Evernote is an app that keeps track of anything and everything.

Whether you’ve had it for years or are now just thinking of downloading it, here are the top tips and tricks for getting the most out of it.

Manage Your Contacts

Evernote is an excellent source for keeping track of your growing list of contacts. It is helpful for expanding those past the ones that you regularly keep in touch with, when you want to keep the clutter out of your phone’s address book (think: that contact you met at the conference last year).

All you need to do is create a Contacts folder, and tag any messages with keywords that will help remember who they are. If they are someone in your building, write your work title. If you might have a possible business venture with someone else, note what the plan was.

Even better, you can directly scan their business cards, save them to Evernote, and Evernote will use their character recognition to install all of their contact info. You don’t even need to type it.

Simplifying Web Clips

The Web clipping feature on Evernote is great, but sometimes we don’t want to save the entire page; instead, we might want to score a paragraph or section, or even just an image. For this, get the Firefox extension or the Chrome extension, which limits what you can take by highlighting just the part you want to save. Highlight it as per usual, then tap or clip on the Clip Selection.

Mobile Must-Have

To get the most out of your mobile version of Evernote, take loads of pictures, record as you need to, scan in everything, and transfer as much as possible. It’s great to have it, literally, in the palm of your hand.

Tweet and Email

Both of these will let you remind yourself of details that you want to keep in line. You can link your Evernote account to accept Twitter message, and import important emails for later reference. Evernote assigns users an email address for receiving email to be turned into notes, which helps those who are constantly emailing themselves details to remind them of whatever, anyway. Even better, Evernote automatically sets the subject and changes the body, as well as deals with the attachments.

Local and Shared Folders

Sometimes you down want to upload all your data, especially if files are too large and security is an issue. In that case, create a Local Folder that won’t be synced. Because the default is to have a Synced folder, choose the option of a  “Local Notebook” instead of “Synchronized Notebook.” Not only won’t this sync, but it also won’t be used in your quota.  One caveat: you can’t change the notebook type after it is made. But because copying and pasting can be done with these, this isn’t much of an issue if you need to move them.

Shared notebooks, on the other hand, are perfect for those working together on projects. Users can create and modify notebooks, and send them to each other. If they don’t need to be able to edit the material, you can also share with users that don’t have an Evernote account.

However, the most important thing to keep in mind is that to choose the best hosting service, you have to pick the one that works best for you. Regardless if you’re looking for something simple or a little more complex, you need a reliable web host with lots of support.

That is the key to help a website be the best that it can be.

Luckily, there are many great hosting companies that do just this.

Here are the top tips for what to look for in a hosting company, and where you’ll find it. And if you’re unsure where to begin, explore sites like hostingreviews.com with details on deciphering the right type of web host for you.

Storage Space

A key to the perfect webhost is making sure that you get an ample amount of storage space and bandwidth for what you need it for. If you have a plain and simple website, you won’t be taking up much space at all. However, if you add in images, audio, and video files, you’ll need even more space depending on how much you include. A basic guideline is that a personal website or simple business site needs up to about 25 megabytes, whereas a site loaded with info or merchandise might top 2 gigabytes. The good part in looking for a host to accommodate you is that most of them offer far more than you will ever need, so this shouldn’t really be a concern.

The only time this might be an issue is if you have future projects in mind and want to use the same space. If your company grows, your website will, too, and you want to be sure you choose a good web host that can accommodate these changes.

Bandwidth

When it comes to bandwidth, consider the estimated number of hits per day on your website. For example, 100 hits or so won’t need more than a maximum bandwidth of 20 gigabytes, but a highly interactive site will need much more. In this case, a good hosting company and plan, like from mediatemple.net, should be able to quote you prices that will suit your needs, and it will be reflected on how well your website runs.

Be aware, though, of the idea of unlimited bandwidth. For example, justhost.com offers this, but the fine print basically says that they don’t. Web hosts have to pay for bandwidth, so it is impossible for them to offer it to you for free (otherwise they would be bankrupt). When web hosts offer “unlimited” bandwidth, it means that they are estimating how much usage their average customer could need, but the charge still goes back to you.

Company History and Profile

Research the company that you plan on using. Stay wary of newcomers–sure, they might be grand, but it is best to pick a company with a few years under their belt. If they are successful after a few years, the chances of them being a stable company is much more secure. In addition, they should have an uptime of at least 95%, and a good tech-support staff. Look for clauses in their terms and conditions regarding extra charges, especially on technical support. Reviews and word-of-mouth are generally good indicators of a good company, and hostgator.com is one that is generally on top.

Do some research and gather up some contacts, including phone numbers, of satisfied clientele who can be directly contacted for feedback on the services provided by the host.

Tech and Customer Support

There really isn’t an excuse for companies not to have technical support 24/7, with quality service to boot. They should be a web-savvy competent team of professionals that can help you with an issue and be able to get you to a solution. bluehost.com offers a great, reliable support package.

False Advertising and Discounts

It is pretty easy to write up a low-priced package with loads of benefits. After all, paying a year in advance is the best deal, right? Not always. Be aware of discounts that are too good to be true (they probably are), and check to make sure the ads are legit and make sense. And just keep in mind: never sign up with a web hosting service provider without a money-back guarantee.

Well, here’s the newest:

The world’s first interactive paper computer.

A team at Queen’s University Human Media Lab have developed a smartphone prototype. Called PaperPhone, it is best described as a flexible iPhone. It can play music, make phone calls, store books, hold apps… the only difference is it’s paper thin.

“This is the future. Everything is going to look and feel like this within five years,” says creator Roel Vertegaal, the director of Queen’s University Human Media Lab said in a press release. “This computer looks, feels and operates like a small sheet of interactive paper. You interact with it by bending it into a cell phone, flipping the corner to turn pages, or writing on it with a pen.”

The PaperPhone’s display consists of a 9.5 cm diagonal thin film flexible E Ink display. Because of its flexibility, it makes it much more portable that any current mobile computer, and breaking is brought down to a minimum.

But this goes even further. You can store and interact with documents on larger versions of these light, flexible computers. What does this mean? No paper, no printers… the paperless office is here.

“Everything can be stored digitally and you can place these computers on top of each other just like a stack of paper, or throw them around the desk,” says Dr. Vertegaal.

This new generation of computers will being a new level to what we currently know. While we downgrade the weight of what we carry (large laptops to smaller laptops to netbooks, to iPads and Playbooks to iPhones…), these super lightweight, thin, and flexible versions will take over.

Dr. Vertegaal will unveil his paper computer on May 10 at 2 pm at the Association of Computing Machinery’s CHI 2011 (Computer Human Interaction) conference in Vancouver — the premier international conference of Human-Computer Interaction. An article on a study of interactive use of bending with flexible thinfilm computers is to be published at this conference, where the group is also demonstrating a thinfilm wristband computer called Snaplet.

For details, videos, and the complete study, visit www.humanmedialab.org/paperphone.

Good for you!

Chances are, once you’ve made that decision, your old one has bit the dust.

Or has it?

Here are seven great uses for an old computer, instead of tossing it in the trash or selling it. And don’t worry – these are for the regular folk, the ones who don’t need it for anything fancier than a bit of a bonus.

Give it to your kids… or your parents

Perhaps the most obvious choice, the computer might be a little old for your needs, but maybe not for your family members. Your parents or grandparents might just want to send along an email here and there, or your younger children may be able to use it for word processing and a few games.

The only ones who probably won’t benefit are those who need or expect a little more. If the computer is on its last life, the average games and software may not hold up.

No matter what you do, just be sure to completely erase the hard drive and reinstall the things they need.

Use it as a Light-Duty PC

Having an extra computer on hand for light-duty tasks is often handy. If it’s a laptop or a smaller computer, keep it on a small table in the corner of the living room or kitchen. It will be out of the way, but handy for a quick Google or email check

Bring it Back to ’98

Windows 98, that is. Some classic programs and games were golden for Windows 98 and, if you remember, DOS. Resurrect the old ones by dedicating this computer to only run those. Give it a complete revamp with a new operating system, and do what you can to get all of the old programs. Nostalgia at its finest.

Save and Salvage

If you’re keen on building your own system, you may save some money by saving some of your old PC. Keep the optical drive, power supply, and the memory modules, all of which can help with double duty.

Dedicate It

That is, dedicate it to one specific purpose. Although an old computer may not be good for much, it might be good for little. Take a few moments to delete all of the programs you don’t need, and use it for just one that takes up a lot of memory. Perhaps store your photos, use it for design, or keep it for a single game.

Keep it for Media

If you delete your computer of any programs and data, then download the latest OS, you’re good to go. Plus in a router and connect your computer to your old one through the Network and Sharing centre on your connection list.

Create a Shared Files area of your new serve, ideally under the Computer/C:/Users/Public area of your computer. Now your computers are connected, and you can begin to share media files between them.

Make it an Entertainment Centre

Delete anything irrelevant from your computer, save for music, movies and pictures. Take an S cable and attach the TV and the computer. Click on Properties, find your TV and you’re done.

Where to begin?

Resolution

Most digital cameras use CCDs as the sensing element. This is the same as what we would think of as “film”. The resolution itself is the number of pixels in the captured image. All images are divided into little dots, which are called pixels.

When there are more pixels, the image can be more detailed.

When it comes to choosing resolution, these pixel sizes are what generally coincide with print size:

Here is a guide to choosing resolution, estimating the size print you can make from each:

Lens Aperture

Although some of the extras are luxuries, some are super-essential to any home studio. After you’ve chosen where you want to have it in your home, and have gone through the work of installing all the acoustic treatment, you’re well on your way. Next, you’ve picked an interface, have the software loaded, and you’re ready to go.

But have you gotten everything you need? You might think so, but if you’re missing these top four essentials, get yourself back to the store.

Headphones

And sometimes, they’re just cool. (I love my salt pig!)

Here are our top six kitchen gadgets that are must haves for everyone, whether you’re a quick, couple-day-a-week cook, or a daily gourmand.

The Microplane

This kitchen tool was adapted from the basic woodworking rasp (which works really well, too). With it’s super sharp grates, it is the key way to work with fresh ginger, whole nutmeg, and garlic, along with hard cheeses and chocolate. It also makes the best citrus zest, a must have for bakers and cooks alike. (Check them out here)

The Tomato Knife

This small, serrated kitchen knife is designed to easily slice through tomatoes. The serrated edge helps  the knife penetrate the tomatoes’ skin quickly. It also uses minimum pressure without crushing the flesh. I use it for a lot more than just tomatoes. It’s a great utility knife. (Buy some here)

The Silicone Spoon

A Kitchen Timer (or two)

I’d be surprised if you’ve never needed to time two things in your kitchen at once. Perhaps you’re letting bread rise while braising a stew? Or cooking rice on the stovetop and a turkey in the oven? Having a kitchen timer is essential for when the one on the range isn’t enough. For some awesome options, check out this post from Design*Sponge.

The Salt Pig

Okay, this isn’t essential at all, but I sure do love mine. Salt pigs keep your salt fresh and always in reach. We love the Le Creuset version, a 10-ounce old-world-style salt crock made of high-fired stoneware. It has a non-porous enamel finish, and resists odors, staining, chipping, and cracking. It also comes in many of their signature bright colours, including white, colbalt and cherry red. (Explore more).

To Write

Chances are, you sometimes have to write. Maybe for work, maybe you freelance, maybe you’re a student. But if you don’t want to put out the big(ger) bucks for programs Apple’s iWork ($79.00) and Microsoft’s Office 2011 ($149 for Home and Student edition), check out the free, open source OpenOffice. You can even Save As a .doc file for easy transfer to MS Word and iWork.

To Browse

Although you might love Apple’s Safari browser, a lot of folks aren’t really happy with it.  For me, it doesn’t run very smoothly, isn’t as user-friendly (in spite of Apple’s user-friendliness around the board) and is pretty middle ground to what else is out there. Firefox is a good alternative, with many themes, extensions, and add-ons that make it stand above the rest. Google’s Chrome is a good choice, too.

To Listen

To Talk/Chat

iChat, a pre-installed program, let’s you chat via AIM and Google Talk.  But we prefer Adium, an  app that supports all chat programs, including AIM, Gtalk and Facebook Chat, and others. It can also be fully customized (see adiumxtras.com). With it, you can edit your friend lists, message styles, sounds, and even create your own using CSS. Oh yeah, and Skype‘s good, too.

To Manage

To Edit

To Save

Dropbox is an easy to use  Web service integrates with the Finder on your Mac, so you can manage your files just as if they were right there on your desktop. It also is easy to share from computer to computer. The program comes with 2GB of free storage.

Having trouble leaving behind your techie toys? You’re not alone.

We all love our handheld gadgets, whether its in the form of an iPod, label maker, or universal remote.

Here are the must-haves to take with you on your next trip. From water filters to road apps, these are the perfect travel companions.

Water Filters

Sometimes we don’t travel to places with the freshest running water, whether it’s a small town in who-knows-where, or a camp ground near your home. The SteriPEN has the answer. This water purifier uses ultraviolet light to clean your water, making it safe to drink. It does it in a matter of seconds, so when you’re thirsty, yo’re ready to go. It takes care of 0.5L of water in under 50 seconds, 1L in 90 seconds, and can provide about 100 cleanings per battery.

steripen.com

Electronic Translator

If you travel a lot but aren’t very savvy with foreign languages, consider the Global Talking Translator. For under 50 bucks, this mini-translator speaks 11 languages and contains 7,700 travel-related phrases–just enough for you to get by without shelling out a lot of dough. It can speak it for you or help you out to say it on your own, complete with basic and necessary phrases such as “Good morning!”, “Where is the hospital?”, “What time does it open?”, “I would like to reserve a table.” and “I have a reservation.”

gadgetshack.com

Solar Charger

We sure do love the sun and might as well take full advantage of its power. The Solio solar charger is perfect for camping, but also handy for a trip abroad to tackle different electricityoutlets . This small powerful plug fans out into three different solar panels, able to charge all your devices.

solio.com

Handy Camcorder

This tiny HD camcorder lets you record your vacation with awesome quality. Its about the size of your hand, but can record up to 120 minutes of high definition video on 8GB of built-in memory. It’s great for touristy areas, when you don’t want to carry anything bulky with you. At under $250, it’s a steal.

theflip.com

Map Apps

Simple, yes, but you just need to know how to get there. Driving directions, street view, business listings… It’s all there, right on Google Maps’ app for your phone. It works on a variety of devices–Blackberrys, iPhones, Android and others–and you’ll find your Googling everything you’re looking for… And finding it in a matter of seconds. A must have, whether you’re on bike, foot, air, sea or car. Either way, you need to know the directions.

google.com

The long awaited launch of the third Kindle has been worth it. A year and a half after Kindle 2 was developed, Amazon has announced that the third installment is better than ever.

This Kindle includes an enhanced display, with faster navigation to boot–at a rate of 20 percent faster than before. The model is 15 percent lighter and 21 percent smaller than the previous versions, but still has the full 6-inch screen size. It weighs in at just 8.7 ounces.

The internal storage of the newest version has also been increased; it can now store up to 3500 books; older versions could only hold 1500.

The Wi-Fi and 3G version costs $189, and the Wi-Fi-only model is a modest $139, better priced than its competitor readers. It is now available to preorder, and starts shipping on August 27th.

Get it now.