Office 2010 hits retail shelves (images)

When Office 2010 hits retail shelves on Tuesday, one of several new options will be for new PC buyers to purchase a product key card that upgrades their machine from a limited free version called Office Starter to the full version. Though good for only a single machine, the product key cards will be cheaper than the full boxed copies of the software, which can be used on either two or three PCs, depending on the edition.

The Live CD list

I stumbled on this. Lots and lots of live CD links. Check it out, more good ones then I can mention. (hope I didn't post this already LOL).

Nasa warns solar flares from 'huge space storm' will cause devastation

Britain could face widespread power blackouts and be left without critical communication signals for long periods of time, after the earth is hit by a once-in-a-generation “space storm”, Nasa warns

YouTube Removes 'Flotilla Choir' Video despite 3 million hits...

Citing copyright infringement, YouTube removed Latma's "We Con the Word" on Friday, despite the video having received over 3 million hits in one week! Is this Net-Neutrality?

Starbucks offers free Wi-Fi at U.S. sites

Starbucks offers free Wi-Fi at U.S. sites - San Jose Mercury News

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 06-13-10

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 06-13-10. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific that's 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Earl''s Cyber Steals and Deals

Today only, Shnoop.com offers the Rayovac AAA I-C3 15-Minute Rechargeable Battery 12-Pack for $11. With free shipping, These
batteries purport to offer a charging time of 15 minutes or less. Note that they're bulk packaged and will arrive without the Rayovac I-C3 charger, which enables 15-minute charging times.

TigerDirect.com offers the Lexar 32GB
JumpDrive TwistTurn USB 2.0 Flash Drive, model no. LJDTT32GASBNA, for $49.99. Pay via Google Checkout and it falls to $44.99.

For "M" Club members only, mwave offers the Samsung 22x Serial ATA Internal Dual Layer DVD Burner with LightScribe, model no. SH-S223L, for $19.99 with free shipping.(Click the "M" Club banner to sign up for a free membership.) The SH-S223L burns DVD+R and DVD-R media at 22x, DVD-RAM media at 12x, dual layer DVD+R at 16x, dual layer DVD-R media at 12x, DVD+RW media at 8x, DVD-RW media at 6x, CD-RW media at 32x, and CD-R media at 48

At Blockbuster
Express kiosks, get any 1-night DVD rental for free via the coupon codes listed below. (You can enter these codes online or at the kiosk itself; each is only valid once per account.). Search for a Blockbuster Express kiosk location near you. Valid codes include "GT14A," "GL14A," "GT14A," "GL14A," and "GL15A."

HP
Home & Home Office Store offers its HP Pavilion Slimline s5370t Intel Core i3 2.93GHz Desktop PC (no monitor), model no. AZ214AV#ABA, for $549.99. Coupon code "SVMB39487" drops it to $524.99. With free shipping, that's tied with our mention from four weeks ago as the lowest total price we could find for this configuration, although we saw it for $13 less in February (since expired). Sales tax is added where applicable. It features an Intel Core i3-530 2.93GHz dual-core processor, 4GB RAM, 640GB 7200 rpm hard drive, DVD burner with LightScribe, Gigabit Ethernet, 6-in-1 media card reader, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit

GoHardDrive.com has the GoHardDrive 3532F 3.5" SuperSpeed USB 3.0 to SATA Aluminum External Hard Drive Enclosure for $35 with free shipping. Features up to 5 Gbps data transfer, backward compatible with USB 2.0, and is lead-free

Today only. Sears has the Fujifilm Finepix XP10 12MP Waterproof Camera for $150 - 10% off in cart = $135 with free in-store pickup. Shipping option is $7. [Compare]
12.2MP, 2.7" 230K LCD, 5X optical zoom, 720p video, underwater mode
Waterproof (3m), shockproof (1m), freezeproof (-10 degrees), dustproof

Mwave has the Western Digital Caviar Blue WD10EALS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive for $65 + $0 shipping = $65 shipped with free "M" Club membership. The WD Blue offers midrange performance and sits between the low power WD Green and high performance WD Black.

B&H Photo Video has the Western Digital WDH2NC20000N My Book World Edition II 2 TB (2 x 1TB) NAS External Hard Drive for $179 with free shipping. Features RAID 0/1/Span/JBOD support, remote file access, gigabit ethernet, automatic network backup, and USB port for storage expansion.

Links from the Gregg Zone

1) With everything going south in the economy, and especially with real estate, when I saw this I just thought there must be countless places where the idea may apply. I was reading the next real estate collapse is expected to hit the commercial sector. As specialty stores begin to have trouble meeting lease payments. This may provide a way out for some, and it’s a green solution. http://blog.cleveland.com
2) This is so zone, when I saw it I was just blown away. I am used to science fiction predicting the future by becoming science fact, but usually that is something to do with technology. Seems they have found a monolith on a moon of Mars. Right out of Space Odyssey 2010. http://www.dailygalaxy.com
3) As long as we are talking space stuff this is a couple weeks old, I almost used it a couple of times, but it just kept getting shuffled down the list. I find it interesting when science finds something quite new and unique. They found a new ‘phase’ of water out in space, the ones we usually think about are ice, liquid, and vapor. Now they have a new fourth state created in star formation. http://www.space.com
4) Not too sure what I think about this site, one could say it is a criminal training manual, I suppose it is not as bad as a bomb instruction manual. And, I have to admit I am tempted to play around with it just out of curiosity. It is MIT’s Ultimate Lock Picking Bible, and it is a free download. Billed as a complete necessity for every lock smith/crooks library. http://www.wonderhowto.com
5) This article asks the question does the internet make you smarter. Really a pretty interesting read, points out that the majority of what is printed on the internet as news is created by people not that skilled in presenting content. Then they point out that this is just the way it happens, and has been happening with all new communication forms. http://online.wsj.com

Bug gives attackers complete control of some XP and Srvr 2003 Windows PCs

The exploit works in XP and Server 2003 versions of Windows and possibly others. The flaw resides in the Windows Help and Support Center, a feature that provides users with online technical support. Malicious hackers can exploit the weakness of Windows by embedding commands in web addresses that activate the feature's remote assistance tool

Do I Have to Respond to the ACS or Census?

This is mostly a 165 entry Blog about folks that do not want to answer all the personal questions on the census. Most people are learning to just ignore census workers until they go away. Harassment by phone and at your door seems to take place. - As for me I didn't send in the form and now have about 6 notices left on my door. I have never filled out a census and ain't startin now. - Earl
Don't Trust the Census.
Why You Should Abstain from the Census

AT&T throws down usage-based pricing gauntlet

Might send Ipad users to the poor house......
No way to really know. But it’s a good bet that the 65% aren't using Apple iPhones and are more oriented toward e-mail (think BlackBerry) and social networking

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 06-06-10

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 06-06-10. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific that's 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

The App Corner

This week Aaron and I talked about JiWire's Wi-Fi Finder app for iPhone and Android:

http://www.jiwire.com/iphone

http://www.jiwire.com/android

Earl's Cyber Steals and Deals

Dell Small
Business offers the Dell Vostro 230
Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93GHz Slim Tower Desktop PC bundled with the Dell E2010
20" Widescreen LCD Monitor for $429
plus $8
for shipping. Features include an Intel Core 2 Duo E7500 2.93GHz dual-core
processor, 2GB RAM, 250GB 7200 rpm hard drive, dual-layer DVD burner, Gigabit
Ethernet, and Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit.

Adorama
offers the Sony 2500mAh Rechargeable AA Battery 4-Pack, model no. NHAAB4E, for $6.95 with free shipping.
Adorama offers the Sony 2500mAh
Rechargeable AA Battery 4-Pack, model no. NHAAB4E, for $6.95 with free shipping.

TigerDirect.com
offers the OEM Seagate
Barracuda LP 2TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Internal Hard Drive, model no.
ST32000542AS, for $119.97. Pay via Google Checkout
and the price drops to $114.97. Then, this $30 mail-in rebate
further cuts it to $84.97.
With around $5
for shipping, that's $0.05/GB 5900 rpm and features a 32MB cache. Rebate
ends June 11.

Target
offers the Apex
40" 1080p Widescreen LCD HD Television, model no. LD4088, for $499
with $32.18
for shipping. Add it to your cart and apply coupon code "MT9ZC7RW" to
cut it to $449.10.
It features a native resolution of 1920x1080 (1080p), 1800:1 contrast ratio,
three HDMI inputs, VGA, component, and other video inputs.

For its
"M" Club members only, mwave.com offers the Hitachi 500GB
Serial ATA 3Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive, model no. 0F10381, for $39.99
with free shipping ($0.08/GB). ("M" Club membership is free; click here to
sign up 500GB SATA 3Gb/s hard drive. It runs at 7200 rpm and features a 16MB
cache

Dell Home
offers the Dell Studio Hybrid Pentium Dual-Core 2.2GHz Mini Desktop PC
(no monitor) in Promise Pink for $299
plus $19
for shipping.. It features an Intel Pentium Dual-Core T4400 2.2GHz processor,
2GB RAM, 160GB 5400 rpm hard drive, dual-layer DVD burner, media card reader,
Gigabit Ethernet, DVI and HDMI outputs, and Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. Deal
ends June 26.

Office Depot has the
Toshiba Satellite L515-S4010 15.6" Notebook on sale for $430 with
free shipping. Click Here

· Intel
Pentium T4400 2.2GHz, 3GB DDR3, 320GB HDD, Windows 7 HP x64

Intel GMA 4500M, SuperMulti DL, 14" LCD (1366 x 768), 802.11b/g

SuperBiiz has the
Toshiba Satellite Pro L450-EZ1510 2.1Ghz 15.6" Notebook for $500 - $15 off
with coupon code GRAD15 [Exp 6/8] = $485 with free shipping.
Click Here· Intel Core 2 Duo T6570 2.1GHz Processor, 2GB RAM,
250GB HDD·
Intel GMA 4500MHD, 1366x768 Display, DVD-R/RW, Win 7 HP x64, 6 Cell

Click Here

SuperBiiz has the Super Talent SM STU32GSMBK 32GB USB 2.0 Flash
Drive for $60 - 15% off with coupon code GRAD15 [Exp 6/8] = $51
with free shipping. Features an impossible to lose steel swivel lid and comes
with a lifetime warranty. [Compare]

Click Here

Radio Shack has the HP Officejet 4500 Wireless All-In-One Inkjet
Printer (CN547A#B1H) for $130 - $60 off in cart = $70 with free
shipping. Features printing, copying, faxing, and scanning functions, 802.11b/g
Wi-Fi, built-in ethernet, and up to 28ppm (black) and 22ppm (color) print
speeds.

Links from the Gregg Zone

1) A new world distance record for an all electric car has been demonstrated, they are even asking to get into the Guinness Book of Records. Hard to believe how fast the electric car advancements are moving forward. They came in at 623 miles on a single charge, the average speed was only 25, MPH but none the less this is pretty good. I wonder what the average speed might have been for 250 miles that is about what I get for a tank of gas with my Ranger.
http://news.cnet.com
2) This is a topic near and dear to my heart, the end of the plastic grocery bag. Anything that aids the demise of these things I am for. There seems to be more, and more states, cities and countries pushing to get rid of these eyesores. They are taxing, and outlawing them at an increasing rate. Now California is doing it and that’s a very big one, I hope Nevada is next. When I was working as a grounds keeper on windy days there could be twenty of them in every tree top, a total pain to get to them. When we drove to Utah to visit a friend they dotted the desert as far as you could see, it seemed every bush had one or two. I say good, glad to see them go. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
3) The finding life elsewhere in the solar system may have just taken a jump. They are looking at Titan a moon of Saturn, scientists are saying it looks like the may have found the signs of life. While they are referring to what sounds like microbial life, and I say I want a picture, or a stuffed critter in a museum somewhere on display. I guess we have to start someplace. http://www.dailymail.co.uk Another link at NASA http://www.nasa.gov
4) This is one wills sent me early in the week. I liked the Back to the Future movies; well I like anything to do with time, twisting it, tweaking it, traveling in it, whatever. Anyhow, in the movie there was a hover board, like a cross between a skate board, and a flying carpet. Well it seems someone has built one, at least a demonstration prototype illustrating the technology. http://dvice.com
5) With everything going on in the gulf the oil spill and all, everything I see in the news either depresses me, angers me, saddens me, it just makes me sick in general. I hope they put people in jail, reduce BP to a corner gas station, one without even an AM PM. Anyway, this story just pushed all of my buttons. It really illustrates how things are done in our new computerized world. http://abcnews.go.com

Five super-secret features in Windows 7 | Tech Sanity Check | TechRepublic.com

. Dual-boot software to run Mac OS X, known as ‘Training Camp’ Apple opened the door to more users - especially IT pros - in recent years by building Boot Camp into its Macintosh computers to allow them to run Windows along side Mac OS X in a dual-boot configuration. Not to be outdone, Microsoft as a secret dual-boot loader in Windows 7 that allows it to emulate Mac hardware and configure Mac OS X as an alternative boot option using the standard off-the-shelf Mac boot discs. In a fit of cleverness, Microsoft has decided to name it “Training Camp,” which I found out when I uncovered the Help file. However, I’m not sure what it is training for...

Microsoft Patch Tuesday for June 2010: 10 bulletins

According to the Microsoft Security Response Center, Microsoft will issue 10 Security Bulletins addressing 34 vulnerabilities on Tuesday.
Once again it's time to do your windows updates. Next Tuesday sometime after 10 AM Pacific time your computer will be receiving new Windows updates. I always do the Custom install so I can get the updates that are not deemed "Critical"
This article said there are 10 updates, however if you only do the "Critical" updates you will only get 3... MAYBE.

AlaskaJoe

Patch Tuesday heads-up: 10 bulletins, 34 flaws (IE, Windows affected)

Microsoft's Patch Tuesday this month on June 8th will be a big one: 10 bulletins fixing 34 vulnerabilities in Windows, Office and Internet Explorer.

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 05-30-10

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 05-30-10. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific that's 1PM to 4PM Eastern. Join us for the live show and chat. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.

Links from the Gregg Zone

1) Sometimes there are glimmers of hope arising from future generations in the news, that give me a sense that somehow we can innovate our way through the sea of uncertainty looming before us. A while back I posted about a student at a high school science fair who engineered a breakthrough process dealing with plastics decomposing, or not, in landfills. Well here is another similar story; it is about a young Canadian winning a science fair for finding a way to use old vehicle tires to power a fuel cell. Looks promising to me, short but interesting story http://www.edmontonjournal.com
2) It was a year or more back I posted about a site called Galaxy Zoo. Where they were trying to enlist the computer oriented public to help scientists identify, count, and categorize galaxies in pictures from Hubble. It seems when I was not paying attention they started separate sites looking for merging galaxies, and super nova. Well they just started another trying to get people to help map the moon. Using super hi-def photos they want us to locate, and size, creators on the moon. Also locate and size boulders, and look for space junk like remains of objects we sent there. Looks like an interesting pass time if you are looking for something to replace your Mafia Wars, or Farmville habit. http://www.moonzoo.org/
3) I ran across several stories on the net about an artificial object approaching Earth from space, they were quoting the story as originating from NASA. The object is referred to as 2010 KQ. I had to investigate this a little further, it is a true story I found it at NASA. Most of the articles left out the fact that NASA thinks it is a rocket body that escaped orbit and is returning, however NASA did leave the door open saying it was ‘probably’ space junk. Might be worth keeping an eye on this one. http://neo.jpl.nasa.gov
4) With so much negative news out there about the oil spill in the gulf, I thought it might be nice to post something of a positive nature regarding the clean up. Seems after filming Water World, Kevin Costner motivated by the Exxon Valdez spill started on a fifteen year path investing a lot of time and money into oil clean up machines, and technology. Looks like it may be paying off now, they are using his equipment in the clean up. Very interesting article I hope it can make a dent in this disastrous situation. http://www.stltoday.com
5) This business of gaming is becoming more and more ingrained into our society; this article is talking about its addictive nature affecting our youth, and a few adults I know for that matter. They say two hours of intense gaming has the equivalent effect of snorting a line of cocaine on the brain. I think it falls into the same category of addiction that we see here in Las Vegas with casino gambling. There are probably other similar activities that have a similar effect. I suppose it is like they say here if it is causing a loss of productivity, difficulty with relationships, or unwanted behavioral changes in one’s life you just need to learn to say no. http://www.lep.co.uk
6) I thought due to our short staff for the show this week I might post an extra link or two. This one is about a soon to be coming phone technology. I am talking about a micro projector for your phone, want to show some one a picture on your phone? Just point it at a blank wall and click, get a two foot by three foot or larger hi-def projection. Easier to read stuff also I would think. Everything is hanging on the green laser, and it looks like they got it. http://www.popularmechanics.com
7) Okay just one more geeky advancement upcoming technology type story, coming out of Japan. It appears they have found a new metal oxide compound to make discs from, looks like a big deal and coming soon. One of these discs can store 200 times more data than a current blue-ray disc. And, it is much cheaper, uses commoner materials, and is even cheaper to manufacture on top of all that. http://mdn.mainichi.jp