TechByter Worldwide (formerly Technology Corner) with Bill Blinn

For almost 20 years, TechSmith's Camtasia has been the go-to application for instructional videos. The 2020 version of Camtasia strengthens its capabilities for that market and also adds more powerful video editing functions. In Short Circuits: Depending on how often you send images from Lightroom to Photoshop for pixel-level editing, making a small change in the workflow could save a substantial...

Although Google is the most used search engine and Bing is a distant second, an even more distant Duck Duck Go has several advantages. In Short Circuits: Research that shows company security is more at risk when employees work from home is no surprise to security experts. The risk to corporate data is substantial. • A lot of applications start with Windows. The operating system needs some processe...

If you think Windows users need the VLC Media Player to view DVDs, you're right, but that's only part of the story. VLC does a lot more and it's an open-source application. In Short Circuits: High-resolution screens are great, but users often say the tiny text and icons are hard to see. If that describes you, I have good news: These are easy fixes. • Mac users are sometimes distressed by the lack...

Facebook can be useful, but the unremitting flood of advertisements and other "improvements" that are forced onto users can be maddening. There are ways to fix the problems. In Short Circuits: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought conspiracy nuts, crooks, and liars out from wherever they normally spend their time. We need honest information and facts. Fortunately, they exist and they're not hard to fi...

Computer performance tests aren't only for those who want to brag about having the fastest computer on the planet. They can pinpoint bottlenecks for those who need to improve their computer's operation, but don't know where to start. In Short Circuits: Last week I described museum tours and other things you can do virtually when you can't go out, so this week we'll take a look at books, music, and...

I described the Launchy program launcher for Windows three weeks ago, and said I'd soon have information about a competitor. This week we'll take a look at Executor. In Short Circuits: Fixing network problems is difficult unless you have a spray can of magic Network Pixie Dust, so let's review some of the quick and easy steps that can get your computer back online. • If you've ever wished that you...

Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers have the greatest market share, but now is a good time to take another look at Firefox if you value privacy and security. In Short Circuits: Although using Malwarebytes as the only protective application on a Windows computer seems not to be the best protection, running a copy of the free version is a great way to backstop the primary antivirus application....

Those who argue that Illustrator is better than Photoshop or that Photoshop is better than Illustrator are missing the point: Adobe makes each for specific purposes. In Short Circuits: Ohio is essentially shut down in an effort to slow the spread of the new coronavirus and, as other states follow Ohio's lead, technology is filling the gaps where possible. • If you've ever wondered what the WinSxS...

Using the Start screen or pinning icons to the Task bar works, but it's also possible to start applications with a keyboard-based launcher. Sometimes that's a faster and easier way to work. In Short Circuits: If you've ever been grossed out by your computer's keyboard, maybe now's a good time to clean it. Let's see what's involved. • British software publisher Serif has released updates for its li...

Graphics tablets without screens are difficult to master and graphics tablets with screens are prohibitively expensive. The Wacom One changes all that. In Short Circuits: Photoshop is 30 years old and it predated widespread use of digital cameras by more than a decade. Photoshop continues to be an essential tool for designers and photographers. • Some companies are going on the offensive to fight...

Solid-state disk drives still cost more that comparably sized mechanical drives, but prices have dropped enough that upgrading a computer's boot drive to a solid-state device is now the fastest and easiest way to accelerate the machine. In Short Circuits: A new point-and-shoot Nikon camera that costs $800 and has an 83-times zoom lens was a big hit at the consumer electronics show. There are good...

Windows 10 has a handy tool for finding misplaced files. When you need something more powerful, Agent Ransack is waiting. We'll look at both methods. In Short Circuits: Microsoft's Storage Sense gives users a way to get rid of unneeded files. • Have you ever wanted to just turn off those User Account Control warnings? One word is appropriate here: Don't! I'll explain why. • Firefox users should ch...

Windows 7 reached its end of life recently, and Microsoft will end support for Office 2010 in mid-October. Let's look at your options for when the time comes. In Short Circuits: If you’ve ever tried to delete or rename a file only to have Windows refuse, LockHunter can save the day. • Microsoft has two utilities that keep system files in good shape. Using them occasionally is wise. • One of the ea...

Blue light is beneficial, but it can also cause problems. Computer screens, televisions, tablets, and smart phones emit a lot of blue light and the result may be insomnia and other health issues. In Short Circuits: Microsoft's new Chromium-based Edge browser continues to evolve, and it offers some advantages compared to Chrome and Firefox, maybe even enough to attract users. • It's beginning to lo...

Password managers have become essential tools for those who want to protect their data, and other actions can improve your odds of surviving. In Short Circuits: Website pop-up messages asking to send notifications are annoying and now browser publishers are making it easier for those of us who detest the messages to get rid of them. • Sometimes you might want Windows to believe that you're not in...

Those who need help with spelling, grammar, and style might be inclined to use spelling checkers and grammar checkers. Although these tools can be helpful, it's essential to avoid having them lead you astray. In Short Circuits: Microsoft's January patches include one that's designed to repair a major security flaw in Windows 10. Installing this patch should be a priority for everyone. • If the acc...

Several years after the first smart speakers were released, I have one. It wasn't my idea, but it was free and it seems to be useful. In Short Circuits: You hear my spiel about the importance of backup occasionally. This time I have a story that illustrates clearly why it is so important. • Lies are endemic on the internet and particularly in social media. Those who are interested in truth can fin...

If you've wondered whether Linux would be right for you, you're not alone. I've asked myself that question just about every year since the early 1990s. In Short Circuits: Some PDF documents have restrictions on copying data or printing the file, and sometimes even passwords that prohibit opening the file. There are workarounds. • Remember when you could get to Safe mode in Windows by pressing F8 d...

The blog and podcast date has been advanced from Sunday to Friday and the email alert now goes out on Friday morning instead of Saturday morning. This week's primary topic looks at two useful utilities and a location where you can find lots of equally useful applications. In Short Circuits: If you want to accelerate an older computer, you have several options, but some of them aren't worth what th...

TechByter Hibernates This Week: This is second of the two weeks each year when TechByter hibernates. Thanks for listening or reading (or both)! The first program of 2020 (3 January because of the new Friday publication date) will take a look at how you can find hidden powers with a couple of clever utility programs, the best ways to accelerate an older computer, and how to leave a message for the...

Mac users have FileVault, Windows users have BitLocker, and all the big cloud-based storage systems encrypt files before storing them, so do we really need another encryption utility? As it turns out, maybe we do. In Short Circuits: Yahoo's Groups service is starting what's likely to be a long slide to oblivion and that reminded me of older services that have met a similar fates -- CompuServe, Pro...

SnagIt has been making the process of documenting computer applications easier for nearly 30 years and recent enhancements make it a useful tool for anyone who needs to explain or describe the contents of a computer screen. In Short Circuits: If you've been using Cortana on an IOS or Android device, you won't be doing so after the end of January 2020. • Your computer may have more than one audio p...

With constantly increasing prices for cable television, maybe you're thinking about dropping the television part of your cable bill and improving the internet part. I'll describe my first timid steps in that direction. In Short Circuits: Cellular service providers are beginning to roll out 5G gear, but your phone probably won't support it and service is still spotty. • There's a better Windows exp...

There's a lot of new magic from Adobe. The just-released versions of Lightroom, Lightroom Classic, and Photoshop for 2020 were highlights at Adobe Max in Los Angeles. Although several new applications made their first appearance, today we'll stick to the photo applications, including the appearance of Photoshop on IPads. In Short Circuits: It's annoying when something goes wrong with Windows or a...

TechByter hibernates two weeks each year. This is one of them. The half-minute podcast wishes is a Thanksgiving greeting.