Lost in the clouds?
In a previous article, I talked about saving data on your mobile device by connecting to a computer. But the truth is that not everyone has a computer or always remembers to back up their data. Enter the cloud. Saving your data to the cloud is a very popular choice that requires very little effort on your part. This article explores the cloud services offered by Apple and Google and aims to give you a better idea of how they work. Pro tip: Never forget that you are the only person who has control of the data you save on the cloud. Contrary to what you may have heard, nothing is automatically shared with other people or on social networks. If you’re still not sure what the cloud is all about, read this article by my colleague Michel Baril. In short, the cloud is an online storage space that you can access via your Apple or Google account. iCloud by Apple If you have an iPhone, you’ve probably already heard of iCloud. Offered by Apple, this service allows you to save all kinds of things, including your contacts, photos and appointments in your calendar, as well as your notes, reminders and favourite sites on Safari. All this is connected to your Apple ID (which is the email address you use for Apple services). If you have other Apple products, such as an iMac or iPad, iCloud will allow you to access your content and synchronize it across all your devices. New data is backed up automatically whenever your iPhone is plugged in and you are connected to a Wi-Fi network. This function is really handy when you consider that phones tend to get plugged in daily, often before we go to bed. It’s also important to note that this service gives you 5G of free storage, meaning you can store a decent amount of data without paying. If you reach the limit, you can always delete unwanted data, like old photos and videos, to make more room. Alternatively, data can be saved to your computer. And, of course, Apple offers various monthly packages to increase your cloud space. Pro tip: Does everyone in your family have an iPhone? If so, you may want to consider the Family Sharing feature, which lets family members share any music, app, book or movie purchases with each other. That way, you don’t have to pay for content more than once! You can also share photos and calendars, which is great for managing the family schedule. Parents, rest assured that you decide which features you want to share. You’re also the one who authorizes any purchases! Google If you’ve got an Android device, you can get cloud backup from Google. To access this service, simply create a Google account (if you already have a Gmail account, you’re good to go). Google’s Android service lets you save the same type of data as the Apple service, like contacts, calendars and photos. However, the backup method differs from phone to phone. For an optimal backup and syncing experience, make sure you save your data to your Google account. Here are a few examples to give you a better understanding: When you add a contact, make a point of saving it to your Google account, not to your phone’s memory. This option should appear when you enter your new contact information. When you add an event to your calendar, follow the same principle by selecting your Google account. For photos, go to your phone’s Google Photos app and activate back-up and syncing. Any photos you take after that will automatically be backed up when you connect to a Wi-Fi network. These are just three of an infinite number of possibilities for saving data on the Google cloud. If you want to learn more, start by exploring the various backup apps available—they can really make managing your data much easier. Pro tip: Want to explore the many possibilities that Google offers? Go to google.ca and click on the square menu in the top right corner of the page. You’ll find tons of features, many of which will be compatible with your mobile phone! In short, don’t forget that you decide what gets saved onto the cloud, and that you can adjust these preferences at any time. Whether you just want to keep your contacts safe and sound or back up all your content, the one thing you absolutely must do is remember your passwords. Without them, you won’t be able to access your data. Using the right backup service is a sure way to get the most from your digital devices. Now, get saving!Top 3 back-to-school apps from Google
#1: Never lose your work again with Google Drive Google Drive is a virtual storage system that lets you sync and save documents via your Gmail account. You can later access your documents using the Google Chrome browser on any Windows, Apple or Android device. To access Google Drive from your computer, simply: Open Google Chrome Expand the apps menu from the upper-right corner of the page Click on Google Drive After entering your user name and password, you'll have access to your Drive. Use Google Drive to save documents or download them to your computer's hard drive. If you're using a tablet or smartphone, simply select the Google Drive app (installed by default on all Android devices, available for download from the App Store for all Apple devices). Besides always keeping all your work within easy reach, Google Drive lets you scan documents using the camera function on your tablet or smartphone. This scanning function works by converting photos of your documents into PDF files, which you can then save, share or print. Another great feature of Google Drive is the ability to collaborate on documents. The app lets you add collaborators who can view or edit files—a highly useful tool for team projects! Collaborators must also have a Gmail account and access to Google Drive. To add collaborators: First, save your document in Google Drive Access the document's settings Select “Collaborators” Add each collaborator's Gmail account #2: Taking notes has never been easier thanks to Google Keep Google Keep is an app developed by Google that is available for download via the Google Play Store and Apple's App Store. Google Keep offers a range of note-taking tools including text, lists, images and audio. Notes can be colour-coded, and you can add labels for easy organization. The app also lets you set up reminders for your notes. Reminders may be configured based on time (date and time) or even your location using geolocation. For example, you can create a note to remind yourself to pack your lunch before leaving home and set up a reminder based on your home address. As soon as you leave home, a notification will pop up on your phone. You can also add collaborators on Google Keep in a similar way to Google Drive. Your notes will then be available for viewing and editing in real time by any collaborator. This feature can be particularly handy for coordinating projects, or simply creating a joint grocery list with your spouse. #3: Never miss an event with Google Agenda Whether you use it for work, school or personal life, Google Agenda is a great way to stay organized. Got an important appointment coming up? Simply add it to your agenda, set up your personalized reminder and assign the event a colour that will make it stand out more. You can even enter an address and let Google Maps guide you to your destination. You also have the option of adding other people via their Gmail accounts. The event will then show up on their agendas. Finally, like all Google apps, Google Agenda is always accessible from your Gmail account on Google Chrome, no matter what device or platform you're using. No more excuses! Now is the time to get organized!4 hot features of the Pixel 3
Fall 2018 is literally overflowing with new phones—and it’s a good vintage! All the manufacturers are trying to lure you in with new tech, fresh features and one-of-a-kind appeal. On October 9, Google unveiled a new line of products in New York City, including the new Pixel 3 and its big brother, the Pixel 3 XL, which I’ve been using for the last few weeks. Here are 4 features that I’m feeling right now: Camera It was hard to hide my shock when it was announced the Pixel 3 would only be graced with a single camera, while the trend gods dictate two—sometimes three—lenses to enhance the user’s photo experience. That said, when I tested the 12.2 MP (megapixel) camera, my surprise was overwhelmingly positive. Actually, the Pixel 3 camera has nothing to blush about compared to the high-end phones currently on the market. Its constantly updated software means the device produces vivid and brilliant pics. Plus, it comes equipped with the uber-famous and super-efficient portrait mode, allowing you to play with depth of field…like a boss. J On the front of the Pixel 3, you’ll find two cameras for classic selfies and group selfies. Over are the times of the overstretched arm and feats of contortionism just to fit everyone in the frame! One of the front-facing cameras offers a very handy wide-angle effect that totally delivers. So give your selfie stick to someone who needs it and capture those perfect panorama moments with your bare hands! Digital Wellbeing Shortly, giants like Apple, Facebook and Google are all going to provide us with features to show us just how much time we’re spending in front of our screens. Dive into the Pixel 3’s settings to find the Digital Wellbeing suite, where you’ll discover user stats like: the amount of time you’ve spent using each app, the number of times you’ve unlocked your phone today, the number of notifications you’ve received, and so on… Why do I need to know all that, you might ask?! Because you get to learn more about your phone habits. It’s all about gaining awareness, and not all notifications are made equal. Real talk: it’s difficult to disconnect from your handheld BFF. The Digital Wellbeing suite of tools can help you set limits, cut down on interruptions and notifications, and even switch off colours and excess light when bedtime rolls around. Going offline is good for you and that’s why Google offers you a toolbox of sweet little hacks to simplify your life. Wireless charging Nothing new, you say? Suspend your disbelief for a second because the Pixel 3 has taken wireless charging to the next level with the Google Pixel Stand. It’s a vertical charging station that lets you customize the display and your user experience in the Google/Pixel environment. You can turn the Pixel Stand into a digital photo frame to show off your pics AND to display the face of whomever comes a-knockin’ at your front door when you combine it with the Nest Hello video doorbell. Check out the PIXEL STAND here. Pixel Buds So it’s not really about the phone, per se, but it comes with…gosh I love these Pixel Buds…with their perfect fit and superior sound! It’s always risky to talk earbuds (in-ear headphones), due to it being a bit of a love-hate subject and all. If you’re one of the haters because your “earbuds are always popping out of your ears”, Google’s got a solution for you. The Pixel Buds’ design will make you do a double take: they’re wired, and they fit snuggly inside your earlobes. To set them comfortably in place, simply adjust the size of the loop. These buds rock a USB C connection and can be used to communicate with Google Assistant. You also gotta know that when you unwrap your Pixel 3, you’ll find a USB C to headphone jack too, which isn’t always the case with other phones. It’s an awesome addition if you’ve invested in a headset that you use all the time! Shopping for a new cell? Consider the Pixel 3…the Google environment is always getting more and more attractive and their devices, more and more high-performance. Do you know Google’s products? Which one really gets you going? Thinking about migrating to a Google phone? If you are, why? Share your experience with other members on the forum!Google Keynote 2019
Google once again chose a gorgeous October day to introduce tech journalists to its latest products. I jumped at the chance to get my hands on their new gadgets. And just minutes after the presentation, I summarized my first impressions. Have a look: The Pixel 4 clearly stole the show. After hearing all the leaks and rumours, we finally got the chance to check it out for ourselves. Some bold ideas and innovations have gone into this device. For instance, it has two rear-facing cameras and one front-facing one, but no wide angle. Add to that an intriguing motion sensor, a new astrophotography mode, and dramatically improved colour, light and shadow contrast. The designers included a black border but opted for no headphone jack. There aren’t any earbuds in the box, either. The device will work with a next-gen Google Assistant and come with a dictation feature that delivers real-time audio-to-text transcription. What do you think? Which new features are you most excited about? Here’s a brief summary of Google’s new products: Two phones: Pixel 4 (5.7in.) and Pixel 4XL (6.3in.) Pixel Buds: wireless, long wear comfort, coming this spring Stradia gaming platform: Launching November 19 Nest Wifi hub: Promises a strong and stable signal and includes a smart speaker Nest Mini speaker: Better sound and voice recognition Pixelbook Go computer: Ultra thin, lightweight, powerful processor and 12 hours of battery life Check out other articles by our technology correspondentMathieu Roy.
Attention Android users: Google won’t allow user sign-in on phones with version 2.3.7 or lower
Introduction Online presence these days has become a part and parcel of life. While searching anything online, the first search engine that comes to anybody’s mind isGoogle. If you need to send emails, you use Google, if you need to view a how-to video, you need to log in to your Google account. Even if you need to prepare an important presentation on your phone, you need a Google sign-in. Google has become an inevitable part of everyone’s lives. With the invention of smartphones,Googlesign-in has become much easier. However, Google comes up with certain updates from time to time and this time, the latestGoogle updatewill have a significant impact onAndroid phone users In this post, we will be explaining everything about the latestGoogleupdatewhere Google sign-in will be restricted on Android phones running a version of 2.3.7 or lower and how you can check your Android version and update the same. More information here so click here
