Have you looked in your Windows Control Panel recently and noticed an icon for Apple’s MobileMe application? If you installed or upgraded to Apple’s iTunes version 7.7, then whether you wanted it or not, MobileMe was also installed. If you own an iPhone or iPod Touch, you might want to try this new “cloud computing” style service from Apple. Of course, if you don’t have either of those devices, and have no interest in MobileMe, then you’ll probably want to remove this application and here’s how.

Filed under: How-To & Tech Tips

Do you use DVD43 and Handbrake to convert DVD content to a format suitable for viewing on your iPod? If so, you might encountered a Handbrake hang when you tried to convert an unencrypted DVD. Try as you might to kill the DVD43 and Handbrake process, both keep on running. And while you can still use your computer, Handbrake is stuck and the only way to “unstick it” is to power off your computer. Is it possible to avoid this problem?

Filed under: How-To & Tech Tips

It all started with an article I wrote describing how to import an audio book from CD into iTunes. Part of the instructions used iTunes’ default Smart Playlist, “Recently Added,” as a way to quickly find an imported audio book. Unfortunately, one of TechTraction’s readers deleted the Smart Playlist and needed a work around for that part of the audio import instructions. Rather than create a different step, I simply described how to recreate the deleted Smart Playlist. Those instructions worked well but now the audio book appears in reverse order (last disk appears first, etc). While I’m not aware of all of the details of the readers particular problem, the following 4 suggestions might fix his, or even your, iTunes sorting problem.

Filed under: How-To & Tech Tips

Sure, you can buy an audio book, but did you know that there several resources on the web that offer audio books for free? Of course some of these free audio books are meant to entice customers to sign up for a pay service, but there are also completely free sites with a limited selection. Diplomaguide.com has compiled a list of 25 online resources for free audio books. Recommended for audio book lovers.

Filed under: Friday Finds

It’s been rough trying to get back into the swing of posting 3 times a week; however, I’m slowing starting to transition from my vacation-frame-of-mind back to a serious work-frame-of-mind. Hopefully I’ll be completely ontrack next week. In the meantime, if you like to customize shortcuts for common Windows tasks, there are a few add-on applications to help fine tune your customization. Likehacker has a nice application round-up and review in a recent article.

Filed under: Friday Finds