AVG 8.0

The new version of AVG is out now, the AVG Internet Security 8.0 got some new cool features. It searches the url string before entering site to check for evil code. It also got link scan that searches every link you come across when surfing the net. It even scans search results on googel, yahoo & MSN and some additional features.

My only concern is how much this slows down the system and the net? They say on their website:

AVG has always delivered fast, effective security without the performance-sapping overheads of other security suites, and AVG Internet Security 8.0 continues that tradition.

but still, I have never believed in Security software’s performance information and test ratings because they heave a tendency to lie with statistics, only showing the good results and glorifying results that does not really matter (but sounds like it does).

They haven’t released the new version 8.0 as a free version yet, the current release is 7.5. So now it’s only to wait for the free release for a poor man like me :D

It’s going to be interesting reading some reviews of AVG Internet Security 8.0 and AVG Anti-virus 8.0 in the near future, if it really is so low on resources as they say and how good the security system really is.
Visit AVG for more information.

The waiting is over, or is it?

After a long time waiting for MySQL to release the connector for Visual Studio 2008 the day finally came a week ago. Myself and probably a lot of people is in desperate need of the connector for developing purposes. Sadly it’s only in alpha state right now and from previous experience of alpha-builds it is going to work fine for some people but not at all for most people.

Only by checking MySQL’s forum you get a pretty nice idea of all the problems occurring with the alpha-build, so maybe the day haven’t finally come. I guess I’m going to install and do a test-run home before I install the connector on my work machine, but still the fact lies, if the connector works at home, is it then going to work on my machine at work?

I do appreciate MySQL’s effort of releasing a .Net connector for Visual Studio 2008 and hopefully the alpha-release works fine for me. But the waiting is still a fact, and I hope all the problems in the alpha-release will only contribute to a better beta and finally, a better final-release.

And as a note; Today is the day MySQL is officially part of Sun, read all about it here.

Vista gadgets

For you running Windows Vista, here is some great Sidebar gadgets. I’m going to get wireless network really soon so if you know any good gadgets for it, pleas make a comment. Well, enjoy!

Code Converter
This is a really nice and usable sidebar tool for all the .Net C# and VB coders out there. You simply paste your C# or VB code in a convert field and whoops, get your code translated. Works from C# to Vb and vice versa.

Download from Windows live gallery.

System Control
System control is absolutly what it sounds like. It’s a customizable panel with system controls :D. Fast links for shutting down, restart, lock, switch users, task manager, sleep, run, log off, and of course cmd. It can also display RAM usage or CPU usage or time and date. It’s just simply the perfect gadget.

Download from buildagadget.com

Ping Pong Clock
I have seen a lot of clocks in different forms, vista clock, binary clocks, digital in all forms.. But this takes it all, the coolest clock i have ever seen. You just have to stop and watch the game everytime you want to know the time :D

Download from Windows live gallery

Multi Meter (THL)
This is the best CPU and RAM usage meter I have ever seen. I guess you know what it does. This one is from THL, read more about it in the note at the end of this post.

Network Meter (THL)
This is a nice network meter displaying upload/download and total upload/download. Very good if you are like me, obsessed of knowing everything that’s going on. This one is also from THL, read more about it in the note at the end of this post.

The note:
You have to register on THL (http://thehobbylounge.com) to download Multi Meter and Network Meter. It’s totally free and you get access to more useful gadgets, so really, why not register right away?

Security software

I have read tons of forum posts, articles in magazines and people talking about it. Security has always been a subject with A lot of opinions with right and wrongs.

I whoever will give you great tips on free software that will help you secure your computer.
I have tested all of them and I know it’s really good security-softwares. Enjoy!

#1 Firewall
First of all, A good firewall. Even if you think no hacker will even try attacking your PC it’s always good securing you from attacks from bots etc and of course keeping spambots, trojans and other nasty code that may already be in your PC from getting access of your Internet connection.

Comodo Firewall, image from www.comodo.com

The best firewall is free. Comodo firewall is the best firewall out there. With it’s new interface in version 3 is easy to setup and easy to manage. Get Comodo firewall for free here

#2 AntiVirus
It’s always hard to find a good antivirus that you are comfortable with and this is the one’s i like.

Paid:
NOD32 from ESET is the absolute best antivirus on the market. NOD32 always strikes the best result in AV-Comparatives antivirus tests. This is a standalone testcenter and it’s the only antivirus tests I trust.

On this site you will find independent comparatives of Anti-Virus software. All products listed in our comparatives are already a selection of some very good anti-virus products.
(www.av-comparatives.org)

Free:
There is some good free antivirus available as well.
The top 3 best ones is: AviraAntivir, AvastHome, AVG

• Avast (www.avast.com)
  Avast is the only one that protects against Spyware and you can change skin on the user interface.

• Avira (www.free-av.com)
  AviraAntivir is a really good antivirus but you will get a popup from Avira on every update with some commercial.

• AVG (free.grisoft.com)
  Ugly user interface but a strong antivir and it’s the only one capable of searching email through a standalone emailclient like thunderbird.

#3 Anti Spyware

There is alot of Anti spyware programs out there and in general they are really good.
Some free ones I like is:

• AVG Anti-Spyware Free Edition (free.grisoft.com)
• Ad-Aware 2007 Free (www.lavasoftusa.com)
• A-squared Free (www.emsisoft.com)

#4 Anti-Malware (www.comodo.com)
A must have is Comodo Anti-Malware, you should install it even if you have a Anti-Virus installed. And it’s made by Comodo so it’s free. Download and install.

Firefox

Why Firefox is the best browser in the world!

Some people asks me what browser I use and the answer always is “Firefox because it’s the best one”. Because I’m a web developer firefox is the only browser reading Cascading Style Sheet code the right way unlike InternetExplorer who cant read it at all (feels like it anyway). Mozilla Firefox has always been the browser everyone else wished they had developed first. Opera is also one good browser though there is a paid version and a free version and I just don’t like the idea of paying money for my browser.

I need a customizable browser and the only good one i Mozilla firefox. It has always been a milestone i browser dev. Just look at IE, on latest version 7 they started using tabs, and i just has to be because firefox used it for centuries and finally IE developers are starting to be more exact on the Cascading Style Sheet reading.

But I cant understand why people run IE as their primary browser, when you can run Firefox and customize it to perfection. So for you running IE, download Firefox and try these add-ons. And for you already using Firefox, try them out if you not already are using them.

- Firefox download site (www.firefox.com)

- ScribeFire (download here)

I’m using ScribeFire right now to post this blog message on wordpress. You can use it for costom blogs or other known as well.

- Dictionaries, Select your language (download here)

This is the best thing about Firefox for people like me, bad spellers. I’m from sweden so I got the swedish dictionary and the English dictionary so I can spell this blog a bit better :D.

- Download Statusbar (download here)
I just love this one, In ordinary when downloading a file from the web with Firefox a window pops-up where you can watch the download status, open the file or delete. But this add-on puts the “dl popup” in the statusbar so you don’t get the annoying popup and have full control over the download.

-Speed Dial (download here)

This is a nice add-on too. It’s a speed dial for websites. When you open a new tab, this speed dial screen opens as start page where you can have your nine favorite websites for fast and easy access. It’s perfect for me because I need too use the same web pages a lot of time, so this is really a time saver.

There is a lot of nice add-ons out there and when i find some other great ones i’ll post it here. Good luck with customize your favorite web browser.

Hello world!

So, this is my first post with a classic Hello World header :D

Well, the main reason I created this blog is because I got so much useful stuff to share, not social, not scientific, not fun.. well you’ll see.. I was going to make my own blog in asp.net but I got so little spare time now, maybe I’ll create one later on just for fun.

Nothing more to say, just that my spelling may suck, but I want to write in English so I could get at least one reader :D

C’ya all