Computer and Web Articles

The odds you’ll forget your camera at the next outing are much higher than the odds you’ll forget to bring your phone. (And yes, I’m making those odds up myself, but I’d wager they’re pretty accurate.) And while being able to take photos with your phone is a fantastic convenience, the quality of these photos often falls short.

Though the photos camera phones snap are typically not as high quality as those taken by the majority of digital cameras, photography novices can take decent camera phone shots with just a small bit of extra effort.  If you often find yourself wishing your phone’s photos came out nicer, here are a few ways to get more out of your camera phone’s abilities:

Light
Camera phones often have a hard time taking clear photos when light levels are low. You can often improve the quality of your camera phone’s photos if you simply turn your back to the available light source and ensure as much light as possible hits your subject, whatever your subject may be (a friend, a tree, a beautiful old house, etc.).

Resolution
Most phones that feature cameras have a setting that allows you adjust the resolution of your photos. This feature is often set to the lowest resolution by default (lower-quality photos save to your phone more quickly). Switch this setting to high resolution and your photos will be larger with more detail. (Note: High resolution photos will take up *much* more space on your phone and take longer to email and download than low resolution photos.)

Exposure
Increasing your camera’s exposure setting allows more light into your camera phone’s lens, making up for the low light that often accounts for poor photos. If your camera phone’s photos are recurrently coming out darker than you’d like, set the exposure higher for a brighter photo.

For more tips on taking better photos with your camera phone, check out the complete LifeHacker article here: http://tinyurl.com/4235s7h.

Watch modern-day elementary school children try to make sense of the objects placed before them. Objects like record players, Atari video game cartridges, and rotary phones. How can you not love the boy who guesses that a floppy disk is some sort of camera? Or the girl who comments that the Nintendo Gameboy looks like a tazer.

If you remember much from the 80s or 90s, this video will not only remind you how quickly technology is evolving, it also may make you feel…old. (I was pleasantly surprised, though, that there was one item, shown at 1:39 in the video, that I wasn’t familiar with! I felt momentarily puzzled but a quick Google search told me the item was an 8-track.)

View the video here: http://tinyurl.com/4swrlae (This three and a half minute video is in French but contains easy to read subtitles.)

1. http://mugtug.com/sketchpad/ - Perfect for all the closet graphic designers out there, Mugtug’s “Sketchpad” is a free drawing and illustration program you can begin using the moment the page loads. No registration, no sign-in, no membership. Just visit the page and start drawing, painting, making shapes, and playing around with colors to your heart’s content.
2. http://sitescanga.com – Sites get updated. They change and grow over time. Files get moved around. And all the while it’s important that Google Analytics continues to accurately track your site’s usage. SiteScan is a simple diagnostic tool that scans your website and lets you know if Google Analytics tracking code is properly installed on all your pages (free up to 100 pages).
3. http://tinyurl.com/38yzmcu - A clean, beautifully designed desk accessory that minimizes clutter and provides additional USB ports for my computer? Sounds hot. Tell me more…
4. http://tinyurl.com/4zo4vgv - A short, sweet, and totally free PDF download reviewing “Common Rookie Mistakes” made by businesses dipping their toes into the world of email marketing/email newsletters. Examples of mistakes reviewed include: a) purchasing email lists, b) assuming people remember who you are, and c) assuming people want to hear from you in the first place.
5. http://tinyurl.com/ygd6psn - The complete guide to video blogging, courtesy of Mashable.com.

Clickfree Wireless Automatic Backup offers a 500GB, complete backup solution for your home or small office for less than $200. And yes, it really is completely wireless.

There’s nothing to plug in to your computer, there’s no software to setup or install, the unit comes with a 3 year warranty, and the solution is 100% compatible with both PCs and Macs—in fact, you can back up both PCs and Macs to the same unit.

Oh, and if 500GB isn’t enough, their 1TB option might be a better fit for you. Visit http://clickfree.com/products_c3.php to learn more.

Dear iPhone, iPad, and iPod Touch users: have you heard of the 1Password Pro app?  Priced at $14.99, 1PasswordPro looks to be worth far more than its weight in gold.

It can save you oodles of time (and prevent many a headache) by enabling you to log in to password-protected websites with nothing more than a single tap.

Can’t remember your username? Forgot your password again? Doesn’t matter. 1PasswordPro has got you covered.

Learn more here: http://tinyurl.com/yeubl78. (Special thanks to “long time fan and loyal reader” Jeff Cospolich of Breckenridge for the tip!)

This tiny (think iPod nano size) tech gadget clips to your belt or sits in your pocket as you go about your day (and night). Without any effort or attention from you, it quietly tracks how many steps you’re taking, how many calories you’re burning, and even how much quality sleep you’re getting. In sum, FitBit is a little tool that lets people gain a “general sense of their day and get motivation from improvements in their general day to day trends.”

The FitBit company just wrapped up its first round of pre-ordering in August and is currently going through beta testing and product tweaking. But if you’re intrigued by this tiny little piece of technology after you take a peek at its website (www.FitBit.com), you can submit your email address to receive notification when the next round of sales starts up.

I recently came across the Lapdawg website (www.lapdawg.com) and (though I do not own any of the Lapdawg products myself) thought I might share it with you.

The Lapdawg is a laptop stand that allows you to “turn your laptop into its own workspace”. The stand transforms into various configurations, including a TV tray position, book holder position, bed tray position, breakfast tray position, and lap desk position.

Visit the site, check out the gallery, and review the tech specs. The Lapdawg retails for $89 (shipping not included) and, if you do decide to purchase one, drop me an email and let me know how it works out.

The Wi-Ex ZBoost 510 helps people looking to increase their cell phones’ signal strength by a bar or two.

The little gadget extends cellular coverage for single or multiple users in homes and offices – and can provide up to 2,500 square feet of coverage. As a bonus, the ZBoost also extends your phone battery’s life by allowing it to use less power when the signal is stronger.

You can learn more about the ZBoost (and purchase it, if interested) right here.

I’ve watched computer mice come an incredibly long way in the past 20 years, and have been particularly excited by recent experimentation and improvements made in the realm of mouse ergonomics. I sat down to research a new mouse for my primary work computer a week or so ago and found that the more research I did, the more variations of interesting mice I discovered. With all the mixed expert opinions, reviews, and research/study results, I’ve yet to reach a final decision on a new mouse, but I thought you might be interested in seeing some of the unique models I came across!

• AirO2bic Quill Mouse – A 3 lb. mouse that is apparently the only computer mouse to date that’s been recognized by the Arthritis Foundation.
• Warm Mouse – A naturally antibacterial, PC- and Mac-compatible mouse that keeps your hand and fingers toasty on cold days by providing up to 104 degrees of infrared heat.
• Wow-Pen Vertical Mouse – Developed to help eliminate carpal tunnel syndrome, this compact vertical mouse’s design even allows for handwriting input.
• Ortho Mouse - Developed by a medical doctor to help prevent RSIs, this mouse was nominated for the Ergo Cup Award by the Industrial Engineers Institute of the U.S.
• Zero Tension Mouse – The creators of this odd looking mouse claim their product allows all the muscles of the hand, arm, and shoulder to effectively relax during use.