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Are You Putting Off Productivity?

I recently took a good look at what was keeping me from accomplishing what I needed to do. After all, I had my goals. I had them written down. I read my affirmations daily. And still, I was not achieving what I wanted to do. Leaving town was a major undertaking. And that's not good when you're a professional speaker! I need to be able to leave at a moment's notice and arrive ready to give my full attention to my audience. So it was time for a look at what was holding me back. Here's what I found. 1. I used my desktop computer in the office. However, my accounting program and contact databases were on that machine, so my assistant also needed to use it. We sometimes found ourselves waiting for the other person to get off the machine before we could do what we needed to do. 2. I used a 3-lb laptop on the road. Though I rarely used... Read More

Protect Your PC from Viruses, Worms & Trojans

Each of the items in the checklist below is part of a broad and easy to implement security policy. Install all windows critical updates for your operating system from the Microsoft Update site - it's free! All that's required to keep your Microsoft operating system up to date is an Internet connection.Install and configure a firewall - either a hardware or software based firewall is a must! If you are using a router, it probably has firewall capabilities included. Software firewalls are available at minimal cost; one of the best is free!Install and configure antivirus software - the cost is minimal, there are even free versions available - the protection is priceless! Update the definition files daily - scan your drive weekly - it can all be automated with most programs.Create a backup - even the best plan can be circumvented - be prepared for the worst with a complete backup of your hard drive! If you already have a CD burner and... Read More

Windows Task Manager in English

You use Ctrl+Alt+Del to see what's running on your PC, to close crashed programs and processes, and to check performance. You probably avoid a few processes whose names mean nothing to you, but they're essential to Windows. svchost.exe sure likes to appear all the time and multiple times at that. What's taskmgr.exe? Oh yeah, it's the window you're looking at right now. ctfmon? Is he related to Pokemon? navapsvc.exe? Navy? Napa Valley? Navel? NOTA (none of the above).This is not a comprehensive list as that would take days. It has the standard processes as well as process names from popular applications. If you want to know about a process, the best place to go is? ProcessLibrary.com. Just like adware and spyware, there are bad processes that come to life thanks to the bad guys like Trojans and viruses. The site has a list of the top five security threats, so watch out for those processes.Also, beware the bad guys like to use legitimate... Read More

How To Search Your PC With Google Desktop

In this era of Internet, most people are frequent users of computers. Many of us use computers through out the day, accumulating morasses of information in various formats, which include email, digital photo, word document, spreadsheet, presentation file, ebook, article, other downloaded files, music, visited web pages, and many others. We stuff them in multiple folders in our PC. Before we know it, our hard drives become a storeroom of misplaced items. As a result, finding a needed file of information some times become a daunting task!The search function integrated to Microsoft Windows is not a big help either. It requires you to know, albeit vaguely, where the file could possibly be located. If your data storage is significant and you made a search on your whole hard disk, it might take ages to get search results and, then again, there is no guarantee that you will find the right file. Frustrating? Thanks to new Google Desktop Search this is about to change!What... Read More

A Peek Into the Near Future of Electronics Technology

How long do you think DVDs have around? 20 years? 10 years? Actually, they have only been around for about seven years, but it seems like they have been around much longer. Many of us can hardly remember life before DVDs. That can be attributed to how rapidly we can become acclimated to some innovations in electronics technology. I believe there are other electronics technologies, either just getting ready to take off, not widely available yet, or just around the corner, that are going to become adopted just as quickly in the near future.Once such item is Voice over Internet Protocol, also known as VoIP. This innovation renders the whole concept of long distance virtually obsolete. It bypasses the traditional telephone company infrastructure and delivers phone service over a broadband internet connection to a regular phone. Similar to cell phones, this service is purchased based on a fixed and/or unlimited number of minutes. However, geographical divisions are generally made by country or continent,... Read More

Toshiba Wins Hollywood Support for the HD DVD format

What led them to this choice, as all four studios stated separately, is better performance for the price and copyright protection.The other standard in competition, the Blu-ray disc, unconditionally backed by Sony Pictures Entertainment, is also counting on support from Metro Goldwyn Mayer and Twentieth Century Fox (the latter has recently joined the Blu-Ray Disc Association Board).The Blu-ray disc has more world leading electronics companies that support it: Sony, LG Electronics, Matsushita (Panasonic), Mitsubishi, Samsung, Sharp, TDK, Philips, Pioneer, Hitachi. Also, computer giants Dell and Hewlett Packard.The HD DVD standard is being developed by Toshiba, Sanyo and NEC, under the endorsement of the DVD Forum.Both HD DVD and Blu-ray standards use the same wavelength blue-lasers that permit data storage on the disc at a higher density. This enhances the disc capacity and allows the recording of high definition video on DVD support.Wining the support of the big Hollywood movie studios is most important in the DVD format battle. Up to this moment, the... Read More

The Many Benefits of Owning a DVR

Has This Ever Happened To You? OK.. it's Friday night, the kids are asleep, and a movie you've been waiting for is on Pay-Per-View for the first time. You buy the movie, grab a bag of popcorn, get all comfy on the couch, and ten minutes into the movie "RINGGGG" it's the _______ phone!!! (you fill in the blank).Well, you can either:1)Let the answering machine get it2)Answer it yourself and miss the movie3)Hit pause, answer the phone, talk for 20 minutes, then resume watching the movie exactly where you left off!If you answered #3 then you must have a DVR in the family. LIFE IS GOOD!For those unfamiliar with DVR's a short introduction is in order. The initials "DVR" are short for Digital Video Recorder. In a nutshell, a DVR is the modern day equivalent of a VCR with one major difference... it does not use tape. A DVR records audio and video onto a hard drive where they are stored in digital... Read More

Buying a Home Theater Receiver

Buying a receiver is one of the most important decisions you're going to have to make when building your home theater. The receiver has a number of functions including; connecting and switching audio sources; connecting and switching video sources; decoding surround sound formats; amplifying an audio signal and sending it to your speakers; tuning in to radio stations; and acting as the interface between you and your home theater.The first thing to think about is whether you want a receiver at all or would you be better off buying a separate decoder, amplifier, and tuner?Despite being a more expensive route - not to mention the extra space needed - separates do have some advantages. You can pick and choose your own combination of components, can upgrade each component individually and won't lose all the functions if one piece develops a fault. On top of that, having each electronic component in a separate box does improve sound quality when compared with having them all... Read More

Passwords and the Human Factor

Passwords have a strange dual nature. The stronger and safer the password the more likely it will be undermined by human weakness.It is widely known that passwords are the most common means of access control. It is also common knowledge that passwords are the easiest way to compromise a system. Passwords have two basic functions. First, they allow initial entry to a system. Next, after access, they grant permission to various levels of information. This access can range from public data to restricted trade secrets and pending patents.The best passwords are a lengthy and complex mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols. The tendency for people when using these formats is to write them down, store them on a hand held device, etc. thus destroying the integrity of the password.The integrity of passwords can be circumvented through "Human Engineering." People can unwittingly make grave errors of judgment in situations that they may view as harmless or even helpful. For example,... Read More

Looking For an MP3 Player?

If you don't have an mp3 player, and even if you do, you should check out all the new stuff that's going on. I'm hoping this article will give you some idea of what kind of mp3 player you want and some tips on what to look for in an mp3 player.Maybe you work out and need something small and skip-proof for running or lifting. Maybe you have an 8 hour (or longer) plane ride when you go home and need to pass the time. Maybe you want a new one just for the sake of having a new one. Whatever it is, this article should help you choose.First, for those of you who want something for working out: The two most important things to look for are size/weight and solid state memory, things CD players lack. You want something that you can clip to your shorts or strap to your arm that won't interfere with your movements, and you want it to... Read More

In The News:


Walt Mossberg to Appear Weekly on FOX Business Network in a ...
Business Wire (press release), CA - 8 hours ago
In making the announcement, Magee said, “Walt is the most well-respected personal technology reporter in the industry, and his insights on new products not ...

Fox Business Snatches WSJ's Walt Mossberg From CNBC
Silicon Alley Insider, NY - 6 hours ago
Well, how about the WSJ's biggest star, personal tech guru Walt Mossberg? Mossberg is scheduled to appear weekly on Fox Business Network, meaning he will no ...

Broadband Indiscretions
Forbes, NY - 2 hours ago
It's important to note that the Wiretap Act was created before the advent of personal computing and online communications and was written to apply to phone ...

Malawi adopts high-tech banking, leapfrogs many countries
NetworkWorld.com, MA - 4 hours ago
Card users are allowed to authorize their transactions by scanning their fingerprints, an alternative to less-secure verification by PIN (personal ...

Wired News

Canada Wants 17000 Soldiers in High-Tech Ensembles
Wired News - 7 hours ago
The idea behind the Integrated Soldier System Project (ISSP), CTV says, is to put the the individual troop "at the centre of a personal network, ...

Memristors ready for prime time
EETimes.com - 6 hours ago
Video--HP CTO: Phil McKinney, chief technology officer of Hewlett-Packard's personal systems group, shares some of his techniques for spurring innovation ...

Why Energy Is the Next Tech
Motley Fool - 7 hours ago
... technology has progressed in leaps and bounds. It's transformed the world and the way we interact, both in business and in our personal lives. ...

Washington Post Personal Technology Columnist
Washington Post, United States - Jun 26, 2008
Read transcripts of Rob's past tech discussions here. Rob Pegoraro: Welcome! My story today is about shooting things with a handheld device--no, ...

Jakarta's future buildings to be up close and personal
Jakarta Post, Indonesia - 19 hours ago
"The Jakarta administration can 'green up' using simple technology, such as creeper plants on concrete columns and potted plants, or go high tech with green ...

Cnet Asia

Gmail can be Logged Off remotely
Cnet Asia, CA - 14 hours ago
He has a personal tech blog named The Most Authoritative Technology Blog. He loves networking with friends & the tech community at large and can be found at ...
personal tech - Google News
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Is Online DVD Rental or Pay-Per-View the Best Way to Get Your Movies?

With renting methods such as online DVD rental and pay-per-view, it seems almost old-fashioned to go to the rental store. But with all the different ways to get the latest movies, which way... Read More

Are You Putting Off Productivity?

I recently took a good look at what was keeping me from accomplishing what I needed to do. After all, I had my goals. I had them written down. I read my affirmations... Read More

If You are the Only User on Your Windows XP Computer, Do You Think One User Account Is Enough?

I am going to assume that you are running windows xp on your machine, and you are the only user on this machine. That is right, no one else uses your computer except... Read More

Troubleshooting Computer Freeze (Lockup) Problems

How familiar does the following sound? Your computer was working fine, but then suddenly started locking up (aka hanging or freezing), rebooting itself (crashing) or shutting down spontaneously? If you know only too... Read More

Review of Rio MP3 Players

Below you will find some useful information and comments about a few of the most popular MP3 players by Rio, including the Nitrus, Carbon, Cali, and Forge. None of these MP3 players are... Read More

Cisco Certification: Building Your Own Home Lab, Part I

CCNAs and CCNA candidates hear it all the time: ???Get some hands-on experience???. From my personal experience climbing the Cisco certification ladder, I can tell you firsthand that there is no learning like... Read More

How To Remove One Operating System from a Dual Boot Windows XP Computer

In Windows Xp, you can install two operating systems on the same hard disk of one computer.Whether you have two copies of Windows Xp, or two different operating systems, then you end up... Read More

Setting File Permissions On A Unix Server

File permissions are one of the strengths that the Unix world has had over it's Windows contemporaries. Permissions are a means to control access to information on a computer, on a file by... Read More

A Beginners Guide to Avoiding Viruses

"Aaaaaahhhhhh! I've been invaded by a virus!" Getting a virus means getting sick and no one in their right mind wants to be ill. Well, now that computers have become our close friends,... Read More

Buying A PC Flat Screen Monitor

For six years, my Samsung PC 13.8 inch SyncMaster conventional monitor has served me well.Since the appearance of the flat screen LCD monitor, it has become obsolete. Perhaps, the flat screen's image of... Read More

Is Digital Camera Technology Making Film Obsolete?

Perhaps not yet, but the handwriting might be on the wall?How is a digital camera different from a film camera? What are pixels and why are they important? What's the difference between optical... Read More

This Page Cannot Be Displayed ? What to Do When Your Internet Breaks

The DNS (Domain Name System) servers are what your computer uses to figure out where to go on the internet. www.whatever.com means absolutely nothing to your machine. It's only with the help of... Read More

Home Electronics: The Facts About Plasma TV

Not so many years ago, homes across the country watched their favorite TV shows on a bulky floor model that took awhile to warm up before you could see the picture, didn't offer... Read More

Help, I Need a New HDTV! (Part 3 of 5)

Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the choices these days, you may feel like, "Where do I start?!"In part 3 of our 5 part article, we the discuss what HDTV... Read More

How to Buy a Plasma Television Set

Most people think that all you have to do to purchase a new plasma television set is to walk into a shop, look around, and purchase the first set that catches your attention.... Read More

How To Speed Up Your Aging PC And Make It Healthier Too

With a little tweaking and with proper tools, you can get a faster, healthier PC, virtually immune to spyware infections and browser hijackers. How is this possible? Find out about the latest tools... Read More

HTML Explained: Part 2

Get started creating web pages using text files and HTML code! This article is a continuation of HTML Explained: Part 1, which gives a general overview of HTML. Here, we're going to get... Read More

An All Too Familar Pain

Lost & Found for the 21st CenturyIn today's hectic world more and more people are turning to those handy gadgets and mobile products that can be taken with them anywhere they go. The... Read More

A Lesson in HTML

As the owner of a Country Mall and Top Site List, I have been asked several times about what to put in the sign up form when it asks for the URL or... Read More

Tips for Buying a PC

Buying Your PCBuying a PC that's right for you and your family is not all that simple task. More so if you're going to buy an unbranded or an assembled one. But branded... Read More

Help, I Need a New HDTV! (Part 1 of 5)

Feeling overwhelmed in selecting a new TV? With all the choices these days, you may feel like, "Where do I start?!"In part 1 of our 5 part article, we discuss the importance (and... Read More

How to Use SQLXML to Retrieve Data from SQL Server Database?

Using SQL Server 2000 and above versions you can retrieve data from SQL Server in XML format directly from the database. Many XML related features were incorporated in the SQL Server database. This... Read More

10 Tips to Stay Safe and Secure Online

The Internet can be a dangerous place.While you're enjoying the convenience of online shopping, Internet banking and subscription websites, nasty people lurk around every corner.Hackers, fraudsters, identity thieves and many others would love... Read More

What?s the Difference Between Plasma TVs and LCD TVs?

Plasma and LCD TVs are the latest trend in home entertainment. Both offer unrivalled picture quality and resolution, while doing away with the bulkiness of the older rear-projection technologies. But with all of... Read More

Your Computer Cant Keep Time

A computer needs a certain amount of information to operate; for example, the date and time, the amount of memory installed, the number of drives and their configuration, and so on. In the... Read More

404 Error Pages: What Are They And How Do You Create One?

We've all seen them, you've been browsing a website and you click a link and nothing loads apart from the words '404 Error' along with the usual stuff.So what is a 404 Error... Read More

Digital Cameras + Photo Printers = Quality Instant Photographs

In the 1950's and 1960's Polaroid's instant cameras were all the rage. You could shoot a picture and have the finished print in a minute or so. The quality wasn't that great, but... Read More

Web Standards

HTTP ProtocolThe web is run on port 80. You are probably wondering what "port 80" is, right (whether you actually are or not is irrelevant)? Well, the answer is easy (not really). See,... Read More

Anti-Skip Protection on Mp3 Players

There have been some questions on anti-skip protection on mp3 players due to the fact that some of them publish on the box in its feature list.You got to see what the storage... Read More

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