New Technology Reviews!.: Useful

8 Useful Tips For Wireless Internet Security

Wireless Access is getting more and more popular for Internet connectivity these days. But by its very nature, there some huge risks inherent within the technology. We present you some of the useful tips on how you can achieve wireless internet security with some basic steps.Wireless internet security can be achieved easily. It is very important to have a secure wireless connection because it is one of the most susceptible ways through which a user's computer can be infected with a spyware or a virus. Data security has been one of the big issues that have been always associated with Wi-Fi networks. Hackers are always looking for an unsecured wireless connection to take advantage of it.Here are some of the steps you can take to make your wireless internet connection secure: Whenever you setup a wireless connection, you must change the default login information. Make sure that the new login information you create cannot be cracked easily by hackers. When you disable the broadcasting of your Service Set Identifier (SSOD), your wireless network cannot be seen by anyone and cannot be accessed by anyone. WEP, WPA and WP2 are data security protocol that provides highly powerful security to your wireless network. Make sure that firewall is installed in each and every computer present on the wireless network. You must turn off your router as well the Wi-Fi internet connection if you are using it. If you have a small wireless network at home or office, you can feed MAC addresses into your router as well as in your access points so that there is no communication whatsoever between hosts that are a part of a Wi-Fi network. Disable assigning dynamic IP address by deactivating DHCP service. You can manually configure IP address, subnet mask and other relevant information in all the hosts that are a part of the wireless network. You must also make sure that the remote administration service is not enabled. If it is enabled, anyone can access your Wi-Fi network. The above mentioned steps can easily help you achieve wireless internet security. A secure wireless network is the best way to protect your computer from being misused by anyone.

8 Useful Tips For Wireless Internet Security

Wireless Access is getting more and more popular for Internet connectivity these days. But by its very nature, there some huge risks inhe...

Updated: 50 really useful iPad tips and tricks

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/Hands%20on%20pics/iPad_2_05-200-200.jpg"> With great new features like two video cameras, a faster processor and a thinner design, the iPad 2 is the world's best tablet device. It's also fully capable of running the latest version of Apple's iOS operating system and great apps like iMovie and GarageBand. Here we present 50 really useful iPad 2 tips. We cover everything from customising your Home screen through to getting more from built-in apps like Mail and Safari. The vast majority of these tips will also work on the original iPad, so owners of the first generation device shouldn't feel neglected. 1. Create folders iOS now supports folders. To create a folder all you need to do is tap and hold on an app until they all start to jiggle, then drag the app over another icon and release. Your iPad will create a folder with both the apps in. The folder will be named according to the category of the apps it contains, but you can rename it as you like. <img alt="iPad 2 folders" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/1%20folders-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 2. Access all running apps Double-clicking the Home button shows you all the apps that are running on your iPad in a bar along the bottom of the screen. To switch to a running app just tap on it here in this bar. Just swipe the screen downwards to remove this bar. <img alt="iPad 2 running apps" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/2%20access-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 3. Orientation Lock or Mute? The internet got mightily upset when Orientation Lock was replaced with Mute on the iPad during the last iOS update. Apple listened, and now you can head to Settings > General to choose between Lock Rotation and Mute. <img alt="iPad 2 orientation" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/3%20OrientLock-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 4. Passcode Denied… DELETE ALL! If you're carrying around sensitive data, you can now enable a feature that'll erase all the data on the device if someone inputs the incorrect passcode 10 times. Navigate to Settings > General > Passcode Lock > Erase Data. <img alt="iPad 2 passcode" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/4%20Passcode-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 5. Home Sharing First, turn on Home Sharing in iTunes (Advanced menu) and on your iPad (Settings > iPod and enter your Apple ID). Next, launch the iPod app on your iPad. In the left column, find the little house with "Library" next to it. Tap on that and then on one of the Shared Libraries. It might take a few minutes to update, but then you can watch and listen to all of that Library's media on your iPad. <img alt="iPad 2 home sharing" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/5%20Home%20Share-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 6. Control iPad notifications Have you ever played Tap Tap Revenge on the iPhone? Good, then you know how annoying notifications can be. These messages pop up on the iPad as well. but you can control them. Go to Settings, Notifications, and configure which alerts (and accompanying sounds) will appear. <img alt="iPad 2 notifications" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/6%20notify-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 7. Go VPN The iPad supports a VPN connection. To configure it, go to Settings, then General > Network. Select the VPN and move the slider to On, then add a VPN configuration with your server and account details. <img alt="iPad 2 vpn" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/7%20vpn-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 8. Stop asking to join Wi-Fi networks If you're fed up of getting bugged by messages asking if you'd like to join this or that Wi- Fi network all the time then head to Settings, Wi-Fi and turn off Ask to Join Networks. You can still join any network that will have you from this same screen, it just won't bug you constantly when the opportunity arises. <img alt="iPad 2 wifi" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/8%20wifi-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 9. Turn battery percentage off Do you find the battery charge percentage distracting? The good news is you can turn it off very easily. Go to Settings, General, Usage and you can turn it off here. <img alt="iPad 2 battery percentage" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/9%20battery-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 10. Quick volume mute When the iPad first launched, there was no dedicated mute button anywhere on the device. However, with iOS 4.3 Apple has given you the choice of using the lock switch to mute the sound or lock the iPad's orientation. Either way, a good tip for quickly muting your iPad is to press and hold the Volume-down button. <img alt="iPad 2 volume mute" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/10%20tip1mute-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 11. Use an Apple keyboard Missing a real keyboard? Any Apple Wireless Keyboard will work with the iPad. In fact, your iPad will work with any Bluetooth keyboard. Some iPad cases have a keyboard built in, which can be handy. 12. Connect to an HD TV You can connect the iPad 2 to your HD television using Apple's new Digital AV Adapter (which connects from your 30-pin Dock adaptor to a HDMI port) or a plain old Apple VGA Adaptor. Both are available from the Apple Store. The iPad 2 supports video mirroring, so your entire Home screen will appear on the TV, not just the videos you play. <img alt="Connect ipad 2 to hdtv" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/12%20connect%20TV-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 13. AirPlay: Stream movies, photos and music Whenever you see the AirPlay icon on your iPad it means you can stream whatever media you're viewing to your Apple TV, which is usually connected to your living room TV. All you need to do is tap the AirPlay icon (which looks like a rectangle with a triangle in it) and it starts playing automatically - it's so simple! <img alt="Stream ipad 2" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/13%20stream-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 14. Take an iPad screenshot You can take a screenshot on your iPad by pressing Home and then the Sleep/Wake button. The screen will flash and you'll hear a click, indicating that a photo has been taken. Your screen shots are saved automatically in your Photos gallery. Here, you can view or email them as you see fit. 15. Avoid underpowered USB docks The iPad does not charge when you connect it to some USB docks or even certain ports on some notebooks. Instead, plug in to a high power USB port (check you computer's specs, or use a powered USB dock). On some PCs, USB ports on the front of the computer are lower power, so you will need to plug into one on the back. 16. Use Multitasking Gestures Multitasking Gestures, which utilise four and five finger gestures, are available in Settings only to iPad owners who have installed Xcode on a Mac. You need to buy Xcode from the Mac App Store ($5/£2.99) and install it, then from the Xcode homescreen, select your iPad and click on the Use for Development button. You'll be asked for your developer account details, but if you click on Cancel at this stage it still works. <img alt="iPad 2 multitasking gestures" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/16%20gestures-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 17. Restrict your Spotlight searches Swipe left on the Home screen to reveal the Spotlight search. By default it searches everything including songs in your iPod, podcasts, apps and events. To restrict the areas it searches, since you may not want all these categories included, look in Settings > General > Spotlight Search. <img alt="iPAd 2 spotlight searches" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/17%20restrict%20spot-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 18. Add a Google Calendar Want to add your Google Calendar to the iPad's Calendar app? No problem. In Settings open Mail, Contacts, Calendars. Add an account and tap on Other. Tap on Add CalDAV Account and enter your Google Account credentials (the Server is www.google.com). Exit the Settings app and tap on the Calendar app and all your events should appear. By default all calendars are displayed, but you can tap on the Calendars button to choose which ones are shown. <img alt="iPad 2 google calendar" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/18%20Calendar%20Google-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 19. Find My iPhone (or iPad) is now free Apple's Find My iPad works for MobileMe subscribers, but you can set it up for free on your iPad. In Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars tap the Add Account button and select MobileMe. If you have an iTunes or MobileMe account then enter it here. Alternatively, tap on Create Free Apple ID. You may need to check your inbox and verify your account now. Return to the MobileMe screen and switch on Find My iPad. Now sign into me.com to see your iPad on a map, or install the Find My iPhone app from the App Store. <img alt="Find my iphone" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/19%20find-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 20. Use AirPrint Thanks to AirPrint you can print right from your iPad, provided you've got a compatible printer, of course. If you've got an AirPrint ready printer then you just choose Print from the Share menu for virtually any open document. AirPrint works with the new range of printers from HP, and you can use a Mac app called Printopia (www.ecamm.com) to print to any printer connected to a Mac. <img alt="AirPrint" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/20%20airprint-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 21. Use a Smart Cover Apple's new iPad Smart Cover (from £35/$39) is a must have iPad accessory - it's not just a dumb cover. When you draw it over the iPad's screen it puts it to sleep for you, and wakes it up when you open it. Also, it latches onto special magnets built into the side of the iPad 2, so it's a perfect fit. <img alt="Smart cover" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/21%20smart-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 22. Share from Pages Transferring Pages documents from your iPad by syncing with iTunes on your Mac or PC is a real hassle. It's much quicker to use the Share menu to email the finished document to wherever you need it to be. Also, you can email it as a Word or PDF document if you like. <img alt="Share from pages" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/22%20pages%20share-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 23. Turn iPad caps lock on To type a capital letter on the onscreen keyboard you first tap the left or right shift key, then the letter. If you need to type a whole word in caps this can be painful. Save time typing in caps by turning the caps lock on. To do this double tap on either shift key. <img alt="iPad caps lock" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/23%20tip9CAPS-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 24. Copy and paste You can quickly copy and paste text by tapping and holding down, and then choosing Select to select the exact portion of text you'd like the copy. Next tap Copy, then go to a different app, and tap and hold down again, then tap Paste from the menu that appears. Top tip: To select an entire paragraph of text you need to tap four times. <img alt="iPad 2 copy paste" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/24%20copypaste-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 25. Replace a word When you hold down on a word to copy it, choose Select, then you will see a new option: Replace. Tap this and, you can see suggestions for alternative words that have similar spellings. It's a good way of quickly correcting typos. <img alt="iPad 2 replace word" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/25%20replace-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 26. Hidden apostrophe key on the keyboard This is a great tip for any app, such as Notes, Pages or Mail, that you type into using the iPad's virtual keyboard. Rather than having to go to the second screen of the keyboard every time you want to type an apostrophe (which is a real pain) just tap and hold on the ! key and a hidden apostrophe option will appear - then just slide your finger up to access it. <img alt="iPad apostrophe" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/26%20iPad%20hidden-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 27. Quick quotes You don't have to move the iPad's second keyboard screen to enter a quotation mark either. Simply tap and hold over the ? key and a quotation symbol appears, which you can select by moving your finger upwards. <img alt="iPad quote marks" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/27%20quick%20quotes-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 28. Add a full stop Another great keyboard tip for typing in apps such as Pages, Notes or Mail is to doubletap the space bar at the end of a sentence. This adds a full stop and a space for you, which can be enormously time-saving when you're writing long articles. <img alt="iPad full stop" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/28%20ipad%20double%20space-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 29. Dim your iBooks You can lower the brightness setting down to a low level using the Brightness option under Settings. But the iBooks app has its own brightness slider, which you can use to lower the level down more conveniently. <img alt="iBooks brightness" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/29%20ibooksbrightness-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 30. Change days There's no way to swipe to change between days in the Calendar app, but don't forget the navigation bar along the bottom of the screen - this can be used to switch to different days (or weeks/months, depending on the view you've chosen). The current day is always shown in blue, or you can just tap the Today button to return to the current day. <img alt="iPad calendar" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/30%20Calendar%20change%20days-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 31. Street View in Maps The Maps app running Google's Street View is one of the coolest features of the iPad, yet accessing it is so confusing few people even know it's there. To access Street View you need to have dropped a red pin on the map (which happens when you do a search). You then tap the red and white icon of a person to enter Street View. <img alt="iPad street view" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/31%20Maps%20street%20view-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 32. Directions in Maps There's no free sat nav for the iPad, but directions in Maps are a substitute if you're walking, driving or taking the bus. Just tap Directions on the top left of Maps and the iPad even works out where you are right now, then takes you step-by-step through each stage of your journey. <img alt="iPad maps" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/32%20Maps%20step%20by%20step-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 33. Display PDFs There are two ways to display PDFs on your iPad: you can either email them to your iPad, in which case you get an Open in iBooks button appear, or you can sync PDFs from your Mac or PC via the Books tab in iTunes. To do this just drag and drop the PDF into iTunes, then when you sync your iPad click on the Books tab and select the PDFs you'd like to sync. In iBooks you click on PDFs in your library to see the PDFs you have ready to display. <img alt="iBooks pdf" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/33%20iBooks%20PDF-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 34. Camera focus and meter In the Camera app, tap on your subject to both focus on and meter the light properly. In this shot, notice how the chair is dark and the boy outside is properly metered. You can reverse that by simply tapping on the chair. <img alt="iPad camera focus" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/34%20Focus-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 35. Get a grip You'll probably hold the iPad by its sides, but it'll rotate to put the shutter button at the bottom, making you wobble when you reach for it. So use the orientation lock to put the shutter where you can easily thumb it, then just rotate your images or videos afterward in an image editor. <img alt="iPad rotate" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/35%20LockForGrip-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 36. Take charge in FaceTime Once you've started a video call, you can move the picture-in-picture window that shows you by simply dragging it around with your finger. <img alt="iPad 2 facetime" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/36%20FaceTime-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 37. Photo Booth fun Sure, you're great, but Photo Booth is even more fun if you point it at friends or family. Simply tap the 'twirly camera' icon in the bottom right. to use the camera on the back You can also snap stills by hitting the shutter button, but Photo Booth doesn't do video. <img alt="Photo booth" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/37%20PhotoBooth-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 38. Download photos straight from your camera to your iPad You can't plug an SD card from a digital camera straight into your iPad to view the photos, but you can purchase the iPad Camera Connection kit from Apple. With this device attached you can transfer photos straight from your camera's memory card. Get it from the Apple Store online. 39. Quicker websites Save time typing web addresses in Safari by using the iPad's ".com" key when typing in a URL. A little-known timesaver is that if you hold down the .com key you get access to a menu that offers a .co.uk and other options too. <img alt="iPad com key" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/39%20tip8quick-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 40. Quick Safari scroll You can jump up to the top of any web site - indeed any list - by tapping on the top of the title window. It's much faster than scrolling by hand. <img alt="iPad quick scroll" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/40%20quick%20scroll-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 41. Zoom in on websites You can zoom in on any website by pinching out with two fingers on the screen. This also makes it easier to select words and tap links. To zoom out again, just pinch in with two fingers. Double-tap on any text or image to auto-zoom so it fills the screen. <img alt="iPad zoom in website" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/41%20zoominweb-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 42. Turn on Bookmarks bar in Safari We all know you can tap the bookmarks icon in the Safari toolbar to access your bookmarks, but you can significantly cut down the number of taps it takes to get to them by turning on your Safari Bookmarks Bar permanently. In the Settings app, tap Safari, then turn Always Show Bookmarks Bar to ON. <img alt="iPad safari bookmarks" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/42%20Safari%20bookmark-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 43. Clear browsing history in Safari Need to cover your tracks online? You can delete your Safari browser history in a flash. Just open the Settings app, then tap Safari and tap on Clear History. Note you can also wipe your Cookies and clear your Cache here too. <img alt="iPad clear browsing history" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/43%20Safari%20clear-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 44. Open Safari links in a new page You can open links in a new Safari window, rather than always opening them in the current one. Just tap and hold on the link and a pop-over menu appears giving you the option to open the link in a new page. <img alt="iPad open links in new page" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/44%20Safari%20open-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 45. Find text on a page You can search for a particular word on an open page in Safari. Type your word into the Google search box. You'll see a list of suggestions appear, and near the bottom you'll see "On This Page", showing how many times that word appears on the page. Tap the Find option to go to the first instance of the word. <img alt="Find text on a page" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/45%20find-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 46. Turn off iPad email alert chimes You can turn off the chime for new emails. Go to Settings, then General, then Sounds and turn off the New Mail sound. You can also adjust sound levels here. <img alt="iPad email alert" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/46%20turn%20off%20email-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 47. Preview more of your emails The iPad's Mail app defaults to previewing two lines of each email before you tap on it. Sometimes however it would be handier to be able to see more of an email before loading the whole thing in, especially if you are on a slow connection. To do this open the Settings app, then tap on Mail, Contacts, Calendars and change the Preview options to add more lines. <img alt="iPad mail preview" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/47%20Mail%20preview-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 48. Turn off iPad push mail Most mail accounts default to Push as a delivery mechanism, if available. This automatically 'pushes' any new emails your way as soon as they are available. If you find this annoying or distracting you can set your Mail accounts to check for new messages at intervals, or manually so they only check for new messages when you tap the Refresh button. To turn off Push, select the Settings app and Mail, Contacts, Calendars and choose Fetch New Data, then turn Push on or off. <img alt="Turn off push mail" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/48%20Mail%20push-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 49. Make an iPad backup If you want to make sure your iPad's data is properly backed up then you can force iTunes to back it up. When you're conencted to your Mac or PC, open up iTunes and right-click on your iPad in the Devices list and select Back up. <img alt="iPad backup" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/49%20backup-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> 50. iPad is flat and won't charge If your iPad battery is completely flat then it can take a while for the red battery symbol to appear when you plug it in to charge, indicating that it is charging. Don't panic, just leave it plugged in and wait - the charging symbol will appear eventually. <img alt="iPad won't charge" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/classifications/computing/mobile-computing/Tablets%20and%20touchscreens/ipad2/iPad_2_tips/50%20charge-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG><img border="0" height="1" src="http://rss.feedsportal.com/c/669/f/9809/s/13c4a152/mf.gif" width="1"> <DIV class=mf-related><a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/techradar/allnews/~3/kj4kEZxeGIo/story01.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Article</A></DIV>

Updated: 50 really useful iPad tips and tricks

With great new features like two video cameras, a faster processor and a thinner design, the iPad 2 is the world's best tablet device. ...

10 useful things to do with an old laptop

<img src="http://cdn.mos.techradar.com//Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20300/PCP300.make1.box2image1-200-200.jpg"> Before you throw out that old laptop, stop and think of all the things it could be doing for you. You could turn it into anything from an electronic recipe book to a cutprice digital picture frame with just a little know-how, some free software and perhaps a little time spent with a screwdriver. Heck, even if the thing doesn't boot up it could earn you a few pounds by being broken up to sell off the remaining working parts. 1. Show off your photos Digital picture frames make great interactive ornaments, although their price is beyond many pockets. If you're willing to spend an afternoon ripping the guts out of an old laptop, though, it's entirely possible to build your own at a fraction of the cost. First you'll need to do a little remodelling. Laptop screens usually don't bend backwards beyond the horizontal, so the general technique involves carefully detaching the screen and repositioning the laptop's body so that it sits behind. This isn't too complicated because most screens are simply connected to the motherboard via a ribbon cable plugged into a socket. PC Format published a practical <a href="">guide to converting an old laptop into a professional, wall-mounted digital picture frame</A> last year. You can also find guides showing how to convert specific makes and models at <a href="http://repair4laptop.org/notebook_picture_frame.html">Repair4Laptop.org</A>. 2. Donate old hardware <img alt="Freecycle" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20300/PCP300.make1.bodyimage1-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> FreeCycle is a grassroots movement for passing on unwanted items to those that have a need for them. The aim is to try to keep useful things out of landfill sites and to give these 'pre-loved' items a new home. There are nearly 500 FreeCycle groups spread across the UK, with a total of over 1.7 million members – see <a href="http://www.uk.freecycle.org/">www.uk.freecycle.org</A>. To pass your old machine on to a new owner using FreeCycle, go to the website and search for a local group. Each one uses a Yahoo Group to organise exchanges, and some carry many hundreds of messages per month. With this amount of traffic, you're sure to find someone who needs your old stuff more than you do. Make sure you format the hard disk before passing it on, of course – while keeping old tech alive is a noble pursuit, there's no point potentially giving away your personal information. 3. Donate CPU cycles Due to a severe lack of funding, many research efforts survive by volunteers downloading client software which then runs whenever their computer isn't being actively used. This is possible thanks to the Berkeley Open Infrastructure for Network Computing (BOINC for short). This grew from the original SETI@home project, which listened to the skies for alien transmissions. BOINC allows the developers of similar projects to organise the distribution of work packets for each computer. The idea is that once installed, the client software downloads a packet of data and crunches the numbers. Once complete, it uploads this and downloads another. Some distributed computing projects simply couldn't be undertaken in any other way, and a number are truly awesome in their scope. If you're interested, there are plenty of the distributed projects you can choose from, including helping CERN with the hunt for new particles and identifying molecules that may provide greener energy. Wikipedia maintains a long list of projects you might like to get involved in – <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_distributed_computing_projects">see here for more info</A>. 4. Create a recipe book If you're not too bothered about the possibility of getting flour into the keyboard, why not turn your old laptop into an electronic cookbook? There are plenty of free recipe database packages available. <a href="http://www.chickenping.com/">ChickenPing</A> is just one example, although it's more than just a recipe database. It also allows you to plan meals and shopping lists, manage the contents of your fridge and generate shopping lists. Once the contents of your fridge are known to ChickenPing, you can even have it generate recipes based on what you have. There's nutritional data, a central database so you can share recipes with others, a very handy substitute finder for ingredients you currently lack, and a 'sticky fingers' mode that gives you a hand summary of the ingredients and cooking method. 5. Serve up files Creating a large network share is a pretty easy way to get your extra machine working for its keep. A domestic fileserver that gives everyone using the network a single place to dump files where they can be efficiently backed up is a very useful thing. After carefully clearing out all your old files and emptying the Recycle Bin, you'll need to set up one or more network shares. Assuming your old laptop runs Windows XP, create a folder into which people can dump their files and right-click on it. Select 'Sharing and Security' from the context menu and a window pops up. Tick 'Share this folder on the network', enter a name and also tick 'Allow network users to change my files'. On the General tab, make sure that 'Read Only' is deselected and click 'OK'. When you browse the network on your other computer, you should see the new share. 6. Make an alarm clock <img alt="Alarm clock" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20300/PCP300.make1.bodyimage3-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> If you've decided to use your old laptop as a fileserver, it'll be on all day and night, so why not use it as an alarm clock too? To do so, try the Banshee Screamer by <a href="http://www.hanovsolutions.com/">Hanov Solutions</A>. Download the installation package, run it and accept the defaults. Clicking the tiny bomb symbol at the top left accesses the menu. You can make the interface larger and set the time from an internet-based time server. You can browse an online skin gallery to change the clock's on-screen appearance, but it's best to keep the default skin and set the desktop background to black. If you also set a blank screensaver, you can prevent the bedroom being too light at night. 7. Explore home automation If your old laptop is in good working order, it could be a great opportunity for you to dabble in the world of home automation. The most well-known home automation system is X-10, which uses your home's mains supply to transmit signals to units plugged into standard sockets. Best of all, it doesn't require a huge amount of computing power to control a whole house, making it ideal for use with an old, underpowered laptop. Link all the relevant switches from a master unit connected to a USB port and supplied software enables you to schedule events, such as closing the curtains and switching on lights. You can even hook the whole thing up to the internet – ideal for times when you'll be unexpectedly late home or away on holiday and want to ward off potential burglars by giving the impression that you're in. For more information on how to do this, check out these sites: <a href="http://www.domialifestyle.com/">www.domialifestyle.com</A> and <a href="http://www.letsautomate.com/">www.letsautomate.com</A>. 8. Build a media ripper <img alt="EAC" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20300/PCP300.make1.bodyimage4-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> With a little thought, you can make your old laptop into a CD ripping station to store your music collection. Using EAC (Exact Audio Copy), it's as easy as popping the CD in the drive. First of all, download <a href="http://www.rarewares.org/mp3-lame-bundle.php">LAME from here</A>. This codec enables EAC to read the raw WAV files found on audio CDs. Next, download and install <a href="http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/en/index.php/resources/download/">EAC from here</A>. When installing, deselect the option to install the Ask toolbar. Once installed, EAC runs and a wizard appears. You can accept the defaults. The wizard will then attempt to locate LAME, which can take a while. Accept the rest of the defaults but enter an email address to access the online database of album information. The main interface appears. Click 'EAC | EAC Options' and select the Directories tab. Select a directory to rip to and click 'OK'. If this is a network share, you can access it from other machines on your network. Put a CD in the drive and accept the option of calibrating. Now click 'Action | Test and Copy Selected Tracks | Compressed' and the rip begins. As for playback, the app you choose is up to you. Windows Media Player is decent, while <a href="http://www.winamp.com/">Winamp</A> is still knocking around too. 9. Make a wireless bridge Almost all laptops have both a wired and wireless network card, making an old one ideal to act as a bridge between a wired hub and your wireless network. Windows XP has the ability to act as a bridge built in. In the Control Panel, click 'Network and Internet Connections | Network Connections'. The general procedure is to click the connection for the wireless card, hold [Ctrl] and click the wired connection. Right-clicking offers the option to bridge the two cards. Microsoft has provided a full network bridging guide, <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/expert/crawford_02april22.mspx">including a troubleshooting section, here</A>. 10. Explore Linux <img alt="Ubuntu" src="http://mos.futurenet.com/techradar/Review%20images/PC%20Plus/PCP%20300/PCP300.make1.bodyimage5-420-90.jpg" width="420"></IMG> Linux is the ultimate in laptop resurrection tools. With lower system resource overheads than Windows and a galaxy of free software, it's a great way to bring old hardware to life. Today, all the major Linux distributions are easy to install, will dual-boot with Windows and have excellent graphical user environments. Thanks to Samba networking, they'll mount your Windows network shares straight out of the box, and a large number of wireless cards are supported. One of the most user-friendly Linux distributions is Ubuntu – <a href="http://www.ubuntu.com/desktop/get-ubuntu/download">get it from here</A>. Burn it to a bootable DVD, boot the DVD and then follow the on-screen instructions.

10 useful things to do with an old laptop

Before you throw out that old laptop, stop and think of all the things it could be doing for you. You could turn it into anything from an e...