Cult of the Internet

Second security advisory issued for IE 7

2006-10-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

Description:A weakness has been discovered in Internet Explorer, which can be exploited by malicious people to conduct phishing attacks.The problem is that it's possible to display a popup with a somewhat spoofed address bar where a number of special characters have been appended to the URL. This makes it possible to only display a part of the address bar, which may trick users into performing certain unintended actions.

Internet Explorer 7 Popup Address Bar Spoofing Weakness - Advisories - Secunia

If you use Photoshop, check out Paint.NET

2006-10-23T08:14:00.000-07:00

If you use Photoshop regularly, check out the just released version 3.0 of Paint.NET (download it here). It is 3.6 MB download that handles most of the basic (and many of the advanced) functions of Photoshop. It’s free, and even better it loads in just a couple of seconds on a newish Windows PC. I tested it, and it does everything that I need - if it was usable on a Mac I’d switch from Photoshop based on the speed of the application alone. Earlier versions of Paint.NET were apparently very sluggish - but I can confirm that version 3.0 is very quick to load and very responsive in basic testing. Robert Scoble gives it a thumbs up, too, although he’s clearly been drinking all night. In fact, after reading his post I’m going to open a bottle of scotch, too.

Techcrunch » Blog Archive » If You Use PhotoShop, Check Out Paint.net

Learn ho to deliver the Truth

2006-09-03T18:55:00.000-07:00

You’ve seen An Inconvenient Truth. You’ve made changes in your life to reduce your carbon footprint. Looking for something else to do to help solve the climate crisis? How about learning how to give the presentation that is at the
heart of An Inconvenient Truth?
Starting this Fall, Al Gore and a team of renowned climate change scientists and educators will train more than 1,000 individuals to give a version of his presentation on the effects of - and solutions for - global warming, to community groups throughout the U.S.
Seven training sessions will be held in Nashville Tennessee from late September 2006 to January 2007. Each training session will be 2 days long, is free of charge (trainees are responsible for their transportation, accommodation and meals), and open to individuals of all ages, educational and technical backgrounds.
The two-day program is designed to familiarize trainees with the climate change science, equip them with new presentation skills, and develop a new dynamic online learning community for ongoing activities.

Pron news

2006-08-22T06:47:00.000-07:00

This is just too funny to pass up!

Sweden's state broadcaster SVT on Monday faced ridicule for mistakenly showing a porn movie in the background of a news broadcast over the weekend.
Viewers of a 5-minute news update at midnight Saturday could see explicit scenes from a Czech porn movie on a TV screen behind news anchor Peter Dahlgren.The monitor -- one of many on the wall of a control room visible behind the studio -- normally shows other news channels during broadcasts.
But staffers who earlier in the evening had watched a sports event on cable channel Canal Plus -- which often shows X-rated films after midnight -- had forgotten to switch it back, said news director Per Yng.
"This is highly embarrassing and unfortunate," Yng said. "It must not happen again."

CNN.com - Porn broadcast stuns news viewers - Aug 21, 2006

Untitled

2006-08-17T12:21:00.000-07:00

An article in the Austin American Statesman demonstrates the dangers of posting nude pictures online, but one has to wonder why the teacher who looked at the pictures on a school district computer hasn't also been persecuted.

Reading the article closely, I have to wonder if it has something to do with Tamara Hoover's girlfriend. And, what kind of message does it sent to society when posing for naked pictures gets a person fired?

Austin High art teacher who posed nude resigns

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/08/18hoover.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=52

Judge orders halt to NSA wiretapping

2006-08-17T11:46:00.000-07:00

The Bush administration suffered a stunning defeat Thursday as a federal judge in Detroit ruled that the National Security Agency's warrantless wiretapping program was unconstitutional, and ordered an immediate halt of all surveillance.
The ruling also seemed to indicate the program was an abuse of presidential power, possibly setting the stage for an Congressional investigation into President Bush's conduct surrounding the order to engage in domestic spying.
The case was brought by the American Civil Liberties Union, who filed a suit on behalf of journalists, scholars and others who frequently place calls to overseas contacts. The group says the program makes their jobs harder, and contacts are leery of divulging information for fear of surveillance from the federal government.
"This court is constrained to grant to Plaintiffs the Partial Summary Judgment requested, and holds that the TSP violates the APA; the Separation of Powers doctrine; the First and Fourth Amendments of the United States Constitution; and the statutory law," U.S. District Judge Anna Diggs Taylor said in the 43-page ruling.
Taylor also had harsh words for President Bush and members of his administration who argued that the president was within his powers as Commander in Chief to carry out the wiretapping program. She pointed out that the office itself was created by the Constitution, thus meaning all powers are derived from that document.
"There are no hereditary Kings in America and no powers not created by the Constitution," Taylor wrote. "So all 'inherent powers' must derive from that Constitution."
Neither the NSA nor the Bush administration had publicly commented on the ruling as of press time.
The ACLU did not win a complete victory, however; its claims of data mining by the NSA were rejected by Taylor, who said not enough evidence existed to prove such a charge. Additionally, an investigation into the accusations ran the risk of revealing state secrets, she ruled.

BetaNews | Judge Orders Halt to NSA Wiretapping

Girl take pic of herself every day for three years

2006-08-16T18:27:00.000-07:00

This is pretty cool. This girl takes a picture of herself every day for three years and then puts the pictures together to make a short film.

Me: Girl takes pic of herself every day for three years

Google launches free WiFi in Calif hometown

2006-08-16T09:25:00.000-07:00

After a beta period chock-full of Skype use among the nerd-elite, Google has finally opened up their free WiFi network to the 72,000 residents of Mountain View, CA. Speculation still abounds in regards to Google's eventual plans for world domination via municipal WiFi, but for now they claim their main reasons are to inspire other network providers, and so they can work on interoperability with WiFi devices. Google is a bit ahead of schedule with the network, which cost them $1 million to build, and covers 12 square miles with 380 light pole-mounted transceivers. Bandwidth tops out at 1 megabit per second, and Google is prepped to add more capacity if Mountain View types end up being heavy YouTube Google Video users. Google says their early launch was spurred by the positive feedback they received during the beta, and that they've been inundated with requests to join. There's no telling yet how Google's Mountain View network will compare to the relatively massive Google/Earthlink plans in San Francisco, especially since they're probably hoping making a bit of cash back on the latter, but for now Google is at least requiring a Google ID to join the party in their hometown of Mountain View.

Google busts out free WiFi for public in Mountain View - Engadget

Techie chic and sexy

2006-08-15T17:37:00.000-07:00

So techie chic! Perfect for those of us who love to lounge around in sexy undies all day AND have our music! Black lace panty with pink ribbon and removable pocket to hold iPod nano, money or other small personal items. Comes giftboxed and ready to give -- or receive ;-)

iGroove Panty for iPod nano

War, weather and demand to blame for high gas prices

2006-08-15T07:01:00.000-07:00

The last time the market was normal was in January 2003, according to Severin Borenstein, director of the University of California Energy Institute.

That was before the U.S. invasion of Iraq. The economy was still lukewarm and the price of a barrel of oil was in the $20s and forecast to stay that way for another 20 years.

The Iraq invasion led to a huge cutback in production there, eventually taking a million barrels a day off the market. At the same time, the U.S. and world economies improved and demand for oil increased.

Associated Press Business News: Economics 101: Demand Is the Demon - MSN Money

A new password can help keep you safe online

2006-08-15T05:09:00.000-07:00

Most businesses today rely on computers. In fact, most of us have even started to depend on some form of computer-like electronics in our daily lives.
Go to almost any grocery store and you’ll find a hopelessly lost husband — usually me — on a cell phone asking his wife which flavor of washing machine detergent he was sent to get. Our computers all have little electronic brains more complicated than the ones that send the Apollo space crafts to the moon, and thanks to ATMs, debt cards and direct deposit, I actually walk into the bank maybe once a month.
One could easily argue that all of this dependency on electronics and computers is a bad thing, but there is no denying that these machines have made our lives easier — at least until the power fails.
All of this got me to thinking about the security of using public wireless networks or computers. People do it all the time and think nothing of checking their e-mail accounts or logging into their bank account to check their balance.
A couple of years ago, I saw a commercial where a man was sitting at an Internet cafe, logged onto his bank account and using his debt card so he could show his buddy how his bank instantly tracks charges. I wonder if later he showed his buddy how the hacker sitting two tables over later emptied his bank account by using the password information from that public computer.
Using a public WiFi site or a public computer doesn’t mean that someone is going to steal all of your personal information, but you should always be cautious when you do and be aware of the dangers. Criminals can purchase keystroke logging devices for very little money, and they take only a few moments to install. These devices let them gather all the information typed on a computer from across the Internet.
Another piece of software that can be downloaded for free allows hackers to record information transmitted across a wireless network. If that information isn’t being encrypted, the criminal could have everything they need to get all of your personal data.There are several steps anyone can take to help protect their personal information, and the first is a good password.
A strong password should be something hard to guess even by your closest friends. It should be long — some recommend 14 characters or long — and it should have a combination of letters, numbers and symbols.Some common password mistakes to avoid are using a login name or the same password for every account. Also, don’t use birthdates or anniversaries that can easily be found out.Other things to avoid include using sequences of numbers or letters or names that go together such as using “river” as a password for the login “Guadalupe,” and never respond to e-mail requests for passwords. These usually are a scam.Some things to do that can help keep your data safe include changing your password often. How often really depends on what type of information it is protecting. Bank passwords need to be changed every 30 to 60 days, but administrative passwords on home computers can be changed less often depending on the number of users.
You also can create a pass phrase, a sentence that you’ll use for a password. Some systems let you used a full sentence. With others, you’ll have to keep it short and leave out the spaces.Use a different password for every login and make it something you can remember. You may want to write down passwords and keep them in a safe place.
And, if you ever have to give out your password, say to a friend or relative, make sure you change it as soon as they no longer need it. You wouldn’t want to be suspicious of that person if something comes up missing later.
There are some programs you can use on your home computer that will store all of your passwords and allow you to access them with one, master password. Another option is to use a USB jump drive.
If you want to check the strength of your passwords, Microsoft offers a safe password checker that will tell you if yours are too weak and easily cracked. You can try it out at www.microsoft.com/athome/security/privacy/password_checker.mspx.

Kerrville Daily Times

Rock you body with the ultimate iPod accessory

2006-08-14T19:23:00.000-07:00

The OhMiBod vibrator is a whole new way to enjoy your iPod® or any other music player. Everyone loves music. Everyone loves sex. OhMiBod combines music and pleasure to create the ultimate acsexsory™ to your iPod.

Simply plug OhMiBod into your iPod® or any music player and it automatically vibrates to the rhythm and intensity of the music. Let your body feel the vibrations as you get down with your favorite tunes. The combination of listening and feeling your music quickly transports you to a place where music, mind and body come together to create an unbeatable sexual experience.

OMB users can instantly (and anonymously) become part of a fun, hip community called CLUB VIBE (ohmibod.com/clubvibe), where other OMB aficionados write about their experience, trade tips, share their favorite playlists, and more. Log into iTunes and search "OhMiBod" under the iMix section and see what music is turning other people on and purchase those songs quickly and easily! Regardless of the musical genre you are sure to find new amazing music here. If you don't see something that tickles your fancy, upload your own iMix and share with others what works for you!

OhMiBod Music Powered Vibrator - OMB 411

Windows free online scanner now available worlwide

2006-08-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

The Windows Live OneCare safety scanner is now available around the world, Microsoft said in a statement Monday. The online scanner removes viruses and spyware, rids a hard drive of clutter, and runs defragmentation.
The service is similar to Trend Micro's House Call and McAfee's FreeScan, though those only remove malicious software.
The international launch is a precursor to a broader release of Windows Live OneCare. Beta versions of the consumer security software are scheduled to be available by year's end in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, and the U.K., Microsoft said.

Microsoft security tools go global | CNET News.com

Windows worm spreads over weekend

2006-08-14T13:47:00.000-07:00

Various security firms began warning of a new exploit that takes advantage of a vulnerability in Server Service function of Windows. The exploit involves the same advisory that Homeland Security warned computer users about late last week, and appears to be spreading as a worm like initially feared.
The virus is known by a host of names depending on security vendor: Backdoor.Win32.IRCBot.st through Kaspersky, Backdoor:Win32/Graweg through Microsoft, W32.Wargbot through Symantec, W32/Cuebot through Sophos, and WORM_IRCBOT through TrendMicro.
An infected PC would become part of a "botnet," or a group of computers infected with malware that allows them to be controlled remotely. In this case, commands are sent to compromised systems via IRC servers located in China. These botnets can be used to launch denial of service attacks, researchers say.Security firm Sophos says the exploit is being spread through AOL Instant Messenger, while others warned that new variants of the issue could appear at any time.
There is some disagreement as to which systems are potentially vulnerable, however all companies agree that the worm is a rather low-risk issue and affects machines running Windows 2000. However, some believe that the issue could be exploited in computers running Windows XP SP1 as well.In any case, for almost a day most antivirus software makers offered no protection to the problem, says Marc Maiffret of eEye Digital Security. "This illustrates yet again the reactive nature of anti-virus and the need for proactive protection that prevents the root of the problem, the vulnerability, rather than the after affect of the problem, the malware," he said.By Sunday afternoon, most major anti-malware companies including McAfee, Microsoft, Symantec, and Sophos had updated their virus definition files to include protection from the issue.
Microsoft Security Response Center researcher Stephen Toulouse provided more details on the worm's specifics Saturday night. "So far, this appears to be an extremely targeted attack, very much unlike what we have seen in the past with recent internet-wide worms," he said. "In fact, our initial investigation reveals this isn't a worm in the 'autospreading' classic sense, and it appears to target Windows 2000."All security firms recommend that consumers make sure antivirus software is installed and updated, and a firewall is active -- especially for those using Microsoft's six year-old server operating system.
Sophos senior technology consultant Graham Cluely said the latest exploit spoke to Microsoft's continuing struggle to keep its millions of users safe from viruses and worms. "This is a real headache for Microsoft as they try and reassure people that their operating system is becoming more secure," he said.

BetaNews | Windows Worm Spreads Over Weekend

art de toilette

2006-08-08T11:43:00.000-07:00

art de toilette - by wendy gold

Microsoft heads for another big patch

2006-08-04T18:38:00.000-07:00

August will be another substantial patch month for Microsoft, with the vendor releasing 12 security bulletins next Tuesday to fix holes in both its Windows OS and the Office productivity suite.
Ten of the August 8 patches will affect Windows, with at least one rated as a "critical" update. The other two security updates, at least one of which also is rated "critical," affect Office. Critical flaws are those than can be exploited by attackers to run unauthorized code on a PC without any user action.
The patches, some of which will require a restart, will be released as part of Microsoft's regularly scheduled monthly security update, which security researchers call "Patch Tuesday." Microsoft's advance note on the updates discusses the issues.

PC World - Microsoft Heads for Another Big Patch Tuesday

Advanced WindowsCare

2006-08-02T18:42:00.000-07:00

Advanced WindowsCare v2 Personal introduces a new way to maintain your computer: all work is done with one-click per day. With the advanced intuitive design and state-of-art computer technology, the user experience is made truly different.
* No more using various software and tools to take care of your computers. Advanced WindowsCare v2 Personal does all work for you.
* No need to be an IT expert or geek. Just one click.
* No more worrying about false operation or bad settings. Restore Center is always active to automatically backup all of your changes. Restore your system at any time if need be.
* No more long-time work. With X-FAST TM technology, Advanced WindowsCare v2 Personal finishes all work within 1 or 2 minutes.
* No more deleting system files and damaging registry entries. Using X-SAFE TM technology, Advanced WindowsCare v2 Personal identifies files and cleans your Windows in a smart and safe way.
* No more slowing down, freezing and crash. Advanced WindowsCare v2 Personal accurately detects and repairs the bottlenecks, dramatically speeds up your system.
* No need to discarding other well-working system utilities. Advanced WindowsCare v2 Personal only focus on what it is good at, leaving other professional tools do their jobs.
* No need to cost you dollars. Advanced WindowsCare v2 Personal is free of charge.

Advanced WindowsCare Personal - Features

Firefox Tops 200 Million Downloads

2006-08-02T06:26:00.000-07:00

Firefox Tops 200 Million Downloads

The Mozilla Corporation on Monday celebrated the 200 millionth download of its open source Firefox Web browser, with the community planning parties to commemorate the event. The milestone was hit one year and nine months after the debut of Firefox 1.0.

Linux enlists in hunt for subs

2006-08-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

The Linux operating system has been making gains in corporate environs for some time now, and it's also catching on with the military-industrial complex. Boeing has tapped Wind River's embedded version of the open-source software for deployment in the new P-8A Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft, a 737 modified for use by the U.S. Navy to track submarines, among other surveillance tasks.

Image: Linux enlists in hunt for subs | CNET News.com

Nerds vs Geeks

2006-08-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

A nerd is one of those guys who is really studious, but still has a decent fashion sense and is clean.........a geek, not so clean, usually greasy hair, of course stays up all night playing Dungeons and Dragons or something similar and has no fashion sense. Usually seen at some kind of Con or Trek Convention (always in costume, and sometimes speaking Klingon).
Many times involved in the Society for Creative Annacronism (dressed as a Knight or a wizard, and beating up other geeks with a plastic stick)
I probably left some stuff out....but that is the basics.

Firefox Security and Stability Update

2006-07-31T11:36:00.000-07:00

As part of Mozilla Corporation's ongoing stability and security update process, Firefox 1.5.0.5 is now available for Windows, Mac, and Linux for free download from http://www.getfirefox.com. We strongly recommend that all users upgrade to this latest release. This update is available immediately in 39 languages including German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Korean, and more.
If you already have Firefox 1.5, you will receive an automated update notification within 24 to 48 hours. This update can also be applied manually by selecting “Check for Updates…” from the Help menu at any time. Mozilla Corporation is also strongly recommending that Firefox 1.0 users upgrade to this latest release of Firefox 1.5 in order to take advantage of significant security and stability improvements. Firefox 1.5 includes an automated update mechanism that ensures users are always up to date with the very latest updates. For more information, please see: Firefox 1.5.0.5 Release Notes at http://www.mozilla.com/firefox/releases/1.5.0.5.html

Firefox 1.5.0.5 Security and Stability Update

Flock Internet Browser does what you want, not just what you need.

2006-07-31T07:57:00.000-07:00

It was the name of this software that first caught my attention, but after trying it out for a couple of weeks, the name is probably the least interesting thing about Flock. Actually, this browser is one of the best new applications I’ve tried in a while.
Flock is an open-source Web browser released last year based on Mozilla Firefox. It has all of the features I’ve come to expect in a browser, including tabbed browsing, a download manager, add-ons and extensions and RSS reader, and it’s cross-platform.If those were all of the features of this browser, it would still be worth a look, but Flock offers so much more.
To start with, Flock is designed to work seamlessly with the Web-based photo albums Flickr and Photobucket. It notifies you when your friends have posted new pictures and lets you view them directly in the photobar.You also can upload your own photos by dragging them to the photo icon in the tool bar.
Another handy feature on the tool bar is the My News icon. When you click on this button, Flock opens a window that shows the latest headlines from whatever news sites you have selected.The really cool thing about the My News feature is that you can subscribe to any Web site that has an RSS feed such as cnn.com, dailytimes.com or foxnews.com. Also, the feeds can be listed by category on the My News front page, making it easier to find what you’re interested in.
Flock also is perfect for any one who keeps a blog. Using this Web browser, when you see something you want to add to your blog, all you have to do is highlight the text and right-click with the mouse.Flock does the rest by posting the text along with a link to the blog you have selected. Flock works with a number of popular blogging sites, including Blogger, WordPress and LiveJournal.While these features are all worthy of attention, my favorite feature of Flock is one that at first seemed just like any other browser. Like most browsers, Flock has a built-in search box and like most browsers you can pick from a variety of browser engines, but Flock does much more. As you start typing into the Flock search box it shows you results from your favorites, your browsing history and the to five Web results from Yahoo in a drop-down menu.
If you see a match, you don’t even have to go to the search engine, you can just click on it in the menu. If you don’t see what you’re looking for there, the menu also gives you the option of picking another search engine there.
This is the third Internet browser we’ve looked at for Bits & Bytes, but unlike the previous two we looked at — Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 7 and Mozilla’s Firefox — the first and second most popular browsers according to usage worldwide, Flock doesn’t even make the top five.Of course, it is still relatively new, and I wouldn’t count it out of the race.The third most used browser, by the way, is Apple’s Safari. In the latest survey, Safari accounts for 2 percent of the browser usage worldwide and 3.7 percent of the usage in the United States.Those numbers pale compared with Internet Explorer and Firefox, 85 percent and 12 percent respectively, but Safari’s share is growing. By the way, we didn’t skip a review of Safari because of its low usage. We skipped it because every new Mac comes with Safari and Mac users are familar with this browser, and if you’ve got a PC you can’t get Safari.
We hope you’ll take at look at Flock, along with Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox, and let us know what you think. Also, if you’ve got a browser you think people should know about, send us a link to it at bitsandbytes@dailytimes.com.

Kerrville Daily Times

Cyborg Name Decoder

2006-04-17T20:20:00.000-07:00

The Human Clock

2006-04-12T19:42:00.000-07:00

Hours of fun for the whole family.

What Should I Read Next

2006-04-11T10:56:00.000-07:00

What have I read?
These are the 25 most popular overall books at What Should I Read Next?

I liked it!

I didn't like it!

I want to read it!

The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy - Douglas Adams

The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger

The Great Gatsby - F.Scott Fitzgerald

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

1984 - George Orwell

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince - J.K. Rowling

The Time Traveler's Wife - Audrey Niffenegger

His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman

Animal Farm: A Fairy Story - George Orwell

The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien

Life of Pi - Yann Martel

Catch-22 - Joseph Heller

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon

Lord of the Flies - William Golding

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen

One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Slaughterhouse 5 - Kurt Vonnegut

The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold

The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini

Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden

Ender's Game - Orson Scott Card

The Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien

Angels and Demons - Dan Brown

Fight Club - Chuck Palahniuk

Take the 'What have I read?' test now!
Eight different categories to try!
Buy your books at Amazon US or Amazon UK

It Rubs The Lotion On It's Skin

2006-04-11T07:24:00.000-07:00

For all you Silence of the Lambs fans.
Greenskeepers- It Rubs The Lotion On It's Skin on Transbuddha

Welcome to the Wonderful World of Worms, Viruses and Spyware

2006-04-05T18:47:00.000-07:00

That's right Apple users, now you, too can know the joy of virus scanning and spyware thanks to the new Boot Camp beta software announced Wednesday. In case you haven't heard, this will allow users of the newiMac 17-inch 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo to boot Windows XP. It also now makes your Apple vulnerable to all of the malicious spyware, adware, worms and viruses that previously were only a plague for Windows users.

Hackers every where are drinking a toasts to Boot Camp tonight. My guess is the people over at McAfee probably aren't too disappointed either.

Mario Attack!?

2006-04-04T19:27:00.000-07:00

Five teenager girls, ages 16 and 17, are facing possible criminal charges following an April's Fools prank that brought out the bomb squad in the small town of Ravenna, Ohio.

According to reports across the Internet, the girls made life-sized power-up boxes similar to those in the Nintendo Super Mario Brothers game. The cardboard boxes were covered in shiny, gold wrapping paper and had black question marks on the side.

Seventeen boxes were left hanging around the town of about 12,000 residents which lead authorities to call in the county's hazardous materials unit and the bomb squad.

So, wait, a town of 12,0000 people has a bomb squad?

The idea for the prank apparently came from Qwantz.com. The Web site owners say the purpose of the boxes is to "bring a smile to people's faces, to get them to connect with their neighbors, to bring color into an otherwise grey urban landscape."

I guess the police in Ravenna, Ohio didn't get much of a smile out of it. And I bet those girls didn't either, but is this really what our country has come to. Jailing teenage girls over a silly prank. My bet is the police chief just wanted to show off his fancy new bomb squad equipment.

A bomb squad being called out for a Mario box. Yeah, because I'm sure Ravenna, Ohio is high up on the al Quida target list.

Firefox Growing in Popularity

2006-04-04T16:47:00.000-07:00

The number of people using Firefox, Apple's Safari and other non-Microsoft based Web browsers is growing, according to data released this week from NetApplications.

NetApplications; a leader in Web-based applications that measure, monitor and market Web sites for the Small to Medium Enterprise; announced this week through its monthly Web site traffic analysis that Firefox use reached 10 percent of the total Internet browser use. While Microsoft continued to be the most used with 85 percent of the market, Safari also gained a tenth of a percentage point growing to nearly 3 percent of the total market.

The data was collected from over 40,000 Hitslink.com-monitored global Web sites and compiled from global traffic statistics from Web sites tracked by NetApplications' Hitslink.com.

Firefox

2006-04-02T17:38:00.000-07:00

If you're still using Windows Interet Explorer and hating it, after all who doesn't hate, then you need to check out Mozilla's Firefox internet browser. I've all but said so long to every other browser.

Firefox 1.5 has blocks viruses, spyware, and popup ads. It’s easy to install and import your favorites. Packed with useful features like tabbed browsing, Live Bookmarks, and an integrated Search bar, Firefox will change the way you experience the Web, for the better.

Like Pimps and Hos

2006-04-01T12:22:00.000-08:00

Vivid Video, a leading producer of adult-oriented films, as announced they will begin offering movies for download over the Internet for $25 each starting beginning April 3. The only catch is you will be able to burn them to a DVD only once.

I am not surprised that the adult industry is taking the first steps in bringing downloadable movies for purchase to the Web. The porn industry goes together with the Internet like pimps and hos.

The people who want porn delivered to their front door, and be honest, who doesn't, will make this a huge success. The convenience of it alone should attract the people who don't want to go to the local adult toy store.

The only question is can the professional porn industry compete with the huge number of online amateurs willing to show it for free? Any thoughts about that?

"If you took all of the porn off the Internet there would be only one Web site left, and it would be called Bring Back the Porn." - Dr. "The Man" Cox.

Happy Birthday Apple

2006-03-31T17:32:00.000-08:00

Wireless internet

2006-03-30T11:00:00.000-08:00

Isn't wireless internet service in public places great. I'm sitting here in my favorite lunch-time spot, surfing the web and typing away on my blog. A man is playing guitar — and singing badly — while a group of people sit around and chat over sandwiches and burgers.

Some communities have even started putting up free internet access in areas of town. Seattle is suppose to be putting it in citywide. That's almost a good enough reason to move.

Well, foods here, so got to go.

The Funny Thing About Blogging

2006-03-29T20:08:00.000-08:00

The funny thing about blogging is that you never really know if any one out there is listening. You may have a site meter which will tell you if people have been on your site, but not if they are actually reading what you have written.

And whose to say anyone actually cares what you have written. Unless you tell your friends and family members, but you probably don't because you would be embarrassed if they read your blog. Strangers okay, but not the people who know you.

I know my wife reads my blog. She loves me. She has to, but no one else has to read it, and I haven't told any other family members or friends about it. I don't want to.

So all of my words may just be lost in the great vastness of the World Wide Web somewhere out there.

Funny really, when you think about it.

Want an iMac But Stuck on a PC

2006-03-29T18:30:00.000-08:00

Are you tired of waiting for Windows Vista, delayed until next year, but want a smoother interface like Mac OS X v10.4 Tiger. The only problem is that you are using a PC.

FlyakiteOSX.com has the solution.

FlyakiteOSX is a transformation pack. It will transform the look of an ordinary Windows XP system to resemble the look of Mac OS X. The installer simply automates the process of replacing critical system files, setting registry tweaks, and installing extras such as cursors, sounds, visual styles, etc. FlyakiteOSX DOES NOT contain any spyware or ad-ware of any kind. All files needed for FlyakiteOSX are stored in the Windows directory in a folder named 'FlyakiteOSX' that is hidden by default.

And it looks really cool, too. One warning: If you do use FlyakiteOSX, it won't protect you from viruses or other problems usually associated with a PC.

Looking For a Better iChat

2006-03-28T19:58:00.000-08:00

Apple Bytes: Looking For a Better iChat

If You're a Star Trek Fan, This is For You

2006-03-26T16:07:00.000-08:00

Star Trek New Voyages picks up where the original Star Trek television series leaves off in the middle of a five-year mission. Using authentic-looking sets and costumes, the troupe has managed to recreate the look and feel of the 1960s show cancelled after only three seasons.

For any Star Trek fan, this site is a must-see. You can download their first two episodes, a vignette and trailer for their next show.

Star Trek New Voyages does not intoduce new charaters like some others. Instead, the episodes continue the story line of Kirk, Spock and McCoy and others from the original show with new actors. Walter Koenig, Pavel Chekov from the series and movies, is set to make a guest apperance, too.

You can download the available episodes from different mirror sites, and if you want you can download an iPod version which also plays in iTunes.

So, if you like Star Trek and wish they could have made more of the original series go check it out. You won't be disappointed.

My Addiction and Neogeography

2006-03-26T07:05:00.000-08:00

OK, I'll admit it. I have an addiction to the Internet - mmmm, if only there was some way of using that for good - so when I stumbled onto Platial.com around midnight last night, I was hooked. I spent the next hour poking around on this site and believe there is plenty to poke around on it.

So, the first obvious question is what the hell is a neogeography. Mmmm, Well, beats me. But the site lets anyone, even a nut like me, create maps marking their favorite places and telling the world all about them. I like anything that lets people like me share our insanity.

There are maps on there about restaurants, bicycle dealers, tattoos and even liquor stores. Odd thought that there's no listing for porn shops.

The site is relatively new. It was the brainchild of a couple who started drawing maps of local interest for friends and visitors. I guess they figured it would be easier to do it online, and to the let the whole world in on it.

On Platial.com, you can search for specific things or specific places. Or, you can just browse maps others have already made. So far, my favorite is the Bars We've Been Thrown Out Of by Mike and Dominic.

You can create your own maps for free, but you do have to register. The site is a little difficult to navigate, but those problems just mean you get to see more of the site.

I just wonder how long it will take for someone to post the "places we've had sex" or the "best strip club" maps? It is the Internet and let's face it, if it weren't for porn, there wouldn't be an Internet.

Q&A With ScreenCastsOnline

2006-03-25T17:17:00.000-08:00

Don McAllister of ScreenCastsOnline produces a weekly video podcast demonstrating various applications and uses of Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger". It is an excellent tutorial for both the beginner and the expierenced user.
He recently announced that he has decided to make ScreenCastsOnline his full-time job.
Don was good enough to answer a few question for me about podcasting and his recent move to become a full-time video podcaster. Here are his answers:

> What made you decide to start your own podcast?

I'd always quite liked the idea of a podcast but couldn't really think of a suitable theme, or at least one that wasn't already being covered.

Back in July 2005, a family member bought a mac on my recommendation and I wanted to show them how to do some simple stuff. The problem was they lived about 40 miles from me so I hit on the idea of creating screencasts that they could play on their mac to learn the basics. I soon realised that if I could help her, I could help others with the screencasts and ScreenCastsOnline was born.

> Did you receive any special training or have certain skills which are necessary for podcasting?

No, I've dabbed with video production before but very much as a hobbyist and I'm completely self taught.

As far as skills go, ScreenCastsOnline does require a certain logical approach to showing how things work or thinking up sensible scenarios on which to demonstrate something, so planning is very much needed. For ScreenCastsOnline, things are done in sections and some of it is scripted, such as the intro but the other segments are very much free flowing. My other podcast - The EuroMac podcast - is a news based audio podcast on the mac scene in Europe. I find that a completely new skill set is required for that and the whole show is very much scripted.

I've so much admiration for these guys who can just start talking for 40 minutes with no editing - unbelievable!

> What do you see in the future of podcasting? More paid advertisements or fees for downloads?

To be honest I think that for the majority of podcasts, targeted advertising is probably the way things will go as long as it's kept within reason. The paid download or subscription model will only work when the show can provide enhanced or additional content.

This is why I've gone with a bit of a hybrid model with the ScreenCastsOnline Extra! subscription (plug - only $25 for a full 6 months) as I'll be providing the back catalogue of ScreenCastsOnline shows on DVD, the future free shows in enhanced formats (High Def and Enhanced Desktop) together with at least one special subscription only show per month. The usual show will still be free and I'm hoping to get some sponsorship to support that,

> How had your decision to become a full-time podcaster changed your life?

Well it's early days yet, but it's both exciting and scary at the same time. It's been the culmination of 6 months hard work providing a decent show each week and yet trying to balance work and home life. The setting up of the subscription model has in itself been extremely hard work and the management of it, especially in these early days is quite labour intensive and something I need to streamline.

I was hoping for a flood of subscribers in the first week to remove some of the anxiety of going it alone but its been more of a steady drip of people signing up. That will be fine as long as it's sustainable! I'll feel a lot happier when I get a sponsor on board as well!

What has been encouraging has been the amount of goodwill sent via emails to me congratulating me on the move. It's a bit worrying the number of people who keep calling me brave though!

> What podcasts do you subscribe to and watch regularly?

Well I've got a long list of podcasts that I subscribe to but the ones I jump on when a new episode is released are:

Daily Source Code
Podcaster Confessions
Digital Flotsum
Mac Geek Gab
Podcast Brothers
TWIT
Maccast
Mac OS Ken
Podcheck Review

Thanks again, Don.
You can subscribe to ScreenCastsOnline and more podcasts using

Apple Box Art?

2006-03-25T11:20:00.000-08:00

I recently read a report that a lot of Apple customers keep the boxes their products come packaged in and some even display those boxes. Whew! What a releif. I thought I was the only nut who did that. Hell, I keep the bags, too!

But, hey, who can blame me? Apple's packaging is as much a work of beauty as some of their products. So, this got me to thinking, and wondering, what do people do with all of these boxes?

If you keep your Apple boxes, or make them into some sort of art display, I'd love to hear about it. Send me an
e-mail telling me about it or with a picture.

Mighty Mouse

2006-03-25T07:37:00.000-08:00

I started using the new mouse at work this week, and although some other Mac fans I know aren't too thrilled with it, I love it.

One reason may be because as a regular Windows user, I am accustom to a two-button mouse, while most regular Mac users like the one-button design. I enjoy the simplicity of a single button, I really enjoy some of the features including the wheel, which is a small ball on the new Apple Mighty Mouse.

Of course, Apple added their own twists to the two-button mouse. The scroll ball works both verticlly and horizontally. It also is a button which open Dashboard in Mac OS X v10.4 "Tiger", and I do love them widgets. The two buttons on the side of the Apple Mighty Mouse also can be used to open Expose. Probably the most impressive thing of all is that there really is only one button, but the Mighty Mouse knows when you click on the left or the right side of it.

Cool.

The best part of all of these features, is that you can change the action associated with each button. In this way, you can customize it to your needs.

One important note: When you first plug in the Mighty Mouse, you have to go into the preferances and set the action for the right-click. The default action is the same for both left- and right-clicks.

Trust Me, You Need This

2006-03-24T21:35:00.000-08:00

ShieldsUp is a site that allows you to check the security of your computer and internet connections by checking what ports are openned and allowing access to your computer. I ran the program on my computer and found everything to be in good shape, but I spend a lot of time updating my software so I doubt most people will do as well.

In fact, I know most of the people who are viewng ths blog - even only for a second - won't do so well. That's becuase the reports generated by this site show me a lot of information about the people who visit.

From one report, I get your IP address, physical location, operating system and what type of browser you are using. It also tells me what screen resolution you are using.

That bad part about all of this is that the site meter service I use which gives me all of this information on you is free. Imagine what I could find out if I wasn't so cheap and paid for these reports.

By the way, I can tell the reports it generate on me when I check my site becuase it always shows up as "unkown location," but when my wife checks from her office it even tells me the domain name of where she works, and if you have read any of my previous posts that's pretty funny since the IT guys where she works are so militant.

So, judging by the information that I am getting about you, right now, while you are reading this, you may want to check out ShieldsUP and tighten up your security a bit.

30-Second Bunnies

2006-03-24T16:50:00.000-08:00

I briefly mentioned the bunnies at the end of the Planet TV Daily video podcast and thought I should point out the number of other bunny parodies.

Angry Alien Productions has a host of bunny parodies from Star Wars to Brokeback Mountain each re-enacted in 30 seconds, more or less. Some newer episodes have been commissioned by Starz on Demand, which says something for the quality of the work.

The 30-Second Bunnies are the work of Jennifer Shiman, a cartoonist and digital designer based in Los Angeles, according to her bio, and definitely worth checking our.

Planet TV Daily Podcast

2006-03-23T17:28:00.000-08:00

I am subscribed to several podcasts, and I am constantly looking at new ones, but one of my favorites is Planet TV Daily. The show is hosted by Lucian, who talks about things from new Apple video iPod rumors to UFOs to nanopartical capacitors.

I don't know what Lucian does when he's not podcasting but it must be a pretty technical job, because some times he gets to talking, and I have no idea what the heck he's talking about. What's a nanopartical capacitor, anyway? And, I really don't get this thing he does about the spin for the day is clockwise, or sometimes counter-clockwise. What spin?

I'm also not so sure why it is so important that viewers vote for the podcast. The show is listed on PodcastAlley which ranks the shows based on those votes, but I don't know what that means to the podcaster other than a pat on the back. He asks for your vote every day, so I do, just because I like the show.

While I don't always get what Lucian is talking about, he is always entertaining, and I appreciate that the show is, as the name suggests, a daily program. There's a new episode downloaded to my iTunes every day for me to watch.

Subscribe to thousands of free podcasts at the iTunes Music Store.
Lucian also has an audio podcast he does with his wife Marie. I understand from the podcast that Marie is pregnant. Congratulations to them. There's also a picture of Marie on their Web site, and she looks like a babe, so way to go Lucian.

But, my favorite parts of the Planet TV show without a doubt are the hamster dance and the bunnies at the end.

Bill, Say it Ain't So

2006-03-22T21:36:00.000-08:00

This week, our friend Bill Gates had a "mea culpa" of sorts when he admitted that Internet Explorer might be lagging behind the other browser out there a bit. Gee, Bill, you think?

I have the new beta IE 7 running on my Windows-based PC at home and honestly, it sucks. The sad part is that it is 100 times better than IE 6. For any one still using IE 6 I strongly recommend you unistall it, download the beta and then run your head into a brick wall about a dozen times for waiting so slow.

By the way, I'm writing this blog using Firefox.

But, what I really can't understand is why it took Bill so long to figure out what thousands of computer users around the world already knew. What internet browser has he been using, anyway? I'm pretty sure Steve Jobs uses Safari, because it doesn't suck, so you would think if Bill has been using Internet Explorer he would have asked for some changes before now.

At the end of the day, I guess the good news for Windows users is they can look forward to a new and hopefully better version in the new future. Probably right after the second Vista service pack is released some time in late 2008.

iCal Exchange

2006-03-22T16:23:00.000-08:00

If you use Apple iCal, you should check out iCal Exchange. iCal Exhange is a free service that works with the iCal program like a .Mac account to publish and share your calendar.

After setting up an account with iCal Exchange, you can publish private calendars, which require a user name and a password to view, or public calendars. Public calendars can be viewed online by any one so friends, family members or colleagues can keep up with your schedule.

Using iCal Exchange is free, but if you want multiple passwords so people can subscribe to your private calendar without having your main account password, there is a $1 per month fee. There also appears to be plans to showcase some of the public calendars later.

One other good feature of iCal Exchange is that it works with iCal and the Mozilla calendar feature, so you can share a calendar from an iMac with someone using Windows.

Why I Miss Spam

2006-03-21T20:30:00.000-08:00

OK, I'll admit it. Sometimes I miss spam e-mail. Don't you?

Don't you ever miss coming to work on a Monday morning, getting a fresh, hot cup of three-day old coffee from the community coffee pot which you haven't contributed any money to in a couple of years, sitting down at your desk and opening your e-mail account to find about 176 e-mails from people you don't know.

Of course, you open each of them any way. Why not. It's the company's computer so who cares if it gets a virus and what? Like you're going to work on a Monday morning anyway?

You would go through deleting each one of them one at a time even though it would be easier just to select all Â because again, it's Monday morning and what else are you going to do all day Â and then there it would be:

Bouncing Boobies! Or maybe an ad for some foreign chick willing to marry you from Russia. Or my favorite the enlarge-your-whatever-body-part-of-the-week-special even if you don't actually have that particular body part.

It was just like a great, big, virtual Cracker Jack box every morning.

Yep, I miss spam.

Podcaster Goes Pro

2006-03-20T19:33:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite video podcasters, Screen Casts Online, announced today that he is quitting his day job to become a full-time podcaster. I guess this podcasting deal is really taking off. I have noticed more and more video podcasts are including commercials which undoubtedly help support the free content.

Personally, I wish I had a good idea for a video podcast, because I would love to start my own and give up my 8 to 5 job, too. Any body got any good ideas they want to share?

I guess what remains to be seen is if podcasting can become a full-time, paying job. I'm sure people can make money, but who knows if it will be worth it to them. On the other hand, I'm sure people said the same thing about the first radio stations, television station and Web sites.

Are we seeing yet another evolution of the media?

If so, I sure wish I was in on the beginning of this instead of at the end of it. But, until inspiration hits me, I will support people like Don McAllister of Screen Casts Online, and you can, too. Don has started a special subscription service in addition to the free video podcast. For $25, subscribers get extra services including a high definition version of the podcast and newsletter.

Trust me, it's worth it. And, it will help support a new and growing outlet. So, good luck Don and any others who toss the dice on podcasting. Lead the way for the rest of us to follow.

Windows XP on a Mac? Why?

2006-03-16T20:01:00.000-08:00

It was announced this week that Windows XP on a Mac has awarded the $13,854 prize for booting Windows XP on an Intel based iMac. Isn't the point in owning a Mac so that you don't have to run Windows? I know that's why I want a Mac.

And, my understanding is that you can only run one platform at a time, so you can't just switch between Windows and Mac OS X. It's one or the other.

What I don't get about this whole project is that if you simply want to runs Windows XP why not go by a cheap Dell. Why spend the money on an iMac just to corupt it with Windows XP?

Of course, the videovideo of them booting the iMac with Windows seems to explain a lot to me. Check out the camera work. Obviously these guys have had a little too much to drink or something.

Do You own an iMac?

2006-03-06T17:55:00.000-08:00

I've read plenty of reviews praising the new iMac 17-inch 1.83GHz Intel Core Duo, but I have heard little from actual users. Most of the tech people I know say they are waiting to see if there will be any bugs to work out before switching over.

Personally, I'd like to hear from some real users. Not more talk about technical specifications.

So, if you have one of the new Intel iMacs send me an email, leave a comment or drop off a pic and let me know what you think.

If I get any good reviews, I'll post them to the blogg, too.

Mac Sounds

2006-03-05T12:08:00.000-08:00

At home I use a Compaq Presario 5838 running Windows XP while at work I use an iBook G4 running Mac OS 10.4.5. Now up until Tiger came out I wouldn't have traded my PC, but now I am in love with with everything Mac.

One of my favorite things about this new OS X are the sounds. I had previously worked with Mac OX 9 in the old blue box. I hated it and always had the sound turned off.

So, when I got this new iBook, it was the first time in years I had heard any noise coming out of a Mac.

At first, I thought I must have broken something. Every time I moved something or deleted something or did just about any thing, it made a noise. I turned them down, but then I started missing them, especially some of my favorites like the swish when it sends my mail or the clunk when I move a file.

Now I love my sounds, and the only problem is that I can't find those sounds any where.

HELP!

Please, if you know where I can get all the sounds my Mac makes in MP3 let me know. I found a site for MacTones, but the link is dead. You can find some of the Mac sounds in the system folder, but only the ones that can be changed from the preference pane.

So, please help if you can.

Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Apple

2006-02-28T20:27:00.000-08:00

The people my wife's work with are just weird. She works for a small university, and most of the computers on the campus are PCs. In fact, the university’s IT department encourages students to use only Windows based computers.

The only department on the campus to use non-Windows based machines is my wife's department where, until this week, she was forced to slave away on a Dell running Windows 2000 — Ouch!

After much begging, pleading and things I probably don’t want to know about, she finally got a Mac. It’s an older Mac running on only 400 Mhz, but it’s running Panther OS X so it’s still a giant step up. She can now do things like run two programs at one time and look up information on the Internet.

I am convinced that the IT department at the school where she works either sold their soles to Microsoft or are getting a kickback directly from Bill Gates, because the first thing they did was to pull all the Apple icons off the dock and put all Microsoft programs in their place. I kid you not. She has Microsoft Word for Mac, Power Point, Excel and Entourage, but Mac Mail, iCal, iTunes, the address book and Safari were all gone.

The funny thing is that they left the link to Apple.com.

So, I set her up on Safari and got rid of most of the Microsoft products and left for work humming a little tune believing I had left my wife with a much better running computer. Well, the IT guys had different ideas. They freaked when they saw what I had her using and started telling her all kinds of horror stories. Really, thinks like using iCal isn't safe and Safari has all sorts of “security risks!”

No, I’m not kidding! She was running Windows 2000 on a Dell without any virus protection software and that was okay, but now that she’s using OS X everybody’s concerned about security. These IT guys even have some of my wife's coworkers, who have been using Macs for a while now, scared, too.

I admit there has been a flaw discovered recently with iChat that allows worms to attack the people you are chatting with, but it only affects them if they are using a Windows PC. I say that’s their problem.

I’ve been using both PCs and Macs for years, and I still have a Windows machine at home — at least until I get the Apple Intel Core Duo processor 17-inch iMac so don’t forget to click on some advertisers links — but come on. Microsoft security is a lot like Paris Hilton. Fun to watch and just as easy to open. While Macs are still largely virus free. But, these tech guys my wife works with seem determined to scare her about the Mac. It's like they're terrified the big, bad Apple is going to take over.

Apple Unveils Mac mini with Intel Core Duo

2006-02-28T11:28:00.000-08:00

CUPERTINO, Calif., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Apple(R) today unveiled the new Mac(R) mini with the Intel Core Duo processor, delivering performance up to four times faster than its predecessor and providing even greater expansion in the same innovative and incredibly compact design.*
Starting at just $599, the Mac mini is the most affordable way to enjoy iLife(R) '06, the next generation of Apple's award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications, and features the Apple Remote and Front Row so you can play your music, enjoy your photo slideshows, watch your DVDs, iMovies, music videos and television shows from across the room.
"With the new Mac mini, Apple has now moved 50 percent of its entire product line to Intel within 60 days -- a record transition," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "The new Mac mini is now up to four times faster with the Intel Core Duo, includes even greater expansion in the same incredibly compact design, and is the most
affordable way to enjoy Front Row and iLife '06."
Featuring the next generation of Apple's breakthrough Front Row media experience, the new Mac mini gives customers a simple way to enjoy their digital lifestyle content on the Mac mini including music, photos and videos from across the room using the Apple Remote. With the latest version of Front Row, customers can now effortlessly access shared iTunes(R) playlists, iPhoto(R) libraries and video throughout their home via Bonjour(TM), Apple's
zero configuration wireless networking built into Mac OS(R) X.
The new Mac mini offers a completely new system architecture for performance up to four times as fast as the previous Mac mini, including a 667 MHz front-side bus and 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable to 2GB. With the latest high-performance connectivity options, every new Mac mini now includes built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking, built-in AirPort(R) Extreme 802.11g WiFi for fast 54 Mbps wireless networking**, built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate) and a total of four USB 2.0 ports, twice as many as the previous generation. Mac mini includes a DVI interface and a VGA-out adapter to easily connect to a variety of displays, including many of today's most popular flat panel televisions, and now features both analog and digital audio outputs to easily connect to a home stereo.
The new Mac mini includes iLife '06, the next generation of Apple's award-winning suite of digital lifestyle applications featuring major new versions of iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD(R), GarageBand(TM) and introducing iWeb(TM), a new iLife application that makes it super-easy to create amazing websites with photos, blogs and Podcasts and publish them on .Mac for viewing by anyone on the Internet with just a single click. All the iLife '06 applications are Universal applications that run natively on the new Intel-based Mac mini for maximum performance.
Every new Mac mini comes with the latest release of the world's most advanced operating system, Mac OS X version 10.4 "Tiger" including Safari(TM), Mail, iCal(R), iChat AV and Front Row, running natively. Mac OS X Tiger includes an innovative software translation technology called Rosetta(TM) that lets customers run most Mac OS X PowerPC applications seamlessly

Pricing & Availability
The new Mac mini is shipping today and will be available through the Apple Store(R) (www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

Apple Announces iPod Hi-Fi

2006-02-28T11:27:00.000-08:00

CUPERTINO, Calif., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Apple(R) today announced iPod(R) Hi-Fi, an all-new high-fidelity speaker system that works seamlessly with the iPod to redefine the home stereo system. iPod Hi-Fi delivers breathtaking acoustic performance and room-filling sound unlike any other speaker system designed for the iPod in an innovative, all-in-one design
that can be powered from a wall socket or by six D-cell batteries. iPod Hi-Fi is easily controlled by the Apple Remote for an amazing stereo experience in any room in the house.
"Apple is reinventing the home stereo with the new iPod Hi-Fi, the first iPod accessory that adds true high-fidelity sound quality to the iPod," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "iPod Hi-Fi's unrivaled acoustic performance and stunning design is at home in any room in the house."
iPod Hi-Fi has been designed and engineered by Apple to deliver unrivaled sound quality, realistic sound imaging and optimal audio performance. Its clean, all-in-one design features a unique isolated enclosure system that includes two custom designed wide-range speakers and a tuned, ported bass system, minimizing vibration while maximizing sound quality and allowing users to listen to their favorite music as it was intended with amazing sound clarity and rich, deep bass. iPod Hi-Fi features handles to easily transport your stereo anywhere, a removable front grille with precision-mounting clips, touch-sensitive volume control buttons, the Apple Remote for easy song and volume control from anywhere in the room, a universal power supply incorporated into the all-in-one design so there's no bulky power brick to weigh it down, and the ability to power iPod Hi-Fi from six D-cell batteries for true portability.
Featuring seamless integration with all iPods with a dock connector, iPod Hi-Fi automatically recharges your iPod while docked and displays features of iPod that maximize the iPod Hi-Fi experience such as Tone Control, Large Album Art mode and volume mirroring.* iPod Hi-Fi includes a dual-purpose 3.5-mm auxiliary input that accepts either analog or digital signals for easy connection to a wide range of audio sources. iPod Hi-Fi is compact and can be powered by AC or six D-cell batteries, providing more flexibility than any traditional home stereo and is perfect for use not only at home, but just about anywhere you go without compromising sound quality.
Apple today also announced new luxurious leather cases designed specifically for the fifth generation iPod and iPod nano models. The Leather Case for iPod is made with fine, hand-crafted Italian leather and features a soft and durable interior lining for a secure fit, making it the perfect carrying case for iPod or iPod nano.

Pricing & Availability
iPod Hi-Fi includes the Apple Remote, a removable grille, an AC power cord and 10 Universal Dock adapters, and is available for $349 (US). The Leather Case for iPod is available in 30GB and 60GB models as well as an iPod nano model, each for $99 (US). iPod Hi-Fi and all models of the Leather Case for iPod are available through the Apple Store(R) (www.apple.com), Apple's retail

Video Showing The Making Of The Fake New iPod Photo

2006-02-27T17:00:00.000-08:00

From the mysterious person who posted a picture of a supposed new iPod has come out with a video showing the making of the photo that turned out to be fake.
Here it is at a mirrored site, as the original link broke down.

Bill Gates is Dead to Me

2006-02-26T14:20:00.000-08:00

I purchased the Apple AirPort Express with AirTunes to create a wireless network at home so I could use my laptop anywhere in the house I want. First, I had to install a wireless card in my old PC, which honestly wasn't too difficult. Then I plugged in the AirPort, installed the software and ran the setup assistant. So far so good. Everything worked smooth as a baby's ass.

I got up on the Internet in no time and was soon driving my wife mad showing her how I could surf the web from the bedroom, the living, the kitchen or the bathroom. OK, I kept the bathroom thing to myself.

So, later in the day, as I am now feeling like some sort of networking god, I started working on another program installation on my PC. Of course, this is when things started going bad.

Naturally, being a PC running Windows XP, I had to reboot. Start, Turn Off Computer, Restart. Now wait. Wait some more. Just a little longer. OK, now going to get the iBook G4 and use it for a while. Still waiting. Looking at the Apple Web site now wishing I had a new iMac instead. Oh, there it is. My PC is back.

So, I click on Internet Explorer and ..... Wait .... Why isn't the Internet working? It's working fine on the laptop, but not on the PC. It was working fine a minute ago. This doesn't make sense. @#$%!

Fastfoward about an hour later after I've tried changing nearly every setting even closely related to the Internet on the PC, reinstalled the driver for the wireless adapter, used the Laptop to check the settings on the AirPort Express and tried about 100 Web sites on the PC just to be sure. That's when I stumbled upon the Windows wireless network Wizard.

What I really want to know is if the wireless network was working just fine before I rebooted why in the hell should I have to run it after I reboot just to make the network run? Well, of course, I did. It didn't change any settings, but I had to do it to make everything work again.

You know what I think. I think Bill must get paid by the number of times Windows users have to run wizards.

Bill Gates is dead to me. Long live Steve Jobs!

Speculations and Rumors

2006-02-26T06:19:00.000-08:00

Undoubtedly just about any one with a computer and an Internet connection has seen this image floating around on the Web for about a week now. It has become especially popular since Apple's announcement that they will announce something fun Tuesday.

Speculation has been that this image could be the long rumored video iPod, but not everyone agrees. World of Apple has speculated that the image could be a fake.

Some other guesses are that Apple will announce a new Mac mini with the Intel core or the new iPod Hi-Fi Boombox. Both of these seem like resonable speculation. Apple has applied for a trademark for iPod Hi-Fi and shipment of the MacBook Pro clearly indicts plans to stick with the Intel Core.

There also have been reports on Macworld that Apple will announce full-length movie downloads on iTunes. This is an obvious next step after television show were made available, but I still wonder when Apple will come up with a video version of the AirTunes?

Of course, the video iPod sounds like a lot fun, but my money is Apple will announce the boombox and save the video iPod for later. Even money of the movies. Leave a comment, and let me know what you think.

Apple II

2006-02-25T20:23:00.000-08:00

Check out some other vintage computer ads at www.funmansion.com.

My New Motorola RAZR V3

2006-02-24T17:53:00.000-08:00

I just got a new Motorola RAZR V3 phone, and it is fantastic. It takes pictures. It takes short videos. It plays music, games and more. One of the best things about this phone is that it is Bluetooth enabled, and it can share files with the iBook G4 laptop I use for work. If I had a new Apple Intel Duo Core processor 17-inch iMac it could talk with it, too.
Today, I was even able to rip U2's Vertigo in a small MP-3 file using iTunes, upload it to the phone and listen to it where ever I go. Not bad for someone who is basically technically illiterate.
So far, I've only got two complaints:
First, I am using T-Mobile and the only way I can use the phone as a modem with the laptop is if I pay $20 a month for their Internet. I can't us it as a modem with my companies existing dial-up service. If anyone out there knows a way around this please let me know.
Second, with all the features one this phone — email, instant messages, etc. — you would think I could check the weather on it. But, no. No weather reports. Go figure. I guess I'll have to pay the $20 a month and surf the Web to find the weather. If any body has any ideas about how to get around this one too, let me know.

Something Fun

2006-02-23T17:11:00.000-08:00

This was the invitation sent out to select media. Apple promises something new and fun next week, and the rumors are popping.

Life inside a Mac

2006-02-22T19:28:00.000-08:00

Click here to watch the television spot.

I Need A Mac

2006-02-21T20:48:00.000-08:00

This is it. The Apple Intel Duo Core processor 17-inch iMac. A thing of beauty isn't it?
I have a 7-year-old Compaq Presario PC at home. It's been a good machine, but it's time has come and gone, and it just can't keep up with the newer programs coming out today.
I had been using Apples in my work for a few years now, but I was never very impressed until the new Mac OS X Tiger came out. WOW! If you haven't tried you should. Tiger smokes Windows XP.
Dashboard, Spotlight, Sherlock!! They all rock, and Windows has got nothing like it.
So, now I'm on a quest to get the new iMac, and I'm asking for your help. Just click on the advertising links on this page to help me raise money for a new Apple. You can also check out my complete profile and click on my wish list to check out all the some other cool stuff you can help me get. Or, if you just feel really generous, you can purchase any of the items on my Amazon.com wish list and it will be sent to me.
So, thanks for looking at my blog and check back later to see my progress.