Making i-Lighter Your-Lighter: Part I

Why i-Lighter? Why not? If you’re like me, you’re wary of new applications. You research before initiating a download. Common sense dictates no less. A cursory search for the key word “i-lighter” yields numerous relevant results. I follow and read every link. Apparently, this isn’t i-Lighter’s first spin around the block.

**Gasp** Cue ominous organ music. Substitute highly questionable drama. Or clear the air and start anew. New is my personal preference. To quote Martha Stewart, it’s a good thing

Sometime in early 2007, i-Lighter debuted in beta. Many were eager to try. The product had a few detractors. Hey, nothing is perfect right out of the gate, not even the spiffy yellow tool. Today, previous use and design glitches are mere shadows from “i-Lighter Past,” however, some minor issues remain. For instance, the application is compatible with  Microsoft IE and Mozilla Firefox, but not Macintosh Safari.

Pipe down all you apple lovers, do not abandon ship. Bookmark. Check back. One day, hopefully in the not too distant future, i-Lighter will have a new mac-compatible version. Believe me, I feel your pain. Only last week I snagged a highly desirable invite to the beta version of a hot drawing tool. Imagine the painstaking task of clicking through serial e-mails, completing registration and choosing an available ID, only to discover at download that the application is exclusively Macintosh. Talk about poetic justice.

To begin using i-Lighter, your PC must run Windows XP Home or XP Pro. Close all other open Windows, then navigate to the i-Lighter homepage. Click the big green and black “Download” button in the middle. An application box will open. Click “Run,” then follow the download instructions. While you wait for the process to finish, go have a cold beer. Or do whatever it is you do while your PC configures. But don’t go too far. Depending upon the speed of your connection, the download will finish in a matter of minutes.

The rest is a sweet summer breeze. Return to the home page. Aligned at the top toward the right are four aptly labeled color-coded buttons: (l) Login to My-I-Lighter; (2) My Account; (3) Sign-Up; and (4) Forgot Password.

The first and second buttons link to different versions of the same page. If you have an existing account and your computer accepts cookies, a click of the first button will automatically enter your ID and password. Users who dislike cookies can click the second button for manual login. Either way, after login, you’ll be ready for the second part of this tutorial.

If you have not previously registered, but accidentally click the first or second button, don’t panic. Links on these pages lead to registration, as does the third button at the top of the homepage. Choose an available ID, enter your personal information, close the Window, and check your e-mail for confirmation. Open the i-Lighter e-mail to activate your account. The embedded e-mail link will take you back to the homepage. Click the first or second button at the top and you're ready to login.

Personally, I can’t imagine anyone without an existing account clicking any button other than “Sign-Up” after download, so I’m sending out my first challenge. If you can think of a logical reason to register by clicking the first or second top button, please post a comment. In fact, I’ll make it easy. The reason doesn’t have to be logical. It only has to make sense in the context of my challenge. Best replies get props this February 1st.  

Like those inane, yet oddly entertaining Netflix commercials, the ends need not justify the means.

Tomorrow: Making I-Lighter Your Number One Tool Online: Part II