Super Buy Western Digital WD Elements 2 TB USB 2.0 Desktop External Hard Drive

If you are need of additional drive space or a strategy to backup your files (or your computers hard drive), then check out the buy at Bookmarks4Techs (through Amazon) on the Western Digital External Hard Drive with 2 TB of hard drive space.  Yes, (2)-two terabytes at a very affordable price.

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Best Full Featured All-In-One Screen Capture Program

I have said it before and will say it again. If there is a software package out there that is FREE, that continues to evolve and is of great quality; it will be worthy of mention here at What’s On My PC, over and over. I call software apps of this calibre, Hall of Fame software.

Today I bring you a small screen capture application, called PicPick, that definitely falls into that Hall of Fame category and is in a class of its’ own. Since my last review of PicPick, this application has come a long ways’.

A screen capture application is a software app that allows you take a snapshot of what’s on your computer screen, whether it is the whole screen or just a portion of it, and save it as a graphic file.  The good about this is, once you have the captured screen in a graphic file format, you can then insert it into documents or simply save the captured file to disk. If you are a graphic designer, software developer, a blogger, a desktop publisher, a Powerpoint user or someone at home who simply needs something that will allow you to grab clips on the internet, then PicPick, I highly recommend.

Now that you have a general idea of what a screen capture application, what is so great about PicPick?  It is simply this, PicPick is easy to use well thought out application; AND for a small program application that you can also carry around on your flash drive, it is loaded with additional features.

After PicPick is installed and launched you will see the PicPick icon in the system tray (bottom right corner of your screen on the taskbar). Simply click on that icon and you will be presented with a popup menu that is self explanatory. If you notice the screenshot below, I want you to look at the other tools that are included such as a color picker, color palette, magnifier, pixel ruler, protractor, cross hair, whiteboard and image editor. All of these tools are mini apps in themselves that compliment the task of screen capturing.

The image editor is what has most impressed me and has greatly improved since the last review. For example, for the screenshot above, I selected “fixed region”, to capture a fixed area on the screen and once I made the capture, the capture automatically opened in the “Image Editor”; very nice. I was then able to manipulate the image in the editor any way I liked. There are numerous enhancement options in the editor that are just plain awesome.

Screenshot – [click here]

Well, you heard me rave about this app and the only thing I can tell you is to download it and play with it. Very, very nice (FREE) software app that is well worth installing on your PC. Kudos to the developer of PicPick.  PicPick is FREE for personal use [ click here ] .

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Geek Squeaks’ of the Week (#77)

If you have a yearning to learn about information technology and computers, then be sure to check out the weekly roundup of Geek Squeaks’. The article links you see below are articles and information provided by the sites (and blogs) that are associated with the What’s On My PC blogroll.

Tech-for Everyone
Software License Giveaway Drawing: SPAMFighter Pro

Laptops Review Central
The many features of Toshiba Folio 100

Paul’s Home Computing Blog
Wanted: Cyber Warriors

TuneUp Blog about Windows
Finally, Smooth HD Playback on Slower PCs and Netbooks

Lifehacker
Remains of the Day: How Good Software Makes Us “Stupid

Rarst.net
How to find high quality images of stuff

Free PC Security
Malicious Sites September 13

Mister Reiner
Firefox vulnerabilities give me the creeps!

Gadgetsholic
WebOS 2.0 Screenshot Pictures Leaked

Bookmarks4Techs
Kindle Wireless Reading Device

Canadian Tech Blogger
How To: Adding Liquid Cooling To A PC

thePC Security
Free Software Update Software – Secunia PSI 2 BETA

Right On Technology
Google Instant Search
Introduced, Real-Time Results While You Type

Bill Mullins’ Weblog – Tech Thoughts
WOT (Web of Trust) – Is It The Most Important Browser Security Add-on You Need To Install?

EvilFantasy’s Blog
Flash Cookie Cleaners

Plato On-Line
73% of Americans Hit By CyberCrime

Faster PC! Clean! Clean!
How to Remover RegistryClever

RGdot
Simple Freeware: Screenshoter And Easy Image Modifier

AKSGEEK Live
Samsung Galaxy Apollo Coming Soon to Telus

Malware Removal Instructions
Remove dating.clicksearch.in (Uninstall Guide)

Chicago Mac/PC Support
Google’s New Scary Security Warning (via Meredith L. Eaton)

I Love Free Software
Create DVD Cover Create CD Cover with UnderCoverXP

Netbook Freeware
The Big Bad Launcher: Simple and Easy to Use
Launcher For Your Netbook

Worthy Tips
Canon PowerShot SD4500IS
available Shooting Modes and Photo Effects

404 Tech Support
Google Maps Instant, YouTube Instant, and YouTube Time Machine

I Want Ice Water
Tokyo in Time Lapse (via Metousiosis)

TTC Shelbyville
Free Sessions for Girl Scout Leaders and Girl Scouts

Snakebytez
Burn Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs with CDBurnerXP

Awesome Wallpapers
Windows Se7en Wallpaper Set 31 (Nature)

Laptop Computer Reviews
What Needs to Stop

What’s On My PC
Is magicJack’s VoIP For You

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Online Royalty Free Public Domain Clip Art

In the past here at What’s On My PC I have provided links to sites that feature FREE clipart. For example WP Clipart and Open Clipart Library are a couple of my favorite sources for FREE clipart.

Today I added another clipart site to my collection, called Clker.com, that I would like to share with you.

Clker.com is an online sharing service where users share free public domain vector cliparts, or share public domain photos and derive vector cliparts from those photos using clker’s online tracer.

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Tip: Bcc Protects Private Email Addresses

Bcc = Blind Carbon Copy

Did you know that if you use the Bcc field in your email client to address and send an email to multiple users, the recipients will not see whom you sent the email to?

Many know this trick; however, I still find that many do not. When using the Bcc field to send your emails, the people receiving the email will not know who the other recipients are. It is not a trick of hidden magic. It is that the addresses of the other recipients are simply not shared.

I often receive forwarded chain emails; usually consisting of jokes, humorous movies, prayer requests, etc… Occasionally I will find one these emails humorous or important enough that I will pass it on; HOWEVER, prior to doing this I perform some housecleaning steps.

I will remove any “FWD” text (usually in the subject line) and will remove any email addresses I find in the body of the email that reflects the email addresses of recipients who have already received the email. After performing these housecleaning steps, I will enter into the the Bcc field, in my email client, the recipient’s email addresses, from my address book, to send (or forward) the email. If the email client requires at least one entry in the “To” field, I simply enter my own email address.

The benefits of using the Bcc field is simply this. You are protecting the privacy of other people. Currently I have approximately (5)-five email accounts that I use for specific purposes, from a variety of email services, with one of those accounts being my primary email account. I am very protective of that primary email account address and do not want it thrown about for the spammers to get hold of or for strangers to see. For example, I have found people’s email addresses in forwarded emails that I know and have not seen for years. They are very surprised when I contact them; and, will often ask, “How did you get my email?”. I explain that I simply pulled it from a forwarded email.

Be courteous to others and learn to use the Bcc field in your email; AND, when possible avoid chain emails all together.

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Is magicJack’s VoIP for you?

magicJack – A device that you plug into your computer’s USB port that enables you to use your broadband internet connection to make FREE local and long distance phone calls. A phone line (standard RJ-11) plugs into the magicJack from a phone. Initial cost is typically around $40 dollars [ CLICK HERE ] the first year, then $20 a year thereafter. There are other pricing packages available, as well.

Recently while browsing in the local RadioShack, I could not help overhearing a man and woman asking the salesperson a lot of questions about the magicJack. What they wanted to do was replace the landline phones in their home with a magicJack and this salesperson was laying it on heavy; making it sound like this $20 device was the “ultimate” solution to replacing their landline phone service.

After detecting skepticism from these folks, I could not take it any longer and piped in. I said, “Listen, I have been a magicJack owner for over a year.  It does work; however you need to know this about magicJack”.

• This device is dependent on the speed and reliability of your broadband connection and your computer. If the broadband connection and/or computer is under heavy load, then expect problems.
• This device depends on your computer being turned “on”; however, the service does have voicemail which can be forwarded to an email account (in the event the computer is turned “off”).
• Call quality can vary; however, on my setup the call quality is better than cellular and most of the time as good (sometimes better) than my landline. Again, this varies, based on the factors previously reflected.
• I have experienced occasional software issues with the magicJack software, which is driven by the magicJack device itself. Often a reboot of the PC will make it behave itself. When you get this thing, get everything plugged in and follow the registration instructions to setup your “new” phone number.

• This device will not work through the phone jacks in your house. The salesperson was definitely giving that impression. One thing you can do, is purchase a cheap cordless phone and plug the main base into the magicJack.
• Services included are FREE local and long distance calls, FREE voicemail, FREE call waiting, FREE Caller ID and FREE Directory Assistance.  Again, this all varies based on factors previously reflected; however these services are included.
• You are going to see thousands of “pros” and thousands of “cons” on this device. For example, [ SEE HERE ] .  All I can tell you is, it works for me.
• You are going to read where magicJack computers may analyze the phone numbers you call in order to improve the relevance of the ads you see in the magicJack software.  In other words, this could be a privacy concern.
• You are going to find at the magicJack.com website, it is geared toward marketing; not tech support.

Is magicJack’s VoIP for you?

In this particular case, I set up a “win-win” situation for these folks (the customer) and the salesperson.

Replacing your landline phones in your home with magicJack, is not a good solution; unless you are living on bread alone (which did not appear to be the case here). Using magicJack to supplement other services you have is a good solution. For example, I dumped my long distance and use MagicJack to make my long distance calls, which is really not that many compared to other people. We also have pay-as-you-go cell phones and can use them in a pinch, if necessary.

I then turned to the salesperson and asked, “What is your return policy? AND, If these people buy this and do not like it can they bring it back to YOU? At this point, I really got the look. Once that was out of the way, I told these people, take this home and play with it and play with it a lot.  If it does not suit bring it back to this guy. They ended up buying it!

To my readers, magicJack does work; however it depends on many variables. If you want to play with one, go to Walmart to buy it.  Their return policy is probably the best around. If you can’t wait and want a decent buy, then check [ HERE ] .

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3D Jigsaw Puzzles on your Computer for FREE

From the developers of Solitaire Forever, which is one of my favorite versions of Solitaire, comes Puzzles Forever.

If you are a lover of jigsaw puzzles, then you are going to love this app. With Puzzles Forever you can take your own pictures and make 3D jigsaw puzzles in a very attractive interface (with fullscreen and zoom options).

This software is capable of creating puzzles up to 900 pieces with difference piece types. You simply move the pieces by holding down your left mouse button. Rotating pieces can be accomplished by using your mouse wheel or the cursor (or arrow) keys on your keyboard. There are other neat controls, as well.

One thing to point out is that there is a registered version of Puzzles Forever as well, however the version I am pointing out is FREE. The difference between the two is that when you are creating your puzzle, some of the pieces are are already put into place for you. If you are like me, that is not a problem; I need all the help I can get.

Features:

- Beautiful, simple graphic interface
- Create puzzles with up to 900 pieces
- Enjoy six free puzzles
- Import your own pictures to use as puzzles
- Several puzzle piece shape types
- Multiple zoom levels
- Full screen mode

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