cFos Speed is a unique utility that I stumbled upon while looking for a way to optimize my Internet connection. I was getting frustrated at just simply browsing the Internet while downloading a large file or watching a Internet based video while talking to my wife on Skype.
Basically what this utility does is something called “‘Traffic Shaping”. Traffic Shaping is the process of looking at the data that is flowing in and out of your computer to the Internet and regulating that flow to optimize your experience. So for example, in my first scenario of downloading a large file while trying to browse the Internet, the process of downloading that large file ties up the computer not because the computer can’t handle it, but because the large string of data coming down is so long that the computer cannot send something back out (for instance a browser request to go to google.com) in a timely manner. It may take several seconds for the browser to get a break in the long stream of downloading data to send out the request. What you end up seeing is a very sluggish or even non-responding browser. With cFos speed installed, when the browser requests something, cFos Speed will temporarily stop the download stream, send the request out from the browser, and then resume the download. This all happens very quickly and the end result is that the download doesn’t appear to stop and the browser is very responsive. cFos Speed does this by assigning priorities for programs and protocols giving high priorities to the programs that deal with short sporadic data requests and low priorities for programs that handle large data strings. cFos Speed is easy to install and for basic needs configures itself over the course of a day or so of your normal activity. You will see no loss in download speeds and you will see dramatically decreased ping times and crisp browsing while downloading large files or watching bandwidth-hogging video. For gamers, this utility will reduce or even eliminate lagging in your Internet based games.
cFos Speed is highly configurable and is compatible with all versions of Windows including the new Windows 7 and has native versions for both 32 and 64 bit Windows.
This is probably THE most useful utility I have ever installed and is now my number one install after building a new system, even before I install an anti-virus! (Although I do install the anti-virus RIGHT after cFos Speed) ;o)
cFos Speed: For $23, don’t surf without it!
tim Productivity, Tech, Utilities, Vista64, WEB, Windows 7
Dedicated readers like Kindle or Sony Book will never become ‘big’… They are missing two key features: COLOR and versatility. Why do you need color? This was the same question asked when computer monitors only came in monochrome. This was the same question asked when printers only printed black & white. The answer is the same: HUMANS LIKE COLOR. I’ll stick with my iPhone, arguably the best gadget ever designed. I get a small, yet readable size, COLOR (dark red on parchment is EASY on the eyes), I can read in the dark (it IS very helpful such as on dimly lit subways), AND I can get books from almost anywhere such as eReader.com. Of course, the iPhone is also a phone, browser, media player, scheduling center, entertainment center, database, etc. etc. etc.
tim Entertainment, Life, Music, Photography, Productivity, Tech, WEB, iPhone
One of the first orders of business for my new iPhone was to protect the case and screen from scratches. Zagg has two products for the iPhone; a screen shield and a full body ‘armor’ both using a specially formulated film that resists scratching and rub marks. The fully body armor includes the screen shield. I purchased both kits and attempted installing just the screen shield first. The process uses a special spray on fluid and a squeege. The fluid allows you to adjust the film until it is precisely positioned. Unfortunately, I did not use enough fluid, although the instructions state ‘lightly spray’, and the screen stuck in several places and getting it unstuck resulted in ruining the film. So if you decide to use this product, spray HEAVY not lightly. I contacted Zagg about getting another screen film, but they never responded. Only ONE film is included in the kits so the money paid for this kit was wasted. I then took the full body armor kit and, learning my mistake from the first kit, used a lot of fluid to position the screen film. This worked quite well and I was able to very accurately position the film. Using the same technique with the fluid, I positioned the body armor film and squeeged it down. Getting the corners to stick was another matter, but a quick look into Zagg tech support revealed that letting the fluid semi-dry first then press the corners on would work, and it did. My iPhone is now covered in the new Zagg shield. One of the side benefits of the body film is the ‘grippiness’… the iPhone is much less slippery and I feel more confident in holding it.
In summary: use lots of fluid for this product and view the install videos on line at Zagg.com… they were a great help. I’ll report again on this product in several weeks to tell how this product performed.
tim Productivity, Tech, iPhone Zagg shield
I finally took the big ‘dive’ and upgraded my old Motorola Razr to an iPhone 3G. This was a big move/decision for me because I have great expectations from this device to replace several other devices I’m carrying around (namely: Palm T|X, older iPod, Motorola Razr, camera, and an Air Card). In addition, I was hoping to also replace my alarm clock, and, in some instances, my laptop.
Having used it for a few weeks now, I can say that it has been able to replace all of those devices and more. There has been some issues which I’ll outline, but the experience has been very, very rewarding. I have to give credit to Apple… this one device is, perhaps, the best designed gadget I have ever worked with.
Over the next several months, I’ll be posting my experiences with this device and with AT&T service which is exclusively tied to it. I won’t explore the jail-break side of the iPhone since most people will not jail-break their phone and void their warrenties.
tim Productivity, iPhone
I have to laugh at all of the people who ‘camp’ in one OS or the other…they really don’t understand OSes at all!! ALL of them have problems…ALL of them have advantages… ALL of them have disadvantages… ALL ofthem have quirks. I’ve used them all… Windows from version 2 to Vista Ultimate, Unix System V, Linux (any distro you can name), Mainframe Oses, Mac, proprietary mini-computer OSes like Motorola’s Unix-like OS9 and IV Phase’s Data 4 and Vision… no one is ‘better’ or ‘more secure’ than another… If you understand OSes you can get into them easily and you can take advantage of what they have to offer…
The boot process on a PC has nothing to do with the OS: it’s a process that STARTS the OS, was defined in the early ’70s and has never changed. If your looking for total control over this process look into Bootit NG from Terabyte Unlimited… Iv’e tried all of the boot managers and this one gives the best control and invades the target OSes the least. … I’m still laughing….
digg Life, Productivity, Tech, Utilities
I have been using Jimi Wallets for a few years now, and I can’t live without them! They are slim, efficient, and versatile… The only drawback (or advantage) to them is you can’t overload them. They hold about 4 or 5 credit/ID cards and a few bills. I find that if you fold the bills in thirds rather than quarters you can fit more in. If you do overstuff the wallet consistantly for a long period of time the plastic hinge will warp… other than that it is as near a perfect wallet as was ever created! Go get one! You will never go back.
admin Life, Productivity
eBay to go now includes widgets for displaying by sellers and stores in addition to the previous single item, multiple item, and search.
Hooray! Check out the new widget in My eBay Auctions page…
SINGLE ITEM
MULTIPLE ITEMS
SEARCH
SELLER
STORE
tim Application, Productivity, Tech, WEB
This is a REALLY great photo sharing/storage site that is also innovative and affordable.
I have been using the service for about a month (there is a free 30 day trial) and I’m just blown-away with all of the features and the ease of use of this wonderful service.
Presentation of your photos is far beyond Flickr, Shutterfly, Kodak, and YouTube (yes Phanfare handles videos also… seamlessly). There is monthly, yearly, and a lifetime cost: very affordable.
Store and present your photos and videos with style and class: Phanfare now!
Excerpt from site:
Elegant Online Photo and Video Albums
With Phanfare, your photos and videos are beautifully presented online for your friends and family to enjoy. You get your own web address (yourusername.phanfare.com) for ease of use and unlimited storage so all your photos and videos are preserved for years to come.
Photo and Video Slideshows with Music and Captions
Your Phanfare slideshows fill the whole screen with your photos and videos. You can add your own music and captions. The result is an amazing, professional-looking slideshow.
Share your Albums with Friends and Family
With Phanfare you get a website (yourusername.phanfare.com) to share with your friends and family.
If you already own your own web domain, you can host your photos under your personal domain name. You can also set a password for your web albums. Your friends can view slideshows, order prints or download full-size originals directly from your website — and we will NEVER ask them to register at Phanfare to see your albums.
Enhanced Video Support
Upload your video clips to Phanfare and then see them on your albums and even in your slideshows with your photos. Phanfare will convert your video files into Flash for easy viewing by your friends and family.
admin Application, Life, Photography, Productivity, WEB
Innovative service that is very useful!
Quoted from http://grandcentral.com/about/whatisgc/:
GrandCentral: The New Way To Use Your Phones
What is GrandCentral?
Get all the same calls, but in a whole new way.
GrandCentral doesn’t replace your phones; we just link them together and help them do more. How do we do that? We give people One Number…for LifeTM – a number that’s not tied to a phone or a location – but tied to you.
With GrandCentral, you can be reached with a single number, answer a call at any phone you want, seamlessly switch phones in the middle of a call, and even know whether a call is important before you take it.
What else can I do with GrandCentral?
We’re not your typical phone company. And these aren’t your typical features.
- Check your messages by phone, email, or online
- Keep all your messages online for eternity
- Record and store your phone calls (just like voicemail)
- Quickly (and secretly) block an annoying caller
- Click-to-dial from your address book
- Surprise your callers with a custom voicemail greeting
- Turn your Mp3s into the ring tones your callers hear
- Forward, download, and add notes to your messages
admin Life, Productivity, WEB
Tag&Rename is a handy utility designed for music files management. With Tag&Rename you can quickly and easily rename your music collection using the embedded tag data, write new or edit existing tag information, create tags based on file names, get songs information from freedb/amazon.com servers and mach more. Tag&Rename now support: mp3 (ID3v1, ID3v2.2, ID3v2.3 and ID3v2.4 tags), MusePack mpc/mp+ (APEv1, APEv2 and ID3v1 tags), Windows Media – wma, asf and wmv files, Ogg Vorbis/Flac/Speex (vorbis comments), Apple iTunes and iPod aac (m4a) files including mp4, lossless m4a and protected m4p files, most popular lossless codecs including Monkey’s Audio, Flac, Wav Pack, Optim Frog, True Audio, Apple and Windows Media lossless formats. Tag&Rename include full Unicode support.
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admin Application, Music, Productivity, Utilities
