Category: Guides

  • New Dropbox Feature Lets You Pick Which Folders Sync

    I sometimes get asked, “What size USB flash drive do you have?”, especially when people are looking for a way to keep their documents with them between home/work/school.  Well, if you haven’t heard of Dropbox, you’re in for a wonderful revelation – you don’t need flash drives anymore! Instead of keeping your files on USB…

  • Make Upgrading Your Fedora System Easier with PreUpgrade

    Keeping with their six-month release cycle, Fedora 13 – codename Goddard – was released on Tuesday. Upgrading your Fedora installs can be a time-consuming process if you’re using the downloaded DVD.  Reinstalling can also take time considering you will need to backup and restore your system. PreUpgrade is a utility that simplifies the Fedora upgrade…

  • Hide Your Google Searches from Prying Eyes with SSL Encrypted Search

    Web searches are usually pretty harmless, but I don’t like the idea that somebody could see the Google search I did for “Goose Juggling” earlier today.  Until recently, though, anybody could see what you were searching for on Google because those search results were unencrypted. Last Friday, Google began rolling out encrypted web search using…

  • How To: Stream Media From Your PC to Your PS3

    While Sony’s Playstation 3 is viewed mainly as a video game console, it can also serve as a great streaming media center with a little extra software. Using the aptly named PS3 Media Server, it’s incredibly easy to serve up music and video straight to your PS3 from your computer. The first step in getting…

  • Security Tip: Deauthorize Old Facebook Applications to Protect Your Profile [Updated]

    It’s no secret: Facebook hasn’t exactly won any awards for protecting your privacy lately.  But Facebook’s privacy policies aren’t the only thing you need to be concerned about when using the popular social network – you also need to keep an eye on the apps that have access to your information. Whenever you use an…

  • Google Tip: How to Search Within a Specific Website, Domain, or News Source

    I was recently asked if it was possible to do a search on Google but only look at results from a specific site.  This is indeed possible, and is a great way to track down specific information when you know the general area it should be located.  I frequently use this to search for information…

  • How to Remove Hidden Duplicate Copies of USB Device Drivers in Windows

    If you’ve ever had problems installing USB devices in Windows, i.e. if you connect a mouse and Windows doesn’t properly install the drivers for you, I learned a great trick that might be able to resolve this problem. From what I can tell, Windows stores a “ghost” copy of any device you install which doesn’t…

  • How To: Create and Store Passwords Securely Using LastPass

    Answer the following: Do you use the same password for multiple (or all) websites? Have you had the same password for more than 6 months? Is your password strong? Does your password contain plain dictionary words, or include personal information such as your name, address, or phone number? Do you use your browser’s built-in password…

  • How to Fix Unwanted Amazon Recommendations Caused by Gifts or One-Time Purchases

    I suffer from bad Amazon.com recommendations, and I’m not afraid to tell you about it.  Sure, Amazon’s recommendations are one of the most useful features of the site, but because I once bought some engineering textbooks and a Jackie Moon Halloween costume, my recommendations couldn’t have been more inaccurate. It turns out there’s a pretty…

  • Read E-Books On Your Mobile Phone with Aldiko for Android

    E-book readers have changed the way we think about books, but if you own one you probably can’t carry it with you everywhere you go. Cell phones, although they have much smaller screens, are a much more portable option and can serve as an adequate e-book reader for short periods of time.  Aldiko, available for…