Windows 10…a good move.

A few weeks ago I wrote about making sure that you pay attention to updates when they are released.  Updates allow software and hardware providers to make tweaks to their products and to address bugs that may have slipped through the evaluation process.  Perhaps more important, these updates often plug security holes that some kid living in his parents’ basement likes to find and exploit to your dismay.

Microsoft’s Windows 10 is really not an update, it is a whole new operating system for your computer replacing earlier versions Windows 7 and 8.   After I wrote about updates I got some questions about Windows 10 and if I thought it was a good idea to make the switch. 

I always recommend that you not be the first to try out a new piece of software, especially software like Windows that is the very life blood of your computer.  I can say now that for most people upgrading to Windows 10 is a great idea.  Enough time has lapsed since it was widely released last spring and most of the bugs have been worked out.

I found the Windows 10 installation very user friendly.  It is a multi-step process and Microsoft has developed a set of very clear instructions that guide you through the process.   If you have a computer that now uses either Windows 7 or 8, you most likely have received little reminders on the screen urging you should make the change.

The first step is to actually download the required software from Microsoft.  By clicking on the small Windows 10 upgrade icon located at the bottom right of your computer screen you will get instructions on how to proceed.  The downloading process can take as much as an hour or more depending on the speed of your internet connection.  Once loaded, you can decide when you actually want to activate the new software.   Be sure that you have at least one hour of uninterrupted time for this.  Don’t rush and read all the instructions. 

I found the process very intuitive and clear.  Once it is up and running, you will find that Windows 10 is far better and easier to use than Windows 8.  Many of the conventions found in Windows 7 are back.

I think Microsoft got this one right and I highly recommend that you begin using it as soon as possible.  Even better for most people, it is free.

Google Much More Than You Might Think

For many of us the term “Google” has become a part of our regular vocabulary. Anytime we need some information we “Google” it.  In fact the term has morphed to include any search function. When was the last time you “Binged” or “Yahooed” something?  For sure the folks at Google are delighted that their brand has become synonymous with searching for information. You may be surprised that the search function of Google is really only the tip of the iceberg.

In August Google’s parent company got a new name. According to the big wigs at the company it is more reflective of the diversity in services offered.  The name is “Alphabet.”  While one would think that the smart, creative people at Google could have been a bit more creative, Alphabet does offer 25 more letters for new service names if they grow tired of the “G.”

Most people using Google don’t get beyond the search box.  If you do you will find some amazing tools and toys and most of them are free to use.  A good place to start is to adopt Google Chrome as your web browser. Once you do that it is easy to navigate to the other features.

One of my favorites is the Translate application.  You can type a word, phrase, or paragraph in one language and ask Google to translate it into another.  The translation is not perfect but it is getting better all the time.  You would not want to use it for a legal document but it does help you get the sense of what someone has written in an unfamiliar language.

Perhaps the tool that amazes me most is the Image search.  You can paste a picture of a person or place into the search box and it will seek out pictures on the internet that most closely match it. Here again the technology is still developing but it gets better and better each time I use it.

Google Earth also never cease to amaze me.  With its world-spanning satellite images, Google Earth is an encyclopedia, globe, terrain map, and world atlas all in one.

Of course there are several esoteric services that most of us will never use. “Google Scholar” searches papers, learned journals and research findings of the world’s most respected scientists.  “Patent Search” is self-explanatory.

So when you have a few minutes take the time to peel back the many layers of Google (or Alphabet.) You might find something you never knew was there.

Sometimes You Just Need to Unplug

My wife, Judy, and I recently spent a few days camping in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.  We enjoyed three pristine sunny fall days in some of the most picturesque and remote places in the US.  The UP has awesome beauty but does not have many of the modern conveniences that we have grown so accustomed to.  The campground, tucked into the Southern shore of Lake Superior, had no electricity and as such no artificial lighting to mask the millions of stars and a moon giving enough light to read a book.  We were not used to this remoteness but we both began to cherish it.

Suffice it to say mobile phone reception was spotty and internet access impossible.  Even the GPS in the car could plot our longitude and latitude but became challenged matching our specific location to any of the back woods roads.

The short respite from the incessant beckoning of our digital devices got me to think about how tied many of us have become to these tools and toys.  The slightest beep or ring of our mobile phone causes an almost involuntary response to check and see who is trying to contact us even though we know full well it may be just a text from our neighbor with a picture of her cat staring at a goldfish.

Try as I might to limit my attraction to the siren calls of my mobile phone and iPad, I find that I often check my email or text traffic just out of habit. 

So I have a challenge for all my readers and it is one that I will take as well.   How about we all carve out a portion of everyday that are digital communication free zones.  That means we don’t carry our phone on our person.  Perhaps we turn it off.   This may be around the dinner hour or when we are putting the kids to bed.  During this time we won’t answer the telephone, look at Facebook or immediately respond to a text.  Perhaps we begin with an hour.  Who knows maybe we can go a full day.  Of course, you may need to drive to the UP for motivation.

To Update or Not to Update

Every time there is a new version of an operating system announced or a major update to an old one released, I get the question: should I update or wait?  Most of us are creatures of habit and we get comfortable with our digital tools and toys. A change in how we perform a certain task or how the screen appears can be very disrupting.

In order to answer the question it may be helpful to discuss the different types of software updates. Many are almost automatic. Those with Apple products are used to seeing messages on their devices announcing that there is an update available. These periodic updates are important to accept.  They often fix bugs found in earlier versions of the operating system.You don’t have to install the update immediately but it is a good practice to do it within a week or so of the release. 

The same holds true for updates offered for the various apps you have installed. The developers of these apps are always making improvements.  These can be safely installed.

Recently Microsoft released a new operating system. Windows10 is billed to be more stable and easier to use than previous versions.  Many people are still upset with Windows8 and more than a few have expressed a desire to return to the good old days of XP. Well, it looks like Windows10 is a great improvement over previous versions of Windows and those who have downloaded it are pleased. You can feel confident about loading it but be aware that there will be some older software that might not work.  I would check with your software provider for any compatibility issues or use Google to see if others are having problems.

The need to periodically update software is not going away. You would be surprised at the many devices that regularly get updated without your knowledge it is happening. For example, many Panasonic and LG TV’s regularly “call home” for updates.  Even your car gets periodic software updates. I am sure VW diesel owners will soon learn about that.