TweakHound

Computer stuff...

Eric (a.k.a. TweakHound)

Thursday Random Stuff…

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Must Read: Online Trackers Follow Our Digital Shadow By ‘Fingerprinting’ Browsers, Devices
Not kidding. This is a must read. Read it twice, pass it along.
FYI – I use Privacy Badger as mentioned in the article.

Google Chrome 53.0.2785.143
“The stable channel has been updated to 53.0.2785.143 for Windows, Mac, and Linux. This will roll out over the coming days/weeks… This update includes 3 security fixes.”
Download

7-Zip 16.03
7-Zip is a free file archiver with a high compression ratio.
What’s new after 7-Zip 16.02:
– Installer and SFX modules now use some protection against DLL preloading attack.
– Some bugs were fixed in 7z, NSIS, SquashFS and RAR5 code.
Download and info (be sure to download the right one x86/x64)
[Read more…] about Thursday Random Stuff…

SanDisk Clip Sport “Review”

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I only use a standalone MP3 player for working out. I’ve had an iPod Nano for some time. Nothing particularly wrong with except it is Apple and if you know me, well…
One minor annoyance is I have to keep the Nano in my pocket as the clip just doesn’t seem to do well, especially on thick edges of clothing (sweatpants and shorts). Don’t get me wrong. As much as I hate to admit it this Nano has been good to me. Especially when you factor in I got it for free. I think this was Apples best MP3 player.
I have a 6th generation iPod Nano. It was a freebie replacement for a long dead 1st generation Nano that was recalled.
So I’m midway through a hard back workout, arms shaking, trying to dig the Nano out of my pocket. That’s when I decided to look for something else.
After due consideration I decided on a SanDisk Clip Sport 8GB. I paid $37 for it on sale last week.
As a reference. The 6th gen Nano can still be had with prices ranging from $22 to a whopping $180, all used or refurb.
[Read more…] about SanDisk Clip Sport “Review”

HP and DRM

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Shortly after I posted I Love HP Printers this issue came to light:
HP printers start rejecting budget ink cartridges (BBC)
“Large numbers of HP printer owners found their printers stopped recognising unofficial printer ink cartridges on 13 September.”
Basically HP purposely time-bombed/limited/eliminated the use of 3rd party ink.
Unethical but unsurprising behavior.
EFF.org has more info and a petition over this matter: Tell HP — Say No to DRM

The Future Of Windows. Are You In?

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At Microsoft, this transformation is currently happening in a few different areas, with agents like Cortana, applications like SwiftKey and Office 365, and developer tools and platforms like the Cortana Intelligence Suite and the Azure cloud computing platform.
As for agents, Nadella noted that the ambition here is to create an intelligent assistant that “can take text input, can take speech input, that knows your deeply. It knows your context, your family, your work. It knows about the world.” He also stressed that this agent will have to be unbounded and available on every platform and in every application — even those not controlled by Microsoft.

TC – Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella on how AI will transform his company
No thanks.

Work Has Begun

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I’ve started work on the AnniUpdate edition of the Win1o tweak Guide. The first step is to figure out what is new (aside from the usual fixes and improvements).
This sites focus was, is, and will continue to be on desktop / laptop users. When it comes to Windows 10 I do not use, nor do I care about “mobile” be it a phone or tablet.
So with that in mind, let’s look at AnniUpdates new features.
Sticky notes – Seriously? You understand that Windows Vista and 7 had that as a Windows Gadget right?
Microsoft Edge extensions – I would have to actually use Edge to care (I don’t even use IE.) But OK.
Improvenents to XYZ… – Congrats on trying to make your product work as it should, or heaven forbid make it marginally useful (Defender/Hello/Edge)
Cortana improvements – There isn’t a single feature in the history of Windows I despise more. Go away already.
Cortana integration with Cortana phone app – Almost no one uses Windows phone (market share below 1%). Why in the name of all that is Geeky would you use cortana on Android or iPhone?
Bash shell – Why?
Dark Theme – We Geeks already had it although official support has brought some needed tweaks.
Start menu changed – There are countless useful start menu replacements. My favs are Start10 and Classic Start.
Action Center changes – Oh you mean it is finally becoming marginally useful and I don’t have to use both the Action Center and Control Panel to adjust settings? Like maybe UAC or Network and Sharing??? (Not!)
Notification badges – Well at least it isn’t a popup, and you can turn it off.
Wi-Fi Sense gone – Good riddance. Moronic idea anyway.
Network Status – Go to Settings > Network & Internet > Status. Great stuff here!

OK everyone help me out. What am I missing?

Weekend Random Stuff…

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Subscribe To Websites
I’ve never subscribed to a website before. But, I recognize the sites I go to have to pay the bills. With that in mind I just subscribed to Thurrott Premium.
Anyone else out there subscribe to a website? Worth it or no?

iVerge
I’ve called The Verge “iVerge” for some time. I’ve always felt that many people over there had a bias favoring Apple, so have many other people. Although iVerge continues to deny that any bias exists I find this article interesting
iVerge – A note from the editor-in-chief about Chris Ziegler
“Chris began working for Apple in July, but didn’t tell anyone at The Verge that he’d taken a new job until we discovered and verified his dual-employment in early September…Obviously having an Apple employee on The Verge staff is a conflict of interest.”
No one seems to know anything: Daring Fireball – “No word on what Ziegler is (or was? — several little birdies have told me Ziegler is not listed in the company directory) doing at Apple. And Ziegler’s Twitter account has been silent since August 8.”

Software Updates
Firefox 49.0.1
MediaMonkey 4.1.14.1811
MP3Tag 2.79

Off Topic – Looking for bike suggestions.
I like to ride my mountain bike. A few years back I had an Achilles tendon rupture. Well “rupture” was the official description. It was actually much worse (long story). So because of that and other injuries, these days I beat on my body much less. There is much less trail riding and jumping and far more roads and gravel trails with and occasional light trail thrown in. Because of this I am looking at “hybrid” bikes. I don’t want to spend a bunch of money. I was considering something like a Diamondback Trace. Does anyone out there have any experience with these things? Any recommendations or tips?

The Things I Do For This Site

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Like many others, my main rig STILL had freezing issues after AnniUpdate. Obviously, Microsoft wasn’t going to fix it. I tried every workaround, every fix, everything I could think of. Tinker around, doesn’t work, restore image, update again, try more stuff, restore image, update again, on and on…
I know many of you are waiting for an update to the Win10 Tweak Guide and I figured I put off enough.
So…
This morning I did a full reset and reinstalled everything. *edit* – I should have been clear. This “fixed” my problem.
When it comes to Win10 I don’t “need” to use it. From a personal standpoint I don’t care if I use it. I use it because I support lots of Windows users. I’m perfectly happy with Windows 7 and my Linux Virtual Machines. In truth I can probably do everything I do in Linux. Come Windows 7’s EOL that will most likely be the case (if not sooner).
Anywho, I’ll be working on the tweak guide this week.

Oh Good Grief

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MSPU – Scary Microsoft patent would have Windows watch everything you do, send it to Bing, for better search results

The patent, “QUERY FORMULATION VIA TASK CONTINUUM”, published yesterday (22/9/2016)…
In short, Clippy on steroids.
The main concern with such a system is of course personal data leaking despite Microsoft’s supposed privacy safeguards or reading the user’s context wrong leading to more frustration (another Clippy problem).