Favorite Thunderbird Emailer Add-Ons

...in alphabetical order:

• Duplicate Contact Manager - Shows side-by-side duplicates and allows one to save whichever of them one likes, with an opportunity to edit information first, including copying and pasted from the soon-to-be-deleted item to the item-to-be-saved.  Sure, you could do it yourself, but this is easier.  Kind of slow search, though, so do other things and come back to it, as it works, and you'll be fine.
• EagleEye (beta as of this writing) -- A neat way to keep an eye on your contact list.  Allows you to set filters to keep track of folks you have not contacted in a while, or ever, along with enormous other filtering opportunities.  Check it out and have fun with it.
• Enigmail - Free OpenPGP encryption for your Thunderbird.
• Lightning - A Calendar in your Thunderbird
  
• Provider for Google Calendar -- Integrate your Google Calendar with your Thunderbird Lightning calendar (see above).
• Quote Colors - Add colored quote text to your emails.  This adds functionality similar to Outlook's own.
• Zindus - Synch contacts with Google and Zimbra.
  

Have some of your own?  Post a comment to this blog entry.

U3 Applications on USB Flash Drives - Indispensable Tool

Synopsis

Since December, 2007, I've been addicted to using the U3 concept from my secure, encrypted, USB flash drive.  I have found it an indispensable addition to my technology arsenal.

The idea is simple (yet brilliant).  A U3 capable flash drive differs from an ordinary flash drive in that it contains two volumes (drives), one of which being a read-only ISO 9660 volume, emulating a CD-ROM drive, and the other being a standard FAT volume.  The ISO volume contains the 'U3 LaunchPad', which, if Autorun is enabled on the PC, will launch and allow the user to launch applications (from a hidden folder on the FAT volume), and will also allow the user to encrypt (password protect) all the data on the drive.

Several companies produce U3 compatible versions of their software, and other folks modify applications to run from U3 compatible drives.  SanDisk created it but now licenses it to other vendors.

U3 is currently only compatible with Windows-based PC's (Macs and LINUX-based PC's cannot utilize them).

A real world example

I have both Firefox (web browser) and Thunderbird (email client) installed on my U3 drive.  When I insert my U3 flash drive into any Windows-based PC, the U3 LaunchPad starts (if it doesn't, due to local Windows settings, I simply navigate to the 'CD' partition and launch it manually).  I can then launch Firefox, Thunderbird, or any of my other U3 applications, from the LaunchPad, and use them.  Any settings changes I make, such as adding new bookmarks, or adding new email accounts, downloading email messages, deleting email messages, etc., all get saved to the flash drive, and not to the local PC.  Thus, when I move to another PC, all those changes come along for the ride.

Very slick.

Encrypted Files and Synchronization

Although many flash drives offer file encryption, both at the 'entire drive' or 'individual file' levels, it is worthwhile to note that, on a U3 drive, the security is all handled via the 'U3 LaunchPad' application.  Thus, with just one password, one can quickly enable access to both the U3 applications and the file system.

Again, a real example of this could be as follows:

1. Insert U3 drive and enter the password when prompted.
2. Use Firefox and add a new bookmark.
3. Run a third-party sync tool to sync my U3 Firefox bookmarks with my local Firefox bookmarks.
4. All done.
   

I use the above philosophy to synchronize my RoboForm files (search for 'roboform' at this blog's search window for more information).  This allows me to ensure that any password file changes, that I make in RoboForm, are reflected on both my U3 drive and my local PC.

My SanDisk Cruzer drive's 'U3 LaunchPad' came equipped with a native email SYNCING client (at least on SanDisk drives) called 'CruzerSync' (which updated itself in Sep, 2008).  It allows one to synchronize email content, from a PC-based email application, with its own on-board (USB) email application, and it also allows one to define which files, on a local PC, should auto-sync (or manually sync) between PC and flash.  However, although CruzerSync recently upgraded, I have not returned to it, instead preferring my methods described elsewhere in this section.  I find that utilizing an on board version of Thunderbird to be more consistent with my standard user experience than switching between applications.  Also, CruzerSync's 'DMailer' application is only compatible with Outlook and Outlook Express, which means it will not sync my PC-based Thunderbird email.

Related Links

For more information, see the following sites:

Official U3 Site at SanDisk:  http://u3.sandisk.com/home_en.asp

Wikipedia Entry:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U3

Recent Gaming Activities

I've been console gaming since my brother's original Pong game. Yep. Sounds cliche'd, but there it is. Got my Atari 2600 around 1981, an Apple ][+ the following year (getting me into the world of PC gaming), and I'll skip all the stages since then, but culminating with my current assortment of PS2, PS3 (personal favorite), GameCube, Wii, NintendoDS, and my dual-core PC.

Currently playing...

PC: HALO: Combat Evolved (original but patched), Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter, Second Life (if one can even call it a game)

PS3: Warhawk (Just started last night), Splinter Cell: Double Agent

Next Project...

Now that I've got all my router ports configured for the latest games, and an MTU adjustment to prevent my router from dropping packets, I'm going to turn my attention to getting HALO2 to run in XP (designed only for Vista). I hear it can be done.

The Gamecube and Wii belong to the kids, and aside from an extremely rare occurrence when we play together, I play nothing on them. Cool boxes though.

I've got an old-school DS, pre-LITE, and I don't use it. I'm thinking of selling it...but it's tough, cuz I won't get much for it, and the trade-in value, for a DS Lite, is not really worth it...unless I can convince myself I'd use the Lite.

That's about it from the gaming scene. So, a shout-out to all you fellow gamers, and I'll see you in-world.

Related Links
Halo:
http://www.microsoft.com/games/PC/halo.aspx - Description of the game and related links.
http://www.microsoft.com/games/halo/downloads.aspx - You can download a functional demo of the game.

Mini-Review of Genesis: When in Rome

I checked this out on MHD..or whatever it's called this month...oh yeah, Palladia Network.  MHD is now Palladia.  Okay.  Whatever.

Anyway...

Genesis: When in Rome

The concert was well shot, but the song list was kind of strange.  I didn't recognize two of the songs, so they were either brand new or super old.  Either way they were extended album cuts.  Decent, but in this modern age of ADD I lost interest in the stuff I didn't know, as the music itself was not unique enough, from the stuff I do know, to get me to pay attention.  Perhaps there was more stuff, on the real DVD, that the network opted not to show...checking...yeah.  The set list, from the DVD, is as follows.  Much to my chagrin, "Home by the Sea" was not on the broadcast version, which is stupid, since it's a great tune.

Concert:

1. "Duke's Intro" (Behind The Lines, Duke's End)
2. "Turn It On Again"
3. "No Son Of Mine"
4. "Land Of Confusion"
5. "In The Cage Medley" (In The Cage, The Cinema Show, Duke's Travels)
6. "Afterglow"
7. "Hold On My Heart"
8. "Home By The Sea"
9. "Follow You, Follow Me"
10. "Firth Of Fifth"
11. "I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe)"

Regardless, the musicianship was, of course, top-notch.  Mike Rutherford and Milwaukee's Daryl Stuermer traded guitar and bass roles constantly.  Chester Thompson handled the drumming when Collins was off singing...or when he was playing the drums (typical dual mode, fun to watch).

I recommend a one-time viewing if for no other reason than the film-makers get it right and actually show them handling their instruments, versus just showing their faces.

Gaming a bit again - Original 'HALO'

Work is a challenge, in that there's so much to do right now.  All kinds of stuff going on!  Great stuff and great colleagues, so I don't mind it at all, but it can be mentally draining.

To alleviate the stress, I dug out my copy of the original HALO game, loaded it up, played it for an hour -- after only having played it twice before, about 8 months ago -- threw up a server, and had my pall Kirby connect.  We played for about an hour and a half, and it was a blast.  We set it for "five kills makes a winner", and Kirby hosed me the first few times out (HALO vet).  I soon got my legs, and we ended up swapping matches throughout the rest of the night.  He and I did a lot of Ghost Recon, back in the day, and I'd consider us equals, with either of us able to trounce the other when we're "on".

Since then I've configured my router to pass Windows Messenger audio to my gaming rig so that we can taunt each other.  I tend to "play blue", so I apologize in advance for any naughty words he hears in-game.

I highly recommend it as a way of letting off some steam.  One can usually find it at the used game stores for $9.99, or shell out $19.99 for a new copy.

I've finally abandoned Outlook (in favor of Thunderbird)

Yes, yes, I know.  I'm "Outlook Guy".  "Mr. Outlook ."  "The Outlook Meister".  No more.  It served me well these past 12 years...but it's time to move on.  Passed time.  It's simply too cumbersome and high powered for what I need to do.

In the old days, Outlook was the best game in town for handling multiple email accounts and having a calendar, built-in notepad, and journal.  Since the 90's I've always worked for companies that use Microsoft Exchange email servers, and it made sense for me to be able to configure Outlook (full-blown, not Outlook Express) to connect to them.

Now, with other remote mail options at my disposal, and my own utilization of GMail, as my primary email address (versus my Road Runner email), I am no longer tied to a single PC to access my information.  Thus, I really don't need a local email client at all.  That is, composing email on my PC is still easier, allowing me to copy and paste images, etc., but I don't have to do it locally.  My Google calendar not only gives me access to my events, online, but it also lets me share my events with friends and family (as they let me see their events).

So, my Thunderbird client pops up, gets the job done, and utilizes far fewer system resources while doing it.  Bells and whistles?  A couple.  Ease of use?  Just fine.

So long, Outlook .  It's been a good ride.

Update to 'GPS Systems - Quick Tips..' - The Bluetooth Phone via GPS Concept

Back in April '08 I wrote that I thought the ability for a GPS to pair with a Bluetooth phone was not one of the most useful GPS features available.  In the interests of full disclosure, I deemed the feature "dumb".  In August, '08, I bought my wife a Garmin c550, which has this ability. For someone who doesn't like the Bluetooth headset concept, a Bluetooth speakerphone is the better option than holding one's phone up to one's ear. The c550 displays the caller-ID, on the GPS' screen, making it simple to easily see who is calling, without having to scramble for the phone.  It also makes the phone's (an LG Dare, in this case) contact list, recent calls, and other information available via the GPS unit's screen.

 As of this writing I have paired it with her phone, and tested it indoors, but we have not yet road-tested the feature.

I still stand by the idea that playing music, through a portable GPS' speakers, is useless to me, but I stand corrected about Bluetooth phone use.  Time will tell whether the caller/callee, on the other end of the connection, will actually be able to hear us, but I may be willing to sacrifice that, for quick calls, in the interest of driving safety.

For a full listing of the Garmin c550's feature set, see the TigerDirect link where I bought her unit, at http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?Sku=G145-0068 .