Applications to improve your experience on Twitter

With the increase of the social networks’ popularity, there have been developed a lot of application that work with them. Twitter couldn’t be the exception, and there are multiple “clients” for this 2.0 web like MadTwitter, byTAGG, Twhirl and Tweetdeck.

In general, these are desktop applications that allow us to access Twitter without the need to be running the explorer, and in some cases provide us with shortcuts, filters and notifications options.

MadTwitter, being one of the simplest applications of this type, offers us from a simple and clear interface to the possibility to view our contacts’ tweets, as well as letting us do our own status updates. Configurable to check tweets up to one minute, MadTwitter will keep us updated regarding the news with just having it activated as it includes a comfortable notifier.

Another application that lets us control Twitter from the desktop is byTAGG. This tool actually counts with more functions, like following blogs through RSS or performing permanent searches on the internet of whatever we indicate. As regards Twitter, it only counts with the basic functions as it probably got privileged the multi-support service. Apart from that, it lets us log in with more than one account at the same time, post from byTAGG window and has a simple filter, but effective.

Maybe the program with the most attractive interface is Blu. With a great care of the its looks, this application offers among other options, the possibility to filter our messages (direct and indirect), see favorites, manually update whenever we want, configure so the notifications for new tweets have sound and shortcut key to update the status.

Twhirl is another application we can use to interact on Twitter. With a not so attractive interface like the previous one, it gives us certain configuration options that allow us to set it up as we like. On the other hand, Twhirl allows us to connect to other 2.0 webs like identi.ca, laconi.ca, Friendfeed y Seesmic as well as to Twitter. Beyond performing the basic functions like seeing our contacts’ status updates and publish, the most interesting about this program is its filter by word, as also the possibility to post images from its window.

Finally, Tweetdeck offers multiple options. To begin with, we can connect to several accounts simultaneously, not only from Twitter, but also from MySpace, Linkedin y Facebook, allowing us to update the status of all of them. Moreover, thanks to its presentation of the information in columns, we can view great amount of information on the screen, being able to put on each of them what we want. Among its main functions includes the quick view of the profiles, contacts, lists and tweets search.

Seeing the variety of options, we can realize that all of them offer the basic functions. Maybe those users who use more than one social network may prefer Twhirl or Tweetdeck, as those who like simplicity may be inclined to choose MadTwitter or Blu. byTAGG offers other type of information and can be a powerful tool to keep us updated. Without a doubt, the election of the client that adapts the most to our needs is essential, as it is with those programs that we’ll be able to optimize our experience as Twitter users.

Controlling another computer using UltraVNC

For many reasons we may need to control a computer using another one, being it a local or remote control. UltraVNC is a simple but effective application as it can assist us when we need to establish a connection within a few steps.

For whatever reason: the need to use our home computer from work or cybercafe, perform technical assistance in offices that are fiscally far away, control or help a student with school work, UltraVNC will be our solution.

UltraVNC is an application developed specifically to control, local or remotely, other computer or more than one through the visualization of the screen and using the mouse and keyboard. To achieve this, it’s necessary that both computers have installed UltraVNC. The program works in a very easy way, as once installed, we just need the password and IP to be able to access to the other computer.

In the relationship that is established between the 2 computers, one acts as the server (the one that will be controlled) and the other one as the client (the one that will take over). To do this, one of them will need to be running the UltraVNC Server module and the other one the UltraVNC Viewer module.

Once we download the program, then we start the installation using the executable. Once it finishes, we find 2 UltraVNC files, one is light blue (that corresponds to the server) and the other one is green (which corresponds to the client or viewer).

From the computer that will act as the server, we run the UltraVNC Server for the first time. There it will emerge a window were we’ll establish the configuration. In the beginning, until you get know the software, it’ll be best to let the configuration by default and only establish the access password.

Once the first configuration is done, the only thing we need from now on is to run the application so it can be controlled remotely. If, eventually, we want to change this configuration options, we need to do a right click on the icon that appears on the task bar and select “Admin Properties”.

When we have UltraVNC Server running in the system to be controlled, we need to get its IP, which consists in 11

Controlling another computer using UltraVNC

numbers separated with dots as follows: xxx.xxx.xx.xxx. Without doing a click, if we place the cursor on the icon on the task bar, a message with our IP will show up.

Then, from the computer that will take control, you need to run the UltraVNC Viewer. On the VNC Server emerging window’s field, we put the IP, and if it is correct and if UltraVNC is running, it’ll ask for the access password, being able now to operate on the other computer. It’s important to point out that if the IP server uses a connection with a dynamic IP, this one will change every time you connect to the internet, what means that we’ll need to find out which one is it to establish the relationship client-server.

To terminate the use of the remote control, we just close the window and that’s it.

Allowing you to enjoy video chats and share video messages with anyone you like, ooVoo features an interesting 3D interface within which you can hold a video conference with up to five people simultaneously, as well as make and receive unlimited voice calls to and from all of your contacts.

ooVoo for Mac

ooVoo is a program that has many possible uses, and this is its biggest attraction. You can use it to: play pre-recorded webcam videos; view video messages, and review sent, received, incoming and outgoing calls; send up to 20 files simultaneously; share your address book with other users and send the same file to more than one person at once, among many other things.

Once you’ve installed the program, you can create a user account, customize it and then start to make the most of everything that ooVoo has to offer. Everything else is easy since it works just like any other instant messaging service: add contacts, change your status, manage and sort your addresses and contacts, view your message history, and explore the various options for publishing your own profile.

From now on, communicating is easy: find your friends, select a country from the list, enter the telephone number and that’s it, you’re making a video call! But if what you want is to record video messages, the only thing you need to do is select someone from your list of contacts and click on the relevant button.

With high-quality audio and video and fun video effects, get closer to your friends, family or work colleagues, no matter how far away they are. Using ooVoo being part of the next step of the internet’s communication evolution will be easy.

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Torrents have been the most popular type of download since its appearance on the internet, enabling users to download huge files faster than any other P2P application. uTorrent is the best torrent client to download movies, music games and more.

uTorrent

There are numerous different types of downloads that you can make over the Internet but here we take a closer look at those that work using .torrent files.

Basically, in order to share a file, a .torrent file containing information about it is stored on a centralized server. When the file is downloaded by different users, this .torrent file collects data about the number of transfers and the number of peers who possess all or part of the file.

So, this is where the need for an application that can work with this particular system comes in. Such an application is uTorrent.
The program reads the .torrent file chosen by the user, which contains information about where to download each part of the file from according to the best available connection, thereby guaranteeing a good overall download speed.

uTorrent has all the tools needed for beginners and a large number of additional configuration options for more expert users. It features a clear push-button panel from which to control the client and a list of all the downloads, indicating whether they are in progress, completed, active or inactive.

On the right-hand side it has a .torrent search engine, a useful feature considering that, unlike other P2P networks such as eDonkey2000, this system does not include its own index of files within the client and users must find their downloads via external web sites.

To get the most out of the .torrent files you must always keep in mind the number of Seeds and Peers a file has. The more of them a file has, the faster it will download. Once you’ve found the torrent file you want, click on it, choose to open it with uTorrent and the client will take over.

It’s worth emphasizing that the client’s window always allows you to see exactly what files you’re downloading. This is especially helpful with compressed files and means you needn’t waste time downloading something that was labelled incorrectly on the web site.

The lower part of the screen displays a variety of data and statistics about the currently selected download. Here you can see all sorts of General information, such as the time elapsed, the amount downloaded, the speed at which it is currently downloading, and more. You can also get data about the Peers with whom you are sharing files, the Pieces that make up the download, and the different Files that are contained in the complete download as well as view information about the Speed of the download and consult the Logger.
Without a doubt, uTorrent is one of the best programs out there for downloading .torrent files. All that’s left then is for you to install it and see for yourself why it´s the best and most reliable torrent client.

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What better way of being constantly in than using the most popular instant messaging client service? We are talking about Windows Live Messenger, the most fun alternative to chat with any user all over the world.

Windows Live Messenger

Microsoft, the creator of Windows Live Messenger – the most popular and well-known instant messaging service in the world – has released the beta of version 9 of its application, the final version of which is expected for 2009.

This release doesn’t introduce any big changes to the graphical interface but does expand upon the program’s possible uses.

Perhaps the most important innovation of this new version of Windows Live Messenger is the ability to connect to several sites at the same time. Also worth a mention is the new support for using animated GIFs as your displayed picture, the incorporation of customized sounds that your contacts can hear when you connect, and the ability to assign a different sound for each of your contacts.

Windows Live Messenger also added integration with Google Talk, (in the same way that Messenger works with Yahoo!) and it is hoped that support for users of the AIM and ICQ messaging services will be offered soon. Another interesting addition is the ability to report a contact as a source of SPAM, recognising the recent proliferation of contacts that pretend to be someone you know in order to send you ads. This is definitely a useful feature since we can keep our account safer, away from any threat or ads that may results harmful or annoying.

However, if all these new features have you tempted to start downloading it right away, you should first know about the one big problem that Microsoft has reported concerning this beta version: it currently has more than 1,000 bugs and errors, both in terms of security and stability, making it a very vulnerable program which we cannot recommend over the previous, stable version.

To sum up, this Beta version offers users a collection of small but significant improvements over the traditional Messenger, but, considering the large number of errors it still has, only advanced users – rather than beginners – are recommended to give it a try just now.

For The multimedia additions are ideal for entertainment, especially among younger users.

The ability to mark unwanted contacts as SPAM. Against According to the developers, it currently has more than 1,000 errors that need to be corrected. It is not a definitive version.

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What better way of communicating with your beloved relatives and friends than sending e-mails? In order to do this, the best and simple way to do so is by using an e-mail client capable of sending and receiving e-mails with great effectiveness and without too much inconvenient.Therefore, Outlook Express is the perfect easy-to-use e-mail client solution.

Outlook Express

Outlook Express is an email client, designed and developed by Microsoft. it comes along with Internet Explorer and stands as a lighter version of the other well known email client: Outlook (also from Microsoft). Also, with Outlook Express, you can import items, such as address book data, messages, and account settings from other programs, including other mail clients. Using the Outlook Express Import Wizard, you can easily import e-mail messages from a variety of popular Internet e-mail programs, such as Netscape Communicator and Eudora, as well as from Exchange Server and Outlook.

It includes several interesting features, such as simultaneous different email accounts and multiple IDs. Additionally, it supports HTML and address book and directories management. It is worth mentioning that this email client allows folders synchronization with no need of connection. Its interface is extremely accessible. Each time you start up Outlook Express, it automatically retrieves new e-mail messages and delivers them to your Inbox. And while Outlook Express is open, it periodically checks for new mail. It takes no more than a couple of mouse clicks to check your e-mail in any account—personal, Hotmail, work, and so on.

With Outlook Express we can access both POP3 and webmail email accounts (only for Yahoo! and Gmail. Hotmail and Windows Live Mail are still not available, same as for other email clients). Improved rules for incoming folder are another new release included in this version. With Outlook Express you can send your e-mail messages as soon as you write them, or you can compose a draft and return to it later to finish and send. And file size is just about the only limit on what you can enclose in a message—documents, pictures, even music and videos.

Regarding editing tools, Outlook Express allows far greater customization of emails, supporting styles, HTML, graphics and sound. This is very useful for corporate emails or simply for personalizing our emails. You can use multiple E-mail addresses, multiple accounts, and multiple identities in Outlook Express as well.

According to advanced users, this email has some security leaks (specifically, with preview feature). Therefore, Microsoft highly recommends its users to download and install the periodical updates of the software.

The application is not ambitious with regards to its features, but for average users and for email, it is useful.

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