Tech Tip: Smartphones and Apps are great for setting reminders (Like to Tweet out your Tech Tip of the day!) and To Do lists

The list of things you can do with your smartphone is impressive.  Email, messaging, alarm clock, and yes, even making a phone call!  One thing that can sometimes be overlooked is its ability to set simple reminders and To Do lists for you.

To Do lists have been popular tech tools for quite a while.  The best To Do list are those that bridge the space between computer based and mobile accessible.  Usually these are web based programs that sync between clients on your desktop/laptop and your mobile device.  There is a great run down on what to do lists are available and how they sync up here at Lifehacker.

When it comes to reminders, those are best kept on your mobile device as it is often the item always with you and on.  A To Do list is something you go to when you want to find out what you need to do next, but reminders are supposed to alert you when something needs to be done, presumably because you have forgotten.

Google Now has a great reminder feature baked right into newer Android phones.  Simply tell it to “Remind me to …..” and it will set up a reminder alert for you at the time you request.  If you tell it to “Remind me to take out the garbage tomorrow morning” it will automatically set an alarm for the next morning to alert you.

Likewise, Apple’s iPhones and iPad’s with Siri have an easy way to set up reminders.  Simply telling Siri what you want to do will let it input the reminder into your default app.  That would be either be Reminders if you are just using iCloud, or it will move over to Tasks if you are set up to use Exchange.  There is a great write up on how to set reminders with Siri here.

Evernote, one of my favourite note taking programs, also has a reminder feature built right into it.  When you start a new note on your mobile, there is an alarm clock icon that will allow you to set a date and time to have it remind you about the note you have just created.  This is then synced with all your applications of Evernote and alerts you when its time.  The benefit of Evernote over Google Now is that Evernote will work on multiple platforms with one account, while Google Now or Siri is only baked into its own mobile client.

While it seems like something so simple, setting reminders on your mobile devices is not something we normally think of.  We often still have scraps of paper in our pockets or just hope we remember to do something.  Taking 20 seconds to set up an alert on our devices will save time later, embarrassment when we forget something, and possibly even a sore finger from having that string tied to it for too long.

Tech Tip: Your own domain name gives you a personalized email address & website. It doesn’t cost much and can forward to your existing email

What is a domain name and why should you have one? 

First, a domain name is what you type into your web browser almost every day to find a web page.  Most people don’t realize this, but everywhere you need to go on the internet is actually based on a numerical address, similar to a phone number, known as an IP address.  Most people know an address like 192.168.1.1 (which is reserved for local home networks), but every webpage, server and place on the internet has a numeric address.  Since remembering more numbers is hard for some, we have something called Domain Names.  These are the easy to remember names for websites and locations, like Google.com or Facebook.com

A domain name can be purchased by anyone and isn’t that hard to set up.  Even if you don’t have a website to connect it to, or a company to run, a domain name for a person or a family has a lot of benefits.

Do you have a hotmail email address?  How about another provider like Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, or perhaps you have your email through an internet provider.  While a web based email address can live on for a long time, and wherever you go, if you get tired of the interface, or if another provider comes out, its hard to tell everyone your new email address and switch everyone over.  Likewise, and even worse, if you have an email address with your internet provider, what happens if you decide to cancel their service and move to someone else?  You would have to give up your email address and then tell everyone your new address.

If you have your own domain name, you can then also have your own personal email address.  If you purchase http://www.yourowndomain.com, then you can also have yourname@yourowndomain.com.  As long as you keep your domain active, your email address will work.  You can either use the email solution provided by the domain registrar (The company that will register the domain on your behalf) or you can forward the email address to the email platform of your choice.  For example, my email address uses my own domain name, but all my email forwards to my Gmail account.  I also have it set up so that all mail sent from Gmail goes through my domain name, so the outbound emails always come from my allsop.ca domain name instead of the Gmail address.  This allows me to have all the benefits of Gmail while maintaining the single email address everyone knows for me.

Having your own domain streamlines your communications and provides a level of professionalism.  Whether you are a small business owner, or a family looking to keep everyone connected, a domain name is a small cost with a large benefit.

Tech Tip: Many Smartphones can tether mobile data connection allowing for WiFi access anywhere. Great for Laptops and Tablets while on to go

WiFi hotspots are all over the place, but there are times when your laptop or tablet need to connect and there is not a reliable WiFi connection around.  What to do?  Data plans with your smartphone can often be shared through wireless tethering.

What is Tethering?

Tethering allows you to connect a wireless device, such as a laptop or tablet, to your smartphone to allow the data connection on it to be shared.  There are 3 ways you can tether a Smartphone.  Cable, Bluetooth and WiFi.  If you are using a laptop with a free USB port, you may be able to plug your smartphone into it and have it act as a modem for your computer.  This will give you direct access to your data connection, while providing power for your smartphone.

If your computer or tablet has Bluetooth, you may be able to connect it up to your device wirelessly.  This would be similar to the USB cable method but without the physical connection.  Your device will share the data connection and allow you to access the internet just like it was connected via the cable.

WiFi is probably the most common option for connecting up a device to your smartphone.  Turning your phone into a WiFi Hotspot will allow you to share the data connection with multiple devices.  In this case, your smartphone will act as a WiFi router for other devices that connect up to it.

A few caveats to remember though.  Tethering and mobile hotspots are great for quick connections when on the go, or when your Internet connection is down, but unless you have a really good data plan, you shouldn’t use it as your primary connection, especially when computers are connected.  Many software updates can download in the background on your computer, eating up your data plan without your knowledge.  Since many mobile data plans here in Canada range anywhere from 1GB to 6GB of transfer, it wouldn’t take much to go over without realizing if simply through software updates.

Some wireless providers also sell specialized WiFi Hotspots with the data plan all connected.  These are great if you plan is to have a mobile office or only needed in a location for a short period of time where a traditional internet connection would not be feasible to hook up.  For the average user however, a Mobile hotspot on your Smartphone should be fine to stay connected.

Tech Tip: If you’re traveling out of Canada with your smartphone, either turn off data roaming or add a data roaming package to save money

Smartphones are fantastic tools to have when traveling.  Not only do you have maps with you to get you around, you can find restaurants, local attractions and information on the area you are visiting.  The problem is with travel outside of Canada, you have to roam on different networks to get access your phone and data packages.  Unfortunately Roaming rates for data are not exactly the cheapest around.  Even a short visit across the border can lead to some hefty charges on your bill.  There are a few ways you can mitigate the costs associated with roaming.

Turn off your Data

Most smartphones have the ability to turn off the data features while roaming outside your home area.  Although it may be inconvenient, turning off data is the safest way to prevent surprises on your phone bill.  Each phone is different, but generally you will want to look under the settings area, and look for mobile networks.  Sometimes there will be an option to turn data off while roaming, other times you just might need to turn all data services off.  You won’t be able to get your email or facebook status updates, but its a small sacrifice for a reasonable bill.

Roaming Data Package

Most wireless carriers will offer data roaming packages now.  They can range from a 24 hour package to a week at a time.  They are still on the pricier side, but a lot cheaper than roaming without adding one of these packages.  To set one of these up, a call to your providers customer service line will get you in touch with someone who can help add one.  If you already know what you need, there are sometimes options to add the package either online or via text message.  Check with your provider before heading out to see what deal is right.

WiFi only

If you don’t want to spend the money on an extra roaming package, turn the mobile data roaming feature off, and use WiFi in local hotspots.  Most restaurants, coffee shops, hotels and attractions will offer free WiFi. (although sometimes you will have to open up a web page on your smartphone to agree to the terms of service before you can access it)  If you are staying at a resort or hotel that offers WiFi, check to see if it is free or if there is a cost.  Some places will charge you access costs per device.  This can be a problem if you have a Tablet, Smartphone and laptop on your trip.  If that is the case, choose which device is most important.  If it is based on an access code like a room number, then you may be able to get away with multiple devices connected for one cost.

Specialty Roaming Packages

A few companies have popped up that specialize in offering better roaming rates than your normal provider.  Roam Mobility for example is one company that specializes in offering mobile voice and data packages through their network agreements.  The upside is you probably will get better roaming rates than your existing provider.  The downside is that you need to replace the SIM card in your device with one of theirs.  Make sure you either forward your calls to the new number or tell people to call you on that other number.  Some newer Smartphones have dual SIM card slots, designed for such instances, but they have not caught on yet in North America and are hard to find.

While this blog post is geared towards smartphones, you can be extended to include Tablets and even laptops when traveling.  Do you have any horror stories of high charges when traveling or any tips for wireless access overseas?  I’d love to hear them.  Tweet me @Stealth2377 or leave them in the comments section below.

Tech Tip: Voice recognition in smart phones has improved greatly over the years. Use it to access your phones features

Voice recognition has made some great improvements over the past few years.  When I first started using it on my old BlackBerry, I was able to just simply dial a few contacts in my phone book.  Although I was able to type out messages, I never found it worked all that well.  Fast forward to a few years later (That being now) and Voice Recognition not only does a great job picking up what you are saying accurately, it can do much more.

Recently I have been playing around with Google Now, which is the Smartphone assistant on Android phones.  I have been impressed with how well it works.  Not only will it do dictation for me in messages, it responds to questions I ask it using Google’s impressive search tools.  If I say “Set an alarm for 5 minutes” it will automatically open up the app, set the alarm and start it without any further intervention on my part.

Asking it questions also brings up some decent answers.  Sometimes it is just a search in Google it brings up, other times it scours the internet for my answer and tells me.  The Android blog Android Authority has a great infographic with the voice commands you can use for Google Now here.  Apple’s Siri assistant has a lengthy list of features it can also perform for you.  Here is a link to some of the commands you can provide to Siri.

Recently I wrote a blog about using voice commands whenever possible while driving instead of typing.  While talking to your phone may still get a few funny looks from others around you, it is the way we will interact with technology in the near future.

Tech Tip: Winter can be wet and slippery. Water damage is a real concern for your smartphone. Keep it safe! don’t get it wet.

Every summer I remind people to be careful not to get their phones wet. When its raining or if by the pool, water damage is a real concern. People sometimes forget though that snow is just as damaging to your phone. Dropping your phone in a snowbank (When the snow starts falling) only gives you a few extra seconds to wipe down your phone before the snow sneaks into the electronics. Once wet, the odds of rescuing it start going down.

If your phone does get wet, turn it off right away. Remove the battery if you can. (Many phones have batteries you can’t remove unfortunately) Put your phone in a bag of rice for at least 24 hours to get the moisture out. This will give you the best chance of recovering it.

A few things to remember: Winter gloves make it hard to use your touchscreen phone, and also make your hands a little clumsier. Cold hands also make it hard to hold your phone and increase the risk of dropping it.

What can you do in the Winter to keep your phone intact?
There are gloves you can buy which will work with touch screen phones. These gloves tend not to be as bulky while still providing some protection for your hands from the elements. I would also recommend using voice dialing, voice dication and other voice commands where possible. Its easier to press 1 button to access the voice options than it is to type with cold hands.

Make sure your coat as a pocket that is easily accessible for your phone, that also provides some protection from the cold and moisture. If its a particularly wet day (or you decide to shovel the snow while listening to music on your phone) consider putting your phone in a zip lock bag in your pocket. That will also help keep the moisture out.

Stay warm and dry this winter and keep your phone safe.

Tech Tip: Looking to change your Wireless plan? Mid November is when the holiday deals start. A great time to start shopping around

I have been involved in the mobile phone industry for in some way, shape or form for many years.  Either working directly for a wireless provider or providing consulting and analysis on the industry.  One thing I have learned is that the holiday season is the best time to shop around for a new phone and plan.

The Christmas and holiday season has always been the busiest for retail in all forms, and the wireless industry is no exception.  Even in the day past when giving a phone as a gift was very difficult due to contracts and phone subsidies, it was still a huge business time.  With family plans, unsubsidized phones, tablets and prepaid services, giving phones has become big business.

But if you are already on a contact, how does this help you?

This is the time when wireless plans also get very aggressive as providers look to increase their subscriber numbers before the end of the year.  Even if you are on a plan, even in contract, shop around at different providers and look for a deal that would work for you.  Now you can use this as leverage when contacting your existing provider.  It doesn’t always work, depending on where you are in a contract, but if the saving you can make switching can offset any cancellation penalty, then it may be worth pursuing.  Plus you would get a new phone if you switch, or get your old phone unlocked to take with you.  (If its not unlocked already)

Use this time to either shop or negotiate for the best package for your needs.  Remember, if its been over a year since you last changed your wireless plan, there is a good chance that your needs have changed.  It is at least worth a few minutes of your time to check it out.

Tech Tip: Sync Chrome on your Phone and Desktop

Most Android phones still come stock with the generic browser, however downloading Chrome for Android has a lot of advantages. Apart from running fast and having browser tabs, you can sync the pages you are viewing with your desktop client. Chrome for both desktop and mobile allows you to sign in using your Google account. By signing in, you can view web pages on your mobile phone, and then open up your desktop browser and find the same link without having to copy and paste into your browser.

To access browser tabs from your phone on your desktop, open up Chrome on your computer (Assuming you are signed into your Google account) Scroll down to “Recent Tabs” and open up the sub menu. You should see Tabs from your computer that were opened, but you should also see a section with your Mobile phone, followed by open tabs. Select the tab you want and instantly you will find the webpage you were looking for available to you.

Its a small feature, but very useful.

Tech Tip: Stop your computer from booting up slowly

Tech Tip: If your computer is booting up slowly, check to see what programs are launching at startup. You can probably turn some off

When your computer starts up, it needs to pre-start some programs to allow them to be ready to boot up when called upon. Some of them are required, but others are there for no other reason than to be ready. Some programs will run in the background, even if not called upon, just so they will start up faster when you do click on them.

One of the easiest ways to see whats booting up is to look in the start menu at the different file folders, and look for a startup file. Click on that to see some of the programs that are running at launch.

You can also press Ctrl-Alt-Del and then select “Start Task Manager” to view what programs are running. You can look through the “Applications” and the “Processes” tab to see what programs are running. If you find programs that are running that don’t need to be, you can disable them to help speed up the computer. Beware though not to shut down programs just because you don’t know what they are. You can cause some major problems if you shut down the wrong program.