Weekend picks #014

I really like searching the net. You start in one point and you never know where you will end up. :-)

[1]

Broadband Speed Test and Diagnostics
If you have problems with your connection to the Internet like I do, then you will find Broadband Speed Test and Diagnostics 1.1 a valuable tool. It is, yet another, extension for Firefox  [I can’t believe it; it seems that there is a Firefox extension for everything]. In the latest version the Broadband Speed Test and Diagnostics can perform a diagnostic check in your Network card, DHCP server, local gateway, DNS server and the web site that the browser failed to reach. It can also run and present a bandwidth performance test [download and upload]. Download it here

[2]

ActiveWords
I came across this blogpost yesterday where someone was saying “let me know and I will shoot you a copy of the WordBase to test. We have had great success with people who use David Allen’s methodology.” Well I always liked free software and testing it in my computer so I left a comment saying that I would like to test Wordbase. Few hours later I had new mail [thanks for the immediate response Buz] with the WordBase attached. Ι had already downloaded and installed Active Words They have a 5 days trial version which you could extend to 60 days trial version by simply registering. Wordbase is actually an add-on for Active Words for the users of Microsoft Office 2007.
ActiveWords is a really different and cool way to use your computer. You can assign a word as a shortcut to everything. Every time you write down this word you have an option by simply pressing F8 to launch a program, site or whatever. The clever part is that you don’t have to write that word in a special box [although you can do that also and press Enter]. You can write it in every program that permits you to insert text. You could for example write down excel in a notepad or a Word document and by simply pressing F8 to lunch Excel. [I have already add the word anb as an active one to lunch in a Firefox window what else, the www.anabubula.com. You can even use it as a Spelling Check program just like Autocorrect in Office but you can use it in every text box even in Windows Explorer when renaming a file. ActiveWords comes with 1800 common misspelled English words that you can use it to correct them automatically as you type them. If you use a tablet PC it is even easier. Just write with your pen the Active word and that’s it!
There a lot of free add-in “applications” for the ActiveWords, you can check them out here .Hey Stefanos there is one for MindManager also.

I was so excited with the ActiveWords that I didn’t “test” the WordBase at all [sorry Buzz]. I will look into it and come back later in the week with a full review.

[3]

Vista Rebooting
What’s this rebooting thing for Windows Vista? I left my computer on last night because I started downloading something only to find out in the morning that a few minutes after I went to sleep the computer downloaded an update from Microsoft and rebooted! I have to start all over again. I thought that UAC [User Access Control] was the most annoying thing about Vista but I now believe that rebooting whenever they feel like it, is by far the winner.

Until next time. Keep on... thinking different!

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