Phones and Tablets

Add Exchange account to Outlook Mail App

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Microsoft has updated the Outlook Mail App (at least for Android) and broke the connection for Exchange accounts. If you already had an Exchange account you’ll likely find it no-longer synchronizes with Exchange.

Furthermore, if you attmept to delete and re-add the account you’ll find you cannot select a type of account to add (or so it seems).

You can still use the Outlook app to check Exchange mailboxes. You just have to know the trick!

  1. Tap the Gear icon to open the Settings window:
  2. Tap Add Account:
  3. Then select Add an email account at bottom of screen:
  4. The app will automatically find accounts on the device and select them to add. Unselect the accounts you don’t want added and then tap Add Account at bottom of screen:
  5. At this point the app will prompt for an email address. It will use this to create an IMAP account (we don’t want this). Enter email address and tap Continue
  6. Here is the trick! Tap the ? icon:
  7. At the bottom of the screen will be additional options. Tap Change account provider:
  8. Now, you can tap Exchange to create an Exchange account:
  9. You’ll likely need to enter additional information like server name, domain, etc. To do this enable Advanced Settings:
  10. Enter any needed information and tap the check-mark icon
  11. The Outlook Mail App will attempt to connect…
  12. … and if successful you should be able to view your Exchange mailbox:

These screenshots came off my Kindle Fire tablet. However, the same problem was overcome on a Lenovo 10″ tablet using these instructions.

Transfer files using Bluetooth in Linux Mint

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On Linux computer make sure Bluetooth is enabled and is discoverable. I’m running Linux Mint 18.2 using Blueman package.

From the Bluetooth applet open devices. This is not necessary to pair the device but, is helpful to have open. This will display all the devices already paired with the computer.


On the phone the computer should be listed under Available Devices if the computer is discoverable. If it is not listed press Scan on the phone.

Tap the device that represents the computer. The phone will display a message about confirming the passkey for pairing.

A message will appear on the computer prompting you to confirm. This is not readily apparent and the message is not displayed for long. Click on the word Confirm to allow the pairing. The phone will display the key icon indicating it is paired.

On the phone the computer will be listed under Paired Devices.

On the computer trust the phone to allow receipt of files from the paired device.

Now that the phone and computer are paired we can trasnfer files between them. In this example I am going to transfer pictures from the phone to the computer. Starting the Gallery app select the pictures to transfer and tap Share. The following screen appears where Bluetooth is an option.

After tapping Bluetooth this screen appears where you select the Bluetooth device to receive the files. Tap the paired device that represents the computer.

The phone will start transferring the files to the computer.

In Linux Mint a notification will display stating that a file is being received from the phone.

Bluetooth is configured on my computer to put received files in the Downloads folder. Opening the Downloads folder shows the new files received from the phone.

To change the location where received files are saved click on View in Bluetooth Manager and select Local Services. Then change the location under Incoming Folder.


Yes, 4G hotspot works when call received

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This is a quick video I made to show that while using the hotspot feature on a Verizon HTC Incredible 4G phone you can still browse the Internet when a phone call is received. We’ve got an employee who is adamant that this is does not work.

Turns out the problem my user had was with an iPhone 5. We’re a Windows shop and he insisted on getting an iPhone.

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