PASTUBBS - COMPUTER SOLUTIONS

Share Your WEI Score

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 02:00:00 +0000

Now there’s an easier way to share and compare your PC performance rating with a slick new web service called WEI Share taking advantage of the native Windows System Assessment Tool (WinSAT) and the Windows Experience Index (WEI) on Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Turn Off Windows Hibernation The Easy Way

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Sun, 16 May 2010 16:35:00 +0000

OK I’m gone keep this short and to the point

Hit the windows key and type cmd into the search box
Right click on cmd and run as Administrator
Enter this command: powercfg -h off
If you want to activate it again: powercfg -h on

Or you can do in the Microsoft way and open the Power Options

Hit the windows key and type power options into the search box
Click On “Power options”
Then click on “Change When My Computer Sleeps”
"Then Click On “Change Advance Power Settings”
And you should end up with
Now you just need to click the plus next to the option and set to never
To be Honest its easer to just open the Command Prompt.

Enable Aero Glass in Windows Virtual PC

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:43:00 +0000

Windows Virtual PC along with XP Mode for Windows 7 Ultimate, Enterprise and Professional users. We all know that Virtual PC 2007 didn’t have the support to enable Windows Aero in guest machines because of the built-in VM virtualized graphics driver which couldn’t support true GPU hardware acceleration. Thanks to the powerful set of “Integration Components” in Windows Virtual PC and enhanced version of Remote Desktop in 7, we can now have full Aero Glass experience in Windows 7 VMs provided the host machine has Windows Aero enabled. To enable Aero Glass in your VMs running 7:

Step 1: Make sure that your host machine has Windows Aero enabled. Right click on desktop, click on Personalize, and choose one of the “Aero Themes” to enable Windows Aero with glass.

Step 2: Make sure that your guest VM has the latest version of “Virtual PC Integration Components” installed. On Windows Virtual PC, click on Tools->Install Integration Components.

Step 3: On Windows Virtual PC, Click on Tools->Enable Integration Features:

Step 4: Your guest VM will now be logged off. Log-in again and voila! You will now have fully-featured Aero glass enabled guest VM running Windows 7!

NOTE: If you didn’t immediately get to see Aero enabled then right click on desktop, click on Personalize, and choose one of the “Aero Themes” in VM to enable Windows Aero with glass.

I have tested this on a host machine running Windows 7 Ultimate (RTM x64) with a guest VM running Windows 7 Ultimate (RTM x86).

How To Make Your PC And Mac Best Friends And Share Files Like Napster

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 23:07:00 +0000

Step one connect your PC and Mac to your network, wirelessly or otherwise, there are a couple of different ways for the various machines on your network to talk to each other and share files. Think of 'em sorta like languages.

• SMB (Server Message Block) aka CIFS (Common Internet File System) is Windows' preferred network file sharing protocol, and luckily, Macs speak it, so this how your computers will most likely be talking and sharing stuff. Vista and Windows 7 use SMB 2.0, which is faster for file transfers.

• FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is one you know and love, if you've ever spent any time on the internet. It's one option for sharing stuff between your Mac and PC.

• NFS (Network File System) is the protocol Unix-based systems like to use for sharing files, which both Windows and Macs can understand. A lot of NASes use it.

• AFP (Apple Filing Protocol) is like a secret language for Macs, 'cause Windows sure as crap don't speak it. But from Mac-to-Mac, it's what makes sharing just work (when it does).

Things That Will Help But Not Needed

1. Know how to get to your router. For most routers, punching the number soup 192.168.1.1 (Linksys, for instance) or 192.168.0.1 (D-Link, for example) into your web browser will take you to the router's settings, where you can fiddle with things (which you hopefully already did to protect your network).

2. Make everything static. For consistency's sake, it's not a bad idea to assign your computers static IP addresses on the network, so they'll always have the same address—I at least give my desktop PC and Xbox static IP addresses—just in case something else is broken. Look in the router settings you should see a list of computers on your network, along with their MAC addresses (an ID tied to the actual networking card in your computer) and currently assigned IP address (something like 192.168.1.102). If your computer's already connected to the network and listed here, it's real easy to give it an unwavering address on your network, a matter of a couple checkboxes. If, for some reason, your computer's not on the network and you wanna give it a static address, like 192.168.0.104, you're gonna need to know its MAC address.

a. On a Mac, just open the Network Utility app and select AirPort—it's the "hardware address." b. In Windows Vista and 7, go to Network & Sharing Center, and tap view status link next to your connection. Hit "details" in the pop up box and note the "physical address." c. On XP, bring your network connections, double click the one you want, flip to the "support" tab, and hit details. It's the physical address. Now that you have the MAC address for your computers, you can assign a set IP address to each one, that it'll have every single time it's on the network, which is a handy list to have.

Mac

1. Setup a user account for sharing under Sharing in System Preferences. Click the little plus sign under users, and then you pull can a name out of your address book to use for the account, or setup a whole new one.

2. Check the box for file sharing. Click options, and enable AFP (if you've got other Macs you wanna share with) and SMB. Crucially, make sure the account you're gonna be logging in from Windows with has SMB enabled.

3. To pick the folders you wanna share with other users, click the little plus sign and browse to the folder you wanna give access to. (If you're logging in from Windows with your standard Mac account, you'll have access to your whole hard drive anyway.) After you've picked the folder you wanna share, then you just pick the user you want to share with, and how much access you want them to have. Read-only, write-only or read and write.

4. Note your computer's name on the local network. It's sitting on top of the main file sharing setting page. And, if you've got AFP turned off, you'll get this dialog, noting the IP address Windows users can access your stuff.

5. Go back to the main system preferences page, then click on Network. Go to the main connection you'll be using, like AirPort, and click advanced. Go to WINS, and set your Workgroup to the same one as your Windows PCs (probably either WORKGROUP, on newer Windows machines or MSHOME on XP).

Windows 7 and Windows Vista

In Windows 7 and Vista go to the Network and Sharing Center

1. In Vista, you'll notice the big ol' Sharing and Discovery section up front and center. In Windows 7, it's under advanced sharing settings. Go in there, and you'll want to enable network discovery, and make note of your Workgroup (so you can make sure your Mac is on the same one) which is listed here. Also, you have the option to turn off password-protected sharing, so that you don't need an account on the machine set up for sharing. Obviously, it's less secure, but if you prefer convenience, that's up to you.

2.If you have Windows 7 or Vista Ultimate, go to the Control Panel, then Administration Tools, then local security policy. Hit local policies, then security options, and look for Network Security LAN Manager Authentication Level. There, you want to switch it to "send LM & NTLM, use NTLMv2 session if negotiated."

If you're in Windows 7 or Vista Home Premium, you don't have access to that, so you'll need to registry hack it up. Open up regedit, and look for this:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\LSA\
Double click on LmCompatibilityLevel, and set the value to 1.

Windows XP

XP's interface feels pretty damn ancient when it comes to Networking. Anyways, it's mostly the same stuff, just with a slightly uglier interface. I found this guide helpful when I was trying to remember where everything was.

1. Like before, you'll need a user account and password setup. Go to control panel, user accounts and create a new one, if you need to.

2. Make sure you're on the same workgroup as everything else—XP Home defaults to MSHOME, so if you need to change it, right-click on My Computer, hit properties, then go to Computer Name, and go to "Change" if you need to switch up the Workgroup.

3. Go to the folder you wanna share, right-click, hit properties, and switch over to sharing. Allow it to be shared over the network, and allow users to change files.

To acces your windows computer hit "Command K" in finder and type "smb://computername or smb://192.168.X.XXX"
to access files on your Mac just go to the network and it should appear in the listing.pastubbs

Cideko And Brando Introduces New Media Center Remotes

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:51:00 +0000

First up is the Cideko Air Keyboard despite its name is more then a keyboard it’s also a mouse and a remote control. Like a lot of USB products today, the Air Keyboard is a plug and play device; no software needed. The Cideko features a full QWERTY keyboard and acts as a 3D mouse; just move the keyboard and the cursor will follow. This little device will also act as a remote for a multimedia PC- simply plug the receiver into a USB port on your computer and you're ready to go. The Air Keyboard runs for 50 hours on 2 AA batteries and has an effective range of 50m. Retail Price $89.99

Next up is the Rii Mini from Brando, The advantage that the Brando has over the Cideko is the LED backlit keys for use in darkened environments, rechargeable batteries, a just-big-enough touchpad you also don't need to point it directly at your computer, also the receiver can be stored in the device making it easyer to keep up with. The disadvantage is the keyboard is off to the left due to the touchpad which ~~may~~ will make thumb typing a bite difficult. The Rii costs $92 and is available at Brando.

Here's An Update To The Intel Atom Breakdown

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 13:31:00 +0000

As Previously Mentioned the N2xx is used for netbooks, while the 2xx and 3xx are used for desktops. Intel Recently unveiled three new Atom processors and a new chipset. The new Intel chips will enable hardware vendors to create smaller, cooler, more power efficient netbooks and nettops.

The three Atom processors include Intel's integrated graphics functionality in the CPU, as well as the memory controller functionality, which eliminates the need for one of the two chips that make up the traditional motherboard chipset. The new Atom CPU's are 60 percent smaller than their predecessors, and consume 20 percent less power 50 percent for the nettops processors.

Will the power consumption of the new processors is higher, when you take into consideration that they now include additional functions previously managed by additional chips, the overall power consumption is less.

Drawing less power also means generating less heat. The new Atom processors and Pinetrail platform run cool enough that netbook manufacturers may be able to leave out the cooling fan. Combined with more energy efficient SSD drives, the resulting netbook hardware could run virtually silent and extend battery life at the same time.

Turtle Beach’s Micro II USB Lets You Connect Your Notebook To Your Surround System

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:00:00 +0000

So you just bought a new notebook and it has HDMI but you you have an old receiver with out HDMI. Unless you want to connect to you surround sound via an analog cable. The stereo jack converts it into a S/PDIF digital optical output, allowing you to connect your Mac or PC to the optical digital input on home theater systems, digital speakers and other digital audio devices. This digital connection lets you enjoy DVD or streaming digital movies on your Mac or PC with 5.1 channel Dolby® Digital or DTS™ surround sound on your home theater system.

Yet Another Remote To Roam Your Living Room

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 03:59:00 +0000

The Lenovo Multimedia Remote with Keyboard, also known as model 57Y6336), has already been in the worldwide market for about a week with a $60 price tag, although you can pick it up for around $30 with online discount coupons. This Lenovo offering offers a 2.4GHz keyboard with trackball and USB dongle that boasts up to 10 meters of wireless connectivity in your living room

Turn Your Notebook/Netbook Into A WiFi Hotspot

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:45:00 +0000

This article will help you convert your Windows XP, Vista, and 7 based laptop in a Wireless HotSpot. One you setup your laptop as HotSpot then you do not need a router, switch, hub, etc… to form a network, in fact other laptops or PC’s can connect or access the internet through this newly created HotSpot

What do I need to set a HotSpot?

Laptop
Wired net connection

Once you have all the above things mentioned, you are all set to follow the steps:

How to setup HotSpot on Windows Vista and 7:

Got to Control Panel
Click on “Network and Sharing Center”
Under Tasks choose “Setup New Connection”
“Setup Wireless Ad-hoc network”
Now type in a “Network Name”
Choose “WEP” password if you don’t want to share the connection with the entire world
Click “Internet connection sharing”
Done!

Now a WiFi enabled machine will be able to connect to the network you have just setup with the WEP password

Lets setup a HotSpot on a Windows XP machine:

Go into Control panel
Open “Network Connections”
Right click on "Wireless Connection" and click on "Properties"
Click on the "Wireless Networks" tab and select the check-box which says “Use Windows to configure my wireless network settings”
Under “Preferred networks” click “Add”
Type a name in “Network name” text box
Select “Shared” from the options under “Network Authentication”
Under Data encryption select “WEP” and type in your password in “Network Key” field and now click "OK"
Now the new HotSpot should show in the list of preferred networks.
Click on the “Advance” button and select “Computer-to-computer (ad hoc) networks only" and press close
Hit “OK”, we are done with the wireless connection properties

One more step, we have to change something in the wired connection setting so that it knows that it has to share connection with the computers accessing our HotSpot.

Go to local Area Connections, right click it and select properties
Go to the “Advanced” tab and under Internet Connection Sharing check the box which says “Allow other network users to connect through this computer’s internet connection” and make sure the box under that is NOT selected so that no one can disable the network remotely.
Hit “OK”
Have FuN!

Run Google Chrome From A USB Drive

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 11:52:00 +0000

Just a few days ago, Google announced the release of the Chrome OS source code. Within less than 24 hours, the web was littered with disk images for running the new OS on virtual machines such as VMWare and VirtualBox. Now you can easily try it on your own computer from a USB thumb drive.

Requirements

4GB thumb drive
computer that allows booting from a USB drive
and a bit of luck Chromium OS may or may not work on your computer hardware All of this work may be for nothing, if it ends up that Chromium OS does not like your Hardware.
you do also need a computer with a network adapter.
Finally, you’ll need to download the necessary files to put Chromium OS (that’s what the open source version of Google Chrome OS is called) onto your USB drive. I’ve packaged it all together in a torrent for you:
Download the Chromium OS for USB TorrentThe torrent has a zip file that includes the disk image, as well as a Windows tool for putting the image onto a USB drive. The program you’ll use to create the Chrome OS USB boot disk is called Image Writer for Windows. It’s a nifty little tool for writing disk images, it’s free, and it’s open source.

Installing Chromium OS to your USB Drive

Unzip chrome_os_usb.zip, and launch Win32DiskImager.exe. If you get a warning when you launch Image Writer. It’s just looking for a floppy disk that’s not there click OK. Once you’ve got Image Writer running, click the folder icon and select the chrome_os.img file (it should be located in the same place where you extracted the zip file and launched Win32DiskImager.exe).

Connect your USB drive to your PC. Next, click on the Device dropdown and select the drive letter that corresponds to your USB drive. Then, click Write and the program will commence writing the disk image to your USB drive.

Boot Up Chromium OS

Put the USB drive the machine and reboot it. When the machine boots, press the boot menu key on your keyboard. Select your USB drive from the menu. In about 10 seconds or so, you should see the Chromium OS login screen.

Login with chronos and password. This will log you in as a local user. Once you log in, you should see what looks almost just like the Google Chrome browser. If you click on the Chrome sphere in the upper left corner, you should see a Google Accounts login page telling you to log into Welcome. Log in with your Google Account.

If you do not see this page and you get a browser page that says it could not find the page requested, then unfortunately luck is not on your side. It means that Chromium OS doesn’t like your network adapter. You could still however try it out in a virtual machine if you so desire. If you were able to succesfully log in, you should then see the application page.

As you can see, it is all in the cloud. All the applications you see on the app page bring up different webpages, and everything you do takes place within the browser. Although some apps don’t work and nothing loads into the windows at all.

Note when asked to log in with a Google.com account this is not the same as a Google Accounts login so you won’t be able to log in with your Google Account. The Google.com login page is only for Google employees.

Quick Guide On How-To Download And Test Google Chrome OS in VirtualBox

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 09:22:00 +0000

Click For Larger View

First off download a copy of the Google Chrome virtual hard disk and extract. There’s no need to jump through loops for VMWare just download VirtualBox instead, as a side note it runs better in Virtual box rather then VMWare on Windows 7 64bit. I was having trouble with VMWare (wanky mouse and no networking) so I tried Virtual Box instead and it all works.

install VirtualBox
create a new machine

At the hard disk stage select the virtual hard disk you just downloaded

once done creating the virtual machine go to setting->network-> and select Bridge Adapter

And Your Done Enjoy

Using Your PC From A Distance Made Easier

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:18:00 +0000

Normally using the computer from a distance away could only be accomplished with a wireless mouse and/or wireless keyboards. This can pose some difficulties during use of certain applications and also since they cannot be carried around easily. And like me most like to navigate their home theater with one hand.

First up is the tradition style HTPC remote control offers unique abilities to control your Windows Media Center. Take Fractal Design’s remote with its easy-to-use joystick you can control the pointer similar to a mouse. At last, there is no need to have that extra mouse or keyboard lying around on your living room table! It is specifically designed to be used with Windows Media Center and has a range of practical hot keys such as record, power, channel up/down etc.

Here is the GlideTV Navigator a HTPC remote that combines the functionality of a notebook style track pad with some basic media buttons in an elegant device that fits the palm of your hand. The track pad that can be mapped to your TV screen and does precise cursor control, one-thumb scrolling, single and double click selection. It features backlit AV buttons to control volume and playback, directional buttons for two-axis navigation, dedicated Esc, Enter, Back, and Function keys to control applications. The device also offers on-screen keyboard. The GlideTV Navigator remote is compatible with PCs running Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Mac OS X 10.4.11 and above, as whale as Sony’s PS3. It connects via USB port.

The wireless keyboard/HTPC remote from EFO proves to be a better alternative since it is so much more. The handy EFO gadget features an RF wireless keyboard, mouse and touchpad all in one small handheld device. The gadget can work from a distance of 10m away and is small enough to comfortably sit in your hand. The wireless keyboard compatible with PCs running Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Linux Debian-3.1, Redhat-9.0, Ubuntu-8.10, and Fedora-7.0, Mac OS X, Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii.

The Logitech diNovo Mini packs in a sizable keyboard while maintaining its small size it solves ryur Media Center remote issues as it features a mouse and a QWERTY keyboard in a small and elegant package that can actually stay on the living room table without looking bad. It connects via Bluetooth and USB dongle is provided in the box which is pre-paired with the remote to. Compatible with PCs running Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Linux, and PS3.

Another cool remote is Vizio’s bluetooth remote with slide-out QWERTY keyboard they will be providing remote with select internet capable TVs. But I couldn’t fine such remote on the Vizio web site. Maybe it’s fake or just concept. In any case, that remote looks very attractive for the HTPC owners.

Eigenlabs Brings Forth Their Vision And The Future Of Music

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 20:09:00 +0000

This is the Eigenharp - described by its developers as "the most expressive electronic musical instrument ever made". The Eigenharp is the brainchild of John Lambert, a musician and software entrepreneur, whose Devon-based team has been working on the project for eight years.

A professional level instrument which allows the musician to play and improvise using a limitless range of sounds with virtuoso skill. The unique design of the keys makes this the most expressive electronic musical instrument ever made. The Alpha can play and record loops, change scale and key, transpose, alter tempo, program beats, create arrangements, switch and layer multiple sounds, all while the musician is performing live on stage.
Available in a variety of finishes, it has 120 highly sensitive keys, 12 percussion keys, 2 strip controllers, a breath pipe and numerous pedal inputs. This gives almost endless possibilities for flexible keyboard layouts, fast instrument switching and expressive musical control. The comprehensive software system provides a wealth of musical performance features, including playback of its own native instruments, many common software plugins, soundfonts or midi instruments.

Hardware Specification

Keys

133 keys in all.

120 keys on the main keyboard.

12 percussion keys on the lower part of the instrument.

Plus one mute key.

Key Properties:

Sampled at 2000 samples/second, per key.

11 bit (2048 values) resolution.

Sensitive to direct pressure and to lateral pressure in both directions.

Breath pipe:

Sampled at 2000 samples/second.

12 bit (4096 value) resolution.

Bidirectional, sensitive to blown and drawn breath.

Removable, interchangeable mouthpiece for hygiene.

2 Strip Controllers:

One on each side of the instrument, 480mm long.

Sampled at 2000 samples/second per strip.

11 bit (2048 values) resolution.

Headphone output:

48kHz sampling rate, 24-bit DAC Sigma-Delta.

Software programmable volume.

Mute, soft ramp and zero cross detection for volume adjustment.

SNR = 95dB.

THD < 0.01% at 1kHz, 30-Ohm load at -3dbFS.

Up to 750mW output on a 3.5mm mini jack.

Microphone input/preamp:

Balanced input on an industry standard 4 pin LEMO locking connector.

24 bit at 96khz A/D converter.

Low noise programmable gain from 10 to 55db in 1db steps.

Software switchable 48V phantom power.

8.2V Electret polarisation power available, requires specific cable.

Noise: EIN= (A-weighted) -120dBu with 150 Ohm source 20Hz to 20kHz, 50 dB gain. EIN Un-wtd= -125dBu with same conditions as A-weighted.

26dB software switchable input pad.

Recommended uni-directional (cardioid or supercardioid patterns) microphones:

Sony ECM66BC, Audio Technica AT898C and AT831C, Sure WL184, DPA 4080 and DPA 4022. Note: Custom wiring for each microphone is required

Base Station:

2 inputs for continuous control expression pedals:

Suitable for use with Boss FV50 and FV500 volume pedals.

Suitable for use with Yamaha FC3 continuous control sprung sustain pedals.

USB 2 interface to host computer.

2 inputs for foot switches.

Strap:

Leather strap.

Friction controlled multi axis instrument mounting.

Floor spike:

300mm retractable floor spike with removable rubber foot.

The Newegg Way to Get Windows 7 Cheap

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 23:41:00 +0000

Microsoft typically sells a retail boxed version of Windows which users can install on nearly any computer, and the license can be transferred from one computer to another. But you can also pick up an OEM license that's designed for system builders. These OEM copies offer the features found in a full retail version, but the license can't be transferred. Once it's installed on a computer and activated, it's locked to that hardware. You won't get any support, and you'll have to perform a clean install, not an upgrade. The upshot is that OEM copies of Windows are typically cheaper.

[Via Newegg]

Version	Home Premium	Professional	Ultimate
Retail [1pack]	$200	$300	$320
Retail Upgrade [1pack]	$120	$200	$220
OEM [1pack]	$100	$135	$175
OEM [3pack]	$310	$410	$550

Symantec’s Top 10 List of the Internet’s worst threats.

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:57:00 +0000

As the Internet celebrated its 40th anniversary, Symantec takes a look back at some of the most notorious threats ever seen online:

1. I Love You (2000) – Who wouldn’t open an e-mail with “I Love You” in the subject line? Well, that was the problem. By May 2000, 50 million infections of this worm had been reported. The Pentagon, the CIA, and the British Parliament all had to shut down their e-mail systems in order to purge the threat.

2. Conficker (2009) – The Conficker worm has created a secure, worldwide infrastructure for cybercrime. The worm allows its creators to remotely install software on infected machines. What will that software do? We don’t know. Most likely the worm will be used to create a botnet that will be rented out to criminals who want to send SPAM, steal IDs and direct users to online scams and phishing sites.

3. Melissa (1999) – Melissa was an exotic dancer and David L. Smith was obsessed with her and also with writing viruses. The virus he named after Melissa and released to the world on March 26th, 1999, kicked off a period of high-profile threats that rocked the Internet between 1999 and 2005.

4. Slammer (2003) – This fast-moving worm managed to temporarily bring much of the Internet to its knees in January of 2003. The threat was so aggressive that it was mistaken by some countries to be an organized attack against them.

5. Nimda (2001) – A mass-mailing worm that uses multiple methods to spread itself, within 22 minutes, Nimda became the Internet’s most widespread worm. The name of the virus came from the reversed spelling of “admin.”

6. Code Red (2001) – Websites affected by the Code Red worm were defaced by the phrase “Hacked By Chinese!” At its peak, the number of infected hosts reached 359,000.

7. Blaster (2003) – Blaster is a worm that triggered a payload that launched a denial of service attack against windowsupdate.com, which included the message, “billy gates why do you make this possible? Stop making money and fix your software!!”

8. Sasser (2004) – This nasty worm spread by exploiting a vulnerable network port, meaning that it could spread without user intervention. Sasser wreaked havoc on everything from The British Coast Guard to Delta Airlines, which had to cancel some flights after its computers became infected.

9. Storm (2007) – Poor Microsoft, always the popular target. Like Blaster and others before, this worm’s payload performed a denial-of-service attack on www.microsoft.com. During Symantec’s tests an infected machine was observed sending a burst of almost 1,800 emails in a five-minute period.

10. Morris (1988) – An oldie but a goodie; without Morris the current threat “superstars” wouldn’t exist. The Morris worm (or Internet worm) was created with innocent intentions. Robert Morris claims that he wrote the worm in an effort to gauge the size of the Internet. Unfortunately, the worm contained an error that caused it to infect computers multiple times, creating a denial of service.

Atheros Aims To Free Up One Of Those Internal USB Ports In Your Notebook/Netbook

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:42:00 +0000

Atheros' latest Half-Mini card is unique in a sense where it merges 802.11n Wi-Fi connectivity with Bluetooth on a solitary PCIe card. Allowing manufactures to free up room on the USB ports to throw in other components including TV tuners, GPS receivers, VoIP dongles,Etc. According to Atheros, the card will be compatible with Windows XP, Vista, the unreleased Windows 7 and Linux operating systems. The Atheros AR9002WB-1NGB card supports Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR as well as the recently approved 802.11n WiFi standard.

via CNET

Want To Watch TV On Your Netbook Now You Can Without The Bloat [Europe Only]

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:25:00 +0000

Hauppauge just launch their PCTV picoStick the world smallest digital TV tuner which let you watch and record live digital television broadcasts in Europe. Costs £50 (about $83)

TV Standards

ATSC (HDTV up to 1080i, SDTV)
ClearQAM (HDTV up to 1080i, SDTV)

The system requirements:

Windows XP or Vista
1.6GHz Intel Atom CPU, Pentium 4 2.0GHz processor, 1.3GHz Pentium M, or AMD Athlon XP processor
requires no antenna
RAM: Windows XP – 512 MB; Windows Vista – 1 GB
Free USB 2.0 port
Sound/graphics controller with support for DirectX® 9 or higher
Hard drive with minimum 1 GB free space (20 GB recommended for TV recording)
CD drive (DVD burner required for DVD recording)
Internet connection for registration/activatio

Features:

Ultra-compact HDTV tuner stick with super-strong reception
Watch free HDTV on your PC – no service fees
Supports both digital over-the-air TV (ATSC¹) and unencrypted digital cable TV (ClearQAM²)
Includes mini-remote control and high-gain telescopic antenna
Turns your PC into a PVR with TimeShifting: pause, rewind TV
Stereo sound
Electronic Program Guide (EPG³)
Automatically record shows to your hard drive in MPEG-1, MPEG-2 or DivX⁴formats, or direct-to-DVD
Compatible with Windows® Media Center⁵ (Windows Vista™ Home Premium or Ultimate; remote kit offered separately)
New: built-in slide-cap to protect the USB connector
New: integrated signal booster improves sensitivity for over-the-air HDTV reception
Bonus: travel bag

Recording Formats:

MPEG-1
MPEG-2
DivX
MPEG-4: compatible with Sony PSP or Apple iPod (Trial Version)

Easily View And Manage Adobe CS4 Shortcuts With Adobe Shortcut App

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 18:32:00 +0000

Can’t remember your shortcuts? No worries. Introducing the Adobe Shortcut App, an amazing new tool from Adobe that lets you find and gather the shortcuts you need on your desktop. So they’re right where you need them, when you need them, allowing you to create your masterpieces with ease.

The Adobe Shortcut App is a free rich Internet application that gives you easy access to keyboard shortcuts in twelve programs that are in Creative Suite 4:

* Acrobat
* After Effects
* Contribute
* Dreamweaver
* Encore
* Fireworks
* Flash
* Illustrator
* InDesign
* Photoshop
* Premiere
* Soundbooth

When you first click on an application's icon, you'll see an "Essentials" screen with commonly needed shortcuts. There's also an "All Categories" tab that include the essential shortcuts and many others. You can search the shortcuts, and mark the ones you need frequently as favorites. There's also a cheat sheet in PDF form for each program.

Nokia Introduces The Booklet 3G A Netbook With True Connectivity Everywhere

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 17:17:00 +0000

Nokia has unveiled its Booklet 3G netbook, the company's first venture into the PC-manufacturing business. Features Include:

Windows 7 based
10.1-inch HD display
Atom Processor
HDMI Port
Aluminum Shell
2cm (0.8in) thick
1.25kg (2.75lb)
colors: gray, black, and blue
Camera
Bluetooth
SD card reader
claimed battery life of up to 12 hours

Also many features commonly associated with high-end smartphones, including:

Embedded 3G/HSPA Connectivity ready for rapid mobile broadband anywhere-access on the move.
Plus, it supports hot-swappable SIM card functionality.
Assisted GPS (A-GPS) chipset tracks the user's location for use in applications such as the built-in Ovi Maps. The Booklet 3G utilizes Nokia's Ovi Suite for seamless syncing compatibility from the cloud.

So Why Is Nokia making A netbook well, Nokia’s Executive Vice President for Devices, Kai Oistamo, summed it up simply as follows:

“A growing number of people want the computing power of a PC with the full benefits of mobility. We are in the business of connecting people and the Nokia Booklet 3G is a natural evolution for us. Nokia has a long and rich heritage in mobility and with the outstanding battery life, premium design and all day, always on connectivity, we will create something quite compelling. In doing so we will make the personal computer more social, more helpful and more personal.”

Pricing and availability have not yet been announced, but Nokia says more details will emerge at Nokia World on September 2.

Run Windows 7 For 120 Days Without Activation

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 19:16:00 +0000

Like Windows Vista, the upcoming Windows 7 comes with a command line utility called the Software License Manager (slmgr.exe) that allows the user to issue "-rearm" switch that will reset the countdown timer back to 30 days. This command may be issued a maximum of three times. If a user issues this command at the end of each 30-day period for three times, he or she would be able to use Windows 7 unrestricted for up to 120 days.
The procedure to reset the countdown is identical to the process used for Windows Vista:

1. Start the command line by clicking Start > All Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt (Run As Administrator) – or for a shortcut, hit the Windows Key + R and type "cmd".
2. At the command line, enter in "slmgr –rearm" without the quotations.
3. Restart Windows 7.

After the reboot, your counter will have reset back the 30 days.

Propellerhead Reason 4 Key Shortcuts/Commands

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 16:02:00 +0000

General Commands

Key	Function
Ctrl + N	New Song
Ctrl + O	Open Song
Ctrl + S	Save Song
Shift + Ctrl + S	Save Song As
Ctrl + W	Close Song
Ctrl + Q	Quit
Tab	Toggle Rack Front/Rear
Ctrl + Z	Undo
Ctrl + Y	Redo
Ctrl + Del	Delete Devices Without Warning
Ctrl + A	Select All
Ctrl + I	Create Instrument
Ctrl + F	Create Effect
L	Show/Hide Cables
Insert	Insert Instrument
Ctrl + X	Cut
Ctrl + C	Copy
Ctrl + V	Paste

Sequencer Commands

Key	Function
Ctrl + K	Quantize
Ctrl + D	Duplicate Track & Device
Ctrl + J	Join Clips
Ctrl + R	Merge Note Lanes On Track
M	Mute/Unmute Clips
S	Snap On/Off

Playback Commands

Key	Fuction
Number Pad - 0	Stop Go To Start Position
Number Pad – Enter	Play
Number Pad – *	Record
Number Pad – 4	Rewind
Number Pad – 5	Fast Forward
Number Pad – 1	Go To Loop Start
Number Pad – 2	Go To Loop End
Number Pad – 8	Go To Next Bar
Number Pad – 7	Go To Previous Bar
Number Pad – +	Tempo Up
Number Pad - -	Tempo Down
Spacebar	Pause/Play
C	Toggle Metronome Click On/Off
Number Pad – /	Loop On/Off

Nikon's new Coolpix S1000pj

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:52:00 +0000

A lots been said about this already so I’ll just point it out.

Audacity 1.3.8 IS Here And Its Flossing Its Speed And New Features

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:13:00 +0000

Audacity, the free, open source sound editor, is on the top of everyone's list of podcasting and audio apps. You can record sounds, play sounds, import and export WAV, AIFF, and MP3 files, and more. Use it to edit your sounds using Cut, Copy and Paste (with unlimited Undo), mix tracks together, or apply effects to your recordings. It also has a built-in amplitude envelope editor, a customizable spectrogram mode and a frequency analysis window for audio analysis applications. Built-in effects include Bass Boost, Wahwah, and Noise Removal, and it also supports VST plug-in effects.

If you love Audacity, too, and can't wait for the next stable version to be released, you can get in on the beta action right now. Audacity 1.3.8 Beta is available now for a sneak peek at some new features and improvements that will be in the app's next stable version.

New Features

Effects and Analysis:

VST Effects now display GUI by default
Faster Equalization and Noise Removal; improved Truncate Silence and Click Track
Chains applied to files now clear temporary data after processing each file
Updated Nyquist implementation with support for SAL syntax and improved memory management
Plot Spectrum now analyzes up to 237.8 seconds of audio, with separate windows for each project and improved display; new preferences for Spectrograms
Contrast Analysis tool now modeless for easier use

Interface:

Draft Manual/Quick Help included in Windows and Mac installers
New "Mixer Board" view with per-track VU meters
Mute, solo, gain, pan and track height saved in projects
More compact Preferences window with easier-to-use Keyboard tab and new toolbars shortcuts
New Screenshot Tools and improved screen reader support

Other:

Record more than 16 channels (hardware/drivers permitting)
Improved support for non-mmap ALSA devices such as PulseAudio
32-bit float data over 0 dB now handled without clipping
"Stop" option when importing preserves already imported data
AMR NB export now supported if the optional FFmpeg library is installed
Faster waveform drawing and better response in multi-track projects

Nokia’s 3720 Wants To Go Golfing

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 05:36:00 +0000

Nokia today introduced the new Nokia 3720 classic, an IP-54 certified mobile phone designed to resist water, dust and shock. Following the footsteps of Nokia's highly popular 'rugged' devices of the past, the Nokia 3720 classic is encased in durable materials and is entirely sealed to protect the inner electronics. The Nokia 3720 is expected to retail for approximately EUR 125 before subsidies or taxes and is expected to begin shipping this summer.

The Nokia 3720 classic features a sealed, leak-proof design and durable materials in a range of colors. The battery cover, which protects both the battery and the internal circuitry of the device, is locked with a screw, making for worry-free usage in wet, dusty or muddy environments.

As to be expected, the Nokia 3720 classic also offers exceptional battery performance as well as an LED flashlight, to complement its rugged design. Additional add-ons include Nokia Maps, which comes pre-loaded on the 1 GB microSD memory card, and the large and bright 2.2" display is perfect for following the route even in unfamiliar terrain.

The Archos 9 PCTablet Packs An Intel Atom, 9” (1024 by 600) Touch Screen, And Runs Windows 7

noreply@blogger.com (pastubbs) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:27:00 +0000

ARCHOS once again is leading the way in innovation, with the introduction of the MiniPC of the future, the ARCHOS 9 pctablet. The ARCHOS design team has coupled groundbreaking design with the most advanced technologies, by leveraging their expertise from the design of the Internet Media Tablets.

Windows 7
Intel Atom Z515 (800/1200Mz CPU)
16mm thick
800gm
BT2.1
802.11b/g
120GB
Diversity (dual) tuner
3G Option
9″ 1024×600 screen
ethernet 10/100
external mic
stereo speakers
vga out
1.3mp webcam
256mm x 134mm x 16mm

The ARCHOS 9 provides all the power and comfort needed for daily usage.
It combines an impressive performance and a rich multimedia experience to deliver the most advanced PC in the world. Be ready to discover it.