CPU-Z Ads

It seems the newest version of CPU-Z has some ads in the zip or setup file.  My work firewall blocks the download with the message:  Going to the

“This request is blocked by the SonicWALL Gateway Anti-Virus Service.  Browsefox-6628766-0 (Adware) blocked.”

Going to the version history page brings up some additional download options:  https://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html#version-history

I was able to download the CoolerMaster branded version without any firewall restrictions.

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Windows middle-button scroll icon!

I was trying to find an icon for this to put in a document, but couldn’t find one with the circle and all 4 arrows, so I made my own.

In case anyone else needs one, here you go.

It’s not perfect, but good enough for internal tech docs.

How things have changed…10MB of extra storage for email

I was looking through some old emails last night and came across this one from Hotmail in 2003 (note it’s MB not GB, and they used “thrice” in a sentence!):

Sent: Sat 8/30/2003

Dear MSN Extra Storage subscriber,

Thank you for subscribing to MSN® Extra Storage! Now you can enjoy great benefits such as:

• 10MB of MSN Hotmail® storage  —  with 5 times the storage of a free Hotmail account, you have plenty of room to store important e-mail and large attachments such as photos. Plus, you can send and receive larger attachments up to 3MB – thrice the size you can send and receive with a free Hotmail account.
• No MSN Hotmail account expiration  —  as an MSN Extra Storage subscriber, you don’t have to worry about signing in every 30 days to ensure that your Hotmail account stays active.

 

Google Apps–big change for the free version

I received an email today from Google regarding the free version of Google Apps:

Hello,As of May 10, any organization that signs up for a new account will be required to use the paid Google Apps for Business product in order to create more than 10 users. We honor our commitment to all existing customers and will allow you to add more than 10 users to your account for smudj.com at no additional charge, based on the limit in place when you joined us.

We recently announced upcoming changes to the maximum number of users for Google Apps. We want to let you know that, as a current customer, the changes will not affect you.

 Sincerely,

The Google Apps Team

 —-

If you’re thinking of getting a free version of Google Apps, looks like you need to get it done before May 10

Appholes

Microsoft was supposed to be the evil one, but now Apple is busting down doors in Palo Alto while Bill Gates rids the world of mosquitoes.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-april-28-2010/appholes

Google Apps for Enterprise? – Boo!

I was really excited to move to Google Apps from our old email provider.  The pilot went great, the email storage, 25GB from 125MB was a huge boon for all our users.  This was my project, global email migration for the company.  I researched it, I championed it, fought for it, and finally got it approved.  Awesome!

Then Google decides it doesn’t like Chinese politics.  Great, only 80%+ of my company works in China.  Now, email doesn’t work reliably, webmail is completely blocked, etc.

Google’s advice: use VPN and connect to someplace outside of China.  All the problems are “local DNS issues”, and not Google’s.  Thanks! 

Google’s newest announcement: Moving from Gears to HTML5, so no more offline Docs!!! https://docs.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?answer=176376

Their take: “we’re temporarily removing support for offline access in Google Docs through Gears. We know offline access is important for some of you, and we’re working hard to bring a new and improved offline access option to Google Docs.” 

They know its important, but they’re still dropping it, no dates for resuming service…wow!

Thanks Google!  And, thank God the userbase almost revolted at the hint of replacing Microsoft Office so we didn’t roll out Google Docs! 

The biggest question about Google Apps from users: “I want to be able to access my stuff, email, docs, etc. if I am not connected to the Internet,” i.e. airplane, hotel, client site, etc.

Moto Droid 2.1 update, where are you? (Cliff Stoll was right)

Did anyone see that re-release of Clifford Stoll’s internet predictions article (http://www.newsweek.com/id/106554)?

He laments not being able to search for the Battle of Trafagalar and find the date it happened.  The comments sections filled up with “I found it in .002 seconds on Google or wikipedia with Chrome.”  But, remember this was 1995, there was no Google, no Chrome, no Wikipedia, and NetScape Navigator was still 1.0.

Anyway, some of his predictions hold true.  I am finished with AT&T, HTC, and Windows Mobile 6.1.  There’s no 6.5 update for my Fuze in sight, and WinMo 7 looks interesting but I’m tired of not being able to answer my phone from WinMo bugs, not receiving calls from no reception, page after page of fatal WinMo errors that MS wants me to report, but never seem to be fixed, etc.

Not keen on an iPhone. 

So, I went in search of the Android 2.1 release date.   Guess what?  Even with Google, it was frustrating to find any relevant info.  The first two pages of Google results had the same, and incorrect, info that was released on Feb. 8th, that 2.1 was coming “this week.”

Finally, I dug down and found Moto’s official link: https://motorola-global-portal.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/42208/display_style/redesign/prod_id/7155

With their less than helpful info:

“DROID – Android 2.1

   

  How can I get the latest Android 2.1 software?

There is a release coming, check back soon.”

Who does Microsoft trust? Or, does MS trust anyone?

Paying customers? 

Not sure I like this.

Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7

Windows 7 is going to call home every 90 days to make sure that you’re legal?  So, even though you install a legal copy of Windows 7, activate it legally, Microsoft still doesn’t trust you?  I know Windows is heavily pirated, but I find this a little too much and a little too disappointing.  Is Microsoft’s plan to continually drive away all of its advocates?

http://windowsteamblog.com/blogs/genuinewindows/archive/2010/02/11/windows-activation-technologies-update-for-windows-7.aspx#commentform

Turning Aero back on in Win7

I have this cheapo web-cam that works great, but doesn’t get along with Aero in Vista or Win7.  When I forget and access it via IE on my Win7 box instead of a VM or via RDP on my server, it switches me back to the basic theme (yuck!).  Normally, all you need to do fix it is a) switch to another aero theme, then switch back, if that fails b) search “aero” and run the troubleshooter.  Both fixes failed me tonight.  I found the hack to enable Aero on a non-Aero system, but all I really need to do was:

net stop uxsms

net start uxsms

Bingo! Aero is back!  Original info from: Hack to force Aero

iSlate/iTab obsessions?

Is it just the Bay Area?  What is the obsession for this rumored tablet, people keep saying to me that they’re going to purchase it , and use it do this and that on it, etc., etc!  Jobs distortion field must really be expanding.

There’s no official announcement from Apple.  There are no specs on the CPU, RAM, etc, so how can you already have made a purchasing decision on vaporware?