Useful Internet Based Tools

Custom Error Messages & Dialog Boxes @ http://faded.havocaos.com/error/default.aspx

• This site allows you to create custom error messages and dialog boxes for your website, blogs or just for fun. You can use the generator to create messages with custom text and icons for all Windows operating systems, Linux, & Mac.

Free Dealer Locator @ http://www.zipwise.com/weblocator/

• This site will do all the cumbersome programming for your website if you would like to implement a dealer locator feature. It is very easy to use. Just upload your dealer data and the site will generate a code for you to paste on your site.

Voice To Text Notes @ http://www.jott.com/

• Set up an accout with jott.com and you call a telephone number when you are on the run and need to remember something. The service turns your voice message into text and sends you an email.

EXTENSIVE Person Search/Finder @ http://pipl.com/

• This online search engine allows you to search for people, telephone numbers, and email accounts all from one page. It will find stuff you never knew existed! Just type your name in and click search. I never knew there was so much information about me on the web! If you are looking for someone chances are you will find something about them here.

Test Your Internet Connection @ http://www.speedtest.net/

• Test your broadband Internet connection with cool graphics and numbers.

Sea Gate's Replica Drive

This will be my last post. I would like to thank everyone in this class for the informative updates throughout the semester. I have learned a great deal about new technologies.

One of the most important tasks any PC owner should perform is the regular act of backing up their files. Backing up our computers will save our data in the case of a hard drive failure or other technological glitch. Believe me, these "glitches" WILL eventually happen as I know from experience. The sad truth is that the majority of us, and I do mean the VAST majority, do not back up our data. After losing around 2,000 digital pictures and tons of other important data back in 2001 thanks to a hard drive crash, I still do not take the time to perform backups on my computers. Of course, if I worked in a profession where I maintained computers I would perform the backups, probably because it was not my data. But, for the most part, we personal PC owners do not protect our data. Why are we so stubborn?

One issue is the amount of time that performing a backup consumes. I believe another reason is that most of us do not believe anything will ever happen to our PC's. We are too reliable on them. A final reason that most of us do not perform backups is that we are just plain lazy.

Well, we may no longer have to worry about backing up our machines as Sea Gate has released a device called "Replica Drive". This device, an external hard dive, will backup everything, yes EVERYTHING, on your PC. This action can be performed when prompted or at scheduled times throughout the day or month.

The drive comes in two versions, 250 and 500 GB.The mainstream 5400 rpm drives connect to a PC via a 480 Mb/s USB 2.0 port.

Now we have no excuses, not that we ever REALLY did.

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/42185/135/

Virtual Border Patrol

Now, anyone with an Internet connection (and a lot of free time on their hands) can take part in patrolling our nation's border with Mexico. BlueServo.net is a new website being run by the Texas Border Sheriff's Coalition that features numerous live video feeds of the Lone Star State's border with Mexico.

The site, launched back in November, has already received over 20 million visitors and allows registered users to examine 15 different camera feeds of the dessert, the Rio Grande, and the mountains that make up the border. If a user spots something suspicious, they can email the local law enforcement who will then determine whether or not to act. The cameras are placed in areas a long the border where there is no fencing system and places where guards do not patrol as often. Most of the cameras are hidden from view.

Supporters of the site see the cameras as an effort to halt illegal immigration as our border with Mexico is not completely barricaded yet. On the other hand, critics claim the site is a breeding ground for extremists and that border patrol should be left up to professionals.

Since the site was launched, only four arrests have been made that can be attributed to the cameras. The site was paid for by a $2 million grant from the state of Texas.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/12/border.security.cameras.immigration/index.html

Goodbye Encarta

I remember as if it was yesterday: I was around 13 years old sitting in front my IBM Aptiva home computer (complete with gigantic energy hungry CRT monitor) surfing the web via a dial up connection on AOL. Green Day was playing through the computer's speakers at levels probably louder than allowed in our house as I flipped back and forth from Encarta to an AOL instant message with some high school girl I was chasing at the time. It was the night before a big research assignment was due for school....

Some of you may remeber the days described above. These were the days long before Google, Wikipedia, and DSL connections when most of us were using Microsoft's Encart Encyclodpedia to find information. We used the mapping features of Encarta like we use Google Earth today. Of course, we didn't have satelite images but no one even knew what they were back then. Those days are long gone and now, we must also say goodbye to Encarta.

Microsoft reports that Encarta will shut down globally on December 31, 2009. By June, Encarta will have vanished from store shelves. Nevertheless, Microsoft promises to provide support for the product for another three years.

So what has caused the death of Encarta? Microsoft credits Wikipedia, Google, and other free premium research providers. Software users are already struggling in a deepening recession and fees for research software are no longer a priority, espcially since they can get the same information for free.

Microsoft tried to compete with these giant entities but failed miserably. They offered two free hours of search results with their online Encarta service and even integrated the software in to their Live search feature.

So, in the end, we must say goodbye to Encarta. It was fun while it lasted......maybe we will see you again someday on "I Love The 90's".

http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/41900/141/