5 Tools Everyone in the Computer Industry Should Be Using

Just to clarify a point, “computer industry” is actually a generic term since there are many sub-categories under this. Some may be working in the computer web design or web development industry. Some may be in the internet marketing industry, and this in itself can have different sub-categories (SEO, social media, e-mail, etc.). Others may be in the hardware or software category usually called technical support.

Because of this, we selected the most common tools that virtually anyone working in the computer industry, no matter what category, can more or less use either directly for their work or in relation to it. We chose not to include the really common and default tools that virtually everyone may already have like browsers, browser-based online tools, and anti-virus tools.

Hootsuite/Tweetdeck

Managing multiple Twitter accounts is next to impossible even for the most hardworking social media marketer. Third party solutions like Hootsuite/Tweetdeck can solve this, especially when companies have two or more Twitter accounts (usually opened by different departments) and in each account are numerous clients and followers, all potential customers. These tools allow marketers to organize all their Twitter accounts in a single interface and monitor all those accounts using just a single screen.

waveapps.com

This tool provides free invoicing as well as invoicing on the go for mobile apps. It also offers an accounting software program that is cloud based and allows you to manage whatever is incoming or outgoing.

iFixIt.com Repair Kits, Tools, and Videos

Actually a staple of the hardware repair business for many years now, they offer any type of repair content, repair videos, and manuals that you can all download whether using a PC, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. They even have data for the problematic or unfamiliar repairs. It can even store How-To documents you downloaded and marked as favorites. It even comes with an iPad app that also works well on Apple Mac computers.

Clonezilla

This tool can be used straightforward to clone a computer’s hard drive before doing any type of work that is a standard operation for PC repairs. It can save anyone untold hours in the event of a computer catastrophe.

A pair of awesome noise cancelling headphones

You might be thinking, “Headphones are tools?” But if you’re someone who wants to really focus, is a true millennial, or was born in the 1980’s, then you might even be thanking the makers of noise cancelling headphones. Bose is usually the best choice for many, though the Dr. Beat brand is making a popular headway. Many people are actually used to listening to music while working 8 hours a day, and it helps them really focus. It helps concentrate on work since some people do get bothered by co-workers talking over the phone or playing with their pen. Some even use headphones to block off the sound of clicking keyboards.

Why Cloud Can Be the Best Choice for Your Business's Backup Plan

What is Cloud Computing?

Instead of local computers in an office or business doing all the work, with each computer running separate licensed applications and software, this network of computers can be handled by the cloud instead. Hardware and software demands for the user decreases all the computers can be run from the cloud computing system’s interface software, which can be as simple as a web browser, and the cloud’s network takes care of the rest.

The best example for cloud computing is the use of an e-mail account with a web-based e-mail service like Yahoo! Mail or G-mail. Instead of running an e-mail program on your computer, you log in to a web e-mail account remotely. The software and storage for your account doesn’t exist on your computer because you access it on the service's computer cloud.

And speaking of storage, another useful aspect of cloud computing is as a storage backup for all your important data and files.

Cloud Storage Services

Storing your data backups at an off-site location is the best way to ensure that a copy of your most critical business data will remain sheltered from any cataclysmic event that may befall your business. And what better way to achieve geographical separation than by storing your data at various centers located across the globe?

Choosing a goodcloud storage provider that has a good track record for reliability will help ensure that your data is available when you need it. Some cloud services use innovative storage techniques to yield lower storage and operational costs. While there’s nothing inherently wrong with such efforts, you should always scramble data with robust encryption prior to entrusting it to an external organization for safekeeping.

Disaster planning storage backup: it might never happen, but you’ll never know.

It’s the same concept with having a first aid kit -- It’s better to have it there but not need it, rather than needing it, but it’s not there.

Assess the threats

Consider what could seriously damage your computers externally, for instance, a fire on your premises, natural disasters like earthquakes or hurricanes, or even a hacker attack.

Determine the likelihood of each threat

Some are definitely more probable than others. You can seek expert advice for each disaster to assess risk levels.

Assess what maximum potential damage may occur

For instance, would the threat take your main customer database offline? Or would the impact be relatively minor? Your disaster planning should prioritize threats with the highest likelihood of happening and the potential to cause most damage.

Have other backup systems in place aside from cloud storage

You might also consider adding other backup systems such as DVD’s or external hard disks. Also consider other minor disaster preparedness like having uninterruptible power supply (UPS) to keep your server running and avoid damage to desktops.

Once you’ve put a business disaster recovery plan together, test it. See how your communications work in practice, and how long it takes you to get back to working again.

Make Your Android Phone a Full-Fledged Desktop with Andromium OS

For the average people, spending thousands of dollars on a high-end smartphone and computer is not an option. You could probably consider a smartphone that costs around $900 or more, but spending more than that amount just so you can also get a top-of-the-line computer is too much.

Enter Andromium OS -- a new project that aims to solve that exact problem for the average tech users. With the proper and compatible software, an external HD display, and a dock that allows external TV or monitor attachments, you can use your Android phone to serve as an external computer. Its portability and ease of use enables you to use it wherever you go. Want to know more about it? Read on and find out how.

Requirements

Together with the dock and monitor, make sure that your smartphone has Snapdragon 800 or better processor, at least 2 GB RAM, and runs on KitKat 4.4.2 and above. For the monitor, it needs to be at least 1080p, and you need to have a mouse and keyboard (USB or Bluetooth is fine). As for software, you need to download and install the Andromium OS app, which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store. Be reminded that you may experience some bugs since it is still in beta version.

Andromium OS Features

Andromium OS is designed to mimic a regular computer OS, inspired from Windows 7 and OS X. There's nothing fancy about about this OS, but it performs functions like overlapping windows, multitasking, and mouse and keyboard navigation.

The Andromium OS features a menu bar, start menu, and a taskbar that looks similar to Windows 7. Aside from those mentioned, other basic functions include word processing, web browsing, and file management. You can also play light games such as Super Smash Brothers. The OS also allows you to access word processing software such as Google Docs and Microsoft Word online. The app also lets you stream videos and watch movies effortlessly.

You can still use your smartphone -- receive calls without physically picking it up, notifications, and messages even if you're running the app. Andromium OS also offers a few apps such as media players, a browser, and an office suite.

Supported Devices

At the moment, Andromium OS officially supports the following devices:

·         Samsung Galaxy S3, S4, S5

·         Samsung Galaxy Note 2/3/4

·         Samsung Galaxy Edge

As for the following units, testings have been done although there have been no detailed testing so you may use it with caution:

·         HTC One M7/8/One E8

·         LG G2/G3

·         Oppo One Plus One

·         Motorola Droid Turbo

·         Sony Z2/Z3

Why Use Andromium OS?

Instead of spending thousands of dollars on a desktop computer, you can solve your dilemma by using your smartphone to double as one. If your purpose of getting a desktop computer is for using simple programs such as word processing, viewing movies or videos, and storing files only, then the Andromium OS is the perfect solution for you.

And since it's still in its beta stage, we may have to wait and see what will become of Andromium and how it will fare to the consumers. But there's no harm in trying it out for yourself and find out how it will benefit you.

Approach The World of New Technologies with Confidence: It's Not That Hard to Keep Up with It

Technology is considered to be the greatest agent of change in the modern world. While never without risk, positive technological breakthroughs promise innovative solutions to the most pressing global challenges of our time, from resource scarcity to global environmental change.  

One problem facing technology is the lack of appropriate investment, outdated regulatory frameworks, and gaps in public understanding prevent many promising technologies from achieving their potential.

Another problem, and the one that hits home with the masses, is attempting to keep up with technology, and failing.

It’s true that even while some technologies fail due to what was mentioned in the first problem, in the field of communications and the Internet, this is not so. In fact, many complain that it is hard to keep up with technology because the smartphone or app they buy today may be obsolete in just 6 months. But then, when we say “keeping up,” is it keeping up just to have the latest in technology, like the latest iPhone or the latest tablet, or is it merely keeping up to improve how to do things at work or at home?

When we attempt to keep up just to stay in trend, then the true purpose of technology is lost. A new smartphone model with new features that come with it may benefit some but not all, and this applies to all technologies. Technology should be bought and used as we need them and how useful they are to us, and not merely to just “keep up.”

So instead of just keeping up, here are a few technologies that we can all face with confidence because somehow in the future, we will need them.

Brain-computer interfaces

It is already possible to type just by monitoring the electrical activity of your brain, but as the technology advances, it could be possible for people with disabilities to operate wheelchairs using only their thoughts.

Body-adapted wearable electronics

Whether worn on the body, embedded in clothes or even under the skin, these devices can track information, such as heart rate and stress levels, giving people real-time feedback about their health.

Screenless display

A 3D image projected into space, or simply a screenless display, can convey information that a 2D image presented on a screen cannot, and is close to becoming a practical reality. One of the more frustrating aspects of modern communications technology is that, as devices have miniaturized, they have become more difficult to interact with; for example, no one types out a novel on a smartphone. The lack of space on screen-based displays provides a clear opportunity for screenless displays to fill the gap. Full-sized keyboards can already be projected onto a surface for users to interact with, without concern over whether it will fit into their pocket. Perhaps evoking memories of the early Star Wars films, holographic images can now be generated in three dimensions.

Nanowire lithium-ion batteries

New batteries based on silicon and using tiny silicon nanowires can have a longer life, charge more quickly, and hold up to three times the power of existing batteries.

4 Free Tools That Enables You to Sync iTunes Music to Your Android Device

You could say that it's easy to sync your music and other files, store and organize your music/video, and purchase apps with iTunes if your device is an iPod, iPhone, or iPad. If you ever tried using iTunes with an Android phone, you'd notice that it doesn't detect your device, which makes it unable to sync your smart playlist. The good news is that it's not difficult to get your playlist across the cable to your phone. Check out these four completely free tools that you can use to enable you to sync iTunes music to your Android device.

1. Sailing Media Sync

Sailing Media Sync is a utility that allows you to sync your iTunes music, playlists, podcasts, and photos from iPhoto or Aperture onto your Android device. Its free version copies all your media files every time it performs a sync. It does not keep a record of what has already been synced. The entire syncing process may take a while depending on the size of your media library. On the other hand, you can get the premium version for $22, in which it can intelligently update your phone, resulting to a much quicker sync.

All you need to do is to plug in your Android device with the USB cable, and then turn on its USB storage mode function. Sailing Media Sync will then automatically detect your device and will prompt you to perform a synchronization. You can choose from the list whether you would like to sync music, podcast, and/or photos. This free utility is available for both Windows and Mac platforms.

To download Sailing Media Sync, click here.

2. iTuneMyWalkman

The iTuneMyWalkman is an open-source application that helps you to synchronize the contents of iTunes playlists to your mobile phone or other portable device, including Android phones.

Here are some features of the iTuneMyWalkman tool:

·         Synchronizes the contents of specific iTunes playlists to your mobile phone/other device.

·         Detects automatically when the device is connected.

·         Creates directory structure according to information for artist/album, playlist or genre.

·         Recognizes albums with various artists and tracks with featured artists.

·         Copied files can be re-encoded on the fly to save space.

·         Play counts can be incremented automatically when songs are transferred.

·         Pictures and videos taken with the phone camera can be automatically moved to a user-specified location on your hard disk during synchronization.

Take note that it may take a long time during the first synchronization process should you have a large media library.

To download iTuneMyWalkman, click here.

3. Dazzboard

The reason why Dazzboard is different from other apps is because it is a web app that works within your Firefox, Chrome, Internet Explorer, or Safari browser. Before you can use this tool, you need to download and install a plugin from the Dazzboard site. Once you have installed the plugin, you can visit the website again and you'll be prompted to launch the web app.

Within the app, you can select the music/video/photo/playlist from either device (your computer and Android phone), and transfer between the two devices. In Windows, you can even sync your Android applications to your desktop. The Dazzboard tool is available for Windows and Mac.

To download Dazzboard, click here.

4. DoubleTwist

Last, but not the least, meet DoubleTwist. This is an awesome media player that many even touted it as the "iTunes for Android." After you have installed it in your Mac or Windows computer, DoubleTwist will automatically import your iTunes music and playlist. It has the ability to detect your Android phone when you connect it to your Mac, and gives you the option to sync your media content. The DoubleTwist tool can be used on both Windows and Mac platforms.

To download DoubleTwist, click here.

5 Tips and Tricks to Get More Out of Windows 8

Are you someone who've just started running Windows 8 on a shiny new PC and have been beating around the bushes trying to figure out how to use it to the fullest? Or are you someone who just updated their laptop or desktop? If so, you probably have worked your way through the basic tutorials of Windows, as well the basics of Windows 8.

Managing and customizing Windows is a different story with Windows 8. There are plenty of new commands and features in Windows 8 are hidden or quite hard to find, so it won't take too long before you figure out where and how to perform a specific task. Tablet users can swipe their way around the Start screen and Windows 8 apps with their touch-sensitive displays, but PC users are up for a challenge with the new Windows version. However, here are some power-user tips that are guaranteed to make it a smooth ride for you with your Windows 8 desktop or laptop.

Customize Your Start Screen

Even though you can use your own personal background image to Windows 8's Start screen, you can still liven it up with a splash of different colors and styles. If you'd like to customize your Start screen, simply open the Charms bar, and then click on the Settings charm, and then click on the Change PC settings link.  On the PC Settings screen, click on the Personalize tab. On the right pane of the Personalize section, click on the link for Start screen. From these, you can choose a style from one of the two rows of icons under the Start Screen's preview window, and then choose your desired color from the palette below.

If you would like to have a sneak peek of the color combinations you've chosen, press the Windows key on your keyboard to get a preview of the new Start screen before saving it. Press the Windows key again to go back to the Personalize tab if ever you changed your made about the colors or style.

Locate an App, a Setting, or a File

You can perform this action right from the Start screen, just by typing the name of the application, setting, or file in order to locate it. For example, if you type the word "Windows" on the Start screen, you'll see all programs, apps, or files that have Windows on it from the search result such as Windows Defender, Windows Media Player, Windows Firewall, etc.

From there, you can even filter the search results by clicking the Settings option on the right panel, and you'll see specific settings related to Windows. If you click the Files option, you will receive a filtered search of all files or documents that contain the word "Windows" in their name or description. Once you have found what file or app you're looking for, simply click on it from the search results to access or open it from there.

Connect to a Wi-Fi Network

Compared to previous Windows versions, connecting to a wireless network is considered to be much easier in Windows 8 -- as long as you know where to find the option to do it.

To connect to a Wi-Fi network, open the Charms bar, then click on the Settings icon. This is where you will see the icon for the wireless network availability. If you haven't connected to a Wi-Fi network yet and there's one or more networks available, the icon will display the word "Available" and that's where you need to go to. On the next screen, you'll see a list of nearby wireless networks. Click the network you wish to connect to, select the option to remember the connection, in case you would want your computer to automatically re-connect to it the next time you're back on the same location.

After that, you may be prompted to enter the network security key, if the network requires one. Tell Windows if you want to turn on sharing between your PC and other devices on the network. If you right-click on a particular network, you will find additional information and options to help you manage that network.

Sync Settings Across Several Windows 8 Computers

By having a Microsoft account, you have the ability to synchronize a variety of settings across multiple Windows 8 PCs such as your account picture, Lock screen background, browser favorites, and passwords. By enabling this option, you also get to pick and choose which settings you would like to sync.

To do this, open the Charms bar, then go to Settings, and then click on the Change PC settings link. On the next screen, go to the Sync your settings section. On the top of the right pane, you will find the option where you can toggle the sync option to either On or Off. If you enable it, you will have the option to choose different categories of settings that you wish to include in the synchronization process.

Manage Windows 8 Apps Directly From the Desktop with Windows App Boss

If you're a Windows 8 user, you probably have lots of Windows 8 apps installed on your computer. Too many that you don't have a clue on how manager all of them. Luckily, there is a handy tool that can do just that. Windows App Boss is a reliable tool that is designed to manage Windows 8 Modern applications. It allows users to add, register, and uninstall Windows Store apps. What's great about Windows App Boss is that you just need to download it and you can start working with it right away as it doesn't require any installation.

Using It for the First Time

The Windows App Boss tool can be downloaded from its CodePlex page. Since it doesn't need to be installed, you can already use it after you're done downloading it. When using the Windows App Boss for the first time, it will take a few seconds for it to populate its database with the apps installed on your computer. Once filled, you will see thed name, version, publisher, and family that the app belongs to. These are usually the information you don't have access to when you install or uninstall Windows 8 apps.

Installing Apps

Windows App Boss allows you to install Windows Store apps as well as test-signed apps, which may not have been approved yet by Microsoft to appear in the store. To use it, click the Install button located at the upper-left corner of the Advanced Package Installer window.

This is the utility to use when manually installing apps as opposed to installing it through the Windows Store. As always, just make sure to install apps that are from trusted sources only. Before proceeding with the installation, you have to add the package, add the dependencies, and then select the proper options. This will greatly benefit advanced users, but can also be helpful if you want to use an app that is not offered in the Windows Store yet.

Working with Apps

On the main screen, you can click on any app to view its information, to open it, or to uninstall it. Simply click an app of your choice, and then click on Settings. You'll be able to view the Settings.dat file of the app, something that you cannot view directly from the app when launched. These are the app's background settings and how it runs on Windows 8, contrary to the traditional app settings you're used to tinkering with.

You can also take snapshots of the app's state by clicking on Snap Shots. This can be useful for diagnosing problems or submitting bug reports to its developer, which will help him in improving the app.

Uninstalling Apps

You can also uninstall apps from the desktop via the Windows App Boss utility. To do this, highlight the app you want to remove, then click on Uninstall. A small pop-up screen will appear and will run through the usual uninstall process, the same way you would be uninstalling an app from the Start screen. Uninstalling an app via Windows App Boss is basically the same with doing it from the Start screen.

Developer License Management

The utility lets you manage your Windows Developer License from its program as opposed to having to go through Power Shell to do it. So if you haven't acquired a license before, you can doing so. On the Developer License Manager screen, you can manage, renew, or remove the license as necessary while you work on apps for Windows 8.

Windows Apps Boss allows you to work from the desktop and interact with apps in Windows 8 at the same time, which Microsoft lacks. If you're someone who is looking for more information on Windows 8 apps or wants to develop an app of your own, Windows Apps Boss is the perfect fit for your needs.