Total Commander is Total Bliss!

  I first started using "Windows Commander" when a neighbor (in the EU) installed it on my computer in '03 to make it easier for him to transfer other files onto my computer. At that time (and for several years afterward) I saw it as a useful and more stable tool for file management. So on my workhorse desktop (which I use for most of my media downloading, burning, ripping, etc) I've rarely had to open windows explorer ever since, and I've always been pleased with the performance of Windows Commander.  The program never froze (as Windows XP used to do all the time!), it rarely caused file transfer problems (only about 1-2 times/year, and then only because I was doing something weird like transferring from two different hard disks to my one external at the same time).  It was always VERY fast, both opening and running, and it's a very convenient way to see file details, permissions, and other settings instantaneously. Also, the option of "Overwrite all older..." for batch copying files from one directory to another made it a lot easier to synchronize directories. But I never saw it as particularly cool. Just a useful tool to replace explorer for file management.

  About a year ago I realized there was a newer version and I upgraded to "Total Commander Ultima Prime" (TCUP, see screenshot above)... I know, I know, it sounds pretentious.  But I can honestly say I have never before been so surprised and impressed by a piece of windows software. Much like its predecessor, Total Commander is impenetrably stable and fast.  And right away I noticed the ability to create "tabs", as is standard in browser software these days, which I found really exciting.  In fact, since the program remembers which tabs were open the last time it ran; I have cut down my file search time by orders of magnitude!  I usually have about 15-20 tabs open in TCUP, of my most frequently used directories (i.e., "Downloads", "Music", "Videos", and various directories specific to research projects I'm working on), so I need only to click on the correct tab and find the file I want!!! [I still use Vista's search for more infrequently used files]

  Okay, okay, so you're probably thinking: "File Management... Wow. That's not very exciting..." TCUP doesn't just integrate standard aspects of windows explorer (like adding network drives, etc), it also performs SFTP transfers (right in your directory windows!) and allows for the installation of open-source plugins like T-pot. No this isn't Russel's Teapot, but rather the TC for your iPod or iPhone... A lot of people have "hacked" or "pwned" their iPhone or iPod Touch since their release; but a pretty common problem among users is their inability to get files into the right places on the device (Apple firmware tries to keep you out of any directory you might mess with something serious; which includes where NES roms have to go, etc). I guess most users solve this by using SSH to a server on their computers; but T-pot allows you to enter your device as though it were a disk, and manage files from within TCUP (where you manage the rest of your files anyway)!

Finally for those people like me with big and especially ecclectic media libraries, and more than one computer from which you'd like to access your media... this has got to be the coolest feature. TCUP has a built-in function for what we used to do manually, but got too busy to do when the libraries got big: Synchronize Directories.  Just bring up your iTunes or Music directory in one window, the external hard drive's in the next, and share!  The feature can take a while to compare everything (i have about 50 GB, and my last sync took about 20-30 min to analyze).

These are just a few of the wonderful powers of TCUP; I'm afraid I've only learned maybe 10% of the capabilities of this program and they've already had several version updates since I obtained this one!!! I'm upgrading to 7.04a this weekend, so expect an update on this review in the future!

Update on Google Chrome...

The new browser made by Google is out. And as one of Google's most outspoken and dedicated supporters, I downloaded and installed it immediately.  Having been using it (almost) exclusively for the past few weeks I've had few complaints.  Here's my summary of the up- and down-sides of the new software package:

The Good: Stable, user-friendly, and LIGHTNING FAST! Creating a new tab is instantaneous, and the default new tab info is TOTALLY AWESOME.  Being an avid user of tabbed browsing for some time now (since IE first introduced it, before Mozilla), I find it extremely useful that Google Chrome new tabs start with a big pic of nine websites you frequent and a quick link to your history list, as well as a list of recently closed tabs!!! I don't know about you, but I always hated searching thru my history for something in the sidebar or even worse in the menu bar. Moving this to the new tab was another Google stroke-of-genius.  Another great feature is the integrated search. If you prefer to use Google for searching the web (like the majority of the world), then just typing the words in the address bar brings you there. IE has had this feature for awhile, but I just couldn't stomach the MSN search results page...

The Bad: Not as "independent-window" as Google claims.  The website for Chrome advertises enhanced stability such that if one window crashes, the others remain functional and open.  NOT TRUE! At least not always... I did have this experience a few times, opening pages with suspected adware and other risque sites. This was great because then I kept my crucial windows open and didn't have to relogin, etc.  However, I managed to crash the whole damn thing today with about 10 tabs open in one window (including 1 java app, Facebook, gmail) and a second window popped out from Google chat. Lame, to say the least... but its only happened once. I'm not quite ready to condemn Google Chrome for crashing when Mozilla probably would've crashed anyway, but I let's say I'm reserving judgment.

The Ugly: As with any new software, it is unfortunately not supported by certain things. Some brand-spanking new fancy java apps and other websites still won't work in Chrome (although the only one I use is to play games online at king.com, which STILL only supports IE).  And there's no integration with popular anti-virus / internet security software. I use Norton 360 because I absolutely LOVE the fact that Norton (not my browser) holds all my passwords in one place, protected by a single Master password.  Unfortunately its not supported by Chrome, even though it supports both Mozilla and IE (but not Safari).  The solution, unfortunately, is up to Norton I believe. So I'm sure their decision will be predicated on Chrome's success in the general public... so do me a favor and GO DOWNLOAD IT NOW!

How Long Does a Laptop Last?

We are currently considering replacing a Sony Vaio VGN bought in 2004, and my partner was shocked that her laptop only lasted ~3.5 years.  I was shocked it lasted that long, but I suppose I ride my machines harder (not only operation-wise, but I tend to knock them around physically a bit).  In my experience a decent (good) laptop lasts around 3 years, and a lame (budget Dell or Gateway) laptop lasts around 2 years, if you work at it.  I once managed to keep a Dell running for 3 years because I inherited a full-service warranty which lasted that long...

After trolling the internet I've found a number of conflicting opinions.  Some users, for example, who never let their laptop out to play on the internet have had VERY long lives.  Some (mainly mac-users) claim their laptops should last a minimum of 3 years, and usually max out at about 5, with the average lasting somewhere near four years.  I would expect something like a Sony Vaio, or a high-end HP to last that long on the PC side; but then again, I don't know if anyone has had that experience.  I'm on my first HP laptop now, less than a year old; so I will update this post once a year with a check-up; but in the meantime I invite the readers to vote on your experience. How long does your (average) laptop last??? (See poll on right)

Gmail Security Settings

A (potentially major) security issue has been demonstrated several months ago at DefCon, but not being a security professional I've only just heard about it. This issue is a vulnerability in many websites which utilize cookies to maintain active logins, such as gmail and I would guess facebook and myspace as well... The hacker can pick your cookies out of the air (when you're using wireless) and "slide" into your logged in account to do their damage. Of course they won't learn your password (though once logged in they can obviously change it!), but the potential damage is nonetheless limitless...

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/08/gmail-https-doe.html

Why hasn't Google dealt with this yet? Maybe because they're too busy worrying about the anti-trust suit shaping up against them...  Is Google really too big already?  No! (But the deal with Yahoo would afford them 80% of web advertising...)

My solution is like Biden's partition solution: Spin-off a smaller company (or companies) which focuses only on one type of advertising (e.g.,  fastclick-style) to keep the competition up in the advertising arena.  I'd really hate to see Google get busted up over something so stupid as the Yahoo buyout, which in my (optimistic) opinion was more about shutting down Yahoo than gaining a bigger market share...

Google Chrome, and Privacy Issues...

So, apparently I'm not the only one who reads Terms & Services Agreements or Privacy Statements. And perhaps even more notably, apparently I'm not crazy or anal-retentive to do so; since contraversy was  recently stirred up regarding the T&S agreement of Google's new browser: Google Chrome. Apparently their agreement included sufficiently broad language to retain for Google any copyright or other reserved intellectual property rights to property created using their browser (unless such material has been previously protected by you).

Here is the language in question: "By submitting, posting or displaying the content you give Google a perpetual, irrevocable, worldwide, royalty-free, and non-exclusive license to reproduce, adapt, modify, translate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display, and distribute any Content which you submit, post, or display on or through, the Services."

Now based on my prior experiences with Google, I did not see this as an intentional dash for picking up the IP of all users ignorant enough to skip over reading the Terms & Services agreement. Instead, I understood it to be a mistake in rushing the software to market; they probably copied and pasted text from other T&S agreements and their lawyers did a quick/dirty editing job...  Nonetheless, the presence of such broad and overarching language still needed to be addressed before I start doing anything remotely creative in Google chrome.

True to form, Google responded almost instantaneously with not only an immediate remedy but an apology (which really isn't necessary, and to be honest is quite rare from a software company). Thanks Google! Keep up the good work!

And a BIG thanks to all the whistleblowers out there who keep the big companies honest!!! Long live Net Neutrality and the Internet Whistleblower!!!