Working on your privacy

Two things you can do without going any further are switching off bluetooth unless you need it and turning off location if you  don’t need it. Location is still detected via Google but  you  do not need to go out of your way to tell everyone where you are. Turn location on when you really need it. For some reason my Linux Mint 17.2 has bluetooth on by default. For privacy’s sake it should be the other way around.

Now for some links which will help you to make some good decisions about privacy and know how to manage it:

Lifewire has 10 things for you to look at to help improve your privacy.

spreadprivacy has tips for iPad and iPhone users.

wired   has tips for managing privacy on android devices.

PC Mag has some good information to help you manage Google privacy.

The video gives you security information about Safari.

On websites and accounts you use, check your settings. Look at the privacy policy for the websites and accounts. None of this is perfect at the moment. Privacy and security are ongoing issues. You also need to be prepared to let key people know what you think are acceptable and unacceptable terms of privacy. If they don’t know they will do what they think is right.

 

 

Technology changes

Image: campaignlive

The world changes. People used to crank cars to start them. They used to put washing through wringers to get rid of the water. There were lamp lighters in the street. Times change and life and things change with it. Apple’s iconic white MacBook is now vintage. Given it was plastic that might be the right way to go. There is speculation , though, that Apple will move away from its Macs altogether and go with tablets and phones. Macs have been popular with artists , musicians and advertisers. If Apple then improves the iPad Pro will that be enough? A lot of people use their phones and tablets in preference to a laptop or desktop. They like the portability of their device now. A year ago Apple had problems with its new OS Sierra which ought to have been dealt with by now. It’s just brought out a new phone with a different look at the mobile world. Apple never stops inventing and pushing the boundaries.

Meanwhile Microsoft has been working really hard on the Surface which is a laptop/tablet hybrid. It has had to improve the tablet functionality but it is now an  extremely successful device and the iPad Pro could line itself alongside and drive change through competition. iPads have a strong following and are familiar, reliable devices.

What then will  happen to those who need the serious capabilities of a computer? If you like MacBooks, then something like Linux Mint is an option. Apple Macs are built on Unix and so the change to Linux is quite easy. It’s not as slick as Unix , though, but it is easier to customise and can be made to be very slick. It really depends on what you want to do and the world is appearing to make device changes so that everyone has the device they need and that it’s a good one. Some mainly want to stream and look things up. Some need business applications and software. Some need high end graphics capabilities . Some need developer options and so on. We are all different and we are all in need of a good device which suits us. It’s also why you can’t be and know everything about technology. You have to share and you have to pursue what appeals to you . That is how we are moving the world forward now. Yes, there is competition , but collaboration has become a  far more important driver of future thinking and development.

iOS 11 tips and tricks

iOS 11 has been beta tested since June 5th this year. Its official public release will be 19th September . Next week! I could have picked a shorter video but the one I have selected is well made and goes through everything you could possibly want to know about iOS 11. It does have a lot of features and it differs from previous iOS versions because there really is an emphasis on gesturing and features. A lot of people don’t get the best out of their devices because they are unaware of what they can actually do. Take 15 minutes to learn about iOS 11 and you’ll not only know a lot, you’ll get more out of your Apple phone and devices. There are 20 tips on techradar to help you too but the one about annoying Android friends could probably have been left out.

iOS 10.0.02

Normally, I do not update anything until the updates have been around for a while and they have fixed the issues. I decided to live dangerously  recently and update my iPad Air to 10.0.01 .  Using the home button to bring up the passcode screen was a bit of a surprise. Ooh, wow, back to clicking!  So over gestures because you can unintentionally gesture and create unsolicited random happenings which is not very slick. Then again, the gestures can achieve some things quickly and cleverly. The only problem I had with 10.0.01 was sound issues on some videos especially if they were on Facebook. Since technology has been buggy now for a while, no matter what you use, I wasn’t particularly bothered. My life will not collapse because I can’t hear a video. Other than that I thought 10 was really smooth and looked good. I felt like it was an upgrade. 10.0.02 came hot on the heals of 10.0.01 because some people had had some issues with it. It had interfered with  phone  functionality in particular. On my iPad Air  with 10.0.02 nothing much has changed other than now Flipboard won’t slide properly onto the next screen when I am reading an article. It also takes longer to load the magazines. It will get fixed eventually and all will be well. I have different devices and so if one isn’t working I use another. The real problem occurs when the device is critical to your way of life or work and it is not functioning. I always have a spare phone or computer  but if I had a device which was specifically set up for my life or work then I would find the bugginess of everything more than frustrating. MacWorld UK has a good review of iOS 10.

iPhone/iPad tips and tricks

sakitech speaks clearly, explains effectively and shows you carefully how you can make good use of your iPhone/iPad. Some people are sometimes just waiting for the next iOS and never really explore the one they have. Apple is very good on the “hidden” secrets so that if you take the time to learn the iOS you really do get some very efficient  functionality.