Pogue’s Productivity Secrets Revealed

 

Friendly Computers found this article which has a lot of cool tips to keep you organized and productive:

“Dear David,” wrote a reader recently. “When will you share your productivity tips with us? Not everyone can write five books a year, file two columns a week, churn out a daily blog, speak 40 times a year and film a video every Thursday. What are your secrets?”

Well, I don’t know how secret they are. But here goes.

* I work at home. That’s two, three or four hours more work time each day that I don’t spend commuting.

* I use typing-expansion software. You can read more about the software here, but the point is that I type only the first couple letters of many common words, and the software expands the rest. Since so much of my writing is technology-related, a lot of these words come up often—and they tend to be long ones.

* I use dictation software. When I have long-form writing to do, like a book, I dictate into Dragon NaturallySpeaking. My wife once clocked me at 120 words a minute, and that’s including making corrections. It’s just insanely fast (providing, of course, you know what you want to say).

* I know where everything is. Years ago, I started using an address-book program that’s now called iData 3. It’s a freeform database, meaning that the “cards” in this database don’t have separate fields for Name, Street, City and so on; instead, you can type or paste whatever you want into each freeform card.

This program doesn’t play well with field-based contact managers like Google’s or the iPhone’s, but the beauty is that it holds whatever you want: recipes, brainstorms, article fragments, driving directions, lists, Web addresses and so on. And you can find anything in a fraction of a second. (Actually, iData now lets you create field-based databases as well, but my freeform database has been growing since about 1988 and I’m not about to convert it.)

* The other database I use is my e-mail program. I’m not a believer in the “empty your Inbox every day” philosophy; in fact, my Inbox is my To Do list, which works great. When I’ve dealt with something, I delete or file it. When I haven’t, its presence in that list reminds me that it needs doing. (I have a lot of e-mail folders. I also have a lot of “message rules” that file incoming mail automatically into appropriate folders.)

* I use macro software. I can’t understand why “press a key to launch a program” features aren’t standard in Mac OS X and Windows. (Yeah, I know, Windows has a limited version of this, involving shortcut icons. But I want to make up my own keyboard shortcuts, and as many as I want.)

So I use Shift-Control-W to open Microsoft Word, Shift-Control-C for my calendar program, and so on. The less I have to use the mouse, the faster I fly.

* I have a great calendar program. It’s Now Up-to-Date, a very old but very brilliant networkable, cross-platform calendar program. I can edit appointments on my laptop while on a trip; when I return, my changes get merged into my wife’s and kids’ computers automatically.

* I don’t waste time. I travel a lot for speaking engagements—so much that the $60 a month I have to pay for my tiny Sprint USB cellular modem stick seems like a bargain. It means I can be online in a car, in the X-ray line at the airport, on a plane stuck on the runway, and so on.

My 3-pound laptop is my main machine, by the way, for the same reason—so that I can be productive during any little blob of downtime.

* Finally, I enjoy two luxuries that not everyone will be able to replicate. First, I’m just the sort of person who kind of knows what he wants to say; I can’t remember ever staring at the blank screen, trying to think of what to write. And I’m lucky enough that I don’t spend time on bills, taxes, travel arrangements, kid-activity scheduling, and so on; my sainted wife takes care of all that administrative overhead.

There, now you know my secrets. Steal this document, with my compliments.

 

Source: http://pogue.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/pogues-productivity-secrets-revealed/?scp=2&sq=tips&st=Search

Safari for Windows

Are you using Safari for Windows and can’t seem to find the Menu Bar? Friendly Computers found this tip which should help you out:

Like some other Windows applications, Safari for Windows hides the menu bar by default, encouraging you to use other onscreen elements to access program features.
If you temporarily want to display the menu bar, just press the Alt key. The menu will stay open until you select an option or click on some other elements in Safari. To permanently keep the menu bar displayed:

1. Press the general Safari settings menu button near the top-right of the browser (it looks like a gear).
2. Select "Show Menu Bar".

This tip was written for Safari 4.0 on a Windows XP machine. Information may differ between versions / operating systems.

 

Source: http://malektips.com/safari-windows-menu-bar.html

Keyboard Shortcuts for Shutting Down, Rebooting, and Going to Sleep

 

Friendly Computers found these keyboard short cuts for XP and Vista which you may find useful when using your computer:

Now using Vista, Aung Kyaw Moe misses XP's keyboard shortcuts for shutting down, rebooting, and hibernating a computer.

Before I answer the question, let me satisfy any XP users who are wondering "What keyboard shortcuts for shutting down, rebooting, and hibernating my computer?

Actually, before I do that, I'd better explain the Windows Key (referred to later in this tip as WIN). Look at the bottom row of your keyboard. See that key with the Windows logo between CTRL and ALT? That's the WIN key.

So, here are the XP shortcuts:

Shutdown: WIN, U, U

Reboot: WIN, U, R

Stand by: WIN, U, S

Hibernate: WIN, U, H

Okay, I'm done with the digressions. Now on to the original question: What are Vista's equivalents?

As with XP, this is really about manipulating the Start menu with the keyboard. You press the Windows key to bring up the menu. But thanks to Vista's search box, pressing an alphanumeric key won't help here. You need to use arrow keys--at least at first.

Going into Sleep mode is pretty easy: Press WIN, the RIGHT ARROW, then ENTER.

All the other options require you to press WIN, then press the RIGHT ARROW three times. What you press next depends on what you want to do:

Shutdown: ENTER, or U

Reboot: R

Hibernate: H

By the way, once you've pressed WIN, you can use the arrow keys to navigate all over the Start menu. Give it a try.

Here's another option you might like: commands. Press WIN, then type:

Shutdown: shutdown -s t 0 (note the blank spaces before -, t, and 0)

Reboot: shutdown -r t 0

Hibernate: shutdown -h

Then press ENTER.

 

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/166587/keyboard_shortcuts_for_shutting_down_rebooting_and_going_to_sleep.html

Free Windows 7 won't last forever

 

Microsoft has been letting people download the release candidate of Windows 7 for a while now. Below are some helpful tips and reminders about the software and how long this “testing” version will last. Friendly Computers thinks you may be able to use this information:

Microsoft has been pretty generous in letting folks play around with Windows 7 for free. But it has put some time limits on that generosity.

Those who want to try out the release candidate of Windows 7 only have until August 15 to download the code. After that date, you can still install a copy you have downloaded (and even get additional product keys), but most folks won't be able to get the code from Microsoft's Web site.

For those who have a spare machine to try out Windows 7, it's worth a try. I have been using it for months now and find the release candidate stable enough to use as my everyday machine. It's a particularly nice option for Mac users who have wanted to try Windows on their Mac but haven't wanted to steal a copy from work or fork over the money to be legit.

A separate deadline is looming for those still running the beta version, as opposed to the release candidate. Starting July 1, that software will start shutting down every other hour. (Here's the place to insert your best anti-Windows joke. I'll get you started: "Why, that makes it just like Windows ME.")

In any case, to avoid that nastiness, one should move from the beta version to the release candidate version in the next seven days or so. In addition to the shutdowns that start July 1, the beta software will expire completely on August 1.

Similarly, the release candidate also won't last forever. Microsoft says it is set to expire on June 1, 2010, with the bi-hourly shutdowns starting March 1. And, Microsoft also says that those moving from the release candidate to the final version of Windows 7 will have to do a clean installation, so be prepared for that, as well.

 

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10271092-56.html?tag=mncol

Tips for a high-tech vacation

 

Friendly Computers found these helpful tips for packing and using your electronic devices while on vacation. These may com in handy when planning your next trip:

ATLANTA — Vacations make no sense.
A couple of times a year I leave my comfortable home and big screen TV for an average to below average hotel room. My fancy two-seater sports car stays behind, and I rent an economy car that huffs and puffs on hills. Between home and the hotel room, I squirm for hours in an airline seat designed for midgets.
No technology in the world can save you from all that. But there are ways to mitigate the torture using some well-selected gadgets.
Start with the fact that much of your high-tech work can be done before you ever leave. If you’ll be traveling without a GPS, print out driving instructions from the airport to your hotel and to various places you’d like to visit.
You can also search the Web for restaurant reviews and tourist attractions. It’s often possible to save a few bucks by printing out coupons you sometimes find on Web sites for restaurants and tourist stops.
Once that’s done, start assembling the gadgets you plan on taking along. Travel as light as you can — lugging a big backpack filled with electronics can turn a jaunt into a death march.
I’m assuming you’ll want to take pictures so you can bore your friends and remind yourself how red a person can turn after a few hours on the beach.
Your digital camera and memory cards for it will do just fine going through airport security scanners. However, there are a couple of things to keep in mind.
The air in an airliner in flight is very dry. Dry air increases the chance of static electricity. Static electricity can scramble electronics and memory cards. So, just to be careful, avoid removing the memory card while in flight.
And plan on taking along an extra memory card, even if there’s plenty of room for photos on a single card. I wish I had taken that advice while on a trip to Nova Scotia. My compact flash card stopped working and it was impossible to buy one at any price in my remote location on Cape Breton.
Now let’s talk about a gadget that is becoming more than a luxury — the iPhone. I’d give up vacations if I didn’t have one. Taking the iPhone along means I don’t need to lug 6 pounds or so of computer, network cables and the like. It serves as a GPS when I’m hopelessly lost. And a nifty iPhone application puts the Urban Spoon restaurant review site at my fingertips. You can find that application here: www.urbanspoon.com/blog/27/Urbanspoon-on-the-iPhone.html.
I realize you are unlikely to buy an iPhone just to take along on a vacation. You may feel the need for a notebook computer so that you’ll be able to ruin your vacation by reading worrisome e-mails from work.
My advice? If you can stand the separation pain, leave the computer at home. Almost every hotel will have a business center that allows the free use of computers and the Internet. That’s where I print out my boarding passes for the return trip.
And even if your hotel or motel doesn’t offer a computer room, you’re likely to find free computers at a public library. Worst case, you can pay to use computers at various businesses like this one: www.fedex.com/us/office/services/computer/index.html.
One final essential item to take along: zip-lock baggies. Since many vacation activities take place near water and sand, a baggie provides excellent, cheap protection for your digital camera, MP3 player and cell phone. Even a heavy rain can sometimes damage a digital camera.
That baggie can also do double duty by holding memory cards, connecting cables and spare batteries during your travel. That will keep things organized and make things go faster if the TSA folks decide to inspect your luggage.

OK. You’re ready to go now. But you may want to consider my favorite vacation spot. It’s a place with a complete kitchen, your favorite gadgets and all the comforts of home.

 

Source: http://toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090620/ART16/906209971/-1/ART

Back Up Your Windows XP Patches and Service Packs

Backing up your Windows updates and Service Packs can be a good way to save time when reinstalling your operating system. Friendly Computers has more information below…

If you're running Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or even Service Pack 3, what happens if you have to perform a system recovery using your original XP CD? Hassles, that's what.

Reader Ralph recently experienced that exact scenario, resulting in an awful lot of Windows Updating after the installation. That's because the old CD doesn't have all the patches and updates you've downloaded over the years. It could take hours or even days to re-download and reinstall all that extra stuff, during which time your PC is more vulnerable to viruses and outside attacks. (A lot of those patches tackle security issues.)

Consequently, Ralph wanted to know if there was some way to back up the Windows Service Packs so he wouldn't be in the same boat next time.

There is--you can download the Service Packs as standalone installers directly from Microsoft (here's SP3, for example)--but I propose a different solution: slipstreaming.

Slipstreaming is the process of combining your existing Windows XP CD and the latest Service Pack into a new CD. When you're done, you'll be able to install Windows XP with SP3 outright.

This is easier to accomplish than you might think, provided you've got your original CD and the aforementioned standalone Service Pack. However, I'm not going to repeat the details here; check out Lincoln Spector's Slipstreaming Service Pack 2 on an Old Windows XP CD. Just substitute SP3 for SP2 and you're golden.

Can you do likewise with Vista? Digital Inspiration has instructions on slipstreaming Vista with SP1 (you'll need a DVD for that), but I suspect you could just as easily swap in the new SP2. 

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/167036/back_up_your_windows_xp_patches_and_service_packs.html

Tips to Fight Spam on Your Computer and Cell Phone

Friendly Computers came across more tips that will help you combat spam on your computer and cell phone. Read below on how to protect yourself.

 

1) Fight phony messages with disposable addresses
It may seen daunting, but a great way to limit spam is to set up multiple e-mail addresses, each one for a different purpose. Fortunately, most e-mail clients (Outlook, Entourage, Apple Mail) support multiple accounts, so it won't be too hard to set up. We suggest creating a personal account that you only use for contacting close friends and family members. For other online activities like paying bills or your bank account, create a separate account.
It's well worth the effort of setting up another address (we suggest using a free e-mail service like Gmail, AOL Mail, or Yahoo!) for Web purchases, newsletters, subscriptions, and registering for cool new Web services. If one account is compromised, and the little spam buggers start sneaking through, drop it and open another.

 

2) Beware the pesky check mark
When signing up or registering for anything on the Web, always look for the little check boxes at the bottom of the page. Sites typically ask if you'd like to register for updates or discounts, and the boxes tend to be checked by default. Uncheck them to opt out of third-party mailing lists. Also, look for the company's privacy policy to determine whether they share e-mail addresses and other information with third parties. If you don't see a privacy statement, think twice about whether you really want to use that site.

 

3) Use security software to block the bad stuff
This one is important, even if you don't have a raging spam problem. Other than regularly backing up your files (something every computer user should do), you should always install security software on your computer. These apps protect you not only from spam, but also from viruses and other nasty computer intruders. (Not all packages include spam protection, so be sure to check out their feature lists.) Many free and pay options exist, but just make sure to keep your software up-to-date. Some popular services that offer frequent updates are McAfee Internet Security 2009 ($49) and Norton 360 ($80). If you're using the AOL Client and are an AOL member, you can get free protection from McAfee (discounts are available for non-members).

 

4) Set up a filter to snag spam
The last line of defense is your e-mail client's built-in spam filter. Whether you're using online services like Gmail and AOL Mail or pulling your e-mail into a desktop app like Thunderbird, you've probably got a built-in spam filter automatically scanning and filtering your incoming e-mail for spam. It's important to alert service providers to junk that still gets through so they can block the messages in the future. Do your part and mark junk mail as spam if you have the option.
There are also Web-based spam filters that improve as more people use the software. If you use Microsoft Outlook or Thunderbird on a PC, Spam Fighter is an effective and popular choice (download a free trial here before deciding if it's worth $29), and you can also check out Cactus Spam Filter (PC only), Ella for Spam Control (PC only), and SpamSieve (Mac only).

 

5) Complicate your e-mail to confuse the spammers
Sure, it may seem picky, but if you really want to cut down on inbox spam as much as possible, don't use your name or simple words when creating your e-mail address. Why? Automated spamming software can easily generate simple addresses based on basic name and word combinations. Make the address as long as you can remember, use numbers and symbols, and try to start it with a letter from the end of the alphabet. According to a British researcher, people who have an e-mail address beginning with an early letter, like 'a' or 'b,' receive 15-percent more spam than those that start with a late letter, such as 'x,' 'y,' or 'z.'

 

6) Join the National Do Not Call Registry
To help cut down on phone spam, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) suggests joining the National Do Not Call Registry to opt out of telemarketing calls, the bane of dinnertime. Joining will keep those telemarketers from distributing your number and stop companies who may want to flood your cell phone with text messages. If you're still getting sales calls and spam after 31 days, you can file a complaint against the offending parties.

 

7) Be stingy with your digits
If you want to avoid junk text messages clogging your cell phone's inbox, never hand out your number (online or in real life) unless you are certain whom you're giving it to. Recently, for example, one of those annoying Facebook quizzes asked participants for their phone numbers so it could send the results by text message. Instead, scammers used the phone numbers to bill users for taking the quiz.

 

8) Bugged by spam texts? Check your account options
Having lived through the golden age of texting (i.e. the spam-free days), we knew it was inevitable that our mobile inboxes would be hit with spam eventually. While e-mail apps let you set up spam filters, no such thing exists yet for your phone. Fortunately, you've got some options. An AT&T representative told the New York Times that most text message spam comes from the Web, which means there is a workaround: block all text messages coming from the Internet (you'll still be able to receive messages from other phones). It's not as hard as it sounds; some carriers let you block these types of messages, while others offer basic forms of spam filtering.

 

9) Take your fight to Washington
Under the CAN-SPAM legislation of 2003, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) implemented rules prohibiting the sending of unwanted "commercial messages" to wireless devices. If you receive one of those, you can file a complaint for free at the FCC Web site. If prosecuted, the perps can be fined up to $11,000 just for the sending part -- and even more monetary penalties apply if they're stealing or generating e-mail addresses and phone numbers.

 

10) Google it
Alright, this one is easy. Just Google your e-mail address, and if it pops up in search results, you've probably found at least one reason why you're getting more spam than usual. If your e-mail address is showing up in blogs or Web sites you've joined, check the site's preferences to see if you can hide or remove your address. Otherwise, if you're bogged down in spam, it may be time for a new address...

Source:

http://www.switched.com/2009/06/18/tips-to-fight-spam-on-your-cell-phone-and-computer-2/

 

Tips to Stay Safe on the Internet

 

There are so many little things that you can do to keep yourself safe online. Friendly Computers found this list which points out basic things you can do to stay secure while browsing online:

From the University of Phoenix

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The internet has become a great resource for keeping in touch with friends, job searching, reading the latest news, and so much more. Tools such as blogs, videos, and social networking sites are all designed to connect you with other users; thus why it is important to learn how to protect yourself while online. In light of Internet Safety month, University of Phoenix instructor and IT expert, Jim Dearman, offers the following internet safety tips:

1. Be skeptical of all unsolicited emails – never supply your username, password, account number or any other personal information via email.
2. Protect your accounts – Choosing hard-to-guess passwords and changing them consistently can help prevent criminals from hacking into your accounts.
3. Take advantage of the Online Protection Tools – Many internet service providers provide parent-control options to block certain websites from coming up on a computer.
4. Get involved in your family’s online activity – In addition to blocking sites, keep your computer in a common place in the house and check the sites that have been used often.
5. Don’t use the link received in an unsolicited email – Type the website address into the address bar to avoid being sent to a fake website, created for the sole purpose of phishing (i.e. acquiring your account information). Your bank and credit card companies don’t need you to log in and re-enter all your information.
6. When you provide any personal information at a website make sure encryption is ON – Look for https: in the address bar or the lock/key on your browser. If it isn’t ON, your information is sent in clear text and can be read by anyone that captures the web communication.
7. Always read a web site’s privacy policy – Before giving any personal information make sure that they offer a secure connection.
8. Be smart and safe about people you meet online – People misrepresent themselves online, so be careful when sharing your personal information.
9. Protect your computer – install three inexpensive software programs: antivirus, anti-spyware, and a firewall.
10. THINK before you CLICK.

Source: http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090617006045&newsLang=en

Camping with your Mac

When camping with your Mac or any electronic device, you should be especially careful not to let the device get damaged. Moisture, Dirt, Heat, etc all can do a number on electronics. Friendly Computers found these tips that may be helpful on your next outing with Mother Nature:

After having just returned from the Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, Tennessee I wanted to share a few tips about what to bring if you plan to bring your Mac (and iPhone for that matter) on a camping trip.

Moisture is the enemy of all electronics. When in the great outdoors it’s essential to keep your PowerBook/MacBook in a cool, dry and safe place, especially during those dewy early morning hours. I keep my MacBook Pro packed away in a quality bag and locked in the car. It’s much drier than sitting in a tent and harder to steal. Remember to vent the car periodically during the heat of the day to keep temperatures down and to keep your bag out of direct sunlight.

Bring batteries galore. If you’re going to be tenting and without access to reliable power, batteries are going to be critical. I brought two fully-charged MacBook Pro batteries and that barely got me through two days. If I had my druthers I would bring five fully-charged MBP batteries so that I didn’t have to worry about charging them. The problem is that this gets pricey at $130 a pop. If you purchased one of Apple’s new fixed-battery MBPs changing batteries isn’t an option, so you’ll have to start looking for an outlet after about 7 hours.

Pictured above are some of my road-trip stalwarts that I don’t leave home without. Starting in the upper left corner and going clockwise:

• Kensington 120 watt notebook DC power adapter ($99) with the Mike Gyver’s MagSafe adapter ($80) is great for keeping your MacBook charged while driving. I reviewed both in August 2007.
• FastMac’s IV iPhone battery ($80) is still the best of breed and the included LED light comes in handy when camping. I gave the FastMac IV a Best In Show award at Macworld Expo in January 2009.
• If you’re a dual iPhone family and driving long distances, a dual-USB 12-volt USB charger is practically a must — along with a second 12-volt outlet. The Dual-Port Car Charger (minus dock cables) costs $12 from RichardSolo.
• I brought 2600mAh Solar Battery Charger (about $24 on eBay) as a backup, but didn’t end up using it on this trip.
• CableJive iStubz ($15 for two) compact dock cables for charging and syncing iPhones and iPods. Pictured in a clear organizer pouch (US$6-10) from Tom Bihn.
• A 3G card from a reliable provider is critical if you plan to actually get online with your computer. Don’t rely on AT&T’s craptastic 3G network to be reliable in places in the woods like Manchester — especially during a festival with 80,000 people at it. My favorite is the Verizon Wireless USB760 Modem ($50 plus 2-yr. agreement of $40 or $60/month) which slaps into my MacBook Pro’s USB port and allows me to get online using OS X’s built-in driver in the Network Control Panel. Also pictured in a clear organizer pouch (US$6-10) from Tom Bihn.
• A white Photon Micro-Lite II keychain flashlight ($8 on Amazon) on a lanyard is critical for any outdoor activity after dark. It will help you avoid puddles and stumps and possibly help you find your car keys. It’s a no-brainer, get one for everyone in your party.
• A Nitecore D-10 flashlight ($60 from 4Sevens) is probably my best upgrade from last year. It’s 130 lumens and runs off lithium AA batteries which are much cheaper than the CR123 batteries required in other flashlights.

Source: http://blogs.zdnet.com/Apple/?p=4138

More tips on boosting computer performance

 

Friendly Computers found more tips on how to keep your computer running smooth. Check them out below:

This is going to sound crazy - and it is, but it works. You can get a big performance increase by wiping out your Windows and reinstalling it from scratch.

That's the tip of the week. But for those of us who have tons of applications on our computer and tons of data that we don't want to lose, we can do one or all of the following.

If your computer is slow to start up, then you want to examine what is starting up and remove some of those programs from the startup. For example, many printers put in little applications that check ink levels and scanner settings. You may not even have that printer anymore, yet there is a startup program.

Another thing that happens is that your registry gets bloated. There are some good registry cleaners that will reduce the size of the registry by getting rid of entries in programs or drivers that are no longer part of the system. CCleaner (www.ccleane r. com) is one tool you can use.

You should also clean out your deleted items, both in your recycle bin and in your e-mail's deleted items. This will increase your disk space and decrease the number of files that have to be looked at by the operating system.

It's also a good idea to go through your music, pictures and documents to make sure you only keep what you really want. Are you really going to ever listen to that old album from the '20s? But I digress.

Another way to speed up your computer is by running a "defrag." There's a program under the maintenance or system tools that will defragment your hard drive.

This puts the files in order on the drive to speed the disk access. It makes a difference for program files to be contiguous on the hard drive when they start up.

Also, some smart defragmenters will put the most-often used programs in the middle of the drive, so it takes the read heads less time to go to the beginning of the program. One program you can download is Defraggler (www.defraggler.com).

Finally, as we talked about last week, adding more memory to your system will increase your computer's performance. In some instances, it can increase by 200 percent the speed of your applications. Of course, if you have enough memory now and add more, it won't get you any speed benefits.

For Windows XP and Windows XP Home, you don't need more than three gigabytes. For the new 64-bit Windows XP or 64-bit Windows Vista, the more memory, the better. We recommend 8 gigabytes.

The new Windows 7 is coming out later this year. There are developer editions that are being tested and it looks like an early winner. I will do some digging, but I'm hopeful that it isn't just the next version of Vista.

 

Source: http://www.southtownstar.com/business/harmening/1619864,061409harmeningcol.article

Facebook Tips: How to Get Your Facebook Vanity URL

 

Friendly Computers found out that tomorrow (Saturday) you will be able to select your custom url for Facebook. Read below to find out how!

Tonight, at 12:01 a.m. eastern (Saturday morning), Facebook will make it possible to create a customized link for your profile - affectionately known around the tech world as a vanity URL.

Right now, your Facebook URL appears something like this:

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=123456789

After you modify your URL (I'll show you how), you'll have a much more clean-looking Facebook address, such as:

http://www.facebook.com/cglynch.

Twitter and LinkedIn have had this capability for quite some time. On those two services, you simply go to your account settings to modify it. But on Facebook, the capability has not been made available - until 12:01 a.m. eastern this Saturday.

It will be interesting to see if Facebook's core user base stumbles back early from the bars or stays in altogether tonight to snag their URL of choice. Not everyone will stay up for this privilege. But if you are in front of a computer at that time, log onto Facebook and then point your browser to www.facebook.com/username/.

According to a blog post by Facebook, you will be prompted to choose a username. Facebook may suggest some options (see screen shot below), or you can create your own if it's still available. If you have a "Joe Smith" type of name, you should try and get onto Facebook as close to the 12:01 a.m. time as possible.

Your username for the vanity URL must be at least five characters long and be all alphanumeric characters (A-Z, 0-9).

A word of caution: Don't go for anything funny or cute. Play it straight. According to Facebook, "Once it's been selected, you won't be able to change or transfer it."

 

Source: http://news.idg.no/cw/art.cfm?id=D56E0598-1A64-6A71-CE18078D9D7139AB

Clean Your Computer Fan

Keeping your computer clean is an important step in ensuring its performance. Friendly Computers found these helpful tips on how to keep your pc’s fan dust free:

With many business and home computers, especially desktop computers, the cooling fan can get clogged up and cause some real problems for the rest of the computer. The fan keeps the computer cool and stops the desktop or laptop computer from overheating. Below are just a few tips to ensure you home computer doesn’t suffer from overheating:
• Unplug your computer and move it to a place that is safe and that has plenty of room to work. Start by using either a mini-vacuum or a specific computer vacuum cleaner to remove the dust from the air vents and the CD player. You can then remove the back part of the case and vacuum inside, making sure that you avoid small components.
• Spraying compressed air is a great way of loosening and dispersing the dust on the fan and power supply fan. It can also be used to remove dust from the grills and a pencil can be used to keep fan blades still before spraying compressed air.
• Make sure the laptop or desktop computer is in a cool area of the house or office and not directly in the sun. Restricting the air flow to the fan by having objects covering the fan will make the computer overheat and make the fan work harder.
• Vacuuming and dusting the room that you computer lives can help ensure less dust get caught in the fan. This is especially true of destop computers that sit on the floor underneath a desk.
• Once you have fully cleaned out the fan inside the computer, make sure that the dust, hair and crumbs have been cleaned off of the leads and devices leading up to the computer. This is usually overlooked but the leads and other hardware can carry with it a lot of dust and dirt.
Over time the fan can eventually die from overuse but hopefully these simple tips can be used regularly to prolong the life of the fan and the personal computer.

Source: http://www.bignews.biz/?id=803257&keys=Laptopcomputer-Cheaplaptop-Refurbishedlaptop-RefurbishedPCs

Quick tips to help reduce the computer wait

Who enjoys waiting for programs to start on their computer? No one I assume. Friendly Computers found these quick tips which should help speed things up:

A few seconds can seem like an eternity when you're waiting for a computer program to load. Want to speed things up?
There are a number of things you can do.
Get rid of unused programs: The more you have installed, the slower you system will run. Just remember you can't remove a program by deleting its shortcut from your desktop. You have to go to the control panel, look for the Add/Remove program feature and use the "uninstall" command.
Disable unneeded start up programs. Look at the little icons in the system tray next to the clock at the bottom of the screen. Many of these programs launch every time you start your machine. By disabling the programs that automatically launch and are rarely used, you get things going more quickly.
Lauren Young with PC Tools says to delete temporary Internet files and empty your recycle bin.
"Files that you delete from your computer are still actually stored in your recycle bin and will continue to take up valuable hard drive space."
You should also "defragment" your machine. This process takes parts of files scattered throughout the hard drive and brings them together, making your machine run more efficiently. Many new operating systems do this automatically. If you're doesn't do it automatically, you can do it yourself every few months.
If you've done all this and your computer is still really sluggish or suddenly slows down, you may have picked up a piece of spyware or adware. Use on of the free spyware removal tools listed below to scan your system:
- Windows Defender
- Ad-Aware
- Spybot

 

Source: http://www.kval.com/news/consumertips/47312227.html

PayPal and Picnik come to Yahoo Mail

 

Yahoo is always looking for new ways to keep their users on their site by partnering with other companies to offer new Yahoo based applications which run from within the site. Friendly Computers found out that Yahoo is beginning testing on new PayPal and Picnik tools that will be integrated in to Yahoo.  Find out more below:

Yahoo has added new applications for its users in another step toward giving its users more and more to do from within Yahoo.

The company plans to announce the limited beta of three new Yahoo Mail applications from PayPal, Picnik, and Zumo Drive on Friday. Yahoo Mail users who have indicated an interest in signing up for Yahoo's beta programs will be the first to get a crack at the new services, with the applications coming to the wider user base over the next several months.

It's all part of Yahoo's Open Strategy, designed to let outside developers tap into the company's properties and offer their wares inside Yahoo's network of sites. It's becoming an old story, but the trend these days in the Internet world is the proliferation of large sites like Yahoo, Google, and Facebook as development platforms unto themselves, with application developers spending more and more time writing programs that run on those sites, rather than traditional operating systems.

For example, PayPal's application will let Yahoo Mail users send money to another user by opening a window like a tab in a browser. Picnik, a popular browser-based photo editing tool, will bring that feature to Yahoo Mail in a similar way, letting you open the service right from an e-mail message.

Yahoo is also expanding the Open Strategy to other parts of its portfolio of sites. Wordpress bloggers will be able to post to their blogs from their MyYahoo page, and manage their money with Mint.com's services. And Yahoo TV Widgets will now support searching and viewing of archrival Google's YouTube video collection.

It's taken Yahoo quite some time to put these applications together, first announcing the Yahoo Open Strategy in April 2008 but not taking it live until last December, when it unveiled the first set of applications for Yahoo Mail and the MyYahoo start page. It also appears the company plans to wrap these applications along with forthcoming ones into a redesign of its homepage, which CEO Carol Bartz said this week would arrive "later this fall."

The idea is convenience: letting users get everything they need and want in one place. But the upshot is that by providing incentives to stick around on Yahoo, the company is making it more likely that you'll stumble upon something else at Yahoo, such as an ad or another service that drives a search query: 98 percent of Yahoo's searches come from people who are already on the site.

 

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10257866-2.html?tag=newsLatestHeadlinesArea.0

Online-scheduling alternatives to Google Calendar

There are a lot of online scheduling tools out there to help keep you organized for every day tasks. Google provides all the basic tools needed but Google and other popular scheduling programs don’t always provide everything that you need. Friendly Computers found this article that compares different scheduling tools available. Check it out!

I'm a Google Calendar user. It's easy to use. And for the most part, it helps keep the schedules of individual users organized. But one of its shortcomings is in scheduling meetings. In my experience, it just isn't nearly as advanced as it should be when it comes to things like arranging meetings among a group of people in various time slots. And unfortunately, the same goes for Yahoo Calendar and Microsoft's Live Calendar.

So I've decided to venture out in search of online applications for scheduling. Some are better than others, but many are worth trying out.

Scheduling apps

Calendarfly: Calendarfly is designed for schools, small organizations, or families. After you register with Calendarfly, you're immediately brought to a cluttered page that's difficult to understand, at first. But after a while, you'll get used to it.

When you start adding events to your calendar, Calendarfly lets you share them with others. Parents can also have their child's events added to their own calendar in a different color, keeping them apprised of what's going on in their child's life. Calendarfly lets you input the location of the event you're planning, thanks to its new geo-coding feature. It can be a little buggy, but it usually works well. If you're a teacher, parent, or coach, Calendarfly isn't a bad scheduling option.

Calendarfly has categories for schools and families.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Divvy: Divvy isn't your typical scheduling tool. In fact, it's designed to help you make more money in your business. But its scheduling tool is really handy. When you want to create an appointment, the tool brings you to a simple input page that lets you pick the time, as well as add a description and a title.

If you're operating a business, you can also input how much the appointment will cost. Thanks to Divvy's vanity URLs, you can direct people to your personal Divvy page, giving them full access to your appointment availability. They can then schedule a time on your page in seconds. It works well.

Check your availability in Divvy.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Genbook: Genbook, similar to Divvy, is designed for small businesses that want to streamline their scheduling. The tool first requires you to input your business information. From there, you can list your services and input on the app's calendar when you'll be available.

Creating appointments is made easy with the site's appointment tool. But my favorite feature is Genbook's Customers module, which automatically saves pertinent customer information whenever one signs up for an appointment. It displays the customer's name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. It's really helpful. Genbook comes in three versions--Free, Solo ($19.95 per month), and Standard ($39.95 per month).

GenBook makes it easy to set up an appointment.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Jiffle: Jiffle claims that the average user sends seven e-mails back and forth before they can nail down a meeting time. To solve that, the company allows you to selectively share your availability calendar. You can assign your available time slots for the week and send it off to people with whom who you want to meet. Once they pick the time they can meet, it immediately triggers a notification message alerting all parties. The tool can then be integrated into your Google Calendar, or you can keep track of your meetings on the site. Jiffle even has a toolbar for Outlook users to streamline the scheduling process.

I'll be available all morning on Jiffle.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Mixin: Mixin is an extremely simple calendar tool that makes it easy to plan your day. When you first sign up for the site, you'll be brought to a scheduling screen where you're asked to input what you plan to do, when you plan to do it, and for how long you plan on doing it. It's then added to a timeline beneath that field.

You can share that with friends on social networks like Facebook. You can invite others to join in on that event. And you can even comment on it as you're performing the task. Mixin isn't nearly as powerful as most calendaring tools, and some people might need a little more than what it offers. But if you want something quick and easy, Mixin is for you. (For a hands-on of Mixin, click here.)

Mixin is simple, but easy to use.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

Scheduly: Scheduly is a great tool for contractors or small businesses that want to conveniently schedule appointments with potential clients. Once you sign up for the free tool, you can set your weekly agenda. From there, clients can view your Scheduly business page to set up appointments. You can even embed your schedule into your Web site. If you don't like Scheduly's built-in calendar, you can sync it with Google Calendar, iCal, and others to view your appointments.

Scheduly has a great appointment-taking mechanism.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

TimeBridge: TimeBridge makes it easy to set up a meeting. Once you click the "schedule a meeting" link, you're brought to a page giving you the option to send invites to a group of people. You can then enter the meeting topic, propose times when you're available, and send them a description of the meeting.

My favorite TimeBridge feature is the option of starting a Web conference or holding a call. When you pick the conference call option, the site provides you with a dial-in number. If you want to hold a Web conference, you'll need to pay. TimeBridge charges $8.95 per month or $89 per year. All your meetings can be integrated into Google Calendar.

TimeBridge's appointment input page.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

TimeDriver: TimeDriver is designed specifically for business professionals who need more power than what a tool like Google Calendar can provide. It makes it easy for others to schedule appointments with you. In TimeDriver, you can pick times throughout the day when you can meet. You then send your calendar to people with whom you want to schedule meetings, and they will pick a time that works for them.

To enhance its appeal, TimeDriver also allows you to bring e-marketing into the mix. You can put your company's logo and URL in the e-mail you send to those with whom you plan to meet. Although TimeDriver has a calendar of its own, any meeting you set up on the service can be synced with your Google Calendar or Outlook. Using TimeDriver after its free trial will cost you $29.95 per year. (Read the full review of TimeDriver.)

TimeDriver makes it easy to set up your schedule book.

(Credit: Screenshot by Don Reisinger/CNET)

The top 3

Trying to figure out which scheduling tool is best for you? Here are the top three from this roundup.

1. TimeBridge: Hosted Web conferences and dial-ins make it a great choice.

2. Divvy: Easy access, thanks to vanity URLs; will appeal to small businesses.

3. Jiffle: Cutting down on e-mails is finally possible with Jiffle.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10255636-2.html?tag=newsLatestHeadlinesArea.0

Home Key Goes Home

Friendly Computers is taking it back to basics with a helpful tip that will save you time on the computer. Read on to find out how to eliminate scrolling back to the top of long pages:

Some websites are cavernous trenches that seem to scroll on for miles. If you've ever been party to a site like this, do you find it a royal pain in the you-know-what scrolling all the way back up to the top again? Your mouse wheel can only take so much punishment! So, instead of wasting your time digging yourself out of a site, why not just use a quick keystroke and be done with it?

That's right. Just hit the Home key. It's located above the arrow keys on your keyboard in-between Insert and Page Up. Just hit Home and shazam! You're at the top of the webpage!

This tip works just about everywhere, so Firefox and Internet Explorer users are covered! What's better is that is works for stuff like MS Word too! Write as much as you want, browse as much as you want, because you really can go Home again!

 

Source: http://www.worldstart.com/tips/tips.php/home-key-goes-home

Screen-sharing is caring

 

There are a million uses for screen sharing, from fixing a friends computer to having a meeting from different locations. With this being higher in demand, Friendly Computers found this article which mentions several services that provide screen sharing.

Whether you're looking for an easy solution to fix a relatives' computer half the world away, or you need to collaborate with a colleague for your latest project, there are several strong screen-sharing programs that can meet your needs.

First off is a familiar name: Skype. The latest beta of the world-famous VoIP app supports screen-sharing, and if you've ever been in a Internet cafe, you know that this could be a big deal. Skype is already heavily used in a multitude of countries to connect friends, family, and business partners via voice and text. Screen-sharing would simply be another excellent feature to add to the list that already includes file-sharing. It's sharing-only, somewhat laggy, and currently limited to one contact at a time. Early adopters should be aware that Skype does have a native option out there, but it's not the only one if you don't mind third-party software.

Oneeko reinterprets screen-sharing as a shared, collaborative space that lacks polish and grace, but is robust nonetheless. Pronounced "one echo," Oneeko shares can be initiated only from PCs, but Mac and Linux users can share their screens, too. You can initiate a share via Skype, e-mail, or through the Oneeko Web site. The sharing process sends out a link, and from there the user can see your computer.

Oneeko's most striking feature is its interface, which is based on a looking-glass concept. The interface is topped by a horizontal control panel, with the remainder of the window dedicated to a transparent pane. When you're not connected, it shows quick-start instructions. During a share, the pane disappears and the windows beneath the pane show through. Anything below that pane is shared--the rest of your monitor remains hidden. Moving the window around determines what you're sharing. Paid upgrade features include useful tools like annotations, group support, file transfer, and Webcam support. Without them, Oneeko requires a fair bit of effort to get started but professionals might appreciate the slick melding with Skype.

Yuuguu's approach to screen-sharing goes straight through your instant messaging clients, although they're not required to run the program. It's a multiprotocol messaging program that supports the biggest IM services--Yahoo, MSN, Google, AIM, ICQ, and Skype--in the hopes that rolling the services into one communications package will appeal to resource-conscience users.

When you want to initiate a sharing session, you click on the users' name and share the provided code. As with its competitors, both sides must agree to the share before it can begin. Unfortunately, Yuuguu doesn't support file-sharing, although you can transfer files via IM. Yuuguu users can share with as many as 29 other oeioke, but only the host needs to have the software installed. Participants can watch and contribute to the chat, making this an effective tool for small-scale presentations. It supports voice chat, too. Of the various screen-sharing apps out there, Yuuguu's instant-messaging support makes it among the most Web 2.0-esque of the bunch.

TeamViewer strikes a good balance between features and speed. You can share securely, send files with a minimum of hassle, control access rights, and even flip which user has control. The options available while you're in control work smoothly. A big X from a drop-down toolbar in the center of the remote window lets you close the connection, while the Actions button lets you switch whose in control, disable remote input, and reboot remotely. The View menu hides options to adjust the screen resolution, the optimization toward speed or quality, and control multiple-monitor displays. Sharing here is similar to its competitors, with unique computer identifiers and passwords required to share.

When you log in, you're given an access code and a password. Sharing those allows your computer to be controlled by the level you set it to: remote support, presentation, file transfer, or VPN. The TeamViewer servers remember which computers you've connected to, so reconnecting to previously shared computers happens faster. TeamViewer also has a Web-based version, for remote connecting to home from public computer. Even the installation process is impressive. Users can toggle admin rights, can opt out of running at start-up, and can opt into installing the TeamViewer VPN driver for more secure screen-sharing. Overall, TeamViewer makes screens-haring and file-sharing as fluid and unobtrusive as it should be.

When you run CrossLoop, it assigns a new 12-digit access code to your PC each time you start the program. You then give that number to another user to share virtually your desktop. Once connected, that user will have full access to your machine.

It doesn't support multiple users, so it's not ideal for presentation; however, the complete system access and 128-bit encrypted connection combine to create a great solution for zero-budget, long-distance tech support. Guests can use any app and save files on your computer, as if they were sitting in front of the machine. No router configuration is required--a big plus. File transfers are supported, but the purpose here remains collaboration: CrossLoop doesn't work without explicit permission from the host. Since simplicity is a key attraction, it lacks more advanced features, and the connection must be made in two minutes or it times out. While the interface and the features are simple, CrossLoop offers a secure and fast method for two users to collaborate on one PC.

Screen-sharing isn't an essential need for all users, but it's precisely the kind of collaborative functionality that user can demand of their high-speed connections.

Source: http://download.cnet.com/8301-2007_4-10252301-12.html?tag=mncol