Computer Support Blog

Today, RESCUECOM released a press release containing helpful information about the new REFRESH feature found in Windows 8 and Windows 8.1.  Windows REFRESH is an option for users in Windows 8 that helps them restore their computer when it has a serious malfunction.  The difference between a REFRESH and a complete reinstall is that a REFRESH allows users to retain their personal data such as documents, music, videos and pictures.  Having this new option for users to attempt to fix their machines when a problem occurs is great, but there are several potential concerns with the new feature as well. Read more »

Having a digital personal assistant has been a science fiction fantasy for many consumers for decades.  Computers that speak to you and act as a personal assistant has been a common trope in popular television shows, books and films over the years.  However, only recently did the idea become a viable reality for the everyday consumer.  When Apple’s Siri feature for the iPhone debuted several years ago, it was a major hit. The conversational interaction that triggered the feature tapped into to many people’s fantasies about artificial intelligence.  Suddenly, people had the ability to ask their smartphone to make appointments, look up information and perform basic online tasks with just a few spoken words.  Flash forward a few years later and now there is a cool product called GoDog Fetch that acts in a similar way, but does so for other platforms besides the iPhone, such as Android and Windows devices.  Users who have trouble downloading the product for any of their devices can get help from a smartphone IT support service. Read more »

Despite its many successes in the software field, it is virtually impossible to deny that in many ways, Microsoft has been chasing Apple for years.  While Microsoft was still utilizing keyboard-based DOS, Apple had a mouse-based interface that captivated its users and made life easier for them.  That Microsoft Windows largely made PC’s more like Macintosh computers is a pretty old argument.  But as more and more details are leaked from Microsoft’s forthcoming Windows 8, it is hard not to see the parallels between the new operating system from Microsoft and Apple’s iOS. Read more »

Windows 8 is just around the corner. Microsoft released its new operating system for the developer’s pre-beta testing phase in September and a beta version will come out in February. The reviews so far from the pre-beta phase are extremely encouraging about Windows 8.

According to developers who are already using the pre-beta version, Windows 8 is a very different operating system from its predecessors. The entire operating system is a rethought and redesigned product to fulfill the needs of users better on all platforms.

That is right, all platforms. Instead of using a different operating system for smartphones and tablets than they use for computers, Windows 8 will be available for all devices. It will to work the same on every device, as well as be able to synchronize your trusted devices so that you can pull up the same programs when moving from one device to another. This should simplify computer support for any of your devices.

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