tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78479328077922478752024-03-19T04:19:59.926-07:00Cyber Citizen Be a good cyber citizen.~hazwani~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263178852854529707noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847932807792247875.post-65771415860565895572013-11-14T06:40:00.001-08:002013-11-14T17:03:18.953-08:00Best VPN Software 2013<h2 style="direction: ltr; margin: 0.2em 0px 0.5em; padding: 0px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Best VPN 2013</span></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">VyprVPN</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;"><img alt="VyprVPN Software" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23309" height="443" src="http://cdn.vpncreative.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/VyprVPN-Software.jpg" style="border: 0px none; display: inline-block ! important; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="305" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.goldenfrog.com/vyprvpn?offer_id=4&aff_id=1114" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">VyprVPN</a> offers a range of desktop as well as mobile VPN software. For the desktop platforms, VyprVPN offers VPN application for Windows as well as Mac OS. However, Linux users don’t get a VPN software option, as the only choice is a manual VPN connection.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">For the mobile platform, VyprVPN is available for both iOS as well as Android. The iOS VPN software is particularly innovative and full of features relevant to the user.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">VyprVPN terminals are fast, functional, efficient and easy to use. It runs in the background without using much of the system resources. Read our comprehensive <a href="http://vpncreative.net/vpn-providers/vyprvpn/" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">VyprVPN review</a> to learn more about the VPN service provider.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Express VPN</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://www.express-vpn.com/?a_aid=vpncreative" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Express VPN</a> is a stable and reliable VPN service provider that puts the emphasis on the requirements of the user. This has prompted the company to provide dedicated VPN software for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. VPN software for Linux, is unfortunately, not available at Express VPN, and manual connection is the only possible alternative.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">The Express VPN software is easy to use and has all the features necessary to stay connected to VPN without any troubles. It is also easy on the system resources, making it one of the best VPN software in the market. Read our <a href="http://vpncreative.net/vpn-providers/express-vpn/" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Express VPN review</a> to know more.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;"><img alt="Express VPN Software" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-22120" height="574" src="http://cdn.vpncreative.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/Express-VPN-Servers-List.jpg" style="border: 0px none; display: inline-block ! important; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="751" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Pure VPN</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="https://billing.purevpn.com/aff.php?aff=566" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Pure VPN</a> is one of the established VPN companies, and certainly knows what they are doing. Being a reliable VPN service, they do follow with the times and offers dedicated VPN software for Windows and Mac. Linux users will once again have to connect via the manual option. There is also a dedicated VPN app for Android OS, which is an excellent tool to connect all android devices over a VPN.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">The only problem with Pure VPN is that they seemed to have forgotten all about iOS users. While it is possible to connect to a VPN from iOS using the manual setting, a dedicated VPN app for iOS would have been extremely welcome. Still, Pure VPN does offer excellent VPN software for its users. Read our <a href="http://vpncreative.net/vpn-providers/pure-vpn/" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Pure VPN review</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;"><img alt="Pure VPN Software" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23310" height="551" src="http://cdn.vpncreative.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Pure-VPN-Software.jpg" style="border: 0px none; display: inline-block ! important; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="591" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Strong VPN</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a href="http://www.strongvpn.com/?a_aid=vpncreative" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Strong VPN</a> is yet another VPN service provider that has created a niche for itself. Strong VPN has a wide range of VPN subscription packages that are aimed at different VPN users. This ensures that users can subscribe to Strong VPN according to their requirements and budget.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Strong VPN also offers dedicated VPN software for Windows and iOS. The interface is pretty intuitive and functional; therefore, Strong VPN is one of those VPN service providers that have a winner on their hands. However, VPN software for Mac, Linux and Android devices are sorely missed. The lack of an Android VPN app with respect to the iOS app does not reflect well on the company. Read our <a href="http://vpncreative.net/vpn-providers/strongvpn/" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">Strong VPN review</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;"><img alt="Strong VPN Software Client" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-23311" height="247" src="http://cdn.vpncreative.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Strong-VPN-Software-Client.jpg" style="border: 0px none; display: inline-block ! important; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="641" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">HideMyAss! Pro VPN</span></span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><a alt="HideMyAss Review" href="http://vpncreative.net/vpn-providers/hidemyass/" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" title="HideMyAss Review">HideMyAss! Pro VPN</a> is indeed the best VPN on many counts, and their VPN software is also best in the industry. Offering an interface for each the Windows as well as the Mac platforms, the HideMyAss VPN software is brilliantly functional and easy to use.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Linux and mobile platforms are unfortunately left out, but Linux users can request for an alpha version of the command line-based interface. HMA also offers dedicated tutorials for routers, iOS and Android operating systems, and their overall platform practicality deserved a nomination in this category. Read our<a href="http://vpncreative.net/vpn-providers/hidemyass/" style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">HideMyAss review</a>.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;"><img alt="hma pro vpn" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-2434" height="533" src="http://cdn.vpncreative.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Screen-shot-2011-12-05-at-12.05.13-PM.png" style="border: 0px none; display: inline-block ! important; height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="849" /></span></span></div>
~hazwani~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263178852854529707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847932807792247875.post-18526523796085733852013-11-14T06:24:00.001-08:002013-11-14T17:03:07.547-08:00VPN : What Is That?<h1 class="title">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">What is VPN (Virtual Private Networking)?</span></span></h1>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">VPN gives extremely secure connections between private networks linked through the Internet. It allows remote computers to act as though they were on the same secure, local network.</span><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Advantages</b></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Allows you to be at home and access your company's computers in the same way as if you were sitting at work.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Almost impossible for someone to tap or interfer with data in the VPN tunnel.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">If you have VPN client software on a laptop, you can connect to your company from anywhere in the world.</span></span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Disadvantages</b></span></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Setup is more complicated than less secure methods. VPN works across different manufacturers' equipment, but connecting to a non-NETGEAR product will add to difficulty, since there may not documentation specific to your situation.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">The company whose network you connect to may require you to follow the company's own policies on your home computers ( ! )</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">VPN goes between a computer and a network (client-to-server), or a LAN and a network using two routers (server-to-server). Each end of the connection is an VPN "endpoint", the connection between them is a "VPN tunnel". When one end is a client, it means that computer is running VPN client software such as <a href="http://countries.netgear.com/Products/Software/VPNClientSoftware.aspx" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">NETGEAR's ProSafe VPN Client</a>. The two types of VPN:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">VPN Client-to-Server (Client-to-Box):</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="Image" class="reader-image-large" src="http://kbserver.netgear.com/media/images/answer_1128/clienttobox.jpg" style="display: block; float: none; height: auto; margin: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">VPN Server-to-Server (Box-to-Box):</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="Image" class="reader-image-large" src="http://kbserver.netgear.com/media/images/answer_1128/boxtobox.jpg" style="display: block; float: none; height: auto; margin: auto; max-width: 100%;" /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">All NETGEAR routers support "VPN Passthrough", but "passthrough" simply means the router does not stop VPN traffic — you still need two endpoints.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">The whole purpose of VPN is to prevent data being altered, so, for example, a passthrough router that is also running NAT will break the VPN connection.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">NETGEAR Support will configure one VPN tunnel between two pieces of NETGEAR equipment to demonstrate that the equipment and VPN work. For other information:</span></span><br />
<ul style="text-align: justify;">
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">See the list of NETGEAR VPN documentation in <a href="http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n101500.asp" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">VPN Configuration and Troubleshooting Resources</a>.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Read the product's Reference Manuals, available with the product's downloads.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Make use of NETGEAR's cost-effective <a href="http://kbserver.netgear.com/kb_web_files/n101553.asp" style="text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">ProSupport</a>. This support for advanced features is available by phone, or with an on-site NETGEAR representative.</span></span></li>
</ul>
~hazwani~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263178852854529707noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847932807792247875.post-33324842657747614652013-11-14T06:19:00.001-08:002013-11-14T17:02:51.160-08:00Android 4.4 KitKat : Review<div class="standfirst" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; clear: both; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 20px 20px 15px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Given some latitude, KitKat will soon know you better than you know yourself – and that makes it the cleverest, scariest smartphone OS yet</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; color: black; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-size: x-small; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.stuff.tv/android/android-44-kitkat/gallery?viewid=105656" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><img alt="Android 4.4 KitKat review" class="imagecache imagecache-review_main_image " height="705" src="http://images.cdn.stuff.tv/sites/stuff.tv/files/imagecache/review_main_image/images/news/kitkatmain.jpg" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; display: block; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 15px auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Android 4.4 KitKat review" width="940" /></a></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">What was all the bloody fuss about? After months of leaks, rumours and false dawns, you boot your new Nexus 5 for the first time, and... well, what was the bloody fuss about? </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">KitKat, the newest version of Android, doesn't look all that. There's bigger icons (think Early Learning Centre big). The wallpaper's different. The menu bar icons have changed from neon blue to milky white. Other than that: nothing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Overtones of Android 4.3, you begin to think - months waiting for the Software Update notification, then it's clean forgotten the day after the install. Sigh. Oh well, at least you've got a nice new phone, right?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">You could not, you'll be delighted to hear, be more wrong. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">KitKat 4.4 is a complete relaunch of Android, in some ways going further and faster than any single previous release. And rather than abuse your intelligence by insisting that you scroll down this page for a verdict, we'll tell you what we think right now. It's brilliant. But not the usual gushing hyperbole-fuelled brilliant. No, KitKat 4.4 is weird, Machiavellian, never-saw-that-one-coming brilliant. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">It's the OS for Neal Stephenson fans. And if we're going to come over all pseudo over a huge dollop of code, you at least deserve a credible explanation as to why...</span></span></div>
<section class="review-section clearfix" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 class="section-title" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; clear: both; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">FORM: LESS SKIN, MORE CONTENT</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.stuff.tv/android/android-44-kitkat/gallery?viewid=105657" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Android 4.4 KitKat review" class="imagecache imagecache-section_main " height="425" src="http://images.cdn.stuff.tv/sites/stuff.tv/files/imagecache/section_main/kitkat1.jpg" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; display: block; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 10px; max-width: 100%; outline: 1px solid rgb(237, 237, 237); padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Android 4.4 KitKat review" width="567" /></span></a></span></span><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Let's start with the skin, shall we? KitKat 4.4 is very pretty. So what, you say: JellyBean was pretty (the first iteration of Android to be able to make that claim for itself without blushing). You'd expect its successor to be easy on the eyes, especially when it has been so long in the making.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But while KitKat 4.4 may not represent the same canyon leap in interface design as iOS6 to iOS7, it is a fairly dramatic overhaul. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Throughout the OS, the design has fallen away, leaving the content to come to the fore (is this ringing any bells, Apple fans?). The blue hinting that defined stock Android has been ousted in favour a slightly off white (in fact, much of KitKat is now monochromatic). It shares a minimalist meme with iOS7 - anything between you and the words, pictures, videos or animations is Evil.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The newly-whitened menu bar icons are the most ever-present example, but it runs throughout the Settings and widget selection screens.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">KitKat's graphic polish should raise a few alarms in Apple's design studios. For example, study that new Camera app icon for a moment on the Nexus 5's stunning 445 ppi screen. It's so well finished that you wonder how the design team justified the months spent polishing it, right down to the subtly shaded shutter button. It shows where Android's Holo design movement is heading, and we like it.</span></div>
</section><section class="review-section clearfix" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 class="section-title" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; clear: both; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">FUNCTION: ONE BIG SEARCH TOOL</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.stuff.tv/android/android-44-kitkat/gallery?viewid=105658" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Android 4.4 KitKat review" class="imagecache imagecache-section_main " height="425" src="http://images.cdn.stuff.tv/sites/stuff.tv/files/imagecache/section_main/kitkat2.jpg" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; display: block; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 10px; max-width: 100%; outline: 1px solid rgb(237, 237, 237); padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Android 4.4 KitKat review" width="567" /></span></a></span></span><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">And here's the bit where we explain why KitKat 4.4 is so remarkable. As you probably know, Google Now - the company's personalised, predictive search service - has been steadily improving in functionality: every month or so, it gains another feature that tries to intelligently predict what you need to do next (and it taps into everything - from your location to your recent searches to your email).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">With the launch of KitKat, Google has effectively reversed the Android experience into Google Now. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">The screens you look at when you use the phone are all extensions of Now (whereas in the past, Now was the bolt-on), and search has been integrated into every aspect of the phone's use in a way that makes rivals look Old. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">As the team at <a href="http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/11/google-just-pulled-a-facebook-home-kitkats-primary-interface-is-google-search/" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">ArsTechnica</a> revealed, most of the files that previously existed in Android's launcher (GoogleHome.apk) has been shovelled into the Google Search app - the launcher is now a shell that won't launch. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">You'll be ahead of us in realising the far reaching implications of this: in theory, the Google Search app you download from the Play Store can transform any Android handset (hello, Samsung and HTC...) into the full KitKat experience.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">When you first launch 4.4, you'll find Google Now permanently fixed to the left of your home screen. You can turn it off in Settings, but you'll be neutering the phone's capabilities. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Take the dialler. Diallers make calls: they show contacts, and have numbers you tap. They've done this for years. But with KitKat 4.4, the dialler is now also a search engine. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Try typing 'pizza', and look at the results. Yes, there's the entry for 'Pizza Hut' around the corner that you manually saved a few months back. But now there are also entries for the three other local pizza places. Then get an unsolicited call from another local pizza place - go back to your call history, and notice that Google has recognised the number, and added the Caller ID details. Pick up that iPhone 5s lying around the house, and try the same trick. Android 1, iOS 0.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Elsewhere, widget and home screen obsessives will instantly fall in love with KitKat 4.4: you can create as many screens as you like. Yes, we know, we sobbed gently at the news, too. However, we'll admit to struggling to work out how to create new screens in the first hours with the OS (Google's usually faultless at including overlay tips when first using a stock Android device - not in this case). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">For the record, it couldn't be more straightforward - hold an app in the drawer, drag it to the right of the last existing home screen, and a new one is created. If you want to get rid of a screen, just drag all of the icons off (there should really be a way to delete an entire screen at a swipe, but maybe that's in the next release).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">You'll also notice that the widget drawer has upped and moved home: instead of living in the App Drawer, it's now a prod of a screen away, alongside the wallpaper selector. It's a design that's reminiscent of HTC's Sense 5 (and now we come to think of it, the positioning of Now next to the main home screen isn't that far removed from HTC's Blinkfeed philosophy).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">Lastly, Google has burned the midnight candle in attempts to make Android leaner - to the point where they claim that KitKat will run on a device with as little as 512MB of RAM. We have no way of testing the claim, of course, but it's good news for owners of older handsets.</span></div>
</section><section class="review-section clearfix" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 class="section-title" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; clear: both; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">VOICE ACTIVATION: OK, GOOGLE, I'M IN BRITAIN... GOOGLE?</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.stuff.tv/android/android-44-kitkat/gallery?viewid=105659" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Android 4.4 KitKat review" class="imagecache imagecache-section_main " height="425" src="http://images.cdn.stuff.tv/sites/stuff.tv/files/imagecache/section_main/kitkat3.jpg" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; display: block; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 10px; max-width: 100%; outline: 1px solid rgb(237, 237, 237); padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Android 4.4 KitKat review" width="567" /></span></a></span></span><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Say 'OK, Google' to KitKat, and it will act. At least, it will if you're in the USA. The cool voice activation function first debuted with the US-only Moto X is baked right into KitKat 4.4. But if you launch the OS in the UK, you'll wonder if your phone is broken. Say 'OK, Google', and nothing happens (Android forums are currently packed with Brits factory resetting their Nexus 5s, in the hope that it'll bring the feature to life).</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There is a way round it, you'll be jolly pleased to hear. You just go into Google Now settings, and switch to 'US English'. Wait a second or two, and the 'Speak now' help tip appears in the search bar - voila.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Quite why the feature is set to Off for UK users is beyond us. And bafflingly, the Nexus 5 advertising promos for the Nexus 5 on this side of the water mention the feature.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But enough grumbling - does the voice activation work? Yes. It's awesome, in fact. So good that a week with KitKat changes everyday habits. Shouting 'OK, Google' in public didn't get any less weird as time went by, but when you're either out of earshot or alone, giving the command followed by 'Text Lady GaGa, What the hell is that new album about?' is perfectly natural. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Opening Hangouts and typing away on the keyboard feels Old after only a few days. And 90% of the time, the voice recognition is accurate - even with our painfully plummy English accents and Google Now set to US English. It's reason enough all by itself for upgrading to KitKat, or rushing out to buy a Nexus 5.</span></div>
</section><section class="review-section clearfix" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 class="section-title" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; clear: both; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">APPS: HANGOUTS STEALS THE HEADLINES</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.stuff.tv/android/android-44-kitkat/gallery?viewid=105663" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Android 4.4 KitKat review" class="imagecache imagecache-section_main " height="425" src="http://images.cdn.stuff.tv/sites/stuff.tv/files/imagecache/section_main/kitkat-hangouts.jpg" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; display: block; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 10px; max-width: 100%; outline: 1px solid rgb(237, 237, 237); padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Android 4.4 KitKat review" width="567" /></span></a></span></span><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Just about every Google app in KitKat gets a point release update, although we'll wager that you only notice the difference in four of the apps - Play Books, Quickoffice, Gallery and Hangouts.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Play Books app is the showcase for KitKat's new 'immersive' mode - a pretentious way of saying that the content fills the whole screen, displacing the menu bars top and bottom (you can get them back if you need navigation, simply by tapping the screen). 'Immersive' is simple but effective - we can't wait for the World Of Third Party apps to begin exploiting the feature, especially readers such as Flipboard and Feedly.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Quickoffice has been upgraded, with the aim of seducing Microsoft Office fans into the Android fold (and the threat to Microsoft runs deep: every KitKat device in future will come with Quickoffice, making you question why you'd need to buy the Office suite). </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Not only can you open Word, Excel and PowerPoint files with the app, but you can also create them. Further, the app is tightly integrated with Google Drive, your device's local file system and cloud services. It may not be glamorous, but it's powerful and it works. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">However, it's the changes in the Hangouts app that really steal the headlines. Google has now added SMS to the chat and video calling client, and given you the option in Settings of choosing it as the default for text messaging. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It works well, although you may need to concentrate: we run two Gmail accounts (work and home), and tied ourselves in knots in the first few days, with messages popping into the less-used account. We eventually discovered that you can switch the profile associated with text messages in Settings.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">The Gallery app on first acquaintance is identical to its predecessor - until you go to edit an image. Up pops an advanced photo editor that's deceptively simple in design, but awesomely powerful in use. You can crop in seconds, pick any one of dozens of filters and effects and change the exposure in moments.</span></div>
</section><section class="review-section clearfix" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 class="section-title" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; clear: both; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">TAP AND DON'T PAY</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.stuff.tv/android/android-44-kitkat/gallery?viewid=105660" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Android 4.4 KitKat review" class="imagecache imagecache-section_main " height="425" src="http://images.cdn.stuff.tv/sites/stuff.tv/files/imagecache/section_main/kitkat4.jpg" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; display: block; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 10px; max-width: 100%; outline: 1px solid rgb(237, 237, 237); padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Android 4.4 KitKat review" width="567" /></span></a></span></span><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Your phone will become your credit card. Promise. In America, they have a thing called Google Wallet.</span></div>
<div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">It's an app that lets you pay for stuff, using the handset's NFC chip. Back here in ancient Britain, with our lack of electricity and absence of wheels and fire, we have no such marvels. Undeterred, Google has built Tap and Pay into KitKat's settings screen. Only now, without Wallet available in the UK, it's an interesting empty space with a 'Learn more' button. One day; one day.</span></div>
</section><section class="review-section clearfix" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 class="section-title" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; clear: both; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. DID WE SAY LOCATION?</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.stuff.tv/android/android-44-kitkat/gallery?viewid=105661" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Android 4.4 KitKat review" class="imagecache imagecache-section_main " height="425" src="http://images.cdn.stuff.tv/sites/stuff.tv/files/imagecache/section_main/kitkat5.jpg" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; display: block; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 10px; max-width: 100%; outline: 1px solid rgb(237, 237, 237); padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Android 4.4 KitKat review" width="567" /></span></a></span></span><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Google Now relies on knowing what you're doing, and where you're doing it. So it's no surprise that KitKat has a lot of location settings, and most of them would like to be left on, thank you. </span></div>
<div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Aside from the privacy issues, they also raise another, more practical problem: location services eat batteries. </span></div>
<div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">So it's good news that KitKat marks a revamp of the Location Settings screen, with clear indications of which services are calling on your location and how much power they're consuming. You can also quickly switch between three location modes - High accuracy (GPS and wifi), Battery saving (wifi and mobile networks) and Device accuracy (GPS).</span></div>
</section><section class="review-section clearfix" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><h2 class="section-title" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; clear: both; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 10px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-size: x-small;">VERDICT</span></span></h2>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.stuff.tv/android/android-44-kitkat/gallery?viewid=105662" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px none; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><img alt="Android 4.4 KitKat review" class="imagecache imagecache-section_main " height="425" src="http://images.cdn.stuff.tv/sites/stuff.tv/files/imagecache/section_main/KitKat-app-drawer.jpg" style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; display: block; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; height: auto; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px auto 10px; max-width: 100%; outline: 1px solid rgb(237, 237, 237); padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Android 4.4 KitKat review" width="567" /></span></a></span></span><div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">There's a chance that after a month or two of living with it, we may end up feeling much the same way about KitKat 4.4 as we have iOS7. For all of their party tricks, design flourishes and architectural overhauls, neither OS redefines how a mobile operating system works.</span></div>
<div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">But while that may be true, it's KitKat that comes closest to moving the game on. It's clear what Google is aiming for - a system that knows you intimately, and is smart enough to predict your next whim (or tell you what it should be...). KitKat is all about Google Now, and it's a gamble that pays off.</span></div>
<div style="-moz-font-feature-settings: inherit; -moz-font-language-override: inherit; border: 0px none; font-size-adjust: inherit; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px 0px 20px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">We'd stick by our view that for tablets, iOS7 is the superior life form (helped no end by an app arsenal to die for). But for now, at least, KitKat 4.4 is the world's best mobile platform.</span></div>
</section></div>
~hazwani~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263178852854529707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847932807792247875.post-56495826451094129212013-11-14T06:02:00.001-08:002013-11-14T17:03:45.690-08:00How To Block A Number On iPhone 5S Or 5C<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="1384359558 675403" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-239977" height="403" pxz:uid="-cb740192-1" src="http://blog.laptopmag.com/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1384359558_675403.jpg" style="border: 0px none; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" width="675" /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 10px 0px 20px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">From pesky telemarketers to an ex who doesn’t know when to let go, we all have people we wish we could block from ever calling us again. Thankfully, with the iOS 7 update, iPhone users now have the ability to block specific numbers within the operating system. Here’s how you can easily block numbers on your iPhone 5s or iPhone 5c.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>1. Bring up the contact or number</b> you want to block. If you don’t have it saved in your address book, go to your call logs to pull up the offending number and <b>tap the “i” next to it</b>.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span><img alt="block number ios7 1b 525x400" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-239962" height="400" pxz:uid="-4d2f6bc2-2" src="http://blog.laptopmag.com/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/block_number_ios7_1b-525x400.jpg" style="border: 0px none; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" width="525" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>2. Hit Block This Caller</b> at the bottom of the contact or number information page. You may have to scroll down to see it. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="1384358737 268.66666666667403" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-239971" height="403" pxz:uid="-15931003-3" src="http://blog.laptopmag.com/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1384358737_268.66666666667403.jpg" style="border: 0px none; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" width="268" /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><b>3. Tap Block Contact</b> on the alert that pops up.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 10px 0px 20px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="1384358933 268.66666666667403" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-239973" height="403" pxz:uid="-86517bc7-4" src="http://blog.laptopmag.com/wpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/1384358933_268.66666666667403.jpg" style="border: 0px none; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-width: 100%; padding: 0px;" width="268" /><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"> </span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 10px 0px 20px;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">Now you won’t receive any calls from the person you’ve blocked. Your phone won’t even blink (or register a call) if a blocked contact tries to get a hold of you. Unwanted callers will immediately be redirected to voicemail, but you won’t even get a message. Attempts to reach you will be rendered completely futile. To unblock them, simply repeat steps 1 and 2, then hit Unblock Contact or Unblock This Caller. </span></span></span></div>
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~hazwani~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263178852854529707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847932807792247875.post-31070973750798332872013-11-13T18:49:00.003-08:002013-11-14T17:03:59.931-08:00Top 10 Android Security Tips<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://cdn.ttgtmedia.com/rms/computerweekly/Google-Android-290x230.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Google-Android-290x230.jpg" border="0" height="157" src="http://cdn.ttgtmedia.com/rms/computerweekly/Google-Android-290x230.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There is no question the Android mobile operating system (OS) is a dominant force in the world
of <a href="http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240203556/Microsoft-overtakes-BlackBerry-to-become-third-player-in-smartphone-market">smartphones</a>.
But it is also the most susceptible to malware, the least secure fresh out of the box and the most
fragmented.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If you want to use the OS on <a href="http://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Can-tablets-handle-business">tablets</a> or mobiles for
business, security will have to be your number one priority. Follow these 10 security tips and
Android will become a much more secure and reliable mobile operating system.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>1. Disable app downloads from unknown sources</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The easiest way to get infected with malware on an Android phone or tablet is to start
installing apps from outside the official <a href="http://www.computerweekly.com/news/2240202665/Google-Play-still-riddled-with-malicious-apps-says-Symantec">Google
Play app store</a>. In the Settings menu of any standard Android device is a check box that enables
and disables installing ‘unofficial’ apps. An Android that keeps itself legit is far safer.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>2. Upgrade to Android 3.0 or above</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The first version of Android to incorporate file system encryption was Android 3.0, almost three
years into the system’s life. Devices that do not use any kind of data encryption are all the more
susceptible to damaging data loss.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>3. Download an anti-malware app</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now that Android malware and viruses are a widely-recognised part of the smartphone world, there
are many solutions to combat them. Most of the big antivirus (AV) companies have their own Android
anti-malware apps, including Kaspersky, AVG, Avast and Norton. Recommended free Android AV apps
include Lookout (where there is also a premium version available) and TrustGo.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>4. Do not connect to unsecured, unknown Wi-Fi networks</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">An <a href="http://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Enforce-wireless-security-with-good-sense-and-good-technology">unsecured
Wi-FI network</a> can seem like a cheeky goldmine of free internet, but if you’re using an outdated
version of Android in particular, it could prove dangerous. Imposter Wi-Fi networks can be used to
stage a ‘middleman’ attack, where any inputted data can be intercepted by a third party – including
passwords and personal details, such as credit card numbers. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>5. Install a remote wipe/lock app</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">If an Android device is lost or stolen, it is sensible to have a way to wipe or lock it. There
are apps available from Google Play that will do just that, reacting to either a command from a web
interface or via text. Popular remote wipe and lock apps include Cerberus and Avast Mobile
Security.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>6. Keep all sensitive data behind an extra encryption layer</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
Keeping sensitive information logged in a generic note on a phone or tablet is a bad idea. There
are plenty of apps that will store information behind a double wall of password protection and
encryption. Top picks include mSecure and File Hide Expert. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>7. Be aware of SMS threats</b></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.computerweekly.com/video/Video-mobile-phone-users-prone-to-SMS-installer-mobile-malware">Premium
SMS threats</a> are partly responsible for the surge in Android malware. The Obad threat, which was
brought to light earlier this year, can send premium rate SMS texts, install other malicious apps
and execute other code. If there is mysterious activity on a phone bill, check it is not down
to this type of attack.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>8. Use the Chrome browser</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Since Android 4.1 was introduced, phones and tablets have come with the stock Android browser as
well as <a href="http://www.computerweekly.com/feature/Googles-Chrome-web-browser-Essential-Guide">Chrome</a>
installed as standard. Chrome is marginally more secure than the stock version, having been subject
to fewer publicised insecurities in recent months. It is also likely that Chrome for Android is
being more keenly worked on, its pre-installed status marking it out as the future default browser
for Android. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>9. Put a lock on your lock screen</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Simple but necessary, anyone with a concern about Android security should put some lock screen
protection on their phone. Virtually all Androids come with optional security measures
pre-installed, accessed in the security submenu of settings.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>10. Stolen phone? Check out Plan B</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Many have done it – had a phone lost or stolen just before planning to buy phone insurance or
install a phone tracker. There is one last point of call. Try to install Plan B to the phone from
the Google Play website and, if successful, it will automatically send the location of the device
to the Gmail account linked to it.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<div class="figure figMedium">
</div>
~hazwani~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263178852854529707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847932807792247875.post-65658844805933582912013-11-13T18:44:00.000-08:002013-11-13T18:50:08.738-08:00Best Free Antivirus Software 2013<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Viruses, spyware, hackers, phishing sites - the web is a dangerous
place, and every PC owner needs effective, reliable antivirus software
to keep them safe. But this can be expensive, especially as you'll pay
again to update the package, each and every year.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Fortunately
there is plenty of free antivirus software, many of which are just as
capable as their commercial cousins. So if you're tired of annual
subscriptions, read on - we've picked out nine of the best free internet
security tools to deliver great security at no cost at all.</span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
1. Avast Free Antivirus</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">You don't have to spend long with <a href="http://www.avast.com/">Avast Free Antivirus</a> to realise why it's one of the most popular security tools around. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The
program is simple to install; a straightforward interface makes it easy
to use; a quick first scan should identify any potential threats on
your PC, and this all has minimal impact on your system performance.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<figure><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="Avast" src="http://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/features/free_antivirus_software/avast-580-90.jpg" width="580" /></span></figure></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">These aren't just subjective opinions, either. Independent testing by
AV-Test has found the program to be a good all-rounder, and it was one
of AV-Comparative's "Products of 2012".</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Avast Free has some useful
extras, too. A Software Updater alerts you to program updates you've
missed, for instance, while its Browser Cleanup tool provides a simple
way to remove unwanted add-ons from your browsers. </span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
2. Panda Cloud Antivirus Free</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Small and simple, <a href="http://www.cloudantivirus.com/">Panda Cloud Antivirus</a>
is a lightweight tool which provides free real-time antivirus
protection, and can be used alongside many other security tools without
problems.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It's the free version of a commercial product, and so
has a few missing features. The Pro edition helps to protect you at
public wifi networks, for instance, while its "USB Vaccine" function
reduces the risk of malware infecting a USB drive.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<figure><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="Panda Cloud Antivirus Free" src="http://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/features/free_antivirus_software/Panda-580-90.jpg" width="580" /></span></figure></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The
core antivirus protection remains the same, though. And while that
doesn't deliver the top detection rates, independent testing shows it's
very capable, with the program winning certification in AV-Test's latest
report. </span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
3. ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We have one or two concerns about <a href="http://www.zonealarm.co.uk/">ZoneAlarm Free Antivirus + Firewall</a>,
notably that its antivirus database is only updated daily (hourly
updates are reserved for the commercial version), which leaves you more
exposed to the very latest threats.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The program does provide
plenty of functionality, though, with a capable, AV-Test-certified
antivirus engine, an easy-to-use firewall and some browsing protection. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<figure><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="ZoneAlarm" src="http://cdn4.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/features/free_antivirus_software/ZoneAlarm-580-90.jpg" width="580" /></span></figure></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It
does its best to keep things simple. Open the Preferences dialog, say,
and you'll find only 10 buttons and settings (and most of those you'll
never need to use).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The database update means it wouldn't be our
first choice, but if you're a fan of ZoneAlarm, or just want a firewall
and antivirus tool from the same company, this could be a good choice.</span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
4. Avira Free Antivirus</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.avira.com/">Avira Free Antivirus</a> provides two main areas of protection. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">A
strong antivirus engine (rated highly by independent labs for its file
detection rates) constantly monitors your PC, looking for and
eliminating threats. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<figure><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt=" Avira Free Antivirus" src="http://cdn3.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/features/free_antivirus_software/Avira-580-90.jpg" width="580" /></span></figure></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">If
you choose to install the Avira toolbar then you also get some web
tools (an antiphishing tool, ad blocker, social networking protection),
although this also replaces your default search engine with an Avira
page.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Problems? The interface can seem a little complex, just at
first. And the program has more impact on your PC's performance than
some other tools. Still, on balance Avira Free Antivirus remains a
capable and effective security package.</span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
5. Bitdefender Antivirus Free Edition</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bitdefender.com/solutions/free.html">Bitdefender</a>'s
antivirus engine is one of the best around, and a favourite of the
independent testing labs, so getting a free version sounds very
appealing indeed.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The program is ultra-compact, downloading and
installing in less than a minute on our test PC (although it does demand
removal of any incompatible products first). A very basic interface
then provides effective on-demand and automatic scanning, real-time
antivirus and antiphishing protection.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<figure><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="Bitdefender" src="http://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/features/free_antivirus_software/Bitdefender-580-90.jpg" width="580" /></span></figure></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">There
are very few manual controls here: no settings, no options, no scan
types, no scheduling, nothing at all, perhaps an issue if you like to
fine tune your security. But if you prefer simplicity then Bitdefender
Antivirus Free Edition is an excellent choice.</span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
6. AVG Free Antivirus</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://free.avg.com/">AVG Free Antivirus</a>
is a solid package with a good range of features: an antivirus engine,
email scanner, identity theft protection, and LinkScanner Surf-Shield to
keep you safe online. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">At first glance this makes the program
seem more complex, as there are lots of tiles, buttons and menu entries.
Smart interface design means you can carry out most common actions in a
click or two, though, so you'll soon feel at home.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<figure><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="AVG Free Antivirus" src="http://cdn4.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/features/free_antivirus_software/AVG-580-90.jpg" width="580" /></span></figure></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">AVG
Free Antivirus gets mixed reviews on its effectiveness: AV-Comparatives
rate it as average, AV-Test say it's better than some commercial
suites. Our view: it's a capable, feature-packed tool, and one of the
stronger free antivirus packages.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Why isn't Microsoft Security
Essentials in the list? It's small, simple, and won't slow your system
down - but it's also just not reliable enough to justify inclusion in
our best free antivirus software round-up. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">When Security
Essentials was last included in an AV Comparatives File Detection test,
the program managed a file detection rate of 94.9%, placing it 13th out
of 15. <a href="http://www.av-test.org/en/test-procedures/award/2012/">AV-Test's opinion was even lower</a>.
In its analysis of 2012 products for Home Users, Microsoft Security
Essentials delivered the lowest "average protection score" of all,
putting it bottom in a list of 20.</span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
7. Emsisoft Emergency Kit</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">No
antivirus program comes with a guaranteed 100% detection rate, and
malware might occasionally slip through your defences. You should always
have a second tool available, then, just in case - and <a href="http://www.emsisoft.com/en/software/eek">Emsisoft Emergency Kit</a> (EEK) is a great choice.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The program runs without requiring installation, reducing the chance of any conflicts with your existing antivirus package.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<figure><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="Emsisoft" src="http://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/features/free_antivirus_software/Emsisoft-580-100.jpg" width="580" /></span></figure></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Its
straightforward system scanner uses a dual-scan-engine, rated highly by
Virus Bulletin (and which did actually achieve a 100% detection rate in
a recent AV-Comparatives test).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">And experienced users will
appreciate tools like HiJackFree and BlitzBlank, which can help you
manually detect and clean up malware.</span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
8. FortiNet FortiClient</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">While they're best known in the corporate world of network security appliances, FortiNet also produce a capable antivirus tool, <a href="http://www.fortinet.com/products/endpoint/forticlient.html">FortiClient</a>, which is free for home users.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The
program can be installed in two modes. The standard option provides a
good range of tools: an antivirus engine, simple parental controls, an
application firewall, vulnerability scanning and more. But you can also
run FortiClient without its real-time protection, perfect if you need to
run it alongside an existing antivirus tool without conflicts.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<figure><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="FortiClient" src="http://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/features/free_antivirus_software/FortiClient2-580-90.jpg" width="580" /></span></figure></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Our
tests suggest it's not the best antivirus engine around, but is still
worth having. AV-Test and AV-Comparatives confirm that it's a good
mid-range contender, and FortiClient could be particularly helpful if
you want a second-line tool to run alongside an existing antivirus
engine.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">
9. 360 Internet Security 2013</span></h3>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Qihoo
is a Chinese software company which has had enormous success in its
home market (it claims 450 million users), but now it's branching out
with its first international release, <a href="http://www.360safe.com/pc.html">360 Internet Security 2013</a>. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Despite
its name, this isn't a full internet security suite - there's no spam
filter, firewall or parental controls - but installing the program does
get you no less than three antivirus engines: BitDefender, its own QVM
II, and Cloud 360. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<figure><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="360 Internet Security 2013" src="http://cdn0.mos.techradar.futurecdn.net//art/features/free_antivirus_software/360-580-90.jpg" width="580" /></span></figure></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">These
delivered accurate results for us, and the independent testing labs
have also reported positive results for Qihoo products in the past year (<a href="http://www.av-comparatives.org/certifications">AV Comparatives has certified it</a> as "Windows 8 approved", for instance).</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">360
Internet Security does a reasonable job of blocking access to malicious
websites, too, and on balance it's an effective entry to the free
antivirus world.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
~hazwani~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263178852854529707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847932807792247875.post-85727728287950057312013-11-13T18:33:00.004-08:002013-11-13T18:52:39.983-08:00PC Security Tips : Make Computer Secure<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Here are some tips which will enable you to make your PC more secure.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Anti-virus</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1. Never, ever turn off the resident protection of your antivirus even if it decreases performance. Upgrade if necessary.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2. Keep your virus definitions up-to-date. Use the automatic update
feature of your anti-virus and try not to ignore the "Do you want to
update now" message however often it might pop up.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/null" name="more"></a><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3. Even if you update regularly and you have not seen any suspicious activity on your PC, do a deep scan at least once a month.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4. Always create an emergency boot disk and keep it in a safe place.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="PC Security tips" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboXwDnjKyOK8BxEOgpEhYAO_Sc2rrXUmPFn5Zb0ozm3GiaxJSdeSmC5ZBqAO6-VAj6l9Kh-yNpKHBdKOateZx5owYB5o9q3DZOBF9GYuYeZsMoVbEaxseDjo2NQts_U2UOm9PpStFA03Z/s1600/Internet-Security.jpg" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">5. Run a deep scan in safe mode at least once every two months to kill viruses that would otherwise remain hidden.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Firewalls</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1. If you are unsure about the alert displayed by your firewall, try searching it on the internet.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2. A firewall is a powerful tool that requires an understanding of how
the program works and exactly what it is doing and whether it is <a href="http://www.tweakandtrick.com/p/security.html">secure</a> or not. Reading the help files is extremely important in successful configuration of your firewall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><img alt="Computer Security" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRVeeD1w66IH7-r0-RH7js95BdPV8Q46QePNsirysSR1IKPsGDGvWa03vjpSa8T5HqzqCybNFTrUmjrBKy1G6PjSskLmTvEjQ0kcDBPIKxSMnJaMNueVqTWaer_hMvfqPV9QAblUBhcy-i/s1600/computer_secure.JPG" /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3. If you are running a third party firewall,be sure to turn off the Windows Firewall.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">4. You can temporarily disable a firewall by right clicking the icon in
the tray. This is handy when you know a site is one you can trust but
your firewall is blocking it. But remember to re-enable it as soon as
possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">5. Read firewall notices carefully when they pop up so that you don't let a bad thing in or prevent good traffic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Anti-Spyware</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1. You should regularly check for updates. Enable the automatic update feature.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2. Remember to do a scan every now and then, or schedule scans if your
program allows it. If you don't want to sit that long for scans to
complete, use a single folder for all your downloads, then scan only
that folder, <a href="http://www.tweakandtrick.com/p/software.html">Windows</a> installation folder and the Registry. Alternately, you can do a quick scan if your program allows it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><b>Anti-Spam</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">1. Be patient with anti-spam software, it will get better over time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">2. Even if it looks that your anti-spam software is working great,
periodically check the 'Spam' folder for good mail. None of the
anti-spam software is perfect right now.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">3. Don't give your anti-spam software too much rules, because it will
not learn anything then. It is better if it learns on its own.</span></div>
~hazwani~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263178852854529707noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7847932807792247875.post-71816670051316955802013-11-13T18:31:00.001-08:002013-11-14T17:15:02.128-08:00The Best Computer Tips And Tricks : Laptop<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><u><b>Make Your Own Power Plan</b></u></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Windows laptops include a few
preset power plans for maximizing battery life, but you can also
customize your operating system's power-management features (in Windows
XP, under Power Options in the Control Panel; in Vista, under Mobile PC
in the Control Panel). Setting aggressive targets for when the display
turns off and when the machine goes into sleep or hibernate mode will
help your battery last longer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <u>Limit Your Connection </u></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">
When you aren't actively using your notebook's Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, WWAN,
or other wireless connections, turn the radios off (via the hard switch,
if your PC has one, or using the appropriate utility), so they don't
run down the battery while they keep searching for a signal. Also, use
<u>USB-attached devices sparingly while you're mobile. </u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u> </u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"><u> Track it down </u></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">
Thousands of laptops are reported stolen every year. Our advice?
Prepare for the worst by investing in tracking software like Absolute
Software's Lojack for Laptops, CyberAngel Security, or the free <a href="http://computershopper.download.com/TheLaptopLock/9100-2092_4-10622172.html">TheLaptopLock</a>.
These utilities can pinpoint a registered notebook's location once it
connects to the Web, increasing your chances of recovering your system. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <u>Dim the display </u></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">
A laptop's biggest battery-life-sucking component is its LCD display.
To eke out more juice when you're off the plug, turn down your panel's
brightness to the lowest level your eyes can stand. Most notebooks have a
Function key combo—or even a dedicated hot key—for a quick crank-down.
(You can also adjust brightness in Display Settings under Control
Panel.) </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <u>Keep It Cool </u></span></h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Thanks to their small, cramped
cases and tiny vents, laptops are prone to overheating. Unfortunately,
using your notebook on your lap—or on top of a blanket that protects
your lap from your scalding-hot notebook—can seriously stifle
ventilation and make matters worse. To help keep temperatures in check,
opt for a lap desk or a laptop cooling pad that won't conduct heat or
block your laptop's vents. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <u>Back Up Everything </u></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">
Constant movement puts computer components at risk, and because of their
portability, laptops suffer a lot more wear and tear than desktops. All
of that on-the-go use increases the risk of hard drive failure, so make
sure you back up the data on your laptop to an external hard drive,
thumb drive, or home server on a regular basis. Portable hard drives
like the Western Digital Passport Elite make it easy to back up your
data on the road. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <u>Cover Your Keyboard </u></span></h2>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> Keep liquids
away from laptops at all times. That rule often gets broken, of course,
and accidents happen. Should that accident end up on your laptop's
keyboard, however, you could end up with more than just a mess: Liquids
that seep through your notebook's keys can fry its components. Protect
your notebook from spills with a custom-built, plastic keyboard cover
from <a href="http://www.protectcovers.com/laptop.htm">ProtecT Laptop Covers</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <u>Buy a Bag </u></span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">
If you plan to carry your notebook with you, the most useful accessory
you can buy is a laptop bag. They're available in a number of styles and
prices; for maximum protection, we recommend investing in a model with a
built-in padded sleeve. If you want something less conspicuous (thieves
have been known to target obvious-looking laptop bags), cover your
laptop in stand-alone sleeve and stow it in your backpack or briefcase. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <u>Let It Accumulate</u> </span></h2>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: small;">
When you move your laptop from a cold to a warm environment, and vice
versa, don't boot up until your system reaches room temperature. Sudden
temperature changes can cause condensation to build up inside the
notebook case; turn it on too quickly, and the moisture could damage
your system's inner components. </span></div>
~hazwani~http://www.blogger.com/profile/04263178852854529707noreply@blogger.com0