Category: Technology

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Best security practices for your iPhone/iPad

Basic Security – Everybody should at least do this

Turn on passcode lock and set a 4 digit numeric pin number.

Set it to only prompt for the pin number after 1 hour of inactivity.

Medium Security – For those who like to be extra careful

Turn off simple pascode and opt for a more secure alphanumeric password.

Set it to prompt for the password immediately so every time you pick up the device it prompts you for a password.

Turn restrictions on and go to location services, click find my ipad and make sure “status bar icon is off” so tell tale gps arrow doesnt show if you need to track your iOS device.

High Security – For the über paranoid

As per medium security above for the passcode.

Turn on Erase Data so if somebody tried to use the wrong passcode 10 times it wipes your device.

Turn Restrictions on and go to location section, make sure all the apps you use that need location services are turned on (disable any apps you dont think need to know you location)

Go to system services and disable Setting time zone, location based iAds, Diag and Usage (they just waste battery for now reason). Make sure status bar icon for system services is also OFF.

Make sure find ipad is ON and status bar icon is OFF.

and then select Dont allow changes. this greys out all location services so if your ipad ends up in the wrong hands and they took it from you whilst you were logged in (ie they dont need to get past your passcode). However, a clever thief who’s managed to take your ipad from your hands whilst you were logged would first try and disable location services, once they realise they cant the will then jump to deleting your iCloud or MobileMe account so you can’t use find my ipad, so you’ll want to stop them from being able to do that.

Go to restrictions–>Accounts–>click Don’t Allow Changes and now all the account options are greyed out.

This next step will seem non-sensical but if you want to make sure you can track your iOS device and get it back then make sure Erase data after 10 failed passwords is turned OFF. If it’s turned on and they try 10 passwords your iOS device wipes itself make it like a brand new iPad for them to play with and no way for you to track it.

 

 

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KeyCase iPad 2 Folio Deluxe with Bluetooth Keyboard [Review]

I bought the first generation iPad on UK launch day way back in 28 May 2010 and since then have upgraded to the iPad 2, again on launch day and have the new iPad (aka iPad 3) pre-ordered for delivery this Friday 16th March. I love the iPad, it filled a gap between my iPhone and MacBook Air that I didn’t know was there. In a similar way, the KeyCase iPad 2 Folio Deluxe case with built in bluetooth keyboard fills a gap for an iPad  case that I didn’t know was there.

Whilst this review relates to my iPad 2 paired to a bluetooth keyboard case, the majority of the benefits I discuss in this article would equally apply to a Samsung Galaxy 10.1 case with built in bluetooth keyboard or a Kindle Fire case with built in keyboard (if such a thing exists).

I’ve never had a problem using the iPad or iPad 2 onscreen keyboard, it’s fast and responsive and the keys are a decent size (in landscape mode at least) but I would never dream of using the iPad on screen keyboard for anything other than quick email replies, form filling, brief note taking etc. For anything that needed more than 5 minutes of keyboard time I’d bring out the MacBook Air which is far easier to speed touch type on and get a lengthy email, proposal, blog post or report typed up.

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New iPad Predictions. The iPad HD or the iPad 3?

With the new iPad set to be announced tomorrow we thought we’d bring you a preview post of all that we expect to be seen and we’ll revert back here to see how right or wrong we were.

It seems this years model has been the worst kept secret in Apples history. The only swerve ball coming from this iPad announcement invite photo which hinted at no home screen button (yes, that iPad is in portrait mode as the drips on the wallpaper only appear in that pattern in portrait and would appear above the 5th icon in a 5 icon dock) so while this picture shows it, the parts have confirmed this not to be the case. In fact it would appear the front of the iPad will be exactly the same as the iPad 2, available in white and black, with the same home button and of course the same 9.7″ screen (we’re also 90% sure it’ll be offered in 16gb, 32gb and 64gb sizes again)

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Pluscom 2.5″ IDE to USB HDD ultra slim and ultra cheap [Review]

Like most ‘geeks’ and ‘tech heads’ I have a sizeable graveyard of 3.5″ and 2.5″ IDE and SATA hard drives that I’d stripped out of decommissioned computers, laptops, Sky+ boxes etc

The larger spare SATA drives are soon to be put to good use in my new DROBO S which I just received and will review shortly but the older IDE drives were the ones that were really mounting up and beginning to gather dust.

I have a generic IDE/SATA to USB adapter for testing the drives and securely erasing them but it’s a clunky bit of kit that lives in a drawer by my desk. I decided the smaller form factor 2.5″ IDE drives taken out of old laptops would be handy in an enclosure to add to my portable USB drive collection. I already have 3 USB Freecom Toughdrive(320GB, 500GB and 750GB) which in my opinion are the best portable drive that size, they don’t require power but most important for me is they have nicely integrated USB cables.

So I don’t need a fancy enclosure for these old 2.5″ IDE drives, one 40GB and one 60GB, they’re just going to be spares so I set about finding the cheapest 2.5″ enclosures that I could on eBay and came up with a winner.

 

 

These Pluscom 2.5″ USB 2.0 Aluminium enclosures couldn’t get much cheaper at £3.80 including delivery! I opted for one  silver and one red just so I can tell them apart easily. I ordered them from the same seller and both were delivered the next day and I am pleasantly surprised with them.

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