Computers are fun

Nothing on TV this weekend? One of the iconic series from the 90s is now available online. Definitely X-rated, Robbie Coltrane stars in the award winning show "Cracker". Here is the URL http://www.itv.com/BestofITV/crime/Cracker.html A great series but not for the squeamish! Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

Small things can often have a big impact and our lives are never the same again. There is a short video on the Mastery TV Homepage which, if you care to ponder its message, can hardly fail to have a profound affect on you. Why not take a few undisturbed minutes and have a look at the remarkable story of "Team Hoyt"? Here is the link..... www.masterytv.com Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

Widgets are great little programs which can make your computer much more fun to use. When I help people who are moving from dial-up to Broadband, I love to show them the new world of streaming audio and video which has opened up for them. In the UK some of the best content comes from the BBC and we can listen to BBC radio while we work. Accessing the stations can be a bit of a pain though......unless you have a widget! For this to work you will need real player and windows media player already installed because the widget uses both of those programs. Unless you have already done so, you also need to install the Yahoo widget engine which you can download here http://widgets.yahoo.com Then you can get BBC Radio Player Plus here http://tinyurl.com/2vlrez Now you have easy access to a whole new audio world. If you are new to widgets it is well worth taking time to explore what else is available. [NB The BBC widget only works in the UK but there are many others suitable for readers in othe...

It was only a short time ago that you couldn't sign up to Joost without an invitation. In case you don't know, Joost is at the leading edge of providing Internet TV. How would you like films on demand with no monthly subscription? Paramount films is just one of the channels available. You will need a decent Broadband connection and the interface needs a bit of getting used to, but it is an excellent service. (Still in Beta though, so expect a few glitches). Well worth having on your computer when there is nothing much on regular TV, this is definitely a "five star" download. www.joost.com Eddie PS You will have to register but it is relatively painless. Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

This is a genuinely useful site which will appeal to those who need to make any kind of list and take it with them. Shopping, to do, appointments - that sort of thing. It also will appeal to origami enthusiasts! Go on, I bet you print out at least one just to try it. http://www.pocketmod.com Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

If you use those nasty headphones which come with an MP3 player, you will know how easily they get tangled up. Here is a very creative way to get them untangled. Some people really do have weird minds and way too much time on their hands but, hey, its funny! http://tinyurl.com/2pdfnw Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

This is the classic Ali G interview with Posh Spice and David Beckham on Comic Relief. Please do not watch if you are easily offended! You have been warned. http://tinyurl.com/3d3dm8 Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

One of the best collections of viral videos comes with the on-line version of The Guardian newspaper. Scroll down the page to get to the list. You will see why "It is dangerous to be a student asking questions" and "How to get your wife back" (amongst other things). I should warn you that there are quite a number of videos and you can become "hooked". So perhaps better leave this to a time when you are not too busy:) http://tinyurl.com/2qqhh6 Enjoy Eddie PS I think my favourite is the Wilkinson Sword Advert Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

This month, Computer Active magazine is giving away "Ashampoo WinOptimizer 2008". The offer expires on October 11th so you will need to download and get the activation key before that date. (The offer could be withdrawn earlier too). WinOptimizer is a "tweaker", so the usual warnings apply. Used with care, it should keep your computer running more smoothly. This program is valued at £25, plus you get the option to upgrade to WinOptimizer 4 for only £7.49 instead of the normal retail price of £30. All together quite a bargain. You will need to go to the Computer Active website and follow the download instructions. www.computeractive.co.uk/winopt/index Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

With all the nasty people out there on the Net, you can't be too careful. However, don't let that put you off downloading and trying out new software. After all, that's part of the Fun of having a computer in the first place. Sadly, its all too easy to get spyware, adware or worse, along with your download. Number one recommendation is to be careful where you get your downloads. Even if you know the name of the program that you are looking for, don't just go into Google and click on the first search link that pops up. Go to a reputable site instead. One that has a good reputation is "Download.com". Now go there and download "Spyware Terminator". This free program has just been awarded Web User Magazine's Gold Award. This is the link: http://tinyurl.com/2ox8n5 You will want to scan your computer straight away. Don't be surprised if it turns up some nasties that you didn't know were in your system. Just to be on the safe side, don't de...

I am indebted to Blogger Simon Hodgkinson for being pointed to this remarkable video. We are all taught that, in business, teamwork can produce spectacular results. Here, teamwork means the difference between life and death. It is well worth watching. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

It is the weekend again, so here is a short compilation on YouTube which should make you smile. Much of what happens appears painful, so I hope that no people or animals were seriously hurt during filming. (Some egos certainly were). Enjoy. http://tinyurl.com/36zxxr PS The backing music is great too. Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

If there were a "Top 10 Uses of the Internet", I am confident that the Number 1 use would be "Searching for information". Sadly, many of us limit those searches to one search engine. The reason is because, using several search engines is time consuming and awkward. Sites which aggregate searches are one option but not ideal. Now there is a better way. How about having the results of your search all on one tabbed page? You only have to enter your search term once and you can refine it by searching "the Web", "blogs", "Images" etc "Zuula" is a really great tool and can help to make you a web search expert. This is the link... www.zuula.com Enjoy! Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

This is just a quick apology to those who read this Blog via email. In yesterday's post I embedded the YouTube video about Cross Loop but, of course that doesn't work if you only get the email version. So for you folks here is the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8xZ4nDmTTA Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

Most of us have times when we need some help with our computer. I am sure that, if you are computer literate, your friends will often ask for help. Most of us would then have to make a journey to our friend's house to sort out the problem. It would be lovely to take control of their computer remotely, but that is very tricky indeed. At least, that was the case. Now we have a fantastic tool called "Cross Loop". If you go to www.crossloop.com you can download the free Cross Loop Application. With the software downloaded to both computers, it is a really simple matter to connect across the internet. The helper can then see a "window" which is the other computer's desktop. The helper can control that computer as if it was their own. I would strongly suggest that you, and the computer users you care about, download Cross Loop now. You never know when you may need it. Here is the link again www.crossloop.com It is certainly one of my "Top Ten" programs....

With so many video sharing sites available, it was only a matter of time before we needed special software to search them properly. Below is a link to some really professional software from Ashampoo which does just that. You can search all the popular sites, watch the video from within the program, bookmark it or even download it for later. The program is free but you have to get a registration key which is a bit fiddly but worth it. Here is the link: http://tinyurl.com/326ep4 Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

It is a holiday weekend here in the UK. So I have a fantastic website for you, which can change your life. It is staggering that these videos are available online for free. (You just have to log in to see them all). These are probably the greatest modern day communicators you will ever see. Enjoy! www.masterytv.com Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

Once again the Internet serves up something which stops me in my tracks. This is just a short clip on Youtube of one of the acts on America's Got Talent. Can I suggest that you watch it at least twice - and then tell me how it works.... Please? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uZLbL0jBwA Thanks Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

All right, I know that this isn't strictly computer related but ....it is on the Internet, so I think that counts! My father used to be a salesman for a firm which sold unusual delicacies. Thankfully, he rarely brought any samples home. It is good to know that they are still available. This site serves several purposes. A talking point for any conversational gathering. A gift list for the proverbial "man who has everything". A Christmas shopping list for people you don't like. A source for an unusual "door prize" or raffle "booby prize". And I'm sure that you can think of a few more! Enjoy http://www.lazyboneuk.com/store/pro501.html Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

It is raining, so you want to watch TV but there is nothing interesting to watch. Why not turn to your computer? There are so many videos from all over the world which might interest you, how on earth do you find something you would like? One site which helps to solve this problem is "We Show". You can watch a comedy channel or reality TV, Sport or "do it yourself" - pretty much anything you like. The videos are sorted and rated and there are daily roundups which point you in the direction of new and interesting content. Here is the link www.weshow.co.uk Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

For those of us who have children who use a computer (or in my case grandchildren!), are we sure that they are safe? The statistics are quite frightening. In a recent survey, thirty-seven percent of children ages 11 to 17 reported they had received a sexually explicit email or pop-up advertisement within the past year. Forty-three percent of teens who use social networking sites reported having been contacted online by complete strangers. Instant messaging uses a special language which most adults don't understand. If you saw these messages on your child's computer screen would you know what they meant? 143 A/S/L? LMIRL (answers below) Luckily there is a FREE book which you can download from the Webroot website which will give you fantastic advice on keeping children safe. Here is the link: http://tinyurl.com/yw5u2g Eddie 143 = "I love you" A/S/L? = "Age, sex, location?" LMIRL = "Lets meet in real life" Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

If you are out and about but want Internet access, it can be a very frustrating experience. Phones and PDAs are slow, laptops are heavy, connections can be difficult to find (and often expensive). Now there is an alternative. The PocketSurfer2 costs just under £180 to buy, but after that you can surf the web for up to 20 hours a month - Free. Unlimited access is available for about £6.00 a month. All the reports say that it is fast (because it uses a proxy server with some smart software.) It offers up true web pages not the cut down versions that most phones use. [ Real HTML pages, graphics, java scripts & apps, e-mail & IM including attachments] Of course there are drawbacks. There is a full qwerty keyboard but no audio connection (so no Skype). No memory, so all email and word processing must be handled and stored on-line. And, of course, you have to be able to access a mobile phone signal. Having said all that, it looks like a remarkable piece of kit. You can find...

Oh Boy, have I got a great site for you. Selfcast is a new service which allows anyone to broadcast their own internet TV channel. I'm sure that you can imagine the dross that now becomes available! But... this fantastic site (like all good sites of this type) allows the cream to rise to the top. You will need to download and install the software PLUS you need a good internet connection and up to date computer. Once you have things set up, take a look at the "Speakers Corner" channel. This is sometimes live and sometimes recorded material from Speakers Corner in Hyde Park, London. If you have ever been there, you will know that it is one of the greatest FREE shows that the Capital has to offer. The quality of the program is definitely low but this is more than made up for by the entertainment value. [Some is definitely not safe for work or your blood pressure]. I do urge you to take a look and don't forget that YOU can broadcast yourself too. Here is the link. Let me...

Here is the link to a really great personal information program. Diary, "To Do" etc, all in a well designed and easy to use interface. You can import your address book from Outlook and Outlook Express, why not give it a try? You can't argue with the price! www.computeractive.co.uk/2129067 Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

This weekend the sun is shining, so I just have a short video for you (4 mins) but I think you will like it. There is also a link to the newspaper report which explains it. Could catch on over here don't you think? "Prison Idol" maybe or perhaps "Come Dancing - The Inside Story" - see what you think. The Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMnk7lh9M3o News report: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/52746/Cebu-inmates-take-to-dancing-as-exercise Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

When companies get very large and start to dominate a market there is often a consumer backlash. Just look at Microsoft and the move away from the Internet Explorer browser to Firefox. Or, in the retail trade, Tesco's dominance has aroused a sizeable group of consumers who are vociferously opposed to its further expansion. With all the talk about Google looking to provide its "own brand" mobile phones or becoming a "free" internet service provider (supported by advertising of course); I get the feeling that a backlash is beginning to grow. It is starting in Google's heartland - Searching the web. Up until now people have been happy to let Google run the show. But web searches have to be relevant to what you are looking for and presented in a useful way. Most people would expect to get the best answer for their search on the first page of Google. But, does that really happen? Here is a simple experiment that you can try. Take a search topic and look at the re...

I am finding it harder and harder these days to justify using a desktop computer. A few years ago laptops couldn't compete. They were low spec and high priced. But times have changed. If you are thinking about buying a laptop or replacing your desktop, have a look at this spec for a LAPTOP made by Medion which is going to be available in local ALDI stores on 9th August. [If you want one, I would get there early. These sort of offers sell out very quickly] Intel pentium dual core processor. (Means you can get your computer to multi-task more easily) 15.4" TFT Widescreen Display. This is a cinema style format which gives you more desktop space and is optimised for DVD playback. 2,048MB DDR 11 Ram. Plenty memory to run Vista Vista Home Premium - The new operating system takes over from XP Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950 - better entertainment. Re-writable multi function DVD - plays and burns DVDs Wireless lan, Ethernet and V.90 modem. Every way possible to connect to Broadba...

If you have missed your favourite soap on ITV don't despair. The good old internet comes to the rescue. At this site you can watch highlights of past episodes or the entire recent episode. You can also see the current output of ITV 1, ITV 2, ITV 3 and ITV 4 To get it to work, you will need to use Internet Explorer and have an up to date version of windows media player installed. www.itv.com/soaps Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

Just a quick tip which some readers may find useful. If you don't have Microsoft Word on your computer, then one of the problems you will come across is that you will not have a spell checker when you use Outlook Express. Luckily there is a simple (and free) solution. You can download a free spell checker from this link. http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=2952 Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

The big broadband news over the last few days in the UK has been PC World's offer of a free laptop for anyone willing to sign up to a longterm broadband deal with Orange. On the face of it, it seems a strange thing to do, but it only copies the pricing model which Orange (and other companies) have used for mobile phones. Free phone with a long contract for your mobile, so why not free laptop with your broadband contract? The computer on offer is very basic and comes with XP not VISTA, no wireless modem, small hard disk and low ram. The broadband is pretty basic too. So is it a good deal? Hard to say, until some customers have tried it. It certainly wouldn't suit most savvy computer users or those with fast broadband already. If you are tempted, then it is probably worth looking at this site which has been set up by unhappy Orange customers. http://www.orangeproblems.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3377 Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

Video on the web has been a big success. But with all the videos which are appearing on sites like YouTube or MetaCafe, how do you sort the good from the bad? One answer is to use a video aggregating site which scours other sites and gets real people (like you and me) to vote for the ones we like. More votes mean that the video stays on the site and less votes mean that it eventually disappears. One such site is Videosift. You can choose the type of content which interests you - say humour or politics (very often these are the same!); then get a ranked list of popular videos which you can watch directly on the site. One warning - if you are not careful this will take over your entire weekend and possibly the rest of your life:) www.videosift.com Enjoy your weekend - Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

Sometimes the internet serves up something which just stops you in your tracks and gives your day a lift. This video is just like that. Despite the commentary being in Japanese, I am sure you will feel better for watching it. It has all the great ingredients. A Chimpanzee, a dog and humour. Why not take a break and enjoy it? http://www.flixxy.com/japan-train-travel-chimpanzee.htm Have a good day Eddie Subscribe to Computers are fun by Email

The "Next big thing" on the Internet is Web 2.0, but what is it?In typical laid back style Stephen Fry answers that question here http://www.videojug.com/interview/stephen-fry-web-20 Videojug is, perhaps, a good example of Web 2.0 in action. Do you want to know how to make Chicken Jalfrezi or make a date? It is all here. The videos are all professional and follow roughly the same format. Some are much better than others. But be warned. You can quickly lose an hour clicking around the site. I have raised the issue of Web 2.0 now, because a big step forward for the UK is going to take place on Friday of this week (27th July). The BBC finally make their iplayer available to the general public. Demand is likely to be enormous, so if you are at all interested it might be worth logging on to the BBC website and getting yourself up to speed. This is the link for information from the BBC press office http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/06_june/27/iplayer.sht...

If you don't have Microsoft Office installed on your computer, you are often at a disadvantage. You might not be able to open Word documents or Spreadsheets that are sent by other people. PowerPoint presentations can also be a problem. So, one option is to 'bite the bullet' and shell out over £300 for the software. Luckily there there is an alternative which will save you a fortune. [This is just for the UK.] Tesco now sell their own software range which you can buy in store or online. They have an Office compatible suite which comprises four programs. Word processor, database, spreadsheet and presentation programs. How much? Just £19.99 AND if you are using it at home, the licence allows you to install it on more than one computer. At the moment they also have a 'buy one get one free offer'. So if you know someone else who wants the program, you can share and it will only cost you £10. Alternatively, you can choose from the rest of the Tesco software range. I have ...

Time to relax? There are many entertainment sites that are part of the Web 2.0 revolution. Computers are rapidly becoming "TV on Demand". You can find lots of sites which are testing out this new genre. I am sure that only a few will survive and become a household name like Google. The technology is still not quite there in my opinion so, while we wait, some of the best sites are those which will download programs in the background. That way you can watch chosen content when you want it. It will play from your computer's hard disk, so the technical quality is excellent. Just like watching a DVD in fact. One of the newest and best sites is Miro . It is a Free download and will index all your existing video content as well if you want. Once you have the program installed you have a choice of many channels. By default these are NOT set to automatic download. Choose which channel or channels you want and set their options at the top of the page. To get you going, I can hearti...

How secure is your computer? I don't mean could someone steal it (though, of course, that would be a disaster for many of us). No what I mean is, could someone easily hack into it and what would be the consequences? If you only have a domestic computer and don't use it for banking then you may not be too worried. But if you use your computer at work and it is on a wireless network, here is something to think about. Unless you have something stronger than the normal passworded set-up, wireless networks are relatively easy to hack. What would be the consequences? Well, at best, you might lose some confidential files. At worst, someone could access your banking, accounts and personnel records. Still not worried? Then think about this. I am told that with the recent successes that the police have had targeting paedophiles, those same paedophiles are starting to adopt preventative measures. One of their tricks is to hack into poorly protected computer networks. They can then use you...

You would be amazed how many people I come across who have their computers infested by viruses. Many got a free trial of an anti-virus program with their new computer and think that they are protected even though they have never updated the virus signatures. So what do anti-virus programs do? Well, if you compare them to protection you have at home, they work like this.... You plan to let someone in to your computer. The anti virus program checks them out to see that they really are who they say they are. It also checks that no sneaky criminal is getting in by hiding behind a genuine visitor. Once your guests are inside it makes sure that they don't get up to any mischief. How do these 'visitors' get in? You invite them by looking at certain websites, downloading your email and opening it or by running software on your computer. Virus writers are both clever and sneaky. They keep coming up with ways to get past your security and cause trouble. Anti-virus programs have to be...

Since I supply Broadband and often set it up for my customers, I sometimes come across people who don't have a firewall. Even those that do, are often unsure of what it does. I think that the best way to think about a Firewall is to compare it to the security in your home. To prevent people breaking in, you will have locks and bolts and perhaps an alarm. A firewall does the same on your computer. It prevents unauthorised access. Just as you can let in anyone to your house, so you can override your firewall and let a program in. If your firewall doesn't recognise a program which is trying to gain access as 'safe', it will block it and, generally, ask you whether you want to grant permission. How do you know what to do? The safest response is always to deny permission. Then, if some program that you want to use stops working you can reconsider your decision. If it is something you don't recognise, refuse and look it up in Google to see if there are any references. If ...