Soluto Solves Slow Startups

A quick trip to the Soluto “Anti-Frustration Software” site, an 80 second video, a small download and an easy install, netted this user over a 25% savings on start up times to an already speedy system!

The entire process is quite intuitive and user friendly, offering both beginner and advanced options to guide you step-by-step. With the end results listing all the programs that run at start up and exactly how long it actually takes.

As you can see above, my system took a little over two minutes to load, with 80 applications running AT BOOT UP. (I had no idea)

The green section shows “No-brainer” applications to remove from the boot up list…to be delayed or paused to be more precise, and hovering over any of the slices reveals a drop drown information window that tells you how long that program is taking to load up, the name of the program and a recommendation to either pause or delay that program on future start ups.

After spending a couple of minutes deciding to either delay a program or pause it all together, I restarted my computer shaved off nearly 30 seconds from previous start ups.

Soluto ‘s goal is “ to bring an end to the frustrations PC users encounter”; however, there are so many different programs, with so many different people – who have various levels of skill – being used in so many different configurations, that the task itself seems overwhelming…Enter: The PC Genome project.

“Soluto's PC Genome is a knowledgebase of PC frustration data built automatically through the usage of Soluto software. Its objective and statistical information, gathered and analyzed by Soluto, is also editable by the community.”

Included in this beta version is even an option to let Soluto know when you’ve been the victim of some computer operation or lack there of. You simply right click on the Soluto icon in the systray, and click on “My PC just frustrated me” and the program sends a report back to the PC Genome project, with ‘Frustration Suspects’ that will be analyzed and ‘mapped’ in order to provide a future solution.

Who knows, maybe one day soon, we will live an a frustration free world…but until then, there’s always Call of Duty or Whack-a-mole for a therapeutic outlet. ~ DDTG

The New Blog

Working on the New Blog but going to try to Import this other one, we'll see how it goes!

memory for your mother, for Mother's Day

Mother's Day is Sunday (May 9th). Lexar is suggesting that you consider giving portable memory storage (for data) as a gift...

At first thought, it may not seem like a great idea...but, hold on: it's something she can keep things on and take with her anywhere she goes. She can put important information on it, like a will and health records. Pictures and videos can be available for her to show-off. And, she can copy some music files so she can listen to them.

They can be very stylish. For example, Lexar has drives available in different colors and sizes:

16GB JumpDrive FireFly (Red)

8GB JumpDrive FireFly (Charcoal)

4GB JumpDrive FireFly (White)

2GB JumpDrive FireFly (Black)

"...It also serves as a fashionable accessory and comes with a key chain hole so it can be easily tethered onto a key ring, attached to a backpack, or hooked to a purse or briefcase..."

To enhance it as a gift, I thought you can: purchase a USB drive...copy files to it that she will love (pictures, audio recordings, and videos of and from family)...and then give it to her on Mother's Day. With a tissue, because there's a good chance she might think it's so sweet she'll shed a tear or two...

http://lexar.com/jumpdrive/jd_firefly.html

Yeti USB microphone review

"You have a package...and it's 'heavy'..."

So, I'm thinking I need to warm-up to keep from pulling a muscle...until I saw the box was 10 inches tall, and 5 to 6 inches wide on the sides. It only weighed about 3.5 pounds. (Based on the description by others, maybe we Americans really do need to exercise more...)

"Look, ma...it's a Yeti!"

(in my best Marlin Perkins voice)
"The Yeti...or, 'Abominable Snowman'...is a mythological creature. An ape-like cryptid said to inhabit the Himalayan region of Nepal and Tibet. The names Yeti and Meh-Teh are commonly used by the people indigenous to the region..." (Thanks, Wikipedia.)

However, the "Yeti" I received from Blue Microphones connects via USB. And, it's got "toys".

"The Yeti is the most advanced and versatile multi-pattern USB microphone available anywhere. Combining three capsules and four different pattern settings...THX Certified..."

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"THX certifies products for your entire home entertainment experience."

"THX Certified Multimedia Products are designed and engineered for PC gaming and multimedia on the desktop."

"...A rigid THX testing process ensures the fidelity of the recording always remains true to its source, allowing you to accurately capture voice-overs, interviews and other sound elements with confidence..."

* Ultimate recording and playback fidelity: Superior design, quality and rigorous lab testing by THX affirms the best possible recording and playback fidelity.

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On the front of the microphone there is a mute button, and a volume control for the headphone jack which is at the bottom of the microphone.



At the rear is a gain control, and the pattern selector for:
Omnidirectional (picks up sound equally from all directions)...
Stereo mode (left and right)...
Cardioid (for recording sound directly in front of the microphone)...
and Bidirectional (the microphone picks up sound at the front and rear of the microphone).



Omnidirectional and Stereo modes should give better quality, because the other two modes are attempting to "reject" sound.

Available on the bottom is a threaded mic stand mount. (Sweet!) On one side of that is a Mini-USB jack, and the 3.5mm headphone jack on the other.

A ten foot USB cord is included.

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When I plugged the microphone into a computer that has Windows Vista as its operating system, the microphone was installed, and it works. End of review.

I mean...that's it. At this time, I have nothing else to report. Other than I've been keeping it very close to me when I sleep. And a baseball bat nearby...

I love it. Get it...use it. I plan on doing so...you will be hearing from the Yeti. And me.

http://www.bluemic.com/yeti/

http://www.facebook.com/bluemicrophones

free software to access HFS/Mac file systems

For a limited time, Paragon Software is giving free licenses for HFS for Windows:

"HFS for Windows enables the use of Mac-formatted partitions in Windows operating systems...

"...Windows cannot read from and write to HFS+ partitions. This limits the ability to exchange or share files between Windows and Mac OS X file systems...

"Paragon HFS for Windows is designed to provide full (read and write) access to HFS+ partitions. It can be installed on all versions of Windows..."

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"HFS for Windows, the only software that lets you read Apple iPods, Macs and iPad data from a Windows PC...

"If you have an iPod you may probably know that it contains all your music inside some sly hidden folders. When you attach your iPod (excluding Touch models) to the system it can be seen as a simple Removable Flash Drive..."

Even if you don't need it now, do consider that having this software might be very helpful in the future...

Stoplight Clock to keep the kids in bed

I have a friend who posted on a social networking service that, as most kids do, his daughter will awaken and get out bed before she should...until he purchased a particular clock.

It's the Stoplight Sleep Enhancing Clock.

"...toddlers know their colors and understand that red means stop and green means go...When the red light is on, kids will understand that it is still time to sleep. When the green light turns on, kids will know that it is time to get out of bed. A digital clock and optional beeping alarm function are also included as well as a nightlight feature that can be used separately."

To keep time constant in the clock due to a power outage, it needs two AA batteries (which are not included).

The clocks are also available from Lillian Vernon, Amazon, and One Step Ahead.

updates coming for the iPhone (and iPod Touch)

Apple has announced a new operating system...or "update", if you will...to the iPhone and iPod Touch. It will not work with ALL models of iPhones and the iPod Touch.

"iPhone OS 4 will ship this summer for iPhone and iPod touch, and for iPad in the fall...

"...New features include the following:

"Multitasking...you’ll be able to make a Voice over IP call while playing a game or checking email, find a restaurant on Urbanspoon while listening to Pandora, and more.

"Folders...Organize apps into folders with drag-and-drop simplicity...

"See messages from all your email accounts displayed together in a unified inbox, switch between inboxes more quickly, organize messages by threads, and even open attachments in third-party apps.

(COMPATIBILITY)

"iPhone OS 4 will work with iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, and the second- and third-generation iPod touch this summer, and with iPad in the fall. Not all features are compatible with all devices. For example, multitasking is available only with iPhone 3GS and the third-generation iPod touch (32GB and 64GB models from late 2009)."