Google Keep Launches, Offers Tough Competition to Evernote

Google Keep – A Preview of “Keep What You Are Thinking”

In its carefully-plotted quest to take over the entire internet, Google yesterday released their “Keep” service. It had been previously rumored and “accidentally leaked” a short while beforehand, but now that it’s out, how good of a job does it do at what it claims?

Keep is clearly taking shots at Evernote, which is currently the most-popular note-taking service available right now. For those of you who haven’t used either, both services are intended to be used primarily on your smartphone, for taking notes, capturing images and sound bytes for later, and basically keeping track of your life. They can be accessed from anywhere, whether it’s your tablet, phone, or desktop.


Keep has Interesting Features:  Google Keep comes with fewer features than Evernote, which is loaded with things like tags, categories, and more efficient organization. Keep allows you to categorize your notes by color only.

Although, Keep has some features that Evernote doesn’t, most notably the ability to create checklists, which can be very helpful for to-do lists and other everyday organization tasks.

Upwardly Mobile:  Keep is obviously created to be mobile-first, and on smartphones, the interface is great. You can clip things from your mobile browser, take snapshots on the fly, and record voice notes. On the desktop however, you can only create checklists, basic notes, and attach files that are already on your computer.

Simple is Best:  The best part about Keep though, and the way in which it most distinctly distinguishes itself from Evernote, is its simplicity. While Evernote’s features are great, they all hit you at once. Keep has none of that. When loading the desktop site at drive.google.com/keep, there is simply a blank box for a new note and your previous notes lined up beneath it. In line with Google’s minimalistic visual style, the notes are organized by a few simple colors and there are no extra frills. While Evernote may be good for those who compulsively take and organize notes digitally, Keep is great for the rest of us. It offers a simple way to ‘keep’ what we’re thinking and have it available to us wherever we are.

Like all Google services, starting out basic signifies nothing in relation to its eventual evolution. Google consistently starts out with a simple, solid product and adds features as people use and discuss it. So while it may not satisfy everyone’s needs in a note keeping app, it will evolve and grow over its lifetime. It may not have killed Evernote yet, but it has certainly sounded what may well be the death knell for any other note-taking software.

 

Options on the Internet for Kids

Finding Media and Apps on the Internet for Kids

My two kids can't keep their hands off Daddy's iPad, so it's important that I find age appropriate applications, movies and TV shows that I consider to be educational, or at least a valuable use of their time.  While I love recommendations from other parents with kids the same age, I also have a couple resources at my disposal to track down the gems in the sea of available media.

Common Sense Media (www.commonsensemedia.org) provides ratings for every category of media: books, movies, TV shows, games, applications, websites and music.  But it's more than just a simple ratings website.  Their rating system is based upon recommendations from child development experts nationwide who provide criteria for what content and activities are suited for each age range.  Their ratings are multi-layered, giving you guidelines for age-appropriate content while also evaluating the "messages" provided by the game and whether or not the application or website has a good "learning potential" for your child.


Browse by the type of media you're trying to find (such as "movie reviews"), or keep up to date with what's hot with their "New This Week" and "Editor's Picks" features.  Reviews are sorted by age range, and you can click on multiple ages simultaneously if you have a couple different ages in your household.  They even have a section for children with special-needs or learning-differences.  Lastly, suggestions are provided for parents to enhance the media experience, explaining how to explore, discuss and enjoy the content, even providing sample questions to get your kids talking about lessons and themes.

OK (www.ok.com) covers all-things movies.  Movies are rated by users, so the data is pooled into the rating system that then gives an age range (OK for 6+, for example) and also a "thumbs up" or "thumbs down," denoting if the movie is worth your time.  Users post detailed movie reviews, much like you see when you use Netflix, but they're generally family-oriented reviews that contain details to help you decide if the movie is right for your family.

Search for movies based on MPAA rating (G, PG, etc.), where the movie is available for viewing (Theater, Redbox, Netflix Streaming or Netflix DVD) and look for the genre you're interested in.  Connect through Facebook to share when you rate movies or write your own reviews.  Follow other reviewers that share your taste and standards, allowing you to build a community of movie reviewers to suit your own family.

Cool Mom Tech (www.coolmomtech.com) provides reviews and recommendations for tech and applications.  Their tagline: "We're not techies who parent, we're moms who use tech in our everyday lives."  Follow them on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, or simply click on "Best Kids' Apps" and you're greeted with pages of suggestions laid out in a blog-like fashion with pictures and links to more detailed reviews.

Mashable (www.mashable.com) has a nice weekly feature called "Top 5 Apps for Kids This Week," found under Lifestyle --> Family & Parenting.  Ratings are given for ease of use, educational benefits and entertainment value of the application, and age appropriateness levels are given as well.  Keep in mind some of their recommended applications are not free.

Children's Technology Review (www.childrenstech.com) has been studying children's interactive media products since 1985.  They provide ratings on products and applications in a similar way to Consumer Reports - extensive road testing and set criteria is used to evaluate each product they review.  Like Consumer Reports, it's a fee-for-service: $30 per year for a monthly PDF newsletter emailed to you.  Each issue contains about 50 reviews of tech toys, websites, apps, video games and more.

Every child is different and learns at a different pace, so not all rating systems will be perfect.  They're intended as a guideline to help you in your decision-making with regards to what content your kids are exposed to.  Ultimately, you know your child best and you will be the best determinant of what he/she is ready for.  Remember, always screen content before you hand over the iPad or turn on the TV.

Wireless Security UPDATE: Reaver

A New Program Thwarts Wireless Security: UPDATE

In December we posted this article, reposted here so to jog your memory:

Having wireless internet access is awesome, especially with how many devices these days use the technology. And with proper network security, we can be sure that al our data is safe from intrusion…as long as we don’t make any silly mistakes, right? Well, that would be nice. However, there is a new piece of software in distribution that makes it easy for anyone with the know-how to crack into your wireless network. It’s called “Reaver” and it’s available to anyone online. Now don’t worry too much just yet – most people using it are just going to use it to try and get free internet access where they’re not supposed to have it. But this can cause slowdowns on your network or, if you have sensitive files, can be a possible bigger problem.

Reaver works by exploiting a flaw in your wireless router. The flaw was originally designed simply to make setup easier for the end user – you. However, it can be exploited by someone using this tool to gain your wireless password, which gives them access to your internet just like another one of your computers. You might not even be able to tell. This flaw is called WPS, and even if you turn the feature off, the program can still use it when you can’t.

So how do you protect against these attacks? Well here’s the worst part of all this (I promise it’s the worst part.) You can’t…yet. Stay tuned in the future for updates, as there will no doubt be some new solution, but for now there’s just one piece of advice that can never be repeated too much:

Use a secure password. The way the program works makes it harder to determine your password the more complicated it is. As we’ve written about in previous articles, there’s an easy way to come up with a secure password: use a phrase that has significance to you but to no one else. For instance: andreacollectspetrocks. This way you’ll have a password that will take so long for the computer to guess that it will eventually give up. Stay current on updates if you’re concerned further about this issue!

Since this article was posted, however, there's been some developments. The fundamental flaw in the router is still there, but it can be helped. Download DD-WRT for your router from http://dd-wrt.com/site/support/router-database and install it. DD-WRT is a piece of 'firmware,' software which runs on your router's hardware. But be careful: you'll have to be relatively tech-savvy to install it and set it up. If not however, our computer repair techs at Nerds On Call would be happy to help you set it up. Keep posted for further updates and stay safe!

 

 

 

Boost WiFi at Home, Part 2

Boost WiFi at Your Home, Part 2

After last week’s article about how to boost your WiFi network, I’m sure you headed straight out to buy a Wireless-N, dual-band router and removed all the cement or brick walls in your home or office to allow for optimal placement and signal transmission, right? No? Never fear.  While an up-to-date router is an integral part of a stable, strong WiFi network, there are even more ways to improve your home or office network that don’t require a sledge hammer or building permit.

First, a quick recap of last week’s tips one through three: upgrade to Wireless-N, eliminate signal interference from other networks or electronics in the area, and install your router in a central, high location for a clear, unobstructed signal.

Step four: kick out piggy-backers.

If someone is using your network without your knowledge it'll definitely slow things down.  WiFi networks are easier to hack than you may think, even if you've set up a WPA security key (i.e. password) on your network.  If you don’t have a password on your network, for the love of Star Wars please go do that now.  Login to your router, turn on WPA encryption and set a password.  You’ll need to also update all of the computers and devices on your network so that they provide the password when connecting.

Unfortunately, there are free programs that allow anyone to hack your network’s password, giving unscrupulous WiFi leeches access to your network.


If you think you may be the victim of a network hacker, check out the free network monitoring software offered by Zamzom.com (http://www.zamzom.com/).  Follow the tutorial video to see how the program identifies all the computers and devices accessing your WiFi network.  Use the tutorial’s tips to lock down your network or contact a trusted networking professional to help you determine if a router firmware program or stronger hardware firewall may help.

Step five: prioritize your programs.

It’s very common for network speed to slow when experiencing heavy traffic.  If your WiFi network experiences a rush-hour clog when everyone in the house is online (downloading videos, streaming media, playing online games, etc), your router’s “Quality of Service” (QoS) settings may be able to help direct traffic.

Use QoS to set rules that your router will follow to prioritize the programs and functions you need (like surfing the net) over those that may be hogging your bandwidth unnecessarily (like the kids playing online games when they should be doing homework).  Or you can elect to prioritize certain devices (like your computer) over others (like the Xbox).

Unfortunately, not all routers support QoS, so you'll have to check your user manual or make sure to purchase one that does if you're buying new.  For a detailed walkthrough, check-out Lifehacker’s article “Ensure a Fast Internet Connection When You Need It” (http://lifehacker.com/326543/ensure-a-fast-internet-connection-when-you-need-it).

Step six: extend your router’s range with a repeater or DIY tweaks.

For less than $30, you can add a stronger receiver to your computer or laptop, allowing the system that’s always had trouble connecting due to distance from the router, obstacles or poor receptiveness to miraculously get online.  The Rosewill RNX-N180UBE USB External Antenna Wireless Adapter (www.rosewill.com/products/1721/ProductDetail_Overview.htm, Amazon, $23) plugs into your computer or laptop’s USB slot.  The antenna increases the receiving strength of your computer.

If you’re short on funds, you can explore your inner Nerd with a DIY antennae made with aluminum foil, a file folder, some glue and scissors.  Just search YouTube for "WindSurfer Antenna" for a video tutorial.  Some users swear they’ve seen as much as an 82% increase in their wireless strength, but your mileage may vary.   But for the bargain price of free, there’s nothing to lose.

Companies Announce Streaming Television Options

Future of Television:  Pay-Per-View – Personalized Streaming Television

Since the advent of streaming video, consumers have been presented with a few options: either they can watch a limited number of shows for free on the internet, pay for video rentals of TV shows after they’ve aired, or pay for an expensive cable/satellite bill that includes the cost of hundreds of shows they’ve never watched nor will care to watch.

One of the lead telecom providers in the US plans to change that. The Wall Street Journal announced recently that Verizon is planning on offering a pay-per-view TV subscription service. The model would allow subscribers to only pay for the television shows that they actually watch, with more popular shows  being offered at a lower rate and more obscure shows costing a bit more. Currently the company is in talks with smaller media companies, according to the WSJ, as the content delivery program would require cooperation across a number of networks.


This sort of customization has only recently become available through the content delivery options that the evolving web has produced in recent years. The telecom giant has already started to merge its TV and internet services with its fiber optic, or FiOS network. Fiber optics allow for not only much more data to pass through to the consumer, but to do so at much faster speeds than traditional copper data lines. The FiOS service includes internet, telephone, and television access, and this combined approach would make it much easier for the company to implement a “metered” usage system such as the one announced.

A similar system is also being developed by Intel, but this project could threaten to “kill the cable industry as we know it,” according to Forbes. But that’s not inherently a bad thing. The service would run through the internet and only charge for the watched shows. In addition to this, it would act as a “Cloud DVR,” allowing users to watch any past TV show without having recorded it, as well as have control over the broadcast, such as pausing and rewinding live TV.

Intel made this decision after GoogleTV and AppleTV failed to spark interest in their microprocessors, judging that they would be able to revolutionize the industry by themselves. The program ships out to selected members this month, and will be tweaked and refined until it is available to all consumers.

Whether or not either of these technologies takes off, it is clear that the consumers have spoken; they want their TV when they want it and they don’t want to pay for anything but their content. The ball is now in the corporation’s court, and these few offerings are the signs of their return volleys. Stay tuned for the future of television!

Been Hacked? Here's What to Do

So You Think You’ve Been Hacked – What to do next

Headlines have been shouting out, that the FBI recently investigated a website which had obtained personal information of high-profile people, and posted it online. Their credit card and social security numbers were available for anyone to see. These numbers have been conned out of the victims, through various methods of hacking.

Now it's unlikely that anyone would want to target you specifically in order to take your information, but hackers have special tools that allow them to mine the information of hundreds or thousands of people and computers at the same time, exploiting any holes that they find.

In previous articles, I've covered a lot on how to protect yourself from spyware, malware, and hackers. But preventative measures don't always do the trick, or sometimes you learn about them too late. So what are you to do when you think your account has been hacked, or someone is stealing your information?


First Step: Call your bank or credit agencies. If you are able to access your finances online, chances are that a hacker can too. Banks can review and stop any suspicious activity on your account. It would also help to get a credit report to check if any accounts have been opened in your name. If you're only suspicious, you can set up a fraud alert at an agency like Experian, Equifax, or Transunion. For three months, they will make sure that any creditor must contact you by phone whenever someone requests credit in your name.

Second Step:  As always, scan and update your computer, while this may not fix what has been hacked, it should help to close those vulnerabilities that allowed them in. Use Malwarebytes and Microsoft Security Essentials to check for viruses. Update your flash, Java, and PDF plugins as well.

Third Step:  Change your passwords. If you suspect that anyone but you has access to any of your online accounts, simply change your password. The quicker you do this, the less opportunity the hacker has to actually inflict damage. While you really shouldn't use the same password for every site, many people still do. My personal strategy is to pick a few memorable passwords and then create variants for different sites. Instead of making them more complex like many people recommend, consider simply making them longer, with more personal meaning for you. A computer is more likely to guess Hunt3r2 than it is Ilovebakedbeansuccotash.

Finally… if in doubt call a pro – like your local computer repair expert if your problem is more complicated than you can handle.  These are good steps to get you started. There are dozens of types of attacks, and the only way to truly combat each one is to talk to an expert in the field. So make sure to get all the information before proceeding to fix the problem.

 

Tired of Spotty Reception? Boost WiFi at Home

Boost Wifi Reception at Home with These Tips

Wi-Fi makes connecting to the Internet seem like magic.  There's a wonderful signal passing through the air that makes my phone work faster and unplugs my laptop from the cable - miraculous!  If you're affected by slow speed or bad reception, however, staying connected can be a drag.  Try these tricks to improve your home or office WiFi.

Step one: consider your hardware. 

If your router is even a few years old, it may be time to upgrade.  A router that’s slow or incapable of transmitting a lot of data at once will compromise your whole network.

Anyone using an older generation of wireless router (designated as Wireless-A, -B, or –G) should consider upgrading to a Wireless-N router, especially if you have multiple systems connecting simultaneously, stream HD video to your computer or TV, or play online games.  Wireless-N supports a larger bandwidth, meaning your network can process more data simultaneously.  It won’t get bogged down as quickly by multiple devices getting online at the same time or accessing a large file.


While Wireless-N routers are backward-compatible, the best performance improvement requires that your device support a Wireless-N connection as well.  This may require that you upgrade the WiFi access card in a desktop or laptop.

Step two: eliminate interference.

If you have neighbors with WiFi networks in close enough proximity, it can interfere with your network’s stability.  There are a number of channels routers can operate on and if you're using the same channel or one too "close" to your neighbor it will degrade your signal.  WiFi Stumbler (www.meraki.com/products/wireless/wifi-stumbler, free) is a network locator application that provides a graph of the channels available to you.  Choose a channel with the most space around it as possible.  It's OK to pick up some competing signals near you so long as they're weaker than yours.  Don't choose a channel with a strong competing signal - pick a one that keeps its distance from other signals.

If you have a lot of electronics in or around your home, you may also benefit from a "dual band" router.  Single band routers operate on the 2.4 GHz band, a relatively crowded signal interface used by many wireless phones, microwaves, baby monitors, and many more common electronics.  A dual band router operates on both the standard 2.4Ghz radio and less crowded 5Ghz radio, offering a signal that’s less prone to interference.  If you can’t upgrade to a dual-band router, move your router as far from conflicting appliances as possible.

Step three: location, location, location.

WiFi transmission can be blocked or weakened by obstructions between the router and the device. Don’t hide it away in a cabinet - position your router centrally, without too many thick walls to block its signal.  Point antennas vertically and elevate it if possible.  WiFi signals travel best down and sideways, so placing your router in the attic or a on a high shelf may give your signal a little boost.  One caveat: if it drops signal often or requires frequent resets, make sure your router is easily accessible.

Stay tuned next week for more ways to improve the strength and reliability of your WiFi network.