Final Edition as Editor

Plot Ideas – 1000+

Plot Ideas 1000

View more documents from Gregory West.

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:

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.

Social Media Marketing and WHY?

Social Media Trainer's Bag of Tricks

View more presentations from Beth Kanter.

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

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:

LEADING LAW PROFESSOR SPEAKS OUT AGAINST BELL INTERNET

ADVICE:  SWITCH TO CABLE INTERNET ASAP

=========================================================

One CLICK TV Guide Magic

One CLICK for TV Guide

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!

ONLINE TV GUIDE

Excellent Find Feature

————————————————————————————————————

Facebook Has Twitter Feature: RETWEETs

Facebook copies Twitter in RETWEETING Feature

Google Sets Up Haiti Help Site

Google Sets Up Help Haiti Site

Email With Bank-type Security

Top Security for Gmail Users

Now you can get the same security as your BANK by using https.

In gmail (not using gmail? shame on you LOL) go to SETTINGS and scroll down to where it says:

Browser Connection:

Make sure you check the box for “Always use https“. As you see above it is not checked by default.

Hey…It can’t get any easier!

Church

United Church of Canada is ready for transformation.

Central United Church

Leopard OS X – A Review & Preview

A Must Have

Mac OS X Leopard

The Missing Manual

by David Pogue
Published by O’Reilly Media Inc.
ISBN-13: 978-0-596-52952-9
Pages: 893
USA: $34.99 / CDA: $34.99
missingmanuals.com

If you love your Mac, you will love this book. This book details every aspect of the Leopard operating system, from simple to advanced. Looking up how to do something is fast and easy, although this book is a real treat for simply browsing topics to learn some tricks and tips that you won’t find in most other Help sections.

For instance, only about 4% of us back up our computers and now there is no excuse. Leopard comes equipped with its own backup system, Time Machine, and with this book you can easily follow the simple step-by-step process to ensure you never lose anything again. When working through these types of sections you can easily set up the process, read the technical stuff, or try out some of the exciting tips that are all highlighted: basic, moderate, and advanced data. But the bottom line is all these sections are designed to get you going, give you the “under-the-hood” scoops, and show you some magic tricks to boot that helps make this book a good read.

Apple created 300 new features inside Leopard, however they failed to let you in on many of the tricks and tips that “demystifies” this amazing new operating system. In this book David Pogue also shows “refugees”, who escaped Windows and moved to a Mac. Windows users need no other books, as Pogue shows where they went in Mac OS X 10.5.

This book is spread out in six parts: The Mac OS X Desktop, Programs in Mac OS X, The Components of Mac OS X, The Technologies of Mac OS X, Mac OS Online, Appendices.

In the first part you discover folders and windows and how to organize your data. Pogue takes you through the various items such as: Spotlight searching, using the Dock, Desktop and Toolbars and gives you an expert feel as you see how simple Leopard is to use.

Without a doubt, this book is a great refresher; it is one that you will refer to when you you’re stuck. The thing I really like about this book is that you can pick it up and open it anywhere and begin reading.  I highly recommend this book for all level of users, both as a learning tool, and as a quick reference guide. Before you call a technician for a problem, treat yourself to this “must have” book first.

GET A SNEAK PEEK PREVIEW OF THIS BOOK -  CLICK HERE

Review Written by Gregory West – Member of COMP & APCUG

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:

Song Lyrics Lookup While it Lasts

Get your favourite song lyrics B4 it is too late.

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.

Better Than Google MAPS? – Maybe…

Check out the new map kid on the block from Microsoft:

http://www.bing.com/maps/

Check out the new "map" kid on the block.

CLICK on the map for a brand new adventure – One you will not regret and be glad you did.

O’Reilly Media HELP Website

Your Questions Answered HERE

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.

CLICK HERE to give this site a TEST DRIVE.

CLICK HERE and get involved with O’Reilly’s New Program

How & What Others Are Searching

VIEW 8 PEOPLE AND HOW THEY SEARCH WITH GOOGLE…

FACEBOOK Security New

“We’re making some changes to give you more control of your information and help you stay connected. We’ve simplified the Privacy page and added the ability to set privacy on everything you share, from status updates to photos.” (Facebook Notice)

For all the details click me

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.

See Windows 7 in Action