Have you ever taken a digital picture and wish that you could alter it without having to buy expensive software or spend a large amount of time learning how to use the program?  If you purchased a computer in the past 5 years, you are probably using Windows Vista or Windows 7 which would give you access to a program suite called Windows Live Essentials.  Some computers have this suite already loaded on to the computer (click the start button on the bottom right of your screen and type the word “live” in to see if it is on your system), but if your system does not have it, it is easy to obtain and best of all, it’s free!  The program within the Live suite to focus on is Windows Live Photo Gallery.  

Once Windows Live Photo Gallery is running, you can choose any picture from your entire library of photos to edit.  Once your picture is chosen, you are presented with many editing options at the top of the screen.  These options may look slightly overwhelming, but be confident and know that this is a very easy program to use, and in the event a mistake is made, with the click of one button, you can go back to the way the picture originally was and erase your mistake.  You will find one of the most frequently used photo editing tools, the Crop tool, which allows you to delete a portion of the photo, located on the top toolbar with many other editing options.  Users will also have the ability to remove red eye, straighten a slanted picture, change the color of a picture to several different color options plus many other options to choose from.  If you don’t feel comfortable making these individual changes, there is also an Auto Adjust option that will allow the computer to take control and make the changes to straighten the picture and adjust the color and exposure.  At any point, if you do not like a change you or the computer has made to the picture, you can easily choose “revert to original” from the top toolbar and it will erase all changes and present you with the original picture. 

With some trial and error combined with the options described above, you can edit and customize your life’s memories with ease.

To download the Windows Live Software Suite, visit www.Parts2PCs.com/TTlinks for a link that will direct you to the free software.

We’ve all seen the cell phone commercials and print ads from service providers such as AT&T and Verizon Wireless that promote the greatest and latest phones and what some of their features are.  In almost all of the ads, these cell phone carriers mention their 3G or 4G networks, but what do they mean?

To begin, the “G” stands for generation with the higher number being the newest generation.  Chances are, you have owned a 1G or 2G phone in the past, they just weren’t referred to in that manner yet.  The first generation or 1G phones were the first cell phones that existed that worked on an analog network.  Second generation or 2G phones are phones that were digital and worked on the newer digital cellular networks that began to appear in the early 2000’s.  Many people still own and currently use 2G phones. 

In the past few years, as the evolution of true internet access evolved on cell phones, carriers began to promote a network called 3G that touted better sound quality for phone calls and more importantly, faster internet or data speeds for web browsing, checking email, streaming music & video and downloading apps.  Many phones that have been purchased in the last two years are 3G enabled phones that can take advantage of these features.  Like any technology product, the cellular technology does not remain the same for long and the newest network, 4G, is now upon us.  4G networks claim even faster data speeds for everything that can be done on the most cutting edge phones, as well as better call quality.  However, the improved call quality will not address issues with the nagging issue of dropped or disconnected cell phone calls. 

There are not many drawbacks to the 4G service, however one complaint is the decreased battery life of phones.  It is well known that with these faster networks and phones comes a higher demand for battery usage and cell phone producers have not been able to keep up with the demand for better battery performance.  It was not accurately addressed with 3G phones, however there is still time to correct it for 4G phones.  Another issue is that the 4G service will not be available in all areas for all carriers.  Areas that are near large cities generally have the best chance of getting the new service.  A final thought to consider when upgrading from a 3G to a 4G device; if you are staying with the same cell phone provider, you will see the increased data speeds and call quality, but if you are changing carriers, for example from AT&T to Verizon, then you may see no difference as 4G speeds for one company may be different than 4G speeds for another company.   It all depends on how fast each carrier allows there network to be. 

Within the last few years, many of us have added an additional way to communicate with each other and businesses called social media.  Whether we use some of the well-known networks such as Facebook and Twitter, or some lesser known sites, we are interacting more than ever over our electronic devices.  With one click, we can now see what our friends have said throughout day, where they have been, who they are friends with, events they have attended and view pictures of all of it. 

As convenient as communicating has become, one major aspect that is an ongoing concern is the lack of manners while using social media.  My customers often bring up Facebook in my store during conversations, and one of the complaints I hear repeatedly is that people do not know how to properly act when they are typing on a keyboard, and I can relate to these observations.  I have seen many instances when using social media where adults in their 40’s and 50’s (and sometimes older) regress to an age when they may have not “known any better” and it may have been cool to make fun of or exclude certain people from the in crowd.  Unfortunately, these instances are much more common than people may realize, and hopefully we can reduce the frequency of this negative aspect with a few social media tips:

Include an introduction: In the same manner as if you were with a group of people you may not know, when sending a friend invitation, state who you are and how you may know of the person you are trying to connect with.  While you may not be accessing that person’s home, you are asking to have access to much of their private information.

Have a mental speed bump (and use it): You don’t have to type the first thing that comes to your mind, every time.  As most of us think before we speak, we need to also think before we type.  Whether the words are verbal or written, they can have the same negative impact if they are false or hurtful.  Always think about whether you would say what you are about to type to the person if you were face to face with them. 

Treat people with the same respect you would like to receive: If you use social networks to criticize or put people down, then you are representing yourself in a negative manner, and can expect the same in return.  If you are a positive online presence, people will want to connect with you and have an interest in what you communicate.

Have fun: Most of us get together with friends in person to have fun and enjoy the experience.  The same goes for the virtual world.  We all have plenty of stress in our lives, so many people view the social network experience as an escape, even if just for a few minutes.  So enjoy the time conversing online with friends and just have fun with it!

Hopefully, by using some of the above tips, social networking can get back to the friendly place it was meant to be.

Tech Talk Reader Question:

Regarding October’s column about the current iPhone, Mary E. from Wakefield asks: “I have an iPhone 3G, can I upgrade to the new iPhone software?”

Mary, unfortunately the iPhone 3G cannot handle the new iPhone software, known as iOS 5.  According to Apple, the iPhones that can handle the new software are the 3GS, the 4, and the 4S.  The iPhone 3G would need to operate on the newest version of iOS 4. 

Many people never consider backing up their data until it is too late.  Most of us store our irreplaceable digital pictures, documents, music and other data on our computer’s hard drive every day with the assumption that they are safe and will always be there.  But what happens if the hard drive fails, or even worse, if there is a home disaster such as a fire or flood?

Hard drives that store our precious data are one of the few moving parts inside a computer.  They spin on average at the high rate of 7,200 rotations per minute and have a needle similar to a record player that reads the data from the spinning platter.  Over time, the platter, just like a record, can wear out from use, and that is when the drive begins to fail.  When this happens, the computer will no longer perform as it should, and you will find that you are unable to access some of your files.  Most people that have lost their data have learned the lesson of backing up, but if you are not one of those people, please take the easy steps listed in this article to safeguard your files from accidental loss. 

The most cost effective way to back up your data is to use blank CDs or DVDs in combination with your CD/DVD drive.  There is software within Windows that allows you select the files you need saved and then burn them to a CD/DVD within a few minutes.  The cost of each disc is minimal but if you backup often, you will eventually accumulate a large pile.  Another option and probably the most common way is to purchase a USB flash drive or an external hard drive.  For the price, you will get a larger amount of storage with an external hard drive versus a flash drive, but either device is adequate and the process is the backup process is the same.  Both devices connect by USB and will be assigned a drive letter by Windows.  The files you need to save can easily be dragged into the assigned drive letter for storage on either device.  This method allows you add or delete files more easily than the CD/DVD process.  For those of you concerned about fire, theft or natural disasters damaging your backup using devices listed above, there are options such as Carbonite that store your data off of your property on their servers.  Carbonite is a software program that monitors the files on your computer and automatically saves them onto their equipment using your internet connection.  This is the simplest, set it and forget it type of backup method, however, this service is subscription based and has a $5 per month charge.

No matter which backup method works best for you, the important thing is that you have a duplicate copy of your files in case of a computer malfunction. 

Visit www.Parts2PCs.com/TTlinks for more details about data backup options.

Are you shopping for or hoping Santa brings you that new TV you have been wishing for this holiday season?  Have you tried to research what may be the best TV for your viewing experience and found terms like LED, LCD and Plasma and don’t quite know what to make of all the different available TV technologies?  Hopefully, after reading this column, you will have a better understanding of them and be able to make a better decision if purchasing one. 

All three technologies are High Definition, so that is one thing you will not have to worry about.  The big difference between the three choices is how the TV screens are illuminated.  In plasma TVs, there are phosphors or fluorescent materials that make up the image and brightness of the screen.  In LCD, or Liquid Crystal Display sets, there is a fluorescent light behind the screen that lights up the image.  In LED, or Light Emitting Diode sets, there are little lights, usually in the back or along the edge of the TV that illuminate the picture.

LED TV (also known as LED-LCD) sets are based on LCD technology, but it is an updated or more efficient version of it.  Because LEDs are physically smaller than the light sources that LCDs use, the LED TVs are much slimmer and lighter than the other two sets.  LED sets also require the least amount of power when they are being used. 

There are many pros and cons to each type, below are just a few:

Plasma; Pros: price, wider viewing angle (you can be off to the side and still see a clear picture), dark colors do not looked washed out, good handling of fast paced motion like sports or video games

Cons: weight and bulkiness of the set, poor power consumption

LCD; Pros: price, light weight, good power consumption

Cons: colors, especially black, can look washed out, sets with a lower hertz rating may show blur during fast paced programming, poor viewing angle

LED; Pros: very thin and light weight, good color reproduction including black, energy efficient, good motion handling

Cons: high price

Out of the three technologies, LED is the best and seems to be the way the industry is heading.  Plasma and LCD TVs are still good, but if you can afford it, LED is the way to go, and the higher price may balance out over time with your savings from the lower power consumption.

Some additional TV purchasing tips:  If considering a TV larger than 32”, look for 1080p instead of 720p.  1080p is currently the highest resolution of high definition and will provided the clearest picture for larger TVs.  720p is satisfactory for sets 32” and below as the naked eye can usually not tell the difference between the lower higher resolutions on the smaller screens. 

Hertz or Hz is important for LED and LCD TVs.  The higher this number is, the better it can handle fast motion programming such as sports or video games.  If you watch sports, action movies or use it for video gaming, you will probably want to find a set that is no lower than 120Hz. Many lower priced sets are rated at 60Hz and these are suitable for the casual TV viewer.

Visit www.Parts2PCs.com/TTlinks for more details about TVs. 

Do you have or plan on purchasing an Amazon Kindle e-Reader, or maybe another electronic device such as an iPhone or iPad that has a free Kindle app?  Kindle eBooks cost about $9.99 on average and are identical to the paper form of the book, except they are digitized for use on a Kindle e-Reader. 

The Beebe Library, in conjunction with Overdrive, the company that provides eBooks to library members, have recently announced that Kindle eBooks will be available to borrow, free of charge.  All that is required is a Beebe Library membership, combined with your Overdrive membership as well as your Amazon.com membership, which are all free. 

The steps to check out a Kindle eBook are fairly easy.  The process involves using the virtual branch of the Beebe Library through Overdrive, searching for the book you would like to check out, and looking for the Kindle availability logo.  To complete the process you will need to sign in to your Amazon account.  If your Kindle is connected to a wireless internet connection, the book will transfer automatically to your e-Reader device within seconds.  If you have an internet connection that is not wireless, please visit the link below for information on how to transfer the book to your Kindle using the USB connection.  As of this writing, there are nearly 2,400 Kindle eBooks available to borrow, and that number will continue to increase. 

If you don’t have an e-Reader but are interested in digital books, Overdrive has many books available in digital form that can be read on your computer screen, as well as audiobooks that can be listened to through your computer or portable audio devices such as MP3 players for no cost.

Visit www.Parts2PCs.com/TTlinks for more details about Kindle eBooks and Overdrive.

Two questions that I have received numerous times over the past two weeks have been, “What do you think of the new iPhone?” and “If I have a previous model, do you think it’s worth buying the new one?” 

By now, most of you reading this probably know that the newest iPhone, the 4S, was released on October 14^th.  Looking at the 4S in comparison to the previous iPhone 4, there are very little physical differences, making them almost indistinguishable.  However, the most major differences are “under the hood”.  The new iPhone features a dual core processor, or engine, that makes it perform two to seven times faster when displaying video or handling apps, which means under normal use you will see a significant speed increase.  Another major change pertains to the camera included in this phone.  The 4S has an 8 Megapixel camera that also records video in 1080p, which is currently the best resolution of high definition available.  With these camera specs, this phone is a great alternative to a basic point and shoot camera.  To coincide with the release of the 4S, Apple also released a new version of its software that runs the iPhone, called iOS 5 which has a couple new features worth noting from the 200+ updates included in it.  iCloud is a feature that allows iPhone owners the ability to sync and backup their music, pictures, documents and settings wirelessly to Apple’s servers without using a computer to do so.  iCloud will also let you access those files that are backed up if you have another Apple device that you would like to use the files on.  Another software feature and possibly the most popular is called Siri.  Siri acts as a personal assistant that understands verbal commands.  For example, you can ask Siri if you will need an umbrella today and it will tell you yes or no, with the forecast for the day.  You can also have it type and send text messages and place calls for you.  Updates will continue to be released for Siri as the 4S matures. 

For those of you still using an iPhone 3GS or iPhone 4, there is good news.  The new iOS 5 software that runs the 4S can be installed for free on the previous two models.  Most features of iOS 5 are available for the previous models including iCloud, however Siri is not due to the lack of hardware needed for it to function. 

If you’re a person that must have the latest tech items, or are new to the iPhone world, then the 4S is a good buy.  If you have an iPhone 3GS or an iPhone 4, then it might be worth upgrading the software to take advantage of many new features, and wait until the iPhone 5 comes out for possible major changes. 

The iPhone 4S is priced at $199, $299 and $399 for the 16, 32 and 64 gigabyte versions respectively.  The 4S is available on AT&T, Verizon, and for the first time on Sprint. 

Visit www.Parts2PCs.com/TTlinks for more details about the iPhone 4S.

As September 1^st passed, so did the former pricing for Netflix online streaming and disc rental service.  With a price increase of roughly 60%, Netflix has left many of its customers wondering if there are any lower priced options to their service.  The short answer is yes, but it depends on how you used the Netflix service. 

Many Netflix members had a plan that gave them at least one disc rental at a time through the mail, and included the streaming feature, which allowed customers to instantly watch select movies direct from the Netflix website on their computer or TV.  When the recent price increase became effective, Netflix separated their DVD delivery plan from their streaming plan, forcing its members to choose from one of the two, or pay for both at $7.99 each per month. 

If you were mainly a user of the streaming service from Netflix, Hulu Plus is the prime substitute.  The cost is the same at $7.99 per month, but Hulu Plus concentrates more on TV shows than movies.  One of the top features of this service is that offers episodes of current TV shows, but they do include limited commercials.  Hulu Plus does have movies available to stream, however they offer a very limited selection. 

If you were primarily a user of the DVDs delivered by mail plan, then there are a couple more options worth consideration.   Redbox is a company that offers DVD rentals through their kiosks placed in various locations.  For example, you may have seen one of their kiosks in your local supermarket.  The kiosks have rentals available for only $1 per disc, however, be prepared to watch that movie soon as it needs to be returned to the kiosk by 9pm the following night.  Redbox has three kiosks in Wakefield; inside Shaw’s on Water Street, outside Walgreen’s on Main Street and outside Circle K on Salem Street.  Another great alternative for DVD rentals is the Beebe Library.  It has a respectable selection that is continuing to grow, and the rentals are only $1 each for a full week.  Both of the above options require a little bit of legwork, and neither offer the vast selection that Netflix does, but if you rent less than 8 DVDs per month and these options have titles you like, then you are saving yourself money!

For the total package of convenience of delivery and streaming, and unparalleled selection, Netflix is still the best value, even with the increase in cost.