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Andy chats about the latest technology and interesting websites each week with Nerissa Pace on the "Talking back the night" radio show, heard across Australia.
archives
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Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Top 3 Websites However the UNcyclopedia website is full of nothing but mis-information and lies all in the name of a good laugh. The UN-News section is worth looking at...well at least it should take your mind of the real news of the day With each click you're awarded points...then you'll see how you stack up against everyone else at the end. Telstra has been forced to push back the CDMA mobile network closure...something that would affect quite a few of our listeners - For anyone who currently owns a CDMA mobile phone (which is an older network used in regional australia) this means that you now have until April 28 to upgrade to the new Next G network, which offers more features than the older CDMA service....with coverage is all existing CDMA network areas...and expanding beyond that. Now a couple of important things to think about if you do currently have a CDMA mobile phone...even though the network will still be operating until April 28...the current upgrade special offers that telstra has in the market will actually finish up this week. Now those offers include $100 credit for post-paid customers who migrate from CDMA to the Telstra Next G network on an eligible plan...or $50 cash back to CDMA users who buy the pre-paid samsung a411 next g handset...both those offers will wrap up on the 28th. Also when you are buying one of the new Next G handsets...although i'm sure the person who sells it to you will guide you, there are special handsets that have been singled out as being ideal for people who live in rural areas - these mobiles are identified with a blue tick. Finally for anyone who is buying a new mobile phone...don't forget to recycle the old one properly - don't throw it in the bin! Check out http://www.mobilemuster.com.au/ where you'll find a list of locations for mobile handset recycling. Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Top 3 Websites As far as sports videos found on the web go...this has to be the most original. They take two bugs, put them in a glass cage and let 'em battle 'til the end...and the whole thing is caught on camera, complte with slow motion, action replays and crazy commenators! Cats ruled the web in 2007 when it came to photos with funny captions...can dogs make a comeback is the big question...well if this website is anything to go by then maybe. How could I mention a Dog website without letting the Cats have a piece of the action though...I love this Cat photo webite becuase it's no Niche...it's simply cute photos of cats sitting, standing or sleeping in Sinks...which might be in the bathroom, kitchen or anywhere else you find a sink. Wrapping up last week in Las Vegas was the Consumer Electronics show...possibly the biggest event of the year on any gadget maker's calendar. Yes there were Big screen TVs and more mobile phones than you can count, but I thought i'd mention a few of the highlights that were on show. Taser C2 - You've probably heard of or seen a Taser gun in action...It's a weapon that can neutralise it's target by zapping them with electricity...and has been used as a non-lethal alternative to heavier weapons....the interesting thing at the electronics show was a new model aimed at women who excercise. Now I should point out that you can't actually get a Taser gun in Australia for yourself...even the police force have a few. The new Taser C2 is also an MP3 Player...the idea being that they would appeal to buyers who want music when they jog or walk...but also want some self defence. Check out www.taser.com Asus Eee notebook - The past 12 months has really seen the price of notebooks come down and you can now get a decent model starting at under $1000...and prices are still dropping, but how about a new notebook for under $500! Back next week, thanks to AVG Anti-Virus and Internet Security. AVG is tough on threats - easy on you! Buy AVG Internet Security Home edition covering 3 computers for two years for just $123.25 at avg.com.au Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Top 3 websites of the week www.keybr.com This is a free tool to help you learn to touchtype. www.5min.com There's a wide range of topics covered on this 'how to' site, from life skills like getting confidence and dating to parenting tips, home renovations and even how to roast a chicken. Each tip is presented in video format...and like the title suggest, only lasts a few minutes. www.changethemargins.com This website offers a unique way to help out the environment...offering a unique way to save paper. Feature Chat - Things to do with your digital photos! No doubt over the Christmas and Holiday period many people have been busy with their digital cameras, snapping photos of family they haven't seen in a while, capturing the kids faces as they open pressies or just taking holiday snapshots of a well-earned getaway...apart from filing all those away on your computer, I've got a few ideas on what you can do with those photos. First things first...if you're simply dumping them to some random place on your computer, the best thing you can do is at least file them away so they can be easily found again. With Windows Vista you can add 'tags' or Key-words to photos on your computer which will help you group them and make them easy to find. Another useful piece of software that I use to organise my digital photos is Adobe Photoshop elements 6, which not only helps you sort out your photos, but is great for manipulating images and scrapbooking...digital style. Now that software will set you pack around $155 in stores or download it from Adobe directly for $139. A free piece of software that's good for organising and basic photo editing is Picasa from Google. Just like google it's very easy to use and takes the brainwork out of importing photos, fixing them up and emailing them to your friends...you can even order photo prints via the software. Download it free from picasa.google.com The next thing to do with your digital photos...like all important files...is to make a backup copy! If you have quite a few, then I recommend using a quality brand name blank DVD which you should then store away safely somewhere away from light. Apart from just looking at your photos or sending them to people you can also get creative with them, and something I had a couple of goes last year was making a professional looking photo book - that's a book that contains your own photos, but it laid out and bound just like a coffee table book that you'd get in a book store. It's suprisingly easy to do and there's two websites to check out - www.momento.com.au www.snapfish.com.au The cost starts at around 40 dollars for a hard cover photobook and it remains my top pick as a unique gift idea! Back next week, thanks to AVG Anti-Virus and Internet Security. AVG is tough on threats - easy on you! Buy AVG Internet Security Home edition covering 3 computers for two years for just $123.25 at avg.com.au Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Top 3 Websites - must visits for the new year www.ebay.com.au Possibly the best place to drop into on the web after Christmas, simply because perhaps you got a few gifts that...err perhaps aren't quite your style - maybe you'd prefer to grab the cash and buy something you really want. www.hiaspire.com Here's a website to help you keep track of your new year's resolutions.... Simply sign up for free and enter in your goals for the year...then each month you'll recieve an email reminder of your resolutions...so there's no escaping those promises! www.brainbashers.com If you or your older kids are still on holiday this site could help to beat the holiday bordom around the house (especially on really hot days). There are thousands of puzzles from crosswords to number puzzles like sudoku, plus optical illustions to give your brain a workout and hundreds of online games for a bit of fun. Getting your computer ready for the new year Some tips to get your computer into gear.... 1. Delete and uninstall! While most new computers have extremely large hard drives, any computer will beniefit from a clean out so....look at files you've downloading from the internet and get rid of what you don't use. Also if you have programs installed on your machine that you don't use - uninstall them - This could potentially speed up the start up time of your PC. 2. Back up! I now have 10 years worth of digital photos on my home computer and every few months I make a backup of these plus other important documents - This is something that everyone should do.Either look into grabbing an external hard drive that comes with data backup software that can automate the process of backing up your important files, or many good system protection programs from companies like Symantec, Micrsoft and McAfee have a backup utility built in to you back backup to DVD or even online. 3. Physical Clean of your computer and peripherals. Turn your computer off and unplug it...but don't even thing of putting a bucket of water or sponge near your precious hardware - you'll need to be a bit more subtle than that.Grab some anti-static wet wipes from an electronics store like Dick Smith. You can use these to wipe down your computer screen, keyboard, mouse and computer case.While you're in an elecronics store, grab a can of AIR - yes, believe it or not you can buy a can of air - It's compressed air and it will be very handy for getting grime out from between the keys of your keyboard, plus if you aren't afraid of opening your computer, the compressed air can be used to blow any dust out of the power supply and CPU fans - so they will run quieter and more efficiantly...keeping your system cool. Here are a couple of websites to help you with your cleaning. http://www.microsoft.com/athome/moredone/cleancomputer.mspx http://www.tutorials.com/05/0554/0554.asp More technology driven info soon, thanks to AVG Anti-Virus and Internet Security. AVG is tough on threats - easy on you! Buy AVG Internet Security Home edition covering 3 computers for two years for just $123.25 at avg.com.au |