What to do when your phone gets wet

Seeing your phone dunked in a pool, toilet bowl, glass of beer or even washed with your jeans - many owners have been there. Well ive got a crazy trick, courtesy of Wikihow, which might come handy to some of you:

1. First off, get the phone out from its baptizing ceremony as soon as possible, and immediately take out the battery to prevent short-circuiting, as well as your SIM card, if any, to avoid losing your contacts - the longer it stays, the more eventual damage it will get.
2. Check your water damage sensor for change of color - it is a white dot or square near the battery compartment in the corner - if it has changed color towards red, then your water damage has already voided your warranty and often your insurance, so whatever you do to resuscitate the phone from there is your responsibility.
3. Pray it is not saltwater, but the drinkable type, as salt crust can form on the delicate innards of the device. If it is saltwater, gently rinse with fresh after you've taken out the battery and SIM, and before the drying procedure has begun.
4. Wipe the phone everywhere with a cloth or a paper towel, trying not to move or shake it too much, as water might be spreading withing the innards.
5. Try and "vacuum" around the phone all around to suck out the excessive moisture for a few minutes, then leave it in warm air circulation for a few hours, if possible.
6. Finally, put the phone in a jar or a pouch full of raw rice(yes Raw Rice) for the remainder of the at least 24 hours during which the handset can't be switched on, as rice is very water-absorbent and will help save your handset.

Turn the handset on after that twenty-four hour period, and hope it will power up and there will be no residual damage from corrosion or short-circuiting. If it works on a charger, but not on a battery, then feel free to swap the fried juicer.

7 reasons why you need Windows 8

With Windows 8, Microsoft is making one of the biggest upgrades to its PC operating system. For one, it will replace the Start Menu with a Start Screen - with tiles that contain shortcuts to applications - similar to the Metro interface seen on its Windows Phone 7 OS. It will also be introducing the Ribbon interface - first seen in Office 2007 - to Windows Explorer. It will launch a store for the new Metro-style apps that Windows 8 will support.

But the changes to the new OS are not just cosmetic. Windows 8 has been designed ground-up to support ARM processors - the chips used in tablets - apart from the X86 processors from Intel and AMD. This means the same operating system will be available on desktops, laptops and slates/tablets. And regardless of the machine's form factor, whether tablet or PC, this new OS promises a slew of brand new features that seem just as compelling to power users as they are enticing to newbies.

Picture passwords

It can be rather cumbersome to enter long, complex passwords on touchscreen devices such as tablets. Yet, having a strong passcode is important, especially on portable devices. To allow for better security, Windows 8 utilizes a new system that incorporates pictures and gestures in user authentication. It's a simple concept: Users will first need to select an image on which to perform a gesture. The gestures could be tapping on something in the picture, encircling something, or drawing a line between two points. A "password" would then comprise any combination of these three. Since you can pick any photo to perform the gesture on, these actions could be based on the image, such as tapping someone's nose, encircling a book, or drawing a line along the edge of an object.

Windows to go

Portable applications are a growing trend. Already, you can run software such as web browsers, word processors, image editors etc from a pen drive (so you can carry your favourite software to use on almost any computer). With Windows 8, you will even be able to take the entire operating system with you. Enterprise versions of the OS will be capable of running off a flash drive or portable harddrive. Since your Windows environment pretty much makes your computer yours, you will - in effect - be carrying your entire PC around without having to lug bulky hardware. 

 Refresh and reset

After an extended period of using Windows, you will often find a noticeable decrease in performance - as applications are installed, and then uninstalled, remnants of these programs start to build up and cause performance issues. The best solution in such cases is to reinstall the OS and migrate your data to the new copy. But this solution has been needlessly difficult till now - and usually, only expert users resort to it. Windows 8 will change all that...

The new OS will have two options, Refresh and Reset, to tackle this problem. Reset, as its name suggests, resets your installation to its initial state. It deletes all your personal data and software, leaving a fresh Windows 8 computer that you can even hand over to someone else.

Refresh is a less drastic measure. It retains your personal data, customisations and settings, and reinstalls Windows in-place. After this procedure you can log into the same old account, and see all your documents intact. Your desktop apps will be gone, but a list of those will be saved so you can remember which ones you need to reinstall. If you want to refresh Windows to a customised state (instead of a blank slate), you can do that as well.

Better automatic updates

With Windows 8, you will no longer be harassed by those frequent 15-minute warnings that inform you that your system has been updated and needs to be restarted. With the new OS, Windows Update (WU) will consolidate all the restarts in a month into one single restart.

With this new feature, it will not matter when the updates are released, since these restarts will wait till the month's security release. In case of a critical update, however, WU will download, install and restart automatically. But this will happen only when the security threat is dire enough - and there is no chance of losing the user's data. That means the restarts will not happen if you are not at your PC, if you have applications running in the background, or if there is potentially unsaved work.

Protection from malware

Windows 8 boot process will support a new built-in mechanism called Secure Boot, which will ensure that the system being booted has not been tampered by malware. Another anti-malware feature in Windows 8 is a technology it borrows from Internet Explorer (IE), called SmartScreen. SmartScreen checks URLs entered in the browser against a database of malware links, and in IE9 this feature was extended to downloaded files. The browser checks the "reputation" of the file you download and warns you if the file is unknown and downloaded by very few people. Now instead of being an IE-only feature, this technology is baked into Windows, and it will check files downloaded using any browser or program.

File management improvements

 

The copying mechanisms that Windows currently uses can be quite inefficient. Not only are the 'copy time' estimates frustratingly erroneous, but even basic features such as pausing a transfer are absent. Windows 8 rectifies this and a number of other issues with improvements in its file management system.

First of all, if you are running multiple file operations on Windows 8, it consolidates them all into a single window showing all transfers. Secondly, individual operations can be paused or cancelled. And while the basic Copy operation window is simplified, there is a new detailed view that offers a lot more, including the current speed, and a graph of how that speed has changed over time. Conflicts while copying are also managed better. If while copying from one folder to another Windows detects multiple conflicting files, it can show you a detailed list of files in both the folders and the differences between them, along with the option to skip files that are exactly the same on both sides. Windows 8 also makes it possible for you to access files in an ISO file without burning it to a disc.

Logging in via Windows Live ID

A Windows Live ID gives you access to Microsoft cloud services such as Hotmail for email, Office Web for online document creation and collaboration, SkyDrive for online file storage, Live messenger for chat etc. In Windows 8, Microsoft will let you log into your computer with this ID.

It might seem odd to log into your own PC with an online account, however, Microsoft offers a number of advantages for such users. First, such accounts will automatically be synchronised with Microsoft's servers. Many of your settings such as your wallpaper, mouse settings, Explorer settings, Internet Explorer history and favourites, spell-check dictionaries and a number of other settings will be available on any computer, you log into with this account - and if you make a change on one computer it will be reflected to all other computers. Metro-style applications purchased from the Windows Store will also be available on all your computers, along with their settings. An eBook reader, for instance, could let you start reading a book on one Windows 8 device and continue on another. IE10 already supports this feature and will keep browsing sessions in sync across computers.

Google Launches Feature to Find Hotels

Looking for a hotel near the Eiffel Tower, but not too familiar with your Parisian neighborhoods?
Google has unveiled a new feature for its “Hotel Finder” tool, allowing travelers to look for lodging near popular landmarks. The addition is perfect for those looking to narrow their hotel search by how long it takes to get to certain spots within a city. So whether you’re planning a vacation or a business trip, the feature makes it easy to find the best spot to spend the night.

Finding hotels by travel time is an extension of Google’s Hotel Finder tool, which debuted in July. Now, instead of just looking for hotels in a certain city, typing “Eiffel Tower” or “Empire State Building” will show you available hotels and prices in that area. You can also search by address.

Not into a 20-minute commute or want to walk to the landmark by foot? Select your travel-time and mode of transportation preferences, and Google’s Hotel Finder map will automatically update with suggested hotels.

Google noted in a blog post that the feature is currently “experimental” and that filtering by transit time is only available in certain cities, including New York, Niagara Falls (Canada), Las Vegas, Honolulu, Paris, London and Bangkok. These locations have “partnered with local transit agencies to integrate their data into Google Maps,” the site said.

To check it out yourself, visit Hotel Finder

Tips To Make Your Printer Ink Last longer

It is one of the most modern of dilemmas: how can I make sure I'm getting the most ink out of my ink cartridge? How can I stretch it further so I don't have to buy so much of it?

Luckily, a great number people have invested a lot of their time and money into making sure ink cartridges can last longer by figuring out solutions to things you didn't even know were problems to begin with. And now I'll lay all these solutions out for you here.

How can I get the black ink in my printer to last longer?

Even though black is the most common - and cheapest - of inks, there are a number ways to reduce the amount of black ink you use. You can write using more streamlined and smaller font, like 08-point Garamond rather than 12-point Arial Bold. You can even use a font called "ecofont", which promises to reduce toner use by up to 50%.

You can also read over your document to make sure there are no mistakes, so you don't have to print the same document more than once. You can also cut out any images, paragraphs or other elements you don't need to print. Finally, be sure to keep your printer and cartridges clean. Clogged printers don't work as efficiently, and the extra pressure caused by clogs can even result in leaks.

How long does printer ink last past the expiration date?

This depends on the manufacturer of the cartridges. For example, HP cartridges often expire after just over two years, and other manufacturers had expiration dates of one to three years.

Nonetheless, printer ink can still be used sometimes if you do the following. Turn the printer off then back on, to clear the error. Then reset your computer's date to a time before the cartridge expired, and print your document as usual. Once you have printed that one time, you can reset the computer's date to the correct date, and the printer should continue to work.

That said, cartridges have expiration dates for a reason. The tiny gaps in the plastic case allow air to get in and water to evaporate, which corrodes the ink and makes it thicker. Thicker ink is more likely to cause clogs and result in less-than-optimal print quality, less ink to use for printing or, as mentioned above, leaks.

If you leave your ink jet printer on, will it dry out the ink cartridge?

It's more likely that your cartridge will dry out if you turn off your printer incorrectly. Before you turn it off, you must make sure that the printer has completed its cycle: that is, that the cartridge slot has moved all the way back over to the side it starts on. That place where the cartridge starts from is more protected from air than the middle part where it moves from side-to-side to print something, and it also closes off the nozzle tips of the cartridges. Stopping it mid-cycle leaves the nozzles open and exposed to air, which will result in clogs, less ink and - that's right - leaks.

Likewise, you must turn the printer off by using the power button on the machine. If you turn off the printer at the power source, like the socket or the power strip, rather than on the printer itself, it won't power down and clear itself properly, which can lead to the ink drying out.

Finally, if you have an inkjet printer, make sure you use it at least once every couple of weeks. Inkjets need to be used regularly to avoid clogs, dried-out ink and other problems. If you don't need to print anything that regularly, consider just getting a new printer.

Hopefully this has answered a few questions you may have had and given you some useful tips so you can make the most of the ink you have.

How to Get the Most Out of Google Analytics

Recently, I had to gather some data on Google Analytics. So I got deeply into it to fetch data. And I found many intresting facts about it. Also it has new features recently included in it which I'll explain below.

Google Analytics has revamped its design, giving it not only a cleaner look but also updated data sets. You can now find everything from real-time stats to details about which mobile device your site visitors come from. Though the data possibilities seem endless, Google Analytics product manager Phil Mui says the design reflects three core metrics: acquisition, engagement and outcome. Let’s take a closer look at what these numbers mean and how you can track them with one of the most widely used web analytics platforms.

Acquisition

 

 

The lowest-hanging fruit of web analytics is counting metrics. This data encompasses the number of visitors that come to your site and can be filtered to show what sites they’re coming from and how many of them have or haven’t been to your site before. In Google Analytics, this is described as “Visits.”

The tool has long provided information about where your visitors are coming from (geographically and on the web), what language they speak, how often they visit your site and what computers and browsers they use to get there. More recently, Google Analytics released mobile reporting. As people increasingly access the web from smartphones and tablets, this information is key to optimizing your site for those looking at it from a mobile device. This and most visitor-specific information can be found under the Audience tab. On report pages, the Visits metric can be found in the upper-left, while New Visits — the percentage of visitors coming to your site for the first time — is second in from the right. Measuring how many people are coming to your site is the most cut and dried — but it’s only one piece of the metrics pie.

Engagement

 

 

These numbers consider the quality of your site traffic. Once visitors come to your site, they’ll do one of three things: read the page they came to, click to more pages beyond their entry page, or leave. Engagement metrics focus on these actions visitors are taking once they get to your site — and how good you are at keeping them there.

The three key engagement metrics in Google Analytics are:

• Pages per Visit: This is the average number of pages a visitor views when coming to your website. The more engaging your site is, the more inclined visitors will be to continue clicking beyond the entry page.
• Average Time on Site: This refers to the typical amount of time visitors spend on your site, despite whether they continue to stay on the page they came in on or navigate elsewhere within your domain.
• Bounce Rate: This represents the percentage of single-page visits to your site. It gives you a sense of how many visitors left your site from the entrance page rather than clicking further into your site as compared to total visitors. Like Pages per Visit, Bounce Rate can help you determine the performance of your entry pages based on the actions visitors take (or don’t take) after they’ve arrived on your site.

Engagement metrics are especially important for reports created in the Traffic Sources and Content tabs. On report pages, Pages per Visit and Average Time on site are located at the top middle of report pages, while Bounce Rate is at the far right. So, how do you know if your site is “engaging?” Ask yourself: Is your site user-friendly? How simple is it for a visitor to click to the next page? Is there interactive content in which your readers can participate? Does landing page content match the keywords in its title? Considering these questions when designing your site is a surefire way to improve the quality of your web traffic. 

Outcome

 

The Goals area is where your data tracking can really help you make a difference. These outcome-oriented metrics help you dive deeper into your site performance and learn whether you’re achieving what you want with your website.

The first step is defining your business objectives: Are you driving visitors to make online purchases? Getting them to view a specific piece of content? Aiming for more newsletter signups? Once you’ve pinned down your site goals, make sure your site administrator enables Goals in Google Analytics in the Account Settings page. Then you can choose one of four Goal types to track:

• URL destination: This metric is best if your goal is to get visits to a key page of your site, such as your homepage or a post-purchase message page.
• Time on Site: If you’re looking to measure engagement, this will track visitors spending a defined amount of time on your site.
• Pages per Visit: Also important for engagement, Pages per Visit will keep tabs on a defined number of pages visitors view in a session on your site.
• Events: Released in the most recent version of Google Analytics, Event Goals allow you to track specific actions visitors are taking on a page. This includes anything from downloading a PDF to watching a video.

Goals reports can be found under the Conversions tab, which will provide information about goal completions and conversion rates. You can opt to track goal value and abandonment rates (the percentage of visitors who fail to convert on the goal) as well. If you’re an online retailer, it may make more sense for you to set up Ecommerce in Google Analytics, which allows you to track transactions and order values. It’s a more complicated setup process, but will provide more actionable metrics for visitors’ purchasing behavior on your site. For Google Adwords users, linking your account to Google Analytics goals can help you keep a closer eye on your marketing campaigns.

Other Noteworthy Features

 

One problem with the analytics industry, Mui says, is that tools give users so much information — but they’re not as good at telling users what they need to know. That’s why Google Analytics improved its Intelligence product in the most-recent update. It searches your site traffic for anything out of the ordinary and then alerts you to the anomaly. You can see all your alerts in a simple graph, where you can drill into and annotate specific events.

If you’re running a dynamic website that frequently publishes new content, Google Analytics Real-Time helps you understand what content is working best and what sites are sending you the most traffic at any given moment. It’s less useful for providing more long-term actionable insights.