To do this I use a peice of software called Webcam Max http://www.webcammax.com/

I have now been using the software for a while now and recently Webcam Max has had a major over-hall in the software giving usesrs alot more features as well as being alot easier to use.

The software has many features including:

• Thousands of Fantastic Effects
  Thousands of cool effects for your live video chats and video recording. You can download limitless effects at webcammax.com
• Video Recording
  Record your fantastic videos show with our cool effects to broadcast on YouTube or webcammax.com
• Virtual Webcam
  Share your video clips or desktop screen with family and friends through your Instant Messengers even without a real webcam.
• Easy to Share
  Directly share your video with family or friends on youtube.com. You can also upload and show your cool videos and photos on webcammax.com.
• Doodling and PinP
  Paint on the video box freely and directly. You can also broadcast different sources at the same time with Picture in Picture feature.
• Work for All
  Work for almost all webcam programs such as Windows Live Messenger, Skype, Yahoo Messenger, ICQ, Paltalk, Camfrog, YouTube, Ustream, JustinTV, and much more.

As well as this the makers of Webcam Max have also got an Download Libary where you can download even more effects other than the ones that have come pre-installed.

I find this software very easy to use, quick to install, has a large amount of features.  I can not find anything I would like to see diffrent in the software as love it the way it is and if you are looking to get passed the ‘boring’ webcam and make it even more fun I would highly recomend this!

Mac Users, you have not been left out you can find an alternitive to Webcam Max (CamTwist) at: http://allocinit.com/index.php?title=CamTwist

I have been using Windows 7 for a wee while now through TechNet and before Windows 7 I was running Vista.

Personally I have found Windows 7 to be a big improvement from Vista, as well as being alot more stable and eaiser to use.

I am sure that many Vista ‘haters’ will find Windows 7 alot better and much more stable.

For a few months Windows 7 was also on pre-order at a discounted rate with users who pre-orderd it due to recive there copys on launch day.

For those who will be upgrading to Windows 7, below is some handy hints and tips!

Start-Menu Searches: Windows key

This carryover from Vista is arguably one of Windows’ must underused and undervalued features. A simple tap of the Windows key activates the Start menu, where you can type the first few letters of a program name, Control Panel setting, Word document, or whatever and then hit Enter to launch it. Why reach for the mouse?

Minimize (Almost) All Windows: Win + Home

This combo lets you send all open windows packing–except the one that’s currently active. Sure beats clicking Minimize on a bunch of individual windows. When you tap the shortcut a second time, it restores all previously open windows.

Make Windows Transparent: Win + Space

This is the keyboard equivalent of mousing over the transparency tool in the right corner of the System Tray–great for those times when you need to something on the desktop (like a gadget) but don’t want to minimize all your windows. After tapping Win-Space, your windows will stay see-through until you let go of the Windows key.

Quick-Launch Taskbar Apps: Win + (1-9)

As you know, Windows 7 makes it a snap to “pin” frequently used programs to the taskbar. But did you also know that these programs are automatically assigned a number and corresponding Windows-key shortcut? Just press Windows-1 to launch the first pinned program (the one closest to the Start button), Windows-2 to launch the next one, and so on. Fastest app-launching known to man! Except, of course, for this…

Quick-Launch Any App: Hotkey

Like Vista before it, Windows 7 lets you assign a quick-launch hotkey to any installed program. Just right-click the program’s icon, choose Properties, and then click the Shortcut tab. Click once in the Shortcut key field, then press the hotkey combo you want to assign (Ctrl-Shift-H, for instance). Click OK and you’re done! Assuming you have a good memory, app launching doesn’t get any faster than this.

Dock Active Windows: Win + Left or Right Arrow

A great shortcut for users with widescreen monitors, this combo docks the active window to the left or right half of the screen (depending on which arrow you tap), at the same time maximizing it top-to-bottom.

Magnify Your View: Win + (+)

Windows 7’s built-in magnifier lets you zoom in wherever you place your cursor. Just tap Win-plus (that’s the Windows key and the plus key) to enable the magnifier and set a 200% zoom level. When you mouse to any edge of the screen, your view scrolls accordingly. The more you tap the keys, the higher the zoom. Of course, you can just as easily zoom out again with Win-minus.

Open Presentation Settings: Win + P

Good news for business users constantly struggling to get Windows to cooperate with projectors: A quick tap of Win-P activates a monitor-settings panel. Click Duplicate or Projector only to send your display to the big screen, or Extend if you’ve connected a second monitor and want extra screen real estate.

Create a New Folder: Ctrl + Shift + N

Forget the old way of creating new folders. In Windows 7, all it takes is a tap of Ctrl-Shift-N. This works in any open Explorer window, but also on the desktop. After the new folder appears, just type in a name as usual and hit Enter.

Bring Gadgets to the Fore: Win + G

Now that Windows’ gadgets are no longer relegated to the Sidebar, they’re free to sit anywhere on your desktop. Of course, that means they can get obscured by other windows. As you now know, a tap of Win-Space makes those windows temporarily see-through, but what if you want to put the gadgets on top of your windows? No problem: Just tap Win-G.

A few years ago while I was at college I found a great HelpDesk system called OneOrZero.

I was very impressed by this system and what it had offer and also what it could also have to offer in the future I became involved in the project providing support to other users, testing of new versions as well as looking at good ways forward with the product working alongside Adam.

Recently  OneOrZero upgraded to the new AIMS system (Action and Information Management System) featuring a powerful help desk, knowledge base, time manager and reporting system.

The system comes highly workable out of the box and is very easy to install!

Another great benefit that you would find with this system is that it has a built in LDAP and Active Directory integration which will make it even easier for you to role it out across your company for your existing network.

When I installed this it only took me less than a minute to install out of the box settings which is amazing for any product as most you will find you have to make a number of settings etc!

For those interested you can head over to the demo at the OneOrZero Site which I will now show you

For this demo I will be using the demo Admin Account and today we will have a look at the HelpDesk function of the system.

As you can see as soon as you log into the system you are greeted by the Quick Launch Section which gives you the option of which part of the system you would like to view.

For this example I will show you the Help Desk Function, from the quick launch menu you can access this by clicking on Help Desk.

As you can see this now loads the helpdesk application which will give you a number of options from creating new tickets, managing existing tickets, custom search options and more!

When creating a new ticket you just click on the type of item you will be creating (this can be set in the Administration of the AIMS system), for this example we will setup a new Helpdesk Ticket.

Depending on the options you have set for the item type you will get a screen similar to the one now showing, creating the new ticket can’t be any easier and asks you for all the details you need [input details] and after you have input everything you need to just click on ADD

Another great feature is the ticket group where you can set what type of group it would be then under category it will show categories which fit into that group!

Also when you are in the home for the helpdesk you are able to manage current tickets.

As you can see you can update the ticket, change the status of the ticket, transform the ticket into a helpdesk item which will automatically add it onto the Helpdesk system!

I hope you found this preview of the HelpDesk function of OneOrZero useful, if you would like more information on the HelpDesk function head over to www.oneorzero.com

You can also find me live at live.rossmilne.net, if you have ideas for a video email me at ross@rossmilne.net and you can also join our community at forum.rossmilne.net

Bye for now!

There is also so many choices, Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, Google Chrome and so so many others but with so many different ones which one should be the best to go for and how would you pick which one?

Personally myself I use firefox but with that being said I have not tried using Sarari, Google Chrome or any other Web Browsers.

Of course I have tried Internet Explorer but of course there is no competition between IE and Firefox.

I have always found Firefox been much better with having the tabs for web browsing under one window which IE did not have until it caught on.

I have not found any negatives in Firefox and have in-fact more or less been using it ever since it had first come out and have seen it grow from strength to strength to what it is today.

I may have a look at other web browsers and try them out and see how they work out but for now I just find Firefox so good.

A good positive to Firefox unlike IE is how easy it is to add more extentions / plugins to make it work even better!

This cleaver software turns some 3D images on Google Earth into 3D buildings on your desk!

You will now wonder well how can this be possible?

All you need is

• Google Earth
• a printer
• ARSights software
• Webcam

You will need to print a sheet of paper that is in black and white, and when you look at this paper you think it is just paper surley?

But! turn on the ARSights Software, select the model you wish to view (you will need to have your webcam plugged in) and hold the paper flat next to the webcam and be ready to be amazed!

This is a great trick to show to your friends and even just to amuse your self.

Below is a video produced by AR-media to show how the software works

I have been playing with this software for a short time now and have already amazed my parents with how this work!

You can download the software at: http://www.inglobetechnologies.com/en/products/arplugin_su/info.php

I hope you enjoy the software as much as I have also let us know what you think of the software by reply below!