Changes to Make to Windows 10 Configuration

After installing Windows 10, there are a few things that I changed

1. Yes, it is true. Windows will force updates on you when you least expect it. For some folks that may be OK. For others on limited bandwidth, that may be a problem. And that just plan sucks. However, I can control how updates are installed in my PC.
   Go To Settings > Update & recovery > Windows Update > Advanced options. Under Choose how updates are installed, pick Notify to schedule restart from the drop-down menu.
   
2. I hate those instant notifications that show up on my phone. Fortunately, I can turn off ‘notifications’ from Windows 10.
   Go To Settings > System > Notifications & actions and turn off the various notifications — tips about Windows, app notifications, and lock screen notifications.
   
3. Wi-Fi Sense This is a scary one (maybe). Why would I want to even use that. Let’s say I go to my daughter’s home and want to connect to her WiFi. Using WiFi Sense technology, I can now do that without asking for her WiFi password. That makes sense (I think). The problem is that I cannot choice individuals I want to allow to access my WiFi’s. I can choose which application can connect to my WiFi. This means all my Facebook friends or Outlook contacts, etc. No thank you, I think it would be safer to just give my password to family members as needed. This allows me to control the Wi-Fi sharing business individually.
   Go to Settings, Network and Internet, Wi-Fi, Advanced Manage Wi-Fi Settings.  Turn off everything.
   For more info on WiFi Sense, check out this article http://thehackernews.com/2015/07/windows-10-wi-fi-sense-explained-actual.html. Thew logic is simple. If you are not sure about using something, disable it.
4. Privacy Stuff – Looks like Microsoft is getting a bit Facebook. Step through these 13 categories under Setting/Privacy and decide which ones you want to disable. After you disable stuff here, shut your PC off and restart. Go back and check to see if any of the items you turned off are back on. If you trust Microsoft, you can skip this step.
   For more info related to privacy, check out this article.
   http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2015/07/30/windows-10-privacy-settings/

Hope this has been helpful. Thanks for stopping by. Y’all come back now.

 

Windows 10

Since my Mac is awaiting its appointment with Dr. Mac, I’ve been using Carol’s PC. First order of business was to upgrade from Windows 8.1 to Windows 10 and give it a test run. I promised an opinion statement so here goes. My goal is to give you some stuff to think about.

DISCLAIMER – While I am not anti-Microsoft, I am certainly not pro-Microsoft. Also, I am not an IT guru nor an expert versed on Microsoft (even though I taught MS products for over 10 years).

1. The upgrade was the smoothest I’ve ever experienced. Seems like MS got it right.
2. I am glad they brought back the Start menu. The animated live tiles sit along side the start menu and the integration between traditional PCs, tablets and smart phones sounds pretty cool.
3. I’ve not experienced a problem with peripheral drivers.  My HP printer connected just as if it where always there.
4. I like the Task View feature that is pinned to the taskbar. It allows you to easily see what applications are open. I don’t remember if was in Windows 8
5. WiFi sense is a bit scary. I will post on this later after I’ve had a chance to look at it more closely.
6. CORTANA has joined Windows. She is the virtual assistant that has been on Window’s Phone for about a year now. Cortana is the equivalent to Apple SIRI. Not sure of the usefulness of this because I prefer to type my search commands instead of speaking them. Supposedly, CORTANA will join Android and iOS phones later.
7. Microsoft finally ditched Explorer and has introduced their new browser EDGE. I have used Firefox because of its enhanced web security. MS says EDGE has enhanced web security, whatever that means.
8. The new Photo app is a step in the right direction for photo bugs who are not using Adobe Lightroom. This looks similar to my MAC’s  Photo (formerly called iPhoto) that has been in the MAC world for some time.

All in all, I would say Microsoft made a smart move in building Windows 10 from a blank template. Windows 10 is not a patch of the botched Windows 8.

For a more comprehensive review from a good industry resource, please take a look at these links. I trust them all.

http://www.cnet.com/products/microsoft-windows-10/

http://www.techrepublic.com/article/patience-will-be-the-key-to-a-successful-windows-10-upgrade/

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2874400/windows/windows-10-the-10-coolest-features-you-should-check-out-first.html

There are a few gotcha’s. I will be working on a followup post that talks about them and a post that will suggest some changes to make to default Windows 10 settings.

Finally, to answer questions other folks have asked me –

Should I upgrade now? You don’t think I am going to tell you YES or NO, do you? I recommend you read this article from FORBES http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2015/07/28/microsoft-windows-10-should-you-upgrade/

Why did I upgrade? We both hate (no, despise) Windows 8.

Am I satisfied with the upgrade? YES, YES, YES.

What are you going to do?

Thanks for stopping by, y’all come back now.

 

Net Neutrality – Should We Care?

I am certain that by now you’ve heard the US Federal Communication Commission adopted rules that will treat Internet service like public utilities (i.e. cable service and telephone service).

what are these new rules?

• No Blocking
  Internet providers can’t prevent you from accessing “legal content, applications, services, or non-harmful devices” when you’re on the Internet.
• No Throttling
  Internet providers can’t deliberately slow down data from applications or sites on the Internet. That means, for instance, that a broadband company has to let all traffic flow equally, regardless of whether it’s coming from a competitor or a streaming video service like Netflix that uses a lot of data.
• No Paid Prioritization
  Internet providers can’t charge content providers extra to bring their data to you faster. That means no Internet “fast lanes,” because regulators fear they will lead to degraded service for anyone not willing to pay more.

(http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/02/the-new-net-neutrality-policy-in-three-simple-phrases/386294/?UTM_SOURCE=yahoo)

Why was this necessary?

In 2009, Comcast started throttling users who consumed large amounts of bandwidth. That decision cost Comcast $16 million to settle a class action lawsuit (throttling = intentionally reducing bandwidth).

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2890097/the-fccs-net-neutrality-ruling-5-things-you-need-to-know.html

In October 2011, AT&T started throttling heavy users who had unlimited data plans.  In March 2012, they explained how these users could get increased bandwidth by changing to limited use plans.

http://www.techhive.com/article/251111/atandt_clarifies_data_throttling_speed_limits_start_at_3gb.html

In July 2014, Verizon was caught throttling Netflix traffic on its network even after Netflix paid Verizon for improved performance and higher bandwidth for video streaming.

http://www.extremetech.com/computing/186576-verizon-caught-throttling-netflix-traffic-even-after-its-pays-for-more-bandwidth

When FCC got involved, those plans were pulled.

In December 2014, CNN issued an opinion piece with guest writes that included this statement:

“Any approach that stops short of reclassifying broadband under Title II will not allow the FCC to adopt the rules we need today to protect customers and businesses, and will result in high social and economic costs.”

http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/08/opinion/booker-king-net-neutrality

Bloomberg’s Peter Cook, Chief Washington Correspondent, interviewed Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple Corporation, after the landmark FCC ruling. Wozniak said the Internet got ugly when Internet service providers (ISPs) started making decisions not in the interest of Internet users. Wozniak said the FCC action to classify broadband as a public, Title II utility ensures oversight for bad behavior on the part of ISPs. Woznaik also said such action should not be confused with meddling or controlling. He further called the FCC’s action a victory for the common man.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2015-02-26/wozniak-this-is-a-victory-for-the-consumers?hootPostID=fd5c4179c244421fbf92b4f89c2ba7f0

David Cohen, Comcast executive Vice-President reacted by saying:

“After today, the only ‘certainty’… is that we all face inevitable litigation and years of regulatory uncertainty,”

http://money.cnn.com/2015/02/26/technology/comcast-net-neutrality/

And then Verizon issues a formal response to the FCC in morse code and then a typed response written in a “typewriter font”. Really?

This we know. It will take several years for this decision to be fully implemented. Big business is not for Net Neutrality because it controls how they do business. Consumers are for it because it levels the playing field.

Do you recall seeing any news coverage about the FCC Net Neutrality decision on the major news carriers ABC, NBS, or CBS? I found it interesting that these networks opted to report news about what color was that silly dress and llamas on the loose.

What Does This Mean For You And I?

I believe, along with Steve Wozniak, that this is a big victory for the common folks. Unfortunately, the fact that a government agency is now authorized to provide ISP oversight, the possibility exists that in the end we will still lose out. I certainly hope not. I can only hope that the key players play fairly – fat chance.

Other resources:

• http://www.msn.com/en-us/money/inside-the-ticker/net-neutrality-a-victory-for-digital-innovation/ar-BBi33NM?ocid=bb7hp
• http://recode.net/2015/02/26/fcc-approves-net-neutrality-rules-in-partisan-decision/
• http://www.pcworld.com/article/2890172/the-fccs-net-neutrality-rules-what-we-know-so-far.html

Thanks for stopping by, y’all come back now.