Month: January 2014

Three Timesheet Apps for the Android! (Friday’s Pick’s)

Paul

TimeSheet ( Free ) or ( Pro: 2.50$ )

This is one Application that I have been and still use for my Android ZTE AWE and Kyocera Rise Phones.  I don’t know about the rest of you but I did try the Free version and was really impressed with it.   So I upgraded to the Pro version to help support the developer and also because you get more stuff with the paid version.   

The nice thing about this app is that I can keep track of all my hours and also keep it backed up on Dropbox (I get no money for this link but when I refer enough people, I get up got 16 gb of space!  So please go sign up and help me get the maximum!) or to the SD Card.   So at least I have two ways to do this plus it has a great automatic backup feature to help keep your hours from getting lost!  It keeps track of expenses and travel if your one to be getting paid traveling.   So you can know by the end of the week how much you made and also some other great tools to help you make sure you are short on your next check.

Timesheet – Time Tracker  (Free)

I do not like to do free apps but my friend from work showed me this one and swears to it.   I’ve played around with it and it seems to be a very easy and you really don’t have a lot to fill out.   It can be very useful if all you need to do is track your hours and nothing else.   You can also backup to Dropbox (I get no money for this link but when I refer enough people, I get up got 16 gb of space!  So please go sign up and help me get the maximum!) or a Micro SD card if you wish, so your times will be saved in the cloud!

I personally like the TimeSheet Pro that I paid for because It allows me to enter so much more information and keep track of so much more.

Time Recorder (Free)

I admit, I haven’t played around with this one but it looks promising for two reasons.   You can split tasks and also have more than one option to backup this to.   You have Dropbox (I get no money for this link but when I refer enough people, I get up got 16 gb of space!  So please go sign up and help me get the maximum!)and/OR Google Drive that you can use to keep your time from going missing.   The only problem I see with this is you need plugins that need to be installed to use these two backup features.   It was something the developer, I suspect, couldn’t intra grate with the app very easily.   So that is why I didn’t install this one because of to many plugins that come along with this free version.

I still recommend Timesheet Pro, which is what I use all the time and has worked really well for my needs working as a contractor.   It does what I need to keep track of my time.   Know of a good app that does just this and want to tell people about it.   Leave a comment and tell people your experience with an Time recording app!

How to Root a ZTE AWE phone! (Virgin Mobile)

Paul

Cydia Impactor rules!

After getting my ZTE AWE,  I’ve been looking for a way to use the tethering feature that can be useful where I am currently located at!   The only problem is that Virgin Mobile (VM) does not let me pay the 15 dollar tethering charge for using it has a wifi hotspotl  According to them, there is no way to enable this.   So I went searching for ways to enable it.  I have gotten closer to making that happen by BREAKING MY WARRANTY.   According to VM, if I root the device, it voids the warranty of the device.   I kind of think this a small ridiculous rule so it is up to you!

The way I did it was a very easy way to download Cydia Impactor to root your device!  It puts the Super USER binaries on your device and allows them to have any thing on it that you want.   

Steps to root phone:

  • Install the ZTE AWE software from phone!  You can do this simply by System Settings —> Connect to PC and selecting Install driver!  (Only needs to be done on Windows or Mac OS!)
  • Put the Phone on USB Debug :  System Settings —> Developer Options — > USB Debugging
  • You will need to click on the USB menu on Cydia Impactor and select the N800 driver.
  • Once your do that you can simply drop the SuperSU Binaries
  • Install the SuperSU from ChainFire

Once your have done all this you will have ROOT access.   It is up to you what you want to do but I have found that you have several things that can help monitor your phone and speed it up.   In the coming weeks I will tell you about a few of my favorite apps that work to help keep your phone running smooth!

Even More Tips and Tricks for the ZTE AWE!

Paul

It’s that Time again!

I’ve had several people say they liked some of my tips for the Zte AWE and asked me for more.   So I thought we should do another quick segment for those who just can’t wait to long!  Some of these tips are great for people who use Virgin Mobile so it will probably work for most to all Virgin Mobile US smart phones!

Tip #4  Airplane Mode is your Friend!

Unlock Phone —> PRESS and HOLD power button for 2 seconds —> Airplane Mode

Or

On Main Screen —> Press the Three Bars —> System Settings —> Airplane Mode

I’ve had those time when You need to just turn on airplane mode to help conserve battery power.   You really don’t know how much battery power is used when your cell phone gets very little signal in an area.   It uses more battery power to keep that connection with the cell tower.   So it is best just to turn off the signal, until you get to a better reception area.   It might be important for your to keep it on but it isn’t life threatening for me! It is also quite useful to turn on airplane mode when your charging your phone.   I found this tip out somewhere else on the internet but it is a really good tip.   It charges my phone faster.   So it works really well when your in a hurry to quickly charge your phone.

Tip #5 Turn off Connections Optimizer

Main Screen —> Three Bars —> System Settings —> Mobile Networks —>   Connections Optimizer —>  Uncheck Connections Optimizer

I’ve had so much bad experiences with this little Virgin Mobile US and Sprint Network extra that I suspect this is a way for them to have to worry about us using to much of their data networks and hoping we use our own way to keep from using theirs.   I also have noticed this will speed up the reduction of my battery power a little and thus I just disable it from the get go.   I don’t even worry about it because it just worries me about privacy issues and I will not tolerate my privacy be abused.

Tip #6  Tell Google to Do Not Track you!

When you setup your phone this seems to be something Google does to help make the ads more likely to be clicked by you and it is what they call interest-based ads, but are being tracked by Google and 3rd party partner apps.   So I always turn this off when ever I get a Phone with Ice Cream Sandwich or Above (4.0 +).   It is a new feature that they have been adding to their operating systems that I just do not like and thus I turn it off.
Main Screen —> Three Bars —> Google —> Ads
 
You will need to Opt out of the Interested-Based Ads by checking the little check mark.   I do not understand why this should be an opt instead of a opt out.   I am not pleased with Google over this little idea of opting everyone in instead of being automatically being opted out.   This should be the first thing that comes up when you start using your new phone.     You should also generate a new random ID that way the advertisers can’t keep tracking your old id and you privacy is being protected.

Main Screen —> Three Bars —> Google —> Search —> Accounts & Privacy

Another area where I protect my privacy is by turning off commute sharing, Web History and also tell Google to do not keep my web history in their system.  I also turn of personal Results because they have to keep track of your information to make it relevant to you and thus somewhere some how, something is keeping records and thus I tell Google I do not want to be recorded.

On a side note, If your using Google Now this will not affect you but if your not then you can Turn off Google Now easily by going to the search settings and turning it off.   It is the first thing you see when you get into the search menu and this will help you protect your privacy.   I use Google Now but I use it with limits that I set by doing those two things whenever I get a new phone.

 

Microsoft did WHAT to Google?

Paul

Microsoft smears Chrome OS!

In the lastest attempt by the Microsoft, who seems content to throw mud and some fud over the Chrome OS.   Microsoft got a hold of the Scroogle Domain in late 2012 and has been holding onto it eversince.   Scroogle was an attempt to keep advertising and secured search going through Google but was not sponsored by Google.  It Ended in early 2012 due to throttling and DDOS attacks.   I don’t know this sounds suspciously like Microsoft wanted that domain, it wouldn’t surprised me if that was the case.  Some of the things that I just are not happy about this little campaign of theirs is these facts.

No easy way to print!

This one was an obviously no brainer for me, when I bought this Acer Chrome book because I really don’t have any reason to print anything and if I did, I can go to a library or to Kinkos to print what is needed to print.   I am not going to go into detail because when I did m FAQ section about the Chrome OS.   I was pretty much thinking Microsoft is worried because they will loose so much profit from Windows.   A Small fact for those who think Windows 8 can print, not without some jumping through some hoops will you be able to print.

NPD and that elusive 21% figure!

NPD published an article about how Chrome Books have a 21% sales in 2013.   I tend to think this may be a little low but that is probably because people don’t really advertise they bought the Chrome OS and thus it will grow in the coming years, I am sure of it.   You see, the reason I bought this laptop was a really serious question for me.   One of money, one of Security and Battery life, each of these were a value for me and I did like any person who buys a laptop.   I reasearched it long and hard, and new what i would be facing and what my limitations were going to be.   So I didn’t not walk into this half handed.

No windows 8!

I only had two options one with Windows 8 or Chrome OS.   I only had around 300$ to use to buy a new laptop with my other laptop breaking down.  Don’t get me Wrong, I had no problems with Windows 7 but from the way I was reading it with Windows 8.   I just didn’t want to have to worry about all those major problems associated with the release of the that operating system.  I am sure I am not alone in this venture because this had many features of Windows 7 and how to approach the problem.   

Resolution for Microsoft!

Hey Microsoft, if your really worried about loosing the sales and money from your consumers, then you should come up with an easy way to dual boot a Chrome OS and Windows 8 into one cheap laptop like this one and thus we can have access to everything we may ever need.   A Good browser when we need it and ways ways to print and download movies when we want to!  Hey now there is a concept that would make everyone happy.   Also, it shouldn’t cost an arm or leg to buy a Windows machine because you will still make money in other areas besides licensing!  

So I tell you this right now, Microsoft you are no long the Alpha dog in my life and you will just have to learn your new place in this changing world!   Until you learn you will always be on the sidelines!

 

Why your Facebook account got hacked and how to secure it!

Paul

You’ve Probably seen:

Help me!!! the house was broken into lastnіght, i caught the theіves stealing our stuff on our securitу cameras! Do уou happen too recognize them?  (Some link such as Tumblr)

I know it is the hardest thing to understand but when it comes to getting your Facebook account, getting into your account is the most valuable for them.   Most of the time it is used to mine data such as your personal information or so they can become you but that it’s always the case.   It is sometimes the case that a spammer wants to get those click’s from your friends and you be the one who gets in trouble with Facebook.   It isn’t always the case though.   More than anything hackers or some call the crackers want to get your account to make money somehow.  99% of the time that is the case the other 1% is someone who wants to just be a wise guy and show you he did it!

Well it happened!

You probably like the rest of the people asking how do I prevent this in the future first thing first.  You need to change your password on your Facebook account.  Once you have your account back you will then need to end all activity on your facebook account besides the device your logged into and that means you will need to update your password on all devices.   

The Easiest way to end all activity on your facebook account is:

Settings — > Account Setting —>  (Click) Recongnized Devices —> (Then) End All activity

Before you start putting the password in to all those devices maybe it is time to use a good Password manager to do just that, I recommend Lastpass because it is has everything you need to help keep hackers out of your account.   You should use a minium 20 character length and make it as random as possible.   This is what I have used to keep people from guessing my password although it is good way to help prevent Phishing attacks from sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and other social media outlets!

Setup a 2 Authentication factor!

In some ways this has been the hardest for people to understand and to want to use because it slows down people logging into their account but it also makes it that much harder for someone to get into your account because they have to know your validation code.   This will help you keep your privacy and security safe.  There is a great tutorial on how to do it, and I use it with the Google Authenticator myself!

Review your Timeline!

It might not be needed but you never know what the hacker posted on your timeline or your activity and you should carefully check it out from the time you thought you got compromised to now.  You never know what has been posted or said about your until you do a complete inventory of damage control.  Delete any posts that you didn’t do and remove those from your time line.   Just look for a little X on the upper right corner.

Finally Review your security Settings!

Go back through your security settings and make sure the hacker didn’t enable something that you might regret later on.   For instants your timeline being public or your phone number or something that you don’t want anyone other than friends or family to know.  There are few places where you should check and maybe change if need be and they are:

Settings —> Privacy Settings

Settings —> Account Settings —> Timeline And Tagging

Settings —> Account Settings —> (-)Blocking

You never know what the hacker did to either unblock someone or change something that you had put private.   So this is what I call damage control.   This will keep you safe and secure, but remember the only way to truly be safe is watching what you do online and keep that information private as long as possible.