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I know you like free stuff. This week I have a free Web-based calendar, a way to protect your phone number from telemarketers, and free, licensed copies of SnagIt and Camtasia. Dig in...

Hello Google Calendar... Good-Bye Outlook

This is going to sound dopey, but the only reason I load Microsoft Outlook is to use the calendar. You heard right: I don't use Outlook for e-mail. I don't like about Outlook's e-mail feature--opening a separate window for each message I'm replying to defies logic and I've always found Outlook's Contacts cumbersome.

A few weeks ago I started playing with Google's online calendar. For my minimal scheduling needs, it's a handy tool. I can do many of the same things I do in Outlook: quickly add events, change views (day, week, month, next four days), get appointment reminders (e-mail or pop-ups), share the calendar (public or private), and add recurring events. And I could get SMS notifications if my phone supported it.

In a few keystrokes, I was able to add a calendar button to the Google toolbar in my browser. One last neat plus: I absolutely love the idea of getting to my calendar from any PC with Internet access. For lots more details, take a look at Google's help page.

Import Outlook's Events to Google's Calendar

Importing Outlook's events into Google's calendar is painless. Google has step-by-step instructions and there's only one tricky part. Step 5 says:

In Google Calendar, ensure that you've created the calendar that you'd like to migrate events to. Then, at the top of the calendar list on the left, click the "Add" down-arrow button and select "Import Calendar."

It took me 10 minutes to find the spot they were talking about. Check my screen capture that shows you the location.

Dig This: Have you been hearing things? Microsoft explains why your PC plays "It's a Small, Small World" seemingly at random.

Free Disposable Phone Number

Here's a way to play it safe when you put your phone number into a Craigslist ad or give it out to a salesperson. Grab a free, temporary, disposable, and entirely anonymous phone number that forwards calls to your real cell or landline. If you start getting calls from the pesky salesperson or are inundated with spamming telemarketers, just disable the number.

The Web service is provided by Numbr (catchy, no?), and so far, there's no charge.

Numbr gives you lots of options. For instance, you can set the expiration time for the number for an hour, day, week, or month; extended the number's expiration date even longer is a simple matter of changing the expiry date on the site. You can manually expire the number at any time by pressing "0" when you receive an incoming call. And it's good to know that the number isn't reused even after you stop using it.

The screening features are terrific, too: You can send all callers to voice mail, screen callers (the caller records a brief greeting that you listen to), and set Numbr to reject telemarketing calls. And if you live in one of 23 metropolitan cites, Numbr will supply you with a local number.

Dig This: From now until after the first of the year, you're going to see lots of videos, games, and other time wasters. Here's the first video, about a young lad learns who Santa really is.

Dig This, Too: Pogo's Free Games is a site where you can play bridge (or crossword or word/challenge games) with others. It's got a little of everything with over 4 million members (almost 200,000 were on while I looked around).

Free Versions of SnagIt and Camtasia

I like something for nothing and here's a nifty deal: TechSmith, the creator of SnagIt, the terrific screen capture tool, and Camtasia, the application for creating screencasts, is giving away copies for the price of a download.

I use SnagIt to take and edit all my screen captures; you can read my review of the free version in "SnagIt--The $40 Screen Capture Winner."

There's a catch, but it's something I'll bet you can live with: The freebies are one version behind the current ones. Slightly older for free is smart for you and the company because you might upgrade (which is 50-percent off the regular price).

To get your free software, download and install the demo version of SnagIt 7.2.5 or Camtasia 3.1.3. Then register SnagIt or Camtasia to get a registration code in e-mail that turns the demo into a fully functional version.

Steve Bass writes PC World's monthly "Hassle-Free PC" column and is the author of PC Annoyances, 2nd Edition: How to Fix the Most Annoying Things About Your Personal Computer, available from O'Reilly. He also writes PC World's daily Tips & Tweaks blog. Sign up to have Steve's newsletter e-mailed to you each week. Comments or questions? Send Steve e-mail.