Living a Digital Lifestyle Newsletter - April 21, 2009

LIVING A DIGITAL LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

Volume 1, Issue 48 April 21, 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)

Get a Web site for your event

There's always a lot going on at this time of year. Prom and graduation season are almost here. And Mother's Day and Father's Day are right around the corner.

Perhaps you have parties planned. Maybe you'll have a small dinner. Or maybe you'll go all out and rent a venue.

Of course, you also need to think about invitations. You could send invitations the old-fashioned way-via mail.

But who has the time to write and address invitations? And why not save money on stamps?

At today's Cool Site, you'll find an easy way to create invitations. Or, rather, it will help you create your own invitation Web site.

Start by naming your event and selecting a site name. Then, add important details and a map. You can also create a custom design and password protect the site.

You can then send a link to your site to the guests of your choice. They will be able to RSVP to your invitation quickly and easily. There is no registration needed.

You also get tools to manage your guest list and guestbook. This is a fun, free and easy way to organize your events!

TO VISIT TODAY'S COOL SITE, GO HERE:
www.invite43.com

Step-by-step, erase data for good

Q. A gentleman called your show. He wanted to be sure his files were really deleted. You mentioned the program Eraser. I have the same issue. I downloaded Eraser, but I'm not sure how to use it. Can you offer some guidance? I am a Kim's Club member. I download you and take you on my walks. You make my time exercising go by so fast! Thank you!
-Jeremy in Buffalo, NY, listening via Kim's Club and podcast

A. When you delete files, you want to be done with them. You could be removing files containing important personal information. Or you could be clearing a hard drive before disposing of it.

When you delete a file using the Recycle Bin, it isn't really gone. The space it occupies is simply labeled as unused. It can then be overwritten with new data. But if the file isn't overwritten, it can be easily recovered.

In some cases, it might be important to delete files permanently. Eraser is the program I recommend for that purpose. It overwrites a file's space with meaningless data. This makes the information in that file irretrievable.

Unfortunately, Eraser isn't intuitive. Some of its deeper features can be confusing. So let's look at what Eraser can do, A to Z.

First thing, set the erasing method. There are several ways to securely overwrite files. Some methods are better or faster than others.
Click Edit>>Preferences>>Erasing. Select the Files tab. For erasing files, choose Gutmann.

Each overwrite of a file is called a pass. The more passes, the more thorough the deletion. The Gutmann method makes 35 passes. That exceeds military standards. You can be sure your files are securely erased.

You can also use Eraser to overwrite unused space on your hard drive. This setting does not affect the files you want to keep. So, only the files you want are accessible. That unused space could be dozens of gigabytes. Using the Gutmann method would take a really long time. Other methods do a decent job. And they won't waste a lot of time and system resources.

Click on the Unused Disk Space tab. Again, you'll see the list of erasing methods. Select either Pseudorandom Data or one of the US DoD options. These methods make far fewer passes than Gutmann. Click OK to confirm the settings.

There's more--a lot more--Eraser can do. Click here to read the rest.

Are you wasting food?

I don't take risks when it comes to expired foods. I don't want to endanger the health of my family-or myself!

You're probably the same way. But you may be looking for ways to save on groceries. And cutting waste is one of the best ways to accomplish this.

At StillTasty, you can learn more about food safety. Learn the difference between "sell by," "best before" and "expires on" dates.

There is also a large database of foods. Find out how long something will keep in your fridge or freezer. There are also tips for extending food lifespans.

You'll also want to check out the frequently asked questions section. And don't forget to read the tips for handling food safely!

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

Watch Netflix on your TV

Q. We recently subscribed to Netflix. We really enjoy streaming movies to our computer. But is there a way to get them on our HDTV? The larger screen and more comfortable seating would be nice.
-Joleen in Rochester, MN, listening on KROC 1340 AM

A. Netflix is a pretty cool service. For those who don't know, Netflix is an online DVD rental service. Subscribers have their choice of DVDs delivered to their doorstep.

In addition, users can stream movies and shows over the Internet. Netflix calls this Watch Instantly.

The Watch Instantly feature works on both PCs and Macs. But that isn't the best way to watch a blockbuster action flick. As you said, you want to relax on the couch. You want to use that TV.

Thankfully, there are several ways to get it on your TV.

You can use a DVD player or your computer. Check out my info!

Upgrade to 64-bit?

Q. It's time for me to upgrade my computer. I also would upgrade to Photoshop CS4. I want a fast system that will last me five years. But I do not want to have to upgrade peripherals immediately. Has the time come to move to a 64-bit system? Or, should I stay with 32-bit?
-Ken in Auburn, WA, listening on KTTH 770 AM

A. You're assuming you have a choice. Stores today are loaded with 64-bit systems. Powerful 32-bit systems are still available from computer makers online. But they're going the way of the dodo bird.

Furthermore, Photoshop is one of the few programs that take advantage of 64-bit Vista. So, you could actually have a good reason to buy it.

But 64-bit has its downside, too. Many older peripherals won't work on 64-bit. That could include yours.

Before we get further into this, let's explain 32- and 64-bits.

Until recent years, most computers were 32-bit systems. That means they could crunch 32 bits at a time. (Bits are a basic computer measurement. Eight bits make a byte.)

In 2003, 64-bit AMD microprocessors began to appear in consumer computers. Theoretically, they would be faster than 32-bit microprocessors. However, consumer software could not take advantage of them. So, they were only good for bragging rights.

Eventually, Intel began making them, too. And Microsoft brought out 64-bit consumer versions of Windows. So, over time, 64-bit systems have become mainstream. Today, that is mostly what you'll find in stores.

The 64-bit equipment, both hardware and software, will run 32-bit programs. The only problem today is with peripherals. They need new drivers. Drivers are programs that tell Windows how to run the peripherals. Often, those drivers are not available for 64-bit systems. The alternative: Buy new peripherals.

Thinking about a 64-bit computer? Click here for all the details.

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