Google Backup & Sync is Changing
We have previously mentioned Google’s Backup & Sync utility for Windows which allows you to backup files/folders to your Google Drive and can also synchronise the contents of your Google Drive with the Google Drive folder on your PC.
This is being replaced with a new program called Google Drive for Desktop. See:-
https://support.google.com/a/answer/10309431
By selecting files on your PC to sync with Google Drive, you are effectively backing them up.
Also, Google Drive will appear in File Explorer with a drive letter for easy access to files on Google Drive. Provided you select the default streaming mode, files will only be physically downloaded to your local drive if you open them.
You can download Google Drive For Desktop from here:-
https://www.google.com/drive/download/
Once you have installed Drive For Desktop, you will find a Google Drive icon in the System Tray (on the Taskbar near the Clock) – you may need to click on the up-arrow to reveal the hidden icons. Right-click on the Google Drive icon and then click the Settings Cog, then select Preferences. Select the My PC tab to choose which folders to backup to your Google Drive. Select the Google Drive tab to determine which files on your Google Drive sync to the Google Drive folder on your local storage drive – Stream Files is probably the best option for most people.
Note that you get 15GB of free storage on Google Drive. If you need more space for your backups you will need a Google One subscription which starts at £1.59 per month (or £15.99 p.a.) for 100GB.
Microsoft OneDrive
Brian asked how the above Google Drive backup compared with Microsoft's OneDrive backup. While you can, of course, just use either cloud service to copy files/folders to, if you use the backup system in the Microsoft desktop app, this effectively relocates folders such as Documents to OneDrive. This results in just a single copy of your data on OneDrive, so is not strictly a backup. Remember, you must always have multiple copies of your data, whether it is stored in the cloud or locally. Personally, I feel the Google backup system is preferable. It also has the advantage of 15GB of free storage, compared to 5GB free with OneDrive.
Landline Phone System (PSTN) Ceases in 2025
The Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) dates back to the late 1800s. The switching systems to support this old technology are expensive to maintain and the plan is to discontinue the current system by 2025. Most existing telephones can still be used, but they will need to be routed via the Internet. So, an Internet connection will be needed to make a ‘landline’ call. For people who do not have an existing broadband connection, a simple device will be available providing a low-speed Internet to enable them to connect their existing phone(s). Increasingly, the telecoms connection to your home will be by optical fibre rather than copper wire, which will make the traditional landline connection impossible.
The old phone system provided power down the phone wires, so you could use a simple phone, even in a power cut. This will no longer be the case with Internet-based phones. Operators may offer a battery backup system which would keep the modem/router powered for several hours, allowing phone calls to be made if the mains power goes off.
See this BBC article for more:-
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-58233420
This Ofcom document from Feb 2019 goes into much more detail:-
https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0032/137966/future-fixed-telephone-services.pdf
Other equipment will need to be updated, including alarm systems, telecare, ATMs, traffic lights, etc.
The new system should bring additional benefits, such as preventing Caller-ID spoofing and other security measures.
Samsung Cloud Gallery Sync/Drive Termination
Thanks to Linda for bringing this to my attention. Samsung is permanently shutting down much of its cloud storage functions. Gallery Sync (for photos/videos) and Drive Storage will cease completely, and all data will be deleted by 30th September 2021. If you have any data stored in the Samsung Cloud, you need to download it by that date, or it will be lost.
You can, of course, use other cloud storage services such as Microsoft’s OneDrive or Google Drive.
This Samsung notice explains more:-
https://support.samsungcloud.com/#/eof_notice/group1
As mentioned above, this reinforces the point that you should not rely on a single cloud storage service and you must have multiple copies of your vital data.
Windows 11
Windows 11 will start to roll out to eligible PCs from 5th October and PCs with Windows 11 pre-loaded will start to appear in the stores.
Although Windows 11 will eventually offer Android apps in the Microsoft Store, that feature will not be available for some months after its release.
The Windows 11 upgrade is free. If you are a "seeker" who goes into Settings and checks for updates, you may be able to get the upgrade more quickly, but it will be automatically offered to eligible systems in due course.
If your PC is not able to be upgraded to 11, remember that Windows 10 will continue to be supported until 14th October 2025.
You can read more about Windows 11 here:-
https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/windows/windows-11
Slow PC
Linda has a PC which (sometimes) runs slowly and was wondering, following our discussions last time, whether adding more RAM (currently 4GB) might help. While increasing to 8GB may help, it is unlikely to make a big difference to speed, I feel. The thing which can usually increase speed is replacing a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) with a Solid State Drive (SSD).
In theory, it should be fairly straight forward to replace an HDD with an SSD. The first step is to make an image backup which will capture everything on the drive. You can do this using the in-built Windows Image Backup. You then need to recover that image onto the new blank SSD. Note that you will need an SSD which has at least the same capacity as the existing HDD. You can read more about this in my "W10 Backup" document:-
https://bit.ly/CE-Backup
Transfer Photos From iPad to PC
Margaret raised this issue. If you just connect the iPad to a PC with the normal charging cable, you should see "Apple iPad" in File Explorer on the PC - just click on This PC. You will need to tap Trust in the pop-up box on the iPad.
Having done that, you should find the DCIM (Digital Camera Images) folder in File Explorer under Apple iPad, Internal Storage. Here you will find photos taken with the iPad which you can then transfer to the PC, etc.
Next Session
Wed 13th October 2021 at 2 pm by Zoom.
