Replace Windows 8 with Windows 7 or a look-alike

Cheryle Fields’ husband hates his new Windows 8 PC. Cheryle asked me if she can replace the operating system with Windows 7. You may or may not be able to install Windows 7 on your particular Windows 8 PC. A lot of that depends on the hardware. And, of course, you’ll have to buy a new copy of Windows 7. But if you or a close family member hates Windows 8 that much (and I’m in complete sympathy), there are better options than paying for two...

Read More

Sitedrop Turns A Dropbox Folder Into A Visual Workspace Where You Can Collaborate With Others

Getting everyone to use the same project management software is a challenge, but everyone seems to have a Dropbox account. Hoping to build on top of the consumer-friendly service’s popularity, a new startup called Sitedrop allows you quickly turn any Dropbox folder into a website where you can visually showcase your work and collaborate with others. Sitedrop users are able to view, comment, favorite and even upload files...

Read More

Microsoft scam man is sentenced in 'landmark' case

A man who ran a Microsoft computer scam tricking people into paying for free anti-virus software has received a suspended four-month jail sentence. Mohammed Khalid Jamil, 34, from Luton, hired people at an Indian call centre to falsely tell victims their computers had a serious problem. The targets would be charged between £35 and £150 for software Microsoft made available for free. As well as the suspended sentence, Jamil...

Read More

Apple retires Snow Leopard from support, leaves 1 in 5 Macs vulnerable to attacks

Computerworld - Apple on Tuesday made it clear that it will no longer patch OS X 10.6, aka Snow Leopard, when it again declined to offer a security update for the four-and-a-half-year-old operating system. As Apple issued an update for Mavericks, or OS X 10.9, as well as for its two predecessors, Mountain Lion (10.8) and Lion (10.7), Apple had nothing for Snow Leopard or its owners yesterday. Apple provided Snow Leopard security...

Read More

PNG Image Metadata Leading to iFrame Injections

PNG Image Metadata Leading to iFrame Injections by Chris Brook February 4, 2014 , 3:25 pm   Researchers have discovered a relatively new way to distribute malware that relies on reading  JavaScript code stored in an obfuscated PNG file’s metadata to trigger iFrame injections. The technique makes it highly unlikely a virus scanner would catch it because the injection method is so deeply...

Read More

NASA unveils 6-foot 'superhero robot' Valkyrie

Valkyrie has 44 axes of movement and interchangeable arms. (Credit: IEEE Spectrum ) Designed to compete in the DARPA Robotics Challenge, this "female" robot could be the precursor to robo-astronauts that will help colonize Mars. What if NASA's Robonaut grew legs and indulged in steroids? The result might be close to what NASA has unveiled: Valkyrie is a humanoid machine billed as a "superhero robot." Developed at the Johnson Space...

Read More

PSA: Windows 8.1 update is now available to download

Today's the day: October 17th, the day Microsoft starts rolling out Windows 8.1. And right now, the minute this post first went live, is 7AM ET, the exact minute the OS update will start appearing in the Windows Store as a free download. Don't have a Windows 8 device? You can still install 8.1 on a Win 7 machine; you just won't get the update for free. For folks using Windows 7, you'll pay the same price...

Read More

Android KitKat unveiled in Google surprise move

Google is calling the next version of its mobile operating system Android KitKat. The news comes as a surprise as the firm had previously indicated version 4.4 of the OS would be Key Lime Pie. The decision to brand the software with the name of Nestle's chocolate bar is likely to be seen as a marketing coup for the Swiss food and beverage maker. However, Google told the BBC that it had come up with the idea and that neither...

Read More

Essential networking tips for small business

So you’ve seen the light and turned your sluggish PC into a productivity powerhouse with better, faster gear. That’s a great first step. But putting together a state-of-the-art PC workstation without having a fast, reliable network to help it run at its best is like leaving your souped-up new ride on blocks in your garage. Check out the tips below for ways to upgrade your network and storage, and take your productivity to the next level. Embrace...

Read More

Google Fiber spawns startup renaissance in Kansas City

Google's superfast Internet service launched a year ago in Kansas City. CNET's Marguerite Reardon takes a look at the impact it has on the local startup scene. by Marguerite Reardon June 19, 2013 8:41 AM PDT    Ben Barreth liquidated his retirement account to buy the Homes for Hackers house to encourage startups to move to Kansas City for Google Fiber. (Credit: CNET/Marguerite Reardon)    KANSAS...

Read More

Mozilla Readies Major Firefox Redesign As It Ponders What The Browser Of The Future Should Look Like

“Maybe we shouldn’t even call it a browser anymore,” Mozilla’s VP of Firefox engineering Jonathan Nightingale told me a few days ago. “‘Browser’ is really an antiquated word. People don’t really browse all that much anymore.” Instead, he argues, we now mostly use our browsers to access sophisticated web apps, web-based productivity tools and social networks. For browser developers, this means they have to start to rethink what their browsers...

Read More

Google Glass rooted and hacked to run Ubuntu live at Google I/O

Today at Google I/O the company held a session entitled "Voiding your Warranty" where employees demonstrated how to root Google Glass and install Ubuntu on it. What you're seeing above is a screenshot from a laptop running a terminal window on top and showing the screencast output from Glass on the bottom -- here running the standard Android launcher instead of the familiar cards interface. The steps involve...

Read More