Hulu Plus is now out of preview with new $7.99 subscription cost!

I am an active user of the free Hulu product on my computer at home, but I really wanted the offer of anytime/anywhere access that Hulu Plus promised on my iPhone and iPad devices. Have I been using this service? Yes, but I am not as happy with the selection as compared with what is available on my computer.You would think that with word PLUS in its name, there would be more, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. The list seems to be getting better but not fast enough to suit me. Is it something that will cause me leave the service? Not yet. But it is nice that the price has dropped to $7.99 and that we should be seeing some credits back for us earlier adopters.

Here is a quick breakdown from Hulu that shows the differences between the two services:

Whether the $2 per month savings will be enough to spark a new wave of subscribers is hard to say—the service is still pricey for a somewhat limited selection of popular shows. Then again, Hulu Plus does offer complete seasons for current shows (something free users won't get), but unless you're the type to blow through whole seasons of recent shows, it may be a better use of your money to subscribe to Netflix instead.

Microsoft Live Writer 2011 Update

Microsoft Live Essentials 2011 has just released and I have been spending some time with the application that I use primarily from that software suite, Live Writer. While the new interface is more consistent with Office 2010 style, there is one feature that they have taken away that really causes me decreased productivity when I am writing my blog posts.

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It is getting easier to get published…

I recently decided that I wanted to start putting together some of the photograph collections I have been taking in a book form that I can hand to various members of my family to keep as a coffee table book or something to come back to when relaxing on a cold winter night. Sitting by the fire, having a glass of wine and reminiscing about friends and family can be a wonderful thing to do when you have a few spare moments to relax.

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Download details: Microsoft Office Compatibility Pack for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint File Formats

I had a client today that had some problems opening some document files that were emailed to her. Turns out that they were written in either Office 2007 or 2010 which has a new document format called XML that is used. Office 2003 does not natively have the ability to open, view or edit these files but thankfully Microsoft has given anyone in the predicament a way to update their version of Office 2003 to be capable of accessing files in saved in this format.

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PR: Logitech Announces K750 Light-Powered Wireless Keyboard

Tired of replacing batteries in your wireless keyboard? Logitech just might have an answer for you. The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard K750 is the company’s first light-powered keyboard. The Logitech Wireless Solar Keyboard powers itself whenever there's light, even indoors, making battery hassles a thing of the past.

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If you are accessing Internet sites from a public WiFi location you may be handing the keys of your Kingdom to an unfriendly lurker!

One of our former employees recently sent me an link to an article about a gentleman who decided to test out a new FireFox add-on that allows you to collect information by “sidejacking” your account through HTTP session hijacking. Take a look at these articles that will give you some insight in this problem.

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New Virus killing wireless

by Scott Wiltshire

There is something new out this week that kills off the wireless on a laptop.

It can come out in one or two ways. First way is your wireless will not see any networks at all.

Second way is the wireless will see the network but cannot either connect or connects and drops the connection every few minutes or so.

The only way I can found to get rid of this is to delete the hidden temp in the users hidden local settings folder, and also delete the temp in the windows folder.

Make sure you have an updated MalwareBytes and the latest download of combofix.

Boot in to safe mode and run both programs, reboot and see if it works.

If your using a 3^rd part app to control your wireless say like dells wireless utility you may have to uninstall and reinstall it.

I believe the virus corrupts the Windows Zero wireless config panel upon start up, after removing it and a reboot the config should sort itself out.

It does the same with the 3^rd parties but in their case they are normally broken until reinstalled.

Also make sure you go in to internet options and connection settings and make sure you click detect settings automatically, as the virus will set a fake proxy.

This is a nasty little virus, and the bad thing about it is it will go through network, I had a system with it on this weekend at my house and it spread through my network hitting my laptop and my wife’s.

Hope this will help you out on the road.

EOS REBEL XS / 1000D Firmware Update Version 1.0.7

Firmware changes

Firmware Version 1.0.7 incorporates the following fixes.

1. Fixes a rare phenomenon in which "Cannot create folder" is displayed on the camera's LCD monitor, after which shooting is no longer possible with the SD card in your camera.

The Version 1.0.7 firmware being released this time is for cameras with firmware up to Version 1.0.6. If the camera's firmware is already Version 1.0.7, it is not necessary to update the firmware.

POINTDEV Partner

Computer Connections is now listed as a Reseller for POINTDEV’s Windows Administrative Tools Products.

POINTDEV’s Products include:

• IDEAL Administrator - simplifies the administration of your Windows NT, XP, 2000, 2003 and 2008 network by providing in a single tool all the necessary features for managing domains, servers, and users. Your administration can be done through a local network, via a Wan, a VPN, or Internet.
• IDEAL Alerter - Manages the monitoring of defined events and applies a set of associated actions on network servers and client workstations. Using IDEAL Alerter, you can easily and remotely monitor the execution and stop of processes, monitor service status changes, monitor registry database writings, monitor event logs, monitor changes on files and directories, monitor user session events, manage disk space, detect installation or uninstallation of programs ... on all the servers and client workstations in your network... For each event to monitor, you can define some actions to automatically execute, like running a command or script, killing a specific process, uninstalling a program, turning off a computer or locking a session, starting or stopping a service, sending an email
• IDEAL Remote - IDEAL Remote is a “light” version of the IDEAL Administration flagship software. IDEAL Remote lets you take control remotely of your Windows NT, 2000, XP, 2003, 7 and Vista workstations. In addition to taking control remotely, you have access to the properties of remote computers, events, printers, processes, sessions, open files, WMI properties and, finally, to the information systems. Your administration can be done through a local network, via a Wan, a VPN, or Internet.
• IDEAL Migration - automates your Windows NT and Active Directory domain consolidation and migration.

You are able to migrate all the server objects (OU, groups, users, files, ACL, etc.) from and to any Windows NT and Active Directory server, but also too automatically change the domain client PCs without intervention. Its whole features and its compatibility with Active Directory make it one of the strongest on the market.  Once your migration or consolidation plan is established, IDEAL Migration manages the transfer of required objects for the good execution of your mission.

• IDEAL Dispatch - provides remote installing and uninstalling of software, remote running of scripts and programs, and remote actions (view, copy, rename).
  With the help of IDEAL Dispatch, you can remotely install Windows patches, run scripts and msi files, uninstall programs, or update software on all the servers and client workstations on your network.
• IDEAL Secure - manages the optimization of network servers and client PCs through the application of predefined actions. These settings are classified by theme: Windows, Hardware, Network and Software. So, with IDEAL Secure, you can remotely optimize, secure and parameterize Windows NT, 2000, 2003, 7, XP and Vista operating systems in a few clicks and without agents. You can easily enable or disable a set of actions on a selection of computers in a single step.

Barnes & Noble opens 'PubIt!' self-publishing portal, details compensation model

So you want to be a published author and Barnes & Noble wants to bring you into their fold. Launching soon, Barnes & Noble’s PubIt! self-publishing portal will soon be available. As you'd heard before, this platform is essentially designed to give independent writers a venue for hawking their masterpieces, with PubIt! converting files to ePUB for use on a wide range of e-readers (read: not only the Nook).

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Check Out this Windows 7 Media Center Guide

I came across the How-To Geek’s tutorial for Windows 7 Media Center users and I had to share it with you. In this How-To Guide you’ll find a collection of tips, tricks and tutorials for using WMC in Windows 7. The guide features everything from getting started with your TV Tuner setup to using add-ins like Boxee and so much more. The article is really long, but definitely worth checking out, even if you’re already a Media Center user. You may be surprised to find something you didn’t know!

For example, did you know you can set up event reminders, use parental controls, connect Windows Media Center to Windows Home Server, read RSS feeds in Media Center, or tweet from Media Center?  Those are just a few of the features covered in this detailed guide. You can read the rest of it here.

Configuring Devices in Windows 7

Here is a video link and links to other support information provided by Microsoft about many Windows 7 topics. This video describes installation and configuring devices in Windows 7. Topics that are discussed include:

Updating, disabling, and uninstalling drivers

Signed drivers

Configuring driver settings

Conflicts between drivers

Resolving problem device drivers

Configuring Devices in Windows 7

Do you want to charge for use of your power?

A new product is being introduced to control access to your premise power outlets and provide you with another source of revenue for your business. The SafePlug 1200-P3 is a pay-per-use system that provides this ability. This solution will provide paid access for those who find themselves with devices running low on power. The SafePlug 1200-P3 pay-per-use system can be into a regular power outlet. It will allow the potential client to gain access with a prepaid plastic card or key fob that are purchased from the front counter of the business or at kiosks, and will offer anywhere from 10 to 20 blocks of access time, where each one of which could be 20, 30, 45, or 60 minutes in duration. Once the device is unplugged, the P3 will turn itself off automatically. $1 will net you 20 minutes of charging time, with the outlet’s operating cost being estimated at 12 cents per kWh.

ASUS 27 Inch Monitor with Full HD-WebCam

Looking for more screen real-estate?  ASUS might have the product you are looking for. With full HD resolution support (1920 x 1024) the VK278Q has LED-backlit  illumination with dynamic contrast ratio (DCR) of 10,000,000:1, and features a 2.0 megapixel webcam, 2 ms response time and 3W stereo speakers.

While these features are functional, I would have thought that this size monitor would have much better resolution approaching 2560 x 1600 would have been nice. The webcam and speakers are a nice touch but I can’t say that I would recommend this product for those of you that need better resolution. However, if what you want are bigger images because your eyesight is going this could be the right product for you. Look for it at around $369.

New Product SKUs available from Buffalo in their Linkstation V-Series

We have been using the Buffalo NAS and USB products in many of our installations over the past several years. Buffalo has provided us with great support which allows us to pass that support on to you as well.

“Protecting and managing digital content has always been a time consuming task for home and small business users,” said Ralph Spagnola, vice president of sales at Buffalo Technology. “With the new LinkStation V-Series family, users access and share their data twice as fast that they would with a standard NAS device.”

Buffalo Technology has just announced its update to its popular LinkStation network storage family in the form of its high-performance V-Series line that includes the LinkStation Pro, LinkStation Pro Duo and LinkStation Pro Quad. The new V-Series family uses a 1.6GHz processor, offering users performance with network transfer speeds up to 76MB/s, touted as being twice as fast as competing network hard drives and faster than USB 2.0 storage solutions.

The dual drive solution offers RAID for redundancy and data protection, not to mention a user removable quick swap hard drive for simple drive servicing without the need for tools.

Dual drive gives you the opportunity to have redundancy built right into the machine. This gives you better data protection for your most important information, especially in a business environment.

If you are putting one of these into a home environment it is a DLNA CERTIFIED device, enabling simple streaming to any DLNA compatible media device, such as the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Combined with the recently announced free WebAccess i app for Apple iPod touch and iPhone and WebAccess i HD app for iPad, the new high performance LinkStation V-Series family revolutionizes how digital content is shared and consumed. These new apps provide iPhone and iPad users an easy and convenient way to access and stream digital content from a Buffalo NAS solution directly to their Apple mobile devices. With a simple setup and intuitive interface, Buffalo’s newly redesigned WebAccess feature allows users to easily stream digital content stored on any Buffalo network storage solution from anywhere in the world via a Web browser, iPhone, iPod touch or iPad.

Prices range from $189.99 to $1,039.99, depending on the model, and storage capacity that you choose, and will come with a one-year warranty.

Where has the time gone...

So now I have made the mistake of adding a few more suggested Blog RSS Feeds to my greedier list and now I am getting about 2500 message a day that I have to sift through. The calendar says it is the thirteenth of the month I took a quick peak at my blog stats for the month and I have only posted one time to the web. It seems by the time I have sifted through everything I have no more energy left to write.

So I am going to try to do better because there a lot of things happening right now that I want to share with you and if I don't get busy they will get real stale and a whole less interesting. My goal has always been to work in about 25-30 new products or How to Demos each month, so that now that I have restated my goal let's see if I can get close to it.

Give Your Toshiba Laptop More Battery Life with the Slice Expansion Battery

The Toshiba Slice Expansion 6-Cell Li-Ion Laptop Battery add-on is available for select Toshiba Laptops. You can get extended batter life with the new Toshiba Slice Expansion Battery Pack this is custom designed for select Satellite, Portege and Tecra PCs. Priced at $199.99. Part Number: PA3510U-1BRL

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Seagate Offering 6 & 12 TB NAS Servers for Small Businesses

It seems anymore that we are constantly running out of storage space on our networks.One way to combat this is by adding Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices that can accessed on your network. Seagate's new BlackArmor NAS 440 device comes in 4,6 and 8 TB models with preinstalled that can be upgraded to 12 TBs total. It is flexible enough to handle multiple network solutions being able to be used as single machine’s storage device, or as a NAS device with support for support for Microsoft Active Directory 2000, 2003, 2008 for populating users and groups.The BlackArmor NAS 440 server is configured with RAID 5 and ships with 10 backup software licenses out-of-the-box, and can be upgraded to support up to 50 workstations. The 4, 8 and 12TB units will have a MSRP of $849.99, $1499.99 and  $1,899.99 respectively.

Small-business network storage solution provides optimum uptime and data integrity for up to 50 workstations.

• Designed for optimum uptime and availability
• Full-system backup, SafetyDrill+^™ (Bare Metal Restore) over the network
• 4 hot-swappable drives in RAID 0, 1, 5, 10 or JBOD configuration options
• Secure remote access

Specifications:

PR: Lacie Announces USB 3.0 RAID Storage Solution

Another announcement of a product supporting the USB 3.0 interface format comes from LaCie providing either a 2TB or 4TB solution, $349.99 and $579.99 respectively. The biggest benefit besides the amount of storage capacity is the speed that you can read and write data to the device. It is still compatible with USB 2.0 so if you don’t have a USB 3.0 port on your computer yet you can get this now for when you do. It is compatible with Windows® XP, Windows Vista®, Windows 7 /Mac OS X 10.5, 10.6 (USB 2.0 only). Windows XP does not support drives greater than 2TB’s.

The SuperSpeed USB 3.0 supports up to 5Gbits/s and the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 supports up to 480Mbits/s. It supports RAID 0, RAID 1, JBOD modes through an easy switch-button.

Overview from LaCie:

Developed for professionals looking for high storage capacity and performance, the 2big USB 3.0 is the first RAID storage solution to feature the new SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface, and supports multiple uncompressed HD streams. With three RAID modes for flexibility, you can choose "Fast" (RAID 0) to get speeds of up to 205MB/s, "Safe" (RAID 1) for full data protection, or JBOD for non-stop data access. With its 7200 rpm drives and compatibility with USB 2.0, the LaCie 2big USB 3.0 is the most complete USB 3.0 storage device. The unique fanless aluminum heat sink design is sturdy and features 60% more surface area, providing the most efficient heat dissipation. This keeps it ultra-quiet, and protects the hard disk. The LaCie 2big USB 3.0 helps you to reduce power consumption by letting you program when it switches to idle mode. You can schedule a deep sleep on/off mode according to your needs, and the 2big USB 3.0 can be switched back to operating mode from the client side. For users that need performance and flexibility such as print professionals, recording engineers, and video producers, the 2big USB 3.0 is the ideal storage solution.

For more information about Video Process, please click here

Cute that they are calling these drives the 2big… Hope that is just a typo.

How to add a little more battery life to your devices while on the road and without access to a power outlet…

Every now and again I find myself running down my devices to the very end of their battery limits and need a little extra time to complete the project I am currently working on. Morphie has made a press release on a battery product that you can attach to different USB powered devices. The Juice Pack Powerstation is most obviously targeting heavy iPad users, but the beastly battery pack is quite capable of rejuvenating your PND, PMP or smartphone provided you have the necessary cabling. Most interesting, however, is this unit's ability to automatically switch between desired mAh charges, including 500 mAh, 1A and 2.1A, while a standby toggle switch ensures no drainage when it's idle. There's also a USB pass-through so users can charge a device and the Powerstation simultaneously, and if you're interested, all 3600mAh can be yours starting today at $99.95.

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