Posts Tagged: ‘Review’

OK Google

November 13, 2014 Posted by Tiny

From the Dark Side
by Tiny Ruisch

OK Google. What happens if I get laryngitis and can’t say OK Google?  Answer: Google gives you information on how to treat your voice loss.

OK Google is tightly integrated with Google Now, Android’s personal assistant program.  They have almost become synonymous.  In the next year or so, I think there will only be one program combining both.

In the last couple of years OK Google has become an excellent tool for making your mobile Android device easier to use.  Without tapping anything on your phone, you can use your voice to make a phone call, send a text message or compose an e-mail.  I often use it to write these articles for the club newsletter.  I hardly ever key in a Google search anymore.  It is just so much easier to speak my search phrase.

Almost all Android devices come with Google Now installed. For those that do not, the Google app is available from the Play Store.  It works by setting up “cards” on your device to assist you with your personal life.

Google voice searching was first introduced in 2008 in Google Maps.  It has constantly been improved over the years.  Today it is excellent for both searching and phone commands.  Examples of searching commands are:

Where was [President Obama] born?
Define [computer].
Who is the governor of [Louisiana]?
How old is [Bobby Jindal]?
Show me pictures of [the White House].
What’s the weather like? What’s the weather in [New Orleans] [this weekend]?
What’s [182 yards] in [miles]?
What is [12 ounces] in [liters]?
What’s [135] divided by [71]?

Some examples of commands are:

Take a picture (“Take a photo” also works)
Record a video
Call John Doe [mobile]
What’s my schedule?
Send email to [Tiny], subject [Darkside], message [That was a great article in the November newsletter.]
Text [Tiny] [I just sent you an email.]
Open Evernote

Of course, these are only a few of the things that Google will recognize.  If you do a web search you can find complete lists.  There are also a lot of fun “Easter Eggs”.  On of my favorites is “Scotty, beam me up.”  If you’re not a Star Trek fan, I’ll tell you that Google responds with a classic Engineer Scott reply, “I canna do it Captain.  I do not have the power.”

This short article has only given an overview of the powerfulness of OK Google and Google Now.  Click here for Google’s help page on setting up OK Google on your Android.  Google also has a help page on OK Google and voice search.  If it is not already installed, the Google Now app is available in the Play Store.

Thanks for reading.

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Reading List

October 16, 2014 Posted by Tiny

Reading List
By Tiny Ruisch

Ever since I learned how, I’ve always been an avid reader.  My parents didn’t have a television until I was about ten years old.  That never bothered me.  The library had a lot of entertainment.  In later life, when I was in the Navy, I seldom watched the ship’s movie.  I was busy finishing reading one more chapter before lights out.  These days, I still read at least a dozen magazines each month.  I am usually reading four or five books at a time.  I’ve got my bedside book, bathroom book, digital book and an audio book for my morning walk.

Accompanying the August 2013 club meeting library services topic, I thought I’d take a few minutes and share my books to read list.  With one exception, these are all books that I haven’t read.  I’ve included the Amazon link for each title just in case anyone else would like to read them.  I’m not sure, but I don’t think any of them are available from the Parish library.

The Manly Art of Knitting – The description says it all. Who am I to not read a cult classic.

Folks, This Ain’t Normal: A Farmer’s Advice for Happier Hens, Healthier People, and a Better World – With a sixteen word title, this just has to be a great book.

Winning Lotto / Lottery For Everyday Players – I’ll read this if I ever start playing the lottery.

The 2009-2014 Outlook for Wood Toilet Seats in Greater China – I’ve been to China two or three times and never realized this was a problem.

Quotations From Chairman Mao Tse-Tung – Confucius say, “Smooth words and fawning looks are seldom found with love.”

Much Ado About Nothing: The Restored Klingon Text – Shakespeare kind of looked like a Klingon.

Fancy Coffins to Make Yourself – I’ve been thinking of taking up woodworking and this looks like an interesting first project.

A Passion for Donkeys – I figure that any book that gets a five star rating on Amazon must be a good one to read.

The Stray Shopping Carts of Eastern North America – I just hate going to the Walmart parking lot.

I guess you’ve probably figured out by now that I don’t really plan on reading all of these books.  I have read one of the books on the list.  I won’t tell you which one.  You can feel free to read any of them and post a review on our club website.

A final thought. Looking at this book list, I’m reminded of one book that it makes me want to read again.  It was one of Ray Bradbury’s best books.

My mind is empty again.  Thanks for reading.

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LopeEdit Text Editor – Originally Published October 2014

October 13, 2014 Posted by Tiny

Some Lagniappe for You
By Tiny Ruisch

la·gniappe (lnyp, ln-yp)
n. Chiefly Southern Louisiana & Mississippi
1. A small gift presented by a store owner to a customer with the customer’s purchase.
2. An extra or unexpected gift or benefit. Also called regionally boot.

Notepad has been been Microsoft’s default text editor since before there was Windows.  It hasn’t changed much over the years.  Although the program does an effective job of editing text, there are hundreds of alternatives.

My default note editor is LopeEdit, a powerful programmer’s editor and a replacement of Windows Notepad.  It has tabs to select between open files, supports syntax highlighting of multiple programing languages and incorporates a built in hexadecimal editor.

For most people, the programmers attributes are likely to be overkill.  The other features of LopeEdit make it worth the download.  It comes with a built-in file browser, allowing you to locate and open the files you need.  A versatile tabbed interface means you are able to open multiple documents simultaneously.  There is an excellent search, find and replace tool.  You can send the results of your search to a separate tab.  This means there is no need to scroll all the way through a lengthy document to find all your hits because they are all neatly presented in a single list.

There are many other features including detailed statistics on the current document (lines, words, characters, etc.) A File > Send To menu which which sends your document via email.

Finally, there is a customizable tool bar with many more functions and options than you will probably ever use.  LopeEdit come in both a free and paid version.  The Pro version mostly adds functions that are useful for programmers.  A portable version is also available.  You can download LopeEdit here.  Give it a try.  I think you’ll like it.

If you like the program, just tell everyone that you’ve got a SWLAPCUG extra, a bonus perk, a small gift, a present from the club: a little lagniappe.

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7 Little Words – Originally Published April 2014

September 15, 2014 Posted by Tiny

From the Dark Side
by Tiny Ruisch

I like word games.  When I reviewed the game Wordiest, one of our club members suggested that I try another word game.  It was another free game called 7 Little Words.  This is one of those games that is doing what seems to be the new gaming trend: In application purchases.  I guess I must like the game a little bit.  I’ve spent money on it.

Like many other excellent games, 7 Little Words is simple to play and difficult to win.  The game reminds me of both anagrams and crossword puzzles.  Each puzzle consists of seven clues for seven different words.  There are twenty letter combinations for you to put together that fit the clues.  The goal of the game is to use all of the letters to solve the clues.

When you download the game, you get three daily puzzles and a puzzle pack of fifty free puzzles.  A new daily puzzle is added each day.  Additional puzzle packs can be purchased.  I’ve purchased an “impossible” to solve puzzle pack.  It hasn’t been impossible, but it’s pretty hard.

A limited number of free hints come with the game.  Unlimited hints can be purchased. I have been sorely tempted to buy the hints but have avoided having to so far.  The game relies on elimination.  If you solve most of the words you can experiment with the remaining letters and usually guess the answer.  I’ll admit that I have searched the web a few times for answers.  For example, I didn’t know that a cherimoya is a Peruvian fruit.  As with many other games, there are cheat web sites with all of the answers.  I haven’t had to use them.

The game has a 4.8 rating in the Google Play Store.  You can Download 7 Little Words by clicking the link.  Give it a try.  I think you’ll like it.

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Categories: Darkside

Revo Uninstaller – Originally Published August 2014

August 31, 2014 Posted by Tiny

Some Lagniappe for You
By Tiny Ruisch

la·gniappe (lnyp, ln-yp)
n. Chiefly Southern Louisiana & Mississippi
1. A small gift presented by a store owner to a customer with the customer’s purchase.
2. An extra or unexpected gift or benefit. Also called regionally boot.

Did you know that when you uninstall a program from your computer, you seldom uninstall all of the program?  When you uninstall programs in Windows, they leave bits and pieces of themselves behind, such as Registry entries, file folders, shortcuts, dll files, etc.

There are many free uninstaller programs available to replace the Windows built in installer.  My favorite is the Revo Uninstaller.  It is one of the most popular and highly respected programs that you can download.  It has been around for a long time.  I don’t remember when I first started using it, but I know it has been more than five years.

Revo Uninstaller is an uninstaller for Microsoft Windows.  It uninstalls programs and additionally removes any files and Windows registry entries left behind by the program’s uninstaller or by the Windows uninstall function.  It works by scanning a hard drive and registry for files that would otherwise be left behind.  It removes all the program’s files, auto start entries and all noticeable registry entries.

When you open Revo Uninstaller, you are presented with a list of installed programs that can be uninstalled.  Right clicking on a program in the list will give you the option to search Google for the program’s name or manufacturer.  I have found this useful when I am not sure what the program is.

To uninstall a program, double click on the title.  Revo Uninstaller will first run the program’s built in uninstaller if there is one.  Next, Revo searches for leftover program files, auto start entries, the recently opened file list and any leftover registry entries.  Although, Revo Uninstaller has a few tools for removing junk files, its real forte is program uninstalls.  It is not perfect and occasionally misses a file or entree, but under most circumstances, it is more than adequate.

There is also a portable program that can be run from a USB drive.  A paid PRO version is also available with more features.  Revo Uninstaller can be downloaded here.

If you like the program, just tell everyone that you’ve got a SWLAPCUG extra, a bonus perk, a small gift, a present from the club: a little lagniappe.

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EULAyzer – Originally Published June 2014

August 28, 2014 Posted by Tiny

Some Lagniappe for You
By Tiny Ruisch

la·gniappe (lnyp, ln-yp)
n. Chiefly Southern Louisiana & Mississippi
1. A small gift presented by a store owner to a customer with the customer’s purchase.
2. An extra or unexpected gift or benefit. Also called regionally boot.

Before reading this article, you must explicitly agree to abide by the following terms and conditions.  If you do not agree, please either close the newsletter or immediately hit the page down key.

“This review can only be perused during daylight hours except on weekends, holidays, a family birthday, or a solar eclipse.  In the event you decide to continue, you agree that you will not disagree with the author unless you are under the care of a state certified psychiatrist.  By continuing, you are granting permission to the newsletter editor to collect your personal information and sell it to other computer clubs.  The author of this article can change it any time without informing the readers.  Information in this article can be true or false without any repercussions to the author.”

If you’re reading this paragraph, you probably realize that the lead in was probably not enforceable.  I have no idea whether or not it is.  All I know is that almost every program I install on my computer(s) make me read and agree to an End User License Agreement (EULA).  They are often full of lots of legal terms and big words.  Many of them are several pages long.  I’m pretty sure that most EULAs were written by lawyers.

There have been several surveys and tests that show that most end users just check the agree box and install the software.  One company put a clause in the EULA telling customers how to claim a $1000 prize.  It was not claimed until after more than 3000 program installs.

Do you, like most computer users, not read the EULA?  So am I.  Don’t be surprised at that statement.  I hardly ever read a EULA.  I let the computer do it for me.

EULAlyzer Personal is a utility that scans user agreements and analyzes them for “key words” or phrases in the EULA.  It is an easy program to use.  When the EULA shows on your monitor (usually in a small window that you can’t re-size), simply select “scan new license agreement” and drag the cursor to the EULA.

EULAyzer then scans the document and searches to see if the software you’re about to install displays pop-up ads, transmits personally identifiable information, uses unique identifiers to track you, and much more.  Troublesome phrases in the EULA are highlighted so you can easily review the appropriate phrase.

Occasionally, EULAs are found on a web page or some other file.  In this case, you can copy and paste the document into EULAlyzer and analyze it as previously described for potential problems.  You can also review Terms of Service agreements by the same method.

As an added bonus, you can save the EULAs to a file on your computer and read them at you leisure.

EULAlyzer is not the ultimate program and does not offer any advice, but only suggestions.  It is a good utility that I recommend you keep in your junk fighting toolbox.  Did I mention the price?  You can download and install the program for a one time payment of $0.00.

You can download EULAlyzer here.

If you like the program, just tell everyone that you’ve got a SWLAPCUG extra, a bonus perk, a small gift, a present from the club: a little lagniappe.

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TunnelBear VPN – Originally Published March 2014

August 28, 2014 Posted by Tiny

Some Lagniappe for You
By Tiny Ruisch

la·gniappe (lnyp, ln-yp)
n. Chiefly Southern Louisiana & Mississippi
1. A small gift presented by a store owner to a customer with the customer’s purchase.
2. An extra or unexpected gift or benefit. Also called regionally boot.

Do you ever download from the internet on unsecured wireless networks?  If you answered “no” to that question, I can say that you are most likely not telling the truth.  The first thing almost everyone does when they come to our monthly meeting is log in to the local WI‑FI.  It is probably safer than the local McDonald’s, Starbucks, or library.  Personally, I’m not willing to bet my personal data on that.

That’s why I use a Virtual Private Network (VPN).  Put simply, a VPN is a group of computers networked together over a public network, namely the internet.  A VPN client is the software that allows you to enter an encrypted network and access the internet.  Anyone intercepting your data will not be able to decipher and read it.

If you search for “free VPN”, “best VPN”, etc. you will find literally thousands of VPN clients.  Of course they will all tell you why they are the best.  I like TunnelBear. I’m not going to tell you it is the best, but I’ll try to convince you that it is pretty good.  The first thing I like about TunnelBear is that it is a Canadian company.  This means that they aren’t subject to a National Security Agency court order.  It’s really not that big a thing, but I know the NSA spies so why make it any easier for them.  TunnelBear has servers in seven different countries.  They create a secure, encrypted connection between your internet device and the host country you are connecting to.

TunnelBear is easy to download and setup.  There is no need for the user to learn about network protocols, IP addresses, encryption levels, etc.  After downloading and installing the program, an account must be created.  The only user information required is name, e-mail address and password.  No need for your phone number, address or Mother’s middle name.

Like all other VPN companies, TunnelBear offers both a free and paid service.  Their free service gives you 500 MB of free data every month.  This should be plenty for the occasional user.  A bonus 1 GB can be obtained by promoting them on Twitter.

TunnelBear is easy to setup and use.  Give it a try and see if you like it.  You can download TunnelBear here.

If you like the program, just tell everyone that you’ve got a SWLAPCUG extra, a bonus perk; a little lagniappe.

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KeePass Password Safe – Originally Published January 2014

August 27, 2014 Posted by Tiny

Some Lagniappe for You
By Tiny Ruisch

la·gniappe (lnyp, ln-yp)
n.  Chiefly Southern Louisiana & Mississippi
1.  A small gift presented by a store owner to a customer with the customer’s purchase.
2.  An extra or unexpected gift or benefit. Also called regionally boot.

This month, I thought I’d take a few minutes and revisit a program I told you about almost two years ago.  It’s the password program that I use every day when I’m computing.  KeePass Password Safe creates strong passwords and keeps them safe.

I use a lot of passwords in my daily computing.  As of this writing, I’ve got 63 e-mail addresses.  I have eighteen passwords that I use to manage them.  I frequent 7 different forums, each with separate password.  Then there are my gaming site passwords.  Five right now.  Did I forget to mention my military and medical passwords?  Eight of them.  Then there are on line shopping passwords and the most important one of all – the one that logs me into the SWLAPCUG web site.  I’ve got more than 50 passwords that I use fairly frequently.

The first week of every month, I change the passwords for websites that keep important data.  It seems that some company or government office is always being compromised and losing important data.  For most web sites, I use hard to break passwords.  Want to see one of my sample passwords?  1+;edYXEQ)-|gvUWxSOZ`B~4ym,x]~U|MV$Hpm&} is a password that I’ve used in the past to gain access to my military retired pay and allotment information.  As you can see, it would be pretty hard for anyone to guess what it is.

The program I use to manage all of those passwords is KeePass Password Safe.  It is a really easy to use utility that helps you to keep track of all your passwords while keeping them safe.  It lets you store all of your passwords in a lightweight, simple to use database that is encrypted so that only you can access it.

KeePass Password Safe stores all of your passwords in groups.  That makes it extremely easy to quickly find the one you want.  The program does more than just store the passwords; it also lets you easily copy them onto a Web page or an application.  You can drag and drop them, copy them to the clipboard, or copy them using a hot key.  A great feature that was added since my last review is “Perform Auto Type”.  This feature automatically fills in user names and passwords.

KeePass also features a plugin framework.  Plugins can provide additional functionality, like support of more file formats for import/export, network functionalities, backup features, etc.

One of the best features of KeePass is the random password generator which creates passwords with characteristics that you specify.  That way you can tailor your passwords as needed.  For example, some websites won’t let you create a password with underlines while others might require a specific password length.  KeePass makes it easy to create any password.

The program also includes support for TAN (Transactional Access Numbers) passwords and allows you to create TAN lists which automatically expire a password once it has been used . Other features include auto-lock, database search and import/export.  There are many more features.

Of Course, KeePass also fits in with one of my most demanding prerequisites.  The cost is Zero!  KeePass is open source.  You can read more about the program on the KeePass Password Safe Home Page.  Give it a try.  I don’t think that you’ll be disappointed.

If you like the program, just tell everyone that you’ve got a SWLAPCUG extra, a bonus perk; a little lagniappe.

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Google Nexus 7 Tablet – Originally Published September 2012

August 1, 2014 Posted by Tiny

A Pain in the Whatchamacallit
By Tiny Ruisch

Maybe I should start calling this column “Tales From the Dark Side”.  I’ve had my new toy for about three weeks now.  It’s the Google Nexus 7 tablet.  If I had to describe it with one word, I think I’d say fantastic.  I’d been thinking about replacing my Archos tablet with something more capable.  The Tech Guy, Leo LaPorte, convinced me to get this machine.

The Nexus 7 has a Quad-core Tegra 3 processor and the latest Android operating system, Jelly Bean (4.1).  It is really fast and smooth scrolling.  This is by far the best Android machine that I have seen.  The display is a 7 inch 1280×800 HD (216 ppi). It is gorgeous.

There is no 3G/4G installed.  For me, that is not a problem.  I didn’t have it on my old tablet and never missed it.  On the few occasions I was away from a network, I just tether to my cell phone if I need to access the Internet.  There is Wireless b/g/n and Bluetooth 3.0.

It has a built in microphone which I have used quite a bit with Google Talk.  I’ve found myself searching for really stupid things just to see what the machine will find.  For instance, I often tell my Grandson that he is just a “silly goose”.  When I told the Nexus 7 to “find a silly goose”, I got driving instructions to the Silly Goose restaurant in Nashville, TN.

There isn’t a rear camera.  For me that isn’t a big thing.  I can’t think of a reason that I would ever use a tablet to take a picture.  I seldom take pictures with my Pocket PC.  Oops!  I meant to say telephone.  I used to say the same thing about front facing cameras, but I use the one on the Nexus 7 several times a day.  One of the features of Jelly Bean is taking a picture of yourself and then using the camera to wake the machine up from sleep mode.  The camera compares your face with the file picture.  If you look different, a pass code is needed to wake the machine up.  I haven’t been able to fool it yet.

Other features include a Near Field Communication technology, and Accelerometer, Global Positioning System, a Magnetometer and a Gyroscope.  The battery is a lithium ion 4325 mAh.  I haven’t yet got a recharge soon warning.  I wish I could say the same for my Android phone.

There are only two ports on this machine.  One is for a headphone jack.  The other is a mini USB (host) port, used for both charging and input/output.  I haven’t yet tested to see what USB peripherals can be used with the Nexus tablet.

All is not roses.  Almost every review you read lets us know that there isn’t an HDMI out port.  That doesn’t matter much to me.  I have a HDMI port on my other tablet.  I’ve used it exactly one time.  When I first got the machine, I plugged it in to see how the output looked on my television.  My old HTC phone had a HDMI out port too.  I used it two times.  I had tested it at home when I first got it.  The second time is when I demonstrated it on the big screen TV at one of the SIG computer meetings.  I think I’ll be able to cope without an HDMI port on the Nexus tablet.

There isn’t a Secure Digital expansion slot.  I purchased the 16 GB model, so I’m hoping that I won’t miss it.  I’ve never filled up the expansion data cards on either my phone or my Archos tablet.

I only have two real complaints about the Nexus tablet.  The on/off button is placed in a corner of the case and I am constantly accidentally bumping it and turning the machine off.  I also wish the speakers were a little louder.  I’m getting older and my hearing isn’t as good as it once was.  There is plenty of volume for me when I use headphones.

I like using Android 4.1 so much that I’ve decided not to get the Galaxy S4 III phone.  I’m going to save my upgrade for something with Jelly Bean.  Maybe I should send Microsoft a thank you note for dropping the ball on Windows Mobile and Windows Phone.  It got me to try Android and I’ll probably never go back.

If you’re in the market for a tablet PC, I highly recommend you check out the Galaxy Nexus 7.  By the way, it already passed the “drop” test twice for me.  I’d better hurry up and order a case for it.

Thanks for reading.

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I’ve Joined the Darkside – Originally Published July 2012

July 31, 2014 Posted by Tiny

A Pain in the Whatchamacallit
By Tiny Ruisch

I’ve gone to the dark side.  I didn’t think it would ever happen, but I’m using an android phone.  OMG!  It’s worse than I thought.  I even called it a phone instead of a pocket computer.

I’ve carried a pocket PC since I bought my first IPAQ in 2002.  I just loved being able to carry my files, e-mail and to-do list with me everywhere.  It was so easy to sync with Outlook on my other computers.

In April 2010, I finally retired my IPAQ2495 and bought a HTC Touch Pro 2.  I think the people at the Sprint store thought I was a little crazy.  I was comparing the HTC to my IPAQ.  They just couldn’t understand that I wasn’t buying a phone.  I was buying a new pocket PC that happened to also be a telephone.

After a couple of months, I enjoyed using the Touch Pro 2 so much that I even used it to write this column for the newsletter.  It was a tough machine.  I estimate that I dropped it at least twenty or thirty times (including a few on concrete).  I might have been in the minority, but I liked Windows Mobile 6.  It was a reliable operating system that synced easily with Outlook.  I like Outlook.  It’s one of the few programs that I’ve actually purchased.

My TP2 finally gave up the ghost.  Naturally, I looked at replacing it with a Windows 7 cell phone.  Sprint had exactly two choices.  I didn’t much like either one.  I considered changing carriers, but I’ve got a pretty good reason for sticking with Sprint.

My grandson recently got an iPhone.  I activated his old phone, a Samsung Epic 4G.  My theory is that I can save my upgrade discount for a future Windows phone.  I’m not unfamiliar with the Android operating system.  I’ve used it on my tablet for a year or so.  My only problem with having Android in my pocket is that there isn’t a native synchronization with Outlook on my computer.

I finally slipped a little further into the dark void.  I almost gave up and went completely dark.  I gave some serious thought to abandoning Outlook and using Android PIM programs.  Then I could even stop telling people that the only software that I’ve spent money for is Outlook.

In the end, I actually purchased some software.  I got frustrated having to jump through several hoops to synchronize the darn thing with my computers.  Once again, I can just click one icon and have all of my data synced.

I wonder what my mobile future will be like.  Windows is going to have to get a manufacturer to make one heck of a phone to get me back.  Then they’ve got to get Sprint on board to sell it.  Then they have to get me to buy it.  That’s a pretty tall order.  They might have to get Bill Gates to come out of retirement and take over the company again.

My IPAQ is still somewhere in the junk box.  I sure miss it.

Thanks for reading.

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