Recycling Old Cell Phones

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Now that our house renovation is (mostly) completed, we’re trying to get our life back after the major upheaval. We still have boxes and boxes of stuff. I was stunned to see ALL the stuff we have stored. One box had 4 old cell phones! They are out of date and useless now…. but I didn’t know what to do with them at the time, so I threw them in a box, only to be unearthed now.

Cell phones should not go in the regular garbage. Like computers, cell phones contain chemicals and other materials that do not belong in a landfill. Moreover, like computers, cell phones carry sensitive information– contacts, calendar notes, etc. So WHAT do we do with old cell phones? What kind of cell phone recycling is available for perfectly good phones in working condition?

sellcell.com is a website devoted to recycling your cell phone. Only thing is, you don’t throw it away, but sell it to someone who wants a phone. SellCell.com has been successful in the UK, and they are coming soon to the United States. On the UK site, you search for your phone model, so that you can list it on the site for sale (listing it is free). SellCell will connect you with interested buyers. It’s a great way to provide someone else the opportunity to get a used phone for a good price. And it’s a great way to earn a little money AND perhaps find a new phone. Check out the site for details. SellCell.com also has a blog with information about recycling the phone (including an important tip about removing the SIM card before recycling the phone). This is a terrific way to get rid of the old cell phone! I’m going to see if I can list my phones. They are so old, I don’t know if they will even be on the list…. but then again, maybe an antique dealer will want the old dinosaurs ;)

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Remote Software System

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Ever try to give tech help via phone or email? I have. What a frustrating endeavor! After hours of unsuccessful telephone time, I finally convinced them to try remote software. WHAT a difference. I was able to see the person’s computer and manage the files (and get rid of the virus) much easier. Unfortunately, remote software is very expensive. I only do tech support infrequently; a tech business heavily relies on such software. Besides the expensive, remote software must be intuitive and speedy.

SimpleHelp remote support software is a good choice. I watched the demo video and was impressed with the pleasant interface and choices for the remote technician. Easy! What makes SimpleHelp stand out is that there is no monthly subscription, as is with LogMeIn and GoToMyPC. Depending on your business needs, you can purchase the software for as little as $295 for one active session at a time, or up to $7,000 for unlimited simultaneous sessions. NO monthly fees. You can opt to pay for the software in monthly payments, though.

You can see from the screenshot below that the graphic interface is clean and easy to manage.

Looks good! It’s a refreshing change of choice when it comes to selecting remote support software.

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Posted in business services, computers, desktop utilities. Tags: . Comments Off »

Learning About the Magic Jack Gadget

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Sheesh, HOW many years have I puttered around with making a decision?? I’m still very undecided. I’m talking about the Magic Jack device. Actually, I’m generally talking about Voip (voice over Internet protocol). Yes, I am still at the mercy of my local telephone company– I still have the landline. And what an expensive venture it is! WHY oh why is phone service so expensive? And if we used it more often, it might even be somewhat worth it. But 85% of our telephone calls are either solicitations, wrong numbers, or calls for the people who had the number before we got it. It’s INSANE. The phone rings all day long, and it’s almost never for us! It’s getting to be quite the aggravation. I’m looking around at options.

I heard about the Magic Jack about a year ago now. I read very mixed reviews; some people said it worked well, others said their service was spotty. Either way, it’s very inexpensive. There’s a site called “Magic Jack Numbers” that seems to be devoting itself to everything you wanted to know about Magic Jack. I’ve been poring through the articles. I really haven’t found a whole lot of information about it– SOLID information, not sensational hype. I really don’t care if the device is “as seen on TV!” I want to know how it works, what the software looks like, about magic jack numbers, etc. I would really like to change my phone number to get rid of all the wrong and annoying calls; looks like I can with the numbers. I like the testimonies on the site– they are simple and very well-written. They also include screenshots of the Magic Jack software, and give a good idea of what to expect for the install process. I’d like to see even more articles added, such as a tutorial or video, or tips or whatever. You can also get phone service through the computer with the Magic Jack, too. Hmmm!

Anyway, if you have been wondering about the Magic Jack, check out the site. If you have a Magic Jack, please leave a comment! I’d like to know more about the device. Voip is becoming a very stiff competition for landline service (deservedly so, in my opinion), so I’m thinking of getting my feet wet very soon. I’ll have reviews to come. In the meantime, check the site or let me know your opinions.

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Customize Your Computers

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I found this site just in time: Howard custom computers. I’ve been toodling around computer websites, comparing prices and specs (it always takes me FOREVER to choose a new computer, because I am so fussy). I am SO SICK of seeing the Atom processor. It is a weenie of a processor, and I dislike it very much. Yet, I see it everywhere, and it’s driving up the prices of the better Duo Core and Quad Core processors! Last year, I was able to get a dual core computer with 4BG memory for $300. It was a STEAL. I should have bought two, because that same computer is now $450!!! :-p I am very dissatisfied with the Big Box, cookie-cutter computer selection out there. I was thinking about assembling a computer myself, but I do not have the time to research all the components, nor do I have the time to assemble it right now.

So I found Howard custom computers website, when they asked me to mention them here. This looks like a pretty cool site! You can start off with a basic Howard computer, and upgrade it JUST the way you want. They will build it, they will ship it– it’s a perfect combination! Howard also sells all the major brands for all your digital and technology needs (HP, Toshiba, etc). Besides PCs, Howard can create the perfect custom laptop! Howard also sells other tech devices and accessories such as camcorders, PDAs, workstations, hard drives, network cables, everything! The site looks very cool.

Anyway, if the cookie-cutter computers at the Big Box stores are too lame for you, definitely check out the custom computers at Howard.

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Posted in computers, online shopping. Tags: , . Comments Off »

Simple Tweak To Monitor Your PC Connections

Many programs on your computer make connections to your network or to the Internet. There are some programs you want to connect to the Internet: your instant messenger, your email, your browser, and so on. But there are also some other connections you do not want leaching out, such as bandwidth-hogging software and spyware. Here’s a terrific tweak to check up on all connections on your PC.

1. Go to the Start Menu. Click “Run.” Type “cmd” and click the “OK” button. This will open the DOS Command window.

2. Type in the following, including the spaces:

netstat -b 5 > activity.txt

3. Wait two or three minutes. Press “Ctrl” and “C” on your keyboard.

4. Go back to the DOS Command window. Type in the following:

activity.txt

This will open Notepad or your default text editor.

5. View the Internet activity in the file.

Of course, the next step is being able to interpret the data. :D

Hat tip to Digital Inspiration for the tweak.

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Posted in computers, how to, surveillance. Tags: , , , . Comments Off »

Super Quality Cam For Business Calls

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of faceVsion Technology USA. All opinions are 100% mine.

I’ve been on a few business trips. I like them, overall– it’s a nice opportunity to get out of the house. But it must be extremely laborious to go on business trips regularly (and expensive, too!). Sure, there’s always video conference calls… but I have tried Skype and Windows Live, and… let’s just say that the quality leaves something to be desired. Very “skippy” and blotchy. And, really, for a video conference call to look and feel professional, you really need a nice web cam. Those cheesy little $30 ones just won’t do when you’re discussing you next big idea to the boss.

Thankfully, technology is swelling with options to make conference calls easier and affordable for the small business person. The best I’ve seen on the market so far is faceVsion. FaceVision does what other HD cams, such as Microsoft Cinema and Logitech Pro 9000, cannot do– stream high resolution live video over the Internet with clarity. The FV Express Combo from FaceVision Technology USA has a special chipset and encoder/decoder to provide really clear video. The nice thing is that it’s affordable, too. You can make video calls through Gmail, too– the FV Express Combo allows you to sync your Gmail contact list to your HD contact list.

There’s much more to the faceVision technology– see the faceVision on line store for more details and a good intro video. There’s a great promotion going on– save $10 off any purchase with the promo code FVTBTS2 . This ends on September 30, 2010, so don’t delay.

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Visit my sponsor: FaceVsion FV Express Combo HD Video Conferencing

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