Computer Line

Senin, 09 Mei 2011

PCTechNotes

Free Facebook Emoticons – Spice Up Your Facebook Chats with Emoinstaller

Posted: 09 May 2011 07:21 AM PDT

A new application enabling the use of nearly a thousand marvelous Facebook Emoticons recently hit the internet. I just found out about it, and rushed over to their website for more information and to try it out for myself. I have been thoroughly impressed so far. It may not be perfect, but it is a terrific start to a new, fun, and expressive method of chatting on Facebook.

I, for one, use Facebook chat quite frequently. From long conversations with friends I haven’t seen in a while, to quick notes or updates for someone I’m about to go see in person. This new application, called Emoinstaller, is a plug-in for your web browser that has put a completely fresh face on all of my chats. It hit the Internet February 27th, put together by a UK-based IT company called Athena IT Limited.

One of the first things you will see when you visit their website is the name of the application on the top left of the page, with a little monkey next to it. Remember the monkey’s face because once you have downloaded and installed everything, you will see it again as an icon in your Facebook chat box. You open up the whole collection of Facebook Emoticons when you click on that icon.

I understand that there a lot of people out there who aren’t experts in computers and software. People start reading terms like downloading and installing and sometimes they get a bit apprehensive. Often there are worries of malware or spyware, or people don’t want to bog their system down with a bunch of needless stuff. Put your mind at ease, this download is so easy you’ll be scratching your head wondering why everyone else doesn’t do things the same way.

When I call Emoinstaller an application, it isn’t something that you have to click to open and start running on your computer every time you want to be able to use its features. You download it once, install it once, and it runs automatically in your web browser every time you bring up the Internet. It only interacts with the Facebook application, so you don’t need to worry about it slowing down your computer when you’re not chatting on Facebook, (you don't need to worry about it even then).

The installation of Emoinstaller facebook emoticons takes no time at all, and is one of the simplest and most straightforward out there. It can be used with the three most popular web browsers, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Chrome. Just select which browser(s) you want it for when you are installing as it will give you options with check boxes for the different browsers. If you use multiple browsers, be sure to mark the check boxes for all of them. They’ll make you close the browsers in order to continue, but you can simply open them right back up a few moments later when it has been fully installed. From there, it is easy to restore any tabs or windows you had open.

I won’t get too heavily into what kinds of Emoticons are available. I will let you see for yourself. I will, however, tell you that you can choose between three sizes, and a large variety of themes. You can choose Emoticons for Facebook that move or not. As I mentioned before, there are nearly 1,000 of facebook emoticons to choose from. A few of my favorites are a smiley face wearing scuba gear, any of the Christmas-themes, and the ‘words’ category that has some funky looking animated words and phrases for you to throw into your chats for extra emphasis.

Unfortunately, for those Safari users out there, you’re currently out of luck. Safari is not one of the supported browsers yet, although you can keep checking on the website frequently to see if they have added it. You can also try dropping them a line via their contact form with your suggestions. They may even be working on it already.

If you enjoy chatting on Facebook, head over to the Emoinstaller website and check it ‘s awesome facebook emoticons tool. I am confident you will find it every bit as enjoyable as I have.

Free Facebook Emoticons – Spice Up Your Facebook Chats with Emoinstaller - PCTechNotes :: PC Tips, Tricks and Tweaks - PC Tips,Tricks and Tweaks

Sabtu, 23 April 2011

PCTechNotes

New .NET Platforms – Benefits of Components Providers

Posted: 23 Apr 2011 02:18 AM PDT

If you're building on a new .NET platform, you might want to consider using third party component libraries. There are many benefits to using these .NET components providers if you are migrating to a new platform, especially if it's one that neither you nor your developers are familiar with.

Let's say that you currently have a very complex Windows Forms application that you need to migrate to WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation). Since you have to essentially rewrite everything from scratch, it can be a huge learning curve to do this in a reasonable amount of time. This is where a third party vendor can really help.

Rewriting something like a high performance WPF datagrid is not a trivial thing. Just getting one that has already been built and supported by a third party vendor may be the way to go. It will keep you from having to learn how to build such a datagrid yourself. It will also save on the development hours required to build something like this.

Just like with any new platform, there is a steep learning curve to go from Windows Forms to WPF or to go from ASP.NET to ASP.NET MVC. Of course, if you want to use something like Silverlight, it can certainly be a brand new world for you.

There are nuances that will take you a lot of time to discover and know how to work with. You can reduce that learning curve by finding a partner who is an expert in these new platforms and can build sophisticated controls for you.

If you find the right partner, you can probably even get them to build samples for you to meet your requirements. In many cases, you can even get them to do this in the evaluation phase to make sure they will meet your needs.

New .NET Platforms – Benefits of Components Providers - PCTechNotes :: PC Tips, Tricks and Tweaks - PC Tips,Tricks and Tweaks

Kamis, 14 April 2011

PCTechNotes

Usage Of APC Battery Backup Protectors On Your Electronics

Posted: 13 Apr 2011 10:55 PM PDT

With the advancements in technology today, understanding the susceptibility of electronics to power surges is of great importance. One factor surrounding the occurrences of power surges is large appliances within the home. If your lights dim when one of these appliances turns on, a surge has been created on that circuit. In other parts of the home this creates a dip in power. This is where your electronics stand to be harmed. The flow of energy might not be sufficient to your electronic device, forcing it to shut down.

Machines, like computers, need a consistent flow of energy. If there is a prolonged deviation in the power supply, failure to its components and unwanted shut down might be the result. In order to prevent this, a battery back up surge protector can be used. It is an uninterruptible or continuous power supply (UPS) that allows time to turn the power off on a machine without any unexpected loss. Some of the best are made by APC.

Many machines can benefit from the APC battery backup surge protector, not just computers. It can also be used on home theater systems wherein it depends on cooling fans for proper shut down. Placing an APC Battery backup between the equipment and the outlet can be of great help in avoiding repairs or unnecessary replacements caused by surge damage or black outs. APC surge protectors prevent sudden power loss and allow you to shut down the equipment properly.

Numerous equipments can be a source of power dips. Appliances like washing machines, air conditioners, microwave ovens, or A/C units absorb enough energy from the resources at home since they need a large boost of energy to start. If the dips in power last too long, it can cause premature shut down of other machines increasing risk for damage.

Another benefit to having an APC battery backup is that it does not increase your energy bills. It only takes a little energy once it is charged, until recharging occurs. If a power outage occurs, the battery can be used for a range of up to 7 to 8 minutes. This would give enough time for those equipments to be shut down properly. Afterwards, recharging is necessary.

It is of outmost importance to protect and save every investment you have with an uninterrupted power supply such as the APC battery backup. However, insufficient ampere voltage might be a factor when having several dips. The voltage found at your place might not be enough to sustain the power of all the appliances located in it. You may contact an electrician to know the main problem while APC battery backup protects your equipment.

Usage Of APC Battery Backup Protectors On Your Electronics - PCTechNotes :: PC Tips, Tricks and Tweaks - PC Tips,Tricks and Tweaks

Rabu, 13 April 2011

PCTechNotes

Get Answers with Facebook Questions

Posted: 12 Apr 2011 06:34 PM PDT

Facebook has a new application called Questions. When the new feature shows up on your account, you will see it as a tab on your main page. The Questions app is designed to help everyone share their knowledge and expertise on the site.

How to Use Questions

To use the new feature:

Click the Question link tab
Type a question such as “Where can I get the best Facebook statuses?”
Click the Ask Question button

When you ask a question this way, the question will appear in your friends’ News Feed. Your friends and everyone else (and that is with emphasis – everyone) can then answer. They can give a quick response directly via the feed, or give a longer response by clicking your question title first and then typing in the input box.

For your convenience, your friends’ answers will be displayed first for you. However Facebook Questions is open to everyone on the site. That means even people who are not on your friends list can view and answer your questions.

To view your Questions history or that of your friends, click the Questions tab on the left navigation bar on your Facebook home page. (You may need to click More to see it.) This takes you to your Questions activity page. You can toggle between yours and your friends’ questions by clicking the links on the upper right of the middle column.

Questions Uses and Privacy

You can ask questions about practically anything under the sun. But Facebook Questions is ideal for questions that need short, quick answers. It is good for queries such as “Where can I find a storage unit in my area?” but it is probably not the proper venue for say, a philosophical debate.

You can also add a poll if it is suitable to your question. For example, if you ask, “What are your thoughts on the new Facebook Questions feature?” you can add a poll listing each option for the survey.

Perhaps most importantly, it should only be used for “safe” questions that you do not mind the whole world (literally) knowing about. Clearly if you have say, a delicate situation that you need advice on, Facebook Questions is not the place for it. You can still ask questions privately (more or less) to your friends or specific people only using the old Facebook Status and then customizing its privacy setting.

Get Answers with Facebook Questions - PCTechNotes :: PC Tips, Tricks and Tweaks - PC Tips,Tricks and Tweaks

Selasa, 12 April 2011

PCTechNotes

Repair A Broken Hard Disk – Hardware And Software Faults

Posted: 12 Apr 2011 08:05 AM PDT

Trying to repair a broken hard disk involves doing some troubleshooting of possible hardware faults as well as analyzing the software and BIOS. In this article I’ll go through some of the analysis and tools that can be used for pinpointing the cause of these problems.

Always start by checking for mechanical faults first. Open the PC and make sure there is not dust blocking the vents, fans or components. This may cause overheating if left unattended to. Check that the cables connected to the broken hard disk are securely fastened and that none of the pins on their connectors are damaged. If you notice any signs of heat damage on the broken hard disk then this type of hdd repair should be completed by an expert rather than yourself. Internal component damage could actually lead to further data loss if not treated properly.

Next, start your software checks by opening the BIOS menu. This is available when Windows is starting to boot up. You should be able to identify if the broken hard disk has been correctly located by the BIOS and that there are no conflicts with other system components. If conflicts do occur, then remove those secondary components to test if your drive can be detected.

Disk issues can also occur due to bad sectors on the platters/software. Physical damage to the broken hard disk can occur due to misaligned platters, issues that the read/write head or spindle damage. However, bad sectors may also happen if the software is corrupted. Use the Disk Checking utility from Microsoft to make your repairs. This can also be run using the emergency boot disks provided from Microsoft.

The last option when your HDD repair actions have failed is to run a data recovery. Install a data recovery software utility onto a second partition/separate drive then scan the broken hard disk for any fragments are signs of your data. Use an external hard disk casing if your computer is completely inoperable to connect the drive to second for scanning and data recovery.

Repair A Broken Hard Disk – Hardware And Software Faults - PCTechNotes :: PC Tips, Tricks and Tweaks - PC Tips,Tricks and Tweaks

Senin, 11 April 2011

PCTechNotes

How To Repair A Computer Crash Or Freeze

Posted: 10 Apr 2011 10:33 PM PDT

Fix Computer Crash

The key to fixing a computer crash is understanding which utilities will prove most useful for analyzing and repairing the fault. In this article I’ll detail some of the key tools I use for regular PC maintenance of this type.

Always begin by looking at hardware issues since ignoring these faults could lead to more data loss. Begin with opening the Device Manager and checking all your peripherals and hardware are okay. It will highlight if your PC keeps crashing due to conflicts are device driver issues. The program has its own suggestion utility for different options you can try out to rectify the issue.

Next, you also have to see if there are specific hardware issues with the CPU, fans or hard drive. The BIOS menu is probably the best tool for doing this (available as Windows starts up) and details diagnostic information about temperatures, speeds, etc. Overheating will cause a computer crash if the CPU and disk drive exceed their recommended manufacturer settings. By doing manual checks of the heat sink/fan blades for signs of damage, check the air vents are not being blocked and clear out all dust inside the computer.

The problem may also lie with your computer hard drive. It may simply be that the PC keeps crashing as OS programs are being stored onto bad sectors of the disk. Run Windows Error Checking utility (under the properties/tools tab for each specific partition) to attempt bad sector repairs.

Finally, most computer crash issues can be traced back to problems with your registry. Faults can occur due to hardware, spyware, malware, application installations, hardware removals, etc. Start by running an antivirus scan to see if that can rectify any virus damaged made being cost. Next, run a registry cleaner if you have one. Finally, using System Restore (accessories/system tools) can provide a last resort option for rolling back all changes to registry settings.

How To Repair A Computer Crash Or Freeze - PCTechNotes :: PC Tips, Tricks and Tweaks - PC Tips,Tricks and Tweaks

Jumat, 08 April 2011

PCTechNotes

Swype Texting – Cell Phone Texting Is About To Change

Posted: 07 Apr 2011 03:38 PM PDT

Swype Texting

The best part the new cell phone technology today is the fact that it continues to evolve. The best example of this is swype texting which is technology designed especially for people who like to text a lot. You should know that if you are not as good as texting you can still use swype texting to improve your speed at texting. This is the magic of swype texting: it helps people improve their texting abilities even if they were really bad at texting from the beginning.

You would not believe it how interested are people about swype texting. The answer to their questions about this texting program can only be given if they know a thing or two about the simpler texting programs like the ones used by keyboard cell phones. You might find it quite interesting to know that those programs help you do something called predictive texting. If you will use them, they will literally predict what word you will want to use from the letters you have already used for that specific word. All you have to do afterwards is simple select the correct word from a list.

The first thing you have to know about swype texting is the fact that it is not that different from other text helping software but this one is using really high end technology. Use your finger to type by sliding it on the touch screen. This will get the software recognize that certain movement and get you the word you wanted to type before getting to even touch the wanted letters.

The best thing about swype texting is that it helps people like me, who are not as good as typing, do it a lot faster, 30% faster than the most advanced predictive texting program. I might be better now but I will never be able to beat at texting a 13 year old kid.

The smart phones today are really popular because of the cell phone tracker applications they can use but now people will be drawn to them because of swype texting too.

Swype Texting – Cell Phone Texting Is About To Change - PCTechNotes :: PC Tips, Tricks and Tweaks - PC Tips,Tricks and Tweaks