Techie Blog

I found this here. These are some nice instructions for people who really want to show that they love their IT department.

1. When you call us to have your computer moved, be sure to leave it buried under half a ton of postcards, baby pictures, stuffed animals, dried flowers, bowling trophies and children's art.
   
   
2. Don't ever write anything down, especially the error message that was on your screen.
   
   
3. If we ask what the last thing you did was, always respond with, "I didn't do anything."
   
   
4. When we say we'll be right over, immediately find a reason to leave so you won't
   have to answer silly questions from us, like "what's your screen saver password?"
   
   
5. When describing your problem, just tell us what you were ultimately trying to do. For example, just say, "I can't get my email". We don't need to know that the computer won't even turn on.
   
   
6. Feel free to ignore any email sent from us, especially those marked with high importance.
   You don't really need to know about the latest virus that wiped out your neighbors hard drive.
   
   
7. Always send important and urgent emails in all uppercase.
   
   
8. When the copier, or anything else remotely electronic, doesn't work, call us.
   Heck, if we can fix computers, we must know all about copiers too.
   
   
9. If the document you sent to the printer didn't print, send it at least 20 more times.
   One of them is bound to work.
   
   
10. Don't ever learn the proper name for anything technical.
    We know exactly what you mean by "my thingy blew up".
    
    
11. Don't waste your time using the built in help files.
    We already had to learn the hard way, why should you?
    
    
12. If any of the computer cables are in your way or keep moving, be sure to route them across
    the top of your portable heater or set something big and heavy on them to hold them in place.
    
    
13. Never bother reading any message that pops up on your screen.
    Just click the X to close it or the first button your mouse gets to.
    
    
14. Don't ever try rebooting the computer yourself. Call us immediately.
    Only experienced, highly-trained professionals should attempt that.
    
    
15. Feel perfectly free to say things like "I don't know anything about this computer crap".
    We love hearing our area of professional expertise referred to as crap.
    
    
16. When you receive a huge movie file that's really funny, be sure to forward it to all your friends.
    We have plenty of disk space and bandwidth.
    
    
17. Don't bother bringing a radio to work, just listen to music over the internet.
    Like I said, we have plenty of bandwidth.
    
    
18. Don't even think of breaking large print jobs down into smaller chunks.
    Somebody else might squeeze their one-page document into the queue.
    
    
19. When an I.T. person is carrying heavy equipment, worth thousands of dollars,
    that's the best time to ask why your screen saver quit working.
    
    
20. Don't bother to tell us when you move computer equipment around on your own.
    We certainly don't need to keep track of those things.
    
    
21. Your computer case makes a great flat surface for sitting drinks or potted plants on.
    
    
22. Do whatever you can to cover up those ugly open air slots in the computer and monitor.
    
    

Find more stuff from these guys here.

The new Safari (not beta) 3.0.2 released. There aren't any bugs anymore in it! Now I think it's an equal browser to Opera or Firefox.

And at the right there is a new picture

Update: Download Safari from http://www.apple.com/safari/download/ (--DrLaunch)

Furie blogs about new Google Phone:

First it was a myth, then the rumourmills started going wild. I promised I'd find out the truth about the Google phone, so here it is.

Read more...

When managing Windows, there's not too many options, but Unix/Linux has quite modular structure. In most cases window manager can ge changed from graphical login screen, in other cases by editing one row in config file.

But what's window manager?

Read more...

This article is a collaboration between Anzah and DrLaunch


LinuxMCE is media center with a twist, it's free and open source. As it builds on existing technologies it has more features than any other solution. LinuxMCE uses the best open source tools available. All in one powerful, yet cheap Linux powered computer. LinuxMCE gives you control where you used to have media chaos.

When comparing Windows MCE and LinuxMCE, Windows MCE pales. LinuxMCE does the same and more. Much more. Where Windows MCE is used to control a single PC, LinuxMCE controls lots of devices in your home, and lets you control LinuxMCE from many devices, including your Bluetooth enabled smartphone. LinuxMCE is a complete smart-home solution.

While this might sound a little complicated, it's all very simple. LinuxMCE scans other computers, removable drives and more, then indexes and makes all your media available from one easy to use interface. LinuxMCE pushes an app to your Symbian phone (Windows Mobile support will be added soon) which lets you control LinuxMCE via Bluetooth. With all this control, you can still be safe. Because the source code is open, you can find out what the program does.

LinuxMCE is a add-on to Ubuntu and is built on top of Pluto home automation system, XINE multimedia framework, mythTV DVR (Digital Video Recorder) and Asterisk PBX (Private Branch Exchange, in other words automatic telephone switching system). All of these are already popular on their own.

So can LinuxMCE do for you?

LinuxMCE can control lighting in your house and access your surveillance system and alarm. If you have several computers, LinuxMCE can detect when you move to another computer and keep playing your media on the computer closer to you. All thanks to the app on your phone. You can also set up the app to work outside your house by using your carriers data service. Great to check a surveillance camera or make it look like you're at home in case there's a burglar trying to break into your house.
You can also use a regular mobile phone's WAP browser as a remote control.

Give LinuxMCE a try today. Make your home a free, powerful, yet easy to use smarthome.

Here's a video of LinuxMCE in action:


Links
LinuxMCE's homepage
Features and screenshots of MythTV
Episode 5 of Systm, about Asterisk
Episode 2 of Systm, walk-through of MythTV

Credits
Image 1 and 2, courtesy of the LinuxMCE wiki.