Time to own a Broadband Modem of my own?

Being a cable-broadband user has it’s perks and drawbacks.

We have (what I think is) a pretty standard hi-speed cable-broadband network access package.

Download speeds are decent and I don’t worry too much about upload speeds. We don’t do NetFlix/streaming, but YouTube, hulu, and VimeoHD streams all play very well with stuttering very rare.

What I have been aggravated about is the seemingly small-but-incremental service charge increases for our cable/internet service.

Thursday as I was driving between sites I happened to catch Susan Crawford discussing her book “Captive Audience” on the Diane Rehm show on our local NPR channel. Show link: Susan Crawford: "Captive Audience."  It was both educating and frustrating, particularly as both a consumer and network support guy. I really know better than to listen to “talk radio” programs while dealing with big-city traffic. It creates a vicious feedback cycle.

That later got me thinking -- again -- about the monthly $7.00 cable-modem rental fee we pay each month.  The charge started showing up on our bill again after some broadband service issues we were having. Comcast decided the issue was partially related to a bad/failing Comcast broadband router we had been provided when we signed up for the service. Turns out that when they replaced the router, they also began tacking on the rental fee that hadn’t been there before, apparently since it was the latest model. Nice.  I understand they sometimes remove the fee when a modem model goes out of support and they “give/donate” the modem to the subscriber.

Anyway, I looked into it and depending on the model of broadband router you get, you can probably recoup the cost in just over a year or so.

So here are some links I found that I want to keep for quick reference.

I haven’t made a final decision, but since we don’t have a “triple-play” deal, nor use their VOIP service, it looks like a pretty smart decision.

• Time Warner’s new $4 monthly modem rental fee incites class action suit - Ars Technica
• Open Security Research: Comcast and DOCSIS 3.0 - Worth the upgrade? - Open Security Research - This is the post that got me started researching the possibility of buying my own broadband modem. Excellent material from Tony Lee.
• 3 Ways to Get Rid of your Comcast Modem Rental Fee - 20SomethingFinance post by G.E.Miller
• How to Replace a Comcast Modem with your Own - 20SomethingFinance follow-up post by G.E.Miller
• DOCSIS Devices - list of currently supported and approved cable modems for Comcast/Xfinity networks.
• My New Modem by XFINITY - Models (and off-site links) for recommended devices for Xfinity customers looking to buy their own.
• Motorola SurfBoard SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem - Amazon.com - I’m leaning to this device right now. I already have a rock-solid WiFi router downstream so I don’t really need/want an all-in-one device.
• Motorola SB6121 SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem - Amazon.com - This was the model recommended by Tony Lee. It is was replaced by the SB6141 model but is still available at about $25 less than that model.
• Motorola SURFboard Gateway SBG6580 DOCSIS 3.0 Wireless Cable Modem - Amazon.com - Also highly recommended, but as I said, I really don’t need the built-in Wi-Fi features.

Thoughts?

--Claus Valca

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Saturday Linkfest - Cold Pizza Edition

The other night on my way home from work, I was tired and exhausted. I didn’t feel like going grocery shopping for dinner so I punted.

I stopped by the pizza parlor, grabbed three large pies. We ate one for dinner, then have been snacking on cold-pizza leftovers for the past two days.

I’m almost out of slices so I guess it will be to the grocery store tomorrow for some real food again.

USB-based Windows System Install Options

The other day at work, a co-worker asked me for some feedback on a particular problem they had at home.

Seems that he had decided to upgrade (actually a fresh install) a laptop from Windows XP to Windows 7. Only problem was the CDROM drive was in pretty bad shape, and all he had was optical install disks. So how could he get the upgrade on.

Although I supposed he could find an external USB-based CD/DVD-ROM drive to use, that seemed like an unnecessary purchase. He did have a working Windows desktop system, however, so the solution seemed quite simple: create a bootable USB drive with the installation media present. Boot the laptop from the USB drive and install away!

So here are three methods to accomplish that task; full-hands on, Windows tool, and automated utilities.

If you are game and want to learn a bit of the structure of creating such a tool, then this TechRepublic post is perfect: How do I ... create an installation flash drive for Windows 7? I noticed it doesn’t have instructions to make the partition/device bootable via bootsect. BOOTSECT /NT60 <usb drive letter>    (Where <usb drive letter> equals your USB device).

Microsoft has a nice and simple tool to assist you with the process: Windows 7 USB/DVD download tool.  This guide How To Create Bootable Windows 7 USB To Install Windows 7 From USB Flash Drive (Using Windows 7 DVD/USB Tool) from Into Windows provides a nice walkthrough of the process.

Finally, there are some specialized utilities that give you a bit more control over the creation process. I particularly like these two:

• WinToFlash - Install Windows from usb - Home page
• Rufus - Create bootable USB drives

Piece of cake.

ForSec Bits

• EMET 3.5: The Value of Looking Through an Attacker's Eyes - ISC Diary - This was a fascinating post about the Microsoft Enhanced Mitigation Experience 3.5 toolkit and how it can leverage additional anti-malware protection on systems. I’m not sure a site-wide deployment would make a lot of sense, but for workbench systems and testing it might be a smart move to consider.
• Hunting Down and Killing Ransomware - Mark's Blog. Mark Russinovich provides an excellent technical review on dealing with scareware/ransomware infections on a system.
• A picture worth a 1000 barcodes? - ISC Diary - be careful what you post!
• Adobe Security Bulletins Posted - Adobe Product Security Incident Response Team (PSIRT) Blog
• Microsoft and Adobe close almost 40 holes - The H Security: News and Features. Time to patch Windows and Adobe holes again!
• Carving Station – RAR Files - M-unition. Mary Singh has a highly in-depth post coving file-carving from unallocated disk space. Not exactly light reading, Mary provides some excellent coverage on this topic.
• Freeware Release: Redline 1.7 - M-unition. New version released. download page
• TeamViewer 8 - Forensic Artifacts - Useful information on system artifacts left by TeamViewer 8 usage.
• You down with LNK? - SpiderLabs Anterior

Installing Stuff

• How to install Ubuntu on Acer’s $199 C7 Chromebook - Ars Technica
• Installing Windows XP to SSD - TinyApps.org
• Repurpose PCs with Windows ThinPC - Anything about IT (via tip from TinyApps bloggist).  See also AnandTech - Windows Thin PC: Windows, Slimmed Down

Tips for Techs

• No sound from Google Chrome: Adobe Flash issue and workaround - MarkWilson.it
• Easily Fix Or Delete Broken Desktop & Start Menu Shortcuts - AddictiveTips. Uses NirSoft tool ShortcutsMan for housecleaning.
• Free e-books for Windows administrators (updated) - 4sysops
• 150 Best Windows Apps Of Year 2012 - AddictiveTips
• Standalone Sysadmin - blog.  TinyApps bloggist pointed me to Matt Simmon’s great website a while ago. In addition to the great posts, Matt also provides a super-handy List of Subscribed Feeds covering all kinds of tech/sysadmin/forsec goodness. If you are new to RSS feeds and need a great “seed list” to get started with, look no further. Matt also provides a more current OPML file for use. Whew!

Network Monitoring

• PCAP Files Are Great Arn't They?? - SpiderLabs Anterior - fantastic examples of tshark-fu and other tricks for extracting great data-points out of PCAP files.
• Filtering with Message Analyzer - MessageAnalyzer Blog. It’s been a while since we have seen much chatter regarding the replacement for Network Monitor. Paul E Long has some great tips for filtering in the new tool; especially useful for those used to filter use patterns in Network Monitor. More posts promised soon.
• Installing Wireshark 1.8.4 and WinPcap 4.1.2 on a Windows 8 System - Moon Support Weblog

Tools, Utilities, and Updates

• Updates: Autoruns v11.4, ProcDump v5.12, SDelete v1.61 - Sysinternals Site Discussion
• GMER 2.0 arrives - BetaNews review. Rootkit detection tool now adds support added for Windows 8 and x64 systems. GMER download pager
• JavaRa Definitions Updated - SingularLabs - Use these with JavaRa to help install/update/remove Java Runtime Environment installations on your systems.
• Dev Eject - version 1.0.26 beta - this is a fantastically clever tool that can not only help you eject removable devices from Windows, but it also can tell you specifically what is causing (locking) the device from ejection.
• Oracle VM VirtualBox - Now at version 4.2.6. Overview of significant changes: VirtualBox 4.2.6 delivers many fixes - BetaNews.
• TightVNC: What's New in TightVNC - Now at version 2.6.4. Download TightVNC
• DMDE (DM Disk Editor and Data Recovery Software) - free/$ versions - Interesting advanced file recovery tool. The free version is pretty limited but is a good place to start and play around with. Portable so no installation required. DMDE is a handy free data recovery tool for Windows experts - BetaNews review.

Firefox News

• Mozilla to Continue 64-Bit Windows Firefox Builds - Firefox Extension Guru's Blog
• Private windows coming to Firefox - Mozilla Links

Cheers!

--Claus Valca

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Thoughts on Chrome(ium) Privacy Attainment

It is no secret to GSD blog fans that I’m a heavy supporter/user of Firefox browser. It remains my primary workhorse for web surfing. Updates come pretty steadily and performance and stability issues haven’t been an issue for me. Plus the specialized add-ons I use make it super-handy.

That said, the Google Chrome -- specifically Chromium Dev build -- is the browser I launch when I want to do mindless web surfing, or leave a full-screen web-page up while I am monitoring something specific.

When I help a friend/family-member set up a new system, I always install and give a walkthrough of Chrome. More times than not they quickly come to prefer it over Internet Explorer.

In fact, one of the only reasons I don’t use Chrome(ium) more is the continued (and probably “forever”) lack of a bookmark-sidebar option that Firefox has.  With my personal bookmarking/blogging habits, that feature is a “must-have.” Lacking that, hard-core regular usage of Chrome remains an exercise in frustration.  More on my attempts to overcome this in a follow-up post.

On my system I have kept two (portable) build versions of Chrome; Chromium (Dev) and SRWare Iron.

I use and prefer Chromium builds because they are updated quite frequently. I have been a long user of SRWare Iron because the developer has offered out a list of specific privacy feature enhancements under the hood that you don’t get with Chrome versions.

Additionally, there is Comodo Dragon Web Browser also based on Chrome and providing some additional security/privacy features. However I don’t use this version.

Chrome Flavors - Full Install versions

These versions will install a “full” version directly onto your Windows system

• Chrome Browser - Download current Chrome browser release version
• Chromium - The Chromium Projects (overview)
• Download Chromium - Download current Chromium browser release version
• SRWare Iron - Download a “privacy-enhanced” version build of Chromium
• Dragon Internet Browser - Download a “privacy-enhanced” version build of Chromium; includes “Domain Validation” feature from Comodo, cookie/web-tracking & browser download tracking for privacy.

Chrome Flavors - Portable versions

These “no-install” versions allow you to take your Chrome-browser with you on a USB stick…or if you just want to run it locally without installing onto your Windows system.

• Google Chrome Portable - PortableApps.com.  The main version level is right there at the top. This is the “mainstream” Chrome version. Scroll down a bit on the page and you will find  additional download links for portable versions of Chromium (Dev) and Beta release versions. This is the source of the Portable Chromium (Dev) package I use/update.
• Chromium Portable - This is another portable Chromium (Dev) package another group maintains.
• Iron Portable - Download the PortableApps.com version of SRWare Iron
• SRWare Iron - Look carefully and there is portable version (zip) offered on the developer’s download page.
• Comodo Dragon Portable - Basically this forum tip says to just download the regular version and pay attention to choose the “portable” version install option while doing so.
• Sandcat Browser - Syhunt. This is a specialized portable penetration-testing oriented web-browser based on the Chromium browser. Supports live HTTP Headers, request editor, fuzzer, JavaScript Executor, Lua executor, PageInfo extension, HTTP brute-force, CGI scanner scripts, and much more

Updating Challenges

I also have a bit of an OCD app updating problem. If there is a newer version out -- particularly important with browsers and browser-plugins for security reasons -- I download and apply.

This is a challenge for both my portable Chromium and portable SRWare Iron builds as they don’t have/support in-app updating. So I have to watch the webs/feeds for signals a new version is released then manually update them.

As of this post date, Chromium Dev is at 25.0.1364.29. SRWare Iron is at 23.0.1300.0.

So to remedy the issue I keep an eye open of the Chrome Release blog (via my RSS feed reader). Then I pop over and check the direct download page for the source of the particular portable version I use and snag it when it appears..usually just a few days later.

• Chrome Releases - Chrome release notice blog
• Google Chrome PortableApps / Additional Versions - SourceForge.net file repository downloads
• Chromium Portable - SourceForge.net file repository downloads
• SRWare.net • View forum - SRWare Iron Support (English) - New version releases noted at the top.

Rolling your own Privacy Build of Chrome - Overview

So, what I want to have is all the privacy enhancements of SRWare Iron but in the “current” level of Chromium (Dev) and on a regular basis. Could I manually tweak-out a Chromium installation to achieve the same (or similar) privacy gains? 

One of the nice things of SRWare Iron is that the developer does all this work for you under the hood. But if like me you are comfortable making lots of browser configuration changes manually, and don’t mind doing some research, maybe you can get to the point of having an up-to-date Chrome-based browser with most/all of the features the SRWare Iron version has.

Aside: This isn’t really meant to be a discussion on creating an “ultra-secure/private” web-browsing experience in Chrome. I’m not seeking a completely “stealth” web-browsing experience. I’m not interested in setting up proxy/TOR sessions to try to bypass network/ISP tracking, nor is it to discuss the merits of “in private” mode browsing and all that. Who really knows what/how-much deep-packet inspection and logging at ISP’s may be going on. Rather, this attempt is to reasonably minimize the number of tracking features normally encountered in standard web browsing sessions. Yes, those “features” can be used by ISP/web-sites/content-providers to “enhance” your browsing experience in serving customized web-content, advertisements, and search-results specific to your browsing habits. That may be a good thing or not depending on you perspective. I personally to prefer to pour my coffee black and then add cream/sugar/etc depending on my mood. Same with my browser.

I started looking at the list of primary feature comparisons provided by SRWare; Chrome vs Iron.

Once I was familiar with these items, I started hitting Google to see how I could make each change manually. I soon found what I was looking for.

My plan was to post a link to explain how to achieve each setting.

But then as I dug just a bit deeper, I started finding some interesting discussions about recommended security and policy settings for Chrome builds; as well as some updated comments on the relevancy of the items targeted in SRWare Iron.

So instead, I’m posting links to those as I think this approach will allow someone to better (and more easily) create a customized privacy/browsing configuration for their own Chrome usage needs.

• Google Chrome Privacy Whitepaper - Provided by Chrome, this excellent web-page outlines just about all the most critical features in Chrome/Dev that interface with Google and/or third-party services and sites including,
  • “Ominibox” predictions - how to enable/disable
  • “Chrome Instant” - search results and in-line prediction serving/logging
  • Google search locale
  • Phishing/malware protections - how to enable/disable
  • Navigation error tips - enable/disable
  • Google Update - (and those component ID tags)
  • Installation tokens, Promotional tags/tokens
  • Usage stats and crash reports - enable/disable
    
• SRWare Iron Browser - A Private Alternative To Chrome? - InsanityBit - I found this post to be very helpful in understanding the benefits that I was seeking to have in SRWare Iron. It is pretty clear the writer takes a position against SRWare Iron’s advertised benefits over stock Chrome/Chromium builds. After reading you can do additional research and come to your own conclusions. I found it very helpful and it led me to personally drop using SRWare Iron and just stick with my own tweaked-out version of Chromium.
  
• Chrome vs Iron (Privacy Comparison) with Poll for Chrome users - MalwareTips forum - This discussion thread contains discussion (and content) based on the previous link. It also touches on the Dragon build version, and has some screen shots of privacy features options in Dragon.
  
• Google Chrome Security Settings and Configuration Guide for Enterprise - Root777 - Ajit Gaddam has a really super post that outlines recommendations for a more secure enterprise deployment of Chrome. Even if you aren’t deploying it in an organization, I found the discussion and points super-helpful. Lots of background information. Some changes are made in Group Policy Editor, but there are tips that can be followed for manual configurations.
  
• Policy List - The Chromium Projects - List of policies that Chrome refers to and uses. Note that Chrome and Chromium policy settings will have different locations in the Registry depending on build.

Rolling your own Privacy Build of Chrome - Assistive Tools and Tips

If you don’t like the idea of making a lot of manual setting and configuration changes, then there are a number of excellent utilities and Chrome extensions that can assist you with the process.

In fact, these may be the only tools and tips most average privacy tweakers of Chrome need.

• How to remove Google Chrome installation ID for anonymous surfing? - TechTrickz - These are two older tools that remove the unique “client_id” for your chrome browser. I can’t find a direct link to Abelssoft’s UnChrome tool any longer but some download sites still have it. Chrome Privacy Protector from Aquila is still around Chrome Privacy Protector. I don’t know if these will work with “portable” versions of Chrome or not.  In fact, according to this post Chrome to ditch unique ID, sort of via The Download Blog back in 2010, this feature should now be ditched.
  
• Privacy manager - Chrome Web Store - I really like this Chrome add on. It provides awesome granular control over primary privacy settings, cookie handling, and some network behavior. I can’t believe I haven’t been using this tool from the very beginning! For a deeper review, see this AddictiveTips blog post: Privacy Manager: Chrome Security Settings & Junk Data Cleaning.
  
• Privacyfix by Privacychoice - Chrome Web Store - this Chrome add-on allows you to make specialized privacy setting tweaks to your Chrome browser. It is really easy to follow and does a great job explaining the options and makes it easy to change/restore the settings depending on what you need to accomplish.
  
• Adblock Plus - Chrome Web Store - Block most ads in Chrome and the tacking stuff that comes with them.
  
• FlashBlock - Chrome Web Store - Block Flash media from auto-launching without your permission.
  
• Google Analytics Opt-out Add-on (by Google) - Chrome Web Store - Use to instruct Google Analytics JavaScript to not sent any info about the website you are on to Google Analytics. More tips and background on this particular privacy subject here: Keep Google From Tracking Your Every Move Online - How-To Geek
  
• How to Optimize Google Chrome for Maximum Privacy - How-To Geek - Additional tips and info on tweaking Chrome for privacy.
  
• How to Set your Google Chrome for Maximum Privacy|Set google for privacy - Hack How - Additional tips and info on tweaking Chrome for privacy.

Cheers

--Claus V.

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Claus’s iPhone App List

As promised, here is a listing, semi-categorized, of iOS iPhone apps I’m using on my iPhone 5.

All links will be to the iTunes App Store page unless otherwise noted. I’ve added a permanent link on the sidebar under “Claus’s Toolbox”.

I’m only listing Apps that I use (or plan to purchase relatively soon for use). There very well may be “better” apps of a similar function, but the point is these are the ones I am using. If you want to drop a comment on a recommendation of your own, that’s fine and if it is on-topic and something I would actually consider using, I might just approve it. If the comment seems like comment spam or is for an App that I’m not at all interested in for whatever reason, it probably won’t be added. This post isn’t to create a marketplace; it’s for me to self-reference and primarily be a way to recommend/share Apps with the few family and friends who have iPhone discussions with me.

A mini price-range key:

• free = free. May or may not be ad-supported. That said, if it is ad-supported or pop-up in-app notifications to upgrade to a paid-version are too annoying or obtrusive, the app is deleted.
• $ = $.99 to $2.99 range.
• $$ = $3 to $7.99 range.
• $$$ = $8 to $9.99 range
• $$$$ = over $9.99

Note that when posted, some apps may be on a special pricing discount for holiday or promotions. I’ll try to keep an eye on things but it’s only a rough guide.

I’m not sure I have my categorizations really dialed in quite the way I want yet. Those may change.
I’ll eventually get around to adding very-short app descriptions.

“Default” apps that come installed/bundled with the iOS don’t get listed.

I have a few great Apps I won’t list for privacy reasons; banking/insurance/shipping/specific shopping/vendors, etc. Just because you don’t see those listed, doesn’t mean I don’t use them.

Finally, just because all these apps fit on and run on my iPhone 5 (64 GB), currently iOS 6.0.2, doesn’t mean they will all fit on your own iPhone.

Here’s the list.

Core Apps

• Byline - $
• Chrome - free
• Gmail - free
• Google Maps - free
• MiniKeePass - free
• Wave Alarm - free (note I sprung for the in-app $ paid version)
• Wave Timer - free (note I sprung for the in-app $ paid version)

Productivity/Organization Apps

• Agenda Calendar - $
• Clear - $
• Due - $$
• Easy Note + To Do - $
• Grocery List - Buy Me a Pie! - $

Weather Apps

• NOAA Hi-Def Radar - $
• The Weather Channel® Max - $$
• WeatherMap+ - $

Text/Reading Apps

• Adobe Reader for iPhone - free
• Byword - $
• Kindle - free

Networking/IT/SysAdmin Apps

• Deep Whois - free
• Emerald Time - free
• Fing - Network Scanner - free
• Mocha iSys - free
• Mocha VNC for iPhone - $$
• IPv4 Subnet Calculator - $
• Network Ping Lite - free
• Networking Toolkit - free
• Nice Trace - traceroute - $
• Speedtest.net Mobile Speed Test - free
• TeamViewer HD for Remote Control - free - (note seems to work best on the remote system with an installed version of TeamViewer rather than TeamViewer Portable…maybe that was just me…)

Media Apps

• ABC Player - free
• ESPN ScoreCenter - free
• KUHF News/Classical 91.7 - free
• Naturespace - free/in-app $
• NBC - free
• NPR Music - free
• NPR News - free
• PBS - free
• PRI - free
• Science Friday - free
• SomaFM Radio Player - $$
• TED - free
• TV.com - free
• Vimeo - free
• YouTube - free

Specialized Utilities

• Converter Plus - free
• Decibel 10th - free
• Find My iPhone - free
• iHandy Carpenter - $
• Spyglass -$$
• Survival Guide - free

Photography

• Adobe Photoshop Express - free/in-app $ upgrade

Health/Fitness/Education/Fun

• iHikeGPS - $$
• Learn German: Babbel - free

Hardware Support
These are the primary “hardware” items I use (or will be using) with my iPhone. Note: Price rating system suspended here. Do the research if you are curious.

• Jawbone JAMBOX Wireless Speaker - Christmas present from Lavie.
• Jawbone (version 2) - (obtained back in 2008) - still running strong, though highly battered.
• Jawbone ERA - I don’t have this unit yet but will almost certainly be purchasing it in the next few weeks. Since my original Jawbone unit is almost six years old, has survived numerous traumas and still works great, I’m pretty much sold on the quality and performance of this manufacturer rather than others out there. I’m mostly just upgrading to the ERA model since it can support Bluetooth syncing with two devices concurrently. That is a must -- having multiple phones on my person. I considered the ICON model as well but I’ve come accustomed to the version 2 size so there you go.

Previously Used Apps (free) Upgraded to Purchased Versions or Alternatives
These are apps that I previously had on my iPhone but later upgraded to purchased versions and/or removed to make way for another/different version of the same app function. They are still highly recommended.

• Commander Compass Lite - free
• iHandy Level Free - free
• Mocha VNC Lite - free
• MapQuest - free
• MyRadar Weather Radar - free

Still pending purchase/installation - (sooner or later)

• Hurricane Tracker - $
• Hurricane - $
• iFileExpress - free
• Documents To Go - $$$
• Photo Manager Pro - $

Hope you find this helpful.

--Claus V.

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iSurrender: iPhone Linkfest

Enough iOS already! It’s following me around and multiplying!

I love the iPhone 5 I now carry and am getting very comfortable using it. I confess I’m still not yet scratching the surface of the features it is capable of, but I no longer consider an iPhone noobie and that is saying a lot.

iPhone 4’s got delivered to work. I’ll be working on a project very soon to migrate our BlackBerry users to them.

Alvis announced she bought (on her own, the little scullery-maid!) an iPad Mini from the Apple-store online for a Christmas-cash present. Delivery expected this week. Fortunately she publically went on the record that she is an iOS girl and has no love or desire for Mac laptop/desktop platforms or OSX so she didn’t receive a grounding for her cheekiness.

And I now subscribe to a number of RSS feeds for iOS matters to stay on top of tips/apps and iOS trends.

iOS News and Scuttlebutt

• In bringing Office to iOS, Microsoft is playing a dangerous game - Ars Technica. I’ve not installed any apps yet to deal with MS Office document viewing/editing yet. I’ve been considering Documents To Go & Documents To Go® Premium, but if the Verge is accurate, Microsoft may soon be dropping a set of free apps to allowing viewing of those files on iOS. That would be good enough for me.

In case you are an iOS user and been living under a rock lately…Google Maps for iOS dropped a few weeks ago. I love it but miss not having a terrain layer provided. Hopefully that will get added in eventually by the Google Map App team. Yes there is a way to get it via Cydia but that’s way past my comfort level so I personally won’t be making any recommendations with Cydia anytime soon.

• Google Maps is now available for iPhone - Official Google Blog
• Official Google Maps App For iPhone With Street View, Voice Directions - AddictiveTips
• Google Launches Native Maps For iOS, And Here’s The Deep Dive On Navigation, Info Sheets And More - TechCrunch
• First impressions: Google Maps for iOS [Updated] - TechBlog
• Here’s why you can see that iPhone app, but can’t yet grab it - TechBlog
• Google Maps for iPhone shows Apple how to do mapping right - Ars Technica 

Then came an iOS minor upgrade…Hurrah!

• Apple releases iOS 6.0.2 software update, bug fixes - iMore.com
• Apple addresses another Wi-Fi bug with iOS 6.0.2 update - Ars Technica
• Apple Releases iOS 6.0.1 Update For iPhone 5, iPad Mini - The Next Web

…which may cause battery-drain issues…oh-noes!

• Is there a problem with iOS 6.0.2? - Borns IT & Windows Blog
• iOS 6.0.2 suspected of draining batteries - Ars Technica
• Apple: iOS 6.0.2 provides shorter battery life for iPhone 5 and iPad Mini - Caschys Blog
• Iphone 5 and IOS 6.0.2 is draining my battery! - Apple Support Communities. May have a “fix” until the next iOS update comes out to fix this problem…if there is a problem.

At first I thought I was also having this post iOS 6.0.2 update battery-drain issue, but now I’m not convinced. Is the battery actually draining faster? Or am I just more conscious of battery usage levels when I’m using my iPhone 5 to do light-web surfing around the house when I’m too lazy to use my main laptop system?  That Retina display rocks and dazzles and probably gobbles up the juice.  Maybe with a more stable Wi-Fi connection I’m just using it more that I realize….

Tips and Tricks

One of the challenges with “new-to-me” technology is getting up to speed so I feel I have some level of mastery of it. I’ve always had fun being challenged by new things and becoming comfortable in using and managing them.

Needless to say, the iOS environment is certainly rich with opportunity for learning both basic and new things!

• Top 10 Handy iOS Tweaks That Don't Require Jailbreaking - Lifehacker
• How to Turn Any Song Into a Ringtone for Your iPhone or Android (for Free) - Lifehacker.
• Beyond the Silence: How to create ringtones for iPhone (m4r) for free - Beyond the Silence. This process works like a charm and once you get comfortable doing it it’s hard to justify purchase of a utility to do so.
• The Best Desktop File Explorer for iPhone (And All the Cool Things You Can Do with It) - Lifehacker.  See the main product page: i-FunBox v2.1 and the supplemental iOS app iFileExpress. Both free.
• How to edit Inbox order on your iPhone and iPad - iMore.com
• How To: Take a Screenshot With the iPhone - iMore.com
• iPhone 4S: Ultimate DIY repair guide - iMore.com
• Best paid iPhone apps - iMore.com
• Siri: The ultimate guide - iMore.com

iOS Apps I’ve Installed (and kept) since Last Posting

Once in a blue moon I will purchase a video (movie/TV show) from the iTunes store. Generally we buy BluRay disks and drop a few more dollars for the package that includes a digital copy. That works for us. I like the idea of iTunes rentals but the prices are (generally) crazy for the super-short rental “lifespan.” That doesn’t work for me.  I will pick up music (usually singles) from time to time. Again if I really “like” an album, I tend to order the physical CD and then import it into iTunes.

If I find a must-have, not-free app, I prefer to buy an iTunes card at a local store and then use that to purchase the app.

Otherwise, despite the number of iOS apps I’ve added/purchased recently as a new iPhone owner, I generally just wait until someone drops me an Apple iStore/App/Tunes gift card or I find a $20 for some “mad-money” and then splurge on some apps.

So the paid app purchases below are from Alvis’s Christmas gift card to me. Thank you Alvis!

• Google Maps - free - iTunes App Store. Enough said.
• Emerald Time - free - iTunes App Store. I’m a time junkie. Maybe from watching too many Dr. Who episodes? Anyway, while I can’t adjust the time on my iPhone, at least I can compare it to several NTP servers. It also lets you quickly see what the GMT time is. Geeky free app.
• Networking Toolkit - free - iTunes App Store. Paul Borghese’s app is top-shelf stuff for networking admins. Super handy.
• Due - $$ - iTunes App Store. Took me a while to find this one, and at $4.99, it isn’t “cheap” by most iOS app standards. Allows for creation of highly customized reminder alerts and timers. Lavie has a medication she must take every three days and sometimes we forget when the last dosage was given. This app allowed me to easily set a recurring three-day reminder. The UI is great and its power lies in its simplicity. Highly recommended.
• IPv4 Subnet Calculator - $ - iTunes App Store. There are lots and lots of “free” IP Subnet Calculators out there. I have a few Windows utilities on my systems for the heavy network planning I do. However, while the Networking Toolkit already mentioned above met my basic -- in case of emergency needs, when I say Alex Buzov’s app, I couldn’t help but buy it. It is drop-dead gorgeous and practical at the same time. I don’t expect we will be dabbling in IPv6 anytime soon, but hopefully when that time comes, Alex will have a version released. I’ll stand in line to buy it!
• Clear - $ - iTunes App Store.  Currently 50% off for a limited time. My brother tipped me off to this little gem. While I already have a note management app, and there is “Due” for reminders, this super beautiful fun app makes creating To-Do action lists fun. No, you cannot set calendar items or reminders but if you want a easy way to make lists you will come back to, this app is worth checking out.
• Byword - $ - iTunes App Store. For when you need a more full-featured and full-sized app for composing text. It doesn’t do a who lot, but covers the basics of creating and editing larger text-based documents much more comfortable.
• Grocery List - Buy Me a Pie - $ - iTunes App Store. There are a lot of free and $ “grocery/shopping-list” makers out there. What sold me on this one was a simple and easy to organize/navigate interface couple with the ability for me to share an on-line account with Lavie and Alvis to use to add needed items to the weekly grocery list. Sure, my handwritten 3x5 index card grocery list making system seems to work OK but hopefully this can help supplement it a bit. Multiple lists are supported so it doesn’t have to be limited for lists at the grocery store.
• Naturespace - free/$ - iTunes App Store. The free app comes with a small set of nature-sound loops. Additional sound-atmosphere loops can be purchased in-app for a few dollars per sound loop.  There are more free sound-loop apps out there and I haven’t really scratched the surface but this one came highly recommended mostly based on the quality of the free app player as well as the quality of the sound loops themselves. Just wished they would have tossed in a rain/thunder-storm loop in the free package as well. That’s more my thing for relaxation but guess that’s how they get us hooked!
• iFileExpress - free - iTunes App Store. Extend the ability to manage and share files between your iOS device and your PC/Mac system. Mainly for the geeks.

Coming soon I’ll be working on getting up a regularly maintained post to track and list my iOS iPhone apps in a single place for quick reference and for the curious.

Cheers,

--Claus Valca

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Windows 8 Phone: Minor Linkage

Although I ended up going with an iOS platform after-all, I have been able to finally get my hands on a Nokia Lumia 920 Windows 8 Phone that a co-worker picked up -- at least for a few minutes.

Tellingly, he hasn’t ditched his secondary non-Win8 smartphone just yet, but did find a special deal that allowed him to pick up two units for the standard price of one; gift one and get one!

While I didn’t have an opportunity to really take it for a full test-track session, I was impressed with the 920’s screen brightness and resolution. Popping between screens/apps was super-fast. The unit had a nice heft and the feel in the hand was comfortable.

One thing was very clear to me; the Metro Windows 8 app style format really shines on the smartphone platform where it doesn’t impress me one bit on a more traditional desktop/laptop/Surface platform. That’s one thing that seems to set (for now) the Windows 8 Phone app eco-system apart from iOS and Android; style consistency across apps. As I’ve spent more and more time in the Apple App store, I’ve come to learn there are some app designers who work very, very hard to reflect a polished and “modern” UI style…and others look like crap despite how awesome the app might actually be. That holds true regardless if they are paid or free.  Props for good design work and attention to detail.

I may have previously posted this but Scott Hanselman over at Computer Zen recently posted the process by which he updated a Windows 7 Phone app of his to Windows 8.

• Updating my Windows Phone App to Windows Phone 8 - Scott Hanselman

Scott provides a great review of the process a Windows 8 Phone app designer needs to go through to make a quality product…even from a GUI design and layout angle.

I’m probably not looking hard enough, but I’ve not yet found any good treatises yet on designing and implementing an iOS app from a modern-ui standpoint consistent with other Apple UI’s.  Can anyone suggest any links on the subject or if Apple even has any “standards” in GUI design for current iOS levels?

In the meantime, here is a smattering of Windows 8 Phone linkage.

General Discussion

• Google Nixes Apps For Windows 8, Windows Phone -  InformationWeek
• Two new reports says Windows Phone 8 still can't gain traction - Computerworld Blogs
• Apollo Plus: Microsoft's next Windows Phone update to include Wi-Fi, audio, and other fixes -The Verge
• Windows Phone 8: The Complete Review - MakeUseOf
• An update on Windows Phone 7.8 - Windows Phone Blog
• The secrets of the Windows Phone 8 keyboard - Windows Phone Blog
• Verizon slashes HTC Windows Phone 8X price, matches Lumia 822 and 920 - BetaNews
• Windows Phone 8 vs Windows Phone 7.8 – What’s the Difference & Should You Upgrade? - MakeUseOf

Windows 8 Phone Apps that Caught My Eye 

• Discover New & Top Rated Apps On Windows 8 Store With Great Windows Apps - AddictiveTips
• Essential apps and games for a new Windows Phone - Windows Phone Blog
• Windows 8 Apps for IT Professionals - WindowsNetworking
• Download Any File Or Media Stream On Windows Phone With GetThemAll - AddictiveTips
• Get Weather Updates By The Minute With SkyMotion For Windows Phone - AddictiveTips

Usage Tips

• How To Get Back Bing Maps On Windows Phone 8 - AddictiveTips
• How I set up my new Windows Phone—and what I learned that can help you - Windows Phone Blog

HTC Windows Phone 8X

• Review: HTC 8X is the best Windows Phone 8 handset out there - Ars Technica

Cheers.

--Claus V.

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Windows 8 Linkage: A final 2012 Huzzah.

…for the record…no Valca Win systems have yet been upgraded to Windows 8.

I am still running it in a VM.  Lavie mentioned she was interested in picking up a new, sub-15” Windows laptop in the new year but isn’t impressed with Windows 8 or the Surface platform so she will continue to wait to see how things develop in the new year.

Win8 - Start Here - Get It

• How to create a custom Windows 8 image to restore to - Tenniswood Blog
• What’s the best price on a Windows 8 Pro upgrade? - Ed Bott

Win8 - Install It

• Windows 8: Create a USB Installation Stick - Borns IT & Windows Blog
• Not Sure About Upgrading? Then Why Not Dual Boot Windows 8 With Windows 7? - MakeUseOf
• It's Not Easy, But You Can Uninstall Windows 8 And Revert To Your Old OS - MakeUseOf
• Windows 8 Upgrade Error 0x8007025D - Borns IT & Windows Blog
• Set Windows 8 Start Screen Background To Change After Specific Time - Addictive Tips
• Customize Windows 8 Installation & Create Unattended Setup ISO - AddictiveTips
• Flushing the crapware: A guide to reinstalling Windows 8 on a new PC - Ars Technica

Win8 - Under the Hood

• Windows 8: repair components Goals - Borns IT & Windows Blog

Win8 - To Go

• Certified Windows To Go USB flash drive - Borns IT & Windows Blog

Win8 - Tweaks

• How To Disable AutoPlay & AutoRun In Windows 8 - AddictiveTips
• StartW8: Windows 8 and again from the Start menu - Caschys Blog
• Chameleon Adds Custom Backgrounds to the Windows 8 Lock Screen - Lifehacker
• Increase the Windows 8 Taskbar Thumbnail Size - Cybernet News
• StartW8 Is A Simple & Elegant Start Menu Replacement For Windows 8 - AddictiveTips
• Start Menu for Windows 8 - (free) - StartW8 application home page.
• Complete Guide How to Change Windows 8 Metro App Install Location - Windows 7 Hacker
• Disable Windows 8 Start Screen Launch Animation To Make It Feel Faster - AddictiveTips
• How To Fix The Limited Wi-Fi Connectivity Issue On Microsoft Surface - AddictiveTips
• IObit’s StartMenu8 Got a new Update with Better UI, Still Keeps the Free tag - Windows 7 Hacker

Win8 - Deeper Insights

• I. Windows PE: Create Repair Disk - Borns IT & Windows Blog
• II. Windows PE 4.0: These programs - Borns IT & Windows Blog
• III: recovery drive with Win RE create - Borns IT & Windows Blog

Metro Apps That Caught My Eye

• Windows 8: Store disappeared - Borns IT & Windows Blog
• SkyMap Turns Your Windows 8 Or RT Device Into A 3D Planetarium - AddictiveTips

Win8 - Usage Tips

• How To Reveal Saved Wireless Network Password in Windows 8 - Windows 7 Hacker
• RemoteApp for Windows 8 & Surface - Tenniswood Blog
• How To Change Location Of Default Screenshot Folder In Windows 8 - AddictiveTips
• Backup solutions for Windows 8 - Borns IT & Windows Blog
• Windows 8-Backup: With onboard tools - Part 1 - Borns IT & Windows Blog

Win8 - Miscellanea & Rumors

• Windows 8: No one wants to start menu - no one? - Borns IT & Windows Blog

Windows 8 - GSD Previously Posted

• Windows 8 Linkage: “Majestic Metro” version
• Windows 8 Linkage: “Passage Public Metro” version
• Windows 8 Linkage: “Metro Santiago” edition
• Windows 8 Linkage: “Metro at Nightfall” edition
• Windows 8 Linkage: Product Name “Something or Another”
• Windows 8 Linkage: In Which a Name is Chosen
• Windows 8 Linkage: A Bit Behind the Ball
• Windows 8 - “It’s here” edition
• Windows 8 Linkage: Call me maybe?

Cheers.

--Claus V.

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