A Transparent Lock for your Windows Computer

This looks like a regular desktop but it’s actually locked. Surprised? Read on..

Before leaving the desk, you can quickly lock your computer using the “Windows logo key + L” shortcut and that will prevent anyone else from using the system in your absence.

However, if you have programs running on your computer that you want others to see while you are away but without giving them access to the system, try Clearlock.

This is tiny Windows utility that will also lock your computer but adds a transparent layer to your desktop screen. That means people can view what happening on the desktop but they can’t use it unless they have a password.

To get started, launch Clearlock (it emits an irritating sound the first time you run it), give a password and your screen /computer gets locked. The password box will also disappear in the next few seconds.

This utility will also come handy if you have placed your computer at a public place (like a kiosk) and its playing some presentation in a loop – the passersby can watch the presentation but won’t be able to mess with the workstation even if you are away for lunch. You can also use it to protect your system from kids at home.

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Source: Digital Inspiration 27JAN11 Post

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Should be useful for running a looped promotional presentation/video at a user group meeting, while everyone coming in, so visitors get an idea of what your group is all about.  I think I will give a try at the next general meeting, while checking members in.

If anyone has used this or similar technology, please let me know how it worked out for you.

 

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LibreOffice 3.3, the open source office suite, now available

LibreOffice -- the Document Foundation's fork of OpenOffice -- has come a long way since the project was first announced in September 2010. Today, the Foundation has announced that its first stable release, LibreOffice 3.3, is ready to download.

Among the many changes you'll find in version 3.3 are the arrival of new import filters and improvements to existing ones -- key features when you're trying to persuade users to migrate from competing suites like Microsoft Office, Works, or WordPerfect. Calc (the LibreOffice spreadsheet app) now boasts better Excel interoperability, SVG images can be opened and modified in Draw, and they can also be imported into Writer.

The Suite's PowerPoint alternative -- Presenter -- now ships with a presentation mode plug-in which makes controlling slideshows from your laptop a breeze. Testers will enjoy the addition of Experimental Mode, which you can toggle if you'd like to play with new features before they've officially been added to LibreOffice. It's a bit like the about:flags page in Google Chrome. LibreOffice 3.3 also sports a long list of interface and usability tweaks -- check out this page at the official site for a complete rundown.

Download LibreOffice 3.3 for Windows, Mac, or Linux

Tags: apps, document foundation, DocumentFoundation, libreoffice, libreoffice 3.3, Libreoffice3.3, linux, mac, office, open source, openoffice, OpenSource, oss, productivity, suite, windows

via downloadsquad.switched.com

I have been waiting for a stable version, so I can try it out instead of OpenOffice.org. Thanks DownloadSquad

Will be trying out soon.

If you have worked with LibreOffice, let me know what you think about it.

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The Ultimate Scientific Calculator. From Microsoft. And It's Free.

Updated 22. January 2011 - 16:48 by r.schifreen

Microsoft used to sell a program called Mathematics, which was aimed at students.  It was a very capable product, able to solve equations, draw graphs, do calculus, and much more.  Ideal for anyone involved with mathematics, science, engineering, physics, and so on.

So why do I say "used to sell"?  Have they stopped producing it?  No.  They've merely stopped selling it, and are now giving it away!  There's even a brand new version, 4,0, which was launched only last week.

You can get it from http://www.microsoft.com/education/products/student/math/default.aspx.  It runs on all versions of Windows from XP onwards, and is available in both 32- and 64-bit flavours.  The installer itself is an 18 MB download, although you'll also need .NET Framework 3.5 SP1, which is another 53 MB if you don't already have it.

If you're a student, or you need to do mathematical calculations in your work, then check out Microsoft Mathematics.  And if you use Word or OneNote a lot, there's even a version which works as an add-on in those programs too.

 

 

via techsupportalert.com

Another good find from gizmo's freeware.

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xkcd: World According to Americans

via xkcd.com

And I always heard Americans are no good at geography!

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RedNotebook: Free Daily Journal Software

via cybernetnews.com

Looks interesting.

I am not much of a journalizer myself, but if I wanted to try it this sounds real good, and the price is right.

Anyone into journaling? If so, try it and let me know what you think.

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Free Licenses of PDFZilla Time-limited Giveaway - Offer Expires February 5, 2011

 

Now users can get free PDFZilla giveaway licenses to convert PDF documents to editable formats.

PDFZilla.com today starts their free Time-limited Giveaway promotion for the powerful PDF converter product - PDFZilla at http://www.pdfzilla.com/giveaway.html

 

The free giveaway will be closed on Feb 5th, 2011. During this time PDFZilla is for free for all users and visitors.

PDF (Portable Document Format) is a file type designed by Adobe System for document exchange and mostly used to represent bi-dimensional docs independent of software, hardware or operating system PDF files can encompass text, fonts, images and even 2D vector graphics. This specific kind of document is used on a large scale, and it stands tall as one of the best-made file types. 

PDFZilla is a much more useful thing to have around than the legendary movie monster. With PDFZilla, users will be able to convert a PDF document into Word with only 3 mouse clicks. The program preserves the original quality of the PDF files and converts both text and images. Users can convert the entire PDF or selected pages only and event convert multiple files in the batch mode, which may come in very handy when working with large book or document archives. In addition to the Word format, PDFZilla can convert PDF files to DOC, RTF, TXT, BMP, JPG, GIF, TIF, HTML and SWF files. Finally, the program has a very simple and nice-looking interface that will take a moment or two to get used to. 

The giveaway is 100% free with no functional limitation. Giveaway promotion page: http://www.pdfzilla.com/giveaway.html

 

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Received this via an email from Linda Gonse of the Orange County PC Users' Group, a fellow Newsletter Editor.

 

Thank you Linda.

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34 Brand New Free Programs

Each year our friends over at the Donation Coder website hold a contest to encourage the development of new free software.  The results of their 2011 contest have just been announced with 34 new programs of which 20 were placed in the top category.

Mostly these programs are small specialist utilities.  They are not exactly life changing but most users will find something here that will interest them.

I tried two that were were relevant to me and they both worked well.   The first was Speed Monitor that allows you to monitor and track the load speed of websites over time. I’m using it right now to monitor the performance of the Gizmos’ Freeware website.  The second was Cautomaton that allows you automate actions that are otherwise hidden away in the context menu of a file. It’s for experienced users only but it did allow me to solve a problem that had otherwise eluded me.

Most of the programs look to be freeware but I haven’t checked all 34 so it is possible that some are licensed as donationware using the fair and equitable Donationcoder system where a single donation to the site gives you access to all the programs on the site.  I made a donation and I hope you do as well as this site does a great job helping freeware and freeware authors.

This list is definitely worth checking out.  Like me you might find a utility that solves a long standing problem.

http://www.donationcoder.com/nany2011/

Gizmo
 

via techsupportalert.com

Always something good from Gizmo. I have not tried any of these myself yet, but I usually find something every year from where he is sending us.

If you find something you think is useful, please let me know about it.

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Geek And Poke: Back From CES

via geekandpoke.typepad.com

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Turn Google Chrome into a Text Editor with Write Space - Linux Magazine Online

previous post

Turn Google Chrome into a Text Editor with Write Space

Jan 07, 2011 7:52pm GMT

Dmitri Popov

The Write Space app for Google Chrome and Chromium can come in rather handy when you need to quickly scribble down a note without leaving the browser.

Once installed, Write Space adds a no-frills text editor to the browser. Despite its simplicity, Write Space has a handful of nifty features. For example, the persistent auto-save function saves the text file on every key press, so you don't have to worry about losing your changes. Write Space also offers live document statistics, such as number of words, line, and characters. You don't need an Internet connection in order to use Write Space, and the app saves text files locally. Write Space also makes a great tool for users practicing the art of distraction-free writing. Press F11 while in the browser to switch the app to the full-screen mode. The app's preferences screen lets you tweak Write Space's settings. Here you can change the default font and font size, adjust line spacing, tweak color scheme, etc. Using the Import button, you can load an existing text file into the app.

The main weakness of the current version of Write Space is the lack of an export feature. You can, of course, export the text manually by copying the text and pasting it into an external text editor, but this workaround doesn't replace a proper export feature. There is no synchronization capabilities either, so Write Space is limited to your desktop -- at least for now.

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Digg

via linux-magazine.com

I use Google Chrome almost all the time as my browser. I have installed this and it is good for something quick, but is still very rudimentary.

Do not have to open a separate text editor though, so it does save some time if I want to work on a comment or something and then just paste it in when I have it right.

Works wherever Google Chrome works, and free.

Worth a try in my opinion.

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CHRISdotTODD: Move Off Screen Window in Windows 7

Move Off Screen Window in Windows 7

Back in Windows XP, I found it easy to recover a window that the Title Bar was off the screen. When this occurred in Windows 7, I was surprised to find the same trick didn't work (right-click the icon in the Task bar, select Move, and use the arrow keys to grab and move the window).

In Windows 7, it's not difficult, just different.

1. Select the program in the Task Bar.
2. Hold the Windows key and press an arrow key.
3. Repeat the arrow key movement as necessary.

The Windows key + arrow key offers other interesting options even with fully visible windows. Try Windows key + right or left arrow to get the window to take 1/2 of the screen. Use Windows key + up or down arrow to maximize or minimize, respectively, the window.

via chrisdottodd.com

I have not had this problem yet. But it is good to know in advance, so I don't go crazy.

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Annoyance: The 1GB Wall | PCMech

If you have a file that’s over 1GB you need to send to someone else via internet, you have to split it first. The easiest way to do this is with 7-Zip:

When creating an archive, you purposely have the file split into 1GB pieces on creation so MegaUpload will accept it. Afterward you have to send each file individually. It’s also required that the recipient has 7-Zip

installed and knows how to put the pieces together (which is easy) and extract the file once received.

Remember, the file split/MegaUpload method is the best (or should I say least worst) way of sending high volumes of data.

via pcmech.com

The whole article explains other options, but the way shown is what they prefer for large files.

I do use 7-zip, but have not tried splitting files with it.

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