Apple iOS 5.1 update Australian release date

Tim Cook recently announced the iOS 5.1 update was available immediately.

I use an older 3GS iPhone and none of the new features made me feel there was an urgent need to update. To my surprise the update had started without my knowledge.

I sometimes use a 3G wireless hotspot and without realising it, the mobile phone switched to the wireless service which I had on to test Android 4 on a tablet. The 3GS was plugged in and charging. This combination was sufficient for the iOS 5.1 update to silently and without my knowledge to start updating. I only knew the update had started because when I checked to see if iOS 5.1 was available, I was surprised the download was already started but in a paused state.



The caution here is to watch your data plan usage if you're using a 3G wireless hotspot, or make sure you turn off wireless on your Apple device when not using the feature. The same situation could occur if you're using an Android or Apple 4/4S as a hotspot with a Touch or iPad. I had no idea the update would occur without warning. Usually I'll connect to a fixed broadband service for large updates.

The good news is the iOS 5.1 update is available now for Australian users. Connect your device to power and a WiFi connection and the update should start. I'd also suggest using the software update feature to manually check for updates and make sure the update starts. If you have an older version of iOS (before version 5) you'll need to perform the update using iTunes, which I believe is a very big update.

Two features that caught my attention are: the camera is now available from the lock screen, which is convenient, and apps that can be downloaded without a WIFi connection has increased from 20MB to 50MB, so watch that data usage.

Happy iOS 5.1'ing.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require help with your computer.
No problem too small.

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Apple iPad 3 Australian release date

The Apple iPad 3 has now been announced in the States. The new features are:

Higher resolution display

A5X chip with quad-core graphics

5 megapixel camera
1080p HD video
4G
Personal Hotspot for 5 other devices using Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB.

The operating system has been updated to iOS 5.1 and includes some new features.

 

The iPad 2 will be reduced in price.

The Apple iPad 3 will be available in Australia on Friday the 16^th of March, which is the same time as the United States.

 

This information is provided for those interested in the Apple iPad 3. This isn’t meant to be a recommendation. You should review the iPad 3 against your requirements as you would any computing device. I assist clients with their Apple devices including services such as connecting their Apple devices to their home or business networks, setting up email, and general support.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 for assistance with your computers.
Servicing Templestowe/Doncaster/Eltham and the surrounding suburbs.

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iPad or Android tablet as mobile computer replacement for netbook, notebook or laptop

I have to say I was keen to try a tablet computer as a replacement for my ageing netbook. The netbook has been (and still is) a great machine. I’ve been able to run all my Windows based applications and the built-in Ethernet adaptor and wireless meant that when travelling, I could connect to both wired and wireless access at hotels. Tablets only have wireless access which rules out a lot of hotels. The attraction of the tablet is the long battery life and the slimmer form factor.

So I purchased an Apple iPad 2.

As I was working with others I noticed I was using the iPad 2 to demonstrate what a site/blog would look like on the internet, but the real work had to be done on the netbook. After a couple of weeks I felt it was absolutely crazy to be carrying both devices around. I also found many sites just didn’t work with the iPad (even those that didn’t use Flash). A major limitation for me was Apple crippled the browser so you can’t upload files using the browser, a feature I use regularly. To Apple’s credit they took the device back with a full refund.

More recently I purchased an Android based tablet (Acer A200) running Honeycomb 3.2. A number of the online sites I use are Google sites so I felt surely Google’s own sites would work better than with the iPad. How wrong I was. Google’s own sites are sluggish at best and often simply don’t work. The built-in email application is very basic and even lacks basic spellchecking. I’m hoping Android 4 will make the tablet useful, or otherwise it will have been a waste of money. When I check the reviews for Android based tablets I often see high scores. To me that simply doesn’t make sense. I’ve found the Android tablet to be flakey and the functionality far from what I expected. The Acer hardware feels well made and doesn’t feel like it is the problem. The problem is the operating system, or more specifically for me, the browser.

If you’re considering a tablet as a replacement computer make sure you try out the tablets first. Don’t just try them out in the store and hope for the best, try them with the applications/sites that you run. Putting in the passwords to use an online site isn’t something you or I would feel comfortable with in a store, so you need to find a way to get a device and try it in a real world situation.

For clients I now have an Android 3.2 tablet you can test your real world applications/sites. At the end of the test we can reset the tablet so your important information such as your passwords are wiped.

The irony is all I require is a decent browser on a tablet and I’d be happy. If Apple provided their full Safari browser I would have been happy. If Google provided their Chrome browser I would have been happy. Both companies have chosen to provide a limited experience which to me is a shame.

The lesson here is if you think a tablet device is potentially a more portable replacement for your ageing notebook or netbook, then make sure you test each of the devices in a real world situation.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you require computer assistance and live

In Templestowe or the surrounding suburbs.

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How to create birthday invitations.

I’ve found creating a professional whizz-bang birthday invitation is a fun and easy project. The comments we’ve received back from people amaze me as they’re astonished by the quality that we can easily produce and have no idea how we’ve done it. The software I use is free and the cost per invitation including high quality invitation, label and matching coloured envelope would be under 50 cents, and just 10-15 cents each if you just want to hand out the invitations.

It occurred to me that since I find it fun and interesting to create birthday invitations, others may also be interested in creating stunning birthday invitations as well.

If you’re into creating your own invitations, leave a comment, and if enough people are interested, I’ll produce an e-Book to help others produce their own high quality birthday invitations.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

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Computer repair Templestowe Lower for just $20

Yes, it may be hard to believe, but I was recently called out by a customer in Templestowe Lower to repair their computer and it only cost them $20. Their screen setting had changed to 4 bit colour. A problem like this often causes people problems because they don’t know what to do. If the problem is quick to fix it shouldn’t cost much to fix it.

You can call someone out and most will charge over a hundred dollars. This same client said they called out one of the well known support groups for a 15 minute support issue and was charged $250. The other option is to take the computer to a repair business and there can be quite a bit of time involved dropping off the computer and then collecting the computer again. Minimum charges often start at $60-$110, but you really don’t know what you may be charged.

In this case the problem was easy to fix and the client was charged only for the time involved. No travel time. No set fee. No call-out fee. If I couldn’t fix the problem there would have been no charge.

I later received the following message via email from the customer.

Dear Kelvin,

Thank you so much for all your help and patience. Our computer is working perfectly again.

Many people struggle with problems I can fix relatively quickly. It often takes longer to try to explain the problem over the telephone than it will take for me to drive to the customer. Because I’m local I can make a time and come over and check the problem very easily.

If you have a computer problem giving you grief and live in Templestowe, Templestowe Lower, Doncaster, Doncaster East, Eltham, Lower Plenty, or Montmorency, then give me a call on 0415 910 703.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au
Call 0415 910 703 if you have a computer/technology issue.

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MyAnswers: Should I add Google advertising (Google adsense) to my web site?

The following MyAnswers solution 2202 is now available:

Should I add Google advertising (Google adsense) to my web site to generate income?

Click here to obtain the solution.

Click here for related solutions.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.MyAnswers.biz
(An Online Connections service.)

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Email message: reason: 552-5.7.0 Our system detected an illegal attachment on your message.

A lot of people use Gmail but don’t realise the limitations of the service.

 

In this case I emailed a client a zipped file which contains an executable program. Google could easily scan attachments to make sure the attachment doesn’t contain a known virus, but they’ve made the decision to simply stop all such emails.

There are a number of solutions to get around this issue to trick Google, but each requires work that isn’t necessary. Because of the time involved I now simply refund the client’s money and they miss out on the solution to their needs and I miss out on the sale. In time because of the work involved prices will most likely be increased to cover the additional workload created by services like Gmail. Unfortunately the extra time and effort caused by Google means it isn’t worth the time for the low value of the sale.

 

If you’re thinking about using Google’s Gmail service get to know its limitations. For business I would not normally recommend Gmail as an email service. Google isn’t the only service to make such decisions on the behalf of their users. I find those services that make too many decisions on behalf of users tend to damage the users experience, often without the users knowledge.

Kelvin Eldridge
www.OnlineConnections.com.au

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