Tech tip: iPhone update fixes location data

Question: I'm uncomfortable with my iPhone storing my location data. I heard that an update would fix this. When will it be out?

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  By Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

  
  

  An iPhone 4 .

By Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

An iPhone 4 .

Answer: Many people were uncomfortable with the iPhone's location log. This stored more than 10 months of user location data on the iPhone. Fortunately, the update containing the fixes, iOS 4.3.3, is available. Download it through iTunes. The update limits the location storage to seven days. It prevents location data from being backed up to your computer. Finally, if you turn off location sharing, it deletes the location storing altogether. To turn off location sharing, go to iOS's Settings and disable Location Services. The upcoming iOS 5 will encrypt location data to make it secure.

Q. My TV has video-streaming apps like Netflix built-in. Do I still need to buy a separate unit to watch online video?

A. Your TV's streaming apps are designed to replace set-top boxes like Apple TV or Roku. You can watch Netflix. Just connect your TV to the Internet and start watching. But I bet your TV doesn't have every streaming service available. If you like the ones it has, you're set. To get ones it doesn't have, you will need a separate unit. Try one of the boxes I mentioned. You can also connect the TV to a computer. Many TVs have a VGA or DVI port for computers. The TV will act like a monitor. Then you can watch anything you can stream on your computer. Visit Komando.com/news to learn more about your options.

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  MORE: Recent Komando columns

  
  

Q. I keep hearing that I should secure my wireless network. Is an unsecured network really that big a deal?

A. Is being accused of distributing child pornography a big deal? I think we can all agree that it is. That's happened to several people recently. Pedophiles used unsecured networks to distribute and download millions of images. The network owners got visits from the FBI. That's not something you want to go through. Securing a wireless network isn't as hard as you think. Visit Komando.com/news for thorough instructions. If you still can't get it, hire someone who can. Spending a little money now can save your reputation in the future.

Q. I heard there is a virus targeting Macs. I thought Macs were immune. What can I do?

A. Macs aren't immune to viruses; hackers just haven't targeted them much until now. That changed with the new MAC Defender. It's a fake antivirus program that targets Macs. It says your machine is infected and charges you for worthless software. You get MAC Defender by visiting malicious websites in Safari. Safari will download and run the program automatically. To stop programs from automatically running, open Safari. Click Safari>>Preferences. At the bottom of the General tab, uncheck the Open "safe" files after downloading option. You should also install antivirus software on your machine. Visit Komando.com/news for free antivirus software.

Q. I'm trying to delete a file, but Windows says it is in use. I don't have open programs. How do I delete it?

A. You'll encounter this bug in Windows from time to time. The bug can keep files locked even after a program is closed. First, you should try restarting your computer. If that doesn't work, boot into Safe Mode. To do this, hold F8 while restarting. You should see the Windows boot menu. Select Safe Mode from the list. If the file is still locked, download Unlocker from Komando.com/news. Just make sure that you aren't trying to delete a system file. Those are locked for a reason. Deleting one could crash Windows and cause you big headaches.

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Email questions to Komando at C1Tech@gannett.com.

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Nook Color update enhances device, to a point

Barnes & Noble has tried straddling a fine line with its Nook Color since launching it as a "reader tablet" in November. The bookseller positioned Nook Color as a kind of hybrid between a conventional e-reader such as Amazon.com's Kindle and a more versatile full-featured tablet PC such as the Apple iPad.

• 

  Barnes and Noble

  
  

  The Nook Color.

Barnes and Noble

The Nook Color.

Next week, Barnes & Noble begins pushing out a free major update that it is counting on to broaden Nook Color's appeal and inch it closer to its Android tablet brethren, which are built on Google's mobile software platform, and the iPad.

The update will automatically arrive on Nook Color devices via Wi-Fi over the next couple of weeks. Users also can get it manually at www.nookcolor.com/update. The upgrade brings new apps, e-mail, Adobe Flash Web video and an under-the-hood Android update that takes it to version 2.2 Froyo. Barnes & Noble is also launching a Nook Friends social-networking app, still in beta, that lets you swap books and recommendations with pals.

While the Nook Color makeover generally enhances a device I reviewed favorably (with reservations) last fall, make no mistake: This remains a reader-first device that is no substitute for anyone with designs on a serious multimedia tablet. It can use another coat of polish. Web browsing, even with such additions as "pinch-to-zoom" and Flash, is substandard. I encountered a few freezes and general sluggishness. For all its promise, Barnes & Noble has a long way to go on the apps front, too.

Still, at $249, Nook Color certainly carries a fetching price compared with full-featured tablets such as the iPad, which at minimum cost twice as much. I'm not aware of a less expensive Android tablet.

Of course, Nook Color is pricier than its most natural rival, the Kindle, which now starts at $114 with ads.

A quick recap

With its 7-inch display, Nook Color was the first mainstream dedicated reader to offer a full-color touch-screen, something Amazon still hasn't introduced on the Kindle. Nook Color also came with such novel features as the ability to highlight text in a book you're reading and share the passage on Twitter or Facebook. You can lend certain books, too, albeit relatively few and with tight restrictions.

Nook's attractive color display was always the chief reason for choosing it over the Kindle. Amazon retains important advantages, though, most notably in battery life, where it can go up to a month, compared with about eight hours for Nook Color. And Nook Color doesn't have a 3G wireless option, as on the Kindle, for purchasing from more than 2 million digital titles on the fly when Wi-Fi isn't available.

Nook Color was originally preloaded with a handful of apps, including Pandora Internet radio, a music player, photo gallery and games such as Sudoku, Crossword and Chess.

As part of the update, Barnes & Noble adds to the collection but only modestly, with about 140 in total, a mere blip next to the 65,000 apps native to the iPad. Given Nook Color's Android roots, it's too bad you can't tap into the Android Market to purchase apps or grab those that are free.

Barnes & Noble concedes it's not going to have the largest app offering but expects hundreds more in the coming weeks and months. It says it has made it easy for Android developers to submit apps for Nook Color, and it says the initial batch is what users have been requesting.

The current collection includes free calendar, notes and tasks apps. Most apps for sale cost $5.99 or less, through a shop that is accessible on the device. From there, you can read or write reviews, view screen shots and recommend an app to your contacts, Facebook friends or Twitter followers.

Nook Color's small selection does include some favorites, notably Angry Birds and the Epicurious Recipes & Shopping List. But the latter costs $4.99 for the Nook Color. It's free on the iPad, albeit with ads.

Snags: I couldn't find a calendar app to download by typing the word "calendar" in the shop's search box. I found it by typing the actual name of the app: Fliq Calendar. Barnes & Noble says it is working on a fix.

I also had trouble installing Angry Birds until I removed the tiny memory card that comes with the device. Barnes & Noble has since fixed that bug. Meanwhile, when I first launched Gameloft's $4.99 Uno HD, a curious message said, "The game requires additional data (783 MB) to run on your phone." Last I checked, Nook Color is no phone.

The original Nook was a hit with my kids because of color and its read-aloud feature for certain books. There are 15 new "Read and Play" titles with animations and activities for kids. Overall, Barnes & Noble includes more than 350 Nook Kids digital picture books and more than 12,000 children's chapter books.

I ended my initial review of Nook Color by suggesting that it remained to be seen "how well Barnes & Noble does at expanding Nook Color's capabilities as a tablet." Barnes & Noble is moving in the right direction, but there are still a few holes in Nook's cranny.

The bottom line

Nook Color (after version 1.2 update)

www.barnesandnoble.com

$249; 3 stars (out of four)

Pro: Update brings apps, Adobe Flash video, e-mail and more to color touch-screen e-reader.

Con: Browsing remains so-so. Buggy and sluggish at times. Search and other features need to be fine-tuned. Relatively few apps.

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View the original article here

Nook Color update enhances device, to a point

Barnes & Noble has tried straddling a fine line with its Nook Color since launching it as a "reader tablet" in November. The bookseller positioned Nook Color as a kind of hybrid between a conventional e-reader such as Amazon.com's Kindle and a more versatile full-featured tablet PC such as the Apple iPad.

• 

  Barnes and Noble

  
  

  The Nook Color.

Barnes and Noble

The Nook Color.

Next week, Barnes & Noble begins pushing out a free major update that it is counting on to broaden Nook Color's appeal and inch it closer to its Android tablet brethren, which are built on Google's mobile software platform, and the iPad.

The update will automatically arrive on Nook Color devices via Wi-Fi over the next couple of weeks. Users also can get it manually at www.nookcolor.com/update. The upgrade brings new apps, e-mail, Adobe Flash Web video and an under-the-hood Android update that takes it to version 2.2 Froyo. Barnes & Noble is also launching a Nook Friends social-networking app, still in beta, that lets you swap books and recommendations with pals.

While the Nook Color makeover generally enhances a device I reviewed favorably (with reservations) last fall, make no mistake: This remains a reader-first device that is no substitute for anyone with designs on a serious multimedia tablet. It can use another coat of polish. Web browsing, even with such additions as "pinch-to-zoom" and Flash, is substandard. I encountered a few freezes and general sluggishness. For all its promise, Barnes & Noble has a long way to go on the apps front, too.

Still, at $249, Nook Color certainly carries a fetching price compared with full-featured tablets such as the iPad, which at minimum cost twice as much. I'm not aware of a less expensive Android tablet.

Of course, Nook Color is pricier than its most natural rival, the Kindle, which now starts at $114 with ads.

A quick recap

With its 7-inch display, Nook Color was the first mainstream dedicated reader to offer a full-color touch-screen, something Amazon still hasn't introduced on the Kindle. Nook Color also came with such novel features as the ability to highlight text in a book you're reading and share the passage on Twitter or Facebook. You can lend certain books, too, albeit relatively few and with tight restrictions.

Nook's attractive color display was always the chief reason for choosing it over the Kindle. Amazon retains important advantages, though, most notably in battery life, where it can go up to a month, compared with about eight hours for Nook Color. And Nook Color doesn't have a 3G wireless option, as on the Kindle, for purchasing from more than 2 million digital titles on the fly when Wi-Fi isn't available.

Nook Color was originally preloaded with a handful of apps, including Pandora Internet radio, a music player, photo gallery and games such as Sudoku, Crossword and Chess.

As part of the update, Barnes & Noble adds to the collection but only modestly, with about 140 in total, a mere blip next to the 65,000 apps native to the iPad. Given Nook Color's Android roots, it's too bad you can't tap into the Android Market to purchase apps or grab those that are free.

Barnes & Noble concedes it's not going to have the largest app offering but expects hundreds more in the coming weeks and months. It says it has made it easy for Android developers to submit apps for Nook Color, and it says the initial batch is what users have been requesting.

The current collection includes free calendar, notes and tasks apps. Most apps for sale cost $5.99 or less, through a shop that is accessible on the device. From there, you can read or write reviews, view screen shots and recommend an app to your contacts, Facebook friends or Twitter followers.

Nook Color's small selection does include some favorites, notably Angry Birds and the Epicurious Recipes & Shopping List. But the latter costs $4.99 for the Nook Color. It's free on the iPad, albeit with ads.

Snags: I couldn't find a calendar app to download by typing the word "calendar" in the shop's search box. I found it by typing the actual name of the app: Fliq Calendar. Barnes & Noble says it is working on a fix.

I also had trouble installing Angry Birds until I removed the tiny memory card that comes with the device. Barnes & Noble has since fixed that bug. Meanwhile, when I first launched Gameloft's $4.99 Uno HD, a curious message said, "The game requires additional data (783 MB) to run on your phone." Last I checked, Nook Color is no phone.

The original Nook was a hit with my kids because of color and its read-aloud feature for certain books. There are 15 new "Read and Play" titles with animations and activities for kids. Overall, Barnes & Noble includes more than 350 Nook Kids digital picture books and more than 12,000 children's chapter books.

I ended my initial review of Nook Color by suggesting that it remained to be seen "how well Barnes & Noble does at expanding Nook Color's capabilities as a tablet." Barnes & Noble is moving in the right direction, but there are still a few holes in Nook's cranny.

The bottom line

Nook Color (after version 1.2 update)

www.barnesandnoble.com

$249; 3 stars (out of four)

Pro: Update brings apps, Adobe Flash video, e-mail and more to color touch-screen e-reader.

Con: Browsing remains so-so. Buggy and sluggish at times. Search and other features need to be fine-tuned. Relatively few apps.

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