Remove Spyware Free - Best Anti-spyware

I have used counter spy to fix other people's computers when I had tried everything else but reformatting (its a control issue :P), and it WORKED! I've been a fan of Sunbelt Software for several years. Their CEO has a blog (I've referred to many times), and they have a presence on Second Life, where they are giving away Counter Spy to 10 lucky people a day! Back on topic (cough cough)... So they've offered a competitive upgrade price of 9.95 for any anti-malware tool (paid OR free)! So I wanted to pass it on.

--MissM
I apologize if this sounds like an ad, but I've been really impressed with the whole organization and their products and wanted to introduce y'all to Sunbelt Software. :)

Remove Spyware Free - Best Anti-spyware

Closing the book on Apple's Mac mini

Appleinsider is saying the Mac Mini is due for EOL. Make up your own mind. They make a convincing case.

Jack

With its fifth security update for 2007, Apple patches 17 flaws

Another massive patch fest for Apple. You'll hear a lot of bad-mouthing of Apple for this, which I don't quite get. Everyone needs to patch as vulnerabilities are found. At least Apple is apparently keeping up with things.

The link will take you to fairly detailed information at CNet.

Jack

Chris Pirillo stars in Life 2.0

Chris Pirillo is an ex Tech TVer who co-hosted and hosted Call For Help. He's been broadcasting video of his computer desk all the time, for a few weeks now. Its fascinating to me to watch his mini-shows, he incorporates the chat room, video, his wife ;) I thought the following might be of interest to anybody wanting to talk to the hosts live. Maybe, we could talk them into it? Whaddya say?? Chris highlights what he labels Radio Station 2.0, the next level in Conference Calling Services:

It just occurred to me: all of these conference calling services are a nanometer away from reinventing the way call-in radio shows are done.

There are hundreds (if not thousands) of services that will allow you to hold conference calls - some are free, some aren’t. Some are better suited for private calls, some aren’t. There’s a conference calling solution for everybody. Well, almost everybody.
[snip]
Last night, we did a little conference calling experiment. They assigned me a conference ID to share with the world, then asked me to instruct the callers to press 9 to “raise their hands.” When these callers indicated that they wanted to talk, Erik (from Gaboogie) took them into a private conversation to find out what they wanted to know.
[snip (you will have to click on the url to read what is .....)]
Boom. Evolutionarily revolutionary. Conference calling is about to get VERY hot…

Conference Calling Services: Radio Stations 2.0? ~ Chris Pirillo

--MissM
OT : My shared google reader items

Unsecure Passwords on Gaim/Pidgin

I've been blindly using GAIM for quite a while now and I was completely unaware of the issues detailed in this post on OS News.com. What's worse is that I have been recommending it and I know a LOT of people have taken it up on my recommendation. Especially on Windows.

While this problem applies to both Windows and Linux, it is worse on Windows. I think I shall quit using GAIM on Windows, but continue to do so on Linux. The post puts things in what I think is a clear perspective and I recommend it. It also has the advantage of being short and to the point, with links to further information.

Jack

One of the best HDD utilities is free

I carry a whole bunch of these tools with me whenever I go to work on a computer. You never know when you will need them, after all. As the article says; these are among the best. Get your copies now and squirrel them away against future need. And while we're talking about the excellent Seagate/Maxtor tools, I'll remind you to get tools for a lot of different maker's products, as well as those not tied to any one brand and put those where you can find them, too.

Jack

Michigan man arrested for using cafe's free WiFi from his car

A Michigan man is being prosecuted for using a cafe's free WiFi... from his car. Sam Peterson was arrested under a Michigan law barring access to anyone else's network without authorization, according to Michigan TV station WOOD. Since the cafe's WiFi network was reserved for customers, and Peterson never came into the cafe, he was essentially piggybacking off of the open network without authorization.
[snip]
Coincidentally, the cafe owner that Peterson was leeching WiFi off of didn't even realize that what Peterson was doing was a crime at the time. Neither did the police officer. "I had a feeling a law was being broken, but I didn't know exactly what," Sparta police chief Andrew Milanowski told the TV station.

The article goes on to detail several arrests made in Florida, Alaska, Illinois and Washington. The point is to be aware of local laws, and whether you want to share your wireless connection openly, or not.
Michigan man arrested for using cafe's free WiFi from his car
--MissM

Internet pioneer to oversee its redesign under government contract

I guess it's nice that the powers that be are looking to the future, but I have to wonder if anything will come of it. The inertia of the millions upon millions who are currently using the Internet mean that moving to any kind of changed system will be tough. I guess this is one to watch, but I don't have my hopes set too high.

Jack

First OpenOffice virus emerges

Every article about this says something about how they must be dancing in the halls at Microsoft. Somehow, I doubt it. This is basically a proof-of-concept, written in Sun's "Star Basic" language, so the risk is very, very low. Still, it is likely a portent of things to come, and this runs on Linux, Windows and the Mac. There are enough Open Office users now that this sort of thing will come up more and more.

Jack

Dell Linux Machines Coming 24 May

Here's the details. They don't differ much from what we've said on the show.

Jack

Microsoft reveals new anti-Linux weapon

Seeing as there has been all sorts of angry or gloom-and-doom press about Microsoft's latest broadside against Linux, I thought I would post this, which I found fairly funny.

Enjoy,
Jack

Cheetah's GPSMirror detects red-light / speed cameras - Engadget

In the chat yesterday a few people mentioned looking for new GPSs, and then I read the following at engadget:

Cheetah has introduced a GPSMirror that can detect just about anything you'd need to know about whilst cruising down the highway. Sporting a SiRF Star III GPS receiver, anti-glare coating, and the ability to divulge alerts via voice, visuals, or frighteningly loud sounds, this rear view mirror replacement purportedly keeps you informed of upcoming speed cameras [in North Carolina, speed and red light cameras were deemed unconstitutional because of the percentage of the proceeds that went to education. In Charlotte, the receipts were split 50/50 with the picture takers, but because of the lottery, the percentage of receipts has to be higher. So, the city had to give the short fall to the board of education and it was too expensive for the city. :)] of all varieties, radar / laser detectors, and accident zones. Additionally, the device can even display your speed from behind the mirrored glass in case the speedometer in your '72 Beetle has been pleasantly perched on zero for the past decade. The unit supposedly plays nice with your current radar / laser detector, and can relay data via its aural abilities to slow you down. Speedsters can pick up the GPSMirror now for £199.99 ($395), and thanks to the PC-based interface and internet database downloads, there are no monthly fees for its handy services.

--MissM
Cheetah's GPSMirror detects red-light / speed cameras - Engadget

More Firefox Bloat? Say It Ain't So, Mozilla

This is the sort of thing I was talking about on the show. In fact; it seems as if about half of the blog discussions link back to this story. Despite that, the subject is a growing concern. Also at the same site is this slightly lame list of alternatives which is suspiciously short on truly viable ones that can be used on Windows.

Anyway; I wanted you to see where I started with the subject.

Jack

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 05-20-07

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 05-20-07. You can listen live every Sunday from 10AM to 1PM Pacific thats 1PM to 4PM Eastern. If you prefer, you can download the same MP3 file here via ftp.