June 20, 2009—Vol. 13, No. 25

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YOUR GUIDE TO ALL THINGS DIGITAL
Welcome to your very own personal copy of the Kim Komando Show Electronic Weekend Newsletter! It's jam-packed with freebies! Get free digital advice, software, news and so much more! Each week, my national radio shows, busy Web site and e-mail newsletters reach tens of millions. Thank you for your support in all that we do in the name of digital enlightenment!

CONTENTS -- WHAT'S IN YOUR INBOX THIS WEEK:
- ON THE QT: Trace your family tree; fun freebies and videos
- DIGITAL DIGRESSIONS: Easy and fast tips that work for you
- MY COLUMN: Sites to sell your writing online
- COOL SITES: More fun stuff you'll like and use
- COOL USEFUL FUN FREEBIE: Get more productive
- SECURE COMPUTING: Apple patches Java vulnerabilities
- YOUR WEEKLY Q&A: Upgrading to gigabit Ethernet

USE MY HANDY MAP TO FIND MY RADIO SHOW IN YOUR HOMETOWN
Catch me this weekend in your hometown! With over 465 radio stations throughout the United States, there's bound to be a station near you that's broadcasting my show this weekend. To find the one closest to you, simply click here and you'll be magically transported to the Official Komando Radio Locator Map.

Then, join me for one, two or the entire three fun-filled, jam-packed hours of great talk radio about the Internet, HDTVs, MP3 players, DVRs, digital cameras, camcorders, GPSs, home theaters, computers and, of course, tips and secrets to getting the most out of your digital life.

EXTRA HOUR TO CALL THIS WEEKEND
This Saturday, I will be taking your calls for a whole four hours! The extra hour will be broadcast when I take a trip. So, if you have a question about something digital, let me help! It takes just three easy steps: 1.) Call the LIVE broadcast. That's this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the East Coast, or, if you live on the West Coast, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. 2.) Know the phone number. It is, of course, toll-free 1-888-825-5254. 3.) Talk to me. That's all there is to it!

KIM ON DEMAND: LISTEN WHEN & WHERE YOU WANT!
No iPod required! Get my daily and weekend national radio shows on your schedule. The shows sound incredible in crystal clear digital audio. It's commercial-free, too! Listen on your computer or take me with you in your MP3 player. You can even burn them to CDs and listen in the car. Click here to join Kim's Club today! It's just a few dollars per month.

CLICK THE UNDERLINED LINKS
When something is underlined in my newsletters, click it. It's a link for you to learn more. So go ahead, click the links. Expand your horizons. You'll be glad you did!

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HAPPY FATHER'S DAY
I miss my father. I would like to make a tribute DVD about him. I tried a few times. I simply cannot look at the pictures or home videos. It makes me too sad. Maybe someday it won't.

I miss his laugh. I miss being able to call upon him for advice. I miss just sitting on the couch with him watching Wheel of Fortune. He always won.

I can sometimes see his handwriting in my own. It's the rush to get things down on paper, I suppose. And I did it. My dad would tell me he hoped that I would have a child just like me.

So to all fathers, wherever they may be, we thank you for all the gifts of love and knowledge you bestowed upon us.

SPEAKING OF FAMILY
I received e-mail from Gary S. in Nevada the other day. He heard me mention some genealogy sites on a recent show. So, he decided to check them out.

As it turns out, Gary is related to the Queen of England. And he's on his way to meet her! Just kidding! But Gary did find interesting distant relatives.

In case you'd like to start finding the branches on your family tree, here are sites to help you:

• Don't pay for family tree information. Trace your ancestry for free
• Search Ellis Island records
• Specialized site to share and grow your family tree
• Free software to organize your family tree
• Even more resources to trace your lineage

ENTER NOW TO WIN BIG! OVER $40,000 IN PRIZES
You cannot win if you don't enter. Every day there's a new prize. Every day there's a new winner!

WHAT CAN YOU WIN? GLAD YOU ASKED!
Here's a peek at some of the prizes:

• HP TouchSmart All-in-One PC ($1,499 value)
• Windows Powered Toshiba Satellite laptop ($1,249 value)
• HP Pavilion Entertainment Notebook ($854 value)
• HP MediaSmart Server ($599 value)
• Samsung Cell Phones (up to $349)
• Logitech Indoor Video Security System ($299 value)
• Toshiba Portable DVD Player ($229 value)
• Windows Vista Ultimate ($219 value)
• DXG High-Definition Camcorder ($180 value)
• Kodak Easyshare Digital Camera ($179 value)
• Pure Digital Flip Video Mino ($179 value)
• SPOT Satellite GPS Tracker ($169 value)
• HP 8" Digital Picture Frame ($149 value)
• …and much, much more!

Click here to see all the great prizes at the Spring Stimulus Giveaway site.

Congratulations to our most recent daily winners!

6/12 – Paul Cowal of Miamisburg, OH (WHIO 1290 AM / 95.7 FM) won the Weekly Grand Prize: the Get Moving Prize Package ($530 value)
6/13 – Crystal Blackburn of Lexington, KY (WVLK 590 AM) won a Samsung a777 Cell Phone ($280 value)
6/14 – Mike Kuhl of Mishawaka, IN (WSBT 960 AM) won a DXG High-Definition Camcorder ($180 value)
6/15 – Lee Ann Hamerski of Anchorage, AK (KFQD 750 AM) won Altec Lansing's Moondance Glow ($180 value)
6/16 – Pat Tito of Atlanta (WSB 750 AM) won Samsung's Propel Cell Phone ($250 value)
6/17 – Dan Taylor of Rapid City, SD (KOTA 1380 AM) won a $150 ZAGG Gift Card
6/18 – Paula Allton of Punta Gorda, FL (WINK 1240 AM) won a Lexar Platinum II CF and SDHC Card Bundle ($190 value)

Note: Your name would look really good on this list, don't you agree?

HOW TO ENTER TO WIN:
Visit the Spring Stimulus Giveaway page to enter daily. I am giving away great prizes each day of the giveaway. Plus, make sure to enter once a day for your chance to win our weekly grand prize!

Finally, sponsors make the giveaway possible. To learn more about the prizes, click those links (hint, hint) to visit the sponsors' sites.

TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY
Now that you've entered, why not invite your friends? Just enter their information on my site. I'll send them an invitation. If they win, maybe they'll share with you!

TELL YOUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER, MYSPACE, BLOG READERS AND SITE VISITORS
1. Put a banner on your site! Tell them all about my contest. And all they have to do is click to enter!
2. Click the Share This button. You'll see it at the top of the Enter, Prizes, Winners and Share pages. You'll see a list of sites. Select one. It adds my contest!
3. While you're at it, join me on Facebook (www.facebook.com/kkomando) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/kimkomando).

HUNDREDS OF PROGRAMS, FREE FOR THE TAKING
Computers come bundled with handy software tools. Unfortunately, though, they don't provide all the software you need. You can easily spend hundreds of dollars filling in the gaps.

Here are some of my favorite free downloads from the past week:

• Windows comes with a CD-burning program. If you're not happy with it, try this one. It's quick and easy.
• Setting up secure file sharing isn't necessarily easy. But this program offers a solution with a personal VPN.
• Sending large quantities of e-mail isn't easy. You'll need more than a desktop program. This tool should work.
• If you're reinstalling Windows, you'll need the product key. It's on the packaging. Or, just use this program.

Saturday's Download of the Day—Higher productivity is always good. I've found six great programs anyone could use. They'll streamline your work and help you communicate.

Preview of Sunday's download—Teaching a class is hard. There is a lot to keep track of. This course management program should help.

Want direct access to over 300 free programs? Bookmark my Downloads page. Just go here and press Ctrl+D. That will add my downloads to your browser's favorites!

And remember this: If I say a program is free, it's FREE. There are sites on the Internet that sell free programs. There are also many ads on the Internet for similar programs, which aren't free. If somebody tries to charge you for a free program, back up. You've clicked on the wrong thing.

SHARE WITH A FRIEND: Help keep your family and friends in the know. Forward this newsletter to them now. Or, if you prefer, invite them to join us. In fact, we have a special place set up to do just that. Click now and share the power of knowledge.

THE WEB'S MOST ENTERTAINING VIDEOS
You'll find plenty of videos online. Unfortunately, many of them are inane or obscene. So, skip YouTube and those other video sites. Instead, head over to my Video of the Day site. You'll find the best videos the Web has to offer. You never know what you'll find among my family-friendly picks!

Here are my favorite videos from the past week:

• Need a laugh? You're bound to get a few with today's picks. They feature Don Rickles and his usual warmth.
• The night sky can make you feel small. But just how big are those dots of light? This video will help put them in perspective.
• Adventurers have long traveled around the world. But this 81-year-old man is doing it on foot. Learn about his journey in this video.
• June is wedding season. Everyone wants a unique wedding. The first dance is a great place to throw in some personality.
• You won't believe this cappella jazz choir singing Africa.

I truly believe that travel is an enriching experience. There are so many sights to see. You'll always find adventure. These are my favorite travel videos. See more in my Video of the Day archive:

• If you've never been to the American West, you're missing out. It really is beautiful. Just look at this time-lapse video.
• Many people have model trains in their basements. But none will match this masterpiece. It's a miniature wonderland.
• Boarding a plane is not much fun. But this flight attendant is changing that. This is the best safety briefing ever.
• One of Asia's largest slums is featured in Slumdog Millionaire. The movie was a hit. But what is its setting really like?

Saturday's video—Everyone knows the frustration of deadline pressure. This art student has turned his frustration into a great video.

Preview of Sunday's video—War memorials are created in different ways. Sometimes Congress signs off on them. Others take more work. One man has made this memorial himself.

NOTE: Are you having trouble seeing my daily video picks? Do you get a message that the video is not available? Sorry to say, it's probably not the video. It's your computer, my friend. Get help on my troubleshooting page. These problems are pretty easy to fix.

SHARE MY VIDEO PICKS
On the lower left of the Video of the Day screen, there is a button. In fact, here's what the button looks like.

Click this button and you can share the video with family members, friends, coworkers and more.

PRIVACY AND SECURITY TIP: Secure data on thumb drives
Thumb drives are easy to lose. So, it's important to protect your data. The best way is with strong encryption. There are a number of ways to do it. Listen to the second hour of my show for details.

Need to find a radio station near you? No problem! Click here to use the official Kim Komando Show Locator Map. With over 450 stations, there's probably a station near you. But if there isn't, you can always download the shows with a Kim's Club membership. It's only $5.95 per month.

STILL TO COME: Useful tips, important news and a few laughs!

• Should you upgrade your GPS unit's maps?
• Who is sending e-mail from your account?
• Upgrade your network speed with gigabit Ethernet
• Important security tips; and some awesome freebies!

IS GPS REALLY GOING TO FAIL?
Leona sent an e-mail from Petersburg, IL. She catches the weekend show and Digital Minutes via Kim's Club. She is considering updating the maps on her Garmin GPS unit. She's debating between a $70 one-time update or a $120 lifetime update. But she heard that GPS is going to fail. So, is updating the maps worthwhile?

Right now, there are 30 GPS satellites in orbit. Over time, these satellites fail and must be replaced. The GAO recently released a report warning that the system could become overloaded. It wouldn't provide the quality of service we've come to expect. The GAO indicated that we could start seeing problems as early as next year.

The Air Force, which is responsible for the GPS satellites, disputes the report. The Air Force is behind in launching satellites. But it is working on mitigating the risk of GPS failing. To provide full GPS service, only 24 satellites are required. The system has had up to 32 available.

I wouldn't worry about GPS failing. The military relies on GPS for its operations. Of course, the system is also open to the public. And it has become incredibly popular in recent years. So, I doubt the Air Force will let the system fail.

Now, let's talk about maps. It certainly is worth updating the maps on your GPS unit. Roads change, and points-of-interest change. Safety was probably a consideration when you purchased the GPS. So, remember, having the latest maps is a safety feature. And, for what it's worth, I'd go with the lifetime updates. It's a much better value!

Don't miss these other tips about GPS.

• Five GPS units under $200
• Keep track of the kids with GPS
• Plot GPS data on Google Maps
• Track a GPS phone online

PAY IT FORWARD: I'm sure at least one person you know might benefit from these tidbits. So, spread the love. Forward this newsletter to all your friends. Encourage them to de-stress, too, and sign up for our newsletters!

OPEN E-MAIL ATTACHMENTS IN THE RIGHT PROGRAM
Don in Southfield, MI, catches the show on CKLW 800 AM. He's using Microsoft Office on a Vista machine. And he has encountered a huge annoyance. E-mail attachments open in WordPad. He wants to know how to get them to open in Microsoft Word.

I'll bet Word documents on your hard drive also open in WordPad. Of course, you may not be aware of this. You may open the files from within Microsoft Word. You wouldn't normally do that with e-mail attachments.

Here's your answer, Don: Your file associations are out of whack. File associations tell Windows which program to use to open a specific file type. Right now, the Microsoft Word extension is associated with WordPad.

To change the file association, click Start>>Control Panel. Double-click Default Programs. Click "Associate a file type or protocol with a program." There are several file types you will want to reassociate: .DOC, .DOCM, .DOCX, .DOT, .DOTM and .DOTX. I'd associate .RTF with Word, too.

Select one of the file types and click Change program. In the dialog box that opens, you should see Microsoft Word. Select it and click OK. If you don't see Word, click Browse. Navigate to WINWORD.EXE and click open. By default, it should be located in C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office12. Repeat for each file type.

Incorrect file associations can be a huge annoyance. But, it's hardly the only annoyance you'll encounter in Vista. Fortunately, I can help you fix these annoyances. For example, check these great tips:

• Solving a DVD-burning problem
• Tweaking User Account Control
• Retrieving lost files in Vista
• Solving problems with peripherals in Vista

MEMORY CARDS CAN STORE ALL KINDS OF DATA
Diane e-mailed from Baltimore, where she listens on WBAL 1090 AM. She has a CompactFlash card for her camera. She also has an SD card for her music player. She wants to know if she can use the cards to store data other than music and photos.

Yes, Diane. You certainly can use the cards to store data. You're not just limited to music and photos. In fact, I often recommend putting a text file on your memory cards. It should contain your name and contact information. That way, you might retrieve a lost camera or card.

I recommend buying a card reader. This will make it easy to load data onto the card. It also makes it easier to get data off of the card. You'll even find readers that let you turn certain cards into thumb drives. You may see them for SD cards. But they're primarily for MicroSD or MiniSD.

Now, here's a word of caution. Don't format the camera card on your computer. Cards formatted on a computer oftentimes don't work in cameras. They'll need to be reformatted by the camera. The same could be true of the music player card. Follow the player's instructions.

Need more help buying and using memory cards? Then don't miss these tips on my site:

• Buying the right memory card
• The lowdown on SD memory card formats
• Is your memory card really high speed?
• Free programs to recover data from a memory card

IS MY E-MAIL MARKETING LIST SAFE?
Nancy in Phoenix listens on KFYI 550 AM every Saturday. She wants to try one of our advertisers, Constant Contact.com (www.constantcontact.com). She owns a small shop and wants to send coupons via e-mail to her customers. But she's worried that Constant Contact will share her client list.

Constant Contact will never rent, share or sell your list.

By the way, it's easy to get your list over to Constant Contact. It can be done in three file formats: .txt (text file), .csv (comma separated values) and .xls (Microsoft Excel spreadsheet). Simply browse to where the file lives on your computer and let the Constant Contact wizard guide you through the import. You can also use your Microsoft Outlook address book.

By the way, Constant Contact also provides a list-building tool in the form of a sign-up box to put on your Web site. Your site visitors can sign up for your e-mail list and their addresses are automatically imported into your Constant Contact account. You have access to this tool even in the free trial.

Just a reminder, you can try ConstantContact.com free for 90 days. Just click here (www.constantcontact.com) and at the top right of the home page, click the radio microphone and use promo code Kim.

STAY UP TO DATE THE EASY WAY
Staying up with the digital news can be tough. But you don't have to worry about that. I check the news every morning. Then, I send it to you in my free News of the Day newsletter, Monday through Friday. So why not sign up now?

Now, you can also get the headlines and watch the latest news videos, too, on my site. Drop by our Daily News page at Komando.com.

GET UNBIASED BUYING ADVICE WHENEVER YOU NEED IT
Visit the Komando.com Buying Guide. Here, you can find unbiased advice on buying laptops, desktops, TVs, monitors, scanners, video cards, digital cameras, software, audio, printers, cell phones, networking gear, handhelds, memory cards and, well, let's just say a heck of a lot more! You can scan the categories. Or use the Search banner on the page. We hope you like the improvements at the Buying Guide and use it often!

DON'T STOP YET – THERE'S MORE YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• Rookie Rundown—Who's using your e-mail account?
• Setting up a gigabit Ethernet network
• Keep reading! I have more money-saving tips!

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SITES MAKE IT SIMPLE TO SELL YOUR WRITING ONLINE
Are you an aspiring journalist or beginning freelancer? Or, do you just want to earn extra cash by writing? A growing number of sites will help you turn your writing into cash. And you can get started right away!

You don't need to be a professional writer to use these sites. But your writing skills should be above average. You'll have a greater chance at success.

So, let's start with eHow.com. It publishes how-to articles in a variety of categories. It doesn't matter if a particular tutorial already exists. You can write your own version. eHow accepts the articles automatically. However, it may remove articles that don't meet its standards.

eHow also provides an extensive list of articles it needs. These usually come from requests from site visitors. eHow doesn't pay a flat rate. Rather, you're paid based on the number of times an article is viewed. So, you'll get residual income, assuming people find your articles compelling.

Perhaps you're ready to put Ernest Hemingway to shame. Good luck on that! Whatever, read the rest of my free column on ways to launch a writing career!

Do you have a Web site or blog? If so, help support The Kim Komando Show! Linking to my site is easy. Plus, I just added new artwork to post on your page. You'll find instructions and the artwork here. Thank you for your support!

A LITTLE ABOUT ME:
Did you know that I host two national radio shows? I have a Digital Minute that airs Monday through Friday. I also host a three-hour show on the weekends. Over 460 radio stations in the great United States broadcast my shows. Plus, from here in the desert come all kinds of tidbits about living a digital lifestyle. You can read my weekly column in over 100 Gannett newspapers across the country. And I write two columns a week for the USAToday Web site.

HAVE A QUESTION? CALL ME! EXTRA HOUR THIS WEEKEND!
If you have a question about something digital, let me help! It takes just three easy steps: 1.) Call the LIVE broadcast. That's this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the East Coast, or, if you live on the West Coast, 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. 2.) Know the phone number. It is, of course, toll-free 1-888-825-5254. 3.) Talk to me. That's all there is to it!

STILL TO COME IN THIS ISSUE:

• Some freebies and a contest for you to win!
• Gigabit Ethernet makes for a speedier network
• And so much more you can use!

	Recharge All Your Batteries! • Recharge alkalines, don't throw them away! • 6 charging bays and an LED monitor • Save money and the environment! GET YOURS NOW!
	Other Items of Interest USB Rechargeable Batteries Universal Digital Battery Tester

Debbie in Miamisburg, OH, catches the show on WHIO 1290 AM & 95.7 FM. She sounded quite distraught in the e-mail she sent.

She's been receiving e-mail messages from her own address. She says the messages all have lurid subject lines.

She wants to know if I can help her find out who is getting into her account. She also asked if she should close the account.

Things are not as bad as they seem, Debbie! Nobody is breaking into your e-mail account and sending you messages. And I don't think it is necessary to close the account.

Spammers are using your e-mail address as a return address. It is very easy to spoof an e-mail address. Typically, they use a made-up return address.

In this case, though, they are aiming at your friends and acquaintances. People who know you are more likely to open the attachment.

So, why are you getting messages with your return address? A virus probably got into a friend's address book. It selected your address for the return address. It then sent its spam to everybody in the address book. That included you. The virus isn't discriminating.

There's a chance that the virus is on your computer. So you should scan your machine. If necessary, use the free software at my Security Center.

Most likely, it is on someone else's. They should scan their machines, too. Forward this newsletter to everyone in your address book.

We could all use more help battling spam. I have plenty of practical advice for getting a grip on spam. These tips on my site are a great place to start:

• Should you unsubscribe from spam?
• Use BCC to protect friends from spam
• Download a good, free spam filter
• Stop "friendly" spam

SPEAKING OF E-MAIL, DO YOU HAVE A NEW ADDRESS?
Let us know so you don't miss a single issue of our free newsletters. It's easy. Just use our Change of Address form at the Komando Newsletter Center. Click here to access it now.

STILL TO COME IN THIS WEEKEND'S EDITION:

• Security tips to keep your computer safe
• Setting up a gigabit Ethernet network

MY SHOWS ARE DAD FRIENDLY This Father's Day, don't forget to tell dear old dad to listen to my big three-hour weekend show. It's FREE on your local radio station. Weekdays, catch my Digital Minutes for a daily tip on everything digital. Need more? Join Kim's Club and get on-demand audio.

NEW TO OUR RADIO FAMILY
Champaign, IL (WDWS 1400 AM), Sundays, 4 p.m. Duluth, MN (WDSM 710 AM), Saturdays, 9 a.m. Listen for my Digital Minutes, too!

TIME CHANGE
Austin, TX (KLBJ 590 AM), Saturdays, 1 p.m. Minutes in morning drive. Washington (WTNT 570 AM), Saturdays, 1 p.m. Minutes, 6 p.m. hour

STATIONS GALORE
Be sure to tune in on one of my hundreds of radio affiliates across the country. Here are a few of them: Chicago (WLS 890 AM); Dallas (KRLD 1080 AM); Houston (KPRC 950 AM); Atlanta (WSB 750 AM); Pittsburgh (WPGB 104.7 FM); West Palm Beach, FL (WJNO 1290 AM); Norfolk, VA (WTAR 850 AM); Omaha, NE (KFAB 1110 AM); Baskersfield, CA (KERN 1180 AM); Spokane, WA (KQNT 590 AM); Lexington, KY (WVLK 590 AM); Boise, ID (KIDO 580 AM); and so many more!

TUSCUMBIA, AL
This city was named after a Chickasaw Indian chief, Tuscumbia, and is located in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. Helen Keller was born in 1880 in Tuscumbia and her home, Ivy Green, is open to the public. The city is currently restoring its downtown city buildings.

When in Tuscumbia, listen to my shows on WVNA 1590 AM Saturdays, 9 a.m., and Digital Minutes in the 7 a.m. hour.

FIND AN AFFILIATE NEAR YOU
It's so easy to find me near you. First, click my locator map. Second, click on a location near you. Enter your e-mail address, and you'll receive a prompt response.

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	Elegant Executive Desk Set! • Display this set at home or at the office • Wood pen, pencil and letter opener • Handsome rosewood box set GET YOURS NOW!
	Other Items of Interest The Kim Komando Show Mug The Kim Komando Show Sports Cap

KIM'S TIPS FOR KOMANDO KIDS: Parental controls in Vista
Summer is in full swing. Your children will spend some of it on the computer. Windows Vista has robust parental controls. You should use them. Get the details in the third hour of my show.

Need to find a radio station near you? No problem! Click here to use the official Kim Komando Show Locator Map. With over 450 stations, there's probably a station near you. But if there isn't, you can always download the shows with a Kim's Club membership. It's only $5.95 per month.

CONTEST: My Spring Stimulus Giveaway
Check out my giveaway now. We have laptops, speaker systems, camcorders and more. Enter every day to win. In fact, you could win something great every single day of the giveaway. So, bookmark the site now! There is over $40,000 in prizes.

CONTEST SITE: Vivienne Tam giveaway
Glamour Magazine is giving away a stylish Vivienne Tam netbook from HP. Enter for your chance to win. Open to U.S. residents, 18 or older. Deadline: 7/6/09

FREEBIE OF THE WEEK: Sundiwear stickers
These stickers help you avoid sunburns. Stick them on skin or clothing. When they turn red, it's time to reapply sunscreen. It's great for parents. Fill out the form to get yours.

FREEBIE FROM KOMANDO.COM: Convert videos for an iPod
iPods are great multimedia devices. But they only support certain kinds of video. You'll need to convert your video into the proper format. This program can help.

FREEBIE FROM GOTOMYPC: Free 30-day trial
Access your office computer the easy way. Kim Komando Show listeners get a 30-day free trial. Use promo code Kim.

GET A COOL SITE EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK
There are plenty of great sites on the Web. But who has time to find them? Every day, I pick one great site and share it with you. Try it for a week and you'll love it!

In case you missed any this past week, here's a list of some of our favorites:
• A cool way to control your computer
• Start your very own poker league
• What do you value in a job?

Do you get my free Cool Site of the Day newsletter? Sign up now by clicking here.

Stay with us. There's lots more to cover:

• 6 free productivity tools

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THIS WEEK'S FOCUS: 6 free productivity tools
When life gets busy, everyone could use a little help. I've found six great programs anyone could use. They'll streamline your work and communication.

Need to find a radio station near you? No problem! Click here to use the official Kim Komando Show Locator Map. With over 450 stations, there's probably a station near you. But if there isn't, you can always download the shows with a Kim's Club membership. It's only $5.95 per month.

Let's keep it going; there's plenty more to cover:
• SECURE COMPUTING: Apple patches 32 vulnerabilities

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Brought to you by my book, Complete Guide to Computer Security & Privacy. Order your copy today!

APPLE PATCHES 32 JAVA VULNERABILITIES
This past week, Apple patched 32 vulnerabilities in its implementation of Java. The patches were released for both Leopard and Tiger. These vulnerabilities are serious and could lead to a hijacked machine. All it would take is a maliciously crafted Java applet.

The same vulnerabilities existed in the implementation of Java for Windows. However, Microsoft patched the vulnerabilities more than six months ago. Mac users, make sure you get these updates now! You can get them by running Mac's update service.

THE END IS IN SIGHT, BUT I WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK
• Get your network up to speed with gigabit Ethernet

I am upgrading my home network to gigabit Ethernet. I want faster access to my network-attached storage (NAS) system. What equipment do I need? The NAS supports gigabit Ethernet. I assume that I need to upgrade my router to a gigabit Ethernet router, as well as my network cards. But what about a gigabit Ethernet switch? Is there something unique about gigabit Ethernet that requires a switch?
Scott in Round Rock, TX, listening on KLBJ 590 AM

Gigabit Ethernet certainly is the way to go with network-attached storage. Data transfer will be much faster.

There isn't much to setting up gigabit Ethernet. You will need a gigabit Ethernet router. Or, you can purchase a wireless router that includes gigabit Ethernet ports.

You shouldn't need a gigabit Ethernet switch. Most routers contain switches. Some contain hubs instead of switches. Avoid those. Be sure you get one with a switch.

Switches provide greater control over the transmission of data. A switch maintains a log of where data is supposed to go. So, the data is sent only where it is intended.

In comparison, a hub sends data to every machine on the network. This is inefficient. It can also lead to data packet collisions. When this happens, the data must be resent.

Be careful of your router's Ethernet ports. All should be gigabit ports. Some routers have a mix.  

In fact, all ports should be capable of 10/100/1000 speeds. Why? Down the road, you may want to use something that only works with lower speeds. You'd be out of luck with a gigabit-only router.

If your budget is tight, 10/100/1000 ports have another advantage. You won't need to update the Ethernet cards on your machines immediately. You can use the old cards, although at a slower speed. You can upgrade as your budget allows.

Now, you'll also need new Ethernet cables. Otherwise, you won't get the full benefit of gigabit Ethernet. Buy CAT6 cables.

Need more networking help? Don't miss these handy tips on my site:

• Understanding network equipment
• Backing up data over your network
• Vista settings for a small network
• A wireless network that goes the distance
• Secure your wireless network

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BLAME TOM IN VAN BUREN, AR, FOR THIS STINKER
Penguins have a strong community bond. When a penguin dies, friends and family dig a hole in the ice, using their vestigial wings and beaks. The dead bird is rolled into the hole and buried. The male penguins then gather in a circle and sing Freeze a Jolly Good Fellow.

Speaking of the cold…

Walter the ice-cream man's van was parked at the side of the road. Lights flashing, music playing, and a big line of excited kids stretched down the street. But there was no sign of Walter. A policeman walking down the road wonders what is going on. Where is Walter? Why is he not dishing out the ice-cream? He goes over to the van and peers over the high counter. On the floor he spots Walter, lying very still covered in chocolate sauce, strawberry sauce, nuts, hundreds and thousands and those little jelly bits. "Get back kids," he shouts. Moving away so the kids cannot overhear him he calls the station. "Sergeant, you'd get a team down here quick," he stutters, "It's Walter the ice-cream man......He's topped himself!"

Reminder, there's an extra hour for you to call the show this weekend! If you have a question about something digital, call me during the LIVE broadcast. It's Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the East Coast, toll-free 1-888-825-5254.

Hugs to all!

Kim :)

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