Mozilla releases first beta of Firefox 3.6 |

Among the features in the new version, - • Personas, which lets people customize the browser appearance. • Faster execution of Web-based JavaScript programs, better browser responsiveness, and faster startup time. • The ability to drag and drop files from the computer to the browser. This is useful for uploading files to Web sites, as will a feature not in the beta • Expanded support for geolocation technology • The ability to detect the computer's orientation for machines that offer accelerometer support. • Video built into Web pages with the HTML5 "video" tag now can be viewed full-screen. Earl

Microsoft will release six updates next patch tuesday - The Inquirer

"MICROSOFT HAS announced that it will release six security updates, with three for Windows labelled as 'critical', next Patch Tuesday, the 10th of November."

This coming Tuesday is Update Tuesday. Don't forget to do them.

AlaskaJoe

Verizon announces $350 Early Termination Fee!

Verizon announced yesterday that they are doubling their early terminations fees, to reach as much as $350 for some users. YUK

Who's Your Graphics Daddy?

Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) change so quickly that it's hard to keep up with where your 2007 unit fits with today's units. Moreover, nVidia in particular has played games (pun intended) with model numbers, recycling G80 units.

This article is a graphics hierarchy chart that will place your particular unit on the graphics food chain. Useful to see how you might move up or laterally with anewer GPU.

So, What Does Google Know About You?

This article link takes you to the new Google Dashboard for your personal Google accounts. There, you'll be able to see and change the information Google keeps about you. Worth checking out.

More on the subject of the dashboard here.

The piece de la resistance is here, a link to Google's ad preferences on just little, old you based on your Google cookie. Opt-out links available too.

McAfee says piracy has tripled and spam is up. Malware comes free with pirated files.

McAfee says piracy has tripled even in wake of Pirate Bay prosecution. Spam is up and malware travels easily with pirated files.

OnComputers Radio show Podcast 11-01-09

This is the On Computers Radio show podcast for 11-01-09. 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.

Earl's Cyber Steals and Deals

Joe sent me this - Black Friday starting already:
http://www.blackfriday.info/sales/sears-black-friday-ad.html


Acer P235Hbmid Black 23" 5ms HDMI LCD Monitor $170 at Newegg
Newegg has the Acer P235Hbmid Black 23" 5ms HDMI Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 50000:1(ACM) Built-in Speakers for $180 - coupon code EMCMLNX45 [Exp 10/31] = $170 with free shipping.


Dell PowerEdge T110 Intel Xeon 2.4GHz Quad Core Server for $320 + $25 s&h
11. Dell Small Business offers the Dell PowerEdge T110 Intel Xeon 2.4GHz Quad Core Server for $320 plus $25 for shipping via the directions below. It's $318 off and among the least expensive new Xeon-based Dell servers we've seen. (It was $20 less a week ago, since expired.) Sales tax is added where applicable. It comes with an Intel Xeon X3430 2.4GHz quad-core processor, 2GB RAM, 160GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive, DVD-ROM, and Gigabit Ethernet. No OS is included. To get this deal:Click here to begin scroll down to the hard drive section and change the quantity to "1"; click "Update" click "Continue" and add to cart for $300



Western Digital 1.5TB USB 2.0 Hard Drive for $100 + free shipping via 2nd-day
Dell Small Business offers the Western Digital Elements 1.5TB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive, model no. WDBAAU0015HBK-NESN, for $99.99. With free shipping via 2nd day delivery, that's $0.07/GB and the lowest total price we could find by $39, although we saw it briefly for $11 less last week (since expired). Sales tax is added where applicable.


Acer X223WBD 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor $130 at PC Connection
PC Connection has the Acer X223WBD 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor for $130 with free shipping. Enjoy life with 1680 x 1050 resolution, 2500:1 contrast ratio, 300cd/m2 brightness, 5ms response time, DVI with HDCP.


SAMSUNG SH-S223C 22X SATA DVD Burner Black Drive $26
ZipZoomfly Part#: 10011470
Manufacturer SKU: SH-S223C
List Price: $29.99

Circuit City has the Olympus FE-26 12MP Digital Camera for $80 + $7 = $87 shipped. Features 3x optical zoom, a 2.7" LCD viewfinder, digital image stabilization, 20 shooting modes, AF tracking, face detection, and automatic shadow adjustment

Fujifilm A150 10MP 3x Digital Camera for a low $70 Free Shipping 4.5oz; 10 Megapixels; 3x Optical Zoom; 3" LCD; SD/SDHC; 2x AA

I-inc iH-252HPB 25" Widescreen LCD Monitor
I-inc iH-252HPB 25” (24.6" Diagonal) $189.99

Links from the Gregg Zone

1) Starting off with another of those stories that give a little hope for solving some of our pollution, and congestion problems. When it comes to the inter-cities cars really do not make much sense. I read somewhere that the average speed for a car in London is about the same as walking speed. Just the cost of parking in most downtown areas of larger cities should prove a major deterrent, but people just put up with it. This is a really nice solution for cities with decent weather, and to a lesser degree on a seasonal basis for other areas. A zip car concept using bicycles, has just been unveiled in Vancouver, really looks like a good idea, story here complete with video. http://www.paulhillsdon.com
2) Here is a discussion of an idea for launching cargo in to space, much cheaper, and more environmentally friendly than our current procedures. Think Alaska, a very big gun with a barrel over a mile long buried into a mountain. Now all you need is a viable alternative to gun powder. The three discussed here to power an Orbital Gun Launching System; Light gas power, Ram Accelerator, and Nuclear Cannon. This sounds like a workable idea to me, the major cost of space development is launch cost, while this will never be for people, due to the G-force, water cost 10,000 dollars a gallon, and satellites cost mega-millions. For cargo to build stuff like hotels, space stations, even interplanetary spacecraft not requiring spec’s capable of launch stresses, it sounds perfect. Technical but a good read, and food for thought check it out here http://nextbigfuture.com/
3) I was looking at a site referring a project called Sietch Nevada, basically building an underground city, based on the concept from the novel Dune. Anyway, it got me to thinking about a link I put up a year or two back about vertical farming. Thought I would check in and see if anything new was going on there, just because I think it is such a great idea. Putting up the site again, at least I think it is the same one. If you are not familiar with this check it out, this will be our future food source for vegetables, just a matter of time. I was happy to see that there is still a lot of interest, recent news stories and interest. If you are into the subject and would like to learn just how important it is, be sure to read the essay’s from Columbia University. http://www.verticalfarm.com
4) One more ecology article here, for those who thought my talking about investing a few bucks into the emerging fields of green technology for the last three years (wow has it been that long, almost), check out this article about the Eco Barons. There was another article that the top ten wealthiest in China are into green tech. Good read, encouraging http://business.timesonline.co.uk
5) Had to throw in something for Halloween real Quick. http://www.guidespot.com
6) For tech link this week a new search tool for Google in case you somehow missed it, Firefox has a new goody to combine a Google search with Wolfram Alpha. Looks pretty cool to me, but then I am easily impressed. http://www.howtogeek.com