Expiration dates for Service Pack Blocker Tool

Service Pack Blocker Tool for Windows XP or Windows Vista:

• A blocking tool is available for organizations that would like to temporarily prevent installation of Service Pack updates through Windows Update, typically for one year after general availability of the service pack.

The upcoming expiration dates for the Service Pack Blocker Tool for Windows Vista SP1 and Windows XP SP3:

• Windows Vista SP1: April 28, 2009
• Windows XP SP3: May 19, 2009

After April 28th, Windows Vista SP1 will be delivered via Windows Update. And after May 19th, Windows XP SP3 will also be delivered via Windows Update.

Technorati Tags: windows vista, windows xp, service pack blocker tool, windows vista sp1, windows xp sp3

How to display IZEA rank

How to show your IZEA ranks or RealRank? Before you can show this rank in your blog or websites, first you need to register to PayPerPost, SocialSpark or IZEA ranks. Here the code I get from Joe Tech. Thank to Joe Tech.


1. Copy this code and paste it in your web sites or blog.

Remember to remove 'yourdomain-com' and replace it with your domain. For example : 'thingsaboutcomputer-blogspot-com'. '.' is replace with '-'.

OR

Register an account and your blog with IZEARanks.com. You can get the code there and paste it in your blog.

Technorati Tags: izearank, realrank, payperpost

How subscribe to RSS feed via Internet Browser

This is a follow-up post about RSS feed. I am using Internet Explorer 7 for the tutorial.

Step-by-Step guide:

1. Open your Internet Explorer (IE) and go to the website you want to subscribe the RSS feed.

2. Then, go to right side of your IE.



3. Using your mouse, right click the RSS feed icon. It is located beside the house or home icon. Sometimes this icon is missing so you have to click this icon >> to view more icon.



4. A new page will be load.


Red box = You can subscribe RSS feed using web-based news readers such as Google Reader.
Green box = You can subscribe the feed using your email.
Blue box = Subscribe using your browser.

















5. Choose the blue box. Right click 'View Feed XML'. A new page will be load. You will found 'Subscribe to this feed' on the same page. Right click 'Subscribe to this feed'.



6. A small window will pop. Choose where you want to save the RSS feed and click 'Subscribe'.

       

7. Check your RSS feed at your Internet Explorer.

Technorati Tags: computer, rss feed, internet explorer, internet

DepositFiles

DepositFiles is a filehosting service for file's transfer, storage and distribution. Currently, DepositFiles is categorize as one of the popular fileshosting for uploader to upload their files including movie and music.

What is the different between other popular filehosting such as RapidShare and MegaUpload? DepositFiles offer a referral program for you earn extra money. Not only that, DepostiFiles bring new competition to files uploader so come on and participate the contest. For more information, please click here.

This filehosting is still climbing and crawling to the top. The price for DepositFiles premium account (Gold) is cheap from other filehosting. But unfortuantely, they not received payment from paypal.

Their own filemanager has been released to public and it free to download. You can download the software by click (here | mirror ).

Technorati Tags: depositfiles, filehosting

How to remote desktop computer through firewall

I used this method to remote desktop my computer at home through the corporate (company, universities and college) firewall. Usually corporate firewall will block certain port to ensure the safety and security of the company itself.

This tutorial will use Windows Remote Desktop because Windows XP and Windows Vista is embedded with this application. Windows operating system also has been use in most of company.

Step-by-Step guide:

At your home PC(Server):



1. Go to 'My Computer' and right click to 'Properties'.
2. A 'System Properties' will pop up. Go to 'Remote' tab.
3. Check 'Allow users to connect remotely to this computer'.
4. Check also your 'Windows Firewall' that you allow 'Remote Desktop'.
5. Go to 'Registry Editor' or regedit.(Follow this tutorial, click here).
6. Change this in your 'Registry Editor':

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\TerminalServer\WinStations\RDP-Tcp\PortNumber
to 443 (click Decimal radio button first)

7. Disable IIS Service to make you a lot easy.

Note:If you are using dynamic IP(Internet Protocol), go to DynDns or No-IP to register hostname so that easy for you to connect to your computer. You also need to download application provided by those site to recognize your ip address.

For your PC at work (Client):


1. Open your 'Remote Desktop Connection'.
2. Type your client hostname followed by port ':443'.

For example:
'thingsaboutcomputer.blogspot.com:443'
thingsaboutcomputer.blogspot.com = your client or computer home hostname

Technorati Tags: windows xp, windows vista, hacking, firewall, remote desktop, tweaking

Offline Gmail with Google Gears

 

Gmail Lab has introduced its latest great feature called Offline Gmail. Offline Gmail enable e-mail access even when you are not connected to the Internet. Well offline Gmail is actual implementation of Google Gears to make Gmail accessible in offline mode.

Once you have enable Offline Gmail, a local cache of your email will be stored in your computer using Google Gears. This local cache will be synchronizes with Gmail server whenever you are connected to network. You can star,label your email or send, reply emails. All the send email will be stored in your outbox and will automatically sent as soon as Gmail detects connections.

Currently, Google lists Firefox 2, Firefox 3 and Internet Explorer 7 in their list of support browser. Another feature of Offline Gmail is 'flasky connection mode'. It uses the local cache as if you were disconnected but still synchronizes your mail with the server in the background.


How to enable Offline Gmail:

1. Login to your Gmail account

2. Click 'Settings'and click the 'Labs' tab.

3. Select 'Enable' next to 'Offline Gmail'.

4. Click 'Save Changes' at the bottom.

5. After your browser reloads, you’ll see a new
“Offline0.1″ link in the upper righthand corner of your account, next
to your username. Click this link to start the offline set up process
and download Gears if you don’t already have it.

Note:
Offline Gmail available to everyone who uses Gmail in US or UK English over the next couple of days.

Technorati Tags: offline gmail, gmail, google gears, gmail offline

Holiday Eyeglass Frames

Christmas has passed us a few days ago and New Year just around the corner. In the year 2009, are you determined to change your look or appearance?  Well, changing eyeglass frames maybe one way to change you look. But where is the cheapest eyeglasses frame you can get? Sometime eyeglasses shop in your area does not have much option you can choose from.


During this holiday, ZenniOptical.com has wonderful selection of Holiday frames for their customer which cost as low as $8.00. Each eyeglasses frame with different color, style and design, surely you can have more option to choose from. ZenniOptical.com also provide full rim frames, half rim frames, variable dimension frames, children frames, and bifocal or progressive frames.



For those who are worried that their eyeglasses frames trend, you might want to visit ZenniOptical.com because they also provide the leading edge design so that you are not left behind with the latest trend. Besides the Holiday frames, you also can choose their other products such as stainless steel, memory titanium, mixed material, pure titanium, aluminum alloy and many more.

If you interested please visit at ZenniOptical.com to see more information about their product or contact them if you have any question by click here.

Free Application for iPhone from Microsoft

Seadragon Mobile is Microsoft's first iPhone application that let users browse large image on iPhone's. Seadragon Mobile is developed by the Live Labs team at Microsoft and it is available for free via the iTunes App Store. By using iPhone's multi screen, you can zoom in and out of photos as well as maps.



Download here

Note: You have to install iTunes to get download this software. You also can use Microsoft Photosynth technology.

Microsoft is expected to release a voice recognition application for the iPhone next year.

Technorati Tags: iPhone, seadragon mobile, microsoft

Twitter, MySpace and Skype Plugin In Trillian

Well, Trillian bring new plugin in their list of plugin. Twitter, MySpace and Skype plugin is available in plugin especially to their loyal user.

Step-by-Step guide to setting Twitter:

1. Go to Plugin section in Trillian Preferences.
2. Tick the MySpace, Skype and Twitter.

3. Click Add new connection and add Twitter, MySpace and Skype.4. Login your Twitter account. Twitter login same as MySpace. Meanwhile Skype is same as Facebook.

Note: Skype plugin still have some bug to fix.

Technorati Tags: trillian plugin, twitter, skype, myspace, trillian, trillian astra

Microsoft Launches An Open Source Content Management System (CMS)

Oxite is an open source CMS written using ASP.NET MVC that can run anything from blogs to big web sites. Oxite provides strong foundation so that you can build upon pingbacks, trackbacks, anonymous or authenticated commenting and many more. Oxite is a project built by the team behind Channel 9Channel 8, Channel 10, TechNet Edge, and Mix Online.

Click here for more information.

Download here

Technorati Tags: Open Source, Microsoft, CMS

Firefox 3.1 Beta 2 Released

It is a good news to the fans of Firefox browser, 3.1 Beta 2 has been released.

Some of the features:

1. Availability in 54 local language versions.
2. New Private Browsing Mode.
3. New support for web worker threads.
4. Added functions to make it easy to clear recent history by time as well as remove all traces of a website.
5. The new TraceMonkey JavaScript engine is now on by default for web content.
6. Improvements to the Gecko layout engine, including speculative parsing for faster content rendering.
7. Removed the new tab-switching & preview behavior based on feedback from Beta 1 users
8. Support for new web technologies such as the <video> and <audio> elements, the W3C Geolocation API, JavaScript query selectors, CSS 2.1 and 3 properties, SVG transforms and offline applications.
   

Note:This is still in Beta version and many add-on does not support. Make sure you back up your data before install the browser.

Download here

Source: Mozilla Firefox

 Technorati Tags: Mozilla Firefox, Firefox 3, computer, internet

PSD Rockstar Contest To Be Won

First Prize:

One FlashEff Premium license - worth $150 from Jumpeye Components

One Premium Theme of your choice with personal license at Premium Themes

Unlimited Reseller Hosting Plan for a year at Infogle


Second Prize:

One FlashEff Premium license - worth $150 from JumpeyeComponents.com

One Premium Theme of your choice with personal license at PremiumThemes.net

5GB Linux Hosting at Hostgator - Sponsored by Windows XP Secrets

Third Prize:

$100 Cash prize via Paypal from Photoshop Tutorials


Fourth Prize:

A Website review worth $25 and a 125x125 ad space for a month at N Speaks

One 125x125 ad space for a month at Technology Blog


Fifth Prize:

2000 EntreCard credits and One 125x125 ad space for a month at The Nexus


Sixth Prize:

One 125x125 ad space for a month at ECT webmall

Interested with the prizes?

How to enter?

5 points - Stumble this post.

5 points - Digg this post.

15 points - Subscribe to RSS Feeds - http://www.feedburner.com/fb/a/emailverifySubmit?feedId=2453744

20 points - Blog about this contest.(You can get the sponsor links here http://psdrockstar.com/sponsors/contest-sponsors.txt)

This contest will end December 27, 2008. Come on. Hurry up and participate in this contest. Click here to join.

ProBlogineer Xmas Blog Contest

ProBlogineer conducting a contest with prizes worth more than $1000.

Here are the prizes:

1. Lifetime Free PPC-Coach Membership
   
2. 125×125 banner ad on Problogineer.com
3. EntreCard Credits 1500 ECs
4. 125×125 on Networking Blogger
5. 1 month Text advertisement on Technica Magazine
6. Lifetime Free Regular Listing on Wicked Web Directory

All you need to do is:

1. Subscribe to this blog - 2 points (Compulsory)
   
2. Write about the contes - 5 points
3. Follow on twitter - 2 points

Notebook (Laptop) Buying Guide : A Simple Approach

Which notebook should I buy? Will that notebook serve my purpose? That must be the question when you want to buy a notebook. Right? I know making a decision on which notebook to buy isn't an easy one. Unlike PC, notebook gives you not much of a choice in upgrade and customizes the component other than Random Access Memory (RAM).

Note: Some of this tip is not applicable for online purchase. I do not include operating system (OS) because it usually depends on user itself.

Here are some tips you should consider before buy a new notebook:

User Type

it is important for you to figure out how you want to use your machine. After that match your need to one of these user types:

Home user
-AMD Turion 64 X2 or Intel Core 2 Duo
-At least 1GB of memory
-Large hard drive for storing digital photos and video
-14.1-inch display or larger
-Fixed or swappable DVD burner
-Wired and wireless networking

Student
-AMD Turion 64 X2 or Intel Core 2 Duo
-At least 1GB of memory
-Big hard drive to hold all those MP3s
-DVD burner for backups and class projects
-Wired and wireless networking for network-equipped classrooms and dorm rooms

Frequent Flier
-AMD Turion 64 X2 or Intel Core Duo
-At least 1GB of memory
-A 13.3-inch display or smaller
-Wired and wireless networking
-Extended battery for those cross-country flights
-Media slice or external CD-RW/DVD drive
-Port replicator for the desk

Multimedia author or gamer
-AMD Turion 64 X2, Intel Core 2 Duo, or Intel Core 2 Extreme
-2GB or more of memory
-A 15.4-inch display or larger
-Advanced graphics card with 256MB or 512MB of its own memory or dual SLI graphics
-The largest and fastest hard drive available
-Dual-layer DVD burner, possibly HD-DVD or Blu-Ray compatible
-Multimedia connectors, such as S-Video, HDMI, FireWire, S/PDIF
-External keyboard and mouse

This only some of the user profile with their key feature.

Price

I know, you only can buy the notebook that you can afford. Look for some key feature that you need and try to find the key feature in notebook that you can afford. Before you rush in to the shop and buy a notebook.

Take a week or two to survey the price and key feature of notebook that meet your profiles. Go every notebook shop that available at your place. By this, you will know which notebook shop is the cheaper than other and you might find the notebook you want to buy

Weight
For a frequent flier or traveler, look for a light one which make easy for you to carry the notebook around. Remember to estimate the weight of the notebook and the things you carry in the notebook bag (sling bag or bag pack).

Monitor, Web Cam, Keyboard & Touchpad
make sure to try out the keyboard and touchpad while looking at the monitor. Find the notebook that is comfortable for you when using the notebook. Make sure you want the Mega Pixel of the Web Cam.

Universal Serial Bus (USB)
Check the USB that available in the notebook. Is the USB enough for you? Look for notebooks that have enough UBS for your usage.

Warranty & Support
Warranty and support is the important aspect of notebook after you have bought the notebook.

You need to consider:
- How many years of warranty do you get? 1 year? 3 years? Enough for you?
- What does the warranty cover? Does it cover accidents like spills? Does it cover when you accidentally drop the notebook from the 11 floor of your apartment?
- Is the warranty recognized internationally? This might matter if you intend to buy it someplace and use it more often in another place.
- How’s the support availability? Do you have to bring to their Service Center or can they come to you instead?
- Is the support available internationally? This will come in handy when you buy the notebook at your place and your notebook have problem in another place. And the support available at that place so you can go to their support center and send it to be fix.

5 Things Need To Consider When Buying Laptop (Notebook) Cooler

Do you know that notebook motherboard will damage if the notebook is overheating? Where these heats come from? Heats from notebook are produce from the component itself such as Random Access Memory (RAM), Central Processing Unit (CPU) and hard disk. Then here come the question whether “Do I really need notebook cooler?”

Well, it is depend on your notebook and yourself. Monitor your notebook temperature using temperature monitoring software (SpeedFan, Hmonitor and Im-sensors) and if the software show sign of overheating regularly. It is advisable to buy a notebook cooler to reduce the heat.

Of course, you can try to check the component of your hard disk by hand. Put your hand to the component and feel the component? If the component is too hot (like can cook an egg), please buy a notebook cooler.

After you have decide to buy a notebook cooler then come the parts of guide to buy a notebook cooler:

1. Material

You need to search for a notebook cooler that faster to transfer heat such as metal. Metal is known as a material that is faster to transfer heat. Plastic is rather slow material to transfer. heat. Choose a light material to make you easy to carry hte notebook cooler around at your backpack.

2. Fan

First you need to look at the bottom of your notebook and detect where the component that is always overheat. Then find the product of notebook cooler that provide faster speed of fan and where the fan are placed. It is important to look where the fan are located do that is  so that is easy for the heat to flow out from the notebook. Meanwhile the speed of fan can determine how fast the heat can be out from your notebook.

3. Style and Design

Style and design is an also a competitive factor for a product. There are so many different style and design provided by each product. But search a notebook cooler design which is easy for you to typing, see the monitor and have extra Universal Serial Bus (USB).

4. Budget


Lastly it is down to your budget itself to buy a notebook cooler. If you have extra budget you might go with the expensive one (Notepal) and if you don't. Just go to cheap one but has some feature that may reduce the heat from your computer.

5. Size

Are you travel frequently? Do you work portablely? The size also matter because if the size is bigger, it will hard for you to carry the notebook cooler around in your beg pack.

Top Ten Best Remote Desktop Tools

Remote desktop applications give you an easy and quick access to your computer at home or office from anywhere in the world. Remote desktop also useful for supply technical support to users but it also a great way to share data between two computers. Here's a list of remote desktop tools that is use mostly by user:

LogMeIn(Windows/Mac)

LogMeIn can be used in Windows as well as MAC operating system. LogMeIn offer a quick and no hassle to remotely control your computer by using web browser.

TightVNC(Windows/Linux)


TightVNC can be used in Linux and Windows platform. TightVNC need to set up VNC server on the computer that wish to access remotely meanwhile you can access remotely from anywhere else with VNC viewer.

TeamViewer(Windows/Mac)


TeamViewer like LogMeIn where it is offers free and paid accounts for remote access to ant PC. TeamViewer is free for all non-commercial users, it doesn't use browser to remote control but it use a small application that also can be run as portable application.

Windows Remote Desktop Connection(Windows)

Windows Remote Desktop is the default remote desktop application that comes with the Windows itself. This application is available when you are using Windows XP and above.



UltraVNC(Windows)

UltraVNC is an open source which almost same as TightVNC even though UltraVNC doesn't support Linux operating system. UltraVNC provided feature such as text chat and file transfer.





Yuuguu(Windows/Mac/Linux)


This remote desktop tools support 3 operating system that is Windows, Mac, and Linux. Yuuguu not only support remote desktop control but also web conference, audio conferencing and online meetings.

CrossLoop(Windows/Mac)


CroosLoop provided global computer support and training. It is very easy to use and allow for file-sharing also.

ShowMyPC.com(Windows)


ShowMyPC.com is a free, no installation, no registration and no logins required to use their application.ShowMyPC.com built using standard SSH and VNC software. For Premium Hosting, user can use private SSH server.

ScreenStream(Windows)


ScreenStream is free software that is easy to use and can let other computers on your local network or connected to the internet see what you see. This application can replace as a projector.

SkyFex(Windows)

SkyFex is online remote support service that allows for monitoring and remotely control computer. It also can through proxy or firewall. SkyFex requires Internet Explorer to run.

Download RapidShare Link Automatically

Have you been setting your RapidShare (RS) Premium account in your download manager?Do you realized, that it will make your account unsecured if anyone else using the computer?

Internet Download Manager (IDM) Sites Login

Now, RS have allowed premium user to download RS link without setting their premium account in download manager. After you have finished download, you can easily logout to make sure anyone who using your computer can not download using your premium account.

The steps are:
1. Login to RapidShare with your premium account.
2. Download the RS link as usual.
3. After finished download,logout the account in your browser.

***This has been tested using Mozilla Firefox 3, Internet Download Manager (IDM), and IDM CC(Firefox add-on).
**Above is the proof I download using without setting my premium account in the download manager.