U.S. ZTE Phone Gets Security Hole Confirmation
One model of the ZTE phone being sold in the United States has a vulnerability that could allow the remote control of the device. That’s the latest news from ZTE Corp, the world’s 4th place handset vendor. Already under scrutiny over security concerns, the security threat affects ZTE’s Score model, which runs on Google’s Android operating system. The threat was described as ‘highly unusual’ by one researcher, while the co-founder of CrowdStrike stated that he had never seen anything similar. The threat, initially reported anonymously on Pastebin, is a backdoor which many are saying is alarmingly blatant, causing questions about the quality of both the manufacturing and testing of the device. Some are saying the vulnerability affects more than one ZTE model of phone, but the company says that the Score is the only phone affected, and released a statement announcing that a security patch is being worked on and will be sent to users shortly.
Reading Message Boards On Facebook Without Logging In
Posted by ElizaP in News, Useful Information on May 17, 2012
Facebook is a great way to get in touch with friends or family. And you may think that the only way to stay on top of conversations is to log in. But you can actually keep current with all that’s going on even when you’re not signed in. The secret is getting updates about the activity on your and friends’ accounts via email or to your cell phone.
Changing Notification Settings
There are two settings to consider when the desire is to receive updates; the general notification settings, and the group notification settings.
To change general notification settings, go to Account Settings and then select Notifications. Then, simply choose the notifications you would like Facebook to email you or send to your phone via SMS.
For group settings, go to the group’s page from which you would like to receive notifications. All of your groups can be accessed by visiting your Facebook home page and looking to the left column. Once at your desired group’s page, click Edit Settings and configure them to allow email notifications when a group member posts on the wall for that group.
Another Way To Reply Without Logging In
You can also reply to virtually all comments and posts that you receive via email by hitting ‘reply’ as you would in a regular email message.
U.K. Twitter Users Number About Ten Million
Posted by ElizaP in News, Useful Information on May 15, 2012
In a move that is not in line with its hush-hush approach to the sharing of information about growth and usage, Twitter announced today that the U.K. is in fourth place where it comes to active Twitter users, or those which log into the service at least once per month. The company said that there are 10 million people in the United Kingdom who use the service, and that eighty percent of them actively use their mobile devices, which is well above the 55% global average. Although the company took approximately three years to get to one billion tweets, it has over one hundred million global users who send over three hundred million tweets per day. So what is the big goal for this company? According to Twitter’s vice president of products Satya Patel, the prize is getting to 2 billion users.
How To Properly Treat Your Smart Phone
Posted by ElizaP in News, Useful Information on May 11, 2012
If you’ve recently gotten a new phone, you are probably
being very careful with it. And that’s a good thing, according to experts. But
having a new keypad on your phone can make setting up accounts or sending
messages a lot more frustrating than these activities used to be on your old
phone. Here are some tips to make the transition easier.
How To Hold Your Phone
Most experts say that treating your new phone like an egg is
the best way to go. Hold it firmly, yet lightly. When using the phone, keeping
your fingers between buttons on the site such as the volume control will ensure
no accidental pictures or peaks in volume.
In the event that you accidentally unlock your screen,
holding your phone on its sides will ensure that no accidental calls are made.
Stress-Free Typing
Typing using a finger that feels comfortable is the first
step to avoiding typos while you text. Ditto for pressing lightly or too fast.
And last but not least, be patient with yourself as you learn your new phone’s
keyboard.
Smooth Scrolling
Scrolling lightly by flicking gently instead of pressing will get you through your list of contacts or menu items much more quickly.
iPads Used For Animal Communication
Miami’s Jungle Island Zoo is using a new way to communicate with some of its residents; iPads. The Associated Press reports that trainers are currently working with a pair of twin eight-year-old orangutans on a mental stimulus program which includes playing games, drawing and new vocabulary. The software being used on the iPads for the program was originally developed for individuals with autism, and many reports revealed that autistic children were able to use the iPad to play games, make puzzles and communicate their ideas to family members. With the orangutans, the iPad software displays pictures of objects which the trainer identifies and then passes the tablet to the orangutans who then touch a corresponding button. There are some limitations currently, as the iPad is a delicate device with a screen too small for ape hands to manipulate. Trainers are hoping that larger and more durable versions of the tablets can be developed so that the public can communicate with the orangutans as well.
Card Technology: Magnetic Stripes
Posted by Review Editor in Guest Bloggers, Useful Information on May 9, 2012
Magnetic Stripe Cards 101
A magnetic stripe card refers to a special kind of PVC card that has a band made of magnetic material at the back. The magnetic material, usually barium ferrite or iron oxide, is embedded into resin. The band gets into contact with a reading head that extracts information from the card. These types of bands feature prominently in credit, debit and some identity cards.
Information in magnetic stripe cards is usually encoded as a series of ones and zeros. This is achieved by changing polarity of the magnetic particles along the band.
There are two primary types of magnetic stripe cards: low coercivity (LoCo) and high coercivity (HiCo) cards. The difference comes in the amount of force required to change polarity and store data on the magnetic stripe. The unit used to measure the force is Oested (Oe). The force determines the coercivity of cards. Low coercivity ranges from zero to 300 Oe while high coercivity is between 300 and 3000 Oe.
Coercivity does not affect the way cards are read and every card reader can handle both types of cards. It is the way data is written onto the cards that differs. Card writers are specific to either HiCo or LoCo and most writers are the LoCo type. However, the LoCo cards are adequate for many security assessment applications and users can easily make their own cards.
Low Coercivity Magnetic Stripe Cards
These types of cards are generally light brown in color. They usually require 300 Oe field to store information. The method is ideal for cards that undergo frequent writing and rewriting. Low-cost cards also employ this method, such as hotel cards and paper mass transit tickets.
However, LoCo cards tend to be rather delicate and the data stored can be interfered with easily. For example, keeping them close to cell phones suffices to change the information.
High Coercivity Magnetic Stripe Cards
HiCo cards are generally black in color and require between 2500 and 4000 Oe field for information to be written. HiCo ID badges are often encoded at 2750 Oe.
The cards were formerly used exclusively in industrial environments that involved strong magnetic fields. One place where they are commonly used is in an airport access control system.
HiCo cards are nowadays common in credit cards because they do not get damaged easily. They are ideal for cards that are used frequently and need to last for a relatively long time because it is more difficult to erase the magnetic stripes.
Standard ID card printers do not usually include a magnetic stripe encoder although some models have the option to add them later.
Image by Andres Rueda and licensed through Creative Commons.
Joe Scribner is a sales representative at CardPrinter.com, an online retailer carrying a full line of ID printers including the DTC4500 Dual Sided Printer from Fargo which can be used for printing HiCo and LoCo cards.
Ways To Make Your Computer Less Distracting
Posted by ElizaP in News, Useful Information on May 8, 2012
The desktop. The file folders. The internet. Everything about your personal computer seems to point toward distraction. But isn’t that the way a computer is supposed to be? Maybe so, but sometimes you need to be able to work on your PC without having to worry about annoying sounds or visual notices that can throw you off track. Below are some solutions.
Word Processors
If you spend a lot of time writing, you may benefit from distraction-free word processors like Writemonkey or WriteRoom. Both offer a very plain interface that take up your entire computer screen so that you can concentrate on what you’re writing. Some of these word processors will also offer ambient noise tracks as well.
Web Browsers
If you have Google Chrome and are running Windows or Linux, you can actually use Chrome to turn any web site into a distraction-free app with the Application Shortcut. Doing this will only open sites that you dictate. This can help you avoid getting lost in a sea of sites and losing valuable work time. Mac users can take advantage of programs like Fluid, which also allows web sites to be turned into shortcuts.
Desktop Apps
Programs like Backdrop and Ghoster can help keep you focused on the task at hand. Backdrop allows you to hide both other applications and items on your computer’s desktop when you’re using a particular program. Ghoster will dim all windows but the one you’re working in.
Millions Of Users Warned Of Internet Doomsday
A message alert system created by Open DNS and CloudFlare is
warning millions of users about malware that could cause serious damage to
systems. DNSChanger is the malware in question, and it can be nasty. So nasty,
in fact, that the FBI has also put protection in place. Unfortunately, that
protection will be removed on July 9, which means that anyone with the
DNSChanger malware still on their computer may be unable to get online from
that point on. The message alert warns users that their DNS settings are
indicicate of a DNSChanger infection, and then points them to both the FBI’s
site to learn more about the infection, and Open DNS where a range of solutions
are available from cleaning and recovering from the infection. Users who ignore
the message will continue to receive it until July 9.
Sell Your Used CDs Faster With New Services
It’s no secret that millions around the world are ditching their DVDs and CDs for digital versions. And it’s no wonder, with the amount of music and other media that is now available online for free. The other benefit of getting rid of your old media is the space you can reclaim around your home.
We’ve all heard of the conventional ways to get rid of old music and movies, but are there other options to convert faster and squeeze a little cash out of your collection besides marking it down to garage sale prices or spending hours ripping CDs?
Going Green With Murfie
Murfie is a start up company in Wisconsin who promises not only to help you get rid of your old media, but also help you make some money by selling your collection. All you have to do is to mail them your CDs and their cases in a package that the company provides, and Murfie will convert your music to digital format for you. And if you don’t want your old media returned, you can sell it to other users of the service. The company will also recycle all of the cases and inserts.
Technology Making It Easier To Discover Money Secrets
Posted by ElizaP in News, Useful Information on May 1, 2012
The old days of hiding money under the mattress or keeping an old shoe box with cash may soon return in the wake of information revealed by The Wall Street Journal yesterday. According to the report, a large number of suspicious spouses are now digging around in social networks, web surfing history and smart phones to find out what their significant other has been up to. And some are using key-logging software to see whether their spouse is logging into secret or offshore accounts. But the problem with all of these electronic snooping solutions is that they too can leave a trail. Thousands of emails can be searched in milliseconds, smartphone activities traced, and computers rifled through. However, the laws differ in each state, and so the information obtained runs the risk of being inadmissible in court if the suspicious party does not consider the legality before exploring.
Top 3 Emergency Preparedness Apps
Posted by Review Editor in Guest Bloggers, Useful Information on April 26, 2012
When life-threatening emergencies happen, it is important to be prepared. Although many workplaces prepare employees for such incidents, it is often difficult to remember what to do when an emergency actually happens. Since most cell phone owners have their devices with them at all times, app developers decided to create emergency apps. These helpful aids can reduce the risk of potential disasters when emergencies happen. The following three apps are some of the most important to have.
1. In Case Of Emergency
This app is also called ICE. In the past, many people put specific phone numbers in their contact lists, and these numbers were saved as ICE instead of a person’s name. If emergency personnel found such a phone owner unconscious and had to make a call to an emergency contact, they knew this code indicated who to call. This app works off that idea. In addition to inputting an emergency contact, users can enter their vital information. In some cases, this information may save lives. Keep in mind that emergency contacts may not always be available to answer a call and give out medical information. Be sure to include allergies, illnesses, insurance data and a personal physician’s contact number.
2. GoTo Aid
When an emergency happens, it is natural for some people to panic. In a panicked state of mind, many people may forget what to do. Fortunately, there is a helpful app with an extensive database of information. Keep in mind that it is important to call 911 first. While waiting for help to arrive, phone users can access the easy-to-use database to find out what they can do to help with certain types of injuries. There is also information about emergency first aid. This app has information about how to handle other disaster situations.
3. Rescue Kit
For many people, there is nothing scarier than getting lost in a remote area. When driving on dirt roads in rural places, this app has a helpful GPS location display, so it is easier to figure out where to go. There are also maps and direction assistance tips available. This app is helpful for people who experience emergencies while hiking. If they fall or become stranded, the app allows them to send a text message with their exact location. For people who are traveling internationally, that country’s emergency numbers are available. In addition to these benefits, the app provides a bright flashlight feature, which can be set to flash SOS signals.
Medical emergencies can happen anytime, and they demand quick thinking. Having the knowledge to make good decisions can mean the difference between life and death for an injured person. Many unprepared hikers and explorers who get lost never return home. Whether it is GPS, a flashing bright light or advice about emergency medical help, a problem-solving app can save the day. Since not all apps are available on the same platforms, browse an individual device’s market to look for these apps or similar ones.
Andrew Greene is a freelance insurance writer who blogs for accidentclaims.org where you can get information from experts on seeking compensation.
Finding The Right Computer Doctor
Even the most technologically-savvy person can hit a wall when trying to repair their computer. Should this happen, it’s good to know that there are many experts out there who can help restore your computer to its former self. But how do you choose the right one?
Really, looking for a tech will involve two steps: getting recommendations and then screening your short list of candidates before you choose one.
Ask Those You Know
Family or friends who have had to take their machines in for repair can be great sources of information. Ask them not only who they went to, but how their experience with that person was. Good backup is also to ask those you work with, as they may be able to offer you more detailed information.
Check Online
Visiting local forums may give you some good information about the computer experts in your area. If you have questions, you can always create an account and post it in the forum. Visiting the web site of the Better Business Bureau can also help you get more information about computer companies.
How To Evaluate Techs
Finding out how long they’ve been repairing computers is a good place to start. Customer references will also give you lots of clues about the quality of service you can expect. Comparing the billing rates of companies will give you a good idea about the average price for certain services. And be aware that although a tech may have certification, it may not tell the whole story.
Anonymous Vows CISPA Tweet Bomb
The outcry against CISPA legislation, expected to be voted on next week was added to today by the announcement that Anonymous, the hacking collective would be planning a 24 hours Tweet bomb in protest. A Tweet bomb is characterized by the repeated posting of the same tweet to multiple followers, and is a digital tactic used to raise awareness about a particular subject. This latest announcement by the collective follows a push by others who oppose it to start talking about it with the purpose of informing those who may not be aware of CISPA’s details. The cybersecurity bill, according to some, threatens internet privacy due to its broad definition of what kind of information can be shared with government agencies. As well, the inclusion of one phrase in the proposed legislation allows it to supersede all other privacy laws.
Create A Web Site Instantly With These Free Resources
If you have a number of documents that you want to share with a large group of people, one efficient way to do so is to make a web site out of them. But creating a site from scratch can end up taking hours or days. Thankfully, these free resources can make web site creation happen in minutes.
Google Sites And Weebly
These two resources offer instant creation of mini-sites for the business-minded individual. Simply by pasting your text and images into their page templates, the links to them are generated automatically.
Page-o-Rama
This no-frills text editor will create one page at a time and give each a unique URL that you can email to your contacts. If you want to link one page to another, you will have to do so manually.
Before You Build
If saving time is your goal, then knowing what files you want to share with others is key. You might also want to think about how you want your site to be structured, which can be helped along by making a flow chart on a piece of paper. Then, choose the page template which best fits your desired layout (if the site you’re using allows this).
Latest Anonymous Attack Results In Charges For Ohio Man
Attacks on web sites controlled by law enforcement groups resulted in charges being laid against John Anthony Borell III of Toledo, Ohio today. Arrested on March 20, Borell exploited the vulnerabilities of the Utah Chiefs of Police and Salt Lake City Police Department web sites with an unidentified penetration testing tool, and then exposed the names and private information of approximately 500 police officers. Borell is a member of CabinCr3w, which is an offshoot of the Anonymous hacking collective. His appearance in federal court resulted in a plea of not guilty, but Borell communicated his exploits by posting self-incriminating documents online, with the explanation that he was tired of running from law enforcement. In addition, several tips about additional exploits were received by the FBI which named him as a participant in a number of intrusions on government agency web sites and the leaking of documents marked as classified.
Prevent Future Mac Malware Infections
With the recent infiltration of thousands of Macs by malware Flashback, many now know just how vulnerable their machines can be. Those in the know are aware that no security measure can protect a system 100%. But using a multi-pronged approach to Mac security can significantly decrease the risk of your Mac becoming infected in the future.
Security Software
Although many may balk at the thought of installing a security suite, it’s a fact that Mac suites don’t bog down these machines as their Windows counterparts have a long history of doing. Some free options include Avast Antivirus and AVG. Those not interested in installing security software have a free online option in the form of AVG LinkScanner, which combs any links before they’re loaded.
Abandoning Adobe
One option is to uninstall any versions of Adobe Reader. Not only can your Mac already handle PDFs with the Lion Preview feature, but Reader hasn’t been as fast as it could have been about patching security holes in its program.
Don’t Use Admin For Daily Tasks
Creating an account with no admin privileges for daily tasks like the viewing of video, browsing and email will cause any hackers who peek into your machine to leave with empty hands.
Computer Legend Jack Tramiel Gone At 83
Jack Tramiel, a pioneer of the computer and video game world, died on Sunday at the age of 83. 1982′s release of the Commodore 64 possibly marked the release of the first personal computer that was affordable to the masses into the mainstream market. Although the market of home video games crashed in the early ’80s, the Commodore 64 was able to remain relevant, marketing new games by major publishers. After leaving Commodore International, Tramiel went on to become the head of Atari, releasing the Atari ST. He was born to a Jewish family in Poland, and was an Aushwitz survivor who was rescued by the U.S. Army in 1945. After immigrating to the U.S. and joining its armed forces where he learned to repair office equipment, Tramiel left the army to create a typewriter repair business. His relocation to Toronto Ontario, Canada and the new business he built there formed the basis of the company from which the Commodore 64 would be produced.
Spring Cleaning For Your PC
Spring is the time of year when we think about simplifying our lives. Do we really need all those things in our garage? Could we donate that pile of clothing we don’t wear or stack of books we haven’t read? Ironically, with all this talk about spring cleaning, our computers usually get ignored. But the truth is that they may need a good cleaning too, and not doing so could negatively affect the performance of your favourite PC.
Find The Dust Bunnies
Dust bunnies aren’t just for under the furniture anymore. Today, they lurk inside your computer’s case, trapping heat and blocking fan blades which can result in the overheating of your computer and multiple crashes. But these can be eliminated by purchasing a can of compressed air, which can be found at your local office supply store for around $10, and gently blowing the bunnies away from your PC’s sensitive parts.
Make Room On Your Hard Drive
An overloaded hard drive can be another cause of pesky crashes and erratic behaviour by your computer. Uninstalling software that you don’t use, including trial versions of software can help you reclaim a surprising amount of space. Running Windows Disk Cleanup and emptying your browser cache will also give you more room.
Internet Censorship May Come To Arizona
The future of access to internet content in Arizona rests on the shoulders of its state governor. Arizona House Bill 2549, recently passed by the legislature, is now on the desk of Gov. Jan Brewer. The bill, created to curb stalking and bullying online, would make it punishable by law to use profane, lewd or obscene language when communicating on electronic or digital devices. This would include suggesting lewd acts with the purpose of intimidating, threatening or harassing an individual. The Media Coalition, a First Amendment rights group which represents several movie, recording and writing groups, has called the bill preposterous and has written a letter to Gov. Brewer saying that the bill would ultimately criminalize all protected material found to be offensive by the state, including writing and cartoons.
How To Take 800 Photos In One Minute With Your iPhone
We’ve all been there. A great shot is right in front of you, but by the time you access your iPhone’s camera and take the shot, the moment is gone. But thanks to a handy app, you may never again miss a great photo opp.
Fast Camera
The Fast Camera iOS app, once launched, will take pictures until you choose to hit the “Stop” button or run out of room on your phone. The app is very cheap – rumor has it that you can get the app for as little as 99 cents – and can be purchased via the App Store.
How To Use Fast Camera
You can begin to take pictures as soon as you launch the app. Photos taken will appear in the lower left corner of your screen. Hitting stop will allow you to view the photos you’ve taken, and to resume picture taking, you only need to hit start.
The photos you want to keep can be saved in your camera roll. The rest will be deleted automatically once you are finished with your review.
App Features
Fast Camera allows you to edit many settings, including default camera and picture quality. App information claims that it can take up to 800 photos every minute through an iPhone 4S’s front camera, and up to 720 photos per minute if the app is installed in the iPad 2.
Abilities Of New iPad Revealed
Independent testing by two companies has revealed that the new iPad can double as a 4G LTE hotspot under the right conditions. Companies AnandTech and The Verge both found that the device was able to provide a personal wireless connection for up to five devices for up to 24 hours when the display is switched off, and notifications are disabled. However, this feature only exists on the Verizon version of the tablet. The reason the new iPad is able to perform so well is due to its bigger 42.5-watt-hour battery, which is seventy percent larger than the one included with the iPad 2. But a test by another company showed that the bigger battery does not cause the tablet to run at a higher temperature than similar tablets on the market.
Plan Meals, Keep Grocery List Handy With Food On The Table App
There’s no doubt about it; life is busy, especially when you have a family. Between getting home from work and then running the kids from school to soccer practice, you have to think about what’s for dinner. And while it’s a necessary aspect of our daily lives, planning meals and the ingredients needed to make them can sometimes be a challenge.
Enter Food on the Table, a cool app for your Android or iPhone. This app allows you to keep a list of local grocery stores, get notified about sales, browse recipes and much more. All it takes is to download the app, and then set it up to make your dinner planning easier than ever.
Email Address and Store Selection
Once you’ve chosen ‘Begin Setup’, you also have the option to enter your email address. Doing this will allow the app to notify you when your favorite grocery store is having a sale on any needed items. The app allows for a zip code search, which makes grocery stores incredibly easy to find.
Choosing Meals
App users can select the meals they’re interested in making by dish and meat type. Once “Pick Recipe” is chosen, a list of meals containing the ingredients you chose in the last step. All you have to do is choose a dish to get the recipe and other details, such as prep and cooking times. Choose “add to meal plan” to place your meals on the list. The ingredients for each meal you’ve chosen will appear in the “Grocery List” tab, already ordered by category.
Teens Texting More: Pew Report
If it seems like your teen has been texting more, a recent report reveals that this very well could be true. The Pew Research Center’s Internet and American Life Project released a report yesterday. Entitled “Teens, Smartphones and Texting“, the report revealed that teens are texting more than ever before. How much more? About sixty texts per day in 2011, and a whopping one hundred per day for older teens. Currently, over seventy percent of teens actively text with their phones. Although using a cell phone is preferred over using a land line for voice calls, less than forty percent of teens use their cell phones to place voice calls on a daily basis. The increasing trend to text is also accompanied by a rise of 31% in the ownership of smart phones by teens.
Make Your Phone’s Battery Last Longer
Posted by ElizaP in Internet Providers on March 15, 2012
There’s nothing worse than having your phone run out of juice when you need it the most. And you may think that plugging it in to charge, whether through your computer or a wall outlet is the only way out. But did you know that there is more than one way to maximize your battery’s life?
Configuring Your Phone
You can configure your phone to use less battery life. This can be done by disabling certain features like that GPS tracking you don’t use all the time and lowering the brightness of your screen. You can also reduce your screen’s timeout to fifteen seconds or less. These simple tweaks can net you a whopping few hours of extra battery life.
Download Apps
There are apps available which can help you manage your phone’s battery life. These optimization apps are available for a wide range of smartphones. However, if you have a newer iPhone, you may not find many apps at the iStore that will do a thorough job. But you can install a system monitor app like iStat, which will log your battery usage so that you can monitor what may be causing your issues.
Upgrade Firmware
Depending on the phone you have, a simple firmware upgrade may be enough to help you solve your battery problems. For example, Windows 7 phone owners who upgrade their firmware will be able to access a new battery saver feature which disables power-eaters automatically.
Internet Subscribers Being Warned Of Malware In Hacker-Proof Fashion
Posted by ElizaP in Cable Providers, DSL Providers, Internet Providers, News, Super Fast Internet Providers on March 13, 2012
A popular internet provider in Utah has turned to a traditional method to warn its subscribers of possible malware infection: snail mail. The company has begun sending its warnings to Utah subscribers who either have either home or mobile internet accounts. The warnings contain notification that a subscriber’s computer or device is infected, and then goes on to explain how malware is used by cybercriminals to obtain personal information, and outlines the steps to change the DNS settings of an infected system. While many new security measures are being put in place by a number of companies to staunch the amount of malware and other security breaches online, it is suspected by experts that up to fifteen percent of computers in the United States are infected by some sort of malware.
Fixing A Waterlogged iPod
Sometimes accidents happen, no matter how careful you are. When electronics such as an iPod become accidentally immersed in water, you may think there is nothing more than can be done with your device except use it as an expensive paperweight.
But before you give up completely, know that there are a few ways to save your iPod from water damage. However, you will have to understand that the longer a device holds moisture, the lesser your chances of being able to fix it yourself. And so time is definitely of the essence.
Water Damage Repair – Steps To Try
Immediately After It’s Been Dropped Into The Water
Remove your iPod from the water right away and then turn it off. Wipe it dry with a paper towel or cloth, and/or shake it to remove excess water. Leave the device off until you’re sure it’s been completely dried out, which could take up to a week.
Shine Some Light
Place your iPod under a light or heat source, which could include heater vents in your home. Leave the device near or under heat for 24 hours, preferably more. But ensure that the heat source you choose won’t over-expose your device to heat.
Dry The Inside
If you know how to, you can open up your iPod and use a dry towel to eliminate moisture from the inside. A Q-tip may work well for getting into the areas of your device where the towel won’t reach. You can also use a hair dryer to dry the inside of your device, but avoid holding it too close to the device.
Puttin’ On The Rice
After you’ve opened and dried your iPod, replace the cover, and then fill a bowl with uncooked rice. Place the iPod in the bowl, ensuring that it is completely immersed in and surrounded by the rice. Place the bowl in a warm area for up to two days.
New iPad Launch Sets Tech World On Its Ear
Yesterday was the big day: Apple introduced its next incarnation of the iPad. But don’t call it the “iPad3″; its makers announced it as “the new iPad“. So what’s so great about it? Quite a lot, apparently. Not only does the device offer 1080p HD video, but it also sports a new A5X chip that delivers quad-core graphics, plus an iSight camera that includes 5 megapixels and lots of features. The new iPad beats version two by a mile, offering four times the pixels of its predecessor and a whopping four million times that offered by HDTV. Along with its other unprecedented features, the new tablet raises the bar for display, speed, performance and power efficiency. A 16GB iPad 3 will run you about $499, and will be available for purchase on March 16. Those wanting the previous incarnation of the tablet will be happy to know that there’s a new lower price for the iPad 2: just $399 for the 16GB version.