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.

Apple Stock Holder that I am (In my IRA), I was interested to learn an explanation of the details behind the jump upward in the price of Apple stock. I thought that iPhones still being back ordered 2 weeks, and now for sale in many additional countries, or the prospect of an iPad 3 early in 2012; were ample reasons, Also, I thought the Dow being up 3 % as the Stock Market opened Tuesday explained it; but now belatedly I read of an Apple acquisition that may explain it to some. Not to me. No way a $500 million acquisition explains a $10 Billion increase in a comnpany's value.
Anyway the story is here, and the acquisition will help Apple's vertical integration.

It story reads in part:

Israeli newspaper Calcalist reported Tuesday that the Cupertino company has completed its purchase of Israel's Anobit, a flash-memory company, for $400 million to $500 million.

The report received more credence when the office Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted "Welcome to Israel, Apple Inc. on your 1st acquisition here."

Apple's largest acquisition was the purchase of NeXT for slightly more than $400 million in 1997, the move that brought Apple co-founder Steve Jobs back to the company, where he would eventually retake his CEO perch and lead it through the introduction of the iPod, iPhone and iPad.

Anobit's flash-based technology "significantly improves the endurance, performance and cost of flash storage products and systems," according to the company; its data-storage technology is already used in some Apple products.

Apple stock gained $13.89, or 3.63 percent, to $396.10 on Tuesday.

Zero Carb Noodles:

Was emailed a link to a story about zero Carb noodles from Japan.

Read about them here:

I went looking for the zero Carb Noodles from Japan at Whole Foods and only found ones made from Tofu, not the true zero carb ones made with Glucomannan.

Searching Amazon.com for Glucomannan Noodles, I found "Miracle Noodles",
not cheap, and with a review this bad:

I skipped all the negative reviews and thought I would give it a try myself...ugh, should have listened to the bad reviews. First of all, when you open them, they stink like bad fish-they come in a bag of water; secondly, no matter how I prepared them (I tried several different recipes), I still couldn't get rid of that smell; third, and foremost, the texture of the noodles is so gross - I felt like I was eating rubber...I just couldn't get past that. Oh well, at least I gave it a try, but they are not for me. Some people swear by them, not me.

And even though another reviewer said:

.rinse them a number of times in a colander, then cover with water and soak for a few minutes, then scald them in boiling water for a few minutes. After this I detected no odor or flavor.

I think I'll pass.
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iPad 3: I read online where someone predicts the iPad 3 will be announced or released on Feb. 24, 2012; Steve Jobs birthday is Feb. 24.
Story here:

Whenever it comes out, my attitude is:
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