Momentum Monday – Something New!

I usually do software for these posts, but I was thinking that your computer has plenty of software on it so maybe I should take a look at it.  So after the jump, I’m going to give you a list of the web browsers I use on the PC (and why).  I’m not going to talk about my Mac in this post (maybe down the line).

  1. Firefox – I use this when I need to do things in addition to look at sites.  I have a million plugins for it (the plugins are great) but I can’t use it for regular browsing.  It’s too slow.  So if I need to see how fast a page loads or something like that – then I use Firefox.  It’s like a Swiss Army knife.
  2. Chrome – This is my every day.  It is fast, I haven’t added any plugins and even though some sites don’t look right in it (aimg.com ones do, though!) it gets me to the information I need and does it quickly.
  3. Internet Explorer – I know lot’s of “hip” Internet people like to make fun of it, but I use it all the time.  I am using it right now to make this post.  It is dependible and I while it might not be the fastest, I know that most good web developers make sure their sites work in it.  PLUS, it is the only browser I know of that still shows a red X if a pic is missing!

This is a quick list but I would love to know what you all use and why.

CCleaner – Because you have NO idea what’s on your computer.

Here at Momentum Monday, we pride ourselves on alarming you with problems and then quickly offering you a solution to the problem you didn’t know you had.

But today, we are going to do it backwards.  First, the details on CCleaner!  Installing this low impact application will allow you to perform some pretty significant tasks on your own that will make your computing experience better.  Here’s a quick list (and when to be careful).

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Google Voice – The important part is the voice part

I’m not going to beat around the bush with this one.  Google Voice is awesome.  Even if you don’t have any idea what it is go sign up for it right now before you even finish reading this.  OK maybe that is a little bit hasty but it does not take away from what a useful product Google Voice is.

The video below will give you some idea, but the one thing they don’t make a big enough deal of in the vid is the fact that you can pick a number from pretty much anywhere.  Need a local number in Maryland but you live in Utah?  Google Voice.  Just let people call you in Maryland and they will get sent to you in Utah.  No worrying about “phone companies” or “money”.  I have no idea how they pull it off but they do.

And, on top of that, the forwarding feature really comes in handy.  I have to admit that the transcribing is not the best and I’ve never used a lot of the features, but you really  can’t beat the central point.  Google Voice gives you reach where you didn’t have it before.  So if you want to tell someone you live really far away so you can’t hang out with them, you can prove it by giving them your far away phone number.  And then never picking up when they call.  Or use Google Voice for good.  Whichever you prefer.  Either way it’s gold!

Namechk – Nobody Wants to be Tom23457

*That username has already been taken* is perhaps one of the saddest messages one can ever get when signing up for a new online service.  If yours is taken, then you need to use your backup.  And if THAT is taken, then you are stuck with doing something dumb like changing how you spell it or adding a bunch of numbers to the end.

What are your kids and grand kids going to do when they need usernames?  They will ALL be taken, you know?

NameChk is a neat little tool that will either make you very happy or so mad that you throw your laptop out the window.  It does one thing.  It lets you add your username and it will check 159 different online places to see if your name is taken.  I know what you’re saying: “159 places?  I ONLY HAVE TWITTER!”.  Well, that’s because you didn’t know all these places were around.  I’m not saying you will want to claim your own Etsy shop (unless you make quirky pottery, I don’t know) but wouldn’t you like to know that you could?

Now, what do you do if your name is taken on some places that you want to join?  Well, I can tell you that trying to contact the people who took the names does no good at all.  :(  Sooo you might want to just find a name that nobody has and make THAT your new name.  But don’t pick blueberrymanifesto.  It’s taken on some.  I’m not kidding.

Microsoft Security Essentials – It Says Essential Right in the Name!

If you have never gotten a virus or spyware on your computer, you either run a Mac (don’t get me started) or you are pretty diligent in keeping your cyber-self protected.  Or else you have a virus AND spyware and just don’t know.

Well, let’s hope for the former, but either way, Microsoft Security Essentials is a great, free tool to help keep you safe.  Here’s what they say about themselves:

Use Microsoft Security Essentials to guard against viruses, spyware, and other evil software. It provides real-time protection for your home or small business PCs.

Microsoft Security Essentials is free* and we designed it to be simple to install and easy to use. It runs quietly and efficiently in the background so you don’t have to worry about interruptions or making updates.

Now, don’t let the “free” part throw you.  This is not one of those deals where it seems great because it is free but you find out later that there are pieces missing (that you need to pay for).  This program is self contained and does what it does.  And does it well.  The question is how can I prove it to you…

Well, I’m not going to send you to a page that I know has a virus on it (though I totally could!) but I can give you my thoughts on why Microsoft created an easy and thorough virus and spyware protection program.  “Because Microsoft gets all the viruses.”  Now don’t think for a second that I am knocking them.  I’m not.  They are on something like 95% of all the computers in the world and the program is huge and they have to leave in all sorts of ways to make the program “accessible” which means that people will take advantage.

But who is going to know more about all the things that people use to attack Microsoft better than Microsoft?  Well, yes, the people making the viruses, but Microsoft will know second!  So download Microsoft Security Essentials and give it a spin.  You don’t need to get rid of your existing virus programs, either.  They can run next to each other, and more security is always better.

It runs smoothly and “quietly” in the background.  Even when it is doing a scan you can still do work on your machine without everything taking forever.  So while it is easy to say that something free is “worth the investment” but this program would be even if it cost money.  Good luck!  And let us know how it goes in the comments.