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All Things Pondered Here

Pondering Many Things....

Computers

How To Do Screen Image Capture on Mac OSX 10.8.2 Mountain Lion Video

March 12, 2013 by Dave

Video:

 

This is a handy little trick to know.   Some people buy separate applications just do this.  They don’t realize that the capability is built into their Mac.   If you learn a few tricks here and there, your life will be easier and you won’t spend money on applications that you don’t need.

When you consider that applications sometimes need to be updated, it can get even more expensive.  With Mac OS , it is very likely that this little trick will always be there.  It really does make life a bit easier.

Enjoy and share this trick – especially with those who have purchased a certain screen image capture software – I won’t name them by brand…

 

Filed Under: Computers, IT Support Tagged With: image capture, Mac OS, Mac screen capture

Unable to Synch Podcasts From ITunes To My Ipod…

December 1, 2012 by Dave

Podcasts Not Synching

synching Ipod to podcastsI recently purchased a new IPOD.    The first time I synchronized it, the podcasts did not synch the way they did on the old Ipod.

I didn’t realize the problem for a few days when I wanted to listen to one of the podcasts.

Then I realized: They were all missing! 

I knew from past experience that there was a setting in Itunes that needed to be made.

However,  I recently downloaded Itunes 11  and this complicated things a bit for me.

A Call To Apple Care

I put in a call to Apple Care and the first technician I talked to was very unhelpful and transferred me without my permission to the Ipod team.

Since, I knew this was a setting in Itunes, I knew that I did not need to be sent there.

The second technician agreed that she should not have sent me over.

Ok, Let’s move on!

What I Had To Do In Order To Synch My Ipod.

-With the Ipod plugged in to the computer wait for it to appear in Itunes.

When you click on your device inside of Itunes you will see a tab with ‘summary’ selected.   Simply go to the ‘podcasts’ tab and select ‘synch podcasts’.

In Itunes 11, you have a drop down box that gives you several options, including:   “all” and multiple variations of “most recent”  etc…

One additional problem I had in Itunes 11 was finding my sidebar.  Without the sidebar, you will not be able to see your device in order to click on it and get the options I described above.

In order to see the sidebar, go under the ‘view’ menu and select “show sidebar”.   That’s all I had to do.

 IPOD Upgrade

As a side note, I took my old IPOD from 2008 in to the Apple Store and asked about a battery replacement.   Since they did not have batteries for that model any longer they said they would sell me a ‘new’ 2009 model for 55 Euros.  I thought that was a good deal so I took them up on it.  That model, I think is also ‘retired’  (I think) but it was an upgrade from my 80 GB Ipod to a 160 GB ipod.

Since this IPOD can also be used as a storage device, I have plenty of extra GBs to fill up with anything I want.     That’s a one step better than toting around a bunch of thumb drives.
Comment below.

About The Author

 

Filed Under: Computers, IT Support, Laptop Computing Tagged With: ipod, itunes, itunes 11, podcasts

Why Your Computer Has Slowed Down And No Special Tools or Programs Help…

November 30, 2012 by Dave

Poor Computer Performance Situation:

The apple care rep thought the PRAM reset would help me. But the reality is, it had nothing to do with my problem.

Unfortunately, I finally made my way to a ‘senior’ tech at Apple who told me what the ‘real’ problem was.

It doesn’t really matter what special tools you utilize to ‘clean your computer’. The problem has to do with something that many people just don’t know.

That’s why I am writing about it now. Because people should know about this.

Your computer needs about 15 percent of it’s hard drive space free to run programs.

If you have 120GB hard drive. you need to keep that last 20Gbs free in order to keep your computer running smoothly.

You might mistakenly think you need more ram for the programs you are running, but in fact, the hard drive space is the limiting factor.

So before you go out and waste money on additional memory, take a look at your free space.   Before you purchase programs that are supposed to ‘clean up’ your computer, take a look at how much free space you have on your hard disk.

 

Being Low on Free Space

 

 

 

 

The Problem

Applications constantly write to your hard drive when they are in use.   That space may again be freed up when you are finished using the application.   This is the reason that ‘experts’ suggest that you leave at least 15% of your hard drive space free.

 

Very Annoying…

The 120 GB SSD hard drive I bought two years ago was very expensive. This is the reason that I didn’t bother buying a larger drive.

The problem is that is is very easy to fill up 120 GBs, particularly when you process video.

Unfortunately, there are only two fixes.

1. Is that you can reduce the amount of data stored on your hard drive.

2. The second is to get a bigger hard drive.

If you opt for number 2, you may run into issues when reinstalling your applications. You may have to put the license keys back in.

If you have bought apps in a manner that did not include an install disk, then you may also face the possibility that your program is no longer available from the digital source you purchased it from (such as the app store or other places).

That means you facing losing tools that you have grown used to utilizing and that you have relied upon.

That’s very sad, isn’t it?

The first option can work by moving videos, pictures, music and other items to an external hard drive.  In this case you lose the benefit of having them readily available.  You have to go through the extra step of accessing them through an external drive.   Not very convenient, is it?

So, your ‘options’ are limited at this point! Which will you choose? Comment below

 

Filed Under: Computers, Laptop Computing, Technical Tagged With: computer keeps freezing, computer slow down, slow computer

How To Reset The PRAM On A Mac…

November 29, 2012 by Dave

The PRAM Symptoms

I called Apple Support at 1-800-APL-CARE  because I was having a problem with my computer.

It seems that disk utilities would show me that I had 1.5 or 2 Gigs free but within 30 minutes of doing routine work, I would get a message.

That message said:  “Your Disk is Almost Full”

I would then open Disk Utilities again and sure enough, it would show that I had only a few megabytes of space left.

I would run a cleanup program and I would suddenly have more space again!

This continued about every thirty minutes or so.

Resetting PRAM

I called Apple Care for this problem.  They told me that I needed to clear my PRAM – I had not heard of this before.   (Silly of me, I know).

The procedure I was told to perform was this:

Restart the computer.  Before the screen turn on, hold down  Command-Option-P-R   (4 keys) all together and hold them until you hear the ‘Chime’ Twice.

If you only here the chime once, you must restart again.

You need to hear the Chime TWICE before logging in.

This resets the PRAM.

 

Results

Sure enough, I checked Disk utilities again,  this time I had a LOT more space than I was previously showing.

The problem seems to have disappeared now.

The only maintenance I had run previously was a ‘clean up’ utility and the repair permissions utility.   I was not aware that any other routine maintenance was needed.

The only other problem I have had was with my battery – which AppleCare replaced for me at no charge!

So, now I know that sometimes there may be additional maintenance to perform.

Next time I need to do this, I will come straight to this post for the directions.

 

System

Just so you know what I am running in case you are thinking of comparing it to your system.

I have a 17 inch MacBook Pro with 8 Gigs of RAM,  And a 120 GB HD that was installed by APPLE before I received the computer.

I am running LION  10.7.5 as an OS.    The MBP was created in the summer of 2010.   Processor  2.66 GHz Intel Core i7

* note, I cannot warrant or guarantee the suitability of the information provided here for your machine and your unique situation, be sure to call Apple Care for assistance before attempting to reset your PRAM – just in case you need a different set of instructions or have a different problem altogether than you may think. Proceed at your own risk!

Any thoughts?   Post your comments and experiences below.

 

 
About The Author

 

Filed Under: All Posts, Computers, IT Support, Laptop Computing, Technical Tagged With: MBP PRAM reset, PRAM reset, Resetting the PRAM

10 Tips For Overcoming Procrastination At The PC

July 23, 2006 by splat

Procrastination is the thief of time – and money too, at the PC. Your Internet connection, equipment and power cost you. Some tasks are no fun – but don’t let them pile up. Constant dithering and delaying will wreck your health, wealth and reputation.

Here are 10 tips for helping you stop procrastination dead:

 

1/  Before you even sit down, sort out in your mind what’s ‘urgent’, ‘important’, both, or neither. (If an ‘urgent’ task isn’t ‘important’ and the deadline passes, so what?).  An ‘urgent and important’ task should normally come before an ‘important’ task.
If you have a poor memory (like me) write or type a quick list of your Top Five To Dos for the session, and delete or amend as need be.

2/   All other things being equal plan on doing easy tasks before difficult short tasks before long tasks. Always have something concrete to show for worktime in front of your PC.

3/   As far as you can YOU decide what’ important’ and ‘urgent’. There are bullies about – bosses, colleagues and customers – who think their merest whim is law. Learn to say ‘No’ politely. They may not like it, especially at first. But you’ll grow.

4/  If you need help for your work, get it now, not later. If it’s not there now, you can ask later – more chances.  If you leave it till later, it may have gone off earlier so no chances….

5/   You’re there going thru your emails, databases and memos and suddenly out of nowhere, new jobs appear. The tendency is to ‘do what’s on top of the pile’ first. Don’t. Put it into the right place in your existing list.

6/  Do you get distracted easily? Try and be aware of this, and stay aware of what tasks need doing – and by when.

7/ Are you more energetic and creative morning, noon or night? Can you reschedule your targets to take this into account? Or do you just plod along, whatever?  You may be a tortoise or a hare, but you can still win your own personal race if you plan ahead.

8/  Don’t give up your breaks. You need to pace yourself. But put a time limit on all breaks, surfing, chatting or just daydreaming can eat into worktime with disastrous results. A rushed job is rarely your best shot, or a true reflection of your abilities.
9/ Be particularly wary of long lunch breaks, and overeating or drinking.  If your afternoon’s festooned with urgent and important chores, you’ll feel inclined to procrastinate bigtime if you’re hung over, stuffed to the gills, or dead beat.
10/ Give yourself a treat if you hit all your deadlines. Doesn’t have to be chocolate! And don’t procrastinate on rewarding yourself when you deserve it.

Use these tips to stop procrastination AT the PC (AND off), and it will boost your free time and make you happy and healthy computing thru 2006 and beyond!

Now a new guide on avoiding procrastination is available from Mick Madigan at

https://tinyurl.co.uk/ziim

Mick has a continual interest in healthy computing, and has recently published a  unique detailed guide on avoiding computer perils, plus no cost downloads of a  stress busting exercise audio ebook and numerous health articles at

https://www.m1mart.co.uk

Filed Under: Computers

Get Organized At Your PC – 7 Big Tips

July 23, 2006 by splat

Get organized! There’s so much to do, so little time on your computer. Time is precious, you can’t save it, only waste it.

Here are seven big tips to help get you organized on your PC:
1. Practice the C.O.P.E.  method – Capitalize on the ability of everyone to help you, Organize your work space for healthy computing, Prioritize tasks which are important, urgent, both or neither, and Energize yourself by getting plenty of rest, eating and drinking all of the right things and  exercising regularly. Plenty of mini breaks, exercise on and off the PC, and staying focussed will contribute to a sense of continual wellbeing
 2. Take some time to block distractions and dangers. Install a firewall to your computer, or have one installed (Windows XP has one but it’s switched off by default, and there are better ones around) to make yourself invisible to hackers and intruders. Add mail filtering software to cut right down on junk email and SPAM. (There are free and paid-for versions of both, search on the Net  and read  the  reviews and customers’ comments.) Do not open attachments or links in unknown emails. Even check out warnings of dangers on virus hoax sites. Check for bug fixes and upgrades to the software – it will usually come at no cost.
3. Make quick notes. With so many tasks in any given day, why should you try to keep every little detail  in your memory bank? Use an online software memo pad. Download freeware that’ll let you do a pop up or ‘Post-It’ note on your screen. You may find the software will also retain your notes in one folder. Whever you remember something needs to be done, the very best thing to do is write or type it down. Then, just as you need to recall it, it will be there for you in an instant. Or slap sticky notes on your monitor – but bin them when they are done!
  4. Remove clutter. Many people say that one of their favorite things to do when stressed out is to clean! Hard to imagine yes? Well, it is true. Cleaning gives order and purpose to your life, even if you only do a bit at a time. Tidy your desk, clean out store or remove dead or surplus information from your PC. Get and regularly run software that removes dead links, duplicate files and empty folders, spyware, captures or blocks viruses and other intruders, and cleans and defragments your hard drive. Most of this can be scheduled to run automatically or when you aren’t there. Your computer will work better too! 
 
  
  5. Organize future reminders. There are many good and free e-mail reminder services available. You can type in what you want to remember, such as a welcome party, anniversary or special event, and you will receive an e-mail reminder when the date is approaching. This is a great way to use the  Internet as a memory jogger.

   
 6. Use timers and alarms. Take advantage of  alarm clocks and timers throughout your day to stay organized at your work. Have to have a report ready by 12 noon? Set your pop up PC alarm clock as a memory jogger to remind you. Want to leave for an anniversery meal  by 8 p.m.? Set your offline timer to beep a few minutes before it is time to start to get off and get ready.
 
 7. Visual memory joggers. Visual reminders will help you remember and stay focused . Use visual reminders for remembering your goals. If your goal is to take a trip to a Ireland in a few years, keep a magazine photograph of Ireland right on your desk. If your goal is to lose 20 lbs. in three months, find a picture,  motto or ornament that will help remind you of this goal each day.
 Get organized, and you’ll feel better, have more free time and continue your successful and healthy computing 2006 and beyond!

 

 A  new eguide on getting organized in the home and office is available from Mick Madigan at

https://tinyurl.com/qz5qa

Mick has a continual interest in healthy computing, and recently published a  unique detailed guide on avoiding computer perils, plus no cost downloads of a  stress busting exercise audio ebook and numerous health articles at

https://www.m1mart.co.uk
 

Filed Under: Computers

Sort Your Computer Furniture, Stay Fitter!

July 9, 2006 by splat

Computer furniture – what you have at your computer workstation -can if correctly selected and set up, help you avoid painful musculoskeletal disorders (MSD), and stay healthier and fitter at your PC.

It’s not hard to do especially when you consider that a  bad computer furniture arrangement will, even in the short term:

-  create and maintain a distorted or unhealthy posture while using the computer.

-  give you inadequate lower back support, creating aches and pains later.

 -  force you into staying in one position too long, which would be another recipe for strain and muscular tension.

– make you stretch bend and twist unecessarily.

 

So what features should your screen, desk, keyboard,  mouse and chair have to keep you feeling good?

Your monitor should:

-  swivel, tilt and elevate.

– fit an extra adjustable stand to adjust the height if need be.   Or replace it.

-  be positioned so the top line of the monitor is not higher than your eyes or not lower than 20° below the horizon of your eyes or field of vision

-  be at the same level and near the document holder (if you use one).

– be between 20 to 25 inches (50-56 cm) away from your face

 

Your  keyboard should :

-  be detachable and adjustable (with legs to adjust the angle).

-   allow your forearms to be parallel to the floor without having to raise your elbows.

-  allow your wrists to be in line with your forearms so your wrists don’t have to be flexed up or down.

– include enough space to rest your wrists or should include a padded detachable wrist rest (or you can use a separate gel wrist rest which should be at least 2 inches (50 mm) deep.

-   be placed directly in front of the monitor and at the same height as the mouse, track ball, touch pad, or any other pointing device.

 

The mouse or pointer device should :

-  be close to the keyboard.

-  allow you, (if possible), to use both left and right hands while handling the pointer/mouse.

 

Your computer chair should :

– support your back, and have a vertically adjustable independent back rest that returns to its original position, plus tilt adjustment to support your lower back.

– allow you to adjust its height while seated.

– be adjusted so the back crease of the knee is slightly higher than the pan of the chair (use a suitable footrest, if required).

-  be supported by a five prong caster base.

– have removable and adjustable armrests,  if possible.

– have a contoured seat with breathable fabric and rounded edges to distribute the weight, and  be adjustable to allow the seat pan to tilt forward or back.

 

The table/desk should :

– provide ample leg room and be height adjustable (preferably).

– have enough room to support the computer equipment plus space for documents.

– be at least 36 inches (90 cm) deep.

– have rounded blunt and undamaged corners and edges

 

This covers the basics of good computer furniture setup, but you can improve your protection by taking further standard precautions:

– Ensure each user maintains their own set up.

-  Taking regular breaks from working at your computer for a few minutes, at least once an hour.

-  Alternating work tasks  by mixing computer tasks with non computer tasks to reduce strain.

– Learning and carrying out keyboard shortcuts to reduce mouse usage.

-  Carrying out regular gentle stretching to relax your body.
 – Using health support equipment such as footrests, wrist/palm rests, and document holders if required

– Adopting a NEUTRAL BODY POSTURE, with hands, wrists, and forearms inline, straight, and almost parallel to the floor, body facing forward, shoulders relaxed,elbows close to body and bent approximately at right angles.

If you organise and maintain a good PC furniture set up, you’ll be well on track for fit and healthy computing through 2006 and beyond!

 

 ******

Mick Madigan lives in the UK, has a continual interest in healthy computing, and has recently published a  unique detailed guide on avoiding the ways computing can harm you at:

https://www.m1mart.co.uk

A stress- busting audio/text exercise ebook, plus a large and growing number of articles on staying fitter at your PC, can also be downloaded at no cost from this site.

Article Source: https://allthingspondered.com

Technorati Tags: computers, starying+fit+at+the+computer
 

Filed Under: Computers

Reduce Repetitive Strain Injury Risks with 9 Healthy Computing Tips

May 23, 2006 by splat

Computing may seem to be an effortless activity, whether it’s for a job or for fun.

But, if you keep doing the same tasks over and over for a long time in the same position, it may cause damage in certain parts of the body – the PC version of the notorious repetitive strain injuries (RSI).

For instance, most people depend on the mouse while working on the computer.  Doing this for only a few minutes should not be a problem for most.

However, repeating the same movements over and over again without a break can expose the small muscles and tendons of the hand to hundreds or even thousands of activations (repetitions).

You may not get enough time between activations for rest and recovery, which can cause localized fatigue, wear and tear, and injury to your body.

Similarly, if you maintain one position continuously, such as viewing a screen for hours without taking a break, it can tire the muscles of the neck and shoulder that support the head.
Typical Symptoms  of RSI include:

 – Discomfort or stiffness in the hands, wrists, fingers, forearms, or elbows.

 – Coldness, tingling feelings or numbness in the fingers and hands.

 – Weakness or clumsiness  in the hands.

 – Wanting to  frequently massage your hands, wrists, and arms

 – Pains in the upper back, shoulders, or neck shoulders and upper back
You can greatly reduce the risks and pains from RSI by following these tips:

1) Work in a NEUTRAL BODY POSITIONING (“A comfortable working posture with a natural alignment of all your joints from head to toes”).

 -  Make sure that your hands, wrists, and forearms are inline, straight, and almost parallel to the floor.

 -  Ensure your head and torso are in-line, with head slightly bent forward, facing towards the front, and balanced.

 -  Ensure that your shoulders are at ease with upper arms lying normally at the sides of your body.

 -  Ensure that your elbows are close to your body and bent between about 90 and 110 degrees.

 -  Your feet should be either supported by a footrest or they should be resting on the floor.                       

 -  While leaning back or sitting in a vertical position, make sure that your back is supported fully, particularly  in the lumbosacral (lower back) area.

 -  Your seat should be well padded, so that your hips and thighs are well supported.

– your knees and hips should be at almost the same height, with your feet slightly forward.
2). Try to vary your tasks and work areas so that you get enough time for your muscles and joints to recover.

3). Arrange your workstation in such a way that you can easily change your working postures  according to your convenience.

4). Have adjustable furniture for the work area that allows you to shift to different seated positions whenever you want to. This helps different muscle groups give you support, while others rest.

5). Your worktop should be spacious enough to let you use the mouse with either hand alternately. Thus the tendons and muscles of the free hand get enough relaxation.

6). Reduce your dependence on the mouse and use more shortcut keys.  For example, you can use Ctrl+S to save, Ctrl+P to print etc., where Ctrl is the ‘Control’ key.
Certain jobs do require more dependence on the mouse.  Users in such professions should definitely learn to use more shortcut keys.

7). Jobs that usually involve repeated tasks (or maintaining one position) can lead to muscular strain.  Escape this by taking several short breaks or relaxed pauses, and stand, stretch, and move around during these breaks.
This increases blood circulation and gives enough time for your muscles to relax.

8). Try to mix computer tasks and non-computer tasks alternately whenever possible.  This encourages the movement of different parts of the body by varying the muscle groups in action.

9). Exercise gently at your computer, with stretches, turns, and flexes.

Fight the risks from RSI, and you’ll be in an excellent position to continue healthy computing today and into the future!

 
 ********

About the Author: Mick Madigan lives in the UK, has a continual interest in healthy computing, and has recently published a  unique detailed guide on the ways computing can harm you  – and how you can avoid them – at

https://www.m1mart.co.uk

A stress- busting audio/text exercise ebook, plus futher articles on staying fitter at your PC, can also be downloaded without obligation from this site.
 
Source: https://allthingspondered.com

Filed Under: Computers

Low Level PC Poisons – Computer Equipment Fumes, Dust And Gases

May 14, 2006 by splat

Did you know computer equipment continually gives out small amounts of different gases and fine dusts?  Some people are highly sensitive to these.

Plastic PC components are one source, as most plastics are unstable and break down naturally over time, especially when exposed to ultraviolet light and sunlight. (That’s the reason why they turn yellow and get brittle.) 

Another source comes from vapour produced from traces of manufacturing materials slowly evaporating.

The gases and fumes given off are called ‘out-gassing’ and only occur in small amounts.  But when the equipment is new, the out-gassing is greater and noticeable even to people who aren’t particularly sensitive.

This is similar to the smell that we get when we first get into a new car – out-gassing from the vinyl, plastic carpet and hard plastic interiors, as well as the wiring.

A new computer has a similar smell. So to some extent you can avoid outgassing, at least of ‘new’ volatile components, by buying a good quality ‘used’ PC.

Other office materials, particuliarly new furnishings, may also outgas – chipboard contains phenolic resins, which release trace amounts of formaldehyde; also carpeting (especially foam padding), paint and fabrics give off obnoxious chemicals when new.

People who have been sensitized (by previous exposure) may react badly to even very tiny amounts of these gases, by getting headaches, dizziness, and respiratory problems.  The problems may persist even when the original cause is reduced, or disappears.  In such a case it’s wise to seek qualified medical advice.

Casings may also be contaminated by fine brominated phenolic dust originally put on as a fire retardant, which can be blown out by fans, circulation or movement. The best solutions are:

 -  Initally, to  run any new equipment in an empty well ventilated room to allow most of the outgassing to occur before use.
  – Always work in a room with good ventilation and avoid continual high room temperatures–outgassing will increase as the temperature rises.

Laser printers emit a lot of toner dust, which contains carbon and solvents, and quite a few people are sensitive to it.
You can smell it when the printer is on, and especially on freshly printed-paper.  You may notice wheeziness, coughing, and sneezing.

People working at copy centers and service bureaus often suffer from headaches, and toner dust is the main suspect.
NCR paper (‘carbonless’ paper) can also cause wheeziness.

Good ventilation, drawing air away from the operator and filtering out particles, will help reduce these reactions, but effective ventilation in a commercial or home office is sometimes hard to achieve, especially in sealed buildings. 

You can try going outdoors and breathing deeply for 10 minutes every hour or so.  Open doors, maybe have a fan on., and avoid  routine (multiple) photocopying every single document.

Think long term.  Removing even mild poisons from your environment is yet another way to keep safe, stay fitter at the PC and enjoy a healthy computing career!

 

 About The Author:

Mick Madigan lives in the UK, has a continual interest in healthy computing, and has recently published a  unique detailed guide on the ways computing can harm you  – and how you can avoid them – at

https://www.m1mart.co.uk

A stress- busting audio/text exercise ebook, plus futher articles on staying fitter at your PC, can also be downloaded without obligation from this site.

Source: https://www.allthingspondered.com

 

Filed Under: Computers

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