This week we learned how
to create geeky LED holiday lights with old bottles, dig deeper in Windows Defrag via the command prompt, use Google Chrome’s drag/drop feature
to upload files easier, find great gift recommendations by looking through the How-To Geek holiday gift guide, and have fun adding Merry Christmas fonts
to our computers.
Photo by ntr23.
Random Geek Links
It has been a busy week, so we have extra news link goodness with information that is good for you
to know.
USDA making the move
to Microsoft
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced that it has chosen Microsoft
to host things like e-mail, instant messaging, and collaboration through the software giant’s Business Productivity Online Suite.
Google says it was cut off from USDA project bid
Google is claiming that it was not given a chance
to bid on a cloud-computing project for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for which the contract was awarded
to rival Microsoft.
Apache is being forced into a Java Fork
When Oracle rolled over Apache and Google’s objections
to its Java plans in December, the scene was set for Apache
to leave and, eventually, force a Java code fork.
Tumblr explains daylong outage
After experiencing an outage that started on Sunday afternoon and stretched through most of the day yesterday, Tumblr has explained what happened.
Google demos Chrome OS, launches pilot program
During a press briefing this week in San Francisco, Google launched the Chrome application store and demonstrated Chrome OS, its browser-centric netbook operating system.
Don’t expect Spotify in U.S. this holiday season
As of last week, Spotify had yet
to sign a single licensing deal with a major label, after spending more than a year negotiating, multiple music sources told CNET.
December 2010 Patch Tuesday will come with most bulletins ever
According
to the Microsoft Security Response Center, Microsoft will issue 17 Security Bulletins addressing 40 vulnerabilities on Tuesday, December 14. It will also host a webcast
to address customer
questions the following day.
Hacker plants back door in Symbian firmware
Indian hacker Atul Alex has had a look at the firmware for Symbian S60 smartphones and come up with a back door for it.
PC quarantines raise tough complexities
The concept of quarantining PCs
to prevent widespread infection is “interesting, but difficult
to implement, with far too many problems”, said security experts.
Symantec: DDoS attacks hard
to defend
It has surfaced that the distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks on Visa and MasterCard Web sites on Wednesday were carried out by a toolkit known as low orbit ion cannon (LOIC).
Web Sockets and the risks of unfinished standards
Enthusiasm for a promising new standard called Web Sockets has quickly cooled in some quarters as a potential security problem led some browser makers
to hastily postpone support.
Internet Explorer 9
to get tracking protection
Microsoft is making changes
to Internet Explorer 9’s security features that will better enable users
to keep sites from tracking their activity across browsing sessions.
NASA sold PCs with sensitive data
NASA failed
to remove sensitive data from computers that it sold, according
to an audit report released this week.
Cybercrooks create fake Amazon receipts
The bad guys have created yet another online scam, this one involving fake Amazon receipts.
World of Warcraft character move fees waived
Until December 22, Blizzard will allow free realm transfers from 25 highly populated servers
to alleviate log-in queues or performance issues. (The free transfers are one-way and one-time only.)
SpaceX Dragon reaches orbit atop a Falcon with a fiery tail
The Space Exploration Technologies corporation has become the first nongovernmental entity
to put a vehicle into low Earth orbit.
Geek Video of the Week
If birds have wings, then why are the Angry Birds using slingshots?
Photo by Dorkly Bits.
Wait… Birds have Wings, Why are the Angry Ones Using Slingshots?
Sysadmin Geek Tips
How
To Setup Email Alerts on Linux Using Gmail or SMTP
Linux machines may require administrative intervention in countless ways, but without manually logging into them how would you know about it? Here’s how
to setup emails
to get notified when your machines want some tender love and attention.
Random TinyHacker Links
Red Panda Webcam
Support Firefox and the Knoxville Zoo’s Red Panda program.
Christmas Icons (Icons we like)
Superb set of holiday icons by lgp85 at deviantArt. Download the .zip and use as .png or convert
to .ico at Convertico.com or with tiny app Imagicon.
Super User
Questions
Enjoy reading the great answers
to this week’s popular
questions from Super User
Useful USB boot disks?
DVD/CD burning .zip: is it more reliable, faster, longer lasting
to burn a zip of files rather than the files as a folder?
What are other ways
to backup my files if I do not have an external drive?
Anti virus what is the difference between these all?
How can I block all Facebook elements/content?
How-To Geek Weekly Article Recap
Have you had a busy week between work and preparing for the holidays? Get caught up on your HTG reading with our hottest articles of the week.
20 Windows Keyboard Shortcuts You Might Not Know
The 50 Best Registry Hacks that Make Windows Better
LCD? LED? Plasma? The How-To Geek Guide
to HDTV Technology
HTG Explains: Which Linux File System Should You Choose?
How
to Use and Customize Google Chrome Web Apps
One Year Ago on How-To Geek
This week’s batch of retro geeky goodness is all about customizing Windows 7.
ClassicShell Adds Classic Start Menu and Explorer Features
to Windows 7
Get an Aero-Styled Classic Start Menu in Windows 7
Customize the Windows 7 Logon Screen
Get the Classic Style Network Activity Indicator Back in Windows 7
How
To Enable Check Boxes for Items In Windows 7
The Geek Note
We would like you
to join us in welcoming Jason Fitzpatrick
to the writing staff here at How-To Geek. He started with us this past week, so take some time
to read through his articles about the Wii, Kindle, & PlayStation 2 Peripherals and leave a friendly comment
to say “Hi”! Got a great tip
to share? Make sure
to send it in
to us at
[email protected].
Photo by real00.
Latest Features
How-To Geek ETC
The 50 Best Registry Hacks that Make Windows Better
The How-To Geek Holiday Gift Guide (Geeky Stuff We Like)
LCD? LED? Plasma? The How-To Geek Guide
to HDTV Technology
The How-To Geek Guide
to Learning Photoshop, Part 8: Filters
Improve Digital Photography by Calibrating Your Monitor
Our Favorite Tech: What We’re Thankful For at How-To Geek
Settle into Orbit with the Voyage Theme for Chrome and Iron
Awesome Safari Compass Icons Set
Escape from the Exploding Planet Wallpaper
Move Your Tumblr Blog
to WordPress
Pytask is an Easy
to Use To-Do List Manager for Your Ubuntu System
Snowy Christmas House Personas Theme for Firefox
