Sun buys MySQL

Sun Microsystems has bought MySQL for $1 billion. That is $1,000,000,000! I just had to write out all of those zeros. MySQL is an open source database which Sun says has grown to be enterprise-ready.

It also appears that BEA Systems Inc has agreed to be acquired by Oracle Corp for $8.5 billion.

FireShot for Firefox

FireShot
by susbox

FireShot is a Firefox extension that creates screenshots of web pages. Unlike other extensions, this plugin provides a set of editing and annotation tools, which let users quickly modify captures and insert text and graphical annotations. Such functionality will be especially useful for web designers, testers and content reviewers. It's possible to choose whether entire web page or only visible part of this page should be captured. Screenshots can be saved to disk (PNG, JPEG, BMP), copied to clipboard, e-mailed and sent to external editor for further processing.

Adds the ability to take a screenshot of web page (entire of visible part), edit it, add annotations and save (PNG, JPEG, BMP), copy to clipboard, send to external editor or e-mail it.

Free Download Manager

Free Download Manager (FDM) v2.5 introduces some really nice features.

• Flash video download
• Audio / video files converter
• Bittorent support
• Easy file sharing
• Remote control
• Portable mode
• Metalink support
• General Public License
• Multilanguage support (desired language may be chosen during installation)

I typically use the built-in download manager in Opera, but for large downloads I will use this application.  Simply copy the download URL to the clipboard and start FDM.  When you go to add the URL to FDM, it will automatically pick it up for you from the clipboard.  I do  not have FDM integrated into Opera or IE.

Send Large Files via Email

http://www.sendthisfile.com/ Unlimited

http://www.yousendit.com/ up to 100 MB

http://www.megaupload.com/ up to 250 MB

http://www.rapidshare.de/ up to 100MB

http://www.dropload.com/ up to 100MB

http://www.largefilesasap.com/ up to 2GB

http://www.zupload.com/ up to 500 MB

http://www.fileflyer.com/ up to 400 MB

email large files gets around email attachment size restrictions. upload the file and send a link via email.

IrfanView

IrfanView is the program I use to view images and video as well as listen to sound files. It handles just about any format you throw at it. Simply using the spacebar to progress through a directory of images is nice and easy. Of course, the arrow keys also work to peruse through a directory of images.

Is that all IrfanView does you ask? Not even close.

IrfanView can capture a screenshot for you as well. Simply press the letter 'C' and you will find the screen capture setup.

You want more? How about acquiring an image from a TWAIN device?

Oh, I see. You wanted to edit or convert an image. Fine, IrfanView can handle basic editing and image conversions as well.

How about manipulating multiple images in batch. Let's say you need to rename one hundred photos. No problem for IrfanView. What if you also needed to resize, resample or edit in some way those one hundred photos? Just hit the letter 'B' for Batch and off you go with IrfanView batch mode.

Want to create HTML pages for viewing your photos complete with thumbnails and captions derived from jpeg metadata such as EXIF or IPTC? Yep, IrfanView. Hit the letter 'T' for thumbnails and you can create contact sheets, gallery web pages, start a slideshow, or just browse your directories of images.

I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

Go get IrfanView!

Opera & GMail

If you use Opera Browser and GMail then using the following link may help.

http://gmail.google.com/gmail?nocheckbrowser

GMail recently introduced a dumbed down HTML only version to allow access to pratically all browsers. GMail automatically makes Opera use the plain HTML version even though Opera had no problems with the full dynamic version of their site. The above link allows browsers around the GMail sniffers.

Woohoo! Thank you!

 

Spyware Protection

Here is a list of freeware or donationware programs that I highly recommend using in order to prevent, clean and/or notify you of Spyware. Be sure to periodically run and update these tools to stay on top of any new threats.

Microsoft Antispyware:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/spyware/software/
Spywareblaster:
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

Spybot S&D:
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/download/index.html

Ad-Aware Personal Edition:
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/adaware/



From the most authoritative site on spyware - www.spywareinfo.com:

Spyware is software or hardware installed on a computer without the user's knowledge which gathers information about that user for later retrieval by whomever controls the spyware. Spyware can be broken down into two different categories, surveillance spyware and advertising spyware. Surveillance software includes key loggers, screen capture devices, and trojans. These would be used by corporations, private detectives, law enforcement, intelligence agencies, suspicious spouses, etc. Advertising spyware is software that is installed alongside other software or via activex controls on the internet, often without the user's knowledge, or without full disclosure that it will be used for gathering personal information and/or showing the user ads. Advertising spyware logs information about the user, possibly including passwords, email addresses, web browsing history, online buying habits, the computer's hardware and software configuration, the name, age, sex, etc of the user. As with spam, advertising spyware uses the CPU, RAM, and resources of the user's computer, making the user pay for the costs associated with operating it. It then makes use of the user's bandwidth to connect to the internet and upload whatever personal information it has gathered, and to download advertisements which it will present to the user, either by way of pop up windows, or with the ad banners of ad-supported software. All of this can be considered theft in the cases of advertising spyware that installs without disclosure.