Articles

Is your head in the cloud about passwords?

The Internet is becoming so ubiquitous that it’s more important than ever to choose secure passwords and more smartly manage them. Online shopping is on the rise and web-based applications are expanding. Plus, the Internet is no longer something we only use on home- or work-based computers. It is, or may soon become, part of e-readers, mobile devices, vehicles, kiosks, phones and more. A few months ago, an article about KeePass encouraged noobies to create and store impossible-to-guess passwords. KeePass is a great, free service that can help protect your private information, but one downside for some people is that… Continue reading...

Location Domination with Foursquare

Have you dreamed of ruling the world...or maybe your city...or how about just the local pub? Now you can. Foursquare is a new (sort of) location-based social networking application that lets you record and share your whereabouts as well as tips related to visiting stores, bars, restaurants and other locales. Browse tips that others have shared to discover great new places, products and people. Getting Started with Foursquare Foursquare is “sort of” new because it wet its feet in New York City then it was launched to other major metropolitan areas throughout the world (including Indianapolis—home of Noobie). Even more… Continue reading...

The Long and Short of URLs

There is so much we can share when surfing the Web, and the easiest way to do it is usually by passing along a web address or URL. Since many URLs get quite long, techies have created simple ways for noobies to easily convert long URLs into shorter ones using URL shorteners. How do URL Shorteners Work? For a long time, the easiest way to share a URL was to copy it from your browser and paste it into an email, document or other communication. Below is a relatively long URL that takes you to a recent Noobie article. http://www.noobie.com/articles/technology-makes-already-convenient-gift-cards-more-convenient/… Continue reading...

Technology makes already-convenient gift cards more convenient

Gift cards have become one of the most popular gift-giving options during the holiday season. In fact, according to Deloitte and Touche USA, 64 percent of shoppers say they plan to buy gift cards this year. If you’re a noobie with gift cards on your shopping list, here are some tips and information to help keep your season bright. Why buy gift cards? In recent years, gift cards have soared in popularity. Their convenience, for gift givers and receivers, is a big selling point, but perhaps another reason is that people have their eye on more expensive gifts. Technology-related gifts… Continue reading...

The naughty and nice of netbooks

The holidays are upon us, and netbooks are one of this year’s gift-giving rages. Brick-and-mortar retailers and online stores are advertising steep discounts on the already-affordable devices, prompting many noobies to wonder what to expect from these featherweight laptops. Should you add one to your shopping or wish list? What are netbooks? Although they look a lot like laptops and have some of the same functionality, netbooks are lightweights when it comes to computing power. Designed for portability at 7-10 inches in size and about 1-3 pounds, netbooks have scaled-down screens and keyboards, less storage and memory, and they usually… Continue reading...