Where's My Damned Start Menu?

Windows 8.0, was a mistake, it took the intelligence of interface design for a tablet or touch-based system and supplanted it onto an operating system and user base that didn't want or deserve it. Sure, you can make due with the modern Windows interface with no name. Yes, while it was called Metro during development they found they couldn't call it that so it lost it's identity. The die hard and annoyed user base still call it Metro out of spite or frustration.

The reality is, we hate it. Sure it has it's place on touch-based systems, but the rest of us hate it, hate being forced to use it. Sometimes we don't want to reach for the screen, we're comfortable with the mouse or touch-pad.

Windows 8.1 was an improvement, it's the only version of the operation system I'd run, but we've been cheated. Microsoft cheated us out of a decent system and left us for dead. Promises of bringing back the Start Menu, a proper version of it, have all but vanished in an 8.x release, but the real crime is the rumour that Windows 9 is on the horizon and my fear is that Microsoft will ransom the user community for a proper shell, a proper operating system in the form of an upgrade. They really need to wake up and recognize that they've already ripped off their customers and it's high time they apologize to them with a replacement, a free upgrade, to Windows 9.0.

If they don't, the revolution against this hazardous waste of an OS will lead the masses across the technical Red Sea to the lands of Linux, Apple's OS/X, and ChromeOS, and I'll lead the charge. Especially considering the threats to end support for the last usable version of Windows, version 7.0.

Consider the following:
https://www.google.ca/chrome/devices/
http://www.apple.com/ca/mac/
http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop

Why Should I Upgrade From Windows XP?

As the technical guy I try to advocate that you keep up to date with the latest, supported, operating system, applications, and patches.This is the responsible thing to do, but there's a problem with this process. My over-dramatic brother-in-law has a point about one thing, "Don't fix what ain't broke." He uses applications that are dependant on Windows XP, and while he is definitely cheap, he's right. I feel the same way though. I use Windows XP with Fireworks 3.0 from Macromedia (now Adobe).

Why should I spend money on something I don't need to replace? It's expensive!

I could just learn something new. There's GIMP 2.0 for example, but it's not as simple and straightforward as Fireworks is, or was, but why? Fireworks worked, er, works. I know this is a losing battle, but I know I'm not alone, the support for Windows XP ended and it has caused us all undue stress.

Undue? Ya, okay... I'm still in a position to advocate for staying up-to-date. There's a good reason for this, there are bad people, or perhaps I'll suggest it's curious people, that create bad software that has one intention, to mess with your happiness and ability to compute in safety.

So, why is software so expensive? When I worked for Microsoft the line was that the cost was high to offset piracy. This is NOT true, but the truth can be elusive so I'll let that go. Why should it cost $50 per month to use the latest version of this software? I'm not faulting Adobe here, I don't know their costs, but for someone like me, a casual user of the tools to build web sites, this is overly expensive.

How many other applications fall into this wasteland? How many people are looking at giving up something that works because of the expiry of Windows XP?

The BlackBerry Q10...

My thumbs decree, "We're back!"

Yesterday my demo unit of the Q10 arrived and while I'd hoped to make a temporary switch to the Q10 from my Z10, my daughter was too quick for me and adopted the device, but not without giving me some time with the black beauty.

It's elegant, and roughly the same size as my work BlackBerry, the 9900 when equipped with the Otterbox Commuter. It's comfortable in the hands, with a crystal clear screen that features a 720x720 resolution. Yes, it's square, but the keyboard is a perfect fit just below, and it's an familiar old friend.

My daughter's comment was that it was weird, but qualified that by explaining that she's been in the on-screen keyboard world since April 2012, first with the BlackBerry Torch 9860, when she replaced her Torch Slider, the 9800, then on February 4th of this year when the BlackBerry Z10 came to ROGERS in Canada.

Yes, we're early adopters in this family.

Like the Z10, the Q10 has micro-HDMI port, and you can add a microSD card to increase the storage of the device. Having just purchased a 32Gb microSD card for $20 from NCIX.ca, my device has capacity to store videos and the as many pictures as I can snap. And the BlackBerry camera is very capable in daylight and indoor photography, though low-light can be a little difficult, but this doesn't set this device behind any other. If you're documenting or capturing the impromptu moments of life, it'll so. Raise the bar with HDR pictures, but switch to a rapid shot mode for those family events.

The device is solid, feels great in the hand and a tough as you'd expect from a BlackBerry, not that I've drop-tested it. I promised my daughter a 1 month review period, after that I'll find a good home for it, or perhaps try it myself, but I do love my Z10.

Maybe BlackBerry will have something new to try by then, but from what I've seen this is the second a bright future of devices from my friends in Waterloo, Ontario.

All packed...

...and ready to go. My one piece of carry-on has my life on-board for the next four days. As such these days will be spent learning, hunting for WiFi, posting as much as I can and all using either my BlackBerry Z10 or my BlackBerry PlayBook. It's a busy week, and while I wish I could have broken my daughters out of school for this, this just means I'll refrain from having any fun that I'd normally share with them.

I am "BlackBerry Elite," by choice.

I am...

BlackBerry (BBRY) has, for some time, recognized me as a fan. As you know I write about BlackBerry, occasionally critically, but always with the best interests of this Canadian company at heart. They have helped me gain experience with their products and services by ensuring I have access to them, and to be fair I do not weight their graciousness into my opinion of the products I talk about.

I am attending BlackBerry Live next week, May 14th-16th, and I am hoping to learn a great deal about the future of BlackBerry OS and where they're headed. I have my own ideas too, and hope to convey those to the right people. I'll echo those ideas and what I learn and discover through this blog and perhaps a couple of others. My main intent is to show you what I love about this company, their products, and their direction. I am drawn to get back into development on this platform, it's the right place to explore, but certainly not the only place. There's competition from Windows 8, as much as I haven't enjoyed it, it's new interface has potential, but for true mobility I believe the BlackBerry Z10, Q10, PlayBook, and some yet-to-be announced devices hold the wildcards in this game.

Stay tuned for more.

Mobilizing Music and having it last...

Whether it's my Plantronics 903+ headset, my OEM BlackBerry ear buds or my BlackBerry Music Gateway, there's no doubt that I like music around me, and these devices really make using my BlackBerry Z10, even my 9900 an even closer companion, but the latest music device from my friends at BlackBerry is the Bluetooth connected BlackBerry Mini Stereo Speaker.

 It fits in the palm of your hand, has excellent quality sound (for a device of this size) and serves as either a hands-free device or remote speakers. You can even plug in headphones and it charges via micro-USB (the same as what most smartphones use). It does have an on/off switch so it's keep charged safely tucked away in a beach bag. You can even answer a call without removing your phone from the safety of a backpack or your car's console.

Once paired to your device, simply powering it up should re-acquaint the two devices, it functioned as easily with my PlayBook and my Z10, as my 9900 for a conference call.

The design is simply, simple. The folded design allows for a moderate 5mm spread to clip onto a shoulder belt in your car, a messenger-bag, or even a laptop-back should you still need to lug that around with you. If you need more privacy plug in your headphones, either those with a microphone or something more audiophilic, there's a 1/8" stereo jack on the end opposite the power switch where the charging plug is (see below).

There's no mystery to this little device, simply convenience. And while it only (for now?) comes in white, this matches my daughter's massive SkullCandy Hesh 2 headphones so while I love my new music source, I don't think it'll be long for my use, but I won't have to steal them back either. I'll buy another unit in fairly short order if that happens. I can see this being a popular addition to your summer activities.

Pick them up now from my preferred online store for BlackBerry hardware, ca.CrackBerry.com.

Beware the evil-doers that spoof the good guys...

Okay, some may argue that ROGERS is not a "good-guy" but I like them, the thing is the evil-doers also like them as a source of targets, you.

This is phishing, this email's content and context look correct, but if you hover over the URL (web address) you'll notice it doesn't match the text, this is a BIG RED FLAG!

The site you would end up at looks EXACTLY like a ROGERS Sign-In page, it's not, it's a website that will collect as much information as possible about your accounts, credit card, etc. then the owners will do their best to steal your money.

Be careful, be AWARE of what you do online.

By the way, the questions they asked if you were crazy enough to follow the link and sign in, I used a bogus password, are enough to steal your identity!