Older Version of Photoshop “Gratis”

Gratis, or without the monthly fee.  If you ever wanted to try Adobe Photoshop, yet didn’t want to pay a monthly fee, I have been told you can download the 12 years old version now.  Called Adobe Photoshop CS2.   

Here is the link:  http://www.techspot.com/downloads/3689-adobe-photoshop-cs2.html   

My contact says he has used this version for years and likes the control that it gives with adjusting lighting, file size, retouching etc., but other photo applications allow you to resize photos with fewer steps.  The other free online photo editing service that my contact says some professionals use is called GIMP    https://www.gimp.org/  

Anker Phone and Pad Charger Recommendation

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charger-PowerPort-PowerIQ-Foldable/dp/B071YMZ4LD/ref=sr_1_cc_2?s=aps&srs=2528919011&ie=UTF8&qid=1498062619&sr=8-2-catcorr&keywords=anker+wall+charger

Phone chargers are everywhere these days, and I own several different brands.  Anker is a highly popular and respected brand with some advanced features.  I just purchased this one to try it out. This model offers

1.     Two ports, I was able to charge both phone and iPad at same time, no problem

2.     It is very fast, I think faster than the chargers that come with the iPhone

3.     It has a light to tell you want it is doing, flashing is charging, steady is charged up

4.     I think it is safe to leave it plugged in all the time, but I am asking the factory

5.     It has IQ – 10 smart safety circuits inside to protect your devices

6.     It is 220 or 110 compatible, perfect for overseas travel  it makes the adjustment automatically.

7.     It has retractable plug prongs, to make it even easier to travel

8.     It is high quality construction, you can drop it or whatever, no problem (it says)

9.     Two ports is reducing some “counter clutter” for me. I had with two different chargers I had used for years in that location.  A beefier one for the iPad (came with it) and a smaller one for the iPhone (came with it).

10. It has a warranty of course.  Price is $12 – not dirt cheap, but consider what your devices cost?  Is protecting them worth $5 more than the lowest price available?

The down side

1.     It is a bit heavier than the little charger than came with the iPhone, maybe even a tiny bit heavier than the charger that came with the iPad – but it does both jobs, so, perhaps it doesn’t weigh more than both combined? 

2.     It will get a little bit warm to the touch when charging both devices , not hot or anything just a tiny bit more warm.  I think that is OK, technically.  It must have a transformer inside (as opposed to some other kind of voltage regulator)  In my earlier electronic lifetime transformers were safer than circuit boards that did the same chores – just heavier and bulkier.  This one is, of course, a tiny transformer if that’s it what it is.

PS – I use Amazon’s private label cords with my chargers, and the 6 foot one has a better quality cord and larger and better “end pieces” that stick into the devices and chargers.  But I don’t like long cords.  I ordered two, 3 foot cords, and they work, but I don’t like them as well – quality wise, as the 6 foot cord. 

Panasonic FlashXpress Toaster Oven

https://www.amazon.com/Panasonic-NB-G110P-Xpress-Toaster-Silver/dp/B008C9UFDI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497897333&sr=8-1&keywords=panasonic+flashxpress

Toaster Ovens are not exactly new or exotic.  You can buy them with convection features and or just buy them for as little as $24 sometimes.  The Panasonic FlashXpress came to my attention over and over in the many publications I read.  So I looked it up on Amazon and was surprised to see it had over 2,000 reviews (a large number for any product) and retained 4.5 stars,  a remarkable “rating” achievement. And Consumer Reports gave it a big write up as well.

So, I offer it here for your information or consideration should you ever want to buy a replacement toaster oven (or your first one).  I think they are useful, but actually don’t own one, as I feel I can’t spare the counter space or have a burning need for one.  But I have eaten food from other people’s such ovens, and it is usually great.  Now it can be fast too !

Edison String Lights For Your Backyard Patio

Edison String Lights For Your Backyard Patio

I recently purchased this brand and type from Amazon and in the process, learned a fair amount about the topic.  I have seen them all my life, but didn’t realize how many variations there were, or how to purchase a quality set that will last. Here is the link:  The brand is AMLIGHT …

https://www.amazon.com/Commercial-AMLIGHT-Weatherproof-Lighting-Strands/dp/B01B7K4EX0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1495903161&sr=8-1&keywords=Outdoor+Commercial+String+Lights-+AMLIGHT+24+Ft+Heavy+Duty

Here are some of the features

1.     the lights are 2 feet apart, many brands have lights 4 feet apart (too far for my taste) 

2.     the bulbs are visible filament Edison types, nice low light soft glow, and they shipped 18 bulbs for the 12 slots, so you have spares.  But they last many years I think.

3.     these are commercial strength strings with high quality, waterproof, sockets for the lights

4.     they can be strung end-to-end, up to 10 strings (it says one place, another place it says 2 strings?  I think 10 is more correct).

5.     each bulb has a ring above which can be used to hook it to a gazebo roof or something, or, to string a strong cable wire through to hold the lights up for long distances – they sell the cables on Amazon.  The cables are not visible in magazine photos, but probably many of the nice strings you see are really supported by the nearly invisible cables. 

6.     there are less expensive strings around, but are “home” quality not commercial, and are basically not as nice looking or nearly as long lasting, I chose the good stuff. 

I am very pleased with my first string, and have ordered two more strings to make the entire deck even more pleasant at night.  Fortunately I already had another lighting system in place from 10 years back (the old rope light idea) so I had a very handy water proof receptacle in place, so install was super easy.

Furnace Filters and Dehumidifier Thoughts

Filters are a boring topic, but most families need them, and need them every 90 days.  My house has filter grills, and I use the disposable kind of filters.  Therefore I have to put in about 5 or more filters every 90 days.  Storage isn’t a problem for me, I have a climate controlled attic in my home, but for others, signing up with Amazon for automatic delivery every 6 months or more, might be advisable.

I have found a local hardware store with good prices on filters, and they carry odd sizes.  But I prefer, when possible, a 300 micron pleated filter, usually one by Purolator or Filtrete. Sometimes purchased at WalMart, but they often don’t have my (odd) sizes. And they are very pricey there.  These days they run about $5 to $10 a filter (on line), outrageously expensive for such a mundane, high production, product. I guess shipping is a high cost, since they take up a great deal of space in a shipping van or UPS.  Even though, of course, they are light weight.

I even saw a so-called high performance filter on Amazon that was $18 for a single disposable filter in my 10 x 30 size. That’s just ridiculous.

I use a portable dehumidifier in summer, and that helps keep the air clean and nice as well.  After trying many brands (I have owned quite a few brands over the years), my current favorite is Frigidaire from Lowes or Home Depot (or on line from Amazon).  It has a lifetime filter than can be washed easily, so that helps as well.  By dropping humidity, the house feels cooler, and thus saves on Air Conditioning run times (setting a few degrees higher temp). 

https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dgarden&field-keywords=Frigidaire+FAD704DWD+Energy+Star+70-pint+Dehumidifier+

My most recent purchase of the dehumidifier was from this link.

On the topic of energy savings and home comfort, I have slowly replaced most of my normal light bulbs with LED’s. Finding the right ones has been a slow Easter Egg hunt, as some brands are too expensive, some put out ugly light, and some are not as bright as the replacement.  But others are even brighter than the bulb they are supposed to replace.  Lately a great find was a WalMart branded 40 watt bulb, with warm light, and very bright, can’t really tell it from the old incandescent bulbs it replaced. The nice warm light was not yellow tinged either. And price was very low, a few dollars or less in-store, and even less in a big box of identical product containing 30 each. I found my big box of bulbs on EBay. Quite an accident to discover what I wanted there. I have fixtures that needed a total of 15 , 40 watt bulbs. This should save both heat build up and energy in summer, and energy in winter.  

Spreadshare – A New Concept

Share your exciting website finds -- for personal use, or to help you start up business or established business. By posting a spread sheet you have built with great "finds".

I have just started to look at this, but recommend you explore it if you are interested.

I suppose people submit spreadsheets that list URL's or links to a helpful website on their favorite topic – travel ?  entrepreneur? or building a “start up business”.  On their spreadsheets they have topics related with links to the appropriate web tools on those topics.

Here are two I have admired this morning… one on travel, the other on building a start-up business (possibly a web type business).

https://spreadshare.co/spreadsheet/top-336-travel-apps-and-websites

Aids for travel and related

https://spreadshare.co/spreadsheet/new-startup-ideas

Aids for a start up business

Here is one I found on my first drill=down look – I would bet it could benefit those with e-commerce websites, or other sites.

https://www.hotjar.com/?ref=stacklist

Please post any usefulness you find in these spreadsheet aids so others can benefit.  Thanks.  Dale

Amazon Echo Show -- coming in June

https://www.macrumors.com/2017/05/09/amazon-echo-show-june/

Echo Show to be released in June.  This is Amazon Echo with a screen.

1.     The biggest news is the possibility that it will allow users (owners) to do something like Skype calls between Echo Show devices, so, it will behave something like a free video phone call. It could offer something a bit easier and different from doing the same via iPad or iPhone or Android. A substitute for FaceTime, for example.  But, unlike the phone, it would be tethered to Wi-Fi, which should make it more reliable.

2.     “With the addition of a touchscreen, Amazon said that users will be able to watch video flash briefings and YouTube, see music lyrics, check on security cameras, swipe through photos, view weather forecasts, make to-do and shopping lists, and more. Far-field voice recognition, eight microphones, beam-forming technology, and noise cancellation allow users to be heard from anywhere in the room, as well as over loud music coming from the Echo Show itself.”  (from the website link above0

3.     $230 is the projected price, I think, per advance articles.  Less than the cost of some iPad models. 

I enjoy my Echo Dot – but don’t use it properly, or nearly enough.  I find it is much like Siri --- and I have Siri with me all the time, not just in one location.

A friend of mine has a full Echo, and enjoys the music features, and a few other features.  Another friend uses the Echo to add things to his shopping list – which then appears on his phone … segregated by stores.  For examples, he could say “Alexa, add pork and beans to my shopping list at Trader Joes”.   And, next time he is in Trader Joes, he can use that app on his phone to see what is on the list ---  saves writing down, and, if your hands are not clean, it is much easier to speak what you need, than start (or add to) a paper list.