IT tips, useful programs etc.

[ozbob]

Thought it might be useful for a thread on some useful tips, tricks, programs what ever that might help folks.

For example.  Free image editor  Paint.NET  been using it for years.

Download from here --> http://download.cnet.com/Paint-NET/3000-2192_4-10338146.html

... If all you want is a quick image retouch, Photoshop is overkill. Paint.NET, on the other hand, is an open-source freeware editor with all the essentials, including tools to crop, rotate, and resize images, adjust colors, and create collages. It supports common image formats--JPEG, PNG, GIF, TIFF, and others--but not high-resolution RAW files. There are enough basic and intermediate effects and features to keep image-tweakers happy, including a red-eye removal tool that has seen dramatic improvements. Unlike most free image editors, Paint.NET supports layers, history, and has an actions manager. The pleasing interface boasts semitransparent windows for ease of use ...

[colinw]

For bulk resizing of images, and also for conversion to formats like PNG, I use this:

http://www.axiomx.com/picsizer.htm

If you have a whole directory full of images you want to resize to say 800x600 or 1Kx768 for posting, it is very effective.

[ozbob]

Note Tab Light - freeware notepad ..

http://www.notetab.com/download-now.php 

The free light version is excellent, been using it for years ...

[colinw]

In a similar vein, I use this as one of my main editors, well, when compelled to use Windoze I do.

Its support for various programming languages is excellent.

http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

[somebody]

In a similar vein, I use this as one of my main editors, well, when compelled to use Windoze I do.

Its support for various programming languages is excellent.

http://notepad-plus-plus.org/

Ditto.

[ozbob]

http://www.openoffice.org/download/index.html

Apache OpenOffice

Compatible with other major office suites, Apache OpenOffice is free to download, use, and distribute. Download it now, and get:

Apache OpenOffice

    Writer a word processor you can use for anything from writing a quick letter to producing an entire book.
    Calc a powerful spreadsheet with all the tools you need to calculate, analyze, and present your data in numerical reports or sizzling graphics.
    Impress the fastest, most powerful way to create effective multimedia presentations.
    Draw lets you produce everything from simple diagrams to dynamic 3D illustrations.
    Base lets you manipulate databases seamlessly. Create and modify tables, forms, queries, and reports, all from within Apache OpenOffice.
    Math lets you create mathematical equations with a graphic user interface or by directly typing your formulas into the equation editor.

[Otto]

Teamviewer.

http://www.teamviewer.com/en/index.aspx

Great for fixing friends computers without being there.
Use it a lot with my Mum when she *stuffs* something up.

[ozbob]

First web page ever on the web, recently put back live for interest ..

--> http://info.cern.ch/hypertext/WWW/TheProject.html

[ozbob]

Classic Shell

http://www.classicshell.net/

Useful if want to tame windows 8 ....

[ozbob]

Twitter

mXBrisbane ‏@mXBrisbane 27m

Yay! Here's some links to the new free mX app. iPhone: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mx/id639927133?ls=1&mt=8 .... Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=au.com.ndm.mx ... @mxmelbourne @mXsydney

[ozbob]

Been a number of years since I have used Linux.  Thought I would check out Ubuntu and see how things have progressed.

There is a neat installer to dual boot Windows 7 and less - Wubi  http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop/windows-installer.  Windows 8 is a bit more complicated.

Certainly has come a long way Linux.  This post is using linux and FF.   Big advantage of Linux is that you really don't need to worry about viruses etc. in the same way as you do need for Windows.

I am using a Windows 7 box, the install for Ubuntu was straightforward and works well.

[somebody]

Ubuntu is getting better and better, but it still lacks the polish of Windoze.  I reckon once 14.04 comes out next year some time I think it will be pretty close to Windoze in ease of use.  If you don't mind paying for every thing, I guess Windows would probably still be better.

I just use the default GRUB boot loader for dual boot.  Works fine with Windows 8.1

[ozbob]

Thanks.  Yes, sure has come a long way since I last dabbled with the penguin ..   

[ozbob]

Evernote Clearly

Clearly makes blog posts, articles and webpages clean and easy to read. Save them to Evernote to read them anywhere.

===========

Useful extension for FF, Chrome, and Opera.  Gets rid of the clutter on news sites web pages.

http://evernote.com/clearly/

[ozbob]

New app lets you design your own subway system

--> http://www.blogto.com/tech/2014/03/new_app_lets_you_design_your_own_subway_system/

[ozbob]

New app lets you design your own subway system

--> http://www.blogto.com/tech/2014/03/new_app_lets_you_design_your_own_subway_system/

^ Human Transit -->overcrowding and underfunding: the lessons of "mini metro"

[dancingmongoose]

New app lets you design your own subway system

--> http://www.blogto.com/tech/2014/03/new_app_lets_you_design_your_own_subway_system/

I'm getting no work done this weekend, thanks...

[ozbob]

Windows 10.  Presently, an  upgrade to Windows 10 will break Nvidia display drivers, and multiple monitor displays

Solution is to do a Windows update after the ugrade.  Then restart.  The update will reinstate the correct drivers, and extra displays back on.

I have installed Doze 10 on two machines now, one a desktop and one a lap top.  That is the only issue experienced.

The new Doze 10 browser Edge, seems to be an improvement.  Although I still prefer Chrome and Firefox ... you can never have enough browsers hey? 

[ozbob]

I had to update antiviral program (Trend) on desktop (upgrade from doze 7) to get 10 running optimally.

No issues on a laptop from doze 8.1 to 10.

I have Oracle VM Virtual Box on my desktop for running Linux.  That runs fine in 10 as well.

I think this is best OS Microsoft has done.   I have used them all at various times ..   

[colinw]

I think M$ have nailed it this time, best thing they've done since NT 4.0 (showing my age).

I had the NVIDIA problem myself, but Windoze update didn't fix it.  I had to download the Windows 8.1 driver for my NVIDIA card, which claimed that installation failed but Windows 10 disagrees and now works fine with the card.

Mind you, that's no no crazier than some of the stuff I've had to do to get NVIDIA, and also Broadcom wifi, to work in Ubuntu & Debian.

10 is looking AOK at present, definitely an improvement on 7 and not a debacle like 8 & Vista. Te missus is happy (she refuses to use Linux  ).  For once, installing a major Windows update didn't blow away my dual boot configuration, and it left GRUB alone.  So I have Ubuntu 14.04 LTS for my stuff, my wife has Windows 10, and for everything else there's VMs.

All the critical network stuff (printing, scanning, webcam based security, SubVersion & Git servers, independent backup, SSH access from outside) I have long since  migrated over to a Rapsberry Pi with a big external hard drive - the little ARM based Pi running a headless Linux configuration is more than adequate for all that stuff.

[ozbob]

Good on you Colin.  If M$ start putting too many $ on 10 I might go cold ' penguin ' and say goodbye to M$ for ever ..  they must have a longer term strategy that involves dollars 

Of course there are the usual ' privacy ' concerns with doze 10, M$ wants to collect all sorts of info ..  but can be easily turned off (mine is).

[ozbob]

If you are using FireFox and have had problems (can be a bit slow, hangs at times) give Pale Moon a go ..

>> https://www.palemoon.org/

It is essentially a cut down Firefox that appears to be a lot better than FireFox in terms of speed and stability.

You can import your FF settings etc. into Pale Moon and most FF extensions work as well.

[ozbob]

Well I have an upgraded box ... i7  with SSD for OS (presently doze 10, will put Linux on eventually).  Goes like the mighty S classes on the Spirit ..

Solid State Drives (SSD) have really arrived now.  Affordable, good longevity and fast as a rocket ...  transforms any OS.

[ozbob]

Been messing around with Oracle Virtual Machine.  Running Linux virtually at near native speed. Amazing! SSDs make a huge improvement.

This post is on Linux Mint, have been playing around with SuSe as well.  Think I will stick with Mint, runs very well indeed.

[ozbob]

Foxit PhantomPDF > https://www.foxitsoftware.com/

Does everything the expensive PDF programs do, and much more reasonable cost.

[ozbob]

https://vivaldi.com/?lang=en

Vivaldi web browser.  In beta but well worth a look.

[ozbob]

Via G C Solutions

Security researchers are warning of a new in-the-wild attack that silently installs malware on fully-patched computers by exploiting a serious — and yet unpatched — zero-day vulnerability in all current versions of Microsoft Office on fully-patched PCs.

The Microsoft Office zero-day attack, uncovered by researchers from security firms McAfee and FireEye, starts simply with an email that attaches a malicious Word file containing a booby-trapped OLE2link object.

How to Protect Yourself against this Attack?

Since the attack works on fully patched systems, users are highly advised to follow the below recommendations to mitigate such attacks:

    Do not open or download any suspicious Word files that arrive in an e-mail, even if you know the sender until Microsoft releases a patch.
    Since the attack does not work when a malicious document is viewed in Office Protected View feature, users are advised to enable this feature to view any Office documents.
    Always keep your system and antivirus up-to-date.
    Regularly backup your files in an external hard-drive.
    Disabling Macros does not offer any protection, but yet users are advised to do so in an attempt to protect themselves against other attacks.
    Always beware of phishing emails, spams, and clicking the malicious attachment.

Read More here-> http://thehackernews.com/2017/04/microsoft-word-zero-day.html

[ozbob]

https://www.threads.net/login

Threads is now available for desktop at that url.

[ozbob]

Post by @ukrailspotter

View on Threads

[ozbob]

^ Threads posts will now automatically embed.

Just post the link as below without the code bbc that is just to show the Threads post url.

Code Select Expand

https://www.threads.net/@ukrailspotter/post/CwX2tyLtmOD

[ozbob]

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1720306601847083461?s=20