Archive
gOS Space Adds Mac-Like Looks to a Free Linux Desktop [Featured Download]
gOS Space Adds Mac-Like Looks to a Free Linux Desktop [Featured Download]
You may have last seen gOS, the free, Ubuntu-based Linux distribution, touted here as a way to revive an old PC with a webapp focus. Now there's three flavors of gOS available, including a "Space" release that was designed with a Mac-like slickness to its interface, and a lot of MySpace functionality thrown in, on top of all the other Google, Facebook, and other link-ups. "Space" ups the hardware demands from the standard gOS (to about the modern Ubuntu requirements); if you're running older stock or just like the original interface, it's still offered as "gOS Rocket E," or the GNOME-based "gOS Rocket G" for Ubuntu fans. Live CDs/DVDs are offered for each flavor, so it's free to take a look. Photo by thinbegin.
Password Protect your Folders in Windows with My Lockbox
Password Protect your Folders in Windows with My Lockbox
My Lockbox is a free security software for password protecting your folders in Windows. This is extremely useful when you want to hide files and folders from other users in Windows. The protected folder (lockbox) is hidden from any user and application of your system, including Administrator and System itself. It is not possible to access the lockbox.
The program is extremely easy to use and you can set the lockbox location and the password during the setup procedure. Once the password is set lockbox will be hidden unless you enter the correct password. There is a control panel which allows you to change basic lockbox parameters like lockbox location, protection status, password.
Features of My Lockbox;
- Protect any folder on your computer can be password protected
- Instant protection – no file scrambling or moving to another place
- Lockbox folder is inaccessible even by the system administrators
- Lockbox folder is inaccessible both locally and remotely.
- Lockbox folder can be protected in Windows safe mode
- Windows XP x64 support and also Windows Vista
- Hotkeys support – you can popup Control Panel with a simple keystroke.
- Skinned user interface
- Completely free of cost
If you need help in configuration, then there is a Quick start guide.
Download My Lockbox (Freeware)
©2008 Life Rocks! 2.0. All Rights Reserved. The use of this feed on other websites is strictly prohibited
Amazon S3 Simple Storage Service – Everything You Wanted to Know
Amazon S3 Simple Storage Service – Everything You Wanted to Know
Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) is an easy and inexpensive Internet hard-drive from Amazon Web Services (AWS) with absolutely no limits.
Now some people assume that Amazon S3 is a storage service meant primarily for web start-ups who store data in-the-cloud but that’s not correct because just about anyone (home users included) can benefit from S3.
For instance, you may backup your large music collection or even your entire computer hard-drive on S3. Similarly, bloggers can use Amazon S3 to store web images without worrying too much about their bandwidth bills.
If you never had a chance to explore Amazon S3 before, read the following guide that makes S3 simple even for non-geeks. It has all the information and tools you would need to quickly get started with Amazon S3.
The Basic Requirements:
To use Amazon S3 service, you’ll need an Amazon account (yes, it’s free; you pay only if you buy something from them) and an Amazon AWS S3 account.
Now go to AWS Access Key Identifiers and generate a unique Access Key ID + Secret Access Key pair that is required for using Amazon S3.
Upload & Manage Files on Amazon S3
Now that you have all the basic things in place, it’s time to explore tools uploading and managing files on Amazon S3.
Amazon S3Fox – Perhaps the simplest of all, this Firefox add-on provides an FTP like interface (Windows Explorer) to upload and manage files on S3. This is recommended if you are uploading a small batch of files as S3Fox may have issues with long queues.
S3 Backup (Windows) – This is a free and simple tool for uploading or downloading files from S3 – just pick a file or a folder on the local hard drive to put it to S3. You can even set batch file attributes to bunch of files or folders.
Transmit (Mac): Transmit for Mac is a popular FTP client for Mac OS X that sells for around $30 but the tool may be worth every penny – it lets you upload, download and manage your online Amazon S3 storage like a native Mac app.
Jungle Disk – This is available for Mac, Windows, Linux and there’s also a portable version for your USB computer. Jungle Disk will set you back by $20 per license but that includes all three platforms and they also provide a web interface to manage your files on S3.
Jungle Disk has a useful “Automatic Backup” features that will backup files and folders from your local hard drive onto Amazon S3 automatically. Thus it can be used as a decent alternative to online backup services like Mozy, Carbonite, etc.
Note: There really isn’t a thing called ‘folders’ per se on the S3 but that is the topic of another day. For now, just assume that you can create ‘folders’ and have files inside them.
WordPress plugin – This comes handy if you to stores files on Amazon S3 rather than using the default “uploads folder” of WordPress.
Once the WordPress S3 plugin is installed and activated, you’ll see an extra icon (storage cylinder) in your “Add Media” Bar. This will allow you to upload files to your Amazon S3 account and can be used inside the WordPress interface.
Read Part II – Amazon S3 Buckets Described in Plain English
Windows Steady State Bulletproofs Your System
Windows Steady State Bulletproofs Your System
Filed under: Security, Windows, Microsoft, Freeware
So you're thinking, "Hey, I want to be totally irresponsible with my computer and load it up with crapware!" Really, isn't everyone getting tired of having to be so stinking responsible on the Internet all the time? We certainly are. We're ready for system protection that isn't afraid of our reckless browsing, indiscriminate downloading, and general apathy towards good computer usage habits.
…Which is why we love Windows Steady State. It creates a cache file in which your operating system operates, meaning any harmful changes can be undone by simply emptying the cache. After downloading it's a snap to install – just a few obligatory clicks and the usual EULA mumbo-jubmo and you're set.
Our first test was pretty a pretty low-intensity workout. We surfed, bookmarked, set up a POP account and downloaded a few messages, and cluttered up the desktop with a dozen or so hilariously named folders. After issuing the old Windows – U – R we waited anxiously for the system to reboot.
There it was, just as it had been before – no trace of any of our activity. The desktop was still tidy, no favorites or emails were anywhere to be seen. So far so good, but let's try some real abuse
All in one driver solution with DriverMax
All in one driver solution with DriverMax
Filed under: Utilities, Windows, Freeware
Need to reinstall Windows but you misplaced your driver disks? Not sure you have everything you need? DriverMax has you covered. Backing up and reinstalling your drivers couldn't be easier.
After installing DriverMax, go into Driver Operations and click on Export drivers. A list of all your installed drivers will be displayed and you can pick and choose which ones to export, or simply export the whole lot in one go. Once you've reinstalled Windows, go back into Driver Operations, click on Import drivers, and point to the folder containing your saved drivers. The import can take a while, but in comparison to manually installing each driver individually, this is a walk in the park.
DriverMax is also useful even if you don't need to perform a complete reinstall – you can use the program just to make sure that your drivers are up to date or export a list of your installed drivers as an html or text file.
DriverMax is compatible with Windows 2003, XP and Vista and you have to supply your email address in order to receive a registration code.
Sending attachments is just a right click away – gAttach!
Sending attachments is just a right click away – gAttach!
Filed under: Windows, E-mail, Productivity, Freeware
If you ever used the "E-mail this file" or "Send To Mail Recipient" link in Windows you know what a great convenience this is. Select the file and an email is automatically created with the attachment. All that's left to do is fill out the To field and send the file, the only downside is that you must use a desktop mail client like Outlook Express. This leaves people who only use web based email services out in the cold… unless you're a Gmail user.
Developed by Chris Wood, gAttach! changes the functions of these built in links so that instead of Outlook Express gAttach! will launch Internet Explorer, create a new email and attach the file and have it ready and waiting for you. In addition gAttach! also works from within applications like Microsoft Office, Firefox and Adobe Reader to further streamline your emailing needs by selecting the File > Sent To option on your tool bar.
So if you're a Gmail user wanting more integration with your desktop gAttach! just might make your life easier.
USB Flash Drive Manager Backs Up Thumb Drives [Featured Windows Download]
USB Flash Drive Manager Backs Up Thumb Drives [Featured Windows Download]
Windows only: Microsoft USB Flash Drive Manager is a desktop utility that backs up and restores data from USB storage devices. Select files or entire drives to back up with the Flash Drive Manager. If you use the same flash drive for a variety of purposes and need to rotate the data on it frequently, the USB Flash Manager can create backup profiles to expedite swapping the drive data. The USB Flash Drive Manager is a free download for Windows XP only.
Pictomio Makes Browsing Photos Fun [Featured Windows Download]
Pictomio Makes Browsing Photos Fun [Featured Windows Download]
Windows only: Freeware application Pictomio is an advanced photo and video viewer with an emphasis on supplementing your image viewing experience with a strong dose of eye candy. When you first run Pictomio you’ll notice a couple of things: First, it’s a beautiful image viewer, packed with several ways to view, organize, browse, and edit your metadata (it’s not, however, an image editor). The slideshows are attractive and the application focuses on bringing a good deal of 3D goodies to your image viewing experience. Second, because of Pictomio’s impressive graphics, it requires a fairly decent graphics card if you want to get the most from it. As noted in the FreewareGenius post, the video functionality is more of an afterthought, but Pictomio is clearly first and foremost an impressive image viewer. Pictomio is freeware, Windows only.
Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP
PowerToys add fun and functionality to the Windows experience. What are they? PowerToys are additional programs that developers work on after a product has been released.
Virtual Desktop Manager
Manage up to four desktops from the Windows taskbar with this PowerToy.
Kid-Proof Your PC with SteadyState
Kid-Proof Your PC with SteadyState [Screenshot Tour]
When you've got your Windows XP or Vista setup running perfectly, you don't want to lose all your painstaking customizations to a reckless tot, an experiment-minded friend or spouse, or a rogue system-lousing program. Windows SteadyState, as we mentioned earlier this week, helps you to create a kind of virtual rubber room those types can play around in and not really harm anything. SteadyState can also restrict web site access for innocent eyes, set timer limits on user access, and get better control of those other folks who use your computer—in other words, SteadyState makes you the Grand Master Sysadmin of your single-unit empire. Let's take a look at setting up SteadyState and get familiar with a few of its key features.
Prep your system
Take Microsoft's advice and do a little groundwork before installing and setting up SteadyState. Download the latest updates for your system from Windows Update, set a password for the main user, or "Administrator," account if there isn't one already, and make sure that other users only have access to the programs you want them to. To see if that's the case, create a new user account (Control Panel->User Accounts->Create a new account) or log into an account other than your own if you're already sharing a system. Peek into the Start menu, look around on the desktop, and if they've got access to stuff you don't want them playing around with, regardless of any protections, head back to your account and uninstall the program. Some programs give you an option to install them for "Just this user," so try re-installing the app with that option if possible.
Getting started
If you haven't already done so, download your copy of SteadyState. You'll likely be prompted to install or run a Windows Genuine Advantage tool or plug-in before downloading; go ahead and do so, install the program, then launch it from the Start menu. Close down the help window that pops up, and you're at SteadyState's main launcher:
From here you decide how you want to protect your system. Are you creating a long-term, super-locked-down account for adventurous young minds or accident-prone users? Are you trying out an app or system change that might throw everything into calamity? Let's look at your options.
Restrict a new or existing account
If your potential system-messers are going to be around for awhile, you'll want to hit "Add New Account" in the lower right-hand corner, or choose one already there. Give them a name (or just "Shared" if you want everyone to use the same locked-down, guest-type account), password, and icon. If you've set up separate hard drives or partitions on your system, you could also have that user's profile placed on one of them for easier portability (and fixing), but you'll likely just be hitting "Next." You'll arrive at the main account dashboard. Here's a few items you'll want to look into:
"General" tab: The use timers are pretty helpful for parents who want to limit their young ones' monitor-zoning, but the real power-tweak here is the "Lock profile" button, which makes the account something like a public terminal—nothing a user changes in their user profile is saved once they log off.
Windows restrictions: Now we're getting to the serious stuff. There's a lot of buttons to toggle and explore, but the general High->Medium->Low category selectors are pretty good guidelines for getting started. In most cases, you'll want to block off access to the Registry editor, Task Manager, Control Panel, and (these are important) prevent them from locking the computer or changing their passwords. You can also block off access to specific drives from this screen.
Feature Restrictions: Here's where you lock down the internet, for both young minds and those who download and install whatever they see online. Most of the options are self-explanatory, but check out the top option—you can create a whitelist that this account can only see online (at least in Internet Explorer, and assuming you've locked down installation of other, trickier browsers). You'll want to remove the users' access to IE's settings, and there's a few tweaks for Microsoft Office as well.- Block Programs: Pretty straightforward—search for or click on an app on the left, then choose "Block" to remove access to it.
If you missed anything in any of those menus, you can always head back to them by clicking on the user account in SteadyState's main menu. 
Before you close out, though, click on "Set Computer Restrictions" and peruse the options there. Most important among them are the settings that remove access from the Administrator account, just in case your fellow users are good guessers or slightly devious. You've now got some seriously locked-down accounts, and you can import and export them from the main menu if you need this kind of setup on multiple systems. But you can take your protection a step further by creating a crash-proof hard drive.
Enable Disk Protection
From SteadyState's main menu, head to the "Disk Protection" section:
Close out any serious work you're doing—enabling the Disk Protection feature is going to bring up one of those inescapable restart prompts—and make sure you've got a little disk space to spare. Once you enable this feature, Windows creates a large cache file to store all the changes you or anyone else is making to the system, which it unceremoniously dumps at restart, or whenever you tell it to let go.
Let me stress this point: Disk Protection will reset everything you do while it's turned on: new Word documents, browser bookmarks, system settings, you name it. Turning it "Off," though, deletes the cache space and requires a restart, so switch it to "Retain all changes permanently" when you need to get things done.
Those are the basics of SteadyState, but if you need more help, SteadyState's home page has a video introduction and reference materials, and the program's own help menus are impressively detailed.
How do you use SteadyState to lock down your system? What settings and tweaks are indispensable for kids, virus-prone browsers, or other keyboard sharers? Tell us about it all in the comments.
My Blog 