Category Archives: Tech

Anything related to technology

Farewell Steve Jobs!

Aside

Reply

As the world says goodbye to one of the tech pillars, I like to share this from his 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech:

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.

You have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.

The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.

Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful, that’s what matters to me.

Inspirational thoughts wouldn’t you say.

Microsoft Rolls Out The New Hotmail

Posted on by
Reply

Do you have a Hotmail account? Well if you don’t , it’s about time to get one. Microsoft’s newly updated Web-mail service is now available in more than 220 countries, and it offers a number of features you can’t get in Gmail.

What strikes me first is the new UI (user interface) that is much better than Gmail’s. Hotmail employs an attractive interface that should be instantly familiar to anyone who’s ever used Outlook Express or Windows Live Mail.hotmail

Other new stuffs that Hotmail offers:

1. Hotmail has folders. Gmail don’t. I don’t know the reason why Gmail still doesn’t have folders, even Yahoo! Mail have folders for some time now.

2. Somebody sent you an email with a link to a Youtube video. The advantage that Hotmail gives you is that you can view the video right inside your inbox, without having to jump away to YouTube proper.

3. SkyDrive integration lets you send up to 10 gigabytes’ worth of photo attachments. I believe the current Gmail cap is 25 megabytes.

4. The “Social updates” view lets you filter your inbox to show only messages that come from the social-network likes of Facebook.

5. You can also open, edit and share Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint and OneNote files and save it on SkyDrive which lets you access it from any PC.

I am not saying that you should let go of your other email accounts for Hotmail, but anyone could use a spare email that is also great.

A Couple Of Free Apps

Posted on by
Reply

Dropbox

Dropbox is a great application aside from it being free, it has cross-platform functionality which mean it works on PC, Mac, Linux even on mobile. So what is Dropbox?

If you are looking for a way to have your files readily available on all your computers then this is the answer. It is a file hosting service that allow users to backup, sync their files across computers and share to other users.

There are 2 options available to users: free and paid with varying options. The free service starts at 2 GB while for the paid starts at 50GB. Space for the free service can be increase up to 8 GB after accomplishing some tasks.

Tip: Increase the 2 GB to 2.25 GB by accomplishing the first 5 steps on the Get Started tab once logged-in on the website. Get additional 250 MB for every friend that you invite and actually sign up for their own account.

There are other services similar to Dropbox but what set it apart is its availability to work acrosss different platforms.

ManyCam

Had you ever had the experience of needing to video chat to contacts on different instant messaging services like Yahoo! Messenger, Skype and AOL all at the same time? For those of you who did and for the rest who hadn’t, ManyCam may be the answer.

ManyCam lets you use a single video input such as a web-cam or video camera replicates the video stream to the different IM clients. What is cool is that you can add live CGI effects, text and backgrounds. You can even show that it is snowing inside your house or it is as hot as hell.

The application works on all Windows version and on Mac OS and it is absolutely free.

Features I like on ManyCam are the picture-in-picture option and being able to remove the ManyCam.com watermark by just turning it off by going to Effects>Text over video.

Get the apps here:
http://www.manycam.com
http://www.dropbox.com

More Windows Tips & Tricks

Posted on by
Reply

Stop Your Mouse From Waking Up Your PC

Putting your PC into sleep mode is one great way of saving electricity and extend the life of your system without shutting it down completely. What is annoying is a gentle breeze or a wayward bump can easily disturb the mouse and thus wake your PC from sleep.

In XP go to the Control Panel, double click the Mouse icon opening up Mouse Properties window. Select the Hardware tab then select the mouse you are using from the list. Click on the Properties button then click on the Power Management tab. Clear Allow this device to bring this computer out of standby.

In Vista and 7, click Start, and then click Control Panel. In the Control Panel’s search box, type mouse and then choose Change mouse settings. Click the Hardware tab, select your mouse, and then click Properties. Click Change settings. Finally, click the Power Management tab and clear the checkbox that says Allow this device to wake the computer.

Keeping A Desktop Clean

I always try to keep my desktop clean, lesser icons and shortcuts the easier for me to find stuff that I really need. Windows have folders to help in organizing your desktop, like for example your downloaded files should be in the Downloads, files would be in the Documents and Web bookmarks are in the Favorites.

You can also use a free application available at Stardock’s website called Fences which allows you to create groups to organize your icons and double-clicking on the desktop hides them.

Windows 7 allows the user to pin programs to its taskbar, so why not use it. Pin your commonly used programs like Office to the taskbar rather than mess with the Start menu.

Extend The Life Of Your Laptop’s Battery

I am not talking here about optimizing the runtime on a single charge but of getting as much mileage out of your laptop’s battery before replacing it. How to do it?

Keep your battery cool since it degrades more quickly when they are hot.

Don’t pack your laptop into your backpack or some enclosed space when the battery is still warm thus trapping the heat

Don’t charge your laptop constantly. Putting it in a state of perpetual charge at 100% is bad for the battery’s long-time health

If you intend to use your laptop mainly at your desk, try running it down and recharging it once or even twice a month

If you intend to use your laptop at your desk for long stretches of time, remove the battery and store it but not in its full or depleted state.

Some Windows Tips & Tricks

Posted on by
Reply

Here are some Windows essential tips and tricks which I found useful through the years. These tips applies to Windows XP, Vista and 7. For those of you using Mac, sorry guys I can only afford one computer and the reality is it is still a Windows World.

Speeding up your startup

Although Windows 7 boots up faster compared to previous versions of Windows it would still slow down as you install more softwares as they require Windows to run them on startup. Well I found this piece of software called Startup Delayer (http://www.r2.com.au/software.php?page=2&show=startdelay) and it is a freebie.  What it does is to tell the the programs you selected to sit tight, be patient and run a little bit later after some traffic has cleared. This software is one of the best ways that I found out there to speed up a slow booting computer, even one that runs on Windows 7.

Make your PC more secure

Although Windows 7 is equipped with some solid security tools, including a firewall and anti-spyware Windows Defender, there is still a need to have a good antivirus program.  Enter Microsoft’s Security Essentials. It provides real-time protection against malware and it doesn’t hog system resources.  PCWorld compared it to other free anti-virus utilities and they said it holds its own.  It is a fine alternative to paying an annual fee for virus protection.

As far as I know, Microsoft requires a genuine copy of Windows to be able to download the application.

Work faster

Here are some keyboard shortcuts I found useful over the years.

Toggle between applications: Press <Alt> <Tab> to switch between programs without the use of a mouse. One of the best time savers.

Navigate application windows: Use <Ctrl> <Tab> to cycle through an application’s window or through a web browser’s tab. An underrated cousin of the shortcut above.

Line up windows: Although Windows 7 made it easier to line up to windows by just simply dragging an open window left or right and let go, that is not the case with older version of Windows.  Hold down <Ctrl> and click on the desired windows in the taskbar, then right-click on the task bar and choose Tile Vertically.

Create application shortcuts: Right-click on any application icon, select Properties and click the Shortcut tab. Specify a combination keystroke to start an application.

Keep Those Personal Folders PERSONAL in Windows 2

Posted on by
Reply

I earlier covered the application that lets you password protect folders in Windows with the free app from Sofonica called Folder Lock. Though this application helps in protecting sensitive data from prying eyes, it still shows that the folder or folders you want to keep private. Unfortunately that often opens a can of curiosity and with little searching on internet those unauthorized users can find a way to get around the protection and compromise your security by accessing your personal folders.

Now here is an application will completely hide the windows folders so that other users will not even be aware of their existence and hence they cannot access, view, search or delete them. The application is called Hide Folders and is meant to HIDE folders so no one can know of their existence and therefore is more efficient than locking or password protecting folders as it does not even let others know that you have some confidential folders. Also you can password protect the application so no one can open Hide Folders to unhide your hidden folders. Moreover, if you remove Hide Folders from the program menu, other user wouldn’t even know that you have a folder hiding program installed on your system.

Features:

· Securely hide folders with your confidential data

· Works on Windows XP and Windows Vista, supports NTFS, FAT32 and FAT file system.

· Password protection – folders can be unhid only after entering a password within the program.

· Hidden folders can not be uncovered by deinstalling the program.

· Unlimited number of folders can be hidden.

· Folders are hidden even in Windows safe mode.

· Fast and user-friendly skinned user interface.

Intuitive for usage, no learning curve.

Free download Hide Folders from here and hide folder in Windows.

Keep Those Personal Folders PERSONAL in Windows

Posted on by
Reply

Have you ever been in the situation were you want to keep your folders in Windows accessible only to you? I found this two free applications that may help you achieve that goal.

Lock Folders

You can lock folders in Windows using this application by Sofonica aptly-named Folder Lock. This software works on Windows 7, vista, XP and all versions of Windows.

Running the application for the first time, you will be asked to set a password. Here ensure that you set a strong password with a minimum of six characters.

Once installed a system tray icon is the way to access the application. Click or double-click, depends on your system settings, on the tray icon whenever you want to lock any folder in Windows. It will ask you to confirm the password that you set after the installation, and once you enter the correct password, the main window of Folder Lock is displayed.

Steps to lock a folder in Windows:

Select a Windows folder from the upper part of the main Folder Lock window

1. Click or double-click the chosen folder and,

2. Click on the down arrow icon to move the folder to the protected list

3. Repeat these steps to lock all folders you want protected

4. After having chosen all folders you want protected, click on the Lock Folders button.

Once a Windows folder or folders are locked, no user can access it unless it is unlocked again.

Link to download application: http://www.sofonica.com/?q=node/22

The other application will be featured on my next article so till then.

Useful Adobe AIR Apps

Posted on by
Reply

Adobe AIR apps are some of the best designed and most useful applications you can have on your desktop. There are a lot of them at the Adobe AIR Marketplace but here are a few that I think you should try out.

Tweetdeck

For Facebook and Twitter fanatics like me, this is a great app to have on your desktop, though it also work with MySpace. This app will also make you more productive when you start interacting with social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. After you download and install Tweetdeck, you can enter your username and start checking out follower updates, replies, and direct messages. You can also update your Twitter stream from Tweetdeck and it shortens URLs as well. Tweetdeck also allows the user to manage Facebook profile, update status message and check what your friends are up to. Instead of using multiple sites, Tweetdeck will help you stay in one spot.

Adobe Media Player

For Photoshop, Premier or Dreamweaver users, Adobe Media Player lets you watch a slew of videos that train you how to use Adobe’s applications. This is a great app for anyone who wants to be creative.  There are videos available for both novice and advance users to help you find your way around a particular program. It also allows saving of your favorite videos and let you go step-by-step during instruction.

Free Licensed Software on the Web

Posted on by
Reply

During this difficult economic times people tend to look for quality items at bargain prices. I found a couple of websites that not only it offers quality software but are also given away for free. Yes that is right, F-R-E-E. There is one free software below.

First one are for those who are iPhone or iPod Touch users. FreeAppAlert.com isn’t really the one who is giving away the apps for free but instead gives you a list updated daily. These apps are still being sold on iTunes Store and sometimes developers gives them away for a limited time period as a marketing strategy. You can get alerts through Twitter, Facebook, RSS or email.

Second would be for PC users. Give Away of the Day gives out a single software for the day from different developers. The software is available for 24 hours and within that time frame the software must be downloaded, installed and registered to make it work. The only setback to this is if you need to reinstall the software, the key would not work anymore. Alerts can also be set up through email, Facebook or Twitter.

Here is a security software available for free until November 11, 2009, IObit Security 360™ PRO which is a malware and spyware removal utility. They are offering a single PC license for one year free, the cost before was $29.95. Click on this link http://db.iobit.com/license-free/win7-special-offer.php or copy to your browser.

Buying an iPhone 3G? Read this first!

Posted on by
Reply

Before getting yourself a new iPhone 3G from Globe, I suggest you better read this article from CNET.com about Apple being sued over iPhone 3G reception.

The charges in the lawsuit mirror widespread complaints about the iPhone 3G’s reception that have crisscrossed the Internet since Apple and AT&T released the successor to the original iPhone on July 11. Affected owners have said the iPhone 3G will switch between 3G networks and EDGE networks even when the device is sitting still and that they will lose reception in the middle of a call while in a 3G-rich environment.

Though Apple has released an update for its OS, some reports says it made the reception worse.

Unfortunately, a resolution to widespread, frustrating 3G reception issues is not among those fixes. In fact, some users have reported that the update manifests poorer 3G reception than 2.0.1, with devices now giving a “No Service” message in previously 3G-accessible locations.

“I use to get one to three bars of 3G service in my house and now I can’t make a call,” wrote an Apple poster. “I have to switch off the 3G to get any bars. Things are going the wrong way!”

So if I were you better wait till the issue has been resolved by Apple. There are also a lot of other smartphones out in the market, from Samsung and LG that are better than Apple.