From Blogger to Facebook

When you are using programs that are internet-based, things change from time to time.  A year ago I set up this blog to automatically send posts to my facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/betsythepcteacher)

Today I realized that the posts were no longer being sent to Facebook or Twitter.  Everyone needs to do a little troubleshooting.  Even The PC Teacher.

Happy Clicking,

Betsy Sabatini Coyne
The PC Teacher

Google Doodle Logos

If you misssed the interactive PAC-MAN Google Logo, check out this website:

http://www.google.com/logos/

You can browse Google's Doodle Logos from the past.

Happy clicking,

Betsy Sabatini Coyne

The PC Teacher

http://www.thepcteacher.com/

Pac-Man: 1 player or 2 player

Today is the last day to enjoy the Google Logo: an interactive PAC-MAN game to celebrate it's 30th anniversary.

Did you notice the Insert Coin button? 
Go to http://www.google.com/

1. Click the Insert Coin button (where the "I'm Feeling Lucky" button usually is located)
2. or wait 10 seconds and the game begins.
3. Use your arrow keys on your computer keyboard to move Pac-Man around the screen.
4. or Click the Insert Coin button a second and Ms. Pac-Man appears!
5. Now the game is 2-player!
6. Player one is Pac-Man: use your arrow keys to move your player up, down, left, right
7. Player two is Ms. Pac-Man: use your W,A,S,D keys to move your player up (w), down (s), left (a) and right (d).
8. Stay away from the red, pink, yellow, and turquoise ghosts.  They will eat you and the game is over.
9. Pac-Man eats up the dots on the screen to earn points.
10. Earn extra points by eating the ghosts when the turn blue!  But you must chase them before they turn back into their original colors.

As always, happy clicking......

Betsy Sabatini Coyne
The PC Teacher
http://www.thepcteacher.com/

USB Media Card Reader

During The PC Clique held last week, we discussed methods for transferring your photos from digital camera to your computer.  The PC Clique is a technology support group held every 3rd Thursday of the month in Ramsey, NJ.   For more info: http://www.thepcteacher.com/

Below is a link describing the media card reader we were discussing.  This type of reader is great for transferring photos from your digital camera to your computer.  The type below is compatible with the Secure Digital (SD) card as well as the MultiMediaCard (MMC) type.  This type of card reader is small and fits in your pocket..



Another option is a card reader that fits all types of media cards.   These types usually come with a cable and are slightly bigger than the one above.

How to Rent a Movie with iTunes

How to rent a movie from the iTunes Store on your computer

iTunes can be downloaded to a PC and is compatible with Windows.

You can use iTunes even if you don't own an iPod or iPad.

1.In iTunes on your computer, click iTunes Store.Some of the newer computers out there, usually the smaller ones, are starting to appear on the market without CD or DVD drives.  This is a convenient way to watch a movie on-the-go if you don't have a DVD drive to play a movie from disk. 

 

2.In the iTunes Store, search for a movie that you want to rent.

 

3.Click Rent. Your movie will begin to download immediately.

 

Once the movie is downloaded, you can watch it on your computer.  If you own an iPod, iPad or Apple TV, you can transfer the rental and take it with you commuting or on vacation.

To transfer the rental:

 

1.Connect the device and select it in iTunes.

 

2.Click the Movies tab (for iPod), or the Videos tab (iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV)

 

3.Select the movie, and then click Move.

 

4.After all movies have been moved, click Apply in the lower right corner of iTunes.

 

You must be connected to the Internet to transfer a rented movie.

1. After you transfer a rental, it is removed from your iTunes library.
2. You can move the movie between devices as many times as you wish during the rental period, but the movie can only be played on one device at a time.
4. You have 30 days to watch your movie and 24 hours after you've started viewing to finish.
5. Once you start watching your movie, you can watch it as many times as you want during the 24-hour period.
6. iTunes version 9.0 is needed in order for you to rent movies.
7. If you don't watch your rented movie, it will expire in 30 days and disappear from your iTunes library.

Do You Have Backup ?

You should perform regular backups of your system and keep multiple backups of important, irreplaceable files. Without multiple backup copies of your files, your files do not exist anywhere except on your computer.

Tip: You should also keep at least one backup copy of your important files in a different physical location (that is, an "offsite" location). An easy backup method is to copy important files to an external hard drive or USB flash drive and store these disks in a fire box or safe deposit box.

  

How to Use a USB Flash Drive to Backup a copy of your files

(Windows computer)

1. NEVER work on documents directly from your flash drive. It is best practice to first copy the document to your computer, make changes to the document from the local computer, when finished copy the file back to the USB flash drive.
2. Instructions on how to do this can be found below.

If the flash drive is removed improperly or files are worked on directly from the flash drive, flash drive corruption can occur. If flash drive corruption occurs, some or all files on the flash drive could be lost. This is why it is important to follow all instructions carefully.

 

How to copy files to a USB Flash drive from your Computer:

1. Insert USB flash drive into any available USB port on your computer
2. Locate the file or folder on your computer that you would like to copy to the flash drive.
3. Right-click the file
4. Highlight “Send to”
5. Select “Removable Disk (“Drive letter:)”
6. After following the Steps above, Please DO NOT do not immediately remove the flash drive from the USB port. Follow the instructions under “Properly Removing Flash Drive from Computer:”

Checking to Make Sure File was Copied to Flash Drive:

1. Double-click My Computer
2. Double-Click “Removable Disk (“Drive letter:)”

The copied file or folder should appear on the removable disk. From here, it can be placed into a specific folder on the removable disk if desired. If the file is not here, please retry the steps under “How to copy files to a USB Flash drive from your Computer:”

 How to Copy files from a USB Flash Drive to your Computer:

1. Insert USB flash drive into any available USB port on your computer
2. *Note: If the USB flash drive is being used for the first time, Windows may need extra time to install the hardware necessary for the USB drive to function properly. You will know your flash drive is ready for use when you see a message by the clock stating: “Your new hardware has been installed and is ready for use.”
3. Double-click My Computer
4. Double-Click “Removable Disk (“Drive letter:)”
5. Locate the file or folder on your flash drive that you would like to copy to your computer.
6. Right-click the file
7. Highlight “Send to”
8. Select “My Documents”

The copied file or folder should now appear on your computer under the “My Documents” folder. From here, it can be moved to any desired location on your machine. If the file or folder does not appear in the “My Documents” folder, retry the steps under “How to copy files from a USB Flash drive to your Computer:”

After following the Steps above, Please DO NOT do not immediately remove the flash drive from the USB port. Follow the instructions under “Properly Removing Flash Drive from Computer:”

Properly Removing Flash Drive from Computer:

1. Double-click the Remove hardware icon by the clock

2. In the safely Remove Hardware window, Double-click on the “USB Mass storage Device”

3. In the Stop a Hardware device window, click on your USB flash drive (most likely indicated by the title “Generic volume – (Drive letter:)”)

4. Click OK
   
   
5. After seeing the “Safe” statement, you can remove the flash drive from your machine.

Burn a CD or DVD

If your computer includes a CD or DVD recorder, you can copy files to a writeable disc. This process is called burning a disc.

1. 
   
   
   Insert a CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R or DVD-RW into your computer's CD or DVD recorder.
2. 
   
   
   In the dialog box that appears, click Burn files to data disc.
3. 
   
   
   In the Burn a Disc dialog box, type a name for this disc, and then click Next.
   It might take several minutes for the disc to be formatted in the default Live File System format. When the formatting is complete, an empty disc folder opens.
4. 
   
   
   Open the folder that contains the files you want to burn, and then drag the files into the empty disc folder.
   

Set the Backup on your Windows computer

You may end up wanting an automatic backup of either everything on your computer or the same set of folders.  To set up a backup in Windows open up Computer (My Computer in Windows XP) and right-click on your local drive and select Properties.  Then click on the Tools tab and click the Back up now button.

Follow the on-screen prompts to select what you are going to backup and where you are going to back it up to.

Backing up using an Online backup service such as Carbonite

Carbonite is an affordable online data backup service for your Mac or PC.  Your computer is filled with irreplaceable files and Carbonite allows automatic, secure backups of an unlimited amount data.  You get a small management program for your computer to set up the backups once and then they run automatically after that.  Recovering you data is a process of a few clicks to get it back.

(check out the PC Teacher website for classes on how to backup in Windows)

As always, happy clicking!

Betsy Sabatini Coyne

The PC Teacher

bcoyne@thepcteacher.com

www.thepcteacher.com

The PC Clique

Dear Clients, Students and Friends, 

 

Sign up in advance for The PC Clique and save $5
This month's topic: Windows Vista/7 Files & Folders

On Thursday, March 18, 2010, The PC Teacher is offering a forum called "The PC Clique".  "The PC Clique" takes place from 9:30-11:00am at The Office Court of Ramsey, NJ.  Click here for directions.

Space is limited so please call or email to reserve a spot.

 

The concept of this "technology support group" is simple; come and spend some time with people who strive, as you do, to keep up with changing technology. 

During the 90-minute forum this month, I will demonstrate how to organize your computer files into folders using Windows Vista or Windows 7.  Following the demonstration, there will be discussion providing you with solutions and ideas on how to implement these techniques into your home or office.

The cost is $10 in advance and $15 at the door.  To pay in advance and save $5:

1. Send your registration form (below) and check (payable to Betsy Coyne) to P.O. Box 281, Ramsey, NJ  07446.
2. From the web, pay online using a PayPal account.  Click here to sign up online.

Next month's PC Clique is on April 15, 2010.  The topic is: MAC vs. Windows-when upgrading which should I choose?

 

Regards,

Betsy Sabatini Coyne

bcoyne@thepcteacher.com

201-327-0830 (office)

201-490-1784 (fax)

__________________________________________________________________________________

The PC Clique: Save $5 and Register in Advance !

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Sign me up for: March 18, 2010     Time: 9:30am-11:00am


Name:____________________________________________________________

Address:___________________________________________________________
Phone:____________________________________________________________

Email:_____________________________________________________________

Mail with your check for $10 payable to Betsy Coyne to:
PO Box 281, Ramsey, NJ  07446
(payment must be received by March 17, 2010)

Where Have All The Photos Gone?

 

About 15 years ago, the first digital camera was available to consumers.  During this time, and especially in the last 5-10 years, many people rely solely on their digital camera to take pictures and record precious memories.  But where have all your photos gone?  How do you get them off your digital camera so that you can print, archive and share?

 

Camera Memory Cards

Has anyone ever shown you where your digital camera stores the photos?  Depending on the brand of camera, the memory card can be located near the battery compartment or underneath a flip-up door located on one side of the camera.  The different types of memory cards for use in digital cameras are:

Secure Digital (SD), CompactFlash (CF), Memory Stick (MS), MultiMediaCard (MMC) xD-Picture Card (xD) and SmartMedia (SM).The type of memory card you use is dictated by which digital camera you buy. These cards are physically different and are not interchangeable. 

When purchasing a memory card for your camera, take notice of the capacity.  Cards usually come with room to store from 2 GB (gigabytes), 4 GB, 8 GB and up.    So how many photos will that hold?  This depends on the quality of your camera and how many megapixels it is able to capture.  A rough estimate for a 4GB memory card is that it will hold approximately 800 photos for an 8 megapixel camera.

 

From Camera to Computer

So, you return home from your family vacation, birthday party or reunion, and you want to get your photos from your digital camera to your computer.  You will need either the camera's USB cord or a card reader (available at most Staples, Best Buy or online at Amazon).  It is recommended that you use a card reader so that you're not using the camera's battery power while you transfer the photos from the camera to the computer.  The card reader plugs into your computer's USB port.  The photos are files on your memory card and are called JPEG (or JPG) files.  I recommend that you copy the files from the memory card to either your My Pictures folder on your computer (using Picasa for Windows PC) or to iPhoto (using a MAC).

 

Printing Your Photos

The benefit of using a digital camera is that you don't have to develop or print all 800 or so photos at once.  You can be selective and just print the photos you need for projects, scrapbooking, gifts or for the fridge or even your wallet!  If you have a quality photo printer, you can print at home.  Make sure you have photo paper on hand and that you set the printer to print at its highest dots per inch (dpi) setting to get the best printing.

You can also take your camera and memory card to the nearest digital photo kiosk.  Many photo stores, pharmacies or grocery stores have these.  Make sure your camera is off when you go to remove the memory card and take good care not to get fingerprints on the gold contacts located on the back or tip of the card.  

As mentioned above, if you use Google's Picasa you can edit, print, share, organize and archive right from your home computer.  If you have a MAC, you can do the same with iPhoto.  Finally, you can choose to upload your photos to one of the following top online printing services (see below) where you can print and share.

Using an Online Photo Service

There are quite a few digital photo printing services around.  The main difference and exceptional quality of online photo printing services comes from the printing supplies and materials available. A professional photo developer can create a more complete and accurate photo than your home photo printer and do so in greater quantities.

Digital photo printing services allow you to upload your digital photos directly to the service website, choose from several print sizes and select a print finish or paper type. A quality digital photo printing service will offer a wide variety of print sizes, ranging from the wallet sized photo all the way to a wall-sized 32 inch x 90 inch print.

The best online services provide a money-back guarantee or will replace prints that you are not satisfied with so you're sure to get your money's worth.
In the growing world of social networking, album sharing has become an important feature offered by online digital photo developers. Album sharing allows you to post your digital photos online, "share" them with family and friends and those you allow access so they can order copies of your digital photo prints.

You can also find some creative, photo-based gift ideas through digital photo printing services like photo books, t-shirts, throws, mugs and calendars.  Whether you're looking for a gift that's fun, classic or unique, digital photo printing services have just what you need.  Click here for a review of the top ten: Snapfish, SmugMug, Kodak, Shutterfly, York, Clark, Photoworks, Walgreens, Winkflash, and MyPhotoPipe.

Archiving Your Photos

Do you have a backup copy of your digital photos?  It is recommended that you print your favorite and most precious photos to archival safe photo paper.  If the only copy of your digital photos exist on the camera's memory card then you are at risk of losing them if that card decides one day that it will not work (very common in the world of electronic media).  Consider purchasing an external hard drive available at most Staples, Best Buy and online at Amazon.com.  A hard drive capacity of approximately 500 GB (gigabytes) will cost about $80.   Many people are deciding to purchase USB flash drives (also known as thumb or jump drives).  A USB flash drive capacity of approximately 4GB will cost about $15.  Look for sales or manufacturer rebates to save dollars on these types of drives. Another option is to copy your photos to CD.  Purchase a supply of CD-R disks.  These allow you to put photos on them but you can't take them off or erase them.  You can also copy your photos to DVD-R disks.  DVDs hold about 4 times as much as a CD but check with your computer's capability and compatibility before you decide to use a DVD. (not all computers have this ability)

For more information and further instruction on how to manage your digital photos, contact The PC Teacher at 201-327-0830 or email Betsy at bcoyne@thepcteacher.com.

If you are in the NY/NJ area, check out my website for class schedules and sign up today to learn more about your digital camera and your computer.  As always, The PC Teacher helps you click with technology.

Betsy Sabatini Coyne
The PC Teacher
bcoyne@thepcteacher.com
www.thepcteacher.com

Facebook's New Face

For those who haven't seen it yet, the Facebook screen has changed.


In the upper left corner next to the Facebook logo, there are 3 new icons: friends, messages and notifications.
In the upper right corner about requests, there is a small menu bar: Home, Profile, Account.

In the middle of your wall to the right of News Feed are two choices: Top News and Most Recent.

In order to log off, you must click Account and then logout.

Regards,
Betsy Sabatini Coyne
The PC Teacher
bcoyne@thepcteacher.com
www.thepcteacher.com

Roman Numerals: Google For Kids

Have you used the internet yet to find an answer to your child, grandchild, niece or nephew's question?

Tomorrow, February 7, 2010, at Super Bowl XLIV, the New Orleans Saints take on the Indianapolis Colts at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, Florida.  My 11-year-old son asked me the other day to explain the Roman Numerals that are displayed at the end of the Super Bowl title. As a parent I challenged myself to find a thorough answer for my son.  As a computer consultant, I turned to the internet.

I remembered that X = 10 and L = 50 but I couldn't remember if I'm supposed to add those or subtract them.  When looking for the answer to a question, I enter the search criteria into a Google search box.  I "googled" the term XLIV and found the following webpage:

http://www.novaroma.org/via_romana/numbers.html

The website gave me a brief overview:

"The Romans were active in trade and commerce, and from the time of learning to write they needed a way to indicate numbers. The system they developed lasted many centuries, and still sees some specialized use today.

Roman numerals traditionally indicate the order of rulers or ships who share the same name (i.e. Queen Elizabeth II). They are also sometimes still used in the publishing industry for copyright dates, and on cornerstones and gravestones when the owner of a building or the family of the deceased wishes to create an impression of classical dignity. The Roman numbering system also lives on in our languages, which still use Latin word roots to express numerical ideas. A few examples: unilateral, duo, quadricep, septuagenarian, decade, milliliter.
The big differences between Roman and Arabic numerals (the ones we use today) are that Romans didn't have a symbol for zero, and that numeral placement within a number can sometimes indicate subtraction rather than addition."

There is also a handy converter.  Type your roman numeral in the box and it returns the answer.

XLIV = 44

Happy clicking,

Betsy Sabatini Coyne
The PC Teacher
bcoyne@thepcteacher.com
http://www.thepcteacher.com/