# Jim's Tips

> your tips resource


## Posts

- [T3 Tip #1: Flip your lid](https://jimstips.com/t3-tip-1-flip-your-lid/): Obviously, case preferences are very personal, but you may be able to save some money with Palm’s included flip-cover. When I purchased my Palm Tungsten T3, I also purchased along with it a Palm “Hard Case” thinking that I would definitely need something to protect the $400 investment I just made. After having used several ... Read more
- [Tip #24-HandStory-faking a schedule](https://jimstips.com/tip-24-handstory-faking-a-schedule/): This “tip” is very specialized, but some may find it useful… Though I REALLY love HandStory (it’s my first choice for offline browsers) I have one small issue: There is no way to schedule when clips are updated. I leave my PC on 24/7, so faithfully around Midnight, HandStory auto-updates. Not bad, but unfortunatly, that ... Read more
- [No WonderSilk planned for the UX series!](https://jimstips.com/no-wondersilk-planned-for-the-ux-series/): I just received an email from “Chime”, the developer of the WonderSilk application for the Sony Clie NX series PDA’s, and he said that he has no development plans for Sony’s new Clei UX series PDA’s. He says this is because the UX does not support Silk Plug-ins like the NX series did. I had ... Read more
- [ReplayTV Tip #5-Access an Airing Shows Pop-up Menu](https://jimstips.com/replaytv-tip-5-access-an-airing-shows-pop-up-menu/): If you bring up the Program Guide by pressing the Program Guide button, you can press the Select button to bring up a pop-up menu for the selected show. The problem is that if you try to do this on a show that’s currently airing, ReplayTV will switch to that channel and dismiss the Program ... Read more
- [ReplayTV Tip #4-Watching and Recording PPV](https://jimstips.com/replaytv-tip-4-watching-and-recording-ppv/): While ReplayTV does not include pay Per View (PPV) channel data in its Program Guide, you can watch and record PPV through ReplayTV! Here’s how… Press ReplayTV’s “Input” button on the remote and cycle through all the ReplayTV’s inputs until you reach the “DirecTV” direct input (theoretically, this should also work as well for DISH ... Read more
- [ReplayTV Tip #3-Content Skip?](https://jimstips.com/replaytv-tip-3-content-skip/): Here’s an undocumented easter egg for ReplayTV boxes running v5.x. It was posted by tk2x on the AVS Forum… “If you have been watching too much good programming with your Replay, and your brain can’t muster the long attention span needed when skipping commercial breaks, try this fix: “While playing a recorded show, press Play ... Read more
- [ReplayTV Tip #2-Accessing hidden features](https://jimstips.com/replaytv-tip-2-accessing-hidden-features/): Here are several undocumented button press combinations that will invoke some useful features and tools. The syntax is to press the number keys shown and then press the “Zones” key… 111 + Zones Puts the Replay in “game” mode after you have entered either “Joshua” or “Tic Tac” into the Claw Foot Portal. (see below ... Read more
- [Tip #23-Swipe Strokes](https://jimstips.com/tip-23-swipe-strokes/): Here are two undocumented “Swipe strokes” that you may find useful. 1. “Command Bar” stroke You probably know that when the Virtual Graffiti area is displayed, doing a “Lower-left to Upper Right” stroke (“/”) will bring up the “Command bar” from which you can select available options like “Cut, Copy, Paste, etc.” Well, if you ... Read more
- [Tip #22-Battery Conservation](https://jimstips.com/tip-22-battery-conservation/): Here are a three tips to consider if your battery is not holding a charge like you think it should… 1. Does your Clie “come on” when you have it in your pocket, your purse, or in its case? Engaging the “Hold” button will prevent it from accidentally coming on. Alarms still sound, but you ... Read more
- [New night-friendly WonderSilk Skin!](https://jimstips.com/new-night-friendly-wondersilk-skin/): Want to see red? With the new “WS-Red” WonderSilk Skin, you now have a “night-friendly” WonderSilk Skin to use with your favorite Astronomy app! I have been using two Astronomy apps (2Sky and Planetarium) on my PalmOS PDA’s for a long while, and though they work and look great on my NX70V, one huge annoyance ... Read more
- [Tip #21-WonderSilk Skins Installation and Startup](https://jimstips.com/tip-21-wondersilk-skins-installation-and-startup/): Using WonderSilk Skins requires a specific, but simple process of Download, Install, Assign, Activate, and use. The following steps will walk you through the process. 1. Download and install the two main WonderSilk components onto your PDA: WonderSilk.prc, the Silk Plug-in Kinumaru_E.prc, the skin manager app. These can be found in the WonderSilk distribution found ... Read more
- [ReplayTV Tip #1-ReplayTV to DVD HOWTO](https://jimstips.com/replaytv-tip-1-replaytv-to-dvd-howto/): If you own a ReplayTV 5000 series PVR, learn how to archive your shows to DVD. Follow these steps to transfer shows from your ReplayTV box to your PC, edit out unwanted content, and burn the "final cut" to DVD for viewing on any standalone DVD player! ReplayTV to DVD HOWTO: A step-by-step Guide to ... Read more
- [Tip #20-Add HandStory clips to your Website](https://jimstips.com/tip-20-add-handstory-clips-to-your-website/): Did you know that you can create “auto-installing” HandStory clips to your web site? I recently noticed a “glitch” in the “mobile edition” of my web site, so I fixed the code and cleaned it up a bit. It’s cleaner and the download is smaller. But that’s not my reason for writing this… I was ... Read more
- [Tip #19-Convert Movies to your hard drive](https://jimstips.com/tip-19-convert-movies-to-your-hard-drive/): This may be an obvious one, but it had eluded me until recently. Did you know that you can convert movies to a format that the Clie Movie Player can play using the Image Converter program without converting directly to your Memory Stick? The other night, I decided to try converting some video into a ... Read more
- [Tip #18-WonderSilk Skins: Those Elusive Buttons](https://jimstips.com/tip-18-wondersilk-skins-those-elusive-buttons/): I have received several inquiries asking how various buttons get assigned and defined in the WonderSilk app. The explanation, while definatly not intuitive, is actually rather simple. The main difficulty with WonderSilk Skin development is that there are no set “rules” as to what or how things are defined, specifically with regard to buttons that ... Read more
- [Tip #17-Some Clie and Palm Resources](https://jimstips.com/tip-17-some-clie-and-palm-resources/): This tip isn’t so much a tip as a list of resources. Most are probably obvious to you, but for those who are very new to the Clie and Palm world, here are several good sources for information, news, and third-party applications. In no particular order: PALM APPS PalmGear.com This has been the “definitive” source ... Read more
- [Tip #16-Take it with you!](https://jimstips.com/tip-16-take-it-with-you/): My name is Jim Barr and I am a Mobile Information Addict. OK. There. I said it. I am a Mobile Information Junkie, and I’m not ashamed, in fact, I’m excited about it! The Sony Clie NX70V has given me the ability to have all sorts of information with me at all times. From Dictionaries, ... Read more
- [Tip #15-Sena Case tip](https://jimstips.com/tip-15-sena-case-tip/): I know this tip is VERY specific, but it has been VERY useful to me. I own a Sena Case from SenaCases.com for my Clie NX70V, and while I think it is a good quality case, one of its shortcomings is that over time, the leather “pouch” that holds the the Clie into the case ... Read more
- [Tip #14-Try an Alternate Picture Viewer](https://jimstips.com/tip-14-try-an-alternate-picture-viewer/): The included Clie Viewer program, while good intentioned, suffers from lethargy. Take more than a handful of pictures with your Clie Camera, and you sit and wait, and wait, and wait for the Clie Viewer to generate thumbnail images. It doesn’t cache these thumbnail images, so the next time you want to view images, you ... Read more
- [Tip #13-One-button McPhling launch!](https://jimstips.com/tip-13-one-button-mcphling-launch/): One of my biggest complaints about the NX series, unfortunatly, is its clamshell design. I personally prefer keeping it in “tablet” mode, but doing so poses one significant limitation: No access to the four standard hard buttons. So, what to do? Try McPhling! This little app lets you pop up a small list of launchable ... Read more
- [Tip #12-Extend your MP3 players usefullness!](https://jimstips.com/tip-12-extend-your-mp3-players-usefullness/): We all know that you can play MP3 files on your Clie NX series, and while the ear buds included aren’t bad, did you know that you can use your NX’s MP3 player functionality in your car or at home? 1. Buy a “CD to Cassette adapter”. One came with my portable CD player, but ... Read more
- [Tip #11-Jog Dial in Documents To Go](https://jimstips.com/tip-11-jog-dial-in-documents-to-go/): I stumbled upon this one by accident today. Did you know that you can navigate a spreadsheet in Documents-To-Go with the Jog Dial? Sure, you can use it to scroll up and down, but try pressing the Jog Dial and then scrolling. You can move side-to-side! Press it again, and it reverts to up-and-down! I’m ... Read more
- [Tip #10-Renaming Apps in LauncherX](https://jimstips.com/tip-10-renaming-apps-in-launcherx/): Want to be more “functional” with LanucherX? Why not rename your apps to something more meaningful! One way to make launcherX’s “Launcher Experience” more functional is to use LauncherX’s “Rename” Gadget to rename application filenames to something more meaningful. Note that we are NOT actually renaming the app itself, but we are renaming LauncherX’s name ... Read more
- [Tip #9-Exporting MP3 from MusicMatch](https://jimstips.com/tip-9-exporting-mp3-from-musicmatch/): Are you a MusicMatch Jukebox user? Do you want to easily transfer your MP3 files to your Sony Clie NX from within MusicMatch? Are you bummed because MusicMatch doesn’t list the Sony Clie NX series a supported device? Well, there is another way! I’m using MusicMatch Jukebox Plus, the registered version, so I really don’t ... Read more
- [Tip #8-Digital Camera Adjustments](https://jimstips.com/tip-8-digital-camera-adjustments/): Digital Camera Adjustments The NX70V has a great little digital camera. It’s definatly not a pro-grade camera, but for quick-n-dirty snapshots, it’s wonderful. By default, it takes fairly decent pictures, but did you know that you can adjust some settings to compensate for varying conditions to improve the results? Launch the Clie Camera app and ... Read more
- [Tip #7-Record your own alarms](https://jimstips.com/tip-7-record-your-own-alarms/): Create new alarms! Did you know that you can use the included Voice Recorder app to create alarms? Launch the Voice Recorder app and open record some audio. Next, select the menu option “Data > Convert to Alarm” Check the box in front of the recorded file to convert and tap the “Alarm” button. Now, ... Read more
- [Tip #6-Managing Documents To Go files](https://jimstips.com/tip-6-managing-documents-to-go-files/): Managing documents in Documents To Go: the Memory Stick and RAM I was having some problems with Documents To Go crashing after a restore from MSBackup. I think I found the problem and an explanation. The specific problem I was having as I detailed in another thread was that after a complete restore using MSBackup, ... Read more
- [Tip #5-Play MP3s in the background!](https://jimstips.com/tip-5-play-mp3s-in-the-background/): Did you know that you can play your MP3’s in the background while running other apps? Well, you can! Launch the Audio Player app, click the Menu button, and select Options > Preferences Next, check the “Enable Background Play” option and ckick “OK” When you launch another app, any playlist currently playing will continue to ... Read more
- [Tip #4-Backup to MS (Essential)](https://jimstips.com/tip-4-backup-to-ms-essential/): Memory Sticks and backups…I purchased a 128MB Memory Stick along with my NX70V, and found a use for it that I never really considered before: Backups. Sony includes a program called MSBackup, and it seamlessly and easily backs up all the contents of the NX70V’s RAM to a memory stick. I used to require FlashPro ... Read more
- [Tip #3-View NX Movies on Your PC](https://jimstips.com/tip-3-view-nx-movies-on-your-pc/): How do you view your recorded movies on your PC? Use the MSImport program to copy your recorded movie files off of your Memory Stick. (See “Jim’s NX70V Tip #2” for how to set this up.) Bonus tip: You may not know this, but in order to record video, you must have a Memory Stick ... Read more
- [Tip #2-Copy files on MS to/from your PC](https://jimstips.com/tip-2-copy-files-on-ms-tofrom-your-pc/): How do you copy files from your Memory Stick to your PC? Use the MSImport program! It’s included free with the NX70V and it can save your butt if you are away from your PC! You must first install the Memory Stick Export program found on your Installation CD. Click on “Clie Utilities > Memory ... Read more
- [Tip #1-One-handed Launcher operation](https://jimstips.com/tip-1-one-handed-launcher-operation/): True one-handed Launcher operation: I don’t like the default CLIE Launcher and I can’t wait for new OS 5 compliant launchers. I tried to like the new launcher, but it seems to take too many jog dial turns to find and select a program, and I find it hard to navigate from category to category ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #51: Keyboard Shortcuts](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-51-keyboard-shortcuts/): Gmail’s User Interface is quite usable, but sometimes a mouse just seems to get in the way of efficiency. The Gmail developers have included lots of nice keyboard shortcuts that can really make using Gmail quicker and easier. Read on for a detailed list of Gmail’s keyboard shortcuts…. Gmail offers many keyboard shortcuts. To enable ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #50: Changing Subject Text When Replying or Forwarding](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-50-changing-subject-text-when-replying-or-forwarding/): Sometimes, you want to reply to or forward a message, but the Subject text is either annoyingly mangled, or simply unclear. Wouldn’t it be nice to be able to clean up the Subject text to make it a bit cleaner? Read on to learn how to simply edit a message’s Subject text…. When composing a ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #49: Moving the Chat Quick Contacts Box](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-49-moving-the-chat-quick-contacts-box/): Here’s another simple tip. By default, the integrated Chat "Quick Contacts" block displays above the "Labels" block on the left of the Gmail screen. If you seldome use Chat, you may want the location of the two blocks reversed. You can position the "Quick Contacts" block to display either above or below the "Labels" block ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #48: Reply Without Scrolling](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-48-reply-without-scrolling/): Here’s a simple one. Do you ever find it annoying that in order to Reply to a message, you have to scroll all the way to the bottom of a message to click the "Reply" link? While reading a message, simply press the "r" key, and the Reply editing box will open ready for you ... Read more
- [PDAs: Palm Z22 Review](https://jimstips.com/pdas-palm-z22-review/): I’ve been trying to simplify my life, and one area is in my use of PDAs. I realized that my PDA use tends to have more to do with tweaking and trying to make the device work better than actually using it as a productivity tool. (See my article "PDAs: Back To The Basics".) So, ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #48: Gmail Ads Google Calendar Integration!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-48-gmail-ads-google-calendar-integration/): Google launched its new Google Calendar service, and added excellent integration to Gmail. (Check out GoogleCalendarTips.com for some information about Google Calendar!) Integration includes a small navigation bar to take you right into Google Calendar from Gmail and Event integration in messages. Read on to see how Gmail and Google Calendar work together….     ... Read more
- [PDAs: Clear Protection For Your Z22](https://jimstips.com/pdas-clear-protection-for-your-z22/): I have always been a proponent of cases for PDA’s. I figure that if I spend a lot of money on the PDA, I might as well invest in a case protect it. I stumbled upon Palm’s Air Case, and though I don’t think it’s as robust as Proporta’s Crystal Cases (my cases of choice), ... Read more
- [PDAs: Back To The Basics](https://jimstips.com/pdas-back-to-the-basics/): A recent article on Palm247.com discussed moving to the Palm Z22 as a method of simplifying things got me thinking about just how I use my PDA. I have been reading David Allan’s book "Getting Things Done" (GTD), and it has prompted some serious pondering about the fact that so many things in my life ... Read more
- [Google Calendar Tip #1: Before you import anything…](https://jimstips.com/google-calendar-tip-1-before-you-import-anything/): Like many Google products, Google Calendar is still in Beta, and as such is not without its quirks and issues. It has been reported in several forums that importing calendars from Microsoft Outllok, while quite efficient and useful, can sometimes rsult in some corrupted events. While this isn’t a major issue–deleting the event corrects this–if ... Read more
- [Google Calendar - A Quick Tour](https://jimstips.com/google-calendar-a-quick-tour/): Google’s new Calendar service is very interesting not just because it has an excellent interface, but because of its depth in features right out of the starting block. With features like calendar sharing, event searching, SMS notification, and a host of other goodies, it is sure to please most from the start. Read on for ... Read more
- [More Google Calendar Tips & Info coming soon!](https://jimstips.com/more-google-calendar-tips-info-coming-soon/): I’ll be posting some additional Google Calendar information and Tips shortly.  Stay tuned!!!
- [Page Creator Tip #4: Getting an Account](https://jimstips.com/page-creator-tip-4-getting-an-account/): First and foremost, you must have a Gmail account in order to access Google Page Creator. If you do not have a Gmail account, go to http://Gmail.com and follow the instructions to sign up for one. If you need an invitation, please email me, and I’ll send you one. If you already have a Gmail ... Read more
- [Page Creator Tip #3: Privacy And Security Issues](https://jimstips.com/page-creator-tip-3-privacy-and-security-issues/): Google Page Creator’s Privacy Policy is basically the same as all other Google Privacy policies. Simply put, because you choose to use the service, you acknowledge that all of your content will be on Google’s servers. This is great, because you don’t have to pay for hosting–Google handles it for you. Just understand that all ... Read more
- [Page Creator Tip #2: What Is Page Creator’s Target Audience?](https://jimstips.com/page-creator-tip-2-what-is-page-creators-target-audience/): Google Page Creator is designed to put Web page creation in the hands of the masses. While it is not intended for advanced Web page development, that certainly doesn’t mean that advanced users won’t find it useful. Google Page Creator is a great way to create those "quick and dirty" Web pages. Read on for ... Read more
- [Page Creator Tip #1: What Is Google Page Creator?](https://jimstips.com/page-creator-tip-1-what-is-google-page-creator/): Google Page Creator is a free Web browser-based Web page editor, manager, and publisher that lets you easily create your own Web pages for others to view. Read on for more details about Google Page Creator… The pages you create with Google Page Creator are hosted on Google servers, and are accessible at a URL ... Read more
- [T3 Tip #6: Resurrecting a Dead Palm Tungsten T3](https://jimstips.com/t3-tip-6-resurrecting-a-dead-palm-tungsten-t3/): The other day, I went to turn on my Palm Tungstern T3, and it was dead, and I mean D-E-A-D. No combination of charging, resets, etc. would bring it back to life. I posted a message at www.1src.com (an excellent PalmOS forum) and found some suggestions and links. Fortunately, opening the T3 and re-seating the ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #47: Gmail Adds Chat!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-47-gmail-adds-chat/): Google has just announced that they are adding Chat capability within Gmail! Go to http://mail.google.com/mail/help/chat.html to learn more about the specifics. Over the next few weeks, it will be deployed to all Gmail accounts. Adding chat to Gmail should be a huge boost for Gmail for several reasons. First, it will be integrated right into ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #46: Creating a Map Repository](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-46-creating-a-map-repository/): Do you find yourself repeatedly looking up the same map info at any of the various online map services like Google Maps, MapQuest, or Yahoo! Maps? Here’s a Tip submitted by "Andreas" that lets you maintain a simple Map Repository within Gmail. It’s builds on the concept introduced in the Gmail Tip #3: How to ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #45: Backing Up Your Gmail Account](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-45-backing-up-your-gmail-account/): Gmail is an excellent service, but I sometimes get concerned about the security of keeping all my messages in one place. It’s not a "privacy" concern, but a "data integrity" concern: If my Gmail account somehow gets corrupted or blown away, I don’t have anything to fall back on…until now. By simply using Gmail’s POP3 ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #44: Using An Email Client](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-44-using-an-email-client/): Gmail's POP3 access lets you leverage third-party Email Clients like Outlook or Thunderbird, giving you the flexibility you want. Read on to see some quick tips inspired by "Edwin" and "Zavie" on configuring and accessing Gmail's POP3 access… POP3 email clients are common, handy tools to enable you to manage your email online or offline. ... Read more
- [Laparascopic Nissen Fundoplication - 6 months later](https://jimstips.com/laparascopic-nissen-fundoplication-6-months-later/): Here’s a followup article to the one I posted about my Laprascopic Nissen Fundoplication procedure. I am happy to say that things have gone very well for me. Read on to see what has happened over first 6 months after having my operation… In a nutshell, the results of the operation have been wonderful. My ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #43: Notes in Just Two Clicks!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-43-notes-in-just-two-clicks/): “Tjeerd” from the Netherlands submitted a neat Gmail Tip that takes a different yet very simple approach to creating and managing “Notes” in your Gmail account. Notes are simply messages typically sent to yourself to store useful information. Read on for a simple method of creating Notes with just two button clicks… In my Gmail ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #42: A More Worldly View](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-42-a-more-worldly-view/): Parlez-vous fran?ais? Sprechen Sie Deutsch? Or if you read any of 11 newly supported languages, you will feel right at home with Gmail. In addition to English, Gmail now supports Dutch, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and UK English. (Sorry, no Klingon.) If you want to experience Gmail ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #41: How Much Space Do I Have?](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-41-how-much-space-do-i-have/): Notorious for its April Fools jokes, Google announced on 01-Apr-2005 that it had upped its disk space quota to 2 gigabytes per user, surpassing Yahoo’s recent increase to 1 gigabyte. While that’s good news for Gmail users, the great news is that it’s not an April Fools joke. Having the extra space is great, but ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #40: New Feature! Rich formatting!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-40-new-feature-rich-formatting/): It’s the nail in the coffin…the icing on the cake…the “You had me at hello” feature! Gmail finally has Rich Text formatting! But it’s not just for making your messages pretty. Read on to see why the addition of this feature propels Gmail way ahead of the competition… In this tip, I will briefly explain ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #39: New Feature! Gmail From Most Any Browser!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-39-new-feature-gmail-from-most-any-browser/): From the beginning, Gmail has always required a “supported browser” to gain access and work with Gmail. Well, those crazy Gmail developers have done it again! Read on to see a new addition to Gmail that will please many… Gmail now offers a “basic HTML view” that lets you access Gmail from almost any computer ... Read more
- [Moxi Tip #14: Easy Remote Text Entry?](https://jimstips.com/moxi-tip-14-easy-remote-text-entry/): I have read the manual. I have played with Moxi. I obviously overlooked it, but it just hit me that there’s a very easy way to enter search words in Moxi’s Find screens! Read on to learn how… Moxi’s very powerful and useful "Search by Title" and "Search by Keyword" screens provide an easy to ... Read more
- [Moxi Tip #13: Moxi FAQ Resource!](https://jimstips.com/moxi-tip-13-moxi-faq-resource/): OK, this is not so much as tip as a plug. There are several great sites out there with information on the Moxi DVR. Read on for details on several I particularly like… SPL Moxi FAQ The SPL Moxi FAQ is a Web page that simply has it all. It’s a single, very, very long ... Read more
- [Laparascopic Nissen Fundoplication?](https://jimstips.com/laparascopic-nissen-fundoplication/): This article is very, very much off topic from my usual tips & tricks, but I thought it would be at least informative and hopefully helpful to some to relay a solution to a health problem I’ve been having. For years, I was suffering from severe GERD and Reflux which led to complications and severe ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #38: Google Gmail Minibrowser](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-38-google-gmail-minibrowser/): “The Google Deskbar includes a minibrowser that you can use to quickly open your Gmail account in convenient window that automatically hides and can be accessed with a keyboard shortcut. Read on for more information about this tool… The Google Deskbar is a little Google search tool for Windows taskbar. It can do most of ... Read more
- [Moxi Tip #12: Tick, Tick, Ticker!](https://jimstips.com/moxi-tip-12-tick-tick-ticker/): Moxi’s “Ticker” feature can provide you with lots of great up-to-date weather, sports, and news information. Read on to learn what the Ticker is, and how to get the most from it… First off, what is the Ticker? The Ticker is a small banner on the bottom of the screen containing several “tabs” of periodically ... Read more
- [Moxi Tip #11: How To Find The Shows You Want](https://jimstips.com/moxi-tip-11-how-to-find-the-shows-you-want/): With hundreds of Cable channels to choose from, it can be very overwhelming to try to find what you want to watch. Moxi, like most DVR’s has some excellent features that let you not only find the shows you are specifically looking for, but find other shows that might be of interest to you. Read ... Read more
- [Moxi Tip #10: Controlling Favorites](https://jimstips.com/moxi-tip-10-controlling-favorites/): Would you like a way to keep certain channels from showing up in your Favorite Channels list? Read on for a tip submitted by “MoxiGuy”, a cool Digeo rep who hangs out on the AVS Forums… The “Favorites” filter is a nice place to find the 15 most viewed channels. But what if there are ... Read more
- [Moxi Tip #9: Some DVR Basics](https://jimstips.com/moxi-tip-9-some-dvr-basics/): Many prople on this and other forums are long-time Digital Video Recorder (DVR) users, but what about those of you who are new to the DVR world? Read on for some “DVR Basics” that will help you get the most out of your DVR experience… What’s a DVR and how does it differ from a ... Read more
- [Moxi Tip #8: Get Into The Game!](https://jimstips.com/moxi-tip-8-get-into-the-game/): Moxi has the capability to provide interactive Games to the viewer. Read on to learn about some neat diversions available on many Moxi boxes… Moxi has a “Games” category from which you can choose a Game to play. Press the Moxi button and scroll left or right until you highlight the Games category. (Important Note: ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #37: New Feature: Image Attachment Thumbnails](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-37-new-feature-image-attachment-thumbnails/): Read on for a simple description of a simple new feature… Gmail’s site describes it as: “It’s like seeing the trailer before you see the movie. Now you can get a sneak preview of your attachments.” Gmail now adds the ability to preview graphic images attached to email messages you receive by displaying “thumbnails” of ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #36: Some Email Management Tips](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-36-some-email-management-tips/): This tip is inspired by an inquiry by “Debra” about how to find archived email. Though I cover Archiving in Gmail Tip #12: “Archiving” Explained, I feel that some general email management tips are in order. Managing email within Gmail can be easy or difficult depending on how you handle them. Read on for some ... Read more
- [Moxi Tip #7: Moxi Vs ReplayTV](https://jimstips.com/moxi-tip-7-moxi-vs-replaytv/): As a long-time ReplayTV DVR owner, comparisons are inevitable, so here are my rather lengthy impressions of Moxi in comaprison with ReplayTV. This comparison is an enhancement to a posting I made over on the AVS Forum. I have refined it a bit and added some more information, so read on for all you never ... Read more
- [Moxi Tip #6: System Diagnostics Menu](https://jimstips.com/moxi-tip-6-system-diagnostics-menu/): Would you like to know how to view “interesting” information and statistics about your Moxi box? Read on to see how! Go to the box itself (not from the remote) and simultaneously press the “Menu” and “OK” buttons. A system diagnostics menu will display giving you access to lots of neat goodies such as software ... Read more
- [Moxi Tip #5: Throw some food at your TV!](https://jimstips.com/moxi-tip-5-throw-some-food-at-your-tv/): This tip is based on findings by “Dyaus” and confirmed by “GlendaleHDTV” over at the AVS Forum. There is a hidden “Easter Egg” that displays various food items that you can move around and “throw” at the screen causing a messy splat! Read on to see how to digitally throw food at your TV screen… ... Read more
- [Moxi Tip #4: Why Dont I Have That Feature!](https://jimstips.com/moxi-tip-4-why-dont-i-have-that-feature/): You have a Moxi box, read about a new feature on some forum, and you wonder, “How come I don’t have that feature on my Moxi box?” Read on for an explanation… In an effort to attract Cable companies, Digeo provides a flexible feature set that can be “tailored” by the individual Cable company based ... Read more
- [Moxi Tip #3: Classic Easter Egg!](https://jimstips.com/moxi-tip-3-classic-easter-egg/): Developers are notorious for including hidded code (often called an “Easter Egg”) that typically displays a list of the developers who worked on the project. Well, the Moxi developers are no different! Read on to see a “classic” developer credit Easter Egg… Press the Moxi button on the remote and scroll to the “Settings” category. ... Read more
- [Moxi Tip #2: Where Can I Get Moxi Information?](https://jimstips.com/moxi-tip-2-where-can-i-get-moxi-information/): Read on to see some links to more Moxi information… Digeo The company that manufactures Moxi. There is a lot of excellent product information here. www.Digeo.com or www.moxi.com AVS Forum This is an excellent resource for A/V technologies www.AVSForum.com HDTV Recorder Forum This is a great resource on the AVS Forum for HDTV Digital Video ... Read more
- [Moxi Tip #1: What The Heck Is Moxi?](https://jimstips.com/moxi-tip-1-what-the-heck-is-moxi/): OK, so I’m providing Moxi information. I’m going to add some Moxi Tips. I’ll be comparing Moxi to some comparable products. So you ask, “What the heck is Moxi?” Read on to find out… “Moxi” is a Digital Video Recorder (DVR) from Digeo (www.digeo.com) similar in concept to ReplayTV and TiVo, but it goes way ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #35: Gmail on your Palm! - Part 2](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-35-gmail-on-your-palm-part-2/): I posted an article on how to access your Gmail account using SnapperMail via Gmail’s POP3 feature. Read on to see what other PalmOS email application works as well… I tried several other email applications, and found another PalmOS email applocation that works very well with Gmail’s SSL-secured POP3 connection: Mark/Space Mail from Mark/Space. Like ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #34: Gmail on your Palm!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-34-gmail-on-your-palm/): If any of you Gmail users own “connected” PalmOS PDA’s, you can now use SnapperMail to retrieve your email using Gmail’s new POP3 feature! Read on to learn how… I tried out about 6 different email apps for the PalmOS, and the ONLY one I could get to consistently send and receive email from my ... Read more
- [Vonage: Not For Me, But Still A Service To Consider](https://jimstips.com/vonage-not-for-me-but-still-a-service-to-consider/): Well, after using Vonage for almost two months, we decided to cancel our Vonage service and remain with Bell South. Unfortunatly our situation is a bit different from many others, so your experience could be quite different. So read on to see why we canceled and why I still recommend Vonage as an excellent phone ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #33: Auto-forward received Gmail!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-33-auto-forward-received-gmail/): Want to use your Gmail account as your main email account but have some or all email auto-forwarded to other email accounts? Well, now you can! Read on for more details… Gmail has added tha ability to forward received emails in two ways: “All” or “Selective” “ALL” FORWARDING This is a “global” setting that lets ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #32: Drafts!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-32-drafts/): Gmail now has the capability to save “Drafts” of your messages! This is a long-awaited feature that seems to have slipped in under the radar. Read on for more details… If you are in the middle of composing a message, but want to finish it later, just click on the “Save Draft” button now located ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #31: Improved and New Contacts Features!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-31-improved-and-new-contacts-features/): The “Contacts” function has been enhanced to provide some additional functionality, and now adopts the familiar Gmail interface. Read on for the details… Gmail now displays a “Contacts” link in the left column under the “standard views” (Inbox, Starred, etc.) and just above the Labels. Clicking on the link brings up a nicely formatted display ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #30: Removing a Label](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-30-removing-a-label/): I just stumbled on this one. (Sometimes during a Beta period, you have to “find” new features yourself!) In the past, when you wanted to remove a Label from one or more messages, you would have to click on the desired Label on the left of the screen, select the message, and then click on ... Read more
- [Review: Proporta Crystal Case for Tungsten T3](https://jimstips.com/review-proporta-crystal-case-for-tungsten-t3/): Given the functionality and portability of PDA’s, it’s important to me that I always have my PDA with me. Unfortunatly, because of the design and form of many PDAs, unless you have a good case, you simply can’t “pocket” your PDA without fear of damaging the screen or inadvertently pressing a button resulting in a ... Read more
- [Vonage Tip #7: Are Incoming calls free?](https://jimstips.com/vonage-tip-7-are-incoming-calls-free/): This is a very common question asked about the Vonage service. Read on for the details… Yes. Well, that’s really all you need to know. OK, I’ll expand on it just a bit… First off, if you have an “Unlimited” calling plan, it’s all really a moot point because you won’t be “charged” for any ... Read more
- [Vonage Tip #6: How to make your Vonage connection house-wide](https://jimstips.com/vonage-tip-6-how-to-make-your-vonage-connection-house-wide/): By design, the Vonage Phone adapter has two phone jacks with the “Line 1” jack enabled. The “standard” way to connect your phone is to simply plug it into the jack on the Phone adapter. You are now using Vonage’s service, and couldn’t be happier, right. But what if you have more than one phone ... Read more
- [Vonage Tip #5: Flexible Call Forwarding](https://jimstips.com/vonage-tip-5-flexible-call-forwarding/): One feature I REALLY like is Vonage’s Call Forwarding feature. It is VERY tailorable, and can help you in many different situations. You can set up and configure Call Forwarding over the phone, but using Vonage’s Web Interface is very simple. Read on for some scenarios that Vonage Call Forwarding will handle. There are no ... Read more
- [Vonage Tip #4: Network Availability Number](https://jimstips.com/vonage-tip-4-network-availability-number/): Did you know that even if your broadband connection goes down, you can still receive calls on your Vonage service? Read on to find out how… Like many VoIP providers, Vonage provides a “Network Availability Number” which is simply a secondary phone number of your choosing to which Vonage will forward all calls should it ... Read more
- [Vonage Tip #3: Uh oh, the Powers out!](https://jimstips.com/vonage-tip-3-uh-oh-the-powers-out/): Unlike “standard” telephone service, Vonage requires that your Phone Adapter be powered and connected to an active broadband connection at all times. Read on to see what can you do to ensure uninterrupted service for those inevitable times when the power goes out… Have you ever noticed that when the power goes out, you can ... Read more
- [Vonage Tip #2: Get your ReplayTV to connect over Vonage!](https://jimstips.com/vonage-tip-2-get-your-replaytv-to-connect-over-vonage/): One major concern in selecting Vonage is its compatibility with “dial-up” devices such as my ReplayTV boxes. If you have a ReplayTV box that dials out over the phone line, read on to learn how to get a reliable connection over Vonage every time… When I initially tried to connect my ReplayTV box over a ... Read more
- [Vonage Tip #1: How to access the ATAs Web setup](https://jimstips.com/vonage-tip-1-how-to-access-the-atas-web-setup/): If your ATA is behind a router (which most people do) you will not be able to connect to your (Motorola’s) Web Settings interface because its IP address exists outside of the typical range of “home” LAN IP ranges. Read on to see how simple it is to access it… Simply connect an ethernet cable ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #29: A Small Quirk With Gmail Notifys mailto: Handler](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-29-a-small-quirk-with-gmail-notifys-mailto-handler/): Read on to better understand a small idiosyncracy with Gmail’s Gmail Notifier application… One cool feature of Gmail Notifier is that it can be configured to act as the default “mailto:” handler. When set up to do this. Gmail Notifier will open a Compose Window in a new browser window with the email address auto-filled ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #28: Gmail Notifier released to beta!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-28-gmail-notifier-released-to-beta/): Those crazy yet wonderful Gmail Developers have once again brought us a new toy: Gmail Notifier! Read on to see what it is, what it can do, and how you can get it… The Gmail Notifier is a downloadable Windows application that alerts you when you have new Gmail messages. It displays an icon in ... Read more
- [ReplayTV Tip #7: UPDATE: Belkin F5D7230-4 Router](https://jimstips.com/replaytv-tip-7-update-belkin-f5d7230-4-router/): I purchased a used HP EN5000 Digital Media Receiver off of eBay. The EN5000 is a "Media Receiver" that lets me play (through my stereo and TV) MP3 files loacated on local network servers. It's not the most feature-rich device, but for a low eBay proce of $27.00…. Anyway, it requires an Ethernet connection, so ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #27: Adding Hotmail Contacts to Gmail](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-27-adding-hotmail-contacts-to-gmail/): Do you have a lot of Hotmail contacts that you would like to add to your Gmail Contacts? “Montevino” submitted this tip on how to do just that. Read on to see how simple it is… By leveraging Gmail’s new “Import Contacts” (see Gmail Tip #24), you can easily generate an importable file from your ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #26: Creating a Pseudo Address Group!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-26-creating-a-pseudo-address-group/): Gmail currently does not provide the facility to send emails to a Group or a List or email addresses. But thanks to an excellent tip submitted by “arianj”, we now have a very doable workaround! Read on to see how to set up a pseudo Group Contact… Although Gmail doesn’t currently support Groups in your ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #25: Find Your Unread Messages](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-25-find-your-unread-messages/): Want a quick and easy way to view all of your "Unread" messages? Here’s a neat tip submitted by Mark Worsham describing how… If you have assigned Labels and archived unread messages, finding them later can sometines be challenging. Simply create a Gmail Label named "Unread", and you will see all of your unread mail ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #24: New feature! Import Contacts](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-24-new-feature-import-contacts/): Once again, the hard working Gmail Developers have implemented yet another much-requested feature: Import Contacts! Read on for more details… For the best explanation of just how to Import Contacts, log into your Gmail account, click on Contacts, and click on the new “Import Contacts” link at the top of the Contacts screen. But what ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #23: Cleaning Your Contacts](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-23-cleaning-your-contacts/): One of Gmail’s “features” can leave you with extra entries in your Contacts list. Read on for more information… Gmail has a (debatably) nice feature that automatically adds to your Contacts list the email addresses of those to whom you send emails. While this can be helpful at times, just remember that EVERY unique email ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #22: Advanced Search - Multi-Labeled and Un-Labeled Messages](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-22-advanced-search-multi-labeled-and-un-labeled-messages/): In an earlier tip, I briefly explained how to perform Advanced Searching using Gmail’s “query words”. Here are two practical examples of how to use the “label:” query word to search for Multi-Labeled messages as well as Un-Labeled messages. Thanks to “rishid” on the GmailForums for submitting this tip… Say you want to find messages ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #21: Official Features and Bugs Status Page!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-21-official-features-and-bugs-status-page/): Want to know what features and bugs the Gmail developers are currently working on? Read on to learn how to access Gmail’s new “Features, Fixes, & Feedback” page… First, log into your Gmail account. You must be logged into your account to access the help screens. Next, click on the “Help” link located at the ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #20: Why some attachments bounce](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-20-why-some-attachments-bounce/): Gmail is trying to help combat the spread of viruses by implementing a “feature” that prevents emails containing attachments of certain file types from being delivered to Gmail accounts. With some simple workarounds, you can get your files delivered to Gmail users while still helping prevent the spread of viruses… One way that Gmail is ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #19: Advanced Search - Query Words](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-19-advanced-search-query-words/): One of Gmail’s excellent features is its Search function. Searching can be as simple as entering a keyword or two into the Search field at the top of any page to very complex using Gmail’s advanced “Query Words” to better constrain searches. Read more to better understand how “Query Words” can help you with your ... Read more
- [ReplayTV Tip #6-Multiple Belkin F5D7230-4 Setup HOWTO](https://jimstips.com/replaytv-tip-6-multiple-belkin-f5d7230-4-setup-howto/): After purchasing a new house, I needed to set up a network. An 802.11g wireless solution seemed to be the best choice, so after lots of research and planning, I purchased three Belkin F5D7230-4 routers and configured them to provide wireless routing, bridging, and access. Read on for what I did, how I did it, ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #18: Some Forwarding Idiosyncracies](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-18-some-forwarding-idiosyncracies/): One very important note to Gmail users: Gmail’s “Forward” function only forwards plain text. While this doesn’t affect most messages, this behavior can mangle HTML-formatted messages, dropping important formatting, images, and data. Read on for more information… If you receive a message that has fancy formatting and/or includes inline graphics, when you click on Forward, ... Read more
- [What if Gmail was a PC-based Email Client?](https://jimstips.com/what-if-gmail-was-a-pc-based-email-client/): ATTENTION REGISTERED USERS!! It’s time to turn the tables a bit here. Here’s a chance for Registered Users to give your opinion! I’m interested to know your opinion if Gmail, instead of being an online service, was a PC-based email client that you downloaded onto your PC that worked either standalone or in conjunction with ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #17: Advanced Search - View Multiple Labels](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-17-advanced-search-view-multiple-labels/): Gmail has some advanced searching capabilities that, if you take the time to learn, enables you drill down to very specific information. In future tips, you’ll learn many of the advanced searching functions, but in this tip, (sent in by “Juan Valera”) you’ll learn how to search for specific messages based on their Labels including ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #16: New feature - View or Download for attached images](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-16-new-feature-view-or-download-for-attached-images/): Looks like Gmail added another new feature! You now have the option of viewing or downloading image attachments! Read on for details… When you receive an image file as an attachment (like .jpg, .gif, or .bmp) Gmail now displays two links for each attachment: One is the filename, and the other says “Download”. Clicking on ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #15: New feature - Highlighting on/off!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-15-new-feature-highlighting-onoff/): Looks like Gmail added a new feature! You can now control “highlighting” of searched words in Search results! When you initiate a Search, Gmail returns a list of any messages and conversations matching the Search criteria. You can select any of these messages or conversations to view, and Gmail automatically highlights the word(s) you searched ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #14: What Happens To Sent Messages?](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-14-what-happens-to-sent-messages/): When you “send” a message, two things happen to it: 1. it gets copied into your “All Mail” view, and 2. it is visible in the “Sent Mail” view. Many email clients and Webmail services let you optionally delete all sent messages by default, but Gmail doesn’t offer this feature. Here’s why… One of Gmail’s ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #13: Some More About Conversations](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-13-some-more-about-conversations/): I covered this partially in another tip, but I feel it is important to repeat it. One of Gmail’s excellent features is its “Conversations”. Conversations conveniently organize related messages, but this can be potentially dangerous if you don’t understand how to manage both conversations and individual messages. If you aren’t paying attention, you can inadvertently ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #12: Archiving Explained](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-12-archiving-explained/): One concept that’s sometimes a bit unclear to new Gmail users is that of “Archiving” messages. I’m not refering to the hype and false assertions of pundits who claim things like “Gmail keeps everything you ever send and receive!” and “Gmail archives your messages forever!” No, I’m refering to the “Archive” button in your Inbox ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #11: Connecting Securely](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-11-connecting-securely/): Unlike many other Web-based email providers, Gmail offers an SSL-encrypted login by default. This means that your Gmail password is always encrypted when it is sent over the Internet. Secure HTTPS access is also available by going to https://gmail.google.com directly. This is just another way that Gmail ensures your privacy and security!
- [Gmail Tip #10: Some Tips about Conversations](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-10-some-tips-about-conversations/): Conversations are very handy. They group related emails letting you easily track what was sent and to whom it was sent. One thing that you might overlook is that is that you need to remember that when you perform an action on a conversation such as “Print”, “Move to Trash”, or “Report as Spam”, you ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #9: New Mail Notification!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-9-new-mail-notification/): One often asked for feature has been some sort of automatic notification. Some suggestions ahve been integrating a button tn the Google Toolbar. Another was some sort of System Tray icon. Well, Gmail gave us a notification method that actually works very well… Open your Gmail account and look at both the “Title” of your ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #8: Working With Lots Of Emails](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-8-working-with-lots-of-emails/): There are some idiosyncracies that you should understand when working with large numbers of messages. Read more for a couple pointers… If you are working with a large number of emails, (more than will fit on one screen “page”) be sure to remember that checking “All” doesn’t check all messages in the category you are ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #7: Quickly Addressing A Message](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-7-quickly-addressing-a-message/): Want to know a quick way to address another Gmail user? Read more to find out! Did you know that you can send an email to another Gmail user by just entering their username into either the TO, CC, or BCC fields when you Compose a message? You do not need to type the rest ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #6: Define a Signature!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-6-define-a-signature/): When Gmail was first released to Beta, it was missing the ability to create an automatically appended “Signature”. Well, after beta tester feedback Gmail has added the feature! Read how to define it… Go into “Settings” and click the radio button next to the edit box in the Signatire section. Next, enter any text you ... Read more
- [Sony to Suspend Clie Handheld Line](https://jimstips.com/sony-to-suspend-clie-handheld-line/): According to a Palm Infocenter article, Sony is “suspending” it’s Clie PDAs, not releaseing any new models to the US market this Fall. This hits hard to many CLie devotees. Despite the news, the Sony Clie NX topics here on JimsTips.com will continue to exist. Unfortunatly, I haven’t added much new content simply because I ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #5: The Plus Side of Gmail](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-5-the-plus-side-of-gmail/): Like many Email providers, Gmail supports the standard “plus” addressing scheme. But just what is it, and how can it help me? The “plus” method of addressing lets you add additional words to your account name (the “left side” of your email address.) For example, if your email address is “john.doe@gmail.com”, you could add “+club” ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #4: Formatting Your Name](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-4-formatting-your-name/): Gmail’s account names (you know, the “left” side of your email address) are very forgiving. Read more for more details! If you registered your Gmail account name like I did, you likely used the form “first.last@gmail.com”. Did you know that it doesn’t matter if you used a period or not! “john.doe@gmail.com” is treated the same ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #3: How to Maintain Notes](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-3-how-to-maintain-notes/): Some email providers provide a “Notes” function to let you maintain a list of notes. For example you might keep Web site links, random thoughts, etc. Gmail doesn’t offer this feature, but by using some of Gmail’s other features, you can set up a very nice, easy to maintain group of notes… Basically, the concept ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #2: Check Your Messages](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-2-check-your-messages/): To leverage Gmail’s excellent Label and Search functions, I imported close to 1000 archived emails into my Gmail account. (To see how I did it, click here.) After working this large number of messages for a few days, I have found that managing them, while typically easy and intuitive, it can sometimes be a bit ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #1: All About Labels](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-1-all-about-labels/): Labels. Gmail lets you assign a Label to a message and then view all messages assigned to that Label. Sounds a lot like the typical “Folder”, right? Well, almost. Unlike Folders, you can assign multiple Labels to a message letting the message span multiple categories. To better understand how Labels differ from Folders, counsider the ... Read more
- [How I Imported archived email into Gmail](https://jimstips.com/how-i-imported-archived-email-into-gmail/): I have a large number (about 1000) of archived emails that I have saved over the years, and I am looking for a way to “import” them into Gmail so that I can leverage Gmail’s excellent Search and Label features. Over at the Gmail forum at Webmaster World is a posting on how to “import” ... Read more
- [Gmail Beta: First Impressions](https://jimstips.com/gmail-beta-first-impressions/): The other day, I received an “invitation” to beta test Google’s new “Gmail” email service. After having tried and used literally dozens of web-based email services over the years, I decided to see what the buzz was all about, so I followed the Invitation instructions, and within a couple minutes, I had a new Google ... Read more
- [What is Gmail?](https://jimstips.com/what-is-gmail/): Gmail is a free POP3 and IMAP webmail service provided by Google. In the United Kingdom and Germany it is officially called Google Mail. Gmail launched on 1 April 2004 as an invitation-only beta release and became available to the public on 7 February 2007. To this day the service remains in beta status and ... Read more
- [Welcome to GmailTips.com!](https://jimstips.com/welcome-to-gmailtipscom/): Wow! Something’s new! Yep, after a few years, I decided to migrate from Joomla to WordPress as my back-end site software. I find it to be better for my needs, so I hope that it will let me provide more timely and more frequent content. Second, I have included an RSS feed from the Official ... Read more
- [T3 Tip #5: Palm Wireless Keyboard Tip](https://jimstips.com/t3-tip-5-palm-wireless-keyboard-tip/): If you own a T3 and a PWK (Palm Wireless Keyboard), you don’t need to run Preferences to change the Handedness to Left-Handed every time you use it. Just press Alt+Del to change Handedness. Maybe it works with other keyboards too, try it. Paulo Stockinger pstock@palmpoint.com.br
- [T3 Tip #4: Tap-And-Hold Alternate Digital Input Areas](https://jimstips.com/t3-tip-4-tap-and-hold-alternate-digital-input-areas/): The Tungsten T3 has several User Interface “enhancements” that aren’t always apparant. One great example has to do with the “Virtual Graffiti” or “Digital Input Area” (DIA). Learn how to change the Digital Input area! By default, the Virtual Graffiti area on the Tungsten T3 displays the “standard” Graffiti entry area surrounded by four “buttons”. ... Read more
- [T3 Tip #3: Tap-And-Hold Define Silk Buttons](https://jimstips.com/t3-tip-3-tap-and-hold-define-silk-buttons/): The Tungsten T3 has several User Interface “enhancements” that aren’t always apparant. One great example has to do with the “Virtual Graffiti” or “Digital Input Area” (DIA). Learn how to customize the “Silk Buttons”! When the Virtual Graffiti area is displayed, by default, there are four “buttons” surrounding the Graffiti entry area: (going counter-clockwise) Applications, ... Read more
- [T3 Tip #2: Tap-And-Hold Last Used Applications](https://jimstips.com/t3-tip-2-tap-and-hold-last-used-applications/): The Tungsten T3 has several User Interface “enhancements” that aren’t always apparant. One great example has to do with the “Virtual Graffiti” or “Digital Input Area” (DIA). Learn how to bring up a list of the five last-used applications! As we all know, if you tap on the “Applications” Icon (the little “house” icon in ... Read more
- [Wow, What a Wild Ride!](https://jimstips.com/wow-what-a-wild-ride/): It is now 10 years later, and I sit here typing this very relaxed and unburdened. I just completed a year of serving as the Most Illustrious Grand Master of the Grand Council of Royal and Select Masters of South Carolina, the fourth year as a Grand Officer in the Grand Council. This year caps 10 years of a very active Masonic life. In the Blue Lodge, I progressed through the chairs and ultimately served as Master of Divver Lodge #349, AFM. Oh, what a wonderful group of brothers! During that year, we had several new members join, we had ... Read more
- [Machine Embroidery: I caught the bug!](https://jimstips.com/machine-embroidery-i-caught-the-bug/): The Geek finds (another) hobby I’m a geek by hobby and profession with some experience in Web design, image conversion, desktop publishing, electronics, etc. I’ve always had a love for processes that can take a virtual design on a computer and result in a physical item. So I looked looking into machine embroidery, and I learned that not only can it produce creative and real tangible things, but it is the process that can really intrugue the tech geek. After all, it’s just another application of hardware and software, that, when analyzed from a technical perspective, doesn’t differ that much from ... Read more
- [Samsung Chromebook Plus Mini Review](https://jimstips.com/samsung-chromebook-plus-mini-review/): The Samsung Chromebook Plus I purchased a Samsung Chromebook Plus for $309.00 from Rakuten on a Black Friday sale, and after putting it through its paces for a couple days, I am very, very happy with it. I’m not going to go into any details about specs and benchmarks–plenty of other sites do that just fine. I’m focusing on those aspects that make this Chromebook stand out among most others, making MY experience more enjoyable and productive than previous Chromebooks. Brief background I was fortunate to receive one of the original Google CR-48 Chromebooks in their Test Pilot program back ... Read more
- [The Pebble Time Smartwatch](https://jimstips.com/1756/): I really like the Pebble Time Black. It provides everything I need in a smartwatch, and the long battery life makes it worth it. Why I Bought It I was having issues with my LG G Watch running Android Wear, so I bought a Pebble Time, and I have zero regrets. Keep It Simple I used the LG G Watch for about a year, and despite its touch screen, higher resolution, huge number of available apps, and the elegance of Android Wear, I found that I really only used it to show the time and weather, and to show notifications ... Read more
- [The Kindle 3G+Special Offers edition](https://jimstips.com/the-kindle-3gspecial-offers-edition/): I just purchased a Kindle 3G+Special Offers ebook reader, and I have to say that it has far exceeded my expectations. To me, when assessing a device like this, it is always important to put into perspective just exactly what such a device can and cannot do. First, what the Kindle 3G is: First and foremost, it is an eBook reader. Its pearl E-ink display is stellar, and the screen, like several other eBook readers, is very hard to beat. It makes reading very easy, and as they say, the device really does “disappear” as you read, meaning you end ... Read more
- [Vonage: Revisited and loving it!](https://jimstips.com/vonage-revisited-and-loving-it/): In an earlier post, I moaned about how though Vonage was a great service, it just didn’t fit our needs due to several significant shortcomings. Well times change, and so have my views about Vonage. We recently got a faster, more reliable Internet connection through Charter Cable, and decided to give Vonage another try. So far, after a few months, the results are excellent, and we haven’t looked back. The shortcomings Vonage had are now gone. We were able to port our landline number, the audio clarity is much better, and it has been very stable and reliable. And comparing features ... Read more
- [CR-48 and eyeOS - a match made in Heaven?](https://jimstips.com/cr-48-and-eyeos-a-match-made-in-heaven/): Many years ago, I played around with an “online desktop” site called eyeOS. After playing around with the CR-48, it got me thinking that a virtual, online desktop just might be useful on the CR-48. Remember, the CR-48 is a completely Web-centric device. It is truly a “cloud computer” because almost anything you do with it requires an Internet connection. When it boots, it boots directly into the Chrome browser fullscreen. In fact, there is no “desktop” as found on other OS’s because everything is done within the browser. Settings screens are displayed in the browser. System logs display in ... Read more
- [CR-48 Important Security Tip](https://jimstips.com/cr-48-important-security-tip/): I love the CR-48’s fast bootup, and I absolutely love its instant-on feature: Leave it powered on, close the lid, and when you re-open it, it’s instantly on where you left off. This standby mode is easy on batteries, and it is extremely useful to me. BUT… I just realized that anyone who gets a hold of my CR-48 will have complete and full access to whatever is open, and worse, they will have complete access to all of my Google applications because I’m already logged in. At home, this is not a problem because I trust my wife implicitly ... Read more
- [CR-48 Verizon 3G Info and Tips](https://jimstips.com/cr-48-verizon-3g-info-and-tips/): I was searching for some specific information about how the Verizon 3G data plan works for the CR-48. I found very helpful information at Google’s Chrome OS support pages. By all means, go through those help pages. There is much useful information to be found there. Here are some tips and general information that I found in various places throughout those pages that are specific to CR-48 3G usage: 1. How much data do I have left? “Click the Network icon in the top-right corner of your screen. When 3G is enabled, the amount of data remaining should be listed ... Read more
- [CR-48 Verizon 3G Data Plans](https://jimstips.com/cr-48-verizon-3g-data-plans/): In addition to Wi-Fi access, the CR-48 has 3G access capability through Verizon. Once activated, you get 100MB of free data per month for two years. You can also optionally purchase several plans: $9.99 day pass with unlimited data $19.99 1 GB (valid for 30 days) $34.99 3 GB (valid for 30 days) $49.99 5 GB (valid for 30 days) The day pass provides unlimited access, and the session lasts for 24 hours. It is probably most useful for those rare times when you have no Wi-Fi access but require Internet connectivity. The other plans provide the specified amount of ... Read more
- [CR-48 Keyboard Shortcuts](https://jimstips.com/cr-48-keyboard-shortcuts/): The trackpad on the CR-48 is quite useful with its (somewhat limited and quirky) multitouch capabilities, and a USB mouse can be a God-send for long sessions, but there are many keyboard shortcuts that can simplify or speed up your interaction with Chrome OS. Here is a pretty much exhaustive keyboard shortcut list: Tab and window navigation Ctrl+N Open a new window Ctrl+Shift+N Open a new window in incognito mode Ctrl+T Open a new tab Ctrl+O Open a file in the browser Ctrl+Shift+Q Sign out of your Google Account on Chrome OS Ctrl+W Close the current tab Ctrl+Shift+W Close the ... Read more
- [CR-48 Channels vs Modes](https://jimstips.com/cr-48-channels-vs-modes/): One point that may not be obvious to both new and seasoned CR-48 users is the distinction between “Channels” and “Modes”. You may hear of people running in Developer mode, or you may hear of OS upgrades coming over the Beta or Developer channels. What are the differences, and why should I care as a user? Here is a brief description of the differences between modes and channels, and the distinctions of each. Channels Channels determine what version of the OS is loaded onto your CR-48. There are currently two OS channels: Beta and Developer. The Beta channel makes available ... Read more
- [Updates to Google Chrome Tips!](https://jimstips.com/updates-to-google-chrome-tips/): Initially, I set up GoogleChromeTips.com to be a repository of general tips and tricks for Google’s Chrome Web browser application. Recently, however, Google has released working versions of its new Chrome OS, and operating system designed to be centered around the Chrome Browser, providing a complete “Cloud Computing” experience. Currently, the Chrome OS has been loaded on the CR-48 notebook computer that Google has been giving out through its pilot program. The current tips that I will be adding will be more focused on the operation, use, and understanding of the Chrome OS as found on the CR-48 notebook.
- [iPod Touch Review: ByLine - An Excellent RSS Reader](https://jimstips.com/ipod-touch-review-byline-an-excellent-rss-reader/): OK, so I now have to retract part of what I said in my last article about RSS readers. There is an excellent RSS reader on AppStore called Byline that so far, does exactly what I want in a news reader for my iPod Touch. Byline is like many RSS readers, but this one really does understand how to be effective on an iPod Touch. For example, my iPod Touch is is not always connected online. I purposely turn off networking when I’m not in range to extend my battery. How many online applications have you launched that display an ... Read more
- [GoogleVoiceTips.com Launches!](https://jimstips.com/googlevoicetipscom-launches/): Once again, Google released an excellent application that is, of course, in beta. It’s Google Voice. Google acquired GrandCentral.com a couple years ago, and though the service has been up and running with minor updates, Google finally announced the transition and migration from GrandCentral to Google Voice. I’ve been using Grand Central for quite a while, and have grown to really appreciateand depend on it. Googles upgrade has completely transformed the product. Over the next couple weeks, I’ll be adding some reviews and tips on how to get the most from Google Voice, so stay tuned!!
- [Musical Chairs!](https://jimstips.com/musical-chairs/): At our December business meeting, we elected and appointed the new officers for 2009, and I was elected into the Junior Warden seat. It is quite an honor, as in doing so, I unexpectedly skipped a couple seats. For 2008, I was appointed as a Steward. The natural progression is to move the Junior Deacon seat, however the current Junior Deacon who has held that position for quite a number of years didn’t want to move up, so next in line is the Senior Deacon seat. The current Senior Deacon decided to step out of the rotation due to personal ... Read more
- [Faster, faster, faster!?!](https://jimstips.com/faster-faster-faster/): I had the opportunity to attend the Order of the Temple work at another local lodge, and I must say that I was very impressed. There were about 25 people with three candidates, and the work was done very well. One of the older men had been doing his part for many years, and he had everything memorized–very impressive. It was nice to see the work done again since I went through it. Every time I attend degree work, I learn and understand a lot more. One of the But one thing struck me as very disappointing. Prior to the ... Read more
- [York Rite Degree Work - Some ponderings](https://jimstips.com/york-rite-degree-work-some-ponderings/): The local York Rite membership is a very dedicated group of Masons, but like so many Masonic groups, it tends to be somewhat “older-leaning” in its membership. The group that with which I went through the degree work is a bit younger than most of the membership (though I don’t know if my age of 42 constitutes being young or old!) Anyway, we all expressed a desire to join, the members were very excited that a new group of younger men were interested in getting involved. They enthusiastically told us that once we complete the Degrees that they would love ... Read more
- [Seeking More Light - Part Two](https://jimstips.com/seeking-more-light-part-two/): After completing the Royal Arch and Cryptic Masonry degrees, the final steps on the path of the York Rite are the “Chivalric Orders”. These Degrees (called Orders in this group) include the the “Illustrious Order of the Red Cross” which is an Order that emphasizes the lesson of truth; the “Order of Malta” which emphasizes the lesson of faith; and the “Order of the Temple” (also called Order of the Knights Templar) which emphasizes the lessons of self-sacrifice and reverence. The final three Orders were conferred in November, 2008. The Illustrious Order of the Red Cross and the Order of ... Read more
- [Seeking More Light - Part One](https://jimstips.com/seeking-more-light-part-one/): Since my journey in Freemasonry began, I have always been interested in Freemasonry’s Appendant Bodies, specifically the York Rite. My father was a Master Mason, went through the Scottish Rite, and eventually became a Shriner. (In his day, it was a requirement that to become a Shriner, you had to go through either the Scottish Rite or the York Rite. This requirement has since been lifted.) After some reading and research about the Scottish and York Rites, I decided to pursue the York Rite as I felt that it aligned more closely with my Christian walk. I was raised to ... Read more
- [The York Rite Background](https://jimstips.com/the-york-rite-background/): The York Rite, like the Scottish, is one of Freemasonry’s Appendant Bodies which is open to a Master Mason to join to further his knowledge of Freemasonry. While Freemasonry officially culminates with the third degree of the Blue Lodge, the nine additional degrees of the the York Rite are considered to expand upon and complete the Blue Lodge degrees. The York Rite is broken down into three “bodies”, each governing and controlling the degree work related to that body. The bodies are Royal Arch Masonry, Cryptic Masonry, and Knights Templar (also called the Chivalric Orders.) The intent is to confer ... Read more
- [Google Chrome Tip #6: Where’s the Status bar?](https://jimstips.com/google-chrome-tip-6-wheres-the-status-bar/): Google has really gone to great lengths to try to increase the viewing space in its Google Chrome browser such as moving the tabs into the window’s Title bar, etc. One thing that appears to be missing, though, is the Status bar at the bottom. So how do you see what URL you are hovering over? How do you know what URL is loading? The status bar is there on the lower right of the page, however it’s just not always there. Hover over any link, or load a page, and you will see the Status bar slid in. When ... Read more
- [Google Chrome Tip #5: How to see Browsing History](https://jimstips.com/google-chrome-tip-5-how-to-see-browsing-history/): Unlike in Firefox and Internet Explorer, Google Chrome has no dropdown integrated in the back and forward buttons, so how do you view your recent browsing history? Simple! Just click and hold either button, and if there is history, a dropdown menu will appear. You can alternately right-click on either arrow with the same effect. To view your full browsing history, select the “Show full history” selection from the same menu, select “History” from the “Customize and control Google Chrome” button (the “wrench” icon), or simply press and a full browsing history page will open in a new tab.
- [Google Chrome Tip #4: about:stuff](https://jimstips.com/google-chrome-tip-4-aboutstuff/): Enter about:memory into the Omni bar (the address bar) and Google Chrome will display a nice summary of your memory useage and all Google Chrome-related processes. As a bonus, the summary section also displays the memory usage information for all other open browsers giving you a nice comparison! Here is a list of other “about:” commands that provide interesting information and do some interesting things: about:cache about:crash about:dns about:hang about:histograms about:internets about:memory about:network about:plugins about:stats about:version Most of these can also be easily bookmarked by clicking the Star in the Omni bar.
- [Google Chrome Tip #3: Keyboard Shortcuts](https://jimstips.com/google-chrome-tip-3-keyboard-shortcuts/): Google provides many keyboard shortcuts to move around and work with Google Chrome. For a complete list, you can always jump over to the Google Chrome Keyboard Shortcuts page. In the mean time, read on to see a list of the keyboard shortcuts…. Here is a list of most of Google Chrome keyboard shortcuts: Window and tab shortcuts Window and tab shortcuts Ctrl+N Open a new window Ctrl+Shift+N Open a new window in incognito mode Press Ctrl, and click a link Open link in a new tab Press Shift, and click a link Open link in a new window Alt+F4 ... Read more
- [Google Chrome Tip #2: Importing Firefox Portable Bookmarks](https://jimstips.com/google-chrome-tip-2-importing-firefox-portable-bookmarks/): Currently, Google Chrome will only import Bookmarks from an installed version of Firefox. I use Firefox Portable exclusively, but unfortunately, Google Chrome does not recognize it as an import source. So, if you are a Firefox Portable user, here’s a quick and dirty method of getting all of your existing Firefox bookmarks into Google Chrome…. DISCLAIMER This process assumes that you are using the “Firefox Portable” application found at http://PortableApps.com, and that you do not have Firefox “installed” on your PC. If you already have Firefox installed on your PC, doing this will probably mess up your current installation to ... Read more
- [Google Chrome Tip #1: Enhanced Find Feature](https://jimstips.com/google-chrome-tip-1-enhanced-find-feature/): This is a really subtle one, but Google Chrome improves nicely on the “find” function for finding text within an open page. As in other browsers, pressing <ctrl><f> brings up a find box, however its overall functionality is just a bit different. Read on to see the differences…. First, the find box is integrated unobtrusively in the upper right corner of the page into which you type your search text. It’s clean and looks good. I never liked how Internet Explorer pops up a dialog box. It just gets in the way. Firefox, Safari, and now Google Chrome implement this ... Read more
- [Welcome to Google Chrome Tips!](https://jimstips.com/welcome-to-google-chrome-tips/): Google Chrome Tips is here to provide some tips and tricks for Google’s new Chrome browser. I will also post some articles related to Chromium, the Open Source version of Chrome. While my browser of choice is still Firefox, Google Chrome offers some exciting features and performence enhancements that really makes it worth a look.
- [iPod Touch Tip #6: RSS Readers Still Missing The Mark](https://jimstips.com/ipod-touch-tip-6-rss-readers-still-missing-the-mark/): Having quick and easy access to information is one of the strong points of the iPhone and the iPod Touch. With their online capabilities, the Internet is at your fingertips, and just about any piece of information is just a few taps away. One group of applications that provides news information is the “RSS Reader” category. These programs provide news feeds in a (typically) organized and concise manner, allowing you to catch up news from your favorite sites wherever you are. But what if you are not online? What if an iPhone user is on a subway or in an ... Read more
- [iPod Touch Review: Belkin Silicone Skin Case](https://jimstips.com/ipod-touch-review-belkin-silicone-skin-case/): I’m always looking for decent cases for the devices I carry, and I have found another case for the iPod Touch that I just love. The Belkin Silicone Skin Case is a molded case made of silicone rubber that stretches to fit snugly around the iPod Touch. It provides cut-outs for the screen, top power button, brightness sensor, Universal Connector, and headphones. There is also a recessed portion over the front Home button giving it a great look and nice tactile feel. The case nicely protects the chrome back from scratches, and it provides the iPod Touch with a great ... Read more
- [iPod Touch Tip #5: Quick Keyboard Entry Tips](https://jimstips.com/ipod-touch-tip-5-quick-keyboard-entry-tips/): Text entry on the iPod Touch's on-screen keyboard is surprisingly easy, but sometimes, it can be tedious to enter numbers, symbols, or special characters. But did you know that there are a few "shortcuts" that you can use to make this kind of entry quicker and easier? Read on for some tips on "shifting" letters, inserting numbers, symbols, and International characters, and making a quick entry correction…. Quick Shift While typing on the Alphabetic keyboard, press and hold the Shift key, then slide your finger over to the letter you want to shift then release. The letter will be shifted. ... Read more
- [iPod Touch Review: Wikpedia on your iPod Touch!](https://jimstips.com/ipod-touch-review-wikpedia-on-your-ipod-touch/): Arguably, one of the greatest current contributions to the Internet is Wikipedia, a solid encyclopedic resource for general knowledge of topics spanning literally millions of articles. Though the accuracy of some of its articles is questionable, overall, Wikipedia does an excellent job of presenting generally reliable content. A point of note that any researcher, student, or general Internet user should know, is that because of its susceptibility to error and vandalism, Wikipedia, should not be used as a difinitive research resource, it should be considered a great starting point for researching a topic.) Like searching on Google, Wikipedia is fast ... Read more
- [iPod Touch Tip #4: Backing Up Web Clips](https://jimstips.com/ipod-touch-tip-4-backing-up-web-clips/): Web Clips on your iPod Touch's Home Page are very handy, but if you accidentally delete one, how do you get it back? Well, you can't. When you create a Web Clip, consider also creating a corresponding Bookmark in Safari. This way, should you ever accidentally delete your Web Clip, you will have an easy way to get it back. Bookmarks can also be optionally synced through iTunes providing additional backup. To create a Bookmark from a Web Clip, simply launch your Web Clip, tap the "+" button and select "Add Bookmark". To create a Web Clip from a Bookmark, ... Read more
- [iPod Touch Tip #3: Safari Screen Rotation](https://jimstips.com/ipod-touch-tip-3-safari-screen-rotation/): Here's a simple, yet not always intuitive tip. Have you ever been using Safari while lying down in bed or on a couch? You get comfortable, and as you tilt your iPod Touch, does the screen auto-rotate the wrong way? You then go through the delecate balancing act of finding that "sweet spot" just before it rotates, then you cock your head uncomfortably, just to view Safari in widescreen mode? Well, the solution is so simple, if you follow Apple's intuitive UD design. Because the iPod Touch only rotates 90° in either direction, once it is rotated, it will not ... Read more
- [iPod Touch Review: Griffin Elan Convertible Case](https://jimstips.com/ipod-touch-review-griffin-elan-convertible-case/): Like any PDA or pocket-sized electronic device, the iPod Touch is prone to scratches and dings, so on eof the first accessories you should consider is a case to protect it. Cases come in all sizes and shapes, so what is best for you is a very personal and subjective decision. I found the Griffin Elan Convertible case at my local Circuit City, and I find it to be a solid choice for the money. Read on for a full review…. The Griffin Elan Convertible Case is a sleek leather case that houses the iPod Touch. It has a removable ... Read more
- [iPod Touch Tip #2: Using Google Maps Routes Offline](https://jimstips.com/ipod-touch-tip-2-using-google-maps-routes-offline/): The Google Maps application included in the "January Update" apps has a very nice offline feature: Routing. While connected to WiFi, Tap the "Directions" button, and enter the starting location and then the ending location of your desired route. Maps will then download the route data and store it for offline use. All route-point information including zoomed-in maps immediately surrounding each route point is downloaded. Once completed (ie: the progress "spinner" stops) you can shut off WiFi, and the route information will be retained to use offline. Read on for more details on how to use this useful feature…. Maps ... Read more
- [iPod Touch News: Software Development Kit (SDK)](https://jimstips.com/ipod-touch-news-software-development-kit-sdk/): Apple announced that in February 2008, they would release a Software Development Kit (SDK) enabling third-party developers to create applications for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Many people are placing a lot of hope into this tool. As of this writing, it appears that its release will be delayed until March, 2008. Read on to see my take on what the SDK may or may not bring…. On one hand, I am very excited that the availability of the SDK could potentially provide some excellent and useful applications. Opening up application development to third-party developers could potentially rival the literally ... Read more
- [iPod Touch Review: “January Upgrade” Applications](https://jimstips.com/ipod-touch-review-january-upgrade-applications/): Apple released a firmware update (v1.1.3) providing some system tweaks and bug fixes, but it also came with a controversial upgrade that included 5 additional applications and some enhanced system functionality. What made it so controversial was that Apple charged $20 for the applications and enhanced functions. Some of the applications are simple, and some are full-featured, but they all add excellent functionality. I think they give us a great taste of what is to come. Read on to see the details of these new applications…. Here is a brief rundown and commentary on the new applications and enhancements: Mail ... Read more
- [iPod Touch Tip #1: Jump To Safari Address Bar](https://jimstips.com/ipod-touch-tip-1-jump-to-safari-address-bar/): If you are viewing a long Web page in Safari, once you have scrolled down the page, it can be tedious to have to scroll all the way back up to the top to get to the Address Bar. Instead of scrolling, simply tap Safari's top toolbar, and it will jump you right to the top of your page with the Address bar revealed.
- [iPod Touch Review: “Jailbreaking”](https://jimstips.com/ipod-touch-review-jailbreaking/): I’m going to get this topic out of the way early on, as it is a topic that is taboo in many circles, but important, none the less. I am not going to explain here how to Jailbreak your iPhone/iPod Touch–a Google search can lead you where you need to go for those details. I am going to explain what Jailbreaking is, the reasons behind Jailbreaking, some cautions, why I Jailbroke my iPod Touch, and what you can do with a Jailbroken iPod Touch. So read on to see my experience with Jailbreaking my iPod Touch… “Jailbreaking” is a method ... Read more
- [iPod TouchReview: iPod Touch 8GB](https://jimstips.com/ipod-touchreview-ipod-touch-8gb/): I've been a long-time proponent and user of PalmOS PDA's, but lately I have become very by Palm's lack of innovation in their offerings. And innovation is something Palm was regularly known for. For example, consider the Palm V, arguably one of Palm's most innovative designs with its sleek form and powerful (for 1999) capabilities. This was an example of a innovation driving the market. The PDA trend eventually shifted to "convergence" devices like the Smartphone. But despite their popularity, many of us prefer to have separate devices. Over time, Palm's PDA offerings have really amount to permutations of the ... Read more
- [Welcome to iPod Touch Tips!](https://jimstips.com/welcome-to-ipod-touch-tips/): iPod Touch Tips is a new section on JimsTips.com to provide Tips, reviews, and other information about Apple’s iPod Touch . The iPod Touch, originally marketed as media player, is capable of so much more. With WiFi, Web Browsing, and the addition of a few new applications, the iPod Touch is much improved with some new and extended capabilities. The domain iPTTips.com redirects to this page, so you can always get to iPod Touch Tips by pointing your browser to http://iPTTips.com. Apple’s AppStore has hundreds of applications for the iPhone & iPod Touch, so stay tuned as I give my ... Read more
- [Brother, take a seat!](https://jimstips.com/brother-take-a-seat/): Less than three weeks after being raised to the degree of Master Mason, I was installed as one of the Stewards of our Lodge. The new Junior Warden-Elect appointed me and the other brother who was raised with me as the new Stewards for 2008. I’m honored that the opportunity to begin moving through the chairs has come so quickly! I look forward to being able to participate in the degree work, the business meetings, and to provide cheerful service to the Lodge officers where needed. The December business meeting was the first meeting I have been able to attend ... Read more
- [Welcome to Zonbu Tips!](https://jimstips.com/welcome-to-zonbu-tips/): Going away soon! Zonbu Support stated specifically that due to financial reasons, Zonbu will not provide any OS updates for the Zonbu Mini. In light of this, I am letting the domain ZonbuTips.com expire since I will not be adding or maintaining any tips for this device or service. It was a great concept of a product that just couldn’t effectively get off the ground.
- [Gmail Tip #65: Colored Labels!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-65-colored-labels/): Gmail now lets you define colrs for specific labels. In the message list, any label that has a color assigned will display in that color. Labels with no color assigned will display as they always did. Here is an example: To assign colors to a Label, click the Label selector on the left of any Gmail page to display the Labels. Hover your mouse to the right of the Label, and a small triangle will appear. Click it, and a color selector will appear. Select a color, and all messages with that Label will display the Label in that color. ... Read more
- [Raised to Master Mason!](https://jimstips.com/raised-to-master-mason/): This past Saturday, another Masonic brother and I were raised to the degree of Master Mason, the Third Degree in the Blue Lodge. It was an interesting, informative, and certainly memorable degree. We had our Fellowcraft examination, followed by the Third Degree work. Our Fellowcraft examination went very smoothly despite not having spent any time together going over the questions and answers. I guess we were duly and truly prepared. After the examination, we began the Third Degree work. Interestingly, this was conducted solely by Past Masters. I’m not sure if it is global to Freemasonry, or something specific to ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #64: Gmail Rolls Out IMAP!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-64-gmail-rolls-out-imap/): Gmail has finally rolled out its long-awaited IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol) compatibility enabling users of such email clients as Outlook, Lotus Notes, Thunderbird, a host of others, and even Apple’s iPhone to now take advantage of IMAP instead of the more limited POP connection. Google is rolling it out, and it needs to migrate to many accounts, so it may not be available on your account yet. To enable IMAP, click on the Settings link on any Gmail page, and look for the “Forwarding and POP/IMAP” tab. Click that, and follow the instructions in the IMAP Access section. For ... Read more
- [I Think I “Get It”](https://jimstips.com/i-think-i-get-it-2/): Obviously I still have a lot to learn about Freemasonry having only recently been passed to the second degree. So until I progress further, I can really only comment on my current knowledge and exposure to Freemasonry as a Fellow Craft. But of what I do understand now, I think I “get it” concerning just what Freemasonry is all about, and in many ways more importantly, what it is not. I was driving home the other evening from some first degree work at another lodge, and I was thinking about the work. It got me thinking about all of the ... Read more
- [The George Washington Masonic Memorial](https://jimstips.com/the-george-washington-masonic-memorial/): My wife and are taking a trip to Washington, DC later this month for a long weekend to just “get away”. Our focus is intended to be on several of the Smithsonian museums, but we’ve added the George Washington Masonic Memorial to the itinerary. I’ll be writing an article recapping our adventure, and I’ll include some pictures. I’m hoping that this will give us an excellent chance to see some examples of Masonic history and memorabilia, and to learn more about Freemasonry’s role in the foundations of this country. Stay tuned…. This is my thirteenth article on my experience in ... Read more
- [Passed to the Second Degree!](https://jimstips.com/passed-to-the-second-degree/): Tonight, I had the honor of being passed to the second degree of Fellow Craft. It was a bit unnerving at first because my coaches have had very, busy work schedules, so I didn’t have as much time to work with them as I would have liked. But in the end, I actually did quite well. Originally, we had three candidates scheduled, but unfortunately, one had a work commitment that he could not get out of, so it was two of us receiving our second degree. Hopefully, he will be able to have his second degree in the next week ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #63: Gmail And Your Blackberry](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-63-gmail-and-your-blackberry/): Stephen Swire, a GmailTips.com visitor, sent me some information on how he uses Gmail with his Blackberry. Though I do not use a Blackberry, I thought I’d pass this along as Blackberries are becoming more and more popular. If you have similar experiences, or other suggestions, let me know, and I’ll post ’em! (Note: Stephen uses his blackberry with a personal email account, not an enterprise server. -Jim) "Here are two ways I’ve just started using Gmail to enhance my Blackberry: (1) in order to have a running record of all sent messages, (a good business practice for me) I ... Read more
- [Some More First Degree Work](https://jimstips.com/some-more-first-degree-work/): Last night, I had the honor of attending another local lodge in Belton, SC to watch their first degree work for three candidates. Two brothers from my lodge attended, and two of the brothers from the Belton lodge who helped with my first degree work were also there. It was very welcoming, and nice to see some familiar faces in an otherwise unfamiliar setting. As I get more and more involved in Freemasonry, I see that I am going to be meeting lots and lots of people! The degree work was basically the same as at my initiation with very ... Read more
- [Initiated as an Entered Apprentice!](https://jimstips.com/initiated-as-an-entered-apprentice/): On Tuesday evening, June 12, I was initiated as an Entered Apprentice into the Divver lodge #349 in Anderson, South Carolina. As I reflect back over the evening of my initiation, the one word that keeps popping into my mind is “impressive”. I was so impressed by the many events of the evening: From the friendliness of the members, to their devotion to the craft; from the seriousness and solemness of the ceremonies, to the memorization displayed by the team conducting the ceremony. It was certainly an impressive evening–one I’ll not forget. As you have probably read in my earlier ... Read more
- [The Date Is Set!](https://jimstips.com/the-date-is-set/): Today, I received a call from the Master of the lodge, and he said that my Entered Apprentice initiation is scheduled for 7:00PM on Tuesday, June 12. Last week, the investigating committee contacted me. We had a very nice talk that was informal and low-key, and was far from my original impression of the investigation process. It was more like a job interview than anything else, but job interviews really impose more pressure. We discussed some of my beliefs, who I am, what I do for a living, how I learned about Freemasonry, etc. And the fact that they were ... Read more
- [A Light At The End Of The Tunnel?](https://jimstips.com/a-light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel/): I’ve been a bit concerned lately because I have not yet had any contact with the investigating committee. The next lodge meeting is Tuesday, June 5th, and I’ve been afraid that if I don’t get contacted, I’ll have to wait another month. I’m taking it all in stride, understanding that the summer is a very busy time, so we’ll see how this plays out. But I am now greatly encouraged, because I found out a couple things appear to be a light at the end of the tunnel…. Yesterday, I spoke with a Past Master of the lodge and friend ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #62: Enhancement: “Univeral Navigation Bar”](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-62-enhancement-univeral-navigation-bar/): Google has recently enhanced some navigational features across most of its offerings by providing a recognizable and (somewhat) consistent "Universal Navigation Bar" at the top left of every page:       This feature lets you quickly move to other Google applications with ease (and without having to remember the URL!) Read on for a brief description of the new interface… A source at Google explains that the Universal Navigation Bar will show its "nearest neighbors". This means that, depending on what Google page you are on, the choice of links will differ, presenting you with "related" Google offerings. For ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #61: Enhancement: Attachment Size Doubled to 20MB!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-61-enhancement-attachment-size-doubled-to-20mb/):   Gmail announced today that it has doubled the allowable size for attachments from 10MB to 20MB. Now you can start sharing more of your home videos, large presentations, and files! Note that  because of the way email attachments are encoded, the maximum size of the file you send (which can vary from file to file) may be actually less than 20MB.   Congrats to Gmail for continuing to improve its offerings!
- [But it’s more than that….](https://jimstips.com/but-its-more-than-that/): When I started looking into Freemasonry, I was overwhelmed by all of the information and varied views about just what it is all about. So I read and read, I talked with Masons, and I thought about just what Freemasonry is. And this is what I came up with: It’s a club. You join it. You attend meetings. Business is conducted at the meetings. You gather socially. You do fundraisers. But it’s more than that… It’s a fraternity. You join in brotherhood. You pledge your loyalty to it. You help your fellow brothers, and you receive help from them. But ... Read more
- [Moving Forward](https://jimstips.com/moving-forward/): A couple days ago, I received a letter from the Lodge secretary officially informing me that the Lodge had voted on and accepted my petition, an investigating committee was formed, and that they would contact me soon. The letter also said that the results of the committee would be presented and voted on at the June 5 meeting. I called the secretary to let him know that I received the letter, and he was great to talk with! Unlike the letter, he was very informal. He was friendly, and gave me some additional information about what to expect from the ... Read more
- [Progress! A Vote!](https://jimstips.com/progress-a-vote/): I spoke with my Mason friend from church, and he said that the Lodge had voted on my petition this week, and had formed an investigating committee of three people. They will be contacting me soon. Despite the “fears” that some have expressed about the investigating committee, I feel completely at ease. During my waiting, I’ve been reading so much about Freemasonry. I finished the book “Freemasons For Dummies and found it to be an amazing read. Contrary to my earlier decision, I decided to go ahead and read all of the chapters. I read about the rituals, and the ... Read more
- [PDAs: A Year With The Palm Z22](https://jimstips.com/pdas-a-year-with-the-palm-z22/): \n\t\t\n\t\t In my article, \”PDAs: Back To Basics\”, I outlined my plan to attempt to simplify some things in my life, and one key area was my PDA use. Having the latest and greatest PDA was always my goal. I couldn’t get enough of the new features and capabilities that the newer PDA’s offered. Yet over time, I found that of the many amazing and cool features, most either went unused or were just plain distracting–distracting to the point of sucking up valuable time that could otherwise be used for more productive things. So I opted for the Palm Z22 ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #60: Deleting A Message And Moving To The Next](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-60-deleting-a-message-and-moving-to-the-next/): This tip comes from a question asked by a site visitor, Daree: "I was wondering how you can delete an email and advance to the next email in your folder. Currently when I delete an email I am reading, it takes me back to the inbox. Yahoo has this option but it seems that Gmail doesn’t offer it from the Settings link at the top." The function that Daree asks for is not specifically available, but there is a partial solution–more of a workaround, actually. Read on to learn how to at least get close to this functionality…. First, you ... Read more
- [A Time of Waiting and Patience](https://jimstips.com/a-time-of-waiting-and-patience/): I told my Mason friend from church that I was reading the book “Freemasons For Dummies”. Though he had not heard of it, he was pleased to see that I was taking the initiative to learn and study Freemasonry. I told him that I was getting anxious about waiting for the process to unfold, and he said that this is “a time of waiting and patience”. In some Lodges, things can move forward very quickly. In others, things can take a while. For me, it seems to be the later. I want things to move forward, and I know they ... Read more
- [Some Patience and More Research](https://jimstips.com/some-patience-and-more-research/): Patience. It’s a virtue, and it’s seems to be required of becoming a mason. It can be frustrating, but it can also be rewarding. In this day and age, we are so compelled to the here and now, to the immediacy, to the urgency of everything. The mere thought of having to wait days, weeks, or possibly even months to find out if I can join can be very frustrating. But during this time of waiting, I see two important points coming to the surface: perspective and time. First, the waiting helps me put things into perspective. I’ve discovered that ... Read more
- [Making My Petition](https://jimstips.com/making-my-petition/): After talking with several Masons and doing lots of reading, I decided that I would like to join the ranks of the Freemasons. I talked with a Mason friend from church several times, and eventually he gave me a petition form to complete and return to him. It was an intriguing form with some interestingly worded questions, but everything seemed to be in order, so I completed the form and returned it to him. And that’s it! So now I wait patiently to learn the next steps. He told me that my form would be presented to the Lodge, and ... Read more
- [First Contacts](https://jimstips.com/first-contacts/): I read lots of information online about freemasonry, both pro and anti, but I felt that it was time to talk to someone who was actually involved in it to get some first-hand information. So I approached one of the members of our church who I knew to be a Mason, and he was quite open and happy to discuss it with me. He didn’t go into a lot of details, but he did give me enough information to make me want to know more. I left pondering what we discussed, and eventually went back online to read and learn ... Read more
- [My Journey Begins](https://jimstips.com/my-journey-begins/): It seems that the topic of Freemasonry can pop up just about anywhere. I was having breakfast with a friend from church when the subject of Freemasonry came up. My friend is not a mason, but he told me that a number of our church members are. I had seen a lapel pin here and there on several of them, but I never gave it much thought. But after hearing a brief list of some church members who were Masons, I was intrigued. My first thought was, “How can these blatantly Godly men be Satan worshipers?” Obviously, I had some ... Read more
- [Welcome to MasonicTips.com!](https://jimstips.com/welcome-to-masonictipscom/): I added this Masonic Tips section to my JimsTips.com site to provide you with a glimpse of my ongoing journey in Freemasonry. There are varied views of Freemasonry, so my approach was with an open mind. What I found is an amazing organization that fosters brotherly love, fellowship, and virtue built upon the foundation of belief in God. This is a blog of my Masonic journey, some informational articles, and some articles intended to provide objective responses to some recurring myths surrounding Freemasonry. I am currently the Senior Warden of Divver Lodge #349, Eminent Commander of Anderson Commandery #11, Tyler ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #59: New Feature! Gmail adds POP “Mail Fetcher”](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-59-new-feature-gmail-adds-pop-mail-fetcher/): Gmail now lets you to fetch mail from up to 5 of your other, POP-enabled non-Gmail accounts! And once the messages are pulled into Gmail, you can leverage all of Gmail’s great features. (Note that nor all email services support POP access.) As of this writing, Gmail states that this feature is currently only enabled for a limited number of users. They’re working on making it more available soon. Read on to see if you have access to Mail Fetcher, and how to set it up…. First off, let’s see if you have access to Mail Fetcher. Click on the ... Read more
- [SageTV Tip #9: HD Content With HDHomeRun](https://jimstips.com/sagetv-tip-9-hd-content-with-hdhomerun/): \n\t\t\n\t\t I purchased an HDHomeRun receiver, and I now have access to four \”local broadcast\” HD channels through SageTV! The channels seamlessly show up in SageTV’s Electronic Program Guide (EPG) and I can now view and record any show on those channels. And any HD content vews, records, and plays back in full HD glory! Read on to see my experience with this
- [SageTV Tip #8: Video Stutter & How I Eliminated It](https://jimstips.com/sagetv-tip-8-video-stutter-how-i-eliminated-it/): I’ve been struggling with "video stutter" issues ever since I built my SageTV-based Home Theater PC. Some shows would play back fine, others would be slightly jerky, and still others seemed to have intermittent "frame skips". After installing a new HD receiver, the problem worsened. Read on to see how I resolved the issue, and how I now enjoy excellent quality SD and HD video with SageTV…. I’ve tried lots of combinations of settings, and even purchased nVIDIA’s PureVideo decoder. This improved things, but I still was plagued with video stutter problems. Then, I added HD to the mix, and ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #58: Gmail Now Opened to Everyone!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-58-gmail-now-opened-to-everyone/): Gmail, Google’s free Web-based email service, has swept the world, and has become very, very popular. Unfortunately, access to Gmail (and Google Mail in the UK) has always been by by invitation only. But no more! Anyone can now get a Gmail account. Just go to Gmail.com and click the "Sign up for Gmail" link. It’s that simple! But having a Gmail account means more than just Web-based email. A Gmail account opens the door to many other excellent  Google-related applications and services. By creating a Gmail account, you will gain access to personalize other Google-based applications including Google Maps, ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #57: Mac Keyboard Shortcuts](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-57-mac-keyboard-shortcuts/): Here’s a quick tip inspired by "garfalk" for you Mac users out there…. Gmail’s Mac key combinations are almost the same for the Mac as for the PC with a couple exceptions. "Shift" clicking on the beginning and at the end will "select all". "Command" or "Apple" (same key) clicking will select items one at a time, allowing you to skip some. Also, "Command" + s will Save a draft. Those who tend to be "keyboard-centric" may find this helpful in reducing mouse grabs and clicks.
- [SageTV Tip #7: Other SageTV Customizations](https://jimstips.com/sagetv-tip-7-other-sagetv-customizations/): The third type of SageTV customization is simply “other” customizations. These customizations vary widely in scope and function, but provide great enhancements to your SageTV experience. From custom channel logos to remote Web access, these other customizations propel SageTV ahead of the competition in form and function. Read on to get a taste of the additional customizations available to SageTV…. For brevity, I won’t detail all of the available other SageTV customizations, but here is a list of the general categories of customizations that are currently available: Automatic Commercial Detection and Advance Channel logos SageTV Web Interface XML File Creation ... Read more
- [SageTV Tip #6: STV Import Modules](https://jimstips.com/sagetv-tip-6-stv-import-modules/): The second type of SageTV customization is the STV Import Module, or "STVi". These plugins get imported into the default STV to provide additional features and functions. By simply installing a couple of these plugins, you can really improve upon SageTV’s already amazing core features. Read on to learn about some of the best SageTV STVi’s available…. For me, this is where SageTV really shines. By letting third-party developers create innovative plugins, SageTV has enabled the user to tailor his SageTV experience in ways that SageTV probably never dreamed of. Below is the current list of Plugins. The descriptions should ... Read more
- [SageTV Tip #5: Alternate STV’s](https://jimstips.com/sagetv-tip-5-alternate-stvs/): The default SageTV User Interface is called an “STV”. This is simply a file that defines the overall look-and-feel of the user interface (such as how menus are displayed, what graphic elements and colors the user sees, etc.) and the general functionality of that interface (such what menu choices are available, and what specific functionality is available to the user.) Probably the most ambitious SageTV customization is the “Alternate STV”. Read on to learn more about how some dedicated developers have dramatically changed the overall SageTV experience…. The default STV is very complete, and provides simple navigation using just a ... Read more
- [SageTV Tip #4: SageTV Customizations](https://jimstips.com/sagetv-tip-4-sagetv-customizations/): SageTV provides lots of opportunity for third-party developers to provide enhancements and additions to core SageTV functionality. There are currently 3 general types of customizations: STV’s, STV Import Modules, and Other Customizations. Read on to learn about these types of customizations, what they are, where you can get them, and how they can improve your SageTV experience…. One thing that really impresses me about SageTV is that unlike some competing products, SageTV is very user-tailorable and user-extendable. This means that your investment in SageTV is not limited by what SageTV provides. Many dedicated and innovative developers have come up with ... Read more
- [SageTV Review: Animusic](https://jimstips.com/sagetv-review-animusic/): This isn’t so much a tip as a plug. We were watching our local PBS station and saw part of a show called Animusic 2, the second of a collection of animated, computer-generated music videos. I immediately fell in love! I found the DVD at Amazon.com as well as the official Animusic site and bought both Animusic and Animusic 2 DVD’s. So what makes this relevant to SageTV? Well, SageTV plays these DVD’s perfectly, and they look absolutely stunning on our 42″ Westinghouse W4207 Widescreen LCD HD monitor. This collection of musical shorts really demonstrates how music and computer animation ... Read more
- [Joomla! Tip #1: Editing the LUSH Template](https://jimstips.com/joomla-tip-1-editing-the-lush-template/): I installed a new Joomla Template that I purchased from JoomlaShack. It is a very slick template with a style and feature set that I wanted. Unfortunatly, the colors weren’t really what I wanted, so I decided to try to tweak the colors myself. It turned into a larger undertaking than I expected, but in the end, I learned how to use a new application, and I think the results were pretty good. Read on to see how to edit the JoomlaShack LUSH template…. I was able to change the colors on the LUSH template by following JoomlaShack’s (rather sparse) ... Read more
- [SageTV Review: Westinghouse W2407 42″ HD Monitor](https://jimstips.com/sagetv-review-westinghouse-w2407-42-hd-monitor/): After building a Home Theater PC (HTPC) based on the SageTV PVR software, I decided that a 27" tube TV with an S-Video connection just wasn’t up to the task of providing maximum performance and display quality that a SageTV-based HTPC can provide. Thanks to an excellent "Black Friday" deal at Best Buy, I was able to economically add a new W4207 to our home theater setup. Read on for my review of this excellent value in LCD HD monitors, and how it fits into my SageTV setup…. CLARIFICATION I’d like to start off by clarifying one thing: The Westinghouse ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #56: Five New Features Launched!](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-56-five-new-features-launched/): Gmail has just rolled out 5 new features to add to Gmail’s arsenal including new Mobile Phone access. -Gmail On Your Mobile Phone -Forward all -Reply on top -Embarrassment-reducing new message notifications -Chat while your friends are offline Read on to see the details of these new features…. Gmail On Your Mobile Phone Point your phone to gmail.com/app, download it the app, and you can access Gmail on your phone with just a click or two. Some neat features: It has the same Gmail interface you know and love Your account stays synchronized whether you access it from your computer ... Read more
- [SageTV Tip #3: All About My SageTV HTPC](https://jimstips.com/sagetv-tip-3-all-about-my-sagetv-htpc/): I decided to build a Home Theater PC (HTPC), and with SageTV at its core, it is proving to be an excellent choice. Read on to learn why I decided to build a HTPC, what componets I chose, the issues I had, and my plans for the future…. Why did I build an HTPC? I’ve been a long-time DVR user, having used several ReplayTV models and a Moxi HD DVR. Each of these "standalone" DVR’s have excellent features, are very capable, and have stood the test of time (I purchased the first ReplayTV box very shortly after its initial release.) ... Read more
- [SageTV Tip #2: Why did I choose SageTV?](https://jimstips.com/sagetv-tip-2-why-did-i-choose-sagetv/): After reviewing the major Personal Video Recorder (PVR) software offerings, I decided that SageTV was my application of choice. Its feature set and price point made it very attractive, and there were several other "features" that swayed my decision. Read on to see why I chose SageTV over the competition…. There are several excellent PVR offerings to choose from, and they all have their benefits. These range from free applications like GB-PVR and MythTV to commercial applications like BeyondTV and SageTV. These applications are all excellent, offer feature sets that are surprisingly complete (although, some are more complete than others), ... Read more
- [SageTV Tip #1: What is SageTV?](https://jimstips.com/sagetv-tip-1-what-is-sagetv/): SageTV is a Personal Video Recorder (PVR) software application that runs on a Windows or Linux PC. It provides not only excellent PVR function, but also integrates the management and playback of your Music, Photos, DVD’s, and Video files. Read on to see just what SageTV is, and what it can do for you…. But what’s a PVR? A is a program that simply captures video input from a variety of sources (typically Cable, Satellite, or OTA antennas) records them to a hard disk, and then provides a facility for you to playback the recordings either immediately (live TV) or ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #55: Excluding Chat from Search Results](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-55-excluding-chat-from-search-results/): Here's a tip inspired by a question from Ethan Lipman, an active Gmail Chat user. He wants to be able to search his Gmail messages for key words, but the Search Results often return hits from his Chat session logs. Read on to find out how to simply exclude Chat session logs from your Search Results…. The solution turns out to be really simple, but not necessarily obvious. It appears that all Gmail Chat session logs are simply standard messages Labeled with a hidden Label of "Chat". So this means that many functions you use on Labels should work. So, ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #54: New Feature! Select ALL conversations](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-54-new-feature-select-all-conversations/): {josquote}New feature!{/josquote}Deleting Spam and emptying Trash in Gmail just got a whole lot easier! Instead of being limited to deleting just a page-at-a-time, Gmail now lets you select all Spam and Trash conversations for deletion in one simple step. Read on to see some screenshots of the new features… One of the great annoyances of managing Gmail has been in dealing with Spam and Trash. When you had  more than screenful of messages, clicking "select all" would only select all messages on the current screen. Deleting numerous messages could mean navigating multiple screens just to select and delete. The Trash ... Read more
- [Google Notebook Tip #10: Printing Individual Notes](https://jimstips.com/google-notebook-tip-10-printing-individual-notes/): At this time, Google Notebook only lets you print out entire Notebooks, not selected Notes. This can become very frustrating, especially if a Notebook contains a LOT of notes, and you only want to print one of them. So until Google adds a "Print selected notes" function, I have a workaround for this that's a bit of a kludge, but it works. Read on for details… Open the Notebook that contains the note you want to print. Next, click the "Actions…" dropdown and select "Print notebook". This will open another window or tab containing a formatted page of the entire ... Read more
- [Google Notebook Tip #9: “Actions” on Selected Notes](https://jimstips.com/google-notebook-tip-9-actions-on-selected-notes/): Once you have learned to select one or more notes, you can perform several actions. Read on to see what special actions Google Notebook provides… Once you have selected one or more notes, click the "Actions…" dropdown on the right side of the Google Notes screen. There are currently two actions you can perform on selected notes: Show note details This simply displays an additional line under each note title that displays the date that the note was created, and if the note has been changed, it displays the date it was last edited. Delete selected item This will delete ... Read more
- [Google Notebook Tip #8: Selecting Notes](https://jimstips.com/google-notebook-tip-8-selecting-notes/): Using standard selection methods, you can select multiple notes to Drag & Drop and to perform other "Actions". Holding down the [Ctrl] key will let you select multiple notes. Holding down the [Shift] key will let you select a range of notes. Read on for some examples… Create Some Test Notes First off, create a notebook with several notes. They can be Web clippings, or just simple random text. The idea here is to provide a few notes to play with. If your notes are lengthy, consider "collapsing" them–this just makes them easier to work with. Selecting a single note ... Read more
- [Google Notebook Tip #7: Moving Notes Around](https://jimstips.com/google-notebook-tip-7-moving-notes-around/): OK, so you have captured a number of notes, but you really don't like how they are organized. Google provides a very simple way to move your notes around letting you organize them as you prefer. Read on for details… Google lets you Drag & Drop your notes both within and between notebooks. This gives you great flexibility to organize your notes in whatever order that best suits your needs. Moving Notes Within A Notebook To move notes within a notebook, you must first be logged into your Google Notebook Web page in a Web Browesr. At this time, this ... Read more
- [Google Notebook Tip #6: Organizing Your Notes with Section Headings](https://jimstips.com/google-notebook-tip-6-organizing-your-notes-with-section-headings/): Google Notebook provides a nice feature that lets you better organize your notes: Section Headings. These are definable, collapsible, and movable making organizing a snap. Read on for details… Open any Notebook, and then click the "Actions…" dropdown on the right of the screen. Select the "Add section heading" option. This displays a green Section Heading bar across the Notes pane with a Title field open for you to edit. Enter the name you want to give the Section Heading, and click the OK button. You can create notes within a section, or move notes into or out of a ... Read more
- [Google Notebook Tip #5: Expanding And Collapsing Notes](https://jimstips.com/google-notebook-tip-5-expanding-and-collapsing-notes/): This tip is a very simple one: If your notes are lengthy, consider "collapsing" them by clicking the small triangle next to the note's title. This toggles the note "open" (displaying the fill notes contents) and "closed" (just the title and note summary displays.) It makes for a nice, neat, organized view…and Google Notes remembers the settings! It works for Section Headings too!
- [Google Notebook Tip #4: Images: Are They Permanent?](https://jimstips.com/google-notebook-tip-4-images-are-they-permanent/): When clipping an image from a Web page, you need to understand one important concept: Google will nicely display images that you clip, but Google does not actually store the image files in your Google Notebook. It only stores an HTML link to that image on the Web. Read on to see how to manage this, and why this is important… Because Google only stores a link to the image on the Web, if the Web site moves or removes the image, it will no longer display in your Google Notebook. Google Notebook will display an outline of the image ... Read more
- [Google Notebook Tip #3: Clipping Web Pages](https://jimstips.com/google-notebook-tip-3-clipping-web-pages/): Google Notebook provides an easy and fun way to clip sections of Web page right into your Google Notebook without leaving the page you are browsing. It's the "Google Notebook Internet Explorer Extension" for Internet Explorer, and the "Google Notebook Firefox Extension" for the excellent Firefox browser. Read on to see what the extension does and how to make the most use of it… When you connect to the Google Notebook site and login, if you have not already installed the browser extension, you will be prompted to do so. Follow the instructions on the screen to download and install ... Read more
- [Google Notebook Tip #2: Creating New Notes](https://jimstips.com/google-notebook-tip-2-creating-new-notes/): Creating a new Note within a Google Notebook is very simple: Just open Google Notebook and click on the "Add note" button. A simple editor opens where you can type in your note content. You can format it using some basic editing tools. When you are finished, click the "Save" button. Simple as that! But this, of course, is not the only way to create a note! Read on for some other ways to create notes… Copy & Paste You can copy both plain and formatted text from many sources into Google Notebook. This can be as simple as text ... Read more
- [Google Notebook Tip #1: What is Google Notebook?](https://jimstips.com/google-notebook-tip-1-what-is-google-notebook/): Google Labs has released their new Google Notebook application which is a simple, online repository for storing notes, images, and "clips" of Web pages. With its optional browser extensions (for Internet Explorer and Firefox only for now) you can seamlessly add content to your Google Notebook while surfing the Web. Read on for some details on what Google Notebook is, what you can do with it, and how to get started… What is Google Notebook? Google Notebook is a Web-based application that lets you enter and manage notes. While that may sound simple, (and it is) it is a powerful ... Read more
- [Google Notebook Tips coming soon!](https://jimstips.com/google-notebook-tips-coming-soon/): Check back here in a couple days to see some new Tips for Google's new Google Notebook feature! Google Notebook is an online notebook that lets you maintain notes containing Web clips (including images and text), your own text, and links to sites! You can keep notes private, or you can publish them making them publically searchable.  {mosimage}  So go over to http://Google.com/notebook , check it out, and then come back here for some Tips! 
- [Gmail Tip #53: How Can I View Outlook Stationery In Gmail?](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-53-how-can-i-view-outlook-stationery-in-gmail/): The short answer is: "You can’t." Outlook (and several other email clients) enable you to include "stationery" or background images in your email message to "dress up" the look of your email messages. Currently, Gmail does not render these images as expected. Read on for some of my thoughts about stationery… First off, I need to step up on my soapbox for a moment… I really never understood the draw of background images or stationery in email messages. Other than allowing you to inject a bit of individuality into a message, what purpose does it really server? I personally find ... Read more
- [Joomla! Review: Jom Comment](https://jimstips.com/joomla-review-jom-comment/): I was browsing the Joomla Extensions site , and stumbled upon a very cool Component / Plugin called "Jom Comment " that adds very nice article "commenting" capabilities to Joomla, giving your site visitors the ability to read and post comments about articles. Jom Comment leverages AJAX, presenting a clean, slick Web 2.0  style commenting system. It’s very complete, but its strength is in its simplicity. {mosimage} Read on for a quick review…. To preface this review, I have to say that I have never installed or tested any other commenting Components in Joomla. I have used them on countless ... Read more
- [Gmail Tip #52: Can I “Delete all” Spam?](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tip-52-can-i-delete-all-spam/): Do you have a lot of Spam messages in your Spam view? I seem to get between 10 and 15 Spam messages per day. Some people like to keep their Spam view empty, so they constantly delete whatever is in there. But is there an easy way to "Delete All" Spam? Read on for the answer…. Simply put, there is currently no way to simply "Delete all Spam" if the number of Spam messages exceeds one screenful of messages. You can, however, delete them one screen at a time. You first need to click on the "All" link under the ... Read more

## Pages

- [GB Pattern Test](https://jimstips.com/gb-pattern-test/)
- [Query Loop Filter Test](https://jimstips.com/query-loop-filter-test/)
- [Test Posts](https://jimstips.com/test-posts/)
- [Gmail Tips - The Complete Collection 2](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tips-the-complete-collection-2/)
- [home](https://jimstips.com/): Welcome To Jim’s Tips! I’m Jim Barr, and jimstips.com is one of my little corners of the Internet, my voice for all things tech. I love riding on the bleeding edge of technology, and I love exploring new gadgets, services, Web sites, programs, and anything interesting! Here you will find all sorts of tips and information about those things that interest me. Explore Jim’s Tips! Select Category Select Sort
- [Masonic Tips (test)](https://jimstips.com/masonic-tips-test/)
- [Masonic Tips - the Complete Collection](https://jimstips.com/masonic-tips-the-complete-collection/): Masonic Tips: The Complete Collection This Complete Collection is a chronological log documenting my journey in Freemasonry from my initial curiosity, to joining, to ultimately progressing through several officer positions and presiding as Grand Master over one of the Appendant Bodies. Views and opinions about Freemasonry vary widely from positive to negative, so instead of trying to convince you one way or another, I hope that this will serve as a glimpse into my investigation, interaction, and involvement.
- [Gmail Tips - The Complete Collection](https://jimstips.com/gmail-tips-the-complete-collection/): Gmail Tips: The Complete Collection This is the complete collection of all of my Gmail Tips posted between May, 2004 and December, 2007 to the GmailTips.com site. Unfortunately, some of the images have gone missing, and many of the tips are outdated as features and functions have evolved. Please note that while this is not be an up-to-date reference, it does provide a wonderful glimpse into the history of how we used, interacted with, and adapted to Gmail.
- [contact jim](https://jimstips.com/contact-jim/): contact jim
- [about](https://jimstips.com/about/): About jim’s tips and JIm, too! Who is Jim? I’m Jim Barr, and this is one of my little corners of the Internet, my sandbox and playground for all things tech. I’m a technology geek, and I love riding on the bleeding edge of technology. I love exploring new gadgets, services, websites, programs, and anything technically interesting! I also develop and manage several small client websites, so if you are interested in discussing a small project, let me know! What is Jim’s Tips? Jim’s Tips is a collection of posts and articles that I wrote over the years to explain, ... Read more

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