Posts for April 2013

TOTW: what to do if your mobile phone gets dropped in water

Smart phone, meet glass of water / pint of Guinness / insert damp environment as applicable. Being dropped in water or another liquid is a common way for a mobile phone to meet its end.

Someone should probably tell that to the 75% of owners who use their expensive smart phone while on the toilet.

For this tip of the week (TOTW), we explain what to do if your mobile phone gets dropped in water.

Recovery is by no means guaranteed, but swift action can often save a smart phone from a watery grave.

1. Move fast and pop the battery out

Are your reactions good? Let's hope so, because the first crucial step to saving your mobile phone when it's been dropped in water is to fish it out and pop the battery off the back.

If the phone appears to still be functioning, don't try and turn it off first. Pressing buttons could let more water inside or fry the circuits.

Once it's powered down the chance of damage is lower, so the quicker you can do this the better. If your handset is an iPhone, or another model without a removable battery, you'll have to switch it off instead and hope for the best.

Whatever you do, don't be tempted to try and turn it on after a few minutes just to 'check if it's ok'. You could do irreversible damage.

2. Dry the water from your phone

Assuming you've already removed the battery, take out the SIM card and remove any other accessories, like memory cards or headphones.

Then grab some kitchen towel (or whatever you have to hand) and dry the outside of your mobile phone as thoroughly as possible. Your aim is to stop water leeching in through gaps in the case.

It can take real effort to remove all traces of water from handset keypads, headphone connections and so on.

You may be tempted to use a hairdryer, but don't. The air can actually push water further into your device. Instead, try using a vacuum cleaner to suck water from nooks and crannies.

3. Leave it to recover

Even if your mobile phone looks bone dry, there's likely to still be water where you can't see it. Before you take the risk of switching it back on, give it a decent chance to dry out.

A good option is to leave your handset in a bowl of rice for a few days. This may draw the moisture out for you. Alternatively, you can buy special bags to draw out any damp lurking in your smart phone. Try this Bheestie bag (£14.99) or this kit (£14.20).

The key here is to be patient. Don't leave your phone in an overly-warm place or be tempted to heat it up, as this may do more harm than good.

After a few days, check your handset and give it a good shake to see if any water droplets emerge. If there are no signs of damp, you can put it back together and risk turning it on. If you're lucky, it'll spring back to life. If not, you'll need to take a trip to a repair shop.

• How to remove comments from a Word document
• Shortcuts to use PowerPoint effectively
• Three ways to avoid online scams

Business tech bargain: a great Lenovo laptop for under £450

This business tech bargain is a great-value laptop from Lenovo, a respected manufacturer that makes machines highly-rated for reliability. In fact, you'll find Lenovo computers in use at many of the world's biggest companies.

To be specific, it's the Lenovo Ideapad Z580. This 15" mid-range workhorse laptop has a capable Intel i5 processor, a big 1TB hard drive (that's enough storage for almost anything) and 8GB of RAM.

In short, it's more than enough to handle the business applications you might throw at it, unless you need to do graphic design or work with video, in which case you'll need a laptop with a more powerful graphics chip.

Being a Lenovo laptop, you can also be confident it'll be built to stand up to the odd knock and should last you a good few yars.

Oh, and the price? It's currently available from online merchant Dabs at £462. However, if you use voucher code Z580 then you'll get it for a bargain £442 all in.

See details and buy from Dabs >>

• View all our business tech bargains

Protect your business from a cyber attack

There are an estimated 4.8 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the UK, many with their own ecommerce websites.

In 2011, 32 million people purchased goods or services online. That gives the UK one of the world's biggest internet-based economies. And it's why keeping your website safe and secure from cyber-attacks has never been more important.

SMEs are easy targets

As a business owner, you’re probably dealing with plenty of critical day-to-day issues. Perhaps worrying about your website’s security is not top of your list of priorities.

You may be wondering why hackers would want to target a small business rather than big brands like Lush and Adidas. The simple answer is that hackers know smaller businesses have fewer resources dedicated to online security, making them easier targets.

For those involved, cyber crime is big business. It costs the global economy $338bn a year which, according to Symantec, is significantly higher than the global narcotics black market.

Since the beginning of 2010, 36% of all targeted cyber-attacks have been directed at SMEs.

With around 44 million attacks a year taking place against home computers, businesses and government systems in the UK, an offline website means a loss of income. For instance, PayPal reportedly lost £3.5m due to a cyber-attack in 2010.

As well as lost revenue, a website security breach can result in losing vital data, your reputation and even your ranking on Google. Ultimately, it could damage your business beyond repair.

Six simple tips to protect your site

Here are six simple but effective tips to  protect your business against cyber attacks:

1. Choose your passwords carefully. Password123 is not a secure password! Make sure passwords have at least eight characters and use a combination of letters and numbers. Here are some ideas for creating strong passwords.
2. Install anti-malware and anti-virus protection for your website in the same way you would your PC. Reviews can help you determine if the product is right for your business.
3. Use SSL to encrypt data. SSL provides a secure connection, protecting data sent between a customer’s web browser and your server. Your hosting provider can help set this up for you. Learn more about SSL.
4. Avoid using wireless networks. If you must use them, make sure you're using the latest encryption standard, WPA2. This offers government-grade security.
5. Keep programs and hardware up to date. This helps block malware that thrives in older equipment and out of date software. If you are using Windows or a Mac you can set up weekly update checks. You should also do this for any software you use to manage your website.
6. Educate employees about the latest online threats. This way they’ll know clicking on bad links or opening dodgy attachments can compromise data. All your staff should be as vigilant at work as they are at home. If in doubt, don’t click it.

So, if website security wasn’t on your priority list, it might be time to add it now.

Guest post by Rahul Mistry, content writer for www.heartinternet.co.uk. You can follow Rahul on Twitter and Google Plus.

TOTW: how to remove comments from a Word document

If you've been working on a Word document in a team or have to send a report out for comments and approval, you may end up with a file that's covered in comments, tracked changes and markup.

You'll probably want to remove the markup and comments from your Word document, particularly if you're sending it outside your business (tracked changes have embarrassed organisations many times over the years).

So, for this tip of the week (TOTW), we explain how to remove markup, comments and other hidden data from your Word documents.

Use the Document Inspector

Recent versions of Microsoft Word include a tool called the Document Inspector that helps you identify and remove comments, markup and hidden information. Bad news for Mac users though: the Document Inspector is only available on Word for PCs.

Here's how to use it:

1. Open the document from which you want to remove comments and hidden data.
2. Click the File tab in Word, then click Info.
   (If you don't see the File tab, click the Microsoft Office button at the top left, then select Prepare > Inspect Document. This will open the Document Inspector, so you can skip step three.)
3. Select Prepare for Sharing > Check for Issues > Inspect Document.
4. The Document Inspector will open. You can choose which items you want to check for. Make sure every box is ticked.
5. Click Inspect. You may have to wait a moment if it's a large document.
6. The Document Inspector will show all the comments, changes and data it has found.
7. You can remove these items by clicking Remove All on each line.
   Note: most of these changes cannot be undone.
8. You can rescan the document by clicking Reinspect.
9. Click Close once you're done.

That's it. Now you can save your document as normal and send it out without worrying that it might contain any hidden text or information.

• Shortcuts to help you use PowerPoint professionally
• Three ways to avoid online scams
• Sound a warning when you hit Caps Lock by accident

It's time to ditch the cloud

‘Cloud’ is one of the hottest IT buzzwords in years. Millions of people now make use of remotely delivered services – ‘cloud computing’, in the language of many IT firms.

But even the most popular cloud computing services such as iTunes and Google Mail haven't succeeded in educating the general public on how the technology behind these services actually works.

That’s fine when all you want to do is send an email or listen to music, but what happens if your needs are a little more specialised?

A low-cost alternative?

One of the undoubted benefits of cloud computing is its ability to deliver a low-cost alternative to many traditional business IT solutions.

But if people setting up a new company don't understand the principles of the cloud, are they really going to be aware of all it has to offer them?

More importantly, is the IT industry right to be so obsessed with the cloud as an overarching concept? After all, if you're launching a new business, your focus is going to be on the bottom line, not on some silly buzzword.

It’s about the service, not the delivery

So, instead of telling prospective customers a service will be delivered through the cloud, would it be a better idea for IT sales pitches - and the conversation in general - to focus on the merits of an individual service?

After all, few existing or potential small business owners are going to boast about the manner in which a service they used is delivered, but they will enthuse about something that works well and saves them money.

At Webfusion, we’ve created this infographic to show you the full extend of the public’s ignorance.

 Infographic from Webfusion.

So what do you think? Is it time the IT industry stopped talking about the cloud, or does the term still have value?

• Is cloud computing green computing?
• Should you host in the cloud or on the premises?
• Can the cloud make you more efficient?

Business tech bargain: solid state storage deal

Solid state drives (SSDs) are superfast replacements for traditional computer hard drives.

Because they rely on flash memory instead of spinning magnetic disks, they have no moving parts and can access data more quickly.

Switching the standard hard drive in your laptop for an SSD can lead to impressive performance improvements. The only problem is that SSDs tend to cost a bit more than an equivalent hard drive.

Having said that, prices have dropped in recent months, and we've just spotted a great deal: currently, you can grab a 500GB Samsung SSD for £249.99 over at Dabs.

That's a good price. But as long as you buy before 15 May, you'll be able to claim £40 cashback, bringing the effective price down to £209.99. Now that is a tech bargain!

See offer and buy online >>

About this tech bargain

This Samsung SSD holds up to 500GB of data, which should be enough for general business use. In fact, it's very generous in SSD terms, and will give you space for an awful lot of music and a fair few films too, making it a good all-round option.

It's a standard-size unit which will slot straight into most laptops in place of the existing hard drive. It comes with all the normal fittings you might need, plus software to help you move your data across.

Replacing your laptop's hard drive with this should lead to noticeable performance improvements, particularly when it comes to starting your computer up, opening software and working with large files.

Buy now from Dabs >>

• See our previous business tech bargains

Five things 4G will do for your business

4G, the new mobile technology that allows for superfast mobile internet connections, is just beginning to have an impact on the UK telecoms market.

However, although 4G has been talked about for several years now, many people are still in the dark about what it’ll do for their businesses. That’s why we’ve compiled these five key benefits:

It lets you do more on the move.

The key thing about 4G is that it really boosts the connection speed for mobile devices. That means you can do more on the move.

In fact, some 4G connections should offer speeds comparable to or faster than fixed-line broadband, which means tasks like working on shared documents, videoconferencing and more all become practical.


It’ll make remote working easier.

How to get 4G Everything Everywhere is the only company currently offering 4G mobile. It covers major UK cities. EE is the same company as T-Mobile andOrange, so if you have a mobile contract with them you may be able to move to 4G even if you're within your minimum contract period. O2 and Vodafone promise preferential 4G upgrades to some customers once their 4G networks become available later this year.

Experts predict that 4G will eventually cover up to 99% of the UK population, which means even people living in rural areas will have a connection that’s fast enough to make remote working practical.


It could cut your costs.

4G costs will drop as more mobile networks launch their 4G services. But 4G could trigger big savings in unexpected areas. As more employees are able to work remotely, you may find you can move to a smaller office or reduce your power bills.

It may boost your productivity.

4G will make it more practical to hold online meetings and use collaboration tools smoothly, which could result in less time spent travelling to meetings (and more time spent working).


It’ll increase your mobile sales.

Your customers will be using 4G too, which means they’ll find it easier and quicker to browse your website. That’ll encourage them to buy products on the move (if your website works well on mobile devices), increasing your sales.

Ultimately, 4G is an engine for economic growth. It’ll bring wide benefits helping companies to grow and encouraging investment in businesses from both the UK and abroad.

• Data limits make 4G costly for business 
• How 4G broadband will revolutionise business 
• 4G mobile broadband speeds tested 

TOTW: shortcuts to help you use PowerPoint professionally

Giving a presentation can be nerve-wracking. And let's be honest: although PowerPoint is a useful aid, many presenters rely on it too much.

But once you've made sure you're not committing any crimes with PowerPoint, here's a tip of the week (TOTW) with some useful shortcuts to make your presentation run smoothly and professionally:

Move through your presentation

Most people who use PowerPoint will know this already. However. if you tend to flail with your mouse to move through your presentation, why not try using the left and right arrows keys instead?

Tap these to step through your presentation one slide at a time - forwards or backwards.

Alternatively...
For a more professional look to your presentations, consider using a presentation remote control. This will allow you to step through presentations without having to stay by your computer. Kensington and Targus both make good models.

How to take a break

If someone interrupts your presentation unexpectedly, or you want to hold a group discussion without the distraction of what's on screen, use these shortcuts:

• Tap W to turn the screen white
• Tap B to turn the screen black

Just tap the key again to resume your presentation.

Scribble on your slides

You can literally underline a key point in PowerPoint, by drawing on the screen:

• Press CTRL + P to turn your mouse pointer into a pen icon
• Then click and hold the mouse to draw on your slides
• When you're finished, press CTRL + A

(If you use a Mac, tap the Command key instead of CTRL.)

Alternatively...
You can use a laser pointer to point at key items. These are available for a few pounds - just be careful not to point it in anyone's eyes!

• Three ways to avoid online scams
• Sound a warning when you hit Caps Lock
• How to edit a PDF

Can you spot the phishing website?

You've probably heard of phishing. It's where scammers send you an email that looks like it's from an official organisation, usually your bank.

The email usually contains links to a fake log in page which collects your username, password and other security details. If you enter them, the scammers will subsequently use your credit card, empty your bank account or commit some other crime against you.

Some phishing websites are laughably bad, with terrible grammar, bad spellng and shonky design. But others can be very convincing.

Spot the phishing site

To show you just how convincing phishing sites can be, here are two screenshots for you. One is the genuine sign in screen for the Co-operative Bank's online banking service. The other is a fake sign in screen from a phishing email I received.

You can click the image to see both screens full size. Can you tell which is which?

See actual size >>

So, how did you do? 

Well, the top screenshot is of the genuine sign in screen. The second one is the fake.

If you're familiar with this bank's online interface, you'll probably realise that the site asking for your full name is not genuine. But if you don't use your online banking often or simply aren't paying 100% attention when you click the link, it's easy to see how you could be fooled.

Three principles to avoid phishing

Checking the address of a site like this is usually the most foolproof way to see if it's fake. In this case, it was easy to tell, because the URL clearly wasn't the Co-operative's normal address:

It isn't always as obvious as this through, so here are three foolproof ways to avoid phishing traps:

1. Don't click sensitive links in emails. If an email from a trusted source like your bank asks you to log in to your account, do so by manually typing in the website address rather than clicking a link.
2. Pay attention to security notices. Most phishing emails will be caught by email filters, security software or web filtering tools. If you see a warning about an email, link or website, don't ignore it. (It's amazing how many people do.)
3. Let the sender know your concerns. If you're in any doubt at all about whether an email or website is genuine, get in touch with the organisation it claims to represent. A quick phone call should be enough to confirm your doubts.

And as a final warning, don't ever enter sensitive log in information if you have any concerns at all about the website you're on. Even if it just looks or feels a bit funny, that's reason enough to stop and think before you make a mistake.

Note: don't click links in dodgy emails like we did. They can be dangerous, even if you don't enter in any sensitive information.

• Staying safe in the changing world of IT
• The bring your own device fear factor
• Can you prove who you are?

Google, please stop messing with things that work fine

I'm a long-time user of Google Mail. By and large, I think it's brilliant.

The enormous amount of storage space means my email archive contains thousands of messages going back over half a decade. I can log in from anywhere and find exactly what I need in moments.

Making Gmail worse

But last October the search giant started testing a new interface for writing messages. Now it's decided to roll it out to all users. And, unfortunately, it's a backward step.

The old interface might look rather traditional, but it does the job well:

The line of icons across the top ensures you're never more than one click away from inserting bullets or links, indenting text, changing formatting or running the spell check.

Contrast that with this new, cleaner interface. When you start writing an email, this pops up over your inbox:

With icons stripped from the interface, it takes more clicks to find functions that were previously obvious:

• To add bullets or change text formatting, you must click the underlined A to show formatting options. A second click picks the option you want. That's twice the clicks it took before.
• It works differently when you want to add a link or emoticon. There's no extra click, but you have to run the mouse over the + symbol to reveal the option you need.
• The process for finding the spellcheck is different again. First, you have to click the non-descriptive down arrow at the bottom right. Then choose Check spelling from the list. Once again, what previously took one click now requires two.

Google says the new interface is faster and more focused. I contend that having to think harder about how to insert a bulleted list or embolden text is almost certainly going to break your focus more effectively than the old icon toolbar did,

Besides, the new interface keeps your inbox visible behind it, so you can see new emails as they arrive. That won't be distracting in the slightest, will it?

Your email matters

The way email works is important because we spend so much time using it (more than a quarter of the average day, according to some research).

When companies alter services like these that we're comfortable with and rely on, it can make us less efficient, change our working practices and make us feel uneasy.

That's the way I'm feeling at the moment. And that's why I'm irritated by Google's unneccessary tinkering and arbitrary changes. Maybe it's time I switched to Microsoft Outlook instead.

• How to streamline your email and save time
• Ten ways to use email effectively
• Find the right business email system

Business tech bargain: pre-order the new Samsung Galaxy S4

Samsung's latest, greatest smart phone, the Samsung Galaxy S4, is now available to pre-order. If you can't wait to get your hands on this impressive mobile phone, then now's the time to place your order online.

You will, unfortunately, still have to wait until the phone's official release. But over at Carphone Warehouse, if you order today you can expect delivery on 26 April, which is the day the new handset becomes available.

Place your order online now >>

There's a wide range of tariffs to choose from, which could see you pay as little as nothing up front (you'll have to commit to a two-year contract, mind you) to £590 to buy the handset outright.

You'll also receive a free accessory bundle which includes a screen protector, flip cover, in-car charger and 32GB memory card.

About Samsung Galaxy S4 pre-orders

Samsung announced the Galaxy S4 at an event in New York last month. Some of the handset's key features include:

• Full high-definition screen, which isn't a first for a smart phone but does mean everything looks a little sharper.
• An eight-core central processing chip, that'll ensure this phone runs superfast (there's a large battery too, to allow for the extra power it'll consume).
• An NFC (near field communication) chip, which may - in future - allow you to pay for things by tapping your phone on a reader in shops.
• A 13 megapixel camera, offering excellent quality photos and videos.

As with other Samsung smart phones, the Galaxy S4 will run Google's Android operating system, which means buying one will give you access to an enormous library of free and paid-for apps. It also includes 4G capabilities, ensuring you can use it on EE, currently the UK's only 4G network.

For all that, this phone isn't a vast leap forward over the company's existing S3. It's more of a careful evolution - which should still position it as one of the best smart phones on the market today.

To be sure of getting your hands on one, place your pre-order now.

• See all previous tech bargains
• View other deals from Carphone Warehouse