Sunday, March 29, 2009
Friday, March 27, 2009
Download YouTube Videos
The easiest way -- and, if you\'re worried about copyright issues, the most assuredly legal way -- to download a YouTube video is to do it through YouTube itself. Realizing that many YouTube users want to take their viewing experience away from the site and have more ways to share with other people, YouTube is testing an option that gives video owners the ability to make their content downloadable. Using Creative Commons licensing, owners can offer videos for free or predetermined prices and allow viewers to purchase their videos. This helps creators get credit for their work no matter how people share the files [source: YouTube]. It\'s similar in nature to the music section of MySpace, which lets artists choose whether or not listeners can download their tracks for free, purchase tracks straight from the artist\'s profile page or simply listen off of the site. YouTube is currently beta testing this option with many universities, including Stanford; Duke; the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, Los Angeles, but the option to download right off of the site will most likely become standard sometime in the near future.
Most versions of the RealPlayer software let you download YouTube videos straight from the page. If you have RealPlayer, you\'ve probably noticed that any time you watch a YouTube video and move your mouse within the frame, a small bar pops up that says \"Download This Video.\" This saves the video into your RealPlayer library and lets you organize it with your other saved videos, but you\'ll have to upgrade, and therefore pay, for versions that allow you to burn files onto DVD.
If you don\'t have any software that lets you rip the video from the site, Web sites such as KeepVid.com or SaveVid.com will let you do it. Once you\'ve loaded the software, all you have to do is paste the video\'s URL into a bar and click \"Download.\" When you do, you\'ll have the option of choosing a low-quality Flash video (.flv) or a higher-quality MP4 (.mp4). If you choose the Flash format, you\'ll need to convert the downloaded video into another format that\'s watchable on either QuickTime or Windows Media Player. If you run a Web search for FLV converter, you should come up with any number of acceptable programs. Choose the one that works best for your operating system, and then simply use the software to open up the Flash file and convert it into any popular video format -- the most common types are AVI, MPEG and WMV.
Most versions of the RealPlayer software let you download YouTube videos straight from the page. If you have RealPlayer, you\'ve probably noticed that any time you watch a YouTube video and move your mouse within the frame, a small bar pops up that says \"Download This Video.\" This saves the video into your RealPlayer library and lets you organize it with your other saved videos, but you\'ll have to upgrade, and therefore pay, for versions that allow you to burn files onto DVD.
If you don\'t have any software that lets you rip the video from the site, Web sites such as KeepVid.com or SaveVid.com will let you do it. Once you\'ve loaded the software, all you have to do is paste the video\'s URL into a bar and click \"Download.\" When you do, you\'ll have the option of choosing a low-quality Flash video (.flv) or a higher-quality MP4 (.mp4). If you choose the Flash format, you\'ll need to convert the downloaded video into another format that\'s watchable on either QuickTime or Windows Media Player. If you run a Web search for FLV converter, you should come up with any number of acceptable programs. Choose the one that works best for your operating system, and then simply use the software to open up the Flash file and convert it into any popular video format -- the most common types are AVI, MPEG and WMV.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Hackers can read keystrokes via laptop vibration
A security specialist and \"hardware hacker\" named Andrea Barisani and Daniele Bianco, respectively, have demonstrated an $80 device they\'ve cobbled together than can read which letters are being typed by measuring the vibration of a laptop. The system uses a laser beam and photo diode to shine and read the reflections of light trained on the laptop. They found that each key on the keyboard creates a unique vibration signature.
Monday, March 23, 2009
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Thursday, March 19, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Windows Live: Hotmail Finally Enables POP3 Worldwide
POP server: pop3.live.com (Port 995)
POP SSL required? Yes
User name: Your Windows Live ID, for example yourname@hotmail.com
Password: The password you usually use to sign in to Hotmail or Windows Live
SMTP server: smtp.live.com (Port 25)
Authentication required? Yes (this matches your POP username and password)
TLS/SSL required? Yes
POP SSL required? Yes
User name: Your Windows Live ID, for example yourname@hotmail.com
Password: The password you usually use to sign in to Hotmail or Windows Live
SMTP server: smtp.live.com (Port 25)
Authentication required? Yes (this matches your POP username and password)
TLS/SSL required? Yes
Friday, March 13, 2009
Automatically Duplicating Keys from Photos
UC San Diego computer scientists have built a software program that can perform key duplication without having the key. Instead, the computer scientists only need a photograph of the key. [...]
In one demonstration of the new software system, the computer scientists took pictures of common residential house keys with a cell phone camera, fed the image into their software which then produced the information needed to create identical copies. In another example, they used a five inch telephoto lens to capture images from the roof of a campus building and duplicate keys sitting on a café table more than 200 feet away. [...]
“If you go onto a photo-sharing site such as Flickr, you will find many photos of people’s keys that can be used to easily make duplicates. While people generally blur out the numbers on their credit cards and driver’s licenses before putting those photos on-line, they don’t realize that they should take the same precautions with their keys” said Savage.
In one demonstration of the new software system, the computer scientists took pictures of common residential house keys with a cell phone camera, fed the image into their software which then produced the information needed to create identical copies. In another example, they used a five inch telephoto lens to capture images from the roof of a campus building and duplicate keys sitting on a café table more than 200 feet away. [...]
“If you go onto a photo-sharing site such as Flickr, you will find many photos of people’s keys that can be used to easily make duplicates. While people generally blur out the numbers on their credit cards and driver’s licenses before putting those photos on-line, they don’t realize that they should take the same precautions with their keys” said Savage.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Hard Disks will crash
Today’s hard disks should provide many years of trouble-free service. They
rarely fail, butwhen they do the results can be catastrophic. Therefore it pays
to be aware of potential problems before they become a real threat.
1) Back up data regularly. Store backup sets in a fireproof safe, and off-site
wherever possible.
2) Use anti-virus software and maintain regular updates.
3) To help safeguard against boot sector infections, disable the “boot from
floppy” option in the system BIOS.
4) Store important files in a single location such as the My Documents folder.
Then use subfolders to help organise data by project or category. Old data
can be moved across to a specially created Archives folder.
5) Windows users should maintain an up-to-date Emergency Repair Disk.
6) Format windows volumes as NTFS. The NTFS format includes transaction logging
capabilities to help prevent data errors.
7) users to report any unusual noises immediately. Tapping, clicking
or humming sounds are early signs of disk or controller failure.
8) Avoid excessive heat. The latest hard drives spin almost twice as fast as
their older counterparts, so make sure the system fan is up to the task.
Consider fitting an additional fan.
9) Store an emergency installation of the OS on a different drive.
10) For optimal server setup, use mirrored boot drives with all data maintained
on a hardware RAID5 system. Depending on the nature of the data
involved, consider RAID 5+0 for increased speed.
rarely fail, butwhen they do the results can be catastrophic. Therefore it pays
to be aware of potential problems before they become a real threat.
1) Back up data regularly. Store backup sets in a fireproof safe, and off-site
wherever possible.
2) Use anti-virus software and maintain regular updates.
3) To help safeguard against boot sector infections, disable the “boot from
floppy” option in the system BIOS.
4) Store important files in a single location such as the My Documents folder.
Then use subfolders to help organise data by project or category. Old data
can be moved across to a specially created Archives folder.
5) Windows users should maintain an up-to-date Emergency Repair Disk.
6) Format windows volumes as NTFS. The NTFS format includes transaction logging
capabilities to help prevent data errors.
7) users to report any unusual noises immediately. Tapping, clicking
or humming sounds are early signs of disk or controller failure.
8) Avoid excessive heat. The latest hard drives spin almost twice as fast as
their older counterparts, so make sure the system fan is up to the task.
Consider fitting an additional fan.
9) Store an emergency installation of the OS on a different drive.
10) For optimal server setup, use mirrored boot drives with all data maintained
on a hardware RAID5 system. Depending on the nature of the data
involved, consider RAID 5+0 for increased speed.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
10 Big Lessons from Little Kids
You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.”
- Franklin P. Jones
Have you ever watched a child completely engrossed in a project? They have the unusual ability to be serious about what they’re doing without taking it too seriously. You can do the same with your life. You can live every day with more focus, and every week with more motivation.
Here’s what every child knows that you may have forgotten. See if you can apply some of these lessons to your adult life.
1. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Even when there’s not a prize in the bottom of the box.
Studies show that children who eat breakfast do better in school. It doesn’t take much further thought to know that adults will feel better and perform better at work as well. Researchers believe that eating first thing in the morning may help to stabilize blood sugar levels, which regulate appetite and energy. They suggest people who eat breakfast are less likely to be hungry during the rest of the day and are, therefore, less likely to overeat. So, tomorrow morning, remember that eating a healthy breakfast is the best way to start off your day, and be good to yourself by eating a healthy one.
2. Homework blows. Bring work home with you and it’ll ruin your night. And your marriage. And your family. And your life.
Don’t bring work home. If you are overloaded and don’t have enough time at work to do what is expected, talk to your supervisor to resolve the problem. Home should be your relaxation zone, not another workplace. Make sure you separate work and leisure time in your head – so that work doesn’t spill over into your fun. Even simple things like changing out of your work clothes and having a shower when you get home, or going to the gym after work can help you shake off the working day.
3. The only way to know how something works is to completely disassemble it. (This is still good advice when tackling a complex problem. Your plasma TV? Not so much).
Hard problem? Break it down! Writing a book seems daunting, so start by doing an essay. If an essay is too much, start by writing a paragraph summary. The important thing is to have something done right away. Once you have something, you can judge it more accurately and understand the problem better. It’s also much easier to improve something that already exists than to work at a blank page. If your paragraph goes well, then maybe it can grow into an essay and then into a book, little by little, a perfectly reasonable piece of writing all the way through.
4. There’s a reason they don’t give credit cards to 8-year-olds. You’re supposed to save up money before you buy a new toy.
Managing your money is an important life skill that few of us were ever taught. But it’s never too late to learn. Taking control of your money means knowing where it’s going. It’s all too easy to let your money fritter away without any real sense of what you’re spending. The key is to sit down and work it out. It’s a good idea to write down your spending, then you can review it and see where you could manage money better.
5. Asking questions is how you figure things out. Lots and lots of questions.
Why are taller buildings better? What is the purpose of curbs? Ask anything that comes to mind, and ponder the possible answers. Our brains are wired to be curious. As we grow up and “mature” many of us stifle or deny our natural curiosity. Let yourself be curious! Wonder to yourself about why things are happening. Ask someone in the know. The best way to exercise our curiosity is by asking “Why?” Make it a new habit to ask “why?” at least 10 times a day. Your brain will be happier and you will be amazed at how many opportunities and solutions will show up in your life and work.
6. The coolest adults were the ones who took the time to listen to you. You still want to grow up to be a cool adult, right?
When you’re feeling stressed, have had a particularly difficult day, or are facing a crisis, the ear of a supportive friend can be a lifeline to peace. A genuinely good listener is actually more rare than one would think, and also more valuable. Sometimes people feign listening, but they’re really just waiting for their friend to stop talking so they can say whatever they’ve been mentally rehearsing while they’ve been pretending to listen. People can usually sense this, and it doesn’t feel good. Learn how to be a truly supportive listener, and you may find yourself surrounded by others who are able to do the same.
7. Your body was designed for throwing baseballs, shooting hoops, and jumping off diving boards and stuff. In the secret language of children, the word “fitness” doesn’t exist. It’s called “having fun.”
Everything can be a game. Why slog through the same workout routines in boredom, when you can add a little fun? Make up rules, shoot for personal records, regain your competitive spirit. No fear, no self-doubts, no negative self talk, no self-criticism, no worries, no destructive anxieties or thoughts of failure. To a child, he/she can do anything. And do you know what? They’re right.
8. Playtime is important and laughter feels good.
We get so caught up in work, chores and a host of “have-to’s” that we forget to take time for ourselves. Not only does relaxing and regrouping make life worthwhile, it has real health benefits. Most of all, it will help you stay consistent and motivated. Kids also seem to inherently know that laughter can ease blood pressure, help your brain function, give you energy, and help you reach your goals. Smiling and enjoying yourself can be serious help.
9. Too much of anything will give you a tummy ache. Like, say, bourbon.
Those who over-exercise will burn themselves out. Those who site sedately all day suffer from atrophy. A boy who studies all the time has no friends. Another who only makes friends fails in his examinations. Staying too long under the sun can result in heatstroke and sunburn. Not going out at all makes the skin pale and pallid. Sharpening at all will render the knife useless. Being extreme is always the cause of pain. Moderation, then is the key of life. It is the way to live our lives as it is meant to be lived.
10. Try to be the friend you were when you were 12: fun-loving and loyal, with no strings attached.
The quality that tops the list in survey after survey of what people appreciate most about their friends is loyalty — support that you always give to someone because of your feelings of duty and love towards them. The famous maxim that “a friend in need is a friend indeed” is not the entire story of loyalty, however. A friend in triumph may be even harder to find. It takes twenty-four-karat loyalty for a friend to soar alongside us when we are flying high rather than to bring us down to earth. Loyal friends not only lend a hand when you’re in need; they applaud your successes and cheer you on without envy when you prosper. Be loyal.
When you act more like a kid, suddenly the world opens up, and you start enjoying yourself again!
- Franklin P. Jones
Have you ever watched a child completely engrossed in a project? They have the unusual ability to be serious about what they’re doing without taking it too seriously. You can do the same with your life. You can live every day with more focus, and every week with more motivation.
Here’s what every child knows that you may have forgotten. See if you can apply some of these lessons to your adult life.
1. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Even when there’s not a prize in the bottom of the box.
Studies show that children who eat breakfast do better in school. It doesn’t take much further thought to know that adults will feel better and perform better at work as well. Researchers believe that eating first thing in the morning may help to stabilize blood sugar levels, which regulate appetite and energy. They suggest people who eat breakfast are less likely to be hungry during the rest of the day and are, therefore, less likely to overeat. So, tomorrow morning, remember that eating a healthy breakfast is the best way to start off your day, and be good to yourself by eating a healthy one.
2. Homework blows. Bring work home with you and it’ll ruin your night. And your marriage. And your family. And your life.
Don’t bring work home. If you are overloaded and don’t have enough time at work to do what is expected, talk to your supervisor to resolve the problem. Home should be your relaxation zone, not another workplace. Make sure you separate work and leisure time in your head – so that work doesn’t spill over into your fun. Even simple things like changing out of your work clothes and having a shower when you get home, or going to the gym after work can help you shake off the working day.
3. The only way to know how something works is to completely disassemble it. (This is still good advice when tackling a complex problem. Your plasma TV? Not so much).
Hard problem? Break it down! Writing a book seems daunting, so start by doing an essay. If an essay is too much, start by writing a paragraph summary. The important thing is to have something done right away. Once you have something, you can judge it more accurately and understand the problem better. It’s also much easier to improve something that already exists than to work at a blank page. If your paragraph goes well, then maybe it can grow into an essay and then into a book, little by little, a perfectly reasonable piece of writing all the way through.
4. There’s a reason they don’t give credit cards to 8-year-olds. You’re supposed to save up money before you buy a new toy.
Managing your money is an important life skill that few of us were ever taught. But it’s never too late to learn. Taking control of your money means knowing where it’s going. It’s all too easy to let your money fritter away without any real sense of what you’re spending. The key is to sit down and work it out. It’s a good idea to write down your spending, then you can review it and see where you could manage money better.
5. Asking questions is how you figure things out. Lots and lots of questions.
Why are taller buildings better? What is the purpose of curbs? Ask anything that comes to mind, and ponder the possible answers. Our brains are wired to be curious. As we grow up and “mature” many of us stifle or deny our natural curiosity. Let yourself be curious! Wonder to yourself about why things are happening. Ask someone in the know. The best way to exercise our curiosity is by asking “Why?” Make it a new habit to ask “why?” at least 10 times a day. Your brain will be happier and you will be amazed at how many opportunities and solutions will show up in your life and work.
6. The coolest adults were the ones who took the time to listen to you. You still want to grow up to be a cool adult, right?
When you’re feeling stressed, have had a particularly difficult day, or are facing a crisis, the ear of a supportive friend can be a lifeline to peace. A genuinely good listener is actually more rare than one would think, and also more valuable. Sometimes people feign listening, but they’re really just waiting for their friend to stop talking so they can say whatever they’ve been mentally rehearsing while they’ve been pretending to listen. People can usually sense this, and it doesn’t feel good. Learn how to be a truly supportive listener, and you may find yourself surrounded by others who are able to do the same.
7. Your body was designed for throwing baseballs, shooting hoops, and jumping off diving boards and stuff. In the secret language of children, the word “fitness” doesn’t exist. It’s called “having fun.”
Everything can be a game. Why slog through the same workout routines in boredom, when you can add a little fun? Make up rules, shoot for personal records, regain your competitive spirit. No fear, no self-doubts, no negative self talk, no self-criticism, no worries, no destructive anxieties or thoughts of failure. To a child, he/she can do anything. And do you know what? They’re right.
8. Playtime is important and laughter feels good.
We get so caught up in work, chores and a host of “have-to’s” that we forget to take time for ourselves. Not only does relaxing and regrouping make life worthwhile, it has real health benefits. Most of all, it will help you stay consistent and motivated. Kids also seem to inherently know that laughter can ease blood pressure, help your brain function, give you energy, and help you reach your goals. Smiling and enjoying yourself can be serious help.
9. Too much of anything will give you a tummy ache. Like, say, bourbon.
Those who over-exercise will burn themselves out. Those who site sedately all day suffer from atrophy. A boy who studies all the time has no friends. Another who only makes friends fails in his examinations. Staying too long under the sun can result in heatstroke and sunburn. Not going out at all makes the skin pale and pallid. Sharpening at all will render the knife useless. Being extreme is always the cause of pain. Moderation, then is the key of life. It is the way to live our lives as it is meant to be lived.
10. Try to be the friend you were when you were 12: fun-loving and loyal, with no strings attached.
The quality that tops the list in survey after survey of what people appreciate most about their friends is loyalty — support that you always give to someone because of your feelings of duty and love towards them. The famous maxim that “a friend in need is a friend indeed” is not the entire story of loyalty, however. A friend in triumph may be even harder to find. It takes twenty-four-karat loyalty for a friend to soar alongside us when we are flying high rather than to bring us down to earth. Loyal friends not only lend a hand when you’re in need; they applaud your successes and cheer you on without envy when you prosper. Be loyal.
When you act more like a kid, suddenly the world opens up, and you start enjoying yourself again!
Automatically optimize your hard disk
We generally use windows defragmenter to optimize our hard drives but with a little change in registry settings, windows will automatically optimize the location of files in your hard drive when the pc is idle. Here’s the trick
a) Go to start and open run, type regedit and enter to open registry settings.
b) When regedit is opened browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\ OptimalLayout
c) There you will find a string called EnableAutoLayout, change its data value to 1. If the string is not present the create it and set its data value to 1.
Now exit regedit and reboot your PC and its done
a) Go to start and open run, type regedit and enter to open registry settings.
b) When regedit is opened browse to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\\SOFTWARE\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\ OptimalLayout
c) There you will find a string called EnableAutoLayout, change its data value to 1. If the string is not present the create it and set its data value to 1.
Now exit regedit and reboot your PC and its done
Facebook users targeted by rogue application | Security - CNET News
Facebook users targeted by rogue application
by Steven Musil
A new piece of malware making the rounds on Facebook falsely warns users that their friends have had problems viewing their profiles, posing a potential threat to users\' personal information.
The rogue application, dubbed \"Error Check System,\" displays an error message in the notifications section that reads \"(Friend\'s name) has faced some errors when checking your profile View The Errors Message.\"
But the warnings are fake and a viral attempt to spread the application and recruit more Facebook users, according to Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant with Sophos. While saying that there is no evidence of personal information theft, Cluley noted in a blog posting that utilizing an error message about the recipient\'s profile was \"sneaky.\"
\"This is an important reminder to all Facebook users that they must exercise caution about which third-party applications they install on their profile, and everyone should remember that Facebook does not approve applications before they are made available on their site,\" Cluley wrote. \"You really are putting your trust in complete strangers when you add that next application to your Facebook profile.\"
However, non-Facebook members are at risk as well. A Web search of \"Error Check System\" will yield a link to a site that contains code that will initiate a fake virus scan and try to fool users into installing malware disguised as antivirus software, Cluley wrote in a second blog. Sophos identified the malware as Sus/FakeAV-A and Troj/FakeAV-LL.
\"The worry is that in many people\'s rush to find out more about the suspicious application\'s behaviour on Facebook they may well run straight into a scareware author\'s trap,\" Cluley wrote. However, he noted, \"Is it possible that the original Facebook application was actually a red herring, and the real dangerous payload came from people Googling for information?\"
Facebook users already infected by the application can uninstall it by using the Edit tab in the Applications section of their Facebook profile.
by Steven Musil
A new piece of malware making the rounds on Facebook falsely warns users that their friends have had problems viewing their profiles, posing a potential threat to users\' personal information.
The rogue application, dubbed \"Error Check System,\" displays an error message in the notifications section that reads \"(Friend\'s name) has faced some errors when checking your profile View The Errors Message.\"
But the warnings are fake and a viral attempt to spread the application and recruit more Facebook users, according to Graham Cluley, a senior technology consultant with Sophos. While saying that there is no evidence of personal information theft, Cluley noted in a blog posting that utilizing an error message about the recipient\'s profile was \"sneaky.\"
\"This is an important reminder to all Facebook users that they must exercise caution about which third-party applications they install on their profile, and everyone should remember that Facebook does not approve applications before they are made available on their site,\" Cluley wrote. \"You really are putting your trust in complete strangers when you add that next application to your Facebook profile.\"
However, non-Facebook members are at risk as well. A Web search of \"Error Check System\" will yield a link to a site that contains code that will initiate a fake virus scan and try to fool users into installing malware disguised as antivirus software, Cluley wrote in a second blog. Sophos identified the malware as Sus/FakeAV-A and Troj/FakeAV-LL.
\"The worry is that in many people\'s rush to find out more about the suspicious application\'s behaviour on Facebook they may well run straight into a scareware author\'s trap,\" Cluley wrote. However, he noted, \"Is it possible that the original Facebook application was actually a red herring, and the real dangerous payload came from people Googling for information?\"
Facebook users already infected by the application can uninstall it by using the Edit tab in the Applications section of their Facebook profile.
PDFTEXT - Convert and process PDF documents to plain text online
PDFTEXT converts PDF files to plain text. It is capable of performing simple text manipulation, such as stripping stop words, grammatical structure analysis and extracting any URLs found in the document. PDFTEXT is useful in situations where you want to export the content of PDF file to another application that only understands plain text, such as Endnote. PDFTEXT can extract noun phrases from your document, allowing easy creation of a concept index which can be used to describe the document.
http://mkweb.bcgsc.ca/pdftext/
http://mkweb.bcgsc.ca/pdftext/
FREE antivirus software with spyware protection: avast! Home Edition
Complete antivirus software for free
avast! antivirus Home Edition represents the best FREE antivirus protection currently available on the market. This edition is FREE OF CHARGE for non-commercial & home use only. Both of these conditions should be met!
avast! antivirus Home Edition represents the best FREE antivirus protection currently available on the market. This edition is FREE OF CHARGE for non-commercial & home use only. Both of these conditions should be met!
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