Supergeekblog

From Lifehacker this morning comes a pretty neat util.  It seems to work rather well.

Basically it allows you to set multiple apps to launch at once.  One idea that is mentioned is if you normally run a set of programs to cleaning files up etc.  I more see a use in terms of removing autostart programs and resetting them to a manual launch after boot.  (ie - launch IM, email, web.)  Doing that would improve boot time significantly if there are a lot of things that you tend to have come up on boot.  This way if you were in a hurry… you could be more selective and efficient.

Check out Utility Launcher here.

Technorati Tags: Utility, windows apps, software, windows

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For those a little more daring: Vista SP2 has now hit the net.

Yesterday Microsoft released Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista Service Pack 2 Beta to the public. If you have been waiting for a second service pack for Windows Vista, give the new beta a shot!

You can download Service Pack 2 for Windows Vista and Server 2008 here. Note that this is the beta version and the final version of the service pack is not expected to be released until April 2009. However, if you enjoy testing new service packs or want to test it out before deploying it to your network next year, try out the beta.

Aseem over at Help Desk Geek has a great write up on this. He has included a list of updates/changes that come in SP2.  Like he mentioned above, it is important to remember this is *BETA* software.  It can potentially really screw up your machine.  (Vista Sp1 beta I really didn’t have any problems with.  WinXP SP1 I remember quite a few issues with.)  It all depends on your setup, the tweaks you make, and the various applications and drivers if it is going to play nice.

If Aseem sounds familiar, that is because his wordpress plugin “Best Posts Summary” has been reviewed here before.  A big fan of the plugin, so kudos to him!

Technorati Tags: Windows, Microsoft, Vista, Vista Service Pack

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This is a recap of the original article we did a couple of years ago.  A lot of people still haven’t heard of Synergy.

If you have several machines lying around your “geek room” running various versions of Windows/Linux/OsX and can’t think of a good use for them. Well my desktop died, so currently just down to my laptop.  However till then, and for a while before I was using this application to seamlessly integrate the machines with a single keyboard/mouse.

You can now move your mouse over to my to another screen just by going off the left edge of one computer screen to the other. (Depending on setup of course.) At which point you will have full control of the laptop and can even copy and paste between them as if they were one machine. It is also free!
Check it out.

Technorati Tags: synergy, virtual desktop, multi monitor, kvm switch

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Lifehacker brings us a useful tool - for free.  I haven’t tested the latest version of their product, but ZoneAlarm is known for making a solid piece of software.

As [Lifehacker] mentioned yesterday, the normally $40 firewall and antivirus solution ZoneAlarm Pro is available for free today only, so if you’re interested in some free quality software, consider this your reminder to grab a copy.

Today it is free.  Sign up and in 48hrs you will get a link to the software along with a serial.

Technorati Tags: Zone Alarm, Free Software, supergeekblog

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I normally don’t plug (pun intended) too many Wordpress plugins, but this is the second one I have discovered this week that I installed right away.  This stats plugin impressed me with it’s layout immediately after installing.  It is called CyStats.

It integrates right into the WP-Admin section and starts recording data right away.  As a stats junky (my day job is reporting/business advisor/analyist/report development) I really like having this information at my fingertips.  Now I do use Feedburner, and there are some stats available there, but I like this built in site-wide stats viewing.  I encourage you to check it out and possibly install it yourself.  (Feel free to leave reviews or other recommendations.)

Technorati Tags: CyStats, Wordpress, Wordpress Plugins, Supergeekblog, Olorinpc, Jake Barnard

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From LifeHacker - Ashampoo’s Burning Studio.  This works like a lot of other burning applications.  I like the smooth feel of it.

Head over to LifeHacker and check it out!

Technorati Tags: supergeekblog, ashampoo, cd burning, burning studio

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From TechCrunch:

Switzerland-based deskNET is debuting the public beta version of Sobees today, an application that aims to bring the web to a personalized desktop environment. We first came across Sobees when they presented their project in the DemoPit at the TechCrunch50 conference.

I like the concept of this really… though would have to dig more into its functionality to judge. (As well as actually test it.) My main concern would be for the requirement of .NET 3.5 SP1. a)forced upgrade for most people b)example being it will be a long time before work pushes that update. That being said, a silverlight version or installing it at home should be possible.  However, that being said, for most of us on Windows machines that won’t be much of an issue.

First impressions… the install is fairly painless.  It takes a *while* to install .Net 3.5 SP1, but that is typical of all the .Net framework installations.  The Sobees install is 1.2mb, so the download doesn’t take long.  However the built in downloader for .Net 3.5 SP1 takes a while as it is 52mb.  Make sure you give it time to finish.  I recommend downloading and installing .Net 3.5 SP1  beforehand - you can monitor the install a little better that way.

***Huge Warning here***

If you use VMWare proceed with caution!!! After installing .NET 3.5 SP1 it crashed my install of XP.  I could no longer boot to the gui with an error on “vmgina.dll.”  After spending 2 hours working on it and doing an XP install over my existing one I was able to get back online.  I am still in the process of recovering.  I did however find a MS KB article on the issue.  Read this before going forward.  The gist of it is though that the 3rd party video driver that VMWare installs, somehow gets messed up by that install.

I will have to review the actual software in a follow up.

Technorati Tags: vmgina.dll, gina.dll, sobees, supergeekblog, olorinpc, sgbtech, vmware, troubleshooting, xp crash

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Mark over at the Geeks are Sexy has a nice writeup on how the German Government is warning people against Google Chrome.  It seems the big issue is having a single vendor with all of that information.  (Cal, email, search, and now web browser.)

Click here to read the GaS writeup.  (Great blog btw.)

Technorati Tags: google, chrome, firefox, Internet Explorer, Web Browser, SGB

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This really isn’t much of a shock, but has taken the net by storm.  Google has released it’s own browser.  Before getting into any specifics, I will give some first impressions.  I use IE6 at work (requirement), and Firefox3 with various extentions.  (FF being my browser of choice at the moment.)  That being said - Chrome is impressive.  I have seen massive speed improvements in my normal sites.  (Google Reader being the most impressive speed difference, though I should have expected that.)

There has been some dissention out there.  Chrome is too basic, doesn’t yet support Extentions, new version of Firefox (3.1) will make this pointless, the Default EUAL, etc.  Some of these have a valid point.  On the other hand - it is a rock solid beta application.  How many other betas have we gotten from MS that crashed repeatedly.  FF has been pretty good about this in its newer versions.

Follow some of the links above for more information, I will also be posting some resources links below.  I would encourage people out there to try it for themselves and form their own oppinion.  I for one am looking forward to seeing what it becomes, though not ready yet to make a full switch from Firefox.  (The process per tab works really well.)

Google Chrome Comic Book

Google Chrome Download

ArsTechnica Review of Chrome

Technorati Tags: google, chrome, firefox, Internet Explorer, Web Browser, SGB

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Check out Mark’s post on how to get your hands on XP. Officially it can’t be had anymore.

Windows XP has been retired but you can still get it

Mark has pointed out a source for us to try and get it. If you get a new machine with Vista on it, building a PC for mom, etc - might be worth the effort to try.

Technorati Tags: Winxp, vista, supergeekblog, olorinpc, geeksaresexy

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