Make All Files Have SameTime Stamp
When working on multiple computers it is critical to be able to tell which files are new, or old, based on their time stamp. The solution is to run an application that updates the computer clock to an atomic clock through the internet.
I run SYNCIT With Atom on all of my computers, but there are tons of applications available. I have mine set to update/verifty clock accuracy every 45 seconds. And guarantee I know which file is the latest-and-greatest based on the time stamp – no matter what computer I was working on.
Click here to go to info/download page.
– Troy @ TLC
Make Text MORE Legible
Another free application from Microsoft that ranges from good-to-great depending on your monitor is the CLEARTYPE TUNER. It basically tweaks the way Windows displays text on an LCD monitor.
It does not hinder, or noticably improve, displaying through a projector – and depending on your monitor it may or may not make a noticeable difference (on my 1900×1200 WXGA monitor it made a very noticeable effect, on a 1440×900 monitor it gave no noticeable difference).
Click here to go to download page
– Troy @ TLC
Be Visual with Active Apps
Being a graphic designer I admit that I understand things better when I can see them. One of the great features of the new Vista OS (and on Macs for awhile) is the ability to rollover the taskbar tab and see a thumbnail of the current application content. If you are running XP you can add this type feature to the Alt-Tab method of choosing your application.
With the Free Microsoft ALT-TAB tweak installed instead of seeing just the application/file name as you alt-tab through the active items, you see a thumbnail of the current content.
Click here to go to the download page at Microsoft.
– Troy @ TLC
Download More
I often, as I am sure you do, have to download lots of files for a project (PowerPoint, Photoshop, images, PDFs, etc.). Unless all are on an FTP site I can access with an FTP application your browser limits you to 2 simultaneous downloads. Great if I was on a bandwidth limited dial-up modem, but I have a 15mb/s connection and want to download more.
The good news is this limitation can be overcome, but you have to do a bit of digging and adding values. I have all of my computers set to allow up to 10 simultaneous downloads. Here’s how:
1. Go to START >> RUN >> REGEDIT
2. Click on HKEY_CURRENT_USER
3. Click USER
4. Click SOFTWARE
5. Click MICROSOFT
6. Click WINDOWS
7. Click CURRENTVERSION
8. Click INTERNET SETTINGS
Now that you have burrowed deep into the OS, you need to add to new values (the ones that say let me download up to 10 files simultaneously).
9. Right-click anywhere in the right pane
10. Select NEW
11. Select DWORD VALUE
These next steps you will repeat twice, once for each needed value.
12. Double-click the newly created NEW VALUE #1 icon
13. In the Value Name area type “MaxConnectionsPerServer”
14. In the Value Date area type “10”
15. In the Base area click DECIMAL
16. Click okay
Do it again.
17. Repeat #12-16, but in the Value Name area type “MaxConnectionsPer1_OServer”
You are now free to download up to 10 files simultaneously (provided you have enough bandwidth with your internet connection)!
– Troy @ TLC
Make Your Desktop Presentation Worthy
This is one of the nifty features of Windows (XP) that no one seems to know about. Before a presentation, I use the “show/hide desktop icons” feature to hide every single item on my desktop. That way if I need to exit a presentation for any reason, the only thing projected is a my desktop wallpaper. After the presentation, I restore all in just one click.
1. Right-click desktop
2. Go to Arrange Icons By
3. Select Show Desktop Icons
4. Let the screen refresh (may take a few moments) and you are left with a completely clutter free view!
– Troy @ TLC
Reorganize the Task Bar
If you have multiple presentations, several applications and numerous windows explorers open – the task bar becomes crowded and confusing. For just situations, I use the free application ‘Task Arrange.’
This lets me group all of my presentations together, slide outlook to the far left, etc. Or another practical use (this week in particular) is designing a multi-screen show and being able to move the presentation tabs to the visual order (ie. left screen appears on the left, center in the center and right screen presentation is the right tab).
Click here to go to Task Arrange’s download page.
– Troy @ TLC
Download or View PDF?
This is a browser add-in that I recently was told about and I like it. The frustration is when you click on a link to a PDF it is up to your browser settings whether it opens the PDF or downloads it (and Adobe’s default setting is to open it).
If I know I want to download the PDF there are three choices:
1. Right-click the link and choose ‘save file as’
2. Click the link, have it open, then click the save icon
3. Install the “PDF Download” add-in
With ‘PDF Download’ installed, every time a PDF link is clicked a dialog asks if it should be opened or saved – brilliant!
– Troy @ TLC