Friday, October 31, 2008

Finding Orphaned Songs Within iTunes

This tech tip is specific to iTunes users.  If you have more than just a handful of songs, then you probably have created a few playlists.  I currently have 23 playlists.  Being the soft hearted guy that I am, the thought of an orphaned song hanging out in my iTune and not being assigned to a playlist makes me sad.  If a song is not assigned to a playlist, it may never get listened to.  If you also have a soft spot in your heart for orphaned songs and you would like to know how to find them and get them assigned to a playlist, here is what you do.  The process is a little tedious, but if you support the cause, it is worth the effort.
 
1. Create a Smart Playlist by clicking on the file menu.
 
2. Add a rule for each and every playlist to only include songs where the playlist is not assigned.
 
This will create a Smart Playlist that shows only songs that are not assigned to any other playlist.
 
Click here for an example image of my "Orphans" Smart Playlist rules.  No making fun of my eclectic musical tastes though.  I get enough of that at home and around the office.  :-)
 
Ryan Williams

Twitter:  http://www.twitter.com/ryanwill
 
 
 
 
Posted by Ryan Williams at 1:32 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Friday, October 24, 2008

Archiving Old Data to Increase Productivity

Over time workstation and server hard drives become littered with old files that are no longer useful.  Often companies do not want to delete these files for fear they will need them in the future.  Perhaps you should consider archiving the old files to another drive.  Software can move old files and duplicate the exact directory structure on the new hard drive so the files can be easily found if they are needed later.  Cleaning up your old files in this way should produce an increase in productivity because your employees will not have to sift through old unused files every day when looking for the files they need.  Just Google “file archiving” and you’ll find a number of software applications that can help with the process.
 
Ryan Williams

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/ryanwill
 
 
 
Posted by Ryan Williams at 4:11 PM 0 comments Links to this post

UStream.com

UStream is a quick, easy and free way to broadcast a live video feed on the internet.  With just a web cam and an account on UStream, you can be broadcasting live video to the masses in 5 minutes.  Using UStream, professional service providers like accountants, attorneys, or other consultants can offer a live question and answer session to their clients very easily.  With the built-in instant messaging chat functionality, all participating clients can submit their questions or comments, and you can respond in real time through the video.  I have attended a couple video feeds like this, and they are easy and entertaining.  If you are looking for a new or innovative way to connect with your clients, UStream is worth considering.
 
Ryan Williams

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/ryanwill
 
 
 
Posted by Ryan Williams at 4:11 PM 0 comments Links to this post

New Microsoft Critical Security Patch

Microsoft released a critical patch this week that blocks a serious security flaw in their operating systems.  Microsoft typically releases patches on Tuesdays; however, this patch was considered important enough to release on Thursday.  If left unpatched, a remote attacker can take control of your computer with no visible clues to you.  The attacker can steal data from your computer and you may never know it.  You can apply the patch to your computer by visiting this website:  http://update.microsoft.com
 
You can read more about the security update on Microsoft’s website:  http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/Bulletin/MS08-067.mspx
 
Ryan Williams

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/ryanwill
 
 
 
Posted by Ryan Williams at 4:11 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Friday, October 17, 2008

How To Not Send An Email You'll Later Regret

Have you ever sent an email you later regretted?  I know I have.  Sometimes I have just been too quick on the trigger, and other times I have just not been thinking clearly.  At the end of a long day or late at night, sometimes our mental capabilities diminish (certain beverages may also play a role).  An email that seems like an elegant work of art at midnight may look like an email telling your boss he is an idiot in the morning.
 
Well Google has invented a clever way to combat this type of career damaging email.  It's called Mail Goggles, and it is available in Google Labs.  The feature forces you to solve a few simple math problems before Google will send your email.  The purpose is to check your mental capabilities and to make sure you are thinking clearly.  You can control the days of the week and times of day the feature is active.  For instance, you can activate the feature only after 10 PM and until 7 AM the next morning. You can also control the difficulty of the math problems depending on whether you have children old enough to help you.
 
Happy teching,
 
Ryan Williams

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/ryanwill
 
 
 
Posted by Ryan Williams at 2:29 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Should You Twitter?

Many of you have probably heard of Twitter, but for those who have not, I will provide a couple sentences to describe it.  Twitter is a micro-blogging site, which means that each post is less than 140 characters.  You can update your Twitter status by sending text messages from your phone or via Twitter's web page or via several other methods.  Updating via text messages is the most interesting method, however.  By its very nature, Twitter is less formal than traditional blogging.  Most people who regularly blog (at least those who do it well) spend time thinking, planning, researching and fixing grammar (actually my wife does this part for me).  Twitter, on the other hand, is a spur of the moment, off the cuff, and unvarnished communication medium.  It is whatever thoughts enter your mind at any given moment.  And, since it can be updated via text message from a cell phone, there are no limitations on the frequency with which someone can update.
 
So what's the fuss about?  Glad you asked.  Twitter is mostly about communicating with a lot of people (friends, family, colleagues, etc.) in an instantaneous and informal fashion.  Business has always been about relationships first and foremost.  We all know that we are more likely to do business with people we know and like.  So for me, Twitter (as with Facebook which I mentioned last week) is about building and maintaining relationships with many people at once. 
 
There are people on Twitter who have over 20,000 followers (that's right twenty thousand).  That means that when these people rant or rave about what they see around them, 20,000 people hear about it within seconds.  That's pretty powerful stuff.
 
I think Twitter and like services really are going to change the world as we know it.  I think Twitter will become as ubiquitous as the telephone.  If you don't have an account on Twitter, you'll be considered a hermit.  Lest you be considered a hermit, you can create a Twitter account here:  http://twitter.com
 
Lest I be considered a hermit, you can follow my Twitter here:  http://twitter.com/ryanwill
 
Happy teching,
 
Ryan Williams

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/ryanwill
 
 
 
 
Posted by Ryan Williams at 4:54 PM 0 comments Links to this post

What To Do About Sick Employees This Winter

Our office has already been hit by a bug.  It took out 3 people in just a few days (more to follow I'm sure).  This winter as your employees get sick, it would probably be a good idea to have a "work from home" solution in place.  Rather than have your employees come to the office sick and spread the bug to everyone else, encourage them to stay at home and work from there.  There are a myriad of solutions available to permit people to work remotely including: GoToMyPC, LogMeIn, TightVNC, Citrix, Terminal Server and others.  Each solution has its strengths and weaknesses and choosing between them really depends on the situation.
 
If the person working from home has a dedicated computer residing at the office, then GoToMyPC, LogMeIn or TightVNC may work.  The drawback here is security.  In the typical setup for these applications, there is no centralized control of user accounts so the individual employee has complete control over access to your corporate network.  If an employee leaves a password written on a piece of paper at a coffee shop, anyone can access your corporate data undetected.
 
For tighter control, security and oversight of user accounts and for situations where there is not a dedicated computer in the office for each person who is working from home, I suggest Citrix or Terminal Server.  These two solutions require a dedicated server in your office and a knowledgeable technology consultant to set them up, however, you'll have more control over company information and access to your corporate network.
 
Happy teching,
 
Ryan Williams

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/ryanwill
 
 
 
 
Posted by Ryan Williams at 4:53 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Rooting For The Economists

I hope everyone is doing well this week despite the constant bombardment of negative economic news.  I don't know about you, but I think I can name more economists than I can players on my favorite sports team.   I'm actually rooting for the economists like they were a sports team.  I found myself actually rooting for the Dow Jones Industrial Average as the countdown to the final bell approached Wednesday.  For a while, it looked like we were going to pull out a nail biter in the closing seconds and end the day on the plus side.  But, alas, the home team lost another one.  I feel like a Chicago Cubs fan.  Sorry Cubs fans, that was uncalled for.
 
Happy teching,
 
Ryan Williams

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/ryanwill
 
 
 
 
Posted by Ryan Williams at 4:52 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Friday, October 3, 2008

Disconnected In Rural Georgia

I was visiting a future client in a rural Georgia town last week.  The future client was running late, so I had to wait in the lobby for a while.  I pulled out my iPhone to pass the time, and much to my horror I had no connectivity!  I briefly felt like Chuck Noland (Tom Hanks) in the movie Castaway, disconnected with no way to communicate with the rest of the world.  It was painful yet enlightening.  I did not realize just how reliant I had become to having instant access to the internet.  I'm currently looking for a support group because of the experience.
 
So my tech tip is to bring a book or a magazine when traveling to rural areas.
 
Happy teching,
 
Ryan Williams

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Posted by Ryan Williams at 4:03 PM 0 comments Links to this post

Is Facebook Worth The Effort?

I resisted creating a Facebook account for years because I did not understand the appeal, and I did not want to maintain it.  Time is precious, and it seems like there is never enough as it is.  However, I eventually began to feel guilty that I was a technology consultant and really did not know all that much about Facebook.  I try to have an intelligent answer when people ask technology questions, so I broke down and created an account (just for educational purposes).
 
It didn't take long to understand Facebook's appeal.  Within about two hours, I had about 20 "Friend" requests from friends, relatives and old high school acquaintances.  Due to Facebook's "People You May Know" feature, the minute I filled out my profile I popped up on other people's home page who might be connected to me in some way.  Now I am talking to people I have not talked to in ages.
 
One of my favorite features of Facebook is being able to see what others are up to.  A relative of mine in another state probably would not pick up the phone just to tell me she was elected high school class president.  However, she would likely post this on her Facebook page.  Since we are connected via Facebook, I can see her post and congratulate her.  Although this is not earth shaking news, it is nice to be able to maintain relationships and be involved in people's lives whom I don't see very often.
 
I can also see how Facebook could be used to foster deeper relationships with people I only know through business.  Viewing someone's Facebook profile, I may learn that we graduated from the same school or were in the same town at the same time or both like sushi or any number of other things that can serve to establish more common ground.
 
In closing, I think I'm hooked.  Now I just have to find a way to bypass all the internet usage monitoring we have at the office (just kidding).   No seriously, don’t access Facebook at work.  Employers tend to get really upset about that kind of stuff.
 
Happy teching,
 
Ryan Williams

Ask Me A Tech Question
http://www.techbetter.com/question.aspx

View & Subscribe To My Tech Tips
http://blog.techbetter.com

About Me & TechBetter
http://www.techbetter.com/aboutme.aspx
 
 
 
 
Posted by Ryan Williams at 4:02 PM 0 comments Links to this post

How can I see who is linking to my website?

Have you ever wondered if any websites are linking to your website?  It is a good idea to occasionally check this.  One reason to do so is to keep tabs on your company's online reputation.  If you can see what web pages are linking to your site, then you can also see what those web pages are saying about you. Visit http://www.altavista.com/web/webmaster to view who is linking to your website.
 
Happy teching,
 
Ryan Williams

Ask Me A Tech Question
http://www.techbetter.com/question.aspx

View & Subscribe To My Tech Tips
http://blog.techbetter.com

About Me & TechBetter
http://www.techbetter.com/aboutme.aspx
 
 
 
 
Posted by Ryan Williams at 4:01 PM 0 comments Links to this post
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