My Chromecast Experience, a Tech review of it!

Suggest Retail Price 35$

Disclaimer: All Links on this post are affiliate links, I believe in this product and fully recommend it to my friends and family.   If you have a problem with these links please do not click on the links!

Chromecast is Amazing!

I got my Google Chromecast from RadioShack, but you can also buy the Chromecast from Best Buy, and Amazon.com (Affiliate Link).  Which is where you could possibly get it cheaper than I did.  I paid the full 35$ for mine because they had it there ready for anyone to buy. You will need a Television W/ HDMI Inputs (Affiliate Link) to be able to use this device and I must say it works really well once you have it configured.  

Some Specs for you:

• Supports Netflix, YouTube, HBO GO, Hulu Plus, Pandora, and Google Play Movies and Music mobile apps as well as select content through Chrome browser, works with recommended modem
• Box includes Chromecast, HDMI extender, USB power cable, and power adapter
• Easy setup: Plug into any HDTV and connect to your home WiFi network
• Works with Android, iOS, Chrome for Mac, and Chrome for Windows
• Stream online video, music to your TV using your smartphone, tablet, or laptop; Available for Windows computers running Windows 7 or higher

Portability is Excellent!

I was able to move the Chromecast from one room to another and not have to worry about setting up the device again.   You can stream movies that you buy from Google Play to the Chromecast and be able to watch it on the big screen.   From even my small cell phone,  I can stream movies to the Chrome cast with ease.  I have been using my Acer 200 10.1 Tablet to stream to the Television.  You can however use any device that has the Chromecast app on it like the IOS and even Chrome.   I could even use my Chromebook to stream whatever I want to the Television.  As long as you have the Chromecast extension and have it setup properly, I see no major problems.

Setting up the Chromecast

The process of setting up the Chromecast on your devices were simple and quite pleasure.   The only hitch that I came in was the downloading of the updates to Chromecast.   That took the most time.   It took me around 10 mins because of my connection to the internet.   If you have a faster connection it could be faster or slower depending on your internet speed.   You can name your chromecast anything you want and yo really do not need an internet conenction to stream to the device.   If your like me downloading movies and then watching them when you get home, this is an excellent option for those who want to watch movies on the big screen.   For 35.00$ (29.99 Right Now) (Amazon Affiliate Link), It was a bargain for me.   You really do not need an internet connection do watch movies you purchase on Google Play store and or Music.   You just need to have the App and the Chromecast device.   I found I made the best purchase possible, for the money!   You really should try it yourself.  

4 Phones that should work with Straight Talk and the Bring your Own Plan .

Straight Talk SIM Card Activation Kit

My Options for the Straight Talk : BYOP

RCA A1 4.7” 3G Unlocked Dual SIM, Android 4.1 US Warranty  (Amazon Affiliate Link)

List Price : 299$ (Click image to find the actual price)

• This unlocked cell phone is compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T, T-Mobile, Net10, Simple Mobile, Consumer Cellular, Walmart Family Mobile, and Pure Talk USA. No contracts and data plans required;
• HSPA 3G Smartphone running Android 4.1.1 (Jelly Bean), with 4.7-inch multi-touch LCD display; 2G Network GSM 850/900/1800/1900, 3G Network HSPA 850/1900;
• Wi-Fi networking with Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot and tethering capabilities, GPS for navigation and location services; Dual SIM card slot, 4GB storage, Micro SD expansion to 32GB;
• GPRS, HTML Web Browser, Built-in Apps: Google Play, YouTube, Google+, Google Search, Google Maps, Google Navigation, Voice Memo, Notes;
• Dual camera, back-5-MP, front 2-MP; HD 720p recording; Bluetooth 3.0 stereo music; FM Radio, MP3 Player, MP4 Player;Up to 6 hours of talk time, up to 360 hours of standby time, High Speed USB 2.0, 3.5mm Audio Jack

As you can see this might work for the price that I am needing.   Currently it is under 200$ and thus it is within my price range.   On a side note, it resembles the Samsung Galaxy S3 from my understanding of it.   It is a cheaper version of it but has the screen size and everything else associated with it.   I’ve heard people say they had problems with getting it to work with Straight Talk, but I am confident that if I get this phone.   I can figure out what the APNS are for the

Google Nexus 5, Black 32GB (Unlocked) (Amazon Affiliate Link)

List Price : $649 (Click to find the actual price!)

Speed and power to spare on a stunning 5” display. Powered by Android 4.4, KitKat®. It’s a 5” phone, and so much more. Built with precision, Nexus 5 delivers an intelligently simple design and showcases a stunning full HD display. Plus it comes in black and white. All-new photo and video features help you capture moments in fresh new ways. And thanks to the latest from Android, Nexus 5 is fast, powerful and truly yours.

I asked this question on Twitter and I got this respons:

@Laforge129 Nexus5. It rocks on #straighttalk

— ♦ ♦ Mark ♦ ♦ (@flag_mtn_hkrs) March 27, 2014

Although this is more expensive for those who might be able to buy this phone, it isn’t in my price range but  I still had to suggest it for those who might want the best possible experience with straight talk.   

Motorola Moto G - Global GSM - Unlocked - 16GB (Amazon Affiliate Link)

List Price: $199 (actual price Varies)

• US Compatibility: All GSM Networks including AT&T and (2G) T-Mobile
• Optimized to work with 3G (UMTS/HSPA+) networks when roaming outside the US. Only supports 2G coverage on T-Mobile.
• 4.5 inch 720p HD TFT display
• Quad-core 1.2GHz processor with 450MHz graphics processor
• 5MP rear camera, plus front facing camera

It looks to be promising to say the least.   I have heard some much great reports of this phone being used on every possible network and have heard of very little bad reports.  I would also like to point out that it is a smaller display for those who are looking for the largest BYOP phone.   It however comes with many features and it is an actual Google Phone from Google.   It used to be sold by Google directly but seems the Nexus 5 is the new one they are promoting, so this one is behind in times but still has so much functionality that it might be a good Straight Talk phone.

HTC A9192 Inspire 4G Unlocked Phone with 8 MP Camera, Wi-Fi, and GPS—(Black)  (Amazon Affiliate Link)

List Price :$799 (click on image to see actual price)

• This unlocked cell phone is compatible with GSM carriers like AT&T and T-Mobile. Not all carrier features may be supported.
• Ultra-fast, 4G-enabled smartphone running Android 2.2 with 4.3-inch multi-touch Super LCD display.
• Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (with optional Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot and tethering capabilities)
• 8-MP camera, HD 720p camcorder, Bluetooth stereo music, microSD memory expansion, HTML web browser, corporate and personal e-mail
• Up to 6 hours of talk time, up to 372 hours (15.5 days) of standby time, released in January, 2011
• 8-MP camera; HD 720p camcorder; Bluetooth stereo music; microSD memory expansion; HTML web browser; corporate and personal e-mail
• GPS for navigation and location services
• It will not work with CDMA carriers like Verizon Wireless, Alltel and Sprint.
• Up to 6 hours of talk time, up to 372 hours (15.5 days) of standby time; released in January, 2011
• Wireless-N Wi-Fi networking (with optional Wi-Fi Mobile Hotspot and tethering capabilities); GPS for navigation and location services

Early on when I first started this with Straight Talk, I used this phone which was locked to AT&T and then I unlocked it and went to Straight Talk.  Then I broke the screen and did not want to fix it.   So I put it away and went to Virgin Mobile, but I have had much success with this phone with wifi teethering and other good games on android but I am wanting to watch movies and shows on my phone more and more so this is a good option for the price which right now it is cheaper than it used to be.   I am guessing because it is an older phone that is not getting as much updates as the newer ones.   This is good for those who want to know which phone that will work with Straight Talk.   I made it happen with not much effort and was really pleased with it.

I have given you at least four phones to consider when you decide to go to the Straight Talk BYOP option but for me, I might either get the Motorola or the RCA myself and do a tutorial on how to set it up on Straight talk successfully!  

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!

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.

How Cryptolocker (Ransomware) gets installed and how to remove it!

Cryptolocker Virus!

I have been watching what has been going on in the past few days and thought it was high time I tell you about this nasty little worm or virus! It has been many months since I have talked about this and I wanted to help you understand how you might of been infected. If you have been infected and want to remove it, you can easily remove it by using Malwarebytes Pro, Which is a sponsor of my blog. The Malwarebytes Blog has some interesting stuff about what this bug really does to your files and what it encrypts!

Drive by download

Some would say it is coming from emails but I suspect it will get much worse before it gets better. If they are making money they will probably start advertising that you have a virus and when you click on the image you will be taken over to actually have the virus or worm as some would call it. It all started when scammers started infecting systems and doing the defederpageblock and others like that. They found they could actually make money by scaring people into paying. I even tried to help people by offering some great Antivirus And Antimalware tools to help fight off this types of infections.

So how are some ways to get infected? The basic ways are simple opening email links if you don’t know the sender. This is the most common approach by any scammer or spammer because you can’t really see where that link is going or even if they are trying to use a script.

Social Media is the next biggest way that you might get infected by clicking links in Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and sites like that. You have to be careful but most of the time you can expand the URL by using a service like LongURL. I sometimes use this to find out where a shortened bitly link or twitter link is going to take me.

Googling or Searching is the next way an attacker would install this type of software on your system. They would just use scripts, known vulnerabilities, to force install or silent install this type of software in your system and if you were using something like NoScript you would be much safer than if you didn’t!

Installing untrusted software can lead to you getting infected by this virus and others if you think you have to have a piece of software for something then please do not use your Windows Admin account to install this on. You should try to see what others are saying about a particular software or application. It isn’t always going to be fool proof but it will at least slow it down.

Now these are a few ways you could get infected if you were trying to get infected with this nasty virus. Which case you would be paying 300 US dollars or 2 bitcoins which is how they want to keep getting paid. So if you don’t want to find your pictures, and important data encrypted, please put them on a recordable dvd and put them up! This would be one step to help fight this little problem.

I havent’ heard if it has infected any Apple, Android, or Linux Operating systems it looks to be primarily Windows Systems. I can assure you it will happen to these other OS in the coming months so don’t think you aren’t immune to this and other malwares or viruses. With Android having exploits in the wild you can bet they will targeted soon to encrypted your contact list and your pictures. This would be my next bet!

Top 3 Science Fiction Books to Read on the Android! (Authors Included)

Peter F. Hamilton

One of the best Science Fiction Authors I have read in the past few months.   I’ve started to read the Pandora’s Star and can’t get enough of any of his books!  He keeps me wanting more from his books, and nothing keeps my attention like his books!

Orson Scott Card

With the Movie Coming, Ender’s Game is one of those books you must read and then maybe even read other books by this author.   I am getting ready for the movie but would love to know the story and more!

Suzanne Collins

If you loved the Hunger Games Movie then the Hunger Games Book should be on your list of books to read to get ready for the Catching Fire Movie coming out in the coming months.  If you haven’t read any of her books, it should be one of the many you may want to read next week!

As you can see I have been getting ready for some movies that are to due to hit the theatres next few weeks and I simply love some of these movies and thought it would be nice to see the differences.  So if your like me, these are something that must be read in order to understand the movie plots!

Top 5 Android Apps to install for Streaming Shows and Movies!

Do you want to watch Doctor Who, How I met your Mother, and more on your Android device. Check out this post to find out how you might be able to do that for free!

Click to read more ...

Secure Browser Alternatives for browsing safely on the web!

Cyber Security Awareness Month

If you didn’t know October is Cyber Security Awareness Month and I wanted to give out some ways to keep you safe on the internet.   I know I am not the only to suggest some of this but if you didn’t know please don’t use Internet Explorer to web browse.   If should only be used for updating Windows and that is the extent of what it should be used for it.

Is Chrome more secure than Safari?

Safari, to my knowledge as a few vulnerabilities and thus you should be keep away from using it.   I won’t say much about this because we never really know who is actually going to use these but you can bet hackers know of ways to get into your system.

Which Browser is best?

Any browser you think is safe is probably going to be wrong.   I am going to tell you which browsers are safer but none of them are a 100 percent safe.   Each one of them has good and bad but I am going to at least guide you in the right direction.  

Chrome Browser

Chrome is one of the ones, I do recommend but it shouldn’t just be used by itself.   You should add a few extensions to better protect yourself:

• Adblock Plus — Good to protect yourself from those annoying advertising.   (Please be aware that I use advertising on my site and that is how I pay for my hosting and other things like that.   Please consider white listing my website to allow advertising.)
• Lastpass — This is one of those that I recommend on a constant basis because it makes sure you create a strong password that you don’t have to remember.   It helps make sure no account password is ever the same!
• ScriptSafe — Keep unwanted scripts from playing when you visit a website!  Certain web sites should be allowed and white listed, like mine. 
• Dolphin Connect — I use the Dolphin browser on my Android Device and this is one of those ways to keep track of all your bookmarks.   Not really security related but it is very useful!

These are just a few that I recommend when you use the Chrome Browser.

FireFox Browser

FireFox is another one that I recommend when you are looking to browse the web securely.  Although it isn’t 100% secure because none are.   Some of the Add On’s you should add to your FireFox Browser are:

• NoScript Security Suite — It is another No Script app that lets you prevent unwanted scripts from running! 
• Lastpass — Just like Chrome, it helps keep your passwords safe and helps you keep all passwords unique!
• Adblock Plus — Just like Chrome this can help keep those annoying advertisements from showing but please remember to white list sites that do need to advertise and do not use annoying advertisements!
• Web Of Trust — This is a good add on for Firefox to know which web sites you can trust more with and which ones that are not trustworthy!  (if you like my site could you review it and let people know what you think about this site!)

As you can see these are the two that I always tell my family to install, I usually don’t tell them to install both but one of these two but it is up to you if you want to have both web browsers installed on your system.   It just varies from person to person which one is better for your use!   I am sure there are more addon’s or extensions that you should add but these are the ones I tell my friends and family to install first.  Which one of these two browsers are you favorite?  Leave a comment and tell others!

Android Vulnerabilities and Exploits in the Wild!

Time to Do what?

When I was researching this on the web I didn’t expect to find so much stuff, but I do think IOS has more vulnerabilities then Android but it isn’t as bad as Apple IOS problems!

I am not going to talk about all of them but just a few that have peaked my interest!

The ‘Master Key’ Exploit

A simple but yet easy way to fool your Operating System and gain more access than it should.  The name doesn’t mean they actually have the master key to your device.   It is using what all Android devices use in the APK.  The MANIFEST.MF, which if done right, will have two more copies in the APK (Zip file).   When the Android OS installs this APK it will use the the last MANIFEST.MF and thus it can gain more access than you once thought.   Be able to communicate with a server  or copy your contacts.   I’ve pretty much come to the conclusion that 3rd party apps are dangerous now and I will not use anything but Google or Maybe even Amazon US app store!  

The ‘Webview’ JAVA Exploit

If you don’t use JAVA you will need to consider disabling it in Android.  While this one is a little more trickier and harder to avoid if you use Java, you best bet is to install Dolphine Browser, FireFox, and/or Chrome.   Then install a java an Addon or and Extension that does not allow Java to be used unless you specify.   This exploit can send SMS, or send out emails from you to spam your friends and family.   So this is one that you must start worrying about to a point.

The ‘Scarevertising’ Exploit

This last one I have seen become very prevalent and thus you should be on the lookout for this!   They claim in either a push notification or in some kind of inside application banner that basically tries to scare you into thinking you have a virus.   I’m not sure which advertising networks are being used but you can bet this will be a constant problem.   Some rules of thumb are install only from the Google App Store and never install any third party apps, which some call side along install.  

If your worried and you want to protect your Android Device, here are a few free applications that will help and hopefully keep you safe:

• Avg Security — They have several different types and even a paid app type so it is up to you!
• Sopho’s Free Anti-virus and Security App — I haven’t played around with this one but I do trust Sopho’s when it comes to Antivirus and Malware removal so they can be a great asset!
• Eset Mobile Security and Anti-Virus App — This is another one that I trust because of who they are.

The last thing I can say is there are more than 100 different anti virus apps out there but it all depends on the end user (you) to know and trust vendors who are reputable and you can trust.   If you don’t know the Anti virus Company than maybe they shouldn’t be used.   I do hope I have helped you find what your looking for and we will discuss more in the future on Android Exploits!

Google Stores only for Google Glass

Since the beginning of this year we have been hearing a lot of news and rumors regarding Google’s new device Google Glass. Recently we have been hearing that Google will be opening their new stores just to sell one product and that is Google Glass. The stores are touted to not only sell the Glass but also customize each one according to user’s needs. Experts will be there to guide users how to set-up and use this portable device.

And the above speculation can be corroborated as Google recently recruited 40 advisers who will help guide the developers who bought Explorer version of Google Glass last year at Google I/O developer conference. And let’s not forget those 8000 people in “IfIHadGlass” contest who won the Google Glass specs, they would also be needing help in properly using the Glass.

The developers purchasing the Google Glass will go through a process of personalization and customization where Glass would be customized to ease the use of device for developers. At the same time they will be taught how to use the Glass and set it up. All this would be done with the hope that developers will add up to the Google Glass experience as they will later develop apps for the device. Some apps have already been developed for instance there is one that allows you to upload videos to your YouTube channels.

As for now nothing official has been announced but we anticipate that Google Glass will be merged with the larger Google retail operation that will not only sell the Glass but also include Nexus franchise selling phones and tablets as well. Contrary to this, judging by amount of attention each Glass sale would require, perhaps opening a separate store for Google Glass in not a bad idea at all.

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.

Google Play Store revenues skyrocketing, a staggering 90% increase over last year’s first quarter

There is just no stopping for android. The revenues Google Play generated by Google Play are sky-rocketing. According to the research firms Google has  seen 90% increase in Google Play Store revenues compared t o the first quarter of the last year, now that is huge!

And the reason behind such a big leap in terms of revenue is the mass production of android devices around the world along with some of the idiosyncrasies of the Asian users. As the things are going for android the researcher and analysts believe that Google Play will catch up with Apple’s App Store somewhere around in 2016. According to the chief analyst at Canalys Adam Dam it would take android almost three to four years to get at par with the Apple’s App Store in terms of revenue. Android might be getting increase in the revenues at a faster pace but Apple’s App Store had a head start and that made all the difference.

Android might have gotten a 90% increase but if we look at the overall stats of the first quarter, there is no one near the share of App Store. In the first three months from January to March the app industry made total revenue $2.2 billion. Out of this $2.2 billion the almighty App Store accounted for $1.48 billion holding upto almost 74% of the total app revenue. When it comes to revenues apps certainly form the crux of overall profits.

Now coming to the downloads, the number of downloads made by Android and Apple users may vary depending on different researches. But one thing is for sure android’s downloads are quickly catching up to that of Apple’s or even exceeded it according to some other researches.

One of the key markets of android devices, not only android but also other smartphones, lies in countries such as Japan and South Korea where people mostly go for card and fantasy based apps. South Korea is considered to be the hub of smartphones where almost 80% of people own one. So making such fantasy based apps and card games really paid off for Android’s first quarter staggering augmentation in the revenues.

Let’s see what holds for Google’s little green mascot in the second quarter as it continues to grow bigger and better, forming into a phantom that looms over Apple.

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.

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

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.

Why Tablets are Booming! [Informational Graphic]

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Tablet's being used in Jobs!

As I was going to make this post up, I had a really good experience with what the Informational Graphic depicts.   As you can see there is a lot going on.  I thought we would at least break this down a little and hopefully make you understand just how they are being used.   If anything we can discuss some of the aspects from some of my previous posts as points to this new booming lifestyle people are taking up.

Mobile Productivity is on the Rise!

Although this isn't hard to believe that people are looking to buy Tabelts for business purposes.  Actually they have started to ask me in my local area which tablet is right for my business.  I have on occassion even helped them consult with them on this very aspect.  So I do know a thing or two about tablets.  I do not know everything about them but I can pretty much help you find the right one for what you may need it for.

Tablets are being used by Youths!

This isn't really a surprise on my part because my niece and nephews are all using 7" tablets right now and they are only 11 years old.  So that part I bet isn't really going to surprise anyone.   I even have a few good gaming apps for the android OS if your wondering.  I really can't say much else about this because I don't really have a lot more to say about this graphic.   It however is quite showing just how much demand there is for tablets in the workplace.  Please feel free and share this with your friends and family.

Paul Sylvester

Which Tablet is right for your Business? Part Two

Size and weight Counts!

So In the Previous Entry we talked about the differences in tablets themselves.   I hate leaving it alone, so we are going to pick up where we left off!  Some questions that we first must ask and then answer are:

• What will it be used for?
• Will it be carried around a lot?
• Do you need Internet?
• Storage Space?
• Accessories with it!
• Battery Power?

Even though these seems like a few questions that are not important, may actually be important.   You could need internet for emailing people or just to take orders.   So it isn’t like you should ignore these or others.   Each question helps you determine which Tablet is best suited for your needs and which one maybe more or less expensive depending on how you intend to use it!

Do research!

If your like me you may have found this blog because you were doing your research but it doesn’t mean it ends here.   You will want to learn everything from wherever you can.   For example, did you know the Ipad can’t have an external SD card and thus might not be the best for your situation.   

I will tell you that each Tablet comes with it’s unique personalities and you will have to treat each one differently.    

The difference between an Ipad and the Acer A200 that I bought is quite simple, The Acer can have an Micro SD card and has an USB input so you can do multiple things to it compared to the Ipad which is limited to only a few things and can’t be easily upgrade with memory or size.  Although, probably has great speed and reliability, it however isn’t as important to me as which one actually you need.

Got Internet?

This is one of those really important questions because you have so many things that you might need.   I remember one time when I needed to get online to look up a solution for a problem at a friends house. He didn’t have wireless only wired and he only had one system that I was working on at the time.   I learned the hard way to always have a Mifi card on me in case that happens again.  Although you could also Tether to your Cell phone like I did but then you will still need to worry about charges to your account unless you already have it setup for just that.

If you did get a tablet how would you use it on the internet what are the cost to tethering it or buying a Mifi card for just that.   You got to make sure the expenses aren’t going to hurt your chances of making money and how to recoup your need for the internet.

I know this is a lot to think about, but remember which ever tablet you decide on will have to last you for a year or two.   It also might be a good idea  to get insurance on it [Affiliate Link] in case you break it or a customer’s kids break it!

Which Tablet is right for your Business? Part One!

Ipad, Windows, or Android?

I was asked this question recently and I really was struck dumb by the question.   When people ask what the difference in tablets are and why one cost 800$ and others cost 100$ to 200$?   I'd never really understood why some people haven't gotten the idea that all tablets are the basically the same.   No tablet that I know of will ever be perfect and be the ruler of all other tablets.   It just isn't that simple and thus it will be something that is more of a personal decision and maybe even a price decision.   Just because you can afford to pay for an Ipad doesn't mean you should buy one, and just because you have the money to buy an Android doesn't mean you shouldn't wait and do you research.  

The Ipad!

Even though I know some of you will say the Ipad is the best and no one can beat them.   I'd have to say that is your opinion but I am not here to debate opinions but to talk about what the Ipad is and what it  can do.   

The IPAD is an Apple Product and is all proprietary hardware and software to Apple.   It has been said that it is the fastest and most stable Operating System out there and that it is just a notch above Windows.   I think the reason people say that is that it is always going to be hard to ruin a closed product like that with software that hasn't been tested or allowed on the operating system.   They might seem good but they worry me about security and how they believe they are secure by being obscured with the Tablet Code and Tablet Hardware.  You might not find an application that is available for your business with an Ipad but then again you might have to figure out how to do it without Apple's permission or help.

Windows Tablets!

Now this is something that should be easily understandable, if you have a Windows Machine at home then you will understand that a Windows Tablet is a smaller and more compact version of Windows for the desktop.   You can't do everything on the tablet like you could on a home machine or laptop but you can do a lot more than you will ever think.  

Windows have Viruses and so does Windows Tablets!   I'm sure I have that one all to often, and I could argue the point but I will say this much every system you use can and most likely at one time or other has had a virus or has been infected so it really doesn't make much since to worry about it.

A windows can do just as much as an Ipad but may be different in that respect.   You can install almost anything you want and decide how you may or may not want to use it.   With that being said, you may not be able to view movies or shows streaming from the web.   Some Windows Tablet's aren't designed to do that.   Microsoft is trying to protect you that way by not allowing you to do that.  Some windows tablets actually can have and use USB out puts, unlike Ipads.   You probably can't do as much with the Ipad that you can do with an Windows Tablet or an Android Tablet!

Android Tablets!

So we are down to the Android Tablets, which include the Nexus 7 and the Kindle Fire.   Even though the Kindle Fire doesn't have the same face as the Nexus 7 under the hood it is the same.   They all are using what is called the Android Operating System and thus isn't as wildly secretive.   Anyone who wants to can produce an App for the Android marketplace.

With that being said, you do have to be a little more careful of which app to install and read the comments and reviews of people who have installed that app on their device.   You may find some apps that do some strange things to make money.   After all, most app's in the marketplace are free and thus the companies who make those apps are wanting to make money.

You will find that the Android Tablets are much cheaper and you can do almost anything you want with the tablet in reguards to Moding it or installing what you want.   It is considered an open source system so every person who makes the app or even helps with the Operating System can change it to help make it more secure.

Well this is the first Part of a Mini discussion.  This first part was to help you understand and get an idea of all this.   I will be posting the second part of this sometime in the coming days to weeks but I had to start with the basics.

Paul Sylvester

Doctor Who and You! What is to Come for 2013!

Doctor Who Season 7!

As with many great shows, we have a really interesting story arch in this season.  We started off with Amy and Rory until the last episode of 2012 (The Angels Take Manhattan).  There you find out that they are sent back in time and can not escape so that takes Pond(’s) out of the story for the famous Doctor who now travels around without a companion but Amy did ask him to get a new companion.  When the Christmas Special came out I was really impressed how well the actor Jenna-Louise Coleman (Clara Oswin Oswald) challenged the Doctor in so many ways.   I am really impressed with her acting skills and her ability to compliment the Doctor.

• Asylum of the Daleks
• Dinosaurs on a Spaceship
• A Town Called Mercy
• The Power of Three
• The Angels Take Manhattan
• The Snowmen — (Christmas Special)

Not Sure of which ones will air, but Here is a list of possible titles for the second part of Season 7.   I look around and found these titles so until we see them on TV only assume that it is POSSIBLE and not definite.

• The Bells of Saint John
• The Rings of Akhaten
• The Crimson Horror
• Journey to the Centre of the TARDIS
• The Last Cyberman
• The Hider in the House
• Season 7 Finale (TBA)

So with some of these I look far and wide and found some information that might be indications on what Clara will be like but nothing substantial or even a glimmer of light as to how she will do.   I am just glad I get the latest episodes on my Android Device and I will be more than glad to share the links!

Buy Season 7 of Doctor Who here:

• Amazon [Affiliate Link]
• Itunes [Affiliate Link]
• Google Play Movies & TV [Android]

As you can see you have several different options to catch up on your shows and if you are looking for a portable way to watch these then all three are available for portability.  I am just glad Google finally added this show and thus I can get away from Amazon but I will still tell people to shop Amazon when you when you need apparel or other stuff like this but I am really happy with Google right now.

Paul Sylvester

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Chinese Market Over-ruled by Android, iOS Faces Adversaries

Android has certainly become predominantly the operating system with the largest market share. Informa Telecoms, an analytic firm, presented us with much bigger and clearer picture. According to their report the only OS that stands out in the overwhelming competition in China is Android, accounting for two third of all the handsets sold so far in 2012. One out of every three Android devices that was sold in 2012 was sold in China, certainly a big hub of Android lovers.

But to be more specific, out of all the Android devices sold in China 41 percent were the ones that did not run on authentic Android rather had the imitation of the Google’s original operating system. So if we right them off China still holds 20 percent share of all the Android devices sold in 2012 which is pretty impressive.

Statistically speaking, Android holds 85 percent of the market share in China and still growing where as Apple’s iPhone accounts for only 5 percent of the market share and Windows Phone a minimal of 1 percent. Although, the release of iPhone 5 last week in the country was very much promising, selling over 2 million units in the first of week of its release and setting a milestone of best launch of all time of Apple’s smartphone in China. Apple was not only able to establish the pre-ordering process but is now also available on two carriers for the first time.

If Apple is to increase its market share in China it needs to come forth with TD-LTE because the only reason China Mobile, world’s largest carrier, has not been successful in selling iPhone is because of its 3G network. We anticipate iPhone based on TD-LTE to be offered by China Mobile in 2013. And as for Microsoft’s Windows phone, Informa anticipates that its market share will be double to 2 percent in 2013.

As for the US, Informa believes that Apple needs to come up with a better iOS otherwise it will face further decline in its market share because it is not meeting the standards that other high end Android devices are offering. The principal analyst Malik Saadi at Informa Telecoms anticipates that next year around 50 percent of the handsets sold in US will be Android based devices. The report also depicts that Apple might have to go for margin cuts in order to sustain its market share because the even the most diehard fan is realizing that Apple needs to upgrade its iOS. Inform forecasts that in 2013 Apple will be able to sell almost 34 million units which a million less than this year’s sale. Whereas Windows Phone will be accounting for 6.5 percent of the US market as Nokia and HTC are augmenting their marketing strategies and they are also in close relationship with US carriers.

According to an estimate by Informa Android will account for 50 percent of the global market by 2015. But 2016 Android market domination is anticipated to be decline because of other operating systems in the market specifically Windows Phone.

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.

Securing your android tablets in Free Wifi Hotspots!

My Acer A200 is Portable!

It isn’t like my Acer Tablet is hard to carry around, Unlike my laptop.   I just want be able to surf the net and what everyone else is doing.   I just worry about what people are seeing when they are at a open wifi hotspot.  So I am going to discuss some ways to protect your privacy and help you keep safe with your new tablet that you have or are getting.  Although if your like me, you have already added a new ROM to your Acer Tablet, so it isn’t like this is brain science to some of you.  

Android VPNS!

Finding the right VPN was never going to be easy but it is someone of a neccessity and I have in the past talk about some of the VPN’s that you could use for Windows, Mac OSX, and Android.   This time however we are going to show you some more apps that might help you with that and make it even easier for you to keep your privacy safe and secure.  If your curious what a VPN is, then please check out the old post about it and there is a great little video that talks about it even more.

Google Play VPN apps that you should look at:

• Hotspot Shield — FREE VPN for your Android Device!* Unlimited Bandwidth! Save money on your data plan. Access blocked sites. Privacy and Security. Most popular VPN with 100 million downloads worldwide.  
• Hideman VPN — 5 Hours / Week for FREE. Earn premium hours via in-app ad networks. Easy solution for privacy and protection via VPN. Connect to VPN in one click with Hideman VPN widget.
• VPN One Click — Vpn One Click protects your privacy online, unlocks all blocked services like Twitter,Facebook,Skype,etc., by connecting to a Virtual Private Network Server. 
• Open VPN for Android — Openvpn for Android. Uses the new VPNService API that requires neither Jailbreak nor root on your Telephone.

Now these are just a few that I could find.   I don’t like messing with these apps so I will give you some other options as to have free wifi VPNS.   I think it is time to share some other ways to get a free VPN service without giving out your information.

Some Sites to Try are:

• freevpnhosting.com — a How to for your Android Device can be found here!
• us.hotfreevpn.com — For Android Devices check out this page!
• justfreevpn.com — Instructions here!
• superfreevpn.com — For Android Devices Check this page out!

As you can see these require no special apps from the Google play store to use them but remember, I can’t say what these people are doing on their side but at least the people locally can’t see your data.   it just depends on what you will do. There are many Paid VPNS out there that support Android and thus it is up to you which one you want to use.   If your like me you are looking for the cheapest solution and that is free but that isn’t always the case.  

One that I recommend 100%

VPN4ALL — This is the one that I am currently using and you only pay 5 dollars a month for 5 gigabyte a month plan.  Cheaper when and if you combine it with other plans.  I strongly recommend VPN4ALL to anyone who uses Android devices!  (Use coupon code paulstechtalk15 and save 15% on your order!)

Know any Good VPN Services?

Let me know by commenting and telling the world, I might even try them out myself!

Paul Sylvester

 

Foothold Scenario -- Google and Amazon!

Google gains a Foothold!

We've been seeing a lot happen with Google and Amazon.   Each bringing out their own tablets, like the Kindle and my recent Review of the Acer 200.   It is all about brand name and who captures the market.  When I first made the prediction of the Amazon Kindle, I didn't think Google would be this strong.  Although lately, I've beginning to want to make another great prediction and this one is looking to be a very good chance of happening.  Google whether we like it or not is gaining a foothold on the video market and we have to acknoledge that even if we do it grungingly. 

Reason why Google will win!

"Google will win by a landslide" will be a heading that I predict will happen.  When Google started making the Android O/S, no one expected them to want to go into the Video market place but that seems to be changing.  Now I know they have a ways to go before they will be Amazon but I do think they have a very good chance of that for several reasons and I will gladly share them with you.

• No propietary software -- Although Android O/s is somewhat proprietary each company who wants to develop their own O/s from Android can.  So you can have multiple looks and feels to Android and thus get the most exposure.
• More Widely Available -- Let's face it the Kindle isn't free but yet you can't buy a different tablet and have it put on it.  You have to buy their proprietary software and their hardware to view there movies on a portable device.  Unlike Google, you can buy any portable tablet and probably even put android on it with little or not help.
• The market is satiuated with Tablets -- Before Amazon came along we already had a ton of tablets out there that was all ready to be used for video.   Although Netflix [Affililiate Link] and Hulu can be used it is somewhat kind of disappointing because you can't download them for later watching.  You can only stream them.
• Ipad Versus Android Tablets -- I hate to say this but Ipads, Iphones, and Ipad Minis are what I consider "High brow" and the Android Tablets are "Low brow".  In other words Android tablets are good for people who are watching what they spend and the Ipads are good for those who doesn't mind spending a lot.

As you can see these are just a few of the reasons why Android is going to win out on the Video market place but that isn't the only reasons.   I won't go into a lot of details about it but you can see they are gaining a really big foothold and I can't wait to see what Amazon [Affiliate Link] does to to try to prevent it.  I've also am quite excited that you can buy movies from Google before they are released on DVD just like the Men in Black 3 Movie, so I can watch it on my Android Tablet before the 30th! 

Paul Sylvester

Amazon Affiliate Link!