Cloud Computing is More Than A Buzzword When It Comes to CloudShare

Steve Mallard, the lead Computer Information Technology Instructor at The Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville shared with me a phenomenal online service called CloudShare , that allows users (like you and me) and businesses to run full enterprise applications (and operating systems) on demand.

CloudShare is a self-service cloud platform that enables businesses to create, collaborate on and run full enterprise applications instantly and on-demand. Individuals, small teams and large enterprises use CloudShare to create virtual data centers for application development and testing,sales demos, proofs of concept, and training.

How many techies and geeksters out there have heard of virtual machines where software (installed on your PC) emulates and executes instructions like a real computer? It is like running a virtual computer inside of your physical computer. To the everyday computer user this may sound confusing and it is.

What Steve is sharing with us [click here] , through CloudShare, is the ability (for FREE) to run up to three virtual machines, in our web browser, across the internet (or in the cloud).  If you are a techie, you have to give this a try and experience this. It is phenomenal…

For example, I have not had the opportunity to play around with Microsoft Office 2010. That all changed after I signed up (for FREE) with CloudShare. One of the virtual machines I had option of selecting was a virtual machine with the Windows XP Pro operating system and Microsoft Office 2010. Through my CloudShare environment, I can actually see the Windows XP Pro desktop inside my browser and can actually run Microsoft Office 2010. Wow…

There is a whole lot more to this and I do not want to spoil what Steve has already posted.  If you are a tech I suggest to hop over to the TTC Shelbyville site and read Steve’s article, “CloudShare gives users hands-on experience for free” .

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A FREE Utility to Toggle the Windows Taskbar On and Off in Real Time

When using my computer I attempt to gain every bit of screen real estate that I can. Things such as using my browser in full screen and auto-hiding the Windows taskbar, to me, makes a big difference. As a matter of fact the gain from this is approximately 1 to 2 inches.

Auto-hiding the Windows taskbar is an option that built into Windows, but there is another way to toggle the taskbar on and off in real time and at will.  This can be accomplished by using a third party utility called Taskbar Eliminator.

Do not let the title, “Taskbar Eliminator”, give you the impression that it completely eliminates the taskbar. After launching Taskbar eliminator your taskbar will disappear; however, you can make it reappear by “Pressing and holding Alt + T” on your keyboard.  As a matter of fact, that keyboard combination of “Alt+T” will turn the taskbar “on” and “off” using Taskbar Eliminator.

To bring up the configuration interface for Taskbar Eliminator, simply “Press and Hold the Control+Alt+T” on your keyboard. If you notice, you can configure Taskbar Eliminator to start with Windows if you desire.  Just remember, when you do, your Windows Taskbar will be hidden and the hotkey combination, as mentioned before, will be required to toggle the taskbar back “on”.

Aviassin Taskbar Eliminator is a great utility which will simply and efficiently remove the taskbar from Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7.

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Experience the Best of Both Worlds – Google and Bing

You can now tap into the search engine power of Google and Bing, at the same time, using and online app called Qrobe.

I have featured other combo search engines like Panabee and Goog-a-who, where the search results are displayed in a side-by-side (dual pane) interface using a variety of search engines. Qrobe is different, in that when you perform a search the search results are directly and tandemly pulled from Google and Bing and displayed in the manner which we are already accustomed to (in a single pane or screen interface). Now, the really cool factor with Qrobe is that the search results are displayed in an infinitely scrolling list. In other words, no scrolling to the bottom, then selecting the next page; instead, you just keep scrolling and scrolling and scrolling; until you locate your desired result…

Features:

• Qrobe brings together the best results from the best search engines, so you absolutely get the best results. Qrobe does not try to hide (or claim credit for) where the results came from or change the sorting in any way.

• View your search results (both web and image searches) in an infinitely scrolling list, paging is so yesterday.

• Qrobe does not track, analyze or profile our users or let anyone else do that. Qrobe does not set any uniquely identifiable cookies or allow any ad network cookies. Do note that searches are temporarily stored in  the qrobe web logs and we will fully cooperate with legal authorities.

• Qrobe PowerSearch lets you get straight from your search bar to your search destination. Find a movie on Netflix (avatar /nf), a video on YouTube (inception trailer /yt), your favorite show on Hulu (office /hu), find a picture on Qrobe image search (flowers /i), or you local weather (walnut creek ca /we) right from the search bar. With 20+ power hints get to most of your favorite destinations straight from the search bar.

• Bored? Qrobe integration with Digg and Reddit allows you to view what going on on both Digg and Reddit on one screen.

• Peek into results or share, save, translate and shorten results with one click from the left menu.

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An Easy Way to Work With and Discover Google Apps

The more I dig into cloud based applications the more exciting I find it. Let’s face it, computing as we know is heading in that direction. For example, Google is a leader of online apps such as email, docs, calendars, pictures, etc… The problem is that there are so many Google Apps, and the list continues to grow, that you can find yourself getting lost. Now, if you are an everyday computer user at home, you are probably wondering what am I talking about.

I am sure you are all familiar with Google, as the search engine and most likely familiar with Google’s email service called Gmail. What you may not know about, is that Google has numerous other online apps that you can tap into that are very good and FREE. If you already have a Gmail account, then you are good to go and will be able to tap into these online apps with your current Gmail login; if not, you will have to establish an online Google account.

Of course you can visit, try and use these apps typically through your Gmail account (such as email, calendar, docs, YouTube, etc…). To make this really simple for you I found an online service called Gpanion that is specifically designed as a launcher for Google apps.

Gpanion

Simply visit the Gpanion website and click on the app you desire to launch. Pay special attention to the tab labelled “More”. Click on that and you will be surprised with the number of apps available. Also, by clicking on the “Search” tab you can perform a variety of different type of Google searches. Gpanion is a nice idea, simple, works and gives you a nice array of all of the Google apps currently available, in one convenient place.

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Geek Squeaks’ of the Week (#89)

If you have a desire to stay on top with what is hot and what is not in the information technology field, then I encourage you to bookmark the sites below.  Each of these sites are endorsed by What’s On My PC and are associated with the What’s On My PC blogroll.

Awesome Wallpapers
Misc. Wallpaper Set 26

My Technology Guide
TuneUp Utilities 2011 Giveaway Winners Announced [Plus Update]

TTC Shelbyville
Google Launches Cloud-Based eBooks Store

404 Tech Support
Amazon Announces New DNS Service Through their Amazon Simple Storage Service

I Want Ice Water
Reach Out And Grope Someone?

I Love Free Software
Hybir Backup: Free Full PC Backup Software

Netbook Freeware
Free Podcast Player for Netbook: Wilber Podcast Player

Worthy Tips
Alcohol 120% v5.0 Blu-ray Full Version For Free

AKSGEEK Live
Google Branded Chrome netbook to Launch on December 7

Malware Removal Instructions
How to remove Privacy Corrector (Uninstall Guide)

Chicago Mac/PC Support
Consumer Reports: AT&T is U.S.’s worst cell phone carrier

PC Optimization Secrets
16 Google Chrome’s Keyboard Shortcuts You Can’t Do Without

Gadgetsholic
Verizon’s Pantech UML290 4G LTE modem Available Tomorrow

Tech-for Everyone
Monday | Top Internet Security Suites | Countdown

Rarst.net
Photology – image viewer with advanced search

Lifehacker
Most Popular How-To Guides of 2010

Crazy World of G
Photo Sharing With PhotoRocket

Technogran’s Tittle Tattle
Review: Flock the Social Browser

Paul’s Home Computing Blog
Cybercriminals Changing Attack Method on ATMs

Laptop Reviews Central
Dell unveils the Vostro 130 Laptop

RGdot
MemPad: Freeware That Is A More Than A Note Organizer

Carol’s Vault
Today’s link: The Best Of: Windows Software from Makeuseof

Faster PC! Clean! Clean!
How to Remove HDD Diagnostic

Plato On-Line
Assange Issues Strong Warning

Confessions of a Freeware Junkie
Rename multiple files easily: Batch File Renamer 0.6.3

Bill Mullins’ Weblog – Tech Thoughts
Download Free Smart Close – Close Applications The Smart Way

thePC Security
SpeedUp Windows Performance- Give High Priority To Active Window With TopWinPrio

Mrintech
[Funny Infographic] If Web Browsers were Celebrities!

Canadian Tech Blogger
AVG Again Leaves Computers In Limbo

Bookmarks4Techs
477 Bookmarked Tech Sites

What’s On My PC
My Windows Vista to Windows 7 Upgrade Experience

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Coming Soon – Connect Your Printer to the Google Cloud

Not a whole lot on this at the moment, on the google site [HERE], however definitely something to be watchful for.  It is Google Cloud Print.

By connecting your printer with the Google Cloud you will be able to print to your printer from any computer or smart phone, regardless of where you are. Just activate the Google Cloud Print connector in Google Chrome and your printer will automatically be available to you from Google Cloud Print enabled web and mobile apps.

Appears this cloud app is currently in beta and can be tried and tested, if you desire, by downloading Chrome from the link indicated above. If you are currently running Chrome on your main PC, I would wait until it comes to you via the Chrome Updates.  I am currently running the development versions of Chrome and I am not seeing this option in my browser, as of yet.

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A Great Article on Google Docs

Most computer users at home do not realize that instead of purchasing Microsoft Office, for a pretty penny, you can accomplish virtually the same tasks online (on the internet) using Google Docs. Let’s face it, most home based computer users do not need a full scale office suite just to type the occasional letter, or to do a simple spreadsheet or create a presentation. Believe me, I have actually seen people purchase the Microsoft Office Suite thinking that it was a requirement. Yes, if you are a student or business person, then Microsoft Office is something you will probably need; however, if you are the everyday home based computer user, then Google Docs is an excellent (and FREE) alternative.  PLUS, the “cool factor” here is that Google Docs can read and save your files in many of the Microsoft Office file formats .

Create and share your work online with Google Docs

• Upload your files from your desktop: It’s easy to get started and it’s free!
• Access anywhere: Edit and view your docs from any computer or smart phone.
• Share your work: Real-time collaboration means work gets done more quickly.

To learn HOW TO take advantage of Google Docs and HOW TO get started, I am now going to redirect you to a website where another blogger friend of mine (Scoroncocolo) has put together (extensive) information and complete instructions on using Google Docs. Why should I reinvent the wheel, when I do not have to.

To read a “Great Article On Google Docs” – [ CLICK HERE ] .

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