Posted by Mitch on Sep 02, 2010 under Software Tips |
If you’ve installed a new version of iTunes, sometimes it will malfunction and run the installer every time you start it up. A common message that appeasers Please wait while Windows configures iTunes.
This issue can be traced to a problem with Windows Installer and the shortcuts it tries to create. The solution is simple though.
1. Delete all shortcuts you are using to start the program.
2. Go to C:\Program Files\iTunes\
3. Right click iTunes.exe and select Send to > Desktop (Create Shortcut).
These steps will usually fix the issue.
Posted by Mitch on Sep 02, 2010 under Software Tips |
Users of iTunes 10 may not like the new Album by Artist column. The album art appearing in this column annoys me too. Luckily, you can disable it and make iTunes look like it did the old way with these simple steps.
1. Click View at the top of the screen.
2. Select as List.
The Album by Artist column will now be removed.
Posted by Mitch on Sep 02, 2010 under Mac Tips, iPhone Tips |
Users of iTunes 10 are experiencing an issue where it crashes when they connect their iPhone 4 to their Mac, then click the Apps tab. Try these steps to fix it.
1. Launch iTunes while holding down the Option and Command keys. This will start iTunes in Safe Mode.
2. If iTunes works in Safe Mode, you may have installed a third party application that is causing it to crash. Uninstall any applications on your computer that work with iTunes.
If you can’t find anything, have a look in the following locations.
Warning: These steps may remove settings and data but shouldn’t delete your actual media files. Just be careful and have a backup.
Remove any third-party references under the /Library/QuickTime folders.
Delete any .plist files in the following locations:
- /Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunes.eq.plist
- /Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunes.plist
- /Library/Preferences/com.apple.iTunesHelper.plist
Now check to see if things are working correctly.
See also: iTunes 10 Crashes on Launch; Fixes
Posted by Mitch on Sep 01, 2010 under Android Tips |
If you’re running out of memory space on your Motorola Droid smartphone because you have so many apps installed, you can move the apps to the SD card.
1. From the Home screen, press Menu.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Applications.
4. Tap Manage applications.
5. Select an app you wish to move.
6. Tap Move to SD card.
Posted by Mitch on Sep 01, 2010 under SmartPhone Tips |
A common issue for Windows Mobile phone users is that the phone fails to charge while it is connected to their computer. Not many people know there is a setting that controls this. It’s odd because I’ve never seen such a setting on any other type of smartphone platform.
1. From the phone, touch the windows icon.
2. Select Settings.
3. Touch Power.
4. Go to the Advanced tab.
5. Uncheck When device is turned on, do not charge the battery when connected to the PC.
Thanks to Ben Cirrus for sending this tip.
Posted by Mitch on Sep 01, 2010 under Android Tips |
Find out what IP address your Sprint Samsung Epic is connected with.
Find Wi-Fi IP Address
1. From the Home screen, press Menu.
2. Tap Settings.
3. Tap Wi-Fi settings.
4. Tap the wireless network you are connected to.
5. The IP address will be displayed in the dialog box that appears.
Find 3G or External IP Address
1. Open the web browser.
2. Visit WhatIsMyIP.
Posted by Mitch on Sep 01, 2010 under Android Tips |
Delete an email account from the Email app on your Samsung Epic smartphone.
1. Open the Email app.
2. Press Menu.
3. Tap Accounts.
4. Tap and hold the account you want to delete.
5. Select Remove account.
Posted by Mitch on Aug 31, 2010 under Android Tips |
Start the Droid Incredible in Safe Mode. This will load the original settings and software for troubleshooting purposes.
1. Power the Droid Incredible off.
2. Press the Power button to turn it back on.
3. At the second HTC Logo screen, press and hold the Volume Down, Menu and the Optical pad at the same time.
4. Keep holding all 3 buttons until the device fully boots and you see Safe Mode in the lower-left part of the screen.
Posted by Mitch on Aug 31, 2010 under Android Tips |
Boot your Verizon Motorola Droid X in Safe Mode. This will allow you to access the device with the original software and settings if something is preventing the device from starting.
1. Power the Droid X off.
2. Press and hold the Menu button on the lower-left side of the screen.
3. Keep holding the Menu button while the device starts until you see the Home screen load. It should say Safe Mode in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
To take the Droid X out of Safe Mode, simply power the device off, then back on.
Posted by Mitch on Aug 31, 2010 under Android Tips |
Start your LG Ally smartphone in Safe Mode. This will allow you to access the device if a setting or software has caused an issue.
1. Power the LG Ally off.
2. Slide the keyboard open.
3. Press and hold the OK key while powering the device back on.
4. Keep holding the OK key until you see the Home screen load. It should say Safe Mode in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
To take the device out of Safe Mode, simply turn the device off, then back on.
Posted by Mitch on Aug 31, 2010 under Android Tips |
Start your Motorola Droid 2 smartphone in Safe Mode. This will boot the device with the default software and settings. It is used for those occasions when you have installed something on your phone that has caused it to malfunction to a point where you can’t undo it.
1. Power the Droid 2 off.
2. Slide the keyboard open.
3. Press and hold the OK key while powering the device back on.
4. Keep holding the OK key until you see the Home screen load. It should say Safe Mode in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
To take the device out of Safe Mode, simply power the device off, then back on.
Posted by Mitch on Aug 31, 2010 under Android Tips |
Delete unwanted bookmarks from the Browser app on the Samsung Epic smartphone.
1. Open the Browser app.
2. Press Menu.
3. Tap Bookmarks.
4. Tap and hold the bookmark you wish to remove.
5. Tap Delete bookmark.
Posted by Mitch on Aug 31, 2010 under Android Tips |
Save a photo from a text message to the SD card on the Samsung Epic.
1. Tap and hold on the image for a couple of seconds.
2. Select Copy attached to SD card.
Now you can view the photo in the Gallery app.
Posted by Mitch on Aug 30, 2010 under Android Tips |
Set a ringtone to a specific contact. This will enable you to know who’s calling just from hearing the ringtone.
1. Open the Contacts app.
2. Tap the contact that you wish to set a ringtone to.
3. Press Menu.
4. Tap Options.
5. Tap Ringtone.
6. Select a ringtone.
Posted by Mitch on Aug 30, 2010 under Android Tips |
The Samsung Epic allows you to set any of your music files as a ringtone.
1. Copy music files from your computer to the Epic.
2. Open the Music app.
3. Navigate to the music track you wish to use.
4. Tap and hold track for about 2-3 seconds until a menu appears.
5. Tap Use as phone ringtone.
Now your music file is now set as the default ringtone.
Posted by Mitch on Aug 30, 2010 under Android Tips |
The Samsung Epic takes beautiful pictures, but how do you get them from the device and onto your computer? Copy them over with these easy steps.
1. Connect the Epic to your computer with the included USB cable.
2. Slide down the notification panel at the top of the screen.
3. Tap USB connected.
4. Tap Mount.
5. On the computer, open the drive that represents your device. It should be in My Computer/Computer for Windows users or the Finder for Mac users.
6. Open the Camera folder.
7. Open the DCIM folder. This is where your pictures are located.
8. Drag and drop any of the files over to a location on your computer and they will be copied.
Posted by Mitch on Aug 29, 2010 under Internet Tips |
Gmail has a feature that enables you to play your Google Voice voice mail right from within the Google Mail email message.
1. Login to Gmail.
2. Click Settings.
3. Click Labs.
4. Scroll down to Google Voice player in mail and check Enable.
5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and click Save Changes.
Note: This also enables the Google Voice player feature in Gmail on your Android phone.
Posted by Mitch on Aug 29, 2010 under Android Tips |
Dial a contact right from your Home screen by creating a direct dial icon.
1. From the Home screen, press Menu.
2. Tap Add.
3. Tap Direct dial.
4. Choose the contact you wish to add.
Posted by Mitch on Aug 28, 2010 under BlackBerry Tips |
Quickly view the email address of the sender of an email within the Messages app on your BlackBerry Torch 9800 smartphone.
1. Open the Messages app.
2. Open the email.
3. Highlight or tap the contact.
4. Press Q.
Posted by Mitch on Aug 28, 2010 under Android Tips |
Quickly access preferred apps from the Home screen of your Sprint Samsung Epic by adding an icon for it.
1. Tap the application slider at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap and hold your finger on the app icon in the slider until it gets bigger in size.
3. Drag the icon to the desired location on the Home screen.
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