Clif Notes Newsletter for May 2010

Hello Everyone,

Sorry I'm late posting. I missed last month too. I have lots of articles for you to read. Hopefully it's not too much for you. I've decided to make it easy this time and you only need to read the posts you want to.

If you are new here, please take the time to subscribe to receive an email update whenever I send out a new email (once a month). You will get an email back asking for confirmation that you really want email from me.

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter
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Recent articles:

Get Your Free ClipArt at OpenClipart.org

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎8 hours ago‎

I often spend too much time looking for the right image to use in a blog post or web page. My biggest problem is finding an ...

Screenshot Preview of Kubuntu Netbook Remix

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎May 6, 2010‎

I've always been a bigger fan of the Gnome desktop in Ubuntu, but I still like to check out the KDE versions in Kubuntu, ...

Call Drop.io and Create a Public Voicemail as MP3

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎May 5, 2010‎

There are many file sharing services out there. Many offer simple free file hosting, however, I don't know of any that ...

How to Choose a New Laptop Hard Drive

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎May 4, 2010‎

Your laptop's hard drive is the major source for storing all your data. It is the place where all your applications, ...

Protect Your Portable Files with USB Safeguard

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎May 4, 2010‎

Traveling around with a USB flash drive full of your personal files is often very useful. However, it can also be risky. ...

Quickly Scan Any File with 40 Different Antivirus Engines

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎May 1, 2010‎

There are several online services that will allow you to check files for viruses or malware by uploading the files from ...

Macpup Opera 2.0 is Launched – Fast Portable Linux

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎Apr 28, 2010‎

Macpup Opera is a branch of Linux based on the famous Puppy Linux, which is known for it's small size and portability. ...

Hide Your IP Address and Surf Anonymously with UltraSurf

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎Apr 25, 2010‎

[Windows Only] UltraSurf is a tool that hooks your web browsers up with a free anonymous proxy....

Encrypt Your Files Quickly with AxCrypt

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎Apr 24, 2010‎

[Windows Only] ÀxCrypt is a free and open source (FOSS) application that lets you quickly encrypt multiple files with a ...

Hours of Fun with SoupToys on Your Desktop

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎Apr 22, 2010‎

[Windows Only] Souptoys is a collection of toys that you can play with on your PC desktop. Rather than tell you about it, ...

Put Firefox into Hyperdrive with Pale Moon

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎Apr 21, 2010‎

[Windows Only] What is Pale Moon? It's an open source project that takes the Firefox web browser code and recompiles it to ...

Google Chrome May Stop Showing HTTP in the Address Bar

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎Apr 19, 2010‎

One of the most recent builds of the Chromium web browser is drawing some criticism. As you may know, Chromium is the open ...

GOOG

Create and Edit Icons with a Free Portable App - IcoFX

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎Apr 15, 2010‎

[Windows Only] Since most applications come with nice icons already embedded in them, I rarely need to create or edit icons ...

Automatic Spelling Correction and Text Expansion with Texter

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎Apr 14, 2010‎

[Windows Only] How often do you type the word “teh” instead of “the”? If it's very often, you aren't alone. ...

Everything – A Super Fast Portable File Search

Techie Buzz - Clif Sipe - ‎Apr 13, 2010‎

[Windows Only] “Everything” is a small and portable freeware program that lets you find files in Windows with blazing speed ...

For the brave among you, you can stay up to date and read each article as I publish it by subscribing to the Google News feed. (YES, I'm listed on Google News now!)

Email notification for Google News - Author:”Clif Sipe”
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That's all for now. Have fun!

Clif

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Ubuntu Netbook Remix - a fun but rock solid OS

If you have a netbook, you really should try out the Ubuntu Netbook Remix. I've had it for a few months now. It's really fun to use. Here's a screenshot of my desktop ...

Take a look at this video to see it in action:

If you don't see the video - click here.

Download Ubuntu Netbook Remix

Find out how to install it

Let me know if you need help.

What free software do you need?

So what do you need? Comment below and I'll see if I can find it. If you know the answer to someone else's question, add your answer there too.

If you don't see a comment box below, use this link to comment.

COOLSITES Newsletter

March 5 2010 COOLSITES Newsletter #259

Here are a 6 links (out of dozens) from Mark's CoolSites Newsletter. Be sure to visit his site and see the rest of his links this week. Please visit Mark's website at: http://luem42.com/coolsites.html

If you'd like to subscribe to Mark's newsletter:  http://luem42.com/contactus.html

You can also find the current and all past postings of Mark's newsletter at Lockergnome Forums: http://help.lockergnome.com/general/Cool-Web-Links-forum-18.html

• Wikibooks is a Wikimedia community for creating a free library of educational textbooks that anyone can edit: http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Main_Page
• Xp Tweaks Unlocked Freeware - Xp Tweaks - Microsoft Windows Tweaking - Tweak Microsoft Windows - Tweaking Software: http://www.freewarepark.com/xp-tweaks-unlocked.html
• Hornil StylePix, or simply StylePix, is a free image editor with a number of advanced features: http://hornil.com/
• Extended Character Keyboard. OnscreenSCK 1.0 beta onscreen keyboard that allows you to enter special characters: http://onscreensck.codeplex.com/
• Comodo Dragon Internet Browser. Fast and versatile Internet Browser based on Chromium, infused with Comodo´s unparalleled level of Security: http://www.comodo.com/home/internet-security/browser.php
• amaze 1.1.3 Generate and print simple mazes. Includes binary installers for Ubuntu and Windows XP: http://sourceforge.net/projects/qtamaze/ 
  
  

Internetfixes Weekend Windup

Gary at InternetFixes continues to amaze me with hundreds and thousands of tips for your PC. Whatever your operating system, or how you use it, a visit to Gary's site will soon have you saying "So that's how you do it!".

Sign up for Gary's newsletter?
Weekend Windups are now available online
http://www.internetfixes.com/weekend_windup/

Do you have any Windows problems or questions? Post them at this address.
http://www.internetfixes.com/fixes/index.php

An Address Change for Clif Notes Newsletter

http://www.google.com/buzz

Due to the release of Google Buzz - the new sharing service from Google - I am changing one of the links to my newsletter page.

The old address, http://www.google.com/reader/shared/clif.notes

will be busier now, so you may want to remove it from your bookmarks or feed reader. I plan to use the old address for posts to my Google Buzz account. (Sorry for any inconvenience!)

The new address, http://www.google.com/reader/shared/clif.sipe

will only be updated once a month as I release my newsletter.

The alternate address, http://www.netvibes.com/clifnotes#Newsletter

has not been affected and those who like reading my Notes at NetVibes can still do so.

Best wishes to you all, and you'll be hearing from me when I post my March newsletter.

Clif

Clif Notes Newsletter for February 2010

Hello Everyone,

This month, I have over a dozen articles for you to read. Hopefully it's not too much for you. After all, you can always stop reading at any time and return when you do have time.

If you are new here, please take the time to subscribe to receive an email update whenever I send out a new email (once a month). You will get an email back asking for confirmation that you really want email from me.

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter

This month's articles:

Global Hotkeys for Windows Media Player
Security Advice From McAfee That You May Not Want
Back Up Your Registry in Case of Disaster – ERUNT
Portable Sticky Notes for Your Desktop – hott notes
Hundreds of Free Smileys – The Smiley Vault
Locking Programs and Files with a Password – SaveIt
Online Security Scan in Less Than Two Minutes
WinPatrol Lifetime License for 99¢ – One Day Only
How To Repair Your Default Image FileTypes
Defragging the Easy Way – Disk Defrag Screen Saver
Free Clipboard Manager and Personal Database – Ditto
Create Animated Gifs with UnFREEZ
Find Files Fast with UltraSearch
Easily Create Personal Web Pages with No Signup at Webnotes

* Two or three of you wrote to tell me you didn't like the newsletter format. Now, I can offer you three different views of the same articles.

Links to Clif Notes Newsletter articles:

http://www.netvibes.com/clifnotes#Newsletter

http://www.google.com/reader/shared/clif.sipe

For the brave among you, you can stay up to date and read each article as I publish it by subscribing to the Google News feed. (YES, I'm listed on Google News now!)

Email notification for Google News - Author: Clif Sipe

RSS feed for Google News - Author Clif Sipe

That's all for now. Have fun!

Clif

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Clif Notes Newsletter for January 2010

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the first newsletter of 2010. Once again, everyone will have to get used to writing down a new year on all their documents and notes. Good luck to all of you in this New Year.

This month, I have over 20 articles for you to read. Hopefully it's not too much for you. After all, you can always stop reading at any time and return when you do have time.

If you are new here, please take the time to subscribe to receive an email update whenever I send out a new email (once a month). You will get an email back asking for confirmation that you really want email from me.

Subscribe to my monthly newsletter

This month's articles:

Create Your Own Wifi Hotspot - Connectify Updated to 1.0

Patience and Wisdom [Picture]

Easily Create Personal Web Pages with No Signup at Webnotes

Mirror in the Water [Slideshow]

Find Files Fast with UltraSearch

Beautiful Pictures [Slideshow]

Free DNS Benchmark Tools - Satisfy Your Need for Speed

Take the Jung Typology Test - What Kind of Person Are You?

Is the Windows XP Search Doggie a Spy?

How to Replace Windows XP Search

Create Goo.gl Short URL’s with a Bookmarklet

Rohos Mini Drive - Hide Your Data on Flash Drives

Free Full Version of WinOptimizer 5

Change Your DNS Settings Fast with Dns Jumper

Multifox for Logging into Multiple Accounts

Review of the Eset Online Scanner

The Matrix as Your Desktop and Screensaver

Review of Radian Application Launcher

Mozilla Thunderbird 3 Review

How to Add WinHlp32 Support to Windows 7 and Vista

Backup/Restore Windows Live Writer with Import/Export Plugin

Windows CleanUp! for Fast and Fun System Cleanings

How to use Google Public DNS on Windows 7 and Windows XP

* Two or three of you wrote to tell me you didn't like the newsletter format. Now, I can offer you three different views of the same articles.

Links to Clif Notes Newsletter articles:

http://www.netvibes.com/clifnotes#Newsletter

http://www.google.com/reader/shared/clif.notes

http://snurl.com/cnnl-reader-view

For the brave among you, you can stay up to date and read each article as I publish it by subscribing to the Google News feed. (YES, I'm listed on Google News now!)

Email notification for Google News - Author: Clif Sipe

RSS feed for Google News - Author Clif Sipe

That's all for now. Have fun!

Clif

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JHoodsoft Newsletter

John Hood, author of the freeware site, "Best of Free Software", occasionally writes to tell us what he's been up to. He's got a great site and his opinions on free software are right on the mark.

If you don’t want to wait a month to see the next letter from John, you’ll have to sign up for his newsletter.

JHoodsoft Newsletter for July 2009 Contents: DabbleDB - Putting the "Wow" factor into number crunching Click-N-Type Virtual Keyboardby Lake Software. Roll your own "Launchy" Handy Computer Help Links Problem with Google Docs First off, I'd like to thank friend and fellow free software watchdog, Paul O'Mara, for taking on the job of editing the Newsletter. Bravo buddy, and thank you! Computing in a Recession - In a down economy, Netbooks are flying off the shelves. If you only needed to connect to the web and only needed a basic computer with which to do it, and it cost about the same as an iPhone, would you buy one? Asus has made an absolute killing in this economy by offering the just that. They called it the Eee: a computer small enough and light enough to be truly portable. Slip it into a book bag or shoulder bag and off you go. Now laptop manufacturers practically falling all over themselves to get in on the action. Almost all of the major players in the laptop arena, are making offerings for small inexpensive ultra-portables. If this is the kind of computer you are looking for, just remember, that is works the best when connected to the web. On it's own, it's slow an a bit limited. Also, it may not be a Windows computer. Not a bad thing: it's giving Linux a big opening in the consumer market. Just be aware that it's gonna look different. DabbleDB - Putting the "Wow" factor into number crunching. Free for the sign-up at www.dabbledb.com. Note that the free version makes all data public. I was initially un-impressed - an online database that didn't really do much, with no support for sub tables and no form editor. It was just another spreadsheet. Then I saw the demo, and then I was forced to use it. Four words: "Pie-chart in eight minutes." On the first try, no less. DabbleDB makes working in Excel seem like driving a stick-shift car. You create a database, import an Excel spreadsheet, etc. DabbleDB will make pretty good guesses about what the day is. Set up groupings, special filters, you name it. Yes, there is a form set up. It's limited, but it's there. Now go to "Views" and decide how you want your data shown. Dabble DB does the rest. I actually had fun doing it. In fact, I wanted to do it again: how about my video collection list, sorted by genre, director, actor? I see two immediate niches for this product: 1: Number-crunching for non-accountants. Instead of relying on someone else's report, managers - who may not be Excel savvy - could use DabbleDB to turn the raw data into meaningful metrics on their own. 2: Support-staff "secret weapon." Whenever support staffers are faced with a large lump of data to collate and an order from on high that makes no sense whatsoever ("I want all our customers by zip code, hair color and handedness -ASAP!"), they can use DabbleDB to manipulate the data quickly and churn out meaningful reports. Even if the denizen of mahogany row suddenly changes his/her mind about the data they want, the support staff can switch it easily. Dabble make number crunching fast and fun; a winner! Click-N-Type Virtual Keyboard by Lake Software. Once in a while you run across a freeware application that almost makes you cry. Click-N-Type was written in response to the needs of a disabled girl, and in response to the poorly written and expensive keyboard solutions out there. Click-N-Type offers a keyboard recorder and and play-back feature, multiple keyboards to choose from - as "speakback" feature - and it's all free. Even if you don't use it, visit the site and say hello. This is what free software is all about - using a computer to make someone's life better, and they don't have to spend a dime. Click-N-Type is an on-screen virtual keyboard designed for anyone with a disability that prevents him or her from typing on a physical computer keyboard. As long as the physically challenged person can control a mouse, trackball, touch screen or other pointing device, this software keyboard allows you to send keystrokes to virtually any Windows application or DOS application that can run within a window. http://www.lakefolks.org/cnt/ Roll your own "Launchy" . Windows XP users love the open-source program Launchy. It pops up a little box into which you can type a program or file name, and Launchy runs it for you. It saves a lot of navigation. The only problem is that the database for Launchy needs to update periodically, and that slows down your computer. I developed a method to use the "Run" line as a Launchy-type box without installing any software or updating a database: 1: Create a folder called "Links" (or launchers or whatever) somewhere on your C: drive. It's easiest if you just create it off of the root of C:. 2: Go to Control Panel - System, and click on the "Advanced" tab. Go down to the button "Environment Variables". 3: In the second window below, scroll down until you see the word "Path". Select it and click "Edit". 4: Place a semi-colon and then C:\{launcher_folder_name}. Click OK and OK out. 5: Now you have an empty folder that Windows will check if you type something in the "Run" line. Final Step: Copy to your new folder any shortcuts on the desktop and in the start menu. I rename the shortcut and edit out the "Shortcut to", if there is one. I also shorten the name so it's easier to remember: for example, shortcut to "Mozilla Thunderbird" becomes simply "Tbird". Now all you have to do is press CTRL+ESC+R or, if you have that Windows key down between CTRL and ALT, just do {Windows_key}+R. When the Run line pops, type in the name of the shortcut and press Enter. The program will run. I use this mostly to call programs I use a lot, and also for very obscure tools I have installed but don't have the time to look for. I hope this works for you too. My Friend Sheila sent this around: Subject: Handy Computer Help Links Hi all, Thought you might find some of these sites interesting: http://www.findtutorials.com/ for help in a wide variety of computer needs. http://www.techtutorials.net when you just need help getting through a process. http://www.computerhope.com If nothing else, a great idea! Enjoy! Sheila A reader caught wind of this and wanted to bring it to your attention... "Problem with Google Docs I just wanted to drop you a line to let you know how much I like your website, and to let you know about an ongoing problem with Google Docs. You will notice (see URL below) that several people have been having a problem deleting documents, pdfs, and empty folders in Google Docs. The problem was reported on January 31, 2009, and remains unresolved today. Chandler is a Google employee that has occasionally shown up, but has been of little help. It is incredible to believe that Google can't make something as simple as the Trash Bin work properly. http://www.google.com/support/forum/p/Google+Docs/thread?tid=56e303a01070266c&hl=en&fid=56e303a01070266c00046bf43db1dc56 May I suggest that you warn your readers about the above problem? I would also suggest warning your readers about the lack of competent customer service that is currently provided by Google. Here you go, and thanks for the tip... OK, that's enough for now. Keep the feedback and ideas coming in... -- Hood's Best of Free Software www.jhoodsoft.org