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How-To: Windows Live Mail 2011 Email Signature With Image

Posted: 22 Mar 2011 03:00 AM PDT

This tutorial is intended for Windows Vista and Windows 7 users as Windows Live Mail version 2011 does not run in XP. The last edition of WLM that XP supports is version 2009. If you’re using XP and want to know how to enable an image in your email signature with WLM 2009, see this video tutorial.

One of the major changes from WLM 2009 to 2011 was the fact that Microsoft completely removed the stationary feature. As such, my previous tutorial on how to get an image into an email signature doesn’t work in version 2011 because it relied on that feature, so I had to make a new one.

This new tutorial for WLM 2011 will use plain text HTML instead of using stationary being that 2011 has none, and will be coded by hand. It may sound intimidating at first, but it really isn’t once you see how it’s done.

See notes below the video for other additional customization options.

The line needed to add in an image to your signature:

Customizing your signature with colors, bold/italic, etc.

The easiest way to do this is to create a signature in the web-based version of Hotmail (even if you don’t use Hotmail), then just copy the code into your email signature file for Windows Live Mail 2011 use.

1. Login to Hotmail.

2. Click Options > More Options at far right:

3. Click Hotmail under Show options for on the left:

4. Click Personal email signature under Writing email:

5. When the signature editor loads, choose Rich Text at right (it may already be selected by default):

6. Edit your signature to your liking. Use whatever fonts, colors and sizes you wish. Remember not to use any images because you already have one in your sig.htm file you created earlier per the video tutorial.

7. Drop down the menu on right to select Edit in HTML:

8. Highlight and copy the code:

9. Paste into your sig.htm email signature file under your <img src> line, and save.

Note: This is a very roundabout and difficult way of doing an email signature. I never said this was easy. It will take time to go through all these steps – especially when it comes to adding customization via Hotmail.com’s signature editor. Be patient as there will be a lot of trial and error involved.

Post from: PCMech. Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On And Live The Digital Lifestyle.

How-To: Windows Live Mail 2011 Email Signature With Image

Will Wireless Bandwidth Theft Become More Common With Data Usage Capping?

Posted: 21 Mar 2011 07:00 AM PDT

Bandwidth capping is something many internet users in the US are going to find unavoidable very soon, especially in areas where the dominant data-capped ISP, whatever it may be, is the only "good" (as in "least worst") choice.

What data capping has done is made bandwidth more valuable, and therefore more of a target to be stolen. Because of this, yes, wireless bandwidth will be stolen more.

Who are the biggest targets of wireless bandwidth theft?

It’s not just the idiots who run their Wi-Fi routers "open" at home anymore. Rather it’s anyone who lives in a densely populated area where the dominant ISP uses data capping. If you live in an area where there’s a lot of people around you and your ISP has GB limits per month on what you can use, you’re a target.

What can you do to avoid wireless bandwidth theft?

1. Secure your router as best you can

There’s documentation aplenty across the internet on how to secure your Wi-Fi router. Granted, Wi-Fi router security absolutely sucks – even if you use WPA2 – but it’s certainly better than running it with no security at all.

One of the better ways to secure a Wi-Fi router is to use WPA2 and wireless MAC filtering. This obviously doesn’t guarantee the elimination of break-ins, but it does require the would-be bandwidth thief to bust through two measures of security instead of just one.

2. Force a Wireless B environment (if your router has the option)

One simple way to keep bandwidth thieves out is to purposely force a Wi-Fi B-only environment. Yes, it’s notably slower than G and certainly a ton slower than N, however if it’s an environment you can deal with (meaning you’re OK with no video streaming or large data transfers on Wi-Fi), no bandwidth thief will touch it because it’s too slow to be useful.

An additional perk of using Wi-Fi B is that if you have spotty wireless connectivity issues, using B almost always clears that up in a pinch.

3. Know how to see all computers connected to your router at any given time

Every Wi-Fi router to the best of my knowledge gives you the ability to examine any currently connected machines. On a Linksys WRT54GL for example, this is seen by launching the Administration program in the browser, then going to Status, Local Network, and clicking the DHCP Clients Table button.

If you feel someone is stealing your bandwidth, that’s how you find out if someone is or not because you’ll see it in the tables report.

4. Disable wireless radio when not in use

This is your absolute best defense against any bandwidth thief because if Wi-Fi isn’t on, it cannot be used. Your wireless bandwidth is absolutely 100% secured because there’s no way to get to it until you re-enable the radio.

You can disable the wireless radio from your router’s Wi-Fi Administration program. Using the Linksys WRT54GL again as an example, this is done by clicking Wireless, Basic Wireless Settings, and next to Wireless Network Mode, click the drop-down menu and choose Disabled. When you want to re-enable it, go back to that same setting and choose what it was before (most likely "G-Only").

"Couldn’t I just turn the router off when I’m away instead?"

You can if you wish and it does the same job, but there are some who need the router on all the time for wired-network PC internet connectivity. Knowing how to disable your Wi-Fi radio is the better option and keeps you from having to having to disconnect the power from the router whenever you leave the house. In addition, it saves the hassle of waiting for your router to ‘talk’ to the modem to acquire a connection from a cold start.

Post from: PCMech. Helping Normal People Get Their Geek On And Live The Digital Lifestyle.

Will Wireless Bandwidth Theft Become More Common With Data Usage Capping?