Category Archives: Tech

Skype 2.1.0.47 beta released!

Today, in our Linux Page (in Spanish), we posted some brief information about the new Linux beta version of Skype (2.1.0.47). The updated Skype distribution contains a new chat feature with an integrated SMS service. Also the audio and video codecs have been developed and a bluetooth option has been added. This beta release seems to be very stable and we hadn’t any problems during our tests. Skype released different versions related to main Linux distributions: Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, OpenSuse and a very useful tar.bz2 for all the other Linux versions. Recommended!

How to free some hard disk space and substitute Acrobat Reader without giving up any features

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This week, in our Freeware Page, we posted some thoughts on pdf readers. Some days ago I had some problems with my office Windows XP PC because the hard disk space was ending. As usual, I cleaned up the disk using CCleaner and I earned ca. 200MB of space and proceed to compress the hard disk. Unfortunately, this strategy did not solve my problems so I decided to have a deep look into the numbers of Kb each program occupied on the HD and I was surprised in noticing that Acrobat Reader needs more than 200MB of HD space to work. Then I focus my attention on Foxit Reader and I discovered that it occupied more or less 7MB of HD space. Obviously I disinstall Acrobat Reader and earned ca. 190MB of hard disk. Today, I am not able to affirm that I solved all my problems with my PC but I am confident that, with an intelligent use of CCleaner, I will able to go ahead for another couple of months without contacting the administrator for a new HD and stop my work for (sic) at least a couple of days. Something to think about….

How to repair Flash on Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty

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This week, in our Linux Page (in Spanish), we have written some easy instructions to repair the flash plugin on Ubuntu 9.04 Jaunty. In fact, after a brand new install on my Acer Aspire Athlon X2 I had big problems in visualizing Flash contents on Firefox 3. I tried to reinstall the plugin different times but the result did not change. Finally, reading a page in ubuntuforums.org I find the right solution for my problem. First of all you have to open Synaptic Package Manager (in System – Administration) and remove all the swfdec packages (in my case swfdec -mozilla and swfdec -gnome). Then, using the Terminal you have to type sudo apt-get install flashplugin-nonfree. Now you restart Firefox and Flash contents will be available again. We believe that this solution is really fast and practical but if you know a better one which could permit us not to install non free code please let us know.

New Mobile (and iPhone) version!

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The vacations are ending and we are warming our engines and we hope to boost Computer Borders on next September. Yes, we confess that in the last months we were not very innovative with some of our posts but as you already have understood we fight with the few free time we have during the nigth. Anyway, starting today, we added a Mobile Friendly version of the blog: http://computerborders.mofuse.mobi/ (for iPhone we suggest the http://computerborders.mofuse.mobi/iphone/ link). We hope that this new features will increase the readability of our blog also when you are not in front of a PC. See you soon and enjoy this last part of Summer!

How to estimate the value of your blog or website: $timator

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This week, in our Linux Page (in Spanish), we posted a brief review about $timator: an easy to use website which allows you to better understand the value of your blog or other website. $timator is able to give you a good quaotation af yhe hipothetic value of a website calculating its ranking on search engines, social networks and volume of visitors. If your blog/website is a good one you will spend some minutes waiting $timator results but it could be a good tool for a first value test before buying a website. Recommended!

Ultamatix: the most powerful software to install new programs, themes and games on Ubuntu

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This week, in our Linux Page (in Spanish) we have added a post about Ultamatix which has been developed to be a valid substitute for Automatix. Ultamatix can be downloaded (in a practical .deb package) from its website and, with just few clicks, installed on your Ubuntu (now, also the jaunty 9.04 is fully supported). Ultamatix is very useful especially for the Linux beginners who have the possibility to add many programs, themes and icons in just with few clicks. We executed some different tests on Ubuntu 9.04 and the results were positive. Moreover, you can decide to uninstall the software directly from the Ultamatix menu at any time. This project is in continuous development and every new version contains new surprises. Anyway, even if we are not expert gamers but we were really satisfied from some titles we tested. Recommended!

How to listen online, legally free, music: Pandora.com

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Today, in our Freeware Page we posted a review about Pandora.com: an online free website which offers free music listening based on your preferences. Once on Pandora.com you can decide to try it or to register for free (just an email and a new Pandora password are required). After this you can start creating new radio stations based on your favorite artists. In just few clicks, you can even listen your Pandora stations directly on your Blackberry, iPhone, PalmPre or Windows Mobile device. Using the QuickMix feature you can melt different stations in just an unique selection to share (if you want) with your friends. Pandora is legal and free but sometimes (not very often for my experience) some commercial ads are broadcasted. Anyway, in a couple of hours I was able to refine my new station options & variety and till now I am really satisfied by this service. Recommended!

How to recover your accounts and password on Windows using a Linux Live CD: Ophcrack

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Today, in our Linux Page (in Spanish) we posted a post about Ophcrack: a Linux Live CD which allows you to recover your Windows password when you forgot them. Sincerely, the described above situation is not common but it could really happen especially when you do not use a PC for some time or if you want to help a friend who is not so skilled with its own computer. Ophcrack is easy to use, sufficiently fast and effective. I tested it to recover some passwords on an old laptop and the results were very interesting; in fact I was able to recover password from accounts I totally forgot to own. Useful! This post has been written just for informative purpose! Please, remind that you are directly responsible for any law violation you commit in case of misuse of the information contained above.

How to create free different local telephone numbers linked to your Skype identity: Ring2Skype

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This week, in our Linux Page (in Spanish), we posted a brief post about Ring2Skype. Ring2Skype is a new free service which allows you to create local telephone numbers linked to your Skype user-id. After filling in few datas you get a telephone number in 31 different countries. In your email you will find a welcome letter with a summary of all the data of your new Ring2Skype account, your new telephone number and an extension to share with your local contacts. In this way, a person located in a different country could call you spending just for a local call. On the other hand it is possible to create more local telephone numbers so all your contacts in different countries could be in contact with you as if you are living in their same city. Recommended if it will remain free also in the future!

Something to know before the release of Firefox 3.5: how to disable the geo-locating feature.

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This week in our Freeware Page we we have written a quick post about disabling geo-locating feature in the upcoming Firefox 3.5. I have always been an enthusiastic supporter of Firefox because I think it is so flexible that I can find any add-on I need for any purpose. I am also sure that the new Firefox 3.5 will be the perfect tool for my everyday navigation but there is something I am a little bit annoyed. In fact, the Firefox 3.5 will contain a default feature (which can be triggered remotely by a website you are visiting) declaring your geo-location everytime you connect to a site. This feature (previously known as project Geode by Mozilla Labs) could be useful for people involved in social networking but it is a potential wasting time feature for all the others. In fact, you have to declare if you want to automatically display your geo-location each time a website triggers this feature. For this reason, if you are not a social network addict, my personal advice is to disable this geo-locating feature as soon as you install (or update to) Firefox 3.5… (it continues in the Freeware Page).