Even if your external hard drive can hold more than 1 TB of data, it can still be used up. Here are some tips on saving computer space.

Execute your computer’s Disk Clean Up tool. This will delete files from the temporary files accessed by your Internet browser, recycle bin and system errog logs. You’ll be surprised by the additional storage you can claim.

Compress your old documents. If you need only to store your documents and not view them for a significant period of time, do consider file compression. There are a lot of archiving software available and they can reduce the size of your documents by up to 50%. You can always have list of your archived documents as reference for future use.

Delete unnecessary data. Sometimes we forget to remove files that are not necessarily storage worthy that they keep piling up. Before we know it, these files will take up a big space which could have been for a family video. Make it a habit to delete unnecessary files as soon as possible. Same thing applies to duplicate files.

While this will not deter the feds to pick through your data (in fact, it might only raise suspicion), this provides you a lot of security when it comes to your run-of-the-mill unauthorized access. And probably the most popular free encrypting software out there is TrueCrypt. I have personally been using it for quite some time now though I guess it’s only now that I get to feature it here.

TrueCrypt is a cross-platform (Windows Vista/XP, Mac OS X, and Linux) on-the-fly encryption software that allows you to create file containers (which act like your mountable ISO files for virtual drives) or even encrypt whole drives and disks (including removable USB storage devices), store files in them, that you can protect with a password and custom encryption algorithms that even versed hackers would frown upon.

What’s great about it is that you need not be a hardcore geek to use it. Creating virtual volumes or encrypting whole devices can be made through a step-by-step wizard. Each step is accompanied by very helpful information so be sure to read everything before proceeding.

To view contents of the encrypted virtual volume or device, all you have to do is mount it via TrueCrypt, provide the password, and you can treat the volume/device like any other storage. The program decrypts data real-time via memory so that you minimize digital footprints in your computer.

Download TrueCrypt here.

I deferred posting the news of the iPhone launch, since, well… I’m not too excited about it. So forgive me for letting my personal feelings affect a supposedly objective takes on technology and lifestyles.

I haven’t really been an Apple user. When the iPod craze came (and went?) I was the guy who never owned an MP3 player. Yes, I love music, but I’m not the kind of guy who’d love to have something stuck in my ear. And if I were to own one, I’d probably opted for a Zen instead (yey for the underdog!). One thing that I probably regret a bit is not getting me an MacBook. Instead, I got myself a little sidekick (an Asus) with good enough specs for blogging and a bit of gaming too at half the price I’d pay for a high-end MacBook. Not that I have the spare cash to purchase one anyway.

In any case, I’d have to admit that when it comes to Macs, my only exposure to them is when I get the chance to work on the Macs in my former office. And I understood why they’re great and why people love them. Given the resources, I would never hesitate to get me a MacBook. As for the iPod, well, let’s say that it has become a status symbol and I’m a bit of a non-conformist at times.

Now comes the iPhone. As early as now, a lot of people have expressed their criticism against it. Besides, it is, to date, the largest effort Apple has put in reaching other markets, this time, mobile phones. While I like what I’ve seen so far. I think it’s a kick in the side of Microsoft with that touch screen since it looks like a miniaturized Surface interface.

I’ve been a mobile phone user for a good part of my life and what’s amazing is that, I never really went for the swanky phones, save perhaps during the glory days of GSM when I was one of the first guys to own the newly-released Nokia 8210 back in 1999. I’ve been an advocate of function and price over style. But I understand the buzz and the raves that go with a new product. So will I eventually get myself an iPhone. No… Or rather, not now.

In any case, Michael over at Apple Gazette is now a proud owner of one. And being the resident Mac blogger of Bloggy, I’d just point you guys over to his takes on this latest piece of supposed wizardry by Apple.

It’s actually very simple. In iTunes, go to the download progress of your files. You’ll notice the progress bar tells you an estimated time until your download is complete, but not how fast your download is actually downloading. If you click on the progress bar, however, the information changes, and will include the actual speed of your download.

Knowing whether your total speed doesn’t quite reach the optimum means that you might have to cut back on your other downloads. Then again, download speeds will vary from the number of people downloading the file, the server, and your own connection.

Via Apple Gazette

Our Favorite Cheat Sheets
is a comprehensive compilation of cheat sheets of shortcuts and tricks for a multitude of tasks. Most of them are in downloadable PDF which you can store locally into your computer for quick reference.

A must bookmark site for keyboard ninjas and shortcut fiends like I am.

Via Lifehacker

In Firefox

Hold Option+Command, then use the the left and right arrows to flip through the tabs you have open.

In Safari

Hold Shift+Command, then use the left and right arrows to flip through the open tabs.

A word of warning though Michael cites:

I had a lot of trouble with this, actually. Google was one of the tabs that I had open, and every time it would pass that tab, if I stopped for any length of time, the cursor would end up blinking in the Google search box, and it would no longer allow me to tab through the various windows without clicking on another tab first…very frustrating.

• Store and serve application resources locally
• Store data locally in a fully-searchable relational database
• Run asynchronous Javascript to improve application responsiveness

Imagine web applications continuing to work while you’re offline. Lo and behold, there’s an “Offline” link in my Google Reader. Apparently, it’s the first Google service that can be ported through Gears. It’s currently available in BETA for Windows, Mac, and Linux for IE and Firefox. I can’t wait to have the other applications work offline. Increased productivity all around!

Image via Zannath

• Go to your Applications folder and launch Font Book (as pointed out by commenter Stephen, it has a space).
• Select the one font you think is the problem, or sleet multiple fonts by holding down Command as you click on the suspects.
• Go under the File menu -> Validate Fonts. This would bring up the Font Validation window.
• If you get a little checkbox next to the font it’s good to go. If you get a yellow warning sign, there may be a problem, and if you get a red “x” then the font is corrupt.
• If corrupt, remove these by checking the boxes next to them and clicking Remove Checked at the bottom of the program window.

This comes really handy when moving files to an external drive for backup or transfer. So you copy them to the new destination and delete the ones in the original machine. But here’s a way to make this faster:

If you press Command when you drag those files as soon as the transfer is complete, they will automatically delete from the original source. This can be a real time saver if you’re moving a lot of files onto an external drive.