Technology Guides

With news today that Facebook is now valued at a small chunk of change (aka $70 billion), I thought I’d take a look at it again.

My opinion of Facebook used to be very radical and I stubbornly refused to sign up. Then a couple years ago I decided to sign up and I have not looked back. Now I’m starting to revisit my opinion on it as Facebook starts to introduce more invasive features such as “Auto-tagging” which is based on facial recognition software. Why am I mentioning this you ask. I, like a growing number of Facebook users are starting to wean ourselves off Facebook because of this. It has been a trivial battle thus far and when I think I make progress I run into new ways to use this dominant service. It also doesn’t help that Twitter is becoming really popular and I’ve integrated the two, as well as Google is taking another swing with its recently announced social network called Google Plus (I will review this shortly). So without further ado, here are some useful Facebook tips and tricks to make your Facebook experience more useful, efficient and fun.

1. Download Facebook Photo Albums

There are some great photo albums out there that your friends have but it’s a pain to click on each photo and save it separately. That’s where Fotobounce comes in. It is a desktop application that allows you to download the photo albums. The great thing is it supports facial recognition so that saves time with the tagging. The difference between this and the Facebook feature is it does not have access to every other Facebook user so some random person who looks like your best friend will not be tagged in these photos.

2. Featured Friends

An underutilized feature on Facebook is the Friends tab on the left sidebar. You can customize this to only show certain friends (i.e. best friends, family…). To do this, click edit right by the Friends box. Under the Featured Friends tab, click “Create a new list”. Select all the friends you want on the list, and name it. Then click “Add an existing list or group” to add to it to your profile.

3. Remove Facebook Ads

This really should have been number one but I was too lazy to switch things around. This only works on Firefox and if you have the add-on Greasemonkey. Then you use that and install a script called Facebook Cleaner. Once it’s installed, and this takes seconds, go to Facebook and all the ads will have vanished. It reduces the clutter by a lot and makes the user interface a lot more pleasing although deep down inside I feel like something is missing.

4. Auto-Share Blog Posts

This one is only really for people like me, who own a website of some sort and would like to auto-share their posts. I just downloaded a plug-in called BlogUpp, and after following their instructions, my auto-sharing went on without a hitch. They also auto-share to all your Twitter followers which is great.

5. Access Facebook Chat on your Desktop

A lot of people have switched completely from MSN to Facebook chat (me included). Even though it is bare bones, it somehow has taken over a feature rich application such as MSN which is not something that usually happens in this world. Maybe simple is really better. In any case, if you are solely going onto your web browser just for Facebook chat, I highly suggest using a program called Gabtastik which is a desktop application that allows you to chat to your Facebook friends without opening a browser.

I will update the list as I continue to unearth the gems of Facebook but if you readers out there have any you’d like to share, comment away.

Popularity: 6% [?]

People all over the world have been using the much touted Mozilla Firefox web browser for ages it seems but has anyone really, truly explored it yet? When I found all these tips and tricks, I realized that I had just scratched the surface of Mozilla Firefox and I had a ways to go. The tricks listed below will hopefully allow you to utilize Firefox alot better.

Tip 1

Unlike most browsers, Firefox has the ability to open multiple tabs on startup. Maybe you want the weather and Google, or possibly Technology Guides and Cutedge, but whatever your combination, you can have it. Just pick those two, three, or however many tabs you want and then make your way to Tools–>Options–>Main Tab–>Use Current Pages and presto, you’re done.

Tip 2

How many times have you accidentaly closed a tab without knowing it and wishing it could come back just like you wished your pet dog could come back. Well in Firefox’s case, the tab can come back. Just press ctrl+shift+t and the last tab you closed will come back instantly.

Tip 3

I never realized this, but each browser has a different scrolling speed. By default, Firefox scrolls only a few lines with one turn of the scroll wheel on the mouse. If you’re fed up of taking too long to scroll on a Firefox page, there’s an easy way to change this. Type in about:config in the address bar and hit enter. In the filter box, type mousewheel.withnokey. Right click mousewheel.withnokey.sysnumlines and click Toggle. Then right-click mousewheel.withnokey.numlines and click Modify. Set the number to whatever you want until you find a scroll speed that suits you. 

Now there’s still a way to slow down the scroll speed if you want to at times. Just hold Alt and continue scrolling but now it goes one line at a time.

Tip 4

If you’ve made a mistake in a form on Firefox ever, then you’ll want to read this little tidbit to help you from making that same mistake again. Again, go to about:config in the address bar and type in spellcheck. Right click spellcheckDefault and then modify. Change the number from 1 to 2 and restart Mozilla Firefox. From now on, the majority of web forms will have spell check.

Popularity: 7% [?]

The Apple iPod Touch is a unique device that has many options that are available to its users. Alot of people have no clue what the iPod Touch is capable of. It reminds me of my brothers BMW 3 Series where there are tons of small features that make the car more luxurious such as automatic side view mirrors that reflect down when you reverse so you can better see the parking lines or curbs. The Apple iPod Touch has tons of these such small features.

1. Take a Screenshot

Like your computer, the Apple iPod Touch can take a screenshot. Now there isn’t a print screen function but if you click and hold the Home button (round button at the bottom) and then tap the sleep button at the top left, it will take one for you. You’ll know its worked when the screen flashes. The screenshot will be saved in your Saved Photos section of your Apple iPod Touch. This unique feature is how I got many of my pictures for this post.

2. Save an Image

You can directly save a photo onto your Apple iPod Touch with the touch of your finger. All you have to do is hold down on the image with one of your many fingers and a screen will come up that allows you to save the image directly to your saved photos folder.

How to Save an Image

3. Magnifying Glass

I discovered this tool by accident and some of the best things have been discovered by accident. This is no exception. This tool will let you pick the exact place you want to put your cursor. By holding the text and moving your finger you’ll be able to exactly place your cursor. Sweet!

Magnifying Glass Tool

4. In-Screen Music Player

Hate it when you have to click the Home button to change your music or put it on pause while you are in an application? We’ll Apple has the solution for you. Click the Home button twice and an in-screen music player will pop up giving you control of your music. 

In-Screen Music Player

5. Move Your Apps Around

I discovered this tool by accident as well and it provides another bonus. You can delete your apps with this method. Hold an app for about 2-3 seconds and they will start moving around. They will also have an “X” on the top left so you can delete any of them except the standard ones which come with your Apple iPod Touch. You can also move your apps anywhere you’d like by clicking, holding, and dragging them to there desired place.

6. See the link before you click it

A computer will tell you where a link is pointed to if you hover over it. Likewise with the Apple iPod Touch, if you click and hold any link, it will tell you where it’s pointed to.

With these little tips and tricks, you’ll be utilizing your Apple iPod Touch to its full potential.

Popularity: 13% [?]

The internet is such a huge place that you really need to find a way to get your foot in the door. What better way to do that then by getting a free link onto a popular blog site? All you have to do is continue what you already do, blog. Many popular sites like to offer Guest Posts, and all you need to do is apply by sendin

g your wonderful idea to them. One of the key things you need to consider when sending a request is to make sure you offer them a win-win situation. That is, you tell them that they should at least consider you if you send them your finished post. That way they have an opportunity to see your work, and you get a slight edge when you apply. Now why should you do a guest post? Well, I have 5 great reasons why you’d be neglecting your site if you didn’t. 

Reason 1: You Get A Link Back

I mentioned this above and it’s a huge reason why bloggers continue to do guest posts. My friend did one post that got a website 10 000 views and he got himself another 200 a day. His post was well written mind you and you have to keep in mind, that you need to write a good post to get that kind of visits. 

Reason 2: Get Read by Targeted Visits

When you apply to do a guest post, you must make sure that it’s a related website. If you do this you’ll easily get targeted visits, usually by thousands of readers, depending on which site you choose. Your name will get out there and hopefully your link will be read and clicked on for future reference. 

Reason 3: Boost Your Ego

When you get accepted for a guest post, your standards become higher because you are not writing for yourself anymore, you are writing for soemone else who’s expectations are usually higher. If everything goes according to plan, your ego could be boosted with tons of new visitors pouring in. 

Reason 4: Boosts Your PR

With a few guest posts on a certain website, you’ll be listed on highly ranked websites multiple times, helping your ranking overall. You’ll be listed all over the website as well if you are good enough to be respected by the owners, and will therefore have more backlinks to your website.

Reason 5: Gain Important Relationships

When you write a successful article, and you better make sure you do, you will gain an important relationship for the future. These relationships will help you get certain benefits later on and it will help you get future opportunities to post further on that website. Who knows, maybe they’ll ask you to be a regular.

In my case, I am new to this, but I am learning a lot. I am hoping to get on Quick Online Tips as well as Tech Vibes. With any luck, and a bit of skill, I’ll be on those websites, getting my voice heard a little bit more. A little tip though; if they don’t specifically offer guest posting, be sure to contact them and run your topic by them and maybe they’ll like it.

Popularity: 5% [?]

 
Just recently I downloaded Windows Vista SP1 and followed the instructions to the “T” which included restarting the computer. After downloading this automatic update, this was my second worst mistake. Next thing I know, I get a blue screen that says there is a hardware problem and nothing works to restart the computer including launching the startup repair and going into safe mode. Eventually, me being the nerd person I am, I end up frying the hard drive. So not only do I need to replace my operating system but I also have to replace my hard drive. All in all I end up paying $160 CDN to fix my computer and now thankfully I’m up and running but a little cash strapped.

Some huge lessons can be learned from this. First off, create your Recovery Discs as soon as possible and make sure your computer can’t shut down on you unexpectedly like not enough power because you only get one shot at least with HP. Second, buy an external hard drive and make a back up of your computer as soon as possible and do it at least monthly. For smaller problems, you should make it a regular routine to create a restore point. Putting all three of these basic things into practice will help keep your computer safe and in working order. Keep programs as well off your computer that you really don’t need and keep your computer organized in terms of folders.

Popularity: 5% [?]

There has been an age old question that’s been asked in the consumer industry and that is whether or not the ink that is made from manufacturers’ is better than third party vendors such as DollarInk. Let’s review the benefits of replacement ink: it’s cheaper and claims to yield as many prints as the OEM version (original equipment manufacturer) and be just as good quality. The OEM version however, claims that the premium ink is worth paying for as it has better quality and lasts longer. Let’s put it to the test.

Replacement Ink vs. OEM

While right off the bat, you save about 50% the sticker price, you aren’t necessarily getting the most bang for your buck. Replacement ink provides you with more prints yet most of the time, it doesn’t provide you with as good a quality printout as an OEM cartridge would. This means more vertical banding, less colours, and a more washed out picture. Another disadvantage of replacement ink is it doesn’t last as long. When put under a UV ray for an extended period of time, studies show a dramatic loss of picture from replacement ink printouts, sometimes over 50% loss of image.

Conclusion

Personally, printers are cheap enough now for you to purchase two of them and use premium ink from the OEM on one of them and replacement ink on the other. Because face it, not all of your printouts need to be crystal clear or stay there forever. An added benefit to this situation is the replacement ink gets used to its best ability, printing out as many copies as possible. You can use it as a test printer for images, and use it to print out unimportant lists and other documents that don’t need to last long and are only seen by you. There is a system out there for you, to use both types of inks and these are only a few suggestions. Good luck printing.

Popularity: 5% [?]