Setting up Amazon two factor authentication in the UK

Brief version extracted from here - http://www.techworld.com/security/how-brits-can-enable-amazon-two-factor-authentication-security-now-3631955/

1. Sign into Amazon.com, rather than .co.uk
2. Go to "Your account > Change account settings"
3. In "Advanced security settings" confirm SMS authentication
4. Enter mobile number, type in the six-digit SMS code sent to that device.

Setting up a new (or reset) Android phone

Although the Google transfer wizard does a pretty good job of installing apps and settings for wi-fi networks, etc, there's still quite a lot to consider.

• In the case of resetting, it's important to remember that *any* data on the phone is lost. This includes:
• Documents (and anything else in Downloads)
• Photos
• Videos
• Music
• Ringtones
• All SMS messages

So the lesson from this is - *regular* backups, which need to be to a cloud location, not the phone itself

• Frustratingly, all settings for lock screen notifications are not saved. This means individually setting any apps to Block as appropriate. Time consuming with a lot of apps.
• Groups of apps on the home screen are not always restored, and - if the Android image is being taken from a different device (such as a tablet) - some apps may be missing and need to be manually installed.
• Fingerprint unlock needs to be set up again.
• NFC turned off (seems to be enabled by default)
• Custom ringtone (if applicable) needs to be saved to phone.
• Podcast subscriptions should be restored from last full backup. This will also recognise podcasts not previously downloaded (since time of last backup) and kick this off
• Add clock widget back to home screen
• Enter credentials into all login based apps

App specific settings

Podcast Addict

Settings > Update > Automatic Refresh = Enabled; Pull to Refresh = Enabled

Settings > Download > Share with other apps = Y

Settings > Notification > Tick "Update in progress", "New episodes", "Comments update in progress", "New comments", "Download in progress", "New downloaded episodes"

Clipper+

Settings > Notifications > Clipboard contents - UNCHECK

1Password

Re-sync with Mac and set up fingerprint unlock

SMS Backup+

Tick Auto backup

SwiftKey

Re-enable as main keyboard input

Authenticator

This is by far the most troublesome app. Particularly if the Android device being reset is also the one containing Authenticator and hence the 2-step verification codes. For Google accounts, the only way I could see to get round this is - on web - disable 2-step verification. Then re-set it up, scanning a new QR image into the Authenticator app - a very clumsy approach to it.

It also means other apps that use Authenticator need to be set up again. This includes:

Microsoft Outlook - sign in on Desktop. Go to Account Settings > Security & Privacy. Then turn off existing Apps. Follow this with install a verification app, but do not choose the app recommended, instead select the option that it's incompatible with your Android. At this stage the QR code will appear and can be scanned and verified.

DropBox - again, sign in on Desktop. This may request a 2-step code, which can be a number sent by SMS. At that point request third party authenticator as main means of authentication. Then scan the QR code with phone, input the code on the desktop to confirm and *then* sign in on Android

IFTTT - sign in on Desktop. Use the very long back up code to verify. Say yes to setting up two step verification. Choose "Use an authenticator app" - then scan QR code as with Outlook and Dropbox.

Authenticator also works for Hootsuite (not an app I currently use)

How to get Dilbert comic as RSS feed

Using this site - https://chrisbenard.net/2013/06/28/how-to-fix-the-dilbert-com-rss-feed/  - I chose the "Modified Atom Feed" and added this to Feedly - success!

TV set up

Set up of TV and connected devices.

Rear of Sky+ Box - HDMI and Ethernet

Rear of Sky+ Box - co-ax and Scart

Inputs and outputs to Sky+ box:

Connections to rear of TV

Configuring music library on Sonos

This was working for me after a fashion, but I realised it needed rejigging when I kept getting messages saying the file could not be found.

My music is stored on a networked Ubuntu PC, and on my Mac. I had previously set mappings up such that the links to the networked PC were via mounted drives on the Mac. The downside, of course, to this is that if the Mac was turned off, then the music could not be accessed.

I'm aware that it's necessary to set the relevant sharing options on the Ubuntu PC, so I did that first in file manager:

But it's also necessary to amend the Samba setup:

However, when adding within Sonos I still couldn't get guest access to work. I finally gave up and just resorted to completing the Ubuntu sign on name and password.

Then it was necessary to add the iTunes library on my Mac. I chose the "In my Music folder" option (grayed out here as I've already added it).

But then got the message that the computer could not be found. Odd, as it was on this very computer that I was carrying out the operation!

Turns out there are a couple of tweaks to be aware of. Firstly, in System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Firewall Options it's necessary to uncheck "Enable stealth mode" and also to ensure that Sonos was set up to allow incoming connections (the latter was already correct):

But there's something else. And this is the most important one! In System Preferences > Sharing, the computer name has to be no more than 15 characters and have no special characters or spaces

Once done, the library worked fine!