Computer Support Blog

There are many very cool products that businesses use to improve a customer’s shopping experience or life.  From products that monitor waste water to computer programs that monitor toxins in the air, almost every major industry contains gadgets that perform a vital function.  Many of those devices work behind-the-scenes to deliver superior results on a project or as part of a service.  It is often important that a business have the best possible equipment to help you get the results you want on your projects.  When it comes to house painting, the Auto-Match III is one such essential device.

The Auto-Match III is a sensor produced by BYK.  The Auto-Match III is a safe-like box under six inches square and nine and a half inches deep.  The box weighs just over seven pounds and has a small door in which you place a paint sample.  The safe-like design of the Auto-Match III prevents any light interference from entering the sensor and polluting the results of a scan.

The Auto-Match III is very easy to use.  When you bring a paint sample with the color you want to the Auto-Match III and place the sample inside, the spectrophotometer scans the sample.  One of the key selling points of this sensor is that it operates at 45/0 circumferential illumination, so it scans the sample at precisely the way your eye breaks down light.  In addition to being exceptionally accurate with the precise breakdown of light for color matching, the Auto-Match III renders colors in a way that you will perceive them as identical.  Because temperature affects the way light travels, many spectrophotometers require constant calibration.  However, the closed-system nature of the Auto-Match III eliminates temperature variables to give you clean, crisp results every time.

Why is the Auto-Match III such an important, cool device when it comes to matching paint colors?  The Auto-Match III sensor works in conjunction with the Auto-Match III software to accurately evaluate and replicate colors in a way no other single system does.  At least two different paint manufacturers feature applications for the Apple iPhone that allows you to match any color you photograph with paint from their line.  Unfortunately, the results wildly differ based on the amount of light in the room when you take the picture.  Other color matching programs for the PC fail to take into account that most computer monitors are not calibrated to the expert standards professional photographers or painters use on their equipment.  Thus, you may take a picture and look at it on your monitor and denounce it as the wrong color simply because your monitor is not properly tuned.  The Auto-Match III sensor and software eliminate those variables.

No matter how big or small your painting project is, you deserve to get the color you expect when you purchase paint.  BYK’s Auto-Match III sensor ensures you get accurately-scanned, precisely rendered, information on any paint sample so that you may replicate the color you want without flaws!

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

As technology and communications systems improve, all levels of society feel the effects.  In the case of young women growing up, the world is nowhere near as limited as it once was.  Now, instead of dreaming of being a happy homemaker or a teacher, girls are learning that virtually any career path is open to them.  Now, girls dream of growing up to become scientists, CEOs and President.  One girl who grew up believing that the sky was the limit for her future was Catherine Coleman; she became an astronaut!

Catherine Coleman is an American astronaut who had one of the most prestigious tours of duty aboard the International Space Station.  In her 159 days in space, most of which were aboard the International Space Station, she served with distinction during the most traffic the International Space Station encountered since its creation.  As the lead robotic arm operator for the International Space Station, Coleman was indispensible with docking the supply ships, space shuttles and other vehicles when they came close to the Station!

How did Catherine Coleman get to the position where she could become such an important astronaut?  After getting her B.S. in chemistry from M.I.T., Coleman worked hard and pursued her Doctorate in Polymer Science and Engineering.  She received her PhD in 1991.  While pursuing her higher education, she joined the Air Force.  While volunteering for centrifuge experiments for the Air Force, Coleman set new endurance and tolerance records that brought her to the attention of NASA.  She was hired by NASA shortly after receiving her Ph.D.

Initially, Coleman’s position at NASA was intended to be one of support, aiding in the technical development of systems that would be used in space by other astronauts.  When she illustrated real aptitude with manipulating the robotic arm and other robotic systems, NASA prepared her for spaceflight.  After waiting as a standby for a few missions, Coleman went into space as part of one of the Microgravity Laboratory missions and later as the lead specialist for deploying the Chandra X-Ray Observatory.  Her successful execution of those missions, in combination with continually developing her expertise in robotics and other sciences, made her an ideal choice to serve on the International Space Station.

As chief science officer during her mission to the International Space Station, Catherine Coleman conducted important experiments in physics, biology, chemistry, and robotics.  While in space, she even had time to practice her flute, which she played for a performance on National Public Radio!  With her well-rounded career, scientific and artistic interests, and determination to excel, Catherine Coleman is a great role model for girls and young women everywhere!

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

We already have desktops, notebooks, netbooks, and tablets. It seems that covers all the bases, right? Apparently not. Ultrabooks, the newest line of portable computing devices, are supposedly the “next big thing” in computers.

An ultrabook should to fit easily in the space between laptops and tablets. They have plenty of processing power, but are light, portable, and start immediately just like tablets. They are made to be taken everywhere like a tablet, but they come with the ease of the built-in full-size keyboard of a laptop.

At the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2012, almost every computer company had an ultrabook on display. Most of these ultrabooks are less than .8” thick and have screens between 11” and 14”. Ultrabook batteries will to last between 5 and 9 hours depending on how much processing power you use. They have the power of a regular laptop squeezed into a much smaller case. According to InformationWeek, this is accomplished mostly by removing the hard disk drives and replacing them with solid-state disk (SSD) storage, which is much smaller and faster.

The problem with including SSD storage in every ultrabook is that this kind of storage is much more expensive than a standard hard drive. That means that ultrabooks run at much higher prices that laptops or tablets. While most ultrabooks range between $800 and $1,000, you can buy a great laptop for less than $600.

If you already have a notebook, netbook, or tablet and you do not really need an ultrabook, why not consider upgrading? There are a few things you can do to make the computer you already own run better. Any computer repair or computer support specialist, such as those at RESCUECOM, can help you with upgrading your computer. Here are a few things you might look into when thinking about an upgrade:

• Backup files, then remove them from the computer
• Get rid of unnecessary programs
• De-Fragment the hard drive
• Add more memory (RAM)
• Replace the old or add a new hard drive

What you need to do in order to upgrade your computer is based on what kind of computer you already have and what you want it to do. The best way to determine what you might want done is to call a computer support specialist and discuss your needs with him or her. Not everyone can afford to buy a brand-new ultrabook or a new laptop every two years, but there are many affordable solutions that can speed up the computer you already own.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

It seems that no matter whom you talk to recently, everyone has his or her favorite browser. If you express any other opinion, you may find yourself in a debate over which is the best browser, but how can you know which is the best browser if you do not know about the different choices?

The four most popular browsers are Internet Explorer, Firefox, Google Chrome, and Safari. Internet Explorer, commonly shortened to IE, has the most users with a market share of 52%, according to NetMarketShare. IE is the default browser preloaded onto most computers and many people simply use it out of convenience, however, it is by no means the fastest or sleekest of the choices. IE does not have the internal spell check function that the other three have, and it is the only one that does not support Macs.

Firefox is slower than IE in start-up time, but faster in navigation time and with 22% market share, Firefox is the second-most popular browser available.  One of the downsides of Firefox, however, is that it does not use thumbnail previews to allow users to preview pages by hovering over the tab.

Google Chrome, the newest of the popular browsers, has been rapidly growing in popularity. Chrome’s market share is currently at 19 percent after only three years. The best features of Chrome include its speed, simple design, and the Omnibox, which allows users to search directly in the address bar.

Safari, made by Apple, has the smallest market share of the popular browsers with only 5%. This could be because its main market is Macs. There is a Windows version, but with the other great browsers available, it is possible that PC users have already made their choice. The best things about Safari are its great look and the convenient gallery of most-browsed sites.

The best choices in terms of Internet security are Firefox and Chrome. Firefox has a ‘private mode’ that can be turned on, in order to increase your Internet security, which does not affect how your browser appears. Chrome uses ‘sandboxing,’ which means that each tab runs on its own and therefore better contains any threat to your Internet security. IE has good security, but it is not quite of the innovative quality of Firefox or Chrome. Safari does not have a private mode or anti-phishing capabilities, according to NetMarketShare.

Overall, there is no ‘best browser’ out there. Each one features different benefits, so choose one based on what you want out of your browser. Chrome fades into the background, Firefox is the fastest, IE is the most popular, and Safari has the reliability of Apple. Each one is unique and targeted at different browsing needs, but there is no rule that says you only have to have one. Try them all and keep whatever works for you, or use different browsers for different things – it is all up to you.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

As the United States comes into another election year, political activism is once more on the rise.  But for those for whom politics is more than just an every-four-year event, new technologies are making their political activism more effective.  One of the relatively new technologies used by activists is the Short Message Service.  Among the various Short Message Services, Mobile Commons stands out for its effectiveness.

Mobile Commons is a marketing platform designed for smartphone users.  The Internet-based application acts as a social network that allows you to connect your smartphone to the smartphones of all of your friends.  Then, when you have an important issue that you need transmitted through your networks, the Mobile Commons application acts as a Short Message Service.  As an SMS, Mobile Commons helps transmit both messages – via the phone portion of your smartphone – and text documents to everyone with whom you have a relationship.

The benefit of the Mobile Commons application to political activists is almost self-evident.  As soon as you learn of an issue that affects the people in your network, you may inform them all simultaneously using Mobile Commons.  But as important, as a leader of a group, you may help guide the group to a specific course of action using Mobile Commons.  Using Mobile Commons, you may draft a form letter to your Representative or Senator (or any person you need to get a message to) and send it with your voice message.  As a result, within minutes of learning of a bill, news event or other political controversy, you and your entire network can spread the word and tell those people in power exactly what you want them to do!

Mobile Commons is not limited to just political activism in its usefulness as an application.  Large families may benefit from using Mobile Commons.  For example, if your large family is in the process of becoming even larger, Mobile Commons can be an invaluable tool.  You may use Mobile Commons to send everyone in your family network announcements about new births or other vital family events and attach photos of the new baby.  Using Mobile Commons, members of your family network may then spread the good news and pictures with people in their lives.

There are many applications that allow networking and sharing, but Mobile Commons puts it together in a very effective, easy-to-use platform that has a proven record of success.  That makes Mobile Connect very cool for activists and genuinely social people.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

If you own a Saturn automobile, you know just how terrible it can be when a company goes belly up without ever releasing their proprietary information to the general public or others within their industry.  Those who still drive their beloved Saturn cars are discovering that as problems arise, especially with the Saturn’s onboard computer, they are completely at the mercy of GM.  General Motors, which owned Saturn, may very well charge more than your local mechanic, but your local mechanic cannot access a Saturn’s onboard computer.  The reason for that is simple: before Saturn went bust, the company held very tightly to its trade secrets and the Saturn onboard computer program remained a protected property.  GM, as the parent company of Saturn, retained the coding and now uses it to compel the remaining Saturn owners to use their service centers.  Hewlett-Packard is taking the exact opposite approach with their webOS.  By making webOS into an open source program, anyone with computer programming ability will be able to acquire, alter and write applications for webOS.

HP had a pretty bad 2011 on the tablet computer front.  After having their tablet computer, the Touchpad, crushed by the sales numbers of the Apple iPad 2, the Kindle Fire arrived to metaphorically bulldoze a small mountain of dirt into the grave.  Hewlett-Packard gave the tablet computer market the old college try and the company lost obscene amounts of money in the process.  HP liquidated the last of the Touchpads for $100 and $149 when the Touchpads bore a $500 and $600 MSRP earlier in the year.  HP had a bad year on the tablet computer front.

So, HP announced they were no longer competing for that market.  In washing their hands of the tablet computer market, HP could have divorced itself from the customers who had invested in their product and moved on to their next big project.  Instead, HP executives announced that webOS, the operating system that runs the Touchpad tablet computer, would be released as open source software.

By making webOS open source, computer programmers may write applications of their own for their Touchpads.  They can use webOS to run other hardware, like smartphones, digital cameras or gaming devices.  If you become annoyed with how your electronic device is operating, you could write an app in webOS to reprogram it!

In addition to being consumer-friendly, making webOS into open source software, HP is giving a psychological pat on the back to its programmers.  Because the enthusiasm exists for webOS, in spite of poor Touchpad sales, HP is essentially telling its programmers and researchers, “You had a good product; it just didn’t sell.”  That kind of encouragement is remarkably cool from a multibillion dollar company.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Everyone does it and no one really thinks about it. You register on a new website and your browser automatically asks if you want to save your password. If the computer belongs to you, you think, “Sure, why not?” and click ok. Unfortunately, there could be some major consequences to that little decision.

If your computer were ever stolen, the thieves would have instant access to all of your sites. They could get into your email, your social networking sites, your online shopping accounts, and any other website for which you have saved the password.

Even if that never happens, saving passwords in your browser does not make them secure passwords. Most browsers have a way to look up all the saved passwords, usually under the ‘tools’ or ‘settings’ menu. Anyone with access to your computer can find this registry of your saved passwords and use them.

Malware can also get into your computer and find these passwords in the same manner. If you have poor Internet security, malware can even steal these passwords undetected. Sometimes even a scan specifically designed to detect malware programs does not find them.

There are a few options available, however, to make certain you have secure passwords. At home, the easiest thing to do is simply write them down and keep them near the computer. Unfortunately, you would then have to re-enter them every time you login to the website.

Another thing to consider is that there are programs that will keep your secure passwords safe. These kinds of programs have a master password that you can set-up, which you must enter once each time you open your browser, that will then unlock all the saved secure passwords. This eliminates the need to constantly re-enter all of your passwords on different sites, but the problem with this is that you cannot ever re-set the master password, even if you forget it.

If you do not want to use either of these options but tend to forget your passwords, you can always keep changing your passwords using the ‘forgot password’ feature on the website. Most websites make this an easy and quick process, and it is another way to make sure you are using secure passwords.

Fortunately, if you ever do run into problems stemming from lost or stolen passwords, you can easily get computer support help from a computer repair company such as RESCUECOM. If you follow the tips above, however, you should have fewer worries about whether or not you have secure passwords.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Computer users have made the World Wide Web into an outlet for humor since the formation of the Internet.  Because humor is so subjective, sites that simply distribute mainstream humor, like syndicated comic strips or humorous anecdotes, tend not to draw the attention needed to become a true Internet phenomenon.  As the Internet meme phenomenon grows, one site stands out as a funny, edgy humorous site.  That site is Memebase.

Memebase is a free to use, free to view website that offers anyone with a sense of humor the chance to express it using Internet memes.  For those unfamiliar with the phenomenon, Internet memes are an offshoot of lolcats that use pictures of more than just cats.  Internet memes use pictures that have been culled from pop culture and you use to make single-panel jokes or multi-panel strips.  Memebase has collections of Internet memes that combine classic pop culture images with drawn images that have become as well-recognized in the Internet meme community.  Those drawings are often crude and focus on basic facial expressions that meme designers may reuse with different statements for almost infinite comic potential.

Memebase has a very easy-to-use interface.  The home page is a list of the current featured memes and the site has the organization of a standard blog.  Instead of blog articles, scrolling down transports you through various current memes.

One of the real distinctions of Memebase over many, similar sites, is the on-site meme builder.  Clicking on the Meme Builder tab on the front page of Memebase, you get the ability to create memes almost instantly.  Memebase includes over sixty premade photograph memes, most of which are unique to the site.  Some, like a stock image of Bill O’Reilly or Fry from Futurama are a little more universally-recognizable.  By clicking on the “Caption Now” button, you may make a brand new, humorous meme in seconds.  After that, another button allows you to share your meme with the Memebase community.

The humor on Memebase is almost-constantly rotating, so there is always material that is new and funny.  Because humor differs so much from person to person and culture to culture, it helps to know that the Internet meme phenomenon is not for everyone.  The humor on the site can be very edgy, though the visual component of the site is always safe for work.  For example, on the front page of Memebase, there was a simple meme of an anagram followed by a photograph of a face with a shocked expression.  While some might find the visual representation of how “Mother In Law” is an anagram for “Woman Hitler” hilarious, others might appear just as shocked as the reaction picture attached to the first panel.  That is the nature of humor, though, and Memebase accepts humor of all kinds.

For adults looking for a laugh or looking to put a humorous idea into print using already-created images, Memebase is an invaluable resource.  At the forefront of the Internet meme phenomenon, Memebase remains cool.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

With the holidays behind us and the new year nicely underway, many of us are looking for a way to take off the holiday pounds.  Technology exists to aid you in weight loss.  There are specialized computer devices that help you count calories as well as smartphone applications designed to help you plan your diet and exercise regimen.  Arguably the best is Calorie Count.

Calorie Count is a comprehensive website that helps you to lose weight in a healthy fashion.  The site functions as an informative tool, an online journal and a social network.  The three primary functions of the site come together for the user to provide a powerful weight loss tool that offers you the best chance for a healthier lifestyle.  Calorie Count helps users lose weight by keeping you focused on your specific weight loss goals while rewarding your accomplishments.

The informative nature of Calorie Count is unparalleled on the Internet.  Calorie Count offers you over 231,000 foods with their entire nutritional breakdown so you may see the exact impact of every food you eat.  The truly valuable aspect of Calorie Count’s extensive database of nutritional information is that it allows you to log and chart each day along every possible vector.  In simpler terms, the Calorie Count tool allows you research every meal, drink and snack you want to put into your body and the program provides you with custom graphs exactly what you are consuming.  If you need to eat more protein, for example, you can tweak your meals until you find the right balanced food that will provide you with the protein you are lacking without pushing you above the recommended daily allowance of other nutritional elements.  Because users are able to add information, this database is constantly expanding!

The nutritional breakdown tool is a powerful one, but it works best when synergized with Calorie Count’s online journal.  When you create a Calorie Count account, you have the option to start an online journal.  Take that opportunity!  You can keep your journal private, but Calorie Count’s online journal is a day by day, meal by meal record of your journey to weight loss.  After you enter all of your medical data, Calorie Count uses your journal to calculate not only all you take in, but how many calories you burn through every activity you perform throughout the day.  Using the journal function, Calorie Count provides you with recommendations on how best to exercise for your body type and health concerns!

Finally, at least for the space we have here, there is a social network function to Calorie Count.  Calorie Count connects you with other people who are trying to lose weight, so you may provide support, ask questions and share your triumphs for positive reinforcement.  Even better, nutritional experts are available on the site to help you meet your goals.

Losing weight is never easy; Calorie Count is a powerful weight loss tool that requires diligence, but provides all you need to lose weight!

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com

Most people do not even realize that using a computer mouse too often or for too long can cause injuries to the wrist or hand. These types of injuries are called Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs) and can be very painful. The wrong position of the hand when using a computer mouse can cause an RSI, and the injured person might not be able to use his or her hand for quite some time.

There are many different types of mice to help prevent these injuries. They range from those that look like a normal mouse turned on its side to those that resemble joysticks. Each one has an ergonomic design to support your hand and wrist in a manner that will help prevent RSIs.

Many of these oddly shaped ergonomic mice are for use with either the right or the left hand exclusively and are not interchangeable. Before purchasing an ergonomic mouse, it is important to realize that only some of these mice can switch back and forth between right-handed and left-handed and to purchase accordingly.

One new design that attempts to save your wrist from an RSI, and to be easy to use, is the AirMouse. AirMouse is wireless, is worn on the hand, and it only has to be recharged about once a week.

AirMouse is an optical mouse but mostly uses its position relative to the ligaments in your hand to move. This mouse can work more precisely, faster, and with less effort than other mice because you wear it as if it is a glove. It should save your hand and wrist from the damaging effects of an RSI because you can hold it in a comfortable, healthy position as well as change positions frequently.

For anyone who works on a computer all day long, these ergonomically designed mice would be a great investment in order to save you from injuries down the road. But if you cannot afford an expensive new mouse, then here are a few tips from SeatingErgonomics that you can use to help keep your wrist healthier:

• Make sure your hand and wrist are straight when using your mouse. Do not hold the mouse at an angle in any direction.
• Keep the mouse close to your keyboard and to your body so that you are not reaching for it.
• Hold the mouse loosely and comfortably.
• Move the mouse with your entire arm, not just your wrist.
• Do not hold your index finger up when not clicking.

If you have any doubts about what kind of mouse would work best for you, it is always a great idea to get help. The computer experts at RESCUECOM would be glad to help you with any computer upgrade or computer repair questions you have.

About RESCUECOM:

RESCUECOM provides computer repair and computer support, 24/7: Meeting every tech support need including data recovery, virus removal, networking, wireless services, and computer support for all brands of hardware and software. For computer support or information on products, services, or computer repair, visit https://www.rescuecom.com or call 1-800-RESCUE-PC.

For More Information, Contact:

David Milman, CEO

315-882-1100

david@rescuecom.com