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Handbrake isn’t exactly new on the market but I thought I would do a post on it anyway, because it seems that at least twice a week I have people asking me how to convert a DVD to watch on their iPod, Computer etc. etc.
Handbrake is the solution! An open source, multiplatform, multithreaded DVD to MPEG-4 converter. It can output your DVD into MP4, AVI or OGM formats, and can take DVD’s from any DVD-like source: VIDEO_TS folder, DVD image or a real DVD. It supports PAL and NTSC and best of all, its free! [Just thought i’d point that out] It also has AppleTV and PS3 support. Could you ask for more? I don’t think so!
I was wondering do any of you use Campfire? I was having a look around it and signed up for a free account, initially thinking “why would anyone use this?” really into todays internet world there is tons of Instant Messengers, Emailing and loads of free chat rooms? But what really makes Campfire? Well for one I was surprised at how fast the chatting is considering it isn’t Java or CGI based.
I also liked the ability to upload files via a simple dialog, no waiting for the other person to accept, just upload and its available to them, if its a picture it actually posts itself in a message in the room! Really I think the main reason to use Campfire however is for logging, you can go and view the transcript of what you said to X last Monday about the deadline in a matter of seconds! The pricing is reasonable enough but could and should be improved upon.
If you take the “Free” access you can only have four simultaneous chatters, I think Campfire would do very well if they upgraded Free to 10 chatters and bring in a few more ads, I actually see none! Then bring “Basic” up to 20, “Plus” up to 35 and “Premium” they can leave at 60. I also wonder why they don’t have an unlimited version, or the option to buy more space.. Certainly there are a few things Campfire can improve on! If your reading this and you use Campfire please leave a comment of what you think of it, and what plan you are on!
Well never having heard of it until Ken mentioned it, last night I decided to have a look at what Mint was. I’ll admit, I fell in love with the screenshots, the idea, the abilitys. . And just an hour ago! I purchased it, not too bad a price either $30/per site. I’ve only bought it for this domain, but we’ll see how things work out!
There’s a screenshot of the plugins / theme I am using. Just click it, it loads itself! I think the amazing thing about Mint is Pepper, the amount of plugins you can get for it! For instance I can now track my blog subscriptions, my google page rank and my latest blog comments from Mint! Three things you’ll find it hard to find in another stat program! The ability to be able to move around your modules via Ajax is another seller for me! More important modules to the top, rest to the bottom!
The theme I’m using if anyone is interested is “Massive Blue“, all plugins and more themes can be gotten from the Peppermill. I can see Mint being a big player in the stat market as time goes on, more time = more modules!
Lastly, if your setting your Mint up on Wordpress I reccomend using this plugin here to automatically install it!
So i’ve joined Facebook, and I have to admit I love it! Much better than Bebo or Myspace. I’ve actually deleted my Bebo profile, always hated it! I much rather the amount of applications you can have for Facebook, for example; I can update my Twitter from Facebook, my blog’s RSS is on my profile page, I have my del.icio.us on my Facebook, just something about it! It all fits! I love it! I can actually see myself becoming abit of a Facebook addict, having it open in a window in the back constantly! Another thing I like about Facebook is the way friends is setup, if I don’t know you, I don’t have to add you, and its not nearly as annoying as the Bebo “Friend Requests” page! More than anything I love groups, I can see some real potential for using Facebook and it certainly seems alot more professional than any other social network. [In saying that I’m not on LinkedIn, so can’t compare them] Anyway, enough of me rambling about my new love! Heres my profile, add me if you read the blog! I’d love to hear from more of you!
So recently I installed a plugin called Twitter SMS Notification, which would basically post a twitter of a comment when somebody would comment me, meaning I would get the comment texted to my phone. However the last few comments haven’t been coming up on the blog and I’ve been going a tad insane trying to figure out what was wrong! So I’ve pinned it down to the fact that Twitter SMS Notification must have a bug in it that deletes them. If someone could post a comment on this post just so I could see if it’s working or not it would be much appreciated! If it doesn’t work drop me a line at sean.sneoATgmailDOTcom
So I went ahead and installed Kubuntu this evening. Basically the KDE version of Ubuntu, which obviously uses the KDE desktop instead of GNOME. Having started on GNOME I’m much more used to it, but I figure I’ll give KDE a week or so before deciding which I really want to go with, at the moment I’m finding KDE confusing and just plain wierd in comparisson to GNOME. But who knows, maybe after a week I’ll rather KDE! Only way to know is to try it I guess.. So heres for a productive week!
For people who have Ubuntu and want to try out Kubuntu open a terminal and type:
apt-get install kubuntu-desktop
Yep! Easy as that, then just logout, click the options menu and pick session. Then KDE. You should probably restart your computer too so you get the lovely Kubuntu login screen! Don’t worry, you can change it back to the Ubuntu login screen by setting GNOME as your default desktop session! Its as easy as stealing candy from a baby!
Don’t get me wrong, I love Basecamp, I’d really love to use it. But I just can’t afford to! I work on multiple projects over the internet alot with other people and Basecamp would be the perfect option for us. But we would need the Plus version, which is $49 per/month. Now I wouldn’t mind paying $49 per/month if it was for an unlimited amount of projects, but thats only for thirty! Which works out as way too much for me, a student! So I think the only solution is that Google buys Basecamp and makes it free! I actually don’t see why they haven’t bought Basecamp yet, online project managment isn’t something they have a product of! It would be nice to see them expand into it also! Basecamp claim to have over a million people signed up, has it hit Google’s eye yet?
1. Is your password below six characters?
2. Is your password just upper or lowercase letters?
3. Is your password numberless?
4. You use the same password on every website?
5. Your password isn’t a word right? In any language?
6. Your password isn’t a phrase?
7. Your password isn’t a character in a movie, a movie, a religous figure, place or event, band or author?
8. Your password isn’t a name or nickname?
9. Your password isn’t a word backwards?
10. Your password isn’t a simple word with numbers replacing letters? Example: pa55w0rd
11. Your password isn’t a simple assortment of letters across the keyboard. Example : qwerty
The Obsessed Security User: Yes = 3 Points No = 0 points
1. Your password is a random assortment of letters and numbers you have memorisied.
2. Your password contains special characters.
3. Your password is over ten characters.
4. Your password uses uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers and special characters.
5. Your password is an MD5 or Sha1 string of a password you know.
Results:
-20 to 5 points = Reconsider your password. Its not secure.
5 to 11 points = Your password is good, it could be better but at least your trying!
11 - 16 points = Your password is definately secure! Well done!
16+ points = Well.. You’ve taken every precaution! Noone’s going to be hacking you any time this century hey?
Do you find it harder to blog at the weekends? I certaintly do! I don’t know what it is.. I spend nearly three times as long looking for something to post about at the weekends in comparission to weekdays! Its just something strange that I was thinking of, I can’t flow things off as easily! I find it much harder and it isn’t even a time constraint thing as I have more time at weekends and try to devote more time to the blog! Other bloggers, do you find it hard to blog at weekends and if so what do you do to keep the flow going? Let me know!
Digg it! 
