The T By D Team, Author at Technology by Design

September 2011 TechTips Newsletter

May 14, 2012 by The T By D Team Leave a Comment

September Newsletter
Facebook wants to pay you to help squash bugs, XP turns a decade and More!
This month we have some interesting information on Facebook wanting to pay you (and not in Farmville bucks), and we feature our August trivia winner!

Click here for September 2011 newsletter: September 2011 TechTips Newsletter

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Skill testing question for Coffee and Donuts…

Answer the following question by emailing answer@tbyd.ca and if you are correct we’ll enter you in our draw for FREE coffee and donuts from Tim Hortons. Draw will be made on Friday, September 16th and Earl will deliver.

Q. If you had pogonophobia, what would you be afraid of?

Remember Google is your friend – send your answers in to answer@tbyd.ca

October 2011 TechTips Newsletter

May 14, 2012 by The T By D Team Leave a Comment

October Newsletter
Windows tablets set to conquer, texting while driving and More!
This month we have some surprising information that shows Windows tablets could rule the universe and that Facebook already is. We also feature our September trivia winner!

Click here for the October 2011 newsletter: October 2011 TechTips Newsletter
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Skill testing question for Coffee and Donuts…

Q. When Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin sat down to eat their first meal on the moon, their foil food packets contained what?

A) Roasted Turkey and all the trimmings.

B) Turkey Dogs

C) Hot Turkey Sandwiches

D) No Turkey at all?

Remember Google is your friend – send your answers in to answer@tbyd.ca

December 2011 TechTips Newsletter

May 14, 2012 by The T By D Team Leave a Comment

December Newsletter
3D robots and viruses on the subway!!!
This month we also give reasons on why not to pirate (excuse me while I turn off uTorrent…) We also feature last month’s trivia winner – Funk’s Painting!

Click here for the December 2011 newsletter: December 2011 TechTips Newsletter

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Skill testing question for Coffee and Donuts…

Answer the following question by emailing answer@tbyd.ca and if you are correct we’ll enter you in our draw for FREE coffee and donuts from Tim Hortons. Draw will be made on Wednesday, December 21st and Earl will deliver.

Q. Which is the only Santa’s reindeer that is named after another animal?

Remember Google is your friend – send your answers in to answer@tbyd.ca

January 2012 TechTips Newsletter

May 14, 2012 by The T By D Team Leave a Comment

January Newsletter
Microsoft has an epiphany, polar-bear fighting computers, and court-side tweeting!!!

This month we also give the top ten New Year’s Resolutions for geeks (we’ll forgive you if you recognize yourself in this category…just like we do!). We also feature last month’s trivia winner – Faucet Signs Ltd!

Find out how you can get a gift card for Tim Hortons, AND a chance to WIN A CANON DIGITAL CAMERA!

Click here for the newsletter: January 2012 TechTips Newsletter

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Skill testing question for Coffee and Donuts…

Q. The first New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square happened in which year?

Remember Google is your friend – send your answers in to answer@tbyd.ca

February 2012 TechTips Newsletter

May 14, 2012 by The T By D Team Leave a Comment

February Newsletter
Nintendo’s Fountain of Youth, Desperately Seeking Secret Lair, and high-tech shoes!

This month we ask you to Be Our (Geeky) Valentine. We also feature last month’s trivia winner – Anderson Animal Hospital and Wellness Centre

Find out how you can get a gift card for Tim Hortons, AND a chance to WIN A CANON DIGITAL CAMERA!

Click here for the newsletter: February 2012 TechTips Newsletter

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Skill testing question for Coffee and Donuts…

Answer the following Valentine’s question by emailing answer@tbyd.ca and if you are correct we’ll enter you in our draw for FREE coffee and donuts from Tim Hortons. Draw will be made on Wednesday, February 22nd and Earl will deliver.

Q. Approximately how many calories can be burned by kissing for 1 minute?

Remember Google is your friend – send your answers in to answer@tbyd.ca

March 2012 TechTips Newsletter

May 14, 2012 by The T By D Team Leave a Comment

March Newsletter
Every parent’s dream (and teeanager’s nightmare!), Identifying “Anonymous”, and A little blue pill…for your computer!

This month we take you on a St. Paddy’s Day pub-crawl (geek-style, of course). We also feature last month’s trivia winner – Imperial Seed Ltd!

Click here for the newsletter: March 2012 TechTips Newsletter

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Skill testing question for Coffee and Donuts…

Answer the following St.Patrick’s Day question by emailing answer@tbyd.ca and if you are correct we’ll enter you in our draw for FREE coffee and donuts from Tim Hortons. Draw will be made on Wednesday, March 21st and Earl will deliver your winnings.

Q. According to legend, what should you never do if you should catch a leprechaun?

Remember Google is your friend – send your answers in to answer@tbyd.ca

April 2012 TechTips Newsletter

May 14, 2012 by The T By D Team Leave a Comment

April Newsletter
IBM on a mission, Australian Scientists break the law, tattoos that are happy to see you, and more!

This month we show you how to decorate eggs for Easter (geek-style, of course). We also feature last month’s trivia winner – Gautron Management Services Inc!

Click here for the newsletter: April 2012 TechTips Newsletter

Don’t forget to check out our blog at: www.tbyd.ca/blog for the “Ask The Geek” where our resident Geek answers your questions, AND translates them from Geek-lish to English! If you have a question for our resident Geek, email it to: geek@tbyd.ca! Don’t forget to check the blog for the answers!

Follow us on Facebook at: facebook.com/TechnologybyDesign
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Skill testing question for Coffee and Donuts…

Answer the following Easter question by emailing answer@tbyd.ca and if you are correct we’ll enter you in our draw for FREE coffee and donuts from Tim Hortons. Draw will be made on Wednesday April 18th and Earl will deliver your winnings.
Q. In “It’s The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown”, when the gang goes shopping for Easter goodies, what seasonal decorations are already up?

Remember Google is your friend – send your answers in to answer@tbyd.ca

May 2012 TechTips Newsletter

May 14, 2012 by The T By D Team Leave a Comment

May Newsletter
Soft-serve draft beer, phishing scan alert, Google+ update, and more!

This month we show you the top 10 geek moms. We also feature last month’s trivia winner – Industrial Truck Service!

Click here for the May newsletter: May 2012 TechTips Newsletter

Check out our blog at: www.tbyd.ca/blog for “Ask The Geek” where our resident Geek answers your questions, AND translates them from Geek-lish to English!
If you have a question for our resident Geek, email it to: geek@tbyd.ca! Don’t forget to check the blog for the answers!

Like us on Facebook at: facebook.com/TechnologybyDesign
Follow us on Twitter: @techbyd
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Skill testing question for Coffee and Donuts…

Answer the following trivia question by emailing answer@tbyd.ca. Correct answers will be entered into our draw for FREE coffee and donuts! Draw will be made on Wednesday May 16th and Earl will deliver your winnings.

Q. How was ketchup marketed in the 1830’s?

In addition to the coffee & donuts (as if that wasn’t enough incentive!),the winning company will be featured in next month’s issue of TechTips, on our blog, on Twitter, and our Facebook page!
Your feature will reach over 1800 other people!

Remember Google is your friend – send your answers in to answer@tbyd.ca

Hi-Tech Backyard Entertainment

May 2, 2012 by The T By D Team Leave a Comment

Question:

What would the right router be for us. We run the following devices on a home network: PS3, Xbox360, WII, 2 PCS, iPAD, cell phones, internet on the Panasonic TV. We also want to be able to connect wirelessly when we are in the back yard so it should have a very long range.

Answer:

Backyards entertainment used to entail a sprinkler, a stereo brought outside, and some brews. These days, people want more entertainment available to them while they soak up some rays lounging by the BBQ, or surfing channels from the living room couch. However, everyone wants more bang for their buck, and to be able to use their home devices no matter where they are…inside the home, or in the backyard.

Our resident geek suggests:

We’ve had good luck with this one which is approximately $139

http://ca.asus.com/en/Networks/Wireless_Routers/RTN56U/

You could purchase another, or one with a few less options and use it as an access point placed close to a wall near the back yard, or if you really wanted to get fancy, we could install an outdoor access point for the best signal.

Tip: Be sure to read our previous blog on securing your Wi-Fi network, to ensure you don’t have any unwanted guests accessing your network!

Safeguarding Your Network: Are You Sharing More Than You Mean To?

April 25, 2012 by The T By D Team Leave a Comment

I keep my Wi-Fi completely open. I don’t want to have to remember anymore passwords than i absolutely have to. Besides, I would notice someone sitting on my front lawn trying to steal my Wi-Fi…wouldn’t I?

Not necessarily. Distance isn’t a viable security option, unless you live like on your own personal island, or in Grizzly Adam’s old cabin. And just how much DO you trust your neighbors? Or the guy a mile away accessing your network to steal your identity, or the guy driving past your house downloading kiddie porn courtesy of your network…right before he calls the cops on you.

If your network is secured, you should check if you’re using the old WEP encryption. If you do, your network may not be as secure as you think. There are all sorts of downloadable how-to’s on the internet giving step-by-step instructions on how to crack a Wi-Fi network that is WEP-encrypted. So what you say? Not news. Well, the surprising part of it, is that it’s not even that hard, and can be done by someone with minimal networking experience, free software, and a cheap Wi-Fi adapter. I’m not going to go through the instructions here. They are accessed easily-enough without my help. If you do need my help to access the instructions, then the world has nothing to fear from you anyways.

If you are unsure of what kind of security encryption your network currently uses, check. In Windows XP (with at least Service Pack 2), networks using some type of security will say “Security-enabled wireless network”. If WPA or WPA2 is being used it will be shown in parentheses; otherwise WEP is being used. In Windows Vista and Windows 7, hover over the network on the list to see more details, including the security type. Most Wi-Fi products bought in 2005 or after should support WPA2. If you have a wireless router, access points, computers, or other Wi-Fi devices that were purchased in 2005 or before, you might want to double-check the support of WPA2.

If you’re worried about memorizing yet another password, simply put a sticky-note on your monitor, or on your router. If someone in your home is accessing your network, you’ve either obviously given them permission, or you have more to worry about than just the security of your network. Or use a simple password that is easy for you to remember (a pet’s name, your pet name of your private part), but not so easy for someone randomly trying to access your network from outside your home.

By the way, if you choose to Google whether or not the instructions are, in fact, available on the internet, AND decide to test if they actually work, please keep this in mind…Knowledge is power. But with great power comes great responsibility. It doesn’t automatically mean you have to turn to the dark side, or do evil things with this power. Knowing how to pick a lock doesn’t automatically make you a thief. It just gives you the knowledge you need to protect yourself, and locks that are harder for others to pick.

After all, even if you do trust your neighbors, do you lock your door when you leave the house or go to sleep? If the answer is no…then ignore this post, put on your rose-coloured glasses, and by all means leave your Wi-Fi open. BUT…be ready to accept the consequences.

Otherwise, just secure your network.