Yahoo to join Microsoft Search Engine Bing!!!

Google receives over 65% of the internet search traffic! Being a hell of a good search tool and my first choice as well, i can see why this percentage is this high. I dont have any concerns with this search provider monopoly, but what is is Google's multiple increasing steady involvement in every single aspect of the online spectrum. They have already got all of the following online services and in most of them they have a monopoly as well - email/calendar/online docs/blogging tools/feedburner/online storage/browsers and most recently a proposed OS(online based)! The concern i have is that we will all eventually become so dependant on Google that they become vital if not essential to your online activities. What if they ever decide to start charging for all the services youve become so reliant on? What if they close down? (highly unlikely :-)) These are the concerns i have.

So it is with great anticipation that i announce that Yahoo search provider (owns 18% of internet search traffic) will join Microsoft search provider Bing (owns 6% of internet search traffic) to make a +-25% contender against Google Search. Any intervention to stop a monopoly in a market is always a good one, except for the monopoly holder affected by it. I'm routing for this joint venture to become a bigger market shar holder and give Google some good old competition.

I dont want to see Google fail, but i do want to see other providers keeping up with them so that i can use various online providers for my online activities and not be stuck with only one option.

Read this blog for more info on the venture
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20090729/wr_nm/us_microsoft_yahoo

AnalogX Proxy to Share an Internet Connection

A proxy is used to share and manage internet connections. If you have only one PC on a network with an internet connection then this is a method of enabling the rest of the network to use this connection and all have internet access. If your network already has internet access then implementing a proxy can be beneficial as user and browsing access can be managed.

If you are simply looking to share an internet connection and agree that Microsoft's built in feature 'Internet connection sharing' is not the most user friendly thing youve ever attempted, then you have to get over to analogx.com and get their free Proxy software.

You install the utility on the PC with the internet connection, run the application, enter this PC's primary network address as the 'Proxy Binding' address and your proxy server is setup! (In the screenshot my PCs IP was 10.0.0.1)

Now go to any PC on your network, which has access to this PC, and enter the proxy binding address as your proxy server and indicate port as 6588 and you'll have an internet connection!

Enjoy

IT Hardware Poster... Classic to Current...

Found this beautifull poster giving detailed info on all the hardware changes our industry has gone through. This is a must for all IT guys and gals. Enjoy.

Go to below link and select download from left menu to download the poster:
http://sonic840.deviantart.com/art/Computer-hardware-poster-1-7-111402099

Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder

You have your legit software you paid for and now need to reinstall it. How many times have you been in the situation where you then have the software but cant find the product key? It happens to me all the time. This little app solves these issues as it can tell you what the key is on your currently installed apps!

The Magical Jelly Bean Keyfinder is a freeware open source utility that retrieves your Product Key (cd key) used to install Windows from your registry. It allows you to print or save your keys for safekeeping. It works on Windows 95, 98, ME, 2000, XP, Vista, Server 2003, Server 2008, Office XP, Office 2003, and Office 2007 family of products. It also has a community-updated configuration file that retrieves product keys for many other applications. Another feature is the ability to retrieve product keys from unbootable Windows installations.

Use this link to download the software - http://www.magicaljellybean.com/keyfinder/
Or this link as an alternative - http://files.getdropbox.com/u/644061/keyfinder.2.0.1.zip

Google Chrome Operating System Info

If you haven't heard as yet, Google has announced they will be entering the Operating System market and competing against the likes of Microsoft!

The two most interesting points i need to advise of off the cuff is;

1. It will be a free OS, because it is based on a Linux distribution which is covered under the Open Source agreement!
2. The OS will be predominantly Web Based! The PC will boot up and immediately connect you to the web where all your operations will take place.

Read the following blog for some very interesting information regarding the operating system;
http://richg74.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/the-other-shoe-drops/

I for one cant wait to test this os out! P.s. just started playing with Windows 7 and now it seems i will have another new os to play with soon! :-)

Verify your CD or DVD contents with VSO-Inspector

Even in todays digital world with multiple avenues of storing and sharing data online, the need for using Optical Devices for data saving, transfer, use and storage is still very much a reality.

It is in all situations vital that the data being burned to CD or DVD be readable when needed, but i have only really found Nero that has the option of verifying the disk after burning to ensure the data integrity of the disk.

VSO-Inspector is a free utility that does just this.

Simply put the CD in your rom and run a surface scan and file test with the software. Once successful you can feel a little more confident in the CD working once it reaches its destination!

Also note all of the very interesting data the utility gives regarding the specs of your Optical Drive.

Hope this is useful. <via>