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How to hide photos on Android

Do you ever lend your Android phone to someone and hope that they don't look through your image gallery? Maybe they will find pictures sent from your significant other. Or how about those pictures of you flexing or posing in front of the mirror? That would be embarrassing! Here are the two main ways to hide your pictures from exploring eyes:

First option: Manual file management

If you don't have a stock file manager on your phone, you can get one from the Android Market, such as Astro File Manager, File Expert, or OI File Manager. Any of … Read more

How to change the iPad's Auto-Lock setting

Aside from refereeing iPad turns between my two kids, the activity I find myself doing most on the iPad is reading newspapers and magazines. Maybe I'm a slow reader or constantly interrupted by said children, but often times I don't finish a page of an article before the iPad dims on me. (Unlike on the iPhone, you can read on the iPad without scrolling every few seconds.) I then have to tap the screen to return to the normal brightness setting. And if I fail to tap the dimmed display in time, the iPad goes dark, forcing me … Read more

3 quick tips to prevent pocket-dialing on Android

When you accidentally call someone from your phone, they may hear background noise in your house, or a conversation they shouldn't be privy to. Even worse, it could be an international number that is extremely expensive to call! Here are three tips to help you prevent pocket-dialing from your Android phone.

1. Install an app that confirms calls before you make them. It is unlikely that you will select someone to call and manage to hit the Call button in the confirmation window. There are many choices for this style of app, in this example Call Confirm … Read more

Caps Lock detector

You're sure you've entered the correct password, yet you can't log on. Turns out, the Caps Lock was on; you just didn't notice the tiny LED or whatever is supposed to alert you to your stray thumb. Or maybe you're trying to type a line of text yet keep turning the Caps Lock on when you mean to turn it off? fRUSTRATING

DKOSD's zipped download includes a Vista Version that is compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Vista and Windows 7. DKOSD requires Microsoft .NET Framework, but you can download it for … Read more

How to customize the function of the side switch on an iPad

Some people don't realize that the iPad's side switch can be customized, allowing them to set the switch to either lock the screen rotation or mute their iPad. This simple guide will show you how to set the behavior of the switch, and where to find a shortcut to the secondary behavior.… Read more

Iris recognition gadget eliminates passwords

Imagine logging in to Facebook or eBay with just a blink of an eye. A new gadget for consumers may soon make that possible.

Designed by the Hoyos Group, a device called EyeLock uses iris-recognition as an alternative to passwords to log you in to password-protected Web sites and applications. Although similar eye-scanning devices are already used in the business and industrial markets, Hoyos calls EyeLock "the first and only portable iris-scanning device for consumers."

The scanning device, which resembles a wand, plugs into a base that connects to your PC via a USB port. After you install the software and choose the sites and applications that you want to iris-protect, you pass the scanner in front of your eye. A snapshot is taken of your iris to confirm your identity. Assuming you're the real you, you're then granted immediate access to the secure Web site or application.

With security always a primary concern, the company boasts that the device is unhackable.

"Every time you log in, it reads your iris and creates a unique key, which is a series of numbers, and this key changes every time you log in, so no one can hack it," Tracy Hoyos, assistant marketing director, said in an interview with CNN.… Read more

iOS Tip: Create iPhone, iPad lock screen reminders

This tip is easy, but extremely useful for users wanting to get the most out of their iOS device. Interestingly, there are tens, if not hundreds, of calendar, to-do, and organization Apps for your iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch that you can use to remember things.

But the best way may be a functionality that iOS offers already. The screen most people see the most is the lock screen. It stands to reason then that the lock screen would be the perfect place for a constant reminder.

There are any number of ways to accomplish this. One, provided by a … Read more

Avoiding the cost of entanglement

Modern IT is very focused on economics. We talk endlessly about cost. We debate capital costs vs. operational costs--CAPEX vs. OPEX, in the lingo. We look at Total Cost of Operations (TCO) and we try to calculate our projects' Return On Investment (ROI). But even with all of these economic metrics, we miss an enormous source of costs: Our long-term entanglement with the products, technologies, and approaches we choose.

Long ago, we had a bright idea. "We could represent the year portion of dates with just two digits--that would save space!" We happily did that for a few … Read more

Cannot delete or open specific files that are 'in use'

Sometimes when managing files with various programs in OS X, you may experience a problem with the program such as a hang, crash, or some other odd hiccup that interrupts the program's read or write process. While most of the time this results in you being able to delete and recreate the file or otherwise reopen it to continue your work, sometimes it can result in a file being locked by the system so it cannot be edited or managed by any program, or even deleted.

Apple discussion poster "Spprrw" writes:

"I tried to download yahoo … Read more