ShowMeBlog

Apple unveils the iPad

“San Francisco, California (CNN) -- Apple CEO Steve Jobs on Wednesday unveiled the iPad, the widely and wildly anticipated tablet-style computer that he called "a truly magical and revolutionary product."

"What this device does is extraordinary," Jobs said. "It is the best browsing experience you've ever had. ... It's unbelievably great ... way better than a laptop. Way better than a smartphone."

The computer will act as a sort of missing link between the two. The model Jobs demonstrated at an invitation-only event in San Francisco operated without a hardware keyboard, with Jobs typing on what he described as a nearly full-size touchscreen keyboard.

"It's a dream to type on," he said.

It has a nearly 10-inch screen, runs existing apps from the Apple apps store and is available in 16-gigabyte, 32-gigabyte and 64-gigabyte versions, according to Jobs…”

  Wow… God I want one of them.  It will hard for me to come up with the money for one of them but I sure want one of them.  The 16 GB one will be $499.00 and that is a lot of money for me to come up with now days.
 

Firefox 3.6 RC 2

  Mozilla just put out Firefox 3.6 RC 2 so the final and full release of Firefox 3.6 must be very near.
  I am using Firefox and am running 3.6 RC 2 now.  It works well it has a problem from time to time.  I am sure they will iron out those problems soon.

FTC to crack down on bloggers

  Today new rules from the Federal Trade Commission go into effect.  The FTC is going to crack down on bloggers who review or promote products and get freebies or money and do not tell readers.
  I have always told you up front if I am getting any money or anything else.  The new rules will not bring much of a change here.  The new rules will make me think a bit more when I post something. 
  I post here daily about sites that I like or services or things I buy or want to buy and never tell you that I do not get paid for those comments.  I may have to start telling you, some how, that it is an un-paid recommendation.  I know that is not the rule… I need to tell you when I AM getting paid.  But I do not even want anyone to think that I might be breaking the rules.  I think the FTC rules are a good idea.
  I have seen a few excellent blogs that I did read go to hell… Because when sites like PayPerPost and others started up …those blogs that were so excellent would then be just post after post of promotions so they would get paid.
 

Two donations today

  I got two donations today…So I was wrong the other day…When I said no more donations…
  I used one donation for food…  Now I can eat until I get my SS money.  I used part of the other donation to buy a theme for Howard’s Notebook.  If you want to see what the site looks like after getting the new theme check out Howard’s Notebook.
  Good things come in threes so if you want to donate please do so… any amount is welcome.

  OR is it bad things happen in threes? 
  I love the new theme on HNB.  It took just a very little time to set up the blog just the way I wanted it plus there are lots more things I can do with it fast and easy.  If you got a WordPress site and you host it yourself I recommend the theme.  Click on the banner on the bottom right and I make a commission if you buy it.

Today is the day – Windows 7 is out

  Today Windows 7 is out.  I am sure lots of people are going to be buying it.  I think a lot of XP users will just keep using XP.  Vista people should go to Windows 7 because Vista is crap.
  Lot of Windows 7 will be sold.. But many people are going to hold out if they are happy with XP.

  I can not bring myself to spent the money right now for Windows 7.
I can see having a major hardware or software crash and then going out and getting Windows 7 to start all over again.

  I am waiting for October 29th when Ubuntu 9.10 will be released.  It is free.  I have been running Ubuntu for years.. It just is fast, it is pretty neat …but I just can not replace Windows with it right now.  I hope 9.10 will let me say goodbye to Windows.  I do not think it will be that complete.

Windows Media Player

  You would NOT believe the software that I have installed over the past few days.  I have even installed MS Service Pack 3.  If they say they have something…I install it.
  I got my Netflix DVD today.  I put it in the computer to see if this computer will play a video DVD for me.

 

  I get the above message: “Windows Media Player can not play this DVD because a compatible DVD decoder is not installed on your computer.”
  My God…I been installing everything from Windows for days. 

“Windows Media Player becomes a full-featured DVD player when combined with a DVD decoder (MPEG-2 decoder) with features such as full-screen video playback controls, DVD chapter listings, and integrated cover art.”

For Windows XP

“If you are running Windows XP, you can enhance your DVD playback experience by purchasing a DVD decoder pack. To find out if you already have a DVD decoder installed on your Windows XP–based computer and whether it is compatible with Windows Media Player, install and run the Windows XP Video Decoder Checkup Utility.”

Windows 7 Upgrade $120.00

  Jeff Bertolucci has an article “Consumers Won’t Pay $120 for Windows 7 Upgrade.”  I think many of them will but I agree with him.  That is to much money to pay to UPGRADE and you are upgrading to the basic starter version. 
  I comment on this before… It is to much money… I think this upgrade should be $69.99 and a full buy if you are not upgrading should be $120.00 or a bit more.
  I am not sure I will upgrade.  Yes, Windows 7 is nice.. At last Windows has a version that of Windows that works.  XP is not bad but has a lot of problems… Vista is crap.
  I may pay out the $120.00 but it is going to piss me off and I am sure I am not the only person… Why piss off your customers? 

  If Ubuntu gets a few more things fixed in their software… I will say tell MS to kiss my ass.
  The next release of Ubuntu (9.10 on October 29th) is going, I think, to have the ability to install a non-free program…I guess you will pay for it and then you can install it.. Sort of like the Apple store for the iPod/iPhone I guess. 
  The Linux geeks may not like that… but I think it is an excellent idea…If Ubuntu does everything I want except for a webcam program and someone wants to write one and sell via the install function of Ubuntu then who loses in the deal.

Windows 7 critical updates - grin

“Microsoft released a record number of 13 bulletins for 34 vulnerabilities on Patch Tuesday--and the first critical update for Windows 7--as well as fixes for zero-day flaws involving Server Message Block (SMB) and Internet Information Services (IIS).

The most severe of the three SMB flaws, which were first reported last month, could allow an attacker to take control of a computer remotely by sending a specially crafted SMB packet to a computer running the Server service. Exploit code for one of the SMB holes has been posted to the Web, Microsoft said.

Windows 7 is affected by two critical patches intended to mend vulnerabilities that could allow remote code execution if a malicious Web page were viewed, one part of a cumulative security update for Internet Explorer and the other in .Net Framework and Silverlight.

The official release date for Windows 7 is October 22, but the new operating system has been available to some large businesses with volume licenses since the summer. The code was finalized in July…”  CNet News

  Windows 7 is a very good operating system but do I even want to go there?  I got some things I want to spend money on later this month and Windows 7 is not one of them.
  October 29th I will try Ubuntu 9.10 but I do not think I can do without Windows.  

Am I going to buy Windows 7?

  I was just thinking…I do not remember ever buying a Windows version…I would buy a new computer and it came with Windows but I never went to a store or ordered just Windows O/S.
  I can remember buying DOS and OS2.  I have bought many versions of Linux. 
  I think the past versions of Windows should have sold for $49.99 and I did run Windows 7 beta and Windows 7 RC and I think it is an excellent O/S.  But I think it should sell for $99.00 and not a penny more.
  I may buy a new computer one day and I suspect it will come with Windows on it…But I can not see myself going out and just buying Windows 7.
  Right now I am running Windows XP Professional v2002 Service Pack 3.  It is working excellent. 

  I guess Windows 7 Home Premium is going to cost (upgrade) $119.99 and Professional is going to be $199.99 and Ultimate $219.99 and that is for an upgrade.
  I will have to check again and see what the difference is between each version.  I could see myself paying $119.00 but not those other prices.

  The new Ubuntu 9.10 will be out October 29th (2009) and I may just give up Windows. Ubuntu is free. 
  Can I live without Windows?  I am not sure…I sure would like to try.

Registered Versions of Software

  Over the years I hate to think of all the hardware and software that I have paid for …. In the early days of telecommunications…300 baud modems were costing…I think it was $300.00 and I can remember paying over $600.00 just for a printer…Keep in mind I had a multi-line BBS and had to have a modem for each line … Well I have spent a lot of money.
  Over the years I have spent so much money on software.  I was the one of the first people to use Webcam32 software and the author told me I was the first one to pay him for the software.  I have paid for programs and made donations over the years… A lot of money.
  
  A few programs that I paid for they said when you pay for the program it is for life…Then later they went back on it.
  I paid for so many webcam programs…I hate to think…In case you wonder why I paid for a webcam program…This was before any of the current sites like BlogTV, Stickam and all the others.  I was one of the first people to send out streaming video. 
  I wish I had kept track of all the money I spent for hardware and software or just even software.  It would be nice to know… I guess when someone said why are you poor?  I could say well because I spent xxxx.xx on software.

  Some software people have been good about how they do issue code and having a way to get you a new code if you lose the old one.  I can not remember all of the great people but here are a few that have been excellent in support of customers;  CoffeeCup, ACDSee, IRider, IncrediMail and WindowBlinds.  There have been many others.
  Now WebCamXP is one of the guys I signed up with and the deal was when you paid it was for life.  Well later I guess he saw that was the wrong way to do it and he changed the rules on me and I guess others.  He even went to where you had to pay for a code that was only good for two years.
  A strange case is ChillCAM…Great author of the software…I paid for a single user version and a multi-user version…He asked for my recommendations and exchanged emails with me all the time.  His software was a work in progress and then he got it done and he released the final version of the single version and sent me an email and said he would have the final version of the multi-version later in the day.  That was the last email from him.  His web site never changed after that date…not one line on his website.  Not update for years.. never updated.  I sent a number of email and never heard from the guy.  This was back in 2001.  Did the guy get arrested?  Did the guy die?  Did the guy have a mental break down?  No idea…  I bet their is a story there someplace.

  My version of XP is working OK.  I plan to get Windows 7 when it comes out if I can afford it.  
  I plan to give Ubuntu 9.10 a look when it comes out on October 29, 2009.  I am trying to think what do I need in Ubuntu to make it so  I do not even need Windows.  I think all it needs is support for webcams like QuickCam Pro 9000.
  Right now I do not have Ubuntu installed.  I do not want to risk installing it at this time.  I should go OK and create a dual boot system..I have done that a dozen times in the past but do not want to risk it today.

  I been talking about all the money I have spent on software…I bet I have spent about $300.00 on Joomla! software.  I been I have spent about $400.00 on WordPress templates.  Plus soon as I can get my hands on $90.00 there is a new WP template that I am going to buy.
  I do not mind paying for software or making donations for it…I just hate it when I pay for it and can not use it … Yes,  most of this is my fault.. Not backing up and not burning a DVD with the software and the codes.

AVS Video Converter and their other programs

  I been looking for the code for the AVS software.  I could not find it.  They have an excellent bunch of programs.  You can get them all for $39.00 or you can get unlimited life time access for $59.00 and I did the unlimited.  So I been looking high and low for my code.  I could not find it.
  I went to their site and entered my email address and they send me my code.  I can now get all their software and run it for free for life or until I format again.   NO, I am going to print out the code this time.
 
  I still have not found all the codes for DivX.  I found a couple of them but I think I had about six different codes that I had to use with them.

Easy Windows 7 Transfer Cable

“Upgrading to a new operating system is a notorious mess — you need to find all of your data and user settings (often spending hours doing so), burn them to a DVD or other support and then copy them all to the new OS. Belkin's "Easy Transfer Cable" for Windows 7, a USB 2.0 cable with accompanying software aims to make the whole process much easier by guiding you through the transfer process, automatically finding your data and settings and streamlining the transition from XP or Vista to the upcoming Windows 7.

Belkin's Easy Transfer Cable is designed to work with the Windows Easy Transfer utility from Microsoft. The cable must be connected between two computers, an "old" one running either Windows XP or Vista on one end and another running Windows 7 on the other end. As soon as the cable is connected, its software will prompt the user and walk them through the transferring process.

After a few minutes of configuration, the system will go ahead and transfer data, settings and user accounts (programs are not included) selected by the user at 480 Mbit/s from the old to the new PC making sure you don't lose important files in the process (as too often happens). A small LED placed on the cable also provides status updates on the transferring process.

Interestingly, Bravura Software has built on the previous version of this product (Easy Transfer Cable for Vista, for XP-to-Vista upgrades) to create a system for user-friendly data synchronization through the use of its own additional software, and will likely do the same for the Windows 7 version once it comes out.

The Easy Transfer Cable for Windows 7 will hit the North American market on October 23rd and is scheduled for Q1 2010 in Europe and Asia, but can already be pre-ordered from Amazon for about US$33.”     Gizmo

  I can see this being a big seller.  I format all the time and start over but I am sure getting tired of doing it.  I am running XP right now and I might get this cable because I will be going to Windows 7 if I can afford it.

Note:  If you click on the link above and buy the cable I should get a commission.
           I think you all know that but just wanted to be honest with you.

Spam Dominates E-Mail

“Worldwide spam has surged by nine times and now makes up 86 percent of all emails, says Symantec.

According to the security firm's October State of Spam report, 'toxic' spam or spam that contains malware accounts for 4.5 percent of all spam.

Symantec also said that spammers were concentrating their efforts of exploiting the 'holiday' period. As well as targeting web users with Halloween and Christmas related spam, spammers have expanded their remit to include the Indian festival of light Diwali and the Chinese Moon Festival, both of which are celebrated in October.

The most common subject lines in spam messages are 'Delivery Status Notification (Failure)', 'Return mail' and 'Undelivered Mail Returned to Sender'.

Symantec also said Phishing attacks were down five percent on last month and non-English phishing sites has decreased by 33 percent on last month…”        PC World

  We all know that those numbers sound correct.  I am sent more of this spam than most because my email addresses are all over the place.  I never see any of the spam because I use SpamArrest.  Well let me correct that…From time to time I go to SpamArrest to check what they have filtered and make sure no real email messages are their by error.  So I do get to scan the junk and see the lists of all crap being sent.  I wish someone could hunt down the senders of junk mail and beat the crap out of them.
  What we need is a system that IDs everyone on the Internet.  I think life would be much better for all of us.  I know none of you agree. Many of you want to have the ability to hide your ID. 

Windows Internet Explorer 8

  As you know I just had to format and install Windows XP.  I did the upgrade to Windows Internet Explorer 8.  I been getting some errors with it so I just installed Firefox 3.5 and I will see how that works out.
  Firefox is what I was using mostly with Windows 7 RC.
  I will be buying Windows 7 when they release it.  I hope I can afford it.

Here is a review of Windows 7 RC that I did about 4 months ago.  This was after two days.  I ran Windows 7 RC for four months.  I think it is excellent and recommend it.