Embedded Files
WEEKLY NEWSLETTER 17 - 22 JULY 2023
Hello and Welcome,
Meeting TODAY
Hi everyone,
Our Web Design meeting is today, Saturday 15th, at 2 pm on the 1st Floor SMSA.
I have been flat-out cleaning the club's cupboard this month and a few other problems, but thanks to our members, I have a few things to look at.
While we were cleaning out the SMSA cupboard, John S told me about SCRIMBA.
It's a set of free online tutorials.
"Is Scrimba a coding boot camp?"
In short, no, we're not. We aim to offer the same value, but at a 100X lower price, so there are differences.
I joined, and we will look at John's course on using AI to build a website. John L contributed an item on colour in CSS. We'll investigate how colour works so you wouldn't get HEX'ed. Finally, Bob had an article in Sway on our Newsheet dealing with how to hide sensitive info on a photo; it can be hacked!
We will be live at the SMSA and online; here are the details:
SPCTUG Web Design Meeting
Time: Jul 15, 2023, 14:00 Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82634658712
Meeting ID: 826 3465 8712
Passcode: webdesign
See you on Saturday.
Steve South
Meeting This Week
2023/07/18 — 10:00-12:00 — July, Tue — Tuesday Group
Hello Members,
Bring along your Windows 10 problems. We can try them out on the Club's computer. (Win 11 we can talk about.) Any other ideas will be welcome for future meetings.
— Ed.
Meetings Next Week
NO MEETINGS
Schedule of Current & Upcoming Meetings
First Tuesday 18:00-20:00 — Main Meeting
First Saturday 13:00-14:00 — Penrith Group
Second Tuesday 18:00-20:00 — Programming
Third Tuesday 10:00-12:00 — Tuesday Group
Third Saturday 14:00-16:00 — Web Design
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Go to the official Sydney PC Calendar for this month's meeting details.
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Penrith meetings are held every 2nd month on the 1st Saturday from 1-2 pm.
The following meetings are in September and November 2023.
ASCCA News:Tech News:
SSDs May Slow After Windows Update
See the InfoPackets article by John Lister on July 7, 2023, at 01:07 pm EDT.
SSDs Slow after Windows Update
Windows 11 users report hard drives performing more slowly after mandatory system updates. The problem affects solid-state drives rather than older-model hard drives with moving parts.
The Windows Latest website gathered reports from its forums, discussion site Reddit, and Microsoft's support forums. It concluded that the "performance issue doesn't appear to be widespread, but it is real." (Source: windowslatest.com)
One piece of evidence that something is amiss rather than just a fluke pattern is that those complaining point to a consistent timeline. The problems have affected all the "Patch Tuesday" updates since March. Those are security updates that are, in theory, mandatory to install.
Users who've noticed the slowdown say that manually uninstalling the updates back to March restores the speed of their hard drives. That's not a viable workaround as it could mean a significant security risk, plus Windows will normally reinstall all of the updates on the next "Patch Tuesday", the second Tuesday of the month.
Writing Slowdown
While the user data varies, the main problem is writing to disks rather than reading from them. In some cases, users share test data showing speeds halved or worse.
The most noticeable effect is a big slowdown when copying or moving large files. Some users have also reported significant negative effects when playing games.
There isn't an obvious pattern over which makes or models of drives are affected. There's likely a specific issue with a type of drive that is rare enough that Microsoft's testing programs didn't cover it.
Criticism Mounts
The problem has prompted criticism that Microsoft is concentrating too much on adding new features rather than making certain core functionality works as well as possible. Another common complaint is that Microsoft has yet to address the problem other than to confirm it has received the reports. (Source: yahoo.com)
Microsoft Edge Is Cracking Down on Notification Spam
See the How-To Geek article by AROL WRIGHT | @arolwright | JUL 7, 2023, at 11:58 am EDT.
Have you ever opened a website just for it to prompt you to turn on notifications for it immediately? Or even worse — have you found yourself accepting those prompts, only for that website to proceed to bombard you with spammy messages? Microsoft is hoping to end that in its Edge browser.
Microsoft Edge has been in the news lately for its AI additions, but there have been a few other features in the pipeline. A common method of spam distribution over the past few years has been through website notifications, with those websites throwing spam via browser notifications at you. You're safe as long as you block notifications from that website, but if you make the mistake of hitting "Accept," all hell breaks loose. This is what Microsoft Edge is aiming to fix here.
Notifications blocked
We've blocked notifications from this site because it may be unfamiliar. If you trust this site, select Allow to receive notifications.
Manage or Allow
Microsoft Edge is blocking these request prompts on "unfamiliar" sites. The prompt will still be there but will be shown quietly on the search bar with a bell icon. The browser will also explain that the website was considered "unfamiliar" and therefore notifications were blocked just in case. If you want to still enable notifications for that website despite the potential risks, you're welcome to go up to the bell icon and click "Allow."
This is one of many measures Microsoft is working on. The company's Digital Crimes Unit has also worked to analyze these notifications and identify their providers in hand with law enforcement. Microsoft says it has removed notification privileges from many websites sending out these notifications. While it's next to impossible to go over all of them, most of the (bigger) sites might not send you scammy messages. And for those who still do, the feature we mentioned above should still help you keep them at bay.
Finally, if you turn on notifications, there's also an easy way to stop the bombarding if you regret the mistake. Right-click on one of the scammy notifications and click "Turn off all notifications." This gives you an easy way to revert the error and bring peace back to your computer.
These changes are rolling out now, so make sure to keep your browser updated.
Fun Facts:
Eleven Ways to Open Notepad in Windows
See the How-To-Geek article by MAHESH MAKVANA | @maheshhari | REVIEWED BY JORDAN GLOOR | JUL 7, 2023, at 11:00 am EDT.
Key takeaway: To open Notepad on Windows, access "Windows Search," type "Notepad", and select the app. Another way is to open "Run" with Windows+R, type "notepad", and press Enter. To open it from Command Prompt or PowerShell, type "notepad" in either tool and press Enter.
Opening Notepad on a Windows 11 or 10 PC is as easy as selecting a few options, running a command, or pressing a keyboard shortcut. We'll show you all the available ways to open your favourite text editor on your computer.
Table of Contents:
Using Windows Search
From Run
Using Start Menu
From Task Manager
From Taskbar
From File Explorer
Using Command Prompt
With PowerShell
Using a Desktop Shortcut
Using a Keyboard Shortcut
From Right-Click Menu
Using Windows Search
The easiest way to find and launch any app on your PC is to use Windows Search. You type the name of the app you want to open, and Search retrieves it for you.
To open Notepad using this way, first, open Windows Search by either clicking the "Search" box on your taskbar or opening the "Start" menu and selecting the search box at the top.
Then, type "Notepad" and click the app in the search results.
Your app is now open.
From Run
Windows' Run box lets you run various commands and open many apps on your PC. First, open the tool by pressing Windows+R to use it for launching Notepad.
In the open box, type "Notepad" and press Enter:
Windows will launch the Notepad app.
Using Start Menu
Windows' "Start" menu hosts shortcuts to many of your apps, including Notepad.
To use it, open the menu by pressing the Windows key or selecting the menu icon on the taskbar.
When the menu opens, select "All Apps." From the app list, choose Notepad to launch the app.
And that's it.
From Task Manager
Usually, you'd use Task Manager to force-close apps, but you can also use this utility to launch apps.
To do that, right-click your "Start" menu icon and choose "Task Manager." On the tool window, select "Run New Task."
In the open box, type "Notepad" and press Enter:
Task Manager will launch your Notepad app.
From Taskbar
Windows' taskbar is limited in size, so it can't contain all your apps, but you can pin your favourite apps to it to make launching those apps easier.
To do that for Notepad, open the "Start" menu and find "Notepad". Right-click the app and choose "Pin to Taskbar."
On your Windows taskbar, you now have a new shortcut letting you launch the Notepad app directly.
...
From File Explorer
Using Command Prompt
With PowerShell
Using a Desktop Shortcut
Using a Keyboard Shortcut
From Right-Click Menu
Solar Panels vs. Solar Roofs: What You Need To Know
See the ReviewGeek article by CORY GUNTHER | @xguntherc | JUL 8, 2023, at 7:45 am EST.
Key Takeaway: Homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, save money on power bills, charge an EV, or be more prepared for an emergency. Solar panels are a great way to achieve all the above, but they're a significant investment that won't pay themselves off for several years or even longer if you get an entire solar roof.
Solar energy and home solar panel systems are becoming increasingly more affordable, so potential buyers have many questions. If you're considering a traditional solar panel setup or a new solar roof, also known as solar shingles, here's how the two compare.
Typical Solar Panels
Solar Roof Panels
We should all be familiar with solar panels by now, as they're nothing new. Over the last decade or so, we've seen a massive increase in usage for both residential and commercial applications.
Solar panels are an array of photovoltaic cells typically placed on a rectangular plate that most owners mount to a roof-top or garage. Most homeowners will need to put them in a specific location for the most sun exposure, not to mention string several panels together in parallel to gather enough sunlight to power an entire home.
How Long Do Solar Panels Last?
With a typical rooftop solar system, you'll convert power for storage in a battery or return power to the local energy grid. Depending on where you live, you'll need a battery for storage, share power with the grid, or send all the power to the grid, which can lower or eliminate your power bill.
You can power your home from those solar panels, which can be used to charge an EV. Then, eventually, the solar panels will pay for themselves. This is known as the "solar payback period" and is the time it'll take for the savings on your energy bill to pay for the solar system.
After saving money on your power bill for several years, you'll pay the panels off, and everything else for as long as you own solar is extra savings. You'll also increase your property value, reduce your carbon footprint, and be better prepared for emergencies.
Solar Roofs and Shingles
Solar Roof
Additionally, you could opt for solar shingles, where the entire roof is covered in solar roof tiles instead of a traditional roofing material. This style is often called a "Tesla Solar Roof," although they're not the only brand that offers solar shingles. Others include CertainTeed Solstice shingles, Luma Solar, and Forward Solar Roofing, to name a few.
With a Tesla-style solar roof, you'll have solar shingles covering the entire roof-top, which are then protected with tempered glass panels. These are just as durable as typical roofing, yet can power your vehicles and home, and you'll reap all the benefits of solar.
However, this style is often far more expensive, plus you'll likely need a custom system designed to fit your exact roof. Instead of placing a few panel arrays anywhere they'll fit, the entire roof gets covered. It's very different and often called "luxury solar roofing."
A Few Differences
These are two very different products for several reasons. For starters, solar panels are fast and easy to install, relatively affordable, and you can easily adjust the pitch for ideal usage. Plus, if you ever need more, you can add another panel to the roof. Additionally, DIY types can do the installation themselves.
Conversely, solar shingles or a solar roof can take 1-2 weeks (or longer) to be installed, cost a lot more, must be done by a professional, and are in a fixed location that matches the roof. Sure, you have more roof coverage, but that only sometimes means more power, as some cells aren't in an ideal location or angle.
That said, solar roof shingles are extremely durable, built right into your home. Many brands brag about handling hurricane-force winds, the lack of maintenance, and other factors as a reason to choose solar shingles over panels.
Many standard solar panel systems can cost between $10,000 and $25,000, depending on the size of the home. However, solar shingles like Tesla's solar roof can easily vary from $30,000 to over $80,000. As we said above, it's expensive.
Which One Should You Buy?
Which one to buy will depend on your wants, needs, budget, and several other factors. It's a tricky question, especially because I can't say how much solar will cost. It varies by roof, state, brand, tax incentives, etc.
Generally, a traditional solar panel array is an easier and more affordable option. That said, if you need to replace an existing damaged roof or are building a new home, it could be a great time to upgrade to a solar shingle setup. Going solar and fixing the roof is somewhat cost-effective. It'll be a one-time install with durable and long-lasting performance, and you'll get the benefits of solar and curb appeal. Again, it all depends on your situation.
A roof covered in solar shingles is undoubtedly the more appealing of the two and will significantly increase the value of your home. However, we understand it's an expensive job many won't afford.
A regular solar panel setup is the easiest and best option for most people. Those with deeper pockets, replacing a roof, or building a new house may consider a whole-roof solar shingle setup.
Meeting Location & Disclaimer
Bob Backstrom
~ Newsletter Editor ~
Information for Members and Visitors:
Link to — Sydney PC & Technology User Group
All Meetings, unless explicitly stated above, are held on the
1st Floor, Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, 280 Pitt Street, Sydney.
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