Introduction

Ever since the Palm Pre came out, there has been a dull uproar over the inability to remove certain apps, specifically the NASCAR app that nobody seems to use. A typical downloaded application can be removed by pressing [orange] while tapping on the application icon. A dialog will pop up that gives you the option to delete the application. Unfortunately, this option does not exist for the NASCAR application.

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There is no doubt that we will soon run out of IPv4 space. To remedy this problem, IPv6 was developed. Linux and Mac OS X have inherit IPv6 support, and many people are still avoiding Vista in lieu of XP. Unfortunately, Windows XP does not have the built in IPv6 support that comes inherit with newer operating systems.

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Introduction

Knowing what ports are open on your machine is half the battle of locking it down. Knowing that you have a rogue web server running on port 6337, or realizing that somebody forgot to disable SSH logins can mean all the difference when under attack from an unknown entity. Preferably, we'd use a tool such as nmap or nessus to perform these checks for us. However, if the option isn't available, we can use an app that's already built in, albeit hidden, in OS X: Stroke.

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For anyone familiar with OS X, they know that the Dock can get pretty cluttered with running applications. If you're like me, you try to keep the dock as tidy as possible. Some, however, have a need to run multiple programs, and there's no way around it. Luckily, there is a way to have your cake and eat it too.

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Sitting in the dark, as many of us geekly types often do, I don't look out the window much. I also don't like surprises. Needless to say, I don't like clamoring out of my cove only to find that it's raining. Or snowing. Or 127º. So, I came up with a simple solution: let Geektool keep me up to date with the weather. This script requires you to have lynx installed, so if you don't already have it, head on over to MacPorts or Fink and grab yourself a copy (either sudo fink install lynx or sudo port install lynx, depending on your flavor.) Dump the following script into your favorite editor, and chmod +x it. (I threw mine into /usr/bin). (continue reading...)

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When I first switched to Mac, I thought it was pretty strange that there was a key on the keyboard dedicated to ejecting the cdrom. It wasn't until I had been using OS X for quite some time that I realized that there was more to the eject key than met the eye. Enter: secret uses of the OS X eject key.

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I am a huge fan of Geek Tool. A description, from their website, reads:

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Introduction

We have previously covered Windows and Linux backups, and now it's time to talk about our third, and final, operating system: Mac OS X. Of the three, OS X is by far the easiest to back up and restore. With that said, this should be very short, sweet, and right to the point. Let's dive in, shall we?

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Introduction

Continuing with our articles on backups, let's talk for a minute about backsups in Windows. Sure, you've been raked over the coals by paying for Windows (and the subsequent "downgrade" back to XP), Windows Software, and the extra hardware you need to actually use Windows, so why should we have to pay for a backup solution too? Backups are important. Not having software to backup your computer with is no excuse to turn your back on this essential part of computer-ownership. There are so many solutions out there - Ghost, the integrated Windows Backup utility, or even the User State Migration Tool for a pseudo-backup. While Ghost can do the job, it isn't free. There's always the fact that Microsoft never actually released the source code, or drivers, for NTFS, so doing a partition clone is at your own risk. In my experience, cloning back to a drive from a Ghost backup leaves the system with certain inherent instability risks. Alas, in a time of need, an unstable backup is better than nothing. Who knows, your mileage may vary.

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