     
NEW TODAY: Learn what to buy with my newest guideThinking of buying a new tech gadget, but aren't sure where to start? My all-new Essential Tech Buying Guide is the answer! It contains buying advice for computers, tablets, e-readers and more. Grab it now from my store.>> A little about me, Kim KomandoI host two national radio shows. My Digital Minute airs Monday through Friday. I also host a three-hour show on the weekends. My shows are broadcast on more than 460 radio stations throughout the great United States and also in 177 different countries and on every ship at sea on the Armed Forces Radio Network. Plus, I write two columns a week for USA Today.com and 82 daily newspapers on Gannett Newswire.
This weekend's Money Making & Saving Tip:Make money with your own appYou don't need to be a programming pro or have a small fortune to make an app. These app-building services and tools get the job done quickly and easily. This weekend's Apps for your phone:Apps to refill your prescriptionCalling to refill a regular medication can be a hassle. These apps from major pharmacies make it simple. This weekend's CUFF that's always cool and free:Beautiful spring wallpaperThere are plenty of ways to enjoy spring. For those stuck behind a computer all day, bring the joy of spring inside with my free spring wallpaper! Updates to find me in your hometown!
Listen or watch when you want, on your schedule!Exclusive access for Kim's Club Members only!Being a Kim's Club member brings you a wealth of benefits! Listen and watch my show when you want, live as it happens or on-demand to fit your schedule. Get answers to your toughest questions on my Message Board. Browse through more of my tips, Cool Sites and columns! FORWARD ME TO YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS:Know someone who can use this information? Forward this newsletter now. Or pass along the link at Komando.com to your family members and friends on your Facebook or Twitter account. This helps them and me. I'm always looking for more folks to enlighten in this digital age.
Sign in to Google Maps with a Google Account and click the My Places button. Then click Create Map to set up a new custom map. Add place markers and routes using the drawing tools at the top of the map. Each place marker can have a title and full description. If you aren't sure how to proceed, watch Google's map-making tutorial. Another way to do this is using a Google Fusion Table. Create a database of addresses and location descriptions using a spreadsheet program such as Excel or LibreOffice's Calc. Save the information as a .csv file and then upload it to Google Fusion Table. Choose Visualize>>Map and all your information will be instantly mapped to a Google Map. See this tutorial for more detail. You can print the map, share it or access it on the go from a laptop. Grab an app such as My Maps Editor for the iPad and take any Google Map with you that way. Planning a vacation in advance can save you aggravation on the road. Here are some other ways to keep your cool on your trip.
The iBaby has a built-in speaker and microphone for two-way communication. Plus, the camera will send sound and motion alerts to let you know when your mother-in-law is up and about. Of course, there is an important requirement. Both you and your mother-in-law will need a broadband Internet connection for the video and audio signal. This is true for an IP camera system. Fortunately, low-cost DSL will work fine for your purposes. You said your mother-in-law is in an assisted-living apartment. If it isn't part of a specialized community, you can order Internet with little hassle. The Internet service provider can send someone out to install it. Just plug the iBaby into the DSL or cable modem. If you need more control over the iBaby's placement, buy a wireless router for the iBaby to connect to. If the apartment is part of a care community, it might have an existing Internet or wireless network system. They may also have regulation governing use of the Internet. In that case, check with the manager of the facility to learn your options and how they'll work with you. Streaming Internet video is great for many other uses as well. Here are some fun ideas you might like to try.
Taking control of an Apple RemoteNathan of Baltimore, MD, listens to my national radio show on WBAL 1090 AM. He bought an Apple TV and says that the remote control for the streaming gadget is also controlling his MacBook Pro across the room. He wonders why that's happening and how he can stop it. It sounds like you have a poltergeist, Nathan. Don't go into the light! OK, I'm just joking. Your MacBook Pro has a built-in infrared port that is responding to the Apple Remote. Controlling the computer with a remote is handy for users who need to give slideshows and sales presentations. But it's a little annoying when all you want to do is control the Apple TV. You can turn off your Mac's infrared reception by going to System Preferences and selecting Security & Privacy. Under the General pane, check "Disable remote control infrared receiver." If you want to use two remotes in one area, you can pair any Apple Remote with Apple TV or a compatible Mac. Once paired, the device will take commands only from the specified remote. To pair, just aim the remote at the Apple TV or the Mac and hold down the Menu and Right buttons for six seconds. Holding down Menu and Left for six seconds will un-pair the remote. Here are a few more ideas that will help you make smart buying decisions on Macs and Apple gadgets.
Don't miss any more of my hot picks; get all my free newsletters in your inbox. >> Rookie Rundown: The start to your digital lifeEmail for Windows 7James from Madison, AL, listens to my national radio show on WVNN 92.5 FM/770 AM. He ordered a new laptop with Windows 7, but he was told it won't have Windows Mail. He wants to know whether there's some way to add Windows Mail so he doesn't have to learn a new program. I always thought removing the default email program from Windows 7 was a strange decision on Microsoft's part. Still, you aren't out of luck, James. Windows Mail still exists as Windows Live Mail. It's part of the free Windows Live Essentials download. You can find it here. The interface is the same as Windows Mail, so you shouldn't need to relearn anything. You can even transfer your mail from Windows Mail using the Import Mail Troubleshooter. A new computer is a great thing. It's fast, uncluttered and has that new computer smell. I'll tell you how to set up a new computer so it stays that way longer.
What you can win:Your chance to take home valuable prizesMy latest winner!Each week of my Relax & Restore contest, I'm giving away a free one-year Carbonite Online Home subscription. This week's winner is:
Get away from it all and Relax & Restore!Ready for a break? I've got the trip for you! Win the grand prize in my Relax & Restore contest and experience an incredible 7-night Caribbean Cruise in an ocean-view cabin on the beautiful Carnival Liberty! I'm also giving away weekly prizes of one-year Carbonite Home subscriptions to back up and restore your computer files. You'll truly be able to relax and restore knowing your computer data, photos and memories are backed up safely and securely and within reach with Carbonite Online Backup. Enter Daily. >> Did you know that Kim's Club members are entered in my best contests automatically – every day? Save time, increase your chances of winning and get access to all the great content from my Digital News Network. Plus, not only can you listen to my weekend show on your schedule, you can watch it right on your computer in state-of-the-art HD video! What a deal for less than $5 a month! Sign up now!
Contest site:A Luxe Mountain Retreat SweepstakesWant to get away for a while? Redbook is giving away a 3-night stay at a Colorado resort. Enjoy spa treatments and horseback riding, along with free airfare. Open to U.S., Canadian and Puerto Rican residents 18 and older. Expires Apr. 9, 2012. Freebie of the week:Quaker Oatmeal SquaresNot everyone has time for oatmeal in the morning. Try Quaker's Oatmeal Squares cereal instead. Open to U.S. residents 18 and older. Limit one sample per household. Freebie from Komando:Social FixerNot too thrilled with Facebook's new look? Want a little more control over what you see and what you don't? This browser extension gives you full control over your Facebook experience. Freebie from GoToMyPC:Free 45-day trial of gotomypc.com (www.gotomypc.com/kim)Use your Mac or PC remotely. Works on PC and Macs! Kim Komando Show listeners get a 45-day free trial. Use promo code Kim. Freebie from Carbonite:Free trial and 2 months free (www.carbonite.com/kim)Hard drives fail. Don't lose your precious photos and data. Carbonite is simply the best online backup. It's the one I use. Get a free trial. Use promo code Kim and get two months free when you decide to buy. Killer Tip: Upgrade your wired networkHeavy on the technical sideQuestion:I own a photography studio and need a router, switch or network storage device that will allow access from at least three Macs. I currently have a Drobo connected to an iMac. All the computers connect to the Drobo through the iMac, which is causing a bottleneck. I'm looking to speed things up since we work with video and high-resolution images. I hear a Gigabit router or switch is fast. Will this really help, or is there a better way? Answer:This is a tricky question, Jim. There are going to be a lot of "ifs" involved, since I don't know the exact hardware you have. Still, I think once I point you in the right direction, you can figure it out. For everyone else, even thought the question is about Macs, the same information applies to any computer network. So, if you're looking to speed up your business or home network, keep reading. I'll start with gigabit networking. To answer your question, Jim, yes it is fast. Most wired networks are stuck at the old 100 megabits per second speed, while a gigabit network is 1000 megabits (1 gigabit) per second. A quick note on megabits and gigabits - these aren't the same thing as megabytes and gigabytes. In computer terms, 1 byte is made up of 8 bits. To find out the practical speed of a network, you'll need to divide by 8. So, a 1000 megabit per second network can actually transfers 125 megabytes of information per second. I know that's confusing, but it's something useful to keep in mind. Otherwise you'll waste time trying to figure out why your network is running "slow." Read on to learn more about gigabit networking and what hardware you need to make it work. >> Joke:You can always count on me to make you smileA contractor hired two brothers to install home siding. He demonstrated the process and sent them off to their first job. The younger brother replied, "The heads are on the wrong end." "Don't be silly," the older brother said. "Those are for the other side of the house."
Follow me on the web Advertise | Advertiser Comments | Sign up for my newsletters | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions To unsubscribe or modify your subscription, use our online form. Copyright © 2012 Weststar Digital Audio, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Please add kimsnewsreply@lyris.komando.com to your address book ensure Kim's emails reach your inbox. To view this email as a Web page, go here. |
0 comments:
Post a Comment