Data Doctors Tech Tips

When you are having trouble getting to a website, often times the problem is with your equipment but sometimes it is the site itself that's having the problem. The next time you experience an issue with getting a website to load, before spending a bunch of time troubleshooting your own gear, take a couple of second to make sure that the site you're trying to access is actually still working for others. One website called IsItDownRightNow.com quickly gives you useful info to help determine whether it's you or it's them. In addition to telling you whether a website is down or not, it'll tell you what the response time is and for most major websites, they include a recent history of their up-time. If you do verify that a site is up, they provide troubleshooting tips to help try to figure out why everyone else can access the site, but you can't. If a lot of other users are having issues with the same site, you will also see their comments posted at the bottom so you'll know not to waste your time. If a site actually is down, they'll try to provide you with a list of similar sites in hopes of being able to get the info you from an alternative site. IsItDownRightNow.com is bookmark worthy!

Augmented reality apps like Pokeman Go that superimpose info on your smartphone screen are all the rage these days. One of my favs incorporates augmented reality for real-time translation of words in foreign languages, which is great restaurant menus, street signs and especially signs in museums. Anyone traveling abroad, knows that key words can make all the difference in whether you get lost or not or eat something undesirable. A real time translation app called CamDictionary is one of my favorites because it is much quicker than looking words up the old fashioned way. You just open the app, line up your camera on a word and tap your screen to get an instant translation in one of 54 languages. It turns your smartphone camera into a virtual dictionary that can translate any word you point at. CamDictionary won't translate complete sentences at once, so it's no where near a complete translator, but when you can understand a word or two, you tend to feel more confident. The basic app is free for Android and iPhone users, so anyone planning a trip to a foreign country should get this app loaded before they leave. I've posted the links at DataDoctors.com/radio iPhone: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/camdictionary-free/id407952605 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.intsig.camdict

If you're like me and millions of others that butcher song lyrics because you don't know what they are, then today's tip is for you! For those that thought Elton John was saying 'hold me closer, Tony Danza' or that Jimmy Hendrix was singing 'excuse me while I kiss this guy' should checkout the Musixmatch website and apps. Musixmatch, spelled M U S I X does a good job of grabbing song lyrics for most popular songs and displays the lyrics while the song is playing on your mobile device. You will need to be connected to the Net so the app can pull the lyrics down, but it uses very little bandwidth to get it done. Another great option in the app is the ability to get song lyrics for music that is playing in the background, like at a restaurant or club. Just tap the button to have it listen and you'll be able to sing the right words! Musixmatch is free and available for both iPhone and Android users. https://about.musixmatch.com/apps

LinkedIn has become the primary social network for business professionals as well as a powerful tool for recruiters as well. But, as always happens on the Internet, where there's honey, there are those pesky flies. Scammers have been trying to use fake LinkedIn profiles that often appear to be a recruiter so they can gather info on potential victims. A possible goal of this type of gathering of info is to it for spear phishing scams, which are much more likely to be successful. The old 'catfish' scam has come to LinkedIn so we all need to be on alert so we can sniff them out. Often times, the image on the profile has been taken from stock photos or from other real people, so performing a quick image search can often expose the scammers profiles. Use either Google's Image Search or http://TinEye.com to show you if the profile picture appears elsewhere on the Internet as an unrelated person. Always take a moment to do a little private detective work the any time you get a suspicious Linkedin connection request.

If you've seen a RSS button on websites and wondered what it actually does, then today's tip is for you. RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication and it is an automated process for getting information as it's updated. Virtually every news or info site offers a RSS feed that allows you to tap into through a RSS reader. If have yet to try RSS, a website called http://feedly.com is a good place to start. It's one of the easiest and most powerful RSS readers available and they also have an app for your smartphone. You begin by searching for info sites you want to connect with based on topics or by directly searching the name of a resource. Once it's been added to your reading list, Feedly automatically updates any information as it's published to each site. It's essentially a customized and dynamic news source that only provides you with the type of information you are interested in gathering. It's pretty handy; try it out at http://feedly.com

The weekend is upon us and I have a fun tip for creating truly memorable videos of your weekend activities. If you have ever wanted to direct a block-buster special effects action movie, did you know that you can with just your smartphone and an app? An app called FXGuru is a pretty cool and makes it really easy to create special effects videos out of anything you record on your smartphone. It includes twelve free effects in the basic program including UFO shuttles, satellites crashing and skeletons dancing with lots of other effects that you can buy for a buck each. Unlike other movie effect apps I've used in the past, the FXGuru app has 'virtual decals' which show you where on the screen your effect will be used. It makes it much easier to line up the effect when you're shooting your video. Your only limitations in awesome movie making this weekend is your own imagination, so if you want to record a UFO invasion in your backyard or blow-up your golf partner on the 18th tee box because he's beating you, FXGuru can make it happen. You can download the iPhone or Android version at http://www.fxguruapp.com

Most of us have a love-hate relationship with our tech gadgets because they keep us entertained and productive, but that also makes us slaves to the machine more often than not. Most of us feel naked and uncomfortable if we're separated from our phones, tablets or laptops and can't check social posts or emails. If this description fits you or someone you know, it may be time for a 'digital-detox' to introduce some balance into digital life. An old friend of mine has raved about an unplugged-retreat he took among the redwood trees of California with an group called Digital Detox. Think about it; no tech gadgets or screens, no clocks or networking...just the chance to get recharged and refocused without stressful technology. Digital Detox offers device-free events, workshops, retreats, adult summer camps, corporate training and aims to help you bridge the gap between connecting and disconnecting in the real world. If you're looking for help in taking a step back from your fast-paced digital existence, something you see at the http://TheDigitalDetox.org website might give you the motivation to truly disconnect.

As I've suggest many times, 2-factor verification is one of the best ways to protect all your online accounts, but when you turn it on, there's an additional step you'll want to take. Remembering that 2-factor verification incorporates your phone to prevent unauthorized people from accessing your accounts, the site has to be able to send a text message with a code whenever they detect a new device or location being used. That means when you're on an airplane and choose to purchase in-flight wifi, having 2-factor authentication activated presents a problem because you can't get text messages while in flight. Having backup codes stored on your computer will save the day! Being unable to get into social accounts like Facebook or Twitter aren't the end of the world but if you're a business traveler and get locked out of your e-mail during a long flight, that's a whole other story. To find the backup codes, just go to the setup screen for your accounts and search for 'backup codes'. Most often they'll create up to 10 temporary one time use codes, so make sure you store them somewhere on one of your devices. Or you can use the 'old school' write them down on a note or other non-descript document to keep in your laptop bag, purse or wallet. I've posted links for most of the popular sites at http://datadoctors.com/radio Google: https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1187538?hl=en Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/help/148104135383285 DropBox: https://www.dropbox.com/help/364 Twitter: https://support.twitter.com/articles/20170388-using-login-verification# Or you can search "2-factor backup codes for XXXX" where XXXX is the name of the online service

Once again, a compromised Gmail user asked for help because they were locked out of their own account because they were compromised. Google has a number of resources for recovering an account that's been compromised, but something they should have done long ago would've prevented the being a victim in the first place. I'm talking about 2-step verification and it's really simple to setup. With 2-step verification activated, even if a hacker steals your password, they wouldn't be able to gain access to your account and here's why: Google can track when a strange computer tries to access your online accounts and they will text a short code to your phone when it detects any unusual access. Without having the special code, whoever stole your password won't be able to get in. It is also the perfect way to know when your password has been stolen. With it turned on, when you get an access code message on your phone out of the blue, you'll know that someone has acquired your password and you'll know it's time to change it. Gmail isn't the only account you can protect, as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Paypal, Microsoft, Apple and just about every online service offers some form of 2-step verification. If you'd like instructions for most major sites, I've posted a link at DataDoctors.com/radio. http://twofactorauth.org

The next time you're confronted with a new project that requires some creative thought and for you to come up with an appropriate name or slogan, remember this website. PickyDomains.com is a crowd-sourced service designed to help you come up with a domain name, slogan or product name for just about anything. It lets you tap into the ideas of thousands of creative folks around the world by posting a brief of what you are trying to express and especially if you need the website url to be available. You get to decide the max number of letters or words and any specific words you do not want to use in the name, like a words that competitors might already be using. You pay a 'reward' for coming up with a name for your project, which starts at a only $50 and on average, you'll get hundreds of suggestions. To help the process, you give feedback to all participants to shape the suggestions and when you get that great new name, you pick the winner for your project! Got a challenging naming project that you've been struggling with? Checkout http://www.pickydomains.com