Max Cross

iGoogle how about you?

Max — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:11:17 +0000

So if you have not heard of Google then there is a good chance you have either just returned from a long trip to Mars or you are my Gran. Actually I think even my Gran has heard of Google. So if you haven’t heard of Google, welcome home, I hope you enjoyed your trip. But it used to be that when we said Google we knew what we meant, these days are we talking about a search engine, office application, email, maps, who knows? Most of the techies have a good grasp on what is available from Google but what about the rest of us? Well one of the things the rest of us can miss out on is one of Google's most basic, but brilliant offerings and they call it iGoogle. No it’s not a Google sponsored personal music player but simply a better home page. If the page that shows first when you open your browser is similar to this one then read on. iGoogle allows you to setup a page with some simple add-ons, that range from news headlines through to games. Once you have clicked on the iGoogle link at the top right of the screen, you can set up an account and start adding your favourite widgets. So it is easy, but is it worth it? perhaps the best way to describe the benefit might be to explain how I use iGoogle.

Google is all about searching so naturally the search box appears at the top of any page you set up, but it’s what follows on from there that makes this an invaluable tool to me. Toodledo is the next widget on my page. This is the place I hold all my GTD actions or to-do lists. I can add tasks, review existing ones and perhaps most satisfyingly check off that they are complete, all from my home page without ever going to the website. If you not into Toodledo there are also widgets for Remember The Milk and a number of other to-do list but Toodledo is my favourite. Google Reader is the next on my list of widgets. A place where I can subscribe to all those blogs I read. However I very rarely go into Google Reader itself because the majority of my blog reading happens here at the iGoogle page using this widget. The widget sorts the news for me on the most recent articles and they are simply marked as read and disappear once I have read them. BeTwittered is next and it is my Twitter client. Once again I very rarely actually go to the Twitter website, I simply follow my favourite people here and even use it to post to Twitter as well. Having never been one for buying papers, and also not particular enjoying TV the BBC News is one of my few resources that I have for current affairs. I could look at this site through my Google Reader, but allowing it to have it’s own space on the page means I spot more news stories that I have an interest in. Yet another Google product Google Calendar displays my calendar for the day and week ahead. Finally the increasing popular Evernote shows my recent notes that I have posted to Evernote. All this is at my figure tips the moment I start my browser. The techies don’t have the monopoly on time saving tips, iGoogle allows the rest of us to do it as well. Hey Gran let me show you iGoogle.

World's first Mac virus botnet discovered!

Max — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 13:43:10 +0000

Have you noticed how some Mac users have this smug look on their face when the subject in any conversation turns to virus protection? Fuelled by the ‘I’m A Mac’ ads they seem to believe they are immune to any virus that happens across their system. To a point what they believe is true, but lets explore why that may be changing. If you picture a spotty teenager hammering away a keyboard in a darkly lit bedroom when you think of virus programmer then let me update you. Virus and Trojan horse creation is big business, really big business and the bad guys, or as I like to refer to them the Dark Hats are trying to keep it secret. These days if your computer contracts a virus you are not likely to realise. Gone are the silly pranks of years gone by, viruses today won’t just turn your screen upside down the Dark Hats have a bigger plan. The sole purpose of a virus these days is to take over your computer and join it into a network (botnet) of other similarly infected computers. It’s the sheer processing powers of tens of thousands of computers that these Dark Hats are after. If they can tell your computer along with ten thousands others to suddenly start requesting web pages from Amazon or any other big company on the net then they can bring that company to it’s knees. Can you imagine the money Amazon makes in a minute? How much would they lose if their site was down for even ten minutes? The conversation goes something like this:

Dark Hats: Nice store you got here Mr Big Book retailer.
Mr Big Book retailer: Yes we like it, pays the bills you know.
Dark Hats: Yes, would be a shame if you couldn’t trade because ten thousand people turned up at once.
Mr Big Book retailer: Erm well yes, what do you mean?
Dark Hats: Well how about me and my friend here make sure that doesn’t happen. Shall we say five grand a week, to cover our expenses?

Now you see how it goes down, imagine being a betting website who get approached by the Dark Hats the day before the big game? So the only thing the Dark Hats are interested in, is to get as many computers as possible to join their Botnet. Now lets think what are the vast majority of computers running as an operating system out there? Oh that would be Windows then. So the reason that Windows PCs are more likely to contract viruses isn’t because Macs are better protected, it is simply a matter of best return for your efforts. If there were more Macs in use then Windows PCs then you can bet your life the dark hats would be developing viruses for Macs and not Windows PCs. But times, they are a changing.

As Apple increase their market share we will see more and more viruses being developed for Macs. But even Symantec claim that the first Mac Botnet is not much to fear. Answering their own question of “Are Mac users under attack?” they reply “The short answer, no.” Whilst this isn't the first Mac virus found the truth is there really are not that many around are the moment. So it seems there is little need for Mac users to dash off to Symantec today to buy Anti Virus software. The truth is is seems that this Botnet virus was mainly hidden inside a illegal copy of software download from some dubious site. Apparently the average smug Mac user, who doesn’t download pirated software can continue to smile for a little while longer and doesn’t need to listen to scare tactics from any company that supplies Anti Virus software. It seems for now Symantec were honest about that.

So what do you think? Am I talking tosh, should Mac users dive off to spend their money or will they be virus free for evermore? Get it off your chest and comment on this post.

Use Vista! I Would Rather Catch The Plague

Max — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:34:45 +0000

Have you heard how bad Windows Vista is? Apparently it's dog slow and nothing works on it. Not only that but I think it's also responsible for global warming and world poverty. Well that's what you could be made to believe if you listened to what some people have to say about Vista. Vista is Microsoft's current operating system, that's the software that actually makes your PC work to start with. Previous operating systems were Windows XP, Windows 98 and Windows 95, not to forget the original Windows itself. OK so now we understand that Vista is the newest Microsoft operating system and the world seem to hate it, but what's the truth for the rest of us? Should we upgrade or not?

Well Vista was released well over a year ago, I know with all the recent gossip about it you would think it was launched yesterday. This doesn't mean much, other than the fact that now it's entering its "late teens" it starting to settle down from those rebellious early days. Those initial compatibility issues with existing software have mostly been resolved, and all decent new software is compatible. Microsoft has even issued the service pack 1 update to Vista, which is traditionally the time to accept that a new operating system is stable. In short there is no real reason not to use Vista, but is there a compelling reason to make the move from XP?

How's it look? In short quite pretty, but then I think my dog looks handsome and others disagree with that, so it is probably a personal call. True it probably doesn't look as nice as the current Mac operating system Leopard, but then Apple seem to be able to cope with design better then Microsoft. It has what Microsoft call Aero, which for me and you simply means that it looks nice and glassy, some would say almost Apple like, but I wouldn't like to comment. In truth I can't get excited about the way any operating system looks, because inevitably I have started my PC to do something not look at the pretty screen; but that said it is definitely an improvement on previous versions of Windows.

Extra features are abundant there as well, whether you choose to use them or not. The side bar is an area that remains permanently on screen, and can hold all sorts of little gadgets that for some reason every one has chosen to call Widgets. But this could be useful as it can hold a clock, calendar, notes and even the latest news directly from you favourite news provider. Of course the first thing I did was disable it, trust me I don't need distracting anymore than I already am. Vista also keeps an index of everything on your PC which makes finding things a lot easier. Simply press the Windows key on you keyboard and start typing for what you are looking for and a list of options appear in the menu. It took a while for me to start using this, but now I miss it when I am on an older PC without Vista. There are other features that were already in XP but no one knew about them. Like the backup which has been made a whole lot simpler to use and automate. The way that Vista manages photo and images has had a reasonably good overhaul as well.

Of course if you do choose to upgrade it's not a simple choice. Vista comes in not one, not two, not even three but four flavours. It has to be said this is shear madness. I could live with a home and a business edition and possible could even make a case for that, but four is bizarre. So we have Vista Basic, Vista Premium, Vista Business and Vista Ultimate. Lets narrow down our selection. There is no compelling reason to fork out the extra dosh for Ultimate, so that's down to a choice of three. Vista Basic is too basic and I think it use to be called XP! Hold on a minute that brings us down to two, Vista Premium and Vista Business, a home and a business version. It's almost like it's meant to be that way, maybe Microsoft could save us the time and market it that way in the future.

Ok so the bottom line is, should the rest of us upgrade or Not? There is nothing compelling that would make you want to run out and upgrade from XP if you are happy with you current PC. The extras are nice, but at the end of the day are not going to improve your life enough for that not insignificant outlay. However don't be fooled by the naysayers who say that when you buy a new PC that you should ask for XP. Apart from the fact that the ability to do this is reducing day by day, why would you downgrade your system? You wouldn't buy a car and ask them to put last year's interior and engine in it, why do the same for a new PC? So in short don't upgrade your current PC, but do enjoy the benefits the next time you buy a new PC. One thing to note here is that many new PCs come with Vista Basic so paying a little extra would probably be worthwhile.

Vista or the plague? I would skip the plague if I was you; it gets very messy after a while.

A Tale Of Two iPhones

Max — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:49:48 +0000

So it happened the second coming is here. No don't panic you didn't miss the end of the world as we know it, but on Friday 11th June 2008 the all new, all singing all dancing Apple iPhone appeared across the world, riding on a cloud of insane publicity and hype. Apple is well known for being able to create hype around their product launches but did the iPhone 3G deserve the adulation?


Apple has made some minor changes to the look and feel of the phone. It still doesn't have a physical keyboard but instead opts for the touch screen, which even someone like myself with sausages instead of fingers managed to get use to very quickly. The head phone socket will now accept normal headphones, without the need for an adapter that the previous version required. It is minutely fatter and has a black or white back instead of the brushed aluminium. Big deal, so they put a couple of things right that they got wrong on the initial phone. That doesn't warrant a big launch that warrants an apology for not having got it right the first time. But some how I still sit here after just one long weekend of owning this new mobile phone and I have become addicted to it and the ease of use. I'm not an Apple guy generally, coming from the business world of tech, I swallowed Microsoft's blue pill a long time ago. So in theory the iPhone interface should be all new to me, yet it works. Some how I just naturally know how to use the phone, no pen, just tap the screen, swipe my finger across it and away we go.

So much for the interface what about the features? Well the iPhone is all about connectivity, and this is where the much needed GPS and 3G come in. We will skip over the GPS because that's still shrouded in a little of that clouds hype and mystery. Some applications use it but it certainly isn't about to replace your cars GPS this month. However the 3g is more important. We don't need to know the details we just need to know that 3G where available is much faster then the previous iPhone's edge technology. That's important because this phone is more computer then phone. A full blown web browser which means we can see web pages as they were designed to be seen, not in some half cocked version for mobile phones. Next we have email on the go with possible access to your business Microsoft Exchange email, your broadband providers email, or other mail system like Hotmail. And then there are all those new applications that will use the internet as well.

Yes I did say applications. After a year Apple have finally allowed other people to develop applications to run on both the new and old iPhone. I know you find it incredible that they didn't before, but Apple also has a long history of keeping other nasty application developers away from their hardware. So now we can not only have games and ringtones but real applications to. This is important because there is always something that you sit there and scratch your head about with a mobile phone. You very quickly end up saying something like "why didn't they put that application on the phone?" With the iPhone it was a To Do list application, and this was instantly fixable for free with my first visit to the application store. We could argue it should have been there to start with but at least we can plug those holes now. There is a wide range of applications from a light sabre emulator right through to an application for airline pilots and everything in-between. These applications some free, and others between £3 and £15 are all available via your ITunes software when you synchronise your phone to your PC or Mac.

Synchronising your iPhone to your PC or Mac is straight forward enough, you treat it as you would any iPod you might own, and ITunes syncs your applications, music, calendar, address book and email. The iPhone syncs with the basic Windows and Mac email applications as well as Outlook 2003/2007, but it comes into it's own when you sync with your works Microsoft Exchange server or buy into Apples own online "email plus" system Me.com. Me.com or Mobile Me as Apple have branded it has had some major problems launching at the same time as the release of the iPhone 3g, but there is potential there. A subscription based service (Individual £59/year, family £89/year) that offers the ability to synchronise your email, address book, calendar as well as 20 gigabytes of storage for your photos and other files this will be worth a second look in a future report.

Of course you will need a mobile phone provider and in the UK that can only be O2. The cheapest option is the 8 gigabyte version, with an upfront cost of £99 and a tariff that comes in at £30 per month. This includes 125 texts and 75 minutes, but more importantly that unlimited 3G data. So the big question is, should you get yourself an iPhone? Yes and No! No if you already own an iPhone because many of the new features are available simple by upgrading to the new free software which also works on the first iPhone. Of course you won't get the fast 3G, but then you can probably live with that. So what about those of us who never had a first generation iPhone? Quite simply if you can afford it, and you can find one in stock, then run don't walk to your nearest store. I'm smitten.