JacobyTech Blog

http://www.emailintervention.com/?utm_source=en-et-na-us&utm_medium=log-in-page&utm_campaign=en

https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=wise&passive=1209600&continue=https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/newform?ref%3Dsubmitpage&followup=https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/newform?ref%3Dsubmitpage

http://www.louv.tv/cars/m5/MAF/

http://forums.nicoclub.com/from-the-makers-of-deep-creep-the-movie-comes-a-yank-in-the-maf-t207548.html

I’ve had a few computers recently that had their file type associations messed up after malware infestations, the tips listed on this site help out wonders!

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

One of the things that this can fix is when a computer can’t open executable programs, such as cmd.exe or any .exe file.

There are lots more, so you’ll have to check the page out to find out if one of them will fix your problem.  They are reg keys, so you might be afraid to use them but I’ve successfully used a few without problems.

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/hybrid-car-electric-car-battery-powered-car,news-11462.html

More in-depth: http://news.discovery.com/autos/electric-car-battery-goo-110608.html

Pretty slick stuff!  Maybe EV cars will be cheaper soon.

Interesting article, and will be even more interesting to see what Windows “8″ actually looks like.

http://www.tomsguide.com/us/windows8-tile-gui-microsoft-operating-system-touch-screen,news-11395.html

Free (almost) ways to use an old computer as your home or small business video surveillance system.

You’ll need to purchase some network cameras of course, as well as cables (unless the cameras are wireless) and then you’ll need to mount them or pay someone to mount them for you, but this software will allow you to use a computer as your DVR to record the video feeds.

Here’s a few (some not open source):

Most Promising:

http://www.ispyconnect.com/

http://www.zoneminder.com/

Less Promising:

http://www.lavrsen.dk/foswiki/bin/view/Motion/WebHome

http://www.abelcam.com/en/

http://dorgem.sourceforge.net/

There are plenty more, but they are not free.

I just found a simple little utility to resize entire folders of photos quickly and easily.  It’s free, it doesn’t need an install, and it works pretty well.

The unusual part about it is that it works differently depending on what you name the executable.  You can see what I mean by reading the information on the developer’s website.  But basically, you use their online tool to generate a filename for their executable, based on what your requirements are, then you download the program and change the program’s name to whatever their online tool gives you.  Then, simply drag a folder full of pictures onto the executable and watch it work!

I just tested it at the school that I’m working at today and it’s pretty amazing.  It dropped the total size of a folder of pictures (124 of them to be exact) down from 174MB down to 12.5MB.  I had them resized to a screen-friendly and web-friendly 1280 x 851 pixels (although I set it to 1280 x 1024).

You can do the same thing with other software, but most are more complex to use and cost lots of money, sometimes in upwards of $500.

Give it a shot!  http://www.rw-designer.com/picture-resize

THIS is what’s wrong with the cloud.  Companies that have “Terms of use” statements like Amazon’s current one. Here’s an excerpt:

1. 5.2.Our Right to Access Your Files.You give us the right to access, retain, use and disclose your account information and Your Files: to provide you with technical support and address technical issues; to investigate compliance with the terms of this Agreement, enforce the terms of this Agreement and protect the Service and its users from fraud or security threats; or as we determine is necessary to provide the Service or comply with applicable law.
2. 5.3.Security.We do not guarantee that Your Files will not be subject to misappropriation, loss or damage and we will not be liable if they are. You’re responsible for maintaining appropriate security, protection and backup of Your Files.

Read more…

Just found two linux software solutions that appear to be alternatives to Microsoft’s Windows Home Server Operating System.  They look promising, although they don’t have the “automatic backup” functionality that WHS provides for its client computers.  I haven’t tried WHS yet, nor these alternatives, but if you’re looking to use something like WHS, give these a look while you’re at it.  Just check what’s included, you might be surprised!

Zentyal: http://www.zentyal.org/

SME Server: http://wiki.contribs.org/Main_Page

Amahi: http://www.amahi.org/

ClearOS (formerly ClarkConnect): http://www.clearfoundation.com/ (Don’t know about this one as a WHS alternative, but I’m looking into it).  Right now, it looks more like a gateway product, much like Untangle

While looking at other things today, I inadvertently stumbled upon other software solutions that might be alternatives to WHS too.  They’re pretty much just network file storage systems (NAS’s), but one of them has other features such as IP Camera support (security cameras), Mobile access and apps for, you guessed it, iPhone and Android, and a bunch of other features. It’s called Synology, and they seem to only sell the hardware and isn’t free like some of the others.

FreeNAS: http://www.freenas.org (I’ve written about this one before).

Synology: http://www.synology.com/us/