Symbian Mobile Phone Blog

Free Spyware and Virus Protection

Lots of times our problems in life are linked to one another.  Maybe one night you were feeling lonely and you decided to sign up for a free online Texas Hold ‘em Dating Service.  Trust me, there are plenty of those out there.  So you downloaded a program that had a nasty virus on it. The dating service mined all your personal data from your computer and now your arch-nemesis knows where your girlfriend lives.  He is planning to send her a box of wilted roses with your forged signature on the card for Valentine’s Day.  He has frozen your credit cards from an offshore location, and there’s also a flaming bag of dog poo on your front porch. 

Have you ever wondered where to download free Norton anti-virus programs?  If you had wondered that a little sooner your life would be in much better shape.  One thing leads to another, and if you don’t have your technological ducks in a row you can go from a bright, sunshiny day to a dismal day in the medieval Balkans very quickly.  Don’t let your skepticism or self-reliance stop you from downloading free Norton anti-virus software.  It will make your browser perform faster and your brow can take a break from its furrows. 

Alternatively, you could put your faith in open source firewalls or anti-virus protection.  Some of the programs even update their software from time to time, although there is no guarantee that you’ll be abreast of all the latest booby traps that hackers have cooked up. Our recommendation: if you use Windows or Macintosh, you’ll definitely want some commercially distributed security software. 

$4,954.14 iPhone Bill

Tips for the novice Internet and computer user

Have you ever gauged your skills at web-surfing?  Is there a better way?  How come I have to wade through 10 unwanted websites before I can find the information or service that I am looking for? 

Most people only use the internet for a few, limited operations, like checking their email and searching for songs, maybe blogging.  Because of the ready supply of information on advanced internet and computer use, it isn't necessary to list anything but broad categories- perhaps a top five list of literacy items will do (in no particular order).

1. Alternative operating systems

Learning to use a variety of O/S programs is almost like being multilingual- each time you expand your horizons and learn something new it becomes easier the next time.

2. Open source software

Going along with #1, there are many software programs which you can download for free that have as much utility, and sometimes more, than programs that cost hundreds of dollars.  Such software is available because of the dedicated efforts of many freely contributing individuals.

3. User-edited media

Numerous websites have sprung up lately that offer lots of postings of materials such as free songs, free movies, or free television episodes. 

4. Filesharing

While lots of media attention is given to sites like napster that are taken down and prosecuted, filesharing continues to be a problem in the intellectual property sectors of business.  A bit of research on filesharing is advised to make sure you know the difference between fair use and copyright violation.

5. Search terms

Google, yahoo, and other search engines run complex formulas to determine the order that websites appear in their search engines.  Learn to search efficiently- thinking of a more accurate search term will also exercise your vocabulary!

Last one: If you still can't figure out how to use the Internet to your advantage, there are many other manuals more complicated and thorough than this one that will help you access all the free movies, software, games, and lots more, you could ever need.

Das Internet ist voll von nuetzlichen und unnuetzen Informationen, so dass es mittlerweile die Hauptaufgabe eines jeden Internetnutzers ist, die relevantesten Daten herauszufiltern. Ein Grossteil der Surfer sucht nach Unterhaltung wie zum Bespiel kostenlose Filme, kostenlose Musik Downloads oder ein kleines Onlinespiel für zwischendurch. Scheinschatten.de hält viele nuetzliche Informationen zu diesen Themen bereit, um dir so die Suche im Internet zu erleichtern.

To Print, or Not to Print

I remember when the Dot Matrix was the hottest product on the market for home printing. Although I had one, I regret it- the printouts had characteristic streaks and the paper jammed.  Now that technology has evolved and a plethora of options currently abound for printer hardware, the notion of printing at home has become much more attractive.

The main problem is that when your inkjet cartridges run out, you have to go to the supermarket and you might find that you don’t want to spend the $50-$60 to replace your black and color cartridges.  Not to mention that you might not find the right cartridge for your model.

Let’s consider the alternatives.  If you are printing a standard size page with standard ink, the copy shop down the street will probably charge you $0.10 for a black and white copy or $0.15 for color.  Let’s say you print off 500 pages at this rate, for black and white printing you will spend a whopping $50.00!  Sure, Kinko’s might give you a discounted rate if you are a master negotiator, but they’re obviously pulling in plenty of profit by this scheme, since they are buying ink and other supplies in bulk.  In fact, there really is no better alternative than using your own equipment for your average printing needs.

Now, consider the convenience factor.  Printing from your home or office saves you a trip downtown, increases the privacy of your operations, and allows you the flexibility of using your own computer to customize your printing processes.

The icing on the cake is that you can do even better buy looking for inexpensive inkjet cartridges online.  The selection is bound to be adequate and many sites also offer free shipping because cartridges weigh so little. Bottom line: if you can afford to invest in some reasonably high quality home printing hardware, why pad the copy shop’s pockets?

Nokia 888 Design

Cool concept video!

Nokia N95 spot

Critical Business Information: Chargeback Protection

What do you need to know about chargeback protection?  Like many innovations of the information age, chargeback protection probably encompasses an unwieldy array of companies, services, and protocol.  But having a basic grasp of the concepts involved should point you in the right direction, whether you are a merchant or a consumer.

Fraudsters beware

The basic premise of a chargeback is the idea that most payment transfer services offer automatic reimbursement of fraudulent transactions.  Therefore, if a consumer flags an expense posted to her or his account, the bank reimburses that consumer and investigates the matter on its own time, with its own funds.  Inverting this concept from the perspective of a payment transfer provider, a problem immediately crops up: what about people who would take advantage of this service to receive reimbursement from purchases they have actually made?

Behind the scenes: FedWire and PreCharge

FedWire is a huge corporation run by the Federal Reserve Bank that monitors and conducts over $2.3 trillion daily through more than half a million transactions.  FedWire provides protection to its clients, which means that if a consumer disputes a claim, FedWire covers the initial expense and then pursues the matter on its own.  Think of them as a bounty hunter for the finance industry.  PreCharge is its online equivalent, and it is purportedly the world’s only guaranteed provider.  PreCharge has two separate levels of service.  One is free, and one is offered at a very reasonable monthly rate.  For merchants looking to sell their products on the international online marketplace, PreCharge is an indispensable service.  Guaranteed chargeback protection removes a substantial risk factor for international business expansion, since it means that merchants don’t have to swallow the capital losses associated with a fraudulent chargeback.

Eavesdropping on Bluetooth Headsets

If you didn't know just how trivial it is to do this.

Banning Cell Phone Use While Driving

You have probably heard the statistic that a driver using a cell phone is as dangerous as a slightly drunk driver.  But did you know that the following countries have passed laws against it?

Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Ireland, Isle of Man, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jersey, Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, United Kingdom, Zimbabwe

The United State's answer is a resounding: What do you mean?  We drive drunk all the time.  Only the following states have passed definitive bans against cell phone usage while driving:

• California
• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• New Jersey
• New York

Many states have passed laws banning bus drivers from talking on cell phones while driving, and some states have pending laws on the subject.  Why does the U.S. federal government blackmail the states via highway funding on the issue of BAC intoxication standards but remain silent on this issue?

Okay, okay, driving drunk is one thing, cell phone use while driving is another.  I admit I partake from time to time, but I think the one that takes the cake is shooting video for podcasts or video presentations while driving.  A video of lane splitting is one thing, but imparting deep wisdom or funny anecdotes - do you really want to be distracted from driving reducing the quality of your spoken and recorded message?  Discuss.

Nokia Buys Trolltech

Nokia's bid was for 16 NOK per share for the entire company (though 35,024,830 shares representing a  66.43% share in the company were stated to be a part of the official deal - they're a majority owner, but not necessarily the sole owner). This values  Trolltech at an equivalent of approximately $150 million USD. The stock currently trades at 15.70 on the Oslo stack exchange, up from around 10 on Friday. The offer has already been accepted by the Trolltech Board of Directors in a unanimous decision.