Listen to audio files using Gmail

One of the most overlooked features in Gmail, in my opinion, is the built-in MP3 player. It’s a stripped down version of the Google Video player and it actually works extremely well.

I have started to listen to a lot of podcasts on the net, mainly news and German learning courses, and sometimes when I am out and about, I want to listen to one of them. But if I am using someone else’s computer, I can’t just decide on my own initiative to download Winampor iTunes. This is where Gmail’s MP3 player comes riding in to save the day.

Before leaving home, if you think that you may want to listen to a podcast while you’re out, just email the MP3 file to your Gmail account.

Then just open the email, click on “play” (watch you don’t click “download” accidently!) and a small pop-up window will open with the player. It will then immediately start to load and play.

For it to work, you will need the latest version of Adobe Flash Player installed on the computer.

Quickly rename A LOT of files

To rename a bunch of files with the same name and consecutively number them follow these steps:

1. Open a folder with files you wish to rename.
2. Select all the files you wish to rename.
3. Right-click on the first file in the list and select “Rename” from the menu.
4. Now enter the name you wish to give all of the files. Make sure you don’t remove the .filetype if it is shown. Enter a (1) (preceded by a space) as the final part of the name so that all files are numbered consecutively. (edit: you can use any number as a starting point)

So if you started with a bunch of files called DCIM1234.JPG through DCIM1599.JPG you can quickly convert them to AskTheAdminPics(1).jpg through AskTheAdminPics(365).

Back up files to email with just one right-click

These days, with 7 GB+ Gmail accounts and unlimited Yahoo accounts, email addresses are being used for more than just email. Many people email themselves backups of many things including important documents, music, photos, video files and much more.  This way, they are not screwed if the original copy is destroyed or goes missing.  Plus their files are accessible from any internet-enabled PC.

But it can be a drag. First you have to open a new email window, then you have to click on the attachment link, find the attachment then fill out the email address… there must be an easier, faster way to email yourself a backup of something right?   Well there is - the rather unoriginally named BackupToEmail.

This nifty little program installs an option in your Windows Explorer right-click menu which enables you to right-click on a file, choose the backup option and have it immediately sent to your designated email account.   It also installs a link in your right-click “send to” options which zips and sends the file to you.

When you first set it up, you need to tweak the program to suit yourself :

The beauty of this is that it is not locked into one email service - whether you use Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail or a really obscure service, it still works.  It also supports multiple email addresses. Now just right-click on your desired file in Windows Explorer, choose “Backup to email” and it immediately starts sending via a SSL SMTP server:

The file arrives in your email extremely fast, and so far, I’ve seen nothing to give me cause for concern.  It does what it claims to do. If you like, you can also alter the registry settings if you don’t like “Backup to email” in your right-click menu.  Using this program, you can email backups to yourself in a matter of seconds - and you’ll wonder how you managed to survive without it up to now.

Sync-Don't Copy. Briefcase feature in Windows

If you maintain a backup of all your files on an external storage media (hard drive, USB etc) and each time you have to update the back up it takes hours before the "copy"ing is over and you are sick of it, then this post is for you.
In the days of Windows 2000 you must have noticed an icon on your desktop "My Briefcase", which you probably never used and therefore microsoft decided to remove it (atleast from the desktop). This feature is actually is very helpful in maintaining and reducing the time for back up.

All you need to do is connect your external storage media to the computer > open the Hard Drive Folder > File > New > Briefcase and a Brief case icon will get created in your External Storage Media.

Now go to the folder on your computer which needs backing up and simply drag and drop it into this Briefcase icon. First time it will take a little while for the folder to copy, since all the files and folders are being copied for the first time. This way you can drag and drop all the folders you need to back up seperately or may be drag and drop your entire internal drive.

After several days (depending upon you usage), when you feel the need to update your back up, simply connect the external storage media to your computer and double click on the brief case and the briefcase will immidiately determine which of your folders needs updating, by comparing it with the original files on the computer and the same will be visible as status in front of the folder names in the briefcase. Now all you need to do is select the folder you want to update and click on "update this item" under "briefcase tasks" on the task menu (left coloumn) of the briefcase. The briefcase will display the changes required and update the back up after confirmation from you. That's it...

The following points need to be noted:

1) Any deletion of files/folders in the original folder will be deleted in the back up

2) Any changes made in the files will be made in the backed up files as well

3) Simmilarly any changes made in the back up files/folders in the briefcase, through some other computer, such as editing or deletion will get replicated in the original folder.

So, basically briefcase feature synchronizes your files and folders with the backup instead of copying it all over again, hence saving time.

Read more on it at the microsoft site