Tech Plus: Mailbag

Tips for Tech+ readers after three-plus years of answering tech questions

Tamara Chuang — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 11:28:19 +0000

The Tech+ column has been a joy for me to tackle each week for The Denver Post.

The first one published in November 2014. Today is the last one.

Thank you for reading the column, asking questions and supporting the newspaper. Something will fill this spot in the paper soon. It’s very important for a local publication to have loyal readers who push us to be better and cover the community where we live. Readers have helped with that tremendously.

But I’m not leaving without some tech advice culled from the more than three years of answering your questions:

Don’t talk to tech-support strangers online. Microsoft isn’t going to call you out of the blue and tell you what’s wrong with Windows. One of the most popular Q&As over the years was this one:��Your Microsoft Windows license expired so pay up (Nooooooo!!!). If someone contacts you on the phone or online, hang up or ignore it. If you need help, contact Microsoft or other company directly first. My advice: Please use your brains!
Passwords are a pain to remember so many people use the same one. Password managers can help add variety as long as you install them on every computer and mobile device you use. But the best tip I have on this comes from Andre Durand, CEO of Ping Identity. Make sure your email password is complicated and unique. If an attacker steals that one, they can get access to your entire digital life.
Use two-factor authentication when possible. This is the feature that double checks you are you. Logging into email, for example, your email provider might text a code to your phone that also must be typed in to access email. A past Q&A: Using two-factor authentication when you don’t have access to a smartphone app (online ��)
Get a strange call or email from the bank or online retailer asking to verify your information? Again, don’t do it! Contact the company directly to see if you’re being illegally phished for information.
You don’t have to talk to telemarketers. Sure, they’re people. Well some of them. But remember, it’s your time. If you want to spend that time talking to a telemarketer for something you didn’t realize you want, go ahead. But that’s not my advice. If you do plan to chat, take down their name, company and number and then submit it to the Federal Trade Commission at
Tired of Windows? There are options today. I’ve mentioned System 76 before, but with the alternative Linux-based software, the company offers familiar technology and local tech support.
Help is out there. Local Microsoft Stores offer some in-person help for free, while others like Best Buy’s Geek Squad, charge a fee. But if you’re stumped, search for a solution online and put quotes around your search terms. If you have question for a specific company, find them on social networks like Twitter and Facebook. Many have hired teams that monitor posts every hour. Who knows? Maybe if you ping me on Twitter (at ), I’ll respond!

The Tech+ Q&A has ended but an archive full of your questions and community answers is still available online at . Thanks for playing!

How to clean your computer screen not just digitally but physically

Tamara Chuang — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 12:05:49 +0000

Q: You posted an article about how to clean your computer screen a long time ago. I cut it out but now I can’t find it. … Physically spraying, wiping and cleaning. ~ Lois Paul, Denver

Tech+ Sometimes I just use my sleeve to wipe my computer screen. I don’t recommend spitting on it because that’s gross. Also, I don’t remember tackling this issue before but I do have a terrible memory.

What immediately came to mind however was a story I wrote about Dish Network’s in-home support services a few years ago. Dish technicians were helping customers not only install satellite dishes, but hang TVs on the wall, run cabling throughout the house and set up wireless networks. And before they left, they’d use a squirtable screen cleaner to wipe up fingerprints. The Dish Screen Cleaner, now $15.99, has become one of the most popular items sold to customers.

But there is some science behind this. Typical glass cleaners like Windex may have ammonia or other harsh cleaning chemicals that are great for spotless windows but may wear down the anti-static or anti-glare coating on TV and computer screens. Stuff like Pledge can leave streaks.

Spray too much liquid on the screen and that too could damage the display, as notes in . An image of the corner of a computer monitor shows what looks like a dark ink blob rising upward into the display. It’s actually the result of liquid reaching the edge of the display panel and wicking its way up inside. Chances of the liquid evaporating without leaving damage? Zero, says the site.

Dish’s 2-ounce cleaner touts a “proprietary anti-static cleaner” that won’t damage screens with special coatings. It leaves an anti-static finish on the screen. The Douglas County TV service provider said the cleaner is made by , a nonprofit organization near San Francisco that hires people with developmental disabilities.

A variety of glass-cleaner companies do make electronics cleaner formulated for LCD screens The simply named Windex® Electronics Wipes come in packs of wipes.

More screen cleaning tips:

Skip paper towels that could scratch a screen and instead use a soft microfiber cloth.
Don’t spray the screen itself but spray the cleaner on a cloth.
If you don’t want to invest in a special screen cleaner, use a 50/50 mix of distilled water and white household vinegar.
If you are cleaning, don’t forget to turn off electronics and unplug for safety.

And for those who thought this was about cleaning up the digital clutter on a computer screen, a regular cleaning could improve the computer’s performance. However, having too many icons on your desktop probably isn’t going to impact performance considering how powerful computers are today. But it might impact your performance if the screen is so cluttered, you can’t find what you need fast. Some advice:

Delete unnecessary home-screen icons you don’t regularly use.
Then right-click a blank spot on the Windows screen, select “View” and “Auto Arrange Icons” to make everything line up nicely. : right click a blank space on the screen and select “Clean Up By” to view options.
Postpone the cleanup (as I do) and create a folder on the desktop for the clutter. Drag everything into it and voila! Clutter free screen.
Limit how many programs start up when your computer restarts. In Windows 10, press Ctrl+Alt+Delete, select the “Startup” tab and under the “Status” column, enable or disable programs from starting up automatically on reboot.

Miss a week? Then subscribe to the new weekly Tech+ newsletter to get this week’s question and more delivered to your inbox. Sign up, see past Tech+ answers or ask your own tech question at . If you’re emailing your question, please add “Mailbag” to the subject line.

Latest Windows 10 update continues to have issues, like a “terrifying BBS” screen

Tamara Chuang — Mon, 28 May 2018 12:00:36 +0000

��:��Microsoft pushed the big (monthly) update. It all but destroyed my laptop. I have a sign-in screen which then goes to the terrifying BBS. I have no icons, no tool bars, no Wi-Fi, no drivers, etc. I am using Ethernet for internet connection. The only way I can navigate is by going to task manager and right-clicking items that look like something. Fortunately, I did not lose any of my files. I have been waiting for Microsoft to realize they did this and either resend the update or revert me back to my old Windows 10. My question is, do you know a good number I can call and be put on ignore for hours but finally get some help from Microsoft. Or, maybe a website that may help my problem. Remember, I have no start page/screen. I will not spend any money on getting this repaired as the laptop is around 5 years old, so don’t send me to the Microsoft store as it is about 120 miles from my house. If it is unfixable, I will just replace the laptop with the new software. ~ Jim W., from Flagler, Co

�ձ𳦳�+��I know you said you don’t want to go to a local Microsoft store, but this seems like something they should fix for free. So for those readers who’d prefer to see if Microsoft will help you fix its own software, try one of these locations (and call first):

:��8505 Park Meadows Center Dr, level 2, in Lone Tree, CO; (303) 824-6772
: 1 W FlatIron Crossing Drive in Broomfield; (855) 270-6581
:�� 3000 East 1st Avenue in Denver; (855) 270-6581

As for an actual phone number, Microsoft has a listed for several countries. In the US, (800) 642 7676 is the main number, while 877-696-7786 is for .

You can also get support online — if you’re even able to get online — ��

I’ve mentioned other tech support sites, like Best Buy’s Geek Squad, that you can pay to help you fix computer issues. A past Tech+ roundup can be found here:��Where to find tech help when you think no one else is around, ��.

But to address the big issue of a Windows 10 update meltdown, you’re not alone. This seems to happen a lot, and recently. Search for “” and you’ll see a whole page of results just from 2018. You may find your answer there.

Also check the Tech+ archive for similar questions, such as “Troubleshooting a Windows 10 update that seems stuck” or “Windows’ new Fall Creators Update wreaks havoc on computer displays.”

Another alternative? Start over. Microsoft offers a fresh-start tool to install a clean copy of Windows 10 on a computer. It removes any apps you’ve installed but lets you choose whether to keep personal files.

If you go this route, backup personal files on a separate hard drive first, so you know you have a backup. You should write down all the license numbers of legitimate software previously installed so that it will be a cinch to reinstall and activate the software after the Windows 10 update.

For all the steps, head over the Microsoft’s page about it, ��. If you prefer to create an installation disc or start from a USB drive, the download tool is available ��

The only way to watch every single Colorado Rockies game is to pay for them, but it doesn’t have to come at season-ticket prices

Tamara Chuang — Mon, 21 May 2018 11:56:34 +0000

��:��Saw your article from April re: Rockies games. My 88-year-old mother lives in Boulder, is a Rockies fanatic but is living on a very limited budget. She would love to cut Comcast ($180 a month!) but watches the Rockies daily. I got her a Fire stick with Sling and an antenna, but if she can’t have her beloved Rockies that just won’t work. Help! — Beth Bayer

Tech+ Cordcutters are seeing more options to view live sports online. In the past few months, new sports friendly streaming services have included , ��Ի��.

But when it comes to professional baseball or football games, the leagues are in control and offer extremely limited viewing options for TV or streaming customers.

Even if you were to buy certain cable TV plans that include Rockies games for your home TV, that doesn’t ensure that you’ll also be able to stream all the games on your mobile device. AT&T SportsNet offers an app to stream games to Apple and Android devices but that excludes games blacked out by the league. And oddly, even if you pay for Comcast or Dish for the SportsNet channel, you are unable to stream the games due to licensing agreements — or disagreements in this case.

Even so, your mother may have cheaper options if she starts deleting some add-ons in her Comcast package. In researching the cheapest TV plan that includes SportsNet, the starting price of a package that includes Rockies games via SportsNet can be had for under $100.

According to AT&T SportsNet, the channel is available to Denver customers who pay for CenturyLink Prism TV, DirecTV, Dish Network and Comcast/Xfinity. But the costs are much higher than a streaming video service. According to prices on the companies website, the monthly bill for Denver-area customers with no promotional discounts — and sans added fees and taxes — comes out to the following:

CenturyLink: Minimum plan is Prism Essential with 165 channels, at
Comcast: Minimum plan is “Starter” with 140 channels and prices is , plus broadcast and regional sports fees.
DirecTV: Minimum plan is Choice, with plus a fee for Regional sports
Dish Network: Minimum plan is America’s Top 120+

Please note that cable and satellite TV services do not make it easy to find out how the cost to subscribe to a channel based on a minimum plan and non-promotional price. The above prices, however, are posted on the company sites, usually in the fine print. As my contact at DirecTV Suzanne Trantow tells me, “We recommend they contact DirecTV for rates as the each package is structured differently.”

Another option? Season tickets. The is a minimum $580 for lower rooftop reserved seats. Of course, that doesn’t include every game — or hotdogs and parking fees.

If you missed the earlier Tech Q&A on “What are the options for streaming Colorado Rockies games in 2018?” here is the link:��.The gist? Unless you’re a DirecTV customer, it’s difficult to stream Rockies games using the AT&T SportsNet app. However, Rockies games are scattered throughout a variety of streaming services, including MLB.TV, Twitter, Sling, FUBU TV and others.

Social networks created the popularity of followers. Now, get some use out of being a follower

Tamara Chuang — Mon, 14 May 2018 12:00:05 +0000

��:��Could not find “follow” button to sign up for the blog and subscribe. Your blog gives answers to questions I didn’t know I needed to ask. ~Gene Morton

Tech+ Awww, thanks Gene. I feel like the mission for the Tech+ Q&A is to give readers a real person to answer their personal tech questions. It’s also a place I use to encourage newspaper readers to better use the technology that surrounds us.

So, you want to follow someone. You’re right about “Follow” buttons. Most modern-day communication tools built for sharing with the masses have them: Twitter, Medium, Instagram, Pinterest, etc. And sometimes the button is called something else, like “Add Friend” on Facebook.

They all do the same thing. They fill your social network with messages of every darn thing that person tweets, pins and blogs about. I’m not quite sure when the idea of following first started. But looking into internet history, Twitter cofounder Jack Dorsey . It’s since been liked by 86,000 people, retweeted 109,000 times and elicited 3,200 comments. Dorsey, who is followed by 4.2 million Twitter accounts, has also tweeted about 23,500 times since.

just setting up my twttr

— jack (@jack)

While following lots of people will give you an overwhelming amount of mediocre reading material, it’s also a way to get a someone’s attention, like often does.

But I have a more useful suggestion. Companies use sites like Twitter to hear directly from customers. A few I bet Tech readers would love to complain to, er, I mean follow are: Comcast, at ; Dish Network, at ; you can even tweet at me, at . I share a lot of local tech stories and other insider details about life at The Post.

For a future Tech+ post, I want to compile a list of active companies on Twitter or Facebook that respond to customers. If you want to suggest a company, email me at tchuang@denverpost.com (and please put “Mailbag” in the subject line).

Unfortunately, there is no follow button on the Tech+ Q&A. However, the old way to follow it still exists. You can subscribe either to the newsletter or get an alert every time a new Q&A posts.

To subscribe the old way, find your favorite Denver Post sections, authors or topics (also called tags), and add this — /feed — to the end of its web address. Then copy the entire address and use a service like to send you email alerts when something new is posted. I use Blogtrottr to follow the filings of public companies on the Securities & Exchange Commission’s site.

If you want to follow Tech+, for example, the subscription feed is denverpost.com/tag/tech-plus-mailbag/feed/ — which is way wonkier than hitting a follow button. But better yet, just sign up for the newsletter to get the week’s question and oh so much more ��.

“I never quarrel with a man who buys ink by the barrel,” former Indiana Rep. Charles Brownson said of the press. But we need your help to keep up with the rising cost of ink.
.

Stamping down trojans, malvertising and other malicious mayhem like a fake Adobe update

Tamara Chuang — Mon, 07 May 2018 11:22:55 +0000

��:��Since March 2, 2018, I have gotten a “threat” notice from Windows Defender whenever I’m using my email. On the top bar, “Adobe Flash Player” appears flashing in an orange-like background. Also appearing is “http:/ beOitzatworld.org” followed a long string of numbers and letters. I am advised to turn off and restart my computer. After doing this, the message does not reappear. However, it does appear when I use email the next time. How can I get rid of it for good? Windows Defender “threat summary” identifies it as “Trojan:JS/Flafisi.D in Flash Player [1].hta.” ~ Norine D.

Tech+ Trojans are annoying and can be quite a pain to get rid of.

If you’re trying to sleuth this out yourself, start by doing a search for the specifics, such as “JS/Flafisi.D.” There are several hits and many seem to agree that this is malvertising, or booby-trapped ads that can inject malicious code on your computer.

JS/Flafisi.D is a fake Adobe Flash Player update seems to have started on Microsoft MSN portal pages and is associated with the KovCoreG malvertising group, according to the good folks ��. Message boards are also a great place to research, although you’ll probably have to read through many responses — like — before you find someone who’s found a fix. You likely were on a suspect page that redirected you to a malware site where you inadvertently downloaded a fake update.

The fix? In this case, start with blocking ads. Depending which internet browser you use (Chrome, Firefox, etc.), there are a variety of built-in or third-party options. Here are a few past Tech+ stories on this: “Tricky adware pop-ups may require more than just blocking pop-up ads” and “How to stop annoying autoplay audio and video.”

You should also try removing it — which Windows Defender or any other decent anti-malware software should be able to do. For Windows and non-Windows users, a reputable and free program is Malwarebytes — — which will scan and remove malware on a regular basis.

If you are able to pinpoint the name of the malware, most anti-malware companies also offer a removal tool specific to the malware. Search for the discovered malware and “removal.”

A few more tips if you go the Microsoft way:

Make sure your version of Windows is completely up to date

Make sure your Windows Defender is up to date, then run it again and see if it cleans out the trojan. If Defender gets stuck, you may not have enough space on your PC or you’re trying to do too many other things at the same time. Here are tips on using Defender from Microsoft:��

Some malicious software is more troublesome to remove. Microsoft’s next suggestion: Run Windows Defender offline. Do this by going to your Windows Security settings, find the “Virus & threat protection” category and under “Threat history,” select “Run a new advanced scan.” Pick the bottom option, Windows Defender Offline scan. Steps are listed here:��

Windows also offers a malware removal tool ��

If the malware continues to pop up, then download the Microsoft Safety Scanner, which is designed to remove malware off a Windows machine and attempts to reverse damages the malware may have inflicted. That’s available here:

Completely stuck? Microsoft operates (Park Meadows Mall, Flatiron Crossing and Cherry Creek Mall) that offer free consultations and paid-services to figure out your computer issues.

The Denver Post needs your support.
.

Why companies like Twitter are suddenly updating their privacy policies

Tamara Chuang — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 11:04:03 +0000

Q: Twitter is “updating” its privacy policy and terms of use. Perhaps your readers would be interested in how to configure their accounts for the maximum privacy (and what they might be sacrificing in the process). I know I would. ~ Steve Lang

Tech+ In recent days, I’ve received no fewer than six emails from tech companies warning of “Updates to our Terms of Service.” And yes, that includes Twitter (and , and , and and and ).

The push comes a few weeks after Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in front of Congress about privacy breaches. But we’re also about a month before goes into effect on May 25. The GDPR, as mentioned in earlier in Tech+, gives Europeans the “right to be forgotten” and force tech companies to erase certain user data online.

Coincidence? Not at all, said James Carder, chief information security officer for Boulder-based Logrhythm.

“This (GDPR) regulation has forced companies to take privacy more seriously and change how they operate their businesses because the GDPR has the necessary ‘teeth’ to be effective: if a company violates the GDPR it can receive fines of up to 4 percent of its global revenue,” Carder said in an email. “The second is related to the recent issues with Facebook, their disclosure of personal information to Cambridge Analytica, and Mark Zuckerberg’s recent testimony.”

Privacy and data collection has been thrust into mainstream attention with these two events and if you didn’t care who had access to your data before, now’s the time. As Baber Amin, with Denver cybersecurity firm Ping Identity, reminds us, “The Internet Never Forgets — just because you delete something from Twitter (or anywhere else) doesn’t mean it’s gone.”

Amin said that if privacy is your concern, focus on this section where user input can be made in , which goes into effect May 25, 2018:

Your privacy and safety settings let you decide:

Whether your Tweets are publicly available on Twitter

Whether others can tag you in a photo

Whether you will be able to receive Direct Messages from anyone on Twitter or just your followers

Whether others can find you based on your email or phone number

Whether you upload your address book to Twitter for storage and use

When and where you may see sensitive content on Twitter

Whether you want to block or mute other Twitter accounts

Of course, a key purpose of Twitter is to share your thoughts publicly and follow, like or comment on other users’ public thoughts. If get that and tweet often. If you want to follow me on Twitter and see what I think is important, I’m ��.

But in checking my own privacy and security settings in Twitter for this, I noticed a wealth of new options. I prefer to be as generic as possible and have always opted out of personalized ads. But even for me, a new feature called “Personalization and Data” has defaulted my settings to “Track where you see Twitter content across the web.” Decheck!

Lesson: Check your privacy and security settings every few months for whatever digital services you use. There’s always something new. As I relooked at the numerous new options, I saw that Twitter reminds users that even if you turn off personalization, it will track the device you’re using, your IP address and your likes, shares, and “content you’ve read.” Of course, if you choose to share, Twitter also tracks your email, phone number, contacts and public profile.

If that gives you the chills, do what you can to limit the data collection. Go straight to and carefully read through the options:

In “” (at ), you can see all the data Twitter has on you — and may be selling to advertisers.

You can change gender, age, birth date, your contacts (if you’ve shared them with Twitter) and other details.

Don’t want Twitter to know where you are when you Tweet? Turn off “Places you’ve been” in the privacy area.

Within “,” there is an option to “Disable all” personalization so Twitter isn’t tracking you across the web and sharing your data with partners. The catch? Less relevant ads.

For security, check recent login history and make sure you recognize the devices that logged into your Twitter account.

While you’re at it, beef up the security of your Twitter account by using two-factor authentication. You’ll not only need to remember your password, but use a second device (via text to a phone or using a smartphone app) to confirm your identity.

You can also check the box that says “Require personal information to reset your password” so you’ll be notified via email or text if someone other than yourself is trying to change your password.

If you need to review privacy policy updates at other companies, here’s a handy list of where to find what’s new:

Facebook:��

Google:��

Instagram:��

Snap:��

Airbnb:��

Twitter:��

Miss a week? Then subscribe to the semi-weekly Tech+ newsletter to get this week’s question and more delivered to your inbox. Sign up, see past Tech+ answers or ask your own tech question at . If you’re emailing your question, please add “Mailbag” to the subject line.

The Denver Post needs your support.
.

Why your version of Windows may be expiring

Tamara Chuang — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 11:22:16 +0000

��:�� I have been getting messages on my computer stating that my Windows license is nearing its expiration date. Is that message from Microsoft, as it claims to be? If it is authentic, what is the cost of renewal? I am a simple guy, use my computer for e-mail, word processing and internet only. ~ Bob McDonnell Bellingham, WA

�ձ𳦳�+��Your Windows license does not expire — for the most part. But other things might, such as Office 365, which typically charges monthly. Or, if you installed an early version of Windows before it was finalized, that build could expire.

More recently, Microsoft pushed out a Windows 10 “,” which is a required update. You may get a warning that if you don’t install the new update that your Windows will be out of date.

You didn’t mention what version of Windows you’re using, but if you had started with Windows 7 or 8 and moved up to the free Windows 10 before it launched in 2015, there’s a chance you downloaded an early version, a.k.a. Windows 10 Insider builds. Check which version and build of Windows you have by following these steps:

Right click the “Start” button and select “Run” (or type “Run” in the Windows search area until it pops up as an option)

Type “winver” and hit enter

This will tell you what version/build is on your computer.

According to Microsoft, builds 15042 and 15058 have no expiration date. But an assortment of others do. To see a list of expiration warnings and dates, see Microsoft’s page about it ��.

If you’re an ordinary Windows user, it’s probably unlikely you used one of these Insider builds. But, as pointed out by a , a different version of Windows may have been installed on your PC by a repair shop and replaced your original Windows product key with a different one. If you’re using the professional version of Windows, there could be issues because pro-versions are often managed by a company and have different licensing agreements.

You may need to track down your original Windows license and documentation and then reactivate your Windows product key. Some helpful pages on finding your key and activating it:

Find your Windows product key:��

Activation in Windows 10:��

Activation FAQ for Insider builds:��

Create a Windows 10 installation tool:��

Get help from Microsoft with Windows activation:��

And then there is the issue of the end-of-life support for older versions of Windows. But what that means is Microsoft won’t be offering regular security or feature updates. I wrote about that here. The version of Windows will still work, but you may not be protected. You can see dates here:��

Lastly, be wary of strange messages saying that your Windows has expired so call (insert scam number here) to renew. This past Q&A might be of use: Your Microsoft Windows license expired so pay up (Nooooooo!!!) �ǰ��

Picking digital picture formats: JPEG vs. PNG vs. GIF vs. TIFF

Tamara Chuang — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 11:42:49 +0000

��:��So, I understand the generational degradation of JPG and other similar formats when editing and re-saving. What I don’t know is… When moving a JPG from folder to folder does that decrease it? When moving an entire folder of JPGs, does that decease all the individual files within? Does simply renaming the file decrease it? When saving a copy would decrease the original, or just the copy? Am I missing any other kinds of changes that do or don’t degrade the quality? And how much degradation occurs? Significant, minimal? Can’t tell till the 20th edit? ~ Terri R., Aurora

Tech+ No degradation. Moving or copying a digital image makes an exact duplicate of the image.

But as you mentioned, it’s the editing and re-saving of images that may cause some quality degradation.

For the 411 on this, head , makers of the aged and prolific Photoshop software that artists have used for years to turn creations digital.

We shrink digital images because a raw 10-megapixel beauty from a smartphone can gobble up a lot of storage space, not to mention cause websites to load slower. And compression techniques allow for the image to still look good online, for example, though if you print it out at the store, you may see some fuzziness, slightly off colors and just an overall smaller image.

Digital image compression is essentially divided into two categories: Lossy, which means a loss of detail during compression; and Lossless, which compresses but does not remove detail.

The most common image formats:

JPEG or JPG (Joint Photographic Experts Group): Lossy, so a lot of data is lost in the final image. But it’s a sliding scale of quality, meaning it’s up to the user. Sharper lines? The larger the image. Increasing compression means the photo will probably look a little blurry and pixelated.

PNG (Portable Network Graphics): Lossless compression, so images keep their details. Good for screenshots since it keeps a representation of nearly every pixel. Digital Trends has a good write-up: “”

GIF (Graphics Interchange Format): Limits the number of colors to 256, which alone cuts down in its size and means major limitations for image quality. But gather up a bunch of them and link them to create short animations — animated GIFs.

TIFF (Tagged Image File Format): Lossless format, and popular among professionals because it offers flexible compression quality yet retains color and information. But the files tend to be quite large. Better for print-outs but not so friendly for websites.

The experts can tell you more. Some useful sites I tapped for this answer:

99designs.com: ��

Adobe: , at

University of Michigan Library research guide: ��

Miss a week? Then subscribe to the new weekly Tech+ newsletter to get this week’s question and more delivered to your inbox. Sign up, see past Tech+ answers or ask your own tech question at . If you’re emailing your question, please add “Mailbag” to the subject line.

What are the options for streaming Colorado Rockies games?

Tamara Chuang — Mon, 09 Apr 2018 11:50:29 +0000

��:��I still need some clarification on the Rockies. For us cord cutters, I see no rational reason — or a business reason — why Sling or DirecTV Now (especially since they are AT&T) would not carry SportsNet Rocky Mountain channel. You would have to agree the immediate increase in subscribers would have to be in the thousands, if not more — even if there were a price increase. Yes, you can go the SportsNet website and stream, IF you have an account with Dish or DirecTV satellite service. Certainly, not worth it. Likewise, MLB TV is not an option because of being located in the “home” area. So, is it a licensing issue with MLB? If so, how stupid are they to limit baseball exposure in an era of sports TV competition and the NFL losing viewers. Perhaps, it is a numbers game and those of us without access to cable TV are not cost effective to serve. ~ Don Morse

Tech+ Apparently, it’s not as simple as it could be. AT&T, which owns DirecTV and AT&T SportsNet (formerly Root Sports), would not elaborate why not. But Suzanne Trantow, a spokeswoman for AT&T’s Rocky Mountain region, shared this comment: “We continue to have conversations with providers and hope to add additional providers soon.”

And in SportsNet’s case, it gets even more frustrating if you’re a Comcast or Dish Network customer who subscribes to SportsNet. While Comcast and Dish offer SportsNet to their traditional TV customers, they’re not part of the streaming feature. So those folks can forget about accessing the “free” SportsNet streams online. DirecTV is the only major TV service whose customers can — and DirecTV is owned by AT&T.

AT&T won’t comment on this, but refers customers to its FAQ section that says, “if you are not able to stream our games, please contact your TV provider directly and ask that they provide you access to stream your favorite home team on AT&T SportsNet.”

Related Articles
With internet TV options changing every week, it could pay to relook at what’s available today
New internet TV service has $16 monthly tab and no sports
YouTube TV launches in Denver with ABC, CBS, NBC and national Fox network
Sling TV’s new Gamefinder makes it easier to find live sports events. Just not Denver Broncos games
Readers ask: Who can I hire to set up my cord-cutting, TV-friendly home?

The company is currently in a quiet mode as it seeks to buy Time Warner Inc. Knowing how the pay-TV industry operates, it’s mostly about money and various rights. Live sports is one of the few events that still attracts viewers and advertisers on a must-see-now basis. There’s lots of money to be made though, apparently, not very quickly.

Dish Network, which owns Sling TV, has given the public insight into some of what is going on behind the scenes. The Douglas County company has had more than its fair share of blackouts when negotiations went awry and a channel pulled the broadcast. Usually it was over money, as Dish CEO Charlie Ergen said after briefly losing CNN. “We know how many minutes people watch CNN and we know how many minutes they watched five years ago. And it��ap hard for us when someone wants a double-digit price increase when they have half the viewership from before. It doesn’t make any sense,” Ergen said.

And sports networks are eyeing their own potential to sell streaming services straight to customers. HBO has done that successfully, , a standalone service that has doubled subscribers in a year to 5 million, Bloomberg .

ESPN is the latest to jump in. The company said , its standalone streaming service, on April 12, starting at $4.99 a month. Details are still skimpy but in a statement, the company said the service will give fans “thousands of live sports events” including more than 180 MLB games each day throughout the baseball season.

Traditional pay TV companies — and networks — have been very slow to morph with the streaming evolution and offer more customized options to people willing to throw money at them. Hence, the rise of streaming companies like Fubu TV, Hulu and even Youtube. However, the organizations holding the key card — including MLB and the NFL — don’t seem concerned enough to move faster on this.

That said, for the Rockies, here are some online options for watching Colorado’s favorite baseball team this season (I’ll update when I hear more):

: Available for Apple and Android devices, the SportsNet app offers all regular games, except those that are blacked out by the league. Caveat:��You must also be a paying subscriber of certain regular TV services, such as DirecTV. Comcast and Dish customers do not qualify.

Watch online at . Caveat: Same as above.

: Offers access to a single team, for $89.99/year, or all teams, at $24.99/month. Caveat: Only out-of-market regular season games live or on demand are included. Throwing fans a bone, the app allows subscribers to listen to in-market games via — which separately is $19.99/year.

Lite: Register for a free account at and get streaming access to the Free Game of the Day.

Twitter: For the 2018 season, Twitter is per week at . A complete schedule has not been posted yet except for April. And no, the Rockies are not in .

Facebook: Paid for the rights to stream 25 games free to its users at (available to mobile or smart TV/PC users). A schedule of games through May 30 is available here:�� (No Rockies games yet).

Sling TV, FUBU TV, Youtube TV, Hulu Live, DirecTV Now, Playstation Vue:��Games broadcast on ESPN and Fox Sports are available, including the April 30 Rockies at Chicago game. Local blackouts apply. A limited 2018 schedule provided by Sling TV is ��

There are probably services I’ve missed. Please share in the comments. And also check out the earlier post on streaming sports at “With internet TV options changing every week, it could pay to relook at what��ap available today“

Miss a week? Then subscribe to the new weekly Tech+ newsletter to get this week’s question and more delivered to your inbox. Sign up, see past Tech+ answers or ask your own tech question at . If you’re emailing your question, please add “Mailbag” to the subject line.