PrintMyFont - List, Print & Compare All Installed Fonts

PrintMyFont: List, Print & Compare All Installed Fonts On Your System

By Fawad

Over time, lot of fonts are collected on your hard drive, specially if you are a web developer or a designer. When you want to use one for something, you can get confused from the long list. What you usually do is select your text and change the font again and again to check how it will look, and are not able to compare them properly. To get an overview of all the fonts installed on your machine, you can use PrintMyFonts. It is a portable application that lists all your installed fonts, as well as the arbitrary fonts found on your hard disk. This application has a lot of utility for web developers and designers who have to use a lot of different fonts while working. More on PrintMyFonts after the break.

The application allows you to type text and preview how it will look in different fonts just with a single click. The complete font list is displayed on your screen, and you can save the list in different formats, including PDF, DOC, DOCX, and also in image file formats, such as BMP, JPG and GIF. The best thing is that you can enter custom text for comparing the different types of fonts. Moreover, the application allows you to directly print them on paper. By default. the print example lists alphabets, digits, as well as characters in all the available fonts, but you can choose something yourself if you want to compare a particular line or set of characters. You can view all the fonts installed on your system, or just the ones in a particular folder or drive.

The Advanced Settings dialog accessible from the Tool menu allows you to specify default system settings, such as Number Fonts, Print Name of Font, Print Directory Path (if printed from folder), Orientation of paper while printing, Font Size and Style, Margins etc.

PrintMyFont works on Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7,

Download PrintMyFont

PrintMyFont: List, Print & Compare All Installed Fonts On Your System

Introduction to Google Docs Spreadsheets

From Ask Dave Taylor: Spreadsheets aren't just for accountants and business folk, they're actually quite useful for everyone, and with the free, web-based Google Docs spreadsheet tool, they're easy to create too. In this short video, tech expert Dave Taylor will show you some of the basics of adding columns and rows, rearranging content and customizing the appearance of your spreadsheet, all without downloading a single file. It's easy!

You Tube Video: http://youtu.be/-xN7g2mnY5Q

Introduction to Google Docs Spreadsheets :: Online Tech Support Help :: Ask Dave Taylor!®

Self-publish books for Kindle and other platforms using BookType

How to self-publish books for Kindle and other platforms using BookType

by Sarah Watts

BookType is being touted as the WordPress of books and e-books as it lets you self publish your books for Kindle, other digital formats, and for that matter, even for print publications like Lulu.com (it lets you print books on demand).

Ever since the launch of digital book formats such as Kindle there have been many self published books and some writers have actually experienced massive success in the arena of self publishing.

Self publishing, as mentioned in this Read Write Web blog post, is a trend that is fast catching up. No longer you have to work with big publishing houses and elusive agents in order to get your book published. Although there are many online collaboration tools (even GoogleDocs) with BookType you can collaborate with other authors specifically for creating books.

BookType is a social platform with Twitter-like capabilities that allow you to exchange ideas and have real time conversations with different collaborators. It is ideal for non-fiction, research-based, data intensive books rather than fictions and stories, although it isn’t necessary that you cannot dabble with fiction using BookType. Along with tracking changes it also allows you to import content, grab data snippets, images and other bits of information and put them in your book.

It is quite easy to create a new book in BookType or work on an existing book. It uses a GUI interface to make working on your book as easy as possible, although right now the interface doesn’t look as fancy as you might find in many desktop as well as web-based applications such as word processors. The moment you have logged in you are given an option of either creating a new book or opening an existing book for editing.

As you can see in the above image there are different tabs you can use to manage various aspects of the book you are creating. Eventually when the book is created, you can publish it using your preferred format, whether you want to promote it on Kindle or somewhere else.

Every version of the book is saved in the history section so you can jump to any version you feel like and start working from the.

BookType is available in most of the platforms using computers, smart phones and tablet computers. It uses a web interface so if you want to download the open source software you will need to run it on a server.

Self publishing is an emerging market and there is going to be a horde of open source as well as expensive commercial tools to enable writers all over the world publish for themselves rather than for agents and publishers.

Read the review of BookType on the Forbes website.

Here is an introductory video on BookType

Booktype, the open source publishing platform. from Sourcefabric on Vimeo.

How to self-publish books for Kindle and other platforms using BookType

Five Best Tax Preparation Tools

Lifehacker: Five Best Tax Preparation Tools

It's tax time, and here in the United States you're guaranteed a faster refund if you're due one by filing your taxes electronically. The trouble is that there are dozens of tools that can help you e-file. Some of them help you maximize your deductions and make sure nothing's overlooks, and others just make the filing process quick and easy. Here are five of the best tax preparation tools, based on your nominations.

Earlier in the week we asked you which services you trust to file your taxes accurately, quickly, and easily. You guys definitely had some favorites, but here are the top five nominees.

TaxAct (Basic: Free, Deluxe: $9.95, Ultimate $17.95)

TaxAct combines a feature-rich filing program with an easy-to-follow online guide and tutorial that will make filing even complicated taxes easy and straight-forward. You can file entirely online, or download the Windows app and run it locally. It's not as popular as some of the bigger names, but it's product has been steadily improving over the years, and that's earned it a decent following. You'll have to deal with regular nags to upgrade to the deluxe version for extra features or access to prior year's returns (which the service has if you've filed with them previously, but won't let you access until you pay up), but the decision is ultimately yours. The Deluxe package gives you access to prior years and more granular filing options, while the Ultimate package includes everything available in Deluxe and will file your state return as well. If you have trouble with your return after filing with TaxAct, they'll pay any penalties or fines you may incur due to improper filing fees.

---

FreeTax USA (Basic: Free, Deluxe: $5.95)

FreeTax USA is one of the newer free filing services to enter the mix, but it boasts over 7 million returns filed to date, and its rock bottom price beats TaxAct, which used to hold the "cheapstake's choice" award. The basic service is completely free, entirely online, and walks you through the filing process with an online tutorial that the service promises minimizes mistakes and maximizes your return. All of the features you would expect are available, including PDF copies of your return, the ability to pay or get your refund electronically via direct debit/deposit, and the option to file individual deductions and make granular changes if your taxes are more complicated than most. If you choose to file your state return at the same time, you'll only have to pony up $9.95 to do it, but $5.95 more gives you the full Deluxe package, which opens up the ability to amend your return later if you have to and gives you access to FreeTax USA's audit support services if the IRS doesn't like what they see on your return.

---

H&R Block At Home (Basic: $19.95, Deluxe: $44.95, Premium: $64.95, Premium & Business: $79.95)

H&R Block At Home is an extension of the company's in-office filing services, and the company has an impressive spread of software packages with different features at different price points. All of the packages come with H&R Block's audit defense services (as in, they'll send an actual lawyer to help and represent you if you're audited by the IRS) and robust customer support that, in addition to being able to answer questions about the software, can actually answer tax questions and help you with your return. You likely won't need help with the software anyway—the package is easy to use, has audio and video walkthroughs and tutorials, and is designed to be so robust that you won't need much help filing, especially if your taxes are simple. The major difference between the spread of suites is the level of depth required, and whether you own a home, a business, rental property, need special forms, or have exceptionally complicated taxes to file. H&R Block's tools are available online, for Mac, or for Windows.

---

TurboTax (Basic: Free, Deluxe: $29.95, Premier: $49.95, Home & Business: $74.95, Business: $129.95)

Intuit's TurboTax is clearly the juggernaut in personal tax filing tools. The service guarantees that whether you use their online tool or their Mac or Windows applications, you'll get your largest possible return, guaranteed. TurboTax has been called all sorts of things, from confusing and difficult to muddle through to simplistic and easy to use, so your mileage may vary, especially depending on the complexity of your returns. Even so, TurboTax was one of the first tools to offer truly robust self-filing services and tools for people who were worried their taxes would be difficult but still didn't want to pay a professional. If you get stuck, you can always call TurboTax's support team for personalized advice on how to get through the trouble you're having, and their team will even help you make sure you haven't made any other errors or mistakes while you're filing. For many people, their customer support alone is reason enough to invest in TurboTax year over year.

---

Hire an Accountant or CPA (Variable Cost)

Many of you noted that you didn't bother with your taxes, and you didn't trust software packages or online applications to handle your tax returns. You'd rather hire someone to make sure you cover all of your bases and get the biggest possible refund—or set up your finances so you're not overpaying your taxes in the first place and have to get a return at all. Some of you noted that you had family members who were accountants and you make them do the dirty work for you (hey—be nice to them, you know how it feels to be the family's tech support, don't you?) and others noted that between property ownership, being self-employed, or just having made too many life changes in recent years, you were better off not stressing and letting someone else handle it entirely. It's worth noting though that not all accountants are CPAs, and not all of them are the same, so make sure you do your research before trusting someone with your money.

Five Best Tax Preparation Tools

TrueCar.com

NYT: Car Dealers Wince at a Site to End Sales Haggling

By TARA SIEGEL BERNARD

 

When it comes to negotiating a price on a new car, the script has not really changed much over the years: The dealer’s salesman writes down a price, you counter and then he walks to the back of the showroom to talk with the manager to “see what we can do.”

 

Tim Boyle/Bloomberg News

At least consumers no longer have to enter the process blind. Prospective buyers can educate themselves on Web sites like Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book and get suggested retail prices and find out how much their trade-ins are really worth.

Still, the auto industry has not embraced the digital age in the way other businesses, like real estate or travel, have. In part, that is because the auto dealers’ business practices are protected by state franchise laws.

But then, a company called TrueCar.com came onto the scene and tried to shake things up. It started running television commercials late last year, which attracted a lot of attention, and the industry immediately pushed back — hard. Here’s why: Besides showing what other car buyers paid for a particular car, TrueCar also gave an estimate of the dealer’s true cost. But what really alarmed the industry was TrueCar’s promise to deliver a guaranteed price from several dealers, essentially eliminating the need for any haggling.

The auto industry worried, perhaps rightly, that all this would squeeze their already thin profit margins on new cars. So, after several dealers’ associations complained that TrueCar was violating various laws, regulators from several states told TrueCar that they questioned the site’s business practices. Honda Motor Company also protested loudly, threatening to cut off marketing dollars to dealers that did not follow its guidelines when promoting its brands on TrueCar’s site.

“There is a fear that TrueCar might work too well,” said Scott Painter, the company’s chief executive, a serial entrepreneur who also started many other auto-related sites, including CarsDirect.com.

So how long can the car industry continue to operate the way it did when your grandfather walked into the showroom? And does TrueCar really provide the best model for consumers who want a fair price without the hassle?

Clearly, at least some dealers fear that showing their hand will drive them out of business. “Dealers are afraid if they give customers their best price, they will just take that price and go to another dealership and see if they can beat it,” said Jeremy Anwyl, vice chairman at Edmunds, an auto research Web site.

And even Mr. Painter acknowledged that though most of the dealers that his site works with have managed to hold their profit margins steady, dealers in some markets became so incredibly competitive that their business would not be sustainable over the long run. “We have always said it is not a race to the bottom,” Mr. Painter said, adding that for his service to succeed, dealers need to succeed. “But there is no question that dealers’ natural tendency to compete with one another has resulted in extremely low prices.”

To comply with regulators and their patchwork of different state laws, TrueCar initially stopped operating in a handful of states while it tweaked its business. It has resumed operating in those states except for Colorado and Louisiana (it doesn’t operate in Alaska).

Now, the guaranteed prices will be delivered directly from the dealers instead of appearing on TrueCar’s Web site. And depending on where you live, the pricing promises may be called an “upfront price,” which is a guaranteed price that the dealer is willing to sell at. Or in places where upfront pricing is not allowed — because of the possibility it could lead to a bait-and-switch situation — consumers will receive a promise of “guaranteed savings,” say $2,000 off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price.  Those changes will be introduced over the next few months, Mr. Painter said, though they are still a work in progress.

Besides watering down the way it presents some of its pricing, the company was also forced to change the way it charged dealers for the sales leads it provided. In most cases, it will continue to charge dealers a fee — $299 for new cars, $399 for used — if TrueCar’s introduction to a consumer leads to a sale. But in places where it is illegal to receive a fee for the sale, dealers will pay via a subscription. The company also turned off its commercials — which promoted its haggle-free, guaranteed pricing — while it creates new ads that focus on things like dealer proximity and service. “The realities of the franchise system and the protection it has at the state level means you have to work with the dealers,” Mr. Anwyl said. “You can’t work around them.”

TrueCar’s critics say its model solves only part of the problem. The site may be able to ensure a fair, haggle-free price, but if that drives dealers to compete too fiercely with one another, they will be forced to find other places to turn a profit. So they may lure you into the dealership with a low price, but then make up for it by giving you a poor deal on your trade-in or on the financing. After all, profit margins on the car itself are not as big as consumers may think. If a dealer can make $1,000 on a $30,000 car, some experts say, they’ve done well.  

Others, including Honda, have argued that TrueCar could open the door to unscrupulous dealers trying to sell a more expensive car or more options once they get the customers in the door — which Honda said reflected poorly on the brand. Honda also threatened to cut off marketing dollars to dealers who promoted its cars on the site below the invoice price, a price that is supposed to represent something close to the dealer’s cost (though dealers usually make more money on other manufacturer incentives and programs).

TrueCar said it keeps a close eye on the prices its dealers — the site currently works with about 4,100 of them — present to consumers to be sure they are not below cost.

No matter where you weigh in, TrueCar has certainly nudged the industry forward. It claims that its data is even more granular and accurate than many of its competitors’ because it is pulled from 30 different sources; the site collects its pricing information from lenders, insurers, the state registration office and tax records, among other sources.

Regardless of where the data comes from, the prices I found when searching for a standard-issue 2012 Toyota Camry LE in Brooklyn came pretty close to the ones on the Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book sites. Both Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book listed the manufacturer’s suggested retail price as $23,260 and the dealer invoice price as $21,348. TrueCar had the same M.S.R.P, but its invoice price was $379 higher, at $21,727.

Of course, what consumers really care about is getting a good price. Kelley Blue Book calculated a “fair purchase price” — defined as the price people are paying dealers based on transaction data — of $21,676. The equivalent price at Edmunds, called the “true market value” — or an analysis of what is being sold adjusted for incentives to dealers — was nearly $300 more, at $21,959.

TrueCar provided a “target price” — which it defines as a good price — of $21,927. The site suggests starting negotiations at a “great price,” or the factory invoice of $21,727, but to expect to receive something closer to the “good price.” (It also said there were no customer incentives available, though Kelley mentioned a $1,000 rebate for new college graduates.)

Within seconds of filling out the “contact dealers” form with my information, I received an e-mail from Glen Toyota of Fair Lawn, N.J., with a link to my first quote from a dealer. It came in just between the “good” and “great” prices: $21,848, and was valid for three days. The e-mail offer also included a financing special that would require a $4,995 down payment and cost $311 a month; it carried a 3.99 percent annual percentage rate for 60 months. The dealers are contractually obliged to honor those prices, and if they don’t, they risk being kicked out of the network. And if consumers find they did not get what they were promised, Mr. Painter said, TrueCar will write them a check for the difference.

Even if the idea of a no-haggle seems appealing, experts said you shouldn’t limit your search to any one site, but to survey several.

Both Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book have more detailed information about the cars themselves and their overall longer-term costs (and what if there is a nearby dealer who isn’t in the TrueCar network but is willing to make a better deal?).

You may also be able to save yourself some time by e-mailing the dealership’s Internet sales department. “You can have a deal lined up before you even go into the dealer,” said Alec Gutierrez, senior automotive market analyst, at Kelley Blue Book. “That is a channel that a lot of consumers miss out on.”

Car Dealers Wince at a Site to End Sales Haggling - NYTimes.com