Show #13 - 01.21.2007

[Download Show #13 as MP3]

News

• Netflix Offers IP TV/Film Delivery
• Comcast loses as FCC announces integration ban will go as planned
  
• Goes into effect July 1, 2007
  
• Separates the navigation and security features of cable boxes
• Allows consumer electronic companies to make cable boxes using CableCards to hold the security features
  
• Make using Tivo Series 3 boxes easier to use
• Koby's Birthday this coming Tuesday! :)
  

Software / Hardware / Power Web Picks

• ChaCha
• LG Announces Dual Format Player
• Supports both Blu-Ray and HD-DVD discs
• Currently lacks HDMI support
  
• Some speculation over when it will come out (current reports say "early" 2007)
  

• A New Sith or Revenge of the Hope
• Awesome look at the original trilogy based on facts from the new prequel trilogy
  
• A must read for Star Wars fans
• Meant to be funny so do not take it too seriously
  

Penny Pinchers

• Half.com
• eBay company
• Utilizes eBay feedback system
• Great way to find used books, cds, and DVDs
  

Security & Privacy

• Encryption
• What is Encryption
• Why Should You Use Encryption
• Pros
• Cons
  
• Pretty Good Privacy (PGP)
• Around since 1991
• Household name in encryption
• Utilizes Public-Key Cryptography
• Now has products for Enterprise level solutions
• Also works in file/disk security as well as secure file transfers
• Gnu Privacy Guard (GnuPG)
• Full Replacement for PGP
• Decrypts & verifies PGP 5, 6, & 7 messages
• Full OpenPGP support

• Free Antivirus
  • Clamwin
  • AVG
    • Easier to use than ClamWin
      
    • Does not Remove Virus Automatically
    • Larger memory footprint than ClamWin
      
  • Symantec
    
• Spyware
  • Windows Defender
    • Free (Currently in Beta)
    • Stays up to date automatically
    • Continuous Protection
    • Slightly lower level of protection the Ad-Aware
      
  • Lavasoft Ad-Aware SE Personal
    • Scans
    • No-Real Time Monitor
    • Plus Version = $26.95 DL only / $36.90 with CD

Editorial ("Power Up")

• Will Telecommuting Kill Your Career
• Over 60% of executives surveyed think that a telecommuter is less likely to advance in their career.
• Still 48% indicated they would consider a telecommuning job
• 78% say telecommuters are equally or more productive
• 46% said that it was the flexible hours that attracted them to telecommuting the most
• Since 1990 telecommuters have grown from 4 million to over 45 million
• Gas prices
• Traffic congestion
• Housing costs
• 40% of IBM's 330,000 employees work from home (132,000)
• 25% of the respondants had a supportave work environemnt
• Yet less than half of those people actually work more than two days a week at home
• Roughly 14% of elegble telecommuters said they would not work from home at all
• Your Personal Portable Music Library
• BPM Analyzer
• Tag & Rename
  • $29.95
  • FreeDB and Amazon lookup
  • Easy to Use and Edit multiple files

Tech Forum Talk Back

• Noni - Unmountable boot volume
• Windows XP Error Message
• Usually caused by something trying to edit boot.ini
• Put in Win XP disk when it finishes loading press R for the Recovery Console
• Type "fixboot" and press ENTER
• Enter "Y" at the prompt
• Then type "exit" and press ENTER to reboot