Architekwiki
  • WIKI
  • Start Here
  • Resources
    • Arch Fin Model
    • MyCorbu
    • Trello-PM
    • FeeCalqs
    • OFFPLAN
    • Reading List
    • Free Resources
    • All Resources
  • Other
    • Details
    • About
    • Sign Up
    • Terms of Use
  • MyCorbu APP
  • WIKI
  • Start Here
  • Resources
    • Arch Fin Model
    • MyCorbu
    • Trello-PM
    • FeeCalqs
    • OFFPLAN
    • Reading List
    • Free Resources
    • All Resources
  • Other
    • Details
    • About
    • Sign Up
    • Terms of Use
  • MyCorbu APP

Blog


Passwords On Steroids

10/29/2015

0 Comments

 
1Password
1Password
Do you have a good password solution? Sometimes I think I do. Sometimes I work on improving my passwords. Mostly I wish I had a magic wand. With about 150 login credentials and passwords, it is a major task. But I've taken the first step. Yesterday I bought the password app, 1Password. In a few days (months?) I should have everything in the $18 app that works on iPhone and iPad, synchs with iCloud; and will work with my Mac, too, once I buy the MacApp for $70. 

I know. Almost a hundred bucks to solve a problem I may never have. How does that make sense? 

Well, I am convinced that it is just a matter of time until we all get hacked. Current wisdom is that you need individual passwords for each use, and those passwords need to be letters, numbers and symbols that don't appear anywhere. Otherwise the hacker can turn his computer on the problem and it will discover the match within minutes or hours.

I began doing this. The problem, of course, is that you have no chance of remembering 10 of these passwords, much less 150. So you need a place to store them on your phone so you always have them with you. I can't find a method that can't be hacked. 1Password provides that storage place behind a password and encryption, but so do others. The features that make it my choice are:
  • Logins - save URL, user name, password
  • Identity - store all your name, address stuff for auto fill-in
  • Credit Card fill in - get ready to purchase, select card, done
  • Strong Password Generator - customizable (see screenshot)
  • Integrated browser - use the browser and many operations start and end right in 1Password
  • Vault - save info for: Bank Account, Credit Cards, Database, Driver's License, Email Accounts, Identity, Login, Membership, Outdoor License, Passport, Reward Programs, Secure Notes, Server, Social Security Number, Software License, Wireless Router
  • Favorites - tag your most used passwords for fewer clicks
  • Folders - organize your passwords in whatever groups, or sub-groups, that make sense to you

So here's the plan. 
  1. Look up each stored password.
  2. Go to the App or Website.
  3. Store everything except the password.
  4. Change the password to one generated by 1Password.
  5. Develop the habit of using 1Password first.


If I do 2.5 passwords a day on average, in a mere two months I'm done! 
Hmmmm, I guess I need to do 10 per day...

1Password is available for Android and Windows, too, so everyone  can jump on board. 

BTW I first heard of 1Password when I noticed it was on the the home screens of quite a few folks at 37signals. I'm a real fan-boy of 37signals, so I looked it up.

There's an update to be found here...
Picture
Original post date 2/27/14
0 Comments

What Does Computer Use Do For Architects?

10/23/2015

0 Comments

 
Picture
The promise of computers for architects, even way back in 1985, wasn’t that they were faster than hand methods for design and documentation. The promise was re-usability and the time savings that would come from not starting from scratch on every job.

When I retired from active practice in 2012, I would say we had achieved only about 30-40% of what’s possible. In hindsight I can see that I would have had to make it a strategic project for the firm, and lead the effort, and use every project to move us forward. Since I was already wearing about 7 or 8 hats, I didn't make the time for this new hat. That’s a regret because more success with effective computer use would have provided more money and time to pursue everything else. I'm sure that one or two of those hats I was wearing was getting more ’head time’ than was needed.

I think the big opportunities for computerization in design firms lies mostly outside of design, not entirely, but mostly. By lying outside of design I mean in project documentation and in other office functions. My candidates include:
  • Project Management
  • Specifications
  • Standard Processes
  • Templates of all sorts
  • Checklists of all sorts
  • Cost estimating
  • Fee calculation
  • Standard wall construction details
  • Lintel, painting, sealant, insulation, and specialties schedules
  • Door and frame details, and elevations
  • Window details
  • Re-usable keynotes
  • SpecNotes that replace specs

So in design, what is a candidate? By design I mean the layout, look and feel of the building. This is a list off the top of my head
  • All the ADA stuff, which you don’t have much choice about anyway - toilet rooms, fire/exit stairs, mounting heights,
  • Room layouts such as offices, conference rooms, classrooms, coffee bars, kitchenettes, printer/copier station and other incidental spaces.
  • Would you include 3D design as a time-saving tool?

The uniqueness of buildings keeps this list short. And it will probably always remain short. Project documentation and other office functions make up the lion’s share of the time we spend, so the real opportunities for time savings lie there. In those areas, if we use computers well, then more time is created for the important stuff - design.
Picture

Orig post date: 1/12/14


Get articles delivered to you by email, Sign Up here.

Follow on Twitter @Architekwiki

###
0 Comments

OS 9

10/12/2015

0 Comments

 
Right up front - I'm an Apple fanboy.

But there are limits. I can't warm up to the watch.

Apple's new mobile operating system, OS 9, is very nice. 1Password, my password manager, is able to work much smoother in OS 9. Multi-tasking. I do this a lot. Sometimes using both phone and tablet as a work-around. Being able to reference another app in the sidebar is very nice. It would be really nice on the larger iPad Pro. Notes with handwriting. This is the first handwriting app that synchs between phone and tablet (that I know of). Does handwriting pretty well and it will get better. The iCloud drive app lets you open files created in one app in another app. I'm surprised that I want to do this, but it is happening regularly.​


Can't wait for the new Apple TV.

0 Comments

Some People Don't Learn From Other's Mistakes

10/7/2015

0 Comments

 

Weebly doesn't!

On October 1st Weebly surprised everyone with a new update. Weebly Carbon. The update has new features to make websites better.

But there were problems. In spite of testing (supposedly) Carbon is buggy. Really buggy. Users noticed. And complained. On Twitter (@weebly). And on the blog announcing the release (http://www.weebly.com/blog/carbon). 600 comments and growing.

Evernote pulled off a similar feat in the past year by revamping Penultimate to be more like notes in Evernote. Just about everything that made Penultimate the best handwriting app for tablets was reimagined. And screwed up. At least that is what their users told Evernote. Over the following weeks several reimagined features were returned to a shadow of their former selves.

I don't use Penultimate any more.

If I could easily migrate to another website building service, I would stop using Weebly. They will fix the bugs eventually. But a company that would release such a mess and without warning or any fallback solution is not a company that deserves anyones trade.

Shame on you Weebly.

0 Comments
    Architectural Bookkeeping

    Trello-PM

    Subscribe to
    Architekwiki

    RSS Feed


    Terms of Use

    Your use of Architekwiki is implicit agreement with the Terms of Use.

    Archives

    December 2017
    November 2017
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012


    Categories

    All
    Chronology
    Humor
    Miscellaneous
    Opinion
    Thoughts
    Work In Progress
    Work-in-progress

VISIT ARCHITEKWIKI'S RESOURCES
Picture
Architekwiki | Architect's Resource | Greater Cincinnati | (859) 444-4560
© 2012-2020   Architekwiki​