Mythology of Blue: November 2012

30 November 2012

Some Internet Browser Plug-ins Offline Direct Link

Adobe Flash Player Distribution

Thank you for your interest in Adobe Flash Player.

IMPORTANT: Please review the system requirements for detailed information on supported operating systems, browsers, and languages before downloading and installing this software.

In order to distribute Adobe Flash Player you need to have a valid Adobe Flash Player Distribution License Agreement in place. Click here for details.

On this page you will find information about your license and the Flash Player installation packages for your use. Use the installers to distribute Flash Player to your end-users.

Your license term is one (1) year from the date you accepted the agreement. You must apply for a new license before the end of that term should you wish to renew. You will receive a reminder email at the address you provided 30 day prior to the expiration.

Link: http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/distribution3.html

Adobe Reader Distribution

Thank you for your interest in Adobe® Reader® — free software that lets you view, print, search, and share Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) files more securely using a variety of platforms and devices. Adobe Reader features a streamlined user interface, customizable tool bars and Acrobat Connect Video Conferencing. Additional features enabled by Adobe Acrobat® software let you share comments and digitally sign documents.

IMPORTANT: Please review the system requirements before downloading and installing Adobe Reader.

Link: http://get.adobe.com/reader/direct/

Oracle Java

Java Platform, Standard Edition

This releases address security concerns. Oracle strongly recommends that all Java SE users upgrade to this release.

"What Java Do I Need?" You must have a copy of the JRE (Java Runtime Environment) on your system to run Java applications and applets. To develop Java applications and applets, you need the JDK (Java Development Kit), which includes the JRE.

Link: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html

Google Chrome Plug-ins

Plug-ins

Plug-ins help the browser process special types of web content, like Flash or Windows Media files.

On Windows, Mac or Linux? Chrome supports most popular plug-ins:

Link: http://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en-GB&answer=142064

Adobe Flash Player plug-in

Adobe Flash Player is directly integrated with Google Chrome and enabled by default. Available updates for Adobe Flash Player are automatically included in Chrome system updates.

If you want to use Adobe Flash Player in other browsers, you’ll need to separately download the Adobe Flash Player for those browsers.

Enable or disable Adobe Flash Player

These instructions apply to Google Chrome on Windows, Mac, Linux and Chrome OS.

Type chrome:plugins in the address bar to open the Plug-ins page.
On the Plug-ins page that appears, find the "Flash" listing.

To enable Adobe Flash Player, click the Enable link under its name.
To disable Adobe Flash Player completely, click the Disable link under its name.

Note: If you've previously installed Adobe Flash Player separately, you'll see two files listed for the plug-in. If both are listed as enabled, the version bundled with Chrome will be used. To enable a specific version of Adobe Flash Player, click Details in the upper-right corner of the page. Then click the Enable link for the version of Adobe Flash Player you want to enable. The table below shows the file name for the version that is integrated with Google Chrome.

Link: http://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en-GB&answer=108086

Adobe PDF plug-in

By default, Chrome uses a built-in PDF viewer to open PDFs. If you've disabled the built-in PDF viewer, Chrome will use Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader to display PDFs. Follow the suggestions below if you're having trouble viewing PDFs within Chrome, using Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader.

First check if the issue is specific to Chrome. Try opening PDFs in another browser on your computer, such as Firefox. If you experience similar problems viewing PDFs in another browser, the issue is likely not related to Chrome. Please visit the Adobe support site for additional help.

Link: http://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en-GB&answer=142056

Adobe Shockwave plug-in

Shockwave Player lets you view interactive web content, such as games and videos, that are created with Adobe Director. Some websites requires the plug-in to properly display their content.

Install Shockwave - Windows instructions

Download the Shockwave installer from Adobe.
When the download is complete, click the installer in the downloads bar at the bottom of Chrome. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Adobe Shockwave.
Windows User Account Control might appear and ask you for permission to install. If you don’t have administration privileges on the computer, please contact your system administrator to finish installation.
Restart Chrome.

Link: http://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en-GB&answer=2445333

Java plug-in

Java is a programming language and a computing platform that is used by many web developers. Some websites require Java to display their content properly.

Install Java - Windows instructions

Download Java for Windows
Click Agree and Start Free Download to save the setup file to your computer.
Click Save for the file in the downloads bar to confirm that you want to download the file. Don't worry - saving the file won't harm your computer. Learn more about downloading files in Google Chrome.

Open the setup file. Follow the instructions on the screen to finish installing Java.

Link: http://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en-GB&answer=2429779

Windows Media Player plug-in

If you allow websites to use plug-ins and the browser detects that you're missing a plug-in for a particular site, it'll prompt you to install the plug-in at the top of the web page. Here's more information about installing Windows Media Player plug-in. Learn more about managing plug-ins

Install Windows Media Player

If a page simply links to Windows media files (e.g. .asf or .asx files), you might not see a prompt to download the Windows Media Player plug-in. In that case, follow these instructions to get the plug-in:

Windows instructions

Visit http://www.interoperabilitybridges.com/wmp-extension-for-chrome
Click Download Now.
Click Save for the file in the downloads bar to confirm that you want to download the file. Don't worry - saving the file won't harm your computer. Learn more about downloading files in Google Chrome.
Open the setup file.
Click Run to start the Setup Wizard. Follow the instructions in the wizard to finish installing the plug-in.
Restart Google Chrome.

Link: http://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en-GB&answer=95697

RealPlayer plug-in

RealPlayer is a media player from RealNetworks. The programme includes a browser plug-in that is required to play media content such as audio or video on some sites in Chrome.

Install Realplayer - Windows instructions

Download the RealPlayer installer.
When the download is complete, click the installer in the downloads bar at the bottom of Chrome.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install RealPlayer.
Windows User Account Control might appear and ask you for permission to install. If you don’t have administrator privileges on the computer, please contact your system administrator to finish installation.
The RealPlayer installer might prompt you to close Chrome. Click OK to finish the installation.

Link: http://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en-GB&answer=2445814

QuickTime Plug-in

QuickTime is a media player by Apple, Inc. The programme includes a browser plug-in that allows you to view audio and video content using QuickTime’s format. QuickTime is included on Mac computers and can be downloaded as a programme on Windows computers.

Install QuickTime Player for Windows

The plug-in is part of the QuickTime Player. In order to install the plug-in, you’ll need to install the player.

Download the QuickTime installer from Apple’s website.
When the download is complete, click the installer in the downloads bar at the bottom of Chrome.
Locate the installer and double-click it to begin installation.
Follow the prompt to finish installation.
Windows User Account Control might appear and ask you for permission to install. If you don’t have administrator privileges on the computer, please contact your system administrator to finish installation.
Restart Chrome.

Link: http://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en-GB&answer=2445742

Microsoft Silverlight plug-in

Silverlight is a plug-in powered by the .NET framework that lets you view certain types of rich media, such as high quality videos or interactive web apps, in your browser. Some websites requires the plug-in to properly display their content.

Install Silverlight - Windows instructions

Download the Silverlight installer from Microsoft.
When the download is complete, click the installer in the downloads bar at the bottom of Chrome.
Follow the on-screen instructions to install Silverlight.
Windows User Account Control might appear and ask you for permission to install. If you don’t have administration privileges on the computer, please contact your system administrator to finish installation.
Select “Enable Microsoft Update” checkbox to make sure that the plug-in stays updated.

Link: http://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en-GB&answer=2445334

Google Chrome Frame plugin

Google Chrome lets web developers create web features based on technologies that are not yet available in some versions of Internet Explorer, such as rich text editing and faster Javascript execution. If you use Internet Explorer, you can still use it to view websites that contain such features by first downloading the Google Chrome Frame plug-in.

Install Google Chrome Frame

You'll need the following system requirements to use Google Chrome Frame:

Internet Explorer 6, 7 or 8
32- and 64-bit Windows XP, Window Vista or Windows 7
Minimum 512 MB of RAM (recommended)
Administrative rights

You can get Google Chrome Frame in two ways:

Whenever you visit a web page in Internet Explorer that utilises open web technologies, you may be prompted to download Google Chrome Frame. Follow the instructions on the site to install the plugin.
You can also download the plugin at any time by visiting http://www.google.com/chromeframe

The plugin will be installed in the following locations:

32-bit versions of Windows (XP, Vista, Win7): C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome Frame
64-bit versions of Windows (Vista and Win7): C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome Frame

28 November 2012

汽車大道拋錨應聯絡PLUS Ronda

若車輛在南北大道中拋錨或故障，車主可撥打1800-88-0000免收費電話求助或使用高速公路緊急電話聯絡巡邏隊，屆時南北大道公司巡邏隊（PLUS Ronda）將趕到現場維持交通秩序，並將在有關轎車後方置放數個三角警示牌以警惕後方車主。

南北大道公司企業傳訊及市場部總經理卡力拉早前公佈有關服務熱線號碼，並說明該巡邏隊將24小時在南北大道巡視，為遇難題大道使用者提供服務，而大道旁每隔2公里處也設有求助電話。

就一般狀況而言，巡邏隊在接到投報後，就會趕到現場整修拋錨的汽車。如果整修成功，有關汽車就可以馬上再上路，若整修不果，巡邏隊就會把有關汽車拖至鄰近的休息站或收費站。

此外，南北大道董事經理諾麗莎也於2012年10月23日為“流動修車服務隊＂（WOW）主持推介禮，並勸請那些在使用大道時面對轎車拋錨問題的民眾，勿因心慌意亂而聽信無良修車員的指使，或自行在路旁危險修車，反之應向南北大道尋求援助。

24小時服務的“流動修車服務隊＂主要是為車主提供基本的修車服務，或以合理價格協助車主修車。這項服務目前只限於芙蓉通往柔佛的南北大道，共有10支修車隊分別駐守5個地點。

南北大道公司披露，若車主需要修車服務，也可轉告到場施援的巡邏隊，後者將會通知流動維修隊在15分鐘內趕到事發現場，並把有關轎車拖到最靠近的收費站或休息站，然後再檢查車子的故障肇因。

有關服務費用全免，除非有關轎車需更換零件，車主才需要付費，而所有零件收費都會列明在修車隊的交通工具上，車主可在參考有關價格後才決定是否接受維修服務，反之，若修車服務隊無法即席把轎車修好，車主也可要求修車服務隊將其轎車拖到高速大道以外的AAM修車廠，屆時，服務隊將向車主徵收一筆費用。

汽車在南北大道拋錨需採取的步驟

步驟1：請立即撥打免收費電話：1800-88-0000；或使用大道旁所設的求助電話

步驟2：巡邏隊在接到投報後，就會趕現場整修拋錨的汽

步聚3：一旦整修不果，巡邏隊就會把汽車拖至臨近的休息站或收費站

References: http://www.guangming.com.my/node/152336

16 November 2012

只需三分钟:颈椎病无影无踪

颈椎病自我康复操：

这套操不需要按摩穴位，每个人均可以很快学会并练习。经常练习可以改善患者颈部的血液循环，松解粘连和痉挛的软组织。无颈椎病者可起到预防作用。准备姿势：两脚分开与肩同宽，两臂自然下垂，全身放松,两眼平视，均匀呼吸，站坐均可。

1.左顾右盼:

头先向左后向右转动，幅度宜大，以自觉酸胀为好，30次。

2.前后点头:

头先前再后，前俯时颈项尽量前伸拉长，30次。

3. 旋肩舒颈:

双手置两侧肩部，掌心向下，两臂先由后向前旋转 20—30次，再由前向后旋转20—30次。

4. 摇头晃脑:

头向左-前-右-后旋转5次，再反方向旋转5次。

5.头手相抗:

双手交叉紧贴后颈部，用力顶头颈，头颈则向后用力，互相抵抗5次。

6. 双手托天:

双手上举过头，掌心向上，仰视手背5秒钟。

References:
http://www.360doc.com/content/11/0223/14/0_95394637.shtml
http://www.360doc.com/content/11/0323/07/5776850_103726704.shtml

15 November 2012

3 Simple Steps To Fixing Your Computer Issues

Every day dozens of tech questions cross the desktops of editors and contributors on MakeUseOf Answers. Many of them are easy to answer and have actually been asked and solved previously. Looking at other Q&A forums, the same scenario unfolds.

It seems that many people don’t understand how to use the Internet. Or maybe they are overwhelmed by the amount of information presented. Or are they just plain lazy? Worse yet, I suspect there is a much, much larger number of users who never deal with issues in the first place. They simply accept error messages, slow computers, and broken hardware or software until their system breaks down completely. They do this, even though they have access to the Internet, where easy and free solutions are relatively easy to find.

Prologue

One example. The other day I met a neighbor in the staircase. We chatted and she casually asked what my job was. I explained that I work for this website, managing a Q&A forum and writing articles about computer software and online tools. As soon as I had dropped the world ‘computer’, I had her full attention. She put on an impish grin and begged to ask a question. She went on to explain about her computer that didn’t turn on anymore, wondering what could be the cause. The thing is, I know she has WiFi and thus I suspect she has another Internet-enabled device she could use to search for help.

So I have been wondering what makes it so hard for people to look or ask for help and how to help them. This article is my answer. It’s for anyone with IT issues who isn’t currently dealing with them. It is a quick and easy instruction on how you can find help yourself or easily receive help. For free. The only requirement is that you have access to the Internet and use it. Anywhere.

1. Search Google

Yes, Google it ! Whatever your issue is, go and type your question into a search engine, for example Google, then see what comes up. With over 300 million websites out there, chances are someone posted the exact same problem on a forum, someone else solved it, and Google will find it for you. This is how MakeUseOf receives a lot of traffic every day.

If you don’t get a match immediately, try to reword your question and watch for what searches Google suggests. Here are some tips how to properly use Google search:

2. Ask Your Question On a Q&A Forum

So Google didn’t give you any satisfying results or you are overwhelmed with the amount of information. Don’t panic, that’s fine! That’s precisely the reason forums exist. You need step by step instructions from real people. And fortunately there are people who love to help and they are waiting for you to ask your question. Seriously!

First, find a Q&A forum that matches the topic of your question and post your question. Remember that the people you are asking don’t know anything about you or your situation. So provide them with all the information they may need. For example if you have an issue with a specific website, include the URL, any error messages and symptoms, the browser you are using to access the website, other browsers this issue does or doesn’t occur with, and what you have tried already to fix it. Yes, do mention that you have searched Google and couldn’t find a solution that made sense to you.

Here is a list of Q&A forums for technology and internet related questions:

3. Ask a Friend

If you are not able to fix the issue yourself because no one understands what you are talking about or because the suggested fixes are too complicated, ask a friend for their opinion or help. Before you do that, please read this article of mine, especially the conclusion!

I understand that it isn’t always easy to ask someone else for help. Let me tell you though, that people love the recognition they receive, when someone asks them for help. When you ask them for help, you do so because you think they have the skills to help you. In other words, you acknowledge their skills. This is an honor! So being asked for help is appreciated, as long as it is done with the right mindset, occasionally, and without abusing the helpfulness.

To make it even easier for someone else to help you, offer them ways to help you without having to visit your home. Obviously, this will only work if your computer is still running, if you have Internet, and if you are dealing with software issues, rather than hardware damage. There are many remote support tools you and your friend could use. One of them is Soluto, which we have written about here:

Epilogue

I didn’t offer to help my neighbor. When she asked her question, I could see myself crawling underneath her desk, pulling out a dusty old desktop PC, working on it for hours, ordering parts, re-installing Windows 98, and subsequently being her best ‘can you fix this‘ buddy forever. Honestly, that’s a nightmare. You don’t do that for strangers, you only do that for people you love!

References: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-simple-steps-fixing-computer-issues/

14 November 2012

What Is The Easiest Version Of Linux To Learn?

With each day that passes, more and more people are giving Linux a try. It’s free and it can hold its ground against both Windows and Mac, so why not? And maybe you want to give it a try, too–but you keep hearing about how difficult Linux is, how it’s a “geek-only” operating system, etc. Thankfully, there are certain versions of Linux that will help ease you into the process.

But before you decide to switch to Linux, you should think about why you want to switch. If you just want something prettier than Windows, for example, then maybe Linux isn’t for you. Consider some of the key differences between Windows and Linux before switching. Similarly, when switching from Mac, think about your reasons for doing so.

If you’re still reading this, then that means you’re still considering the switch. Great! Let’s take a look at some of the easiest version of Linux that will make the switch as easy and painless as possible for you.

Ubuntu: The Most Popular

For those who have heard about Linux here and there but haven’t really looked into it much more than that, Ubuntu is often synonymous with Linux. And for newbies, why shouldn’t it be? Ubuntu is one of the largest, if not the largest, Linux distributions in the world. With that kind of size, Ubuntu brings to the table something that smaller distributions can’t: userbase.

With so many Ubuntu users out there, if you run into a problem while using Ubuntu, it’s almost a guarantee that someone else has run into that same problem. And with the abundance of community activity, you can ask for help and receive it almost immediately.

Another benefit of Ubuntu’s prevalence is that Linux developers almost have no choice but to support it. For the most part, any Linux program will run on Ubuntu.

But personally, I believe Ubuntu is the easiest Linux to learn because of WUBI, the Windows Ubuntu Installer. When you using WUBI, you can install a copy of Linux straight inside Windows which can be accessed through dual booting. If you don’t like it, you can uninstall it just like any other Windows program. In other words, zero risk.

Zorin OS: The Most Familiar

Zorin OS is a distribution of Linux built off of an Ubuntu foundation. But even though it has roots in Ubuntu, the developers have made some significant decisions that clearly differentiate Zorin OS. What is the driving philosophy behind Zorin OS? To offer an interface that closely resembles the Windows interface so that users from Windows will feel more comfortable.

Everything from the desktop layout to the start menu will look familiar to you. But as you grow more accustomed to the Linux environment, Zorin OS allows you to venture into different interfaces using its Look Changer feature. It also uses Nautilus Elementary over Nautilus–the Linux counterpart to Windows Explorer–because it’s tighter and cleaner.

For more information on Zorin OS, read our Zorin OS overview.

Linux Mint: The Most User-Friendly

Linux Mint is the second most popular Linux distribution, right behind Ubuntu. Interestingly enough, Linux Mint is actually built on top of Ubuntu. Though Ubuntu might have a larger audience, Linux Mint is often hailed as one of the most user-friendly distributions available.

What makes it so user-friendly? Unlike Ubuntu, which doesn’t come with many prepackaged goodies due to licensing issues, Linux Mint comes loaded with plenty of codecs, drivers, browser plugins, and more. This means that most programs will work right out of the box without needing to be tweaked or troubleshooted.

When I first started learning Linux, I actually started on Linux Mint. I’ve tried a few other distributions over the years but I still like Mint the best. Is it any wonder why DistroWatch has it ranked as the #1 Linux distribution?

Conclusion

I don’t mean to say that your Linux experience will be incredibly difficult if you don’t use one of the three distributions above. Similarly, I don’t mean to say that these three distributions will make your Linux experience full of flowers and happiness. All I’m saying is that these three distributions are known for being some of the easier ones on a relative scale.

With that said, I think you’ll have a lot of success switching over to Linux if you are prepared beforehand. Research as much as you can, as that will be the primary factor in determining how difficult a switch is.

And remember: if you don’t like Linux, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

References: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/what-is-the-easiest-version-of-linux-to-learn/

13 November 2012

Why You Don’t Need Desktop Chat Clients Anymore

Remember the days of MSN Messenger and AIM? Those two were the first chat clients I ever used. Once I started using them more and more, it became cumbersome to switch between clients and contact windows. Soon after, multiple-chat clients came about, the popular ones being Miranda IM, Trillian, Pidgin and Digsby. They’re still available, but do you really use them? Or need them? I have Trillian installed on my computer and I honestly can’t remember the last time I opened it. It’s basically just been an unconscious decision to stop using it.

So what do you use instead? I’ve found myself gravitating towards online chat clients instead. Many of them are built into websites I’m using already, so why have an additional program running?

Your Browser Is Already Open

Likely when you’re on your computer, you have some sort of website open. It’s very unlikely that you aren’t using your browser for some purpose already, so why not combine it with communication too?

In addition to already using your browser, you’re probably already using one (if not more) of the websites which contain a chat client. You know, Gmail, Facebook, Outlook.com… need I list more? Those are pretty much the top three that we use to communicate with. There’s also Yahoo Mail, which also has its own messenger, but who really uses that anymore?

Save On Space & Resources

Along with your browser already being in use, you can save on space and resources on your computer by not running additional programs. For most computers this isn’t a major concern since they’re built to handle more resource-extensive applications now days. That said, every little thing adds up and it’s not a bad idea to still keep things to a minimum. Although I do like desktop applications for certain things, I also find myself using web apps for an equal replacement at times.

Your Contacts Are In The Cloud, You Should Be Too

Perhaps you thought that all this time your contacts in your standalone desktop chat client were saved on your computer, and in some local clients that’s the case. However, the majority of the time, they are stored in the cloud with the services you’re connected to – Google, Facebook, etc. So in that sense, you aren’t really tied to any specific client. This means you can go anywhere and be on any computer and still talk to your friends and family.

There are certainly portable applications that allow you to take your favorite IM client with youby using Portable Apps. But in my opinion, that’s a bit more of a hassle. and again, you’re already going to be using the Internet, so you might as well use it for this too.

What About Video Chatting?

You might be thinking “but I use Skype all the time! How am I supposed to use that online?” Well, you might not realize this, but Facebook and Skype are best friends, and you can video chat on Facebook, through Skype. There’s really no need for Skype to be installed on your computer.

Skype isn’t the only player in video chatting anymore though, and they certainly knew this and jumped to partner with Facebook to help fill the gap that the mighty Google has shown a lot of success in. You may have heard about Google+ Hangouts. Have you tried them? If not, you should – it’s quite nice. And as an added bonus it works directly within Google Chat in Gmail.

If you want even more convincing, check out Tina’s article 5 Reasons Google Hangouts Are Cooler Than Skype For Video Chats.

The Web Chat Client Alternatives

We’ve already touched upon Facebook Chat and Google Chat, which are the two primary services you’ll likely be using the most. However, if you’re an Outlook.com (Hotmail) user, you can also connect your Facebook account to that account while still staying in touch with your native Windows contacts.

Note that Yahoo can also sync to Facebook and allow you to talk with Yahoo and Facebook contacts simultaneously from your Yahoo Mail page. I haven’t been really impressed with the chat features though and it seems quite cumbersome to use compared to other online chat clients.

But what about outside of the “standard” services that we use though? Well, perhaps you’ve heard of Meebo. That’s a pretty popular one and… oh, what? Google bought it?

Well, so much for that then. Thankfully though, Meebo isn’t the only option. There are quite a few alternatives, but my overall favorite is imo.im.

imo.im certainly isn’t the only web chat client – Craig covered some new similar sites like Instan-t Express Web IM and ILoveIM. Another great service that seems fairly new is IM+. There are quite a few others available too like WeBuzz.IM, Nimbuzz and older ones like eBuddy.

imo.im has been around a while too, and it is evident that it is continuing development and constantly adding new features. One feature that makes it stand out is the ability to send short audio clips of what you want to say. Not only can you send audio clips though, but you can also place calls to any service. This is the only web chat client which can do this, that I know of.

It also can connect to Skype, which is very rare. IM+ can also do this, but it can’t place calls, which is a big shortfall when it comes to communicating with Skype contacts.

Below is a complete list of the best web chat clients, the ones in bold being the ones I recommend.

Google Chat with Google+ Hangouts
Outlook.com Messenger
Yahoo Mail Messenger
Facebook Chat with Skype
imo.im
IM+
Trillian for Web
ILoveIM
Instan-t Express Web IM
eBuddy
WeBuzz.IM
Nimbuzz

Websites Aside, There Are Also Extensions

Something we often don’t think of in this area is the simple browser extension which can replace a full-fledged desktop chat client. This slightly depends on your browser though. In doing some quick research I found that there are many more chat clients available for Chrome than Firefox. There were a few Firefox add-ons, but nothing close to the quantity and quality in the Chrome Web Store.

Below are some Chrome extensions that I’d recommend:

Final Thoughts

There are quite a few options to chat online, but amongst a lot of the “clutter” there are only a few good ones. Even in the ones I’ve covered in this article, there are some that stand out far greater than others. Through my testing and opinion, these would be again the bolded ones which I listed in the web chat client section.

References: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/why-you-dont-need-desktop-chat-clients/

12 November 2012

10 Great Geek Hacks: Repurpose Everyday Objects & Get The Most Out Of Your Electronics

If you’re looking for a way to get the most out of old everyday objects that have become obsolete, like cassette tapes and CD’s, or want to put everyday objects like binder clips, bread clips and ceramic bowls to good use, we’ve put together a list of 10 really cool geeky ideas to upcycle, hack and reuse things lying around your house.

There is no end to the ways that you can put all your old gadgets and bits and pieces to good use – just browse Pinterest for 10 minutes and you’ll find a hundred and one cool projects to keep you busy all weekend. Our list sticks to the more geeky gadgetry that we know MakeUseOf’s readers will love.

Use a Ceramic Bowl Instead Of Speakers

If you’d rather spend your money on a decent pair of earphones, you can always turn to an everyday object you most definitely have to enhance your at-home listening with your iPod, iPhone, or any other smartphone you happen to own. Simply turn your music on, stick your phone in a ceramic bowl, and hear the difference. The concave shape of the bowl will help amplify the sound, and a ceramic bowl offers the best results.

Use Binder Clips To Organize Your Cords

If you’ve got a lot of gadgets and electronics sitting on your desk, chances are you’ve got a jumble of cords running sitting right next to them. A great way to keep them handy and easily accessible is to use large binder clips, attach them to the edge of your desk, and thread the cables through the opening. That way you keep them organized, in sight, and won’t run the risk of losing important USB cables.

Use Bread-Bag Clips To Label Your Cables

Once you’ve got your binder clips in place on your desk, another place where cables might still be a bit of a mess are under the desk leading to your power strip. So that you don’t unplug the wrong gadget or electronic device by mistake, you can use bread-bag clips to label each cable clearly. Don’t have any bread-clips handy? You could always simply make your own.

Turn Old Cassette Tapes Into Cool Retro Lamps

You probably can’t remember the last time you played a CD, let alone a cassette tape. If you’ve still got a lot of cassette tapes stashed away in your attic or garage, and simply couldn’t bear to part with them, you can actually turn them into a bit of impressive home decor. One way to impress your friends would be to turn the cassette tapes into cool retro lamps. Here’s an easy guide to follow to create one of these beauties yourself.

If creating a lamp is a little too complicated for you, there are a few other easier projects you can do to get the most out of your old cassette tapes – like turning them into iPod Nano casesor business card holders.

Turn a Cassette Case Into a Cord Organizer

Now that you’ve found a way to put those cassette tapes to good use, you’ll likely have a bunch of cassette cases lying around that you don’t know what to do with. You can turn them into cord organizers, or also use them to hold your business cards. Since cassette tape covers are relatively small, they’ll come in handy for your smaller USB cords and earbuds, particularly when you’re travelling and want to keep everything nicely organized.

Turn CDs Into Coasters & More

If your CDs aren’t getting much use anymore either, you can repurpose them into cool coasters, a candle mat to catch dripping wax, or even as a dock for your smartphone.

Buying coasters made out of CDs can run you about $18 if you can still find them, so if you have a ton of old CDs lying around and are feeling a little crafty, you can always decorate them yourself and turn your old CDs into something entirely new. Another idea we’ve come across for getting the most out of your CDs is to stick them on the front and back of your bike as makeshift reflectors.

Use a CD Case As a Recipe Holder

So now you’ll want something to do with those CD cases right? You can turn them into recipe card holders. Not only will you end up with a completely organized set of recipes that you can easily look through by labeling the spine of the CD case, you can also use them to prop up the recipe in plain view while you cook.

Turn An Old TV Into a Fish Tank

This is certainly the most difficult of the ideas we’ve come across but turning your old TV or computer screen into a fish tank has to be one of the coolest ways to get the most out of old retro gadgets. Of course this is not the kind of task you should undertake unless you really know what you’re doing.

Use Burnt Out Lightbulbs As Picture Frames Or Vases

If you’ve got some burnt out lightbulbs lying around the house, you can use them to create vases, terrariums, or even turn them into interesting and unique picture frames.

Do you want more ideas on what to do with lightbulbs? Try turning them into salt and pepper shakers, an oil lamp, a mini fish tank, and more. Check out this really cool Pinterest boarddedicated entirely to cool uses for old lightbulbs.

Before you give any of these electronics hacking projects a try, be sure to take a look at this guide on how to hollow out a light bulb.

Organize Your Cables With Toilet Rolls

Yet another way to keep your cables and cords organized is to use toilet rolls. You can fill a shoebox with toilet rolls to stick your cables in, but you can also find a few ways to keep it looking pretty. All it takes is a bit of wrapping paper and you can dress up the toilet roll to look a lot nicer than it really does. Don’t have any wrapping paper handy? Just use a page out of a magazine.

References: http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/10-great-geek-hacks-repurpose-everyday-objects-electronics/

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