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ClifNotesNewsletter041212
 December 12, 2004 |
Reviews
 PrintKey2000 -
the easiest to use screen capture tool yet |
Imm, a friend in the Computer Help
Club recommended this screen capture tool. She was right about how
easy it is to use. After you install it all you ever have to do is
hit your Print Scr key to bring it up.
Website
- Quote from the website
The Print Screen key isn't all it's cracked
up to be. Typically, you press it and it doesn't do anything --
leaving you with time consuming process of capturing a screenshot,
importing it into a graphics editor, and printing it. This free
program, on the other hand, does just what its name suggests. It may
not win any awards, but it certainly does the
job. |
 Quicktime
Alternative - Get rid of the bloated Apple QuickTime
application |
|
Some applications really get on
my bad side. Apple's QuickTime does this in several ways. First of
all it wants to grab all the file associations for audio and video
that it possibly can. Secondly it always wants to connect to the
internet. It wants updates or it wants to show you a website or it
wants to get more information about media. It wants to drive me
nuts. Last of all it tries to put itself in the autorun so it will
launch faster. It doesn't take no for an answer. If you try to
remove it's entry in the registry, it puts another right back in
next time it runs. Shame on you Apple!
I found a way to avoid Apple's
headacheware by using QuickTime Alternative. I've gotten no
complaints from my OS yet. In fact, I think it breathed a sigh of
relief.
QuickTime Alternative will allow you to
play QuickTime files (.mov, .qt and other extensions) without having
to install the official QuickTime Player. It also supports QuickTime
content that is embedded in
webpages. |
Real Alternative -
Goodbye forever to Real Player / Real One / Real
Headaches |
I could give you a real rant about Real
Player but this guy does it better. Get rid of a real bloated pain in
the butt and try out Real Alternative.
Website - Quote
from the website
... need a player that is capable of playing RealMedia. The
included Media Player Classic supports it and works very well.
Supported: RealAudio (.ra .rpm), RealMedia (.rm .ram .rmvb .rpx .smi
.smil), RealText (.rt), ReadPix (.rp), RealMedia embedded in
webpages. .smi and .smil files sometimes only play the first part of
a clip. This is a limitation of the current Media Player Classic.
The RealMedia Browser plugin supports Internet Explorer, Opera,
Netscape and Mozilla. |
 Splitter light
4.0 - the very small file splitting
utility |
This is a utility that you really need
to have around but rarely use. I've used a lot of different file
splitters over the years and this one is one of the best. A couple
weeks ago I had to take a large file to my dad's house. The
file wasn't big enough to burn to a CD and too big for a single
floppy. That's when it's time for Splitter. It's simple to use and
it's so small you can just add it to one of the floppies to help
join the files. I always put a file splitter in my Windows folder
and add a shortcut to it into the Sendto menu. That way I can call
it from the DOS command line and Run menu or right click on a file
and send it to the splitter.
Website
- Quote from the website
You want to save your data to floppy disks, but the file is too
large ? With Splitter you can split the data in parts of 1.44 MB or
other sizes. Because Splitter is extremely small (only 55KB), you
can deliver it easily with the first disk for joining.
Splitter
splits files or whole directories (including subdirectories).
You
can select any size of parts you like.
Splitter is able to handle
very large parts (only limited by the operating system).
No
installation necessary, Splitter can run from a floppy disk.
The
date of the original files will be restored.
Drag & drop from
the windows explorer.
Splitter optionally creates batch files for
rejoining.
Full commandline
support. |
SubhashVCD Player -
Multimedia Player on Steroids |
I've been using this one for quite
awhile. This is a really a great player. It's small, fast, and very
stable. I'd put it up against Winamp for the number of things you
can do with it. Way to go Subhash, keep up the good work.
Website - Quote
from the website
Hyped up, you can call it Windows Media Player On Steroids. It is a
full-fledged media player that can play all your audio and video
files such as ASF, AVI, MID, MIDI, MOV, MP3, MPEG, MPG, RMI, VOB,
WAV, WMA, WMV, AIF, AIFC, AIFF, AU, IVF, M1V, M3U, MP2, MPA, MPE,
MP2V, MPV2, SND, etc. |
 Transparent Window
Manager - manage your window settings |
|
Since I use WinME I can't try out
everything I see. Fortunately I've found others who are foolish
enough (like me) to try new programs.
Transparent window manager at www.oreware.com The best app that
Ive found in a month.
Website - Use caution, this site may not be trustworthy -
Quote from the website UPDATE !!! This is no
longer offered as freeware. Thanks to info from
Iron_Point.
This program helps you to manage your windows settings. You may
set transparency of any window required. You may place any window to
the top of others. Moreover you may disable input for any window. In
additional, you may place any program you required to windows system
tray. This feature very useful for power users, which have many
programs running. And this is NOT all
features! |
 X-RayPc Spyware
Remover - a smart replacement for
HiJackThis? |
|
I think XBlock (the author) has a
really good idea. I tried X-RayPc out and I think it does everything
they've advertised. Try convincing the thousands of
dedicated HiJackThis users though. Good luck.
As the spyware versus anti-spyware battle rages on, we were
looking for good tools that allow a user to examine the contents of
his machine and to take corrective actions against those. An
excellent candidate for this is "HijackThis" by Merijn, which is
already in use by plenty of "anti spyware experts". We felt that it
HJT could be improved upon in some ways and thus the idea for
X-RayPc Spyware Remover was born. We took the best parts of the HJT
concept and linked it up to the SpywareGuide database. The result is
something like a systems management tool with build-in expert
system. :)
Features
Lists active processes
List
autostarting programs
Lists BHOs, Download Program Files, IE
Extention plugins, etc...
Shows file size and MD5 of all files
instantly
One-Click "Triage" : shows which items are "good",
"bad" or "unknown"
Integrated file-uploader
Integrated
deactivation and removal of an item or file
Can kill running
processes (within the limits of the OS security model)
Can delete
in-use files (after reboot)
Can export the log file in text form,
Excel format and in HJT-compatible format
Detects hundreds of
"bad" programs
Fully compiled Win32 executable
Single file
download: No external runtimes, DLL's, libraries,...
No install
needed. No installer to mess with. Grab the executable and run it.
Delete it when done.
Fast! Complete analysis of the system is
done in a few
seconds | |
Tips
 Is your copy of
Windows genuine and are you afraid to find
out? |
|
Did you get your PC from a small
business? Was WindowsXP already installed? Did they give you a
certified system disk? Here is how you can find out. If you didn't
get a certified copy, you may be able to twist their arms,
because that practice may be just a bit illegal.
This is a link to Microsoft. It will
tell you if you have a "real" copy of XP or something that fell off
a truck. They promise not to collect any information that could
identify you. You'll also find some links to some free stuff
(software).
Website - no longer recommended -
- Quote from the website
One of the many benefits of owning genuine Microsoft software
is gaining access to Microsoft Support Services. Below are two ways
to help you determine whether your version of Windows is
genuine. |
 Langa List - I loaded the
code |
I loaded the code. In other words, my
website was mentioned in the world famous newsletter, the LangaList,
which puts out a twice weekly email with lots of PC help in it. The
last time that happened I received 12,000 visitors at my website in
two weeks. If you haven't signed up for the LangaList, I can highly
recommend it. How else do you think I learned so
much about PC's?
LangaList Home - Here is the
link to me at LangaList - Quote from the website
Make the most of your hardware,
software, and time online with the LangaList--- a free and lively,
award winning, twice-a-week e-newsletter from noted computer author
and editor Fred Langa. Each issue is packed with tips, tricks, and
other useful and interesting
information! |
 Martha's Web - are
you a responsible computer user? |
I've been aware of Martha's website for
a few months now and I even have her listed in my "affiliate"
section. She's got a link to my site and I've got a link to hers.
Martha has a great website devoted to giving people help on the
following PC Maintenance, Email, Outlook Express, Windows, Security,
Photos, Fun Stuff and much more. I confess I haven't been to
Martha's Web in a while and I was quite surprised to see an
article from her in MikesWhatsNews, one of the
newsletters I receive regularly. So I decided I'd better give her a
plug as well.
Quote from the website:
Are You a Responsible Computer
User?
If you answered 'Yes' to
this question, how did you determine your answer?
Did you say
'Yes' because:
1. You have a virus scanner.
2. You don't
open attachments.
3. You don't go to porn sites.
4. What you
do on your computer is no one else's concern.
OK, now answer
these
questions ... |
New Microsoft Security
Warning Affects Large Number of Windows |
|
Here's a bulletin from Aunty
Spams Net Patrol. Looks pretty bad, but don't most
announcements from Microsoft now days? I'll be darned, I may have
missed out on this vulnerability. I use IE 5.5 (everyone keeps
telling me to update it, but IE.6 on my WinME has too many memory
leaks).
A new security warning issued by Microsoft this week affects a
large number of Windows users. In fact, according to the Microsoft
site, people who should read the warning include "Customers who use
Microsoft Windows". That’s a pretty broad field.
The versions of Windows which are affected by this security
hole, and for which this update is recommended, include:
Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 1
Microsoft Windows XP
64-Bit Edition Service Pack 1
Microsoft Windows 98 and Microsoft
Windows 98 Second Edition (SE)
Microsoft Windows Millennium
Edition (Me)
Microsoft Windows 2000 Service Pack 3 and Microsoft
Windows 2000 Service Pack 4
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
Service Pack 6a
Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Terminal Server
Edition Service Pack 6
The affected components are various flavours of Internet
Explorer 6.X. Earlier versions do not appear to be affected.
|
WindowsXP.mvps.org - Registry Fixes,
Utilities, Illustrations and Tweaks |
Ramesh Srinivasan was kind enough to
reference my website as a link in his "Resources" page. I've been to
his website many times and have usually been led there on the search
for a fix for some XP problem. I think you will find his website to
be a valuable tool to help you keep your Windows XP and Internet
Explorer under control.
Website - Quote
from the website
Windows XP Shell and User Interface Tips, Troubleshooting docs,
registry edits to solve the common problems seen in Windows XP. Plus
a section on Internet Explorer
issues. | |
Cool
Websites
History of Nations -
where in the world are you from? |
I recently met a young man from
Mongolia. He was very nice, although he wanted me to convert to the
Church of the Latter Day Saints (Mormon). I had asked him if his
country was controlled by China. He told me it has been independent
for a very long time. I later looked up some info about Mongolia at
this website. Short, well written histories with plenty of
information.
Website - Quote from
the website
Welcome to History of Nations! This site has a history of
every nation in the world. Each country is covered by a brief
essay which gives the highlights of each nation's history. All
information is based on content from the US State Department with
new material added. |
PhotoSite.com
and PhotoSite AlbumBuilder |
|
If you need a place to host your
electronic photos I think you might want to try this one out. It
sounds great, and it's free!
They offer a freeware tool called
AlbumBuilder to help you build and upload your personal album.
I haven't had time to really try this out yet, but I'm just
waiting for a break in the action to give it a go.
1. Personal Web
address
Make it easy for visitors to return to
your site with your own, custom URL.
2. Flexible
organization
Create unlimited albums and
photoblogs and show them off using one of 24 styles.
3.
Privacy controls
Control access by
password-protecting or hiding private albums.
4. Camera
phone-enabled
NEW! View albums and publish
photos right from your camera phone.
|
Shake the Snow Globe
- and listen to them scream |
Thanks PilgrimDude. I had lost the link
to this funny flash website. I ran into it a year or two ago and had
a blast playing with it. Load the Globe and be thankful your house
isn't in there.
Website -
Quote from the website
The Objective e-tractions thought they had
a great idea back in the 2000 holiday season. The Snowglobe was an
edgy, engaging, and, hopefully, viral way to show off the company's
skill at Internet marketing but it didn't work out quite the way
they expected.
The Solution Snowglobe combines an eerie
soundtrack, a Norman Rockwell meets Stephan King storyline, and fun
copy to present an irreverent holiday scene. Even with all of this
going for it, the campaign did not take off when it was launched in
2000 to a series of email lists and personal contacts. It was soon
collecting dust in the archives.
The Results Then one foggy December eve in
2002, someone came across the site and sent it to a few friends. 4
weeks and 200,000 visits later, e-tractions had grown its fan base
on three continents. An article in Marketing Sherpa details the
entire campaign. |
STAR WARS: DUALITY AND
BEYOND - can't get enough of Star
Wars |
You've got me CyberGuide, I've never
heard of Duality. I thought this movie was awesome. I just can't get
enough.
Quote from CyberGuide
You
ain't a Star Wars fan if you have not have heard of Duality...And
God knows I have met an astounding number who have not.
Duality
is the essence of how Star Wars fandom expresses itself, crossing
the boundaries of images, sound with a touch of sheer dedication.
Ever since the amazing Troops, there has been
countless of fan-made animated features. Just check out the Force.net section to gauge the importance
of this phenomena...
Visit
the the Duality site and download the movie and see
it for
yourself. | |
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