Tech News

My thoughts on DoubleTwist

2010-06-06T19:40:00.006-04:00

I thought I would just give a brief word about my thoughts on Doubletwist. For those that do not know what Doubletwist is I will try to explain it the short and sweet way.

Essentially Doubletwist is a replacement for iTunes, you may be asking yourself why would anyone what to replace iTunes! The answer is simple, for those of that do not own an Ipod, or Iphone we needed a replacement. I am one of the millions of Android Phone users in the world, and in reality our lack of sync was well pretty much non-existent. Doubletwist fills this need, and makes syncing your music, photos, podcast, and videos to your Android device easy and seamless.

Upon install which you can get free here, Doubletwist will automatically scan your iTunes folder, you picture folder, and video folder. Once this is complete you simply attach your Android device via USB (make sure you choose mount SD card on your device) Doubletwist will automatically detect your device, simple huh? Once this is complete you simply choose the items you want to sync, and presto Doubletwist start's syncing your device.

It does not stop there, this program is not just a piece of software that sync's your wanted data. You have access to all of your favorite Podcast, just as in iTunes, you can also purchase music, and audio books right in Doubletwist using your Amazon account. Giving you the chance to purchase DRM free music from Amazon MP3 store, so you can play music on your PC, Android Device, or any MP3 player.

I was not sure if I wanted to use a sync program, since all my info pretty much sync's to the cloud. Through my obsession to podcast, and not really finding a podcast app that I really liked. I chose to give Doubletwist a shot, I am glad I did. It has made my whole syncing process much more streamlined. Since before adding MP3's was really kind of a pain.

Best of all Doubletwist is 100% free to download and install, check out Doubletwist today.

HP mini 1150nr Review

2009-06-07T10:42:00.004-04:00

With the onslaught of Mini notebook computers, and being an owner of a Mini notebook. I decided to take a look at the new HP Mini 1150nr Mobile Broadband Edition. I currently use an Acer Aspire One 160 gb netbook, only problem is I have to hack a way at it to be able to use 3G. Since the new HP mini 1150nr is through ATT, and I am an ATT customer. I set out to see if this new netbook meets my needs.

Specs:
Processor: 1.60ghz Atom Intel Processor w/ 512kb L2 Cache
Memory: 1024 MB DDR2
Max Memory: 1024 MB
Video Graphics: Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 950
Video Memory: Up to 128MB
Network Card: Intergrated 10/100 Ethernet
Wireless: 802.11 B/G
Sound: HD Audio
Keyboard: 82 Key (92% the size of a regular laptop keyboard)
Touch pad: Touch pad mouse with Vertical and Horizontal scroll
External Ports:

2-in-1 integrated Digital Media Reader for Secure Digital cards & Multimedia cards
2 Universal Serial Bus (USB) 2.0
1 Headphone out/Microphone-in combo jack (iphone compatible)
1 RJ -45 (LAN)
1 notebook expansion port

Dimensions: 10.3 in (L) x 6.56 in (D) x 0.99 in (H)
Weight: 2.45 lbs
Power: 3 cell lithium-Ion Battery
OS: Windows XP pre-installed

One of the coolest features I noticed while playing with one of these at my local big box electronics store was the keyboard. Don't get me wrong I love my Acer but with 97% the size of a full size laptop keyboard, I don't think you can go wrong. There are a few features that are lacking in my opinion.

The restriction on 1024 MB memory is a bummer, I know I know. I am saying that you need massive amounts of RAM but 2048 MB limit would have been nice. The 80 GB Hard Drive is a bit lacking, with the Acer and many other models coming with 160 GB HD's. The only version available is pre-installed with Windows XP.

The overall design is nice, and the larger keyboard is a plus. The biggest sell for me is the fact that it is 3G capable through ATT network. Allowing me to have Internet access anywhere I go. With out having to hack away at my netbook to get 3G capability.

Tetris Free Game play all you want.

2009-06-06T09:18:00.012-04:00

Being as today is the 25th Anniversary of Tetris. I thought I would show it some love not to mention everyone loves Tetris. I know I have spent many hours of my life ligning up many little blocks. I set out on a mission to find some cool versions of this classic puzzle game. There are so many different varieties of this game it is down right amazing. Below you will find some links to some great Tetris versions. So if you are looking for Tetris Free Game, then you have come to the right place.

The first link has to be one of the coolest versions of Tetris online. You can play single games, or battle other users for free. You can even share pieces with other players in head to head competition.

FreeTetris.org

Classic version, if you want to play the game you loved when you were a kid with out all the fancy bells and whistles this version of Tetris Free is for you.

TetrisFree.com

I hope you all enjoy these Tetris Free Game. I would love to see everyone's score, feel free to post your score in your comments.

Land of the Lost tv show

2009-05-25T16:24:00.002-04:00

With the onset of the new movie Land Of The Lost. One of my favorite sites for TV shows and more have started listing Land Of The Lost Tv Show's. Right now they only have one listing for episode one, if you know of more you can submit the links to them and they will update their sources.

You can check them out at Tvduck.com

I hope everyone enjoys the Land Of The Lost Episodes.

History behind the Oreck Vacuum

2009-05-24T09:35:00.002-04:00

Essentially started in 1963. David Oreck had obtained the rights to an abandoned design for an upright vacuum cleaner from Whirlpool, as well as a distribution facility of RCA that was on its way down. The design he had received was for a machine that only weighed 8lbs this was a third of the weight of the average vacuum of the time. Given many years of hard work David Oreck's dream evolved to include many quality products. Learn more about David Oreck, and Oreck Corporation here.

Oreck Products
Oreck XL Upright Vacuums

Classic
Silver
Gold
Platinum
Halo

Canister Vacuum Cleaners

DutchTech Full Size 1400 Series
DutchTech Mid Size 1200 Series
Ironman Handheld
Housekeeper Ultimate Handheld
Deluxe Handheld

Floor Machines

Orbiter Ultra Multi-Purpose
Orbiter Multi-Purpose
Rinse-A-Matic Steemer Ultra
XL Shield Power Scrubber

Air Purifiers

XL Tabletop Professional
XL Tower Professional

Small Appliances

Cordless Electrik Broom
Restaurateur Floor Sweeper-12.5
Restaurateur Floor Sweeper-9.5
Deluxe Electric Fabric Shaver
Refrigerator Air Purifier
Cordless Zip Vac
Cordless Speed Iron
Car Vac
Verilux 3-in-1 Lamp

Playing Your Most Coveted Games On An LCD Flat Screen

2008-10-04T21:45:00.002-04:00

Gamers around the world want the best television possible in order to play their games. Think about it for a bit. Most new gaming systems such as the Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and the Playstation 3 cost well over three hundred dollars. Why would you pay that much money for a gaming system only to have to play it on a small television? Especially a small television that has a distorted picture and cloudy color. A LCD flat screen is the way to go when looking for a new television set on which to play your video games.

A huge flat screen television is a great way to enjoy the gaming experience. Most new LCD flat screen TVs offer a decided advantage when compared to older televisions. When plugging in DVD players, VCRs or gaming systems, you must have AV cords that come with the equipment. The AV cords plug into the AV inputs. Stereo televisions have three of these inputs that combine to allow the sound and picture signals to travel from the gaming device to the television. Some older models, specifically the non-stereo versions, may only have one set of ports.

New LCD flat screen TVs offer AV ports in the rear and on the sides of the screen. This allows for more electronic equipment to be run through the television. For gamers, this is absolutely essential. Game AV cables take up one set of AV ports and there are still ports available for surround sound, DVD players and another gaming system. Every gamer knows that one gaming system is never enough.

The size of the flat screen television used is entirely up to you. A larger screen does impress the friends. It is not going to impress your wallet. You are looking at paying over $4000 for a 52 inch flat screen television. Is it worth it? Should you go with the LCD flat screen over a standard big screen television? Without a doubt you should always go for the LCD over the big screen. Big screen televisions distort the picture and are not worth the price. A further disadvantage is that they take up a huge amount of floor space. If you can afford the LCD, then go for it. You will not regret the gaming experience it offers.

Plasma TV Buying Guides - Making The Right Informed Buying Decision

2008-09-27T09:04:00.002-04:00

Depending on the people that you talk to, there are specific aspects of plasma TV's that need to be checked out before coming to a final buying decision. One of the common mistakes that numerous potential purchasers end up making is in researching and reading through various plasma TV buying guides and then coming to a decision as to what they want. A good starting point is for you to list all the things you are looking for in your new television set and at that point you should take that information that is available in the plasma TV buying guides to locate the one that matches your list.

To start with, you are going to need to know the amount that you can afford to spend because there are numerous different types of models out there with functions that are similar that also vary in their prices. In some instances, one or two features might need to be overlooked in exchange for a better priced unit. Even then, wait to go through the plasma TV buying guides, you have other considerations to dwell on prior looking at your options.

Another important factor is the type of input that your television has as there are some plasmas that do not have the right connection for your needs. Even though a set-top box will enable you to get cable hooked up, by getting a cable ready set with your plasma TV you will save an extra monthly fee on the box from the cable company. Also take a look at the types and quantity of the inputs that are available on the different types of models that are within your price range for CD players, DVD players, games and even an old VCR if you happen to have one.

Make No Assumption That Prices Equals Quality

It is basically understood that plasma television costs are higher than the majority of other types of monitors. Even though this might be true to a certain extent, the prices have come down substantially in recent years and some now equal the costs of LCD televisions. In the majority of cases, a unit that is priced higher might have additional features, but the plasma TV buying guides can furnish you with the right information in regards to what is available with newer plasma monitors.

Does the plasma unit come with back light capability, normally found with LCD televisions or does it have the capacity to connect up to your newer surround sound system, are some of the considerations that you will want to check out in the plasma TV buying guides. In addition, are there mounting brackets for both ceiling or wall mounts incorporated or do they have to be bought as an addition separately?

Once you have gone through your plasma TV buying guides and have purchased the unit that has all the options bells and whistles etc., that you were looking for in a new television, and the cost is around your price point to your budget, you can start to look for an outlet for your new monitor.

To learn more go to Panasonic Plasma Tv and at Plasma Tv Buying Guides

Preventing Computer Security Attacks

2008-09-23T09:31:00.002-04:00

Coming up with online sources for her law school thesis on money laundering was a task that was made simpler for a certain student with the help of Google. As you can imagine, this was definitely a great tool to her in the process of writing her thesis. Soon, she began to have the problem of her search terms taking her to pages completely unrelated to money laundering.

Her hopes of it being an easy to repair problem with the internet or the search engine were dashed as the glitch refused to go away, and she was forced to concede that she had likely been bugged. We all hate bugging people us but people we can fend of. What this law student is confronted with is a computer bug that she cannot fend off: she had been infected with adware and spyware. The student does not have advanced technology training and like most average students, she uses her laptop only for basic research and the writing of her papers.

The case above is eerily similar to that of an increasing number of individuals who find their computers malfunctioning after being infected with spyware and adware. In 1995, 'spyware' premiered as a phrase to describe an especially nasty type of computer infection, and that term gained increased popularity in 2000. Unbeknownst to many users, these software programs and scripts that comprise this particular computer bug allow access to personal information about the computer user.

Keystrokes, browsing history, and the contents of a hard drive all provide this valuable information. With the advent of spyware, infiltration moved off the big screen of Hollywood movies and into the homes of millions of unsuspecting individuals that can be taken advantage of at any time. Infiltrations such as these are basic privacy violations and the people targeted are indeed innocent victims. Spying on criminals with spyware makes sense because it can help society for the greater good, but too often this program is used to track sensitive personal information, such as credit card information. Because of the hostile nature of these potential infiltrations, every computer should have an updated anti-spyware program.

In attempting to protect yourself, you should block not only spyware, but adware and malware, which are similar programs, as well. Online adware and spyware blocker programs are easily available to help in this endeavor. By not only eliminating the current infiltration programs on a computer system, but by preventing any future ones to be unknowingly installed, these blockers live up to their name. Both the individual programs and the computer itself can experience a drastic decline in speed after the computer has been infected with these programs.

Sadly, many times spyware is such a good 'spy' that it can evade detection as the root of the crime. The best step is always a good offense, in this case a blocker, to prevent your system from becoming infected with the malicious programs.

Sony Vaio Notebook Computer

2008-09-22T10:30:00.002-04:00

Information On The Sony Vaio Notebook Computer

Sony has always made news when they introduce a new product. When they first came out with the Sony Vaio notebook computer they were again making headlines. This notebook computer was and still is considered the best in the notebook computer world.

Even with top of the line technology the Sony Vaio notebook computer remains easy to use and yet still powerful. One is able to perform intricate tasks as easily as they can read their e-mail.

The Sony Vaio notebook computer, with all its high quality features, is consistent with other trusted Sony products. The power and features keep it at the top of the list in notebook computers.

The Sony Vaio notebook computer has always prided itself on its features and its ability to stay up with whatever state of the art components are being offered for notebook computers. One of the things that Sony was the first company to integrate into their Sony Vaio notebook computer was wireless networking without adding an extra card or using a separate interface device. Now the wireless networking connection is standard as the rest of the field tries to keep up with Sony.

Sony was also one of the first companies to offer CD-ROM drives in their notebook computers which made transferring data from one machine to another that much easier. They continue to stay ahead of the curve with state of the art security features for their new line of notebook computers.

Customize Your notebook computer With Color

The fashion forward Sony company stays on top with custom colors for your notebook computer. The sorority girl can have her pink notebook computer, the football player can have his team's colors, and the visionary company can have their logo on the top of their notebook computer.

It is just another way that Sony makes the customer feel like they are just as much a part of the design process of their own notebook computer as the company building it is and it is something that customers have readily responded to.

With the stronger carbon fiber casing the new Sony notebook computers are able to travel to and from work or the office without a concern of damage. They can withstand and occasional bump or other contact.

Sony is always trying to stay ahead of the curve. By owning one of these great machines you will also be ahead of the rest.

Is your Wii ready for Homebrew?

2008-08-24T21:54:00.002-04:00

Is your Wii ready for Homebrew?

Posted using ShareThis

Well things are back on track

2008-08-10T13:00:00.000-04:00

Well I think things are back on track for now. I am all healed up from my sinus surgery and been feeling pretty good. I still have a headache here and there but nothing like before. But I am back on the boat and it is time to get up some more daily post. So check back everyday as I will be pretty busy posting up news and tech stories. Tomorrow my focus will be on the technology behind this years Olympic events.

Posting will be slow here the next couple of weeks

2008-06-01T07:28:00.000-04:00

I will not be making many post over the next couple of weeks, due to my sinus surgery. I had the Surgery yesterday Saturday May 31st. I have created a new blog to document my healing process, and to give some information to other individuals looking to have Sinus Surgery. Be sure to visit my new blog and leave me comments, especially if you have had this type of surgery.

www.postsinussurgery.blogspot.com

Just a quick note

2008-05-18T11:28:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to let all my readers know I have (well my son has) a new flash arcade site that is free to play and there are some great games there. He adds new games everyday so be sure to subscribe to the feed at the bottom of the page.

Play free flash games at Throttlegames.com

Sony HandyCam c31.23 , 31.23 error easy fix

2008-05-13T18:21:00.000-04:00

Ok this might be old knowledge but I just found out about it and wanted to share this bit of knowledge with someone that may have had the same problem as me. Here is the scenrio, I was at my son's first Motocross race. I decided it would be cool to video tape his first race, since the way my nerves were that day it might have been his last race. Anyway I proceded to video tape his holeshot with my Sony DCR-TRV250 I have had this camera a while but really only used it a couple of times. All of a sudden I got a small arrow type icon similar to the eject icon, and the error code c31.23. What a crappy thing to have happen while it was a milestone of my sons racing career.

Well I manage to find a quick fix, the technical tap or rather smack. In my frustrations I smacked the camera pretty hard and low and behold it worked. Well it was a big pain to wack my camera all the time, so it pretty much retired to its bag. Where I did not pull it out very often except to see if it by some miracle was working normal again.

Today I decided to throw it on the charger and try to see if I could find a fix, and I found this Thread after alot of reading about how everyone wacks their handycam, I found a post from a user named Meredith. The suggestion was to open the tape deck of the camera and look to the right. Below are the steps to follow.

Open tape deck, make sure there is not a tape in it....

About midway back there is a black rubber roller in the middle of 2 metal guides.

In the center of this black roller you should see a white plastic tube, this is a bushing to allow the roller to move with out wobbling.

If you do not see this white tube yours has fallen out, so the search for a new one begins. Don't freak out a straw for a can of compressed air will work, or from a can of WD-40 will aswell. Simply push the new straw firmly into the center of the black roller.

If you see the straw take a small flat head screwdriver and press down on the top of the bushing firmly, I heard a click but you may not it just depends. Anyway this should fix the problem it did mine, and I am happy one my camera works and two I am smarter than Sony :)

Note if this does not fix the problem your bushing may be cracked find a pair of needle nose pliers and pull out the old bushing and replace it using the straw from a can of compressed air.

I hope this fixed your Sony Handycam 31.23 error code, now you are free to archive your lifes great adventures.

My thoughts on Ubuntu 8.04

2008-05-11T23:09:00.000-04:00

Well I installed 8.04 today, and I thought I would share some of my first impressions with you. First off my hardware, it is a out of the box Compaq Presario v6000 Running Amd Turion 64 processor with 1gb ram (yea I know I need more)

I chose to install 64bit version and since I have always had trouble with the live cd, I downloaded the alternate install disk. I am running a Windows free Laptop so I decided to just install Ubuntu on the whole disk. I popped in the install disk and let it work its magic. Installation was smooth, it took about 20 mins. First booting into Ubuntu I had to run a couple of restricted drivers one for my video card, the other for my Broadcom wireless adapter.

After a quick reboot, I have full wifi and full use of my video card. I tweaked a few settings in Compiz after installing Compizmanager ( I always wondered why that is not installed out of the box). I ran through and installed what was about 60 updates for various software etc.. Then installed my favorite apps like Thunderbird, Deluge, the new Gtwitter, and a few more.

Well everything is great, I have to say I really enjoy Ubuntu and always have. There appears to be less bugs with the display than there was in Gutsy. So I highly recommend that you download Ubuntu 8.04 and install it. Liberate your desktop, run opensource.

PSP Custom Firmware 3.93 warning Use at your own risk

2008-04-27T22:20:00.002-04:00

This just recently popped on the scene, by an anonomous party. It appears to be based off of Dark Alex's m33 firmware, I am basing this solely on the implementation of the recovery menu with some extras and some other cues. I have not personally tried out this release yet (no charger for my psp thanks dog), but many have and said it works, but there are some complaints of bricking so I must insist use this at your own risk.

Here is an awesome new feature

VSH Recovery

The principal innovation of this Custom Firmware is the VSH Recovery. This tool is formidable is. It enables you to launch the Recovery instantaneously, to make the changes, and to return to the VSH as if nothing were not.

No reboot is necessary, the changes are made "one the fly" (except for activation/deactivation of the plugin of the VSH.TXT, which requires a reboot).

To start the VSH Recovery since the VSH, support simply on Select. To leave it, choose exit to VSH or press on R.

You can even hide your MAC address on the system information screen.

To be able to change the MAC address, it is necessary that the plugin Sysconf is changed. For that, go in your parameters systems (for example), that will change it plug-in, and thus will allow you to activate, or not, MAC protection. If you do not do it, that will not function (but will not make plant the PSP).

Note: this warning has come from PSP-Hacks.com

!WARNING! Press “X” when the official updater finishes; if not, you will have a brick.

You can learn more here (note: Language is French)
You can get all the files over at psp-hacks.com

Getting a Beta Test Invite

2008-04-26T23:56:00.000-04:00

Becoming a Beta tester for video games, software and even hardware is not as difficult as you might think. There are a few things that you need to know before you will even be in the running to beta test the latest video games or software.

First you need to know what a beta is, it is really the second release of the software but it is not the official final release. This is for example a game designer creates a video game, but his first draft would be considered the Alpha release. Most developers will not release the Alpha due to the multitude of bugs. When the developer decides that his or her release is stable enough for testers, this is named Beta.

Most beta releases are either Open or Private. To join in a private beta you have to be chosen. This can be as easy as putting your name on a mailing list, or as difficult as being a major player in the gaming or software industry. But start with the easiest, put your name on the list. Go to the sign-up page of the software or gaming company and sign up. If you are wanting to be part of the more difficult version. Try to participate in forums, and other communities. This will help build your reputation as an individual who is reliable to test their software and give your trusted opinion of the game or software you are testing.

Psystar Selling Not so Mac's OpenMac

2008-04-14T18:33:00.002-04:00

Looks like a rather creative vendor was discovered selling a desktop computer that it labeled open Mac. Though it is not an Apple endorsed machine. The site was down shortly after the discovery. Lets take a look at what you would have gotten if you purchased and Open Mac.

Psystar Corp

Intel 2.2 Ghz Core 2 Processor
2 GB RAM
250 GB HardDrive
Nvidia Gforce 8600
DVD +/- R
Copy of OS X Leopard (already installed)

All that for only $714.99 (what a deal right)

Quote from their site:

Options You can buy it in black without having to pay more. You can buy it with Firewire. You can buy it with a GeForce 8600, if you like. Psystar gives you options that Apple does not. If you want something different then let us know and we'll work it out for you.

There are some problems with this company and what they are doing. For starters it is against Apples TOS to install OS X on any hardware other than Apples. So what the company is doing is borderline illegal. They can sell you all of the hardware, and even sell you a copy of OS X, but they are not allowed to sell you all the hardware with OS X already installed. According to their site you can get it already installed.

If you are not familiar with the OSX86 Project it is where users run OS X on software that is not supported by apple, with a couple of patches and trial and error it is very possible to intall OS X on an Intel, and even some AMD based machines. Why Apple has not acted on what is obviously a cry for help from the PC community?

If apple won't offer affordable computers that users want, then we will have to find other ways to get our OS X fix.

Enjoy this little video of OS X Leopard running on a PC

Are we ever going to see 3.95 m33?

2008-04-13T10:23:00.000-04:00

With the release of Sony PSP firmware version 3.95 the m33 team has been absent with the a m33 version of the last update. Does this mean that Dark Alex and the team are finished? I doubt that, if you have notice that the recent updates have not been anything spectacular to warrant DA from spending his precious time working to liberate the latest release.

As I have mentioned in a previous post I believe that Sony still has a few tricks up it's sleeve for firmware version 4.00 I just hope that they do not leave us fatty owners out. Then again my dog ate my PSP charger so have not been able to charge my PSP for about a month, the battery is dead. I had better get this fixed soon before some cool new features pop up.

PS3 Firmware V 2.30

2008-04-13T10:08:00.001-04:00

With the release of 2.30 firmware for the PS3, there are some great new features of the Playstation store. The interface has been updated and the Playstation store has been completely redone. Making the whole experience much more enjoyable with an easy to navigate user interface.
The update will also add DTS-HD master audio for Blue-ray movies, giving the already high quality movies excellent high quality audio to match.

DTS-HD Master Audio is a lossless audio codec created by Digital Theater System. It was previously known as DTS++ and DTS-HD. It is an extension of DTS which, when played back on devices which do not support the Master Audio extension, degrades to a 1.5 Mbit/s "core" track which is lossy. DTS-HD Master Audio is an optional audio format for both Blu-ray Disc and HD DVD.

So it looks like the Sony is starting to do things right and literally making the ultimate console. Giving users the best gaming, video and now excellent studio quality audio.

For the complete walk thru check out the video below.

What in the World Is Webkinz?

2008-04-06T10:22:00.000-04:00

Ok call me slow or just not checking up on this phenomenon, well my child has discovered Webkinz. So I started on my research I was amazed at how popular these little toys are. If you are not familiar with what Webkinz are. They are simply a stuffed animal that has a special tag that you use to register your Webkin online. The kid or playful adult can adopt their Webkin online and play with their new friend in the virtual world. You child can play games, listen to songs and much more.

I have to say that this is a wonderful idea, kids and even many adults love Webkinz. It is a simple and entertaining way to keep your child occupied, and the site is simple for your young child to navigate. You child can earn Kinzcash that is used to build your Webkin a home, purchase clothing and food. If you have a small child in the age range of say 3-5 they are sure to enjoy one of these toys.

End of the week update.

2008-04-03T22:40:00.000-04:00

This post is going to be on a bit more of a personal note. I am again contemplating a move to Florida. Just time for a change in my life and to live as much as I can. You never know when it will be your last day to live. I have a lot of projects going on that will probably have to be put on hold for a bit. Not to mention I have a strange spot on my head that my wife thinks is Melanoma, but I have tried to tell here it is nothing. Still she is making me go get it checked. I guess better safe than sorry.

On a better note I am going to get back on the news posting kick again this week coming up. I will be doing a new post everyday. So be sure to check back often, or better yet subscribe to my feed so you won't be left out of the loop.

Until then good day.

Welcome The OpenSocial Foundation

2008-03-26T14:42:00.000-04:00

Looks like there's a trouble stirring for Microsoft, with the creation of OpenSocial Foundation. Yahoo, Google and even Myspace have banned together to create The OpenSocial Foundation. Created to promote opensource programs that will work accross many websites. Giving the users an experience that is seamless and non-cumbersome. The Non-Profit is scheduled to ofically start within 90 Days.

You can read the whole story here

T-mobile SDA running Windows Mobile 6.1

2008-03-23T22:05:00.000-04:00

Here is a video I made of my T-Mobile running Windows Mobile 6.1 the video is also posted on my other site http://www.geekvideo.org where I will be posting a new video Tuesday showing step by step how I installed WM6.1, this process will work for any HTC Tornado Devices. So be sure to hop over to the site and check it out I will post up here when I get it finished.

Should Dark Alex make a psp 3.93 custom firmware?

2008-03-21T23:51:00.000-04:00

I know this is an upgrade many custom PSP owners are waiting for, but do you need it? I myself am not real excited for a 3.93 m33 version. I will probably skip this upgrade, and wait for a more significant update with some use full features. Like my previous post I don't really use the PSP radio, and well I sure as the hell don't want the security update.

Personally I am still pissed that they left us fatty owners out of the mix on the Skype deal but I guess I have complained enough about that. I am in the market though for another GPS unit for the PSP I had one a while back and really did not use it all that much, but I have decided to get another.

Well enough of my ramblings for today. I will be posting on a more regular basis so besure to subscribe or check back often.

Mesothelioma

Sony PSP Firmware 3.93 released Please read before upgrading

2008-03-18T16:17:00.001-04:00

There is an offical Sony Firmware release today.

Firmware version 3.93

There are not many changes to mention, but if you are a fan of PSP internet radio you will be happy to hear 20 new channels have been added. Also the players are arranged in a more specific genre making it easier to find you favorite station. Also some upgrades and improvements on expanding support for the Playstation network titles.

Now I do not see much reason in updating unless you just can't live with out the 20 extra stations. I personally have not used PSP internet radio that much so it is not going to help me much. Be aware that if you are running a custom firmware like m33 firmwares this will break your psp's ability to play homebrew software and games.

I hope that Sony has some big plans for version 4.0 and that they do not leave us fatty owners out of the mix like they have with skype for the slim versions. Sony listen up if you want more users, buyers, money etc.. Just give us what we want, and don't leave us early adopters out of the mix. It just manages to piss us off.

Download the official update here.

PSP Firmware 3.90

2008-01-30T21:15:00.000-05:00

Well we now have a new firmware from Sony for our beloved PSP. There is nothing real exciting in this update atleast for us fatty users, but the slim owners get a small treat. You get Skype, thats right you get Skype on your PSP. Why Sony has left us fatty owners out in the cold with this feature. We won't be left in the dark though, as one of my earlier post eludes there is a PSP Sip client called Furikup. You can learn more about that below. Other than some worthless security fixes that is all there is in this update. I am anxiously waiting for 4.0 I am sure there will be some cool new features atleast for PSP Slim owners. Damn you Sony I will not give you anymore of my cash to buy a new PSP Slim so just release these goodies for both versions.

Fix Windows Errors and Speed up your Computer

2008-01-20T12:29:00.000-05:00

I have been using vista for about a year now, and I have noticed like all Windows operating systems that my performance has decreased and really really slowed down. Due to regular use Vista, and XP gets errors which really makes the computer run slow and even crash often. I went on a searching mission to find a software that will fix these errors and increase my ccmputers speed. Well I found it, the software is from a company called ErrorSmart the software worked great. It was easy to install and get running, the scanning process was fast and simple. You would not believe the errors that came up after the scan. Not to mention you do not have to be a computer genius to fix the errors ErrorSmart does all the work for you. So I thought I would share this bit of information with you.

So if you are having some performance issues with your computer and need a fix up and do not want to loose all your valuable information by doing a complete reinstall. Then ErrorSmart is the software for you.

Click here to get ErrorSmart

PSP Voip Phone Sip

2008-01-07T17:09:00.000-05:00

It is finally here, Noobz has released in beta a voip software for the PSP. Looks like sony has been beatin to the puch by the PSP community (Again)

It is in Beta so it is still a bit buggy, but has been confirmed to work though I could not get mine working as of this writing. The UI is a bit basic but functional. They have released the source so I am sure over the next couple of days we will see a new easier to use UI. I have been asking, begging, searching for almost 2 years for the ability to make phone calls from my PSP. Now it is a reality. I can see a shortage on PSP Socom Headsets...

I will post up some more updates as they come available. As well as a full tutorial that will explain how to set this up and make calls from your PSP.

In the mean time you can download FuriKup Here
Visit the Noobz Forum and join the fun.

Back From Vacation

2007-12-31T13:14:00.000-05:00

Well I am back from vacation. Boy I needed the break that is for sure. I took the family to Florida for a week. We spent time on Sanibel Island and in the Fort Myers area. It was alot of fun, and the warm weather was nice. It is a welcome change from the cold rainy weather we have had here in WV for the last month. Now I just have a lot to do. I have to take down the Christmas decorations, Get everything unpacked and then get ready to go back to work :( I guess that is life you can't sit and play all the time. I will try to get some pictures uploaded soon so everyone can see how beautiful that place is.

Taking a bit of a break for Christmas

2007-12-19T18:18:00.000-05:00

Well I am taking a bit of a break for the Christmas holiday. I am going to be taking off to sunny south Florida for a week. So there will not be any updates, atleast for a week. Unless I just get in the typing mood. I will be adding some pics to my flicker page. I will post the link to my flicker images when I get back. I hope everyone has a happy and safe holiday season.

Remember to not drink and drive.

I updated one of my sites

2007-12-08T23:22:00.000-05:00

Well I have redone another of my sites. I had the old domain laying around www.inhomefix.com and I thought well I had better make use of it. So I put a design around the idea of fixing bad credit. And offering loans for people with bad credit. There are alot of great resources on the site so feel free to give a visit and check out the articles.

www.inhomefix.com

Blog Dedicated to the authors battle with testicular cancer

2007-12-08T00:46:00.000-05:00

I found a site that I thought you all would be interested in reading. It really peaked my interest due to my age and of course being a male and well aware of the dangers related to testicular cancer. It is recomended that men to a self exam atleast once a month, and to get regular checkups from your family doctor. Below I have outlined some steps to performing your self exam.

This was taken from http://tcrc.acor.org/tcexam.html

The TCRC recommends following these steps every month (keep in mind that the point is not to find something wrong, it is to learn what everything feels like so that you will know if something changes):

Stand in front of a mirror. Check for any swelling on the scrotal skin.

Examine each testicle with both hands. Place the index and middle fingers under the testicle with the thumbs placed on top. Roll the testicle gently between the thumbs and fingers -- you shouldn't feel any pain when doing the exam. Don't be alarmed if one testicle seems slightly larger than the other, that's normal.

Find the epididymis, the soft, tubelike structure behind the testicle that collects and carries sperm. If you are familiar with this structure, you won't mistake it for a suspicious lump. Cancerous lumps usually are found on the sides of the testicle but can also show up on the front. Lumps on the epididymis are not cancerous.

If you find a lump on your testicle, see a doctor, preferably a urologist, right away. The abnormality may not be cancer, it may just be an infection. But if it is testicular cancer, it will spread if it is not stopped by treatment. Waiting and hoping will not fix anything. Please note that free floating lumps in the scrotum that are not attached in any way to a testicle are not testicular cancer. When in doubt, get it checked out - if only for peace of mind!

Check out out the blog and be sure to leave some comments

http://wwwlumikancommycancerbattle.blogspot.com/

Unblockable PopUp Plugin For WordPress

2007-12-04T17:25:00.000-05:00

New plugin for WordPress. Easy to install and configure unblockable popup for WordPress. This allows you to serve a customizable popup on your blog. You can use this to offer an ad for your blog or even a form so your visitors can sign up for your newsletter. It is very simple to install, just upload the plugin to your WordPress Plugin folder, then go to options to customize your popup window you can change the size add java script and or Html.

Click Here to Learn More.

New Social Networking Site

2007-12-03T17:27:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to let you all know about a brand new social networking site that I found on my evening web browsing. It is www.asabailey.com
The site works on the same premise of myspace, facebook and other but with a unique flair. The site is growing quick soon to be a large social gathering of great minds, musicians, artist. The sign up is quick and simple, you can even modify your profile to the way you like. There is also a GUI based profile editor that lets you pick colors and layout with out any knowledge of website building.
Below is my link to add me as a friend, once you add me give me a shout and let me know you found the link through this blog, and I will hook you up with a free gift.

http://www.asabailey.com/wvstephens

I just feel like a HACK

2007-12-02T08:11:00.000-05:00

Well I just bought a new, or rather used video card from eBay. It is a nvidia 5900xt OC (over clocked) well I put it in and oh the blue screens of death on vista, and Ubuntu would not een boot correctly. So I proceeded to reinstall Vista thought maybe old driver conflict. Instant Blue screen. So I went back to XP, which I am actually happy I did. :) But here is the embarrassing part. I installed the Nvidia software, and when I rebooted. I got a msg saying that the auxiliary power was unplug. Now I thought to my self I did check this card for a power connector right? Well I opened the case and what did I see, a power connector on the back of the card. Boy did I feel like a complete noob, I guess that explained why the cooling fan on the card did not work. There is a lesson here to be learned no matter how Leet you think you are, you can forget shit so pay attention.

Until Next time.

I have a new site

2007-11-25T13:59:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to let all my visitors know that I have a new website up and running. The sight is designed around WordPress and is dedicated to portable media. It is a portal where visitors can find access to movies, music, videos and more for their portable media players, like the Iphone, Ipod, PSP and many others. So take a second to check out the site and leave me some comments letting me know what you like and don't like.

www.portablemediaconnection.com

Win a 2GB Wodden USB Memory Stick

2007-11-22T20:26:00.000-05:00

The Prizeblog.com is having a contest where you can win a unique gift valued at $105.00
The prize is a 2gb wood USB memory stick. This is a unique item that really gets people talking.
Not to mention they are hand picked and handmade. The contest is simple to participate in.

All you have to do is post a small blog about the contest
Then just shoot them an email to let them know about your blog post.

New Iphone Video Site

2007-11-22T19:14:00.000-05:00

I found a nice P2P site for Ipod formatted videos. The Service is very easy to use and wow talk about alot of content for you to download, watch and listen to.

Major Announcement " Geekvideo.org "

2007-11-20T17:15:00.000-05:00

Today I am making a big announcement

My baby Geekvideo.org is going through a transformation. I am no longer going to be promoting technology based videos or podcasts. The industry has grown and personally I have not been able to keep up. So after many hours of thought I have decided I am going to start producing my own content. I will be producing how to videos showing users how to use various software products, marketing products and Marketing your site and SEO. I feel that this is a great change, and it will bring together a great community and opportunities for me and fans of the site.

Undercover NBC reporter at DefCon 15

2007-08-04T12:30:00.000-04:00

This has to be one of the funniest stories I have seen in a while. We all know about NBC and their famed show To catch a predator. Well apparently they were trying to play catch the hacker. Apparently Michelle Madigan a journalist for NBC wast discovered at this years DefCon with a hidden pin hole camera and no press credential's. This is just stipulation but it appears that NBC may have been working a story about hiring hackers. Now all in the know are aware that the press is allowed at DefCon but they must register for press credential's. Also no camera's are allowed to just randomly video tape the conference or any of the conference goers with out the individuals permission.

So during the opening session the presenters did what they have the right to do. They said there was a new game this year at DefCon, it is called Spot The Undercover Reporter. He gave 2 options, one is to let here interview a 13 year old kid about hacking his PSP, or Escort her off the property. He pointed her out and they proceeded to escort her off the property. She was followed to her vehicle by a few individuals with camera's. It was a peaceful escort other than a few people asking if she had any comment's, yea she kept her mouth shut. It also appears that both Michelle Madigans Myspace, and Facebook profiles have been removed.

Let this be a warning to future undercover reporters at conventions like this or anywhere. You do not have the moral right to video tape anyone that does not know they are being video taped. With the sole intent of dragging them through the dirt.

Google Ad Phone?

2007-08-02T22:24:00.000-04:00

It seems that Google is in the process of teaming up with wireless phone manufactures to make a Google phone. Is ad supported Cell Phone service going to work? Well myself if I could get free cell phone service by just having to hear a brief commercial or reading a text message ad I am all for it.
The problems I see is Google being able to convince the major carriers that they can make enough money to keep them happy. Or as we found out just last month Sprint and Google are teaming up to offer wifi service or something similar. Maybe the plan is to offer the official Google phone, ad supported wifi and cell phone service for free.

I am all for it, viva la Google phone.

Just an update

2007-08-01T14:07:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to give a little update. I have been on vacation and really have not had much time to blog. And really as far as tech news goes all that is out there for me is the Iphone and that thing is way over done. I will be back next week with some more great articles for your reading enjoyment. In the meantime check out these cool links I wanted to share with you.

First off my pownce page. www.pownce.com/wvstephens
If you do not have a pownce account just drop me an email at
reptilenut (at) gmail(dot com) and I will send you an invite if I
have one.

Also if you don't already know check out www.hackaday.com

If you are bored check out www.thepcmanwebsite.com
for some fun free games.

Great source for free mp3's via google search www.G2P.org

Have a great week and I hope you enjoy my site picks for the week.

Help keep your laptop and data safe and secure

2007-06-18T19:56:00.000-04:00

You already know how much your laptop is worth. Unfortunately, there’s a fair chance that the laptop thieves as well …

Here are some tips on looking after your laptop, minimizing the likelihood of a loss, theft or damage and also shrinking the possible pain if it does happen.

First, make sure it doesn’t matter so much if you do lose your laptop:

Everything that is important on your laptop should be backed up. Buy an external hard-drive (usually about £50/US$90). Keep it connected to your laptop whenever possible. Then buy a software system that will automatically copy your essential files to the external hard-drive. "Backup Platinum" is a good option - www.backup-platinum.com
Backup the backup - Copy the back-up files to another external hard-drive or computer. Your first may have broken or corrupted - and if you did not notice that until your laptop goes or goes wrong ...

Make sure you have copies of the license keys for all software on your laptop – create a text file of the these. This makes it much easier to reinstall when you get a new laptop. For security you might want to lock this license key file away behind a password-protected system. File Locker is handy – www.file-locker.com

Don’t travel with your laptop unless absolutely necessary - obvious but true – o you really need to take it with you? Laptop theft peaks on Friday, when office workers take their laptop home with them.

Put it in a rucksack not the laptop bag. If you want to use the laptop bag eg because it has stronger edges to keep your laptop protected, put the laptop in the laptop bag, and then put the laptop bag in a rucksack. This stops it being visibly a laptop.

When your do travel with your laptop, mentally program yourself to keep hold of your laptop. On trains etc jeep it between your legs, so you can feel when it is not there immediately. There are many cases of items even being stolen from between legs at restaurants etc, so also put 1 foot through the strap.

Avoid traveling on a Friday with your laptop - this is key theft-day, because many staff take their laptop home to use over the weekend. This means that Friday is key theft day.

Complete these simple steps and your laptop will be far safer – and should your laptop be lost, damaged or stolen, you will feel the pain far less.

This article was written by: Duncan Elliot
Ducan is the owner of www.mobile-phone-upgrade.com

Note: I did edit this article to help alleviate the article spam.
But was well written. So I wanted to give him credit some where.

Rules for Online Safety

2007-06-17T10:22:00.000-04:00

In light of the Myspace related story below I dug up this little bit of information that I would share with my readers.

Kids' Rules for Online Safety

1.	I will not give out personal information such as my address, telephone number, parents’ work address/telephone number, or the name and location of my school without my parents’ permission.
2.	I will tell my parents right away if I come across any information that makes me feel uncomfortable.
3.	I will never agree to get together with someone I "meet" online without first checking with my parents. If my parents agree to the meeting, I will be sure that it is in a public place and bring my mother or father along.
4.	I will never send a person my picture or anything else without first checking with my parents.
5.	I will not respond to any messages that are mean or in any way make me feel uncomfortable. It is not my fault if I get a message like that. If I do I will tell my parents right away so that they can contact the service provider.
6.	I will talk with my parents so that we can set up rules for going online. We will decide upon the time of day that I can be online, the length of time I can be online and appropriate areas for me to visit. I will not access other areas or break these rules without their permission.
7.	I will not give out my Internet password to anyone (even my best friends) other than my parents.
8.	I will check with my parents before downloading or installing software or doing anything that could possibly hurt our computer or jeopardize my family’s privacy
9.	I will be a good online citizen and not do anything that hurts other people or is against the law.
10.	I will help my parents understand how to have fun and learn things online and teach them things about the Internet, computers and other technology.

I found this information over at safekids.com. A great resource for parents and their children.

7 Myspace Users Arrested

2007-06-17T09:49:00.000-04:00

Texas officers arrested 7 Former Myspace users, all 7 members were sex offenders. Myspace turned over the contact information of the 7 individuals that were arrested. It appears that the 7 individuals profiles had already been shut down by myspace as a result of an internal investigation.

I have to say at least it appears that Myspace is trying to get rid of these scum bags. Myspace is becoming a hotbed for these type of scum bags, as well as spammers and various types of Trojans and Phishing scams. Thank god Myspace is showing some concern. All 7 of the individuals that were arrested have been convicted for sex crimes with minors in the past. Some of their victims were as young as 4 years old.

"Texans will not tolerate criminals who prey on our children," Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said in a statement. "These convicted sex predators established online identities on a Web site that is popular with teenagers and children."

Now I know some of you are saying that Myspace should not have provided a users private personal information to law enforcement. Well it appears that at least Myspace is doing their own internal investigation before turning over this personal information. It does not bother me if Myspace turns this over after and through investigation. It may help save a life or help protect then innocents of our youth.

Coming Changes

2007-06-16T09:26:00.000-04:00

Over the next couple of weeks there will be more daily post made. As well as some in depth reviews of tech related products, websites, and services. I have made it a mission to spend more time on the blog, so be sure to subscribe to the feed to get regular updates. Things are picking up a little in the tech world and I will bring you the coverage that you deserve. In short if you have never been to this blog before check out the archive I am sure you will find something of interest, and stick around for more great things to come.

2007-06-15T18:59:00.000-04:00

Todays Extra!!!

Ok I decided to add a little extra snip-it to the site today. If you are a regular visitor to the blog you have noticed that I have added some select links to payperpost. Well here is why. Using payperpost individuals can hire me to write about their product or service. I write the blog about their item then I get paid a commission for doing so. I have been a member of payperpost for almost 6 months now. It is a great community. I have yet to have my blog approved due to their strigent 20 post per 90 day rule, which I am working on. But I have met a lot of great people through payperpost. As well I have found some great blogs just browsing through the site. The community forums are great as well it give bloggers a place to go to share and learn information about other blogs and webmaster based material such as page rankings and promoting your site. So head over sign up and check out payperpost.com

ads on blogs

2007-06-15T18:36:00.000-04:00

Russian troubles with space station computer.

It seems that Russian engineers are having trouble reviving the space station computer that crashed early yesterday.

"We have not so far managed to fully restore the computers," Nikolai Sevastyanov, chief constructor at Russian space company RKK Energiya, told a news conference at mission control in the town of Korolyov near Moscow.

"Tomorrow we'll try turning on secondary power sources using a new method. If that does not work we will not try again."

The downed computers control many functions of the the international space station such as
thrusters that keep the space station in orbit as well as the navigational controls. Russian officials said that it is not the computers that are the trouble but the secondary power supplies that are the issues. Officials stated that if the repairs scheduled for Saturday fail they will launch a supply ship on July 23 with new power supplies on-board.

Officials said there is no real threat as there is a 90 day supply of oxygen, and that the space station can remain in orbit with out the computers functioning.

2007-05-30T22:31:00.000-04:00

New Auction Site ! Not your normal auctions

Ok I know this is not really tech news but it does deal with auction sites. I have decided to
go out on a new venture. I have always been into animals all types dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, and even fish. So I was randomly searching Google one day for pet auctions, animal auctions etc.. and low and behold nothing showed up, well nothing worth looking at.

So it came to me why not make a new site for animal breeders and dealers to sell their stock. Called www.breederauction.com I decided I wanted it to be in an auction format, and I wanted it to be open to the public. This will give anyone looking for a new pet or a new breeding venture a place to go, and hopefully save some money in the mean time.

Oh the challenges! I wanted to start the site on a shoestring budget and lets face it, you can tell from my post I have a short attention span. Well there are many choices out there of software to run an auction site, PHP, Perl scripts you name it. For the most part though they were horrible, both in function and visual appeal. I finally decided on a revamped script based on Everyauction. Everyauction is a open source auction script that is functional and is for the most part aesthetically pleasing. Is it the best auction source? That I am not sure of I know it was a bit tricky to get configured but I got it going, as far as updating the site it is not to hard to do. In total I spent only 6.99 for the domain name and 10.00 for a cheap host.

The auction software is now working well, and hopefully I will start getting some visitors to the site and some auctions listed.

You can check out the site www.breederauction.com
if you sign up in the next 30 days you will get $5.00
credit toward upgrades. Oh yea did I mention I decided on not
charging a listing fee. And the commission is super low compared to
ebay. You can get a front page featured listing for only $2.00 as well.

2007-05-29T15:19:00.000-04:00

Whales lost in California River are heading to ocean

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Two humpback whales that swam from the Pacific Ocean far up into central California's inland waterways appear to be heading back toward open ocean, wildlife officials said on Tuesday.

The whales, presumed to be a mother and calf, have been in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for the past two weeks, at one point swimming as far north as the state capital of Sacramento after entering inland waters through San Francisco Bay.

After efforts to coax them out of the delta failed, the whales on their own began swimming toward the bay on Sunday and by Tuesday morning they were about 25 miles from the bay's landmark Golden Gate Bridge, where the bay and Pacific Ocean meet, an official with the California Department of Fish and Game told reporters.

Concerned about the health of the wayward whales, which have wounds likely caused by boats, wildlife experts on Saturday injected them with antibiotics.

The whales are believed to belong to a group of humpbacks which migrated from Baja California, Mexico, to spend the summer near the Farallon Islands off the coast of California.

2007-03-01T13:53:00.000-05:00

Lenovo Recalls ThinkPad Notebook PC Extended-Life Batteries Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, March 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today
announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers
should stop using the recalled product immediately unless otherwise
instructed.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO )
Name of Product: Lithium-ion extended-life batteries used in ThinkPad
notebook computers
Units: About 100,000 battery packs (an additional 105,000 battery packs
were sold worldwide)
Battery Distributor: Lenovo (United States) Inc., of Research Triangle
Park, N.C.
Battery Manufacturer: Sanyo Electric Co. Ltd., of Japan
Hazard: If the battery in the laptop is struck forcefully on the
corner, such as from a direct fall to the ground, the battery pack can
overheat and pose a fire hazard to users. This is not an internal battery
cell defect.
Incidents/Injuries: Lenovo has received four reports of batteries
overheating and damaging the notebook. This caused damage to the notebook
computers, minor property damage and, in one case, minor eye irritation to
one consumer.
Description: Lenovo sold these extended-life batteries with new
ThinkPad notebook PCs or as optional or replacement batteries for the
following ThinkPad notebook models: R Series (R60 and R60e), T Series (T60
and T60p) and Z Series (Z60m, Z61e, Z61m, and Z61p). The recalled 9-cell
batteries have the following part number, which can be found on the battery
label: FRU P/N 92P1131.
Sold Through: Lenovo's Web sites, telephone and direct sales, and
Lenovo authorized distributors nationwide between November 2005 and
February 2007, as an accessory for about $180, and as part of a ThinkPad
notebook computer for between $750 and $3,500.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled batteries and contact
Lenovo for additional information and to receive a free replacement
battery. Consumers should use only ThinkPad batteries obtained from either
Lenovo or an authorized reseller.
Consumer Contact: Customers should contact Lenovo at (800) 426-7378
anytime, or log on to http://www.lenovo.com/batteryprogram to determine if
the battery is part of the recall and to order a replacement battery.
Note: In September 2006, Lenovo conducted a recall of batteries
manufactured by another firm for a different problem.

2007-02-09T14:37:00.000-05:00

Compaq Presario V6205NR Review

Ok I am going to attempt to do my first product review. Last weekend after many years of love hate relationships with my old Desknote hybrid laptop. It suddenly ended when it decided to just die on me. So there I was with no laptop, I felt like a child that has lost his blankie or ninny... Faced with the task of shelling out a small fortune for a new laptop, I stumbled upon a great deal.

While looking through the local BestBuy store ( yea I know) I found what I consider a good deal. Sitting there on the shelf was the new Compaq Presario v6205NR ok I have to admit I am not and have never been a big Comapaq fan. Well it was cheap and I would have to say I am impressed. The Laptop was on sale normal retail price 749.00, with 150.00 off so I got it for 599.00 So far so good.

I took it home and opened up the box expecting to see loads of instructions to read through, well i was suprised not much in the box just your normal warranty guide, quick start guide, and power adaptor and of course the laptop. I took everything out of the box and there it was a slate gray brand new laptop. Very nice looking not real flashy and kind of plain which is fine with me.

Booting it up: Well now time to get this baby fired up. I plugged in the power cord and then plugged it into the laptop. Haha we have power I thought to my self. I pushed the button to turn it on. Huh? It took like 25 minutes for this thing to setup. I am assuming that it was actually installing the Windows Vista Premium Edition. Finally all setup, as expected when I setup the user account I found loads of software that I did not want or need and boy did it slow down the boot time of the OS.

Well after playing around a bit. I started to remove all of the Compaq branded software and started adding the software I normally use. Now the laptop boots up super fast, I am still in the getting used to phase of using vista but I am transitioning well.

The built in wireless adaptor works great I get some pretty good range out of it as well. I took it to my neighbors house which is probably 100 ft away and connected to my Linksys router with out a hitch.

The screen is crisp and clean with a large widescreen format, I really don't like the shinny plastic covering on the screen it causes a bit of glare. But other than that it is very crisp and clear.

The hard drive is an 80gb 5400 rpm serial ata

It has 2 usb 2.0 ports it could have more in my opinion, there are no firewire ports it has an express card slot, TV out via S-video jack, Compaq expansion port 3, 10/100 ethernet port, built in modem (which I have not used)

Nice touch sensitive volume controls, a bit to sensitive though.

comes equipped with 1gb DDR2 memory, Altec Lansing speakers that actually sound pretty good.

Nvidia Geforce go 6150 with up to 256mb shared memory.

The weight well it is up to you if you think it is to heavy or not, at only 6.6 lbs I am not complaining.

Over all I would have to say for the price I don't think I would have found a better deal. After removing all of the bloatware that was preinstalled by Compaq, it runs great and is superfast.

Here is a link to the specs if you want a better description than what I gave.

2007-02-07T22:31:00.000-05:00

Windows Vista in full force

Well it is here for sure Windows Vista has been many years in the making some have been waiting impatiently while others really did not care, or even want to hear the word Microsoft. Either way the time has come and the release was official. Now every new manufactured PC you buy will come packed with Windows Vista. Here are some great tips to help you tweak your Vista settings and get more out of your Windows Vista experience.

Enable Auto-Logon in Windows Vista (Warning: Security Risk)
a) click Start and type 'netplwiz' or click that name on the Start menu
b) in the GUI window that comes up, uncheck the "Users must enter a username and password to use this computer" box
c) click 'Apply'
d) in the new dialog box that opens type the name of the account you want to auto-logon by default (if the account is not normally passworded then it blank)
e) click OK and exit

Delete Hibernate File
When you use hibernate in Windows Vista, it creates a file called hiberfil.sys. This file can grow rather large and you may want to remove it. A simple way to delete it:
a) log on as the Administrator
b) start Command Prompt then type: powercfg -h off
c) hit enter

Show Administrator on Welcome Screen
a) start > run = "control userpasswords2"
b) select administrator account, click reset password (input new pass) and hit "Ok"
c) start > run = "regedit"
d) HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft > Windows NT > CurrentVersion > Winlogon > SpecialAccounts > UserList
e) create "DWORD (32bit) Value" with Value Name: Administrator and Value Data: 1

You can get more great tips Here

2007-01-30T22:23:00.000-05:00

Free Online Lab Training

Vlab-Training.com offers free online lab training for the budding network engineer. The site offers training under Cisco CCNA CCNP and CCIE. Sign up for the site is free, but you must sign up soon to get your schedule date, Dates are booking fast. So if you are wanting to train for a career in networking or just wanting to brush up on some skills or learn some new ones Vlab-Training.com is the site for you.

"Our goal is to provide each of our members with the resources necessary to help prepare them for their career networking certifications. Members have access to a single rack of Cisco router equipment, ideal for any novice or experienced Network Engineer. We can provide lab scenarios or provide an environment where each of our members can experiment with the equipment using labs scenarios from the latest publications.

Get the experience you need to pass the exam the first time! Whether you are a beginner or an advanced student, you will be able to apply or enhance your skills in a safe non-production router environment. This is the best way to get the networking training you need to advance your career!"

Vlab-Training.com

2007-01-02T16:22:00.000-05:00

Ok I am going to join my Friend Lee over at Quit your day job, in his fight to help save the environment. He makes a good suggestion, not to use Plastic bags. You know the ones I am talking about! The ones that the bagger loads up with your grocery's and the bag breaks carrying them into your house leaving you with can food all over your sidewalk or lawn, or even a big loaf of squashed bread.

So here is your challenge:

work at using less plastic grocery store bags
Just carry a reusable bag to the store with you
Get your friends in on the game
Offer them a challenge to get them interested in the cause.

Just for your information (and remember this is 10 years old so it is probably much higher numbers by today's standards)

Reusing a bag meant for just one use has a big impact. A sturdy, reusable bag needs only be used 11 times to have a lower environmental impact than using 11 disposable plastic bags.
In New York City alone, one less grocery bag per person per year would reduce waste by 5 million lbs. and save $250,000 in disposal costs.
Plastic bags carry 80% of the nation's groceries, up from 5% in 1982.
When 1 ton of paper bags is reused or recycled, 3 cubic meters of landfill space is saved and 13 - 17 trees are spared! In 1997, 955,000 tons of paper bags were used in the United States.
When 1 ton of plastic bags is reused or recycled, the energy equivalent of 11 barrels of oil are saved.

Check out Lee's Blog

Apple to release new iPod Pea

2007-01-01T20:40:00.000-05:00

Well looks like apple is at it again. Seriously people are these things ever going to get to the point where they are to small? Really with todays technology in headphones, they should just do a blue tooth only version that could sync up with your pc and itunes wirelessly over blue tooth then you would not have any cords hanging from your ears. It looks pretty cool though, I would have to say i would just lose this thing in heart beat. See for your self check out the story below with some pictures showing the New Pea.

read more

What got diggers attention in 2006

2006-12-30T21:53:00.000-05:00

Looking back and reflecting are interesting things to do. Now that the year is coming to an end, let's take a look back at the stories that caught the attention of diggers, ten to one.

read more | digg story

Why Internet Explorer 7 Is Not Worth Installing

2006-12-20T20:46:00.000-05:00

New IE 7 is out. Should I install it? Should we all install it? This article is a developer's perspective on the so-called "new" Internet Explorer 7.0. It includes good facts about IE.

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Tech Acquisitions from 2006

2006-12-20T20:43:00.000-05:00

Top ten list for 2006. The thing that strikes me from the list is the 1.6 Billion YouTube acquisition is that it gets into the $30 million range at the end of the list. That's a big range. These are probably some acquisition you have read about already but some are new to me so maybe they are new to you.

read more | digg story

2006-12-17T10:30:00.000-05:00

Send A Free Card To A U.S Soldier

Well Since I am in the Christmas mood. Here is a great site that lets you send a printed post card to a US troop. This is a great project for the whole family and best of all it is free of charge. You do not have to provide any personal information or even an email address. All you do is put a name and your hometown and state, then choose a prepaired thank you message from the list provided.

I hope everyone enjoys I know it is not really tech news but hey it is something fun and free.

Let's Say Thanks

Billed $2000 to watch 2 hours of TV on his mobile phone

2006-12-17T09:36:00.000-05:00

Watching television on his mobile landed one O2 customer with a bill of almost £1,000. Ali Hussain explains how to avoid falling into the same trap
SOME of Britain’s biggest mobile firms are charging their customers hundreds of pounds when they use the latest technology to watch films or TV on their handsets, even though others are offering the service for as little as £10 a month.

Michael Schaefer, 46, an IT specialist from Ealing, west London, was charged £950 in just four days by O2 after using his 3G (third generation) phone to view TV for just two hours.

read more | digg story

Torrent Tracker Site

2006-10-13T20:13:00.000-04:00

Here is a great Torrent Tracker Site I just found. Just thought I would let all the diggers know about it. And no other than being a member I am no way affiliated with the site.

read more | digg story

The Real AleFox for Windows based on Firefox 3.0 alpha 1

2006-08-18T17:55:00.000-04:00

The real AleFox features loading and tab sounds, Alex Albrecht images and animations, Diggnation, Digg, and Revision 3 bookmarks, Digg extensions built-in, Digg headlines built-in, and Digg drop-down search. Based on Firefox Version 3 (code named Minefield), so enjoy the bugs. Sorry, only for windows. Too busy playing Doom to compile for Mac.

read more | digg story

Get $20.00 cash free

2006-07-09T22:23:00.000-04:00

For those of you who haven't yet heard, a new service for bidding on eBay auctions over the phone has launched and is giving away $20 FREE to new users that try it. The service is free. The call is free. $20 is yours to keep.

read more | digg story

How to Check for NSA Taps

2006-06-28T22:41:00.000-04:00

This is the newbie's guide to detecting if the NSA is tapping your internet communications.

read more | digg story

2006-05-18T22:33:00.000-04:00

Hotkeys for Google
by: Dennis Nazarenko

Just select some text, press the corresponding key combination and the search results are in front of your eyes. This is what the new free program Hotkey Search Tool can do for you.

An advanced Internet user searches from 8 to 30 times a day. In the case of specialized search systems, such as on-line translators, dictionaries, and references, this value increases and totals from 10 to 60 requests a day.

Often, you had to start the browser and enter the search phrase to get the search results. But if the text is already typed, why should you have to type it again?

Suppose you want to search an encyclopedia for some unknown word or find the site of some product by its name. All you need to do is just select the text and send a command to Hotkey Search Tool. The program will copy the selected text to the clipboard and open the browser with the search results. If you do not select any text, the program will select the string typed before you pressed the hotkey.

A lot of users have already come to know Google Desktop. It is a convenient system for searching your local computer and it can work with additional plug-ins too. To perform a search in this system, you have to press windows+G or ctrl+alt+G and after that type the text you want to search for. As you have already guessed, with Hotkey Search Tool, you just select the text you need, press the above key combination and get search results right away.

It should be mentioned that the program is easily customizable and you can use it to search information in any on-line system that gets the text of requests in the URL.

The program does add one more icon to the system tray. So, we can only wish Google developers integrated the features of this program into their developments.

You can check out Dennis's website

http://www.ordinarysoft.com/

all new firefox flix site set to release tomorrow

2006-04-09T15:07:00.000-04:00

really slick looking movie site set to release tomorrow. at test.firefoxflicks.com currently password protected but soon to be public.first 3 videos are ads.

read more | digg story

2006-04-09T15:01:00.000-04:00

Lucent Sues Microsoft

"Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) said on Wednesday it was reviewing a lawsuit filed against it by Lucent Technologies Inc. (LU.N: Quote, Profile, Research) alleging Microsoft's Xbox 360 video game console contains technology that infringes on a Lucent patent.

Lucent filed the suit in the U.S. District Court in San Diego on March 28, and asked for injunctive relief and unspecified damages, Lucent spokesman John Skalko said."

Future Congressman For Sale Or Rent

2006-03-29T16:22:00.000-05:00

Well atleast he is honest in what he does, I bet the RIAA, MPAA are going to be the highest bidders when they find this auction.

read more | digg story

2006-03-07T16:15:00.000-05:00

Looks like Midway has announced the release of a new Mortal Kombat: Armageddon. They say it is going to be the final franchise release for the current generation console game systems.

"As the final chapter of Mortal Kombat on current generation gaming platforms, we're eager to raise the bar for the fighting genre yet again with Mortal Kombat: Armageddon," said Steve Allison, chief marketing officer, Midway. "Building off of the tremendous successes of Mortal Kombat: Deception in October 2004 and Mortal Kombat: Shaolin Monks in September 2005, Mortal Kombat: Armageddon introduces the most comprehensive cast of playable characters from every Mortal Kombat title, both past and present, in addition to the first create–a–fighter mode in franchise history."

you can check out the entire story
here

2006-03-06T16:51:00.000-05:00

Intel looses out, AMD grabs 80% of Desktop PC Sales.

With the cost dynamics of AMD versus Intel it only makes perfect sense to me. Personally I own 4 computers and all have AMD processors. I am sure that most of you are not that big of a suprise that AMD has taken the market. My thoughts in this is that AMD makes a better processor. They appear to run faster and more reliable the biggest problem I have experienced my self is the heat issue but as long as you use a proper heatsink and are not overclocking it is not really a problem.

You can read the full article here

Ubuntu - Linux Kernel Compilation for Newbies

2006-03-05T19:31:00.000-05:00

Great guide for those interested in compiling a custom kernel; also has a link to a more in depth guide.

read more | digg story

Technology of yesteryear, vintage penny arcade games

2006-01-16T16:10:00.000-05:00

Awsome Vintage Coin Operated Fortune Tellers,
Arcade Games, Digger/Cranes, Gun Games
and other Penny Arcade games, pre-1977.

read more | digg story

Exploit your kids on eBay.

2005-10-30T12:33:00.000-05:00

Woman on ebay exploiting her daughter to make a few bucks. Maybe we should all be doing this.

read more | digg story

The Packet Sniffers episode 5 OUT

2005-09-08T18:51:00.000-04:00

From the most original characters in the hacking, modding and tinkering scene, episode 5 is available for your enjoyment.

read more | digg story

Sniffing VOIP with Cain

2005-08-10T15:51:00.000-04:00

Here is a great tutorial on sniffing VOIP, kinda basic but really cool. Now I just wonder if this is concidered wire tapping?

read more | digg story

Hak.5 Official Release "Episode 1"!!!!!!

2005-08-05T16:52:00.000-04:00

Not the trailer this time! The official release is out, great content, sweet hacks and funny as hell!

read more | digg story

Vista Viruses Unleashed!

2005-08-05T13:53:00.000-04:00

An Austrian hacker earned the dubious distinction of writing what are thought to be the first known viruses for Microsoft's Windows Vista.

read more | digg story

Hello, Firefox! â��Cause Internet Explorer 7.0 Is Going Bye Bye

2005-08-03T22:31:00.000-04:00

As soon as the press found out that Microsoft, forced by the Firefoxâ��s ascension, will release a new version of the Internet Explorer browser, everybody has started to wonder what effect this will have on the â��fox that has put the Internet on fireâ��.

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CVS camcorder usably hacked!

2005-08-03T17:08:00.000-04:00

The CVS Disposable Camcorder (mentioned about a month ago) has now been usably hacked so that videos can be downloaded over USB - no need to desolder the flash memory. Finally, some healthy free-market competition to CVS's expensive development service, just like in the analog world.

read more | digg story

Hak.5 Pilot "Episode 1"

2005-08-02T17:11:00.000-04:00

After listening to Leo Laporte this weekend, a new show was introduced to the "non conventional tv shows". I had the oppurtunity to watch the new release which is due out sometime next week. It's like a cross between "the broken" & "SYSTM" but totally unique. Check it out!

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Microsoft fixes WGA Validation

2005-08-02T13:30:00.000-04:00

Microsoft has updated the Windows Genuine Validation tool to circumvent the hack exposed last week that allowed the system to be bypassed with a snippet of JavaScript code....How long will it be before this is too cracked??

read more | digg story

Tech Shows

2005-08-01T22:03:00.000-04:00

This is a list of the best free downloadable tech shows currently available on the Internet. This site will be regularly updated with new shows and information.

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Hackers vs terrorists: online anti-jihad

2005-08-01T15:15:00.000-04:00

MI5 and patriotic hackers have formed an unlikely alliance to close down their sites.

read more | digg story

80's Arcade Photos Rescued from Dumpster

2005-07-31T10:34:00.000-04:00

Remember arcades looking like this back in the 80's? Check out these photo slides recovered from the trash and posted up on Flickr

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What Happens When You Accidentally Buy A $245,000 Car On eBay

2005-07-31T10:33:00.000-04:00

Guy claims his 2-year-old daughter hit the 'buy it now' button and is now being sued

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AOL LatAm Venture Got Lost In Translation

2005-07-31T10:29:00.000-04:00

Windows Update Cracked Again; One File Deletion/Rename

2005-07-30T21:24:00.000-04:00

Well I was playing around with WGA and I found a simple way to disable it (without an annoying prompt telling you to enable the plugin in IE or using the javascript everytime).

This is a repost. My title might have mislead or confused some folks.

read more | digg story

Final Fantasy XII Release Date Revealed

2005-07-30T21:21:00.000-04:00

During the Square Enix press meeting today, the official Final Fantasy XII release date was revealed. The Japanese date is March 16, 2006 while a US date has not yet been announced.

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Apple recruiting Sony VAIO engineers to build the first Intel PowerBook?

2005-07-30T21:09:00.000-04:00

Will the first Intel PowerBooks be designed by a team of ex-Sony engineers? Could be.

read more | digg story