BRCS Freeware SIG

Should I Send This Email? (Flowchart)

2012-02-27T11:01:00.001-05:00

I wish others would follow this.

Thanks MakeUseOf.com!

Posted via email from sefcug's posterous

The Lifehacker App Directory

2012-01-11T14:34:00.001-05:00

The Lifehacker App Directory Curates the Best Apps for All Your Gear

Lifehacker's App Directory is a constantly maintained and updated directory of the best applications and tools for computers (Windows, Mac, and Linux) and smartphones (Android and iPhone). Want to make sure you've got the best of the best installed on your system? Simply click on your platform-of-choice below to get started.

via lifehacker.com

Best is a matter of opinion, but if you are looking for something this is a good resource.

Posted via email from sefcug's posterous

What's an IP Address, Difference Between Static & Dynamic IP Address?

2011-12-16T12:16:00.001-05:00

via guidingtech.com

Ever want to know what an IP address is? If so, read the article from Guiding Tech.

Posted via email from sefcug's posterous

He who asks is a fool | Michael Hyatt

2011-12-13T09:21:00.001-05:00

He who asks is a fool for five minutes, but he who does not ask remains a fool forever.

Old Chinese Proverb

via michaelhyatt.com

I think this is a great quote.

All those user group members that are afraid to ask questions, should have this printed out and read it before every session.

Posted via email from sefcug's posterous

Ten Tips for Donating a Computer

2011-10-19T12:01:00.001-04:00

via techsoup.org

If you have an old computer, read this before just disposing of it and help others out.

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Last Call for Delicious Users: Transfer Your Bookmarks | AVOS

2011-09-16T13:17:00.001-04:00

The Delicious re-launch is coming soon and we’re excited for existing Delicious users to join us! To do so, you need to accept the AVOS terms of service* and privacy policy* to transfer your bookmarks and user data to the new site by September 23, 2011.

Click here to make the switch!

We plan to start migrating everyone’s data to the new site on September 24, so any Delicious users who haven’t opted in by September 23 will lose all their bookmarks and account information. Consider this the final reminder: if you want to bring all your links to cool websites along for the ride when Delicious re-launches, please transfer your bookmarks now.

Still not convinced? You’re a tough sell, but we’ll give it a shot. Here are some of the key benefits for acting now:

Maintain uninterrupted use of Delicious.

Keep your current Delicious username, account information and all your bookmarks. Any bookmarks you’ve marked as private will remain that way.

Be the first to try brand new features on the new Delicious.

You also have the option of exporting/downloading your Delicious bookmarks up until September 23, 2011.

For all of you joining us, we’ll be announcing here when the new Delicious.com goes live – so stay tuned. See you all soon!

*Last updated on September 14, 2011

via avos.com

If you have not transferred your Delicious bookmarks, you do not have much longer.

Follow these instructions to do so.

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4 Open Source Software to Delete Files Permanently | digg freeware

2011-09-08T16:16:00.001-04:00

via diggfreeware.com

If you want to permanently delete specific file in MSWindows, one of these should work for you.

Just click on the link above to read the whole post containing links to the downloads.

*****
I have not personally used any of these. If you have, please let me know what you think.

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geek and poke cartoon

2011-09-07T07:26:00.001-04:00

via geekandpoke.typepad.com

No comment necessary.

Posted via email from sefcug's posterous

geek & poke

2011-08-17T10:17:00.001-04:00

via geekandpoke.typepad.com

Another great insight into geeks and computers from geek & poke.

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Make it Easy for Friends and Family to Send a Quick Screencast

2011-08-12T12:37:00.001-04:00

via cybernetnews.com

If you are like me, family and friends call wanting help with computer problems, but seem to speak a different language, which you find hard to interpret.

I ran across the post above, and it looks like it could be helpful in such a situation, and that non-technical people would be able to handle.

Just click on the link above to read the whole post.

*****
I have not personally tried this out yet, but intend to in the near future.

Has anyone used this yet? If so, how did things work out for you?

Posted via email from sefcug's posterous

xkcd: Mac/PC

2011-08-08T08:09:00.001-04:00

via xkcd.com

So true!

Posted via email from sefcug's posterous

xkcd: Google+

2011-06-29T11:27:00.001-04:00

via xkcd.com

A timely cartoon commentary from xkcd.com.

Posted via email from sefcug's posterous

Interesting Internet Finds June 26, 2011

2011-06-26T14:23:00.000-04:00

In the course of going through the more than 200 news feeds in my Google Reader, I often run across things that I think might be of interest to other user group members.

The following are some items I found interesting in my Google Reader feeds during the week ending June 24, 2011.

How To Change The Default Picture Save Location In Microsoft Word
Use Windows 7 and MSWord 2010? If so, this should be of help.

How To Protect Your Files From Prying Eyes On Dropbox | PCMech
If you want a little more security in Dropbox, without fooling with encryption apps, this might work well for you.

How to Revive a Dead Laptop Battery | PCMech
If you have a completely dead laptop battery, this might just be worth a shot.

Get More From Your Kindle: Tips, Tricks, Hacks, and Free Books - How-To Geek
Have a Kindle? If so, be sure to read this.

*****
The above are only some of the things that might be of interest to other user group members in the past week.

If you would like to see more, you can get access to them on my delicious bookmarks page: http://www.delicious.com/sefc.ug.

If you use delicious.com also, join my network, so you can see what I have saved, and I can see what you have saved.

Did Add or Remove Programs Disappear? | Windows 7 Tutorials

2011-06-16T15:22:00.001-04:00

via 7tutorials.com

Have you moved up to Windows 7 and now are looking for the Add/Remove Programs applet?

If so, click on the link above and read the article. Learn about the other options also.

It took me a while to figure this out on my own, when I got my Windows 7 PC, but this detailed explanation makes it really easy.

*****
Did this help you? If so, check out http://www.7tutorials.com for like items, and let me know what you think.

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Use Binder Clips to Mend Broken Keyboard Feet | Apartment Therapy Unplggd

2011-06-14T07:46:00.001-04:00

via unplggd.com

This is not really a freeware issue, but is low cost.

I know that I will be using this DIY (do it yourself) tip, as those little keyboard feet are constantly breaking off. This happens primarily at work, so the material is readily available.

Just click on the link above to read the full article to find out how to do this.

*****
Is this something that was helpful? If so, let me know and subscribe to their feed for more useful information.

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Breaker Notifies You When It Is Time To Take Break While Working

2011-06-06T13:07:00.001-04:00

via addictivetips.com

Do you forget to take a break when using your PC? If so, try this piece of software out.

Click the link above to read the whole article.

****
Do you use some other kind of timer system to remind you to take a break. If so, drop a comment and let me know about it.

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The Bizarre Cathedral - 99

2011-05-26T08:51:00.001-04:00

via freesoftwaremagazine.com

Now, why didn't I ever think of that approach?

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How to Set the Default Zoom Level in ANY Web Browser

2011-05-16T14:21:00.001-04:00

via friedbeef.com

Something I have not thought about, but computer user group members, and many other browser users, should find of interest.

Great tips! Click the link above to read the article.

*****
Do you use default zoom settings in your browser? If so why?

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How To Repair Scratched and Damaged Photographs or Scans - How-To Geek

2011-05-11T08:48:00.001-04:00

via howtogeek.com

Useful tips from howtogeek.com for repairing damaged photos or scans using Photoshop, GIMP, and Paint.net.

If you use any of these applications check it out.

Click on the link above to read the whole article.

*****
Try these tips out and let me know if they helped you.

Posted via email from sefcug's posterous

Best Free Online Applications and Services

2011-05-10T11:07:00.001-04:00

via techsupportalert.com

Two pages of free online applications and services from one of my favorite free software resources. Some have reviews, some not. As they are all online, they should be available regardless of operating system.

You should be able to find something of use to you amongst all of this.

Just click the link above to read the whole thing.

Posted via email from sefcug's posterous

Opera Browser Setup for Slow Connections

2011-05-05T19:27:00.000-04:00

The main topic at the April 28, 2011 Freeware SIG session was inspired by a posting on Lifehacker.com, as the internet connection where we meet is usually very slow.
As usual, the session started off with a short slide show presentation of the main topic, and then we branched off into other items of interest to those in attendance.

The notes and actual presentation regarding setting up and using the Opera browser for slow connections have been posted in LibreOffice/OpenOffice.org format, Microsoft Office (PowerPoint 2007 for the presentation), and PDF format in their corresponding folders at the BRCS Freeware SIG box.net site. http://www.box.net/shared/3933b4mnnl

After the completion of the main topic some others were discussed:

Question

Where can I find cartoons?

Answer

Don't know anywhere in specific, other than http://xkcd.com/ and http://geekandpoke.typepad.com/, both of which have appeared in this blog. The suggestion is to search in Google for them, and when you see ones you like bookmark the link and/or subscribe to the RSS feed if available. Also, if you see one in print, check and see if there is a link to the cartoonist's site and go there to check out the other cartoons by the same cartoonist.

Question

Is there a free equivalent to Microsoft Publisher? I have files in Publisher 97 format that I would like to open and work on.

Answer

There are some out there but I have no experience with them. I don't think that any of them will open Microsoft Publisher formatted files though, as it is a proprietary format.

The above question brought up a discussion of where to find alternatives to other applications. One suggestion was to Google "alternative to aaaaa", where aaaaa is replaced by the name of the application you are looking for an alternative to. Also the site alternativeTo http://alternativeto.net/ was explored as much as was possible with the connection available.

Kindle for PC, eBooks, Free Music

Someone mentioned eBooks and the Kindle device. I let them know that I had just been trying out Kindle for PC available from Amazon, a free download and free to use. Just go to http://goo.gl/nXMfW to check it out.

I demonstrated how it looks on my laptop and advised that there were plenty of free books to download, though not recent best sellers of course.

This led into where to get free music to listen to. I suggested jamendo http://www.jamendo.com/en/ and gave a brief demonstration of what was available in my favorite genre of jazz. There were over 300,000 tracks available at the time we visited the site.

All the music posted there is under Creative Commons http://creativecommons.org/ license, so is totally legal to download and listen to.

May 26, 2001 Session

As we were closing up, I reminded everyone that Paul Nappo will be taking over for the May 26th session, and that I was sure he would do a good job.

Allow your data to be moved with Delicious

2011-04-27T15:02:00.001-04:00

Delicious is moving to a new home

Yahoo! is excited to announce that Delicious has been acquired by the founders of YouTube, Chad Hurley and Steve Chen. As creators of the largest online video platform, they have firsthand experience enabling millions of users to share their experiences with the world. Delicious will become part of their new Internet company, AVOS.

To continue using Delicious, you must agree to let Yahoo! transfer your bookmarks to AVOS.

Reasons to let Yahoo! transfer your bookmarks

As soon as you let Yahoo! move your Delicious account, you will:

Enjoy uninterrupted use of Delicious.

Keep your Delicious account and all your bookmarks.

Keep the same look and feel of Delicious as you have today, and enjoy future innovations for the product.

It's easy to have Yahoo! move your account to AVOS. When you do, you will be subject to the AVOS terms of service and privacy policy.

What happens if you do not move your bookmarks?

Delicious in its current form will be available until approximately July 2011.

After that, you will no longer be able to use your existing Delicious account and will not have access to your existing bookmarks or account information.

Learn more >>

via secure.delicious.com

I just went to sign in to my Delicious.com and got the message above.

As some of you know, I frequently bookmark items of interest to computer user groups at: http://www.delicious.com/sefc.ug/usergroup.

I have decided to go ahead and transition to the new AVOS, to keep things going.

Do you use Delicious.com? If so, what do you think of all this?

Posted via email from sefcug's posterous

How To Find Creative Commons Content With Google

2011-04-26T13:26:00.001-04:00

via makeuseof.com

Don't plagiarize use Creative Commons content. Click on the via makeuseof.com link and read the article to see how easy it is to find content you can legally use for your blog, website, or whatever.

Do you currently use Creative Commons content? If not, why not?

Posted via email from sefcug's posterous

NY case underscores Wi-Fi privacy dangers - Yahoo! News

2011-04-25T07:30:00.001-04:00

via news.yahoo.com

I secure my wi-fi router, and this article reinforces the reasons why you should too.

Do you secure your wi-fi router? If not, why not?

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Important Warning: Be Careful Downloading Open Source Apps via Search - How-To Geek

2011-04-19T12:04:00.001-04:00

via howtogeek.com

If you download open source software, make sure you read this whole article -- just click the link above-- and be careful what you are doing.

Found via the How-To Geek blog.

Posted via email from sefcug's posterous