Microsoft Windows 8

Secret Microsoft Website to get a $15 copy of Windows 8 Upgrade. if you bought a new PC with Windows 7, June 2, 2012 or later.
It will not work with a Safari Browser.

https://www.windowsupgradeoffer.com/en-US/Registration



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iPhone Ordering and shipping

5 Minutes before Midnight September 14 I preordered an iPhone 5 from AT&T because I know Apple order systems will be overwhelmed, because Apple won't buy enough bandwidth from Akamai.

Later that day AT&T sends me a txt message at 11:38 AM that my preorder has been processed, and promises another when the order is shipped, and then failed to do that.

Wednesday 9/19 at ATT.com/orderstatus shows the order was shipped on September 16. I had selected Ship to Home on "Sept 124".

I call 1-888-333-6651. and ATT gives me a tracking number of 502xxxxxxxxx.
   but despite 3 days since the order allegedly shipped neither ATT nor FedEx find it in their computer.
   Is it just in a sealed boxcar in a 747 such that it doesn't get scanned till it gets to local FedEx distribution?

Finally the morning of 9/20 FedEx reports Scheduled for delivery September 21, befopre 3 PM.

Cases for iPads: Many iPad 2 cases fit "The New iPad" perfectly, and even perform sleep / wake ("Smart Cover") upon opening or closing a flap / cover. Some buyers report experience with sleep/wake not functioning; and it puzzled manufacturers and buyers. Here's the story, based upon Googling, read here. and my own first hand research:

Apple switched to using a different of sleep/wake sensor to trigger their "Smart Cover" in "The New iPad". This different sensor is sensitive to magnetic polarity (the sensor in the iPad 2 is NOT sensitive to polarity), so a particular model iPad 2 case has a 50% chance (or 100% or zero % chance depending on assembly practices) of working with an iPad "3"?

And I found a solution: if your case doesn't perform sleep/wake: Take a small piece of a thicker refrigerator magnet and test it. If it works, glue it to the inside right edge of outer flap, about 2 1/2 inches from the top of your ipad 2 case. A 1 inch by 1/2 inch size or smaller works best, but too small or too thin (ie magnets on back of business cards) may not have enough magnetism.

ATT UVERSE - It's still ATT - Their service is usually (in my part of Houston anyway) more reliable than Comcast, but their pricing is outrageous. I was paying $35/month, and I get a new bill with a $48/month rate, which I called up and objected to. Uverse CSRs said I had a promotional price expiring on March 19, so call after that. I call today March 21, and the automated menuing system never could get me to Uverse Retention, and when it finally did the CSRs refused to give me any "promotional" pricing. Googling again helped, and finally I got the deal I had been promised last week. Uverse Retention is 877-377-0414

Extra charges on your AT&T Mobility bill: Turns out if you delete a spam text message those folks may charge you $10. Story here:

However when you call AT&T and ask for a "Purchase Block" on your account, the CSRs refuse to help. I spent nearly an hour with 5 separate CSRs that apparently don't know the issue or have been instructed not to help you; they all make Lily Tomlin seem helpful. Then using Google, I made a call to their semi-secret number at Office of the President "866-751-5784" and on second attempt got to someone who was willing to adjust my account so third party charges won't appear on my bill.

Grief with Norton Internet Security 2012 : I hadn't used my laptop in a few weeks, and discovered Norton Internet Security 2012 refused to install its latest Live Update files. I uninstalled, reinstalled, no change.

Solution after much Googling; I had to run Windows Update and install this month's Patch Tuesday updates, reboot, and then Norton behaved.