The presence of the Carrier IQ Logging Software in iOS has recently caused quite a stir among consumers, bloggers and privacy advocates because of its ability to track everything that you do on your iPhone.
In this podcast AnonyMouse shows you how to disable Carrier IQ with just 4 double-taps.
Read more about the Carrier IQ Logging Software on MacRumors
How to disable Carrier IQ on your iPhone
AppleVis
Mon, 05 Dec 2011 10:05:38 GMT
Universal remotes come in all shapes and sizes, but our top pick for controlling your entire home theater with one gadget is the Logitech Harmony remote.
The Harmony remote's greatest standout feature is its easy setup process. Instead of punching in complicated codes and using the remote's on-screen display, the entire configuration process is done on a Web site.
To get started, you'll need:
- A list of all your home entertainment gear by model number
- An internet PC with IE, FF or a Mac with Safari (not Chrome)
- A USB cable
- A Harmony remote
Grab those items and watch this how-to video to set up your universal remote:
Program a Harmony Remote
How to program a Logitech Harmony remote
Sharon Vaknin
Sat, 03 Dec 2011 12:00:00 GMT
(Credit: Screenshot by Ed Rhee)
There's nothing like a little holiday music to get you in the holiday mood. To help you get your holiday music fix this season, here are some Web sites streaming holiday music:
Pandora Pandora's holiday genre has several stations including pop, classical, R&B, country, rock, children's, and more. They're all available through the mobile app as well.
Slacker Slacker has a nice selection of holiday stations to choose from. Just navigate to the "Seasonal" section and you'll see the list of stations. The stations are accessible via the mobile app, too.
Related story
iHeartRadio iHeartRadio's holiday genre has three featured stations: Christmas Lites, Country Christmas, and Holiday Jams. It also has a commercial-free Holiday Mix station and 17 holiday music radio stations from across the country. The mobile app can stream all the stations as well.
977Music 977Music (Club977) started out as an '80s-only Internet music station, which gained popularity when it was listed in iTunes. Since that time, it's added seve... [Read more]
How to get your holiday music fix online
Ed Rhee
Fri, 02 Dec 2011 18:10:26 GMT
Carrier IQ, a company practically none of us knew about a few weeks ago, sure is making a name for itself this week.
With Carrier IQ having now been found in iOS, you may feel more comfortable knowing you can disable any logging or reporting done by the service on your iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone in just a few steps.
Update: As pointed out in the comments below, it looks like the ability to disable these logs from automatically being sent is restricted to iOS 5.
Update 2: A comment from elmnt925 reminds us Apple did indeed request permission to share diagnostic logs during device set up-- in iTunes, not on the actual device prior to iOS 5. So, if you are stuck on iOS 4 or below, restoring and setting up your device as new should do the trick. During the set up process you will be prompted to authorize logs and reports to be sent to Apple, opt-out and you should be worry free going forward.
In the comment elmnt925 states to back up, restore, set up as new, opt-out and then restore to your back up. We can't say for certain if restoring from a back up after having opted-out won't restore the original settings, presumably when you had opted in. To be sure, it's best you set up as new and start fresh, this will leave no question of your diagn... [Read more]
How to disable Carrier IQ on your iOS device
Jason Cipriani
Thu, 01 Dec 2011 18:43:56 GMT
More than 141 million smartphones are now running software that can log everything a user does and sees, including private web browsing, incoming texts and even which buttons are pressed. The application, called CarrierIQ, runs in the background unbeknownst to consumers and captures user and phone data as evidenced in this video shown on Wednesday. So how does one know if their handset is running the CarrierIQ software?
While details of how widespread CarrierIQ’s service are still coming to light, all of the demonstrations so far have shown it on Google Android phones. There is some evidence that Apple’s iOS had CarrierIQ integration two years ago, but no data showing that it’s currently in use. For now then, the focus is on Android, and there is an application that can tell you if CarrierIQ is on your Android phone.
The free software is available from the XDA-Developers site, where CarrierIQ’s activity was first pointed out. The app, pointed out by TheVerge, is bare-bones and was quickly developed by Trevor Eckhart, the person who demonstrated on video exactly what CarrierIQ is capable of. His detection software is called an .apk file, which is the standard Google Android application installation method, so don’t panic if you’re not familiar with the term .apk.
Eckhart has several versions of the software available at the bottom of the XDA topic page; at last check I saw seven, because he added more security detection features as he developed the app. The one of most interest, however, is the CarrierIQ check, which is performed with a button tap after the app is installed.
I ran Eckhart’s app on my Samsung Galaxy Tab and Google Nexus One; both are free of CarrierIQ software, but I expected that. Both devices run custom versions of Android that I installed myself. CarrierIQ is installed in the software versions from either a carrier or a hardware maker, and since I’ve overwritten their software, there’s practically zero chance that my devices are spying on me.
How to check if your Android phone uses CarrierIQ
Kevin C. Tofel
Thu, 01 Dec 2011 14:54:52 GMT
With Windows 8, Microsoft is reimagining the most basic premises of personal computers. CEO Steve Ballmer recognizes the drastic changes coming in Windows 8, even calling the platform one of the biggest risks taken by the industry giant. The UI changes and fundamental paradigm shifts that Windows 8 brings to the table are making a lot of power users eager to give the platform a trial run, even in its current state as a Developer Preview.
If you want to take the plunge and give Windows 8 a try, there are some things you should know ahead of time. First, the current build of Windows 8 is intended as a Developer Preview. This is pre-beta software, meaning there will be bugs and even major missing features. We don’t recommend installing Windows 8 as your primary system, but we do encourage you to take it for a spin and spend some time tinkering under the hood. And we recommend that you use good backup practices for any data you put on your Windows 8 system, as stability may be an issue.
Step 1 - Prepare to Install
Whenever you are looking to install new software, especially a new operating system, your first step should be to review the system requirements.
Fortunately, the system requirements for Windows 8 are identical to those for Windows 7. In fact, a baseline Windows 8 installation will consume fewer system resources than a baseline Windows 7 SP1 build. So if you’re already running Windows 7, you’re in good shape. Note, however, that there are special requirements for touch input.
Microsoft has provided both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the Windows 8 Developer Preview installation media, both freely available from MSDN. For best results, you should verify that your media downloaded correctly using the hash provided by Microsoft. The .iso files provided can be easily burned to a DVD using native tools in Windows 7 or your preferred DVD software.
Step 2 - Install
There are a couple of different decisions that must be made before you begin any OS install. The first is whether you want the OS to coexist with another in a dual-boot scenario or if you are simply going to overwrite any existing OS installs. Dual-booting provides you with some flexibility to fall back to an existing platform, but also adds complexity in terms of drive partitioning. The other decision is the method of installation. The typical method for installing an operating system is using a bootable disc, which gives you the ability to install the Windows 8 OS to a second hard drive or partition. The Windows 8 Developer Preview will also allow you to install from within a previous Windows version, providing you the option to retain accounts, files, and settings (if installing from Vista or Windows 7). We’ll walk you through both options.
The most common method for installing a new operating system on your computer is to boot from a setup disc, in this case a DVD. After inserting the disc and choosing to boot from your optical drive, the Windows 8 setup wizard will look very similar to the Windows 7 install. The first screen prompts you to enter your location information in order to configure your keyboard and other locale-specific settings (image above), and the second contains the button to actually begin the installation.
As with most Windows installations, Windows 8 displays Upgrade or Custom (advanced) options. One of the key differences in using the boot-disc installation is that the Upgrade choice is actually a dead-end. To upgrade from a previous install of Windows, you’ll need to use the Windows-based setup utility.The next step in this exercise is choosing the drive or partition for your Windows 8 install (image above). As with Windows 7, you have the option to use empty drive space, reformat an existing partition, or install over an existing Windows instance. If you choose the latter option, system and user files will be placed in the Windows.old directory to be accessed later. Choose your option and hit next—the installer will take over from there.
Alternative - Setup From Windows
Using the Setup option from within a previous version of Windows is a relatively simple prospect. After inserting the setup disc, the installer will ask if you’d like to get updates to the installer itself, which is a nice benefit (image below).
You’ll be asked a couple of simple questions—click the Install button at the end and setup will proceed. Once installation is complete, you will be prompted to configure Windows 8 for the first time.
Step 3 - Initial Configuration
Once you’ve successfully completed the install of the Windows 8 Developer Preview, there are still some configuration steps to take before you can start playing around with the system (image below). If you’re the impatient type, the “Use express settings” button is your shortcut to the end result. We recommend choosing the Customize option, which allows you to step through each setting and verify that your machine is configured perfectly.
Assuming you chose the Customize button, the next screen you see asks for your sharing settings—basically, whether you want to share files or devices with other computers on your network. The next screen allows you to configure settings for automatic updates and system protection tools like SmartScreen Filter in Internet Explorer. The rest of the configuration process is fairly self-explanatory.
Now that the system is configured, it’s time to get your account set up. There are a couple of options at this point that require some attention. Windows 8 will allow you to use local computer accounts, just like prior versions of Windows, or you can log in with your Windows Live account (image above). Using the Windows Live option will give you some additional features, like the ability to synchronize files and settings between multiple Windows 8 computers. If you used the Windows-based setup and selected the option to retain your user account information, you will be required to enter your old password in order to complete that process. Associating your existing account with Windows Live is completely optional, but if you forgo this choice you will miss out on some of the key new functionality in Windows 8.
Step 4 - Try it Out
Now that you’ve successfully navigated the installation process, it’s time to play with the shiny new Metro UI. Resist the urge to jump straight to the Windows Desktop—Metro is the future of Windows (image below). Though the UI is designed to be extremely touch friendly, Microsoft has made an effort to make it usable for users with a mouse and keyboard, as well. You can activate Metro apps with a mouse click, rearrange tiles by clicking and dragging, and search by simply typing a word or phrase.
There are a few common gestures you should become familiar with. Placing your mouse in the bottom‑left corner of the screen will access the “Charm” menu (image below), which gives you quick access to Search, Settings, and Sharing. Placing your mouse on the far left edge of the screen will bring up a thumbnail of the last app you used. Clicking this thumbnail will return you to the app.
OK, the training wheels are off and you’re on your own. Enjoy the ride!
How to Install & Configure the Windows 8 Developer Preview
Tim Ferrill
Wed, 30 Nov 2011 21:08:47 GMT
You can enable iCloud Sync from the start.
(Credit: Screenshot by Matt Elliott/CNET)
With Instacast HD just released last week, the iPad gets a slick and easy-to-use podcast player that also offers iCloud support.
I sync my iPad more than I used to before iOS 5 and Wi-Fi Sync, but with its excellent battery, syncing my iPad is still far from a daily occurrence. Thus, the podcasts I subscribe to via iTunes don't make it to my iPad on a regular schedule. And managing podcasts through the iPad's iTunes and Music apps is a pain. With Instacast HD, streaming or downloading and playing audio and video podcasts is dead simple. And with iCloud support, your podcasts are magically synced across your other iOS devices.
Launch the app and the first thing you'll want to do is hit the "+" button in the upper-left corner to subscribe to podcasts. They are arranged by popularity, genre, just added, and video. There is also a search function, and if you tap the link button in the upper-left corner of the subscribe window, you can manually enter a URL of an obscure podcast not listed. Lastly, you can add podcasts you've previously subscribed to by tapping on the Music App button.
It's easy to browse or search for new podcasts to subscribe to... [Read more]
How to get started with iPad podcast app Instacast HD
Matt Elliott
Wed, 30 Nov 2011 19:06:15 GMT
Every time you install a new program, update Windows or other software, or even just use your computer as it's intended, you run a small risk of corrupting files that are essential to the smooth operation of your machine. This happens rarely, but it can be a major hassle to recover from if you don't back up your system information regularly (or at least before trying anything extra-risky). Windows 7 makes it easy. Here's how:
- Open the Control Panel, then click "System and Security," then "System," then "System protection" on the left.
Step 1: Launch System protection.
- A small window should pop up with the System Protection tab highlighted. Click "Create..." near the bottom.
Step 2: Create restore point.
- Enter a label to help you remember which backup is which. Windows should now begin creating your restore point. It takes some time, especially if you've been using your computer for a while and installing lots of programs. After a bit, you should get a message informing you that the procedure competed successfully.
- To restore your system, repeat step 1, then click "System Restore..." near the top of the pop-up. You'll be asked to select a restore point, and then Windows will roll you back to that time. This means any changes you made to your system, like installing software or changing settings, will be lost, so be careful!
Rem... [Read more]
How to back up system information in Windows 7
Rob Lightner
Wed, 30 Nov 2011 23:41:05 GMT
When Facebook Timeline was announced, it didn't take long for the Internet to figure out that even though the new profile design isn't yet available to the public, anyone could get it immediately with this little hack.
Today, over 1.5 million users have activated Timeline with this workaround, making the new profile visible to each of them and anyone else who has enabled it.
Eventually, Facebook will mandate Timeline for everyone, and when that happens, expect a lot of backlash. Many people, even those who opted in to the new design, seriously dislike it. They're calling it narcissistic, cluttered, and creepy.
If you concur, and you were one of those people who enabled Timeline, there's still a way to enjoy the old profile design (while it lasts.)
Step 1: Head to the Facebook Developers page where you originally created an app to enable Timeline. Click "Edit app."
(Credit: Screenshot by Sharon Vaknin/CNET)
Step 2: The only way to remove Timeline is to delete the app. If you are an actual developer, you're out of luck. Ot... [Read more]
How to disable Facebook Timeline and get the old profile back
Sharon Vaknin
Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:53:32 GMT
Just go to Google's homepage and click the I fell lucky button right now. Every single Google Doodle created will appear, browsable by year and month. We tried in several computers and it worked, but a couple didn't. More »
How to See All the Google Doodles Ever Created Right Now [Google]
Jesus Diaz
Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:35:00 GMT
To reboot (i.e. reset) your iDevice, hold down the Home and Sleep/Wake buttons for about 10 seconds.
(Credit: Screenshot by Rick Broida)
iOS isn't perfect. There, I said it. This will become evident to anyone who's ever tried to figure out Notification Center or organize contacts into groups.
And I guarantee that at some point or another, you've installed a shiny new app, only to have it crash on you, either the moment you ran it or maybe a few minutes in.
Indeed, the App Store is packed to the gills with user reviews like these:
"Crashes about a minute into the game."
"App wouldn't load. Zero stars!"
"Won't run on my iPad 2--crashes right after I tap the icon."
So what's going on here? Bad programming? In some cases, yes. Some apps are just plain buggy. But if you install a new one and immediately have problems getting it to run, there's an easy fix:
Reset your iPhone. Or iPad. Or iPod Touch.
The harsh reality is that sometimes, just like with Windows (there, I said it), iDevices need to be rebooted. Whenever I encounter a flaky, crash-prone app (particularly one that's new to my device), I reboot, and presto: problem solved.
Your mileage may vary, of course, but before you write a negative review and/or delete the app in disgust, at least... [Read more]
How to fix 95 percent of iOS app crashes
Rick Broida
Mon, 28 Nov 2011 17:48:13 GMT
There are several reasons to disable browser history recording, ranging from personal to practical.
If you're a Chrome user, you have to toggle into Incognito mode in order to avoid adding to your browsing history. However, forgetting to enter Incognito mode or accidentally browsing with the wrong open window defeats the purpose of having an Incognito mode available. The Ghost Incognito extension for Chrome alleviates this issue by allowing you to create a filter that will automatically place pages in an Incognito window based on domain name.
(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma)
Step 1: Install the Ghost Incognito extension from the Chrome market.
(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma)
Step 2: Navigate to a site you want to view in Incognito mode (unfortunately you have to do this while not using Incognito mode first). Click on the ghost icon to the right of the address bar to add the domain to your filter list.
(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma)
Step 3: Continue browsing the Interwebs. Chrome will automatically place any of your filtered sites into an Incognito browser.
You can now hide your activities on certain sites from the rest of the world. Shop for a gift for loved ones without alerting tha... [Read more]
How to make Chrome go Incognito for specific sites
Nicole Cozma
Sun, 27 Nov 2011 08:01:00 GMT
The Internet is full of useful information. It's also full of lots of distractions that can prevent you from being productive at work or at home. If you're curious what sites you spend the most time on, or are concerned with how much time you spend not working on the job, follow these five steps to monitor your browsing habits.
Begin by downloading and installing Gold Limiter. When installing, you will be given the option to add the Internet monitor and filter, or just the Internet monitor. Chances are, you're only interested in the monitor, so select that option.
(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma)
Step 1: Run the program from the desktop or Start menu. On first run, you will prompted to set up a password and security question. This is recommended if you'd like to keep your browsing records private.
(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma)
Step 2: Follow the setup wizard to adjust your monitor settings. First up are timing settings. Preset options are available for monitoring at all times or just during work hours, and you can also enter your desired times manually.
(Credit: Screenshot by Nicole Cozma)
Step 3: Adjust the settings for reporting. You can choose to receive reports daily, weekly, monthly, or not at all from the pr... [Read more]
How to monitor your time spent Web surfing
Nicole Cozma
Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:01:00 GMT
If you've ever faced down a "file in use" error in Windows, you know how frustrating it can be to deal with routine computer maintenance.
All you want to do is delete or move or edit a file, and you just can't unless you're willing to ferret out the offending application or reboot and hope for the best. Opened Files View is a free app that targets this problem and solves it quite well. Here's how to use it:
- Head over to this page, scroll way down, and download the installer. Make sure you get the x64 version if you use a 64-bit processor (check your system information if you don't know).
- If you're using the x64 version, you'll need to turn on driver signing test mode (which the program will do automatically) and then reboot.
- Scan the list for the file or files you're concerned with.
Step 3: Scan file list.
- Once you find the file, just right-click it and select "Kill Processes of Selected Files." Warning: If you're not sure what process you're about to kill, you may want to do a little research or just reboot, as killing some processes can have adverse effects on your computer. At the very least, you may want to set up a restore point.
Step 4: Kill process.
That's it. Your files should now be available for whatever you need to do.
Thanks to ... [Read more]
How to handle Windows 'file in use' errors
Rob Lightner
Mon, 21 Nov 2011 18:37:30 GMT
Watching a Netflix or YouTube video on a computer screen can feel a little crowded, especially in a huddle of friends.
To fix that problem, many televisions are now adding these services to the TV interface, creating what are now considered "smart TVs." Services like Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, and YouTube are readily available on those TVs for streaming media to the big screen.
But if you don't own a streaming-ready TV, you have dozens of options to emulate the experience. Popular devices like Roku, Boxee, and the Apple TV have cropped up, each offering a different way to get Internet movies, TV shows, and music onto your home theater.
Watch the video for a walkthrough of the best devices for Internet-to-TV streaming, including a couple you might already own.
Stream Internet content to your TV
How to stream online movies and music to your TV
Sharon Vaknin
Sat, 19 Nov 2011 00:33:56 GMT
(Credit: Screenshot by Matt Elliott)
Accessing your iTunes library from other computers and iOS devices is the chief benefit of iTunes Match, but it's not the only benefit. You can use iTunes Match to upgrade the low-bit-rate tracks in your library to 256kbps AAC files.
After subscribing to iTunes Match and letting it back up your library, all you need to do is create a Smart Playlist to round up all the songs in your library with bit rates less than 256kbps, take the leap of faith of deleting those files, and then use iTunes Match to download 256kbps versions of the songs you just deleted. Here are the steps required to perform this audio upgrade:
Step 1: Create a Smart Playlist
(Credit: Screenshot by Matt Elliott)
Go to File > New Smart Playlist. In the first line of the playlist, choose: Bit rate is less than 256kbps.
Hit the plus sign on the right to add another parameter, and then choose: Media kind is music.
Next, create a condition by clicking on the plus sign while pressing Option. You will create two conditions. First, choose iCloud status is matched. Then hit the plus sign and for the second condition, choose iCloud status is purchased.
Click OK and from the left panel, give your new playlist a name.
Step 2: Delete all fi... [Read more]
How to use iTunes Match to upgrade audio quality
Matt Elliott
Thu, 17 Nov 2011 20:18:23 GMT
Google Music, like most of Google's services, supports keyboard shortcuts. Here's what you can do with them in Google Music:
Space bar : play/pause music Right arrow : next track Left arrow : previous track Shift+right arrow : search forward in current track Shift+left arrow : search back in current track Up arrow : select item above current Down arrow : select item below current Delete : delete track
= : volume up - : volume down Alt+= : thumbs up Alt+- : thumbs down s : shuffle on/off r : toggle repeat (off, all, and one) p : make new playlist i : make new instant mix from current track e : edit current track / : search ? : display keyboard shortcuts
Now that you know how to get around Google Music with keyboard shortcuts, check out the shortcuts for Google's other services.
How to control Google Music with keyboard shortcuts
Ed Rhee
Thu, 17 Nov 2011 22:17:08 GMT
The iPhone is a fantastic phone, but if you're a heavy user of Google services, it can be a little confusing to set up your Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts to sync with iOS. The default method's no good. Here's the better way to do it. More »
How to Set Up Gmail, Google Calendar, and Google Contacts (Properly) on iOS [Emailable Tech Support]
Whitson Gordon
Wed, 16 Nov 2011 00:30:00 GMT
Google removed the "+" operator from searches a few weeks ago, but the replacement hasn't been received with open arms.
According to Google, the plus operator was being used incorrectly and was used in a very small amount of searches. In its place, double quotation marks were implemented and seen as operators that would be used more efficiently. However, a lot of users were not excited by this alternative.
To please the masses, Google is rolling out another way to make sure you're searching for something worded in the exact way that you typed it in: meet Google Verbatim search. If this feature has already become available to your Google account, here's how to find it:
(Credit: Nicole Cozma)
Step 1: Search for anything on Google.
(Credit: Google)
Step 2: Scroll down on the left side and select "More search tools" under "All results."
(Credit: Google)
Step 3: Choose Verbatim from the expanded menu of items that appear.
Note: Again, this feature will be rolling out over the next few days, so you may not see this menu choice available yet. If not, just check back in a few days to try it out.
Choosing Verbatim will allow Google to search for the terms exactly as you entered them. If you're wondering why this is important, it's because this kind of search will not correct (or just c... [Read more]
How to access Google's new Verbatim search feature
Nicole Cozma
Tue, 15 Nov 2011 22:02:00 GMT
(Credit: Screenshot by Matt Elliott)
After weeks of speculation, Apple finally launched iTunes Match yesterday. For $24.99 a year, iTunes Match grants you access to a copy of your iTunes library stored in the cloud. Subscribing to and setting up iTunes Match is a snap; all you need is patience commensurate with the size of your iTunes library.
First, make sure you are running the latest version of iTunes. On a Mac, go to iTunes > About iTunes to see which version you are running. If it's not version 10.5.1, go to iTunes > Check for Updates to download and install the latest version. On a PC, you can access the About iTunes and Check for Updates menu options from the Help menu.
After upgrading to iTunes 10.5.1, you'll see iTunes Match listed under Store in the left panel. Click on it and then click the blue "Subscribe for $24.99" button. iTunes then starts scanning your library before trying to match your songs with its huge library of songs in the cloud. It then uploads the songs (and artwork) it was unable to match. Of the 6,885 songs my library, iTunes was unable to match 1,380 songs. Of course, mileage may vary.
(Credit: Screenshot by Matt Elliott)... [Read more]
How to use iTunes Match
Matt Elliott
Tue, 15 Nov 2011 23:24:57 GMT
