The Chromebook experience and the White Screen of Death!

White Screen of Death!

From: [ Version 32.0.1700.95 (Platform version: 4920.71.0)]

The latest update : [ Version 32.0.1700.103 (Platform version: 4920.82.0)]

Had a really strange effect on my system.   Whenever I started booting up the system right after the update, I would just go into a cycle of white screens or I would see the default background for a few minutes and then it would just turn all white!  It got so annoying, I started calling Acer Laptops about it and requesting a Chrome OS Ninja for help on this issue.   They said  I would have to send in my laptop and wait 7 to 10 business days for it to be resolved.   I didn’t have that time or luxury to not be without a laptop so I went back on my resolve to figure this little issue out.   The only thing I could come up with is to go download a new version of Chrome OS for my Acer Laptop by using Windows Recovery Option.   Strange Google should have a way for me to download an ISO of the latest version without having to having to do these steps.

Recovery Options

By Pressing Esc+Refresh then hold down the Power button.  I was able to bring up the “Chrome OS is missing or damaged” message and then after I made a new usb card for my device it booted without a problem.   I do not know what actually happened but it was quite frustrating and Google needs to start providing more ways to recover the system without having to go through so many hoops.   

Has anyone else had this type of problem?  I’d like to know!

Encrypt your Email with VPN4ALL the Chrome Extension! (Chrome OS Also)

VPN4All does It again!

Since VPN4ALL is a Sponsor, any links in this article supports my efforts in blogging!  They told me about this new product they developed.   At first it was on their website and I liked it but I am glad they made it to where you can use it with any Chrome web browser or even the Chrome Net books!  I installed it on my Chrome OS laptop and it works just as easily on it as on my Windows 7 system.

It was easy and very easy to encrypt your emails to prevent people who don’t know the password.   I had no problems with it encrypting or decrypting emails.   I tested this with two different email addresses and each one sent and receive the email.   I just had to right click and either encrypt it or decrypt it.   

A Simple Test!

I have thought hard and long and here is the easiest way to tell if your extension is working right.  Send an email to a friend or family and see what they see or say.   It seemed to work really well for my purposes.  I used Google mail web site with my this extension and it worked like a charm.   Just highlight what you want to encrypt and it and past the encrypted text in place of the text your are wanting to encrypt.

The Meta Data!

This however will not stop people from getting the meta data as some would say.   This is simply the normal stuff like:

• Name and Email address
• IP of where it was sent from and to
• the Route the email went (Headers show all this stuff)
• Anything else outside of the encryption such as signatures!

As you can tell VPN4ALL has proven time and time again that they want to protect your privacy.   They even allow you to have your own password to prevent NSA or any others from getting the emails and decrypting them.   The only ones who can decrypt the email is those who have the password and you have to tell those who you are intending to send email to with this encryption the password and a way for them to decrypt it.

Last thought is that you need to remember to have the password pretty strong and a way to commnicate that password through another channel other than email to prevent someone from grabbing that email very easily.

Unable to read SIM Card on the HTC Inspire 4G!

Reading the SIM card!

I’ve had one reader who says they are having an issue with the SIM card not being able to be read on the HTC Inspire 4G phone.   Some of the things that I have foundto be case are how people insert the card into the Inspire but we are going to give out a quick tip that will help keep that sim from sliding out ever so slightly.   This workd for me and while I do not use the phone anymore.

Best Hack ever!

This is some what a really good way to keep that sim from loosening the connection to the phone.  I found on SIM card that you can make them thicker. 

Use thin tap on the back of the SIM card.   Basically, you keep putting tape on the back until it is snug.   Usually on need to it once or twice but no more than that.   You can not put tape on the side with all the metal but only on the plastic.  It has to be tape that is really smooth so if you use use ruff tape it might not work as well. 

This will help those who have been problem. It might solve your problem but it also might not, it just varies from device to device!

Those really BAD passwords you shouldn't use! The list is out for 2013!

Who uses these?

It isn’t everyday that I come across some really interesting passwords.   Among the list of the 25 that Spashdata has released!  The Ones that really stand out for me are: “trustno1” (Gives a new meaning to TNO), Adobe123 and my favorite “photoshop” are on the list of those the top 25 passwords you should NEVER USE.  I don’t know if people are just trying to come up with something no one would think of or if they really want there Facebook Account to be hacked in the first place!

Randomness is everything!

I keep telling people to go check out Lastpass to be safe but it some people will never learn.   I believe in Lastpass so much I pay for the mobile version for a year.   Only 12$ a year but it is for a good cause, and I am really happy with their service!  Lastpass is truely the Last password you will ever have to remember.  

I don’t know about you but I think it is time to go change some passwords! 

5 Minute Guide to Making your iPhone more Secure

An iPhone is an incredible device but don’t think that it is secure enough that no one can access your important information. It is not a security fortress and is prone to the same risks as other cell phones. However, following these simple guidelines can help you make your iPhone a secure device and protect it from those who want to lay their hands on your information.

Use a passcode:

This is literally the first thing any mobile phone user should do. You should use a passcode to access your phone. Though it is not the strongest security measure you can take, it will help ward off those who want to access your phone and everything in it. You can even set your iPhone to erase all data stored on it automatically if someone tries to unlock it with a wrong passcode for ten times. Passcodes can also be set on many individual apps.

Don’t use unnecessary features:

It is very important that you turn off all the features and services that you are not using. Turn off Bluetooth, WiFi, voice control, email syncing, location tracking and such as they can let anyone with some knowledge of phone hacking could exploit the flaws in these services and access your information and data.

Update:

Apple releases firmware updates on a regular basis. These are meant to update your iPhone against any security loophole and performance hiccups that you encounter in your daily use. You should update your phone immediately after an update is available. These updates can also bring some new functionality to your phone.

Tinkering with your phone:

Tinkering with your phone’s protected software, or jailbreaking, can be risky. This allows users to bypass Apple’s security layer and change settings in the phone’s software. It will also allow you to install apps that are not downloaded from Apple’s App Store. This is a potential security risk as you can’t be sure if any such app is secure or not, and whether it is accessing your private info or not.

Privacy settings:

The iPhone allows you to protect your information in many ways. One of those is to use the privacy settings in Safari, found in settings menu. Safari is iPhone’s web browser and allows you to connect with the internet. It is crucial that you review your privacy settings and tune them to your needs. Otherwise, you could leave your information unprotected and at the risk of being hacked. You could become a victim of iPhone spyware, malware and other malicious codes without even knowing.

Use ‘Find my phone’ feature:

Another cool feature of iPhone is its ‘Find my phone’ option. This practically allows you locate your phone in case you have lost it. You can lock your phone, make it ring, show warning information, and erase your data to make in case you cannot retrieve it or it is taking too long to retrieve it.

Erase your data before return, repair or resale:

One of the common mistakes that most users make is that they do not erase their data when they return, repair or resell their iPhones. This way you are actually handing out your information to the

person you are giving your phone to. Make sure you have erased all your data, including messages, contacts, call logs, images and videos, notes, calendar entries and other important information, when you return your phone to the seller, send it for repairs or resell it to someone.

Follow these simple security tips and make your iPhone a secure device to use.

Author Bio: Jessica Carol is a tech writer who has written articles based on developments and new trends in the world of tech for Mobistealth. She can be reached at @Jcarol429.

How to Avoid Social Media Scams

Photo credits: Nate & Tilly Ritter

Social media networks can be a lot of fun - not to mention useful - but you really need to make sure you take steps to stay safe. Knowing how to avoid social media scams is an important skill to have in the Information Age. The good news is that it’s not that difficult to avoid them if you use common sense and are careful when you’re online. We’ve put together a list of several specific tips you can use to make sure you don’t run into any problems.

How to Avoid Social Network Scams

Here’s a look at some specific ways that you can avoid scams no matter what social media network you visit frequently.

• Privacy Settings - The first thing you’re going to want to do is spend some time learning about the privacy settings for whatever site you’re on. For some - like Facebook - this can take quite a bit of time before you understand, but it’s essential if you want to protect yourself from scams.

• Know Your Friends - While you may want to get as many “friends” as you can, this isn’t really that smart. Try to only allow people you really know in real life to be part of your social circles online.

• Ignore Unknown Links - If you see a link from a source you don’t recognize, ignore it or delete it if possible. Following links from strangers online is usually not a good idea on social media sites.

• Avoid Public Computers - Like public bathrooms, you should avoid using public computers as often as possible. You never know if one is infected with a keystroke logger that will allow others access to your social media accounts.

• Be Cautious - This is common sense, but it can be easy to get caught up in the moment online. Learn to take your time and not get involved - by clicking links - until you know exactly what’s going on and that you’re dealing with someone who can be trusted completely.

• Software and Firewalls - You should also make sure your anti-virus programs are up to date with their definition file. Additionally, you might think about installing a firewall so that you can add another layer of protection between you and the bad guys online. Luckily, you can usually find free software that will help protect you. Just make sure you set it up correctly.

By following the advice above, you’re going to be able to avoid the scams while still being able to keep up with the fam. You don’t need to avoid social networks completely, but you should be very selective about which sites you visit and how you interact with people you might not know personally.

Written by: Maegred Mithi is working in copper industry. Her job is to buy ethanol and remove the rust from the raw copper. She is also studying on line reputation management, because she has special interest in online world algorithms that affects the search engine results.

7 Privacy Tips for Safer Social Media

Photo credits: U.S. Army RDECOM

If you’re not worried about your privacy online when interacting on social media sites, you should be. These days, it’s easier than ever before for bad guys to get ahold of your personal information. Even large corporations are having problems. For example, in December 2013, Target was targeted by hackers and lost just under 100 million credit card numbers and other identifiable information about their customers.

Seven Privacy Tips for Social Media

To help you stay safe online and protect your personal information, here’s seven specific privacy tips for when you’re on social media websites.

1. Know the Settings - The first thing you want to do is make sure you study a website’s privacy policy - including how to change the settings. Unfortunately, most websites make this very difficult to do. The more information you share with Facebook and others, the more money they can make off of you.

2. Watch for Changes - Privacy policy changes may or may not be announced, so you want to make sure you keep your eyes open for changes that occur. Hopefully in the future legislation will be passed to make it more difficult for companies to make wide changing changes without a lot of notification and options for users.

3. Sign-Out - While this can be a pain, make sure you log out of your social media accounts when you’re not using them. This is one of the best ways to make sure Facebook or Google isn’t tracking your every move online.

4. No Phone App - Try NOT to install the Facebook or Twitter app. Or, if you do install it to use occasionally, make sure you log-out whenever you’re not actively using it. While using the Facebook app may seem convenient, you’re giving them quite a bit of information that they’re going to sell to the highest bidder.

5. Use a Device Password - Make sure you set up your smartphone so that it requires you to enter a password to unlock it and use it. Unfortunately, not a lot of people take the time to do this, which is a big obstacle to privacy.

6. Use Encryption - Whenever possible, make sure you’re using encryption. Most operating systems have software that will encrypt and protect your sensitive data.

7. Unfriend Strangers - While getting your friend count to some crazy number might sound like fun, you should try to NOT friend anyone who you don’t know in real life.

Following the advice and tips above will help make sure you maintain your privacy when you’re using social media websites. Do you have your own method of staying safe on social media websites? Feel free to leave a comment and let us know what you do to maintain your online privacy.

Written by: Shorna stiksal likes smartresumewizard because it’s so easy to use. She helps her company with reputation management and has been paid very well for her assistance.

Three Timesheet Apps for the Android! (Friday's Pick's)

TimeSheet ( Free ) or ( Pro: 2.50$ )

This is one Application that I have been and still use for my Android ZTE AWE and Kyocera Rise Phones.  I don’t know about the rest of you but I did try the Free version and was really impressed with it.   So I upgraded to the Pro version to help support the developer and also because you get more stuff with the paid version.   

The nice thing about this app is that I can keep track of all my hours and also keep it backed up on Dropbox (I get no money for this link but when I refer enough people, I get up got 16 gb of space!  So please go sign up and help me get the maximum!) or to the SD Card.   So at least I have two ways to do this plus it has a great automatic backup feature to help keep your hours from getting lost!  It keeps track of expenses and travel if your one to be getting paid traveling.   So you can know by the end of the week how much you made and also some other great tools to help you make sure you are short on your next check.

Timesheet - Time Tracker  (Free)

I do not like to do free apps but my friend from work showed me this one and swears to it.   I’ve played around with it and it seems to be a very easy and you really don’t have a lot to fill out.   It can be very useful if all you need to do is track your hours and nothing else.   You can also backup to Dropbox (I get no money for this link but when I refer enough people, I get up got 16 gb of space!  So please go sign up and help me get the maximum!) or a Micro SD card if you wish, so your times will be saved in the cloud!

I personally like the TimeSheet Pro that I paid for because It allows me to enter so much more information and keep track of so much more.

Time Recorder (Free)

I admit, I haven’t played around with this one but it looks promising for two reasons.   You can split tasks and also have more than one option to backup this to.   You have Dropbox (I get no money for this link but when I refer enough people, I get up got 16 gb of space!  So please go sign up and help me get the maximum!)and/OR Google Drive that you can use to keep your time from going missing.   The only problem I see with this is you need plugins that need to be installed to use these two backup features.   It was something the developer, I suspect, couldn’t intra grate with the app very easily.   So that is why I didn’t install this one because of to many plugins that come along with this free version.

I still recommend Timesheet Pro, which is what I use all the time and has worked really well for my needs working as a contractor.   It does what I need to keep track of my time.   Know of a good app that does just this and want to tell people about it.   Leave a comment and tell people your experience with an Time recording app!

How to Root a ZTE AWE phone! (Virgin Mobile)

Cydia Impactor rules!

After getting my ZTE AWE,  I’ve been looking for a way to use the tethering feature that can be useful where I am currently located at!   The only problem is that Virgin Mobile (VM) does not let me pay the 15 dollar tethering charge for using it has a wifi hotspotl  According to them, there is no way to enable this.   So I went searching for ways to enable it.  I have gotten closer to making that happen by BREAKING MY WARRANTY.   According to VM, if I root the device, it voids the warranty of the device.   I kind of think this a small ridiculous rule so it is up to you!

The way I did it was a very easy way to download Cydia Impactor to root your device!  It puts the Super USER binaries on your device and allows them to have any thing on it that you want.   

Steps to root phone:

• Install the ZTE AWE software from phone!  You can do this simply by System Settings —> Connect to PC and selecting Install driver!  (Only needs to be done on Windows or Mac OS!)
• Put the Phone on USB Debug :  System Settings —> Developer Options — > USB Debugging
• You will need to click on the USB menu on Cydia Impactor and select the N800 driver.
• Once your do that you can simply drop the SuperSU Binaries
• Install the SuperSU from ChainFire

Once your have done all this you will have ROOT access.   It is up to you what you want to do but I have found that you have several things that can help monitor your phone and speed it up.   In the coming weeks I will tell you about a few of my favorite apps that work to help keep your phone running smooth!

Even More Tips and Tricks for the ZTE AWE!

It’s that Time again!

I’ve had several people say they liked some of my tips for the Zte AWE and asked me for more.   So I thought we should do another quick segment for those who just can’t wait to long!  Some of these tips are great for people who use Virgin Mobile so it will probably work for most to all Virgin Mobile US smart phones!

Tip #4  Airplane Mode is your Friend!

Unlock Phone —> PRESS and HOLD power button for 2 seconds —> Airplane Mode

Or

On Main Screen —> Press the Three Bars —> System Settings —> Airplane Mode

I’ve had those time when You need to just turn on airplane mode to help conserve battery power.   You really don’t know how much battery power is used when your cell phone gets very little signal in an area.   It uses more battery power to keep that connection with the cell tower.   So it is best just to turn off the signal, until you get to a better reception area.   It might be important for your to keep it on but it isn’t life threatening for me! It is also quite useful to turn on airplane mode when your charging your phone.   I found this tip out somewhere else on the internet but it is a really good tip.   It charges my phone faster.   So it works really well when your in a hurry to quickly charge your phone.

Tip #5 Turn off Connections Optimizer

Main Screen —> Three Bars —> System Settings —> Mobile Networks —>   Connections Optimizer —>  Uncheck Connections Optimizer

I’ve had so much bad experiences with this little Virgin Mobile US and Sprint Network extra that I suspect this is a way for them to have to worry about us using to much of their data networks and hoping we use our own way to keep from using theirs.   I also have noticed this will speed up the reduction of my battery power a little and thus I just disable it from the get go.   I don’t even worry about it because it just worries me about privacy issues and I will not tolerate my privacy be abused.

Tip #6  Tell Google to Do Not Track you!

When you setup your phone this seems to be something Google does to help make the ads more likely to be clicked by you and it is what they call interest-based ads, but are being tracked by Google and 3rd party partner apps.   So I always turn this off when ever I get a Phone with Ice Cream Sandwich or Above (4.0 +).   It is a new feature that they have been adding to their operating systems that I just do not like and thus I turn it off.

Main Screen —> Three Bars —> Google —> Ads

 

You will need to Opt out of the Interested-Based Ads by checking the little check mark.   I do not understand why this should be an opt instead of a opt out.   I am not pleased with Google over this little idea of opting everyone in instead of being automatically being opted out.   This should be the first thing that comes up when you start using your new phone.     You should also generate a new random ID that way the advertisers can’t keep tracking your old id and you privacy is being protected.

Main Screen —> Three Bars —> Google —> Search —> Accounts & Privacy

Another area where I protect my privacy is by turning off commute sharing, Web History and also tell Google to do not keep my web history in their system.  I also turn of personal Results because they have to keep track of your information to make it relevant to you and thus somewhere some how, something is keeping records and thus I tell Google I do not want to be recorded.

On a side note, If your using Google Now this will not affect you but if your not then you can Turn off Google Now easily by going to the search settings and turning it off.   It is the first thing you see when you get into the search menu and this will help you protect your privacy.   I use Google Now but I use it with limits that I set by doing those two things whenever I get a new phone.

Microsoft did WHAT to Google?

Microsoft smears Chrome OS!

In the lastest attempt by the Microsoft, who seems content to throw mud and some fud over the Chrome OS.   Microsoft got a hold of the Scroogle Domain in late 2012 and has been holding onto it eversince.   Scroogle was an attempt to keep advertising and secured search going through Google but was not sponsored by Google.  It Ended in early 2012 due to throttling and DDOS attacks.   I don’t know this sounds suspciously like Microsoft wanted that domain, it wouldn’t surprised me if that was the case.  Some of the things that I just are not happy about this little campaign of theirs is these facts.

No easy way to print!

This one was an obviously no brainer for me, when I bought this Acer Chrome book because I really don’t have any reason to print anything and if I did, I can go to a library or to Kinkos to print what is needed to print.   I am not going to go into detail because when I did m FAQ section about the Chrome OS.   I was pretty much thinking Microsoft is worried because they will loose so much profit from Windows.   A Small fact for those who think Windows 8 can print, not without some jumping through some hoops will you be able to print.

NPD and that elusive 21% figure!

NPD published an article about how Chrome Books have a 21% sales in 2013.   I tend to think this may be a little low but that is probably because people don’t really advertise they bought the Chrome OS and thus it will grow in the coming years, I am sure of it.   You see, the reason I bought this laptop was a really serious question for me.   One of money, one of Security and Battery life, each of these were a value for me and I did like any person who buys a laptop.   I reasearched it long and hard, and new what i would be facing and what my limitations were going to be.   So I didn’t not walk into this half handed.

No windows 8!

I only had two options one with Windows 8 or Chrome OS.   I only had around 300$ to use to buy a new laptop with my other laptop breaking down.  Don’t get me Wrong, I had no problems with Windows 7 but from the way I was reading it with Windows 8.   I just didn’t want to have to worry about all those major problems associated with the release of the that operating system.  I am sure I am not alone in this venture because this had many features of Windows 7 and how to approach the problem.   

Resolution for Microsoft!

Hey Microsoft, if your really worried about loosing the sales and money from your consumers, then you should come up with an easy way to dual boot a Chrome OS and Windows 8 into one cheap laptop like this one and thus we can have access to everything we may ever need.   A Good browser when we need it and ways ways to print and download movies when we want to!  Hey now there is a concept that would make everyone happy.   Also, it shouldn’t cost an arm or leg to buy a Windows machine because you will still make money in other areas besides licensing!  

So I tell you this right now, Microsoft you are no long the Alpha dog in my life and you will just have to learn your new place in this changing world!   Until you learn you will always be on the sidelines!

Why your Facebook account got hacked and how to secure it!

You’ve Probably seen:

Help me!!! the house was broken into lastnіght, i caught the theіves stealing our stuff on our securitу cameras! Do уou happen too recognize them?  (Some link such as Tumblr)

I know it is the hardest thing to understand but when it comes to getting your Facebook account, getting into your account is the most valuable for them.   Most of the time it is used to mine data such as your personal information or so they can become you but that it’s always the case.   It is sometimes the case that a spammer wants to get those click’s from your friends and you be the one who gets in trouble with Facebook.   It isn’t always the case though.   More than anything hackers or some call the crackers want to get your account to make money somehow.  99% of the time that is the case the other 1% is someone who wants to just be a wise guy and show you he did it!

Well it happened!

You probably like the rest of the people asking how do I prevent this in the future first thing first.  You need to change your password on your Facebook account.  Once you have your account back you will then need to end all activity on your facebook account besides the device your logged into and that means you will need to update your password on all devices.   

The Easiest way to end all activity on your facebook account is:

Settings — > Account Setting —>  (Click) Recongnized Devices —> (Then) End All activity

Before you start putting the password in to all those devices maybe it is time to use a good Password manager to do just that, I recommend Lastpass because it is has everything you need to help keep hackers out of your account.   You should use a minium 20 character length and make it as random as possible.   This is what I have used to keep people from guessing my password although it is good way to help prevent Phishing attacks from sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets!

Setup a 2 Authentication factor!

In some ways this has been the hardest for people to understand and to want to use because it slows down people logging into their account but it also makes it that much harder for someone to get into your account because they have to know your validation code.   This will help you keep your privacy and security safe.  There is a great tutorial on how to do it, and I use it with the Google Authenticator myself!

Review your Timeline!

It might not be needed but you never know what the hacker posted on your timeline or your activity and you should carefully check it out from the time you thought you got compromised to now.  You never know what has been posted or said about your until you do a complete inventory of damage control.  Delete any posts that you didn’t do and remove those from your time line.   Just look for a little X on the upper right corner.

Finally Review your security Settings!

Go back through your security settings and make sure the hacker didn’t enable something that you might regret later on.   For instants your timeline being public or your phone number or something that you don’t want anyone other than friends or family to know.  There are few places where you should check and maybe change if need be and they are:

Settings —> Privacy Settings

Settings —> Account Settings —> Timeline And Tagging

Settings —> Account Settings —> (-)Blocking

You never know what the hacker did to either unblock someone or change something that you had put private.   So this is what I call damage control.   This will keep you safe and secure, but remember the only way to truly be safe is watching what you do online and keep that information private as long as possible.

Best Tips and Tricks for your ZTE AWE!

Common questions!

I’ve been getting a few common questions and thought this was a good time to discuss a few of them and help you increase your productivity on your ZTE AWE phone.   Each one of these tips is good to use for your phone to help you make it easier to get what you need to get done with your phone.  This phone is 4.1.2 Android (Jelly Bean).   

TIP 1: Keep your Phone updated

If you haven’t already, you should check to make sure you ZTE AWE is updated in several areas.   You can easily do this by hitting the 3 dashes on the phone that look like a small bar graph.   Then select “System Settings” and scrolling all the way to the bottom of the screen.   You will select “System Updates”.  Once your their you will find 4 options: 

• Update PRL
• Update Profile
• Update ZTE Software
• Update Firmware

Each one these can help you in several areas.  First question people ask me is what is a PRL it is “Preferred Roaming List” and can be very useful to keep your signal strength at highest possible strength for your location.   You should do this from time to time or when you have done a hard reset to get put keep your phone updated to any new cell towers in your area.  

Updating your Profile basically helps you keep your phone validated with the network.   You should occasionally keep it updated to make sure you have the latest codes for your phone to be able to communicate with the cell towers and for you to be able to use their services.   This can be quite useful if your experiences some problems with connectivity problems with your 3g service.

Update ZTE Software is a form of drivers that you need to use to have your phone work with Jelly Bean.   I am sure there are some Cyangen Mods out there that can get around this but I am not really concerned with using a mod right now.  As you know it is another layer to the Android community for them to have some for of ownership of their phones.   Nothing you can do about it but you should keep that updated just in case there is something new you can use with your phone.

Update Firmware can be very useful if your just bought your phone and you wanted the latest version of Android on your phone.   You will get updates from the provider if there is an OTA (Over The Air) update that is available for your device but those aren’t very reliable and thus you can check manually.  Who knows you might someday be able to use the Android 4.3 or 4.4 the Kit Kat Versions!

Tip 2: Multiple Folders and Groups

The nice thing about Jelly Bean and above on the android devices is that you can now have folders on your  home screen and any other menu area you are wanting to put it.   On the ZTE you have 4 spots that you can have a permanent folder.  The Home bar as I call it can be easily used to keep those folders of apps that help you on your phone.   I’ve got a Social Folder with Facebook, Twitter, and any other social app that I want.   I also have several different phone apps that allow me to do stuff like Google Voice.   I even have a games folder so I do have to go back to the home screen to play games that I use offten on my device like Words With Friends.

If you would like to add or remove icons on the bottom bar, just press on the icon shortcut and hold for a second or two and then move it to where ever you wanted to move it to.   If you happen to delete an important shortcut just find them in the apps menu.   That is the Circle with 4 small squares in it!  

TIP 3: Adding a VPN

If your are worried about people spy on you on public or when you use your phone.   You can have a VPN on the phone.   You can use something like VPN4ALL but if your wondering what a VPN is, check out my article on the subject.   If you value your privacy you will want to read both articles to better understand how to use a VPN.   

Adding a VPN is easy, just hit the menu key (3 Bars) and then select:

System Settings  —-> More —-> VPN —-> Add VPN

There are sever different options to setting up a VPN on the ZTE AWE but I recommend the L2TP/IPSec PSK or the IPSec Xauth PSK ones.   They may not be NSA backdoor but I can’t be 100% sure about that.   I do not recommend at all to use the PTPP for VPN because that is not the best idea for keeping people out!

More to Come!

It seems this will be a good one to come back to in the coming weeks.   I will post even more tips and tricks in the coming weeks and if you haven’t subscribed to my RSS Feed or my Email list.  If you don’t you might miss a valuable tip or trick for your ZTE AWE or some other device that I’ve talked about in the past!

4 Free alternatives to Microsoft Publisher!

The Alternatives are out there!

I was inspired by a friend of mine who asked on Facebook, She wanted something that was freeware or shareware preferably because she didn’t have the money to go by Microsoft Office 2013.  So I thought tis was high time, I tried to help some of my readers out by showing you what you could use that is just as good as Microsoft Office!

Open Office (Free Productivy and Open sourced Suite)

Open Office has been used by me in the past and you can even use it on the go with little to no major problems.   All you will need is program call Portable Apps and a USB drive preferrably 8 to 16 gb of space because of all the programs you will need to install it!

Google Docs

The Next one that is really useful is Google Docs which comes with any Google account.  I personally have used this and in fact, I created the image at the top of the page!   The pacman eating Microsoft Docs! So it can be quite useful for doing what you might need.   I have much success with the using this with my Chrome OS computer, you really can’t use much else but something that is online anyways!

Scribus (Open sourced desktop publishing)

I have never used this but I was told by a few friends that it is really good and works just like most other publishing tools.   You can try this one and see if it helps!

PagePlus Starter Edition

Another one that I have yet to use because I have had no major need to use more than the first two.   This however has been brought to my attention from several friends on my facebook page and can’t but at least mentioned it!   

 As you can see you have several you can pick from and from time to time there will always be new ones but these were a few that  I found thanks to crowsourcing the problem.   I do hope this helps you also in making an informed decision on what you will use for your project(s).  Know of one that I missed please feel free to leave a comment and tell people about it!

Note to Self: Keep a Backup with you at all times!

Chrome OS Back ups!

The story was a simple one, I went to friends house to use their wifi with my Acer Chromebook and I got an update reminder on my system for a update to the Chrome OS.   It seems that it was a beta version of the software that was the problem.  I’m a tinkerer at heart and you can change it from three different versions:

• Stable
• Beta
• Developer — Unstable

You can change to anyone of these simply by going to chrome://help/ and then clicking more info.  

Use it at your own risk!

As you can see you have a choice to try out the ones that aren’t very stable and might cause problems.   This is where I must grab my foot and stick it in my mouth.   I was trying the beta version of the Chrome OS to see what might be coming out in a few months.   I usually don’t have problems with a beta version of any Operating system but this last update for the Chrome OS Beta just made my computer boot and then just got to a white screen and it would just hang there for several minutes and then it would reboot.   Well I didn’t have my backup restore flash drive with me and was trying everything  I could come up with to get it running.   Finally I broke down and borrowed my friends 4gb flash drive to create a restore of the my Parrot CoffinFish E3181 ISO (Use at your own risk) that I made back a few weeks ago, just in case!  I used that to create a restore flash drive on my friends Windows system.  If you are looking for the tool to make one for your system, you can check out Google Page on that!

Restore Switch on the Acer!

I was searching long and hard to find this elusive restore switch to boot into the restore option of the Chrome OS.   Apparently after looking hard and long the simple way to do this is just hit the ESC-F3-POWER button at the same time.   There is no actual button you have to push to get into the restore mode.   At least that is how I got into the restore mode on my Acer Chrome Book!   

Truth Be Told!

I should of had my USB drive with me at all times but I didn’t have a good way to keep it with me at times.   I am now in search for a way to have a key chain USB to do just that.   Be able to put it on my key chain to take with me every place  I go and thus won’t have to worry about this next time around!   I am sure this won’t be the last time since I am always going to be a beta tester.

The 5 Duck Dynasty, all in the Row! Learning from the Past!

The Ducklings all quacking!

I have been seeing a lot of chatter about the Duck Dynasty and how Phil Robertson was removed benched indefinately.   I usually don’t like to way in on these things but I feel I must at least try share my two cents on this subject.   I will tell you, I support what all the family has said in their statements and even though it has been 5 long seasons with this show.   I must say if this is it, then so be it.   We’ve had a lot of people up in arms over this, from the gay and lesbian community to the Christian community.   I am one who not hide anything, I am a Christian and I have thought long and hard on this subject, constantly seeing what people are saying and trying to come to a understanding.   The question that I must ask myself and ask you is this “What would Jesus Do?” in this situation?   

Everyone has an Opinion!

“If God were our one and only desire we would not be so easily upset when our opinions do not find outside acceptance.”  Thomas à Kempis — The Imitation of Christ!

So we have people throwing opinions that we should not accept but still love them.   The important question at hand is how do you love someone who will not listen.   I think the only way you could make it happen is Mark 12:31, because once you learned to love them with all your heart and soul and Mind, you have greater power than just trying to love them from afar!   I have a feeling this will all work in the long run but until it does, we will need to do three things!

Speak Softly!

One thing that You will need to learn is that if your yelling at people, it usually isn’t heard.  We have this really good nack of subconsciously of ignoring what is being yell at us about.   I have learned if you whisper, it is likely to be heard because people will strain to and listen to what you have to say.   So the easiest way to get someone to listen to your is just to drop your town and speak really softly!

Show Support!

This one seems almost a No brainer to me at least, but if you want to make a really good point and have them change their decision.   Go buy their products from places that won’t support A&E directly.   You can go to several places and show your support and make A&E rethink their decisions.   I am going to show you a few places you can show support.

• CafePress — They have some great Duck Dynasty and We Support Phil decals/sweaters/Shirts and everything you might want to buy to show support.   
• Amazon US — This is another good place to go to by those We support Phil materials again.  

Give Unto Ceasar

This one is bittersweet, if you really want this show to continue and show your support.   You must look at the Bible and it has a very clear understanding of this.   Matt 22:16-21 says it best, if there is tax then pay that tax.   This go without say, but if you really want the show to continue we have to show as much as support as we can possibly show in a Godly way and not in a vengence but in love.   You should consider buying all seasons of Duck Dynasty and on whichever device you have to show your support.   A&E will see just how much they could loose if the show doesn’t go on and thus we can change that decision even more by making a clear point on how much you like the shows.   You can buy the season on Video on Demand or on DVD but this one is a must to make a real impact on if this show is to continue.  

• Amazon — I must warn you, that Amazon is a sponsor of my blog and thus anything you buy using that link I get a little compenastion, but it cost you nothing!
• Google — Google Only has Season 4 but hopefully they will get the rest later.   I have a Google Android and thus it is good for watching on my devices like this!
• Itunes — Apple has all 4 seasons, so you should consider buying those and whenever 5th one comes out buying that one too!

Again take this as you like, I am no preacher but this is all sound advice from someone who has been working this problem and this is probably the only way it will actually get A&E or some other channel to pickup the show!   

Google pulls a very vital App off their store and says we didn't mean to release it! (Apps Ops)

Google removes a Hidden Privacy feature!

If you haven’t heard, the last week Google removes a hidden privacy feature in the new upcoming Kitkat build to help keep apps such such as this flashlight app that sold users data without your permission!  I am quite concerned with what happenes when another app does this or something else and you have no way to deny it or not use it.   Some of the things that I am sure your wondering like I am are the very things that come to mind.  Then Google tells it users that this was an accidental release of the feature and that it isn’t ready for public consumption.

Keep in mind the privacy feature wasn’t well known or even that easy to get to.   You had install another app such as App Ops to even get to use this little known menu in Android 4.3+.

App Dev

The people behind the apps are probably up in arms because they worry that they won’t be able to make money on their apps that are using advertising to help pay them for each time someone sees an advertisement or when a users clicks on an advertisement they get some kind of revenue.   This isn’t the only reason but I am sure it is one of the top reasons why the development gurus would be up in arms over this new way to control what permissions an app can have and who ultimately has control over what they can and do with your app.   It was and probably soon will be the customer who decides what the app will have permissions for and that worries them.

Google apps will become paid!

The one thing that will happen for sure is that we will either have to pay a monthly service or a one time fee for an app because once this starts to be released or if it is released then the app developers will have no choice but to go to a pay wall model to get the money they probably think they deserve and/or want for their work.   I am sure we haven’t seen the last of this and or other apps that do something similar.   I would just like to have Google be more upfront to their customers about why.

The Naked truth about you and your Cell Phone!

Do you need your cell phone?

This is been a common plight of mine when it comes to having a cell phone, is the age old question of do you really need a cell phone?  We are going to discuss this in this post!  I’ve been going without a cell phone to work and I’m going to tell you my experiences!   Be that it might be sacroligious to some, it is something that happens from time to time.   

Do you panic if you don’t have you Cell phone? I did a few times until I got used to not having it with me.   It can be a very bad reaction the first few times.  I was frantically trying to find my cell phone and yet I forgot that I left it at home.  I know I’m not the only one who has left a cell phone at home and it is bound to happen to someone sometime! 

This all started last week when I was in such a rush to get to work that I left my cell phone on the cell phone booster holder.   Usually I would grab the phone the last second and go merrily off to my job.   This time however, I bypassed grabbing and rushed out the door to my car.  The easy answer to why I did it was because of it snowing and I didn’t want to be late for work.   

I really was shocked at how much time I had at work to do some amazing things and to flirt with females at my work.   I won’t say that was all I did, but it was a pleasant change to actually talk to people and interact with them.   I guess we are all addicted to Facebook, Twitter, and more social media sites than we were 5 years ago.   It has become the thing, to be social on the phone and not it person.   

You may be asking questions of the old time, what if this and that.   Do you really need a phone when an emergency comes up?  Someone would argue yes but I really don’t see that as being a problem.  As long as my family knows how to reach me through my work, I am better off to not be bother unless it is an actual emergency.   There are times not having a cell phone has been nothing but a God send, not having to deal with friends or old relationships can be such a joy!

I Challenge YOU!

I’m throwing this challenge out to all my readers.   If you think you are addicted to your phone, than leave it at home and start making conversations at work.   If you think you can’t handle that, start by doing it 1 to 2 hours at a time and work your way up to a full day.   You will be surprised at what you accomplish.   Then when you do actually do that, come back here and leave and tell me what happened and how you did!   I’d love to hear your stories about your experiences.    

Non-Profits Turn to Technology for Holiday Fundraising

While most people take the holidays to relax with family, non-profits organizations see this season as a chance to capitalize on the abundance of generosity and good cheer. Charity fundraisers and events are popular this time of year, as even our favorite stars take the time to give back. Celebrities run successful charity events for causes they are passionate about, including Harrison Ford’s conservation initiative, Olivia WIlde’s fundraiser, “Artists for Peace and Justice” and Ashton Kutcher’s charity to end human trafficking, “Real Men Don’t Buy Girls.” The holiday season is an important time for these and other charities.

Last year and this year, a coalition of non-profits came together to promote “Giving Tuesday,” a spin-off of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. The day is designed to kick off the holiday seasoning the right frame of mind. Launch the right fundraising campaign and your non-profit will take a stocking full of momentum into the new year.

Embrace technology to spread your cause this holiday season. Social media is the perfect way to connect with potential donors. If you’re out on the street seeking donations, a mobile credit card reader is a convenient tool to process credit card transactions. Above all, a clear message and purpose with draw the attention of willing donors.

Craft an Elevator Pitch

Non-profits don’t like to think about competing with each other, but during the holidays, they are. You’re competing for attention and awareness, and the only way to make your mark is with a strong, concise pitch. No one wants to get guilt-tripped into donating. Those who donate after hearing how little they care for a cause usually won’t be drawn to a life of activism. Rather, people want to partner with causes that they believe in. Instead of reciting how much your non-profit needs to raise, lead off with what you’re going to do with the money. Craft your campaign’s elevator pitch. Why are you raising money? Where will it go? And how can people donate? You’ll earn money from donor who relate to your cause and respect from those that aren’t able to donate.

Social Giving

Fundraising campaigns are as much about awareness as they are about money. Get a wave of support behind your cause and the money will follow. Luckily for today’s non-profits, a revolutionary marketing tool is at your disposal, and it’s free. Social media is the most efficient way to spread the world about your holiday fundraiser. The key is connecting with users through videos, photos or personal messages. Consider adding incentives to your social media fundraising campaign. Randomly selecting those who re-tweet a link to your donation page will generate some viral energy and awareness. The more creative you with your social media content, the better.

Accepting Donations

You’ve seen Salvation Army representatives ring bells outside of malls and department stores. It’s obviously an effective fundraising model, but it’s held back by it’s analog nature. As fewer shoppers carry cash, non-profits that are able to accept credit and debit cards have the upper hand. Mobile credit card readers turn your smartphone into credit card POS system, complete with electronic receipts and encrypted software. Intuit credit card readers, for example, attach to your smart phone and receive credit card swipes. You can accept credit cards anywhere will cell service, and Intuit charges as little as 1.75% per transaction. If your non-profit asks for donations on the street, a mobile credit card processor will undoubtedly boost your income.

Cedric Goodwin

Cedric loves all things sports and is the social media director for several local sports teams.

Codes you will need for the ZTE AWE!

Codes you should know!

From time to time, I occasionally like to look up codes for new phones like the ZTE AWE and keep them handy. I found some really good codes tha tyou may need in the future.   I also like to know which codes are used for certain purposes.   In this article I will tell you which codes you will need to use with Virgin Mobile USA and this will hopefully help you before you call Virgin Mobile with your phone problems.   You never know when these codes will be useful but it should at least help you get what you want from your phone!

Codes

Before I begin, I will remind all readers that you use these codes at your own risk and I can’t be held responsible for any thing you aciddently delete!

Factory Reset — *983*57#  (Will delete all you personal files and information off the phone.  Do not use unless you need to!)

IMSI (international sematech manufacturing initiative) — *983*36401*01#  Sometimes Virgin Mobile will need this to help solve your problem and thus you should either know the code or have your IMSI written down to make it quicker for them to help you!

IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) —*#06#  Good for the same purpose as the IMSI but it mostly what is requested by Virgin Mobile.   

Mutliple Menus and Information — *97*0#  This is very good code for finding out the Wifi MAC Address for those wifi networks that are limited by which mac address are allowed on that wifi network.   So you may need this information from time to time.   It also shows your batter information and how good the health of your battery!

Phone Device Information — *983*5182# very good to know you model number and which android OS your are using with what Kernel are being used currently on your phone!.   You may need thise for Virgin Mobile USA but that depends on how much information they need!

In order to use these codes you will need to go to phone dialer to use these codes. 

Another good TIP:

If you are wanting to send a file or photo to your phone you can easy do this by emailing the phone.   This is also very useful for those times when you need to know what is going on very quickly with maybe your bank account activity or something really serious.   Just send an email to: [10-digit phone number]@vmobl.com.   Just a reminder it comes over a text message(SMS) and thus you only get the first 180 characters or so.   It however can be quite useful for sending files to your phone by attachment or when you need to keep on top of a service or server and keep it from going down.   This is one of the mostly used tips in my library for my business or other such problems.  Can be quite useful when you need to keep on top of important things!

Well this pretty much does it for what you might need for Virgin Mobile USA customer support.   I am sure I have missed something but this will at least get you a head start when you call them.   You can be ready to tell them all this information and not have to wait.