Archive for 'Tools and Services'
Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 Released
Posted on July 22, 2008, under Microsoft, Software, Tools and Services, Windows, Windows Home Server.
I am all about helping out companies with beta testing, and I really appreciate it when users do the same for us. However I only have one Windows Home Server, and it has my life on it in digital format. Needless to say, I am not going to risk that over a beta.
So today I was happy to finally get an email from the Windows Home Server Team telling me that the Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 has been released to manufacturing.
After six weeks of beta testing, this looks like a solid update to a great product. I am looking forward to getting it installed and seeing how it goes. Will keep you updated. Below is the email from Microsoft:
Please do not respond to this e-mail. This mailbox is not monitored. If you have questions about this message, please contact us at WHSBeta@microsoft.com Please note: due to Microsoft security requirements, the hyperlink(s) contained in this e-mail may not automatically open your browser. If this happens, please copy and paste the link into the address bar of your browser.
Dear Matthew R. Miller,
The Public Beta of Power Pack 1 for Windows Home Server has been available for just over 6 weeks and we’ve had a fantastic response. Thanks again to those who of you who have downloaded, installed and tested the update package or full ISO installs. The feedback items, requests for additional information and individual follow ups have all gone into making Power Pack 1 the best release it can be.
And now.The team is pleased to announce that Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 has been released to manufacturing (RTM) and is now available on the Microsoft Download Center!
Additional details can be found on the Windows Home Server team blog: http://blogs.technet.com/homeserver/archive/2008/07/21/power-pack-1-come-and-get-it.aspx
How to download and install Windows Home Server Power Pack 1:
Download Power Pack 1
1. Browse to the Microsoft Web site at http http://download.microsoft.com/download/8/b/d/8bd7fe82-34cc-4026-b8e5-e9e10902312c/WHS-KB944289-v1-x86-ENU.exe
2. On the Download dialog, click Save and then save the file to the Software shared folder on your home server.
Uninstall any prerelease versions of Power Pack 1
1. On the Start Menu, type mstsc and then click OK. On Windows XP, click Run on the Start Menu, type mstsc and then click OK.
2. On the Remote Desktop Connection dialog type the name of your home server and then click Connect.
3. On the Log On to Windows dialog, type Administrator for the user name, and type your Windows Home Server password. This is the same password you use to open the Windows Home Server Console.
4. Minimize or close the Windows Home Server caution window.
5. On the Start Menu, select Control Panel and then click Add or Remove Programs.
6. In Add or Remove Programs check the box for Show updates, look for PRERELEASE Windows Home Server Power Pack 1 (KB944298) and click Remove.
7. Follow the Software Update Removal Wizard to remove the PRERELEASE version of Power Pack 1 and be sure to restart your Windows Home Server.
Install Power Pack 1
1. On the Start Menu, type mstsc and then click OK. On Windows XP, click Run on the Start Menu, type mstsc and then click OK.
2. On the Remote Desktop Connection dialog type the name of your home server and then click Connect.
3. On the Log On to Windows dialog, type Administrator for the user name, and type your Windows Home Server password. This is the same password you use to open the Windows Home Server Console.
4. Minimize or close the Windows Home Server caution window.
5. Double-click the Shared Folders shortcut on your home server desktop.
6. Double-click the Software shared folder.
7. Double-Click WHS-KB944289-v1-x86-ENU.exe and complete the installation wizard to install Power Pack 1. Your home server restarts after the wizard completes.
If you encounter any difficulty downloading, installing or removing a prerelease version of Power Pack 1, please use connect feedback items to report the problem. We will continue to collect and review feedback items until Power Pack 1 is available via Windows Update.
Thank you very much!
The Windows Home Server Team
Email: Whsbeta@microsoft.com
Popularity: 18% [?]
2 Comments
Create Backups of Firefox With MozBackup
Posted on July 9, 2008, under Browsers, Software, Tools and Services.
Recently my hard drive went out on my Laptop. Instead of pulling a backup, I decided it was time for a fresh install of Vista. There is really nothing that I do not mind setting up from scratch other that Firefox. Like many, I have Firefox the way I want, with what extensions I want, and work hard to keep it clean. I needed a fast and simple way to mirror Firefox on my desktop over to my laptop.
I came across a MozBackup, which does just that and more. MozBackup will create and restore backups of your bookmarks, mail, contacts, history, extensions, cache, etc. It not only works with Firefox but Mozilla Thunderbird, Mozilla Sunbird, Flock, SeaMonkey, Mozilla Suite, Spicebird, and Netscape as well.
Popularity: 27% [?]
1 Comment
If Facebook Can Do It, Why Can’t Twitter?
Posted on June 30, 2008, under Development, Tools and Services.
I know right now, in writing the first sentence of this article that this is going to be a controversial post. I will get a lot of "who the hell are you" remarks. So in a preemptive response, let me just say I am not criticizing and I seriously wondering.
With that said, today Dan Farber from CNet sat down with Jonathan Heiliger who is Vice president of technical operations at Facebook. They talked about the technical challenges that Facebook runs into adding 250,000 users a day. It is a really good article, and gives you some insight into how Facebook operations work.
While reading the article I could not help myself in asking why is Twitter having so much trouble with uptime, when Facebook can do it with a lot more page views and users. One could argue it’s that Facebook has more money behind it, more employees, more resources. Some would play the PHP is better than Rails card, as Facebook is written primarily in PHP, and Twitter primarily in Rails. I truly do not know what it is, I wish I knew.
I have heard through third parties that the folks at Twitter contribute the down time to the back end engine written in C++, and that Ruby never goes down. Makes sense, I have seen that problem before in similar setups.
Twitter just got another huge chunk of cash, so hopefully that will help in stabilizing the service.
Anyone have any insight?
Popularity: 35% [?]
3 Comments
Why Is There Still No GMail API?
Posted on June 23, 2008, under Email, Tools and Services.
So Google has made a huge dent in hosted email for businesses. They have now flexed there power in yet another market. Why, oh why is there not an API for GMail yet? Seriously! Mobile smart phones becoming more widespread, even Google has the Android coming out; how are we suppose to build applications against GMail? Google released an API for Outlook integration, but no official API.
There is so much potential in building applications around GMail. It’s long overdue.
Popularity: 19% [?]
1 Comment
Reddit Goes Completely Open Source
Posted on June 18, 2008, under Development, Open Source, Software, Tools and Services.
Reddit has announced that they are going completely open 
source. A huge step for a company like Reddit, especially since last year they were acquired by Condé Nast.
Speculation on how Digg will respond has ben circulating, but really I do not expect Digg to match this notion. Digg has some 25 employees, and is more of an established company then Reddit who in the past has only had five people working on the code.
You can download the Reddit code at code.reddit.com .
Popularity: 9% [?]
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Why Cable and Media Companies and Not Technology Companies
Posted on June 12, 2008, under Media, Tools and Services.
As some of you may know, my recent absence from the intertubes was because I was moving from Indianapolis, IN to Raleigh, NC. I recently had the "pleasure" of going through a cable installation for my HD Tivo, a cable box, and broadband. Whenever CableCARDS are involved you know you are always in for a headache with cable companies. This really bothered me this time around, and had me thinking about the state of media and cable companies these days.
Comcast acquired Plaxo, showing their interest in technology companies. I really do not think cable or media companies can call themselves technology companies. Technology companies want to innovate, do what’s best for their customers. Where cable and media companies want things to stay at status quo, and alienate their customers, let’s take a look:
- Requiring the purchase of one package of channels just to get the package I really want.
- Disable FireWire ports and in some cases HDMI ports on cable boxes and DVR’s.
- Charging $45 to activate a CableCARD to deter you from doing so.
- Shaping packets and limiting Internet speeds.
- Telling me when and how I can watch my media.
- Lying to customers about CableCARDS, their availability, and how it’s not Federal law to offer them.
- Putting little annoying visual copyright flashes in movies theatres.
- Outdated, buggy, software on DVR’s that has never been updated.
- Lobbying on behalf of media companies in order to have stricter DRM protection.
The list goes on for me, but shortly this will become a rant and that’s the the point here. The point is, that if cable companies and media companies want to classify themselves as technology companies their interests need to change. Start looking out for what’s in your customers interests. Start realizing that is an on demand world, and people will continue to get their media when and how they like it… the question is will you be a part of that. It is not the Governments responsibility to make sure your profit margins are nice and fat!
Popularity: 5% [?]
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Steve, If Your Are So Worried About User Experience…
Posted on May 24, 2008, under Apple, Software, Tools and Services, iPhone, iTunes.
Then why every time I update iTunes I get this:
Even though I unchecked this:
And I still have to deal with this, which has been around forever:
Please stop being so bloated iTunes!
Popularity: 9% [?]
No Comments
@Mail Releases Open Source Version
Posted on May 19, 2008, under Email, Open Source, Tools and Services.
@Mail, an excellent mail application and server, has released an open source version. Last year, @Mail launched their PHP version from the PERL build, and recently the company renamed the company from CalaCode to @Mail. From the company:
We have released the open source edition of AtMail to further promote the usage of AtMail, offer users looking for “more” an upgrade path to the commercial AtMail version, and provide the open-source community a fresh look at Ajax Webmail.
Seems to be a lot of change at the company lately. Not sure if they are struggling with more and more companies outsourcing their mail services to companies like Microsoft, and Google. Kind of an interesting move.
Popularity: 8% [?]
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Don’t You Think Plaxo Has Backups of Their Databases?
Posted on May 16, 2008, under Email, Tools and Services.
It’s all over the new "evil" Comcast acquired Plaxo, and everyone, including myself, is all upset. I immediately switched to Schedule World, which was a change coming anyway due to my frustration with the continued lack of support for Google Apps from Plaxo. Polls are popping up on the web asking if people are still going to use their accounts or delete them. Leo Laporte was on Buzz Out Loud and said he immediately deleted his Plaxo account, and I have heard the same from others.
But honestly, don’t you think Plaxo has backups of their database? Now yes, it would be "illegal" for Comcast to use information from accounts deleted, but their policy says Plaxo has the right to change their policy at any time. And lets be honest folks, this is exactly the kind of bonehead move Comcast would pull.
Popularity: 6% [?]
No Comments
OK, Mahalo Vlog Idol Is Funny
Posted on April 29, 2008, under Media, Search, Tools and Services.
As Jason Calacanisis behind it and he is a master at promotion, I do not need to promote Mahalo, Mahalo Daily, or probably even Mahalo Vlog Idol. But just incase you live under a rock, basically they are spoofing American Idol looking for a replacement for Veronica Belmont. I know they are definitely having fun with it, but I have to imagine that they are really looking for a host and one of these contestants will be it. Either way it’s funny and entertaining, check it out.
Popularity: 7% [?]
