Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Free Wi-Fi Hotspots
Here is a list of different websites which allow you to search for Free Wi-Fi Hotspots in your area.
1.) Wifi Freespot
2.) Wi-fi Hotspot List
3.) Wi-fi Maps
4.) Jwire
5.) Metro FreeFi
Here is a search put out by CNET for finding Wi-fi access points, Click here and another by yahoo, click here.
+dwebb
The Ultimate USB Key
1.) Portable Firefox 1.0.4
renders most sites exactly as it does when installed on your hard drive, but Java applets will run only if Java (which will work only if it finds settings already specified in the registry) is installed on the host machine.
2.) FileZilla 2.2.14b
For FTP and Secure FTP, FileZilla lets you choose between a secure mode that never stores passwords and a less-secure mode that stores passwords in an XML file on your thumb drive.
3.) Trillian Basic 3.1
The free Trillian Basic 3.1 instant messaging client works with AIM, ICQ, MSN, and Yahoo! Messenger, but it isn't designed to be run from a portable drive. The third-party Trillian Anywhere Web site provides simple instructions for setting up Trillian on your hard drive, creating all its settings, and then transferring it to a USB drive. The result is a trouble-free universal IM client that leaves no traces on the host computer.
4.) Open Office
The free open source office suite; you can choose between a stable 1.1.4 version and a faster and slicker 2.0 Alpha version. The 2.0 version fills 127MB, so you'll need a generous-size USB drive, but it guarantees you a full-featured productivity suite compatible with Microsoft Office wherever you plug in the drive. You may need to click through the license agreement on each new host machine, but that's a minimal inconvenience.
5.) XMPlay and CoolPlayer
XMPlay, a miniature but high-powered media player. It has the tiny, overelaborate interface typical of freeware media players, but with downloadable skins that can slightly improve it. Alternatively, consider CoolPlayer, a compact open-source MP3 player that can be extended via plug-ins to handle almost any current media format.
6.) AntiVir PersonalEdition Classic
A virus scanner, that checks the full range of viruses found in the wild which can be installed to your USB drive and run from any host computer.
7.) Avert Stinger
A reduced antivirus program that takes up less space and that focuses on a few high-risk attacks.
8.) Ad-Aware SE Personal Edition 1.06
A Powerful spyware remover. Install it in the normal way to your hard disk, then simply copy its folder to your USB drive.
9.) Windows CE
You don't need to carry a PDA to use the Windows CE operating system and its small-screen versions of IE and Windows Messenger. Just follow the instructions on Steve Makofsky's weblog to learn how to download Microsoft's free Windows CE emulator to your USB drive and use a batch file to launch the emulator and save its settings on the same drive. Make sure to read all the comments posted on the weblog to find essential modifications to the method described in the initial post.After you run the emulator for the first time, it restarts instantly with the browser or IM client already open and ready for action if you left them open earlier. You don't get an e-mail client or Firefox's powerful browsing, but nothing else on a USB drive gives you the same instant-on convenience, and you'll need only 32MB for the whole package.
10.) Damn Small Linux
based on the popular "live CD" Knoppix distribution, and includes Firefox, Thunderbird, and other open-source applications. All settings are stored inside the files used by the Linux system
You can find other USB compatible apps from many software manufactuers online. For a list of some of them, click here.
+dwebb
ShrinkTo5 DVD Copying Program
Check it out here, they are also working on Mac and Linux versions, which should be out soon.
Happy Ripping ;)
+dwebb
Download Music Videos From Yahoo
1.) Get yourself a copy of VLC, if you don't already have it. You can get the latest version here.
2.) In VLC go to ‘File’ > ‘Open Network Stream’. Choose HTTP / HTTPS / FTP / MMS and paste the 300K mms:// URI into the empty field. Check the ‘Stream Output’ box and click ‘Settings’.
3.) In the ‘Stream Output’ > ‘Output methods’ preferences, check the ‘File’‘Dump raw output’ box. Next use the ‘Browse’ option to name the file and choose a save path. Click ‘OK’ to return to the previous preference window. Click ‘OK’ once more and VLC will begin downloading the raw file. VLC will look like it’s playing a file. The progress bar which usually shows play time will actually display the download progress. Because we’re downloading the raw output, you’ll need to add the appropriate file extension. Since Yahoo Music uses the .wmv file format, add the .wmv extension to the raw file so you can view the complete 320 x 240 music video in VLC… Or WMP.
Check out Yahoo's Launch here.
+dwebb
mobiBLU Mp3 Player
- OLED Display
- 1 GB of storage
- WMA (Digital Rights Management)
- FM Radio Receiver and Recorder
- USB 2.0 FLASH DRIVE
- Voice Recorder
- Five Preset EQ modes plus one User-Set EQ mode
- File Navigation System and Unlimited Folder Capacity
- Easy & Convenient Clock
- Built-In Lithium-Ion Battery
- Resume Function
- Firmware Upgradeable
+dwebb
How to Get a Cheaper Flight
+dwebb
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
WAV's To Annoy Your Co-Workers
Check it out here.
Enjoy ;)
+dwebb
DIY Underwater ROV
Check it out here.
+dwebb
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Disposible Email Address
Check it out here.
+dwebb
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Food Hacks for the Kitchen Enthusiast
Here are some great hacks all dealing with food.
- How to avoid crying when chopping onions
- Make fire with a can of Coke and a chocolate bar
- Peltier beer cooler
- Lighting a barbeque with liquid oxygen
- Open-source beer
- OpenCola
- Geek your barbecue
- Liquid-nitrogen ice cream
- How to process sap from trees and make maple syrup
- 43Folders hacks for food, food storage, nutrition, coffee, tea, water, recipes and the kitchen.
- Making "bad" vodka "good" using a Brita filter
- How to make ginger ale and root beer at home
- Do-it-yourself Margarita maker
- Make your own marshmallows
- Chill a bottle of wine in six minutes
- Make your own Peeps
- Do-it-yourself brick pizza oven
- The big red juicer
- Beer can chicken
- Cookin' with Google
- The Cook's Thesaurus
- Thorax cake
- Gastronomy for geeks
- Aluminum can backpacking stove
+dwebb
Freeware for The Mac User
Security
1. ClamXav - Antivirus (so that a virus is not transmitted to windows users)
Internet
1. Mozilla Firefox / Camino / Shira Browser - Safari is great. But there will be some sites which will not render properly in it (Shira uses Safari engine to render pages but has loads of other features)
2. Mozilla Thunderbird / GyzaMail
3. NetNewsWire Lite / NewsMac - Safari's RSS function is good, but some may want a separate RSS Reader.
4. Internet Chat Programs - Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, Adium / Fire ( 1 program to chat on all networks). Mercury Messenger is an alternative to MSN Messenger with extra features.
5. Skype / Gizmo Project - Internet Telephony
6. HTTPmail plugin for Apple Mail - (for downloading email from Hotmail)
7. Delicious to Safari - Download your Delicious bookmarks to Safari
8. CyberDuck / Fugu - FTP Client
9. Sogudi - Configure shortcuts in Safari
10. Google Toolbar for Firefox
11. Azureus Java BitTorrent Client, Tomato Torrent / Limewire
Multimedia
1. Audiorecorder - Audio recording software
2. Audacity - Free, open source software for recording and editing sounds.
3. Video Players - Windows Media Player, Real Player
VLC Player / MPlayer - Play most audio and video files.
4. Imagewell / Imagetricks - Small, lightweight image editing application ( Imagetricks uses Apple Core Image Technology)
5. Gimp - Image editing software similiar to Adobe Photoshop
6. Artrage - Simulated canvas painting
7. Handbrake - DVD to MPEG-4 ripper / converter
8. MacTheRipper - DVD Extractor
9. TuxPaint - Painting program for Kids
10. fennel DVDManager / DVD Juggler - Movie / DVD Organizer
11. Radio Recorder
12. XnView - View and convert graphic files
Productivity
1. NeoOffice - Alternative to MS Office (AbiWord Cocoa Version is a standalone Word processing program)
2. Sidenote / iSnip - To manage text snippets
3. Nvu - Complete Web Authoring System
4. VoodoPad Lite - Note taking application
5. PDFLab - Joins multiple pdf files into one
6. SubEthaEdit - Collaborative Text Editor with the power of bonjour
7. Text Wrangler / Taco HTML Edit / Smultron - TextEdit Replacement
8. BlogAssist - Convert text to HTML
9. Nisus Thesaurus (For Mac OSX 10.3 or less. V10.4 has inbuilt system wide dictionary)
10. Free Mind - Mind mapping software
Utilities
1. Growl - System wide notification software
2. Onyx - System maintainance
3. Pacifist - Extract .pkg files (individual programs) from the Installer Disc
4. Tofu - makes text easy to read by splitting into columns
5. iBackup / SilverKeeper - Backup programs
6. Quicksilver / Butler - Application launcher with numerous other uses (Quicksilver with Sogudi plugin is an unbeatable combination)7. Yahoo Widgets aka Konfabulator (For Mac OSX 10.3 or less. V10.4 has Dashboard)
8. Gemini - Utility for file copying, Mirroring and folder synchronization
9. Rawr-jour - Bonjour service browser with Growl support
10. Teleport / Synergy - Use a single mouse and keyboard to contol multiple computers (Synergy works on all OS's, Teleport works only on Mac's)
11. Paparazzi! - Utility to take screenshots of webpages
Enjoy....
+dwebb
Making Fire From Ice
Check it out here.
+dwebb
Friday, August 19, 2005
Top 10 Ways To Use Up Flat Cola
1) Make a Cake This easy sheet cake is wonderfully decadent and rich. The cola enhances the flavor of the chocolate without adding cola flavor. Loaded with chocolate chips, you can use your favorite chocolate frosting or sprinkle liberally with powdered sugar.More: Coca-Cola Chocolate Chip Cake Recipe
2) Make a 7-bone roast 7-bone roasts are one of the few remaining beef values these days, economical and flavorful. You won't taste cola, but the gravy is to die for! Oven-baked pot roast and vegetables is enhanced by a rich gravy. Can also be made in a slow cooker.More: Coca-Cola 7-Bone Roast Recipe
3) Make a ham Southern ham cooked in cola must be tried to be believed. Bone-in ham is first boiled in cola with an onion, then baked in a glaze of mustard, molasses, and cloves.More: Ham in Coca-Cola Recipe
4) Make a barbecued pork sandwich Start with boneless center cut pork loin or pork shoulder and marinate for a day in a mixture of cola, Worcestershire, vinegar, and garlic. Then slow-roast about 3 hours with a cola and Jack Daniels sauce for utterly delicious pulled pork sandwiches. Try this with different sodas, such as root beer and cherry or use brisket instead of pork.More: Pulled Pork Sandwich with Jack and Coke BBQ Sauce Recipe
5) Make a molded salad Perfect for Thanksgiving, potlucks, or family dinners, make this in a pretty molded shape for extra pizzazz. The salad uses cranberry sauce, gelatin, pineapple, nuts, and cream cheese for a rich texture. Goes together quickly.More: Cranberry Soda Molded Salad Recipe
6) Make spareribs in the crock-pot Start these ribs in the crockpot and finish with a cola sauce on the grill or under the oven broiler. Plan at least a day ahead for pre-cooking in the crockpot, refrigeration overnight, and then finishing on the grill or under the broiler.More: Crockpot Grilled Spareribs Recipe
7) Make a sweet and sour brisket Cola in the sauce helps tenderize brisket. Flavoring ingredients include onion, fresh ginger, garlic, Dijon mustard, red wine, honey, vinegar, soy sauce, and cloves. Ginger ale may be substituted for the cola. Make the brisket the day before and reheat for best flavor.More: Brisket in Sweet and Sour Sauce Recipe
8) Make a prime rib roast Plan a day ahead to marinate this roast in a mixture of olive oil, cherry cola, Worcestershire sauce, oregano, thyme, onion powder, garlic, and a special Greek seasoning blend before grilling and smoking.More: Prime Rib in Cherry Coke Recipe
9) Make beef jerky This beef jerky marinade can also be used on meats to be cooked on the grill or broiled. Marinate from 2 hours to overnight. The cola helps break down the fibers and tenderize the meat.More: Beef Jerky or Grilling Marinade Recipe
10) Make a baked brisket Cola not only tenderizes this brisket, it also makes a fabulous gravy. Requires no marination, but plan on up to three hours of cooking time to cook the brisket.More: Coke Brisket Recipe
+dwebb
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Free Online Net Tools
Check it out here.
+dwebb
Soundboards for the Kiddies
check it out here.
+dwebb
Police Auction Website
check it out here.
+dwebb
Hidden Windows Applications
To run any of these apps go to Start > Run and type the executable name (ie charmap).
WINDOWS XP HIDDEN APPS:
1) Character Map = charmap.exe (very useful for finding unusual characters)
2) Disk Cleanup = cleanmgr.exe
3) Clipboard Viewer = clipbrd.exe (views contents of Windows clipboard)
4) Dr Watson = drwtsn32.exe (Troubleshooting tool)
5) DirectX diagnosis = dxdiag.exe (Diagnose & test DirectX, video & sound cards)
6) Private character editor = eudcedit.exe (allows creation or modification of characters)
7) IExpress Wizard = iexpress.exe (Create self-extracting / self-installing package)
8) Microsoft Synchronization Manager = mobsync.exe (appears to allow synchronization of files on the network for when working offline. Apparently undocumented).
9) Windows Media Player 5.1 = mplay32.exe (Retro version of Media Player, very basic).
10) ODBC Data Source Administrator = odbcad32.exe (something to do with databases)
11) Object Packager = packager.exe (to do with packaging objects for insertion in files, appears to have comprehensive help files).
12) System Monitor = perfmon.exe (very useful, highly configurable tool, tells you everything you ever wanted to know about any aspect of PC performance, for uber-geeks only )
13) Program Manager = progman.exe (Legacy Windows 3.x desktop shell).
14) Remote Access phone book = rasphone.exe (documentation is virtually non-existant).
15) Registry Editor = regedt32.exe [also regedit.exe] (for hacking the Windows Registry).
16) Network shared folder wizard = shrpubw.exe (creates shared folders on network).
17) File signature verification tool = sigverif.exe
18) Volume Contro = sndvol32.exe (I’ve included this for those people that lose it from the System Notification area).
19) System Configuration Editor = sysedit.exe (modify System.ini & Win.ini just like in Win98! ).
20) Syskey = syskey.exe (Secures XP Account database – use with care, it’s virtually undocumented but it appears to encrypt all passwords, I’m not sure of the full implications).
21) Microsoft Telnet Client = telnet.exe
22) Driver Verifier Manager = verifier.exe (seems to be a utility for monitoring the actions of drivers, might be useful for people having driver problems. Undocumented).
23) Windows for Workgroups Chat = winchat.exe (appears to be an old NT utility to allow chat sessions over a LAN, help files available).
If you know of any others, let me know and I will add them to the list.
+dwebb
Best Windows Freeware Apps
Security
1. AVG Antivirus / Avast Antivirus
2. Spybot Search & Destroy / Lavasoft Adware Se Personal / Microsoft Anti spyware- Detect and deletes unwanted software (antispyware)
3. SpywareBlaster - Prevent the installation of spyware and other potentially unwanted software!
4. Zone Alarm Firewall / Kerio Personal Firewall (or switch on the built in Windows Firewall in Win XP SP2)
5. Ultimate Boot CD - Bootable disc with essential diagnostic utilities
Internet
1. Mozilla Firefox - Safer alternative to Internet Explorer
2. Mozilla Thunderbird - Safer alternative to Outlook Express. Supports RSS via extensions.
3. SharpReader / Awasu / Amphetadesk - Stand alone RSS news reader FeedDemon is an excellent shareware
4. Internet chat programs - Yahoo Messenger, MSN Messenger, AIM or Trillian / Gaim (1 program to chat on all networks)
5. Skype / Gizmo Project - Internet telephony
6. Google Toolbar for IE and Firefox
7. Azureus Java BitTorrent Client
Multimedia
1. iTunes / Winamp Music Player
2. Audacity - Free, open source software for recording and editing sounds.
3. Picasa - Photo management, sharing and basic editing software.
4. Gimp / Paint.net / PhotoPlus - Advanced photo editing software (Similiar to Adobe Photoshop)
5. Artrage - Simulated canvas painting
6. Video Players - Divx Player, Real Player, Apple Quicktime (These software are needed to play internet video)
7. VLC Player with K-lite Codec pack can play any file circulating on the net
8. Deep Burner Free / CD BurnerXP Pro - CD / DVD Burner
Productivity
1. Openoffice - Alternative to MS Office
2. Adobe Acrobat Reader / Foxit PDF Reader
3. Yahoo Widgets aka Konfabulator - Useful utilities which appear and disappear at the touch of a key
4. Evernote - Note taking application
5. PrimoPDF - Free pdf creator
6. Bonjour - Zero-configuration networking software ( if a wifi card is installed on the PC/laptop)
7. Copernic Desktop Search / Google Desktop Search / Yahoo Desktop Search
8. AT Notes - Stickies
9. AceMoney Lite - Personal Finance Manager
10. Izarc - Archive utility which supports multiple formats
11. WordWeb - Free Thesaurus and Dictionary
12. Unit Conversion Utility
Enjoy ;)
+dwebb
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Hacking the CVS Disposable Camcorder
You will need the following parts:
1) CVS One-Time-Use Camcorder
You will need to go to your local CVS store to pick one up. You can use this store locator to find you nearest one. If you dont have one locally, you can always try our forums to see if anyone will pick you up one. (and then there is always ebay) The camcorder will cost you around $30 but if you sign up for their "buyers card" you can save $5 plus there may be a coupon floating around here or there for another $5 off.. Regardless, this thing is worth way more than $30, so give CVS a break. =)
1) PalmIII sync cradle
To be honest, this was the hardest thing for me to find. I went to Microcenter, Best Buy, Circuit City, CompUSA, Office Max, and Office depot and could not find one! Then went to the DAV, Goodwill, Salvation Army, Dollar Store, and Big Lots hoping I could find one.. I tell you I couldnt believe how hard it was to find! Well of course there were plenty on ebay, but I didnt want to wait for shipping, so I tried emailing all my geeky friends as well as put a post out on Freecycle. Luckily there was a kind soul on Freecycle who had a spare and GAVE IT TOO ME! If you are reading this, Thank you! Literary millions of people will be looking at your cradle! =)
1) Usb cable that you dont care about.
You will need a spare USB cable that you will cut. This could be off an old mouse/keyboard that doesnt work anymore, or just a spare USB cable that you have laying around. It will need to be a "Standard A Type" USB connector. (the type that you plug INTO your computer)
MISC
You will also need assorted small screwdrivers, a soldering iron, solder, solder wick, and gorilla glue. (or other superglue) You will also need some software, but I will get to that later in the article.
You can get construction details here at the original post.
+dwebb
Get Tech Help for Free
Check it out here.
+dwebb
Anonymous Emailer
Check it out here.
+dwebb
Web Blast From the Past
Check out the Wayback Machine
+dwebb
wikiHow - The Ultimate How To Manual
Check it out here.
+dwebb
The Ultimate Text File Directory
Check it out here.
+dwebb
Free Multiplayer Online Games
Adventure Quest
A 2D anime themed RPG Game. Runs in your web browser. Large community of players. This game takes a different approach from the usual, and is worth checking out.
Free, with option to pay for additional features.
Check it out here.
Air Attack
3D flight combat simulator.
Free to play indefinitely.
Check it out here.
Allegiance
"Tired of mindless shooters? Welcome to the multiplayer space combat simulation where teamwork is king!"
Free to play indefinitely.
Check it out here.
America's Army
"A thrilling first-person action game. Become a member of the world's premier land force; trained and equipped to achieve decisive victory�anywhere. Earn the right to call yourself a Soldier, letting the enemies of freedom know that America's Army has arrived..."
Free to play indefinitely.
Check it out here.
Area00
"Take off in one of 30 military planes all with actual specs! Take off in a F-22 and fly against human flyers for the ultimate challenge!"
Free to play indefinitely.
Check it out here.
Artifact
"Artifact is the Multi-Player, Persistent World, Real-Time Strategy game from Samu Games. Build an empire from a single city. Search the world for the Ancient Artifacts and claim them for your own. Then do your best to hold on to them to win the game. Finding is only half the battle... "Free, with option to pay for additional features.
Check it out here.
You can check out more here.
+dwebb
Finding Warez with Google.
It's okay if you don't read chinese. You just have to know some keywords to download the files successfully.
1. First, go to Google China - the trailing slash is important.
2. Key in the software name you want to download in the search field. And remember to check the following option. It tells Google to look for China only web sites (distinguished by the use of simplified chinese only characters).
3. Now, look for the following highlighted keywords:
don't worry if you don't understand what the heck they mean. The words highlighted in yellow mean "cracked version", and the words in green mean "download".
4. Follow the links. Now you will see more chinese characters! Don't worry though, their layouts are typically the same. Now keep looking for the green keywords above, they should be at the bottom of the page, or the row of the table that describes the software. You can usually get to know their ratings too. Talk about professional warez!
5. That's it!
There is absolutely no magic or advanced techniques to be used here. The root of the problem is, China has way too many warez sites run by individuals, and Google is so far still crawling and indexing them. The high number of warez sites makes Google to usually return links to warez sites on the first page of the results, some even get to ranked first. And of course, this technique can be used with Google Russia too.
The table of translations you might find useful. Of course, do not hesitate to use some online translation tools like Babelfish.
Copy and pastable keywords (in chinese. will be displayed as question marks if not properly encoded): 下载, 本地下载, 破解, 序列号, 软件, 语言, 完全版, 共享版, 免费.
Enjoy!!!
+dwebb
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Magnetic Jewelry
Check it out here.
+dwebb
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
DIY 5 Dollar Taser
Enjoy and don't fry yourself.
+dwebb
How to Hack An Elevator
Check it out here.
+dwebb