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I don't know about you, but when my Internet connection goes south (which happens fairly regularly with my provider -- cough, Comcast, cough), I go temporarily insane. It's not quite as bad as a power outage, but it's close: Loss of Internet severely hampers my ability to work -- and meet deadlines,...
A cell phone without a Bluetooth headset is like peanut butter without jelly. Headsets are indispensable gear for the modern businessperson, allowing hands-free conversations (which keep you much safer while driving) and the freedom to keep your phone away from your head (where it may be haza...
I consider myself a pretty tech-savvy fellow, at least when it comes to navigating around the internet and lusting after the latest gadgets. But even the simplest hardware modifications scare me off, and I end up buying totally new gear rather than upgrading my old stuff. That means that even tho...
E-mail scam artists are masters of their craft. They can put together a fake message that looks so legitimate, you'd think it came from your own mother (not to mention eBay, PayPal, and other seemingly trustworthy sources). PC World shows you how to spot these fakes so you can avoid becoming a victi...
Why spend money on preprinted letterhead stationery when you can create your own letterhead in Microsoft Word, then use it for any document you want? ProductivityPortfolio runs you through the steps, from choosing the right graphics to building and then using the template. It's a pretty easy proces...
Anyone who travels regularly for business has probably learned a few tricks over the years. Want to learn a whole lot more? Head over to Lifehacker's pre-flight checklist for power travelers, where you'll learn how to score cheap tickets, get the best seat on your flight, pack smarter for your trip,...
"You tried your best and you failed miserably. The lesson is, never try." --Homer Simpson It's that whole "failed miserably" thing that stops many people from launching a new business, asking for a raise, writing that screenplay, and just taking risks in general. Over at PickTheBrain, author John...
Need driving directions? A local business listing? How about traffic reports? You can get all that and more by calling 800-CALL-411, a.k.a. Live Search 411. Sound familiar? It's Microsoft's answer to GOOG-411, the voice-operated service we've mentioned before. All you do is dial the number an...
It's a gala day for Gmail users (cue Groucho Marx: "I don't think I could handle more than a gal a day."). Gmail Mobile 1.5 works with all Java-compatible phones and brings much of the functionality of desktop Gmail to your cell. Among the key features of this new release: Up to five times faste...
With web and mobile applications being developed at a startling rate, it's often hard to figure which ones are useful and which ones are a waste of time. Here at Business Hacks, we often single out apps that we like, but this time, I am going to point you to a pretty impressive list of useful—...
Starting a new business? Now's your chance to get your accounting in order without spending a penny on accounting software. Intuit is offering QuickBooks Simple Start 2008 for Windows absolutely gratis. Though obviously not as full-featured as, say, QuickBooks Pro, Simple Start lets you manage invo...
Savvy travelers know how to check flight status anytime, anywhere. If you're at your computer, for instance, you can ping FlightStats.com. If you're out and about, you can text a flight number to GOOGLE (466453) and get updates via SMS. Dead cell battery? Pick up any landline phone and dial 1-800-FL...
Wireless networks have become a staple of businesses large and small. If yours falls into the latter category (meaning you work in a home or small office), check out Microsoft's 10 tips for improving your wireless LAN. A few examples: Change your wireless channel. Wireless routers can broadcast ...
I just got a new Logitech wireless keyboard and cordless optical mouse. I was tired of all of the cords behind my desk and tired of not being able to move them more than a foot either way. The new gear was not too expensive, and it seems to work well. My new keyboard is easy to clean (simply take...
As most biz-hackers know, PDF is the preferred format for sharing, posting, and archiving documents. In the past we've looked at third-party tools that allow you to create PDFs from just about any application. Of course, in most cases the documents originate in Microsoft Office -- wouldn't it be gr...
