Personal Technology Tips in Plain English
Media Files
How To Transfer Big Files To Co-workers, Friends, Family Via Email
May 15th
These days, sending big files to other people via email (or even yourself!) is becoming more and more common.
Any video file, or those huge 12-15 megapixel photos of the kids’ soccer game, etc sometimes exceed the email attachment limits of your email provider.
Most of the popular web-mail email services like Gmail, Yahoo!Mail, and AOL all have file size limits of 25 MB or so for attachments. This means that you may have to send multiple emails, each with the various files you want to send, or you may even be prevented from sending the file at all if it is a large file. Video files typically encounter problems when trying to send through email.
So what can you do besides invoking snail mail? or waiting to hand over a CD or DVD the next time you see the other person?
There are free services online that let you upload files, and then simply send a download link that are live for a limited period of time – many times just a week or less, giving the recipient enough time to retrieve the file before the file become unavailable. Although there are services which let you transfer files via peer-to-peer, so that you don’t have to upload and leave your file in the hands of someone else, most people will want to use web-based services which temporarily hold onto your file until the recipient grabs it at their own convenience.
One of the services I’ve recently been using has an upper limit of 1 GB of file size, deletes the file after 5 days, allows up to 20 downloads of the file and is free. . . Read the rest of this entry »
How To Download YouTube Videos
Mar 6th
Sometimes you need a video clip that’s available online for offline use – like using it as an example for a class or workshop.
Other times, you may want to be able to play it offline for your own review at a later time when it’s more convenient for you, or when you know you won’ t have internet access (like on a plane).
There’s definitely a bunch of sites available now that let you download videos from YouTube and other video sharing sites out there.
Usually all you have to do is copy/paste the video page URL from Youtube, MetaCafe or other video site into the form on the video download site and you’re all set to go.
But once in awhile, your favorite Youtube video grabber site can’t download the video file. That’s when you have to go looking for other options.
Other than Kisstube and Vixy, I found another favorite that seems to work for me . . .
SaveVid.com works just the same. This site does give a couple of download options including flv format, mp4 as well as HD video which YouTube presents sometimes.
SaveVid.com also shares some of the videos that others have used the site to download so you can get a sense of what people are watching and downloading.
Do you have any other favorite sites to download videos from online video platforms? Please add them in the comments below.
All Things Digital on Your iPhone
Jul 22nd
Walt Mossberg is one of the writers that I try to read first when I pick-up the Wall Street Journal.
His reviews and columns on tech are informative, easy to understand and usually about very practical things relevant to today.
Mossberg runs a WSJ conference called “All Things D” (D for digital!) which brings in the heavyweights (Gates!) and other speakers that talk about all the latest goodies in tech.
The AllThingsD.com website has become a hub for Mossberg/WSJ’s tech stuff. A great place to land when you want to enjoy some practical tech / tip content.
Now, you can take it with you on the go with a new iPhone app that can be used on the Apple iPhone or the Apple iPod Touch.
They built it right, allowing you to tap the social media sites in the ways that you should be able to. For example, you can post links direction from the app to Twitter. Facebook can be peppered with articles and reviews that you find on AllThingsD.com
Features:
•Daily columns, blogs and video
•Product reviews and analysis
•Breaking Silicon Valley news
•Galleries of D conference videos and photos
Tools:
•Post links directly to Twitter
•Share on Facebook
•Email blogs and video links
Content:
•Walt Mossberg’s Personal Technology, Mossberg’s Mailbox and Mossblog
•Kara Swisher’s BoomTown
•John Paczkowski’s Digital Daily
•Peter Kafka’s MediaMemo
•Katherine Boehret’s Mossberg Solution
•Voices links to compelling stories from around the Web
How to Load mp3 Music Onto Your Apple iPod Touch or iPod Nano
Jul 22nd
It’s easy as pie to go to the iTunes store on your iPod Nano or iPod Touch and download music directly onto your device.
But a lot of your music might be on your computer, and you want to load your iPod with the mp3 music you already have.
One you learn how to do this, you’ll have the freedom to take any music you have in the house or on your computer with you on the go on your iPod Touch or any other iPod device.
The Apple iPhone has a very similar process to load mp3 music onto the mp3 player device part of the phone.
Downloading music onto your iPod is a simple process if you’ve seen it before. Here’s a video that walks you through the whole process:
How To Send A Fax Via Internet For Free
Jun 25th
There’s tons of free incoming e-fax services out there.
Personally, I have been using k7.net unified messaging lately which gives me free inbound faxes and voicemail.
However when you want to SEND A FAX, that’s a completely different story. This is where the online faxing companies make their money.
TrustFax.com, efax.com, faxaway.com all charge different rates for outbound faxing capabilities – per page, per minute of transmission, monthly fees, etc.
S
ince I don’t send faxes often, the two services I use are www.faxzero.com and now www.myfax.com — as you guessed, both are free faxing services.
But one of these two internet faxing services is the clear winner. Here’s why: Read the rest of this entry »
How To Gain Podcast Powers – Part 1
Jun 2nd
Have you ever listened to a podcast on your second generation iPod Touch or iPhone 3G?
You’re not alone!
But have you ever tried to record one on your Touch or iPhone? Probably not, right?
Everyone seems to have a blog and now a podcast of their own. And you can too. I recently had a chance to catch-up with fellow blogger and podcaster Graham Scharf in New York City to tap his experiences in searching high and low for the perfect mic for the job.
In this series of posts, Graham will go over key fundamental things you need to know about getting the hardware ready for your podcast-with-personality:
Until now your recording option was the built-in mic in the iPhone, or an external headset or lapel mic from Apple or a third-party vendor.
As a podcaster, I was shocked that there wasn’t a good way to capture high quality audio on top-of-the-line devices like the iPod Touch or iPhone 3G. (There are great recording options for the classic Ipod, but nothing for the Touch and iPhone.)
I was particularly frustrated that to record a face-to-face interview for a podcast, the app store had plenty of good options, but there wasn’t a good external mic to use with the apps.
Well, I wasn’t the only one who noticed the need. . . Read the rest of this entry »
Sewing PDF Documents Together
Jan 4th
Whether you are a guy or a gal, old or young, one of life’s most useful skills to learning to sew a button.
If you know how to use a needle and thread life becomes just a little bit easier here and there.
The some thing holds for e-life. Knowing how to splice and dice PDF documents is a handy trick to know about and keep in your toolbox until those times when you really need it.
Here’s how I solve the urge to merge PDF documents with a free service that’s easy to learn and use online. Read the rest of this entry »
I love tech, gadgets and the web. Hope you pick-up a useful tip or two here today that helps you use technology to your advantage! Better yet, why not share your own expertise in a comment on a post today to help the other readers that land here for answers!