- Check your MP3 Collection
If you have a huge collection of mp3 you probably would have a hard time checking them for missing tags or other errors unless you are very thorough when adding new music to the collection checking them before you add them to the main directory. Most users that I know are not that thorough though because it would really mean lots of work to check every new mp3 before adding it to the collection.
Enter MP3 Check. This little tool can check a directory - and its subdirectories - full of mp3s taking roughly 10 seconds for every 1000 mp3s in the directory. The program checks for undefined Id3v1 and Id3v2 tags, insufficient bit rates (CBR and VBR), insufficient sample rates, channel modes, volume gain and unordinary mp3.
The values that are checked can be edited in the left pane of the main window. Default values are for instance 128 Kbps to 230 Kbps for the bit rate checks and 44100 Hz for the sample rate check. It's easy to adjust the values to your needs.
Results can be written to log files for further processing. Tools can be defined in the options to correct the errors right in mp3 check. Users can choose an Id3 tag tool, a bit- and sample rate tool and a gain volume tool. Once a tool has been selected it can be accessed by right-clicking an error report or single mp3.
MP3 check provides an excellent opportunity to check huge mp3 collections with the option to correct those errors immediately by integrating external tools directly in the software. [via gHacks]
- Is Your Wireless Network Safe?
By now wireless networks are virtually everywhere, easily accessible and often freely available. Most of us have it in our home, surfing the web anywhere inside and outside the house, reading mails in bed first thing in the morning, or listening to streaming music in the kitchen while doing the dishes.
But is your wireless network safe? Did you take all the commonly recommended precautions? Did you.
- change the default router password?
- change the default IP subnet?
- disable remote router access?
- change the default SSID?
- disable SSID broadcasting?
- turn on the router firewall?
- enable data encryption, preferably WPA/TKIP?
- enable MAC filtering?
Did you or is this all Greek to you? Net-Security.org has a pretty good article explaining all relevant terminology and why it's important to take the aforementioned steps.
Now if you did follow all of the advice, is your wireless network safe? Probably not. Even the strongest encryption can be hacked, every firewall has a hole and if someone really wants to break in, they will find a way. It's not very likely, but it's still possible.
What remains to be done is monitor your wireless network for suspicious activity. If you don't find your router's built in MAC address login and protocols convenient to use, here's an alternative. AirSnare is a thorough network monitor for both wired and wireless networks from Windows 98 up to Windows XP. It will detect all active MAC addresses and monitor their activity. Warnings will be issued if unknown / unfriendly MAC addresses are detected.
However, before you go ahead and download AirSnare, you should be aware of a few potential issues:
- it was last updated in 2006
- it may not support all network cards
- it may cause problems with Windows 2k
- it only works with WinPcap 3.1 (new version 4.0)
- the support forum seems broken
Nevertheless, AirSnare can be a valuable tool. The main window shows three major categories on the left: Network Adapters, Unfriendly MAC Addresses and Friendly MAC Addresses. To start monitoring your network connections, double click the respective network adapter(s) or right-click and select >Start. Then watch for detection of unfriendly MAC addresses. You can manually add friendly MAC addresses by right-clicking the category and selecting >Add New or you right-click on a MAC address reported as unfriendly and select >Add to Trusted.
AirSnare optionally scans for MAC, TCP and UPD traffic, and you can track connections via the AirSnare or Ethereal protocols. DHCP requests can be shown in a separate window. Per default there is an audio alarm when potential unauthorized actions, routers, ARP Poisons, MAC Spoofs or Gateway connections are found. The audio alarm can be turned off via >Options menu >General tab >Alert section >remove checkmark infront of Play WAV Alert Sound.
The AirHorn option is a cool idea, but as of Windows XP SP2 won't work, if the windows firewall is on and the messenger service is turned off on the receiving machine. I couldn't get the >Send E-mail on alert option to work either.
So what do you do when you detect a questionable MAC address? If there is suspicious activity on your wireless network, you best change your network key, exclude the MAC address via your router, and eventually change your IP subnet. If the activity comes in via the wired network, you should also increase your local security, scan your system for malware, update your firewall, and lock up your network as best as you can. [via MakeUseOf]
- Virtual Girlfriend Bed
I have seen my fair share of geeky stuff on the Internet and the Virtual Girlfriend definitely makes it straight to the top. Geeks don't have girlfriends, that's what people believe and while it sometimes may be true it more often than not is not, except for gay geeks maybe who tend to have boyfriends instead. (sidenote: wow there is even a website with that name but no content yet)
If you do not have a girlfriend yet you probably dislike sleeping alone. While it definitely has some advantages most people prefer the historical two humans per bed approach. If you are one human short you can instead try the virtual approach which adds a virtual girlfriend to your bed that responds to your reactions.
If you lie on the back for example she snuggles up next to you, lie on the side and the spoons on you. The only difficulty so far is that she only exists in 2D which means that you cannot feel her at all.
INBED is what Drew Burrows called his invention which makes use of infrared sensors. I'm not sure if his invention will be that successful because it lacks the somatic sensation.. [via gHacks]
Ed. If he can come up with a Thai version then the sad bastard might be on to a winner!!! Wonder if I could get the agency for Saudi Arabia!
No comments:
Post a Comment