Hasta La Gadget!

Roku has offered users the ability to control their device via a mobile app for a while now, and though it has received updates in the past, the look has … Continue reading

This article was written on March 12, 2007 by CyberNet.

Microsoft Word 2007 Tips: Part 1

 One of the most widely used applications for Windows users is Microsoft Word.  I use it daily, and ever since I’ve upgraded to Office 2007, I find myself stumbling across new tips and tricks that make my experience that much better.  Word 2007 is setup much different than previous versions, so it does take some time to get used to.  Because of this, I’ve decided to start a mini-series offering some of my favorite tips and tricks.

—Minimizing the Ribbon—

One of the biggest changes in the user interface for Office 2007 is the use of the “ribbon” as it’s called. It replaces the traditional menus and toolbars and organizes everything you’d need into tabs. Within Microsoft Word, there are tabs for Home, Insert, Page Layout, References, Mailings, Review, and View. Everything is broken down into one of those categories so that it’s easy to find (The image below shows what the ribbon looks like).

I have adapted well to the Ribbon, but at times it would be nice to have the screen space that it takes up.  Luckily there’s a way for you to minimize it down to just the tab options.  To do this, you’ll need to right click anywhere on the ribbon. One of the options when you right click says “Minimize the Ribbon.” Just click on it, and you’ll have all of your screen space available (The image below shows what it looks like if you minimize the Ribbon).

To get it back, you just have to right click again and choose the same option.

—Ruler—

If you’re doing table work, it’s nice to have the rulers accessible. By default, you don’t see the rulers on the top and side of your screen.  One option to view the ruler is to bring your mouse up to the top of the page right before the Ribbon and wait a couple of seconds for it to appear. If you don’t get your mouse in just the right spot, it doesn’t work.

Another option to get the rulers to stick around permanently is to click on the small ruler icon right above the scroll bar. It doesn’t look like much, but by clicking on it your rulers will appear. By clicking it again, they’ll disappear.

—Quick Access Buttons—

If you decide that you want to conserve space and you use the “Minimize the Ribbon” option, there’s a way to give you easy access to the functions you’ll use the most. The Quick Access Toolbar is found up at the top, and by default the save option will be there. You can add anything you’d like to this toolbar for easy access.For example, if you find yourself switching fonts or size often, all you have to do is right click on the button within the ribbon and select to add it to your Quick Access Toolbar. 

Essentially you’re creating your own customized toolbar up at the top that you have easy access to.  I use tables a lot, change fonts frequently, and print quite often, so I added each of those options to the Quick Access Toolbar so that they’re easy to get to.

—Thumbnail View—

When you’re working on a longer document, navigating can become tedious. This is where the Thumbnail View will probably come in handy. Much like PowerPoint’s thumbnail view of slides, Microsoft Word also has something similar which will display a thumbnail preview for each of the pages within your document. While each of the thumbnails aren’t very readable, you can still use them to navigate.

To get the thumbnail view, click on the ‘View” tab, and then check the box that says ‘thumbnails’ in the section where it says “Show/Hide.” After selecting this option, a new pane will open on the left side of your screen with thumbnails of all of the pages in the document. This makes for easy navigation because each of the thumbnails are clickable.  If you click on a thumbnail, that page will now be the main document in view.

While it’s not quite as nice as the PowerPoint thumbnail preview, it will help you navigate through longer documents.

—Wrapping it up—

There are so many different tips and tricks that can make your Microsoft Word experience better.  Once you get used to the new user interface, you’ll probably find that you like Office 2007 better than previous versions. Stay tuned for additional parts to this series dedicated to helping you make the most out of Microsoft Word 2007!

Copyright © 2014 CyberNetNews.com

This article was written on September 13, 2006 by CyberNet.

Jensen Harris, who is working on the Office 2007 interface, has said that Microsoft will be offering Office 2007 Beta 2 TR (Technical Refresh) tomorrow for users to download. Here is the nice list of improvements, since Beta 2, that he provides:

• Improved support for the minimized Ribbon
• Visual redesign of the “Northwest” corner of the programs
• Double-click the Office Button to close the window
• Silver color scheme
• Redesign of the PowerPoint Home tab
• Improvements to default styles for all objects (pictures, tables, charts, SmartArt, headers, footers, etc.)
• Quick Customize Menu
• New product icons
• Usability improvements to the Office menu
• Send button in the form in Outlook
• Over 1000 changes (most minor) to the content of the Ribbon

All of those links above direct you to Jensen’s blog because he does a really great job explaining each new feature. The new Quick Customize Menu (pictured above) has been changed around so that it has some of the most popular options in it, as well as the new “Minimize the Ribbon” feature.

The other cool thing that I really like is the ability to transform images into something that looks a little more professional:

I thought it was funny to see the “Web 2.0″ style located in the bottom-right corner. I think this is really great because there are so many people that I know who want to make their pictures look cool, but they have a hard enough time sending an email. They will now be able to transform their images into something that would amaze a lot of people with just a single click.

I can’t wait to get my hands on this tomorrow! This will be the site to watch for the download so if anyone notices a change before I do please shoot me a tip.

Note: BetaNews is reporting that Microsoft will charge $1.50 for the download unless you have previously downloaded Office Beta 2. They also say that you’ll have to uninstall Beta 2 in order to install the Technical Refresh.

Copyright © 2014 CyberNetNews.com

This article was written on January 09, 2008 by CyberNet.

Web Browser Wednesday

We’ve done all kinds of top 10 Firefox lists in the past, including a rather comprehensive list where we aggregated top 10 Firefox lists from around the web. But nothing really compares to the list that we’ve put together this time around.

Below you’ll find that we’ve assembled over a dozen different lists of the top 10 Firefox extensions. The content of each list has come directly from the Firefox Add-ons site, and from each category we picked the top 10 most popular extensions. In all we have 130 extensions listed below, some of which have made the top 10 in multiple categories. So don’t be surprised if you see some of them duplicated, triplicated, or quadruplicated 🙂 .

Along with listing each extension we also gave a one-sentence description. That way you can tell if an extension sounds intriguing before visiting its homepage.

Note: The Tabs and Toolbars categories have been skipped because, at the time of this writing, the Tabs category had one entry and the Toolbars category had just two entries.

To make it easier for you to jump between the different sections we’ve created an index:

• Overall
• Alerts and Updates
• Bookmarks
• Download Management
• Feeds, News, & Blogging
• Interface Customizations
• Language Tools
• Other
• Photos, Music, & Videos
• Privacy & Security
• Search Tools
• Social Communication
• Web Development

–Overall–

1. Adblock Plus – Blocks advertisements on websites.
2. Video DownloadHelper – Download videos from hundreds of different sites, such as YouTube.
3. FlashGot – Integrates Firefox with your download manager, and offers bulk downloading features.
4. NoScript – Block all scripts from running in Firefox unless you explicitly whitelist a site.
5. Download Statusbar – Shows your downloads near the Firefox Status Bar instead of opening in a new window.
6. IE Tab – Render websites using Internet Explorer from within Firefox.
7. Greasemonkey – Run custom scripts that can add functionality or alter the appearance of websites.
8. DownThemAll! – Download manager that is able to retrieve files in bulk.
9. Forecastfox – Up-to-date weather alerts in your Status Bar.
10. PDF Download – Control whether you open PDF’s inside Firefox (as a PDF or HTML), or open in the default PDF reader on your computer.

–Alerts and Updates–

1. Forecastfox – Up-to-date weather alerts in your Status Bar.
2. PDF Download – Control whether you open PDF’s inside Firefox (as a PDF or HTML), or open in the default PDF reader on your computer.
3. Yoono – Clip information from websites, and save it for future reference.
4. BlueOrganizer – Save and manage your favorite products from the web.
5. Router Status – View the status of your router in the Status Bar (uptime, memory usage, etc…). See the homepage for list of supported routers.
6. Flagfox – Shows a flag in the Status Bar indicating the current location of the website’s server.
7. BlogRovr – Instantly fetches posts from your favorite sites depending on the site that your currently viewing.
8. Alexa Sparky – View Alexa stats for the current site in the Status Bar.
9. Online Bookmark Manager – Keep your Firefox bookmarks online. Changes are made in real-time so there’s no synchronization needed.
10. Footie Fox – View soccer scores for over 190 leagues and cups from 60 different countries.

–Bookmarks–

1. Foxmarks – Online bookmarks synchronization service.
2. All-in-One Sidebar – Switch between sidebar panels, and also view downloads and extensions right in the sidebar.
3. Del.icio.us Bookmarks – Manage your Del.icio.us bookmarks from within Firefox.
4. Speed Dial – A start page that shows thumbnails of nine customizable pages (much like how the Opera browser does it).
5. Clipmarks – Clip and share information from the websites that you visit.
6. Customize Google – Adds optional features to several Google services including Search, Gmail, Calendar, and more.
7. Del.icio.us Buttons – Simple add-on for managing your Del.icio.us bookmarks.
8. iMacros for Firefox – This can memorize repetitive tasks, such as filling out forms, so that you can spend your time doing something else.
9. Yoono – Clip information from websites, and save it for future reference.
10. BlueOrganizer – Save and manage your favorite products from the web.

–Download Management–

1. Video DownloadHelper – Download videos from hundreds of different sites, such as YouTube.
2. FlashGot – Integrates Firefox with your download manager, and offers bulk downloading features.
3. Download Statusbar – Shows your downloads near the Firefox Status Bar instead of opening in a new window.
4. DownThemAll! – Download manager that is able to retrieve files in bulk.
5. PDF Download – Control whether you open PDF’s inside Firefox (as a PDF or HTML), or open in the default PDF reader on your computer.
6. Fast Video Download – Download videos from a variety of sites.
7. FireFTP – An FTP client that is built-in to Firefox.
8. Megaupload – Free slots from Megaupload.
9. All-in-One Sidebar – Switch between sidebar panels, and also view downloads and extensions right in the sidebar.
10. UnPlug – Download videos from a variety of sites.

–Feeds, News, & Blogging–

1. Forecastfox – Up-to-date weather alerts in your Status Bar.
2. Cooliris Previews – Shows a preview of websites and media when you hover your mouse over links.
3. Clipmarks – Clip and share information from the websites that you visit.
4. Wizz RSS News Reader – Read and manage your RSS feeds from within Firefox.
5. iMacros for Firefox – This can memorize repetitive tasks, such as filling out forms, so that you can spend your time doing something else.
6. Yoono – Clip information from websites, and save it for future reference.
7. BlueOrganizer – Save and manage your favorite products from the web.
8. ScribeFire – Full-featured blog editor.
9. BlogRovr – Instantly fetches posts from your favorite sites depending on the site that your currently viewing.
10. TorrentBar – Search for torrents from this toolbar.

–Interface Customizations–

1. Download Statusbar – Shows your downloads near the Firefox Status Bar instead of opening in a new window.
2. PDF Download – Control whether you open PDF’s inside Firefox (as a PDF or HTML), or open in the default PDF reader on your computer.
3. Tab Mix Plus – Advanced tab customization in Firefox.
4. PicLens – Create image slideshows from pictures on any website.
5. All-in-One Sidebar – Switch between sidebar panels, and also view downloads and extensions right in the sidebar.
6. ColorfulTabs – Color each tab so that they are easy to distinguish.
7. Speed Dial – A start page that shows thumbnails of nine customizable pages (much like how the Opera browser does it).
8. Stylish – Using user-created stylesheets you can customize the appearance of websites.
9. Session Manager – Manage how tabs are restored when Firefox is restarted.
10. Tab Scope – See an interactive preview of a tab when you hover over it with your mouse.

–Language Tools–

1. FoxLingo – Website translation and more.
2. Hyperwords – In a single click you get access to searches, references, and more for the highlighted text.
3. Translator – Translate entire websites.
4. Quick Translation – Translate text.
5. gTranslate – Use the Google translation services to translate text.
6. Locale Switcher – Switch the locale of the browser.
7. Quick Locale Switcher – Switch the locale of the browser.
8. SpanishTrans – Highlight an English word on a site and get a Spanish translation.
9. Dictionary Tooltip – Get a definition without needing to open a website.
10. Dictionary Search – Lookup a word online.

–Other–

1. Video DownloadHelper – Download videos from hundreds of different sites, such as YouTube.
2. Greasemonkey – Run custom scripts that can add functionality or alter the appearance of websites.
3. Fast Video Download – Download videos from a variety of sites.
4. Tab Mix Plus – Advanced tab customization in Firefox.
5. PicLens – Create image slideshows from pictures on any website.
6. Del.icio.us Bookmarks – Manage your Del.icio.us bookmarks from within Firefox.
7. Tab Effect – A cube-like tab effect used when switching tabs.
8. Map+ – View a Yahoo! map of a selected address.
9. Customize Google – Adds optional features to several Google services including Search, Gmail, Calendar, and more.
10. Firefox Companion for eBay – Monitor eBay auctions and more from your Firefox sidebar.

–Photos, Music, & Videos–

1. Video DownloadHelper – Download videos from hundreds of different sites, such as YouTube.
2. FlashGot – Integrates Firefox with your download manager, and offers bulk downloading features.
3. Fast Video Download – Download videos from a variety of sites.
4. FoxyTunes – Control your media player from within Firefox.
5. PicLens – Create image slideshows from pictures on any website.
6. Cooliris Previews – Shows a preview of websites and media when you hover your mouse over links.
7. Clipmarks – Clip and share information from the websites that you visit.
8. Image Zoom – Zoom in and out of images on a website.
9. Gspace – Use your Gmail address to store files.
10. Firefox Companion for Kodak EasyShare Gallery – Organize and manage your photos on Kodak EasyShare Gallery.

–Privacy & Security–

1. NoScript – Block all scripts from running in Firefox unless you explicitly whitelist a site.
2. Fasterfox – Performance and network enhancements for Firefox.
3. Cooliris Previews – Shows a preview of websites and media when you hover your mouse over links.
4. Torbutton – Enable or disable the use of the Tor network for secure transmissions.
5. Flashblock – Block all Flash media.
6. Customize Google – Adds optional features to several Google services including Search, Gmail, Calendar, and more.
7. iMacros for Firefox – This can memorize repetitive tasks, such as filling out forms, so that you can spend your time doing something else.
8. FoxyProxy – Advanced proxy configuration.
9. SwitchProxy Tool – Switch between multiple proxy configurations.
10. FEBE – Backup your Firefox extensions.

–Search Tools–

1. PicLens – Create image slideshows from pictures on any website.
2. Cooliris Previews – Shows a preview of websites and media when you hover your mouse over links.
3. Del.icio.us Bookmarks – Manage your Del.icio.us bookmarks from within Firefox.
4. Clipmarks – Clip and share information from the websites that you visit.
5. Customize Google – Adds optional features to several Google services including Search, Gmail, Calendar, and more.
6. Del.icio.us Buttons – Simple add-on for managing your Del.icio.us bookmarks.
7. Yoono – Clip information from websites, and save it for future reference.
8. GooglePreview – Inserts preview images next to the Google search results.
9. Torrent Finder Toolbar – Searches 170 different torrent sites and trackers.
10. Answers – Get immediate answers to your questions.

–Social Communication–

1. Video DownloadHelper – Download videos from hundreds of different sites, such as YouTube.
2. StumbleUpon – Find other sites that you will like based upon the interests that you specify.
3. FoxyTunes – Control your media player from within Firefox.
4. PicLens – Create image slideshows from pictures on any website.
5. ChatZilla – Chat using IRC.
6. Clipmarks – Clip and share information from the websites that you visit.
7. iMacros for Firefox – This can memorize repetitive tasks, such as filling out forms, so that you can spend your time doing something else.
8. Yoono – Clip information from websites, and save it for future reference.
9. BlogRovr – Instantly fetches posts from your favorite sites depending on the site that your currently viewing.
10. Hyperwords – In a single click you get access to searches, references, and more for the highlighted text.

–Web Development–

1. Adblock Plus – Blocks advertisements on websites.
2. NoScript – Block all scripts from running in Firefox unless you explicitly whitelist a site.
3. IE Tab – Render websites using Internet Explorer from within Firefox.
4. Greasemonkey – Run custom scripts that can add functionality or alter the appearance of websites.
5. Fasterfox – Performance and network enhancements for Firefox.
6. Firebug – Advanced web developer tools, such as debugging and monitoring CSS.
7. Web Developer – Has various web developer tools housed in a single menu.
8. FireFTP – An FTP client that is built-in to Firefox.
9. Cooliris Previews – Shows a preview of websites and media when you hover your mouse over links.
10. All-in-One Sidebar – Switch between sidebar panels, and also view downloads and extensions right in the sidebar.

Copyright © 2014 CyberNetNews.com

This article was written on September 07, 2006 by CyberNet.

There are millions of people who love Firefox for its simplicity and extensibility but few have ever ventured to see “what lies beneath.” We constantly hear about the great security that it will bring to you but many of us also know first-hand what the memory leaks are like.

Someone decided to use Klocwork’s K7 static analysis tool to analyze Firefox 1.5.0.6 to see what kind of memory leaks, defects, and vulnerabilities they could come up with. The results were pretty staggering:

• 446 null pointer dereferences
• 141 memory management issues (pictured above)
• 71 vulnerabilities
• 68 uninitialized variables

As you can see there are several areas for concern but the tester did not post the specifics on any of the tests, especially the vulnerabilities. The information has been sent over to Mozilla so that they can look through the report to determine its validity.

The first thing that popped into my head was that Mozilla is working on a new release, Firefox 2, which is due out in 6-weeks. This new version fixes several memory leaks and numerous bugs but I guess Firefox 1.5.0.6 is the mainstream version of Firefox right now. Too bad other Web browsers weren’t open source so that they could be put through the same test for comparison sake.

News Source: G2Zero [via SlashDot]

Copyright © 2014 CyberNetNews.com