Computers

Mike Gdovin | January 2, 2012
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Password Best Practices

Last week, I spent the better part of a day changing all my passwords for my computer and all my other web accounts. This is something you should do semi-regularly for optimal security, especially now that more and more information is accessible online. I say should because  I haven’t changed my passwords in over 5 years! So after going through all this I decided I would share some of my best practices and tips for passwords so yo can keep you digital information safe.

Password Requirements:

The first thing you need to do when coming up with a password, is to determine how long you want the password to be. Most sites require a 6-8 character password, but I would recommend making a longer password for extra security and to be future proof since, longer passwords will most likely be required in the future.  You also may want to use a longer for more sensitive information, such as banking to protect the more private information. Strong passwords don’t use words, or phrases but instead, are comprised of random characters. Many times, sites require capital letters, lowercase letters and numbers. Some sites also require use of special characters  ($, &,@, etc) but some sites don’t allow them so if you use the same password on multiple sites, you might have trouble using certain characters depending on the site. In order to have the strongest password, you should include all the previously mentioned characters (Capital letters, lowercase letters, numbers and symbols) but as I already said symbols can get tricky because not all sites use all the symbols, so you may want to avoid them.

Creating A Strong Password

Once you know how long you want your password to be and the types of characters you want to include, there are several ways to generate a password. When I changed my passwords, I used PCTools.com’s Password Generator I like it not only because it let me choose which types of characters I want to include and in the same sense, not include, but it also will generate multiple passwords at once. I generated 50 potential passwords and then took parts of some passwords to make my password. This will provide ore security than just copy and pasting a password from the generator, and also allows me to use characters or segments that are easy for me to remember. Generators are the easiest way of making a new, strong password and although there are other ways of making secure passwords using algorithms, which is what I was going to try and do, but this is just so quick, easy and secure.

Password Managers

I’m sure that most people don’t have as many accounts as I do, but even for the average person, it is not easy to remember all the accounts you have registered for and ultimately need to change the password of.  Password managers can make this much easier, as long as you keep it up-to-date. There are applications that manage all your password, the most popular application is a free and open source program called KeePass, Mac OSX also has a password manager called Keychain built-in to the operating system and I believe integrates with Safari. Speaking of browsers,  every modern browser allows you save you passwords within the browser, but even with a master password, it isn’t very secure. My favorite password management solution is LastPass, which is what I use for all my passwords. It’s a browser extension that will sync your passwords to the cloud, encrypted and is protected by a master password. LastPass synchronizes your passwords between multiple computers and if you pay $1 per month you can use an app it on your smartphone to access your passwords as well. LastPass has a extension for all major browsers and an app for every major phone platform, even WebOS and Windows Phone. The browser plugin also has a built-in password generator that will generate a new, strong password and automatically put it in the form. The other huge advantage of using any password manager is that it makes sure you don’t forget to change the password for any of your accounts.
Tips:

  • If you have to write your password(s) down (which you really should never do), hide the paper is written on. (Don’t hide it under the keyboard or tape it to your monitor)
  • Try and Change Passwords at least once a year, more frequently for more security.
  • When Changing passwords, many sites will have a meter to show how strong your password is, use that before changing your password to make sure you have a strong password
Category: Computers |
Mike Gdovin | August 6, 2011
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The iPad As A Computer

Since the original iPad was release and subsequently followed by many competing tablets, tablets have taken off. In fact, some people have replaced computers with tablets and some chose to buy tablets instead of a computer. I don’t think this will really hurt the computer industry but, this has greatly impacted the netbook market. Tablets typically are lighter, more portable and have better battery life than laptops and netbooks. Personally, I replaced my netbook, which I used mainly for notetaking in class, email, and surfing the web with an iPad and can’t find anything that I need to do that the netbook could do and my iPad couldn’t. For many people this is the entire extent of what they use computers for, making it a possibility for those people to use just a tablet instead of a computer. Don’t get me wrong, computers will alway have their place and I think most people will still have a computer and many will have both a computer and a tablet to have the best of both worlds.  But for those who only use their computers for surfing the Internet and checking email as many do, the iPad would be a perfect device. One example of this would be grandparents or other older people who just want a computer for communicating with family and web surfing.  The iPad is also great for tasks like word processing as well as long as you have a good app. I use QuickOffice, it is $15, but, it edits word, excel and PowerPoint documents and even connects to Dropbox, Google Docs and many other cloud services making it easy to get work done whether on a mobile device or computer. Another good test case for this is someone who only wants For many users, this is the extent of their computer usage and for people who have never used a computer, an iPad is much easier and simpler to use and learn.

Currently, the iPad is not able to operate as an independent device, it instead, must be first connected to a computer and sync with iTunes to initially setup the device, synchronize data and to upgrade the operating system. When iOS 5 come out in the fall, the iPad will be able to be setup as a stand-alone device, can sync over wifi both to a computer and the cloud and iOS updates will be done over the air. iOS5 will also be adding a lot of other features that will let the iPad work as an independent device even if you don’t have a computer.  iOS 5 will cause many people realize that the iPad and other tablets already do more than they need a computer for and they could just get that instead of a computer.

The iPad is great for travel, on my past two week long trips, I just took my iPad and iPhone and left my computer at home. When I go on vacation I usually just do basic computing tasks like surfing the Internet, checking email and maybe writing a little. As long as I can get a good Internet connection, my iPad des everything I need, since I don’t usually do video editing or anything else that my iPad can’t do. The iPad is much lighter than a laptop and is so thin it can go almost anywhere. I probably could just bring my iPhone but, the bigger screen is nice to have for writing longer e-mails and working on documents.

There are a few accessories that I highly recommend for people who are considering using an iPad instead of a computer. Every tablet user should have a case of cover and screen protector just to keep the device protected, but if you want to use it as a computer-replacement, I recommend these additional accessories:

1. Bluetooth keyboard

For all those who aren’t full fans of or uncomfortable with the on-screen keyboard the Apple Bluetooth keyboard or any Bluetooth keyboard can help those who prefer a physical keyboard over the iPad’s touch screen keyboard. There are even cases that make an iPad look a lot like a laptop with the iPad on the top half of the case and Bluetooth keyboard on the bottom with a clamshell design. These are typically more expensive  than a regular bluetooth keyboard, but could be good for those who are used to working with a laptop. A standalone Bluetooth keyboard is usually between $30 and $70.

2. Airprint Compatible Printer

 

If you want to print anything from your iPad you need to use AirPrint. As of right now a printer needs to have a special air print driver so you can wirelessly print from your iPad. Apple has a list of compatible printers listed on their website, and I think AirPrint will be built into most printers soon.

3. Camera Connection Kit

For those who take digital pictures, you will need the Camera connection kit which is $30 so you can copy your pictures onto your iPad, but in my opinion if you wan to do any kind of photo management or editing you should stick with a computer. But, this is a nice accessory for clearing off memory cards while your traveling so you can take more pictures.

4. AV Adapter

if you want to display your iPad on a bigger screen like a HDTV or other monitor, you need the AV adapter to connect it to a device via HDMI. Remember that to mirror your iPad screen you need to have the iPad 2, the original iPad will only output supported apps. If you have a new Apple TV, you can also display your screen wirelessly over your home network.

I’m not saying these new tablets will replace computers, computers will always have their place. However, the most basic users and new users who have a limited needs for their computer might be better off with an iPad or other tablet device. One thing to keep in mind though is that if you are considering having a tablet as your only computer, then you may want to consider the 3G models because they will allow you to have Internet access anywhere you can get a cell phone signal and might be easier than having to setup a home Internet service provider. Tablets are still relatively new technology and there are a lot of things it can’t do, for some, it works and they don’t need do anymore than you can already use an iPad for. For people who are very basic users, or those who have a netbook in addition to a regular computer  the iPad is a good choice. It is not a replacement for the majority of users, but it is a great travel device or additional device to a computer; however it is very simple to use, so the most basic users would be able to do what they need to do without being overwhelmed.

Category: Apple, Computers |
Mike Gdovin | June 2, 2011
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Maximum Laptop Screen Size

I recently was looking at laptops in a store and I was shocked by how big the 17 inch screen laptops were. It’s one thing to see a picture of a 17-inch laptop on a website, but in person, when you see various laptops right next to each other, you can really see that although it is a 2-inch (diagonal) difference, it makes a major difference in the size of the laptop. Personally,I never bought a  laptop with a screen larger than 15-inches; I think with that size, it give a big enough screen without being too bulky and cumbersome to travel with. Even though I don’t and haven’t carried my laptops with me a whole lot which is mostly a personal preference.  If you need a bigger screen than my recommended 15-inches and don’t mind it not being portable then I would recommend just getting a desktop computer so that it could be connected to as big of a monitor as you want. The one reason that I would recommend someone getting  a larger screen laptop is if you need it for graphic-intense purposes like graphic design, video editing or video games while your on the go. Those are just some of the tasks that benefit from the larger screen while some people need that type much workspace on the go, I think most computer users don’t. Another important reason is if you have issues viewing things that are small, then you might want to choose a larger screen laptop so you can make things large enough to be easily read.

If you want the best of both worlds, you could get a smaller screen laptop like maybe a 13 inch laptop  and then when you need a larger screen, you can  connect it to a larger LCD monitor so when you need the big screen when you work at a desk but if your traveling, you can just use the laptop’s monitor. This solution works great as long as you don’t need the large screen when you travel since, traveling with an extra monitor is even more cumbersome than a larger laptop. The other downside of this, is that the smaller screen laptops usually have less power for example, the top-of-the-line 13-inch MacBook Pro is still significantly less powerful that the entry 15-inch MacBook Pro. This is most likely because of the obvious fact that the smaller laptop has less space inside the case so parts have to be smaller in order to fit, and typically smaller  component are typically less powerful. This is a consideration that is important if you need you computer for high power tasks. But either way unless you have graphic-intense purposes for your laptop or if you have vision issues, I think that most people should get laptop with a 15-inch screen at the most to maximize usability as well as portability

 

Category: Computers |
Mike Gdovin | January 3, 2011
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Evernote-Note Syncing Done Right

The built-in iOS Note app leaves a lot to be desired, the main issue I have is the poor syncing. Although it does have a sync function, it only lets you sync to a notes folder in you email account which doesn’t let you edit elsewhere and just provides a backup of it. This is okay but, what if you want to edit on multiple devices and keep in sync between them all.

The solution is Evernote, Evernote allows you to sync notes between your computer, your mobile device, and the web. You can also take pictures and annotate them with notes and sync them as well. The notes sync back and forth and can be edited on the desktop and mobile platform, while the can be only read online with the free account. It great for any notes or other information you want  anywhere and easily searchable. You can also clip websites to remember and easily access them.

One of the best things about Evernote, is that its free, there are applications for Windows, Mac OSX, iOS, Android, Windows Mobile, Web OS, and Blackberry. There are limitations on the free account like the amount of data to be uploaded, no encryption and more. The premium account provides more upload, better support, SSL encryption, and Offline access for either $5 per month or $45 for the year.

Evernote is a fantastic way to organize information and access it anywhere, it is perfectly useable without the Premium account and is a great way to have notes wherever you go. I use it now instead of the built-in iOS notes app and has really been a great improvement. In fact, I wrote this whole article in Evernote on my iPod Touch and then copied it online from the desktop application.

Category: Cloud Computing, Computers, Mobile, Technology |
Mike Gdovin | December 18, 2010
One comment

Google CR-48 Laptop Thoughts

Last week, Google announced their Chrome OS laptop used to test Chrome OS the CR-48. Right now, this laptop is just for testing but it will be available  for consumers next year. Although I am a huge supporter of cloud computing, and Google’s cloud services, I think there are some issues with the Chrome OS. I’m not alone, the creator of Gmail (a former Google employee) said that Chrome OS will die in 1 year. I believe that this is partially because of the decline of the Netbook form factor but also because you MUST have an internet connection to use Chrome OS. I thought that this was a good idea for a “pure cloud netbook” but, then  I realized that even with cellular internet (which is built into the CR-48) there are still areas where you will not have an internet connection. This would make the computer useless. This needs to be addressed because although the areas that don’t have a cellular connection are getting fewer and fewer, they still exist and leave the device incapacitated. The other issue I have with Chrome OS is that it looks like a bigger version of the Chrome web browser, and that doesn’t seem to be a good user interface for an operating system. I think that Google is too late for the netbook market and agree that Chrome OS will probably merge with Android to integrate with the mobile market which is a more logical decision.

Category: Cloud Computing, Computers |
Mike Gdovin | December 12, 2010
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Is The Netbook Dead?

Netbooks (formerly know as Ultra mobiles PCs)  became a major technology trend in late 2007 starting with the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) and the Asus Eee Pcs. The original Intel Atom processor had the ability to provide enough power  for a inexpensive, portable computer. However,  it’s 3 years later and people have become more dependent on their computers and more mobile. Some people (like me) just use their netbooks for taking notes and some web browsing. While others use their netbooks as their computer when they are on the move and need more power out of them.

Personally, my netbook is only used when I am in class and before classes. Otherwise it sits in a drawer and is never used on weekends. My feeling is that for my uses of a netbook, I would be able to replace it with an iPad or other tablet device (possibly with a bluetooth keyboard), especially now that the iPad has the key feature of multi-tasking. The iPad is much more portable and has all the apps I know and love on my iPod Touch. It also gets vastly better battery life and has better synchronization both of applications and data. It also is really fast, my netbook is sluggish at times which I attribute to both the hardware as well as it running Windows XP. I have tried several “netbook editions” of Linux but, there are a lot of compatibility issues. The iPad is also thinner and more portable than a netbook. I also can see myself using the iPad outside of the classroom a lot more because of all the great applications available through the app store.

For those who need a more powerful portable computer, they should take a look at the lightweight computers. The best example of this is the Macbook Air but, there are also Windows alternatives like my friend Michael Plasmeier’s Lenovo U350. These computers are double the price most netbooks but, they provide a full computing experience and full powered computer operating system. These computers might not be the the fastest, but they are powerful enough to get most things dones when you are traveling.

Although Google is just releasing their first Chrome OS netbook, I think more people will opt for the either the portable full-featured computer or a tablet like an iPad instead of the netbook. They may be more expensive but, they deliver more features, and power and most importantly, more portability.

Category: Computers, Technology |
Mike Gdovin | October 21, 2010
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Apple Back to the Mac Event Review

Here’s what happened at yesterday’s Back to the Mac. Most things were predicted previously so there were no major surprises.

  1. iLife ’11- This was no major addition. It added some more features to Garageband that makes creating music even easier, guitar amp effects, and a “How Did I Play That” feature which is like a Mac version of Guitar Hero . Garageband also added new more basic lessons/ iMovie added some more advanced audio features and quick trailers which is cool. It also added one click effects, new themes and face detection in video. iPhoto added new photo books, additional Facebook functions, the ability to email photos (why didn’t they have that from version 1?), as well as photo lettercards. There was no mention of iWeb or iDVD and I think both of those apps are done. All the new
  2. Facetime for Mac-Face time was introduced for Mac as a standalone application for only Snow Leopard. It should be made availilbe for more versions of Mac as well as Windows to really make using Facetime more useful but it finally will give me some more people to talk to with my iPod Touch. Facetime for Mac has been released as a beta and can be downloaded from Apple.
  3. App Store for Mac- This is not in place of being able to freely installing applications although people speculate Apple will do that in the future. It is a great way to find and install Applications for your mac without having to go through the process of finding, downloading and installing applications. This will already be coming out in the next 90 days for Snow Leopard!
  4. Mac OSX Lion: (Mac OS 10.7) We also got a preview of the next version of OSX, Lion. Lion brings some features of iOS to the desktop platform. It has a new method of switching Applications called “Mission” which replaces: Expose, Spaces, and Dashboard. It also integrates more multi-touch gestures. There are hopefully more features but, that is all that was demonstrated yesterday. It is set to launch Summer of 2011 and I think I will cost only $29 like Snow Leopard because it is a lot of interface tweaks and not a lot of new features.
  5. Macbook Air- The final thing announced yesterday was 2 new Macbook Airs which now come in 11 inch and 13 inch varieties. They only have Solid State hard drives making them even thinner and now they start at $999.

Overall it was a good event, iLife wasn’t that exciting but the rest of the announcements were and I am excited to get Lion when it comes out.

Category: Apple, Computers |
Mike Gdovin | August 1, 2010
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Duel Screen Benefits

In March I bought a 20 inch external monitor for my MacBook Pro. Prior to this, I had my old Dell laptop serving as my extra screen to play media and display stories when producing The Weekly Spin. The was cumbersome and took up more space as well as enough power for a whole other laptop. Now  this new monitor allows  me to easily watch media by dragging windows to the edge of my MacBook screen and put them on the other screen. This is great because of how I like to have media playing while I work so I could have video running on the extra screen and work on other things on my MacBook screen. Also if you edit video like I do, you can have the preview screen on the second monitor so you can see it full screen and see all the details. There are probably plenty of other things you can do with two monitors, it is a great way to get more work done and expand your workspace.

Category: Computers |
Mike Gdovin | July 29, 2010
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Post PC Thoughts

Don’t get me wrong, I love having the power of a computer in my pocket, but the idea of these devices replacing computers leave me a bit uneasy still. I can get a lot done just on my iPod touch (I am in fact writing this article in Notes on my iPod Touch), but I still want to be able to go home and use my computer that has the full power I need for tasks like video editing. Although you can do most of the things average computer users need to do on mobile devices, the devices are just not powerful enough to provide the speed that a personal computer does. I think that mobile devices like the iPad and iPhone might be able to replace less powerful, portable devices like netbooks but,  I still think people will need a desktop or laptop computer as well for more power-intensive tasks plus as of right now, you still need to have a computer to sync your iPhone or iPad.

Many people think that the Post PC era will behind within the next 5-10 years but, I think that we still want and need personal computers and I think it will stay that way for some time and think that is good. Although I love my iPod Touch I still need my computer for certain things and to get things done faster.

Category: Computers, Technology |
Mike Gdovin | April 14, 2010
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HTML 5- The Future of Mobile Applications

When the first iPhone came out allowing only Web apps, people groaned demanding local applications, which Apple did accommodate a year later. However, now with Apple being so restrictive with the App Store along with the wide variety of smartphones to develop for, web apps have made a comeback. I contribute this mainly to HTML 5. HTML 5  has become so powerful that not only can it embed and play web videos without any extra plug-ins, but, you can make full-power web apps with it. The best example is Google Voice, Apple unfortunately rejected Google Voice from the App Store but, Google then developed a mobile web app that can be run in the mobile browser and can have an icon added to the iPhone home screen. Developers could completely side-step the app store and create apps on the web and be able to get it to customers immediately without having to go through the tough approval process. The other advantage is that a HTML 5 web app can be designed to work on multiple mobile platforms and not need to make a separate version for each platform.

The disadvantage to web apps is power and lack of being able to run in the background or send push notifications. But developers can also add upgrades whenever they want and you wouldn’t have to download any upgrades. It also would be easier to integrate with cloud computing services like Google Docs, and make a skin for mobile devices. Overall, HTML 5 is a great way to add applications to  mobile devices without having to make individual versions or dealing with the approval process. It might not have the full power of local applications but, it can get certain tasks done well!

Category: Computers |
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