Archive for October, 2007

Best 2 freeware programs against spyware

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007

Today we’ll talk about the best two freeware programs against spyware. The first one is Spyware Blaster
This is what it can do:

Prevent the installation of ActiveX-based spyware, adware, browser hijackers, dialers, and other potentially unwanted software.
Block spyware/tracking cookies in Internet Explorer and Mozilla/Firefox.
Restrict the actions of potentially unwanted sites in Internet Explorer.

Just download it and enable all protection.
spyware_blaster.gif

The second program is called Spybot Search and Destroy. This is a more complex program but it’s very effective against spyware. It can run when Windows starts, before any components are loaded, and thus, it can remove existing spyware.

Spybot - Search & Destroy detects and removes spyware, a relatively new kind of threat not yet covered by common anti-virus applications. Spyware silently tracks your surfing behaviour to create a marketing profile for you that is transmitted without your knowledge to the compilers and sold to advertising companies. If you see new toolbars in your Internet Explorer that you haven’t intentionally installed, if your browser crashes inexplicably, or if your home page has been “hijacked” (or changed without your knowledge), your computer is most probably infected with spyware

spybot_search_and_destroy.png

Tags: software, antispyware, spyware blaster, Spybot - Search & Destroy

A Free and Easy To Use Guitar Tuner

Tuesday, October 23rd, 2007

I don’t know how many of you play at the guitar. But who knows maybe you know somebody and want to help him/her.
Or maybe you would like to see in what notes are you speeking or when you are saying an OOOOOOO what note it is.

It’s fun to play and usefull if you would like to tune your guitar and it’s free (always click evaluate).

aptunermain.jpg

Machine requirements for running AP Tuner:

* Pentium compatible CPU, 200 MHz or greater
* Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows ME, Windows XP, or Windows Vista
* 32 megabytes RAM
* 2 megabytes of available disk space for installation
* Sound card
* Microphone (or adapter if connecting directly to electric instrument)

To install AP Tuner, download the file APTunerInstall308 from here

How to search on specific sites using Google.com

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

After learning how to use the Google filetype operator, now it’s time for Google.com’s site operator. This operator tells google that you only want to search pages from a specific site.
For example if you want to search things about Napoleon but only on .edu domain you’d use the query string:
Napoleon site:edu
Or if you want to search only a specific website, you can use:
Napoleon site:fordham.edu
Watch the next video for a more detailed view over the Google’s site operator.

Tags: how to, google, google site operator, tutorial, search

How to search for specifical filetypes using Google.com

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

Google is a great search engine, but its power unleashes only when used with some of its options that only few know.
Today we’ll discuss the “filetype” tag. Basically you just tell google you want a file that is a mp3 or a pdf.
For example let’s search for harry potter books in pdf. The query string would be:
harry potter filetype:pdf
I’ve managed to find a video that will help you understand exactly the usage of Google’s “filetype” tag.

Tags: google, filetype, search, how to

How to Create PDF Files Instantly From any Program that Supports Printing

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

pdf-noob.jpgHere is a little program that I bumped into it. It’s small and fast. The installation kit has only 2.5 mega.
Whits this program you will have an virtual printer. Whenever you want a pdf document just hit Print and select the printer. The printing process will start and you will be asked where to save the document. So this all…

No annoying ads, “waiting seconds” and other “special offers” . The program is free for personal and commercial use.

doPDF enables you to convert any printable document to PDF format. The program installs as a virtual printer driver and can be accessed from any application that supports printing. Simply select the doPDF printer instead of your regular printer and the file will be converted and saved as PDF document. doPDF supports basic conversion features, including customizable resolution, page scaling, predefined page size and quality settings.

Go here to download it.

3 Must Have Plugins on Firefox for Fun, Utility and Safety and How To Use Them

Monday, October 22nd, 2007

I wrote a few days ago 7 reason why you should use firefox (7 beeing a magic number).

Here is what you will learn from this article:

1.What is and how to install plugins / add ons
2. How to configure / update / delete add ons
3. 3 Must Have Plugins for Fun, Utility and Safety

1. What is a Firefox plugin / add on?

First of all a plugin or an add on is the same thing. You can see the plugins installed from Tools> Add-ons.
So basically an add on is a little piece of software that runs from and into your firefox browser. Using add-ons you can have in one small application lots of other applications that will run from a single click.

The advantage is that you don’t have to scroll, search and open other programs from other places of your computers. You can have all you need in your browser.
A disadvantage is that you have lots and I mean lots of plugins then this may slow down your browsing - so be carefully and install just what you need.

2. How to configure / update / delete add ons

Go to: Tools > Add ons. Select the plugin you are interested. Look at the picture:
firefox-add-ons-configuration.jpg

Now select the button you want (delete, options, disable). If you want to update press the update button (bottom right).

3 Must Have Plugins for Fun, Utility and Safety

Here are 3 add ons that I recommend you to use.

stumble.pngFor Fun and Domains of Interes go to http://www.stumbleupon.com/ and make an account. There you will find a link to an Firefox Add-On if you don’t find it go here.

Click install now. If a yellow bar will appear on top click it and hit Allow. After this click again install now. This window should appear.

stumble-install.jpg

Wait until the button install becomes active and then press it. After installation restart Firefox and a toolbar with stumbleupon will appear. Set your preferences (domains of interest) log in and start using it by pressing Stumble!. If you like a site press I like it! if you don’t press thumb down.
For hiding or showing the toolbar press Ctrl+F11.

Fore Utility .

gmail-manager.pngIf you have one gmail account or more this is the plugin for you - Gmail Manager. With these plugin you will be able to configure, access and use all your Gmail accounts.

Allows you to manage multiple Gmail accounts and receive new mail notifications. Displays your account details including unread messages, saved drafts, spam messages, labels with new mail, space used, and new mail snippets.

Here is the link for this nifty plugin. Use the same steps like you did bellow. After this restart Firefox and go to preferences and click Add to add you accounts. The plugin will be visible in your Firefox status bar.

For Safety

adblock.jpgFore safety I recommend you to install adblock and block all annoying pop-ups and banners.

Right-click on a banner and choose “Adblock” from the context menu - the banner won’t be downloaded again. Maybe even replace parts of the banner address with star symbols to block similar banners as well. Or you select a filter subscription when Adblock Plus starts up the first time, then even this simple task will usually be unnecessary: the filter subscription will block most advertisements fully automatically.

This plugin will also be visible in the right corner. Right click on it and select list all blockable elements. Look at url-s that are starting with ads, ad server and so on. Select them an click ok. If you done something wrong go to preferences and delete them from there. Here is how my adblock looks.

You can put the same filters. This are one of the biggest networks out there that can be found on many sites.

adblock-preferences.jpg

Anyway if you want sometimes to see ads, right click and select disable. Be careful what you block.
Also you may find easier to use this plugin (adblock plus). Test them and decide what you will use. My recommendations goes for adblock because you have the most control and you will not let the software to decide based on one image.

Now you know how to install, update, disable, delete and configure Firefox add ons (or plugins). Be sure to practice and browse safety!

More to come. For any questions please comment below!

How to capture screenshots in Windows Media Player

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

Not many of you know that it’s possible to capture screenshots with Windows Media Player. Sure those who use more advanced players, like Bsplayer for instance, they have this option in their player menu.
Let me explain how to do it in Windows Media Player:
1) First of all open Windows Media Player
2) Then go to Now Playing menu and Select More Options.
3) Go to the Performance Tab, then chose Advanced
4) In the newly opened menu tick off the Use Overlay setting.

Now you’ll be able to capture screenshots using the “Print Screen” button on your keyboard, and then just paste it in your favorite image editor and save it as whatever you want.

media_player_screenshot.jpg

Tags: how to, tutorial, screenshot, print screen, windows media player

How to Save Images and Text From Webpage When Right Click Is Disabled

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

There are some weird webmasters that think that they can protect there online content by disabling the right click of the mouse.

I guess you all find those “cool sites” where you want it to copy a text or an image and you couldn’t because the right click was disabled.

Here are 3 simple methods that requires no advanced knowledge at all:

1. Select the text with the cursor of the mouse and use drag&drop (drag and drop it in you favorite text editor). The same you can do with the images. Drag the image in the address bar and than you can save it. Or drag it in you paint.

2. Select the text and hit ctrl+c and than ctrl+v (copy / paste isn’t it simple?). If you have a image select it with the cursor till you see it’s blueish and ctrl+c/ctrl +v.

3. Hit print screen and paste it in your graphic editor or paint.

In the worst case scenery just hit file>save page as and save the page than go check the directory for images and text.

So these are the simplest methods to save images and text from a webpage when right click is disabled

Top 7 Reasons Why Firefox is Better then Internet Explorer

Thursday, October 18th, 2007

I really enjoy surfing the web with Firefox. Here are my top 10 reasons why you should start downloading Firefox and start using it.

1. Firefox is safer
You are able to browse safer with Firefox because of it capacity to be configured. You got phishing protection (now embedded in Internet Explorer 7 too), automated update (with out the need to restart your computer) protection from spyware (in all the years I have used Firefox I had no problems with spywares).

2. Firefox is open source
So this means if you know to code or you know some one to code you can put anything on this browser. Being open source a large community of experts are testing it and upgrade it. Even you can do that if you know to program.

3. Firefox supports thousands of add ons

The browser has an add on manager and you can put any plugin/add on you wish. (I will talk about this in another post). You can have a mail, ftp client in it. You can do almost anything you want with out opening other programs.

4. You have a search engine manager
Why go to your favorite search engines when you can use the built in ones.
integratedsearch.png

5. You have a powerful pop-up blocker

6. Live Titles - keep up to date

Keep an eye on that auction or the status of a delivery using the new Live Titles feature in Firefox 2. Compact enough to fit as a bookmark label, Live Titles are regularly updated summaries of the most important information on a Web page. As the information on the page gets updated, so does your Live Title. Try one out in Firefox 2 by bookmarking www.woot.com.

7. Session Restore
This is a great future. Think you have all the sorts of pages opened and something happens: a crash, an electricity shut down and so on. And you got all your favorite pages opened but you hadn’t saved them. Firefox has the power and the ability to restore your session even if crash or a forced shout down happened.

Bonus: My 8 reasons and for sure not my last
It has a built in dictionaries so you will never make a mistake when you are writing (or in the most cases…).

So go ahead and download this baby from here.

How to disable “You are running out of space” message

Wednesday, October 17th, 2007

It’s really annoying when Windows XP shows that bubble message saying: You are running out of disk space on C: (or any other drive). To free space on this drive by deleting old or unnecessary files, click here.

I really hate it so this is one of the first things I do when I do a clean install of Windows XP.
I go to Start -> Run -> type regedit, press OK.

Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ Software\ Microsoft\ Windows\ CurrentVersion\ Policies\ Explorer.
There, create a new DWORD value and call it NoLowDiskSpaceChecks.
Double click the newly created value and enter the value 1 and press ok. Reboot and that message will never appear again.