Android App Review: AirDroid

After what feels like a really long time, we are back in the saddle again with a app review for an awesome little Android app that just happens to also be free!  It's named: AirDroid.  Basically, the concept behind AirDroid is simple.  It allows you to access the contents of your Android phone via a Wifi internet conncection just as if the phone was directly connected to the computer via a USB Cable.






This is accomplished by using a pretty slick looking web interface.  Essentially here are the steps to using AirDroid.
1- Turn on your phone's Wifi Connection and connect to your router.
2- Launch the AirDroid app on your phone or tablet.
3- Press the blue 'Start' button.
4- Enter the IP Address in your computer's web browser address bar.
5- At the Web Login Screen type in the password given to you from the app.
6- Your in!

Once inside the AirDroid web interface, you can launch various file manager type dialog boxes to move files to your computer from the phone or vice-versa.  If you need to backup anything like your music, pictures, and even apps; all this can be done quickly and easily.  In my example, I was able to backup all of my pictures to my Desktop computer in the form of a .ZIP file for extraction later.  And it took a couple of seconds to get it done.

The price of AirDroid is great considering it is free.  But even if the devs decided to start charging for it, I'd happily pay a couple of dollars for this type of app.

Be sure to watch the video for the full review:

Android App Review: AirDroid

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Video: Let's Install KDE using Ubuntu 11.10

If you have used or upgraded to the latest release of Ubuntu (being 11.10); then you are aware that aside from installing GNOME Shell 3 you are limited to only using the Unity desktop environment.  They did included Unity 2D for older machines.  But what if you aren't a big fan of Unity?  What can you do to make it less painful?

Easy!  Install a different Window Manager/Desktop Environment!  It's easy to do.  It does require a little bit of time but isn't very intrusive.  So this video will kick off a new video set where we will step through installing alternative desktop environments for Ubuntu 11.10.  After all, part of the joy of using Linux is being able to have choices right?

In our first video of this set we will install KDE.  Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel to stay up to date on when all of our new videos get posted!

Installing KDE in Ubuntu 11.10

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Windows 7 for Starters: Basics for Getting Around In Windows 7 video

For our Windows 7 users, we have the second video in our 'Windows 7 for Starters' video series.  This video covers the Basics of Getting Around In Windows 7.

This video is of course for those new to Windows 7.  We discuss using the Start Menu to get around, what is the Taskbar and how to use it, what is located in the Control Panel, and what is the System Tray.

If you have a friend or family member who needs a quick lesson on the basics of using Windows, let them watch.

Windows 7 for Starters: Basics of Getting Around in Windows 7

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Happy surfing!

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Help!: Ubuntu Video Series- Installing Ubuntu 11.04 Using Virtual Box

As part of our video series on Ubuntu Help we continue with a video guiding us through the Ubuntu 11.04 'Natty' release.  We will be using Virtual Box to install this as a Guest Operating System (Guest OS) within Windows XP (in my case).

If you missed our previous video on setting up the Virtual Hard Drive (Virtual Drive Image File) to use when installing the operating system be sure to check it out first:  http://youtu.be/YhQeSIJ4hec






As always, be sure to swing by our YouTube Channel and Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/user/TechieSmarts

Our next video will cover how to install Unity 2D or set Ubuntu Classic as the default desktop.

Happy Surfing!

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Now Taking Reader Questions!

I am now taking Reader Questions!  That's right I'm striving for a deeper level of interaction between myself and my readers here at TechieSmarts!  So, if you have a question that you have been itching to ask someone about computers, Linux, gaming, Android, or any other computer question...I want to know about and I want to try and help you.

I enjoy computers and all that is contained therein.  And would love the opportunity to answer your questions.
So you can leave me a comment on any of my Blog Posts (they are kept private until I approve them) or drop me a line at: help_me@techie.com

If you ask a question that is worthy of a How To Video I will read the question out on the video and try my best to demonstrate a solution.  Otherwise, look for a blog entry for your answers.  I'd like to try and make this at least a monthly post if possible.  If enough questions roll in, I'd love to make it a weekly or bi-weekly feature on the blog.

So help me to help you!  I look forward to interacting with you!

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Vista troubles no more!

Well it looks like I'll be resting well tonight without Vista causing restless nights.  After a brief reinstallation using the original Dell Operating System Disk and Driver Installation Disk, the troubled Dell XPS 420 is alive once again.  Now the only thing left to do is let Vista download it's updates and patches.  And restore the backups from their My Documents folders (pictures and office documents).  Otherwise, it is ready to go home, and I am ready to look forward to a videogame filled Saturday.

So quick wrd of advice, always backup your computer regardless what the OS is.  And if you are faced with the dreaded Vista bootloop and don't have backups; I suggest:
1- Use another computer to download and burn a Live Linux CD (try Ubuntu).
2- Boot the Live Linux Cd and attach an extrrnal hard drive, flash drive, etc.
3- Mount the computer's C: drive and backup all known user made file (pictures, music, video, etc.).
4- Proceed with a reload of the operating system (if you have tried everything else).

In attempt to avoid using the factory restore disks (mostly due to not having them available), I have essentially wasted several evenings worth of work this week for what could have been an hour and a half reinstall.  Just saying!

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Visa Issues...I know, Vista right?! LOL

Well, a friend of mine called me up and sent their computer with me yesterday for some help.  It's a rather interesting problem, so I figured I'd chronicle the work here to help others through my thought process.

Here's the problem with their Dell XPS 420; from powering on the desktop computer it splashes up the Dell loading screen and continues through to a screen that prompts you to either launch a 'Startup Repair (Recomended)' or 'Start Windows Normally'.  Other issue, I have no way of doing a factory image restore on this computer since the user's never created the restore disks after the bought the computer.

If you select 'Start Windows Normally', the boot process continues to the Windows Vista logo splash screen for only a brief second and it reboots and continues through the cycle again.  If I hit 'F8' and select disable automatic restart after errors, I actually get a BSOD (Blue Screen of Death) that reads the following STOP error:
0x0000007B (0x80599BB0, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)


Some of the support I found online is pretty cryptic concerning this STOP error.  Mostly saying that the OS can't see the hard drive, etc.  And it points to the drive being faulty.  However, running the Dell Diagnostics from the Advanced Startup menu the Hard Drive checks out as good.

So, boot option 2: 'Launch Startup Repair' was attempted.  Which continues to boot to a login screen.  However, the only account listed is for: 'Other User' for which there is an empty username and password.  Attempting to enter the username and password for the actual accounts doesn't work.  Neither does using the combination of Administrator with no password, Administrator with administrator as the password,  and admin, admin as username and password.  All search results have been futile as well.

It appears that something has hosed the OS from the boot side of things.  So I am going to attempt using a Vista Recovery disk now.  Look back soon for either a happy post, or a total meltdown.

Why is my life filled with computer based angst and drama?!  :)

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