6 Best Blogs To Follow If You Are A Web Designer

6 Best Blogs To Follow If You Are A Web Designer

Just for the fun of it...

Want more answers for your Ubuntu OS?

Website to answer your computer troubleshooting questions

Having computer problems like what do I need to do to upgrade my computer or what kind of problems are common with a Dell Inspiron 6400 laptop for instance. Do a search on Techspot and its forums are rich with previously asked questions like yours and some of the best answers from the "techies" that deal with these kind of things everyday.

Connect better with Skype

I can quite remember when I started using skype, must have been sometime a little later than its inception. Liked it over the other messengers for the fact that it has a 256 bit encryption which means it is really secure. Not that I am doing anything top secret, just like to know it is not being tapped in any way. I use it now in the classroom to send messages and files to students at there desktop workstations.


Some of the reasons I would pick this over any other messenger is that you can install it on virtually any platform: Windows, Linux and Macintosh. It also works with iPhone/iPod Touch, Windows Mobile devices, and various other mobile devices. It has great VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) capabilities which could amount to a huge cost savings for your school or business, even your private residence ($2.95/month unlimited US and Canada). File transfers are as easy as drag and drop into chat window.

Some advantages I can see for classroom use are:
-Keeping in touch with students who are afraid to get up or raise hands to ask questions
-Transferring files to individual or multiple workstations: Worksheets, notes, forms, etc.
-Students can collaborate on projects in real-time.
-Can be used as motivation tool to encourage students to keep on track with assignments/projects.
-Can be installed quickly using MSI installer (Windows only).
-Great remote presentation tool for distance learning.
-Real-time collaboration with other staff members.
-Could be used as conference call without using phone system. I almost forgot to mention how well it does at video calling...all that is needed is a webcam (some have built-in microphones) and a microphone.

Disagvantages:
-Some students may be distracted by chat window if screen is small.
-Students may chat with someone outside the classroom (not likely to happen since Skype does not have a big following among this age group let alone this geographical region).


Businesses may find the same advantages as well as cost savings over traditional phone service. Skype to Skype communcations are totally free. Skype to landline and mobile phone vary in cost. Check out all the features of Skype here.

Happy Skyping.....

Need a Cheat Sheet?

Check out Cheat-Sheets.org. Here's their tagline: The Manual.su's project. All cheat sheets, round-ups, quick reference cards, quick reference guides and quick reference sheets in one page. The only one you need.
They are downloadable and printable  pdf's.

Forgot your flash drive? Use Dropbox and sync all your computers

I have on occasion forgot to bring my flash drive with me to work. What do I do now? Well, I could save it to a CD, but the file is so small that would be a waist. Install Dropbox on your computers that you want to access all dropped-in files and there you have it, all are synced. But, what is your other computer has a different operating system, like a Macintosh or Linux? No worries, there is a Dropbox app for all platforms.

The above paragraphs sounds like it came from some cheesy ad for a commercial software, but it wasn't, actually, it was just me being all "Ron Popeil" and trying to sell you a Pocket Fisherman. In reality, Dropbox is a free to use program(2GB storage) that is totally free and very useful. I even have it installed on my iPod Touch and can access all my files there. If you want more than the 2GB of storage Dropbox has by default you can pay for up to 100GB or storage. Check out their website at: http://dropbox.com

Google Voice Beefs Up Your Voicemail and More

Haven't heard of Google Voice? Well, it is out of it's Beta stage and making life a little easier for those signed up to use it. So far it is free to use. Here's what I use it for:

I have a GV number that is based in South Dakota (it's a Sioux Falls mobile number). I give it out to people that I don't exactly want to know my real phone number. It links to any phone I own and calls them or just one and allows me to choose to listen to the message, defer to voice mail, answer immediately, block, etc. My current Verizon plan does not do this.

Another efficient use can save you big bucks for long distance calls. First, if you have one of those cell plans that allows you to pick 10 numbers that are out of your plan or a landline you can make your GV number on of them. Once you make it one of your group call numbers you can call it and press #2 and call out from GV and talk for an unlimited time.

One of the things I use GV for is sending SMS (text messages) from my laptop/desktop/any computer for free. The return text messages will be sent back in a threaded fashion of the GV webpage and also to your mobile phone.

Read more about Google Voice and sign up for an account here: http://voice.google.com