Tech-Knowledgy: Netiquette, Searching on Kindle, Deleting Apps and More!

The estimated reading time for this post is 4 minutes

Welcome back to Tech-Knowledgy, where your tech question are answered!

Q. I SENT AN EMAIL TO SOMEONE I MET AT A CONFERENCE AND SHE JUST REPLIED, “DON’T BE SO RUDE.” WHAT DID I DO WRONG?

A. A word of advice on netiquette (Internet etiquette), writing in all capital letters = shouting. Try re-sending your email without writing entirely in upper case letters and see if that works better.

Q. After reading your blog, I want to get a lot of the apps you have written about. The problem is, I just have my old phone that doesn’t even get Internet, I don’t have an iPad or an iPhone. If you had to recommend one versus the other, what would you recommend? I should tell you that I’m fine with my old phone, it’s not that I’m looking to replace it, I just want the apps!

A. Great question. I’m going to throw one more device into the mix that you should consider: an iPod Touch. All three of these devices, the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad are called iOS devices because they run Apple’s iOS mobile operating system, so they will all run most of the apps in the iTunes App Store.

If you want the least expensive iOS device, you should consider an iPod Touch. The least expensive iPod Touch is the 8 GB model at Amazon.com for $205 with free shipping. iPod Touch at Amazon You will be able to use most, though not all, apps with the iPod Touch.

The next iOS device to consider is the iPad. The least expensive model of the iPad 2 is the Wi-Fi only 16 GB model at $499. You can get the 16 GB model iPad 2 with 3G and Wi-Fi (meaning it can connect to data anywhere you can get a cell phone connection) for $629. You don’t have to sign a contract to get 3G data, you can sign up for data with a carrier only when you need it. But if you think you’re going to need data (because you will be travelling or are away from a Wi-Fi signal often), you should get the 3G model. You need to choose between AT&T and Verizon when you buy the iPad 2 because you can’t switch carriers.

You may be able to get your hands on a first generation iPad at a discount from Amazon, eBay or the AT&T Store, which would be an inexpensive way to get a great device.

The most expensive iOS device for you would be the iPhone. The iPhone requires a monthly 3G data plan and that you sign a contract for two years. Unless you need data on your phone (and I’m thinking you don’t since you don’t have it yet), this would be an unneccessary cost for you.  Also, the iPhone 5 should be coming out within the next few months so it doesn’t make sense for you to get the iPhone 4 now.

My recommendation is for you to get either the iPad 1 or 2 as the iOS device for your apps.

Q. How can I search for a character’s name on a Kindle?

A. Click the Menu button => Search This Book and type in your search term. The Search feature on the Kindle is very handy for studying and researching.

Q. My iPad is filling up with apps. I’m thinking of deleting some, but I don’t want to have to buy them again if I change my mind. How do I delete apps from my iPad and what happens once an app is deleted?

A. If you have purchased the app on your iPad, make sure you sync your iPad with iTunes before you delete it. That way you can reload the app on your iPad easily later if you change your mind. You won’t have to re-purchase the app from the iTunes Store, even if you don’t sync first, but syncing makes it easy to reload and to remember which apps you have already purchased.

To delete an app from you iPad (or other iOS device such as your iPod Touch or iPhone), press and hold the icon until all of the icons jiggle. You will see an X in a circle in the upper left corner of all of the apps you have purchased (you can’t delete the apps Apple has pre-installed). Click on the X of the app you want to delete. You iPad will ask you to confirm that you want to delete the app and erase all the data. Click either Delete, if you want to delete the app, or Cancel, if you change your mind.

Any data in the app, such as high scores in a game, user names and passwords, will be deleted from the app permanently even if you re-load the app onto your iPad.

It’s a good idea to delete apps if you are not using them. Some apps use power even if they are not open, so the fewer apps you have on your iPad, the faster it will run and the longer the battery will last.

Have a tech question? Either post your question in the Comments section or email me at [email protected].

* Image by Andy Ihnatko