I Like to Move It

I am moving my personal location to a far far better place, so I am going to take a BLOG break. Talk to you all soon!

Sing it with me...

I like to move it, move it, I like to move it, move it! You like to...

Windows 7 Pricing

Yea, ummm... we aren't very happy about the "redonkulis" overpriced operating system that Microsoft will be rolling out in October.

After Vista, the Millennium Edition 2007, they need to really, seriously, rethink their Windows 7 pricing. Read on...

Email Etiquette

I always appreciate a good article on good email etiquette. My July 2008 newsletter had a link to 12 Tips for Better E-mail Etiquette and my November 2008 newsletter covered Using Bcc For Email Distribution Lists.

There is always more to say on the subject, so here is a pretty good article on How to Improve Your Email Etiquette. Good reading!

Happy 4th of July!

What Breaking the Sound Barrier Looks Like

A F-22 Raptor aircraft was photographed participating in an exercise in the Gulf of Alaska June 22, 2009 as it executed a supersonic flyby over the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS John C. Stennis.

The photos reveal what Mach 1 looks like. Cool! Read on…

 

Geek Tool Of The Day - Unlocker 1.8.7

Unlocker helps delete locked files with error messages like:
- Cannot delete file: Access is denied
- There has been a sharing violation.
- The source or destination file may be in use.
- The file is in use by another program or user.
- Make sure the disk is not full or write-protected and that the file is not currently in use

Simply right click the file or folder and select Unlocker. If the file or folder is locked then a window will appear with a list of processes locking the file or folder. Select the locks and click Unlock and you are done. Read on...

USB Wireless PC Lock

If you’re worried about your personal files being left unprotected at your desk when you’re away from your computer, but you’re too forgetful to secure it each time you leave, this gadget is definitely for you. The USB Wireless PC Lock automatically locks your computer every time you are away from it to protect your privacy.  Read on...

My Very First Hole-In-One

It was AWESOME dude!

Holodeck T-Shirt

This comes in girls (fitted) and unisex sizes. Ain’t it cool? Read on…

Firefox 3.5 Update

Firefox is set to release the next major version of Firefox on Tuesday, June 30.

Firefox 3.5 will features a faster rendering engine, stability enhancements and a new JavaScript engine that boosts the performance of most web-based applications. Read on…

 

Eee Keyboard

Asus will be releasing a PC keyboard, that actually has a PC built into it. The Eee Keyboard will be the first wireless media centre enabled by ultra wideband HDMI, meaning you'll be able to stream HD content from your lap (Eee Keyboard) to your television.

The Asus Eee Keyboard will also feature Wi-Fi, Ethernet, speaker, microphone, and a 5-inch touchscreen display when it gets launched this August.

How to Access Yahoo! Mail Using POP3 for Free

I don’t use Yahoo Mail because you have to pay $20 just to POP3 it to your third party email application. (Outlook, Thunderbird, etc)

However, this nifty free program, YPOPs! provides a POP3 server interface to talk to Outlook, etc and on the other side it talks to Yahoo! Mail by using normal HTTP protocol. The program is not a violation of Yahoo! Mail TOS and is not illegal.

It’s worth a whirl if you want to check your email on something other than web based browsers. Read on…

Thanks Online-Tech-Tips!

Star Trek Enterprise 1701-D

OOOOOOO & AAAAHHHHHH! Here is the geek toy of the day, a beautiful replica of the ship from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Features:

• Authentic sound effects and command phrases.
• Light up warp engines, bridge, impulse engines, and deflector dish.
• Separating saucer section (connects to rest of ship with powerful magnets).
• Both sections still retain light functions when separated (saucer retains sound, too)
• Two stands (for displaying whole ship, or both parts)

Includes: Enterprise and two stands.

Batteries: 3 AAA (included); 3 LR44 (included)

Dimensions: approx. 13" x 17" x 4" (full ship)

Courtesy of THINKGEEK!

Everything-1.2.1.371

Instead of watching paint dry waiting for Microsoft search to find what file you need, use Everything to find exactly what you are looking for at lightning speed. I mean, it's FAST!

It’s also useful for those hidden files you can’t find. And did I tell you it comes in a portable version? Bonus tool! Read on...

HP Printer With Web-Connected Touchpanel

HP announced the world’s first web-connected home printer: The HP Photosmart Premium with TouchSmart Web, allowing users to print web content straight from the printer.

The Photosmart’s TouchSmart Web user interface system works on a 4-inch widescreen panel that features a row of thumbnails that you flick through in order to access what you wish to print. Read on...

CPU-Z

CPU-Z is a freeware that gathers information on some of the main devices of your system, including CPU name & number, core voltage, Motherboard vendor, memory information and more.

Put it on your utility belt. Read on...

Thanks Batman!

Battle of the 3G Networks

AT&Crap Mobility 3G High-Speed Data (HSDPA)

There are two situations in which choosing AT&T for your data makes good sense: if you travel internationally, especially to Europe, and if you want an iPhone. If you don't fit either demographic, you'd be better served with a Verizon Wireless subscription.

Sprint Mobile Broadband (EV-DO)

Whether or not you'll like Sprint's network depends greatly on where you live. Compared with AT&T, Sprint can seem fast and powerful, but only if you're in one of its sweet spots. Sprint's Mobile Broadband falls well behind Verizon Wireless in coverage and reliability. All in all, it's a good choice, but not the best.

Verizon Wireless High-Speed Data (EV-DO)

If you need wireless data in the U.S., Verizon Wireless is the best choice. It has the most comprehensive 3G network, and it wins awards every year for coverage, consistency, and call quality. Verizon's rates aren't the lowest, and the company may not carry the latest, flashiest devices, but when Verizon says "It's the network," it's not just boasting. This network has no equal.

Google Voice

You may want to sign up for an invite of Google Voice. That's only if you want a single number that will ring your home, work, and mobile phones, a central voicemail inbox that you can access on the web, and the ability to screen calls by "listening in live" as callers leave a voicemail. (That's cool) Also, you can get transcripts of your voicemail (see the video below) archive and search all of the SMS text messages you send and receive. You can also use the service to make low-priced international calls and easily access Goog-411 directory assistance. It's pretty sweet, and almost ready for prime time! Read on...

Kingston Releases 128GB Flash Drive

Holy how big is that flash drive in my pocket, Batman!?

Kingston just released their latest DataTraveler 200 (DT200), the world's first 128GB USB flash drive.

128GB flash drive! That’s just crazy pills! Read on…

Top 10 Point-and-Shoot Cameras

It's been a few years since I double-checked on what's new with digital cameras.

Here are the latest easy to use, point-and-shoot cameras for the casual photographer. These are the ten highest-rated cameras available right now, based on hands-on testing and PC World Test Center evaluations. Read on...

Shred-Fest San Diego

Shredding your documents can reduce your chances of becoming a victim of identity theft. Dumpster diving for receipts, credit slips and credit applications and stealing mail from unlocked mailboxes are just some of the ways crooks can get your information. Bring your personal and confidential papers to the FREE Shred-Fest.

When: Friday, Jun 19, 2009 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Where: San Diego Metropolitan Credit Union, 9212 Balboa Ave., San Diego, CA 92123, (619) 278-5724

Price: No Cost

Antivirus Courtesy of Microsoft

Did you hear that Microsoft is going to jump into the antivirus playpen again?

They want to provide a product “that will compete with products sold by Symantec Corp and McAfee Inc.”

Three years ago, Microsoft entered the antivirus market with Live OneCare, which turned out to be another software “big belly” flop.

Thanks, but I’ll pass running any of these products on my systems. Read on…

(Here’s an interesting article regarding security software vendors Symantec Corp and McAfee Inc, who have to pay a combined $750,000 and disclose more to consumers about their renewal policies under an agreement announced this Wednesday by New York's attorney general.)

Thanks Facebook!

I just wanted to say THANKS to Facebook programmers and all you who use it.

Trojans and viruses run rampant through that social network all the time and keeps me busy repairing the mess it leaves behind.

Nice job and keep up the good work!

Facebook Trojan Attack, HOW TO: Install a Facebook Trojan,  Facebook Users Attacked by Trojan Virus, Facebook Users Receive Fresh Trojan Warning.

Logitech V220 Notebook Mouse

Take a look at these cordless optical mice from Logitech.

Not only do they have fun colors and designs, comfort and convenience rolled into one snappy mouse, the USB Nano-receiver is so small and unobtrusive, you can plug it into a USB port and forget about it. No worries about broken or lost receivers. Read on…

This is my Logitech Mouse. It’s been a gold star gadget, works on each and every computer or laptop I have plugged it into over the past 4 years. Whether it was a Windows XP, Vista (yes, even Vista) and Windows 7 system, it just works.

The only replacement that is comparable is the MX™ Revolution. I like not having to change out batteries. Of course, Logitech has a variety of styles and options for everyone.

Creating, Saving, Sharing Themes in Windows 7

Yea, I know, it’s a wee bit early to start posting on how to customize your Windows 7 PC. So, when you do get that new PC, come on back to the blog and search “Windows 7”. I’m sure I’ll have some tips, tricks and customization that you’ll want to know about.

Like this article about creating, saving and sharing your own personal themes. (A theme is a coordinated set of Desktop Backgrounds, Window Colors and Sounds)

After saving your personalization settings for your own use, you might want to share these settings with friends and family or bring the settings to another PC. Windows 7 allows you to share your themes by right-clicking on your current theme and selecting “Save theme for sharing”. After specifying a name and folder destination for your theme, Windows will collect all of your custom desktop background images, sounds, mouse pointers and icons into the new .themepack file format that can be applied on another computer running Windows 7.

How cool is that? Vacation themes, Special Geeky themes, Holiday themes. I really like that Bonus Feature in Windows 7. Read on…

Weather Watcher for Windows

For all the weathergeeks out there, I found a nifty download that gives you more than the current temperature.

Weather Watcher gives you current conditions, hourly forecast, daily forecast, detailed forecast, severe weather alerts, and weather maps for almost any city world-wide. Also, I like the Sunrise/Sunset time and Daylight Remaining.

The How-To Geek gives you nice screenshots and also walks you through the install. Enjoy! Read on… If you decide you want to try it out, head on over to MajorGeeks for the download.

Vista Joins the Army

Isn’t it nice that the military has plenty of money to spend, no economic downturn for them, no sir! Plenty of money for migrating all of the Army’s 744,000 Windows-based computers to Microsoft's Vista operating system. To “bolster Internet security and standardize its information systems”. Seriously….really? Vista?

“As with the implementation of any new technology, there will be challenges to overcome”, so states chief IT Goode.

Upgrading the Windows ME machines to Vista will certainly toss them a learning curve, if not a productivity curve. Read on…

Leave My iGoogle Alone Please!

Google is messing with my iGoogle again! I am hoping it’s just a glitch in the system, because I am on a netbook and side tab navigation sucks!

The workaround I found earlier this year quit working and I found yet one more temporary workaround to leave my tabs at the top of the page, please!

You need to go to the settings page in your iGoogle and select English (UK) from the list of languages and change the location to United Kingdom. Stupid huh? But it works. Read on…

Vacation Time

Thanks for visiting my blog, I will be taking a few days off this week.

Post to you soon!

Windows 7 Before The Holidays

The tech world is all a buzz about the announced released date of Windows 7.

Microsoft confirmed today that it is planning to have Windows 7 on retail shelves and available on new PCs on October 22.

Windows 7 will be on my holiday shopping list for sure! Read on…