Once and Still a Techie Weblog

Update Google Chrome using the Dev Channel

I finally got Google Chrome installed on my Vista SP1 laptop today. I figured out that the offending bit of software preventing me from installing it properly was ZoneLab’s Forcefield. I got it off my system and viola Chrome is working without a hitch. I realized I didn’t really need Forcefield as Chrome and another browser I use, Internet Explorer 8 Beta 2, does the sandboxing to prevent malware from hurting my system directly. I’ve got Avira antivirus and Windows Defender doing regular full system scans, User Account Control, Windows Firewall enabled plus, most importantly, I know better than to download attachments that are suspect and visit sites that are potential malware havens.

I am now running the Developer build Google Chrome version 0.2.152.1. This is expected to be less stable than the official beta build version 0.2.149.30 that most people have installed. You can get the developer build by switching Chrome to the Dev update channel which recieves updates more frequently. So I can get the latest bug fixes, new features and features under development.

In order to get your Google Chrome updating from the Dev channel follow the steps below:

1. Download and run the Google Chrome Channel Chooser (http://chromium.googlecode.com/files/chromechannel-1.0.exe).
2. Click the circle next to Dev.
3. Click Update to save your choice.
4. Click Close.
5. In Google Chrome, click the wrench menu and choose About Google Chrome.
   Note: On Windows Vista, updates from the About box require Service Pack 1. With 0.2.149.29 (the current release), on demand updates do not work in Vista SP1 if User Account Control is disabled.
6. Click Update Now to install the current Dev channel release.
7. Restart Google Chrome.

Tags: dev-channel, google-chrome

Posted in Internet Technologies, open source | 3 Comments »

Convert and Download Flash Videos Quick and Easy

If you want to watch a flash video like those found on YouTube, DailyMotion, or Metacafe offline, you’re going to want to download it to your computer.

Video Downloadhelper

Firefox has a great free plugin that can help you do that called Video DownloadHelper which is at version 3.2.2 as of this writing.

After installing the addon, which works on Firefox 1.5-3.0.*, visit the URL with the flash video like http://youtube.com/watch?v=J7JmsMMIR4Y, for example. You should see Video Downloadhelper’s icon on your Firefox toolbar at the top which normally looks like this turn into this . Clicking on the drop-down arrow to it’s right will reveal the downloadable flash video(s) represented by a randomly assigned number for each flash video. Clicking that number will begin downloading the .flv format video(s).

A feature recently added on Sept. 11, 2008 is the ability to automatically convert the flv video to avi, mpeg or mp4 format. For more information on how to do this, you can visit the Video Downloadhelper website here.

Vixy.net

Another free way to get a flash video converted and downloaded to your PC is through the website vixy.net. They provide a service allowing you to convert flv videos to AVI, MOV, MP4, MP3 or 3GP online.

At the website you will find a text box where you simply type or paste in the URL of the page with the flash video, choose the format you want to convert it to then click Start. It’s painless and did I say it’s free?

Vixy.net also has a desktop version of their converter which you can download and install on your computer. Take note that the download is a beta which will expire on September 30, 2008 for the Windows (XP or Vista) version and August 26 for the MacOSX version.

Tags: firefox-add-on, flash-video-converter, flash-video-downloader, video-downloadhelper, vixy.net, youtube-flash-video

Posted in Internet Technologies, Personal Computing | 3 Comments »

Stop Dreaming and Get a Car Loan

No I’m not out to get a car. But I have a few friends who’ve expressed their plans to own a car before the year ends. Gas prices may be high and climbing still. But who doesn’t want to sit behind the wheel of a vehicle they can call their own. It opens doors to opportunities of road trips to nowhere and everywhere.

I don’t know of many yuppies who can easily lay down the entrance fee to owning a car. What I suggested to my friends was to go and get a Car Loan. Even if you have bad credit all is not lost. There’s a nation-wide service that will approve car loans for bad credit.

Can’t stop ogling that car on the showroom floor on your daily commute to work? Stop dreaming, do something about it today and get a car loan already!

Tags: car-loan

Posted in Auto Tech | 3 Comments »

Sudo Make me a Sandwich

This comic cracks me up! :

Anyone who uses Linux or Unix would understand. For those who don’t use either, sudo stands for “superuser do”. It allows users to run commands that require the higher privileges of a superuser or administrator.

Tags: comic, sudo, sudo-sandwich, superuser-do

Posted in Humor | 4 Comments »

Ubiquity for Firefox - A Video

Do you want the web to work the way you want it to without needing a degree in web design? Well here’s some technology headed in that direction which allows anyone to tell the browser to do what they want in simple english.

Watch the video to get what I mean:

Ubiquity for Firefox from Aza Raskin on Vimeo.

Tags: aza-raskin, firefox-ubiquity, mashups

Posted in Advances, Internet Technologies | No Comments »

What’s Mobile Broadband without a Laptop?

Let’s face it, the internet is evolving at a fast rate in terms of available online services and its capacity to distribute different forms of media. One of the most popular and most resource intensive types of media being shared online is video, either through server to client file downloads or video streaming. Imagine trying to stream the latest episode of House over a dial-up connection… Not a pretty picture, errr video clip, I should say.

Broadband internet is becoming more and more ubiquitous as people are starting to realize how much the world wide web has to offer if you have the right resources to use it to its full potential. So, if you’re planning to get yourself some exposure to information overload at it’s finest, get a broadband internet connection.

If you’re located in the UK and have trouble determining from which Internet Service Provider (ISP) to get your piece of the Internet pie, try and visit the Broadband Expert website where you can do a broadband comparison between providers like Vodafone, Orange, and T-Mobile. Example criteria used to compare providers are connection speed, monthly price, download limit, setup fee, cost for the first year and customer rating information.

Some ISPs even throw in a free laptop if you sign up for their mobile broadband service. Mobile broadband is a service that helps keep you connected to the web wherever the provider has service coverage while you’re on the move. The free laptops are a respectable selection of HPs, Acers and other brands that won’t leave you thinking you were ripped off. These packages help you maximize the use of your mobile broadband connection and offer tremendous savings as you no longer need to add the expense of buying a laptop to the cost of going mobile.

Hop onto the broadband internet bandwagon confident in your choice of Internet Service Provider through the help of Broadband Expert.

Tags: broadband-comparison, broadband-expert-reviews, free-laptop, mobile-broadband

Posted in Internet Technologies, Personal Computing | No Comments »