iPhone Storage Fills up with Calendar and Reminder Data

Problem Description:

My iPhone 6 storage fills up to 100% from Calendar and Reminder data.

There seems to be a bug in iPhone 6 that fills in 100% of available storage on my phone. Earlier, I had storage problem due to large amount of photos and videos, which I had to painfully delete from my phone. But, Calendar, which I least care takes around 6 GB of my iPhone space. The overall problem, I guess, was activating iCloud account. I would highly recommend not to activate iCloud account.

Finally after total frustration I had to reset my iPhone to factory setup. I didn't have time and patient after almost three to four days of serious research and so many tries to restore from backup.

Here are the things I tried but didn't work for me, probably for you it might work:

Deleting iCloud Account

I think this problem is related to iCloud account. So, try removing iCloud from your phone and see if it works. If you still need iCloud you can always log back in again and carefully unselect Calendar, so that you don't fill up your storage again.

Settings> Mail, Contacts, Calendars> iCloud and sign-out from iCloud.

Sign Out will take some time, probably ten minutes or so.

Restoring to earlier backup

This option also didn't work for me because my iPhone used to freeze and storage was still 100% occupied.

If anyone has any solution please comment.

Mac : Outlook 2011 : Archiving Emails to save space on Exchange Server

I use Outlook 2011 for Mac as my primary Email client backed by Microsoft Exchange server. We have limited storage space on Exchange Server, to a limit that every two months, I get email message that my storage is almost full. As I mentioned, nothing unusual, everyone faces this problem.

Here are the list of problems, I wanted to solve. I wish, I had unlimited Exchange storage so that these problem would not exist in first place.

1. Automatically move my emails to a backup folder or drive.
2. I should be able to retrieve my old emails pretty easily

Here are the list of Solutions

Manually backing up emails into backup data file, 'On My Computer'

Export the selected messages to 'On My Computer' folder of the Outlook 2011

Moving emails to gmail A/C

Create a gmail A/C and move all the old email there. This solution might not work for everyone because of corporate security requirement.


Please see the URL below in Reference section. Those article provide a great deal of details around concept with which we are dealing with here.

Reference

Archive your Outlook 2011 Exchange messages using OEAO

How to create local folders in Outlook 2011 for mac?

Basic Folders On My Computer

POP/IMAP Accounts

What’s the Difference Between POP3, IMAP, and Exchange?

Connect Outlook for Mac 2011 to Gmail’s IMAP service

FBAR Information Disclosure to IRS

Brief Information on FBAR

If you or your spouse combined account balance in Indian bank accounts crossed more than 10,000 $ (i.e., 6,30,000 INR) at any given day in 2014 you need to file FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Report).

OR

If you or your spouse's combined Asset value in Foreign Countries crossed more than 50,000$ at any given day in 2014 then you need to file FBAR. (Assets includes: Bank deposits, Stocks value, Mutual fund values, Partnership investment value in any business, Life Insurance account value-Do not include house, land, apartment values)

 

IRS will not assess any tax on this amount but failing in disclosing this information may result in IRS penalties.

Last day for FBAR submission is Jun 15, 2015

Should I file it?

I had the same question. I discussed this with couple of my friends and used my judgement to file it. I have been hearing about this from last few years and every year, during tax filing season, I would fall into the same dilemma. One of my friend suggested this - "If you want to be in USA for a longer period of time, for now, then you should file it."

Indian government is coming up with detailed plan to track all of your assets through Aadhar, so it is just a matter of time, when India & USA government agencies, including Banking sector will have  tie-up to exchange information. When this becomes mandatory or strictly enforced, then it would be really hard to file for one big lump-sum amount. The question would be - "How did you accumulate everything in one year". Anyway, that was my two cents. So, use your judgement.

Filing Information

I filed this through my CPA who charges $20 for a single Joint Account. You could reach out to him at  taxfiling@taxcooler.com. If you would like to give my reference it would be Mukesh Kumar (mukeshietk@gmail.com)

How to file for - OCI in lieu of PIO - Indian Consulate Chicago

Recently there has been some update in Indian Government Policy that will replace all PIO card with CIO. I filed at Indian Consulate Chicago, IL. Whatever your scenario be, it will not be too much different from what has been mentioned below.

Here are few primer:

1. You have to file to the same location where PIO Card was originally issued. In my case it was Chicago, though I live in Houston.
2. Filing fee is $0 till 17th June 2015. So, hurry up otherwise you will end up paying approx. $275 !
3. Here are the relevant links:
1. Consulate General of India Chicago
2. CKGS (This third party vendor that acts as intermediary b/w Consulate and you.)
3. How to Apply
4. On-line OCI in lieu of PIO form
5. 'OCI in lieu of PIO' checklists and details
6. Checklist Document. Very important!
7. List of forms

If you follow these steps, it will simplify the process and save you lot of time.

1. Fill in the Application form: There are lot of details to cover, but don't worry, I'm sure you had done this many times in past. Just follow the form and start preparing your personal checklist of required items. Everyone's checklist would be different, but not a whole lot different. For example, I had to scan and print from my original documents but I heard many of my friends already had scanned copies, thus saving time. For Photos I spent 3 Hrs, but someone might already have it. So, prepare you own list while filling the form. Once you have filled in all the details in Application Form, start reducing your checklist till you have gathered all the information and requirement documents. If you do this, you are 90% done, but not complete yet.
2. Print the Application Form: Once you feel that you have all the required information filled in the Application Form and gathered all printed documents in hand, print the Application Form.
3. After Printing, make sure you read the printed physical copy again. You have to complete Part - A,  Part - B and gather all the documents listed in Part - B. Don't worry about checklist, this is not your final checklist. It is coming later.
4. Now, directly jump to the Checklist Document: Take two copies of Checklist Document. Start marking, with pencil, those documents which you already gathered, otherwise collect the missing document. Make sure your documents are arranged in the same sequence as they are listed in Document Checklist. Please notice that not all documents are applicable for everyone. Choose yours based on your situation/criteria/scenario. I would recommend having extra document in case of doubt, rather than not having it.
5. Notarization of documents: Which document needs to be notarized is already mentioned in the checklist. In my case, I had to notarize following: (be careful, in doubt notarize it through public notary)
1. Application Form, where parents had to sign.
2. CKGS Disclaimer Form
3. copy of PIO card (all pages)
6. I would recommend using Fedex service of CKGS for both sending document to CKGS and receiving documents from CKGS. I found this cheapest and hassle free.

Notary & Postal

If you are in Katy, Houston TX area, you could use goinpostal for both notary and postal service. Their notary service is really awesome. Here is their website http://www.goinpostal.com  and they are located at 5614 W. Grand Parkway South #102, Richmond, TX 77406

How to print Passport Photo with Home Printer

Ask:

• 2x2 inch Passport Photo
• photo should be easily printed through Home Printer
• Use my digital Camera to take photo
• Cost should be in cents < 1$
• Time should be less than 15 min

Take a normal good photo with any digital camera. Make sure background color, person's look, dress and overall presentation meets the specifications provided by the organization. The idea is that you should have a JPG file in your computer.

Now, visit this site https://makepassportphoto.com/ and instruction should be provided how to upload and edit the file. This site will give you option to download a photo which can be printed on 4x6 paper with 5 passport photos on it.

Transferring iPhone Photos and Videos to create more space on iPhone

Problem Statement

I want to free up my iPhone space, which is consumed mostly by Photos. I want a quick and simple solution.

I have 16GB of data on my iPhone. As everyone does, this has become my primary Camera and within one year, I have topped the 16GB space to a limit that I can't even upgrade my device, download apps or taken any pictures. I know, it sounds pretty simple to transfer all photos to some other device but I wanted something simple, robust and dependable solution.

Use Image Capture Application within Mac

Open the image Capture Application on your Mac. In old style way, select photos to be delete and click delete button on your Mac.

Backing up on Mac

Launch Image Capture from your Applications folder.

Connect your iPhone to your Mac via USB cable.

If you want the photos to be deleted from your iPhone after you’ve backed them up to your Mac, check the checkbox on the left bottom that says “Delete after import”.

Choose where you want to save your photos to under “Import to”.

If you want to backup all the photos from your iPhone, then select “Import All”. If you want to selectively backup specific photos, highlight the ones you want to backup and click “Import”.

Practical Approach:

I had tried to delete media from my iPhone almost three time. To cut the chase, the best effective way is the manual way. Follow the below step:

1. Goto to iPhone Photo App. Open the album. On top right corner, there is a 'Select' link. Click on the 'Select' link, this will allow you to tap and choose multiple photos. Click Trash on lower right corner. In other words, delete all photos manually.
2. Now go to your iTune Settings, from where you synch your iPhone to your laptop. Make sure, auto Synch for Photos or any other item is unselected. you can always synch, if needed, manually.
3. Make it a habit, in free time, while browsing in your iPhone, go to Photos Apps and keep your Photos or other media collection clean.

Reference

How To Backup iPhone Photos

Keep Your House in Tip-Top Shape: An Incredibly Handy Home Maintenance Checklist

References:

Keep Your House in Tip-Top Shape: An Incredibly Handy Home Maintenance Checklist