Profile of Chris Spera

News & Commentary Posts: 65

Based in Chicago, Chris is a senior IT consultant. He serves BYTE as a Contributing Editor. Follow Chris on Twitter at @chrisspera and email him at [email protected].

Articles by Chris Spera

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Top 10 Changes iOS 7 Needs

4/4/2013
In recent years, iOS has been at the back of the pack for innovation in mobile operating systems. If iOS is going to remain a heavy hitter, it needs a serious overhaul in the upcoming version 7. Here are the top 10 things it needs to have to hit it out of the park.
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Dell Latitude 10-ST2 Windows 8 Pro Tablet: the Good and the Bad

3/29/2013
The Dell Latitude 10-ST2 is billed as a full Windows 8 Pro tablet and Microsoft Surface Pro competitor. Like Windows 8 itself, the product isn't completely baked yet.
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Windows Blue's Got Me Down

3/28/2013
Microsoft has allowed that something called "Windows Blue" exists. Too bad the company seems hell-bent on taking Windows in the wrong direction.
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Logitech Keyboard for Apple Handy, Pricey

2/11/2013
Connect up to three iDevices simultaneously and quickly switch between them with just a keystroke with Logitech's latest, Mac-worthy, wireless keyboard.
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Top GPS Apps for the iPhone - 2013 Edition

1/23/2013
Apple Maps just doesn't cut it for everyone, so there is a rich market of GPS alternatives for the iPhone. Many are good. In this review we test Google Maps for iOS, Navigon USA, Gokivo, MapQuest, Scout, Nokia HERE Maps, Waze and even Apple Maps.
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Can Waze Save Apple Maps?

1/3/2013
Incorporating Waze navigation and local search into Apple's Maps app and service would address many of the problems that have earned Apple its poor mapping reputation. Unfortunately for Android users, Apple would probably pull the plug on Waze use, or at least relegate them to second-class status.
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Resale Sites For Gadgets Flourish

12/12/2012
The flood of new electronics from Apple, Microsoft, Samsung and others creates a secondary market for resale of the buyers' old devices. eBay, Cragslist and Amazon.com are popular for this, but a new generation of sites — including Gazelle, Glyde and USell — have emerged to specialize in resale of phones, tablets and other such devices. There are important differences between them.
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Microsoft Scroogled Site Challenges Google Shopping Honesty

11/30/2012
Are you getting Scroogled? What does that even mean? Microsoft wants you to believe Google Shopping is a rip-off and has dedicated Scroogled.com to explaining it all. (Hint: Bing is a much safer place to holiday shop.)
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Where Are All The iPhone/iPad Lightning Accessories?

11/28/2012
Where are all the Lightning accessories? It's now almost December -- two months after Apple's new Lightning connector debuted on the iPhone 5 -- and there is still practically no Lightning-compatible iOS hardware available. Owners of the new Lightning-equipped iPad Mini, iPad 4 and new iPods are waiting, too.
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5 Best Tablets For The Holidays

11/19/2012
Looking for the perfect gift for your beloved this year? Something tells us a tablet might be just the ticket. BYTE looks at five: The Apple iPad 4, the iPad Mini, the Samsung Galaxy 10.1, the Microsoft Surface, and the Kindle Fire HD.
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Windows 8 Upgrade: No Touch, No Good

10/31/2012
BYTE's Chris Spera has been using Windows 8 since the first preview version. There's a lot to like about it on the new touch PCs and tablets, but upgrading Windows on your old non-touch PC to the new OS isn't worth the trouble.
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The iPad Mini Success Depends on Apple-Controlled Issues

10/8/2012
Apple needs to make its case for the iPad Mini in four ways. It has to: sell the size; make room for it without acing out the iPad; make sure apps and content look great on the smaller screen; and not price gouge.
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T-Mobile, MetroPCS: Merger Has Legs

10/4/2012
T-Mobile and MetroPCS on Wednesday formally announced their intent to merge to form a new mobile carrier called T-Mobile. You can count on this one getting approved, despite the technology hurdles, but where does it leave Sprint?
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T-Mobile To Merge With MetroPCS

10/3/2012
Update: The merger of T-Mobile and MetroPCS is set to happen. The business models and network technologies don't match, but the problems are fixable and the end-result could be good for both T-Mobile and MetroPCS, definitely for Deutsche Telekom and even for Sprint.
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Windows Fits in on the Mac With Parallels 8

9/22/2012
Parallels Desktop 8 for Mac is the best way to turn your Mac into a Windows machine. The new version lets Windows running in a virtual machine, including Windows 8, take advantage of Mountain Lion features such as dictation.
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RIM Customers To Face BES Fragmentation

9/10/2012
RIM has clarified how current BlackBerry devices, BB10, and BlackBerry Enterprise Server will--and won't--work together, and it ain't pretty. The plan is not for a unified mobile device management console, but a two-headed solution that will require new servers and training.
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Your Purchased iTunes, Ebooks Die With You

8/28/2012
The iTunes license is nontransferable. So when you die, all access to the content you've bought goes with you. BYTE's Chris Spera thinks that's messed up.
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Change In RIM Technology Signals Beginning Of End

8/22/2012
Is a report that Blackberry 10 devices won't work with current Blackberry Enterprise Server (BES) servers true? If so, it spells doom for RIM and the Blackberry way of life.
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How To Create An OS X Mountain Lion Install USB Drive

8/14/2012
Here's how to use a free utility, Lion Disk Maker, to create a boot drive for clean installations or emergency use on your Lion- or Mountain Lion-compatible Mac. Create a bootable USB thumb drive like we did, or a bootable DVD.
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Wi-Fi Plus Cellular: Is iOS 6 Feature Consumer Friendly?

8/10/2012
When Wi-Fi loses steam, iOS 6 can switch iPhone and iPad connections over to the cellular data network. Designed as a backup to Wi-Fi, is this new iOS feature all it's cracked up to be? Some users could end up with bigger cellular bills than they anticipated.
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HTC Doomed? Strategies It Should Try

8/8/2012
Once the darling of the converged device world, HTC has been having a rough go of things lately. It has two choices to stay afloat: License RIM's BlackBerry 10 OS, or work with Google to fill in the holes in Android. Either is just crazy enough to work.
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AT&T, Verizon Shared Data Plans: Which Is Better?

7/18/2012
AT&T just joined Verizon in offering a shared data plan. Which is better for you? We compare plan tiers and device costs.
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RIM Keeps Manufacturing Out of China

7/16/2012
The cost arguments for shifting manufacturing to China must have been overwhelming, but Research In Motion CEO Thorsten Heins decided that RIM's reputation for security wasn't compatible with trusting its designs to Chinese state-run companies.
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Samsung Enjoined From Selling Galaxy Tab 10.1 in US

7/1/2012
In a stunning move, a judge grants Apple a second injunction in less than a week against Samsung for patent violations, this time against its Galaxy Nexus smartphone.
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Mac OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion Developer Preview 4

6/26/2012
Mountain Lion, a.k.a. OS X 10.8, marries the Apple desktop operating system to iOS features that previously were found only on the iPhone and iPad. Among them: Messages, Notifications, Reminders, a Game Center, and better integration with iCloud. It's not a revolutionary upgrade to the desktop OS, but it should please Mac enterprise users.
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Splashtop Releases 'Next Generation' Remote Desktop App For iOS

6/25/2012
Splashtop 2, the latest version of the desktop remote control app for iOS, supports new hardware, including the Retina display; speeds network traffic; and makes connections easier. Splashtop 2 can remotely control either Macs or Windows PCs from an iPad or iPhone.
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iOS 6 Beta: First Look

6/20/2012
iOS 6 appears to be a great update, with many new and useful features for iPhones and iPads--but the changes aren't so radical that you'll have to learn the OS all over again. Apple has made important changes to Music, iTunes, Maps, and Siri. It has added Facebook and Twitter integration, and a useful location-based feature called geofencing.
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Your iPad At Work: Worth The Trouble?

6/7/2012
Here's everything you need to know but were afraid to ask about using your iPad for work. Hint: It can be done, but there are hurdles.
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Microsoft Drops Aero From Windows 8

5/23/2012
Why is Microsoft dropping the "glassy" Aero look from Windows 8, as announced last week? Battery life could be one reason.
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This Is Why T-Mobile Won't Officially Carry iPhones

5/16/2012
At the gdgt conference in Chicago, Chris Spera learned about T-Mobile's plan to make its network compatible with the iPhone.
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Google To Sell Android Phones Directly

5/16/2012
Google plans to take back control of its Android OS from wireless carriers and sell phones directly to consumers. What better way to get OS upgrades to users quickly and keep Android on top in the mobile device wars?
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Ballmer Tops Forbes' List Of 5 Worst CEOs

5/15/2012
After more than 12 years, it's clear that Steve Ballmer doesn't understand the organization or industry he's in. Can someone please tell me why this guy is still running Microsoft?
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Microsoft, Barnes & Noble Deal: More Than A Lawsuit Killer

5/1/2012
The logic behind Microsoft and B&N's partnership is not yet clear. With a market cap of $800M and an investment value of $1.7B, speculation is rampant around the world and the tech industry. Here we explore some of the possibilities.
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Microsoft Announces Windows 8 Editions

4/17/2012
Microsoft has announced that Windows 8 will come in three flavors, two of which should be right for most.
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Top 5 GPS Apps For The iPhone

4/13/2012
Find your way around town or across country with one of these navigation applications for your iPhone.
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Windows 8 Tour, Part 2: Metro Apps

4/4/2012
In this mini-tour of Windows 8, the second in a two-part series, we look at hot corners and the OS's new bundled apps, including Finance, Mail, Maps, People, Photos, and Weather.
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Windows 8 Tour: Lock, Login, And Start Menu

4/4/2012
Check out Windows 8's new lock, login, and Start screens in this mini-tour.
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RIM Quarterly Post-Mortem

3/30/2012
A number of uncomfortable developments in Blackberry-land have led to some tough decisions.
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Apple to Buy Back $10B in Stock

3/19/2012
Apple will buy back approximately $10 billion of its own shares over the next three years, beginning this October.
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Windows 8 Consumer Preview - Your PC's Getting a Bit Touchy

3/12/2012
Windows 8 Consumer Preview offers a lot, but is it for you and your legacy PC? Chris Spera reviews.
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Mountain Lion Messages On Your iPhone

2/22/2012
Messages Beta for Mountain Lion lets you start a conversation on one iOS device and continue it on another--most of the time.
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Making The Most Of Mountain Lion Messages

2/22/2012
The new Messages Beta from Apple is far more than just an IM app. Here's how to take full advantage of what it can do.
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How To Set Up Apple Mountain Lion Messages Beta

2/22/2012
Apple has released a beta of the next-generation OS X Messages app, replacing iChat. Here's how to set up Messages Beta.
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Mac Messages Beta Consolidates Many Apps

2/21/2012
Mountain Lion, the next version of Mac OS X, will come with a Messages app that combines the functions of many separate programs.
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Smartphone Owners Lament 4G Battery Woes

2/7/2012
As we transition to 4G mobile, many people are having problems with battery life. Come see what TeamBYTE has to say about it all.
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RIM: Righting The Management Ship

1/24/2012
RIM has ditched its CEOs. But does it have a strategy for what's next?
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Must-Have Android Apps For Business

1/24/2012
If you got an Android smartphone for Christmas, here are some must-have apps for bringing it up to business par.
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Apple iBooks 2.0 Slam Dunks the Educational Tablet Market

1/19/2012
If there was ever any doubt over who would dominate the tablet space in the educational market, Apple put that question to rest this week.
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Plaxo's Broken Services: Part Deux

1/19/2012
I love the power of the Internet to quickly rectify--and confirm--information. Here's what Plaxo had to say about my claim that it's broken.
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Plaxo As A Service Is Broken

1/4/2012
Plaxo is about address book and calendar synchronization. Right now, it doesn't handle recurring events correctly, and despite what Plaxo says, Platinum Sync is not live or in real time.
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RIM's Chances For A Successful 2012: About Zero

1/3/2012
It's RIM's winter of discontent. In fact, it's crisis time and Chris Spera reads RIM the riot act.
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RIM Betting The Farm On QNX/BB 10

12/27/2011
Unless RIM hits a home run with BB 10, there might not be much of anything left for the company to do but die.
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The NTSB Recommended In-Vehicle Cell Phone Use Ban - Technology Can Solve the Problem

12/14/2011
Most responses to the NTSB's recommended Nation-wide ban on in vehicle cell phone use fails to do one important thing - address the root cause of the problem.
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BatteryGate Resolved? iOS 5.0.1 Released to Developers

11/3/2011
Apple releases iOS 5.0.1 beta to address battery life and other issues.
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Stylish HTC Rhyme Is Priced Upscale

10/26/2011
The Rhyme, HTC's newest Android Gingerbread phone, has color-coordinated accessories aimed at consumers. The phone is available on Verizon Wireless and has excellent battery life, but it's priced a little high for the features it offers.
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Samsung Galaxy Nexus with Android 4 Ice Cream Sandwich Emerges

10/25/2011
Details are beginning to emerge on the latest Samsung Galaxy Nexus Smartphone. This one will ship with version 4 of Android, also known as Ice Cream Sandwich.
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Steve Jobs Biography Early To iBooks And Kindle

10/24/2011
The controversial authorized biography of Steve Jobs by reporter Walter Isaacson was released ahead of schedule to the Apple iBook store and Amazon Kindle.
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No Reason For Rhyme Until Smartphone Is Cheaper

10/21/2011
The HTC Rhyme, a new mid-range Verizon Wireless smartphone, woos fashionistas with color-coordinated accessories.
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3LM Enables Android Device Management for the Enterprise

10/18/2011
Droid devices are behind iOS in many areas important to enterprises, including Mobile Device Management. 3LM aims to fill that void.
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iPhone Envy: T-Mobile Customers Might Want AT&T Merger

10/10/2011
I'm waiting for my iLove and know that the easiest, most affordable way for me to get it is for AT&T's proposed merger with T-Mobile to be approved.
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Freeware Friday: PureText for Windows

9/8/2011
Strip out text formatting for easier, cleaner text pasting.
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Freeware Friday: Growl for Apple Mac OS X and Up

8/25/2011
Spera's Freeware Friday pick? Growl Photo Courtesy: Brian Burgess.
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HTC Sensation 4G Has Great Screen, Speed Glitches

8/10/2011
HTC's first dual-core Android smartphone is the newest addition to T-Mobile's Android lineup. But is the Sensation 4G the right device for you?
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Keep Windows Task Manager Running But Hidden

7/9/2011
Keep the task bar hidden. Here's how.
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Freeware Friday: Dash Off Quick Documents In WordPad

7/5/2011
Writing letters or documents is easy in Windows using its free word processor.
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