November 16, 2010

iPhone Tip: How to access your Privacy and Account settings on the Facebook iPhone app

If you haven't downloaded the latest Facebook iPhone app update I would suggest you do. Why you ask? Because now you can access and update your Privacy and Account settings through the app. What a concept?

Don't know why this took so long but hey now it's here.

To access these settings tap Account. This is where you use to just logout from Facebook. 



Then tap either Account Settings or Privacy Settings to update the information.

You are then taken to the same page you see when you access this information from the Facebook web site.

Did this tip help? Let us know in the comment section. You can also request tips via the comment section or share our tips with others by using our Share or Tweet buttons.



November 06, 2010

FAQ: What is a Facebook Friendship Page?

Have you ever wondered how many things you share with a friend? Like comments, events, or photos? Well the Friendship page helps you summarize all that.

You can display a Friendship page between you and a friend and see your mutual events, wall posts, comments, photos you're tagged in, friends, and even which pages you both like.

It's like summarizing your relationship.

To display a Friendship page:

1. Visit a Friend's page.
2. Click the View You and xxxxxx link (xxxxxx=friend's name) under their profile picture.



And voila!

Facebook summarizes your friendship in just seconds.



Also from that page you can browse mutual friend's Friendship pages or other friendship pages between and another friend.




If you don't see a link under a friend's profile picture, click the Filters link on their wall.




And then click the Friendship Page link.




What do you think about this new feature? Tell us in the comment section below.



October 18, 2010

FAQ: How can I hide the photos and videos my friends tag me in on Facebook?

Yes, you can and it's not a bad idea to do that. You never know what photo will surface from your past and you probably don't want your family, friends or coworkers seeing those crazy days, right?

What you can do is apply privacy settings to your profile in order for these photos to only be visible to you, specific people or a list of friends. It depends on how restricted you want it.

To do this:

1. Click Account.
2. Select Privacy Settings.
3. Click on Customize Settings.



4. Scroll down to the Things others share section.
5. Click the pull-down menu next to Photos and videos I'm tagged in.



6. Select Custom.
7. Select Specific People to let only some people see these photos or videos.



You can also select Only Me, if you don't want anyone except yourself seeing photos or videos you're tagged in.

8. If you select Specific People then enter their names in the field below the pull-down menu. if you use Friend lists you can type in the name of the list to allow a group of people to view it.
9. Click Save Setting.



You can do the reverse as well. If you don't mind most of your friends to be able to see the photos and videos you're tagged in then you can select the people you want to hide information from.

To do that enter the names or friend list in These people: field under "Hide this from".



And that's it, from here on only those people will see any photos or videos you're tagged on.

Let me know if that helped in the comment section below.



October 05, 2010

How To: How to personalize your Facebook Profile link with a customized username

Do you remember when Facebook launched "claim your username"? If not, and you missed it you can still claim your username to make your Facebook profile page URL more friendly and easy to remember. A lot of people ask me why should they claim their username, and this is the best way I can explain it. 


Well you really don't need a username but it's a nice to have for the following reasons.
  1. You have a more personalized URL that you can give out to your friends or publish on your social site's pages or website.
  2. A personalized URL gets you more noticed and you're easier to find. If you have a business or want to get noticed, this is something you would want. You get your brand noticed easier and quicker.
  3. It avoids online identify theft. If you don't claim your name some one else will. Just think about it, if people find you in search engines wouldn't you want the information found to be written or owned by you rather than by some one pretending to be you? That's why having blogs, web sites, and social site profiles are not a bad thing, they give you the opportunity to have a online identity and represent yourself.
It's recommended you select your actual name. Remember you don't want anyone pretending to be you, right? So you see, it's not just about having a username, it's about having a presence.


Now let's get to the good stuff, to claim your username:

1. Click Account and select Account Settings.
2. Click Change under Username.




3. Enter the username of your choice.


Remember this is going to be the URL for your Facebook profile page, for example: http://www.facebook.com/username. Doesn't that beat having a URL like this;http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1337590867


4. Click Check availability button to check if that username is available.
5. Click Confirm if you want to keep this username.



Just keep in mind you can only change it once so think about it before clicking confirm. After you click confirm you will no longer see the Username option under Account Settings.


If you ever forget your username just click the link at the top right of your profile page and it will display your URL in the address bar. Your username are the characters after the slash (/).





Simple right?


My Facebook URL is http://www.facebook.com/cynthiamedina

What's yours? Tell us in the comment section.

July 10, 2010

5 Reasons the Virtual Event Niche is so popular

Check out this video from Craig Cannings from the VAClassroom.com on the "5 Reasons the Virtual Event Niche is so Popular.


A brief message from Craig Cannings on Virtual Event Services


VAClassroom.com offers certification courses for virtual assistants. Their courses are jammed packed with a wealth of valuable content and with the inspiration of Craig Cannings.

Are you a virtual event planner? Tell us your experience in the comment section.


July 01, 2010

VS: Great comparison: HTC EVO vs iPhone 4

Check out this video for the most hilarious comparison of HTC EVO and iPhone 4.



What do you think about the HTC EVO vs iPhone 4? Tells in the comment section below.


June 13, 2010

Free eBook with Top Internet Marketing Tools and WordPress Plugins

I stumbled upon (and I'm not talking about the site) on this free ebook that offers the ultimate collection of free and paid Internet Marketing tools and WordPress plugins.

Even though this blog is to review Social Media sites and apps, I think this ebook offers a lot of value for my Social Media friends. A lot of tools mentioned here are not only used for Internet Marketing but also for blogging, social networks, graphic design, and so many other things that I thought not offering this ebook on my blog would be a disservice to you all.

The ebook is called "The Ultimate Toolkit for Internet Marketers" and it's composed of 37 free tools, 23 paid tools, and 30 top WordPress Plugins. The author Peter Downs really did a great job and compiling this ebook.

You can download the ebook and thank me later :O)


Do you have any resources you would like to share with us? Share them in the comment section below.

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June 03, 2010

FAQ: How do I make my Facebook Friends List private?

This use to be as simple as clicking on the little pencil on the Friends box on your profile but after all the latest Facebook privacy changes this too has changed. But not too worry, it's very simple.

If you don't want your friends list to be visible to everyone or even your friends you can choose to make them only visible to you. After all you don't want to hurt any one's feelings if they don't like the friend list they are currently in, right?

So to change the settings:

1. Click  Account > Privacy Settings.

2. Click View settings link under Basic Directory Information.

3. Select Customize under the section "See my friend list".


4. From the pull-down menu under "Make this visible to" section Only me.



5. Click Save Setting.

Did this help? Let us know in the comment section below.


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May 21, 2010

How To: How to avoid wind noise when recording your podcast

When recording a podcast on a windy day, it's hard to get rid of the wind noise. So Rick came up with a very clever homemade windscreen that can be used for pretty much every microphone device. In his case he uses the Zoom H2 which is a great tool for podcasting.

Check this video, Rick shows you how to DIY.



I myself may try it I too use the Zoom H2.

Something similar called "Rode Deadcat Microphone Wind Muff" sells on Amazon for $39.37. I think if you do it yourself it comes out cheaper and it looks pretty simple to make.

What do you use to eliminate the wind noise?




May 16, 2010

Have you checked the privacy settings in the Facebook applications lately?

Everyone has been so worried about all the changes Facebook has done with the privacy settings but I don't think anyone is looking at the privacy settings in the applications themselves.

I'm talking about the applications where you fill out surveys, play games, and so many other things. These apps have privacy settings and by default they are set to allow "Everyone" to see your information.

Now I'm not saying letting everyone see your survey results is a bad thing but if you're concerned with your privacy this is another place you should look at.

To change the app settings go to Account > Application Settings and click the Edit Settings that corresponds to each app.

Do this for every app. If you're someone that spends to much time playing stuff on Facebook then you'll have lots of apps to update.

If you app list is just to big and filled with apps you don't use I would suggest you first change the privacy settings of all the apps and then click the X to delete the ones you don't use. Remember, even though you delete things from the web it doesn't mean it will disappear :O(

Does this post help you? Let us know in the comment section below.


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May 15, 2010

Stupid things to do with your cell phone

If you're ever bored, here are 3 stupid things you can do with your cell phone to entertain yourself. Some how though I feel the need to say "don't try this at home" on #2 and #3.


Cellular & Mobile Phones:
Stupid Things To Try With Your Phone

What other things would you add to this list?

May 07, 2010

My Twitter Follow Friday list for May 2010

Instead of tweeting a list of Twitter handles for you to follow today, I decided to write a post to let you know who to follow and why.

I think this makes it more personal and special and I get a chance to explain why these Tweeple are worthy of following. So let's start.

This group is my Social Media life line, and if you're an enthusiast as I am you would follow them too:
Chrisbrogan
ruhanirabin
tommytrc
stunmedia
SocialNetDaily
Mashable
SocialMedia2day

I follow this group to get tips on graphic design, PhotoShop how to's and techniques:
nicholaspatten
mayhemstudios
bkmacdaddy

I follow this group of photographers for tips on techniques and equipment and just to see their beautiful photos, they're awesome:
rmedina
JoannasFoto
MattGeorge
CTMedina

I follow this group because they keep me up to date on everything from technology to art to motherhood. All around an awesome group:
Flipbooks
StarrGazr
2cre8
TechZader

I follow this awesome group for great tips on how to use Social Media to market my training courses, strategy and engage customers:MariSmith
Mike_Stelzner
LearnSMM
mikepascucci

This group I follow for tips on everything from leadership tips to teaching with technology:
web20classroom
marciamarcia
lizbdavis
tonnet
mylearningspace

Being an iPhone fanatic, I follow this group to keep up to date on new or existing iPhone apps, and to get some free redeem codes for free apps:
dailyappshow
iphonesness
iphonelite
iphone_newsfeed
CrazyMikesapps

And last but not least..... If you ever need to say something and don't know quite how to say it, check these guys out. They always have some great quotes and wisdom to pass down.
LeadToday
mlomb
RevRunWisdom


Who are your favorite tweeple? Share your list in the comment section.





April 17, 2010

How To: How you can create vintage videos with the iPhone

I'm always looking for new apps that enhance my experience with the iPhone. In my quest I found this neat little app called "Silent Film Director". Like the name, the app automatically converts your videos into a beautiful vintage piece of work with almost no input from you. All you have to do is select the settings and press record. That's pretty simple, right?

The app has several recording settings like sephia, vintage sephia, 20's, 60's, and black and white. All these settings make your video look very vintage and antique.

It also has different sounds like piano 1, and 2 and movie projector which gives your video more credibility.

There are also settings to change the video time scale making your video either faster or slower. Play with these settings, they make it more fun.
All these settings make your video look similar to a Chaplin movie.
You also probably want to select the quality of the video depending on where you'll host it or for what occasion you're producing it.
After you select your settings then tap the Take Video button to display the recording screen.
All you have to do now is press record and stop just like you do with the standard video on the iPhone. After you're done, all videos are automatically saved to your library.

Check out these short videos I created while testing the app.
Me :O)



My four legged son Gordo.




My four legged son Oreo.




My daughter.



The price for this app is only $0.99 and if you're into making videos I think it's well worth it.

Download it now:
Vintage Video Maker

Let's recap; select settings, record and stop and you got yourself a professional vintage video with almost no work on your part.

Have you tried this app? If so, please share some of the videos you produced in the comment section.


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April 07, 2010

Why a gadget fanatic didn't run to buy an iPad

Being a gadget fanatic I'm very impressed with myself that I didn't run to buy the iPad last week. That was a big thing for me but I had to look at the pros and cons and what I really would need it for. I'm a creator and not having the same capabilities of a laptop would not work for me.

Don't get me wrong, I love my iPhone and I can do a lot of cool things with it but I really don't think I need an oversize iPhone/iTouch at the moment with similar capabilities especially when my birthday gift was a 10" Acer. At the moment, I'm extremely happy with my Acer and the iPad's capabilities don't even come close to what I can do on it. So why even go there.

I do have to admit, I like the iPad's slick look and maybe later if they add more capabilities I might surrender to my temptation. Even though this morning I just read this article that says only 20% of the iPad apps are free and the average price for an app is $4.99 so I think my decision is well founded.



If you're looking to buy an iPad I suggest you review this article The App Store Now Has Over 3,000 iPad Apps, Only 20 Percent Are Free and some of other iPad articles so you know what you're getting into. Mashable and TechCrunch have written several articles that can help you in your research.


Did you run to buy an iPad? Tell us your experience with it, you never know. You might convince me to do so as well.



March 12, 2010

I just like to share information, seriously!

It's funny how when people feel threatened by technology they always try to make up excuses why they shouldn't use it. This happens a lot with social networks. If you're technology challenged you shouldn't feel bad, this just means you're probably good at something else. All you should do is embrace and accept your challenge with an open mind. Give things time and if it's still not for you then great.... stop using it but don't covering it up with excuses like "I don't use Facebook because I don't want people seeing my information” or “I like to keep my personal life private”. Just accept that you don't understand them and ask for help or just move on.

Instead of criticizing those that like to share on sites like Facebook and Twitter, just cancel your account and keep your opinions to yourself. Just because you don't understand how to use these sites or why people enjoy sharing doesn't give anyone the right to criticize those that do.

Hey if I'm not good with math does that mean I should criticize accountants, NOT!

All I hear is... so and so shares too much information, so and so is always on Facebook, Only egotistical people use Twitter.... OK, I've had enough!

I think it's time to clear the air.

Even though it seems hard to believe that people are just genuine with no hidden agenda, and the only reward they get out of sharing is a feeling of personal satisfaction, that is the truth.

There are still good people out there that like to help others without expecting anything in return. I personally love to see the light bulb turn on after I teach someone how to do something. I also enjoy seeing how people start getting curious and start doing things on their own. Call me crazy but maybe that's why I'm in the Training field.

I've personally learned and continue to learn from the people I follow on social networks and especially Twitter. Maybe if these people would be more opened to these sites they would learn a thing or two. And I'm not even getting into how much more productive I feel by using these sites and yes, my iPhone apps as well. I can surely bet I'm at least 50% more productive just because of my iPhone.

Yes, there are people out there that are full of themselves but these kinds of people exist every where and in every field not only technology.

So before you start criticizing people, do yourself a favor and educate yourself.

This post was not intended to offend anyone. This was more of a venting post as I'm just a little tired of feeling like I need to explain why I like to use sites like Facebook, Twitter and my apps.

What's your opinion on this?


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February 07, 2010

Image problem restored

Just a quick post to let you know the image problems have been restored. It turned out to be that my file hosting provider decided to close their doors without notice so I had to find another provider quickly.

I really appreciate your patience, and I'm very sorry for any inconvenience it may have cause.


January 23, 2010

Having some image displaying problems

If you've visited my blog lately to read my articles you've probably noticed the images in the articles are not displaying. My images are hosted on a separate servers and unfortunately the hosting company has been down for some time.

I've been trying to contact them, but unfortunately their web site is down, and their blog does not have any contact information.

I'm very sorry for the inconvenience, rest assure I'm trying to resolve the problem asap. I'll be posting an update when everything is restored.