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Top Smartphones for 2013 Holiday Season

System Tech

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iPhone 5s

The iPhone 5S was launched with iOS7.  The updated camera with iPhone 5S has become popular against competitors. Also, the iOS 7 includes many new features including fingerprint identification on the home button, control center, multitasking, enhanced Siri and many more.

The iPhone 5S is available with all major carriers.  Contract prices are $199-399 or without Contract prices are $649-$849.

HTC One

The HTC One runs Android 4.3, a quad-core processor, 2 GB of RAM, 1080p LCD displays and an ultra mega pixel camera.  The most popular feature with HTC One is the front facing speakers and dual microphones.

The HTC One is available with all major carriers.  Contract prices are as low as $50 or without Contract price is $550.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is the most prevailing Android device on the market.  The Galaxy Note 3 includes many features, such as, the S Pen, 13 mega pixel camera (rear), microSD storage, a removable battery, LTE and many more.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is available with all major carriers.  Contract price is$299.99 or without Contract price is $699.99.

Nokia Lumia 1520

The Nokia Lumia 1520 runs Windows Phone 8 OS.  The 1520 offers a larger display, faster processor, and lower resolution camera than the Lumia 1020.  Features of the Lumia 1520 include integrated Microsoft Office, 20 mega pixel camera, HD 1080p display and many more.

The Nokia Lumia is only available through AT&T.  Contract price is $199.99 or without Contract price  is$584.99.

Google Nexus 5

The Nexus 5 runs Android 4.4.  The Nexus 5 includes a Snapdragon 800 processor, 8 mega pixel camera, HDR+, wireless charging and many more.

The Nexus 5 prices are $349 (16GB) and $399 (32GB).

Moto X

The Moto X runs Android 4.4.  The Moto X includes many features, such as, 10 mega pixel camera with quick capture, touch-less control, face unlock and many more.

The Moto X is available with all major carriers. Contract price is $99 or without Contract price is $499.

LG G2

The LG G2 runs Android 4.2.2.  The LG G2 has 1080p IPS display, 13 mega pixel camera, power and volume rear keys , clip tray, knock on and many more features.

The LG G2 is available with all the major carriers.  Contract price is $199.99 or without Contract price is $603.99.

Samsung Galaxy S4

The Samsung Galaxy S4 runs Android 4.2.  The Galaxy S4 has a 13 mega pixel camera with Dual shot and Drama Shot, Air View that allows you to control your phone with hovering instead of touch, WatchON, S Health and many more.

The Samsung Galaxy S4 is available with all the major carriers.  Contract price is $199.99 or without Contract price is $627.99.

Motorola Droid Maxx

The Motorola Droid Maxx has outlasting power with a 3,500 mAh capacity battery.  The Droid Maxx features include active notifications, always-on listening, Command Center, wireless charging, 10 mega pixel camera and many more.

The Droid Maxx is only available at Verizon Wireless.  Contract price is $199.99 or without Contract price is $499.99.

Sony Xperia Z1

The Sony  Xperia Z1 is waterproof and dust resistant.  The Xperia Z1 has man features that include 20.7 mega pixel camera, full HD TRILUMINOUS display, quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, microSD card slot, and many more.

The Sony Xperia Z1 is available without a contract for $649.99.

 

Apple iOS

Important Privacy Settings in iOS 7

System Tech

The new iOS 7 upgrade resets original settings and adds new settings that users should be aware of.

System Services

The System Services is difficult to find at the bottom of the Privacy > Location Services panel.

Status Bar Icon

Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services

The Status Bar Icon setting will appear in three ways:  Purple for Recently Used, Gray for Used within 24 Hours and Outlined for Geofence.  Turn ON this setting.

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Diagnositcs & Usage

Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Diagnostics & Usage

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The Diagnostics & Usage setting detects/records iPhone usage and anonymously sends a report to Apple to improve the device.  Turn OFF this setting.

Frequent Locations

Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Frequent Locations

FLThe Frequent Locations setting detects/records data about your locations, using GPS coordinates of frequently visited locations.  Turn OFF this setting.

Location-Based iAds

Settings > Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Location-Based iAds

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The Location-Based iAds collect and share location data based on real-time geographic location of your Apple device.  Turn OFF this setting.

Advertising

Settings > Privacy > Advertising

The Limit Ad Tracking setting prevents adverizers  from targeting your device. Turn Limit Ad Tracking ON.

The Advertising Identifier gives users control over advertisers’ capability to use tracking systems by resetting the Advertising ID.  Reset Advertising Identifier.

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Do Not Track

Settings > Safari > Do Not Track

The Do Not Track setting allows users to have privacy while using Safari.  Turn ON this setting.

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Microsoft Office Software

Popular Tools in Excel 2013

System Tech

Excel 2013 has easy access tools that generate professional-looking results quickly.  There are several new features with the new version that should not be overlooked.

Flash Fill

Flash Fill identifies and adapts to basic formatting to automatically input your data.  This tool performs several tasks such as merging information from multiple columns, adding formatting to current column and fixing anomalies with data.  Flash Fill will recognize and apply the selected format to your data but if data differs from row to row, it will not format correctly.

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Recommended Charts

rcRecommended Charts identifies data guides the user to choose the best chart type for their data.  The main objective of using a chart is to highlight your work in a significant way.

      1. Open the Excel Spreadsheet needed to create a chart.
      2. Select the Insert Tab.
      3. Select the Recommended Charts button to see suggested charts.

Recommended PivotTables

rptRecommended PivotTables are interactive tables that can analyze data, compare data and detect patterns/relationships.  In previous versions, PivotTables were too complex.

      1. Open the Excel Spreadsheet needed to create a table.
      2. Select the Insert Tab.
      3. Select the Recommended Charts PivotTables to see suggested tables. 

Quick Analysis

Quick Analysis is an additional way to generate a chart for data. To generate a chart to highlight your work in a significant way, select the data and click the Quick Analysis Icon.

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Timelines

Timelines let you filter through PivotTables, similar to a slicer.  The timeline will be embedded alongside the Pivot Table.

  1. Select the PivotTable.
  2. Click the contextual Analyze Tab.
  3. Select Insert Timeline (in the Filter Group).
  4. Then select OK.
  5. In the upper-right corner you can select years, quarters, months or days.

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Cloud Support

Cloud Support by Microsoft allows users to save Excel files to SkyDrive or SharePoint site.  Saving to SkyDrive or a SharePoint site allows users to review and edit files from any device with an Office 365 subscription.

Apps for Excel

appsMicrosoft offers Apps for Excel to enhance what you can do with Excel.  Categories for Apps include Content Management, Financial Management, Productivity, Workflow and Process Management and many more. 

Present Online

Present Online is a way to share workbooks and allows others to update it.  Present Online requires the installation of Lync (if you have Office Professional Plus; Lync is already installed).

  1. Sign into Lync.
  2. Open all workbooks you need to share. (Close workbooks you do not want to share).
  3. In Excel, click the File Tab.
  4. In the left pane, choose Share.
  5. Click Present Online.
  6. Click Present.
  7. Select a Lync meeting or create a new one.
  8. Click OK.