5 Backyard gadgets for the 4th of July 2011

 

The Fourth of July is almost here. This year, make the 4th of July a time to gather friends and family, aat lots of food, play with fire(works). Of course, Nerd Chicks are always looking for ways to add some sparkle to any get-together, and your backyard barbecue is no exception. Pick up one or two of these cool tech gadgets for your upcoming party and your bash is sure to be the talk of the town!


MUSIC
No party is complete without a soundtrack of great tunes, but who has time to DJ while you’re manning the barbecue? Use your iPod or MP3 player to create a playlist of your coolest dance party mix and plug in to the iHome iP29 Portable Speaker Case, retailing for about $80. These compact speakers produce impressive stereo sound and will play music from your iPod, iPhone or any device with a headphone jack. The unit runs off an A/C adapter or four AAA batteries, so you can easily take it with you to the pool. The splash resistant case will even offer some protection from your cannonball contest. While plugged in, the docking station will charge your iPod or iPhone so you’ll be rocking out even after your party is long over.



LIGHTS
Who needs to fly to Vegas when you can create your own music and light display in your backyard pool using the, Light Show Fountain for about $70. You can drop this floating, LED-lit disc in your pool, spa or pond to create a lighted, multi-color fountain water show. The separate wireless base station connects to your iPod or MP3 player and speakers so that the water and lights “dance” in time to your music. It can be used without a music source as well, resulting in a random flashing light show for after-dark ambience. There’s a video on the Solutions website to see it in action. While you probably won’t get away with charging admission, you will be the coolest kid on the block.



CAMERA

While sitting through Uncle Bob’s last family photo slide show, did you secretly ponder whether there could be a better use for his projector? Now you have a reason to borrow it. The Airblown Inflatable Movie Screen allows you to create an outdoor movie theater in your own backyard. Available at Target for about $170, the unit comes with stakes, tethers and fan to quickly self-inflate the approximately 9′ x 12′ screen. You’ll need a projector to get an image large enough to fill the screen, but you won’t worry about keeping your guests entertained. Project movies from your laptop, or connect your Wii for a rousing Wii boxing tournament. Just make sure you invite the neighbors, or you’ll be scrambling to feed your extra guests when they crash your party.

ACTION

A July 4th celebration isn’t complete without fireworks, so what do you do if there aren’t any viewable in your area? Consider the Uchiage Hanabi Fireworks Projector, sold for $125. Bring the fireworks display indoors with four sounds, five display modes and 55 different designs. You can even allow your younger party guests to create unique firework designs with an included template. Fireworks appear to launch from the ground to explode up the wall or on the ceiling. The unit runs off three AAA batteries and can run for about three hours; plenty of time to satiate even your most fireworks-obsessed little ones.

ALWAYS REMEMBER!

If the photos just don’t seem to live up to the excitement of your July 4th bash, add some pizzazz with photo modification applications. Android users can download Vignette for approximately $4, and iPhone users can get Instagram for free. Both applications allow you to quickly add effects, modify color or make shots sepia, black-and-white, or retro before easily uploading to Facebook or Twitter. If you didn’t get any worthy shots with your phone, never fear. Google’s Picasa is a great free photo modification program that will allow you to crop, eliminate red eye, modify color, add effects, frames or stickers to any photo on your computer. Your friends will wonder, “Where was the professional photographer?” We won’t divulge your secret.

Still pondering more ways to electrify your summer get-together? Drop us a note on Facebook.www.facebook.com/nerdsoncall or email us at nerdchick@callnerds.com

Photo by: plaskota , Ed Yourdon , David Gallagher .

Andrea Eldridge is CEO and Co-Founder of Nerds on Call, offering on-site computer & home theater set up and repair since 2004. For additional information or to contact her, go to www.callnerds.com/andrea

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10 Free Ways To Clean Up Your PC

Does it feel like you can make a pot of coffee and clean the kitchen all in the time it takes for your computer system to boot up? Do you find yourself daydreaming of dropping it off the top of your office building while you’re waiting for web pages to load? If it seems like your computer is running slower every day, here are some things to do to get your “old reliable” running in tip-top shape. Of course, budget-savvy Nerd Chicks are always looking for ways to save some dough, so we’ve made sure they are all free.

1. Get Rid of the Nasties. Removing viruses and spyware can do wonders to speed up your computer. Viruses don’t always completely break your computer, but they do always slow it down, among other things. They’re more common than you may think, and can hang out in your system - gumming up the works - without you even knowing it. Microsoft Security Essentials is a great, easy, all-in-one solution to keep your computer healthy and running in top form. Download it here.

2. Update Your OS Windows issues updates all the time. These can patch holes in the software, closing vulnerabilities that viruses and spyware exploit, and generally make Windows run better. If you’re running Windows XP, right click on the My Computer icon on the desktop, select Properties and click on the Automatic Updates tab. Make sure you set them to download and install automatically.

3. Purge “Bloatware" Still have that Norton Trial software installed from when you bought your machine three years ago? Get rid of it! Every time it pops up a window “reminding” you to buy it, I’m guessing a little voice in your head mutters unpleasant things. It’s also slowing down your system as the antiquated software runs in the background. Search for “Norton Removal Tool” (or “McAfee Removal Tool”) to make sure that you get the software fully uninstalled.

4. Speed Your Startup MSConfig is a tool built in to most versions of Windows. Even novice computer surfers can use this tool to stop programs from starting automatically every time you boot up. While certain things are necessary for Windows to function, if your system is trying to turn on iTunes, your printer, and Adobe every time it boots up, the poor thing’s got a lot of things to get going before it can launch your Sudoku. Click the "Start" button. If you have a search option, type “msconfig” into the search field. If you don’t have a search option, but have a “Run” button on the startup menu, click that instead. When you do this, a window will appear on screen with the word "Run:" next to a blank text field. Type "msconfig" in the blank text field and press "Enter". Click the "Startup" tab at the top of the menu. Uncheck the boxes next to programs that you don't need during startup – but only programs you recognize! Click the "Apply" button, then select "OK", and restart your computer. I can almost hear your computer sighing in relief from here. You will be amazed at how much this can actually speed up your computer.

5. Defrag Your Hard Drive Every time you save a file, or update software, your hard drive stores each new thing in chronological order. This means that when you launch Word, your system has to search all over your hard drive to find all the pieces that have been stored over the months, or years. Defragging simply means that your hard drive will take all the “like” things and put them together, allowing programs to launch and work faster. Windows 7 comes configured to defrag automatically, however Windows XP users will need to start the process manually. From the Start menu, right-click the “My Computer” option. Select “Manage” and choose disk defragmenter under the Storage section. Keep in mind that the process can take several hours, so set it to run at night. Also, remember to disable your system’s hibernate mode & screen saver before starting. When the process is complete, restart your PC.

6. Repair the Registry Your system’s registry is like your hard drive’s table of contents. If there are incorrect entries, it can take your drive longer to find all the pieces of data it needs to launch and run programs. Glary Utilities is a great free application that you can install to quickly and easily fix registry errors and optimize your system’s performance. Download the free version Here.

7. Clear Out the Cookies You can definitely speed up your computer by deleting all of your old internet cookies.  Every time you visit a website, it stores little pieces of itself, or programs, on your system. The idea is that the next time you visit the site it will load that content faster. The problem is that it’s rare that we return to the same sites and see the same things over and over again. Instead, the process of digging through several MBs of temporary internet files will lead all websites to load more slowly. Clear out your cache with CCleaner , a top rated free software program for cleaning out temporary files and making your system run at its best. One tip: use the cookies tab to select cookies you want to keep from sites you visit often and/or want to continue to login to automatically (like your email, or your bank).

8. Clean it, No Really! Your computer has a fan in it that draws in air to cool the CPU and components. If this fan or vent becomes clogged with dust, pet hair, or other nasties, your system can overheat, causing it to run more sluggishly and eventually break. Grab a can of air and take your PC outside for a field trip. Don’t just blow into the intake vent: open the case, don’t blow air too closely at the components, and blow dust away from the case.

9. Ditch Internet Explorer There are many alternative browsers you can use to access the Internet. Most techies agree that Google’s Chrome is the fastest option that doesn’t compromise compatibility. For an experiment, go to your favorite websites in Internet Explorer, and then revisit them in Google Chrome. You should notice that, not only are the websites fasters, but they look better in a new browser. Internet Explorer is considered one of the slowest and most "incompatible" browsers, they just don't like to keep up with the rest of the world even though the Internet Explorer browser is installed on every windows computer.

10. If all else fails… A surefire way to ensure speed up your computer and make sure your system is running as good-as-new is to do a reinstall. To do a safe reinstall you will need to back up your data, format your hard drive, and reinstall Windows. Keep in mind that you will need to reinstall all of your software, including office. Don’t forget to install your anti-virus and anti-spyware before surfing the net! Getting on a regular maintenance schedule will save you, and your trusty computer, much pain and suffering. Especially if these tips keep you from drop kicking your PC off the roof!

5 Free Tips On How To Speed Up Your Mac

 

There are a few basic rules in the tech world that are NEVER questioned. First, never type “Google” into Google, or you’ll break the Internet. Second, you’re only one great idea from launching the greatest tech company in the world and becoming as rich as Bill Gates. Finally, Macs are better than PCs. Macs don’t crash, they don’t slow down, they run forever, and every Mac user’s worth is based on the first Mac they’ve ever owned. I still have an original Apple II hidden in a closest.

What most Mac users would never admit, buried deep in their subconscious, is a suspicion that this isn’t really true. We’ve all stared, with shock and frustration, at the spinning beach ball of death, or have seen hours of work go down the drain because of an inexplicable error. The truth is, Macs do slow down and even crash, (we know, we are a computer repair company) they just crash differently. They also (gasp!) get viruses… well, sort of.

Before all you techies bombard me with corrections, please let me assure you that adding RAM and upgrading your system’s hardware will undoubtedly make more of a difference than any free solutions. However, knowing that everyone is looking to save a few bucks these days, here are my top five free tips to optimize your Mac, and prevent the beach ball from visiting you.

 

 

Remove Start Up Items: Programmers are a narcissistic bunch. They believe their program is more important than any other app on your system, so they add their wonderful code to your start up items. Get enough of these programs and your system will slow down over time. To remove them click System Preferences, then click Accounts, then click Login Items. Highlight the app and click the minus button at the bottom of the list. You’ll still be able to use the program, but now you’ll only run it when you need it.

3 Easy Ways To Keep Kids Safe Online

As the days get longer and warmer, they herald the coming of summer vacation. Who doesn't remember the joy of lazy days spent roaming the neighborhood with your buddies, swimming in the pool or lake, or inventing games to play in the backyard?

Yet these days our kids are more likely to spend the summer roaming the Internet, swimming in a sea of media, and inventing stories for their Facebook page. How do you get your kids to unplug and see the sun? When they are online, how do you keep your kids safe when they're home free and you're not? Nerd Chicks have scoured the Internet for the best tips and tools to bring the relaxation back to summer vacation.

Most parents struggle with limiting screen time for their kids. From TV and video games, to computers and cell phones, our kids are constantly "plugged in." How can you ensure your kids don't spend all summer glued to the tube? Check out the Mikko Que, a time management system for all of your home media devices. Connect the Mikko box to your TV, gaming unit and Internet connection, then set limits for each of your kids. Everyone gets their own USB thumb drive that stores the time they're allowed. If Sally wants to watch TV, she plugs her thumb drive into the Mikko box, which activates input to the TV for however much time she has remaining in her allotment. If she reaches the end of her allowed time or the time of day that you've decided TV is not allowed (for example, bedtime), the box will warn her that her time is ending, then cut the video and audio feed to the TV, disabling the device. You can set personalized limits for Internet usage, video game play, TV and computer use. Access to the cables is locked in the box, so even your more techno savvy teens would have to break the box to get to the cables. Now if only it could be programmed to remind them to pick up their room!

Limiting the time your kids spend with technology is only the first step. The Internet is a scary place, where your kids will see and learn things you probably don't want them exposed to. They can also unintentionally expose themselves to danger by posting personal information about themselves to public sites such as Facebook and Twitter. While the safest answer is to limit online time to when you are home or with your kids, sometimes that's not realistic. Net Nanny is a great resource to limit the things your children find online, post to the Internet, even install on the computer. More than a list of blocked websites, Net Nanny uses a unique filter that reviews the content of the website before displaying it. Net Nanny uses the site's content to categorize it, and you can allow or block categories for each of your users individually. If you want to allow your older child to see content related to drugs or alcohol, but not your second-grader, you can customize access for everyone in your house. Net Nanny allows you to block image upload, even block your child's ability to post to online forums or blogs. You can set it up to capture where your kids are going online, view a log of IM chat sessions, even review their Facebook profiles so you can see their friends, wall posts and what they are sharing with the world. You can block the installation of games based on their ESRB rating, and set limits to amount and time of day that you want to allow your kids to be on the computer.

Now that so many of our children have cell phones, it seems that they are never without unfiltered access to technology. The safest route is to get in touch with your service provider to disable web access on your child's phone and handheld devices, and limit their texting. Limiting access on a portable device is otherwise quite challenging. While there are some mobile applications (Net Nanny has a mobile application for Android phones), it's harder to keep your child from disabling a third-party application than it is to use parental control features provided by your cell carrier. Call your provider to see what ways they offer to control your child's usage.

Finally, a word of advice: talk to your kids about the limits you're setting and why. If you impose restrictions without a constructive conversation, your techno-savvy kids are likely to spend the summer finding ways around the things you implement to keep them safe. Still stumped about how to keep your kids cyber-safe this summer?

 

Drop the Nerds a note on FACEBOOK or email us at nerdchick@callnerds.com.

5 Spring Cleaning Tips You've Overlooked.

So now that you've untangled the rats nest of wires, and you're down to one remote, you look over at your keyboard and it looks like you've got a crumb factory EEK! Well DON'T put your keyboard in the dishwasher (like some suggest) use these neat tips and tricks to make your tech sparkling clean again! One word of caution though before trying any of these tricks please make sure to have your tech turned off. Better safe than sorry!

1. Silly Putty: See your toddler had it right! That silly putty is a great way to lift up all of those loose crumbs in the keyboard. Just lightly press into the keys, lift up and voila! A clean Keyboard! Plus it's a lot more fun than that canned, air and it doesn't just blow the debris and dust somewhere else. We really like Cyber Clean http://www.cyberclean.tv/. This silly putty is especially made for cleaning out your tech.

2. Tape: So you're at your desk and you look down at your smartphone and GASP! There are fingerprints all over your screen! Fear not just take some tape and press it lightly onto the screen and then remove. Lifts your prints right away. Whew, crisis averted.

3. Rubber Eraser: Get those smudges off of your keyboard, or anywhere else on your computer (besides the screen). The eraser will lightly buff the surface so smudges be gone! We even tried this ourselves, and it worked like a charm!

4. Q-Tips: From cleaning those hard to reach corners of your monitor to dusting in those little crevices that you normally just cant reach, Q-Tips are the best multipurpose cleaning tool out there for tech!

5. Toothpick: Ok ladies this one is for you, do you have that "makeup ring" in the tiny space between your screen on your smartphone and the sides? Just run a toothpick along that tiny crack and the makeup residue doesn't stand a chance!

So get out there and clean up your computers! Just for fun send us some before and after pictures. nerdchick@callnerds.com .

Photo by: rosefirerising

Conquer your tech clutter for spring

Nothing makes a Nerd Chick question her dedication to gadgets more than seeing six remote controls lined up on the edge of the couch.While it may be mildly amusing to pretend you're Indiana Jones conquering the tangle of cables to wrestle out your iPod charger, it's really more annoying than anything else. Spring heralds a desire to get rid of the clutter, and we've found some great gizmos to clean up your most unruly tech toys.

nerds on call

If you have had to resort to labeling your remote controls, or if you have a shelf dedicated to them in your entertainment center, allow us to introduce you to your new best friend. We know, we know, you've heard plenty of promises about universal remotes. The one that came with your new TV claimed to be an all-in-one, but only a rocket scientist could remember the combination of buttons to press to get a DVD to play successfully. Trust us when we say, the Harmony Remote from Logitech is a remote control like no other. With many versions to choose from depending on the number of devices you want to control, whether you want it to be rechargeable (highly recommended if you don't want to have to establish a battery savings plan), and the size of touch screen, there's a model for everyone. The best part is that to set it up you just connect it to your computer, enter the make and model numbers of your devices, and it does the rest. Once configured, you need only press one button, easily labeled "Watch TV" or "Watch Movie," etc., and the remote magically turns on all the devices and sets them to the right inputs. If you are one of the many home theater victims relegated to calling your spouse into the room to get your MP3 player to work on your stereo, this remote will change the way you look at your TV.

 

With all the gadgets and techno toys in the house, we are always at a shortage of outlets. When we break down and add a power strip, it creates an unsightly mess of cords that we try (unsuccessfully) to hide under the bed or desk. Allow us to introduce you to the "Bluelounge Mini Cablebox," a nifty box designed to house, and hide, your power strip and tangle of cables www.bluelounge.com/products/cableboxmini. It comes in lots of colors, even yellow, orange or green, so you don't have to trade style for function. For less than $30 you can compartmentalize like a pro.

 

Almost as frustrating is the inability to fit all the chargers for our handheld devices on one power strip. One great alternative is the Belkin Conserve Valet www.belkin.com/. About the size of a paperback book, the Conserve Valet will charge up to four USB powered devices with only one AC adapter, leaving your outlets free for hmmm lighting? Heck, you may be able to ditch the bedside power strip all together. One of the best parts is that you'll never again waste 30 minutes scouring the house for your cell phone or your MP3 player if they are all at one handy charging station.

 

Finally, when it comes to controlling the mass of wires that seem to mysteriously multiply, there are many options. Our favorite is blissfully simple and low-tech: Velcro cable ties. For about $8 at any number of retailers (we got ours through Amazon), you can get 100 reusable Velcro strips to bundle the cables of your home theater, office, bedside, even replace the frayed or missing one for your laptop power cord. More versatile than plastic zip ties, you can easily adjust or remove them over and over, no scissors required. If you are looking for a more colorful option to keep your cable exactly where you want it, Blue Lounge also has "cable drops" www.bluelounge.com/products/cabledrop/. Simply expose the adhesive to attach the colorful dot, about the size of a quarter, to your desk, wall, or bedside table, and say goodbye to wayward cables. Who says getting organized has to happen in black and white?

 

There are as many solutions for getting your gadgets under control as there are gadgets themselves. If you are still struggling to dig out from the tangle of cords and cables under your desk, or if we didn't address your technological organization issue, drop us a note on Facebook facebook.com/nerdsoncall or email us at nerdchick@callnerds.com.

Photo by kreep