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
If you don't know these tip you'll be glad you discovered them as they are really useful.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/three-keyboard-shortcuts-faster-and-easier-use-microsoft-word.htm
Three Keyboard Shortcuts for Faster and Easier Use of Microsoft Word
Sun, 04 Dec 2011 09:14:21 GMT
More and more parents are giving their kids tablets, game consoles, laptops, and other Internet-connected devices as special holiday gifts. But how do you keep Junior safe as he's downloading apps, playing games online and exploring the World Wide Web?
Putting the iPod Touch on lock-down
Dear Maggie, My 10-year-old daughter wants an iPod Touch for Christmas. I'm sure it's because all of her friends have one and are playing games and other apps on it. But I am nervous about getting her one. I trust her, but I do not think she needs all of the technologies that come on an iPod Touch. I really do not want the outside world getting in touch with her! Is there some type of other technology or device I can get her so she can play apps and at the same time not have a Skype phone, camera, video, GPS, etc.? I feel so old school, but I do not think a 10-year-old needs to be texting, etc!!! All and any advice would really be helpful!
Thanks, Paula
Dear Paula, I think you are absolutely right that a 10-year-old doesn't need instant access to the Internet at all times on her iPod Touch. But as you allude to in your question, it's getting harder for parents to find gadgets for their kids that aren't connected to the Internet. I've got some news for you. There are ways to turn the iPod Touch into a safe device for a child. But it will require you to make a few changes to the settings on the device.
Apple does a pretty good job ... [Read more]
Child proofing your Internet-enabled gadgets
Marguerite Reardon
Fri, 02 Dec 2011 08:00:00 GMT
Chrome: Now that more of you are using Chrome than ever before, it's also likely you're using more Chrome extensions than ever before. Disable All Extensions, as the name implies, gives you one button to enable or disable all of your Chrome extensions quickly without restarting the browser, or select individual ones to toggle or uninstall whenever you choose. More »
Disable All Extensions for Chrome Manages Your Chrome Extensions with One Button [Chrome Extensions]
Alan Henry
Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:00:00 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
Some of you are absolutely going to love this free web service others will hate it. This website provides on a single page, links to all the well known websites plus quite a few useful but more obscure sites. They are are lot of links featured but they all nicely organized into categories so finding what you want is relatively easy.
Now some users will think "Wow, how convenient. Links to every site I visit on a single page" while other will growl "How useless. I could find any of these sites in Google in a few seconds. Besides I already have all my really important sites book-marked. "
So which camp will you belong to? Check it out and decide for yourself.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/instant-links-hundreds-useful-web-sites-single-page.htm
Instant Links To Hundreds Of Useful Web Sites, On A Single Page
Fri, 02 Dec 2011 07:30:24 GMT
Carrier IQ has made quite a stir with its ability to track everything you do on your Android phone, and it turns out that it comes preinstalled on the iPhone as well—albeit a less dastardly version. Here's what it can do and how to turn it off. More »
Carrier IQ Is Tracking Your iPhone Too, But It's Easy to Turn Off [Security]
Whitson Gordon
Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:30:00 GMT
We're all going shopping this holiday season, but some will score better deals than others. How to know if you're getting the best items from the best stores at the best price? Easy: technology. From getting the inside scoop on the biggest discounts to making sure you get price reductions after you purchase, here's how to use apps and extensions to automate your shopping savings. More »
Score the Best Deals with This Five-Step Guide to Holiday Shopping [Deals]
Melanie Pinola
Thu, 01 Dec 2011 16:00:00 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
Since the last time I mentioned this list over 60 new products have been added, with new updates virtually every day. Thankfully the editors have flagged the recent additions for you on the first page.
Full marks to editors Ako who originally compiled this list and his colleague J_L who helps Ako keep this extraordinary resource fully up-to-date. This list is truly one of the gems of the internet; compiled as a labor of love and made available to all free of charge. No wonder it is consistently one of the most popular pages at Gizmo's Freeware and the highest rated by our users.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/probably-best-free-security-list-world.htm
Updated: The Best Free Security List in the World
Wed, 30 Nov 2011 07:23:26 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
A new, rough extension for Google Chrome allows you to toggle Facebook app permissions during installation, providing tighter security when playing with potentially risky apps.
Opt-out of Facebook permissions via new add-on
Tue, 29 Nov 2011 01:38:33 GMT
Say you're shopping for a gift or for an addition to your kitchen gadget collection, but you need to stick to a firm budget. You can scour deals sites, compare prices, and hope for the best--or you can install the great Chrome extension That Is Worth.
For now, it only works with Amazon, Direct2Drive, and Steam, but it lets you set a price for any product and then receive notifications when the price falls to your acceptable level. Here's how to use it:
- Install That Is Worth from the Chrome Store.
- The extension automatically opens its options page. You may want to change the update frequency, which begins at 3 hours. You can also do a manual price check from here once you've set up at least one product to watch.
Step 2: That Is Worth options page.
- You shouldn't see any changes until you land on a product page at one of the three stores That Is Worth can monitor. At that point, an orange icon appears in the address bar. Click it to bring up a small menu that lets you set a target price.
Step 3: Set price.
Chrome will keep checking to see if the price falls below your target price. You do need to be online with Chrome running for this to work, but that's a small price to pay (as it were).
(Via ... [Read more]
How to get notified when prices drop on Amazon
Rob Lightner
Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:30:00 GMT
If you are in a turkey induced fog and are still recovering from staying up all night on Black Friday it can only mean one thing: it is now officially the Christmas shopping season! Which, of course, means the act of gift giving. But, what if you just want to give the gift of apps?
You are in luck because in today’s iOS Academy we’re going to show you how to gift apps from your iOS device’s App Store and on your computer via iTunes.
First and foremost if you aren’t a regular iTunes or App Store user you are going to need to sign up for an Apple ID and enter your credit card information so you can make purchases. As an alternative, to avoid confusion, you can always purchase iTunes gift cards from most any retailer these days.
We’ll start off in the App Store on your iOS device. First thing you want to do is tap the App Store icon on your home screen, search for the app you want to gift, open it, and tap gift app in the upper right corner.
On the iPhone it is a bit different in the way you find the gift app button. You just need to scroll down a bit further on the app’s page and you will find it there and just follow the same steps as below.
An info pane will pop up displaying all the app’s information including: requirements, age suitability, and price. Tap next, then enter the recipients name and email address as well as a personal message.
Tap next again and you will be taken to the final confirmation page that displays your message, app selected, and price. Just tap buy gift and you are all done. Your recipient will then receive an email immediately explaining to them how they can download the app to their device.
Next up we’re going to show you how to do the very same thing using iTunes on your Mac or PC. Once you have launched iTunes you’ll want to click iTunes Store in the left sidebar. Up along the top of the store you’ll notice a dark navigation bar, inside it click the App Store link.
Go ahead and search for the app you are wishing to gift and when you find it click on it. Once you are taken to the app’s page, right beside where it says “buy app” is an arrow pointing down, click it. You’ll see a drop down menu offering several different options, in our case we want to click “gift this app.”
You’ll then be taken to a screen similar to that on an iOS device where you enter the recipients name, email address, and then type a personal message to accompany the app. Lastly you’ll see a page displaying all of this information for review, just click “buy gift” and you are done.
The recipients will receive an email telling them to redeem their gift by clicking on the button. Once they do that they are taken to the App Store where they are then able to download the gifted app directly.
There you have it, a super easy way to give the gift of apps. We usually see an increase in iOS users around this time of year and this will allow you to help them add to their app catalog. As always, if you have any feedback or questions, you can reach me here.
The iOS Academy: Gifting Apps is a story by AppAdvice.com
AppAdvice - iPhone, iPad, iPod, App Reviews + News
Related Posts
- Apple Releases ’12 Apps Of Christmas’ iPhone Commercial
- FDG Once Again Offers Their Free Holiday Gift Of A Kribl Christmas Story In Beyond Ynth Xmas Edition
- Whet Your APPetite With Kinetik
- Turntable.fm Is About To Rock Your iPhone With An Upcoming App
- Infographic: How Students Use Apps And Technology
The iOS Academy: Gifting Apps
Matthew Sims
Mon, 28 Nov 2011 20:23:14 GMT
In its standard configuration Windows System Restore can over time, use up a surprising amount of your hard drive storage. Thankfully it can easy be reconfigured to use less space without affecting the safety and security of your system. Here's how you do it.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content/how-control-amount-disk-space-used-system-protection-system-restore-windows-vista7.htm
How to Stop Windows System Restore Eating up Your Disk Space
Tue, 29 Nov 2011 07:29:14 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
