Redesign Your Site? What you should know May 24, 2008
Posted by johnkolbert in News. add a comment , edit postSo I’m currently in the process of completly redesigning Simply-Basic.com, my personal technology blog. While doing so I’ve been wondering how to redesign the entire site without alienating my readers. Up until now the blog as been about anything related to technology and I’ve not personalized it at all. What I mean is that I rarely talk about my personal life. Although I’m going to mainly keep it that way I’ve redesigned the homepage to allow me to post about freelance work I’m doing, video reviews, and things like that
So to keep from totally alienating my readers I’ve done a few things. First, I’ve announced several times that I’m redesigning the site. This gives regulars an expectationg that things are going to change. Second, I’ve prepared screen shots of the change that will gives readers a chance to view the change before I actually do it. Also, I’m preparing a video that will guide readers through some of the changes.
Seem like overkill? In my opinion, making sure your readers know what’s going on is the most important. Anything else I should add?
Who Cheats at Solitaire? I do! May 18, 2008
Posted by johnkolbert in News. add a comment , edit postSo you are sitting there at work feverishly trying to get your project done. Ok, we all know that means you’re playing solitaire when your boss isn’t looking. How would yo like to win every time? While wasting some time on the internet this afternoon I came across something I never expected: solitaire cheats! No joke.
My first thought was “What?! Who cheats at Solitaire?” Then I realized that I get frustrated at Solitaire nearly ever time because I don’t win. So how do you do it? Here’s the rehash from Geek and Destroy.
Insta-Win: Simply press Alt + Shift + 2 and you win, instantly, no question.
1 card for the price of 3: By pressing Ctrl + Alt + Shift and then clicking to draw new cards will lay down 1 card instead of 3 cards.
Move and Glitch: Hold down the Ctrl key and click (and hold) on a face up card. Now take the card and move it to where you want it to say (which can be almost anywhere) after you get the card where you want it, press a and release the left mouse button.
The insta-win is my favorite! Now I can finally enjoy Solitaire!
Ctrl+Alt+Delete: What Does It All Mean? May 17, 2008
Posted by johnkolbert in Reviews. add a comment , edit postYou’ve probably heard that if your program freezes to press “Ctrl+Alt+Delete” and end the program. Have you ever actually taken the time to see what processes are running on your computer while you’re there? When you computer feels slugish it is often because you have too many programs or services running using up too much memory. By understanding what is running on your computer you are better prepared to uninstall or end tasks to free up some room.
So how can you learn which process are important and which aren’t? Recently I came across exeLibrary which contains a whole database of information about the various exe (executables, or running programs) that you may find in your Ctrl+Alt+Delete menu. For instance, lets take a look at “iexplore.exe”. Accroding to their website:
Internet Explorer is considered a security hole by many computer security experts. Suggestions are to move to Firefox or another non-Internet Explorer browser. Internet Explorer cannot be safely uninstalled due to the tight integration with Windows internals, and requirements from various applications.
By searching their database you’ll be able to quickly determine which exe’s you have running, and which you can end. Happy hunting!
The Great Gmail May 15, 2008
Posted by johnkolbert in News. add a comment , edit postIsn’t it interesting how different email accounts come and go like clothing styles? I remember when Hotmail was the fad. Everyone who was anyone had a Hotmail account. Currently the fad is Gmail. But it’s easy to see why. Gmail, a Google product, has a very simple, intuituve user interface that is uncluttered. One thing I hate about Hotmail is the fact that when I log in I’m forced to see the “Today” homepage, filled with boring articles and, of course, a million advertisments. I don’t need to see your advertisements before I check my email. Just let me in already.
Of course, Gmail has “contextually based” advertisments that appear on the side, but they seem much less visually intrusive then big banner ads (though some do have privacy concerns). Gmail is also quite a powerful service with many features that users overlook. This afternoon while I was surfing I came across GmailTips, a website dedicated to, yup, tips on how to get more out of your Gmail account. They have quite a few interesting ones too such as Gmail and your Blackberry. The site’s design is even a mimmick of the Gmail interface. Check it out if you need some help with your Gmail account tips. Gmail is one I’d even pay for if I had to (but thank goodness I don’t!).
Why Twitter? May 14, 2008
Posted by johnkolbert in Reviews. add a comment , edit postHave you heard of Twitter? Twitter is an enormously popular microblogging platform. It’s used to give status updates and news tidbits. But why should people use it? Does anyone really want to know what you’re doing all the time? Earlier this year I decided I was going to try it. I even put my status update on Simply-Basic.com (my personal blog). After a while I grew tired of it and quite updating it.
But now, after several months of not using it, I suddenly have an itch to get back into it. It really is an interesting way to keep connected to your readers. And hey, even Obama uses it. So I just downloaded Twhirl, a desktop Twitte client so I can stay connected better. I’m also thinking about downloading a versino for my Windows Mobile phone from this list. So stay tuned. I may be adding my Twitter updates to TechTalk. Do you Twitter?
Goodbye Games For Windows May 12, 2008
Posted by johnkolbert in News. add a comment , edit postI just saw that Games For Windows (GFW), a print magazine that has covered computer related gaming (under some name or another) for over 21 years has called it quites. The editor didn’t give many details for why it was shut down, though they will be retained as editors at 1up.com, the magazine’s parent company.
So why is this newsworthy? It highlights the constant battle between online and print media. Why should people subscribe to a magazine when they can get nearly the same content online for free from other sources? So how does 1up.com make money? Advertising. They hire quality writers and publishers to produce quality material that brings in many readers and advertisers pay top dollar to ensure their products get noticed.
Many magazines have already opted to dual print their material online so subscribers can have access to it anywhere they want. This is just another example of how the internet makes companies rethink their business strategies.
Welcome to TechTalk
Posted by johnkolbert in Announcement. add a comment , edit postWelcome to TechTalk with Kolbert, a brand new technology blog written for the masses! What does this mean? It means articles won’t be written for field experts, they’ll be written for the person with a general understanding and interest in technology topics. So what will you find on TechTalk? Expect software and hardware reviews, tips for purchasing electronics, computer set-up and maintenance, computer troubleshooting, and more. Also, to prove that computers can be a simple to use and understand, you’ll get “Tips from the Mrs”, where my wife will sound off on problems she’s faced and how she resolved them.
TechTalk is just getting started and is under contruction. Posts will kick off in a few days. Stat tuned!
