Saturday, July 24, 2004
Saturday Technews Blog
Visit Multipleplatforms.com for the links to these stories and more.
Do Not Open bin Laden Suicide File
Wired News is reporting that an email message containing a file that claims to
have images of Osama bin Laden’ suicide actually contains a Trojan horse. The
hacker can take over your PC if the file is opened. The virus does not affect
Macs and Linux computers. This virus is a repeat version of a previous Trojan in
a new shiny package. Do Not Open This File!
It’s Show Time
Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI
answers your questions on anything with a chip from 12-3pm PDT and you can
listen live in LA at AM 640 or on the internet by visiting Leo’s show notes and
clicking on the KFI logo. G4/TechTV is finally getting more organized and you
can now find all of Leo’s Screen Savers Tips at the G4 web site
on one page.
New Search Concept: blinkx
The new player on the block is blinkx and the company
promises to ‘change the way you find and access all kinds of information’. The
tool uses ideas instead of keywords, and ‘understands your questions and
presents you with links as you search’. It is currently available for Windows XP
and 2000 only, but Mac OSX and a version for Mozilla are coming soon. According
to
CNET, the tool ‘scouts’ for information from any open document from the
internet and the PC’s files.
Accidentally Deleted Mail
If you accidentally deleted an email on you Mac it is not gone forever, in
fact it didn’t go far enough away. You can find a deleted message in your Trash
Bin by using the following path: first if your mailbox is hidden, show the
mailbox by pressing shift-command-m. Then click on the Trash bin and you will
find all the deleted messages arranged just like you see them in your In Box. If
you would like to permanently remove them from the Trash file, you can select
Mailbox from the Mail toolbar and then choose Erase Deleted Messages. You will
then have the option to erase all the messages or just messages by account.
Know About Knoppix
We talk about Knoppix on a regular basis and if you are interested in
learning more about using Linux then start by visiting the
Knoppix web site. The Knoppix collection
is a bootable CD that is easy to use and provides support for most PC boxes. The
best part is that no installation is required because Knoppix runs from the CD.
Visit the Knoppix web site to learn more about this cool Linux distro.
Visit Our Sister Site
We aren’t just computer geeks and we try to break away from the LCD screen
whenever possible. When we go play, fairs and festivals are part of the plan. We
couldn’t find a source for all of our favorite fairs and festivals in one spot,
so we created one; Californiafairsandfestivals.com is our answer to one stop
shopping for fun fairs, great festivals, cool nature events, and more in the
Golden State of California. We had no idea that this state has so many fantastic
fairs and events until we took on the task, and we are still compiling data on
festivals, but the fairs portion is up and available for you. Each fair listing
includes the date, hours, addresses, URLs, descriptions of the events, and
Mapquest directions. Eventually, we hope to include pictures and related links
for each and every fair and festival. Please visit
Californiafairsandfestivals.com and let us know what you think about it.
Build Your Own PC
If you have wanted to build your own PC, we are going to help you by
providing a detailed step-by-step tutorial on how to build your own box. We have
ordered the parts from Amazon in the event that you aren’t located next to a big
box computer store. Our first lesson is: shipping takes longer than you expect.
The hard drive finally found the way here, but the box looked like the big brown
truck might have run it over on it in transit. Starting next week, lesson two:
blueprinting the wiring harness.
Do Not Open bin Laden Suicide File
Wired News is reporting that an email message containing a file that claims to
have images of Osama bin Laden’ suicide actually contains a Trojan horse. The
hacker can take over your PC if the file is opened. The virus does not affect
Macs and Linux computers. This virus is a repeat version of a previous Trojan in
a new shiny package. Do Not Open This File!
It’s Show Time
Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI
answers your questions on anything with a chip from 12-3pm PDT and you can
listen live in LA at AM 640 or on the internet by visiting Leo’s show notes and
clicking on the KFI logo. G4/TechTV is finally getting more organized and you
can now find all of Leo’s Screen Savers Tips at the G4 web site
on one page.
New Search Concept: blinkx
The new player on the block is blinkx and the company
promises to ‘change the way you find and access all kinds of information’. The
tool uses ideas instead of keywords, and ‘understands your questions and
presents you with links as you search’. It is currently available for Windows XP
and 2000 only, but Mac OSX and a version for Mozilla are coming soon. According
to
CNET, the tool ‘scouts’ for information from any open document from the
internet and the PC’s files.
Accidentally Deleted Mail
If you accidentally deleted an email on you Mac it is not gone forever, in
fact it didn’t go far enough away. You can find a deleted message in your Trash
Bin by using the following path: first if your mailbox is hidden, show the
mailbox by pressing shift-command-m. Then click on the Trash bin and you will
find all the deleted messages arranged just like you see them in your In Box. If
you would like to permanently remove them from the Trash file, you can select
Mailbox from the Mail toolbar and then choose Erase Deleted Messages. You will
then have the option to erase all the messages or just messages by account.
Know About Knoppix
We talk about Knoppix on a regular basis and if you are interested in
learning more about using Linux then start by visiting the
Knoppix web site. The Knoppix collection
is a bootable CD that is easy to use and provides support for most PC boxes. The
best part is that no installation is required because Knoppix runs from the CD.
Visit the Knoppix web site to learn more about this cool Linux distro.
Visit Our Sister Site
We aren’t just computer geeks and we try to break away from the LCD screen
whenever possible. When we go play, fairs and festivals are part of the plan. We
couldn’t find a source for all of our favorite fairs and festivals in one spot,
so we created one; Californiafairsandfestivals.com is our answer to one stop
shopping for fun fairs, great festivals, cool nature events, and more in the
Golden State of California. We had no idea that this state has so many fantastic
fairs and events until we took on the task, and we are still compiling data on
festivals, but the fairs portion is up and available for you. Each fair listing
includes the date, hours, addresses, URLs, descriptions of the events, and
Mapquest directions. Eventually, we hope to include pictures and related links
for each and every fair and festival. Please visit
Californiafairsandfestivals.com and let us know what you think about it.
Build Your Own PC
If you have wanted to build your own PC, we are going to help you by
providing a detailed step-by-step tutorial on how to build your own box. We have
ordered the parts from Amazon in the event that you aren’t located next to a big
box computer store. Our first lesson is: shipping takes longer than you expect.
The hard drive finally found the way here, but the box looked like the big brown
truck might have run it over on it in transit. Starting next week, lesson two:
blueprinting the wiring harness.
Free Computer Help
If you need help with a computer problem please visit our
submit a question
page and let Multipleplatforms.com help you solve those annoying issues.
Friday, July 23, 2004
Friday Technews Blog
Visit Multipleplatforms.com for the links to these stories.
Spinning Your Wheels in Safari
If you use Safari and have experienced a slowdown or worse the spinning wheel rolling to no-where land, MacFixIt has a solution to your problem. You can remove the slowdown by disabling the “Other Forms” box found in AutoFill. First, access Preferences by clicking on “Safari” in the tool bar when the browser is open. Select Preferences and then choose AutoFill and remove the check mark from the Other Forms box. The MacFixIt community confirms the fix. We can confirm it as well, but hope that Apple comes up with a better “fix”. The AutoFill feature saves time when you visit sites like Netflix and Amazon.
Open Source Updates Galore
Secunia issued a number of bulletins related to updates available for Gentoo Linux 1.x users. Visit the Secunia web site for the updates for the three bulletins or go directly to Gentoo Linux.
An Update for Debain GNU/Linux 3.0 “Woody” is available and the update should be applied ASAP.
Mandrake Soft has released a samba update for Mandrake Multi Network Firewall 8.x and Mandrake Linux 9.x, visit Secunia for the links.
SuSE Linux users also need a samba update and should visit Secunia or SuSE Linux.
Phishers Move to New Pond
Having decided there are bigger fish in the other pond, Phishers have moved into the realm of Instant Messaging in their attempt to exploit unsuspecting victims. Phishing is the term given to the process hackers use to gain access to sensitive information like credit card numbers and other personal information. Security experts revealed Thursday they have discovered the latest hack attack strikes from pop-up advertising messages that appear during an IM session; if a viewer clicks on the ad, they go to a phisher’s web site according to a report in CRN.
Symantec Posts Hefty Profits
We do not carry financial news in this column; it is not the focus of this forum. But this headline is worth noting, CRN is reports that,” Symantec posted a 48 percent year-over-year increase in revenue growth for its fiscal first quarter ending July 2, 2004”. Could it be that news like the phishing item above is greeted by security companies like Christmas in July?
Create Wireless Network
Apple has instructions for creating a wireless distribution system that allows you to connect to multiple base stations from one internet connection. The directions include incorporation of the Apple Express that will allow you to connect your home entertainment center to your computer network. Then you can use AirTunes to stream your iTunes library without having to burn a CD. Visit the Apple web site for more information on wireless networking Apple style.
Updated How-to Tips and Links
We have updated the How-to Tips and Links at Multipleplatforms.com/; we also created a news archives section to help our web site open faster and make your visit more efficient. If you would like to contribute a news item or tip, make a suggestion or comment, please visit our Submit a Question page.
Virtual PC Mac Delayed Again
Microsoft has again postponed the release of Virtual PC for Mac. Office 2004 Pro will also be delayed because Virtual PC for Mac is a component of Office Pro.
Great Buy on 15 GB iPod
The 15 GB iPod just became more affordable with the introduction of the fourth generation iPods as Apple tries to clear their inventory to make way for Gen IV. The hot buy today is the Apple’s 15 GB iPod for only $249.99, click on the icon below to learn more or purchase it now from Amazon.
Spinning Your Wheels in Safari
If you use Safari and have experienced a slowdown or worse the spinning wheel rolling to no-where land, MacFixIt has a solution to your problem. You can remove the slowdown by disabling the “Other Forms” box found in AutoFill. First, access Preferences by clicking on “Safari” in the tool bar when the browser is open. Select Preferences and then choose AutoFill and remove the check mark from the Other Forms box. The MacFixIt community confirms the fix. We can confirm it as well, but hope that Apple comes up with a better “fix”. The AutoFill feature saves time when you visit sites like Netflix and Amazon.
Open Source Updates Galore
Secunia issued a number of bulletins related to updates available for Gentoo Linux 1.x users. Visit the Secunia web site for the updates for the three bulletins or go directly to Gentoo Linux.
An Update for Debain GNU/Linux 3.0 “Woody” is available and the update should be applied ASAP.
Mandrake Soft has released a samba update for Mandrake Multi Network Firewall 8.x and Mandrake Linux 9.x, visit Secunia for the links.
SuSE Linux users also need a samba update and should visit Secunia or SuSE Linux.
Phishers Move to New Pond
Having decided there are bigger fish in the other pond, Phishers have moved into the realm of Instant Messaging in their attempt to exploit unsuspecting victims. Phishing is the term given to the process hackers use to gain access to sensitive information like credit card numbers and other personal information. Security experts revealed Thursday they have discovered the latest hack attack strikes from pop-up advertising messages that appear during an IM session; if a viewer clicks on the ad, they go to a phisher’s web site according to a report in CRN.
Symantec Posts Hefty Profits
We do not carry financial news in this column; it is not the focus of this forum. But this headline is worth noting, CRN is reports that,” Symantec posted a 48 percent year-over-year increase in revenue growth for its fiscal first quarter ending July 2, 2004”. Could it be that news like the phishing item above is greeted by security companies like Christmas in July?
Create Wireless Network
Apple has instructions for creating a wireless distribution system that allows you to connect to multiple base stations from one internet connection. The directions include incorporation of the Apple Express that will allow you to connect your home entertainment center to your computer network. Then you can use AirTunes to stream your iTunes library without having to burn a CD. Visit the Apple web site for more information on wireless networking Apple style.
Updated How-to Tips and Links
We have updated the How-to Tips and Links at Multipleplatforms.com/; we also created a news archives section to help our web site open faster and make your visit more efficient. If you would like to contribute a news item or tip, make a suggestion or comment, please visit our Submit a Question page.
Virtual PC Mac Delayed Again
Microsoft has again postponed the release of Virtual PC for Mac. Office 2004 Pro will also be delayed because Virtual PC for Mac is a component of Office Pro.
Great Buy on 15 GB iPod
The 15 GB iPod just became more affordable with the introduction of the fourth generation iPods as Apple tries to clear their inventory to make way for Gen IV. The hot buy today is the Apple’s 15 GB iPod for only $249.99, click on the icon below to learn more or purchase it now from Amazon.
Thursday, July 22, 2004
Thursday 7-22-04 Technews Blog
Please visit Multipleplatforms.com for the links to these stories and more
Mac Mail Tip
If Apple’s Mail directed an email to your Junk file by accident, clicking on
“Not Junk” only trains the filter to not make the mistake again. If you would
like to move the email to your In box you can right click on the message and
select “Move To” and then send the message to the appropriate In Box. If you
still haven’t discovered the joys of a multiple button mouse for Macs, you can
highlight the message and select Messages from the tool bar, then choose Move To
and place the letter where you prefer.
Apple Advice for Battery Life
A MacSlash
contributor spied a new page added to the Apple Support site regarding
Lithium-ion batteries. Apple’s advice is directed toward Mac laptops and iPods,
but these are standard recommendations for Lithium-ion batteries and can be
applied over multiple platforms and devices charged by these batteries.
Apple recommends if an iBook will
not be in use for more than thirty days the battery should be removed and stored
at 50% capacity.
Linux Expert Excerpts
ComputerWorld has an excerpt on the subject of Trojan horse avoidance from
Linux pro Mark Sobell’s book, “A Practical Guide to Red Hat Linux: Fedora Core &
Red Hat Enterprise Linux”. Mark explains how colon placement is critical to the
safety of your system.
No Click Frauds Here
CNET reported on the subject of “click fraud”, the process of artificially
boosting web sites traffic figures and incomes by fraudulently clicking on
advertisements. These schemes often employed robots or in some cases, low-cost
labor to continually click on ads like the Google ads that appear on this page.
This practice increased profits for these unethical web sites and it has now
earned them a trip to court to answer charges of fraud. No worries here though,
mate. We have made many more clicks adding the Google ads to these web pages
than readers have clicked on the ads themselves. If you are interested in the
products Google is advertising, they are legitimate and you do not have to worry
about getting hijacked. If we ever make any money from these advertisements, it
will be used to subsidize the costs associated with this website.
Roundup of Live Linux
The Linux Gazette
has a great review of the Live Linux CD family; operating systems that are small
enough to fit on a single CD. These versions of Linux are the perfect entry
point for anyone interested in expanding into multiple platforms. From Knoppix
to Damn Small Linux, you will find a description of the offerings and a download
URL. Slax got the nod as the authors favorite Little Linux systems.
Twenty Questions
Well not twenty questions, but ten questions are available from Microsoft to
test your knowledge on Office Security features. Here is a tip: encrypting
scrambles the contents of a file. Visit the
Microsoft web site to test
your smarts and maybe learn something about strong passwords.
Build Your Own PC
The parts have arrived, shipped from Amazon.com by the big brown truck and
we are getting ready to build a PC. We have featured the components to be used
in this computer build in the past ten days, with the exception of the hard
drive. We are going to offer in-depth explanations complete with pictures and a
pre-configured shopping cart to help you build your own PC. Building a PC is
easy and can save you money. The tricky part is the operating system and for
that you may want to click on the link from the story above. Another possibility
for an OS is using Windows 98, a stable platform for the most part and you can
often find install disks at garage sales and swap meets. The hot buy from Amazon
is the hard drive we are using in this build, a hefty 120 GB monster.
Mac Mail Tip
If Apple’s Mail directed an email to your Junk file by accident, clicking on
“Not Junk” only trains the filter to not make the mistake again. If you would
like to move the email to your In box you can right click on the message and
select “Move To” and then send the message to the appropriate In Box. If you
still haven’t discovered the joys of a multiple button mouse for Macs, you can
highlight the message and select Messages from the tool bar, then choose Move To
and place the letter where you prefer.
Apple Advice for Battery Life
A MacSlash
contributor spied a new page added to the Apple Support site regarding
Lithium-ion batteries. Apple’s advice is directed toward Mac laptops and iPods,
but these are standard recommendations for Lithium-ion batteries and can be
applied over multiple platforms and devices charged by these batteries.
Apple recommends if an iBook will
not be in use for more than thirty days the battery should be removed and stored
at 50% capacity.
Linux Expert Excerpts
ComputerWorld has an excerpt on the subject of Trojan horse avoidance from
Linux pro Mark Sobell’s book, “A Practical Guide to Red Hat Linux: Fedora Core &
Red Hat Enterprise Linux”. Mark explains how colon placement is critical to the
safety of your system.
No Click Frauds Here
CNET reported on the subject of “click fraud”, the process of artificially
boosting web sites traffic figures and incomes by fraudulently clicking on
advertisements. These schemes often employed robots or in some cases, low-cost
labor to continually click on ads like the Google ads that appear on this page.
This practice increased profits for these unethical web sites and it has now
earned them a trip to court to answer charges of fraud. No worries here though,
mate. We have made many more clicks adding the Google ads to these web pages
than readers have clicked on the ads themselves. If you are interested in the
products Google is advertising, they are legitimate and you do not have to worry
about getting hijacked. If we ever make any money from these advertisements, it
will be used to subsidize the costs associated with this website.
Roundup of Live Linux
The Linux Gazette
has a great review of the Live Linux CD family; operating systems that are small
enough to fit on a single CD. These versions of Linux are the perfect entry
point for anyone interested in expanding into multiple platforms. From Knoppix
to Damn Small Linux, you will find a description of the offerings and a download
URL. Slax got the nod as the authors favorite Little Linux systems.
Twenty Questions
Well not twenty questions, but ten questions are available from Microsoft to
test your knowledge on Office Security features. Here is a tip: encrypting
scrambles the contents of a file. Visit the
Microsoft web site to test
your smarts and maybe learn something about strong passwords.
Build Your Own PC
The parts have arrived, shipped from Amazon.com by the big brown truck and
we are getting ready to build a PC. We have featured the components to be used
in this computer build in the past ten days, with the exception of the hard
drive. We are going to offer in-depth explanations complete with pictures and a
pre-configured shopping cart to help you build your own PC. Building a PC is
easy and can save you money. The tricky part is the operating system and for
that you may want to click on the link from the story above. Another possibility
for an OS is using Windows 98, a stable platform for the most part and you can
often find install disks at garage sales and swap meets. The hot buy from Amazon
is the hard drive we are using in this build, a hefty 120 GB monster.
Computer Support Free
We would love to help alleviate your computer annoyances and you can submit
a question anonymously by visiting the “submit a question”
page and sending us your telling us about your problem. If you would like a
personal reply, you will need to include your email address. We will make every
effort to answer all questions submitted. Thanks for helping us help you.
Back to Top
Wednesday, July 21, 2004
Wednesday Technews Blog
Please Visit Multipleplatforms.com for the links to these stories and more.
Lance is in Yellow and You Can Be Too
Lance Armstrong is again wearing the Yellow Jersey, but he is always wearing his Livestrong Bracelet and so do we. The funds raised from the sales of Livestrong Bracelets helps researchers in the race to find a cure for cancer. Click on the Yellow Button at the top of this page and show your support for this inspirational athlete and the good work of his foundation.
SARC Virus Removal Tools
If you are infected by a virus, SARC probably has a free removal tool for you. This site is an excellent source of virus information and removal tools. Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI recommends a visit to all his callers that have been victims of hack attacks.
Call For Help Needs You
Call For Help, the popular TechTV show that got lost in the shuffle when Comcast purchased The TTV network is back and flying their flag under G4/TechTV-Canada. According to The Laporte Report authored by show host and creator Leo Laporte, they are looking for people with computer questions and they plan on production beginning soon. If you would like to have a question answered on Call For Help, visit the new Call For Help website and follow the directions posted there. Unfortunately, the program is not scheduled to air in the USA at the current time. Hopefully, some smart TV Mogul will realize the error of Comcast’s decision and pickup the show for the US market.
Opera Update for Linux
Secunia announced that Gentoo released an update for Gentoo Linux 1.x computers that use the Opera browser.
Secunia Issues Highly Critical Advisory for Slackware Linux
Secunia issued a Highly Critical advisory for an issue effecting Slackware Linux 8.x, 9.0, & 9.1 and they advise users to apply the update package available from Slackware ASAP.
Find Latest Mac Downloads
If you are looking for the latest in Mac OSX downloads, you can visit the Apple OSX Download site for software releases available as freeware, demos, and shareware.
Lance is in Yellow and You Can Be Too
Lance Armstrong is again wearing the Yellow Jersey, but he is always wearing his Livestrong Bracelet and so do we. The funds raised from the sales of Livestrong Bracelets helps researchers in the race to find a cure for cancer. Click on the Yellow Button at the top of this page and show your support for this inspirational athlete and the good work of his foundation.
SARC Virus Removal Tools
If you are infected by a virus, SARC probably has a free removal tool for you. This site is an excellent source of virus information and removal tools. Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI recommends a visit to all his callers that have been victims of hack attacks.
Call For Help Needs You
Call For Help, the popular TechTV show that got lost in the shuffle when Comcast purchased The TTV network is back and flying their flag under G4/TechTV-Canada. According to The Laporte Report authored by show host and creator Leo Laporte, they are looking for people with computer questions and they plan on production beginning soon. If you would like to have a question answered on Call For Help, visit the new Call For Help website and follow the directions posted there. Unfortunately, the program is not scheduled to air in the USA at the current time. Hopefully, some smart TV Mogul will realize the error of Comcast’s decision and pickup the show for the US market.
Opera Update for Linux
Secunia announced that Gentoo released an update for Gentoo Linux 1.x computers that use the Opera browser.
Secunia Issues Highly Critical Advisory for Slackware Linux
Secunia issued a Highly Critical advisory for an issue effecting Slackware Linux 8.x, 9.0, & 9.1 and they advise users to apply the update package available from Slackware ASAP.
Find Latest Mac Downloads
If you are looking for the latest in Mac OSX downloads, you can visit the Apple OSX Download site for software releases available as freeware, demos, and shareware.
Tuesday, July 20, 2004
Tuesday Technews Blog
Please visit Multipleplatforms.com for the links to these stories and more.
Symantec Issues Bagle Warning
Symantec issued an outbreak notice of W32.Beagle.AG@mm. The
W32.Beagle.AG@mm, is the newest member of the W32.Beagle family of worms. The worm is a mass-mailing worm that allows hackers to open a backdoor to your PC. Symantec has a free removal tool available at their support site. Sophos has added seven new virus alerts in the past two days and you can visit our Sophos Virus page to learn more.
Multiple Platform Password Vault
The MacMegasite reports that Lava Software now has PC-Mac Password Vault v3.2 available for multiple platform users. It functions with Windows, OSX, OS Classic, and Linux x86 computers. The software helps users store and safeguard sensitive information from Trojan horses and other hack attacks. The software is available free from Lava Software.
Apple Has iPod ID Guide
So many Apples have fallen from the tree it’s getting hard to recognize one iPod from the other. Apple’s Support site helps gadget heads deduce which iPod they’ve cast their gaze upon. You can find out if it is the 2001 pioneer or the latest and greatest iPod by visiting the Apple Support site.
Email Security for Macs
MacMerc has an excellent article on email security for Apple users. The author explains how to implement the suggestions for Mail.app and Mozilla’s Thunderbird applications.
Gentoo for et tu Macs
The Gentoo Linux Newsletter has news on the Gentoo MacOS project. They claim that “Gentoo MacOS is ready for consumption by Macintosh users who want, say, scientific DTP via TeX”, according to the article. On-going projects and a lack of Macs will prevent us from trying this, but if you try it, we would love to get your feedback and we will publish it with a by-line if you wish.
Microsoft: Bus Com 101
Microsoft’s web site offers seven suggestions on methods to share information among co-workers. Some of the tips are obvious, but if you have yet to implement network file sharing or Instant Messaging, then you should visit the site to learn more.
Symantec Issues Bagle Warning
Symantec issued an outbreak notice of W32.Beagle.AG@mm. The
W32.Beagle.AG@mm, is the newest member of the W32.Beagle family of worms. The worm is a mass-mailing worm that allows hackers to open a backdoor to your PC. Symantec has a free removal tool available at their support site. Sophos has added seven new virus alerts in the past two days and you can visit our Sophos Virus page to learn more.
Multiple Platform Password Vault
The MacMegasite reports that Lava Software now has PC-Mac Password Vault v3.2 available for multiple platform users. It functions with Windows, OSX, OS Classic, and Linux x86 computers. The software helps users store and safeguard sensitive information from Trojan horses and other hack attacks. The software is available free from Lava Software.
Apple Has iPod ID Guide
So many Apples have fallen from the tree it’s getting hard to recognize one iPod from the other. Apple’s Support site helps gadget heads deduce which iPod they’ve cast their gaze upon. You can find out if it is the 2001 pioneer or the latest and greatest iPod by visiting the Apple Support site.
Email Security for Macs
MacMerc has an excellent article on email security for Apple users. The author explains how to implement the suggestions for Mail.app and Mozilla’s Thunderbird applications.
Gentoo for et tu Macs
The Gentoo Linux Newsletter has news on the Gentoo MacOS project. They claim that “Gentoo MacOS is ready for consumption by Macintosh users who want, say, scientific DTP via TeX”, according to the article. On-going projects and a lack of Macs will prevent us from trying this, but if you try it, we would love to get your feedback and we will publish it with a by-line if you wish.
Microsoft: Bus Com 101
Microsoft’s web site offers seven suggestions on methods to share information among co-workers. Some of the tips are obvious, but if you have yet to implement network file sharing or Instant Messaging, then you should visit the site to learn more.
Monday, July 19, 2004
Monday Technews Blog
Please visit Multipleplatforms.com for the links to these stories and more.
New Generation of iPod Released
Apple announced the new generation of iPods and it includes the Apple Click Wheel first introduced on the iPod mini. The rumors we reported on are correct, the costs have dropped and the memory has increased. Read more about iPod, the next generation, at the Apple iPod/iTunes site.
Secunia Focus: Open Source
Secunia security releases overnight are for the open source crowd and include updates for last week’s bulletins. Updates for the following systems are available: Debain GNU/Linux , Conectiva Linux 8/Linux 9 , SuSE Linux 8.x, SuSE Linux 9.0, SuSE Linux 9.1, SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8, UnitedLinux 1.x, SuSE Linux Office Server.
Apple DVD Knowledge Base Update
Sometimes you just get lucky, and that’s what we have been. We started using DVD-R with our first DVD burner and have never experienced a problem. However, an update to the Apple Knowledge Base today indicates that iDVD requires you to use DVD-R, or risk making some nifty coasters. Read more about the issue at the Apple Knowledge Base site.
Security Expert Offers Advice
Security guru Steve Gibson of grc.com, was the guest on Leo Laporte’s radio show on Sunday. Steve coined the term “spyware” long ago and continues to help computer users fight off hack attacks. Steve recommends that you follow Microsoft’s advice and turn your Internet Explorer security settings to “high”. You still have to use IE for certain operations, for instance updates from Microsoft. To adjust your settings use the following path: Start/Control Panel/Internet Connections/Security. Then choose Internet (the globe icon), and then select custom level. At the bottom of the new dialogue box, choose “high” from the drop down menu and click “OK”. When you use IE, you will add a web site to your trusted sites when you need a feature to work. Yes, it is a hassle; our advice would be, only use IE when you must.
More Advice on Security
Steve also offered Leo’s listeners advice on his favorite protection methods and they include AdAware and Spybot S&D as we have recommended in the past. Spygate Personal Firewall got the nod from Steve over ZoneLab’s product due to the propensity of the latter to pester users with “upgrades”. We concur 100% on the issue of ZoneLab’s morph into a Norton-like business plan.
New Generation of iPod Released
Apple announced the new generation of iPods and it includes the Apple Click Wheel first introduced on the iPod mini. The rumors we reported on are correct, the costs have dropped and the memory has increased. Read more about iPod, the next generation, at the Apple iPod/iTunes site.
Secunia Focus: Open Source
Secunia security releases overnight are for the open source crowd and include updates for last week’s bulletins. Updates for the following systems are available: Debain GNU/Linux , Conectiva Linux 8/Linux 9 , SuSE Linux 8.x, SuSE Linux 9.0, SuSE Linux 9.1, SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8, UnitedLinux 1.x, SuSE Linux Office Server.
Apple DVD Knowledge Base Update
Sometimes you just get lucky, and that’s what we have been. We started using DVD-R with our first DVD burner and have never experienced a problem. However, an update to the Apple Knowledge Base today indicates that iDVD requires you to use DVD-R, or risk making some nifty coasters. Read more about the issue at the Apple Knowledge Base site.
Security Expert Offers Advice
Security guru Steve Gibson of grc.com, was the guest on Leo Laporte’s radio show on Sunday. Steve coined the term “spyware” long ago and continues to help computer users fight off hack attacks. Steve recommends that you follow Microsoft’s advice and turn your Internet Explorer security settings to “high”. You still have to use IE for certain operations, for instance updates from Microsoft. To adjust your settings use the following path: Start/Control Panel/Internet Connections/Security. Then choose Internet (the globe icon), and then select custom level. At the bottom of the new dialogue box, choose “high” from the drop down menu and click “OK”. When you use IE, you will add a web site to your trusted sites when you need a feature to work. Yes, it is a hassle; our advice would be, only use IE when you must.
More Advice on Security
Steve also offered Leo’s listeners advice on his favorite protection methods and they include AdAware and Spybot S&D as we have recommended in the past. Spygate Personal Firewall got the nod from Steve over ZoneLab’s product due to the propensity of the latter to pester users with “upgrades”. We concur 100% on the issue of ZoneLab’s morph into a Norton-like business plan.
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Sunday Technews Blog
Please visit Multipleplatforms.com for the links to these stories and more.
Rumor No More
The cover of Newsweek will reveal the Apple King and the new apple of his eye, the redesigned iPod according to a story from MacNN (and just about every other news outlet). The new design utilizes a scroll wheel like the navigation tool for the iPod mini. The article has a catchy phrase, “iPod, therefore I am”. Rumors have the storage capacity increasing and the price decreasing, emphasis on the rumor.
Tips From Microsoft for Spyware Prevention
Microsoft has put together their five tips for denying spyware access to your PC. Find out what MS suggests to avoid subjecting you and your computer to spyware, one of the greatest annoyances in the Windows World today by visiting the Microsoft Support Site.
Linux World Will Spin in San Francisco
The Linux World Conference & Expo will take place in San Francisco from August 3 to August 5, 2004. This will be an open source user’s heaven and you can learn about the details of the event from the Linux World Expo web site.
Google Offers Freebie
Google is giving away free downloads of their recently acquired Picasa software that “allows you to manage your digital collection”, well almost. However, we beggars cannot be choosers. To get the free download, just use your normal method to access Google (we use Google for our home page) and look below the search field, then click on the link. We will stick with our Macs for digital photography.
Mac Says No When You Say Go
If you start up your Mac and get a blue or gray screen, a flashing question mark, a broken folder icon, kernel panic or just nothing at all, do not panic, at least not yet. Assuming you have or can get access to another computer, visit the Apple Support site to find the nine different fixes that might apply to your situation.
Leo’s Working OT
The Tech Guy on KFI, Leo Laporte, will be taking calls for an extra 90 minutes at the conclusion of the show today and that gives you a great opportunity to ask the Tech Expert your question about anything with a chip. Leo is “banking” calls for future broadcasts and your call will be recorded and used later. Leo uses language even non-geeks understand, and delivers his answer in a fun and informative fashion. Listen live on AM 640 in the Los Angeles area or on the internet via the KFI web site.
Amazon Hot Buy
Well since you are listening to him, why not read something by him too; Leo’ s latest book is our Amazon buy of the day.
Rumor No More
The cover of Newsweek will reveal the Apple King and the new apple of his eye, the redesigned iPod according to a story from MacNN (and just about every other news outlet). The new design utilizes a scroll wheel like the navigation tool for the iPod mini. The article has a catchy phrase, “iPod, therefore I am”. Rumors have the storage capacity increasing and the price decreasing, emphasis on the rumor.
Tips From Microsoft for Spyware Prevention
Microsoft has put together their five tips for denying spyware access to your PC. Find out what MS suggests to avoid subjecting you and your computer to spyware, one of the greatest annoyances in the Windows World today by visiting the Microsoft Support Site.
Linux World Will Spin in San Francisco
The Linux World Conference & Expo will take place in San Francisco from August 3 to August 5, 2004. This will be an open source user’s heaven and you can learn about the details of the event from the Linux World Expo web site.
Google Offers Freebie
Google is giving away free downloads of their recently acquired Picasa software that “allows you to manage your digital collection”, well almost. However, we beggars cannot be choosers. To get the free download, just use your normal method to access Google (we use Google for our home page) and look below the search field, then click on the link. We will stick with our Macs for digital photography.
Mac Says No When You Say Go
If you start up your Mac and get a blue or gray screen, a flashing question mark, a broken folder icon, kernel panic or just nothing at all, do not panic, at least not yet. Assuming you have or can get access to another computer, visit the Apple Support site to find the nine different fixes that might apply to your situation.
Leo’s Working OT
The Tech Guy on KFI, Leo Laporte, will be taking calls for an extra 90 minutes at the conclusion of the show today and that gives you a great opportunity to ask the Tech Expert your question about anything with a chip. Leo is “banking” calls for future broadcasts and your call will be recorded and used later. Leo uses language even non-geeks understand, and delivers his answer in a fun and informative fashion. Listen live on AM 640 in the Los Angeles area or on the internet via the KFI web site.
Amazon Hot Buy
Well since you are listening to him, why not read something by him too; Leo’ s latest book is our Amazon buy of the day.
