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Tech News & Commentary
Rick in Nashville, Tennessee listening on WTN 99.7 FM – Calling in via the App asked: “My problem is I loaded Windows 8 on my computer and I absolutely hate it. I would like to know how to unload it or go back to Windows 7.”
You’re not alone, in fact you’re so far from alone that a lot of Windows 8 users have been granted the right to legally “downgrade” to Windows 7 for free (a process that is known in IT circles as “upgrading to Windows 7”).
If you do qualify, all you have to do is install Windows 7 the way you would if you were installing it for the first time, but you can borrow a copy instead of having to buy one, and Microsoft will let you use your Windows 8 license on your now “downgraded” computer.
If you don’t qualify and don’t have the right to downgrade, the only way to legally downgrade is to buy a Windows 7 license the way you would if you were upgrading from Vista to 7 and install it. It can be done, it will just cost you more money.
We do hear this from people…a lot! They just aren’t happy with Windows 8. In fact, we can’t recall anyone calling us up and raving about how much they liked it. The new user interface is confusing and frustrating to a lot of longtime Windows users.
Microsoft has launched a series of TV ads aimed at changing the perspective people have of Windows 8. They show a man on the street holding a touchscreen convertible PC in its tablet mode. He shows off some of the Windows 8 features, then docks the screen into a keyboard, all to the pretend delight of the actors paid to be his audience. The key word in this is “touchscreen.”
Windows 8 was designed to take advantage of touchscreens and gesture controls. So much so that a mouse feels awkward for controlling it. It stinks! Yes, Microsoft says that you can switch to the Windows “Classic” interface, meaning our old Windows Desktop view, but it’s not the same. For one thing, there’s no Start button, though 8.1 features one, but only as a way to get to the start page, there is still no start menu. For another, many actions you take immediately return you to the new interface. Super frustrating!!
We acknowledge that Windows 8 might be faster than Windows 7. Benchmarks seem to suggest that it starts up in less time and loads apps more quickly. We also acknowledge that Windows 8 is, like death and taxes, inevitable. The day will come, and is not far off, when you won’t be able to buy a computer with Windows 7 installed and Microsoft won’t make Windows 7 available as a downgrade.
So while we feel your pain, we share your pain, and we join you in disliking the new Windows 8 interface (UNLESS you’re using a touchscreen tablet or convertible PC), we also have this piece of advice. Get used to it. Because it’s not going away. Your only alternatives are Linux on your PC, or switching to Apple computers. Microsoft’s wheels may grind slowly, but grind they will, and our dislike for Windows 8 won’t bring back Windows 7 any more than our dislike for Windows Vista brought back Windows XP.
Have you tried Windows 8.1 Beta yet? Try going forward instead of backwards. Touchscreens are here to stay, it is only a matter of time before all of our devices are using this technology, and we will need an OS that lends itself to it. While many of us found Windows 8 to be a complete nuisance, we think it becomes more enjoyable when it’s used on a touchscreen device. Windows has made it very easy to upgrade to their 8.1 beta via the Windows store. While there are still bugs with it, we trust they will work them out and give us a solid platform to stand on in September when the full release is given to the masses.
For more information, tune in to Hour 3 of our podcast.
“Into Gaming Update” Weekly Feature with Mark Lautenschlager
Victor in Buffalo, Missouri listens ot the Podcast asked: “I bought a new computer. An HP 23″ Touchsmart. I’d like to add a screen but it has not DVI or External ports for that. I understand I can use a USB to DVI or USB to VGA. There’s just too many of them. I don’t know if I need to use a 3.0 USB or a 2.0 USB to DVI or VGA. So I thought I’d call the experts and get a recommendation.”
Well, the Arkview USB-DH88 is a great choice for a USB display adapter, it does much more than take USB input and output to DVI. You also have audio RCA outputs for connecting to external speaker. The maximum resolution for the Arkview is 1400×1050 pixels, it is certified windows xp, vista, and it works also on windows 7, but no say on whether windows 8 works with it. And it retails for less than $50
There’s also the j5create JUA210 USB to VGA adapter this has a higher resolution capacity of 1920×1200 pixels but you don’t get any sound output, and it’s certified windows xp, vista and 7, also Mac OS X. The j5create can be found for less than $45.
One thing to remember here is that these USB-to-TV adapters are designed for streaming content like videos to your TV, not for use as an actual external computer display. So there won’t be a SECOND display, they will simply be mirroring what you have on your primary display. If there is no Windows compatible display adapter, there is no multi-monitor support. Sorry.
For more information, tune in to Hour 3 of our podcast.
Nathan in Idaho Falls, Idaho and listening via Talk Radio 950AM KOZE asked: “As technology as yall are why no smartphone web page? I asked a question last week it was put on show & I got an email saying I may get a prize. How do I find out if I did win one & if so, what it is?”
It depends on how tech-savvy you are, if you know what you’re doing and have no major issues with console commands and Linux, it shouldn’t be that hard to do.
You should know the Raspberry Pi’s limitations though, for the most part it will play your videos (if you install the right codecs) and it will show you menus like any other media player would, but the Pi is not a powerful machine, so not everything will run smoothly.
720p videos should work just fine for the most part, but 1080p is pretty much a no-go, it’s too much for the tiny computer to handle. Your menus will also be considerably less responsive than if you went for a regular media player too, and you should not expect it to be able to play anything streaming content from online sources.
Having said that, the Raspberry Pi can run XBMC media player, it can get media files from other computers on your network, it can get your ripped DVDs from the hard drive you’re using, and it will cost you $30, so if you’re tech-savvy and want to give it a shot, look up XBMC for Raspberry Pi, it’s a reasonably easy installation considering the type of device you’re looking to use.
For more information, tune in to Hour 3 of our podcast.
Guest Segment:
Chrysta Olson, Director of Communications – Pheed
“IFA History Feature” brought to you by Messe-Berlin
In 1966, an international conference authorized the European formats PAL and SECAM, and it was in 1967 at the 25th IFA in Berlin, when the German Chancellor Willy Brandt pressed the button to launch color television in Germany. The communist Eastern Germany, started two years later, but used the French SECAM system to keep their citizens from watching West Germany’s color TV – their favorite but illegal source of information and entertainment. Only big, expensive screens were available in color, and content very slowly made the transition to color.
Troy in Gonzales, Louisiana and listening via CenLa’s Talk Radio 970AM KSYL asked: “I’m a truck driver and I need an iPhone or some phone that has lots of verbal command ability and decent size screen to also use as a GPS, can you help me?”
Pretty much any modern cellphone will have a decent screen, GPS and something of a voice command capability.
If you’re looking at iPhones, obviously the 5 has the largest screen, it can talk to the GPS and GLONASS (Global Navigation Satellite System) networks for global positioning and it has Siri for your voice commands needs.
If you want a really big screen, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 will give you the biggest one out there, it also does GPS and you can use S-Voice for your voice commands. The Galaxy S4 has a smaller screen, but bigger than the iPhone 5’s anyway, and it can still do GPS and S-Voice.
The two Galaxy phones are Android under the Samsung customization, so if you don’t like S-Voice there’s a good chance you can just disable it and use Google’s version as well.
Whichever device you choose, there are a lot of third party apps out there that are great for drivetime use. One that we’ve talked about a lot on the show is Vlingo. It is packed with features, will speak incoming texts and emails, has great voice recognition, and gives Siri a run for her money in the research department.
For more information, tune in to Hour 3 of our podcast.
Chris in Baton Rouge, Louisiana listening on 107.3 WBRP asked: ” Heard you talk about the air typing that was being developed in Germany. I have a disability and can only type with one hand. I’m wondering if that would work for someone with my type of disability.”
The technology is still in the research stages. It hasn’t even been developed for consumers yet. But based on what we’ve heard about it, as long as you can write with a pen, you will be able to use this technology.
What they are testing is the ability to sort of “write” in thin air, as if you had a piece of paper floating in front of you. Basically you wear a glove that is equipped with accelerometers and gyroscopes that detect hand movements. The system then detects which letters are being drawn and converts them into digital text, which are then wirelessly entered into an email, text message or other app. The system uses pattern recognition software to interpret gestures and is capable of recognizing approximately 8,000 words, along with complete sentences. The only caveat though, is that you have to “write” in all-capital letters.
The researchers say that the system has an error rate of about 11 percent. It drops to about three percent once it identifies the user’s writing style.
There’s no word on when or even if this will make it into consumers “hands” (so to speak.)
For more information, tune in to Hour 3 of our podcast.
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This Week’s Prizes for Our Listeners
Akitio:Neutrino Thunder Duo – 2-bay Thunderbolt Hard Drive enclosure
V Moda Headphones: a variety of styles of the DJ Inspired, Hollywood Designed Headphones
Ventev: An assortment of tangle-free USB cables and battery cases for iPhones