iTechLog

Google search goes social

Alex Costa — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 17:06:25 +0000

Google is rolling out in the next few days Search+. When signed in with Google+, you’ll find personal results and profiles of people you know or follow. You can even expand your world by discovering people related to your search.

Technorati Tags: Facebook, Google, Search, Social Media, Social Networking, twitter

July 22, 2011 -- Google+ useful info
April 1, 2011 -- Facebook acquires Bing
March 31, 2011 -- Google +1
December 3, 2009 -- (Mis) understanding Social networking
June 5, 2009 -- Keyword search and website ranking tools

Auto start a program on Gnome 3

Alex Costa — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:37:07 +0000

This is probably my shortest post, but I hope it’s as helpful to others as it will be for me as I need to remember how to auto start a program in Gnome 3.

press: alt + F2
Type: gnome-session-properties
Click on “+ Add”
Name: Application Name
Command: Application command e.g: skype
Click “+ Add” and you are done.

Technorati Tags: applications, auto start, configuring linux, Gnome, Linux, OpenSUSE, startup

September 6, 2010 -- Echofon shamefully drops Firefox for Linux
April 8, 2009 -- OpenSUSE Build Service will be added to the Linux Developer Network
January 17, 2009 -- OpenSuse – run IFCONFIG as user
December 24, 2008 -- PHP-GTK installation Errors on OpenSUSE
December 22, 2008 -- Using Zypper

Show Desktop icons in Gnome 3 on Open SUSE 12.1

Alex Costa — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 13:25:04 +0000

Open SUSE 12.1 comes with the completely redesigned Gnome 3 desktop, which in my opinion is the best one so far. I have been using Gnome for a few years now and even though I like the clean design of Gnome 3, I still like to have some desktop icons. To Show your Desktop icons on Open SUSE 12.1 is a very simple procedure,

Go to Applications > Advanced Settings
Select Desktop
Set option “Have file manager handle the desktop” to ON

For other Versions of Linux you may need to install dbconf

Technorati Tags: Desktop icons, Gnome 3, Gnome settings, Linux, Open Source, Open SUSE 12.1

November 7, 2011 -- Arduino the Open Source hardware
April 8, 2011 -- Linux turns 20
June 20, 2009 -- OpenSuse Factory
January 9, 2009 -- Google Android OS on Notebooks
December 9, 2008 -- Linux a success and a failure

Arduino the Open Source hardware

Alex Costa — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:20:31 +0000

If you are a thinker, a mad scientist in the making or just a curious ADD person like me, the Arduino boards are just what you are missing in life.

Arduino is an open-source physical computing platform based on a simple micro controller board, and a development environment for writing software for the board.

Arduino can be used to develop interactive objects, taking inputs from a variety of switches or sensors, and controlling a variety of lights, motors, and other physical outputs. Arduino projects can be stand-alone, or they can be communicate with software running on your computer .

Arduino hardware can be used in Windows, Mac or Linux. The boards can be assembled by hand or purchased pre-assembled and the open-source IDE (programming environment) can be downloaded for free.

There’s a great starting guide at http://arduino.cc/en/Guide/HomePage, but I have also been recommended this book:

30 Arduino Projects for the Evil Genius

This guide shows you how to program and build a variety of projects with the Arduino microcontroller development system. Covering Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms, it gets you up to speed with the simplified C programming you need to know–no prior programming experience necessary.

You can find more books and arduino boards and components on here.

Examples of what one can accomplish with Arduino:

Technorati Tags: Arduino, arduino projects, C Programming, DIY geek, geek gifts, IDE, Linux, Mac, muti platform, Open Source, Programming, robbots, Windows

March 11, 2010 -- The future of gaming is OpenGL
June 20, 2009 -- OpenSuse Factory
May 12, 2009 -- Offline Blogging Tools
January 28, 2009 -- Synergy – share mouse and keyboard cross platform
December 14, 2011 -- Show Desktop icons in Gnome 3 on Open SUSE 12.1

Clear space on Windows Server 2003 with Symbolic Link

Alex Costa — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:28:06 +0000

I kept getting “out of space” warnings on a server 2003 at work , backups were failing and updates were reporting error.

From my online research I see that many systems Admins are now having the same problem with a Windows server 2003 installation in a 25GB partition, which was the default guidance from Microsoft.

I looked into some partitioning software to make use of my large D: partition, but was wisely warned away from doing it as it may cause future problems if you need for some reason to restore your server.

As a Linux Admin I am very familiar with the concept of Symbolic Links, which has been around for a long time. On Linux the command LN is all you need.

Well, to my heart’s content Microsoft does have a very useful, and yet not well publicised, command line tool called LINKD.exe, which is part of the Windows server 2003 Resource Kit.

Please note that a symbolic link is not the same as a Windows shortcut file, which is a regular file. The windows shortcut may be created on any file system (such as the earlier FAT32), and is not transparent to applications. SymLink is transparent to applications making it great for clearing space on your drive, without compromising file structure.

My example scenario.

Drive C:\ free space 2Mb
Drive D:\ free space 200GB
Identified a large folder to move to D:\ - (Drive C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\AMSP\BackupAmsp - size 6.5GB)
Moved the large folder to D:\ (I created a folder called “moved from C” and saved the large folder inside it)
Installed Windows server 2003 Resource Kit (also to Drive D:\Program Files\RKTOOLS)
Opened Command Line (START\RUN\CMD), navigated to D:\Program Files\RKTOOLS
Run command: linkd “C:\Program Files\Trend Micro\AMSP\BackupAmsp” “D:\moved from C\BackupAmsp”
Done.

Disclaimer: I used Symbolic Link on a non system critical folder. If you plan to use this on a system critical folder, do at your own risk.

Technorati Tags: Command line, low space on hard drive, Microsoft, NTFS, partition, partition magic, Partitioning, Server 2003, symbolic link, symlink, system drive, system volume

September 25, 2011 -- Fix Java install error 1334 and Error 1723
July 30, 2010 -- Microsoft’s Street Slide View is so unMicrosoft
March 11, 2010 -- The future of gaming is OpenGL
January 7, 2010 -- Linux ClearOS to rival Microsoft’s SBS
December 11, 2009 -- Microsoft’s attempt to bribe its way to the top

Jumbo LED Binary Clock

Alex Costa — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 19:16:14 +0000

The binary system works under the exact same principles as the decimal system, only it operates in base 2 rather than base 10, so instead of using the digits 0-9, it only uses 0-1.

Binary started out as a way for geeks to master the world of computing, but we understand that binary is mostly just another way for you confuse your friends and co-workers. Simply slap this stylistic one foot square binary clock on the wall or on your favorite flat surface, select BCD or pure binary mode, set the time, and voila! You’ve just created an Instant Confusion Device (ICD) that actually tells the time. Congratulations!

This binary clock is also a great gadget to aknowledge the geek within you, or a close friend or relative. Just avoid having it in your bedroom, as the blinking seconds will keep you up all night, as my wife found out.

How Do I Read It? – Glad you asked.

Pure binary is easy to understand. From left to right, fist 2 columns represent the hour, the middle 2 columns represent the minutes and the last 2 columns the seconds. The binary numbers are shown from bottom to top. Look at this example.

Of course detailed reading instructions are included with each clock for those of you with OCD.

Features/Specs:

BCD or “True” binary display options, selectable by switch
12 hour and 24 hour display, selectable by switch
3 brightness levels
Wall mountable, or can be used tabletop with included brackets
Battery backup of time during power loss (uses 3 ‘AA’ batteries, not included)
Dimensions: 12.3″ by 12.3″ and is a slim 1.25″ deep.
Available in your choice of crystalline blue or bright red LEDs

Technorati Tags: binary, binary clock, clock, confusion device, Gadgets, geek gifts, thinkgeek.com

November 7, 2011 -- Arduino the Open Source hardware
April 5, 2009 -- Apple Sized Multi-touch Display

Spotify crashes in Linux under Wine

Alex Costa — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 00:17:28 +0000

I have been using Spotify on Linux for quite a while now, under Wine. Suddenly it decided not to work a any more. I was getting the following error when trying to run the new 0.6.2 version. “The program Spotify.exe has encountered a serious problem and needs to close.”

Trying to run it from the command line showed me yet another error message: “wine: Unhandled page fault on read access to 0×00000068 at address 0x7bc368b5 (thread 0042), starting debugger…”

UPDATE: Please first try the WinHTTP.dll fix posted by Nick in the comments section.

My simple solution: After searching in various forums and blogs and trying a myriad of “fixes” that took me nowhere. The simplest answer I found was to remove the Spotify app from Facebook. I can now listen to my Spotify play lists on my Open SUSE Linux. It does mean that you will be without the Facebook integration, which for me is not a big deal.

To delete Spotify from your Facebook account go to Privacy Setting >> Apps and Websites >> edit (Spotify) >> remove application

Spotify does have a Linux version of its software, which is currently in preview version and only available for Debian/Ubuntu paid subscribers. On their website they said: “As we haven’t found a reliable way to display ads yet, this version (Linux Preview) is only available to Spotify Premium and Unlimited subscribers. “ Fair enough I would say…

Technorati Tags: error, Facebook app, installation, Linux, Privacy settings, Spotify, Spotify.exe, wine, wine: Unhandled page fault on read access, WineHQ

December 21, 2011 -- Auto start a program on Gnome 3
December 14, 2011 -- Show Desktop icons in Gnome 3 on Open SUSE 12.1
November 7, 2011 -- Arduino the Open Source hardware
April 22, 2011 -- Has the iPad really overtaken Linux?
April 8, 2011 -- Linux turns 20

External USB SATA Dock

Alex Costa — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:49:54 +0000

Another very useful gadget from Thinkgeek.com. This one is on my shopping list.

I know Storage is cheap – less than a dollar per gigabyte. Music and video are being archived at home by everyone from you to your grandmother. Consequently, hard-drives are being upgraded constantly, and quite a few of them end up getting discarded. Just because they’re small, though, doesn’t make them useless.

Slip your spare hard drives into this USB dock and it mounts as an available volume on your Windows, Mac OS, or Linux computer via either a USB or an eSATA connector. Hot-swap with a new drive by pressing the center button on the base and jamming in a new drive. Making the dock even more awesome – it can connect equally well with big 3.5″ desktop SATA hard drives and 2.5″ laptop hard-drives.

Choose between our dual-dock that can hold two drives, or the single-dock unit that holds a single drive.

Technorati Tags: archive, backups, external hard drive, external storage, media storage, SATA, thinkgeek, USB dock

No Related Post

Fix Java install error 1334 and Error 1723

Alex Costa — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 13:16:08 +0000

I was getting the following installation errors while attempting to install Java on a client’s laptop.

Error 1334. The file ‘patchjre.exe’ cannot be installed because the file cannot be found in cabinet file ‘Data1.cab’.

Error 1723. There is a problem with this Windows installer package.

Both errors can occur while installing Java and similar errors can occur while installing or uninstalling any other software. This is caused by an error during the uninstall process which corrupts the registry.

Microsoft has a very nice tool for fixing installation problems which is part of its Fix it Center Online (currently in Beta).

To fix this error go to http://support.microsoft.com/mats/Program_Install_and_Uninstall

Run the application
Select option “Recommended (find and fix)”
Select Uninstall Program
Select program from list and click next

If you have more than one programme giving you trouble, run this same procedure for each one of them.

Technorati Tags: error 1334, error 1723, Fix it center, it support, Java, Microsoft, registy fix, uninstall softtware, Windows 7

June 10, 2009 -- Microsoft Security patches June 09
November 2, 2011 -- Clear space on Windows Server 2003 with Symbolic Link
July 30, 2010 -- Microsoft’s Street Slide View is so unMicrosoft
March 11, 2010 -- The future of gaming is OpenGL
January 7, 2010 -- Linux ClearOS to rival Microsoft’s SBS

Universal Network Cable

Alex Costa — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 16:40:40 +0000

This little gadget from ThinkGeek has made life a lot easier for me. I keep it in my IT/Network tool box and take it with me almost everywhere. Since being given this Universal Network Cable as a gift from my wife I have never had to make another cross-over cable.

Universal Network Cable

Just rotate the center to the cable you need If you’re a member of the IT crowd, it’s sometimes hard to explain to your management why you need things. Especially if they’re the type of people who think the internet is a black box with a red LED on top or people who believe that if you type “Google” into Google you’ll break the internet.

Try explaining to them that every time you need a patch cable that you have to dig through the giant box of everything cable-shaped for an eternity before finding the right one. To them, all cables are the same. So here’s what you’re going to say… ready? “Hey, last time I had to find a patch cable, it cost you $50 worth of my time. Buy me one of these and I’ll never have to waste that time again.” They don’t need to know that the Universal Network Cable adapter allows you to change wiring standard with just a click.

They won’t care about going from straight through to crossover. Their eyes will glaze over when you mention Cisco or T1 or DDS. Just tell them that the Universal Network Cable is THE essential tool for the IT crowd, and that you’ll save them tons of wasted man/grrl hours a year. (Don’t tell them that you’ll spend those newly-found hours playing World of Warcraft. Bad idea.)

Technorati Tags: ATM loopback, cisco, cross-over cable, network cable, rj45, rolled, straight through, universal network cable

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TrueCrypt tutorial

Alex Costa — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 15:47:52 +0000

TrueCrypt is a free open-source disk encryption software for Windows 7/Vista/XP, Mac OS X, and Linux. With TrueCrypt you can create virtual encrypted drives, encrypt entire partitions and removable devices or entire hard drives. Watch this tutorial by Thirdfoundation for Windows or the MAC Version by Obrien1979

This is based on an older version of TrueCrypt, but after installation you will see that it looks all the same. For the most up-to-date version go to http://www.truecrypt.org/downloads

Windows Version

MAC Version

Technorati Tags: data encryption, data protection, Security, truecrypt, virtual drives

October 25, 2010 -- Laptop, mobile and Firefox security
March 26, 2010 -- Books for sale – Linux Shell, Qmail Handbook and SSL/TLS
February 12, 2009 -- Important SQL and Exchange Server patches
January 31, 2009 -- Is Mac Safer?
December 16, 2008 -- Internet Explorer new vulnerability

Cardsave error “transaction date/time expired”

Alex Costa — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 23:08:53 +0000

If you are using CardSave (UK Version) and you come across the following error:

“This transaction cannot be processed. It was rejected because the passed transaction date/time has expired. Please press “Back” in your browser and resubmit the transaction.”

It’s caused by your server providing a different timezone to your CardSave Gateway. You need to setup your server/script time zone to UTC. In PHP you can do this by simply adding this line to your script: date_default_timezone_set(‘UTC’);

For example, I was having a problem with the Cardsave(hosted) payment extension for OpenCart. If you are having the same problem do this:

Open the file /catalog/controler/payment/cardsave_hosted.php
Find this line $this->data['fields']['TransactionDateTime'] = (date(“Y-m-d H:i:s”). ‘ +00:00′); (line 305 I think)
Just before that line add this : date_default_timezone_set(‘UTC’);
Upload file to server and you are sorted.

Technorati Tags: cardsave, date_default_timezone_set(), e-commerce, opencart, OpenSource, payment gateway, PHP

August 5, 2010 -- Opencart simple and great e-commerce system
January 31, 2011 -- It is not safe to rely on the system’s timezone settings
May 20, 2009 -- GIMP Tutorial and book
May 13, 2009 -- Automatically display form data with PHP
April 14, 2009 -- PDF to Email with registration

Chrome Overtakes Firefox for UK Number Two Browser Spot in July

Alex Costa — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:08:40 +0000

Apparently Google’s Chrome became the number two browser in the UK during the month of July for the first time, according to StatCounter. The firm’s research arm StatCounter Global Stats reports that Chrome took 22.1% of the UK market, up from 3.9% in July 2009. In the same period Microsoft’s Internet Explorer fell significantly from 61% to 46% globally and Firefox dropped slightly from 27% to 22%.

Source: StatCounter Global Stats – Browser Market Share

“Chrome continues to make significant gains in the browser market going from under 4% two years ago to over 20% today,” commented Aodhan Cullen, CEO, StatCounter. “Despite falling market share Internet Explorer still leads in the browser war but the next few months will be interesting to watch with Chrome and Firefox almost neck and neck.”

Chrome is also performing particularly well in Ireland where it overtook Firefox in May to become the number two browser. In July it reached 27.7%, ahead of Firefox’s 24.2% but still behind IE at 39.9%.

Technorati Tags: Browsers, Chrome, Firefox, Google, Internet Explorer, Mozilla, StatCounter

January 20, 2011 -- Push up the Web
May 21, 2009 -- Mozilla FENNEC – the Firefox gone mobile
December 17, 2008 -- Browser Password Security test – most failed
December 16, 2008 -- Internet Explorer new vulnerability
January 10, 2012 -- Google search goes social

Google+ useful info

Alex Costa — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 02:13:11 +0000

Everyone is talking about Google+, how they love it, how they don’t get it and how confusing it is. Yes you heard me, some people find it confusing… well I did at first, it took me a few looks in to realise, oh this is easy. I was actually making it out to be more complicated, it’s like when someone in a foreign country says something in English and you don get it because you assume they don’t speak it. For my own interest, and maybe of others, here are some interesting and useful links about Google+.

Technorati Tags: comic, Facebook, Google, privacy, Social Networking

January 10, 2012 -- Google search goes social
April 1, 2011 -- Facebook acquires Bing
May 26, 2010 -- Facebook privacy
December 3, 2009 -- (Mis) understanding Social networking
December 6, 2008 -- Facebook Connect

Spotify opens to US users

Alex Costa — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 13:38:47 +0000

Finally Spotify has opened its service to U.S. users.

No Related Post

Setting up multiple WiFi devices

Alex Costa — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 16:31:19 +0000

I was recently having connectivity issues at home, with the wireless router being at one end of the flat and the living room right at the other end. Having an ethernet connection in the living room, I decided to add a secondary WiFi and dug up an “old” Netgear wireless AP.

Not wanting to keep switching from Wireless #1 to wireless #2 all the time, depending on which was in closer range, I decided to give the devices the exact same name. Now it doesn’t matter where I am in my flat I am always connected to the same wireless network, and with a 100% strength. The trick for it to work well is:

Each device has a different IP address within the same subnet
Both devices have the same SSID
Each device broadcast on a different channel
both devices use the same security settings (WPA is safer than WEP) and same access key

Technorati Tags: Connectivity, Internet, networking, WiFi, Wireless, wireless range

September 29, 2010 -- OpenSuse 11.3 Mobile internet USB dongle problem
July 12, 2010 -- Virginmedia has bad customer service
December 4, 2008 -- 3G Mobille Broadband – Huawei E156G – USB Dongle on Linux

Has the iPad really overtaken Linux?

Alex Costa — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 00:49:54 +0000

According to numbers from StatusCounter, the iPad has bypassed Linux in terms of web surfing in the US, Canada, UK, Australia and The Netherlands. As a Linux enthusiast I find it disturbing but at the same time it makes complete sense.

The OS battle is between Windows, Apple and Linux. Windows and Apple dominate but Apple has a very strong grip in the market, due to its great fan/user base.

I would say, with no fear of being wrong, that most users browsing the web with an iPad, do also from their Mac[add here you preference] computer. Without playing down the quality of the product, I believe the iPad is basically taking a piggy-back ride.

Initial source: http://royal.pingdom.com/2011/04/20/ipad-used-more-than-linux-computers/

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPad, Linux, OSX, Windows

November 7, 2011 -- Arduino the Open Source hardware
November 11, 2010 -- IPV4 is almost exhausted.. time for IPV6?
August 24, 2010 -- HTML5:Up and Running book out now
March 11, 2010 -- The future of gaming is OpenGL
May 12, 2009 -- Offline Blogging Tools

Linux turns 20

Alex Costa — Fri, 08 Apr 2011 00:56:02 +0000

The Linux Foundation is celebrating the 20th anniversary of Linux and its influence in our everyday.

Technorati Tags: 20th anniversary, GPL, Linux, Linux Foundation, Open Source

December 14, 2011 -- Show Desktop icons in Gnome 3 on Open SUSE 12.1
November 7, 2011 -- Arduino the Open Source hardware
June 20, 2009 -- OpenSuse Factory
April 8, 2009 -- OpenSUSE Build Service will be added to the Linux Developer Network
January 9, 2009 -- Google Android OS on Notebooks

Removing the Windows XP Security 2011 malware

Alex Costa — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 15:20:41 +0000

There has been a surge in computers infected with the Windows XP Security spyware. The user is normally affected by clicking on a very convincing fake Windows XP security warning displayed on infected websites. Once the malware is installed, it continues to display pop-ups with security warnings and installs a heap of trojans on the computer. This malware also disables all .exe files, making it impossible for the user to run anti virus scanners and malware removers. Here is how I recently removed this pest.

Disconnect your computer from the internet, this malware installs trojans which will make your computer vulnerable to remote access. Use another computer to download the following programmes, then run/install them on your infected computer in the following order.
RKILL stops the malware process ( http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/anti-virus/rkill ) – Note, the malware process did come back, but this gave me enough time to execute the next step.
xp_exe_fix.reg ( you can read more about it here ) – This will fix your registry and enable the running of .EXE files, so you can install a malware remover and run your virus scan.
Malwarebytes’ Anti-Malware – it’s a simple and easy to use anti-malware by Malwarebytes. Install and run, it will ask you to update, reconnect the internet and allow it to update, disconnect internet after update is done. Run the full scan.
After malware scan finishes, click on “Remove Selected” to remove all malware from your computer. After removal, reboot as instructed and your computer should be free.

Technorati Tags: malware, RKILL, Trojan, Virus, Windows, XP Security 2011, xp_exe_fix.reg

November 7, 2011 -- Arduino the Open Source hardware
April 22, 2011 -- Has the iPad really overtaken Linux?
November 11, 2010 -- IPV4 is almost exhausted.. time for IPV6?
March 11, 2010 -- The future of gaming is OpenGL
September 18, 2009 -- Open .eps files on GIMP for Windows

Facebook acquires Bing

Alex Costa — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 09:00:37 +0000

Facebook has finally entered the Search war with Google. With the acquisition of Microsoft’s Bing search engine, the company will be head to head with Google and is expected to bypass the search giant within a year. See official statement.

Technorati Tags: Bing, Facebook, Google, Google +1, Search

January 10, 2012 -- Google search goes social
March 31, 2011 -- Google +1
June 5, 2009 -- Keyword search and website ranking tools
July 22, 2011 -- Google+ useful info
December 11, 2009 -- Microsoft’s attempt to bribe its way to the top

iTechLog

Google search goes social

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