February and January Tech News Archive
2.28.04
Firefox Users Beware
Mozilla is urging Firefox users to upgrade to Firefox 1.0.1 or risk using a browser that has as many holes as another popular browser created by Microsoft. The story in PC World notes some of these holes allow a cracker to commandeer your PC so updating is critical. Visit Mozilla.org or use this link to download Firefox 1.0.1/.
Java Update Causes Freezing Issue for Macs
Some Apple users have reported problems with third-party applications after installing the Java update released by Apple last week. Issues include freezing and kernel panics; read more about this annoyance at MacFixIt.
Macintosh Pioneer Passes
Jef Raskin, one of the key figures in the developing user interfaces, and the lead designer for the original Macintosh, died Saturday of complications from pancreatic cancer. Raskin is credited with creating a user friendly interface that helped Macintosh gain a reputation for ease of operation according to MacCentral.
Open Source Updates
Secunia announced updates for Fedora and Gentoo.
Apple Tip of the Day: Reset PRAM
In the days of OS 9, resetting the PRAM was the answer to all that ailed Macs; and resetting the PRAM can still solve some Apple annoyances in world of OS X. To reset the PRAM, hold down the command (Apple) key, the option key, the P key, and R key when starting Mac and continue to hold these keys down until you hear the sound of the startup chime four times. To learn what the PRAM is, see below: “What is PRAM?”
PC Tip of the Day: iTunes for Windows
PC World calls Apple’s iTunes for Windows application, “… a joy to use even if you never buy a 99 cent song.” The iTunes for Windows is the most popular download at PC World today. It really is easy to use, has a built in file conversion tool, and it is free! Just click on the iTunes logo on the left side of this page to download iTunes for Windows or use the link to PC World above.
What is PRAM?
According to Answers.com, “A battery-backed part of the Macintosh's memory that holds Control Panel settings and the settings for the hidden desktop file. If the command and option keys are held down at startup, the desktop settings are cleared and a dialog to rebuild the desktop is initiated.” I also hold the P and R key down while resetting PRAM (see directions above: Apple Tip of the Day). Tomorrow, we’ll look at another definition of PRAM from Wikipedia.
2.25.2005
Trend Micro Flaw
Secunia released a security bulletin labeled ‘highly critical’ for most Trend Micro applications including the popular PC-cillin family of Internet security programs. Secunia recommends: “Update scan engine to VSAPI 7.510 or later.” If you would like more information on the flaw and Secunia’s version is too bland, CNET also reported on this problem.
Microsoft Releases Security Patch
In a story possibly associated with the item above, Microsoft has released a patch for Windows XP users that repairs a problem with some third-party security software. According to the article in CNET, Microsoft did not specify which third-party software is susceptible, but my money is on the company named in the story above.
Firefox Update Available
Firefox users should visit Mozilla.org for the latest update for your browser, Firefox 1.0.1/. The update addresses security flaws that allow crackers to spoof web sites. The updates are available for Multiple Platforms and if you are using Mozilla, make sure you are using the latest version, 1.7.5/.
Microsoft to Customers: Phone Home
Microsoft will begin phasing-out online activation of new software over the Internet according to CNET. Initially, the change will affect PCs produced by the major computer manufacturers; if you build your own PC (and you should), you will be spared the personal contact temporarily. Seriously, what message is Microsoft sending with this move? Does it seem to you like they don’t trust this whole Internet thing? What’s up with that? Lately I’ve noticed my XP Activation window popup with annoying frequency even though the copy is one of eleven I own and it is registered. Me thinks Microsoft might be getting somewhat paranoid about piracy, but honestly with all the security flaws you might be better off stealing another platform; or use a open source system, most are available free.
Cell Phone Crack is Serious
Cell phones are not usually within the scope of what we cover at Multiple Platforms.com, but the latest crack is a serious flaw and T-Mobile users need to be pro-active regarding this threat. To learn more about this issue, check out the story carried by CNET.
Who Should Get High-Speed Internet?
I have had high-speed Internet for several years and quite honestly take the speed of my broadband connection for granted. At work and school we have a T1 high-speed connection, and I again, I admit to being totally spoiled. I cannot even remember the ‘bad old days’ of dial-up; having said that I honestly believe that I have been charged to much for the privilege, and that furthermore, everyone should have the right to be overcharged for what is fast becoming a necessity. Leaving the matter of cost for another battle, the PBS show NOW takes up the issue of who should decide what access we receive. No surprise here, all is not equal when it comes to broadband availability and the dollar is the KING. Check your local listings for this weeks’ broadcast of NOW on your local PBS affiliate.
Looking for Weekend Festival Fun?
If you live in California or plan to visit there, check out our other web site California Fairs and Festivals.com/. The web site has been completely transformed into a fast-loading, html-conforming, good reference for weekend family fun.
Open Source Updates
Secunia released these bulletins: Mandrake (1, 2), SuSE, and Sun Solaris.
Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Learn From The Digital Master
Last weekend, Leo talked about Macs, Windows XP, Linux, TiVo, digital cameras, audio issues, VoIP, and more; I know this because I helped with Leo’s show notes as I occasionally do when The Tech Guy is not recording in the Laporte Lab. You can listen to the Internet stream by going to Leo’s web site and clicking on the KFI logo, or you can listen live in the Los Angeles area on AM640. Leo answers questions on all things digital from 11 am to 2 pm PST on Saturday and Sunday.
What is a Disk Image?
According to Wikipedia, “A disk image is a computer file containing the complete contents and structure of a data storage device. The term has been generalized to cover any such file, whether taken from an actual physical storage device or not.
An ordinary backup only backs up the files it can access. Boot information, and files locked by an operating system or being changed at the time, may not be saved. A disk image contains all these, and faithfully replicates the data, so it is commonly used for backing up disks with operating systems, or bootable CD/DVDs.
The image is saved as a file, which for a full CD or system disk may be quite large (~ 10 MB to several GB). This file can be saved onto a hard drive, CD, DVD or other media, for later use.
Disk images can either be compressed using some type of compression algorithm like LZW, or uncompressed ("raw"). Images of CD-ROMs most often carry the file name extension .iso, referring to the ISO 9660 file system commonly used on such discs. The .iso format is the most common format for Linux distributions and other online images. Other common CD image formats are .nrg (Nero Burning ROM's proprietary format), and .bin/.cue.”
2.24.05
Hotmail Users are Hot Under the Collar
Hotmail customers are growing increasingly more frustrated with their email provider as service continues to be disrupted according to a report by CNET. A faulty server is being blamed for the outage, but after several weeks of intermittent service, Hotmail users are beginning to seek remedies for this annoyance. No word from Microsoft as to when the service will be restored to normal. If you would like a Gmail account, check out our podcast: Life in a Multiple Platforms World from February 23, 2005 to learn the details. Just click on the podcast icon below or to subscribe to the feed enter this URL in your podcast software: http://feeds.feedburner.com/Multipleplatforms
Windows XP SP2 Still has 2 Flaws: Reduced Write Speed for DVD and Shorter Battery Life
It light of everything else, this find by the PC World staff is minor unless you burn batches of DVDs or you have an Acer laptop that eats through battery power faster than I eat chocolate-chip cookies. According to PC World, the flaw can reduce Acer laptop battery life by an hour and in some cases that could be as much as 50 percent of your time. The research also uncovered slow downs of up to 40 percent when burning DVDs using InCD4 a popular application shipped with many PCs. PC World reports that Microsoft is working on a patch.
Update for iPod
Apple released iPod 2005-02-22 updater on Tuesday and MacFixIt reports that several readers have experienced conflicts with their iPod post-installation. The article emphasizes only a small number of users have issues; if you have problems after installing the update MacFixIt suggests that you reset your iPod, keep in remind that you will lose anything stored on your iPod. Another suggested fix is to not get your iPod fix; leave it disconnected for 20 hours and then reconnect, and then reset! Still no word on conflicts with the Java fix released by Apple on Tuesday, stay tuned.
Open Source Updates
Secunia announced these updates for open source users: Gentoo and Red Hat.
Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Anti-Virus Advice
Apple users that opt for .Mac accounts have anti-virus protection available free from MacAfee and I regularly check my Macs, mostly for peace-of-mind; if you do not have anti-virus protection and feel the need, seriously consider the .Mac option. PC people can use AVG Free Edition from Grisoft and it is free for personal use. I have been using AVG Free and it seems to be providing me with the protection my PCs need. It is also recommended by PC World and Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI. NOD32 is Leo’s pick for the best commercial anti-virus product with a caveat the company sponsors his show.
What is ISO Image?
Wikipedia has this definition, “An ISO image (as prescribed by ISO standard ISO 9660) is a file that represents a one-to-one copy of a specific computer file system, most widely used for the compact disc medium (i.e. an entire CD or DVD-ROM).
The term "ISO image" or just "ISO" is sometimes used informally to refer to disk images in formats other than ISO 9660.
Many Linux, BSD, or other free operating systems are distributed for download using an ISO image; because it is a one-to-one copy, file permissions and other file system metadata are not lost in the transfer. Also, it is possible to loopback mount the image under many of these systems to access the individual files. The ISO 9660 is specified as read-only; currently you cannot modify the content when mounting an ISO file. The loopback mount gives you read access only. However, there are special tools that will allow you to modify an ISO file.
After downloading, one can burn this image to a CD. If the burned CD includes an operating system that doesn't need to be installed to the hard disk (this is, can be used from the CD), it is called a LiveCD. LiveCDs are bootable. Such an example of these are the Gnoppix, Knoppix, Mepis and Morphix Linux distributions.”
2.23.05
Worms, Worms, There Making Us Squirm
It’s looking like the week of the worm and with so many striking at the same time it is hard to sort them all, hang on; here we go:
Assiral Worm: CNET and Sophos are reporting on a new wormed named Assiral that arrives in your email inbox with the phrase “LOV YA” in the subject line; if that sounds familiar it should, the same hook was used in an earlier virus named the Love Bug worm. Needless to say, don’t open the attachment that is enclosed with this email; it has the name: LOVE_LETTER.TXT.exe.
Virus Appears as Email From FBI: CNET is also carrying a report that details a statement from the FBI regarding a rash of phishing attempts using the federal agency as cover for their illegal activities. The message from the scammers claims to be from the FBI’s Internet Fraud Compliant Center and accuses the recipient of accessing “illegal Web sites.” In the article, the FBI stresses the fact that they would not send ‘unsolicited messages’ to private citizens and urges anyone that receives this message to not open the attachment that contains a virus.
Sober Worm Spreading Fast: PC World reports that the Sober worm was discovered in the wild on Monday and the new variant has been named: W32.Sober-K-mm/. The worm is infecting computers rapidly and has already earned a ‘High Risk’ rating according to security experts interviewed by PC World.
Apple Releases a New Security Update
Apple released a security update that addresses issues with Java according to Secunia. The security firm rates the flaw the patch corrects as “highly critical”. Remember to repair disk permissions before and after installing any updates on your Mac. Many experts advise waiting a week before installing updates in the event that bugs exist in the code. The patch was just released on February 22 and there are no user reports, I will keep you posted as usual.
New iPods Introduced, Some Price Cuts
Apple has introduced new members to the iPod family: a 6GB Mini, and two new iPod Photo devices with 30 and 60 gigabyte capacities respectively. The latter models will soon be able to connect directly to a digital camera with an adapter available in March. Apple lowered the price on the 4GB Mini to $199 (USD) and the company will no longer offer the 40GB iPods according to a story carried by CNET.
Open Source Updates
Secunia reports that the following open source systems have updates available: Fedora (1, 2, 3), Debian (1, 2), and SuSE.
Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Automatic Updates
You can schedule your Mac to check for updates automatically on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. Open Systems Preferences and choose Software Update; if it isn’t already, check the option to Check for updates: and choose the frequency that suits your needs. You can also select the option to download the updates in the background. Windows XP users can set their PC for automatic updates using this path: Start/ Control Panel/ System/ Automatic Updates. I like to use the option: ‘Download the updates for me, but let me choose when to install them’; click on Apply and you are done.
What is Ripping?
According to Wikipedia, “Ripping is the process of copying the audio and/or videodata from one media form, such as Digital Versatile Disc (DVD) or Compact Disc (CD), to a hard disk. While the original media is typically digital, the extraction of analog media such as VHS video or vinyl records to a digital format can also be referred to as "ripping" by extension. The copied data, called "rips", are usually encoded in a compressed format such as MP3, WMA or Ogg Vorbis for audio or MPEG-2, MPEG-4 or DivX for video in order to conserve storage space.
For consumers of digital content, there are a number of practical uses for ripping. One is to allow the owners of CDs or DVDs to listen or watch their purchased content in a more flexible way. For example, ripping can allow users to listen to music from a number of different albums without having to change discs and to make customized playlists of the music. Ripping can also be used to allow music to be played on portable digital audio players. Creating a backup of purchased and copyrighted media is legal in some countries, including the United States.
Since the music or video is transferred to a data file, the files can be shared with other computer users over the Internet.”
2-22-05
Internet Explorer Alert – 249
Secunia is reporting yet another spoofing flaw in Internet Explorer, this time they have graded the threat ‘less critical’ and it effects Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 6 on PCs with the SP2 update installed. Secunia recommends, “Do not enter sensitive information in popups after following links from untrusted sources.” The aforementioned recommendation by Secunia should be a ‘no-brainer’, but just in case you are ever tempted to enter sensitive information in a pop-up: DON’T. You should only enter sensitive information to trusted sites (your bank, Amazon.com, the IRS), and then only when you are sure that a secure connection exists. To determine the connection type, look at the address bar displayed by the browser; if it starts with ‘https:’ you are using a secured Internet connection. Your browser will usually display a locked padlock icon when you visit a secured site. A site is not automatically trusted because a it has a secured connection (https) and anyone with a little tech knowledge can establish this connection, so caution is still necessary and it is still up to you to determine the validity of a site you’re visiting. The Multiple Platforms tip of the day from Feb 7 has recommendations on verifying a web site URL; click here for the how-to.
PowerBooks: Grumpy After Sleep
Some PowerBook users are experiencing scrambled displays after installing 10.3.8, the latest update from Apple. Most often, the display problems occur after waking the notebook from the sleep mode. So, who isn’t grumpy when they first wake up? The only work around reported is to shut down and restart. If you are experiencing these issues, MacFixIt requests you send them an email message, to learn more visit their web site.
Woz Weighs In
Apple’s co-founder, Steve Wozniak has offered to donate $1000 to the defense fund of a Canadian student being sued by Apple for ‘illegally distributing’ beta versions of the company’s new operating system, Tiger 10.4/. According to MacMinute, Woz wishes Apple would “… drop the matter.” The Woz’s wisdom shines through when he continues, “In this age of professional spammers and telemarketers making fortunes, we’re misusing our energies to pursue the types of small time wrongdoers.” Spoken like a man that may have bent a few rules himself on the way to his station in life. Way to go Woz!
Open Source Updates
Secunia reports the following open source systems have updates available: Gentoo, SuSE, and Sun Solaris.
Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Check the RAM
If your computer has been lagging lately, you can check the RAM status to insure that all that memory is present and accounted for. Mac-heads can click on the Apple icon in the toolbar and select About This Mac; the amount of RAM functioning will appear in new mini window. Windows XP users can follow this path: Start/ Control Panel/ System. The General tab will list the amount of RAM working in your PC.
What is Overburning?
According to Wikipedia, “Overburning, in computing, is the process of writing past the end of a writable compact disc medium, allowing a small amount of extra data to be written.
At the end of a compact disc, there is often a small margin allowing extra data to be written to the disc. Often in the normal writing process the data stops before this area, but CD burning software can override this boundary to squeeze extra data onto the disc.
Overburning is not just a mere convenience to space-conscious home compact disc writers. If a certain piece of software is slightly over the CD size limit (e.g. requires 651 MB of space on a 650 MB disc), overburning alleviates the need to ship two compact discs, dramatically decreasing the price of distribution.”
2.21.05
Spam Blocking to Aggressive
PC World reports that some Verizon customers have not been receiving email messages and the problem appears to be associated with aggressive spam blocking on the part of Verizon. If this issue affects you, check out the article at PC World.
Coming Soon: Disposal Tax
New technology comes with an additional cost, disposal of ‘obsolete’ equipment and with the problem increasing exponentially, elected representatives are introducing legislation to fund disposal of our old PCs. According to a report carried by CNET, we dispose of more than 3,000 tons of electronics equipment daily. The current proposal has been dubbed the National Computer Recycling Act and will require a $10 deposit on every CRT and LCD monitor and any device with a CPU.
Linux World Wrap-up
Somewhat overshadowed by the RSA Security gathering in San Francisco was Linux World held in Boston, MA. PC World has a wrap-up of the event and don’t forget the Linux World Summit taking place in New York on May 25 and 26, 2005. Also on the open source calendar is the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo in San Francisco on August 8 to August 11, 2005.
Open Source Updates
Secunia released these updates for open source users: Gentoo (1, 2, 3), Red Hat (1, 2, 3), and Debian.
Apple Tip of the Day: Find Your Mac’s Serial Number
To find the serial number of your Mac, click on the Apple icon in your toolbar, and select About This Mac. Select the More Info button and the Hardware Overview window will open and the serial number is displayed near the bottom of the list.
PC Tip of the Day: Find System Information
To access information about your Windows XP system follow this path: Start/ Control Panel/ System. The General tab contains information about your PC including the processor speed and the amount of RAM functioning.
What is a Burner?
Wikipedia has this definition, “A CD burner, CD recorder or CD writer is an internal or external writable Compact Disc drive that can be attached to a computer. It lets you write and read files from a computer on to compact disc media, and is standard equipment in most new computers. The burner describes the process of the laser burning the organic dye substrate in the disk, creating a non-reflective pit signifying a bit state.
Most writers can write to both CD-R and CD-RW media, CD-RW being able to be re-written and erased hundreds of times.
Burners can write CDs at multiple speeds. At 1x speed, for example, the CD spins at the same rate as the player reading it, taking 60 minutes to record 60 minutes of data. At 2x it will take half an hour, and so on.”
2.18.05
New Threat is an Old Tool
Once used only by IT security personnel to monitor networked computers, kernel rootkits maybe the next security threat on the horizon according to a report in PC World. The threat was one of the topics examined by security gurus at the RSA Security Conference in San Francisco this week. The tool has been used for years, but crackers have co-opted the program and the bad people are hiding their work deeper within the system, making it harder to detect according to PC World.
New Plague Present?
An issue that initially seemed to be associated with Apple’s latest update, 10.3.8 has instead morphed into a more disturbing problem, pop-under ads that appear behind the browser and cannot be blocked. MacFixIt reports these ads began appearing last week, and Mozilla, OmniWeb, Camino, Firefox, and Safari users have all reported receiving these ads; MacFixIt has several suggestions to temporarily thwart this new annoyance.
Listen to The Tech Guy
I improve my digital knowledge every weekend between 11 am to 2 pm (PST) by listening to Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI Internet stream and if you are in the Los Angeles area tune into AM640 and listen live. Leo answers questions on all things digital and uses Multiple Platforms without bias; visit Leo’s web site then click on the KFI logo to listen to the Internet stream.
Open Source Updates
Gentoo, Debian, Fedora, and Mandrake (1, 2) have updates available according to Secunia.
Apple Tip of the Day: Keyboard Shortcut to Server
To quickly connect to other computers on your network you can use Command-K. This will launch the connect to server window and from there you can select any computer on your network.
PC Tip of the Day: Keyboard Shortcut
The PC tip of the day is another handy keyboard shortcut to open the My Computer window just click on the Windows logo key + E key.
What is a Fat Server?
This should have been the ‘What is’ question for February 8, 2005—Fat Tuesday; according to Answers.com a fat server is, “A server in a client/server environment that performs most or all of the application processing with little or none performed in the client. The counterpart to a fat server is a thin client.”
2.17.05
MyDoom Back Again
According to PC World, a new variant of the MyDoom worm is striking Internet users. This version is similar to the fraud that hit last July and slowed some of the major search engines with requests. The worm infects other PCs via the email, so exercise caution when opening email; most worms use addresses from an infected computers’ address book, so the attack could be disguised as a message from a friend.
Check Out the Podcast of Life in a Multiple Platforms World
Have you checked out our podcast yet? Over 150 people downloaded the podcast from last week through Feedburner.com/. Those statistics don't reflect the number of direct downloads from this site. How do you download the podcast? Glad you asked, just click on the podcast icon below to hear this weeks podcast.
Microsoft Issues Fix for Windows Media Player
Microsoft has released another patch out of sequence for a flaw that existed in Windows Media player according to an article in CNET. The release bulletin issued by Microsoft notes that the fix will “… add additional integrity checks to the DRM system …”.
Some of Microsoft’s Xbox Cords Faulty
Reuters is reporting that Microsoft issued a recall on Xbox consoles that were made before October 23, 2003. If the Xbox was made in Europe, the recall effects those made before January 13, 2004. Microsoft will replace the power cords on the affected models and you can visit the Xbox web site for more information.
Open Source Updates
Secunia issued these bulletins for open source systems: Linux Kernel 2.6/, Conectiva, Mandrake, Debian (1, 2), and Gentoo (1, 2).
Apple Tip of the Day: Keyboard Shortcut to Applications
If you want to open your Applications folder from your Apple keyboard, use the following key combination: Shift-Command-A; another way to quickly access this folder is to create an alias and park the alias in your dock. Control or right click on the Applications folder and select Make Alias. Then drag the alias to your dock.
PC Tip of the Day: Keyboard Shortcut
You can open the start menu with one keystroke if you use a Windows keyboard; click on the Windows icon key located between the Control and Alt key and the Start menu will open up.
What is Client Server?
Answers.com provides this definition for client server, “An architecture in which the user's PC (the client) is the requesting machine and the server is the supplying machine, both of which are connected via a local area network (LAN) or wide area network (WAN). Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, client/server was the hot buzzword as applications were migrated from centralized minicomputers and mainframes to networks of desktop computers.
In client/server, the client processes the user interface (Windows, Mac, etc.) and can perform some or all of the application processing. Servers range in capacity from high-end PCs to mainframes. A database server maintains the databases and processes requests from the client to extract data from or to update the database. An application server provides additional business processing for the clients.
In a LAN environment, servers are widely used to store data and programs and share those files with the client PCs. In this case, the servers act as remote disk drives to the clients. In addition, technically, the server is cooperating with the clients by providing file-sharing services, but this scenario does not embody the real meaning of client/server (note examples below). The important concept of client/server is that both client and server each take on some of the application processing. See client/server development system.”
2.16.05
New Tune Has Better Chorus
Now he’s singing our song and though it may send shudders through the IT security industry, the latest tune from Microsoft’s Bill Gates regarding upcoming changes for Windows people is welcome news for beleaguered PC users. First, Microsoft will update Internet Exploder and make it harder for scammers to execute their crackers’ code. Gates also announced that the company will continue to offer Windows AntiSpyware free, and while this may not be great news for third-party anti-spyware producers, it should help the end users improve their PCs safety. Read more about the keynote speech by visiting PC World.
Printer Problem Has Solution
Mac-heads that are experiencing printer problems after installing the latest update from Apple, 10.3.8 will find a workaround for the problem if you visit MacFixIt; the issue has affected people that have Epson printers connected to an Airport Express. Resetting the Airport Express seems to correct this conflict.
Free Download from iTunes
You can download a free song from the Apple iTunes Music store and the artist changes every Tuesday. Get your free tune by clicking on the iTunes logo to the left. You can help defer the operating costs of Multiple Platforms.com by purchasing your iTunes music through the link at the left. Thanks!
Open Source Updates
Secunia has released these bulletins for open source users: Debian (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), Gentoo (1, 2, 3), Mandrake, and KDE.
Apple Tip of the Day: Quick Check for New Mail
If you need to check for new email messages using .Mail, just right click or control click on the Mail icon in the dock; select Get New Mail and the application will check the server for new messages.
PC Tip of the Day: Windows Media Player 10 Error Messages
If you use Windows Media Player 10 and you receive an error message, Microsoft has a page that list all the codes with links to troubleshooting advice for those pesky annoyances.
What is Server Software?
According to Answers.com server software is, “Software that resides in a server and provides services to multiple users on the network. Contrast with client software. (see: Tuesday’s Multiple Platforms’ definition) See client/server.”
2.15.05
Make IM Safer
Two researchers from UC Berkeley have released free software that will make your IM communications more secure if both parties have application installed. According to the report from CNET, the program can verify who is on the receiving end of your IM and prevents crackers from viewing messages. The term for this technology is ‘perfect forward security’; it sounds good and the price is right.
Next Step for Red Hat Power PC
CNET has a good news story for open source users and multiple platform people; the next release from Red Hat will include a version of Fedora that will run on Power chips like the PowerPC found in Apple’s G5. Users would also be able to run multiple platforms simultaneously using Xen, an open source software.
GRAMMY Downloads Cheaper
Apple announced that the iTunes Music store would offer all albums with GRAMMY award winning tracks for $2 off the normal cost. You can also download a special version of “Across the Universe” performed by an all-star cast of musicians on the night of the awards for 99 cents; help support Multiple Platforms.com by purchasing your iTunes from the link to the Apple Music store to the left.
Open Source Updates
Secunia released update and security bulletins for these open source systems: Sun Solaris (1, 2), Gentoo (1, 2), Conectiva, Debian, Fedora, Mandrake, and SuSE.
Apple Tip of the Day: Compose a New Message Quickly
If you want to open a new email message quickly, just right click or control click on the Mail icon in the dock; one of the options will be to compose a new message, select that option to start a new email message.
PC Tip of the Day: Find Your Email Faster
If you use Outlook you can tweak the program to make finding your email messages easier; learn how to use your Search Folder by visiting the Microsoft web site.
What is Client Software?
The definition of the day is client software and comes from Answers.com, “Software that resides in a user's desktop or laptop computer, PDA or cell phone. Contrast with server software. See client/server.”
2.14.05
Happy Valentines Day!
Microsoft to Users: Install Update
According to a story in PC World, Microsoft is urging Windows and Office users to download and install the updates released last week. I installed the updates on my main PC and have not encountered any conflicts; if you have any adverse experiences, drop us an email and let us know what happened. Remember to use spyware removal tools and check for viruses before applying these patches.
Apple Update
I also applied the updates released by Apple without any ill affects. MacFixIt has reports on some Internet slow downs and iTunes connectivity issues post-update installation. The slow-down issue could be related to your router, particularly if you use one by Netgear. If you are experiencing any of the aforementioned issues, visit MacFixIt for some solutions.
Security Conference Starts Today
Driven by worries of phishing attacks and spyware threats, the 2005 RSA Conference that begins today in San Francisco should draw record attendance according to a story carried by PC World. Most of the big names in the security field will be present and Microsoft’s Bill Gates will deliver the keynote speech.
Open Source Updates
Secunia released the following updates between Friday and Monday 0700 PST: Debian (1, 2, 3, 4), Mandrake (1, 2, 3, 4, 5), Red Hat (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), SuSE (1), Fedora (1, 2), KDE, and Gentoo (1, 2, 3, 4, 5).
Apple Tip of the Day: Office 2004 Free Trial
Apple owners can take Microsoft’s Office 2004 for a free 30-day test drive by visiting Mactopia.
PC Tip of the Day: Check for Office Updates
Microsoft’s Office software has several updates available and you can check if you need to install a patch by visiting Microsoft’s Office web site.
What is a PDA?
Answers.com provides this definition, “(Personal Digital Assistant) A handheld computer that serves as an organizer for personal information. It generally includes at least a name and address database, to-do list and note taker. PDAs may be combined with cell phones and other wireless technologies, providing a mobile office for people on the go.
PDAs are pen based and use a stylus to tap selections on menus and to enter printed characters. The unit may also include a small on-screen keyboard that is tapped with the pen. Data are synchronized between the PDA and desktop computer via cable or wireless transmission.
A PDA is like a palmtop computer except that the PDA typically uses a pen whereas the palmtop uses a small keyboard. Apple's MessagePad, more commonly known as the "Newton," was the pioneer in this field in 1993. However, PalmPilots, introduced a couple years after, popularized the technology. See Newton and Palm.”
2.11.05
Editors Note: My teaching schedule and staff meetings dictate an abbreviated version of the Multiple Platforms’ Tech News on Fridays. Here in blog-like fashion are the important tech news items of the day; look for the Apple and PC Tip of the Day and the ‘What Is’ items to return on Monday. Have a great weekend and don’t forget to listen to Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI. Leo answers questions on all things digital from 11am to 2pm on the weekends.
Symantec Has Security Issues
MacFixIt reports that a serious security flaw exists in Symantec’s security programs and the issues affect Multiple Platforms users. Mac and PC owners should visit MacFixIt to learn more about this problem.
Microsoft’s AntiSpyware Flaw
PC World has more details on the flaw in Microsoft’s AntiSpyware program. Sophos disclosed the problem on Thursday and the target of this crack is your banking information.
Advice for Companies Contemplating Switching to Firefox
A recent study detailed in PC World suggests that companies should carefully research their options before switching to an alternative browser.
More on Mac Update
We reminded you to disconnect your Firewire devices before installing Apple’s latest update, 10.3.8 but Apple didn’t (with one exception). MacFixIt has details and suggestions for dealing with this update from Apple.
2.10.05
Apple Release Update
Apple has released a new update; 10.3.8 and they remind users to disconnect third-party FireWire hard drives before installing the update. You should also repair Disk Permissions before and after installing any update, and most Mac experts recommend waiting five to seven business days before installing any new update; let the early adopters discover if there are any serious conflicts. MacFixIt has early reports from those that have installed the update and the most common observation is an increase in the G5s’ fan activity.
Problems With Virtual PC for Mac Post-Update
MacFixIt is also reporting that Mac users of Virtual PC are having connectivity issues after installing the critical updates released by Microsoft. Read more on this issue by surfing to MacFixIt and learn about a work-around using Terminal.
Symantec Has Security Hole
It seems that even purchasing third-party protection will not relieve us from the worries of crackers (listen to the topic of Wednesday’s podcast for more on this issue, click on the logo below); CNET is reporting that many of Symantec applications are venerable to crackers unless they download and install the latest patch issued by the company. Products affected include Norton SystemWorks 2004 and Symantec Mail Security for Exchange.
Proof For the Above
More bad news from CNET and heading straight for Windows users; Bankash-A is a new Trojan coded to attack Windows AntiSpyware. The Sophos expert interviewed by CNET speculates that this is the first attempt to disable the application, but will by no means be the last; and just when you thought we were getting close to home. Buckle-up, hold-on, and keep your computer and security systems updated.
Please Check Out The Podcast
Have you heard any of the Multiple Platforms podcasts yet? Listen to the latest edition of Life In A Multiple Platforms World by clicking on the logo below. Thanks for listening!
Open Source Updates
Secunia released these updates for open source users: Debian (1, 2) and Gentoo.
Apple Tip of the Day: Repair Disk Permissions
Before and after you install an update MacFixIt and many others recommend that you first Repair Disk Permissions. Open your application folder and then double click on Disk Utilities application found in the Utilities file. Next, select the drive that you want to repair (Your HD) and select Repair Permissions. This one of the first ‘fixes’ suggested when you call Apple for support.
PC Tip of the Day: Learn About the Updates Released
If you are a Windows user, then you need to learn more about the recent updates and one of the best sources is often from the horses … well, ah, mouth (I’m trying to keep this a family friendly site). To find out about the various security fixes visit Microsoft’s security site; we will try to provide more in the coming days. I made some preliminary notes on the security issues during Microsoft’s webcast and those are contained within the show notes from yesterday’s podcast.
What is Bandwidth?
Microsoft provides this explanation for bandwidth, “bandwidth n. 1. The difference between the highest and lowest frequencies that an analog communications system can pass as measured in Hertz (Hz) or cycles per second. For example, a telephone accommodates a bandwidth of 3000 Hz: the difference between the lowest (300 Hz) and highest (3300 Hz) frequencies it can carry. 2. The data transfer capacity, or speed of transmission, of a digital communications system as measured in bits per second (bps).”
2.9.05
Sixteen Issues Tackled by Microsoft Patch
According to PC World, Tuesday’s patch from Microsoft for February was the largest security fix since October 2003. Eight of the problems fixed are critical and the fixes include patches Internet Explorer, Windows Service Pack 2, and for a PNG (see below for definition) issue with MSN Messenger. Now that these vulnerabilities have been revealed look for an increase in attacks from crackers that have become adept at waiting for Microsoft to release these security patches and then using the information to hack PCs that have not installed the recent update.
Antivirus Firm Purchased by Microsoft
CNET reports that Microsoft will purchase the security firm Sybari, the third security related acquisition by MS in the past eighteen months. Most industry watchers expected Microsoft to make just such a move in a effort to package a product to battle the ever-increasing attacks on Windows based PCs. One would hope that MS would offer the antivirus application free, as they have thus far with their spyware software, but time and the greed factor will tell.
MSN Messenger Problems Repaired
The outage that hit MSN Messenger users worldwide is over according to a story published by CNET. The problems were repaired as of late Tuesday, and you should have normal service after the issue at a data center was corrected.
Mac Mini Morphs After Mod
Accelerate Your Mac.com has a link to a Mac mini mod that morphs the Apple computer into a PC box with 500GB of hard drive capacity. Check out the item and the link by visiting Accelerate You Mac.com/.
More Mods: Create RAID With iPod Shuffle
How do geeks use their iPod Shuffle? Some of them talk their friends into lending them their iPod Shuffles to create a RAID array using four of the Shuffles connected to a USB hub. Read more about this and learn why you would do this by surfing to Wright This Way. I found this item while visiting MacSlash, check out their web site here.
Open Source Updates
Secunia released these security updates for open source users: Mandrake (1, 2), Debian (1, 2), Fedora (1, 2), and Gentoo (1, 2).
Apple Tip of the Day: Drag and Drop Printing
I have used this tip for several months and it is a handy time-saver; just add your printer’s icon to the desktop by creating a desktop printer, then drag and drop a file to it to begin printing. For the instructions on how to visit Apple Pro Tip of the Week web site.
PC Tip of the Day: Update AVG
Time again to update your AVG antivirus definitions. You can just start the application and it will automatically update, or you can visit Version Tracker to manually download the update. If you want to add Microsoft’s new spyware application, visit the Microsoft web site.
What is PNG?
According to Wikipedia PNG is, “PNG (Portable Network Graphics), sometimes pronounced as "ping", is a relatively new bitmap image format that is becoming popular on the World Wide Web and elsewhere. PNG was largely developed to deal with some of the shortcomings of the GIF format and allows storage of images with greater color depth and other important information.
PNG is supported by the libpng reference library, a platform independent library that contains C functions for handling PNG images.”
2.8.05
Reports of Phishing Attack Premature, Barely
According to CNET, some tech news sites erroneously reported that phishing attacks exploiting Microsoft’s recently announced Windows Genuine Advantage program had begun. The story claimed that phishers had used the introduction of the program to start searching for sensitive information under the guise of Microsoft. The story carried by CNET discounts the above, but adds the disclaimer that the scenario is inevitable given the circumstances; so beware of any attempts to phish for your credit information.
Check Back Later for Podcast
Please check back tomorrow for another edition of Life In A Multiple Platforms World, the podcast from Multipleplatforms.com/. The topic will be security and I'll have plenty to say post-Question and Answer session presented by Microsoft. Meanwhile, please check out the show notes from last week here.
Online Mapping Services Gains New Player
Watch out Map Quest and Yahoo, there is a new kid on the block and this newbie comes to the playground with lots-of-marbles in their bag. Google Maps is a beta-service offering maps, directions, and local business searches and the story carried by CNET speculates that Google is collaborating with TeleAtlas for this new venture. You can visit the Google Maps site, but Safari and OmniWeb browsers are not supported. Mac and Linux users must use Mozilla 1.4+, Netscape 7.1+, or Firefox 0.8+/. Windows users can use any of the aforementioned or Internet Explorer 5.5+/.
Mad as… Well Their Not Going To Take it Any More
We believe that adapting to Multiple Platforms is necessary for survival in the world of information technology, but not all share this belief and some are growing down right hostile towards the increasing attacks on their PC. One of those who have had enough of PC problems is Mark Morford of the SF Gate. Read all about his take on this issue in his recent column “Why Does Windows Still Suck? Why do PC users put up with so many viruses and worms? Why isn’t everyone on a Mac?”
Web Security is Your Responsibility
Taking the idea of an ownership society to a new level, EBay, Microsoft and others have proclaimed it is your responsibility to maintain Internet security. The story was carried by PC World on Monday, and while it carries a plausible message the overall message forwarded by these corporations flush with your cash is repulsive. The following quote was included in PC World’s article, "The customer has a responsibility to help protect information as well as the technology companies," said Scott Shipman, privacy counsel for EBay, of San Jose, California. The story also includes similar quotes from others playing the same theme song; it is the user’s responsibility to become a security expert. I agree that user education is important, and that is one of the major motivations behind this web site; but to expect everyone using a PC to become security pro is simply unrealistic. I learn and stay abreast of these issues because I have an interest in keeping my computers functioning and secure; likewise, I share that information with you in an effort to help you make computing, surfing and life easier. The major problem in the computing world today is operating systems and software that is susceptible to attacks and security issues from email phishing attacks. The easiest response from a consumer’s standpoint would be to abandon computers that are plagued with security issues (refer to the item above) and to stop using email. Meanwhile, I have some advice for the lame companies that issued this claim: Those who live in glass houses should refrain from throwing stones.
Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Using Printers
I have tried on a number of occasions to configure my printers connected to my Mac to work with my PC. The setup seemed easy, but I was not able to figure out the secret until prompted recently by a friend’s question about this issue. The solution is to use any driver but the driver for the printer you are connecting. On the PC, follow this path Start/ Control Panel/ Printers and Faxes/ Add Printer/ and then follow the Wizard directions (you can browse for the printer if it is powered up). When you are ready to install the driver, choose any driver but the one for your printer. I know this sounds counter-intuitive, but it works; a tip similar to this was carried by Mac OSX Hints last year.
What is Phishing?
According to Answers.com, Phishing is, “Pronounced "fishing," it is a scam to steal valuable information such as credit cards, social security numbers, user IDs and passwords. Also known as "brand spoofing," an official-looking e-mail is sent to potential victims pretending to be from their ISP, retail store, etc., and that due to internal accounting errors or some other pretext, certain information must be updated to continue the service.
A link in the e-mail message directs the user to a Web page that asks for financial information. The page looks genuine, because it is easy to fake a valid Web site. Any HTML page on the Web can be copied and modified to suit the phishing scheme. Such e-mails can be sent to people on selected lists or to any list, expecting that some percentage of the recipients will actually have an account with the real organization. The term comes from "fishing," where bait is used to catch a fish. In phishing, e-mail is the bait.
A "phishing kit" is a set of software tools that help the novice phisher imitate a target Web site and make mass mailings. It may even include lists of e-mail addresses. How thoughtful of people to create these kits. So helpful.”
2.7.05
Secunia Reports Flaw in Most Browsers
Secunia issued a ‘moderately critical’ security warning for the following browsers: Firefox (0.x and 1.x), Mozilla 1.7.x/, Konqueror 3.x/, OmniWeb 5.x/, Opera 7.x/, and Safari 1.x/. Secunia recommends: “Don’t follow links from untrusted sources; Manually type the URL in the address bar.” See the tip of the day below for methods you can use to check the validity of a web sites URL.
Pepsi Peek Can Yield Perk
The joint promotional effort by Pepsi and Apple that rewards lucky Pepsi drinkers with a free download from the Apple iTunes Music store has the same issue as last year, you can see if the soft-drink is a winner before opening the bottle. According to MacMerc, the same folks that revealed the flaw last year, with a tilt and sharp-eye eager wannabe winners can spot the prize. To learn the dirty details, visit the original post by MacMerc.
Missing Mail Messages Miff .Mac Members
MacFixIt reports that .Mac email messages are arriving sans the body of the message. Apparently, the problems started to surface last Wednesday, and there is some speculation that the glitch is related to filtering applied by Apple. Apple has yet to issue a response to this annoyance.
Super Ads or Super Duds?
CNET has a wrap-up of the Super Bowl ads, a part of the festivities that have taken-on a life of its’ own. My favorite was the ad featuring MC Hammer that poked fun of the rise and fall of his financial fortune. Locally, the Go Daddy Software commercial was not well received, unless you count confusion as a good reception. The best part about this years broadcast may have been the game itself, followed closely by Paul McCartney’s half-time performance; he still sounds great after all these years and no lip-syncing from Sir Paul!
Fix The Window Day
Tuesday will be the day Microsoft starts to fix Windows in a big way with a patch that could contain up to 13 fixes for flaws that exist in various MS products. According to a report published by PC World, the patch will be one of the largest issued by the company in recent months. The patches will also address issues in Office, Visual Studio, Windows, Windows Media Player, and MSN Messenger. Microsoft will have a webcast regarding the patches on Wednesday, and I will report more on this issue after viewing the question and answer session.
FreeBSD How-To
The Linux Gazette has a how-to article on installing FreeBSD and according to the author, the task is a ‘piece of cake’ when you get the hang of it (yes, there is a typo in the story so I only used a portion of the sentence).
Open Source Update
Secunia released the following open source updates: Debian (1, 2, 3), Fedora, Gentoo, Linux Kernel, and SuSE.
Multiple Platforms Tip of the Day: Confirm URL
If you are using Firefox or Mozilla, you can download and install plug-ins that allows you to verify the URL of the web site you are visiting. To find the appropriate plug-in for your browser you can visit the Mozilla web site. Users of Safari and OmniWeb can add a bookmark to the toolbar to check a web site’s URL. Save any web site to the Bookmark Bar; then choose Bookmarks from the toolbar and select Show All Book Marks. Next click on the site you just added and choose Edit Address; paste in the following without the quotation marks “javascript:x=escape(getSelection());
if(!x)%7Bvoid(x=prompt('What%20should%20I%20look%20up?',''))%7D;
window.location='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search='+x+'&go=Go'”. Now, rename the bookmark ‘Check URL’ and then you can return to your browser. Now when you visit a web site you can click on the Check URL bookmark and a window verifying the address will float onto your screen. This doesn’t work for Opera (at least on my free version) nor will it work with Internet Explorer.
What is ASC II?
According to Wikipedia, “ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange), generally pronounced ass-key, is a character set and a character encoding based on the Roman alphabet as used in modern English and other Western European languages. It is most commonly used by computers and other communication equipment to represent text and by control devices that work with text.”
2.4.05
Update Available for Eudora
PC World is reporting that Qualcomm released an update for their email client Eudora. The latest release, version 6.2.1 will fix serious flaws that exist in this program. For more on the technical aspects of this issue you can visit the Secunia web site.
Mac Mini Site
Accelerate Your Mac.com is a great site for Mac-heads and they also are hosting a Mac Mini page with feedback and performance reviews on the latest offering from Apple. Check out the main page of Accelerate Your Mac.com, or visit the Mac mini page by clicking here.
Security News Explosion
The tech news has been somewhat slow this week but that changed overnight and CNET released so many stories, I cannot cover them all. Here in blog-like fashion are the most important stories released since yesterday’s post:
Windows glitches to get fixes
Microsoft plans to fix bumper crop of flaws--including critical Windows problem--in scheduled monthly update. [CNET News.com - Security]
Worm uses funny face to distract from danger
Will a picture of an old man making a silly face keep you from noticing a Trojan being installed on your PC? Someone is hoping it will. [CNET News.com - Security]
Worm packs double whammy
roundup MSN Messenger users could get bitten twice by Bropia. Also: Hard time too harsh for worm author? [CNET News.com - Security]
Saddam Hussein 'death' photos used as worm bait
Mass-mailing worm claims to offer photos that show Saddam Hussein killed after trying to escape from custody. [CNET News.com - Security]
MSN Messenger hit by double-whammy worm
New Bropia offshoot, which uses MSN Messenger to spread, is packaged with a second, more damaging worm. [CNET News.com - Security]
Gates' new mantra: Interoperability
In a statement posted to the Web, Gates touts Microsoft's own tools, extols the virtues of XML and knocks open-source.
Video: Gates makes play for Portable Media Center
[CNET News.com]
Open Source Updates
Secunia released these updates for open source users: Debian and Sun Solaris.
Apple and PC Tip of the Day: Listen to Leo
Multiple Platforms users can listen and learn from the master of all things digital by tuning into Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI. Listen to Leo on AM640 in the Los Angeles area or catch the show online from 11am to 2pm PST both Saturday and Sunday. To learn more about The Tech Guy, read the item below.
What (Who) is the Tech Guy?
I routinely refer to Leo Laporte, The Tech Guy on KFI and it occurred to me that you may not know who Leo is; this is an excerpt from Leo’s bio found at his web site Leoville: “Currently Leo hosts a radio technology talk show on KFI AM 640, Los Angeles every Saturday and Sunday from noon to 3p, and Call for Help, a daily hour-long television show produced in Toronto and aired throughout Canada. He also appears regularly on many television and radio programs including Live with Regis and Kelly.
He also continues to write. This year que introduced The Leoville Press. The first four volumes in the press are in bookstores now: "Leo Laporte's 2005 Technology Almanac," "Leo Laporte's 2005 Gadget Guide," "Leo Laporte's 2005 Mac Gadget Guide," and "Leo Laporte's Guide to Tivo." Leo Laporte's Holiday Gift Guide, a magazine published by Curtis, is on newsstands now.”
To listen to Leo, visit Leoville and click on ‘Radio’, or visit Leo’s KFI web site, then click on the KFI logo.
2.3.05
Spam Expected To Increase
Security experts are predicting a new wave of spam will be arriving in your inbox soon courtesy of a new cracker technique. According to CNET, the crackers have created a Trojan that turns a PC into a “zombie” which then sends spam through the computers’ ISP and this helps them avoid spam filters. Some experts fear this latest threat could cripple the “e-mail infrastructure” if the Trojan isn’t tamed quickly.
SBC Global Email Change
MacFixIt has a report that effects Multiple Platforms users that have SBC Global email accounts. According to the story, SBC Global is blocking port 25, the outgoing mail port, for people using the company’s dynamic IP service. To learn more about this issue visit MacFixIt for the link to directions on how to turn off port blocking.
Apple Releases iPhoto Update
Apple has released an update for iPhoto 5 (5.0.1) and some Macs are not recognizing the availability of the update; to learn how to force Software Update to download the fix you can surf to MacOSX Hints. Make sure you follow the directions, and replace the receipt file when you are finished.
Open Source Updates
Secunia has issued the following bulletins for the open source world: Gentoo (1, 2, 3), Fedora, Mandrake, and Debian.
Apple and PC Tip of the Day: Opening a RTF File
Apple-heads can open a .rtf file on the desktop using Text Edit, just right or control-click on the file and the choose Text Edit using the Open With option.
PC people can use applications like WordPad and Notepad by right clicking on the file and selecting the appropriate tool with the Open With choice.
What is an RTF?
According to Wikipedia, an RTF is, “RTF (usually referred to as such) stands for Rich Text Format, a document file format developed by Microsoft at least as early as 1987 for cross-platform document interchange that most text processing programs are able to read and write. RTF uses the ANSI, PC-8, Macintosh, or IBM® PC character set to control the representation and formatting of a document, both on the screen and in print. With the RTF Specification, documents created under different operating systems and with different software applications can be transferred between those operating systems and applications. The simple example of an RTF file:
{\rtf
Hello!\par
This is some {\b bold} text.\par}
will show as:
Hello!
This is some bold text.
A backslash \ starts a control code. The \par control code indicates a new paragraph, and \b switches to a bold typeface. Braces {} define a group; the example uses a group to limit the scope of the \b control code. Everything else will be treated as clear text, i.e., the text to be formatted. A valid RTF document is a group starting with the \rtf control code.
This syntax is similar to that of TeX. By using the control codes in file, a document with specific font, fontsize, or color of the texts, or tables with different border styles can be easily created, explaining its popularity among programmers.
The RTF format is the default rich text format for Mac OS X's default editor TextEdit and Microsoft Windows' default editor WordPad.”
2.2.05
Review of Windows X64
PC World has a review of the 64-bit operating system that is the future for PC’s. Perhaps the best news from this story is that the OS is compatible with 32-bit applications, thus easing the transition to the new technology. The 64-bit operating systems will improve security for the PC owner and speed up processing, so this positive review is welcome news.
Printer Malfunction After Apple Update
If your printer is not working after you installed Security Update 2005-001, the recent update from Apple, you are not alone according to MacFixIt; some Mac-heads have solved this issue by deleting and then re-installing the printer using the Printer Setup Utility that you can access through the Utilities tools found in your Applications folder.
Secunia Reports RealPlayer Flaw
Secunia is reporting on a ‘less critical’ flaw found in RealPlayer 10.x and they are recommending that you: “Don't open untrusted ".rm" files and restrict ".rm" files from being opened automatically from within browsers.”
Find Hidden Treasure
I have been receiving letters from a company that claims I had a sum of money owed to me by my state’s government and all I needed to do to collect the money was contact them and agree to a 10% finders fee. I kept intending to investigate the claim myself, as there was reason to believe the claim based on a retirement fund change made more than ten years ago. After a quick web search, I found two sites that help you locate missing funds and property at no charge and they are state sponsored or co-operative efforts of several states. I found them through an article from the L.A. Times. The web site for the states’ co-operative effort is here and Californians can visit the State Controllers Office web site. The claims that I am owed money by the state are true, and I am in the process of re-claiming my money and I get to keep the 10% the company was seeking. Isn’t it amazing what a Google search and ten-minutes of time can save you!
More Reasons to Live In A Multiple Platforms World
While pursing my refund from the state in the story above, I could not complete and download the form necessary using my Mac. I was using the browser by Omni and thinking that might be the problem, I switched to the Safari browser; but still could not complete the operation. That does not stop a Multiple Platforms person though; I turned to my PC and completed the transaction without a hitch. This again emphasizes the beauty of Living in a Multiple Platforms World although it does not excuse my state from not accepting the fact that we are not all using PCs. To hear more about Living in a Multiple Platforms World, please check out my podcast by clicking on the podcast icon below.
Open Source Updates
Secunia released these updates for open source users: Mandrake (1, 2, 3), Gentoo (1, 2, 3), Redhat (1, 2, 3, 4), Debian (1, 2), and Fedora.
Apple and PC Tip of the Day: Open mp3
To open an mp3 file on your desktop with your Apple computer, just double-click on the file’s icon and by default, iTunes will launch and play the mp3. If you want to use another media player, control-click or right click on the icon to choose another player using the Open With option.
PC people can open an mp3 file on their desktop by right-clicking and selecting Play with Media Player (your default option) or choose open with and select another player like iTunes for Windows. Double-clicking on the file icon will also launch the default media player for Windows users.
What is an mp3?
Today’s word is a repeat from the previous week but is for the benefit of the new visitors and in support of the tip of the day. Wikipedia supplies this definition for mp3, “MP3 (or, more precisely, MPEG-1/2 Audio Layer 3) is an audio compressionalgorithm capable of greatly reducing the amount of data required to reproduce audio, while sounding like a faithful reproduction of the original uncompressed audio to most listeners.”
2.1.05
Security Firm Reports Mozilla and Firefox Flaw
Secunia has released a ‘moderately critical’ security bulletin regarding the Mozilla, Firefox, and Thunderbird applications. According to Secunia, the issues effect versions of Firefox before Firefox 1.0 and all Mozilla releases prior to 1.7.5. If you are using the latest versions of any of the above products, you are not at risk.
iPod Problems Post-Security Update
MacFixIt is reporting a new issue regarding a conflict between iPod and iTunes after installation of the latest Apple update, Security Upgrade2005-001. In some cases, iTunes crashes after connecting an iPod and in other instances the computer does not recognize the iPod. In both occurrences, you should use the Repair Disk Permissions function found in Disk Utilities. In fact, you should always repair permissions before and after installing the update.
Must Have Open Source Applications
Newsforge has an article on must have application for those small businesses operating in the open source world. The backbone of the operation is OpenOffice.org and for a recovery tool Knoppix is the best choice according to this article.
Open Source Updates
Secunia released update bulletins for these open source systems: Gentoo, Fedora, and Mandrake.
Apple, Open Source, and PC Tip of the Day: Podcast Software
Apple users that want to start automatically receiving podcasts have many choices including iPodderX, NetNewsWire, and PlayPod. I have tried all of the aforementioned products for Mac-heads; they are all good products and you can find links to these and more applications at Wikipedia. On the PC side, Doppler and Podfeeder are among the choices. Multiple Platforms and open source people can try iPodder, or Jäger. After you download and install any of the above programs, you will subscribe to a list of podcasts that you are interested in, and whenever a new podcast file release is detected, your computer will automatically download and save it to be enjoyed at your convenience.
What is a Podcast?
Wikipedia has this explanation for a podcast, “Podcasting involves the recording of internet radio or similar internet audio programs. These recordings are then made available for download to portable digital audio device. One can then listen to the podcast Internet radio program while you are away from your computer or at a different time than the original program was broadcast.
The term podcasting plays upon the terms broadcasting and webcasting and is derived from the name of the iPod portable music player, the playback device of choice of many early podcast listeners (though podcasting is not directly associated with Apple's iPod device or iTunes jukebox software.) Podcasting is similar to the use of digital video recorders (DVRs) such as TiVo, which let you record and store TV programs for later viewing.”
