Hasta La Gadget!

This article was written on May 28, 2007 by CyberNet.

Microsoft Monday

I think most people tend to view a blog as something that is done entirely online. In other words, because you read the blog online, it’s written online.  This however, is not always true.

There are a handful of offline alternatives to writing your blog that make it easy to create a post and then upload it to your blog.  One option that not many people think to use is Microsoft Word 2007. They have a blog post feature built right in!Setting it up only takes a few minutes, and before you know it, you’ll be all set to go.

Set-up

The first thing that you’ll want to do is Open Microsoft Word 2007.  Then you’ll want to create a new document, and from there you’ll see two options. Either you can create a blank document, or a blog post. Select to create a new blog post.

The first time that you do this, you’ll be presented with the steps for registering your blog.  The first thing you’ll be asked is to select your provider.  They have a list of supported providers, but if yours isn’t listed, don’t worry, you can still do it.  It’ll just take a few extra steps.

First, the listed of supported blogs are:

• Windows Live Spaces
• Blogger
• TypePad
• SharePoint Blog
• Community Server
• WordPress

If your provider isn’t listed, select “other” from the list of providers, and then you’ll go through a separate process of selecting your API, and then entering the URL for your blog.  From there you’ll be asked your user name and password, and then you’ll be all set to go.

What tools are available?

Using Microsoft Word to publish to your blog gives you several great tools to work with that makes the process easier.You’re still presented with the navigational Ribbon up at the top except there are only two tabs – “blog post” and “insert.”

The “blog post” tab will have all of your essential tools for changing the font, color, and size of the text that you’re using. You’ll also have a listing of some of the “Quick Styles” you might want to use (like quoting, or using headers).

You’ll also have the inline spell-check that you’d typically have with a Microsoft Word document which is really helpful. 

Under the “insert tab” you’ll find the options for inserting a table, pictures, charts, and other elements.

Publishing your Post

After your post is written and formatted, you’ll want to be sure you save it. Saving a post is no different then how you would save a document with Word. Just click the save button.

When you’re ready to publish, just click the Publish button. You can either publish as a draft, or publish it immediately to the blog. Once it’s been published, it’ll display a message across the top of your post saying that it was published to your blog, along with the date and time.

Below is what my post looked like after creating it in Microsoft Word and publishing it to my test blog on Blogger.

Wrapping it up

Microsoft Word now creates clean HTML. Previously it didn’t. I was expecting the code for the table that I inserted to be horrendous, but surprisingly, it wasn’t. Nice.

Secondly, if you want to publish images to your blog post, you’ll have to use a picture provider or another storage location like your own server if your blog service provider doesn’t offer an option. If you already have a blog set-up, you know how you handle images.

I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to use Word to publish a post to my test blog. I was also happy to see that the HTML is clean because previously, Microsoft Word wasn’t known for it.

Should you need help, Microsoft has a help page setup that should be able to answer most of your questions. You can find it here.

Copyright © 2010 CyberNet | CyberNet Forum | Learn Firefox

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This article was written on March 11, 2008 by CyberNet.

Time Saving Tuesday

I used to love the Nero CD/DVD burning software when it first came out because it came in a no-frills package that ran faster than any of the competing alternatives. Since then they’ve added about a dozen additional applications that are bundled with the burning software, and it’s pretty disappointing to see it become so bloated.

If you feel the same way I do then you’ll be pleased with the two free alternatives that I’m about to show you today. They are well updated applications that not only support burning CD’s and DVD’s, but also support Blu-ray and the soon-to-be-extinct HD DVD. More importantly for me, however, is that both of them support burning ISO images.

–BurnAware (Homepage)–

This works on Windows NT/2000/XP/Vista (32 and 64 Bit)
UPDATE: As of June 2008 this software is no longer free. You can find information on downloading the last free version here.

BurnAware comes in both free and paid flavors, but for most people the free version will be more than enough. The thing that really stands out with this application is that it has an exceptional interface that nearly any computer user will be able to understand:

(Click to Enlarge)

From the main interface you just have to select what task you are looking to perform. This is where you can select to burn an ISO image, audio CD, DVD videos, or a data disc. Selecting media to add to a data disc, for example, will really be a no-brainer for most users:

(Click to Enlarge)

Here’s a list of features that you’ll get from using BurnAware:

• Writes to all CD/DVD media types including Blu-Ray (BD-R/BD-RE)
• Writes discs from disc images
• Writes DVDs from DVD-Video files
• Writes Audio CDs from WAV, MP3, or WMA files
• Creates disc images
• Supports all current hardware interfaces
• On-the-fly writing for all image types
• Writes Multi-Session to all supported media formats
• Auto-verification of written files
• Supports unicode for multi-byte languages

Thanks to “sorr” for the tip on this one!

–CDBurnerXP (Homepage)–

This works on Windows 2000/XP/2003 Server/Vista

If the interface on BurnAware is a bit too simplistic you might find CDBurnerXP to align better with your taste. This is a personal favorite of mine because the interface is more advanced, and is closer to what I’m used to with Nero. It’s quite reminiscent of browsing files in Windows Explorer:

(Click to Enlarge)

If you’re using this to burn some ISO images you’ll be happy to know that there are a few different settings that you can configure. You can even have the computer shutdown after the burning process is completed:

Here’s a full list of features that you’ll get from using CDBurnerXP:

• Burn any Data on CD-R/CD-RW/DVD+R/DVD-R/DVD+RW/DVD-RW/DVD-RAM/BD/HD-DVD, including double layer mediums
• Create bootable discs
• Drag and drop files directly from any Windows Explorer window
• Burn on-the-fly and with buffer-underrun protections
• Create audio CD’s from MP3, WAV, OGG, FLAC, and WMA files
• Gapless audio CD’s supported (disc-at-once-mode)
• Burn ISO files to CD
• Create your own ISO files
• Convert BIN and NRG files to ISO

–Overview–

I think you’ll be happy no matter which of the two applications you decide to go with. Both of them offer exceptional features for the price… FREE! The best thing is that they are well updated and support a wide array of CD, DVD, Blu-ray, and HD DVD burners. You’ve got nothing to lose by giving them a try.

If you’ve got a personal favorite burning application let us know in the comments below. We always enjoy checking out new programs.

Copyright © 2010 CyberNet | CyberNet Forum | Learn Firefox

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This article was written on August 27, 2008 by CyberNet.

Web Browser Wednesday

According to Alexa Wikipedia is the 7th most visited site in the world only to follow behind companies like Google and Yahoo. Seeing that they receive millions of visitors each day it should come as no surprise that people would use the tools at hand to make their own customized layouts and designs for the site.

Below we’ve listed out our top 10 Wikipedia themes that are specifically designed for Firefox users who have the Stylish extension installed. We’ve tested out each of the styles to make sure they work as advertised, and for each of the screenshots the Firefox Wikipedia page was used. That way you’re able to quickly compare one style to another in order to determine which one you like best. When all is said and done we’ll tell you what our three favorites are (one from each category).

Here’s a quick look at what the Wikipedia page looks like before any modifications have been made.

Note: Click on any of the screenshots to see a larger version.

–Dark Themes–

If you like dark skins here are four Wikipedia themes that you’ll definitely want to consider.

• DeepPurple – The skin doesn’t use an overwhelming amount of purple, but what I like about this is that the hyperlinks are still easy to read.
  
• Dark Grey – Instead of just having a solid black background this one has a smooth gradient that gives the interface a more streamlined feel. It’d be nice if it still used the standard Wikipedia icon, but if you know how to edit the script that can easily be changed.
  
• Dark Blue – If you’re looking for a dark theme but aren’t fond of the black/grey then this might be a better fit. You’ve just gotta love blue in order to like this skin.
  
• SKYY – This is almost like the purple skin mentioned above, but instead of using purple in some places it uses a greenish color.
  

–Minimalist Themes–

The minimalist themes focus solely on displaying the content for reading purposes, and aren’t designed for editing Wikipedia articles. They ensure that you get the most out of the space available in your browser window.

• Minimalist – This is about as simple as it gets. Everything is removed including the sidebar, tabs along the top, and even the big “summary” typically shown along the right side of the article.
  
• Simple Research – Hands down one of the best looking skins right here. It removes the sidebar, makes the content area fixed-width, throws in some nice rounded corners, and uses all the right colors to make it easy on the eyes. Plus it still includes a small search box in the upper-left corner
  
• No Sidebar – All this pretty much does is remove the sidebar, and then place an oversized search box at the top. All other default Wikipedia color schemes and styles are kept in tact.
  
• Clean & Compact – If you’re looking for a skin that makes the most of the space available this would surely be it. The sidebar is removed, but the search box is placed in the upper-right corner. You’ll also notice that the table of contents no longer pushes the content down further on the page, and it is instead aligned to the left of the first section.
  

–Other Themes–

These remaining themes modify the appearance of Wikipedia while leaving all of its functionality in tact.

• Modifications – For the most part this skin leaves the site untouched, but does a few things such as round the corners on tabs and also on the various sections in the sidebar.
  
• Grey Lady – By far the most formal looking theme available for Wikipedia. Everything looks and feels as though you’re reading an article on a professionally written site.
  

–Overview–

It’s definitely awesome the work some of these developers have put into modifying the appearance of Wikipedia. Here are my favorites from each of the categories:

• Dark Themes: Dark Grey
• Minimalist Themes: Simple Research
• Other Themes: Grey Lady

Let us know in the comments which themes you like the best!

Copyright © 2010 CyberNet | CyberNet Forum | Learn Firefox

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This article was written on March 23, 2007 by CyberNet.

Funny Friday

What would happen if different airlines had different operating systems running them? Maybe something like this…

Dos –  Everybody pushes it till it glides, then jumps on and lets it coast till it skids, then jumps off, pushes, jumps back on, etc.

Mac – All the flight attendants, captains and baggage handlers look the same, act the same and talk the same. Every time you ask a question, you are told you don’t need to know, don’t want to know and everything will be done for you without your knowing, so just shut up.

Windows – Colorful airport terminal, friendly flight attendants, easy access to a plane, and an uneventful takeoff. Then, all in a sudden, boom! You blow up without any warning whatsoever.

Unix – Everyone brings one piece of the plane. Then they go on the runway and piece it together, all the while arguing about what kind of plane they’re building.

Source: All Computer Humor

Similar question, but a different scenario: What if operating systems were beer? Hmm…
PS: Check out the “liquid cooled” computer to the right

Dos – Requires you to use your own can opener, and requires you to read the directions carefully before opening the can. Originally only came in an 8-oz. can, but now comes in a 16-oz. can. However, the can is divided into 8 compartments of 2 oz. each, which have to be accessed separately. Soon to be discontinued, although a lot of people are going to keep drinking it after it’s no longer available.

Mac – At first, came only a 16-oz. can, but now comes in a 32-oz. can. Considered by many to be a “light” beer. All the cans look identical. When you take one from the fridge, it opens itself. The ingredients list is not on the can. If you call to ask about the ingredients, you are told that “you don’t need to know.” A notice on the side reminds you to drag your empties to the trashcan.

Windows 98 – Millions sampled Windows95 beer and noticed that it was often flat, right out of the can. The manufacturer of Windows95 beer decided to re-release it as Windows98 beer and guarantee it’s freshness. Most consumers are skeptical of the manufacturer’s claims, and will continue to drink flat Windows95 beer because they have acquired the taste for it.

Windows 2000 – The manufacturer of the Windows line of beers says this will be “the” beer, if they can just finish playing with the ingredients. This beer will have many ingredients of Windows 95/98 and NT beers. Many drinkers in the future will be forced to drink this when they get thirsty since they won’t be able to find Windows 95 or 98 or NT beer on the shelves. According to manufacturer it’s combines the greatest taste ever with almost no calories. Only one problem, the cans explode without warning and take out half the refrigerator with them.

Linux – LINUX beer tastes just like Unix beer. Like Unix beer, Linux beer is intended for expert beer drinkers only. It originally had no pop tops or cans because you had to brew it yourself. First you would get a recipe and some yeast from a Unix guru. Then go plow a field, plant your barley and hops. After harvest you would take your Kernels and put them into a barrel full of water, then you just add your yeast close the lid, and let your beer compile. After all this you have what experts claim to be one of the Worlds Best Beers. Linux beers do not normally explode but many brewers have been known to. Linux beer is now available from some Micro Brewery in handy pop top versions for easy drinking by beginner Unix or Linux beer drinkers. Keep your can openers handy.

Source: TOBP Humor

Another similar question – which operating system would you want running your brain?

Windows – You think about one of any number of things at anyone time but only for a short amount of time because then your mind goes blank as you encounter a “general protection fault” and as a last resort you have to re-boot your brain.

Dos –  You only think of one thing at one time, and can’t remember anything else you were meant to be thinking about. You think only in words and never any pictures.

Unix – Wow – you can think of lots of things all at once until your brain runs out of sockets. You can only talk though with people who have brains made by the same vendor. Unfortunately you also never make any sense and have to read manuals to learn how to think. Predominantly a random thinker.

Linux –  You can think of any number of things and not run out of sockets. Unfortunately, there is no support for your particular limbs, ears, mouth or …. thingy…. available yet so you are reluctant to change over at this stage.

Source: Laugh.com

Copyright © 2010 CyberNet | CyberNet Forum | Learn Firefox

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This article was written on October 18, 2007 by CyberNet.

Tutorial Thursday

The right-click menu (a.k.a. context menu) is one area in Windows that Microsoft refuses to let users customize out-of-the-box. There should be some sort of utility that lets people choose what’s included, and the order that the items are placed in. I don’t think I even use half of the options that are often located in the menu!

And then there is the command that I use the most often which is idiotically buried within a submenu, and lives without a keyboard shortcut: create a new folder. I’ve walked through ways for setting up a hotkey or context menu entry for making a new folder, but this should be an easier way to more prominently display the commands you use the most often.

What you really need is a utility so that you can customize the right-click menu to make it exactly what you want. FileMenu Tools (Download Mirror – version 5.2) might very well be exactly what you’re looking for!

As you can see from the screenshot above there are several commands in the right-click menu that are not ordinarily there. That’s all because of FileMenu, which is a free utility that can help you add and remove items from the right-click menu.

–Features–

Once you get FileMenu installed it is pretty self explanatory what you have to do. In the main content area of the program you’ll see a bunch of commands that you can add or remove from the context menu. They can also be reordered by dragging and dropping them around, or by using the arrows in the left sidebar.

The sidebar also has options to add a separator/divider and submenus, which will both help to declutter the right-click menu. In the screenshot above I have added a separator as well as a submenu to show how they work.

Tip: You won’t see any changes to the right-click menu until you hit the green “Commit” button on the top toolbar.

As you’ll find out in a moment there are a lot of different things that you can configure in FileMenu. It’s important that you use the import/export options in the File menu of the program for saving your settings. This makes it a lot easier to duplicate your settings across multiple computers, or to restore the commands in the event that you need to format your computer.

–Specialized Tools–

FileMenu comes with several specialized tools that help make it an indispensable tool. Each of the features I mention below are all accessible through the right-click menu thanks to the program. In reality each of these features are essentially their own little mini applications.

• Split/join files – This type of thing was a little more useful back in the days of floppies, but there are still some reasons that you may want to split up files.
   
• Change file time – Modify the creation time, last write time, or last access time.
  
• Find and replace – Use this to find and replace text in files.
  
• Advanced renamer – This is actually one of my favorite parts of the program. With this you can quickly rename photos, music, and any type of file. It’s not the best file renamer, but it is super nice for quick tasks.
  
• Advanced delete – Recursively delete a certain type of file from a folder and subfolders. You can use it to get rid of the pesky thumbs.db files from your computer.
  
• Synchronize – You can sync the contents of two different folders with this utility. It’s not packed with features, but it’s nice if you’re just looking to do it quickly.
  
• Create a new folder – A pretty straightforward way to create a new folder. It prompts you to enter the name of the folder before it is created.
   

–Remove Existing Items–

One thing you may notice in Windows is that the right-click menu is different depending on what type of thing your clicking on. FileMenu takes that into account, and lets you remove existing commands based upon those parameters. For example, I can have the “BriefcaseMenu” option (pictured below) show up when I right-click on files, but turn it off for when I right-click on folders.

With FileMenu you can enable or disable several of the existing commands that have been added by Windows or by other applications:

–Roll Your Own Commands–

FileMenu even lets you create customized commands that will only work for certain types of files (according to extension) or just for folders. I can think of a lot of reasons why this would be useful, and the first that comes to my mind is specifying an image editor to show up only for files that have an image-related extension. Then you won’t have to go to the “Open With” command to have a photo open up in your favorite editor.

Tip: To pass parameters to a program just click in the “Arguments” box and press the “…” button to see a list of available parameters.

Or you could use this to simply add shortcuts to your favorite programs. Why not create a submenu that has all of your most used programs in it? That’s what I just got done doing. FileMenu was able to automatically pick up the icons for all of the apps I created shortcuts for, so don’t worry about filling in the icon field.

FileMenu Tools Homepage for Windows (Download Mirror – version 5.2)
Thanks to PCWorld for pointing out this great app!

Copyright © 2010 CyberNet | CyberNet Forum | Learn Firefox

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