Saturday, July 25, 2009

Skype singled out as threat to Russia's security | U.S. | Reuters

"Russia's most powerful business lobby moved to clamp down on Skype and its peers this week, telling lawmakers that the Internet phone services are a threat to Russian businesses and to national security."

I'm posting this article so you can see how some people controlling the governments can control the internet we need to keep the internet free!

The savetheinternet.com coalition is more than a million everyday people who have banded together with thousands of non-profit organizations, businesses and bloggers to protect Internet freedom. learn more »

AlaskaJoe

L.A. weighs plan to replace computer software with Google service - Los Angeles Times

"Frustrated by a slow and antiquated computer system, the city of Los Angeles is weighing a plan to replace its e-mail and records retention software with a service provided by Google, a move that could allow the Internet giant to retain sensitive records transmitted by the police and other municipal agencies."

My big question is: Do you want your personal info transmitted over the internet when you apply for a business license or get a parking ticket?

Please leave a comment on this BLOG and we will talk about your answers on the show next week.
Thank you JonathanM for this tip.

AlaskaJoe

The Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) : Advance Notification for July 2009 Out-of-Band Releases

"We have just published our advance notification for an out-of-band security bulletin release, with a target of 10:00 AM Pacific Time next Tuesday, July 28, 2009."

This is an Out-of-band Windows update, make sure you get it this coming Tuesday!

AlaskaJoe

Friday, July 24, 2009

RIAA: DRM is Dead - Tom's Guide

"Apparently so according to Jonathan Larry, chief spokesperson for the RIAA."
It looks like the RIAA did something right for a change.
The are admitting that DRM didn't work and is dead! It's about time.

AlaskaJoe

DD-WRT httpd vulnerability (milw0rm.com report)

"Note: The exploit can only be used directly from outside your network over the internet if you have enabled remote Web GUI management in the Administration tab. As immediate action please disable the remote Web GUI management. But that limitation could be easily overridden by a Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSFR) where a malicious website could inject the exploit from inside the browser."
If your running DD-WRT on your router get the update!

AlaskaJoe

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Michael Fortin: Windows 7 Efficiency | Charles | Channel 9

"The Windows 7 project involved very efficient software engineering planning and execution. It is no surprise that an equivalent level of efficiency exists throughout the OS (efficiency in how the OS deals with faults, threads, memory management, power management, process management, window management, graphics, audio, local search, diagnostics, and on and on - truly excellent, and efficient, engineering)."

This is one of the best interviews I have ever watched. (it has a 28 minute video) You can read it if you want must of the interview is here for you to read.
Gregg turned me onto channel9 and I have always liked to watch interviews from Microsoft Engineers. This is no exception it is a very good interview with Michael Fortin, he is a Distinguished Engineer in the Windows Core Operating System Division.

Michael talks about the inter-workings of Windows 7 how it is bigger bits wise but more efficient in what runs and when, like what services are running and when they turn on or off. He explained in easy to understand language how an OS does what it does.

As I have said many times I like Windows 7 very much and think everyone should go to it. As a computer tech I make a living fixing Windows XP! The only time I have to work on a Vista computer is hardware replacement. (I did have one lady that had to reinstall Vista, she said this sign kept coming up all of the time so she would just click OK.)

You can just listen to this interview while doing your other things, it's a good one! A half hour well spent while playing FreeCell or Spider :)

AlaskaJoe

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Open-source firmware vuln exposes wireless routers • The Register

A vulnerable has been found in DD-WRT firmware there is a fix for it. You need to upgrade the firmware on your router if your using DD-WRT.
"Update
DD-WRT developer Sebastian Gottschall just emailed to say an interim fix is available here. 'Consider that this exploit was released without any Report to us,' he added."

AlaskaJoe

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

DSL has some life left in it as Qwest rolls out 40Mbps tier - Ars Technica

"Qwest today announced its plan to offer higher DSL speeds in 23 markets over the next few months, including Denver, Minneapolis/St. Paul, Salt Lake City, Tucson, Omaha, Phoenix, and Des Moines, Iowa."
This sounds like a very cool upgrade to the dreaded DSL. I would like to hear from anyone that gets this upgrade from Qwest.
AlaskaJoe

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Earl's Cyber Steals and Deals

Western Digital "Green" 1.5TB SATA 3Gbps Hard Drive for $117 + free shipping
Dell Small Business offers the Western Digital Caviar 1.5TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Internal Hard Drive, model no. WD15EADS, for $129.99 with free shipping. Apply coupon code "XTHR0RQRXJHQ12" to drop it to $116.99 ($0.08/GB). Coupon expires July 23.

SanDisk 16GB Cruzer USB 2.0 Flash Drive (pictured), model no. SDCZ36-016G-A11, for $24.99 plus $2.95 for shipping.

Hanns-G 25" 1080p Widescreen LCD Display with HDMI for $200 + free shipping

newegg.com offers the Hanns-G 24.6" Widescreen LCD Monitor, model no. HH-251HPB, for $199.99. With free shipping, 1920x1080 native resolution, 2ms
response time, 800:1 contrast ratio, 300 cd/m² brightness, and HDMI and VGA inputs

Seagate Barracuda LP 1.5TB SATA 3Gbps Internal Hard Drive for $110 + free shipping newegg.com model no. ST31500541AS, for $109.99 with free shipping ($0.07/GB).

Hitachi Deskstar 1TB SATA 3Gbps Internal Hard Drive for $70 + free shipping, more
Amazon.com offers the model no. 0A38016, for $69.74 with free shipping ($0.07/GB).
Inspiron 546 at Dell Online Store Upgrade using Dell process to dual 2.5 or dual 2.7 ghz CPU. $269 base and $50 or $70 for upgrades. Buy the memory on your own.

Walmart.com has the Crosman Pulse M70 Full Auto Soft Air Machine Gun for $19 + shipping. Shipping is about $6; free in-store pickup in most locations. Features velocities up to 175 fps, gun holds up to 250 plastic BBs, gun comes with 100 plastic BBs.

Inspiron 546 at Dell Online Store Upgrade using Dell process to dual 2.5 or dual 2.7 ghz CPU. $269 base and $50 or $70 for upgrades.

Inspiron 546 at Dell Online Store Upgrade using Dell process to dual 2.5 or dual 2.7 ghz CPU. $269 base and $50 or $70 for upgrades. Buy the memory on your own.

Hitachi Deskstar 1TB SATA 3Gbps Internal Hard Drive for $70 + free shipping

Seagate Barracuda LP 1.5TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Internal Hard Drive, model no. ST31500541AS, for $109.99 with free shipping

Hanns-G 25" 1080p Widescreen LCD Display with HDMI for $200 + free shipping

Hanns-G 25" 1080p Widescreen LCD Display with HDMI for $200 + free shipping

newegg.com offers the Hanns-G 24.6" Widescreen LCD Monitor, model no. HH-251HPB, for $199.99. With free shipping,

Sandisk SAD SDCZ36016GA11 16GB Cruzer USB Flash Drive

SanDisk 16GB Cruzer USB 2.0 Flash Drive (pictured), model no. SDCZ36-016G-A11, for $24.99 plus $2.95 for shipping.

Western Digital "Green" 1.5TB SATA 3Gbps Hard Drive

Western Digital "Green" 1.5TB SATA 3Gbps Hard Drive for $117 + free shipping

Dell Small Business offers the Western Digital Caviar 1.5TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s Internal Hard Drive, model no. WD15EADS, for $129.99 with free shipping. Apply coupon code "XTHR0RQRXJHQ12" to drop it to $116.99

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 07-19-09

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 07-19-09. 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.

Microsoft Hits Back Against Apple Ads ad Keeps Swinging

Microsoft has launched its own "I'm a PC" series of ads poking fun at Apple's prices and is not stopping despite Apple's whining legal department. And on top of that MS is opening its own series of MS stores some of which will be nextdoor to Apple stores.

Links from the Gregg Zone

1) Going to start with a link Joe sent me about a new way to not own your car. I suspect this may actually be the future, because I have seen the concept in Sci-Fi books and movies. However it may be quite some time before it becomes main stream due to its appeal being restricted to how, and where you live. It might have local appeal in today’s world, I wish them well. I think it would play nicely here in Las Vegas, and would be a good fit for electric vehicles, but think it would have problems in Montana. http://www.zipcar.com/
2) Well here we are in Joe’s neighborhood again; link is to an article from the Anchorage Daily News about the Alaskan blob floating off the coast. I think we will be reading more about this for the next couple of weeks. While the mystery seems to be settled as to what it is, the tests say it is a type of algae. The questions about where it came from, why it is there; still remain because it has never been seen before. The obvious connection to global warming, and climate change will need some study. Be interesting to follow the story, looking forward to the answers. http://www.adn.com
3) This is an article about Amazon, Kindel, and ethics. Sent to me by Troll no doubt to confuse my interest stated a week or two back in a link here talking about how I wanted one. Well I have been successfully confused now I am not to sure I like the idea, you know how I love a good conspiracy. I suspect there is more here than what meets the eye. Not sure I like the implications regarding invading my privacy just because they feel the need. I do very much like the irony. http://www.nytimes.com
4) This is another Joe sent me, during our morning coffee and Skype conference he was reading Daily Rotation, and says hey here is a link for you. He was absolutely right this one grabbed me, and there is more here than just the headline subject. We are talking about printing batteries, but they also mention printing flexible electronics. The batteries solve some of the problems with those. This has got me thinking I need to get back up to speed on these prototype printers. There seems to be a lot going on there, batteries, organ replacements, got to find out what is new. http://blogs.zdnet.com
5) For my geek thing this week I thought this was interesting, appears they have taught a computer to read sign language. I am having some trouble deciding what the implications of the technology will be, but they must have had some purpose in mind, other than we did it because we could. http://www.newscientist.com