I went looking for Microsoft's own version of a universal translator, and found that it doesn't work as well as Google's version, but beggars can't be choosers.
But I really wanted something better, so when I found another site that offered its own version of the Google application, I downloaded it. Big Mistake! It installed a toolbar called 'Incredibar' in spite of the fact that during the installation process, I'd specifically unchecked the not-so-obvious little box for choosing to install or not install that toolbar. Then, I had trouble getting rid of it.
In Control Panel, it had installed not only its own program, but also a second one generically named 'Web Assistant'. The only way to tell the two were related was by checking the date of installation, which showed the same dates.
Note: Incredibar/Web Assistant also installs a browser search-engine hijacker called 'MyStart' and even after removing those two programs from your PC, you
will still have Incredibar/Incredimail embedded within your Config files in the Firefox browser - over two dozen entries - and it's faster to remove and then re-install Firefox rather than piddle around trying to remove all that crap. So this is not a fun thing to get into, for sure!
Finally, after all that, I get to the part where I can test this Brand-X translator, and I found it's the same old gadget from Google, which now says 'Unable to connect to Internet'. Because...... - so I was right back where I started, but much later, and considerably more annoyed. So if you're looking for a gadget like Google's but for Windows, Good Luck, because Microsoft is now advising us to stop using that handy Windows Sidebar and all its Gadgets, and they are no longer providing a page for them where you could download them.
I must note here that back when Mighty Microsoft was flogging Vista (Ugh!) and later Wonderful Windows 7, they were touting that Sidebar and its handy gadgets as an added convenience and enhancement to Windows, and it helped them with its acceptance and usefulness to users. But now that Windows 8 is on the doorstep, and Microsoft is becoming sensitive to criticism that Windows 8 doesn't offer desktop users any really noticeable advantages over Windows 7, they are apparently removing this Sidebar feature and its Gadgets from Windows 7 to 'encourage' us to switch to the less convenient Windows 8. And in my humble opinion, shooting themselves in the foot while denying users the convenience of a long-running feature which really isn't as serious a security risk as they are now saying it is just isn't a smart way to go. And if the Sidebar and its Gadgets really are a serious security risk, then today's Question Everything would have to be: "Why did it take you three years to discover a security loophole in your otherwise excellent feature? - A feature that helped you make Windows 7 the preferred operating system among Windows users."
Is it just me, or do the rest of you smell something rotten here?
Please Note: I've checked other sites, and I'm far from alone in suspecting that
this is a ploy by Microsoft to force us into becoming more susceptible to using
Windows 8, by making us less happy with good old Windows 7. Those so-called security concerns don't hold water with me because any program added into a system will be vulnerable to attacks, and that's why we have protected ourselves with various security programs like anti-virus protection, etc., and as long as we keep those up-to-date, as most of us do, then we ought to be OK.
This looks to me like Mighty Microsoft is biting the hands that feed it, so that they can grab our wallets while we're reaching for the painkillers....
Mark Olive57 days ago
I
for one am highly dubious of Microsoft's motives here. They desperately
need more people developing for Metro as it's the big selling point of
Windows 8, so what do they do? Conveniently find a security
vulnerability in desktop gadgets, which they are then deliberately vague
about, and instead of fixing it, decide to disable them entirely. And
remove them from Windows 8, for good measure. Installing ANY kind of
program from an unknown source has potential security risks, regardless
of whether it's a gadget or not, so it's a ridiculous argument to make
in the first place. This is just another tactic to try and push users
into upgrading to Windows 8.
Mark Olive57 days ago
I
for one am highly dubious of Microsoft's motives here. They desperately
need more people developing for Metro as it's the big selling point of
Windows 8, so what do they do? Conveniently find a security
vulnerability in desktop gadgets, which they are then deliberately vague
about, and instead of fixing it, decide to disable them entirely. And
remove them from Windows 8, for good measure. Installing ANY kind of
program from an unknown source has potential security risks, regardless
of whether it's a gadget or not, so it's a ridiculous argument to make
in the first place. This is just another tactic to try and push users
into upgrading to Windows 8.
Mark Olive57 days ago
I
for one am highly dubious of Microsoft's motives here. They desperately
need more people developing for Metro as it's the big selling point of
Windows 8, so what do they do? Conveniently find a security
vulnerability in desktop gadgets, which they are then deliberately vague
about, and instead of fixing it, decide to disable them entirely. And
remove them from Windows 8, for good measure. Installing ANY kind of
program from an unknown source has potential security risks, regardless
of whether it's a gadget or not, so it's a ridiculous argument to make
in the first place. This is just another tactic to try and push users
into upgrading to Windows 8.
Mark Olive57 days ago
I
for one am highly dubious of Microsoft's motives here. They desperately
need more people developing for Metro as it's the big selling point of
Windows 8, so what do they do? Conveniently find a security
vulnerability in desktop gadgets, which they are then deliberately vague
about, and instead of fixing it, decide to disable them entirely. And
remove them from Windows 8, for good measure. Installing ANY kind of
program from an unknown source has potential security risks, regardless
of whether it's a gadget or not, so it's a ridiculous argument to make
in the first place. This is just another tactic to try and push users
into upgrading to Windows 8.
Mark Olive57 days ago
I
for one am highly dubious of Microsoft's motives here. They desperately
need more people developing for Metro as it's the big selling point of
Windows 8, so what do they do? Conveniently find a security
vulnerability in desktop gadgets, which they are then deliberately vague
about, and instead of fixing it, decide to disable them entirely. And
remove them from Windows 8, for good measure. Installing ANY kind of
program from an unknown source has potential security risks, regardless
of whether it's a gadget or not, so it's a ridiculous argument to make
in the first place. This is just another tactic to try and push users
into upgrading to Window
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