Ron K.

Review is NOT "Bitly", my apologies.***. Rather a superb collection of FREE-WARE rounded-up by Gizmo***. (In shortening the URL, bitly came-up. I'm looking into how to test a URL prior to publishing, what to do with extraordinarily long urls, and how to edit/addendum after publication. Anyone has some answers/insights, let me know
Ron: *******@gmail.com. Thanks!) ACTUAL LINK. http://bit.ly/pNkYLK

This is all great stuff, and in one place. Do consider taking a long look at offerings via Gizmo's Newsletter. See if you can't grab some "Bread&Butter" software absolutely free. Don't forget basic tools like TinEye and Free-OCR while you're shopping.

"Online applications (also known as web applications or web-ware) are getting more popular, particularly when broadband Internet access has become more common and readily available to more users. With online applications and services, you do not need to download and install them into your computer for using themyou just need to open up a browser and access them online.

Not only that you can save hard-disk space as they do not need to be installed, but also you can work with files that are saved online from any computer anywhere, without the need to carry a storage device even a USB stick around with you.

Besides, you don't have to worry about different operating systems as these applications and services are cross-platform, running in your browser as a client. Neither do you need to keep updating your software versions, as you will get any new software updates and bug fixes automatically whenever you access them.

Hope you like.
Ron

Point Browser To: http://www.makeuseof.com/dir/warbyparkercom-try-on-glasses-digitally/

Trying on glasses can be a pain. Not every frame and shape works on every face, so the process consists mostly of guessing and testing. How your face is shaped can determine a lot of this, so buying glasses online is a bad idea.

Or is it? If you'd rather get an idea of the sorts of frames that work with your face without spending time in a store, check out Warby Parker's online showroom. Here you can not only browse an online store full of different sorts of glasses, but also upload a picture of yourself to try on glasses digitally.

The idea simply is that you'll like what you see and purchase glasses from Warby Parker, but you're by no means obligated to. If you just want to see if certain shapes look good on your face you're welcome to; there's no registration process for doing so.

There are only 46 glasses to choose from at this time, but it's still a great way to get a feel for the sorts of glasses that could work for you.

Have fun with it.
Ron

Point your browser here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/symptom-checker/DS******* - for "Symptom Checker" page.

The Mayo Clinic has for a long time established itself as one of the most trusted names, and facilities, for medial care.

This Mayo Clinic web site, allows one to single-out parts of the body and begin to answer questions that help pinpoint POTENTIAL problems.

This kind of "diagnostic" medical tool can be handy in providing insight into areas for further research, and Q&A with your doctor.

CAUTION: I do hope NO ONE will use this diagnostic research tool to SELF DIAGNOSE, and become panicked assured they are dying.

Hope you find this interesting, and that it aids in generalizing avenues for further study.

Good health to you.

Short and sweet. When comparing two versions of ANYTHING (I compared Avira Antivirus and Avast), Find The Best. Com will run down specs on each product in a stunning comprehensive fashion.

Consumers: Accurate & updated data on millions of product & service listings
Objective information free from hidden marketing, side-by-side comparison tables save you time & help you make the best decisions, reviews from friends & experts on millions of listings show all comparisons.

This site is a keeper,
Ron

Hi.
It's been a while. Been busy but had to share this:
Difficult at best to describe Wimp.com... other than to say, short films of an unusually fascinating nature. When you've nothing better to do, absolutely try wimp... smile.
Hope everyone is well.
Ron

Crowdrise: Social Networking Site For Fund Raising & Advocacy

Somewhere in us all exists a desire to push advocacy and help those in need. Crowdrise was created to help people wanting to help other people. It is a "charity- social-networking" website that lets users send donations online for various fund-raising activities and advocacy... or create his/her own advocacy program.

Once you sign up for a Crowdwise account, you can either start a fund-raising campaign, volunteer for a project, or get sponsors for your volunteer projects. You can choose whether you just want to donate money or be part of the volunteering team. You can also set up as many fund raising campaigns and volunteer projects that you want.

There is, however, a transaction fee once you donate to the project or charity you set up. Crowdrise deducts 5% on donations made through their site and a $1 transaction fee for donations under $25 or a $2.50 transaction fee for donations $25 and above. That rather sucks, but the web-site is a business and charges a fee to organize.

Crowdrise not only aims to help volunteers and fundraisers but is also a fun way for people who share the same passion of helping people in need to bond, interact, share stories, share visions, and be friends with.

Features:

* Easy search engine for the charities or foundations you may want to be part of.
* Users can win amazing prizes as long as they incur many points.
* Donations are secured since the Crowdrise uses Amazon Payments.
* Easy user-interface; adding friends, uploading photos and videos are easy.
* Transaction fee applies.
* Share your project.
* Team fund-raising esprit de-corps!

Good luck,

Ron.

If you are a bargain hunter, but don't like to compromise on quality, then Cheapism is a website you should bookmark. What it does is simple – it searches for best quality products among the cheapest ones.

The site features budget product reviews in various categories like home & garden, kitchen utilities, computers, electronics, sports, travel and many more.

Have fun with this.

Thanks to MakeUseOf.com.

Call reQall on your mobile and be asked, "Add, Share, or Recall?" This is the coolest gadget/personal organizer I've found lately. Savvy hi-tech method of controlling your days & weeks by calling your mobile and leaving verbal messages, WITH TIMES AND DATES, only to have these notes TEXTED back to you - and get a copy in your Gmail to boot. Send one message and "add" names you've listed, and have that text sent to everyone you named. So much more I can't recall. CHECK THIS OUT!

If link above is not complete/functional, point your browser here:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/*******/wirelessly-sync-share-your-music-collection-with-any-mobile-phone/_I've tried this and it works beautifully with my Droid X. Works with Android & iPhone.

"Have an iPhone or Android phone and a music collection too large to sync to it? Want to share your library with friends? Here's how to sync your library with your smart-phone over the internet, or stream it in any browser.

Subsonic is a powerful little cross-platform solution to these problems and moreit's an open source media streamer that is based on both Java and donations, so it's a cross-platform solution that is free for basic usage utilizing the web interface.

Note: In this guide we're going to be showcasing two mobile clients which use the Subsonic API which is NOT free. You'll get a 30-day window to try out the setup, after which you'll be required to make a minimum 10 donation, which will give you access to all the clients including an Adobe AIR client, and a few bonuses, like removing the ad from the web interface, free future upgrades, and a yourname.subsonic.org server address. If you choose to not donate, you can continue using the web client at no extra cost. You can more details at the Subsonic Apps page.

Head over to their download page and grab the installer for free. Double-click the file and Subsonic will be installed as a service which will automatically start with Windows. Note: While installing Subsonic on Mac OS X and Linux is also relatively quick and easy, to get support for transcoding requires a little more effort. Be sure to check the Installation Instructions.

Once you've installed Subsonic, open up a browser and point it to http :// localhost/. Under the login, you'll notice a warning message that gives you the default username and password and reminds you to change it as soon as you login".

Great music sharing mechanism.
Best,
Ron

Skip being connected to a mobile phone... when you just want to leave voice-mail - and disappear. A free new phone service called Slydial allows you to by-pass being connected to your party directly - and right to voice-mail!

Slydial lets you connect directly with another person's cell phone voice mail, bypassing the traditional ringing process that often results sometimes uncomfortably with someone picking up on the other end.

Users call (267) SLY-DIAL from either a cell phone or a land-line, and are prompted to enter another person's cell phone number.

The FREE service requires you listen to a short advertisement unless users pay a subscription fee or 15 cents per call to skip ads Slydial puts callers directly into their target's voice mail. When you really don't want to talk, just get voice-mail, listening to a short ad is likely worth it.

Recipients should then get a voice mail notification, and sometimes they WILL see a caller's number show up as a missed call, too. MobileSphere Ltd., the Boston-based communications company behind Slydial, said there were currently some technological limits. It can only be used in the U.S. right now, and generally won't work with prepaid cell phones. So bear this in mind!

ALSO, sly-dialers must have the caller ID feature activated on their phones, which is meant, in part, to prevent people from using it to harass people without detection.

Hope this saves you some grief,
Ron

http://www.fbi.gov/scams-safety/fraud/fraud#419: DIRECT LINK

This organization is a combined effort of Secret Service, FBI, and other regulatory agencies to specifically address Internet Fraud. An ideal place to begin if you feel you've been defrauded, attempts at Identity Theft, and any number of minor to significant criminal activity you might encounter.

Microsoft Launches Free On-Demand Virus/Mal-ware Scanner

So far On-Demand scanner has dredged-up a fair amount of malware on my PCs. It's a large download, mentioned in the following run-down, but wasn't enough to deter me... and I'm rather conservative where adding software to my runs-like-a-clock Win XP PC. So thumbs-up for me. It self-expires. And so far performed admirably for an MS freebie. (When UNINSTALLING ANYTHING, grab a FREEWARE copy of REVO-UNINSTALLER. It dogs deep to ferret out bits&pieces files that are almost always left behind when uninstalled.)

Here's The Deal:
Microsoft has launched a new, free virus/malware scanner, that's designed to be used if you think your computer might be infected.

The program is called the Microsoft Safety Scanner. To use it, download the file from http://www.microsoft.com/security/scanner/en-us/default.aspx and then run it on your PC. The app is portable, so doesn't need an installer. When run it, it will analyze your computer and detect, and remove, many of the most prevalent viruses.

Microsoft makes clear this is NOT intended to take the place of a proper on-access anti-virus product. It's simply designed to be used in emergencies... if you think your computer may have a problem that has managed to sneak past your existing defenses. Also, note that the program automatically expires after 10 days, so if you want to run it regularly you'll need to keep downloading the latest version.

Safety Scanner is a cool perk from Microsoft's range of free security tools, of which its Security Essentials suite is probably the best known. But a 67 MB download, for a program that expires after 10 days, why so huge? Go ask MS:: smile:: McAfee offers a similar product, also free, called Stinger. It doesn't expire after 10 days, can be downloaded from http://www.mcafee.com/us/downloads/free-tools/how-to-use-stinger.aspx, and is just a 7.7 MB download.

So check these tools out. Hope everyone is doing well.
Ron

Had to bring this to your attention. I love it:

Min.us – Here is another minimalist tool that lets you share you photos galleries online. Min.us is a simple website creating quick anonymous albums by letting you drag your pictures to the website. Once the album is complete, a link to your album will be provided. You can then manage the gallery from the link with options such as changing the name of the album, adding more photos, and deleting photos.

Hope you enjoy...
Ron

http://img4me.com/18cc*******e4484f9888dd95e01ed6f*******ff1.png

Despite the ton of spam everybody gets in their mailbox, it is sometimes vital to post your email address online in blogs or forums. An excellent way to prevent spammers from getting your email address is to turn email address into IMAGE so the bots cannot detect it, and you don't get ripped off.

Img4Me is an internet tool that can help you with that.

Img4Me lets you convert any text into an image. Simply type in the text, select the background and text color you want and click on generate. You can also customize the font and font size you desire in the generated image. Once the image is generated, you are provided a direct URL for the image as well as HTML and BB code to embed it on websites or blogs. You can generate the image as a png, gif or jpg format.

At the top is a URL to a hosted version of my E-mail address.

"Information on how to delete your account from all of the major social networking, blogging, shopping, etc. sites and services across the web.

Feeling a little regret? We can show you how to get it back, too! (If possible)."

Per VZOchat.com:_"CRISP VIDEO QUALITY! With our patented Visicron video codec, we have achieved superior video quality, minimal processor and bandwidth usage in our free VZOchat video chat._SAFETY AND PRIVACY. Video chat VZOchat contains no harmful code, no hidden adds, no modules for tracking users. You have total control over the personal data that you share with other video chat users._COMMUNITY: Tell the world about yourself and make new friends. Use the blogs and photo albums on our site. Look for people with similar interests. Communicate your preferred way and JOIN our video chat VZOchat community!_INTEGRATION WITH OTHER WEBSITES: Insert our video chat VZOchat web client into your homepage or blog and stay in touch with your friends!_STABLE CONNECTION, EVEN THROUGH PROXY AND FIREWALLs.
Special technology allows video chat VZOchat clients to work through any HTTPS/SOCKS proxy, and does not require additional firewall settings for a stable and reliable connection.

And finally: Video chat with up to 120 of your friends in VZOchat!"

I've tried VZOchat and found, for my simple purposes, audio, video and size reproduction rival Skype. That's quite a compliment.

COMPLETE URL: http://www.addictivetips.com/internet-tips/the-complete-guide-to-protecting-your-privacy-online/ - Site Jabber is often not capable of extracting the URL I intend to get to you, especially with redirects, so above is where you want to point-your-browser. (Let SJ know this needs fixing. Makes posts much tougher to create for you, and can confuse getting you to the right place. Just E-mail and say, 'Hey, fix this. Smile. Squeaky wheel gets best consumer attention.)

Some excellent ideas and freeware to protect your security online. CAVEAT! When visiting a site like this (Gizmo), while their offerings are wonderful, and some of the most sought-after, quality-names specials can be found here, Gizmo is still about making money. Their sponsors often (you should know this by now) will place large flash banners saying "DOWNLOAD HERE" at the top of page, or creatively placed to TRICK (most accurate word I can use) you into clicking, downloading something having NOTHING TO DO with what you were interested in.

Gizmo doesn't like this either, but it's what their advertisers INSIST on, and they can't refuse the significant monies the advertisers offer. SO YOU BE CAREFUL! Look closely for the word 'ADVERTISEMENT' above/around the download links. Make sense? At times the actual download links are simply that, regular font size buried in the middle of a paragraph saying, 'download widget-maker here' for the best, etc. Really sux, true. So all that just to REMIND you to heads-up.

FROM GIZMO'S PAGE:
It is also worth mentioning here that you might also want to check out how your contact list is saved by web services. For example, when you check contacts to be invited to LinkedIn via Windows Live Mail, there is a drop down box which provides the amount of time LinkedIn can access your contact list. The least amount of time is 1 day but that's not the option selected by default. The option selected by default is 1 year. As if one day of access to the contact list wasn't enough. The point is that you can no longer trust any web service, search engine, online extension and the likes when it comes to online privacy. One can easily avoid data theft, invasion of personal privacy and security by taking some small but important measures. In this post, we will provide you with a complete guide as to how you can protect your online privacy. As far as I am concerned, users should not be forced or tricked into providing personal information which they don't want to share. No service provider should have the right to show forceful prompts asking for personal data. Another threat to privacy comes from extensions which gather your personal information and even work in Incognito mode, which makes them acquire access to the most private data.

It's getting freaky unsafe out there kids. BE CAREFUL.
After-all-that, you will find some great stuff here. You can easily subscribe to Gizmo and get the newsletter in your mail-box. A quick glance at subject will tell you quickly - interest or delete.

Love to hear some feedback/thoughts on offerings. Useful... or not really? Be candid.
Have a fine week kids,
Ron

Actual link to site: http://www.emailscammers.com/report-email-scams/

Excellent resource where financial E-mail/Identity theft-fraud is concerned. Site has all the links/info you need to quickly & apparently effectively report the really toxic stuff. Here's what site says:

Report Emails Scams to the FBI
The IC3 (FBI) is a great resource in fighting email fraud, internet scams, and phishing. The IC3 is co-sponsored by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C). Complaints filed via thier website are processed and may be referred to federal, state, local or international law enforcement or regulatory agencies for possible investigation.
Report Email Scams, Fraud and Spam to Yahoo

Yahoo is very receptive to complaints regarding their email accounts. Spam or fraud originating from a Yahoo! Mail account (i. E., *******@yahoo.com) gets special attention. If you receive spam sent from a Yahoo! Mail account, please send Yahoo an unedited copy of the message with full headers via their Mail Abuse Feedback Form. Since spamming is expressly prohibited in Yahoo!'s Terms of Service, any account caught spamming will be canceled.
Report Email Spam /Scams to Google (Gmail)

With the ever increasing popularity of Gmail, there is a good chance you may need to contact Google regarding email spam or scams. They also are very helpful, but they can't help unless you report email scams to them.

Stay Safe!
Ron

I have hunch this is a bad organization. CAUTION!

Intelius, the online go-to site for scoops on "person-of-interest's: personal data. I've used the service myself and never for pleasant reasons. Intelius JUST released a new "service" called TrueRep.com. Here's a release from the WSJ on what the intent is:_"People-search website Intelius Inc. unveiled a new paid service on Tuesday that allows consumers to see and edit the public records and other profile information companies compile about them.

For $9.95 a month during a trial period, the new service, TrueRep.com, will give subscribers access to the information that employers, friends and others can find about them via background checks on its people-search sites. Information includes address history, personal information, professional information, criminal records, civil judgments and online profiles.

"Most people don't understand the amount of information about themselves that is out there," says Prakash Kondepudi, senior vice president of sales and business strategy at Intelius.

The launch of the Intelius's new paid service comes as the $25 billion online advertising industry is scrambling to make more transparent its practice of collecting, selling and using Web browsing and other profile information to ward off federal regulation."_ When TrueRep showed-up in my in-box, it seemed interesting, an opportunity to gauge my "profile" on the net (High - Low and 1-100). I showed on the high-side at "75". TrueRep offered me opportunities to select information (addresses, phones, aka, etc.) to "suppress". I simply checked boxes adjacent to the information I wanted "suppressed" and saved.

Long story short... this morning (two days after I updated my TrueRep profile) my Gmail account was hacked, there was mail sent to contacts on that E-mail account (all of which SOLICITED BUSINESS - I had NOTHING to do with!), an attempt to purchase products on eBay, and communications with complete strangers on a Yahoo mail account. This has NEVER happened to me before, not that I consider myself immune, but the proximity to TrueRep is just a bit too coincidental for my comfort. The parent co. Intelius is in the business of SUPPLYING hard-to-get information at premium costs. So what I effectively did (and others will likely do as well), is tell Intelius what information is IMPORTANT to me, and which I don't care about.

Upon signing-up, pages of purchase and interest related instances will be scrolled before you. You're asked to check YES, that's me where you were involved,... or NO, indicated it was someone with similar info - but NOT you. You quite literally hand TruerRep/Intelius all the minutia, all the tiny details about yourself, purchasing trends and interests, an organization who sells one's personal info to another. I have to question the wisdom of supplying this info (in the interest of being MORE invisible), and Intelius' motives in acquiring this kind of deep profile. Will the data be incorporated into their "People Search" operation? C'mon.

In canceling and doing my best to create errata of what they had on my personal life... I discovered - and I promise you... smile... I never saw this, nor am I lax about small print - It carries a $9.95 per month fee to continue to "suppress" your data from those who would give your data up. Rather like the fox guarding the chicken coupe... no?

Keep an eye ion Intelius and TrueRep. I have a real hunch about these dynamics. Just a word to the wise. I'll be spending next week sewing up the holes punched through two E-mail accounts and a load of crap with Ebay, etc.

Be careful out there...
Ron

ADDENDUM: Comments from consumers on Wall Street Journals Forum:
(1) Mark B. Wrote:
Wow, I hope people don't get suckered into this new scam! Let me summarize in a nutshell. For paid fee, you can do a background check on yourself, edit what is not current and add any extra information such as social network user names, etc What you have is providing intelius with more up-to-date information so they can resell your information to the next person that looks you up! If you want to fix your reputation on the net, watch your post on social networks, go to your county recorders office, have information that is critical sealed, so data vendors like intelius can't retrieve these critical information.

(2)Bill H. Wrote:
Boy, am I glad I read the Terms of Service Agreement before I registered! Read item 3:

"Additional Restrictions and Warranties. You authorize us to use your information to search the World Wide Web using any tools available. You authorize us to use the information you provide to create and publish web content. You grant us the right to publish any or all of the content you provide on any websites we deem fit for the purposes of the TrueRep service. You authorize us to modify any content as we see fit to provide the service. You warrant that you have the right to distribute the content you provide us, and to indemnify us against any damages arising from the utilization of the TrueRep service on your behalf, including the publication or other use of the content you provide whether due to copyright infringement or other reason. You authorize us to act on your behalf in creating accounts on other sites in your name. You represent and warrant that you are truthfully representing your identity and identity-related information to us, and agree to release and hold harmless TrueRep for any loss or damage to you resulting from a false or inaccurate representation of identity or identity-related information."

You'd have to be loony to agree to terms like this.
Let friends know... when TrueRep shows in your in-box... dust 'em.

Wallbase is the most comprehensive archive of wallapers for your desktop.

THe inteface is attarctive and fairly simple. Plug-in keywords (designate resolution and other parameters if you chose) and hit search. If your looking for widecreen 1900 x 1200, that's all you'll be shown. Laptops can indicate size and results will selected for that type of screen.

Search is very sensitive to search terms, so keywords must be chosen wisely to obtain best selection.

Have fun with this.