Software & Tools OLD Blog http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com Most recent posts at Software & Tools OLD Blog posterous.com Tue, 06 Feb 2007 19:36:09 -0800 Get Windows Mobile Device Center 6 for Windows Vista http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/get-windows-mobile-device-center-6-for-window http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/get-windows-mobile-device-center-6-for-window Mike Hall links me to new Windows Mobile Center 6 (Active Sync.) for Windows Vista. Hmmn, I was using a beta version, will get onto to this shortly. Beta product look promising.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Wed, 20 Dec 2006 15:34:15 -0800 Now Hyperlinking to pirated software can put you in jail http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/now-hyperlinking-to-pirated-software-can-put http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/now-hyperlinking-to-pirated-software-can-put Now linking to stuff that leads to material that infringes copyright regulation can put you behind bars and can get you convicted. Sydney Morning Herald has more news on it.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Tue, 19 Dec 2006 13:44:52 -0800 Using PDA or Smartphone as a handy webcam http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/using-pda-or-smartphone-as-a-handy-webcam-0 http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/using-pda-or-smartphone-as-a-handy-webcam-0 Over thought of using your PDA or Smartphone camera as a webcam? You can do this now. On the Software Blog I just read that using Ateksoft WebcameraPlus we can make our PDA webcamera. Cool addition, I must give this software a try.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Tue, 19 Dec 2006 13:44:52 -0800 Using PDA or Smartphone as a handy webcam http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/using-pda-or-smartphone-as-a-handy-webcam http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/using-pda-or-smartphone-as-a-handy-webcam Over thought of using your PDA or Smartphone camera as a webcam? You can do this now. On the Software Blog I just read that using Ateksoft WebcameraPlus we can make our PDA webcamera. Cool addition, I must give this software a try.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Thu, 16 Nov 2006 14:42:58 -0800 IE 7 Will turn green on safer sites http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/ie-7-will-turn-green-on-safer-sites http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/ie-7-will-turn-green-on-safer-sites IntelliAdmin posts the news that in from January 2007 IE 7 will have the capabilities where if a site has a EV SSL Certificate, then the IE 7 Address bar will show up light green background. More info on IntelliAdmin site.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Wed, 30 Aug 2006 12:59:54 -0700 Public Beta opens up for Windows Live QnA http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/public-beta-opens-up-for-windows-live-qna http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/public-beta-opens-up-for-windows-live-qna Windows Live team has opened up Windows Live QnA for public beta.
Media_httpwwwsoftware_tqugd
Windows Live QnA blog has more details on it. Anybody having Windows Live ID can ask questions on it. One has the ability to ask questions and tag the questions as well. One can ask questions and the question will be open for 4 days by when others are expected to respond to those questions. Then people can vote for the best answer. There is a point system in place where answerer would get points to answer the questions. There are points, levels and reputation. People are expected to live by a code of conduct while on the site. The more people follow these sites the more fun it can be, otherwise subject specialised forums is a good idea in my mind.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Wed, 30 Aug 2006 11:08:48 -0700 Windows Vista Prices http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/windows-vista-prices http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/windows-vista-prices
Media_httpwwwsoftware_agkgo
Amazon has published prices for upcoming Windows Vista which will be released in late January, 2007. ArsTechnica has details on it. I know I will be going for Windows Vista Ultimate, but their upgrade prices are a bit unfair compared to the rest of them.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Tue, 29 Aug 2006 16:19:02 -0700 What's up with Riya.com http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/whats-up-with-riyacom http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/whats-up-with-riyacom Something is not quite right at Riya. I have been trying to access the site since last two days and it has been ON and Off. I can still access their blog but not their site. Even the Riya photo uploading tool is giving me errors saying that there is a problem with Internet connection but there is none. As I write this, I still cannot access Riya site. Guys, bring it back on, I need to share my pictures with the world or atleast put a post on your blog about the problem. Guys behind Riya must be doing something really important to have this downtime on the service.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Fri, 25 Aug 2006 07:52:29 -0700 IE 7 RC1 released http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/ie-7-rc1-released-0 http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/ie-7-rc1-released-0 Great news! IE 7 is nearly there. Microsoft has released IE 7 RC1. I can't test it now as I am at Tech.Ed but will update and test it out soon as I head back home :). What do you think?

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Sat, 12 Aug 2006 09:38:30 -0700 Gmail adds new links on the top http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/gmail-adds-new-links-on-the-top http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/gmail-adds-new-links-on-the-top Believe it or not, I was talking to myself yesterday that Gmail should have a link to Google Spreadheets so it is easily for me to jump to my spreadsheets. And woolllah, the links are there today.
Media_httpwwwsoftware_kbdev
They have added links to Photos, Spreadsheets and all their other services. It is a good start. Next in line I would need a feature where the spreadsheets and my documents (that I might create using Writely) are searchable using search from Gmail. It would also be awesome if we can open Spreadsheets and Documents directly into Gmail too.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Thu, 10 Aug 2006 13:12:04 -0700 Map your time with SlimTimer http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/map-your-time-with-slimtimer http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/map-your-time-with-slimtimer
Media_httpwwwsoftware_lbpzo
Yep, one more Web 2.0 apps which allows you to map the time you spend on different projects/tasks. SlimTimer is an online service which allows us to track the time we spend on different projects and tasks. SlimTimer which is a free service allows us to share a project/task with others (they can be co-workers, managers) and allows them to tag and comment on the tasks. To start tracking your time, you can just click on the bookmarklet and click on the task you want to track or use the other desktop based option. SlimTimer also allows us to run reports by users, tasks and dates. I would love to see a reporting functionality where we can even run reports by tags ( I see a feature but it didn't work for me). One can either download this report as a .csv file or print the report.
Media_httpwwwsoftware_xdfmv
So why would one use SlimTimer? I can think of the following reasons: - 1. To track the time one uses on different projects 2. To check how productive they are 3. To check the ratio of work done/time spent 4. For invoicing purposes 5. To collectively check as a group as to how much time one project/task took 6. I am sure more reasons can be added here .. Overall, I like this tool especially when we there are so many distractions surrounding us these days. This tool will not only track our time but might also help us to focus on the current task that we are working on. I am going to give it one week acid test and see if I am still using it by the end of one week from today.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Mon, 31 Jul 2006 16:10:30 -0700 Google Gtalk gets new updates http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/google-gtalk-gets-new-updates-0 http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/google-gtalk-gets-new-updates-0 Just a quick link about Google Gtalk getting few new features. I for one appreciate the feature of sending a voicemail.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Mon, 31 Jul 2006 16:10:30 -0700 Google Gtalk gets new updates http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/google-gtalk-gets-new-updates http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/google-gtalk-gets-new-updates Just a quick link about Google Gtalk getting few new features. I for one appreciate the feature of sending a voicemail.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Thu, 27 Jul 2006 13:57:51 -0700 Make unlimited international calls for $1/week with Rebtel http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/make-unlimited-international-calls-for-1week http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/make-unlimited-international-calls-for-1week Techcrunch links me to Rebtel.
Media_httpwwwsoftware_oaqqi
Wow, what an idea. Brilliant! I remember some company doing something similar for voicemail some years ago and I even gave it a try. Rebtel is a company that allows you to make international calls for the price of peanuts or even cheaper then that! Now you can be in constant touch with you friends, relative, business associates, employers etc. for a price of a local call and $1 USD/week. If you make a lot of international calls at a specific number, then here are the steps:- 1) Sign up for Rebtel 2) Charge your account for as low as $5 3) Create local numbers. What this means is for a given international phone no. that you want to call you will be given a local phone number which you use to make a call. This seems like a phone no. mapping system 4) Now to start making international calls, just dial out the local phone number and you will be connected within seconds. This is when their two separate products called "REBout" and "REBin" comes into play. Check Rebtel's manual for more details. If you friend lives in a country where Rebtel services are available, then your phone calls becomes really cheap but if it is not in a country where Rebtel offers its services yet, then it is a normal international call but much more cheaper then the standard international rates and in some cases even cheaper then what Skype and Yahoo has to offer. In the countries where Rebtel is offered, this service might just change the way people make international phone calls. As for the quality of service, I tried making calls to India (where Rebtel services are not offered) and it wasn't bad. I tried calling using my mobile. Rebtel guys, you got to get services running in India!! I can tel you there is a huge market there :). As mentioned on Rebtel website, the service might sound a bit confusing initially,but it is not once you get started using the service. You don't have the have access to Rebtel website all the time, you can create local numbers for international phone numbers as you go through your mobile as well. I have few concerns which I will investigate as I trial out more of this service, but hopefully somebody will have the same concerns as might blog about it before I do ;). So if you are spending a lot of money on international phone calls like I do, give it a try, highly recommended. On the side note, it might have been a good idea to get people to register on the Rebtel website and let them have a single international phone number where they could try out this service for may be one or two days for free! But none the less, users can always register and if they are not happy with the service within first 30 days, they will get a refund back upto $10 USD. If for any reason you simply wish to terminate your Rebtel account, just enter your passcode below. We will refund your initial charge up to $10 USD if you cancel within 30 days from your registration for the service. EDIT:- ah, in rush I missed the calculations. The international call rates for India and other countries are not cheaper than what Skype is offering (This matters if you are using REBout). In fact it is expensive and then you got to factor the charge for the local call as well.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Wed, 26 Jul 2006 21:32:56 -0700 Don't fall for the fake security email from Microsoft http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/dont-fall-for-the-fake-security-email-from-mi-0 http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/dont-fall-for-the-fake-security-email-from-mi-0 F-Secure reports that users have been getting email disguised as coming from Microsoft and asking them to install the software which in turn install an IRC back door, so be careful out there!

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Wed, 26 Jul 2006 12:47:08 -0700 HubPages starts their beta testing http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/hubpages-starts-their-beta-testing http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/hubpages-starts-their-beta-testing When I checked in this morning, I saw an email from Paul Edmondson, founder of HubPages. The email said that HubPages is open to closed beta testing. I rushed in a created my account and my first HUB (this is what they call it for individual pages, like Squidoo calls them Lenses). Below is a picture of my first HubPage.
Media_httpwwwsoftware_xlzeg
I will play with it more before I put down my site review and I am sure Paul and team are working on to make it more better then it is as we speak. If somebody is seriously interested in trying this service out, put a comment here with your email address and I will forward you the invitation that I have.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Wed, 26 Jul 2006 12:34:46 -0700 Take screenshots with WinSnap http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/take-screenshots-with-winsnap http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/take-screenshots-with-winsnap Jake Ludington's links me to WinSnap- a free utility for taking screenshots and image capturing. WinSnap is free for personal and educational use. It supports caputre mode of Full Screen,Application, Window, Client Area, Popup-Menu and Region. As Jake mentions, it will be a great idea to have some sort of editing functionality into the software so we then don't have to rely on other editing software. The one feature that I will like to see is editing of sizes on a individual image basis. But a good alternative as a free tool to SnagIT which is not free and one of my favorite tools for image capturing.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Tue, 25 Jul 2006 13:40:46 -0700 Super cool Helio display http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/super-cool-helio-display http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/super-cool-helio-display My dream of getting a computer like in the "Minority Reports" came closer when I looked at this video of Helio, air video screen.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Tue, 25 Jul 2006 10:38:45 -0700 Diigo makes a public launch http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/diigo-makes-a-public-launch http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/diigo-makes-a-public-launch Social bookmarking and annotation site Diigo goes Public today (24th July, 2006). I have used it for a long time now and here are links to my previous thoughts on Diigo. The best features for me are annotation, sticky notes and 'highlight and forward' feature. You can either make your bookmarks public or have them private or a combination of both. Unless, more then 100000 members sign up for Diigo, it won't be a cool social bookmarking site, but for the number of tools that Diigo Toolbar and Diigo site offers, it might be worth checking out if you are into bookmarking, taking notes and making a lot of annotations. Talking of annotations, with Diigo you will be able to make a lot of annotations on the same page, compared to bookmarking sites like Del.icio.us where one can only annotate one single line/paragraph for a given URL. By the sounds of it, Diigo developer seems to be a small team, but they have created a good feature rich site. I also like the new feature of blogging directly using either Diigo toolbar or Diigo website. Give it a try, as from within the toolbar you will still be able to bookmark to your favorite sites along with bookmarking on Diigo.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel
Wed, 19 Jul 2006 19:58:44 -0700 Beaware of harmful ork0t.com http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/beaware-of-harmful-ork0tcom http://softwareandtoolsblog.posterous.com/beaware-of-harmful-ork0tcom Chirag, a friend of mine email me the following on 11th June and I thought I should let my readers know about this just in case. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Be careful... Open this site and check how beautifully they have replicated the orkut home page. But DO NOT GIVE YOUR username and password. This is a "carbon-copy" of orkut which is used by hackers to hack orkut accounts. Please make sure that you are not giving away your orkut username info to some hacker by logging on such a phishing attempt. http:// ork0t.com/ (intentionally separated) The above is fake site which can be used to hack orkut accounts. It will store your passwords. +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ I see Amit Agrawal has pointed out about this site too. Scary thing is this fake site even picks up the username and password that my browser normally remembers for my Orkut account. Be Careful out there, this is where IE 7's phishing tool can help out.

Permalink

]]>
http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/90555/Tejas_Online_Pic.jpg http://posterous.com/users/eK20ugkJlD Tejas Patel Tejas Patel Tejas Patel