Dropbox - Online Storage Solution

Ok I have written a couple reviews about online tools and have hinted about Dropbox. So far Dropbox is one of my favourite online tools. It is really easy to use and backs up your files for access in multiple locations. For example I have Dropbox installed on:

• my Home PC,


• Work PC,


• iPhone,


• iPad


• and I can access files from any computer with an internet connection.

The Dropbox application is a simple little file that once installed looks like any other folder on your computer. The difference is that when you drop files into this folder it is synced online and with all other locations where you have Dropbox installed - Nifty!

Why would you want Dropbox? Have you ever suffered from losing your USB drive, having it damaged, or stolen? Have you ever had your computer crash and not be recoverable? Have you ever had your computer stolen? Have you ever wished you had just brought your USB drive from home so you could access those files you were working on?
If you answered YES to any of the questions above then an online storage is for you. You can also share folders with other people making it a great resource to share files that are too large for email!

What do you need to set up Dropbox? All you need is access to the internet and an email address! The Basic account is FREE! Go to Dropbox to sign up today. You can opt to have just the online version which does not require you to install anything or you can download the small application that sets up Dropbox on your computer giving the facility to just drop files in!

How much can you store on Dropbox? By default a basic account 2GB of storage, you can get more storage for free by recommending to others (up to a total of 8GB), or you can opt to pay for more space.

Where can you access Dropbox? Dropbox can be accessed from any Windows, Mac or Linux PC with an internet connection, There are also free apps available for you to access your files on iPhone, iPad, Blackberry or Android devices.

Dropbox is the solution to that problem which all students dread: losing all their hours of work due to a technical malfunction or data loss. Try it out today it is FREE you have nothing to lose! Once you have installed the application it is as simple as saving your work to the Dropbox folder! If you want to try Dropbox for yourself please visit the site via this referral link. By clicking on the link you are supporting my review and I will get bonus data on my Dropbox account but as a FREE BONUS you will also receive 250MB additional data on your account! Win - Win situation!

This post was first published on my uni blog:www.theprofessionalstudent.com

Gaming can change the world

Recently I viewed a video online about how gaming can change the world. At first, like I am sure you are, I was skeptical, in fact I can pretty much say that everyone in the audience probably had the same opinion. But after watching the whole video I realised that it did bring up some valid points, issues that could open up more discussions and bring about hopefully more answers to the issues plaguing today's society. Before you read any further watch the video and then read on. Be sure to watch it all I know some might be tempted to switch off half way but you need to watch to the end to understand the "point" trying to be made!



I am now in the process of reading the book by Jane McGonigal titled "Reality is Broken: Why games make us better and how they can change the world" which is available from Amazon in Kindle format click on the image of the front cover of the book for more information. I will write another review on the book once I have finished it, but so far it is a really interesting read!

[amazon_link id="B004G8Q1Q4" target="_blank" locale="US" ][/amazon_link]

Natural Mould Remover - it really works!

Okay so this one is for all my friends in the NT (and probably QLD) that constantly have to deal with mould (it is also relevant to anyone else that has to deal with mould). During the wet season it is that unwelcome visitor! It takes over the place and moves in overnight! You can now say goodbye to all those harsh mould remover chemicals and check out this natural alternative that works!

So I was listening to ABC radio (105.7 Darwin, 106.1 Katherine) and happened to be tuned in while they were talking about cleaning. They were interviewing Shannon Lush also known as the Queen of Clean, she recommended some natural cleaning options to removes mould and keep it gone. So I thought I would give it a try and "Eureka!" it works! Not only does it get rid of the mould but it helps stop it from returning! So for those of you that might not have listened to the radio I thought I would share the advice with you here!

The natural secret ingredient: Oil of Cloves

This wonderful little oil has some awesome cleaning power - I have also found out it is good for toothaches! You can pick up a bottle in the pharmacy and some supermarkets and it shouldn't be too expensive these two bottles cost me $12.50 and they will go a long way!

So how do we use it for cleaning mould on hard surfaces i.e. walls and doors?

Mix 1/4 of a teaspoon into one litre of water.
We don't need anymore than this, that small amount is all that is needed to do the job!
Put it into a spray bottle and spray onto the mould and leave it for 20 minutes.
Come back and wipe down the area with a damp cloth (it really just wipes away!)
Then spray a fine layer over the surface and leave it (this helps stop the mould from returning)

Words of advice the oil does have a strong smell so really only use the small amount stated - but in saying that the smell of the oil is much better than the smell of the harsh chemical cleaners you find in the supermarket!

For more tips for cleaning mould and other household cleaning advice check out these interviews Shannon Lush has done.

With the ABC there is also advice for cleaning mould out of clothes, carpets, and furnishings!

ABC Tropical North
ABC Brisbane

Or check out the segment from A Current Affair

ACA

And other cleaning tips on the Today Show

Today

Shannon is certainly a busy lady but she knows her stuff when it comes to cleaning!

Hopefully you find her advice as useful as I have!

It's here! It's here! The iPad 2 specs have been released!

Apple unveils iPad 2: see the pics and highlights - PC Builder News - PC & Tech Authority.

I won't repeat everything listed in the article click on the link if you want to read more. Or go to the Apple website

But the iPad 2 does look sexy - especially when you consider that it is lighter and thinner that it's predecessor. Add to that the faster processor and increased graphics performance it is one nice piece of hardware. Oh and don't forget about the camera's, front and back although I couldn't find details on the specs of these... that would be interesting to know.

Alas I don't think I will be allowed to get one considering I only got my iPad a few months ago.

And to all you Apple haters out there bah-hum-bug to you, I like all my gadgets ;)

In a world where Cloud computing is taking over a good old Tape saved the day!

Google restoring Gmail messages from tape - News - PC & Tech Authority.

We are becoming more and more reliant on the Cloud computing age, where our data is stored somewhere off in cyberspace and we don't give a second thought to where that information is actually physically held. So when Google had a slight hiccup in operations it sent thousands of people into panic mode believing that everything had just disappeared into cyberspace.

Google has a number of back up contingencies in place to avoid data and service disruption however when they were infected by a "bug" that affected multiple data centres simultaneously (in a software update) it took down Gmail services for a few thousand people. They had to turn to the good ol' backup tape - that physical contraption that many people don't even know exists but is the mundane job of the junior IT technician to change daily. The unfortunate problem with reverting to a tape backup is the time involved, it can take several hours to complete a full restore from a tape and hence why there was such a long delay in getting services back up and running.

So what can we learn from this experience? We should take from this that even though Virtualisation and Cloud computing are a great convenience they can become a massive inconvenience if something goes wrong. Always keep a backup of your data in more than one place if you desperately need to have access and any time. Never rely solely on one device - it will feel like your virtual life has stopped if for some reason you can't get access.