How-tos | Syntax 3.0

Slow Ipad? Follow these tips to speed it up

Slow Ipad? Speed it up!

Published by admin on December 30, 2013

Is your Ipad slowing down after otherwise being fast and snappy? Try our advice to restore its former glory.

A common cause for a slow Ipad is that too many apps are running in the multitask bar. This is disputed, but many users report increase performance when keeping the apps in the multitask bar to a minimum. Even-though you may not have an app open they might still be running in the background, this is done so that the app will open faster the next time you use it. Try opening the apps currently running by double pressing the home button, close down the apps by tapping the red X close icon. In iOS 7, instead of clicking the red X close icon simply drag the apps upward to close them.

Before trying the tips below, try to do a hard reset by turning off the Ipad and then on again by holding down the On/Off button, and then slide “Turn off”.

If your Ipad is slow it might be running out of disk-space, to check how much is left go to Settings -> General – > About.

If the available disk-space is low you can start by clearing the web-browser cache. For Safari on the Ipad go to Settings -> Safari and then tap Delete cookies and data.

For Chrome on Ipad go to the Chrome app, tap the Chrome menu -> Settings -> Security. Then tap Clear cache memory and Clear cookies.

If your Ipad continues to perform slowly try cleaning out any apps that you don’t use to save disk space. This is good to do on a regular basis. To uninstall an app, tap and hold over the app you want to uninstall, after a while the red X close icon will appear.

If you have a lot of photos and videos on your Ipad another way of saving disk space is to transfer some apps to your local computer and remove them from the device.

Another cause for a slow Ipad might be the network settings; it’s possible to reset them by going to Settings -> General -> Reset network settings.

If you are using a more recent Ipad, always keep up to date with the latest version of iOS and app updates. For older Ipads that are close to their end of life new iOS updates may not always be beneficial to performance, and may in some cases even cause them to become slower. In that case updates should be considered with care.

Using Google Chrome incognito mode

Using Google Chrome incognito mode

Published by admin on October 6, 2013

One of many neat features in the Google Chrome browser is the incognito mode, it enables you to surf the web without leaving a trace on the computer used. Normally when surfing the net you will leave cookies, web and search history etc on your computer, which other users of the system may see.

In some situations when sharing devices for example in a family, dorm etc, it’s not optimal to have the web history available for every user to access. This is where the incognito mode comes in handy.

It’s important to notice that the incognito mode is not the same as secure surfing, all sites and other information you access is still recorded with your ISP.

Activating the incognito mode in Google Chrome is done by opening a new Incognito window:

1. Click the Chrome menu in the upper right corner.

2. Select “New incognito window”.

3. A new window will open with the incognito icon in the upper left corner.

A quicker way of opening an incognito window is by using the keyboard shortcuts. In Windows/Linux or Chrome OS press CTRL+SHIFT¬+N or if you are on a MAC press ⌘-Shift-N.

Top 5 Outlook.com Tricks

Published by admin on May 1, 2013

Microsoft is taking a shot at Gmail replacing Hotmail with their revamped e-mail service Outlook.com, including a new interface and various other options. Of course there was an outcry in the Hotmail community for changing the interface, but the service now have 25 million users.

Continue reading to find out how you can be more effective when using Outlook.com (most of our tips are located in the “More mail settings section”).

1. Sweep it

If your inbox is like mine, that is a dark hole of endless messages, it’s often time consuming to clear it up. Outlook.com features a simple feature called “sweep”, it works basically the same way as the label system in Gmail where messages with certain characteristics are filed or deleted. It’s also possible to schedule sweeps.

For example it’s possible to file messages from a specific sender or delete them all together.

2. Use Skydrive to send attachments

Outlook.com has a limit of 25 MB when sending attachements, anything above that and the service will suggest using Skydrive, which means that your attachement is uploaded into Skydrive and sent with a URL to the location instead.

If you often send large attachments or if you don’t want to clog people’s inboxes it’s possible to have Skydrive set as default for attachments.

3. Customize the layout

Outlook.com comes with a set of options to customize the layout of your inbox. For example it’s possible to change colors and the location of the reading pane (right or bottom). Another nice feature is the Group by conversation option, which basically creates conversation threads instead of displaying individual messages.

4. Keyboard shortcuts

Outlook.com has a set of keyboard shotcuts as most mail services do. However if you are coming from Gmail or Yahoo! Mail, there are also mapped keyboard shortcuts for those services.

Outlook.com Keyboard Shortcuts

5. Security, connect your mobile

We recommend connecting your Microsoft Live Account with a mobile device, this means that if you have lost your password or if you account has been hacked you can still access the account from a code recieved by text message (two-step verification).

Use Gmail effectively

Published by admin on December 14, 2008

Googles e-mail service, Gmail is one of the most popular webmail services online. Yet there are many features in Gmail that is not used, even though they will probably make you more effective and give you a better overview of your e-mails.

It is quite common to have several e-mail accounts, for example from your ISP or maybe one for your blog or website. In Gmail you can connect all those accounts to your Gmail, which means that you can get an overview of all your email accounts from one account.

Click “Settings” in the upper right corner and then click the “Accounts “-tab, choose “Add another mail account”. A form will appear where you fill out the login details for your external e-mail. Check “Label incoming messages” and Gmail will label the incoming messages from that account. It is possible to add up to five accounts.

Sometimes you might want Gmail to forward your messages, for example to a work-email. In the settings menu, click the “Forwarding” tab and then choose to forward your mails to an address of your choice.

Many users of Gmail do not know that it is possible to use keyboard shortcuts to create an effective workflow. This setting is not on by default, in the settings menu click the “General tab” and then choose “Keyboard shortcuts on”, voila!

Some common shortcuts:

c Create new e-mail
u Return to your inbox
r Reply
a Reply all
Ctrl + s Save draft

For more shortcuts turn to the Gmail help section.

If you get loads of e-mail it can be interesting to know if a message needs to be opened ASAP or if it can wait. One way of knowing is by using the “Personal level indicators” in Gmail. If a message has been sent to your address among others an arrow will appear in front of it. If the message was sent to your address solely two arrows will appear. This feature can be activated in the “General” –tab in the Settings menu.

Sometimes it is neat to have your Gmail in your mobile phone; this can easily be done by downloading the Gmail mobile client (by pointing your mobile web-browser to: http://gmail.com/app). The client is a small application that installs on a cell phone, when you run the client it will connect to the Internet through using the phone and retrieve the latest e-mails. Since it is possible to connect any pop3 e-mail account to Gmail you can have all your e-mails available from anywhere.

It can be a security risk to surf the web using public networks, such as wireless networks in cafes or airports. However Gmail can be protected by turning on the https feature in. Https will encrypt your connection to the Gmail server. This can be turned on in the Settings menu under the “General”-tab. It is recommended having it on all the time, even if you are not surfing public networks (better to be safe than sorry).

Tag: How-tos

Slow Ipad? Speed it up!

Using Google Chrome incognito mode

Top 5 Outlook.com Tricks

1. Sweep it

2. Use Skydrive to send attachments

3. Customize the layout

4. Keyboard shortcuts

5. Security, connect your mobile

Use Gmail effectively