Monday, January 26, 2009
Best of Wallpapers in high resolution
source:
http://www.ddlarea.com/design-tools/9293-andrew-brooks.html
Trojan in Mac...!
I usually write about Windows only cause I use windows (I’ve used both Mac and Linux and like them both). PC users are usually sneered at by Mac users as virus don’t affect Mac. I’ve seen one Mac advertisement stating that there are 1 billion virus out loose but never on a Mac.
I don’t think this statement will hold true any longer, there’s a Mac trojan floating around inside a pirated iWork ‘09 release that has appeared on various torrent sites.
When installing iWork 09, the iWorkServices package is installed. The installer for the Trojan horse is launched as soon as a user begins the installation of iWork, following the installer’s request of an administrator password (in older versions of Mac OS X, 10.5.1 or earlier, there will be no password request). This software is installed as a startup item (in /System/Library/StartupItems/iWorkServices, a location reserved normally for Apple startup items), where it has read-write-execute permissions for root. The malicious software connects to a remote server over the Internet; this means that a malicious user will be alerted that this Trojan horse is installed on different Macs, and will have the ability to connect to them and perform various actions remotely. The Trojan horse may also download additional components to an infected Mac.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Windows 7 still available, as deadline extended
Has demand for the new Windows been less than expected?
If you've heard all about the free download of a beta version of Windows 7 but been unable to get your hands on a copy yet there's still time to do so, after Microsoft announced an extension to the public trial at the weekend.
The company said it was scrapping the 24 January deadline and keeping the Windows 7 download servers running until 10 February – more than two weeks longer than it originally planned.
Demand easing?
While the Redmond firm says the extension is due to unprecedented enthusiasm, some are wondering if it really means demand for the next version of Windows hasn't been as great as expected.
At the 10 January beta launch, Microsoft said it would offer 2.5 million copies to download; a target that, presumably, hasn't been hit yet.
Enthusiasm abounds
Nevertheless, a company spokesman put a positive spin on the new deadline, saying: "Because enthusiasm continues to be so high for the Windows 7 Beta and we don't want anyone to miss out, we will keep the beta downloads open."
Anyone starting a download by the 10 February cut-off will actually have until 12 February to finish it, while MSDN professionals and TechNet subscribers won't be affected at all.
source:techradar.com
Friday, January 23, 2009
The Macintosh turns 25
24 January 2009, the 25th anniversary of the Macintosh. On that fateful day in 1984 Apple released a little toaster of a personal computer that went on to become the first commercially successful personal computer to feature a mouse and a graphical user interface.
The embedded video above (YouTube) is Apple’s famous “1984? television commercial directed by film maker Ridley Scott. From my new book, Corporations that Changed the World: Apple Inc.:
Apple announced the Macintosh to the world with a television commercial (“1984”) that was directed by Ridley Scott, an alumnus of such films as Alien, Blade Runner, and Gladiator. The commercial, written by Apple’s advertising agency Chiat /Day, aired on January 22, 1984, during Super Bowl XVIII between the Washington Redskins and the Los Angeles Raiders. The ad featured a female character (played by Anya Major) wearing a white tank top, red shorts, and running shoes, running through an eerie, dark, futuristic world and throwing a sledgehammer at a huge TV image of Big Brother. The Big Brother character was giving orders to rows of people that looked like prisoners— a veiled reference to IBM. The commercial ended with a message read by Edward Grover: “On January 24, Apple Computer will introduce Macintosh. And you’ll see why 1984 won’t be like 1984.”
Here’s another fun “Macintosh” anecdote by The Father of the Macintosh, Andy Hertzfeld, again from Corporations:
How the Mac Was Almost a Bicycle
The name Macintosh was originally selected because it was Jef Raskin’s favorite type of apple, but the Mac almost wasn’t an Apple at all. When Raskin took a leave of absence in February 1981, Steve Jobs and Rod Holt made the decision to change Apple to something else. They felt that the name Macintosh was just a code name and that a name change was in order to reflect the change in regime.Holt decided on Bicycle as the new name that would replace Raskin’s Macintosh for the duration of the project and presented it to his design team. When they balked, Holt insisted that all references to Macintosh be changed to Bicycle, telling them that it shouldn’t really matter “since it was only a code name.” The Bicycle name originated from an ad that Apple had placed in Scientific American magazine. The ad featured quotes from Steve Jobs about computers, including one about how personal computers were “bicycles for the mind.” The logic was that humans could run as fast as other species, but a human—on a bicycle—could beat them all. Rod’s edict was never obeyed. Somehow, Macintosh just seemed right.
My story goes like this: I received a 128k Mac in the summer of 1984 as a birthday gift from my Mom and spent an entire summer at my grandparents cottage obsessively learning MacWrite and MacPaint. The rest, as they say, is history.
I remember attending an early Macworld Expo (1985?) where the smell of solder was wafting down the hotel hallway from all the backroom Mac 512k upgrades that were being performed. I still have a working 128k in the garage (in the original beige Apple bag, natch) and a MacPortable in the attic, although it’s not the backlit one.
What’s your Mac story? Tell us about your Mac museum in the TalkBack. (C’mon, you know you have one. :)
Aside: Fun BBC video of a Mac 128k booting faster than a modern Windows notebook.
source: blogs.zdnet.com
Microsoft Hardware Support for the Windows 7 Beta Release
For the best Microsoft Hardware device and software performance, it’s essential to install all of the important and recommended Windows updates from the Windows Update site.
Important: These are beta versions of software to support Microsoft Hardware devices on beta versions of the Windows® 7 operating system. The following table lists the beta software you will need to install to support Microsoft Hardware products for the 32-bit and 64-bit versions. The notes column contains late-breaking information and additional details that you will need to read and reference in order to install the beta software. Please read the notes before you install the software. Product Release Notes include information about 32-bit and 64-bit products wherever appropriate.
Download: Drivers Pro 32-bit and 64-bit beta
source: microsoft.com
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Download Windows 7 Transformation Packs
Windows 7 Transformation Pack no.1
Windows 7 Transformation Pack no.2
Windows 7 Transformation Pack no.3
Windows 7 Transformation Pack no.4
What an imagination !!
Make Your XP look like the windows 7
Well this is not how the windows 7 actually looks like. The windows 7 beta is out and you can try it for testing purposes and its completely different than what you are seeing here.Here is one of the beautiful imagination of windows 7 all ready for xp for download.This would change the wallpaper, icons, bootscreen, SheelStyle ,Sounds , Login , Cursors and much more to the predicted parts of Windows 7 ( Windows Vienna) .It also includes some applications which will make your desktop look like XP ;)
You can Download Vienna Transformation Pack From here.
MacWorld, Windows 7, Palm
The week started off with MacWorld 2009, in San Fransisco, the last MacWorld attended by Apple. The company had already announced that instead of Steve Jobs, it would be Phil Schiller delivering the keynote. Various rumours had made their way onto the internet, but in the end, none of the extravagant ones had an bearing in reality. apple delivered new versions of iLife, iWork, and also updated their 17" MacBook Pro offering to match the new features of the cheaper MacBooks and MacBook Pros, such as the aluminium unibody design. In addition, Apple claims a battery life of 7-8 hours, which is, by any standard, quite long for such a large and powerful laptop.
Some wondered why Apple didn't make any statements regarding Snow Leopard, although I personally thought that it made sense for Apple to remain mum on the subject for now.
Moving on from MacWorld, we go to Las Vegas to join in on the gadget orgy known as the Consumer Electronics Show, where two important announcements were made: Microsoft launched the first beta for Windows 7, and Palm surprised everyone by showing off their new mobile operating system and phone.
The beta to Windows 7 was launched during Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer's first keynote presentation at CES, a task which was previously performed by Bill Gates. During his keynote, Ballmer launched the Windows 7 beta to TechNet/MSDN/Connect, and promised a public beta by next Friday. The public beta arrived, but due to the fact that Microsoft announced a download cap of 2.5 million, the download servers were mashed into oblivion, and the company was forced to delay the public beta by about a day. Microsoft: BitTorrent, BitTorrent: Microsoft. I hope you can become friends.
MacWorld and Windows 7 were expected, but no one really foresaw the positive impact Palm's new webOS and pre mobile phone would make in the media. Especially the card-based interface was met with positive responses from media outlets. Palm remained silent on some details, however, but Ars did dig up some information regarding the device and its SDK that Palm didn't give out.
Apart from the above, Google's Chrome also made the headlines with information regarding Chrome 2.0. Creative's Zii platform barely made any ripples on other websites, but we found it pretty interesting nonetheless.
Something that didn't make it to OSNews this week was the barrage of submissions regarding gOS 3.1 (SP1). I've ordered a set of parts to build a brand new computer from, allowing me to turn my current machine into a nice test rig. I promise to take a look at gOS 3.1 as soon as the new machine is assembled, and I free up my current machine.
Next up is My Take, which, as I already mentioned, will be a completely random musing about a random subject. It can be about music, television, film, or just plain ol' technology.
from : http://www.osnews.com/story/20752/MacWorld_Windows_7_Palm
Installing Windows 7 on any Netbook
Installation
Installing Windows on a machine without a CD/DVD drive has always been a bit tricky, and you'd think that "geared towards netbooks" would imply that Microsoft made this process a little easier. Well, they didn't, so you'll still have to resort to some tedious work before you can actually start the installation. It's hard to screw this up, but it's still tedious work, and shouldn't really be necessary in this day and age. The instructions below are taken from garyshort.org.
Get yourself a nice USB drive, at least 4GB in size (2GB is too small, and I'm not sure if 3GB drives exist), and plug it in your computer. Then, load up a command prompt with administrative privileges (right click, "Run as administrator..."), and enter the following commands to properly format the USB drive:
diskpart
[launches diskpart]list disk
[lists the currently mounted disks, and assigns them a number]select disk #
[selects the USB drive, replace # with your disk's number]clean
[removes any MBR and partition information]create partition primary
[creates primary partition]select partition 1
[selects the just-created partition]active
[marks the partition as active]format fs=NTFS
[formats the partition as NTFS]assign
[mounts the partition and assigns a drive letter]exit
[terminates diskpart]The next step is to prepare the bootsector of the USB drive so that it is capable of catapulting the Windows 7 installation routine. To do this, put the Windows 7 DVD in your drive (or mount the .iso image using your tool of choice), and navigate to the /boot
directory using a command prompt with administrative privileges. For some weird reason, the prompt I still had running after ceating/formatting the partition on the USB drive no longer had administrative privileges, so I had to load another. Once you're in the boot directory, execute the following command:
bootsect /nt60 #
[prepares the boot sector, replace # with your USB drive's drive letter]The rest is pretty easy. Copy the contents of the Windows 7 DVD/.iso image onto the USB drive. You can do this via drag/drop in Explorer. Once the copy process is complete, you can boot from the USB drive straight into the Windows 7 installation routine as if was a regular bootable DVD. On the Aspire One, this means hitting F12 during boot, invoking the boot menu, and selecting the USB drive as the boot device. Make sure that as soon as the installation routine starts rebooting, that you do not re-launch the installation routine.
That's all there is to it. Tedious, but if you're reading OSNews, this shouldn't pose any problems.
And now what...?
source: http://www.osnews.com/Windows Embedded, on Your Desktop
Let's look at a few products that don't exactly get much attention in the consumer lime light. Let's start with Windows Embedded Standard 2009, formerly XP Embedded.
Windows Embedded Standard 2009 is a componentized and updated version of Windows XP Pro. It has all the latest and greatest features of XP and its software available on a componentized level. Depending on how you want it set up it can include .NET 3.5, Sliverlight, RDP 6.1, IE7, Windows Media player 11, DirectX 9, and many other features (it can also be run as a real time OS via 3rd party products, but I don't recommend it). It also comes with a snazzy new theme that I think is just great.
So here's the best question, "Why would I go through the extra work of building my OS via componentizing it?" That's simple; you only install what is needed (who needs 8 million print drivers in their default install anyway?), and you can have a fully functional desktop OS with an install footprint of 200MB or less (that's with most of the bells and whistles you would need to game, or use the machine as a desktop).
read more here...
Monday, January 19, 2009
Windows key keyboard shortcuts
Below is a listing of Windows keys that can be used on computers running a Microsoft Windows operating system and using a keyboard with a Windows key. In the below list of shortcuts, the Windows key is represented by "WINKEY".
Shortcut Keys | Description |
WINKEY | Pressing the Windows key alone will open Start. |
WINKEY + F1 | Opens the Microsoft Windows help and support center. |
WINKEY + F3 | Opens the Advanced find window in Microsoft Outlook. |
WINKEY + D | Brings the desktop to the top of all other windows. |
WINKEY + M | Minimizes all windows. |
WINKEY + SHIFT + M | Undo the minimize done by WINKEY + M and WINKEY + D. |
WINKEY + E | Open Microsoft Explorer. |
WINKEY + Tab | Cycle through open programs through the taskbar. |
WINKEY + F | Display the Windows Search / Find feature. |
WINKEY + CTRL + F | Display the search for computers window. |
WINKEY + F1 | Display the Microsoft Windows help. |
WINKEY + R | Open the run window. |
WINKEY + Pause / Break key | Open the system properties window. |
WINKEY + U | Open Utility Manager. |
WINKEY + L | Lock the computer (Windows XP and above only). |
Basic PC shortcut keys
The below basic shortcut keys are a listing of shortcut keys that will work with almost all IBM compatible computers and software programs. It is highly recommended that all users keep a good reference of the below short cut keys and/or try to memorize the below keys. Doing so will dramatically increase your productivity.
Shortcut Keys | Description |
Alt + F | File menu options in current program. |
Alt + E | Edit options in current program |
F1 | Universal Help in almost every Windows program. |
Ctrl + A | Select all text. |
Ctrl + X | Cut selected item. |
Shift + Del | Cut selected item. |
Ctrl + C | Copy selected item. |
Ctrl + Ins | Copy selected item |
Ctrl + V | Paste |
Shift + Ins | Paste |
Home | Goes to beginning of current line. |
Ctrl + Home | Goes to beginning of document. |
End | Goes to end of current line. |
Ctrl + End | Goes to end of document. |
Shift + Home | Highlights from current position to beginning of line. |
Shift + End | Highlights from current position to end of line. |
Ctrl + Left arrow | Moves one word to the left at a time. |
Ctrl + Right arrow | Moves one word to the right at a time. |
Kodu:a new visual programming language
Kodu is a new visual programming language made specifically for creating games. It is designed to be accessible for children and enjoyable for anyone. The programming environment runs on the Xbox, allowing rapid design iteration using only a game controller for input.
Programming as a Creative Medium
The core of the Kodu project is the programming user interface. The language is simple and entirely icon-based. Programs are composed of pages, which are broken down into rules, which are further divided into conditions and actions. Conditions are evaluated simultaneously.
The Kodu language is designed specifically for game development and provides specialized primitives derived from gaming scenarios. Programs are expressed in physical terms, using concepts like vision, hearing, and time to control character behavior. While not as general-purpose as classical programming languages, Kodu can express advanced game design concepts in a simple, direct, and intuitive manner.
Screen Shots
(Click to open a larger image a new window.)
Key Features
Kodu provides an end-to-end creative environment for designing, building, and playing your own new games.
- High-level language incorporates real-world primitives: collision, color, vision
- Uses Xbox 360 Game Controller for input — no keyboard required
- Runs on XBox 360 and PC
- Interactive terrain editor
- Bridge and path builder
- Terrain editor - create worlds of arbitrary shape and size
- 20 different characters with different abilities
Microsoft 'shields' IE from competition
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Nokia Developer Conference 2009
With the increasing demand in for quality new things the Forum Nokia is set to go with Nokia Developer Conference 2009 on 20th January, 2009 at Trinity, Taj Residency, Bangalore.The idea behind this conference is to create a forum where the knowledge and creative concepts of developers from all over India will be bomarded,disscussed, and there will be a rise in the new idealogies and plans for the Mobile VAS industry .The whole event is to develop killer mobile applications .Develepor's creative programming talent for various mobile technologies, developers success stories will be some of the highlights in the Conference.
Many experts from the IT Industry will be representing their Industry Concepts and Idealogies with the new developers.It will be Work shop for the new developers.Where as its an open opppurtunity for developers wanting the seek of scope in this field.Many of the concepts like gaming console,Media,Live applications,Internet on mobile,Browsers,Customisation according from person to person,ease of acess while operation,will be the key points in the developers to know about it.
The developers need to attend these kind of Conferences because they need more contemporary knowledge on whats the future in their respective fields.There are lots of points to be discussed ,the scope of 3G mobiles and future applications kind of those will be some of the important topics to watch out.There will be a lot more to know on developments on the mobile applications,.
So dare you miss an oppurtunity like this.Go to the venue of the Forum Nokia Developer Conference 2009 on 20th January, 2009 at Trinity, Taj Residency, Bangalore.
Register Here for The Forum ‘Nokia Developer Conference 2009′.
How to Install and Enable DreamScene in Windows 7
In order to enable DreamScene in Windows 7, the similar hack which allows DreamScene to be installed on non-Ultimate edition of Windows Vista such as Windows Vista Home Basic, Home Premium, Business and Enterprise edition is used. The DreamScene installation hack has been compiled into an executable, which automatically copy the necessary DreamScene files and merge require registry keys and entries.
Tip: To run DreamScene in Windows 7, Windows Aero has to be turned on.
How to Install DreamScene in Windows 7
Run the Windows7-DreamScene.exe as Administrator to install and enable Windows DreamScene on Windows 7. The installer will copy DreamScene.dll to %WinDir%\System32 folder, DreamScene.dll.mui to %WinDir%\System32\en-US folder and add the required registry keys and values. Then it will automatically restart the Explorer to make the installation of DreamScene works immediately.
A Windows DreamScene folder has also been created in %WinDir%\Web\ folder. You can place any video file that you want to set as DreamScene background wallpaper here as in Windows Vista, or anywhere you like. However, the folder is less useful as Windows 7 does not support direct viewing of video or animated media in Personalization Control Panel.
Download:
Windows7-DreamScene.exe (link 1)
Windows7-DreamScene.exe (link 2)
source: mydigitallife.info
Windows 7 tips and tricks
Two Microsoft employees have posted helpful Windows 7 tips, tricks and secrets this week.
Tim Sneath has posted 30 secrets/tips on his blog. Some of the highlights include the following:
Get Quick Launch toolbar back
1. Right-click the taskbar, choose Toolbars / New Toolbar
2. In the folder selection dialog, enter the following string and hit OK:
%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch
3. Turn off the "lock the taskbar" setting, and right-click on the divider. Make sure that "Show text" and "Show title" are disabled and the view is set to "small icons".
4. Use the dividers to rearrange the toolbar ordering to choice, and then lock the taskbar again.
Windows Vista taskbar
Right-click on the taskbar and choose the properties dialog. Select the "small icons" checkbox and under the "taskbar buttons" setting, choose "combine when taskbar is full".Starting explorer from "My Computer"
To do this, navigate to Windows Explorer in the Start Menu (it's in the Accessories folder). Then edit the properties and change the target to read: %SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /root,::{20D04FE0-3AEA-1069-A2D8-08002B30309D}Old behaviour for Windows Live Messenger
Navigate to C:\Program Files\Windows Live\Messenger\ and set the properties of msnmsgr.exe to Vista compatibility mode. This will place the Messenger icon back in your system tray and remove the 2 annoying tabs on the taskbar.If you're wondering about the fish in the Windows 7 fish then it's a Betta Fish and also has 7 bubbles to signify Windows 7.
Brandon Paddock has posted a full list of the Winkey combinations for Windows 7 on his blog too.
source: neowin.net
Friday, January 9, 2009
Windows 7 Wallpapers, The Finest So Far
To celebrate the arriving of this new operating system fan boys and enthusiasts created related wallpapers and shared them all over the Internet. Here’s a collection of some of the Finest Windows 7 Wallpapers (yet).
Unofficial Windows 7 Wallpaper Pack by maoractive
Windows 7 wallpaper by 24charlie
Windows Seven by Youness-toulouse
Windows Se7en Pack 1 by Frnak
1280×1024, 1024×768, 800×600, as well as widescreen 1680×1050 and 1920×1200.
9Wallpapers
1280×800
Windows 7 Imagination by Gigacore
Windows 7 Imagination wallpaper is created using other two wallpapers, vista trends and windows home server wallpaper.
Windows 7 Energize by WindowsNET
Windows 7 by rehsup
Windows 7 by deviantarnab
Windows SEVEN by havocki
Windows Se7en Midnight by yanomami
Windows 7 Wallpaper by ~QuantumEcho
This is a standard (4:3) wallpaper. For a widescreen resolution (16:9), look here.
Coolest Wallpapers for windows 7 and vista-1
Many people like to change their desktop background to give Vista a bit more a personal caracter.
Also because in Windows Vista you can add multiple users on the computer. And of course every user likes to have their own desktop background
Download free wallpapers to make your Windows Vista look even better!
Please keep visiting this place(blog) because this page will be updated often and you can download the new Vista wallpapers and change the look of your Windows Vista.