You’ve got to check this blog out!

My name is Bill Gates, and I have over ten million times more money than you. I created Windows, the most advanced operating system in existence, after I dropped out of high school. Some people hate hypocrisy; I thrive on it.

Ok, I know this (and the other blogs similar to it) have been around for some time, but I just haven’t gotten around to mentioning it. Well, some guys (most definitely from America) have created blogs acting as “Fake Bill Gates”, “Fake Steve Jobs” and “Fake Steve Ballmer”. Basically, they rip these CEOs off, and it is HILLARIOUS!

So, check them out at:

• Fake Bill Gates: www.fakebill.wordpress.com
• Fake Steve Jobs: www.fakesteve.blogspot.com
• Fake Steve Ballmer: www.fakesteveballmer.blogspot.com

3 Ways to keep your PC in good health

We can all moan and groan about how Windows is messing around with us, complain about constant error messages and performance issues with our PCs. But, let’s face it: the way things are going, it looks like Windows will be around for a long time, and so we need to make sure that we can live with it.

The key to computing well is to make sure that your PC is maintained properly. Here’s three things you should do to make your digital life hassle-free:

1. Defrag

Defragging your PC compresses old files, allowing for more space. This in turn makes your PC run faster. Just bare in mind that this does tend to take some time to complete, but it is recommended, as it is the foremost attribute to maintaining your computer, and making it run faster and more efficiently.

To access Defragmenter: Click Start -> All Programs (Programs on some Start menus) -> Accessories -> System tools ->Disk Defragmenter.

2. Clean-up

Cleaning up your hard drive creates more disk space so you can do more with your PC (and possibly make it run faster too).

Many programs store temporary files, and Internet browsers store offline content in temporary folders, and this can tend to clutter-up your PC. So, using the Disk Clean-up tool, you can get rid of these unwanted files.

To access Disk Clean-up: Click Start -> All Programs (Programs on some Start menus) -> Accessories -> System tools ->Disk Clean-up.

3. Protect your PC against spyware

Spyware collects personal information without letting you know and without asking for permission. From the Web sites you visit to usernames and passwords, spyware can put you and your confidential information at risk. In addition to privacy concerns, spyware can hamper your computer’s performance. To combat spyware, you might want to consider using Microsoft Windows Defender, which is included in Windows Vista, and is available as a free download for Microsoft XP SP2. Alternatively, there are other free anti-spyware software programs available.

Information sourced from: http://www.microsoft.com/atwork/getstarted/speed.mspx?wt_svl=10073XPHa1&mg_id=10073XPHb1

(You can find more tips by clicking this link.)

Leopard releases today!

For some, it’s been quite a long wait, and today, that wait will finally be over. At 6pm tonight, Apple Computer, Inc will release their upgrade to their outstanding Macintosh operating system – OS X Leopard.

Flock: Finally, a social browser

Are you an addicted user to Facebook, MySpace, Bebo or Orkut? Or any of the social networks, for that matter? Now you can do all your social networking, directly from your browser! Say hello to Flock, a web browser based on the open-source Mozilla project. Utilizing some code from Firefox, Flock is quite secure in terms of security.

So basically, Flock is a web browser, just like Internet Explorer, Safari, Opera and Firefox, but it has features in it that let you connect to social networks like Facebook, and upload pictures, edit certain fields and get updates from your friends. It is also extremely flexible, with the implementation of plug-ins (just like in Firefox). TechZone has just downloaded Flock, and here’s what it looks like:

 

(Click to enlarge)

Just like in Firefox, Flock asks you if you want to import your bookmarks, favorites etc. from your previous browser. It also follows the new trend in browsers: it also includes tabbed browsing. All in all, Flock is a great application, and although it’s in beta, I think it has great potential. 

A Leopard never changes his spots…

 

It all comes down to 26 October 2007. As the architects (Apple Computer) like to say, “the most advanced operating system just got even more advanced”. Yes, Apple’s award-winning operating system, and the sinister competitor to Windows, is about to be upgraded. Mac OS X 10.5, codenamed “Leopard” is set to release this month.

Leopard offers 300 new features, in contrast to Vista’s “apparent” 100. Included in these features is Time Machine, a killer tool that you can use to go back in time to a specified date and see what your OS looked like. But it’s the way Time Machine does it that’s to cool: the whole desktop slides down, and in its place is a picture of galaxies. Then, a whole lot of windows start flying as if you’re traveling through time, until you reach your specified date. To see this and other features in action, watch the videos from Apple’s website (www.apple.com).

You can pre-order it from Apple’s website, or from the Apple ZA Store (the online store for South Africa) at: www.zastore.co.za. Mac OS X 10.5 should also be available from the iStore in Gateway (Durban).