Gmail gets integrated Google Drive link sharing

Gmail users will soon be able to share documents stored in Google Drive without leaving the Gmail interface. Drive, and Google Docs before it, have always allowed users to share links to files using Gmail. But users have always had to share files from the Docs/Drive interface and never Gmail's, until now. The ideal part of sharing files from Drive, or similar services such as SkyDrive, is that there is only one copy stored online. So if you or someone else on the email thread makes changes to the shared document, all of the message thread recipients will see the changes the next time they see the document online. read more here: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2017326/gmail-gets-integrated-google-drive-link-sharing.html
By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28 Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

Turbo-charge your browser with these top add-ons

Power up your browser Browser add-ons bring convenience, pizzazz, and efficiency to our surfing. There are add-ons for saving passwords, ones for automatically sending web pages to our e-reader or smartphone, and ones that help us juggle our social (networking) life. No matter the browser you use – Chrome, Firefox, IE, Opera, or Safari – I’ve rounded up some of the best to help you get the most out of the web. read more here: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2016528/turbo-charge-your-browser-with-these-top-add-ons.html
By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28 Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

Android tethering: From USB to Wi-Fi

Android tethering: From USB to Wi-Fi Even though we're walking around with constantly connected smartphones, many of us struggle to get our other devices online. The easiest way (outside of public Wi-Fi) is to tether them to your phone, either via a USB cable or by using the phone to create a Wi-Fi hotspot. Data tethering is built natively into Android. However, some carriers make that feature difficult to use -- they'd rather have you pay extra to subscribe to their tethering services. As a result, your carrier may not approve of the use of these apps. (Apple definitely doesn't approve; there are no tethering apps in the App Store.) With one of these six apps, though, you can harness your phone's 3G/4G connection to quickly get your tablet or laptop online.
By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28 Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment. http://www.pcworld.com/article/2014099/android-tethering-apps-6-excellent-options.html

New video offers a peek at Ubuntu for Android

Ever since Canonical announced Ubuntu for Android back in February, the lack of specific product details seems to have done little to diminish excitement over the forthcoming Linux-based platform. The proposed NexPhone concept helped rekindle that interest earlier this autumn, and on Monday Canonical posted a new video offering more details. “Now multi-core Android phones can be PCs too,” reads the text accompanying the new video on YouTube. “Ubuntu for Android enables high-end Android handsets to run Ubuntu, the world's favorite free PC desktop operating system. So users get the Android they know on the move, but when they connect their phone to a monitor, mouse and keyboard, it becomes a PC.” 'A life less complicated' The animated video, embedded below, doesn't actually add any new information to what we've already heard about Ubuntu for Android, which we've been told will come preloaded on smartphones, and no fresh product details or timetables are included. Nevertheless, “get a phone with Ubuntu for Android,” the narrator urges, “and start living a life less complicated.” That, in turn, makes me wonder if a product announcement is coming soon. 'The desktop is the killer app' For some time already there's been a section on the Ubuntu site dedicated to Ubuntu for Android, of course, and no new specifics seem to have appeared there since the video's release. Still, I can't help but think the timing must be significant in some way, such as to lead the way for concrete product news. After all, Canonical founder Mark Shuttleworth did say that “the desktop is the killer app for quad-core phones in 2012” when he announced Ubuntu for Android, and there's not much more left to this year. I've reached out to Canonical for more information, but haven't heard anything back yet. In the meantime, it's a tantalizing prospect. I'll post an update as soon as I learn anything more.
By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28 Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment. http://www.pcworld.com/article/2013964/new-video-offers-a-tantalizing-peek-at-ubuntu-for-android.html

How to choose just the right all-in-one computer for you

Windows-based all-in-one PCs once earned little respect. While most of today's AIOs still lack the graphics horsepower for hard-core gaming (we'll show you one exception), the best models are far removed from the 98-pound weaklings of yore. Many models use laptop parts, which minimize heat, power consumption, and the need for noisy cooling fans. If you crave more performance, pick a model that uses desktop components (the ones we've tested are still relatively quiet). Either way, everything—the CPU, memory, storage, and optical drive—is housed in the same unit as the dsiplay, so the computer's footprint equals that of a monitor. And since most all-in-ones ship with a Wi-Fi adapter as well as a wireless mouse and keyboard, the only cable they require is a power cord. All-in-one specifications are a blend of what you'll find in conventional desktop systems and laptop PCs. The thinnest and most compact systems are almost completely built around the same power-efficient technology as laptops. Here's our checklsit of what to look for when you go shopping for your all-in-one: The specs explained Display: Unlike with traditional desktop PCs, what you see is what you get with an all-in-one computer—for the life of the PC. With few exceptions, you'll never be able to upgrade without chucking the entire machine, so choose accordingly. In addition to multitouch capabilities (to support Windows 8), you should consider three other key factors: display technology, display resolution, and display size. LCD panels that employ IPS (in-plane switching) or PLS (plane-line switching) technology are vastly superior to those based on TN (twisted nematic) technology. IPS and PLS displays are more expensive, and you might find them only in larger all-in-ones, but they are worth every cent. The all-in-one you buy should deliver graphics resolution of at least 1920 by 1080 pixels. Movies, digital photos, websites, and productivity apps will look great at this resolution on a 23- or 24-inch display. Move up to a 27-inch model, however, and you'll be able to make out the individual pixels because they'll be spaced farther apart to fill the larger area. A few high-end AIO models, such as Dell's XPS One, provide higher resolution—2560 by 1440 pixels—on their 27-inch displays. CPU:Desktop or mobile? Choose an all-in-one with a desktop processor if you intend to perform in-depth photo editing, manipulate complex spreadsheets, or engage in other computing-intensive tasks. If your work is less demanding, an AIO built on a mobile CPU will be thinner and quieter, and will it consume less power. Faster clock speeds buy incremental performance within a particular class, but your desktop-versus-mobile decision affects performanc DELL AIOPhotograph: Robert CardinVizio impressed us with its rookie effort at building an all-in-one: The 27-inch CA27-A1 is a highly capable computer. e the most. Memory: Look for systems with at least 6GB to 8GB of memory. Most all-in-ones offer relatively straightforward memory expansion, so you can add more if you need it; but you might discover that a limited number of memory slots will force you to replace existing memory modules with higher-capacity ones, rather tahn add to existing DRAM. Graphics: Buy an AIO with discrete graphics if you plan on any serious gaming; models with integrated graphics hardware won’t be up to the task. Note, however, that the limited airflow in an AIO design typically restricts the manufacturer to using a mobile graphics processing unit. Such GPUs can run 3D games, but you will need to dial down the resolution and detail levels to achieve acceptable frame rates. To date, we know of only one AIO PC that uses all desktop components, including a top-of-the-line Nvidia GeForce GT 680: the Maingear Alpha. We expect to get one of these machines into the PCWorld lab for a hands-on-review soon. Storage: Most AIOs use mobile hard drives, which trade capacity and performance for smaller size and cooler operating temperatures compared to desktop models. You’ll want at least 1TB of storage. We’ve seen only a few AIO PCs outfitted with solid-state drives, but some higher-end models use small SSDs as a persistent cache for higher-capacity mechanical drives. Optical drives: Entry-level AIOs come with DVD burners/players. Upscale models should come with a least a Blu-ray player (if not a Blu-ray burner). If you're buying a custom configuration and don't think you'll ever watch Blu-ray movies on your computer, you can save a few dollars by including a less-expensive DVD burner in your machine. Lenovo AIOPhoto courtesy of LenovoThe display on Lenovo's IdeaCentre A720 can fold completely flat. Connectivity: Only the most basic AIO won’t have an integrated Wi-Fi adapter. If the machine you choose lacks one, you can add it by plugging in an aftermarket USB adapter (choose either 802.11n or—for a future-proof network—an 802.11ac model). Bluetooth support is convenient for connecting Bluetooth printers, tablets, and smartphones. I/O ports: The all-in-one you select should have at least two USB 3.0 ports, but the more the better (either USB 2.0 or USB 3.0). An eSATA port will enable you to attach a very fast, high-capacity, external mechanical hard drive. A flash memory card reader (SD, Compact Flash, Memory Stick, and the like) is another welcome feature, since it can make quick work of copying files from your digital camera or camcorder. HDMI: An HDMI input lets you connect a gaming console, a cable or satellite set-top box, a camcorder, or another digital video source to your all-in-one to take advantage of the computer’s display. Models that allow you to use the display without turning on the computer will consume less power. HDMI-out is a less common feature on AIOs, but you could use it to drive a second display. TV tuner: An onboard TV tuner lets you watch over-the-air broadcasts on the AIO’s display. If you subscribe to cable or satellite TV, however, you’ll be much happier plugging a set-top box into the machine’s HDMI input. Buying tips Avoid buying last year’s models: Although you can score a big discount on an older model, buying an outdated AIO is problematic. It’s unlikely to come with Windows 8 installed, and it probably won't have the type of multitouch display you’ll want to use with Windows 8 should decide to update your OS later. Remember that you can’t upgrade: Upgrading a desktop PC is easy, particularly if you want to improve its graphics, storage, display, or optical drive. With few exceptions (such as the aforementioned Maingear Alpha), upgrading an all-in-one is at least as difficult as upgrading a laptop. The key is to buy as much computer as you can afford, so that you won’t outgrow it too quickly. Go big: You’ll never regret buying a display that’s too big—unless you lack the room to accommodate it. If you plan to put the AIO in a computer hutch, measure the space before you bring the computer home. But keep in mind what we said about 27-inch displays with 1920 by 1080 resolution. Trust, but verify: As with any PC purchase, unpack and set up your all-in-one immediately. Make sure you have all its accessories, and that the entire system is working as it should. Products we like If you don’t plan to upgrade to Windows 8, you won’t care that Dell’s XPS One lacks a multitouch display. The 27-inch, 2560-by-1440-pixel PLS display is so beautiful, you might not even care if you do upgrade. A beast lurks beneath that beauty, too, in the form of Intel’s 3.1GHz Core i7-3770S desktop CPU and Nvidia’s GeForce GT 640M mobile GPU. You also get a Blu-ray player, a 2TB desktop hard drive plus an SSD cache, and HDMI-in and -out. Dell is now shipping a version of this machine with Windows 8, but they’re using the same non-touch display. DELL AIOPhotograph: Robert CardinThe 27-inch display in Dell's XPS One boasts resolution of 2560 by 1440 pixels. Lenovo turned heads this year with its IdeaCentre A720, which boasts an articulated hinge that allows its 27-inch display to lay completely flat—a great orientation for everything from sharing presentations to playing digital board games. The ability to angle the display so far back is essential when the machine is on a desktop, but you're using the touchscreen from a standing position. And while Vizio is a rookie when it comes to building PCs, the company introduced a spectacular all-in-one PC in the form of its affordable CA27-A1. If you fall in love with this sleek, sexy machine, however, be aware that it doesn't include an optical drive. If you plan to stream music and video from a local server or NAS box or from the cloud, that won't matter a bit. Ditto if you buy all your software online and install it from the cloud. If you're the type who prefers to your software on disc, or who buys CDs and rips them, you'll curse that missing drive.
By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28 Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment.

Study finds 25 percent of Android apps to be a security risk

According to a new report from Bit9—a security vendor with a focus on defending against advanced persistent threats (APT)—there is a one in four chance that downloading an Android app from the official Google Play market could put you at risk. Bit9 analyzed the 400,000 or so apps in Google Play, and found over 100,000 it considers to be on the shady side. Does that mean that the sky is falling, and everyone with an Android smartphone or tablet should abandon it immediately? No. The research by Bit9 illustrates some issues with app development in general, and should raise awareness among mobile users to exercise some discretion when downloading and installing apps, but it’s not a sign of any urgent crisis affecting Android apps. Use discretion rather than blindly granting permissions to apps. The report from Bit9 isn’t about apps that contain malware, or are even overtly malicious for that matter. Bit9 reviewed the permissions requested by the apps, and examined the security and privacy implications of granting those permissions. The reality is that many apps request permission to access sensitive contentthey have no actual need for. Bit9 says that 72 percent of all Android apps in the Google Play market request access to at least one potentially risky permission. For example, 42 percent request access to GPS location data, 31 percent want access to phone number and phone call history, and 26 percent ask for permission to access personal information. Bit9 discovered 285 apps that use 25 or more system permissions. In addition to analyzing the apps in Google Play, Bit9 also surveyed IT decision managers about the mobile usage and security policies in place. The survey found that 71 percent of organizations allow employee-owned devices to connect to the company network, and 96 percent of those allow employees to access company email from a personal mobile device. When you combine the two—the number of potentially risky apps, and the access companies grant personal mobile devices—it represents a security concern for organizations. When an employee allows an app to access sensitive information on a mobile device that is connected to the company network or email, it could expose customer, employee, or other company-owned data to the app. Again, it’s possible that all of the “offending” apps are legitimate, and that none of them pose any significant security risk. The issue is that apps with access to personal information and sensitive data have the potential to be a security risk—either intentionally or inadvertently—and many apps don’t have a valid need for the access. Keep in mind that the issue is not limited to Android. The Bit9 report focuses on Google Play and Android apps, but the problem stems from poorly developed apps, and users who blindly accept whatever permissions are requested without considering the implications. Use caution. Next time you download some arcade game app, think twice about whether it really needs access to your GPS location data. If you download a music playing app, ask yourself if it really needs permission to access all of your contacts and personal information. Make sure you know what permissions you are granting before you tap to accept them, and don’t install apps that require questionable or suspicious access to your device.
By Friendly Computers Copyright: 2010-01-28 Give us a call today: 281-554-5500 or visit Friendly Computers to schedule an appointment. http://www.pcworld.com/article/2013524/study-finds-25-percent-of-android-apps-to-be-a-security-risk.html