For the longest time, I’ve wanted to be able to log into multiple GMail accounts using the same web browser.  Since GMail is my primary email, and I use it for one of my consulting jobs, it was always a pain to have to log out of one account to get into another.

Sure, I could have used two browsers, bobbing back and forth between the two, but that would have been a huge resource waste.  Plus, when a person makes up their mind that something should work a certain way, they kind of want it that way!  That was the case with me anyways.

Long story short, Google has finally implemented support for multiple account logins, and a small dream of mine has come true.  Setting this up is relatively easy.

After logging into your primary account, click on Settings in upper right corner.  Then click on the Accounts and Import label in the Settings tab.

Next scroll down the list of options until the Change Account Settings label appears.  You will need to choose the Google Account Settings option.

You’ll then want to enable the option to use multiple accounts.  Google will cautiously warn you that there are limitations.  They even go to the extent of making you check the boxes beside several of the disclaimers they provide.  Read them and click if you agree to live with the functionality sacrificed by using multiple accounts.

At this point, if you click on the arrow beside your email address in the upper right corner, you will be provided with an option to sign into a second account.  Clicking it opens in a new tab of Firefox for me.  This may vary depending upon your current browser’s configuration options.

And there you have it – multiple GMail logins while using the same browser.  Just one more way you can make that thing called the internet work for you.

There are articles, commentaries and rants flooding the pages of the internet and flashing on the screens of our televisions, with “smartphone X is better than smartphone Y” being the general theme.  To be completely frank, I am growing sick of them.  They used to bring a thrill to me, but no longer.

If we look at the specs side of the argument, I believe we are quickly getting to the point where we have reached maximum potential for the features of a phone.  I could understand it when many devices didn’t come standard with expandable memory, wifi or a color screen.  But now they do plus many others goodies, and  it seems that manufacturers are just refining the current experience.

Let’s also look at the device operating system side of the argument.  In the past I have been completely guilty of bashing one operating system to make another that I favored and used look better.  I admit this and I’m sorry for it.  I have a new point of view for the operating system debate:

WHO CARES?

Does the device’s operating system meet your needs?  Does it provide the experience you want?  Then, “GREAT”, I say.  Use it.  We could go into a long list of the pro’s and con’s of different operating systems, but at the end of the day let’s all just acknowledge that we each have a personal preference.  That’s it.  I’m sorry… I know I just burst some people’s bubble, but again, let’s be brutally honest.  If the operating system meets your needs and you like it, then who cares what others write, say or do.

What are your thoughts on this?  Feel free to leave them in the comments section below.

"Brad Mitchum: Lost in Time" by Astraware

Astraware has been at it again, this time remembering the crowd of Windows Mobile users out there.  The release of “Brad Mitchum: Lost in Time” actually marks their third release for this platform in the past few months, which is very nice to see!

Here’s the full description as provided by Astraware:

Brad Mitchum is an archeologist who has travelled the four corners of the globe in the search of lost cities and legendary objects. He discovers a mysterious talisman and decides to investigate further. After more research he discovers that the gems are missing from the talisman. At that moment a white light appears and everything is turned upside down. Brad thought his adventures were over, he’s lost in time and he doesn’t see the funny side.

Brad Mitchum: Lost in Time is a fun action arcade game inspired by classic ball-shooting titles like Pang or Buster Bros which includes 3 high action game modes:

• Story: with cinematic sequences and progressive difficulty for an ever-increasing challenge;
• Pure: an arcade style mode with multiple weapon types;
• X-trem: a special extra-difficulty mode with combo systems for hardcore players.

Overhearing a friend recount how their phone fell into water, I had to wonder how many times something like this actually happens.  Not to try to jinx myself, but what is the worst fate one of your phones or handhelds has ever met?

So far, knock on wood, nothing horrible has happened to any of mine.

Leave your story in the comments below!

After a recent experience, I have been reminded about how important it is to back up data that one deems important.  But making a simple copy of a file isn’t enough.  Data redundancy is needed.  Here’s my simple advice:

1.  Make a copy of the file in a temporary backup location on the actual computer.

2.  Burn a copy of the file(s) to a CD or DVD.

3.  Export a copy of the file(s) to a USB flash drive and / or external hard drive.

Now, here’s another important aspect.  Back up the data off site.  Let’s imagine something catastrophic was to happen to the location you stored the computer, the discs and drives.  Off site server solutions are available for free, and for fee, depending on your needs.  Dropbox is a great option, as one can easily store up to 2 GB of data.

And finally, the all important final step to backups.  If the data is crucial to you in some capacity, don’t trust the computers, servers or media that the information is stored on.  Make paper copies.  Yep, print the data as a means of backing up.  If its that important, do it.

So, there you have it… my simple advice to backup data.  While it is probably not much in news to most of you, maybe it will be helpful to one or two of you.