SpellBound for Firefox - New Version

Version 0.7.3 of SpellBound, the spellchecker for Firefox , is now available for download. Open Firefox, go to "Tools", then scroll down to "Extensions", then click "Update" (the middle button). This will enable you to download and install the new version right over top of the older version. When you have completed this, you will have to restart Firefox to activate the new version. Now go to your "Extensions" again and make sure the version shown is SpellBound 0.7.3. Now you're all done and properly updated. It's that easy!

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Spell-Checker for Notepad & Wordpad

You have probably found that Notepad and Wordpad do not have a SpellChecker included. However, I have found this SpellChecker add-on that will do the trick for you. It's called Tiny Spell. Click on the title line of this posting and you can download the installation file. If your firewall asks you if it's okay to change settings, say yes. When you have opened and installed this program you will have the installation file on your desktop which you can drag and drop into your "My Documents" folder for safekeeping and also a desktop icon (which you probably won't need and you can right-click and delete if you want) . This will leave you with a blue and white icon at the bottom of your screen (with a checkmark and the letters TS - for Tiny Spell I guess). From now on, as you are typing in Wordpad, Notepad or most other Microsoft programs you will hear a beep and the icon will turn yellow if it detects a misspelled word. When this happens, click on the icon and a page will pop-up with suggested corrections to the last word you just typed. When you pick a correction or ignore and move on the icon will turn blue-white again waiting for the next word as you go along. I have just installed this to try and it works great! Price: FREE!!! Hope this helps you out.

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GMail Invitations!

I have a limited number of Gmail invitations available for those who may want one. Email me with your reason why you should be one of those lucky people that get an invitation to open their own Google GMail account and I'll send you one (until I run out, of course). Click on the title of this posting. First come - first served!

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Was Santa Good to You? New LCD Monitor?

Here we are already into January 2005 and I hope Santa was especially good to you. One of the most asked for and received items at Christmas for the true computer geek is a flat-panel LCD monitor. If you were one of the lucky ones to receive this then this item is for you. The first thing you will notice is that LCD displays are much easier on the eyes after prolonged use. This is because the customary flicker of CRT monitors is not apparent on an LCD. Secondly, you'll wonder how you ever got along without all that extra space on your desktop that an LCD will give you. LCDs also run a lot cooler than CRTs and heat is the enemy of electronics, so this cooler running temperature is another advantage for LCD displays.

I use Windows XP for my operating system and I have found that the text on my LCD monitor can be improved by using ClearType, a font smoothing program that comes with XP. If you have XP you can turn on ClearType as follows: go to "Start", then "Control Panel", then the "Display" applet, then "Appearance", then "Effects", and then "Use the Following Method to Smooth Edges of Screen Fonts", and select "ClearType" from the dropdown menu, then "Apply" and then "OK". You can turn ClearType off again if you decide you don't want to use it by simply re-selecting "Standard" from the drop-down menu and then clicking on "OK".

I note that ClearType is available from Microsoft as a separate download for those who don't have it and as a downloadable portion of the "Microsoft PowerToys" program. Additional information is available about ClearType in my Sunday, August 8, 2004 posting on this subject. Enjoy your new clarity of vision and start wishing for the good stuff for next year!

More info available HERE

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