Samsung Galaxy Note ~ Tips (Part 2)

Dear Readers,

In my earlier post, I posted about how we can upgrade our preinstalled Android Version 2.3 Honey Comb to the latest Android upgrade version 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich.

After using it for several weeks,I found my Samsung Note Battery life has been reduced tremendously. instead of getting a longer life after fully changed, before upgrade to Version 4.0.3 I only need to recharged my phone once a day, this is because my Note is always connected to the internet, so that I always received my company's email.

I thought this is normal. But then I Browse the internet to check if this is normal, and to my surprise the drain in my battery power is not normal almost everyone who opt for the upgrade from version 2.3 to version 4.0.3 experience fast battery power drained, meaning upgrade from Ginger Bread version 2.3 to Ice Cream Sandwich version 4.0.3 will definitely cause us a serious battery issue.

here are one of the article I found from the internet "After ICS update, some Galaxy Note users complained about poorer battery life compared with that with Gingerbread. Initially, I thought it is a problem of “feeling” because I personally felt similar battery life after the ICS update. I was a bit disappointed because I had expected some sort of battery life improvements.

Suddenly, last week, I encountered the battery drain issue: battery just draining crazily. In one hour it can drain 3-10% battery capacity when the phone is idle. So, I know the users complaining are not alone." read more

So now the solution is to upgrade your ICS version 4.0.3 to android version 4.0.4, the above article also shows you ow to monitor your Samsung Note where battery life is concern.

So what did I do? I upgrade my Samsung Galaxy Note to version 4.0.4

Image source by me from my Samsung Galaxy Note

The image above is a screen capture from my Samsung Note, sorry I forgot to capture the image before perform the upgrade.

But I found this from the internet. this is what it looks like when your Samsung version is 4.0.3 before you upgrade to Android version 4.0.4

image source by nkjskj.com

Well after upgrade from version 4.0.3 to version 4.0.4, it kinda solved the battery issue, now I don't need to recharge my phone so frequently anymore, but then again I am still able to use my phone for 1 whole day even with my internet broadband is continuously active.

So my advice is if not already upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich version 4.0.3 then you have to upgrade to Ice Cream Sandwich version 4.0.4. 

Samsung Galaxy Note ~ Tips

Dear Readers,

In my previous post I talked about my new Samsung Gadget, I bought it because reading my official emails has been very difficult with my old smartphone..yeah its because of the screen size. Anyway I bought a Samsung Galaxy Note with Ginger Bread Android version 2.3 ( I think so).

A few month later, a colleague of mine showed me a snap shot of his Samsung Note, that he had actually upgrade it to Android version 4.0.3, well this is an upgrade version for your Samsung Note from Ginger Bread to IceCream Sandwich.

He upgrade his directly from his phone. if you had not done so, I mean upgrade your Samsung Note from Ginger Bread to Ice Cream Sandwich. Well there are 2 ways to do it,

1. Upgrade from your laptop by downloading KIES for Samsung into your Laptop. Then do a USB connection from your Galaxy Note to your Laptop. Then follow the instructions.
2. Upgrade directly from your Samsung Galaxy Note. 

Well I am only gonna show you the 2nd method, because this is much more easier to perform. Well this is how you do it.

Step 1 : Go To Setting

Step 2 : Scroll Down right to the bottom and look for "About Phone"

Step 3 : Tap on the "About Phone" to select.

Step 4 : You will see your Android version is "2.3" which indicate Android HoneyComb.

Step 5 : Go to "Software Update" and tap to select.

Step 6 : Deselect Wi-Fi only if you want to update your Android version via your broadband service,   

             else you can just leave it Tick is upgrade via Wi-Fi service.

Step 7 : Look for "Update" and Tap to select. A pop up will appear to ask you if you want to proceed 

             with the update.

Step 8 : Tap on "OK" to proceed with the update. 

Step 9 : Wait until your update is complete, once complete your Galaxy Note will restart/reboot to 

             initialise your net Android 4.0.3

Note : 

Upgrade from Android version 2.3 to version 4.0.3 will not affect the application and settings or memory in your Phablet (Samsung Galaxy Note). Just to be safe please do a complete backup of everything in your Samsung Note before you proceed with the upgrading.

And..

Please also make sure that your phone is connected to the power source, because if your phone suddenly shut down due to battery fully drained out. Your Note will not work anymore...then it off the the Samsung Service centre for repair.

Once Your Samsung Note complete with the reboot/restart, you are now in Samsung Galaxy Note Android version 4.0.3

Turn your iPhone into a mouse....

Dear readers,

Do you always use a wireless connected mouse or a bluetooth connected mouse, and find that pack you mouse together with your laptop is not always convenient, or maybe you keep losing your mouse. and sometime when you are doing your presentations and suddenly halfway through the presentation your bluetooth mouse batteries run out and to make matters worse your don't have any batteries replacement with you, so what do you do then...

Well no matter what the cases are. if you have an iPhone with you and doing your presentation with you MAC. then you wont have to worry further. iPhone has an application that would allow you to turn your iPhone into a mouse. 

Not sure if anyone knows about this, but to those who don't know anything about turning your iPhone into a useable mouse, then this is a bonus to you. Le me show you how to turn your iPhone into a mouse. 

STEP #1

Firstly of course, you need an Application for your iPhone. There are several Applications that are available in the APPLE Store. that are meant to bring touchpad functionality to your iPhone. Super Remote and Wireless Mouse are two alternatives, but for the purposes of this tutorial we’re going to use Splashtop Touchpad. Their app is one of the best-rated ones on the App Store and has a number of useful functions aside from just being a mouse. Your first step, then, is to head over to the App Store and download Splashtop Touchpad for your iPhone. Normally it costs $6.99, but the publisher periodically puts it on sale or offers it for free. Trust us, it’s worth every penny.

STEP #2

Once you have the relevant application installed, your next step would be to download a client-side piece of software for installation on your computer. This program is called Splashtop Streamer, and the first time you launch the app you’ll be given the URL from which you can download it. If you want to install the client application now and install the iPhone app later, you can just visit the publisher’s website to do so.

STEP #3

After the client application and the iPhone app are installed, your next step is to simply connect the devices. You’ll have to run Splashtop Streamer once after it’s installed and create a security code for connecting to your computer. You also have the option to add your Google account to it.

After that, there are two ways to connect. If you added your Google account, you’ll be able to access your computer from anywhere. Otherwise your iPhone needs to be on the same Wi-Finetwork as your computer. Regardless of how you connect, it will automatically detect the computer. Tap the name of your machine, enter the security code and you’re good to go!

Conclusion

Setting up the app to work is easy, and the functionality is hard to match. There are a few gestures you can use, such as two-finger scrolling and pinch-to-zoom. Tapping the keyboard icon in the upper left part of the screen will also let you enter text from the iPhone’s keyboard. It’s a very useful app to have, and it’s useful whether you’re giving a presentation or just happened to become the victim of a misplaced mouse.

Since I dont have an iPhone, sadly to say that I am unable to try this feature with my MAC Book, otherwise, I will definitely download the application into my iPhone and the client application into my MAC. and tried it myself. too bad for me...

I have also include the application required there are free application you can try. since I have not tried it before I am unable to personally advice or comment on each of the application, so a word of advice browse through and search for review of that particular application first if you want to turn your iPhone as a backup mouse. once you understand the Pros & Cons, then go ahead and enjoy this new conversion....

Resource : from Kenson 

How To Properly Upgrade to iOS 5 in Five Simple Steps

Dear Readers,

I have an iPod 3G, and last month I have just upgraded my iPod to IOS5 without any problem, I have tried to provide an easy step by step guide on how to upgrade you Apple gadget, and I found this and thought it might be useful, yes there are so many Profession-APPLE users out there but this might be useful the all Apple newbies..

From improved notifications to iMessage goodness, here's how to make your iOS 5 upgrade go smoothly the first time. 

We've been putting the iOS 5 beta through its paces for the past few months. But today, the final release is available to all. Any device capable of running iOS 4 is eligible for an upgrade to iOS 5 — including the iPhone 3GS and third-generation iPod Touch.

If you've been waiting for improved notifications and iMessage goodness, this is your chance to see what you've been missing. But more important, here's how to make your upgrade go smoothly the first time.

1. Software Update

Before you begin, run software update on either your Mac or Windows PC. You'll need iTunes version 10.5 to make the latest iOS magic happen, and the upgrade won't work without it. While you're at it, feel free to update your apps as well. While you can certainly do so post-upgrade, you'll avoid any unforeseen compatibility problems by doing it before.

2. Make a Backup

To start, you'll want to perform a manual backup of your current iOS device. If you follow just one of our suggestions, it better be this. Should something go wrong during the upgrade process, you'll have a backup of settings and files to fall back on in a pinch.

Of course, the backup process is a long one to begin with, but there are ways to decrease the amount of time it takes. Pictures and videos stored in your camera roll are often the biggest culprits, so feel free to transfer these yourself. Removing particularly large files or unneeded apps beforehand is another smart practice. But keep in mind there's only so much you can do. From Safari browsing history to MMS attachements, iTunes simply has a lot of data to back up. Best let this process complete while you're out to lunch.

Finally, phone calls and text messages have the nasty habit of interrupting lengthy backups just as they near completion. To prevent upgrade issues and untimely snags, try placing your device in Airplane mode before you begin. Or better yet, remove your SIM card completely, if possible.

3. Encrypt Your Backup

You'll also have the ability to encrypt your iOS backup at this time. This option is visible under the "Backup" header when your device is plugged into iTunes. While an encrypted backup does take longer, you get the added benefit of having your various account and app passwords backed up as well. This might be useful for some, as you won't have to re-enter your passwords after your device has been restored.

Also, it's worth pointing out that backups can build up over time — and they do take up a considerable amount of space. If you want to remove past archives of your old iOS devices, and free up a couple gigabytes of space, you can find them in the following folder:

Mac: /Users/Tested/Library/Application Support/MobileSync/Backup/
Windows: C:\Users\Tested\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup

4. Save Your Hashes

This next step is crucial for jailbreak users. If you haven't already, back up your blobs. If you have no clue what that means, read this post from the iPhone Dev-Team. Simply put, blobs, or signature hashes, allow iOS users to downgrade to previous firmware versions where jailbreaking is still possible. However, it's suspected this method of downgrading will no longer be possible post-iOS 5.

In other words, if you're interested in jail breaking, or retaining the ability to downgrade to iOS 4, download a copy of TinyUmbrella and backup your blobs.

5. Update to iOS 5

Finally, there is the iOS 5 upgrade process itself. In most cases, the actual install should be as simple as connecting your device and allowing iTunes to do its thing. This will perform what's called an in-place upgrade to iOS 5 — in other words, preserving all your file, settings and content as is. However, you also have the option of performing a restore upgrade. This route will wipe your device clean, allowing you to start your iOS 5 experience from scratch.

Of course, you can also do this process manually as well. By clicking Upgrade or Restore with the Option key held down (or ctrl for Windows users), you have the option of selecting a firmware file (*.ipsw) of your choosing. In most cases this won't be necessary, but it can be useful for performing firmware updates from multiple computers without having to download iOS 5 on each.

If all goes well, your iOS device should find itself running iOS 5. And if you'd like to take advantage of Apple's new wireless sync feature, you can activate this from iTunes before restoring all the content to your device. Just don't forget to let us know how your upgrade process goes.

 Conclusion :

After upgrading my iPod to the new IOS5, appart from the newly added features/application in the IOS5. I just found out my iPod voice control works perfectly when listening to music from my iTunes..

I tested instructions such as Pause, Play, Album,Next all with my iPod voice control feature...and this is GREAT..

 To view more comment on this go to tested site

How To Make Full Use of Your Android Phone's Voice Control

Dear Readers,

Thought I share this information to all my readers who are loyal fans to Androids...

This tips will show you how to make full use to your Androids Voice Command feature..Here how you do it..

Android has had voice commands for quite some time, but like many of Google’s services, there are some easter eggs hidden beneath the surface. Voice Actions is part of Google Voice Search and ties in with a number of apps and services. It can even be managed on Google’s back end dashboard for increased privacy. Unlike some other voice input solutions, Android voice input isn’t geared toward natural language; you have to know the commands.

Let’s go over the compatible voice commands, and see what sort of tweaking you can do to make Android’s voice input work better for you.

The Commands

The commands most users will make the most use of is the Call feature. This is handy when you have your hands full, or are driving with a Bluetooth headset in. Just say, “Call [contact] [phone type].” If the contact has multiple contact numbers in your phone book and you don't specify, the voice search interface will have you clarify by tapping on the number in a list. The other call command lets you just say the name of a business, as in, "Call [business name]," and Android will pull the number from Google and call it directly. The device will even understand if you add in a location, like a city.

Sending a text message is very useful, when it works correctly. For this one say, “Send text to [contact name] … [message].” If the contact name isn’t picked up correctly, the phone will toss some approximation of it in at the beginning of the message, thus messing everything up. To avoid this, make sure you say the name as it appears in your phonebook. If the contact has a last name listed, use it. You have the opportunity to check the text before sending. Words that Voice Actions was unsure about are highlighted, and you can tap on them to get suggestions.

Much like sending a text, you can send an email by saying, “Send email to [contact] … [message].” This works just like the SMS for proofreading. Voice Actions also lets you use email in another way. If you say, “Note to self [message],” the device will send off an email addressed to you with your thought saved for posterity. These emails arrive with “Note to self” in the subject line. It’s a little bit clunky, but it gets the job done.

There are two ways to make use of the web with Android’s Voice Actions. If you say, “Go to [website name],” the browser will launch and load the appropriate website. We find that this is usually very accurate for popular websites, but multi-word sites with a lower profile often get missed. You can accomplish the same task by saying, “Open [website].” For some reason, this command seems to pick up obscure names better. The other use of the browser is just to do voice searches. Leave off the commands and just talk. The address bar will have a green color when your results load to indicate that it matched your speech with a recognized block of text.

There are three map-related commands to use. if you want to navigate, just say, “Navigate to [location name or address].” We have found this one to be very useful as you’re likely in the car when it comes up. This command boots you directly into the Navigation app without going through the Maps app first. If you say, “Directions to [location name or address],” the Maps app just pulls up the directions listed for you without Navigation. Lastly, just say, “Map of [anything],” and Google Maps will open and do a search for your query nearby.

There is one last command in Android’s Voice Actions, but we feel it’s got the weakest implementation, despite having noble intentions. If you say, “Listen to [artist/song/album],” the music app will pop up with a search for what you said. It won’t actually search for some reason, but you can just tap enter. If you have an app like Last.fm or Pandora, the Voice Action will offer you the option of using one of those apps. It could be good, but this just takes too many steps.

Settings and Tweaks

There are two ways to access the Google Voice Input settings. When you have the voice input box open, you can hit menu and then settings, but there’s just a brief window before the system decides you’re not saying anything. You can also go into the main system settings, and find Voice Input & Output Settings. There, you can pick Voice Recognizer Settings.

There are a few default settings here that you might want to tweak. Safe Search is controlled separately for voice searches on Android, so you can disable that if you like, or change the default Moderate setting to Strict. In a similar vein, the default is to block “offensive words” from being recognized. We don’t need to tell you what those are, but if you fancy strong language in your text messages, this can be disabled.

The last setting here controls a feature that some users find concerning. Google uses a so-called “Personal Recognition” engine to tailor your voice commands to your own speaking style. The default for this is on, but you can turn it off if you just want to use the vanilla voice recognition experience. Android will warn you that no further automatic customization will occur.

The practical upshot of personalization system is that the more you use Voice Input and Voice Actions on an Android phone, the more accurate it gets for you. We have noticed that over time Android does seem to get better at knowing what we’re saying, so think carefully before you turn this off. However, that does nothing about the voice samples Google already has on you. For that, it’s off to the web.

Maximum Privacy

The last option in the settings page is a link to the Google Dashboard, which can also be accessed on a PC. This page is a one-stop-shop for all the things that Google knows about you. Everything from your Gmail to your Android Market purchases is listed here along with the applicable privacy policies.

Items that store personal data have the option to remove it, and Speech Recognition is one of those. You will see under the Speech header that your total recordings are listed, and the time of the last addition to the cache will be shown below that. If you click the link entitled “Anonymize recognition”, all that customization goes away.

Google pops up a message informing users that the action cannot be reversed, and will result in the deletion of all saved voice samples. If you choose to delete your speech models, voice recognition will get a bit less accurate, but you can rest assured that the Google mothership can’t fake your voice to impersonate you. That’s a real concern, right?

Google voice input can be a powerful tool if you know the commands. It would be nice to see an update of Voice Actions, but for the time being it’s good for a few things like sending texts and starting navigation. Even with all its faults, we like that Google allows the system to become more customized over time with Personalized Recognition. It’s even cooler that you can go in and wipe out all that collected data. How do you use Google’s Android voice control?

The Best Password Managers for Your Android Phone

Dear Readers,

Found this recommendation and tips about the best password managers you ought to try for your Androids phones safety and security...

1Password vs. LastPass vs. KeePass. Don't wait until its too late to get serious about security.

We’re going to go over the best password manages on Android so you can make the safe choice that’s right for you.

1Password

This is a very high-quality service that has won the hearts of many users. 1Password comes in the form of desktop apps, browser extensions, and mobile apps. New sites and passwords can be added with the desktop program, or more easily with the browser extension. It can also be used to generate complex passwords that no one will crack.

1Password cleverly integrates with Dropbox for keeping your encrypted password file synced. This means you’ll have to have Dropbox on your computer, but there are no worries about cloud security. Just choose to put the 1Password file in your root Dropbox directory, and the 1Password app should find it no problem.

The 1Password Android app is read-only, meaning you can’t add new passwords from there, but that’s not a huge issue. On start up, the app will ask if you’ve got the password file on the SD card, or in Dropbox. If you have it in Dropbox, you can sign in and 1Password uses the Dropbox API to log in, and find your database in a snap.

Once the file is loaded, you will have to enter your 1Password password to unlock it. Indeed, you have to do this every time you open the app. Your main page is the Logins list. You can sort these by title or domain, or just search. Clicking through to the login of interest displays a page with the URL, user name, and password. If you just need to grab the username or password, long-press on the password field to automatically copy it to the clipboard. For maximum security, hit the Autologin button and the site will load in the integrated browser and log itself in.

The UI in 1Password is very well-designed, but still serious about security. Users can even add an additional PIN lock to the app. We like that is has full support for the program’s other capabilities like software license management, form filling, and secure notes. But for managing passwords, it’s truly great. There is a 30 day trial of the 1Password service, but after that it’s a one-time license fee of $50.

LastPass

This password management solution takes a fundamentally different approach to handling your passwords, but on the user side it feels much the same. Users can still add their login details with a desktop app or the excellent browser extensions. The difference is that all the LastPass data is stored in an encrypted directory on the LastPass servers. While some may be concerned about not having control of their data, it affords the user some new options and means less time spent keeping track of a local file.

The LastPass app is more minimalist than the 1Password offering. When you log in, the app opens a scrollable list of all the sites organized by URL. There’s no sort control, but a search box is persistent at the top of the app. If you tap on any site, the app will boot you into the integrated browser and log in. 

Long-pressing on each entry offers options like copying the URL, user name, or password.

We also really, really love that there is an option in the long-press menu to add copy notifications. If you need to paste in the user name and password both, the app places a notification for each in the status bar. Just slide it down and tap one to copy the text, then do the other. No bouncing back and forth between apps. LastPass also allows editing of login details, as well as adding new details complete with complex auto-generated passwords. This is possible because the app is connected to the same LastPass servers where all your data is.

By default, LastPass won’t lock itself every time you leave it, but only when it is closed, or you log out. A PIN lock can be added in the settings to fix that. LastPass also has form fills, and secure notes like 1Password. The cloud storage is handy, but there is cause for concern. There was a data breach at LastPass several months ago. 

While it seems that no user passwords were compromised, it’s still a little worrisome.

LastPass is free for use on the desktop, but if you want mobile access, you need a premium subscription for $1 per month. LastPass will allow a 14 day trial on a single phone. This service gets our approval.

KeePass

If you have more of a “do-it-yourself” ethos, perhaps KeePass is up your alley. KeePass is a free and open source password vault that you can install on your desktop, or access via a third-party browser extension. It does all the usual stuff, like generating complex passwords. Like 1Password, this application creates an encrypted database file that you will need access to. However, it doesn’t hold your hand through the process at all. The software is not the most intuitive, and if you want the passwords on your mobile device, you have to manually add it to Dropbox.

There are a few KeePass compatible apps, but the most popular is KeePassDroid. In this app, you will first need to locate your database file. We used Dropbox to get it on the phone, and keep it safe in the cloud. Unfortunately, there will be no easy way of keeping that file synced other than to manually download new versions with the Dropbox app.

Once you have the file flagged in KeePassDroid, just enter the passcode, and you’re in. Any website you go to in your Internet Group (KeePass organizes data in groups like Internet and Network) and open the website you need to access. We quite like that KeePassDroid does the same handy trick with notifications to copy the name and password for a site, but it does this automatically when you open the database record.

The encrypted file is totally yours to do do with as you please. You can easily edit it right on the device, but then you have to get that back into Dropbox for use elsewhere. KeePassDroid adds a couple of good features with user-selectable time-outs for locking the app and clearing the clipboard.

KeePass isn’t easy, but it offers you the maximum of control. The entire system is totally free if you’re willing to assemble the pieces.

The password manager you use on Android will depend on your personal feelings about security. LastPass takes on all the work for you, but keeps your data a cloud you don’t control. 1Password has more limited functionality in the app, but you get to control the file however you like, even keeping it in Dropbox. The there’s KeePass and KeePassDroid that let you handle everything yourself. Do you use a password manager on Android? Let us know in the comments.

To view comments about this tips go to:  http://www.tested.com/news/the-best-password-managers-for-your-android-phone/3138/