Protect Gadgets from Heat this Hot Summer

Protect Gadgets from Heat

Are you enjoying the 100+ degree summer temperatures? I am pretty sure your gadgets are not. Summer heat and activities can be brutal on electronic devices, but no one wants to leave them behind when taking the kids to the beach or the lake. There are ways to protect your phone, camera and portable media player from summer mayhem. DriveSavers (www.drivesaversdatarecovery.com), an expert in the data recovery industry since 1985, has some advice to share on the subject.


Summer sunburn. The baking sun will exact its toll on your skin, and it can be equally brutal to your electronic devices. DriveSavers advises, "Avoid leaving your devices out in direct sunlight. Electronics are not made to withstand high temperatures and may shut down when they get too hot, only to restart once they have cooled. When left in high heat for a period of time, these devices can fail and lose all data stored on them. To steer clear of these circumstances, place them in a beach bag or wrapped in a dry towel to keep them cool."

If you find your device has overheated, don't panic. Move it to a cool place (not the fridge or freezer - moisture is worse than the heat). Try holding it in front of the A/C vent in your car. Let it become cool to the touch, then attempt to power it back on.

Use caution when you're poolside. Again, from DriveSavers: "The splash of your child's big dive into the pool or the practical prank of pouring water on Mommy while she sunbathes can be casual occurrences that could cause water damage to your device. It is important to monitor where your device is in location to water and to secure your device with an appropriate protective case, whether it's a fancy waterproof case or a Ziploc bag."

If your device is dropped in the pool, power it down and dry it off – resist the urge to immediately try to turn it on as you can cause more damage. Remove the battery and SIM card, draining as much liquid as possible from the inside. Place any parts that encountered water in a Ziploc baggie full of uncooked rice for at least 48 hours to pull moisture from it. Then, reinstall the SIM card and battery and attempt to power it back on. If it doesn't back power on, consult your mobile phone company or an electronics repair professional.

Protect your photos and memory cards. According to DriveSavers, there are three major ways to avoid and prevent data loss.

1. "Never trust your camera as the single source to safeguard all of your photos. It is always best to transfer the images from the camera's flash memory to a computer hard drive as soon as possible. We recommend not deleting images or reformatting the memory card while it is still in the camera. Wait until all photos are transferred and verified before you clear your camera's memory card."

2. "Keep in mind that flash memory cards can be used about 1,000 times before they start to wear out. The best way to protect yourself and your irreplaceable images is by backing up your data. This will help guard against data loss when (not if) your hard drive fails. It's also recommended that you make additional copies of your backup media and keep a duplicate of it off site in a secure location. You can never be too safe with your memories."

3. "Carrying (memory) cards in your pocket can cause static buildup that can zap the card, making it unreadable.” DriveSavers recommends that you use the plastic case that came with the memory card. Better yet, store filled cards in your camera case so you can keep them out of the sun, sand and heat.

Blast away sand and dirt. Outdoor activities expose handheld devices to sand, dust and grime. Tiny particles can become embedded in crevices and scratch glass, lenses and hard surfaces. Don’t rub with a towel or sanitizing wipe - use a canister of compressed air to blow away debris.

If, despite all your best efforts, you discover a possible data loss, don't panic. Professionals have lots of tricks to help you recover your data. I once thought I’d lost all our photos from Hawaii due to an unreadable camera memory card, but the data was still there and I got our pictures back. Don't hesitate to consult an expert should you fall "victim" to summer mayhem.

&nbs

Summer Computer Protection for and from the Kids

Summer Computer Protection From the Kids

Summer is the season for computer mayhem.  The kids are home from school, often unsupervised, and boredom does not bode well for you system's health and welfare.  Your endlessly-curious teenager will inevitably find a million add-ons, applications and potentially shifty files to download onto your system while you're at work.  Before chaos ensues, here are some quick tips to protect your computer from having "too much fun" this season.


Anti-virus/ anti-malware software is an absolute must.  Make sure the software is current by configuring it to automatically update itself when new versions are released.  Set it up to scan your system routinely.  You may want to have it run more frequently during the summer months.  For Windows users, I recommend Microsoft Security Essentials (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/security-essentials-download).  It's free, easy to use and install, and helps protect your computer against viruses, spyware and other malicious software.  It supports Windows 7, Vista and XP.

While Mac users are less likely to encounter viruses or malware, it's still a good idea to have some protection.  Avast Free Antivirus for Mac (http://download.cnet.com/Avast-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-75451160.html?tag=dropDownForm;productListing;pop) provides anti-virus shields on your filing system, email and the Internet by scanning the pages you attempt to navigate to.  It supports Safari, Firefox and Chrome browsers.

Create separate user accounts for each member of the family.  Aesthetically, it allows everyone to have a sense of individuality with customized backgrounds, desktop icons and folders.  It also gives kids some privacy by keeping prying siblings out of each other’s “business.”  From a practical standpoint, if the administrator account is the default user account on the machine, spyware and malicious software can potentially get administrative rights over your computer.  When you visit a website that is infected, you may be prompted to "allow" a program to run.  Clicking "yes" can allow malicious software to run rampant.  Separate user accounts may help keep it contained.

Every operating system is slightly different, but here's a link for creating separate accounts for Windows 2000, Windows XP and Mac OS X: http://support.hubris.net/knowledge_base/018.html.  Make sure Mom and Dad are able to access the accounts of everyone in the household.  Peruse the restrictions options to limit the ability of users so they can’t install or remove programs.

Use parental control software.  Programs like NetNanny (www.netnanny.com) can help you keep control of your system.  You can use them to set time limits on Internet usage and control the video games your kids are able to play.  You can establish permission restrictions so they can't download and play potentially dangerous programs.  Parental control programs also monitor many sorts of social contacts to protect your kids from dangerous individuals and monitor who they're interacting with.  If you want to be in the loop when you’re away from home, enter your email or text info so that it can send you notifications of which sites were blocked from your kids and why.

Windows users also have access to Family Safety.  If it's not already installed on your computer it can be easily downloaded from Microsoft's website (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows7/protecting-your-kids-with-family-safety#section_1).  Once you've set up user profiles for every member of your family, tailor their allowed computer activities and Internet access to their individual needs.  Control categories of websites they can view, put time restrictions on computer usage, specify the times of day they're able to use the computer and receive activity reports detailing what they’re up to while you're away.  The Family Safety Website allows you to manage settings from anywhere and the changes apply to every computer you've set the Family Safety Filter on.  Best of all, it's free.

Finally, don't discount the importance of talking to your kids about your expectations.  Automated monitoring can only go so far.  Let them know you don't want them downloading anything to the computer without your permission and/or supervision.  Talk to them about where they should and shouldn't be surfing on the web.  Set limits regarding screen time that includes all devices they have access to.  This way, you can hopefully avoid any nasty surprises.

Worst case scenario: add your favorite computer repair professional to speed dial and pre-book your September tune-up before all the other desperate parents clog up the schedule.

Nerds On Call Reviews Summer Travel Websites: Save Precious Vacation Time

Summer Travel Websites for Saving You Time

Summer vacations hold a special appeal to me, harking back to the excitement heralded by the final bell on the last day of the school year, so many years ago.  But now that I’m grown up and have to do the leg-work to plan the trip, I’m often exhausted before I get out the door.  The wealth of online resources dedicated to travel planning can make it hard for me to make a decision.  How do I know when I’ve found the best use of my vacation dollars?

Over the next three weeks, we’ll explore some great online resources to simplify your travel planning (no, really!), as well as tips for how to make sure you get the best price and fewest headaches when booking travel online.


Before you dedicate a week to checking every travel deal site on the net, these consolidators scour the web for the best deals so that you don’t have to.

When you don’t have a specific location or travel date set, using the Internet to find a good deal or a great resort can be particularly overwhelming.  One way to get inspired: keep an eye on Travelzoo’s Weekly Top 20 (www.travelzoo.com/top20/ ). It’s a collection of the best deals from airlines, hotels, cruise lines and travel consolidators like Travelocity, Cheap Caribbean, and many more.  They sort through all the travel deals posted to the net each week and then present the “best of the best,” all in one place.

The drawback is that the best deals can sell out fast, so if you know you’ve found what you’re looking for don’t delay.  You can sign up for the Weekly Top 20 to be emailed to you when it’s released if you want to be sure not to miss out.

If you already know where you want to go, Kayak (www.kayak.com) does a quick search across hundreds of airline and travel agent options for your specific trip needs.  You’re then presented with a list of results tailored to your specific trip that Kayak has filtered to put the best deals first.  If you want to be sure that you have done a thorough scouring of the net, Kayak offers a one-click simultaneous search across competitor travel sites like Expedia, Travelocity, Bookit and more, so you can compare the best offers all at once.

Planning to do Disney?  Believe it or not, there are ways to save if you know the insider info.  Check out Mousesavers (www.mousesavers.com) for a collection of the best deals on all things Disney.  In addition to tips on how to get the best price on tickets, dining, and special Disney experiences, discover where to book to get the best rates on hotels, what you can expect on Disney cruises, even what’s planned for upcoming park, resort and ship improvements.

Current discounts and promotions are highlighted on the front page and updated regularly – from how to get the most out of a Disney Visa card discount program to coupon codes and special offers that would otherwise be tough to ferret out.  You’ll find up-to-date info about shows, freebies, and tips to make the most of your trip, including how to spend less time in line and more time enjoying your trip.

Before you make plans to embark on a cruise, check out Cruise Critic (www.cruisecritic.com) for reviews of cruise lines (by editors and site users) and tips to help you decide the best cruise before you book.  The “Deals” tab collects the top bargains by destination, cruise type or departure port.  Explore the “How to Cruise” tab for detailed guides and expert advice on how to choose, book, and finalize your trip, including things you need to know before you go and how to make the most of shore excursions.  Find the best deals, including the best seasons to book by destination, and tips to ensure you set sail on the cruise that best fits your needs and style.

Finally, before you book, submit specific details of the trip you’re considering to Cruise Compete (www.cruisecompete.com) to give travel agents the opportunity to find you a better deal.  Simply create an account, submit a request for a quote, and travel agent’s offers will be submitted online with no obligation and without revealing your contact info.

Stay tuned next week for easy ways to ensure you get the best price without sacrificing your sanity when using online resources to book your summer get away.