I’ve been dual-booting Windows 8.1 and Windows 10 on my homebuilt desktop and Microsoft Surface Pro 3 since a few days after the release of the Windows 10 Preview. So far, I’m finding it a superior operating system for desktops, and even in its current state it offers some advantages for hybrids like the Surface […]
Will Apple Put OS X on the iPad Pro? (Update: Touchscreen MacBook?)
October 8, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Rumors are swirling that Apple is considering the release of a 12.9″ iPad Pro capable of running OS X, perhaps via dual-boot with iOS. As with all such rumors, details are sketchy–would this be the same OS X as runs on the Mac, or some kind of hybrid OS? Personally, I think it’s highly unlikely […]
Installing the DirecTV Player on Windows 8.1
September 28, 2014 by 7 Comments
I recently signed another 2-year contract with DirecTV, having spent a few months with the cable figuratively cut. The NFL season hit, however, and having no other good way to watch my Indianapolis Colts, I decided that a free NFL Sunday Ticket package was worth getting back on the hook. Imagine my frustration, then, when I […]
Surface Pro 3 Sales: At Least Better Inventory Management
September 15, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Microsoft’s $900 million dollar write-off, taken due to unsold Surface RT inventory in their Q4 2013 quarterly results, generated quite a bit of noise about the product’s success (or lack thereof). As of early this summer, it was estimated that Microsoft had lost around $1.7 billion in total on the Surface program, not accounting for costs […]
Windows 8.1 Tip: Modern App Errors (This App Can’t Open)
August 20, 2014 by 7 Comments
Occasionally, I’ll run into an issue on my desktop where my modern Windows 8.1 apps won’t run and have small “x”‘s in the lower right-hand corner of their tiles. This only happens with apps that I’ve downloaded from the store, not the standard apps that install with Windows 8.1, and if I try to run […]
Windows 8.1 Tip: Manage Notifications
August 17, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I was poking around my Windows 8.1 desktop this morning, and I was surprised to discover just how many applications have notifications turned on. There were over 50, and while many make sense for my workflow (Tweetium for Twitter udpates, Skype, Mail, etc.), many simply did not. In particular, I had over 20 games installed […]
Windows 8.1 – So Easy a Child Can Demo It
July 27, 2014 by Leave a Comment
This is a cute little video demonstrating how easy Windows 8.1 is to learn and use. It’s so easy, in fact, that even a child can demo it! At least, that’s Microsoft’s position. Personally, I’ve long held that new technology is far easier for children to grasp and embrace simply because they’re much less prone […]
Belkin Miracast Video Adapter Review (Update: Netgear Review)
July 13, 2014 by 5 Comments
I recently gave the Belkin Miracast Video Adapter a try, to evaluate Miracast on Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8.1 compared to Chromecast on my Android devices. Unfortunately, configuring and using the Belkin adapter was an exercise in frustration. If I were to go by my experience with it alone, I’d say that Miracast is acceptable as […]
Windows Phone’s Past Performance Does Not Predict Microsoft’s Future Results
July 1, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I’m certainly cognizant of the uphill battle that Microsoft faces in terms of making Windows Phone a viable player in the smartphone market. They have a very compelling strategy, namely that of creating a single development environment that supports many different platforms (Windows 8.1 desktop, notebooks, hybrids, and tablets, Windows Phone 8.1 smartphones, and the […]
Surface Pro Tip: Two-Button Shutdown
June 26, 2014 by 33 Comments
If you’re having a problem with your Surface Pro (original through Surface Pro 3), merely shutting down via the power button might not be enough to constitute what we typically consider a reboot. Instead, there’s a more complete way to shut the machine down, which Microsoft calls the “two-button shutdown,” and it can definitely solve […]