Technology Simplified™

Windows only: Avanquest Connection Manager, previously a $30 app, is now a free utility that could be seriously convenient for laptop users. The app lets you create profiles for your different wi-fi or LAN connections, changing email, printer, and network drive defaults depending on where you hook up, along with security settings and other concerns.

Featured Windows Download: Avanquest Connection Manager Creates Custom Profiles for Your Net Connecitons

Windows/Mac OS X only: Online and desktop calendar-syncing application Calgoo Connect—along with all of the other calendar tools available from Calgoo—are now free. Calgoo Connect syncs Outlook on Windows or iCal on OS X with popular online calendars, namely Google Calendar and 30 Boxes. Syncing Gcal with Outlook is also covered with Google Calendar Sync. All Calgoo products are now freeware, Windows and Mac OS X only.

I’ve pledged how about you? June 17, 2008 is the official release date for FF3 and you can sign up now to be a part of setting a world record for number of downloads in 1 day. From everything published on the web, FF3 will be THE browser for 2008 and beyond. I converted over 2 years ago and never looked back. At that time FF only had about 10% market share, now FF2 is over 25% and growing. Remember, IE comes pre-installed on all PC’s so that’s a HUGE advantage for MS and they are still losing the battle. I love my FF and I think you will too. Sign up and download on 6-17 and be part of the record.

Spread Firefox | Download Day 2008

It’s been a very long while my web friends. It’s not that there has been a drought of good things to post about, it’s just that I’ve been busy. I know this is not a good excuse, but I don’t have any other explanation. Since we last chatted, I have become a Vista user. I held out for as long as I could, but when I ordered my new Dell Inspiron 1720 I kept Vista as the OS. I also installed XP of course. I don’t hate Vista. I especially like watching HD OTA TV using my TV tuner card. I know that is not specific to Vista or even a laptop but still it’s one of the perks I enjoy in my new laptop. I also installed Office 2007. That I don’t like much. I really dislike the new "ribbons" vs. tool bars. They say you get used to them…to me that’s like saying you’ll get used to $4/gal. gas too. Enjoy the free wallpaper switcher!

John’s Background Switcher « John’s Adventures

File this under “How to…” get a free education at some of the best learning institutions in the world. This is actually a follow up post to a previous post on the same subject. This time with much more free resources.
Merry Christmas!

Universities With the Best Free Online Courses

No tuition money? No problem! There are many top universities that offer free courses online. This list ranks some of the best free university courses for people who want to enhance personal knowledge or advance in their current field.

Universities with the Best Free Online Courses — Education-Portal.com

Also check out this Lifehacker post: Discover the .EDU underground

This is really cool and there is a free version. Check it out…turn any public PC into a version of your own desktop.                      

MojoPac is a technology that transforms your iPod or USB Hard Drive or Flash drive into a portable and private PC. Just install MojoPac on any USB 2.0 compliant storage device, upload your applications and files, modify your user settings and environment preferences, and take it with you everywhere.

MojoPac | What is MojoPac? | Overview

This is pretty cool. I was also looking into Install Pad…same idea. Don’t know which is better but they both provide a very useful function.

AppSnap Updates Your Existing Software Versions

Windows only: Previously-mentioned auto software updater AppSnap can now detect what applications already exist on your system and check for new versions online in one click. AppSnap comes with a fabulous list of free software built in.

Featured Windows Download: AppSnap Updates Your Existing Software Versions - Lifehacker

This looks like the kind of short cut many people have been asking about. Read the complete article for links to disk erasure tools as well.

Securely Delete Files with DeleteOnClick

Windows only: Freeware shell extension DeleteOnClick adds a Securely Delete entry to your Windows Explorer right-click menu so you can securely wipe files from your hard drive. How securely, you ask? Apparently it’s U.S. Department of

Featured Windows Download: Securely Delete Files with DeleteOnClick - Lifehacker

Top 10 Wi-Fi Boosts, Tweaks and Apps

No doubt you’ve got a home wireless network or you’ve connected to hotspots at the local coffee shop or airport—but are you getting the most out of your Wi-Fi? Whether you want to strengthen, extend, bridge, secure, sniff, detect, or obscure your signal, today we’ve got our top 10 best Wi-Fi utilities and tweaks for the power wireless user.

Lifehacker Top 10: Top 10 Wi-Fi Boosts, Tweaks and Apps - Lifehacker

I found this online today. I really like the idea of creating custom DVD’s using Freeware apps.This is a great way to do it.

Create Custom DVD’s - video powered by Metacafe

How-to video blogger Tinkernut covers burning customized video DVDs with graphical menus using only free software for Windows, including DVD Flick, DVD Styler, and UnderCoverXP to create the inserts and labels

Source: Video Demonstration: Create Custom Menu-Driven DVDs with Free Apps - Lifehacker