Invest in these peripherals, not a new machine, to get the most of Windows 8

You invested in the new Windows 8 operating system because the system's new touch-screen capabilities intrigued you. There's just one problem: Your older computer isn't a touch screen. You still open files, look at the net and manage e-mail messages with an old-fashioned mouse and keyboard. And what if you utilize a tablet running Windows 8? You'll be missing out on the many mouse- and keyboard-controlled options that come with the product. Don't lose heart. Traditional laptop and desktop users are still able to enjoy many of the touch-screen and gesture-based features contained in Windows 8. And tablet users can enjoy the keyboard- and mouse-based features. You only need to get the appropriate peripherals. Fortunately, PC Magazine recently ran a feature story outlining a few of these must-have Windows 8 add-ons.


Microsoft Wedge Mobile Keyboard


If you're running Windows 8 on a tablet, you'll want a high-end mobile keyboard for when you want to replicate the desktop experience. The Microsoft Wedge may be the best choice. That's because it's not only a solid keyboard, it's one built exclusively to use Windows 8. The keyboard features several built-in Windows 8 functions to allow you to tap completely into the power of Microsoft's latest operating system.


Logitech T650 Wireless Rechargeable Touchpad


The Logitech T650 Wireless Rechargeable Touchpad is a must for Windows 8 users running the operating system on older computers that lack touch-screen features. The Logitech T650 will replicate touch-screen features even on computers that rely on traditional keyboard and mouse controls. This particular touchpad does an outstanding job at this, earning rave reviews from the editors at PC Magazine.


Kingston DataTraveler Workspace


The Kingston DataTraveler Workspace is a truly impressive device. It looks like a typical USB drive. Yet it actually holds Windows To Go, a portable Windows 8 operating system. That's right, using this device it's simple to boot up Windows 8 on any PC. It's a easy way to take advantage of the Windows 8 experience while you're on the road.

iPad in the swimming pool? There is hope

You had no idea your smartphone was perched so perilously on the edge of your bathtub. And you definitely didn't think you might actually knock it over the edge and into gallons of bubble bath and water. Yet you did. Now your smartphone is ruined, right? Maybe not. Yes, water is certainly an enemy of your favorite gadgets. But if you act quickly, you might be able to salvage even the most waterlogged of devices. Here's how.


Saving drowned technology


After you fish your device out of the water, do 1 thing first: Make sure that its power is off. If a battery is fueling your gadget, quickly yank that battery out. If your device does not feature a removable battery, make sure it is switched off. You might think it is the water that causes gadgets to go haywire. It's not. The electrical shorts that the water causes is what scrambles your devices. Whatever you do, do not to switch the power back on to see what damage has occured. By doing this, you'll only make things worse.


Other steps


Your next step will be to open as many air holes as feasible in the device. This means removing SIM cards, back covers, SD cards and ear hole port coverings. The greater number of openings you create, the more air will rush through the gadget. Secondly, vacuum out as much moisture as you can from your cell phone, tablet or iPod. Your ideal tool for this job is a vacuum which has a small nozzle. The more thorough you are , the better. Finally, drop your phone in a bowl of something that will dry it out. Lots of people recommend dry white rice. And this works, but Gizmodo comes up with a little something it says is even better—a bowl of dry Rice Krispies breakfast cereal. After 48 hours of drying time, turn your device back on. If you're lucky, it's going to pop straight back into life.


Keeping it dry


Of course, the easiest method to protect your devices from the water is to keep them dry in the beginning. This can be done by purchasing waterproof covers. There are several of them out there. In a recent story, the New York Times reviewed three options, LifeProof, Joy Factory Rain Ballet and Liquipel. All have their pros and cons, but each ought to keep your device dry if disaster should strike. But our best advice? Resist the impulse to bring your electronic gadgets to the pool or the side of the tub. Why take the risk?

Hackers now targeting smart phones

The vast majority of malware attacks still take place on PCs. But cybercriminals are increasingly turning their focus on smart phones. And no wonder: Smartphones are getting to be miniature computers. Many people use smartphones to surf the Web, read e-mail messages and transfer funds to our banks. These products, then, are ripe for attack. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to secure your smart phone from hackers.


Scary Numbers


It's not easy finding data on the frequency of smart phone cyber attacks. In a recent column, CNN Money writer David Goldman does a good job of scaring his readers. For example, denotes a recent mobile malware hack on Verizon that allowed cyber criminals to steal debit-card numbers. That attack generated a loss of $20 million. That's one attack. Goldman cites numbers from Lookout Security that found that four in 10 smartphone users will click or swipe on an unsafe Web link within the next year. He also reported that anti-virus giant McAfee reported that mobile malware attacks have jumped by a factor of six. When it comes to protection, mobile phone users are lax. According to security organization SANS, less than a fifth of smart phones are protected by anti-virus software.


The Good News


These numbers shouldn't cause smart phone users to toss their devices in the river. Despite the increasing amount of mobile malware, cyber criminals are still focusing mainly on PCs. For just one reason, it's easier. Developers learned from their past flaws, and have made it more tough for cyber criminals to take over smart phones and other mobile devices. At the same time, these criminals are so successful in targeting PC users, they have little financial incentive to focus on mobile devices. Consumers, though, shouldn't rely on this for much longer, Goldman writes. As smart phones continue to increase in popularity, they will see a greater number, and variety, of malware attacks.


Protect Yourself


You can protect yourself from mobile malware much the same way you protect yourself from PC-based cyber attacks: Use common sense.
First, never provide private info such as your Social Security Number or checking account numbers to companies that request it through e-mail. Your bank would not ask for such personal information within e-mail message. Always be wary when downloading apps. Make sure to review apps before downloading them, and steer clear of shopping in unregulated app stores.

Apple's iPad Mini might be the best tablet value

If you are a skilled writer who also own an iPad, you're fortunate: Software developers have created several apps to help you do your work better, whether you cover real estate news for a trade magazine, blog about technology or write romance fiction. Here is a closer look at several of the best iPad apps for truly serious writers. For those who earn your living with the written word, these applications are must-haves.


Paper by FiftyThree


Just starting with your novel, short story or non-fiction piece? Consider Paper. This phenomenal app lets you jot down your ideas as everything from sketches and illustrations to notes, drawings or diagrams.


iA Writer


This app, from Information Architects, doesn't come with a lot of glitz. A text editor and creator, iA Writer doesn't let you change fonts or colors. The goal? Eliminate the distractions and force you to write.


Google Drive


If you need to save your writing, articles or videos, try Google Drive. It provides you with 5GB worth of storage at no cost.


Evernote


This particular note-taking app has long earned cheers from tech reviewers. But few realize how useful it is to professional writers. With Evernote, you can jot down notes, capture photos, compose to-do lists and record voice reminders.


iThoughtsHD


Few organization programs are as helpful to writers as is iThoughtsHD. Use this app to organize your ideas as task list, project-planning document or brainstorming session. You can also make use of the program to make meeting notes.


Penultimate


Another useful application made by Evernote, Penultimate allows you to handwrite notes directly to your iPad. You can utilize the application to take notes, draw sketches and record those incredible ideas you don't want to forget once you leave your desk.


GoodReader


You'll never find it difficult to read PDF files again after installing the GoodReader app. This app, created by Good.iWare, allows you to read almost any document with your iPad.


Index Card


Looking for a place to keep all your plot summaries, outlines, character descriptions and deadline dates? Index Card is a good choice. This app generates a virtual corkboard on your iPad, and enables you to pin notes directly to it.


Notably


Notably is really a powerful note-taking app for your iPad. But what truly sets it apart is the way it works with well known cloud storage app Dropbox. Every time you add a note, plot summary or assignment due date to Notably, your modifications will automatically sync with Dropbox.

Orchestra hits a home run with Mailbox for iPhone

Do you read and send e-mail messages through your smart phone? Naturally you do. Do you genuinely like the e-mail program that you use to get this done? If you're similar to most smart phone users, most likely not. The simple truth is that few smart phone users like their mobile e-mail programs. There is a new contender in the mobile e-mail space, though, and it may well change this. Tech provider Orchestra just recently released Mailbox, its new e-mail client for the iPhone. And the assessments? Thus far, they've been fantastic.


Features


So why has the tech press weighed in so positively about the iPhone version of Mailbox? Probably because it operates as if it was actually designed to be used with smart phones. Several other mobile e-mail programs feel like they are simply rehashes of e-mail programs that work better on desktop or laptop computers. Here's the fundamental difference: With Mailbox, users save, delete or archive messages by swiping, the same as they do most anything else with their smart phones or tablet computers. Here are some examples: If you swipe an e-mail message to the left, you'll save it for a later date. When you instead swipe to the right, you'll archive the message. And when you swipe to the right while holding also, you'll delete an e-mail message. Swipe to the left while holding? A List screen will pop-up. Using this new screen, you can either label messages or move them to new locations. Basically, using Mailbox is intuitive.


Viewing


Supporters of the new Mailbox app point out that sending e-mail messages feels a lot more like Tweeting or texting. That's a pretty heady compliment; after all, most smart phone users prefer texting or sending out quick Tweets to depending on traditional e-mail programs to transmit messages. Mailbox also configures e-mail messages so that they are easy to read on a typical smart phone screen. When messages are first displayed, as an example, Mailbox does not show unneeded information like signatures. It's only when users tap on messages that additional information -- such as the "To" and "From" features -- are shown.


To Do


Mailbox for iPhone also acts as a handy to-do list for replying to e-mail messages. For example, when you read a message, you can assign it a priority. You could tend to have the message reappear in your e-mail inbox, for action, two days later. If the message carries a lower priority, you can request for it to appear again in a month. This supplies users with a simple way to gain some control over their incoming e-mail messages. If you're aggravated by your present mobile e-mail program, it may be the perfect time to explore the iPhone version of Mailbox. You just might discover that it is the perfect e-mail application on your favorite smart phone.

Apple's iPad Mini might be the best tablet value

Looking for that perfect tablet? You have an abundance of choices today, from classic iPad to the upstart Galaxy tablets. But which gadget is actually the best to buy? Which gives you top capabilities at a reasonable cost? And, this being tablets we're talking about, which best fits in your purse or book bag? One Website has a interesting answer: the iPad Mini.


The Benefits of the Mini


Staffers at the WireCutter blog advise the iPad Mini for one simple reason: It’s equally as powerful as its more substantial cousin, however it weighs less. For the staffers of WireCutter, the traditional iPad’s heft, as they refer to it, has become a serious problem. As the staffers wrote inside a recent article, you can’t support the traditional iPad like a magazine, which is the ultimate purpose of a tablet. That’s because its weight is more similar to a hefty coffee table or perhaps thinner telephone book. The iPad Mini, in contrast? It really is light.


Function


Of course, the Mini's small size isn't enough to recommend it as the very best tablet on the market. The editors of WireCutter also discovered that it performed exceptionally well. As reported by these editors, watching movies on the iPad Mini is a pleasure. Same goes with listening to music, surfing the Internet and playing video games. This performance, combined with the lighter weight and smaller size of the Mini, combine to make the iPad Mini the top tablet for informed shoppers today, WireCutter wrote.


The right recommendation?


Of course, this is simply one Web site’s viewpoint. Your opinion may differ. The obvious way to determine which tablet is right for you: Shop around. Experiment with the numerous tablets at the nearest bookstore or technology retailer. See which of them feel too heavy, which ones boast the best graphics and which have the most intuitive Browser or greatest variety of apps. It may seem like there are too many tablets available today. But wouldn’t you prefer too many of these wonderful devices than too few?

Internet trivia for a new year

It's tough to envision a world minus the Internet. After all, so many of us use the Internet now to watch movies, talk with our friends, play games and catch up on current events. But how much do you understand the Internet and how it works? You may be surprised at all you are not aware of. The Web site Business Insider recently took an intriguing look at the world of the web, paying special attention to those little factoids that you should but most likely have no idea of.


Facebook is King


We are all aware Facebook is big. But the social networking company isn't just big. It dominates cyberspace. Business Insider quoted data from Hitwise to discover just how big of a player Facebook has become: Facebook accounts for one in every five page views on the Internet. Facebook also, in September of 2012, reached 1 billion users.


The Biggest Data Center is Rising in Utah


Business Insider also mentioned of the fact that largest data center in the world is now being built in Utah. The National Security Agency is behind this center, and when the data center is complete, it will store a yottabyte of data. You might not know just what a yottabyte is. But it's huge. It equals 1,000 zettabytes or 1 million exabytes, according to Business Insider.


Streaming is on the Rise


Do you stream movies or Tv programs on your TV, computer or tablet? Even if you don't, the possibilities are high that your neighbor probably does. Streaming became one of the Internet's most widely used features. As stated by the Business Insider story, quoting statistics from Harris Interactive, greater than 50 percent of U.S. residents are using the Internet to watch TV. Streaming video has grown to be a particularly desired service among the many younger customers which are flocking to Web streaming. As per Business Insider, streaming is a huge hit among users under the age of 35.

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A standing desk can keep your heart healthy

If you work in an office, you may unwittingly be setting yourself up for health problems. According to a recent story by NPR, people who spend too much time sitting during the week face a greater probability of heart related illnesses compared to those people who are more physically active. The NPR report quoted a researcher from South Carolina University who discovered that men who sat more than 23 hours each week were 64 percent more likely to die from heart disease than were those that sat fewer than 11 hours in the average week.


The Good News


But there is good news, too: It is possible to dramatically reduce the number of hours each week that you sit by creating your own standing desk, a desk at which you stand as opposed to sit. Best of all? You can build that standing desk even if you are not handy or you haven't got many dollars to shell out. Website Lifehacker recently gave a unique recipe for a standing desk, one which uses reasonably priced parts that you can find at any Ikea furniture store.


The Easy Way


Need an easy desk for yourself? Lifehacker suggests creating a standing desk with Utby legs. This is a smaller desk, but it will provide you with enough room for a monitor, keyboard and laptop. For this desk, you'll need a Vika Amon Top, Utby underframe, Ekby Jarpen shelf and one set of Capita legs, all of which you can find at Ikea for a total of approximately $140. According to Lifehacker, you can put this desk together by just assembling the main desk and platform using a screwdriver.


A Bit More Complicated


Do you want a desk with a wider top, one which will provide you with more room for your speakers, keyboard and monitor? Why not construct a wide standing desk completely from Ikea parts? Lifehacker recommends that you invest about $250 in five Vika Byske legs, one Lack shelf, two packages of Capita brackets and one Vida Amon tabletop. Then, with just the help of a power drill, you'll be able to come up with a standing desk that includes more room.

Struggling to master Excel? Follow these three tips

If you're like most people who use computers, you make use of Excel on a daily basis, whether you're figuring out your household expenses and income or figuring out what each of your company's sales representatives sold for the month. But, if you're really like the majority of Excel users, the possibilities are also good that you are not making use of this program to its full capacity. Excel can be a truly powerful software. You only need to learn how to tap into its full power. Here, then, are three tricks to help you get more from Excel.


Adding non-contiguous values


Excel's AutoSum option is an incredibly useful tool. It lets users instantly add rows of numbers together to calculate a single sum. Way too many users, though, don't know the way you use AutoSum to add values which aren't contiguous, or adjacent, to one another. Fortunately, this task isn't as complicated as users might think. The TechRebpublic blog recently highlighted how users are able to use AutoSum to include non-contiguous sums. The procedure involves picking one column of numbers and holding the computer's "Control" key to select a second column. Users are able to use AutoSum to compute the sums of both columns, even if they're not located alongside the other.


Preventing bad data entry


Do your employees often enter bad data within your company spreadsheets? Your workers might be entering text in a spreadsheet designed just to accommodate numbers. This is often a frustrating situation when it's time to analyze your spreadsheet. The good news, though, as PC Magazine wrote in a recent story, is the fact that Excel features a method intended to protect against personnel from typing the wrong information inside a company spreadsheet. This phenomenal feature? It's known as Data Validation. Click on the "Table Tools" tab on Excel. Next, click "Data Validation." Excel then will allow you to enter just what type of data your employees need to be entering into the spreadsheet. As an illustration, you could tell Excel just to allow numbers and never text inside a spreadsheet's fields. Excel will prevent employees from entering an incorrect kind of data.


Don't let unsaved files ruin your day


We all get that sinking feeling when our computers turn off while we're working with an Excel file that we never saved. Fortunately, with newer versions of Excel, there's no cause for that feeling. That's because Excel makes it simple to easily recover documents which you thought you lost. To recover these important files, click the "File" tab in Excel. Then click "Recover Unsaved Documents." After this, you simply select the "lost" document once it appears on your screen. This procedure works for Excel files that you never even gave a name.

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Tech watch: What happened in 2012, what will happen next year

How important was modern technology this year? It changed the way we fought terrorists. It changed the way presidential candidates won election. Also it definitely changed the gifts we received underneath the Christmas tree. Technology continues to advance, becoming easier for people to grasp and a lot more powerful on a daily basis. But exactly what does the future hold? Expect consumers to spend a lot more of their cash on tech toys in 2013. Expect tablet computers to get even smaller and much more powerful. And expect consumers to continue to replace their desktop computing with hours spent surfing the web, texting friends and watching video with their smart phones, tablets and other mobile devices. This is a quick look at the top technology stories of the year as well as a look ahead to what we think stands out as the biggest tech trends of 2013.


Obama's grip on election tech


The 2012 presidential election was meant to be a nail biter. In the end it was not. Pres. Obama won reelection with more than 300 Electoral College votes, turning away a late challenge by opponent Mitt Romney. A part of the credit has to go to Obama's superior polling technology, called Narwhal. Obama knew which voters he had to win over. And he centered on those voters with laser-like precision throughout the election campaign. Romney's vaunted Project Orca, designed to work as a massive get-out-the-vote machine for Romney, ended up as an epic failure. Orca even broke down during election day, dealing a significant setback to a campaign which was already struggling. Technology also changed how newspapers and Web sites reported on the election. During the 2012 campaign, candidates were fact-checked almost instantly during debates and campaign speeches by reporters and fact-checkers using Twitter. It's safe to say that neither candidates nor reporters will view election campaigns in the same way.


Drones


The rise of unmanned drones became one of the most heated tech stories of 2012. The federal government captured the interest of reporters with its successful Predator drone strikes against some of the most-wanted terrorists throughout the world. Some hailed drones as being the new frontier in warfare. In any case, the tech behind these drones permits the government to concentrate on dangerous terrorists without putting the lives of soldiers in danger. Critics, though, point out the drones aren't perfect, and also their mistakes are often deadly. Many times, they claim, the drones killed civilians in addition to their terrorist targets. Other critics say that there is little to stop the federal government from utilizing unmanned drones to spy on the United States' own citizens. Inspite of the controversy, there is little doubt that the utilization of unmanned drones will continue to rise in 2013 and beyond.


The coming year


What can consumers anticipate seeing tech-wise in the coming year? More. That's more consumers embracing mobile computing, switching off their desktop PCs and surfing the Web, sending e-mail messages, texting, reading books, watching movies and enjoying music on tablets and powerful smart phones. More also means that consumers will continue to open their wallets for the latest technology. Tablets and smart phones were sizzling sellers through the recently concluded christmas shopping season. Count on seeing even more of these mobile devices under Christmas trees next year. And finally, more means that technology will spread to a growing group of emerging countries. Expect developing countries to flock to social media, laptops and mobile devices as these technologies gradually become open to them. People like technology, wherever they live.

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