The new AVG Anti-Virus 8 comes with a component called LinkScanner (sometimes also called Safe Search) that automatically checks the results from Google, Yahoo, and MSN and displays security information in the form of an icon next to the link. You can hover your mouse over a link and it will pop up detailed information.
This extension can be disabled in AVG by going to the “Tools->Advanced Settings” menu and selecting “LinkScanner” in the tree menu on the left. However, if you do so the AVG icon in your system tray will complain that you have it disabled. 
I prefer to be able to see if my AVG has the latest definitions simply by looking at the system tray and seeing the normal icon. 
Continue reading ‘Disabling AVG Anti-Virus LinkScanner’
AVG Anti-virus recently displayed a popup window telling me that I needed to upgrade from version 7.5 to version 8.0. AVG Free 8.0 is no longer only an anti-virus program, it now includes an integrated anti-spyware and a safe search web browser extension. AVG Free also no longer cripples the scheduler, you can now have it run a full scan whenever you want.
Previously, the only way to get version 8.0 was to pay for it, and for a moment I was very disappointed that AVG stopped offering a free version of their great software. I soon realized that this was not actually the case, so I figured that I would create this post in case others were confused by the upgrade process as well.
Continue reading ‘Upgrading to AVG Free 8′
DEP (Data Execution Prevention) is a security feature in Windows that prevents a program from executing code in a memory block that is marked as no-execute. DEP helps stop buffer overflows, which are used by many computer viruses and other security threats to take over your computer. DEP is a good security feature to have, but there are a few times where DEP stops legitimate software from running (most likely due to poor programming or hacks). Windows allows you to create exceptions to DEP, but unfortunately Windows does not allow you to remove the exceptions if you have already uninstalled the program, which just so happened to be exactly what I had done. Fortunately, I have figured out how to remove them without having to reinstall the program.
Continue reading ‘Remove DEP Exceptions from Vista’
I am disappointed that a device that we all use (and loathe) every day has not progressed much at all in the last 10 or 20 years. I have looked in every store and compared online the options of alarm clocks both cheap and expensive. At best, the alarm clocks out there are basic, at worst they are complex - having too many features that require multiple simultaneous button presses. All seem to suffer from either poor design, poor implementation, or both. The other day I ran into a device powered by Linux called the chumby. At first, the review I read made it seem perfect, but after reading more about it I found that the alarm clock looked more like an after-thought.
So here is what I think a good alarm clock should be able to do:
- Play MP3s, Ogg Vorbis, Shoutcast streaming radio, FM, XM Radio, and possibly HD Radio (if HD Radio turns out to be worth a shit)
- An alarm that will still operate when running on the battery backup (lithium ion?), even if it is a reduced functionality mode (simple buzzer perhaps?)
Continue reading ‘The Perfect Alarm Clock’
Extensions are plug-ins that add new functionality to Firefox. I recommend the following extensions:
- FlashBlock - This blocks a Flash files and replaces them with a button that you can click to load the Flash file. Flash animations are usually advertisements and sometimes they can be very nasty (ugly, distracting, or cover up useful information).
- BugMeNot - This plugin connects to the BugMeNot.com servers when you right-click on a log in box and will (hopefully) get a username and password for the site. This is great if you do not want to sign up on a site just to read the news or download a program.
Continue reading ‘Recommended Firefox Extensions’
Education is not something that you should consider finished after you leave school. I strive to learn new things all of the time, it helps me form a more complete picture of how things operate, why they work that way, and how I can make the most of it. Most of the time I turn to Google or Wikipedia, but knowing other resources can often take much of the work out of finding the information that you need.
Continue reading ‘Teach Yourself Something Useful’
If you have Windows Vista, you may as well find some decent sidebar gadgets to replace the rather pathetic ones that Microsoft gave you. Here are a few I use to get you started. If you have any others that you think should have made this list, please add it in the comments.
Continue reading ‘Best Windows Vista Sidebar Gadgets’
This is my first Google Gadget. It was extremely simple to create since I was able to look at the code of other gadgets, especially Today’s Woot by Brady Lamprecht. Google also provides some excellent examples and a built in editor so you can create your own right in your browser.
I recently purchases a Acer Aspire 5100 laptop with Windows Vista Home Premium on it. I wasn’t too thrilled to get Vista because of all of the bad news I have heard about its development. I had actually sworn off of Windows entirely, having uninstalled Windows 2000 and installed Debian Linux on my desktop PC.
Continue reading ‘Some Thoughts on Windows Vista’
Safari, the web browser from Apple, is now available for download here for Windows. The interfaces is slick and it seems to load webpages quickly. It appears to use the KHTML engine for rendering webpages, which apparently has great web standards support. Nice, but unnecessary seeing as how I think it is not as good as Firefox. So the big question is “Why did Apple do it?”
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I recently purchased an Acer Aspire 5100-5840 that had Windows Vista Premium preinstalled. I was planning on buying a Linux laptop, but I found a deal on this Acer so I decided I may as well keep Windows Vista for any Windows only capabilities I may need in the future. I decided that although I use Debian on my desktop PC, I would try installing the 64bit version of Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn along side of Windows Vista.
Continue reading ‘Installing Ubuntu on an Acer Aspire 5100′
I was looking at buying a laptop from Dell now that they come preinstalled with Ubuntu Linux. I am very glad that Dell decided to start selling Linux and I wanted to buy a laptop from them to support their efforts. I almost bought one, but let me tell you why I didn’t.
Continue reading ‘Dell’s Linux Laptop, Not Worth It?’
I am writing this text using a program called Dasher. Dasher is a text entry program that uses predictive technology to determine what you want next. Dasher is one of the most innovative technologies that I have seen in a long time. Letters fly in from the side of the screen and you simply steer the mouse to the letters you want. While it is somewhat slower than typing, it is very intuitive. Be sure to check out the presentation about it on Google Video to get a better idea of how Dasher works. You can also try Dasher in your browser (uses Java). It is developed mainly for disabled users, but also can be used other things like mobile phones, PDAs , game consoles, one handed text entry, and any other devices that do not have a keyboard. I think that it has a great future and I am looking forward to what its future developments bring. Dasher runs under Linux, Windows, and Mac OS X. Enjoy!
Continue reading ‘Dasher - A New Way to Enter Text’
My system was working perfectly and I upgraded my system with apt. The next time I started up my computer, X complained that it failed to load the module nvidia. I switched my xorg.conf file to load the open source nv drivers so I could browse the Internet for help. I found Debian Bug #420354, which says the package nvidia-glx version 1.0.8776-4 does not provide the file nvidia_drv.so.
Continue reading ‘Nvidia-glx Broken in Debian’
Regnum Online is a free to play MMORPG that is developed in Argentina for Windows and also has an unofficial Linux client. It is somewhat similar to Guild Wars (which unfortunately does not work under Linux). Check it out, as it is one of the best free MMORPGs I have played.
The world is divided into three separate realms (kingdoms) that are at war with each other. The game has both PvE and PvP, many quests, and impressive 3D graphics that are on par with many other commercial MMORPGs. You can choose to be a Human, Elf, Dark Elf, Half-Elf, Morlock, or Utghar. You can be a Warrior, Mage, or Archer, and each one has two subclasses that become available in later levels - Knight, Barbarian, Warlock, Conjurer, Marksman, or Hunter. The game does have a slight commercial side to it as they sell premium content, such as renting horse health and mana regeneration potions, and an experience boosting scroll.
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