Back Up; Back Up; Back Up:

Forty-three percent of people lose irreplaceable files every year.
• Only 3 out of 100 stolen laptops are ever recovered.
• Thousands of files are lost each year to fires, floods and other disasters.
• Up to 13% of hard drives crash in their first year.

Understanding Your Medications: You need to know side effects and dosages. It is also essential to understand drug and food interactions. Check out the Physician’s Desk Reference for this valuable information. This is the guide that doctors use.The publisher has a site for laypeople. PDRhealth provides information about prescription medications. You’ll also find information on over-the-counter medications, herbals and supplements. They can also cause side effects and interactions. This site is valuable for anyone with health questions.  Of course discuss any concerns with your doctor. http://www.pdrhealth.com/home/home.aspx

Flash and External hard drives Don’t Offer Much Security: Thieves wouldn’t have much trouble viewing most of them. Encryption scrambles data using complex algorithms. A key unscrambles the data so it can be read. Password protection also uses a password to prevent access to data. But the data isn’t necessarily scrambled.   http://www.truecrypt.org/

Meal Planning Can Help With Organization: Plan your meals ahead of time will take a big bite out of time stresses during the day. Supercook can help with this along with planning healthy meals and shopping. Start by entering ingredients. The site finds a recipe that uses all or some of them. Pay attention to the “Do you have” box, too.   Supercook is a new recipe search engine that finds recipes you can make with only the ingredients you have at home. The more ingredients you add, the better the results will be  http://www.supercook.com/

Once LIFE Magazine Brought The World to our Mailboxes: Google is archiving LIFE Magazine. It first added a collection of LIFE’s photography to its Images site. Now, Google has placed the magazine on its Books site. Google Books offers every copy of LIFE between 1936 and 1972. That’s 1,800 weekly copies. Each copy is available in its entirety. You can read every story and view every photograph.There’s a contents page for each issue. It has navigation links, for easy access http://books.google.com/books?id=N0EEAAAAMBAJ&source=gbs_navlinks_s#all_issues_anchor

Thanks for listening,
Jerry Robertson

Tech tips courtesy of Rick DeLuca http://www.RealEstateIdeaClub.com

Lenovo Has Issued A Battery Recall: Fortunately, the batteries are not being recalled due to safety concerns. Rather, they are faulty and don’t work correctly. Users may receive messages such as “Battery cannot be charged.” The recall affects batteries in six ThinkPad models. Lenovo has a diagnostic tool on its site. If you own a ThinkPad, visit Lenovo’s site. If your battery is defective, Lenovo will issue a replacement battery.

Digitize Your Signature: A scanner is an easy way to digitize your signature. Simply sign a piece of white paper and scan it into your computer. Then, drop it into documents.  You can use your camera in lieu of a scanner. Again, sign a white piece of paper. Then, snap a photo of it.  A graphics tablet is probably the best way to digitize your signature. You open a new file in a graphics program like MS Paint. Use the pen included with the tablet to sign your name.

Compare Foods For Proper Nutrition: Twofoods can help you make smarter decisions about the food you eat. It will help you compare the nutritional value of two foods. Just enter the foods you’d like to compare. Then, hit Enter. You’re presented with nutrition information. Below the nutrition information, you’ll see other choices. These help you get more specific with your comparison. Twofoods provides information on calories, carbs, fat and protein content. This is great for those on a diet. Twofoods isn’t limited to generic foods. You can also look up specific menu items from restaurants.  http://www.twofoods.com/

Here’s A Great Mapping Site: Google, Microsoft and Yahoo! all have excellent mapping sites. You may prefer one over the others. Geshout will help you decide which you like best. Enter an address in the search box and click Go. You’ll see the address on three maps from the three companies. It is interesting to see each company’s approach to mapping services!  http://geshout.com/mapscompare/all.php

Thanks for listening,
Jerry Robertson
678-231-1578 Cell

Amazing Gigapixel Photography: It isn’t uncommon to see digital cameras with 12-megapixel or larger sensors. But check out gigapixel photography which is about one billion pixels. Gigapixel images are created by stitching hundreds of photographs together. The resulting panoramas are breathtaking! Gigapixel photography is typically used with wide, expansive subjects. However, one innovative photographer has combined gigapixel photography and microscopic imaging. The results are stunning. Click the images. They’ll open in the GigaPan viewer and then zoom in on portions of the photos.Prepare to be amazed! http://www.gigapan.org/index.php

Genealogical Research Is Very Interesting: Why not work on your family tree? You can do considerable research within websites. At this site find links to birth and death records, deeds and much more. The site is organized by state. So, it helps to know where your ancestors lived. But you’ll find clues as you do your research. http://www.usgenweb.org/

Google City Tours Helps Plan Visits To New Cities: You probably want to plan a trip carefully to a new area. Use Google’s new City Tours feature. City Tours puts together a travel itinerary for you. All you need do is enter your destination city! Along with your itinerary, you’ll get maps showing you where to go. In most cases, it will give you a three-day itinerary. Also, it only gives you an hour at each attraction. Check out each attraction with Google’s link to make sure you want to go there. City Tour itineraries are easily edited. So, you can add or remove attractions as you see fit. http://citytours.googlelabs.com/

It’s a Good Life!!!!
Jerry Robertson

Microsoft Windows 7 Release: Microsoft plans to release Windows 7 on Oct. 22. This poses a dilemma for computer buyers. Do you buy a new computer now, or wait until Windows 7’s release? Microsoft doesn’t want to deter customers from buying new computers. So, it has launched an upgrade program. It offered a similar program for Vista. Computers purchased June 26 or later qualify for a free upgrade. To qualify, a machine must be running Vista Home Premium, Business or Ultimate. You’ll get a comparable version of Windows 7.

Genealogy Can Be Interesting and Valuable: The Internet provides a wealth of information for genealogists. There is no one-stop spot for genealogists. The National Archives is an outstanding research site. You can access a variety of databases containing genealogical records. The National Archives also contain records that are not online yet. It’s site will help you track down copies of the records. You will find plenty of tips and advice for making the most of your search! http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/

Making Plans For Your Trip: There is always so much to do before taking a trip. Plants, mail, cameras and packing will all need to be considered, plus more. Planning carefully before going on vacation may start by making a list of everything you need to do. Packwhiz can eliminate a lot of the pre-vacation stress. It helps you create a customized packing list. You can access it anywhere you have an Internet connection.Start by selecting some options for your trip. Packwhiz will generate a list based on your destination, transportation and accommodations. http://www.packwhiz.com/

Things To Do At Home Or Travel: If you are planning a trip or going to stay close to home this summer, NextStop.com is a site that may help you find things to do. There’s plenty to see and explore nearby. It will help you find the most interesting attractions in your area. There are also plenty of restaurants you will enjoy trying. Check it out. http://www.nextstop.com/

Your Webcam Help With Software: There are many things you can do with a Webcam. And the software you use should allow you to do it. You can take photos and record video with your Webcam. Those photos can be directly uploaded to the Web. You could use motion sensing to activate your Webcam. And there is a whole lot more. Yawcam is free program that can do everything you need. Most of it can be automated. You can also schedule the recording of photos and video. Couple this with motion sensing and you’ve got a security camera. It can record while you’re out. But it won’t bother when you’re home  http://www.yawcam.com/

One I have shared before is www.AbeBooks.com as a place to order books online for a great price. They offer used books on all subjects and in good condition. I get almost all my books from them now. Check them out.

Have a great summer and check back here for news on the market and other technology tips.

It’s a Good Life!!
Jerry W. Robertson

Brighten Up Your Computer’s Desktop: Many of us use family photos or whatever your computer has. National Geographic is a great place for landscape and animal photos. It provides free desktop wallpaper for download. You can also download a nice selection of photos taken by National Geographic readers. The photos in the Your Shot collection are simply amazing. There are also puzzles, games and contests. You can even submit your work! http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/wallpaper

Site Features Job Postings For Veterans And Their Families: Companies posting to VetJobs are specifically targeting veterans. So, they realize the challenges veterans face. More importantly, they realize the contribution that veterans can make in the workplace.Veterans who are looking for a job can’t afford to miss this site! http://vetjobs.com/

Legal Issues Help: State and federal laws are often complex and confusing. Nothing will beat the advice of a good attorney. If you’re faced with serious legal issues, that’s the way to go. Sometimes you just need a question answered or need some help deciding when to call your attorney. Nolo Press is known for publishing legal guides. This site features advice on a wide variety of legal topics. You’ll also find answers to frequently asked legal questions. Also, can help you select an attorney in your area to help you. http://www.nolopress.com/

Calendar That Sits On Your Desktop: You can view scheduled events and to-do lists right there. It’s convenient and easy to use. Or just roll over a day to see its events. You can set alarms for upcoming events. You’ll get a reminder when you have something to do. Current and upcoming events are also displayed in the Events pane. So, there are several ways to stay on top of your schedule. Free http://www.rainlendar.net/cms/index.php?option=com_rny_download&Itemid=30

Thanks for listening,
Jerry W. Robertson

CraigsList Reader Powerful Desktop Application: You can have the power to search all of craigs list postings. Nationwide craigslist search tool allows you to search multiple sites and monitor new classified posts via email alerts. You can also limit your searches to titles or postings that have an image. Powerful desktop search engine software for bargain hunters. Go to www.MotionT.com and check out the tools they offer. BTW, the Craigslist Reader is FREE. I am using it to find a car for us to use for a while. It really works and I recommend it to you.

Last Minute Auction is a great site to use to find a bargin on eBay. This is from their website.  lastminute-auction.com was born of a pretty simple idea. We had always used eBay and knew that there were some great bargains on the site … if only we could find them. There are a thousand ways to define ‘bargain’, but the one we decided upon was Under a Dollar, Under an Hour. We started searching for these typs of auctions, selfishly intending to use the results ourselves. However, when we realized there were constantly thousands of auctions that met our ‘bargain’ criteria, we thought we should probably make our lists available to the world. Our moms always told us that we should do something to help mankind before we die. Although this was probably not what they had in mind, we think it counts.

Printing Is Not Free: You have to use lots of ink and paper. And ink, especially, is not cheap. Luckily, you can use your printer and cut costs.

GreenPrint: This program will help you print only what you want. Sometimes you only need a few pages of a document or site. Why print the whole thing? Highlight unwanted pages and remove them. GreenPrint will calculate how many pages and dollars you’ve saved. http://www.printgreener.com/productworld.html

Smart Web Printing: Printing off the Web can waste a lot of paper. You end up printing navigation, pictures and ads. With this program, you can select a specific part of the page. You can even make selections from several sites. And then you can print them on a single piece of paper. http://h71036.www7.hp.com/hho/cache/482779-0-0-225-121.html?jumpid=ex_r602_go/smartwebprinting1/central Free

Ecofont: The font you use for writing documents also matters. Different fonts use different  amounts of space and ink. Ecofont claims to use 20-percent less ink than similar fonts. Letters are full of holes http://www.ecofont.eu/splash_en_pro.html Free

Keep Track Of How Far You Run Or Walk: Check out Gmaps Pedometer. It is simpler and less cumbersome than a physical pedometer. Gmaps Pedometer is a Google map. You can zoom in to your area. Then, click Start Recording. Double-click the map to highlight your path. Gmaps Pedometer will calculate the distance you ran or walked! Save the route, or print a map for posterity. You can even export your route in GPX format. This lets you share it with GPS software installed on your computer.
http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/ 

The Internet Makes Comparison Shopping Easy: You can check an item’s price on numerous sites in a matter of minutes. To make online shopping even easier, try Price!pinx. All you need do is install a bookmark in your browser. Then, when you’re on a site’s product page, highlight the price. Next, click the Price!pinx bookmark. Price!pinx does all the work for you. You’ll receive a notification if the price drops! Price!pinx can also help you with low-price guarantees. It’s great for cash-strapped families!   http://www.pricepinx.com

Free Stuff For Birthdays:  You wouldn’t believe what companies will give you on your birthday. All you need do is click on the Adults or Kids button. Then, select your state. Narrow down offers by selecting a business category like restaurant or entertainment.You’ll see a list of birthday offers. There are also details on how to redeem a particular offer. They make growing older easier!   http://www.freebirthdaytreats.com/

Enjoy and call me if you need help with anything real estate. I have some great new listings at www.CurrentListings.RealtyCaffeine.com if you know anyone thinking of buying right now. 

It’s a Good Life,
Jerry W. Robertson
678-231-1578 Cell

www.abebooks.com  is a great site for buying books. Used and new and they are great deals.

www.jingproject.com is a great tool for clipping screens and sharing info with others.

www.stubhub.com is a source for tickets to your favorite team events or shows.

My current listings are here so please come and see if you know someone that would love a house from this list. WE ARE HAVING A SALE ON REAL ESTATE AND RATES ARE STILL LOW!! The news is not telling you the whole truth. We can still close deals so if you or someone you know are interested, this is the best time we have seen in 20 years to buy. We are having a sale!

Jerry Robertson
678-231-1578 Cell

I hope the Fall weather is sitting well with you. This is my favorite time of year and so far this is a great time. We have had some rain so hopefully the fall flowers and other foliage will give us one last burst of color before Winter sets in. We have been busy with lots of things and this week is no exception. Of course one of those things is the tech update. Here are a few things to check out and see if you find them helpful in your work or play.

Jing – The concept of Jing is the always-ready program that instantly captures and shares images and video…from your computer to anywhere.  Try it, you’ll like it. It’s free. Go to www.jingproject.com to download your copy.

 Most Of Us Use Multiple Computers: Work, home, and on the run. You need to worry about your data. How will you access it from all of these machines? Many carry a thumb drive or a CD or even tote a portable hard drive. Jooce is a new way to access your data on the go. Once you sign up, you get your very own virtual desktop. You can upload your documents and music files. You can also set up instant messaging accounts. Then, sign in from any computer to access your data. Jooce makes it easy to share your data with others. http://jooce.com/#

Capturing thoughts on the road – I told you about Jott a while back and it is still out there as a way to capture voice and convert to to text but it is no longer free. A new program out there is Reqall. It works in a similar way to Jott but it is still free. Check it out at www.ReQall.com and see if you like how it works. I use it just about every day.

Laptop Screen Too Dark When Running On Batteries: There is a solution.  Somewhere on your keyboard, you’ll find a key marked “fn.” You also have a key with a small screen drawn on it. It will have an arrow pointing up. Depress the fn key. While it’s depressed, tap the other key. Keep tapping until you’re satisfied. Caution, the bright display consumes more battery power.

Have a great week and call me if you know someone looking for real estate. This is a great time to buy. If you want to hear the facts on the market locally call me about that too. The news is not telling you the whole truth. We are having a good year in Atlanta in real estate but it is very different than it was in the past. Just let me know if I can do anything to help you. Business or othewise, just let me know.

Jerry Robertson

678-231-1578 Cell