Sometimes you just need to see what someone else is seeing. And when working on a proposal, report, book, or any document with a bunch of people, it can get real confusing sending multiple versions around via email…Which brings me to my site of the week: Sync.in. This site is drop dead easy. It allows you and a group of people to work on the same document at the same time. Did I mention it is free? Check it out at sync.in.
Archive for June, 2010
Bonus Site of the Week: Sync.In
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010Google Chrome – I’m a Convert
Wednesday, June 30th, 2010
Ok, this will date me. My first Internet browser, you know that thing you use to look at web pages) was a program called NCSA Mosaic, which was eventually renamed to Netscape. Soon after, Microsoft realized that this Internet thing was probably not a passing fad, and created Internet Explorer and included it on every copy of Windows they sold.
Internet Explorer quickly became the browser that everyone used. Firefox eventually showed up and started giving IE a run for its money, but it wasn’t until Google released its browser, named “Chrome,” that I was hooked. It’s a million times faster and a heck of a lot more stable than IE. And I love how they’ve implemented the tabs.
To get it free, go to google.com/chrome. Trust me, you’ll love it! And for those of you wondering why I didn’t mention Apple Safari, well, its ok. It’s cute and all, but on the speed-o-meter, it probably ranks between Firefox and Chrome. Chrome rocks.
Site of the Week: Profile Watch
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010You know, there’s been a lot of talk lately about how safe your personal information is on Facebook. How do you know that you set those complicated security settings correctly? Well, visit my site of the week, Profile Watch to find out. You simply put in the address of your profile page and it will tell you what information is available to everyone on the planet. It even has a handy meter. Check your privacy at profilewatch.org.(this link is no longer functional)
The Secret to Calling Tech Support
Tuesday, June 29th, 2010
Ok, show of hands, how many of you like calling one of those 1-800 tech support numbers? That’s what I thought. Well, I have some secrets that will get you farther faster with those guys.
First, make sure you are calling the right number. Sometimes a company will want to force you to use email or some online form to turn in a problem. Finding numbers can be tough. Make sure you bookmark the website, GetHuman.com. It gives you tricks to talking to a person and avoid the automated voice menu systems of large companies, not to mention the actual phone numbers of their support group.
Second, if you start to get frustrated with a tech, ask this one question: “What would you do if you were me?” You will be amazed how much faster you find a solution. Trust me.
MediaFire – Unlimited Storage
Friday, June 18th, 2010
Ever just needed a place to put your stuff? Want to share some files with friends but can’t email them because of their size? Check out MediaFire. They offer unlimited uploads, unlimited downloads, and unlimited storage for free. At first, I didn’t believe them. But after some more research, and testing on my own, I discovered they are legitimate and very useful.
You can even set up a “drop box” on a blog or website for your friends to upload their files to you. To see more of their features, check out their video tutorial on their homepage.
Site of the Week: Generatus
Sunday, June 13th, 2010Ever been sitting in front of Facebook or Twitter and wanted to post something but weren’t quite sure what to say? Then, check out my site of the week, Generatus. It will randomly give you a clever, funny quip to liven up your profile. Your friends will think you are a comedic genius, but only at generatus.com.
Google Maps Tips and Tricks
Sunday, June 13th, 2010Most of you have used Google Maps at some point. You know, that drag-able, zoom-able online atlas. Finding locations and directions between two places is simple. But, listen closely. I have some secret tips used by the pros. First, have you ever received a call on your cell phone and didn’t recognize the number. Well, if it was a business, you can type the phone number in Google Maps and it will tell you which company called. Cool. Reverse Phone Search. It doesn’t work for residences, though, for privacy reasons. Next, ever notice the little green beaker in the top navigation bar? This is a link to Google Labs. These are services Google is testing for later release. Click it. You’ll find some really cool options, like distance measurement tools, real-time longitude/latitude calculations, and rotatable maps. You never knew maps could be this fun!
