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Castellini on Computers FREE Weekly Email NEWSLETTER
October 3, 2007
HEAR
(AND SEE) OUR SHOW LIVE
EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT AT 9:30PM MST
OR
VISIT HELPMERICK.COM ANY TIME TO DOWNLOAD OR HEAR LAST WEEK'S SHOW!!
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In this week's issue. . .
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***
TIP
OF THE WEEK
*** GEEK
SPEEK OF THE WEEK - (Simple definition of common computer terms)
*** COMPUTER
NEWS...and comment
*** LAST
WEEK'S POLL RESULTS
*** ADAM'S
COMMENTS - Stuff from the digital world that is rolling around in Adam's head.
*** Email of the week
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Here's
an early warning about tomorrow's episode of Castellini on Computers. Cancel
all of your other 9:30pm appointments, set the VCR or TiVo to record Leno or
Letterman and get an early nap tomorrow so you can spend the evening with us.
The show just keeps getting better as we learn how to handle chat, video,
emails and phone calls all at the same time.
Remember, you can visit HelpMeRick.com at any time and listen to the audio of
the previous week's show. However, it only takes listening to one show to
realize that much of the content is now visual and we don't post the video.
Much of our newsletter problems have been resolved. Make sure you add the
following address to your accepted or non-spam list so that the email will
get through to you: response26262629@zinester.com.
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Email your questions to us
and we will answer them live on the air or on our daily website updates!
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CUSTOM COMPUTER HELP FROM RICK & ADAM
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We
have been posting a new how-to video every week since November and the
feedback has been tremendous. Now YOU have the opportunity to get your own
customized video tutorial about a topic that you are having trouble with or
just want to learn.
To learn more, visit: www.HelpMeRick.com/videohelp
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TIP OF THE WEEK
Quick access to today's date - Video Tip
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CLICK HERE TO SEE THE VIDEO
Many times when sitting in front of a computer screen, I need to know the
date. I don't tend to keep the date in my permanent memory, so I rely on
calendars to remind me.
With a Windows computer (from Windows 95 through Vista), you can quickly
access the current date by hovering your mouse, don't click, just hover on
the time in your system tray.
Watch
my quick 40 second tip demonstrating this extremely useful, but often
forgotten tip.
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GEEK SPEEK
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Our
longtime subscribers who keep track of such things will note that we did this
term less than a year ago, but as our show grows in popularity we strive help
everyone new to our audience catch up.
YouTube.com is a website that features videos. All kinds of videos. By all
kinds of videos we mean videos featuring nature, wildlife, skateboard
stunts, religious footage, political propaganda, UFOs, current events,
how-tos, midgets, race cars, equestrian events, roller coasters, head shaving
techniques, hot air balloon accidents, monkeys, great moments in sports, bad
moments in sports, ugly shoes, dancing, hot dog hats, and much much more.
How does YouTube get so many crazy and wonderful videos? That's easy, anyone
who has videos can create a YouTube "channel" and post their videos
for all to see.
Most videos are under 10 minutes so in the time it takes to watch one very
special episode of ER, you can watch dozens of YouTube videos and you
won't feel as emotionally manipulated afterwards. Or maybe you will.
We have our own YouTube channel; you can find it at www.YouTube.com/casttv. This is
where we post all of our excellent computer training videos.
I know, who would ever want to watch free computer tutorial videos? We just
hope that someone somewhere will see our videos and learn something from
them.
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YouTube
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COMPUTER
NEWS...and comment
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PALM NEWS
If you heard the sound of your RAZR gasping for air earlier this week that's
because Palm announced the new Centro.
 The Palm Centro is the new $99 smartphone from Palm that allows you to
add user created programs, dial while driving using actual physical
buttons, listen to music, watch videos, email friends and family, surf
the web anywhere at broadband speeds, sync your appointments and phone
book with your computer, beam information to other Palm and Windows Mobile
device users wirelessly, watch YouTube videos, Instant message Yahoo and
AOL IM users, use stereo bluetooth headsets, add storage, use Google
maps, and even make phone calls all this and a user replaceable battery
too.
Currently the phone is only available through Sprint, which is OK since they
have the most affordable EVDO (cell phone broadband) data services.
Italics note features lacking in the iPhone and some other smartphones.
ZUNE NEWS
Have you ever heard of the Microsoft Zune? Few people have. The Zune is
Microsoft's version of the iPod and so far it has been a business flop for
them.
What better reason to release the Zune 2? Gizmodo.com is reporting that a
new generation of Zune players will be announced this week. Two versions are
expected, a flash based version that comes in 4 or 8 gig models and an 80 gig
hard drive model. Now, aren't you excited?
SCARY NEWS
NTT DoCoMo, a Japanese cell phone company is working on a phone that can
transmit data through the body. In many Asian countries that are more gadget
advanced that the US, cell phones are used for paying for services and
merchandise.
Simply run your cell phone past a sensor and payment is transferred from
your account via a radio in the phone.
Now NTT plans to use near-field technology to transmit data through the
body allowing users to keep their phone in their pocket. A simply touch of
the finger could transmit money, addresses, and other important information.
A true digital fingerprint. WINDOWS XP NEWS Microsoft
announced this week that they would be extending the time that
manufacturers can sell Windows XP machines from January 2008 to June
2008. Seems that Vista isn't selling at the rate they hoped. We aren't sure why that is...hmmmm. Independent computer builders and some software outlets will be able to sell Windows XP through January 2009. Interestingly,
and again we aren't sure why, Dell, HP, and Toshiba are some of the
companies offering "Windows XP kits" to change the Vista machines they
bought back to Windows XP. Hmmmm.... |
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POLL Results
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I watch movies
on...
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Next week's poll:
How many episodes of the new Castellini on Computers have you listened
to or watched?
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VHS
4%
DVD 60%
HD-DVD or Blu-Ray 1%
Combination of above (tell us which combination)
26%
All of the above 3%
None of the above 6%
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ADAM'S COMMENTS
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Well,
the Mac loyalists are mad at me again.
Last week I wrote a short commentary on our website about how unsportsmanlike
it was for Apple to release an update that broke all of the iPhones that
weren't playing by Apple's rules.
People who simply wanted to get more out of their new $500 device had that
device put completely out of commission by the very company they had paid
that money to.
Perhaps I should illustrate my point further.
A few years ago several companies began manufacturing a kit which allowed
Toyota Prius users to plug their car into an electrical outlet to charge the
hybrid engine, thus increasing the already excellent gas mileage.
Now, imagine how those Toyota users would respond if the company issued a
mandatory safety recall on all Prius' and in the process of installing the
new safety features they disabled the electrical system on cars that had the
added kit. Not because it posed a safety threat but because Toyota simply
didn't like people tinkering with their cars.
Would this be fair?
This is what Apple has done with the iPhone. It's dirty. The only reason
Apple did it was to teach their customers a lesson about trying to go outside
of the Apple circle.
I am not criticizing Apple's technology, their ease
of use or their price, they are wonderful products. I am criticizing the ethics of their business
practices.
I hope this settles the issue once and for all.
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EMAIL
OF THE WEEK
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Rick,
On
some emails,for instance when I get a confirmation of an airline ticket
or hotel reservation, the print is very tiny. So far I can read it but
it's not easy. Is there a way to correct this?
Janet
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Hi Janet,
You
didn't mention what email program you are using, so I will give you
the fool proof general answer that will work with any email program: - Highlight the text you want to print from your email
- Click Edit --> Copy from the menus
- Start your word processor (Microsoft Word, OpenOffice Writer, Microsoft Works, WordPerfect, etc.)
- Click Edit --> Paste from the menus
- Click Edit --> Select All from the menus
- Change the font size, using your toolbar, to set the size that works best for you.
- Print your document
This method only takes about a minute, but is guaranteed to give you what you want. Thanks for writing and have a great week. Rick
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Castellini
on Computers & HelpMeRick.com ©2007
Rick Castellini and Adam Cochran
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