Tech Tip: Install Your Software

Nowadays, nearly everyone prefers MP3 players to CD or tape players. Most of these MP3 players are really cool little pieces of technology, designed to be easy to fill with music and even easier to operate.

Most MP3 players use simple "Drag and Drop" technology, meaning once the player is connected to a computer (usually through a USB port), all the user has to do is drag a file (music, pictures, video, etc.) from the computer to the player file.

This makes transferring music and other files extremely simple and fast.

However, not all players support this technology. Most notably, Apple's iPod doesn't use "Drag and Drop," instead requiring that users install iTunes and sync their content that way.

We ran into a similar problem here in the CLC the other day. A teen had a new MP4 (music and video) player that he couldn't seem to get to work. We connected it to the computer, converted the video files to multiple formats and dragged them to the player, but nothing seemed to work.

Finally, he mentioned that the player can with a boot CD. After installing the software, we realized that the videos had to be converted and downloaded by that CD in order to work with that player.

A silly way of doing things, but a necessary step.

The moral of the story? Always install the software that comes with your hardware, whether it's an MP3 player, a printer or another device.

Converting .PDF Files

Most people who email documents frequently are familiar with the file extension ".PDF," which stands for "Portable Document Format." It is the file extension used by Adobe Acrobat Reader, and is used very widely across the internet. The .PDF files are usually smaller and load faster, enabling the user to view the contents more quickly.

However, most .PDF files can't be edited in Adobe Acrobat Reader. This can be a potential problem when sharing documents like resumés or lists that are meant to be edited by each recipient of an email.

Today, an adult in the lab was trying to convert his resumé from a .PDF file to a .DOC file, the extension used by Microsoft Word documents, probably the most common type of text file. (While our computers don't have Microsoft Word, the .DOC files are able to be opened and edited by OpenOffice.)

So what was our adult to do? Should he simply re-type the file in OpenOffice word-by-word, or is there an easier way?

As is usually the case on the Internet, there is an easier way. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of online file-conversion websites, some of which charge users a fee, others of which are free for a trial period.

Using one of the free services, a website called "Zamzar," the adult was able to send his .PDF file to the site, which in turn emailed him a copy of the file as a Word Document. The whole process took under five minutes, and worked flawlessly.

Zamzar can be accessed here. It requires a working email address. A word of caution: entering your email address into any site can be a bit sketchy, as it may lead to unwanted spam email, but based on searches and info about Zamzar, it seems legitimate.

Learn more about how to convert .DOC's and other types of files with Zamzar here, or get started converting your own files here.

Blocking Unwanted E-mail

Everyone with an email account has encountered the scourge of the Internet mail world: spam. Most major email clients like Gmail, Yahoo! and Hotmail have sophisticated ways to block automated messages, like unwanted email selling things or trying to get you to click on suspicious links.

However, how do you block email from a person or source you used to consider safe or wanted?

An adult had that same question earlier, as she wanted to block incoming mail from a specific sender who had a standard Hotmail address. The user, who also was using a Hotmail address, wanted to prevent this person from sending anymore email her way.

For Hotmail users, this is a quick and easy fix.

From your inbox, click on "Options" towards the top right of your screen. Next, scroll down to "More Options." From that screen, under the "Junk and Email Settings" heading, click "Safe and Blocked Senders." Then, choose "Blocked Senders."

This screen will show you a list of all of your current blocked senders on the right, and the option to add a new address to the list on the left. To block an email address, simply paste or type it in the box to the left, click "Add to list," and voila! No more unwanted email!

For a step-by-step guide including screenshots, check About.com's guide here.

A Cool Website Design Program

Above: Adonay hard at work on his Wix-based sports site

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For those looking to make their own website, be it for business or personal use, starting off can be difficult and confusing, and paying a professional designer is usually costly. Fortunately for those looking to go it alone, there are a number of options out there that serve as step-by-step guides to creating a website.

One of the best of these programs is Wix, a website that allows the user to create free Flash-based websites, meaning you can use more than just plain text and pictures. The site is very easy to use, and recently one of the kids started designing his own Boston sports-based site. He's already gotten it up to four pages, complete with sports pictures and embedded videos.

Want to design a site for yourself or your business? Come on by and we can show you how!