How To

How to remove personal data from image files

It turns out that in the Age of Sharing, a picture is worth a thousand data points--but you can strip out some or all of those identifying bits before posting or otherwise sharing your pics online. Maybe you don't want strangers to know the GPS coordinates of your home pics, or maybe you'd rather the boss not know that you used that sick day to prepare for (or recover from) a big pub crawl. In any case, it's almost absurdly easy to remove that info using Windows Explorer. Here's how: 

Gather the pics you want … Read more

How to quickly filter your online daily deals

It seems like a new daily deal Web site like Groupon, LivingSocial, or Facebook Deals arrives weekly, opening your e-mail inbox to endless frugal deals--$9 for two Fandango tickets, anyone?

But before you know you it, you've signed up for a dozen hyper-local deal sites, which in theory could save you a lot of money. Instead, however, you consistently wake up to a plethora of money-saving deals, leaving your more important e-mails buried (and your wallet a little lighter).

Luckily, there's a way to reap the benefits of daily deals without cluttering your inbox. Here's what … Read more

How to post only certain tweets to Facebook

If you are active on both Twitter and Facebook then you probably already know how much work it can be to keep both feeds updated. Some people prefer to keep their Facebook private, while Twitter lends itself to more impersonal interaction and updates. Although there are services that send every tweet to Facebook, that isn't always the ideal solution for users.

Selective Twitter allows you to pick which tweets will be posted on your Facebook account. In this simple guide we will show you how to set up the service, and how to use it. … Read more

How to sell your things on Amazon

If you're looking to sell your new or used stuff online, you're faced with a bounty of options. Of course, many people will turn to eBay for a middleman transaction or to Craigslist for a more "casual" deal, but Amazon.com is a third option you might have not considered yet.

With a clean setup, easy-to-use interface, and huge audience, Amazon is a great place to sell your old gadgets, books, appliances, and other goods you might've forgotten about (or never used in the first place).

Of course, you need to know a few things … Read more

How to add variety to a Pandora station

Did you wait until Pandora went public today to try out its service? If you are new to the gold standard of Internet radio, your first stop should be Donald Bell's video, which covers the basics of Pandora, such as creating a station, giving a thumbs up or a thumbs down to a song, finding lyrics, and buying a song from iTunes or Amazon.

After listening to a given station for a time, you might begin to notice the same songs cycling through the playlist. There are two features that can shake up the song selection, two features that … Read more

How to set up Appointment Slots in Google Calendar

Many of us have blocks of time we make available to others people, such as professionals, academics, coaches, tennis buddies--the list is endless. Google Calendar just added a new feature that makes setting aside and scheduling appointment times incredibly easy. Here's how to get started:

Log on to your Google account and open up your calendar. Click and drag an open space in your calendar and select "Appointment slots" from the bubble (Note: this will not work in the Month view.) Give the block a title and select which calendar it lives in, then select the type (… Read more

How to turn off Google Instant

Opinions vary on whether Google Instant is a time-saver or very distracting. I hear Ross Perot's Texan twang--"Can I finish? Can I finish?"--each time Google anxiously starts returning search results as soon as I enter the first letter into the search bar. Thankfully, there is a way to turn off this feature, and the hardest part about it is knowing where to look.… Read more

How to erase your Google Maps search history

Google Maps is a superconvenient tool for locating, getting directions to, and curiously exploring places around the world. Enter an address and soon the cross-streets and other local venues can be seen with just a few clicks. However, if you've done a lot of exploring on Google Maps, chances are your search history is relatively large. Having so many locations in the history can be cumbersome when entering new addresses or when simply trying to protect your privacy. Follow the steps below to clear out your Google Maps search history.

Step 1: Head to Google Maps http://maps.google.… Read more

7 fun ways to interact with your Foursquare account

Foursquare is set to reach 10 million users this month. With the continued increase in popularity, developers are beginning to use Foursquare's API in some very fun and intriguing ways. This guide will show you seven fun ways to interact with your Foursquare account.

1. 4sqmap 4sqmap is a great way to visualize many different aspects of not only your own, but your friends' Foursquare activity. In addition to viewing activity, you can view a full map of nearby specials, tips, trending venues, and even use Foursquare's recently launched Explore feature on your computer, which is a feature … Read more