Trick #1: Sound Like IBM!

If you have a one person or very small office (or know someone who does) we'll bet you'll love this! Here's a chance to sound like a major corporate operation because, when someone phones in to you, they will hear the sounds of voices, phones, computers, file drawers closing -- in short all of the hubbub you'd expect to hear at a thriving office.

These folks have produced two sound tracks ("busy" and "very busy") that you can download. When clicked these sound files make your tiny office sound like a giant of the industry. Or as the Wall Street Journal said you can " -- make your quiet office sound like it's bustling with activity."

Go big time for less that the price of a couple of gallons of gas !

Trick #2: Set Up a Pipeline to Any Computer

This neat trick builds a pipeline (they call it a "Tube") from your computer to any computer in the world. Once installed it immediately builds secure synchronized connections between your desktop and the desktop of your friends, family, business associates - any computer including any others you use (office to home).

Anything you drag and drop to a "tube" is whisked to the desktop of anyone you choose -- and vice versa. This is a neat little service. It's easy to use and handles huge files (up to 2GB).

Oh yes, put your wallet away -- it's on the house!

Great Place #1: Check Your Privacy on the Web

Did you ever wonder exactly what a software license agreement or website's privacy statement says -- but downloaded the software or wandered on into the site without reading the 6 pages of Gobbledygook? We're sure you are not alone -- who wants to read through pages and pages of boring text?

These folks have developed a little program that will analyze the wording of a license agreement and summarize the significant highlights -- in a flash. All you do is open the program and copy/past the license text into the text box and click "Analyze." In the blink of an eye the summary appears alerting you to possible dangers and saving you interminable and excruciatingly boring time spent wading through the document. The software is specifically designed for license agreements but appears to reveal items of concern in privacy statements also.

And if you download it for personal use there is no cost for this time saving tool.

Great Place #2: The Computer of the Future!

What if a plain sheet of paper became your computer screen? What if a pen connected the paper world to the digital world?

Picture yourself taking notes during a meeting or lecture, your pen records the conversation and digitizes your notes, automatically synching the ink and audio. Later you tap the ink and the pen replays the conversation from the exact moment the note was written. Then you upload the notes and audio to a PC where they can be replayed, saved, searched or sent.

This scenario is no longer "what if." These folks are giving us a peek at the future of computing and promise to deliver that future in just a few months. Worth a visit!

Published: August 27, 2007

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

John M. "Jack" Peckham is the Executive Director of REcyber.com (the Real Estate CyberSpace Society). In that capacity he oversees the development and delivery of the latest up to the minute Real Estate Cyberspace tools, strategies, networking structures and services that the Society provides its members to leverage their effectiveness, visibility, professionalism and earnings. As host of Real Estate CyberSpace Radio, he provides over 40 hours of programming to help listeners integrate the power of the Internet into their daily business lives. He is the author of several real estate books published by Prentice Hall and Harcourt Brace Jovanovich including his latest Master Guide to Income Property Brokerage from Wiley Publishing. A columnist for the Boston Herald for nine years, his syndicated columns have appeared in over 100 papers nationwide. Jack loves to sell real estate has been involved directly in the sale of over one billion dollars in Real Estate. Today he sells in his jeans and fuzzy slippers as a one-man shop and has closed over $40,000,000 in sales on the Internet recently in 20% of his working time. The balance he spends directing the affairs of the 10,000 member Real Estate CyberSpace Society. The Society awards the RECS (Real Estate CyberSpace Specialist) Designation to members based on the current criteria. He served as Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee for the National Association of Realtors (NAR), is a Past President of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors and has been honored as the Massachusetts State Realtor of the Year. You can reach Jack at or by calling 617-523-4441.