Posted May 31st, 2008
by J_Mart
I know that I’ve taken some time off from The Tech Bros, but I now have a lot more time to devote to it, and I have some great ideas in mind for building a community. I just want to say that I am here to stay, and I thought that it’d be a great idea to start back off on my step by step guide on how to eliminate Spyware.
The fourth step may sound like common sense but when you think about; how many people wait until their computer is full of Spyware to download removal utilities? Remember what i said before that the longer you wait, the more the Spyware will grow and corrupt more of your files? Well if you download your favorite Spyware removal utilities and put them on a few CD’s, then you won’t have to spend hours trying to download them, when Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Computers, Software And Plugins
Posted May 28th, 2008
by Synthesis
iPhone/iPod touch only: Freeware application iSlsk is a Soulseek peer-to-peer client for the iPhone and iPod touch which can download MP3s from the Soulseek network directly to your device. Once you’ve downloaded a song, iSlsk imports the MP3 directly to your iPod so you can play it alongside all the rest of your music. Sounds too good to be true, right? It almost is. The video after the jump demonstrates just how incredible iSlsk is, and the catch:
Currently all songs iSlsk imports get wiped away when you sync your device with your iTunes library. Despite that one drawback, after installing and trying out iSlsk, you won’t be disappointed.
Your iSlsk downloads continue in the background even when you leave the app, so it’s fully prepared to let you multi-task while you suck down music from Soulseek users. Granted, the clearing of downloads on iTunes sync is a bummer, but if you’re dying to hear a song while you’re away from your computer, iSlsk will do the trick. And if the delete-on-iTunes-sync ever gets fixed, we’re talking all kinds of promise. To install iSlsk, you need to install the Community Sources package on your jailbroken iPhone. (iSlsk is part of the BigBoss repo.) Haven’t jailbroken your iPhone or iPod touch yet? Here’s how to get the job done in 45 seconds.
[Gizmodo]
Tags: apple, iphone, Ipod, mac, nano, soulseek, touch Posted in Gadgets, Music, Phones/PDA's, Software And Plugins
Posted April 1st, 2008
by J_Mart
For those of you who either write your own software or hire someone to write it for you will definitely appreciate this article. Software Escrow is kind of like an insurance policy in case a business deal goes south. When you hire someone to code software for you, there are always questions that must ask and decisions that you must make. One of the main decisions that is most often overlooked is whether or not you get a copy of the source code.
The source code is basically a list of commands that the programmer writes in order to create the software. The source code then is made into an executable file (.exe) in which someone uses to run the file (hence the word "executable"). For example this website that you are looking at contains source code, but when you type in the URL, the code is then executed and displays the end result in your browser. Pretty cool, huh?
So why on earth would you want the source code of something that you hired a programmer to write? It’s simple. If you have a copy of the source code, then you can easily alter what your program does. If you had a copy of The Tech Bros source code, you could alter the way everything appears on the site.
Often, companies will just alter the code for you, because they want to protect their intellectual property. But, what if something happens to the company and they go out of business or go bankrupt? Will it all just disappear? That’s where the Software Escrow comes into play. The programmer will give a copy of the source code to a neutral third party (Software Escrow), and they will not release it unless under certain conditions. There are a lot more circumstances, but I used bankruptcy and going out of business as these common problems.
Software Escrow is not the answer to all of your problems, and you must remember that nothing is 100% fool proof. Something can always happen with the Software Escrow, plus it always ads expenses to your transactions. Like everything else, Software Escrow has its pros and its cons, so be sure to choose wisely if it’s right for you.
In many cases it is a very good investment. Some people look at it as an insurance policy. It’s up to you whether or not you are willing to take that risk.
Posted in Software And Plugins
Posted March 24th, 2008
by J_Mart
There are many users out there that will not pay attention to your warnings and download that weather update system full of infectious Spyware. Or maybe you already have Spyware infecting your computer, and have no idea how to get rid of it. The secret is to start fresh. One thing that you must remember is that it is crucial to back-up and restore everything on your computer in case something gets infected. This is the only sure-fire way to completely eliminate Spyware from your already infected computer.
Every time you go to download anything from a site that is not a brand-name portal, you should back up all the files on your computer. For instance, every time that I install a new plugin or a new script for The Tech Bros, I always back-up every single one of my files first. This way, if something does go wrong I can easily re-upload all my original files, and the site will be good as new again. The same goes for your computer. If you back-up your hard drive before you download something, it will save you a lot of time and heartache. This is one of the most effective ways to alleviate the sting from Spyware.
Posted in Computers, Hardware, Software And Plugins
Posted March 23rd, 2008
by J_Mart
Do you have teens in your house that download every single offer that pops up on their computer? Or maybe you have some family members that just can’t resist the word “Free”? Well the old saying, “Nothing is free”, proves itself once again. You might not be paying money for it now, but in the end you’ll surely pay the price with annoying pop ups, spam email, and hours of your time trying to bring your computer back from it’s “Zombie” state.
You also need to know that every time you download one of these software programs, you are incouraging people to create more Spyware, because someone’s getting a paycheck for it. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Computers, Hardware, Software And Plugins
Posted March 22nd, 2008
by J_Mart
So, basically you want to learn how to eliminate that annoying spyware that slows down your computer. But do you really know what Spyware is? Maybe you’ve heard the term “Spyware” from your computer tech support, a magazine article, or even your really intelligent grandson. In order to get rid of something, you have to know what it is. Below I have listed some major types of this so called, “Spyware”.
Spyware: An application that covertly gathers information about your computing habits that may send the data to some unknown site - aka “key loggers”. (This is not the same as programs that contain Viruses and Trojans.) Read the rest of this entry »
Posted in Computers, Hardware, Software And Plugins
Posted March 21st, 2008
by J_Mart
Sometimes the truth hurts, but here it is anyway: You will struggle with spyware at work, home, and on family and friends’ computers for the next several years. Spam will be choked down to a manageable stream this year, but spyware will fill the gap, costing you precious hours cleaning the infected (and re-infected) computers of your friends and family.
My home office lab is the spyware front line. I routinely download programs for testing, then run a combination of pop-up blockers, spam protectors, Registry rooters and cookie cleaners. I’ll quarantine 635 Registry spyware droppings one day, delete 31 spyware cookies the next and start all over again the next week. I’ve tested dozens of new utilities and dutifully download the latest version of each. So don’t waste any more time searching for the best solution to the problem, because we are going to tell you the top 10 best ways to eliminate spyware.
Posted in Computers, Hardware, Software And Plugins
Posted March 18th, 2008
by Synthesis
Sure, we’ve heard RIAA-admiring lawyers affirm that ripping your own CDs is in fact “stealing,” but it seems the aforementioned entity is putting its money where its mouth is in a case against Jeffrey Howell. Reportedly, the Scottsdale, Arizona resident is being sued by the RIAA, and rather than Mr. Howell just writing a check and calling it a day, he’s fighting back in court. Interestingly, it seems that the industry is maintaining that “it is illegal for someone who has legally purchased a CD to transfer that music into their computer.” Ira Schwartz, the industry’s lawyer in the case, is arguing that MP3 files created on his computer from legally purchased CDs are indeed “unauthorized copies,” and while we’ve no idea what will become of all this, we suppose you should go on and wipe those personal copies before you too end up in handcuffs.
Update: We got some more info on the case — it looks like Jeffrey’s actually being sued for illegal downloading, not ripping, but this whole “ripping is illegal” tactic is still pretty distasteful. Check out this post for the full story. [Engadget]
Want to consult a lawyer about your personal injury? Click here!
Tags: drm, lawsuit, legal, riaa, sue, suit Posted in Computers, Miscellaneous, Music, Software And Plugins
Posted January 28th, 2008
by Synthesis
Dude! This is definitely one of the most innovative and strange forms of digital art I’ve ever seen. It’s awesome! More babbling and a video after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
Tags: 3d paintings, 3dPaintings, art, artist, daim, graffiti, painting, street art, StreetArt, virtual graffiti, VirtualGraffiti Posted in Cameras, Computers, Gadgets, Hardware, Miscellaneous, Software And Plugins
Posted January 28th, 2008
by Synthesis
No, it is not called a girlfriend, but good luck with that. This is the Optimal Office Mouse. Name says nothing. It is an average mouse, with a fun stress tester thumb gauge thingy. It also has a part that does little exercises that allegedly reduce stress. The site seems a little shady but who knows, it may save you from a heart attack. And besides, that tester could come in handy, I mean, who pays enough attention to know when they’re stressed? With my luck, my insurance company will pick up on this and start using these to find out if I’ve been eating right. Head for the hills! Click the link to see the site. [Hot Forest via Gizmodo]
Tags: attack, ball, blood, Computer, heart, mouse, mousepad, stress Posted in Computers, Gadgets, Software And Plugins
