However, there is no “Download Day Event” that the company promoted for this version, unlike verison 3.0. The event promoted supporters to download the software on the first day of its release.

Last year, there are over 500 million Firefox downloads. Currently, it has a share of 20 to 30 percent of the global browser market.

Source: Ars Technica

© Technibble - A Resource for Computer Technicians to start or improve their computer business
To get started with your own computer business, check out our Computer Business Kit.

Firefox 3.5 - 5 Million Downloads

“If Microsoft declared my copy legal in 2007, it should stay legal. Why is this such a wishy-washy situation? Now I can’t get updates and if I have to reinstall the operating system I won’t be able to,” says William.

Source: PC World

© Technibble - A Resource for Computer Technicians to start or improve their computer business
To get started with your own computer business, check out our Computer Business Kit.

Windows XP User Story

The email claims to offer secret songs and photos of the singer when users check out the attached zip file. The malware can spread via USB sticks.

It is detected as Ackantta-F and it is not the only malware item that is tring to ride the popstar’s death. One of these is a website that touts conspiracy theories about his death.

Source: The Register

© Technibble - A Resource for Computer Technicians to start or improve their computer business
To get started with your own computer business, check out our Computer Business Kit.

Michael Jackson Mass-Mailing Worm

These devices are ten times as fast as USB 2.0 devices which have speeds of 480Mb/s to 5Gb/s. It is also referred to as SuperSpeed USB. It is faster than an external SATA drive.

NEC Electronics of Japan is expected to produce a million chips a month. According to the article at Channel Register, there will be 340 million USB 3.0 PCs in 2012.

These devices are designed to speed up backup operations and to be more practical.

Source: Channel Register

© Technibble - A Resource for Computer Technicians to start or improve their computer business
To get started with your own computer business, check out our Computer Business Kit.

USB 3.0 By 2010

I checked to see that Adobe Flash was installed and it had been installed. I suspected it was corrupt or something so I removed it using Add/Remove Programs and reinstalled it, same problem. So I used this application to forcefully remove Flash. I then reinstalled Flash and it worked like a charm.

Downloads:
Download from Official Site - Windows - 205kb
Download from Official Site - OSX 10.3 and above - 243kb
Download from Official Site - OSX 10.2 and below - 1.3mb
Download from Official Site - OS 8.x,9.x - 33kb

More Information

© Technibble - A Resource for Computer Technicians to start or improve their computer business
To get started with your own computer business, check out our Computer Business Kit.

Adobe Flash Uninstaller - Repair Tool of the Week

“We’re pleased with the delay on this issue that is part of a broader, historic struggle between openness and repression—not just in China but Iran and North Korea. Ultimately, we would like to see the US government negotiate issues of Internet openness and freedom in a broad, systematic way as part of trade and other international agreements,” said Ed Black of Computer & Communications Industry Association.

Source: Ars Technica

© Technibble - A Resource for Computer Technicians to start or improve their computer business
To get started with your own computer business, check out our Computer Business Kit.

Green Dam Youth Escort Delay

Microsoft has just announced that Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade discs are going to be sold at major retail stores around the globe.

Like other Windows 7 discs, all versions of Windows 7 will be available to users on one single disc. All you need to do is enter your product hey and the installer will know which version you are licensed to use. According to the article to upgrade your version of Windows 7 all you have to do is…

• Consumers will use the WAU Tool to go online, shop, learn and purchase a product key for the upgrade.
• This key will be delivered automatically to the customer’s machine via the Internet
• Once the key is received, the WAU Tool will initiate the upgrade process (EULA acceptance, feature unlock, etc.)

This is where making it available in retail stores comes in handy. Now anyone can walk into their nearest store and purchase an Anytime Upgrade key. That’s right no disc just a sticker with your product key all in a fancy packaging. Once you have that all you need to do is…

• Consumers will have the opportunity to purchase a Media-Less Key (MLK) at Retail.
• When they return to their PC, the customer will use the same WAU Tool to manually enter the Product Key printed on the MLK.
• Once the key is entered, the WAU Tool will initiate the upgrade process (EULA acceptance, feature unlock, etc.)

This will be a great addition for people who don’t like to make online purchases, don’t have a credit card, or just have some spare gift cards lying around. Now anyone will be able to upgrade Windows 7 at anytime. Here’s a preview of the new retail packaging.

Source: TomsHardware.com

© Technibble - A Resource for Computer Technicians to start or improve their computer business
To get started with your own computer business, check out our Computer Business Kit.

Windows 7 Anytime Upgrade Discs to be Sold at Retail Stores

If you have any family that relies on you such as a wife and kids then making the jump now may not be the wisest choice. If you were laid off from your job and have no clients on the side then it may be a better idea to work part time elsewhere until you build up your client-base. Your responsibility is to the welfare of your loved ones first first and to follow your dream second.

If you already have a decent client base while you are still at your current job or before you left, then you are halfway there. Rather than a jump in the deep end you are sliding into the shallow end and your chances of success is much greater.

If you have the choice (as in, you weren’t laid off), work on building up your client base after hours until it reaches the point where your 9 to 5 job hampers the growth of your computer business, then your income wont be taking as much as a hit and you have already learned some of the hard lessons this industry has to offer.

Do you want to work on computers?
Did you work on computers at your last job, found you are great at it and thought about starting your own business fixing computers? You need to keep in mind that once you start working for yourself, you aren’t always doing technician work anymore. You are doing marketing, office administration, dealing with customers, answering phone calls, doing accounting and just about every other job that was probably done by someone else at your old job.

Doing the job you love (repairing computers) and actually running a business are two different things. This is one of the major reasons why many new businesses fail as the owner simply gets burnt out doing jobs they don’t love.
Of course, you can always hire someone to do your marketing or accounting once you have some good cash flow coming in, but in the beginning you will most likely have to do it yourself. Also, keep in mind that when you are self employed the amount of hours you worked verses amount of billable hours are two different things. I have personally had days where I worked all day but didn’t make a cent because it was all unbillable hours.

So ask yourself, do you want to work on what you love but not have any freedom? or work on computers and don’t the stuff you don’t like, but have the freedom of being your own man?

Other Considerations
If you were working for another computer repair business such as Firedog, Geeksquad or a “Mom and Pop store” and the clients you consider “your clients” are really your old employers clients then some issues can arise such as:
1. You may be under a non-compete agreement with your old employer not to start your own computer repair business.
2. They can sue you for stealing their clients so don’t go handing out your business card when your employer sends you out on a repair job.
3. Its unethical to do so (even if it is legal) and you better hope the same thing doesn’t happen to you when you start having your own employees.
If this is the case then its probably a good idea to discount all of their clients as your clients and start new.

I don’t want to scare people from following their dreams, but I do want them to make sure they are prepared for it. In the end, I believe starting your own business worth it. My own business has given me the freedom to travel for many months of the year which is very important for me. The job is always interesting because just when you think you have seen everything, something weird happens. It can sometimes be hard (such as me working at 2am last night getting a mission critical system ready by morning) but the pros always outweigh the cons. Its a great business to be in.

© Technibble - A Resource for Computer Technicians to start or improve their computer business
To get started with your own computer business, check out our Computer Business Kit.

Making the Jump to Self Employment

Two screen shots are included in the blog entry. The first shows the message. It is very short and it notifies the user that he or she has a tax refund. In order to get the refund, the user must complete a form on the link that is included in the email.

The link goes to a bogus Tax Office website.

Source: Sophos

© Technibble - A Resource for Computer Technicians to start or improve their computer business
To get started with your own computer business, check out our Computer Business Kit.

ATO Spam

Those who bought a computer with Windows Vista from June 26, 20009 to January 31, 2010 are entitled for a free Windows 7 upgrade.

Home Premium PCs can be upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium. Business edition computers can get the Windows 7 Professional upgrade while the Vista Ultimate users will get the Windows 7 Ultimate versions.

The company’s announcement follows HP’s deal that was announced on Thursday. The deals are only available to businesses and consumers that have less than 25 PCs.

Source: Information Week

© Technibble - A Resource for Computer Technicians to start or improve their computer business
To get started with your own computer business, check out our Computer Business Kit.

Lenovo’s Windows 7 Promotion