Archive for August 2008
Microsoft releases IE8 beta 2
(TheForceField.Net) August 29, 2008 — Microsoft released beta 2 of Internet Explorer 8 Wednesday. The new version of the official Windows web browser includes new features and enhancements as well as improvements in security.
According to Microsoft's web site, new features in IE 8 include Web Slices, which allows you to monitor updates of specific content on web pages; InPrivate Browsing, a feature which lets you prevent sites from being recorded in your history and temporary Internet files; color coded tabbed browsing and an a new enhanced address bar.
New security features include Smartscreen Filter, which flags malicious websites and Compatibility View, a feature that allows you to view web pages originally created for older browsers, particularly earlier versions of Internet Explorer.
The new web browser will be compatible with Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista and will be released in 32-bit and 64-bit versions for Server 2003 and Vista.
Microsoft Internet Explorer 8 beta 2 is free to download and is available at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/internet-explorer/beta/default.aspx .

Astronauts discover malware in space
Think you can escape the evil of malware infestations by leaving the planet? Think again. Malware can be found anywhere now, even in space.
Computerworld posted an article today revealing that astronauts on board the International Space Station discovered it on one of their laptops, and according to NASA, apparently it is not the first time.
The malware was allegedly identified as W32.Gammima.AG by SpaceRef.com. it was discovered by Russian astronaut Sergey Volkov last month. Volkov was scanning flash cards for viruses on a Russian laptop when the worm was found. According to the International Space Station Daily Report for Friday August 22, NASA reported the space agency uploaded Norton AntiVirus to the space station the day before to install on the laptop and remove the malware. “All A31p laptops onboard are currently being loaded with latest NAV software and updated definition files for increased protection”, NASA said in the report.
Of course, the worm didn’t originate off-world, it was carried up there, but that makes it all the scarier. The simple truth is that when it comes to avoiding badware, there really is no escape.
There is a lot more we can say about it all, but the only thing I really want to know is this. Why Norton? Surely NASA could do better than that. No wonder we haven’t sent a man to Mars yet. I know NASA is on a budget and they are not exactly in the anti-malware business, but Norton? Sheesh. I hope it wasn’t the trial version.
Then again, if they are using Norton, that means they are also probably using Windows. Hmm.
On second thought, Is this something we really want to know?
Episode 25 – The Story of OnForce Part 2
This week we will continue our discussion with Jeffrey Leventhal, an entrepreneur who founded the OnForce platform and learn how he started the company. Part 2 of a two part series.
TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:17
Billboard :43
News and Comment segment 4:51
Mozilla announced the winners of the Extend Firefox 3 contest. The competition, held between March and July, was intended to encourage developers to create add-ons for the new Firefox 3 web browser released June 17. You can find the details of the contest and list of winners at http://blog.mozilla.com/extendfirefox.
System Management News reports that recent outages in Amazon’s S3 online data storage services and Apple’s MobileMe, have raised concerns about the stability of cloud computing.
You can read the article in the August 15 issue of System Management News. A single issue of System Management News is $9.95 but a subscription is free to professionals who qualify. if you are an IT professional and would like a free subscription to System Management News you can subscribe at http://theforcefield.tradepub.com/free/smns or simply click on the link in the show notes in the RSS feed for this episode.
Microsoft has signed on comedian Jerry Seinfeld to star in a series of commercials beginning September 4. Redmond reportedly signed Seinfeld to a contract worth $10 million to appear with Bill Gates in a campaign to sell Windows Vista.
Commercial Break 1:00
Get Great Web Hosting at GoDaddy.com and save 10%! GoDaddy.com 1:00
Intro to Interview 1:48
This week we’re going to continue our discussion with Jeff and hear more about the early days of OnForce, Inc. We’ll discuss the OnForce forums and how they helped influence the direction of platform after it was launched, learn why he decided to step down as CEO and find out where he thinks OnForce ranks among his accomplishments as an entrepreneur. Part two of a two part story.
Jeff Leventhal Interview 19:05
Wrap up and Close :46
©2008 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (27.2MB) | Embed
Subscribe! Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
Episode 25 – The Story of OnForce Part 2
This week we will continue our discussion with Jeffrey Leventhal, an entrepreneur who founded the OnForce platform and learn how he started the company. Part 2 of a two part series.
TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:17
Billboard :43
News and Comment segment 4:51
Mozilla announced the winners of the Extend Firefox 3 contest. The competition, held between March and July, was intended to encourage developers to create add-ons for the new Firefox 3 web browser released June 17. You can find the details of the contest and list of winners at http://blog.mozilla.com/extendfirefox.
System Management News reports that recent outages in Amazon’s S3 online data storage services and Apple’s MobileMe, have raised concerns about the stability of cloud computing.
You can read the article in the August 15 issue of System Management News. A single issue of System Management News is $9.95 but a subscription is free to professionals who qualify. if you are an IT professional and would like a free subscription to System Management News you can subscribe at http://theforcefield.tradepub.com/free/smns or simply click on the link in the show notes in the RSS feed for this episode.
Microsoft has signed on comedian Jerry Seinfeld to star in a series of commercials beginning September 4. Redmond reportedly signed Seinfeld to a contract worth $10 million to appear with Bill Gates in a campaign to sell Windows Vista.
Commercial Break 1:00
Get Great Web Hosting at GoDaddy.com and save 10%! GoDaddy.com 1:00
Intro to Interview 1:48
This week we’re going to continue our discussion with Jeff and hear more about the early days of OnForce, Inc. We’ll discuss the OnForce forums and how they helped influence the direction of platform after it was launched, learn why he decided to step down as CEO and find out where he thinks OnForce ranks among his accomplishments as an entrepreneur. Part two of a two part story.
Jeff Leventhal Interview 19:05
Wrap up and Close :46
©2008 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.
http://media.techpodcasts.com/theforcefield/media.libsyn.com/media/theforcefield/The_Force_Field_25.mp3
Mozilla announces winners of Extend Firefox 3 contest
(TheForceField.Net ) August 22, 2008 — Mozilla announced the winners of the Extend Firefox 3 contest. The competition, held between March and July, was held to encourage developers to create add-ons for the new Firefox 3 web browser released last month. Categories included Best New Add-On, Best Updated Add-On and Best Music Add-On.
The winners of Best New Add-On included Pencil, an open source GUI prototyping and drawing tool, Tagmarks, which allows a user to add icons to bookmarks and HandyTag, a tool that provides keywords to bookmarks.
Grand prize for Best Updated Add-ons went to Read It Later, which allows a user to save pages for reading offline, TagSifter, a tag and bookmark organizer and Bookmark Previews, which allows a user to preview bookmarked pages.
Best Music Add-On went to Fire.fm, a tool that allows a user to listen to music on Last.fm. You can find the details of the contest and list of winners at http://blog.mozilla.com/extendfirefox .
Check Point To Offer ZoneAlarm ForceField Free On Patch Tuesday
(TheForceField.Net ) August 12,2008 — Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. announced yesterday that they would give away copies of its ZoneAlarm ForceField security application to the public for one day only on Patch Tuesday, the day Microsoft releases its monthly patches and security updates for Windows.
Beginning August 12 at 9 AM EDT Check Point will make full licensed versions of ZoneAlarm ForceField available for download on its web site. The promotion will last for a 24 hour period to conclude at 9 AM EDT Wednesday August 13.
In a press release yesterday Laura Yecies, vice president and general manager for Check Point’s ZoneAlarm consumer division explained the promotion. “We wanted to emphasize the importance of putting a series of safety practices into place when consumers surf the Web,” Yecies said. “Keeping patches up-to-date is vital for maintaining optimal Web security—but is not enough—which is why employing a browser security solution such as ZoneAlarm ForceField is critical.”
The free promotion will include a full license for one year and is limited to one download per user. The application is available at www.zonealarm.com/patchtuesday .

Episode 24 – The Story of OnForce Part 1
This week we’re going to talk to Jeffrey Leventhal, an entrepreneur who founded the OnForce platform and learn how he started the company. Part 1 of a two part series.
TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:17
Billboard 1:52
News and Comment segment 4:51
Microsoft has announced the release of SQL Server 2008. The RTM is now available for download at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/default.aspx.
System Management News reports that IT jobs are alive, well and growing strong, according to a new survey by the American Electronics Association.
You can read the article in the August 1 issue of System Management News. A single issue of System Management News is $9.95 but a subscription is free to professionals who qualify. if you are an IT professional and would like a free subscription to System Management News you can subscribe at http://theforcefield.tradepub.com/free/smns or simply click on the link in the show notes in the RSS feed for this episode.
Late last month a Superior Court Judge in Alameda County ruled that cell phone carriers that charged customers early termination fees for canceling their contracts did so in violation of state law.
Commercial Break 1:00
Alternageek Podcast Promo :30
CS Techcast promo :30
Intro to Interview 2:53
This week we’re going to talk with entrepreneur Jeffrey Leventhal, founder and first CEO of OnForce, Inc. We will learn how he came up with the idea for OnForce, find out how long it took him and his team to develop the platform and hear how it first went live. Part one of a two part story.
Jeff Leventhal Interview 15:40
Wrap up and Close 1:14
©2008 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (26.6MB) | Embed
Subscribe! Apple Podcasts | Email | RSS | More
Episode 24 – The Story of OnForce Part 1
This week we're going to talk to Jeffrey Leventhal, an entrepreneur who founded the OnForce platform and learn how he started the company. Part 1 of a two part series.
TechPodcasts Promo Tag :10
Intro 1:17
Billboard 1:52
News and Comment segment 4:51
Microsoft has announced the release of SQL Server 2008. The RTM is now available for download at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/subscriptions/default.aspx.
System Management News reports that IT jobs are alive, well and growing strong, according to a new survey by the American Electronics Association.
You can read the article in the August 1 issue of System Management News. A single issue of System Management News is $9.95 but a subscription is free to professionals who qualify. if you are an IT professional and would like a free subscription to System Management News you can subscribe at http://theforcefield.tradepub.com/free/smns or simply click on the link in the show notes in the RSS feed for this episode.
Late last month a Superior Court Judge in Alameda County ruled that cell phone carriers that charged customers early termination fees for canceling their contracts did so in violation of state law.
Commercial Break 1:00
Alternageek Podcast Promo :30
CS Techcast promo :30
Intro to Interview 2:53
This week we're going to talk with entrepreneur Jeffrey Leventhal, founder and first CEO of OnForce, Inc. We will learn how he came up with the idea for OnForce, find out how long it took him and his team to develop the platform and hear how it first went live. Part one of a two part story.
Jeff Leventhal Interview 15:40
Wrap up and Close 1:14
©2008 Savoia Computer. All rights reserved.
http://media.techpodcasts.com/theforcefield/media.libsyn.com/media/theforcefield/The_Force_Field_24.mp3