LostInTechnology

Why You Should Use Google Voice

Posted on 15. Mar, 2010 by Squealing.Rat.

Google Voice, previously Grand Central, is a free service that gives you the capacity to merge your phone numbers into one, transcribe your voice mail, send text messages from your computer and more. This service can be extremely helpful for the those who spend a lot of time on their computers and smart phones.

While Google Voice is still in an invite only stage, many have reported that they received an invite within a week after applying for one on the Google Voice invite form.

After getting the invite, you are invited to port your own number over or pick a new one for free. I would suggest that you pick a new number, because it is free and with that you get the full features list. I’ll call this account the full account, because with the full account, you not only get a new number and have access to all of the features, but also the option to port your own number over as well. You can see the difference between a full Google Voice account and a ported number Google Voice account here.

You can pick your Google Voice number by searching through their long list, either by number phrase or word phrase. Once you pick your number (which can have any area code), you are asked to enter your forwarding number. This can either be a cell phone or a land line. While Google Voice is ideal for someone with several numbers, one forwarding number will suffice.

Google Voice will guide you through the process of setting up that forwarding phone. You will be called, and asked to enter a two digit number which is displayed on the screen. After that, you can press one to begin recording your greeting messages.

After that,  you can begin tweaking your settings. If you have another phone you would like to add, click settings at the top of the screen, then add another phone.

If you and your partner both want to have Google Voice accounts point to one number, you are in luck. While Google Voice limits a mobile number to only one account, they do allow you to activate a home phone to two different Google Voice accounts.

Let me take you through some of the features that explain why I recommend Google Voice to others.

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Two Major Security Flaws, A Rant and The Fixes

Posted on 10. Mar, 2010 by Squealing.Rat.

I was recently staying at a hotel that offered  Wi-Fi. On the network with my Macbook, I noticed the other computers on the network. Curious, I clicked on one, expecting to see a password prompt or an access denied message. Instead, I saw the computer’s public folder and another folder. Interested in what files someone would publicly display to anyone on the network, I opened it to see files that were highly sensitive, including financial data. My mind was blown.

What kind of person would do this? Perhaps a person who had no idea how to use their computer. Perhaps a person that didn’t realize the security flaws at risk. Perhaps a person that was not reading this article.

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What’s the Buzz with Buzz and Buzzers and Buzzing

Posted on 02. Mar, 2010 by Squealing.Rat.

We all remember the beginning of Twitter, right? Before there were tweets, retweets, tweeters, and tweeps? And now, there is a new kid on the block: Buzz. Buzz, by Google, is slowly becoming quite popular. But, being so new, no “buzzwords” (no pun intended) have been officially christened. I thought I’d lay out the new buzzwords for Buzz.

1. Buzz n- The current news on Buzz. The buzz today is all about Tiger Woods.

2. Buzz v- (buzzing, buzzed, buzz) The act of updating to Buzz. I just buzzed about our new baby. He was buzzing constantly about his unbelievable luck. I buzz daily about my personal life.

3. Buzzer n- a user of Buzz. Everyone was talking about the buzzer who took a picture of Steve Jobs using Microsoft Word.

4. Sting n- a particular update that was widely talked about, an attention grabber. Did you see that sting about Obama that Gizmodo buzzed? What a zinger!

5. Boz/Buzz (used interchangeably)  n- an update on Buzz. Leo’s buzz explained the what he like about the service while King’s boz was more negative.

6. Outbuzzed adj- an update on Buzz that was flooded with comments, making it desirable to mute. Boy, Gina’s latest boz was outbuzzed.

7. Unbuzz v- to stop following on buzz. I had to unbuzz him because of his constant barrage of buzzes.

To sum up, buzzers who buzz on Buzz will occasionally see stings, but for the most part, buzzers will see bozes and and outbuzzed buzzes which may cause them to unbuzz those people.

What are your thoughts on Google Buzz?

The writer of this post compiles the latest tech news and more at Squealing Rat, and writes about tricks and tips of deception, trickery and survival at Lone Iguana. Find him on Twitter.

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9 Free and Great Crowd Sourced Applications

Posted on 23. Feb, 2010 by Squealing.Rat.

The wonderful thing about working on the Internet is the sheer amount of information that is available for free. Most of the time, the information is free, because it is supplied to us by people like you and me. This system of relying on the users to supply the end content is called crowd sourcing. Here are some of the best crowd sourced applications.

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How To Manage Your Files Behind a Firewall for Free

Posted on 17. Feb, 2010 by Squealing.Rat.

More and more, schools, work environments and libraries are blocking access to seemingly frivolous sites like Gmail, Facebook, or any part of the Google online suite (Google Docs, Picasa Webs…). While this move may seem sensible, it can hinder the performance of many. Why?

Because instead of emailing a file to themselves, or putting photos for a slideshow on Facebook, they have to deal with the tiresome flash drive. Flash drive, USB drive, and thumb drive are all names for that little device that you plug into the computer, put your files on, and then carry around with you, praying that you don’t lose it at the next turn. Using a flash drive is a tedious task that often results in forgetting the thing at home, breaking it or drowning it in that overzealous cup of coffee.

But how can you get out of using a flash drive? Most computers have firewalls that block access to most email and personal sites. While the following tips may be helpful, some may not work depending on how strict the computer’s firewall is.

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4 Ways to Throw a Web Site Up Cheaply, Easily and Quickly

Posted on 11. Feb, 2010 by Squealing.Rat.

Ever wanted to throw a site up quickly, easily and cheaply? Perhaps for a school project, a business meeting or a knowledge base? There are 4 ways, varying from highly customizable, to unbelievably easy.

All of the following are very easy to set up and do not require use of coding. Let me take you through them.

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How To Backup All of Your Holiday Photos for Free Online

Posted on 30. Dec, 2009 by Squealing.Rat.

Photos are so beloved that to lose them would crush a person. Many people keep them just on their computer, but doing that can be especially dangerous. Hard drives fail all the time, and losing all your pictures would be heartbreaking.

In a worst case scenario, you always want to have backups elsewhere. While backing them up on an external hard drive is a fine backup, here are some tools that will backup your photos online for offsite backup.  Offsite backup gives you that extra layer of protection, so you can keep your memories around forever.

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How To Keep Eyes Riveted on Your Presentation

Posted on 27. Nov, 2009 by Squealing.Rat.

Many in the work environment find themselves forced to give presentations on products, ideas and information. And, more often than not, find themselves on stage, presenting the most bland, dull pitch. But what can you do to spice things up a bit?

Well, we are going to go through a few options to add a little something extra to your presentation.

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