Newsletter Archives

• How to fix problems with Microsoft’s Phone Link app

  Posted on February 17, 2025 at 02:45 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 22.07 • 2025-02-17

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Phone Link pairs your iPhone or Android phone with Windows, but it doesn’t always cooperate. Here’s how to fix technical troubles that may pop up in the process.

  I often use Microsoft’s Phone Link to sync my iPhone and Android phone with Windows so I can access mobile calls, messages, contacts, and photos from my phone directly on my PC. I especially like to write and answer texts using my desktop keyboard and mouse rather than my phone’s tiny virtual keys. But Phone Link can sometimes misbehave.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (22.07.0, 2025-02-17).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Windows 11 Android, Bluetooth, iPhone, Newsletters, Phone Link, Settings, Troubleshooting

• Do you need antivirus for your phone?

  Posted on May 13, 2024 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.20 • 2024-05-13

  ON SECURITY

  

  By Susan Bradley

  For many years, I thought it silly to consider adding an antivirus program or other security software to our phones.

  Phones were seen as gated communities the bad guys couldn’t enter. Windows was the Wild West, where anything could be downloaded, and we found ourselves with malicious software installed on our systems.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.20.0, 2024-05-13).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  On Security Android, Antivirus, App Dashboard, App Privacy, Apple Store, CleanTalk, iPhone, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Private Relay, Smartphones, VirusTotal, VPN

• MS-DEFCON 2: May updates are right around the corner

  Posted on May 9, 2024 at 02:45 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 21.19.1 • 2024-05-09

  

  By Susan Bradley

  Patch Tuesday is only a few days away. As usual, caution is in order.

  I’ve therefore raised the MS-DEFCON level to 2. Make sure your system is backed up and you have deferred updates.

  In addition, I urge you to take stock of the other software that is installed on your system. Often, it’s this third-party software that may result in side effects.

  Anyone can read the full MS-DEFCON Alert (21.19.1, 2024-05-09).

  AskWoody Plus Alert, MS-DEFCON Alerts, Android, Android Phone, InControl, iPhone, KB5036979, MS-DEFCON, MS-DEFCON 2, NTLM, VPN

• Apple turns on ‘Discoverable by Others.’ Should you worry?

  Posted on April 15, 2024 at 02:44 CDT by B. Livingston • Comment in the Forums

  PUBLIC DEFENDER

  

  By Brian Livingston

  The blogosphere has been going nuts lately after learning that Apple quietly turned on by default an iPhone setting known as “Discoverable by Others.”

  Despite your initial shock after hearing this — or seeing it for yourself on your phone — being discoverable may or may not be something you need to be concerned about.

  I’ll explain today what the setting does and why you might want to leave it on — or turn it off immediately.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.16.0, 2024-04-15).

  Public Defender Apple, Discovery, iPhone, Journaling, Newsletters, Privacy, Security

• Server updates fail to download

  Posted on March 18, 2024 at 02:42 CDT by Susan Bradley • Comment in the Forums

  PATCH WATCH

  

  By Susan Bradley

  The March updates for Windows opened the month on a bumpy road.

  The most significant bump relates to the update for Windows Server, demonstrating that it’s not just client PCs that have problems. Fortunately, the problem seems to have been fixed quickly.

  KB5035849 is the culprit.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.12.0, 2024-03-18).

  Patch Watch Backup, CVE-2024-21407, Hyper-V, iCloud, iPhone, KB5034441, KB5035845, KB5035849, Newsletters, Patch Lady Posts, Windows Server

• How to get photos and videos from your phone to your PC

  Posted on March 11, 2024 at 02:44 CDT by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Your mobile phone may be home to thousands of photos and videos. Now’s the time to back up and sync them to your Windows computer.

  I have some 12,250 photos and videos stored on my iPhone. And if something dire happened to my phone, all those photos and videos could be lost. That’s why I copy and sync them all between my phone and my Windows PC. If you’re in the same boat, there is a host of ways you can transfer and back up your precious photographic memories to your computer.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.11.0, 2024-03-11).

  Windows 11 Android, iCloud, iCloud Photos, iPhone, Newsletters, OneDrive, Personal Media, Phone Link, Photos, Photos App, Photos Legacy, Videos

• How to link your smartphone with Windows 11

  Posted on February 12, 2024 at 02:44 CST by Lance Whitney • Comment in the Forums

  WINDOWS 11

  

  By Lance Whitney

  Connecting your iPhone or Android phone to Windows 11 lets you make phone calls, send texts, and view notifications directly from your PC.

  As an iPhone owner and Windows user, I’d like to be able to access my phone from my computer at times. Maybe I want to make or answer a call, or send or view a text message, but my phone isn’t handy. Or maybe speaking or chatting with someone feels easier when I’m already using my PC for other tasks. Whatever the scenario, this is a capability I often need. And it’s all doable with the right tools.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (21.07.0, 2024-02-12).

  Windows 11 Android, Bluetooth, iPhone, Newsletters, Pairing Phone, Phone Link, Photos, Texting

• Apple 2030

  Posted on September 18, 2023 at 02:45 CDT by Will Fastie • Comment in the Forums

  

  ISSUE 20.38 • 2023-09-18

  APPLE NEWS

  

  By Will Fastie

  Mother Nature deems Apple’s ambitious clean-energy goals worthy, albeit surprising.

  Oscar winner Octavia Spencer, in her starring role as Mother Nature in Apple’s fall event, stole the show. Apple goes Hollywood all the time in these events, but this was different.

  In a nicely done surprise skit, Mother Nature has come to Apple to audit its progress on meeting its green goals, specifically carbon neutrality. This alone was funny because all companies seem to have stated goals, but it’s hard to know whether any are being achieved. Mother Nature was skeptical to the point of assuming Apple was just blowing smoke, so to speak.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (20.38.0, 2023-09-18).
  This story also appears in our public Newsletter.

  Apple Apple News, Apple Watch, iPhone, iPhone 15, Newsletters, Photography, USB-C
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