Category: General

Google pulls a very vital App off their store and says we didn’t mean to release it! (Apps Ops)

Paul




Google removes a Hidden Privacy feature!

If you haven’t heard, the last week Google removes a hidden privacy feature in the new upcoming Kitkat build to help keep apps such such as this flashlight app that sold users data without your permission!  I am quite concerned with what happenes when another app does this or something else and you have no way to deny it or not use it.   Some of the things that I am sure your wondering like I am are the very things that come to mind.  Then Google tells it users that this was an accidental release of the feature and that it isn’t ready for public consumption.

Keep in mind the privacy feature wasn’t well known or even that easy to get to.   You had install another app such as App Ops to even get to use this little known menu in Android 4.3+.




App Dev

The people behind the apps are probably up in arms because they worry that they won’t be able to make money on their apps that are using advertising to help pay them for each time someone sees an advertisement or when a users clicks on an advertisement they get some kind of revenue.   This isn’t the only reason but I am sure it is one of the top reasons why the development gurus would be up in arms over this new way to control what permissions an app can have and who ultimately has control over what they can and do with your app.   It was and probably soon will be the customer who decides what the app will have permissions for and that worries them.

Google apps will become paid!

The one thing that will happen for sure is that we will either have to pay a monthly service or a one time fee for an app because once this starts to be released or if it is released then the app developers will have no choice but to go to a pay wall model to get the money they probably think they deserve and/or want for their work.   I am sure we haven’t seen the last of this and or other apps that do something similar.   I would just like to have Google be more upfront to their customers about why.

Google Wallet tries but fails!

Paul

It’s a Mastercard with NO Fees! But not very useful!

Got my Google Wallet Card!

Wasn’t really that impressed with it.   I was hoping the Google Wallet card had a NFC chip in it but that was really not the case.   It comes with as a way to load money through your Google app or through the website.   There is no way to deposit money from a Adsense or for that matter from job.   You have to use another credit card to transfer money on to this card.  It seems redundant and not very well received around the tech community.   Even Android Police was thinking it was going to have an NFC Chip in it, but the functionality of this card was to me a lot under whelming.   It has so much to be desired for.   

Possibilities are endless!

The Possibilities for this card are endless if you step outside of the box.   You could put it in a museum and see if anyone can guess card number by looking just on the front of the card, and not the back.   You could give out a full 20$ if someone figures out all the required information to use the card.

Other than that, here are what I see you can do with this card.   If you don’t have a NFC device and that is like 85% or more devices who don’t use NFC than you can at least use this as a way to make payments to a shop that accepts credit cards.   It however has that possibility.   

Online Purchases!

If your planning to use this for online purchases it.   I haven’t tried this but can’t see any reason why it wouldn’t work.   Just turn the card over and use the back 16 numbers that are on the card, they are divided into 4×4 sections ( EXAMPLE: 1234 1234 1234 1234 ).   You would use all those numbers as your credit card number and then you will need the 3 digit code that should be right beside where you sign your card.   It was the number you needed to verify you got the card.   Then you would be all set to use your new Google Wallet card online.  Again you can try this yourself but I don’t see any reasons why it wouldn’t work!

Other than that, you really don’t have much else you can do with this card.  So much for it standing out and creating even more buzz.   If this service survives it will need to be more useful in the future.   I guess you could say this is still in beta but I am not impressed with it and disappointed with the product myself!

Why Porting your Mobile Phone Number is Obsolete!

Paul1 Reply

Using Google Voice with Skype and any international number through Rebtel

No need to transfer your number!

A few years back you would need to worry about keeping that number of yours for your friends and family, so they wouldn’t have to worry about updating that number of yours.   In today’s time we have a great option for everyone to keep your number where ever you go.   You no longer have to tell people to update there numbers for you.   After today, you will have a number that you can keep and use where ever you go.   It is only available in the USA, so please keep that in mind.

Google Voice Features

Google Voice is the one thing that I recommend to my family and friends, to have a number that you can give out to anyone, and keep your cellphone account private.   It is almost like Ring Central but it is virtually free for any Google user.  I have had my number for over 2 years and that is the only number I give out to anyone I know.   It helps me because I am using prepaid and it allows me to try different phones on different prepaid networks.   I also get unlimited calls and text messages when I use this service because most cell providers like Virgin Mobile US gives you unlimited data on all accounts.   So you no longer have to worry about how many minutes you have used.

Choosing your Number!

In order to get started with Google Voice, you will need to Choose your Number through Google.   This part is free, unless you intend to change the number later on.   Which is a 10$ one time charge for everytime you change the number   Unlike Ring Central, which cost your a monthly service fee for using their service.

RingCentral Office - Voice, Fax, Text and Conferencing. Your phone system in the cloudBenefits of Google Voice:

  • Number Forwarding 
  • Number Filtering
  • Voicemail Transcription (Experimental)
  • One Number for the life of your account!
  • SMS to Emails
  • Do not Disturb feature!

As you can see there are many benefits to using this service.   It is also avail for the Google Android and Apple IOS devices such as Iphones, And Samsung Galaxy Smart Phones.   I have been using it on the ZTE AWE from Virgin Mobile USA and it works flawlessly without using any minutes!.

Now that you have seen the benefits of this service, I am sure you are going to go check it out.   If you decide you want to keep from giving everything to Google, you can always go to Ring Central and pay for their service which has many to all the same things you can do with Google Voice but that is up to you!   It just depends on what you want to do!  

What is backup really worth to you? Top 5 Backup software!

Paul

Via Wikimedia.org

We’ve all had that done to us!

In the last few months we have had this very bad ransomware called Cryptolocker, and just how many people don’t really back up their important files.   I am going to alliviate some of this by talking about a few of the ways you could prevent this from happening in the first place.

This is not going to be a why it happened sort of blog post but more to the point of which backup software works best to help keep thos jpegs, and video files save from malicious acts.   Even the best security advise can not help you if you don’t help yourself so this is not a 100% guaranttee but at least it will head you in the right direction.

  • Mozy comes with both a trial version and even a free 5 gb version.   Each of these can help you save you files.   I personally have tried the free version and love it.  Although it isn’t my current backup plan.  I’ve used it in the past and still think it is better than nothing!
  • Google Drive comes with 15 gb free space and can let you share files to other people easily and simply.  I have this one with a 100 Gb plan for 2 years due to my Acer Chromebook.  That is one of the perks of buying a Chromebook.  You get free space for two years.  It also allows me to use this as a mapped drive.  
  • Carbonite which I haven’t used for a long time, has been vetted by tons of experts.   It also has a 15 day trial for one computer unlimited space.   It has helped some people with keeping it in the cloud storage solution.
  • Dropbox is another Good service.   It allows you to share files quite easily and securely.   I haven’t used this service because I don’t need to.   I however have used it in the past and it works really well.
  • Just Cloud is the last one I would recommend visiting.  It can be used on any system and has unlimited storage.  Free Apps and multiple computer backups and shares files with friends.

On a side note, I use Always Sync with Google Drive to keep all my files sync with my laptop.   It however doesn’t need to be used with my Google Chrome. A simple 16 gb to 32 Gb SD card or USB drive can keep your files backed up on your Chromebook.   Some of these do not need to use Always Sync but in most cases unless you have a way to do an offline back up then your still vulnerable.   You can always buy a 500gb Hard Drive to a 1 Tb hard drive and then use Always Sync from time to time to keep it backed up!

You should always have more than one type of backup in case the unthinkable actually happens.   This post is to help you find out how to keep those valuable files from being ransomed and encrypted illegally.   Once a week you should plug in that drive and sync your files with the hard drive.   Do not keep it plugged in because that will not prevent the problem.   It has to be offline to prevent problems like this ransomware!

Is that special someone out there or is it me?

Paul

Single In Evansville, Indiana!

Yep, I am tired of being single and have dating sites such as Zoosk, POF (Plenty of Fish), Christian Mingles, And Christian Singles.  Each one of these worked to a point but isn’t really that helpful.   I have decided that some of these Free Dating sites are nothing more than a lot of noise.   Nothing ever seems to be happen with me on those sites and when I do try to approach any other user and send them a message, I usually just get ignored.  I have been looking over the past year for someone who might make me happy.   This has been the first year that I have used these sites with no luck.   It wasn’t like I wasn’t trying but it just seems like their are to many people going the same way.

To much noise!

These sites seem to make to much noise and not enough results for me.   Each site tries to make you believe they have a special algorithm to find your perfect match.  This however is not always going to be true.  I have yet to find my perfect match and they have yet to give me anything but a lot of noise and some fake identities and scammers.   I finally just have given up my searches with these sites because they seem to just not work.   I’m not getting younger and thus this is my way of finding that one true person.

Facts About Me!

I run this blog, and it has been running for over 7 years.   I like writing, and enjoy a good science fiction movie and shows.  I have not gone out in groups for a while, and consider myself a recluse.   I like to stay home and write.   I also love Technology and thus this is where my blog comes into place.  It does not stop me from working at a local but it does help me to connect to the world.   I am S/W/M(Single White (Divorced) Male) in his upper 30’s who would love to go out to the movies and find someone who is a Christian.   That is one of my standards, even though we have many people out their.   My last marriage, I made that mistake and will not make it again.   That being said, I also would like them to not smoke or do any drugs.   They must have Goals, that is another must.   If you don’t have goals then go look somewhere else.   My Goal is clear is to keep this site going and that sooner or later it will bring in more profit that I will know what to do with.   

I’m a creative person at heart and thus this is where my blog comes into play.   You should also have some creative traits but that isn’t actually a requirement but is a plus.  I’ve had enough adventure for a lifetime and would like to just watch the sun rise and sun set with that special someone.   This is basically what I am looking for.  I’m not really a flirt, I am more of an arrow guy.   So if your looking for those types of guys this is not me.   I am thankful for a lot and know God has his plan and I am just waiting for it to happen.   Do not know when or how just know it will happen.   I am waiting for God’s promises.

Are you Interested?

If I have gotten your interested then you have a few ways to either learn more about me or you could just contact me.  If your looking to learn more about me then, please join my Mailing List.  If you know someone who is looking for a soul mate, don’t forget to share this on Facebook and Twitter.   I am sure someone is out there for me and this post is a way to find them!  You can contact me through POF and Christian Mingles if you want to chat with me but it is totally up to you!