Instead of the typical holiday gift guides, let’s change it up a bit with stuff that people can afford and get access to! Here is a list of desirable doo-dads taken from a very un-scientific Twitter poll. Christmas is closing in fast so drop the hints, leave the product’s web page open for the spouse to see, circle the advertisement in nail polish. Whatever it takes for your true love to get you the things you love, right?

To the tune of The First Day of Christmas (you can sing it in your head as you read along)

On the 1st day of gadgets my true love will get for me: A Logitech MX Revolution wireless mouse!

On the 2nd day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Apple iPod Touch!

On the 3rd day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Lost 4.0 on DVD!

On the 4th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: an Eye-Fi wireless 2GB SD card!

On the 5th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Drobo SATA Robotic Storage Array

On the 6th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Adobe Photoshop CS4 upgrade!

On the 7th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Flip Mino High Def video camera!

On the 8th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Battlestar Galactica 4.0 on DVD!

On the 9th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Western Digital 1TB external hard drive!

On the 10th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Targus Travel Power Outlets!

On the 11th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Flickr Pro account!

On the 12th day of gadgets my true love will get for me: Amazon Kindle!

So what is on your list? Add them into the comments!

According to Feed Demon, my RSS feed reader of choice, there are some really good websites and content that get my attention on an almost daily basis. These bloggers and news outlets are listed highly because of the quality and content of their writing. Frequency plays a huge factor as well. Some websites crank out almost 15 posts a day. Huge.

The list for October 2008

1. Lifehacker- Tips, tricks and hacks for everyday uses on technology and even offline.
2. Mashable- Everything involving social media and web 2.0
3. ReadWriteWeb- In depth tech news and reporting
4. Webware- Who needs software when there are online alternatives?
5. JKontheRun- For the technical & mobile professional. Gadgets and more (Houston-based!)
6. Chris Brogan- Helping people everyday with useful information on social media and how to use it. Mucho mojo here.
7. WebworkerDaily
8. Houston Chronicle- The online version of the daily newspaper
9. Houstonist- Alternative news for what is going on around town
10. Eager Little Mind- This website is maintained by my Wonderwife

What’s your contingency plan?
Truman: Contingency plan?
Harry Stamper: Your backup plan. You gotta have some kind of backup plan, right?
Truman: No, we don’t have a back up plan. This is it.

-scene from the movie, Armageddon

Have you ever turned on your computer and heard something you know was going to be unpleasant? How many of us have witnessed those “fatal error” messages? Ever see smoke coming from your hard drive? What happens when your Yahoo/Gmail/MSN mail service is locked out?

Experienced tech professionals know that it isn’t if your product fails, it is when it fails. Do you have insurance on your vehicle? Why? Because it insures you that if/when you have an accident, you will have the means to restore or replace what was damaged. OK, so most states require you to have auto insurance, but still, you need a backup strategy for your hardware and software.

When I ordered a desktop upgrade last year, I had a second internal hard drive installed that would backup data on the main drive (just in case). I also have two external hard drives that backup the internals. Yes, this is extreme, but it is also experience. I learned my lessons after losing too many hard drives and accidentally deleting files I shouldn’t have (Wonderwife’s recipes). After upgrading my notebook computer, I also purchased a portable external hard drive as well. Redundancy is my friend.

There are numerous ways to backup your precious data and I will only scratch the surface here. I’m explaining what works for me and hopefully for you as well. I’d love to hear alternatives, especially if it is faster/cheaper/easier.

Cloud Storage

Thanks to technology, it is become cheaper for you to store backups and even share files online. How cheap? Anywhere from $50 a month to free. I haven’t forked over any cash to a subscription service such as Carbonite yet because I want to test it out first. The two free file hosting sites I am using now is A Drive and Dropbox. A drive has the most free storage available at a whopping 50 GB. That is bigger than most hard drives installed in computers a few years ago, people! Dropbox offers 5GB of free storage and a utility you can download that will sync what you have in a folder on your computer with your online storage. These free services also offer paid subscriptions in case you need more space.

Data/Media Files

I’ve already mentioned how many internal & external hard drives I use for my computers, but it is a good idea to also use alternatives as well. Flash drives have dropped in price recently. Currently I have 5 portable drives ranging between 2 and 8 GB. These are easier and more portable than discs. Speaking of discs, the really important personal files are backed up to both CD and DVD.

As a photographer, I have terabytes of images and they all have to be organized and stored easily in various formats. Did you purchase music from an online retailer such as iTunes or Yahoo Music? Burn those files to a disc because those DRM-protected formats will be rendered useless when/if the companies decide not to support them anymore. Yep, they will take your money and run while you get stuck with a useless music file.

A lot of my images are on photo hosting sites such as Flickr. Incidentally, this is the only paid service I am using currently because for $25 annually and unlimited file storage it is fantastic. My video files are on Vimeo. They are both there for me as backup and can be downloaded easily (time-consuming, though).

Email

After reading of users locked out, or unable to access their online email accounts, I decided to take action and get a back up plan as well. I have been using Gmail for about three years now and swear by it. There is not another service out there that can come close to it’s growing functionality. This includes backup and restoring. Google Mail allows users different mail servers to be configured such as POP or IMAP. IMAP allows me to access my Gmail accounts from an email client such as Outlook or Thunderbird and even from my Outlook mobile client. Gmail also has a forwarding feature that I take advantage of by sending every piece of mail to my backup, unlimited Yahoo mail account. Just in case Gmail is ever down, no problem, I can switch to Yahoo and read. It will not receive any new mail, but will help read current mail.

I don’t stop there, friends. There is a software utility simply called Gmail Backup that allows you to download your mail and store it to your computer. This is a sick compulsion people, but I have THIS folder sync’d to the previously mentioned Dropbox too.

Whew

As frustrating and inconvenient as hardware failure is, please don’t get caught without a plan to get your backup, back up. What are you using? Care to share in the comments for us? Remember, not if, but when!

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Blogging is a networking activity. It adds to the conversation. If I write or speak for myself, it is a monologue. There are plenty opportunities to help create dialogue and blogs/websites are one of the best forums. The goal here at Techno Mojo is to share knowledge and engage in conversation. Share tips & tricks, enhance productivity and more. There is no way any one person can know what may work for everyone else, right? I could say “Windows rocks, Macs are crap.” Well, how many passionate defenders of both will speak up? What if I suggest one photo hosting site as the best because of ____? Someone else’s experience with another hosting company usually recommends it and explains why. We need comments and opinions. Here is your chance.

Techno Mojo and MojoDenbow.info has installed and enabled two and very personal and engaging commentary system and needs your help in testing them.

Disqus pronounced “discuss”, is a service and tool for web comments and discussions. Disqus makes commenting easier and more interactive, while connecting websites and commenters across a thriving discussion community.

• Track and manage comments and replies
• Verified commenter reputations across sites
• More control over your own comments on websites
• Never lose your comments, even if the website goes away
• Build a global profile, or comment blog, to collect and show off what you’re saying
• Easier to comment on websites using Disqus
• Reply to comments through email or mobile
• Edit and republish comments with one click

Seesmic is a new service that powers video-enabled conversations. Video comments are a new idea. So why does Disqus have video comments? It is easy and fun and a very different way to have a discussion. Here is a video response from my personal website regarding a commenter’s suggestion on what beer I should have at a recent Twitter meetup:

Want to add your opinion/comment? Great! At the end of every post, there is a number and “comments”. Just click those and you are in! If you are the type of person who’d rather be heard and not seen, there is always the option of posting comments anonymously, not a problem!

To avoid harmful opinions or even spam, I reserve the right to moderate and/or delete comments to protect myself and others. Thanks for understanding.

So what is on your mind?

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Qik is a mobile app that allows you to stream live video feeds via your cell phone to the internet. A person can shoot live video feeds via your personal Qik page or a player which can be embedded on your blog or site. What could you possibly use Qik for?

Well, if you are very outgoing, than broadcast yourself. Shoot video of you doing interesting things. Events, concerts, interviews, citizen journalism, show off the kid to the grandparents from another state.

Here is live video that I shot right after hurricane Ike passed over downtown Houston and blew out almost every window on the east-facing side of the 70 story Chase Tower.

This application is invaluable if you’re into social media. For the mobile professional, it may be invaluable. No data signal where you are? No problem. Qik will play catch-up as soon as a signal is detected. When you are live, Qik can send a notice and invite to your Twitter account so others can view. These viewers are encouraged to interact by chatting. These chats will pop up on your mobile screen for a response. 

Warning: this live streaming video from a mobile phone tool will be used frequently by me for various informational and entertainingful purposes. You can follow along with me here: http://qik.com/mojodenbow .

How would you use Qik? Got some live streams of your own? Let us know in the comments!

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Unless a software company comes up with holographic heads-up displays of web browsers in stunning clarity, I will probably never leave Firefox as my internet browser of choice. Whenever I am setting up a new computer, I open Internet Explorer and download Firefox. Upon install completion, I choose Firefox as the default browser. There are several, legitimate reasons for this, including safety and speed, but the reason you are reading this article is because I want to share how to enhance your browsing and make Firefox work for you.

One of the main differences in switching from IE to FF is the fact that FF is “open source”, meaning there are developers from all over the world working on tools to make browsing better and more interactive. These tools, called extensions or “add-ons”, are free and have various uses. You can upload images to your fave website, chat using instant messengers, write code, check your email and more.

Here is a list of almost all of the extensions I use. 

1. Better Flickr- a compilation of user scripts utilizing the Greasemonkey extension (see below)
2. Better Gmail-  a compilation of user scripts utilizing the Greasemonkey extension (see below)
3. Clipmarks- Instead of linking to entire web pages, Clipmarks lets you clip exactly what you want and save for later
4. Colorzilla
5. Customize Google- no advertisements when you visit any Google website like Gmail, search, etc
6. Delicious Bookmarks
7. Drag & Drop.io- drop and send files that might be too big for email
8. FEBE- backup your FF profile, extensions, bookmarks, etc….just in case
9. Fire Uploader- fast file uploading to websites
10. FireFTP- I transfer a lot of files to my server for blog hosting, etc. This is way better than using the ftp network
11. Firestatus
12. ForecastFox- who needs weather.com when this is on your toolbar?
13. FoxTab 3D tabbed browsing is pretty
14. GCal Popup
15. Geode- for those who don’t care about “the man” knowing where you are
16. Gmail Manager- I have more than one Gmail account, this helps switch easily.
17. Gmail Notifier
18. Gmail Space- Since Gmail has up to 7GB (and counting) of space, why not use it for file storage too?
19. Google Gears
20. GPhoto Space
21.  
22. Greasemonkey- an extension that allows you to customize the way web pages look and function. Hundreds of scripts are already available for free. You want this, trust me!
23. GUtil- an extension that includes a drop down menu for every Google utility. Time saver!
24. Inquisitor- new search feature from Yahoo
25. Juice- drag, drop, research
26. Ma.gnolia Bookmarks
27. Remember The Milk- Gmail to do list
28. Share-a-holic
29. Skype- make calls using phone numbers found on website you are on
30. Wisestamp

What are you using and how? I’m always on the look out for a better tool for easier productivity. Add them into the comments!

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In this crazy economy where businesses are tightening their budgets and preparing for lean times, there will be the inevitable job cuts. Unemployment figures from the Department of Labor show a slow trend of lost jobs in the tech industry. Will this happen to you? Have you seen these cut backs already?

So what can someone do who has recently found themselves with some unexpected free time? Plenty. Now is the time to take charge of yourself. You have been performing as your employer has demanded but it is time to do what you want and need to do. Take advantage of this!

1. Re-vamp your Resume Hey, thanks Captain Obvious! No, seriously. Update your resume, get a new, clean format. If you haven’t already, be sure to add yourself to LinkedIn and network. Update your profiles here and in Facebook/MySpace too.
2. Find Some Contract Work This can help you stay current as well as bring in some cash. HR reps will want to know why there is a potential 3 month gap in your work history. Careerbuilder.com and Monster.com have plenty of employers looking for contractors.
3. Up Your Skill Sets This includes not only your soft skills, but your technical knowledge as well. Know HTML? Great, now on to CSS, PhP, whatever.
4. Learn Something New Does this include going back to school to get that new degree? A lot of people at this point may consider a career change. Not to be taken lightly.
5. Vacate Your Premises Now you have the opportunity to get away from it all. Leave your worries behind for a bit. Reboot your brain by refreshing your surroundings. Either take the family away for awhile or go it alone for the weekend.
6. Expose Yourself Please do not make the mistake of holing yourself inside your house, surfing the web, watching infomercials at 2AM and not shaving for two weeks. Get out and attend a seminar with like-minded people. Meetups are a great way to feel better, even if you don’t feel like it.
7. Donate Your Time How many organizations & causes could use some of your valuable investment of service? It is true that by giving of yourself, you will be rewarded. This is one of the best ways to stay positive. Find a cause you can believe in and contribute!
8. Get A Hobby “I never have enough time to do _________ like I’ve always wanted.’ Well, guess what!
9. UnPlugged As a technical professional, you are probably plugged in just about as much as the rest of us. Time to cut the cord, put away the gadgets, turn it off, and walk away. Breathe. You can do this…
10. Work It Out Gained a few pounds in that chair behind that desk, have we? No sweat. Actually, go ahead and sweat. Future employers will be sure to size you up by your resume and your appearance.

Got any other suggestions? I’d love to see them. How many of us could benefit from your advice? Please add them to the comments and let us carry on the conversation!

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I have been using Windows Vista for a little over a year and a half, first as a beta tester for Microsoft and then as a consumer. Like many users of the latest Windows operating system, I was annoyed by the User Account Control (UAC), the incompatibility with existing hardware and the lack of drivers, conflicting 3^rd party software and how it was a resource hog. These were all acceptable to me during the Beta trial because bugs & annoyances were understood and were to be improved on before the release, right?

Wrong.

The UAC was the nagging mother who would second-guess you every time. “Are you sure you want to open this XYZ software?” Yes, thank you, mother. Click “Are you really sure? Momma knows better than you do.” Yes, mother. While it is true you can disable the UAC (good luck trying to find the disable feature), Microsoft really scares you into keeping it activated for security purposes.

When Vista was released, I purchased the “upgrade” Vista Premium Home edition, upgraded my memory and video card as suggested for the “Wow” experience but the software was still consuming a majority of the memory resources. Don’t even THINK of having a browser, instant message client and Photoshop CS3 running at the same time because Vista needs the memory to run processes in the background don’t you know?

The only issue I had with hardware was the wireless router and photo scanner but even then there workarounds and drivers released (way too long after Vista out).

This past week I downloaded and installed the first Service Pack released by Microsoft for Vista and was not impressed. It still takes way too long to transfer files or delete to the trash bin. Why? Because Vista has to think about what you are trying to do before even performing the action. Geez…quit second-guessing the user already!

After giving Vista its due diligence, after complying with the hardware/software requirements, after waiting for the SP1 to be released I am not impressed and regretted installing Vista. Well, I don’t have to live with that regret because I reinstalled Windows XP because it has been tested and improved upon for years now and it doesn’t try to think about what I want but lets me DO what I want. Immediately after booting I could tell a dramatic improvement in speed and performance. This weekend I “upgraded” back to Windows XP.

With so many websites in the Mojo Network, I don’t have time to add blog posts to every social site I am a member of. These websites are my spaces. I am paying for the domain names and server space so why would I consistently use the free, hosted sites? As someone recently said “It’s like remodeling your kitchen in the home that you rent” it just adds content to something that isn’t yours and the host makes money off of the content. No thanks!

So why am I on Facebook/MySpace/Flickr, etc? Because a lot of people are on them. You go where the traffic is to glean information and to network. Also, think of the social sites as parties. You go to see and be seen, and have a good time doing it, right? The same holds true online as well. With RSS feeds, and open networks between all of the various web apps, I don’t have to go to say, Facebook and post content from Photo Mojo because it is done automagically.

Facebook- I use this strictly as a means to view what others are doing or find interesting. Anytime one of my contacts adds something it is tracked and delivered via RSS feed so I can bypass the site and its increasing advertisements. Look me up: Chris Denbow

Linked In- Think of it as a web 2.0 contact book for workers seeking to expand their professional network. Let’s get linked: Chris “Mojo” Denbow

Plaxo- Used to be the bane of the professional world because of spamming issues and no privacy but has cleaned up and makes nice with more than a few applications since joining Google’s Open Social initiative. I just recently signed up so I can add/remove/sync all of my contacts from Gmail, Outlook, LinkedIn and my smartphone. Add me: Chris “Mojo” Denbow

Outlook 2007- quickly becoming my first stop when managing contacts as well as a social tool. Third party software including Xobni (inbox spelled backwards) allows you to connect with your contacts.

Windows Mobile 6- all contacts are stored into my phone, just in case it is needed. Sync’d with Outlook/Plaxo/Gmail/LimkedIn it is an indispensable tool on my smartphone. By using Fring, mobileware that allows you to chat with your contacts via Google Talk, Skype, Twitter, etc the value just increased.

Groups- Got a collaborative project? Need to connect with like-minded people? Both Yahoo & Google Groups are the place to go when you want secure interaction and a place to hang out collectively.

Twitter- almost as good as instant messaging individuals and groups about whatever it is on your mind or for event tracking in 140 characters or less for each “tweet”. Read/Share tweets: mojodenbow

These sites and connections help build my digital brand and allow me to meet new people both on/offline. There are people I meet with similar passions out there that I want to share with. There are a huge number of folks I meet that I need information and can learn from.

What social tools do you use to connect with new people, contacts? Let us know!

I’ve caught the micromedia or microblogging bug and it may very well be terminal. I’m proud of my early-adopter and beta tester status but I was slow to catch this trend and even now still feel like I am not using it to full potential. As one’s time and attention and have shrunken down, more audio/video/blogs are shrinking their content to this bite-sized media. This is why Techno Mojo has been neglected. I’ve been keeping up with web apps and sharing my thoughts with these web/mobile apps in an effort to communicate.

Lifestreaming-

Twitter/Jaiku/Pownce- In 140 characters or less per post, mention anything you want or share links with anyone and everyone you want to. Think of it has hyper-text messaging and not to be confused with an instant messenger client. All have RSS feeds so you can track them and read others. Be sure to research all of the various Twitter 3^rd party applications that enhances the experiences.

Voice Blogging-

Utterz/Jott- Using your mobile phone, you can add/embed a post to your website and/or have it hosted on their websites. Use the RSS feeds to send to Twitter/Jaiku/Pownce and notify your contacts.

Microblogging-

Tumblr/Soup/Facebook- I use these to catch all of the aforementioned applications into one neat little blog. Combo Mojo receives feeds from Twitter, Jaiku, Pownce, Flickr, The Mojo Network, YouTube, Vimeo, Utterz, Jott and so much more. Why go to all of these sites when they are pulled into one?

Micro Video-

Seesmic- this is a web app that appears to be like Twitter but with video added. I say “appears to be” because it is very difficult to get an invitation to this limited beta tester application. I would use the heck out of this, given the chance. Did you like the not-so-subtle hint?

UStream- live streaming video rocks my socks. Includes chat client.

Kyte.tv- read above

Click on the links below to find me on these web apps:

Twitter, Jaiku, Pownce, Utterz, Tumblr, Soup, Facebook, Ustream, Seesmic (coming soon?)