What's on TV tonight?

Over the past several weeks, I thought about all the nostalgic and new TV specials that were available to watch this year. In the old days it was common to use VHS tapes to capture these special memories but today there are many more options. One option that I particularly enjoy is called Windows Media Center. This program is included in many versions of Windows 7 and with a TV tuner card attached to a computer; it is as simple as selecting the program to record and then viewing it later.

There are many stores that sell USB TV tuner cards that will record in high definition (HD) and some people even watch the free HD channels that are broadcast through the air which are captured by an external antenna. However the TV stations are received, the programs can be saved to your computer and viewed on a laptop, through an Xbox 360 game console or directly on your main TV. By using the Media Center interface it is also possible to listen to music, watch internet television and view your own pictures in a musical montage.

There are so many other options available to view and record TV shows but Windows Media Center sometimes gets overlooked. That is why it is worth checking out on a new Windows 7 PC.

The Cloud and IMAP

In the early days of email, it was normal to check your email on one device which was usually a home computer. Today, many people have two or more devices that handle email. With multiple devices, it is imperative that the email on every device be setup with IMAP. IMAP will keep all email in sync so that all inbox, sent items and deleted items will be the same throughout all devices. There are still certain email providers which do not offer IMAP so in that case it is best to forward email from those providers to a provider that offers IMAP.

In addition, there are also many new cloud services that offer the additional option to sync contacts, calendars, internet favorites, documents, photos and music. These services allow for everything that was once local to be hosted away from a central computer where everything becomes available everywhere on every computing device.

There is an App for That

Apps (short for applications) have sprung up all over electronic gadgets. From pads to phones to web browsers to tv and blue-ray players they are everywhere. Many new computer operating systems have an app store. Having an app store is one way to install programs without physical media and are useful in locating websites that are interactive.

There will continue to be computers but the goal of the tech industry is to setup cloud based servers where apps can control the program from any device anywhere in the world.

For a way to see apps in action use chrome instead of your normal web browser and locate several apps from the Google app store (https://chrome.google.com/webstore)
then see how using a web browser is as simple as clicking on apps instead of web browsing or program searching.

Applications installation in a snap

When upgrading or purchasing a new computer or operating system, one of the most difficult steps is to install all the custom applications. Now there is a web site called http://ninite.com/ which allows each application to be checked off and then the latest version of the application will be installed all at one time. This is a quick and easy way to start the installation of applications without trying to find the exact download location of each file.

Remote Access and Troubleshooting

In today's society of being virtually anywhere, there is a program that helps to keep us connected to where important information is stored. That product is called Logmein which can be found at http://www.logmein.com

This product can be used for remote troubleshooting or remote access to any file even using tablets and phones. It is useful to help other friends and family members "see" what is going on without being there in person.

Email Address That Never Changes

So often, I hear of friends and colleges who are forced into moving their email address due to a change in their internet service provider or who are not happy with the security of their internet/email provider. I would suggest to them to create a domain for around $50.00/yr so that they have full control over their email.

This does not mean that they have to create a website for themselves but rather have a secure place for them to store their emails and files for life. Some of the best providers of a domain are Hostgator and NTT/Verio.

If paying for your email is not practical there are other services such as Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo who offer free email without a cost.

Windows Programs to Protect your Computer

One of the most frequently asked questions is what Windows software is best to use on a new computer. It is important to have antivirus/antispyware, malware protection and a cleaner. Below are the recommended links.

Microsoft Security Essentials for home and small business
Download

MalwareBytes
Download

CCleaner
Download