Office In A Thumb Drive

Lifehack.org, yet another of my favorite websites ever, put out an excellent article on how to turn your USB thumb drive into a mobile, primary office. 

With very little work and no money aside from the original expense of the drive itself, you can easily turn a thumb drive into your primary workspace — complete with the software and settings, reference material, and documents you uses the most.

How nice.  With the six (all good) ideas that they mention in this article, you are pretty much set.  Web pages like this are the reason that I started POW in the first place - here's a nice reference point for safekeeping.  Don't forget, many flash drives now contain simple word processors, anti-virus, and other valuable software preinstalled.

 

It's hard to believe that just a few years ago my primary computer had 4 GB.  Now you can buy a thumb drive with that much for next to nothing.  I have one, and feel like I have the whole world under my thumb.  There's your pop culture reference of the day, people. 

 

Heady times, my friends.  Read the article.

Another New Widget - Blogrush

You might have noticed yet another change to my sidebar.  I've added Blogrush, a blog syndication tool featured in Business Blogging Tips.  I've only had the Blogrush widget on my blog for a couple of days, but the service seems to be getting updated continually and I'm wondering if it will be effective in generating additional readers for this here website. 

 

You see, I've been feeling ashamed because I've been devoting so much of my time to my other projects that I feel as though you, my first readers, deserve a little more love.  I like to improve your experience, so I'm always looking for little updates.

 

Take a look at it, and if you feel so inclined, put it on your own site and tell me what you think.

Mining The Internet Gold Mine, From 1 to 5000+

Wow.  Mashable, which I've written about before, has finally lost their minds and complied over 5000 resources to do just about anything that you want on the web.

 

There is way, way too much good stuff there to write about in this small space.  Suffice it to say that it would be quite clever of you to take a look at the article.

 

In other news, you might notice that the look of this site has been changing quite a bit lately.  I've added widgets from MyBlogLog, LibraryThing - where you can see the latest books that I've read - and Criteo, which shows blogs that might be similar to mine.  I figured that it might be time for a change up.

 

I suspect that I'm really going to change this blog up a little bit more, as I've feeling a bit mischievous of late. 

No Respect - No Respect For These Google Products At All, I'll Tell Ya

With all apologies to Rodney Dangerfield, here's a good list of a bunch of Google products that simply get no love.
 

But how many people do you think would discuss being able to set up customised RSS feeds in Google News? Or being able to download source code in Google Code? How many people would know that Google offers various possibilities for users to help improve their products?

Here are some Google services that need a lot more loving (cue Barry White music) :

Makeuseof.com.  I think that I like their website.

 

Everyone here knows that I love me some Google stuff.  Google has it's own category there on the side of the page.  Here's your chance to take a look at some of the things that I'm always writing about.

 

 

Surf Safely With Free Stuff

Use this information for good, not evil.

 

Marketers just love to gather information about who is surfing the web and why. They're not above tracking a user's web history to learn about their interests and buying habits, but they can only do it if you let them.

If you'd like to fight back you can learn to surf anonymously. It's easy and fun!

In other words, use Tor.  Credit this info to Computerworld , via the Consumerist.

I've used Tor.

I'll use it again.

In some cases, I don't mind websites knowing that I've been there before, and the inevitable autopopulate of my username just about everywhere, especially when I don't use Firefox.  On the other hand, there's only so much I can take.

 

Recovery

Have you ever accidentally deleted a file from the recycle bin?  God knows I have.  Most of the time it can be retrieved, but it can be a pain.

Hail Eris!  Hail Lifehacker!  Hail Recovery!

Free Windows software Restoration is a data recovery program for you PC.

Similar to previously-mentioned data recovery software, PC Inspector File Recovery, Restoration is quick and does exactly what it says. Another bonus: Restoration doesn't require installation, meaning you can add it to the list of apps for your thumb drive.

Mark this on the due to be downloaded, and, quite simply, used, even if it only works half the time.  This software is going on the list.

Casual aside, yes, I've known for several years that the recycle bin doesn't really delete your files.  Try to use this particular software for good, not evil.  I might just shred some files and try to recover them with this and see what happens.

Blog From Email

I've been blogging from email for some time, but this particular app seemed quite well timed for me, especially since I have had so many problems getting that to work lately.

Software blog Download Squad gives the scoop on BlogMailr, a free tool that lets you add posts to your blog just by sending e-mails.

Glory be to Lifehacker! We love you, Gina.

Incidentally, the link to the BlogMailr is right here. Yippie!

I'd also like to add that you should expand your mind and listen to Littlefeat. I am doing that right now.

Update: The first time I posted this today failed. What timing. In other words, you need this app.
Update x2: The second time that I've posted this today failed. Arrgh.

Open Source Madness

Seriously, I'm so sorry that I forgot to mention this particular bit of info.  Want Open Source?

 

We post scads of free downloads here on Lifehacker, but today instead of pimping yet another Google product, I'd like to tip my hat to the open source developers who release innovative, useful products that make our lives that much easier every day - because it's our right, not privilege, to control our own data.

Open source roots are in the Unix operating system, but these days many "free as in speech" applications are available for Windows as well - and today I've got a list of my top 10 favorites.

None of these cost a dime to download and use, but do donate whatever and whenever you can to the projects that benefit you the most.

You know that's got to be Lifehacker.  Sigh.  I would devote some quality time reading that article, if I were you.

 

Really, I should do a plug to another long-forgotten post that I made about subjects similiar to this right here in POW - the blog.

 

But I won't.

See what I did there?

 

 

 

Freeware Wonders

I honestly don't know where I found this link.  However, it's damn useful:  10 Unknown Windows Freeware Applications You Should Know About.

 

There are dozens of well known freeware applications out there. From web browsers to word processors to anti-viruses, there is freeware everywhere. Take a look at these 10 great Windows freeware applications you have probably either never heard of or never fully looked into.

 

Homeboy is using Blogger.  Good deal.  Show 'em some love.

 

 

 

Emurse

I found this yesterday, but figured I'd save for a rainy day.

Although outside it's HOT, here it is:  Emurse.

 

Emurse has got to be one of the most useful sites I've come across lately. Not only can you create a resume using their handy dandy template tool, but Emurse also allows you to download your resume from anywhere AND gives you the choice to instantly turn your resume into a web site so employers can find you.

 

How found?  Lifehacker, kiddies.  I can't express the love enough.

 

I've yet to use the service, but it suuuuuure looks interesting.  Lots of feedback as well.  I say check it out.  Template?  Download anywhere?  WEBSITE?  Yeah, baby.  Not to mention a mess of things I haven't mentioned yet.

 

 

 

 

Absolutely, Positively, The Most Useful Page You'll Read This Year

And I'm not kidding:

 

I want a Freeware Utility to ... 450+ common problems solved.

Extremely useful free utilities that do specific jobs really well and save time and money.

Open Source Software is listed separately.

 

Behold the beauty, and the terrible, terrible power that is Fark.

 

Do not lose this post.  Bookmark the above link.  Use it.  Love it.  Do not forget it.

The Definitive Free Software List?

Could it be?

There's not much to say about this one. It's a gigantic list of free software broken up into categories for easy browsing. Let's get ready to downloooooooad!

 

All hail Lifehacker.  God love 'em.

 

 

 

 

Why AVG Rocks

Here's yet another reason to go with Grisoft's free AVG instead of one of those commerically bought anti-spyware/virus utilities.

 

Oh, dear.  We're just getting over the Sony DRM rootkit ruckus and now we have a security company hiding software components from Windows APIs with rootkit technology.  News.com reports that Symantec Corp.'s spokesperson admitted to using this rootkit type feature in Norton SystemWorks to hide a directory so customers wouldn't accidentally delete files.  The problem was it could also provide a convenient hiding place for attackers to place malicious files. Due to the vulnerability, Symantec has issued an update for SystemWorks and is "strongly recommending" users update the software immediately. 

 

Via the Zdnet Blog.

 

"Gee, I never would have expected that."

 

Yeah, right.

 

I think AVG, for being consistently wonderful, deserves a shout out. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Geek Update - OpenOffice

Again, it's my personal responsibility to keep you, the reader, in the mix of all things geek.

 

With that in mind, I bring you (should pop to the download page, unless my html is that bad):

 

 

Try try.  Likey likey.  Free free.

 

Other good things, from their website:

 

OpenOffice.org Version 1 was the first product to deliver the benefits of open-source software to mass-market users, delivering essential everyday software tools completely free of charge. Translated into over 30 languages, available on all major computing platforms (Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X X11, GNU/Linux, Solaris), OpenOffice.org Version 1 is now in use by tens of millions of delighted users worldwide.

With Version 2, it gets even better:

• the first office suite to use the new OASIS OpenDocument format, the future-proof international standard for office software
• easier to install, with a whole new look and feel, matched to the type of computer in use
• more intuitive, more easy to use than ever, with a host of new usability features
• introducing a major new component, Base: an easy-to-use database manager with a fully integrated database
• more compatible with other software packages – now understands even obscure and rarely used features in major competitors

But the licence is still the same: you may download OpenOffice.org Version 2 completely free of any licence fees, use it for any purpose– private, educational, government and public administration, commercial – and pass on copies free of charge to family, friends, students, employees, etc.

How can you pass that up?

 

As soon as I get my freakin' computer fixed, I'm downloading.  I think that either old Betsy is about to either break completely or I need a new video card and some freakin' RAM.

 

 

 

 

Organize Thyself

Here's something cool, maybe.

Backpack is 37Signals's latest project -- a Web-based personal information manager that makes it easy to create projects, break them down into steps, and then track each step. Because it's Web-based, it's well suited to communicating and collaborating with other people, sharing tasks and status-messages, The whole thing syndicates as XML, streaming updates into your RSS reader or to your phone. It synchs with iCal and thence to your handheld PIM.

Via The Directory Of Wonderful Things.

I say try it. Me, I love gadgets. But for some reason that I can't understand, I can't quite bring myself to buy a PDA. Maybe if this blogging thing takes off, I'll turn into one of those guys that blogs in a coffeeshop in a geek-chic or hipster outfit, and when someone says something around me that I find personally offensive, I can turn to them, scowl, and stir my coffee (black) at them vigorously.

Nah, not me.

Instead, here's a picture of Katie Holmes
without that one guy.

The Best Free Software Ever

Good software is good.  Free software is great.  But these, THESE are the coolest free things that a geek homeboy can lock onto, ever, in my humble opinion (at least until somebody does it better, which I'm not holding my breath for).

 

 

AVG Free Edition - This free virus protection software from Grisoft is the bomb.  It scans email attachments, is customizable, and absolutely does the job, I think, as well as any virus protection out there.  A while back, I was on a home network with three other users.  Bam!  Virus smackdown.  AVG stopped it cold.

 

Zone Alarm Free Download - This software firewall is rock solid.   Getting Zone Alarm was the smartest thing that I ever did for keeping the riff raff off my personal data stash.

 

Spybot Search and Destroy - This spyware, malware, and adware killer is truly awesome.  Seriously, you'll be impressed.  Even more impressive is that this seems to have created and continually updated by ONE guy.  At least, it was for a LONG time.  One man, one mission - to clean your computer.  If you download this, show him a little love and donate.

 

Ad-Aware SE - Let me put it this way.  If you get both this and Spybot, you've got the best 1-2 spyware and malware punch that's free for the taking.  What Spybot misses, this one will sniff out.  Use it and make your computer happy.

 

Firefox Web Browser - Web browsing using Firefox is, well, very cool.  Blocks popups, tabbed browsing, and blocks a HELL of a lot of the stuff that you pick up using IE.  You almost don't even NEED a malware sniffer if you're using Firefox.  At home, I don't use anything else.  Try.  You'll like. 

 

Trust me on these.  But if you don't, look 'em up on Google or read up on Download.com.  You won't be sorry.