TECHNOLOGY TRENDS

Archive for the ‘Windows Mobile’ Category

When you first buy your computer, it often comes with a few things already installed. Check out your all programs list, or even better, go to Control Panel, then Add or Remove Programs (a.k.a. Programs and Features on Windows Vista and 7). From here you can not only see all your installed programs, you can also remove unused programs. Any program like a messenger, toolbar, security program, or installation software for a dial-up should probably be removed if you aren’t going to use it. First of all, it’s taking up space on your hard drive that can be used for the programs you actually want, and secondly, these programs are probably starting themselves up every time you turn on your computer. This means that they are using your system resources and possibly even your bandwidth, both unnecessarily.

You may have received a free trial of a security suite, like Norton Antivirus or McAfee. You can certainly use them, at least until you install other security software, but if you don’t upgrade it when the trial runs out, you would definitely want to uninstall it. Programs like these are constantly running and performing maintenance tasks. Again, they are using up your system resources, so try to uninstall any antivirus or anti-spyware programs you don’t want to use. Even if it has “run out” and asking you to upgrade, it’s still using your system resources-not to mention being an annoyance with constant reminders to “renew now!”

Check your system tray for programs that are running on your computer every time it is turned on. It’s in the lower right corner of the screen, just beside your clock. You may see an arrow button that will show you more icons if there are more than 3 or 4 programs running. Each icon in the system tray will tell you what it does if you hover over them with your mouse. You will probably see a volume icon to adjust your sound, an Internet connection icon, and an icon for your antivirus program. You probably have other icons, depending on the type of computer you have and what you have downloaded on your computer.

With more people than ever using their computers to purchase goods, on-line banking, stock market investments and services such as pay pal, the need for securing your personal computer from potential hackers has become paramount. Some of these criminals may be trying to “Phish” your personal information (send bogus links in emails in hopes you will give them information on seemingly legit websites), others may be trying to use your computer as a platform from which to attack other unknowing targets. And, others may be trying to install malicious programs on your computer to steal your personal information.

The following are some easy to use steps to help secure your computer.

1.Always make backups of important information and store in a safe place separate from your computer. Don’t save important information in any email account. Print it out and delete the original email, making sure the original email doesn’t sit in the trash bin either.

2.Update and patch your operating system, web browser and software frequently. If you have a Windows operating system, set your update options to automatic. This program will help you find the latest patches for your Windows computer.

3.Install a firewall. Without a good firewall, viruses, worms, Trojans, malware and ad ware can all easily access your computer from the Internet. Consideration should be given to the benefits and differences between hardware and software based firewall programs. Still redundancy is a good thing, so try to use a router with a built in firewall along with your PCs firewall and anti-virus software.

4.Install anti-virus software and set for automatic updates so that you receive the most current versions.

5.Do not open unknown email attachments. It is simply not enough that you may recognize the address from which it originates because many viruses can spread from a familiar address, and anyone can pretend to be someone you trust.

Mozilla released Fennec Alpha 3 for Windows Mobile, the latest in Mozilla’s effort to put its Firefox application on a ambulatory phone. As with Fennec 1.0 beta 3 for the Maemo papers found on whatever Nokia Internet Tablets, Fennec for Windows Mobile makes changes to the ambulatory browser’s theme, and its scrolling and panning performance.

In particular, it’s using what’s called a tile cache rendering system to hold onto the part of the screen that has already been rendered. As you scroll and pan around, it should take less time to refresh the screen, since Fennec won’t be downloading the same content afresh. This is the same identify of technology used in Google Maps.

In addition, Mozilla says it has accumulated Fennec’s start-up time, though you’ll need to reboot the Windows Mobile phone for the difference to take effect. Swiping along the edge of the directional aggrandize on the HTC Touch Pro now controls zooming. In the meantime, Fennec now supports more screen resolutions for any other Windows Mobile phone, so it could potentially look better on your device.

While Mozilla has no hard date set for completing Fennec 1.0 for Windows Mobile (which in all probability, could be called Firefox for Windows Mobile when it’s done) it has set a target time for releasing Fennec on the Maemo papers in Q4, which brings us to before the end of December. This fits the timeline of Mozilla’s unstoppered design competition for the company’s Firefox for Mobile campaign, which module revilement off voting on October 7, 2009.

Fennec Alpha 3 for Windows Mobile is ready to try for your Windows Mobile phone and can be downloaded from this CAB file. Remember that as an unstable alpha release, you may encounter bugs and other issues.