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Smart Office 2 - d.jpg

Millions of professionals and students use their iPad for much more than a round of Angry Birds or a Netflix fix.

 

The App Store also houses tens of thousands of productivity and business-based apps, many of which can help you get your work done on your tablet.

 

In case you missed the free giveaway a few weeks ago, Picsel’s Smart Office 2 is a $10 software suite for iOS that lets you view, create, edit and share Microsoft Office files (all versions since 1997), as well as support for PDFs.

 

It’s half the cost of QuickOffice HD Pro, doesn’t require an Internet connection like CloudOn (though there is some cloud support) and there’s no monthly fee, as is the case with OnLive Desktop. The app is also more versatile than Apple’s own standalone apps for word processing (Pages), spreadsheets (Numbers) and presentations (Keynote).

 

While there were a couple of random issues with the app, this handy productivity tool works very well for the most part.

 

Launch Smart Office 2 and you’ll see two main ways to look at your documents:

 

• The Explore tab opens up any files stored on your tablet (in the default My Documents folder) or one of two cloud services at this time (Google Docs and Dropbox). Once you’re looking at your documents stored on or off the tablet, you can choose to see the files alphabetically, by date, file size or by type of document (segregated by .doc, .xls, .ppt and .pdf). The app also supports newer .docx, .xlsx and .pptx files.


• The Timeline tab is a visually appealing look at the last few documents you worked on, in chronological order. But instead of the files listed by file name and type, you see a thumbnail view of your recent work for easy access. Simply tap the image to bring it up full-screen, for editing, printing or sharing.

 

Smart Office 2 lets you create a Microsoft Office-compatible document from scratch or view and edit an existing one brought onto your iPad, iPhone or iPod touch. Along with cloud support, you can also open up attachments in an email (“Open In”) or drag and drop files over when connected to a PC or Mac (from within iTunes).

 

Along with support for Adobe PDF, the app also lets you view image files, plain text and other files. You can share your documents via cloud service, email in original format (or export as PDF) or wirelessly print your work with built-in support for thousands of wireless printers from 34 manufacturers, says Picsel.

 

Whether you’re working on a .doc, .xls or .ppt file, the interface is clean and effective – in portrait or landscape view. When you need to pull up some tools, simply tap near the top of the screen for a list of options. Tapping on a word brings up additional options, such as highlighted desired text, formatting and colour options, adding (or taking) photos to the document, and more. Press and hold on the screen to zoom in or out on the text, copy and paste text from other apps or take advantage of the “Undo” button for mistakes.

 

Curiously, I couldn’t find a spell-checker when in a word processing document, and animated transition effects didn’t appear to be working in an imported PowerPoint presentation -- but these seemed to be the only main shortcomings.

 

Smart Office 2 also provides a number of document templates – whether you’re writing a professional letter or creating an attractive presentation. There’s also a slideshow mode if you want to use your iPad to view or control your presentation – and even an option to view your slideshow (or regular documents) in stereoscopic 3D for those wearing supported glasses.

 

Despite a few minor issues, which could be remedied in a future update, this comprehensive suite of Microsoft Office-supported programs is worth the price of admission.

 

Smart Office 2 - a.jpg

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Telus LTE.jpg

 

Any who travels for business can probably relate to the pains of mobile connectivity: finding a Wi-Fi hotspot to get online with your laptop, paying through the nose for high-speed access at your hotel or risking a data breach because of a cleverly disguised rogue network at the airport.

 

Instead, many computer-using Canadians are opting to bring their own wireless connection with them – in the form of a “Mobile Internet Stick” that snaps into an available USB port on your laptop.

 

Not only are these small accessories ideal for those who don’t want to hunt for a Wi-Fi hotspot – because it’s cellular, you can even get online in the back of a moving taxi or on a park bench – but you’re not putting your data at risk by cyber-snoopers who prey on users of public Wi-Fi networks.

 

I’ve been spending time with the impressive Huawei E397 4G LTE Mobile Internet Key, an ultra high-speed solution that works on the Telus Long Term Evolution (LTE) network in major Canadian cities; theoretical download speeds top 100 megabits per second. In areas without support for LTE devices, the Internet Key falls to Dual Carrier HSPA+ (up to 42 Mbps downloads), HSPA+ (up to 21 Mbps downloads) or regular 2G/3G bands following that.

 

Telus LTE, too.jpg

 

Faster speeds -- which might even exceed your home or office broadband connection -- mean you can engage in videoconferencing, download large files in mere seconds, stream content smoothly or access data in the cloud so quickly it’s as if the files were stored locally. (Anecdotally, I also let my kids stream Netflix movies while in the back seat of the car.)

 

This small, black Mobile Internet Key (93 x 35 x 15 mm) can be rotated once it’s plugged into your laptop’s USB port, to position it vertically, horizontally or even diagonally.

 

Setup is a breeze. Simply snap off the cover to insert the SIM card, plug it into the Windows or Mac laptop and the built-in Huawei Connection Manager software begins installing the necessary drivers. After a few seconds, you can access the Internet by clicking the “Connect” button. That’s it! A green LED light on the unit confirms connectivity to the Telus network.

 

This Mobile Internet Key also has a slot for a microSD card, if desired, to add up to 32GB of external memory to your laptop. No power is needed to use the key as it uses the computer’s power to operate the Internet stick.

 

The Huawei E397 4G LTE Mobile Internet Key is sold for $149.99 with no term -- or $0 on a 3-year plan, $49.99 on 2-year plan or $99.99 on 1-year plan. Data plans vary, but you can learn about monthly costs by clicking here.

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Sticky Notes for iPad - a.jpg

Even with all of today's high-tech tools, many still prefer good old-fashioned pen and paper. This is especially true for jotting down notes and reminders.

So, what if you could combine the simplicity of paper note-taking with the power and convenience of a tablet computer?

 

A new app, Sticky Notes for iPad, aims to fuse these two worlds – and it works, for the most part. There's a lot of room to grow, but this free app is off to a great start.

 

As you'd expect from an app called Sticky Notes for iPad, this free download lets you post virtual sticky notes on the iPad's 9.7-inch screen. You can select the background colour and material of your board – be it a corkboard, cloth, blueprint, wood or chalkboard, to name a few --- and then you simply tap to start a new note in landscape or portrait mode.

 

Type what the reminder is, such as "Don't forget to call John about the meeting next Friday." You can use your fingertip to adjust the size, style and colour of the font, as well as drag the sticky note around the board and adjust the paper colour and size, if desired (such as larger notes take higher priority).

 

Alternatively, if you own the new iPad, you can touch the microphone icon to the left of the spacebar on the onscreen keyboard and speak your note aloud; your spoken words will show up as text a moment later as if you typed it with your fingertips. Speaking of the new iPad, the app was recently updated to support the new Retina Display screen with higher resolution than its predecessors.

 

The Sticky Notes for iPad app is drop dead simple to use, whether it's to stay organized at work or at home with the family.

 

But it's not a perfect produc. For one, because it's digital, it's too bad you can't set an alarm on a note, so that it can ring and show up on the iPad screen when you want it to. Otherwise, you might not get the reminder unless you manually open up the app and look at your virtual corkboard. How cool would that be to see a yellow sticky note appear with a note about something you need to know, when playing a game, browsing the web or typing an email?

 

Secondly, there is no iCloud support for this app; imagine if everyone in the office (or family) could post notes in the app and they'd automatically show up on everyone's device, wirelessly.

 

Finally, it would also be great if the app supported handwriting and/or hand-drawn sketches, and such, as many other apps do.

 

Even with these shortcomings, Sticky Notes for iPad is a free, simple and useful app to help keep you organized. It successfully fuses "old school" paper reminders with the power and customizability of a digital platform.

 

Sticky Notes for iPad - b.jpgSticky Notes for iPad - c.jpg

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Scanner Pro - a.JPG

Naturally, you don't carry around a flatbed scanner with you to digitize documents, receipts, business cards or hand-written notes and sketches.

 

But a newly updated app called Scanner Pro from Readdle can turn your iPad or iPhone into a powerful – and portable – scanner to accomplish these kinds of tasks.

 

While it's missing a key feature -- which I'll get to momentarily -- this business app works very well, and with exceptional "scan" quality based on my experience with the new iPad and its superior rear camera.

 

Ideal for any hard copies you want scanned and saved, Scanner Pro allows you to capture paper documents, contracts, magazine pages, whiteboards, business cards, cheques and receipts – and the digital version shows up on the iOS screen a second later. More so than other scanner apps I've tried, text is incredibly crisp and clear. Paper photos can also be scanned, and they look remarkably good.

 

For optimum quality, you'd lie the paper down onto a flat surface, like a desk, stand above it with your iPad, and line up the edges with the on-screen gridlines (such as an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper or magazine article). Tap the photo button on the edge of the screen, hold still, and you'll see a flash and hear a camera click. Once captured, you can tweak the edge alignment, if needed, and select a desired size (e.g. A4, letter, Ledger, Business Card, etc.) or type of scan (photo, document or grayscale).

 

Scanner Pro - b.JPG

 

Once saved to the iPad, you can rotate between landscape and portrait modes, create multipage scans, crop out unwanted areas and more. Scanned papers are automatically saved within the app but you can also email, save in your Camera Roll, open as PDF in a supported app (such as iBooks), wireless print or upload to a cloud service like Dropbox, Evernote, Google Docs or WebDav.

 

You can also assign a password in order to view the document, fax it somewhere or manually transfer scanned docs to a PC or Mac (by dragging and dropping from within iTunes).

 

Disappointingly, one thing Readdle's Scanner Pro app does not do is OCR, or "optical character recognition." This is a handy feature when scanning documents because OCR software can translate typewritten (and in some case, handwritten) words into editable text. Once it can recognize words, you could perform tasks like search for a keyword within a document, get a dictionary definition by tapping on a word or tally up multiple receipts for your expense report. You get the idea. Because the scan quality is so good, it's a shame OCR isn't included but perhaps it will in a future update.

 

Even with this omission, Scanner Pro is an excellent app for those who'd like to digitize and organize their paper world.

 

Scanner Pro - c.JPG

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3

NavFree GPS Live Canada.jpg

Just because you can afford a fancy new smartphone and accompanying data plan doesn't mean you've got money to burn. This is especially true for entrepreneurs and small business owners who need to watch their budget closely.

 

The good news is there are many free applications at your smartphone's online store that can help take some weight off your wallet.

The following are a few of my favourite free downloads.


Savvy shopper


While shopping in your favourite store, take out your smartphone and boot up ShopSavvy (Android and iPhone) to snap a picture of a product's barcode. Within a second you'll see the product onscreen and a list of local or online retailers who carry the same product – and for how much. If it's a local retailer, you can see the store's location as a pushpin on a map (such as a Walmart that's, say, 2.2 kilometres away). You can also learn about rebates, coupon codes and special sale prices to take advantage of.

 

Talk to me


Chatting with colleagues, family and friends over a cellular connection -- while roaming -- can really add up if you don't pick up a good travel plan ahead of time. If you can, also be sure to log onto your hotel, airport or café's wireless network and use your smartphone to make a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) call for free. Video calling via FaceTime (iOS), Skype (Android, iOS) and Google Talk (Android) lets you see who you're talking to, and they can see you, too. BlackBerry smartphones also support Skype for audio-based calls.


Fill 'er up


Find cheaper gas prices with the help of Gas Buddy for iPhone, Android or Windows Phone 7. Designed for Canadian and U.S. users, this app that shows you which nearby stations have the lowest prices -- and provides maps if you don’t know the area. View gas stations by distance or price, plus you can see prices for regular, midgrade, premium and diesel fuel. Obviously this app is more useful when you’re in a big city – as it doesn’t pay to drive a few kilometres just to save, say, $2 on a fill up – but you can save some cash by seeing which gas station in the area has the best prices.


Take some direction


Android smartphone owners need not buy a standalone GPS, thanks to Google Maps Navigation. This free Internet-connected GPS navigation system not only provides visual turn-by-turn directions to a destination (as with Google Maps for other smartphone platforms), but for drivers it includes audio-based guidance, as well, so you can keep your eyes on the road. Additional features include a "search by voice" option, live traffic, satellite views, and the availability to find nearby businesses. iPhone and iPad users can try NavFree GPS Live Canada app, which also provides audio- and visual-based directions and local search.


Surf’s up


Don't pay for wireless connectivity when you can find thousands of free Wi-Fi hotspots around the world. As the name suggests, the Free Wi-Fi Finder app for iOS and Android asks to know your device's GPS location -- tap "Allow" and within a second or two you’ll find all the establishments in your area that offer free Wi-Fi, be it a café, restaurant or bookstore -- including handy maps to take you there. The latest version, 2.0, offers a number of new features and improvements over its predecessors.

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TTB.jpg

 

If you're an iOS or Android user, you're likely aware of Read It Later, a popular app that lets you save online content to access at a later time – even offline.

 

Whether you're on a smartphone, tablet or personal computer, anything found on the web can be saved -- such as websites, recipes, articles or blog posts -- as well as content found inside of apps like Twitter, Pulse, The Onion, Flipboard, Zite and RSS Reader for Outlook.

 

This tool is also ideal for small businesses, as you can queue up a ton of content to read when it's convenient for you, such as flying from, say, Vancouver to Toronto.

 

Even images and videos can be saved to your device in the paid ("pro") version of the app, to view offline later on.

 

Now, four years and 4.5 million users later, Read It Later has a new name – Pocket – and it's completely free to use for Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad, iPod touch) and Android devices.

 

Similar to its predecessor, Pocket lets you save content you like on the web, with a single tap, plus it works inside more than 300 popular apps. Note: there might be some setup required to configure your favourite apps to work with Pocket, but instructions are at the website.

 

It's not bookmarking, as you don't need an Internet connection to access the content later on, plus Pocket works outside of a web browser, too (thanks to the support of hundreds of apps listed here) and you can access your saved content on multiple devices. Instead, consider it a PVR for any online content you want to check out when you have the time.

 

Pocket also includes a simplified user interface with fewer toolbars; new filters that let you switch between videos, images and text; and easier to organize content including adding favourites, bulk editing and tagging options to make searching easier.

 

A few interesting stats about Pocket:

 

• 50 percent of saved items are viewed on mobile screens (up from 34 percent in January, 2012)

 

• 40 percent of items saved are not articles – instead they're videos, images, recipes, travel tips and more

 

• The most popular app for saved content in YouTube, as users are increasingly saving videos for later viewing. If you're curious, here's a list of the most popular videos saved from last week.

 

Pocket is now available for free at the App Store and Google Play (formerly Android Market).

 

Pocket_iPad_Screenshots_Grid View.jpg

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0

nokia-lumia-800-trio-telus-english.jpg

If you're relying on a Windows Phone device for business – perhaps the sleek new Nokia Lumia 800 from TELUS – then you've got a lot of choice in downloadable apps to keep you on your game.

 

In fact, out of the box you're already sitting pretty, thanks to exclusive built-in apps that will be familiar to PC users. This includes Outlook (email), Internet Explorer (web browsing), Bing search and maps, and even pocket editions of Microsoft Word (word processing), Excel (spreadsheets), PowerPoint (presentations), SharePoint and OneNote.

 

But with more than 60,000 apps available in the Marketplace, there are many worth snagging for those looking to boost productivity while on the go.

 

The following are a few recommendations, most of which are completely free to download and use:

 

SkyDrive

 

One of my favourite apps is the free Windows Live SkyDrive, a cloud service that lets you store up to 25 gigabytes of files – and access it all on virtually any device. In fact, it's 25GB of free password-protected storage per account, and you can have multiple accounts (such as a Windows Live ID, Hotmail address, and so on). This Windows Phone app lets you see, edit and share documents, view photos and play videos in either .mp4 or .wmv formats. Also consider Adobe Reader as it lets you download and read PDF files on your Windows Phone 7 device.

 

Notesly Free

 

If you're in need of an app to jot down notes during a meeting, interview or wherever inspiration hits you (think digital napkin at Dennys), Notesly Free is a simple, elegant and functional note-taking app for writing, drawing or text notes. You don't need to sign up for an account (like Evernote) to get going, yet you can back-up your notes or drawings to your PC or Mac via Dropbox or share with others through email or text message. A small thumbnail shows a preview of your notes, so you can see what's inside at a quick glance.

 

WhatsApp Messenger

 

You're likely aware of BlackBerry Messenger (BBM) for BlackBerry smartphones, a fast, cheap and reliable way to send and receive messages with others in real-time. But what if you're on Window Phone (or Android or iPhone)? WhatsApp Messenger is a free, cross-platform solution that works between multiple smartphone operating systems (including BlackBerry), and enjoys many of the same features as BBM: real-time group chat, file sharing (send video, images and voice notes) and receive a confirmation when messages have been delivered and read. Unlike BBM, you don't have to get someone's unique PIN as WhatsApp works with your phone number, just like text messaging, and integrates smoothly with an existing address book.

 

Find My Phone

 

If your Windows Phone is lost or stolen, the aptly named Find My Phone can remotely track the GPS-enabled device on a computer (via windowsphone.com). You can make it ring loudly (in case you think it's under the couch cushions), lock it to prevent nosy types from accessing your data or even erase the phone's contents completely to be extra sure it doesn't fall into the wrong hands. Note: it's not recommended to attempt recovery of a stolen smartphone yourself -- contact the authorities with the information instead.

 

VoiceTranslator

 

Based on Google Translator APIs, the free VoiceTranslator for Windows Phone allows you to translate from one language to another – and there are many dozens of languages supported for your convenience. This handy travel companion works by either text or voice, therefore you can type in a word or phrase (or copy and paste from the web or email, text message) or speak into the phone to get a translation moments later. Keep in mind you need an Internet connection (Wi-Fi or cellular) for this app to work.

 

Password Padlock

 

As the name suggests, the $0.99-cent Password Padlock is an app that serves as a lock for all the passwords you probably have to remember on a daily basis, be it for online banking, ATM and credit card PINs, home alarm codes, shopping sites, media accounts (Netflix, iTunes, etc.), and so on. You're required to create a strong, single master password, which is then used to encrypt all the other passwords in the collection using AES encryption; the master password is never stored on the phone itself.

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HireVue for iPhone.jpg

Dubbed the "world's first mobile interviewing application," HireVue lets job candidates engage in a virtual job interview on their iPad, iPhone or iPod touch.

 

The app works similar to the website of the same name: Hiring companies or recruiters send out an invitation to candidates via email, and once accepted, the interview takes place on the iOS device itself.

 

Customized by the hiring organization, questions are created in advance and can include multiple choice questions (respondents tap to select one of four options), longer-form essay-style questions and video responses captured by the device's camera.

 

Benefits of a digital interview are mostly convenience-related. Candidates can respond at their own pace, wherever they might be with their iOS device, plus they can watch prerecorded employment videos to learn more about the company or position they're looking to fill. Employers, on the other hand, don't have to schedule interviews, nor do they have to pay to bring someone in from out of town.

 

Hiring managers or recruiters can then play back multiple candidate responses from their computer or mobile device to choose the best one for the job – or request a face-to-face chat as a "call back" of sorts.

 

HireVue does offer a live web-based interview option, too, if desired. The real-time video interviews connect employers and candidates, similar to video conferencing tools, but with the option to record, save and replay the interaction. Both the prerecorded and live interview options can then be shared with colleagues after the fact, with the option to make notes, give ratings and provide feedback electronically.

 

HireVue is free for the job candidate, but pricing is subscription-based for employers; HireVue says its packages start at about $5,000 annually for midsized businesses (for unlimited interviews) but claim traditional "offline" interviews typically cost companies about $1,000 apiece.

 

If you're interested, here's a video to learn more about HireVue.

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0

iPad_PFV_PFVLF_Springboard_PRINT.JPG

It's virtually impossible to escape the excitement surrounding the new iPad, whether it's the long lines snaking around Apple stores, front-page reviews in hundreds of publications or references to the new product in monologues by late night TV show hosts.

 

But all this coverage of the new iPad (from $519) doesn't mean the product can live up to the tremendous hype.

 

After spending 10 days with the third-generation iPad, I do agree it's pretty awesome – but it's definitely more evolutionary than revolutionary. In fact, if you have last year's iPad 2 then I'd suggest to wait to uprgrade. That being said, the new iPad does offer a number of improvements over its predecessors and I firmly believe it's the finest tablet on the market – despite some amazing Android tablets and the aggressively-priced BlackBerry PlayBook.

 

Here's what you need to know about the new iPad:

 

• The first thing you'll notice is the new "Retina display" technology, meaning its pixel density is so high the human eye is unable to distinguish individual pixels. Quite simply, the new screen is stunning. In fact, the iPad delivers four times the number of pixels – the little dots that make up the image -- than the screen on the first two iPad models. In fact, the new iPad's 3.1 million-pixel display offers one million more pixels than your HDTV. Photos are vibrant, text is crisp and videos look more sharp than in the previous iPad (now with support for 1080p movies, too).

 

• Speaking of 1080p resolution – the top-of-the-line video quality available today -- the new and improved 5-megapixel camera on the back of the iPad can shoot 1080p video (up from 720p in the iPad 2), and with image stabilization and facial detection, too. I shot a few videos and snapped some high-resolution photos with the new camera and they both looked quite good. OK, so you typically wouldn't reach for your tablet to capture memories but it's a convenient feature to have.

 

• Another major new feature of the 2012 iPad is support for 4G LTE networks. “Long Term Evolution” is the next-generation in wireless technology, allowing for cellular speeds in select cities that rival if not exceed your home's broadband Internet connection. That's right, Telus, Bell Mobility and Rogers all offer LTE add-on data plans as low as $15, so you can surf, download and stream at incredibly high speeds (up to 72 Megabits per second downloads, though this number is "theoretical" opposed to somewhat slower "real world" performance). In areas without LTE support, the iPad will revert to HSPA+ (up to 21 Megabits per second downloads) or in the case with Telus and Bell, dual-carrier HSDPA for download speeds of up to 42 Megabits per second. The new iPad can also be used to create a personal hotspot, allowing other nearby devices to get online wirelessly via the tablet. The LTE-enabled iPads start at $649.

 

• A few other thoughts: Apple's new A5X chip with quad-core graphics delivers faster and smoother video game performance, as experienced with Namco's aerial combat simulation called Sky Gamblers: Air Supremacy. I was also able to test the new dictation feature; it's not Siri – a full-featured voice-activated personal assistant built into the iPhone 4S – but you can tap the microphone button while composing an email, writing a note or searching the web and iPad will transcribe your words into text. Despite all the new features, the new iPad offers the same industry-leading 10-hour battery (9 hours on LTE) and for the same price as the iPad 2. But be aware it's a smidge heavier (1.44 pounds for Wi-Fi or 1.46 pounds for Wi-Fi + 4G) and thicker (9.4mm) compared to the iPad 2 (at 1.33 pounds and 8.8mm thick).

 

So, what's the bottom line?

 

While these are somewhat minor updates over last year's iPad 2, the new screen and 4G LTE speeds really help solidify Apple's lead in the highly competitive tablet space. Once again, the company has raised a bar when it comes to its specs, but also excels in the overall experience thanks to smooth synchronization with iTunes and iCloud, support for more than 585,000 apps and a major hardware ecosystem including thousands of accessories like docking stations and cases.

 

If you're a skeptic, at least pop into an Apple store in your local mall to see and touch the new iPad for yourself.

 

Here's an informal video walkthrough of some of the new iPad's core features:

 

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1

passwod Laptop.jpg

You can protect your computer -- and more importantly, the sensitive information that may reside on it – without needing a degree in computer engineering.

 

If you've been following the news lately, you've no doubt read up on all the computer attacks, data breaches and cases of identity theft. Consider it a by-product of the information age.

 

So, what to do? We've covered a lot of ground in this Telus Talks Business blog over the past year – from tips on securing your wireless network to safer online shopping to reducing the odds of a spammed "phishing" attack – but now let's cover a few tips to creating a strong password for anything you or your business associates do online.

 

The basics

 

Creating a good password isn't difficult, but it does more time to come up with one than using common ones like "password," "123456," your phone number or your kids' or pet's names – all of which are not recommended for obvious reasons. A strong password is at least 7 characters long, has a combination of letters, numbers and symbols, and the same password shouldn’t be used for all of your online activities. After all, once someone finds out one password, they've got access to everything else. There are also some online password checkers that evaluate the strength of your password.

 

Words and acronyms work, too

 

If you don't want to use the recommended combination of letters, numbers and symbols, at least keep in mind single word passwords are easier to break than multiple word passwords. Instead of "monkey," use something like "orangemonkey" or "bigmonkeyface." Alternatively, use the first letter from a phrase – say, from a favourite song – so Bruno Mars' "Liquor Store Blues feat. Damian Marley" becomes "LSBFDM." This should be an easy password to remember – and better yet, at a number and symbol to this, too.

 

Managing multiple passwords

 

Because it's recommended not to use the same password for everything, come up with a system to better remember each of them, such as adding a relevant letter to the front, middle or end of the password – such as "b" for "banking," "s" for shopping, "f" for Facebook or "d" for an online dating site. If it's difficult to remember your passwords, use a trusted "password manager" program on your computer or smartphone, which requires a master password to get in, and then you can see all the rest of the passwords inside.

 

Change it up

 

Every so often, change up your passwords just to keep malicious types on their toes. How often you do it boils down to your comfort level, but I’d recommend at least every couple of months is probably conservative enough. Again, this is a personal thing, but the longer you keep the same password, the greater the chance someone could guess it, share it and use the information against you if they’re motivated enough. On a related note, don’t share your password. A recent U.S.-based survey showed tweens and teens frequently give out their passwords to friends -- and don't change it after they've had a falling out.

 

A step ahead

 

Google, for example, now offers a two-step authentication process, which serves as an extra security measure to protect your online accounts from being compromised. It confirms you – and only you – are granted access to your Google apps, such as Gmail. In addition to a standard username and password you'll also need a code that's sent via text message to your mobile phone. Before you gain access to the Google app, you'll be prompted to enter that short verification code. Instead of a text message, you can also download and install the Google Authenticator app on your Android, BlackBerry or iPhone. Many other companies are using two-step authentication, as well.

 

Heed the call

 

When you set up a landline or mobile phone voicemail, depending on your provider/carrier your voicemail password by default might be the last 4 digits of your phone number (9492) or the month and year of your birthdate (e.g. 0471 for April of 1971). Don’t keep these default voicemail passwords -- they're only meant to help you log in once and chance it to something else. Someone can easily see your birthday on Facebook; even if you don’t reveal the information, chances are family, friends and colleagues will post something to your wall on the big day.

 

Public enemy no. 1

 

If you're using a public computer – such as a shared PC at a library, cybercafé or airport lounge – be sure not to do private things better done at home (such as online banking). You might forget to clear the browser history, cache and cookies (or accidentally click to "remember my password" on these sites) and the next person could gain access. Or, there could be "keystroke logging" software or hardware on the public PC that tracks what you type on the keyboard -- a tip is to use the mouse on an onscreen keyboard offered by Windows if you must enter a password.

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Readability - 1.jpg

 

Spend a lot of time browsing the web on the iPad?

 

Whether it's for work or play, consider the free Readability app, as it offers a clean and simple way to read online content.

 

It's similar in concept to Apple's own "Reader" option within the Safari browser – which strips out advertisements and enlarges text -- but Readability offers a few other features, too, including the option to save web pages to read when you're offline.

 

Based on a three-year-old web-based service, the Readability app for iPad first requires you to sign up for an account – it's fast and free, but mandatory -- before you can use the service. The next step is to search the web (via Google) or type in a specific URL, such as telustalksbusiness.com. When you'd like to read an article or blog post, tap "Read Now" to see the cleaner version of the site, with no distractions such as ads, polls, and other ancillary content along the sides, top or bottom of the page.

 

Also available on iPhone and iPod touch, this view is very similar to Safari's "Reader" view, except at the very bottom of the page you can swipe a slider tab to adjust the text style, size and column width. Plus, you've got the option for day or night reading, featuring black text on a white background or white text on a black background, respectively.

 

Other options include selecting it as a Favourite (which goes into its own section in the app), share it with others (via email, Facebook or Twitter), copy the link (to paste elsewhere) or view it in a full web browser (by default, it's Safari).

 

Readability - b.jpg

 

Another way to use Readability is to tap the "Read Later" tab instead of "Read Now." This adds it to your reading list, which you view even without an Internet connection at a later time. If you tapped the "Read Now" tab instead, and still want to save the article, you can tap the "Archive" button to save it for later. Another benefit to Readability is the option to search for text by keyword; this pulls up the relevant article you've saved.

 

If you save a number of web pages, I like how Readability will automatically load the next saved page (with the stripped out formatting), when you get to the bottom of a previously page. This is convenient as you don't have to leave the reading view to select another article to read.

 

You can also do a search for keyword

 

Readability goes above and beyond Apple's Reader feature within Safari to provide a very clean, customizable and shareable way to read web content, including the option to save content to read later on, and offline.

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remote-support.jpg

For this week's blog post, I answer a question from the mailbag:

 

"Sometimes when I’m on the phone with tech support, they ask to remotely take over my computer to solve my problem. Is that safe? I run a small business from home and while I don't have overly sensitive documents, I'm still concerned about this."

 

Generally speaking, this is safe, as long as it's a trusted company you're dealing with, such as a major computer manufacturer, software company or service provider like Apple, Microsoft, Telus, Dell, HP, Acer, Toshiba, Sony, Samsung, Lenovo, Asus, and so on.

 

That said, I'd suggest going this route with your personal computer over a business PC with potentially sensitive documents or other files. You mentioned you don't have sensitive documents, therefore this might be the way to go if your firewall lets them in. Hey, if you don't have an IT person you can rely on, you might consider remote control help -- but at the very least encrypt your important files or folders with a strong password.

 

This is often referred to "remote support," which lets a technician log into your computer from where they're sitting – perhaps in another part of the country or elsewhere – and take control of your computer mouse as if there were sitting there with you at home or the office.

 

Often you'll first need to download a small program that lets the tech support rep log into your computer and you'll have to click to accept the invitation. Most technicians like to keep you on the phone to explain what they're doing as you sit back and take notice (or better yet, take notes).

 

Why is remote tech support so popular? Because the technical expert on the other end of the line can often find and fix the problem you're experiencing a lot faster than explaining what to do (e.g., "Ok, now click Start, and then type 'cmd' in the search window, etc."). Walking you through the step could take a long time – especially if you're not exactly tech-savvy – therefore adding even more stress to an already frustrating issue you're having.

 

At the end of the remote session you will see the technician log off and your computer will return back under your control.

 

If you're overly concerned about privacy or security -- especially as it pertains to computers used for work -- you can choose not to engage in a remote support session.

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Navfree GPS Live Canada.jpg

Spring is around the corner, which often means family vacations, road trips with friends and traveling more for business.


A GPS navigation unit in your vehicle can help you get to where you’re going quickly, accurately and safely – but not everyone wants to spend $100 or more for a good GPS nav unit or $50 for GPS smartphone software.

 

Guess what – you don’t have to pay anything at all.

 

A downloadable app called Navfree GPS Live Canada is the first free professional GPS navigation software for iPhone and iPad.


While not flawless, you’d be surprised how good this no-cost app is.


Navfree Canada from Geolife Ltd. gives you 2D and 3D maps (for the entire country), voice-based turn-by-turn instructions (so you don’t need to look at the screen), points of interest (such as restaurants, hotels, gas stations and tourist sites) as well as live Google Search (to find many other nearby places you might be interested in).


Unless you do a Google search, which requires a wireless connection, no data is used up for this GPS app as the maps are stored on your device.


Navfree uses map data from OpenStreetMap.org — often referred to as the "Wikipedia of map software" — as more than a quarter-million people contributed to it over the years. Therefore, there’s no cost to use the product, it’s continuously updated and you, too, can add to the map, as well, right from within the app.

 

The interface is quite clean, too. Aside from typing the word "Ontario" where it says "State" (er, this is the Canadian version of the software, so why not "Province"?), Navfree found the five addresses I typed in – in Toronto, Mississauga, Richmond Hill and Barrie – without a hitch. At least you can change "Miles" to "Kilometres" in the map's settings screen.


By default, it’s a British woman's voice but you can change it to other male and female voices and languages, too, if you like (15 in total, including French, Spanish, German, Italian, Dutch, and more). Note: It doesn’t say street names, but will tell you when to turn, such as in "1.2 kilometres or in 200 metres," etc. While hearing the directions you can also use your fingertips on the map to scroll ahead, switch between day and night maps (low glare maps are safer night driving) and even access your music library right from within the map (music fades in and out when the voice directions are playing).

 

Routing was fast and – for the most part – accurate. In one instance, I was about to hop on Highway 400 North from Woodbridge to drive to Barrie, but it was suggesting to go on Highway 407 east to some point. Huh? So, as with any GPS unit, general knowledge of your area is always helpful. But this was one instance out of an otherwise flawless experience.


Of course if you take a wrong turn or need to go on streets not recommended by the app (perhaps because of an accident or construction), it’ll automatically reroute for you.


Another issue is if you cross the border, you’ll have to close the app and open up Navfree U.S. version as this map is only for Canada. At least it's free, too.


There’s also a Pedestrian mode for when you’re on foot – for instance, it’ll say you can walk in either direction of a one-way street.


Other features of Navfree include the ability to send your route to a friend via email, text message, Facebook or Twitter; you can set a "Home" location to quickly get back to your home; and access a Navfree Store to purchase the "Ad-Free" version of Navfree for $1.99 – though I never saw one advertisement in this free version.


Overall, Navfree is an excellent – and free – GPS solution for iPhone and iPad owners.

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Samsung Galaxy Note.jpg

 

If you're in the market for a new smartphone that goes above and beyond what you're exiting one can do, get your hands on the Samsung Galaxy Note ($199.99 on a 3-year plan), a 5.3-inch Android-powered device that folds in tablet-like functionality.

 

Yes, that's right, it's a hybrid product that acts like a smartphone on one hand -- you can make calls and send text messages, and it can still slip it into your pocket or purse – but its larger real estate means it's also ideal for consuming media, be it reading e-books, watching video and playing games.

 

For businesses, the Samsung Galaxy Note is also great for working on documents, web browsing and reading long email messages without having to continuously scroll down the page.

 

If you can get past its supersized body – it might look a little odd held up to your ear – you'll no doubt agree this two-in-one device borrows the best from both worlds.

 

In other words, don't knock it 'til you try it.

 

Before we get to other features, including an integrated stylus pen and support for Telus' fast LTE (Long Term Evolution) network in select cities, a few other words about the Galaxy Note's screen – which is, after all, the first thing you'll notice when you boot it up. The 5.3-inch screen (measured diagonally) isn't just big, it's beautiful. Called an "HD super AMOLED display," the detail on video, games, websites and other Android apps is simply stunning. This 1,280 x 800-resolution display also has excellent contrast (resulting in dark blacks), high brightness and wide 180-degree viewing angle -- in case you want to share the device with someone while watching a video or playing a game. The Samsung Galaxy Note is 9.65mm thin and weighs about 178 grams.

 

The large screen might also mean it's easier to type on the virtual keyboard than smaller phones, like the 3.5-inch iPhone. You can use the soft QWERTY keyboard to type vertically or horizontally or opt to use the Swype option, where you simply drag your finger from letter to letter and lift up to make space between words (those who use Swype swear by it). There's also a speech-to-text option but this Android feature doesn't work as quickly or accurately as Apple's Siri, found on the iPhone 4S.

 

If you prefer to use a stylus pen instead of your fingertip, there's one bundled in the back of the Galaxy Note. Called an "S-Pen," this small stylus lets you sketch or draw on the screen. A small button on the side of the pen can perform extra functions, too, such as snapping a screenshot of what you're looking at. For example, take a snapshot of a map, write something on the screen (such as "meet me here") and then email ot text the image to someone. The S-Pen also offers 256 levels of pressure sensitivity, so the screen knows how thin or thick you want the line to be.

 

You can expect powerful speeds, too, from the peppy processor (1.5GHz dual-core) and the fast LTE speeds for broadband-like downloads and uploads, media streaming and web browsing. In cities without LTE support (yet, that is), the Galaxy Note will revert back to HSPA+ speeds across Canada, which covers the majority of the country.

 

Finally, the Samsung Galaxy Note includes 16GB of integrated memory, but you can expand it up to 32GB via removable microSD cards. The back of the device sports an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash (capable of shooting HD video, too) while a 2-megapixel camera is at the front, ideal for video calling (though not tested for this review).

 

The battery was good as it lasted all day when using Wi-Fi for the most part, but it didn't fare as well when using 4G in Toronto as the device's "Low Battery" warning popped up at dinnertime.

 

Overall, however, the Samsung Galaxy Note is an extraordinary smartphone/tablet ("phablet"?), ideal for both consumers and businesses. It might sound like it's simply too big to use as a phone, but before you pass judgment visit your local carrier's store or other electronics retailer to try it out for yourself.

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seagate goflex satlellite.jpg

Last week in this space I wrote about a way to add 25GB of free storage to your iPhone or Windows Phone – via Microsoft's Windows Live SkyDrive cloud service.

 

In this blog post, I wanted to share another way you can expand the capacity of your limited smartphone or tablet – but this one doesn't require an Internet connection and you'll get 500GB of storage.

 

It's an external hard drive that is not only portable – therefore small and battery-powered – but it has the unique ability to wirelessly stream content to a nearby smartphone or tablet. And it doesn't matter if you're using an iPhone, BlackBerry, Android or Windows Mobile device.

 

Intrigued?

 

Called the Seagate GoFlex Satellite ($199.99), this small drive emits a Wi-Fi signal and can stream content to nearby devices – even serving up three different streams at the same time.

 

The work applications are obvious -- as you can fit many thousands of documents, spreadsheets and presentations on a half-terabyte drive -- but you can also use this when on a family road trip over spring break. Imagine you're in the car with a few kids in the backseat and they each have a different Wi-Fi device, such as a smartphone, tablet or media player like an iPod touch. As long as they join the GoFlex Satellite drive -- as if they were logging onto a Wi-Fi network -- they can launch the web browser or open up a free app to see and access the contents of the hard drive. This includes high-definition movies, TV shows, music, photos and other files.

 

Once you go over three simultaneous streams, it can begin to affect performance for everyone. Of course this gadget can be used at home or at the office, too.

 

Seagate GoFlex Satellite Drive - a.jpg

 

The only other limitation is in the file formats supported. Because an iPhone, iPod touch or iPad can't play .AVI or .WMV files, for example, it won't be able to stream those videos from the GoFlex Satellite hard drive. .M4V or .MP4 video files will work just fine, however.

 

Slightly bigger than a deck of playing cards, this drive's 500GB capacity translates to more than 300 high-def movies. And consider most portable devices like smartphones and tablets usually max out at 64GB anyway.

 

While the GoFlex Satellite creates its own Wi-Fi hotspot, keep in mind you can't get online through this drive. It only creates a wireless connection between the drive and the device you're streaming to. But at least you don't need a wireless network to use the drive -- hence the road trip scenario.

 

Battery life tops five hours for playback and more than 25 hours on standby.

 

While there's some content preloaded on the device, such as some cartoons and Discovery Channel programming, you'll first want to connect the GoFlex Satellite drive to a PC or Mac via USB 3.0 connectivity (compatible with USB 2.0) and drag and drop content onto the drive. Optional interfaces include FireWire 800 and powered eSATA (sold separately).

 

Seagate GoFlex Satellite Drive - b.jpg

Want one? Or at least want more info? Click here for additional specs and features of the Seagate GoFlex Satellite wireless hard drive.

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