Microsoft acknowledges Windows 7 activation leak

 

Friendly Computers found out that there has been a leak of Windows 7 product key on the internet. This means that computers that were installed using this key will not be a genuine copy of Windows and may be more susceptible to hackers and viruses. Read the article below for more details:

 

Alex Kochis, Microsoft's director of Genuine Windows, posted a blog late Thursday addressing the "leak of a special product key" of Windows 7 RTM (release to manufacturers). This confirmed the rumor on Tuesday that an ISO file of Windows 7 RTM sent to Lenovo that contains a master key--a number used to verify the authenticity of the software--was leaked to the Internet.

According to the blog, "The key is for use with Windows 7 Ultimate RTM product that is meant to be preinstalled by the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) on new PCs to be shipped later this year. As such, the use of this key requires having a PC from the manufacturer it was issued to. We've worked with that manufacturer so that customers who purchase genuine copies of Windows 7 from this manufacturer will experience no issues validating their copy of Windows 7. At the same time we will seek to alert customers who are using the leaked key that they are running a non-genuine copy of Windows. It's important to note that no PCs will be sold that will use this key."

This means the hacked key will still work, though it will likely be identified, presumably when the computer with this version of the hacked Windows 7 OS installed connects to download updates from Microsoft.

Kochis said Windows 7 includes an improved capability to detect activation exploits and it should be able to alert the customer when the leaked version or other hacks are used to install Windows 7 on a PC.

He added, "Our primary goal is to protect users from becoming unknowing victims, because customers who use pirated software are at greater risk of being exposed to malware as well as identity theft. Someone asked me recently--and I think it's worth noting here--whether we treat all exploits equally in responding to new ones we see. Our objective isn't to stop every "mad scientist" that's out there from dabbling; our aim is to protect our customers from commercialized counterfeit software that impacts our customers' confidence in knowing they got what they paid for."

Personally, I don't see what Microsoft can do now that the key and the ISO is out in the wild, other than wait for a system installed with that copy of Windows 7 to connect to its update servers. In the meantime, it can issue another key to OEMs to make sure they don't use they leaked key and hope that consumers will buy its genuine product and, of course, pay the full price for it.

It's safe to say that we probably have to wait for a service pack of the operating system to be sure that this leak is fully addressed. In the meantime, this leaked key could still pose a big problem if the hackers are able to alter the ISO and sell it as counterfeit retailed package of the OS. In this case, customers will only find out that they don't have an genuine copy, if they ever do, when it's too late.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-10300857-75.html?tag=mncol;title

Clampi Trojan stealing online bank data from consumers and businesses

Friendly Computers recently learned of a scary Trojan that has been circulating around the web for a few years. This Trojan, known as Clampi, can steal bank info and is already responsible for the loss of many large sums of money. Read more about it below…

LAS VEGAS--Hundreds of thousands of Windows computers are believed to be infected with a Trojan called "Clampi" that has been stealing banking and other log-in credentials from compromised PCs since 2007, a security researcher said on the eve of the Black Hat security conference.

Clampi, also known as Ligats, Ilomo, or Rscan, infects computers in drive-by downloads when people visit Web sites hosting malicious code that exploits vulnerabilities in browser plug-ins Flash and ActiveX, said Joe Stewart, director of malware research for the Counter Threat Unit of SecureWorks.

When the infected computer is used to access a targeted banking or other site, the log-in and other information is stolen.

Clampi has spread quickly through Microsoft-based networks in a worm-like fashion in recent months, Stewart said. It uses domain administrator credentials that were either stolen by the Trojan or based on an administrator logging into an infected system. It then uses a Windows executable SysInternals tool, "psexec," to copy itself to all the computers on the domain, he said.

Clampi also serves as a proxy server for criminals to anonymize their activity when logging into stolen accounts.

Stewart has identified 1,400 Web sites in 70 different countries out of 4,500 sites being targeted by the Trojan attack. The sites include banks, credit card companies, online casinos, retail sites, utilities, ad networks, stock brokerages, mortgage lenders, and government and military portals.

Based on the techniques they are using, Stewart said criminals in Eastern Europe are believed to be behind Clampi.

Because it can take days or weeks to get a sample of the latest version of the Trojan, antivirus protection is often delayed, arriving after a PC is already infected, according to Stewart.

"This type of Trojan, banking Trojans in general, are the biggest threat to home computer users and businesses doing banking online," he said. "You can't rely on antivirus. At some point you are going to visit the wrong site and they'll get a Trojan on your computer."

The Trojan uses three types of encryption and sophisticated virtual machine-based packing technology to disguise itself in order to get through antivirus filters, according to Stewart.

SecureWorks' intrusion prevention software doesn't stop computers from getting infected but it prevents the stealing of the data by blocking the encrypted traffic that it deemed suspicious, he said.

Stewart recommends that consumer and business Web surfers use a dedicated computer for their banking and other sensitive financial online activities that is separate from the computer where e-mail is accessed and Web surfing is done. People should also be careful using removable drives on those isolated computers as Trojans can spread that way.

By now, the criminals "probably have way more accounts than they can actually clean out," Stewart said.

Even so, the losses from Clampi are starting to be publicized. The Trojan was behind the theft of nearly $75,000 from Slack Auto Parts in Gainesville, Ga., according to the Security Fix blog at The Washington Post.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-10298233-245.html

Can my PC run Windows 7?

Although Windows 7 will not be released for three months, Microsoft has already released its Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor so you can start planning ahead. Friendly Computers has more information below…

In general, if your PC can run Windows Vista, it can run Windows 7. But if you're not running Windows Vista, or are just not sure if your system is ready to run Windows 7, there's a quick way to do a simple check.

Just download, install, and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Beta. You'll get a report telling you if your PC can run Windows 7 and if there are any known compatibility issues. If an issue can be resolved, you'll get suggestions for next steps. For example, it may let you know that you need an updated driver for your printer and where to get it.

Note: Information about your PC will be sent back to Microsoft; however, no information will be used to identify or contact you. For more information, read our privacy statement.

Before you begin

Before you run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Beta, be sure to plug in any USB devices or other devices such as printers, external hard drives, or scanners that are regularly used with the PC you're evaluating.

Important: The Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor Beta is a pre-release version and is available in U.S. English only. While we consider this a stable and high-quality beta, it's not the finished product.

Next steps

When the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor scan ends, it'll display your options for upgrading a PC you already have or recommend that you just go buy a new PC for the best Windows 7 experience.

In general, if you are running a PC with Windows Vista and the Windows Upgrade Advisor says you can upgrade it, the transition to Windows 7 should be pretty smooth, although you may first need to update your Windows Vista system to the latest service pack. If you do decide to upgrade your PC, Windows 7 will be available for purchase October 22.

On the other hand, if you're running Windows XP, or any other operating system for that matter, we recommend that you experience Windows 7 on a new PC. The Laptop Scout can help you find a great PC fit for you, or you can browse through these featured PCs that can run Windows 7.

...And while we don't recommend it, should you choose to upgrade your current PC from Windows XP or another operating system to Windows 7, we recommend that you get help with this process from your local computer service provider. You'll need to back up your current files and settings, perform a custom (clean) installation, and then reinstall your files, settings, and programs.

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx

What Size External Drive?

External hard drives are a great way to backup your files, but how do you know what size is sufficient? Friendly Computers came across an excellent article that offers advice on what size to get – both capacity-wise and physically. Read more below…

When people talk about the "size" of a hard drive, they generally mean it's capacity--how many gigabytes of data it holds. But you should also consider its literal, physical size.

External hard drives come in two basic sizes: portable and desktop. Portable drives are light, generally the size of a small whiskey flask, and can be powered by the computer's USB port. Desktop drives are larger, inconvenient to carry, and need separate AC power.

On the other hand, desktop drives tend to be faster, hold more data, and cost less by the gigabyte if not by the drive. For instance, as I write this, $100 can buy you a 500GB portable drive or a 1TB desktop one.

If you want to take the drive with you on the road, go for a portable. If you want to back up massive amounts of hi-def video, you'll want a desktop. Otherwise, weigh the factors and consider your needs. Personally, I prefer portable drives for backup, even if I don't travel with them, because I can hide them after backing up and lesson the likelihood that a burglar will take my PC and my backup.

Now then, about capacity: Go with the drive that holds about 25-percent more than the source drive you'll be backing up from. This will allow you to do a full backup and many incrementals.

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/article/168220/what_size_external_drive.html

Microsoft Details Windows 7 RTM Plans: What You Need to Know

Microsoft has released details about the RTM release of Windows 7, and what the means for everyone from consumers to developers. Friendly Computers has more information below…

Microsoft still hasn't officially announced that Windows 7 has been "released to manufacturing" (RTM) for production and packaging in preparation for its October 22 release to consumers. But the company did share more fascinating details yesterday on its pending RTM schedule on the Windows 7 Team Blog.

The company said it's still right on target to deliver the RTM as promised in the second half of this month. Well, that's got to mean we're pretty darn close -- today is July 22, leaving only nine more days this month for RTM to happen. Let the guesswork begin!

Meanwhile, while Microsoft is picking a date for RTM, let's look at what it will mean for you every step of the way.

*For beta testers and other enthusiasts: The biggest news so far is Microsoft's confirmation that they will indeed offer a "family pack" for Windows 7, which will be a specially-priced copy that can legally be installed on up to three PCs.

That's great news for all of us who maintain multiple PCs and want to be able to afford to move them all to Windows 7 without having to take out a second mortgage. "We have heard a lot of feedback from beta testers and enthusiasts over the last 3 years that we need a better solution for homes with multiple PCs," wrote Microsoft's Windows Communications Manager Brandon LeBlanc in the blog post. "I'm happy to confirm that we will indeed be offering a family pack of Windows 7 Home Premium (in select markets) which will allow installation on up to 3 PCs. As I've said before, stay tuned to our blog for more information on this and any other potential offers."

Also notable for beta testers and enthusiasts: Following the move to RTM, Microsoft will be releasing an evaluation of Windows 7 Professional for IT Professionals via its TechNet Springboard Series, LeBlanc wrote. "Over 40 percent of beta testers are IT Professionals and this will allow them to quickly access the RTM code and plan for deployments," he said. That should provide lots of needed information that can be used to evaluate and plan the move for corporate users.

Beta testers won't automatically get a free copy of Windows 7, LeBlanc reiterated, but will be able to continue to use their Release Candidate test versions through its expiration on June 1, 2010. Microsoft TechNet subscribers will be able to download and install the RTM version when it is ready, LeBlanc said.

*For general consumers, there are no other major new details to report today, except for the good news about the pending family pack: Windows 7 will be available for sale starting October 22 in retail stores and on new PCs, according to Microsoft.

*For partners and OEMs: Windows 7 RTM downloads will be available to Independent Software Vendors (ISV) and Independent Hardware Vendor (IHV) partners starting on Aug. 6 from Microsoft Connect or MSDN, the blog said. "If you are a partner who has been working on Windows 7 for a while, now is the time to complete your testing with final version of Windows 7," LeBlanc wrote. "For partners that haven't gotten started yet with Windows 7, now is the time to get involved. You can also visit www.readyset7.com to learn more about getting ready for Windows 7."

Downloads in English will be available starting August 16 for Microsoft Partner Program Gold/Certified Members through the Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) Portal, LeBlanc wrote. Other language versions will be ready by October 1.

"OEMs will receive Windows 7 RTM software images beginning approximately 2 days after we officially RTM, as a little time is required to release and distribute these images," LeBlanc wrote. "This will allow them to begin preparing images for new PCs to ship with Windows 7 on them. We know our OEMs are excited for Windows 7 and we can't wait to hand them the final RTM bits!"

*For business customers: Downloads of Windows 7 RTM in English will be available starting August 7 if you are a Volume License (VL) customer with an existing Software Assurance (SA) license, according to Microsoft. Other languages will be available later using the same Volume License Service Center (VLSC) portal for downloads. Volume License customers who don't have an SA license will have to wait until September 1 to purchase Windows 7 through Volume Licensing.

*For IT professionals: If you have a TechNet subscription, you'll be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English starting August 6, with other languages available by October 1. The Microsoft Springboard Series Web pages provide lots more information to help with successful deployments and with finding answers to problems, the company said.

*For developers: If you have an MSDN subscription, you'll be able to download Windows 7 RTM in English starting August 6, with other languages available by October 1. Several helpful information resources are being touted by Microsoft to help you with application development for Windows 7, including the Windows 7 for Developers Blog, the Windows 7 Developers Guide on MSDN and a series of helpful videos on Channel 9.

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/news.html

How do I know if my computer has a virus?

As usual, Friendly Computers reminds you to regularly update your antivirus and operating system software to avoid getting viruses and other malware. In addition, we found a great article outlining the signs to look for to determine if your computer is infected with a virus. Read more below…

Do you think you may have a virus? The following are some ways you can tell you may have a virus

1. Your Anti-virus software won't come up when you try to start it.
2. You get a lot of returned e-mails that you did not send. NOTE: this might also be spoofing, meaning someone else is infected and is giving out your address.
3. You get e-mails back letting you know you have a virus. This could also be spoofing If there are attachments, do not click on them or open them. Delete the messages immediately.
4. Your computer is unusually slow, or exhibiting strange behavior. Spyware will also commonly cause these symtoms.
   If your computer does have a virus, you should purchase anti virus software and install it on your computer if you do not have any. You can find it at places like most retail outlets, and allcomputer stores. In the meantime, you can immediately do a free virus scan by simply typing "free virus scan" into your favorite search engine. You can also instantly purchase the software at various sites such as Free AVG, Norton AntiVirus and Macafee. Check with your ISP, as they may offer free virus/security protection. Comcast for instance offers Macafee for free to all her customers.

1. If you have anti-virus software make sure, it is updated regularly. In fact, most programs have an option to perform automatic updates.
2. The best way to keep a virus from spreading through your computer and to remove it is to boot the computer into safe mode, by hitting the boot menu key at startup (usually F8)
3. If you cannot get it to remove a, send or take it in to a computer repair shop and have them clean it out.

Source: http://www.examiner.com/x-5426-Internet-and-Technology-Examiner~y2009m7d19-Gadgets-101-How-do-I-know-if-my-computer-has-a-virus

Kingston unveils world's first 256GB USB flash drive

Kingston has just released its new 256 GB flash drive, the largest USB drive to date. Friendly Computers has more info below…

After delivering the world’s first 128GB USB flash drive, Kingston has claimed the title again for their 256GB DataTraveler 300. The drive makes use of a cap-less design which seems to employ a sliding mechanism to eject the USB head. Being larger than my primary OS HDD, I imagine this beast can host quite the cache of media.

The drive is capable of holding up to 365 CDs – or one album for every day of the year. The 256GB DataTraveler 300 features read rates of up to 20MB/s and write of 10MB/s. Given its storage capacity, the drive is a bit bulky at 2.78” x .67” x .87” but it shouldn’t detract much from its portability. While the drive is ReadyBoost-capable, its password software will not work properly if ReadyBoost cache is enabled.

It is built to order and ships with a five-year warranty and 24/7 tech support. According to Kingston’s website the DataTraveler300 is available in the Far East, Middle East and Africa only. The MSRP is £565.67 (about $935.11).

Source: http://www.techspot.com/news/35509-Kingston-unveils-worlds-first-256GB-USB-flash-drive.html

Mozilla closes security hole with Firefox 3.5.1

Mozilla has released a new version of Firefox, which patches the security flaw that was found recently and also improves on some other aspects of the browser. Friendly Computers has more information below…

Mozilla updated Firefox to version 3.5.1 for Windows, Mac, and Linux on Thursday, fixing a security problem, improving stability, and speeding launch time on some Windows systems, according to the release notes.

"We strongly recommend that all Firefox 3.5 users upgrade to this latest release," browser director Mike Beltzner said in a blog post Thursday.

Firefox 3.5 embodies Mozilla's hope to build a better foundation for Web applications, but about two weeks after its debut, a vulnerability in the browser's JavaScript engine came to light. Mozilla rated it "critical" because an attacker could create a Web site that would run malicious code on the computer.

The new version can be installed from Mozilla's download site or by selecting "Check for Updates" in the Help menu. Unfortunately, when I did so, the Firefox warned me that the newly updated Gears 0.5.29.0 plug-in from Google becomes incompatible again.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10289205-83.html

Bill Gates on Google's Chrome OS

Just like everyone else, Friendly Computers has been very interested in hearing more about Google’s Chrome OS but It’s REALLY interesting to hear from Bill Gates on the subject.

To Bill Gates, Google's Chrome OS looks a lot like a familiar foe: Linux.

"There's many, many forms of Linux operating systems out there and packaged in different ways and booted in different ways," Gates said in an interview with CNET News this week. "In some ways I am surprised people are acting like there's something new. I mean, you've got Android running on Netbooks. It's got a browser in it."

Gates said it was hard to really say much about Chrome OS, since Google has said so little about how it will actually work.

"The more vague they are, the more interesting it is," he said.

As for the notion that the browser needs to act more like an OS, he noted that the browser has already become an extremely broad concept, with all of the plug-ins and other things that are now done inside a browser.

"It just shows the word browser has become a truly meaningless word," Gates said. "What's a browser? What's not a browser? If you're playing a movie, is that a browser or not a browser? If you're doing annotations, is that a browser? If you're editing text, is that a browser or not a browser? In large part, it's more an abuse of terminology than a real change."

Read the full story here: http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10286308-56.html?part=rss&tag=feed&subj=BeyondBinary/

The Pirate Bay Co-founder Ordered to Pay $3.6 Million

At Friendly Computers, we inform clients of the dangers of downloading music and pirated software. After reading this, you will see the damages of owning/operating the portals that promote and enable users to acquire media without purchasing it.

The music industry will attempt to seize money paid to acquire the Pirate Bay, according to a high-level music industry source and a spokesman for the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), the trade group representing the music industry worldwide.

Pirate Bay co-founder Peter Sunde shows 'I owe you' note to the music industry following a judge's order that the site's founders pay the equivalent of $3.6 million.

(Credit: Mats Lewan/CNET )

Global Gaming Factory, a Swedish software company, made big news two weeks ago by announcing that it would acquire the Pirate Bay, the popular outlaw file-sharing site, for $7.8 million. Since then the company has been touting a new business model and even hiring executives, such as Wayne Rosso, the former Grokster president, to legally obtain content from film and music industries.

What remains to be seen is how that sale might be affected by attempts by the music industry to collect the $3.6 million damages that a court in Sweden awarded it in April. The court found the four operators of the Pirate Bay--Fredrik Neij, Gottfrid Svartholm Warg, Peter Sunde Kolmisoppi, and Carl Lundström--guilty of copyright violations and sentenced each to a year in jail. The court also ordered them to pay 30 million Swedish kronor ($3.6 million).

Alex Jacob, a spokesman for the IFPI, said that the group has always intended to collect the damages award, but now, should the sale go through, music execs know that the original Pirate Bay operators have access to the money.

Whether these attempts to seize part of the proceeds of a sale could hold up a sale remain unclear. The first thing to remember is that the sale isn't yet done.

According to a press release, Global Gaming's offer is to pay half of the $7.8 million in cash and the other half in the company's stock. To finance the deal, Global Gaming must issue new shares and to do that it needs the blessing of investors and board of directors. Any acquisition isn't expected to be finalized before August, the company said.

On the other side, the Pirate Bay's founders have said that they haven't owned the company for years.

"We never had any interest in earning money from the Pirate Bay," Peter Sunde told Dagens Nyheter, a Swedish newspaper. "We haven't owned TPB since the search and seizure in 2006... Those who will get the money, friends in a foreign company, have agreed as a condition to put the money in a foundation for future internet projects."

The legal adviser for Global Gaming has said that the Pirate Bay is owned by a company in the Seychelles called Reservella.

Jacob, from the IFPI, says it makes no difference who owns the Pirate Bay. He said: "The judge found the four operators guilty and ordered them to pay the damages."

That's who the IFPI will try to get the money from.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10288495-93.html?tag=newsLeadStoriesArea.1

Critical JavaScript vulnerability in Firefox 3.5

Friendly Computers recently learned of a major security flaw in Firefox 3.5. While there is not yet a fix for it, there are a few workarounds to avoid the problem until Mozilla releases a patch. Read more below…

Issue

A bug discovered last week in Firefox 3.5’s Just-in-time (JIT) JavaScript compiler was disclosed publicly yesterday. It is a critical vulnerability that can be used to execute malicious code.

Impact

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker who tricks a victim into viewing a malicious Web page containing the exploit code. The vulnerability can be mitigated by disabling the JIT in the JavaScript engine. To do so:

1. Enter about:config in the browser’s location bar.
2. Type jit in the Filter box at the top of the config editor.
3. Double-click the line containing javascript.options.jit.content setting the value to false.

Note that disabling the JIT will result in decreased JavaScript performance and is only recommended as a temporary security measure.  Once users have been received the security update containing the fix for this issue, they should restore the JIT setting to true by:

1. Enter about:config in the browser’s location bar.
2. Type jit in the Filter box at the top of the config editor.
3. Double-click the line containing javascript.options.jit.content setting the value to true.

Alternatively, users can disable the JIT by running Firefox in Safe Mode.  Windows users can do so by selecting Mozilla Firefox (Safe Mode) from the Mozilla Firefox folder.

Status

Mozilla developers are working on a fix for this issue and a Firefox security update will be sent out as soon as the fix is completed and tested.

Source: http://blog.mozilla.com/security/2009/07/14/critical-javascript-vulnerability-in-firefox-35/

Businesses can get Windows 7 in September

 

Friendly Computers read that Microsoft plans to make Windows 7 available to businesses before the release to the general public. Check it out:

While most of the attention on Day 1 of Microsoft's partner conference was on the Office side of things, Microsoft did announce two notable pieces of Windows 7 news on Monday.

The company said that business customers will be able to get Windows 7 ahead of its October 22 retail launch, though they won't be able to get it immediately after the code is finalized. The software maker said that businesses will be able to order Windows 7 from volume licensing partners as of September 1.

Microsoft also said it will have a limited-time, six-month promotion whereby businesses can get the Windows 7 Professional upgrade at a price discounted 15 percent or more from what Microsoft was charging for Vista upgrades.

The news comes as Microsoft prepares to finalize the operating system later this month.

However, a new survey suggests that although many businesses have yet to move to Vista, they may not jump to Windows 7 either. In a survey with more than 1,000 IT administrators sharing their plans, Quest Software's ScriptLogic found that nearly six in 10 have no current plans to move to Windows 7.

Source: http://news.cnet.com/microsoft-news/?tag=hdr;snav

Dual Boot Android Netbook Paves the Way for Chrome OS

Friendly Computers found an interesting article about the new netbooks we will be seeing for the rest of the year. Acer will be releasing a new dual boot netbook that includes Windows XP and Android OS.

Ever since Google (Google) had officially announced Google Chrome OS, its operating system initially aimed at netbooks, with somewhat vague ambitions to become a full-fledged Windows competitor, there have been many speculations on how can Google compete with Microsoft, what its adoption rate might be and so forth.

Well, according to DigiTimes, Acer is poised to release its (previously announced) dual boot Windows XP/Android (Android) netbook in August. The appearance of world’s first Android-based netbook might provide answer to some questions about Chrome OS, but it’ll surely create some new ones.

First, Acer’s decision to go with a dual boot solution might mean we’ll see a lot of dual boot Chrome OS-based netbooks next year. It’s a painless solution: sacrificing a little disk space and taking a couple of seconds during boot time is a small price to pay compared to having thousands of users shun your product because they’re not read to switch to a new and unknown operating system. Therefore, rather than throwing Chrome OS into the fire, it’s likely that Google (and its partners) will take the easier route and opt for dual-boot solutions, at least in the beginning.

User reactions to Acer’s dual boot netbook will also be a good indication of how Chrome OS will be greeted: will users think Android is better than Windows? Will they use it often, rarely, or never? If the majority of users simply disregard the dual boot and start exclusively using Windows XP, then perhaps dual boot isn’t such a good idea.

We’ll have to wait a while to find that out, but even those answers might cause more confusion. If Android-based netbooks turn out to be a hit, then Android itself will be a competitor to Chrome OS, and that’s probably a situation Google wants to avoid. I’ve speculated that Chrome OS will only initially be aimed at netbooks, but its ultimate ambition is to become an operating system than anyone can use, on any PC. True or not, Google will have to strongly differentiate between Android and Chrome OS to avoid overlaps, which will only confuse the end user.

So, even if Acer’s dual boot netbook turns out to be a dud, it’ll be one of the most exciting tech products this year, simply because it’ll offer some important pointers about the future of both Android and Chrome OS. We’ll be monitoring it closely.

source: http://mashable.com/2009/07/13/dual-boot-android-netbook-chrome-os/

Android, Chrome OS Relationship Confusing Everyone, Including Google

Friendly Computers has been buzzing with talk about the new Chrome OS. Here is some info on its relationship to the OTHER Google OS shipping on netbooks. Sounds like there is to many hands in the pot.

Just as companies were starting to get serious about installing Android, a mobile Linux OS, on netbooks, Google announces Chrome, a netbook Linux OS. The relationship between the two OSes is already getting tense, or at the very least, awkward.

Google CEO Eric Schmidt is now admitting that it took him quite a while to warm to the idea of Chrome the browser, even longer to come to terms with the possibility of Chrome the OS, and in both cases only after Larry Page Sergey Brin literally nerded him into submission:

I just gave up, but there is no question I am hugely supportive of Chrome and Chrome OS. They are game-changers. They change the way you think about your computer.

Meanwhile, Android's perceived role in the world was expanding. After all this soul-searching, though, Schmidt must have a clear vision of parallel, non-conflicting roles for Android and Chrome OS, right?:

Although it appears they are two separate projects, there's a great deal of commonality. Eventually they may merge even closer."

This is somewhere between "oops!" and "I have no idea."

But hold on! There could be a third way! Digitimes is reporting that Intel is in talks with Google to help adapt Android for use in MIDs, the so-far ill-fated bridge devices between netbooks and smartphones. Technologically, this seems like a reasonable secondary use for Android. Commercially, though, MIDs are something of a ghetto; a category broached by few manufacturers, and unfamiliar (or unattractive) to most customers.

The most obvious conclusion to all this is for Android (and Android enthusiasts) to narrow ambitions and focus on what we know it's good at: cellphones, and possibly portable media players. This is something that will probably happen organically, but only after a few more news cycles worth of bewildering quotes and announcements from Google, which we will gleefully document.

source: http://gizmodo.com/5311682/android-chrome-os-relationship-confusing-everyone-including-google

Shortened URLs spike in e-mail spam

 

Short url’s like the ones used on twitter are starting to become more common in spam messages. One reason may be because they can mask the actual web address. Friendly Computers thinks this information may be useful to you:

 

In yet another piece of anecdotal evidence of the increasing threat from shortened URLs, e-mail security provider MessageLabs said on Tuesday it saw a dramatic spike in the number of spam e-mails that include truncated Web addresses.

Shortened URLs, which allow spammers to hide the real Web address from Web surfers and are commonly used on social media sites like Twitter where message character length is restricted, began a sharp rise last week and now appear in more than 2 percent of all spam caught in the company's spam trap, according to MessageLabs.

"Usually when we see a spike of this nature it tends to indicate that a spammer has found some method of automating the creation of these short URLs," said Matt Sergeant, a senior antispam technologist at MessageLabs.

The many URL shortening services make it more convenience to post long URLs on sites like Twitter, but they also make it easy for attackers to lead Web surfers to sites hosting malware.

A major spam botnet called Donbot has aggressively moved to using this technique, Sergeant said. Donbot appears to be primarily focused on displaying advertisements, but could be linking to sites that drop malware onto visitors' computers too, he said.

Spam-filtering software can block spam from getting into inboxes and programs like Long URL Please and shortText make it easy to see what the real URL is.

 

 

Source: http://news.cnet.com/security/?tag=hdr;snav

Windows 7 Ultimate Edition: Not So Ultimate

 

When you think of the Ultimate operating system, you would think it would come with every feature that you could possibly need. Friendly Computers read that this might not be the case. Take a look at the article below and decide for yourself.

At the risk of piling on, I'll join the chorus of those who wish Windows 7 Ultimate was, well, more ultimate--offering truly important features that aren't in other versions of the new OS. While I don't think having an "Ultimate" that really isn’t will be the undoing of the House of Gates, I can tell you I won't be buying it.

I did, however, based on previous experience, purchase a copy of Windows Ultimate, because it was the upgrade for Windows XP Pro and required for the network I was running at the time. A business network I was running at home, mind you.

Having switched to a mix of Macs and PCs, I don't run that network anymore so Vista Ultimate doesn't get me anything and when I upgrade to Win7 it will mostly be by doing clean installs--that is if I upgrade my XP machines at all, which is becoming more and more doubtful.

Microsoft will have to prove to me that Win7 won't slow down my XP boxes before I will even consider upgrading. It's more likely, I think, that Win7 will arrive at whatever pace I replace older machines with newer hardware.

When I do that, I will be much more careful about choosing the proper version of Windows 7 with the new hardware than I have been in the past. I might be willing to go as far as Professinal, but the enterprise features that define Ultimate, such as BitLocker, drive encryption, aren't worth the money, at least not to me.

And, did I mention that Mac OS X comes with drive encryption as a standard feature included in the one-and-only version Apple sells to users? (I am not including the Mac OS Server since it's not a user OS).

I think Windows 7 may finally get Microsoft over the impasse that Vista created. My testing, and that conducted by those I trust, makes me look forward to its release. But, OS upgrades aren't nearly as important as they used to be and, without built-in apps to upgrade, Microsoft is at a disadvantage to Apple in getting my upgrade dollars.

The more I think about it, the less interested I am in doing any XP conversions to Windows 7. And if I can talk myself out of upgrading that easily, it's a bad sign for Microsoft.

The good news: I probably will be replacing some hardware and will be happy to find Windows 7 on-board. Windows 7 Professional, or less, that is.

 

Source: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/167974/windows_7_ultimate_edition_not_so_ultimate.html

10 Ways to Clean Your Keyboard

Getting all the dirt and grime out from the inside of your keyboard can be a grueling task. Friendly Computers found an interesting article that provides 10 ways to de-grossify your keyboard. Read more below…

1. Use an air compressor

Get rid of the mysterious sticky stuff under your keyboard with compressed air equipped with an extension nozzle. Turn the can at a 45-degree angle and spray between the keys. Tap and shake the keyboard and then repeat spraying. Finish by cleaning the piled up grime with a damp cloth.

2. Use isopropyl alcohol

It's easy to use isopropyl alcohol (never ethyl alcohol because you might remove the printed letters/numbers) with a damp cloth and Q-tips to remove the built up dirt. Always use a cloth rather than applying the alcohol directly to the keys.

3. Use a USB vacuum cleaner

USB vacuum cleaners to do the hard part of sucking up potato chip and pretzel debris. Just plug into your USB port and use the thin keyboard tool to make your keyboard look like new again. Also includes a built in LED light.

4. Use CyberClean

CyberClean makes cleaning fun! Just take the yellow gel blob that looks like Play-Doh and press it over the keys to lift out dirt and bacteria. The patented sticky formula from Switzerland even kills germs on contact. It's also good on cell phones and any other potentially infectious surface.

5. Remove all of the keys

This tip is for folks with a lot of patience. First make a copy of your keyboard layout and turn your computer/keyboard off. Next, remove the keys with a screwdriver. Clean out what's underneath the keys and then clean each key with a damp cloth and Q-tip.

6. Clorox Wipes or household disinfectants

If you eat at your keyboard or type with dirty hands or if multiple people use your keyboard, you need to protect yourself daily with Clorox or a disinfectant spray (on a cloth) to control the germ invasion.

7. Use the dishwasher

Yes, it does sound extreme, but it works if you want to save time and don't need your keyboard for a few days. Wash the keyboard using only water and remember to remove all of keys. Then let it dry out for two or three days.

8. Use Post-it Notes

If there's an ample supply of Post-it Notes around, they'll come in handy when you want to clean your crumb-filled keyboard fast. Just turn the sticky edge of the Post-it towards the hard-to-remove specks and voila!

9. Use a hairdryer

Using a hairdryer is great for general dusting and debris-clearing. It also saves time. Just point it at the keyboard and go with the heat on or off. Can be used with or without the compressed air can.

10. Use Scotch Tape

Using Scotch Tape or another brand of transparent tape can help you quickly remove dirt and crumbs. First give the keyboard a good shake and then start applying the tape.

Source: http://www.inc.com/ss/how-clean-your-keyboard?slide=0#1

Get songs off your iPod

Friendly Computers found this awesome article on how to get songs and photos off your iPod and back onto your computer. Check it out!

 

Apple's iTunes software makes it dead-simple to copy music onto your iPod, but when it comes to moving files in the opposite direction--from the iPod to your computer--there's no obvious solution. I get an e-mail on this topic at least once a week, usually from someone who's had his laptop stolen or watched helplessly as his hard drive crashed. After an incident like that, it can be a relief to know your music collection (or at least part of it) is backed up on an iPod.

Of course, relief can quickly turn to frustration when you plug that iPod into a new computer and can't figure out how to grab those files. Worse yet, iTunes will sometimes prompt you to erase the iPod if it's not recognized. Saying yes will only end in tears.

To be fair, iTunes isn't completely useless when it comes to pulling media off your iPod. Under the iTunes File menu, there's an option for "Transfer Purchases From iPod" that will work to pull any content purchased through the iTunes Store back to your computer. It's a nice place to start, but to get the rest of your content off your iPod, you'll need to download some additional software.

There are two, very useful, and very free applications out there that will transfer the rest of your music, videos, playlists, and metadata off your iPod and back to your computer. In truth, there are dozens of programs that can accomplish the same thing, but for the sake of simplicity, we'll stick with these two since they're free, easy to use, and work with all models of iPods and iPhones.

Depending on the type of computer you're transferring to, download Pod to Mac or Pod to PC from Download.com. If you're looking to get photos off your iPod, go ahead and download Pod Photo Transfer (PC only), as well.

To see how the process works, CNET's Tom Merrit made a handy video that walks you through the steps for retrieving files from an iPhone. The process is identical for iPods, so don't feel left out when Tom says "iPhone"--just overdub it in your mind with the iPod model of your choice. For a few extra iPod media transfer tips, check out our CNET slideshow.

 

Source: http://reviews.cnet.com/transfer-ipod-songs/?tag=smallCarouselArea.4