Triona's Tech Tips

We’re all familiar with computer security, but when was the last time you thought about security for your smart phone? With the amount of confidential data carried on these devices, security is something to consider.

Viruses can and do propagate via smart phones, although the effect is mitigated because viruses usually can’t travel between different types of phones. Even so, you might want to consider antivirus software for your phone.

Physical security is another concern. You should use your phone’s options to set passwords to protect your data. Some phones come with encryption features. It goes without saying that you should always have a backup of any data on your phone in case it is lost, stolen or broken.

Other ways you can protect your phone include turning off Bluetooth and/or WiFi when you’re not using them, to prevent unauthorized access. Bear in mind that using a unsecured public WiFi hotspot from your phone is just as risky as doing so from your computer.

Most phones allow you to clear memory and cache of potentially sensitive data. Some also have a setting that will erase all data after a specified number of incorrect password attempts. While no security measures are perfect, these tips will help you reduce the risks.

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Today, amid much hoopla, Apple finally unveiled its iPad tablet computer. Was it worth the hype? While I don’t think it’s the be-all and end-all of the universe, I think the iPad has great potential. It fits the niche between the iPhone and Mac computer, the price is right, and it simultaneously takes a swipe at both netbooks and e-readers.

This being Apple, of course the iPad is aesthetically beautiful. It has a 9.7″ multitouch color display (that works portrait and landscape) and weighs in at only 1.5lbs. It comes in six models, including 16GB, 32GB and 64GB with WiFi or WiFi+3G plus Bluetooth, and will start shipping in 60 days. Reports from the field say the graphics are smokin’ fast. The iPad interface will be familiar to anyone who’s used an iPhone or iPod touch. It reportedly has at least 10 hours of battery life and can remain in standby up to 30 days. It uses AT&T’s network but unlike the iPhone the device is unlocked and requires no contract, which will undoubtedly be a big enticement.

The fact that the iPad can run iPhone apps out of the box is another big plus in Apple’s favor. That means the iPad runs ready-made software people already use, as well as leveraging the existing development process. The iPad has a large on-screen keyboard, and there is also a full-sized keyboard dock available. You can use the iPad to do anything from playing games to watching movies to catching up on Facebook, all from one ultraportable device.

The new iBooks store goes hand-in-hand with Apple’s iTunes and Apps stores. Apple has buy-in from big-name publishers including Simon and Schuster, HarperCollins, Macmillan, Penguin and Hachette. The familiar iPhone-like interface combined with the use of the ePub format, a standard for e-readers, will give the iPad a big push in the e-book market. Again, Apple is showing its prowess at leveraging its own strengths.

The iPad’s price point is right on the money. The iPad starts at $499 for a 16GB model with WiFi and goes up to $829 for 64GB with WiFi+3G. That’s well within the realm of possibility for consumers. The iPhone was priced too high at the beginning; clearly Apple doesn’t intend to make that mistake again. And Apple sorely needed a netbook-like solution to round out its notoriously higher-priced Macs.

The iPad is an all-in-one solution for entertainment: music, photos, TV, movies, books and games, with access to email, the Web, social networking sites like Facebook and all manner of apps. It’s a potent combination of usability and interaction that, like the iPhone, will set a standard for the industry. The introduction of the iPad is a great way for Apple to start 2010, a year that should prove most interesting in this arena.

What do you think? Is Apple’s iPad worth the hype? Are you considering one? Why or why not?

Starting in 2010, I’m writing a monthly technology column for The Northwest Herald. In January’s column, Old Software Poses Risk Of Viruses, I talk about how outdated versions of your software can open the floodgates. Here are some previous Tech Tips articles on how you can protect yourself:

• Old Versions Of Internet Explorer Vulnerable To Viruses
• Fall In Love With Secunia Personal Software Inspector
• Mozilla Firefox Expands Check For Unsafe Plug-Ins
• No Click Required: Malware Via Infected Ads

Below you’ll find links to related resources including those mentioned in the column.

• Adobe Acrobat Reader updates
• Flash updates
• Mozilla Firefox plug-in check
• Microsoft Update for Windows, Office, Internet Explorer
• Apple Software Updates for Mac OS, iTunes, Safari, iPhone and iPod
• Secunia Online Software Inspector for Windows

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As with any new operating system, Windows 7 has a few glitches. Here are some of the most widely-reported problems.

• Some users have experienced problems when upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7. (There is no direct upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7; to do so requires a clean install.) Information on the “endless-reboot bug” can be found here and here.
• For some, the upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 hangs at 62%, an issue referred to as the “62% bug” (see reports here and here).
• Others have reported issues syncing iPhones to Windows 7 PCs with Intel’s P55 Express chipset.
• Some people who purchased the bargain $29.99 student edition have had problems downloading the software. Microsoft says part of the problem is user confusion over whether they have 32-bit or 64-bit versions of Windows. It’s not always easy to tell which one you have, so I think Microsoft and Digital River (their online software distributor) ought to cut everyone some slack.

In addition there are scattered reports of problems with certain hardware devices and software programs as well as power management on laptops.

I strongly recommend that you begin with multiple good, solid backups before upgrading to Windows 7. And be sure to test those backups before upgrading! Look for my in-depth look at Windows 7 coming on November 15th.

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