links / useful information
Links
https://en.softonic.com/ - free software
https://www.innerbody.com/ - interactive anatomy guide
https://pixabay.com/ - free stock photo's, video's, illustrations.
https://www.justwatch.com/ - free Movies and TV shows
https://infogram.com/ - create stunning infographics as well as charts, reports, and social media visuals.
https://alternativeto.net/ - find alternatives for software on any platform.
https://cloudconvert.com/ - convert files in your browser
11 Practical Privacy Tips for Your Android Phone
Your Android phone likely includes records of everywhere you go alongside most, if not all, of your digital communication and internet search history. Although it's impossible to have perfect privacy on any smartphone, there are plenty of settings you can adjust to minimize the amount of data that companies collect about you.
Being privacy aware on an operating system run by Google-a company that makes money in part by mining data about its users-might seem like a silly endeavor, but the Android OS provides you with tools to control some of your data. Although you'll never be totally off the grid from your cell provider, and it's nearly impossible to block everything that tracks you across every platform, it is possible to at least approach your smartphone's privacy settings practically. Some of these settings come at the cost of convenience, so consider the trade-offs before you disable (or enable) the items we detail below. (These settings will vary depending on which version of Android you have and which phone you have.)
If you have a phone running Android 13, many of these suggestions are also available under Settings > Security, where you'll find a dashboard recommending improvements you can make to your phone's security. This is a great place to start if you don't want to spend a lot of time messing with options.
The research
- Enable two-factor authentication
- Set a strong passcode (and consider disabling fingerprint or face login)
- Audit app permissions
- Enable automatic updates
- Enable Find My Device
- Keep sensitive notifications off the lock screen
- Disable personalized ads
- Give your Google account a privacy check-up
- Quickly block access to the camera or mic
- Keep an eye on your clipboard
- Use end-to-end encryption in Messages
Enable two-factor authentication
Why: Two-factor authentication adds a second layer of security to your account, in this case requiring a one-time-use code alongside your password for you to log in from an unfamiliar device. This step in turn protects your account-in this case your Google account-if your password is leaked, breached, or hacked.
What to do: If you haven't set up two-factor authentication for your Google account, you should. To enable it:
- Head to the myaccount.google.com/security page on your phone, and then sign in to your Google account.
- Select 2-Step Verification and sign in again.
- Tap Try It Now and then follow the on-screen directions to approve the login and get backup codes.
Now your Google account is linked to your Android phone, and you'll need to verify access with your phone if someone tries to log in to your account from somewhere else. You should also set up either an authentication app or a security key, as well.
Set a strong passcode (and consider disabling fingerprint or face login)
Why: If you lose your phone, you don't want a stranger going through its contents, whether that consists of sensitive emails from work, mobile banking apps, or personal messages and photos.
What to do: Determining which of the various options to use for unlocking your phone is a complicated decision and depends on your circumstances. Most people can use biometric locks (a fingerprint or face scan) to unlock their phones, but if you are in a circumstance where someone may try to unlock your phone with your fingerprint, or if you have sensitive data on your phone that you don't want police to access, consider disabling that feature and using only a passcode. In 2019, a judge in Northern California ruled that law enforcement can't force you to unlock your phone with your face or fingerprint, but that same year a judge in Illinois ruled the opposite. Until this issue is resolved, it's best to stick with a passcode in light of these scenarios. Even without your phone, law enforcement can gain access to some information stored online through third parties, so be mindful of what you do with your data.
If you haven't set a passcode on your phone, it's time to set one up. Go to Settings > Security > Screen Lock.
Audit app permissions
Why: Every time you install an app, it asks for permissions to access hardware and system services such as the microphone, your location, the camera, and more, and it's easy to mindlessly tap through these notifications. For example, some apps that don't need location data to function still record it so that they can sell the data-alongside other information they collect about you-to marketing firms. From Android 11 on, the operating system automatically resets permissions for apps you haven't used for a long time, but it's still always good to perform the occasional audit to ensure that the permissions are set as you like them.
What to do: Go to Settings > Privacy > Permission Manager and read through each section to make sure no apps have access to services they don't need. If you're running Android 12 or above, you can also go to Settings > Privacy > Privacy Dashboard to see an overview of what things your apps have accessed recently. Location services rank among the most overreaching requests apps can make, but it's worthwhile to check each permission type. Consider setting some apps to have access limited to "approximate location," which means an app will know only the general area you're in, not the exact place. This is a great option for increased privacy in something like a weather app, though you should still use exact location for navigation, as in a mapping app. While you're here, take some time to delete apps you don't use or need anymore.
Consider also disabling Google's built-in location history, which keeps track of everywhere you go with your phone. You can turn it off under Settings > Privacy > Google location history.
Enable automatic updates
Why: Both the operating system and the apps you download often receive updates containing security and privacy fixes. Enabling automatic updates ensures that those fixes happen without your needing to do anything.
What to do: To automatically keep apps up to date, open the Google Play Store app and tap Menu > Settings > Network preferences > Auto-update apps. The operating system is set to update automatically by default, so you don't need to worry about that.
Enable Find My Device
Why: If you lose your phone, enabling the Find My Device function gives you a chance to locate it. Even if you can't retrieve the phone, the feature at least makes it easy for you to remotely wipe your private data from it.
What to do: Android has a way to both locate and remotely wipe a phone if you think it has fallen into the wrong hands. Open Settings > Security > Find My Device and make sure it's toggled to On. Once the feature is enabled, you can track your phone or remotely wipe it from any browser on the Find My Device page.
Keep sensitive notifications off the lock screen
Why: Notifications may contain information you don't want someone peeking at over your shoulder or a stranger to find if you lose your phone, such as text message conversations or email subject lines.
What to do: To disable the potentially revealing text, go to Settings > Privacy > Notifications on the lock screen, and then choose Show sensitive content only when unlocked.
Disable personalized ads
Why: Ad tracking is a method that companies use to serve you personalized ads, but such tailored campaigns based on marketing profiles can be off-putting. Both Google and individual apps gather a lot of data about you, and they can more easily track you between apps using a unique advertising ID. Some apps might then turn around and sell the information they gather, often without your realizing it. You can put a stop to some of this data sharing.
What to do: Head to Settings > Privacy > Ads and tap Delete advertising ID, and then tap again on the next page to confirm. You can disable ad personalization across your entire Google account on the ad settings page. We also suggest giving the DuckDuckGo App Tracking Protection feature a try, which blocks third-party trackers in every app, similar to (but more powerful than) Apple's similar feature.
Give your Google account a privacy check-up
Why: Google gobbles up a ton of data about everything you do, some of which you might not be comfortable with the company storing.
What to do: It's nearly impossible to stop Google's data collection completely if you're using a device running a Google operating system, but Google does provide some control over what it collects and how long it stores that data. All of these settings are tied to your Google account, not to your phone specifically, so going through and changing them offers the added benefit of making your entire account more private. Google collects so much information across different services, you'll need to take a while to go through it all. You can use Google's Privacy Checkup feature or go through each setting directly from your phone (by opening Settings > Privacy > Activity controls).
- Web and app activity: Google bundles a lot of data under this setting, including Maps data, Search history, and Assistant usage. When enabled, Google uses factors such as search history and location to serve you specific results or ads. When it's disabled, you may notice less relevant results. If you don't mind the data collection but dislike the retention, you can ask Google to delete the data every few months. If you use Google Assistant, you'll also find the option to delete audio recordings here.
- Location history: Google keeps track of everywhere you go with your phone. The benefits of this feature include improved search results and Google's ability to let you know when to leave for an event on your Google Calendar. But most people can disable location history entirely with little effect on how they use Google Maps or associated apps.
- YouTube search and watch history: YouTube tracks everything you watch and search for; if you don't like this function, you can pause it. Other YouTube data, including comments and survey answers, is buried on the "Other Google activity" page.
- Google Photos settings: Google Photos doesn't have a ton of privacy options, but you should at least enable the Remove geolocation in items shared by link option, which strips location information from your photos.
- Ad settings: If you're not a fan of personalized ads on Google's services, you can disable them.
- Everything else: Tucked away inside the "Other Google activity" page is a collection of nearly every bit of data you've provided through Google's various platforms. Some items to consider deleting or looking through include Place answers, news preferences, and product survey responses. You may also want to delete data such as product price tracking, interests and notifications, and YouTube survey answers.
Quickly block access to the camera or mic
Why: You've long been able to grant or deny access to the camera or microphone on Android per app, but sometimes it's nice to know exactly when they're being used or to temporarily restrict access in general.
What to do: Pull down the Quick Settings menu to find the option to block the camera and mic. This is useful if you don't want to futz around with the mute or camera buttons in different software, or if you'd just like some peace of mind when you need to step away from a call.
Keep an eye on your clipboard
Why: When an app accesses your phone's clipboard, it might snag anything there, such as a website URL, a photo, a note, or even a password. If you're worried about this possibility, you can set up an alert to see when an app accesses your clipboard.
What to do: Head to Settings > Privacy and make sure Show clipboard access is enabled. Afterward you'll see a message whenever an app accesses your clipboard, though you can't block or change the app's behavior.
Use end-to-end encryption in Messages
Why: Some messages in Google's Messages have end-to-end encryption, a feature that ensures that only you and the recipient can view the contents of a message. End-to-end encryption is available only on conversations you're having with someone else who is using the Messages app. You can tell that a chat is end-to-end encrypted when the banner above a message and the send icon both have a lock icon. This feature works only on the dark-blue RCS messages, as encryption is not available for SMS messages, which include any conversations you have with iPhone users.
What to do: Your phone likely already has this feature enabled, but you can double-check. Open the Messages app, tap the three-dot icon > Settings > Chat features, and then confirm that the toggle is enabled. You might also consider using an alternative, encrypted-messaging app that works across platforms, such as Signal or WhatsApp.
useful information Windows.
Windows 10 may very well be Microsoft's most powerful platform ever made for organizations and their employees. Windows 10 is more familiar from a user experience standpoint. Still, it also includes so much of what businesses need-including enterprise-grade security, identity, and information protection features, which reduces complexity and proves a better experience for the business's modern needs.
The newest powerhouse platform offers a host of new and advanced features; below are our top five:
1. New Start Menu
Microsoft has brought back the Start Menu. Now, when you click on the Start button at the bottom left of the screen, you get two panels side by side, with the left column showing pinned, recent, and most-used apps.
You also get a power button at the top for options such as Hibernate, Standby, and Shutdown, while the right column features a selection of live tiles that you can customize, resize, and reorganize. Plus, you can have the Start Menu expand to the full screen whenever you want, eliminating the need for a Modern UI Start Screen.
2. Cortana Integration
Windows 10 will bring Microsoft's voice-controlled digital assistant Cortana to desktop computers to make it easier for you to interact with your device without lifting a finger. You will be able to search your hard drive for specific files, pull up photos from specific dates, or launch PowerPoint presentations just by telling your PC to do so. You can even get Cortana to send an email while you're working on a spreadsheet, making multi-tasking much more manageable.
3. Microsoft Edge Web Browser
Internet Explorer was replaced by Microsoft Edge, which features a new rendering engine called EdgeHTML. Edge integrates with the Cortana Digital Assistant to provide voice control, search, and personalized info to users.
Users can also use Edge to annotate web pages, and these annotations are stored on OneDrive and can be used with other users. A "Reading List" function syncs content between devices and a "Reading Mode" that strips out the formatting to allow more comfortable reading on devices. Many of the alterations have been made to keep Edge more in line with rival browsers, such as Chrome and Firefox.
4. Virtual Desktops
Unless you have a multi-monitor setup, it can be easy to run out of screen space. For that reason, Windows 10 provides multiple desktops that you can work in and quickly switch between. The virtual desktops feature in Windows 10 is called "Task View" and is located on the Taskbar. To add a new desktop, all you need to do is click the Plus sign. You create multiple desktops, and switching between them is just a matter of connecting the Task View button again and moving your mouse over the thumbnail of the one you want. Once the workspace is displayed above, click on it (or click the Task View button again) to start using it.
5. Universal Apps
To make the transition across devices more seamless, Microsoft is introducing a new category of software called Universal Apps, which use the same code but adapt their interface to the device in your hand. Microsoft is also bundling its own set of Universal apps with the OS, including Photos, Videos, Music, Maps, People & Messaging, and Mail & Calendar, which function the same way on tablets, and PCs. The content is stored and synced via Microsoft's cloud service OneDrive so you can pick up where you left off on another device.
https://unitedtraining.com/resources/blog/top-5-features-of-windows-10
News samsung s23 ultra
- •'Samsung Galaxy S23 gets satellite connection': that's how it works
- •Rumor: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra will get an even brighter screen
- •Samsung Galaxy S23 also gets fast Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip in the Netherlands
- •Is the Samsung Galaxy S23 coming in December already? (Android News #44)
- •Rumor: Samsung Galaxy S23 will be presented on December 23
- •Rumor: Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra takes much better photos
- •We expect these smartphones in the fourth quarter of 2022
- •"Spot the differences: this is what the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra looks like"
Note: Samsung has not yet officially announced the Galaxy S23 series. The information on this page is based on rumors and conjecture. Of course, this page is regularly updated, so that you will always find the latest information here .
The Samsung Galaxy S23 is the absolute showpiece of the S23 series. It has the largest screen, the most cameras and all kinds of ingenious functions. On this page you can read everything about the smartphone . Are you now looking for a high-end device from Samsung ? Then take a look at the Samsung Galaxy S22 series.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: you need to know this
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is the direct successor to the Galaxy S22 Ultra . We expect a similar device, so count on a sturdy smartphone with a screen of about 6.8 inches. Of course it is an amoled display with perfect contrast and dazzling colors. This makes your favorite series and games look great. Unlike the 'regular' S23 and S23 Plus, it has a curved screen that runs over the edges.
The maximum refresh rate is at least 120Hz. That is, pixels are refreshed 120 times per second. This gives you a very smooth viewing experience. Behind the screen you will find an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner that allows you to safely unlock the smartphone.
Android 13: Top New Features and Updates
Android 13 is finally here and it comes with lots of new features and updates. Users can expect improved personalisation, updated privacy controls, enhanced language settings and all-round better functionality. There's a lot to take in, so here's a rundown of everything you need to know including all the best new Android 13 features to look out for.
What is Android 13?
Android 13 is the 13th major release of Google's Android operating system, released for the public on August 15, 2022. Codenamed Tiramisu, it was announced in an Android blog back in February, followed by Beta 1, Beta 2 and Beta 3 in April, May and June respectively. The final release of Android 13 came on August 15 for Pixel phones.
The latest Android release includes a number of updates to privacy permissions and security, along with great Material You improvements, new language and accessibility options, and lots of expanded features and refinements . We'll cover the user-facing features and updates in this article, and the developer-facing updates in our next post so check back for more details.
Android 13 release date
Android 13 was released on August 15, 2022, at 1pm ET. If you own a Pixel 4, Pixel 5 or Pixel 6 phone you should have already received the software update. Google says the roll out for devices from other manufacturers such as Samsung, Motorola, Realme, Sony and more is expected "later this year."
Which mobiles will get Android 13?
Many mobile devices are already confirmed to get Android 13, while others are likely to receive the update but are not yet confirmed. It's likely that premium mobiles will get first dibs and mid-range to budget models will follow.
Google's Pixel 4 and upwards have already got the latest release. Other brands will include Samsung, Nokia, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo, Realme, Vivo, Poco, Motorola, TCL, iQOO and Asus. You can find out more about which handsets will get the update in this Android 13 phones list.
If you've got a Pixel phone, check to see if it's eligible for Android 13 by going into Settings > System > System Update. If it shows Android 13 as a new version, you can download and install it in around 5 minutes.
Android 13 vs Android 12
So, what is the difference between Android 12 and Android 13? Since Android 12 was a pretty huge update, Android 13 is more of a fine tuning for your phone, building on the many new features and updates from Android 12.
Material You gets a fantastic upgrade to its theming and customization, there are handy new multitasking tools, plus you'll find more cross-compatibility with Chromebook and tablets.
Android 13 features a slightly bigger navigation bar than Android 12. There's also a new method for entering a split-screen view and copy and pasting across devices. Photo Picker gets an update, and per-app language personlization is a welcome addition for bilingual users.
The difference between Android 12 and Android 13 isn't overwhelming, but you can expect your phone's general usability, speed and performance to improve when it's updated to Android 13.
Android 13 - biggest features and updates
Material You
Android 12 saw the introduction of Material You theming, allowing you to personalize your smartphone with redesigned widgets and custom color palettes based on your wallpaper.
Android 13 features upgrades to the Material You UI, so you can choose from a greater selection of colors and have more control over the aesthetic of the home and lock screens. Another nice touch is auto-theming app icons for all apps, not just Google's.
Bedtime mode also gets more personalisation with new options for wallpaper dimming and the system dark theme via your Digital Wellbeing controls.
Language preferences
A big feature for multilingual users, Google's latest update includes per-app language personalization for those who want to have apps display in different languages. Language preferences now include the option to set languages on a per-app basis so you can keep your overall system in one language and each of your apps in another.
Better multitasking
With Android 13, Google has ticked a lot more boxes in terms of cross-device multitasking. If you own a Chromebook you can now stream messages from apps like Google Messages directly to your Chromebook. Easily send and receive messages even when your phone is out of reach as long as your devices are connected via Bluetooth.
There's also a cool new feature for copying and pasting content between devices. For instance, you can quickly copy a photo, text, video or URL from your mobile phone and paste it into your tablet or vice versa. Simply tap and hold what you're sharing, search for the device you want to share it with and paste it to that device. Simple!
What's more, the update gives Android tablets a true taskbar. The newly updated taskbar lets you easily open a second app from the taskbar and enjoy a nifty spilt-screen view for better multi-window experiences. Tablet screens also register palm and stylus touches separately for a seamless distinction between writing and drawing on your tablet.
Enhanced audio
You'll feel like you're right in the heart of the action with Spatial Audio support for supported headphones. When you use head tracking enabled headphones, Spatial Audio will adapt with your head movements for a more immersive listening experience.
Android 13 also brings audio improvements in the form of built-in Bluetooth Low Energy for lower latency, enhanced audio quality, and the ability to broadcast audio to multiple devices at the same time.
What's more, Android 13's redesigned media player now showcases the album artwork from your music, with a playback bar that dances in time with the music.
Privacy and permissions
Android 13 brings several updates to notifications permissions and privacy, giving you more control over what apps can send you messages or access your media and clipboard.
Similar to iOS, the apps you download will now need your permission to send you notifications. Notification permissions can be granted or denied when you install an app, or later in your Privacy settings. You may want to run through your favorites to make sure they are allowed to keep sending you notifications.
Access to photos has also been updated with new Photo Picker which allows you to choose which photos you want to share with apps rather than granting access to your full media library.
Another notable update is clipboard clearing. The system now alerts you when an app accesses your clipboard, and will automatically clear your clipboard history to safeguard your copied passwords and credentials.
Other cool new features and updates
- A super-handy shortcut for the QR code scanner.
- Summon the Assistant by swiping up from the bottom corners of the screen.
- Supports exFAT files enabling Pixel devices to handle files larger than 4GB.
- There's HDR video support on third-party camera apps.
- An updated media output switcher.
- Braille displays for Talkback.
- Smart home controls in an unlocked state.
- Integrated Fast Pair.
- Easier searches for people who use phonetic lettering.
Are you an app developer?
Need help preparing for Android 13? If you have any concerns, please contact us today or check back for our Android 13 developers guide.
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