When did you check last time if you have the latest version of QuickTime or not? Speaking for myself, I am not crazy about keeping all my programs up to date, especially since it happened more than just a few times to see that the new versions were less stable than the old one, or removed features that I've been using on a regular basis, but when talking about QuikTime, it's always best choice to have the last version. Why? Unfortunately, QuickTime is notorious for its security issues, and keeping it up to date is one of my major concerns.


<-125x125 Button - left->As you can see above, the Apple Software Update is the easiest way to update QuickTime, but you can also get the latest version of QuickTime by downloading it. Anyway, I'll leave the links to the download pages for later, because now you should find out what's new. Unfortunately, no surprise here - as usual, Apple says that QuickTime 7.5 "improves application compatibility and addresses security issues."So much for the detailed description, but if you dig a little through Apple's support site, you'll figure out that this latest update fixes five QuickTime vulnerabilities, including a number of issues from maliciously crafted media and image files to arbitrary code execution, but not limited to them, as it seems.

Before guiding you to the download pages, which should be used only if you don't have the Apple Software Update application, you should know that you'll be required to restart the computer after installing the update. Good, now let's see those download pages - Windows, Leopard, Tiger, and Panther. The Windows version has almost 23MB in size, and the 3 Mac OS X versions have between 51MB and 56MB.

These being said, I hope you'll get the latest version of QuickTime as soon as possible and stay safe. Hopefully, we won't hear about new vulnerabilities for a while...

Too much time has passed since we talked about a Linux distribution, don't you think? Obviously, there are plenty of sites with links to entire hordes of Linux distros, but what about the best Linux distribution? I know - there's no such thing as "best Linux distribution," but some of those available are considered by a lot of people to be the best, and Damn Small Linux is one of them. What? I don't hear you! "Damn Small Linux" sounds like something new to you? No problem, we're going to fix that right away, especially since the last version, 4.4, was officially released today...


<-234x60 Half Banner - left->OK, so what's that special with Damn Small Linux, shortly known as DSL? Well, DSL is a free Linux distribution designed to run using a graphical interface on older computers, going as far back in time as 486/early Pentiums! Obviously, it is also capable of working with very little memory, making it perfect for those that don't have powerful hardware, or simply want to keep around that ancient computer they purchased a decade ago.

Powered by Joe's Window Manager, or simply JWM, DSL 4.4 includes an impressive amount of software, including the popular Firefox, Netrik and Dillo Web browsers, the image viewer known as Xzgv, the Xpaint photo editor, as well as the notorious XMMS, the Vim text editor, and many others.

The best part with this Linux distro is that DSL is very small, having only 50MB in size, and you can easily boot it from an USB flash drive, a 8cm CD, convert it into a Debian OS but, most important of all, it can run on a 486DX processor with as little as 16MB of memory!

Where to get it? Just go to the Damn Small Linux download page and pick your favorite download link!

I know, I know - I am late, but look on the bright side - better late, than never! What should we talk about today? Well, the answer is simple - how to use Azureus, if I recall it well. To be more specific, we should discuss about configuring Azureus, as I promised you last time, when we learned a few general things about this BitTorrent client, and you had a chance to see how to install Azureus, as well as its setup choices, explained.


<-120x240 Vertical Banner - left->We'll get to the setup part right away, since I guess you already have something in mind, and I hope you want to create a logo for free, download a free 3D graphics software, or even get HD content for free, because all these are possible without breaking the law. Anyway, before you download something, I strongly advise double checking what you're grabbing with Azureus - MPAA and RIAA are hardly waiting to get their hands on you! After all, you may have downloaded some files already, since Azureus can easily work right out of the box for most people, but it won't work as it is supposed to be, as you're going to see right away...

After I installed Azureus (I will mention it once and for all - we're talking about Azureus Vuze, since it seems the "classic" version of the program is dead now), I - obviously - started it. So far, so good. I even downloaded some files without changing any settings, but then something hit me in the eye - the interface was not in English!

Come on, I had no language choice during setup, my Windows XP Professional is the English version, and Azureus installed by default the local language, simply because of my Time Zone? It seems so, and I can't really tell about other localizations, but I hate the one in my native language, so I always use English. If you're not like me and you enjoy localised applications, you can skip the next paragraph. OK now, others - let's see how can we fix this, shall we?


Leaving the menus aside, it's enough to press Ctrl+, and you'll be taken to the Configuration tab right away. A very handy addition to Azureus allows you to search through the available options, so simply type "Language" in the search box (translated into the language used by the interface, of course) and you'll be taken to the right option. Otherwise, you should expand the Interface branch, and then find the Language option, which should be first one, as you can see above. After choosing English, or another language that's better for you, click the Save button below, in the left corner.


Good, since we solved the language problem, today I'll show you how to solve another problem - user proficiency. Obviously, you won't become a BitTorrent expert in an hour, but you'll learn how to start digging in. If Azureus already works like a charm, you can simply quit now, but if you're headed towards becoming a power user, you should stay and prepare for what's headed your way...

To start the Configuration Wizard, simply open the Tools menu, and pick it from there. Now, let's follow it, step by step...


Language? Didn't we change it already? Well, we did, but the Configuration Wizard doesn't know that. Too bad the Wizard doesn't run when you start the program for the first time after installing it, as it did before (and if it does, than I got bad luck and it didn't, for me)!


When it comes to user proficiency, I always select the highest level possible. Why? Better have options that you don't know how to use, than lack those you need!


Next, we have the connection settings. These should be pretty easy to set, and if you have no idea about your bandwidth, using a free connection testing tool, like SpeedTest.net, could be a good idea.


In most cases, you should simply skip the NAT/Server Port screen, but first, do the test to ensure that the currently selected port works fine. You should do the same, especially if you had problems with the default configuration.


I've seen too many people that have no idea where a certain program downloads data. To avoid being like them, be sure to change the default folder for Azureus as you can see in the screen above!

At last, press Finish and you can start downloading, if you didn't do it already! On the other hand, you can leave Azureus aside, get back to your life, and wait for the next episode in our series, which is exactly what I would do, if I were you.

Did you take the time to sign the petition to save XP yet? If you haven't, don't bother anymore. Windows XP is dead. Well, not yet, but Microsoft wants to kill it as scheduled, on the 30th of June. Fortunately, it seems that this widely used operating system is going to prove us there's life after death...at least in the IT world! How's that possible? Well, let's see how can you get Windows XP after the 30th of June, shall we?


<-234x60 Half Banner - left->First of all, you will be able to buy Windows XP installed on certain mainstream PCs at least until the end of January, 2009. Even more, some ULPCS, like the Eee PC, for example, will sell with XP until June 2010!

When it comes to tech support, it seems that "some forms of support" will continue to be provided by Microsoft until 2014!

The funny part is that, after June 30, 2008, obtaining support for XP will be easier than trying to buy it. How's that? Well, for starters, Microsoft offers Windows XP "mainstream support" until the 14th of April, 2009. After that, and until to the distant 2014, the 8th of April, to be more specific, security patches will continue to arrive from time to time, but public bug fixes won't be available for Windows XP anymore.

In the end, we may live to see Windows XP having a longer life than Vista, if things continue to go the way they're headed now. Anyway, best thing to do is buy a licensed copy of Windows XP as soon as possible, and keep it safe. These may become very precious items, after a while...

Do you feel well? No health problems? NONE? Great, I am glad for you! Unfortunately, a lot of IT professionals seem to have health problems these days, and a recent report from Microsoft shows that RSI is more than just something you hear about and read on the Web, because this, apart from being a real pain for those affected by it, it's also a reason for their employers to lose money. A lot of money! How much, that's what we're about to see right away...


<-120x240 Vertical Banner - left->First of all, here's the definition of this term for those of you that are still strangers to RSI, right out of the book: "A repetitive strain injury (RSI), also called cumulative trauma disorder (CTD), occupational overuse syndrome, or work related upper limb disorder (WRULD), is any of a loose group of conditions resulting from overuse of a tool, eg. computer, guitar or knife, or other activity that requires repeated movements. It is a syndrome that affects muscles, tendons and nerves in the hands, arms and upper back. The medically accepted condition in which it occurs is when muscles in these areas are kept tense for very long periods of time, due to poor posture and/or repetitive motions."

A new Microsoft research revealed that work-related RSI cases got up with over 30 percent in the last year, and the lost working hours had a cost of more than $600 million for companies, not to speak about the pain and discomfort felt by the overworked staff.

"Overworked staff?" Yes, that's the sad truth - according to the same study, the main reason behind this nasty situation is the tendency to work on the move more than two years ago, especially because laptops and other mobile devices that connect to the Internet are smaller and much easier to carry around.

At last, it should be noted that from 1,000 office workers, HR managers, and office managers that answered Microsoft's poll, no less than 68 percent suffered from back ache, shoulder and wrist/hand pain, but not limited to these only.

Need I say more? Go get a break, because that's what I'm going to do, right now! Good bye and be careful with your health!