Living a Digital Lifestyle Newsletter - May 2, 2009

LIVING A DIGITAL LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Volume 1, Issue 58 May 2, 2009

Today's issue will be tips and articles all courtesy of Kim Komando. You can go to her website here. There will be several links that you can click on for yourself, to take you to different articles. I may include those articles in this newsletter, but then again, I may not. If I don't then you can follow the links yourself. If you happen upon a link that is closed to you, then that means you have to be a Kim's Club member to get access to that information. You can become a member very easily and the information is on the site. (By Kim Komando)

Don't let the bed bugs bite

As you may know, I really enjoy traveling. But I'm always nervous when I book a hotel room.

Why is that? I've read too many stories about bed bugs. And popular shows have shown how dirty some hotel rooms can be.

Most hotels keep rooms clean. Buggy rooms are the exception. Still, a little research never hurts.

Online reviews are a valuable research tool when booking a hotel. But, as with any online review, hotel reviews can be faked.

A competitor may write disparaging comments about a hotel. Or, the hotel could boost its rating with fake reviews.

That's why I like today's Cool Site. It lets visitors upload video reviews of hotels. So, you can see exactly what you'll get for your money. It also leaves little room for shenanigans.

Hotel Video Reviews covers hotels around the world. It's a great way to get a closer look before you book a room!

TO VISIT TODAY'S COOL SITE, GO HERE:
hotelvideoreviews.com

Prevent USB drives from spreading viruses

The Conficker worm made headlines just a few weeks ago. Despite menacing reports, it continues to lie dormant. But what made it so scary was how it worked.

Conficker is very good at hiding itself on infected computers. And it can spread itself in a number of ways. This includes hitching a ride on a USB drive. Just sticking a thumb drive into an infected computer can activate Conficker. It then copies itself to the drive and waits. Stick that drive into a clean computer, and you've spread the infection.

Conficker isn't the only malware that does this. These kinds of viruses take advantage of Windows' AutoPlay feature. Your computer begins accessing the drive as soon as it's inserted. A weakness in AutoPlay lets the virus move between devices.

Microsoft has patched the vulnerability that Conficker uses. Having an up-to-date system is a good way to fight this problem. And a number of security companies provide removal tools.  But AutoPlay remains a target for malware writers.

Do you need AutoPlay?

AutoPlay lets your computer automatically access external media. It can automatically open a thumb drive. But it's also the feature that automatically runs your CDs and DVDs.

If you turn off AutoPlay, you'll have to start that media manually. That's not a huge deal. Click Start>>Computer in Windows Vista, or Start>>My Computer in XP. Double-click the drive. You decide if that's too much hassle.

If you decide to turn off AutoPlay, the process is fairly simple. You have to edit a Registry entry. That sounds scarier than it really is. But you do have to be careful. Editing the wrong thing can cause big problems. Back up the Registry first. Then, follow these instructions closely.

Click Start. In XP, click Run. In Vista, click inside the search bar. Type "regedit" (minus quotes) and hit enter. This will open the Registry Editor. Double-click on HKEY_CURRENT_USER>>Software>>Microsoft>>Windows>>CurrentVersion>>Policies>>Explorer.

Double-click on the entry titled NoDriveTypeAutoRun. Under Base, select Hexadecimal. In the field labeled "Value data" enter "FF" (minus quotes). Click OK.

Additional protection

Turning off AutoPlay closes the security hole used by viruses like Conficker. But malware writers are always finding new ways to do things. You should have some additional protection.

Your antivirus software can scan removable devices like thumb drives. If you don't have antivirus software, go to my Security Center. Regularly scan your computer to keep it clean. You can also scan thumb drives before accessing them.

Another option is to carry antivirus protection with you. If you use a public computer, it may not have antivirus software. With ClamWin Portable,  you can store an antivirus program on your thumb drive.

ClamWin Portable won't scan the drive or host computer automatically. You'll have to launch it from the drive. Scan the drive before removing it. Then you'll know it's clean when you take it home.

3 great programs to use with your Webcam

One of the coolest gadgets is a Webcam. It lets you have a face-to-face conversation with anyone around the globe. That is one powerful communications tool.

But you'll need the right software to go with it. Not all Webcam programs are complete. I've got three great programs you should check out.

Skype - This program allows you to make free PC-to-PC video calls. You can speak with any other Skype user. It also allows you to connect to the traditional phone system. You'll have to pay for this feature. You can make calls to and receive calls from regular phone numbers.

Yawcam - This program is called Yet Another WebCAM Software. But it does more than most. You can automate your Webcam in a number of ways. It can save photos and video. And it can activate when it senses motion. It can also save photos online. You can check them anywhere.

ManyCam - This program is just for fun. It allows you to add cool special effects to your video feed. You can insert text and graphics while chatting. Make it look like you're chatting from a secluded beach. Or, change your hairstyle and add goofy glasses.

Cost: Free

System: Windows XP and Vista, Mac OS X

Have more fun with Rock Band and Guitar Hero

Rock Band and Guitar Hero have taken over living rooms across the country. Maybe you've formed a family band. You're like a hard-edged Partridge Family.

A few tricks can make playing these games more fun. These are simple and cheap modifications to the instruments. And even better, you and your kids can do them together.

How loud is too loud?

The introduction of drums into music games added a new level of fun. Plus, they would seem a nice, quiet alternative to real drums. But that's not the case.

Hitting the drum pad produces a loud clack. Even if the TV's volume is reasonable, the clacking can be earsplitting. An early morning session is sure to wake the neighbors. Luckily, this problem is easy to solve.

Round up a cheap mouse pad and some double-sided tape. A round mouse pad works best. But a square one can easily be cut to size. You can find these at any office supply store. You shouldn't have to pay more than $10 for the supplies.

If needed, resize the mouse pad to fit in the drumhead. Use the double-sided tape to affix the mouse pad to the drumhead. The mouse pad should have a vinyl graphic on one side. The other side is usually naked foam. Make sure the vinyl side is facing out. The drumsticks can chew through the naked foam in no time.

This modification won't change how the game is played. It will simply be more pleasant for everyone. You can sleep in Saturday mornings. And the kids can still wake up early and rock out.

How about a real challenge?

When it comes to their hobbies, kids are zealous learners. Your kids may have already mastered each instrument. How can you add some additional challenge? Why not let them play two instruments at once?

Professional musicians can play and sing at the same time. Doing it in the game adds a new layer of complexity. Unfortunately, the glaring omission from both games is a mic stand.

This is easily rectified. You can get a cheap mic stand at any local music store. Don't bother with anything fancy. You can easily find one for under $20.

Drumming with both feet

Both drum kits try to imitate real drums. And they do a pretty good job. But there is room to add a little more realism. Rock Band owners could buy a premium drums controller. An actual electronic drums manufacturer builds it. But it costs nearly $500.

There is a better solution that will accommodate owners of both games. Professional drummers often use double bass pedals. This makes them faster. But it takes a lot of coordination. Adding a second pedal to the drum kit is fun and realistic.

Adding another pedal is fairly easy. The included pedal connects to the drum kit using a headphone jack. A headphone splitter will let you connect two pedals into that jack. You can find a splitter at any electronics store. You shouldn't need to spend more than $5.

The difficult part of this modification is finding a second pedal. The latest Guitar Hero release (Guitar Hero: Metallica) supports double pedals. That $70 package includes a splitter and second pedal. Outside of that, neither company sells a standalone pedal.

You could buy a second set of drums. But that could cost between $90 and $100. Your children's friends may have the game as well. Have them bring their pedal over when they play together. Or check eBay and local classifieds sites. People often sell separate pedals.

What about the guitars?

I didn't include any specific modifications to the guitars. That's because the guitars are complex devices. Modifying them usually means cracking them open and messing with the electronics. It's not a project you can do with your kids.

But that doesn't mean your kids can't have fun with the guitars. Right out of the box, the guitars are kind of bland. So, let your kids decorate them. All you need is a box of markers and some fun stickers. They'll make a cool piece of art. And instead of hanging it on the fridge, they can play with it.

SAVE SOME CASH WITH AOL'S FREE SERVICES

Marian in Etters, PA, tunes in to the weekend show on WHP 580 AM. She's been using America Online for years-and paying for it. But she's looking to save money. She wants to start using the free AOL.

For years, AOL took a "walled garden" approach to the Internet. Only paying subscribers could access its e-mail, instant messaging and content. But things have changed a lot lately. The popularity of broadband hurt AOL's dial-up business. So, AOL was forced to redesign its business model.

Now, anyone can access AOL's services for free. On its site, you can access its content and chat rooms. Sign up for its e-mail and instant messaging services. It has also introduced online television and other new features. For example, you can play games and listen to music. The AOL software is not needed to access AOL's services.

New AOL users don't need to do anything. But you'll probably want to keep your current screen names, Marian. After all, few things are as frustrating as switching e-mail accounts.

It's relatively easy to make the switch from your AOL software. Just click the AOL Keyword button. Use the keyword "Change plan." Then, follow the steps to switch to a free plan.

Now, AOL has several plans. Some are for broadband users. Others are for dial-up. If you use an AOL broadband plan, things won't change for you. You can continue to use your broadband provider. But, if you use AOL's dial-up service, you'll need to find a new Internet provider. AOL's dial-up service is not free.

Canceling AOL will save you $10 to $25 monthly.

Copyright 2009 WestStar TalkRadio Network. Reprinted with permission. No further republication or redistribution is permitted without the written consent of WestStar TalkRadio Network. Visit Kim Komando and sign up for her free e-mail newsletters at: www.komando.com

That's all for today's edition, folks.

Until next time -

Digitally yours,

Andrea