Windows 8.1 is here, here is what to expect

It has been a year in the making, but Windows 8.1 is here, here are some features / updates to expect,

1. Start/Boot to Desktop

2. Changed Backgrounds and Lock Screen 

3. More Tile Sizes

4. Universal Bing Search From Anywhere 

5. Redesigned App Store

6. New Paint and Camera Apps 

7. Added App Resizing Features 

8. More Keyboard and Mouse Support

Microsoft has a link to download here, 

The Windows Store

And here are some great reviews of the changes, 

Windows 8.1 now ready for PCs — here's what it is and how to get it

Windows 8.1 Release is Here: Free Update in Windows Store

Windows 8.1 now available to download

The update looks bug free, but as with all new software releases expect some updates to come out in the first couple of weeks. Feel free to let me know what your experience with Windows 8.1 is in the comments. 

Are you ready for the Holidays, Intel says get ready for $99 tablets, $299 Haswell notebooks, $349 2-in-1 hybrids

Here is a very interesting article on the upcoming Holiday season and the technology pricing expectations from Intel,  the high points are, 

Intel chief executive Brian Krzanich says that he expects OEMs to push prices down over the coming weeks, and that this will result in $99 tablets, $299 Haswell laptops, and $349 2-in-1 hybrid tablets and notebooks

For devices built around the Bay Trail silicon, Krzanich believes that there will be eight to 10 clamshell models available at the $299 price point.

Click here to read the full article at ZDnet

From the information gleaned from this article it looks like it would make sense to wait and see what deals will be coming out in the next couple of months. 

Colorado Flood Victims Get a Break with $500 Relief for Data Recovery

Here is a very generous offer from my hard drive recovery partner DriveSavers.   Please feel free to forward this to someone who might benefit from it. 

Residents of flood-stricken towns in Colorado have experienced unthinkable devastation. Now, DriveSavers is stepping in to help them put the digital pieces of their lives back together. From irreplaceable family memories to critical tax documents, we're reaching out to people who've lost their important data due to flooding and water damage. Until December 1, we're offering $500 off of our data recovery services for single hard drives: one recovery per person and one recovery per business.

To start the data recovery process, call me at 303-997-2719 and leave your name and contact telephone number.

What to do when iGoogle goes away

I have received several inquires about what to do when iGoogle goes away, first of all, here is what iGoogle is,  

iGoogle is a customizable homepage. You can create a personalized homepage that contains a Google search box at the top, and your choice of any number of gadgets below. Gadgets come in lots of different forms and provide access to activities and information from all across the web, without ever having to leave your iGoogle page.

What is iGoogle

It is going away because techonolgy has provided for these functions directly within a web browser, here is what you can do,

What is happening to iGoogle, and what can I do?

As always if you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.  he removal of iGoogle will not effect you other Google services.

Cryptolocker is the next big threat

The newest threat is very, very bad.   Cryptolocker has no real fix, here is what wikipedia has to say, 

When CryptoLocker infects a computer it encrypts in place files on the target computer and then displays and ransom message demanding payment within a certain amount of time. Unlike many other strains of ransomware, CryptoLocker is well done and does exactly as it says. The files are securely encrypted and the decryption key is never on the host machine and so can never be decrypted unless the ransom is paid. The files are reliably unencrypted upon payment and the countdown is real, payment can not be made after it expires. There are several different variants, each with a different ransom amount (either 100 or 300 USD) and countdown times (100 or 72 hours).

Removing the virus does not restore the encrypted files and may make it more difficult to pay the random. Most anti-virus software does not catch it until it is to late and the encryption is fully or partially complete.

Wikipedia 

If that was not depressing enough, check out Microsoft's response, 

Trojan:Win32/Crilock.A

That's right, restore from back up is the only option, IF the back up is not corrupted, or pay the ransom and hope that you get it restored.  If you get the infection, or happen to know someone who may have it, please contact me, I would be happy to see if there is anything that I can do.