Author: Why Not

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Microsoft Security Essentials

I have been using Microsoft Security Essentials Beta on day one. I did have some reservations on this product instead of blindly believing whatever Microsoft P.R. (a.k.a. Paul Thurrott) was saying in Windows Weekly Podcast.

My first impressions on Microsoft Security Essentials were:

  • Small memory footprint.
  • Doing good job at detecting malware on a known infected hard-drive.
  • Excessive use of “At Risk” phrase.

Overall I am impressed with the performance and I have installed it on numbers of computers that I managed. Two things that I stumbled upon are:

  • VNC is flagged as security threat.
  • Explorer.exe uses a lot more memory during the scan. It is unclear if Security Essentials offloads part of the scanning task to Explorer.exe.

In addition to that I have also installed Microsoft Security Essentials for some friends who were having virus troubles repeatedly in the past. This would put Microsoft Security Essentials to the test. Then again, the users often are the weakest links in computer security.

Get Microsoft Security Essentials.

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Telemarketer Text Spam from (562) 453-8906.

When you thought that those Telemarketer phonecalls were annoying, now they are sending you text messages to your phones. It doesn’t matter if you’re on the do-not-call list because they actually never called you; they just texted you.

562-453-8906

The latest one that came to my phone is from (562) 453-8906 and it says:

(insert web-site here) Is your mortgage payment too expensive? Our Loan Modification program can lower your payments immediately. May we please give you a call?

A query on Google reveals that a lot of people have received such text message with different Web-Addresses attached.

If you received such text messages, file a complaint to FCC (http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm).

Select the options in the following sequence:

  • Wireless Telephone
  • Telemarketing calls (including Do-Not-Call), prerecorded messages and unsolicited commercial emails received on a wireless phone

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Information for National Do Not Call Registry – http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/donotcall/

Register your phone number in the National Do Not Call Registry – https://www.donotcall.gov/

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Apple updates iTunes and Logic.

2009.09.22

software_update iTunes Icon

Apple releases updates to iTunes 9 and Logic Studio ’09.

iTunes 9.0.1 for Windows (64 bit) | 88.80MB
iTunes 9.0.1 provides a number of important bug fixes.

iTunes 9.0.1 for Mac OS X and Windows (32-bit) | 82.95MB
iTunes 9 provides a number of important bug fixes and addresses an issue with verification of Apple devices.

Logic Pro 9.0.1 | 183MB
This update improves overall stability and provides numerous fixes and enhancements.

Logic Express 9.0.1 | 133.74MB
This update improves overall stability and provides numerous fixes and enhancements.

Main Stage 2.0.1 | 206.75MB
This update improves overall performance and provides numerous fixes and enhancements, including the Loopback and Playback plug-ins.

All the updates are available through Software Update and Apple Web-site.

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Google Sync with push Gmail and Picasa 3.5

Google has been busy today with the release of Picasa 3.5 and Google Sync with push Gmail.

Google has just added push support into Google Sync. Google Sync supports BlackBerry, iPhone, Nokia S60, Windows Mobile and other phones. iPhone users now can have push Gmailon their phones.

Google Sync uses Microsoft Exchange Active Sync Protocol. iPhone can only have one Exchange ActiveSync account configured.

iPhone one Exchange ActiveSync

Picasa

Today Google also releases Picassa 3.5 with name tags.

picasa_name_tag

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Final Cut Studio: Failed Installation

I was working on a Mac Pro with newly installed Snow Leopard on Wednesday September 16th, 2009. I tried installing Final Cut Studio (2009) and it kept failing.

After a long troubleshooting session, I finally found out what the culprits were.

I managed to duplicate the error on a 13-inch MacBook Pro also running a newly installed Snow Leopard.

Final Cut Pro 2009 Failed Installation

For some reasons on both the Mac Pro and MacBook Pro, Final Cut Pro installation failed if iLife ’09 installed. Make sure all iLife ’09 is up to date, especially iDVD.

I succesfully installed Final Cut Studio sans iDVD Theme Element.

fcp09 custom install no idvd

If the installation still failed, you can separately install Final Cut Studio elements. The error most likely occurred after Final Cut Pro and Colors are installed. Therefore, install the followings separately:

  • Motion Contents
  • Audio Contents
  • DVD Studio Pro

It is likely that there was an error while reading the installation disc. For example the Mac Pro I was working on was unable to read Motion Contents disk 2. By installing Final Cut Studio components separately, I managed to get all of them successfully installed.