Hide and Secure Data With Folder Lock

Folder Lock 7 is a jack-of-all-trades for file encryption and data security. Not only does it encrypt and hide volumes and folders with an on-the-fly 256-bit algorithm, it also protects USB drives and creates wallets to list and store important information such as bank accounts, online passwords, and such. The program goes even further with a secure erase (shred) function, data lockers (think Windows Briefcase), and the ability to run stealthily--that is, without any sign that it's operating.

Folder Lock 7's interface is super-easy to use, but a bit over the top in appearance.Version 7 of Folder Lock adds an optional online component to the mix, synching your data lockers to NewSoftwares' own storage service if you desire. The service is $5 per month for every 10GB, not the cheapest but relatively competitive. 10GB should be more than enough for only your secure data. Other neat features are login attempt tracking, and creating both normal and self-extracting password protected zip files. (PCWorld last reviewed Folder Lock at version 6.25).

The program couldn't be any easier to use, though the first time you lock and hide a folder it can be a bit shocking to go to a drive and see it locked, or to find a folder missing. Folder Lock keeps two services running, but didn't appear to impact performance at all. The program is completely password driven, so there are no certificates to lose as with Windows Bitlocker. There's a master password for the program, which you will need if you decide to uninstall it.

To read this full article go to:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/247068/hide_and_secure_data_with_folder_lock.html#tk.hp_new



By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

iPad Future is Hazy

The next iPad might use a 7-inch screen, but it might not. It might get released on Steve Jobs's birthday, but it might not. One thing we can be sure of, though: iPhones are used more for gaming than Android phones--or else they're not. The remainders can't make up their minds.

Apple viewed as unlikely to launch 7-inch iPad in 2012 (AppleInsider)

One Wall Street analyst says that, despite the rumors, Apple won't release a 7-inch iPad Nano. Or a 7-inch iPod Touch Pro. Instead, this analyst predicts that Apple will drop the price of the iPad 2 to the mid-$300 range when the company releases the iPad 3. What this analyst won't say, but I'm boldly predicting here, is that the iPad 3 will move from a 10-inch display to a 10-foot one. You heard it here first.

read the full article here:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/246979/ipad_future_is_hazy.html



By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

Google Voice Lets You 'Send a Call From Santa' Once Again

Google is getting into the holiday spirit once again with its "Send A Call From Santa" website. Last year Google gave jolly old Saint Nick his very own Google Voice phone number (855-34-SANTA), that people could call from their Google Voice accounts (or regular phones).

Santa's got the same phone number this year, so you can call up the North Pole and leave him a message (he can't pick up, because, well…he's pretty busy these days). This is a great tech-savvy way to get your kids' Christmas lists to Santa--instead of having them write it down, just have them dictate it through a VoIP service to Santa's voicemail! Very Christmas 2.0.

You can also send your child (or someone else) a personalized call from Santa using Google's Send A Call From Santa website. Just head on over tosendacallfromsanta.com, fill in some info about the person you want to send a call to (such as name, your relationship, their favorite food, etc.), and they'll get a cool, personalized call from Santa himself.

To Read the rest of this visit:
http://www.pcworld.com/article/246762/google_voice_lets_you_send_a_call_from_santa_once_again.html#tk.hp_new



By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

How To Get Windows 8 Features Now

Windows 8 will be the first Windows operating system since Windows 95 to drastically modify the user interface. Not only will we see a port of the Windows Phone 7 Metro UI, we'll also see support for multiple monitor setups, an immersive version of Internet Explorer, and touchscreen optimization.

Many of the improvements that Windows 8 will bring (for example, access to the Windows Store, native USB 3.0 support, "Refresh and Reset" features that simplify restoring your system to its factory default configuration, and Windows Live account integration) aren't available yet. Nevertheless, you can get the general look and feel of Windows 8 on your Windows 7 machine--including an approximation of the Metro UI, multiple monitor support, and the ribbon-style toolbar in Windows Explorer--right now. Here's how.

To read the full article go to: http://www.pcworld.com/article/246249/how_to_get_windows_8_features_now.html#tk.hp_fv


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

Android Blog Buzz: Google Prepping Siri Killer Dubbed Majel

The Android blogosphere is abuzz that Google might have a Siri killer called Majel out by year-end.

The blog Android and Me has kicked off the frenzy with a post based on details received about the "secret project" in recent weeks: "Majel is an evolution of Google's Voice Actions that is currently available on most Android phones with the addition of natural language processing. Where Voice Actions required you to issue specific commands like 'send text to…' or 'navigate to…' Majel will allow you to perform actions in your natural language similar to how Siri functions."

Android and Me reports Majel is being cooked up at Google X, the company's top-secret lab, and that the technology is expected first for Google searches. Consensus among Android watchers is that Majel is more likely to surface early next year than this month.

SIRI GONE BAD: Siri gets caught in middle of husband/wife spat (video)

Majel won't be the first or only Android-based Siri alternative. In fact, Network World this week published a slideshow on 7 free Siri alternatives for Android, some of which beat the iPhone 4S and Siri to market.

The name Majel might ring a bell for Trekkies, as it comes from the name of Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's wife, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, also the voice of the Federation Computer on Star Trek.

Credit: Wikimedia Commons - The name Majel comes from Majel Barrett-Roddenberry who was the voice of the Federation Computer from Star Trek.The blog Droid Forums notes that Google no doubt has multiple voice technology projects underway, including those based on technology obtained last year via Google's buyout of Phonetic Arts.

Geek.com writes that Google has a huge challenge in catching up to or surpassing Siri, which it describes as having "roots in a military DARPA project, and is the culmination of over 40 years of research."

Circle Bob on Google+



By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

Review of nSpaces

nSpaces

Virtual desktop software nSpaces (free/donationware) provides four virtual workspaces, or spaces that you may split your applications and documents between. For instance, you could have your word processing stuff on one desktop, your spreadsheets on another, your email application and messages on the third, and a movie on the last. The idea is to organize your work and reduce clutter.

http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file/fid,201923-order,4/description.html#tk.hp_new



By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

Why Call a Geek

By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

Over 18,000 Repaired

By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

Meet the Staff

By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


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Technology at your fingertips

By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

Scion

By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

Over 18,000 Repaired

By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

Meet the Staff

By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28



Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

Add-Ons to Power Up Outlook

Outlook may be the most popular email client on the planet, but it probably doesn't have every feature you need. It could use help in a lot of respects, such as integrating with social networking services, killing spam, and cutting through email overload. The good news: Downloadable add-ons can help you do all that and more. Here are a dozen downloads--many of them free--that can transform Outlook from just another email client into a communications powerhouse.

To read the full article, click here


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By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

Cool features for the iPhone 4

Apple's major overhaul of its iOS operating system arrives today, but amidst the excitement comes a major concern: Will iOS 5 function properly on older model iPhones? Or will there be an added circle of bricked-iPhone hell comparable to what happened in 2010 when the iPhone 3G took on iOS 4?

Read the full article here:


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By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

Facebook Cracking Down on Malicious URLs

By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

Facebook, the world's largest social playground, is partnering with Websense to protect its netizens from malicious links. Starting soon, when you click on a URL posted to Facebook, it will be checked for a number of red flags. If none are found, you'll proceed to the destination just as you always have. But if it appears suspicious for any reason, a security alert will warn you that "This link may not be safe!"
» Read More at: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/news/facebook_cracking_down_malicious_urls


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New Mac Malware Poses as PDF Doc

Security firms Friday warned Mac users of a new Trojan horse that masquerades as a PDF document.

The malware, which was spotted by U.K.-based Sophos and Finnish antivirus vendor F-Secure, uses a technique long practiced by Windows attackers.

"This malware may be attempting to copy the technique implemented by Windows malware, which opens a PDF file containing a '.pdf.exe' extension and an accompanying PDF icon," said F-Secure today.

That practice relies on what is called the "double extension" trick: adding the characters ".pdf" to the filename to disguise an executable file.

Read the full article from PCWorld.com here

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By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

Windows 8 Has A Friendlier Blue Screen Of Death!

While Windows 8 was widely expected to have a black screen of death, the developer build released yesterday has revealed that Redmond has opted to stick with the historic blue. It does, however, come with a peculiar twist. Rather than inundate people (who hopefully remembered to save their work) with a breakdown of why their computer stopped working, it seems Microsoft has chosen to take things in a more compassionate direction.

Read more over @ TechCrunch...




By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

Metro-style Internet Explorer 10 ditches Flash, plugins

Windows 8 will have two versions of Internet Explorer 10: a conventional browser that lives on the legacy desktop, and a new Metro-style, touch-friendly browser that lives in the Metro world. The second of these, the Metro browser, will not support any plugins. Whether Flash, Silverlight, or some custom business app, sites that need plugins will only be accessible in the non-touch, desktop-based browser.

Should one ever come across a page that needs a plugin, the Metro browser has a button to go to that page within the desktop browser. This yanks you out of the Metro experience and places you on the traditional desktop.

Read more over @ ArsTechnica...


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

Microsoft to give out Windows 8 build 8100 at BUILD conference

It's not like it's not completely obvious, but we've received confirmation that Microsoft is planning on giving out a developer preview to attendees at BUILD this week, and the lucky build number? 8100.

If you're looking for some sort of confirmation on this, a tweet in Russian on September 12 reads;

They say two or three days, Microsoft will give all Windows 8 8100, the so-called Developer preview
We've also heard from independent sources that the build will be a 81xx build, rather than 8100 exactly. Only one question remains, will Microsoft make Windows 8 available just to delegates of the conference, or will it be available online? Previously, at Microsoft's PDC conference in 2009, the company gave out copies to delegates but the general public couldn't get their hands on the bits until the OS hit beta. The build given out at the developer conference is not beta.

Read more over @ NeoWin...


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

Samsung Galaxy Note With Stylus In Action

We just got a first look at a new Android tablet-smartphone hybrid from Samsung to be debuted today on the IFA. Here in pics and video your first look. The new device the Samsung Galaxy Note with feature a 5.3 Super AMOLED display, Dual core 1.5 process, an 8 MP camera and... get this... a stylus! We got exclusive access and our proud to be the first to get to play with the Samsung Note BEFORE the official press conference today. Enjoy!


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

U.S. Files to Block AT&T, T-Mobile Merger

The U.S. Justice Department sued to block AT&T Inc.’s proposed $39 billion takeover of T-Mobile USA Inc., saying the deal would “substantially lessen competition” in the wireless market.

The government is seeking a declaration that AT&T’s takeover of T-Mobile, a unit of Deutsche Telekom AG (DTE), would violate U.S. antitrust law, according to a complaint filed today in federal court in Washington. The U.S. also asked for a court order blocking implementation of the deal, the largest announced acquisition of the year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Read more over @ Bloomberg...


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

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Human-like robot comes alive aboard space station

A 330-pound humanoid robot was electronically awakened aboard the International Space Station this week, beginning its life as an astronaut's assistant.

The robot named Robonaut 2, or R2, will help with routine tasks such as holding tools and vacuuming air filters. The robot was sent up on space shuttle Discovery in February, but it wasn't powered up until now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wsldznpxc-E

Check out the video above as R2 gets unpacked.

Clad in a gold helmet with a shiny metallic visor, R2 has a torso, two arms and two five-fingered hands. For now, it sits on a fixed pedestal inside the space station.

"Next steps include a leg for climbing through the corridors of the space station," NASA said.

Once fully built, NASA envisions R2 assisting astronauts during space walks as they make mechanical fixes to the outside of the space station.

Read over @ LA Times.


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

6 Reasons The Guy Who's Fixing Your Computer Hates You

By my calculations, about 96 percent of all computer repairs are done, not by the local computer guy or the Geek Squad, but by The Friend Who is Good With Computers. Often that friend is nothing more than an average computer user who knows how to look up error messages on Google, but it doesn't matter -- once they become known as TFWIGWC, they will get the call every time something goes wrong. And they will fix it, probably for free, because TFWIGWC pities you.

Read more over @ Cracked...


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

Microsoft: Windows 8 pre-release to arrive in the "coming months"

It has been rumored that Microsoft would be releasing a beta of Windows 8 in the fall. Specifically, it is rumored that a beta release will happen at this year’s BUILD event that will take place in September. While there has been previous talk that a pre-release of Windows 8 arriving in the fall, this new information helps to confirm that Microsoft is still on track for a fall release.

Read more about Microsoft's exciting new version of Windows over @ NeoWin!

Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

Facebook Now Wants to Put Ads In Your Personal Feed

Forget about the top ten reasons you should quit Facebook. Heck, forget about all the other reasons too because this is the new definitive reason why you will quit Facebook: Zuckerberg now wants to put ads directly in your feed.

Read more over @ Gizmodo...



By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

Windows Phone "Mango" Released to manufacturer!

I wanted to drop into the Windows Phone Blog briefly to update you on an important milestone. Earlier this morning, the Windows Phone development team officially signed off on the release to manufacturing (RTM) build of “Mango” – the latest version of the Windows Phone operating system. This marks the point in the development process where we hand code to our handset and mobile operator partners to optimize Mango for their specific phone and network configurations. Here on the Windows Phone team, we now turn to preparing for the update process. The Mango update for current Windows Phone handsets will be ready this fall, and of course will come pre-installed on new Windows Phones.

To learn more about this exciting new Windows Phone release read more over at the Windows Phone Blog!



By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

How to download and back up your Gmail, Google+, Calendar, and Docs data!

Google has a tremendous number of free services they offer which many of your probably take advantage of. But have you ever considered what you might lose if all of a sudden you lost access to your account? Just like all important data on your hard drive, your critical data in “the cloud” should also have backup consideration.

So if your Google account contains data you can’t afford to lose or you simply would like to have a local copy of it for yourself, you can easily download just about everything.

Check out how over @ HowToGeek.


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

Got that new iPhone or iPod and don't know how to set it up? Let us help!

So you've finally splurged on a new iOS device for yourself, or gotten it as a gift from the Apple lovers in your life. Sadly, you can't just open the box and start using it—it requires a bit of set up. Here's what you need to do.

If you don't already have iTunes, you'll want to head to apple.com/itunes, download it, and maybe even rip a few CDs while you're at it.

Read more over @ LifeHacker.

Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

How Dangerous is Web Surfing?

Samantha asked the Antivirus & Security Software forum about the likelihood of a web site infecting her PC, and whether certain types of web sites are more dangerous than others.

Web sites can infect your PC. And yes, adult sites are more likely to get you into trouble. But you can catch malware from a respectable site, as well. In most cases, the site has been hijacked, and its owner is only guilty of lax security practices.

Find out just how dangerous web surfing can be over @ PC World.



By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

6 Free Softwares To Manage Your Files

Are you annoyed at the disordered files of your computer? Are you driven mad by searching files without any results? Do you feel like you are at your breaking point when your files are missing? Can you bear that your secret files may be seen by others?

Take it easy. There are many methods to conquer these problems. We will introduce a series of files management softwares to help you manage your Windows 7 PC.

Find out which 6 free pieces of software you can utilize to streamline your file storage experience over @ Windows7News...Call us today with any questions! 281-554-5500. Why call a geek when you can call a friend?


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28

Hands-on: Facebook Video Calling vs. Google+ Hangout

The Google-Facebook rivalry has intensified in the past several days. Last week, Google announced the limited launch of its new Google+ social network, including a video chat feature called Hangouts. Then, yesterday, Facebook launched its new Video Calling feature, powered by Skype. Clearly, social networking and video chat are now joined at the hip.

Which video chat service is better, and who should use which one? I put both Facebook Video Calling and Google+ Hangout through their paces and found that they both have their pros and cons.

Facebook's video chat is currently more stable, requires fewer system resources, and has higher-quality video and audio. On the other hand, Google+ Hangout is a more fully featured application, clearly designed for group video chat. Those who have made it into Google+ may find it buggy, but in the long run, Hangout could prove to be more useful than Facebook's video feature.

Read more about these exciting two digital behemoths over @ ComputerWorld...

How to Migrate Your Data From an Old Computer to a New One

When you buy a new computer, you start with a clean slate, which is great, but you don't have any of your documents or settings from your old computer. Luckily, it's very easy to transfer all your files and settings from your old computer to the new one—whether you're on Windows or a Mac.

If you're migrating from Windows to Windows or a Mac to a new Mac, you can use your operating system's built-in tools to migrate your data. If you're moving between platforms, you can still do it, you just won't be using any tools. In general, however, no matter what kind of computer you use, you'll probably need an external drive to pull this off, so if you don't have one, go pick one up. Once you're done migrating your data, it works great for backing it up in case anything happens.

Read more about how to migrate your data over @ LifeHacker...


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28


By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28