Let there be hope...
Life has changed there is no doubt and we wanted to reach out to see how you are doing.
As we go through this interesting time, we are trying to look at this as an opportunity to focus on our family and on friends like you. Let us use this extra time to catch up and talk more. Let us cook food that is not fast, but interesting and satisfying. Let us learn to enjoy a time to try new things. Let us find ways to enjoy time at home!
Computer Security
If my client base is any experience, anyone can be a victim of a Ransomware, Malware or Virus attack.
What can you do about it?
I conduct audits of your entire computer infrastructure and apply best practice solutions to plug the security holes on your computers, Smartphones and networks.
Now offering consultations to give you the best protection possible:
404.229.0839
carlthorne@hthcatlanta.com
Home » Archives for December 2012
1:35 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Half the challenge of decluttering is knowing where to off-load your stuff. Let these easy-to-use sites handle the heavy lifting.
If you have: iAnything or Video Games
Use: Glyde.com
List your Apple devices (iPods, iPhones, iPads), video games, and DVDs in three minutes flat: Just type in the name of the item and answer a few questions. Once a customer buys it, Glyde will send a preaddressed, prepaid shipping kit so you can send the product on its way. As soon as the buyer confirms receipt, a payment is deposited into your Glyde account. (You can transfer those funds to your bank account.)
Fees: 12 percent of the first $100 of the sale price; 8 percent of any additional amount; $1 to $3 for the shipping kit.
If you have: Women's Clothing
Use: Style.ly
For the easiest experience, opt for this site's Closet Cleanse package. Request a box, pack it with clothes, and use a prepaid shipping label to mail it to Style.ly. An "expert seller" will photograph, price and post your items, then mail them to the buyers. (If you like, the pro will run prices by you before proceeding.) Garments tha
t aren't snatched up within eight weeks can be donated (you'll receive a receipt for your tax return) or returned to you (you'll pay for shipping).
Fees: 38.5 percent of your kit's total sale price; $10 for the Closet Cleanse kit.
If you have: Kids' Clothing
Use: ThredUp.com
Getting rid of your kids' old dudes is simple: Order the site's "clean-out" bag to fill with clothes. Then send it to the site using the prepaid shipping label. ThredUp will compensate you (via PayPal or store credit) for any items it deems sellable - meaning clean and undamaged - and the rest is recycled. It will list your items for sale on its retail website, but you get paid whether or not shoppers bite.
Fees: $4.95 refundable deposit for the clean-out bag. Sellers make 20 to 40 percent of each item's resale value.
If you have: Books
Use: amazon.com/sellyourstuff
It's hard to turn a profit on paperbacks, but hardbacks can earn a pretty penny. To sell a book, search for its title, note the condition, set a price (Amazon will tell you the going rate), and select how you want to ship the item (you receive a credit for the expense). Payments go into your bank account.
Fees: 15 percent of the sale price: $2.34 in closing fees.
If you have: Collectibles
Use: eBay.com/sell
eBay remains the place to list comic, books, baseball cards, and classic toys, but getting rid of your goods requires legwork. To use the site's signature auction service (there's also a Buy It Now option), you'll have to upload images, write descriptions, set prices, and calculate shipping costs (eBay provides tools to help). Your auction can last as little as 24 hours or as long as 10 days. Once you have a winner, you can get paid through PayPal or a number of other payment services.
Fees: 9 percent of both the item's sale price and the shipping fee.
Reprinted from Real Simple Magazine January 2013
Carl Thorne
Expert Computer Consulting
10:44 AM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Not every app is a keeper. Maybe it’s difficult to download
or doesn’t work right. Or perhaps it’s just not as useful as you had hoped.
Fortunately, in some cases you can “return” the app and get your money back.
Here’s what you need to know.
For Apple Devices: If you simply dislike an app or it has a
glitch, Apple won’t issue a refund. But if the app was purchased by mistake,
you may be able to get your money back. Log in to your iTunes purchase history
or open the email you received when you made the purchase. Then click on
“Report a Problem” and fill out a customer service form. Apple will contact you
with the next steps.
For Android Devices: Google
Play has a generous policy. Uninstall an app within 15 minutes of buying it and
you automatically receive a refund. Go to the page in Google Play where you
bought the app and click “
Refund”. If that time frame has passed, you can still
get your money back- but only if the app has a technical problem. Contact
Google Play’s customer service (
play-google.com/support), explain the issue and
request a refund.
For Blackberry
Devices: Blackberry’s App World states that all apps are non-refundable,
but there are exceptions. If the app has technical difficulties or if it was
discontinued shortly after you purchased (check by searching for it in
Blackberry’s App World), you can request reimbursement through Blackberry
customer service (
us.blackberry.com/customer-service/contact-us.html).
Reprinted from Real Simple Magazine January 2013
Carl Thorne
Expert Computer Consulting
6:56 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Here are some ideas for technology gift giving during the holiday season:
iPad and tablet accessories:
iPhone:
- A case to make sure your screen doesn't get cracked.
- An adapter so you can use your older iPad sync cable with newer iPad and mini iPads.
- Remove smudges with a microfiber cloth to keep your screen looking clean.
- A docking station for a custom alarm clock experience.
- More comfortable headphones to replace the stock headphones that came with the iPhone.
- A gift certificate for setup and training. http://hthcatlanta.blogspot.com/p/gift-certifications.html
Ideas on where to buy laptops
With Apple introducing new versions of their iPad, iPhone, laptops and desktop computers, used equipment that others have sold is a bargain.
Carl Thorne
Expert Computer Consulting
12:48 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
How many times have you wanted to create an electronic document that could not be changed?
Have you wanted to send a website page as an attachment instead of sending a link to the page?
Do you edit a blog or a website and wanted to know how to insert a document as a post or as a webpage?
The Apple Mac operating system has this built in as an option when you print from an application.
On a Windows computer, download a program called PDFLite. Download PDFLite from here: (
http://tinyurl.com/c7az73k) This program creates a "printer"whose output is a PDF file. For example, you have created a Word document. From Word, select print and then select PDFLite as the printer. You are prompted where to store the converted file.
When you wish to make a file of a website page, the same procedure applies. Select print and select the PDFLite printer.
You cannot cut and past a PDF document into a blog post or into a website page. To display a PDF file requires HTML code. One way to generate the code without learning HTML is through a website called scribd. Create an account and you can upload a PDF file for sharing. Once the file was
been processed into your library you can copy code that allows you to embed the PDF file into a blog post or website. See the scribd tutorial for more
information: http://tinyurl.com/c7az73k
Carl Thorne
Expert Computer Consulting
12:44 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Is someone on your Christmas gift list receiving a technology gift? Could they use some training?
Have a relative or friend that is technology challenged? You may think that person would enjoy an iPad, iPhone or laptop computer, but are concerned they might become frustrated trying to learn to use the device.
Do
you have the time to get them up to speed?
High Tech House Calls has extensive experience providing customized one-on-one training with the technology challenged. Here is a list of things we can do to help your loved one's learn something new more easily:
- We offer customized set up for the device in the comfort of their home or business when it is convenient for them.
- We teach at the pace that the student is comfortable with, in "bite sized" sessions.
- We provide customized documentation that includes screen shots to reinforce that day's training. The student can use printed documentation, adding additional notes to ensure that the lesson makes sense to them.
- Appropriate, easy to complete homework assignments are assigned that reinforce that day's lesson.
- We offer weekly lessons that build upon one another.
- We are available by phone or email, for free, to answer any questions, to help reinforce the lesson, and to reduce frustration.
Call today to purchase a gift certificate or to schedule a training session.
Carl Thorne
Expert Computer Consulting
