Facebook Lite and Privacy

I just downloaded the new Facebook Lite application for my Android phone. Even though the app in the Play Store says it's restricted in the U.S. I downloaded a standalone version here:

http://www.androidauthority.com/facebook-lite-apk-download-582490/

Once installed on my phone I used the App Info screen to turn on the privacy guard so it cannot access my contacts.

I really like how streamlined the functionality is on the Facebook Lite application as well as having messages integrated into one single app. Previously I had been using the mobile version of facebook.com but I now I'm going to switch to this app.

Chromebox Printing to Non-Cloud Printer

My Windows PC died recently leaving me to experiment once again with a Chromebox. I really like this no-maintenance PC, but you have to be saavy to work around some of the limitations. Ironic.

I have a Brother HL-2270 wireless network printer at home and, since my Windows PC is dead, Google Cloud Print can no longer find this printer. There was a Google Cloud Print service running on that PC forwarding print jobs from the Internet to my Brother printer.

The printer itself is wireless, but does not have the firmware to support Google Cloud Print independently. Bummer. If only Chromebox supported printing to a printer on a local network instead of only being able to print via Google Cloud Print.

So learning this sad fact, I was thinking I would need a new printer that would support cloud printing. I started a typical round of online research, forum posts, and such.

I think have pieced together a workaround that isn't too inconvenient that I would rather just buy a new printer. The workaround uses my Android phone and an app called Hammermill Print. I think the purpose of the app is to give you cool printing features on your phone in exchange for Hammermill Paper ads. In this case, that's OK. The app is extremely functional!

The Hammermill Paper app WILL print to a printer on a local network without using Google Cloud Print.

The app did not detect my printer on the network but I went to the manual configure option, and entered the IP address of my printer (I got that from my router settings list of connected devices).

Once I entered the IP address, the app detected a printer and prompted me to select the manufacturer and model so it could download the right drivers. The Brother HL-2270 was not on the list of supported printers. So I selected the HL-1270 instead. I think those printers are pretty similar: black and white, laser, and network capable.

I then named the printer in the The Hammermill App and was ready to go from the main menu to a list of apps on my phone that I can print from. One on the list was Dropbox!

So here is my relatively painless workaround in a couple steps.

1. On the Chromebox: Print my document to PDF and save it to a PRINT folder I created in Dropbox.
2. Android Phone: Open the Hammermill App, select Dropbox, and open the PDF inside my PRINT folder. Then send to print. 

Viola!

BTW: These steps should work equally well on a Chromebook.

It's been a minute, eh?

Dusting off this blog which has been sorely neglected! Mostly I blame Facebook, which made sharing something I found useful trivial. But that app has turned more into a necessary evil to keep connected with the world rather than something I feel proud being a part of. So back to the Net at large and this old blog.

If I may indulge for a moment, but I've been thinking about how to get away from Facebook while still sharing important things with friends and family and I have a thought....

What is Facebook's number one enemy?

UNSTRUCTURED DATA???!!  

So my theory is that if I post/share on my own blog instead of Facebook I am denying them an easy way to analyze my posts.

At least for the time being. 

Remove broken track links in iTunes

Useful!

http://paulmayne.org/blog/2007/11/how-to-remove-broken-or-dead-tracks-from-itunes/

Amazon.com Help: Terms of Use for Amazon Cloud

Amazon.com Help: Terms of Use

Check out these Terms of Use for the new Amazon Cloud. Be careful! Not a good thing.

5.2 Our Right to Access Your Files. You give us the right to access, retain, use and disclose your account information and Your Files: to provide you with technical support and address technical issues; to investigate compliance with the terms of this Agreement, enforce the terms of this Agreement and protect the Service and its users from fraud or security threats; or as we determine is necessary to provide the Service or comply with applicable law.

5.3 Security. We do not guarantee that Your Files will not be subject to misappropriation, loss or damage and we will not be liable if they are. You’re responsible for maintaining appropriate security, protection and backup of Your Files.

mSpot

Very excited about this service. For $4 a month, I get 40Gb on online storage for my music files (currently 28Gb worth) which acts for me as a backup PLUS there is an iPhone app that will let you display the library and stream the music to your phone!

This saves 13 Gb of space on my iPhone (more room for movies/tv) and individual songs download very fast over 3G. LOVING IT!

Free laptop

I put ununtu on a USB stcik and use it on a laptop I pretty much have to dedicate to another purpose. But when I boot from the USB stick, it's like a whole new computer. I downloaded Chrome for Ubuntu and with browser sync, it configures itself to match my home desktop. No difference except for Netflix (no Silverlight plugin for Ubuntu, so Netflix does not support streaming video) Other than that I could not be more happy thus far. It's like I have two laptops in one!

TV Bookmarks

I love watching  online TV and I've accumulated a few bookmarks that pretty much cover all my favorite shows and channels.

Netflix

Dish Online

Bravo TV

VH1

ABC

CBS

NBC

Food Network

TLC

TWiT Live

MSNBC

TBS

OWN TV

Windows shortcuts - Google Chrome Help

Windows shortcuts - Google Chrome Help

Google Chrome shortcut keys for Windows. I'm learning these since Chrome is my primary browser now. Very cool!