Category: Computer

2020’s Hot Gadget Is the Computer

by Ashley Gerlach on November 16, 2020 in Computer

This article is part of the On Tech newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it weekdays.

Computers are like hammers. Lots of people own them and find them useful. Not many people have deep emotions about them. (To prove me wrong, please send me poems about your hammers.)

But one of the surprises in this not-normal year is how personal computers that had been zzzzzz for a long time have been the star gadgets of 2020.

That’s partly because the pandemic has forced people to spend more time at home in front of computer screens.

Computers, though, have

New Computer Model Can Predict How COVID-19 Spreads in Cities

by Ashley Gerlach on November 14, 2020 in Computer

A study of how 98 million Americans move around each day suggests that most infections occur at “superspreader” sites, and details how mobility patterns help drive higher infection rates among minority and low-income populations.

A team of researchers has created a computer model that accurately predicted the spread of COVID-19 in 10 major cities this spring by analyzing three factors that drive infection risk: where people go in the course of a day, how long they linger and how many other people are visiting the same place at the same time.

“We built a computer model to analyze how people

21,000 mail-in ballots flagged for rejection in 2020 election

by Ashley Gerlach on November 12, 2020 in Computer

In Nevada, about 4,000 votes cast by mail so far won’t be counted unless voters can explain discrepancies between their ballot signatures and registration forms.

In Florida, the same is true for nearly 4,000 voters in three populous counties.

And in North Carolina, nearly 8,000 mail-in ballots have been flagged for rejection, many because they lack a witness signature.

As electoral workers begin processing votes across the country this election day, more than 60 million will be mail-in ballots that can be rejected if they have not been properly submitted. The rejection rate reached 1.4% in the 2018 general election

What’s New in Windows 10’s October 2020 Update (20H2), Available Now

by Ashley Gerlach on November 6, 2020 in Computer

Windows 10’s October 2020 Update, also known as the 20H2 update, is here. This update is focused on bug and performance fixes, but it has some larger changes—like the removal of the System Control Panel.

This article is up-to-date with the latest changes as of the final version of the 20H2 update, released on October 20, 2020. It’s also known as Windows 10 version 2009, and it has a build number of 19042.572.

How to Install the Update Now

To install the update the official way, head to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Click “Check for Updates.”

How to block the Windows 10 October 2020 Update, version 20H2, from installing

by Ashley Gerlach on November 3, 2020 in Computer

The October Windows 10 feature update is almost here, and that means it’s time to upgrade right away. Just kidding! You’ll want to ensure that your system stays on a supported prior version until the bugs are ironed out.

First off, let me introduce myself. I’m Susan Bradley, a certified public accountant who also runs the technology at my firm and dabbles a bit in computer forensics. Because I work at a small firm, I’ve kept track of security for the firm for many years. As a result, I’ve come to specialize in Windows and Office patches and am one