techiesnitch: tech blog

icloud: Your desktop, files and applications on any computer

noreply@blogger.com (Moy) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 10:01:00 +0000

A friend of mine suggests that I should try icloud. First question that came into my mind is “what is icloud?” icloud is like having your own computer, your desktop, files, applications, gadgets on any computer. It is virtually your working environment wherein you can view your pictures, edit your documents and share it to others for free. It's like having your operating system on any computer where there is an internet connection whenever you need it.

At the first time you log into icloud. You’ll see a fresh, good looking desktop with sidebar, taskbar, searchbar and instant messenger. With its preloaded applications like icloud’s Productivity tool, ‘Write’ which is compatible with MS Office 97-2003 documents, so you can start working right away.

You’re given 3GB of cloud storage but if you’re paying for a premium service, and then you’ll have 100GB storage.

Icloud also let you access your icloud storage from Windows Explorer without needing to open your web browser with its WebDAV tool. It is compatible with Windows, Mac OS, Linux, Android, iPhone and Windows Mobile.

Both Firefox and Internet Explorer are support as of now. Too bad Chrome isn’t supported yet.
Also, the latest version of Java Runtime Environment is needed by icloud for it to work.

Start Today. Register account at icloud here.

Links:

List of icloud applications
Icloud Features - Overview

Downloads:

Java Runtime Environment

icloud's WebDAV

Techiesnitch Official launch: Birth of a techie blog

noreply@blogger.com (Moy) — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:01:00 +0000

techiesnitch is now open for the public after one week of preparation and I am giving away one (1) Genuine Windows 7 Professional Product Key for that. Watch out for the mechanics later this day. Invite more people for more chances of winning, details later.

Also, expect more techie post coming this week. Hep-hep, Horaay!

Update:
Contest Mechanics:

All contest participants should promote techiesnitch by placing a techiesnitch button on his/her site or blog for the chance to win the genuine Windows 7 PRO key.

Any site or blog owner can join.
Just copy and paste the code provided below for the techiesnitch button.
The button should be found in the referring site/blog until the contest end or until the winner is announced.
The participants are not required to promote techiesnitch after the contest but they are able to keep the button on his/her site or blog even after the contest.
The highest referrer / referring site owner with the button on his/her site/blog will be the winner and shall receive the genuine Windows 7 Professional Product Key through email.

Duration: March 1, 2010 - April 1, 2010 11:59 GMT+8

Goodluck and have a nice day. :)

code:

Dropbox: Sync your files across multiple computers

noreply@blogger.com (Moy) — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 06:45:00 +0000

If you have more than one computer or laptop, Dropbox can help you sync your files across the devices with the help of cloud technology or the internet. Learn How.

Drop box is a software that syncs your files online and across your devices or computers. There will be a folder called 'My Dropbox' on your Documents folder and every time you put your files in this folder, it will be synchronized with your other computers that also have Dropbox installed and with the same Dropbox account.

Your files are uploaded to the Dropbox server so you have secure backup storage thus if your main hard drive failed, you can there is still a copy of your files and you can retrieve it by installing Dropbox to your new drive. The service is free but you can only have 2GB online storage but if your willing to pay, you get more, 10GB.

I have Dropbox installed on my laptop and my sister's laptop. Every time she wants some MP3s or files, I just drop the files in the 'My Dropbox' folder and she'll automatically receive the files. I don't need to attach the files in my email account anymore, or send the files through IM. What I only need to do isdrop it in my dropbox. Try it now, it's free and secure.

(Don't share your dropbox account and password with anyone unless you want them to receive your files also.)

Download Dropbox
Visit Dropbox official page

What is a web browser?

noreply@blogger.com (Moy) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 07:16:00 +0000

If you are able to browse the world wide web, then you maybe using a web browser. Web browser is basically a client or software that communicates with the interconnected servers across the world and is able to render the 'code' over the network and interprets the 'code' into pleasant view for the users that browses a website or domain.

Upon buying your computer, the default operating system has a specific web browser. Windows has Internet Explorer, Mac has Safari, and Linux has Firefox (Although it varies on the version of Linux) installed by default on the system.

Even though there are default web browser depending on your operating system, these web browsers can be disabled or change by downloading other web browser that is available on the internet.

Top 10 Essential Software after a fresh install OS

noreply@blogger.com (Moy) — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:10:00 +0000

Got a new computer? Did you format your PC? If yes, then here are techiesnitch's top ten essential software for average computer users. It is recommended to have these type of software.

1. Web browser - Even though operating systems have default web browser, I find it incomplete and has a big security hole. Thank God we have other FREE web browser better than the default installed web browser. Welcome Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Opera. Goodbye Internet Explorer!

Download:
Google Chrome 2.0.172.43
Firefox 3.6
Safari 4.0.4
Opera 10.10

2. Antivirus Software - Security of my computer is one of the important things that you should consider. Having full antivirus software would protect you system from any malicious files and contents. I recommend Avast over Antivir due to its complete protection. Imagine having your thesis documents being corrupted by a virus, I know you don't want that to happen to you.

Download:
Avast 5

3. File Compression - Sometimes the file that you downloaded has a weird file extension like .tar or .rar. That only means that the file is compressed and you need to unpack or extract the file to be able to see what's inside the package. I use winrar although it's not completely free; you'll be able to compress/decompress files easily. The only problem is that you can't put passwords on the files you'll compress.

Download:
WinRAR 3.92 (32-bit)
WinRAR 3.92 (64-bit)

4. Instant Messenger - You probably need to get in touch with you classmates and/or relatives that's why you need an instant messenger. I could come in handy whenever you need something from you friends.

Download:
Yahoo! Messenger 10.0.0.1102
Trillian Astra 4.1.0.24
Windows Live Messenger
Skype

5. Office Suite - Word processing, Slide Presentation, Spreadsheets are the most common application of office suite. You probably need it whether you are working at the office, or at school. Microsoft Office is widely used in office, school and cafes. Open-Office is the alternative system that is free compared to Microsoft's

Download:
Open-Office (from http://www.openoffice.org/)

6. Flash Player - Some website of that website that you visit
would require you to have flash player installed before you can
view the content of the file. It is essential to have Flash Player 10 if you're playing games on facebook. :)

Download:
Flash Player for Internet Explorer
Flash Player for Other Browser

7. Optical Disk Burner - You'll need a good software to burn your files easily and with compatibility to other system. You can use IMGBurn - a free tool for burn disk images and files to disk.

Download:
ImgBURN 2.5.0.0

8. Download Manager - If you like to download multiple and larger files at the same time, it could be practical to use a download manager. Not only it manages your downloaded files by separating them to different folder depending on the file format but it could also resume broken or interrupted download, saving you time.

Download:
Download Accelerator Plus 9.3 (Free)

9. All-In-One Media Player - it could be disappointing when you got a copy of the video you want to view but you can't even open the file. All-In-One Media player are great life savers when you need to play the most popular types of video and audio. I recommend using VLC Media Player to play your media files.

Download:
VLC Media Player 1.0.5 (from www.videolan.org)

10. Driver(s) - Installing your printer drivers right away could prevent you from searching for it at unwanted time like when you are in a rush to finish late documents and when you're done you found out that the printer driver is still not installed, great. It could be troublesome, save yourself from letting that happen to you by installing not only your printer drivers but also other peripheral drivers.

Find and download your printer driver:
Hewlett-Packard (HP)
Canon
Epson