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 2014
9:01 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Buying a new iPhone or a Samsung Galaxy?
• Do you know how to back up your old cellphone?
• How do you get the old data from the old phone onto your new phone?
• What steps are necessary to you wipe your old phone so that none of your personal data is on it when you sell it?
• Where do you sell you old phone for the most amount of money with the least amount of effort?
High Tech House Calls knows all the ins and outs of transferring data from one cellphone to another. Give us a call when your new cellphone arrives.
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8:19 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
1. iCloud – what does it mean when iCloud does not have enough space to backup my iPhone? Apple gives you 5GBs of iCloud storage for free, but Apple wants you to buy more space. Usually, the biggest user of space is your Photo Stream. You have three options: buy more iCloud storage from Apple, stop backing up your Photo Stream or use another cloud based solution such as DropBox to backup your photos.
2. Samsung Galaxy S5 - I moved from an iPhone to a Samsung Galaxy S5. Why? A bigger, brighter screen that was easier for me to read. More choices for replacements for the stock calendar application. Cheaper than the iPhone 6 by at least $100. Ability to...
6:58 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Wishing You and Your Family Peace and Joy This Holiday Season and Throughout the Coming New Ye...
12:51 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Last-minute holiday shopping is enough to leave anyone breathless.
Hackers know how stressful this time can be and will do their best to
trick you into downloading dangerous malware. I'm talking about a
particular kind of malware that will encrypt or otherwise lock all of
your files and threaten to throw away the key unless you pay the hackers
off.
These programs are called ransomware and they help computer hackers steal millions of dollars worldwide.
Imagine that every file on your computer was locked by hackers. Your
only two options are to pay the hackers an untraceable ransom or to lose
every file on your computer and start over again.
Now before you take an "I don't negotiate...
12:36 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
So you finally told your cable company to take a running leap at a
rolling donut. Congratulations,
you're free! And you have a little more
disposable income to boot. Oh, but now you're feeling the pain of
withdrawal; you're tired of the office loudmouth spoiling entire seasons
of your favorite shows.
Here's some good news. If you're willing to bend the rules, you might be
able to rely on the generosity of loved ones willing to their share
passwords.
While services like Netflix and HBO Go don't exactly encourage password
sharing, they haven't aggressively attacked the practice either. For
that reason, the password-sharing phenomenon is well-documented, even if it is legally...
4:38 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Without compact, rechargeable batteries, our mobile gadgets simply
wouldn't exist. But, if we're
honest, our batteries really aren't that
good. Most smartphones, tablet and laptops can barely last through a
whole day of use - if that. That's why battery companies are working
like crazy to come up with technology and materials that improve battery
life or allow for faster charging.
In the meantime, there's plenty of advice floating around on how to keep your battery healthy and long lasting - including some from me.
Unfortunately, it also means there are plenty of battery myths that
people believe, either through misunderstandings or just old
information. I'm going to bust five of...
4:20 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
It's that time again! Licenses for individual movies
and TV shows are set to expire on Netflix at the
end of the month, so
that means it's time to watch certain titles before they disappear
forever. But don't worry, the streaming video service also regularly
adds news films as well.
So what's going to be new in January? And what should
you watch before it goes away at midnight on December 31st? We've got
lots to look forward to.
The entire "Friends" series, "Cast Away" and "Mean Girls" are just a few.
But first, don't miss these favorite titles before
they disappear. "Rocky," and "Rudy" will retire. "Braveheart," "Love
Actually," "The Mighty Ducks," "Spaceballs" and "The...
1:42 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Trolls don't hide under bridges anymore. For most modern day trolls,
hiding behind an anonymous
name on the Internet serves them just fine.
From there they can harass whoever they want with little fear of being
caught.
If you've been following any of the major controversies surrounding
Internet trolling, then you'd know that an Internet troll's strongest
weapon is "doxxing." "Dox" is techie slang for someone's personal
information.
Trolling organizations like Anonymous and 4Chan will choose a target,
collect their information, such as name, phone number, address, online
accounts, etc., and then "drop dox," or release their information
online. Hundreds or thousands...
5:07 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Amazon's most recent deals haven't been too kind to the folks out
there who just can't handle e-books. Until today, most of the sales
involved Amazon's Kindle e-reader or digital copies of novels.
That ends today.
You can get 25% off any one book by entering the promo code BOOKDEAL25 at checkout.
And when I say any book, I really mean any book. Watch out,
because you're only allowed to get print copies of books. No digital
editions. Also, this deal only works for one book. Choose wisely.
While you're at it, you might also want to check out Amazon's 12 days
of deals. The site highlights different types of products every day.
Today's, for example, is for people with active...
8:05 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
If you or someone you know has a Lenovo laptop, you need to pay
attention! Lenovo is issuing a
recall on 500,000 laptop power cords due
to fire and burn hazards.
Issues with these cords include overheating, sparking, burning and
melting. Even though no injuries have been reported yet, it's crucial
that you double-check your power cords to make sure that you or a loved
one don't have one of these faulty cords.
-advertisement - article continues below-
If you do have one of these cords, contact Lenovo at (800) 426-7378
from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday; or online at www.lenovo.com and click on Support at the top of the page, then select...
5:32 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Check your settings: Apple just released a software update for iOS 8 on
Tuesday. iOS 8.1.2 includes which has been a known problem since iOS 8.0.2.
general bug fixes and, most importantly,
fixes a problem that caused ringtones purchased via iTunes to disappear
from your device—
While the update itself won’t bring your ringtones back from the dead,
Apple has another way to restore missing purchases: After you install
the update, follow Apple’s ringtone restore link (itunes.com/restore-tones) on your device, which will redirect you to iTunes. Follow the on-screen prompts from there.
To install the update, go to General > Settings > Software Update
if you’d like to install...
8:10 AM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
The tech world is known for its heated debates and few have been as fierce or long-lasting as PCs vs. Even with many users abandoning computers for tablets
and joining the Android vs. iOS debate, plenty of hardcore Mac and PC
users still hotly defend their chosen platform while attacking the
other.
Macs.
PC fans claim Macs are too expensive and won't run a lot of important
programs, and that Mac users have been brainwashed by Apple. Mac fans
like to bring up Windows' history of security problems and crashes, and
claim that PC users aren't very discerning.
Some of these criticisms have some truth to them and some are
stereotypes that won't go away. Still, none of that...
7:13 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Speeding up Wi-Fi
Click on "square icon" to make Blog Post bigg...
7:11 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Protect Yourself Against Cyberattack Risks
Click on "square icon" to make Blog Post bigg...
6:33 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
NEW YORK (AP) — It might seem as though everyone has an iPhone or
Galaxy smartphone. But
many customers are eschewing the best cameras and
screens — and their top-end price tags — and choosing models that can
get the job done at less than a third of the cost.
Sales of high-end Samsung and Apple phones remain robust, but demand
for budget phones is growing. About a third of the smartphones sold in
the U.S. between July and September cost less than $200, up from 18
percent a year ago, according to tech research firm IDC. A top-end phone
costs $600 to $700 at full price, before the subsidies some phone
companies offer in exchange for committing to two-year service
contracts.
No longer...
5:50 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
First there were reports that the new iPhones bent easily, and now
there's a report that some users are complaining that their displays are
easily scratched. It turned out that bending wasn't as much of a
problem as first reported, and I'm hoping the same will be the case
regarding the scratching.
AppleInsider has posted an article about extended discussions (nearly 700 posts) on Apple's forums
of the scratching issue. People say they are noticing scratching on the
display after less than a week of normal use, and that these displays
seem more prone to scratching than on other recent iPhone models. AppleInsider
suggests the fault could lie with the new design of the iPhone 6 and 6
Plus,...
5:29 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Facebook is one of the best ways to connect with your friends online.
Finding a job online can be
tough, but you might actually want to
consider a website that brings the social media experience to your job
hunt.
On LinkedIn, users can post their resumes, interests, skills and
connect with personal and professional contacts. The hardest part about
job hunting is, well, all of the stuff that happens between the moment
when you send over your resume to a business and when you actually get a
call back.
See also: Get the LinkedIn app for on-the-go networking
The easiest way to get past this tough time, of course, is to
actually know someone at the company to which you're applying....
1:24 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Thousands of people get new smartphones or tablets every day. Some
people are upgrading their tech,
and other people are getting
replacements for broken or drowned gadgets. So many are learning that
they don't need a laptop or desktop computer. A tablet or smartphone
fits the bill perfectly.
First, be sure to read my quick start guide to a new tablet and 7 ways you must secure your smartphone right now. These tips will keep your gadget secure and running like new.
To really get the most out of your phone or tablet, you need great
apps. The word "Apps" is short for applications. These are software
programs that perform various functions. There are apps for your mail,
games,...
1:12 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
Available Dec. 1:
A Knight’s Tale
Almost Famous
American Beauty
Bewitched
Camp Takota
Crossroads
Jewtopia
Knights of Badassdom
Madison
Out of the Clear Blue Sky
Out of Time
The Out-of-Towners
Troop Beverly Hills
Turbo FAST: New Episodes
Available Dec. 3rd through 6th:
American Horror Story: Coven
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues: Super Sized Version
Ava & Lala
Bill Burr: I’m Sorry You Feel That Way
Oculus
Sharknado 2: The Second One
Son of God
Available December 8th-11th:
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown: Season Three
A Haunted House 2
Drive Hard
I Am Ali
The Village
The Wolf of Wall Street
Available December 12th-15th:
Broadchurch: Season One
Don’t Blink
Jake Squared
Marco...
12:44 PM
High Tech House Calls, Expert Computer Consulting
It’s
Thanksgiving week in the US, so I’m reflecting on what I’m most
thankful for: my family, my friends, my XBox One (a recent birthday
present), the rain we’re getting in the Bay Area (finally!), and a job I
love. Many of you are doing the same. The year-end is a great time for
looking back, looking forward, and thanking the people around you for
all they’ve done.
But it turns out that an “attitude of gratitude”
is way more powerful than just saying “thanks.” Expressing gratitude
makes you happier, and may even make you live longer.
Happiness
research shows that when stuff happens it makes us either sadder or
happier (thanks, Science!). But the effect attenuates over time. Most...
