April is Autism Awareness Month: How you can help!

 Autism Facts!

Autism now affects 1 in 88 children and 1 in 54 boys

Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S.

Boys are nearly five times more likely than girls to have autism

Autism receives less than 5% of the research funding of many less prevalent childhood diseases

As you can see these are just a few facts that you may of not known about.   I got these facts from Autismspeaks.org.  

I went to a meeting this weekend and I saw a young girl who I knew had something wrong with her.   I couldn’t know for sure.   I know the father very well he is in my international Club, Starfleet Command.   I even know he does a great Fundrasing event for the month of April!  We discussed this in lengths and he told me about how much money he is looking to raise.  I told him, everything is possible to possibly help his Daughter and help others who might need the help with Autism.  So I am wanted to share a few resources and places you can go to help with Donating your money or showing support for the cause!

http://www.trektoy.com — does a great job at making an effort and giving people a chance to give out some really nice prop gifts from the movies and shows of Star Trek!  The Owner I know, and you now know him!

Cafepress — has two ways you can raise awareness and/donate to the cause.   You can buy the Autism Gift ideas T-shirts, and items .  You can always buy Starfleet Command and Star Trek items (ALL profits from the sales at this store are donated to Autism research) from our Cafepress page.  

Amazon — Has some great ways to show awareness to your community about either your child or someone you may know.   Most of the items are really cheap.   From Magnets for your car to wrist bracelets! If you are trying to learn more about Autism, You can find some great books about Autism and Asperger Syndrome on Amazon also.

What is Autism?

I am sure before I leave I have a few people ask me this question.   So I will answer it now:

Autism is a developmental disorder that appears in the first 3 years of life, and affects the brain’s normal development of social and communication skills.

You can find out more about it from the National Library of Medicine.  I want to help my friend fundraise and thus this post is to help him get more people to donate items and money to his cause.   Please consider donating an item or donating money for his cause.   

Thank You!

Paul Sylvester

So you Want more gadget reviews and All that!

After reviewing the emails and Surveys!

I’ve went over the Survey that some of you actually did and I got a big response of people who would like more blog posts about gadgets!.  Here is my situation on this, I am a single divorced father of 2 kids and working 40 plus hours at a dead end job just to provide for my family.   So you will have to help by either donating gift cards to my cause or buying from my affiliate links and other such stuff.   I am barely making enough money to pay for this blog.  

How you can help!

I will provide you a few ways to help get me those gadgets you want so eagerly for me talk about.  Here are a few ways:

• http://urlptt.com/Support_site OR Bookmark My Affiliate Links
• http://urlptt.com/amznsearch OR Bookmark Amazon Search
• http://www.paulstechtalk.com/amazon/ OR Bookmark my Amazon.com Link
• Send Gift Cards to paul at this domain!

I must say this for legal reasons, Any and all those links are revenue generating for me. If you buy anything using those links you are granting permission for me to get a commission from it!  The Are Affiliate Links and banners, so use them to support my blog and I would be able to afford to buy those really good gadgets to look at and play around with!

On a Side Note, From now on my own site now has it’s own url shortner domain (urlptt.com).   Thanks to Bit.ly for helping me set this up.   Anyone who shortens my website with bit.ly should now see that bit.ly instead of bitly.com url!  Please remember to support my site and my efforts!

Paul Sylvester

Reviewing Shoes for Crews -- Hornet Steel Toed Shoes!

Hornet - Steel Toe (Mens Black) (Click Image to See the Price)

Shoes for Crews!

I’ve used them in the past and have always loved them now!  I recently ordered the Hornet Steel Toed Shoes from them and I must say they are really quite comfortable even only having them for a few days!

Sometimes it takes time!

It usually takes time to break in new pairs of steel toes for me.   It isn’t as if they were ever designed to be comfortable in the first place.   They after all for industrial work and protecting your feet from crush dangers.

The wide selection of shoes you can get from Shoes for Crews can make a difference on how you walk and how much damage you can do to you feet and ankles. 

I owned other pairs also!

When I was server for a local restaurant, I remember buying me my first pair of Shoes for using in the restaurant location.   I really can’t recall the name of the shoes but I do know I bought them from Shoes for Crews because that employer allowed Payroll Deductions when we order with a special code.  The restaurant owner was thinking safety with the slip resistant shoes for both Men and women!  He cared for his employees and encouraged us to get them as soon as we could!

Wal-mart Brand VS The Real Deal!

I’ve tried the Wal-mart brand of shoes and even though they are more cheaper, they really don’t hold up to what I need them to.  I have bought several pairs from Wal-mart now and am constantly going back to get new pairs almost regularly every few months.  I haven’t worn these that long but I will update on that in the coming weeks and tell you how they are hold up.

Common Pitfalls from Ordering Online!

I have heard from people in the past that they buy the wrong shoes and it hurts their feet.   I don’t know why it is so hard for some people and not others.   Here are a few tips that will help you when ordering your shoes from Shoes for Crews:

• Order sizes a .5 or 1.0 higher than you normally do.   This will allow your feet some wiggle room!
• Order WIDE if you buy Steel Toe shoes, never get normal.   You will be surprised just how much more comfortable it can be!
• Add better insoles to your order if you can afford to.  This will help with foot fatique and let you stand that much longer!

60 Day Money back Guarantee!

Shoes For Crews has a 60 day return policy if for any reason you don’t want these shoes.   They will easily exchange them or refund you money.   They even put a FREE Pre-Paid return shipping label when you do get your pair of shoes from them.   So no need to worry about paying for returning these shoes. You really can’t go wrong, because they have so many different shoes to choose from.   I will say that every time I order from them, I have been happy and their has never been a problem with my order.  So What are you waiting for.   Isn’t it time for a pair of new work shoes.   Your feet aren’t getting any younger you know!

Paul Sylvester

Win you a Free Pair of Shoes!

I dropped my Acer A200 on Purpose and I'll tell you why!

I was in the electronic department!

Your probably would never drop your Acer Tablet A200 on the floor purposing to prove a point.  Most people don’t know how Durable the Acer Tablet is and how easily it recovers from drops and falls.   I must admit the tablet did have a Cover on it [Poetic(TM) Stand Leather Case with Angle Adjustable with HandStrap].  The lady was surprised but what she did not know.   I had a great insurance plan for my tablet if it breaks ,however she wasn’t told that.

That was a Bold Move!

I simply believe this Acer Tablet is way better than any Ipad and I like to prove it to people around my community.   I however know what people will say.   Sooner or later you will drop it enough to damage it and I’d have to say your right.  It isn’t unbreakable but built tough and I know how useful this tablet is.  

The End of the Story!

I am sure you probably wondering why I wanted to share this story.   In the end, I helped the lady find a tablet that is best suited for her 3 to 5 year sons.  It however is probably going to be stuck in her mind about this Acer Tablet and my blog.  I happened to tell her about it.  I wanted to reach and find out what happened to that tablet you bought your kids and find out how it is doing?  If your reading this, Let me know and tell me what you think of that tablet!  In the end, I still recommend The Acer A200 Tablet to anyone who wants a cheap durable tablet for your self or your family member.!

Paul Sylvester

Doctor Who: Clara Oswin Oswald Character Arch Begins!

Clara Oswin Oswald

Who is the Clara Oswald (Jenna-Louise Coleman) is a character the doctor met in Asylum of the Daleks.  If you know this series then you will remember the Doctor and River Song (A Good man Goes to war!).  I think I did a pretty good prediction on the remaining season of Doctor Who for 2013 (Season 7).  I know I missed some of this and really when I looked into this series during the interlude of season.

We see her die twice!

The first time we see her die is Asylum of the Daleks, and then the Snowmen (Christmas Special).  Everything tells me this girl has a reason to have her keep on coming back to life and the doctor finding her in The Bells of Saint John.  Which is also in Season 7 and you can see she has a major part of this season and I she will be on Season 8 and Season 9 from what I can tell.

I hope we don’t see something like River Song or Amy Pond’s Character arch’s but I am sure she will be an important part of the series.   I can’t wait to see what else she does with the Doctor and what she has to bring into the Life of the Doctor.

Paul Sylvester

Scare advertising hitting android Devices!

androidantivirusfree.org

I Think NOT!

I was doing some stuff and this little advertisement appeared on my tablet:

Phone is Infected, Remove Virus Now! (Scare Tactic)

As you can see there is a lot to this that you can’t really, even though I know Androids aren’t immune.  This seems to indicate the advertising of malware is on the rise.  So I intend to help those who want to be helped.  Let’s by chance think you have a virus on your tablet or phone.   How do you get it off, there are a few ways.   One you can do a hard reset and restore you phone or tablet to factory settings.   Essentially wiping all information from the phone.  

Don’t install any 3rd party applications!

Use coupon code “Savenow15” and Save 15% off the lifetime of your account!One of my common rules is not to install any third party applications unless I trust the source and just because they look legitimate doesn’t always mean they are.   For example, the picture looks convincing enough but home site (androidantivirusfree.org) has nothing there which indicates to me that it is designed to install malicious software to make you buy there cure for their android virus or malware!

Although this is the beginning of this, I am just going to.  I have already talked about this in a previous post so I will just say this.  Don’t do anything without consulting a geek! 

Paul Sylvester

Playing around with Google Authenticator and the 2 step process!

2 Factor Authentication and You!

When I started this experiment looking to enhance my security.  I was thinking about Yubi Key but It isn’t like I have the 25 dollars for it.  I do suggest it to anyone who might not have any other options available to you.   It however works really well from what I have been told with Lastpass and I wanted something that would do just that.   

It isn’t like I have a lot of money to throw around!

So I went to Lastpass security settings to see if there was something else.   When I found the Google Authenticator Tab!

Google Authenticator?

Well it looks like Google came up with a way to have a two factor authentication available for you when you login to sites that you may want more than one way to protect your identity or privacy! So even though I could protect my privacy by having a One Time Password it isn’t going to be the easiest way to keep my security safe.  

I installed Google Authenticator on my Kyocera Rise and it is working really well.   I will have to do even more figuring out of this little app but I am wondering how hard it would be to change to another phone when the time comes and how hard it is to get it installed.

I’ve printed up a few One time Passwords and they are safely hidden away for those times I might need them because something happened.

My next step is to find out which if any social media sites are two factor compliant and which ones I would want to have this available to.   I am hopeful that Facebook will have this to help keep my identity safe and people from gaining access to stuff they shouldn’t have.

Lastpass Plus Google Authenticator equals AWESOME.   Even though this just the beginning of my journey into exploring this.   I will do another blog post about this later on when I have explored this with greater detail and discuss the benefits and draw backs of this but for right now I am more secure then I was and I am happy!

Paul Sylvester

Why I suspect there is not really a 3G outage right now!

The Plausible deniability of the Virgin Mobile 3G Outage!

So it has been a week now and you’re probably asking the same questions.   Here are a few questions that I have and would love to see an answer to:

What is taking so darn long?

Why haven’t you warned us before you did this UPDATE?

Why Haven’t you told anyone?

Why isn’t there more information on the problem?

Why haven’t you updated your websites and other stuff to warn people about the problem?

I could keep going on and on about this and probably even start some conspiracy theories about this.   Here is what I know!  

No UPDATES by Virgin Mobile!

No Media is covering this or talking about it!

Customers are extremely unhappy right now!

These are just a few that I have found.   I went digging around the internet about this and found only a handful of stuff about this.   I am no amatuer when it comes to searching Google, Bing, and yahoo for this type of information!   I’ve found one story about the outage but it was a mear reference to it being down nothing more nothing less. 

So what am I missing?

Probably nothing, I am sure this has to do with Virgin Mobile wanting to thin out the herd sort to speak.  If they really wanted people to stay they would of put out press releases and text everyone in the Virgin Mobile Network and also posted it on their website and their technical support line.   I honestly think they want everyone to go to the 4G network and this is a way to have people either leave or move to a phone that has 4G LTE capabilities.   I’m not buying that this is something they didn’t plan and I hope you don’t either.   Until Virgin Mobile speaks up and starts proving to me they want my business, then I have to assume they are trying to soar the milk of 3G users and get them to go somewhere else.  

Do you think I am right or Wrong?  Let start a Discuss and talk about this even more!

Paul Sylvester

What To Do before you Call Virgin Mobile Support!

1 hour with Technical Support!

Gee thanks for wasting an hour of my time for nothing!  Couldn't I of done this offline?  This isn't like it is rocket science or is it?  When I started this trek to fixing my 3G signal, I never knew it was going to be such a big ordeal.  I mean, lets face it it isn't like I don't know what I am doing with my Android Phone.  I've been getting Error codes like 67, 3000, and 2048.   So i called them and they had me do a bunch of stupid stuff.   Here is what I suggest you do before you call Virgin Mobile.  That way you can at least be ahead of the game:

• Turn off Cell Phone and if Possible take out battery for at least 15 seconds.
• Try doing an Activation and Seeing if that resolves your problem!
• Dial ##virgin# (##847446#) and view or edit your MSID (Mobile Station ID) and MDN (Mobile Number).   You'll need to verify they are something other than 10 zeros!
• Check for firmware updates.   On my Kyocera Rise, you can do that by going to System > System Updates.   This might help fix your problem before you even consider calling Virgin Mobile.   No bets though.
• Last ditch resort!!  Do a hard reset on your Android Phone.   Not recommended but if you do this and you still have problems then it isn't your phone.   You will need to reactivate the phone once it has been done and all photos, videos, and anything else on the phone is lost.   So it is a last resort.   Do this though, you will need to hold the down key and power button until you see the phone power up.  Using your volume keys select factory reset or something like that.

Although It seems Virgin Mobile is having some major 3g service issues.   I do hope they fix it.  I have tried everything other than just going back to Straight Talk.   This has been the lousiest experience in my life.   Has anyone else had this problem with your 3G service from Virgin Mobile Lately?

Paul Sylvester

My cell phone repair worries alleviated by Virgin Mobile!

The Broken Phone Syndrome!

We have all had those phones that would break.  I recently bought a Kyocera Rise from Virgin Mobile.   I recently had problems with it.   It basically was coming apart from the keyboard to the screen, it is a slide type phone and thus the two halves were just coming apart.   Right now the only thing that is holding my phone together is tape!  So I called their customer Care support number (888-322-1122) and told them the problems. 

I never knew it was going to be so easy!

I really thought I would have to jump through so many hoops with getting a replacement phone.   So when I called them I was prepared for them to fight and maybe even have to pay a deductible for a replacement cell phone.  They alleviated the worries, after looking into my account they noticed I was still a brand new customer less than a year old.   They seem to have a 1 year warranty on their phones.  This seemed kind of unheard of to me.   I am sure most cell phone companies only ever do a 90 day warranty on their phones but Virgin Mobile takes it a bit farther than most.

Waiting on my New Phone!

After talking with them over the problem, they seemed to indicate that I would need a new phone.   I let them go on about getting me set up for a new Kyocera Rise phone.   They told me they would be sending me a new phone in 3 to 5 business days.   So I will have more when it comes but this is definitely something that I am looking forward to writing about even more in the future.   I will keep you posted when I get it but I thought it would be a good little blog post for those who might want to know how easy it was for me to get a replacement for my damaged cell phone.  

I would definitely tell my friends and family about this and how this could save them money in the long run.   I can't afford to pay another 100 to 200 dollars for a phone if I don't have to and this seems to be the best possible way for that.

Paul Sylvester

Having Signal Problems with your current Cellular provider?

So You have a Cell Phone?

Many People Now a days are cutting the cords to their land lines and going strickly wireless phones.   I’ve seen people who have Verizon, Cingular, AT&T, Sprint or some other MVNO Like Straight Talk or Virgin Mobile!  Each One of those carriers has good or bad in them.   I’ve seen some that get GREAT signal and I’ve seen some that just get no signal.  I even bet you researched it and thought that you were in the right area for your service provider.   I hate to say it but not all phones and not all cell towers are the same either.  I have tried so many different MVNO’s lately I can tell you that most of them give higher priority to their contract customers.

Why am I not getting any Bars on my Cell Phone?

I answered this a few months ago to a point about Straight Talk but it wasn’t really complete.  I am sure You have your own reason why but I will break it down to you in a way that you might be able to understand it a little more clearly than before.

Each phone has an antenna and each cell tower is broadcasting to a certain distance, and some are broadcasting in a certain direction also.   Most however are just broadcasting omni directional and thus you get a random signal in random locations.   Your also competing with other cell signals from other cell phones for the right to use that tower so your also getting some interference in areas.  

House can be an Interference too!

Even your house which is a dwelling with bricks and wood and some metal pieces can cause you to drop signals in all parts of your house.   I’ve seen in my own situation that I can have 3 bars in one location of my house and no bars in another part of my house so It can be inconcievable that you have the same situation going on where you life also.  So I am here to help you out a little an maybe make you life just a little bit more enjoyable.

• Wireless Extenders zBoost YX545 SOHO Dual-Band Cell Phone Signal Booster Satisfy all your cellular phone needs with the Wireless Extenders YX545 zBoost zP Wireless Booster, which works with both cellular frequencies (800 and 1900 MHz) and can extend cellular coverage up to 3000 square feet. This unit can handle signals from all the major cellular carriers.*  [NOTE: This is the one is being used at my workplace so I know it works really well!]
• Wilson Electronics - Sleek 4G - Cell Phone Signal Booster for Single User  — If you are looking for a top-of-the-line and affordable cell phone signal booster to boost your voice and data signal on any carrier*, including 4G, the Wilson Electronics Sleek 4G is the solution.
• Wilson Electronics - MobilePro - Portable Cell Phone Signal Booster - Includes 4-Inch Magnet Mount Antenna —If you experience dropped calls and poor cell phone signal quality in your car, home or office then the Wilson MobilePro Cell Phone Signal Booster kit is the solution. Increasing your cell phone’s power by as much as 10 times. 

Those are just a few that will help you get a better signal and it isn’t as hard as it looks to install these little extenders and boosters.   I will say these are just the tip of the iceburg as to what you can buy to make you cellular experience just that much better.   If I a problem these would be the first I would buy to get that signal strength up.

Paul Sylvester

HTC One, the one that can change the tide for HTC

HTC has been going through dire times and with the release of HTC One the company is hoping to get things right. Only few months ago the company was deemed to be one of the biggest Android success stories but now it is struggling to make its ends meet and make some profits. HTC One seems to be the only protagonist left in the HTC lineup that can change the tide for the company as the people behind this smartphone has given there all in producing this phone.

As they say desperate times call for desperate measures, HTC pulled together some of its finest engineers and came up with the device that is capable of even competing against upcoming juggernaut Samsung Galaxy S4.

While making this phone HTC focused on few of the primary areas which include sound, camera, screen and most importantly design. HTC One is probably the one of the most aesthetically designed phones in the franchise; body all aluminum with big and bright 4.7 inch screen and sound as loud and clear as can be. In terms of design HTC took a bit of risk, deviating from the norm, by putting up a new UltraPixel camera with 4.3 megapixel sensor which serves as catalyst for better low light performance.

HTC One really stands out in terms of design. The device is all aluminum which gives it a sleek and smooth look. Despite being a big device the phone’s curved back allows it to sit comfortably in hand and makes it easy to use. Only 9.3mm around the corners or 0.37 inches thin, the device weighs only 5.04 ounces or 143 g.

Clad in aluminum plates, HTC One comes in two color silver and black.  On the back of the device are two small stripes which are used to augment the signal strength.

On the front the phone has two speaker grills, one on the top and other at the bottom, ready to blow your ears away with new and improved sound experience. One new thing that you will notice, apart from the overall design, that the button layout has been altered. Instead of regular three buttons you now have two with HTC logo in the middle. The only thing we are missing here is the multitasking button which is now accessible by double tapping on the home key, hold it long enough and Google fires up. The only problem you might face is when stretching for the back button on the left.

HTC One surely packs a punch; with 4.7 inch large super LCD 3 display the phone offer some eye popping colors having a resolution of 1080 by 1920 pixels. The screen is tremendously sharp with a color density of 468ppi.

Same goes for the colors, sharp and vivid blacks, reds and greens and as far as the viewing angels go; we must say they are pretty amazing. But everything is not perfect, while the screen has sharp colors it does have one drawback.

One thing that serves as a little bit of shortcoming for the display is the HTC One’s brightness. When compared to iPhone 5, you will find HTC One with a little dimmer display. One may find it difficult to use on direct sunlight but you will used to it as the time goes by.

Fahad Majidi is a Paid Contributor for the Paulstechtalk.com website.  Any views of his is his own and not of the website.   Any Links in this article are affiliate links to products mentioned to help support paying for the contributor.

My Reasons why you should avoid Onlywire!

Onlywire messes up again!!

When I first started using their FREE service, I thought wow.   I know I won't need more than 300 submissions for my blog each month.   Heck I am not even doing that much submitting for much more than to make sure people know I am posting content!  So here I am happily using their free service and they do something stupid.

I sent off an Email!

When I saw my 300 submissions not being reset, I sent off an email to Onlywire finding out the reason.  Here is their response.

Hi Paul,

Great question. Free Trial accounts are now limited to 7 days. So your account has expired. 

It is a more reasonable Free Trial Period. It just made sense!

Previous: 300 Free submissions No Limit

Now: 100 Free Submissions One Week

We found that customers were creating accounts and forgetting about them. One week

seemed like a reasonable amount of time to decide if the syndication service is a good match or not. 

If only wire wanted to let me know, I know they have my email account.  I've gotten emails from them from the past.  This just shows me they don't really care about their customers and thus I wouldn't trust them with my money even if I had the money to give them in the first place.

Customer Experience is Bad!

As you can see they gave me this great explanation of why they changed it but didn't give me an option to give me a reason why I would want to stay with them.   Heck even if they offered a 5$ a month plan for life, I would of jumped on that like you wouldn't believe.   It was the idea that they don't care and they just wanted to switch and hope people wouldn't notice or if they did they wouldn't speak up!  Well I am speaking up!

No warnings about account changes!

Just like not telling me about the free account change, I would be wondering what else they will do to my account if I signed up.   Will they place ads on my social stream without telling me?  Will they not submit my stuff on a timely manner.   Is their servers going to be up a 100% of the time?  

I will be looking for alternatives to Onlywire, in the coming weeks and Probably even tell you which ones do about the same for free.  I can't make any promises but I am sure i am not along in the endeavor because of how they have burned me!

Did it happen to you? 

Paul Sylvester

How to Tether your Kyocera Rise by Virgin Mobile

It was never Going to be easy!

When I bought this Virgin Mobile Kyocera Rise, I knew they would try to prevent me.  That was one of the reason, I like to have an Unlocked Phone.  I’m went searching through the internet to find the answers to my question.   Some of the common questions, I got where:

Hidden mobile data charges: ethical or not?

Virgin mobile and tethering -charges ?

As you can see these were old post but they did provde me with some very interesting questions about the data usage of tethering and who will be at fault.

The Options!

I am going to give you a few options as to where to look to find the best possible way to tehter your phone to Laptop or Tablet.   I’ve found one or two ways to do it so far and I’ll be more than glad to give you the information that you are seeking for.  Before I begin though:

Information Therein are as IS, The Author will not be held responsible for anything resulting with these applications and services.  You have been warned!

 Some of the Common Applications that I have tried and worked are:

• Easy Tether CE (Lite) — This one works just as great if you intend to use it as an USB connection only.  I had no problems with surfing the web with this app just as long as I kept it hooked up via USB.  Mobile Stream has several different paid apps that allow you to do so much more.  I am impressed with this one!
• WiFi Tether for Root Users — I’ve used this on my HTC Inspire so I know this work on other phones but you would have to root your Kyocera Rise to use this App, although free it would probably void your warranty on your phone!

You can search for other Tethering Apps and try them as you see feet.   I just want to provide you with a few ideas on how to use what your already paying for that data plan.  When I find more I’ll be sure to let you know but for right now these are the ones that I’ve used to tether with success.  

Paul Sylvester

More Rumors Unfold for the Samsung Galaxy S4

With the announcement of the release of Samsung Galaxy S4 comes a bunch of rumors as well. What folds now primarily pertains to the screen of the device. According the rumors surging around Samsung Galaxy S4 will be equipped with floating touch technology. Floating touch technology allows you to interact with the device by hovering your finger above the screen. It works with the help of electrical field created by our finger which is then detected with the help of a sensor, pretty much similar to what you have seen in Samsung Galaxy Note II where you use S pen to interact with notifications and emails. Same goes for the Sony’s low end phone Xperia Sola.

Previously the device had AMOLED display but now the S4 is rumored to have Green PHOLED. So, what’s the difference? In AMOLED screen the green and blue OLEDs were fluorescent where red OLEDs were phosphorescent. But now the S4 is touted to be equipped with green and red OLEDs with phosphorescent materials and fluorescent materials for the blue ones. It does not augment the picture quality or so but it does aids in the power efficiency of the device, almost 25% more power efficient.

It is also believed that Samsung is preparing two prototypes of S4. One with the LCD display and runs on Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 processor whereas the other one is said to have an AMOLED display and uses Samsung Exynos 5 Octa processor. As for now there is no clue whether Samsung will sell both of the devices or drop any of the two before its introduction next week in New York.

And lastly, the device will run on Jelly Bean Android 4.2.1 at the time of its launch but will be upgraded to 4.2.2 as soon as the update hits in the same month.

Fahad Majidi is a Paid Contributor for the Paulstechtalk.com website.  Any views of his is his own and not of the website.   Any Links in this article are affiliate links to products mentioned to help support paying for the contributor.

Zeus and Spyeye Malware coming to the Google Android Platform.

Tablets and Phones Getting Sick??

Mobile operating systems, particularly Android, are not particularly difficult to make malware for, says Blasco, and there are signs that criminals are working to adapt methods used to target PCs. “We have found samples of Zeus and SpyEye on mobile,” he says.

Technology Review

We've talked about App Policies in the past, and you wonder what is in store for you in the coming years with Google Play and Malware.   We can't always be secure with this platform.   I could preach to you the reason why we will most likely have this but I am sure I am not the only one on this subject.  Even clicking a link on your phone could give your phone malware!  

Antivirus is A Joke!

I already talked about the Android Antivirus apps.   I am not sure if they are there just to make it look like they are doing something.   I can't tell which apps are truthful and which are just like a comfort blanket!  So When I started talking about Malware in Google, no one really believed me and I know it isn't a very popular subject so I understand.

So you asking what can I do to protect myself?

Here are some tips to help you not get the malware in the first place!

• Don't install new apps -- if they are new they haven't been reviewed or on the Google Play store long enough.   I won't install an app unless they have 100 reviews or more.   It is just my way.
• Permissions -- Checking the Permissions of an app can help you not install malware before it is to late.   Remember if they want something that they shouldn't then it is probably something you shouldn't install!
• Install Trusted sources -- do no ever install 3rd party applications, your just asking for trouble!  Only install from the Google App Store and nothing else.  This will help prevent from getting Malware!

Although these are simple things most people don't even do these.   If you know some way to prevent Malware then lets hear it.   I have already told you some of the stuff I do but maybe you have something else to help others.   Why not share it!

Paul Sylvester

Why companies don't consider Security and how to decode a Barcode!

Weak Security is NO security!

I am working with a company of late that few months and I must say their security is weak to say the least. They use Barcodes to establish who they are and what jobs they are doing.   It seems kinda simplistic to some but to me they are just asking for problems.   Now a days, 90% of people who work have access to some kind of smart phone, whether it be Android or IOS each one has their unique problems but I am not here to talk about their problems but to point out that each one can literally scan a barcode and decode it in a matter of minutes!

How to decode a Barcode!

If your looking to decode a barcode for Android, I can help.  Here are a few that I've found to work really well with any and all barcodes you might have a need for!

• Google Goggles -- This app for the Android is so interesting, I have installed on my phone just to see what would the world be like if we had those on Google Glasses which I suspect is coming soon!
• Barcode Scanner  by ZXing Team -- This is a good little app for those of you who just want to see what the code is and so forth.   It can does 1d, 2d, and QR Codes.   This is also a really useful app for those of you who want to see what the barcode at work really says about you!
• Barcode Scanner by TACOTY CN -- Another one that does basically what others do and it can decode any barcode that you might have to see what it really says about you.   
• Scan by Scan, Inc -- Here is a good tool for reading barcodes.   I really can't say much more than this because they are do basically the same thing 1d, 2d, and QR Codes.   Works really well though!
• ClearImage Free Online Barcode Reader / Decoder -- Although this isn't a app for Android it can be very useful for anyone who has a camera and would like to decode a barcode this way.   No need for a smart phone, just a camera will do that can take digital pictures.

The Problem!

The company I am contracted with thinks this is convenient and probably even thinks no one will abuse this.   I hate to think of who might use this to gain personal information about another worker or even get them fired.   It isn't hard to imagine that someone may go so far as use someone else's barcode just to get them in trouble.   So why use barcodes in business?  This is a constant problem that needs to be fixed ASAP for any business that does this might want to consider changing over to something a little more secure.   In the coming weeks, I'll probably talk about this in more detail but until I fix the problems with this company I can't go into much more detail.   

Paul Sylvester

Why You should Avoid Kiloo Games and uninstall them!

The Story So far!

Recently I found an application that one of the permissions is "Retrieve Running Programs".   I thought this was something of a hoax or even a little strange.   So I wondered what are those Android App Permissions anyways and why would they require this.  I found this great information on a forum website. 

Retrieve running applications
Hardware controls
URI: android.permission.GET_TASKS
Risk: MEDIUM-HIGH
Protection level: DANGEROUS

Official Description
Allows an application to get information about the currently or recently running tasks: a thumbnail representation of the tasks, what activities are running in it, etc.

Details
This permission is of moderate importance. It will allow an application to find out what other applications are running on your phone. While not a danger in and of itself, it would be a useful tool for someone trying to steal your data. Typical legitimate applications that require this permission include: task killers and battery history widgets. Other than that however, most apps should not need this permission.

<Via Androidforums>

So then I sent an email to Kiloo Games asking why this was needed for the game.   Here is their response:

Kiloo Support (Kiloo)

Mar 04 12:21 (CET)

Hi,

Thank you for your inquiry.

Subway Surfers needs that information to make sure no notifications pop-up when you're in other apps.

Best Regards,

Kiloo Support 

Now I find this very interesting and a little percular.  It doesn't sound like this is what it supposed.   If you read what Android Forums said then you would know we've given Subway Surfer permission to snoop on us and they can do what ever they want with that information because we AGREED to it.  

Many Users don't care about this!

While I am not sure who actually care about this.  I am really concerned with my security and privacy.  I don't think any application in their right mind would want to put this permission on any Application.   I think until people start asking questions or removing these applications they will keep doing this so they can build data on what people do when they aren't playing the games they built.   You really want them to get your bank information or for that matter your passwords to other games or applications.

I am asking for a boycott of these types of programs to tell developers we don't want our information to be public and they need to respect this.   If you have this installed on your android device it is best to remove it ASAP and contact them to tell them why you removed their game.   Until we do this they will not listen to us and respect our privacy!

Paul Sylvester

What can scare you to death with Google Application Updates!

Retrieve Running Applications

Why would an Application need this?

It isn't like we ask for much but it does seem a little peculiar and a little scary. The Game in question right now is Subway Surfers (Kiloo Games).  I emailed the developer to try to find out what this is but I can only imagine what they are using this data for and why they would need it in the first place.

So far I received this:

Hello,

Thank you very much for your email. Our support team will get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Please note that this is an autogenerated response.

Have a great day!

Support@kiloo.com

Although this isn't surprising to say the least it isn't helping their case.   I am sure they are quite busy with this new update.   I really don't mind the game for my kids but that was the only reason I had that on my tablet. 

The Dangers of it all!

I hate to be a worry wort and have people worry to much but when an Application needs to "Retrieve Running Applications", this really worries me because you don't know what else they are doing on your tablet.   Could be monitoring your emails and even get your credit card information.   I know I like to us my tablet more and more.  

Although I am sure I'm the only one on this, I do not want to see people get taken advantage of by any developer or game.   Unless they tell us in their privacy settings what they are doing and why, it makes me concerned every day of the week.   I don't know what they are collecting or why they have to have to collect this information in the first place.   I urge everyone who uses this game to contact them and also check with them about your privacy settings.  If we don't make noise about this then they win.  Tell you friends and family and let them know what to look for when you update your games or applications on your tablet or phone.

When I get the response email from them directly I will be sure to post it and let you know what they say!

Paul Sylvester

What To Look For in A Quality Video Game!

There are hundreds of video games available to purchase, but a lot of them are not worth their cost or will only provide a few hours of entertainment. Luckily, there are an abundance of great video games from every genre. When purchasing a game, it is vital to do research in order to save money. Everyone has different tastes in video games, though most people first and foremost want to be entertained. Here are four tips to find a quality video game that basically anyone can benefit from!

 Reviews

To find out a game’s popularity, check out reviews on the game. Gaming magazines routinely review the newest games, going as far as to recommend the game or not. Better yet, check out reviews on sites that sell the game. Reviews from fellow gamers will be unbiased and offer a unique prospective. Take extremely positive or negative reviews with a grain of salt - they are likely to be fake. Most sites will have an overall rating, such as four out of five stars. Reviews from fellow gamers will give the buyer an idea on how enjoyable the game is.
 

Long-Running Series

Some video games seemingly come out with new versions every year. These include games such as Madden Football, Resident Evil, or Mario. Any video game that has been around for many years certainly has gained a devoted following. Gamers speak with their wallets, so this is a sure sign that the game is a solid choice.

Borrow or Rent

It is difficult to find an enjoyable video game without testing it out first. The only way to test a game is to bring it home and play for a while. There are rental services that work much like Netflix, but for video games. This is a powerful way to test out games without shelling out very much money. This can help the gamer determine if the game is quality or if they should save their money. Another way is to borrow the game from a fellow gamer - this is a fantastic & free option to test out a desired game.

Previews

Often, software companies release free downloads for their video games. Downloading and installing shareware offers a terrific way to get a feel for any game. This allows the gamers to test out the basics, and to get a feel for the game. The great thing about shareware games is they can be obtained quickly and tested out within an hour or two. Many gaming companies have sections of their sites devoted to shareware downloads. It may not seem like it, but many gamers would testify that it’s crucial to test a game in order to get a true feel for it.

Tim Gail writes about all thing related to technology. His best work focuses on online computer science degrees.