PC Apps/Scripts

BIOS VNC Server

Martin
September 21, 2011
Essential Applications, Hardware, PC Apps/Scripts, Troubleshooting, XP Time Saving Tools

In what looks like a boon for IT Admins everywhere news of a new BIOS based VNC Server solution comes from a partnership between Intel and RealVNC.

This motherboard based VNC Server will allow admins to VNC to a remote PC if the computer is off or doesn’t have a functioning OS.

Nice – Remote installs anyone? I’ve been waiting for a feature like this to come along for a long time.

You need a specific version of VNC (VNC Viewer Plus) along with a vPro Processor and AMT6.0 to support this. You also need a license for each installation of VNC Viewer Plus, but wow what a leap forward!

I had investigated AMT a few months ago but couldn’t figure out its benefits. The recent news makes it all clear…

This should make my job a lot easier – I’ll be able to connect PC’s directly up to the end-user network – no need to move them into the network room to build and have to move them a second time to users desks. I can build on the spot…

More information here

RT7 Lite – The Windows 7 successor to nLite

nLite was a great little tool to customize your Windows XP OS before actually installing it. I mainly used it to remove pesky addon’s like Games from the default installation source then integrate drivers and OS updates into ISO’s before burning these onto disc and using them to install the OS.

It was also possible to integrate silent software installs with nLite – but with software release updates coming out all the time what would be the point?

The need to integrate drivers has been eliminated from Win7 since it does such a good job of finding the correct drivers from the Windows Update site – however updates are still required.

Enter RT Se7en Lite to pick up where nLite left off.

I haven’t tested RT7 yet but if it’s half as useful as nLite – than its a keeper. You can find it here

New addition to “Sites Martin Likes”

Found a great little blog about everything and anything tech http://mattcollinge.wordpress.com/

I’m adding it to my “Sites I Like” section

FileMover and USB Detect and Launch look like the type of apps that could come in really useful – I love time saving tools

Kleptomania – Grab text from non-clipboard aware dialog boxes

Here’s a tool I got a lot of use of in my former life as a Software Test Engineer.

Kleptomania is able to grab text from dialog boxes which the clipboard cannot select and copy from.

So for example if an error dialog appears you can grab the text from it exactly how it appears, which normally the OS would not let you do.

It’s a really great tool for Software Testers but not 100% reliable. That said it’s a really great time saver when you need to plug in the full error message as text in your bug “Steps to Repro”…

HFSExplorer – Open Mac formatted data on your PC

Martin
March 8, 2011
PC Apps/Scripts

Here’s a nice little app to use when your Mac breaks down and you need to read Mac formatted data on your trusty reliable and all round nice PC 😉

HFSExplorer does exactly what it says on the tin – in this case the tin is a web page from software dev Erik Larsson.

Plus it’s free – you can’t argue with that

Check it out – it works. Trust me I’m a doctor…

The argument against HTML5 – (for now)

Martin
November 13, 2010
3 Comments
Mac Apps/Scripts, Mobile Applications, PC Apps/Scripts

The recent controversy surrounding Apple dropping Flash support from some of it’s product range has highlighted numerous shortcomings in the browser plugin, along the lines of performance, reliability and security.

Apple publicly criticised the plugin – recommending HTML5 to Joe Public instead, but were they right to drop support for Flash, possibly damaging their up to now close relationship with Adobe?

In my opinion no. Here’s why:

HTML5 is still a draft standard and will continue to be so for some time to come. Due to the fact that the HTML5 feature set has not been standardized yet – web browser developers are hampered deciding which HTML5 features to support in their new web browser releases. This means that it may not be possible to view some parts of a webpage coded in HTML5 depending on which web browser and OS you have installed.

Standards also give web developers the assurance that the code they use to design a web page should work across a range of web browsers – in an ideal world that’s the way it should happen. In reality this doesn’t happen – different browsers display webpages differently. OK – but do we need Apple adding another layer of complexity to web developers jobs by forcing them to decide which browser(s) they’ll concentrate their coding and testing efforts on?

Instead of the best all round browser gaining the biggest market share the end user will probably end up suffering – they’ll be forced to choose a browser that supports the most HTML5 features. All because Apple wanted to conserve battery life on their mobile devices…

HTML5 – It should be great – but I don’t think its ready for prime-time just yet.

VBSEdit – The VBS editor with a killer feature

Martin
May 21, 2010
PC Apps/Scripts

VBSEdit is a great vbs editor in itself however its got a great feature which makes it useful for vbs wranglers that on occaision need to turn their vbs creations into exe files.

Just install from the download link below then open your vbs file in VBSEdit then save as an exe from the “File” menu.

VBS to EXE quick and easy. The unregistered version is for evaluation purposes only but there’s no time limit even if you don’t register…

Sure there are other ways of converting your vbs files to exes but I don’t think there’s an easier way then with VBSEdit.

Give it a try its got some great inbuilt code samples too for Group Policy/AD Management for any IT Admins out there.

www.vbsedit.com

Spotify gets a vague release date for the US

Martin
March 29, 2010June 3, 2017
PC Apps/Scripts

Spotify will finally be released in the US in the third quarter of this year.
Why am I excited?

Well that will mean it should be possible to login to Spotify at home without getting locked out.

I live in a country where Spotify isn’t supported. Whenever I connect to Spotify using my DSL line Spotify logs the attempt and the IP address used to connect. 14 days after logging in with an IP address located in a country that Spotify isn’t available in it will lock you out.

How will Spotify being available in the US help?

Well it should be possible to use HotSpot Shield with Spotify to create a US based VPN connection.
This will allow anyone to login to Spotify and based on the IP address (if you have HotSpot Shield) Spotify will determine you live in the US.

That will mean no lockouts…

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Through this website/blog you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of Martin Birrane. I have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.

Every effort is made to keep this website/blog up and running smoothly. However, I take no responsibility for, and will not be liable for, this website/blog being temporarily unavailable due to technical issues beyond my control.

Any views expressed in this website/blog are those of Martin Birrane. They should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of Martin Birranes past, current or future employers.