Want more productivity? Ban your yourself online..

Seems like research shows that our constant need for social sites like Facebook makes us less productive.  If only we could find a way to ban ourselves from using them so much.  Well, thanks to a local CMU post doctoral, Fred Stutzman, you can.

Stutzman, who researches social media at the university's Heinz College, has released two apps, Freedom and Anti-Social. Freedom, which banishes a user from his or her Internet connection for up to eight hours, has been downloaded 350,000 times. Anti-Social, which blocks access to social networks like Facebook, has been downloaded by 125,000 users.  More surprising is that Freedom costs $10 and Anti-Social $15 (there are trial versions available with a limited number of uses). To a slightly higher degree than most apps, arguably, you have to really want what they offer. That is, the elimination of distraction.

Best Buy closing 50 stores.....bliss

Well apparently my "favorite" store is having some issues.  Best Buy has announced disappointing quarterly profit numbers and as a result will be shuttering 50 stores.  I've never been a fan of the chain.  Nice looking stores, but fundamentally dishonest in many of their practices.  One of their proposed remedies is to start a new employee incentive program.  They were specific to say that it is not a change to commission based pay.  The mere fact that they point that out indicates that they are going to do something very similar to that.  What does that mean to you?  Probably that the lying, misinformed customer service agent at the store will be a bit more aggressive and dishonest with you in the future.  Read more on Best Buy's problem here.

Finally, Adobe Flash will update automatically

One of the more popular calls/texts I get is about Adobe Flash.  When a new update is ready, a pop-up window flashes and asks to update.  Most casual users have no idea what Flash is, and more importantly, that it needs to be kept up to date.  Most of my questions are, "is this update safe?"  Given that many malware attacks come in the form of pop-ups, I understand the skepticism of users to click OK.  Adobe seems to recognize this skepticism as well and is introducing a new way to update Flash...automatically.

Adobe has released a long-awaited update to its Flash Player that allows users to apply security patches with no prodding.  Check out the screenshot below:

Choose the default setting and no more problems.  Adobe stays updated without confusing users.

Get notified when unauthorized users access your Wi-Fi

Unless you're a security pro, the odds are that you've at least wondered whether someone was stealing your wireless bandwidth. It's easy to check by examining your router's admin page, but that's hard to do with any frequency. Wireless Network Watcher is a free, lightweight app that pings when a new connection is made to your network. Here's how to use it:

1. Download Wireless Network Watcher.
2. Run the app. You may want to set Windows to run it automatically on booting if you find it handy, but for now, just fire it up.
3. The first time you run it, you need to set it to alert you. Just click "Options," then select "Beep On New Device" and "Background Scan."


Step 3: Set Wireless Network Watcher options.

4. Next, press the "Start Scanning" button or hit F5. New connections will trigger an alert tone.

That's it! Note that some devices, like wireless printers, tablets, and so on, may trigger alerts, so check to see if any authorized devices recently connected before shutting down your network and devising new passwords.

(Credit: Rob Lightner/CNET)

Add color to Windows Folders

As a lover of folders on windows, it is rather boring that the default and only color offered is yellow.  There is now an option that can add some spice to the folders on your desktop.  Try Folder Colorizer.  This free program will add an option when you right click a folder to change the color of that folder.  Want a fire red colored folder?  Go for it!

Search Google by Drawing a picture

Ever want to conduct a google search on a picture, but you were unsure of what to call the picture in order to search for it?  No more, there is a search for that!.  Try Search by Drawing.  It is a tool to search google by pictures or by drawing a picture.  Once on the site, you have a palette, use your mouse to draw what you are looking for, or import a picture.  Once you are done uploading the picture or done drawing, click "Search by Drawing" and a google search is performed on the picture.