As the Windows 8 beta draws close, I took some time yesterday and downloaded the 64 bit Windows 8 Developer Preview from Microsoft.  As far as a developer preview, the operating system seemed relatively stable and boot time was if anything, faster than Windows 7.  I also really like the new Bootloader to select OSes (it has mouse support, and is full resolution).

Now onto the OS itself.  Keep in mind that I was trying the OS on a computer without a touch screen or a multitouch trackpad When you first log onto the OS, the new lock screen with the time and date with the nice image background is very tasteful.  The problem is, if you’re a new user, where will you click to login?  To get to the login screen you have to Double Click on the lock screen which does a little sort of a multitouch animation that makes it look like you pulled the login screen up by dragging the lock screen away.  It is really clumsy when you are using it on a computer without a touch screen, but it would probably look good if you had one.  I think Microsoft needs to have a setting when installing the OS that lets you tell the OS whether you have a touch screen or not, so that the OS can optimize the experience to either desktop or tablet use.

Right now, the compromise is not great for either party.  This is something that I am really concerned about.  They have done away with the powerful start menu and replaced it with a touch screen interface, the new Metro that you have probably heard about, and possibly used (it is featured in Windows Phone 7 right now).

Dialogue boxes have been replaced by little notification bars that pop up from the bottom (sort of how like internet explorer now has notification bars rather than dialogue boxes too).

Overall, I am not really fond of the new UI, but I am interested to see what changes in the upcoming Beta.

This is something I’d wondered about for quite a while, and wasn’t able to do until now!

With Windows 7 there are a number of changes to how folders work.  You are now able to make ‘symbolic’ folder links among other cool things.

This allows you to congregate files from multiple locations and have windows recognize them as actually being in a location different than the one they are actually in (for example if you have a split archive with different parts on different hard drives you’d be able to make a “symbolic folder” to view them as if they were all on the same hard drive).

1. You’ll need a tool called Link Shell Extension.  This will add shell context menus to your right click context menus in Windows Explorer (giving you an option to make Symbolic Links and folders etc).   While this feature is new in windows 7 it is kind of buried and you would normally need to use the command line to utilize it.  Link Shell Extension provides a graphical front end to make this tool more useable in everyday situations.
2. Second of all, you will need to create a target folder to “paste” your symbolic links into, so Windows will be “tricked” into thinking that your files are actually there.  I guess that’s the best way of explaining it.
3. After creating your target folder wherever, navigate back to where your file is actually stored, and then right click and select Pick Link Source.
4. Navigate to your target folder and select Drop As and then select Junction (this was in instructions for linking folders; for your files you may need to try other options).
5. In your target folder you will see your file again with a little overlay icon. 
   
6. Repeat for all other parts of your archive.

Thanks to unifex from SevenForums.com for providing me with this knowledge!

We got a wierd letter in the mail from, of all places, Tanzania!

I opened it up to find a typical hilarious scam email.  It’s one thing to recieve spam in your email inbox, but it’s another thing to recieve it in the actual physical snail mail!

And it’s complete with the usual typos and everything (*facepalm*).  You’d expect if they were paying all the money for this postage they’d work on their sales pitch at least a little!

Let’s hope some gullible person doesn’t fall for this crap!

GNOME is a popular *NIX desktop environment, which has a very soft, simple, and user-friendly interface many have tried to emulate.  It is possible to get GNOME themes for Windows XP by using a hacked uxtheme.dll file.

Let’s install our hacked DLL file:

1. Download a small tool called Replacer. Let’s extract Replacer to the desktop.
2. Run the file replacer.cmd
3. Open up C:\Windows\system32 and find uxtheme.dll. Drag the file into the command prompt window. Hit enter.
4. Drag that unlocked uxtheme.dll file you found earlier into the command prompt window.  Hit enter.
5. Agree to replace the file, and when the tool finishes, restart your computer.

Done!  Now lets get some awesome GNOME visual styles.

To install these styles, extract them to (C:\WINDOWS\Resources\Themes).  The name of the msstyles file should match the name of the folder it’s in.

Enjoy your newly skinned Windows XP!

A great feature of Mac OS X is the Screenshot feature.  It is more highly developed than Window’s rudimentary Print Screen, and the combinations in which you can use it make the possibilities endless. This does not need any download what so ever, which is great!

Here’s the 3 screenshot keystrokes for Mac OS X.  All of the screenshots you take will show up on your desktop.

1. This takes  picture of your whole screen (does the same thing as Print Screen, but I think it’s superior because it saves the file at the same time instead of just copying it to the clipboard).
   Apple Key + Shift + 3
   
2. Select an custom sized area by dragging with the mouse – select any area of your desktop.
   Apple Key + Shift + 4
3. Your cursor will appear as a camera.  It takes pictures of the blue selected area that shows up when you hover over certain items.  It’s very handy for taking a picture of just one window or a certain area of the screen.
   Apple Key + Shift + 4 + Space

Fast Dial displays a list of thumbnails of your favorite sites in new tabs.  It is a sleek, easy way to access you favorite sites with each new tab you open.  Opera, an excellent browser, first pioneered this feature, along with it’s famous sidebar.  Opera’s Speed Dial looks a bit different from Fast dial, but Fast Dial still gets the job done.  Fast Dial also has a little search box at the top of the page, which is a nice added touch.

Download Fast Dial

If you’re trying to either install Adobe Flash into a Firefox install on a computer you don’t have admin rights on, or install it into Portable Firefox, then you’re probably having trouble.  The solution is relatively simple considering Adobe Flash runs off of only just two files!  Just copy those files and you’re set.

Download the flash installer, then use a program such as WinRAR or PeaZip to “extract the .EXE file”.

Then find the files flashplayer.xpt and NPSWF32.dll which you already extracted, and copy those to the folder Moziilla Firefox/plugins.

Restart Firefox, and it’s really as simple as that!

Another option if for some reason this doesn’t work though it should, is to download this extension and install it inside firefox: http://fpdownload.macromedia.com/get/flashplayer/xpi/current/flashplayer-win.xpi

Sandboxie Control

Sandboxie is an all-in one solution to trying out stuff on your computer that you don’t trust at all.  It is a brilliant idea, because it basically acts as a middleman between your PC and any programs and applications that are running on it, and it runs them inside a restricted environment, while still allowing regular interaction with the operating system.

This is a definite alternative to the virtual machine I have been using for years, and I’ll probably switch over due to the speed of not having to emulate a whole computer.

A brilliant idea overall!

Download it now! (Freeware)

Instant Boss, my new favorite app for the time being, is great for procrastinators and the easily distracted (myself, in other words).

It is the perfect solution to people who get distracted and are constantly thinking about something other than their work – thus creating the perfect solution – work for ten minutes, then a window pops up and says Take a Break.

Watch out now – the boss is coming

This is good because it gives you a visual notification that pops up and reminds you.  One feature could be a firewall that blocks all except work sites until the break .

Other than that, this is a great neat little too that is good for when you are doing work sessions – at work, or at home!

(App made in Borland Delphi)

The way to fix this is if you have 10.5.6, then download the seatbelt.kext from the 10.5.5 release then this will probably fix it!

I experienced this problem with iDeneb 1.4, and this easily fixed the problem.

Thanks to Pere from uphuck.ggrn.de forums for link to solution!