Cool Tools from Google

Ever wonder what it would be like not to have to fiddle with sending documents to customers or family with a certain format only to find they can't collaborate with you?

What about multiple versions of a document floating around? Well our friends at Google have put together a new great suite of Communication, Collaboration and Management Tools for Families, Schools, Small Business and Enterprise Solutions.

Here at WEBGIO we have begun to leverage the power of centralizing information online via Google Apps and taking advantage of enterprise security and powerful search functionality.

Here are some of the tools we are using coupled with our Microsoft Products (but for FREE) -

Go to www.google.com and search for each name - Have fun!

GMAIL - We are able to use POP3 from our domain accounts and send / recieve mail right in GMAIL. All for free and up to 5 accounts! (domain name hosting and email domains outside of google apply if you want your companyname.com)

GOOGLE CALENDER - Enterprise power for Families, Schools, Small Business and Big Business. Share a calender by sending an invite from an email address. No need for MS Outlook Exchange Server. Share Calendars across your company or have a shared family calendar. What about using it as your office appt. book for customer appts.?

GOOGLE START PAGE - Customize your browser's Google home page with Gadgets. Gadgets are little tools that give you the weather, a joke of the day, show your email, show your calendar, show your Google Docs & Spreadsheets. This is more of a personal customization via a home page.

GOOGLE DOCS & SPREADSHEETS - This is one of my favorites allowing a team of remote team members collaborate on a document or spreadsheet in real time via the internet. Just invite a user by thier email address and they have permission to a document.

PICASA - This a search based photo album that loads locally on your PC.

PICASA Web - This is a web based photo album that allows you to post photos to the web with one click and the selection of a category. My wife setup our family consisting of 3 years of pictures in 1 hour.

Daylight Savings - Are you Ready?

Well it's here ... the Energy Policy Act compliance has taken effect here in the United States for the early Daylight Savings Time (DST).   So how does this effect your computer and what can you do about it ?

Windows XP Daylight Savings Time- If you have your Automatic Update on already you are set. If you don't then you can follow the steps below to turn on your Automatic Updates.
 
Option 1 - Turning on Automatic Updates
Step 1 - Right Click on My Computer
Step 2 - Select Properties
Step 3 - Select the Autmatic Updates Tab
Step 4 - Select Automatic
Step 5 - Click Apply then Close
Step 6 - Done

Option 2 - Running Windows Update
Step 1 - Click Start
Step 2 - Select Windows Update
Step 3 - Run Windows Update
Step 4 - Done

Option 3 - Download the Installer Package Directly
Step 1 - Navigate to http://support.microsoft.com/kb/931836
Step 2 - Click "Download the Update for Windows XP package now"
Step 3 - Use the Defaults
Step 4 – Done

Microsoft Outlook Calendar Daylight Savings Tips - This is a good update to make sure your local calender has the right time for email and calendar events. There is nothing worse that being 1 hour off (unless your early) but that's in the fall ;-).

Option 1 - Time Zone Data Update Tool for Microsoft Outlook
Step 1 -Navigate to http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=E343A233-B9C8-4652-9DD8-AE0F1AF62568&displaylang=en
Step 2 - Click the Download Button

Step 3 - Take the defaults
Step 4 – Done

If the above is still a little fuzzy on Daylight Savings Time Solutions then visit Microsoft's DST web site. 

Now if only Y2K was this easy ;-) ... I guess the IT community can look at Y2K as job security.