Chromebooks may get the capability to dual-boot into Windows

I’m gradually weaning myself away from Windows-only apps, using cloud-based apps (through both Chrome and Firefox) to get most of my work done.

There’s an interesting update on the XDA Developers forum about Campfire, Google’s Bootcamp-like project that will (if all works according to plan) allow you to run Windows programs on a dual-boot Chromebook.

Interesting stuff.

Patch Lady – Skype gets a reprieve

You may have already seen this in the Askwoody lounge but for once Microsoft listened to customer feedback.

I have seen many many many longtime users of Skype say that they are looking for alternatives due to all of the changes.  Just like the Windows 10 upgrades on 7, you’ve had to watch carefully in the Skype dialog boxes to not get upgraded.  So if you are a classic Skype user, watch those update/upgrade dialog boxes in the Skype interface as it just might try to trip you up.

I can’t believe I’m pointing to this…but there is guidance on ways to block the upgrade prompts in this forum post.

CCleaner 5.45 removed

A couple of days ago, Martin Brinkmann (on ghacks.net) wrote:

Don’t install or upgrade to CCleaner 5.45

Piriform/Avast released CCleaner 5.45 recently to the public that Windows users may not want to install or upgrade to.

Today, Lawrence Abrams (on bleepingcomputer.com) wrote:

CCleaner v5.45 Pulled Due to Anger Over Usage Data Collection

It has not been a good week for Piriform’s PC cleaning tool CCleaner. With the release of CCleaner version 5.45, it was quickly discovered that the program’s “Active Monitoring” component, which is utilized to send anonymous usage data back to Piriform, could no longer be disabled.
First discovered by Ghacks.net, users of version 5.45 discovered that unlike previous versions there was no privacy setting that allowed you to disable the sending of anonymous usage information to Piriform.

This was discussed here on Piriform CCleaner & Speccy

Now, feedback has resulted in changes, as noted on piriform.com today:

Today we have removed v5.45 and reverted to v5.44 as the main download for CCleaner while we work on a new version with several key improvements. You can grab version 5.44 from one of the links [below]:

(You can find those download links here)

It’s nice to know that feedback can make a difference, while they go back to their drawing boards, trying to keep their customers happier.

Bank-Grade Security

Before you do your online banking next, you might like to check out a website that rates the security of bank websites. It might have you rethinking just how secure they are.

Bank Grade Security
When companies say they have “Bank Grade Security” they imply that it is a good thing.
In reality banks have poor security

Check it out at https://bankgradesecurity.com/

 
And while you are looking at online security issues, today marks the release of Chrome 68, which marks sites not using HTTPS as insecure. Security Researchers Troy Hunt and Scott Helme have just launched a new website, listing websites not using https. It’s not reassuring to see universities, government departments and many popular sites not using https yet, but there are early reports of sites changing to https as a result.

You’ll find it at https://whynohttps.com

Surface Book 2 disappearing GPU problems

Lots of Surface Book 2 customers complain that their fancy extra-cost NVIDIA GPUs are disappearing — cause unknown. Just like Flickergate, Microsoft’s stonewalling, and no solution has appeared.

Computerworld Woody on Windows.

And…. we’re back

The AskWoody site is now (finally!) back and working. Those of you who poked holes into your browsers may want to revert them. (And I can finally stop using Edge!)

Many thanks to Drew, Doug, Robert — and to the legions of you who had the forbearance to not say in public what I was shouting in private.

Anyway, the SSL cert ordeal is over. We ended up with a cert from Let’s Encrypt, woven into the fabric of the site itself. Let the games begin.

There are two hard problems in computing

Just saw this, tweeted by @liamosaur:

There are two hard problems in computing.

Staying calm enough to not throw the f####ng thing out of the window, and I’m so angry I forget what the other one is right now

No, the epic AskWoody SSL cert problem isn’t solved yet.

 
UPDATE – the site certificate is now showing as expiring in October! For now, we’re valid again – thank you all for your patience.

If you want a Pixelbook, now’s the time

Google’s going to release a new Pixelbook one of these days, but for right now this is a deal that’s too good to pass up.

To quote Google:

Save $250 on a Google Pixelbook, originally from $999, now from $749. Offer valid starting July 16, 2018 at 1pm PT through July 17, 2018 at 11:59pm PT. Available only to U.S. residents aged 13 years or older with U.S. shipping addresses. Our offer can’t be combined with any promotional codes or with other bundle offers running at the same time.

i5, 8 GB, 128 GB SSD for $749

i5, 8 GB, 256 GB SSD for $949

i7, 16 GB, 512 GB NVMe SSD for $1,399

Pen costs an extra $99. Two USB-C ports that can be used to charge. “OK Google” enabled. (Google had a similar sale in June.) All three ship tomorrow. All have 24-month 0% financing available.

Discounts like this don’t come scot-free. There are rumors of a new Pixelbook 2 in the wings — 4K display (3840 x 2160), Win10 compatibility. But if you don’t want to wait, this is an amazing deal.