Mastering the keyboard will not just boost your navigation speed, but it can also reduce wrist fatigue. If you have used a Windows PC all your life and you have finally decided to switch to a Mac, you’ll probably see yourself worrying about whether you can really use your new purchase. If you are in this situation, you may want to know a few Mac tips and tricks that will help you use it with ease. Here are some of the keyboard shortcuts that you can use to make everything easier for you.

1. Get Info – Whereas Cmd + l shows the Get Info window within Finder and displays things such as its location, size and name, adding the Option key reveals one Get Info window. It will automatically update when the user clicks on a different folder/file or chooses multiple folders/files.
2. Hide/show the Dock – Press Cmd + Option + D and this shortcut will skillfully toggle between showing and hiding the Dock.
3.  Close Window – Simply press Cmd + W to close a window.
4. Get Screenshots – Capture the entire screen by pressing Cmd + Shift + 3. To get crosshairs, enter Cmd + Shift + 4.
5. Application Switcher – Just press the Tab key until you arrive at the application you want to use.
6. Hide Application – To hide the windows of all applications, enter Cmd + H.
7. Zoom In/Out – Enter Cmd + Option + -/+ to zoom in/out of the screen.
8. Dictionary – Press Cmd + Ctrl + D while suspending the cursor over the word you’re unsure of the meaning. This will reveal the dictionary definition of your chosen word. (Note that this is only for OS X 10.5).
9. Force Quit – Simply enter Cmd + Option + Esc to show the Force Quit dialog. This will allow you to stop the application that has locked up.
10. Forwards or Backwards – Press Shift + [ to go back to the previous page and Cmd + ] to go forward.
11. Copy, Paste, Cut – Copying (C), pasting (V) and cutting (X) are easier to do if you will be able to master the keyboard keyboards for Mac. Always watch out for the Paste & Match Style. Enter Cmd + Option + Shift + V to avoid reformatting text just to match its destination.
12. QuickView – Press the spacebar to show QuickView (if you are in an app and something is chosen, this shortcut will help you a lot).
13. Select All – Press Cmd + A.
14. Spotlight – Enter Cmd + spacebar.
15. Jump Words – Hold down the Option key and press an arrow key to leap 1 word in that particular direction. Hold down Cmd to jump right to the end or start and hold down Shift to choose the range that was just leapt over.
16. Cancel – Simply enter Cmd +.
17. Undo – Just press Cmd + Z.
18. Redo – Pressing Cmd + Y will redo the last action.
19. Dashboard – To launch the Dashboard, simply enter F12.
20. Going to a file path – Press the Tab key in order to auto-complete file names and folder.

No disrespect to Dad or his home improvement arsenal, but these days you can tackle a DIY home security project with your smartphone as the main tool.

The key, of course, is connectivity.

Monitoring for you, by you

An estimated 18 million Americans have home security systems. Many of those systems involve off-site monitoring centers where dispatchers keep watch for alarm signals. However, advances in smartphone technology have made it easier for homeowners and renters to take on the task of monitoring on their own behalf.

Smartphone-based security even had a presence at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show, the leading venue for every kind of must-have gadget.

The following list includes examples of DIY home security systems and smartphone apps:

The iSmartAlarm

The CubeOne device acts as the central hub. Users plug in the CubeOne and connect it to a wireless router that interfaces with wireless door and window sensors.

When a disturbance activates these sensors, the system dials the user’s mobile phone and sends a series of five photos taken a few moments apart. Users can also program the system to send text messages to other phone contacts.

Iris

This smartphone-, tablet- and laptop-accessible system comes from Lowe’s Home Improvement. Users can choose among three different packages — one focusing on security, one focusing on home automation and one that combines both elements.

Foscam Surveillance Pro

This application lets you monitor video from as many as six surveillance cameras on your iPhone.

Alarm.com

Alarm.com provides home support systems that integrate security and automation systems. Compatible with iPhone and iPad.

Xanboo Wireless Light Dimmer

This device plugs into an electrical outlet. It lets users control home lighting remotely from a smartphone, giving would-intruders the impression that someone is inside the house.

No solution is foolproof

As you can imagine, any home security strategy can have drawbacks. By going the DIY route, you could run into problems with:

• Compatibility. Not all applications and devices on the market will be compatible with every type of smartphone.
• Going it alone. One reason why people pay for professional alarm monitoring is the reassurance it offers them. Knowing that you have the backing of a 24/7 monitoring network — and comprehensive customer support — can provide a certain measure of comfort.
• All thumbs.To put it plainly, not all DIY craftspeople are created equal. For those of us who aren’t mechanically inclined, the cost of a home professional system might be an acceptable trade-off.

Do your DIY homework

You can learn more about the upside of professional security monitoring at sites like http://www.besthomesecurity.com/. The key is arming yourself with as much knowledge as possible so that you can make an informed decision.

Thanks to mobile Internet technology, the quality of DIY home security continues to improve. If you decide that you and your smartphone are up to the challenge, you’ll certainly have no shortage of options.

If it is your first time to have an iPhone, you need to know the iPhone tips tricks. Using your phone will be more enjoyable if you will use these iPhone tips tricks. Here are 5 tips that will help you in your using your new mobile phone.

5 iPhone How to Tips for New iPhone Users

1. Rearrange the springboard icons of your iPhone – springboard is the term used in naming the home screen of iPhone. When it comes to non-technical terms, it is a set of screen that is full with app symbols.  Rearranging the icons could be a daunting task especially when you have a lot of apps in your phone. Do you wish that there is something that you can do to make it easier for you? Well, there is a way on how you can rearrange the app icons in your iPhone. All you need to do is to connect the gadget to your Mac or personal computer and open the iTunes. Click the name of your phone and on the gadget page, you should find the “apps” link within the navigation bar. From there, you can start rearranging the apps easily.
2. Take screenshots by using iPhone Home + Lock button – to do this, you have to press the home and lock button of your phone simultaneously. The screenshot would appear within the camera roll once you press these 2 buttons. This is among the easiest iPhone how to tips.
3. Open the music/ camera using the lock screen – if you want to use the camera of your iPhone right away or you want to change the song, you can do these things by tapping the home key twice. The camera icon would appear while the lock slider song controls will be shown below the time.
4. Change the music played instantly using the earphone controls – you could pause or play the music by just pressing the center of the earphone remote. However, you could also switch to another song using the remote. All you have to do is to tap the center 2 times and if you want to play the previous song, tap it thrice.
5. Create the custom ringtones using the iTunes – if you like custom ringtones on your iPhone, you need to follow these steps. First, add a song to the music library then click right and hit “get info”. Go to “options” and set the start and end time. Remember that there must be a variation of around 40 seconds and this is the maximum length for a customized song for iPhone. Click “ok” and click right and choose “make AAC version”. The new file will appear and you have to click “watch in explorer”. Alter the expansion from m4a into m4r, press the “start and stop times off”.

If you have a tip or trick that every new iPhone user must know about please share it in the comment section below!

1. F3 – Opens a window that will allow the user to search his or her computer.
2. Alt + Tab – Allows the user to switch between windows and open programs.
3. Alt + F4 – Exits or closes the active program or item.
4. Ctrl + a – Selects all in a document or folder.
5. Ctrl + c – Copies the desired contents to the clipboard.
6. Ctrl + f – If the user wants to search for something, this keyboard shortcut is the best one to use. Most office apps and web browsers support it. F3 might also work sometimes.
7. Ctrl + z – Used to undo the last action.
8. Ctrl + x – Cuts the selected item or data.
9. Ctrl + y – Used to redo the last action.
10. Ctrl + left arrow – Used to move the cursor to the previous word’s beginning
11. Windows + d – Shows the desktop.
12. Ctrl + right arrow – Used to move the cursor to the next word’s beginning.
13. Ctrl + s – Saves a web page or a document in various programs.
14. Ctrl + Home – Used to move the cursor to the document’s top
15. Windows + m – Reduces all windows to display the desktop.
16. Ctrl + End – Used to move the cursor to the document’s end.
17. Windows + F1 – Opens the Help Menu.
18. Esc – Used to cancel the existing task.
19. Ctrl + v – Pastes the copied contents into the desired program of the user.
20. Windows + Shift + m – Used to restore the windows to their usual position.

These are just some of the keyboard shortcuts that would let you do your tasks easier and faster. There is no need to use a special keyboard for these shortcuts. All you need to do is memorize them and apply it to perform your tasks.

There are a lot of things that you need to know about android phones. You can use these gadgets in several ways and it will benefit you in numerous ways. Follow these android tips tricks and get the best things from your phone.

1. Set hard data limitation – the new android smartphones are amazingly fast and versatile. However, they tend to consume alarming and data speeds. By being careless in using the phone, you could use the whole data limit for a month in just few days. If your phone is an android 4.0, you may set the warning alerts once the data limit for a month is reached. This will let you save money and will give utmost help in using the data on a regular basis.
2. Use the voice commands – this feature is common on other gadgets like iPhone 4S but the new android phones are also made with this feature. Depending on the unit that you use, you have to download then set up certain apps. With voice commands, you could write messages and make calls. You can also instruct the phone to play the songs.
3. Download the necessary free apps – the mobile apps are the ones that make smartphones awesome. There are some apps for android phones that you can get for free and you may find some that you can use in opening your accounts on social media sites using your android phone. Search for these apps on the web.
4. Sync your account on Gmail – android phones will work using Gmail accounts. You could sync all Gmail folders using your phone. It is an effective way of managing your email and there is no problem in setting it on the menu of your phone.
5. Sync the desktop browser tags using your phone – you should install the chrome browser of Google on the desktop and in your phone so that you can use this feature. After the installation, you need to log in to your Chrome account then set up the sync. The bookmarks, apps and themes will be shared both on the desktop and in your mobile phone.
6. Wipe the personal data while upgrading – if you have a plan to sell your android phone, you have to make sure that your personal data stored on your phone are all deleted. The reset option would be the best means to do it.
7. Use your built-in image effects – when viewing the photos saved on the gallery of your android phone, you will find the dropdown menu choice that provides instant access to the tools of your phone.  These will let you brighten the photos that are extremely dark, enhance the color and remove red-eye.

Do you have an Android tip you would like to share? Let our readers know in the comment section below!

How To Change Keyboard Shortcuts on a Mac

Open the System Preferences. Go to the Keyboard & Mouse pane. You can view all the existing keyboard shortcuts on the Keyboard Shortcuts tab. To change the shortcut you want, double click on the existing key combination and then key in your own. If the combination you have entered clashes with other combinations, a warning icon will be shown next to it. In order to disable the keyboard shortcut, uncheck the box that is next to it (can be found on the left side).

At the bottom, you will find the Application Keyboard Shortcuts section, though this is most likely empty. The ones that are shown here are those shortcuts you have created. Click the + button below the list in order to reveal the dialog box that will allow you to select an app and menu command as well as assign a shortcut to it.

All the apps in the applications folder are shown in the drop down menu. If you like another one, pick another from the bottom of the displayed list. Enter the exact name of the item that you want to make the shortcut for. It can be anything which appears in the applications’ menus, but never forget to include “…” at the end (if the menu item has it).

The keyboard shortcut may use a combination of the Control, Command, Shift and Option keys and any of the function keys (F2, F1, F3, etc.). After entering all the necessary details, click the Add button and the keyboard shortcut will be added to the list under the Application Shortcuts. You will need to quit and then reopen the app in order for it to start working.

It is easy to change and add your desired keyboard shortcuts if you know how to do it properly. Feel free to try any keyboard shortcuts that may come in your mind. This way, you will be able to personalize your Mac according to your liking and you can also make sure that you will be able to use your computer with ease.

How to Change Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows

• Right click a program name from All Programs (found in the Start menu) or a certain program on the desktop and choose Properties. That dialog box for Properties will open.
• Click the dialog box’s Shortcut tab. To see if there’s already a keyboard shortcut for that particular program, look for the Shortcut Key field.
• Delete the current keyboard shortcut if you want to change it. Click within the Shortcut Key box.
• Type the number, letter or any other key you want in the Shortcut Key area. The key combination will be assigned automatically by Windows. For instance, you type E, Windows will assign Ctrl + Alt + E as the new keyboard shortcut for that particular program.
• After that, click the Apply button in order to save the new keyboard shortcut you have assigned for the program. Click the OK button to close the Properties window.

It is easy to change the keyboard shortcuts in Windows, but make sure that the new shortcut you have chosen is not being used for another function or application. You can try it out first before changing the shortcuts to make sure that you will be able to successfully replace it. It is also possible to make your own keyboard shortcuts on Microsoft Word if you’re already finding it boring to choose your desired commands through the Ribbon tabs. To assign a shortcut command, you have to:

• Open MS Word.
• Click the Office button and a pull-down menu will appear.
• Click Word Options and the window for it will be displayed.
• Click Customize (located in the left pane) and the Word Options window will show different customization selections.
• Click the Customize button (located at the window’s bottom) and the dialog box for Customize Keyboard will appear.
• Click a particular tab name (like Insert, Page Layout or Home) in the Categories box (it contains all the available commands in that tab name). Select and click a command that you want to change.
• Type a new combination in the New Shortcut Key field.
• Click Assign and MS Word will assign it to your selected command.
• Click Close and then OK.

This week we take a look at the rise in mobile Internet use compared to users connecting via their desktops or laptops.

Your computer, once controlled as part of a botnet, is now at the whim of the person who infected it. Until you successfully remove the malware that causes it to report back to the command and control server it remains part of a network of other zombies used to send mass spam emails or worse, used in Denial of Service attacks launched against businesses or government websites.

But just how did your computer arrive at this state? What made it change from a tool that helped you check emails, access the Internet or write up reports to part of a criminal organization bent on destructive activities?

Most likely, it started with a phishing trip.

Phishing, Not Fishing

If you don’t know what phishing is, you need to start using the Internet to do a bit more research about computer security. Not knowing the effects of phishing is kind of like not knowing how dangerous it can be to leave your car unlocked with your wallet sitting on the front seat.

When you fall victim to a phishing attack on of two things usually happen. One, you give up sensitive information like your bank account number, a credit card number or even login information. This is bad, but it is not what caused your computer to run with a bad crowd. The second type of phishing attack is likely to blame.

You see, some phishing attacks tell you to click a link or download something. The file you download and install is actually malware that infects your computer. The link, well it infects your computer as well by taking you to a malicious web site that can infect your computer through a practice known as drive by downloads. Either way, your computer is infected.

Ok I’m Infected, Now What?

Some malware is used as keystroke loggers whose intent it is to capture things you type and send that back to a database somewhere. This is another way bad guys can steal things like credit card numbers and login information. Others install scareware onto your computer. These programs tell you that your computer is infected and offer a great deal on software that can remove the infection.

Other malware gets you by turning your computer into a zombie. And this is the hardest type to detect; unless you know what to look for.

To tell if your computer is a zombie look for the following symptoms:

• Your network or internet connection is extremely slow
• Your computer is running slow or crashes frequently
• You cannot access certain websites
• Your security software alerts you to programs or processes that are trying to access the Internet

All this happens because the botnet your computer is part of is being used to attack other systems. In the case of a Denial of Service attack, your computer is one of many that is continually connecting to a web site in order to bring it down. By flooding that site with traffic loads that the hosting server cannot handle, the site crashes and legitimate visitors cannot access it until the problem is fixed.

Keeping your computer’s anti-virus software up to date and running it frequently is one way to keep your computer from turning into a zombie, but clicking on links and downloading attachments in phishing emails will continue to cause your computer to become infected with the latest zero-day attack before your anti-virus knows what hit it.