Lessfeet

Gmail Tip

Mark — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:32:30 +0000

The email from all of my account goes to Gmail so I have to go to different sites or open and email program. I go to Gmail and it’s all there. See Lifehacker. But that’s not the tip!

Google does not check your POP account frequently so you may have your Gmail open but your not seeing all of you messages because they’re still on the server. You can go to “Settings”, “Accounts and Import”, go down to “Check mail using POP3″ and click on “Check mail now”. This will import any new messages.

This method is very inconvenient. A better way is to turn on this new feature that checks your POP accounts whenever you click the “Refresh link” just above your messages.

At the top of the Gmail page click “Settings” and “Labs”. Find “Refresh POP accounts” and enable it. Now you can check your POP accounts with ease.

LastPass

Mark — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:30:01 +0000

I’m always saying use good passwords. Use upper and lower case letters and numbers. I do all of this but one has to have an algorithm to remember ones passwords. The problem is in order to use the password algorithm it has to be easy. Something you can do in your head. My algorithm is so easy that if you discovered one of my passwords it would be no problem to figure out the rest. An algorithm that you can do in your head must be more difficult and hopefully you have the gray matter to use it or you must try something else.

LastPass is the answer. LastPass generate pseudorandom passwords for you and store them on a secure website. Then LastPass can auto-fill passwords as you need them. It can even log you in automatically. It took me a while but I generated all new passwords for all of my logins, they are all different and they are saved securely on the LastPass site.

Pro Microphones to USB

Mark — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 23:16:08 +0000

You can do podcasting or multi-track recording without the need for a mixer. If you have a good quality professional microphone (Shure SM58 or better) you can connect it directly to your computer via USB using one of two devices.

The first is a USB microphone cable the SoundTech STUSBXLR10. One end is an XLR microphone connector the other a USB to connect it directly into your computer. You cannot use this cable with phantom power microphones.

If you have a phantom power mic what you need is the Shure X2u XLR-to-USB Microphone Adapter.

I have the SoundTech but I seldom use it. I would think that you would have to be very careful when handling it. If you break it it may not be repairable so don’t break it. Maybe a better idea is to buy the Shure even if you don’t need phantom power. It may last longer.

Upgrade To Windows 7 Now

Mark — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:52:06 +0000

If your still using the Windows XP or Windows 7 RC (time is running out for the RC – release candidate) you might want to be thinking about installing your Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade that you preordered back in the summer of 2009 for $49. Didn’t catch that deal? I’m sorry.

There are several methods for upgrading. If you’re current using Windows Vista then the upgrade path is obvious. First make a backup of all of your data. While your computer is ON put in the Windows 7 disk. A setup screen will start. Just follow the prompts. Do not install the new OS over the vista install. You’ll want to start over with a clean install. After install is complete get all of the update then activate your Win7 installation. This is the easiest install. If your installing from Windows XP, Windows 7 RC or from a clean hard-drive gets more complicated. Here’s instructions from Paul Thurrott’s Supersite for Windows.

Clueless Woman On Tech Guy

Mark — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:33:22 +0000

Caller on Leo Laporte’s Tech Guy show was using a neighbors wireless for a year and now wonders why it’s gone.

Evernote

Mark — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:02:01 +0000

I known about and have used Evernote a little. Evernote is a web application that saves your text notes, photos, audio note and webpage clips in the cloud to use as reminders and help keep your life organized. I’ve got the phone application on my Nexus One. I’m going to use it more often.

Dearly Gparted

Mark — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:01:03 +0000

I’ve been using “Powerquest Partition Magic” (a non-distructive partitioning program) for sometime now. Here is a great free and opensource tool that replaces P-Magic. Gparted is a non-destructive that pretty much has the look and feel of P-Magic. The only difference I see is P-Magic runs in DOS and Gparted runs on a Linux GIU. Both good programs but Gparted is free!!!

PC Decrapifer

Mark — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:00:39 +0000

Don’t you hate it when you buy a new pc and it has preinstalled all kinds of programs you will never use. Even worse half of them start up when your computer starts and slows your new fast computer down to a craw. The PC Decrapifier will uninstall many of the common trialware and annoyances found on many of the PCs from big name OEMs. You get to see the list of items it detects and then choose what will be removed automatically.

Jungle Disk

Mark — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 23:00:16 +0000

Jungle Disk is an application that lets you store files and backup data securely to Amazon.com’s S3 ™ Storage Service. S3 does not have an application So Jungle Disk provides you with one. Jungle Disk creates a network drive in your computer and you just drag folder and files over or you can setup an automatic backup. I’ve been using Jungle Disk foryears and it is outstanding. Jungle Disk use to cost $20 and you could use it on as many computers as you wished but now I think it is some sort of monthly subscription. I think it’s $3 dollars a month. The data backed up via Amazon S3 is very cheap as well.

Ultimate Boot CD 4win

Mark — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 22:59:57 +0000

Here a free download that any pc tech or serious enthusiast should have in they’re tool kit. Ultimate Boot CD is the best set of tools for Windows XP out there and you don’t have to pay anything for them. The UBCD has 9 anti-spyware tools, anti-virus tools, 4 CD burning applications, password recovery, network tools, registry tools, benchmarking tools and much, much more, See full list!