BRUCEB NEWS
The $240 Question: Is Free AI Good Enough?
In the last article I ordered you to subscribe to a $20/month plan for ChatGPT or Google Gemini. I didn’t explain why and in hindsight I shouldn’t have phrased it as “Follow and obey me, you low-bandwidth peasantry.” That was rude. Let’s talk some more about that….
Outlook Disconnected From Office 365? Try Disabling IPv6
(This tip is for IT pros. Non-technical readers should still read this article because it involves a thrilling mystery, it teaches important lessons for healthy living, and it…
Google Changes Its Programs For Storing Photos And Files Online
Google is changing the programs that Windows and Mac computers use to store photos and files online. You’re not required to do anything right away but some of you will be…
Do Not Call The 800 Number!
(This is a slightly modified version of an article originally published on March 2, 2016. Phony warnings about viruses continue to be the most common online scam in 2017.) If…
Improved Calendar Sharing For Office 365 Users
Here’s a tip for business Office 365 users that I wish I’d known about sooner. Early this year, Microsoft significantly improved the experience of sharing Outlook calendars. The…
Create PDFs With Your Phone
One of the technology challenges in 2017 is simply remembering what can be done with your phone or computer. It’s easy to add apps to your phone or install programs on your…
iPhone Tip: How To Make Sure Your Photos Are Backed Up
Here’s a tip for iPhone users that might make you sleep more soundly. If you rely on Google Photos, OneDrive, Dropbox or other online services to back up your photos from an…
Bruceb Goes Off The Grid 08/14-08/20
I will be on vacation and off the grid during the week of August 14th. I will not have cell phone service and at best might occasionally have an erratic and unreliable Internet…
The Latest Microsoft Branding Failures
Every month at Microsoft, a team of highly paid professionals writes words on slips of paper. They always include “Microsoft,” “Windows,” “Office,” “365,” “Pro,” “Home,”…
Feel The Excitement Of Windows 10 Shared Experiences
Now that you’re finally getting the “Creators Update” for Windows 10 – you know, the one that was “released” in April – you might have seen the above window appear in the lower…
Outlook And The Never-Ending Password Prompt
This is a frustrating story of a poorly-defined bug with no solution. Feel free to look away if this doesn’t apply to you. Starting a month ago, Outlook began prompting a few of…
The Case Of The Missing Eye
Let’s track down a bad guy. Looking through the clues will help you catch the next criminal that tries to trick you with a malicious email message. I received many reports last…
A Possible Fix For The Excel Slow File Opening Bug
Previously: What To Do When Excel Opens . . . Very . . . Slowly . . . Windows is weird. A year ago I wrote an article about an Excel bug: occasionally there is a 30-60 second…
The Fast And The Slow Of Windows 10 Updates
A few months ago, Microsoft announced that there will be two major updates for Windows 10 every year, in March and September. These are the big updates that bring Exciting New…
It’s Time To Improve Your Passwords! Scary Stories About The Bad Guys
The bad guys aren’t kidding around. They’re after you. Some day soon you will be walking down the street and a 400 pound hacker will galumph out and make a scary face and shout,…
Amazon’s Secret Weapon Is Of Prime Importance
You’re an Amazon Prime member, right? If not, goodness, get over there and sign up. Give Amazon $99 for the privilege of shopping there. You’ll feel that it’s money well spent….