Technology
Computers, Open Source, Hardware, Software
Understanding 'Managerese' - (Business words that cloud the mind)
http://www.kevinboone.com/managerese.html
Learn software/ programming/ design / networking
www.newhorizons.com Ask for the yearly price. It allows you to take as many classes in certain programs over the course of a year for one low price. Great deal for those who just want technical classes, taught in a short amount of time, for a reasonable amount of money.
http://www.christian-web-masters.com/ Online resource put together by Christian Web Masters to provide tools and resources to web designers.
Bulletin Boards
phpBB2
http://www.phpbb.com/index.php The original was good, but a little
clunky and had security problems. Looks like they really reworked it.
phpBB2 is the successor to the highly popular phpBB opensource bulletin
board system. Re-written from the ground up to be even more flexible,
secure and feature packed than its predecessor. phpBB 2.0 features all
that was good about phpBB 1.x; one-click install, multiple language
packs, simple and intuitive user interfaces, support for BBCode and
powerful administration features. It extends this offering complete
customization through a powerful template system, full text based
searching, advanced permissions system, powerful modularized
administration controls, multiple database support, new moderator
functions and much more. phpBB is released free of charge.
However, you must read and fully understand the license agreement before
you download and use the software.
Validate your HTML
Problems / Solutions
Good info to look out for when having trouble with an ASPX page.
http://scottonwriting.net/sowblog/posts/2943.aspx
Web Based Community Scheduler
Do you and your spouse need to synchronize your schedules better or more efficiently? Are you tired of having multiple calendars and inputting the same data in several schedulers? Check out http://calendar.yahoo.com
Yahoo has a free sync program (Intellisync) that works well with Outlook
allows you to keep your address book and calendar in sync with Outlook
(and ACT and Lotus). With Yahoo's tool you can have:
* one shared address book between several parties so items are being
entered twice
* Everyone's up to date
* Enter one place and sync to the others, i.e.: PDA's, Outlook, etc.
* Access to contacts, calendar, and notes from anywhere in the world as
long as you have a computer
QuickBooks
Technically, QuickBooks Pro 2006 looks like they cleaned up
a lot of things we did not like in the original
(UI issues, backend database) - may still be a
bit buggy, but that should iron out over time.
Pro will do invoicing, customer letters, etc,
pretty much everything and more. And it is an
industry standard.
Amazon Link to QuickBooks
Online PO Box
Manage your postal mail as easily as your email. View scanned images of your sealed envelopes online, then choose to have your mail securely scanned into a PDF document, recycled, shredded or forwarded to you or someone else. http://www.earthclassmail.com/
Software for making ICO files
ICO Files are those little 16x16 pictures that you see in front of your
domain name in the browser address field. You can create your own
file by using Pixeltoolbox 1.1. It's free to download last we
checked.
GreenRide and RidePro
GreenRide is simple and newer than RidePro. GreenRide has a basic feature set, and relatively low price. GreenRide is a relatively new product for a company that has been around for over 20 years. Customization is possible.
RidePro is sophisticated and can handle a lot of data, sites, and commuting options. Customizations are not readily available.
The ROI on a $24K system could be good. SoCal's Air Quality Management District (AQMD) charges to companies can add up to hundred's of thousands per year if the companies rideshare numbers are poor. A company could just pay the cash to the AQMD, but it doesn't provide the employees with options to do something positive. As gas prices rise, perceptions and the economics behind such programs may start to change.
Hardware
Here's a quiet and inexpensive product that can add more drive space to your computer or network. Buffalo Technology Linkstation 250 GB Network Storage Center External Hard Drive (HD-H250LAN)
Outdoors Software Gear
ViewRanger Gives New Perspective to National
Park Mapping
Mobile phone users visiting UK National Parks
can now access local information and share their
experiences of the landscape via a new map tool
called ViewRanger, an innovative digital mapping
tool for rural tourists and outdoor enthusiasts
that delivers a fresh view on mapping.
ViewRanger shows a 3D panorama of the user's location and labels the key points-of-interest - features such as hills, lakes, woodland, towns and villages - in the landscape. Immediately a user can match ViewRanger's display to the real world terrain around them and identify what they are seeing. ViewRanger makes it easy for users to quickly answer questions such as "Which hill is that over there?" or "What town is that in the valley?"
ViewRanger runs on mobile phone handsets interrogating a GPS enabled
3D representation of the landscape on your phone. It's simple to
use and doesn't require any map reading skills. It also has the
ability to upload and share photos and information on the landscape.
www.viewranger.com A free trial
version is also available.
Cool Mapping Blog Site
Geocomm.com
The invisible speaker wire
Patented flat speaker wire that is 0.006 inches thin, on average. Our patented flat wire is invisible after your choice of surface-mounted installation: under carpet, rug, tile, on walls or ceilings, etc. Simply paint or wallpaper over it, and your wire disappears! http://www.decorp.com/dewire.htm
Also, check out this high performance super flat cable for "invisible" connection of speakers to receivers. SuperFlat's ultra-slim, paintable design lets you run speaker wire out-of-wall invisibly. http://www.4electronicwarehouse.com/products/monster/sfl-500.html
Cameras
InfoMiss review on Canons, purchasing accessories and other cameras
My Mother just got the Canon PowerShot S2 IS and really loves it.
It's bigger than I would want, but she carries a big purse, so no
matter. She likes the zoom ability. My uncle got the Canon A610.
Amazon.com is a great resource for checking out what others have to say
about the camera you choose and you can usually get a great price there
too. I purchased the Canon G4 a couple of years back and
absolutely love it. It doesn't seem to take a bad picture despite
my lack of skill. I prefer the smaller Canan's though as we find
we bring the camera with us more often when it's small.
Also, a couple of good things to consider purchasing to go with your digital camera are extra memory cards, an extra battery, and a case. The 1 gig memory card may be tempting to purchase, but you'd save money just getting two 256 memory cards rather than the 1 gig. The 1 gig memory card is the latest technology so therefore you're buying at it's most expensive plus it's a bit overkill for most photographers. Two 256 memory cards would allow you to capture about 1,000 photographs at pretty decent resolution (at least 800x600).
Note: We suggest never buying a product when it first hits the market. The better bet is to wait for the version 2 or 3 to come out. Bugs will have been addressed and the price will drop significantly usually.
Amazon is great for finding the accessories that complete or add to the camera. They will usually sell accessory kits that may include: an extra memory card, a battery, a case for the camera, etc. Amazon makes it simple to buy electronics.
The following is my own search for cameras that are easy to use, reasonably priced and that have compatible printers in most cases.
Canon PowerShot S2 IS
Review from CNet
Nikon Coolpix S1 5.1 MP Slim-Design Digital Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
(Includes Dock)
Amazon listing - Price and reviews
Canon Powershot SD400 5MP Digital Elph Camera with 3x Optical Zoom
"Canon’s newest digicams feature simplified direct printing with
compatible Canon printers and one-touch image transfer to recent
MS-Windows OS computers."
Amazon listing - Price and reviews
Fujifilm FinePix F10
Amazon listing - Price and reviews
Review from CNet
Canon PowerShot A610
Review from CNet
Amazon listing - Price and reviews
Printers
Art Printing
http://www.prizm.com/?homepage=/orders/orderforms/formcanvas.asp
http://www.printroom.com/
Dye Ink Printer
HP500ps prints up to 42" wide. This machine is dye ink, 4 colors. Dye inks have a shorter life expectancy than pigmented inks. However, by printing on archival papers and canvas, the life expectancy is extended. There are many variables here so, If the image is fine art or something you want to have around for a while, pigmented inks are required.
This machine is great for printing architectural CAD drawings or anything, including photographs, that only need a life expectancy of less than a year.
Pigmented Ink Printer
HP5000ps prints up to 60" wide. This machine is pigmented ink, 6 colors. Pigmented inks, printed on archival rated papers and canvas, is rated at 100 years if placed behind glass and with museum lighting. This rating implies that the colors will hold up for that period of time prior to deteriorating. Again, many variables. The good news is that the technology and longevity is getting better all the time.
This machine is used to print fine art on papers and canvas. This machine is state of the art. It can print just about anything.
Both of these printers produce photo quality images.
Papers, Canvas, Vinyl
There are many materials now that can be printed on. Paper of all qualities and sizes, canvas up to 60" by 80 feet, vinyl, adhesive backed materials, even the vinyl that you see completely camouflaging a bus.
Phones
The 8703e which is a wider phone. Nice form factor because it has the full typewriter if you need this ability for short email responses.
There are unlimited data plans you can get. Best to try this option for a few months, then see how much of the bandwidth you use. It's easy then to downshift your plan if needed.
iPhone The iPhone will allow yahoo mail to be forwarded to it. The huge downside of the iPhone, though, is it's 'Cingularity'.
Bikes
eZee Sprint electric, now recommend (at +$600
the eZee price) another one:
"2008 update Electric bikes have moved on!
We now recommend the Kalkhoff range of bikes in
this category"
Kalkhoff Agattu - ?1,250
http://www.50cycles.com/sprintreview.shtml
UK Times Reviews:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/men/article3638107.ece
Schwinn’s line of electric bikes:
http://www.schwinnelectricbikes.com
On Amazon:
ElecTrec Electric Bicycle
http://www.amazon.com/ElecTrec-Electric-Bicycle/dp/B000J4F002/ref=sr_1_34?ie=UTF8&s=sporting-goods&qid=1224531049&sr=8-34
SEO
Search Engine Optimization Tips
Google's webmaster tools provide you with a free and easy way to make
your site more Google-friendly:
www.google.com/webmasters/sitemaps/docs/en/about.html
Build your Google-friendly Site Map online with Generator:
www.xml-sitemaps.com
Maximizing your Google Ad Click Through's
One guy who is about to make USD $1 million in Google AdSense income
next year recommends:
Taking out the border of your ads
Make the links the same color of your web site’s link color. http://www.vincentrich.com/index.php
Other tips:
Display a picture beside your ads to make people focus on your picture,
which in turn makes them look at your ads and perhaps click on your ads
more often.
Make the background color of your ads the same as the background color of your web page. Make your ads look like they are part of your page instead of like ads.
Try using the 336?80 large rectangle ad. These ads seem to perform well for many.
Use phpAdsNew to manage your Google AdSense and other banner networks on your sites. It requires one piece of JavaScript code on all of your web sites and is updated from one installation of phpAdsNew.
Edit PHP in FrontPage Design View
On the Tools menu, click Options, and then click the Configure Editors tab. In the Extensions list, locate and select the file extension that you want to use. In the Editors list, select FrontPage (Open as HTML). Click Make Default.
If the extension that you want does not appear, you must add it.
Click the New Extension button (or press ALT+N), located above the Extensions list. In the Open With dialog box, type the file. extension that you want in the Extension box. Select FrontPage (Open as HTML), and then click OK.
More at: http://www.your-propeller-head.org/edit-php-files-in-frontpage-2003-design-view/
WebHosting
DownTownHost.com is the clear winner (03/09)
Supports FrontPage, PHP, CPanel, Unlimited Addon
Domains (Multiple Domain Hosting)
Low Rates and excellent service - $5/mo @ 3 year
billing.
Listed in WebHostingTalk as one of the Hosts with >5 years in the market without a negative review.
"I have been with them over a year now. The support still goes above and beyond and has that personal touch which many do not have. I mean they make you feel more like a person or a friend then a customer. its been that way every time I have contacted them. Some thing I should mention about downtown host is every problem I have had has been worked out in one way or another. ... I actually talked to them this morning on live chat and they are just as friendly and have a much better live support, I mean the software is better, faster and every thing." "I ended up choosing Downtownhost. They have been EXCELLENT ME so far, you wouldn't believe some of the stuff they did for me, they practically have went OVER THE TOP. "http://www.downtownhost.com/shared.html
Steps to set up a Website
1. Find a domain name that you like at http://www.networksolutions.com/domain-name-registration/index.jsp2. Pick your hosting company for the site. www.DowntownHost.com is a great one.
3. Build the site or have it built
4. Publish
5. BAAM, your done!