The GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) has become the standard Open Source software to create and manipulate raster graphics (photos). It boasts most of the features of the expensive commercial counterparts (such as PhotoShop) without the price tag, and perhaps without the flashy user interface.
Virtually all flavors of linux come with the GIMP preinstalled. If you need to you can find the appropriate version of the GIMP for your distribution from here
A Windows version is available from here
And, for completeness, Mac OS X users should refer to this page
GIMP comes with a built-in help system. Once you have started the program, press F1 for context-sensitive help. You may have to install the help pages from a separate package (gimp-help), depending on how your version of GIMP was packaged. Check here for details.
For tutorials and tips I suggest Googling. But to get a head start you might like to refer to Grokking the GIMP in it’s on-line or printed form.
Summary
Every modern PC requires regular health checks, including Registry Cleaning with software such as RegistrySmart or RegistryFix. Both cleaners offer a Free Scan before purchase.
It does not take long for your PC to get cluttered with unwanted or damaging data, junk, and extra files than ever. These problems are particularly manifest by registry errors which result in poor PC performance, applications & system crashes, slow Internet connections and worse.
This has lead to the development of many Registry Cleaner or Registry Repair software downloads that you can use to fix you PC, returning it to excellent health. The best of these PC cleanup utilities will get your PC running faster and more stable than ever before. These easy to use programs can have your PC cleaned and tuned up in no time.
If you do any web site publishing, or graphics manipulation, you’ll know that, with remarkable frequency you’ll need to measure the dimensions of an image, text box or page element on your screen.
By far the easiest way to do this is with a “Screen Ruler”… a small application which displays on your screen and allows you to measure any screen region in pixels.
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Recently I decided to look at free virtual machine software. I have used the commercial VMWare in the past and that is my benchmark. The host machine is running Windows XP SP3.
Virtual PC 2007 only runs on Windows operating systems. It installed easily and I installed a Win2K client on it without any problems — as you might expect.
It supposedly installs ‘other’ operating systems and with much huffing and puffing I managed to install Ubuntu — unusably slow. A complete waste of time.
2. VirtualBox
VirtualBox has been bought by Sun and they recently released a new version — 1.6
For starters, they have versions for hosting on Windows, Mac OS X and a wide range of flavours of Linux. My recollection of an earlier version of Virtual Box was that it was fairly unexciting. Well, not this one — it is very slick.
The interface is reminicient of VMWare. They support a wide range of client operating systems. I installed Win2K and Ubuntu clients easily and quickly.
Compared to Microsoft Virtual PC both client systems ran much faster (especially Ubuntu).
Conclusion: Give VMWare the flick (on Windows at least). I reckon this is a better product — easier to install and use — than VMWare.
WARNING: Don’t attempt to install VirtualBox on a Xen-enable linux kernel — it will mess up your kernel.
We are often asked about security measures for PC Workstations… Which Anti-Virus? Which Firewall? etc.
Firstly, we should mention the main elements of a sound security plan for your PC —
- Protection against viruses, worms and Trojans, including email viruses
- Protection against rootkits
- Protection against spyware or “malware”
- Protection against phishing
- Protection against access to your computer from the internet (Firewall)
- Protection against data loss (Data backup)
As an absolute minimum you should have anti-virus software installed on your PC and have that software updated constantly.
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Camtasia is perhaps the most widely recognised screen to video software. The developers, Techsmith, are currently giving away free licenses to Version 3 (Version 5 is current) in the hope that you will upgrade to Version 5 at a preferential rate.
It looks like a win-win situation to me. Camtasia 3 is none too shabby when it comes to creating screencasts. And, if you need the “you beauts” of the current version, you’ll get them for about half price!
Here’s how to get a licensed copy of Camtasia 3
- Download the trial version here
- Get a license key
- Install the software and enter the key you’ll receive from Techsmith and you’ll have a fully licenced copy of Camtasia 3.
I have just received my BlueAnt X5 Bluetooth Headset from Deals Direct and have already got it set up and running with one of my MP3 Players and my Linux workstation. It’s all that I hoped for…
It’s a portable multi-function device that allow you to stream high quality music and make voice calls using a mobile phone, pda, or computer - with no wires!
The headset itself can be connect directly to compatible phones and computers. Better still, the included BlueAnt Audio Streamer let’s you connect to any MP3 player, iPod, or DVD player with a stereo audio output jack! 
A single press of a button on the headset switches instantly from stereo streaming mode to headset mode with the integrated microphone.
The streaming stereo uses the latest A2DP protocol.
I was so impressed that I have already ordered a second kit!
Deals Direct seem to have compeditive pricing, but I’d be quick — my second unit cost over $10 more than the first so it seems that it is a good seller! And their price is still $90 less than RRP.
We are often asked about sharing Outlook data between computers and recently found this solution
We are yet to fully test the application and will post more details, and a full review in coming weeks. However, there is a 14 day free trial so please use the trial period to make sure it will work for you before paying the very reasonable fee of $USD 35 per computer.
In the meantime, here is how the developer describes their product…
If you are looking for a quick and easy way of sharing and synchronizing Microsoft Outlook Folders (email, Contacts, Tasks, Calendars, Notes), as well as share any documents and files this program is for you.
You just need to install ShareO for Microsoft Outlook on your computer running Outlook 2000/2002/2003/2007 and on computers of your preferred teammates, and after a few clicks their folders information will be synchronized each time you update the shared folder on your PC. Your partners will receive the updated outlook items (contacts, appointments, tasks, emails, notes, journal entries, documents, etc.) via regular e-mail. You will be able to update and manage all your shared outlook items offline or using any type of Internet connection. It is an easy and effective solution for remote companies and groups.
If you try it, please leave your comments.
Have you ever visited a website, but typed in the wrong url after the domain name? What did you see?
Chances are you saw a generic page that said something like, “The page cannot be displayed,” or “Not Found,” or “The requested URL was not found on this server.”
This is what is more commonly known as the 404 Error Page. It’s the page that shows up by default when someone ‘accidentally’ types in the address of the page they are looking for on your site incorrectly.
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If you are setting up a website and intend to publish extensive content the open source CMS Joomla is a good starting point. Over the next couple of months we will post some more information, HowTos and tips on this system.
Right now, if you are looking for Joomla Templates chekout these sites—
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