Observed Tech PODCAST Episode 109
Welcome to Episode 109 everyone. We kick today’s show off with some discussion about GDR2 and Amber for Windows Phone devices as well marking Patch Tuesday’s 10th Birthday. We wonder out loud if tech event scheduling is intentional or by accident and we talk a little about these sub $300 Chromebooks that are popping up recently from OEM’s. During the recording of this episode the timing was perfect with the release (finally) of GDR2 and Amber for Nokia Lumia 920’s and 820’s on AT&T here in the US. So as the show begins I start up the update of my Nokia Lumia 920 and we monitor it as the show progresses. Unfortunately, the show ended just a few minutes before the update finalized but I am now safely on GDR2 and Amber. Some other items that are brought up include Microsoft pays out $100K bounty money for a Windows 8.1 vulnerability, Windows 8.1 upgrade options, Business coping with upcoming Windows XP end of life deadline, A users review of Windows 8.1, Windows Store refresh in Windows 8.1, Cleaning up old Windows updates in Windows 8.1 and Windows 7, PC shipments down in 3rd quarter but not as much as expected, Microsoft is committed to its malware solution, Disney creates a touch screen that lets you feel textures, Windows Phone 8.1 rumors, Office will be touch friendly, Microsoft continues cross platform support, Dell helps with Windows XP migration efforts, Steve Ballmer’s last letter to stockholders, No more PC on every desk goal for Microsoft, Fox goes large format devices on News Deck, Windows Phone YouTube App returns to mobile web display, Microsoft citizenship efforts, Xbox One DVR, 2nd Gen Surface sellouts and midnight launch events, Jacksonville Microsoft Store grand opening, Facebook mobile on your Surface RT fix, ISS Passes WP App and Start menu is not coming back in Windows 8.1. Until next time enjoy the show and thanks for listening.
Observed Tech PODCAST Episode 108
Welcome to Episode 108 and week where we have more second generation Surface news as well as info about Windows 8.1 which will hit General Availability in two weeks. I also share with you how you can upgrade to Windows 8.1 and save over $120 in the process – make sure you stay tuned till the end of the show for that one! Here are some of the other things I discuss in this show: Twitters IPO, Steve Ballmer’s tearful farewell leaked and other info as well, Microsoft without Bill Gates, Surface Pro 2 and Surface 2 will have multiple form factor sizes and LTE connectivity, Delta picks Surface 2 for electronic flight bags, Surface Ads finally hitting home on devices capabilities and uses, Second Generation Surface Sellout, Windows Phone making market gains in Europe and around the world, Nokia Lumia GDR2 and Amber update still not on 40% of devices worldwide, Microsoft is most inspiring company to work for above Apple, Google and Amazon, IE and Windows 8 usage climbs in September, SkyDrive Smart Files improve your cloud storage experience, Expanding Microsoft’s YouthSpark program, Outlook 2013 Blank Navigation Pane fixed, Windows Store app roaming increased to 81 devices, Modern Apps on Windows 7, Windows 8.1 upgrade up and ready for pre-order from Microsoft, A tip to save over $120 in upgrading to Windows 8.1 Pro, The Windows 8.1 Mail App is done right this time and Building a Windows Phone App in WP App Studio. Until next time enjoy the show and thanks for listening.
Observed Tech PODCAST Episode 107
Welcome to Episode 107. Big week as Microsoft announced their second generation Surface devices in NYC on Monday but it is not the only news for the podcast as we had plenty to talk about across several areas. Of course that announcement brought out the varying views on the devices and their capabilities and of course cost so we dive into that in this show as well. Some other news items we bring into the discussion in this episode include awesome science geek Instagram accounts, Five weird videogame facts, Preps begin at Microsoft for Windows 8.1 arrival with a couple of software updates, a Surface Mini is likely coming but will be next year, Google will improve YouTube comments by making everyone use Google+ to make them, Microsoft needs to remember their software as they become a device and services company, touch first apps for Microsoft Office, original Surface Pro and Surface RT will remain available after second generation Surface hits the shelves, iPhone 5S markup, Windows ecosystem is quite healthy, Microsoft Security Essentials is good enough, let Windows XP have a dignified death, yes old slow Windows XP computers can be upgraded to Windows 8, Tonido cloud storage on Windows 8 devices will have a hard time beating SkyDrive’s integration, Microsoft phablets, Xbox One has to be horizontal, Deals on Xbox 360 systems at retailers, Roku updates their hardware and another enterprise moves from Gmail to Outlook. Until next time enjoy the show and thanks for listening.
Observed Tech PODCAST Episode 106
Welcome to Episode 106. Are you a tech horder like me? I have been methodically going through boxes of old computer tech over the last few days and finally sorting it all out to be donated. It has created an unintended walk down memory lane for me. I mentioned the Windows XP – Y2K story last week and since then the discussion has heated up with nearly 90 comments on the story since last weeks show. I spend some time today discussing some of those comments to give you an idea where people are coming from on this Windows XP end of support. Some other things that come up in this episode include Windows XP activation servers shutdown, a lot of schools are still running Windows XP, Suggested solutions to the upcoming XPocalypse, new IT project found running on Windows XP and Office 2003 down under, new IE vulnerability being addressed with temporary fix, what Microsoft’s Nokia phones purchase means, more big name apps arrive on Windows Phone, Microsoft should just give away Windows Phone, Windows 8.1 availability details emerge, Gartner delivers Windows 8.1 upgrade advice to Enterprise customers, the new stuff in Windows 8.1 RTM, Microsoft wants your non Microsoft devices as a trade in, best free alternative to Microsoft Office, Google Hangouts continue to improve, IE11 Preview update, Grab Rainbow Six Vegas with Games for Gold, Bing makeover, Simple aliases on Outlook.com, Office 365 training resources, Office training in general and Surface 2. Until next time enjoy the show and thanks for listening.
Observed Tech PODCAST Episode 105
Welcome to Episode 105! I was unable to record a show last week due to a trip I had to make and that means there was no show to talk about Microsoft’s announced plans to acquire Nokia and its phone business. However, I did talk about it on the site and have a few items to mention on today’s show because it is a pretty big deal to say the least. Then this week we heard that Microsoft opted to post the RTM bits of Windows 8.1 on MSDN and TechNet so developers and IT Pros could start testing it for themselves so there is some discussion to be had there about features in the update as well as some testing I have done with different upgrade scenarios. There is also what I believe is an undocumented UI feature as you multi-task with Modern Apps in Windows 8.1 so I posted a video of that and encouraged folks to suggest a name for the feature in the story comments. Those who suggested names were eligible for a 3GB SkyDrive Storage Code giveaway and I announce the winners in the show as well. Other items I talk about in this episode include Windows XP is like Y2K all over again, our hosted chat about OS Migration with Dell and Microsoft, the Nokia Lumia Amber and GDR2 update still missing for some ATT Nokia Lumia phones, Microsoft Surface 2 is coming, Xbox 360 support life cycle, Dell brings Venue name back for Windows 8.1 tablet, Outlook 2013 Patch Tuesday update causes issues, how the new iPhone copied Windows Phone, Fall Windows tablets line up, Windows Observer Weekend Catchup and Weekly Wrap Up, Xbox Live Rewards gets a makeover, Xbox Music extends to the web, Office 365 extended to nonprofits, Cortana is Microsoft’s virtual assistant technology, New Windows and New Intel chips and Dell goes private. Until next time enjoy the show and thanks for listening.