Hands-On With The BlackBerry Z10

Posted on April 22, 2013 Written by Leave a Comment

z10I recently spent some quality time with the new BlackBerry Z10. The Z10 is a lightweight, keyboardless smart phone… wait, a keyboardless BlackBerry? How does that work? Let’s find out.

The Z10 has a 1.5GHz dual-core Qualcomm processor with 2GB of RAM and a 4.2-inch 1,280-by-768 LCD display at 356 pixels per inch. It’s sized about the same as an iPhone, 5.1 by 2.6 by .35 inches, weighing 4.8 ounces.

Related article: Review: Will the new Z10 save BlackBerry? by Triona Guidry (The Northwest Herald)

The Unboxing

First, we have to install the battery. Fortunately the Z10′s case is a snap to open, no finger-mashing required. Once that’s done the unit launches into a setup wizard that talks you through a brief configuration process. It also gives you the basics of the Z10′s swipes and gestures.

I like to evaluate new products from the perspective of a brand-new user. How do you figure out how it works? What resources are available to help? In the case of the Z10, the learning curve is short and sweet. Swipe to the Hub for notifications, swipe to your apps to launch them. The Z10 reminds you with helpful glowing arrows if, for example, you forget you have to swipe from the bottom up to unlock your phone.

The Z10′s Software Keyboard

Instead of physical keyboard, the Z10 comes with a software keyboard which is responsive enough that you might forget it’s not physical. Predictive completion learns as you type, so your phone quickly becomes customized to your preferences. In other words, it’s still a BlackBerry even with a software keyboard. Weird but true.

BlackBerry 10

The Z10 runs BlackBerry’s signature BlackBerry 10 software, which has received rare accolades from the tech industry. It’s not hard to see why. BB10 is sleek and intuitive, giving you a no-frills environment that lets you get the job done with minimal interference. However, that easy of use comes at the cost of customization. This isn’t Android; you can’t just arrange your icons any old way you like. But die-hard BlackBerry fans will be pleased.

Features, Functions, And Apps

Unfortunately you’re not going to find as many apps for BlackBerry as for iOS and Android. BlackBerry’s app store simply hasn’t been around long enough yet, so you might find yourself waiting (and wondering) if your favorite apps will be released for it.

The Z10′s Help section rocks. It’s well-organized and helps you find everything you need to know, which is vital considering that this phone is brand new to the market. I especially liked the prominent Passwords & Security section which can help you protect your phone.

Related article: Tools To Protect Your Smart Phone From Malware

Conclusions

The Z10 is a decent entry into the smart phone arena, but BlackBerry has a steep climb ahead as it struggles to catch up to its competitors.

What do you think? Can BlackBerry woo its CrackBerry addicts back into the fold or has the company lost too much momentum? Share in the comments, and don’t forget to  subscribe to Tech Tips by email and follow on Facebook. You can also follow @trionaguidry on Twitter.

Filed Under: android, apple, articles, beginners, computer help, consumers, google, hardware, Internet, ios, iphone, mobile computing, northwest herald, product reviews, smart phones

Cyber Attacks Spell Trouble For Consumers

Posted on March 22, 2013 Written by Leave a Comment

padlock-phoneDo you know what to do if your account is swept up in a cyber attack? In the last year many popular sites, including LinkedIn, Twitter, and Evernote, have been attacked and consumer information stolen. What can you do to protect yourself?

As I said in my tech column in this month’s The Northwest Herald:

Cybercriminals attack big companies for the big prize: user account information. With email addresses and passwords in hand, they go on an account-cracking spree across the Internet, hoping that some of the users in their massive heist are using the same weak passwords on multiple sites. Itʼs likely some of your accounts have already been swept up in data breaches like this.

There are a number of things you can do to reduce the possibility of being hacked. Here are my recommendations plus related Tech Tips articles to help you with each step.

If your account has been hacked, you need to reset it. Here is information on account security and resetting hijacked accounts for some of the major sites:

And here is information on the recent breaches I mentioned:

For the latest news on data breaches (something a little more reliable than mass media articles), try these IT security sites.

Do you have questions about cyber attacks and hijacked accounts? Ask in the comments!

Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Filed Under: antivirus, apple, articles, beginners, business, computer help, consumers, cybercrime, disaster recovery, email, facebook, gmail, google, Internet, internet explorer, linkedin, mac, malware, microsoft, mobile computing, northwest herald, passwords, pc, security, social engineering, social media, spyware, twitter, viruses, web, windows, wireless networks

How To Create Secure Passwords (Revised Edition)

Posted on February 4, 2013 Written by 3 Comments

Computer SecurityMany people say to me, “I don’t need a secure password. I don’t have anything sensitive on my computer, so I don’t care if a hacker gets in.” You, my friends, are a hacker’s dream. Because it’s not necessarily your personal information they want, although they’ll happily steal your credit card info if they can. No, what they really want is control of your computer, your email address, your Facebook page… anything and everything that will let them do their dirty work from behind a smokescreen.

I originally posted this on Tech Tips in 2010, based on many years of teaching tech support clients about password safety. But some of the old rules no longer apply, so this is my newly revised edition. If you think you can still get away with slapping an exclamation mark on the end of a word, you need to read this revised advice.

Strong passwords must be:

Not in use on any other system
This is perhaps the biggest no-no in the password rulebook. When hackers nab passwords, they try the same account/password combinations on popular sites like Google, Facebook, Twitter. If you’re using the same password you just let them in. Do not ever, ever, ever use the same password anywhere. Before you despair, keep reading. There are tools to make it easier.

Changed regularly
Yes, you have to change your passwords. And yes, they still have to be different everywhere. Use a secure password management tool if you find it unmanageable (see below).

12 characters or longer
Think passphrase rather than password. We used to say 6-12 characters was enough, but we’ve found that the longer and more complex a password is, the less likely it can be cracked.

A mix of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
Some systems won’t allow you to use a range of characters in your password, in which case I suggest you reconsider using that site. Do you really trust someone who isn’t going to allow you to secure your account properly? Makes you wonder how secure everything else on the site is.

Not common words or proper nouns found in a dictionary
An analysis of the recent LinkedIn breach found that many people were using ridiculously simple passwords like “password” and “123456.” If your passwords sound like these, change them now.

Not the names of your spouse, kids, pets, or other personally identifying information
Presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s online accounts were hacked via the very simple expedient of answering security questions with information that had been made publicly available. Same thing happened to Sarah Palin. Don’t create passwords out of information that can be gleaned about you, and don’t share information that can be used to guess security questions.

Examples of good and bad passwords

Good passwords (but don’t use these!)

AP@ssw0rdIJustMADE!UP!4U
Here’sAnOtHeR1FOR$You

Bad passwords

password
password1
password!
123456
<blank>
mypassword
spouse’s name
pet’s name

Password Don’ts…

  • Don’t rotate between the same two or three passwords. It’s just as bad as using the same password everywhere.
  • Don’t send passwords via email, Facebook, Twitter. Use other means like text message or fax, which goes directly to the recipient. Or, even better, a phone call.
  • Don’t stick passwords on Post-It notes. Whether it’s under the keyboard or on a bulletin board, it’s exposed. Be like Gandalf: Keep it secret, keep it safe.
  • Don’t share passwords and accounts. This is especially prevalent in small businesses. Don’t create one account then share the password; create multiple accounts for each person who needs access. More time consuming? Sure. More secure? You bet.

Tools to manage your secure passwords

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t worry, there are plenty of password management tools available. With a password management tool all you have to remember is one master password and the software takes care of the rest. I recommend KeePass, 1Password or LastPass. Even better, you can use the same password management tool on your computer and on your mobile devices.

Why not take this opportunity to change your passwords? It’s the best thing you can do to protect yourself against identity theft and cybercrime.

[Originally posted in 2010 as How To Create Secure Passwords. This version has been updated with the latest advice on secure passwords.]

Filed Under: beginners, business, computer help, consumers, cybercrime, email, facebook, gmail, google, Internet, passwords, privacy, security, small business, social engineering, social media, web

Tech Support Phone Scams Hit Home

Posted on January 11, 2013 Written by 2 Comments

cybercrime-laptopWhat would you do if a stranger called out of the blue and offered to fix your computer over the Internet – for a price?

I hope your scam detector’s going off because cybercriminals don’t limit themselves to online methods of duping their victims. In my tech column in this month’s The Northwest Herald I talk about tech support phone scams, in which the bad guys pretend to be Microsoft or other reputable companies. From the article:

 My neighbor was lucky. This particular scammer was clumsy on the bait and switch, but you can’t always count on that. Some scammers are so slick they’ll convince you that you’re talking to your own mother. They take advantage of those who aren’t tech savvy by using jargon and playing into our fears.

Tech support scams aren’t new. Con artists will try everything from pop-up windows to spam emails to fake search engine ads, but they also employ offline methods like phone calls, snail mail, and faxes. Everyone is a target, as this random call to my neighbor shows.

If you’re interested, here are a couple of articles from Ars Technica about tech support phone scams, which will give you a feel for how the scammers operate.

If you need tech support, go directly to the source, whether it’s Microsoft or Apple or Dell or HP or whoever. And of course you can always come over to Tech Tips if you have computer questions. Here are some other Tech Tips articles that might help if you’re in a crisis:

Have you gotten a phony tech support call? What did you do? Share in the comments and don’t forget to  subscribe to Tech Tips by email and follow on Facebook. You can also follow @trionaguidry on Twitter.

Image courtesy of chanpipat / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

Filed Under: articles, beginners, computer help, consumers, cybercrime, home, Internet, microsoft, northwest herald, pc, scams, security, social engineering, web, windows, windows 8

Readers Ask: Sending DOCX Files To Macs, Troubleshooting Slow Web Sites, Choosing New Computer Hardware

Posted on January 9, 2013 Written by Leave a Comment

computer-booksI’ve been talking with Fr. Jack Sweeley about whether he should move to Windows 7, Windows 8, or a Mac. After our initial discussion, he had some followup questions, which I am posting with his permission:

Thank you so much, Triona. This is very helpful. However, I have a few questions.

1. As I stated, I have several books written and others in process as well a hundreds of commentaries all written with Word using VISTA. Will I be able to open and edit these on a Mac?

2. From time-to-time I have sent documents I have written to someone who at that time had a Mac and they told me they could not open what I sent written in WORD on a PC. Is this still the case?

3. Contrarily, will I be able to open documents sent to me in WORD using a Windows PC on a Mac?

4. RE Macs: Could you give me comparisons between hard drive space on a Mac v. PC (is a gig a gig on both), for processing speeds what are the terms used and are they the same for a Mac and a PC, what are the terms used for memory and are they the same for a Mac and a PC?

5. What amount of HD space, processing speed, and memory do I need to do what I described in my original letter? I am impatient and go crazy having to wait for Websites to load especially when I have 8-10 sites open at the same time.

6. I know a little about the landscape of PCs and once I know what parameters I am looking for I can find one. However, I have never even looked at a Mac to say nothing about being able to compare them. So, could you cite different kinds of Macs–with their price ranges for what I need–and the pros and cons of each.

Let’s look at Fr. Jack’s needs and see how we can help him.

Opening Word For Windows .DOC and .DOCX Files On Macs

wordmacYes, you can open Word documents, both .doc and .docx, on a Mac. Apple’s word processor Pages (paid; via App Store) can open both but saves in its own proprietary .pages format. NeoOffice (donationware, www.neooffice.org) can also open both .doc and .docx but again, it saves in its own .odt format. You can spring for Microsoft Office for Mac (paid; via Microsoft), which is the most expensive option but can handle Word .doc and .docx files without conversion.

The person to whom you sent the Word file may not have had a recent Mac word processing program, or did not have Microsoft’s free .docx converter installed. You can either make sure all Word files are saved as .doc and not .docx (.docx is default from Word 2007 onwards), or make sure the recipient can convert .docx. Don’t go looking online for free converters, use the genuine ones from Microsoft to avoid viruses.

For the most part, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files can be used interchangably between PCs and Macs. The main exception is if you have code in Visual Basic (VBA) or custom macros not supported by the Mac. Everyday documents work fine, and on the rare occasions they don’t, the one-time installation of a converter tool usually fixes the problem.

Now, if you have print-ready files, a Word document just is not a proper layout tool. Better to save final drafts to PDF which will keep the pagination you want. Professionals do document layout with industry standard tools like Adobe InDesign and Quark.

When it comes to file types and permanent storage – as in, stuff you want to keep longer than the software program that created it – I am a fan of good old RTF, or rich text format. It’s a universal file type that allows formatting like bold and italic but can still be opened by nearly every word processor past, present, and likely future.

Choosing A New PC Or Mac

question-computerA gig is a gig is a gig – 1,024 megabytes, sometimes rounded off as 1,000MB. So yes, hard drive sizes are consistent across Mac and PC hardware. Processing speeds are harder to compare. You can go digging across the Internet for all sorts of bench tests, but you’re better off comparing PCs to PCs and Apples to, well, Apples.

Typically a sub-$500 PC is not going to be worth the cost. In my experience they fail more quickly and catastrophically than more expensive models. A midline PC, in the $700-1,000 range, offers better and faster hardware. Laptops will be more expensive than desktops, and bear in mind that if you choose Windows 8, you’re going to want a screen with touchy-swipey capability for the best experience. That is, assuming you can find one; it’s not available for every model.

Macs may cost more, but in my experience they also make up for the price difference by outlasting their PC counterparts in the long run.

Troubleshooting Slow Web Sites

slowWaiting for web sites to load may be a function of your network connection and not your computer. Or, if your computer is gummed up with adware and malware, you’ll notice the drag particularly when using the Internet. For optimum speed you need to use a modern operating system – Windows 8, Mac, or Windows 7 as long as Microsoft deigns to support it – because you need to use a modern browser.

Your web browser is your window to the Internet. That means it’s also a vulnerable point. If your software is out of date, your connection will seem slow or you’ll be unable to load pages or images. The older the browser, the slower the connection, until you finally throw your hands in the air and buy a new computer. This is another reason it’s good to keep your software up to date, it’ll stave off that new computer moment as long as possible.

If you don’t know which browser you use, you’re probably using the default for your system. Common browsers as of this writing are as follows, but this information changes rapidly. Your best bet is to use the “check for updates” feature of the program to find the current version for your computer.

Windows 7 and 8

Mac

Note: there is no current Internet Explorer for Mac. If you’re still using the old versions, switch now!

Choosing A Mac Model

choose-appleThe easiest way to see the available Macs is to pop over to the Apple store: store.apple.com. They have a clickable list in the Mac section which shows the Mac model options.

In my experience, you are almost always better off opting for an iMac or a Macbook Pro than trying to cut corners with a Mac Mini. For one thing, you have to factor in the cost of the screen, and for another the Mini really doesn’t have the oomph for what most people want. You don’t have to go nuts on one of those bigger, expensive tower Macs. Those are usually purchased by designers and video experts who need the extra processing power and expandability.

When configuring a Mac using the Apple Store tool, get the fastest processor and best graphics you can for the model you want. You can always add more memory or a larger hard drive later, but with an iMac or Macbook you’re stuck with whatever processor and graphics card it has. You can go Macbook Air instead of Macbook Pro but remember you’re sacrificing processor speed for a lightweight form factor.

Apple Store has a nice comparison tool to help you make the choice.

Finding Discounts On Macs

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention you can look for discounts on warrantied refurbished Macs on Apple’s site. You can also find discounts at Mac retailers like Mac Mall and OWC. A good time to buy is right after Apple announces new hardware; you can get a discount on older models that still have solid tech specs. (Insider’s tip: Apple usually has events in the spring and fall; the next one will be in March 2013.) If you’re an educator or student, be sure to check out Apple’s education discount. Many colleges and universities have deals through the campus computer store.

Ask Your Computer Questions On Tech Tips!

Do you have a computer problem? Leave a comment and let the Tech Tips community help. Your question could appear in a future Tech Tips article!

Image courtesy of (1) ddpavumba (2) Danilo Rizzuti (3) Idea go (4) Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Filed Under: apple, beginners, chrome, computer help, computer stores, consumers, Firefox, google, hardware, Internet, internet explorer, mac, microsoft, microsoft excel, microsoft office, microsoft powerpoint, microsoft word, opera, pc, product reviews, safari, software, web, windows, windows 8

Why Hackers Attack Your Computer – And What You Can Do About It

Posted on October 15, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

“Why would a hacker try to get into my computer? I don’t have anything they’d want!”

As an expert in small business and consumer security, this is the number-one question I’m asked. The answer? Money.

Earning Big Bucks The Hacker Way
Cybercrime is a multibillion-dollar business. Hackers can earn up to $100,000 per day with these scams. That kind of money certainly sounds tempting, doesn’t it? Poor economic conditions and high unemployment make hacking an attractive, if illegal, option both in the U.S. and abroad.

Installing viruses on your computer, stealing your password, hijacking your accounts – all these things bring in some seriously big bucks.

So how do hackers earn their ill-gotten gains? By taking advantage of you in two ways:

1. Commandeering your computer
Installing viruses on your computer allows criminals to control it. They can do everything from redirecting your web searches to capturing your passwords and credit card numbers. They may also install adware from which they get a kickback.

Why do they want to control your computer? Because it’s far more useful to command an army of ten thousand computers than it is to do their dirty work with one. It also creates layers of confusion between hackers and law enforcement.

Even better, they can sell access to their thousand-bot army to other scammers who might want to pull off fake pharmaceuticals, pay-per-click surveys, or 419 scams.

Plus, it gives them ammunition for…

2. Stealing your online identity
If you receive a message from Joe Neverheardofhim, you’re unlikely to click the link or attachment. But if you get a message from your best friend who says she’s stuck overseas and got mugged and desperately needs you to wire money, you might do it.

That’s a real-life scam, by the way. See the Snopes article here.

People are more likely to click on links from people they know. Hackers take advantage of that by breaking into legitimate accounts: email, Facebook, Twitter. If you see a weird message from a friend, hesitate before you click – they may have been hijacked.

Hijacking accounts feeds back into commandeering computers, which leads to hijacking accounts. It’s a perfect world for the hackers, in which their every action can have multiple lucrative rewards.

How To Protect Your Computer
The best way to prevent yourself from becoming a victim is to protect your computer. Here are some more Tech Tips to get you started:

Do you have questions about how to protect your computer from hackers? Ask in the comments! You can also subscribe free to Tech Tips by email for more computer news, security tips and social media advice!

Filed Under: antivirus, apple, beginners, business, computer help, consumers, cybercrime, Internet, mac, malware, microsoft, pc, phishing, scams, security, small business, social engineering, spyware, viruses, web, windows, windows 8

The Basics About DNSChanger, The Virus That Could Knock You Off The Internet

Posted on July 8, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

Everyone’s talking about this virus that’s going to hit on Monday, July 9, 2012, but a lot of the articles are too technical. Here are the bare-bones basics you need to know.

What is DNSChanger?
A particularly obnoxious virus that affects Windows and Mac computers, and can be transmitted by other types of computers and mobile devices. It can also affect routers.

What does it do?
Changes your Internet settings so cybercriminals can serve you ads, steal your login information, and monitor everything you do online.

Gruesome technical details (optional)
DNSChanger alters your computer’s DNS settings. DNS servers translate ugly network numbers like 127.0.0.1 into nice human-friendly addresses like www.sophos.com. Normally your computer looks to your Internet provider’s DNS servers for these translations. DNSChanger redirects your computer to cybercriminal DNS servers, so everything you do on the Internet silently passes through their servers en route to its actual destination.

What could happen on July 9, 2012?
If your computer is infected with the DNSChanger virus, as of Monday, July 9, 2012, you may not be able to access the Internet. Because of the severity of DNSChanger, Internet providers worldwide decreed that July 9, 2012 was the last day the hacker servers would be allowed to stay online. After that, they pull the plug. If you’re infected and can’t get online, it’s probably because your Internet provider is blocking your computer as a public safety measure.

What do I need to do?

1. Check to see if you are infected.
Visit the DNSChanger Working Group (DCWG) website to see if you are infected. If you are, continue below.

2. Remove the virus from your computer
Most popular antivirus programs will remove DNSChanger. Be sure you are using legitimate antivirus and not lookalike scamware. DCWG has tips on what to do if you are infected.

These Tech Tips articles may also help:

Additional Resources

Image: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Filed Under: alerts, antivirus, apple, beginners, business, computer help, consumers, cybercrime, Internet, Internet providers, mac, malware, microsoft, pc, security, small business, social engineering, spyware, viruses, web, windows

How To Recognize An Email Scam

Posted on June 18, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

Email scams are inundating our inboxes. From fake Facebook links to phony software programs, cybercriminals use email as the bait for their hooks. And many people fall for it.

Rule #1: Never click on email links. You should always go to your Web browser and type the site name directly. Links are easily forged, and clicking bad links allows viruses to bypass your security and silently install themselves on your computer. Remember our motto: Think Before You Click.

We’re going to dissect three of the most common email scams: fake social-media messages, phony antivirus warnings, and counterfeit account statements. But first, let’s talk about how these scams work. All of them bear similarities: use of real logos, colors, and addresses; realistic-sounding language; and links that look like they lead one place when they actually go somewhere else.

Don’t rely on poor grammar or punctuation to tell a scam from the real deal. Some scams may be amateur efforts, but others are so convincing that it’s almost impossible to detect them. It’s best to err on the side of caution and never click links in any email messages.

(Click the screenshots below to enlarge them and see how these email scams try to trick you.)

The Facebook Fake-Out
What It Is: False messages from popular social media sites like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter are a popular way to harvest passwords and sneak viruses onto your computer. People are used to getting email from these sites, so they will click without a second thought. As a result, social media has become the top method of computer virus infection.

How To Avoid It: Never click on links in email. Go directly to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and other social media sites by typing the site addresses into your Web browser. Don’t try to reset your password via instructions or links in email – and shame on LinkedIn for encouraging people to do exactly that in their recent password breach. See, even real companies get security wrong sometimes, so don’t listen to bad advice no matter who it’s from.

The Phony Antivirus Program
What It Is: Rogue antivirus is fake software that tricks you into installing it, usually by displaying phony infection warnings or upgrade notices. I’ve discussed rogue antivirus before; you can read about it here and here. Once a rogue antivirus program commandeers your computer it will disable legitimate antivirus, regenerate itself if deleted, and even hold your data for ransom.

How To Avoid It: Don’t install software on your computer unless you know where it’s from. When in doubt buy a packaged program from a store. Go directly to security software makers’ sites to buy and download software rather than relying on links in email.

The False Billing Statement
What It Is: Counterfeit billing statements attempt to harvest your password and account credentials. This information can be used to gain access to other accounts including your bank accounts and credit cards.

How To Avoid It: If you receive electronic statements, don’t click links in them. Visit the site directly to enter your account information. Never believe a password reset email or instructions to “verify” your account.

These are not the only scams in town. Fake package delivery notices, marketing surveys, and other scams abound on the Internet. It’s up to you to learn how to recognize and avoid them, but hopefully this has given you a head start.

Filed Under: antivirus, apple, beginners, computer help, consumers, cybercrime, email, facebook, Internet, linkedin, mac, malware, microsoft, norton, passwords, pc, phishing, scams, scareware, security, small business, social engineering, social media, spam, spyware, twitter, viruses, web, windows

Not Using Social Media? Sign Up Anyway

Posted on March 2, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

Social media sites are proliferating like crazy. You can’t possibly need all of them, which is why you should sign up for each and every one. In today’s Northwest Herald, I explain why you should sign up for social media sites even if you don’t intend to use them.

When your name is your brand, reputation management is vital. But even those of us who don’t hobnob with the stars need to keep an eye on our online identities. A simple solution is to create profiles that contain your name and correct contact information. Again, you don’t have to use these sites if you don’t want to, but at least you are findable, and findable is a necessity in an age of digital overload.

In the article I mentioned the example of someone who has vowed never to use LinkedIn, only to discover they have a LinkedIn profile. Usually such orphaned profiles have incorrect or outdated contact information. It’s up to you to find out what’s already on the Internet in your name and make sure it’s correct.

Google Maps is another one I mentioned in the article. I frequently hear from people who are stunned to learn their businesses are on Google Maps – especially those who run their businesses from home. You would not believe how much stuff is out there about all of us. It gets aggregated from various sources of content that are beyond our control, and before we know it our entire lives are online.

But you can use this to your advantage. Whether you are running a business or maintaining your career, we all need to market ourselves. All you need to do is make sure you have profiles on the major social media sites, and point those profiles to your web site or blog.

(And if you don’t have a web site or blog… this is WHY you need a web site or blog. You need an online brochure, one consolidated place that says, “This is me.” And, I might add, one that you can control yourself, unlike social media sites which will come and go over time.)

You don’t have to use these sites, although I encourage you to explore them. The point is, you should sign up whether or not you intend to use them. If you don’t, someone else will.

At minimum, you should be on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. You should also have a Google account (although if I were you, I wouldn’t go sharing everything I do with them) and also an Apple ID if you use any iDevices. It wouldn’t hurt to have a Yahoo! account either. Other sites include YouTube and Google+ (you’ll connect to these with your Google account), Flickr (connect with Yahoo!), and Pinterest. Of course there are many others, but this is a good starting point.

In April look for my brand-new seminar, Social Media Marketing On The Go! We’ll talk about how to combine social media and mobile devices to pack some punch into your online marketing. See my News and Events page for details and registration info.

Subscribe free to Tech Tips, and don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @trionaguidry for breaking computer news and other geeky stuff.

Filed Under: beginners, blogs, business, events, facebook, gmail, google, Internet, linkedin, northwest herald, seminars, social media, twitter, web

How To Ditch Your Computer For An iPad

Posted on February 17, 2012 Written by Leave a Comment

Word on the street is that traditional computing is dead and the tablet is king. While you still need a computer for heavy-duty tasks, much of your everyday work can be done on an iPad.

First, some pre-planning. What do you use your computer for, and of those things, what do you want to do on the iPad? For most people the answer usually includes, at minimum, email, surfing the Web, and word processing.

You may also be interested in using social media like Facebook and Twitter from your iPad. If so, I’ve got a brand-new seminar coming in April called Social Media Marketing On The Go! that might interest you.

As an example, let’s say you want to use your iPad to access email, LinkedIn, and Facebook. You also want word processing plus a way to display business presentations on a projector and screen.

Email
Email’s a snap thanks to the iPad’s built-in Mail app. However, accessing your mail and moving your mail are two very different things. The first is easy. The second is difficult to impossible depending on how you read your mail now.

This could be a whole discussion in and of itself, but here are the basics. There are two ways to read mail. Either you read it in your Web browser (called Web mail) or you have an email program like Outlook (called an email client). With Web mail your mail lives on a server, while email programs pull your mail to your local computer. So, your mail might live on the Internet or on your computer depending on how you read it.

If you’re using Web mail you’re all set. If you’re currently pulling your mail into a program on your computer, however, you will not have access to your archived mail. If you want to keep using your email program but also check mail from the iPad you need to tell the iPad to save all your mail on the server. When you check mail from the computer everything, including the mail you already saw on the iPad, will be delivered. (This may sound familiar, because it’s exactly how Outlook works if you have more than one computer.)

It’s really easy to mess up email and have some of it going one place and the rest going another. That’s why you need to plan your email strategy. If you’re not sure, or just want a quick email account to use on the iPad, you might want to sign up for a spare Gmail or Yahoo! account to keep things separate.

Social Media
LinkedIn and Facebook have apps for the iPad, but there are tons of other options too. The nice thing about using an iPad for social media is the convenience. Have a quick update? You can just type it and send in a matter of seconds. You can also use social media dashboards to consolidate your efforts.

I’ll be talking about this more in April in conjunction with my new seminar, Social Media Marketing On The Go!

Word Processing
This is a little trickier, because the iPad doesn’t save files the way you’re used to. If all you want to do is move documents between the iPad and your computer, the easiest way is to do so via iTunes. But the process is a little counterintuitive in the same way Mountain Dew is a little caffienated.

(An aside to Apple: Seriously? You develop an incredibly easy-to-use interface (iOS) but you can’t figure out a better way to manipulate files than clunky import/export? *facepalm*)

Here’s how the process works, using Apple’s Pages word processor as the example.

  1. You create a file on the iPad, or open a file you’ve created previously.
  2. You work on the file.
  3. You export the file to iTunes in whatever format you want (usually Pages’ native format or Word, since PDFs aren’t editable). This is the important step and the one that’s not intuitive.
  4. You go into iTunes on your computer, select the iPad, then Apps, then the app that you created the file in, and click Save As to save it on your computer.

Conversely, to get a file from your computer onto the iPad:

  1. In iTunes, go to the iPad, then Apps, then the app the file is in.
  2. Add the file, then sync the iPad.
  3. In the Pages app on the iPad, go to Documents, then hit the + to add a document. Tell it to get the document from iTunes and the one you want should be there. Again, this is the tricky step.

Not only is this process clunky, but you’ll get warnings that the file on the iPad is newer than the one in iTunes, or vice versa. And it only works with supported apps like Pages.

Presentations
The most difficult part here is not the presentation software, but hooking the iPad to a projector. You have to have the right adapter. Apple carries all sorts, the one you probably want for a standard PC projector is the VGA one but it will depend on the projector.

For your presentation app you probably want Apple’s Keynote. It’s like the Ferrari in the parking lot that makes all the Volvos look pathetic. At $20 it’s pricey but so sweet you may never want to look at PowerPoint again.

At this point you should have a nicely configured iPad that does most of what you want. As you use it, you’ll discover there are other things you just can’t live without. Fortunately, as they say, there are apps for that. If you subscribe to Tech Tips by email you’ll receive my bonus product reviews including some of the iPad apps I recommend.

Have you ditched your computer for an iPad? Share your experiences in the comments!

Filed Under: apple, beginners, email, facebook, file sharing, Internet, ipad, itunes, linkedin, mac, social media
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