O/S–What Operating System?

How many of us are holding on to that computer we bought many years ago, hoping that it will serve our purposes in the future?  How many of us know what Operating System we are using, and, if we need an upgrade?

The Operating System is the most important program that runs on a computer.
Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs.
 Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers. via Operating System – A Definition From the Webopedia Computer Dictionary.

¿ What Operating System Are You UsingWindows XP originally released in October of 2001. Almost 11 years ago.

  1. Today you may want to check which O/S you have on your computer.
  2.  Go to your Control Panel.
  3.  Click Help.
  4. Click About Windows.  A screen will pop up with the ‘version’ of your operating system.

¿Is your Operating System Windows XP? If the answer is Yes, then you may want to consider an Upgrade because in the near future the XP Operating System will no longer be supported, and this will put  the information stored on your computer with an outdated XP O/S at risk.  Look at the chart below, and check  today if you need to upgrade.

Click the diagram to see a larger image

XP Operating System Users:
Below is an explanation of the things you should know. Click on the link for the fact sheet if you want a more detailed explanation.

SUPPORT

Extended support—(Commercial Customers Only) Microsoft will offer extended support for either a minimum of 5 years from the date of a product’s general availability, or for 2 years after the second successor product (two versions later) is released, whichever is longer.

End of Mainstream support …if you buy a new version of Windows and five years later another version is released, you will still have two years of support left for the previous version.

End of support refers to the date when Microsoft no longer provides automatic fixes, updates, or online technical assistance. This is the time to make sure you have the latest available service pack installed.

Without Microsoft support, you will no longer receive security updates that can help protect your PC from harmful viruses, spyware, and other malicious software that can steal your personal information. via Windows lifecycle fact sheet – Microsoft Windows.

Don’t delay, check your Operating System today!
In the next post we will talk about upgrading your Personal Computer.

I hope this is helpful 🙂

The Scoop About Online Snooping

Just when you thought you understood how to handle the privacy protection issues, they pull us right back in. That’s why many of us are worried about how Google’s new privacy policy will affect our privacy online, and what we can do to have a say about how information is currently collected about us, and how it is manipulated.  Last week we delved into the use of  various tools provided by Google to allow us to put a stop to some of the information being collected about us in order for Google and other ‘first party(cookie) sites”  like Amazon to sell Ads.  For example,  consumers may not know that when they  go directly to first party sites (e.g. Google, Amazon) data can still be collected on them before they are given the option to “Opt-Out”.  It appears that the “Opt-Out” option works best with third party sites. Read more about how to Opt-Out and what controls you really have  at:  Network Advertising Initiative.

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I have listed some of  the topics reviewed by  Associated Press via Google’s new privacy policy: 6 key issues you need to know | NJ.com.

  1. Can Gmail, Google Plus, YouTube, users prevent personal data from being collected?
  2. Which Google services are covered by the privacy policy?
  3. What role does the U.S. Federal Trade Commission have in overseeing Google’s treatment of personal information?

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And, do not forget to check out what Mozilla’s Firefox has available to avoid tracking  in their new release.

Firefox for Android includes the Do Not Track privacy feature in this release, making Firefox the first browser to support Do Not Track on multiple platforms. Mozilla created Do Not Track to give users more control over the way their browsing behavior is tracked and used on the Web. The feature, which lets users tell websites that they wish to opt-out of online behavioral tracking, is now easier to find in Firefox Preferences. via Mozilla Delivers New Version of Firefox – First Web Browser to Support Do Not Track on Multiple Platforms | The Mozilla Blog.

I hope this is helpful 🙂

Are you in a HotSpot?

In the upcoming weeks we are going to have  short bursts of information on what HotSpots are.  For example Boingo Wireless and Boingo Wi-Finder, and where you can buy or download the  free service. Also, we will look at why you would use a paid service instead of a free one.

What is  a HotSpot?

A HotSpot is a site that offers Internet access over a wireless local area network with a router connected to a link to an Internet service provider. Hotspots typically use Wi-Fi technology (this was covered in a earlier post. Check the post listing if you want a detailed description).

Hotspots may be found in coffee shops and various other public establishments throughout much of the developed world. via Hotspot (Wi-Fi) – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

What types of  Internet access services are available to use Hotspots?

Boingo Wireless is a paid service and provides Internet access

Boingo Wi-Finder is a free service and provides Internet access

Below is a brief summary of information found  at Wireless Internet Reviews.  You can click the link  below to read the full description and rating of each service.

Boingo Wireless has a network of Wi-Fi providers worldwide (100,000 hotspots globally).

AT&T has competitive pricing  for monthly Wi-Fi Hotspot subscription packages. It’s a good choice for travelers.

T–Mobile currently operates the fourth largest network in the United States. They have plans available of their network Wi-Fi Hotspots.

Click the link for detailed information: via Best Rated Subscription Hotspot Services | Wireless Internet Reviews

We will have the chance to discuss other findings about HotSpots at the next post.

I hope this is helpful! 🙂

Reviewing & Preparing Your Cell Phone Budget for 2012

In these times  of economic challenges for many Boomers,  and their family members, it pays to check what options lie ahead to both save dollars in 2012, and still  have available to us the latest technology tools.

This week’s post provides  a synopsis of the descriptions for Roaming, and for Nationwide cell phone service from a  source I both support and use often: Wikipedia.  If you want more detail than I have given you here, please do not hesitate to click on the link after the Roaming description.

Roaming

In wireless telecommunications, roaming is a general term referring to the extension of connectivity service in a location that is different from the home location where the service was registered. Roaming ensures that the wireless device is kept connected to the network, without losing the connection. via http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roaming.

Roaming/Nationwide fees are:

  • Traditionally charged on a per-minute basis and they are typically determined by the service provider’s pricing plan.
  • All of the major carriers now offer pricing plans that allow consumers to buy “nationwide roaming-free” minutes.
  •  Carriers define “nationwide” in different ways. For example, some carriers define “nationwide” as anywhere in the U.S., whereas others define it as anywhere within the carrier’s network.

In addition

Check out this  GREAT chart, which compares Cell Phone Providers, with reviews  in a side-by-side analysis at the link below.

Cell Phone Providers: Keeping in Touch

Cell phones keep you connected, always, to best friends and the latest news. Cell phone providers vary as much as your cell phones, offering everything from unlimited minutes to video calls to internet access plans. via Cell Phone Providers Review 2012 – TopTenREVIEWS.

During the rest of  December, 2011, I will try to bring you information that may save you dollars, and may change the way you use the technology tools available to you.  Stay tuned for upcoming posts to get technology ready for 2012!

I hope this is helpful ! 🙂

Are Echo Boomers Creating Social Change?

There are no precise dates for when the Millennial generation starts and ends, and commentators have used birth dates ranging somewhere from the mid-1970s to the early 2000s. Members of this generation are called Echo Boomers, due to the significant increase in birth rates through the 1980s and into the 1990s, and because many of them are children of baby boomers. via Generation Y – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

I am the lucky parent of an Echo Boomer  🙂 and I am wondering . . . Is Social Media … Social Change evolved?  If you’re curious about what our younger generation is thinking these days, read on.

Let’s look at some of the Baby Boomer history:

Cultural identity

Boomers grew up at a time of dramatic social change. In the United States, that social change marked the generation with a strong cultural cleavage …The Baby Boomers were the first generation, at least in Western countries, to grow up with television; some of the most popular shows during the Boomer era were … The Twilight Zone, The Ed Sullivan Show and Happy Days. via Baby boomer – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Social change refers to an alteration in the social order of a society. It may refer to the notion of social progress or sociocultural evolution, the philosophical idea that society moves forward by dialectical or evolutionary means…     Social change may be driven by cultural, religious, economic, scientific or technological forces. via Social change – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

What is Social Media?

Social media are media for social interaction, as a superset beyond social communication. Enabled by ubiquitously accessible and scalable communication techniques, social media substantially change the way of communication between organizations, communities, as well as individuals.  via Social media – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

You Decide
Check out a recent Post by Dina Spector about a Cisco study, and maybe it will give you some insight about what Generation Y ( Millennials) is thinking 🙂   See you at the next Post !

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Young People Think The Internet Is As Important As Breathing

November 3, 2011, By Dina Spector  – Internet Cafe

A new study by Cisco Systems reveals that one in three college students and young professionals under 30 believe the Internet is as important as air, water, food, and shelter (via CNNMoney).

The study, which polled 8,000 people in 14 countries, found that more than half of the participants said they could not live without the Internet, citing it as “more important than owning a car, dating, and going to parties.”

Here are some more study highlights:

* Many respondents cite a mobile device as “the most important technology” in their lives

* Seven of 10 employees have “friended” their managers and coworkers on Facebook

* Two of five students have not bought a physical book (except textbooks) in two years

* Most respondents have a Facebook account and check it at least once a day

o Half would rather lose their wallet or purse than their smartphone or mobile device.

o More than two of five would accept a lower-paying job that had more flexibility with regard to device choice, social media access, and mobility than a higher-paying job with less flexibility.

* At least one in four said the absence of remote access would influence their job decisions, such as leaving companies sooner rather than later, slacking off, or declining job offers outright.

o Three out of 10 feel that once they begin working, it will be their right — more than a privilege — to be able to work remotely with a flexible schedule.

via Young People Think The Internet Is As Important As Breathing | Embargo Zone.

ZAAG Keyboard Function Keys Defined

Hmm ZAAG Keyboard Function (F) Keys

I trust those ZAAG Keyboard demonstrations that were in last week’s Post were helpful.

Now that you have had an opportunity to see the ZAAG  keyboard YouTube demonstrations, I thought I would give you a short description of the function keys for your reference.  These shortcuts can save you a lot of time when you are working on your iPad.



I hope this is helpful 🙂

Wow, I miss those good old phone days!

The Good Old Phone Days!

BOOMER Trivia

I was just thinking about how much I miss the good old phone days. Don’t you?  I remember those cute phone booths, and waiting in line to use one. Wasn’t that so much fun? How about the other great things we no longer get to experience with the older phones.

Cheap Calls !

Let’s just think of a few: Remember those 10 cent calls, and the ‘friendly operator’ who would come on the line and tell you a nickel was due if you wanted to continue the call.  Who reminds you that you’ve gone over your limit these days before it’s too late?

Party Lines !

What about: ‘Party Lines’?   You could get a phone and share the cost with a neighbor.  It’s possible that some  of us did not even know who the other party person was we were sharing the line with. And guess what, mostly people did not eavesdrop on your conversations!

What a good workout!

And those phones never broke! They were so heavy, you could get a workout and talk at the same time.

  What do you miss about the good old phone days ?
See you at the next Post 😉

How to use Twitter from your BlackBerry – Simple Help

How do I find a Twitter mobile app?

As I mentioned in last week’s post, Twitter mobile apps are probably among the more widely used for sending Tweets, and for keeping up-to-date with what’s happening on Twitter.  This week we cover how to use one of the most popular Twitter mobile apps recommended by Simple Help, a blog I often go to for information about various Social Media guidelines.  Simple Help provides easy to follow  illustrations, which I expect you will find useful in loading a Twitter app on your Blackberry phone.    Be aware:  these guidelines assume that you understand how find the web browser on your Blackberry device.  If you are not familiar with these techniques, now would be a good time to check out the manual for your phone.  You can find  Blackberry manuals at this link –  BlackBerry Smartphones – Manuals and Guides.

Twitter for Blackberry Users

Loading Twitterberry

This tutorial will guide you through every step of installing and using TwitterBerry, arguably the most popular Twitter client for BlackBerry devices.

1. First up, launch whatever web browser you use on your BlackBerry. Head over to http://orangatame.com/ota/twitterberry (or http://bit.ly/jE4rM – which is just a shortened version of the same link). After scrolling through the text, select the Download Now button. Then when prompted, click the Download button on your BlackBerry screen.

via How to use Twitter from your BlackBerry – Simple Help

I hope this is  helpful

Twitter via Smartphones: An Introduction

How do you network socialize?

In this week’s post we are focusing on Twitter Mobile Apps. As we discussed in a earlier post, mobile apps allow you to use the Internet and social media environments.


Here is a description I found, written by Amy Gahran, which explains mobile apps.  Please click on the link to her website for a more detailed description.

What are mobile apps?

A mobile app is software that runs on a handheld device (phone, tablet, e-reader, iPod, etc.) than can connect to wifi or wireless carrier networks, and has an operating system that supports standalone software.  via What’s a mobile app? – contentious.com.

Please note:

In upcoming weeks I will continue to provide  you with links to sources that  I rely on to bring you technology information.
In computing, a hyperlink (or link) is a reference to a document that the reader can directly follow, or that is followed automatically.
via Hyperlink – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

How to use Twitter on your smartphones will have links to  Twitter Help, and  Simple Help. These are sources that I use for information frequently. However,  due to the popularity of the Simple Help site, there may be numerous advertisements on the page.  Nevertheless, the illustrations will be very easy to follow.

Also, don’t be discouraged with the new techniques required to view the information. These built-in transitions  will give you some ‘hands-on” training in navigating back and forth to more than one blog.. That’s part of what it’s all about, right?

Remember: tech4boomers is focused on helping you acquire, and familiarize yourself, with  the skill sets necessary to operate in a social media environment.. Enjoy the transitions…. Here we go…

Twitter for iPhone: An Introduction

Users who are getting started with Twitter for iPhone often have concerns about the following:

1. Where do I find the Twitter for iPhone application?

2. Will Twitter for iPhone work with my iPhone OS?

3. What’s new in the current version of Twitter for iPhone?

4. I need help with Twitter for iPhone!

5. I’m having trouble with an older version of Twitter for iPhone.

6. I want to know more!

Where do I find the Twitter for iPhone Application?

From your iPhone, click the App Store icon, type ‘Twitter’ into the search, and select Twitter for iPhone from the results.

Ok folks take the next step. Click the link below for detailed illustrations and guidelines.  🙂

via Twitter Help Center | Twitter for iPhone: An Introduction.

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In coming weeks we will focus on how to use Twitter on the Blackberry, and Android Smartphones.

See you next week 🙂 !

5 Great Twitter Apps For the iPad – Simple Help

FYI

For Boomers who use an iPad ..♦.. FREE TWITTER APPS !

  • Tech4Boomers Intro to Twitter Sessions 1-4 illustrated how to use Twitter on your PC.
  • Twitter for iPad  is  a ‘mobile app‘.
    {It is a term used to describe Internet applications that run on smartphones and other mobile devices. Mobile applications usually help users by connecting them to Internet services more commonly accessed on desktop or notebook computers, or help them by making it easier to use the Internet on their portable devices.}via What is mobile application? – A Word Definition From the Webopedia Computer Dictionary.
  • I visited a website recently that has some of the best instructions I have seen on-line. Take a look at the suggestions made for iPad Twitter. The illustrations are very clearly presented for iPad users to understand. The instructions are brief, and easy to follow. 🙂

To view the illustrations, click on the link below.

Twitter is quickly becoming one of the main social media services to promote your brand, sharing interesting links, and keeping in touch with others. Here we’ll take a look at 5 free Twitter apps for the iPad so you can tweet while on the go. Official Twitter iPad . The first one we’ll look at is the official Twitter app for iPad. It works great, but the user interface is unique compared to using Twitter on your site.

via 5 Great Twitter Apps For the iPad – Simple Help.