NEW AT KOMANDO.COM!
You may have noticed some changes at Komando.com this past week. First, I launched the Coupon Center. It will help you save money shopping online using valuable promo codes. You'll learn what promo codes are and how to use them. The Coupon Center is brought to you by Retailmenot.com. Click here to check it out now!

Next up, the Find It Fast Links Box. You'll see this around the site, as well as in the newsletters. It provides quick access to the latest content on my site. You can access the free daily download and my video pick of the day. Or, read the Tip or the News of the Day. You can also click to listen to the Digital Minute if you're a Kim's Club member. All you need to do is click the pictures in the box! So easy!

Help us spread the good Komando news. I've also added a new sharing box on virtually every page at Komando.com. In this box, you can sign up for our free E-mail News Alerts without leaving the current page. Click the share button to send a page to a friend with a comment. There's a Print button. A Comments button takes you to the message board. Additionally, icons at the bottom let you add an article to your Twitter or Facebook profile. There are buttons for other sharing sites, too! Now, go find something and share!

WAIT! WAIT! THERE'S MORE!
No, friends, I'm not done yet! Look down aways, and you'll find a new Digital Digression. Yes, that's right, we have a Mac question. I'm so excited, my hands are shaking! Or, maybe it's the coffee.

Anyhow, Macs continue to penetrate the market. I know, because Steve Jobs says so. It's a rare week that I don't get a call on the show about Macs. So, I thought, why should Windows users have all the fun?

So, look at that question. It's about Preview. You don't know what that is? Maybe you should buy a Mac!

MY FAVORITE IPHONE APP OF THE WEEK
eBay is a great way to save cash on the things you buy. But competition can be tough. And you don't have all day to watch your auctions.

eBay's iPhone app will help! On the start screen, you'll see a summary of the items you're watching, winning and selling. The summary also includes auctions you've been outbid on or have won.

You can search and bid on auctions directly from your phone. Advanced tools help you narrow your searches. And you can access recent searches easily. Or, ask a seller a question about an item. You can also read messages from other eBay members. The one thing you can't do is list items for sale.

BRING YOUR MEMORIES INTO THE DIGITAL AGE
Technology is constantly evolving. On one hand, that's great. Today's cameras and camcorders can capture your memories in amazing definition. But it also means that formats fall by the wayside. Years from now, you may not be able to get prints from negatives. Or, you might not be able to watch your VHS home movies.

Fear not! You can bring your precious family memories into the digital age. And, in the Komando.com store, I have the tools to help.

Convert your photos into 5-megapixel images with my handy photo converter. It features automatic exposure control and color balance. Your photos will look perfect every time! And with trays for 3x5-, 4x6- and 5x7-inch photos, digitizing is a snap. Just connect it to a USB port, check the image on the LCD display and hit copy. It's that easy! It's $120 and comes with my satisfaction guarantee.

And for your VHS movies, nothing is better than my VCR to PC converter. It includes all the software and tools you need. Just plug it in to an open USB port on your computer. Pop in a home video, and you're ready to go. You can convert movies for playback on your computer or iPod. Or, burn them to DVD. It even works as a regular VHS player! All this for only $150!

Finally, have some fun with my USB spy pen ($80). You'll feel like a secret agent when you use the pen's hidden camera. Record movies or photos to the roomy 4 gigabytes of built-in storage. It holds almost 2 hours of video. Plug it into your PC to download your movies, pictures and audio. A rechargeable battery means you never have to worry about expensive replacement batteries.

YES, YOU CAN GET A FREE LUNCH
You know better than to install pirated software. Doing so is simply wrong. It can also damage your machine and land you in legal trouble. But that doesn't mean you can't get free software.

Here are some of my favorite free downloads from the past week:

Saturday's Download of the Day—Are you ready for the holiday season? Need to drop a few pounds? You'll find plenty of free help online. I've gathered some great diet and exercise tools. Check them out.

Preview of Sunday's download—Getting together with friends can be difficult. But what if you knew where they were at all times? Tracking is fun.

Want direct access to over 300 free programs? Bookmark my Downloads page. Just go here and press Ctrl+D. That will add my downloads to your browser's favorites!

And remember this: If I say a program is free, it's FREE. There are sites on the Internet that sell free programs. There are also many ads on the Internet for similar programs, which aren't free. If somebody tries to charge you for a free program, back up. You've clicked on the wrong thing.

SHARE WITH A FRIEND: Help keep your family and friends in the know. Forward this newsletter to them now. Or, if you prefer, invite them to join us. In fact, we have a special place set up to do just that. Click now and share the power of knowledge.

TAKE A QUICK VIDEO BREAK
There are some good online videos. But you have to watch plenty of bad ones to find them. You know what I'm talking about—obscenity-laced or otherwise inappropriate trash. That's why I started my Video of the Day. I separate the grim from the great, the bad from the bodacious, the sorry from the super. You get the idea. Every video on my site is a good one!

Here are my favorite videos from the past week:

• Dogs may be the most loyal animals on Earth. That's why we love them. But how far does that loyalty really go?
• This isn't your standard magic trick. This takes a little more skill. Also, it's hilarious. What more could you want?
• Car crashes can be horrific. But makers continue to improve safety. This video demonstrates the progress they've made.
• Turtles are facing a strange threat – railroad tracks. It's an odd problem, with a surprisingly simple solution.

Everyone is a fan of some sport. For some, it's football. For others, it's cricket. Whatever your favorite, they're fun to watch. These are great sports videos. See more in my Video of the Day archive:

• What were you doing at 2? I bet you weren't a pool player. I wouldn't want to take on this kid. His skill is amazing.
• Golfers deal with plenty of course hazards. But these ball-stealing animals bring a new dimension to the game.
• Completing a 5K race is tough for the young. But what about doing one at 95? This track star set a world record.
• Gymnasts are fun to watch. So are dancers. Now, put them together on top of bicycles. You have to see this to believe it.

Saturday's video—Comedy changes from generation to generation. Of course, some things are timeless. One of them is this bit from Abbott and Costello. Enjoy it in a new way.

Preview of Sunday's video—This man absolutely loves soda pop. You'll want to meet him. He'll introduce you to a world of soda pop you didn't know existed.

BE A PAL! SHARE MY VIDEO PICKS WITH YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS
On the lower left of the Video of the Day screen, there is a button. In fact, here's what the button looks like.

 

Click this button and you can share the video with family members, friends, coworkers and more.

PRIVACY AND SECURITY TIP: Widespread e-mail scam
Tens of thousands of Web mail accounts have been compromised. Their log-in credentials were recently posted online. This breach affects Hotmail, Gmail and Yahoo! accounts. Are you affected? What can you do? Learn more in the second hour of my show.

STILL TO COME: Useful tips, important news and a few laughs!

CUSTOMIZE YOUR SHORTCUT KEYS THE EASY WAY
David wrote from Kathleen, GA, near Macon. He tunes in on WMAC 940 AM. He also subscribes to all of my newsletters. He needs help with the function keys in Vista. He'd like to assign custom commands to them.

The function keys get no love! These are the keys labeled F1 through F12. Many listeners have asked about these keys. But they're mostly ignored.

My tip explains the default actions for the Function keys. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to increase productivity. They put some pretty handy shortcuts in an easily accessible place. Don't miss it!

They can also be customized. You can do that with AutoHotKey. It also works as a customizable text expander. For example, you can use it to replace "fyi" with "for your information." Head over to my site and download it for free now!

Speaking of shortcut keys, don't miss my Guide to Time-Saving Shortcuts for Browsers ($4). It lists shortcuts for all the major browsers. And it covers both Windows and Mac OS X. Print it out and keep it next to your computer. You'll be surfing like a pro!

REMOVE YOUR NAME AND NUMBER FROM GOOGLE
Bob in Chicago tunes in to the show on WLS 890 AM. His name and phone number are showing up in Google. He wants to know how to remove this information. He also wants to know what other sites might list his number.

It sounds like you're hiding out, Bob. Just joking! I'm sure many people would like to keep their information private. Maybe you have a high-profile job. Or, maybe you would just like your phone to ring less often. Either way, you can remove your information from Google.

Now, I'm sure many people don't realize Google has a phone book. It's difficult to find. And entries don't always show up in search results. To access the phone book, type "phonebook:" (less quotes; note the colon) in the search box. Then, enter your name and click search. If there are a lot of results, repeat the search, but add your city.

So, what do you do if you find your listing? My tip will explain how to remove yourself. It will tell you how to complete the process. Plus, it covers other sites like WhitePages.com that list your information.

Identity thieves can use these sites to learn more about you. But there are greater dangers online.

Every 79 seconds, someone in America becomes a victim of identity theft. Now, you don't have to use companies that lock your credit file. I don't. I protect my ID directly with Experian. You can try it free for 30 days by clicking here.

You'll also want to read my Privacy Tip each week. It covers the latest threats to your family, financial well-being and privacy.

CUT THE WIRES WITH BLUETOOTH HEADPHONES
Mark in Chesterfield, MO, subscribes to my newsletters. And he downloads my weekend and daily shows as a Kim's Club member. He hates the iPod's headphone cord. So, he's looking for recommendations on Bluetooth headphones.

Most people use Bluetooth for cell phone headsets. But it has many other uses. Transmitting audio in stereo is one. Stereo audio requires a special Bluetooth profile, A2DP. Not all Bluetooth gadgets have the A2DP profile. Adapters add A2DP to some gadgets.

You didn't mention which iPod you have, Mark. The second generation and later touches have built-in Bluetooth. Version 3.0 of the software adds support for A2DP. The iPhone 3G and 3GS with version 3.0 software also have the A2DP Bluetooth profile.

Other iPods don't have built-in Bluetooth. So, they need an adapter. You can get one on Amazon for about $15. I recommend buying one that attaches to your iPod's dock connector. This is more convenient than ones that attach to the headphone jack.

Bluetooth headphones start around $35. They come in many styles. There are over-the-ear cans, earbuds and traditional headphones that sit atop the ear. You'll even find Bluetooth canalphones. The headphones incorporate music controls.

Now, Bluetooth headphones are not completely wireless. A wire must connect the two earpieces. You may prefer a pair joined with a piece of hard plastic. They may be a bit sturdier for your workouts.

You'll find sets that bundle an adapter and headphones. But you'll probably save money by buying each piece separately. Also, you'll have more options.

Get more from your iPod and iTunes! I have plenty of advice to make listening to your music more fun:

SOMETHING NEW! A WEEKLY MAC TIP!
The Mac continues to make inroads in computerdom. And I continue to get calls for Mac information. So today, I'm starting a new feature—tips specifically for Macs. You'll find one every week in this newsletter.

We'll start this week with Jessica. She listens to my show through her Kim's Club membership. She has a question about using Preview.

Jessica is making event flyers with a friend. Her friend creates a mock-up, and then sends Jessica a PDF. She wants to proofread and suggest changes.

In Preview, she sees the Annotate button at the top of the page. Sounds perfect! But nothing happens when she clicks it. She wants to know how to access the annotation tools.

Something happens when you click that button, Jessica. The annotation toolbar appears at the bottom of the page. But it's small and easy to miss.

You can also open it by clicking View>>Show Annotations Toolbar. You'll have a bevy of tools at your fingertips. Underline, strikethrough or highlight text. Use arrows and circles to point out elements. And use notes to explain exactly what needs to be changed.

Consider saving the annotated file under a different name. Annotations cannot be turned off. They become part of the PDF. Individual annotations can be removed, if your friend is also using Preview. But it has to be done one by one.

I'm guessing that Jessica is fairly new to Macs. There's a lot to learn. Check out my site for more Mac help:

New!
Every operating system has useful, time-saving shortcuts, and my Guide to Time-Saving Shortcuts for Mac OS X will show you exactly what they are and how to use them. Whether you are a longtime Mac user or just switching, you'll find plenty of helpful information you can use every day. It's only $4. Order yours by clicking here.

PAY IT FORWARD: I'm sure at least one person you know might benefit from these tidbits. So, spread the love. Forward this newsletter to all your friends. Encourage them to de-stress, too, and sign up for our newsletters!

GET UNBIASED BUYING ADVICE WHENEVER YOU NEED IT
Visit the Komando.com Buying Guide. Here, you can find unbiased advice on buying laptops, desktops, TVs, monitors, scanners, video cards, digital cameras, software, audio, printers, cell phones, networking gear, handhelds, memory cards and, well, let's just say a heck of a lot more!

DON'T STOP YET – THERE'S MORE YOU NEED TO KNOW: 

FREE APPS TURN YOUR IPHONE INTO A MULTI-PURPOSE TOOL
The numbers are astounding. Apple has sold 50 million iPhones. More than two billion apps have been downloaded from Apple's apps store. At last count, there were over 85,000 apps available.

Apps are little programs that add fun and features to the iPhone. They're available for just about anything.

Following are free apps no self-respecting iPhone owner should be without. To find my favorites, open iTunes and search using the name of the app.

What picks are on my list of must-have apps? You'll have to read my column to find out! It's free on my site!

Do you have a Web site or blog? If you do, help support The Kim Komando Show! Linking to my site is easy. Plus, I just added new artwork to post on your page. You'll find instructions and the artwork here. Thank you for your support!

 A LITTLE ABOUT ME:
Did you know that I host two national radio shows? I have a Digital Minute that airs Monday through Friday. I also host a three-hour show on the weekends. Over 460 radio stations in the great United States broadcast my shows. Plus, from here in the desert come all kinds of tidbits about living a digital lifestyle. You can read my weekly column in over 100 Gannett newspapers across the country. And I write two columns a week for the USAToday Web site.

HAVE A QUESTION? CALL ME THIS WEEKEND!
If you have a question about something digital, let me help! It takes just three easy steps: 1.) Call the LIVE broadcast. That's this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the East Coast, or, if you live on the West Coast, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. 2.) Know the phone number. It is, of course, toll-free 1-888-825-5254. 3.) Talk to me. That's all there is to it!

STILL TO COME IN THIS ISSUE: 

George wrote from Nashua, NH, where he listens on our Boston affiliate WBZ 1030 AM. He's a new grandfather. He used my buying guide to help buy a Webcam to stay in touch. Now he needs software.

George, you need an instant-messaging program. The person with whom you want to connect needs one, too. Ideally, you should use the same program.

Google, Yahoo!, Microsoft and AOL all offer free instant-messaging programs. However, they aren't always compatible with one another.

So, choose your software carefully. It sounds like you'll be communicating with your kids, mostly.

See what instant messenger they use. Use the same one. That assumes their program supports video.

You're not limited to a single program. You could download two or more instant-messaging programs. That would reduce compatibility problems. Communicate with others with the program they use.

If your kids don't use instant messaging yet, you get to choose. In that case, try ooVoo or Skype.

ooVoo offers free two-way video and audio calls. You can add fun effects. And it also lets you chat via text. There are additional paid features. For example, you can record calls. Or, have calls with up to six participants.

Skype is also free for computer-to-computer video and audio calls. And it lets you send instant messages. Paid features include computer-to-phone calls and low international calling rates. If you want to record Skype calls, don't miss my awesome free download.

DO YOU HAVE A NEW ADDRESS? 
Let us know so you don't miss a single issue of our free newsletters. It's easy. Just use our Change of Address form at the Komando Newsletter Center. Click here to access it now.

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER
Facebook: Join me at http://www.facebook.com/kimkomando
Twitter: I'm at http://www.twitter.com/kimkomando

STILL TO COME IN THIS WEEKEND'S EDITION:

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KOMANDOLAND Tune in to my giant, wonderful, three-hour weekend show. I'll be your fun conductor. Be sure to listen for my Digital Minutes weekdays on your local station. And tune in to Kimcasts with a Kim's Club membership.

WELCOME THE NEWBIE
Rome, GA (WRGA 1470 AM), Sundays, 2 p.m. Listen for my Minutes in the 7 a.m., 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. hours weekdays.

DIAL ME UP
You must call with your questions during the LIVE feed of my show. That's Saturdays 7 a.m.-10 a.m. PST (10 a.m.-1 p.m. EST). The toll-free number is 1-888-825-5254.

RADIO ROCKS
Take a peek at some stations airing my show: Stations around the world on the American Forces Radio Network; Chicago (WLS 890 AM); San Francisco (KNEW 910 AM); Atlanta (WSB 750 AM); Boston (WBZ 1030 AM); Phoenix (KFYI 550 AM); Sacramento, CA (KSTE 650 AM); Grand Rapids, MI (WOOD 1300 AM); Morgantown, WV (WAJR 1440 AM); Yakima, WA (KIT 1280 AM); Agana, Guam (KGUM 567 AM); San Juan, Puerto Rico (WOSO 1030 AM); Fort Atkinson, WI (WFAW 940 AM); Guntersville, AL (WGSV 1270 AM); Pullman, WA (KQQQ 1150 AM) and hundreds more!

LISTEN UP
Need help finding me? First, go to my locator map. Click on an area close to you. Then, enter your e-mail address for an instant response!

LISTEN WHEN YOU WANT
Read in your curlers or listen in your sweatpants. As a Kim's Club member, log in anytime, on your schedule, no matter what. Post to my Message Board, listen to on-demand audio and browse premium content.

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KIM'S TIPS FOR KOMANDO KIDS: Kids and Internet addiction?
The Web is a fun place to hang out. But it shouldn't replace real-life activities. Some kids have an increased risk of addictive Internet use. Get the details in the third hour of my show.

Need to find a radio station near you? No problem! Click here to use the official Kim Komando Show Locator Map. With over 450 stations, there's probably one near you. But if there isn't, you can always download the shows with a Kim's Club membership. It's only $5.95 per month.

CONTEST SITE: Life's Better Sweepstakes
IAMS is giving away a year's supply of pet food. Plus, it'll donate $10,000 worth of pet food to a shelter of your choice. Open to U.S. residents 18 or older. Deadline 6/30/10

FREEBIE OF THE WEEK: Freshen your home
Right@Home is giving away free samples of Oust Air Sanitizer II. Fill out a short form to get yours. U.S. residents only. Deadline: 10/30/09.

FREEBIE FROM KOMANDO.COM: Flight simulator fun
We can't all afford private planes. But a flight simulator lets you soar the skies virtually. This one is free. But don't let the price fool you. It's full of fun and realistic content.

FREEBIE FROM GOTOMEETING: Free 30-day trial (www.gotomeeting.com/kim)
Hold your meetings online. Works for business and personal use! Kim Komando Show listeners get a 30-day free trial. Use promo code Kim.

FREEBIE FROM PROTECTMYID.COM: Free 30-day trial
Every 79 seconds, someone in America becomes a victim of identity theft. Use the ID theft protection company that I do. Kim Komando Show listeners get a 30-day free trial.

GET A COOL SITE EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK
There are plenty of great sites on the Web. But who has time to find them? Every day, I pick one great site and share it with you. Try it for a week and you'll love it!

In case you missed any this past week, here's a list of some of our favorites:
• How much change do you have? 
• Easy diet and fitness planning
• Everything Hubble 

Do you get my free Cool Site of the Day newsletter? Sign up now by clicking here.

Stay with us. There's lots more to cover:

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THIS WEEK'S FOCUS: Lose weight before the holidays
Are you ready for the holiday season? Need to drop a few pounds? You'll find plenty of free help online. I've gathered some great diet and exercise tools. Check them out.

Need to find a radio station near you? No problem! Click here to use the official Kim Komando Show Locator Map. With over 450 stations, there's probably one near you. But if there isn't, you can always download the shows with a Kim's Club membership. It's only $5.95 per month.

Let's keep it going; there's plenty more to cover:
• SECURE COMPUTING: Phishing scam targets e-mail accounts

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Brought to you by my book, Complete Guide to Computer Security & Privacy. Order your copy today!

HAS YOUR E-MAIL PASSWORD BEEN STOLEN?
On Tuesday, Microsoft will release a record 13 security updates. In all, 34 flaws will be patched.

Of these updates, eight are critical; the remaining five are important. Every version of Windows, including Windows 7, will get updates. There are also updates for Internet Explorer and Office.

THE END IS IN SIGHT, BUT I WILL BE BACK NEXT WEEK
• Share your photos the easy way

I would like to share my photos with my family and friends. I'm going to use a photo-sharing site. Can you help me choose one?
Beth in Waverly, IA, listening on KXEL 1540 AM

These sites are a real boon for photo lovers. They're great for enthusiasts to show off their skills. They're also handy for sharing photos of the kids and family events.

Most photo sites offer free services. They hope you'll buy prints or photo gifts. Many users are more than happy to do that.

Choosing a photo-sharing site can be difficult. Before you jump in, read a site's terms. This can save you a lot of trouble.

So, don't miss the rest of this tip on my site. I'll cover the ins and outs of the most popular photo-sharing sites. It will help you find one that's ideal for you!

NEW LINKS ALWAYS DESIRED 
We have new linking artwork for your blog, online profile, Web site and wherever else you'd like to post it. Help us tell the world to go Komando. Just paste the code on the appropriate page within your site. It's that simple!

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER
Facebook: Join me at http://www.facebook.com/kimkomando
Twitter: I'm at http://www.twitter.com/kimkomando

Thank you for your support of The Kim Komando Show! Remember, Komando.com is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! I'll see you there!

Kim:)

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THIS ONE IS JUST PLAIN AWFUL
Every day, a merchant had to lug a cart of wool to and from the village. The trip was hard on the old man. He had to walk around the perimeter of a large lake. It was owned by a scrooge. One day, the lake froze over. The merchant realized he could cut a mile off his trip by crossing the lake. Unfortunately, the skinflint spotted the merchant as he crossed the lake. He ran out of his mansion, screaming, "Nobody will pull the wool over my ice!"

You were warned!

HAVE A QUESTION? CALL ME THIS WEEKEND!
If you have a question about something digital, let me help! It takes just three easy steps: 1.) Call the LIVE broadcast. That's this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the East Coast, or, if you live on the West Coast, 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. 2.) Know the phone number. It is, of course, toll-free 1-888-825-5254. 3.) Talk to me. That's all there is to it!

I WANT 100,000 FACEBOOK & TWITTER FRIENDS

FOLLOW ME ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER
Facebook: Join me at http://www.facebook.com/kimkomando
Twitter: I'm at http://www.twitter.com/kimkomando

Hugs to all!

Kim:)

GET MORE TIPS FROM ME TO YOU
You get this newsletter. Now, sign up for my other three free e-mail newsletters. Try 'em! You'll like 'em!

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