If you have a broadband connection you want to make certain that your computer’s TCP/IP settings are optimized and that you are getting the download speed that you are paying for. First to check your speedrun the PC Pitstop Bandwidth Speed Test. Then if you have Vista check out this article at the SpeedGuide site for instructions in how to improve your TCP/IP configuration. If you are using XP download and run the SG TCP Optimizer.
Play Music throughout home from PC or Internet via Receiver/Amp
February 2, 2009I’ve had my Squeezebox v3 by Slim Devices (now a Logitech Company) for just over two years and couldn’t be happier with it. Here are some highlights:
- It plays non-DRM protected music stored on my PC (in my case mp3 and wav formats) via a PC application called Squeeze Center available on the Slimdevices.com site
- The literature indicates it will play iTunes but I have not tried that
- It provides a variety playing selections in addition to playlists such as by artist, by genre, by year, by album- all with shuffle capability
- I also have it configured to connect to two Internet radio sources including Pandora (a $36 annual subscribe required) and SHOUTcast (free). It can also connect to several other subscription services including Rhapsody. Once you’ve configured these on SqueezeNetwork, you can listen without having your PC on.
- It easily connects to my wireless G network
- It connects to an amp/receiver via RCA cables or Toslink. During the winter I have it connected to one in the family room and then during the rest of the year I relocate it our sun room
- It comes with a top notch remote which allows you to change what is playing and control the volume among other functions
- I’ve talked to their free support 3 or 4 times; once for a problem with an update and the other times just to clarify an operational or feature question. They pick-up the phone quickly and really seem to know the product.
Create PDF Files with Office 2007
February 2, 2009Microsoft provides a free add-in that provides the ability to Save an Office 2007 document as a PDf file.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=4d951911-3e7e-4ae6-b059-a2e79ed87041&displaylang=en
PowerPoint Alternatives
January 17, 2009I am often asked how can a fellow group member who does not have PowerPoint access presentations.
- If the person only needs to view (not edit) the PPT, then there is a free viewer available at http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=048DC840-14E1-467D-8DCA-19D2A8FD7485&displaylang=en
- If they need to edit a PowerPoint and are a little computer savvy they could install the free OpenOffice suite. It will open .ppt files by converting them into its own format. Then you can do a Save As and select .ppt which will reconvert them into a .ppt file. This can be found at http://www.openoffice.org/
Shrink Photos in Email
January 16, 2009Want to send smaller photos? I just learned from Sandy Berger’s Compukiss eNewsletter of an excellent free utility called Shrink Pic. It allows you to use a variety of email clients and shrinks the picture in the background before your email is sent. You can select the amount of compression you want and also define what file types. While it works great on my XP Pro computer it crashes Outlook 2007 on my Vista computer.
For Vista I found two solutions:
- A free program that adds a resizing selection to the Explorer Context menu http://prishcom.spaces.live.com/
- Or after selecting a photo in your Explorer window click on E-mail in the Tool bar and you will get a chance to select a compressed size to insert automatically in an email message
