Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Ask the MACist - Email While On The Road
()
Welcome to the latest edition of 'Ask the MACist', the column where I answer your Macintosh and other technology questions. Our question this week comes from Jill in Silverlake. She asks: I travel quite a bit for work and need to check my email on the road. What's the best way to do that?
Accessing your email while out of town and away from your home or office is usually pretty easy to accomplish. Fortunately, most email providers (ISP's) offer ways to check email without the need for specific software other than a web browser like Safari or Firefox. For the more sophisticated and demanding user, there are a few other things to do which will allow you access to your important email while on the road as well. But for the most part, its better to just use a simple tool to accomplish your task.
Of course, the easiest way is to not even bother bringing along a laptop at all and just access your email via an internet cafe, Kinko's or hotel business center using a web browser. Most modern ISPs provide this service, called Web Mail, which allows you to go to their main website, or another site they designate, and log in using your email address and password to access your email online. No need for your own computer or anything, just a convenient one to borrow or rent for a few minutes (or hours).
Support for LAist comes from
()
Unfortunately, as convenient and easy as the above is, its not nearly as secure as it should be. Unless you know how to browse the web and then delete your browser history and not save passwords or other important info, you run the risk of having your information accessible by people other than yourself. However, if you take a few basic precautions such as deleting the browser history, the browser cache and not saving passwords, using a public computer to check your email is less of a risk. Heck, I've even done it on occasion when I didn't have my laptop handy, or ever worse, its battery was exhausted.
Another option is to have your laptop with you and be able to use it to get online and check your email via web browser. If you happen to be in a hotel with internet in the room then follow the hotel's instructions to connect your computer via Ethernet cable and get online. If you want to find a wireless network then just look for available networks in the airport pull down menu at the top right of your screen. When you see a wireless network you want to connect to, select it. If the network needs a password you will have to know what that is. If its someplace like a T-Mobile Hotspot, select the tmobile network and then launch Firefox or Safari. Then, you will get a T-Mobile sign-on page where you can decide how you want to pay for access.
After you get that worked out you will then be connected to the internet. At this point you could most-likely use your Mail application of choice (like Apple Mail or Entourage) to receive and send your email. However, I still recommend that you use a web browser to maximize security. When you connect to your ISP's web page and sign on to get your email, your data is almost certainly encrypted by a technology known as SSL and therefore protected from prying eyes and computers. I say almost certainly due to that rare occasion where someone's ISP isn't encrypting browser traffic for email. If that's the case with your ISP, I suggest you find a new one. If you need some alternatives, just ask!
Ok, that's it for this week's 'Ask the MACist.' But remember, if you have a question about anything Mac, Mac-related, or even something about other tech like TiVo, Blackberry or even Windows, send it to me, The MACist, at: themacist at gmail dot com.
All logos, product names, etc. are copyright or trademark of their respective owners.
photo byjulie70 from flickr
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
After rising for years, the number of residential installations in the city of Los Angeles began to drop in 2023. The city isn’t subject to recent changes in state incentives, but other factors may be contributing to the decline. -
The L.A. City Council approved the venue change Wednesday, which organizers say will save $12 million in infrastructure costs.
-
Taxes on the sale of some newer apartment buildings would be lowered under a plan by Sacramento lawmakers to partially rein in city Measure ULA.
-
The union representing the restaurant's workers announced Tuesday that The Pantry will welcome back patrons after suddenly shutting down six months ago.
-
If approved, the more than 62-acre project would include 50 housing lots and a marina less than a mile from Jackie and Shadow's famous nest overlooking the lake.
-
The U.S. Supreme Court lifted limits on immigration sweeps in Southern California, overturning a lower court ruling that prohibited agents from stopping people based on their appearance.
Best of LAist