Goodbye Windows XP

In October 2001 Windows XP was released and over the years it has become the most used computer operating system in the world.  In the 12 years since there have been three new versions of Windows released - Vista, 7, and 8/8.1, but there are hundreds of millions of computers all over the world still using XP – actually 18% of Windows PCs. 

If you’re one of them, you should spend this weekend thinking about what you’re going to do after Tuesday – because on 8 April Microsoft will cease to support Windows XP.  While XP is still a great operating system there could be some problems if you continue to use it after that date. 

Hopefully I can answer your questions about what it means to you:

What will happen on 8 April 2014?

On that date Microsoft will no longer offer any kind of technical support for Windows XP.  That means there will be no more automatic updates from Microsoft – of most concern is no more security updates. 

Support is also ending for Internet Explorer 8, which is the default web browser for XP. 

Without those security updates your computer could be exposed to malware, viruses and other security threats.

Will my computer still work?

Yes, the end of Microsoft support will have no effect how your computer works.

Should I buy a new computer?

If you've been thinking about it, then yes.  Now would be a good time to buy. 

If you've been hearing terrible things about Windows 8, then let me reassure you that it’s not that bad, it’s very fast, and if you bypass the modern tiled start screen there’s a familiar XP/Windows 7 style desktop.  It has also been rumoured this week that a future update will reintroduce the Start Menu. 

Most of the software that you used on your XP computer (unless it’s very old) will still work on Windows 8, or this could be a good opportunity to negotiate with the salesman when buying your new computer to see what software they can throw in - a one year subscription to Office 365 would be good!

To help you move your files from your XP computer to a new one, Microsoft has a free tool – PC Mover Express.  This tool will copy your files, music, videos, email, user profiles and settings from your old PC to your new computer running Windows 7, 8 or 8.1.  

If I don’t want to buy a new computer what can I do?

• Use a more modern web browser – like Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox.  They are both free to download and will be supported on XP computers until at least 2015.  This will help to stop your computer being exposed to the most common threats.

• Keep your internet security software up to date.

• If your computer is suitable you could install a new operating system on it - you can still buy Windows 7 installation disks.  To check if your computer can run Windows 7 download the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. 

If I buy a new computer is there anything I can do with my XP computer?

Yes, you’ll have no problems at all if you are not connected to the internet, so maybe keep it as a backup computer or for the kids for games or basic programs. 

Have a think this weekend about what you're going to do if you still have an XP computer and if you have any specific questions pop them in a comment below.

OS X Mavericks - a new operating system for your Mac

Yesterday I wrote about the new iPad and iPad mini that Apple just introduced (if you missed it pop over here).  There’s more than just new iPads coming – Apple also has something new for the Mac users too.

A new operating system - OS X Mavericks

 What’s new? 

• Improved battery life, with your idle apps put ‘to sleep’ so they don’t drain power

• Multiple Finder tabs – similar to your internet browser.  You can now consolidate multiple finder windows into one.

• You can ‘Tag’ your files now to make it easier to find related files.  Great for keeping track of multiple files for one project - tag your Keynote presentation, your Pages report and the list you created in Numbers – click their tag name in the Finder sidebar and all three files will appear together in one Finder window. 

• You can now access iBooks across all your devices, so if you buy a book on your iPad it will automatically appear on your Mac.  Also, if you’re copying text from iBooks to a Pages document, a citation will be added for you (great for students and researchers)

• No more remembering passwords - iCloud Keychain stores, encrypts and automatically enters your usernames and passwords across all your devices

• Apple Maps

• A new look Calendar that can provide maps to your appointments and estimate the travelling time (as long as you've activated location services)

• With Airplay you can set up an Apple TV or a standard TV as a secondary monitor

• Safari has had a makeover too, it’s much faster and there are new safeguards against malicious tracking sites

• Notifications now has Quick Reply for Mail and Messages, which means you can reply directly from the alert – no need to go to the app.

OS X Mavericks is available now for your post-2007 Apple desktop and laptop.  It’s free from the App Store, as long as you’re running OS X Snow Leopard or later.   If you’re still running Leopard, you’ll need to upgrade to Snow Leopard first, and you’ll have to pay $20.99 for that upgrade.

Keep that battery going

Last week my laptop battery started flashing a warning recommending that I replace my battery.  I knew it was on its way out – it was lasting less and less time between charges and the day before it had reached the stage where if it wasn't plugged into the power it would drain in about 10 minutes.

Not a problem, all I needed to get a new battery was the model of my computer and the model number of the battery.  I ordered a new battery online which was delivered within 24 hours.  Amazing what a difference a new battery can make to the functioning of your computer.  Back to super quick again.

Having a new battery got me thinking about what I could have done differently to make my old battery last longer – it was about three years old.  A bit of research produced some interesting facts, which everyone who has portable devices (that means everyone!) needs to know.

The batteries inside your laptop, mobile phone, iPad, iPhone, iPod, and some cameras are Lithium-ion batteries.  These batteries are the most popular for mobile devices because…

• They're generally much lighter than other types of rechargeable batteries of the same size.
• More energy can be stored in a Lithium-ion battery than other types of batteries.
• They hold their charge. A lithium-ion battery pack only loses about 5% of its charge per month, compared to a 20% loss per month for standard NiMH rechargeable batteries.

• They have no memory effect, which means that you don’t have to completely discharge them before recharging.

•  Lithium-ion batteries can handle hundreds of charge/discharge cycles.

However, they do have some faults:

• They start degrading as soon as they leave the factory – whether you use them or not.

• They are extremely sensitive to high temperatures - heat causes lithium-ion battery packs to degrade faster.

• If you completely discharge a lithium-ion battery, it is ruined.

•  There is a small chance that, if a lithium-ion battery pack fails, it will burst into flames.

Taking these features into account, what can I do to make sure my new laptop battery lasts as long as possible?

• Fully charge new lithium-ion batteries for the first three cycles.  New Lithium-ion batteries work best if they are fully charged, and drained for the first three charging cycles.  When you get a new battery, or new device, use it until it is completely drained, then charge it fully.  Then do the same another two times.

• After those first three charging cycles you should charge your battery occasionally, for short periods.  Don’t wait until it has completely drained.  Your battery is capable of a finite number of charge/recharge cycles.  A charging cycle means using all of the battery’s power, then recharging it to 100%, but that doesn't have to mean a single charge. For example, you could use your iPad for five hours one day, using half its power, and then recharge it fully. If you did the same thing the next day, it would count as one charge cycle, not two.  Each time you complete a charging cycle, your battery’s capacity is slightly reduced, but it will still take hundreds, up to thousands (depending on the device), of charging cycles before it drops to a noticeable level.  For example, an iPad battery should last 1000 full charge and discharge cycles before it drops to 80% of its original capacity. 

• If you need your laptop plugged in for a length of time, remove the battery (if you are able to).  I upgraded my laptop to Windows 8.1 on Friday, but I was going out for the day, so I plugged the laptop into the power, removed the battery, and left it to do the upgrade on its own.

• If you are not going to use your device for a few months store it with 50% charge.  If you leave a battery with no charge for a few months it may not be capable of holding any charge again.  Also, if you leave a battery fully charged for an extended period the battery can lose capacity.

• Keep it cool.  Lithium-ion batteries don’t like heat.  So don’t leave your devices in a hot car, or sitting in the sun all day, or you might find it has died when you return.  But don’t keep them too cool – freezing temperatures aren't good for them either.

• Don’t be too rough with them.  Impact can damage the battery’s internal cell.

Finally, if you do replace your device’s battery remember to dispose of the old one correctly.  Apple stores will replace and recycle your old batteries, and most local Councils provide e-waste collection and recycling points.  Lithium-ion batteries cannot be put in your normal household garbage.

iOS7 Tips

I have been posting tips on iOS7 all week on Facebook.  These posts have generated a lot of comment and have been very popular.  I’ve collected them all here together in case you missed any of them, and added a few new ones too…..

Do you have to upgrade to iOS7?

Not yet - you can easily wait a few days or even weeks. There are sure to be a few small updates over the next week or so to iron out some minor annoyances - there's already been one update.  However, it's not something you can avoid altogether - some applications are going to start requiring the new operating system. 

Free ebooks on iOS7

Have you upgraded to iOS7? Are you still working out the changes? Or have you just bought your first iPhone or iPad and you're not sure how it works?  iTunes has FREE iOS7 guides that you can download and read in iBooks: 
iPhone:         http://bit.ly/1eyPbh6
iPad:             http://bit.ly/16pf4qz
iPod Touch: http://bit.ly/1byI0Va

App Auto-Update

iOS 7 will now update your apps in the background whenever you are connected to a Wi-Fi (or mobile) network; without letting you know there are any updates.  While this does mean your apps will always be up to date, it also consumes data and power, and should be restricted for when you're free to plug in your iPhone or iPad to charge, or when you can connect to your home Wi-Fi.

You can turn off auto-update: Tap the Settings icon, scroll down to iTunes & App Store and turn off Automatic Downloads for Apps and Updates.

Moving wallpaper

If you slowly jiggle your iPhone or iPad you may notice the "parallax" effect of three-dimensional icons sitting on top of your wallpaper. This effect uses internal hardware to sense the direction, speed, and motion of your movements. You might like this effect (or not), but it does drain the battery, and it is there just for appearance. 

To save a bit more power on your device you can disable the "moving wallpaper" feature: head to Settings > General > Accessibility > Reduce Motion, then flick the switch in the on position.

iOS7 battery saving tip – Background App Refresh

Apps that receive constant updates, usually those that are syncing across a number of devices, are automatically refreshed in the background in iOS7 so they are always up to date – rather than receiving an update when you open that app. However this feature is very heavy on your precious battery power and it has been reported as causing some issues with logging users out of sessions on some apps so they have to log back in. 

I think that’s two good reasons to disable it: Just go to Settings > General > Background App Refresh. You can then see which of your apps are using this feature – in my case it’s Evernote, Google Maps, Pocket and Springpad. You then have the choice of disabling Background App Refresh on an app by app basis, or disabling it all together. 

Don’t worry, your apps will still be updated – it will just happen when you open that app, which is how it was in iOS6.

Turn off AirDrop except when needed

iOS7 Tip of the day:  AirDrop is a brilliant tool that allows you to share files between devices when they are in close proximity. But its use can take a heavy toll on your battery, particularly when AirDrop is always trying to ‘discover’ if there are any friends close by. 

To save your battery, you can just activate AirDrop when you need it.  To turn it off, swipe up from your home screen to bring up the Control Centre, then tap AirDrop. Select Off when you're not using it.  This is also where you choose who can 'discover' you using AirDrop.

Don't use moving 'dynamic' wallpapers

The new dynamic wallpapers do look great, especially when they move when you move your device.  However, they are another drain on your battery power.  Would you rather have bubbles floating around on your screen or have your battery last longer?  Instead go for a ‘still’ wallpaper – and there are some new ones to choose from in iOS7 – or use one of your own pictures.  Go to Settings > Wallpapers & Brightness > Choose Wallpaper > select Stills and select your background (or Camera Roll or My Photo Stream to select your own photo).

Switch off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when you don‘t need them

If you are not near or not using a Wi-Fi hotspot, or sending items to other devices using Bluetooth, these can be turned off.  Swipe up from your home screen and you’ll see the Control Centre, tap the Wi-Fi button and the Bluetooth button to off. 

Close any apps you’re not using

Double-press the Home button and all your open apps will appear as a scrolling banner across your screen.  To close one, just swipe it up.  Press the Home button again to return to normal.

Techie organising with everyday items

It amazes me how inventive some people can be when they need to fix something or solve a problem.  Take a look at these brilliant ideas using everyday objects to solve techie problems.

Use a pen spring to protect charger cables

Over time, charger cables start to fray or detach with continuous usage, especially at the connector’s end. One way to keep that from happening is to use the spring from a pen. Coil it around your cable and slide it up to the point of your connector. That part will stay firm and your cables will last longer.  (I wish I’d know that one before my mouse cable snapped off from its connector!)

Use bread tags as cord holders

The next time you buy bread, don’t throw away the tab. Use it to label your cables.

Empty toilet paper rolls as cord holders

Packing a coiled up cord into a roll can not only keep it from unravelling, but also help you label it by writing what it’s for on the roll with a marker pen.  

  

They don’t  have to look like toilet rolls – cover them with leftover gift wrap or fabric.

More cable organisation – this time with Washi tape

Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl 

the concave shape amplifies the music

Keep cords from getting tangled in your bag by keeping them in an eyeglasses case

You’ll find all these ideas and more on my Techie Organising board on Pinterest.

What to do before you replace your old tablet

If you've had a tablet for a few years (or less) it may be tempting to upgrade to one of the many new models being released at the moment.  Before you get rid of your old tablet there are a few things you need to do to make sure the next owner doesn't have access to any of your personal details.

First, make sure you back up any important information, such as old documents, receipts or passwords.

iPad

You can safely wipe your iPad, but still have access to your iTunes backup file from any of your other Apple devices:

• Launch your Settings menu, then tap General.
• Tap Reset, then choose “Erase all Content and Settings.”
• Enter your password if prompted.
• Tap Erase, which will delete all of your media and data as well as reset all settings.

Android

The process of wiping your personal data from your Android tablet restores it to factory settings.

• Tap the Menu button on your Android tablet.
• Select Settings and then Privacy.
• Tap the Factory Data Reset button and choose whether you want to wipe all data on your device as well as all data on your microSD Card, or just one or the other. Tap Reset Phone.
• Confirm that you want to wipe your device by tapping the Erase Everything button.

Last year I wrote about what to do before you get rid of your old computer.  If you’d like to read that post, click here.

If your old tablet or computer is not working and you just want to get rid of it, click here to read a post I wrote about what to do with your old techie devices.    

Techie Germs

This post isn't about a virus on your computer; here we’re talking about the germs that you’ll probably find on the techie tools you use every day – your computer, phone, calculator, tablet, remote controls and game controllers. 

Your keyboard

Did you know that 93% of keyboards have a bacterial contamination?  One of the main causes of germs, apart from poor personal hygiene, is eating at your desk.  Crumbs will lead to bacteria growing in their millions.  To clean your keyboard, turn your computer off, wipe it down with a damp cloth, turn the keyboard upside down to shake out the crumbs and other bits that somehow end up in your keyboard, and then disinfect with alcohol wipes.

Your mobile phone

Most phones are contaminated with bugs ranging from salmonella to E. coli and staphylococcus aureus, which can result in some nasty stomach upsets.  You need to regularly wipe over your phone with disinfectant wipes, and don’t use your phone in the toilet!

Your earphones

Earphones increase the temperature and moisture in the ear, giving germs such as staphylococcus an ideal breeding ground.  In fact, the bacteria in your ear increases by 92% after wearing earphones for 30 minutes.  Your earphones can be cleaned by gently scrubbing the earpieces with a dry toothbrush to dislodge dirt, then dampen a lint-free cloth with a solution of warm water and mild soap and wipe them over.

This Infographic gives a few more tips on keeping yourself tech germ free

Source:  Keeping It Kleen

The easiest things you can do to minimise picking up something nasty from your techie devices is to:

• Regularly wash and dry your hands, especially before you use your computer and phone.
•  Don’t eat near your computer.

2013 Techie Resolutions

Do you have any technology goals for 2013?  Instead of cursing your computer would you like to smile whenever you switch it on? 

Here’s my list of what you need to do to make this the year you take control of your technology; with links to the articles I’ve written about these topics.

Backup your files

Don't lose your precious photos or documents, set up a regular backup routine.

 

Have a regular maintenance plan

Keep your computer running smoothly and make it last longer.

Clean your computer

Your computer will last longer and run better if you keep it free of dust.

Look after your passwords

We all have so many passwords we use constantly.  You should have a method of storing them so you don't have to remember them.

How to improve your computer's performance

Are you finding your computer is getting slower?  Are programs taking longer to load, error messages starting to appear and your frustration level is increasing?

If a new computer didn't appear in your Christmas stocking, don't stress, head over to Adventures and Misadventures of a Mummypreneur, where I am guest posting today about what you can do to improve the performance of your current computer and make it last a little longer.

While you're there have a good read of Amanda's wonderful posts.  If you are trying to manage work and family you will find Amanda advice invaluable, especially if you run your own business.  She always seems to post the right advice right when I need it.

How to get more life from your MacBook battery

On Monday I posted tips for maximising the life of your Windows laptop battery.  Today it’s the turn of the MacBook users.

 

There are quite a few settings you can change to get more life from your battery in general, or if you need to get every last minute out of it when you’re trying to finish a job with no available power point.  The following tips apply to MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air.

Dim your screen

The one setting that will have the greatest impact on battery life is the brightness of the screen.  Pressing F1 dims your screen – lower the brightness until it is still comfortable to view.  As an example, you can increase the battery life of a MacBook Pro by up to three hours just by taking the screen brightness to the middle setting.

Select Energy Saver options

Your Energy Saver options will vary depending on the type of MacBook you have and the operating system.  You access these settings from System Preferences - select Energy Saver.  You’ll see samples of the Energy Saver panes further down.

Some of the settings you can change here are:

• Putting the hard disk to sleep when it’s not in use.
• Slightly dimming the display when using either battery or a power adaptor – you chose which power source in turn and then change the settings for each.
• Automatically reducing the screen brightness before your notebook goes to sleep.
• Changing the time after which your notebook or the display goes to sleep – use the slider.

Choose the correct graphics setting

MacBook Pros have two separate graphic processing units – with one being more energy efficient than the other.  If you have an older MacBook Pro (2008 to 2009) you can switch between the two to make your battery last longer.   In the Energy Saver pane select either:

MacBook Pro 2008 - 2009

Better battery life(this is the default setting) – if you are not using graphics-based applications.

Higher performance – if you are playing games, or using applications with a lot of graphics, like iMovie, or iPhoto.   Although, if you’re trying to get every last minute out of your battery these are the applications you shouldn’t be using; they consume much more power.

If you have a MacBook Pro from 2010 or later it will have automatic switching between the graphic processing units.  This means that your MacBook Pro will switch to the best graphic processing unit based on the application you are using.   You can switch this option off if you want the full effect of high-performance graphics-based applications.

MacBook Pro 2010 and later

If you have a MacBook Air from 2010 or MacBook Pro Retina from 2012 you don’t have the option to switch off the auto switching – it is fully automatic.

MacBook Air from 2010 and Macbook Pro Retina from 2012

 

Take out any disks

The optical drive will spin and read any CDs or DVDs in the drive, which uses battery power.  Remove the disks if you’re not using them.

Disconnect peripherals

Anything attached to your computer can draw power from the battery, even when you’re not using them.  So, disconnect your printer, camera, scanner etc.

Go Offline

If you don’t need to be online, turn off AirPort/Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.

 

To turn off AirPort:

1. From the menu bar click the AirPort icon 
2. From the drop-down menu, select Turn AirPort Off.

To turn off Bluetooth:

1. From the menu bar click the Bluetooth icon .
2. From the drop-down menu, select Turn Bluetooth Off.

Apple’s batteries will give you considerably more time than a Windows PC’s battery, but by implementing some of the tips above you’ll get even more time out of your MacBook.