Category Ask The Answer Guy
 
Brent - I use Firefox, IE and Safari about equally and hate having to open a second browser if I need to get onto a website that is not bookmarked in the browser I am already in. Is there any way to get around the inconvenience?
 
 
I have three PCs with Internet Explorer and Firefox on each and it really is a frustrating experience not being able to get anywhere I want on any machine I happen to be at. I have tried quite a few solutions, but eventually found a free service that completely ended my predicament. It is called Xmarks and it is an enhanced searching / bookmarking service that can synchronize your bookmarks on Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari and even Chrome. All it takes is a 30-second free sign-up on the website and then a quick download for each of the browsers you use. Because Xmarks stores and backs up all of your bookmarks, you can see them from any of your computers that have the program installed. There's never a reason to go without all of your bookmark information again.

Aside from syncing and backing up bookmarks, Xmarks (formerly "foxmarks") can save web passwords for you; think about never having to worry about login credentials no matter where you are or whose computer you are using! Other built-in conveniences include site previews that drop down when you type in the address bar and a smart search assistant that highlights the top three websites in your search results based on actual traffic. Mouse-over details on these top websites lay out rankings, reviews and other site info. There are quite a few more features than I can talk about here, so check it out for yourself.

Posted by Keith Lancaster At 3:20 PM Location Reseda, CA | Permalink | Comments (1)

Category Cool Stuff
 

LogMeIn Ignition provides one-touch access to any computer - PC or Mac, desktop or server - you have running the free LogMeIn client. Good for most tasks such as starting downloads, referencing or making changes to files on the go and managing services, it's amazing how easily the iPhone can become an extension of your remote machine!    Some of the selling features include password memorization for all machines, easy computer searching and the ability to control your PC or MAC with all of the native gestures you use with your iPhone. Pinch to zoom in on fields you need to read and type in, touch icons to click on them and tilt for full wide-screen viewing. The iTunes app store is selling the application for $29.99, but the client for all of the machines you wish to remote into is free. Visit iTunes to read more reviews and view ratings and screen shots.

Posted by Keith Lancaster At 10:59 AM Location Reseda, CA | Permalink | Comments (0)

Category Cool Stuff
 
Because the holiday season is upon us, we felt it would be a good idea to profile a hot gift item that appeals to the broadest of audiences; something that teenagers, baby boomers, men and women alike can both appreciate and enjoy. When I think about something that fits the criteria, I think about none other than The Beatles: Rock Band for XBox 360, PS3 and Wii.
 
Combining the short attention span of today's youth with the musical culture of their parents and grandparents, this version of Rock Band has become a staple in many homes in the mere three months it has been on shelves. The track list includes 45 songs chosen from 12 of the albums that the Beatles recorded between 1962 and 1969 under contract with EMI. If you become tired of those, the remaining songs on Sgt. Pepper, Abbey Road and Rubber Soul are available for digital download at $2 a piece.

The instruments that come in the $199 - $250 Limited Edition are replicas of the bass, guitars and drums that the Beatles helped make famous. If you already bought Rock Band 1 or 2, you can use your existing hardware and get away with just purchasing the game for $50. The official website has all of the extra details and links to retailers to make your purchase. I recommend Frys, who is selling the full kit for $199 ($50 cheaper than anyone else).

Posted by Keith Lancaster At 10:24 AM Location Reseda, CA | Permalink | Comments (0)

Category It's Free!
 
A new service called Dropbox.com has taken online file storage another step further, allowing users to easily synchronize files between PCs, MACs and even iPhones. Download Dropbox to each one of your computers and give them your account information. Anything you add or modify will be accessible immediately to any other machine you have set up with your account, so you can have your important files with you no matter where you are!


The service comes with a fully-functional web interface which allows you to access your files from any computer on the net with a simple login. Through this, you can send out share links of your individual folders to your friends, families and coworkers while keeping other folders private. Most importantly, a copy of all of your data is left in the cloud; if your hard drive ever fails or your laptop is stolen, your Dropbox is still safe and accessible. 2 GB of storage comes free when you sign up, but you can pay $9.99 or $19.99 for 50 and 100 GB, respectively; with that kind of storage, there is no reason you should ever lose important data in a hardware malfunction. Head to Dropbox.com, watch the intro video and get started with this simple, free file-syncing solution!

Posted by Keith Lancaster At 10:24 AM Location Reseda, CA | Permalink | Comments (1)

Category Cool Stuff
 
Combining the ruggedness of a mountain bike with the convenience of a step-thru frame, the R13 from R Martin is a great match for people of all ages and physical abilities. The R13 is fitted with a high-tech, high-torque electric crank motor that is 50% more efficient and is capable of cruising 30 miles on a single charge with little or no pedaling. The twist throttle allows you to choose how much assistance you want and the efficiency of the motor allows you to run errands for only a penny of electricity or even less if you decide to pedal.


The lithium battery is disguised on the back with a luggage rack mounted on it, making the R13 the ideal transportation when running quick errands. Optional saddle bags boost the bike's utility even further, making this one of the greenest efficient modes of transportation around!

Posted by Keith Lancaster At 11:35 AM Location Reseda, CA | Permalink | Comments (0)

Category Tips and Tricks
 
Just yesterday, I called a friend whose outgoing message was ridiculously long; so long, in fact, that it took less time for him to listen to my message and call me back than it took me to listen to his greeting so that I could leave the message in the first place! You've have probably had a friend that insists on making you listen to "Low Rider" for the maximum allowed duration just so you can say "Hey, call me back about dinner tonight." Luckily, if you know what his mobile carrier is, you can use one of the hot buttons below to skip through the junk and get straight to leaving your message:

AT&T: Press #
Sprint: Press 1
T-Mobile: Press #
Verizon: Press *

Posted by Keith Lancaster At 4:18 PM Location Reseda, CA | Permalink | Comments (0)

Category Ask The Answer Guy
 
Brent - I have two monitors displaying more applications than I can keep track of. Is there a good way to stay organized while running multiple applications / monitors?

Most of the guys at our small business IT support office run their laptops on docking stations with a second monitor and they all have their own ways of staying organized while multitasking. WinSplit Revolution is a great freeware option that is fully customizable to your workflow. Use it to quickly position multiple applications on multiple displays or easily move windows from one screen to another; everything is broken down into hot keys for quick manipulation. Using the system tray applet, you can set your own hot keys and specify window sizes for each individual setting.

It's worth looking into, so try it out and see what modes work best for you. Try out the window-snapping and auto-sizing, make some adjustments and even save your screen layouts so you can "snap" back to them at any time. The download is available at the WinSplit Revolution download site.

Posted by Keith Lancaster At 9:31 AM Location Reseda, CA | Permalink | Comments (0)

Category Security Corner
 
In a recent project aimed at uncovering insecure internet devices to promote awareness, researchers have found nearly 21,000 routers, webcams and VoIP systems left wide open to attack. These devices can be accessed from anywhere on the internet and those who own them have not even changed the manufacturer's default password. Any wrong-doers that find these devices can use them to host their attacks; they can even alter the firmware of VoIP systems to record conversations.

 
Almost half of the 2,729 accessible Linksys routers still had their default passwords in place, while almost a third of the Polycom VoIP units still had theirs. Even though the Internet Providers have been notified of such insecurities, the manufacturers of these internet devices should be making their products secure by default and consumers should be provided with instructions regarding how to change the passwords themselves upon initial setup. The team conducting this test will continue their research for another couple months, notifying ISPs to contact their customers about internet security and hoping for the best. A repeat of the whole process will be scheduled to determine if the number of insecure devices goes down after public notification by the ISPs.

If you own any consumer routers or similar devices, have you changed the passwords? Double-check to ensure a complex password is used; because you rarely need to access the device management, write the password down and keep it at home. The best thing you can do for yourself and your business in this situation is keep your network and the information within secure. If your company is in need of computer support in Glendale, give us a call at 818-541-9195 and we can get you on the right track.

Posted by Keith Lancaster At 10:02 AM Location Reseda, CA | Permalink | Comments (0)

Category IT Talk
 
Occasionally, we will get a call from a client stating that his email messages are disappearing suddenly from his in-box when he opens them. If this happens to you, there is no cause for panic! just look into one of the following options:


1) Outlook users can navigate to View > Current View and make sure that the Unread Messages option is not checked. That means only unread messages are shown in your inbox.

2) Windows mail users can navigate to View > Current View and make sure that "Show All Messages" is marked instead of "Hide Read Messages" or one of the other options.

3) Lotus Notes users can go to View > Show and make sure that "unread only is not checked.

This takes care of most of the issues that are reported to us, but make sure you contact your small business IT support if your problem persists.

Posted by Keith Lancaster At 4:10 PM Location Reseda, CA | Permalink | Comments (0)