sync

Q&A: MacFixIt Answers

MacFixIt Answers is a feature in which we answer questions e-mailed in by our readers.

This week readers wrote in with questions about Wi-Fi signal transmission through glass, syncing documents between two systems, an external drive no longer mounting on any system, and how one would go about upgrading the video card on a MacBook Pro. We welcome views from readers, so if you have any suggestions or alternative approaches to these problems, post them in the comments!

Question: Wi-Fi signal transmittance through glass MacFixIt reader David asks:

To what extent does a glass window weaken a Wi-Fi signal? I … Read more

Freeware Friday: Non-Retina edition

This was a big week for Apple and fans of the MacBook and OS X lineup. But if you have Windows, you might realize that many of the upcoming features for Mountain Lion have already been readily available in some way or form. For this week's Freeware Friday, check out the following apps to access voice control, sync chats with your phone, set reminders, and more.

Dictation alternative: Speech-powered computing might seem like a radical new implementation for many Mac users with the upcoming Mountain Lion, but both Windows and Mac users have had access to voice-control options well … Read more

Store, sync, and access your files from any device

4Sync creates a folder that allows you to access files from any Internet-connected device.

Creating a new account simply requires an e-mail and password. After registration, 4Sync guides you through a series of pages telling you about all the great things it can do, but at the end of the day, it's a synced folder in the cloud.

If you've ever used similar services (like Dropbox), you should feel right at home: 4Sync creates a folder under My Documents (PC) that acts as your primary folder. If you have 4Sync installed on other PCs/Macs or smartphones, then … Read more

Ford Sync may save you money on insurance

Ford announced today that some State Farm auto insurance customers may save money on premiums using Sync.

Drive Safe and Save is State Farm's optional mileage-based program that calculates your insurance rate based on the actual number of miles you drive in a six-month period of time. The insurance company generally uses a broad mileage estimate to determine your premium, categorizing drivers as either low mileage or average mileage, with 7,500 miles per year as the cutoff. The DSS program is available in 14 states, and until now was open almost exclusively to OnStar customers and OnStar FMV … Read more

How to set up sync on Windows 8

Whether you love or hate Windows 8's Metro interface, its syncing feature makes it immensely valuable to both people with more than one device, and those who know how frustrating it can be to lose personal data and settings from a crash.

Windows 8 can run a local account, but if you use a Microsoft account -- formerly known as a Windows Live account -- you'll be able to sync some app settings and passwords; Internet Explorer 10 history, preferences, and bookmarks; desktop options such as log-in, lock screen, and colors; search preferences; language preferences; and keyboard and … Read more

Get pictures off your iPad

Now that the Apple iPad finally includes a great camera, I suspect that many of you have taken beautiful photographs that you'd like to transfer back to your computer.

In this CNET How To, I'll walk you through Apple's prescribed methods for moving iPad photos over to your computer, including Photo Stream syncing via iCloud and syncing over USB.

If you're looking for other, more-advanced methods for transferring your iPad's photos, check out CNET's How To guides on apps such as Photo Transfer, Scotty, and Bump.

Otherwise, enjoy the above video and take a … Read more

Chrome now syncs tabs to Android

As a warm-up for next month's Google I/O conference, the company has released an update to Chrome this morning that allows you to sync tabs across PCs and Android devices.

The option Other Devices is now available in the new Google Chrome 19 stable version for Windows (download), Mac (download), Linux (download).

The option is available at the bottom of your New Tab page, alongside the Recently Closed menu. When it synchronizes a tab, it includes that tab's browsing history. You'll be able to navigate forward and back when you open it on a new device. … Read more

Is Apple about to make iCloud an Instagram competitor?

iCloud currently offers users the capability to store and sync photos to other iOS devices and PCs using Photo Stream. That functionality does not, however, include the capability to share with other users directly.

According to the WSJ sources, users would be able to comment on shared photos, but any further details of the service have yet to be disclosed.

The iCloud update is expected to be officially announced by Apple at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference, which begins June 11.

Last week, several sneak peeks at Apple's plans for its iCloud service made their way to the … Read more

Photo Transfer App doesn't disappoint

Photo Transfer App is one of the simplest solutions I've encountered for transferring photos and videos between mobile and desktop devices -- so long as your devices are all on the same Wi-Fi network.

When you open the app on your device, it immediately asks if you want to send or receive files (only photos and videos are supported). Once you make your choice, it asks if you'll be transferring with an Apple computer, Windows computer, or mobile device (Android or iOS only). Whichever option you choose, your devices will have to be on the same Wi-Fi network … Read more