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Plot Ideas – 1000+
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Your Camera Now Has WiFi Uploading
http://www.eye.fi/google?postTabs=0
If you upload photos online this is a must have. Watch this video to see how EASY IT IS TO PUT PICTURES ONLINE:
Filed under: EYE FI, computers | Tagged: digital camera, eye-fi wireless, eyeficard, flikr, online storage, picasa, sarnia, uloading, WiFi | 2 Comments »
A re-Blog: Computer Buyers BEWARE!!!
A Couple of Computer Tips For You
Computer Buyers BEWARE!!!
The Internet is Getting More Speed
and You Need Wireless “n”…
by Gregory West
Ok, without going into a rhetoric of computer mumbo-jumbo, the bottom line is DO NOT buy a computer that does not have 802.11n for a wireless Internet connection. Why, because it will be an old computer you are buying that will not connect to the Internet fast enough to keep up. The older computers have 802.11g. So, to sum up, you need the “n” version, not the “g” version for a wireless Internet connection. Don’t get fooled by an overzealous clerk.
Downloading movies will be a snap with “n”. As David Wylie, Canwest News Service says you will “download using wireless Internet devices [that] will be so fast you’ll be able to download a high-definition movie in less time than it takes to pop a bag of microwave popcorn. (go to (http://80211n.com) for full details on wireless Internet information.
Very soon, computer manufacturers will manufacture WiFi enabled computers to the former lower standards if they wish to have their products certified by the alliance. The old standard is 802.11g. The new faster and longer distance is called: 802.11n (g and n being the important namesakes with “n” now taking the huge lead in the wireless Internet world of WiFi).
The speed you are probably getting with your older WiFi 802.11(g) Internet connection is 7 times less than the newer “n” version. The “n” version covers twice the range. which is great for home computer networks. For some time now laptops have been selling with the 802.11n built in. Mine does; does yours? Check before you buy, remembering buyer beware.
Help Yourself Troubleshoot for Answers the Easy Way
I will probably be shooting myself in the foot and losing clients but here are two good ways to get free computer help.
First: Many reputable companies have a “Support” box on their websites that you can click for help. The support comes by way of CHAT. It is very easy. Once you have made the connection, usually by the click of a button on the website, a company rep will appear in text asking you what is your problem. You then type it in the box and wait for an helpful answer. I use this quite often for troubleshooting, not only computers, but also software that does not seem to be doing what it is supposed to.
Second: Forums, Forums, Forums. Can I say it again? One of the most valuable devices on the Internet for help is called an “Online Forum”. Basically, these are websites that are designed specifically for you. I own a Macbook. When I need to know something about my Mac I head over to the Apple’s website and click on their “Forum”. If I have a problem with my Kodiak Travel Trailer I go to that Forum for help.
Some Forums are designed by the companies themselves on their websites. If there is no forum quite likely someone has started up one that will help you with whatever product you have. For instance, my daughter and son-in-law’s central air conditioning quit. Yes right in the midst of the August heat wave. They quickly went to a forum for these devices and got help almost immediately.
Remember, people from every part of the globe use Forums and that makes it a 24/7 free troubleshooting paradise.
[bi-line]
Gregory West is a basic home computer consultant for MAC and PC and software reviewer for major computer companies. Also come and join in on his free Basic Computer Training sessions, held weekly at Central United Church (http://central-united-church.org) this Fall.
Gregory can be reached at gregorywest@bell.net
Check out his blog for more free Computer & Internet Tips:
http://tips4computers.wordpress.com
NOTE: This article appeared in First Monday magazine September 2009 and received flack from a local used computer outlet. They claim that people do not need wireless “n” in their computers. However, one must remember that they sell “Used Computers” so they have an axe to grind. If you are putting out good money for a brand new computer/laptop make sure you get the best for your money…Which is wireless “n” capability.
Filed under: WiFi | Tagged: 802.11, APCUG, central united, computer, computer user groups, computer users group, laptop, mac, macbook, microsoft, router, sarnia, WiFi, wireless n | Leave a Comment »
Google411 for Travelers and More
Google411 – The Perfect Phone Feature
by Gregory West
prospector16@gmail.com
Probably by now most people have used or heard of the free directory assistance that is available on the Internet: canada411.ca. That service works for both individual and business phone numbers and addresses.
Google has taken this technology much, much further. Enter: Google411.
Google offers a free phone directory and calling service that finds businesses and their phone numbers. Google will also connect you to the business immediately, or you can simply listen to the list of businesses and then make your choice.
The service is quite easy to use. You simply dial up 1-800-GOOG-411 (I have GOOG411 on my cell phone’s speed dial) and state your city and province. Then you say what it is you are looking for.
I tested it out by saying: “pizza”. A google voice began voicing the area pizza restaurants. If I had been hungry I could have easily been connected to the pizza business of my choice. This proves to be an excellent travel tool as you may want to book ahead a hotel room, reserve a seat in a restaurant and maybe check if a certain store is still open. At the present time Google only offers this service for business and non-profit listings, but not for residential information.
I love canada411.ca on my laptop for looking up names, addresses, and phone numbers, but when I nowhere near a WiFi hotspot, my cell phone gets me the information, connection and listings fast and extremely efficient.
For more information, head on over to this website: www.google.ca/goog411 and watch a Google voice engineer demonstrate this highly excellent and free service.
Note: “ Google doesn’t charge you to access Google products from a mobile phone…Check with your provider for more information about fees associated with accessing the Internet from your mobile phone” (google.ca).
Gregory West is a Mac Computer Instructor for Lambton College. He also holds free “Basic PC Computer and Internet Training” seminars at Central United Church:
http://central-united-church.org – (Click on “Groups).
Gregory can be reached at prospector16@gmail.com
More TIPS on Greg’s Blog: http://tips4computers.wordpress.com
Filed under: Bell Telephone, COMP, computer users, computers, sarnia | Tagged: canada411, cell phone, directory assistance, google, google search, information, mobile, phone, sarnia | Leave a Comment »
Bell Sympatico AND Why I Quit Them
Do yourself a favour and switch to Cable Internet RIGHT NOW…
I was an original Bell Sympatico High Speed customer from DAY ONE, well in excess of a decade. Two months ago I finally had enough of their TECH HELP employees guessing, lying and hanging up on me.
But the most important reason I quit Bell is that they kept lowering my High Speed (throttling down is the term). They said the didn’t do it but when I phoned (several times on the same issue) and complained that my Internet connection was soooooooooooo sloooooooooow…They said they would boost it up and it would take 24 hours…Guess what? As soon as I hung up my Internet speed was back up to the regular speed of Bell.
It was my son-in-law (who works for a local cable Internet company) who suggested I test drive cable Internet…Guess what?
I found that cable Internet is 3 times faster than Bell and I have yet to have ANY problems with the cable company.
BUT DO NOT TAKE MY WORD…WATCH THIS VIDEO BELOW:
READ WHAT A LEADING LAW PROFESSOR HAS TO SAY ABOUT BELL’S INTERNET:
ADVICE: SWITCH TO CABLE INTERNET ASAP
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Filed under: computers | Tagged: bell canada, bell net, cable internet, cogeco, cogeco cable, dsl, high speed, Internet, Michael Geist, sarnia, sympatico, throttling, TV | 1 Comment »
One CLICK TV Guide Magic
Enter your Postal Code, CLICK and you have the current TV Guide for your area. It is that simple. But wait, there’s more (there always is isn’t there LOL): Now you can even search for shows and movies on the same site…
Enter your personal Postal Code and CLICK … Sorry only in Canada!
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Filed under: TV | Tagged: cable tv, cogeco, online, sarnia, TV, tv guide, tv guide sarnia | Leave a Comment »
Facebook Has Twitter Feature: RETWEETs
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Google Sets Up Haiti Help Site
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A New FREE Anti Virus
PANDA anti virus software works online and is not on your computer. Thus, your computer runs FASTER and safer getting updates in 6 minutes instead of 48 hours.
Cloud Computing is ubiquitous these days. We use it when we get our emails online, when we upload photos using Picasa and Flickr, and we use when we don’t even know about it. So what is Cloud Computing and why am I talking about it here?
Cloud Computing is simply this: You use software that is on the Internet and not on your computer. That’s all folks! No more, no less.
Since OLD antivirus programs bog down and stall computers because they are top heavy and live on your computer’s hard drive, you yell and scream about your computer being SOOOOOOOOOO SLOOOOOW.
Along comes “PANDA”, a cloud computing antivirus that lives on the Internet and not on your computer. It is FAST, VERY EFFICIENT, and it is FREE.
Check out this full review HERE
Also, take the time to watch this short video on Panda and how it works:
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Song Lyrics Lookup While it Lasts
I won’t bore you with the dreaded but interesting details, although you must be aware that scooping lyrics online may be a thing of the past.
Click on the wikia icon (left) to get the lyrics to your favourite songs, without all the ads. It is fun too.
For those of you who want to read about this new change click on this sentence.
Filed under: computers | Tagged: computers, lyrics, music, songs, videos | Leave a Comment »
Better Than Google MAPS? – Maybe…
Check out the new map kid on the block from Microsoft:
CLICK on the map for a brand new adventure – One you will not regret and be glad you did.
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O’Reilly Media HELP Website
CHECK OUT THIS COMPUTER HELP SITE
See people helping people…
You won’t regret the few seconds it will take to find yourself gaining the how tos on topics from not just computers, but also Q&A on the Internet, Twitter, Facebook, digital photography and so much more you will not have a question that cannot be answered.
Let’s say you “know it all”, why not lend some of your knowledge to this site by way of answering questions posed by users. It is a lot of fun and you will be helping out other computer users. And who knows, like myself, you may just find yourself learning more about what you thought you knew and didn’t.
Filed under: computer users, computers, gregory west, mac, photos, sarnia, video | Tagged: computer, computer user groups, computer users group, digital, facebook, help, linux, mac, macbook, microsoft, oreilly, sarnia, tech help, vista, windows 7, xp | Leave a Comment »
How & What Others Are Searching
VIEW 8 PEOPLE AND HOW THEY SEARCH WITH GOOGLE…
Filed under: computers, video | Tagged: google search, video | Leave a Comment »
Windows 7 Demonstration by APCUG
Windows 7 is demonstrated by Jay Feron, President of the Association of Computer User’s Groups (APCUG.net). Learn how this operating system is the BEST that Microsoft has developed to date, according to the latest data.
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