defender\MSASCui.exe” -Update
[Read more…] about Windows Defender Vulnerability
Richard Stallman On Privacy
Legendary Geek Richard Stallman has A radical proposal to keep your personal data safe.
His proposal is that collection of personal data by entities both public and private needs to stop. I agree wholeheartedly.
Desktop Market Share Last Month
Net Market Share – Operating System Share by Version – March 20018
Windows 7 43.44%
Windows 10 33.83%
Windows 8.1 5.46%
Mac OS X 10.13 4.60%
Windows XP 4.59%
Mac OS X 10.12 1.88%
Mac OS X 10.11 1.27%
Linux 1.24%
Windows 8 1.14%
Mac OS X 10.10 0.77%
Monday Random Stuff…
New DNS Service
This story is all over the WWW as are the opinions of the service. Don’t skip this one y’all. IMHO essential reading.
“Cloudflare’s mission is to help build a better Internet. We’re excited today to take another step toward that mission with the launch of 1.1.1.1 — the Internet’s fastest, privacy-first consumer DNS service. This post will talk a little about what that is and a lot about why we decided to do it.”
I tried it for a little bit. Didn’t notices a bit of difference in speed. Don’t know if I will use it or not so I’m in wait-and-see mode.
iVerge – Cloudflare launches 1.1.1.1 DNS service that will speed up your internet
The Naughty List
Ranked – Tech Companies That Won’t Delete Your Information
Anyone out there use LinkedIn?
Thurrrott On Win10 SCU
“it was only a matter of time before Microsoft stopped pummeling users with so much change. And Windows 10 version 1803, thankfully, is that release…
There’s only one major new feature to speak of, called Timeline…it’s unlikely that most users will even find it…
new look and feel is more prevalent throughout the system now, giving Windows a more modern look…
Windows 10 version 1803 should begin deploying to end-user PCs on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more.”
Th-th-th-that’s all, folks!
Woody On Windows Crappy Week
“I can recall lots of bad Windows patches over the past couple of decades, but I’d be hard-pressed to come up with any that approach this year’s phalanx of Windows 7 screw-ups. It’s as if Microsoft doesn’t care about old multi-billion-dollar businesses.
For now, I continue to recommend that individuals stay put and don’t install any of the March patches.”
I’m not entirely sure Woody and I aren’t related.
Facebook News
I’m sure we are all tired of it. I’m out (at least for the time being). If you haven’t gotten the message by now then you never will.
Off Topic
Han Solo Sneakers?
Han Solo Sneakers!
Cool but at over $100 shipped it is little too much money for me. Drop it to about $70 delivered and I would jump on it.
Do You Watch Professional Sports?
A new poll entitled Interest in Baseball Declines says, “The proportion of Americans who say they are baseball fans matches its lowest in nearly ten years.” The results of the entire poll are interesting.
Other sports:
NFL viewership down by as much as 18%
(I didn’t watch much because my teams suck.)
NBA viewership up by as much as 18%
(I haven’t watched an NBA game since Jordan retired the 1st time.)
NHL viewership seems to be down by as much as 20%
(2016-2017. I can’t seem to find current stats.)
NASCAR down
(For me the sport died February 18, 2001.)
Soccer down too.
(I don’t watch it.)
Related article: Sports media year in review: a troubling trend for ratings
Weekend Random Stuff…
Updated April 1, 2018, 08:30(EDT) – added a few links
Intel SSD Toolbox 3.5.2
Download | Release Notes
Where Ya Been CNN?
CNN just discovered what we Geeks have known for years about Microsoft. To quote myself,
“The philosophy has become cloud first, mobile first, subscription-based twaddle.”
GET OFF OF FACEBOOK
As the (unscientific) poll stands now around 70% of the respondents aren’t on Facebook with another 13% leaving.
You guys are truly the best of the best of the best!
As for Fbook, the bad news continues:
Well, These New Zuckerberg IMs Won’t Help Facebook’s Privacy Problems
Growth At Any Cost: Top Facebook Executive Defended Data Collection In 2016 Memo — And Warned That Facebook Could Get People Killed
Report: Facebook Staff Suddenly Concerned About Privacy, Specifically Theirs
Americans are losing trust in Facebook — here’s why they’ll keep using it anyway
Etc.
‘He Broke Boundaries With His Mind’: Public Pays Tribute At Stephen Hawking’s Funeral
Thursday Random Stuff…
Terry Myerson Out
Microsoft’s head of Windows is done. The only reasons I see given right now are speculation though most if it suggests he was asked to leave. I know almost nothing about him personally so I’ve no opinion on the man. As the head of Windows however…
One comment I saw said it perfectly re Myerson’s departure, “Rearranging chairs on the Titanic.” Microsoft, or at least the Windows for PCs part, has been headed in the wrong direction since Windows 7. The philosophy has become cloud first, mobile first, subscription-based twaddle. IMHO there are many people within the Microsoft hierarchy that need to go. Starting at the top.
Mp3tag 2.87 Released
Download | Release Announcment
It’s Opening Day
MLB is back. The Detroit Tigers game got postponed so I’m gonna watch my homeboy, World Series Champion, and Kates’s hubby Justin Verlander on the mound.