Windows 8: A Whole New World

A trial of the newest version of Windows is now available to the public as a free download, bringing many changes to the Windows world.  The newest version can be installed directly from the website, which can be accessed by clicking here.  Complete with a new design called Metro, Windows is revamping its OS to become friendly with not only laptops and PCs, but hand-held devices such as smart phones and tablets.  Microsoft is working hard to prove that you can have a single Operating System on all of your smart devices, tablets, phones and computers.

The new design for Windows 8 is sleek, intelligent, and easy to use.  It is quite different from Windows 7, but once it is learned, it is very user-friendly.  It represents the future of Windows on hand-held electronics, and allows for similar device-synching opportunities of Mac and Android.  The user interface is extremely well-thought out, and fun to use.  It comes equipped with a “Start Screen” as opposed to the traditional “Start Menu” common to previous versions of Windows.  It is customizable, efficient, and well-integrated.

Aside from the design itself, there aren’t a ton of new features to Windows 8.  One of the highlights is Windows To Go, which allows you to carry Windows 8, along with your programs and files, on a flash drive or external hard-drive.  It’s is a much more secure and cheaper arrangement for businesses especially, as it bypasses issues of file misappropriation and eliminates the need to buy employees personal laptops.

Windows 8 is mobile and touch-friendly, and represents a level of future integration that could take cloud computing to a whole new level.  It is incredibly responsive and fast, and as more Microsoft products become available it may represent a shift in favored operating systems.  Data from address books, photos, calendars, music—even user preferences—are synched to the cloud and accessible via your Microsoft Live account, which means it can be accessed by any Widows 8-powered device, potentially even your Xbox 360 (pending dashboard upgrades).  It also allows for synching settings from one PC to another, which could make PC purchases much less complex in the future.

Windows 8 is a very promising start to Microsoft’s future in the touch-device world.  It offers other benefits as well, for people longing to integrating their hand-held devices with their PCs and laptops using one operating system.  On top of that, it has the added bonus of letting you transfer your personal settings, such as apps and screen layout, between devices, giving you stewardship of your own interface wherever you go.  Coming from Microsoft, this is a completely new new and very exciting way for us to  interact with technology.

Go Go Google Fiber!

Google Fiber is coming to Kansas City!  This is such exciting news– out of nearly 1,100 communities we have been chosen for the deployment of this project.  Google Chose Kansas City in spring of last year, and the project is expected be rolling out this year!  The Google Fiber network will deliver Internet speeds of up to 1 gigabit per second, which is more than 100 times faster than your average broadband connection.  You will be able to download and upload files at the same speed, which is a huge innovation.  It will connect our schools and public institutions, and it will open the door for Kansas City to become a mecca for technological innovations and advancements.

What exactly does this mean for Kansas City?  A million things.  Huffington Post recently referred to Kansas City as a possible “Silicon Prarie,” a place where, thanks to Google, we may be seeing a huge boom in technology and computer-based companies.  Google is first and foremost focusing on fiber-to-home services, which means that we will see it in our homes before we start seeing it in businesses, but the possibilities at home and at work are endless, and the impact is expected to be great.

So far, over 100 miles of fiber have already been hung throughout the Kansas City area, starting on the Kansas side and working its way into Missouri.  There is also speculation that other services may come in tandem with or closely following the implementation of Google Fiber, such as a possible TV service.  There is still a lot of work to do, but as Google hangs miles and miles of glass fiber around our city, they will begin connecting to homes.  There is no firm date as to when we can expect to see the service available, but stay posted!  We’re keeping a close eye on the progress of this exciting initiative and the impact it will have on our computing capabilities.

Dropbox: The “Magic Pocket” For File Sharing

Everything is moving to the cloud.  We hear it more and more and more.  There are so many different services to fit your needs, from backing up your computer, to sharing pictures and music, to facilitating real-time editing of shared documents.  We’ve found Dropbox to be a wonderful tool for file sharing, and you can get it for free.  While you cannot collaborate simultaneously on shared files, it does allow for file synching, and once you have learned how to navigate it, it is a wonderful application.

The premise behind Dropbox is that it gives you access to your files no matter what computer or device you have at hand. The service stores files with strong encryption on multiple servers and lets you get at your files quickly, easily, and for the most part elegantly from virtually any Internet-enabled device. Dropbox can be accessed by downloading the application onto your device, but if you find yourself in need of your files but at a computer that doesn’t have dropbox installed, have no fear.  You can also access your files by going to the website and logging in with an account name and password.

Dropbox is a quality way to sync files and data you regularly work with and update, such as documents for work or school. For example, say you write part of a research paper at school on your Apple laptop and put it in your Dropbox folder, which backs it up. When you return home, you can then access the document from your computer to continue working on it. The document’s updates will sync across your devices so you’re not constantly trying to remember what version it is.

It’s a great way to collaborate with friends, co-workers and family, plus share photos and video, by sending links or creating quality galleries of your pictures. You can also share music with Dropbox online data backup service.  We call it the “magic pocket” because of how conveniently and effectively it helps you store and transport data and documents.  Best of luck to you while cloud computing, this will make your life a lot easier!

Get Your Head In The Cloud

You are probably already familiar with the term “cloud computing.”  Over the last few years there has been a major shift towards the “cloud.”  It makes computing anywhere simple, easy, and fast.  Essentially, it means that your information is stored out there on the internet “somewhere,” available for you to access whenever you want, from any computer.  If you own a mobile device such as a laptop, smartphone, or tablet, you probably already use it without even realizing it.  Here are five advantages to cloud computing you want to be aware of, as well as some different services that may be helpful to you:

1. File Sharing

The cloud is an excellent file-sharing resource for groups of friends, students, and coworkers.  While traditional methods such as sending files via e-mail address or transporting them from one computer to another using a USB-stick are both easy and inexpensive, they come with built-in limitations, especially if the files are large and contain high resolution photographs. Another drawback is that any changes made to a given file must be resubmitted to every group member, which often leads to confusion and unnecessary duplication. By utilizing a cloud- based file sharing app, such as Dropbox, it’s possible to share project photos, documents or video files with all other members of the group in an organized and synchronized fashion.

2. Time Management

One of the biggest challenges we face today is juggling our many calendars. Applications such as Google Calendar and Microsoft Outlook allow you to synch your schedule across many of the devices you use, as well as synching your calendar with the people who are a part of your life.

3. Photo Sharing/Editing

Often, springing for expensive photo editing software is not an appealing option. Fortunately, a cloud-based application such as Picnik can give you FREE access to state-of-the-art Photoshop editing software. With a few mouse clicks you can download, edit, rotate, crop and share photos—and even throw in some impressive special effects—in true professional style. Be aware, though, that Picknik will be moving to Google+ in mid April, which is another great reason to become a part of the Google Cloud.

4. Backup Service

In today’s business and personal world, laptops and tablets are becoming a must-have. Regardless of how reliable these technological tools might be, crashes can still happen, resulting in a loss of critical data that could be disastrous.   Backing up your data on CDs and external hard drives is one solution, but the process is time-consuming and can still leave your data vulnerable. Fortunately, there are a number of cloud-based backup apps, such as Mozy and Windows Live Skydrive, that allow you to back up everything from photos to music to word files and other documents.

 5.   File protection

With all the web surfing that we do on a daily basis it’s important to have good antiviral software protection at all times. Thanks to the cloud there are a number of free antiviral apps that are very effective and very affordable. And if you’re looking for FREE, I personally recommend AVAST.  You can read more about Avast by clicking here.

Long Live The Laptop Battery!

Laptop batteries are like people–eventually and inevitably, they die. Battery technology is always improving, but battery failure is unavoidable. Although your battery will eventually die, proper care can put off the inevitable. There are a few things you can do to prolong the life of your battery, and with luck, it could last until you need to replace that aging notebook.

Something you can do for your battery is keep it cool, and give it a break.  Heat breaks down the battery, and reduces its overall life.  When you use your laptop, make sure the vents are unblocked. Never work with the laptop on pillows or cushions. If possible, put it on a raised stand that allows for plenty of airflow.  Clean the vents every so often with a can of compressed air. You can buy this for a few dollars at any computer store. Be sure to follow the directions on the can, and do this only when the notebook is off.  Also, if you’re going to be working exclusively on AC power for a week or more, remove the battery first.  Otherwise, you’ll be wearing out the battery when you don’t need to use it at all. You’re also heating it up, which as stated before is something you want to avoid doing.  You don’t want it too empty when you take it out. An unused battery loses power over time, and you don’t want all the power to drain away, so remove it when it’s at least half-charged.

Never remove the battery while the computer is on, or even in standby or sleep mode; doing so will crash your system and possibly damage your hardware. Even inserting a battery into a running laptop can damage the system. So only remove or reinsert the battery when the laptop is completely off or hibernating.  If you’ve never removed your laptop’s battery and don’t know how, check your documentation. (If you don’t have it, you can probably find it online.) The instructions generally involve turning the laptop upside-down and holding down a button while you slide out the battery.

Remembering to do these things will help you elongate the life of your battery.  By being aware of what you can do for your battery, you will dramatically increase what your battery can do for you.  These tips will help you prolong the life of your battery until, hopefully, it is time to replace your entire notebook.  Of course if you need any help replacing either, you can always contact Frankie OnCall for assistance, tips, and advice, and as always, happy computing!

Five Great Smartphone Security Tips

Do you ever give much thought to smartphone security? The smartphone is quickly eclipsing the PC for many common small business tasks that need to be accomplished on the road such as email, social networking, web browsing, and editing or creating documents.  However, the growing popularity of the smartphone also increases its vulnerability; not only because smartphones are small and easy to lose, but also because they present a big target for the same kinds of security threats that plague PCs, such as viruses and other malware.  Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep your smartphone data safe. Read on for five smart ways to improve your Android, BlackBerry, iPhone or Windows Phone 7 smartphone security.

1. Screen Lock Your Phone

If you leave your smartphone unattended for a while — or worse, if it’s lost or stolen– you don’t want to make it easy to rifle through its contents. Setting your smartphone to require a PIN code or password for access after an inactive period is a relatively easy way to thwart this kind of opportunistic unauthorized access.

2. Enable Remote Locate, Lock and Wipe

Can’t find your phone? You may have simply misplaced it somewhere around the office, or inadvertently left it at your last meeting. Then again, maybe someone stole it when you weren’t looking. In this situation, software — or a service — with the capability to remotely locate, lock, and wipe your phone might help you retrieve it. Barring that, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that even though someone’s got your phone, your data can still be protected.  Remote location will provide an approximate location that should be enough to let you determine whether or not the phone is somewhere you’ve recently been.  If you determine that your phone has been stolen, you’ll appreciate the capability to lock it with a PIN or password (even if you hadn’t previously enabled the aforementioned lock feature), and you’ll typically have the option to display a customized on-screen message (i.e. with return/reward info). If you determine that reuniting with your phone isn’t in the cards, you can wipe its data clean with a remote command.

3. Routinely Back Up or Synch Your Smartphone

Hopefullyyou never find yourself missing a smartphone or having to issue a remote data self-destruct, but if you do, you’ll want to be sure your phone’s data exists somewhere else. The same is true in the event your device becomes incapacitated due to physical damage or some other malfunction. Whatever the case, having a backup of your data is critical.  Depending on the smartphone, you may have the option to make a comprehensive backup of your device to a computer, or at least maintain a redundant copy of the most critical data and settings by syncing with online storage (a.k.a “the cloud) — either via a vendor-provided service or a third-party app. (You can’t generally backup the complete contents of your smartphone online due to bandwidth and storage limitations.)

4. Keep Your Phone ‘In Jail’

This one’s pretty simple. It’s tempting to “jailbreak” or “root” your smartphone to access hidden features and unofficial apps. But if you’re concerned about security, don’t do it. This can circumvent many of the safeguards built into the smartphone’s operating system, opening avenues of vulnerability that may not be readily apparent.

5. Mind Your Mobile Apps

With such a wide selection of smartphone apps available — most of them free or low-cost — it’s tempting to load up on anything and everything that catches your fancy. That’s not a good idea, because you can’t really be sure what an app is going to do once it’s on your phone.  For example, malware-laden apps were recently discovered (and removed) from the Android app marketplace, and federal prosecutors recently began investigating whether numerous app makers are, in violation of privacy laws, collecting and transmitting personal data (often to advertising networks) without users’ knowledge or content.  There’s not too much you can do to protect yourself from unseen app behavior, other than to keep the number of apps to a minimum, and if possible, use an anti-virus app.

These tips should help ease your mind about the security of your smartphone.  As technology advances, it is quickly becoming the most precious device we own, chock full of valuable personal data.  Please remember to protect yourself and your information.  Setting aside a few minutes to secure your phone can save you a giant headache in the future!

Take the Guesswork Out of Gifts

If you’re like me, you like to give good gifts.  Sometimes, however, it’s difficult to decide what to buy for the people you love.  Luckily the internet has stepped in and made shopping easy for all of us.  I’m sure that most people are familiar with the idea of “wish lists.”  These days it is quite common to have registries for bridal showers, baby showers, bachelor parties, birthdays– you name it.  You can usually find a way to register and create a shopping list on most major department store websites.

One of the tools that I find most effective in ensuring that I give– and receive– the perfect gifts is Amazon’s wish list.  It’s a great resource because it allows you to list out a variety of items, and should you find something you want on another website, such as Etsy or Home Depot, that is not listed on Amazon, you can import that information to your wish list as well.   This makes Amazon a great central tool for keeping track of all the things you want.

Of course, this is the time of year when we’re mostly busy BUYING presents for others.  The good news is that Amazon makes that easy for you as well.  If your friends and family have wish lists in Amazon, they are easily searchable.  Also, once you’ve purchased something on their list, you can have it discreetly removed so that they don’t get the same thing twice.  And thanks to Amazon’s Gift Organizer, you can easily search and save gift ideas for people in your life.  Let’s say your friend’s birthday is months away, but they mention how much they’d love a copy of a book that is coming out in February.  You can search for it in Amazon, add it to a list of gift ideas you create, and even set a date in the future to remind you that you need to purchase the present.

There are so many things you can do to help take the pressure off yourself when it comes to giving and receiving gifts.  Using the Wish List helps me ensure that I am getting people things that they want, and by using the tools and settings, I get to keep gift giving at the forefront of my mind without getting stressed out about it.  Not only do I know I’m getting people good gifts, it also increases my chances of getting the things I want myself.  Try out the Wish List with your friends and family.  It will add an element of fun and certainty to your future purchases.  Happy shopping!

Managing Your Busy Schedule

We all lead busy lives.  Many of us have a day planner,  a work calendar, a phone calendar, and a calendar hanging on the wall at home.  While these are all useful tools, it can become a task just to try and manage all your calendars.  One of the most effective tools I have found is the Google Calendar.  There are many advantages to using Google’s calendar tool.  First of all, your information is stored online, which means you can access your information at home, at work, and on the go if you have a smart phone.  Another advantage is that you can share your calendar with friends, families, and coworkers- at whatever level you choose.

In order to use Google Calendar, you must first set up a Google account.  Once you have that established, using the calendar tool is very simple, as is sharing your schedule and syncing with other programs, such as Microsoft Office.  If you are using a supported operating system, all you have to do is download Google Calendar Sync, which you can access here.  Once the download is completed, save the file to your computer and install the program.   You will be asked to enter your account username and password, and select which type of syncing you wish to set up for your calendars.  Two-way syncing will allow information to flow between Office and Google, so that information you input is constantly uploaded and accessible.

Now that your calendars are synced and in the cloud, you can share them with whoever might find them relevant. You can do this by clicking on the settings tab and clicking on “calendars.”  You should see a list of any calendars associated with your Google profile.  From there, all you have to do is click “share this calendar,” then enter the person’s email address and decided what level of access you’d like to allow them to have to edit appointments and events.  Privacy levels can be controlled and adjusted within the same calendar so that different information is shared with different people.

This is a great tool for anyone trying to manage the multiple schedules of a family or small business.  Everyone can see what the day/week/month looks like, and edits are made in real time.  In addition, because the information is stored on the web, your calendar can be accessed from any computer or phone that grants you access to your Google account.  I use this tool all the time to manage my schedule and set appointments with clients.  I find it extremely helpful, and I hope that you do too.