Saturday, December 10, 2005
I’m in Providence RI this weekend visiting family and broadcasting from the studios of Talk Radio 920 WHJJ. Thanks guys!
If I can’t get online in the studios show notes will be updated when I get home later tonight.
My list of products from my Live with Regis and Kelly appearance this week is here including a link for the Sling Box and Sanyo camera.
11a-Noon
Q Marty in Florida - XP delayed write error
He’s getting regular errors. Ran SpinRite and the drive checks out OK. There are numerous possible causes for this. Here’s a page with some suggestions: http://bermangraphics.com/problems/delayedwritefailure.htm
The Error 1620 he was getting is a Windows installer error - which could be related.
Q Yvonne in Laguna Nigel - Looking for Xbox 360
She thinks she can get the Japanese version online (I have my suspicions on this - the price seems way too low). Even if it’s not a scam it’s probably a bad idea since there’s no guarantee that all US games will work on a box intended for the Japanese market.
Q Dave in Irvine - adding collaborators to a web site
He runs a college alumni web site and is currently using Go Live to create static pages. He wants others to be able to post announcements. He’s been trying to install PMWiki - the excellent software that runs this site - but I think WordPress might be a better choice. He can create a design that looks the same as his current site working with Word Press’s style sheets, then add others as contributors. They don’t have to worry about the design, they just use Word Press’s very simple online interface to add content. The content will automatically be flowed into his design.
Al says: A simple way to tell if your server has PHP installed is to upload a simple HTML page with <? phpinfo() ?> in the body.
That will show a page of settings if PHP is running on the server. Be sure to save it as a .php file, not .html and set permissions for execute (CHMOD).
He might also consider a forum program such as PHPBB or SMF, but both of those also require PHP and a SQL DB.
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Q Jim in Santa Cruz - looking for MP3 player
He wants: line in, gig of memory, standard batteries, and, most importantly, the ability to copy files directly to the device. He doesn’t want, or need, a program to get in the way. Unfortunately most Windows MP3 players do require at least Window Media Player to ensure that the copy protection works. I like the iRivers, but they also require Windows Media Player as an intermediary. Any suggestions?
Marc says: try a creative muvo txfm. It has every feature mentioned above and more, incl fm recording, and mic recording. I have a 512mb and it works flawlessly. It comes in a 1 gig model. USB 2, drag and drop files, uses AAA
batteries. Mine came with a belt clip. Needs headphone upgrade.
Stan says: check out http://www.radioyourway.com/radioyourwaylx640.htm. I don’t own one, but other than a rechargable battery I believe it may be what you want. Plus, you can record Leo from the built in radio!
Ruben says: a little company called Cowon is the new iRiver. They make iAudio or JetAudio branded players that are the hot sellers in newegg and amazon. I own an iAudio 5 player, 1GB, the line-in works flawlessly, the voice recorder has a decent mic. It uses AAA batteries and is not skittish about taking rechargeables, I’ve only used it with 600 mA NiMH and get about 7 hours out of each. USB Mass storage drivers, it DOES work plug-and-play with no drivers in 2000 and XP, and the USB 2 speed is very nice. If you want a bit more battery life they also sell the G3 that uses a AA which goes on for like 20 hours or more. Check out http://eng.iaudio.com/
Noon-1p
Scott Wilkinson
from The Perfect Vision magazine joins us to talk about home theater.
Topics we covered:
- The V-Inc Vizio is a 50″ plasma for $2500 - and it’s good.
- HDMI interfaces
- 1080p displays
Q Mandy in Sherman Oaks - Hubby wants Bose but it’s expensive!
Bose really has been pushing it’s 3–2−1 home theater sound systems. Scott and I both agree that while Bose does make great stuff, it’s often overpriced. We think you can get similar quality for less from companies like LG, Denon, and Panasonic.
Q Dave in San Diego - looking for wall mount TV
LCD is best for situations where the lighting is brighter, but worse than plasma for angle of viewing
Q Marty in Cerritos - What about LCOS displays like the Sony SXRD
Scott likes LCOS a lot - it offer better blacks than LCD.
1–2p
Q Jonathan in South Carolina - Running a web server from home
Linux box, two network cards, VPN
Q Mike in Illinois - Recording Skype for podcasts
He runs www.illinoismatmen.com - and he’s adding audio to the site. He uses Skype, the great Internet phone program, for
Mark (vidiot): I have used HotRecorder and MPLAT for recording Skype… both seem to work well. I believe “Pamela” also records Skype but its main function is to serve as a voice mail program.
Q Brent in San Clemente - can’t set Power Options
Dual monitors, can’t choose power down monitor in Power Options control panel
Andrew - Often if you have a 3rd party power management utility(sometimes from your computer manufacturer if you have a name brand PC) installed it will interfere with the Windows power management control panel. I have mainly seen it with Laptops, but a desktop could have one installed.
Q Michael in Santa Ana - optimal settings for photo scanning
scanning photos at 300DPI but they’re huge!
Q G J in Camarillo - Microsoft’s password checker is insecure
GJ’s site, www.acomputerpro.com has a story on Microsoft’s insecure password checker.
Al says: I just looked at the source ot the Microsoft page. The password checker is a Javascript program that is running in the browser. The check is performed as you type, there isn’t even a submit button and nothing is sent back to the server.
There were a bunch of cookies, I didn’t dig into the code to see if the Javascript set them or not, but you could test a hundred passwords before you leave the site. I doubt if it’s saving them all in a cookie.
I just was surprised the a Microsoft page was using Javascript!
Q Kyle from Poway - Filtering Yahoo Bulk folder in Outlook Express
Mark from Reno says: In Yahoo Mail Options > Management > Pop Access and Forwarding > Select “When downloading new messages… I want to receive all messages, including those that SpamGuard thinks are spam”, and Check the box “For messages that SpamGuard thinks are spam, add [Bulk] as a prefix to the subject”. The in OE, create a new folder, then add a filter that looks for “[Bulk]” in the subject line, and have the messages go to your newly created folder.
Chat Logs and Show Audio
Listener Comments
10 December 2005
You know what? I’ve just about had it with the record industry. About two days ago I noticed a new podcast at the iTMS
“Classical Headlines with Tomasz Trzebiatowski”
I was able to hear and enjoy ONE episode, and now I’ve just got the latest, which is merely the news that the author has to kill his podcast, because of legal issues.
I guess that if Mr. Trzebiatowski plays, say, a short 2 minute excerpt from a 2 hour long Mahler symphony in a 10 minute podcast the RIAA is going to wet its panties in rage.
As far as I can see, a classical music podcast would only be likely to arouse greater interest in music and lead people to purchase more of it than they would otherwise have. The truth is this: the RIAA is the fully conscious and intentional *enemy* of music lovers everywhere.
Broken Link: “list song lyrics” RIAA story. Page No Longer exist.
OK HERE WE GO, 20 Minutes of Leo’s Blah Blah Blah Blah, all about me, Regis and Kelly, Leo’s latest Podcast this and Cable Show that.
If Leo THINKS for a MINUTE that anyone with a BRAIN doesn’t think he gets SPIFFED, PAID OFF, GOT FREEBIES …. he and anyone else that believed doesn’t …. is STUPID!!
This morning on the Computer and Technology Show, huge radio whore Marc Cohen virtually admits getting a FREE Palm Life Drive and a Palm TX for his personal use and an Amanda Animatronic Doll for his nice! No One appears on that show unless Cohen and Oleesky gets the SPIFFS / FreeBees!
No One gets mentioned repeatedly on ANY Radio Tech Show unless the HOST gets the FREEBEES!!
Leo replies: I could get free stuff, of course, but I choose not to for three reasons: 1. Ethically I’m uncomfortable with accepting anything except for limited term review purposes, 2. It’s important to pay for stuff so you’re in touch with reality and 3. It’s vital to be completely independent so I can be scrupulously honest. You deserve no less.
I don’t really care what you believe, but I do want other people to know that I never accept hardware products or payments of any kind from the people I cover. I do accept software mostly because the cost of returning it is greater than the value of the software so comapnies never pay for the return postage.
I do, in fact, have a Lifedrive. I paid $500 for it. Hard drive died in two months. Not recommended. I wonder what Marc says about it?
those Tech Guy KFI listeners in RI (all one of us?) welcome Leo bak to Providence. yep, my driveway’s full of frozen slush; just now made my sedan play 4×4 to get in over the plow berm, missed most of the news darn it. nearly 40F and this crud won’t melt; I should try to make some headway in it, but just gonna listen to Leo ;-))
11:25 by Ron?.
SLING BOX HELP!
A Christmas present depends on the answer to this question:
Doe’s the SLING BOX transmit the video as good as what is being shown on the base TV, when sent to a home PC with a 20″ LCD monitor for watching in another room? Or is the video pixelated or choppy etc.? Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Ron
Hey, tired of the yak yak
If you are so negative regarding Leo, why bother to listen to him?
If I don’t like a show or a show host I don’t listen. That’s why your radio has a dial on it, change the station!
Enough of Leo bashing!!
By the way why are you so afraid of using your name? Are you someone we might know that is a rival broadcaster of Leo?
Ron, The picture you will get will be as good as your harware will allow it to be. The quality depend directly with what your puter hsd inside. A lousy video card will give you bad shows, a real good one will give you great quality.
Don’t fret, Larry. The troll/s pop up every week. He/they is probably just a highly obnoxious individual intent on poisoning the communal well for the sick pleasure that gives him. Either that or he is “Bill Gates’ secret lover”. Or then again, the RIAA/Sony BMG (or any other bunch of scoundrels that Leo tells the truth about) may be paying him to insult Leo in the hope that his readers will give a damn. Who cares?
I have had an ASP wiki up for my kids school, but aside from connectivity to the database, the hardest problem is getting people to participate. I am looking into Contribute from Macromedia as a way teachers can add content to the website.
There some yak yak every where, mostly they are the jalous and incompetents one we can always hear growling in the backgroung. When they are given a chance to do something positive, you can guess the result very easily.
Francis, thanks so much for your fast help!
The PC that the SLING BOX will be used on is a Pentium D 3.0GHZ CPU with a 128MB ATI Radeon 300 video card and a GIG of RAM. The OS is Windows Media Center 2005. So, with this info., what do you think?
How do you know so much about the SLING BOX?
Thanks once again,
Ron
Should work great,
I can.t answer your last question without hanging myself
Thanks for your help.
Ron
12:38 by AL?.
Question…Plazma, LCD, DHLP, which is the best, longest lasting, best value…Costco Panasonic 60″LCD $2600…AL
Regarding Marty in Florida “Error 1620″ question:
Make sure your virus scanner and all other background programs are disabled before you begin the installation. You can check to see which programs are running by pressing CTRL-ALT-DELETE. If you are installing in Windows NT/2000/XP, you must install using the Administrator account.
Costco Panasonic 60″LCD $2600? Must be projection LCD. Not flat pannel.
I just checked the source for the microsoft passsword checker
The Microsoft site just loads a page that checks your password locally. there is no server side interaction at all. A simple client side javascript does all the work. There is no need to use SSL since the password is NEVER sent back to the server for evaluation.
The caller is wrong, MS got it right.
The MS password checker may very well not send anything back to a server, however, unless you use the secure site your passwords are being sent unencrypted over the Internet…
“The MS password checker may very well not send anything back to a server, however, unless you use the secure site your passwords are being sent unencrypted over the Internet…”
This is absolutely wrong. The only thing that is sent is the web page from MS to you (no password). You use the web page locally (the password only exists in memory) and is re-evaluated after every character typed. The password is never placed in a cookie or returned back to the server. Your computer is doing all the work. It’s as if you downloaded a password checker program from MS and ran it locally. No sensitive information is ever stored, transmitted, or saved so there is no need to use SSL. SSL only guards data when it is transmitted. If no data is transmitted, SSL is unnecessary.
This is a good example of a little knowledge being dangerous. Security is not as simple as “HTTPS=good, HTTP=bad”. Sometimes the best security is to not transmit anything in the first place.
15:17 by .
Let me add my 2 cents worth since I’m the one who brought this up in the first place. First, thanks to Leo and KFI for letting me on the air.
Second, it really doesn’t matter of data is being transmitted or not. It’s the process that is flawed and the irony, as Leo said, is that Microsoft’s own web browser is telling you the page is unsafe.
Third, when it comes to computer security, everything matters. One simple flaw and I deem a security risk is present. How many times have we been told by Microsoft, Apple, Mozilla and others that things are safe? Then later, eEye or one of the other companies that watches out for us, reveal security flaws exist? I take Agent Mulder’s point of view, except when it comes to what I read on www.acomputerpro.com and then I know the truth is out there.
For the last caller today, Leo recommended an IMAP-based e-mail service, and said he used “FASTMAIL.COM” himself. I think he meant “FASTMAIL.FM”.
“Second, it really doesn’t matter of data is being transmitted or not. It’s the process that is flawed and the irony, as Leo said, is that Microsoft’s own web browser is telling you the page is unsafe. “
The fact is that you KNOW that the security status of the page in question does not change whether you use HTTPS or HTTP. Microsoft also realized this. That’s why they allow you to access it with either. A little lock in the corner means nothing. In fact, many sites place a graphical lock on the page to fool people that only look for a lock. Relying on a graphic is just asking for trouble.
Your claim of the site being insecure was at best premature and at worst inflammatory. And please, just admit that you jumped the gun on this one. Doing otherwise just makes you look like a crackpot.
p.s. I hate having to defend MS.
15:44 by G J?.
Well, I will admit to at least one typo in my posting above. And when did I say the password checker site was insecure? By the way, I don’t think Leo or I were referring to the SSL lock icon. I think Leo was referring to the status bar and privacy notification icon. If Microsoft swells up about this, then I prescribe a good anti-inflammatory, but then again, I’m not a doctor, Jim… I’m A Computer Pro. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to Wikipedia to see if I’m listed under “crackpots.” That’s not inflammatory, is it?
“And when did I say the password checker site was insecure?”
Here:
“GJ’s site, www.acomputerpro.com has a story on Microsoft’s insecure password checker. “
follow the link and it says …
“it occurred to me that the web page is not secure!”
“If Microsoft swells up about this, then I prescribe a good anti-inflammatory”.
Aren’t you clever? Yet what you posted on your web site and what you said on live radio would be considered legally actionable.
I never called you a crackpot. I did say that some people may consider your actions those of a crackpot if you continue.
MILI SAYS IN OUR CANADA PROVEDIENCE ARE CALLED PRO
Oscar - you are correct - although I do not have the expertise to evaluate the entire web page and can’t guarantee what it does or doesn’t do - I didn’t take the time to think through what I posted previously. Thank you for your comment. I’m still not sure about that third party cookie, however…
Thanks for the kind words, David. Since the password isn’t stored in a cookie, no third party can retrieve it there. I dislike having to defend MS for any reason but they do seem to be an easy target these days.
Curry Crunchers (India) to get $1B from Intel. What are the U.S. employees? chopped galangal?
That SSL link DOES work, but in Firefox it gives you 5 errors to do with the security of the site and the security certificate.
23:50 by G J?.
Correct Jeremy… and what does that tell you? I get the same warnings when I use the SSL link with IE6. To some people here, that might be trivial, but to me, it’s the icing on the gun.
Under subliminal coercion, I’m going to state emphatically that Microsoft’s Password Checker website is perfectly safe and there’s no problem typing in your passwords, since with SSL or no SSL, “the password checker does not collect or store information,” just like it says on the Microsoft Password Checker website. Since it’s using Javascript, then that makes it even safer. I’ve never heard of Javascript security issues like the ones discussed at news.com.
Wow, I do seem like a crackpot now. Someone remind me to call Bill Handel next Saturday morning and have him review my website for roottorts.
11 December 2005
“I get the same warnings when I use the SSL link with IE6. To some people here, that might be trivial, but to me, it’s the icing on the gun. “
Badly mangled metaphor aside, you can’t blame Microsoft for SSL errors when the link they publish is regular http, not https. MOST websites fail if you try and substitute https for http. That doesn’t mean that they are insecure. It just means that that particular page was never intended to run via https. You can’t just switch protocols and then complain when it doesn’t work. That’s like making up a URL and complaining that you get a 404 error.
“I’ve never heard of Javascript security issues like the ones discussed at news.com”
That particular exploit takes advantage of a javascript-accessible installed component running on someone’s computer with full administrator privileges. It’s the installed component (Google Desktop) that poses the security risk. Javascript in and of itself is not to blame. Combining the two, however, did allow an exploit.
You really should stop just reacting and actually do some security analysis, since supposedly you are “a computer pro”. If you are really that concerned about this then you shouldn’t be running Javascript anyway (either in IE or FF). Again, this is NOT a MS problem.
I suspect that this is all just attention seeking “chicken little” syndrome to drive eyeballs to your website (gawdy as it is) and eardrums to your podcast.
The Creative Zen Nano Plus has a 1GB model that just works. It plays MP3 that you can just use Explorer to put on the drive. It comes with a USB cable and a line in cord since the jack is smaller than normal. It uses one AAA battery. It also has FM Radio and a voice recorder. I can copy Japanese MP3 that have names in Japanese and it displays correctly. The menus support several languages, including Japanese.
Leo please help! On Bill Handel’s show on Friday you mentioned a Plasma 50″ I think from Visio for $2600. I have been looking for it online and can’t find it. I am very well acquainted with Visio software, but not the TVs. Am I spelling it wrong?
Thanks!
Q
12 December 2005
12:24 by Mike.
Q,
The plasma you are referring to can be found at Costco’s warehouse stores.
26 December 2005
Um… I hope I am not out of place asking here, but there was a call after the last one listed here; my call. It was about configuring Outlook Express to use the same folders as Yahoo. I had hoped to check back and see if people had comended, as Leo sugested they might, but if is as if my call doesn’t exist. Is this normal?
7 January 2006
Kyle, Just added your Question and response to the top of the page.
