Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Computing/2011 March 11

= March 11 =

email check with phone and encryption
Hello,

I was wondering, when I check my email via cell phone, does anyone know if the password is encrypted between phone and mail server, or is there some point where it gets transmitted in plain text? I use sprint and gmail/work-mail. Is this something that I should worry about, or is it pretty standard to encrypt everything? Thanks,

76.14.36.82 (talk) 05:40, 11 March 2011 (UTC)


 * Assuming it's a modern cell-phone (CDMA/GSM/3G) then the air interface will be encrypted and it will be almost impossible for anyone to eavesdrop your password. At pretty much all the other stages of the journey from phone to server (which are normally physically secure landline or microwave) the password will likely be effectively plaintext. --Phil Holmes (talk) 09:15, 11 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Doesn't Gmail always use HTTPS for login? I believe the password should be safe if the cell phone supports HTTPS (as well as the email itself, if Always Use HTTPS option is turned on in Gmail).  Paul (Stansifer) 13:35, 11 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Agreed - if your email uses Transport Layer Security (TLS, SSL, or HTTPS), then even if the radio-channel is unencrypted, the password will be indecipherable to an eavesdropper. Most mobile email-application programs use TLS or HTTPS, but not all.  You can probably check your application settings.  Nimur (talk) 15:25, 11 March 2011 (UTC)
 * You can also use POP3 to download mail from GMail - I do - and this was the method I was referring to. You are, of course, correct to say that if you're logging in to the GMail webpage, and using https, then the password will be encrypted end-to-end.--Phil Holmes (talk) 15:51, 11 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Doesn't Gmail require SSL on POP3 connections?    seem to suggest so... Nil Einne (talk) 16:41, 11 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Good point. The OP does, however, also say "work mail" and this may well not be GMail, but plain POP.--Phil Holmes (talk) 10:57, 12 March 2011 (UTC)

Windows audio error, speakers "Not plugged in".
Hello! Today I booted up my PC and watched a movie with VLC media player. Afterwards I opened Spotify (music player), which crashed when I tried to play a song. Control Panel -> Sound, tells me "Speakers *newline* High Definition Audio Device *newline* Not plugged in". I'm using an on-board audio card; my motherboard is GA-MA790GPT-UD3H (Gigabyte with A3 socket). I've tried to disable/enable the audio card, plug in/out the speaker cable, reboot my computer (a few times), uninstall/reinstall the driver from Windows Update, reinstall using the realtek drivers provided by Gigabyte and a System Restore. See, at ~9:30 today Windows Update installed a defender update (around the time my sound died), however System Restore was unable to revert to a previous state. I'm using Windows 7 Pro x64 which I got from MSDNAA.

Does anyone have any idea on what could be the problem, and what I could do to resolve it? I'd appriciate ANY help! I've been stuck here for two and a half hours and I need the audio in order to watch tutorial movies for school. Thanks! Cybesystem (talk) 15:02, 11 March 2011 (UTC)


 * This might sound dumb, but are you sure it's plugged in to the right port? I've had a computer with two ports that looked like audio-output ports (little circle ones), but one was for input or something. If there is another spot to plug it in, you might try it. Or, if the computer has speakers built in, you could always use those. --Thekmc (talk) 19:39, 12 March 2011 (UTC)


 * Thanks for the reply :)! It's a completely valid question, although I'm sure I've plugged them in correctly. I did not tinker with the cables when the audio died, and when I tried to pull out/insert the cable I was careful with what port I used. Cybesystem (talk) 13:22, 13 March 2011 (UTC)

I have very little experience with Windows, so I don't know too much else to suggest. However, I did find |this this website. Scroll to the very bottom of the first page, and, in bold, is a possible answer. Again, I really don't know much else to tell you after this, although google had countless results listed for "windows speakers not plugged in." You could try that search as well. Good luck! --Thekmc (Leave me a message) 20:19, 16 March 2011 (UTC)

About SFA
Respected Sir, I want Notes on Sales Force Automation. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 117.200.187.150 (talk) 15:24, 11 March 2011 (UTC)


 * Our article is called sales force management system, and describes automated systems and outsourcing companies. Nimur (talk) 15:27, 11 March 2011 (UTC)

Annoying Ads
While using Mozilla Firefox 3.6.15, a new window opens on its own every five or seven minutes with an advertisement. How to stop this annoying business ?
 * It sounds like you may be afflicted with some malware. What does the advertisement say? --Phil Holmes (talk) 15:53, 11 March 2011 (UTC)


 * I would be concerned about that too; I would download the Malwarebytes scanner and look for malware; and if there's none, what website are you visiting? Comet Tuttle (talk) 17:57, 11 March 2011 (UTC)


 * You could also use Adblock to stop annoying in-window ads once you clean your computer (if that will solve the problem) General Rommel (talk) 10:39, 13 March 2011 (UTC)

How to draw a circle around a word(s) in Open Office?
It should as easy as setting a word - or group of words - in bold or italic. Highlighting is not an alternative, since I want to mark the words indicating that they belong together (the same applies to setting word in bold or italic). And, a further requirement is that it is consistent, meaning that simply drawing a circle with the drawing tool won't work, it has to be in the same alignment with the text. 80.58.205.34 (talk) 17:12, 11 March 2011 (UTC)


 * It isn't that easy. I don't even think MS Word has a "draw a circle around this text" format option. You have to manually draw the circle (or rectangle in this case). Click View, then Toolbars, and then make sure Drawing is checked. At the bottom of the screen (usually) you will see a selection of shapes. Click a shape and you can draw it on the screen. There is a "Square/Rounded" option within all the shapes that you will probably want. -- k a i n a w &trade; 17:39, 11 March 2011 (UTC)


 * That is the only way. You can lock the graphic to the word by changing the anchor of the graphic to character then change the alignment to character. ---— Gadget850 (Ed)  talk 17:42, 11 March 2011 (UTC)

Thanks for the answers so far. And what if I use another program for that? Like Scribus or Inkscape? 80.58.205.34 (talk) 17:52, 11 March 2011 (UTC)


 * Inkscape has almost no character formatting. You have to draw the circle (or oval or rounded box) and move it where you want it. -- k a i n a w &trade; 18:07, 11 March 2011 (UTC)


 * You can do it if you use OpenOffice Draw. Enter you text and then draw an ellipse around the group of words.  Set the transparency of the ellipse to 100% for just the line to appear or 85% if you want to see a slight background colour for extra highlight. --TrogWoolley (talk) 18:10, 11 March 2011 (UTC)
 * @Trogwoolley: that can be done with Open Office too. But I am searching for a more simple solution, where the ellipsis/rectangle circles the words (without twisting several parameters). It has to be simple enough to bedone several time in a text. Just compare to the act of circling a word on paper and commenting in on the side. 80.58.205.34 (talk) 18:19, 11 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Coincidentally, I'm currently preparing a presentation in Racket's slideshow language, in which, a couple hours ago, I wrote a function to do just this. Since slideshow can be difficult to work with, even for Racket programmers, I doubt this is of use to anyone, but...

(define (box pict margin c)  (pin-over (color c    (filled-rounded-rectangle (+ margin (pict-width pict) margin) (+ margin (pict-height pict) margin) 5))   margin margin pict))


 * It is much, much easier to draw a square than a circle... if you want to just outline groups of words, highlight them and turn on their "borders". --Mr.98 (talk) 21:09, 11 March 2011 (UTC)

Macbook shuts off at 50% power
I typically keep my Macbook plugged in while I use it, but whenever it's not charging and I'm using it, the computer shuts down around 30-50% power. I searched around a bit, saw that there were updates for Macbook batteries, but none of them were needed (said my computer). Is there anything I should know other than see about getting a new battery? Thanks! 69.207.132.170 (talk) 21:23, 11 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Have you tried resetting the SMC (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3964)? The PRAM and NVRAM (http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1379)? These are a few suggestions coming to mind. --Thekmc (talk) 23:33, 11 March 2011 (UTC)
 * Also, go into System Profiler (Option-click apple menu, click top item), then click "Power" on the side. In the view on the right, check "Condition". It should read "Good" or something better than that. If not, you might need a new battery. Maybe, if it says "Fair," it might be okay to keep that battery a little longer, but the battery might just be deteriorating. --Thekmc (talk) 01:52, 12 March 2011 (UTC)


 * It would probably help to calibrate the battery. if the macbook is shutting off at 30% power that either means that the battery is bad or that the battery's on-board microchip thinks the battery has less power than it actually has.  calibrating the battery will fix the latter.  -- Ludwigs 2  02:44, 12 March 2011 (UTC)