The Verge recently announced that Windows Blue, also known as Windows 8.1, would be arriving in late June, sometime around Microsoft’s annual BUILD Developer’s conference.

Windows Blue/Windows 8.1 will fundamentally change Windows 8 – at least, that’s what everybody expects it to do. At the very least, Windows Blue will tweak most of the Windows 8 interface along with various system and performance-related improvements. Although many people are holding their breath for a resurgence of the classic Windows Start Button, Microsoft hasn’t tipped its hat to anything related to the Start button as of yet.

PCWorld.com did a decent writeup about potential Windows Blue changes. You can check out that writeup here. There are a number of suggestions for winning over users with Windows Blue, including:

-Boot to desktop functionality

-Better UI hints

-Better default aps

-App syncing across devices

-Better file support

-Better DVD playback

-And more

In any case, developers will gain access to the Windows Blue preview at some point between June 26 and June 28, after which you can expect to see plenty of reviews floating around the internet.

Well, it looks like small business owners are no longer immune from the world’s virus attacks – not that they ever were immune. A report recently published by antivirus giant Symantec claimed that virus attacks on small businesses increased threefold over the past year.

To make matters worse, these attacks weren’t random: instead, small businesses are being specifically targeted by hackers who have done their research and identified security vulnerabilities.

Hackers are looking for credit card information, banking data, and all other personal information stored on a small business’s computers and networks. When they find this information, they can do an astonishing amount of damage to a business and its employees, including identity theft.

A spokesperson for Symantec explained why small businesses are increasingly at-risk:

“While small businesses may feel they are immune to targeted attacks, cybercriminals are enticed by these organizations’ bank account information, customer data, intellectual property, and the knowledge that they often lack adequate security practices and infrastructures.”

In the eyes of Symantec, small businesses are those with fewer than 250 employees. Targeted attacks against these organizations jumped 31% in 2012 when compared to the year before, with an overall increase of 42% in terms of overall targeted attacks.

You can read the full report published by Symantec here

How to protect your small business

-Educate employees on internet safety. All it takes is one weak link in the chain and suddenly an employee has installed malicious software onto one of the network’s computers. Even the largest and most secure corporate networks have been attacked in this way.

-Install antivirus software and run it at all times on all computers

-Perform a scan with PC Cleaner Pro to identify any latent threats that may exist on your computer’s hard drive, like in its registry

-Use different passwords for every business account you operate in order to contain security threats if the network is breached

-Update your computers, including Windows, software, and all hardware drivers, whenever you are prompted

If you can do all of the things listed above, you can significantly reduce your chances of being the victim of a targeted attack.

Five advertisements have been released so far, and all of them are, to say the least, strange. Some of them are cringe-inducing, while others make it difficult to determine what point Microsoft is trying to prove.

To give you a taste of Microsoft’s awkward approach to advertising (nothing new there), check out this video below:

For whatever reason, Microsoft is basically comparing Google Docs to a socially inept white dude who is unsuccessfully trying to play basketball against the taller, stronger, and blacker ‘Office’ man. You can read into the racial implications of the commercial, but I suggest you don’t. Instead, try to figure out why Microsoft – the world’s largest software company – is picking on a company that gives away most of its software and services for free.

If that first video wasn’t painful enough for you, check out this one featuring Rob Schneider:

Microsoft is taking a lot of heat over its videos. Right now, the dislike side of the bar outnumbers the ‘like’ side several times over. And to make matters worse, the commercials aren’t even bad enough to go viral for being bad commercials: they’re just dumb.

Anyways, I fail to see where Microsoft’s advertising is heading. If you can enlighten me, drop a comment below.

This is a serious problem, since it basically prevents Windows RT users – who are forced to rely on apps in order to do anything on their tablet – from using their iPhones or iPods on their tablet, at least through iTunes.

Since the selection of apps in the Windows RT store is already pretty sad, the lack of iTunes and other major music apps is easy for Windows 8 users to notice.

Nobody wants to support Windows 8

From Minecraft creator Markus Persson (Notch) to Apple, it seems like every major developer is giving Windows 8 the snub. Notch snubbed Minecraft for Windows 8 because he wanted them to “stop trying to ruin the pc as an open platform” while Apple snubs them for obvious reasons – you don’t interrupt your competitor when he’s making a mistake.

To some, it seems like everyone is trying to kill Windows 8 by refusing to support it. But it’s not like these people are doing so with malicious intent (at least most of them aren’t) – they incentive to develop apps simply isn’t there.

Or do they?

Everybody likes to kick Microsoft when they’re down. But the fact of the matter remains that Microsoft is the world’s largest software company. Hundreds of millions of Windows PCs are sold each year, and as more and more people buy the OS (either by choice or through forced adoption at Best Buy), developers will inevitably start to take interest.

After all, with the lack of good apps in the Windows Store, a developer who creates some half-decent programs should be able to make something work, right? In any case, don’t expect to see Apple iTunes on Windows RT any time soon.

Well, if the Surface was good, the Surface 2 is going to be better. Microsoft is reportedly getting set to announce the next version of the Surface at an event in June 2013. So far, all details about the device are rumors. But that doesn’t mean we can’t tell you about them.

Here’s what we “know” (i.e. suspect) about the Surface 2 thus far:

-If rumors are true, the Surface 2 will be announced at the Build developer conference, which takes place from June 26 to 28 2013. This would be the most logical time to announce a new device.

-The supply chain sources at DigiTimes claim that components for approximately 1 to 1.5 million Surface 2 tablets have been ordered, which is approximately equal to the number of first generation Surface tablets sold thus far

-The Surface 2 will have a 7 inch and 9 inch model (the first generation Surface was focused on the much larger 10.6-inch device model)

-Uhh, that’s it. No technical rumors for the Surface 2 have been released or suspected thus far.

-Microsoft is also expected to announce details about Windows 8.1 at the Build conference

I don’t know about you, but I’m more excited for the confirmed Xbox 720/Next Xbox reveal on May 21.

But there’s one problem I have with Google Docs and Google Drive: when you take an internet connection away from Google, things can get messy. Google Drive – up until now – did not feature offline support. Although some updates would try to integrate offline support, they never seemed to work that well and users would frequently encounter problems.

Well, it looks like offline Google Docs access is here to stay. The latest Chrome update added offline support for Google Drive. Here’s how to access it:

Accessing offline support for Google Drive:

-Login to your Google Drive account

-On the left hand side of the screen, click the More button

-Click Offline

-At this point, users without a special Chrome plugin will be asked to install it. That Chrome plugin enables offline access, after which you’ll be able to edit recent documents and automatically sync those changes with the Google Docs servers once your crappy internet connection fixes itself.

This is a major step forward for Google Docs, and it’s one major advantage that Microsoft Office long-held over its latest competitor. Now, with Google developing features for Google Docs at an alarmingly (alarmingly for Microsoft, at least) rapid pace, it may only be a matter of time before the majority of users are typing up documents use free, cloud-based software like Google Docs.

Kim Jung-un has also talked about firing rockets at a bunch countries, and some of those rockets could contain nuclear devices. But why should you care about the potential war in Korea? Well, a war on the Korean peninsula could severely affect your computer hardware.

Korea is important – really important – in the PC world

In fact, a Korean peninsula war would “cripple the global electronics business” according to a new report by HIS iSuppli. South Korea is responsible for approximately half of the world’s DRAM output, 2/3 of its NAND flash manufacturing, and a whopping 70% of the world’s tablet display manufacturing.

Since DRAM is used in just about every computer and NAND flash manufacturing and tablet display manufacturing are fairly important as well, a disruption of those manufacturers would be bad – very bad – for anybody in the business of computers.

What to do?

Mike Howard, the senior principal analyst for DRAM & memory at HIS (yes, apparently IHS has an analyst dedicated solely to DRAM & memory), says that:

“South Korea now plays a more important role than ever in the global electronics business. And with the supply chain having become more entwined and connected, a significant disruption in any region will impact the entire world. Because of this, it is important for companies to understand the magnitude of South Korea’s role in the global electronics market – and to prepare for any contingencies.”

Wow. So if there’s a war in Korea (there probably won’t be), don’t expect to see many new smartphones, tablets, or PCs released over the months following that war.

But what about 3D computer monitors? What’s all that about? Today, we’re going to answer any questions you might have about 3D computer monitors and explain why 3D computer monitors are right or wrong for you.

3 different types of 3D computer monitors:

-Passive: You use the same glasses you see in movie theatres to view your 3D screen. In fact, the same glasses you get at the theatre can be used on your computer monitor. There is a drawback – your eyes will get sore if you view it at an angle above or below the recommended range, which is generally quite a small range.

-Active: Active 3D monitors are slightly more expensive than passive monitors because they require the use of special, battery-powered glasses. The viewing angle is larger, but these glasses can also give users headaches after prolonged use. You just need to take breaks every once in a while and you should be fine.

-Glasses free: This is the most expensive type of 3D monitor available today. In fact, you can expect to pay at least 3 times as much for a glasses free monitor when compared to a passive/active 3D monitor. It’s so expensive that it’s simply not worth it for most users.

Do I need a super-powerful graphics card?

There are some misconceptions about the graphics card needed to run 3D games. So let’s clear the air here: if you’re going to watch a few 3D movies, then you don’t need any type of special graphics card. In fact, your onboard graphics card should have more than enough processing power to seamlessly decode the movie.

But if you have a lower end graphics card, 3D gaming is going to be a problem. And it’s a particularly annoying problem because AMD and Nvidia can’t decide on which 3D gaming tech to use: Nvidia uses 3D Vision and AMD uses HD3D. And here’s the kicker: monitors and games tend to only be compatible with one type of technology.

There is another solution that doesn’t require you to download either AMD or Nvidia’s proprietary technology. Instead, simply install the TriDef 3D driver, which also decodes 3D data and allows you to play the latest 3D games. But unfortunately, TriDef 3D driver isn’t free: it costs $50. You have to decide whether or not 3D gaming is worth the price tag to you.

Which video player should I use to play 3D movies?

Bino tends to be the most popular 3D video application on the market today because it’s free, simple, and easy to use. Just make sure you choose SBS 3D input from the video player.

You cannot use a normal monitor for 3D

If you try watching 3D on your normal monitor, you’re going to have a bad time. Normal monitors just aren’t built that way. You will need to invest a few hundred dollars in a decent 3D monitor if you want to view 3D movies and games.

Really, buying a 3D monitor isn’t as complicated as some people think. The hardest part is choosing which 3D monitor to buy. If you’re just playing 3D movies, then you can just download Bino and you’re good to go. Now you just have to wait for the rest of the world to start making 3D videos.

Google Glass is the name for Google’s futuristic new set of glasses. Although consumer release is still about a year away, Google Glass Explorers (including celebrities, scientists, computer nerds, and more) are currently testing out Google Glass across the United States.

Hacked in 2 hours

Just how quickly was Google Glass hacked? Well, an Android and iOS developer named Jay Freeman recently received his developer’s copy of Google Glass with the intention of developing apps for it. But Freeman claims that he hacked the device in just two hours.

What can you do with hacked Google Glass?

Google Glass is powerful technology. Here are some of the things you can do if you manage to hack Google Glass:

-Fully control the device

-Bypass all security mechanisms put into place by Google

-‘Jailbreak’ the device in order to run applications and get around manufacturer-imposed restrictions

-Secretly record video and take pictures without the user’s knowledge

-Remotely control someone else’s Google Glasses

-Root it and install unofficial software, apps, and other stuff on it

Google’s hilarious response

Google developer Tim Bray responded to the Google Glass hacking complaints:

Well, there you go. I’m not going to say Google doesn’t care about security, but they certainly know that Android is a hackable operating system. In any case, I would imagine Google Glass malware could be a problem for early adopters of the device next year – especially if you’re a high profile corporate exec who likes reading sensitive documents while wearing Google Glass.

That’s why I pay close attention to my network usage. But Windows 8 users may not realize how to monitor network usage on their systems, which is why I’m going to show you how it’s done.

Step 1) Go to your Windows 8 desktop

Step 2) Look for the Internet Connection button in the system tray (it’s the one with 5 signal bars)

Step 3) From the menu that pops up, right-click Your Internet connection

Step 4) Click Show estimated data usage and then left click on Your Internet connection once more.

Step 5) You can view internet usage from that dropdown menu. By default, the stats are set to record internet usage over the past 60 days. But you can reset this number at any time by simply clicking the Reset button.

Note: Keep in mind that this is only an estimate of usage. It’s not guaranteed to protect you from the wrath of your ISP. And obviously, the description isn’t terribly detailed – it just tells you the number of gigabytes downloaded – that’s it.

If you want to get detailed statistics about your internet usage, you’ll need to download a Windows 8 app. Keep reading to find out how to do that.

How to get a more detailed explanation of internet data usage

Step 1) Download the aptly-named Network Usage app from the Windows Store for free

Step 2) Using that app, you can view a breakdown of data sent and received over a certain period of time. This may not be too useful if you’re like most people and have an unlimited plan. But it’s an interesting insight into how much bandwidth you use on a daily basis.

How to limit network usage in Windows 8

If you want to prevent yourself from going beyond a certain data limit, then you can use a built-in function within Windows 8 to do that. To access that function, follow these steps:

Step 1) Go to the Charms bar, click Change PC Settings, then click Devices.

Step 2) Below your list of devices (you should see a mouse, keyboard, and whatever else has been connected to your computer on this screen), you’ll see a Download over metered connections button. Switch that slider to Off if it isn’t already off. This prevents Windows 8 from automatically downloading software drivers, data, or apps when connected to a metered network

Step 4) Open your network connection

Step 5) Click on the network to which you’re currently connected

Step 6) Click Set as metered connection

Step 7) If you don’t see the Set as metered connection option, then you may have clicked on a wired connection. For whatever reason, you can only set a wireless connection as ‘metered’. No, I don’t know why. Yes, this seems like a weird oversight on Microsoft’s part.

That’s it! Your connection will now be metered. All the data you configured in the above step will not be downloaded over that connection. Remember: if you’re on a metered connection, this can save you a ton of money.