BrightFlow Technologies Blog
Monday, February 6, 2012

New Quickbooks Scam

by: BrightFlow Technologies

February 6th, 2012

There is a new phishing attack hitting the interwebs and mailboxes currently.  It pretends to be from INTUIT; the company that writes a software package called Quickbooks.  You might have heard of it?  

I have received about 10 in my inbox over the last week.  It is really annoying because it is bypassing my spam filter.  I have since blacklisted the sender.  If you hover the link in the email you will find that it is actually sending replies to: STATEMENTSMEDIA<dot>COM.  It may pay to blacklist them as well.  Whatever you do, do not click the link in the email.

Here is a copy of the email verbatim.  It is all in italics with the links disabled.  Be on the lookout.  If you do get infected, CALL US!  704-631-9983 or email info@brightflow.net

Dear Account Holder,

In order to ensure that correct data is being maintained on our systems, as well as to be able to grant you better quality of service; INTUIT INC. has taken part in the Internal Revenue Service [IRS] Name and TIN Matching Program.

For some reason your name and/or Social Security Number, that is specified on your account does not correspond to the information on file with the SSA.

In order to verify the information on your account, please use the following link.

Yours sincerely,
INTUIT INC.

Corporate Headquarters
2632 Marine Way
Mountain View, CA 94043

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Why You Should Choose Refurbished If You’re Buying Apple Products

Apple Products

Buying refurbished electronics can save you some dough, but it can also feel like a game of Russian roulette. In the case of Apple products, Lifehacker alum Rick Broida writes on CNET that it makes sense to choose refurbished every time.

The reason is Apple has a really great refurbishment process and policy: Refurbs come with a new outer shell, new battery, and the same one-year warranty that new hardware comes with. In other words, “same-as-new appearance and performance,” Broida writes. “There is literally no downside.”

And the savings are significant. A 13-inch refurbished Macbook Air, for example is $899, or $300 less than full price. A refurbished 15-inch Macbook Pro will save you $540.

You do have to give something up, however. You’ll have to deal with a nondescript cardboard box. Seems like a fine tradeoff, unlike other types of refurbished electronics (buying refurbs for PCs, for example, at other retailers will often cut the warranty to 90 days, just in time for you to miss glaring defects). Here’s the link to Apple’s Refurbished and Clearance page for future reference.


(Source: CNET)

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

How To Restore Your Computer Using Windows 7

One mistake doesn’t need to leave you with an unusable computer. Using Windows 7’s built-in tools, you can preserve and reinstate whole hard drives with just a few clicks.

 

How to Create a System Image

By far the easiest way to maintain your system in exactly the state you use it every day is to create a system image. This is exactly what it sounds like: a snapshot of your computer at a specific point in time, well beyond the system and program settings regularly archived with System Restore. Having at least one on hand ensures that you’ll always be able to return your computer to exactly the way it was when you made the image. The down side is that system images can be big, and they can be slow to create and restore. But if your PC melts down, you’ll be glad you made the space—and the time—to protect yourself this fully.

How to Repair and Restore Your PC Using Windows 7 - 04


1. Click “Create a system image” in the “Back up or restore your files” window.

How to Repair and Restore Your PC Using Windows 7 - 05


2. In the “Create a system image” window that appears, you’ll be presented with three options for storing the image. Click the radio button next to the one you want, then click the Next button.

On a hard disk. If you have one or more extra hard drives hooked up to your system, this is the way to go. Find the drive on which you want to store the image in the drop-down box (you can’t save to a drive you’re also backing up). Click the Next button; if you have more than one hard drive, you’ll be asked to specify which ones you want to back up. Click Next again, and you’ll be asked to confirm that you want to begin the backup. Click the “Start backup” button and it will start right away.

On one or more DVDs. If you don’t have a spare hard drive, optical discs are probably the better way to go. Just make sure you have a blank disc (or maybe a spindle of them) at hand first. Because the backup could potentially be large, Windows gives you the opportunity to choose which drives you want to include. Click the checkboxes next to all the drives you want to preserve (the system drives may already be selected and grayed out), then click the Next button; check your settings, and then click the “Start backup” button to begin.

On a network location. This obviously works only if you’re on a network, but it’s potentially more convenient than using either a local hard drive or (especially) a pile of DVDs. Once you’ve clicked the Next button, the “Select a network location” window will pop up. Type in the path of the remote system and location to save the file to, if you know it, or click on the “Browse…” button to navigate to it if you don’t. You’ll also need fill in the Username and Password fields so your computer can access the other system across the network. Once you’ve done that, click the OK button, then verify that your settings are correct and then click the “Start backup” button.

How to Repair and Restore Your PC Using Windows 7 - 06


3. You’ll receive a notification once the image has been created. If you want to verify that everything worked as it was supposed to, navigate to the hard drive or network location you specified and look for the “WindowsImageBackup” folder—it’s all in there. Be sure not to delete this folder, otherwise you won’t be able to restore your image later. If you backed up your system to DVDs, the stack of discs in front of you should be sufficient evidence of success.

How to Repair and Restore Your PC Using Windows 7 - 07

4. After the image has been created, a window will appear asking if you want to create a system repair disk. (For more information about what this is and why you may want one, see the next section.) If you do, click the Yes button (then check out the “How to Create a System Repair Disc” section of this article); if you don’t, click No and you’re done.


 

If the worst happens and you actually need to use the System Image you created, it’s easy to do if you can get into the OS—just follow the instructions below. If you can’t boot into Windows, you can restore an image by using a repair disc; skip to “How to Create a System Repair Disc” if you need to make one, or “Using the System Repair Disc” for more information about what to do once it’s burned.

How to Repair and Restore Your PC Using Windows 7 - 04


1. From the “Back up or restore your files” window, click “Recover system settings or your computer.”

How to Repair and Restore Your PC Using Windows 7 - 08


2. From the “Restore this computer to an earlier point in time” window, click “Advanced recovery methods.”

How to Repair and Restore Your PC Using Windows 7 - 09


3. Select the first option, “Use a system image you created earlier to recover your computer.”

How to Repair and Restore Your PC Using Windows 7 - 10


4. You’ll be asked if you want to back up your files to an external device such as a hard drive, optical disc, or USB flash drive, and you’ll be told Windows will help you restore those files after you load the system image. Remember, if you don’t do this you’ll lose any new files created since the last system image, so if they’re not backed up elsewhere you may want to consider this as a preliminary step. Click the “Back up now” button to do this, or the Skip button to pass.

How to Repair and Restore Your PC Using Windows 7 - 11


5. The next window you see is titled “Restart your computer and continue the recovery.” This says it all: Click the Restart button to reboot your PC and restore it from the image you saved, or click the Cancel button to back out.

How to Create a System Repair Disc

A system image is a handy thing to have around, but it’s sort of a “nuclear option”: You can travel backwards in time with it, but that’s all. If you want a more elegant solution, fixing your computer’s problems yourself is definitely it—and usually the preferable choice if the problem is localized in just the boot area, for example, but most of your other data and programs haven’t been affected. For this you’ll want to create a system repair disc. (We’re assuming you have a DVD burner installed.) Just place it in your drive when you turn on your computer, and you’ll have access to a number of repair and recovery tools that might obviate the need for restoring from an image (and possibly losing things you’ve accumulated since that image was created). This type of system repair won’t necessarily solve all your problems, and it may require a bit of know-how to use, but having one around is a smart move.

How to Repair and Restore Your PC Using Windows 7 - 04

1. Click “Create a system repair disc” in the “Back up or restore your files” window.
How to Repair and Restore Your PC Using Windows 7 - 12

2. The “Create a system repair disc” window will pop up. If you only have one optical drive, it should be preselected in the drop-down; if you have more than one, select which one you want to use.

3. Place a blank DVD in your optical drive.

4. Click the “Create disc” button, and Windows will copy over the appropriate files. Once it’s finished, the autorun window will appear, showing you that the disc is named “Repair Disc Windows 7 64-bit” (or “32-bit,” if you’re using that version of the OS).

5. Label the disc and store it in a safe place.

Using the System Repair Disc

Using a system repair disc you’ve created couldn’t be easier: Just place it in your optical drive and turn on your computer. (You may also need to adjust boot options so your system knows to look for something bootable in the optical drive, but many computers are configured this way out of the box.) The words “Windows is loading files…” will appear, along with a bar that moves slowly across the screen; expect this to take a couple of minutes.

Once that bar has finished its journey, a window titled “System Recovery Options” will appear. It contains two options: “Select a language” (which will be grayed out if you only have one language pack installed) and “Select a keyboard input method,” which will likely already be at your default setting (in our case “US”). Make changes if necessary, then click the “Next >” button.

Now you’ll need to choose from two different system recovery methods.

1. The first is “Use recovery tools that can help fix problems starting Windows. Select an operating system to repair.” Below this is a list with all the disks Windows can detect; chances are yours will be here. If it’s not, click the “Load Drivers” button so you can feed Windows the files needed to recognize your hard drive. Click on the drive you want to repair, then click “Next >.”

This will display a list of five recovery tools you can use to help get your system into a bootable state again. Choose “Startup Repair” to have Windows search for and try to fix any problems that may exist with the necessary files in your boot sequence. “System Restore” will let you restore system settings and programs that been previously saved using Windows’ System Restore function. If you followed our instructions in “How to Create a System Image,” choose “System Image Recovery” to restore a full-system image you created. “Windows Memory Diagnostic” may be useful for determining whether the problem you’re experiencing is as a result of a problem with your computer’s memory. Finally, “Command Prompt” will give you access to a limited version of a command-line operating system (much like the old MS-DOS!) that will let you perform a number of actions related to diagnostics, troubleshooting, and recovery. (Keep in mind that this last choice requires an in-depth knowledge of the command-line interface, and will probably not be useful for novice computer users, or those with limited experience using non-graphical operating systems.)

2. “Restore your computer using a system image that you created earlier” is the second option. If you followed our instructions in “How to Create a System Image,” you’ll have a folder containing this; after you click “Next >” Windows will let you choose to restore from the most recent system image, or some other image you specify. Click “Next >” to begin the restoration process.

Stay tuned for the video on how to do this: http://www.youtube.com/user/BrightFlowTech?blend=2&ob=5

Thursday, January 19, 2012

5 Reasons It’s Better To Date A Geek [Opinion]

date a geekLet’s face it – geeks make for a better relationship than any of those alpha-male types. Exactly why is that though? Are you prepared to shun good looks for reliability and utility? What can you expect when you exchange your old boyfriend for a new geek version?

I’m going to assume here a geek boyfriend case type, though of course geek girlfriends have also been known to exist in the wild. Unfortunately, data on these rare creatures is still quite scarce, so we will not discuss them today. It’s tragic that I have to say this, but please don’t take this as 100% serious dating advice, and take a deep breath before posting vile comments about how shockingly generalised and stereotypical this portrayal of geeks is.

Free Tech Support

A standard issue geek is, by default, able to stop both your microwave oven and the TiVo, from flashing incessantly at you 00:00. His tech-savviness will ensure you stay atop of HDMIHTMLHTTP and HDTVs with attached HDDs. He’ll certify that your virus definitions and various operating systems are all up to do date, managed via a central house server while-u-wait.

date a geek

Don’t test his patience though – while the geek boyfriend will be more than happy to tutor you in Java and PHP, he will not appreciate questions about Windows XP. You have an expert at your disposal here, not a replacement search engine. Girls not willing to learn for themselves need not apply for a geek boyfriend – your Facebook will be checked, and you will be Googled!

Logic-Based Functionality

All geeks are pre-supplied with a Logic Interpreter, though they lack the typical Emotional Response Decision Determiner. While they may not be of much use in emotionally troubled times, you can depend on them to make logical decisions when the water level climbs. When the floods come, who would you rather be with? Someone to offer a shoulder to cry on, or a geek who can seek out the nearest high ground, upon which to set up an ad-hoc wifi communications protocol?

They won’t leave you

In terms of “going to cheat on you” and related factors, geeks are far less likely than their jock detractors. A geek is eternally grateful that you chose to merge with his interface, and won’t be in a hurry to seek out an alternative base.

They will however, have an unhealthy obsession with one or more of the following mythical beings:

  • Rei from Evangelion
  • 7 of 9
  • Princess Leia
  • Starbuck

Since he’s never going to get laid with any of them though, you should regard these as harmless fantasies, and they may even lead to…

More Fun in the Bedroom

Your geek has probably spent hours on the internet exploring every possible facet of his sexuality watching a lot of pR0n, so if you have a geek that’s open about it then you can always be sure to find something to guarantee fun. You might want to be open to the naughty side yourself though, or be in for a shock when things go down below.

At the very least embrace his kinky side, and keep a healthy collection of sci-fi costumes supplied. Slip into one of these anytime you need to a send an intra-person control message (ICPM) of “I want sex now”, and I guarantee a 100% error-free transmission rate, (wow)!

date a geek

You-Time

It’s likely that at numerous times in your relationship, your geek will become 100% absorbed in a new video game, surrounding himself with chips and dip. Don’t worry about leaving him alone sometime, geeks are expert hunter gatherers - in their prime. They use the power of logicGoogle maps, and PayPal, to find and locate daily essentials within their locale. Unlike your typical man who drives around for hours yet ends up buying beer, the geek knows exactly what he needs and what it is near. Don’t feel guilty about using this time to get out more – your geek is simply being hardcore.

Is It Worth it?

Dating a geek will require you to have a wild side, but it’s a dependable and fulfilling ride. You’ll end up understanding an unhealthy number of four letter acronyms, and may even develop a keen interest in programming the next Sims. As long as you can handle long periods of hardcore gaming and more or less no social contact ever, your geek will ultimately serve you well, and leave you never. So what are you waiting for?Upgrade now!

by 

(Source: )

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Fix an iPhone Stuck on Apple Logo During Boot

iPhone stuck on Apple logo Occasionally through the standard iOS upgrade process, but most commonly when jailbreaking, the iPhone can reboot and get stuck on the Apple logo. Turning the phone on and off generally doesn’t help, as you’ll be continuously stopped at the white Apple logo and the iPhone never boots. This is different than being stuck on Recovery Mode, which shows the ‘Connect to iTunes” graphic on the iPhone screen, but can be fixed in a similar manner by using DFU mode and iTunes.

  • Connect the iPhone by USB to the computer
  • Launch iTunes
  • Put the iPhone into DFU mode by holding the Power button for 3 seconds, while continuing to hold the Power button also hold the Home button for 10 seconds, now release the Power button but continue to hold the Home button for another 15 seconds
  • iTunes will alert you saying an iPhone has been detected in recovery mode, click “OK”
  • Now select the iPhone in iTunes and click on the “Restore” button

iPhone detected in Recovery from DFU

by: Matt Chan

10 Things to do when you get a new PC.

1: Make your own drivers disk

The first thing I usually do when I buy a new laptop is create my own drivers disk. Pretty much every manufacturer posts all the latest drivers on its Web site. I like to take the time to download all these drivers and burn them to a DVD so that I have them on hand for later.

2: Take an inventory of your applications

The next thing I recommend doing is to take an inventory of the applications on your old laptop. Start by figuring out if there are any installed applications you don’t need anymore. Next, make sure that you still have the installation media for any remaining applications. If the new laptop is going to be running a different operating system from the old laptop, it’s a good idea to perform a compatibility check while you’re at it. You might even use this opportunity to upgrade to a new version of your applications. In any case, an application inventory is essential.

3: Determine how you will migrate any data from your old laptop

Assuming that your laptop contains data, you will need to come up with a plan for migrating it to the new machine. If you’re working in a Windows environment, you might be able to use the File And Settings Transfer Wizard to migrate your data. Regardless of the method you use, however, the important thing is to know what data needs to be moved and to have a plan for moving it.

4: Take the time to document your old configuration settings

Another step I recommend involves documenting all your configuration settings. Of course, there are utilities available that will transfer the majority of your configuration settings from one laptop to another. But recording your configuration settings is important because your documentation can act as a checklist when you go back to verify that the new laptop is configured correctly.

5: Blank the hard drive

I realize that plenty of people disagree with me on this one, but I like to start things with a clean slate by blanking the hard drive on my new laptop. There are a couple of reasons why I do this. First, most manufacturers load up laptop hard drives with all kinds of unwanted software. It’s easier to simply blank the hard drive and start from scratch than to try to manually remove every piece of unwanted software. Second, manufacturers typically create a recovery partition containing all the files that are needed to restore the system to its factory defaults. When you blank the hard drive, you are given the opportunity to repartition the system, which means you can make use of the space that was previously locked away in the recovery partition.

6: Install any available updates

This one kind of goes without saying, but once you have installed an operating system and any necessary applications on your new laptop, it is important to install any available software updates.

7: Look for any surprises

Once I have my new laptop all set up and ready to go, I like to use it heavily for a week or two. I will even use it instead of my desktop. I do this because I want to find any problems or missing software before I use my new laptop when I am traveling. After all, if a problem shows up while you’re on the road, it can be difficult to do anything about it. Using the new laptop for an extended period of time before traveling with it helps ensure that everything is functioning properly and that there won’t be any surprises the first time the laptop is used outside the office.

8: Activate Windows

Okay, I know that this one sounds silly, but it is important to take the time to activate Windows. I once got burned by not activating Windows. I happened to be traveling in a foreign country when my trial period expired. I got locked out of Windows and because of the way my computer was configured at the time (it’s a long story), I couldn’t access the Internet to activate Windows. Worse yet, I didn’t have access to a phone to perform a telephone activation. Essentially, I was stuck without a laptop for the duration of my trip. Ever since that incident, I always activate Windows as soon as I am sure that everything on the laptop is functioning properly.

9: Perform a full security scan

Once everything is up and running, perform a full security scan on the laptop. If you have performed a clean installation, the odds are that you won’t have any problems with malware. However, this is far from being a guarantee, so a security scan is essential.

To give you a more concrete example of what I am talking about, I recently purchased a USB microscope for a project I’m working on. The microscope was fairly high end and came from a reputable manufacturer. Even so, the driver disk that shipped from the factory had a virus on it.

This didn’t prove to be a big deal because my antivirus software caught it right away. But imagine what would’ve happened had I installed the microscope driver as a part of the initial setup. The virus might have gone undetected until an initial security scan was run.

10: Secure your old laptop

The last step in the process is to secure your old laptop. This can mean different things depending upon what you plan to do with it. Sometimes, I will donate my old computers to charity. But if I do, I always remove the hard drives and replace them with brand-new drives. That way, I am absolutely assured that no data will be recovered from my old laptop.

(Source: technet.com)

Friday, January 13, 2012

Windows 7 64 Bit? Good choice? YES!

x64-logoFor those of you that installed a 32-bit version of Windows, you have my condolences. Otherwise, you really made the right choice based on a number of reasons. I think it’s important in this day and age to run any operating system on the highest possible bit width offered, but there’s a few reasons particular to Windows 7 that might make its x64 version more advantageous than simply running on 32-bit x86 microprocessor architecture.

1. It Still Runs 32-Bit Applications

Not so long ago, people were making a transition from 16-bit to 32-bit. Today, there are still many people running 32-bit versions of their operating systems when 64-bit editions are available for fear that their old applications might not run on the newer version. To those who know how processor registries work, this would be like worrying whether you can put the same amount of clothes in your new washing machine with a 9 kg capacity as you did with the older one that had a 7 kg capacity.

Processors work much like onions, with several layers of registers. Two 16-bit layers compose a 32-bit layer, and one 32-bit layer always sits within a 64-bit layer. That allows for total reverse compatibility. I still almost exclusively run Win32 applications, although I run a 64-bit version of Windows 7.

2: The OS Recognizes More RAM

Windows x86 users often complain that they don’t even see all 4 GB of memory when they have that much RAM installed. Guess what happens when you install 8 GB of RAM on your x86 system?

Windows x64 is able to detect as much RAM as you put into it without any hitch. There’s no magic trick you have to perform to add memory, and you don’t have to fight with the system to get it to recognize everything. In the end, you come out winning, especially if you’re a gamer. In fact, x64 supports up to 192 GB of RAM!

3: Less Driver Fuss & BSODs

I’m serious. You’ll have less problems with compatible drivers and less blue screen errors (crashes) when you use a 64-bit version, particularly because drivers on Windows x64 are digitally signed. Heck, I keep the computer on for months on end without stability issues. That’s something I cannot say about my experience with x86 versions. The only setback, though, is with older drivers that don’t run on 64-bit systems. 32-bit drivers cannot run on Win64. Make sure you think of this when making a hardware purchase.

4: Lower Response Time

Despite the fact that, at the time of this article’s publication, there are less 64-bit native applications out there, you can still enjoy the benefits of faster response time with bigger processor registers used for every single hardware signal in Windows. The operating system will handle just about any request you make at the bat of an eyelash because all your hardware will be using a bigger bit width. The Windows environment itself, to say the least, will run almost solely on the 64-bit channel and run faster.

The Other Side of The Coin

Wait a second… If you’re still using a computer with less than 4 GB of memory, you shouldn’t be in a hurry to upgrade. The addressing system on a 64-bit machine might have a lot of unnecessary zeros to work with, which ends up being a waste of time. If you still use legacy applications or old devices that didn’t express compatibility with Win7, you’re in for a headache if you try to run a 64-bit OS. There still are reasons an upgrade would be illogical, but on more modern systems, you’re good to go.  by 

Call us to discuss moving to a 64 bit environment and what it means for your production.

704-631-9983 | info@brightflow.net

(Source: makeuseof.com)

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

5 reasons to choose iPhone over Android

5 Reasons To Choose iPhone Over Android [Opinion]

If you’re considering buying your first smartphone, you’ve got a fairly big decision to make. As well as choosing a carrier, plan and minimum contract period you then have to trawl through the barrage of handsets until you find something you like.

Most buyers will probably end up choosing between the Android operating system and an iPhone, running iOS. So how do you know which is right for you? In this editorial I’ll put the iPhone argument forward and explain why I think Apple’s plan is better than Google’s. Don’t forget to have your say in the comments.

UI Response & Lag

I’ve had enough terrible mobile phones in the past to understand the value of a smooth and responsive UI, and this is guaranteed with the iPhone. Pretty much every mundane task you take for granted – scrolling your Facebook feed, looking up a phone number or responding to email – is silky smooth with very little lag at all. Even if you managed to pick up an ageing 3GS you’d still be pleasantly surprised as the OS glides through most tasks the way you’d expect.

Unfortunately, Android has still not quite caught up despite Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich) making leaps and bounds over previous versions. The Galaxy Nexus is surely one of the most talked-about devices of 2011, but even it seems to have some issues. This controversial TechCrunch article claimed: “It’s still not as smooth as it should be. For the most part, ICS fixes many of Android’s performance issues, but there are plenty of times that you’ll still see stutters here and there.” Let’s not forget the multi-touch issues and rotation lag that has plagued the device as well, making some apps and games unusable.

Popout

Google even acknowledged Android’s lag issues before Christmas, and whilst Ice Cream Sandwich is a huge improvement not every brand new Android phone in the shop will be running it. So why, when manufacturers continue to pile on the power, is Android still stuttering through some pretty basic tasks?

Too Many Handsets

The dazzling array of phones sporting the Android operating system is enough to confuse many people considering a purchase, especially your average consumer. Globally HTC released 4 Android phones last year, Motorola and Sony Ericsson turned out 6 but none could match Samsung who incredibly managed a total of 12.

Aside from the release date, choosing between these phones is bound to confuse your average consumer. The names become even more obscure (see AndroidNameGenerator for a humorous take on the situation) with only letters, words like “Droid” or “Galaxy” and screen size to tell the models apart.

Apple’s response is a one-size-fits-all device, released every 12 months or so. The company devotes its time to one product and the multi-device iOS operating system that every iPhone uses. The result might be limiting in terms of choice, but when it comes to quality of build, software-hardware integration and support, no manufacturer comes close. Which leads me on to…

Update Cycles

Many people were surprised when Apple announced that their iOS5 update would be compatible with the 3GS, a device that was released mid-2009 (making it three years old when the update hit). This level of support is much easier for Apple to provide considering they produce much fewer devices and control the operating system on which the products run.

As previously mentioned, there are a lot of Android phones on the market today with varied hardware set-ups, many running outdated versions of the operating system. The problem with releasing 12 phones in one year (Samsung, I’m looking at you) is that many of them will probably never see a single update, partly due to the perceived cost-effectiveness of updating “old” devices (for free) and partly due to the fact that the manufacturers do not control the core OS.

The result? A horrible mess of varying Android versions on the shelf of your local smartphone retailer and updates that might never arrive. Much of the time this update process is hindered by another bane of the Android OS…

Preloaded Crapware

Be it the carrier or the manufacturer, Android phones are guaranteed to come with some sort of custom interface that is designed to make your life easier. The only problem is that in the long run these interfaces – HTC Sense, Motorola MotoBlur, Samsung TouchWiz to name a few – slow down the upgrade process as they introduce more work for developers.

Another issue (which is often purely subjective) is that these interfaces may bloat and slow down devices, with no straightforward “disable” option. Tweakers prepared to flash their phones on a regular basis might be happy enough with a custom ROM, but for your average consumer who just wants a phone that works: this is not the way it should be.

Apple were stubborn over crapware ever since the iPhone was announced, declaring that no additional carrier-installed software would ship with their devices. This ensures a smooth uniform experience, regardless of whether your device is 3 weeks or 3 years old, and to top it off there’s no custom interface to write for when it comes to updates.

Malware

One thing Android users have to worry about is malware, which became a real problem in 2011. In August of last year McAfee announced a 76% surge in malware over a matter of months with incidents reported in the Android Market and seemingly benign apps. Now the problem is so bad that there are dedicated scanners designed to remove malware for the platform, such as Avast! for Android 2.1 and above.

Another report from McAfee in December of last year announced:

Apple so far has done an excellent job of securing its devices; as we write this there were no reported cases of malware for iPhones that have not been jailbroken.

The report criticises the Android security model and goes on to analyse Apple’s approach as proactive and Google’s as reactive, stating:

from the security perspective [Google’s approach] creates exactly the kind of environment in which malware gangs feel comfortable.

Clearly, there’s work to be done.

Conclusion

These are my personal reasons for choosing and above all recommending the iPhone to friends and strangers alike. Whilst this is an editorial, there’s no denying that Android devices have become fragmented, threatened with a lack of updates, loaded with custom manufacturer ROMs and are the highest-risk devices on the market when it comes to mobile malware.

Finally, it must be said that the iPhone is not a perfect device, especially for users who don’t appreciate the locked-down nature of the OS. Then again, if you want an easy to use, rock-solid device with performance and build quality to match…

What do you think? Do you own an Android device? An iPhone? I bet you’re itching to get stuck in, so have your say in the box below.

Image Credit: HTC Sense (Wikim

Friday, August 5, 2011

Using Gmail Filters (by BrightFlowTech)

Check out the new video for using Gmail Filters to help manage your inbox.