Windows Software (Eseential)

MS Network Monitor

ditto

Moo0 - http://www.moo0.com/?top=http://www.moo0.com/software/WindowMenuPlus/

 Plus smipage

phrozensoft places synergy snackr bitvise tunnelier bitvise ssh

ad audio recorder autohotkey wget moo window plus menu

x2GO Client / Server

Window On Top http://www.compzets.com/view-upload.php?id=702&action=view

Winroll = http://www.palma.com.au/winroll/ - minimize window to title bar

PS Tools http://technet.microsoft.com/en-ca/sysinternals/bb896649.aspx

AVG Free on Fedora 20 (64bit)

     I have been using AVG free on some other Linux distros as well.  Works great for scanning Windows files, without actually using Windows.

Download :    http://free.avg.com/us-en/download.prd-alf

Configuration : 

     /opt/avg/av/bin/avgsetup

Running :

     sudo avgctl –start [ restart | stop ]

Updating :

sudo avgupdate

Scanning :

avgscan file_to_scan

Components :

WD - WatchDog
Sched - Scheduler
Tcpd - Email server
Avid - AviLoader
Oad - On-access scanner
Aspam - Antispam

    Note that AVG for Linux has no GUI, all command line.


Using the program is straightforward. First you need to start the AVG daemon: run “sudo avgctl –start“. Then you can use “sudo avgupdate” to update the software, and “avgscan” to scan a given file.


was getting  bad ELF interpreter: No such file or directory
yum install glibc.i686
now Error: Component connection is unavailable. avgd is not running or is not yet fully initialized.had to avgsetup
then avgupdate

Raid 1 on Kimsufi Dedicated Server

    Running Debian 7.4 stable (Wheezy) (64bits) on my (4G Core2 Quad Q6700 SoftRaid) Kimsufi dedicated server.  The default installation via their control panel, is Raid 1.  After some tinkering I setup Raid 0.


Here are the results

Copying 1.1 GB (to and from the same disk)

• Raid 0 = 124 MB/s
• Raid 1 = 211 MB/s

Some test results produced (yet marginally) even better results.  Not bad for software raid.

Dominic 

DVD Audio (securing)

DVD-Audio has been around for almost 10 years know. The format delivers high-fidelity audio content. It is not intended to deliver video, and is not the same format as DVD’s that carry movies.  (Follow the above link to read more)

 

This post gives a quick overview of the type of copy protections schemes that are used.  The idea behind this is copy protection.  Aims to prevent users from extracting audio (copying).

1. Content Protection for Prerecorded Media (CPPM).

CPPM uses a media key block (MKB) to authenticate DVD-Audio players.  In order to decrypt the audio the players must obtain a media key from the MKB.  The player must use its unique key to decrypt the MKB.  Important to note that C.C.P.M. encryption has been broken since 2005.

2. Digital Watermarking.

The watermark is typically embedded into the audio once every thirty seconds, this watermarking cannot be removed.  If a DVD-Audio player encounters a watermark on a disc without a valid MKB, it will halt playback.  Also if the DVD-A player detects that the watermark does not match the DVD-A disc (eg you've made a “backup” of your DVD-A), the playback will cease.

Although note that many DVD-A players have no watermark detection, while others can be ‘patched’.  Apparently You can play ripped and watermarked DVD-Audio on your computer using CyberLink PowerDVD (amongst others), but I have not tested this.

SqueezeBox3

The Logitech SqueezeBox3 is a small digital audio player, playing a variety of audio formats both lossy and lossless.  The unit boasts impressive specifications, including a pair of dedicated linear power regulators feeding the Burr-Brown™ 24-bit DAC.  Personally I use the optical output and have my Denon AVR-3806 decode the stream.

I am excited that with a firmware (7.3.1) upgrade the SqueezeBox3 can now play 24 bit / 96 kHz audio.  Whether FLAC or WAVE (.WAV) audio, the sound is outstanding.

  Unfortunately (as listed in the device specifications in the above link) the maximum sampling rate possible by the unit is 48Khz.   In other words, even though the SqueezeBox3 can play can play 24 bit / 96 Khz audio, it does not provide the full (96 Khz) sampling rate. Keep in mind that this is also the case if you use the digital outputs, (like in mind case) to have the stream decoded by the DAC in my receiver.   The unit is capable only of delivering only 24/48 no matter the outputs or DAC you use.

So what of this 24 bit / 96 kHz audio ?  Why should one care ?

Well this means that the digital signal that represents the analog audio is composed of 96000 samples per second (per channel), and that each sample has a resolution of 24 bits.  Much higher quality when compared to regular audio CDs’s (16/44) 16-bit encoding at a 44.1 kHz sampling rate per channel.

So 24 bits sample is 65536 times more precise than that of a CD and there are more than twice as many samples.  Compared to 24/96 high-resolution digital audio, a 16-bits/44.1K CD represents only 30% of the resolution, not very much when you look at it in this light.   So 24-bit/96kHz captures almost five times as much information as a commercial CD (which is 16-bit/44.1kHz).  That is why many people complain of CD recordings that sound harsh or brittle.

How can one listen to these higher quality music files ?

In order to listen to true 24 bit / 96Khz audio you will need a player that can support this natively.  Such devices are:

Logitech SqueezeBox Touch

Logitech Transporter

Linn Akurate DS

Without such units, the files can be burnt to a DVD (first encoded to .WAV if need be).  Your DVD player can decode the higher bitrates.  Alternatively the music files can be played on your computer, granted your sounded card must be able to decode 24 bit audio.

For specific instructions including a list of software please view this article.

Finally do tell where such music can be obtained.

The HD Tracks site has many such tracks for sale.

“This page has insecure content.” – Chrome Help

Curious icon in my Google Chrome browser address bar. Dig a little deeper and see, this is to protect you and me. If Chrome is connected securely to a site ( https ), it may block unauthenticated / insecure content.

 Blocking content may not allow the page to render correctly, or function as intended (could be a good thing ..). To prevent Chrome from blocking such content (at your own risk) :

1.  Click on the icon in the right portion of the address bar.
2.  Select ” Load unsafe script “. 

In my case, Chrome was blocking one ad. A flashing GIF…

 If you aren’t 100% certain of what you are doing.. and say some sensitive information is to be entered on that page (credit card number etc.). Don’t do it.. find some assistance to alleviate any unnecessary risks.

Consult this Google help page for advanced tips and options.