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5 Essential iPod Touch Apps for the Mobile Geek

Operating System, Software No Comments

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5 Essential iPod Touch Apps for the Mobile Geek

by Scott Nesbitt - January 31, 2010

tt253pullquote.pngThe iPod Touch is more than just an MP3/MP4 player. And it’s far more than just a crippled iPhone. It’s a portable entertainment center, and a powerful tool for the mobile worker.

The key to the latter, though, is finding the right apps. Many of the applications for the iPod Touch that are available through Apple’s AppStore are fun. There are some that are … well, they’re interesting. Others are downright useless.

The apps that this TechTip covers are perfect for the geek on the go. They range in price from free to under five dollars. Best of all, they can keep you productive and connected.

 
Echofon

echofan.jpgIf you use Twitter, you’ve probably noticed that many tweets are sent from mobile devices. I’ve tried several Twitter apps for the iPod Touch and the best by far is Echofon.

Like any other Twitter client out there – whether for smartphones or a desktop computer – you can use Echofon to view tweets from the feeds that you’ve subscribed to. You can also view @mentions, direct messages, and any Twitter lists that you follow.  Obviously, you can also post tweets, reply to tweets, and retweet any interesting posts.

The interface is attractive and clean. It’s easy to scroll though tweets and the Echofon alerts you not only to any new tweets and @mentions but also how many of each. While I’m leery of calling any application intuitive, Echofon comes really close. Everything you want to do is a tap or two away. And you pretty much get  used to the interface after only a couple of minutes.

Unlike a number of for-pay apps, Echofon has a free version. The free version has fewer features than the pay version but gives you a good idea of what Echofon can do. If you like it, the full version will set you back $3.99.


Evernote

evernote.jpgOne way in which two million (and counting) people keep track of information and manage their lives is with Evernote. Evernote started as a desktop application for Windows or Mac OS X. But Evernote also has a Web-based component that you can access using a mobile device like an iPod Touch.

With the free Evernote app, you can read and edit your notes in the Web edition of Evernote. You can also create new notes and even upload images to your Evernote account.

Best of all, if you’re offline and want to write a note you can do that within the Evernote app. Once you’re back online, just tap the Sync icon to upload the note or notes to the Web

Obviously, you’ll need an account with Evernote. A basic account is free, or you can get a premium account (with more storage space and options) for $45 a year.

 
Stanza

stanza.jpgInformation. People can’t get enough of it. And for many, that information comes in the form of books. When you’re on the run though, carting one or more dead-tree volumes weighs you down – literally and figuratively.

I’m an enthusiastic user of an ebook reader. But sometimes, even that’s more than I want to carry. Luckily, there’s the Stanza ebook reader for the iPod Touch and iPhone.

A free app, Stanza offers the closest thing to print-quality text on a screen that I’ve seen. Unlike many dedicated ebook readers, it also has a backlight which allows you to read in low light.

Using Stanza is simple. Just choose the book that you want to read from the ones that you have on your iPod Touch. Once it’s loaded, tap the screen to turn the pages. You can change various aspects of the text – including font, color, and the amount of space between lines. You can also bookmark pages that contain interesting information.

On top of that, Stanza supports a variety of ebook formats. (Note: the reader can’t open ebooks that are protected by DRM.)

How to get books onto your iPod Touch? You can try transferring them from your computer to the device, but that process can be more than a little cumbersome. Stanza does include links to several sources of ebooks online – both free books and ones you have to pay for. You can also download ebooks from Web sites as long as they’re in the ePub format.


Dropbox

dropbox.jpgYou’re away from your computer. But you need that file or document. And you need it now. What do you do? If you use DropBox, you can view that file on your iPod Touch with a couple of taps of the screen.

A previous TechTip discussed DropBox. Just to refresh your memory, it’s an online file storage and sharing service. You upload a file or set of files to DropBox, and you can access them from any computer or device on which you have the necessary software to get to your DropBox account.

You can download the free DropBox app for the iPod Touch from the AppStore or directly from the DropBox Web site. Once you’ve entered your account details, you can view files or upload them from your device with a tap or two. How do you think I got the screen captures in this TechTip onto my laptop?

Of course, you need a DropBox account – you get 2 GB of space for free, and can pay for even more storage. On top of that, you’ll need software to view the types of files – for example, word processor documents or spreadsheets – that the iPod Touch’s built-in software doesn’t support.


Boingo Mobile Client

wifi.jpgI’d be lost without wireless – whether in my home or when I’m on the road. While there’s a lot of free wifi out there, there isn’t always a free hotspot where I am. Which is why I have a Boingo Mobile account.

For $7.95 a month, I get unlimited access to thousands of wireless hotspots in over 70 countries. Not that I’ll ever visit all of those 70 countries, but for the two that I do frequent, Boingo Mobile is one of the most useful apps on my iPod Touch. And the monthly fee is about the same as the hourly fee charged by many for-pay hotspots.

The first time you that you try to use a Boingo-enabled hotspot, you’ll have to manually connect to it. You do that by tapping Settings > Wi-Fi and then tapping the name of the network. Once you’re connected, go to the iPod Touch home screen. Tap the Boingo Wireless icon, then tap Login.

If you frequent one or more hotspots, make sure that your iPod Touch is set up to automatically connect when it detects a hotspot. To so that, tap Settings > Wi-Fi, then slide the option Ask to Join Networks to ON. Whenever you need to connect,  Tap the Boingo Wireless icon, then tap Login.


Summing up

The five apps discussed in this TechTip really only graze the surface of the body of apps for the iPod Touch that help make mobile geeks more productive and keep them better connected. They are, though, a great point at which to start building your library of mobile apps.

What apps do you recommend for the iPod Touch? Feel free to leave a comment or to share your favorites in the forums.

Reusing Old PC Drives with External Enclosures

Hardware No Comments

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Reusing Old PC Drives with External Enclosures

by Bryan Lambert - January 24, 2010

Given the Geek that we’re sure you are, you’re probably on your third or fourth desktop computer already. If this is you, then this Tech Tip is for you!

Before recycling that old machine why not make good use of its parts - specifically the drives. This week we’ll be looking at some cool things that you can do with those old drives.


Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

hd3.pngGetting the most out of your old PC means more that just donating it or recycling it when the time comes, but also innovative ways to reuse some of your old computer parts. For example, because your hard drive more than likely holds information you rather not get out (even if you reformat the drive, your information is still there - and easily recoverable), why not reuse it. Or perhaps, you’re getting rid of a PC because it died, but the DVDRW drive is still perfectly good. While you may think of adding your old hard or optical drive into your new PC, why not just install it into an inexpensive external hard drive case instead. Before you do that however, you will need to know what case to get for the drive you have.


The size and the interface

external2.pngWhen you start looking at external drive cases, you’ll notice that they come in three different sizes: 2.5-inch, 3.5-inch and 5.25-inch. This simply refers to the physical “size” of the drive (OK, more specifically, the physical sizes of the discs in the drive, but I digress). Basically, it comes down to if you have a notebook hard drive , then you’ll use a 2.5-inch enclosure ; a desktop hard drive , a 3.5-inch enclosure ; and an optical drive then a 5.25-inch enclosure (or a slim 5.25-inch enclosure for a laptop optical drive). Note that some 5.25-inch enclosures can also accommodate 3.5-inch drives as well. The interface on the drive itself will either be IDE (PATA) or SATA and most drive enclosures will take either one or the other (some can take both) so be sure that you get the correct one for your drive. This is of course the internal interface - the external interface of the enclosure will either be the very popular USB (USB 2.0 most likely since USB 3.0 is taking its sweet time arriving ); eSATA or FireWire (FireWire 400 being the more prevalent flavor). One of the nice things about using 2.5-inch enclosures is that they’ll usually be powered via just the USB port and not need any external power source.


Other cool features

Some of the other cool features to look for on external enclosures are one touch back-up (for easy back-up of your main hard drive); RAID enclosures (which take two drives at a time for larger total capacity); and also “entertainment” enclosures (that can be used as a multimedia server that works not only as an external hard drive but also as a entertainment hub for your television). In addition to those types of enclosures there are also some enclosures that can be installed internally in a desktop computers drive bay and then pulled out and used as an external drive. If you don’t want to go the enclosure route, you can also use cable adapters that are simply a cable that plugs directly into the drive on one end and the PC on the other (for quick and easy access to your drive). Just like enclosures, be sure to get one that “fits” your drives interface. Another innovative item that goes along the non-enclosure route is the hard drive dock . With a hard drive dock you simply “drop” your hard drive into it and can quickly access your information in that fashion.


A couple of pitfalls

external.pngOne of the biggest things to look out for is that enclosures will typically have a limit to the capacity of the hard drive that they can support - so be sure that it can support your drive. Also, because the USB interface is much slower than what the drive can deliver, USB enclosures can be frustratingly slow at times (USB 3.0 promises to be much faster); this is true if using USB for either optical or hard drives. If you are planning on reusing drives from your laptop, these sometimes have caddies around them that need to be removed first (before installing the drive into an enclosure). Also, many optical drives found on laptops have curved bezels and may have problems fitting in some of the slim external enclosures that are made for notebook optical drives.


In conclusion

hdscrw_4.pngReusing old computer drives is an economical way to get more life out of your old PC’s components. Not only can it be a fun learning experience, but it helps reuse drives that may otherwise take up landfill space. So break out a screwdriver, pick up an inexpensive enclosure, put on your Green-Geek hat and Pimp your PC by reusing your old drives!

Fraud and Scams on Craigslist (Part 2) - Avoiding Them

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Tech Tips 207

Does Craigslist Need Better Regulation?

By Bryan Lambert - Sunday, March 1, 2009

Fraud and Scams on Craigslist (Part 2) – Avoiding Them

pullQuoteIn our first part on scams and fraud that are commonly run in Craigslist, we looked at how to identify them. In Part Two, we will be looking at ways to avoid them. While some of the measures may seem like common sense, it is amazing how many people still may not take them. Many times this can be either because the fraudster puts pressure, either subtle or overt, on the intended victim (as part of the scheme) or maybe they just don’t know what they don’t know.

Use Your Head and Feet

When first conceived, Craigslist was a place meant where local people could place and look for ads. Craigslist takes great strides to ensure, that even though their website is international in nature, that it is local in scope. Keeping this in mind, one of the greatest deterrents to avoiding fraud and scams on Craigslist would be to KEEP IT LOCAL! Craigslist does have FAQs on how to avoid scams that may be perpetrated on their site and the number one thing Meet in personthat they recommend is, surprisingly: “DEAL LOCALLY WITH FOLKS YOU CAN MEET IN PERSON.” They go on to explain that by doing this you can avoid 99% of the scam attempts that are run on their site. Remember, this is not eBay – these are supposed to be local folks advertising to local folks. Insist that the transaction must be local and must be in cash. Above all else this would be the first and foremost thing to keep in mind on ANY Craigslist transaction (as a side note, Craigslist also does offer some personal safety tips on their site as well that are worth a read.

Common Sense

Another common sense rule is that if anyone that you contact or that contacts you wants you to wire money to them (be it for a rental or for a purchase - especially after they “accidently” send you too much money for an item) know that you’d get more out of your money by burning it (at least you get the warmth from the fire it creates). If you wire money to anyone met through Craigslist, you lose. You kissed that money goodbye. Anyone who is asking you to do this is trying to scam YOU out of YOUR money, pure and simple. So, DO NOT, EVER, NEVER, EVER send money to anyone this way… Period! Again, Craigslist, bless their little hearts, states in their avoid scams FAQs: “NEVER WIRE FUNDS VIA WESTERN UNION, MONEYGRAM or any other wire service,” and then they go on to say: “anyone who asks you to do so is a scammer.”

Please do NOT give out financial information about yourself. Identity thieves will have a field day on your dime if you give out your social security number, bank account number, Paypal or eBay account info (legit, LOCAL rental applications being the exception). Craigslist does list some other tips under their scammer FAQs as well. Keeping in line with some of the advice offered there, please be aware that fake cashiers checks and money orders are very common – and you’re the one left hold the bag (unlike credit card fraud, where there is a limit to how much you’re liable, there is no such limit for check fraud.). Also know that Craigslist doesn’t get involved in any type of transactions carried out on their site. They do not offer guarantees, escrow services, handle payments, buyer protection or seller certification. If you get involved in any transaction where a person says that they do, this is an immediate red flag.

In line with keeping it local, AVOID like the plague any deals involving shipping or escrow services – there simply is no way to guarantee such a transaction. The Craigslist scam FAQs goes as far as to actually state: “ONLY A SCAMMER WILL “GUARANTEE” YOUR TRANSACTION.” Keep this especially in mind if you see a car that is being offered out of the area. As a matter of fact, Craigslist actually puts in big bold letters across any page where items are offered for sale: “OFFERS TO SHIP CARS ARE 100% FRAUDULENT.” This goes in line with the advice to keep the transactions local.

Remembering the adage to keep it local that we previously mentioned, if you are considering renting, when you meet personally with the potential landlord, they usually will (as part of the rental process) ask you to fill out a rental application form. Because this (of necessity) will have some of your personal information on it, please be sure to ask potential landlords to see their ID and then record the information found on it. This step will usually weed out scammers having no legit claim to the property. Heads up if they don’t show you the ID or if they just flash it for a second without letting you record the information on it. Another bid red flag goes Forcloseup if they DON’T want you to fill out a rental application of any kind or ask to check your credit. You may want to also look up the potential rentals property or the landlord’s name on the internet and see what comes up (look for the name being connected with the word “scam” or “fraud” and look to see if the property if offered for varying amounts on different sites). It may even be prudent to look up for yourself (in the city or county public records) who exactly is listed as owner for a property and to get a statement (in writing) from the landlord that they are not behind in payments nor is the property in foreclosure. If the person tries to sell you “foreclosure lists” when you are calling about a rental, just hang up, all they want is your money and nothing more. (see: kgw.com and Fraudguides.com)

If you are a potential landlord, again, keep it local. Be wary of persons contacting you via e-mail that are out of the area and interesting in renting the property. Extra red flags go up if the grammar is poor, if they ask you information that is already contained in the ad, if they give an elaborate back story, or if they try to involve third parties. DO NOT EVER let a tenant pay you more then you asked for and then demand a refund – anyone doing this is a scam artist. Be sure to follow up on references and credit checks on your potential renter, and if you rent the property frequently, change the locks between renters.
(see:fraudguides.com/tips, http://www.fraudguides.com/tips2 and http://www.scamalicious.com/)

Final Thoughts

Yes, there are frauds and scams being run on Craigslist, but knowledge is power. Being forewarned is being forearmed. If you keep these Tech Tips in mind, you’re sure to cut down dramatically on your chances of being a victim of a scam or fraud on Craigslist.

Does Craigslist Need Better Regulation?

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Tech Tip 206

 

Does Craigslist Need Better Regulation?

By Bryan Lambert - Sunday, February 22, 2009

(Part 1) - Fraud and Scams on Craigslist -
What Do These Look Like?

You’re looking for new digs – and know just where to find the perfect place; you want to buy another car, and know just where to search for one. Perhaps you have a place you want to rent or a car Craigslistyou want to sell and you know just the place for advertising them – Craigslist! With their goal of keeping online classifieds local, simple and (for the most part) free, there’s no question about it; Craigslist has become quite an online phenomenon. Constantly one of the top 50 websites sites visited, this website, for one offering local ads, has attracted literally a worldwide following. However, along with this following Craigslist has attracted a very unsavory element of scammers as well.


In this Tech Tip, we’ll be looking specifically at some specific areas of fraud that seem to be hitting Craigslist these days in regards to rentals and items offered for sale

PullQuote206While scams and fraud do occur on many websites where buying and selling occur, they seem to be almost epidemic on Craigslist these days. Though some of these scams may seem obvious, criminals still use them again and again (often accompanied with poor grammar) for the simple fact that they continue to work. Without further ado, here are some of the common scams that are appearing on Craigslist.


For people placing an ad for a rental, some common fraudulent activities are:

  • A person contacts you from out of the area (usually overseas) and really wants to rent your listing. They send you a check or money order over the total amount due rent and then have you send the amount of overage back to them (usually by Western Union or some other wire service); this is a scam pure and simple. You will be out the amount you send back once the check (or money order) is found to be a fake (it is interesting that they send you a check or money order, but want the money “refunded” to them to be wired).
  • A person takes the information from the property you’re listing and relists it as their own. These people are also usually from out of the area. This leads to all sorts of issues as the same property can be “rented” several times – by you (legitimately) and by the scammers.
  • A person actually rents your place then turns around and by representing themselves as the owner, re-rent it to several people before skipping town.


For people looking for a home or apartment to rent:

  • You contact the person from the ad (usually via e-mail) and they explain that they are out of the area, but the place it still for
    rent. They may ask for key deposits so you can “look” at the place and For Rentthen will often try and create a sense of urgency so they can elicit the bigger ticket items such as security deposits and first and last month’s rent. Really, anything else they can think of and have it wired to them. Usually these ads are ones copied from legit ads either on Craigslist or other rental sites – but at lower (but still believable) rental rates. Like all scams, money leaves your pocket never to return.
  • No Credit CardsYou click on an ad for a very good looking and well priced rental only to be directed to call an 800 number. Usually, these end up being scammers that have no intention of renting the property at the price they listed, but want you to buy “foreclosure lists” instead. Extra bonus for the scammers if they get a good credit card number with a large limit.
  • Classic bait and switch, even if you literally watched the ad be placed, when you call the property is not available, but this other one is….
  • The person renting the house may be local, but they do not actually own the house. They either just rented it themselves or, worse yet, are advertising a vacant home that someone is trying to sell or that is bank owned. Some may claim that they are renting it on “behalf of the owner” as well. The person “renting” the property collects several deposits, several first and last rents and leaves town. In addition to the money, the scammers now have several key pieces of personal information on the persons scammed.


For people selling or buying an item on Craigslist:

  • Sellers: A person contacts you (usually out of the area) and really wants to buy your item. They offer to pay more than it is worth (works great for small, pricey items that are easy to mail) or “accidently” pay you over the amount and look for you to send the difference back to them (sound familiar? Look at item 1 for personal placing ads for rentals above). Even for large items (such as furniture), they’ll ask to pay with check and arrange to have it shipped to them; again, the check will be “accidently” over the amount asked for, and you’re asked for a refund. It may seem strange for you to be sending someone else money when you were the one selling and that’s because IT IS STRANGE!
  • Buyers: The item is not just a bargain, but it is a BARGAIN (think of a car that is well below the current Kelly Blue Book price or a Car Salesmanlaptop computer at a price too good to be true). This bargain is usually out of the area and would need to be shipped to you. An escrow service is perhaps offered to
    help facilitate the purchase (many are also sent up fraudulently just to facilitate such a scam)

  • Bottom Line, you send money-you get nothing.

Some scams and fraud and very easy to detect, but others can be difficult as criminals get more and more sophisticated. This list is by no means complete, but can give you a general outline of some common scams that are still used. Knowledge is power, so it is good to be aware of some of these tactics used by scammers before you put down your hard earned money.Now that you know what to look for, in next week’s Tech Tip, we’ll look at some ways to avoid scams and fraud on Craigslist.

Who should I notify about fraud or scam attempts?

  • FTC toll free hotline: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357)
  • FTC online complaint form (http://www.ftc.gov)
  • Canadian PhoneBusters hotline: 888-495-8501
  • Internet Fraud Complaint Center (http://www.ic3.gov)
  • Non-emergency number for your local police department.

If you suspect that an item posted for sale on craigslist may be part of a scam, please email the details to “abuse@craigslist.org”. Be sure to include the URL (or eight-digit post ID number) in your message.

* http://www.craigslist.org/about/scams

Essential Gear for the Digital Nomad

Laptops, Uncategorized No Comments

TechTip 202

 

Essential Gear for the Digital Nomad

By Scott Nesbitt - Sunday, January 25, 2009

More and more people are working away from the office or home office. And digital nomads are everywhere. They’re traveling and hammering their keyboards in an airport or a hotel. Or, they’re closer to home at a coffee shop, a coworking space, or a library.You can lead that kind of roaming, working lifestyle and carry with you just about everything you need to be productive. If you’re a seasoned digital nomad or an aspiring one, here are a few of the things that you can use to make your portable computing easier and more complete.Note: In case you’re wondering, this TechTip was written over two days in one of my favorite coffee shops that offers wireless, and at a local public library.

 

Laptops

The laptop computer is the preferred tool of the digital nomad. Back in the early 1990s, the average laptop had only a fraction of the grunt of a desktop computer. But not any more. Whether you’re using a MacBook, a laptop running Windows, or one powered by Linux, you can do just about anything with a laptop that you can do with a desktop.

Your choice of laptop is a personal one, but one that should be informed by your needs. About half of the people that I know use a MacBook, while the rest use Windows running on hardware from Dell, Lenovo, or Sony. Those folks aren’t all artists or graphic/Web designers, either. Many are writers and software developers. You’d be surprised at which ones use a MacBook …

When looking for a notebook, consider getting the most RAM, the biggest hard drive, and the best graphics adapter that you can afford. And check out this TechTip to learn what you should look for what buying a laptop.

One option that’s becoming popular with digital nomads who want to travel really light is the netbook. A netbook is a small laptop computer, usually weighing two pounds or less. A popular one is the Asus Eee PC. Besides being ultraportable, netbooks let you get your essential work done quickly and easily. And they don’t take up a lot of space – you can use them anywhere.

 

Wireless

Just about every portable device out there has great wireless support. So, you probably won’t need a wireless adapter. But what about detecting a wireless hotspot? The software that comes with a laptop or a wifi-enabled device is usually pretty good at doing the job. Sometimes, though, things get missed. That’s where a hotspot detector comes in. It’s a little gadget that fits in the palm of your hand which checks for the existence of a signal and its strength. A couple of the more popular devices are the Digital Hotspotter from Canary Wireless and the TRENDnet adapter with hotspot detector.

In the previous paragraph, I wrote that you probably won’t need a wireless adapter. But the geek in many a digital nomad likes to be on the cutting edge. With wireless, that’s wireless-N. Wireless N is an enhancement to the 802.11 wireless standard that improves the rate at which data flows through the network. While wireless N is still a draft (it’s expected to be released in 2010), several networking gear manufacturers have put hardware on the market. Three of the biggest of these names are Linksys, Belkin, and D-Link.

There are a lot of wireless hotspots out there. Some of them are free; many aren’t. As you move around, chances are you’re jumping between hotspots. Using for-pay hotspots can quite expensive – $5 to $10 an hour. And juggling several accounts with those hotspots is a headache. Boingo Wireless makes using multiple hotspots easy. With Boingo, you have access to over 100,000 hotspots worldwide. You just log in using your Boingo account and you’re ready to go. The price isn’t too bad – $21.95 per month for use within North America. It’s definitely worth it if you’re a frequent user of wireless.

 

Hip hop bagBags

While working on the road, you’ll be carrying more than just a little gear with you. A good bag or case is essential. What makes a good bag or case? One that will hold all of your gear, of course, while keeping it safe and well organized. The average notebook case, though, just doesn’t cut it. You need something a little bigger and a lot more versatile.

Like what? Most of the road warriors I know swear by a good messenger bag. Among them are two favorites: the ID from Tom Bihn and the Ogio Hip Hop. Both are large enough to comfortably hold a laptop, a few gadgets, some accessories, a water bottle, and a snack or two. But they’re not so bulky as to inconvenience you (or anyone else) while moving through a crowded area or riding on public transit during peak hours.

If you’re a digital nomad who frequently flies, then you might want to check out a laptop bag that’s approved by the TSA. Those are the kind that (theoretically, anyway) don’t require you to remove your laptop or anything else from the bag while moving through an airport security checkpoint. To be honest, neither I nor my digital nomad pals have any experience with these bags. But this article looks at eight of them.

 

Power

Laptop batteries, as we all know, don’t hold power forever. And they tend to run down at crucial moments – like when you’re in the middle of typing an important email or saving that spreadsheet. On top of that, you never really know if you’re going to be near an electrical outlet to plug in. Having worked in a few libraries, coffee shops, and airport departure lounges, I can tell you that outlets are often at a premium. Anyone who gets the outlet jealously guards it.

Carrying an extra laptop battery can be essential. It’s a bit of an inconvenience – one more item in your bag, and a little extra weight – but well worth it when your main battery runs down.

 

Other Gear

Is there anything else a digital nomad should consider carrying? Here are a few things that I like to have with me whenever I’m working away from home.

First off, a wireless mouse. It’s one less cord to deal with, which is a boon at a cramped coffee shop table.

Also, I like to have at least two USB flash drives with me at all times. One is for storage, backup, and quickly passing files to someone else. The second one is loaded with PortableApps (an Open Source productivity suite).

Since I often spend time aboard public transit, an MP3 player is a must. The music blocks out a lot of the noise, and gives me a chance to rest my brain by listening to something pleasant.
Finally, a paper notebook and pen. Sometimes, you’ll find that you can’t avoid going the analog route. This is especially true if you need to jot down a note or a phone number and your notebook computer is packed tightly in its case.

Have anything to add? Feel free to leave a comment below.

Google Chrome - Future or Fad?

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Google Chrome - Future or Fad?

By Scott Nesbitt - Sunday, October 5, 2008

PullQuote 188Do you need another browser on your desktop computer or laptop computer? Google thinks so. A few weeks ago, the Company released the first version of Chrome , what it describes as “a browser that combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the web faster, safer, and easier.”

I’m not sure about the faster, safer, and easier part but Chrome is a very interesting piece of software. And although it’s a beta (as most Google applications are), it’s quite usable. It won’t replace Firefox, Safari, Opera, or Internet Explorer – at least not yet – but Chrome does show more than just a little promise.

 

Why another browser?

According to Google , Chrome was created to reimagine the Web browser – to build a Web browser from the ground up that realized the software that you use to access the Web isn’t just for viewing static text and graphics but to actually work with today’s dynamic Web. As the folks at Google said, Chrome is “not just a browser, but also a modern platform for web pages and applications, and that’s what we set out to build.”

Of course, there could be far more to it than this. Some commentators believe that this is the next step in a plan by Google to make the operating system obsolete, and to actually turn the Web into the operating system. This has been a dream for a while, but many people (including at least one blogger at Linux.com think that if anyone can make this a reality, Google can.

Regardless of Google’s motives, Chrome has disrupted the Web browser ecosystem. And, in my opinion, in a good and very interesting way.

 

The technology

Chrome is based on a technology called WebKit . WebKit is a light, very fast, Open Source framework for implementing the functions of a Web browser. WebKit is widely used – most notably in Apple’s Safari Web browser, and offers excellent support for Web standards .

What WebKit brings to the table is fast and efficient interpretation of Javascript (a commonly-used scripting language on the Web), as well fast rendering of Web pages. On top of that, WebKit offers excellent support for Cascading Style Sheets (a way of applying formatting to Web pages), as well as Scalable Vector Graphics (a file format for static and animated diagrams).

Chrome’s technology enables it to render both simple and complex Web pages faster than Safari, Firefox, or Internet Explorer.

 

Features

Chrome is a seeming contradiction in terms. It uses advanced technology, but its interface and feature set is (in many ways) somewhat minimalist. Regardless, the feature set packed into Chrome is interesting.

Chrome basically does what any other browser does – rendering Web pages, running Javascripts, supporting multimedia, enabling multiple tabs in a window, and the like. But some of that, it does in a much better way.

 

The interface

As mentioned earlier, Chrome’s interface is very minimalist. There’s no menu bar or icon bar. You right-click in the browser to get a menu, or use the two icons in the top right of the browser’s window to access the basic functions of Chrome. Like what? Like work with the browser’s options, copy/cut/paste content, view the source of a page, or create new tabs and windows. You can also get a list of sites simply by typing a term – for example, laptop bags – in the browser’s address bar.

 

To be honest, the interface is confusing at first. It’s not like any other browser you’ve used. However, after working with Chrome for a few minutes, you get the hang of it.

 

Staying safe

Chrome’s developers seem to have put security at the forefront of the browser. Not only does the browser warn you about potentially dangerous sites, it also isolates processes within the browser. Each time you open a new tab, that tab acts as if it’s the only process running in your browser. It has minimal, if any, interaction with the operating system or with other tabs. So, if you run into a site that’s ready to deposit some malware , adware , or anything else nasty on your computer, the tab rendering that site is isolated from other processes. The nasty payload from that site may run, but only in the isolated space of that tab. Once you close the tab, the nastiness no longer exists as far as Chrome is concerned.

One side effect of the isolated tabs is that Chrome mimics having multiple browsers running simultaneously, without the overhead. This is great if you use Web applications and have multiple accounts with them. For example, I have two Google Docs accounts – a personal one and one for my company. There are times when I need to share information between the two accounts. With Chrome, I can log into both accounts simultaneously and copy text between them. With any other browser, I’d need to copy whatever I needed to copy, log out of one account, and log into the other one.

You can also browse in incognito mode. This mode leaves no tracks – the browser doesn’t track which sites you’ve visited; the site you visited might log your IP address, though. Why you’d want to use incognito mode is your concern … To do it, just click on the Control the current page icon on the upper-right corner of the Chrome window, and then select New incognito window.

 

On top of that, Google maintains blacklists of Web sites that have been flagged as potential sources of phishing and assorted Web-based evil. Chrome regularly downloads updates to this list, and warns you when you’re about to hit one of those sites. You can choose to go there or avoid it.

 

Speed dial

Another feature is speed dial . This is simply a visual list of the Web sites that you’ve recently visited or which you frequently visit. Just click on the rather-large icon and you’re taken there immediately. This has been part of the Opera Web browser for a while now, and you can get a Firefox add-on to do the same thing. As with Opera, this is a default behavior for Chrome.

 

Bringing the Web to your desktop

A previous TechTip looked at how to turn Web applications into desktop apps using software called Prism. Chrome takes this one step further and integrates a technology called Gears . Using Gears, you not only turn the Web application into a desktop shortcut, but you can also use that application when you aren’t connected to the Web. Gears stores all of your data offline and synchronizes it when you reconnect.

To use this feature, click on the Control the current page icon and the select Create application shortcuts. On the dialog box that appears, select where you want to put the shortcuts and then click OK.

Note that Gears doesn’t work with all Web applications. It can be hit and miss to say the least.

 

Anything else?

Beyond what’s been mentioned, though, Chrome lacks a few important features that its competitors pack. Sure, it has great security and supports downloads, bookmarking, and multimedia. But unlike, say, Firefox you can’t change the look and feel of Chrome or extend it using add-ons. Well, that isn’t quite true. Some enterprising users have simple plugins for Chrome. They’re not plugins in the truest sense of the word, they’re more like bookmarklets . These plugins can do things like back up user profiles or Greasemonkey scripts . You can learn more about them here . Or, you can do a Google search .

 

Availability

Right now, only the Windows version of Chrome is officially available from Google. Linux and Mac versions are under development. However, the folks at CodeWeavers (who make CrossOver Office ) have released CrossOver Chromium for both Linux and Mac. It’s essentially Chrome for Windows with a wrapper that enables you to run the software on the other operating systems. CodeWeavers put it together as a proof of concept. It works, but it’s definitely not perfect — the browser can be a bit slow and font rendering is often idiosyncratic. Still, it gives Linux and Mac users a taste of Chrome without having to get all techie and try to compile the browser’s code.

 

What does Chrome mean for users

It could mean sweeping changes in the way that we view and use the Web. Or, it could mean nothing. My opinion falls somewhere in the middle. If nothing else, Chrome offers more choice in the Web browser world. If it retains its pep and zip Chrome could be a very viable competitor to Firefox, Internet Explorer, and Safari. Especially if the promised versions for Linux and Mac OS appear soon.

Some people fear that Google will play the features game and bloat Chrome. If that happens, then the browser will definitely lose some of its appeal.

If nothing else, Chrome is shaking up the Web browser ecosystem. It could force its competitors – Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari, and Opera – to up their game. If that happens, then users will definitely be the winners.

Extending the Life of Your Laptop Battery

Hardware, Laptops No Comments

By Chris Herzog

The year 2006 marked a fundamental shift in PC hardware sales as laptop computers (also called “notebooks”) outsold desktop PCs for the very first time. As society becomes more mobile, laptops become ever-more powerful, portable, and affordable, and as wireless networks become ubiquitous, this trend will continue.

Obviously, the primary advantage of laptops is mobility. Naturally, however, laptops need power to run on. Even though electrical outlets are plentiful and can be found nearly everywhere, there are times when we have to resort to using the laptop’s battery - airplane trips, meetings, etc. I have also seen sudden power failures when I could have lost all my work had the laptop not had a charged battery. Despite the ongoing evolution of battery technology, there are limits to their usage, and that leads to a discussion of ways to preserve and improve battery functionality. We can start by discussing what a battery is, how it works, and the different types of batteries in use today.

What is a Battery, Anyway?

In simple terms, a battery is chemical energy stored in a container. The chemical energy is then converted to electrical form. A battery has two terminals, negative and positive, that must be connected for the current to flow. This connection is usually provided by a liquid or solid electrolyte that is a conductor; it has the ability to transfer current. Cathode and anode are two electrodes, an electrical conductor that makes contact with the metallic part of a circuit, present in a battery.

Current flows from the cathode to anode inside the cell or device.

Different Types of Batteries

In contemporary portable electronic devices, especially given environmental concerns, batteries must not only store energy in a compact form, they must be rechargeable.

Batteries are usually named based on the metal used to make either the electrodes or the electrolyte. A lithium-ion battery (“LiOn”) has a lithium anode, a zinc-carbon battery has a zinc anode, and a nickel-metal hydride battery (NiMH) or a nickel-cadmium battery (NiCD) has a hydrogen-absorbing alloy for the anode.

Early rechargeable batteries were composed of Nickel-Cadmium (or “NiCad”). NiCads were great because they were rechargeable, but early NiCads held comparatively small charges as well as suffering from “Memory Effect” - if the battery was only partially drained and then recharged, it lost its ability to be fully recharged.

Most portable devices these days use Lithium-Ion batteries.

Lithium is the lightest metal and the one with the highest stored (“potential”) electrochemical energy. These qualities, along with the fact they do not contain poisonous metals (such as cadmium) make lithium-based batteries the most widely used to power portable devices such as laptops.

Now that we understand the basic functionality of a battery, let’s discuss ways to preserve and prolong battery life, specifically laptop computer batteries.

Life Preserver

Just as proper use and maintenance of your car will result in longer life and better performance, taking certain steps with your portable electronics’ batteries will result in longer use per charge, and a longer overall battery life. With replacement laptop batteries ranging from anywhere between $100.00 and $300.00, getting all the use you can out of your battery will save you lots of aggravation and keep more money in your pocket longer.

As soon as your portable device leaves the manufacturer’s premises, its battery starts losing capacity to store a charge. In some cases, it may show more charge stored than there actually is. You may end up exhausting what’s available without knowing it and the computer may end up shutting down causing you to lose your work. Now that is not a situation you want to find yourself in. The fact of the matter is it is unavoidable after a certain period of time as the battery goes through gradual degradation. There are, however, ways to extend your battery life.

If your device always (or usually) runs on external power, you may be inadvertently decreasing your battery life. At least once a month, let the device use up all the battery power. In other words, let the battery drain until the computer goes to sleep (“hibernate mode”) and then let it re-charge. This can help avoid capacity degradation.

Some notebooks, using a combination of specialized hardware, intelligent batteries, and special “services” (small programs running in the background) offer a “recondition” feature that will automatically prompt you to condition your battery and then attempt to do so in the background. If you are prompted by your system to condition your battery, you should probably allow it to do this.

Operating temperature is another important factor when we talk about battery life. Extreme high temperatures can cause degradation rapidly, just as extreme low temperatures can damage batteries - don’t leave your notebook in your car for extended periods on hot days or overnight on cold nights.

It is recommended that you do not use your laptop without a battery in the bay. Doing so may cause the electrical terminals in the battery bay to become dirty or get corroded. It should be avoided for these reasons and the fact that you may lose your work since there is no backup power supply.

Micro-Manage Your PC Power

Let’s talk about power management settings on your laptop. “Power management is a feature of some electrical appliances that turns off the power or switches the system to a low-power state after a period of inactivity” (“Power Management”). On a laptop, power management is accomplished by a specialized chip working together with the Operating System. Many modern battery packs are “intelligent batteries” - they contain microprocessors that continually monitor capacity and communicate this information to the Operating System. This information is used by the system in conjunction with power management settings, specifically for determining when to issue low capacity warnings and switching to hibernate mode. In order to use these settings, your computer must be Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) compliant, which most recent computers are.

In Windows XP, you can control the power management features of your display, hard drive, shut down, stand by and hibernate, and low battery warnings.

Even though modern monitors do not consume a lot of electricity, monitors, hard drives, and the CPU are the three biggest electricity consumers on your laptop. Big, bright LCD monitors with backlights require comparatively large amounts of electrical current, as do the spinning motors and actuators inside hard drives. It is a good idea to shut your monitor off when you are not using it.

Power management allows you to set a fixed time, and if the computer sits idle for that long, the monitor is turned off. The same can be accomplished using power management when it comes to “spinning down” (temporarily turning off) the motor of your hard drive, and even toggling the CPU into a lower power consumption “idle speed”.

You are Getting Sleepy…

Hibernate and Standby are two main energy conserving features provided by Windows XP. The standby state turns off devices such as your monitor and the hard drive and the entire computer switches to a low-power state. It is easy to return where you had left off as standby leaves applications and files open on your laptop. You should only use it for short term purposes such as a short term break you may need. Keep in mind that nothing is written to the hard drive and everything is still only being stored in memory. This means that data has not been stored permanently and can be lost. Hibernate mode is another feature that can be used if you want to leave the computer overnight or even over the weekend and come back to where you left off. It writes an image of your entire laptop’s current “state” to a special file on your hard drive. It takes a little longer to hibernate than it does to stand by as data are written to the hard drive before the system shuts off, but you can leave your computer in hibernate mode for days without any adverse effects.

Low battery warnings are provided when the charge drops to a certain level and the battery needs to be recharged. You can adjust these settings using power management features according to your needs. You should set it to allow ample time to switch to external power and save your work. 10-15% charge remaining is considered a safe setting to trigger such a warning so you can not only switch to external power but also save your work. Windows XP also allows for your laptop to automatically enter hibernation mode when your battery level reaches this pre-set threshold, thereby saving all of your open work (and maybe your job or your sanity in the process.).
Power v. Performance

To access the power management features on your laptop, simply double-click the battery icon in the lower-right corner of your screen (on the Task Bar), or go to Start > Control Panel > Power Options. Proper power management of these devices is an extremely useful feature, and will help you to strike the ideal performance v. battery life balance.

Even though battery performance declines over time, it is possible to prolong per-charge and overall battery life by taking simple steps.

Windows Vista Part II

Operating System, Software No Comments

Analyzing the Pros and Cons of Switching to Windows Vista.

By Kimmy Powell - Sunday, May 27, 2007

After five and half years of non-stop hacking and patching, Microsoft finally got its act together and released the more security conscious Windows Vista in January 2007. According to Redmond Magazine, Vista is off to a running start, logging in 20 million licenses in its first month of availability and outselling Windows XP in its first two months of existence by 3 million licenses. That should propel any Microsoft fan to run out and snatch up his or her own copy of the vaunted program – or should it? Those numbers include new systems that would have come with one OS or another anyway, and, after all, we are talking about Microsoft, king of the vulnerabilities and patch-as-you-go operating systems. Contrary to what Microsoft would have you believe, old habits die hard.

That’s not to say Vista doesn’t have its positives. Vista is an exciting system to play with and is pretty to look at. However, forget about running Vista on any old machine. You need relatively fresh hardware to get the maximum return on investment out of new products in the Microsoft universe – running the new OS on “minimum” spec systems just won’t do. With our brief introduction over, let’s consider why you would or wouldn’t upgrade to Vista.

What’s In Your Machine?

If you’re running a system or OS more than a couple of years old, you’re a prime candidate for an upgrade. You’re working on, in Vista terms, a prehistoric beast and it’s time to go shopping. The good news is that computers are even more affordable now than they were just a couple of years ago, and you can get a very decent system pre-packaged with Vista for under $500. In fact, the very best way to get started with Vista is probably to buy it pre-installed on new hardware – because manufacturers have huge volume licensing deals with Microsoft, this makes the OS virtually free compared to buying a “shrink-wrapped” version of the OS, which can run upwards of $400 all by itself. Vista may present a bit of a learning curve, but don’t let that discourage you. Overall, Vista is a very intuitive and user-friendly operating system.

Meanwhile, those running Windows XP with Service Pack 2 have a choice. The fact that Microsoft plans to support the XP series for years to come means you technically don’t have to touch anything. If you purchased a new system that promised the Vista upgrade, you could take advantage of that and save yourself a couple of hundred dollars. If on the other hand, as a geek, you feel compelled to venture into new territory, at least run the Upgrade Advisor on Microsoft’s website to determine whether or not your hardware and software meet the compatibility requirements of Vista. Finally, you can adopt the attitude of most businesses – wait until Vista’s Service Pack 1 is released later this year (to address post-release bugs) and then jump.

The bottom line: if your applications run decently and perform satisfactorily, consider waiting. If your hardware rattles and hums incessantly and your applications slow to an unbearable crawl, it may be time to consider an upgrade that might include Vista.

How Much Will It Cost Me?

Microsoft’s ubiquitous operating systems make them the default consumer OS, but Microsoft complicated things beginning with Windows XP. XP was available as a Home Edition, Professional Edition (tighter on security and supports Windows Server domains and dual processors), and Media Center Edition (the multimedia lovers’ dream). These products varied in price from $199 (a verifiable upgrade is $99) for the Home Edition to $299 for XP Professional, and both editions consisted of essentially the same features. If you’re a power user, you probably opted for XP Pro. If you were satisfied with basic word processing and surfing the net, you kept the XP Home Edition pre-installed on your computer.

Fast forward to today and you’ll find that Vista now ships in no fewer than six editions. The barebones packages are Vista Starter and Home Basic, which lack many of the features that make Vista the OS you’d really want to experience. Most notable is the absence of the Aero interface. You’d have to purchase the Vista Home Premium Edition at $235.95 ($159 as an upgrade) to get the maximum bang for your buck. To get each and every feature lauded by Microsoft, you’ll need to purchase the Ultimate edition, which will set you back just over $400. Factor in the potential costs of hardware upgrades recommended by the Vista Upgrade Advisor and a new computer with Vista pre-installed becomes the more obvious money-saving solution!

Features = Upgrade?

By now you’ve read about the many new features offered by the Vista operating system: the animated and more photorealistic graphical interface, 3D task-switching with live content preview, the integrated search capabilities, built-in parental controls and RSS support, the ability to burn your own movies, and enhancements in overall security and performance. Microsoft has even gone the extra mile to make installation as seamless as possible (adopting an image based installation versus the traditional copying of temporary files to the hard disk drive). Porting over to Vista should be a no-brainer, but there are always issues that counteract the positive.

The flip side to getting better tools that will make you more productive is the time and energy you must invest in learning to use them, and dealing with the potential hassles of hardware and/or software compatibility issues. Reaping performance gains require that you invest in the technology (e.g., purchase new hardware or software that Vista supports). And all the security promises? That definitely has improved, but much to the point of annoyance. Vista requests your permission and approval to access underlying hardware resources and to make system changes. It’s possible to turn these notifications off, but first impressions are important, and requiring user intervention as a way to address security does not a happy user make.

Compatibility

Features, security, and super-slick new interface aside, compatibility with your existing hardware and applications should be a key factor in your decision to upgrade or continue to stick with the tried and true XP for a while longer. Reports from computer stores and service depots of people reverting from their Vista upgrades (or new installations) back to solid, working XP installations are commonplace, if not rampant, due to compatibility issues with some previously-working application or peripheral.

The Verdict

While Vista does improve upon previous versions of the Windows operating system, most notably in terms of User Interface (”UI”) enhancements, unless you have a compelling reason to upgrade to Windows Vista, you’re probably better off sticking with Windows XP, at least until Microsoft releases Vista Service Pack 1 later this year. If you’re a technophile or avid gamer, Vista can be a digital dream come true, but you may want to think twice before “fixing something that ain’t broke.”

In the final analysis, it sure is pretty on top, but it appears as if Microsoft may have taken Vista out of the oven a little early – it’s not quite done cooking on the inside yet.

Introducing…Windows Vista

Software No Comments

The Bells and Whistles of Microsoft’s Latest Operating System.By Kimmy Powell

Are you ready for a brand new day? You may have heard it, seen it fleetingly in neighborhood electronic shops, and it didn’t make big headlines like the debut of the Macintosh during Super Bowl Sunday or become the “End of the World as We Know It.” The “it” here is Microsoft’s successor to its hugely popular Windows XP operating system, Windows Vista.

Vista was finally released to the public on January 30, 2007, five and a half years in the making. The positives: Vista drastically improves upon security (sometimes to the point of annoyance) and sports a more intuitive look and feel. The negatives: As in any release of the Windows OS, you need to have relatively new hardware to run it, and running it on the “minimum” specification won’t get you anywhere but frustrated.

Of course, as was common in their XP software, there are multiple versions of Vista and not all versions come with the same features. All in all, it’s a worthy successor to its siblings, moving Windows closer to “Mac-like” proportions.

We present a rundown of Vista’s features below.

Vista takes a drastic detour from its predecessors by taking advantage of recent improvements in graphical technology and rendering crisp, smooth graphics – the Aero glass interface. Aero, available in all Vista releases except for Home Basic, is an acronym for Authentic, Energetic, Reflective and Open. The “glass” in glass windows (after all, isn’t glass what windows are made of?) intends to be simple, reflective, and transparent. Thumbnails provide visual details about a minimized application on the Task Bar and when switching between Windows applications using Alt + Tab and Windows + Tab (renamed Flip and Flip 3D). Essentially, you can now preview each application’s contents before switching tasks.

Other desktop improvements include a smaller Start button and the removal of most desktop icons so you can maximize screen real estate. The Start menu adapts to your needs depending on what you’ve opened recently. Commonly used programs appear on the Start Menu’s left column and any programs that don’t appear in the recent list are accessible by clicking on the “All Programs” option above the search box.
Integrated Search Capabilities

Users now have the ability to conduct complete searches of all applications, documents, links, and emails for matching terms from the Start menu and incremental searches from within specific applications like Media Player, Windows Explorer, Windows Mail, Control Panel, and the Network Center. You can further tag and add meta-data (like author and file descriptors) to search results, and save these results in Virtual Folders that are accessible in Windows Explorer. You also have the ability to launch programs by typing the name of the program in the Search box, eliminating the need to go to Start and then Run. Remote searches are now possible across shared computers and networks.

Interactive Windows Explorer

Unless you’re a Windows geek dead set on running programs from the command line, anything that simplifies opening and viewing files has to be infinitely better. Adding to this is the concept of “breadcrumbs” so you can trace your way back through the operating system’s organizational hierarchy in the address bar (eliminating the need to click on the Back button) and the addition of live icons that allow you to preview the contents before opening the application (much like previewing emails in Outlook). Plus, you can navigate to websites using the address bar.

Other changes include improved filtering, sorting, grouping and stacking of items and tweaks to menu items we’ve become accustomed to. Common types of programs are now clustered in program “Centers”, and the traditional File, Edit, and View menus have been reduced to Organize, Views, Save Search and Search Tools, and the list of folders on the left side of Explorer has become the Favorite Links (Documents, Pictures, Music, Recently Changed, and more folders). To restore the old views, simply go to the Organize menu button, select on the Layout option, and make sure the Menu Bar option is checked.

Anchoring Sidebar

New to Vista is a pane that docks on the right side of the screen and displays gadgets, or miniature applications that are supposed to make life easier. The gadgets include a Calculator, Clock, Calendar, Notepad, Slideshow, and the ability to display RSS headlines (Vista is now natively “RSS aware”). You can also drag and drop these applets directly onto your desktop if you choose forego the Sidebar

Improved Security

With Vista, Microsoft has added improvements that close some security loopholes (like blocking access to the kernel and running applications in “protected mode”). Windows Firewall now provides outbound as well as inbound protection, and Internet Explorer 7 runs in a protected mode to guard against potential attacks during browsing. Also included are an improved User Account Control (even administrators must confirm changes to the OS with a password!) and native parental control software (restricting children’s access to certain applications, web sites, games and files, hours of activity, and activity logs). Windows Defender scans for spyware in the background so it doesn’t interfere with existing processes. Additionally, Vista Ultimate and Enterprise versions include a new program called BitLocker Drive Encryption.

Improved Backup and Restore Functionality

Complete PC Backup, the new program that comes bundled with Vista Enterprise and Ultimate versions, resembles Norton Ghost by using disk imaging during the backup process. Also included are version control indexing of files so you can roll back to previous versions and the ability to handle a variety of backup devices and media.
Better Hardware Support and Improved System Performance

Among the highlighted improvements in Vista are power management and self-tuning diagnostics, like the automatic scheduling to de-fragment your hard drive (this, however, is not available in Home Basic). Changes in the OS kernel now improve low-level functions like scheduling and processor synchronization. Vista also introduced a new product called SideShow, which supports auxiliary devices like secondary screens on mobile PCs).

Exclusive to Vista is DirectX 10. Utilizing advances in graphics architecture, DX10 runs more efficiently and much faster. DX10 is a major plus for all you PC gaming fans out there.

New tools in Vista now manage your PC’s memory to boost speed and performance. SuperFetch tracks and preloads frequently used programs on a user-by-user basis. If you’ve got a USB drive or hybrid hard disk, you could dedicate available space towards the swap file using ReadyBoost. Additionally, ReadyDrive provides added support for hybrid drives by allowing you to use the hybrid’s built-in flash memory towards re-booting or resuming your PC session.
New Applications

Microsoft wouldn’t be Microsoft without making Third Party Vendors’ lives miserable by including new applications that take advantage of capabilities in the new operating system. However, this can be a boon for consumers on a tight budget, especially given Vista’s price tag. Among the new applications and technology support entering the Vista family are:

  • Media Player 11 in Vista Home Premium and Ultimate versions support HD-DVD, MMC-5 (Fifth-Generation SCSI Multi-Media Command Set) and UDF (Universal Disk Format) formats.
  • Media Center (Home Premium and Ultimate) supports dual tuner cards, DVD’s, MPEG2, and high definition content.
  • DVD Maker – now, you can create and burn your own DVD’s without resorting to third party software.
  • Photo Gallery provides management and basic editing of digital photo archives.

New games, like Chess Titans, that feed off improvements on graphics capabilities.

Revamped Applications

And the existing applications? Here are the changes – some good, some bad:

  • Meeting Space replaces the old NetMeeting and is a peer-to-peer, collaborative application permitting you to share applications with users across networks. It’s much like another Microsoft product, Groove, albeit limited in scope.
  • Windows Mail replaces Outlook Express and now includes anti-phishing and anti-spam solutions.
  • Internet Explorer 7, with tabbed browsing, enhanced security and incremental page searches. A version for Windows XP is available, though it does not run in protected mode under that OS.
  • Microsoft Fax and Scan – now available in only the Enterprise and Ultimate editions.

Finally, don’t let the minimum specs of Vista fool you. Meeting the minimum hardware specifications lets Vista run at a crawl, if it runs at all. Remember this as you think about upgrading your existing machine. If you have a Vista-approved machine, installing the software is easy. Vista now uses image-based setups instead of the time-draining chore of first copying temporary files down to your hard drive and then running the setup.

Windows Vista is a major reworking of previous Windows releases. It promises to make life easier by simplifying computing. Whether this is true or not remains to be seen. One thing is sure, however; Microsoft does pay attention to consumer demands, and that has to count for something.

Keeping Windows Clean

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By Stewart S. Miller

Windows is a living entity. Protecting Windows and keeping it clean from malware (malicious programs) is a full time job these days. Windows users are often frustrated by Microsoft’s continued efforts to make its operating system secure against hackers because patching Windows seems like a full-time job. The real question here is what do all these patches mean to you? Microsoft releases “critical” alerts on a regular basis designed to protect Windows from hacker attacks. The most severe vulnerabilities deal with security bugs that allow hackers to gain complete control over your computer. Some of these flaws exist in the way Windows Media Player and MSN Messenger process certain files. Microsoft has also identified bugs in how Exchange (its Internet Mail Server Software) and Office allow hackers to execute hostile code on vulnerable systems. These patches are supposed to prevent a hacker from gaining unauthorized access to certain sections of a Web site. Another bug in the Windows Shell Component may permit a hacker to cause an affected system to stop responding. These vulnerabilities make it possible for hackers to spy on your PC. With the advent of Service Pack 2, it seems like updates are a seamless process that simply execute in the background. The problem with this “easy” method of installation is that you, as the user, need to know what is being changed on your computer. This is why I recommend you always view the list of updates before allowing Windows to update your system.

Security Updates

One Microsoft security patch update includes a change to the functionality of a clear-text authentication feature of Internet Explorer. This update removes the ability to handle user names and passwords in HTTP URLs, HTTP with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), URLs, and HTTPS URLs. An example of the type of URL that is no longer supported would look like: http(s):// username:password@server.com If you think your version of Windows is too old to be affected by these security concerns, think again. Windows 98, Windows 98 SE, and Windows Millennium Edition are all critically affected by these security vulnerabilities too. If you are running Windows NT 4.0 Workstation SP6a or Windows 2000 Service Pack 2, update support ceased at the end of last year. Microsoft encourages those users to migrate to a “supported” version of Windows to prevent potential exposure to these security vulnerabilities.

Protection Settings

Set your Internet and local intranet security zone settings to “high”You can take steps to protect yourself from future attacks. Set your Internet and local intranet security zone settings to “high” so your computer will prompt you before running ActiveX controls and active scripting in these zones. Setting your browser security to “high” applies the highest level of protection from unsafe content that comes across your network. If this setting causes some of your sites not to load properly, you can add those sites individually to your list of trusted sites. However, you should only do so if you are sure that the site is safe to use and is hosted from a company or entity you trust. As a final note, there is a free program that I highly recommend you download called the “Microsoft Baseline Security Analyzer” (MBSA) tool that verifies when a security update has been applied to your system. It lets you scan your system for missing security updates as well as common security misconfigurations.

Firewalls

Once upon a time, a firewall was your best answer to protecting your computer from hackers looking to exploit vulnerabilities in Windows. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case now. Nowadays, most users are attacked by just browsing the Web. Hackers host Web sites that contain code to exploit vulnerabilities in your operating system such as infect you with a virus, spyware, or even take complete control of your computer. Hackers can alternatively compromise a Web site for the purpose of misdirecting you to click on malicious content. Hackers can’t “force” you to visit a specific site, but they can trick you into clicking on a link that invites malicious content into your machine.

Windows XP SP2 has an integrated firewall, previously known as the Internet Connection Firewall (ICF) that defends you against hackers who are trying to access your computer from the Internet without your permission. When a hacker attempts to connect to your computer via an “unsolicited request,” the Windows firewall blocks that request. Windows will actually ask your permission if you wish to “unblock” and allow connects to programs you actually want to run such as instant messaging and multiplayer network games. When you unblock those connections, the Windows firewall creates an exception so that the firewall won’t ask any more when your program needs to receive information to function. You don’t have to use the Windows firewall. You can install and run any firewall you wish.

Zone Alarm is an excellent firewall that is very popular. Zone Alarm offers both paid and free versions that can protect your computer as much or as little as you desire. An even more comprehensive program is Norton Internet Security 2005 that touts its ability to hide your PC on the Internet so hackers can’t find it. The Mac also has an integrated firewall, just like Windows. However, Norton also makes a comprehensive security solution for this platform as well in the form of Norton Internet Security 3.0. The best part of Norton Internet Security 2005 for the PC is its integrated “Intrusion Detection System” that automatically blocks suspicious traffic. Not only does this product block suspicious incoming connections, but it lets you configure your “outbound” Internet connections too. This is advantageous, because if you do get infected with spyware, Norton will alert you that a program on your system is attempting to connect to the Internet and asks you if you really want this program to connect. By giving you the opportunity to block these connections, you can effectively thwart malicious spyware from doing its evil.

Intrusion Detection

Apple’s Macintosh has its own version of this type of Intrusion Detection with a program called, “Little Snitch” that effectively asks your permission any time a program wants to connect to the Internet. Although the Mac seldom becomes infected with spyware, it is a handy utility to have so that you know exactly what your computer is doing on the Internet.

Frozen Images

Now that your computer has been through its trial by fire(wall), the best answer is to simply put your computer on ICE! If you have resigned yourself to the fact that, no matter what you do, your computer is going to get infected, then use a program called “Deep Freeze”. This software for both Mac and PC lets you configure your computer with all the programs you need and then “freeze” your configuration. If a hacker infects your computer with a virus or spyware, Deep Freeze makes the damage simply disappear. All of your settings, files and programs are completely restored to their original configurations every time you restart your computer. This makes it possible for you to avoid problems caused by software conflicts, registry and operating system corruption, lost network and Internet connections, as well as a host of problems caused by simply connecting to virus-ridden network sites. The only catch is that you have to store your personal documents on a separate drive that does not “revert” each time you restart your machine. You have to imagine this program literally resets your computer to a frozen state that you specify. However, if you create a word document, it would be lost if it were on that drive. So, remember to keep a separate drive with your personal files and you’ll have a computer that won’t ever become infected or go down. Now, all you have to worry about are mechanical failures.

Conclusion

Finding ways to prevent hackers from accessing Windows is difficult because your operating system is always in a constant state of flux. Every time you turn on your computer, browse the web, or get a Microsoft update, your operating system changes. If you want to prevent all changes from taking place on your computer, freeze the computer—but then you can’t make any changes to your operating system at all.

There are good and bad points to both approaches—but in a world where having a functional computer is a necessity—this Tech Tip will keep your system running.

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