You might recall a previous TechTip that looked at software you can use to wrangle all of the passwords you have for your favorite Web sites and Web services. Those apps are a good solution, but what if there was a way to securely log into multiple sites using only one ID?

That's not a pipe dream. And it isn't a matter of using the same user name and password for everything (remember, I said securely). A technology called OpenID offers that promise, and is on its way to delivering it.

What is OpenID?

OpenID isn't software. The OpenID Foundation, a non-profit which works towards the adoption and spread of OpenID, describes it as a decentralized standard for user authentication and access control, allowing users to log into different services with the same ID. Another way that people describe OpenID is single sign-on (SSO).

OpenID, though, does one thing and does it well. It authenticates users, confirming they are who they say they are.

You don't need to worry about having a unique user name and password for each and every site that you need to log into. Instead, your login credentials (called an OpenID) consists of a URL – like http://MySecretID.myopenid.com/ – that's yours and yours alone. An OpenID provider, a site or server that hosts your URL, ensures that your OpenID is authentic.

The URL acts as a universal user name. The only password you need is the one that you use to log into your OpenID provider.

Who controls OpenID?

No single individual, company, or organization controls OpenID. The technology behind OpenID is Open Source. There can be any number of OpenID providers. In fact, if you have the technical expertise you can set yourself up as a provider and run what's called an identity server. You can learn more about doing that here. That's also a double-edged sword, which I'll discuss in a moment.

That said, it's not like the folks working on OpenID are lone programmers in the wilderness. A number of well-known tech companies back and support OpenID. Companies like Google, Yahoo!, VeriSign, and Sun Microsystems.

Using OpenID

Using OpenID sounds difficult. It isn't. It just requires you to change the way in which you think about logging into Web sites and services. Luckily, that shift isn't a big one.

First off, you need find an OpenID provider and sign up for an account. If you're looking for one, this is a good resource. Most of the people I know who use OpenID tend to opt for one of the following providers:

• myOpenID
• ClaimID
• SignOn.com

The signup process is simple. You choose a user name, which is tacked on to the domain name of generic viagra australia the provider. For example, http://YourName.claimid.com. You also need to create a password and enter an email address.

Once you've signed up, you can use your URL. From there, you go to the login screen of a site that supports OpenID. You can find a comprehensive list of those sites here.

You'll have to click a link, which says Login with OpenID or something similar.

Type your URL in the OpenID field and click Sign In. You'll be redirected to your OpenID provider, where you'll need to enter the password for your OpenID account. The provider confirms that you are who you claim you are, which  takes about a second. You'll be sent back to the site where you'll be logged in.

All of this seems a tad cumbersome, but the advantage is that you don't need to worry about remembering a user name and password combination for every site that you use. There's just one.

Advantages and drawbacks

The main advantage of using OpenID is that you only need one user name and password for the Web sites that you use. You'll no longer need to tax your memory or confuse one login with another.

OpenID is Open Source. That means a large number of eyes are on it, and constantly improving it. And it's not just the so-called hobbyist programmers, either. As mentioned earlier, a number of tech giants are involved in the development of OpenID.

Because OpenID is decentralized, no one firm controls it. You don't have to worry about a firm folding or suddenly charging for the service. There are a growing number of OpenID providers out there – all you need to do is pick one.

On the other hand, a large number of Web sites don't support OpenID. As I read somewhere on the Web, some folks cite the chicken-egg problem. Not all sites support OpenID because there aren't enough people using it or who are comfortable with it. The number of sites that support OpenID is growing, but not rapidly.

There's also the potential for phishing and identity theft. Remember what I wrote earlier about setting up an identity server? There's nothing to stop a malicious programmer from setting one up and using your own data against you.

Sometimes, you run into an OpenID-enabled site that doesn't play nicely. I know a couple of people who weren't able to log into certain sites even though their OpenID credentials were valid and correct. This doesn't happen often, but when it does it can be frustrating.

Conclusion

OpenID is an interesting and useful way to log into your favorite Web sites. While the number of sites that support OpenID isn't that large, support is gradually increasing.

You msight not want to use OpenID for logging into all Web sites, but the idea of single sign-on is intriguing. OpenID is another step towards making it universally available and acceptable.

Four Free Apps for Editing Your Photos Online

By Scott Nesbitt – October 4, 2009

You might recall a couple of previous TechTips that covered some free, simple desktop computer photo editing software. But what happens if you're using a netbook that might not have the grunt to run those apps efficiently? Or if you're not using your own computer?

A more than viable alternative is to go online. This TechTip looks at why you'd want to and five of the better Web-based photo editors.

Why go online?

As mentioned a couple of paragraphs ago, you might be using a netbook, an older desktop computer or laptop computer, or you could be working on one that's not yours. There's a chance that computer won't have enough hard drive space or memory or a fast enough CPU to handle a decent image editor. And if the computer isn't yours, the owner may frown upon you installing software on it.

Another reason is convenience. About half of my work is done on my netbook. And I try to keep the amount of software on it to a minimum. That means, among other things, no photo editors that might slow the netbook down. But I often need to resize or crop a stock photo for an article, blog post, or presentation. In those cases, an online photo editor comes in handy.

Finally, your photo editing needs are probably modest. You just need some basic functions and effects, which a good online editor packs.

There have to be some drawbacks

Of course there are. The obvious one is that you need a reliable and fast Internet connection to use these editors. If your connection drops, you'll more than likely lose your work.

On top of that, the editor that you choose might not have the feature or function that you need. If it does, that feature or function may not be as easy to use or as powerful as you need it to be.

Sometimes those online editors can be slow, especially when uploading or downloading a photo. While researching this TechTip, I even had one or two hang my Web browser.

Four of the best

There are a large number of photo editors on the Web. Some are good – comparable to a decent desktop editor. Others aren't. Here are four of the best of the crop of Web-based photo editors. They're powerful, flexible, and free. And you don't necessarily have to set up an account to use them.

Note: Most of the editors that this TechTip discusses impose a limit on the size of files you can edit. Depending on the editor, that limit is between two and three megabytes.

Pixlr

Pixlr reminds me of an online version of the popular desktop photo editor called Paint Shop Pro. Of the four editors that this TechTip discusses, Pixlr is the most like a desktop application in appearance.

There are two versions of Pixlr: Editor and Express. Editor is the fully-featured application, while Express it the lite version. Both allow you to upload a file from your computer or open a photo somewhere on the Web for editing.

Remember what I said about Paint Shop Pro? Well, that's Editor. You get the full range of functions that you'd expect from a desktop photo editor, all available from a set of menus.

It's more than just a photo editor, though. You can also create images with it using a set of drawing tools. And in addition to the basic functions for manipulating a photo, Editor packs an array of filters and of photo touch-up tools. You can blur, sharpen, and emboss a photo. You can also make your pic look like an old photo and even add scan lines (like and old TV).

One feature of Pixlr Editor that some photographers might find useful is the ability to add layers. Among other things, layers allow you to seamlessly superimpose one image over another.

Pixlr Express, on the other hand, does away with the menus. You access all of the functions from a sidebar. There aren't all that many functions available, but they're more than enough for basic image editing.

As with most other editors, Pixlr Express enables you to crop, rotate, and resize photos. You can also adjust brightness and color, and add some of the same effects that you can add with Pixlr Editor.

If you use the Firefox Web browser, there's an add-on available that opens images on the Web directly in Pixlr – no need to do that at the Pixlr site.

Change-Images

If you're looking for something that's simple, then Change-Images is the online photo editor to go with. It's bare bones, but if you only need the basics then it's a great choice.

Change-Images only supports five functions: resizing, cropping, converting, applying effects, and adding border (called frames) to photos. Each function has its own tab, and each tab has a simple set of controls.

You can only upload photos from your computer to Change-Images. It doesn't integrate with photo sharing sites, and you can't point it to an image on the Web. Still, for what it is, Change-Images does a solid job.

The resize feature has a set of pre-set sizes to which you can shrink a photo. You can choose sizes in pixels or as a percentage of the original file. You can also set a custom size in pixels.

The conversion feature can take photos (and other images) in a number of formats – including popular ones JPEG, TIFF, GIF, and BMP – and convert them to one of nine commonly-used formats. You can also choose the quality of the conversion, from highest to lowest.

There are also 18 image effects available, ranging from generic viagra 50mg rotating a photo to embossing it. You can also change the brightness of a photo or convert it to grayscale.

Overall, Change-Images is quick and easy to use. It's not pretty, but it doesn't have to be.

Picnik

This is one of the two Flash-based editors mentioned in this TechTip. As such, you'll want to make sure that you have the latest Flash player installed to use it.

Picnik is a simple, but flexible tool. It enables you to upload a photo, or open one from a variety of photo sharing sites including Flickr, Picasa, Photobucket, Webshots, and even FaceBook and MySpace. You can't, however, point to an image on the Web and edit it.

Picnik packs two sets of functions. The first one, under the Edit tab, allows you to do basic editing. Things like cropping and rotating an image, sharpening it, adjusting the color and removing red eye. Things get interesting, though, when you click the Create tab.

The functions under the Create tab enable you to add a whack of nifty, funky, and downright strange effects. Like what? You can convert a color photo to black and white or sepia. You can soften it, and even turn it into something resembling a pencil sketch.

Some of Picnik's other features include adding text and borders to photos, and stitching a bunch of photos together to create a collage.

A number of the effects are labeled Premium in the interface. If you want to use them, you need to pay a $24.95 annual fee. Unless you need those effects, or if you want to support Picnik's development, the free features are more than  good enough

FotoFlexer

FotoFlexer bills itself as the most advanced online image editor. I don't know if I'd go that far, but FotoFlexer is easy to use and it does pack a lot of useful features.

FotoFlexer allows you to upload a photo, grab one off the Web, or get a photo from your account on popular photo sharing sites like Flickr and Picasa, or from your MySpace or FaceBook account.

FotoFlexer combines some of the best elements of the other Web-based photo editors  that this TechTip discusses. There are no menus. Instead, functions are grouped under a set of tabs. There are a wide range of these functions – from basic cropping and resizing and rotating to sharpening and removing red eye, to removing blemishes from a photo.

As with Pixlr, you can add layers to a photo that you're editing in FotoFlexer. You can also insert another image (without a layer), add text, and apply over a dozen effects to a photo. If you're so inclined, you can also distort a photo in a number of ways and add animated shapes to your photo. The latter isn't my thing, but obviously there's a market for it …

What I found interesting were the functions under the Geek tab. Among these is one that interfaces with a webcam to capture images. Two other functions that I found interesting are Smart Scissors and Smart Cutout. Both of these enable you to select selections of a photo and pull them out, jagged edges and all – sort of like cutting out portions of a printed photo with scissors. While Smart Scissors and Smart Cutout are more fun than anything else, they can be useful for putting together a digital collage.

Like Picnik, FotoFlexer is Flash based. And, like Picnik, you'll want the latest Flash player installed on your computer before you use the editor.

A final word

If your photo editing needs are simple, or if you just don't want to clutter your hard drive with more software then a Web-based photo editing application is a good way to go. There are a number of them out there, and they're fast and easy to use. Chances are you'll find one with just the features that you need.

Pimping Your PC with Peripherals Keyboards and Mice!

By Bryan Lambert – September 27, 2009

You get your shiny new PC delivered via FedEx.  As you start to unpack and assemble that puppy, you realize that the peripherals (if they even have any) are usually of the most basic kind. Its then that you realize that you need to Pimp Your PC with peripherals.  In this Tech Tip we'll look at two of the most basic of computer parts that will help you Geek out on your PC experience yes, the lowly keyboard and mouse.

Computer Keyboards

Nothing quite makes or breaks the PC experience like a quality keyboard.  Sure, that keyboard packed with your PC, (or built in – as in the case of laptops), may be adequate for the basic computer experience so unless you got one of those Macs with that snazzy aluminum keyboards. You may want to think about getting something better…  cooler  stronger faster  Well, step right up theres a cacophony of keyboards to choose from: wireless; wired; multimedia; with iPod docks, ergonomic, integrated USB, integrated mics, integrated speakers, even gold plated ones and others made out of wood – you name it, someone somewhere has probably built and sold it.   

Lets get down to business. With a keyboard, you need something that is not only well made and durable but something that works for what you want to get out of it.  When it comes to keyboards, you have Logitech Microsoft, Kensington  and then everyone else, but you really dont need to stick to a name brand to get a quality keyboard you just need to know what to look for. Does it flex and bow (youd be surprised)? how do the keys feel when typing? Does it just look good?  All important questions to ask and it may be worth it (if possible) to try out the keyboard in person to make sure that it suits you but even sight unseen you may be able to dig up a review or two to get a good idea about how it'll work.

Some things to consider when getting a new keyboard:

1. Make sure that you get one that works with your computers ports (usually USB or generic brands viagra online target=”_blank” title=”http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PS/2_connector”>PS/2)
2. If going for wireless, Bluetooth is a little more expensive than RF (radio frequency) but if you need more than a six foot range, then go with Bluetooth.  
3. Extra goodies and features on a keyboard make it that much more functional.  Maybe consider a keyboard with built in touch pad or scroll wheel.  Youll be surprised how much youll end up using it.
4. Flexible membrane keyboards as well as mini keyboards, while cool, are a pain to type on.
5. Dont be afraid of a refurbished keyboard most were returned more because someone didnt like that particular keyboard for whatever reason (same with mice).  
6. If you are a Mac user, modern Apples will work fine with standard Windows PC USB keyboards though you get that pesky Windows friendly layout.  Conversely, most keyboards designed for modern Macs will work fine for PCs (but, as always, there are some exceptions).
7. If you are a gamer, Id highly recommend looking at some of the gamer specific keyboards, keypads and mice (usually made by niche companies like Wolfking but even mainstream companies like Logitech have their fair share of gaming keyboards (like their G13 Gameboard). Not really practical for the rest of us, but if youre a gamer these will help you get your game on.  

Mice / Mouse

Getting just the right mouse for your computer can make all the difference in the world.  While a good keyboard can make or break the computer experience, mice run a close second.  Standard mice basically come in three flavors: ball mice (these are the ones that are usually pre-packaged with a PC and that may come in some of the more inexpensive keyboard/mouse combo kits), optical mouse (so named because it uses an LED light to track movement rather than a physical ball rolling around), and laser mouse —  (basically like the optical but using a laser rather than an LED they work better on certain surfaces than optical).  There are alternatives to the standard mouse, such as a trackball mouse and digital tablets and some people do swear by them, but they take getting use to.

While many of the same caveats that applied to keyboards also apply to mice there are a few extra things to consider with mice:

1. When shopping for a laptop mouse, there are mini type mice available.  They fit great in a case, but not necessarily in your hand.
2. Check the specs on your laptop, it may already have Bluetooth built in.  If it does, then getting a wireless Bluetooth mouse just makes sense.  If it doesnt and you want to go wireless, then look for a mouse with a mini adapter that plugs into the laptop (like the Logitech VX Nano mouse or you can just buy a mini USB Bluetooth adapter yourself.).
3. Even though optical mice work with a variety of surfaces, you may still find that you need a mouse pad (some companies such as Fellowes make mouse pads specifically for optical mice).
4. Some desktop wireless mice include a recharging cradle a nice way to save costs on battery replacements.
5. Consider buying a keyboard and mouse combo theres no better way to assure color and style coordination.

Final Thoughts

Though we all know keyboards and mice, it's easy to become overwhelmed when buying upgrades with the bewildering number of choices that are available.  It is our hope that with this week's Tech Tip, youll find that task a little less daunting and a little more fun!  So go! Get your Geek on! Pimp your PC with a new keyboard and mouse!

Choosing Webcams

By Scott Nesbitt – September 20, 2009

I can remember my first encounter with a Web camera (or webcam, for short). It was in the early 1990s, and the item in question was perched atop the computer monitor of a friend's desktop pc. It looked like a large, white, and evil eyeball. The video that the webcam picked up was choppy and in grayscale. But I can still remember how neat I thought that whole thing was.

Times change, and technology gets better. And so has the quality and variety of uses of webcams. Sure, you can still use a webcam to watch the cat or a pot of coffee, or to record silly hijinks. But you can do much more with one. Like record high-quality videos and and do audio/video conferencing over the Web.

Like choosing any other peripheral, picking the right webcam can be tough.  This TechTip looks at some of the factors you should consider when you decide that a webcam is for you.

Why buy a webcam anyway?

A webcam is definitely not for everyone. Let's be honest, unless you have a compelling reason to buy one chances are that a webcam will be way off your radar.

That said, there are a number of reasons to want to buy a webcam. As mentioned a few paragraphs ago, you might want to record first-person video tutorials. Or, you might be working remotely and need to video conference with colleagues and clients. Don't discount the lure of the Web cam for staying in touch with family and friends grandparents love them. On top of that, many people are now using them for face-to-face language exchange with learners and teachers in other countries. There are other reasons for getting a webcam, but this site is family-friendly so I won't mention them here

If you need one and have a desktop computer, then it's pretty much a given they you're going to get an external camera. But what about the folks who like to take their computing mobile? A number of laptop computers and just about every gel viagra target=”_blank” title=”http://www.geeks.com/products_sc.asp?cat=1208&cm_mmc=geekmail-_-techtips-_-20sep09_techtips-_-storylink”>netbook out there comes with a built-in webcam. While the quality and resolution are good, they're not great. If need better resolution, or if you have an older laptop, then you really need an external webcam.

Resolution, resolution

That's usually the first thing that people look for when buying a webcam. A previous TechTip covering digital cameras talked about megapixels and how they weren't the most important factor when choosing a camera. With webcams, on the other hand, the situation is somewhat different.

While you won't get the resolution that you would with a digital camera, a good webcam can offer you up to two megapixels of resolution. About 1.3 megapixels is often enough for most purposes.

Also, consider the screen resolution of the video on your computer's monitor. The average webcam offers 320 pixels by 240 pixels. Which is OK, especially when you're working with a small screen on something like a netbook. With a laptop or desktop PC, you can do better. Double that, in fact 640 pixels by 480 pixels.

Framing the seconds

Related to resolution is the number of frames per second that the camera can process and send to your computer. Obviously, the larger the number of frames that the camera spits out per second means the better the video quality.  Most webcams can handle between 10 and 30 frames per seconds. Fifteen frames per second is about average. With a webcam like that, the video will be a bit choppy, especially if you suddenly move.  Some higher-end webcams can handle up to 120 frames per second. You probably won't need anything like that. Thirty to 50 frames per seconds is probably more than enough for most uses.

Lenses and sensors

The real world has to get into the webcam somehow. And that's through the lens and the sensor.  Less expensive webcams use plastic lenses that are fixed. You can't change the focus. Better webcams have glass lenses which you can focus by twisting the collar around the lens. Most people can get by with a fixed lens. But if you can afford it (more on this later), try to get a webcam with a glass lens. A glass lens does a better job of moving light to the sensor.  The sensor is, however, the key piece of the camera. It's the electronics that converts light into a digital image. There are two types of sensors: CMOS and CCD. CMOS sensors are still used in lower-cost webcams (and a few more expensive ones). CCD sensors (which are older technology) are regularly used in still digital cameras. While I've seen little evidence of the superiority of one sensor over another, some webcam users prefer models with CCD sensors.  But as with a digital camera, you might want to find a webcam with a sensor that has strong light sensitivity and dynamic range. That way you get better video.

The price that's right

Luckily, webcams aren't as expensive as they used to be. You don't need to shell out hundreds of dollars anymore. If you check out Geeks.com, for instance, you can find webcams for under $10 (US).

Depending on your needs and your budget, you can get a very good webcam for between $50 and $80 dollars. If that's too rich for your blood, or if your needs are modest, then go with a model that costs between $20 and $30. You won't get the same resolution or video quality with the lower cost model, though.

Optional extras

As with any other gadget, there are a couple nice-to-have features that you can look for in a webcam if you so desire. The first of these is built-in audio.  That could mean either a built-in microphone or a combination of a microphone and a speaker. With the latter, you don't need to worry about getting a chat headset or even a separate set of headphones. The drawback is that sometimes you're going to get feedback. Ouch! Most people I know get a webcam with a built-in microphone and use their headset or the earbuds from their MP3/MP4 players or iPods.  You need to attach the webcam to your computer. So, you may also want find a webcam with a solid stand or clip. A clip is a must if you want to use the webcam with your laptop computer.

The need for speed

Something that's often overlooked is the need for a fast video card. The video card is doing a lot of the work processing the information that's coming from a webcam into a computer. If your webcam offers higher resolution and a high number of frames per second, then your video card will be doing a lot of work.  If you're serious about using a webcam, you might want to consider upgrading your video card. Look for one with a fast graphics processor and a lot of memory. If you don't, you run into a lot of choppy video which is no fun.

Note: An upcoming TechTip will look at video cards.

Wrapping up

A webcam can not only be useful, it can be a lot of fun. And buying one doesn't need to be a painful chore filled with obscure jargon and tech talk. When you decide to go shopping, remember to take into account what you want to do with the webcam and keep the factors that this TechTip discusses in mind. That way, you'll be able to get the webcam that's right for you.

Four Apps to Take Your Tweeting to the Next Level

By Scott Nesbitt – September 13, 2009

There's no doubt that Twitter has become a major player in the world of social media. In fact, it's pretty find viagra much at the top of the heap of the various microblogging services available on the Web.

And with good reason: Twitter is easy to use and the breadth and depth of posts is something to see.

For a power user (or a power user wannabe), the Twitter Web interface leaves a bit to be desired. It's fine for reading and posting messages (called tweets in Twitter-speak). But the interface is lacking in a lot of ways. If you want to, for example, send a message to another Twitter user or retweet (repost an interesting message), then you have to remember a keyboard command and/or do some copying and pasting.  Why do that, when you can use graphical tool that gives you point-and-click access to all the Twitter functions you need? And a few more to boot. There a number of desktop clients for Twitter, and a few Web-based ones too.

This TechTip looks at four of the more interesting Twitter clients out there. All of them are free, and they work on computers that run Linux, Mac OS, and Windows.

Going minimal with Qwit

While somewhat barebones, Qwit (an Open Source Twitter client) fills in a lot of the gaps of Twitter's Web interface. And it's easy to use.  Qwit has a tabbed interface that seems to be popular with desktop Twitter clients, and other kinds of desktop apps too. There are seven, to be exact – for updates that you and the people you follow have posted, for messages that you've sent and have been sent to you, to do a search, and one tab each for all new posts to the service and for specific Twitter feeds that you want to pay particular attention to.

While I'd like to get rid of a couple of the tabs, there isn't a way to do that. A minor annoyance.

But the real flexibility is on Qwit's Home tab. That's where you view your posts and the posts of those you're following. You can type an update at the top of the Qwit window, and you can even attach a photo to a tweet. The photo doesn't go to Twitter; it's uploaded to a site called TwitPic and linked to your tweet. On top of that, long URLs are automatically shortened.

Every update on the Home tab has three additional buttons which allow you to reply to a tweet, repost it, and to send the poster a private message.  It's a lot easier than remembering keyboard commands.

Giving twhirl a whirl

You might remember a TechTip that looked at a technology called Adobe AIR. One of the great things about AIR is that it make it easy for developers to create software that interacts with Web applications. Twitter is no exception.

twhirl is one of the first truly cross-platform AIR apps that I've used. Other applications, either Twitter clients or apps in various other categories, either didn't work under Linux or were sluggish.

With twhirl, you can post, reply, retweet, and send direct messages all by clicking on an icon on the toolbar at the bottom of the twhirl window. You can view the people you follow and who follow you, and search for specific Twitter users. You'll need to know their Twitter user name, though.

As well, twhirl shortens URLs with a click – that's great for posting a long link that cuts into Twitter's 140 character limit. As with Qwit, you can share photos in a tweet by uploading them to TwitPic from within the app.

My only gripe with twhirl is that its interface takes some getting used to. It's obvious what some of the icons in the twhirl window do. Others you're not so sure about until you click them. I'd also like URL shortening to be automatic, but clicking a button to do the deed isn't all that onerous a task.

Don't tweet, twait instead

Twaitter is one of the growing number of Web-based Twitter clients. But Twaitter goes further than other desktop and online Twitter clients with a few features that power user and businesses will find useful.

Like any other Twitter client, Twaitter enables you to read and view tweets, send replies, retweet messages, and view and send private messages to other Twitter users. You simply go www.twaitter.com and log in using your Twitter user name and password.

But Twaitter has one feature that's sets it apart from all other clients. That feature is the ability to schedule tweets. Using Twaitter, you can write tweets ahead of time and let them appear on Twitter at specific times and dates. This is useful if, for example, you're doing a marketing promotion and want to leak details on to Twitter without it seeming like you're spamming.

To use Twaitter, all you need to do is type your tweet. Then, click the twait button. Choose the time and date one which you want the tweet to appear and then click the Schedule button. You can also tell Twaitter whether you want the tweet to only appear once, or if it’s going to recurring at regular intervals.

One useful feature of Twaitter is that ability to edit a tweet. Even the best of us succumb to the typo bug. If you've entered a tweet in Twaitter, you quickly fix a typo or an error. To do that in Twitter's Web interface, you need to delete the tweet and then resend it.

If you don't want to worry about fiddling with a browser to get to Twaitter, you can always bring Twaitter to your desktop using Prism (software that creates desktop shortcuts for opening Web applications in their own windows).

Add TwitterFox to your browser

As long as that browser's Firefox. Why install yet another piece of software on your computer when you can make Twitter a part of your browsing experience? That's what TwitterFox does.

It's an add-on for Firefox, the popular Open Source browser. While Qwit is fairly bare bones, TwitterFox is downright minimalist. After installing and configuring TwitterFox, an icon (the stylized Twitter t) appears in the lower-right corner of the Firefox interface. When updates from the people you follow are available, the icon displays how many updates there are. Click the icon to open the TwitterFox window.

The TwitterFox window contains three tabs. The main one lists all updates that you and the people you follow have posted recently. The other tabs list any messages in which you're mentioned (what Twitter calls @mentions) and private messages that you've sent or received. There's also a small area at the bottom of the window for entering a tweet.

TwitterFox is easy to use, but not always intuitive. A part of that comes from its minimalism. If you want to reply to a tweet, you must hold your mouse over the tweet. A curved arrow appears. Click the arrow, and go from there. On top of that, there's no button for retweeting a post. Instead, you right click a tweet and choose Retweet from the menu that appears. That right-click menu, by the way, also enables you to copy tweets and to delete any of your own tweets.

The integration with Firefox goes a little further than TwitterFox simply being spawned from the browser. In the bottom left of the TwitterFox window is an icon that looks like a bit of chain. Click that to include the URL of current tab in a tweet. If, with the URL, the tweet is over the 140 charactewitterr limit, TFox will shorten the URL using the popular TinyURL service.

Conclusion

Good desktop (or even Web-based) Twitter clients give you a lot of flexibility and a number of features that are just not found at the Twitter site. They make tweeting faster and easier.

Do you have a favorite desktop Twitter client? Share it with the TechTips reader community by leaving a comment.