Tech Stuff

Tech Tuesday

Posted on September 13, 2016September 13, 2016 by Vanessence

A “dual” post today, because it’s kind of dealing with a similar issue, mental health.

There’s tech involved in that one’s an app – an app for help in coping with mental health issues! Seriously, how awesome is that?

The other is about a series of podcasts which the Duchess of Cambridge is involved in regarding child mental health. Also seriously awesome.

I love that this kind of technology is becoming available to more and more people. The days when someone needed help and was afraid to reach out and ask for it are becoming more and more part of our distant past. Everyone wants to be well, right? Maybe tools like this will help more people find the resources and help they need.

ReachOut Is a Social Support Network for People With Mental and Chronic Illnesses

iOS/Android: If you have a health condition that you can’t really talk to friends and family about, ReachOut is an app that provides a social support network to help you cope. It aims to turn those well-meaning but hollow “Are you okay?” questions into “I’m here for you. I understand.”

http://vitals.lifehacker.com/the-crisis-tex…

The app is free, easy to set up, and has a clean interface. When you create your account, you choose the challenges you face, which could be related to dealing with cancer, diabetes, heart disease, mental illness, substance abuse, or a recent death. On the main feed, you can scroll through stories and conversations of other users that are going through similar struggles, or reaching out to offer you support. If a particular conversation or person resonates with you, you have the option to “star,” or save, the thread or person.

All in all, it’s just a support network, but if your challenges wind up making you feel alone, a support network is exactly what you need.

ReachOut (Free) | iTunes App Store
ReachOut (Free) | Google Play

ReachOut Is a Social Support Network for People With Mental and Chronic Illnesses | Drippler – Apps, Games, News, Updates & Accessories

*****

Princess Kate just shared a powerful message about her children

… the Duchess of Cambridge, aka Kate Middleton, just shared an important message about her children — and all children, really. She said she and Prince William “wouldn’t hesitate” if their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, needed help with their mental health.

She hopes other parents will feel the same way, too.

“With the right help, children have a good chance of overcoming their issues while they are still young, and can have the bright future they deserve,” the Duchess said.

The Duchess is speaking out now because she’s launching a series of podcasts with the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families to help parents understand and manage mental health. Each 20-minute episode of the series, called “Child in Mind,” will cover a topic and feature an expert, as well as a parent or young person.

“One in three adults still say they would be embarrassed to seek help for their child’s mental health,” Kate said. “No parent would fail to call the doctor if their child developed a fever, yet some children are tackling tough times without the support that can help them because the adults in their life are scared to ask. It doesn’t need to be like this.”

“Throughout my work with family and child support organizations, one thing that has stood out to me time and again is that getting early support for a child who is struggling to cope is the best possible thing we can do to help our children as they grow up,” Kate said. “Knowing this, both William and I feel very strongly that we wouldn’t hesitate to get expert support for George and Charlotte if they need it.”

Of course, ICYMI, The Royal Family is no stranger to advocating for mental health among young people. Earlier this year, Princess Kate, Prince William, and Prince Harry formed Heads Together, a charitable organization to support mental health and help eliminate the stigma associated with it.

Big ups to Kate for the new podcasts now, and we hope everyone tunes into “Child in Mind.” The first episode focuses on childhood anxiety, and you can find the episodes on the Anna Freud National Centre’s iTunes channel as well as SoundCloud.

“Please do listen, and share them with your friends and family and let’s change the way we all talk to each other about our mental health,” said the Duchess.

Princess Kate just shared a powerful message about her children

Tech Stuff

Tech Tuesday

Posted on June 28, 2016 by Vanessence

Well well well. You can imagine how surprised I was to come across this in my new feed!

Microsoft revamps pushy Windows 10 upgrade process

I love the tag line “Some of our valued customers found it confusing.” Uh, nice euphemism, Microsoft! “Confusing” doesn’t inspire lawsuits!

Microsoft revamps pushy Windows 10 upgrade process

“Some of our valued customers found it confusing.”

“Since we introduced a new upgrade experience for Windows 10, we’ve received feedback that some of our valued customers found it confusing,” Myerson told the Verge. “We’ve been working hard to incorporate their feedback and this week, we’ll roll out a new upgrade experience with clear options to upgrade now, schedule a time, or decline the free offer.”

All I can say is Whew, and Thank Goodness! I have both Never10 and GWX Control Panel on my computer, and when I was looking at the updates that Windows wanted to push down the other day, I saw the one for Win10 on there. Fortunately, it was still in the optional column so I could make sure not to download it, but I will be so glad when this mess is over!

Tech Stuff

Tech Tuesday

Posted on May 31, 2016May 30, 2016 by Vanessence

I got this email the other day, from Microsoft.

When account upgrades begin at the end of June, you will no longer be able to receive email sent to your Out‍look‍.‍com account in Windows Live Mail 2012.

This makes me sad. And annoyed. I’ve been using Windows Live Mail (formerly Outlook Express) for 20 years now. It’s a great program. And it baffles me that Microsoft won’t upgrade it. Instead, it’s going to get rid of it*. For something that doesn’t work as well, I might add. I’ve tried the mail app in Windows 10 and find it to be slow and rather clunky. I should add, on another computer, because there ain’t no way Win10 is getting installed on my desktop computer.

*I should note, Microsoft says they’re not going to totally eliminate the program … yet, just that your Outlook and Hotmail accounts won’t work with it anymore. Guess how long it’ll take Gmail to decide not to work with Windows Live Mail anymore either?

This is what I don’t understand. You come up with a great product, people love it, they use it regularly, for years, and then you get rid of said product for something that people don’t like nearly as much and that doesn’t work nearly as well. Nobody does three cheers for downgrading. I’m just sayin’.

I have a ton of email accounts, Hotmail, Outlook, Gmail, even some Yahoo. Windows Live Mail was awesome in that I could monitor all my email (except Yahoo) from a single central location. Now I won’t be able to do that anymore.

I’ve tried Thunderbird, and while it’s great with Gmail, I don’t want to use it with my Outlook accounts as it downloads everything off the server onto my computer, and I don’t want that. I’ve tried the desktop version of Outlook for my Outlook and Hotmail accounts, but it doesn’t allow me to see all my email from all my accounts in a single pane. So, I can’t simply check all unread mail, I have to open each account individually. That’s a pain. Most other desktop email clients I looked at just didn’t offer what I need and seem to be geared toward a business application.

So far I’m looking at Mailbird. It has a lot of really nice features. I really like all the apps they connect you with – Facebook, Twitter, Wunderlist, ToDoIst, Google Calendar, the list goes on and on. Being the app-happy fiend that I am, that sits pretty nice with me, actually. And I suppose I don’t mind paying for an email service that offers so much, although Mailbird is free when you have 3 or fewer email accounts to handle. They work with Outlook, Hotmail, Gmail, even Yahoo. And probably some others I’m not aware of. However, I’m finding the font in the sidebar to be uncomfortably small with no way to adjust it, and no way to distinguish the different email accounts when you have several. Like, you can’t change the color or avatar image or anything like that. For now though, that’s likely the one I’ll end up with simply for all that it offers. I’ll live with the too-small font to have all my email in a single location.

Microsoft, I have to tell you, I’ve been a pretty loyal user since I first heard about you more than 20-25 years ago. But, as of this year, you are BIG TIME on my poopy list. And I’m aboutthisclose to publically calling you a naughty name.

If you’ve been using Windows Live Mail, what alternatives are you looking at to replace it?

Tech Stuff

Tech Tuesday *Updated

Posted on May 17, 2016May 18, 2016 by Vanessence

*Update – if you really want to make sure that GWX doesn’t install on your computer, I’ve come across a couple of options for you.

1 – it’s called Never10 ( GRC | Never10 )and you can learn more about it here –>> Blocking Windows 10 with Never10 | Computerworld

2 – this one’s called GWX Control Panel ( Ultimate Outsider: Using GWX Control Panel to Permanently Remove the ‘Get Windows 10’ Icon ) and you can read more about that one here –>> Stop your Windows 7 or 8.1 PC from forcing Windows 10 on you with GWX Control Panel

Microsoft makes final, aggressive Windows 10 upgrade push – TechWorld

What is this bait and switch thing that Microsoft is doing now?! To click the red X means approval?! Oh that is so sneaky and underhanded! Normally I’m pretty much a MS fan, but this whole thing with the GWX (Get Windows 10) upgrade has me basically screaming. This is MY computer and I’m not going to let MS or anyone else tell me what I can or can’t have on it or force me into putting things on it that I don’t want, or taking away things on it that I do want. I’m not happy with the bully routine.

Be aware, if you have updates enabled, Microsoft WILL upgrade you to Windows 10 with or without your approval or consent.

According to both the latest and the previous versions of the support document, the upgrade and its scheduled implementation is approved when the user either clicks the “OK” button or the “X” in the upper right corner of the notification.

“If you click on OK or on the red ‘X’, you’re all set for the upgrade and there is nothing further to do,” the document stated. The “X” Microsoft mentioned is one way to close a window in Windows.

But Microsoft’s interpretation of clicking the X is contrary to decades of practice in windowed user interfaces (UIs) and normal user expectations: To users, shutting a window by clicking the X tells the OS to remove the notification or application frame without expressing an opinion, selecting an option or calling up an operation.

Instead, Microsoft equates closing the window with approving the scheduled upgrade.

Microsoft makes final, aggressive Windows 10 upgrade push – TechWorld

Also, this article has some interesting information, including a link (next to last paragraph) on how to change your Windows Update settings. Microsoft Makes Windows 10 Upgrades Automatic For Windows 7, Windows 8 Unfortunately, at this point, if you don’t want Windows 10, it looks like the only way to stop this juggernaut is to totally block any and all updates. They’re even running an update for your ASUS motherboard, knowing it’s going to cause boot issues! The solution? Why, Get Windows 10, of course. Microsoft Warns Windows 7 Boot Up Problems They are doing everything in their power to get people to switch to Windows 10. Microsoft Warns Windows 7 Has Serious Problems To which I say, if and when I get a new computer, I have no problem getting Windows 10. In the meantime, get your hands off my computer!

Tech Stuff

Tech Tuesday

Posted on March 29, 2016 by Vanessence

I was so excited when I saw these pens, I copied the entire ad to a blog post. The hard part was trying to decide which parts of their campaign post to add to my own post and which to discard. If you could see my pens, you’d see how I struggle to keep them in some kind of organized chaos. I love pens. I even once wrote a silly little homage to pens. I have tons of them all over the place and they make a bit of a mess, I confess. So the thought of having pens that can practically pick up after themselves, well now that’s an idea I can totally get behind!

MAGNETIPS – Incredible Magnetic Pens! | Indiegogo

MAGNETIPS – Incredible Magnetic Pens!

Refillable fineliners combined with super strong Neodymium magnets. Colouring is just the beginning!

Magnetips are not your average fine-liners. As well as being refillable, each one of our Patent-Pending pens also contains two super strong Neodymium magnets. This means that they attract one another (or any metal surface), becoming the centre-piece of your desktop. Colouring is only the beginning!

But we didn’t stop there. By adding two super strong Neodymium magnets to each of our pens, we gave the pens a life of their own, making each set into an object in its own right, both useful and playful in countless ways, even beyond colouring, sketching, and writing.

Black Edition

Colour Edition

The sets are of equal quality and dimensions, so the pens from both will attract to one another. You can even play around and change caps between the two editions.

Each set of MAGNETIPS comes pre-loaded with a full set of 20 colour refills. Once these are finished, you don’t have to throw your pens away, but simply reload them with a new refill set.

Besides keeping them in neat order on your desk, the strong magnets inside the pens open up endless possibilities for playfulness and creativity.

MAGNETIPS – Incredible Magnetic Pens! | Indiegogo

Tech Stuff

Tech Tuesday

Posted on March 8, 2016March 9, 2016 by Vanessence

Windows 10 May Delete Your Programs Without Asking

When you install a major Windows 10 update, you may reboot to find some of your programs missing. Yes, Windows 10 may remove your programs without asking you–but you can get them back pretty easily.

This is the takeaway from some people’s experiences with the “November update,” Windows 10’s first big update. Microsoft has refused to comment on this, but it seems like the update process is designed to remove incompatible programs. Here’s what’s going on, and what you can do about it.

Windows 10 May Delete Your Programs Without Asking

Well, here’s another entry in the “No Love From Microsoft” files. I got this article in one of my email newsletters the other day. This is part of why I don’t want to install Win 10 on my desktop computer. And while I really shouldn’t be, I am still rather flabbergasted at the sheer brute force Microsoft seems to be employing regarding this whole Windows 10 thing.

The first line in that article I linked to above really gagged me. I can get my files back? Oh joy, I can go through the hassle and aggravation of trying to figure out what Microsoft did with them and where they got trashed to, and then try to figure out how to re-install them into an OS that discarded them in the first place? Sounds like a ton of fun.

I know that the whole “Free Windows 10!” thing ends in July when Microsoft will start charging for it. What I’m wondering is whether or not all this “You will take it and like it” crap will end then? Or will Microsoft try to force people to pay for it? Seriously, at this point, I don’t think I’d put it past them.

‘Free’ Windows 10 Has An Expensive Secret

I’ve loved Microsoft for years and been a big fan in a lot of ways. But this entire GWX (Get Windows 10!) thing has really left a bad taste in my mouth.

Why Microsoft Says Windows 10 Upgrades Cannot Be Stopped

Oh, and don’t think that businesses are exempt, either. Big corporations might be getting some slack from Microsoft still, but starting this month, small to medium businesses are going to begin feeling the GWX bite.

Microsoft Changes Windows 10 ‘Free Upgrade’ Rule

Good luck, Microsoft, with trying to force businesses to cave under your pressure. I have one word for you, and businesses know it, too. LINUX.

I don’t think this will end well.

Apps, Tech Stuff

hAPPy Monday

Posted on February 8, 2016February 7, 2016 by Vanessence

Well, I’m not happy about this, that’s for sure. I understand that, as a business, Microsoft wants to get all users on the same page. But what they want, and what they get, are not going to necessarily be the same thing. And trying to force an update on people, without consideration for their bandwidth, their current computer set-ups, their current whatever, is just bad, BAD business, in my opinion.

There are several reasons why I don’t want Win10 on my desktop. And I totally resent Microsoft trying to force it on me anyway. At the very least, they ought to be giving away free discs to people. There are many users out there who have caps on how much they can d/l off the Internet, and a 6+GB d/l just isn’t reasonable. A disc would go a long way for those users.

There are lots of older computers that won’t be able to handle the new drivers and lots of their existing programs will break because of the updates.

And there are lots of users who just don’t Microsoft dictating to them what operating system they have to have on their computer. For them, it’s a matter of principle.

Microsoft is getting beyond the point of asking nicely anymore whether or not you want Win10, and they’re not even offering you dinner and a movie first, either.

I have Win10 on my laptop, and it’s not an issue. It’s a nice OS and I don’t have any problems with it. I bought it with Win 8 with the intention of updating to Win10. But my desktop is older, and I have things on here that Win10 will not play nice with, and I don’t want MS to break my stuff, thank you very much.

I’ve gone through and disabled updates. The “thanks but no thanks I’m not going to click your Win10 GWX button” thing just isn’t enough anymore, apparently.

The linked article has more information, and the ways you can disable updates if you don’t want Win10 either.

Look out: Microsoft shifts Windows 10 to ‘Recommended’ update, automatic download | ExtremeTech

Look out: Microsoft shifts Windows 10 to ‘Recommended’ update, automatic download

Microsoft has been increasingly aggressive in its attempts to push consumers to download Windows 10. Starting today (Feb 2), the company is upping the ante once again. As of now, Windows 10 is now classified as a “Recommended” update, which means many Windows 7 and 8.1 users will download and begin the installation automatically.

By default, Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 shipped with updates enabled and a second box — “Give me Recommended updates the same way I receive important updates” checked as well. Plenty of users have changed these settings, but you can bet millions of people haven’t. We’ve written before about the power of defaults, and in this case, leaving automatic updates on has been a good idea for many users.

There are several issues to be aware of here. First, users on metered connections must either turn off recommended updates or disable automatic updates altogether if you don’t want the 6GB download to count against your monthly limit. Simply deleting the file isn’t sufficient, your OS will download it again. Microsoft doesn’t recommend disabling automatic update, but the company has no solution for users who can’t spare the bandwidth to download the OS, but don’t want the update.

Microsoft made this change to the Windows 10 GWX application, in a patently obvious attempt to shove more users towards upgrading. The company’s opt-out for Windows 10 installation is unlikely to be much better. Even if it is, however, there’s still a larger issue — specifically, the people this upgrade is going to hit are those who are the least likely to know it’s coming.

There’s no way this doesn’t create headaches for at least some Windows users, as well as Microsoft. Some drivers won’t update properly. Some people will misinterpret the installation as malware, since Microsoft hasn’t historically updated its operating systems in this fashion. Some will click on “Get Windows 10″ without realizing that it’s an entirely new operating system that makes significant changes to how basic system functions work. Resetting system defaults to MS programs is going to leave some people thinking their previous browser settings or customizations are gone.

All of these issues are issues with any OS upgrade, but OS updates are typically something the user initiates. Microsoft clearly wants its entire user base on Windows 10. But think about it: This move targets use who don’t know enough to disable Recommended updates, but have also rejected Microsoft’s previous offers. This could create a nasty snarl of blowback if the upgrade push starts making life difficult for large numbers of people.

Microsoft has published a KB article detailing how end-users can control the upgrade prompts and disable them in the future, available here.

Look out: Microsoft shifts Windows 10 to ‘Recommended’ update, automatic download | ExtremeTech

Apps, Tech Stuff

hAPPy Monday

Posted on January 25, 2016January 24, 2016 by Vanessence

A reminder! In case you didn’t get around to it during the holidays and all, because, you know, holidays. This is your last week to make sure that you keep the free storage you have on your hotmail and/or outlook email accounts. Microsoft is reducing the amount of free storage it’s allotting to its free accounts at the end of the month, from 15GB down to 5GB, and it’s also eliminating the free 15GB camera roll bonus many users signed up for some time ago.

But for users who want to keep that storage, they are offering a “loyalty link” so your current level of storage can be grandfathered in when the new basic level free tiers are enacted next Monday.

“While we are not changing our (new) plans,” the announcement continues, it is taking another crack at clarifying the changes and making one new offer that will grandfather in some of the old limits for existing OneDrive users.

Here are the details:

For OneDrive customers who currently have a 15 GB free storage allotment and a 15 GB camera roll bonus, Microsoft is offering to preserve those features, but only for those who opt in using this link, which is valid until January 31, 2016.
All OneDrive customers with free accounts who do not opt in to the loyalty offer will see their free storage cut to 5 GB and the camera roll bonus will disappear.

Microsoft apologizes for offending OneDrive fans, but won’t restore unlimited storage | ZDNet

So, for those of you who have hotmail or outlook email accounts, and want to keep the current level of free storage you’re enjoying, click this link! OneDrive Bonus Loyalty Link Before Sunday! Otherwise, it’ll be back down to a measly old 5GB of storage.