Ed's Tech Tips

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If you have problems with your PC locking or going to sleep, Caffeine will keep it awake. It works by simulating a keypress once every 59 seconds, so your machine thinks you're still working at the keyboard, so it won't lock the screen or activate the screensaver. I found this program helpful when I am listening to Internet radio or a podcast while working on something else other than my computer. Without Caffeine I had to disable the power saving features which required multiple clicks and screens.

The icon is shown above - it's the leftmost one in the task tray, and this is all you see. Double-clicking the icon empties the coffee pot (that's what the icon is) and temporarily disables the program. Double-clicking it again refills the pot, and will keep your machine awake.

Windows 98: Caffeine works by simulating left shift key down and up events every 59 seconds.

Windows 2000/XP: Caffeine works by simulating a left shift key up event every 59 seconds. Of all the key presses available, shift is probably the least intrusive, and least likely to interfere with your work.

The download is only 11kb.

Stickies is a PC utility written to try to cut down on the number of Post-It® notes left stuck to your monitor. It is a computerised version of those notes. 3M offers a digital version of its very popular Post-It® notes as well, but it costs $19.99, whereas Stickies is free. The design goal behind Stickies is that the program is small and simple. Stickies will not mess with your system files, or write to the registry. Stickies stores all information in a single text-based ini file.

Stickies will never support animated dancing figures, or play "Greensleeves". They are instead yellow (or any other color you prefer) rectangular windows onto which you can put some text notes. Once created, they will stay on screen until you take them away. Just like a real sticky piece of paper.

Main features:

• Once on screen, stickies will remain where placed until closed, even through reboots
• Stickies appearance can be customised; fonts, colours and buttons may be changed, and styles saved. Stickies can be resized.
• Stickies can snap to each others edges to keep them lined up
• Stickies can be transferred from one machine to another either over a TCP/IP network connection, or by using an SMTP mail server or MAPI client: Hierarchical friends list, which may be automatically transferred from other friends; Play a sound file on receive; Signature for transmitted or emailed stickies; Favourite friends, and custom lists can be made
• Stickies can be hidden for a certain period, until a specified date and time, or to wake every day, week or month, to act as reminders.
• Stickies can have alarms set to ensure you notice them at a point you choose
• Stickies can be transferred to and from your Palm or PPC PDA.
• International language support
• Stickies is small and simple, it writes to a single text file, and does not touch the registry
• ...and Stickies is completely free!

You may also want to check out the optional Stickies add-on tools, such as the Sticky Store and Sticky Server if you would like to use the notes at work.