Windows XP has the inbuilt ability to burn CD data natively. However Windows XP cannot burn DVD data DVD’s. You need to a 3rd party software application.

Here are two suggestions.

Free

Check out http://cdburnerxp.se/ 

You cant beat free but this application also come highly recommended.

Paid

Checkout www.nero.com for their Nero Burning rom. Although this application has actually got worse over time in terms of bloatware its still a pretty good application.

Tip: Use the free Nero 30 day trial to see how it works for you.

1) Windows Live Search

Windows Live Search on a mobile  is better than Google search on a PC. You can browse by Category based on your location and follow that up with map based directions and route planners.  Very impressive.

Download on your phone via: www.wls.live.com

2) Google Maps

Google maps is another great free map application It has many options like looking up your contacts, getting directions etc. Although some of what is does can be done by Windows Live Search you may as well have both applications installed, neither take up that much room.

Download: http://www.google.com/gmm/index.html

3) TCPMP The Core Pocket Media Player

This can be used to play back multiple audio/video formats like avi/xvid for example.

Windows Mobile devices can make a great portable media players, particularly the ones with the larger screens.

Download from: http://www.pqdvd.com/download/tcpmp.setup.0.66.exe

4) Google’s java based Gmail client

If you have a Google email account this Java application supplied by Google is the best way to access your Gmail account on a Windows mobile, the user experience has been designed from the ground up to work within the constraints of a small screen.

Download: http://www.google.com/mobile/mail/index.html

I will update this post if I find any other, if you want to share some your suggestions please use the comments section.

Thankfully Microsoft have now fixed the Excel 2007 Multiplication Error recently found.

I wrote about this issue here: Permanent Link to Excel 2007 Basic Multiplication Error

Things like this don’t often happen, does anyone remember when early Pentium chips could also cause calculation problems. Ah the good old days.

I love how Microsoft words this:

The result of the calculation is a number from 65534.99999999995 to 65535. The calculation is performed correctly. However, the result is incorrectly shown as 100000.

So for Excel 2007 users I recommend the hot fix in the link below.

Link: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/943075/

The Windows XP Power Toy Image Resizer was my favorite all time utility. Sadly Image Resizer is not supported in Windows Vista.

This easily let you resize images to a particular resolution.

You can check out my Windows XP Image Resizer Screencast here.

screencast-how-to-resize-images-easily-on-windows-xp

However I live in a Windows Vista world and I need a replacement.

I looked at a couple of 3rd party applications and have decided that Google’s Picasa does what I need and the added image manipulation features are really helpful.

To resize an image in Picasa:-

1) Highlight the image.
2) Choose File > Export Picture to Folder.

Then you will see this box

Change the resolution example: 640, 800, 1024 or whatever you need.

Microsoft: 0
Google: 1

Link: http://picasa.google.com/

I will do a Picasa Screencast at some point.

Are you a North West based business looking for a really smart I.T Consultant? get in touch I can help you Tel: 01606-841587.

The resizing of images is a task most users struggle with. So in this Screencast I show Windows XP users a really simple way of doing it using a free download from Microsoft.

This screencast runs for 3m10s

Download Link for Microsoft’s Free Image Resizer:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downloads/powertoys/xppowertoys.mspx

Notes: The first ever screencast I did back in August 2005 was on the topic of Image Resizing. But that was a) My first Screencast and b) not very concise. So I elected to redo it better here.

Click the Screencast to Play.

This screencast requires the Flash plug in. You can get it here

If you’re a North West based business looking help and advice with new technology then get in touch I can help you. Tel: 01606-841587.

Please feel free to link to this content, I update regularly.

My 2007 Screencast Links:
http://www.colindiponio.com/category/screencast/

Thanks

Colin