Using old console peripherals for PC games, Manage your schedule with telephone answering software, Web Workshop: Sprucing up a Website from Down Under, UnPlugged, Answers to Your Questions.

Getting more life out of your old video game peripherals

How to use your console peripherals for games on the PC


Console peripherals are often expensive and are sometimes only used for a single game! Thankfully there are independent programmers and modders out there who have created a few ways to get more life out of your old peripherals.

The first and most important part (next to the controller!) is obtaining an adaptor. Online specialty gaming retailers like Lik-Sang and PlayAsia and even Amazon.com are usually a safe bet; just be sure to search for PS2 (or GameCube or Xbox) to USB Converter and pick one you like. Occasionally local video game retailers and electronics stores will have a few but it is not overly common. Once you obtain your converter be sure to check the manufacturer’s website to check for the latest driver. This will help ensure that the controller timing is as close as possible to the console experience while on the PC.

Now that you’re all hooked up it’s time to play! The best Dance Dance Revolution experience on the PC short of purchasing one of the PC versions is definitely Stepmania. It also includes a level editor so you can make your own steps from your personal music collection or search online for songs that other players have made. Guitar Hero fans that can’t wait until the sequel should take a look at Freetar Hero, a homebrew song editor that can be played using the keyboard or the original guitar with the adaptor.

ABOUT THE GUEST
Jenn has helping people with their computer problems since grade 5 and doesn’t plan to stop anytime soon. In the past she has done IT work for major Canadian corporations and currently hosts Open Alpha, a freely downloadable show all about video games.
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Web Workshop

How to spruce up a web store down under.

URLs

Alica Smith on Cafe Press
Cafepress.com/aliciasmith

Coming Soon...
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Guest #406: Meet your new secretary

PhoneValet Message Centre

Do you have a small business or a busy family? Would you benefit from a telephony solution that could manage multiple voice mailboxes, email you voice messages while away, allow you to access messages over the web, visually inform you of who is calling? How about calling directly from within the application itself? Then Phone Valet is your solution. With this powerful software/hardware combination you can accomplish all of the above and more.

PhoneValet is comprised of the software to configure it’s multiple services and a USB to RJ11 external dongle which connects to a phone line (you can purchase more than one dongle to support multiple phone lines). With a software add-on called PhoneValet Anywhere an unlimited amount of users can access messages via a secure web browser interface.

An administrator sets up mail boxes for each user which can be accessed by a number punched in on a phone by the caller – your typical voice mail interface. Each user can record their own personalized message or a canned greeting can be assigned.

A mailbox doesn’t necessarily have to act as an voice mail recorder. For example, you might want to create a special greeting that simply gives information to a client or friend but doesn’t allow messages to be left (good for theatres, tip of the day boxes, directions, whatever…).

Each incoming and outgoing call is logged to user given parameters and addresses from Apple’s Address Book can be easily imported. The log can be searched and is spotlight aware – great for accurate phone records, see who your kids are talking to – whatever you can think of. Calls can be recorded for technical support services or to accurately take notes from afterwards. Calls can be returned or made directly from within PhoneValet using Apple’s internal or external modem and the app supports voice dialing plus more advanced dialing features using Jon’s Phone Tool.

When calls come in PhoneValet can present a user a visual call display on all computers on the local network so you know who’s calling and who should field the call. The software can be trained to play certain greetings to certain callers or play individualized ring tones for that contact.

Voice mail can be accessed remotely either over the phone or through it’s web interface and you can add comments to a call through this interface to remind you of it’s content or for followup reminders. The application will also email the actual voice recordings as compressed audio attachments from any mailbox to particular users configured in advance.

PhoneValet also supports routing of faxes to either Apple built-in fax capabilities or to more robust solutions like PageSender.

I personally use this incredible telephony solution and I can’t recommend it enough. The product comes with a 30-day trial, although because it uses a hardware assistive device a prospective user must pay up front to try it out.

RELATED LINKS
Parliant.com/
Smileonmymac.com/pagesender/index.html?phonevalet
Jonsphonetool.com/
Macmedics.ca

PRODUCTS SHOWN
PhoneValet Message Centre - $169 US / line
PhoneValet Anywhere - $59.95US

ABOUT THE GUEST
Jeff Barrett started MacMedics 8 years ago when he saw an unfilled need for Mac support for the home and small business user. During this time MacMedics has become one of the premier Mac support consultant companies in Toronto servicing the myriad needs of its diverse clientele.
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Free File #406: UnPlugged (Mac)

Is you MacBook plugged in?

URL
UnPlugged (Mac)
Briksoftware.com/apps/unplugged.html

UnPlugged is an application to notify when the power cord of the MacBook is unplugged or plugged in. Notifications are done using Growl, or with a Alertwindow, when Growl is not installed.

This App is done with Cocoa and doesn't use as much RAM and CPU usage as the other tools available.
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Answers to Your Questions #406

Online Data Storage
Bruno, Montreal, QC

Q: Who would you recommend as a reliable and cost efficient off site data back up? My website host offers the service but i find it a little pricey. I trust him - so i woulod pay extra - but is there someone out there that is reliable? Thanks, Bruno

This was once a crowded field, but during the web bust many online storage sites went bust. They’re back, though, and a good choice for someone who needs reliable offsite backup. Here are a couple of good choices:

Xdrive - http://xdrive.com
Box.net - http://box.net
Streamload - http://www.streamload.com/

But a visit to http://www.jdempsey.com/2005/12/08/free-on...storagesending/ will show you that there are more file uploading and sharing sites than ever before. I’d look for ones that seem to have a viable business model, however. You don’t want to lose data when a company goes bust.

Online Spreadsheets
John, Burlington, ON

Q: I work with a group, that at time requires a spreadsheet program to work on are there any online spreadsheets that can be worked on together.

Your timing is excellent. http://spreadsheets.google.com

Mac and Windows Video Conferencing
David, Annandale, NSW

Q: Hi. I have stumbed across your show on cable TV and find it so approachable. Love the style and presentations! What ways can we do video conferences from our Mac with our windows friends (yes we still talk to them anyway) who live in England.

There are two choices. You can use the built-in iChat software with AOL Instant Messenger. Or you can both download and use the cross-platform iVisit.
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Go to CallforHelptv.com and download them on google video or torrent them from CFHtorrent.info