BRUCEB NEWS
Isaac Asimov Tried To Warn Us
Isaac Asimov published the novella “The Mule” in Astounding Science Fiction magazine in 1945. A few years later it became the second half of Foundation and Empire, the second book of the Foundation trilogy. Asimov’s Foundation books are among the most celebrated…
Cybercrime Is Boring
The phone rings. It’s a scammer. “I’m calling from Microsoft about a problem with your computer.” “I’m calling from the IRS to discuss your past-due tax bill.” “Would you like to…
Windows Can’t Find My OneDrive Files
Windows Search has a problem with my OneDrive files. It can’t find them. It’s supposed to be able to find them. There’s a tempting new option in Windows Settings / Search that…
Why Is It So Hard For Facebook To Remove False Covid Information?
What should the social media companies do with false information? Two years ago YouTube had a surge of videos encouraging teenagers to eat Tide Pods because they are secretly…
Arguing At Cross-Purposes About Tech Policy
“If people are at cross-purposes, they do not understand each other because they are working toward or talking about different things without realizing it.” Definition of “at…
Windows Tip: Use Alt-Tab To Switch Programs
I don’t want to make you feel bad, but I don’t think you’re using Alt-Tab to switch programs, and I’m not sure I understand that. I use Alt-Tab a hundred times a day, but I…
A Cautionary Tale About Always-Connected Computers
This is a fun and interesting story that ends with me so angry that I want to feed my laptop into a wood chipper. Fair warning: to get there, you have to read a bit more about…
Microsoft Doesn’t Care That Windows Is Declining
Microsoft is failing at adapting Windows to modern ARM processors – and it doesn’t care. Microsoft will never acknowledge the decline of Windows, but it has already pivoted the…
Windows Is In Its Declining Years, Macs Are Entering Their Second Childhood
These events have paved the way for Apple to dominate personal computing in the next five years. Intel has failed at keeping up with the needs of a mobile population. The best…
Apple & The Future Of Personal Computing
Anyone who tries to predict the future is a fool. We can’t predict what will happen next month, much less next year or five years from now. So I’m going to make a prediction. In…
The Outlook Is Grim For Microsoft Updates
If you’re an Outlook user, there’s a good chance that the program crashed when you tried to start it yesterday (Wednesday, July 15, 2020). Microsoft uses the word “Outlook” to…
How To Make Windows Less Annoying
This is a collection of default settings in Windows that I change to make computers less annoying. It reduces the number of ads for Microsoft disguised as “tips” and…
How eBay Prevented Me From Starting A Life Of Crime
I was going to sell collectible books on eBay. I’ve got first editions and small press limited editions. I know how to pack books so they arrive safely, and I intended to price…
How To Lose Friends And Influence People: Microsoft Rolls Out New Edge Browser
Microsoft is going to give you a lovely gift soon. Will you be grateful for their kindness? No. You will purse your lips like you sucked a lemon and you will be annoyed….
Security Tip: Are You Available For A Scam?
An email comes in from a co-worker, usually someone higher up than you. It’s short, just a few words: “Are you available? I need your help as soon as possible.” “Are you…
The Bad Guys Are Gonna Git You If You Don’t Watch Out
Be careful when you read your email! I’ve noticed an increase in phishing messages in the last few months. The bad guys continue to improve their grammar and the presentation of…