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Introducing SmartSupport™
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 | Thinking Green - February 2010 | | |
|  Thinking Green - February 2010
HP's New Data Center is the First to use Wind for Cooling
Hewlett Packard's new state of the art data center has been designed it to use only the cold air blowing in off the North Sea to cool the building.
Winter Olympic Medals = Green?
For the first time, recycled materials have been added to the medals to be awarded at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.
Earth Day Turns 40
The 40th Annual Celebration of Earth Day will take place on April 22. Find way to join in the conservation efforts on their official site.
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| Jumpcut: Multiple Mac Clipboards Made Easy | | |
| Jumpcut: Multiple Mac Clipboards
Made Easy
By Chip Carter
One limitation in both the Mac OS and Windows is that only the last item which has been copied (or cut) is saved in the Clipboard to be pasted. If you want to copy multiple items efficiently, often you need some sort of additional utility. Over the years there have been many freeware, shareware, and commercial utilities available to provide multiple clipboards.
I've tried at least a dozen of these utilities over the years, and currently I prefer Jumpcut: It's very simple, reliable, and free.
Jumpcut only remembers text; it doesn't process graphics. This keeps its use of system resources — memory and processor cycles — extremely low. Jumpcut is just an application: It doesn't rely on a System Preference Panel, an invisible "daemon", or a Startup Item. It does use a Menu Bar icon, so it's easy to use (and easy to quit, if desired).
A download link and instructions are at:
http://jumpcut.sourceforge.net/
After you've downloaded it you can keep it anywhere, but it's a good idea to just put it in your "Applications" folder. Of course you can drag it to your Dock to add it there.
If you add it to the Dock, you can click and hold the mouse on its icon to tell the Mac OS to always open Jumpcut when your computer starts up:
Whenever Jumpcut is open, its "scissors" icon will appear on your Menu Bar, as shown below. Just click on the icon and it will show the last 15 items which you've cut or copied. If you want to show more — or fewer — items, you can easily change that number, by selecting "Preferences…" near the bottom of the menu. There are also preferences for different Menu Bar icons, different hotkey combinations (discussed below), and a few other simple settings options.
To paste any of the items which have recently been cut or copied, you can just select the item from the menu…
 …or you can use a "hotkey" combination and a bezel will appear: This allows you to paste something without going to the menu. By default, clicking Control-Option-V will invoke the bezel, and it will paste as soon as you let go of the keys. To change which item you are pasting, just use the arrow keys after you have pressed the hotkeys, before you let go. After you've tried using the hotkeys once or twice, it's easy to remember.
By default, JumpCut remembers more items — 40, instead of 15 — in its "stack" for the bezel. You can also change that number under "Preferences…"
There are a LOT of other utilities out there which provide multiple clipboards. Since I'm picky about software ease-of-use and reliability, I've abandoned some solutions which had more-complicated-than-necessary interfaces, or offer too many other features at the cost of software conflicts or speed. Those of us who keep many applications and windows and open simultaneously (who doesn't?) want to avoid implementations which had obtrusive floating, sliding, or pop-up palettes, windows, or docks. Jumpcut does it's job well, and the price is right.
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| Video Conference Without the Computer | | |
| Video Conference Without the Computer
By Brett Sennett
Do you have some older relatives that just won't get a computer, but really want to see those grand kids? The ASUS Videophone Touch might be the answer. It's a Skype enabled video phone. The ASUS Videophone Touch is truly revolutionary, allowing you to make unlimited video Skype calls conveniently and quickly without a computer or additional hardware and software. Its large 7” touchscreen, built-in camera and speaker guarantee a great audio-visual experience.
Asus issued the following press release to promote this product:
ASUS Launches Skype Certified™ Standalone Videophone with Large, Brilliant Touchscreen Co-developed with Skype, the ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T is the Most Intuitive Way to Make Free Unlimited Video Calls without a Computer
Taipei, Taiwan, September 18, 2009 – ASUS today launched a Skype Certified™ touchscreen videophone dedicated to unlimited video calling over the Internet—the ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T. Part of the videophone product family, it is the first to feature a large 7″ touchscreen, greatly speeding up character input and making any video calling experience more intuitive and fun. The touchscreen works in tandem with the standalone device’s built-in webcam, speaker, microphone and Wi-Fi capabilities to let users make unlimited video calls for free to other Skype users without the need for a computer. This latest version expands and improves upon the first generation ASUS videophone announced last year. The ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T’s simple-to-use, icon-based touchscreen interface takes the complexity out of Internet calling—making it easy for anyone to make and receive Skype-to-Skype video and voice calls. Users can even participate in conference calls, making the ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T an inexpensive, all-in-one voice and video conferencing solution for small businesses. Furthermore, the ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T allows users to make calls to fixed and mobile lines at really cheap rates; users can also receive calls from any land or mobile phone line if they have an online Skype number. “Skype goes beyond traditional voice calling and brings people closer through rich, real-time video communication,” said Manrique Brenes, Skype’s director of business development and product management for consumer electronics. “The device’s touchscreen makes video calling an even easier and more accessible way for people to communicate. It offers the benefits of Skype video calling and exceptional audio quality—allowing friends, families, and small businesses to share their worlds face-to-face without being tied to a computer.” Free Calls Whenever, Wherever
With the ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T, free unlimited video and voice calls can be made to anyone on Skype. This lets users make Skype-to-Skype calls whenever the need arises, without having to worry about costs. ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T users can also receive calls from Skype users who don’t have a videophone. ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T users looking to make calls to fixed and mobile lines can subscribe to one of Skype’s popular unlimited calling* subscriptions or purchase Skype credits at www.skype.com. Great Video and Voice Communications Experience
The ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T is designed specifically for video calls and is equipped with a large, high-resolution 7″ touchscreen and an integrated webcam for greater video call quality. Its built-in microphone and speaker also ensure exceptional sound quality; users who wish to maintain their privacy during calls can opt to use a standard mini-jack headset and microphone. Easy to Set Up and Easy to Use
The ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T offers the quickest, easiest and most fun way to make free video calls—at no point is a computer or additional software required. Users can be up and running in three simple steps:
1. Connect to a broadband connection, either wirelessly or via an Ethernet cable
2. Sign-in with an existing Skype name or create a new one
3. Start video calling The ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T is as easy to use as it is to set up. Its intuitive icon-driven touchscreen interface enables the speedy keying-in of characters, allowing for fast contact searches and the inputting of new contact information. With its Wi-Fi capability, small footprint and rechargeable battery power supply, the portable ASUS Videophone Touch AiGuru SV1T does not need to be tied to a wall socket nor a computer during use. It can be moved from room to room without the hassle of interrupting or dropping a call. *Unlimited calling: All calls are subject to Skype’s fair usage policy which is set at 10,000 minutes per month (with a maximum of 6 hours per day). Calls to premium, non-geographic and other special numbers are excluded.
Note: Specifications are subject to change without prior notice. Please visit www.asus.com for more details.
With the price approaching $300 its a bit pricey. It still does have an audience of early adopters, gadget collectors, and people with family that just don't or need another computer to do what the Asus does. Granted you could almost pay the same for a netbook with the same functionality and more but who wants a laptop on the kitchen counter?
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