The BeanstalkComputing.com Blog, by Jason Brooks

Our blog has moved!

2010-10-12T16:59:00.001-07:00

Please look for all new blog articles at http://www.beanstalkcomputing.com/blog

How Secure is My Password?

2010-09-20T14:27:00.001-07:00

I have been getting a lot of spam from known email addresses (friends and associates) lately. Recently, a lot of people’s email/facebook accounts have been hacked into by spammers allowing them to send out spam from their account. If this happens to you make sure to change your password right away and check how secure your password is at HowSecureIsMyPassword.net which will tell you how long it would take to hack your password so you can create a strong password

For more security recommendations and a full security audit of your business computer network contact Beanstalk Computing today!

Beanstalk Computing’s Trifold

2010-08-31T21:30:00.001-07:00

Here are a few pages from our trifold brochure

Beanstalk Computing offers to fix your first computer problem at no cost!

Tech Tip: How to Use Windows Virtual PC to Save Your Old Boot Drive

2010-08-09T10:58:00.001-07:00

Maximum PC published a great article on how to preserver your hard drive to a virtual image using a new tool from Microsoft called Disk2VHD.

This tool allows you to take any computer running Windows XP or newer on the desktop or Windows 2003 or newer on the server and create a bootable image file you can run virtually within a virtual PC environment. This is very handy if you are upgrading your computer from Windows XP to Windows 7 since there is no direct upgrade path. You create an image of your Windows XP computer first then install Windows 7. After that you can run your old computer as a virtual computer with all settings and programs in tact!

The one caveat is that you must have 127GB of data or less on your boot partition for this process to work correctly. What MaximumPC does not tell you is that even if you have less than 127GB of data, if the partition or hard drive was originally larger than 127GB you will have to use DiskPart and VHDResizer to get it working correctly. The instructions for this can be found here.

What Brand of Laptop Should You Buy? Get a ThinkPad, and Definitely NOT HP!

2010-05-04T08:40:00.001-07:00

According to the April 2010 issue of Laptop Magazine the best laptop PC brand to purchase is Lenovo!

“Lenovo’s ThinkPad T410s is one of the fasted notebooks we have EVER tested while still remaining highly portable. Not only did Lenovo have a very good year, but things are looking even brighter with the expected arrival of its breathtaking skylight smartbook and innovative U1 Hybrid tablet-notebook.”

The top five notebook brands are:

1. Lenovo

2. Sony

3. Toshiba

4. Asus

5. Dell

At the bottom of the list? HP!

“In addition to having the highest failure rate of any brand (25.6 percent), HP provoked a vitriolic response from our readers, who mostly complained about heat issues; 41 percent graded them as a D or below. One Reader wrote, “HP tech support is truly horrific,” and another said, “HP is probably the worst manufacturer…its hardware and design have always been a huge problem.

HP Purchases Palm!

2010-04-28T18:20:00.001-07:00

HP: 'We're doubling down on webOS,' Palm: 'That was the whole point'

Wow, good for HP and Palm! I hope this breathes new life into Palm as they really do have a good operating system built on the Palm Pre and Pixi which me and my wife just got. Maybe we will get a WebOS based tablet soon! Read more thanx to engadget here

Microsoft Office 2010 Release Date

2010-03-15T17:35:00.001-07:00

Microsoft Office 2010 Release Date – Microsoft has announced that Office 2010 would be available on May 12 for professionals and for the general public in June.In addition, purchasers of Office 2007 on or after March 5 will receive a free upgrade on the product.

The U.S. publisher has also confirmed that the software is free for owners of Office 2007 who have activated their product before September 30. The final version of Office 2010 will be completed next month but the beta is already available on the web here.

Lenovo IdeaPad U1 Hybrid: A laptop and iPad in one!

2010-02-23T10:58:00.001-08:00

Beanstalk Computing is a partner with Lenovo and can help get the best price on new equipment, call 800-813-0926 to find out more!

Everyone has heard about the iPad from Apple. How does a notebook and tablet in one sleek ruby red U1 Hybrid from Lenovo IdeaPad sound to you? Actually, it’s about time someone came up with this concept since its impossible to expect a person to go around carrying so much equipment. And so the IdeaPad U1 from Lenovo makes its grand entrance.

To get the general idea of what the specs are, the U1 is equipped with an Intel-Powered Windows 7 OS, AND a Snapdragon-powered linux OS in the tablet. Its LITERALLY two computers in one! It has the Intel CULV processor with 128GB SSD, detachable multi-task 11.6 touch screen display, with 3G, webcam, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and speakers.

The tablet part of the system is running the Skylight UI which you can switch to as fast a 3 seconds from the notebook. And it will automatically transfer any websites you are looking at in Windows to the Linux OS on the tablet when you switch back and forth.

The question on everyone’s mind is whether or not this U1 Hybrid will be worth getting. How long is battery life? Plus, does it work - will a notebook and tablet in one device be something people need?

First of all, it has separate battery packs for the notebook and the tablet, which is very convenient. The notebook can be detached and used independently. The notebook and the tablet have their own Wi-Fi antennas, while the tablet has the added advantage of having 3G and Bluetooth. All told, this latest from Lenovo appears to be going in the right direction.

There are also other Lenovo models that are being introduced together with the U1 Hybrid like the Skylight and the IdeaPad S10-3 and IdeaPad S10-3t. Expect it to be released later this year!

AT&T 3G MicroCell™ – 5 Bar Unlimited Cell Phone Coverage in Your Home

2010-02-19T11:24:00.001-08:00

AT&T, notorious for bad service, has come up with a way to boost the 3G experience and bring it into your home. This is through the 3G Microcell which is a $150 device that’s easy to use, capable of you with providing 5 bar speedy connections and wireless service inside your home for voice and data on your 3G phone. ATT Offers a $100 rebate if you sign up for a monthly plan.

You can optionally subscribe to a plan with a monthly fee of $19.99, which will give you unlimited phone calls on your cell phone through your 3G MicroCell.

I have recently purchased this device for my home, and I can now use my cell phone freely througout the house, before I had NO signal as I was in a dead zone!

Unfortunately, if you have too many walls, then you will experience dropped calls and a weak signal. Still, The 3G MicroCell is a unique gadget to have in the house because it will work even when the weather’s bad, so you don’t have to rely on cell towers all the time.

With 3G technology, you have quicker access that will make it possible to multi-task in areas long before considered as dead zones. AT&T uses High Speed DPA/UM Telephone System which makes it possible to move around your home without signal interruption. Internet and iPhone mobile use becomes possible at the same time. Of course, you will need to check if you have 3G coverage in the area first, and if it has a direct line to your home without being blocked by anything concrete like trees or solid walls.

Best Buy Now Recycles Your Electronics for Free!

2010-02-12T15:13:00.001-08:00

For Technical Support with removing and wiping your data from your hard drives, contact Beanstalk Computing at 800-813-0926 BEFORE bringing in to Best Buy.

Known for the place to go when buying electronics, Best Buy has now launched another concept called Greener Together™ that’s probably going to make them smell a lot like roses.

A green world is what we should all be striving for and if you have no where else to go to get rid of old gadgets, then try any U.S. Best Buy store. They’re willing to get them off your hands and see that they get disposed off properly. Your mobile phone, keyboard, mouse, or junk TV could even end up recycled as new-fangled device.

There’s a catch - of course. Strictly only 2 items a day will be accepted. In other words, don’t bring a truckload of junk radios and TVs to Best Buy stores. Nothing with Freon, hard drives, TVs with screens bigger than 32 in., and home appliances like microwaves will be accepted. Computers with hard drives still installed will be charged a removal fee of $19.99, so make sure to dispose of your hard drives properly.

For non-Best Buy brand TVs, or anything with a screen smaller than 32’’ a fee of $10 will be charged. In exchange, you will get a $10 Best Buy gift check. This particular requirement has other limitations, check with the nearest Best Buy store for more details.

And lastly, you might be interested to know that Best buy will not do the recycling themselves. They’ve tied up with some of the country’s best recycling companies who will receive these items, who will see how they can be re-used or recycled, or disposed of with minimal harm to Planet Earth.

Discover The Sony Altus Multi-Room Music System

2009-12-07T15:54:00.001-08:00

I just love being able to walk through my house and listen to the same music in every room, perfectly synchronized and sounding great. This is why Sony has introduced the new Sony Altus Multi-Room Music System that you can hook up to your PC or iPod/iPhone. With this kind of audio system, you don’t even need an expensive audio system. The music transmits wirelessly from your PC or iPod/iPhone up to eight rooms in your home or office.

As expected, the sound quality is Sony - superb and crystal clear. Without the annoying cords and wires, you can walk from room to room, enjoying your favorite tunes without worrying about how to set up your system, or trip over wires. This wireless PC transmitter is a simple USB dongle, which means no worries, no stress.

If you’re worried about how to set it up, don’t be. Beanstalk Computing can schedule someone to go in and professionally install the whole system for you. All you need to do is set an appointment and be there when the doorbell rings.

Now you can stream tunes from your play list and music channels straightaway, and have the luxury of Sony’s optional 8 S-Air speakers which you can add to your system.

The best part about this is that you know Sony is quality. It has a reputation that spans years of expertise and crosses borders to provide personalized service as well as quality sound.

Cleaning up a server room: Before and After

2009-12-02T17:12:00.001-08:00

Beanstalk Computing came into this environment and things were a mess. Not only was there no backups being made of their main database, it was running on a single hard drive! Also, as you can see in the first picture below, the server room was unprofessional and finding a cable was impossible as nothing was labeled correctly.

With our help they have condensed their server room into a nice neat rack mount solution with cables neatly organized and easy to find! No more hunting down which cable goes where!

Thermaltake's Level 10 Chassis Revealed!

2009-11-30T10:51:00.001-08:00

The launch of the Thermaltake Level 10 Chassis upon us. This is one of the most unique computer cases to hit the market since the Antec Skeleton, the case I am using now.

Level 10 is a collaboration between Thermaltake and BMW DesignWorks. It’s innovative and decidedly unique concept will thrill enthusiasts that will knock all other cases out of the game.

This giant chassis measures 12.5 inches x 2 feet x 26.2 inches, and is pretty heavy at 47 pounds. It’s got a central pillar and individual compartments for power supply, hard drives, and optical drives. You can do so much with this chassis, it’s unbelievable!

The design engineers took into consideration the fact that enthusiasts will work and play non-stop and this is why every compartment is individually ventilated. With big panels covering the removable motherboard, GPUs, and PCI-E cards, you now have easier access to all your components. It also has 6 slots for hot-swap SATA hard drives with a cool red LED, mounted on 2.5 and 3.5 inch drives. You will find the precious optical drives at the top right corner and the power supply on the opposite side.

The red LED strip crosses the top and rear sides, with red LED exhaust and intake fans along the motherboard panels. Hooking up your cables will not be a problem because of easy access in the rear.

A $700 chassis is a very steep a price to pay, and since this is a new concept in casing, it’s now a wait and see if everything will really pull together to change the landscape of gaming for hardcore enthusiasts.

The Battle Of Free Antivirus Programs: AVG Free 9 Versus Microsoft Security Essentials 1.0

2009-11-30T10:39:00.001-08:00

No computer system that goes online can be without an anti-virus application. Luckily, there are anti-virus applications that you can download free. Here are two of the latest ones released.

Note that in a business environment Beanstalk Computing recommends a more professional antivirus solution. This is for personal use only.

Published by AVG Technologies just this 11^th of November, AVG Free 9 will work on Windows 2000, XP, Vista, and Windows 7. It has been optimized to use less memory and slow down your computer much less than previous versions, and is trusted by many users as they are already in their ninth version.

AVG 9 also has new features such as anti-phishing and screening websites that you visit. Furthermore, it comes with a convenient safety ranking ratings for search engines which can save you a lot of time.

Looking at the new free anti-virus of Microsoft, Microsoft Security Essentials (MSE) Version 1.0, you might be even more impressed. It works best on Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7.

Trying MSE, you will notice that it is has a simple, clear graphic interface that is very user-friendly. It comes with a green/red taskbar icon that quickly lets you know the status of antivirus quickly and easily.

For a free anti-virus software, MSE is surprisingly adept at what it does, and out chases AVG 9 as far as its friendly interface is concerned. Of course, AVG 9 has one solid wall to lean on: Its trust and history with users which can be hard to compete with.

The Lunar Charger from Ultralast Green

2009-11-18T11:41:00.001-08:00

Manufactured by the makers of UltraLast Green Batteries, the Lunar Charger really looks like something from out of this world. It even comes with an intriguing green night light that pulses while charging.

You can charge all your AA or AAA green batteries quickly and efficiently. Measuring a mere 7 inches by 4.2 inches by 4.2 inches, and weighing a mere 8 ounces, this is one charger that is a handy carry-on wherever you go.

It even comes with 4 AA UltraLast Green batteries that have been pre-charged, which means you’re all set from the get-go. You can pick this up from Amazon or many other locations.

It’s all about being green, and as far as environmental concerns and saving the earth is concerned, you can do no better than this charger. Not only will your batteries hold their charge for up to 6 months, if you don’t use them for up to a year, you still can get at least 80% charge. What’s more, you get to charge over and over again up to 500 times, or the equivalent of 3 years.

With just one UltraLast battery, you get to save the earth from having to deal with a thousand regular alkaline batteries. At $29.99, you even get a 3 year Limited Warranty.

Ultralast Green is one of Beanstalk Computings Premier clients. We have helped manage their IT needs for the last two years.

Droid Does: New Android Phones to Compete with the Iphone

2009-11-10T12:40:00.001-08:00

Android is the an OS created by Google, running on the Linux open source kernel. Today, it’s causing quite a stir with the launch of the droid phone from Verizon.

Let Beanstalk Computing help your San Diego Small Business setup Exchange Activesync on your new smartphone!

The Motorola droid phone from Verizon is being touted as the answer to the iphone on Verizon, finally a descent smartphone from Verizon! The Xperia X10 released by Sony is another player in the field trying to wrangle a share of the huge mobile phone market. Can the droids really knock out the iPhone? Probably not, but it will but another nail in the coffin for Windows Mobile.

Let’s look at what Verizon can offer: a bigger screen, better resolution, keyboard and touch screen, better cell signal, and multitasking. But let’s compare this to the iPhone....

The iPhone is lighter, more stylish, has a ton of apps, music and video synching, accessories, and design. Of course, it’s got a huge customer base already who are very happy with their iPhone.

Now let’s look at the Sony. Xperia X10 only uses the Android 1.6, unlike the Verizon’s 2.0 and this means it misses out on the new features that the updated Android OS offers. However, the Droid only has 5 mega-pixel while the Xperia X10 boasts of 16x zoom, and a mega-pixel of 8.1 with video recording. The Xperia X10, which was called originally Rachael, won’t be out until early 2010.

Do we go with the new droid phones, or will the iPhone still be the leader of the pack? Hard to say right now, but definitely, droids are here to stay, and that can only mean better mobile communications for everyone!

Windows Phone: Windows Mobile 6.5

2009-10-13T12:05:00.001-07:00

Microsoft just launched their Windows Mobile 6.5 Family, dubbed Windows Phone. Featuring the next generation phones, with easier usability, browser enhancements, and a new user interface.

Using Windows Mobile 6.5 as the software, several top phone companies have banded together with Microsoft to create an amazing line-up. Let’s see what these phones can offer that’s different.

AT&T has released the Tilt 2 by HTC, also available as the HTC Touch Pro 2 by Verizon which is designed to attract business-minded people with its TouchFLO 3D mode and QWERTY keyboard. Even more important is the focus of this phone to provide professionals with an interactive venue for conference calls with a high quality speakerphone.

AT&T’s HTC Pure which is an offshoot of Diamond 2, without the heavy design, is now a sleek, glossy mobile with an autofocus 3.5 megapixel camera, and a 3.2 inch screen.

Verizon matches AT&T with its HTC Imagio which is essentially an upgrade from the Touch Diamond 2. It allows you to customize the phone according to your needs; has a bigger screen, GSM and CDMA with 3G, and the FLO TV tuner. Stream music, sports, news, movies, and even stock market reports with Imagio, and experience the freedom of mobility.

Samsung’s Intrepid which is being retailed for the same price as the Pure is an upgrade of the OMNIA Pro, available from Sprint.

Comparing Windows 6.5 to the older 6.1, the entire experience is upgraded. But it seems like a minor upgrade from 6.1 and still does not compete with the iPhone in the overall user experience, although the new Windows Marketplace is a step in the right direction to compete with the app store. One reason to buy it is the Exchange ActiveSync technology is a cut above the rest, but on the other hand, why not just wait for Windows Mobile 7.0?

ErgoMotion™ Keyboard & Mouse by Smartfish

2009-10-02T12:14:00.001-07:00

Tired of wrist, hand, back, and shoulder injuries because of constant computer use? If you are on your computer daily for hours on end, then you may have to worry about Carpal Syndrome. Carpal Syndrome is pain caused by repetitive action like typing, sitting hunched over a PC, or just clicking away at the keyboard.

Come December, you can say goodbye to Carpal Syndrome with the new ErgoMotion™ keyboard and mouse from Smartfish. These products will be the first intelligent no-injury computer devices ever introduced, conceptualized and created by Dr. Jack Atzmon in collaboration with New York’s Hospital for Special Surgery.

Not only are they stylish and sleek, this Smartfish mouse has an ambidextrous design so that your wrist is never at an awkward position. The Smartfish keyboard has a patented system that stdies your pattern and makes adjustments to the height, angle and radial position of the device. Your wrist is the top priority with this keyboard, and will even follow your use pattern automatically.

To be sold for only $129.99 for the ErgoMotion™ Keyboard and $49.99 for the ErgoMotion™ Mouse, with 5 year warranty, is compatible with Windows Vista and XP, Smartfish has outgunned all other keyboards and mouse products in one go.

MiFi – Wireless Networking Everywhere for all your devices

2009-09-23T10:58:00.001-07:00

If you have been looking for a device that will allow you to do online work just about anywhere, then the MiFi is for you. This is a handy credit-card size Wifi access point that works extremely fast, and can accommodate up to 5 different devices.

Touted to be the world’s first ever Intelligent Mobile Hotspot for CDMA from Novatel. The MiFi 2200 has a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery capacity of up to 4 hours in full capacity if being used on one device only, and has up to a 30 foot range. It is also GPS enabled and carries an advanced antenna system.

How can you get connected? You can choose Sprint’s MiFi package which includes a $99.99 deal for the MiFi card, provided you avail of the mail in rebate of $50. Then you have pay $59.99 a month for the subscription.

Verizon, on the other hand has several choices starting with a plan that does not even require a subscription. But you have to pay full price of $269.99 for the MiFi package. You can choice from a $15 day pass, a $39.99 250MB monthly rate, or a 5GB package with a monthly rate of $59.99.

Windows 7: Forget Vista, Say Goodbye to XP

2009-08-24T18:26:00.001-07:00

Forget about Vista! At least that’s what Microsoft wants you to do. They have brought out Windows 7 very quickly, and mainly to wash away the bad taste of Vista, yuk! Beanstalk Computing is recommending that their clients either stick with Windows XP or wait until Windows 7 is released on October 22nd. Note that if you buy a computer now with Vista you will get an upgrade to 7 free!

Versions:

What version of Windows 7 should you get? According to SuperSite the choice will come down to two or, at most, three choices, Windows 7 Home Premium, which is aimed at consumers, Windows 7 Pro, which adds some business-oriented features, and Windows 7 Ultimate, the “uber” version of Windows 7.

Most consumers should go for Home Premium. It’s priced right, it includes the features that consumers want, and it’s not missing any major functionality.

In the business world, Beanstalk Computing recommends Windows 7 Professional. It includes support for Active Directory based domains. You also gain access to Windows XP Mode, a virtual fully licensed copy of Windows XP, so you are guaranteed that ALL legacy software will work! Its like two operating systems in one! Some other features include support for 192GB of RAM, automated network backups, remote desktop, offline file support, and presentation mode.

Windows 7 Ultimate includes every single feature. Compared to Windows 7 Professional, there are only a few differences that apply to individuals, so its a pretty uninteresting upgrade. The main addition is BitLocker and BitLocker To Go, the drive encryption add on, but that's about it.

Upgrading:

Upgrading to Windows 7 from Windows Vista is a snap. Simply put the CD in and click a few buttons and go. Note that you have to keep in the same or higher version to upgrade. IE, Vista Home Basic can be upgraded to Vista Home Premium or higher, but Vista Ultimate can not be upgraded to Windows 7 Home Premium. Unfortunately, Windows XP has no direct upgrade path, you would have to format and reinstall from scratch. You can, however take advantage of the upgrade pricing.

Pricing

Pricing for Windows 7 Upgrades is as follows: $119.99 for Windows Home Premium, $199.99 for Windows 7 Professional, and $219.99 for Windows 7 Ultimate. For the full version the pricing is $199.99 for Home Premium, $299.99 for Professional, and $319.99 for Ultimate.

Let Beanstalk Computing help your business upgrade to Windows 7, we offer a free audit to see how Windows 7 can improve your business.

PC Decrapifier – Clean up the Crap!

2009-08-24T17:13:00.001-07:00

You may not know it, but when you buy a new computer, it comes with several pre-installed programs, some of which can be running in the background, without your knowledge.

On the other hand, if you have been using your computer for a while and noticed that your computer has slowed down for no reason at all, you might want to consider a maintenance check and clean out the junk you may have accumulated over the past months.

Bloatware are applications that you don’t use, have been installed but have been overwritten, or programs that you had no idea even existed in your PC. In other words, it’s stuff you have, but don’t need.

By using PC Decrapifier (unusual name, but works since you won’t forget it easily), you can improve the performance of your computer, and clean up space on your hard drive for new programs.

This is a powerful program that has been recommended by many computer experts from Wall Street Journal, New York Tomes, PC World, and Washington Post, among many others. They think this is an excellent cleaning tool, and you will too after you try it and discover just how convenient it is to have it around. We also recommend CCleaner (Crap Cleaner) to help clean up temporary files and registry errors.

FreeConferenceCall.com – Make Conference Calls For Free!

2009-08-17T14:13:00.001-07:00

Now that we have become a global village, it has become imperative that communications keep you on top of your business. Your client list has now grown from being local to international, especially if you have a website and entertain clients or buyers from all over the world.

You can now enjoy free conference calls with freeconferencecall.com. You can have up to 150 people from anywhere in the world be a part of your conference call, and this can last for as long as 5 hours!

It has amazing service features including the ability to record your conference call which you can download later on. This is perfect for meetings and discussions that you would like to review later.

This service will speed up your business transactions, allowing you to increase your income potential by a big margin. Imagine, instead of having to wait for email replies which can be very constricting because of time zones and the common problem of insufficient information, you can get feedback instantly. And best of all, its COMPLETELY free!

Wireless Power System Soon To Be Available

2009-08-17T14:04:00.001-07:00

Imagine never having to plug your cell phone in to charge your battery, or being able to watch TV or movies on your home theater without seeing any wires from the back of your TV. This is just a few examples of things to come very soon.

It’s an amazing new technology wherein you just don’t need to use power cables anymore, ever again. You just need to have one energy source in the room, and it will charge any gadget, appliance, iPhone, or eventually even an electric car.

The technology being developed by Witricity, uses a system of low frequency electromagnetic waves to power up your batteries or electrical appliances.

As long as you have a main coil, and your appliance or phone has a corresponding coil, you won’t even have to bring them close to each other. Your phone can remain inside your bag, and it will still be able to get charged by the main coil!

Say goodbye to unsightly wires and annoying plugs that are dangerous anyway to begin with. The future is so much more exciting now with wireless power.

Microsoft Office 2010 – Free Beta Available Now

2009-08-17T13:58:00.001-07:00

“When you think about Microsoft Office, you most likely think of Word, Excel, Outlook and the other core Office applications. This is understandable, since the traditional Microsoft Office suite is now 20 years old.”

“In Office 2010, for the first time, email, the central purpose of Microsoft Outlook, becomes a fundamental capability.”

The BIGGEST addition to Office 2010 is the web edition of its applications, in direct competition with Google Docs. “Office Web Applications consists of stripped-down, web-based versions of Word, Excel, OneNote, and PowerPoint. Microsoft sees this technology as key to the future of Office, and the company's expectation is that we will lose the distinction between the PC desktop and web-based versions eventually.”

For a closer look at all the new features of Office 2010 head over to Paul Thurott’s Supersite Article

Microsoft Office 2010 is now in beta and is expected to be release in the first quarter of 2010. Download the Beta here.

Beanstalk Computing does not recommend using Beta software on your primary computer.

Boxee TV - The Ultimate TV/Computer Experience

2009-08-17T13:45:00.001-07:00

This is a great new concept that you can enjoy at the convenience of, well, just about anywhere! Boxee.TV is a open source media center with social networking features that will allow you to share movies, music, and even news with your friends.

Boxee.tv will allow you to stream media like songs, movies, weather, news, etc. right to your computer. If you have a Facebook or Twitter account then you can even share files with your friends.

If your computer is hooked up to a large monitor or a TV, you can control the shows from a remote control, with built in support for the Mac remote or any windows based remote such as the Xbox controller I wrote about in an earlier post.

You will need either a DVI/VGA or HDMI cable to link your computer to the TV, the exact cable would depend on the TV requirements for input and output.

The fun part about Boxee.tv is the fact that it is an open source, and what this means for you is that you can play around with it. You can use your own interface, plug-ins, or skins. You can create your own media applications and portals, or use existing Boxee.tv applications like Hulu, Pandora, BBC iPlayer, and Howcast, among many others.

Hive Haus

2009-08-17T10:26:00.001-07:00

I just joined the Hive Haus, a downtown community of small businesses. Come by for a visit!

Cool Animations of Future Space Travel

2009-06-16T21:24:00.001-07:00

This animation shows NASA’s plans to send future astronauts to the Moon and possibly Mars using two rockets, one for the cargo and one for the passengers.

This animation is of the Mars Science Laboratory that will be launched in 2010. Below is a video showing the innovative way they plan to land it on Mars.

Ooma: The amazing disappearing phone bill

2009-06-03T09:32:00.001-07:00

I just picked up my Ooma Voice over IP Phone last night. Compared to what I used to be using, MagicJack, the quality is extremely high with excellent reliability. I found it on NewEgg for an excellent price.

You basically get unlimited phone calls for your ENTIRE LIFE anywhere in the US with no monthly fees ever. Just the initial cost of the device, currently hovering just above $200 dollars.

“It doesn’t take a magician to make your phone bills disappear. It just takes ooma™. Simply connect the device to your high-speed Internet and phone, and, presto, your phone bills are no more.”

This is an award winning device that I definitely recommend!

Pandora Desktop and Hulu Desktop Apps Released!

2009-06-03T09:26:00.001-07:00

“With the Pandora Desktop Application, you can play your Pandora stations right from your desktop – without opening a new browser window.”

Pandora also announced new premium features. Now premium subscribers can get access to better stream quality, the new Pandora One desktop app, and an ad-free experience for $36/year. That fee will also get rid of one of the most annoying restraints on the free version of Pandora, the limit of 12 skips per day.

“Hulu Desktop is a lean-back viewing experience for your personal computer. It features a sleek new look that's optimized for use with standard Windows Media Center remote controls or Apple remote controls, allowing you to navigate Hulu's entire library with just six buttons. For users without remotes, the application is keyboard and mouse-enabled. Hulu Desktop is a downloadable application and will work on PCs and Macs. Watch the Hulu Desktop Intro Video

Kindle DX: Amazon’s 9.7'” Wireless Reading Device

2009-05-07T11:52:00.001-07:00

The new Kindle DX was announced today by Amazon. It has a much bigger screen then the original, better for magazines, newspapers, and textbooks.

Check out the video news clip from San Diego here…and the written article here

Windows 7 Release Candidate Released to the Public!

2009-05-07T11:45:00.001-07:00

Office 2007 Service Pack 2 Now Available

2009-05-07T11:43:00.001-07:00

Office 2007 Service Pack 2 is now available for download from Microsoft here. Beanstalk Computing has already tested and implemented this service pack for many of its clients. There are many improvements and Microsoft is calling the update a “major performance enhancement.”

"Outlook 2007 SP2 is 26 percent faster than its predecessor on a set of common e-mail tasks and is even faster, 35 percent, with larger mailboxes," Liles claims in a prepared statement.

Have Beanstalk Computing manage your network and keep up to date with software updates free included with your monthly proactive maintenance contract!

Netbooks: Small Inexpensive Laptops for the Masses

2009-04-29T10:56:00.001-07:00

Over the last year there has been a new craze, the Netbook. The term Netbook is used to describe a new type of computer based on the following:

-Cheap as Dirt: Starting around $200, on average $300-$350

-Intel Atom Processor: Basic low power processor, don’t expect to do anything fancier then editing basic documents, sending email and browsing the web

-10 Inch Screen: The average screen size, although 9 inch and 12 inch Netbooks are also available

-2 Pounds: The average weight of these systems, super light and easy to travel with!

The top five Netbooks right now are:

1. Asus Eee PC 1000H

2. Lenovo IdeaPad S10

3. Acer Aspire One

4. HP Mini 2140

5. Asus N10Jc

Let Beanstalk Computing help you setup your next Netbook!

New FREE service from Beanstalk Computing: Web Content Filtering!

2009-04-29T10:41:00.001-07:00

Would you like to protect your employees or loved ones from browsing to inappropriate websites during office hours or at home? With the new web content filtering service provided free to customers of Beanstalk Computing, powered by OpenDNS, you now can!

Advantages of this service include:

- No expensive equipment to maintain, service is absolutely free for all customers!

-Award-winning Web content filtering gives you the power to block up to 50 categories of content.

-Blocks Conficker and other worms by blocking the domains it uses to “phone home.”

-Industry-leading anti-phishing protects everyone on your network from fraudulent phishing scams.

-Detailed statistics empower you to understand your network traffic and spot trends before they become problems.

-Call 800-813-0926 or visit Beanstalk Computing to have this service setup at no cost!

Xobni: Facebook and LinkedIn in Outlook

2009-04-16T16:57:00.001-07:00

Xobni: Inbox spelled backwards. With Xobni for Outlook you find out more about your contacts. When you get a new email, if that person is a member of Facebook, Skype, LinkedIn, or others you will know right away!

Not only that, it indexes your email so you can search email and people faster than you can type. It threads emails so your conversations are in context, and more! And best of all, it’s free!

GetHuman.com: bypass phone systems, talk to a live person, share customer help

2009-04-10T11:35:00.001-07:00

Are you sick of the phone systems that don't understand that you want support, support from a live human being, not a multitude of multiple choice answers? Check this list for the proper way to talk to a human being when you call for support. Get Human!

Here are some examples of good ones:

Microsoft Tech Support	800-642-7676	Press 0 at each prompt, ignoring messages.
Dell Tech Support	800-624-9896	Press 3; say agent at each additional prompt, ignoring messages.
Amazon.com	800-201-7575	Don't press or say anything.

LaCie's new Sally Struthers-approved USB key drives

2009-03-03T11:15:00.001-08:00

If you felt that LaCie's CurrenKey ultraportable storage solution was a bit too heavy in the yuks department, the company's back with something that might be a little more up your proverbial alley. With a form factor that reminds one of a late-night ad for a correspondence course in locksmithing, these miniature microSD card readers offer 20MB/s read and 10MB/s write speeds. Additionally, PassKey supports microSDHC cards, and both iamaKey and itsaKey are available with either 4GB or 8GB of built-in storage. Sure, this guy won't open a cold one for you, but the shock-proof, Windows ReadyBoost-compatible device does look good on a keyring. You know, if that's what you're into. Price and availability to be announced.

FlipSide Wallet

2009-02-17T20:52:00.001-08:00

http://www.flipsidewallet.com

I just ordered this Wallet….

MiMO 7 Inch Computer Monitor

2009-02-14T14:04:00.001-08:00

We all have our big 30 inch monitors, but what about something really small? I just got a fourth computer monitor on my desk, but since I did not have much room left I got the smallest monitor I could find, a 7 inch 800*480 display that hooks up via USB. I already have a 20 inch, 30 inch and 52 inch so why not add another small monitor. I use this monitor mainly for my music like Pandora, or instant messaging, or replying to email. Coming in handy!

Get yours here

Product Spotlight: Palm Pre Wins Best of The Consumer Electronics Show

2009-01-12T20:41:00.003-08:00

The Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas is the worlds largest consumer technology tradeshow. The winner this year for best new product is the Palm Pre. Check out the Video Preview from CNET here.

Many were worried that Palm was dead, and that this was Palm’s “last chance” to wow us. I admit, even I gave up on Palm after 10 YEARS just a few weeks ago and switched to HTC. If only I waited a few more weeks, I would have had what I consider the first MAJOR competitor to the iPhone.

With a completely reworked touch operating system called webOS this looks to be an easy yet powerful operating system. It is based on the web, so if you can program for the web, you can program for the webOS. With full Exchange email support, and the ability to easily mutitask, this phone can run multiple programs at once, something the iPhone can’t do.

As long as they come out with an App Store as easy to use at the iPhone, it will be a huge success. Even though this is a revolutionary phone, the skeptics are worried that software developers will be hesitant to jump on board, since they already have iPhone, Google Phone, and Windows Mobile to develop for already. I think they will be fine, the original Palm OS has more apps then any other phone platform, and they can do it again.

For more tips and info visit Beanstalk Computing

Windows 7 Beta Announced and Available: Faster then XP and Vista

2009-01-12T20:41:00.001-08:00

Windows Vista 7 Beta was released to the public this month and testing throughout the internet says that even the Beta software is faster then both XP and Vista. Microsoft has completely rebuilt the core of the OS and really concentrated on performance.

“If you wanted to sum up Windows 7 in a few words: it's Windows Vista with a few new features and almost all the annoyances and bugs removed… and a really shiny coat of paint.”

Along with the Performance enhancements, comes enhanced security. Up to this point, I have not personally seen Windows Vista attacked by Spyware, which I see on a weekly basis with Windows XP. Windows 7 will continue to increase security to make spyware a thing of the past.

A list of other cool features include multi touch control, extended battery life, file “libraries” and an improved taskbar system.

This new Operating System should be available within a year. Beanstalk Computing recommends that clients continue to stick with Windows XP for now, and skip Vista all together, wait for Windows 7. Microsoft says that you will be able to purchase XP until after Windows 7 is released. We can still get you a new or refurbished computer running Windows XP Pro so let us know of your needs! email info@beanstalkcomputing.com for computer specials going on right now!

Microsoft Windows 7 Website

SuperSite for Windows 7

What you Should Expect from the Windows 7 Beta

Plantronics Bluetooth Stereo Headset

2008-12-30T20:57:00.001-08:00

I did some research today on a good paid of Bluetooth Stereo Headsets. I chose the Plantronics Pulsar 590E for a number of reasons.

-They have excellent sound quality

-They can be used for music and telephone calls

-They fold up nicely and have a carrying case

-They have a cool looking charger base

-I will use it for my laptop for music and Skype calls, my ATT Fuze Phone for music and cell calls, and my home land line with my Bluetooth enabled VTech LS5145 Landline Phone

-It can be paired to 1 mobile phone and to 1 stereo device simultaneously (allowing you to switch back and forth between them).

Turn Your Cell Phone into a WiFi HotSpot WITHOUT Paying Extra for “Tethering” Services.

2008-12-24T12:40:00.001-08:00

If you are a mobile professional and want to be able to get online wherever you are, this is a cheap and easy way to do it! This product, WmWiFiRouter for Windows Mobile devices is great! If you already have a Windows Mobile based phone with 3G high speed internet AND WiFi built into it (May I suggest the HTC Fuze from ATT which I just got) and are paying the $30 for Internet on your phone to primarily get your email on your phone why not extend the capabilities of that internet connection to your laptop. This will save you a load of money because you will not have to purchase the additional “tethering” service from your carrier (Usually $20-$30 additional per month on top of your current phones internet) and you will not have to purchase an additional wireless internet card for your computer from your cell phone provider (Usually $60 per month.)

I tried out this software with my laptop and my HTC Fuze and it works perfectly, giving me a good 700Mbps to 1Gbps connection, enough to browse the internet quickly and even stream shows from Hulu.com or YouTube.com

Note: This can also be done on an iPhone but is very complicated, first you have to “JailBreak” your iPhone then hack it even further to get it to work. Much easier with Windows Mobile. Not sure about Blackberry…

XBOX 360 Wireless Controller for Windows

2008-12-20T14:41:00.001-08:00

For many many years I have been searching for a good video game controller for Windows. I have gone through countless controllers and none of them seemed to ever be as good as a console controller. But with the Xbox 360 Controller for Windows, everything changes. Finally, a controller worth using on my computer has been released.

And here is the best part. With the new initiative from Microsoft, spending agonizing time mapping buttons to your controller are now over. Every game that is in the Games for Windows initiative works with the XBox controller right out of the box, making it super easy to get started with this controller.

I also like the fact that I can control my computer with the controller with a little free hack called XPadder. Now I can control my DVD playback, multimedia, and more from the comfort of my couch. Click here for instructions on how to do that.

Happy Hanukkah!

2008-12-20T11:40:00.001-08:00

“Hanukkah is the festival of lights, instead of one day of presents, we get eight crazy nights.” Adam Sandler

In celebration of Hanukkah this year, I would like to introduce you to Erran Baron Cohen, brother of actor Sasha Baron Cohen (Ali G, Borat) with the release of their new album, Songs in the Key of Hanukkah.

Please enjoy their new video, Dreidel (Featuring Jules Brookes)

Another classic Hanukkah song, of course, is the Hanukkah song by Adam Sandler

2008-12-16T22:38:00.000-08:00

The $200,000 Flight into Space with Virgin Galactic

Check out this video that was recently released showing what your flight might be like....

2008-12-15T15:30:00.000-08:00

Corsair's Gaming Performance Analysis - 6GB vs. 3GB

"With the introduction of the Intel Core i7 processor series, which features an on-die, triple-channel memory controller, consumers now have a choice between 3GB (3 x 1GB) and 6GB (3 x 2GB) system memory densities. This Application Note aims to assess the potential gaming performance advantages of installing 6GB of system memory compared to 3GB of system memory"

Click here for link to PDF

2008-12-15T15:28:00.000-08:00

Improve the Performance of Windows Vista

Here is a guide I found from OCZ that explains a few tweaks to improve the performance of Windows Vista, with extra tips for those of you lucky enough to use the much faster SSD (Solid State Disks) versus the classic Hard Drive in your system.

Click here:

2008-12-02T11:46:00.000-08:00

Worlds Largest Solid State Drive Goes into Production: Samsung 256GB Drive

Solid State Drives (SSD) are the wave of the future. They replace the last moving part in your computer, your hard drive. Moving parts are bad because they make things slower and less reliable. It is unfortunate that the most critical part of your computer, the part that stores all of your data, is the most prone to failure. But with SSD's you get a MAJOR improvement in the speed of your computer, more then anything else you can do to the system. And you will get a much more reliable system.

Samsung has just started producing the worlds largest, a 256GB, SSD hard drive. The Samsung SSD has a Max Seq Read speed of 220 MB/s and a Mas Seq. Write of 200MB/s. This is a big SSD drive, but compared to the largest mechanical hard drive at 1.5TB, it is only 1/6 the size. But with the speed of advancements in technology, mechanical hard drives have a limited lifetime left in them.

SSD hard drives come in two flavors. MLC and SLC. Basically, SLC is more expensive and generally write's to the disk much faster then MLC but the new Samsung SSD uses the cheaper MLC and seems to be on par or faster then most SLC drives! Learn more about the difference here.

Learn more about Samsung's SSD here

2008-11-17T17:11:00.000-08:00

Intel Core i7 Processor Launches Today, Up to 52% Faster then previous processors.

"By the time you read this, PC systems with Intel's new Core i7 quad-core processor with hyperthreading should be on store shelves, or at least on the ordering page of your favorite online system manufacturer.

The new Core i7 "Nehalem" processor will formally launch at an event Monday night in San Francisco. Many of the details surrounding the new chip have already been released, including a rundown of the new Core i7s and their prices.

The Nehalem/Core i7 architecture has been extensively benchmarked. The complementary X58 chipset which will be used in motherboards tied to the Core i7, has also been reviewed.

The Core i7 improves multi-threaded performance in multimedia apps and games over the previous generation Core 2 Quad and Core 2 Extreme processors. Core i7 requires the new X58 chipset (and consequently new motherboards), since the memory controller is now built in to the CPU.

Systems from high end and mainstream PC builders will be available, including Alienware, Dell, Falcon Northwest, Gateway, iBuyPower, Overdrive PC, Polywell, PowerSpec, and Velocity Micro. Predictably, many of the first few models will be gaming rigs with the 965 Extreme Edition version of the Core i7, but the other two CPU models (920 and 940) will appear in mid-priced and high-end multimedia desktops as well."

From PCMag

2008-11-14T15:52:00.000-08:00

Oblong's g-speak: the 'Minority Report' OS brought to life

"If you've been waiting for that Minority Report-style interface to really come to fruition, you can finally exhale. One of the science advisors from the Steven Spielberg film -- along with a team of other zany visionaries -- has created an honest-to-goodness, real-world implementation of the computer systems seen in the movie. Dubbed g-speak, the mind bending OS combines "gestural i/o, recombinant networking, and real-world pixels," to deliver what the creators call "the first major step in computer [a] interface since 1984." There are some things that need to seen to be understood, so watch the video below, and prepare to have your mind thoroughly blown to bits."

g-speak video

2008-10-13T12:01:00.000-07:00

Antec Skeleton Case released today

I am building a new computer based on this revolutionary open air case design.

"The Antec Skeleton is a truly revolutionary enclosure. With a unique design that allows for unprecedented airflow, a front 92mm fan, and a top three speed 250mm fan with multicolor LED customization, the Skeleton goes utterly unmatched in stylish cooling. Factor in the layered component trays for top-notch convenience, as well as the rackmount quality side rails, and you have a case truly without equal."

2008-09-04T19:46:00.000-07:00

Google Chrome Web Browser (Beta) Released for Windows

So we have all been using Firefox instead of Internet Explorer lately, right? Well, I just made the switch to the new kid on the block, Chrome, from Google. Three words: Simple, Clean, Fast.

This is the fastest browser I have ever tested, it loads in an instant, and brings up web pages much faster than Firefox or Internet Explorer. Extensions we have grown to love in Firefox are not available in this browser yet, but my guess is they eventually will. Some of the cool features include:

One Box for Everything: Type in the address bar and get suggestions for both search and web pages.

Thumbnails of your top sites: Access your favorite pages instantly with lightning speed from any new tab (see photo)

Shortcuts for your apps: This is cool, you can create a desktop icon to launch your favorite website, such as Gmail, Facebook, or anything you want. It opens up in a clean window with no menus that makes it look like an application.

Incognito Mode: Open up a tab in Incognito mode and pages you view will not appear in your browser history or search history, and they wont leave cookies on your computer.

2008-08-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

Gunner Optiks: Digital * Performance * Eyewear / Enhanced * Computer * Vision

I am writing this article using my new glasses (non-prescription) specifically designed for computer use. The moment I put them on, the text looked clearer, the images brighter, more crisp, and the screen looked magnified and much easier on the eyes. A local San Diego company has come out with these revolutionary computer glasses that were recently written about in the San Diego Union Tribune.

Here are some quotes from the article:
"An estimated 125 million Americans suffer from what is now commonly referred to as digital eye fatigue or computer vision syndrome, according to the American Optometric Association."
"The eye focuses on the hard edge of an image, but digital images don't have a clean edge, Anschel said. As a result, the focus drifts forward and back, causing eye fatigue."
"They had a yellow-tinted lens, which makes images appear clearer. Yellow makes images sharper by filtering out blue light, Anschel said. The lens is also shaped to pre-focus the light into the eyes, so the eyes don't have to do all the work. There's also a purplish iridescence on the lens, which is an anti-glare filter that allows light from the computer in but keeps out distracting reflected light from other sources. The lenses are also designed to be fitted close to the face, creating what the company called a “microclimate” that keeps away wind."

Check out this video from a local news source, Channel 8:

2008-08-19T19:50:00.000-07:00

Plaster Blaster: Rockets in San Diego

Once a year in October a bunch of people head out to the deserts of San Diego where they launch rockets way up in the sky, up to 25,000 feet! Find out more about this years event on October 2-5th at the official site.

2008-08-19T11:59:00.000-07:00

OpenDNS

OpenDNS is a free service that allows you to filter web content such as specific sites, specific content and adult website filtering. This is a handy application to prevent your business or kids from visiting undesirable web content. Read on...

(Thanx to ibannieb blog for this article)

2008-08-11T11:46:00.001-07:00

MozyHome: Backup your files automatically for only $4.95 per month!

For personal computers, either a Mac or PC, losing your files can be a DISASTER! You need to have a backup plan! MozyHome is an automatic online backup system that backs up your files securely to a server on the Internet every day. This has saved many businesses that we have worked with from closing up shop when there computer died. Click the link above to get started.

For Business Users that would like to backup there server, MozyPro is the enterprise software that is capable of doing that. Beanstalk Computing is a reseller of MozyPro and can help you with this as well. Email info@beanstalkcomputing.com for more info.

2008-08-08T18:21:00.000-07:00

AntiVirusXP2008 Malware

AntiVirusXP 2008, with its variants such as AntiVirusXP 2009, or Antivirus 2009, is a piece of Malware (Malicious Software) that can be installed on your computer without you knowing it. It is a misleading application that may give exaggerated reports of threats on your computer. You will notice a Red X on your task bar which looks something like this:

You will need to get ride of this immediately, but AntiVirus software can not completely remove this malware! This software slows down your computer and annoyingly pops up this message every five minutes. Here is what you need to do:

1. You will need to install AntiMalware software. Please click here to download MalwareBytes.org AntiMalware, a free download.
2. When the installation begins, keep following the prompts in order to continue with the installation process. Do not make any changes to default settings and when the program has finished installing, make sure you leave both the Update Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and Launch Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware checked. Then click on the Finish button.
3. The software will now automatically start and you will see a message stating that you should update the program before performing a scan.
4. On the Scanner tab, make sure the the Perform quick scan option is selected and then click on the Scan button to start scanning your computer for Antivirus XP 2008 related files.
5. The software will now start scanning your computer for malware. This process can take quite a while, so we suggest you go and do something else and periodically check on the status of the scan.
6. A screen displaying all the malware that the program found will be shown. Now click on the Remove Selected button to remove all the listed malware. The software will now delete all of the files and registry keys associated with the Malware! You are now clean!

2008-08-08T18:14:00.001-07:00

Pandora and Rhapsody - The two music services you will EVER need
For those of you not fully introduced to Pandora and Rhapsody, these are the two music services you will EVER need. You never need to buy music again, and they are both legal! Let me explain each.
1. Pandora "is a music discovery service designed to help you enjoy music you already know, and to help you discover new music you'll love." And the best part is, its completely FREE! It is advertising driven, so no money needed from you. Simply enter an artist or song that you like, and you will create your own personalized radio station based on what you type. Pandora will play artists and songs similar to what you have typed allowing you to experience and discover new music that you will like! (It even works on the iPhone!)
2. Rhapsody For everything else, there is Rhapsody. Unlike iTunes, where you HAVE to buy a song in order to listen to it, Rhapsody uses a subscription model. For about $15 a month, you have access to their entire collection and can stream or even download unlimited songs for free! Note that the downloaded music can only be played if your subscription is active or you choose to actually buy the MP3 version of the Sony for about 1 buck a track which I NEVER do myself. With Rhapsody to Go, you can bring your music or even radio stations they have with you everywhere you go (This does not work with apple products, but with many others here.

2008-08-08T17:29:00.000-07:00

Stream Music to Every Room in Your House.....For Free!

Ok, So My goal was to figure out a way to be able to walk through every room in my house and hear the same music playing. In my bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, wherever I was. I was going originally get a Sonos Music System but this would have cost me thousands of dollars!

My brother in law recently got a competitors to Sonos's system from Logitech, the Squeezebox Duet. For $399 you get a nifty remote control that can control the system. Then you can setup the one interface box included into your main stereo and stream your MP3 music collection from your computer/server/NAS or even if your computer is off, Internet radio stations and Internet music services such as Pandora or Rhapsody from your device. (Also check out the nifty product tour on the Squeezebox homepage)

But you don't even need the hardware, assuming you have computers in every room already hooked up to your stereos (Which I do, of course) You see, Logitech recently purchased Slim Devices, the maker of the software that powers their hardware. This software has always been free and can be downloaded here for PC, Mac, Linux, or even a NetGear ReadyNAS. Here is how it works

1. Download and install the Squeezecenter server to your server or, if you dont have one, pick a desktop on your network to install it to. Remember, that computer has to be on for others to access the music. You will be asked where your local music collection is. If it is not on the same computer that you are installing the SqueezeCenter onto, you have to use the UNC path of the shared folder the music is on (ie \\musicserver\mymusic) and not a mapped drive.
2. Sign up for a free account with Logitech.
3. To CONTROL the music, simply go to the website of your server at port 9000. So if you install the software on a computer named MusicServer point your web browser to http://musicserver:9000 which is the SqueezeCenter
4. To LISTEN to music on the computer or stereo hooked up to the computer, you could use a hardware based squeezebox we talked about above, but that costs money. Instead, you can use the free SoftSqueeze player (Requires Java) which you can install from the Extras-SoftSqueeze menu on your SqueezeCenter. Do this on all computers in your house
5. In the top right hand corner of your SqueezeCenter, you can choose which player you want to control. From one central location, you can choose to play different music in every room in your house.
6. If you want to play the same music in every room in your house, click Synchronize under the Choose Player menu in the top right.

Note: The ONLY feature I found that will not work without the hardware based squeezebox is Rhapsody.
Note 2: You can even stream your music on the internet! You will have to open up port 9000 on your router and point it to your squeezecenter server.

2008-06-20T13:00:00.000-07:00

Read on...

2008-06-20T12:40:00.000-07:00

Minor planet #24200 Peterbrooks was named in early march...

It looks like the Brooks family name has finally got some recognition from the Universe, a main belt astroid has been named in my Uncle's honor, way to go!

24200 Peterbrooks	Discovered 1999 Dec. 6 by the Lincoln Laboratory Near-Earth Asteroid Research Team in Socorro.
Peter Brooks mentored a finalist in the 2008 Intel Science Talent Search (STS), a science competition for high school seniors. He teaches at the Stuyvesant High School, New York, New York.

Peter is also the founder of a software company called MicroMind

2008-06-16T20:35:00.000-07:00

Astronomers find 'super-Earths'

Researchers today said they discovered a batch of three "super-Earths" orbiting a nearby star, and two other solar systems with small planets as well.

2008-06-13T00:49:00.000-07:00

Hulu: Watch your favories. Anytime. For Free. Cancel your Cable.

Hulu is a "corporate sandbox" loaded with content from NBC, News Corp., Sony, MGM, as well as their various subsidiary channels like FX, Sci-Fi Channel and so forth, offering anything from full episodes of Battlestar Galactica and Buffy to SNL Digital Shorts and an entire Russell Crowe flick, Master & Commander. It's Flash-based, it streams, just like YouTube, and it's ad-supported, with bumpers and "commercial breaks," just like the TV it's trying to ape.

2008-06-13T00:45:00.000-07:00

Amazing Future Projects of Dubai

Dubai, in the middle east and also known as, the City of Dreams, has always attracted business oriented people, but now they are attracting people for residence too! They are on their way to create a mini-universe of their own. The future is near!

Construction to Start on Rotating Wind-Power Residential Tower

2008-04-15T19:03:00.000-07:00

The Cars of the Future: Hundreds of Miles to the Gallon

There are four new electric / hybrid cars coming to the market that are going to revolutionize the way we think about electricity in a car.

Car 1: $98k Full Electric The Tesla Roadster
Car 2: $29k Hybrid The Aptera (I put a deposit on this one!!)
Car 3: $600 Month Lease Hydrogen Honda FCX Clarity
Car 4: $25k Natural Gas Honda Civic GX NGV
Driveclean.ca.gov

2008-04-07T14:31:00.000-07:00

So I just got back from three days of technical training in San Francisco at the Microsoft TechMentor Conference. I learned a lot about Server 2008, Vista SP1, and TONS of other stuff. My favorite speaker and author was there, Mark Minasi , and my second favorite speaker was Greg Shields. I recommend picking up any and ALL of Mark's books.

Here is a link to ALL the session slides and audio clips!

Log in with username: TMSF08 and Password: SFNtwk (both are case-sensitive)

The following classes were the ones I took and recommend them all!

Windows Administration Section

Fundamentals of Failover and Load Balancing Clusters
Active Directory Fundamentals
System Recovery: The Good, the Bad, the Lifesaving
What's New in Vista/Server 2008 Administration

Troubleshooting Tips and Tricks

The Best Free Tools for Windows Server Troubleshooting
Inside Vista's First Service Pack

Practical Security

Intro to Hacking and Countermeasures
Repel the Crackers - Best Practices in Securing Windows Passwords
Inside Windows Logons
Windows Vista: The Hidden Truth

Windows Server Technologies

Unveiling What's New and Exciting in Server 2008's Terminal Services
When and Where to Use Virtualization
Hardening Windows Server 2008 and Active Directory

Also Recommend but did not attend:

Troubleshooting Windows Crashes and Hangs
Migrating from XP to Vista: Don't Fear, Stop Waiting, Here's Why!
Windows Server Backups: New Tricks for an Old Need
Active Directory: Group Policy Fundamentals
Terminal Server Fundamentals
IIS 7.0 Fundamentals
Become a Disk Management Guru with Vista and Server 2008
Intro to USB Stick: Remote Communications and Portable Applications
USB Stick: Network Analysis
USB Stick: Penetration Testing
Current Wireless Attacks and Countermeasures
Social Engineering
Active Directory in Windows Server 2008 - Designing, Integrating, and Implementing
Best Practicies in Managing the New Windows Event Log
Managing DNS in a Server 2008 Active Directory Environment

2008-03-28T11:44:00.001-07:00

My Boy Nate Knows exactly how to handle the Beanstalk Shirt

2008-03-20T14:33:00.000-07:00

MagicJack: Unlimited phone calls for $20 per year.

1. Plug any phone into magicJack.
2. Plug magicJack into any USB Port.
3. Pick up your phone and talk.

I just got my free 30 day trial for magicJack today and so far, it works perfectly for phone calls within the US. I got myself a local 619 number instantly and started making phone calls right away. $20 bux a year, plus $20 for the actualy device. How can you beat that?!?

2008-03-04T17:48:00.000-08:00

Game Boy DS Plus A4 = Unlimited Gaming for about $200

So I recently got myself a new Cobalt and Black DS. This Dual Screen portable gaming system is the newest Nintendo Game Boy and has been out for a few years with a hefty supply of games availalbe. But each game sells for $30, and then on top of that you have to carry around each cartridge you want to play with you. What if I told you there was a way to get every game made and for the price of the DS itself plus two more games? Here is what you gotta do:

If you dont already have a Game Boy DS, head over to Amazon and pick up the new DS Lite Cobalt and Black (Or any other older color) for $129.99

Also order the DS Revolution V4 3rd Generation from Amazon for $64.99 (This is a cartridge that fits in the DS and within it is a MicroSD slot)

Get a MicroSD HC card on amazon (4GB is the best price point at $17) but you can also get up to 8GB. You can store about 25 games per gig, so a 4GB card will allow you to have 100 games on your system at once

Download the ROM, or image, of the games you are looking for at Nintendo DS ROMS as they currently have over 1000 games ready to download (Disclamer: Downloading ROM's of games you do not own is illegal and you should only use these ROMS as a backup of a game you already have legally purchased, end silly disclaimer)

Copy the game ROMS onto your MicroSD card

Place the MicroSD card into the R4 and the R4 into your Game Boy

Enjoy your newely downloaded game!

Tips:

If you run out of room on your SD card, delete the game files in the games directory but keep the .sav files, these are your saved game files

You can soft reset the device back to the main menu by pressing all the buttons at the same time

Some games come with cheat options, which you can enable by pressing Y

You can update your Cheat Database and the R4 Kernal from the official R4 website here

iPhone Killer: Sony Ericsson does Windows with XPERIA X1 smartphone

2008-02-12T11:41:00.001-08:00

Why do I like the Sony Ericsson Better then the iPhone?

Touchscreen similar to the iPhone
High Speed Internet Access via 3G or WiFi
Wireless synchronization with Exchange via ActiveSync
Highest resolution display on a phone ever: 800*480 (Remote Desktop, here we come)
Stereo Bluetooth
Video Calling finally comes to the cell phone!
Expandable Memory: MicroSD HC Card up to 8GB now, with 32GB and larger cards available in the future!
3.1 MegaPixel Camera
FM Radio

"Sony Ericsson unveiled at Barcelona's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona a Windows Mobile smartphone that uses a touch screen overlay to interact with the phone, making it a possible competitor to Apple's touch-activated iPhone. The phone will work with both AT&T and T-Mobile's forthcoming 3G networks.

The Xperia X1 will be available in North America in the second half of 2008, says Sony Ericsson's Suzanne Cross, head product marketing manager for Sony Ericsson North America.

The new phone blends entertainment and productivity features, she notes. But the high-res touch screen is what will interest Apple lovers most...and will perhaps woo away current iPhone users."

2007-08-15T16:25:00.000-07:00

Toshiba's 12.1-inch Portege R500 is world's thinnest with disc drive

It's easy to jump to conclusions when you hear a spec like "2.4 pounds" -- things like no disc drive, minuscule screen and a complete lack of horsepower quickly spring to mind -- but Toshiba is really taking things next-gen with its new Portege R500. The new bestest buddy to Tosh's flagship R400 tablet, the R500 packs a first ever 7mm optical drive, 12.1-inch transflective (outdoor readable) LED-backlit screen, and does it all with a mere 0.77-inches of thickness, which Toshiba claims is the thinnest ever to include a disc drive, and that aforementioned 2.4 pound weight. The R500 isn't spec shy either, with a Core 2 duo U7600 1.2GHz processor, Intel GMA 950 graphics, up to 2GB of RAM, a 120GB HDD and a 1280 x 800 screen res. There's even a PCMCIA slot, gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth and VGA out, just to make the other ultraportables look bad. To top it all off, Toshiba is boasting of the "world's longest" battery life for a 12.1-inch widescreen notebook, but doesn't have any hard numbers other than that. The laptop starts at $2,000 with XP Pro, or $2,150 with Vista Business, but the real fun starts later this year when Toshiba starts shipping 64GB SSD configurations, which once specced to a 3 cell battery and no optical drive will weigh a paltry 1.72 pounds.

Buy it here

From Engadget

2007-08-06T19:05:00.000-07:00

Walking to the shops ‘damages planet more than going by car’

" Food production is now so energy-intensive that more carbon is emitted providing a person with enough calories to walk to the shops than a car would emit over the same distance."

"The troubling fact is that taking a lot of exercise and then eating a bit more food is not good for the global atmosphere"

"Catching a diesel train is now twice as polluting as traveling by car for an average family"

"Organic beef is the most damaging because organic cattle emit more methane."

Shattering the great green myths

"Paper bags cause more global warming than plastic. They need much more space to store so require extra energy to transport them from manufacturers to shops"

"Trees, regarded as shields against global warming because they absorb carbon, were found by German scientists to be major producers of methane, a much more harmful greenhouse gas

2007-07-22T23:18:00.001-07:00

MP3 Player of Choice: IRiver Clix Gen 2

Why do I like this MP3 player?

No buttons, just click the whole screen in one of four directions to navigate
Up to 8GB of storage (4GB version out now, 8GB next month)
Smaller then IPOD Nano
beautiful AMOLED (Active Matrix Organic LED)
Built-in digital FM tuner
Can drag and drop music to it from explorer, no need to use custom software such as itunes to transfer music to device.
Works with Rhapsody to Go, you can bring your subscribed music with you without actually purchasing it. Check out the Rhapsody version.

2007-07-16T11:47:00.000-07:00

IT Support Tool: Know your network - For Free with Spiceworks

For you IT support companies out there, this is HUGE! This FREE software will allow you to audit your entire network! "For Windows PCs, the product reports the manufacturer and model, hardware configuration, available hard drive space, TCP/IP settings, and installed software, services, and Windows hotfixes."

"Better yet, however, you can also run reports with the information it gathers, letting you see, for example, all machines that lack antivirus protection, or all machines with Microsoft Office installed. You can also have the software alert you via e-mail when certain conditions occur, such as when a printer's ink supply drops below 10 percent or if a hard drive is low on space. This sort of reporting and alerting is just the sort of handy force-multiplier that can really save an overworked IT department's bacon."

The interface is a web based interface, and when you install it you can configure what port you want the software to run on, if you are running it from a server, I would choose a port other then 80 as something is most probably running on that port.

Also, if you run the tool at the client site, you can move the Database to your laptop for further review by following the instructions here.

Check out the PC Mag article here

2007-07-11T00:30:00.000-07:00

Dell's Vostro small business PCs turned loose (Engadget)

Those Vostro PCs we first heard about last month just got pushed out the door by Dell. The laptops consist of the 14.1-inch Vostro 1400, 15.4-inch Vostro 1500, and 17-inch Vostro 1700 while the desktops include the Vostro 200 Slim Tower and Vostro 200 Mini Tower. There's even a low-end, AMD-based 15.4-inch Vostro 1000 laptop starting at just $449. The laptops mirror their Inspiron brethren configurations only with a small-business mindset: all-black (only) slabs, zero pre-installed bloatware, a 30-day guarantee without restocking fee, choice of XP or Vista Business, and services designed for small businesses. Same goes for the Vostro desktops which start at just $319. All available now.

2007-07-11T00:22:00.000-07:00

Mosquito Indoor Radio Controlled Hellicopter

I usually despise going into Radio Shack for anything, but they had a device that I could not resist. This is the smallest lightest radio controlled hellicopter I have ever seen for indoor use. It can easily take off from the Palm of your hand and can soar for about 10 minutes per charge. This thing is TINY, and very hard to find. A few months ago I called almost every radio shack in town and no one had it and it was also sold out online. I dropped in a radio shack today and there was one and only one available so I snatched it up, man this thing is fun! Check out this Video

2007-06-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

The Palm Foleo Un-Laptop

Palm has just announced the Palm Foleo, what they claim is the "perfect companion" for your smartphone. Currently only compatable with Treo devices, basically what it does is connect to your Treo via bluetooth and download your email to the device. It doesn't have a mobile antenna built into it, rather, it uses your PDA as a modem to connect to the internet. By the way, you can use your Treo to connect your regular laptop to the internet as well. Its not a full blown laptop, its basically a UMPC (Ultra Mobile PC) that runs a custom version of Linux, and is basically a full blown keyboard and screen for your Palm. It also has WiFi capabilities. Who would use such a thing? I would guess someone that doesn't need to carry around a full laptop, but wants to have easy acccess to their email and attachments that are synced through their PDA. And at only $500, its quite a bit cheaper then a regular laptop or any competing UMPC.

2007-05-24T22:30:00.000-07:00

Dell Offering Ubuntu Linux and FreeDOS as alternative operating systems!

Isn't that interesting? Right after Windows Vista comes out, and people can't seem to stop complaining about it, Dell offers an alternative operating system, Ubuntu! For those of you who dont know, or dont read Digg.com, Ubuntu is THE HOT NEW Linux operating system for consumers. By purchasing a Dell Computer with Ubuntu instead of Windows Vista, it shaves between $50 and $150 off your Dell Computer!

2007-05-10T09:56:00.000-07:00

The San Franciso Chronicle reports that "Some of the biggest computer retailers failed to make the grade in a new survey of Bay Area computer repair shops. CompUSA, Fry's Electronics and Best Buy all scored near the bottom based on overall performance and quality of service."

This is good news for smaller shops. "independent service businesses of any kind have to depend on satisfying customers and customer referrals more" then the big shops, which mean that people that are unsatisified with the bigger shops, can go to smaller shops, such as Beanstalk Computing in San Diego.

We Shall Return to the Moon! (Compliments of NASA)

2007-05-10T01:28:00.001-07:00

2007-05-09T01:33:00.000-07:00

"Scientists look high in the sky for power : Jet stream could fill global energy needs, researchers say"

"Scientists are eyeing the jet stream, an energy source that rages night and day, 365 days a year, just a few miles above our heads. If they can tap into its fierce winds, the world's entire electrical needs could be met, they say."

Read more of the story...

2007-05-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

Incredible monitor setups

I thought I had it big with my three monitor setup, but 8, 15, even 30 monitors! Check out these incredibly crazy configs...

2007-05-01T11:12:00.000-07:00

GreenPrint :: Saving Money Today, Trees tomorrow

"GreenPrint eliminates wasteful pages in any printout automatically, saving you time and money, and maybe more importantly, saving trees, reducing greenhouse gasses, and decreasing waste.

GreenPrint does this by analyzing each page of every document sent to the printer and looking for typical waste characteristics (like that last page with just a URL, banner ad, logo, or legal jargon)."

The most advanced looking robot I have ever seen

2007-04-29T21:38:00.001-07:00

Take a look at Jules....creepy looking because it looks so real!

SNWMF 04

2007-02-22T16:21:00.001-08:00

Check me out at Sierra Nevada World Music Festival in 2004. Go there in 2007. http://www.snwmf.com/

2007-02-09T17:02:00.000-08:00

Microsoft Office Live: Free Web hosting and Accounting Software!

Microsoft is now giving away for free web hosting. The service is called "Office Live Basics" and includes a domain, a 500MB website, and 25 company-branded e-mail accounts with 2GB of storage in each account. The price can not be beat! A little note is that you can not upload an existing site, you must create one from scratch as detailed in this comparison chart. If you would like to upload your existing site, as well as have 1GB of webspace and 50 email addresses, you have to upgrade to "Office Live Essentials" for $19.95 per month. In my opinion, it would be cheaper to transfer your web hosting provider to the 1and1.com MS hosting beginner package which is $2.99 per month, with 10GB of webspace and 600 email accounts.

Microsoft is also giving away Office Accounting Express 2007 for free to compete with Quickbooks. Everyone uses quickbooks, and I guess they feel like the only way to compete with Quickbooks is to give away the competition.

For all of Microsoft Live products, click here.

2007-02-05T15:12:00.000-08:00

Change in Daylight Savings time starting this year

"In August of 2005 the United States Congress passed the Energy Policy Act, which changes the dates of both the start and end of daylight saving time (DST). When this law goes into effect in 2007, DST will start three weeks earlier (2:00 A.M. on the second Sunday in March) and will end one week later (2:00 A.M. on the first Sunday in November) than what had traditionally occurred."

"All users of Microsoft products affected by the time change should give extra attention to meetings and appointments scheduled between March 11, 2007 to April 1, 2007 and October 28, 2007 to November 4, 2007, referred to here as the "extended DST period." Users should view any appointments that fall into these date ranges as suspect until they communicate with all meeting invitees to make sure that the item shows up correctly on everyone's calendar both internally and externally. To minimize confusion during the affected date ranges:

•

Include the time of the meeting in the e-mail request so that invitees can double check the correct meeting time (such as, "Project brainstorming - 11:00 A.M. Central Time").

•

Exercise caution with the appointments and meetings in the extended DST period. When in doubt, verify the correct time with the organizer.

•

Consider printing out your weekly calendars during the extended DST period prior to applying the Windows patch containing the updated time zone definitions and running the Outlook Time Zone Update tool so that you can keep track of which meetings were scheduled before and after you run the tool.

Reference: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/timezone/dst2007.mspx

2007-01-09T20:30:00.000-08:00

Apple Announces iPhone Today that runs full desktop OSX software.

So I am not really an Apple person, but I am pretty impressed by the new iPhone from Apple. Basically, an 8GB MP3 player, a PDA, a phone, and an internet device all rolled into one, it has a revolutionary user interface. It wont be available until June and is not even FCC approved yet. At $599 for the 8GB version with a 2 year contract with Cingular, it will be very pricey. But if you are gonna pay $300 for a PDA phone, and another $200 for an MP3 player, it doesn't seem so bad.

2007-01-08T22:24:00.000-08:00

Virgin Galactic: Book your flight into space now!

So Virgin Galactic was announced, and starting in 2009, you can take a flight into outer space! Of course, you have to put down a refundable deposit of $20,000 and the flight itself is $200,000 but hey, Steven Hawking just signed up! So go ahead, book your flight. You know your worth it, and of course you can afford it, right?

Space elevator

2006-12-25T18:01:00.001-08:00

This is the future of space travel! Ride this elevator to outer space!

2006-12-10T10:25:00.000-08:00

Goodbye Netflix..... Hello Vongo

So I have been playing with a new service called Vongo which allows me to instantly watch movies through my computer on the Internet. I could also transfer those movies to a portable device such as an IPod Video if I had one. They use a subscription service such as Napster or Rhapsody which means as long as I am a member for $9.95 a month I can watch UNLIMITED movies from their colletion unlike ITunes which makes you purchase each individual movie you download. And there is a free 2 week trial for you to try it out, do it today!

2006-12-08T12:12:00.000-08:00

Goodbye Microsoft Frontpage, Hello Microsoft Expression!

So Microsoft finally realized how crappy of a web page editor Frontpage was. As a matter of fact, they probably got so much bad press about Frontpage they completely changed the product name and redesigned it from the ground up as Expression. Download your free trial for a limited time from Microsoft's Expression Website.

As a matter of fact, they have a whole Expression Studio package that is supposed to compete with the likes of Adobe Creative Suite, the mack daddy of design suites. Will they really be able to compete with Adobe? I seriously doubt it.

2006-12-01T22:13:00.000-08:00

Windows Vista Released and Cracked

So Windows Vista has been released to manufacturers and has already been hacked. How do you hack Windows Vista?

1. Get your hands on a copy of Windows Vista RTM (Release to Manufacturers)
2. Download the Vista Activators 1 AIO CD
3. Install Windows Vista 32 or 64 bit edition with any version (Basic to Ultimate are all on one DVD from Micrsoft) without entering a product key (This will give you a 30 day trial version)
4. From the Vista Activators CD select the "RTM Crack Nov 18th"
5. Follow the directions in the text file created by Dr. Hisham
6. This crack will allow you to use a Vista RC2 product key, if you dont have one of these keys, generate one here
7. You can now enter the product key and activate with Microsoft. Your product key can be used up to 10 times!

2006-10-26T19:53:00.000-07:00

Express Upgrade to Windows Vista

Starting TODAY through March 15th, 2007 if you buy a qualifying computer running any version of Windows XP except home edition, you get a free upgrade to Windows Vista when it is released in January.

2006-10-10T23:34:00.000-07:00

Download Videos from YouTube and other sites!

"Video Downloader allows you to download videos (to your computer) directly (and easily -just one click-) from most video sites."

This is a free FireFox extention that allows you to download videos off the Internet and keep them on your computer, very easy to use. Get it here

2006-10-09T17:16:00.000-07:00

How big do you really think you are?

2006-10-03T17:21:00.000-07:00

Rosarito Ensenada Bike Ride: The Original Party on Wheels

So this past weekend I joined 10,000 other crazy bicyclists on a 50 mile journet from Rosarito to Ensenada. It was a great ride. It wasn't the 50 miles that was difficult. It is something known as "the hill" and anyone that has done this course will tell you, its not easy. 2 miles straight up a mountain at 7.5 percent grade. And your not even done after that. You still have 3 more small hills to climb after that. I had to walk the last couple hills just like everyone else. But then you get the fun of going back down the hill on an 8 mile journey down the other side back to the coast! Join me next ride on April 21, 2007!

2006-10-03T17:11:00.000-07:00

Wallet 2.0

"Meet Wallet 2.0, the original soft wallet with multi-purposes. It looks nothing like a wallet in the first glance, but after you take a good look of it, you will perceive the beauty of this innovative soft wallet. Just about the size of your normal leather wallet, it holds as much stuffs as you could put in with our patent pending wallet system: different refill sheets of credit cards, bills, I.D., coins, notes, card holder, memory card, etc… that you could choose from. Everyday life, traveling, snowboarding, cycling, hiking, night clubbing, dancing, etc… Whether you are going to do, Wallet 2.0 could be your best buddy."

2006-10-02T00:05:00.000-07:00

ABC relaunches online media player with hit shows such as "Lost"

So recently I decided to give up on TV. Thats right, I now live in a home without a single television in it. Even though the average american home has more TV's then children now, I dont have a single one. But I used to have one, and I used to be able to watch my favorite show, Lost. With the seasing premeir of the third season just a few days away, I have been desperate to find a way to watch the episodes without paying for them or having to go to a friends house once a week to watch. Thank you ABC, becuase now I can watch Lost and many other of their shows on the Internet for free right here!

Some other free online media I have found useful:
Vidoo : Watch Fox, NBC, ABC, CBS, USA, CNN, Comedy Central, Animal Planet with their free downloadable player
ABC News
10 News San Diego
CNET TV
Democracy: The free internet TV platform
CBS's Innertube