via Apple.com
Apple will hold a memorial service for Steve Jobs on Oct. 19 in an
amphitheater at the company’s corporate headquarters, CEO Tim Cook told
employees in a company-wide e-mail.
Memorial Services Announced
A Sad Day
I’ve known for some time that Steve Jobs has been sick, but
last night I was totally shocked to see on the news that he had died. Today the
shock has waned and sadness has grabbed my heart and caused a lump in my
throat. While sitting here thinking about how Mr. Jobs has affected my life, I
pulled up Apple’s website to see what they had posted about the longtime leader
of their company. What I saw has caught me completely off guard – the homepage
has his name, years he lived and his picture – nothing else. Normally I’m not an emotional
person, but I couldn’t help but just sit at my desk and cry. Why am I crying? I
didn’t know Mr. Jobs. I’ve never been a real fan of Apple computers. I don’t
own an iPhone, iPod, or iPad. Maybe it’s not just because Steve Jobs has died,
maybe it’s about me, maybe I’m a selfish prat and I’m crying because his death
will affect me, my family and my son’s future family.
Steve Jobs was an innovator. He changed the lives not only
of people around him but around the world. He changed my life. Mr. Jobs didn’t
react to a problem and invent a solution; he envisioned things that improved
our lives in ways we didn’t even know we needed or wanted. Like every
entrepreneur there were ups and downs, the Lisa computer never really took off
and the Newton was just ahead of its time. Mr. Jobs didn’t originate the idea
of the iPod, but he had that special gift that saw the possibilities and had
built a company that could take ideas like the iPod and turn it into a
revolutionary world changing device.
Mr. Jobs not only inspired those people that worked with him
and for him, he inspired his competitors, he inspired people in other
industries outside his own, and I think in some way he inspired me. There are
not many people like Mr. Jobs I can think of, who touched so many people in so
many ways. Thomas Edison comes to mind with his telegraph transmitter,
phonograph (and early iPod), the telephone and so much more. Of course there were
the Wright brothers and their airplane and Mr. Ford and his ideas on Mass
Production. But Mr. Jobs wasn’t 100 years ago; he was our generation’s
inspiration. This makes it more personal.
There are not enough Steve Jobs in the world who not only
see outside the box but actually make a new box to live in. There have been
scores of inventors and engineers who see a problem and create a solution. But
there are not many people like Mr. Jobs. Steve Jobs was unique and I cry
because the world has lost a friend. I cry for his wife, his children, and yes,
I cry for me.
Solving the ‘Low Virtual Memory’ Message
Has this happened to you? Your computer’s performance gets slower and slower. Applications take a little longer to open each time. Web pages time out before they’ve fully loaded.
Then, something dramatic happens. You get a worrying message that your virtual memory is too low.
It’s not as bad as it seems, however. You can fix the problem of low virtual memory.
Simply put, your computer’s virtual memory is the hard drive space your machine uses when it is running short of random access memory, called RAM. Common programs like Microsoft Office PowerPoint and Microsoft Office Word can be real memory hogs, sometimes using all of your computer’s free RAM.
What can you do about a “virtual memory low” message?
If you get a warning that says your virtual memory minimum is too low or something similar, there are two things you can do to correct the situation.
The simplest solution is to increase the virtual memory size on your hard drive, if space allows. To do that, simply go to your control panel and increase the size in the System section. The exact location varies depending on whether you’re using Windows 7, Windows Vista or another version of the operating system.
A somewhat more complicated solution is to add more RAM to your computer. If you continue to get messages that say things like “your computer is running low on virtual memory” even after you increase the virtual memory size on your hard drive, adding more RAM is your only option. That requires opening the case, but the new RAM simply clips into place.
Here are some general guidelines for how much RAM average systems need:
- Windows 7 requires 2 GB of RAM to work properly.
- Windows Vista requires 1 GB of RAM or more to work well, but some applications, especially gaming software, need twice that much.
- Windows XP can manage with only 512 MB of RAM, but like all systems, it will work better with more.
For a work computer, ask your company’s IT administrator to add more RAM for you. It’s a simple process. For your own computer, buy additional RAM here at Elliott’s Computers and get us to install it for you.
A low virtual memory message isn’t really as terrible as it sounds. It indicates a problem you can easily solve.
Posted in Tech Support
Tagged Computer Repair, Error Message, RAM, Vista, windows 7, XP
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Where to look for Coupons
Coupons have been used for promoting products for years. I have seen the old Good Housekeeping magazines with coupons for $.08 off or $.10 off. That was savings back then, but now we are searching for the higher amounts. If a coupon isn’t helping me to save at least 25% off the product, I’m really not that excited about it. However, if you look at the big picture, ANYTHING off what you pay is savings which can be used to pay for something you really want to splurge on. Movie tickets, shoes, clothes, or just pocket money.
Coupons can not only be found in the Sunday paper, but also online. Many companies are offering free coupons for signing up on their web site which helps them accumulate a great email database to later offer more coupons and advertise new products. My hubby probably doesn’t care for me signing up for everything; you may want to create a special email address so it can be controlled in the future. Be sure to run your spyware and anti-virus programs to make sure your computer is healthy.
I also have found certain web sites which have forums or blogs that let people know when they or their friends see a great deal. I have found these to be extremely helpful in getting the best deals. Most companies only have a certain amount of coupons of cents off or free product. Once that is gone, usually the deal is gone. So, speed does come into play. I don’t live on my computer but I do check certain sites frequently just to see if anything I’m interested in comes up.
The larger newspapers tend to have the most coupons. I am not discouraging anyone for buying their local paper; sometimes they offer local coupons which can result in savings as well. I have seen local newspapers at Walgreens. You can purchase the newspaper with your rewards coupon if you wish. If there are several inserts in the paper, be sure to buy at least two. Normally Smart source is one insert and Red Plum is the other insert. I have bought up to four at a time when the Proctor & Gamble inserts are put in at least quarterly. Stack those coupons with a good deal and you can start buying and stocking up. (There are many couponers who buy eight papers at a time; I have not reached that level of couponing and not sure I want to.)
There are coupons available online at www.coupons.com, www.redplum.com and www.smartsource.com. Print these quickly for there are times they do not last long.
Certain coupons help certain people. I am not interested in diapers and dog food. However, there are many people out there who need help with these products. I suggest forming a coupon club in your area; sharing coupons in an organized fashion and helping others learn how to coupon.
You can start couponing slowly building it up when you have the time. Organization is the key which I will address in the future.
Troubleshooting Common Software Problems in Windows Vista and 7
When Windows 7 or Windows Vista programs won’t run right, there are some things you can do to get them working. Programs that won’t load quickly, don’t function correctly, freeze, won’t show up on your desktop or don’t install properly can all be fixed. Here are some tips on how to troubleshoot Windows software problems.
- Obviously, first make sure the program you have installed is compatible with Windows 7, Windows Vista or whatever version you are running.
- Second, make sure your computer meets the software’s minimum system requirements. You will need to upgrade your equipment to run software that exceeds your system’s capacity. Computers that barely comply with minimum requirements may perform unreliably or slowly when their capacity is being maxed out.
- Some software works better when few other programs are running, so close windows and programs you aren’t using. Try the program in question again after you close everything else.
- Make sure at least 5 to 10 percent of your total hard drive space is free to get the best performance from your Windows 7 or Windows Vista machine. This makes programs run faster and prevents annoying crashes. Use a disk cleanup utility to free some space if you’re running short.
- Visit your software maker’s website for updates and notes about frequent issues. If it’s a Microsoft program, run Windows Update and let it load all patches. Once you’ve installed all available updates for your system, restart the computer before you try your software again.
- Improve your system’s overall performance by deleting or uninstalling any unwanted programs. Windows 7 and Windows Vista work best when they’re not cluttered, so this may improve your software’s performance.
- Check your Startup folder and disable any Windows 7 or Windows Vista programs that load automatically when you start the computer. Once again, restart after making these changes.
- Next, further improve the performance of your machine by running its defragmenting utility to optimize your hard drive.
- If your new software still isn’t working correctly, scan for spyware and viruses. Both Windows 7 and Windows Vista can use Windows Defender, which can help eliminate threats and reduce pop-ups that claim system resources.
When everything else fails, you have two more options.
- After uninstalling the software and rebooting the computer, try loading the program again. Something may have gone wrong the first time.
- Finally, go for help from either Microsoft or the software company’s technical support, but be aware that these services may charge a fee. They may also be able to help you finally solve your problem.
Following these steps should get any piece of software up and running. Software can be finicky, and so can many computer systems. Every problem, however, has a solution.
Lian’s Coupon Post
Thomas asked me to write briefly on my new addiction – couponing. No, I am not an extreme couponer though, he probably thinks I am. I do not have 200 boxes of cereal in the pantry or 700 rolls of toilet paper under the bed; however, I do have twenty bottles of detergent, numerous tooth brushes, tooth pastes, shampoos, and a very nice supply of pain medicine such as Advil and Bayer. I have a stash of pasta, sodas, cheese, cake mixes, canned vegetables and I manage to have a little junk food for the family with a few candy bars, ice cream and snacks.
The main focus of couponing to me is the thought of “Never pay retail”. I used to normally only wait for a sale to purchase most of my groceries. Now, my thought is, buy it when it is at least 50% off, and then stack a coupon against it. There are many lovely grocery stores out there that double, triple, super double and seem to want to do what they can to bring customers through their doors. Locally, Lowes Foods will double your coupons up to $.99 and you can use up to 20. Their coupon guidelines are listed on their web site. Each grocery store, discount store, drug store has their own coupon policies which I recommend printing and taking with you when you see a good sale. Unfortunately, many employees have not been trained in couponing, though I have personally have had wonderful experiences with the majority.
Most grocery stores these days have their weekly ads online. I try to review the ads before going into the store so that I have had time to go over my coupons and pull those I feel match well. Grocery stores tend to cycle every three months or so, so don’t feel like you have one chance to make your deal. It probably will come back around again. I like to review the ads from Lowes, Food Lion, Piggly Wiggly, Harris Teeter and Aldi’s from Rocky Mount. Did you know Wal-Mart will price match from other stores? Their rules are listed on their website.
I hope this might get some people interested in starting to coupon. Next time, I’ll talk on where to find your coupons.
Posted in Coupons
Tagged aldi, coupon, food lion, harris teeter, lian, lowes, piggly wiggley
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PDF reader
Are you getting tired of the constant updates to Adobe Acrobat Reader because of all the security holes? Or maybe you want a small, fast PDF reader that just WORKS!! In walks SumatraPDF from Krzysztof Kowalczyk (not a North Carolina native).
SumatraPDF is described on cnet as “a slim, free, open-source PDF viewer for Windows. Sumatra has a minimalistic design. Simplicity has a higher priority than a lot of features. It’s small and starts up very fast. It’s designed for portable use: it’s just one file with no external dependencies so you can easily run it from external USB drive.”
SumatraPDF has been around since June 1 of 2006 and has grown a large following of users because of it’s speed and simplicity. The last update was this past May and can be downloaded here.
Posted in Software
Tagged cbr, cbz, djvu, PDF reader, Security, sumatra, windows, xps
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Paint.NET and GIMP
Adobe Photoshop is an industry standard for image creation and editing, but for most people, it’s like using a shotgun to kill a fly. The average user wants to do simple edits but can’t afford the hefty $600 price tag for Photoshop, and Microsoft Paint just will not cut it. There are two free applications to edit images that you can download – Paint.NET and GIMP.
Paint.NET
Seth Rosenblatt (Senior Editor for cnet) reviewed Paint.NET on November 9, 2009. He wrote, “If all you want is a quick image retouch, Photoshop is overkill. Paint.NET, on the other hand, is an open-source freeware editor with all the essentials, including tools to crop, rotate, and resize images, adjust colors, and create collages. It supports common image formats–JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, and others–but not high-resolution RAW files. There are enough basic and intermediate effects and features to keep image-tweakers happy, including a red-eye removal tool that has seen dramatic improvements. Unlike most free image editors, Paint.NET supports layers, history, and has an actions manager. The pleasing interface boasts semitransparent windows for ease of use.
Version 3.5 addresses many performance quibbles and offers some interface tweaks for the Aero-theme users, but fans of the “dancing ants” may not like the gray-overlay changes made to the selection tools. The useful tools under Effects on the menu bar have seen many additions since version 3, including surface blurs, dents, and crystalize.
The new version automatically downloads and installs the program’s prerequisites, including the latest Microsoft .Net version and Windows Installer. It will update in the background now, too, so you can continue to use the program until it’s ready to restart. Longtime users should notice that the program starts up about 20 percent faster, according to the publisher. Regardless of minor problems, Paint.NET is far more advanced than Microsoft Paint, and given its free price, it’s a must-have for anyone needing to fix images.”
GIMP
Seth also reviewed GIMP and wrote “The volunteer developers of The GIMP have been working hard to develop a polished, user-friendly, and freely distributed image editor. Although the separated palette windows may disturb those users who are used to more traditional layouts, your comfort level should grow exponentially as you discover how pain-free the program is.
One of the most powerful general-purpose image editors around, the upgrades make the GNU Image Manipulation Program eminently comparable to Photoshop. Older features include channels, layers and masks, filters and effects, tabbed palettes, editable text tools, perspective clone, improved printing, and color operations such as levels. New improvements include GEGL integration for 32-bit color support, dynamic brushes, and more options for the free select tool. It even has regex-based pattern matching for power users.
The application provides professional tools that can stand against the big boys without the hefty price tag. Even the installation process has gotten simpler, with no need to download and install the GTX Runtime Environment separately. Extremely powerful and easy to work with, GIMP is ideal for both amateur and pro photographers, Web designers, or anyone who wants to create and edit professional-quality digital images on a budget.”
Summary
Paint.NET is a nice, tight program for quick edits. Paint.NET will work nicely for most of you, but if you want a few more features give GIMP a try.
Fixing that annoying codex error message
How many times have you tried to play a DVD and an error message comes up that you are missing a codec? What is a codec and where do you find it?
What is a codec?
According to Microsoft’s knowledge base – “A codec is software that is used to compress or
decompress a digital media file, such as a song or video. Windows Media Player and other programs use codecs to play and create digital media files.”
Where do you find a codec?
Well, if you know the name of the codec, you can go to the manufacturer’s website and download it or you can do like I do and just download a codec pack. A codec pack is a group of often used codecs that are not normally included in the DVD players. Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack or Media Player Codec Pack usually fixes the problem.
Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack
Windows Essentials Codec Pack, or WECP for short, is one of the most comprehensive collection of Media Codecs, Filters, Splitters and other tools that will enable you to play 99% of all the movies, music and flash files you download off the internet. WECP also includes a set of powerful filters that can enhance the video quality as well as audio quality and it comes complete with an automatic update service that will keep your computer up-to-date with the latest software upgrades as soon as they become available. WECP is clean and compact, it has no spyware / adware / or viruses, it’s easy to use and even easier to install / uninstall and it’s published under the GNU GPL open source license so it’s 100% free. But more importantly, it was especially designed to fix the many errors and software conflicts caused by other codec packs which routinely install obsolete or overlapping codecs, and it’s guaranteed to keep your to keep your computer up-to-date with the latest software upgrades.
Media Player Codec Pack
The Media Player Codec Pack is a simple to install package of codecs/filters/splitters used for playing back music and movie files. After installation you will be able to play 99.9% of files through your media player, along with XCDs, VCDs, SVCDs, and DVDs. Also included in the package are a number of encoder codec’s, allowing you to encode files in formats such as DivX. XviD, and x264 in your favourite encoding application. Compression types supported include DivX, XviD, x264, h.264 and many more in AVI, MKV, OGM, and MP4 files. Video file types supported include 3GPP, AVI, MKV, OGM, MP4, MPG, MPEG, VOB,
DAT, FLV, PS, TS, and NUV. Audio file types supported include AC3, DTS, AAC, APE, FLAC, TTA, WV, OGG, Vorbis, MO3, IT, XM, S3M, MTM, MOD, and UMX. Please note that protected formats may require a specific player. All versions of Windows Media Player are supported as well as most other players. The package supports 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.
Downloading Codec Packs
Always know what you are downloading and who you are downloading from. Make
sure your security software is up to date and running properly. Cnet’s download site is a trusted source for many programs on the internet and both of the codec packs in this article are available there.
Download Links
Windows Essentials Media Codec Pack
Media Player Codec Pack
Firefox Add-ons
One of the questions that I get asked all the time is “What add-ons do you use in FireFox?”
In today’s online computer environment, security and privacy is a major concern. With all these problems, the competition in the add-on market has ballooned over the last few years with new features and updates coming out every week.
Firefox has a slew of add-ons to choose from in the security and privacy catagory. The ones that I have installed are:
WOT – We all know about the threats which surfers suffer like viruses,
spywares, adware, malicious spam, phishing etc., but here – Web of Trust
comes to rescue. WOT warns you about risky websites that try to scam
surfers before they enter in them using a safety rating of 21 million
websites. WOT combines evidence collected from multiple sources, which not
only helps surfers, but also sets a protection level for children
by blocking inappropriate content.
NoScript – An absolute must have security add-on for your browser. NoScript gives
you the power to specify the sites you trust and only those sites will
be allowed to run active content like Javascript, Java code and other
executable code. The add-on thus protects you from cross-site scripting
attacks and clickjacking attacks.
BetterPrivacy – Now you don’t need to worry from anything like “˜you are being
tracked..!!’ BetterPrivacy is a Super-Cookie Safeguard which protects
from usually undeletable Flash-Cookies. It blocks long term tracking on
Google, YouTube, Ebay to name a few.
Ghostery – It keeps an eye on the websites that are keeping an eye on you i.e.
it finds out that which web sites which are tracking you and would alert
you about the same.
Adblock Plus – This extension can block all kinds of ads and
filters can be set manually to block specific items. The most convenient
solution is to subscribe to filters which will automatically block most
ads. Lists should be selected carefully though, as some may slow down the browser.
However, it’s save to choose from the filters offered per default.
The site I got the descriptions from has a few more suggestions, go to “10+ best firefox security and privacy addons” if you’re interested.