Securing your Android Ice Cream Smartphone

While consumers might be able to make do with a simple PIN code to protect their Nexus 7 tablet, business users need to give a bit more thought to protecting their device.

Here's a rundown of what I did to protect my new Nexus 7.

Given the diversity of Android devices on the market, this information may or may not be applicable to other Android-powered devices.

All these options can be found under Security in the Settings app.

Screen lock

While using "Face Unlock" or a pattern to unlock the Nexus 7 might be convenient, neither offers the security of a PIN code or password.

Whichever you choose, consider six characters a minimum, and I would recommend bumping this up to eight or more if you carry sensitive information on your tablet.

Automatically lock

I set this to 5 seconds because this gives me a small window between the device going to sleep and it needing a password, bit not such a big one that it could be a vulnerability.

If you have sensitive information, then push this up to "Immediately".

Power button instantly locks

This is a no brainer. If I switch off the device, I want it locked immediately.

Encryption

Encrypting a tablet is quite a long process, but it's important if you want to make sure that the data on the device is safe from prying eyes. Encryption is the best way to make sure that all data you have on the tablet remains safe in the event of the tablet being lost or stolen.

Verify apps

You don't want any old junk installed on your BYOD or business tablet, so make sure that apps only come from reputable sources.

Other steps

Here are some other precautions that anyone using an Android tablet should take if it is being used in a business setting.

• Install an antimalware app. Don't fall into the trap of thinking that Android — or, for that matter, any other platform — is invulnerable. Every little bit of protection helps.
• If possible, pick an antimalware app that supports a "find your device" and remote wipe.
• While it's not applicable to the Nexus 7, if you use external storage on your Android tablet — in the form on an SD card — then make sure that this is encrypted.
• Don't root the device. While this is OK for consumers, it dramatically increases the attack surface, making it unwise in a business setting.
  
  
  Source by ZDNet

How to print from Android

The print job has to go through a computer that can already use that printer. If your PC isn't on when you tell your phone or tablet to print a document or photo, the actual printing won't happen until you next boot the computer. 

The whole trick depends on Google's free Cloud Print technology. This requires Chrome on your PC, and a Google account, such as you would need for Gmail or Google Docs. You have to be logged onto that account on both the phone and the PC. 

To set everything up on the computer, launch Chrome, click the menu icon in the upper-right corner (it looks like three horizontal lines) and select Settings. At the bottom of the page, click Show advanced settings. Scroll down to the Google Cloud Print section. 

What options you'll see depends on other settings. Most likely you'll see an Add printers or a Manage print settings button. The first will add your installed printers to the list. The second will allow you to see what printers are there. 

To prepare your phone or tablet, download and install a Cloud Print-supported app; you'll find several on Google's Cloud Print App page. 

I tried the first, Paulo Fernandes' Cloud Print, and have no complaints. It's free, and it found my Google account on the phone without problems. (The Google page describes it as BETA, but neither Fernandes' page nor the app itself says anything of the kind.) 

After the easy setup, Cloud Print appears as an option any time you tap Share on a file or photo. Select it, then tap Click here to print.

If your computer is on, it will print. If not, it will print later.

How to Use Your Android Smartphone as a Mobile Hotspot

Bye-bye public Wi-Fi: Leaving the house with an Android smartphone means you’ve got the Internet in your pocket.

 

Gone are the days of searching for a public Wi-Fi hotspot just to connect your laptop or tablet to the Internet. Today, most Android smartphones from Verizon Wireless have a built-in mobile hotspot function—allowing you to work on the go and browse the Internet anytime. And now that functionality is included when you choose Verizon’s Share Everything Plan.

With a mobile hotspot, you can create an Internet connection for up to five mobile devices on a 3G phone and up to 10 on a 4G LTE smartphone. After a few quick steps, the phone creates its own secure Wi-Fi network, which your devices can join. There’s no need for a USB cable, and multiple users can share your phone’s mobile data plan.

There are just a few things to keep in mind: Be aware that any data used by a connected device will be deducted from the total amount of data you’ve selected in your Share Everything Plan. Also, be sure not to disable the mobile hotspot’s Wi-Fi; if disabled, anyone could connect to the hotspot without your knowledge or permission and potentially access any data being transmitted.

Here’s how to turn your laptop into a virtual office, your camera into a global traveler, your MP3 player into a streaming playground, and more:

1.    Ensure the Verizon Wireless Mobile Hotspot feature is activated in your Settings or Manage Connections area. (With a Share Everything Plan, the Mobile Hotspot functionality becomes automatically available on your capable smartphone.)

2.    Open the App Tray and select “Mobile Hotspot.” (If your Android device isn’t set up this way, learn your phone’s individual process by checking out a Device Simulator.)

3.    Tap the Mobile Hotspot checkbox. (Note: The Mobile Hotspot feature can use a lot of power, so it’s a good idea to plug your phone into a charger while the feature is turned on.)

4.    In a few moments, an icon will appear in the notifications panel showing the availability of your new hotspot.

5.    Computers and other connected devices can now connect to this hotspot through Wi-Fi and share your smartphone’s data connection.

For a visual walk-through, watch this video on how to set up a mobile hotspot on a Droid.

And newer phones such as the Pantech Maurader, which runs Ice Cream Sandwich, can take full advantage of Verizon 4G LTE speed when creating an Internet connection. This operating system makes fast work of setting up a mobile hotspot and connecting to the web via your smartphone, so you can enjoy on-the-go flexibility and powerful performance.

How to Watch Videos from Your Smartphone or Tablet on Your TV (VERIZONE Guide)

Watch videos or play games on a much larger screen with these wired and wireless options.

Yes, the screens on smartphones are getting bigger. Some are even HD, with rich colors and clarity that make watching videos and playing games even better. And tablet screens are no slouch either. But none of them can compare with that 60?inch LED or plasma HDTV.

Thankfully, there are easy ways to connect your smartphone or tablet to your TV, so you can show home movies or share photos of your kids with family on the big screen. And all without physically transferring any files.

Here are some options for connecting these two devices—and a few gadgets and apps to improve your viewing experience.

Connect via Micro HDMI

Many newer smartphones and tablets can use a Micro HDMI (Type D) cable to hook up to an HDMI?ready TV. Simply plug the smaller end of the cable into your device and the other end into your TV.

Once connected, what appears on your phone will also appear on the TV, so you can look at pictures and video, surf the web, use apps or play games. Some Droid smartphones from Motorola, such as the Droid 4 and the Droid Razr Maxx, call this connection Mirror Mode.

If you are planning an HDMI connection, try the Motorola HDMI Cable, which supports 1080p HD video. It comes in two sizes: 15 feet and 5 feet. Some smartphones, such as the HTC Rezound™, require a MHL to HDMI converter cable.

So be sure to check online or visit a Verizon Wireless store to determine specifically what you need to connect your device.

The cable can be handy while traveling, too, since HDMI?ready TVs are now found in many hotels.

Connect via DLNA

If you prefer a wireless link, television makers are embracing standards for connected TVs. The new standards, including DLNA and UPnP, are designed to link your set wirelessly via Wi?Fi to your smartphone, tablet or laptop. By 2015, analysts estimate, total shipments of wireless?ready TVs will reach 138 million worldwide.

You can also use DLNA to stream content from your mobile device to your home gaming system, such as Sony PlayStation® 3 or Microsoft Xbox.

One thing to keep in mind with all your content: Some digital rights management (DRM) content will not transfer properly from your smartphone or tablet to your TV (however you connect them). But home movies and photos won’t be a problem.

Connect via app

Several popular streaming video services have complementary apps that will work between your portable device and your television. With Netflix and Hulu Plus, for example, you can watch a video on your smartphone, stop it and then resume watching where you left off on your TV, or vice versa.

Connect via thirdparty hardware + app

Some stand?alone devices that stream video to your TV allow you to do the same with content from your mobile device. Boxee, for example, offers an app, which allows you to stream videos from the tablet to your TV via a Boxee Box.

More options for smartphone/TV interaction

There are other accessories and apps that will help improve your overall experience. When your phone or tablet is connected to an HDTV, the wireless Motorola Bluetooth® Smart Controller lets you remotely navigate your phone’s screens, select apps, play movies, and share photos. Think of it as a remote control for your mobile device.

Motorola also offers an exclusive app called Webtop, which is designed to give you complete functionality of your phone while it is broadcast on a larger screen. The corresponding Webtop Adapter Plug connects directly into your HDTV to help make it all happen.

The Samsung Galaxy Tab™ 7.7 comes with the Peel Smart Remote & TV Listing app, which gives you control of your TV, surround sound system, DVD or Blu?ray players, and cable or satellite boxes. Peel will help you find the perfect TV show on your tablet, then let you tap “Watch on TV” so you can sit back and enjoy.