Update on Windows 8.1 Preview Install

I am still all in favor of the Windows 8.1 Preview that I wrote about this morning. There has been one additional issue and that is the printer drivers for my HP Photosmart C4780 All-In-One printer. I had to  uninstall the driver’s and re-install the whole package.

Interestingly the HP uninstaller crashed when it was almost complete on both desktop as well as laptop. At that point I restarted the computer and used the downloaded file, from HP, to re-install all the drivers. The re-install was faster than any install I had done previously and I was back up and running very fast.

Let me point out that the printer aspect of my HP Photosmart printer was functioning as it should have been after the Windows 8.1 Preview install. What was missing was the ability to scan.

I had identical experiences with both desktop and laptop and after re-install all worked well. I really have not noticed any down experiences with the Windows 8.1 Preview. For the most part I have found it fun to discover the changes.

I was reminded tonight that, over the past weekend, I had said I was finished with Beta testing. In the past I had jumped at every chance to be the first on the block to try anything but now I am tired of all the ‘Clean’ installs and all the issues so I am out of the Beta testing.

Welllll…… that didn’t take long. How about that Windows 8.1 Preview – works great!

I am hoping that the final release will be as easy. I know ‘Clean’ installs are good for the system, gets rid of the junk, but they are hard on the time these days. Way too much software installed. 

Happy Tuesday – well it will be in a few hours….

Windows 8.1 Preview–Looks GOOD Plus One Suggestion

Saturday I installed the Windows 8.1 Preview on my desktop computer. I really liked it and although I liked Windows 8 (the original) I thought the update was quite good. I use my desktop for all initial experiments, if it works and holds up then I will install on my laptop.

First let me say that I liked the previous Start fly-out tile (if you will) on the desktop that would switch you back to the Start screen. The new Start button, again to me, is somewhat of a laughable concession to the whiners. Whatever it takes to please. It works, and like the previous fly-out tile, if you right click on the Start button you will find more options, one of which will allow you to shutdown. All prior keyboard shortcuts still appear to work and that is good.

I like the idea that I can resize the tiles, that is very nice. The new colors are fun however it would be neat if we could add our own photograph (different from the desktop) to the Start screen but I am not complaining. The bright colors on the tiles I like very much, nice enhancement.

The new down arrow to get to all the apps is another concession that works, the right mouse click was good also. It is a bit more obvious. I guess this was a big deal to ‘old’ users, new people figured it out right away. Oh wait a minute, I’m an old user.  Hmmm…..

I love the idea that I can put a really nice slide show on the Lock screen. I experimented with that and over the dual monitors on the desktop and it was a really nice show.

The only issue I had was a sound card driver I had previously installed. My Creative card would not run on Windows 8 so I purchased a less expensive one and installed it. After the installation of Windows 8 all I had to do was re-install the drivers and it worked. I’m in.

This Windows 8.1 Preview looked so good I installed it on my laptop yesterday with the same results, very good.

Now I have a suggestion that has been brought about by the new Windows 8.1 Preview and the ability to resize the tiles.

First a little background: I use my laptop as an instructional device. I teach as well as consult Microsoft Office application software, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other. I teach software beyond Office however these are the prime products. These software products are all part of Office 2013, Office 2010, and Office 2007. All are installed on my laptop. I use two profiles, one personal, and one as Instructor.

Since I can resize the tiles on the start screen it would be a great idea to be able to use a specific column for more than one titled layout. On the left is a picture of a partial layout of the Office 2013 and Office 2010 tiles side by side.

Because I resized the tiles I would like to move the Office 2010 tiles below the Office 2013 and still be able to have the title line as in the example shown on the lower left. If this were to work I could actually add Office 2007 below the Office 2010 buttons and there be able to better utilize the screen.

I am sure there are others who could re-organized their Start screen in much the same fashion. I have columns for Utilities, Shopping apps, Design, and Development, as well as the Office products.

When working on the large 23” HD monitors connected to the desktop this is not much of a problem but would be nice to do. On my laptop this would be fantastic.

I really do like this update and I feel, since this is a Preview, perhaps there will be more to the final release.  I am looking forward to the final release this fall – sometime.

ENJOY your week…

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Apple’s WWDC and Thoughts Of The Future

After watching Apple’s WWDC it becomes very clear that Apple is (or wants to be) connected to the consumer. They really focus on and sell to the end user. They do welcome the Enterprise however the individual is the main target of their products. The individual is more important. This is their message.

It’s in my Bio but I have been using desktop, and laptop, computers for 30 plus years and have been tied to Windows since version 3.3. They were Business Machines but today’s market has changed!

The market is not changing, it has changed.

These devices are now Personal. Yes we do work on them however we also use them in the home, on the road, and for social connection. We use them for the news, check on the family, and our own personal information retrieval. We get recipes, weather, email, music, video, pictures, Facebook, Google+, and more. We want the same device at work.

And we want consistency. Where is the productivity if I have to manage two devices? Hence BYOD!

So who do we have to look to for people that are building for us? The consumer? The USER!! We want tools and gadgets and applications (apps) and or widgets, that reflect our own needs, wants, personalities.

“Yea, I work for a company that is still in the dark ages.”

I think that Brian X. Chen and Nick Bilton from the NY Times, in quoting Charles Golvin, analyst at Forrester Research, said; “What customers are getting here is tremendous innovation under the cover.”  This pretty much sums it up. The article; “From Apple, an Overhaul for Mobile and the Mac” is worth reading. The video is from WWDC and a good view.

I managed to watch the WWDC on my iPad yesterday and I have to admit it was quite a show. I am looking forward to seeing the new iWorks and Pages in action. It could be that Microsoft has some desktop competition coming – and they deserve it.

A Day In The Life of The iPad and Google+

I had originally intended the following to be a "Share" on Google+ but then it got a bit lengthy so I decided to post it as a blog post for the millions following me ;). I know you get that. Onward......(then I can still Share this on Google+ - it's the "Church Of All Worlds")
--------------------------------

I just posted to Google+ however it has been a trial. I am using an iPad and reading in Flipboard - which I think is a great app. I wanted to Google+ an article and tried to using Flipboard.  After going through the sign in phase and using Google's dual certification, an issue with the iPad, (you have to do it everytime), Flipboard then wanted almost enough permissions to take over my Google+ account - ever after I am gone.  I said no and then was kicked out.

OK so now, still using Flipboard, I go to "View on the web". From the browser (?) on the Salon page for the article I attempt to Plus1 which generally allows me to post comments and then Share. On the first attempt, after signing in to Google+ and having the sign in verified (the reoccurring issue on the iPad) the browser window would just hang with the 'loading' circle showing in the middle of the screen. I tried this maybe 3 times and got nothing. After a whle it would only let me Plus1 or remove the Plus1. 

For someone who does not believe in getting frustrated, this was testing my will power. 

Finally I copied the URL (I learned something new here) and opened Google Chrome browser. I pasted the link, went to the article, and I still could not post to Google+ with comments.

At last I opened the Google+ app on the iPad, pasted the link, and wrote what I had to say. Perseverance pays off.  In the words of Jim Rohn, "Don't get frustrated, get fascinated". It works. 

I guess my biggest complaint is that each device is different. 

I want these devices work for me not me work for them. I defend Windows 8 however I get frustrated with the apps. I use the Android OS but each device you use, running the Android OS, is different. I have had a Droid (the first one), the HTC Thunderbolt, and now the Samsung Galaxy S3. I also own a Nexus 7. No two devices running Android are alike, each has to make it's own territorial imprint. And now the iPad. I am learning to like the iPad better however I suspect there is a Galaxy tablet (again) in my future. Main reason? I like the over all, very open, Google eco system.

It's Sunday guys why don't we all try to get our act together? It's a thought!   

Get The USA Today On the iPad - Good Reading

Lately I have been using Flipboard as my news reader on the iPad and I think it is a very good app. Today I opened the NEW update to the USA Today app (from the App Store) and I am impressed. The app has really improved. I actually think it is better than visiting the NY Times on my computer (don't go there too much anyway, too expensive). Maybe real competition for Flipboard.

I was amazed at the ease of getting around, reading articles, and finding the various things one needs in a newspaper. I got the latest news, the weather app inside the USA Today app worked well, and finding scores was as easy as it could get.

I spent some time going through the various aspects of the app and really recommend it.

If there was one thing I would like to see added it would be to be able to Google+ an article. I was able to post to Facebook and I can see where you could Tweet or email. They need to add the Google+ button so that we can pass links around.

Got to have my wife checkout the Crossword Puzzle as that is what she likes to do. Now I have to see if I can install the app on her Kindle HD. 

Some News and Thoughts for Today, May 21st, 2013

I find that everyday, as I scan through Flipboard, my Google homepage (soon to go away) and Feedly, that there are some very interesting items that one should check out. Things like Google Checkout going away. For those of us now connected to Google Wallet just a change in form.

Let's see, news that hits me today (leaving out those things that do no hit me).

• "With XBox One and Play Station 4, Microsoft and Sony rekindle the war for your TV" from the Verge. Now I am not a user of either item however keeping up with the Joneses is important. 
• We will be able to see pricing and availability on Pinterest soon with upgrade for iPad and iPhone. Nothing mentioned about Android or Windows so I will have to check that out. One thing of interest was that ingredients were mentioned also. Hmm.. after posting (or re-pinning) those recipes that would be of value. 
• Yahoo swears it isn't going to screw up Tumblr by Mathew Ingram at Gigaom. I have a Tumblr account however have only used it once - maybe twice. Might want to check this out. I am getting more fascinated with Yahoo. I have an email account that is older than my Google account and with my Google Homepage going away I just may have Chrome setup Yahoo as my homepage. 
• Back to the XBox One; Microsoft announces a Live Action 'HALO' TV Series with Steven Spielberg as Executive Producer - Nathan Ingraham at the Verge. This could be interesting as I tend to like Steven Spielberg movies. On the other hand if there is too much violence it won't be allowed if my wife is at home.
• From www.macrumors.com "Apple Still Tops In Customer Satisfaction, but Losing Ground To Samsung..." What a great smartphone world for only being few years old. 
• I have been seeing all the items on the rumored iWatch, the Sony Watch, the Google Watch, maybe a Samsung Watch, and Pebble. Will these be giving trouble to the Smartphone industry? Or will they link to your Smartphone providing you buy the right one. With Google Glasses who needs a watch? If the "watch" makes it to the market maybe Google Glasses will make it obsolete (or irrelevant) before it gets much ground. Just sayin......
• "BI INTELLIGENCE FORECAST: Google Glass Will Be An $11 Billion Market By 2018". Now I have some interest in this (see the watch conversation above). I really believe that Google Glass will have quite a run. As Google adds apps to this no one can anticipate how far Google Glass will go. "It's a whole new world" (from Aladdin). I mean with words like; "A new fantastic point of view". Google should use this as a theme song for one of their adds. 
• I would love to read this report however I would feel guilty signing up and then canceling as I cannot justify, in my position, the annual subscription. 

I have to admit that writing this on my iPad is not as easy as it should be. Trying to go between Flipboard, Blogger, and the web for links is much easier on a computer. So far as I can see the tablet is not yet being taken seriously. I am sure that one day it will be but by then we may be all getting what we need via Google Glass and talking our way through writing. 

Idea: Wouldn't it be great if the tool you were using to write would recognize major names and places from the Internet, devices or tools, even places movies, and then automatically show them as a hyperlink, with you having the ability to turn the tool on or off when needed. Something like Auto-Correct in a Word document.  I am sure there are other things that this could be applied to. We have the compendium of data at our fingertips. 

OK time for dinner. 

I have to say that I really do like my Flipboard on my iPad, my Samsung Galaxy S3, and my Nexus 7, too bad it is not on my Windows laptop. I guess you just can't have everything. I wonder if there is an app for Windows 8? That would work.

One Flickr News Story Today That Make No Sense

at least to me.

Right off this morning there was an article in the INQUIRER regarding Flickr’s update; “Yahoo irks users with major Flickr revamp” Oh boy I can’t wait to read this.

Apparently we have some users that want to downgrade to the Flickr FREE (with 1 TB of storage) from the Flickr Pro however they foresee a problem. From the article;

Apparently, Flickr Pro is no longer a service and is being replaced by Flickr Ad Free, but for those that are still members, it seems that if they cancel their accounts they can't later buy another one. (*the highlighting is mine)

I believe that after the second comma the sentence is written, or stated, incorrectly or ambiguously. In the next paragraph, following the statement above, is this quote – part from a Flickr warning.

"When you downgrade your subscription from Pro to 'free' you get this message: 'Cancelling your Flickr Pro subscription is irreversible. You cannot purchase Flickr Pro at a later date.’”

I don’t understand the anger or the complaint. Apparently some want to cancel their ‘Pro’ account and then repurchase if they feel the need. Now if the Flickr Pro service is going away, as stated in the first quote above, it only stands to reason that you could not re-purchase it. “Here’s your sign!”

It does not say you will lose your account at Flickr, just the Pro aspect. It also does not say you will lose your pictures.

Maybe I am missing something. Could it be that the headline written in hope of gaining traffic? When reading the headline and then the blog post I expected to see thousands leaving Flickr. Actually the balance of the article appeared to be Flickr friendly - again, at least to me.

Someone took the class in writing headlines to attract attention. Maybe I should practice this.