Microsoft fixes Window 10 file deletion issue
Microsoft claims to have taken care of the inadvertent file deletion issue affecting users upgrading Windows 10, and is rolling out a fixed version to early adopters in its Windows Insider program for further testing.
A few days ago, Microsoft was force to pause the rollout of Windows 10 version 1809, as upgraders complained that files in their computers’ Documents, Pictures and Downloads folders had vanished.
The file deletion issue also saw Microsoft pull Windows Server 2019 downloads.
Microsoft found that the file deletion happened if users had enabled redirection of Windows user data folders – including Desktop, Documents, Pictures, Screenshots, Videos, Camera roll and more – away from their default location under C:\Users\$UserName.
Some users told Microsoft that the previous April 2018 major Windows Update created duplicate empty copies of these folders if redirection was enabled.
Microsoft decided to remove these duplicate folders through code incorporated into version 1809.
Unfortunately for some users, “that change, combined with another change to the update construction sequence, resulted in the deletion of the original “old” folder locations and their content, leaving only the new ‘active’ folder intact,” Cable said.
Cable also identified another file deletion scenario involving redirection of Known Folders to OneDrive storage whereby contents of the original default directory were erased if they weren’t moved.
Furthermore, an early buggy version of the OneDrive client with autosave turned on didn’t move files in users Documents and Pictures folders from the old location to the new one.
Google+ killed off after user data exposed
The Google+ data leak bug was found as part of “Project Strobe”, a root-and-branch review of what data developers could access from Google accounts, and Android devices.
“The bug meant that apps also had access to Profile fields that were shared with the user, but not marked as public,
Google has now decided that the incident shows Google+ APIs and associated controls are too challenging to develop and maintain, so it will shutter the social network over a ten-month period.
But it’s not doing so solely out of concern for users’ privacy: Smith admitted the network is not a success, saying “The consumer version of Google+ currently has low usage and engagement: 90 percent of Google+ user sessions are less than five seconds.”
Weak passwords banned in California from 2020
Default passwords such as “admin” and “password” will be illegal for electronics firms to use in California from 2020.
The state has passed a law that sets higher security standards for net-connected devices made or sold in the region.
It demands that each gadget be given a unique password when it is made.
NBN Co says fibre-to-the-curb build is more complex that it hoped
NBN Co is hoping to “speed up” building works on the fibre-to-the-curb (FTTC) portion of its network as it tries to make up lost ground.
CEO Stephen Rue told the CommsDay summit yesterday that the company had encountered complexity in the FTTC rollout so far where it “often has to remediate pits and install new conduits” to bring fibre closer to homes.
The company is under some pressure to deliver as it missed its last financial year ready-for-service target for FTTC by a considerable margin.
Based on the most recent corporate plan, NBN Co hopes to make 500,000 FTTC premises ready for service this year, for a total of 700,000.
That’s 200,000 less than its rollout target a year ago, with construction on those premises now pushed out by a year.
NBN Co still expects to have 1.4 million FTTC premises ready for service by the end of FY20.
Joes Podcast for 11/10/2018
Gold, Silver, and Bronze mobile numbers
https://www.whistleout.com.au/MobilePhones/Guides/how-to-choose-your-own-phone-number
- Some of you may not know this, but you can actually request specific premium phone numbers from your mobile provider – but getting one isn’t free.
- A premium number is a number that includes easy to remember combinations : for example, 0400 123456, 0422 222 222, or 0413 13 13 13. These numbers are known as ‘Golden’ or ‘Gold’ numbers, and some also have ‘silver’ or ‘bronze’ numbers too.
- So why would you want a Premium number – well there is several reasons – A premium number can look professional, and it can enhance radio ads and jingles. Make it easy for your customers to remember, or if for personal use, it’s similar to owning personalised license plates: fun, but not essential.
- If you’re with Telstra and looking for a specific number, you can expect to pay up to $400. Telstra offers its customers gold, silver, and bronze numbers, with prices depending on what you’re after. You’ll also need to pay a $33 number change fee.
- Optus also allows customers to request and buy premium numbers. Optus refers to these numbers as ‘Golden Numbers’. Optus will charge a flat administration fee of $132 for any golden number change.
- Vodafone has 2 premium numbers Categories, Gold and Silver. The gold numbers are available for $275 upfront, while silver numbers are priced at $55. Vodafone also charges a one-off $19.95 fee to change your mobile number.
- Amaysim, which offers coverage on the Optus network, also allows customers to change to gold phone numbers where available. Amaysim will incur a $30 one-off charge, plus a ‘change of number’ fee of $20.
So check with your mobile number provider if your interested in getting a premium number.
Google Home Hub : The new hub for your smart home.
https://www.pocket-lint.com/smart-home/reviews/google/146000-google-home-hub-review-assistant-smart
- The new Google Home Hub is a competitor for Amazon Echo Show , basically it’s the google home with a 7” screen.
- Google Home Hub works with Android, iOS, Mac, Windows and Chromebook.
- Its size is 118 x 67 x 179mm and weighs 480 grams
- It comes in 4 colours Colours: Sand, Aqua, Chalk, and Charcoal
- It has Wi-Fi & Bluetooth support and of course The Google Assistant.
- Now the google home hub is a lot smaller than the Amazon Echo Show and a fair bit cheaper too, plus there’s no built-in camera so no privacy worries there – although that also means no video calls too. (this might be seen as a good thing, or it might not, depending on your point of view). The Home hub has a microphone off switch directly to the rear to stop the Hub from listening too, if that worries you.
- Google’s home hub works with Nest, and it’s added doorbells, cameras, thermostats, smoke alarms and more devices into its ecosystem – all of which can be controlled via the Hub as well. So the Hub isn’t to be thought of as a tablet: rather it’s a control point for all your smart home gadgets.
- The display shows Album Art while music is playing, local weather, and of course the time. You can search online and it can display recipes and news information as well.
- Google Hub offers YouTube access, with six months of Premium subscription included with your purchase.
Would you get one ? I would i use mine all the time
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What is Facebook Portal and how does it work?
- Facebook Portal is a video communication device from Facebook.
- There are actually two different models: One is called Facebook Portal and the other is Facebook Portal+. They each have different screen sizes and designs, but they’re both focused on video chatting and meant to make it feel like you’re in the same room with the person on the other end of the call.
- The Portal is the closest in style to the Amazon’s Echo Show, with a 10-inch 1280 x 800 display. It has a 12-megapixel front-facing camera with 140-degree field of view. A four mic array picks up voices for voice recognition and calling, while the stereo speakers offer 10W total output.
The Portal+ is the larger, with a 15.6-inch 1080p display that can be swiveled to a portrait or landscape position. It has a 12-megapixel front-facing camera and four mic array, although its speaker output is 20W, provided by two tweeters and a single 4-inch bass unit.
Both Portals come with dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.2 connectivity.
- Now what’s also interesting with this new hardware from Facebook is that both versions feature whats called AI-powered “Smart Camera and Smart Sound” technology built in….. What that does is allow the AI powered Camera and sound to follow you around the room and automatically pan and zoom while also minimising background noise and enhancing the voice of whoever is calling. Facebook said it’s like “having your own cinematographer and sound crew follow you around and direct your personal video calls”.
- You can either use Facebook Portal to call your Facebook friends and connect via Messenger even if they don’t have a Portal. Calls can be made to and from Messenger-enabled phones and tablets too.
- Facebook Portal has support for Alexa and voice commands out of the box. You can start a video call by saying “Hey Portal” and then say who you’d like to call. And because Portal also has built-in Amazon Alexa, you can ask it to check the weather, control smart home devices, order groceries, and all the things you can do with a normal Amazon Alexa.
- Like most smart home devices, both versions of Facebook Portal are launching with a handful of apps and integrations. Facebook has partnered with Spotify Premium, Pandora, iHeartRadio, The Food Network, and Newsy – and it promised to add more soon. Rumors are It also has Facebook Watch coming out too.
- Facebook Portal will be available in November in the US only atm and will cost $199, while Portal+ costs $349 in the US. You can save $100 off if you get them both together.
- As far as security is concerned …. You can completely disable the camera and microphone with a single tap, and both models come with a camera cover so you can easily block the lens. Plus, to manage Portal access within your home, you can set a four- to 12-digit passcode to unlock the screen.
- Facebook also promised that it won’t listen to, view, or keep the contents of your Portal video calls, and that video calls are encrypted. What’s more, the Smart Camera and Smart Sound’s AI technology runs locally on Portal, not on Facebook servers.
- The Portal’s camera also doesn’t use any type of facial recognition, and you can delete your Portal’s voice history in your Facebook Activity Logs at any time.