How to Switch to a Sony Xperia Using Xperia Transfer | Dramel Notes

The end is nigh for your old smartphone. Your upgrade came, and it’s a Sony Xperia, perhaps one of last year’s models, or even the 2015 Sony Xperia Z5.

You’re bracing yourself for the time intensive and often frustrating task of copying your data and contacts from your old smartphone (Android, iPhone, or Windows Phone) to your new one. And then you discover Xperia Transfer, and all is right with the world once more.

Which Method Should You Use?

Sony provides two Android apps designed to manage your migration from your old phone to a new Sony Xperia — one mobile and one desktop. The former is Xperia Transfer Mobile, which works wirelessly; the latter is Xperia Transfer Desktop, which sends the data via a client app on a PC or Mac.

But which method should you use? Well, in simple terms, if you’re using Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich or later, then using the Xperia Transfer Mobile app will be fine.

However, for those wanting to transfer data from an old Android device (below Android 4.0), a Nokia (running Symbian), a BlackBerry, a Windows Phone, or an iPhone, then your best bet is to use the desktop method, outlined below.

First, we’ll look at the mobile app.

The Mobile Method

To get started, check your Sony Xperia for the Xperia Transfer Mobile app, which should be listed in the App Drawer. If not, open the Play Store and install it. When you’ve done that, install it on your old Android as well.

Next, launch the app on both devices. Select Wireless connection, and choose PIN or NFC (near field communication) to establish a relationship. Using a PIN is quicker (NFC naturally requires you to activate this feature, which for security reasons should be left disabled), so choose this on your old phone, then again on your new phone.

Xperia Transfer Mobile will then display a PIN on the new phone that you must enter on the old one. You will then see a notification informing you of an Invitation to Connect — click Accept on the new phone.

It’s almost time to start transferring data. All you need to do first is confirm what exactly you want to migrate, using the check boxes.

Once you tap Transfer, the new phone will confirm that you want to give Xperia Transfer Mobile permission to access and move the selected data. The app will then transfer the data, and as long as you have enough space on your new phone, you’ll soon have everything moved over.

The Desktop Method

Migrating from an old Android device (running a version prior to Android 4.0), one with problematic wireless networking, or one that runs BlackBerry, iOS, or Windows Phone/Mobile is just as simple, but it requires you to first install a desktop client. You’ll find this on the Sony Mobile website; choose the link for PC Companion or Mac Bridge. We’ll continue with this guide focusing on PC Companion (a 29MB download), but the options on both apps are more or less identical.

After installation, connect your Xperia via USB cable to prompt for the drivers to be installed; check your phone’s display to complete installation. The desktop app is multi-purpose and also provides any information you need concerning updates, so it is worth leaving it installed (assuming it doesn’t interfere with your other apps).

With the software installed, the PC Companion feature opens, so click Start and work through the setup wizard until you click Finish. Once this is done, find Xperia Transfer on the main app window, click Start, and wait as the component is installed.

Prepare Your Old Phone

While this is happening, on your old phone, which should be disconnected from your PC, install the Xperia Transfer Desktop application. When this is done, run the app (which installs as) and follow the wizard to extract your data.

On your computer, you will be presented with a menu, where you can select your data source. Each selection you make will display the type of data that can be transferred on the right. When you’re happy with your selection, once again click Start.

You’ll be given the chance to review the data that will be transferred, including the opportunity to add or drop contacts, or manually merge them if you have duplicates.

If you’re using the Xperia Transfer Desktop app on your old Android device, now is the time to connect it via USB. Make sure you have the USB connection type set to MTP — you should be able to change this in your notifications once it’s connected.

For transferring via iPad or iPhone, first make a backup either to iCloud or to your desktop using iTunes. You can then proceed with Xperia Transfer Desktop to migrate the data to your new Xperia device. If you’re moving from Blackberry, the Sony transfer software will take everything across to your new Xperia.

Windows Phone or Windows Mobile users should choose the final option in the list above, after first ensuring their contacts are synced via Outlook or Windows. Content will need to be manually transferred, or else you’ll need to sync to OneDrive and use the Android OneDrive app.

Transfer Your Data

When the data is ready to be transferred to your Xperia, and you have connected the device, simply click Transfer to complete the process.

Sit back as the data moves from the old device to the new one, relatively effortlessly.

What Do You Think?

This is a great way to keep hold of your contacts and those much-loved photos, although don’t overlook cloud solutions when it comes to digital keepsakes you don’t want to lose! Keeping everything backed up this time around could mean an even easier switch next time.

Do you have a Sony Xperia phone or tablet? Have you used the Xperia Transfer software, or perhaps run into trouble with it? Tell us in the comments.

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The Best Way to Bypass Upgrade Notifications for Windows 10 | Dramel Notes

On one hand, there are a lot of false claims made against Windows 10. It’s really not that bad. On the other hand, there are legitimate reasons to dislike Windows 10, such as forced system updates and annoying notifications.

Indeed, Windows 10 upgrade notifications are starting to get really aggressive. If you’re still on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, Microsoft seriously wants you to upgrade — so much so that declining these notifications is getting harder and harder.

Consider the latest nag screen, which is frustratingly deceptive. It looks like you have no choice but to upgrade, right? But instead of upgrading now or upgrading later, there’s a tricky third option: clicking the X at the top right!

While that might work for now, it’s possible that Microsoft will make it even harder to decline in the future, so stay wary.

The good news is that hope still remains. If you’re willing to put in a bit of effort, you can effectively block these aggressive upgrade notifications with a combination of changed settings, registry tweaks, and third-party tools.

Are you still on Windows 7 or Windows 8.1? How bad are the nag screens for you? Is this enough to push you towards Linux? Tell us about it in the comments below!

Image Credit: Windows 10 Point by Anton Watman via Shutterstock

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How to Stream Local Movies and TV Shows to Your Apple TV | Dramel Notes

The new Apple TV is pretty cool on its own and we believe that it’s a good purchase if you’re looking to buy or upgrade to a new streaming device, but you still can’t play anything you want on it right out of the box.

The good news is, with a simple $5 ($4.99 to be exact) app and a computer, you can turn your Apple TV into a very capable video streaming device that will play virtually any TV shows or movies you have secreted away on your computer hard drives.

Install Air Video HD on Your Apple TV

The first thing you will need to do is install the Air Video HD app on your Apple TV. To do this, first open the app store and search for it. The Siri Remote might make this a little annoying, but you should be able to find it with just a few letters.

As we mentioned, the app itself will set you back $4.99 but considering what it can do, we think it’s well worth it.

When you first open Air Video HD, you will almost certainly get an error telling you no computers were found.

This is because you need to install the Air Video HD Server on one or more of your computers. In the next section, we’ll show you how to install it on a typical Windows-based PC.

Install Air Video Server HD on Your Computers

In order to stream video content to your Apple TV, you will first need to install the Air Video Server HD application on your PC and/or Macs (Linux support is coming soon).

Note, in the following section we show you screenshots for the Windows version of the Air Video Server HD application. The Mac version is nearly identical, having no notable differences between the two.

Once you download the application, you will obviously need to install it like any other app.

Once installed, start the application and the server will start running automatically.

You will immediately see a bunch of options and settings but you can probably safely ignore everything for the time being. Right now, we’re most concerned about adding a location or locations to get things started.

Click the “Add” button and you will be prompted to select a directory. Browse to the location where your media is stored on your PC or Mac, choose the folder(s) you want to add and click “OK”.

Now, you will see your locations in the “Shared Folders”. In our example, we’ve only added one location for the sake of simplicity, but you can obviously add as many as you want.

At this point, you can close the server application and it will continue to run in the background. If you need to access it in the future, you can do so by clicking the icon in the system tray on Windows or in the Menu Bar on OS X.

Adding a Server on Your Apple TV

With the server up and running and our locations added, it’s time to go back to the Apple TV and access our content. Remember earlier when it told us it couldn’t find any computers? You should now be able to see your server(s) on the Air Video HD’s connections screen.

Go ahead and click on one of them (if you have more than one running) and browse to the content you want to view. Of course, if you have more than one location added, you will see all of them. As we said earlier, we only added one to keep things simple.

That then is all there is to it really, when you click on a title, it will begin playing and you can operate in the same way you do other video content using the Siri Remote’s play/pause button as well as the touch pad surface to fast forward and rewind.

Just remember, you can only access this content so long as the host computer is on and the Air Video Server application is running.

If you don’t see your shared folder(s) when you open the Air Video HD application on your Apple TV, then you should first check to make sure the computer from where you’re streaming your files is on or hasn’t gone to sleep.

What’s Up With All Those Settings?

Before we conclude today, we want to take just a few minutes to run through the various configuration settings you will see when you start the server software.

First, at the top of the server screen you will see two options: one to stop the server (if it is running) or start it (if it is stopped), and a button to check the server status.

The server status will show you three tabs. The Network tab will display important information such as the local IP address, port, as well as external port and IP if you want to allow your server to be accessed from the Internet.

The Session tab will show you any connected users and playback sessions, and finally the Conversion tab will display information on any files that are currently being converted.

Below the top section are the Remote Access options. If your server is accessible from the Internet, you can enable or disable it here.

Additionally, you can configure whether you want to set up single or multi user mode. If you choose the latter, then you can assign user accounts to persons in your household.

Below these options is a button to “invalidate passwords saved on devices”. All this basically means is that if you give a user access and later need to revoke it, you can quickly do so by clicking that button.

Finally, if you have file formats that first need to be converted before they can be streamed, then you can see where the conversion folder information is, and if necessary, you can change its location.

The remaining “Other Options” give you the ability to start the server software when you log into your account, as well as set the server to listen on a custom port.

More than likely, you will not have to mess with this last option, the remaining two “experimental” items, or any of the three buttons located on the right side of the server window.

As you can see, turning your Apple TV into a video streaming powerhouse is dead simple and cheap, so if you have a bunch of files residing on your trusty old PC or Mac, then you no longer need to futz with attaching it directly to your TV via an HDMI cable.

Now, all you need to do is fire up your Apple TV and pick the title you want to view with the Air Video HD app. With that said, please let us know if you found this article helpful by leaving your feedback in our discussion forum.

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How to Upgrade From Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Professional | Dramel Notes

Most new PCs come with Windows 10 Home, but you can pay for an upgrade from within Windows 10 to upgrade from Home to Pro. If you upgraded from the Professional editions of Windows 7 or 8.1, you already have Windows 10 Professional.

If you decide to upgrade to the Professional edition of Windows 10, you’ll get BitLocker drive encryption, integrated Hyper-V virtualization, a built-in remote desktop server, and other business-targeted features like domain join.

How Much Does The Upgrade Cost, and How Does It Work?

This upgrade costs $99.99 in the USA. Microsoft sets other prices in the rest of the world, but the price should be comparable.

You can buy the upgrade right from the Windows Store, like you’d buy an app, music, or a movie. After you do, Windows 10 will be automatically upgraded to the Professional edition and the Professional-only features will be enabled.

The upgrade will be licensed only to a single PC. So, if you purchased a retail Windows 10 Home license and you purchase a Windows 10 Pro upgrade, that upgrade will only work on a single computer. While you’re entitled to move the original Windows 10 Home license to another computer, that Windows 10 Pro upgrade won’t follow you to another PC.

If you’re buying your own Windows 10 license to build your own PC instead of buying a PC that comes with Windows 10, it’s more cost-effective to just purchase Windows 10 Professional upfront. Microsoft sells Windows 10 Home for $119 and Windows 10 Professional for $200. Buying Windows 10 Home and then upgrading it to the Professional edition will cost you a total of $220, and you won’t be able to move the Professional upgrade part of that to another PC. None if this matters if you just purchased a PC with Windows 10 Home included, of course.

Note that you can’t upgrade Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Enterprise — that will require a complete reinstallation with an Enterprise product key. There’s also no Ultimate edition of Windows 10 with the Enterprise features available for Home users as there was with Windows 7 and Vista.

How to Upgrade From Windows 10 Home to Pro

You’ll need to start the upgrade from the Settings app. To open it, open the Start menu or Start screen and select “Settings”.

Select “Update & security”, and then select “Activation”. You’ll see the edition of Windows 10 you have displayed here.

To upgrade from Windows 10 Home to Windows 10 Professional, click or tap the “Go to Store” button in the Activation pane.

The Windows Store app will open to a special “Upgrade to Windows 10 Pro” screen. From here, you can click or tap the “$99.99” button to purchase the Windows 10 Professional upgrade form the Store like you’d purchase anything else from the Store. You’ll have to provide your Microsoft account information and payment details.

If you have a Windows 10 Pro product key, you can select the “I have a Windows 10 Pro product key” and enter the product key to upgrade.

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These features aren’t really necessary for most people. Even features like Hyper-V virtualization and remote desktop can be replaced with third-party virtualization and remote-desktop-access tools. If you don’t need business features like the ability to join a domain, the most compelling feature restricted to Professional editions of Windows 10 remains BitLocker drive encryption.

Image Credit: DobaKung on Flickr

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4 Ways To Save Money When Buying A UPS | Dramel Notes

So you’ve decided to make the upgrade from mere surge protector to fully-protected uninterruptible power supply (UPS). Nice choice!

An uninterruptible power supply combines surge protection with a battery to keep your electronics running long enough during a blackout for you to save your work and shut down. Plus, use of a UPS can reduce energy loss by 30-55 percent. UPS devices can also improve the quality of the power your devices receive.

However, there are many models on the market offering a range of features, some of which are quite pricey. In order to save money on your UPS purchase, figure out what you need and find a place to buy it at a discount.

Look for Discounts

You should always shop around before making any big purchase. The advantage of buying from a computer store as opposed to a general retailer is the quality of information and advice you get. Here are some of the best places to begin your quest for the lowest price.

• Micro Center: This online and brick-and-mortar retailer offers a great selection of UPSs, many discounted as much as $5-$40 off the retail price. You can also use its Select 2 to Compare feature to scan the options that come with one model versus a similar or more expensive one. This could be especially helpful for people still on the fence about which features they need. Seeing how much more you’ll pay for additional options can make the decision easier.
• Newegg: Discounts off the retail price are standard at this online store. Newegg also offers volume discounts to shoppers purchasing three or more units. If you have friends or co-workers who are also looking for a UPS, you could go in together to purchase them at a lower price.
• CoastTec: In addition to buying new, you can also save money if you exchange your current UPS for a refurbished one. For half the cost of a new unit, you’ll receive a professionally reconditioned UPS with new batteries and a one-year warranty.

Know What You Want – and What You Want to Avoid

As with any electronic device, all UPSs are not created equal. Here’s what you want in your UPS, and what you should steer clear of.

• Power: Use this online load calculator to determine the total electrical consumption of all the equipment you plan on connecting to your UPS. Then look for a UPS with an output watt capacity 25 percent higher than the number you calculated.
• Runtime: How long do you want or need your computer to run after a power outage? Whether you just need a few minutes to power down safely, or you want to be able to keep working longer, this is an important feature to consider before purchasing a UPS. Keep in mind that the number of devices you plug into your UPS will also affect runtime, with more devices resulting in a shorter runtime.
• Space-Saving Form: The two most common UPS forms are tower and rack-mount. As the name implies, tower models stand up on a desk, shelf or floor space. These are the most common UPSs for desktop computing and home workstations. Rack-mount models are made to be installed on the wall in a rack. They are more commonly used with servers and networking.
• Software: It may be useful to buy a UPS that includes power management software. This gives you the added protection of software that will manage and monitor your UPS without requiring any action on your part. Therefore, should the power go out while you’re not home, the UPS’s software will save any open work and shut your computer down safely.
• Stay Away From: To save on future costs as well, avoid UPS models with batteries that must be changed by a professional technician. User-replaceable batteries mean you can make the switch by yourself, which will save time and money.

Don’t Buy Features You Don’t Need

Think about what you’ll use your UPS for. If you will be a light home user or even a small office user, you don’t need all the features that would be critical for a larger scale operation in a data center or server room.

Line-Interactive UPSs will give you batter backup, surge protection and brownout protection, meaning your computer will continue to operate at a safe voltage level during fluctuations in electricity supply. Some line-interactive models will also provide overvoltage protection, shielding your devices from damage, and pure sine wave output, which supplies ideal power levels for equipment that is especially sensitive.

On-Line UPSs provide a more extensive set of features in addition to the basic functions, including overvoltage protection, pure sine wave output and online operation, which gives you instantaneous transfer time to battery power.

Standby UPSs are the most basic and inexpensive model. They stay in standby mode until an outage occurs, then provide battery power to your computer so you can save your work and shut down.

Identify Your Optimal Battery Size

At the very least, you want to have enough battery life for the time it will take your computer to shut down safely. However, you need to factor in not just battery life for the operating system, but also for the monitor and any other equipment that will be plugged into the UPS.

If you’re into math, you can calculate the energy usage of all your equipment yourself. The easier approach is to use manufacturer estimates of battery life based on the size of the battery. These estimates tend to be conservative, so if anything you’ll end up with a little more than what you need, which is a much better situation to be in than not having enough.

There are also online calculation tools that help you find the ideal UPS and battery size based on an estimate of extra power you may need for future devices, your optimal equipment runtime after a power fail and the voltage system you use based on your country. For example, you may only want the minimum time needed to shut down your computer or you may want an hour or more to continue working after an outage.

It may take some time and research to find the best UPS for your needs at the best price, but putting in this effort will pay off with peace of mind. Now that most people work at home at least occasionally, protecting your equipment and your data with a UPS is more important than ever. Since severe weather events are likely to become more frequent, power outages and brownouts will also become more common. Protect yourself now to avoid a data disaster in the future.

Image credits: Negative Space, Marcin Czaja, Declan TM

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