Author: HawaiiWP.com LLC

Freebies galore…

/ HawaiiWP.com LLC

Hi Friends,

Just a quick post today.  If you subscribe to any number of rss feeds having to do with Macs or iPhones, you probably have heard about some of these.  But I thought they were worth mentioning.  Consider it my Christmas present to you.

1. Have you heard of LoJack the service that can possibly help you if your laptop is lost or stolen?  Well there is an alternate program called Hidden for the mac.  Hidden is usually $20 per computer, but until January, they are offering their service free.  Hit their website, signup and install the software before Jan. 1st. for free or $20 afterwards.  Don’t tell any theives, but I’ve had it installed on my computers for over a year.  🙂  http://hiddenapp.com/signup/

2. Myriads of free or low cost apps.  
Gameloft has tons of awesome games on sale or free.
Avallon also has a ton of free games.  I just downloaded a few and I can’t wait to have a free minute to try out a couple.  
appventcalendar.com is a Christmas delight (although the selection was much better last year)
freeappaday.com always has freebies.
Openfeint.com also offers free games
Got any more? leave us a comment.

Well, Merry Christmas!  Hope you are able to take advantage of these Christmas savings and freebies.

Aloha,
arlen

 

 

Financial Security in an Online World

/ HawaiiWP.com LLC / 1 Comment

In todays world, you can never be too safe or secure. This is especially true with our finances. This will be quite a lengthy article, but isn’t your identity and financial protection worth it?

So let’s talk for a moment about financial security as it deals with our computers and online transactions.

But with all these tips, I have to first say there is no such thing as total security. While we can have good practices, we can never be completely secure. However an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So lets focus on some preventative measures we can take. Continue reading →

Computer Security For Your PC (Mac users read the tips)

/ HawaiiWP.com LLC / 1 Comment

Hi Friends,

Many of you have chosen to use a PC as your primary computer.  But the topic of security eludes most of us.

We know we should have a firewall to protect access to our precious files.  And we know to purchase an Anti-virus program like one of the biggees (Norton Antivirus, McAfee, etc.) But what is Anti-Spyware?  What about Anti-Malware?  Have you heard about HIPS protection?  And it seems like the list could go on and on.  At some point the thought crosses our mind… “Do I really want 5 programs running on my computer before I do anything?”  “My computer seems to be running so slowly these days…”

I have always recommended the Trinity of security Applications: Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, & Firewall.  If you want a list of very good and free software, go to http://www.techsupportalert.com.

But security starts before you install any of these programs.  And these TIPS are for all computer users.

  • Keep your Operating System up to date with the latest software updates.  Windows or Mac, it doesn’t make a different.  Check those updates and install them regularly.
  • Keep your key programs updated as well.  Microsoft Office, Adobe Reader, Flash Player, Java, Firefox/Chrome/Other Web Browsers, etc.
  • Windows users, I just came across this program that comes highly recommended.  Personally I don’t use a PC anymore so I haven’t tried it.  But the concept is solid.  The program is called GeSWall and it’s available here.  The concept is to build a wall between your computers files and your internet activity, thereby keeping the bad stuff away from affecting your computer and files.
  • One of my favorite internet guru’s, Gizmo Richards, features more great tips on his website.
  • Have you got a great tip too?  Leave them in the comments section for all to see.

Aloha!
Arlen

Don’t Use the Internet at Starbucks

/ HawaiiWP.com LLC

Hi Gang,

Just a quick tip on security. This one is especially for you iPad owners because sometimes we use our mobile devices without thinking about the security ramifications.

Did you know that if you are on a public wifi like a starbucks or similar location, you should not check your mail or log in to any websites (unless you take some precautions for your security).

The following article will explain this in more depth, but I thought it a good warning because we all need to consider internet security and more so as we become more and more mobile.

Cloak your connection to foil Firesheep snoopers

Even on a “secure website” you may be at risk if the website is not setup with the proper level of security.

I also recommend using a VPN service if you frequently use public internet.
I’ve been pleased with two services in the past (although I am a very infrequent user).

  • hidemynet.com
  • witopia

Have a great day, and be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves.

🙂
Arlen


My Favorite iPhone/iPad Apps (Changes Regularly)

/ HawaiiWP.com LLC / 2 Comments

I get asked for App recommendations all the time, so here’s a list of my favs for my fans. Love you all! Leave your favorites in the comments section.  -arlen

My Favorite iPhone Apps:
Evernote, BibleReader, ESV Bible, DocsToGo, iAnnotate, Dropbox, Kindle, Mint, Feedler RSS, TripIt, Skype, Wikipanion, IMDB, Flixster… See below for details.

Note taking App- Evernote
Sign up for a free account at http://www.evernote.com. Then you can you use the Evernote App to sync your notes between your iPhone, iPad, Mac, or PC. Evernote is also a good tool because it backs up your notes so you never lose or forget your notes. Evernote will also sync notes from other Apps like Bible Reader.

Bible App- Olive Tree Bible Reader

High quality often comes are a price. The Bible Reader App is free, but you will need to pay for the Bibles, Commentaries, Dictionaries, etc. That you put add to the app. That said, you can carry a substantial digital library on your iPhone and iPad.

  • Steve pointed out that you can also view two bibles or a bible and commentary side by side in two windows. Great for study and comparison.
  • Tap a verse to highlight or write a note, then sync and backup your notes with a free Evernote account.
  • This app is fast replacing my regular Bible as a great portable study alternative.

Free Bible App- ESV Bible
The ESV is great, accurate translation of the Bible. Now it’s available free on your iPhone or iPad. Neat features include “tweeting” your notes and favorite passages.

Office Suite- Docs to Go
Create and Edit all your office doccuments. Word, Excel, Powerpoint can all be managed with this App. If you want productivity to go, this is my favorite app.

iAnnotate
PDF management on steroids. I have a lot of PDF’s whether they are e-books from the Elijahlist or documents shared with me. As the name suggests iAnnotate allows you to add your highlights, comments, bookmarks, etc. to the PDFs. Dropbox integration makes storing and retrieving your files a breeze.

File Mangement- Dropbox
If you’re tired of forgetting a critical file on your computer at home, or tired of plugging and unplugging those USB flash drives, try an online alternative. http://www.dropbox.com will give you a free account to store up to 2 GB’s of files. Then access those files on the go with the Free iPhone/iPad App.

E-Book Reader- Kindle
Read, Highlight, and Annotate your favorite ebooks with this mature and proven App. Shop the vast library of ebooks on amazon.com and start reading today.

Financial Management- Mint
Manage all your financial accounts in one place. Check your credit card balances, bank account, and plan & watch your budget. Mint was recently acquired by Intuit/Quicken so you know the security and usability of the app is first-class.

RSS feed management- Feedler RSS
If you compile all your favorite RSS feeds in a Google Reader account, use this great App to read through the articles in style.

Travel Organizer- Trip it
Trip it makes is simple to manage your busy travel schedule. Simply email your flight, hotel, rental car, etc. Confirmations to tripit and your whole itinerary will be compiled for you. Find local weather and information about your destination too. Simple and organized.

Phone Alternative- Skype
If you regularly use Skype to make international or local calls, why not call from your iPhone at those same low rates? Install the app and start calling.

For Fun-
Wikipanion- A great app to access Wikipedia information.
IMDB- Get all your TV and Movie info here.
Flixster- Watch trailers, add DVD’s to Netflix and a whole lot more.


The Top 3 Security Apps To Protect Your Mac-Repost

/ HawaiiWP.com LLC / 1 Comment


Hi Gang,
I just found this great article on Security Apps for your mac. Worth reading and installing.

I have iAntivirus on my Mac and run the scan from time to time to ensure my Mac is safe and bug free.

The other two are great suggestions and I plan to look at them more closely in the near future.

Here’s the link to the original article.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Makeuseof/~3/1-4SRZc5HuI/

Aloha,
Arlen


Sync Files Easily (and backup too)

/ HawaiiWP.com LLC

Have you ever forgotten a file at home that you wanted right when you got to work? That’s when we all think, “I wish there was an easy way to have access to all my important files…”

I used to setup complicated network and file sharing solutions. But those days are over.
Enter Dropbox.

Dropbox is a simple solution to synchronize your files between multiple computers, backup your files so you never lose them, and have access to your files wherever you go.

Dropbox is really simple to use. Download the application (Windows or Mac) and install it on your computer. As part of the installation you will setup a free account with 2GB of storage.

Dropbox makes a folder on your computer called “dropbox” and whatever you put into that folder is synced between all the computers you install your dropbox to, backed up online, and you can now access the files in that “dropbox” folder from any computer just by going to their website and logging in. There’s even an iPhone/iPad app.

This was such a simple yet powerful solution that I purchased the annual subscription for a full 50GB of space and I keep ALL of my files in my dropbox. But you don’t have to purchase it. Just download it, and get a free 2GB of storage. Here’s my link…
Click here to sign up (and I will get an extra 250MB of space).

Additional features:

  • Use the Public folder to share large or small files easily. Just drop your file in there, and get the link to that file from the website.
  • Versioning. I don’t know if that’s a real word, but Dropbox keeps every version of your file for 30 days. So if you decide you like a previous version of that presentation you made, just go back in time and restore the earlier version.
  • Security of all files and transfers.
  • Drop pictures into the Pictures folder to create an instant photo slideshow online.
  • iPhone, iPad, Android, and Blackberry Mobile Applications are available free.
  • Integrate with many other apps on your mobile devices.
  • What’s your favorite feature? Leave me a comment.

Aloha,
Arlen

PS- Special thanks to my FB friends who are the inaugural receivers of my blog via email. Thanks Guys! If you find this stuff helpful, please spread the work. Others can subscribe at http://www.www.arlennagata.dev.


Why Gmail Is The Best!

/ HawaiiWP.com LLC

Hi Friends,
Here’s my notes of what makes Gmail different and better than other web based email or the email addresses that come with your internet service.

  • Don’t delete messages, archive them.
  • Lots of space (7.5GB and growing). Many services give you only 1GB.
  • Quickly search and find messages (because you didn’t delete them, you archived)
  • View your messages as conversations (all emails, replies, & forwards will be joined into a conversation to keep you focused on the topic at hand)
  • No Spam! Gmail has some of the best “spam” filers. I don’t remember the last time I received spam.
  • Brand New: Priority Mailbox- allow gmail to auto sort your mail into Important emails, regular emails, and emails which you star as important.
  • Label emails rather than put them into folders. You can give an email multiple labels to help you sort and organize.
  • Use a filter to apply labels and actions automatically as mail arrives.
  • Free IMAP and POP access to your mail when you’re offline. Some webmail services charge for these features.
  • And much more… aka “labs” with new features and additions.

Gmail is always growing and changing. But I love using it.
Personally, I am using a Macbook Pro with an SSD Hard Drive so space is a premium and I’m glad I can keep my 4 GB of email and attachments online and not cluttering up my computer.

Got a gmail tip of your own, post is and share it with the rest of us.

🙂
arlen