Sunday, December 26, 2010

Software : Tutorial: 5 best uses for OS X smart folders

Software : Tutorial: 5 best uses for OS X smart folders


Tutorial: 5 best uses for OS X smart folders

Posted: 26 Dec 2010 04:00 AM PST

One of the things Apple has been very keen on since the original Macintosh is the idea of making technology less complicated.

By making things simpler and more streamlined, and decreasing complexity (sometimes – although not always – at the expense of very direct control), Apple has honed user experiences that have taken the industry in new directions.

Nowhere is this clearer than in file and media management. Take a terrifying trip back to the distant past (well, the early 80s), and file systems were all about making you work with command lines. Apple obliterated this with Mac OS, encouraging a pointer-driven desktop metaphor that still exists in OS X and rival operating systems.

However, with the huge number of files users juggle today, the drag-and-drop file system has become unwieldy, forcing users to spend hours filing documents, and then rifling back through nested folders to unearth them at a later date.

In the Spotlight

With OS X 10.4, Apple introduced Spotlight, its first blow against the traditional file system. The idea with Spotlight is that you use a search term to find what you want, and the list of suggested items dynamically updates as you amend your term. In many cases, this renders the file system obsolete.

And with Spotlight also came the ability to save and edit searches, based on user-defined criteria, as smart folders.

Smart folders in Finder are actually a type of virtual folder, a concept first fully championed by the innovative BeOS, but that's since been taken on wholesale by Apple. Prior to Spotlight's arrival, Apple had trialled the concept in iTunes (as smart playlists) and iPhoto (as smart albums), but it's now integrated directly into Finder, along with Mail (as smart mailboxes) and Address Book (as smart groups).

Although there are variations in the way virtual folders work in these apps, it's important to understand that they are a relatively generic concept. In the same way that you don't re-learn how to cut, copy and paste in different applications, don't think you have to start from scratch when you've mastered virtual folders in iTunes and then move to iPhoto or Mail.

There are common themes with virtual folders. You create and name the container, and then use one or more conditions and values to define what the container provides access to, regardless of where the items are stored on your Mac (or the library of an application, in the likes of iPhoto). Depending on your wishes, you can set the container to include items that match all or any defined conditions. (iTunes goes further, providing the potential for more complex logic via nested groups of conditions.)

Containers can be edited later, so you can update conditions when needed. Also remember that virtual folders really are virtual – if you delete a smart folder in Finder or a smart album in iPhoto, the items that were in it are unaffected.

How to effectively use virtual folders

1. Smart playlists in iTunes

iTunes

iTunes offers the most powerful implementation of virtual folders in Mac OS X, enabling you to nest groups of rules. Create a smart playlist via File > New Smart Playlist (or Option+Command+N).

In the Smart Playlist window, select a criterion from the left-most menu and add values using the second menu and the field. Use the + button to add extra rules. Rules can be deleted using the – button, although there's no undo. Create nested rule sets using the … button. Use all or any match menu item(s) to determine whether results depend on all or any conditions being met.

For example, set Artist is [The Beatles] and Date Added is in the last [12] months; all then returns Beatles tracks added in the past year, but any returns all Beatles tracks and all tracks by other artists added over the past 12 months.

Good uses for smart playlists include returning dynamic lists of highly rated tracks, those you've not heard recently, those you've recently added, or a combination of these things. To edit an existing smart playlist, select it in the iTunes sidebar and go to File > Edit Smart Playlist.

2. Smart groups in Address Book

In Address Book, File > New Smart Group (or Option+Command+N) starts the process. Conditions are based on fields within a card, including notes; if you're a member of a football team, you could add [football team] to the Notes section of relevant contacts, and then create a smart group with the condition Note contains [football team].

If you check Highlight group when updated, groups are highlighted in the Address Book sidebar when changes occur. To edit a selected smart group, go to Edit > Edit Smart Group. Since Address Book integrates with other OS X applications, you can type a smart group name into iCal or Mail, and the application will automatically replace it with the members of the group.

3. Smart albums in iPhoto

iPhoto

File > New Smart Album (or Option+Command+N) creates a smart album, and conditions are defined in a sheet. With iPhoto, conditions can be based around tags applied to photos (manually or automatically), including description, date, face, keyword and rating. There are also hardware based options.

You can set up date-based smart albums (Date is in the last [1] months), an album of iPhone pictures (Camera model is [Apple iPhone 4]), or a smart album of your imported iOS device videos (Keyword contains [movie]). To edit a selected smart album, go to File > Edit Smart Album.

4. Smart mailboxes in Mail

Mail

If you get lots of email, Mail's smart mailboxes are invaluable. Mailbox > New Smart Mailbox gets things started, and conditions similar to iPhoto. Checkboxes towards the bottom of the sheet enable you to toggle the inclusion of messages from Trash and Sent. Mailbox > Edit Smart Mailbox enables you to edit a smart mailbox.

Good ideas for smart mailboxes include: creating a repository for unread mail (Message is Unread and Message is not in Mailbox Junk); date-based collections (such as Date Received is in the last [7] Days); and overlooked emails (Message is in Mailbox Inbox and Date Received is not in the last [7] Days).

5. Smart folders in Finder

Finder

Creating virtual folders in Finder differs from other applications. After going to File > New Smart Folder (or Option+Command+N), a new Finder window opens. You then define conditions in the window.

To add keywords, type them in the search field. By default, few criteria are available, but you can access more via the Other… option in the search attribute menu; you can also check In Menu checkboxes in the selection sheet so your favourite attributes will show up in future. Click Save to save your smart folder.

By default, they live in ~/Library/Saved Searches and the Add To Sidebar option adds them to Finder sidebars for easy access. To edit a smart folder, open it in Finder and select Show Search Criteria from the Action menu (the one with the cog icon).

In Depth: 60 best free PC software downloads from Microsoft

Posted: 26 Dec 2010 02:00 AM PST

Chances are, you know that alongside Windows and Office, Microsoft makes a number of apps that are free for all. But the actual number might just surprise you.

When we started counting up all the best free Microsoft apps, we thought we'd find 20 or 30. In the end, by the time we'd reached 60, we realised we'd have to stop, just to fit them all in. And because this is Microsoft, these apps aren't just OK, they're good. Great, even.

There's a free program or service for just about every aspect of PC use, from headline-grabbers such as Windows Live Essentials and Microsoft Office Web Apps to smaller but no less useful tools such as Microsoft Autoruns, Security Essentials and Desktops.

It's not just about work, either; Microsoft is responsible for lots of apps that are enjoyable and fun to use. See through the eyes of the world's telescopes, play a game or two or – better still – create your own with Kodu Game Lab. The list just keeps on growing.

Some of the programs here are unfinished, and clearly marked as such. That means there's a chance you may run into problems using them – nothing major, but take a System Restore point before you proceed, just in case.

We also recommend you don't attempt to install every program in this list in one go; you'll quickly bring your computer to its knees. Instead, pick out tools that excite you and give them a go.

With the Windows Live apps, you can choose the ones you want when you download the Windows Live Installer program. So, what are you waiting for? You're about to make your PC more efficient, secure and fun without spending a thing.

Microsoft Office Web Apps
www.office.live.com

This must be one of the company's biggest giveaways; you can now have access to the core features of Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for free through your web browser.

Just log on with your Windows Live ID to create new documents or upload existing ones from your computer to your Windows Live SkyDrive account, then edit them in your browser window. Even if you already own a copy of Microsoft Office, this useful freebie enables you to access your documents from any webconnected computer.

Windows Live Mail
explore.live.com/windows-live-mail

It's simply the best free email tool there is – essential for Windows 7 users, and a step up from both Microsoft Outlook Express and Windows Mail, too. Reasons to upgrade? It works brilliantly with multiple email accounts, gives you offline access to web-based providers such as Hotmail and Gmail and organises your mail intelligently into conversations.

Live mail

It also integrates cleverly with a built-in calendar, enabling you to organise your life, too. Windows 7 and Windows Vista users can also enjoy the new photo email option, which enables you to share dozens of pictures without clogging up other people's inboxes.

Windows Live Hotmail
www.mail.live.com

The beauty of a web-based email account such as Windows Live Hotmail is that it enables you to access your messages from wherever you happen to be. If you log on through your browser, you can also reap the benefits of lots of other useful features, such as a junk mail filter and access to your other accounts, calendar and contacts list.

Outlook Connector Pack
explore.live.com/outlook-hotmail-connector-pack

If you want to get access to Hotmail in Microsoft Outlook 2003 or later, install this add-on, which comes with Windows Live Essentials 2011. Once it's set up, just create a new account in Outlook, choosing the option to manually configure when prompted to access the Microsoft Outlook Hotmail Connector option.

Free Microsoft Office Templates
www.office.microsoft.com/en-gb/templates

Need some inspiration for, or a helping hand with, your next Office document? Just visit the Templates section of the Office website (see the link above), where you'll find a mind-boggling number of useful options.

They're divided up into dozens of categories, which cover all of the major Office applications, and can be accessed through each of the individual Office programs when you create a new document.

Microsoft Producer For PowerPoint
www.office.microsoft.com/en-gb/downloads/redir/DC001075497.aspx

This free-to-use add-on for PowerPoint makes it incredibly simple to create web-based presentations from existing PowerPoint slides. You can also use it in association with other media sources, such as video, audio and images.

You'll need to use the Microsoft Office Animation Runtime plug-in unless you're running Office 2007 – a handy download link is provided on the Microsoft Producer download page.

pptPlex
www.officelabs.com/projects/pptPlex/Pages/default.aspx

This tool enables you to zoom into and out of your PowerPoint slides, as well as jump between non-sequential ones. Once it's installed, launch PowerPoint and view the video tutorial to find out how to use it.

Forgotten Attachment Detector
www.officelabs.com/projects/forgottenattachmentdetector

Do you often forget to attach files to important emails? Stop embarrassment by installing this add-on for Outlook 2007 and 2010. It flashes up a warning if it thinks you've forgotten to include attachments with your message.

Free images and clip-art
www.office.microsoft.com/en-gb/images

images

Need to jazz up an Office document with some relevant imagery? Thousands upon thousands of free photos, clip art and other illustrations are available at the Office website – download individual pictures through the site or use the Microsoft Clip Organizer tool (part of Office).

Noreplyall Outlook Add-in
www.research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/researchdesktop/noreplyall.aspx

This tiny extension adds two buttons to the Ribbon in Outlook 2007 and 2010, enabling you to prevent people in the same organisation from forwarding or clicking Reply to all when they get the email you're about to send out.

Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack
www.support.microsoft.com/kb/923505

This tool enables users of Office 2000, XP and 2003 to open, edit and save documents in the new 2007 formats in Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Install it and the functionality is immediately available in Office's File Open and Save As dialogue boxes.

Ribbon Hero
www.officelabs.com/ribbonhero

The Ribbon interface was a great step forward for Office 2007 and 2010, but if you want to get the most of it, install Ribbon Hero.

It monitors what you do in Office and makes suggestions as to which features you should learn about that could help you do your work more efficiently. It also helps you learn about the Ribbon interface using games and tasks that can be played with your friends and colleagues.

Canvas for OneNote 2007/2010
www.officelabs.com/canvasforonenote

Struggling to stay on top of your notes? This standalone app enables you to view, edit and organise your notes as though you'd laid them all out in front of you on a desk for easy access. Click a section to zoom in on it. You can then view and edit individual notes quickly and easily in the usual way.

Microsoft Office Viewers
Website

Don't have access to a copy of Office on another computer? You can now install special Viewers for Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Visio or PowerPoint documents, enabling you to open, look at and print your work without having to download Office.

Microsoft SharedView
www.connect.microsoft.com/site94

This online meeting tool can be used for both professional and personal collaborations. Just log on using your Windows Live ID and start a session – it works like Windows Meeting Space in Windows 7, except that the program functions with Windows Vista and Windows XP, too. It also enables you to share individual applications, or even your entire desktop, and distribute important files as handouts.

TrueSpace 7.61
www.caligari.com

Imagine this: an incredibly powerful 3D modelling application that's yours for free! TrueSpace enables you to create 3D models, landscapes and photo-realistic objects for all kinds of purposes via a point-and-click interface – you can even use it to design your dream home. Head to the Caligari website for a helpful series of comprehensive tutorials that will familiarise you with this powerful tool.

IEToys
www.bayden.com/ietoys

Add extra features to Internet Explorer with this free collection of add-ons, most of which are accessible simply by right-clicking the page or selected text. Hide distracting images from a web page, look up words in an online dictionary, encyclopedia or search engine, and fix malformed web links. IEToys also automatically optimises Internet Explorer to take advantage of fast broadband connections when downloading files.

Desktops
technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/cc817881.aspx

Desktops

Too many open windows? Desktops enables you to organise programs and windows in up to four virtual desktops – switch via the Notification tray icon or by assigning hotkeys; perfect for comparing several open windows without having to resort to the taskbar.

PageDefrag
technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb897426.aspx

This tool enables Windows XP users to examine and – if necessary – defragment key system files when the PC is next restarted, giving their computer a performance boost.

Internet Explorer
www.microsoft.com/ie

Are you running the latest version of Internet Explorer on your PC? Windows 7 comes with version 8 already installed, but Windows XP and Windows Vista users should update to the latest model for better performance. You can also try the upcoming Internet Explorer 9, which promises speedy browsing among other advanced features.

Microsoft Fix It Center
fixitcenter.support.microsoft.com/Portal

Microsoft offers a collection of quick-fix tools to accompany many Microsoft Knowledge Base articles, and the Fix It Center troubleshooters bring them all under one roof, giving you quick and easy access to a wide range of solutions.

The program is currently in beta, and only available for Windows XP and Windows Vista. Windows 7 users are directed to the Microsoft Fix It Solution Center, where the tools are available as standalone downloads.

Malicious Software Removal Tool
www.microsoft.com/security/malwareremove

This is designed to detect and remove a wide range of known infections from your computer. It can't protect you against viruses in the first place – that's a job for your security software – but if something gets on to your system, it may be able to help with removing it. The program is updated once a month through Windows Update, when it scans your computer for possible infections; to run it manually, download it from the link above.

Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer
technet.microsoft.com/en-us/security/cc184924.aspx

Give your computer, as well as any other networked PCs you use, a once-over for security problems with this free tool. It works by verifying that your system is fully patched with the latest Windows updates, and examines it for specific areas of weakness. For example, it can flag up whether or not adequate protective software has been installed.

RichCopy
technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/2009.04.utilityspotlight.aspx

RichCopy is designed to speed up large file transfers over the network, mainly by copying multiple files at once to make maximum use of your network's bandwidth. It's aimed largely at power users – click Settings to see a bewildering array of options – but it can also be used simply by choosing your source and destination directories (click Connect to select your network destination), then clicking the Copy button to let it perform its magic.

Windows Search 4.0
www.support.microsoft.com/kb/940157

Windows XP users jealous of how quickly searches are performed in Windows 7 and Windows Vista can benefit from the same super-fast technology with Windows Search 4.0. Once installed, allow time for your drive's contents to be indexed and then use the Search box on the taskbar to gain quick and easy access to all your precious files, wherever they're hiding.

AutoRuns
technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/sysinternals/bb963902.aspx

Start-up programs hit Windows performance twice over – firstly by extending the time it takes to start Windows, and then by hogging valuable system resources, giving your computer less to work with. Autoruns enables you to see what's starting with Windows, identify unknown items and disable or delete anything nonessential to make your computer faster. Windows 7 and Windows Vista users should run the program as an Administrator in order to make changes.

ClearType Tuner Power Toy
www.microsoft.com/typography/cleartypepowertoy.mspx

This enables you to calibrate your display to make your text sharper, clearer and more legible, which can only help those tired eyes. It's built into Windows 7, while Windows XP users can download a Control Panel applet from the Microsoft Typography website; Windows Vista users should use the online tool to calibrate their displays.

Windows Live Messenger
explore.live.com/windows-live-messenger

Microsoft's instant messaging tool has come of age – the 2011 version is designed to be the social hub of your online life, giving you access to social networking sites and your Windows Live account. Behind all of this is the same great chat tool, perfect for staying in touch via text, voice and video.

Windows Live Writer
explore.live.com/windows-live-writer

One of the drawbacks of blogging is that it usually has to be done through your browser while you're online. Windows Live Writer changes that – you can access your page through a more civilised interface, composing posts offline and publishing them when you're good and ready.

Windows Live Movie Maker
explore.live.com/windows-live-movie-maker

You'll be surprised at how easy transforming a collection of video clips and photos into a movie can be. Windows Live Movie Maker ensures it's a breeze without compromising on quality – with just a few clicks, your movie can be burned to DVD or distributed over the internet via YouTube. And with HD support, you can really make the most of your camera's capabilities.

Yule Log Visualisation
Website

Warm your cockles – virtually speaking – with this visualisation of a roaring fire, designed for Windows Media Player. Access it by switching to the Now Playing mode, then right-click to the left of the playback controls and select Visualizations ➜ Yule Log ➜ Yule Log. Perfect for Christmas time.

Kodu Game
fuse.microsoft.com/project/kodu.aspx

Kodu game

Why get frustrated playing other people's games when you can design your own from scratch? Kodu Game Lab employs a simple point-and-click interface – it's aimed at children, but adults will appreciate the efforts made to make programming more enjoyable. We recommend checking out the video tutorial before you begin.

Windows Media Player 11
www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player

If you're still running Windows XP, upgrading to version 11 of Media Player is a must. The interface is slicker and friendlier, burning CDs is less troublesome and a new Sync tab ensures that sharing music with your portable device is easy.

Windows Live Photo Gallery
explore.live.com/windows-live-photo-gallery

Import, organise and edit your photo collection without hassle using this powerful cataloguing tool. Windows Live Photo Gallery also boasts some nifty ways of sharing your photos, with tools for creating panoramas, slideshows and even movies. Once complete, you can upload your pictures to various online services, or send them in a photo email.

Microsoft Image Composite Editor
www.research.microsoft.com/en-us/um/redmond/groups/ivm/ICE

Microsoft ice

Stitch together several overlapping photos to create a widescreen panorama. It can be saved as a single file or shared through the PhotoSynth website (see opposite).

Microsoft Silverlight
www.microsoft.com/getsilverlight

Many interactive websites and several applications require the free Microsoft Silverlight plug-in to be installed before you can enjoy their content. Get it from the web address above or install it as part of Windows Live Essentials.

Microsoft Zune Player
www.zune.net

This online music and video store has expanded to include unlimited music streaming as well as sales of songs and movies. All of this is accessible through the sleek Zune Player, which is worth looking at as an alternative to Media Player, even if you don't plan on using the service.

Games For Windows - Live
www.microsoft.com/games/en-gb/Live/Pages/livelaunch.aspx

This program puts you in touch with millions of other gamers, offering in-game chat and messaging to boost the atmosphere and add an extra edge to your experience. After you've signed in you'll be able to download a game, Tinker, for free.

Bing Maps 3D
www.bing.com/maps

View the web in 3D to make it easier to find and locate the information you're after. You can navigate with your mouse and keyboard to pan, tilt and move around the landscape, and even create your own 3D objects.

Worldwide Telescope
www.worldwidetelescope.org

Enjoy the best imagery from the world's ground- and space-based telescopes, including Hubble. Look out for the Guided Tours tab – a great place to get started.

Microsoft Photosynth
www.photosynth.net

Photosynth goes one step further than Microsoft ICE, enabling you to create a 360° panorama from photos quickly and easily. You'll need to sign up for free access with your Windows Live ID, and your finished results are uploaded to the same site, either for public consumption or private sharing.

Server Quest II
www.microsoft.com/click/serverquest

Indulge in some retro gaming with these re-imaginings of classic games, such as King's Quest. The graphics are old-school, but it's a great way to spend a quiet afternoon.

Microsoft Photo Story 3
Website

It may only create a photo slideshow, but Photo Story 3 does it exceptionally well. Import your photos, then follow the wizard to create your sequence, adding captions, transition effects, minor corrections and a soundtrack. The finished collection can be shared online or burned to DVD using Windows DVD Maker.

Team Crossword
www.teamcrossword.com

This game is designed to enable you and a group of friends to tackle puzzles on a daily basis, with the aim of posting the fastest time for completion. It works through your Facebook account, making it easy to share with other people.

Bing Twitter Maps
fuse.microsoft.com/project/Bing-Twitter-Maps.aspx

Another Silverlight plug-in, this enables you to view tweets geographically, letting you see who's posting nearby.

Christmas Trivia Pack For Windows Media Center
Website

This zip file holds pictures with Christmas trivia and quiz questions – just copy them into a suitable folder inside My Pictures and direct Windows Media Center to the file via Pictures and Videos. Click Play Slideshow to make them run in the background on your TV. You can also create your own trivia and slides in your image editor.

Microsoft Expression Encoder 4
Website

Expression encoder

Although this tool is targeted at web developers, Expression Encoder 4 has a powerful feature set for video enthusiasts, too. Import clips, edit, de-interlace, crop and add overlay effects, then output the finished result to a WMV file, perfect for sharing over the internet. There's even a handy screen-capture tool built-in, too. You need to install .NET Framework 4.0 to run this program.

Virtual PC 2007
www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/support/virtual-pc-2007.aspx

While Windows 7 Professional users get Windows XP Mode built-in to resolve compatibility issues, those with Windows XP and Windows Vista can get similar functionality with the Microsoft Virtual PC 2007 program.

You need to provide your own legitimate copy of Windows to use it, but once it's set up you'll have access to all your old software again. Note that the add-on throws up a warning about not supporting Home editions of Windows, but it should still work.

Insomnia
Website

This tiny free tool does one thing, and one thing only: when you open the program, it prevents Windows from going to sleep. If you're about to download a large file or burn a DVD and you don't trust your computer to stay awake during the process, this is really handy. Just launch Insomnia and the problem is automatically solved.

Windows Live Skydrive
skydrive.live.com

How would you like a generous 25GB of free, online, password-protected storage space? Well, that's exactly what Windows Live SkyDrive offers – all the extra room you could possibly need to share your favourite photos, important documents and more.

It's designed to integrate with other Windows Live services, too – 5GB of it can be synchronised with other computers via Windows Live Mesh, for example, while Office Web Apps also uses it to store your online folders.

Windows Live Family Safety
www.essentials.live.com

Worried about what your children might be getting up to when they spend time online? This free tool enables you to monitor what they're looking at. If necessary, you can restrict access to the web, programs (including games) and even the computer itself, ensuring that they don't push their boundaries too far.

Settings are stored in your Windows Live ID, enabling you to configure the program on multiple PCs in the home. Plus, the latest 2011 version links in with Windows user accounts, making it even easier to run.

Windows Live Mesh
explore.live.com/windows-live-mesh

If you often work between two or more computers, you'll know how difficult it can be to ensure that the latest versions of your documents are available no matter which machine you're sitting at. Windows Live Mesh doesn't just enable you to synchronise selected folders between PCs and Macs – it keeps your Internet Explorer and Office settings aligned, too.

What's more, you don't even need your computers to be switched on and connected at the same time for the program to work – Live Mesh comes complete with 5GB of online storage, which can be used as an additional form of backup. What's not to like?

JouleMeter
www.research.microsoft.com/en-us/projects/joulemeter

JouleMeter

Get a decent estimate of your Windows 7 PC's power consumption by installing and running this tool – you can immediately gauge how much electricity your desktop or laptop is using by accessing the taskbar application. Alternatively, run the calibration tool to enable Joulemeter to test your set-up and produce a more accurate assessment.

SyncToy 2.1
Website

This handy tool enables you to keep the contents of two folders – one of which can be a shared file over your network – synchronised. Multiple folder pairs can be created, and you can preview any changes to be made before agreeing to them.

Windows Easy Transfer
Website

You've just bought a new computer with an upgraded version of Windows and are wondering how you'll be able to transfer your key files and settings to it from your current PC. As long as you're running Windows Vista or Windows XP, just download Easy Transfer and let it do all the hard work for you.

Windows NT Backup Restore Utility For Windows 7
www.support.microsoft.com/kb/974674

This storage tool, supplied with Windows XP, isn't compatible with later versions of Windows. If you backed up using the program and need access to your data in Windows 7, download this courtesy of Microsoft. After installation you'll find it under Start ➜ All Programs ➜ Accessories ➜ System Tools.

ScreenRecorder
Website

This screen-recording program is simple to use: launch the program, select whether to capture the whole screen or a specific open window or program, and start recording. To stop, click the big red button before saving the file in an efficient, compressed format.

Windows Memory Diagnostic
oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

Strange behaviour – such as random crashes – could point to problems with, or even failure of, hardware. Find out if your PC's memory is the culprit with the help of this free testing tool. It's included on the Windows 7 and Windows Vista installation discs, but can also be downloaded from the link above and burned to a floppy disk or CD.

You'll need ISO Recorder if you're running Windows Vista or Windows XP. Memory Diagnostic will then test your RAM and let you know if it needs checking or replacing.

Tutorial: 14 Thunderbird tips to help you take control of your inbox

Posted: 26 Dec 2010 12:00 AM PST

Can't manage your inbox? Want to deal with attachments more efficiently?

Revive your email account with these quick Thunderbird tips.

1. Filter messages into folders

An inbox with only one main folder is a definite recipe for disaster. Not only will you receive spam mixed up with messages from trusted contacts, you'll end up with too much mail to deal with all at once. To get round this, create new folders (usually via File > New Folder) and then set up rules or filters for each one.

2. Back up and restore your mail and contacts

Hard drive crashes are always possible, but your email can be saved in a flash. In Thunderbird, just copy your profile (C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\Defaults\Profile) to another drive to back up your emails. To restore backups, copy each folder you archived to the original location.

3. Work faster with mail templates

To create a new template and use it as the basis for future emails, make a new message, add your text and formatting and select File > Save As > Template. To use this example as the basis for a new mail message, select the Templates folder and then double-click the one you just saved.

4. Tag your messages

Alongside filters, tags are the best route to a tidy inbox. In Thunderbird, the default ones are 1) Important (red), 2) Work (orange), 3) Personal (green), 4) To Do (blue) and 5) Later (purple), but you can add your own. Highlight a message and press a number from 1 to 5. Filter rules can also be used to apply tags.

5. Compact messages

To compact all folders in Thunderbird manually, click the account on the left and then select File > Compact Folders. If your mailbox is too large then try working with one folder at a time by right-clicking on one and choosing "Compact this folder ".

6. Make attachments as small as possible

The Auto Zip Attachments extension enables you to compress attachments automatically prior to sending, manually compress with the Auto Zip button, add a comment and password-protect zips.

7. Encrypt emails

Using a personal email certificate such as the free Thawte option, you can digitally sign your emails so that recipients can see they're really from you. You can also encrypt your messages so that only the intended recipients can view them, offering you real security.

8. Use IMAP rather than POP3

Most email clients support IMAP and POP to access messages from the server. If you're using a popular webmail client or a personal domain, you should be able to use IMAP, which is good for multiple machine use because it automatically synchronises. Handily, it can also be organised server-side.

9. Plan ahead

Lightning is Thunderbird's personal organiser, and can be bolted on to the mail client to act as a handy calendar. It even has event filters.

10. Display birthdays

This add-on displays birthdays from the address book as events in Lightning. Now you'll never forget a friend 's special day again.

11. Copy Gmail

To make Thunderbird more like Gmail, turn on the threaded view. Go to Tools > Options > Advanced > General and click Config Editor. Now search for the preference "mailnews.thread_pane_ column _unthreads". Double-click to change the value to "false".

12. Add Gmail power

Another Gmail-esque extension is GMailUI. The Expression search type enables you to enter multiple Gmail-like operators into the field, such as " from:amazon subject:order".

13. Navigate quickly

Install the Nostalgy extension to copy or save a message. You can also use it to switch to any email folder quickly with the [C], [S] and [G] keys.

14. Transfer mail

The Mail Redirect add-on is ideal for exporting Thunderbird messages to another address without having to forward them. It preserves all the message headers and bounces them to a new destination.

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