Flyers Blog of Technology

IE 7 Logo

Recently on the news, especially in Australia there has been news reports about a major virus that could infect nearly any computer user that accesses the internet.

The virus in question works by exploiting a security flaw in the “Remote code execution” function of Internet explorer. This flaw has existed since the browser launch, and was discovered by hackers before Microsoft. Microsoft Internet explorer is currently the worlds most used internet browser and as such, causes a great deal of pain and uncertainty when a major virus like this is released.

The virus allows people or viruses working on behalf of people to search the computer and take whatever information they like, including bank and other personal details.

Microsoft has released a security patch for the issue and it is recommended that if you haven’t already done so, If you have IE installed, regardless of whether you use it or not that you update. You can update easily by:

1. Visiting http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/updates/bulletins/200812_oob.mspx

or

2. “Start” > “All Programs” > “Windows Update”

I recommend the second option as then you can get other security and machine updates you may have missed.

Firefox Logo

It is believed that more than 2 million computers have already been infected and the general advice from cyber security experts was update, and if at all possible switch to a different browser such As Mozilla Firefox which is seen to have better security than Microsoft Internet Explorer. You can get the latest version of Firefox at http://www.getfirefox.com.

Thanks.

~ Flyer

Here are some updates I would like to bring to your attention at this point in time regarding Flyers Blog:

Firstly, i have upgraded to the latest stable release of WordPress 2.7, so if you find any bugs, please report them :).

Second, We are now ad free. I decided I don’t like the ads and so have removed them, this might be temporary, or permanent, I don’t know.

The third update today is “You comment, I Follow.” Yes, I have installed the do-follow plugin, and so all links are now Do-Follow, don’t abuse this by spamming or it might just be disabled, I am only doing this to give something to my readers.

Thanks for reading, and if you have anything you want to know just ask, I will try to find an answer for you.
~ Flyer

Nintendo Wii

Ok, so i know i am late with this post :(, but it is here now. So when i first got my Nintendo Wii, i was very excited with the way it worked with the multi tracking sensors and IR camera. So i did a bit of research on mod chips and other developments that people have come up with that could utilize this technology and expand it further. Back then, the mod chips weren’t that great, and i definitely didn’t want to risk my brand new console, so i stopped searching them, and focused more on other developments. One of the great things i came across was Chinese grad Student Johnny Chung Lee.

He has done some pretty amazing things in his projects, but this post will just be specifically on his Wii Projects. Firstly, his projects actually don’t involve the Wii, but rather the WiiMote and in some cases, the sensor bar, so if you want to try these out, you don’t need to go and buy a console.

Johnny Chung Lee has a B.S in Computer Engineering and a Ph.D. in Computer-Human Interaction. And with the WiiMote has been able to develop software that:

• Allows for multi-point tracking to create something like the “Minority Report” board where things can be moved and resized in real time by moving your fingers.
• Creates an interactive smart board with the use of IR pens and pointing the WiiMote at a projection screen or LCD display
• Head Tracking with the use of the WiiMote and led lights or the sensor bar

They are all quite amazing projects that he has come up with, and could really further gaming challenges and enjoyment. I believe that it is a step in the right direction and game developers should take this info and start to develop hardware and games that can utilize this extend it again and again.

That’s all from me now, check in later for more on the Wii and other Tech news.

~ Flyer

Well, wordpress 2.7 is here in a stable form, I have just upgraded and like the look of the new wordpress. The most noticeable difference is the dashboard, it now has a verticle menu structure which might take a little getting used to, but should be pretty straight forward considering wordpress has a great way of making things user friendly, but without sacrificing functionality. Will keep you posted on how it goes, and if you find any bugs, please use the contact form to let me know. Thanks.

~ Flyer

I have owned a Nintendo Wii for a couple of years now, and find them quite fun still. I have also seen a Chinese grad student do some amazing stuff with the wiimote that could revolutionize gaming as we know it, if the technology is utilized and developed further, As i don’t have much time tonight to do a proper post up, i will start writing, and give to you tomorrow the writeup on the Nintendo Wii. This series will probably last a few posts and so if you like the Wii, or have friends who do, let them know about this blog, you might find some new, helpful or interesting information regarding it.

Until Tomorrow,

~ Flyer

Ok, so after playing around with the Asus Eee netbooks, i have been forced to change my opinons completely.

While they offer competitive specs, the Asus Eee netbook, not unlike the others just doesn’t cut it when it comes to performance needed by a normal daily user. The extensive netbook range are developed and optimized for net activities. So while the user can surf the net and do basic functions like word processing, Instant messaging, email etc with ease, anybody wishing to do things with multimedia, i.e. Photos, movies, graphic creation etc, you might want to think again.

The hardware, while it might have the numbers to back it up, i.e. 1.6Ghz and 1 or 2 GB of ram, this chips still run too slow to be able to cope efficiently with these kinds of tasks, and the graphics card only being a cheap integrated variant doesn’t help much either. Also, it’s lack of a dvd drive, while thought to be only a minimal problem at the start has started to become a bigger issue, To run a disc, you first need to get another computer, create an iso and mount it on the Asus, or get an external dvd drive which will consume more laptop power.

So despite having an up to 8 hour battery life, 1.6Ghz processor and a minimum of 512 mb of Ram (lesser models) and up to 2 GB in the upper models, unless you wish to only use it every now and then, or use it only for simple word processing on  the go, then this netbook may not be the one for you.

It might be quite amazing to think this, as the netbooks come in a range of hardware that is fairly matched to other laptops in terms of specs but when it comes down to business, it uses slower chips that just don’t make it.

Asus has since realised this and created a newer model, but instead of branding it with Eee, it seems that Asus has woken up and created a small notebook. No longer a netbook, but a full fledged notebook, but scaled down to a 10″ display. I will soon be doing a post on the Asus N10 and see how it compares to the Asus Eee and Hp Mini-Note 2133.

~ Flyer

So here is part two of the Mini-Notebook series. My review on the Hp Mini-Note 2133.

The tagline for HP 2133 Mini-Note is Small But Mighty. This is true for all mini notebooks nowadays as well as other gadgets. They just get smaller, prettier and more powerful.

HP 2133 Mini-Note is small in size but it is not lacking in aesthetics, usability and durability departments. It has a simple, refined design with all-aluminium case making it tough, sleek and light.

The ultra mobile subnotebook comes with an impressive 8.9-inch screen which is sufficient for rich multimedia display. The litte midget has a relatively large keyboard, full-size hard disk drive and other competitive specs.

Consumers are given the choice of 3 Operating Systems when buying HP 2133 Mini-Note - Windows Vista, FreeDOS or Linux. The maximum available processor speed is 1.6GHz, while memory support is up to 2048MB. Unlike other budget notebooks, HP 2133 Mini-Note comes with either 120GB or 160GB hard disk drive.

Being so compact and light and sporting an almost full-sized keyboard has apparently taken its toll on this machine. One of its drawbacks is that it lacks a DVD drive, which is the only major complaint from consumers about this model. Due to the lack of space, the touchpad is also badly designed. The space between keyboard and touchpad is very limited, the response time of the touchpad is a little slow and it is not even properly placed in the centre of the notebook!

The performance of HP 2133 Mini-Note is excellent, as always with most HP notebooks. The display on its screen is so beautiful that one might suspect that HP has wrongly ordered a high-end screen to be fitted on this unit. The backlighting is even across the display, colors are crisp and saturated, viewing angles are excellent and the contrast is just perfect.

The keyboard on HP 2133 Mini-Note is excellent. The keys are smooth to the touch and they have a silver finish. They feel natural to the fingers and there is no textured feel. The keys are responsive and there are no signs of flex anywhere.

Consumers can also choose different battery which are suited for them. A standard 3-cell battery can power up the notebook for average usage of about 2 hours and 30 minutes. With a 6-cell extended life battery, the expected running time is slightly over 4 hours.

HP 2133 Mini-Note is mainly targeted at students and mobile office workers, hence more focus is put into satisfying multimedia output and comfortable typing while other features are neglected. For one, without a DVD drive will seriously put off prospective customers who are looking for a budget but fully-functional multimedia notebook. However, this notebook is still very attractive because it has many features which are not found in other notebooks.

~ Flyer

If you are waiting on the next mini notebook update, just wait a little while longer, it is coming, i promise, but in the meantime i would like to share with you some neat little programs that i have been trying out over the course of the past few weeks. I downloaded these to help with organisation and planning, and they have been great. They are both free open source programs easily downloadable.

First we have FreeMind. FreeMind is a multi platform Java based application which allows you to do mind map and brainstorming activities quickly on your computer so that you have more time for the actually development of projects.

An excerpt from the FreeMind home page:

So you want to write a completely new metaphysics? Why don’t you use FreeMind? You have a tool at hand that remarkably resembles the tray slips of Robert Pirsig, described in his sequel to Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance called Lila. Do you want to refactor your essays in a similar way you would refactor software? Or do you want to keep personal knowledge base, which is easy to manage? Why don’t you try FreeMind? Do you want to prioritize, know where you are, where you’ve been and where you are heading, as Stephen Covey would advise you? Have you tried FreeMind to keep track of all the things that are needed for that?

It has an easy to use Guide made in a java applet modeling a finished mind map, and an easy to use complaints system so that you can complain about bugs errors, or just give constructive criticism, what more could you ask for?

It has handy keyboard shortcuts to make it easy for anyone to use, and best of all. It’s Free.

FreeMind in action

You can learn more and download FreeMind at http://freemind.sourceforge.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

The next program that i have been using is called Stickies. Stickies is a great little application that adds a coloured square to your desktop resembling the sticky notes you get at the stationary store.

I have used this one for about eight(8) weeks now to better my organisation and keep track of what assessment tasks and other jobs that i had to do. They are completely customisable, from Size to Colouring, changing font and even setting alarms.

From the Stickies website:

Main features:

* Once on screen, stickies will remain where placed until closed, even through reboots
* Stickies appearance can be customised; fonts, colours and buttons may be changed, and styles saved. Stickies can be resized.
* Stickies can snap to each other and to the sides of the screen to keep them neatly lined up
* Stickies can be attached to a web site, document or folder so they only show when it’s on screen
* Stickies can be transferred from one machine to another either over a TCP/IP network connection, or by using an SMTP mail server or MAPI client:
o Hierarchical friends list, which may be automatically transferred from other friends
o Play a sound file on receive
o Signature for transmitted or emailed stickies
o Favourite friends, and custom lists can be made
* Stickies can be hidden for a certain period, until a specified date and time, or to wake every day, week or month, to act as reminders.
* Stickies can have alarms set to ensure you notice them at a point you choose
* Stickies can be transferred to and from your Palm or PPC PDA.
* International language and RTL text support
* Stickies works with Windows Vista
* Stickies is small and simple, it writes to a single text file, and does not alter the registry
* AD network administrators can use Group Policy to control settings
* API to allow integration with other applications
* …and Stickies is completely free!

It really is a handy program that has won many award (see homepage) and i recommend that everyone at least download and try these programs, they’re great!

Stickies in action

You can learn more and download Stickies at http://www.zhornsoftware.co.uk/stickies/

Well that’s all from me today, good day and take care.

~ Flyer

As I said in a previous post, the Google Phone or G1 is here. The first Android based Smartphone has been released by T-Mobile USA. The device known as the G1 during the months of wait and developed by HTC is out for those who want it.

I had the privilege of being able to test one of these devices, and after using it for a week, there are a few comments that I would like to make on it. This should not be taken as a guarantee of the phone, but as one person’s observations and opinions.

Here is my new take on it since the release:

G1 from HTC

This is not a competitor to the iPhone. Just by a very quick look and play around, you can tell that the G1 is a shack to the iPhone’s mansion. After the week of playing around, I now firmly believe that those who enjoy using the iPhone will discover that the G1 lacks aesthetics both visually and physically.

Although I liked navigating the iPhone through the strictly touch only interface, the G1 has managed to combine the touch screen and keypad functionality with a trackball which allows smooth navigation through the interface.

The phone is very easy to use as a whole; taking just a few hours to learn to use most of the functions. Most people using Windows on their computers will find remarkable similarities with the Android interface. This will create an instant comfort in using the phone. So in the future, it could well be a pain for the Windows Mobile sales.

Now onto my likes and dislikes in easy reading point form:

Likes of the G1:

• The phone functionality of this Smartphone actually works as a phone, something that the iPhone has quite mastered yet.

• It is the size of a non-Smartphone phone, with a screen big enough for making surfing the Web browser a good experience.

• The keyboard is easy to use for all messaging and email needs with an emphasis on ease of use. The buttons are small but comfortable and well spaced for use with the thumb.

• Seamless integration with Instant messages like Google Talk, AOL, Windows Live Messenger and YIM. This is one of the better Mobile IM clients I have seen

And

• The Media player supports many file types like: MP3, WMA, AMR, MIDI and WAV

G1 from HTC - Black version

Dislikes of the G1:

• It weighs more than the iPhone: 4.7 ounce iPhone vs. 5.6 ounce G1 but despite this, with networks like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on, the battery is significantly inferior.

• Not enough internal space – The phone has a small 1 GB MicroSD card which you can upgrade, but only to a max of 8 GB.

So, what’s the final opinion? Could I recommend the phone to someone looking for a new phone? Yes, if you do not care much for the Microsoft or Apple product which seem to be mostly brand hype, but also no if you are looking for the current features that an iPhone has to offer, but that it G1 is yet to pick up.

Ok, so I told you all that I would be doing a few write ups on the new mini notebooks that have come onto the market; in particular, the Asus Eee, and the HP mini-note. If you are wondering why I am doing this, well, I am currently in the process of finding a new laptop, and I came across these.

First of all, I had heard about the Asus Eee notebooks from school, one of the techs were trying to get them introduced so that we had more computers in the library and maybe even every student could have one. Basically, they started out as a cheap alternative for those that wanted a laptop that they could do things like word process on the run, without having to carry around the weight or size of a full size laptop. Better yet, they were built on solid state architecture, so while the “Hard Drive” was only relatively small, if you dropped it, you wouldn’t damage the drive or lose files. The disks in them were basically a permanent usb drive inside which would hold up to 16 GB. If you needed the extra room, then you could always get a portable hard drive. They came out with the option of Windows XP or Linux, with 1 GB of ram, and an Intel Atom or Intel Celeron processor.

In today’s society the need for space and new technology is huge, so they upgraded their models and currently have nineteen (19) models released all of them with a different set of features depending on what the user wants and needs.

For more info on this particular mini visit http://eeepc.asus.com/global/index.html and stay tuned here at Flyers Blog, I will be providing more info on these and the HP mini-note.

To compare all the versions of the Eee visit http://event.asus.com/eeepc/comparison/eeepc_comparison.htm

~ Flyer