Linux is no more all about the command line. GUI in Linux was popularized by the release of Red Hat Linux 9. From then Linux has improved both, in its features as well as its GUI. Today, Linux has a GUI comparable to any Windows that will be released in the next five years. The plasma effect of KDE desktop and the Compiz effects have proven time and again that GUI is not all about Windows.

Linux has a plethora of desktop environments, distribution types and specialized distributions to choose from unlike Windows versions of Home Basic version, Home Premium version, Ultimate version, Professional version, Corporate Version and all that confusion.

The distributions in Linux are all managed and released by individual groups of developers. Unlike the Suse, Ubuntu and Red Hat Linux we know of, Linux actually comes in many different flavors and distros with different features and capabilities each. Many of them are built for specialized operation like scientific research, network testing system stability and performance testing etc.

Here are three of the lesser known but widely used Linux distributions. These distributions are specialized for particular tasks only though, general users can always give it a try and the best thing, these professional operating systems, are all free and open source.

Scientific Linux

scientific-linux-screenshot

Scientific Linux, is a Red Hat based Linux distro and is developed by Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab) and CERN in collaboration with many other laboratories across the world. The primary objective of the Linux distro is to prevent duplication of development of the same features by labs around the world and provide a standardized OS for various research and experimental works. It is basically Red Hat Enterprise Linux, recompiled from the source. This ensures a full compatibility with all software from Enterprise. Also, this Linux forms a base for the addition of additional specific packages for a particular lab. Also, each lab is allowed to create its own distribution with all its scripts and custom software, and redistribute it. The OS is available for all users as it is Open Source and you can try it out too if you are curious about what all the CERN uses.

The environment used is Gnome and there is extreme support for programming in Java.

Visit the Scientific Linux homepage here.

BackTrack

backtrack-screenshot

BackTrack is the Linux of choice when it comes to networks security and exploit testing. BackTrack contains a powerful 300 application base, packaged into one distro to make it the #1 Linux distro amongst networking professionals. BackTrack was awarded the #1 Security Live Distribution by inseccure.org in 2006. It was formed as a merger of two popular distributions, WHAX and Auditor Security Collection. The BackTrack distribution is based on Slackware Linux and just like any other Linux has a live CD too.

One of the featured applications in BackTrack is Metasploit, which is tightly integrated into the distro. Also, the applications in BackTrack are categorized and structured for ease of access. Any new feature is made available immediately, through updates. This makes BackTrack the perfect Linux for both budding hackers and security professionals dealing in Computer Forensics. BackTrack is used in many institutions providing specialization in network security.

The desktop environment available in BackTrack is KDE.

Visit the BackTrack homepage here.

ArcheOS

archeos-screenshot

ArcheOS is an acronym for Archaeological Operating System. This Linux distro is based on Kubuntu 8.10, although a new version is under development which will be based on Debian Squeeze. The distro is available as a live DVD like any other Linux and the Kubuntu base means full compatibility with the Ubuntu repositories. This gives it the ability to add more software packages. The distro features many specialized softwares like AutoQ3D for CAD, QGIS and GRASS for GIS (Geographical Information Systems), GPSDrive for GPS, Blender for 3D graphics, Gimp for fast image editing and other basic application like Firefox, Thunderbird, OpenOffice etc.

The ArcheOS distro features a KDE desktop environment.

Visit the ArcheOS homepage here.

An important feature of Linux, Live CD, which allows us to try a distribution before installing it, is present in all the three distributions. Linux has finally captured more than 1% of desktops worldwide. More and more people are using Linux every day. Clearly Linux is not all about web-servers and any general PC user can always try out one of these distributions.

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Post tags: app, development, linux, pc, program, software, Web Stuff

Friday was the release date for two Google phones, called Droids, with Verizon Wireless.  Both phones run Google’s Android Operating System and both look like they’re the start of some exciting mobile options for Verizon customers.  Both phones, the Droid Eris by HTC and the Droid by Motorola, are both phones similar looking to an iPhone with large touch screen interfaces.

This is not surprising, as Apple’s iPhone is likely going to be the main competition for this new deal between Verizon and Google.  The initial buzz surrounding these new Droids is positive.  They’re powerful phones, with plenty of hard drive space and a good camera.  They feature

QWERTY keyboards, WiFi, Flash, all the standard social application abilities, and a growing app library called Android Market.  Predictably, the phones all include a full suite of Google features, such as Latitude, Gmail, Search and YouTube and Picasa. The Droid is supposedly the world’s thinnest QWERTY slider.

Presumably these are the first in a line of phones released for Verizon that will feature Google’s Android OS.  Their main rival would appear to be the iPhone, and their first strike appears to be a good one.  Apple has a head start, something that is very helpful in terms of available apps for download, but with the huge amount of Verizon customers now potential customers, I’m sure the Android Market will be growing fast.  Couple this with the better coverage area and reception Verizon offers compared to AT&T and Apple could be in trouble.

Still, these are the first Droids on the market.  They are the version 1.0 of the Google and Verizon deal.  Similar to the initial version of C3PO that Anakin Skywalker was working on in Episode One of Star Wars, these are the first thoughts of what a phone equipped with Google and Android can do.  As they refine what a phone can, and should, do the Droids will be even more exciting.    Much like generation one iPhones still can’t do SMS these Droids are the first step in a long process of development.  There will likely be bugs, and quirks, and things that just don’t feel right.  My initial thoughts on the bigger Droid were that it looked a little boxy, and not quite as sleek as it could be.

The main thing to note here is that Verizon customers never had an option for an iPhone, or a G1 Google phone.  Whether it was contracts, perks, quality or loyalty keeping customers with Verizon, the choices were between a couple of blackberries and a handful of Windows Mobile smartphones.   Few of those options compare to an iPhone, or these new Droids.  Now Apple may be hurt by keeping the iPhone exclusively with AT&T, when millions more would’ve purchased one given the option with another carrier.

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Post tags: android, app, apple, development, droid eris, droids, google, HTC, iphone, motorola, motorola droid, release date, verizon

This article will take three lifestreams and compare them, bring out their pros and cons, and then let you decide which one may be right for you.

1.  Chi.mp. (http://www.chi.mp)  A slick web site that allows you to amalgamate Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and RSS feeds.  The interface is clean and setup is fairly easy.  The one stand out feature is the ability to select a custom domain name, for free, to point to this new collection of your internet life.  Chu.mp or Pi.mp could be your chosen domains, or the simple BillSmith.mp can make that address much easier to remember.  The downfall of the site for me was the use of the site.  Once I set it up, I never went back.  For my use, Chi.mp had no traction for me.  No big payoff.
2. Storytlr.(http://www.storytlr.com) .  I am growing more and more fond of this site.  Storytlr has  access to your accounts on  Delicious, Digg, Facebook, Flickr, Picasa, Stumbleupon, Twitter, Vimeo, Youtube, and many others.  Besides the broader reach of  Storytlr, it also brings sidebar widgets similar to Wordpress, comments, and pre-made themes to skin your site.  Antoher feature that I find useful is the ability to crosspost, so if you post onto Facebook, you can have it update your Twitter account and link to that post. 
3.  FriendFeed .(http://www.friendfeed.com) .  FriendFeed taps into delicious, StumbleUpon, Digg, Flickr, Picasa, Facebook, Gmail/Google Talk, Twitter, Amazon, and RSS feeds.  There are 58 services in total at the time of this writing that they support, and I see just about everything I need.  It also has premade themes to transform the look of the site.  FriendFeed also added the ability to friend people within FriendFeed, adding another layer to the site complete with direct messaging that can cross over to Twitter. Lastly, and I think possibly one of the most valuable features is the live updates.  No site refresh needed, so I can set up FriendFeed and let it spin all day and I can always catch new updates.  Of the three sites, FriendFeed is by far the most likely to grow and catch on.  If you don’t have a FriendFeed account, go get one now.

Will these sites revolutionize how we use the internet?  Probably not, but they will make our daily lives a little easier and maybe they could spark innovations in how we communicate with friends, family and colleagues.

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Post tags: blog, internet, theme, Web Stuff, wordpress

The first is eHow (http://www.eHow.com).  A great multi purpose site, eHow, covers topics like Careers, electronics and even legal and Parenting.  For instance, are you wondering what constitutes “Reasonable Suspicion” for a police officer to stop you?  There’s an article on that.  Are you wondering how to pierce an ear like a professional?  Or maybe how to best choose a tattoo design?  eHow has a mountain of user-submitted articles covering all these topics and more.  The downside to this site is that many of the instructions are of a very basic nature.  Over all, eHow has provided me with a few tips and tricks valuable enough that I will go back.

Next is Tutorialized (http://www.tutorialized.com).  Focusing on the more technical side of tutorials, Tutorialized does a really good job of providing articles on Photoshop, Gimp, and even AutCAD.  With over 12,000 tutorials on Photoshop alone, this is a great resource for any graphic designer or photographer.  They have some great articles on simple enhancements all the way to very specific tips and tricks, like “How to Create Glossy Lips and Change Hair Color”.  Each tutorial has stats like the number of views, votes and a simple rating system so you can quickly evaluate which tutorials seem to be better. 

Not commonly thought of as a tutorial site, but Mahalo (http://www.mahalo.com) has some pretty decent tutorials covering a wide range of topics.  Just check out the How To section of the site (http://www.mahalo.com/category/how-tos) to find some great articles like “How to make Pumpkin Pie” or “How to Make Money off of Facebook”.  The articles are well done and rival just about any tutorial I’ve seen on the internet.  Don’t under estimate Mahalo the next time you are looking for directions on how to do something. 

Lastly,  MonkeySee (http://www.monkeysee.com).  An aptly named site, these tutorials are all video-based and range in topics from automotive repair to pet care.  One of the more interesting articles is, “How to Play Air Guitar” and “How to Read Tarot Cards”.  I thought I knew how to play air guitar, but watching a video from the world champion air guitarist, I guess everyone has something to learn. 

So, the next time you find yourself wondering how to accomplish a task on your “Honey Do List”, don’t worry, because you can look it up on the internet.

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Post tags: Design Stuff, graphic design, internet, photoshop, tech, video, Web Stuff

Digg, on the other hand, was founded by Kevin Rose in 2004.  Starting primarily as a tech news site, it has grown to include World & Business news, Science news, Gaming news, Sports and other more mainstream content.  This has lead to a growth in popularity of the site that allows users to “Digg” stories they like and “Bury” stories they don’t.  Stories that are popular can experience spikes in traffic causing what some refer to as a “Digg effect” where the sites get really slow or even go down completely. 

With that in mind, let the Smackdown begin!

Round 1:  Content.  Digg does have a more mainstream group of news and a popular podcast, Diggnation, highlighting some of the more popular stories on Digg.  Reddit packs more punch by utilizing a streamlined interface loaded with odd stories.  For my needs, Reddit wins this round.

Round 2: Audience.  Reddit has a very active community submitting and commenting on stories,  but Digg has enough traffic to bring down otherwise stable web sites.  That’s a significant power to wield to be able to drive that sort of traffic to any site that the community that deems interesting.  Digg wins this one hands down.

Round 3:  Design.  Digg has always been a clean interface with iconic Digg buttons that are spread throughout the web by imitators.  Digg has always stayed true to simplicity of design and easy to use navigation interface.  Reddit’s design is barebones which is perfect for the loads of content on the site, but the reddit site design hasn’t been stolen near as many times as the Digg interface.  I’m looking at you http://www.yigg.de/, http://shoutwire.com/, http://www.shakk.us/ and http://www.fuzz.fr/ .  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, so I will give the design round to Digg. 

So in this three round smackdown, Digg takes the title, but I am anticipating this won’t be the last time we will see Reddit bring some innovative ideas and excellent content to the smackdown ring.  Congratulations, Digg, on winning this match up.  Until next time.

© redsneaker for zMogo Tech Stuff, 2009. | Permalink | One comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: app, Design Stuff, mac, tech, Web Stuff

 Next, http://happymomiam1.bravejournal.com/.  I love that this blog resembles the exact table cloth my grandmother used so we wouldn’t spill food on her table.  Unfortunately, the color scheme of baby blue, red, grey, acid green, electric blue, and orange says “I don’t understand hex notation so I just guessed.  The badges for several other sites sit haphazardly under the horrifying animated gif logo at the top of the site.  “The Beauty of Life”?  The travesty of design.

 I have to include this one because it is SOOOOO ugly.  http://cmdshiftdesign.com/ilovesmekitty/

This blog follows the rule, if one animated gif is good, then six is better.  Everything is animated on this site, but it has NO content.  Just pictures of her cat, a terrible cat background along with ANOTHER cat background in the left column.  Visible table holding links that are barely legible, visible hit counter AND my browser got a warning that a Windows Media Player was trying to start.  As if there wasn’t enough going on in this site that is the equivalent of a 12 year old girls messy room. 

http://www.hammerdowndesign.com/ugly/ is the next blog that makes my design brain physically hurt.  Having only four animated gifs on the page, the designer, and I use that term loosely, has decided that a repeated image of Sarah Palin is the best background for any blog.  Unfortunately, one of the graphics is broken, most likely it was an animated gif of me scratching my eyes out.  The most appauling thing is that the domain name, HammerDownDesign, alludes to someone who thinks they are actually good at this.  Less is more, Hammerdown. 

 Lastly, http://jayj.dk/grim/.  Blogs typically want people to read their content, but this site seems to be hell-bent on the opposite.  With barely readable text on tie-dye-inspired backgrounds and badly executed animated gifs, this site verges on abominable.   The structure of the page seems to be two columns occupying 50% of the width each combined with NO content.  What surprises me most is that someone, somewhere thought this site would drive people to their door asking them to design a site for them as well.  Sort of the philosophy of a wedding photographer advertising the business with blurry dark photos of someone’s cat.

So, keeping those sites in mind the next time you set off to design a web site, avoid the busy backgrounds, make your design seem intentional, avoid animated gifs, make sure the site has purpose and valuable content.  Choose colors that contrast well with each other and limit your color choices to prevent the site from looking like confetti.  Lastly, if your site ends up in an article like this, it’s time to rethink your design and career choice as a professional web designer.

© redsneaker for zMogo Tech Stuff, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: app, blog, Design Stuff, sem, Web Stuff

I launched Wave and prepared for the shock and awe.  I was neither shocked nor awed.  I saw a mix of instant messaging and e-mails.  It reminded me of my initial impression of Twitter.  I saw it, wasn’t excited and didn’t come back to it for a couple months.  So right now, I am in that period where I still don’t get it! 

Luckily, developers around the world are working with the Google Wave API and according to  a recent Business Week article by Lars Resmussen which stated  “We’ll almost certainly build a store…So many developers have asked us to build a marketplace—and we might do a revenue-sharing arrangement”.  Resmussen is the Google Engineer behind Wave.   

So it appears, Google is following the iPhone model which is so successful for Apple by selling $200 million in applications every month.  This could blow the doors wide open for Google Wave users and dramatically increase the functionality of the tool and make some visionary application developers a little pocket cash.  This application is also not tied to a device like the iPhone app store, so the growth of the app store and marketplace could exceed Apple.  But there are no published details on anything just yet.

Applications that would excite me for Google Wave would be:

1.  Google Maps integration to see where everyone is or to be able to collaborate on a map with the other users.  Imagine working with someone on a trip using the same map and having the dialog simultaneously?
2. Google Voice integration so if you start a wave, you could include the message to be sent to someone’s phone number as a voicemail.
3. Facebook, Twitter and Gmail integration to be able to communicate with people I am already connected to via Google Wave.  That could be one of the most powerful additions.
4. Video.  Not just the ability to share web cam streams with each other for video conferences, but to be able to show a YouTube slip or other video and all watch and comment simultaneously.

Unfortunately, I am still unamazed and still in limbo.  Hopefully, like Twitter, I will see the light and become a devout user who can see the potential and have the application change my life.  Hopefully.

© redsneaker for zMogo Tech Stuff, 2009. | Permalink | 2 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: app, apple, video, Web Stuff

Live Sync is a wonderful tool if you need to share files with someone or if you want a hands off backup of important files.  Live Sync allows you to synchronize foldersbetween two computers (Windows XP and later and Mac OSX up to 10.5).  The computers can be on a local network or just connected to the internet.  This is a great way to share photos with relatives or files with other people.  I personally use it to synchronize a folder full of “Keepers” on my desktop with a folder on my backup server so if my computer ever crashed after I added the document but before the nightly backup could run, I still wouldn’t lose the files.

Security essentials:  http://www.microsoft.com/Security_Essentials/

Microsoft has realized the necessity of antivirus software on windows PCs and has stepped up with the free Security Essentials.  Security Essentials provides protection against viruses, spyware, rootkits and Trojans.    This is a huge step in the right direction by providing this service free of charge.  Keep in mind, that like all anti-viruses, they are typically only effective in telling you AFTER you’ve been infected, so practice safe surfing habits like not downloading from questionable sites, don’t open e-mail attachments, and make sure you are running as a limited user on your computer and not running as administrator. 

PowerToys http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/Downloads/powertoys/Xppowertoys.mspx

Microsoft has a history of releasing non-supported PowerTools and Power Toys that their developers create because there is a need.  These are not publicized formally nor are they supported by Microsoft, but there are some gems.

Color Control Panel Applet:  Being an amateur photographer, being able to control how the computer displays colors and be able to control it from the screen all the way to the printer is very important.  This powertoy does just that in one centralized area.

SyncToy: If you have multiple copies of files or need a simple way to compare files, Sync Toy was built to help copy, move and synchronize various files like photos, docuemtns, etc.

RAW Image Thumbnailer Viewer:  As a photographer, I like to shoot my DSLR to capture RAW images.  The issue with RAW images is that many softwares can’t display the RAW files natively. This is where the RAW Image Thumbnailer Viewer comes in.  it allows you to see thumbnails, previews, EXIF data and even print RAW images you may not otherwise be able to see.

Alt-Tab Replacement:  If you multitask and have many files open at once, you may use the Alt-Tab key combination to cycle through the open windows.  The Alt-Tab Replacement PowerToy beefs up this ability and included page previews and the application icon.

Tweak UI:  By far, my favorite of the PowerToys.  TweakUI has been around for years allowing people to manipulate the user interface of Windows to better suit your needs.  Tweak UI is a must have for me when I set up a new computer. 

Image Resizer:  Why open up Photoshop or some other powerful image editing tool if all you need is to resize the image to e0mail or post somewhere?  With a right-click, you can resize one or many images.

Webcam Timershot:  This PowerToy allows you to set up a time lapse photo using your webcam.  Maybe you want to capture traffic or the weather moving in.  The Timershot tool is a simple way to take snapshots at specified intervals.

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Post tags: app, apple, internet, mac, microsoft, pc, photoshop, software, Web Stuff

In this multi-part series on specialized social networking, I will scour the digital world and take a look at some great social media sites that are addressing the needs of the niche market in social networking including everything from sites for writers and artists to off the wall social network sites for vampires and the gothic scene. To start the series off, here is a great list of social networking sites for Writers and Artists.

One of the biggest groups that social networking specialty sites are catering to include writers, painters, and other artists. These sites are a great way to showcase your talents, network with potential clients or collectors as well as other artists that can help you discuss your art, and to find great information for improving and expanding your natural talents.

Ten great sites dedicated to this genre include the following:

Art Slant:

A great network site for contemporary artists, Art Slant is where you can show off your latest creations, write a review, announce a showing, or contribute to their array of general content while networking with other contemporary artists.

Art Break:

This is one of my favorite artist’s communities. Not only do you get the benefits of networking with members of the art community but you can also showcase your work and even make arrangements to sell it to potential buyers at Art Break with no commission charges of any kind from Art Break. You can get an account with them for free, or if you prefer an ad free experience they do have a premium option available.

My Own Verse:

For those that feel like waxing poetic, My Own Verse, which describes itself as a poet’s playground, is a great choice. Set up your profile and connect with other poets to share and critique one another’s work which can help you to grow your own talents or simply satisfy your love of the written word by discovering fresh new voices in poetry.

My Art Info:

My Art Info is a social network for artists, art students, and collectors. The site allows artists to show off their talents while giving collectors an opportunity to find new artists or discover a great piece to add to their collection.

Artition:

This is a new but interesting community for the creative types. At Artition you can upload a gallery of your art work, music, videos, or even written works so it offers a little something for everyone in the art world.

The Outpost:

If you are looking for a young and hip creative community, then check out The Outpost, a fairly active community for music, arts, fashion, and culture.

Writer Face:

Next we have a social network designed specifically for writers. With all of the standard trimmings of a traditional social networking site, Writer Face is a great way to connect with other writers.

The Art Review:

A great place for finding the latest artists and art related news and blogs now offers a network feature to allow you to post your own profile, network with other artists, and show case your talent to Art Review visitors.

Peer Scribe:

Another choice in social networking geared towards writers. Post your profile and upload a portfolio or attend online workshops to help you fine tune your writing skills at Peer Scribe.

Art Log:

Art Log provides a great way for artists to announce their events while networking with other artists and commenting on various pieces of work highlighted on the site. They also have a regular newsletter and tons of great info on art events around New York.

The Writer’s Network (Frome OnceWritten):

The folks over at OnceWritten.com now have a social networking service to help you find and connect with fellow writers. Hosted on the Ning network it has all of the standard social networking features such as blogs, customizable profiles, and a friends list.

My Art Space:

My Art Space is another great choice for artists who are looking to show off their current work and get inspired by networking with other like minded and creative souls.

Writer’s Digest:

Of course, no list of writer’s social networks would be complete without the long standing authority in the world of writing, the Writer’s Digest. This magazine which is devoted to the craft and business of writing now has its own social networking community which provides an excellent community for networking with other writers.

© Niki Fears for zMogo Tech Stuff, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: blog, Design Stuff, Gear, style, video

Here’s my list of Twitter Clients:

The Web interface : (http://www.twitter.com)  It would be a disservice to leave out the twitter.com site itself.  In fact, many people only use the web interface to update their tweets.  It’s simple, it’s fast, and it gets the job done.

TweetDeck:  (http://tweetdeck.com)  TweetDeck is the dark alpha dog of twitter clients.  It is feature rich with the ability to monitor multiple twitter accounts, Facebook,, and MySpace.  You can also quickly see replies, direct messages, topics, saved searches, and it has a built-in spam monitor. 

Twhirl:  (http://www.twhirl.org) The cheery twitter client, twhirl is a bright, well designed interface that allows you handle all your usual twiter needs, but also includes the ability to send photos to TwitPic, automatically shorten long URLs, and cross post to Jaiku. 

Twitterfeed: (http://www.twitterfeed.com)   Sign up and enter your blog RSS feed and Twitterfeed will publish your blog posts onto your twitterfeed.  You choose how often it published the new blog content. 

Tweetie: (http://www.atebits.com/tweetie-iphone/)  Strictly for iPhones, Macs and iPod Touches.  It has a super clean look and lets you post to multiple Twitter accounts.  It allows you to follow tweets, replies, direct messages and trends on Twitter.  It is super easy to set up and will help tweeting on your iPhone, Mac or iPod Touch easier and more powerful.

Twitterberry: (http://www.orangatame.com/products/twitterberry/)  one of the best twitter applications for the Blackberry platform.  Twitterberry separates the replies, direct messages and the posting tof tweets, but makes it very usable on the Blackberry.  Currently there is not integration to TwitPic within the application, but that would be a nice addition—(wink wink).

Ping.fm: (http://www.ping.fm/) What Ping.gm brings to the table is how it centralizes updates of Twitter, but also Facebook, Jaiku, Bebo, Friendster, and Myspace.  The interface is simple and straight forward.  I’ve experienced a bit of a lag on the cross-posting, but  the ease of use to update all those sites at once may be enough to lure you over to this site. 

HootSuite: (http://hootsuite.com/) Tweetdeck can tend to be a bet wide especially on netbooks, but that’s where HootSuite comes in.  It allows you to create custom columns to store searches so you can keep an eye on people talking about your store or brand name.  HootSuite was one of the first to incorporate multiple twitter accounts as well. 

Seesmic: (http://seesmic.com/) Available in a web application, a desktop application and rumor has it, a mobile application soon.  Seesmic is one of the dominant twitter clients and it’s easy to see why.  They are continually pushing the envelope of features including a single column interface that resembles the familiar e-mail interface.  They also allow an unlimited number of columns to be added, a simple way to watch search terms, direct messages, and @ replies.  They included all the follow stats and complete profile view of your followers.  Not bad for a company that started as a vlogging site.  Seesmic is making tweeting on any platform easier and more intuitive.

Destroy Twitter: (https://destroytwitter.com/) An unusual name for an application, but in a sea of weird twitter clients, it needs to be this odd to stand out.  After all, it would be a little different if you were building an application for your Mac called “Kill Apple”.  I am digressing.  Destroy Twitter is eerily similar to Tweetdeck (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery?)  What appears to be Destroy Twitter’s strong suit is configuration.  You can choose when to ping twitter, font size, column size and a plethora of other settings to make your tweeting more enjoyable

Every person has different likes and dislikes, but if I were to recommend three to look into, they would be Tweetdeck, Seesmic, and HootSuite for their attention to detail, ease of use and over all usefulness in daily tweeting.  No go forth and tweet!

© redsneaker for zMogo Tech Stuff, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: app, apple, blog, Design Stuff, mac, sem, Web Stuff

You can create lists of people like family and friends separate from celebrities and keep those separate from the tech gurus. 

You can also subscribe to other people’s lists, so if your buddy has a list of twitter users he follows grouped because they all work for a certain company. You can subscribe to that list without having to rebuild that list of users.

Thank you Twitter for allowing me the flexibility of categorizing the tweets I like to follow.  Hey hey hey you got your tech tweet in with my tweet about my brother having his annual physical.  Now I can prevent that from happening. 

On the right side of Twitter, next to “Following” and “Followers” is “Listed” showing how many lists you are included in.

This addition of creating additional lists of people to follow will help people who have many many followers, those who are just starting and don’t know where to even start, and anyone looking for tweeples who belong to certain groups. 

Being from North Dakota, I subscribed to a list created full of twitter users in the Dakotas.  I can see a time when groups of twitter users will be readily available and pre-grouped for people interested in certain subjects.   

Imagine being able to add groups of twitter users who are all avid photographers or interested in amateur rocketry?  It’s a very useful way to following many other people you may not have been aware of before. 

It certainly will be interesting to see what happens as Twitter rolls this feature out to more and more users. 

So, keep an eye out on your Twitter page for this little addition.  Creating lists is a little time consuming, having to click each user that I want to add to a list and then add them to the proper list.  This is similar to adding songs to playlists in iTunes.  Once the lists are setup, they seem to add yet another dimension to an already super useful Twitter.

Thank you Twitter.  Now let’s hope the spammers don’t start selling lists of twitter users based on their interested so they can serve up specialized spam.

© redsneaker for zMogo Tech Stuff, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: app, tech

Windows Home Server http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/default.mspx

I have a small network at home with 8 computers attached to each other.  I had various shared external harddrives across the network, but finding things became cumbersome and unwieldy.  I wanted something like a server that I have used for many years at my place of employment, but I didn’t want a full server.  I wanted something that was easy to set up and manage and provide a central location for videos, music, and other files.  My search began and I quickly found Windows Home Server.  HP quickly began selling their MediaSmart server for far more than I wanted to spend; I purchased a copy of Windows Home Server and used one of the PCs I already owned to set it up.  The minimum specs for WHS are 1GHz Pentium III CPU, 512MB of RAM, 80GB of hard drive space, DVD-ROM drive, and a wired Ethernet adapter.  No problem.  In fact the most difficult part of the entire setup was buying the software.  WHS is not offered in retail stores.  Thankfully you should be able to find a copy on Amazon, NewEgg.com or TigerDirect for around $120.  What you will get is the server install disk which is installed on your server.  You will also get a disk with the connector software on it.  This is installed on the other PCs on your network so that they can be automatically backed up to the server.  Lastly, you will receive a recovery disk that you can boot into to recover the backed up data from the server. 

Installation of the server software and connector is pretty straightforward.  Once you install he connector software, you can then modify the user privileges in case you don’t want your teenage son to have access to the software directory where you keep all the installers for a few hundred necessary applications.    Plus you can then manage the individual PC backups and see what has been successfully backed up and what hasn’t.  You can even kick off the backup from the server console. 

Sharing audio and video from the WHS server is pretty trivial.  Once you have all the media on the server, it can be accessed by anyone with access on the network. 

One of the nice features WHS provides is the ability to add multiple hard drives, either internal or external, into a storage pool.    So now my collection of 100GB, 250GB, 500GB and 1 TB drives can be placed into a giant storage pool on the server and utilized as multiple terabytes of storage.  This was a nice addition to the features since now I can increase the storage size by just plugging in a new hard drive and selecting to add it to the storage pool from the server console.

Lastly, the server software allows me to connect to my home network from any internet connection.  I can access my data, configure my server or even stream media like music or video.  Very handy for those long nights in hotels after conferences or training sessions.  Just log in and stream some music or a movie.  Very handy.

All in all, WHS has impressed me and is now a required part of my home network infrastructure.  I imagine this might work equally well in a small business environment where the employees need access to a central bank of files and be able to automate the scheduled backups.  Microsoft has done an excellent job scaling down a full server into something fit for a home or small office environment!

© redsneaker for zMogo Tech Stuff, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: app, internet, microsoft, pc, software, video

I always have the latest versions of Internet Explorer, Firefox, Opera, Chrome and Safari installed on my development machine, but depending on the client, you may need to ensure other browsers. 

Thankfully there are applications out there devoted to this.

My favorite is Browser Shots (http://browsershots.org/) because it is the “Swiss Army Knife” of browser emulation.  In one submission, you can verify you site in dozens of Linux, Windows and Mac browsers including some of the lesser-known browsers like “Shiretoko” and “K-Meleon”.  You can specify screen size, color depth, and whether or not to include Javascript, Java, or Flash.  Browser testing has never been so easy.    Browser Shots is perfect as that high-level test to ensure the code is rendering as you are expecting. 

BrowserCam (http://www.browsercam.com) is another valuable service for web development.  BroswerCam allows you to test your site similarly to Browser Shots, but BrowserCam is not free.  You can sign up for a free trial that will let you see the screen captures from the various browsers for only 24 hours and you can only do that 200 times before having to pay.  The interface isn’t as streamlined as Browser Shots, but BrowserCam allows you to choose the Operating System specifically along with the browser.  So for instance, if a customer is having issues running Firefox 1.5.0 on a Windows 2000 machine without Adobe Flash installed, you can emulate that exactly on BrowserCam.  You can also denote the screen shot format (JPG, PNG, or BMP), the screen resolution, and even if the capture will be just the browser or the entire desktop.  This service is incredibly useful while troubleshooting specific situations and issues without having to build a system on which to test.. 

Lastly, if you would rather have 307 different browsers on your system, the Browser Archive is there for you (http://browsers.evolt.org/).  The Browser archive is a collection of every browser and version you have heard of and many you haven’t.  If you are looking for an old version of Netscape Navigator or the kid-friendly browser “Surf Monkey”, then this site has the installer for you.  Download the installer and install the browser and get ready to take a trip back in time! 

Whichever you prefer, it’s always best to test your sites across multiple platforms and browsers prior to the launch and with the help of these sites, hopefully that process just got a bit simpler!

© redsneaker for zMogo Tech Stuff, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: adobe, app, development, internet, linux, mac, Web Stuff

 Google Building Maker.  http://sketchup.google.com/3dwh/buildingmaker.html This is a part of Google Earth that allows users to build 3-d renderings of buildings within the map.  Users can volunteer to construct any building utilizing tools provided by Google.  The creator can then submit the building to Google’s 3D Warehouse where it will be reviewed and possibly accepted.  Accepted buildings will give credit to the creator.  If you see a building that has been previously created, but think you can do better, you are welcome to submit your creation as well.   Cities currently enabled for the new Building Maker include:  Austin, Dallas, Atlanta, Denver, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Athens, Venice, Barcelona, Tokyo, and Dublin among several others.

2.  Google Squared . http://www.google.com/squared  Google is a highly regarded search engine utilized by millions of people every day.  If you’ve ever used any search engine, then you know the haphazard results you may receive.  This is where Google comes in.  Google Squared returns search results in a spreadsheet-like format and creates structured results based on your query.  Placing structure on the otherwise chaotic and unstructured data typical of search results can make the results far more usable.  For instance, doing a search on “LCD TVs” results in a very useful grid of comparable data that can be used in the evaluation of purchasing a new television.

Google Listen.  http://listen.googlelabs.com/ First off, this app is for Android users only.  Having said that, Google’s Listen is a search engine for audio.  Listen can be a podcatcher to manage and listen to your podcasts or just a search engine for audio.  For example, if you search for a topic like “Cameras”, the result will return podcasts and other web audio related to that term.  A great tool for podcast enthusiasts or for anyone looking for audio clips.  If only this was not limited to Android systems.

Google Latitude.  http://www.google.com/latitude/ Latitude is a feature of Google Maps that tie into your mobile devices and shows your location and the location of your friends on the same map.  Wondering where your buddy Ned is?  Check the map and see he’s just 2 blocks away.  Location is approximate, but approximate is typically good enough to know that your wife is at the mall.  Latitude also allows you to communicate with those friends on the map via SMS, Gmail, Google Talk, or simply with a status update.   Worried that people are tracking you without your knowledge?  Fear not, the system requires you to specifically opt-in for people to see you and your location, plus you can log off at any time which will disable the tracking.   

© redsneaker for zMogo Tech Stuff, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: app, Web Stuff

1.  I talked to them about proper online safety.  Things like : Don’t talk to strangers, don’t publish things like your last name, address, or phone number, don’t accept any files from anyone, and you must give me  a current password for any accounts you want to have.  Like any good EULA, I make them agree to all my demands before they get access to anything.  I also let them know that I will be tracking them.  What they say, who they talk to and where they go.  This is the most important step and involves no technology whatsoever. 
2. Open DNS.  Domain Name Servers are utilized as a sort of phone book for the internet.  You enter www.zmogo.com and your internet browser goes to the DNS server and looks up the IP address (ex:  10.1.1.1).  Open DNS is a free service that I can point my broadband router to that also allows me to control what sites they can and can’t get to.  Setting it up is simple.  Just go to http://www.opendns.com and follow their instructions.  It takes just a minute or so to do.  Then log in to the Open DNS account and begin to limit the sites your home network can get to.  It took us a bit of time to fine tune it to our needs.  I entered in some sites that were not adult, but just not where I wanted them to go, plus selected some categories to prevent large sections of adult material and such from being accessible to them.  This covers a majority of the items I didn’t want them getting into.
3. Real VNC.  (http://www.realvnc.com) Commonly used for remote administration of computers, I set up a Real VNC server on each of the computers so I can take a peak at what they are doing at any given time.  I made them all aware that I can do this and that they wouldn’t know I was there watching, so even if they were doing something to negate my other strategies, I could catch them red-handed and punishment would be revocation of Internet privileges.
4. Since our oldest is a fan of Instant Messaging, I required that all his conversations be saved to a server.  I did this in a setting that said something like “Archive conversations” and then you choose a location.  I can then track actual conversations he’s having with his friends and can ask questions about people he chats with online.  Sure, he can turn off the archiving on his computer, but if I stop receiving updated message logs on the server, I know he did it and can reprimand him, and turn it back on.  Every instant messenging system is different, so find out where this setting is on the tool your child uses.
5. Keeping the computer in an open space is always the best idea.  This makes it far less tempting to try to get around the controls that are in place is someone is watching.
6. Lastly, I install a keylogger, which captures all the keystrokes on that computer.  It is done silently behind the scenes and ensures I can see EVERYTHING that is going on on that computer.  I like keyloggers like Home Keylogger (http://www.kmint21.com/keylogger/) or  KGB Keylogger (http://www.sharewareconnection.com/free-kgb-key-logger.htm)

I am sure to let them know that I am tracking their keystrokes as well and using any software or hardware to avert it is in direct violation of the EULA we agreed about prior to accessing the internet. 

Yes, I may have gone a little overboard and utilizing all these avenues is not for everyone, but if using this to keep tabs on your kids who are hiding things from you can prevent big problems, then I am all for it.  Honestly, just showing them what I can do to track them is enough to keep them out of trouble because they know they can’t get away with anything.

© redsneaker for zMogo Tech Stuff, 2009. | Permalink | No comment | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: hardware, internet, software, tech