Apr 14

Automatically Empty the Recycling Bin at Startup

Posted in: Software, Today's Chili, Windows, Windows Vista, Windows XP

This article was written on January 30, 2009 by CyberNet.

One of the things that I noticed with my desktop computer is that I’m constantly deleting large files, and after awhile it can consume quite a bit of space. I restart the computer a few times each week, and I decided that upon startup would also be a good time to have the Recycle Bin emptied.

After I started searching around I found that there wasn’t a special command designed to empty just the Recycle Bin. I did, however, stumble upon a way to execute the Disk Cleanup Wizard via the command line in a way that requires no user interaction. That means I could not only empty the Recycle Bin, but also temporary and other unneeded files.

Here’s what you have to do:

  1. From the command line run this line of code:
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\cleanmgr.exe /sageset:1
    sageset.png
  2. A window should appear where you can configure what items you want cleaned/emptied when this profile (that we’ve designated as number 1) is run. Check the boxes for each of the options you want executed. Press OK when finished. Note that the Disk Cleanup will not run after you press OK.
    disk cleanup-1.png
  3. Now you need to create a scheduled task. In Vista the action you’ll want to assign will be:
    C:\WINDOWS\system32\cleanmgr.exe /sagerun:1
    And it should look something like this when entered in the New Action screen:
    new action.png
    If you’re asked whether you want to run the program with the /sagerun:1 arguments you can press Yes.
  4. Now you can choose the rest of the settings yourself, such as when you want this to run. One of the options you can pick is to execute this when your computer starts.
    task schedule.png
  5. You’re done!

As you can imagine this tool can clean up a lot of different areas on your PC according to whatever schedule you setup. I’ve also started backing up my entire PC each night, and I have this script run before the process is initiated to ensure that unnecessary files aren’t being backed up. So it’s become a rather critical part of my daily routine.

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Apr 14

iOS 4.3.2 / 4.2.7 now available to download, fixes iPad 3G and FaceTime woes (update: jailbroken!)

Posted in: Apple, firmware, firmware update, FirmwareUpdate, ios, ipad, iPhone, ipod touch, IpodTouch, operating system, OperatingSystem, os, security, Software, Today's Chili, update

If you’re hankering to be riding the very latest mobile software from Apple, hit up your iTunes, for version 4.3.2 of iOS is now available for downloadin’ and updatin’. Fixes for occasional “blank or frozen” FaceTime video and iPad 3G issues get top billing, while the obligatory security updates fill out the rest. The size of this mighty software drop? A hefty 666.2MB.

Update: Well, someone’s skipping class today. A tethered jailbreak is already in the wilds, if you dare. Thanks, Jeff!

Update 2: Looks like Verizon customers are getting a slightly different update of their own: iOS 4.2.7. It promises only “bug fixes and security updates.”

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

iOS 4.3.2 / 4.2.7 now available to download, fixes iPad 3G and FaceTime woes (update: jailbroken!) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 13:21:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 14

Tweetbot might replace your iOS Twitter client (video)

Posted in: app, Apple, hands-on, ios, iPhone, social networking, SocialNetworking, Software, Today's Chili, twitter, video
We awoke this morning to a deluge of hype surrounding Tweetbot, the version 1.0 Twitter client from Tapbot. So we sucked down some legal stimulant and ponied up the entrance fee to give it a go on an iPhone 4 (the app requires iOS 4.1 or later). Granted, we’re still in the honeymoon period but we’re definitely impressed. The design elements, animations, and audio tones are slickly implemented and the functionality is rich and intuitive. We’re especially smitten by the right and left swiping actions used to reveal conversations and replies, respectively, and the customizable tab bar that gives quick access to lists and retweets. In fact, the list integration is so good as to finally make Twitter lists useful on a smartphone. We also applaud Tapbot’s plucky release in light of Twitter Inc.’s preference that developers stop reproducing the Twitter client experience, especially since the result is superior to Twitter’s own free iOS app. Sure, the user interface can be a bit overzealous at times (think HTC Sense vs. Windows Phone 7) but it’s more fun than it is distracting, especially during these early hours. At $1.99 it’s definitely worth a look — just promise to view the video overview after the break first, ok?

Continue reading Tweetbot might replace your iOS Twitter client (video)

Tweetbot might replace your iOS Twitter client (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 14 Apr 2011 08:16:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 13

CyberNotes: Recover Lost Bookmarks in Firefox

Posted in: CyberNotes, Software, Tips and Tricks, Today's Chili

This article was written on November 21, 2007 by CyberNet.

CyberNotes
Web Browser Wednesday

Has something ever happened to your Firefox bookmarks, and you were left wondering how you could get back the bookmarks that you lost? Some of you may be using a service such as Foxmarks (review) so that all of your bookmarks are also backed-up online, but often any change you make to your bookmarks will also be reflected in the service you’re synchronizing with. Therefore if half of your bookmarks get deleted on your computer, they will probably get deleted online as well.

There is actually an easy way for you to recover from such a catastrophe, but you only have a few days to act on it. In your Firefox profile there is a folder called bookmarkbackups, and in there you will see five days worth of bookmark backups. Ever since Firefox 1.5, the browser has created daily snapshots of your bookmarks in case anything ever happened to them, which can be imported back into Firefox to restore your bookmarks.

Firefox 3 Users: Follow this updated guide for information on restoring Firefox 3 bookmarks.

The first thing you need to do is located your Firefox profile folder:

Operating SystemProfile folder location(s)
Windows 95/98/Me

C:\Windows\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\

C:\Windows\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\

Windows NT 4.xC:\Winnt\Profiles\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
Windows 2000 and XPC:\Documents and Settings\<Windows login/user name>\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
Windows VistaC:\Users\<Windows login/user name>\AppData\Roaming\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\
Unix

~/.mozilla/Firefox/Profiles/

Mac OS X

~/Library/Mozilla/Firefox/Profiles/

~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/

Once you have found that, just look for the bookmarkbackups folder, which is pictured below. In it you should find at least 5 HTML files that are dated, each corresponding to a different day’s bookmark backup:

Firefox Bookmarks Backup

The best thing that you can do is copy that file somewhere else, such as your desktop, to ensure that it remains in tact. To import the bookmarks back into Firefox go to Bookmarks -> Organize (or Manage) Bookmarks -> File -> Import -> from File and browse for the HTML file that you just copied to your desktop. Firefox will then import the bookmarks back into the browser.

Alternatively you can copy the bookmark backup file, rename it to bookmarks.html, and replace your existing bookmarks.html file located in your profile folder. This will completely replace all of your existing bookmarks, which may or may not be what you want to do.

Firefox Export Bookmarks–On Demand Backups–

If you plan on doing something that could corrupt your bookmarks, or just for an added precaution, you can manually backup your Firefox bookmarks. Just go to Bookmarks -> Organize Bookmarks -> File -> Export, and choose a location to save the HTML file.

–Number of Backups–

As I mentioned earlier, Firefox only has bookmark backups for the last five days by default, but that can be changed. Here’s what you have to do:

  1. Start Firefox.
  2. In the Address Bar type about:config and press Enter.
  3. Find the option that is named browser.bookmarks.max_backups and double-click on it.
  4. Increase or decrease the value to whatever you would like. I changed mine to 10.
  5. That’s all!

Firefox Bookmarks Backup About Config

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Apr 13

Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore confirms: Skype coming to Windows Phone 7 ‘this fall’

Posted in: Microsoft, skype, Software, Today's Chili, VoIP, windows phone 7, WindowsPhone7, Wp7

You heard right — Skype just went from “nowhere near” Windows Phone 7, to “on the roadmap,” to “definitely coming this fall.” That last tidbit is courtesy of Microsoft’s own Joe Belfiore, stating that “Skype will be coming to the Windows Phone 7 platform this fall” while speaking live at MIX 11. We hesitate to act surprised, but given the prior reports that it may be a pipe dream, we’re most certainly breathing a bit easier hearing this. Now, if only a WP7 phone would ship with a legitimate front-facing camera…

Microsoft’s Joe Belfiore confirms: Skype coming to Windows Phone 7 ‘this fall’ originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 12:41:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 13

CyberNotes: Shortcuts to End Processes and Programs

Posted in: CyberNotes, Freeware, Software, Today's Chili

This article was written on December 13, 2007 by CyberNet.

CyberNotes
Tutorial Thursday

Over in the CyberNet forum, Pieter posted an awesome tip for Linux users where you can actually create a shortcut to forcefully terminate an application. This is handy in situations where a program, such as Firefox, freezes up and won’t shutdown. I figured there had to be a way to do this in Windows as well, and so I started searching around.

Almost every site that I found recommended using the taskkill (instructions) command line option, which is rather easy to create a shortcut for since it is built-in to Windows. Doing taskkill /f /im firefox.exe would be the command needed to “forcefully” close Firefox at a moments notice, but I found one flaw with it. Sometimes it is handy being able to forcefully close Firefox even when it’s not frozen, because then you know the next time you start the browser it will ask whether you want to restore your tabs and windows.

What I found with taskkill was that if a program wasn’t frozen it would gracefully close it. That might be nice in some cases, but when you use this with Firefox you won’t get the option to restore your session the next time you start the browser. Don’t worry, I wasn’t about to give up! With the help of a very small (just  6.5KB) free program it will take under a minute to setup.

Note: These instructions are written for Vista, but should be similar in all versions of Windows.

  1. You can download Taskill (note that it is only spelled with one “k”) from the developer’s homepage, but you’ll have to scroll down a ways to find it. Alternatively we are mirroring the file on our server to make it easier to download. Place the file in a location where you’ll easily know the path to it, such as at the root of the “C:\” drive.
  2. The program does have an GUI, but we aren’t going to be using it. Remember, our goal is to create a shortcut that takes advantage of it. Right-click on the Desktop and choose New -> Shortcut.
  3. When it asks for the location you need to type the path to Taskill, followed by the executable’s name that you want to forcefully close. It will look something like this:

    "C:\taskill.exe" firefox.exe

    Where the part in quotes is the location of taskill.exe, and then immediately after that you put the name of the executable program you want to close with the shortcut. Then click the Next button.

    (Click to Enlarge)
    Taskill Create Shortcut

  4. Name the shortcut whatever you would like. In this case we’re going to call it Kill Firefox.

    (Click to Enlarge)
    Taskill Name Shortcut

  5. Now you should have a pretty new icon that you can use to kill all instances of Firefox. You can put this on your desktop, in the Quick Launch bar, or even in the Start Menu.
    Taskill Firefox Shortcut
  6. Extra Credit: You can change the icon of the shortcut by right-clicking on it, selecting Properties, and then click the Change Icon button. While you’re in the Properties you should consider adding a keyboard shortcut if you plan on using it a lot!

This will probably only appeal to a small amount of people, but given the tiny application size and the fast execution I thought Taskill was pretty darn awesome. I use this with my Firefox so that I can shut it down at a moments notice!

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Apr 13

Sony Ericsson sets up its own channel in Android Market, relegates ‘My apps’ link to a menu item

Posted in: Android, android market, AndroidMarket, apps, content, Games, market, Software, Today's Chili, xperia

Open up Android Market on your Android device today and (most of) you will see a familiar set of three headings — Apps, Games and My apps — bidding you welcome. Do the same on your Sony Ericsson Android phone, however, and the last item in that list might no longer be there. That’s because SE has decided to introduce its own “channel” to the Market, wherein you’ll find a load of Xperia handset-specific junk software and other specially curated bits that your smartphone is adjudged to be in need of. The change means you’ll need to open up your menu to get at your own apps, but that shouldn’t be an entirely unfamiliar activity for Android users. Sony Ericsson may be the first manufacturer to pull this switcheroo, but it’s following in the well-worn footsteps of Verizon and T-Mobile in the US. And speaking of carriers, Sony Ericsson says this change is operator-dependent, so if you’re nice and lucky, your operator won’t bother to roll this out. Sadly, our Xperia Arc has already been infected.

Sony Ericsson sets up its own channel in Android Market, relegates ‘My apps’ link to a menu item originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 08:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 13

Beta 1 for webOS 3.0 leaks, lets you touch the TouchPad a little early (video)

Posted in: hewlett-packard, HP, leak, palm, sdk, Software, tablet, Today's Chili, touchpad, video, webos
Beta 1 for webOS 3.0 leaks, lets you touch the TouchPad a little early (video)

You don’t have to be a coder to appreciate the wonders that a software development kit can contain, especially when there’s a nice emulator tucked in there to give an early taste of things to come. That’s exactly what can be found within the webOS 3.0 SDK, and that SDK is exactly what’s been leaked to the world, giving anyone who wants it the ability to play with the OS that’ll make the HP TouchPad tick. PreCentral.net took the emulator within for a heck of a test drive, providing a lengthy textual overview of everything from keyboards to calendars, along with the video that’s embedded below. Sure, clicking and dragging in an early emulator isn’t nearly as much fun as tapping and swiping on some beautiful hardware, but it sure does cut down on the smudgy fingerprints. It’s cheaper, too.

Continue reading Beta 1 for webOS 3.0 leaks, lets you touch the TouchPad a little early (video)

Beta 1 for webOS 3.0 leaks, lets you touch the TouchPad a little early (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 13 Apr 2011 07:52:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apr 13

What To Expect From Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0 Alpha 1

Posted in: Mozilla, Pre-Release, Software, Today's Chili

This article was written on June 30, 2006 by CyberNet.

What To Expect From Mozilla Thunderbird 2.0 Alpha 1

There has been a lot of hype about Firefox 2.0 builds (codename Bon Echo) but have you been thinking about Thunderbird 2.0? Just like how Firefox 2.0 is going to have some nice new features Thunderbird will also. Here is a list of things to expect from Thunderbird 2.0 Alpha 1:

  • Tools for organizing and managing e-mail
    • Custom Folder Pane Views such as favorites, unread and recently used.
    • Message Tagging
    • Tabbed Messages
  • Be Informative
    • 312940: New Mail Alert Improvements
    • Folder Summary Popups
  • Help Fight Junk Mail
    • Improve the current bayesian based algorithm
    • Token Store Pruning / Aging
  • Improved Phishing Support
  • 327124: Windows x64 platform support
  • 328795: Find As You Type

If that isn’t enough information for you then you can checkout these pages for more information: Product Planning, Rumbling Edge, and the Roadmap. You can always download the latest build of Thunderbird 2.0 (currently pre-alpha) if you don’t want to wait for Alpha 1 to be officially released.

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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Apr 13

Microsoft Tries to Remedy Sites that don’t Work in IE8

Posted in: Internet Explorer, Microsoft, Software, Today's Chili, Windows

This article was written on February 27, 2009 by CyberNet.

ie8 compatibility view.pngAs you probably already know Internet Explorer 8 is going to be more standards compliant than previous versions of the web browser. While that sounds great to us geeks that understand what that means it also poses a problem for casual computer users who only care whether a site works or not. Thousands and thousands of sites will likely have some sort of visual flaw or possibly not work at all in IE8.

To get around this issue Microsoft lets users switch to a “compatibility view” so that sites are essentially rendered the same way they were in Internet Explorer 7. They can then go a step further by adding it to a list of sites they want the browser to always render using this compatibility view. In my testing this works great, but Microsoft has also decided to provide something that a user can install on their PC to populate this list automatically.

The executable (available for Vista and XP) goes as far as to add over 2,400 different sites that people have reported issues with. Mary Jo Foley has compiled a complete list of the sites that are included, and I thought I’d see how popular the sites are in that list. Using data from Alexa here are some stats you may find interesting:

  • 657 of the sites are in the top 1,000 on Alexa (66%)
  • 391 of the sites are in the top 500 on Alexa (78%)
  • 209 of the sites are in the top 250 on Alexa (84%)
  • 92 of the sites are in the top 100 on Alexa (92%)
  • 48 of the sites are in the top 50 on Alexa (96%)
  • 24 of the sites are in the top 25 on Alexa (96%)
  • 10 of the sites are in the top 10 on Alexa (100%)

Crazy, huh? Microsoft is including a huge chunk of the most popular sites in this compatibiltiy list. Even their own sites like microsoft.com, live.com, and msn.com are included.

As it stands right now this list is only available for users who take the time to manually install it. If IE8 was to ship with this included I’m sure there would be more cause for concern, but I’ve been using Internet Explorer 8 RC1 for a few weeks now and I’d say the website compatibility is pretty good. At this point most sites feel like they have fixed any issues with the browser, or at the very least have inserted the necessary code to make IE8 render with the IE7 engine. Although we probably won’t know for sure until it is officially released.

Copyright © 2011 CyberNetNews.com

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