Web/Tech Stuff

Microsoft partner: Vista less secure than XP

2007-03-19T05:32:00.000-05:00

Security company Kaspersky claimed that Vista's User Account Control (UAC), the system of user privileges that can be used to restrict users' administrative rights, will be so annoying that users will disable it.

Natalya Kaspersky, the company's chief executive, said that without UAC, Vista will be less secure than Windows XP SP2. "There's a question mark if Vista security has improved, or has really dropped down," she said to our sister site ZDNet UK at the CeBIT show in Hanover last week.

Kaspersky provides one of the scanning engines in ForeFront, Microsoft's business security product.

Arno Edelmann, business security product manager for Microsoft, said that Kaspersky's claims were surprising. "We have a thriving community of partners, and Kasperky is one of our best partners," Edelmann told ZDNet UK. "I find their statements a little strange because they have one of the best insights into Microsoft security products."

After being roundly criticised over its security strategy in the past, Microsoft has done a lot of work to improve its approach and has been touting Vista as its most secure operating system. But Kaspersky confirmed that her analysts had found five ways to bypass Vista's UAC, and that malware writers will find more security holes.

Kaspersky also added her voice to Symantec and McAfee complaints that PatchGuard, designed to protect the Vista kernel, is hindering security companies' work.

"PatchGuard doesn't allow legitimate security vendors to do what we used to do," said Kaspersky.

Symantec has claimed that PatchGuard is hurting security vendors more than it was hurting malware writers. Bruce McCorkendale, a chief engineer at Symantec, said: "There are types of security policies and next-generation security products that can only work through some of the mechanisms that PatchGuard prohibits."

Eugene Kaspersky, the company founder, said last Thursday that while vendors had to interact with Vista legitimately, hackers were under no such constraints.

"Cybercriminals seem not to care about Vista licensing," said Eugene Kaspersky. "They don't need to follow regulations or be certified by Microsoft -- antivirus vendors do."

Making Free IPods Pay Off

2007-03-06T12:29:00.000-06:00

Unless you're extremely gullible, the promise of getting a free iPod from FreeiPods.com looks extremely dubious.

But surprisingly, the site appears to be legitimate. The program almost certainly isn't a dodgy pyramid scheme; it's a new form of online marketing supported by companies like eBay, AOL and Columbia House.

And while lots of happy customers are popping up all over the internet brandishing new iPods, analysts are skeptical of the economics.

Here's how it works: FreeiPods.com promises an iPod or a $250 gift certificate to anyone who signs up for various online promotions and persuades five other people to participate.

Subscribers are given a choice of 10 different offers, including a 45-day trial of AOL and a two-week trial of Ancestry.com's genealogy service. Typically, the offers are free and easily canceled.

Once the trials are over -- for both the main subscriber and the referrals -- the free iPod is dispatched.

"Of course I was skeptical, but I didn't see any harm in trying," said Collin Grady, 22, from Salem, Oregon, who received his free iPod earlier this month and wrote about it on his blog.

"They never once asked for a credit card number and I didn't have to pay shipping," he said. "I just told them where to send it.... All in all, a very painless process."

Indeed, some customers are so delighted that they've set up affiliate websites, called "conga lines," to persuade others the program isn't a swindle.

"So many people on the web think FreeiPods.com is a scam; I just wanted to prove them wrong," said John Sauer, a 19-year-old student at Boston's Berklee College of Music, who runs Free iPods and FlatScreens .com.

Another site, 17-year-old Tyler Derheim's FreeiPodGuide, features pictures of the delivery truck outside his house, his receipt and, of course, his new iPod.

FreeiPods is one of several websites run by Gratis Internet, a Washington, D.C., "customer acquisition" company owned by Peter Martin and Rob Jewell.

"I can definitely understand the skepticism," said Martin. "A lot of people believe there's no free lunch, but it's definitely not a scam. It's 100 percent legitimate. We're shipping (iPods) every day."

In a joint interview, Martin and Jewell denied the site is a pyramid scheme, like the myriad matrix schemes advertised on eBay, which also promise free iPods.

Instead, they explained, Gratis Internet is paid a bounty for sending potential customers to sites like AOL, eBay or RealNetworks.

"We're a marketing firm," said Jewell. "We're sending these people to our advertisers. We cringe when we hear 'pyramid' or 'scheme.' We're more closely associated with viral marketing, with the subservient chicken, than Amway."

They declined to specify the bounty, and said the firm doesn't deal directly with the companies involved. Rather, Gratis Internet is commissioned by third-party marketing agencies, such as San Francisco's Adteractive.

For the last four years, Gratis Internet has operated customer-acquisition programs through FreeCDs.com, FreeDVDs.com, FreeVideoGames.com and FreeCondoms.com.

The company has sent out more than $3 million worth of free merchandise, Martin said, including 5 million to 6 million condoms.

Since the launch of FreeiPods.com in June, the site has dispatched more than 2,500 iPods, Martin said, worth more than $1 million.

But in the last few weeks traffic has exploded. Martin claimed nearly 1 million people have recently enrolled in the program, though he said the majority are using phony names and/or addresses.

Martin said about 200,000 are using "confirmed identities," and are in the process of receiving their free iPods. The process takes between six and eight weeks, Martin said. If all are redeemed, the company will be giving away $50 million worth of iPods.

Jewell insisted FreeiPods.com would be able to keep up with demand.

"Its really important people trust us and get their iPods," Jewell said. "We want people to get their iPods because it helps our legitimacy. We count on our users to validate us."

Diego Canoso, Adteractive's vice president of sales, said FreeiPods.com is a lawful and well-run customer-acquisition program.

"We've been working with these guys for more than three years," said Canoso. "They are very good at what they do."

Canoso also declined to specify the advertisers' bounties, but said they can range between $25 and $90, depending on the program and the kind of customer it attracts.

"The money we give these guys (Gratis Internet) is enough to fulfill the promise that the customers come in for," Canoso said.

Canoso said while $90 seems like a lot, it is peanuts compared to the millions spent on TV and magazine ads, which don't guarantee new customers.

"Companies like Columbia House (and) credit card companies, they're happy to pay for customers," Canoso said. "They're happy to send out iPods because they're getting customers in return. Capture is expensive, and they're paying after they've acquired the customer."

And while a lot of customers cancel after the free trial, enough don't to make it worthwhile, Canoso said.

Gary Stein, an analyst with Jupiter Research who follows online marketing, said he was skeptical of the program's economics.

"It seems too good to be true," he said. "You can imagine getting a free CD, but a free iPod is a really big break."

However, Stein said the program is lent some legitimacy by the involvement of Adteractive.

"Adteractive is reputable, without a doubt," Stein said. "It would be a lot more questionable if they were working on their own."

Stein said affiliate marketing has typically been associated with "bottom feeders," but has become more respectable, and profitable, since eBay started paying bounties for new, registered users.

"Affiliate marketing is really taking off," Stein said. "EBay has given it legitimacy.... There's definitely still scoundrels ... but there's tens of thousands of people involved. It's backyard entrepreneurial."

Adteractive's Canoso said FreeiPods.com is at the forefront of performance-based marketing.

"The model is beautiful," he said. "(The companies) are paying for a specific customer after acquiring the customer. It's not branding. It's not non-responsive advertising.... It's low-risk marketing. It's a very efficient system."

There is a record of a resolved complaint against Gratis Internet at the Washington, D.C., Better Business Bureau.

The complaint doesn't specify the grievance, or grievances, and the bureau's director said she couldn't elaborate. Martin and Jewell said they had no idea what the issue was. It was likely a minor "glitch," they said.

FreeiPods.com is certified by Truste, which means the site adheres to the organization's privacy standards. It does not mean the site can be trusted to send out free iPods.

AOL and Ancestry.com didn't respond to requests for comment. The Federal Trade Commission said it doesn't talk about individual companies unless the company is being prosecuted.

The Geek's Guide to Getting Free Stuff

2007-03-06T12:25:00.000-06:00

The Geek's Guide to Getting Free Stuff

Whoever it was that said, "There's no such thing as a free lunch," didn't know about the Internet. There are a lot of free things online, and a lot of it is actually legitimate and valuable. Better yet, many of them won't spam you with additional offers unless you've okayed it.

There are also offline ways to get free stuff, most of which you don't have to pay anything for, or very little (taxes, shipping). So here's our list of ways to get free junk or links to other lists. Most of what's here should appeal to the geek, and since most geeks still drink, eat and bathe, there are some freebies listed in that vein.

Books and Magazines

BookCrossing. Book exchange. Leave a book somewhere in public, then post it's location at the site. Make it sort of a treasure hunt.
BookMooch. They do the book swap a bit differently. You ship it out to the person who requests it, and they pay postage.
Freebies.About. List of magazine subscription offers, including some for anime and Windows computer games.
PaperBackSwap. Book exchange.
Project Gutenberg. Free classic copyright-free/expired texts in digital format, with some mobile e-formats.
Title Trader. Book exchange.

Conferences and Tradeshows

Some tips for getting swag at tradeshows and conferences. Most of these are gleaned from John Chow's How to get free stuff at trade shows, unless otherwise linked to.

Show up early. A lot of the small bags of software and mousepads, etc., are in limited supply and are given out on the first day of a show.
Ask for samples. If you don't see any, you can always ask at a booth.
Get a media pass. If you're going to be reviewing products on your blog, show proof of that, and you might get your hands on some nice swag. You may need to show a business license and/or Federal Tax number to a tradeshow official.
Make an appointment. An exhibitor may have more samples but may need to retrieve them.
Crash parties. Some companies will have side parties in the evenings where they give stuff away.
Work for it.
Wait until the end. At some shows, exhibitors may not want to pack up items.

Credit Card and Banking Bonuses, Grants

Some credit cards offer bonuses, some points/air miles, and some a 0% APR.

Credit card extras. For nerds and geeks, with bonuses or points.
Balance transfers. If you have good credit, you can earn money using 0% APR credit card balance transfers, at not cost to you.
Air miles credit cards.

Gadgets, Accessories, Electronics Components

Science/tech and hobby electronics stuff you can actually get gratis.

Free iPods. Wired gives you the lowdown on the legitimacy of these offers. Great for the geek with no shame in annoying friends to sign up.
iFrogz SnatchIt Tuesdays. Every Tuesday, iFrogz is doing a giveaway for gadgets and accessories with their Snatch It promo.
Flatscreens. Forever Geek writes about how the freeflatscreens.com promo works.
Petri dishes. Admit it; you have an experiment growing in your fridge. Make it official with a petri dish.
Microchips and electronics components. Build that robot to take over the world with as many free parts as you can.
Wi-Fi routers. Well, the 1500 units that Weblog GigaOm gave away are gone, but you can bet that they and other popular tech sites such as Techcrunch will have giveaways in the future.

Hotels, Flights, Vacations

To get to the tradeshows and conferences mentioned above, you may need accomodations or a flight.

Work reimbursement. Want to go to a tradeshow? Maybe you can do it on behalf of your employer and get your fares and accomodations reimbursed. Never hurts to ask.
Get bumped. Volunteer to be bumped on an overbooked flight, and get a free voucher for a future flight.
Surf for promos. Trip sites will sometimes have free ticket contests or promos. Sometimes companies will give away tickets in conjunction with a theme park or something you've purchased.
Be a sports fan. And get free swag, including free flights.
Airmiles. If you have an Airmiles credit card, you'll accumulate points with each purchase. When you have enough, you can get freebies including free flights.
Frequent flyer points. Airlines sometimes offer points each time you pay for tickets. These are similar to Airmiles points.

Music, Samples, Ringtones

When you're chilling out between coding, or whatever geek thing you do, listen to some free music, create your own with audio samples and special effects. Or maybe you want some ringtones for your phone.

Freebies.About. A list of links to free MP3s and music CDs.
Modern Beats. Free drum and other audio samples for Reason and other audio software.
SampleCraze. Drum samples, loops & breaks, and music production ebooks.
SampleNet. All kinds of loop samples.
SampleSwap. Professional quality audio samples.
SoundDogs.
Top Sample Sites. This one's actually a list of audio sample sites, great for the aspiring geek DJ.
Virtual Concert. A list of links to free music downloads and other freebies.
Ear training software. Want to play your own music? Free ear training software will teach you to play your fave tunes by ear.
Cellphones.About. A list of links for finding free ringtones.

Phone Calls

Why pay for phone calls when you can get them free? Here's a list of lists or actual Websites offering free calls, with or without VoIP software.

Wikipedia. Has an incomplete comparison list of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) software for Internet phone calls.
MyVoIPProvider. Another big list of free VoIP software.
Tech Faq. Another list of free VoIP software.
Ad-based free calls. Examples: AdCalls and Globe7.

Software and Web Services

There's loads of free clipart, software, and Web 2.0 applications and services. Here are some lists in that respect.

All Things Web2.0. A directory of Web 2.0 applications, grouped by voting/popularity.
Thomas Kutschis. A big list of Web 2.0 apps, grouped by category.
Listible. A gigantic list of (mostly) free Web 2.0 apps.
Web2.0 List. A 10-page list of Web 2.0 apps.
Web2.0 Search Engine. A list of Web 2.0 lists.
Download.com. Freeware, shareware.
FSF/UNESCO. Free Software Foundation's guide to 5,300 free software packages.
Nonags. Freeware, shareware.
Sourceforge. Freeware.
Tucows. Freeware, shareware, Web 2.0.
VMUNet. Freeware, shareware.
WebSearch.About. A list of freeware lists and links.
Email.About. List of free email accounts.
EmailAddresses. Lists of free Web-based and POP3 email accounts.
Prospector. List of free email accounts.
YahooDirectory. List of free email providers.
ACM. List of computer graphics and geometrical modelling software.
Harvard. Harvard University's Impoverished social scientist's guide to free statistical software.
NetJaxer. NetJaxer Desktop is a handy downloadable app that gives you roadmap of the top Web 2.0 applications and makes it easy for you to sign up.
NIST GAMS. NIST.gov's guide to math software, some of it free.
Sofotex. List of font and icon tools, 3D imaging software and graphics viewers.
University of Haifa. List of mathematical software and resources.
University of London. List of free graphics software for X-Windows and the Cygwin environment for MS-Windows.
Wikipedia. List of mathematics/infographics software.
CMS Watch. Information on various content management systems (CMSes). Get a free sample report.
Alex King. Alex King's WordPress theme browser.
MovableType. List of MT plugins.
PC World. Short list of some free blog platforms.
PimpMyBlog. List of blog platforms, mostly free.
ProBlogger. Links to lists of WordPress and Blogger templates.
Emily Robbins. List of 980+ free WordPress 1.5.x and 2.0.x themes/templates.
Smashing Magazine. 83 beautiful WordPress themes you haven't seen.
Weblog Tools Collection. Links to many blogging resources, mostly WordPress.

Freebie Lists

Here are links to freebie directories or lists of links to particular offers.

DailyEDeals.
Freebies.About. Freebies.About.com also has a master index of free services and samples.
FreebieList.
TheFreeSite.

How-Tos (Online/Offline)

A few tips on how a geek can get swagged, either from blogging or offline means.

Play the media card. Call somewhere, such as Domino's Pizza, and say you're a journalist. Get a free pizza.
Run ads on your blog. If you do well with the ad programs running on your Weblog, you might just get freebies from them.
Blog product reviews. There are a number of agencies (PayPerPost, ReviewMe, LoudLaunch, SponsoredReviews) who pay you to review their advertisers' products. They might also send you freebies from the advertisers or gifts from themselves.
Blog gadgets and tech. Companies sometimes send high-profile bloggers freebies, like the Vista laptops that Microsoft sent.
Blog movies. Most geeks like movies. If you are good at movie reviews and can build a high-traffic site, you just might get invites to film premieres or get sent DVD releases. The same goes for music.
Consumer surveys. Okay, this isn't blogging, but some survey companies are legit and offer gifts and/or cash. (Do your research before joining.)
Just ask. Some companies don't mind being (e)mailed and asked for product, especially if you're writing about it and can give some proof. Software companies are especially good for this, since it costs them very little to let you download.
Just pray. Garage sales, church sales and flea markets sometimes have boxes of "junk", with some very valuable collectible hiding underneath. But if you don't want to look through the entire area, consider coming before closing time, and some nice older person may give you, the dishevelled looking geek student a free box of stuff for helping pack up stuff.
Right place, right time. With the competition for the consumer dollar for computers, peripherals and electronics products, you'll find rebate promos from time to time in the larger box stores. You'll usually have to pay up front, including taxes, then get a mail-in rebate (taxes usually not reimbursed). Similarly, computer resellers will often give away free cameras, phones, printers, MP3 players and so on when you buy a new computer. Not strictly free, but if you're getting a new computer anyway...

Miscellaneous

There are a variety of freebie types listed here, including specific items or company offers, items that require shipping costs, and rebate-style offers (which may require that taxes be paid).

Bplans. Free sample business plans, for the geek dreaming of launching a Web 2.0 startup.
RFPTemplates. Need for people to bid on services for your startup? Here are some free RFP (Request For Proposal) sample templates.
Post-it notes. What would a startup be without Post-it notes?
Slake your thirst. Sip on free lemonade, coffee, tea, milk (lactose intolerant?), or dehydrated water while reading those RFPs. And get your vitamins in liquid form. Bee pollen, anyone?
Pets. Many startups allow employees to bring pets. Have some pet freebies on hand.
Free-After-Rebate. You may have to buy some things for your business, then get rebated. FreeAfterRebate highlights 100% rebate deals.
Get personal. All those RFPs giving you a headache? Or maybe making you horny, thinking of how you're the next hot Web 2.0 startup? Get a shave, treat your hair, use some skin lotion or grab some cologne, and have protection. For the ladies.

Originally posted: http://www.rewardprograms.org/thefreegeek/features/the_geeks_guide_to_getting_free_stuff.html

Help Key: How-To Fix an iPod that Won’t Boot

2007-03-06T12:23:00.000-06:00

There’s a conspiracy theory that Steve Jobs wants you to buy a new iPod every 12 months. That may or may not be the case, but if your iPod is hosed, it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s time to put it out to pasture. Most iPods are user-fixable and you don’t need to be a total geek to make it work.

An iPod, no matter which version you have, is basically a self-contained, battery-operated, pocket-sized computer. All the components that a regular laptop has are represented: display, battery, storage, RAM, and logic board. This is what makes the iPod something easily fixable: the pieces are just scaled-down versions of their PC analogues, and are put together in the same basic way. This means if you can isolate your iPod’s problem, you can fix it.

There are a number of things that can go wrong with an iPod, but, like any other computer, the majority of the ailments are hard-drive based, usually taking the form of a boot error: either a sad iPod face, constant Apple logo, or folder-with-exclamation-mark icon when it’s turned on. Fortunately, these problems are easier to fix than people realize, and we’ve come up with a five-point plan for getting your little friend back on its feet. Some of our advice is straight from Apple, but some of it is a little more guerrilla. Take heed, though, as the farther into our plan you delve, the greater the chances you’ll kill your warranty or permanently damage your iPod. But, then, if you’re desperate enough to go that far, chances are your warranty is up anyway, so what have you to lose, adventurer?

Apple’s superb design of the iPod isn’t just what you see on the outside, the inside is organized into easily recognizable parts that can be manipulated and removed with very few tools. Indeed, a very thin, flat-head screwdriver is all most repairs require. If you’re fixing a Mini, you might also consider a hair dryer to melt the industrial adhesive that holds the tops on. For our illustrations, we’ve used a 5G iPod with video, but the steps for any disk-based iPod are more or less the same.

Step 1: Doing things the Apple way

Most crashed iPods can be fixed by simply resetting the device. Because they’re computers, iPods can crash. By initiating the iPod version of a reboot, you reload the iPods software, hopefully writing over the troublesome spots in memory.

On the majority of iPods, holding the Menu and Select buttons (Select being the middle button of the Clickwheel) for 6 to 10 seconds will force the iPod to reboot, clearing the memory and bringing it back to life. The first couple generations of iPod have their own button sequences, but they’re just as easy to actuate.

Apple recommends a few other steps if this doesn’t remedy your problem, including plugging the iPod into a different port or computer, restarting your PC or Mac, and reinstalling the iPod desktop software. If these actions don’t restore your iPod to full functionality, then the problem lies deeper and more drastic steps are needed.

Step 2: Restoring to factory conditions

If your iPod worked fine the day you got it, but is now acting possessed, then it’s possible it has a problem with its file structure or software. This cannot be remedied by resets, as the problem is static between boots. This means that the problem has to be manually deleted from the iPod, which, sadly, means it will take all of your content with it.

Fortunately it’s a painless process, and if you keep your iTunes updated, then re-syncing after a restore brings you up to speed quickly. To really make this go well, you should make sure you’ve got the most recent version of iTunes installed.

Plug your iPod into a USB port, just as you would to sync with iTunes. When it shows up in the left-hand pane of iTunes, you’ll see a button in the main content window that says restore. Click it. You’ll be warned that you’re going to erase everything, but you know that already. Select Restore and Update to kill the troublesome code in storage and bring it up to the latest factory settings. This works. After it’s updated, it’s simply a matter of syncing with iTunes, and you’re hopefully good to go.

Step 3: Minor surgery

If your iPod is still giving you trouble at this point, then it means you’ve got a hardware problem. That folder icon means your hard drive is having a physical problem that’s stopping the iPod’s processor from getting to the data it needs. This problem is common, and contrary to what you might think, it doesn’t always mean that your hard disk is hosed. In fact, it’s our experience that this easy trick will fix most advanced issues for free and in about 15 minutes.

You’ll have to open up your iPod for this trick, so if you’re squeamish, you might want to default to a gear-minded friend. Even if you’re not, you should have a look through the detailed step-by-step guides at iFixit to get an idea of what’s ahead. A wrong move could render your iPod dead for good.

While the guides recommend a special plastic iPod opening tool, you can easily substitute a flat-head screwdriver, though you risk gouging your iPod’s trim. One tool we’ve used that worked out nicely was a sturdy plastic guitar pick, but anything firm and fairly thin should work. The iPod is basically held together with industrial glue. Starting at the side, work your shim around the exterior of the iPod where the metal meets the plastic. The two main halves should then separate with little more than gentle wiggling.

Remove the metal back of the iPod to expose the innards, but not too much: there may be a very important ribbon cable that connects the audio jack and hold switch to the main body that is a complete pain in the ass to reattach if it becomes detached. Don’t do that.

The foam-covered metal unit at the very top is the hard drive, and probably your problem. First make sure all the cables to and from each component are secure. If so, then we go to the magic. These hard drives get warm as they spin, and the metal casings warp outwards. Some hard drives won’t work correctly when the casing isn’t secure. The solution is to put the pressure back on the disks.

Find a business card or similar small piece of paper (here I used a bar coaster), and fold it to be about 1/16th of an inch or so, and rip it to be about a 1-inch-by-1-inch square. Place it carefully on the hard drive (watch out for those ribbon cables), and replace the backing.

Using the reset steps above, reboot the iPod. Chances are, it’ll boot up nicely and work just as it did before without any problems. You may have to restore it again, though, as the former problem may have prohibited that fix. If you’re skeptical, and you should be, try it out. It has really worked on six of the seven broken iPods we’ve tried it on, with the only hold-out sadly requiring the next step.

Step 4: Major surgery

If nothing else works, and the hard drive is still not working correctly, then it’s probably toast. The Achilles’ Heel of the iPod is the hard disk; they’re smaller than the HD in your laptop or desktop, and with mini-drives come maxi-problems. The good news is that now that you know how to get into your iPod, it’s pretty easy to replace this component.

You will need, however, a donor disk drive. You can find them used on eBay, but we recommend getting a new disk from iFixit, as they’re guaranteed to be compatible and they come with a warranty. If you’re doing this kind of work on your iPod, you’re going to want to make sure your new drive works, right?

To start, open the iPod back up, remove the coaster (you wanted that number, anyway), and lift the hard disk from the top end of the iPod. Remove the blue rubber bumpers and white plastic top (shock absorbers) and carefully pull the drive a quarter-inch to the top of the iPod. You’ll note a thin ribbon cable at the “bottom” end of the drive. Using your screwdriver, carefully work the ribbon out of the drive. This ribbon carries the data and power to and from the disk, once it’s detached, the disk should slide out easily. Remove the foam and find your donor disk.

Put the rubber bumpers and foam onto the new disk and put it right where the old one was. Carefully replace the ribbon to the drive and close the iPod up. At this point, you’ll need to do another factory restore in iTunes to write the iPod operating system and software onto the new drive. Once it’s done, sync it up and you’re good to go.

Step 5: Prayer

If a new hard drive isn’t helping, then the problem is probably with the logic board itself. While the board is replaceable, it’s beyond the scope of this article and not nearly as easy to execute as a hard disk replacement. At this point, you must decide if you want to attempt to fix it yourself (not a task for the weak-hearted), have it professionally repaired (not cheap, but better than buying new), or sell it for parts, using the income towards a new iPod.

Yes, it sucks, but nothing is guaranteed. But look at it this way: a new iPod means a new chance for something to go wrong, which means you can try these steps again, this time knowing exactly what you’re doing.

Don’t try these repairs on your new iPod; these are for “bricked” units that nobody will care about should you muck it up. But if you do have success, let us know here, it makes us feel warm and fuzzy knowing that we’ve helped.

uTorrent add-on for Firefox

2006-11-11T00:50:00.000-06:00

Ah, the marriage of two of my favorite programs, uTorrent and Firefox. Over at TorrentFreak they've got an add-on for Firefox that integrates the two, putting uTorrent's WebUI (which you must download separately) in Firefox's sidebar and reporting you download and upload speeds in the status bar.

The µTorrent WebUI can be used to access µTorrent from an external computer. This also opens the possibility to handle your torrents from your browser window. We’ve discovered a Firefox extension that makes using the WebUI a lot easier.

The Firefox extension for µTorrent allows you to drag and drop .torrent links onto the WebUI window and shows the current upload and download speed in the status bar.

The upload and download speed remains visible if you close the WebUI screen. The extension works fine in Firefox 2.0.

In order to use the Firefox extension you need to install the WebUI, and have µTorrent up and running. Once you’ve installed the extension (direct download), you need to enter your settings (IP address, port & password) in the configuration screen of the Firefox extension and you’re ready to go.

WebUI in the Firefox sidebar & torrent speed indication in the taskbar

You can use the Alt+U shortcut to show and hide the sidebar window, and try adding some torrents by dragging links to .torrent file onto the WebUI screen. Although this version of the extension is just an experimental release, all seems to work fine. For more info, the latest updates, and bug reporting hop over to the thread at the µTorrent forums.

Gmail's New Features

2006-11-10T16:57:00.000-06:00

Found these new messages on Gmail today

This one pops-up when you open a mail and are interested in replying to that
(The regular/old way was to reply by clicking on the left bottom link within the message frame, and its still there)

Clicking on the drop down arrow

This one shows up right after the mail is sent

Coscto to sell iPod batteries

2005-10-01T19:52:00.000-05:00

Rechargeable battery fits iPod click-wheel models and photo models for continuous use.

Compatible with iPod click-wheel models (4^th generation) and photo models
3.7V
720 MAH
Li-Ion
Includes rechargeable battery, tools and easy installation instructions

This item is covered by Costco's guarantee to refund your purchase price if you are not completely satisfied. Costco's guarantee applies, even though this item may not be covered by the manufacturer's warranty, because Costco is not an "authorized" dealer of the merchandise.

Shipping will be calculated at checkout based on your ship-to location.

Standard shipping is via UPS Ground. The estimated delivery time will be approximately 7 - 10 business days from the time of order.

Express shipping is via UPS Air. The estimated delivery time will be approximately 3 - 6 business days from the time of order.

Please choose your shipping method at checkout.

Costco.com offers merchandise which complements our warehouse product selection. Therefore, most items available on our web site are unique to costco.com.

Costco.com products can be returned to any of our more than 400 Costco warehouses worldwide.

[Model ERP6160183]

HERE

What can FireTune do for you?

2005-10-01T19:00:00.001-05:00

"According to your specific computer speed and internet connection speed, FireTune will optimize several internal settings of Firefox for better performance. FireTune does NOT modify the Firefox executable, or any other Firefox binary file. Everything can be undone easily provided you saved your original profile configuration file with FireTune's profile backup feature before."

Get FireTune HERE

OpenOffice 2.0 upgrades from Beta to R.C.

2005-10-01T18:55:00.000-05:00

"OpenOffice.org 2.0 has gone from being a Beta to a Release Candidate
(RC)."

And what is OpenOffice.org 2.0? The world's best and easiest to use
free productivity suite. Read the product page and features pages
for more information.

* OpenOffice.org 2.0 RC
* Product
* Features

Download HERE and get away from Microsoft Office....

CR-R more of a threat than P2P from the RIAA

2005-10-01T18:53:00.000-05:00

This is no more interesting than when cassettes were being used to copy music....

"The Recording Industry Ass. of America has acknowledged that P2P file-sharing is less of a threat to music sales than bootleg CDs."

Read more HERE

RIAA has malware to delete your P2P software

2005-09-22T13:16:00.000-05:00

phuck3rs!!!!

"IFPI -- the international equivalent of the RIAA -- has released a piece of software that will delete your P2P software, strongly implying that P2P is itself illegal and using ridiculous, non-legal terms like "copyright theft" "

Read the full article HERE

WinMX offline??????

2005-09-21T14:25:00.000-05:00

"The WinMX P2P network is no longer running. The Peer Cache servers as well as the company website are no more. As of late last night (approx. 4-6 hours ago) the servers went down and users were no longer able to connect to the network. This is big loss to the P2P community..."

Click HERE for the full article.

List of false antispyware programs

2005-09-21T14:24:00.000-05:00

This is interesting indeed... Click HERE

3GB storage by Jan 06?

2005-09-16T23:20:00.000-05:00

Pretty much...

Click HERE to read more.

Mozilla offers temporary fix for Firefox flaw

2005-09-10T17:42:00.000-05:00

Click HERE

RIAA is at it again

2005-09-10T17:40:00.000-05:00

RIAA 'fines' students $3,750 without any evidence.....

Click HERE for the article.....

Microsoft's army of lawyers was no match for a kid from Kent State.

2005-09-10T17:38:00.000-05:00

From clevescene.com
Originally published by Cleveland Scene 2005-03-30
©2005 New Times, Inc. All rights reserved.

Ben Smallridge

Kid takes on Microsoft and wins..... Click HERE for the full article.

Download Quicktime w/o having to download iTunes.

2005-09-10T17:37:00.000-05:00

Here's the stand alone link....

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/standalone.html

Coming soon......Firefox 1.5 Beta!

2005-08-31T13:19:00.000-05:00

9 days left....

"The lockdown for “Firefox 1.5 Beta 1″ will occur at 11:59pm on Tuesday, Sept 6 in preparation for release on Thursday, Sept 8."

Upcoming milestones:

Sept 6: Lockdown for 1.5b1
Sept 8: Release 1.5b1
Oct 3: Lockdown for 1.5b2
Oct 5: Release 1.5b2
Oct 26: Lockdown for 1.5RC1
Oct 28: Release 1.5RC1

Click HERE

Microsoft recognizes Firefox as a competitor

2005-08-30T23:24:00.000-05:00

"Competitors such as Mozilla offer software that competes with the Internet Explorer Web browsing capabilities of our Windows operating system products," Microsoft said in the report, which was filed Friday with the Securities and Exchange Commission."

Read the full article HERE

RIAA vs The People on Blogspot!

2005-08-28T21:38:00.000-05:00

Patricia Santangelo, a divorced mother of five children, being bullied by the RIAA, has fought back. She is refusing to settle with the RIAA over file sharing is fighting back. A new blog on Blogspot is titled Recording Industry vs The People, where updates will be posted dealing with this particular case.

The Vader Mod

2005-08-25T23:36:00.000-05:00

For the diehard 'Star Wars' fans who want to pimp out their pc Vader style... ck this Link out.

Duck Doom Deluxe

2005-08-25T18:46:00.000-05:00

DUCK DOOM Deluxe

a HelpTheWretched Production™
by Noproblo Games
Made with GM 5.3
(uses exclusive graphics mode)

An overhaul upgrade to the original Duck Doom, featuring new difficulty levels, graphics effects, remixed music & enhanced sound, the BFG-9000, and more!

Here are some screenshots to show the game's title screen and new features.

To download Duck Doom Deluxe:
Click here - 6.38Mb

Google talk w/in Google sidebar

2005-08-25T09:18:00.000-05:00

Have both Google Desktop 2 and Google Talk installed.
Put Google Desktop into Sidebar mode by right clicking the Google Desktop Search taskbar icon and selecting sidebar, then clicking the down arrow in the title bar of the sidebar and selecting the dock option you want (right or left). You can also select Down Arrow -> autohide if you don't like it taking up space on your screen.
Click the down arrow in the title bar of the Google Desktop sidebar and select the option Add/Remove panels.
Check Google Talk.
Uncheck Gmail - Google Talk takes over for incoming email notification.

Troubleshooting:
If at first the option "Google Talk" does not appear as a panel to be added, just close the sidebar and open it again. The option should appear

AOL slapped with $1.25 million fine

2005-08-25T09:14:00.000-05:00

The state of NY tagged AOL with the $1.25 million fine due to their customer service representatives either ignoring customer requests or making it difficult to cancel their accounts.

Read more HERE

Another Google Talk review

2005-08-24T22:09:00.000-05:00

Click HERE

Google talk vs Skype

2005-08-24T22:08:00.000-05:00

Let's have some comparisons of the two.

1. Getting them
The latest version of Skype can be downloaded at http://www.skype.com. Its latest Windows flavor is 7.2MB. You can get Linux, Mac OS X and PocketPC versions too. Google Talk, on the other hand, is available at http://www.google.com/talk/, and it's only mere 900K! Currently only Windows version is available. Since Google Talk uses industry standards, you don't really need the Google Talk client. For instance, any Jabber-enabled clients like GAIM and trillian will let you do text messaging, and they are available on many platforms.

Skype on the other hand uses proprietory standards.

2. Interface
Skype's interface hasn't changed much since the first release. It lists all your contacts in the Contacts tab, a dial pad for you to dial a SkypeOut number (Skype to regular phones) and a history of incoming and outgoing calls.

Google Talk's interface, on the other hand is much cleaner and simpler. It lists only your contacts (both existing and invited). A search panel lets you search for contacts in your Gmail contact list to send invites to. This makes expanding your Google Talk contact list much easier than doing so with Skype.

3. Text messaging
Well, nothing much to say here, who wants to make text messaging too much different from the rest anyways? Here are however some major differences between Skype's and Google Talk's offerings. First, there isn't yet emoticons for Google Talk. It just highlights the emoticons like below:

Skype already have full collection of commonly used emoticons.

No big deals, IMHO. Skype's emoticons aren't pretty anyways. The biggest difference in text messaging however, is Skype encrypts the messages before it sends, while Google Talk sends out your messages in clear text! Just fire up a sniffer, and you will see the streams of Jabber-protocols packets. A big no.

4. Voice
Both have good sounds qualities, and in my experience, Skype has recently improved termendously its voice quality. Google Talk currently allows you to make PC to PC calls only, but it's just a matter of time before they expand it to PC to phone.

It took me several attempts to make a successful PC to PC voice call by using Google Talk. Calling your contact is almost instantenous, you hear the ringing tone as soon as you click Send. However, despite the fact that the connection has already been established, I failed to talk to other hand, nor I could hear anything from that. The call was automatically cut off a minute later.

And then I discovered something cool. It has a signal indicators like your cellphones do! You need at least 1 level in the signal indicator for the voices to be transmitted across. And of course, the stronger the signal is, the better the quality is.

5. Summary
Google Talk is still new, and this review is done hours after its public release. So there isn't much to conclude here.

But it's interesting to guess what's next from Google Talk. Perhaps you soon can call to order your pizza once it's integrated with Google Local.

Give both a try (both programs run concurrently peacefully), and in case you need an invite to try Google Talk, feel free to email me at blewtooth#gmail.com. Same address if you want to add me into your contact list.

Click HERE

Google talk photos

2005-08-24T22:07:00.000-05:00

Click HERE

Why you should get Google Talk

2005-08-24T22:02:00.000-05:00

Client	Windows	OSX	Linux	IM other Google Talk users	Voice calls to other Google Talk users	Cost
Google Talk						Free
Adium						Free
GAIM						Free
iChat						Included with OSX
Psi						Free
Trillian Pro						$25*

Download HERE

Get Gmail now

2005-08-24T21:57:00.000-05:00

That's right, you can sign up for your own Gmail account without having to recieve an invitation to join. Simply go to this web addy to start gmail by your cellphone and you create your own gmail account to use.

New message!

Your invitation code is: 123456

Google Talk is here!!

2005-08-24T15:36:00.000-05:00

Choice: Get in touch how and when you want to–over email, IM or a call

Quality: Talk through your computer but hear your friends as if they were in the same room

Convenience: Your Gmail contacts are pre-loaded into Google Talk so inviting or talking to your friends is just a click away

Click HERE to download yourself.

Gmail preview

2005-08-22T17:22:00.000-05:00

You can right-click on any conversation to see its recent messages in a preview bubble.

A definate download, get it HERE

UT2k7 screenshots are out!!!

2005-08-22T16:45:00.000-05:00

This game looks phenominal!!! Ck out this Link to see for yourself

Erase your harddrive

2005-08-19T11:45:00.000-05:00

Cover your tracks.....

Read/download HERE

Get rid of Internet Explorer

2005-08-19T11:37:00.000-05:00

Come on, do I really need to say anything more? Go to the Stop IE website and check it out for yourself. There are sections such as:

Internet Explorer's Main Problems
Alternatives to Internet Explorer
Microsoft responding?
Play your part - StopIE

RIAA hacked again!

2005-08-19T01:13:00.000-05:00

I love this!!!!

"On Monday, the RIAA site was hacked for the sixth time in six months.

This time, the defacement resulted in bogus press releases on the front door, touting the joys of cheese and interspecies romantic relationships....It's obvious that they don't get the Web, and they don't get technology, or they'd understand how to protect their own website," said Wall Street systems administrator Anthony Negil.""

Read the full article HERE

How to build a computer

2005-08-18T08:38:00.000-05:00

If you've wanted the 411/step by step such as:
1. Choosing the parts Development stage: 100% (as of March 26, 2005)
2. Building the physical computer Development stage: 75% (as of March 20, 2005)
3. Choosing and installing the computer's software Development stage: 50% (as of March 20, 2005)
4. Optimizing and Overclocking Your New Computer Development stage: 25% (as of April 10, 2005)
5. Conclusion Development stage: 50% (as of March 20, 2005)
6. Noted Contributors Development stage: 100% (as of March 23, 2005)

Then read more HERE

HOWTO Change Windows XP Home to Windows XP Pro

2005-08-18T08:24:00.000-05:00

The process for turning an Windows XP Home install disc to a Windows XP Pro disc after the jump is explained HERE.

Free firewall

2005-08-18T08:11:00.000-05:00

You can block uninitiated and unwanted traffic, even while your PC is unattended or while you're not using your connection. You can also limit your exposure to attack by specifying which applications can access the Internet. This program includes four interlocking security services: a firewall, an application control, an Internet lock, and Zones.

The firewall controls the door to your computer and allows only traffic you understand and initiate. The application control allows you to decide which applications can and cannot use the Internet. The Internet lock blocks Internet traffic while your computer is unattended or while you're not using the Internet, and it can be activated automatically with your computer's screensaver or after a set period of inactivity. Zones monitor all activity on your computer and alert you when a new application attempts to access the Internet.

Download Zone Lab's Zone Alarm

Hidden Windows Apps

2005-08-18T08:09:00.000-05:00

To run any of these apps go to Start > Run and type the executable name (ie charmap). Read more HERE

Gmail Mobile

2005-08-18T07:59:00.000-05:00

A PHP app to access Gmail (Google email) accounts on your cellphone, and you should be able to read your mail, compose message, reply, have access to your labels.

Check it out HERE

How well does your firewall work for you?

2005-08-17T07:58:00.000-05:00

Do you even have a firewall set up? Some just fail to realize that having pc security is necessary in this digital era. There are people out there who would love to dig through your files just for fun. Some have thought that using the firewall that somes standard w/an operating system like Windows XP is enough. Others go a step further and use a 3rd party firewall for added protection. First, try to scan your pc and see if it's open to attack.

You can go to Hackerwatch to scan your pc which will test your firewall, or there are other links you may use to scan/test your firewall.

Building your own flame thrower

2005-08-16T21:13:00.000-05:00

That's right!!!

Check out this website for the 411.

Razr V3 phone free.

2005-08-16T21:10:00.000-05:00

Motorola RAZR V3 Phone (Cingular) - FREE!!!!
List Price: $599.99
Our Price: $149.99 (when purchased with new service plan)
You Save: $450.00 (75%)
Special Offers: $150.00
Price After Special Offers: Free

Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours

That's right, you can get the RAZR phone free through Amazon.com w/agreement to a new service plan.

Grey screen goes goodbye.

2005-08-16T21:07:00.000-05:00

Click HERE to check out the other colors you can order for your 4G iPod and mod/switch out the screen.

Storage space clears 2500 megs!!

2005-08-16T20:44:00.000-05:00

That alone says it all.... do you have your acct?

Purr Detector

2005-08-13T10:34:00.000-05:00

This could actually be a good thing for cats, it glows whenever the car purrs. It also flashes if the cat is outside at night.

Click here to ck out the "Purr Detector"

Better understand your iPod.

2005-08-13T10:13:00.000-05:00

Since the debut of the iPod, there have been in question, various things with the iPod. Battery life, recharging the batter, hard drive problems, etc...

The book is called Secrets of the iPod, and on Peach Pit's website (the publisher), there is a sample chapter which gives some great information on troubleshooting your Apple iPod.

This content is from Secrets of the iPod by Christopher Breen (Peachpit Press 2002)

Failure to boot

There are a few possible reasons why an iPod might not boot beyond the Apple logo�some benign and others not so.

The Hold switch is on. Go ahead and smack yourself in the head (and then breathe a sigh of relief) if your iPod won't start up because the Hold switch is engaged.

Drained battery. Among the most benign problems is an iPod battery that's drained. Plug your iPod into the power adapter or your computer, and let it charge. If everything's hunky-dory after that, pat yourself on the back for a job well done.

In some rare cases, the battery may not be drained enough for the iPod to be reset. If you've tried other solutions and failed, unplug the iPod from a power supply for 24 hours; then plug it into a power source and attempt to reset it by holding down the Play and Menu buttons for 10 seconds.

Confused iPod. If the iPod still refuses to boot, attempt to reset it by pressing and holding the Play and Menu buttons for 10 seconds.

Incorrect formatting. At some point, you might have thought it would be a nifty idea to reformat your iPod's hard drive�partitioned it to install Mac OS 9 on one partition and Mac OS X on the other, for example. Bad idea. If you've formatted the drive in any format other than Mac OS Extended (HFS Plus), the iPod won't play music files. To put things right, you must restore your iPod .

Check it out, Click HERE

iDJ Mixing Console for iPod

2005-08-13T10:10:00.000-05:00

DJs, leave those records on the shelves!! But I wonder if you can still get the same scratching/mixing effects???

_	Two universal iPod docking stations will accept all model iPods with bottom connector and charge while connected

_	Large iPod navigation controls

_	3-band EQ with gain control on both channels

_	Dedicated microphone input with tone and level control

_	Phono/line inputs for adding additional devices on both channels

_	USB connectivity (PC and Mac) enables iDJ to function as a music-loading base

_	iPod’s recording capabilities supported by iDJ for voice memos, etc.

_	Turntable spindle receptacle enables placement of the iDJ on a turntable

_	Zero tolerance precision switches/knobs for a tight, precise feel

Click HERE

G4M Classic Doom Launcher 1.0

2005-08-12T09:20:00.000-05:00

The "G4M Classic Doom Launcher" launches Classic Doom for Doom 3. Simply drag it to your Application folder, choose your Doom 3 Application and have fun with Classic Doom.

F*CK the RIAA!!

2005-08-07T20:40:00.000-05:00

Under attack

I couldn't believe this when I read it. Here's a portion:
"Record Labels have gathered their army of lawyers and are preparing to unleash them on podcasters. The sunny world of podcasting will soon be covered by RIAA storm clouds."

Read more HERE...

Another great site for free programs

2005-08-07T20:38:00.000-05:00

After browsing a bit, there were quite a few programs which I liked, what I liked even more is that they're FREE!!!

Click HERE to ck them out.

Gmail notifier update

2005-08-06T03:47:00.000-05:00

The Gmail Notifier is a downloadable Windows application that alerts you when you have new Gmail messages. It displays an icon in your system tray to let you know if you have unread Gmail messages, and shows you their subjects, senders and snippets, all without your having to open a web browser.

Click HERE to download the update.

3D version of a classic....DOOM!

2005-08-05T18:03:00.000-05:00

In my opinion, the game that started it all.....well Wolfenstein was up there too.... But, I'm more partial to the DOOM Franchise. Anyway, here's a few screenshots of the 3D version. It looks like there is quite a bit to offer.

Go to DoomsdayHQ to see what else they have for you to download. I'm off to load the Doom game and kill some demon spawn!!!

Uses the Doomsday Engine.
Works with shareware and registered Doom, Ultimate Doom, Doom II and Final Doom (Plutonia and TNT).
Customizable controls.
Mouse look and configurable joystick axes.
Enhanced menus:
- keyboard, mouse and joystick settings
- graphics options
- sound and music options
- multiplayer menu for network games
Resizable status bar.
Implements XG line and sector types.

BitTorrent

2005-08-05T17:57:00.000-05:00

Ok, as we have known for sometime......Napster (the original) is dead. BitTorrent has been gaining grounds as the leading P2P for exchanging of files (legal like Linux all the way to the ummmm "non" legal such as movies).

Anyway, go ck it out and start downloading.....

Check out my previous post on the best BitTorrent search engines to use.

Now this is worth posting about

2005-08-05T17:14:00.000-05:00

Ok, how many of us have either been eating or drinking when typing and make a mess on the keyboard, spilling your beverage or losing food particles between the keys?

Click HERE to view/order it.

Unreal Tournament 2004 $7.99 from NewEgg.com!

2005-08-04T01:27:00.000-05:00

Click HERE to order your own!

This is all you require?

2005-08-04T01:23:00.000-05:00

.......when it comes to making a homemade stungun? LMAO I love hacks/mods.

A special thanks to everyone at I-hacked.com

Boycott IE

2005-08-04T01:20:00.000-05:00

“My advice is simple: Boycott IE. It's a cancer on the Web that must be stopped. IE isn't secure and isn't standards-compliant, which makes it unworkable both for end users and Web content creators."

HERE to read the full article.

Quake 4 images leaked!!!!!

2005-08-04T01:16:00.000-05:00

Coming to the PC and XBox 360

Click HERE for further updates.

Navigate quickly in Firefox

2005-08-03T18:11:00.000-05:00

This is a three-page table lists more than 70 keyboard shortcuts and their corresponding functions for Mozilla Firefox.

Click HERE

List of useful programs while running the Windows OS

2005-08-03T10:51:00.000-05:00

From powertoys, to firefox, gaim, the gimp, to ad-aware and spybot, this has a wide selection of programs to use on your Windows OS.

Table of contents:
Windows Enhancement
Shiny Chrome
Internet Essentials
IM / IRC
Text Editors
Desktop Search Tools
Audio Encoding / Decoding
Video Encoding / Decoding
Image Editing / Viewing
Security / Encryption
Diagnostics / Monitors
Malware Removal Utilities
FTP Clients
Productivity Tools
Miscellaneous Utilities

Click HERE

Best Bittorrent search engines

2005-08-03T10:44:00.000-05:00

Use for good, not evil.....

1 Torrentspy.com
(Currently a free Torrent site, Torrentspy is also an outstanding site for overall size, speed, and user-friendliness.)

2 MiniNova.org
(Currently a free Torrent site, MiniNova is not a large database yet. But it is a clean and reliable interface with fast access and searching. With time, the membership and database here will grow.)

3 Isohunt.com
(Also a free Torrent site, Isohunt.com is fighting off the threat of an MPAA law suit. The site owner is a true libertarian, and is mounting a compelling defense against the MPAA. Read the details at the Isohunt home page. This is an outstanding Torrent site, and P2P users are cheering for its continued success and operations.)

4 Torrentreactor.to
(Torrentreactor has made a comeback from a hijacking and an uncooperative hosting service. They have recently moved to a different server setup and a Tonga country domain outside the USA. Read the the details on their home page. Torrentreactor is currently a free web site.)

5 Bi-Torrent.com
(Also known as “VIP Torrents”, Bi-Torrent.com is a free Torrent site with a spartan look and fast searching format.)

File sharing legal?

2005-08-03T10:33:00.000-05:00

This will be interesting as it unfolds....

"the studios are now moving to embrace BitTorrent technology -- which gracefully and cheaply distributes giant files -- even as they sue those who use it to trade bootlegged movies, TV shows or video games."

I will miss the old pirating days...lmao

Click HERE for the full article.

Hack an elevator

2005-08-03T10:21:00.000-05:00

I'm definately going to try this later on in the month when the Fall term picks up. HAHA... Good-bye to those days of hitting each floor as I'm on my way to visit my advisor.

"The designers of some elevators include a hidden feature that is very handy if you're in a hurry
or it's a busy time in the building (like check-out time in a hotel). While some elevators require
a key, others can be put into "Express" mode by pressing the "Door Close" and "Floor" buttons at
the same time. This sweeps the car to the floor of your choice and avoids stops at any other floor.
This seems to work on Most elevators that I have tried! Most elevators have the option for this to work,
but on some of them the option is turned off by whoever runs them. This is a rather fun hack, so the next time you are on an elevator, give it a try, you have nothing to lose, And this concludes Hacking Elevators 101!"

Special thanks to The Damn Blog for posting this info.

Tweaking Bit-Torrent Speeds

2005-08-03T10:07:00.000-05:00

This will show how to tweak your Bit-Torrent client so that you can acheive the fastest speed possible.

I'm anxious to try this as well... good luck to all. Remember, use for good.

T-Spot

Modding your case

2005-08-03T09:48:00.000-05:00

Engraving Star Wars on your pc case

Some of the things you'll need when doing this:
-Images w/o shadows

-Patience

-Lots of coffee

Go to bit-tech for the articles on how to do the Star Wars tribute/mod to your case.

Decode your ID barcode

2005-08-01T13:49:00.000-05:00

Click HERE

Surf anonymously

2005-08-01T13:48:00.000-05:00

I've posted on this early on... just another way to cover your tracks when surfing.

CLICK HERE

reinstall windows and not lose any data

2005-08-01T13:47:00.000-05:00

Click HERE

Sony cutting PS2 cost to rival 360 Launch

2005-08-01T01:12:00.000-05:00

Sony has little something something planned for Microsoft’s launch of the Xbox 360 this fall: a cut in the pricing of the slim PlayStation 2 to around $100 in the US.

Why P2P will never die

2005-08-01T01:11:00.000-05:00

An interesting read....

Click HERE

New numbers are in!

2005-07-31T14:53:00.000-05:00

Firefox is increasing worldwise in use.

Look out, new mp3 player

2005-07-31T14:51:00.000-05:00

....and of all places, being sold at Wal-Mart
Click HERE to view.

How to cancel AOL

2005-07-28T16:14:00.000-05:00

HAHA Finally......

Click HERE to read how.

Free, legal games for download.

2005-07-27T18:17:00.000-05:00

Click HERE

MultiMediaCard / Secure Digital Card MP3 player with VS1002D

2005-07-27T18:13:00.000-05:00

Build your own MP3 player... Here's some of the following features:

The EchoMp3 is a small MP3 player. It's cheap and of excellent quality.

An MMC has only seven pins and is currently the cheapest flash memory on the market! SD

cards are now fully supported!

Powered by a single AAA (HR03) 1V2 Ni-Mh battery. Runs on a 18LF452 or a 18LF458 at 20 MhZ.

Up to 256 kBps bitrate at 44,1 kHz supported. VBR may peak at 320 kBps. ID3 v2.3 tags supported.

Full user control (volume, track, pause, skip) with a Micro joystick.

Real Time display of bitrate, sampling rate, elapsed time, songnumber, ...

LCD contrast adjustable.

Click HERE

Best way to store music

2005-07-27T17:57:00.000-05:00

Here's a cool idea that involves the Xmail HardDrive. Click HERE to check out the blog and learn how to store a large amount of your music online so you can access it from anywhere.

Skype Software Add-on Picks

2005-07-26T19:58:00.000-05:00

Check out this SITE to see the 5 that made the list. I'm working on getting Skype running again on my pc.

Skype vs. Gizmo Project

2005-07-25T15:31:00.000-05:00

Skype.exe is eating 22,784K according to Windows XP. Gizmo.exe is using 16,292K. Gizmo wins for size, at least initially.

Click HERE to see how these two programs match up.

BitTorrent 'illegal hacking program' ?

2005-07-25T15:17:00.000-05:00

Tale of not enough information and acting on it.

Click HERE to read the full article.

The Truth About Violent Youth and Video Games

2005-07-25T15:09:00.000-05:00

The whole concept is a lie manufactured, distributed and perpetuated by the media. Kids are not killing each other more frequently than they used to. In fact, it turns out the opposite is true.

Click HERE to read the full article.

Do you skype?

2005-07-25T14:37:00.000-05:00

I downloaded and used Skype.com p2p program. I have to say, it's a really good program. While you need a headset w/mic attached.... you can also chat w/headset earphone and a computer mic. For conference chatting, you can have up to 5 people. But, I would not recommend this since you'll get a lot of feedback. Check it out.

Zone Alarm 6 is out

2005-07-23T10:40:00.000-05:00

Click HERE to download the latest version.

3D shooter

2005-07-22T17:14:00.000-05:00

Ck out the Nexuiz site and download the game.

Latest beta version of Shareza

2005-07-22T09:13:00.000-05:00

The next step in bringing P2P users together along w/the various other platforms.

Click HERE

A faster way to check your broadband connection

2005-07-22T09:03:00.000-05:00

Take the Speakeasy Speed Test and test your connection speed!

Hackers claim to get their hands on an XBOX 360

2005-07-22T09:00:00.000-05:00

a tutorial for disassembling the Xbox 360 will be out soon if this is true.

Go to 360 Hacker to read more.

1.5 Firefox, skipping from 1.1

2005-07-22T08:59:00.000-05:00

The Mozilla Foundation is planning to release the beta version of Firefox 1.5 in August, and has said the final version will be out sometime around September.

Click HERE to read the full article.

Mozilla Scraps Firefox 1.1, Looks to 1.5

2005-07-21T14:40:00.000-05:00

The non-profit foundation has decided to increase the version number of the next major release to 1.5 from 1.1, reflecting the sheer number of bug fixes and features that have been worked into the next version of the browser.

HERE to read more

Firefox: The alternative history

2005-07-21T14:39:00.000-05:00

"Over the last year Firefox has taken the web by storm, stealing a significant slice of the pie from Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE), and grabbing more than 10 percent market share in some areas."

Read more HERE

Want to learn how to pick a lock?

2005-07-21T14:27:00.000-05:00

Use for good.....not evil.

Click HERE and happy lock picking. Don't forget to use my post on building an electric lock picking using your harddrive.

30% Off

2005-07-21T14:26:00.000-05:00

Click HERE to print the webcoupon for use at a bookstore...

Politician to get tagged

2005-07-21T14:17:00.000-05:00

So far the VeriChip RFID chips have mostly been put into animals, but politicians are considered a move up the food chain. Personally, I'd rather have all that info stored on a chip on my drivers license as opposed to my hand....

CLICK HERE to read more....

For when you absolutely have to know

2005-07-21T13:25:00.000-05:00

Pee here and have the results sent to your cellphone....

Click HERE to read more.

Sony gets Unreal 3 engine for PlayStation 3

2005-07-21T13:17:00.000-05:00

Sony has licensed the technology for the Unreal 3 engine from developers Epic Games. PS3 has quite the test coming up to develop games to match the Unreal technology (PC counterparts).

CLICK HERE to read the article.

Super speed broadband seen over cable TV in 2006

2005-07-20T20:06:00.000-05:00

"Broadband Internet access via TV cables can reach 100 Megabits per second as early as next year, 50 times faster than the average broadband speeds now offered to cable TV homes"

Click HERE

RE5 for the 360 and PS3

2005-07-20T20:01:00.000-05:00

RE5 better than 4? From the looks of this...YESSSS!!!!
Click Here to see the blog/screenshots.

Western Digital 300GB Hard Drive $125.00 AR $2.99 Shipping

2005-07-20T19:56:00.000-05:00

Newegg has a Western Digital 300GB hard drive at 7800 RPM with an 8 MB cache. Included with the hard drive is a 3 year manufacturer warranty.

~~$152.00~~
Mail-In rebate -$25.00

$127.00

In Stock
$25.00 Mail in rebate
$2.99 FedEx Saver Shipping

Click HERE to view/order

How to delete individual URLs from Firefox's history

2005-07-20T19:54:00.000-05:00

Click HERE to read how.