Virtual Views - The View From Here : April 2009

I am always looking for simple and easy tools that I can pass along, especially when they are free.  Last week, I introduced you to PageOnce, the free iPhone personal assistant for managing your online accounts and social networks.  Today, I would like to introduce you to another free tool.
 
Do you ever get frustrated when trying to downsize a photo?  Cropping, chopping, clicking and dragging can be big time wasters.  Changing pixels can cause unintended distortions.  Cropping your photo to make a suitable avatar for a social network or blog can also be a frustrating chore.  Have you ever had the unhappy experience of an avatar editor failing or your image will not downsize properly and you must resort to cropping.  The result can be less than desirable.  Now, you are frustrated.  You have wasted several minutes just trying to complete a very simple task.
 
I don't know about you, but I do not have time to waste.  I like it quick and easy.  I like using tools that work the first time.  So, I would like to share with you a tool that can downsize an image in a New York minute.  For newbies, this tool is a gift from the gods.  There is no learning curve and it is done in 5 easy steps.  Actually, if you choose the defaults, it is done in just 2 steps!  This fabulous little tool is appropriately named ShrinkPictures.
 
Using the tool is quick and easy.  Simply go to the website shrinkpictures.com.  Now, scroll down to resize images.
 
Step 1: Browse your photo album and click on your image.
Step 2: Select the size you desire either in pixels or percentile (I used the default - 360 pixels; so I was able to skip this step)
Step 3: Skip (unless you want the image to appear in Grayscale or Sepia)
Step 4: Select image quality (I used the default, "better", so I was able to skip this step as well)
Step 5: Click the Resize Image button - viola there it is!
 
If you want to keep the downsized image for future use, just place your mouse on the image, right click and save.

I downsized the photo below and saved it to my computer, all in less than a New York Minute!

Original Image = 7kb

Downsized Image = 4kb
 
Mikey likes it!  I love it!

Pamela Cendejas, Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

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Pamela Cendejas

Don't you just love having a personal assistant to help you manage your time more effectively and one who makes your life just a little bit easier?  As a virtual assistant, I know how valuable an assistant can be to your business.  Today, I want to introduce you to a wonderful personal assistant.  This assistant will simplify your life when you are in the field, in the office or out for the day.  This assistant is available 24/7 and this assistant comes at a very economical price - FREE.  (Drum roll please)

Let me introduce you to PageOnce.  PageOnce is free application for iPhone users.  This free application allows your to bypass passwords and access your online accounts and social networks all from one place.  PageOnce works with both the iPhone and the iPod Touch.  There is a free trial download for Blackberry users.  PageOnce gives you access to financial accounts, billing accounts, travel accounts, email services, MobileMe, movie rental accounts and many more.  And, I do mean many.  PageOnce will connect with thousands of online accounts and networks. 

Setting up the application is easy.  However, you need to do this on your personal computer.  First, you will need to go to the PageOnce website to create an account.  The next step is to access the iApp store and download the app.  Now, run the application, sign in and set up your accounts.  For some of us, seeing is learning; so PageOnce has a video tutorial to walk you through the setup process.  You will be amazed at all the accounts you can set up in the Banking, Finance, Utilities, Travel, Email and Social networks categories.  If, by chance, you cannot set up one of your accounts, then notify the PageOnce team.  If there are enough requests, you may soon see that account added to their already ample list.

Although you can access your various accounts and networks, you cannot manage your PageOnce account from your iPhone.  That will need to be done on your personal computer.  Security for PageOnce is as secure as it gets in today's world.  They even have a way for you to block your PageOnce service if your phone is ever lost.  They say a picture is worth a thousand words, so check out this short promo video demonstrating PageOnce:

Pamela Cendejas, Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

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Pamela Cendejas

Spring is here and it is time to boil, dye and hide the Easter eggs. I thought you might enjoy some humor this week, so here are some family-friendly jokes to share while you celebrate the Easter holiday. I hope you laugh...I did.

What kind of music does the Easter bunny like?
Hip-Hop, of course!

How many Easter eggs can you put in an empty basket?
Only one - after that it's not empty any more!

How do you catch the Easter Bunny?
Hide in a bush and make a noise like a carrot!

Why did the Easter Bunny cross the road?
Because the chicken had his Easter eggs!

What kind of jewelery do rabbits wear?
14 carrot gold.

What would you get if you crossed a rabbit with a scout?
A rabbit who helps little old ladies hop across the street.

What do you call a rabbit with fleas?
Bugs Bunny

How can you tell which rabbits are the oldest in a group?
Just look for the gray hares.

How can you tell where the Easter Bunny has been?
Eggs (x) marks the spot

Have a wonderful Easter everyone!

By the way, if you missed the Free Webinar on Relationship Marketing this week, there will be an encore presentation Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 9:00 AM (PDT).

Pamela Cendejas, Second Self Virtual Assistance - When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

    
 

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Pamela Cendejas

You are invited to join
Second Self Virtual Assistance
at this very important webinar!

You've heard the saying, "People don't care what you know until they know you care".  We are all used to selling ourselves and our products and/or services first and building relationships second.  Today's marketing world has changed.  Building relationships is vital to our sales success.

You already know how important social networking is to the success of your business. Now you can learn how to build valuable relationships.
 
Please join me on April 7th or 16th to find out how to build those relationships and get everyone you know talking about you!
 
Building Relationships First Makes Selling Real Estate a Breeze!
 
Hope to see you there!
 
All you have to do to register is to click on the link below (or copy/paste into your Internet browser)
Register Now:

http://www.announcemymove.com/announcement.php?id=a9529&code=NpVNN2FNaO
 
 
This webinar FREE presentation is being brought to you by Second Self Virtual Assistance.

    
 

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Pamela Cendejas