More New Content!

Since September has come and (just about gone with only hours left of it).  I wanted to announce that next week we will launch a weekly video feature that will be a short review of alternative (open source) software that can be used in place of commercial offerings.  With a new month will come new things!

Our focus will be what is it, how to get access to the software being reviewed, and what the major differences are between it and it's commercial counterpart, and whether or not it's worth making the switch.  If you have an application you'd like to see covered be sure to leave us a comment!

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Sims 3 coming to a web browser near you!

Remember that awesome simulation franchise...You know the one, where you would have to make your little digital person cook, clean, get a job, and go to the bathroom?  I think it was called...The Sims?!  If so, then hold on to your hats because you can now try it out in your web browser.

To be more specific, EA is bringing The Sims 3 to your web browser in the form of a free trial.  The beauty of it, you don't have to download several gigabytes of game data to play it.  Right now there is a 20 minute demo at: http://www.thesims3.com/demo

The demo includes a mix of content from the core game and a couple of expansion packs.  If you like the demo, feel free to scoot over to EA's Origin online store to purchase full access.

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Affordable Remote PC Support using Teamviewer

I ran into an issue quite a while back in which I needed to login to someone's computer remotely.  It was a friend and they were having some issues with their computer that they just couldn't convey to me over the phone.  And honestly, I didn't feel like driving half an hour away to their house at 8:30 in the evening.  So, I decided to give Teamviewer a try.

It was by far one of the easiest remote clients I have ever used.  In my case, I simply emailed my friend the client listed on their site as 'For the Instant Customer'.  Which weighs in at 2.5MB's, so it is very small and a quick download for them.  Meanwhile, I had already downloaded the full client on my PC.  It was literally as simple as asking them to run their client and give me the 'User ID' and 'Password' numbers.

I then had to launch my Teamviewer client and choose to 'Create Session'.  In the Partner ID field you simply enter you're friend's 'ID'.  It is a numeric string that consists of three sets of three digit numbers.  Then select what type of connection you want to use.

-Remote Control

-File Transfer

-VPN

For most of my uses so far, Remote Control is the only feature I needed, so that is what I chose.  On the next screen you will be prompted to enter your friend's password which will consist of four digits.  And the password is randomized every time you launch the Teamviewer client.  This is to ensure user's have explicitly granted access themselves for the remote session.  Basically so you can't come in later and try to spy on them or do other malicious acts.

Once you have access to their system you will be able to navigate their machine as if you were in front of their physical computer.  In the past I have used a couple other services.  But this seems to work the most fluent in my situation.  In one case I was even able to troubleshoot my computer at home from a friends house via my Android Tablet running the Teamviewer client (I had set up the User ID and Password prior to leaving the house).  And it worked fine.

So if you are looking for a free way to handle remote access, this is my way of choice.  It's also cross platform.  There are clients for Windows, Mac, Linux, and even iPhone/iPad and Android!

Pros: Several different types of clients available.  I usually send my friends the 'No Install' client.  They simply download and run it.  And I use the full client to gain access to their systems.  And it's free for home user's (businesses must pay).  Cross platform support!

Cons: None that I have personally encountered.  Unless count the ad that pops up when closing the client.  But it isn't that intrusive.

To try it out for yourself visit: http://www.teamviewer.com

I give Teamviewer (as a service) 5 out of 5 stars!

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Newest Version of Android Market Rolling Out to Xoom User's

This week the lastest version of the Android Market rolled out to Motorola Xoom user's.  Sounds like this is in preparation for the latest version of Android dubbed the name: 'Ice Cream Sandwhich'.  I don't have a Xoom, but it sounds like the aim of this update is to offer a little better organization to the current version of the Market for tablets.

The update seems to lay things out onscreen in more of a tiled manner, and according to some of the buzz on the web nothing has really changed other than it's appearance.  Check it out:

One thing this does mean is that Ice Cream Sandwhich must be right around the corner.  And if signs are any clue, it is believed that Google will unveil Ice Cream Sandwhich on October 11th.  As we have mentioned before, ICS is supposed to bridge some of the gap between Honeycomb and Android on smartphones.  Which in theory will clear up some of the fragmentation Android user's bump into.

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Why will the Kindle Fire sell like crazy?

Amazon's Tablet Offering: Kindle Fire

With all of the rage in the tablet world right now buzzing around the announcement of Amazon's Kindle Fire, I wanted to discuss why Amazon's first attempt at a full fledged tablet will be a crazy success for them.  First up, is the price.  I mean for $200 bucks you get a fully functional tablet.  Now granted, it isn't a crazy powerful device but it is very practical for what it aims to do.  It's rocking a dual-core processor (not sure which one of speed); and only 8GB's of storage on the device itself.  And they are boasting about 8 hours of battery life.  All on a rather nice, and comfortable 7 inch screen.

What does the Kindle Fire not have?  Well, pretty much everything most tech folks look for in a tablet by the market standards nowadays.
-No 3G
-No expandable storage.
-No front or back cameras.
-No bluetooth.
-No HDMI
-And no GPS.

So, if it basically has a handful of features when compared with other tablets; why will it do so well?  In one, simple word: content.  What is one thing we all have in common, and we all soak as much of it up everyday as possible.  Whether it be news, internet sources, television, music, media, etc.  It is all considered some form of content.  And what better way could Amazon jump into the tablet market than by providing a small window into the heart of the entire business?  Whether it be selling ebooks, merchandise, mobile apps, or streaming video via the new Amazon Prime offering.  All made accessible with device that simply builds upon what the Kindle name is already good for: e-reading.  No doubt, they will already have a bunch of Kindle fans who are looking to upgrade, that is a given audience right there.  Without even having to sell the concept to those fans.

Personally, if this tablet does as well as I think it will.  I will start to recommend this device to those new to the tablet scene.  Seriously?  Since most people aren't going to harness the full processor power of their devices anyways.  I saw a demographic the other day that suggested most people use mobile devices for:
1- Web access and communicating via the web while on the go (social media).
2- Media consumption (YouTube, streaming media, etc.)
3- Apps.

And at it's very basic level the Kindle Fire seems to have those 3 features covered.  See their tv spot for a brief intro:

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Update on the AVG 2012 Errors

As mentioned in a recent post I covered an issue with the latest release of AVG.  It appears that some applications can run into an error message rendering that application useless ("Encountered improper argument").  The wotk around was simple, and only involved disabling the 'Identity Protection' module within the AVG User Interface.






I received a response to the article via Twitter today from @AVGCares that read:

So hopefully a fix will roll out soon, with one of the next updates.  It's nice to see that some companies are still out there listening to their users!  Thanks AVG!

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Computer Tip of the Day: Speedtesting

You subscribe to internet service by way of an Internet Service Provider (ISP).  And you subscribe for a specific connection speed.  Most of the time, you're actual connection speed may in fact be a little less than what you are paying for and this is to be expected.  A lot of things play in this factor, line quality that the connection runs in on, your networking hardware, and even computer hardware can all screw with your connection speed (the later two will affect your experience more than your raw speed).

So how do we double check to make sure our ISP is honest, and we are getting the closest speeds possible?  For example, you don't want to pay your ISP for a 6MB downstream connection and end up only getting a 1MB downstream connection do you?  One great way to check (and it's free too), is by using Speedtest.net.

All you need to do is visit their site, and click the large 'Begin Test' button.  And wait for the test to run.  In the results it will tell you what your ping, and upstream and downstream bandwidth speeds are.

Now keep in mind, you rarely get the full speed you are paying for with most ISP's.  They typically sell the bandwidth speeds with a 'Up to:' fine print attached to their sales pitch.  But do note, if the speed you are clocking in at is drastically lower than what you are paying for, than you may want to call your ISP and have a chat with them (after you make sure it's not something on your end).  You can double check your hardware by bypassing any routers or switches you have between your computer and your modem and hook straight into the modem.  If your modem was purchased through your ISP, than they should be able to assist you with modem diagnostics.

Happy surfing!

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Two More Android Games on the Horizon that Look Awesome!

With the last post about Shadowgun, that led me to doing a little more research on other games coming to Android soon.  To see if there were any others that stood out.  Anything that looked unique and looked like something for a guy who is tired of playing with angry birds and cutting ropes.  And I must go on record to say, I am really impressed with what has been accomplished by these developers using the Unity engine.  Both Shadowgun and Bladeslinger are built ontop of Unity and they look beautiful.  Remeber when Epic released their tech demo (and later game called Infinity Blade) build using their Unreal engine.  It was gorgeous.  And I am glad that Android gamers are getting a bite of serious games, not just cute time wasters.

The first game that caught my eye, and being a new game altogether.  It takes place in a science-fiction, western settings.  Luma Arcade is bringing us Bladeslinger and is also based on the Unity engine.  And it looks pretty cool.  We have cowboys and mutants in saloon fights.  How awesome is that?







The second game to jump out at me is actually a flash back in time to 2001.  When a simple story of a jaded detective hit our game consoles.  That detective being the one and only: Max Payne.  Rockstar Games is undoubtedly using the opportunity to promote their upcoming (and long awaited sequel to the Max Payne franchise) Max Payne 3.  Not much else is known about Max's mobile debute other than it will be an HD version of the original title.  So it looks like the imminent return of Max Payne's 'Poop Face' will be making his Android debut soon!

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Shadowgun released yesterday on iOS...But Not on Android yet?

Yesterday marked the release for Madfinger's Shadowgun.  Why is this game significant?  I can easily answer that question with the obvious.  It's absolutely gorgeous.  The graphics looks outstanding.  The game was built on the Unity 3D engine and is a cover based third person shooter for mobile devices.  Yep, that means it will run on smartphones and tablets equipped with the NVIDIA Tegra chipset (and currently on iDevices).

And as of yesterday, it is running on iPhones and iPad's.  According to TegraZone, we should expect to see the Android port sometime in October 2011.  For those who haven't heard of Madfinger yet, you should check them out if you have a device capable of running Samurai II: Vengeance.  Which is a gorgeous looking hack and slash, samurai game.

Here is the backstory for Shadowgun.  You play as John Slade (a strangle blend of Gears of War style with Bruce Willis); who is the universe's toughest bounty hunter.  And you are hired to hunt a Dr. Edgar Simon who controls a crazy, mutant army.

Nothing sounds to unique about the story.  But seriously, a mobile game that looks like this, screw the story.  I'll play it strictly for the visuals alone.  If you're still not sold, be sure to checkout the game's trailer:





Look for a full review once this game hits the Google Android Market!

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Free Apps for Mobile Devices!

Everybody who has a smartphone, tablet, iPad, or iPod Touch no undoubtedly loves apps.  Why?  Because they are the center of our mobile ecosystem.  If you have a mobile device you almost always have to have apps! It doesn't matter what platform you are on.  Whether it be an iOS device utilizing the Apple App Store or an Android based device running the Google Android Market.

But one of the constant complaints from all sides is that there aren't enough free apps out there.  Personally, I have an iPod Touch and an Acer Iconia a500 Android Tablet.  From my experiences, there are more free apps in the Android Market than are available for m iPod Touch.  At least in the categories I search in anyways. So aside from doing the obvious (which we do not condone on this site) is to jailbreak/root and find alternative ways to get your apps that may involve getting them for free.

There are many reasons to stay away from this method.
1- App developers need support too.  Without the support from the purchasers of a given app; future apps or even updates could be hindered.  In short, don't rip off the little guy!

2- Security.  Most of the alternative methods for acquiring apps tend to require you sticking your neck out there and exposing your device (and possibly personal information) to the world.

3- It's stealing!  Being upfront and honest by purchasing your apps not only means you have a clean, safe app.  But it also ensures that the cost of apps can stay down where they are cheap and affordable.  Start stealing them, and watch prices go up.

Since we aren't looking at the shady ways to get our hands on free app, how do we get free apps?

Simple!  If your on an iOS device (iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad) than swing by: http://www.freeappaday.com/
At FreeAppADay, they give away one app for free everyday just as the name implies.  If you visit it from your PC it will link you up with iTunes to download from the Apple App Store.  If you're on your iDevice, it will launch the Apple App Store for you.  Simply acting as a way to promote to the free app.

They do have a section for Android Apps, but unfortunately it looks like that section hasn't been updated in quite some time.

For those of us Android enthusiasts looking for a free app fix.  Than checkout the Amazon App Store.  Everyday a commercial app is highlighted on the Amazon App Store for free.  There are two catches to this.
1- You have to be registered with Amazon to use the app.  Already have an Amazon account, you're good to go.
2- The Amazon App Store apk file has to remain installed on your device in order to use any apps downloaded via the Amazon App Store. (Regardless whether they were free apps or purchased)

So remember, there are other ways to get apps.  But before you venture down the road to the "Dark Side" be sure to checkout the legitimate ways to get your hands on free apps. Remember, good techie karma!

To visit the sites mentioned in this article:
Free App A Day: http://www.freeappaday.com/
Amazon App Store: http://www.amazon.com/mobile-apps/b?ie=UTF8&node=2350149011

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Acer Iconia a500 Nav/GPS Features

Since the update to Honeycomb 3.2, the only feature I hadn't tested out on my Acer Iconia a500 was the GPS or navigation features of the tablet.  One of the things I have been curious about was how the tablet would go about using the GPS features in conjunction with Google Maps (or equivalent) without having a Wifi signal.

In my test this afternoon, not so good.  In fact, I never managed to get the GPS signal to lock.  I tried twice (mostly due to my battery already being low in the first place).  The first time I let it poll for a GPS signal for about 5 minutes while I was in our local UPS Store.  The second attempt, I let it poll for about 3 minutes or so while pumping gas.  Neither attempt was successful.

Despite not getting a lock on a GPS Signal, I did attempt this using two different apps.  The first being Google Maps and the second being Mapdroyd.  Both did nothing when it came to using the GPS feature.  If anybody out there has gotten it to work, drop me a comment and let me know if I'm doing something wrong.

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Acer Iconia a500: It's Not Netflix...But hey, I'll take it!

All of you Acer Iconia a500 tablet owner's out there rejoice!  We have been granted video calling compatibility with the Skype app!  In the recent update the app has increased support for 14 more devices (both phones and tablets).

The update will bring video calling to not the Acer Iconia a500; but also for various HTC phones (including the Nexus One), LG Phones and Motorola phones (the Atrix and Bionic inlcuded).  Users of both the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and Motorola Xoom are included as well.

Head on over to the Android Market to download: Skype

Update: I can verify that video chat now works on the Acer Iconia a500 tablet.  I tested and it seems to work fine.

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eBayer Gets an Ice Cream Sandwhich?!

Ok, so here is the story.  Man goes visits eBay and buys a Samsung Android based phone.  Phone arrives at man's house; and man is surprised to see the latest unreleased version of Android dubbed 'Ice Cream Sandwhich' installed on his phone...

Apparently his next move was to capture video of it and submit it to Engadget?  Ok, first things first, I can't jump on this train thinking that this is real.  If you're up to speed with Android you'll know it is fairly easy to root most phones and install a custom ROM which can make your device have a much different appearance.  But for story sake, let's keep going.

Not long after Engadget made the post containing this man's video footage, the man returns to his phone to find that it had been remotely locked and wiped...Ok, what do we know.  Supposedly this guy bought a Samsung Nexus S from eBay, found it was loaded with 'Ice Cream Sandwhich' (and unreleased Android OS), and after showing it off to Engadget his phone is now a brick.

Believe what you want, it all sounds to fishy to be real to me.  Personally, I think if he did buy the phone off of an eBay seller, that seller probably slapped a custom ROM on it to emulate or spoof the look they are going for in 'Ice Cream Sandwhich'.  And there are tools available that can grant remote access to some Android phones and proceed with a remote lock and wipe.  Maybe he's been had.

As always, I recommend to read stuff like this and take it with a grain of salt.  Right now the elusive 'Ice Cream Sandwhich' devices and Bigfoot seem to be one in the same.  At least until we see anything official form 'Ice Cream Sandwhich'.

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Windows 7 for Starters: Tricks with Windows & Controlling the UAC

Our latest video in the Windows 7 for Starters series has gone live!  In this video we will learn a few tricks and shortcuts for managing open windows on our desktop.

We will also cover how to take control over the User Access Control feature within Windows 7.  For those of you who migrated from Windows Vista, you will already be familiar with the UAC control.  So why not learn how to tame it before it tries to drive you insane?


As always, be sure to visit our YouTube Channel and 'Like' our video and be sure to subscribe to our channel to stay up to date when new videos get posted!  Visit us at: http://www.youtube.com/techiesmarts




Also, find us on our Facebook Fan Page: http://on.fb.me/qwpd4i
And on Twitter at: http://www.twitter.com/techiesmarts

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Upcoming Review for Ubuntu 11.10

Even though it is still in beta, I should have an incoming review based on Ubuntu 11.10.  I'm eager to see what (if much) has changed since the introduction of Unity in Ubuntu 11.04.  Hopefully I should have it up around the weekend or so!

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Windows Help: AVG 2012 Causing Errors?

Last night was kind of a rough one.  I sat down at the computer with the intentions on editing a couple videos when I got a pop up from AVG letting me know it was a good idea to upgrade to AVG 2012.  I had some time, so I decided to give it a shot.  The update seemed to be less painful than previous versions.  It seemed to go fast and smooth.  The only issue I bumped into was when it came time for AVG to prompt me to exit my browser so it could continue installation, it never prompted.  Instead, it closed out my browser session without warning or prejudice.  On the up side of things, I wasn't doing anything productive anyways, so no harm done.

After installation all seemed well, at least until I launched my video editing software in Windows XP.  Every time I launched my editing software I would get an error box on the screen that would read: "Encountered Improper Argument".  After uninstalling and reinstalling the software, the error never went away.  After digging around online, I discovered the newly installed AVG 2012 could be the culprit.  And apparently, it was.

According to several forums, different programs could be affected by the 'Identity Protection' module from AVG 2012.  So if you recently upgraded to the newest version of AVG, and have just started getting the "Encountered Improper Arument" error dialogs from certain programs, try this:



1- Launch the AVG User Interface.
Right click the AVG Icon in the System Tray, and choose Open AVG User Interface.



2- Next click on 'Tools' in the menu bar, and go to 'Advanced Settings'.
This will launch the 'Advanced Settings' dialog box and we can disable the Identity Protection Module.







3- In the 'Advanced Setting' screen, you need to locate the 'Identity Protection' header on the left side of the screen, and choose the first option entry underneath it.  In the settings that appear on the right side of the screen locate and uncheck the box marked: 'Activate Indentity Protection' and click 'Apply' and 'Ok'.  Now exit the AVG User Interface.

After deactivating this module, go ahead and check the affected program to see if the error is cleared up.  If so, at least this is a temporary workaround.

I wouldn't recommend leaving it disabled for an extended period of time.  I advise to disable it when needed, and reactivate the option when your finished.

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Updating the Acer Iconia A500

If you haven't received the latest OTA Update for the Acer Iconia A500 tablet, you may want to force the device to check the server for you.  If you are still seeing the 'Your device is up to date' box after force checking; keep in mind that Acer apparently rolls out the OTA Updates via serial number.  So it may be that your devices number hasn't been "called" yet.  So, how do we accomplish force checking for updates?

Simply tap the 'Apps' icon in the upper left hand corner of the screen and locate and tap the 'Settings' icon.

Next, tap the very bottom menu option 'About Tablet' option and hit the 'System Update' tab.

In the pop up that appears on the check, take the option to force the check for the update.  If you're device hasn't updated yet, it should pull down an update.

One quick note, if you happen to take the option to 'Download Later', good freakin' luck trying to get your update.  If you haven't kept up with my previous experience getting the Honeycomb 3.1 download, be sure to go back and read those posts (7-11-2011-Acer Tech Support post) and see the the chat transcript between myself and a representative at Acer's Support Site.

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Canonical Brightens the Future of Both Ubuntu and App Developers

Ubuntu is probably considered by most to be the most popular Linux distribution.  As of this writing, if you use Google to search the term 'Linux'; you may not be surprised to see that Ubuntu is the first hit to be returned.  And for good reason.  Ubuntu has been built up with great hardware support, ease of use for new users, and it has a higher chance of 'just working' out of the box.

One of the things that it seems like everybody wants more of are apps.  Whether it be on their iPhones, iPods/iPads, Android devices, and even some operating systems now include access to app stores or markets.  Even web browsers are getting in on the action.  So, it only seems to make sense that other operating systems try to further their application support.  And what better way to do this by assisting developers with creating, packaging, porting, and submitting their programs or applications to the Ubuntu Software Center?

That is what Canonical is aiming to do with the release of the Ubuntu App Developer Portal.  They even include a tool called 'Quickly' that is aimed at helping you build your app.  And what is even better, is it is free to use.  'Quickly' also helps with submitting your app to the Software Center.

What is even cooler?  You can either release your apps for free or for a price.  That's pretty cool.  I'm sure we'll start seeing the Ubuntu Software Center offerings grow as more people get turned on the the Developer Portal.

Check it out for yourself at: http://developer.ubuntu.com/

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Amazon's New Tablet Dubbed 'Kindle Fire'

Looks as though Amazon's new tablet that has taken the news by storm will be called the 'Kindle Fire' and should retail for $199.  It will feature a 7 inch screen and will be Android based.  If you check the article over on CNET: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-20112714-94/amazon-unveils-kindle-fire-tablet-for-$199/?tag=mantle_skin;content

You may notice that the device seems to resemble the Nook Color by Barnes & Noble.  The release of the 'Kindle Fire' will be the first actual tablet offered directly by Amazon.  As the previous versions of the Kindle were strictly e-book readers sporting the e-ink screens (which are monochrome).  The device does not include a camera or microphone and will only connect to Wifi networks (sorry, no 3G this time around).

The Nook Color by Barnes & Noble

So, it looks like for $199 you will not be running Honeycomb on it, but for $200 bucks it doesn't look like a bad tablet.  And if you know someone who loves their Kindle e-book reader, than I would recommend the 'Fire' for them.  Essentially, you are getting the e-book reader everyone knows and loves along with a color screen and more tablet like features.

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A little more from the Windows 8 Secure Boot Front

An article on PCWorld seems to have a little more information concerning the Windows 8 Secure Boot feature.  A feature that may have the potential to prevent user's from installing alternative operating systems like Linux or even older versions of Windows.  And it seems like Microsoft may be leaving some of the decision in the hands of the computer manufacturers as to whether or not their products may have the ability to disable the UEFI key and Secure Boot features. 

Secure Boot seems to stem from a good hearted origin; it was put in place to prevent malware from being able to manipulate boot options.  However, I can't help but feel like there are other reasons involved.  Maybe to counter act those who are using non-genuine copies of Windows?  Or to ensure that their operating system will not be replaced?  Both seem to be the byproducts of Secure Boot.  Regardless, if these features are implemented in the final release of Windows 8 (and it's release is still well enough out there); I can imagine someone out there will find a way to circumvent this. 

When it comes down to it, the whole scenario feels like the freedom of your hardware is starting to drift away more than it ever has before.  I say as long as the OS is genuine leave us alone.

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Google+ Keyboard Shortcuts and Text Tricks

Odds are good you've heard about Google+.  If not, Google+ is a Social Network created by Google where you can keep up with your friends and other people who you may not directly know.  I have mentioned in a previous post that Google+ feels like a mix of Facebook and Twitter.

Did you know that there are built in keyboard shortcuts for Google+?  There are, and they are rather simple.

Function	Shortcut Keys
Scroll Down One Post	Press J
Scroll Up One Post	Press K
Scroll Down Your Stream	Press Space Bar
Scroll Up Your Stream	Press Shift + Space Bar
Start A Comment	Press Return or Enter key
Finish a Comment	Press Tab + Return (Enter) key
Jump to Chat	Press Q

For some fun with words:*Note: Substitute "yourword" in my examples with your text and use the symbols before and after each word.

Effect	How to:
Make Bold	*yourword*
Italicize Word	_yourword+
Strike Thru Word	-yourword-

Finally, how can we mention another Google+ user in a post?  Much like on Twitter you simple put the @ symbol infront of their username or twitter handle.  Same way in Google+, simply place either the @ or + symbols just before their name and they will get a mention in your post.
If you haven't signed up yet for Google+, why not do so now?  It's free!Visit: http://plus.google.com

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Reader Email: Alternatives to Printing

I recently received an email asking about what alternatives there are to printing.  The purpose of this post is to show you some of the alternatives that I use.  After all, printing every single email and multiple page PDF files can cause a lot of unwanted clutter to build up after time.




If you are using Windows XP or newer, you already have a free option built into your operating system by way of the Microsoft XPS Document Writer.  You will need to download the XPS Viewer from Microsoft if you are using Windows XP (Windows Vista & 7 have it built in as well).  Simply click print in the program you are using, and select the Microsoft XPS Document Writer.  It will then 'print to a file' by creating a .XPS file and save it where you tell it to during the creation process.





Another option is to use a 'PDF Printer'.  There are many floating around on the web.  Personally, I have tried several different offerings (all free) and liked Bullzip's PDF Printer the most.  It seemed to work best for me.  It works much like the Microsoft XPS Document Writer.  Simply click 'Print' in the program you are working in, and select 'Bullzip PDF Printer' from the Print Dialog Box and the Bullzip PDF Printer dialog box will launch, allowing you to name the file, choose it's destination on your hard drive, set PDF tags for the document, add a watermark, append to an existing PDF file, and even set passwords.

Bullzip PDF Printer is free for personal use and up to 10 business users.  To download:
http://www.bullzip.com/products/pdf/info.php


So, if you are tired of letting impulse-print jobs clutter up your work area.  Or even if you're looking to conserve a little bit of ink in your home office printer, than both of these options are great solutions.  There are other tools out there available to achieve the same end result, but these are the two that have worked best for me.

Happy Surfing!

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Firefox 7 and the Rapid Release Schedule

Earlier in the year Mozilla announced that with the release of Firefox 6, they will start aiming at an 18 week development cycle.  Essentially meaning every 18 weeks the next version of Firefox will be released.  So, in the spirit of updating, I finally updated my Firefox to version 6.0.2 just the other day (I use many web browsers, so updating sometimes gets neglected).

And today, I decided to jump back into Firefox for a few minutes and guess what?  Yep, a new update is ready that will bounce my Firefox up to version 7.  What is included in the latest version of Firefox?

-On the web developer side, Mozilla has included some extra tools to help with HTML5 features using hardware-acceleration for things like games and animations, etc.  And developers now have access to native Firefox tools that will measure page load time versus traffic, user bandwidth, etc.

-An opt-in feature called Telemetry is now included.  This feature allows Firefox on a user's computer to feed data back to Mozilla concerning the way version 7 runs on the various types of computer hardware out there in the world. I usually turn this option off myself when other apps prompt for this type of feature.  But for those who choose to participate, you will essentially be providing benchmarks for Mozilla to consider when it comes to future releases of their web browser.

-User's will notice Firefox 7 includes more efficient memory management.  Not that big of a deal if you typically only open a tab or two and only casually surf the web.  But for those of us who populate our web browsers with tabs and open pages (my Chrome browser currently has 7 open tabs, and I'm just getting warmed up); will notice quicker navigation and tab switching.

So, with the release of version 7, we already have several decent updates (especially if you are a web developer).  Also, Mozilla is shooting for near perfect compatibility with Browser Add-Ons from version 6 with the release of Firefox 7.  Chances are you may have already downloaded it; however it you didn't be sure to click on:
1- Help (in the menu bar)
2- Click on 'About Firefox'

And the 'About Firefox' dialog box will check your version against the latest release on their servers and download accordingly.  And if you haven't downloaded Firefox yet, I'd highly recommend it.  So head on over to Mozilla.org or click on:







Happy Surfing!

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So what is the Honeycomb 3.2 Update for the Acer Iconia a500 good for?

So, as mentioned in a previous post; I received the Honeycomb 3.2 OTA Update last night on my stock Acer Iconia a500.  It weighed in a little over 350MB's, and took four attempts to download before completing successfully.

One of the big questions with every Honeycomb Update is: 'What does it do/change/fix?'

Apparently, there isn't too much significant included in the update.  It improves SD and USB notifications when attaching these devices, smoother scrolling, and proper stretching/zooming for apps designed for smaller screens (the a500 sports a 10.1 inch screen).  So far, that seems to be about it.

I have one recommendation for Google or Acer concerning Honeycomb Updates: How about including a change notice with the Update Dialog when the device gets prompted for the new OTA Updates?  Theoretically, it should be fairly easy, it could be handled the same way permissions are displayed prior to installing a new app or .apk file.  Right now we just get to see the name of the update and what the download size is.  A little more info would be nice, just a thought.

For those who root or run ROM'd versions of the Acer Iconia a500; you better hold off on updating (as of this writing) since there currently isn't a way to root Honeycomb 3.2 on the Iconia yet.  And you will loose your custom ROM should you apply the OTA 3.2 upgrade.

And it appears that Netflix still isn't supported on the Iconia a500 (as we guessed).

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Acer Iconia a500 OTA Honeycomb 3.2 Update rolls out!

Tonight my Acer Iconia a500 tablet pulled down the latest Over The Air update contains Honeycomb 3. It is rather large at a little over 350MB's in download size.  I did bump into a little issue when I downloaded about 250MB worth of the download and it would either mysteriously end the download or it would restart by itself.

After four attempts I am finally running Honeycomb 3.2.  I'll do some digging around and see what has changed or been added and will update tomorrow or so.

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Terra Nova...Initial Thoughts

So, tonight FOX aired the two hour premiere.  And yes, it was completey awesome.  The cast is awesome.  The show started off rather fast and ended just as wide open.  So what are the rock markings near the falls?  What happened to Taylor's son?  What other secrets does Terra Nova hold?

I look forward to the upcoming episodes!  And highly recommend the show!

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Mircosoft Pushing to Lock Down Secure Booting in Windows 8

Microsoft is no doubt taking some heat today.  After announcing this weekend that they are pushing for a secure boot feature to be enabled with Windows 8.  What does this mean?  It means user's wouldn't have the option of installing alternate operating systems on the same hard drive.  In short speak, no more Linux installs/dual boots.

I will be the first to go on record at this site and say if that is the case, I'll not be upgrading.  I know Microsoft has an audience of customers who only want to use their computer for basic computing everyday.  Who only surf the web, handle business and banking and call it a day.  However, there is also a huge audience of people who don't want to be locked down.  I am one of these users.

I believe that every computer owner/user should have the right to choose how and what they do with their hardware.  After all, if you buy a car from Ford and decide to overhall it a year later.  Does Ford stick their nose in your business and tell you not to do it?  Nope.  Why?  Because they have made their money and it's none of their freakin' business.  Simple as that.

The same should be applied to Microsoft.  So what is the deal?  Microsoft's push is to force all alternative operating systems to include a secure key that would allow it to be compatible with future booting routines.  This is part of the UEFI (United Extensible Firmware Interface).  And is a load of crap.  If you actually do some digging, you'll find out that they are requiring the same thing with their previous operating systems.

Want to dual-boot Windows XP Pro with Windows 8?  Only if you have the UEFI key.  I'm sure for Microsoft's legacy Operating Systems that will not be such a difficult task as they will no doubt make it available for those who need it.  But I'm sure they will not be as open to Linux users.

So far from what I have read and seen concerning Windows 8, I am not impressed.  Granted, I haven't checked out the Windows 8 Developer Preview yet.  But at this point, I may be planning on migrating straight to Linux if it gets to this point.  Sorry Microsoft, it's been a good run.

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Android Security in a Nutshell

A hot topic within the mobile technology world for sometime now has been the topic of malware, virus protection, and security.  If you are an Android user, you've probably seen the anti-virus apps in the Android Market for AVG and Norton (and I think there are a few others as well).  These apps are good and well for some I'm sure.

Personally, I installed the AVG mobile app on Acer Iconia a500 and wasn't impressed with the app at all.  It runs in the background (even though I didn't notice a hit to the performance); I couldn't tell that it was actually doing a proactive job at protecting me anymore than if I were to use a good square head and some common sense.

So, in the spirit of making informed choices based on common sense, here is a short list of things you can do to help make your Android experience a little safer for you and others.

1- Only download from trusted sources.
There are a lot of apps in the Android Market.  And pretty much anyone can make an Android App and get it listed.  Google filters out some of the junk apps over time, but they definitely don't catch everything.  When browsing the Android Market I try to look for apps that are developed by individuals or companies who I am familiar with.  I would rather purchase a game from a company  like GamEvil or Gameloft as opposed to John Doe from Kentucky.  If it looks funny or questionable, it probably is.  If the app listing doesn't have pictures or video of the app in action, I pass it up.  No question. If they can't show it off, I shouldn't waste my time on it.  Simple as that.  Every app has a list of permissions it needs when being ran.  Keep an eye on these, they will help you sniff out whether or not a specific app should be trusted.

2- Leave 'Download from Untrusted Sources' disabled.
If you may be tempted to try an app you found on somebodies website where you download the individual .apk file; you probably need to leave the option to download/install from these sources alone.  By default it is disabled by most devices.  It is easy to get a hold of a bad .apk using this means of installation.

3- Use only trusted App Markets.
There are several Marketplaces out there, beside Google's Android Market.  Aside from the included Google Android Market, I also have Amazon's App Store installed.  For those who aren't familiar with Amazon's offering, their prices are competitive with Google's Android Market.  However, Amazon gives away a paid app for free everyday.  Sometimes the apps are rather simple or dull.  And sometimes they are top notch mobile games.

The only catch to Amazon's App Store, is any app you have installed using the Amazon App Store requires the Amazon App Store to be on the device to launch the app.  Otherwise, it's great.

4- Secure your device.
This can be done by setting a lock screen password or gesture on most Android devices.  After all, security threats don't just linger online.  It can come from you leaving your phone plugged up in the break room at work.  Or if your device gets lost or stolen, there are even apps that allow you to remotely wipe or locate your device.

5- Beware of who you share information with online.
It's true, we are as mobile as we ever were.  And we all still require the same amount of data retention on the go as we do sitting on our couches playing with smartphones.  But this same concept can be used in basic, everyday computing as well.  Always remember what services you use on your device, and make sure that they will never send an email asking for your account credentials  If you receive a request via email or live chat asking for any personal information, it's a good idea to contact the host of those services directly (by physically visiting their site, sending an email yourself to their support, or calling them) to verify the situation.  In most cases, you can even forward the email to the host and let them record the email as spam.

Using these 5 simple concepts will make not only your mobile experience a much safer one, but your everyday computer use will benefit too.  It is true that mobile malware is becoming more of a threat to your Android device, but keep in mind that this malware has to be run by you (the user).  So the front line defense for any device should be the user (you) keeping a clear head on what you are running.

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New TV Show: Terra Nova premieres tonight!

Tonight on FOX the premiere of Terra Nova.  I have been eagerly anticipating this show, it looks to be part Jurassic Park, part Star Gate, and part Land that Time Forgot.  The effects and dinosaurs look pretty awesome from the commercials I have seen.  And it seems to have a pretty decent cast of actors.

And yes, Mr. Steven Spielberg is one of the executive producers.  So it's got to be good, right?  If any indication of awesomeness can be gleamed from Spielberg's other consecutively produced television series from this summer had anything to foretell; I certainly think it will be awesome.  And yes, I am hinting at 'Falling Skies'; a show for which I was incredibly hooked on, and will be tuning in once it returns later in 2012.

There are very few television shows I actively enjoy watching:
-Doctor Who
-Big Bang Theory

And that's about it.  I'm not a reality tv fan, and I get annoyed by all of these talent and celebrity dancing/rehab shows.  And I'm glad to see that we are finally starting to get a little tv back in television.  So, tonight at 8:00pm (EST) I'll be on the couch for the 2 hour premiere.  Look for my initial thoughts to post after the viewing.

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Facebook Hoax Time!

Seems like every year about this time, Facebook user's buy into a hoax concerning Facebook and subscription fees.  No doubt this weekend has been an active one on Facebook for many users.  At least on my Wall it has been.  I have a couple hundred people in my personal friend's list and it seems like the majority of them fell for this.



If you saw posts like:

"FACEBOOK JUST RELEASED THEIR PRICE GRID FOR MEMBERSHIP. $9.99 PER MONTH FOR GOLD MEMBER SERVICES, $6.99 PER MONTH FOR SILVER MEMBER SERVICES, $3.99 PER MONTH FOR BRONZE MEMBER SERVICES, FREE IF YOU COPY AND PASTE THIS MESSAGE BEFORE MIDNIGHT TONIGHT. WHEN YOU SIGN ON TOMORROW MORNING YOU WILL BE PROMPTED FOR PAYMENT INFO...IT IS OFFICIAL IT WAS EVEN ON THE NEWS. FACEBOOK WILL START CHARGING DUE TO THE NEW PROFILE CHANGES. IF YOU COPY THIS ON YOUR WALL YOUR ICON WILL TURN BLUE AND FACEBOOK WILL BE FREE FOR YOU. PLEASE PASS THIS MESSAGE ON IF NOT YOUR ACCOUNT WILL BE DELETED IF YOU DO NOT PAY"

Or a similar post (I personally encountered 2 versions of this post, one with pricing and one without). I understand some people will fall for this, it's just the nature of the beast when it comes to social networking and dealing with people in general. Some are more gullible than others.  But a little common sense when reposting would be great.

I mean think about, these status' mention they have been on the news...Yet, nobody has mentioned seeing it's coverage.  And surely this would have hit somewhere big like large newspapers or even Google News.  But nobody could verify that it indeed was a news story.

Next, if you repost this status supposedly your 'icon' would turn blue and you can continue using Facebook for free.  Not only would this be one of the worst business decisions Facebook could ever possibly try out (because naturally everybody wants it for free, right?).  But your icon may infact turn blue anyways.  Even if you type: "See spot run."

Why?  Because posts marked with a blue tick mark in the upper corner have been flagged by Facebook for your attention because they 'think' those posts may be of interest to you (and in my case rarely are).  So, I guess the part about the blue icon and Facebook being free isn't all wrong, because your post might be marked with the blue tick mark, and Facebook will still be free for you.

Finally, the post declares that if you don't pay, you're account will be deleted...I say, go ahead and do it.  Give me another reason to go full on with Google+!  If I were the Zuckerberg, I would send out an email to all Facebook User's declaring that anyone who has reposted may be at risk for account suspension due to manufacturing/spreading spam on the Facebook Network....And see how that goes over.

Personally, anytime I see something online (or even on TV) that doesn't sound quite right, I try to research it before spreading it like a bad cold.  Especially a newsworthy topic that may be covered on this site or any branch of social networking I may use.  It doesn't take a lot of time.  You can "google" this hoax and see a bunch of search results confirming it's pure crap.

And remember people, Facebook doesn't have to charge people subscription fees.  They make money others ways as in advertising, partnerships with Web App Developers, etc.  Research is key, and a little knowledge will go far.

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Android App Review: N.O.V.A. 2 for Android Devices

If you are have at any point been an iOS fan/gamer you may have either seen or even played one of Gameloft's coolest titles: N.O.V.A.: Near Orbital Vanguard Alliance for the Apple's iDevices.  I actually still play this one on my iPod Touch.  It's that awesome.  So, I was more than thrilled to see that it's sequel: N.O.V.A. 2 has an Android port, and that it runs flawlessly on my Acer Iconia a500 Tablet.

If you were able to get in on their back to school sale, the game was only 99 cents on the Android Market.  It looks like it has gone back up to $6.99 recently.  But even at $6.99, this game is awesome.  The sequel to the much acclaimed N.O.V.A. brings back the on screen controls and outstanding graphics that originally made it such a hit with mobile gamers.

So, for those who don't know...What is it?  N.O.V.A. 2 is a first person shooter for Android and iOS devices.  It is based in a sci-fi world where the story picks up 6 years after the first game.  The game's intro video is amazing for a mobile game.  And the gameplay is just as awesome.  The story throws your character into the middle of a crazy civil war between human colonists and a central government with shady intentions.

In the first few minutes of actual gameplay, you get a crazy action sequence that involves some Halo style features.  The sound is much of what you'd expect from a first person shooter.  So nothing crazy there.  But where this game shines (and I can't say thing enough) is in the graphics department.  The game's visuals are amazing for a mobile device.  I use my tablet for reading, web surfing, and watching the occasional video clip on YouTube.  So to jump from those uses, into a game of this quality is awesome.

The game also includes online play (which I haven't tried yet).  I have the bad habit of playing too much multiplayer and not enough single player modes, that I try to save the multiplayer for later.  My personal preference.  So are there any downsides to the game?

In my opinion, only one.  It's the controls.  Sure, the controls are pulled off via on screen overlays.  But I tend to find myself drifting my thumbs up and down the left and right edges of my tablet.  Making it easy for me to throw my view and aim off in crazy directions.  Especially when the crap hits the fan during fire fights.




What I would like to see accomplished with the controls, is support for controllers and gamepads in Honeycomb 3.2 devices.  Other games have pulled this off (Riptide GP by Vector Unit) so I don't see why Gameloft doesn't grant us that option with N.O.V.A. 2.  That would make an already awesome mobile gaming experience all that more better.

It is obvious that games like Halo seemed to lend some inspiration the the game's developers.  Gameloft is one of those companies who are notorious for publishing games that borrow aspects heavily from other game titles (often people cite Gameloft titles to resemble the art style of games like WoW, GTA, Halo, and some others).

So when it comes right down to it.  What is the verdict on N.O.V.A. 2?  Is it a must buy or a pass?

Verdict:
-Must Buy!
For mobile gamers looking for a great looking and challenging game, check it out. Likewise, fans of First Person Shooters in general shouldn't pass this one up.

Cons:
The cons are pretty limited on this one.  I would like to see controller and gamepad compatibility.  And one issue I have read about (and seems to plague Gameloft's titles in general) is hardware support.  It will either work or it won't be compatible.  I can confirm that is runs great on the Acer Iconia a500 tablet.

Techie's Rating:

Checkout the Android Marketplace to pick this title up:
Gameloft's N.O.V.A. 2: http://bit.ly/oRbmQS
Cost: $6.99 USD

Happy Surfing!

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No Netflix love for the Acer Iconia a500 yet...

I have approached the topic of how much I love my Acer Iconia a500 tablet on this site before.  As well as how much I loath Acer's update process for the device.  In my opinion, it is a great tablet and has handled everything I have thrown at it since I purchased it.  And believe me, it gets a work out.  As a matter of fact, I'm using it right now to author this post.

My only real complaint is that Netflix has yet to rollout an app compatible with the Iconia a500 for streaming video.  And I know it isn't Acer's fault; the issues lie with Netflix themselves.  Their streaming app works on select devices.  But not my Acer tablet.  I had read on a blog about a month ago that with the Honeycomb 3.2 OTA Update, there may be a chance of getting Netflix to work.  Initially, that news was exciting.  After all, my iPod Touch can stream from Netflix, but my tablet cannot.  It just doesn't seem right.

But after trolling around some forums tonight, the general understanding seems to be that the 3.2 Update will not usher in Netflix to us.  Time will tell when the update finally hits (it has been delayed several times now); however, I'm not getting my hopes up.  As of right now, you can get it Netflix to run.  But only on a rooted and possibly cutom ROM'd Iconia a500.  And I'm not sure if I am ready to go quite that far yet.

But if Netflix doesn't get on the ball, then I may be heading down the road to rooting.  Rest assured, if rooting becomes an option for me;  I will document my experience here for future reference.  I would hope it doesn't come to this though.

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Fun with Ubuntu: What is Sudo?

Since we have been posting quite a bit of information for new Ubuntu users I thought I'd cover the topic of what is 'Sudo'?  Why do we use it/need it?  What do elevated privileges allow us to do within Ubuntu?  I will try to clear this up for those who may be unfamiliar with what it means to use 'Sudo'.

Most of the time you may hear the administrative access in Linux/Unix to be limited to the 'Root' user or the 'Super User'.  But in Ubuntu, we do not have a 'Root' user.  Instead we have the 'Sudo' program.  By running a command from the Terminal using a 'Sudo' command, you are temporarily granting your user account the same access to elevated privileges as another account (in the case of sudo that account would be the Root or Super User account).  And you can even think of the command: sudo; as 'SUper user DO' to help you remember it.  Another way to remember what it means to think of the word it sounds like: pseudo.  Which means: to be like something else (in Techie's terms).  So in a sense you want your account to be a pseudo of the admin account temporarily.

You will use sudo when you attempt to install a package or remove a packages, modify system files, add repositories, update apt, install updates, etc.  Administrative tasks are usually protected by sudo access.  When using the sudo command you will be prompted in the Terminal for your password.  In most cases, this is the same as your log on password.  Unless this has been changed by the system admin.

Running a command with sudo, will grant your user account access to super user rights for 15 minutes at a time.  After 15 minutes, if you run another sudo command you will be prompted for your password again.  And easy way to think of sudo in relation to Windows Vista/7 would be think of it as the UAC of Ubuntu.  Sudo is a powerful command when used in conjunction with other strings in the Terminal.  Use it wisely and carefully.

Even though you may not use the Terminal much, most user's are fine with using the graphical user interface.  You may occasionally bump into a situation where you need to use the command line.  And it is important that you know what sudo is.  Especially when a lot of sites will post Terminal commands, but will offer very little instruction on what those commands actually do.

I will also hit the topic of 'Sudo' briefly in an upcoming video. 

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Fun with Ubuntu: Resetting the GNOME Panels in Ubuntu 11.04

Recently we post a video on how to install AWN in the  Ubuntu Classic Desktop using Ubuntu 11.04 'Natty Narwhal'.  In this video, we also covered how to reset the GNOME Panels back to default should you decide you didn't like AWN after installation (if you had deleted one of them).  This post is for the fed up Ubuntu user who just needs to bring back default GNOME and doesn't have the time to go through a whole video.


It's actually a funny story how I learned to do this.  Several years ago when I was new to Linux, Ubuntu was the first distribution I really tried to get into.  And I accidentally deleted one of the GNOME Panels when trying to customize it's look and feel (as a friend suggested I try to do).  So, I immediately rebooted the computer and reinstalled that version of Ubuntu to get my panels back.  Only afterwards did I learn I could have save myself some time and trouble by resetting GNOME (of course I was using my only computer at the time to try Ubuntu so I had no other way to look up how to reset GNOME).  So maybe this will help someone.


So, let's say you accidentally delete one of the GNOME Panels?  How do you get it back?  Easy, you simply launch the Terminal (Click Applications, drop to the 'Accessories' menu and click on Terminal).


Once terminal launches we need to type in three commands to resurrect our missing GNOME Panel.












Those commands are (hit the Enter key after each line) :
gconftool-2 --recursive-unset /apps/panel
rm -rf ~/.gconf/apps/panel
pkill gnome-panel


Now simply log off of your computer (by clicking the Power button in the top right corner of the screen). And log back into Ubuntu.  Now your panel's are back to their default settings and positions.


Great!  But sometimes you may be in a position where you can't get into the menu.  What is another way to launch the Terminal?


Simply press: Ctrl + Alt + T to launch the Terminal with the default Ubuntu shortcut.

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