Back Up Your WhatsApp History to Google Drive

Back Up Your WhatsApp History to Google Drive

What if your phone suddenly slips while traveling on a bike?

Obviously you will end up losing all your important personal data, contacts, especially your WhatsApp Chat Data.

Sounds bad, doesn't it? 

But, now you need not worry if your phone suddenly dies or goes bad. Here is some great news for all WhatsApp users! Simply back up your WhatsApp chat history to Google Drive - history of photos, videos, and chats and never worry if your phone suddenly got corrupted.

If you use Android smartphone, at least.

That's because WhatsApp tied up with Google Drive, letting you create a private online backup of all your data from the now Facebook-owned chat service.

The app will let you back up your entire WhatsApp chat history. This includes voice messages, photos, and videos, to Google Drive, giving you extra security that your data is safe if your phone goes blank.

Now, you can restore everything on a new phone or tablet with just a few clicks. But wait... the new backup feature will be gradually appearing out in the next few months, and will appear in your WhatsApp settings once it is officially available.

This new feature offers a seamless way to back up your data in the cloud with encryption for added security now with WhatsApp currently having more than 1000 million users, and most of them are on Android devices.

WhatsApp currently has more than 1000 million users !!!

Put your music collection online and stream it from anywhere - for free!

Put your music collection online and stream it from anywhere - for free! Yes you heard me right. Now you can use some free services to store your music online and access them anywhere from any device.

Music streaming is the hot new craze, what with many services already offering access to millions of songs for a monthly fee - but I am talking about your own collection.

If you have your own music collection on your PC that you have built painstakingly over the years, you can now put it online and stream it from anywhere for free.

Just imagine - you are driving in your car and forgot to upload your favorite songs in your pen drive or CD and now you have to travel with some boring music from the FM stations.

But having your collection online will allow you to download the tracks that you want and voila! you are now able to hear your favorite Bollywood blockbusters!

The best option is - Google Play Music:

Google Play Music  is a free service that allows you to upload up to 50,000 songs and stream them from anywhere much like what you do with google drive or Dropbox. Google offers the biggest storage option by far.

Just download the Google Music Manager application ( for Windows or Mac), install it, and sign in with your Google account.

Just sync your music folders and it will automatically copy/build that music collection in Google Play Music.

It will monitor your music folder in the computer and automatically upload any new music you add to your PC, to your google account.

You can also upload songs directly from the website using the browser. You can then sign into Google Play Music on the web, via the Android app, or the iPhone or iPad app and stream music while on the go.

An amazing bonus is that the mobile apps let you download songs for offline listening too; you can just cache them without having to plug back into your computer.

To upload music more quickly, Google Play Music will “match” your local song to a song on Google’s servers (much like what Shazam does to song identification). If Google already has a copy of the song, you’ll get that one without uploading it fully.

If you want an offline copy of your music again, the Music Manager application allows you to re-download your entire collection.

We will look at other options in a future article. 

Disable automatic App updates on your Android device

Disable automatic app updates on your Android device. If you have an Android phone or tablet, did you know that your device has default settings to update the apps automatically from the Google play store? But why should we disable it?

Not that there is something wrong with that. Auto-Updates are good if all your apps are trustworthy and known to you. You don't have to worry with every app’s 'permissions' and you are connected to a strong 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi signal available.

But there is one drawback to this and it has to do with changing of permissions by the app's programmer or its team. Sometime the app will ask for broader set of permissions which will have you to take a look had it been in 'manual' mode.

If you need proof, check the read more option below the app's what's new info box, in Google play store.

So, if you prefer to check and review the new permissions before allowing your apps to update or if you are on a low data usage on 3G or 4G, you are advised to set off Auto-Updates.

Here’s how to set off Automatic app updates in Android devices: 

1. Click on the Play Store icon.
2. Click the Options icon in the top left-hand corner of the screen.
3. Click Settings.
4. Click Auto-update apps.
5. Select the Do not auto-update apps option.

That’s all there is to disable automatic app updates in Android devices.

After this change you will receive a notification whenever updates are available for your installed apps, so you can open the Play Store and update the apps at your sweet time.

How to block Game and App invites on Facebook

How to block Game and App invites on Facebook

Hi Kish

I have a problem. I want to know how to block Game and App invites on Facebook. You see I have a 'friend' in Facebook who keeps sending me invites to games almost every day. I asked him to stop sending these invites as I am not a gaming aficionado. In return he asked me to stop posting in his Facebook feed! I wonder how his thick-skulled brain did not comprehend the simple fact that my posts in his Facebook feed is because he accepted me as a friend in the first place! And he says with utter disrespect that he does this as a retaliation of my feed!

I asked him to simply unfriend me and finally that was what he did.

However I have a nagging doubt. Can I turn off the game invitation option so that no one else can disturb me in that way? Sorry if I sound frustrated... but I am.

Regards

KK.

Hi KK

Yes there is a way to do it. Lots of FB users love playing games on Facebook, but many others would prefer not to disturbed, in case they have no interest in these things.

As madame luck would have it, there are two ways to block all game (and app invitations) permanently! And the sad fact is that not many people are aware of it!

Method 1: Here’s how:

Note: Disabling game and app invites will disable ALL Facebook games and apps, even the ones that you use yourself on a daily basis. See the last paragraph of this post for further details. If you are OK with that let’s get started!

1. Go to your Facebook account settings icon in the upper right-hand corner.
2. Click the Apps link over in the left-hand column and go to the “Apps, Websites and Plugins” section.
3. Click the Edit link.
4. Click the Disable Platform button. That's it!

From now onwards you will never receive any game or app invitation. Of course you can revert later and turn Platform back on simply by editing the choice you made in step 4.

Note - If you turn off the Platform apps:

• You will not be able to log into websites or applications using Facebook.
• Your friends won't be able to interact and share with you using apps and websites.
• Instant personalization will also be turned off.
• Apps you've previously installed may still have info you shared. Please contact these apps for details on removing this data.
• Apps you've logged into (with Facebook or Anonymously) will be removed.
• Posts by apps will be removed from your profile.

Method 2 - (Recommended by me):

Go to the GAMES section. On your Facebook news feed page there is a column on the left. Can you see the GAMES section?

Click on it and you’ll see a list of games that are available on Facebook.


Click on the ACTIVITY tab.

On the left you see INVITES and REQUESTS. By default the page loads REQUESTS, if you’re not playing any games then the REQUESTS list would very likely be empty.

What you need to do is click on INVITES (because that’s the irritation that you’re facing from your thick skulled 'friend'.

OK so now we’re at the list, and this is where you can actually block all game requests. When you click on the big X mark on each invite it will ask you two things as seen in the pic.

 You have a few choices now.
a) Block ALL invites related to the particular game in this case Pirate Kings or -
b) Block the said individual from ever sending you games.

Choose option (b) if you have problem with one particular individual as in your case.

Hope it helps!

Print from your Smart Phone or Tablet

How to Print from your Smart Phone or Tablet

All of us agree that smartphones and tablets have invaded our lives in a big way. Nowadays smartphones have become faster and equally efficient as laptops and PC and tablets are slowly replacing the PCs and Laptops in a world where form factor and speed is essential.

There are umpteen improvements in day-to-day work in the form of enhanced software and intelligent software that decides what you really need. However one thing that I found missing was the ability to print from a laptop or smartphone and it took some time for technology to catch up.

The usual way to connect to a printer is via a USB cable connection after installing the drivers and using software that came pre-installed on the device.
If it is not possible, or if you prefer to print wirelessly, you’ll probably need to download an app written just for that purpose. That is advancement for you!

Note: Some wireless printer manufacturers include an app for printing wirelessly from a mobile device on their printers’ installation CDs. If that is missing you can try to download the app available as a free download directly from the printer manufacturer's website (your printer’s user manual should give you the Website URL).

The big question is - what to do if your Printer is not Wireless enabled?

You are in luck! What you need is a PC with Google Chrome installed with your user account and an Android Phone (from where you need to print something) with a free app for your Android device.

This method involves a free service from Google called 'Cloud Print'. 

First, configure the PC that has a printer attached.

1. In your Chrome Browser, sign in to your Google account (by clicking the menu button in the top-right corner).
2. Go to Chrome Settings.
3. At the bottom of the Settings page, click on 'Show advanced settings'.
4. Scroll to the section labelled 'Google Cloud Print' and click the button 'Add printers'.
5. A confirmation page will open. Click 'Add printer(s)'.
6. A Cloud Print web page will open where you can configure many options in your printer settings.
7. After you have installed a printer you can now use the 'manage printer' option that you will see here.

Next, set up the Android device that you want to print from.

1. Download and install one of the free Cloud Print apps. I tried the newly released Google Cloud Print app such as CloudPrint Plus or CloudPrint
2. Open the Cloud Print app and it should show the printer(s) that you set up on your PC.

You should now be able to print from any apps that allow sharing. Open a web page or document you want to print in any app, then click the Share button. Share the document to the Cloud Print app.

You’ll be able to send the file to the printer.  Because Cloud Print works over the Internet, you can use this feature to connect to a printer at your home or office or anywhere!

Note that you must be using the same Google account in Chrome and with the Cloud Print app after which your printer will be seen in the app. In case you did not know, the PC and/or the printer do not have to be switched on when you send the print command. The print job will be queued at Google Cloud Print until you turn the PC and printer on.

You can check what print jobs are waiting by clicking the Chrome “Manage printers” button mentioned above in step 7. If you do not want your printer to always be connected to the Internet, simply click the "Disconnect printers" button mentioned in step 8 above.

That is it! I hope you liked this nifty tip. Let me know if it worked for you or if you have a better suggestion. If this article helped you - please share it around socially!

Why Xiaomi Mi 4i lacks memory card slot

:::: Also known as MicroSD card slot ::::

Hugo Barra, vice president for international at Xiaomi, explains Why Xiaomi Mi 4i lacks memory card slot. For those of you who are ordering it online in a few minutes this may come as a surprise (I too was) as to why this phone did not come up with  a micro-sd slot.  Now it is clear after hearing what Xiaomi has to say about this.

• MicroSD card requires a large motherboard and a significant redesign of the device that would make it look bigger and less slimmer.

• A microSD card slot in the Mi 4i, meant a smaller (lesser than 3000mAh battery) in it. 

• SD cards can significantly slow down system performance and lead to apps crashing due to the poor quality of SD cards in the market, many of which are actually fake.

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These are valid reasons according to many people. Also, these are the same reasons why most of the high-end phones nowadays don't come with a microSD card slot.

Register for the MI 4i here.

However I personally find this as a big point to consider as I am yet to come to terms with a non microSD Phone. However its a personal choice and also there is always solace in the fact that this phone has OTG support for the OTG pendrives. So I may go for this one, for the sheer specs at this price.

Note: The links in this page are affiliate links.

Mi 4i - Drooling stuff for the Mobile lover.

Mi 4i - Drooling stuff for the Mobile lover. The phone that I have been waiting for a long time. I must say that I am a bit lucky in this regard. When MI4 launched I missed the bus. When Redmi 1s launched I missed the bus.

When MI4i launched today I made sure that I clicked the register button. Why?

First thing it is a very affordable for the specs that it is powered with. In fact more than a bang for the buck. The thing that I liked the most was the fact that it comes with dual 4G Sims. And it has notched the quality bar to stay ahead of its rivals for each aspect of the device.

I am happy that I waited for this as it was just this afternoon that I had come almost to the verge of clicking another phone at same price but lower specs.

Lets see some cool pics first:

RAM Memory  =   2 GB RAM,
Device Memory =  16 GB ROM  (User available Memory - 12.77 GB)

User Interface = MIUI 6
Graphics = Adreno 405
OS  = Android v5.0.2 (Lollipop)
Processor = 1.7 GHz+ 2nd-gen Snapdragon 615 64-bit Octa core
Resolution = Full HD, 1920 x 1080 Pixels 'JDI Display', All New Sunlight Display, 441 PPI Size =  5 Inches


Register at Flipkart for your phone and get set to go!

Note: the links in this post are affiliate links.

The phone with 4GB RAM - Asus Zenfone 2 (blasting Honor 6 plus!)

 

For the quality and budget conscious, a 4GB RAM phone that seems unbelievable. ASUS always brings premium specs to a handset at a price that is way below market value.

Watch out guys. Be ready and keep watching this space. It is up for grabs very soon and I suggest you not to miss it.

Launch date is - 23rd April 2015 at Flipkart. And don't blame me if you forget the date or the time! So make a note in multiple place reminders. 

Looks like ASUS Zenfone 2 will be one helluva monster with insane specs.

Specs: (for ZE551ML)

Display = 5.50-inch
Processor = 2.3GHz Intel Atom Z3580 quad-core
Front Camera = 5-megapixel
Resolution = 1080x1920 pixels
RAM = 4GB
OS Android version = 5.0
Storage = 32GB
Rear Camera = 13-megapixel
Battery capacity = 3000mAh
Expandable storage microSD =  up to (GB) 64

This dual-sim smartphone supports 2G, 3G and 4G. The Zenfone range has seen a major leap in the battery capacity, from the 2,110mAh juice-pack of Zenfone 5 to the 3,000mAh powerhouse in Zenfone 2. 

Expected price = ~ INR19999/-
Release date - 23rd April 2015




There is also a 2 GB RAM variant that will sell at a lesser price.

And in case you have not installed the Flipkart App do so here.

Belkin Charger for Tablets and Mobile with Micro USB Sync/Charger Cable

Nowadays almost every electronic communication device comes with own charger as a standard accessory in the package. And when there is a problem with the charger or if the charger gets misplaced somewhere, one has to run helter-skelter for a replacement.

And guess what? Almost every time we make the mistake of getting any charger that is sold in the electronics and mobile shops, by just checking if the charging indicator shows the charging animation.

That is where the fun starts. We realize after its too late that the charging time takes a hit. What usually charged in 2-3 hours with the original adapter, now takes 7-10 hours. So is there any reason for this?

As with all electronic components there is a specification and when the specs are not met there will be a degradation in performance.

In such cases its almost always too late that we realize we must have got a better product for the purpose of charging our devices. After all we take great care to select the best device in the first place so it does seem apt to get a suitable charging accessory instead of compromising on the same.

So if you are facing a dilemma look no further. The Belkin Universal Home Charger (with Micro-USB to USB Charge and Sync Cable) is a nifty li'l charger that powers up well to your devices' expectations. It is a premium charger for Tablets and Mobile bundled with Micro USB Sync/Charger Cable

Its main features are:

• Compatible with many smartphones and tablets
• Output: 2.1A (robust for today's devices)
• Ultra compact design (travel-friendly)
• Micro-USB cable (4 feet length)

 Get the device here.

Note: The links in this page are affiliate links.

How to Deactivate Unwanted Value-added Services (VAS) on any Mobile Network in India?

Cell phone headaches!

People get irritated from the unwanted VAS (Value added services) activation on their mobile number. Sometimes this activation causes loss of our mobile balance (aka talk-time) while we are blissfully unaware!

Repeated calls to the customer care call-centers may not be to everyone's liking due to the connection delays or pain in getting the query answered satisfactorily.

Some people even change their Sim/mobile numbers due to these kind of problems. But this problem can be resolved easily by the method given below! There is no need to change the numbers or get frustrated due to sudden VAS charges deducted from your main balance.