People use Google and Yahoo for searching the Internet and the WWW, but what about the ultimate 'pool' of knowledge - your PC/laptop and any network shares you connect to? Windows built-in search tools are a joke, and I've already mentioned Lookout for Outlook (which also can search your drives for some file types), here is a tool for everything on your PC - Copernic Desktop Search one of a cadre of new tools. Other candidates in this area are Google's deskbar, the MSN Search Toolbar and Yahoo's entry. I like the Copernic offering best due to its broad range of files indexed and greater privacy control it gives to the end-user (vs. Google or Microsoft's tool). One advantage that MS's tool has over the others is its ability to OCR any TIF files it finds on your machine (assuming you have MS Office installed on your workstation). Try them, use the one that best suits your need. Because when you're in a rush - and you need that file and know that its on your machine somewhere - one of these tools could be your saviour.
Nearly every newspaper or TV news outlet has a website and everyone knows of (and maybe uses) Google's news aggregator - Google News, and the alternative view of Google News - Newsmap. But what about pictures? Photos make up a major part of all reporting, and here is a site that focuses on the top stories via the photographs associated with the story - ten X ten. Take a look.
I just realized that everyone may not know about podcasting - or the art of taking an audio stream/file and wrapping it in an RSS feed. This allows the listener to add this to their iPod as part of syncing with iTunes (hence the name). If you don't have an iPod - don't worry. The RSS feeds are standard MP3 files and can be move to any device that can play the file format. Visit www.ipodder.org for more information and links to software and podcast feeds.
Enjoy!
Do you find yourself acting as tech support for your family?? Do you sometimes get stumped? If you answered yes to either question, I suggest checking out Leo Laporte and his Sunday show on KFI Radio. It's broadcasted live on the web or you can listen to the podcast feed here
For anyone who would like to have Windows explorer start somewhere, anywhere other than the "My Documents" folder, see this tip at Sarah Lane's blog: Customize Windows Explorer
Do you hate trying to copy and paste ridiculously long and convoluted URLs? Or you get one from a friend and its broken into two or more lines (so it no longer works)? Try TinyURL. This free service converts the long URL to an extremely short, easy to use URL to your site.
Try it.
A great replacement/enhancement to Outlook's built-in, wimpy search function. Called Lookout, it integrates into Outlook and it can search both your e-mail and your file system. Cool!!
Link - Lookoutsoftware
Spelling seems to get tougher for people all the time. Especially on the PC. Some applications (your word processors) come with it pre-installed. Other applications, that you love to use don't (and you wished they did!!). There is a solution. Actually 2 of them:
One is freeware, TinySpell, that appears to work just fine. It can be found at: TinySpell
The second is called As-U-Type. It is not free ($49.95), but comes with a trial period. I have it on 2 of my machines and like it because it does more than just spell-check. You get the quick correct feature of a full fledged word processor, and it works on all applications, including web-page forms. Its not clear that TinySpell does. The URL for As-U-Type is: As-U-Type
Enjoy!
-Apurva