Perhaps Windows Bug Not Such a Big Deal

A killer Windows 7 bug? Sorry, no

The blogosphere is abuzz over a newly publicized bug in Windows 7. I read about it yesterday on Chris123NT’s blog, where it was described as a “critical bug in Windows 7 RTM.” My conclusion? It’s alarming behavior if you’re unaware of what’s happening. But when you look more carefully, it’s arguably a feature, not a bug, and the likelihood that you’ll ever crash a system this way is very, very small and completely avoidable.

The Google vs. Apple War Begins

Google and Apple used to be the best of friends, but they're looking more warily at each other these days. Apple's rejection of Google Voice apps for the iPhone was followed relatively swiftly by Google CEO Eric Schmidt stepping down from Apple's board of directors.

Firefox 4.0 looks like Chrome?

Mozilla has released mockups that show how Firefox 4.0 conceivably might look, and two words spring to my mind: Google Chrome.

Gmail flaw shows value of strong passwords

The disclosure of a back door allowing bad guys to repeatedly guess Gmail passwords should remind us all to protect our accounts with long and strong character strings. There's a straightforward way to protect your online accounts — use signin phrases that are easy for you to remember but hard for others to guess.

Glary Registry Repair 3.1.0.800 (Windows), from GlarySoft

Glarysoft Registry Repair is an advanced registry cleaner for Windows that allows you to safely scan, clean, and repair registry problems. I use it and have recommended it here before. This is an upgraded version.

Huge Problem Found in Windows 7

Critical Windows 7 bug risks derailing product launch

Oh boy! It appears that Microsoft’s glowing track record with Windows 7 is about to come to an abrupt and unceremonious end. According to various Web sources, the RTM build 7600.16385 includes a potentially fatal bug that, once triggered, could bring down the entire OS in a matter of seconds.

Stars are aligning to ban U.S. drivers from text messaging

Following recent reports on the dangers of drivers being preoccupied by their cell phones, the U.S. Senate is now considering legislation to ban text messaging while driving. This could even be a step toward a total of ban of using cell phones while driving.

Why consumers won't buy tablets

Apple's mythical tablet, the Crunchpad, and other keyboardless computers have one thing in common: Nobody wants them.

Reflecting on the DTV transition

CEA President Gary Shapiro talks about the 25-year process of bringing the U.S. into the digital television era, and where we go from here.

Free Back-to-School Software - Reviews by PC Magazine

Stock your computer with everything you need to work and play efficiently and safely—without having to spend even one dime.

Browser News and a Great Desktop Search Tool

New Firefox patches authentication security holes

Mozilla on Monday released two new versions of Firefox, 3.5.2 and 3.0.13, to patch two critical security holes. You can download the Windows and Mac versions of 3.5.2 from CNET Download.com, or go to Mozilla for the Linux build and Firefox 3.0.13.

Chrome Wants to Steal All of Your PC's RAM

What are they thinking? That's the question that ran through my mind as I pored over the latest Chrome 3.0 beta test data from the exo.performance.network site. It seems that the folks from Mountain View aren't content with securing a privileged spot on your desktop. They want to steal all of your PC's RAM, too.

Smartbooks: The New Netbooks

Yes, there is a difference—one that could have major ramifications in the mobile computing market.

With Yahoo search gone, content becomes king

A new era at Yahoo began the minute CEO Carol Bartz signed the paperwork turning over the right to conduct searches on Yahoo's huge network of Web sites to Microsoft in exchange for 88 percent of the revenue generated by Microsoft's Bing. Now Yahoo is first and foremost a media company, in the business of attracting as many people to its properties as possible in hopes of selling lucrative ad deals on those pages.

Snowbird is a fast, light weight search utility for Windows

Snowbird is a file search utility for Windows that's much faster than the search tools built into Windows XP. But it's also much lighter weight than programs like Google Desktop and Windows Search 4.0 which index every file on your hard drive and save the data in huge index files to speed up future searches. Snowbird doesn't need to be installed to your computer. You can store it on a USB flash drive and run it on any Windows computer.

Time to Scan and Fix Your Hard Drive Sectors

Microsoft Windows 7 Window review

A very good in-depth look at Windows 7, including a 6 minute video. If you have not seen it in operation, you might want to look at this one and decide if you want it.

How To Upgrade To Windows 7 From Windows XP

An in-place operating system upgrade to Microsoft Windows 7 on a Windows XP system is impossible. Here's how to migrate your data and apps with the fewest hassles.

Las Vegas ATMs may have malware

U.S. Secret Service is investigating why at least a half dozen people saw their accounts debited after using ATMs that didn't dispense cash

How to Run Chkdsk /F in Windows XP

Chkdsk is one of the most valuable tools included in Windows XP. Chkdsk scans your hard drive for errors, bad blocks and sectors, and can help determine the general health of your PC. The Chkdsk F function takes Chkdsk a step further, helping you to automatically fix problems on your system.

Deskcretary automatically tidies up cluttered Windows desktops

My worst Windows habit? Indiscriminantly downloading new files and dumping screen captures onto my desktop. Enter Deskcretary, a free app which claims to be the "most advanced Windows desktop cleanup software ever."

Your New Laptop Can Be Hijacked Right Out of the Box

Researchers find insecure BIOS 'rootkit' pre-loaded in laptops

A popular laptop theft-recovery service that ships on notebooks made by HP, Dell, Lenovo, Toshiba, Gateway, Asus and Panasonic is actually a dangerous BIOS rootkit that can be hijacked and controlled by malicious hackers.

More Detail on Tuesday's Emergency Microsoft Updates

A day after the release of off-schedule updates for Internet Explorer and Visual Studio, the importance of those updates and the details of the vulnerabilities that necessitated them are becoming clearer. Security vendors across the market acknowledged the importance of users and developers taking the updates seriously.

Microsoft sticker shock: Anytime Upgrade, Family Pack details

Microsoft announced pricing and delivery details for a pair of eagerly awaited products in the Windows 7 family. If you were hoping for upgrade bargains or a long-term commitment to multi-PC upgrade pricing, prepare to be disappointed.

A Google Wave reality check

Google Wave was unveiled in May at the Google I/O Developer conference, and dazzled attendees with its goal: a combination of real-time communication with social-networking and search capabilities built into a familiar interface. Wave is more than just an in-box on steroids, however. It's also a communications platform that developers can use to build their own applications, something that many were excited about in the early hours of Wave's life on the public stage.

MarketBrowser 2.30 (Windows)

Get world class charting on your computer in seconds with MarketBrowser. The 12-window investing software makes charting funds and stock quotes easy.

Sandboxie…the Key to Safe Surfing

Besides the obvious solution of not using the Internet, the greatest protection you can have today again malware in your computer is “Sandboxie,” an amazing software product that protects you from almost all the nasty things the bad guys can throw at you.

To put it as simply as possible, you run your browser or any other program for that matter, inside a “sandbox”, created by Sandboxie.  You work as normal and if you come across a site that loads your computer with viruses or spyware, they cannot get out of the sandbox to attack your system.  Sandboxie actually creates a false computer system inside the sandbox that lets the malware think it is changing your system. But in reality, it has done nothing to affect you. 

It is forever trapped inside the sandbox and periodically you can dump the contents of the sandbox and it is gone forever.  Your system is safe.  If you don’t believe me, watch some of the videos on YouTube that demonstrate how the sandbox works. They loaded up some of the worse viruses they could find and they never got out of the sandbox.

A couple of things you should know…Sandboxie takes a bit of effort on your part to learn how to use it properly. There are a great many features to it that are not self evident.  Besides the YouTube videos, there are tutorials on the Sandboxie Web site to help you out. 

The other important thing to remember is if you download a program to install on your computer, it is downloaded inside the sandbox.  You must tell the program to take it out of the box so you can install it properly.  The easiest way to do that is to make sure you download software to your desktop.  Then, Sandboxie will automatically ask you if you want to move it out of the box. If you say yes, the downloaded program’s icon will appear on the desktop.

Another cool feature is that you can right click on any software you want to run inside its own sandbox.  On the menu will be an item that lets you chose to run it sandboxed.  I find I am doing that more and more.

Right now I have my Firefox browser and my instant messenger running in permanent sandboxes.  My AVG daily scans show that all the spyware I get on a daily basis stuck inside the Sandbox (and is removed by AVG).  I have the instant messenger set to empty the sandbox completely every time I close it down.          

Sandboxie is not free…it costs $29.95.  But for your dollars you get a lifetime of free upgrades and can load it up on as many computers as you want.  You can also use it free for life, but paying for it gives you some extra bonuses…the most important being able to run any software you chose in a permanent sandbox.  Believe me when I say that is worth it.

You can read more about it and download the trial version at the Sandboxie Website.  As I said, I also recommend going to YouTube to watch some demo videos. Just do a search on Sandboxie.

Also, my favorite security geek, Steve Gibson (the man who first discovered spyware), did an entire podcast on it with Leo LaPorte. Steve is the most skeptical of all security gurus, but he loves it. Part of the show includes and interview with the creator of Sandboxie, Ronen Tzur. 

Bottom line is that Sandboxie offers the safest way to surf the Internet free of worry.  PS – It works in Windows 7 also.

Microsoft and Yahoo Finally Do Their Deal

Microsoft and Yahoo sign search deal, take on Google

Microsoft and Yahoo struck a long-anticipated search deal Wednesday under which Microsoft's Bing search engine will power Yahoo's search site, and Yahoo will sell premium search advertising services for both companies. The deal, which took nearly a year and a half to work out and started with an unsolicited bid by Microsoft to buy Yahoo in February 2008, is aimed at giving the two companies leverage against search giant Google, which leads the market in search-driven online advertising revenues.

Microsoft will open stores in Arizona, California

Microsoft plans to open two of its first retail locations in Scottsdale, Ariz., and Mission Viejo, Calif., CNET News has learned. The software maker confirmed on Tuesday that it has signed leases in both spots as part of an effort to launch its first retail outlets this fall.

Twitter's new home page: Information, not status updates

the microblogging service unveiled Tuesday its revamped home page, which doesn't change anything for people who are already using Twitter--it's just a different look and feel for twitter.com if you haven't logged in.

Is it time to dump Adobe's Flash player?

With news that 92% of Windows PCs are vulnerable to a zero-day attack that Adobe won’t patch until Thursday, is it time to dump Adobe’s Flash player? The most current versions of Flash player, 9.0.159.0 and 10.0.22.87, are both vulnerable to hackers. According to security companies, hackers are launching wave after wave of attacks, using both malicious websites, and websites that have been compromised.

Top antispyware software

If you are using a Windows machine or even a Mac running Windows in a virtual environment, you need to pay attention to security. At the very least, you should always have at least one program for each of the major security threats: antispyware, antivirus, and a software firewall (if you don't already have a router-based firewall)

Critical Fixes Coming from Microsoft and Adobe

Microsoft to fix critical hole in IE

In a rare move, Microsoft on Friday said it would be releasing security updates on Tuesday--outside of its monthly patch cycle--for a critical vulnerability in Internet Explorer and a moderate vulnerability in Visual Studio. The vulnerabilities affect Windows 2000, Windows XP, Vista, Windows Server 2003 and 2008, Internet Explorer 6, 7 and 8, Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003, Visual Studio 2005 and 2008 and Visual C++ 2005 and 2008.

Adobe promises patch for seven-month-old Flash and Reader flaw

Vendor knew about critical vulnerability in December 2008, never fixed it, slates updates for late next week. Too late sucka...I switched to Foxit.

IT professionals will not drop Windows XP quietly (if ever)

In a series of poll questions, IT professionals made it quite clear that they were not interested in migrating away from Windows XP. An interesting poll.

Firefox 3.7 GUI Redesign for Windows 7, Vista and XP

Mozilla is in the process of redesigning the graphical user interface (GUI) of its Firefox browser for Windows XP, Vista and 7. The new version will be 3.7, and are made to better take advantage of the Aero Glass theme in Windows Vista and Windows 7.

Digital Editing: Where Do You Draw The Line?

From time to time the question comes up of whether or not the use of Photoshop and similar image editing programs means that digital photography isn't "real" photography anymore. While Photoshop is a great tool to help overcome the limitations of the photographic process, it can also be used to change just about anything if you want to. So in order to answer the question, I guess it all depends on where you draw the line.

Legit Web Sites May be Screwing Their Customers

Buy.com, Orbitz linked to controversial marketers

Thousands of Web shoppers have complained that "mystery charges" are showing up on their credit card statements and have accused those who operate so-called Web loyalty programs of duping them into signing up. As a result, the U.S. Senate Commerce Committee is investigating Vertrue, WebLoyalty, and Affinion--companies who make "cash-back" and coupon offers to consumers and charge those who enroll in their loyalty programs.

Report: Americans dumber than a box of rocks about spam

When it comes to spam, we Americans are quick to point our fingers at Russia, China and eastern Europe as the regions responsible for the bulk of it. But a new report issued today found that Americans are largely to blame - not because we create it, but because we’re too stupid to recognize that we’re spreading it.

Google promises the end of viruses

Google's Engineering Director has promised that its forthcoming Chrome OS will see the end of malware.

MS adds sandboxing to Office 2010

Office 2010 will incorporate sandboxing technology so that when users want to simply read Office documents, these files will have no access to other files or information. Even if the file is malicious, it can’t get out of the sandbox and do harm to your computer or data.

FavBackup 1.1.2 (Windows - Free Downloads)

Here is a simple solution for you to backup and restore web browser settings and other data on Windows systems.

Windows 7 Now Set in Concrete

Microsoft finalizes Windows 7

Microsoft on Wednesday said it has finalized the code for Windows 7, paving the way for the new operating system to make its way onto retail shelves and new PCs in time for its October 22 launch. According to experts, very little has changed from the RC version that Microsoft still has available for download.

Will Apple kill off the iPod Classic?

They just might...but I hope not. I own one and it is such a great bargain when compared to the other iPod models.

Does Yahoo still matter?

The No. 2 search portal has a new(ish) CEO and a brand-new look. But is that enough to keep Yahoo from being garroted by Google or manhandled by Microsoft?

Startup Company crafts DVD-Rs for the 31st century

A US startup has developed a new DVD-R technology that it claims will be readable for 1,000 years. Millenniata's tag line is "Write Once, Read Forever" - and if forever can be defined as 40 generations, that's exactly what its Millennial Disc Series promises.

DLS 101 - How to spot a fake Windows antivirus program

One of the most common problems I tackle on Windows computers is the removal of rogue antivirus programs. Just what is a rogue antivirus? It's malware that disguises itself as a legitimate antivirus program.

All the Windows 7 Stories You Need in One Place

Windows 7 nears the finish line

Rather than publish one story at a time about Windows 7, here is a collection of stories...so you can choose the ones that interest you most. I am still using Windows 7 and still loving it. Microsoft has hit a home run here...my humble opinion.

Update: Analysts see alarming development in mobile malware

For the first time, a piece of mobile malware can send and receive information from a remote server, signaling the arrival of mobile botnets

Amazon Stealing e-Books Back from Kindles

The New York Times'David Pogue reports that Amazon has decided to pull certain copies of electronic books from its shelves. In doing so, however, Amazon has also pulled them off of Kindles its customers own, and who had already purchased the books in question.

Fix Our Industry, Please! - Column by John C Dvorak

Here are the things we need to do and/or develop (read: new killer apps) in order to turn tech around.

Photo Cutter - Free software

Photo Cutter provides users with one of the fastest cropping tools we have ever tested. Simple commands and lightning-fast results make this a program that users of all levels can appreciate.

A Review of Google Voice

Note: Just before I put together this edition, I received my own invitation to receive Google Voice.  I, of course, installed it and am just beginning to play. I will have my own review in the future, but this free program could revolutionize the way you use telephones…like one phone number for life that controls all your phones.  JRC

A look at Google Voice

Invitations to Google Voice are suddenly appearing, and I finally got one and put the app to work. So what does Google Voice do that I can't or haven't? Quite a bit, actually.

Major antivirus engines failing to detect malware

The Commtouch Q2 2009 Internet Threats Trend Report noted a spike in the number of e-mail viruses that slipped past major antivirus engines between late May and June.

Is Google optimizing Chrome 3 for Windows XP netbooks?

Over the last few weeks, Google has been releasing development builds of its Chrome 3 Web browser in a fast and furious pace. And with each release, the browser has been leaping forward in performance, particularly in Windows XP. With yesterday's release of beta build 3.0.193.1, Chrome 3 has given Betanews reason to suspect that these performance gains are no accident.

Barnes & Noble unveils online bookstore

Top U.S. bookseller Barnes & Noble Inc announced on Monday the launch of the world's largest online bookstore, with over 700,000 titles that can be read on a range of platforms from Apple's iPhone to personal computers.

Hulu Desktop - At A Glance

Web video titan Hulu comes even closer to mimicking the TV experience with Hulu Desktop, a free application that lets you watch Hulu content using your PC or Mac remote. Hulu Desktop has all the high-quality content and organized navigation of the online service, but doesn't tether you to a keyboard or mouse.

Firefox Fixed…and Choosing Your Browser

Mozilla closes security hole with Firefox 3.5.1

Mozilla updated Firefox to version 3.5.1 for Windows, Mac, and Linux on Thursday, fixing a security problem, improving stability, and speeding launch time on some Windows systems, according to the release notes. We told you about the flaw yesterday...and now its fixed.

Microsoft gets its edge back

Is it just me or is Microsoft a little more competitive than it has been in recent years? Microsoft has gotten under Apple’s skin—at least its lawyers—got Google’s attention with Bing and is even doing the Web app thing. Microsoft almost seems to be enjoying itself

How to Choose the Best Web Browser

Today's Web browsers are faster and more feature-rich than ever before. If you're not sure which one you should use, our look at the most popular options will help prep you for prime surfing.

Movie studios try to harness "Twitter effect"

Audiences are voicing snap judgments on movies faster and to more people than ever before on Twitter, and their ability to create a box office hit or a flop is forcing major studios to revamp marketing campaigns.

Hands On with BingTweets

Okay, Microsoft, I'm impressed. First you deliver a search engine update that's actually better than Google. Then you flood the world with the most aggressive ad campaign I've seen in years for a digital product. Now you're rapidly rolling out new features. Take BingTweets. It lets you search the Web and the Twitter stream at the same time. The results page is fascinating. Follow the link for a hands-on-report.

Follow-up Info for your Windows 7 Decision

Note: I received an email from Microsoft today reminding me that you can still download Windows 7 Release Candidate (RC) for free until August 20.  Just go to the Windows 7 download page on the Microsoft site.  That way you can see for yourself in this new Windows will work for you. You can also learn more about Windows 7 and watch informative videos on another special Microsoft Web page

Some versions of Windows 7 worth it, others not

With the arrival of Windows 7's release to manufacturing (RTM) imminent, my inbox is teeming with questions about the next version of every PC user's favorite whipping boy. You need to make a few key decisions to ensure that you pick the Windows 7 version that best meets your needs.

Seven steps to securing Windows 7

Windows 7 comes with important safeguards out of the box, but it isn't hard to make it even more secure.

Microsoft to open retail stores near Apple's this fall

Microsoft is planning to open the first of its planned retail stores next to existing Apple stores this fall.

Zero-day flaw found in Firefox 3.5

The zero-day flaw lies in Firefox 3.5's Just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compiler. Proof-of-concept code to exploit the vulnerability has been posted online by a security research group, Mozilla said in a post on its security blog on Wednesday. Security company Secunia rated the vulnerability as "highly critical" on Wednesday.

Dogfight 2 - On-Line Game

Dogfight 2 is a very simple, but fun and remarkably pretty side-scrolling air combat game. The control system is dead simple - you can rotate the plane left or right on the screen using your arrow keys to pitch it up to climb, or down to dive.

Battery Life Claims Under the Microscope

Class Action Suit Seeks Truth about Laptop Battery Life

Does laptop battery life (or the lack thereof) tick you off? You're hardly alone. Last month a Silicon Valley law firm filed a class-action suit against Intel, claiming that the tests it uses to support claims of battery life have almost no connection to how people actually use their computers.

Windows 7 RTM: The revenge of Windows Vista

Windows Vista lacked the right stuff to unseat Windows XP. Does Windows 7 really have what it takes?

Microsoft vs. Google: Let the Web App War Begin

Like two gargantuan monsters, waging a pitched battle over a fake Tokyo cityscape, Microsoft and Google are now officially trying to beat the living daylights out of each other.

Google Voice coming to Android, BlackBerry

Google is ready to bring Google Voice to a place where it really makes the most sense: the smartphone.

Does free antivirus offer a false feeling of security?

Earlier this month, Symantec’s product manager David Hall dismissed free security software as equal alternative to the paid versions. Needless to say that such statements from a competing vendor often come as a direct frontal attack against the alternative solution, however, they also fuel the debate on whether or not free antivirus offers a false feeling of security.

Apollo 11 Anniversary Sites

Windows 7 RC users will be able to install Windows 7 Upgrade discs

Microsoft has already stated that Windows Vista and Windows XP users would be able to use the upgrade discs. But this week the company also confirmed that those of you who have been using Windows 7 RC will also be able to upgrade to Windows 7 final using the upgrade discs.

Microsoft Gazelle Could Take On Google Chrome OS

Microsoft's ace in the hole in its upcoming battle against Google Chrome OS, the search giant’s new browser-based operating system, could be a browser-OS hybrid project code-named Gazelle. As more and more applications move into the cloud, the need for a browser-based OS, one that can intelligently interface with a PC while managing Web resources, may become more intensive than ever for both Microsoft and Google as they compete for market share.

Google updates Gears for new Firefox 3.5

Gears endows browsers with some new abilities, including accessing some Web applications even while a computer is offline and juggling multiple simultaneous tasks more effectively.

Resources to help you commemorate Apollo 11

Forty years ago this Thursday, Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins lifted off on their historic mission to the moon. Today, the Web is home to a variety of sites that remember the historic mission to the moon. If you're looking to remember Apollo 11, take a look at these resources.

How to Buy PC Speakers

Don't settle for anemic audio from your computer—pump it up with new speakers. Here's how to find the right set.

Windows 7: My Quick Review

Over the years, I (and several other experts) advised computer users not to upgrade to a new Windows operating system until you buy a new computer. Upgrades can cause problems and may not even work in your old computer. Well, I have just ignored my own advice and ordered the Windows 7 upgrade for this computer.

Why, you may ask? Simple…it works…and it works extremely well…better than XP, in fact.  Microsoft did something very smart with Windows 7.  They invited the world to download it for free before they released the final version.  First, was the Beta version…and now the Release Candidate version. 

By doing this, they wowed the computer world by giving us an operating system that may turn out to be the best Windows ever.  Even the Beta version was nearly flawless in its operation. To run Windows 7 correctly without destroying your current operating system, one needs repartition the hard drive then install Win 7 on the new partition.  The new operating system is smart enough to figure out what you are doing and creates a dual boot system. When I turn on the computer or reboot, the computer asks which version of Windows I wish to start.

But, I had a big problem when I first installed Windows 7 Beta. My hard drive, as it turns out, was beginning to fail, and when I repartitioned it, it crashed my Windows XP, but Windows 7 installed fine.  After nearly three weeks in the shop, my XP was restored on a new hard drive and all worked fine…well almost anyway.

Windows 7 Beta, and later the RC version, caused my video fits.  I was getting screen flashing, meaning the current page on the screen was being flashed at me again many, many times.  Obviously that is not good and extremely annoying.  I worked for hours trying all kinds of different things to solve the problem.  Nothing worked.

I began to suspect my on-board video was causing the problem, as there were also small, nagging intermittent problems in XP.  So, I ordered a new video card…and, after installation, all my problems were solved, in both XP and Windows 7.

That happened just last week, so I can only give you a real quick evaluation of Win 7.  As I said, it is much faster in all things, from loading to running software. My observation has been verified by many testing labs.  It is different in operation than previous Windows versions, and I have not yet learned all of its nuances…for instance the taskbar is radically different.  But I am working on it.  Nothing that can’t be overcome with a little education.

I am slowly loading my most important programs into Windows 7 to see if I can slow it down.  So far, no luck.  It is flying along.  So much faster than XP. 

Of course, my XP is a few years old…and there is such a thing as “Windows Arthritis”… systems slow down over time.  And that is one good reason why I ordered Windows 7…to have a brand new clean operating system for my computer.  Of course, I also ordered it because it works so darn well.

It is also easier and cleaner to look at…meaning the video rendering is higher quality.  I’ve watched movies on it and they do look better.  Most programs also look better, but only just enough so you can tell the difference.

Interestingly, I tried to install the software for my new video camera and Windows 7 stopped me, saying this program might hurt my computer.  It automatically went on line, found a newer version and installed it for me.  That was impressive.  But all the other software that I have loaded into it work just fine, even better than in XP.  I am sure I will find  some compatibility issues someplace, but so far, nothing yet, except the video camera driver.

If you read my blogs on a regular basis, you know that the final version Windows 7 won’t be released until late October.  No big deal, for me.  The RC version is running perfectly and is good for nearly another year.  The only downside is that when the final version is released, I will have to wipe out this version and reinstall everything from scratch.  But my XP will stay in place, so I won’t lose anything but time.  And when the final version is installed, I will take a “drive snapshot” so I will always have a clean version of Windows 7 to reinstall in the future should “Windows Arthritis” set in

Will your computer work with Windows 7.  Unless it is really old, it probably will. But you can download a program from Microsoft that will tell you if it is compatible.  Windows 7 has been structured to work with older computers, much more so than previous versions.

Of course, it is up to you whether or not to upgrade. And after October, all new computers will come with it. But, if your computer can handle it, I can recommend the upgrade.  Your call.  If you downloaded the RC version, try installing it and using the dual boot system.  Then you will know.

PS: This is my first blog written in Windows 7 on Windows Live Writer. 

Only One Day Left to Get Windows 7 at Half Price

Only one more day to pre-order Windows 7 upgrades for half off

That means you've got a little more than 24 hours to decide whether to pick up Windows 7 Home Premium Upgrade for $49.99 or Professional Upgrade for $99.99.  PS – I am going to do it. I like Windows 7 and it works very well on my computer.

Windows 7 'family pack' pricing revealed

Reseller posts Windows 7 three-license pack for $150 -- a savings of $210 for buyers

Microsoft's Next Patch Tuesday Could Be Big

Next Tuesday, July 13, Microsoft will issue 6 security bulletins and updates to fix the vulnerabilities described in them. Among these will be a DirectShow vulnerability disclosed in May and, possibly, the zero-day vulnerability that hit the Internet this week.

35 Beautiful Photography Websites

Photographers are finding new and exciting ways to showcase their best work online. We took a look at some of the beautiful photography websites that we could find, analyzing the design trends and the reasons why these websites work.

TwInbox Adds Twitter to Microsoft Outlook

Windows only: Microsoft Outlook add-on TwInbox lets you update, reply, search, and archive your Twitter messages right from your Outlook inbox.

North Korea on the Attack Again

More Web attacks, North Korea suspected

A fresh wave of cyber attacks that slowed U.S. and South Korean websites this week hit more targets on Thursday, a Web security firm said, while the South's spy agency has said the hacking may be linked to North Korea.

Will Google's Chrome OS look rusty by late 2010?

I think it’s good for customers, PC makers, software makers and even for Microsoft that Google is getting into the operating-system game. After more than two decades, Microsoft has only one real competitor in the desktop OS space: Apple. That’s not enough. Competition is good. It keeps prices down and true innovation up.

FAQ: How to vanquish mobile spam

I got my first SMS spam message last week and it infuriated me. The mortgage-related text message was more than just a nuisance, like e-mail spam is. It also was a strong indication of how marketers have managed to invade every private communication space consumers have.

Use OpenDNS to surf safely with these tricks

Windows Secrets editors frequently recommend OpenDNS, a free service that blocks dangerous sites so you can browse the Web securely. Unfortunately, OpenDNS has a few tricky gotchas for the unwary, but most of the problems can be solved if you set up an account and take advantage of a few tweaks.

40+ awesome free Windows apps you can download in 2 seconds

Depending on your internet connection you might be able to download a lot more (or a lot less) than 1Mb in two seconds - but calling this a post about apps under a meg just isn't quite as much fun!

Serious Cyber Attack and Google’s New Operating System

White House among targets of sweeping cyber attack

The powerful attack that overwhelmed computers at U.S. and South Korean government agencies for days was even broader than initially realized, also targeting the White House, the Pentagon and the New York Stock Exchange.

Tech 101: How a denial-of-service attack works

Investigators are piecing together details about one of the most aggressive computer attacks in recent memory — a powerful "denial-of-service" assault that overwhelmed computers at U.S. and South Korean government agencies, companies and institutions, in some cases for days. How does this type of cyber attack work? And how can people make sure their computers are safe?

Google goes after Windows with launch of Chrome OS

Google said late Tuesday that it will launch the Google Chrome operating system, a computer operating system that initially will target netbook computers by offering a faster, better and more secure way for users to access Web-based applications.

Tech 101: How a denial-of-service attack works

Investigators are piecing together details about one of the most aggressive computer attacks in recent memory — a powerful "denial-of-service" assault that overwhelmed computers at U.S. and South Korean government agencies, companies and institutions, in some cases for days. How does this type of cyber attack work? And how can people make sure their computers are safe?

7 free Windows 7 tweaking utilities

If you're running the Windows 7 RC, chances are good that you're the kind of user that likes to monkey around with settings and tweak your OS. While you can go the DIY route and hack your registry and run your mouse ragged clicking through various control panel screens, there are a number of good, free apps available designed to simplify tweaking.

Yahoo’s Intriguing New Search Engine

Can Yahoo steal the search throne from Google with Search Pad?

Search Pad, is a cloud-based smart tool that recognizes when a user may be doing research through search queries. In a demo the company gave me today, the user was looking up some information about digital cameras. After the third Yahoo search for information about cameras, a small pop-up appeared and asked if it should be taking notes. Reply with a yes and the sites you’ve been searching are there, with headline, excerpt and link. From there, you can add anything you want - maybe a user review from the Amazon page for a specific model - and Search Pad will grab the page title and a link, too.

Gmail, Google Docs, More Finally Lose 'beta' Tag

The kids are all growed up! Google has finally decided to ditch that pesky beta tag on several of its major projects. After five years of use, Gmail is apparently finally ready for prime time, along with Google Calendar, Google Talk, and Google Docs.

Internet plays key role in China's latest unrest by AP

The brawl between Han Chinese and Uighurs in southern China was scarcely covered by state media, but accounts and photos spread quickly via the Internet and became a spark that helped ignite deadly riots thousands of miles away in the Uighur homeland.

The $0.99 Netbook has arrived, on Sprint

Best Buy and Sprint have teamed up to offer a Compaq-branded HP Mini 110c netbook for only 99 cents when you sign a two-year data contract.

GOG.com - Good Old Games

Feeling nostalgic about the good old days where gameplay reigned supreme? Longing to spend some long, passionate nights with your favorite games of yesteryear? We’re proud to present GOG.com, the site where it's all about Good Old Games and the people that play them. Games range from free to $10.00...and even though were DOS games, the all work well now in Windows.

Fire in Seattle Causes Internet Problems

Seattle Data Center Fire Hobbles Web Sites

Electrical fire at a data center Thursday night knocked out Verizon's DSL service; Authorize.net and Microsoft's Bing Travel site for as long as 36 hours.

"Windows 7 is the same as Ubuntu"

Obviously, this isn’t true. Their underlying architectures are quite a bit different, Gnome looks different than the 7 UI, etc., but to an average 17-year-old, there just wasn’t any meaningful difference between the two operating systems.

Deathmatch: Palm Pre versus iPhone

There’s been one promised iPhone killer after another -- the Google Android-based G1, the RIM BlackBerry Storm, the yet-to-ship, years-delayed Windows Mobile 7 -- but none has given it worthwhile competition to date. Now Palm has its Pre, a device that looks to be a serious contender for the best next-gen mobile device crown.

Sites that help you lodge complaints

Whether you want to target politicians, your employers, or companies that have done you wrong, there are a variety of sites across the Web that will help you voice your complaints.

Taskbar Shuffle 2.5

Free program that lets you drag and drop your taskbar buttons and system tray icons to instantly reorder them. I use it and like it a lot.

Put some Fireworks on Your Desktop

It’s a very light news day as tech reporters and writers have taken the day off….but not me.  So, today’s news is a bit of light fluf, but there are a couple of nice downloads for you.  Happy 4th!!!

Study: 13 Percent of Cell-Phone Users Don't Use Them

Lightspeed Research has released the results of a multi-nation study about cell phone use--and some of them are strange.

Star Trek-like Universal Translator a Step Closer

The first iterations of something akin to the universal translators used on Star Trek may soon be arriving via your smartphone.

Celebrate the Fourth of July with a New Desktop Wallpaper

If ever there were a holiday that yields colorful and flashy desktop wallpaper, it's definitely the Fourth of July. Celebrate the Fourth on your desktop with these swanky fireworks wallpapers. And speaking of wallpaper…..

WallPapa 1.0.4.2 (Windows)

WallPapa is a free lightweight automatic wallpaper changer that changes the wallpaper on windows start up or at time interval of your choice.

Keep Firefox Open When Closing the Last Tab - Firefox 3.5

The new Firefox 3.5 release brought a lot of great features, but one annoyance sent reader Mark looking for a solution: When you close the last tab, the browser closes instead of opening a blank tab.

Windows Woes

Forced updates plague Windows users worldwide

The response to Scott Spanbauer's June 25 Top Story on forced updates makes it clear that a bug in Microsoft's Automatic Updates service is causing serious problems for Windows users.

Some Vista users say they're getting the Ultimate shaft

Microsoft promised that by purchasing the pricey Ultimate edition of Vista users would get all kinds of extras. However, for many, those extras turned out to be little more than a few screensavers and a poker game, prompting some significant grousing.

Gag Me with a Browser! What Was Redmond Thinking?

Analysis: With its "porn-and-puke" ad, Microsoft has crossed the line of bad taste --- by about three miles.

Family Pack license for Windows 7 could cover 3 machines on the cheap

Got three computers at home? There is reason to believe that Microsoft will let you license Windows 7 on all of them for a very competitive price.

Fake e-mails to patch Outlook lead to malware

If you receive an e-mail containing a link promising to upgrade Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express, you should simply delete the message to avoid being nailed by a Trojan horse.

China Delays Censorship Program for Computers

A year after Windows XP's death, users keep it alive and kicking

Despite Microsoft's insinuations, the numbers show that Vista's adoption has been poor. But is it time to look forward to Windows 7?

China delays rule for Net-screening software

China has indefinitely delayed enforcement of a requirement that PC makers preinstall Green Dam-Youth Escort software that experts believe would have screened not just Internet pornography but also some online political content.

The Michael Jackson Malware

It's inevitable now, with any high-profile news event that there will be spam and malware campaigns to take advantage of them. Thus it has been with the death of Michael Jackson.

How to improve your email etiquette

Here are a few ways to ensure that your email style makes you look as smart as possible and doesn’t annoy those on the receiving end of your messages.

Skype updates for Windows and iPhone

Skype is certainly on a roll this week. Just yesterday it converted the latest beta of its Windows Mobile phone software into a full-fledged release. On Tuesday, the VoIP company did it again for Skype 4.1 for Windows. In addition, Apple greenlighted Skype 1.1 for the iPhone and iPod Touch, which you can download now.

Special Edition – The New Firefox 3.5

Mozilla releases Firefox 3.5

Firefox 3.5 has a range of new features, including a new JavaScript engine for faster Web applications such as Google Docs; the ability to show video built into Web pages without plug-ins; a private browsing mode; fancy downloadable fonts; and geolocation technology that can let Web sites know where you are.

Firefox 3.5 - Full Review by PC Magazine

3.5 builds on everything you everything that made the previous versions of Firefox great, like the myriad extensions and themes and the "awesome" address bar for quickly getting where you're going on the Web. The result? An impressive piece of software gets even better.

Firefox add-ons: Which work in 3.5?

We've compiled what is by no means an exhaustive list of extensions that we find do and do not work in Firefox 3.5 at launch. Add your insights to the comments--we'll be updating this post throughout the day. Mozilla also has a compatibility report that takes the 95 percent most-used add-ons and matches them to their version numbers. A quick glance will tell you if your favorites are a go.

With 3.5 launch, Firefox faces new challengers

A funny thing to happened to Firefox on the way to vanquishing Internet Explorer: the Mozilla browser's success opened the door for a host of its other competitors.

Avast Home Edition - New Version

This is a brand new edition of Avast. If you are a user, you might wish to update.

Google Voice is Getting Close

Google Voice takes a step toward launch

Google hasn't yet launched Google Voice publicly, but it did take a step in that direction on Thursday by starting to extend invitations to those who signed up on a waiting list for the Net-augmented telephone service. Have you signed up yet for an invite? I sure did.

Facebook wants you to do it live

When Facebook launched its latest redesign, it became evident that the company was putting a lot of emphasis on real-time information--inspired, undoubtedly, by the runaway success of Twitter. Now the company's rolled out two small but crucial new features that put instant updates even more front and center.

10 things you should know about Windows XP's System Restore tool

If a crash makes your Windows XP system flaky or unbootable, you can use System Restore to return it to a previous working state. These pointers will show you how to effectively use this safety net.

Finjan offers free SecureTwitter browser plug-in

Finally, there's a tool that can help prevent people from clicking on URLs that appear to come from friends on Twitter and other social media sites but which lead to sites hosting malware.

ShareThis :: Add-ons for Firefox

ShareThis makes sharing any online content quick and easy. The ShareThis plugin allows you to share text, pictures and video to any contact via email, IM, text message, Facebook, MySpace, Digg, Twitter and many more services.

More New Windows 7 Information

Pre-order Windows 7: Find participating online retailers in the US

Microsoft's Windows 7 pre-order is up, and in addition to Amazon, there are a number of retailers offering Home Premium and Professional at significant discounts.

Thumbing Windows 7 onto Netbooks

Microsoft is considering offering Windows 7 on a thumb drive to allow Netbook owners to more easily upgrade their machines. The move, which is still under consideration, is one of several things Microsoft has looked at to try to make it convenient to upgrade machines that don't come with a CD or DVD drives.

Power-Management Changes in Windows 7

Microsoft has done much to make Windows 7 all the things that Vista should have been, but perhaps one of the least heralded improvements is in power management. Windows 7 includes a host of enhancements that change how the OS interacts with hardware to make the most of the power going to your home PC and of what you use when you're on the road with your laptop.

FTC Is Ready to Pounce on Dishonest Bloggers

Good news, the Federal Trade Commission has cleared its decks and now has time to address one of the most pressing issues in society: Bloggers who get free products, write about them and then fail to report that they got a free product. Thank goodness. We're all saved.

Monitor your Intel CPU temperature with Real Temp

Sure, you know that your CPU heats up when you ask too much of it. But do you know just how hot it gets? Real Temp can tell you.

Order Your Windows 7 Upgrade Starting Tomorrow at 1/2 Price

Microsoft unveils 'screaming deals' for Windows 7

The program kicks off tomorrow, June 26, in the United States, Canada, and Japan. It’s scheduled to end July 11 in the U.S. and Canada —”or while supplies last,” Microsoft notes. The discount is 50% or more over the normal estimated retail price (ERP) of the two mainstream consumer editions. In the United States, you’ll be able to buy a Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade for $50

Microsoft's Windows 7 pricing: Too high, too low, or just right?

There’s still plenty we don’t know about Windows 7 pricing, such as how much Microsoft is charging PC makers per copy of Windows 7, which may have an impact on what PC makers will charge for new Windows 7 PCs. Microsoft isn’t talking about whether it will offer a Family Pack for Windows 7 and how much that will cost.

Windows installs updates without permission, researchers say

Windows is installing "surprise updates" against the wishes of some users, who have expressly set up the operating system not to deploy patches without permission, researchers charge. Numerous readers of the popular Windows Secrets newsletter have reported that they have watched their PCs install updates from the June 9 set of security patches as they've rebooted or when they've turned on their machines

More good reasons to leave Office on the shelf

In his June 18 Top Story, WS contributing editor Scott Spanbauer presented several free and low-cost alternatives to Microsoft's ubiquitous productivity suite. If you need more reasons to shutter your Office apps, take a look at some of the suggestions that poured in from readers in response to the story.

Kinetikz - Time Waster Game

Kinetikz is a simple shooting physics game where the goal is to shoot discs at a ball and manage to move the ball into the goal tile. Getting the ball into the goal replenishes your limited supply of discs, while running out of discs ends the game.

Is Blu-Ray Dying?

Blu-ray buzzkill: the death-spiral

Will consumers upgrade to Blu-ray? The CEO & co-founder of fast growing Netflix believes mailed DVDs shall be replaced by web-sent movies. And a recent Harris Poll finds that people today are less likely to buy a Blu-ray player than they were last year.

Google's digital-book future hangs in the balance

Google, the company best equipped and most motivated to digitize the world's books, wants to offer the world an online Library of Alexandria. The decisions of the Justice Department, authors, book publishers, a federal judge, and Google itself likely will determine whether the company actually does.

Study: Netbook Buyers Clueless About Netbooks

According to a study by the NPD Group, 60-percent of consumers who purchased a netbook believed that their machines are the same as notebooks.

FriendFeed introduces file sharing

Sharing pictures on FriendFeed is nothing new, but now it's just as easy to share other file types on the popular social network.

Three approaches to free encrypted online storage

SpiderOak gives you up to 2GB of secure online storage for free but requires that you download a big client program, though you can access your data via a browser. The free storage offered by CryptoHeaven and SwissDisk top out at 50MB, but both of these services have more to offer, and SwissDisk doesn't even require a client download.

Bye Bye, Kodachrome

Jobs recovering from liver transplant

Apple CEO Steve Jobs had a liver transplant in Tennessee about two months ago and is said to be recovering well, according to a Wall Street Journal report that cites unnamed sources. Jobs still is expected to return to work later this month, as expected, though he may come back on a part time basis.

Kodak to end production of Kodachrome

It’s the end of an era. Kodak has just announced that its killing off its Kodachrome color film brand this year after 74 years. The cause? Stiff competition from digital cameras. Just not enough people are using film these days to keep products like Kodachrome profitable to produce.

Don't stop believing in the RIAA's capacity for evil

Another file-swapping lawsuit, another outrageous verdict. Something's deeply wrong with the laws controlling copyrights

How to Buy a D-SLR Camera

If you're feeling limited by what your point-and-shoot camera can do, it might be time to upgrade to a D-SLR. Here's how to choose the best shooter to fit your needs and your budget.

Atomic Clock Sync - Free software

Reference an atomic clock server to get the current time with the greatest accuracy available and update your PC's information. It can even be set to automatically check the time once a day to keep your PC's time accurate forever.

More Good Info on Browsers + Windows 7 Bargain Prices

Leaked Best Buy memo offers Windows 7 details

The memo also says that on June 26, Best Buy will start preselling upgrade versions of Windows 7 Home Premium for $49 and Windows 7 Professional for $99 via its Web site. It's not totally clear whether those are standard or promotional prices, although the memo says the pre-order program will run only for 16 days.

Top 10 Firefox 3.5 Features - Firefox 3.5

Firefox 3.5 is a pretty substantial update to the popular open-source browser, and it's just around the corner. See what features, fixes, and clever new tools are worth getting excited about in the next big release.

Microsoft's IE8 "Get the facts" campaign - heavy on propaganda, light on facts

I just saw the official Microsoft web page where users can "get the facts" on Internet Explorer 8, and boy, is it full of weasel words and misinformation!

That e-mail attachment is not a Twitter invite

Symantec is warning about a mass-mailing worm that comes in an attachment pretending to be a Twitter invite.

Protect Your Laptop With Seven Must-Have Firefox Add-Ons

When you're out and about with your laptop, you probably like to frequent spots where you know you can score easy access to the Internet via a hotspot. When you're outside your own home network, though, which you've probably secured with a password against strangers, you're often at your most vulnerable. You never know who you're sharing a network with.

Will the Web Get Even Better? You Bet!

Firefox 3.5 'Web upgrade' planned for end of June

Firefox 3.5 comes with a spate of new features--5,000 total, according to Mozilla. Among the major ones: built-in video; local storage to enable richer Web applications that can work even with no network connection; a private browsing mode; geolocation to aid Web pages that can benefit from knowing a user's location; and faster performance loading pages and executing Web-based JavaScript programs.

Will new browsers really upgrade the Web?

Mozilla is exhorting users to "upgrade the Web" with Firefox 3.5 and variations on that better-browsing theme can be found with Google's Chrome, Apple's Safari, and Opera. The hope is that the Web will evolve from a series of relatively static pages to a lively home for Web applications--everything from today's e-mail to tomorrow's spreadsheets. But it could take awhile for reality to catch up with the vision. Interesting article.

Learning from Iran's Twitter Revolution

How did we have revolutions before Twitter? It seems like democracy is an inevitable result of Internet access, something that officials in Iran and China are now both fumbling with at their peril. As we watch both nations' ham-handed efforts at cramming the Internet genie back into the bottle, it's obvious that connected people are empowered people.

iTunes ain't the only gig in town

MediaMonkey is an excellent free jukebox that handles large collections especially well. Just updated to version 3.1, its ID3 tags, CD and DVD, and full-featured encoder are just the beginning. A $20 upgrade gets you, among other things, on-the-fly file conversion to your personal media player of choice. Other alternatives, like the free, open-source Songbird and aTunes, are also definitely worth your time and attention. CNET Download.com Editor Seth Rosenblatt explains what differentiates them here.

How to Buy a Digital Photo Frame

LCD technology is finally becoming affordable enough for these frames to be had at reasonable prices. We've reviewed a bunch of digital photo frames and have found that you can land a great bargain on an excellent one; but you need to know what to look for. So here are our rules for picking the perfect digital picture frame.

New iPhone and Their Updated OS

iPhone 3G S hits stores Friday: Will the crowds follow?

Despite the intense amount of interest in Apple's third-generation iPhone, this Friday's launch of the device may not bring out the hordes of Apple fans like it has in years past.

First look: iPhone OS 3.0 is better for business, but IT won't be satisfied

The hype over the new iPhone 3.0 OS has matched Apple's previous frenzied heights. We've all been guilty of getting excited over a new version that added long-desired capabilities such as copy and paste and content searching, but now that the new OS is real (it became available yesterday), does it live up to our hopes and dreams?

Microsoft backtracks, extends XP availability to 2011

After being hammered over its downgrade plan, Microsoft gives OEMs more time to sell XP PCs

Microsoft Security Essentials Public Beta

Microsoft created MSE to address a very simple problem: Far too many PCs are unprotected with up-to-date anti-malware products. The company tells me there are a number of reasons for this. First, because many new PCs come with only time-limited security solutions, some users believe they're protected even though the initial subscription period may have ended. Some don't even activate the free, bundled solutions at all. Some--especially those in emerging markets--can't or won't pay for security suites, most of which need to be renewed every year.

Break from MS Office with free alternatives

If you're thinking of skipping the next expensive Microsoft Office upgrade, you can begin preparing today for the move to a free Office-like suite or Web service. It is not mentioned in the article, but I kind of like Lotus Symphony also.

The State Dept and Twitter

US State Department Reschedules Twitter Maintenance Due to Iran Primetime

Reuters are reporting that the US State Department stepped in and asked Twitter to postpone maintenance in order not to disrupt service during Iranian daytime.

Microsoft's Bing has a second good week

For the week of June 8 to 12, Microsoft's search engines were used by 16.7 percent of those doing searches and accounted for 12.1 percent of all queries, both up 3 percentage points from where Microsoft was at before Bing's launch. Personally, I think Bing is very good.

How well do Netbooks work with Web apps?

Netbooks are an incredibly exciting new product category, and one that's undergoing constant evolution. Designed to handle e-mail, Web browsing, and some basic software apps, they are somewhat limited when compared with most full-size laptops, but how limited? I wanted to find out.

More on 'Unite': Opera's new browser-server

Opera Unite, is a Web server housed within the Opera browser. With it, you'll be able to host a Web site, and share files, music, video, notes, and chats with others. The sharing process begins when you select the hard drive where your files are stored, and then select the individual files you'd like to share. You'll then set your sharing preferences--either public, private, or password-protected--and Opera Unite will create a direct URL, which you can share with others. Guests can view the content from any browser, not just Opera's. This is very intriguing.

Picture and Sound Show

The Picture and Sound Show is a free 32-bit screensaver for Windows that enables you to create your own slide shows from pictures and sounds on your computer.

New Firefox and Opera Coming Soon.

Firefox 3.5 'Web upgrade' planned for end of June

Mozilla plans to issue a release candidate for Firefox 3.5 on Friday and the final version by the end of the month. The browser, code-named Shiretoko, began its life as a modest 3.1 upgrade. But as Mozilla's ambitions expanded and other browsers such as Google Chrome exerted competitive pressure, the new Firefox was promoted to version 3.5 and its planned ship date slid back several months.

Opera 10 with Unite Turns PCs Into Servers for Content

Norwegian browser company Opera Software has released an alpha version of Unite, software that turns a computer into both a client and a server, allowing it to distribute content to other computers directly across the Web, without the need for traditional Web servers.  This one could be quite interesting!

Google's censorship struggles continue in China

Google was going to help democratize data in China. Instead, about three years after entering the Middle Kingdom, the search company still finds itself in an uncomfortable working relationship with government censors.

The Perfect Mobile Phone Is (Nearly) Here

As the world begins to adjust to the mobile phone as a computing platform, we have to recognize the fact that for many people the device is bound to become the complete substitute for all computing needs.  By John C. Dvorak.

Why enterprises are moving to Google Apps, Gmail

Businesses are finding they can simplify IT and reduce the number of in-house servers while maintaining key functionality by moving to Google's hosted applications.  Maybe their conversion might be useful for you to know about.

Editors Note: This note is for those of you who get my blogs via e-mail. One of my faithful readers notified me yesterday that he was receiving junk e-mail from someone who was using my GoogleGroups account, the one I use to distribute both my blogs to subscribers via e-mail.  I too had received the same junk mail, but hadn’t noticed its source.  I scoured my GoogleGroups membership list and found the person responsible and immediately banned them for life.  So, you should not be receiving any more junk mail from some slimeball named Rachael.  My apologies for not catching this sooner.

Get Your Firefox Fix Today

Mozilla slaps band-aid on 11 Firefox flaws

Mozilla has joined this week’s patchapalooza with the release of a Firefox update to fix 11 documented security vulnerabilities. Six of the 11 issues are in advisories rated “critical” because of the risk of code execution attacks that could allow hackers to take complete control of a compromised machine.

Need to Know: Google Wave

Google Wave is an important new web platform, and it presents a credible threat to Microsoft's online efforts. Here's what you need to know about Google Wave.

Look Ma, I created a botnet!

The abstract concepts of "botnet" and "Trojan" just became a lot more concrete for me. In less than an hour on Thursday, I was able to use programs readily available on the Internet underground for as little as $300 to infect several Windows clients and take complete control of them in a test environment.

6 multiclient IM apps to chat about

A variety of multiclient instant-messaging services have cropped up that allow users to communicate with each other over the Web. Some can be downloaded onto your desktop, while others can be accessed on the Internet. In either case, they're worth trying out, if you want to enjoy a fine experience communicating with your friends.

A users' guide to personalizing your Facebook URL

It really shouldn't be this much of a media sensation, but let's face it: Everybody's talking about how Facebook is finally letting members reserve vanity URLs, letting them customize the Web addresses that lead to their profiles. The feature goes live at 12:01 a.m. EDT on Saturday (9:01 p.m. PDT on Friday) and already, the pundits are going mad.

More Windows 7 Controversy

Windows 7 to push up netbook prices

Anyone putting off purchasing a netbook until the next-generation Atom processor, the N450, arrives in October, should expect to pay a premium thanks to the extra cost of Windows 7.

Windows 7 Won't Include Explorer In EU

Prompted by antitrust concerns, Microsoft said Thursday that it plans to ship a version of its Windows 7 operating system in Europe that does not come bundled with the Internet Explorer Web browser.

Cisco Network Magic Pro 5.5 - At A Glance

Cisco's Network Magic is a software Swiss Army knife for your network. Network Magic's Network Activity and Intruder Tracking are the big blades that slice away your networking confusion and provide information on all connected devices, while other features like File Sharing and Wireless Protection are the cool corkscrew and toothpick extras you'd find on a Victorinox knife.

The many ways to access Wolfram Alpha

Say what you will about Wolfram Alpha, the creators are hard at work trying to drum up interest in the site. On Tuesday, the WA crew launched a number of updates to its service, some of which I tested. Now the team's Thursday blog points you to the many "cool tools" you can use to access the site--buttons, widgets, gadgets, and more. You can grab them from the Wolfram Alpha download page, where you'll find the tools organized by operating system and browser. I took them all for a spin to see how they fared.

MAME - Free software downloads

MAME, short for Multi Arcade Machine Emulator, lets you relive the golden age of the video arcade right on your PC. Instead of playing copies or clones of arcade games, MAME lets you play the actual arcade game. A variety of games is available for demo evaluation downloads, including Crystal Castles, Burger Time, Joust, Xevious, Donkey Kong, Tempest, and of course, Space Invaders.

Your Favorite Web Site May Infect your Computer

Big-name sites spread latest malware infections

Going by such names as Gumblar, JSRedir-R, Martuz, and Beladin, a new generation of malware has managed to surreptitiously place malicious JavaScript code on tens of thousands of popular Web sites. The hacker scripts try to infect site visitors and then attempt to use their compromised PCs to spread the infection to yet other sites.

NoScript - A Free Firefox Add-on that Stops Scripts from Running

Malware spread by Websites use scripts to infect your computer.  The NoScript Firefox extension provides extra protection for Firefox, Flock, Seamonkey and other mozilla-based browsers: this free, open source add-on allows JavaScript, Java and Flash and other plugins to be executed only by trusted web sites of your choice (e.g. your online bank), and provides the most powerful Anti-XSS protection available in a browser. This can prevent the kind of infections listed in the previous story.

What You Need to Know About Digital Television - News and Analysis by PC Magazine

Time's Up: The DTV Transition Happens Tomorrow. I know that all of you reading this understand what's going to happen tomorrow, but I bet you know an aunt, uncle, grandparent or elderly neighbor who just isn't ready. Read up on the facts and then get out there and help them with their analog TVs before it's too late.

Lifehacker - Lifehacker Speed Tests: Safari 4, Chrome 2, and More

Safari, Chrome, and Internet Explorer all reached new final versions of recently, while Firefox and Opera pushed their own web browsers into almost-there betas. We pulled out the digital stopwatch and testing kits to see how they measured up.

Microsoft will soon unveil free virus software

Microsoft Corp is getting ready to unveil a long-anticipated free anti-virus service for PCs that will compete with products sold by Symantec Corp and McAfee Inc.

Apple and Microsoft Making News

Apple Announces iPhone 3G S, New Macbooks - News and Analysis by PC Magazine

Apple kicked off its annual World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco Monday by announcing refreshes across various product lines, including the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, OS X, Safari--and most hotly anticipated, the iPhone.

Microsoft patches 31 Windows, IE, Office security holes

Microsoft’s batch of patches this month is a big one: 10 bulletins covering a total of 31 documented vulnerabilities affecting the Windows OS, the Internet Explorer browser and the Microsoft Office productivity suite (Word, Works and Excel).

Windows Live Essentials: Does it hit or miss the mark?

Windows 7 has moved many tools out of the OS and into a free download. How do they measure up?

Budget Shopping Tips: Software

Ask yourself how many features of that $30, $60, or $200 program you're really going to use. If the answer is less than half, you can probably make do with freeware or with a less expensive shareware application. If you're already comfortable finding, downloading, and using freeware alternatives to pricey, branded software, then congratulations.

Jing - Free software downloads and reviews

The always-ready program that instantly captures and shares images and video... from your computer to anywhere. The Jing sun sits nicely on your desktop, ready to capture at a moments notice. Select an area on your screen, capture it as an image or record as video. Make it your own by adding text, arrows, and other effects. Share instantly over the web, IM, and email.

Editor’s Note: I am currently on the road again for a few days so blogs may be fewer than usual.  Will be back on schedule next week. - Jim

CyberSecurity, Netbooks, Wave, and Bing

Experts: Obama cybersecurity plan short on details

U.S. President Barack Obama's new cybersecurity report is short on details and creates a federal coordinator position that may have limited power, some cybersecurity experts said Monday. The new cybersecurity coordinator will report both to the U.S. National Security Council and the National Economic Council, raising concerns that whoever Obama names will have split priorities.

Netbooks on verge of big shake-up

As the Netbook sector enters its third year, new chips and operating systems hold the potential for massive change

Digital TV conversion figures: 5 percent switch to cable, 8 percent buy new HDTV

As the transition to a 100-percent digital TV landscape officially comes at the end of the week, market research firm Knowledge Networks has crunched some numbers to find out that about a quarter of TV households were impacted by the switch.

Bing Beta Review, Part 1, The Making of a Decision Engine

According to Microsoft - "For general searches, you can use Google or whatever. But if you want to make a decision with more confidence--related to travel, health, shopping, and some other key scenarios--try us first. Because we can actually save you time and money." And they may be correct.

Hands-on with Wave: Weird and quite wonderful

Google just opened up to a limited audience its very interesting communications experiment called Wave (news stories). Our hands-on evaluation: there's a lot to like. It really is a more contemporary take on communications. But it will knock many e-mail users off-balance.

Microsoft Steals This Day

Microsoft to plug holes in Windows, IE, Word, Office and Excel

Microsoft will release 10 security updates on Patch Tuesday next week, including critical patches for holes in Windows, IE, Word, Office and Excel. The six critical vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to remotely execute code on a machine, according to the Microsoft security bulletin issued on Thursday.

Microsoft Outlook users targeted in phishing attempt

The phishing e-mail arrives in Outlook e-mail in-boxes and looks like it comes from Microsoft. It prompts recipients to reconfigure their Outlook by clicking on a link that leads to a Web site that asks for an account name and password, as well as mail server information,

Windows 7 Starter Edition limits netbook designs

Don't be fooled: Windows 7 Home Premium works very well on most netbooks — the machines don't need Starter Edition. Despite what you may have read, Microsoft didn't devise Starter Edition to run on smaller, less-well-endowed computers. Rather, the company needed something cheaper than Home Premium to sell to the ultra-low-cost crowd. Keep that fact in mind while you sift through the marketing hype.

Microsoft Bing - Full Review by PC Magazine

With Bing, Microsoft's goal is not only to finding Web pages for you, but also to help you make decisions, and to deliver useful information on the results page itself. And in many ways, it succeeds.

State of the Art - Palm Gets It Right With Pre, Its New Smartphone

The star of this summer blockbuster is Palm. Over the years, this once-great company lost its talent for everything but making business blunders. Pundits were predicting Palm’s passing — but then the new Palm Pre appeared. The Pre, which goes on sale Saturday, is an elegant, joyous, multitouch smartphone; it’s the iPhone remixed.

Netbooks, SmartBooks, and Apple Haters

Intel Targets All-day Battery Life for Netbooks

The target, a sure-fire way to praise from road warriors, is more easily said than done. Most of today's laptops offer between three and five hours on a standard three-cell battery and close to double that on a six-cell battery. But the longer-life batteries are bulkier and heavier, and that negates a lot of the reason for having a slim and lightweight machine.

Update: Microsoft to leave SmartBooks to Google

Microsoft doesn't plan to offer a version of Windows for so-called "smartbooks," leaving the space open to Linux, Google's Android and other operating systems. Smartbooks are a new class of device built around ARM-based chips from companies like Qualcomm, Freescale, and Texas Instruments. A number of PC makers are working on smartbook designs, which are targeted at the space between smartphones and netbooks

Yahoo Mail Filters Your Inbox by Contacts and Connections

Yahoo's email service rolled out an interesting new feature today that filters your inbox to show only emails from contacts or "connections" to help you get to your most important emails first.

Apple Faithful: Arrogance Is Not a Virtue, and Why I Will Never Buy a Mac

People have often characterized me as an “Apple hater” but this is actually a simplistic assessment of what I feel about the company and its products, since arguably my entire history with personal computing began with Apple.

FileHamster - Free software download

FileHamster is a version tracking application designed with content creators in mind. It provides real-time backup and archiving of your files while you work. It enables you to monitor specific files on your hard drive and automatically create incremental backups whenever those files are modified.

Windows 7 Official Launch Date

Windows 7 to launch October 22

The official date on which Windows 7 will be available for general purchase is October 22, 2009. The RTM code will be delivered to partners at the end of July.

Facebook Remains Stubbornly Proud Of Position On Holocaust Denial

“Denying the holocaust is not a violation of our terms,” says Facebook spokesperson Barry Schnitt in a comment to our post yesterday. Meanwhile, Facebook’s ban on pictures showing nipples from breast feeding women remains. The pictures are pornography and a violation of Facebook’s terms of service. What?

Apple plugs gaping QuickTime security holes

Apple today released QuickTime 7.6.2 with fixes for a variety of security vulnerabilities, some of which could lead to arbitrary code execution attacks. The update, available for Mac OS X, Windows XP and Windows Vista, covers a total of 10 documented vulnerabilities that could be exploited via booby-trapped movie, video, image and audio files.

How to Buy a Cell Phone

These days, smartphones get all the buzz, but the vast majority of handsets sold in the U.S. are actually feature phones: camera phones, music phones, rugged phones, messaging phones, or just plain voice phones.

Bing :: Firefox Add-ons

Want to add Microsoft's New Search engine "Bing" to Firefox? Here is a simple free plugin that will do the job. I did it and I must admit I like Bing.

Latest Updates on Windows 7

Two Words about Windows 7: Higher Prices

Technically speaking, Windows 7 is exactly what Microsoft needs in order to recover from its Vista fiasco. Too bad the company seems to want to shoot itself in the foot.

Are you ready to ditch XP for Windows 7?

According to NetApplications, Windows XP is still the OS of choice for users out there in ComputerLand, with some two-thirds of users still making use of the aging OS. If you are an XP user, has what you’ve seen of Windows 7 made you willing to ditch XP?

Experts: Gumblar attack is alive, worse than Conficker

Gumblar, a new attack that compromises Web sites, has added new domain names that are downloading malware onto unsuspecting computers, stealing FTP credentials to compromise more sites, and tampering with Web traffic,

Skype 4.1 beta: Share your Windows screen

Skype's screen sharing feature is a clever addition to the VoIP communications application. In our tests it was engaging, especially when paired with Skype's voice calling and chatting capabilities.

CopyPasteTool 1.0 (Windows), from CopyPasteTool

Free small tool for pasting several pieces of text from clipboard without popup user-interface. It extends behavior of standard clipboard hotkeys CTRL+C and CTRL+V. When this tool is running user can press CTRL+V a several times (hold down CTRL) for accessing to previous clipboard values.