Interested in learning more about OpenSocial (Google’s set of common application programming interfaces (APIs) for web-based social network applications)? You could read the documentation. You could search your local bookstore or Amazon for an after market book on the subject. Or you could check out some of the online video training from Google Developers Channel on YouTube.

Filed under: Friday Finds

Back on June 9th of this year I wrote an article detailing the steps for importing an audio book from CD into iTunes and making it appear in the audio book section. In those instructions I describe how to use the “Recently Added” playlist as a quick way to find the imported audio files. A recent reader unfortunately removed that default playlist and now needs to know how to complete my instructions without that playlist. The easiest way is to simply recreate the missing playlist, and here is how.

Filed under: How-To & Tech Tips

Do you routinely need to ship an item and wish you could quickly comparison shop for the best shipping rates? If so, then ShipTool is for you.

Filed under: Friday Finds

I’m not an advocate for illegal music downloads, but if you can’t find what you want legally, then what choice do you have? iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, and Napster don’t sell everything. CDs are still an option assuming the CD is still “in print.” And there’s the catch: What happens when the music is out-of-print, and [...]

Filed under: Tech Commentary

Dying to hook your iPod into your car stereo but don’t want to use one of those FM transmitters? Well, according to the August 2007 issue of Wired magazine all you need is a small adapter cable that converts two RCA jacks (two raised plugs - one red and one white) down to a single 3.5-mm stereo jack. Connect one end to your car stereo and one end to your iPod and you’re in business. If it were only that easy. In nearly all cases the instructions from Wired simply won’t work, here’s why.

Filed under: How-To & Tech Tips

If you’ve ever worked as, with, or for a typical system administrator, then at one point in time you’ve received the panic phone call, email, or instant message that “something” is down. It could be that the “network is down,” “the printer is down,” or even worse “the website is down.” If you’re nodding your head and smiling (or perhaps cringing), then you’ll simply love this video clip.

Filed under: Friday Finds

I was trying to rip a DVD the other day using HandBrake as documented in a previous TechTraction article. Each time I stepped through my process, all HandBrake could find was a single 45 second clip. What happened to the rest of the DVD’s contents? Could it be that this disc had some unknown or unbreakable form of encryption, or was HandBrake failing me?

Filed under: How-To & Tech Tips

Well, it’s time for a much needed break from technology and writing. I’m off for a bit of relaxation and recharging of my personal internal battery. With the exception of today’s post, I’ve got the usual mix of personal commentary on technology, tech-tips and how-to articles scheduled for the next 2 weeks.

Filed under: TechTraction News

If you’re lucky enough to have earned the title of “Computer Expert” in your home (and for your extended family and friends), then you’ve been called more than once to solve someone’s bizarre computer problem. Success with such problems was determined by your base computer knowledge, experience with similar problems, and sheer luck. Of course, it also doesn’t hurt to have access to some useful utilities, and you can find a nice list of such tools at KillerTechTips.com. The list might seem obvious to some, but I’m confident there is at least one item on this list you don’t have in your arsenal of troubleshooting tools. I recommend all “Computer Experts” take a look at this list.

Filed under: Friday Finds

If you live in a Comcast cable market, then you’ve seen the Comcast digital voice commercials touting “digital clarity” and flat fee dialing in North America. If you know even a little about Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) telephony, then you know that the “new” digital phone service Comcast advertises is nothing more than VOIP. [...]

Filed under: Tech Commentary