Archive for the ‘software’ tag
WordPress 2.9.1 released
WordPress updates to version 2.9.1, fixing some minor bugs. Now is the time to update.
After some tweaking with my hosting company, I can now use the platform’s automatic updater. Saved me several steps!
What Kills Old Technology?
When I was much, much younger, I was online. Every summer, I would spend a couple weeks with my grandparents. My uncle, a professor of computer science at a nearby college, secured for me a spare computer, a modem, and user account. A handshake later and I was connected to the network. A further authentication and I was online.
Looking back, the early internet didn’t really do much. I had access to a wealth of information, and I would spend hours crawling through Gopherspace, soaking up information like a sponge. Years later, and Gopher is a figment of the past, lost forever to the ever-evolving digital landscape.
What kills old technology?
FTC: Sears Violated Customer Privacy Through the Sin of Omission
The Federal Trade Commission today entered a consent order today finding that Sears Holdings Management Corporation (Sears and Kmart) by which Sears settled FTC charges of failing to disclose the scope of collection and usage of customer data and web activity. This, according to a statement by the FTC, constituted a deceptive practice.
Affected customers were members of the “My SHC Community”, who would pay $10 to participate. These customers would then be asked to download research software. A description of the nature of the software was buried in a “lengthy user license agreement.”
Under the settlement, Sears will not only destroy the information collected by the “research software” but also make a separate disclosure as to the nature and purpose of any future web tracking software, including any possible sale of the data to third parties.
The proposed settlement is open for public comment until July 6, 2009. Those interested can visit the FTC website for further information.
Holding the Reservation
Anyone who knows me, even if only for a short while, knows that I am incredibly disorganized. I have notes, papers, and half-finished projects strewn all about. I’ve been making an effort over the past several months to try and bring some sense of order to the madness. I’ve not yet created a system that works well for me, but I’m starting to get there. I’ve learned a great deal along the way, much of which should be useful for others. Below are five areas of consideration when developing your own organizational system.
Ecto 3 Alpha
I’ve just downloaded the alpha release of Adriaan Tijsseling’s ecto blogging software. It’s a revamped version of ecto2, although “ecto3 is not ecto2″.
Among the new features, ecto3 includes a new rich-text editor, as well as support for a number of other blog APIs.
That’s about all I have right now. I’m just posting to test it out.
Neat OSX App: Home Zone
Home Zone is a small application that manages your screen-saver password settings and other security features.
When you’re at home, security is not as important as when you are on the road. Enter Home Zone. You establish a set of criteria (in this case, bluetooth or wireless networks) to trigger a script that will either enable or disable your security system. I use this program in combination with Apple’s File Vault. I don’t worry about my personal data being compromised now should my laptop be stolen.
The program is still in development, but it seems to work really well so far.
More Apple Software
A while back, I wrote about some OS X freeware that I’d been using. I now present the second round of my software adventure, in no particular order.
1Passwd by Agile Web Solutions
Cost: Free to $29.99
1Passwd is a password manager and form filler for OS X. It has a wide array of features that range from simple password management to secure password generation. It integrates quite will with the operating system and seems like a nifty little add-on.
Skype by Skype Ltd.
Cost: Free (additional purchase necessary for full functionality)
Skype is not a new application by any means, but I feel that it is worth mentioning, especially given my upcoming trip. Skype is a Voice Over IP (VoIP) application. It allows users to make free “calls” to other comptuers and to phones at a very low rate. I’m planning on using this on my trip to the Netherlands to keep my phone costs low (and, consequently, my beer fund up).
Quicksilver by Blacktree, Inc.
Cost: Free
I’ve recently discovered this application, and I must say, I’m in love. Quicksilver is an powerful application launcher for OS X. It simplifies the interface process so I never have to take my hands off the keyboard again. I was using Apple’s Spotlight to perfom some of the same functions, but Quicksilver is so much faster, not to mention that it learns what I’m doing. I highly recommend trying this one out.
ChocoFlop by Santiago (Jacques) Lema
Cost: Free
ChocoFlop is a non-destructive image editor for OS X. It runs natively on my Intel Mac and does more than enough for me so that I don’t have to *buy* Photoshop.
UPDATE: I almost forgot an app I use all the time.
Inquisitor 3 by David Wantabe
Cost: Free
Inquisitor is a plugin for Safari that enhances the web search bar. It not only will auto-complete, it will also add search suggestions. “Oh, and it’s free.”
