Tech Exposures

Fix for Skype problems connecting in Windows 7

Recently, I’ve had problems connecting to Skype lately on my Dell Studio laptop on Windows 7. My Linux box has no problem connecting on the same internet connection so I ruled out network and account problems.

I read about one hundred blog posts and Skype recommendations but nothing worked. I really need Skype as I use it for business daily meetings. After literally hours of trying everthing – uninstalling, removing headset, removing all audio programs, killing Media Player in task manager, killing itunes, etc… I finally found a solution that worked for me. So far, Skype loads like a beauty now, like it should, like it always did. I hope it works for you too.

Fixing the problem
1. First make sure Skype is closed and not running in task manager.
2. Go to Windows Start, find Skype in the programs menu.
2. Right mouse click and click on properties.
3. Click on Previous Versions tab
4. Hopefully you have an earlier version(s) listed in the File versions section. Select the most recent older version and click on the Restore button below.
That’s it! Now start Skype and hopefully, like me, you will be back in business in a jiffy.

Please let me know if this works for you. I’m assuming Skype will come out with a fix to whatever was broken in the latest version (probably due to some Windows update change).

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Laptop Security. How to Protect & Get Your Stolen Laptop Notebook Computer Back

I consider myself to be a lucky one.  I’ve traveled all over the world for two decades with my laptop pc in tow.  Fortunately for me, I’ve never had it stolen.   However, the statistics are starting to get stacked in favor of you having your laptop snatched at least at one point.

The FBI reported that over 1.5 million laptops were stolen in the USA alone last year.  That’s 2.85 laptops stolen in the USA every second of the day.  And, the numbers are on the rise.

If you are one of the unlucky ones, there are now technologies that assist you in retrieving your laptop and prevent misuse of your personal data  (Provided that you have the tracking software installed on your laptop).

The most ‘popular’ places for laptop thieves to do their work and how you can prevent the crime.

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Get Adsense Stats Even when Google Site is Down for Maintenance

Q. I have a Google Adsense account. Google occasionally shuts down for maintenance. During this time, usually four hours, all access reports if off. I’m left with no way of knowing how my website is performing. What do I do?

A. Google continues tallying ad clicks on your website, even if you can’t see them on your adsense account while the system is down. High volume websites sometimes make adjustments on the fly if things aren’t working well, or to respond to fast-changing.

Here’s a little known trick to see your stats even when Adsense is down…
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Top 10 Must Have iPhone Apps April 2010

Here’s this month’s must have list of the best of iPhone and iPod Apps:
Unless otherwise noted, all apps mentioned here are FREE (requires iTunes for download).

Must Have Apps for April 2010
With over 200,000 active iPod and iPhone apps, there’s nearly an endless selection of tools and toys for every occasion. We’ve scoured the iPhone apps directories and tested many hundreds of tools. Here’s our top ten list of must-have iPhone apps for April 2010.

iPhone and iPad Suitable
We chose apps that are suitable and work well on both Apple iPhones and iPads. These apps will add to your iPhone experience, and are in addition to the great set of apps that Apple includes with your purchased device.

The apps listed here require you to have an iTunes account and you must download them from the Apps tool on your Apple device or from your PC or Mac’s iTunes. Most of these apps are free. The paid apps will include their cost in the description.  Use the iTunes links below for easy installation to your device.

On Sale Now: Apple iPod touch 3rd Generation Portable Media Player (32GB) with FREE Shipping!
All iPod sizes on sale now.

Top Ten Must Have iPhone iPod iPad Apps April 2010
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PHP Script – Show Google Search Term That Brought Visitor to Your Website

Find the Google Search Term Keywords That Landed the Visitor on Your Website

I always wanted to know when displaying the webpage what search brought the user to this page.  You can always look at Google Analytics, or whatever statistics package you have on your server (Urchin, Webalizer, etc…), but that is after the fact.  So, I wrote a simple PHP script (all server-side) that gives you that information.

Code Example: Full script – Copy & Paste

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RSS Feed – Feedburner Added

Here’s the link to our RSS feed on Feedburner.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/TechExposures

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Easiest Way to Have a USA IP Address

Free and Legal Method for Acquiring a Reliable USA IP Address For Testing and Surfing While Outside the USA.

Q. You’re located outside the USA and need to test what your website looks like to your USA visitors.  What’s the easiest way to accomplish this for free an without pesky and unstable ip cloaks and expensive ip proxy address forwarders.

A. If you have a server already located in the USA, all you need to do is to connect via SSH to your server with a port tunnel and then configure your browser to access all non local internet connections through that port.

Step by Step Guide to SSH Tunnel:

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Top 10 Must Have iPod iPhone Apps February 2010

New – Click here to see April 2010 Top Ten Apps

Must Have Apps 2010
With over 200,000 active iPod and iPhone apps, there’s nearly an endless selection of tools and toys for every occasion. We’ve scoured the iPhone apps directories and tested many hundreds of tools. Here’s our top ten list of must-have iPhone apps for January 2010.

iPhone and iPad Suitable
We chose apps that are suitable and work well on both Apple iPhones and iPads. These apps will add to your iPhone experience, and are in addition to the great set of apps that Apple includes with your purchased device.

The apps listed here require you to have an iTunes account and you must download them from the Apps tool on your Apple device or from your PC or Mac’s iTunes.  Most of these apps are free.  The paid apps will include their cost in the description.

On Sale Now: Apple iPod touch 3rd Generation Portable Media Player (32GB) with FREE Shipping!
All iPod sizes on sale now.

Top Ten Must Have iPhone iPod Apps

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Is the iPad Really Just an iPod for Giants? Analysis and Review.

As we’ve already reported, Apple’s official announcement of the iPad to be released in a couple months, has sent shockwaves through the technology world. Steve Jobs and Apple have a history of being at the forefront of innovation in the technology industry.

A New Era – The iPad Era?
Could this new iPad foreshadow the shift in consumer migration and mix with telephony and media? Has Apple hit this one out of the park with a new concept for a new era? The reviews thus far have been mixed. Most industry pundits are cautious not to outright pan the device for fear of the boomerang should Apple prove again that it knows better.

Pricing
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iPod vs. iPad vs. iPhone Features Comparison

Apple’s announcement of the new iPad gives the consumer a new challenge to decide which device to purchase. TechExposures set out to make the decision process a bit easier. Here’s a side by side comparison of the features and specs of the three Apple popular devices.

Side By Side Comparison

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