Hardware

HP: Your Inkjet Requires Ink to Scan and FAX

Yet another reason I really don’t want anything to do with Inkjet Printers (regardless if it is an HP or another brand). Back in 2017 I bought what I believe was a Brother wireless color inkjet printer. Thought it would be good for everyone in the household to have easy access to a printer. Turns out, we never used the printer that much and the ink would dry out (especially in our super dry Arizona climate). I think I took it with me when I left and then ended up donating it a couple months later since I had no…

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A Surprising Reason Why People Don’t Update Firmware

When it comes to firmware updates some people simply don’t understand the need or process.  However, many people who do understand the need and process, are  getting into the bad habit of NOT installing firmware updates (or the very least allow automatic updates). The reason is surprising: They don’t trust the update. This is nothing new for software updates mainly Windows Updates. People have seen the horror stories on the Internet that a bad Windows Update bricked someone’s computer to the point they had to do a system restore and lost all their data. Now they have a fear that…

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Microsoft Confirms End of Windows 10

Not sure which is worse Elon Musk at the helm of Twitter or Microsoft Corporation 417,32 +0,90 +0,22% trying to force people from Windows 10 to Windows 11. On April 27th, Microsoft provided a “Windows client roadmap update” which basically says Windows 10 is now a dead-end and since 22H2 was the last feature update there is nothing to see here. More over, Microsoft’s ‘recommendation’ says “We highly encourage you to transition to Windows 11 now as there won’t be any additional Windows 10 feature updates.”. There’s a couple problems with said recommendation: Many people are unable to ‘transition’ to…

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No More New Features for Windows 10

Microsoft has announced the Windows 10 22H2 feature update is the last for Windows 10 (so no Windows 11 23H1 or 23H2). There will still be patches and security updates through the end of life (October 2025) for Window 10, just no new features. Seems I am not the only one in the boat of not liking Windows 11.  Though to be fair, I only worked with it for a few hours. Perhaps it was the laptop, but still even a basic laptop ($500 USD) shouldn’t be chocking on YouTube videos with nothing else open (other than whatever crap Microsft…

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Windows 7 and 8 Support Ends in January

Microsoft Corporation 417,32 +0,90 +0,22% is being very firm they will end support for both Windows 7 and 8 come January 2023 Patch Tuesday (January 10, 2023). This also means no longer offering updates for their Edge Browser beyond this point. Google Inc. 140,77 +1,15 +0,82% had already announced Chrome would stop supporting Windows 7 and 8 in mid-January 2023. The end-of-support date for Edge coincides with the end of security update support for both Windows 7 and Windows 8 on January 10, and the end of Google Chrome support for Windows 7 and 8 in version 110. Because the underlying…

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Apple Self Repair Program now in Europe

Apple launched a self repair program for iPhone 12 and 13 along with the Silicon based (not Intel) MacBooks in the US earlier this year. Now the same program has rolled out to eight European countries;  Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and the UK.  Self Repair Kits can be purchased (or rented for a week) at any of the Apple Self Service repair stores. No word on what the cost is to purchase the kit which only the includes tools (manuals and parts are extra) but the weekly rental cost is £54.90 (around $67 USD). Customers may be…

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Epson to exit the Laser Printer Business in 2026

Epson has long been associated with printers, though when I think Laser Printers; HP, Brothers and Lexmark come to mind not Epson. Growing up we had an Epson printer in the house. Except they were not laser or even inkjet, rather Dot Matrix (or impact) printer the MX-80. Later on we ended up getting an Oki Data printer. My father did eventually get a laser printer. This was in later 80’s and I remember you could always tell when he was printing as the all lights in our 1960’s California house would start flickering. I am surprised running the printer…

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Microsoft will make Surface 9 Pro Parts Available to Consumers in 2023

Late last month Microsoft Corporation 417,32 +0,90 +0,22% release the next generation of their tablet computer. The Surface Pro 9 release on October 25, 2022, has been re-designed to make it easier for consumers to repair (instead of having to replace) the device. Microsoft will also make more parts available for purchase by consumers and repairs shops during the first half of 2023. That improved stance is reflected in the company’s latest designs. Microsoft says repairability [sic] was a “major focus” in the Surface Pro 9’s construction, and iFixit has confirmed as much in its independently run teardown of the…

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5G network roll-out in Africa Continues but Pricey Devices Impede Adoption

In the US the major wireless carries started slowly rolling out 5G networks to parts of select cities in 2019. By the December 2021, they expected to fully activate their 5G networks, but delays ensued due to concerns about possible interface with certain instruments on commercial aircraft. With all the advertising the big three (AT&T, T-Mobile & Verizon) US wireless carriers have been pushing out about 5G it is hard to realized there are still other parts of the world that are not using 5G as much. The adoption of the fifth generation (5G) mobile network in regions like North…

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Apple Confirms Future iPhones will Comply with EU USB-C Mandate

Apple Exec have confirmed the future iPhones (likely the iPhone 15 due out in Fall 2023) will have USB-C charging port.  So far only the EU has mandated for new mobile devices with 1000 watts or less power consumption produced on/after December 2024 must have USB-C charging port.  Brazil and India are considering similar rules and in June 2022 several Democratic US Senators sent an open letter to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo pushing the US to follow the EU’s steps. Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior Vice President of marketing, confirmed on Tuesday that the company will comply with EU’s ruling, but stopped…

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