TechUnboxed

How to Disable Aero Shake in Windows 8

2013-05-13T18:06:00.000-04:00

Aero Shake, a feature that debuted in Windows 7, allows the user to minimize the all the other open windows on the desktop by grabbing and shaking one of the windows. I've always found Aero Shake to be a little annoying, but I wasn't surprised to see that Microsoft carried this feature over to Windows 8. Let’s take a look at how to turn it off.
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How to Connect to Office 365 with Windows PowerShell

2013-05-08T17:26:00.000-04:00

Windows PowerShell is a powerful tool for managing users in Office 365. We've looked at setting up PowerShell to work with Office 365. Let's look at how to connect PowerShell to Office 365.
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How to Install and Configure PowerShell for Office 365 in Windows 8

2013-04-29T16:11:00.000-04:00

The Office 365 online administrative interface is somewhat limited in its abilities. The PowerShell command line interface is needed to accomplish some of the less frequently used tasks and some tasks that seem like that should be included in the online GUI. Windows 8 includes PowerShell, but some setup is required for it to work with Office 365.
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Guglielmo Marconi [Heroes of Science and Technology]

2013-04-25T21:00:00.000-04:00

Many of man’s technological marvels are not really invented, they’re discovered. Certain technologies are inevitable for humans to develop. If the heroes of science and technology didn't get it done when they did, it would have been just a matter of time before some other brilliant person came along and found the telephone, the light bulb, or the automobile for example. Things would probably not have turned out exactly the same if someone else discovered them first, but for the most part they would be indistinguishable from what we have today.

Both discovery and exploration are nothing but races to see who gets to the finish line first. Very little is truly “before its time.” It takes the right person, armed with enough of the appropriate technology, at the right time in history to make a find. Guglielmo Marconi didn't discover electromagnetic waves. He didn't even discover radio. He was the first to make it practical. Marconi lived an extraordinary life steeped in the history of his day.
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How to Install .NET Framework 3.5 on Windows 8

2013-04-22T18:28:00.000-04:00

Version 4.5 of the .NET Framework is included with Windows 8 and is probably already installed on your Windows 8 PC. Some applications require specific versions of the .NET Framework and will sometimes prompt users to download and install the required version. If the application doesn't offer to install the proper version of the.NET Framework, it can easily be enabled via the Windows Features interface.
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Velleman MK121NTSC TV Tennis Game Kit [Review]

2013-03-28T16:17:00.000-04:00

Video games enjoy a unique status. Few things are so beloved at one point in time and so ridiculously out of date within a few short years. Atari’s home version of Pong came out in 1975. Just 10 years later the Nintendo Entertainment System made it look like a joke. Comparing Pong to today’s video games like Call of Duty, Madden, or Skyrim would be a waste of time, but there is hope. Today you can build your own table tennis game in less than an hour with the Velleman TV Tennis Game Kit. Good luck trying to build your own Xbox.

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Monoprice HDX(C)-301E 3-Port HDMI Switch [Review]

2013-03-15T17:29:00.000-04:00

Monoprice is often associated with good quality but inexpensive audio/visual interconnect cables, switches, adapters and so on. I've had some experience with Monoprice products in the past and have been pleased with both the cost and the quality. I recently needed a HDMI switch and I picked up the Monoprice HDX(C)-301E. Let’s check it out.

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Lise Meitner [Heroes of Science and Technology]

2013-03-08T08:07:00.000-05:00

Who are your heroes? If you've ever been asked that question or asked yourself that question, you're likely to answer with examples of people to whom you can relate. People who are, or you might like to believe are, very much like yourself. Today is International Woman’s Day and it seems like a good time for me to ask myself, "What woman would I consider a hero?" A few names come instantly to mind, but it's certainly more difficult than choosing an example from my own gender. While a huge chunk of my brain is spent thinking about women, their names just don't jump into my head when I think about heroes.
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Tempduino - Arduino Based Temp and Humidity Display

2013-03-06T16:33:00.000-05:00

The temperature in my office at work varies quite a bit depending on the time of day, season, and the whims of the other people I share the floor with. When I’m sitting at my desk shaking uncontrollably or sweating profusely it would be nice to know if it’s due to the temperature or just work related stress. A simple $5.00 thermometer would suffice, but where’s the fun in that? Making my own thermometer might cost ten times as much, but I might learn something in the process and it would be way cooler than any cheap store bought thing? I’d rather make something myself even if I have to pay a “maker’s premium.”
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Arduino Clone Kit Shootout

2013-03-02T08:37:00.000-05:00

The Arduino is arguably one of the most copied bits of open source hardware ever. Some of those copies are straight rip offs, but there are plenty of clones out there that take the design and improve or change it in some way. I've rounded up six, open source and commercially available, Arduino compatible devices to find out how they stack up to each other and the Arduino Uno.

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How to set up Windows To Go in Windows 8

2013-02-15T20:04:00.000-05:00

Included as a feature in the Enterprise edition of Windows 8, Windows To Go is intended as a portable version of a corporate Windows 8 desktop that enterprises can distribute to their users. A little more simply put, Windows To Go is a bootable Windows 8 install on a USB drive. Depending on your needs, you may find other uses for it and it could be a handy tool to keep in your bag. Here's how to set it up.
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The Digispark is Here [Review]

2013-01-28T17:20:00.000-05:00

After what seemed like a long wait, the Digispark has finally arrived… at least mine have. As a backer of the Digispark Kickstarter, my three little Arduino compatible development boards arrived a few weeks ago. I’m not sure what I’m going to do with these things yet, but let’s take a look and see what they’re all about.
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The OSH Park Experience [Review]

2013-01-20T19:39:00.000-05:00

In early December I designed my first circuit board, a simple USB breakout, and submitted it to OSH Park for fabrication. While this is my first board and I don’t have any other experience, I have a feeling it's going to be tough to beat the OSH Park experience.

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Adafruit Standalone AVR ISP Programmer Shield Kit [Review]

2013-01-13T15:55:00.000-05:00

I've become somewhat of an Arduino guy. The popularity of the Arduino platform over the last few years makes me think that I might not be only one that’s been taken with these little development boards. Somewhere along the way I decided that making my own Arduinos is not only a decent learning experience, but it’s cost effective and allows me to integrate Arduinos directly into my projects.

One of the things that makes an Arduino an Arduino is that it interfaces with the Arduino integrated development environment (IDE). This is accomplished by a small program loaded on the Arduino’s microcontroller called a bootloader. The microcontroller that the Arduino Uno uses, the Atmel ATMega328, is readily available through a number of electronics retailers, but they don’t come preloaded with the Arduino bootloader. Some retailers sell chips with bootloaders on them, but if you’re building your Arduinos with blank chips, you’ll need something like the Adafruit Standalone AVR ISP Programmer Shield to put the bootloader on the chip.
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How to set up DFS Replication in Windows Server 2008 R2

2012-11-28T19:38:00.000-05:00

DFS Replication is an easy and effective way to replicate data between servers. When changes are detected in a file, only the blocks that change are replicated. Consequently, DFS Replication works efficiently over low bandwidth connections. This makes DFS Replication an excellent option for, among other uses, replicating data from remote locations to a central office. Let’s check it out.

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GOgroove SMARTmini AUX

2012-11-02T15:00:00.000-04:00

Spend any significant amount of time sitting in a vehicle and you might discover that terrestrial radio just doesn’t cut it, especially in this day and age of in-car entertainment systems with satellite radio, mp3, audio book, and podcast support. Unfortunately, not everyone has a new car with Bluetooth connectivity, USB ports, and touchscreens. There are a number of Bluetooth car kits available but very few at the price point of the GOgroove SMARTmini AUX. I picked one up the other day to use in my pickup truck. Let’s check it out.

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GrrCON 2012 - 2 Days of Info Sec and Hacking in MICHIGAN!?

2012-10-02T16:27:00.000-04:00

Living in the metropolitan Detroit area can lead to a somewhat jaded outlook. Detroit gets kicked around, and not undeservedly, often enough that it’s become somewhat of a running joke. Don’t get me wrong, I’m proud of my home and I’m one of the first to defend the good things in Detroit, but living in or near a city in decline makes me tend to look for places that are as bad or worse when I travel. Yes, unfortunately, there are places that are as bad or worse than Detroit. Grand Rapids doesn't appear to be one of them.

From the outside, Grand Rapids seemed like an unlikely place for an Information Security conference until I actually attended GrrCON. I missed GrrCON last year and it’s been a long long time since I’ve done anything in Grand Rapids but drive through. Now that I’m home and the conference is over it seems like a great place to hold a hacker conference and I can’t wait for next year.
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DIY Fume Extractor

2012-09-22T13:39:00.000-04:00

I've spent too much time breathing the stuff that emanates from the tips of soldering irons. After checking out the available fume extractors, I thought I could do better putting something together myself. If it didn't turn out that way, at least it would be my loud, expensive, and low air flow fume extractor. Maker's remorse is always better than buyer’s remorse.
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How to Change the Product Key in Windows 8

2012-09-14T10:07:00.000-04:00

Windows 8 activation got you down? Trying to activate the wrong key or the wrong kind of key? Use the Software License Management Tool and these easy steps to get your install activated.

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Dangerous Prototypes ATX Breakout Board [Review]

2012-08-29T20:44:00.000-04:00

The day after I posted my review of Sparkfun’s Benchtop Power Board Kit, Dangerous Prototypes posted their latest project, the ATX Breakout Board. Curiosity got the better of me and I ordered one. After waiting for the shipment for the Orient and a few days of playing tag with my postal carrier, he finally got a signature for the international parcel and I got the Dangerous Prototypes ATX Breakout Board in my hands. Add a month or so of moving it around and doing other stuff, and voila a post. Let’s check it out.
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How to Disable IPv6 in Windows 8

2012-08-17T17:12:00.000-04:00

IPv6 is the imminent next evolution of the Internet protocol, but it can cause problems with legacy equipment and DNS in certain environments. Disabling IPv6 is an easy way to fix certain network issues with Windows machines. If you're not experiencing problems, there's no reason to disable IPv6. Otherwise, it's easy to turn on and off by editing the Windows registry. Let's check it out.
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Kinivo BTH220 Bluetooth Stereo Headphones [Review]

2012-08-06T19:20:00.000-04:00

While looking for inexpensive wireless headphones that I could use for listening to music and podcasts at work, I stumbled upon the Kinivo BTH220 Bluetooth Stereo Headphones. An unknown manufacture and a relatively low price didn’t keep me from ordering a pair and I’ve been using them for almost a month now. Let’s check ‘em out.

Maker Faire Detroit Photos - Part 2

2012-07-30T09:21:00.000-04:00

Maker Faire pictures... part 2.
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Maker Faire Detroit Photos - Part 1

2012-07-28T23:20:00.000-04:00

Copious amounts of Detroit Maker Faire pictures... part 1
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How to Transfer FSMO Roles in Windows Server 2008 R2

2012-07-23T17:40:00.000-04:00

There are a number of reasons why an administrator would want to change the placement of Flexible Single Master Operations (FSMO) roles. Arguably, the most common reason is due to an upgrade or replacement of domain controller hardware. The procedure for transferring FSMO roles in Windows Server 2008 R2 is similar to how it is done in other versions of Windows Server. Let’s check it out.
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