Alas - time to stop

I had high hopes that I would find doing a blog easier than doing an email newsletter but I find I am not posting to the blog either.

I think it is time to retire this blog.

Dick

New computer

I just order a new computer.

It's a Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC.

Will keep you posted on my experiences.

http://www.samsung.com/Products/UltraMobilePC/UltraMobilePC/NP_Q1UA000SEA.asp

TED talks

I have mentioned these before but they deserve another post.

Talks by the leading figures/thinkers in various fields that you can view via the Internet.

http://www.ted.com/

I found this one very interesting.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/38

Microsoft Surface - A glimpse into the future

I had previously seen this concept demonstrated via a TED lecture. I think the Apple iPhone will use a similar concept. Wish I could afford one now rather than having to wait five years for the price to drop.

Be sure to view the second amazing URL.

http://www.microsoft.com/surface/

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/65

Vista utilites

Free utilities from Microsoft:

For Vista.
http://bhandler.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!70F64BC910C9F7F3!1844.entry

For Office 2007.
http://bhandler.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!70F64BC910C9F7F3!1822.entry

Sharing large files online, part B

Here is a list of some more sites that allow you to send/transfer large files over the Internet.
(From Cyberjoke3000)

http://www.yousendit.com/
http://www.xdrive.com
http://www.rapidshare.com
http://www.megaupload.com/
http://www.4shared.com/
http://www.badongo.com/
http://www.bestsharing.com/
http://mihd.net/
http://www.bonpoo.com/
http://depositfiles.com/en/
http://www.esnips.com/


5-20-2007
Another list here:
http://www.email-unlimited.com/stuff/send-huge-files.htm

CEOExpress: Business portal for executives created by a busy executive

Interesting start page to find a LOT of stuff on the Internet.

http://www.ceoexpress.com/default.asp

The PC Decrapifier

Trying to see if I can post a blog from Internet Explorer with Google Toolbar.

Decrapifier removes garbage programs from your new computer.

Welcome The PC Decrapifier

Sharing large files online

The following blog post has good info for sharing/sending large files to multiple people.

http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2007/04/share-big-files-fast.html

MS Office 2007 add-in's

Various Add-in's for Office 2007 from Microsoft. After downloading and installing, they can be found at Start, Microsoft Office, Office Tools.

Save files as PDF or XPS files in Office.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=4D951911-3E7E-4AE6-B059-A2E79ED87041&displaylang=en

Calendar Printing Assistant for Microsoft Outlook 2007.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=3f28d5dc-25a4-41bd-9c98-67c47c6cd8ff&displaylang=en&tm

Live Search Maps Add-In for Microsoft Office Outlook adds maps, driving directions, traffic information, and travel time to the scheduling capabilities of Outlook.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=7A0BCE98-EAB4-40A3-B7EC-43C09D6AE8CB&displaylang=en

Get Started Tab for Word 2007. This add-in adds a Get Started tab to the Microsoft Office Word 2007 Ribbon. Commands on this tab give you easy access to free content on Office Online that helps you learn Word 2007 quickly.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=F587370C-FDAE-4EDE-B528-AC58031A5DFF&displaylang=en

Get Started Tab for Excel 2007. This add-in adds a Get Started tab to the Microsoft Office Excel 2007 Ribbon. Commands on this tab give you easy access to free content on Office Online that helps you learn Excel 2007 quickly.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=8A5AF9D7-08A7-41BA-8844-76BB94228957&displaylang=en

File and Printer sharing in Vista

This is where you start learning how to share in Vista. Happy reading..

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/network/evaluate/vista_fp.mspx

Internet Connectivity Evaluation Tool

The Internet Connectivity Evaluation Tool checks your Internet router to see if it supports certain technologies. You can use this tool on a PC running either the Windows Vista or Windows XP operating system. If you're planning to run Windows Vista, this tool can verify whether your existing Internet router supports advanced features, such as improved download speeds and face-to-face collaboration using Windows Meeting Space.

The tool is intended to be run from a home network behind a home Internet (NAT) router. Running this tool from behind a corporate firewall or on operating systems other than those specified above won't produce accurate results. This tool requires administrator privileges to run.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/using/tools/igd/default.mspx

Jungle Disk

Being a paranoid freak about backups, I keep looking at online backup services.

I am currently trying a beta service that uses Amazon's servers for backup.
It is called Jungle Disk. It is simple, seems to work well and is cheap - 15 cents a month for a gigabyte plus 20 cents a month per gigabyte of uploaded data. The program will automatically backup changed files. You have to be a Amazon.com member or signup for same for billing purposes.

http://www.jungledisk.com/
http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/columns/executive_tech/article.php/3674056

Using Vista

I become more impressed by Vista everyday.

Nothing spectacular: it just looks good and works well. I also keep finding built in applications like the automatic defragger that impress me.

I also like the new 'ribbon' command bar in Office.

One drawback - access to Vista files by other computers on the network is disabled by default (for security reasons) and enabling access is not straight forward. The good news is that it works well once your have tracked down the various settings that need to be changed.

Spamihilator

This spam removal tool comes highly recommend by a columnist I trust. I have not tried it. Supposed to work with all POP3 email programs. Free.

http://www.spamihilator.com/

CallingID Link Advisor

This is a nifty utility. Hover your mouse over an URL in an email, word document, etc and it shows you who the owner is. GREAT for detecting phoney URL's in email's.

Free download:
http://www.callingid.com/Default.aspx

Update: I removed it as it seemed to slow my system down.

Zappos.com - buying shoes online

After hearing a lot about buying shoes online from Zappos.com and not finding anything I liked in the local stores, I tried their service. It is GREAT.

Large selection, good prices AND 1 day free shipping. And free shipping if you want to return the shoes.

I am a happy customer.

http://www.zappos.com/welcome.zhtml

Have blog posts delived as email

Would you like to receive posts to this and other blogs automatically delivered to you as email?

There are many programs to do this. Google RSS to email
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&aq=t&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GGIH_enUS208US208&q=rss+to+email+service

Adesso - a file sharing program.

Send/share your large files (music, videos, etc) with friends. It appears to be an online backup system also. Warning - beta test. I have not tried it but it sounds interesting.

To demonstrate the power of rApps, we’ve just launched a private, limited beta of Adesso’s first consumer application, TUBES – a fast, easy and fun way to send, share and publish your digital content to any personal, private network of friends, family and communities. Stay tuned for more Adesso rApps over the coming months...

http://www.adessosystems.com/

QuickTime Alternative

Apple's QuickTime program for Windows is used to view certain types of videos over the Internet. I have never been fond of QuickTime, especially since Apple started including iPod software with it.

QuickTime Alternative is just what it says - an alternative program to using QuickTime.
I downloaded/installed QuickTime Alternative Light and it hung up when I selected the 'System Restore' feature. Powered off; Vista recovered and QuickTime Alternative Light installed fine when I did not select the System Restore option during installation.

Free from:
http://codecguide.com/download_qt.htm