It seems that Apple is no longer out of the spotlight for the makers of viruses / trojans.

Apple OS Trojan Steals your passwords – CNET ARTICLE

Am I suggesting you sell your iPad, abandon your Friday night Steve Jobs evening seances and live among the Amish ? Heck no (nothing against the Amish); I love Apple products. However, they are made by human beings, and at least for the foreseeable future they, too, are completely hackable. So, take a few tips from the PC crowd and stay safe out there! You are NOT bulletproof, even though that cool metal casing sure looks like it could be.

Paul

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“IT staffers can be unintelligible at times, maybe not the most social of people in the workplace, and sometimes downright strange. But follow these rules and you will ingratiate yourself with your IT people.”

Read more
http://www.pcmag.com/slideshow/story/296016/10-golden-rules-for-dealing-with-your-it-department

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WHAT?! How much???

I cringe every time I tell clients just how ridiculously expensive the full version of Adobe Acrobat is. So I went on a search for a free alternative and found Nitro Reader. Read more for details.

Nitro Reader

http://www.nitropdf.com/reader

Nitro Reader performs all the basics found in the paid version of Acrobat:

• - Create PDFs
• - Merge PDFs*
• - Delete pages*
  • *Requires a trick.  I will show you how below.
• - Type in non-fillable forms
• - Add notes
• - Add signature (this one is my favorite)

Upgrade to Pro for $120 if you need to:

• - Alter text on an existing PDFs (usually for naughty reasons)
• - Speed up Merging/Deleting pages

I will go over each of the features in the order of difficulty.

1. Type in non-fillable forms

You know how you can type in some PDF forms, but not others?  Annoying!

Use the Type Text tool in Nitro to type anywhere on any PDF.

Just click the button, then click where you want to type, then type away!

2. Add notes

When you are reviewing forms with a colleague, it’s sometimes helpful to add notes to it.  Click on the Add Note button and click where you want to add the note.

3. Add signature

This is by far my favorite.  It totally saves time by letting you stamp the document with a scanned copy of your signature (as opposed to printing, signing, then scanning/faxing)

First, take a blank paper and sign your name.  Scan the signature and save it as an image file (e.g. jpg or png)

When you click on the QuickSign button for the first time, you will be prompted to select the file you want to use as your signature.  Choose the file you saved in the previous step.

Now you will be able to stamp your signature anywhere on the PDF by clicking on QuickSign

4. Creating PDFs

Installing Nitro Reader will automatically add a “Nitro PDF Creator” printer.  You can convert any document in to a PDF by printing to it.  When you print, you will be prompted to save the file in PDF.  Select the destination (e.g. Desktop) and you’re done!

5. Delete Pages

There is no menu option to delete pages in Nitro Reader.  Instead, you use a trick with the “Nitro PDF Creator” printer. Instead of deleting the pages you don’t want, you only print the pages you do want to a new PDF.

For example, say one.pdf has 10 pages, and you want to delete page 6.  Print to a new file named two.pdf, and selecting only the pages 1-5, 7-10 in the print options.

6. Merge PDF

To merge pages, again you use a trick with the “Nitro PDF Creator” printer.

For example, say you want to merge two files:

one.pdf
two.pdf

Open two.pdf, then print to “Nitro PDF Creator” printer.  When prompted where you want to save the file, select one.pdf as the destination.  Normally this would overwrite the file.  However, you will be prompted with the following:

By selecting Append, you will be able to merge two.pdf in to one.pdf.  You can also control whether two.pdf goes before or after one.pdf by clicking on the small downward arrow and selecting the option as shown above.  You can repeat this process to merge multiple documents.

I know this is a bit confusing, but you will get the hang of it after a few tries.  But if it’s just too complicated, you can upgrade to the Pro version for $120 and get Merge/Delete pages as a simple menu option.

So there you have it.  Hope you enjoyed theses tips.  Now go save yourself $260 and download Nitro for free!

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It feels like Window 7 just came out, but Microsoft is already generating buzz with a preview of Windows 8 to be released next year.  After previewing the latest OS, I’m predicting a flop. Here’s why.

UNIFIED EXPERIENCE

Windows 8 promises to run equally between desktop, laptop, tablet, and phone, with the goal of a unified experience between all devices.  In a bid to catch-up big time in the mobile market, Microsoft is making a radical departure from the previous versions which I think will confuse and annoy many traditional Windows users.

METRO INTERFACE

Firstly, Microsoft is replacing the familiar Desktop with the Metro Interface.  What’s the Metro Interface?  Check out the video below.

While Metro interface lends well to mobile devices, it brings nothing new to the table for desktop productivity.  I think it’s a mistake to treat desktop devices like a mobile device.  They serve inherently different purposes: tablets are optimized for consumption (e.g. web browsing, movie watching) while desktops are optimized for content generation (e.g. word processing, photo editing). 

If you look at what Apple is doing to the desktop, they have introduced stunning enhancements to multitasking with Mission Control and Full-Screen switching on their latest version of OS X Lion.  Other enhancements include Air Drop, which make it stupidly simple to share files with co-workers, along with Auto Save and Versions, which saves your butt when you forget to “save-as”. 

It seems that Apple is making enhancements to the way you generate and share content while Microsoft seems intent on turning your desktop into a giant A.D.D. machine that streams nuggets of information.

ARM CHIP COMPATIBILITY

The second radical departure for Windows is ARM chip compatibility.  Traditionally Windows has run on Intel chips while mobile devices such as iPhone and Android have run on ARM chips.  By allowing Windows to run on both Intel and ARM chips, Microsoft is making an ambitious move to create one OS to rule them all.

However, if transition from 32-bit Windows XP to 64-bit Windows 7 is any indication, there is bound to be a lot of confusion regarding program and driver compatibility.  You may find that a new program works on your tablet but not your desktop, or that an old printer works with your desktop, but not your tablet.  

Microsoft has announced that a new App Store will be introduced with Windows 8, so they can potentially address program compatibility by automatically downloading the correct version to your respective device.  However, whether Microsoft will be able to generate enough interest from the developer community to match the selection on Apple or Android App Store remains to be seen. Just look at Windows Phone 7. Wait, what’s Windows Phone 7?

Plus don’t get me started on 64-bit drivers.  ARM drivers?  Fuhgetaboutit.

IN SUMMARY

As much as I appreciate that Microsoft is trying to unify your experience across all platforms, I can’t help but feel that they are going to fall flat on their face.  Given their track record (Windows Vista anybody?) Microsoft just seems too big and clumsy to pull off such an ambitious plan. If anything, I think they will produce an exact opposite result with a plague of incompatibility issues.

Couple that with the latest rumor about Microsoft employees walking out on their CEO Steve Ballmer as he tried to get everyone excited about Windows 8 during an all-hands-on-deck meeting, I don’t appear to be alone in feeling this way. (Source : http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2393715,00.asp#fbid=H8tIiueWY0-)

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First thing that everyone says when they see my desk is, “whoa, you have three monitors!” And yes, having three monitors rocks.

Having multiple monitors can be a real time saver. I typically have email open on one monitor, music and chat on another, and the current task on a third. Not having to flip through piles of open windows allow faster multi-tasking and cut and pasting between two programs a breeze.

Adding a second monitor is easier than you think…or a third for that matter. In the following article, I will show you how.

INSTALLATION

Unless you purchased a desktop PC with a dual monitor option, you probably only have one VGA (monitor) port in the back.

The quickest and easiest way to add a second monitor port is to use a USB VGA adapter. There are several options out there, but my favorite by far is Pluggable UGA-2K-A.

You can purchase it for $60 from Amazon here.

To install, plug in the USB adapter, load the software with the included CD, and hook up the monitor. That’s it! It’s really that easy. You can add up to 6 monitors this way (you will need one adapter for each monitor), although three is plenty for most uses.

Well, there you have it.  Enjoy!

P.S. This device is not recommended for Macs. Sorry! I’m a PC dude.  You’re on your own.

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I have been a die-hard Blackberry fan for over 6 years now, but lately it’s become too hard to ignore all the cool new stuff that the Androids and iPhones are doing. So after many years of loyal patronage, I have decided to make the switch…and here’s my story.

ANDROID OR iPHONE

The first question that comes to mind is whether to pick an Android or the iPhone. I for one think iPhone is a better choice.  As I will explain below, Android just isn’t as polished as the iPhone.  But as much as I wanted an iPhone, the current model (and also the upcoming iPhone 5 according to rumors) is not 4G.  Since the ability to tether the phone to a laptop for 4G mobile access was an important requirement for me (Internet connection on 4G is wicked fast!),  I chose the Samsung Droid Charge from Verizon.

HOW IS THE TOUCHSCREEN KEYBOARD?

Often the biggest worry for a Blackberry user is, “how is the touchscreen keyboard?”  Switching from Blackberry’s excellent keyboard definitely took getting used to.  Frankly, I was miserable for the first few weeks until I discovered Smart Keyboard available for $2.92 on the Android App Market.

The beauty of this must-have app is that the auto-spelling is so good that you can pretty much “tpye lke tihs” and it auto-magically corrects all your fat fingered inputs.  I can honestly say that I type faster now on the touch screen than I ever did on a Blackberry.

ANDROID FOR ENTERTAINMENT

There’s no denying the power of Android as an entertainment device. Take for example a recent trip to Vegas with my wife.  During the drive, the Android provided navigation with Google Maps, played the Cosby Show on Netflix, found a great Indian restaurant with Yelp, and settled an argument over whether Benjamin Franklin was a president (I won. He wasn’t).

Android, or iPhone for that matter, is all about apps. There are so many fun apps to choose from, taking a #2 bathroom break has never been more fun!

ANDROID FOR WORK

No matter how you slice it,  Android lacks polish.  Apps frequently crash or doesn’t work at all depending on your model.  Adding to the frustration is the fidgety nature of many tasks.  I find that I have to click too many buttons or install a special app to get what used to work out of the box on a Blackberry. Where are my notes from Outlook? Where is my Global Address Book from the corporate email server?  How about a simple chat? (My phone came with 3 different chat apps…which one is best?  I don’t know.)

Android fans like to point out how many more choices are available when you go Android.  Unless you’re a geek, you’ll more likely be frustrated rather than impressed with all the tedious customization that awaits you.

MY RECOMMENDATION

Android is definitely a mixed bag.  I love it for some things and grudge it for others.  After living with it for two months however, I have learned what works well and what doesn’t.  As long as I stick with what works, I find it to be a wonder experience.

If you are the type to not mind occasional bugs and can really benefit from 4G tethering, then I whole heartedly recommend the Android (I LOOOOOVE 4G. It’s awesome!).  On the other hand, if you just want your stuff to work and don’t care about all the geeky stuff, go with the iPhone.  Even my mom loves it.

P.S. Check out the app “Pdanet” for free USB tethering and skip the $20/mo Wi-Fi tethering. The only downside is that you have to plug your phone in to your laptop with a USB cable, but why would you want to share your sweet sweet 4G over Wi-Fi anyway?

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If you work with graphics on your computer (e.g. photo editing, web design), it’s important to calibrate your monitor so that others looking at your images see the same colors as you do.

To calibrate your monitor in Windows 7, click on the Start button and type “calibrate display”.  Press Enter and follow the wizard.  As a bonus, the wizard also sharpens text on the screen for easier reading, so check it out if you have hard time reading small text!

See the video tutorial below for more info:

http://cnettv.cnet.com/calibrate-your-monitor-windows-7/9742-1_53-50109579.html

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As an IT professional, one of the most disheartening call to get is, “Brian, I think I have a virus.”

It’s disheartening because despite our best preventive measures (two layers of antivirus, two layers of firewall, content filtering to block porn, and lecture over and over again, “don’t click on links from none business emails!”) STILL, some manage to infect their computers.  HOW???

Then it happened to me.  From an irresistible email from of all people, my wife. I was minding my own business, going on about my work, and I receive an excited email:

———-

HEY!!

Free footlong and drink!!

To print the coupon for a Subway meal go to http://chowhousebiz.com/subway

———-



My wife is usually good about digging up all sorts of crazy coupons, like $10 free stuff from Kohls or Pier One Imports, so of course I trusted her.  Besides, my wife was trying to feed me!  How can I resist?

Lo and behold, I hit print and get a pop up from ESET antivirus. “Alert! Trojan Virus detected!”

That’s when I realized that I have fallen for the same lame scam that I’ve been lecturing our clients about.  I was so embarrassed.  Luckily this time the antivirus did its job, but I have far more empathy now for those who fall for such scams.  After all, I’m supposed to be an expert.

So the lessen learned?  Just like how we get sick most often from cute germy kids, computer viruses spread through people we trust most.  Be careful out there, and beware of links in emails ESPECIALLY from your loved ones.  They may have played in mud before coming in to your inbox.

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Our previous blog was jam packed with useful tips only for the biggest geeks, so we decided that a less technical blog with more fun topics would serve you better.

Stay tuned and please comment! We value your readership and input.

-Relion Support Team

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