Chris Pirillo » Life

Not Safe for Wash

Chris — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:34:31 +0000

Not Safe for Wash is a post from Chris Pirillo

A little bit of @VioletBlue went through my washer and dryer. Lucky for me, the sticker didn’t leave its adhesive all over the batch:

You could say that I didn’t blow my load with the NSFW sticker.

Couching Pillow, Hidden Puppy

Chris — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 21:14:50 +0000

Couching Pillow, Hidden Puppy is a post from Chris Pirillo

See if you can find the puppy in this couchful of pillows:

Actually, I think that’s technically a Day Bed – but I only seem to lay on it at night, so I’m probably using it wrong, anyway.

Could the iPad Outsell the iPhone?

Chris — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:31:32 +0000

Could the iPad Outsell the iPhone? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Do we really even care which is a bigger seller? I noticed a discussion about this online earlier, and couldn’t help but shake my head. Seriously, people. They are two completely different products. Why does it matter which type sells more? The point is that there is a market out there for the iPhone, just as there is one for the iPad. Some people seem to be so obsessed with “numbers” and what’s “hot” on the market that they fail to look beyond that to the actual products themselves.

Too often, people rush to get in line to buy something new that all the World seems to want, only to never use the device because it doesn’t work for them. I honestly hate seeing that. As a gadget lover, I cannot stomach it when I see someone buying all of these cool toys, never to touch them again. They simply do it to keep one step ahead of everyone else. Gadgets are meant to be USED, folks!

Which is more important to you? Are you a fan of buying the hottest ticket in town, or do you research carefully before you buy something to make sure it will fit your needs?

Don’t forget to check out what’s new today in our software center.

Embed My Live Stream and Chat on Your Windows Desktop

Chris — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 21:27:16 +0000

Embed My Live Stream and Chat on Your Windows Desktop is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

If you’ve ever wanted to embed my live stream and/or chat room on your Windows desktop, it can be confusing as to how to go about it. I know that many of you have asked for tips, so I was happy to see this video done by the GTAXLLive channel.

Open up any web browser, and head to Amnesty Hypercube for Windows. Download and install the widget. Once installed, you need to right-click your desktop prior to opening it. Click “View” and make sure “Show Desktop Icons” is NOT checked.

Open up Amnesty Hypercube. At the top of your screen, you’ll see a little icon that you can click on. Choose “Create Widget from Code” from the drop-down menu. Now, point your browser towards my live stream. Once the stream loads, you’ll see a “Menu” button at the bottom of the stream. Click that, and choose “Embed”. Select and copy everything in the line that says “Live Show”.

Back in Amnesty Hypercube, click “Create Widget” from within the “Create widget from code” menu. Voila! You have my live stream on your desktop. You can move it anywhere you would like. Repeat the process to embed the chat room, only this time from the live stream, copy the embed code where it says “Chat Room”. Note that you can also embed this directly from the GeekShed network itself, as well.

That’s all there is to it! Thanks so much for making this much easier for everyone out there.

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code:

Free WiFi with Skype Access this Weekend

Chris — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:10:18 +0000

Free WiFi with Skype Access this Weekend is a post from Chris Pirillo

Skype Access lets anyone pay for WiFi access per minute using Skype Credit, so that they can surf the web, email and make free Skype-to-Skype voice and video calls in a massive network of WiFi hotspots including cafés, hotels and airports worldwide.

This weekend, however, you can use Skype Access for absolutely no cost! Beginning at 00:00 GMT on Saturday, March 20th up until 23:59 GMT on Sunday, March 21st, Skype Access will be completely free to use from anywhere in the world. If you’re here on the west coast of the US like I am, that would be 5PM tonight (Friday, March 19th) until 4:59PM on Sunday, March 21st. If you’re in a different time zone, there are calculators online that can help you make the adjustments.

All you need to get started is a connection to a Skype Access Hotspot, and the latest version of Skype (Windows 4.2 or Mac 2.8).

Additionally, due to the industrial action by British Airways cabin crew, the time-frame for this promotion will be extended by 24 hours in the UK. This is to ensure that travelers who may be stuck in a British airport can still work and stay connected with their friends and family.

Skype has long been an excellent way to keep in touch. By using Skype Access to access wireless Internet, they’ve raised the bar even higher.

Job Centers Should Not Spurn the Jedi

Chris — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:56:56 +0000

Job Centers Should Not Spurn the Jedi is a post from Chris Pirillo

Chris Jarvis is not only a Star Wars fan, he’s a member of the International Church of Jedi, which is based on the films. The church’s doctrine states that followers should be allowed to wear hoods. When 31-year-old Chris showed up at his local Job Center recently, he was escorted out for refusing to remove the hood of his sweatshirt. He filed a complaint, and received an apology three days later.

Manager Wendy Flewers stated: “We are committed to provide a customer service which embraces diversity and res-pects customers’ religion.” However, a Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson said: “Customers may be asked by Jobcentre staff to remove their helmets and hoods for security reasons.”

Jarvis was understandably upset about the situation. He feels as though he was discriminated against. He was quick to point out that Muslims are allowed to wear any religious garb that they wish. However, he was not allowed the same courtesy, despite repeatedly explaining to security guards that he is a Jedi, and has the right to wear his hood.

Jediism is not a new concept, and it is more popular than you might think. “Everything in the universe is bound by energy, from the mighty power of the sun down to a tiny grain of sand on a beach. All living creatures share a connection through energy, the universal power which radiates through us all. This phenomenon has always existed, but it was in 1977 after the release of the film “Star Wars” that it was given a name, the force. Since the creation of Star Wars and its subsequent sequels and prequels, people from all over the world have adopted a belief in the force and the films protectors of the faith “The Jedi”.”

In any case, I’m quite proud of Mr. Jarvis for standing up for what he fully believes in, whether or not it is considered mainstream. Good on you, young Jedi.

Add a ColorSplash Effect in PhotoShop

Chris — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:37:37 +0000

Add a ColorSplash Effect in PhotoShop is a post from Chris Pirillo

Find more videos like this on Reviews, News, and How To Geeks

Michael submitted this screencast for use in our channel. If you’ve always wanted to edit a photograph to have just a portion of it in color, you’re going to want to use the ColorSplash effect.

To do this, you’ll need to first open your picture in PhotoShop. Choose the Magnetic Lasso Tool, and slowly but surely trace the outline of the portion of the picture that you want to have the color.

Once it’s selected, go to Edit>Copy to copy what you’ve done, and then de-select the flower. Make a new layer, and go to Edit>Paste. The new layer will only consist of whatever you just outlined. Go back to your background layer, and go to Layer>New Layer Adjustment>Black and White. If your colored portion isn’t aligned properly, you can easily drag and drop it into place.

That’s all there is to it. I know there are a lot of different ways of achieving this same effect, but this definitely seems to be the fastest – and easiest.

Thanks, Michael, for an excellent tutorial!

Are Compact Discs Dead?

Chris — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 02:16:30 +0000

Are Compact Discs Dead? is a post from Chris Pirillo

In just a few months, Universal Music Group is dropping the prices on their CDs to between six and ten dollars each in an effort to boost sales. While the company does have its hand in the music download and streaming side of things, their profit margins are much better with physical disc sales. Up until now, however, it usually cost far more to buy a copy at the local WalMart than it did to purchase the entire album digitally.

In addition to the lower cost, UMG plans to add extra content to physical CDs that cannot be purchased online. Their hope is the combination of the lower cost packed with additional features will bring sales out of the serious slump they find themselves in. I personally love this idea, and will likely buy more compact discs than normal. I do buy music online, sure. But there’s just something about owning those sweet little silver discs that I am hopelessly addicted to. What about you? Will the lower cost cause you to go out and buy more music in hard copy form?

Don’t forget to stop by the software center and see what’s new today.

Your Logo in LEGO

Chris — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 23:22:57 +0000

Your Logo in LEGO is a post from Chris Pirillo

You want your own logo in LEGO?

photofun.pirillo.com/

This very same dude will do one for you, too:

Starfall for Beginning Readers

Chris — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 19:00:39 +0000

Starfall for Beginning Readers is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

During Gnomedex, we held an open mic period where attendees could come onto the stage and pass along resources that the rest of us might not know about. Now, I know that this particular video will not interest many of our younger followers. However, it is a FANTASTIC resource for those of you with young children in your lives! If you don’t have kids of your own, forward this on to someone who does. I promise that they’ll thank you for it.

Starfall can help a child learn to read, or improve upon the skills they’ve already gained, by using phonics. There are several different stages on the site, including ones for children just learning their ABCs all the way up to activities for kids who can already read basic words and sentences.

This is an excellent way to boost your child’s skills in a fun environment.

Write a Novel and Get It Published: A Teach Yourself Guide (Teach Yourself: Writing)

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Chris — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:31:49 +0000

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! is a post from Chris Pirillo

I think that this is the one day of the year where nearly everyone tries to claim they are at least “part” Irish. What better excuse is there to eat some awesome food, drink a lot of green beer, and have a great time on a weekday? I was watching my local news earlier, and they were showing clips from several different local pubs and restaurants. There sure are a lot of Irish people in Seattle! Who knew?

All I know is that I don’t really enjoy green beer. Something about it just kind of creeps me out. Seeing the Chicago River turned green every year is pretty cool though, I must admit! The parades are fun and lighthearted, and I do love a good Corned Beef sammich! I don’t like to be pinched if I’m not wearing green… but it IS quite fun to pinch someone else!

Did you partake in any fun activities today in honor of St. Patty’s Day? What did you do to celebrate?

Don’t forget to check out our software center to see what’s new today!

What are You Searching For?

Chris — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 21:51:45 +0000

What are You Searching For? is a post from Chris Pirillo

Bing asked me to tell them what I was searching for. I gave them my search query:

They couldn’t help me, though.

Mac Pillows and iPhone Coasters

Chris — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:41:59 +0000

Mac Pillows and iPhone Coasters is a post from Chris Pirillo

Yes, this is a photo from my Den:

Now featuring products from @throwboy and @meninos_us!

Social Media Questions and Answers

Chris — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:03:09 +0000

Social Media Questions and Answers is a post from Chris Pirillo

Add to iTunes | Add to YouTube | Add to Google | RSS Feed

‘Social Media’ is the phrase of the day. Many of us were doing things socially online long before the term was even coined. No one can seem to decide what, exactly, social media really IS, anyway. Craig sent a series of questions to me from Scotland, asking five questions about social media. I thought it would be fun to record my answers as a video. Also, by having them out there this way, hopefully more people will be able to learn something – instead of only Craig! I’m always interested in hearing your thoughts and ideas. If you don’t agree with one of my answers, go ahead and leave a follow-up comment to tell us what you think!

What are the advantages, as you see it, for social media experts engaging through social media activity? – The advantages are that they can connect with other people. You’re sharing, collaborating and communicating about thoughts, ideas and anything you can think of. People are going to be talking whether or not you are a part of it. Don’t miss out on getting your two cents in.
What advice would you have for a social media expert looking to break into the world of social media engagement? – That’s a good question, honestly. You could be a social media expert just by signing up for Twitter, right? That’s what many people seem to think, anyway. My advice is that if you happen to be an expert in your field is to just sign up for an account and jump in. You want to tread water at first. Don’t go in thinking that you own the Universe. Just…. DO IT already! Join in the conversation!
What damage can be done to a brand if the social media engagement isn’t properly executed? – When I’m frustrated with a product or service that I’m using and something goes wrong, I tend to talk loudly about it. Keep in mind that I’m only talking about things I’ve paid for. People who complain about free things are just not even cool. Anyway, if you pay for something, you deserve to have your voice heard. For a brand that isn’t listening to what their customers are saying… shame on them. They’re playing on the sidelines. There really is no excuse for companies these days to NOT be on Twitter and the like. They need to be where the conversations are happening. They need to listen!
How do you see the social media environment evolving in the future? – The future is pancake media! Seriously, perhaps it will be bamboo media! Okay, okay… social media will be known as something else. However, it will still be the same thing. People will still be talking online, engaging each other in conversations. We will still network on websites, even if they have names other than Twitter or Facebook. There will be more services and ways to track what is going on. Social media is in this constant state of evolution, which is very cool to see!
If you could change anything about the social media landscape as it is currently seen, what would it be? – I wish there was certification! We throw about the word “expert” a lot. However, most of those who label themselves as an expert truly are NOT. There needs to be a bar set, which would be the base level of expertise. You cannot call yourself an expert… someone else has to! There are so many “social media experts” running around on the web. There needs to be accountability!

The bottom line is to just jump in and get started. A few of the nay-sayers may try to claim I’m just a flash in the pan. Well, I’m a flash in the pan that’s now lasted online for twelve years! I am by no means an expert at anything. However, I’ve learned a lot over the years. I do know about some of the things that work, and many that don’t!

What are YOUR thoughts?

Want to embed this video on your own site, blog, or forum? Use this code or download the video:

Should School be Taught in the Cloud?

Chris — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:37:53 +0000

Should School be Taught in the Cloud? is a post from Chris Pirillo

On March 5th, the U.S. Department of Education released its National Educational Technology Plan, which they named Transforming Education: Learning Powered by Technology. Some of the recommendations made in the report include things like having a computing device for every teacher – and student – so that they can access the Internet from both school and home, as well as wanting schools to embrace cloud computing, Creative Commons and open-source technologies.

The report focuses on what they are calling “21st Century Computing”. As a way to transform education, the department states that the plan is to “engage and empower learning experiences for all learners… by leveraging the power of technology to provide personalized learning instead of a one-size-fits all curriculum.” Overall, the plan calls for a challenge to the normal model of having an isolated teacher in every class. Instead, they want to promote the ideas of “always on” learning tools, with online communities for the teachers and students.

I know that this plan cannot possibly be enacted in schools across the country overnight. However, I’m excited to see things moving in this direction finally. What do you think? Is this a massive step forward for education in the United States?

Don’t forget to stop by our software center to see what we have for you today!

How to Handle Remote Tech Support

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 06:30:00 GMT

Using GoToAssist is the easiest way to view and control another person's computer online. Use it to provide instant technical support to family, friends and customers. Start a session with just one click, and instantly connect with the other party.

Network Tools for Windows

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

You need these network tools, no matter which operating systems and networks you have to support. SolarWinds ipMonitor: Affordable Network Monitoring for SMBs. Get turnkey network, server and application availability monitoring with SolarWinds ipMonitor v9.0. This easy-to-use, reliable solution for SMBs delivers out-of-the-box availability monitoring so you always know exactly what's up with Active Directory, DNS, Exchange, FTP, Web, IMAP, MS SQL Server, and SMTP. Download your free trial today. Or, try their totally free tools! And, through 2/29, save 20% when you purchase ipMonitor 9.0.

Get Your Own Web Site

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

Starting at just $3.99/month, web hosting from GoDaddy includes 99.9% uptime, 24/7 support and free access to GoDaddy Hosting Connection, THE place to install over 30 FREE applications sure to help you get the most from your hosting plan and Web site. Enter code CP2 at checkout, and save an additional 10% on any order.

Plus, as a friend of Chris Pirillo, enter code CHRIS7, that's C-H-R-I-S and the number 7, when you check out, and save an additional 10% on any order. Get your piece of the internet at GoDaddy.com.

VMware and Parallels for Virtual Machines

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 06:30:00 GMT

It doesn't matter if you're running on Windows or Mac OS X - every power user needs either Parallels or VMware (or both). There's never been an easier way to test software without destroying your primary operating system's stability. Think of how many times you wish you could press a 'reverse' button on your computer. Plus, there's no easier way to try new Linux distributions - see what all the fuss is about. Run Windows in OS X, run Linux in Windows, but the best way to do either is with VMware and/or Parallels.

Coupons for Online Shopping

chris@lockergnome.com (Chris Pirillo) — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:56:13 GMT

This feed is fueled by Lockergnome Online Shopping and Coupon Codes

Before you shop next time, see if we have a coupon first.