What's with Flash player in Internet Explorer?! ...and Firefox, and...

I had it already and I came to this sort of conclusion/question (at any rate, still a puzzle): Apparently if IE does not work properly (no PDF viewing, no Flash player, always asking for an update, even when Firefox or Chrome work fine doing the same, etc.) that is a sign of Windows problems. It could be spyware (?) How about Flash10u.ocx instead of Flash10e.ocx? What about the difference between the Shockwave Flash Object and the Flash Player? It seems to be that these are two different names for the same "add-on", not sure. In addition, there's Activex Version: 10.3.181.34 (as of this date) and Plug-in version 11.0.1.152. In addition, there is the Flash Player Settings Manager in the Control Panel, but that it's only for the 32-bit version. In other words, sort of confusing. Was this the reason why Steve Jobs (r.i.p.) literally censured this technology, back in 2010 ("we know that Flash is the number one reason Macs crash") and I would add the number one reason why Internet Explorer crashes and/or performs poorly sometimes.  Well, at least Adobe has a page on the subject. Solving this puzzle may be the key to a number of issues in Windows, and that goes for other Adobe products. Oh, yes, and for the other browsers!

We are already 7 billion, and yes, still in the PC era

Today, according to the United Nations, will mark the day when the world population reaches the worrisome figure of 7 billion inhabitants!  "Occupancy by more than 7 billion inhabitants is dangerous and unlawful" should read a big sign visible from outer space. Seriously, this piece of news that cannot pass unnoticed, brings many thoughts and conjectures about the availability of resources. I want just to point to the fact that the PC, that marvelous invention of the 20th century, is here to stay for many centuries to come. Think about this: the automobile, no matter how sophisticated has become and will continue to improve, specially in the energy consumption department, is already part of the tools that mankind uses to function on a daily basis. By the same token, the PC, sort of the second invention of the wheel, will continue to be part of our daily tools for centuries to come. I totally disagree with what some "analysts" wrongly call the "post-PC era" just because the inroads PC tablets (iPad and the like) are making. Undeniably, computing activity has moved from the desktop to the mobile realm, but it does not mean it is a substitute for the personal computer on a desk or even a laptop computer. That would be tantamount to saying that the sandals represent the "post-shoe era" or something to that effect. Nonsense. There is a lot of people that needs to be catered with computers and, no, people won't be productive just tapping on a screen with their fingers. Keyboards, mice and other input devices will continue to be around.

Need a really good reason to upgrade to Windows 7? Try XP mode

For those still hesitant to upgrade their already-old Windows XP system, "fearing" that their current applications are not compatible, there is a very good reason to upgrade to Windows 7 in the form of Windows XP mode, let alone that almost everything that runs in XP can run in Windows 7. Basically, you  seamlessly can run any Windows XP-compatible application within Windows 7 through the use of a Virtual PC. Both, the latter and the former, can be downloaded for free. It's neat, it's useful and works unobstrusively. You don't even need to start the virtual machine if you enable the "integration features". Each application will run in a separate window like any other native Windows 7 application, the only difference being the upper-right hand control buttons look and feel. Take a few minutes of your time and watch this enlightening video on how to do the whole setup. Give it a try, if you have Windows 7, or have someone give you a demo. You won't regret it and would think, how in the world I didn't do this before?! Really. Read more...

From XP to Windows 8? Not necessarily

More than a month after I got my copy of Windows Developer Preview (aka Windows 8 Preview), I am convinced that it is a great addition to the saga of Microsoft operatings systems and that it will serve its purpose very well: to provide a versatile and nimble OS for tablet devices using either Intel or ARM processors. There is no doubt that Windows 8 is a technology event to reckon with now, in the near future and beyond. However, and this is just my personal opinion, I would suggest to those still pondering an upgrade to Windows XP to not skip Windows 7, specially if you are a heavy desktop computer user. Not that Windows 8 is not capable of heavy duty computer power, but Windows 7 will, in turn, continue to be an operating system of choice for powers users: developers, designers, writers and editors, engineers, architects, and yes, artists. "Does Windows 8 really change everything?" Read on.

THINK Exhibit: when IBM is cool again

Yesterday, Sunday the 23rd, was the last day of this great IBM exhibit, at the newly renovated Lincoln Center 'campus', of which I had a hint a few days before its opening, in mid September, as a regular visitor to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. The good news is that I got a new gig for the rest of this year, and in the process I did not visit (sigh) this exhibit, and that's the bad news! I totally missed out this extraordinary display of technology and imagination celebrating the 100th birthday of IBM. How I wish they could leave it open for the rest of autumn... (IBM people, are you listening...?)