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An introduction to AllPeers

Bittorrent Firefox

AllPeers is a Firefox addon (plugin) that allows you to use Firefox as a bittorrent client. This brief tutorial shows you how to use it to download files. Continued…

Posted in Bittorrent, Firefox.


Streamy Invites

Update: Both invites gone, I’ll update when I have more.

I have 2 invites to Streamy to give away. The first two people to leave a comment get them (please use a valid email address in the Mail: field of the comment form, that’s the address I’ll send the invite to).

Posted in Other.


How to monitor your Internet bandwidth usage in Windows

Windows

This tutorial will guide you in installing, setting up and using AnalogX Netstat Live (which is free) to monitor your Internet usage (uploads and downloads). As a number of ISP’s are now disconnecting customers for using “too much” bandwidth (this one in particular), knowing exactly how much you’ve downloaded (or uploaded) in a given month can be very helpful. Note: the OS X version of this tutorial can be found here. Continued…

Posted in Home Networking, Windows.


Feedvertising with FeedBurner – The Results

Blogging

Last month I wrote a tutorial on How to “Pubvertise” Your Live FeedBurner RSS Content to a Wider Audience. I also signed up for a one week paid campaign in the FeedBurner Ad Network to try out the service (I had never previously paid to advertise Simplehelp). This post details my experience with the FeedBurner Ad Network.

Simplehelp - Common Questions, Simple Answers

↑ Grab this Headline Animator

Continued…

Posted in Blogging.


Another category, look out Windows Mobile users

Windows Mobile

Living in Canada, I didn’t get into the iPhone hype as much as my US buddies (iPhones aren’t sold here, yet, and there’s no set-in-stone date as to when they will be). As an avid OS X/Apple (and Linux) user, I actually had to put quite a bit of thought into my latest purchase. It came down to two choices – a BlackBerry or the HTC S621 (”Excalibur”). Well, I’m not sure what BlackBerry plans are like in the US, but I would have ended out with a huge, huge monthly bill if I had gone the BB route. So, I’m now the proud(ish) new owner of the HTC S621.

Which runs Windows Mobile 5.0.

So now you’re wondering – why is an OS X/Linux person buying a Microsoft Windows phone? One simple answer: 802.11b/g. This is the only Wi-Fi phone sold by the two major west-coast wireless providers (though I guess technically there’s really only one – since Rogers bought Fido). So in the coming days and weeks you can expect a fairly large number of Windows Mobile related tutorials, downloads etc. Including “how to sync your Windows Mobile phone with OS X applications” and “a step by step guide on using Skype with your 802.11b/g enabled phone”. Since those are two of the first things I’ll be doing with this thing.

htc s621 excalibur

ps. even though I’ve read that a headset is required in order to use Skype (with this phone), you will never, ever, see me walking down the street with a bluetooth headset stuck in my ear. If you do, you have my permission to punch me right then and there.

Posted in Windows Mobile.


How to surf the web anonymously using OS X

Mac Security

Using Tor can help you anonymize web browsing and publishing, instant messaging, IRC, SSH, and other applications that use the TCP protocol.

This tutorial will guide you in installing, setting up and using Vidalia – a cross-platform interface for Tor, in OS X. Using Vidalia, you can start and stop Tor, view the status of Tor at a glance, and monitor Tor’s bandwidth usage. Vidalia includes Tor itself, and privoxy – which is a web proxy with advanced filtering capabilities. This might all sound a bit confusing, but it’s actually quite straight forward. Continued…

Posted in Mac, Security.


August Break – extended

It’s August, which is typically one of the ’slower’ months on the Internet. And since I feel like taking a bit of a break, I guess August would be the month to do it. So for the next week, give or take (update: ok about two weeks, maybe a few days less), I probably won’t be posting very much. I have a couple of posts that are almost complete, so I might finish them up and publish them, but otherwise don’t expect too much. Please don’t unsubscribe from the RSS feed or forget about me. I promise to come back, soon. Before Sept.

In the meantime, check out some of these sites that I frequently read:

  • Webomatica and his writing at the Blog Herald
  • Lifehacker – they never take breaks
  • Consumerist – where shoppers bite back
  • GigaOM – Om Malik never annoys me, and always has something interesting to say
  • Internet Duct Tape – proves that quality counts over quantity
  • Kent Newsome – has started updating a bit more frequently, and has great taste in music
  • With any luck I’ll return a bit refreshed, with lots of new posts and post ideas.

    Posted in Other.


    How to install uTorrent in OS X

    Bittorrent Mac

    Update: uTorrent is now available for OS X without having to install Darwine (which is the method used in this tutorial).

    Another name for this tutorial could be “how to install Windows programs in OS X without buying Crossover“. Or “how to use Darwine to install Windows programs in OS X”. But this tutorial will take you step-by-step through installing uTorrent (which is currently Windows-only) via Darwine – an OS X port of Wine. Continued…

    Posted in Bittorrent, Mac.


    How to install Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) in OS X using Parallels Desktop 3.0 – a complete walkthrough

    Linux Mac

    This tutorial will take you every single step of the way through installing Ubuntu 7.04 (Feisty Fawn) using Parallels Desktop 3.0 (Build 4128) for OS X. In other words, even your parents should be able to follow along.

    Note: if you’re looking for help installing Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy Gibbon) in Parallels, see this tutorial.

    1. Who this tutorial is for
    2. Background
    3. Setting up Parallels for Ubuntu
    4. Installing Ubuntu
    5. Installing Parallels Tools in Ubuntu

    Continued…

    Posted in Linux, Mac.


    How to determine your IP or MAC address in OS X

    Mac

    This brief tutorial will guide you in determining the IP address and/or MAC address of the ethernet adapters for your Mac (both wired and AirPort) running OS X 10.4.10 Continued…

    Posted in Home Networking, Mac.


    An introduction to Dockables

    Mac

    Dockables are a series of apps that provide quick access to the following features: Shut Down, Start Default Screen Saver, Restart, Empty Trash, Eject Media, Sleep, Log Out, Close Applications, Hide Applications, Mute Sound, sleep display, and ‘take screenshot’.

    dockables
    Continued…

    Posted in Mac.


    How to resize images using The Gimp

    Linux Web Design & Dev

    This brief tutorial will guide you in using The Gimp to resize pictures/images. It’s also a part of the Linux for Parents – A Beginners Guide to Ubuntu series. Though the Gimp is not a Linux specific program, it is included as the default image editing software in Ubuntu. Continued…

    Posted in Linux, Web Design & Dev.


    How to REALLY erase files and folders in Windows

    Security Windows

    This tutorial will guide you in using the open source (free) utility Eraser. Eraser is an advanced tool which allows you to completely remove sensitive data from your hard drive by overwriting it several times with carefully selected patterns. Continued…

    Posted in Security, Windows.


    Linux for Parents – A Beginners Guide to Ubuntu

    Linux

    ubuntu logo

    Recently I upgraded my mum from Windows XP to Ubuntu. I’m not the only one who has done the same thing. As many of you already know, even Dell now includes an option to have Ubuntu as the pre-installed operating system, rather than Windows.

    This page will serve as a central location for all of the beginner-to-intermediate Ubuntu “how-to” tutorials that I create (so my mum can bookmark one page and have quick access to all of the things she asks me to explain). Some of the links will open in a new page (or tab). I’m not doing that to increase my page-views-per-visitor, rather I want this page to load quickly if all you’re trying to figure out is how to rename a file. The lengthier tutorials will go on their own page, the ’short’ ones will be included right here.

    If you’ve recently upgraded a family member from Windows to Ubuntu please feel free to share your experiences and offer any suggestions for FAQs/tutorials. Continued…

    Posted in Linux.


    How to set up Evolution for email

    Email Linux

    This tutorial will guide you in setting up Evolution 2.1.x (the version included in Ubuntu 7.04 – known as “Feisty Fawn”) for the first time. Though the screenshots are from Ubuntu, the steps are virtually identical if you’re using another version of Linux.


    Continued…

    Posted in Email, Linux.