Now all software require a unique serial number to install on the computer, and the serial number can be used again with the installation file when the system has been reformatted or to re-install. Most of the time, the software’s serial number will be displayed on the CD cover or it will come with a certificate and the serial number will be on the certificate or so called license. But when users have lost their serial number,this will cause them to call the software distributor for another serial number. Most of the time, they will charge the users for retrieving or getting back the serial numbers and that why it’s important to keep the serial number of the software in a safe place. For those users who lost their software serial number, now they may use KeyFinder Thing to retrieve the serial number of the software installed on their system.
KeyFinder thing
KeyFinder Thing is a small utility tool that is used to retrieve the serial number of software installed on the system. It’s free for users to download and run on their systems. With the KeyFinder Thing utility and with just few simple step, users not only can scan and find the serial number or CD Key of the software, users also can use it to export all the serial number and CD Key that are listed in the KeyFinder Thing and save as HTML or Text file.
The minimum requirement to run the KeyFinder Thing on the computer: .NET Framework 2.0 needs to be installed on the computer. This is a great and free utility, please use it wisely and don’t use it to steal Serial Key or CD Key on other computers.
Other CD Key finders are:
# 1.
WinGuggle
Get your Windows Vista Product Key easily.
# 2.
Product Key Finder
Recover, decrypt Microsoft Windows and other product installation keys.
# 3.
CD Key Viewer/Changer
Retrieve lost or misplaced product keys.
# 4.
Product Key Explorer
Recover license keys of installed software products.
# 5.
Serial Numbers Personal Edition
Store all of your software serial numbers in a central location.
Showing posts with label IT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label IT. Show all posts
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Five Years of Facebook: A Retrospective
David Coursey
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 5:11 PM PST
Courtesy:PCWORLD.com
It doesn't seem like five years since Facebook appeared on the scene. I was slow to join the throng--my friends list numbers only 242 of the 110 million people who have joined the site since its inception.
Facebook is less juvenile in look-and-feel than MySpace, which it has overtaken in popularity. It is also a lot cleaner, again in look-and-feel but also in content. It also lacks the sexual content that plagues MySpace.
Facebook is more generalist in approach than some other social networking sites, such as Linked-In, which seem aimed at people looking for jobs and customers instead of communicating with people they already know. If you want to exploit your friends, Linked-In seems an excellent place to do it. And they'll exploit you in return.
Practical Social Networking
While I am not wild about social networking sites generally, as they can easily become colossal sinkholes for time, I've come to like Facebook a great deal and even consider it an important business tool.
How so?
Whole books have been written about promoting your company and its products on social networking sites. I won't wade into that swamp, though I think you have to be very creative to succeed. I also wonder how possible it is to niche market on Facebook the way search-oriented advertising can target an audience on Google.
To me, Facebook is a less personal medium than instant messaging, but more personal than email. I keep two or three IM clients continually open on my desktop. They are how family, closest friends, and a few business contacts reach me. I use a limited amount of SMS for the same purpose.
I don't keep Facebook open all the time. I check-in maybe a few times a day, but have sometimes gone away for days. I receive occasional email alerts and have the Facebook client on my iPhone, just in case I need it while mobile.
My main purpose for Facebook is keeping up with what a more distant set of friends is doing. These are people with whom I share common interests and like to know what they are doing.
You don't get on someone's friend list without their permission, so people are willing to share information they wouldn't post in a truly public space. Posting on Facebook also means you don't have to say the same thing to a bunch of different people just to get the word around.
Hive Mind
I've found that posting on Facebook is a good way to ask a question of a diverse set of people. This includes everyone from my first "real" girlfriend (who recently added me) to people I have worked with over the past 25 years, a few family members, and quite a few business friends around the industry. All are people I actually like, but with whom I otherwise don't stay in direct contact.
Facebook allows users to post clippings, thoughts, business ideas, and other bits and pieces of our lives for all our friends to see. In a business context, Facebook often reminds me of people who can answer questions, point me to someone they know (but I don't), or whom I'd just like to stay in front of.
It's also a good place to gather opinions and even hold fairly spirited debates. My friend, Mark Kellner, who writes a technology column for the Washington Times, is a frequent, friendly adversary.
I find myself liking Facebook far more than I ever wanted to. It helps me stay in touch with interesting people and share information with them. The contact that started my participation in this blog took place on Facebook when my now-editor posted a note saying he was looking for bloggers.
It concerns me that Facebook has yet to find a revenue model that seems likely to secure its future. It's currently riding a wave of popularity--and usefulness--but that could change as peoples' interests move elsewhere.
But, for now, if you are not already using Facebook, I'd recommend it. Bring some friends and business contacts along with you and it's possible to greatly expand the circle of people with whom you can easily stay in touch. And, for many of us, "in-touch" is a key business attribute.
David Coursey has been writing about technology for much longer than he likes to admit. If you want to be his friend on Facebook, he'll probably add you if you mention this blog.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009 5:11 PM PST
Courtesy:PCWORLD.com
It doesn't seem like five years since Facebook appeared on the scene. I was slow to join the throng--my friends list numbers only 242 of the 110 million people who have joined the site since its inception.
Facebook is less juvenile in look-and-feel than MySpace, which it has overtaken in popularity. It is also a lot cleaner, again in look-and-feel but also in content. It also lacks the sexual content that plagues MySpace.
Facebook is more generalist in approach than some other social networking sites, such as Linked-In, which seem aimed at people looking for jobs and customers instead of communicating with people they already know. If you want to exploit your friends, Linked-In seems an excellent place to do it. And they'll exploit you in return.
Practical Social Networking
While I am not wild about social networking sites generally, as they can easily become colossal sinkholes for time, I've come to like Facebook a great deal and even consider it an important business tool.
How so?
Whole books have been written about promoting your company and its products on social networking sites. I won't wade into that swamp, though I think you have to be very creative to succeed. I also wonder how possible it is to niche market on Facebook the way search-oriented advertising can target an audience on Google.
To me, Facebook is a less personal medium than instant messaging, but more personal than email. I keep two or three IM clients continually open on my desktop. They are how family, closest friends, and a few business contacts reach me. I use a limited amount of SMS for the same purpose.
I don't keep Facebook open all the time. I check-in maybe a few times a day, but have sometimes gone away for days. I receive occasional email alerts and have the Facebook client on my iPhone, just in case I need it while mobile.
My main purpose for Facebook is keeping up with what a more distant set of friends is doing. These are people with whom I share common interests and like to know what they are doing.
You don't get on someone's friend list without their permission, so people are willing to share information they wouldn't post in a truly public space. Posting on Facebook also means you don't have to say the same thing to a bunch of different people just to get the word around.
Hive Mind
I've found that posting on Facebook is a good way to ask a question of a diverse set of people. This includes everyone from my first "real" girlfriend (who recently added me) to people I have worked with over the past 25 years, a few family members, and quite a few business friends around the industry. All are people I actually like, but with whom I otherwise don't stay in direct contact.
Facebook allows users to post clippings, thoughts, business ideas, and other bits and pieces of our lives for all our friends to see. In a business context, Facebook often reminds me of people who can answer questions, point me to someone they know (but I don't), or whom I'd just like to stay in front of.
It's also a good place to gather opinions and even hold fairly spirited debates. My friend, Mark Kellner, who writes a technology column for the Washington Times, is a frequent, friendly adversary.
I find myself liking Facebook far more than I ever wanted to. It helps me stay in touch with interesting people and share information with them. The contact that started my participation in this blog took place on Facebook when my now-editor posted a note saying he was looking for bloggers.
It concerns me that Facebook has yet to find a revenue model that seems likely to secure its future. It's currently riding a wave of popularity--and usefulness--but that could change as peoples' interests move elsewhere.
But, for now, if you are not already using Facebook, I'd recommend it. Bring some friends and business contacts along with you and it's possible to greatly expand the circle of people with whom you can easily stay in touch. And, for many of us, "in-touch" is a key business attribute.
David Coursey has been writing about technology for much longer than he likes to admit. If you want to be his friend on Facebook, he'll probably add you if you mention this blog.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Google gets competitive, taking Gmail users offline
Google gets competitive, taking Gmail users offline
Analyst: Ability to access Gmail offline takes fight to Microsoft's Exchange
Sharon Gaudin
January 28, 2009 (Computerworld) Google Inc. late yesterday launched an updated version of Gmail that lets users access their accounts without an Internet connection.
The updated Gmail hosted e-mail service is designed to load in a browser even when the user doesn't have an Internet connection, according to Joyce Sohn, a Google spokewoman, in a company blog. The updated service, which the company said was developed in its Gmail Labs, will give flight to users who have been wanting to get some work done while on a plane, for instance. Now, even without an Internet connection, users can read e-mail, write new ones and archive others -- all while 30,000 feet in the air.
"Remember, we're still working out kinks, which means you might see some issues that aren't completely ironed out," wrote Sohn. "But this is a major step along the way."
She noted that the new system uses the Google Gears browser extension, which has also been used to offline-enable Google Docs and Google Reader.
"This is an important development in the evolution of Gmail," said Dan Olds, an analyst at Gabriel Consulting Group Inc. "With offline capabilities, Gmail now has at least arguable parity with Outlook, which opens up an entirely new market to [Google]. The addition of offline calendar functionality will move them into an even better competitive position."
Olds noted that Gmail has been the system of choice for the casual e-mail user, and it's the go-to system for people who want extra accounts. Now, Google could see that range expand.
"These offline features will now make Gmail a viable option for small-business people who use Exchange, and it may eat into Microsoft's market share," Olds noted. "However, with Outlook being bundled with Microsoft Office, converting large numbers of users from Outlook to Gmail is still going to be an uphill climb."
Google has been busy with Gmail.
Last month, the company announced that it added a new feature to enable users to find and access their Google documents straight from the desktop. Dubbed Google Docs Gadget for the Desktop, the new tool is the new big brother to the Docs gadget in Gmail.
The new feature may give Google's Docs a needed popularity boost.
Last month, an independent study showed that OpenOffice.org's free office suite to be five times more popular among adult U.S. Internet users than Google Docs. OpenOffice.org was used by 5% of people, compared with Google Docs' 1%, according to a six-month study conducted by market research firm ClickStream Technologies PLC.
Analyst: Ability to access Gmail offline takes fight to Microsoft's Exchange
Sharon Gaudin
January 28, 2009 (Computerworld) Google Inc. late yesterday launched an updated version of Gmail that lets users access their accounts without an Internet connection.
The updated Gmail hosted e-mail service is designed to load in a browser even when the user doesn't have an Internet connection, according to Joyce Sohn, a Google spokewoman, in a company blog. The updated service, which the company said was developed in its Gmail Labs, will give flight to users who have been wanting to get some work done while on a plane, for instance. Now, even without an Internet connection, users can read e-mail, write new ones and archive others -- all while 30,000 feet in the air.
"Remember, we're still working out kinks, which means you might see some issues that aren't completely ironed out," wrote Sohn. "But this is a major step along the way."
She noted that the new system uses the Google Gears browser extension, which has also been used to offline-enable Google Docs and Google Reader.
"This is an important development in the evolution of Gmail," said Dan Olds, an analyst at Gabriel Consulting Group Inc. "With offline capabilities, Gmail now has at least arguable parity with Outlook, which opens up an entirely new market to [Google]. The addition of offline calendar functionality will move them into an even better competitive position."
Olds noted that Gmail has been the system of choice for the casual e-mail user, and it's the go-to system for people who want extra accounts. Now, Google could see that range expand.
"These offline features will now make Gmail a viable option for small-business people who use Exchange, and it may eat into Microsoft's market share," Olds noted. "However, with Outlook being bundled with Microsoft Office, converting large numbers of users from Outlook to Gmail is still going to be an uphill climb."
Google has been busy with Gmail.
Last month, the company announced that it added a new feature to enable users to find and access their Google documents straight from the desktop. Dubbed Google Docs Gadget for the Desktop, the new tool is the new big brother to the Docs gadget in Gmail.
The new feature may give Google's Docs a needed popularity boost.
Last month, an independent study showed that OpenOffice.org's free office suite to be five times more popular among adult U.S. Internet users than Google Docs. OpenOffice.org was used by 5% of people, compared with Google Docs' 1%, according to a six-month study conducted by market research firm ClickStream Technologies PLC.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
What is MP4?
Q:
Can you explain to me what an MP4 is? I've obviously heard of MP3, but now there's an MP4?! I'm so lost and confused. Please help!
A:
Yes, there is! I know, isn't it amazing how fast the world of technology develops? It seems like we get caught up on one thing and the next day, there's something new to learn about. I mean, we shouldn't complain, because all of the technology we're surrounded by is what keeps some of us going each day, but it definitely is a little hard to stay on top of everything that comes about.
But even though understanding everything gets a little difficult sometimes, it's not impossible. I promise that after today, you will fully understand one more computer term and you'll be able to check it off your "find out what this is" list! Okay, let's get right into it!
To start with a quick definition, MP4 files are compressed video files. Their main purpose is to make video files much smaller so that they are easier to work with and support. Video files used to be very big in size and they were very difficult to work with. But now, the same files are compressed with the same material and they go by the new name of MP4s.
MP4 files work very similarly to MP3 files in that they are compressed files that do not affect the quality of sound. (In case you're not sure, MP3s are music and audio files, so an MP4 is just taking that to the next level with videos). The term MP4 is also known as MPEG-4 AVC, which stands for advanced video coding. Now, if you're still not sure how the whole MP4 technology works, make sure you keep reading, because it's going to get even more interesting!
Since MP4s deal mostly with video files, they're a little more complex than the MP3 music and audio files. But they're still able to be compressed by using special coding procedures. For example, certain aspects of the files are minimized. Those are usually the temporal and spatial redundancies. The motion and intra estimations of the frequencies are usually transformed as well. And last, but not least, the file goes through a lot of compression and decompression, which is referred to as codec.
Now, I'm sure you're probably wondering if there's such a thing as an MP4 player, right? Well, yes there is. It works just like any other media player. You can purchase the device at any regular electronics store and you then just hook it up to your computer or television. It really is that easy, even if it doesn't seem like it!
Of course, as with everything else, the MP4 technology has its ups and downs. Let's start with the advantages. MP4s are able to produce videos with a DVD quality at a rate of 1 Mbps or less with a broadband Internet connection. (That's blazing fast!) So, if you were to get an MP4 player, you could get your videos and watch them in a matter of seconds. MP4 players can also play older MP formats, including MP3 audio files.
As for the disadvantages, there will more than likely be several piracy issues within the MP4 technology. The MP3 format went through that as well. As you may already know, there are pirated versions of movies on the Internet that are ready for download at any time. So, with MP4s mainly dealing with videos, the piracy problems are sure to get out of hand as this technology becomes more and more popular. Just keep an eye out for that!
So, there it is. The MP4 technology explained for you in as simple of terms as I could come up with. I do hope you have a better understanding of it now and who knows, maybe you'll be the next person to start MP4ing around!
Can you explain to me what an MP4 is? I've obviously heard of MP3, but now there's an MP4?! I'm so lost and confused. Please help!
A:
Yes, there is! I know, isn't it amazing how fast the world of technology develops? It seems like we get caught up on one thing and the next day, there's something new to learn about. I mean, we shouldn't complain, because all of the technology we're surrounded by is what keeps some of us going each day, but it definitely is a little hard to stay on top of everything that comes about.
But even though understanding everything gets a little difficult sometimes, it's not impossible. I promise that after today, you will fully understand one more computer term and you'll be able to check it off your "find out what this is" list! Okay, let's get right into it!
To start with a quick definition, MP4 files are compressed video files. Their main purpose is to make video files much smaller so that they are easier to work with and support. Video files used to be very big in size and they were very difficult to work with. But now, the same files are compressed with the same material and they go by the new name of MP4s.
MP4 files work very similarly to MP3 files in that they are compressed files that do not affect the quality of sound. (In case you're not sure, MP3s are music and audio files, so an MP4 is just taking that to the next level with videos). The term MP4 is also known as MPEG-4 AVC, which stands for advanced video coding. Now, if you're still not sure how the whole MP4 technology works, make sure you keep reading, because it's going to get even more interesting!
Since MP4s deal mostly with video files, they're a little more complex than the MP3 music and audio files. But they're still able to be compressed by using special coding procedures. For example, certain aspects of the files are minimized. Those are usually the temporal and spatial redundancies. The motion and intra estimations of the frequencies are usually transformed as well. And last, but not least, the file goes through a lot of compression and decompression, which is referred to as codec.
Now, I'm sure you're probably wondering if there's such a thing as an MP4 player, right? Well, yes there is. It works just like any other media player. You can purchase the device at any regular electronics store and you then just hook it up to your computer or television. It really is that easy, even if it doesn't seem like it!
Of course, as with everything else, the MP4 technology has its ups and downs. Let's start with the advantages. MP4s are able to produce videos with a DVD quality at a rate of 1 Mbps or less with a broadband Internet connection. (That's blazing fast!) So, if you were to get an MP4 player, you could get your videos and watch them in a matter of seconds. MP4 players can also play older MP formats, including MP3 audio files.
As for the disadvantages, there will more than likely be several piracy issues within the MP4 technology. The MP3 format went through that as well. As you may already know, there are pirated versions of movies on the Internet that are ready for download at any time. So, with MP4s mainly dealing with videos, the piracy problems are sure to get out of hand as this technology becomes more and more popular. Just keep an eye out for that!
So, there it is. The MP4 technology explained for you in as simple of terms as I could come up with. I do hope you have a better understanding of it now and who knows, maybe you'll be the next person to start MP4ing around!
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