Set Your Default E-Mail Client to Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo Mail
Posted by admin on Mar 14, 2011
Taken from PC World Magazine, February 2011 Edition
If you use a web-based e-mail client such as Gmail or Yahoo Mail, you’ve likely encountered this hassle before: You click a ‘mail to’ link on a Web page, and then watch while Windows tries to open Outlook, Windows Live Mail or some other desktop program you don’t use and have not configured. Error messages (and possibly cursing) ensue.
You could jump through various hoops to configure Windows, your browser, or both to direct such e-mail links to the proper destination (to Gmail say), but why bother? I’ve found a small, simply utility – GmailDefaultMaker (find. pcworld.com/71071) – that will do the hoop-jumping on your behalf.
Just run the free program and choose the default e-mail service you want: Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo. (Yes, the program needs a name change.) Then go about your business. It’s that easy.
Now, whenever you click a ‘mail to’ link, you’ll land in the proper Web client, not in an unwated desktop program.
Dad creates program to limit internet use
Posted by admin on Feb 11, 2011
Taken from Guelph etcetera, February 10, 2011 edition
Software developer James Alexander is no longer public enemy No. 1 in the eyes of his kids. A groundhog is now in their crosshairs. Tired of trying to coax, coerce and kick his kids off the internet, Alexander developed a program that boots them off on his behalf. It took Alexander nearly a year to perfect the program Groundhog, an application that limits internet use.
The application allows parents to limit a child’s internet access to a specified amount of time. Once the child has used their alloted time, the application cuts the connection to the internet. The program also has an optional “blank screen” effect, which renders not just the internet but the entire computer useless.
The program has a “parent mode” which allows the parent to override the program with their own login. Each child receives their own user name and password, allowing each to have their own allotted time of use. Alexander said he’s noticed his two teenage kids using the computer for more practical reasons, such as homework, rather than games and chatting. “Up until now, it was used as an entertainment box. Can you blame a kid for spending time on the computer? They’re fabulous and wonderful boxes,” Alexander said. “All of a sudden it changed.”
Groundhog is a free application, available at www.mediavention.com. The program is only available to PC users.
Clean Your Laptop or Desktop LCD Properly
Posted by admin on Jan 11, 2011
Taken from PC World Magazine, January 2012 Edition
When it comes to cleaning an LCD screen, there’s a right way and a wrong way. Let’s focus on the right way. For starters, turn your monitor off. In fact, to eliminate any risk of shock or electrical damage, unplug it. (Better safe than sorry). This cleaning will involve some moisture, and the last thing you want is for liquid to contact anything powered. Dampen a clean, soft cloth (a paper towel will do, but it isn’t the best choice) with water. Don’t soak it – just moisten it. And don’t use anything other than water. Ammonia- and alcohol-based cleaners can ruin an LCD. If plain water doesn’t do the job, make a 50/50 solution of distilled water and white vinegar. If you decide to use a spray bottle, don’t spray directly on the screen. Instead, spray the water or solution onto the cloth, and then wipe the screen. Use a circular motion, which is best for eliminating streaks, and apply only light pressure. Finally, let the screen air dry for a few minutes, or gently wipe it dry with a fresh cloth. Only when you’re absolutely certain it’s 100% dry, plug it back in and turn it on.
ICS Note: We sell a bottle of pre-moistened cloths that are perfect for cleaning all your electronics – at only $10 per bottle!
Free and Paid Antivirus Compared
Posted by admin on Dec 29, 2010
Taken from PC World Magazine, January 2011 Edition
Depending on whom you ask, paying for antivirus software is either a good (even necessary) investment, or a total rip-off. But you can find plenty of reasons to choose a free program or a paid antivirus program.
#1 Paid Anitivirus Program – Norton Antivirus 2011 based on best detection of malware and a very good interface.
Price: $70 per year for 3 PCs or $40 per year for 1 pC
#2 Paid Antivirus Program – BitDefender Antivirus Pro 2011 has a better interface but not as good at detection of malware.
Price: $40 per year for 3 PCs
#3 Paid Antivirus Program – Avast Pro Antivirus 5 finds most malware but does not have a great interface.
Price: $40 per year for 1 PC
#1 Free Antivirus Program – Avast Free Antivirus based on its speed and interface.
#2 Free Antivirus Program – Avira Antivir Personal has a better detection rate, but needs a makover of the interface.
#3 Free Antivirus Program – Microsoft Security Essentials is fast and has a nice interface, but sometimes needs help blocking all infections.
Essentially, all antivirus programs are only as good as their updates. Keep your operating system, antivirus program, and all other applications up-to-date all the time… and run a full scan at least once a week. There is always a “window of opportunity” from the time when a new malware is identified and the software is patched to detect and remove it. No software is better at protecting your system than smart surfing – don’t go to websites or open email attachments that you do no trust.
The Tech Brands You Can Trust
Posted by admin on Dec 29, 2010
Taken from PC World Magazine, January 2011 Edition
The original article is several pages long, and I suggest you check out the PC World website for the complete writeup. What you will find here is just a sampling of the results. You may be surprised at the names you will see at the top of the lists… or maybe you won’t. They surveyed 79,000 tech aficionados to get their results.
Top 5 Laptops – Apple, Asus, Toshiba, MSI, Sony
At the Bottom – Dell for Home and HP for Home
Top 5 Desktops – Apple, Asus, Alienware, Compaq, Dell for Business
At the Bottom – Dell for Home and HP for Home
Top 5 HDTVs – Panasonic, LG, Sony, Hitachi, Olevia
At the Bottom – Mitsubishi and Viewsonic
Top 5 Cameras – Panasonic, Sony, Casio, Fujifilm, GE
At the Bottom – Kodak and Vivitar
Top 5 Printers – Canon, Brother, Epson, Samsung, Konica Minolta
At the Bottom – Lexmark and HP for Home
The Most Dangerous Places On The Web
Posted by admin on Dec 14, 2010
Taken from PC World Magazine, November 2010 Edition
The sacriest sites on the Net? They’re not the ones you might suspect. Here’s what to watch for and how to stay safe.
The Place: Websites That Use Flash
The Threat: Malicious Flash files that can infect your PC
If You Have To Go There: Make sure you keep your Flash plug-ins up-to-date, and you can configure the Flash plug-in to ask you before it downloads any Flash cookies.
The Place: Twitter
The Threat: Shortened links that lead you to potentially harmful places
If You Have To Go There: Simply don’t click links.
The Place: Your E-Mail Inbox
The Threat: E-mail scams/attachments that get you to install malware or give up personal info
If You Have To Go There: Don’t trust anything in your inbox. Instead of clicking on links in a retailer’s e-mail, go directly to the retailer’s site.
Read the rest of this entry »
Take Care of Your Screen, Phone and Camera
Posted by admin on Dec 10, 2010
Taken from PC World Magazine, October 2010 Edition
Your HDTV, your smart phone, and your digital camera all need to stay clean, and each requires protection from accidents. Let’s start with one maintenance chore that they have in common.
Clean Your Screen: A dirty LCD screen won’t give you much pleasure or information. But screens are delicate. Clean them the wrong way, and you’ll ruin them for good. Use a dry lint-free cloth whenever possible. If you need to use a moist cloth, be careful. Do not use any cleaning product… just a bit of water and vinegar… or the special wipes made for the job.
Clean your HDTV: Again, use a dry cloth whenever possible and keep moisture away from the screen. Don’t forget about the dust bunnies that collect on the rear of the TV… air flow is very important.
Protect your Phone: Be careful of where you put it, keep it charged up, keep it away from moisture and heat. Best bet it to keep it in a protective case.
Care for Your Camera: Clean the lens with compressed air or a small brush. You can also use a cleaning spray and cloth used for cleaning eye glasses. And it goes without saying to store your camera in a padded case whenever it is not being used.
Technology’s Biggest Myths
Posted by admin on Dec 7, 2010
Taken from PC World Magazine, October 2010 Edition
As it turns out, Windows Vista really wasn’t all that slow; and no, your PC probably won’t fry if you open it up without wearing a wrist strap. Thanks in large part to the Internet, the tech world is teeming with lies, half-truths, and misinformation. We’ve dug up some of the Web’s most notorious nuggets of conventional wisdom to see which holds up to scrutiny and which are merely urban legends.
The following is just a synopsis, for the full article, click here.
Security Apps Frequently Miss New Malware
Posted by admin on Dec 3, 2010
Taken from PC World Magazine, September 2010 Edition
New research further confirms that difficulties security vendors are having in keeping up with malware.
Security software can take an average of two days to block an attack Website, says a report from NSS Labs. The firm developed a test that mimics how people browse the Web, and recorded how and when security suites blocked the threats – if they did so at all. The latest test ran for 24 hours a day for nine days.
Some security vendors employ reputation systems, which usually involves checking a database of blacklisted sites. But such systems are not widely used and are immature, according to NSS Labs. Overall, vendors took an average of 45.8 hours to block a site, if the blocked it at all, the report states.
If a suite did not block a bad site the first time, NSS Labs continued to test every 8 hours to see how long the vendor took to add protection; times ranged from 4.62 hours to 92.48 hours. The researchers also had a “sero hour” criterion, in which the test checked whether the software stopped newly found malware sites, and the results weren’t great: The best vendor blocked new sites only 60.6 percent of the time.
Hard Drive vs. RAM: Which Boosts Speed More?
Posted by admin on Nov 30, 2010
Taken from PC World Magazine, October 2010 Edition
Your system is due for a hardware upgrade, but your budget won’t bear the burden of both a blazing new hard drive and an extra injection of RAM. So it’s decision time: If you’re looking to improve general performance on the cheap, do you shell out for a high-end drive or more memory?
PCWorld Labs analyst Thomas Luoung has an obsession with optimization that borders on clinical, and during a recent day off he found himself idly running performance tests on his home PC just to see what would happen.
The results Thomas brought in to work the next morning were surprising. When he examined the results, he found virtually no appreciable performance difference between his old Velociraptor setup and the superfast Samsung SSD drive. What was more startling was the comparatively drastic performance improvement afforded by a RAM upgrade that cost about the same as a new drive.
Thomas has always had the need for speed, and his after-hours optimization tests prove that adding more RAM has the potential to shave the time you spend on workday tasks such as slinging spreadsheets and editing video. In the eternal battle between performance and price, upgrading your rig with 8GB of DDR3 RAM garners far more bang from your buck than trading up to a boutique high-speed drive like the 128GB Samsung SSD.
