HOWTO – iChat Extended March 15, 2010
Posted by Chaim Gartenberg in : Apple, Computers, How-To , add a comment
Go Beyond AIM…
This one’s mainly for Mac users, but can be used for Windows as well. Last week, I wrote a review of Meebo, a multi-IM app for iPhone (also Beejive IM, a similar app). Meebo also has an online webapp component for PC use, but many (including myself), prefer full applications – such as iChat, Mac OS’s built in IM app.
Now, it’s easy to set up AIM with iChat – just type in screen name and password, and you’re good to go. But in recent years, new chat services have been cropping up – specifically, Google Talk and Facebook Chat – as part of accounts you already have. Now for me, I hate having multiple things open for what is essentially the same purpose. So, here’s a little help in setting up iChat with not only AIM, but Google Talk or Facebook Chat as well.
Google Talk (Snow Leopard 10.6) -
This one’s pretty easy – iChat 5 has the feature of adding a Google Account just as easily as an AIM account – just select the Google Account option when creating a new account in preferences.
Google Talk (10.4 Tiger/10.5 Leopard) –
A bit more difficult, but not by much. When creating a new account, select “Jabber Account” – as the ID, enter your Gmail account “______@gmail.com”, your password as the password. The server is talk.google.com, and the port is 5223 – and check the Use SSL box. All set.
Facebook Chat: (10.4-10.6) –
Similar to Google Talk – but a few differences. First, you need your Facebook username – “______@chat.facebook.com” – which you can find by going to the “Account Settings” – where it lists your username (right after your name, 2nd from the top). Going into iChat now – in Preferences, go to the “Add Account”, and again, select Jabber. Enter in the “______@chat.facebook.com”, the _____ being your Facebook username from earlier, and the password, your regularly Facebook password. Server options are: server is “chat.facebook.com”, Port is 5222. Uncheck SSL for this one. And you’re good to go.
Personal tip – in General Preferences in iChat, enable “Use the same status for all accounts” – allowing you to log in and out of all 3 at once. Enjoy!
Now, for everyone else – those not using iChat. While not personally familiar with these programs, Google lists here how to set up other clients, and Facebook is compatable with Pidgin, Adium, and anything else that can use Jabber using settings that they give here. Enjoy!
How to Backup your iPod (for Windows PC's) December 27, 2008
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : How-To, Mp3 players and iPods , add a comment
SharePod for Windows (no, that’s not my iPod- it’s a pic I found online 
)
Got a bunch of music and videos on your iPod and want to make sure you have them backed up onto your computer?
This is a great little program that not just does it’s job, but does it really well. The program is called SharePod and can be downloaded for free here (don’t worry this won’t give your computer viruses or anything like that — I got it here and no problems on my PC). Anyways, all you do once you download this small file is open it up, click on the items you want to copy to you computer and click on the icon in the upper left that says “Copy to PC.” Then you select the folder you want the items to go into (I would recommend you put it in My Music or Desktop– or anywhere you’d remember it’s location), then click OK- and your done! Your files are now on your computer!
Now let’s say you wanna take those files you backed up (say you got them from a different computer in your house), and now transfer them to your iTunes. Well, don’t worry, this is also just a quick step away. Open iTunes and go to “File Add File to Library”, then go to where you saved your file from your iPod on your computer (see, this is where knowing where you saved the file is important ), and click on it to add to your iTunes library. If its a video, then the file will go to your Movie’s section in iTunes, and if it’s a song, then it will go to music.
See, that wasn’t so hard 
, and now you got your songs and videos saved onto your computer.
SharePod is a free download from Download.com, and works with Windows XP and Vista, as well as with all iPod’s and iPhone’s including the iPhone 3G and new iPod Touch (2nd Generation) and iPod Nano (4th Generation).
So, what you think- this work well for you? Got questions? Wanna reccomend a different, easier program? Sound off in the comments!
How To: Unlock Your Phone November 9, 2008
Posted by Nik G. in : How-To , add a comment
Picture this scenario, you want — no, NEED — a new phone that just isn’t available on your carrier, for example those who want an iPhone but lack AT&T service, or others who want a T-Mobile phone but not their wireless plan. Or maybe you’re traveling overseas soon and by unlocking your phone, you avoid those outrageous roaming charges.
If so, I have some good news for you: you can easily unlock any GSM phone by calling the carrier whose branded the phone or by using the internet to search for the unlock code.
But I have to warn you, this is only available if both your original phone and your phone-to-be have SIM cards; if they arent GSM carriers, I hate to say it, but you arent qualified. See below for the list of GSM/SIM card phones and greater detail for unlocking your phone.
Make Your Own Games, Web Sites and More (without being a "Geek") June 27, 2008
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : Computers, How-To, Video Games , 1 comment so far
Ever wanted design your own internet game or website even though you cant write code if your life depended on it? Try Microsoft Popfly. In a clear step-by-step guide for each of its three individual, but excellent programs– Game Creator, Website Maker, and Mashup–Popfly allows the digital adventurer to customize and shape to an extent, their own personal creation. Read on!
New Logo- How To Make Your Own June 18, 2008
Posted by Chaim Gartenberg in : How-To , 4commentsAlrighty, for all those who noticed the new logo, here’s some stuff I have to do. I’d like to credit the sources of the techniques used in making the logo: Both are from my prime site for Photoshop tutorials, PSDTuts. The two main tutorials I used were as follows:
For the awesome glowing text effect, I used this tutorial: http://psdtuts.com/text-effects-tutorials/create-a-layered-glowing-text-effect/, with some modifications for size and color.
For cool glowy lines, I used a technique from this tutorial: http://psdtuts.com/tutorials-effects/advanced-glow-effects/.
The logo was done in Adobe Photoshop CS3 (Demo) and the theme of the blog is one of the WordPress themes called Regulus.
Anyone who wants to show their support for the blog, you can grab a copy of the logo as a wallpaper or buddy icons below:
Wallpaper:
Buddy Icon:
Thats all folks.
How To Download YouTube Videos June 17, 2008
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : Computers, How-To, Mp3 players and iPods , 5comments
Summer is almost here as schools are starting to close, and that means people going to camp, beaches, vacations you name it; We are all on the go. Many of us take our iPods because we can’t live 1 minute without it, but what about all the videos on YouTube that we watch for enjoyment; how can I get that on to my iPod for me to take on the go? Click the “More” button for the answer.
How to Make Your Own Ringtones for Free June 1, 2008
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : Cell Phones, How-To , add a commentWe have something here that many of you will like… making your own Ringtones for free. Using a program called Audacity (download here), any of your unprotected music— those not purchased through iTunes (check your songs in iTunes by right-clicking on a selected song, clicking Get Info, and then looking at the bottom of that first tab) and such, or in Mp3 or ACC format— can be shrunken down and subsequently placed onto your phone. For a full guide, see this ATT forum I found. This should work for most ATT phones—unfortunately excluding the iPhone or any other smartphone— and possibly for T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint.
But don’t be disappointed iPhoners. In iTunes, you’ll see the option to convert to ringtone for an iPhone—though only for an iPhone—for an additional $1.
Free and easy ways to Protect and Speed up your Computer May 19, 2008
Posted by Eli Blumenthal in : Computers, How-To , add a commentOk, so we all really need our computers for one thing or another–be it games, music and videos, school or just browsing the internet– and we all hate when it gets real slow at doing those things. Well here are a few ways to help speed up your computer in doing those tasks.