Source: Futro Systems Blog Post: The Future of Gaming and Human-Machine Interaction

1. Open Terminal App (Applications -> Utilities)

2. Go to where you stored your Virtual Machines by either typing the path or simply dragging and dropping your folder from the finder on to the terminal window. This will insert the path to the folder into your terminal.

cd /path/to/virtual-machines [ENTER]

3. Now simply copy the VMWare Fusion virtual machine using this command (no need to be root for this!)

cp -rvp Virtual-Machine.vmwarevm Cloned-VM.vmwarevm [ENTER]

Option -r will tell the cp (copy) app to copy folders (recursive)
Option -v tells cp to output information while it’s at work (verbose)
Option -p will keep existing file/folder permissions (preserve)

Remember that although the VMWare Fusion virtual machine appears to be a single file in the finder, it is in fact a folder containing everything VMWare Fusion needs to run the machine! Depending on how large your image is, it may take some time (hence we use the verbose option to let us know what it’s doing).

4. Drag the new virtual machine image from the finder window into the VMWare Fusion machine list and choose “Settings”. Note that VMWare Fusion will revert the name back to the original name of your cloned image!

5. In “Settings” simply click onto the name of the clone and change it to something of your choice.

6. Start the clone and VMWare Fusion will ask you whether it was moved or copied, select the latter (copied) and continue as normal. This question will only occur once.

7. Relax, enjoy and remember to share this info

Thanks to koreanheman and zegway over at the Skype forums for providing the solution.

Step 1: Go to the location to where you installed Skype. For example:

C:\Program Files\Skype\Phone

Step 2: Right-click on the Skype.exe icon and select “Send to” -> “Desktop (as shortcut)” to create a new shortcut to it on your Desktop.

Step 3: Now go to your Desktop and right-click on the newly created shortcut. Select “Properties”.

Step 4: Append the following to the “Target:” text field without changing the existing text:

/secondary

Step 5: Select the “General” tab and give your shortcut a meaningful name like “Skype 2″.

Step 6: Press “OK” and then double-click both your regular Skype shortcut and the new one to start two instances of Skype.

Have fun and don’t forget to request “add me to your contacts” before making a call.

brighterComputing = Managed hosting solutions and IT services
asegebrecht = Web Designer, Camera Man and all purpose Geek

Let’s get a quick overview of what’s available. This list is by no means complete and is intendent to give you a quick overview of what is out there. Thanks to Pure Mac’s List of Browsers for a more complete and informative list:

• BumperCar
  Browser for kids with great parental controls.
• Camino (Firefox/Mozilla)
  Based on Firefox but written exclusively for the Mac. It’s lean and fast but lacks the plug-ins FF has (still).
• Firefox
  Secure, stable and highly customisable thanks to its plug-ins. Sadly it is also a big memory hog.
• Flock (Firefox/Mozilla)
  Another fine implementation of the Firefox source code, geared towards the social media revolution.
• iCab
  A fast browser build exclusively for the Mac.
• Internet Explorer
  Microsofts version of IE, even worse on the Mac and no longer supported or developed!
• Mozilla
  Mozilla is the umbrella organisation for Firefox, founded by Netscape. You source of fine open source software for the web. Not really a browser per-se… .
• Netscape (Firefox/Mozilla)
  If Mozilla is Firefox’s daddy, Netscape is Mozilla’s. Nowadays the grand daddy of web browsing is build from stable parts of Firefox’s source code.
• OmniWeb
  One of the few that want you to pay for them but it’s a good, fast browser with some nice and unique features.
• Opera
  Apparently the fastest browser on Earth, it has a lot of features and is both secure and stable. Available for a wide range of operating systems, including mobiles.
• Safari (Safari/Webkit)
  Apple’s own development and the Mac’s default browser. It’s fast and relatively stable and mature.
• SeaMonkey (Firefox/Mozilla)
  Based on Mozilla’s Firefox, this is a community efford to create a one-stop-shop solution by integrating email, IRC and web browsing in one app (just like the Mozilla suite).
• Shiira (Safari/Webkit)
  Another variation of Safari/Webkit and developed exclusively for Mac, aiming to be better than Safari.
• Sunrise (Safari/Webkit)
  My pick, it’s the fastest and lightest. Lacks plug-ins and other fancy stuff, but it has got tabs now and … well, it just works!

Finding the “right browser” for you is a difficult question to answer as everyone has different requirements. For example, I need a web browser to test my websites with, so using Firefox with it’s miriad of web-developement aiding extensions is the only choice (unless I want to use web-based tools). Wait - those handy plug-ins are simply web-based scripts wrapped in a tool bar or button!

And that’s when it hit me, I need all key browsers (Safari/Webkit, Firefox/Mozilla, Internet Explorer, Opera, OmniWeb…) to test my sites with as all of them have a slightly different take on what web standards should apply for them (the bastards!). But as my primary browser and tool, I require something fast and stable.

My choice would have to be Sunrise. It may look a little rough around the edges but that’s what I expect from a throrough-bred, web-racing machine just like I would expect a racing car to be without of a stereo or air-con. It’s brill. Try it!

Just looking for something free, stable and secure to browse Facebook and Gmail with? Use Safari or Camnio on the Mac, or what ever else takes your fancy. They are pretty much all the same, with varying degrees of usability and performance. Some have a feature or two you might find you cannot live without but essentially a web browser should do just that: enable you to browse the web.

Lydia Finch is an independent book reviewer, providing impartial commentary and summaries of books that interest her (especially military history and poetry). Stay tuned for the release of her new book review site - coming soon in spring 2009.

You can download the patch here: Bigdownload.com

Remember to run a virus scan before installing any downloads to avoid nasty suprises later (even from official download sites)!

No guarantees or warranties are implied. Use external links at your own risk.

1. Educate yourself
   The help is out there: Find communities such as HowToForge.com and Microsoft’s Developer Network to find information on how to get things done.
2. Stay up to date
   Software is regularly updated to provide vital security fixes and new features. Subscribe to all relevant newsfeeds and newsgroups. Don’t wait to discover bugs.
3. Keep your eye on the ball
   Your systems that is. Use monitoring software like nagios to get notified of any problems.
4. Choose the right tools
   Not comfortable using a command line interface? Then pick a suitable control panel instead. I recommend Webmin or Plesk. But be aware that they can’t do everything you may need to do.
5. Most advice is free, but give something back if you can
   Most people on the web are happy to help you out. Just ask politely and remember to give something back by either helping others or donating to shareware/freeware projects. This is especially recommended when using open source software, as it helps to continue development and bug fixing.
6. Pay for a helping hand when you need it
   If you run a commercial project you may need to get things done quickly, so be prepared to pay for hands-on help. Your first port of call should be the community you are involved in and your service provider. Most are happy to “get down and dirty” for a little financial reward. It could save your skin and usually a lot of time.
7. Use best practice
   Most softwares and systems have established “best practice” guidelines on how to do things properly. Google them or ask the community, you’ll be surprised by how much time you can save by reading instead of wasting it on blindly diving into something
8. Use stable branches of software
   Don’t live on the cutting edge and opt for something mature and reliable, even if it’s two years old and there’s a development version available. Beta versions should never be used in production environments as they can fail you when you need them to work most.
9. Keep your passwords secure and your ports closed
   Most people just choose easy to remember passwords and don’t bother with a firewall. Don’t be lazy and regularly update your master passwords, keep them at least 8 characters in length with variations of upper- and lower-cases as well as numbers. Make sure you spend time firewalling your server properly. Switch to non-standard port numbers where possible or filter them with a proxy.
10. Choose a reliable provider over a cheap one
    If you use your server to make money it will pay to pay more. A good provider is there to help you and keeps their network secure, as well as use good quality hardware. A cheap host is just that: cheap.

UK Zeitgeist 2008

The fastest rising search terms in the UK

iPlayer
Facebook
iPhone
Youtube
Yahoo Mail
Large Hadron Collider
Obama
Friv
Cam4
Jogos

The most searched terms in the UK

Facebook
BBC
YouTube
eBay
Games
News
Hotmail
Bebo
Yahoo
Jobs

Most searched politicians in the UK

Gordon Brown
David Cameron
Barack Obama
Tony Blair
Sarah Palin
John Mccain
George Osborne
Alistair Darling
Boris Johnson
Nicolas Sarkozy

Fastest rising recipe searches in the UK

cupcake
meatballs
rocky road
crumble topping
eaton mess
pork belly
rhubarb fool
lemon posset
honey comb
beer batter

Fastest rising finance-related searches in the UK

icesave
hot uk deals
natwest
hmrc
hbos
money saving expert
halifax
barclays
rbs
lloyds tsb

The hottest tickets of the year in the UK

Oasis
Leonard Cohen
AC/DC
The Ashes
Steve Coogan
SOS
Oliver
Gladiators
Tina Turner
Nickleback

- Source: Google Zeitgeist 2008 Home page

1. Post regularly at a certain day and time
   Helps people follow you more.
2. Choose a writing style and stick to it
   First person, informal works best for personal blogs.
3. Get organised: tag and categorise your content properly
   Enables your readers to browse information they are interested in more easily.
4. Let social networking sites know of new posts
   Easily ping services like Twitter.com and Technorati, or even Facebook to gain readers.
5. Stay on topic
   Write a post about one thing, not many. Otherwise it may lead to confusion and disillusion.
6. Don’t rant or flame
   Personal opinions are great, but better kept in a small circle of people that know and appreciate them.
7. Be readable
   Keep your blog clean and easily read. Make those “sidebar widgets” and links relevant to the content.
8. Encourage people to comment but don’t force them
   Ask open questions and write well.
9. Write good, concise posts
   Rather than writing a lot but not well, concentrate on writing a really good post instead. Also, don’t make posts too long. A lot of people don’t read but skim content.
10. Make your blog available to everyone
    Mobile devices (i.e. PDAs, iPhone,etc) are used a lot these days, gain more followers by enabling them to read on the move. Also,

    Related Posts:

    • Get Organised: Tags and Categories
    • Manage your own server
    • 10 Most Annoying Things on the Web
    • Web Design
    • Lydia is Going Places

    
    

    
    ]]> http://www.axelsegebrecht.com/how-to/improve-your-blog/feed/ http://www.axelsegebrecht.com/how-to/improve-your-blog/ Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 PDT