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|   Jan. 3, 2009—Vol. 13, No. 1 Support this free newsletter—Support our advertisers
 CHECK OUT THE MOST POPULAR FEATURES IN 2008 But do you ever wonder which are most popular? I did, too, and I ended up constructing four Top 20 lists. You'll want to go over these carefully. They contain a lot of good information. When I constructed the Top 20 Downloads list, I found an interesting trend. The first 10 were security programs. Obviously, you've been paying attention. If you still need security help, check out my Security Center. XDRIVE WILL CLOSE ON JAN. 12 Xdrive was one of the first online storage sites. AOL bought it in 2005. In 2008, AOL began shedding services. It said in July that it would sell or close Xdrive. The company apparently did not find buyers. It announced Xdrive's closing in November. Don't tarry on retrieving your files. After Jan. 12, Xdrive will no longer be available. Remaining files will be deleted. DON'T SPEND A DIME ON SOFTWARE IN '09 I'm happy to do my part to help you save money. That's why I started my Download of the Day site. Each day, I feature one great, free program. You may never buy software again! Below are some of my favorite freebies from the past week. Click on the links below to learn more about the free programs. Then, hurry back! There's still plenty of ground to cover.
• Ever wish Google only returned local results? That would help ground the Web in your local area. • Are you part of a club, band or church group? Keep all of your members up to date with a newsletter. Creating one is simple. • A new year has begun. But let's reflect on the past 12 months. You don't want to miss all the great free programs. Here's my 20 hottest free downloads of 2008. Want a tip? Bookmark my Downloads page. Just go there and press Ctrl+D. That will add my downloads to your browser's favorites! And remember this: If I say a program is free, it's FREE. There are sites on the Internet that sell free programs. There are also many ads on the Internet for similar programs, which aren't free. If somebody tries to charge you for a free program, back up. You've clicked on the wrong thing. Saturday's download — Some people collect jokes on the Internet. Others archive political snippets. But practically everybody saves e-mail. So, check this download. It will back up your e-mail. Sunday's download – Sure, gas prices have come down. But tracking your mileage can still save you a pretty penny. NOW PLAYING AT KOMANDO.COM You'll find plenty of free entertainment online. And the best place to start is my Video of the Day site. You'll find one (or sometimes two) awesome videos each day. These videos are good, clean fun—perfect for the entire family! Get started with these hot videos from the past week:• The middle of a stampede sounds like a dangerous place to be. But what about a stampede in the ocean? It's pretty cool. Kids are so much fun. Some have incredible talents. Others can be simply hilarious. And making them smile is a treat in itself. You can catch some great kid videos in my Video of the Day archive:
NOTE: Are you having trouble seeing my daily video picks? Do you get a message that the video is not available? Sorry to say, it's probably not the video. It's your computer, my friend. Get help on my troubleshooting page. These problems are pretty easy to fix. THE EASY WAY TO SAVE MY VIDEOS Again, to download the video, all you need is the video's Web address. Don't know how to find that? Click here for step-by-step instructions. And to start saving videos you find online, use the free tool on my Web site. It's located at http://www.komando.com/myvideo/ STILL TO COME: Useful tips, important news and a few laughs!
• Watch out for cyber crime • Important security tips; and some awesome freebies! Back to the top   MOVING YOUR ITUNES LIBRARY THE RIGHT WAY iTunes is one of the most popular music (and video) programs. That's thanks to the popularity of the iPod. It's a great program. However, it can be tricky. For example, you can get into a muddle moving your iTunes library. Countless readers have written asking for help cleaning up an iTunes mess! It is imperative that you move your library the correct way. Otherwise, you're asking for trouble. Links to your songs could be broken in iTunes. You could end up with duplicate tracks. Or worse, you could lose all of your music. I'm going to assume that you followed the correct steps. But, I advise you to peruse my handy tip on moving an iTunes library. Then, check your external hard drive. Make sure the songs are there. I don't doubt your abilities. But it is better to be safe than sorry! Now you're ready to reclaim the space on your computer hard drive. It's really quite simple. You see, iTunes will copy the music to a new location. But it doesn't delete the old files. So, you can delete them. The default location for your iTunes music is (My) Music\iTunes\iTunes Music. You can delete the entire iTunes Music folder. Just select it and click Delete. Do not delete the iTunes Library.itl or iTunes Music Library.xml file. Otherwise, you will lose playlists and other data. With a couple of children and 28 GB of music, iTunes can quickly get out of hand. I have plenty of advice to help keep things under control. Don't miss these great time-saving tips:
• Manage an iPod on multiple machines • Managing multiple iPods on one PC • Five tricks you can teach iTunes FLY THROUGH SECURITY WITH A CHECKPOINT FRIENDLY BAG You need to stop shopping at the airport stores, Rob! They're usually more expensive than other stores. Just joking--I'm sure you already know that. Laptop bags can be quite costly. And you can bet manufacturers will put a premium on checkpoint friendly bags. That said, you will find checkpoint friendly bags for less than $100. I'll tell you about them in a minute. First, though, let me explain how the bags differ from others. I'm sure many readers haven't heard of these laptop bags. They're a relatively new development. You can keep your laptop inside checkpoint friendly bags at airport security. They make it easier to get through security. They can also help protect your laptop from theft. The bags have a laptop compartment that folds flat. This gives screeners an unobstructed view of your laptop. Of course, there's more to them than that. You can learn more on the TSA's Web site. Many of the checkpoint friendly bags I've seen are well over $100. You'll find sleeves for much less. But, you'll find plenty of checkpoint friendly bags under $100 online. Look at bags from Mobile Edge, Targus, Belkin and Case Logic. Just make sure the bag is TSA approved! Since you travel frequently, you're at risk for laptop theft. I have plenty of tips to help you protect your laptop: WILL YOUR OLD LENSES WORK ON A DSLR? The lenses from your old camera may work on a new DLSR. But, you'll need to select your new camera carefully. You should also know that the lenses may not work quite as you would expect. First, in order for the lenses to work, the cameras must use the same mount. That means you'll probably need to stick with the same brand camera. There are exceptions, of course. Nikon lenses will work on Nikons and Fujifilm cameras. Minolta lenses work on Sony cameras. And Pentax lenses will work on Samsung cameras. Of course, some manufacturers change lens mounts from time to time. Also, some lens features like autofocus may not work with some cameras. So, I recommend you make a list of the lenses you own. Then, speak with someone at a camera shop. A professional will be able to guide you to a compatible camera. You also need to be aware of the lens crop. Digital camera sensors are usually smaller than a frame of 35mm film. So, you'll get a different angle of view. This can be difficult to figure out for new digital photographers. To make things easier, manufacturers list crop factors. The average crop factor is about 1.5. You multiply this by the lens' focal length. A 50mm lens behaves like a 75mm lens on a camera with a 1.5 crop factor. Telephoto lenses become more powerful. Wide angle lenses become weaker. It is also worth noting that light hits digital sensors differently than it does film. So, digital-specific lenses have special coatings. These coatings reduce ghosting and flaring. Some photographers dispute the importance of these coatings, though. For in-depth help buying your camera, hit my site. I also have buying help for lenses and other SLR accessories. NEW AND IMPROVED BUYING GUIDE AMERICAN FORCES RADIO & THANKS NO PREEMPTIONS! DOWNLOAD & LISTEN WHEN YOU WANT! DON'T STOP YET – THERE'S MORE YOU NEED TO KNOW:
• Keep reading! I have more money-saving tips! Back to the top  10 TIME-SAVING SECRETS Fortunately, common programs include many tools to help you work smarter. Here are 10 of my favorites to get you started. First, Microsoft Outlook lets you flag messages for follow-up. As your deadline approaches, Outlook reminds you to take action. Wouldn't it be great if you could flag messages you send, too? You can! Open a new e-mail message. Click the Follow Up button and select Flag for Recipients. Select the flag type and reminder time. Click OK. Office programs are intimidating for many people. But I have more tricks that make them easier to use. They're all in my column. You can read it for free on my site now! A LITTLE ABOUT ME: STILL TO COME IN THIS ISSUE:
• Choosing a printer for an advanced camera Back to the top 
I'm sure many of us have things lying around that we no longer want. So, it is only natural to sell the things and pocket the cash. Getting started selling online can be daunting. Don't be intimidated, though. It really is easier than you would expect. First, you need to decide how you will sell your items. You can use Craigslist to sell items at a fixed price. (Expect some haggling, though.) Or, you can use an auction site like eBay. I recommend using both. Craigslist is much like classified advertising. It will help you sell to local buyers. You can list individual items. Or, advertise a garage sale. Craigslist is great if you have large or fragile items. You can avoid shipping hassles. And listing items on Craigslist should be free. eBay is perfect for reaching a wider audience. Use it for small or unusual items. Others can bid as much or as little as they want. You can hedge your bets by setting a reserve. A low listing price will attract bidders. But you're not obligated to sell until the reserve price is met. You will want to list your items with care. Make sure you have a thorough description of your items. If there is anything wrong with the item, make sure you mention it. You don't want to be a dishonest seller. Besides, some people buy damaged items to use for parts. That's particularly true with things like computers and iPods. Make sure you have nice, clear images to go with the listings. This is imperative. Buying items from strangers online is risky enough. Many will shy away from listings that don't include pictures. Once you have your descriptions and photos ready, you can begin selling. I have step-by-step instructions in these money-making tips: eBay isn't perfect. But, I can help make your eBay transactions safer and smoother. So, don't miss these great tips and freebies on my site:
• Get eBay on your desktop • Five cool tools for eBay users A MESSAGE FROM THE KOMANDO.COM POSTMASTER SEE SOMETHING UNDERLINED? CLICK & LEARN
As always, I guarantee your privacy. Your e-mail address will not be sold, leased or given to anyone, ever! STILL TO COME IN THIS WEEKEND'S EDITION:
• What to look for in a photo printer Back to the top
HERE'S TO 2009 WITH MY GREAT AFFILIATES NOTE THESE NEW TIMES! PITTSBURGH'S "FIRSTS" That list includes the first bingo game and the first commercial radio station. Pittsburgh is home to the first public television station and the first polio vaccine. And don't forget the first double organ transplant and first nighttime World Series game. Rounding out the list of firsts is the first Big Mac and first banana split. Incidentally, the smiley :-) was created by a Carnegie Mellon computer scientist.
LOOK ME UP! JOIN ME ON YOUR SCHEDULE STILL TO COME IN THIS WEEKEND'S EDITION:
• Choosing a printer for high-resolution images
CONTEST SITE: Tim Tam Down Under FREEBIE OF THE WEEK: The fiber of well-being FREEBIE FROM KOMANDO.COM: A better way to eBay GET A COOL SITE EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK In case you missed any this past week, here's a list of some of our favorites: • SECURE COMPUTING: Watch for cyber crime
THIS COULD BE A RECORD YEAR FOR CYBER CRIME An influx of cyber criminals is bad news. But it gets worse. Computer users have become more aware of online security threats. So, the criminals are growing more cunning with their tricks. IT professionals turned criminals could devise complex scams. These will be harder for people to recognize. So, you will need to be especially vigilant for scams. If you're not completely protected, use my Security Center. It has everything you need, and it's all free.THE END IS IN SIGHT, BUT I WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK
 Buying a printer is no easy task. You can pick up a printer for about $50. Or, you can spend hundreds on a high-end model. But, the differences may not be apparent to the casual shopper. The first thing to consider is print size. That is, what is the biggest print you will want to make? Are you OK with 4x6 prints? Or, will you want large 13x19 prints? Any printer should handle smaller prints. But, your choices are limited if you go above legal size (8 1/2x14). Before deciding on print size, look at the camera's resolution. You will use this to calculate the largest print size it will yield. The old rule of thumb is your prints should be 300dpi. Truth is, prints at 200dpi or even 150dpi look great. To calculate print size, you divide the pixels by the target dpi. Let's use the Nikon D300 as an example. The largest image it produces is 4288x2848 pixels. So, divide each number by 150. The largest print you'll get is about 29x19 inches. A large-format printer is certainly a possibility. You'll find small dye-sublimation printers. These produce very nice photographs. But, prints top out around 4x6 inches. So, I would recommend an inkjet printer. You'll have more leeway with print sizes. Now, let's talk printer specifications. First off, ignore printer speed. I don't know how manufacturers come up with page-per-minute ratings. I would describe these ratings as optimistic at best. Besides, you're more concerned about print quality, right? Next, you will want to look at the printer's dpi. This is one of the most crucial specifications of a photo printer. It is particularly important when making large prints. I would aim for a printer with 4800 dpi or better. I know what you're thinking. If you print at 200 or 300 dpi, why do you need a 4800 dpi printer? Well, there's a big difference between image and printer resolutions. Dpi, or dots per inch, refers to how many dots of ink can be placed in an inch. Printers use a few colors of ink to achieve 16 million colors. To do this, they spray different colored droplets on the paper. One pixel in camera resolution is represented by multiple dots. The more dots, the smoother the image will appear. You'll also get more nuanced colors and finer details. Picoliters go hand in hand with dpi. Picoliters refers to the size of the ink droplets. The smaller the droplets, the greater the dpi that can be achieved. You will also want to pay attention to the ink. You want a printer with separate ink cartridges. This will help prevent wasted ink. Some printers may only use a couple of different colors. You want a printer that uses at least six different colors. You'll get better colors. Also, go for a printer that uses pigmented ink, as opposed to dye-based ink. That is, if you can swing the extra cost. Pigmented ink lasts longer. Your prints will be more water resistant and won't fade as fast. Finally, you'll see printers with memory card readers. Or, they may have USB connections for your camera. Some also have LCD screens. These features are nice for printing off quick snapshots. But, if you're serious about getting high-quality prints, don't worry about them. You'll want to edit and correct your images on your PC before printing. You're going to have a lot of fun with your new camera! You can also use it to make money on microstock sites. I have plenty of tips that will help you make money. Here are a few to get you started:
• Get close up with macro photography • Increase your range with HDR imaging • Take better portraits of the kids IF I HELPED YOU, CAN YOU PLEASE HELP ME? 1. Tell your co-workers, employees, team members, fantasy sports buddies, family members and friends to check us out. I have a form that makes it easy. 2. Link your blog, online profile or site to my site. Instructions and cool artwork await you. Have a great weekend. Thank you for your support of my show and newsletters! I appreciate it! Kim :)
 AAGH! THIS ONE IS JUST TERRIBLE! Have a great day and I'll see you on the radio! Kim :) GET MORE TIPS FROM ME TO YOU
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I'm in the market for a high-resolution digital SLR. I'm considering the Nikon D300. However, I may purchase another camera in the 12 to 15 megapixel range. I will also purchase a printer to use with the camera. That's the part that's tripping me up. What kind of printer do I need to take advantage of a high-resolution camera?
Wow! You're not messing around. The Nikon D300 is a fairly high-end camera that's received stellar reviews. But it sounds like you are somewhat uncertain about it. So, I recommend that you 
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