Tips for cleaning your smartphone and other mobile devices
Folks, here are some useful and/or interesting “infos” I think you will want to know about.
* Cleaning supplies for your smartphones, tablets, and accessories
“Matthew Nawrocki shares some tips for cleaning oils, dirt, and grime from your smartphone and other handheld mobile devices. Read more..
* (This is another one where the reader comments are interesting too) Will 90 percent of users always hate Windows 8?
“Windows 8 doesn’t exactly seem to be setting the world alight. Perhaps the requirement that indifferent users have to sit down and learn their way around something new is causing problems…” Read more..
* IT job cuts: Is the end finally in sight?
“A poll of IT chiefs’ views on hiring and budgets picks out a whiff of change in the jobs climate.” Read more..
* Sort of related: Words that mean nothing in a resume
“Some of the most often used terms in resumes are also the most meaningless. Learn how to avoid that pitfall.” Read more..
* Two free, full-blown alternatives to MS Office
“As Microsoft’s Office has grown in size and complexity, more than a few users have wondered whether there’s a viable alternative — especially when it comes time to pay for an upgrade or new copy.” Read more..
* Yippee yahoo: Spy agencies to be granted access to US citizen finances
“Should intelligence agencies in the United States have unrestricted access to the banking details of U.S. citizens? The federal government believes so.” Read more..
That shouldn’t bother me.. right?
* Software giveaway (reader submitted): today only..Nature Illusion Studio Standard Edition (PC) 100% Discount Coupon Code *** Great News! Nufsoft has agreed to extend this deal for another day – Enjoy! ***
“Nature Illusion Studio Standard Edition transforms your nature photos into living works of art with weather effects that are sure to astound! Using Nature Illusion Studio Standard Edition, you can add realistic snow, water, rain, and more, then throw in some butterflies, birds, and other objects to increase the level of nature in your nature photography. You don’t need to be a professional graphic designer, either, since Nature Illusion Studio Standard Edition offers an intuitive interface that lets anyone transform their photos.
It’s not just rain or snow, either. Within each category, you have complete control over such details as the intensity, wind direction, speed, transparency, and size. And once you think you’re done improving your photos with weather effects, you can take it to the next level! Nature Illusion Studio Standard Edition lets you add sound effects to all of your photos, immersing your audience in a total sensory nature experience. When you’re done, you can save your living photos as self-executing files, videos, or screensavers!”
Thank you for the heads up, Dear Reader.
Today’s quotable quote: “I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles.” ~ Audrey Hepburn
Silly Poll #3 (cont..) Does “clumping” cat litter save money in the long run?
Copyright 2007-2013 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
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All we really have, in the end, are our stories.
Make yours great ones. Ones to be proud of.
Considering A Tablet?
Folks, two very good reads for you today. The first puts into print my “spiel” when I am asked about tablets (such as the iPad), and also explains why I do not own one (yet). The second explains not only the “state of IT”, but also, indirectly, perhaps, the state of our nation..?
(If you are an ‘IT type’, or are thinking about working in IT, then the article is [IMHO] a ‘must read’. Perhaps a reader or two has been effected by this change..?)
• Tablets are for people who hate computers
“Tablets may be stealing some of the thunder from traditional PC sales, but that doesn’t mean they’re for everyone. If you’re already proficient with a PC, you may be disappointed by a tablet.” Read more..
• The future of IT will be reduced to three kinds of jobs The IT profession and the IT job market are in the midst of seismic changes that are going to shift the focus to three types of jobs.
“There’s a general anxiety that has settled over much of the IT profession in recent years. It’s a stark contrast to the situation just over a decade ago. At the end of the 1990s, IT pros were the belles of the ball..” Read more..
Since it has been a while..:
Today’s quote: “Do not believe in anything simply because you have heard it. Do not believe in anything simply because it is spoken and rumored by many. Do not believe in anything simply because it is found written in your religious books. Do not believe in anything merely on the authority of your teachers and elders. Do not believe in traditions because they have been handed down for many generations. But after observation and analysis, when you find that anything agrees with reason and is conducive to the good and benefit of one and all, then accept it and live up to it.” ~ Buddha
Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
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Internet Explorer 10 is Here? | More..
Saturday Bits & Tech News
• Internet: Loyal readers have heard me say that this tech stuff is evolving at an exponential rate, and never stands still — you got to keep up — keep learning. Seems to me, Microsoft’s new version of Internet Explorer (#9) got here just last month, and here I see that a limited “test drive” (pre-release) version of IE 10 is now available for download.
I am sorry, I cannot tell you much about IE 10, except that you can get it/read about it here. (Not sure it’s something you want to do, but.. now you know.)
• Tablets: If you believe everything you read, tablets are how we are going to compute. Apple’s iPad has “changed everything”, and now companies are scrambling to bring you their versions. Android is a game changer. Blah blah blah.
I think it’s still much too early to buy a tablet, but I am keeping an eye on developments.
This week’s tablet hullabaloo and ‘press frenzy’ is a new player in this fast-shifting game: Review: HP TouchPad is the productivity tablet
“HP’s webOS tablet, the TouchPad, has landed. It’s not the entertainment powerhouse that the iPad is, but there’s a lot to like for business professionals. Here’s a look. READ FULL STORY..“
(Catch that? “Entertainment powerhouse”? The iPad?! That’s too funny. I am not knocking the iPad, but know this – no tablet is a “powerhouse”. You have to keep your thinking caps on, people. Tech Paul lives in the Playboy Mansion. Wrong. Just because it’s there in black and white, doesn’t mean it’s true.)
• Hacktivism: If you read sites like this one, you probably have read about about LulzSec, a group of politically motivated vandals. I cannot print my thoughts on this subject (there really is no such thing as true “free speech”; and this is a “public forum”) but I can say that the story does underscore just how vulnerable to mischief the technology we built this “web” (and “smart grid”) on is, and, if you want to learn more: 50 Days of Mayhem: How LulzSec Changed Hacktivism Forever
“LulzSec didn’t invent hacking, let alone hacktivism, but the merry group of digital outlaws showed how a tight-knit operation and canny PR can take the world by storm.” READ FULL STORY..
(Ahem. “Merry group of digital outlaws“??? What, these guys are modern-day Robin Hoods? Wow. How out of touch is that? A very good article, though.)
• More Internet: The Internet’s Thirty Second Rule.
(Also a very good article.)
• HP, or DELL? My recommendation on that question has been sought several times this week. Fortunately, I could just refer them to this: Which is Better, HP or Dell?
• Summertime Odds are good it is a nice day there where you are. Turn off your computer. Go outside. Stay there all day. Find a chair, and one of those really old-fashioned things that people used to call “paperbacks”, (Dashiell Hammett is a good choice) or better yet, take a hike. Stretch your legs. Leave the smart phone home — look up, and around.
There’s a whole ‘nother world out there.
(Thanks for reading this, though. Now get outside!)
Today’s thot: “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.” ~ Albert Einstein
Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
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Additional Android Adventures…
I have been using my HTC “android” smart phone for a while now, and I can report to you, Dear Reader, that I have not experienced “buyer’s remorse”, nor a case of “the honeymoon’s over” – but, in fact, can say my little ‘droid has “grown on me”. I appreciate it a little more each day. (For those interested, I wrote a 3-part series; which starts here: My First Look At Android, part 1)
I have also a better sense, now, of what I do not like so much (though that has remained fairly consistent). Those things are:
1) bigger screen, please.
2) better battery life (yes, I understand phone maker’s are not responsible for battery technology. And I understand those two requests are counter — a bigger screen drains the battery faster.).
3) Made in America. (Yes. I would pay more.)
As much as I like my little ‘droid, I have not had the time to really explore the universe of “customizations” available that separates the Android operating system apart from the competitors. But I am intrigued, and may even – one day – “root” my phone and take total control. But for now I am just perusing articles such as today’s reading reco: 4 methods to customize Android phones and tablets
“One of the strengths of the Android platform is the level of customization that owners can use to tailor the user experience in every way. Here are my top customizations for Android devices.“
Related: For those thinking of upgrading phones – now that 4G is here .. 4G Wireless Speed Tests: Which Is Really the Fastest?
“By now you’ve seen all the ads pitching wireless companies’ new 4G mobile broadband services and devices. But beyond all the buzzwords and hype, which companies can reliably provide next-generation speed? We decided to find out by testing each of the four major national carriers–AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon–in 260 locations spread among 13 U.S. cities.“
Related (sorta): I am still looking at tablets. But I have decided to hold off, and see how the current fierce competition shakes out (as well as let the prices drop), but I pretty much decided that a 7″ size is my ‘sweet spot’. And, that Android will be my OS.
The weekend’s here. Yay!
Today’s free download: For those of you who like to download Flash games, or YouTube videos, Orbit (a download manager) will simplify your tasks. From site: “It is a free all-in-one downloader which can download streaming media, social music or video from anywhere include youtube, myspace, imeem, pandora, etc. It is famous for its super light, great speed and rapidshare supported.” (Today’s link also includes the review [and video] on C/Net.)
News: WordPress hacked
Security Incident
“Tough note to communicate today: Automattic had a low-level (root) break-in to several of our servers, and potentially anything on those servers could have been revealed.
We have been diligently reviewing logs and records about the break-in to determine the extent of the information exposed, and re-securing avenues used to gain access. We presume our source code was exposed and copied. While much of our code is Open Source, there are sensitive bits of our and our partners’ code. Beyond that, however, it appears information disclosed was limited.
Based on what we’ve found, we don’t have any specific suggestions for our users beyond reiterating these security fundamentals…”
Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
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My First Look At Android, part 1
What?! No Netflix?!
Loyal friends of Tech – for Everyone will know that I generally write about Windows PC’s, specifically, and computers and the Internet, generally. (A ‘special theme’ here being cybercrime and Internet security.)
They will also know that I really have not talked about mobile devices: smart phones, like the iPhone; and tablets, like the Galaxy Tab and iPad. Except maybe to say that pedestrians and bicyclists who have their heads down, and are ‘texting’ instead of looking where they are going really ‘frosts my cookies’. (I won’t tell you what I think about drivers who text.. but maybe you can guess..)
click to see how this image was made in Photoshop (tutorial)
Well this past year, Apple’s iPad caused many folks to label 2010 as the “Year of the Tablet”. And this year’s Consumer Electronics Show was – surprise! – all about new tablets and smart mobile devices (the object formerly known as “cell phone”). And we are bent on moving to the “cloud computing” model. So.. my guess is these units are here to stay.
My exhausting and thorough, in-depth analysis and research (ahem) led me to believe that the main players of the operating systems for these ‘smart’ mobile devices are Apple, Android, RIM Blackberry, and Windows.. kinda in that order.
I won’t bore you with the reasons, but I am avidly not an “Apple guy”. I repair and support them at Aplus Computer Aid, sure. And I give the iPod, iPhone, and iPad due credit for being ‘revolutionary’, sure. (There are plenty of Apple-enthusiast websites out there already.) Short version: when it became time for me to go shopping, I tried really hard to avoid Apple.
I will come back to this subject, but for now, I only have time to say that I am currently putting through its paces an Android 4G smart phone that, it seems to me, has all the bells and whistles. Here are some of my initial impressions of Android. Quickly:
My first “pros”:
* Lots of free “apps” and kewel ‘widgets’.
* Intuitive. Snappy. Easy. (Haven’t had to look at the manual yet.)
* Seems to do everything, and .. if it doesn’t, quick as a blink, I can download “an app for that”.
My first “cons”:
* For my getting-older eyes, I think I want a larger screen than the smart phones have.. perhaps a 7″ tablet. Unfortunately, my understanding is, the ‘phone tablets’ are not available in the US.
* Netflix ‘streaming’ is not available for Android (iDevices and Windows 7 Mobile only).
That last was, you may be surprised to learn, a fairly big disappointment to yours truly. I put in a call to Netflix, and was told that I am not the only person on Earth who wants a Netflix app. I was told that because of the difference in the nature of Android, and because of DRM issues, Netflix has work to do, and cannot release a single app, but has in the pipeline – and coming “very soon” – device specific apps. The more popular your phone, the sooner you will get an app.. is the way it sounds to me.
However.. this fact does make the iPhone appear more attractive. At least to Netflix users.
To read Part 2, click here.
And also, Android Adventures – Part 3
Copyright 2007-2011 © “Tech Paul” (Paul Eckstrom). All Rights Reserved.
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• About Tech Paul
I am a Retired computer & network technician. I used to think the machines were pretty cool. Now I don’t.
They’re anything but.
I regularly posted how-to’s and tricks & tips and general computing advice here starting in 2007. (Use the Search tool to find answers. But be aware, many are rather dated.) Sometimes I answered (your) specific questions in an article if I believed the answer was generally helpful to “everyone”. All the writing you see was my own, typos and all. There always is/was an implied “IMHO” in what you see here.
Note: You are responsible for using this blog and its content. I am in no way liable for any losses caused by user error, viruses and/or other malware, hardware or software failure, or any other conceivable reason.
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