Geek Squeaks’ of the Week (#43)

A week has past and Geek Squeaks’ are here at last…  Be sure to check out these articles posted by bloggers (everyday people like you and me) who are members of the What’s On My PC blogroll community. Geek Squeaks’ are recent articles (posted within the past 7 days).  There is no order (or method to my madness) in the selection process of articles; all are randomly selected AND all are squeaks from a very elite group of geeks.

TTC Shelbyville – Technical Blog
Make a Shortcut on the Send To Menu

The Abbey Rose
Unmask Parasites accelerator for Internet Explorer 8

I Love Free Software
Comodo Time Machine Better than Windows Restore Point

Technize
Collection of Themes for Windows 7

Computer Maintenance
Computer Repair Tools

Technogran’s Tittle Tattle
What is Windows Live?

TuneUp Blog
How To: Control Annoying Messages in Windows 7

Mrintech
Shorten/Change your Facebook Page/Profile URL

Canadian Tech Blogger
Microsoft Stops Selling Office

thePC Security
Free File Search Software For Text String Search

Lifehacker
WebMii Shows You How the Web Sees You

Rarst.net
How to integrate Google search into WordPress site

Tech-for Everyone
What The Inside Looks Like

AskBillFirst
Acer Recalls Notebook Computers Due to Burn Hazard

The PC Security
Malicious Sites January 13

AKS-Feel The Change
Speccy-Portable System Information Tool

Carol’s Vault
Free Screen To Video Freeware – screen capture tool

411-Spyware.com
How to Remove SysDefenders

Plato On-Line
Software Patents and Intellectual Piracy

Bill Mullins’ Weblog – Tech Thoughts
Comodo System Cleaner –
The Free “Swiss Army Knife” of System Cleaners

Scoroncocolo
Dropbox Is a File Storage, Syncing and Collaboration Tool

Big Geek Daddy
Free Disk Defrag

Internet Security Blog
Password Protect USB Data With Portable Free Encryption Tool

Worthy Tips
Download Official Gmail Tips E-Book

What’s On My PC
When Windows 7 Will Not Boot

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What is Dropbox?

Dropbox Is a File Storage, Syncing and Collaboration Tool [ Link ]

Every once in awhile I love to link to articles that have been posted by others; especially those who are members of the What’s On My PC blogroll.  Steve, over at Scoroncocolo has put up an excellent in-depth article [ Link ] about using the cloud storage app called Dropbox.

What is really intriguing about Steve’s writing is that he just does not give you bits and pieces; he give you the whole loaf.  He tests out the apps he writes about, then tells you how to use those apps in an easily understood manner. His Dropbox article is an excellent example of this. If you do not know what cloud storage is or Dropbox, I encourage you to read Steve’s article titled;

Dropbox Is a File Storage, Syncing and Collaboration Tool

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FREE Wallpaper and Puzzles at National Geographic

National Geographic, the official journal of the National Geographic Society, has been publishing the journal (or magazine) since 1888.  I can remember in my childhood browsing through my Grandfather’s National Geographic collection and being in awe over the articles; and, especially the photography.  If any of you are familiar with National Geographic, you know exactly what I am talking about.

If you are a National Geographic fan, then there are (4)-four FUN things you need to check out that will bring the photography of the National Geographic to your computer.

1) The National Geographic Wallpapers [ Link 1] and [ Link 2 ] .  I currently use the National Geographic Wallpapers as my primary source for my wallpaper backgrounds on my PC. There is nothing like them (in my opinion). Be sure to check out both links, as they are different.

2) Test your memory with the National Geographics’ Daily Dozen match game.

3) Nothing like a jigsaw puzzle; especially, when it is FREE and can be played on your computer featuring photography [ Link ] and Atlas Maps [ Link ] from the National Geographic.  See how fast you can assemble these puzzles (you are timed).

4) Don’t forget to check out the slide puzzles [ Link ] .  Watch the pieces scramble before your eyes and then challenge you to slide them back in order.

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System Explorer – A FREE Task Manager

System Explorer is FREE task manager program that provides detailed information about the operating status of your PC and is an excellent tool to include in your tech toolbox (portable version available).

Task Manager programs, such as System Explorer, are applications that typically provide detailed information about the stability of your computer (such as performance and running applications, processes and CPU usage, commit charge and memory information, network activity and statistics, logged-in users, and system services). Typically we get to the Windows Task Manager by hitting the “CTRL+ALT+DEL” hotkey combo.  Most users typically go to the Task Manager in Windows to halt programs that are not playing well.

System Explorer is like the Windows Task Manager, but is a whole lot more…  Things that you can do with System Explorer are:

Task Management

Startups Management

System Performance Monitoring

Internet Explorer Addons Management

Services Management

Start applications faster with System Explorer Launcher

Force start idle system tasks to cleanup and speedup system

Optimise physical memory usage

Reveal malware or viruses in your system

Network Connections Monitoring

Processes Management

Search faster with System Explorer Launcher

Make System Report

Check File Security

Screenshot

Features:

Detailed informations about Tasks, Processes, Modules, Startups, IE Addons, Uninstallers, Windows, Services, Drivers, Connections and Opened Files.

Easy check of suspicious files via VirusTotal or Jotti service.

Easy search details about file/process via online databases.

Launcher (“New Task…” dialog) with integrated AutoSearch and AutoCompletion.

Action History for monitoring processes activities.

Performance graphs for monitoring usage of system resources in time.

System Snapshots for easy finding of system changes.

System Report builds rich text report containing major informations about your System.

Multilanguage and Plugins Support.

Version 2.0 brings brand new user interface and Windows 7 support.

**NEW** Security feature with online File Reviews.

Requirements:

OS: Windows XP,Windows Vista or Windows 7

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Making the web more fun with JavaScript…

Many of you, I am sure, have heard about or are currently using Google’s branded web browser called Chrome. Since Chrome’s inception into the browser arena, with the likes of Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Opera, to name a few; Chrome has become a top contender. Chrome launches quickly, is lightning fast, and you can search right from the address bar. I personally use it on my PC, alongside Firefox.

When Google Chrome launched in September 2008, it included a powerful JavaScript engine, called V8, which was built to make the next generation of web applications perform faster in the browser. If you do not know what JavaScript is; it is a very popular scripting language that adds interactive functions and content to web pages. It is widely supported in web browsers such as mentioned earlier.

To showcase how powerful the JavaScript engine V8 is and to encourage developers to find new and fun ways to use JavaScript, Google has a site up called Chrome Experiments.

Chrome Experiments is a compilation of interactive applications submitted by developers worldwide to demonstrate the power of JavaScript.

For example, recently a new experiment was submitted called Crystal Galaxy which is an experimental 2D space shooter game demo, developed using a pure JavaScript / DHTML game engine. I think you will be amazed of the quality of this game that is played in your web browser.

Crystal Galaxy is just one example of a Chrome Experiment. There are currently (at the time of this posting), approximately 71 experiments available, that are just absolutely fascinating. The experiments range from games, to pieces of art, to interactive applications. If you have not experienced Google Experiments, I encourage you do so. The experiments are good examples of what direction our internet and computer experience is going.

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Geek Squeaks’ of the Week (#42)

It is unbelievable, especially the older we get, just how fast a week seemingly passes by; but, one thing I look forward to each week is Geek Squeaks’.

Geek Squeaks’ is a compilation of articles, created within the past 7 days, by the members (bloggers) associated with the What’s On My PC blogroll (at the right side of the blog). If computers and information technology is in your blood, then these sites (or blogs) are the ones to follow.

Bill Mullins’ Weblog – Tech Thoughts
FreeFixer – A Free, Powerful Anti-Malware Tool

Plato On-Line
Facebook vs. Suicide Machine

411-Spyware.com
How to Remove Antivirus PC 2009

AKS-Feel The Change
Merge two or more PDF files

thePC Security
Freeware PC Security Software Download – Rising PC Doctor

Crazy World of G
You Have Wave

Lifehacker
Memorize Makes Virtual Flashcards and More [Flashcards]

Rarst.net
SuggestRSS.com – finds sites like those in your feeds

Sugarloaf Tech
Remote wipe your BlackBerry without BES

Tech-for Everyone
How To Make Word Open A Normal Blank Page*

AskBillFirst
Those Green Doublelined Words on a Web Page

Free PC Security
Online Armor Free Firewall V4

TuneUp Blog
Survey: Replace Rather Than Clean Up a PC?

Computer Maintenance
Data Backup

Canadian Tech Blogger
IE Usage Down, Chrome Surpasses Safari

Mrintech
Free ASCII Art Designer Software for your PC!

Worthy Tips
Idea To Convert Your Photo To Hand Draw Sketch On Your Desktop

Technize
3 Ways To Test Your LCD Monitor For Defective Pixels

I Love Free Software
WeBuzz.IM – Use Gtalk, Yahoo, ICQ, AIM from Browser

TTC Shelbyville
Repair Internet Explorer

Carputers News and Computer Tips
Learn how to research online…

Snakebytez
Easily and Safely Optimize Vista
by Disabling Unnecessary Windows Vista Services

Freeware Pharmacy
MCE Buddy

What’s On My PC
FREE Online Virus and Malware Scanners

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How to tell if your Gmail Account has been compromised…

I recently made a decision to use my Gmail account as my primary email client and have not regretted it.  Gmail is a little different than the email clients you may be used to with terms like conversations, labels, and stars; but, once you learn and get past that there is no going back ( in my opinion).  Oh, and not forgetting to mention, it is fast.

One really neat feature to look for when you log into your Gmail account next time is located at the very bottom of your Gmail pages.  It is called “Last account activity”…  (see below).

If you click on the “Details” link, you can find information about recent activity in your mail account (see below). Recent activity is a log of sorts that tracks the occasions your account is accessed. This includes any times that your mail account was accessed, using a regular web browser, through a POP client, from a mobile device, etc. A list of IP addresses from which the access was made, as well as the time and date, is also collected and made available.

Why is this important?

By using this feature you can determine if there are any signs that your account has been compromised.  For example, many users typically sign into their Gmail using a single computer (e.g. your computer at home). In this scenario, your IP address should start with the same two sets of numbers (for example, 168.18.xx.xx).  If you start seeing the first two sets of these numbers greatly varying from your typical IP address numbers, it means one of two things.  One, you recently accessed your mail from a different location or two someone else has accessed your account.

The whole point of this article is to point this feature out to you and to prompt you into using it.  The more you use it, the more you will understand it.  It just may save you from having your account hijacked.  In the event you suspect that your account has been compromised, I suggest you immediately change your Gmail password and security question.

To learn more about Gmail and its’ features, I encourage you to visit Gmail Support and The Official Gmail Blog .

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