Microsoft Pledges Windows XP Support Until 2014

Although it may be moving down in availability with computer manufacturers it looks like Microsoft is going to be standing by Windows XP for a good while yet. The company has pledged to keep supporting the OS until 2014. According to Microsoft senior VP Bill Veghte, the support will include security patches and "other critical updates," and he adds that "customers who still need Windows XP will be able to get it," despite plans to stop selling a retail product and stop licensing it directly to PC manufacturers after June 30th of this year. This extension means that Microsoft will be supporting the OS for 13 years since its initial release.

News Source: Engadget

Newly Released Google Webmaster Tools API

Webmaster Central blog of the Google has finally announced the vigin release of the Webmaster Tools API via it blog.[its ironical to find solar cooker and cooking related title of the post ].In short the main benifits of the features in this first version of the Webmaster Tools API are as following:

• For Managing Sites (Adding and deleting sites)
  1. Retrieving the Sites feed
  2. Adding a site to an account

Some Free Alternatives to Pricey Software

Most of us don't want to spend $600 for a program to edit pictures (Adobe Photoshop or CS3 Suite) or $400 for a text editor and spreadsheet program. And for those of us that detest Outlook, but like the calendar features, we've felt left out since Thunderbird doesn't offer a calendar in its standard install. And then there's that pesky problem with Adobe Acrobat Professional; unless you are an educational buyer, Adobe Acrobat licenses are a bit on the pricey side.

There are some free alternatives to all of these things that I'd like to share with you today.

Microsoft Office: For most purposes, you can replace the expensive Microsoft Office 2007 with OpenOffice, the free office suite. OO comes with frequent and regular updates and patches, and offers complete versatility. You can even save your text documents in an MSWord format when you're done, so you can send it to your client who doesn't have OO. Open Office also has a spreadsheet program and presentation program, so is virtually a full replacement for the MS Office Suite.

Adobe Photoshop/CS3: If owning Adobe Photoshop is too rich for your budget, and all you're doing is editing your digital photos and making a few signs or drawings, then a decent replacement is GIMP. GIMP provides all the tools you need to crop, resize, adjust, and retouch your photos before you send them to your printer or to the store for printing.

Outlook Calendar: While I am a huge fan of Thunderbird and use it for all of my pop3 and imap email, the one thing missing is a calendar. You can download and install the Lightning plug-in to add a calendar to Thunderbird, or you can download Sunbird instead, which runs as a standalone product. Visit Mozilla.org for these two products.

PDF: Creating PDF's is about 50% of what I do on a daily basis at work. I have Adobe Acrobat Professional at work to accomplish this, but when I'm doing things at home that have nothing to do with work, I am in need of a stable PDF-production tool that won't cost me anything, and gives me all the same tools that Adobe does. I'm using PDF Creator for most things, and find it to have all the tools I need for basic PDF production.

Microsoft Publisher: Need to make a flier, brochure, or handout but don't have MS Publisher? Never fear, Scribus is here to do your dirty work for you. This intuitive, easy-to-use, tiny-footprinted program is the best free tool I've found to replace Publisher and the well-loved Adobe Pagemaker (long gone from Adobe's lineup these days).

QuickBooks: Need to do your home or small business finances but would rather not spend the big dollars to get QuickBooks? Try out TurboCash. And for a $49 optional support fee, you get access to technical support and corruption help, should that ever happen to you.

Why buy it when you can get it for free? That's my motto.

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Facebook Suffers it's First App Problem

CNet is reporting that Facebook has banned the "Top Friends" by Slide because it violated the app agreement. The installed application would apparently bypass information a user set to private. CNet found the error and reported it to Facebook. The Social Media giant then suspended the app from running on the site.

There have been a couple other applications that have had security issues, like Super Wall and SuperPoke. Both issues were resolved quickly. I am guessing the Slide apps could not be.

MySpace also has Slide applications on their site. CNet contacted them and they are looking into the matter.

It really is a "Too many Chefs in the Kitchen" scenario here. All it takes is either one mistake of code, or someone like Facebook to make updates that could change the way an application works with the site. Not sure what the case was with Slide. Maybe it's a bigger fix than just plugging a hole, maybe the company was using your information in the wrong way.

I have a Facebook profile (add me as a friend), and I did have this application. My profile is open to all so I didn't notice the problem. I have some other applications on there, too (Feel free to send me a hug or a plant) and new apps appearing daily from friends. I have even went to the extreme as to not accept new applications. It not only clutters up the page but you also don't know what could become a security hole.

Bottom line - a site like this invites error because so many can contribute. Limit the applications and watch those apps you decide to install. Importantly, just because an app looks safe now doesn't mean in 3 months wont have a gaping security hole to it. One small "fix" to the app or to Facebook or MySpace can change all that.

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