"Live" Social Networking

I'm not sure if "Live Social Networking" is the right term for instant messaging and status updates from Facebook and Twitter, but that's what we're going for.

There was a time where I would startup my PC and load AIM, Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger and ICQ. Four programs to manage four chat services!

I then switched to gAim, which turned into Pidgin because AOL didn't like the name. I was a fan of Pidgin for a long time, favoring it over Trillian because it was totally free and had no pay-version (like Trillian Pro). With Trillian (free) they just advertise Trillian Pro all the time, and I found the program to be unnecessarily obese.

Within the past year I began having trouble with Pidgin (crashes, slow operations, etc.), so I decided to give it up and move on.

Enter Digsby.

There were many features that I found alluring, but I really liked the Twitter and other Social Networking interfaces.

I also liked how it had the tabbed IM windows like Pidgin.

So while I'm sitting at my desk, I can be connected to my IM clients (several services) and watch my Twitter feeds (even the ones that don't update via mobile). This is a fantastic feature in my opinion, and I only wish they had a version for my Nokia n810!

Cooliris

So, I stumbled across this while creating a gallery for my other blog today...

Initially I thought, "OK, I'll try it out, but it's likely that I'll uninstall it."

I haven't uninstalled it just yet. I've been kinda pleased with this app actually.

Cooliris claims that their software takes 2-D images and videos and makes a 3-D environment for you to look through them. What's cool is that Facebook (and now my own blog), Google Images, Youtube, all include the plugins to activate this feature when you're feeling adventurous.

Anyway... If you've got some spare CPU processing and a few minutes to install it, you may think it's worth it.

Automated File Transfers

Here's one way (not my preferred way) for automating file transfers.

I prefer to use rsync over SSH.

What do you think?

3...2...1...Shutdown!

Looking for a way to run programs or perform other actions at specified times?

Here is your answer!

This one's for the Kids!

Got any old PCs lying around, and maybe some children too?

Here's a harmless OS for kids that lets them play without messing anything up! Best of all, it only requires a 400MHz processor with 256MB of RAM and no harddrive space if you want to run it from the CD!

Let me know if you give it a go!

Run Linux Inside of Windows

Here's how you run Ubuntu inside of Windows:

Please let me know if you try it, I haven't yet, but it looks AWESOME!

TweetDeck

So I came across this the other day; and it may just be the saving grace to keep me using Twitter.

I've been conflicted, because I already use Facebook more than I should -- and I really only used Twitter to update my status on Facebook through my phone. That's one bad thing about T-Mobile, well they don't work well with Facebook.

Anyway, here it is if you've not seen it yet. http://www.tweetdeck.com/beta/

Bluetooth Rocks!

So I have been meaning to read up on this article I came across with Bloglines about 3 and 1/2 months ago (yeah, it's been a little while!)

It's a way for me to control my PC via my N810. I can control my mouse, keyboard, presentations, even media.

Here's the link to the site/article.

Create your own DVD

A friend of mine had a few videos and wanted to play them on a DVD player. The last time I researched how to do this, I was very disappointed to see that there were really no viable solutions (i.e. there were no solutions unless you wanted to drop $300 on software).

Well, now I have some good news. There is a FOSS application called DVD Flick that rocks.

This app will walk you through creating the menus and even does some more advanced stuff (like advanced video editing, subtitles, etc.)

It will also burn it to a disc for you, if you wish.

My favorite extra feature is that while it is encoding, it has three buttons: "Cancel", "Minimize", and "Entertain Me". The "Entertain Me" button launches a Tetris game that you can play while the DVD encodes. Why isn't this in Outlook?!

SMS/MMS/Data Backup for Windows Mobile Devices

So, I stumbled across this today, and sure appreciate freeware:

Anyway, sure beats having to pay to backup all of my text messages and attachments from my old T-Mobile Dash.

Program's called: PIM Backup 2.8
http://www.dotfred.net/default.htm

UNetbootin

I need to setup a couple of DNS servers. Because they are DNS servers, performance isn't critical, so I would like to employ some older machines (does that count as green?)

These servers will be headless and since one of the easiest pieces to fail (because it's one of the few components that have mechanical parts) is the hard drive, I would like to eliminate it altogether.

I've booted diskless clients before, and it wasn't as easy as I'd like it to be. Also, that just moves the onus of the hard disk failure to another machine, it does not eliminate it.

The solution I've come up with is to boot from a USB flash drive. The biggest issue with this is persistence of my settings, but they've pretty much taken care of that recently.

I'm going to use UNetbootin to accomplish the installation of the OS to the USB drive.

I also think I'm going to use DSL for the OS, as it seems to be recommended by this post.

Password Your Web Server Pages with .htaccess Editor

Security is a big concern for everyone, and if it's not I think it should be.
Whether it is protecting your closest secrets, to just keeping the annoying at bay, I think it is a necessity we should all have, and understand. Here's a little tool that is going to help me do a few things I've been wanting to do anyway, but it will help me do them faster.

Web Utilities: Password Your Web Server Pages with .htaccess Editor

Add a Web Interface to Your Homemade DVR

How To: Add a Web Interface to Your Homemade DVR

Google Earth Flight Simulator

Marco's Blog: Google Earth Flight Simulator

Crack a Windows password with Ophcrack Live CD

Screenshot Tour: How to crack a Windows password with Ophcrack Live CD

Manage your music with Winamp

Not happy with iTunes? Try Winamp.

IPod: Manage your music with Winamp

gtrace

CAIDA : tools : visualization : gtrace

Taskbar Shuffle

Featured Windows Download: Reorder your taskbar and system tray with Taskbar Shuffle

Edit PDF files for free with PDFill

Featured Windows Download: Edit PDF files for free with PDFill

Stream XviD and DivX to Your Xbox360

Featured Windows Download: Stream XviD and DivX to Your Xbox with Transcode 360