TechPatio » Guides/How-To

How to be Thrifty Even if you are a Gadget Freak

Emily — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 22:23:35 +0000

Nowadays, technology develops very fast to such a degree that the technologically-superior gadgets and equipments that we have right now are going to be obsolete within the next 3 years. Take for instance mobile phones. Just a decade ago, mobile phone companies were trying to do their best to crunch their system into a smaller package. Several years later, it was all about how much megapixel they can squeeze into the phone’s camera. Just a few years ago, it was all about how big the touchscreen can get and how much resolution they can jam into it based on today’s technology. Simply put, technology keeps on advancing every day.

The advancements of technology mean newer electronics, gadgets, and equipments are born along with certain upgrades for recent devices. However, this continuously changing technology has made many people addicted to it. In fact, nearly every person who is familiar with it wants to have the best and the latest. This is simply because it has been ingrained in our minds that newer technology is better. I myself cannot deny that I am addicted to it, and if I only I had the financial means, I will purchase everything I fancy. Sad to say, cutting-edge technology is far within my budget as well as with many gadget freaks out there, which is why it can be disheartening to learn about a newly-released technology that is beyond your financial means. In fact, there are ways you can obtain many of today’s gadgets as long as you become wise with your finances.

Address Your Needs

As a techie and a gadget freak, you need to ask yourself if an upgrade is really necessary. A good way of assessing if you need an upgrade is if your current gadget or equipment has broken down or have fallen way behind technology. Another way of assessing is if it fits your usage. For example, do I really need a new PC with an i7 Extreme with 2 Radeon HD 6870 in CrossFire mode, when all I ever use my computer for is surf the net and create documents and spreadsheets? Certainly not.

Sell Old to Buy New

When we know we are about to upgrade, we can’t really wait to get our hands on our new toy. However, if you are to wise-up with your finances, it is best to wait until you sell your old one first. Anyways, it doesn’t take too much time acquiring a new one once you have sold your old one.

Manufacturer-Refurbished Items are Good

Refurbished products from well-known electronics and gadget companies sell reputable refurbished products that are complete with warranties. In fact, according to Wikipedia’s definition of refurbished, they are products that cannot be sold as new, even if they are as good as new. They may have scratches, dents or other forms of cosmetic damage, but this does not affect the overall performance of the unit.

Buy a Generation Older

Although this may not be the latest craze in town, buying a unit that is only a generation older will make great savings, yet will still be far from obsolete. Besides, the latest tech will be overcastted by a newer one in roughly six months time.

Buy from a Serial Upgrader

If you know someone who upgrades every time there is a new model launched, make sure to take advantage of this as they are usually willing to give you a better deal over their current unit.

The truth is, the advances in technology is not about to slow down any time soon and we will see newer models and generations to come. If you are a gadget freak but wants to be wise about money, then it is important that you set a time frame for yourself before making any upgrades. A good example would be taking three years before upgrading computers and TVs, and 2 years before upgrading mobile phones. It is wise to consider that there will always be newer models around and upgrading every so often will not necessarily make you better.
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MobileMe Gallery & iDisk alternative when MobileMe shuts down

Klaus — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:00:31 +0000

With the launch of free iCloud on October 12th, it also meant the end of paid MobileMe.

MobileMe was Apple’s paid version for having a @me.com e-mail address, folder online (iDisk), a gallery online, some synchronization between Mac apps etc. It came at a fee of around €79 a year (if I remember correctly). For some of us, it didn’t mean a lot to pay that fee, cause we got a service that just worked and was well integrated with Mac OS X and iOS devices, even though you could get each individual service for free elsewhere, such as Google Calendar for synchronizing your calendar between iCal and iPhone.

If you’re a paid MobileMe subscriber, Apple would have extended your subscription for free until June 2012, at which MobileMe will be shutting down and your Gallery, iDisk and iWeb will be gone – so be sure to have your data backed up before then.

iDisk and Gallery are probably the most-used features of MobileMe that most people will be missing. I enjoyed how easy it was to share an album from Aperture or iPhoto via MobileMe Gallery.

What alternative do we have to MobileMe Gallery and iDisk?

So far, the best and easiest (and cheapest – free!) alternative I’ve found, is Dropbox.

A free Dropbox account will give you 2GB of storage and offers 250MB extra if you complete 5 out of 7 “getting started” quests they offer – which are really easy, it’s just installing the app, uploading a file, sharing a folder etc. Stuff like that. On top of that, you also get another 250MB free if you signup for a free Dropbox account by clicking here. So by now, you should be able to have 2,5GB free storage in the cloud for files (iDisk alternative) and photos (Gallery alternative).

If you want more space than that, you can ask your friends to signup as well – each of you get an extra 250MB. You can earn up to 8GB in “referral space”, giving you a total of 10GB free storage at Dropbox. If that’s not enough, you can pay to upgrade to either 50GB or 100GB, which should be plenty for most people.

What’s good about Dropbox is how easy it is to use. Just download the app and run it – this will create a “Dropbox” folder in your Mac’s home folder (or where you place it). Everything in that folder is automatically synced to Dropbox – and you can pull the files from your iPhone also. Dropbox offers a free app for both iPhone and Android.

Your local Dropbox folder contains both a Public folder, for sharing files with the public, and a Photos folder, in which you can create albums and share them with friends/family etc.

MobileMe Galleries were quite simple. You couldn’t have people commenting etc., it was just a basic gallery – but it was fast and easy to use. Dropbox galleries are pretty much the same, except you don’t have the same tight integration with, say, Aperture 3. Sharing photos on Dropbox, I’d just go into Aperture 3 and export the photos to a subfolder within my “Photos” folder in “Dropbox”, and that’s it – automatically synced to Dropbox. Then you can send the link afterwards to whoever you want to show off your album to.

If you want more gallery features, you probably need to start learning how to use the Flickr integration in Aperture 3, or perhaps go with Facebook, if you need an even bigger community-part of photo albums. But my guess is, if you’re looking for a MobileMe Gallery alternative, the Dropbox Photos is going to be helpful to you – at least until something else comes along, offering tighter Aperture 3 integration.

One more thing…

Besides using Dropbox as an iDisk alternative or MobileMe Gallery alternative, you can also use it as a backup – it even has versions and is able to restore deleted files. Actually, I’ve also read of someone syncing their entire Mac home user folder to Dropbox – as a way of always having an up-to-date backup and being able to restore your files from everywhere.
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(Fixed) Mac OS X Lion: /etc/hosts stopped working in 10.7.2, being ignored

Klaus — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 15:04:21 +0000

Besides running this blog, I’m also a freelance web-developer, so I sometimes have a need to modify my local “hosts” file on my Mac, in order to get development/local domains to point to my local web server and also to apply DNS changes before they have propagated through the entire Internet.

Usually, you’d do something like that by editing the /etc/hosts file on a Mac and then you’d be good to go.

However, I’m not sure when, if it was with Lion (10.7) or the recent 10.7.2 update, lots of people started to have problems with their hosts file, as if it was being ignored. Myself included.

Going into terminal and typing:

scutil --dns

… would indicate that the first resolver was actually the DNS server, and your local resolver came only 2nd, so Apple might have changed the resolve order, so your hosts file is no longer 1st priority.

One workaround suggested on the Internet was to install DNSMasq and run your own local DNS server based on your hosts file. That’s of course a possibility, but the whole installation process sounds complicated to me, and I’d rather avoid running a local DNS server if possible, considering that it should work with just the hosts file, and it used to.

So, after hours of googling around, searching and reading, I came upon this post, which suggests to run this command in Terminal:

hexdump -C /etc/hosts

… to confirm that your /etc/hosts file has Unix style line endings. I had no idea how to interpret the result, but it gave me an idea: To check if I’m actually saving the file with Unix style line endings or not.

Back into Terminal, I wrote the following:

sudo edit /etc/hosts

Which launched TextWrangler (free text editor for Mac, get if you don’t already have it), and I saw that it had selected “Windows (CRLF)” line endings. I simply changed it to “Unix (LF)”, as you can see on the screenshot below which shows a standard /etc/hosts file. I saved the file – and that’s it, the host files now works again!!

I also tried, in Terminal, to write:

ping google.com

… which of course gave me an IP address belonging to Google. Then I added this line to my hosts file:

127.0.0.1 google.com

And I ran the ping command again, and ping would now tell me that google.com points to 127.0.0.1. It works!

And yes, if you’re one of those bad people who didn’t bother paying for Photoshop, I believe this will also fix your “127.0.0.1 activate.adobe.com” stuff. If this helps, you can repay me by purchasing a legal license for your Photoshop
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How to look after your smartphone

Guest Author — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 16:31:45 +0000

Some of today’s top mobile phones cost more than the average TV – so it’s well worth doing what you can to look after your own handset. With that in mind, here are some of our top tips for taking care of your smartphone.

Buy a cover

Many of us know that gut-wrenching feeling when you’ve just dropped your expensive phone onto a hard floor. In reality, most smartphones are built to take a bit of abuse, but that won’t necessarily stop your phone from bearing the scars.

Dents and scuffs can seriously hit the resale value of your smartphone, so it often makes financial sense to buy a cover for it. You can pick a basic cover up fairly cheaply, but it may be worth paying a little extra if you want the very best protection.

Not everyone wants to cover up their shiny new phone, but even if you only use the cover when you’re out and about, it could save you a lot of worry.

Give your phone a ‘software spring clean’

As mobile phones have become more complex, the number of things that can go wrong with them has also increased. Like a PC or laptop, the more you do with your phone, the more it can slow down.

However, you can avoid this trouble by giving your phone a ‘spring clean’ every few months – for example, removing apps you don’t need or deleting / transferring old photos. Better still, a full factory reset (normally buried somewhere in the phone’s options) every so often can restore the software to how it was when you bought the phone, meaning it should work like new. Just make sure you back things up first, or you could lose some important stuff.

Gadget insurance

Being careful with your phone can only go so far. No matter how cautious you are, sometimes accidents will happen. You might drop it down the stairs, or down the toilet, or it could get stolen – the list goes on. Unless you’re prepared to pay the full amount for a replacement, gadget insurance can be an excellent ‘line of defence’.

You might be able to make do with basic mobile phone insurance, but gadget insurance policies can also cover other expensive gadgets like laptops, games consoles and MP3 players.

However, be sure to shop around. You may be offered insurance when you buy your phone (or other gadget), but you could save money / get a better deal by taking a look at the other insurance deals on offer. You can find more information on gadget insurance deals here.

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How to: LaCie Safe Manager on 64bit Mac Lion (with LaCie Rugged Safe drive)

Klaus — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:05:31 +0000

I’m totally in love with my new LaCie Rugged Safe 1TB drive. It’s a rugged external drive, Firewire 800 / USB 2, which is encrypted using your fingerprint. Sounds fancy, right? It kinda is – and it works wonders.

The AES 128-bit encryption is plenty for me. I’m not storing secrets on it, but I’m using it to store mostly my Aperture 3 masters (RAW files) which I wouldn’t want some stranger to browse around in, or steal, if my drive should ever be stolen. If you’ve never had a computer or hard drive stolen you’ll probably think this sounds nuts, but I have tried that – both, actually – and now I have peace of mind that if/when it happens again, my data continues to be mine.

Anyway. The problem with the LaCie Rugged Safe drive is that you need the software “LaCie Safe Manager” to setup the drive to store fingerprints and LaCie only has a 32 bit version out, which doesn’t run on Mac OS X Lion (and perhaps Snow Leopard as well?) if you’re running a 64 bit kernel.

You have two options:

1) Wait for LaCie to update the software – check this link for LaCie updates. As of September 7th 2011, the last update on that link was September 2010, so no luck yet…

2) Boot Mac OS X in 32 bit kernel mode, install LaCie Safe Manager, setup your drive (register fingerprints) – then reboot back into 64 bit mode and that’s it. Click here to learn from Apple how to boot in 32 bit mode.

Once the drive is setup, you really don’t need LaCie Safe Manager anymore – and if you do, just go back into 32 bit mode.

All you need to unlock your LaCie Safe drive, is a registered fingerprint, which I’m guessing is one of your own fingers. No additional software requires installing, which I think is pretty neat.

The drive is somewhat expensive for a mobile 1TB external drive, but the encryption and fingerprint unlocking/locking works great – I think it only missed my finger once or twice, because I swiped too fast. This also uses hardware encryption, so no need for a software-based encryption which also takes up your computer’s CPU resources. Plus, I’ve had great experiences with LaCie external mobile drives these past 5 years, never had a problem. Highly recommended!

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The Advantages of a Plasma TV

Klaus — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 08:06:01 +0000

If you are looking for a plasma TV, chances are that you will have a hard time trying to find the right unit that would satisfy all your needs, and of course, your wants as well. One other thing to consider is that if you are not really sure you want to get a plasma TV, then there will be a huge possibility that you would end up buying something else (such as an LCD TV) instead.

Most people who are on the quest for a new flat-screen TV often encounter this common TV question – which is better, plasma TVs or LCD TVs (or others)?

Below are the advantages that you would enjoy when getting a plasma TV:

Screen Size

If you prefer a huge screen display, then plasma is your best bet. Plasma TV screens come in sizes that range from 32, 84 to 100 inches and even up to 152 inches! Thus, most people who want a large TV screen have more choices when they opt for a plasma TV.

Price

The price of a plasma TV starts escalating from screen sizes 54 inches and up. However, the price starts decreasing from screen sizes 50 inches and less.

Contrast/Brightness Levels

Plasma TV displays are created to turn off a pixel entirely as the blocking produces a much brighter image with more contrast between the blacks and whites (blacks appear blacker and whites appear whiter), resulting to colors that look more vibrant and life-like, unlike that of an average TV.

Wide Screen

Most major manufacturers provide plasma TVs in the wide screen (16:9) mode.

Viewing Angle

A typical plasma TV viewing angle ranges from 160 to 180 degrees, which means you can view the picture from just about any angle.

Screen Refreshing Rates

Plasma TVs are desired for their superb refresh rates. This means that you will be able to watch fast action scenes as if you were actually there.

Long Lifespan

The average-branded plasma TVs have a half life of 50,000 to 70,000 hours. (Half life means 50% of brightness is lost as compared to a new one). For instance, if you watched TV for 6 hours per day, then it would take about 20 years for your plasma TV to reach a half life of 50,000 hours.

Cost-Effective

Most branded plasma TVs are very cost-effective. They are built to last for a very long time and are practically maintenance free.

The truth is, buying a TV is more of a personal choice that each shopper must make for themselves. If you are still undecided whether or not to get a plasma TV, then you should go to a reputable dealer, really take a close look at their wide variety of TVs, narrow down your choices according to your TV preferences, and make your decision based on what kind of TV will give you the most satisfaction and fits your overall budget expectations.

However, if you’re very passionate about the whole “global warming” thing, keep in mind that the production of all flat screen TV’s might come at a cost to the environment.

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How to make the most of your desktop computer

Guest Author — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 17:32:38 +0000

These days having a personal computer at home isn’t unusual, but when it comes to managing our desktop PCs are we really making the most of them. With so many options and uses for our desktop computers there really is no excuse just to use your PC for work only.

For one thing, desktop computers can help us be ultra organised with the latest options for storing photo’s and videos. Uploading the latest pictures from our digital camera or footage from your video camera means you can safely file your photos and even make amendments to them before you take them to be printed. There are also many sites online where you can load up your snaps and share them with friends and family around the world, helping you keep in touch. When it comes to videos desktop PCs can not only provide a great place to store those precious memories but you can also find easy to use editing software to help you transfer your recordings onto DVD.

Image courtesey of Expansys

In the same way desktop PCs can be a great place for storing and sharing music, whether you are uploading your favourite tunes onto a MP3 player or using your PC as a unique music player. Design your own play lists for every mood, or organise all your favourite CD tracks without having to listen to the whole album.

Desktop computers generally come with some kind of broadband connection as standard, so making use of the Internet is a definite time saver. Forget reams of unwanted mail and keep track of accounts and bills online. It can save you plenty of wasted hours standing in the bank if you sign up for online banking, making transferring money and paying bills a synch.

If you spend a lot of time on the phone then your PC can also help you save some money. Once you are online sign up to Voice over IP services such as Skype, which essentially helps you keep in touch with family and friends around the world via your broadband connection. Use desktop computers as a phone and with the addition of a web cam you can see and hear your friends and converse in real time.

And if that’s not enough to get you rushing to your PC why not convert your desktop computer into an entertainment system. These days you can easily play your movies on your telly from where they are stored on the computer, or even transform desktop PCs into a telly, watching all your favourite shows from your desk.
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Techniques in Detecting Spy Gadgets – Guidelines in Locating Surveillance Devices

Klaus — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 08:46:02 +0000

The most popular misconception concerning detecting surveillance devices is the fact that you require some sort of enchanting bug detection gadget to do the job for you personally. Actually, the best technique for finding discreetly concealed spy gadgets would be to perform a up close investigation of absolutely anything in the prospective room

Spy Gadgets Detection tips:

Check for any unusual arrangement of your accessories within the area.
Upon entering your own space, suddenly you’ve felt the feeling of unfamiliarity to the position of your personal things. This is actually a sign that maybe someone had just wire tapped or installed a spy gadget in your room or house. You should pay attention from the major details up to the smallest detail of your house. This is the best counter measure that can assure you of a spy-free life.

Be aware of any interference on any TVs, radios, phones or wireless network. Possibly this could indicate a nearby electronic gadget.
While watching on your TV, then suddenly, an unusual signal problem just show up, don’t take it as a normal circumstance. Maybe, this is a sign of a wired tap or installed bug device in your house. Verify the cables of your personal computer, TVs, video systems, networks, etc for tinkering or tampering. Lend some of your time in checking the cables of your electronic devices. There’s a high possibility of wire tampering, it’s better to be cautious than late.

Pay attention to unexplainable holes or spots on objects in the room, such as books, cases, files, electronic items, instruments, alarm systems, soft home furniture, etc.
Are you bothered by some inexplicable holes in some parts of your house? Do you feel that someone is watching at you? These are few of the obvious evidences that someone must have installed some spy cams in your personal space for the sake of invading your privacy.

When it comes to flooring surfaces, ceilings, wall space and fixtures, tend to be any panels lose or have been meddled with?
Do a monthly or even a weekly home check up to locate those loose parts of your house. If ever you’ve been a victim of privacy invasion before, pay more attention to the sections of your house that have already been tampered. Those are the parts that are greatly prone from another possible plan of spying on you.

“Make use of your sound judgment. If something appears to be wrong, unusual or unnatural, further investigation is a must.”

Guest article written by: Jay Dawber, is an ordinary guy who is a father of two and a good husband to his wife. But besides of being a good dad, he wants to prove his suspicions that his wife is cheating on him. He seen all the signs but can’t do anything to catch her in action. He tried everything but always ends up failing. And after some frustrations and dull moment, he discovered a very easy method to find out if his wife is cheating in the form of a spy phone software. And he wants to share it to every man, having this scenario in the present.

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Can’t find a good web host? Here are some tips!

Klaus — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 19:48:49 +0000

Do you already have a website or are you searching for a good place for web hosting your site? Then you probably already know that finding a good web host is not as easy as scratching your back. Finding a web host, is as easy as anything – they are everywhere these days and you can get up and running in minutes. But you shouldn’t pick the first web host you find, as it’s probably not the best…

Here are some tips on how to find a good web host:

Don’t fully trust all comparison sites, if…

Comparison sites are great, except those who earns their money by referring customers to whatever product they’re comparing. If the comparison site offers you a coupon code or a “special link” to sign up with, then you can be fairly sure that the site is making money when you register with that web host. Now, there’s nothing wrong with that – affiliate businesses is a totally legit way of making money online.

The problem is, can you fully trust a website that makes money by making you a referral?

If the comparison site has user reviews or similar, be sure to study those as they might prove a more reliable source of information.

Make sure the web host has a “money back guarantee”

Ask yourself why the web host doesn’t want to offer a money back guarantee? I mean, if their product is as great as they say, why don’t they want to back that claim by saying “if you’re not happy, we’ll give you your money back”. A 14-30 days money back guarantee period is usually fine, that will give you a chance to look it over and get out of there if it runs poorly. Don’t always expect to get your setup fee back though, but that’s okay and to be expected.

Ask your friends, co-workers, bloggers etc.

Nowadays we have a tendency to google a company/product before we place an order. That’s great in most cases, but as with the comparison sites “trap”, you have to make sure that whatever blog you end up at, reading a web host review, is not an affiliate. If there’s an affiliate link, you cannot know for sure that you’re getting the whole truth. If it’s blog you’ve been following for a while and you trust it, or it’s generally a trustworthy blog or website, then go ahead.

Basically it’s always a good idea to ask around and learn from other users what they think about a web host (if they are customers there, that is).

Don’t be too cheap.

As most things in life, you get what you pay for. I know, I know, sometimes you get a bargain or stuff for free that really rocks. But when it comes to hosting your website, blog, online shop or whatever, do you really want to take a gamble on the quality of too cheap web hosting? There’s so much more to it than just “unlimited bandwidth” and other marketing jargon.

Consider the 4 S’s: Specifications, Stability, Security and Support. And not necessarily in that order.
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10 Tips for Using Facebook in the Office

Guest Author — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 17:48:22 +0000

Are you addicted to Facebook? Can you make it a full nine hours without needing to find out someone’s status or play Mafia Wars? If not, you are not alone. Here are some ways to keep up with your Facebook page without getting caught.

Rearrange your desk: People need change within their workplace. If you have the chance, move your computer and desk to minimize the chances of others watching over your shoulder. Be aware of any reflective surfaces behind you. This might inadvertently reveal your activities to the world.

Have a distracting poster in your workspace: If you have a cubicle, put up a compelling poster which appeals to the boss’ interests. Are they a classic rock and roller? Hang an awesome picture of Bob Seger. Does this person like fast motorcycles? Show off your interest in the Hayabusa and Ninja. If you’re not sure, use a poster which has a lot of detailed information. Perhaps something outlining the history of computing.

Develop awareness: You might be tempted to completely immerse yourself in the Facebook experience, but you have to resist. Watch the movements of your coworkers and be aware of your surroundings. Be prepared to leave your Facebook pages at a moment’s notice. If you have cameras in your office, know where they are pointed.

Become proficient at alt-tab and ctrl-tab: Alt-tab rotates between applications on your computer. Control-tab sends you to the next browser window that you have open. When you detect someone harmful in the area, change your browser window or the application to something that appears more work related. For PC users, Windows-D will immediately clear your desktop.

Have other applications maximized: Make sure that the work-related applications are maximized. There is nothing so embarrassing as to successfully perform an alt-tab or ctrl-tab and still see the remnants of the Farmville farm crops or the message that you were writing. If you are using Windows-D, make sure that you have switched tabs to something work related so the tell-tale ‘f’ won’t show.

Use Anonymouse.org: This is great for workplaces where your internet usage is being tracked. Go to the site, go to your preferred URL and type in your username and password from there. This is a proxy service which obscures your surfing habits from your boss.

Change your online status: You don’t want anyone to know that you were on. Go to your privacy settings and select ‘no-one’ as your online status. When your boss is using Facebook during the workday, your presence cannot be detected.

Remove embarrassing photos: If you have any photos of yourself which do not show you in a professional light, remove them. If you get caught, you don’t want to have to explain your photo as well as your activities.

Remember that people talk: You might have vented a time or two about work on your Facebook page. When you are using Facebook at work, make sure that those disparaging comments have been removed. You do not want to explain your motives.

Limit your Facebook interactions while at work: Do not leave yourself logged in all day. Check it, read the latest updates, and log off. Leave the long conversations at home. Resist the temptation to play the games. Turn your computer’s sound off so as not to startle your coworkers.

Facebook is a great way to pass the time at work. It allows you to clear your head, check on your crops, and use your energy. Most companies, however, frown on the use of Facebook at work because it diminishes productivity within the workplace. When you play on Facebook, exercise care.

Guest article written by: James Adams blogs about business, productivity and marketing at an online specialist in office supplies and office stationery.

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