Connecting to Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace with TweetDeck

TweetDeck is an application through which we’ll be able to interact with several social networks at the same time, like Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace. To do it, once we access, we need to go to the icon that is located on the top right corner with a tool, which is the one to let us access the configurations. On the emerging window, we click on the right panel on “Accounts”, and then on the menu that opens “Add New Account”. Once we load all of them and connect, we are ready to see them simultaneously.

On that same configuration window, we can also define the appearance of the program, like colors and format of the notifications among other things. To do it we move through the different eyelashes.

Once we are on the main screen to update our status from TweetDeck, we’ll click on the yellow button located on the top left margin opening up a field where we’ll introduce the text to publish. On the right side on top of that field, we’ll find buttons that will let us include pictures on the post. To select from which accounts we want to publish, we indicate them checking their names on the top left part of the field being able to do it from all the ones we have registered at the same time.

On the main window we’ll see that we have a series of columns or panels, with the logo to the right of the service to which they belong. By clicking on the logo, we close the column. To open a new panel we need to click on the button with the “+” sign, located next to the button “Compose Update”. On the window that opens, we’ll indicate what we want to be displayed on it and from which account. As regards Facebook, to filter the contacts that we are only interested in, we click on “Create New Group”, determining right there those from which want to see the news.

An easy way to find what we want to see on a panel is by making a quick filter according to a keyword, being able to do it with a series of buttons on the lower part of each panel. On the field that opens we write the name, date or source and the filter is activated.

To perform tasks like answering a post or writing on somebody’s wall, we put the mouse on the contact’s image, and we’ll see that a series of options will appear according to the service it belongs to. Like that, very easily, we’ll be able to interact with our contacts with a single click.

To disconnect from the different opened accounts, we need to click on the button located on the top right margin of the main window, what will make TweetDeck to close as well.

Digsby: instant messenger and social networks on a single program

The increase of the popularity of the social networks on the internet has caused that every time, we are registered in more of these sites and it becomes tiresome to connect to our accounts on each of them. To avoid this we find Digsby, in which, from a single window, we’ll be able to be on many at the same time, integrating and boosting our connections.

This powerful multiplatform messenger client supports a great number of protocols. MSN, Yahoo!, AIM, Google Talk, Facebook Chat, MySpace IM, ICQ and Jabber is a list that doesn’t leave almost anything out. Moreover, it doesn’t only provide us with the possibility to start conversations, but it also gives us multiple options to personalize our contacts list as a quick access to their profiles or the storing of the conversations.

If this wasn’t enough, we can also determine individually our status on each of the messenger services to which we are connected. Furthermore, it gives us the possibility to chat, independently of the service to which it belongs, with all our contacts from a single window and separating them in eyelashes. It also adds some additional features, like being able to do videoconferences. Although this last thing is easy to do, the protocol from which it does it it’s from its own, so you have to access a URL provided by Digsby when the videoconference starts.

Another of the Digsby features which turns it into a tool more than interesting is that from its main window, and by only passing the mouse on top of the names of our email accounts or 2.0 webs, we’ll be able to see the most recent updates or our inbox. Furthermore, this way, we’ll be able to update our status on the social networks, or answer emails with a single click.

Maybe the only thing against this application is that it is suspected that in those moments in which we are inactive, it uses resources of our own system to perform actions of distributed computing. However, this feature must be previously accepted to be able to run, although many question it’s not properly informed about its implications.

Beyond that and acting cautiously, Digsby is an option of great quality among the multiplatform clients that allows us to simplify our connection to the social networks integrating them on a single interface.

Get over the idiomatic barriers thanks to translator programs

Nowadays, thanks to the internet, we have Access to information that comes from all over the world. However, many times the main obstacle to take advantage of it is the idiomatic one. Luckily, there are applications like Babylon, TraductorLIVE, Google Translator Interface and ClickIVO that will assist us on the task.

Google Translator Interface is a little program, which using the online Google translation engine, and with simply selecting a word on the explorer, will give us the translation instantly on a separated little window. Furthermore, it supports 35 languages. However, the automatic translation only happens with a single word. For it to translate text pieces, we need to add them manually or through the clipboard.

TraductorLIVE is, on its own merit, a powerful search engine which also works online to obtain data. It counts with an important dictionary which provides us with a complete definition of the word apart from the translation, as well as real examples extracted from Twitter of the word in a context. However, it isn’t integrated to other programs, so if we want the translation of a word or of a piece of text, we’ll need to enter it manually. Furthermore, it only works with English, Spanish, French and Italian.

Another program, Babylon, offers a great number of options as regards translations, and with a well-achieved interface. It perfectly integrates to the web browsers, and with a single click, it’s even capable of recognizing a text piece for its translation. It is capable of translating a full page. It has incorporated also, although it doesn’t work that well, the automatic translation for documents. Moreover, it includes a money currency converter.

ClickIVO is a complete dictionary which integrates not only to the web browsers but also to almost any program on our computer. With only selecting the word and pressing the scroll button on the mouse and it will give us the translation. Furthermore, it has the advantage, as opposed to the others, of not working online, so we may use it without being connected to the internet. Even when it counts with support for many languages, we’ll have to download from its webpage one by one the add-ons for each language. Even though the results are very complete, including many applications for the same word so we can understand it correctly, it doesn’t translate text pieces, but only individual terms. Lastly, ClickIVO’s menu is in Turkish, what may be difficult in the beginning until we get familiar with it.

As we could see, there are many options when trying to find translators. According to our preferences, it is that we’ll select the alternative. Maybe a translator like ClickIVO, which is always available without the need to be connected to the internet, can be vital although it may takes us some time at the beginning to learn to use it. However, if we don’t have the internet connection limitation, we may prefer Babylon’s modern interface, Goggle Translator Interface’s simplicity and automation, or the variety of results that TraductorLIVE provides us with.

Playing music with Foobar 2000

Foobar2000 is an application to play music on our computer using little resources but having at our disposal a great number of features, apart from supporting the most popular audio formats like MP1, MP2, MP3, MP4, MPC, AAC, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC / Ogg FLAC, WavPack, WAV, AIFF, AU, SND, CDDA and WMA.

To be able to take the most profit from Foobar2000, the first thing that we should do is to load to its library all the music folders that we have, so we can have them always visible when we run the program. To do it, from the “File” we select “Preferences” and then on the emerging window we go to the eyelash “Media library”. There, on the field located on the centre, we incorporate the folders to the list. It’s important to have in mind that Foobar2000 performs an automatic search among the subfolders.

On the top bar we’ll see a series of buttons; their visualization is optional, as we can personalize that by doing a right click on it. There, apart from the volume controllers, location on the track and more, we’ll see a button with a question mark on top of a Play. By pressing it, the playlist will start playing in shuffle.

If we pay attention, under the field where the library is listed, we’ll find a field in which we’ll indicate Foobar2000 how we want it to list the music files. From there we’ll be able to select if we want it to do it according to the file tags, or basing on the folder structure.

As regards the tags, if we place ourselves on a track we’ll see that on the top right panel its “properties” will appear. By clicking on this field a window will emerge where we’ll be able to modify the different tags on the track and put the correct ones or the ones that we feel more suitable. To save the changes we just click OK.

One of the most interesting Foobar2000 features is the possibility to have multiple playlists loaded at the same time. To be able to do it, on the bar located on the bottom right field (the one corresponding to the playlist) we do a right click and select “New Play List”, being able to swap between one and the other whenever we want with just selecting the track and pressing Play.

As it can be seen, Foobar2000 counts with multiple options, which can be used intuitively. Maybe for some people it can be a disadvantage not to be able to incorporate skins, or that its interface isn’t the most attractive, but it’s widely compensated with its functionalities and because it makes the most of the resources.

How to know if my computer will support Windows 7

A way to check if our computer is ready to support Windows 7 in a quick and effective way is through an analysis of the system with Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor.

The comments regarding the new version of the Microsoft operating system are so many that it results difficult not to be tempted to download it and test it on our PC. However, if we have any doubts as if we’ll be ready for the upgrade, Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor will clear them all.

Once we run the program, with a single click it starts doing a full analysis of the system, giving us a complete report of the situation of the computer contemplating Windows 7 requirements, in its 32 as well as its 64-bit version.

The report Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor provides includes an analysis of the free space on the hard drive and RAM memory to run Windows 7, as well as if our graphic card will be able to support the interface and if the processor has sufficient speed.

On the other hand, Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor performs an analysis of the programs we have installed telling us about their compatibility with the last version of the operating system. Not only that, bur it also tests if our devices would work with Windows 7.

Additionally, in case of having Windows 7 already installed, this tool will keep us updated as regards new versions and if we need to upgrade the one we have.

As it can be seen, running Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor is essential when migrating to the new operating system, so we can do it safe and satisfactorily.

Your favorite songs’ lyrics within reach

Playing music tracks on our computer has become a regular activity since the popularization of formats like MP3 and of programs like Winamp, Foobar2000 or Windows Media Player. Thanks to the internet, at the same time, some programs were developed so, in a matter of seconds, we can see the lyrics of the songs we are listening to, like EvilLyrics, MiniLyrics, Lyricsnapper and Lyrics plugin for Windows Media Player and for Winamp.

EvilLyrics is one of the most complete programs to search for lyrics. It works synchronized with many of the most popular programs, and it searches automatically. It’s true that sometimes it interprets the code incorrectly and the lyrics it shows are unreadable or it appears mixed with other type of data. On the other hand, it counts with a function that easily lets us edit the lyrics to transform it into karaoke.

Lyrics plugin for Windows Media Player and for Winamp are little add-ons for these players. As opposed to EvilLyrics, which runs on a different window, this plugin does it integrated to the window of the main program. Apart from the fact that it works ok (although it fails on some searches), the only thing it provides us with is with the lyrics of the song.

Lyricsnapper is an effective program, but which only Works in-synch with iTunes. For the rest of the music players, it doesn’t only run on a separated window, but also you have to load it separately, and it would actually work as a specialized search engine as we have to enter the data manually. Despite that, it allows us to choose among different results.

MiniLyrics is, without a doubt, the best looking one, as it does not only count with multiple skins, but it also shows us the album cover. It can be integrated to a great amount of players, and its search engine is very effective. Furthermore, it automatically focuses on the karaoke results. Either way, every time we run it, the emerging window incites us to buy, what can be a little annoying.

This is just a small list of the great amount of programs of this type that exist today. Some of them are really simple like Lyrics plugin for Windows Media Player and for Winamp which only provide us with the lyrics, or Lyricsnapper, which doesn’t even do it automatically (except we use it with iTunes). Other provide us with editing options and are efficiently integrated with many players, like EvilLyrics and MiniLyrics, giving us also the option to do karaoke through them.

Tricks for Windows 7: “GodMode” and others

It is known that Microsoft, every time it launches new versions of its operating system, includes “tricks” that become known and popular with their use. Windows 7 couldn’t stay behind and has already revealed a series of tricks. Working on this line we find GodMode Creator, an application that allows us to count with a few Windows 7 tricks really quickly.

With all this new tricks, we’ll be able to access to multiple configuration options, most of them not included on the “standard” control panel. The method to activate the tricks is simple but pretty thorny: we create a folder with a name that includes a dot and a code and that’s it.

For example:

trick1.{025A5937-A6BE-4686-A844-36FE4BEC8B6D}

One of these alternatives allows you to access to all the options from one place that was named “GodMode”. To count with it, you’ll need to do the process that was detailed before, using the code {ED7BA470-8E54-465E-825C-99712043E01C} after the dot. GodMode will give us access to a “super control panel”, centralizing all the options on a single place.

Beyond the eye-catching fact of counting with multiple options that we didn’t know of, we’ll see also a series of configuration options that can result pointless because we don’t count with the appropriate devices to put them into practice, like the biometric device controller.

A good method to filter only the ones that interest us the most is to create ourselves the folders individually, with the codes, or we can use GodMode Creator. This simple application shows us the icons of the folders to be created with a descriptive title, and through a simple click it’ll create the folder on the desktop.

Whatever it is the method you choose, manually or with GodMode Creator, it is worth to try it and have fun with these new tricks.

Complete list of tricks to do it manually:

Biometric devices:

To be able to activate the trick that will let us configure biometric devices on Windows 7 we’ll need to create a folder with the following name:

Biometric devices.{0142e4d0-fb7a-11dc-ba4a-000ffe7ab428}

Default Location

We’ll activate the trick that will let us indicate our geographical creating a folder with the following name on Windows 7:

Default location.{00C6D95F-329C-409a-81D7-C46C66EA7F33}

Location and Other Sensors

To be able to activate the trick that will let Windows 7 detect on which area of the world we are (through a GPS device or WWAN wireless network radios) and through this, adapt the sidebar configuration and provide us with outstanding information depending on where we are, we need to create a folder with the following name:

Location and other sensors.{E9950154-C418-419e-A90A-20C5287AE24B}

Notification Area Icons

Using this trick we’ll be able to indicate Windows 7 how we want it to act with the notifications of the different programs that we have installed. To activate it we create a folder with the following name:

Notification area icons.{05d7b0f4-2121-4eff-bf6b-ed3f69b894d9}

RemoteApp and Desktop Connections

By entering this code we’ll be able to create a shortcut from which we’ll configure connections to remote desktops and the use of applications on Windows 7. To create the trick we create a folder with this name:

Connections to applications and remote desktops.{241D7C96-F8BF-4F85-B01F-E2B043341A4B}

All .NET Frameworks and COM libraries

This trick will allow us to see all the .NET frameworks and COM libraries we have available on our Windows 7. To activate it, we create a folder with the following name:

See NET and COM libraries.{1D2680C9-0E2A-469d-B787-065558BC7D43}

System

By using this code we’ll be able to create an icon that allows us to access the Windows 7 System folder and that way see the content of our PC. To activate the trick, we need to create a folder with the following name:

System.{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}

Get Programs

With this trick for Windows 7 we’ll be able to quickly select and install programs from our network. To activate it we need to create a folder named:

Get programs.{15eae92e-f17a-4431-9f28-805e482dafd4}

Troubleshooting

To generate an icon for the Windows 7 troubleshooting from which we’ll be able to access all of them at once, we need to create a folder with this name, activating the trick by doing it so:

Troubleshooting.{C58C4893-3BE0-4B45-ABB5-A63E4B8C8651}

Network (WorkGroup)

By using this trick we’ll be able to generate an icon from which we’ll be able to directly access to the exploration of our whole home group network place on Windows 7 from any place. We activate it creating a folder with the following name:

Network(Workgroup).{208D2C60-3AEA-1069-A2D7-08002B30309D}

Make Windows 7 work to its best with 7Tweak

With Windows 7 launch, it became necessary the development of new programs being able to work especially for the maintenance and optimization of this new version of the Microsoft operating system. A good example of this type of utilities is 7Tweak, an already well-known application which has been one of the firsts to base itself on this Windows version.

When we run 7Tweak, like with other maintenance suites, we find a lateral panel from which we’ll be able to access to the different units of the program. On the main area of the window, we have the available tools on each eyelash.

7Tweak’s main menu is divided among the maintenance tools (“Daily Tools”; “Tools”; “System”), the ones for the optimization of the system’s speed performance (“Optimizations”) and those of personalization of Windows 7 (“Customizations”).

Among the most important maintenance tools we find a defragmenter, a registry repairer, a startup programs manager, virtual units and controllers. Furthermore, among the tools that it counts with but are only for advanced users, we find the registry editor.

The utilities to increase the speed of the system will allow us to determine how much memory to leave on cache, waiting time to perform tasks, deactivation of Windows visual effects that can consume much RAM memory, among other things.

As regards the personalization options, they are related to the way in which we’ll see the menus, taskbars and desktop, as also certain Internet Explorer configurations.

One of the particularities which this program counts with is the “Tweaks”, which implies perform actions on the system to optimize it with a sharp tuning criteria. However, it requires for expert users to manage it to make the most profit of this feature.

Maybe the only problem with this complete program is that the trial version keeps running only during 10 days. Beyond that, it may be discussed the difficulty to configure some of the features, however it compensates with the great benefits that 7Tweak provides to the performance of our system.

Options to save our notes

Windows Notepad is an application pretty simple which main use is that of quickly saving notes to keep them available in the event we need them, or as a reminder. There are some alternatives which perform the same task, but they also add some features, like EverNote, Note-It, PNotes, Notepad++ and Freebie Notes.

Freebie Notes is an application that allows us to create notes and to keep them on our desktop, or to have them transparent, always visible. It counts also with a temporizer which allows us to program alerts. Moreover, it supports text formats and we can apply color to the notes.

Another program that lets us determine the color for the notes and give format to the text is PNotes. Furthermore, PNotes counts with the alarm feature and also the transparency option. As if this wasn’t enough, it also counts with a text search engine among all the notes, saving us time so as not to go through them all one by one when we need to find a specific data that we don’t remember where we’ve put it.

EverNote is the only one of the analyzed programs that apart from enriched text, it can also save images, and send them through email. Apart from that, we can register and save our data on its server, having our data always available from any computer. As opposed to the others, EverNote is not developed to work as a reminder on the desktop as it doesn’t count with this option.

Another type of program is Notepad++. Very similar regarding its interface to the original Notepad, this one counts, however, with an assistant for programming languages. Without a doubt, an essential tool for those who work developing, as it counts with support for many syntax types and the possibility to organize different documents on eyelashes for its easy access.

Note-It is a simple program, opposed to the Windows Notepad, as its notes remain visible on our screen, without letting us add neither enriched text nor images.

As it can be seen, not all of them count with the same type of features, although they carry out the task of registering our notes. There’s no doubt, as regards possibilities of data to be saved, that EverNote is the best of these applications, apart from having the plus of being always available on the internet.

However, EverNote lacks an important function which Freebie Notes, PNotes and Note-It count with. That’s the feature of being always visible on our desktop. Inside this group, if we care about the looks, Note-It is, with its simplicity, an application that will satisfy our needs.

On the other hand, some utilities like the alarm and the transparency possibilities are not insignificant at all, provided by Freebie Notes, as well as the search among the notes which PNotes counts with. In the end, those who work with programming will see, for sure, advantages for counting with a program like Notepad++.

Change Windows 7 logon screen

Changing the background image on the Windows 7 logon screen for one that we like is a simple task if you count with the appropriate tool. To do it we’ll use Thoosje Windows 7 Logon Editor.

Once we enter the program we’ll see that there is a logon window which emulates the one for Windows 7 and in which we’ll be able to preview how it’s going to be our screen after we apply Thoosje Windows 7 Logon Editor.

So in order to change the image, once we are there, we click on “Browse”. This way we’ll be able to explore on our system among the images we have. Although Thoosje Windows 7 Logon Editor comes with a few images, we have the freedom to select the one we want, as long as its size it’s not bigger than 256 KB. On the other hand, on the program webpage, to which we have a shortcut in “More Backgrounds”, we’ll find several background screens to choose from.

Once we selected the image we’ll go back to the main screen where, as we said before, will have a preview of how will be the result of the logon screen. If we are satisfied, we click on “Change Background”, being forced by Thoosje Windows 7 Logon Editor to restart the PC to apply the changes.

Every time we want to change Windows 7 logon screen we just need to repete this simple task. In the event we want to restore the image that comes by default with Windows 7, we only need to click on “Restore Default”

As it can be seen, Thoosje Windows 7 Logon Editor is a utility easy to use that, without any risks of altering other aspects, will allow us with a few steps to perform this configuration change for which Windows 7 doesn’t have a direct option.