Share Some Screenshots

Do you ever want to share a screen shot with someone? Or need to save something as a picture file? Well you can with the Print Screen button on any keyboard.  But what about just a small clip of the screen because you don't want such a large file or picture, or to focus in on one part of the screen without having to open the picture in a photo editor of sorts and crop the picture or draw a highlight box?

Well Gyazo does just that. Install the application, and all you have to do when you need to share a screen shot or clip of a screen shot, is run the application. It then turns your mouse pointer into a cross-hair so you can draw a selection box of what you want to share on your screen and it automatically uploads it to their server, and opens it in your browser.  The picture in the browser gives you some sharing options such as Flikr and Twitter, or Info which gives you a box with the direct URL to paste wherever you need to show or share it.  The convenience of a URL is great and it keeps you from having to upload it somewhere else, like a photobucket type service or your Dropbox public folder to do so.

My favorite part is after you select what you want and it uploads, it closes itself.  The bad thing is if you want to do several clips, you'll have to open it several times, but the fact that it's made to not sit open on your system is awesome.  Another great thing is it's free and is cross-platform and works on both Linux and Mac, See:

I also took this screenshot clip off their website as an example/explanation:

Now you can share screenshots/clips to your hearts desire, like these people share free music.

Edit: 6/6/10: Their servers are currently under maintenance.

Cleaning Out Windows

We all know that time to time Windows gets quite dirty (full of temp files, leftover uninstall files and the like), and this starts to add to used space rather quickly.  Well this is a common computer upkeep issue with several tools to get the job done (not including this robot).

There are some built right into any Windows install (Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup; Disk Defragmenter), but even better there are programs that do all this and more, and do it better!

This is by no means a complete list, but just the tools that I've used that do their job and do it well. First off my goto clean-up tool, CCleaner, available here too at my goto download site Download.com.  CCleaner's most useful job (at least for the point of this post) is of course its Cleaner function, which cleans out temporary files, the recycle bin browsing history on most browsers, cookies, and a several other options which you can turn on or off with check boxes.  If your curious about the amount of unnecessary used space, you can start with the Analyze button and it will tell you the total amount of files to be removed, before you officially run the cleaner and delete the files. 

CCleaner also comes with a Registry cleaner, which I suggest using time to time as it will help increase the efficiency of your computer.  DON'T FORGET to make a back up of your registry first, which it asks you to do automatically, just in case something is removed that shouldn't be.  But I've been using CCleaner for a couple of years and am yet to have an issue with its registry cleaner. It also comes with a basic uninstaller for most all programs installed, but one thing to note for non-nerds is the Startup tool under the Tools Tab. You can easily and comprehensibly disable programs from automatically starting up and running in the background in order to save system resources allowing your PC to run smoother and more quickly after each restart. Programs such as QuickTime don't need to automatically start, or any other software that you don't use every time you're on the computer. Just use some discretion and common sense there.

Another noteworthy options is Disk Cleaner, an open source program that simply clears out those temporary files that most programs accumulate. And one last program on this topic that I'll mention is Advanced SystemCare's free version, giving similar options to CCleaner. Or if you're pretty excited about this cleaning and system speed increasing, and just have money to through around, get the $20 version for a whole heap of options and system care goodies.

Now that you have your temporary files all nice and cleared off... have fun fillin'em back up!

Think Ahead. Free your mind...

So I for one am not one not the best at planning. In fact I dislike making goals because it’s like I have to do that thing (probably a character flaw). But I’ve been working on trying to be more productive and intentional with my time.

Luckily there are programs that can help even me with my lack of motivation to be productive. Mind mapping is one such concept that has been effectively developed into many new programs and web apps, which is great for me since I'm on my computer a lot and I'm quite visual.  There are several options to get the job done, but my program of choice is Free Mind, a fully functional open-source incarnation, which is well done and easy to use. To get a good overview of what you can do with the program there is a demo video provided, as well as screen shots of it. Somewhat boring, but how exciting can showing a program really be?

I highly suggest downloading Free Mind and giving it a shot. Part of the beauty of most all open-source software is that it's cross platform compatible, and this one is no exception, so there's no one is limited from becoming more productive. 

A couple of quick suggestions to using Free Mind, is setting up a specific folder to save your .mm files to, and for PC users go into the settings and and change the 'add child' command key to 'Tab' instead of Insert (Tools > Preferences > Keystrokes > New Node Commands).

There are other options for mind mapping, some more limited than others, which is why I prefer Free Mind, the only limitation is it is not web based. Some options for web based mind mapping are Mind Meister, which the free version is quite limited allowing only 3 maps, but the paid versions also can use an iPhone app.  There is a free web based one, that gets the job done, but without many frills, called Think. Or you can pay about $350 for the professional corporate program MindManager (yeah right, stick to Free Mind). 

If you haven't figured it out by the title of my blog and my two posts... I'm all about free programs making computing better (freeware, shareware, open-source). 

Speaking of free... how about some free fun? Then go be productive.  But I can only show you the door. You're the one that has to walk through it.

First things first: A you protected?

I thought I'd start off fun and post some games, but how is that helpful? That is the point of this blog, and I for one am not one to stray off topic. So as I sit here enjoying Chips Ahoy! and milk, which I love. I prefer those little chocolate doughnuts (that's the right way to spell it according to my college journalism editing professor, but I secretly think 'donuts' is way more fun to type and look at).

But I digress...

Protection. For this post I'll start with the basics: Anti-Virus.
There are a gross amount of possible "solutions" out there, but I'm wanting to make sure you actually fulfill this need the best way possible, without creating other issues. Now in my humble opinion, I want computing solutions to be easy, logical and affordable (my preference on the definition of that last word is 'free' (and legal)). So to share this information I'll start with my preferences, and then give others, and why they are not preferred.

For those of you looking for the nuggets of info (and trust my judgement already): here's the breakdown in list form:

1. Avast! My preferred antivirus.
2. Microsoft Security Essentials trusted 2nd. 

Avoid:

1. AVG
2. Avira
3. Norton
4. McAfee

Now you skimmers, head to the bottom (feel free to read though). Now the reasoning for my list:

Avast! has been my trusted anti-virus program of choice for about three years now. The reason I first turned to it, is it has a great free home version, but free is hardly the only reason to go with something (especially if the word has an * with it, and even worse if it is on an ad).

But the reason why I have stuck with Avast! is because it runs light on the system, and it does its job, and nothing else unlike other antivirus programs. Another great reason is it updates virus definitions at least once a day, which is what keeps it current on what threats are out there... so it can do its job! The few times I have run across a virus from a questionable file or something, it snatches it up and quarantines it almost instantaneously.

As proof of its greatness, it has been slowly climbing the most popular download charts on download.com and currently sits in #2.

The only con I can say is by default, when it updates the definitions it tells you, literally: "Your virus database has been updated.," everyday... You can of course change this option. I did such in the Windows Control Panel. (Control Panel > Sound > Sounds tab. Then scroll down to Avast in the list and change the sound. Or go to the settings of the program itself and disable the sound by unchecking box for update sounds).

Microsoft Security Essentials is relatively new to the scene, but has been getting great reviews.  I personally have not yet tested it (I could use some more test computers for such things, which I also would loan out or give to someone lacking a computer. Anyone feeling generous?). My brother, Josh, however has begun to use it on all his PC's. He is the professional nerd in the family, as a Security Analyst for a hospital IT department, and a contract nerd on the side (I too was a nerd for hire, especially in college, but I was usually paid in donuts. Seriously).

What Josh has experienced echo's the reviews it MSE has been getting since its release. It as well is designed to work in the background of your computers processes, not bogging down the system, and doing its job and nothing more.  It also has frequent automatic updates and one extra thing is it doubles as malware protection (more on that later).

Now, antivirus programs to avoid: AVG it itself infects the computer, bogging it down and just plain sucking. Avira, its newer versions freeze up a lot and it struggles to automatically update. It as well is on the slow end. Norton, yeah it is pretty good, but can also overtake your computer like AVG and you have to pay $40 a year. Ridiculous for virtually the same protection as any number of free anti-virus'. McAfee is probably on of my least favorite bloatware "anti-virus'" wanting your money. Just recently their corporate version of the program embarrassed itself. And again.. $40?!?

If you have any of these, I implore you, uninstall them and get something that does its job.. for free. There is no reason to have to pay for anti-virus, and if you feel "safer" doing such... get off of Limewire! Then you won't feel such a ever-present threat.

And now for something completely different.